SIOUX CITY | A 13-year-old girl is staying overnight at a friend's house, when another member of the group pulls out a bottle of liquor.

Not wanting to imbibe, the girl picks up her smartphone and texts the letter "X" to her mom.

A few minutes later, her phone rings.

"Hello," she answers.

"You need to come home right away," her mom says.

"Why?" she asks

"I'll tell you later. I'm coming to get you right now."

This lifeline for parents and children called the "X-Plan" was created by Bert Fulks, a teacher, speaker, business owner and musician. He came up with the strategy after spending time with a group of teenagers going through addiction recovery.

Fulks wrote on his website bertfulks.com in February: "Recently I asked these kids a simple question: 'How many of you have found yourself in situations where things started happening that you werent comfortable with, but you stuck around, mainly because you felt like you didnt have a way out?' They all raised their hands."

Amy Scarmon, a child forensic interviewer at the Mercy Child Advocacy Center (CAC), first read about the plan online. Then she shared it with her kids, ages 12 and 14, who responded with a less than enthusiastic, "OK. That's fine."

"They didn't say a lot about it, but they know it's there at least," she said.

Then Scarmon got to thinking that the plan could benefit the children whom she encounters at the CAC.

Annually, 1,000 child victims of abuse receive specialized medical evaluation and treatment at the center, which serves 40 counties in Siouxland.

Scarmon said young children often don't recognize grooming, deliberate acts that predators use to gain a victim's trust, isolate them and make them vulnerable to abusive behavior. Older children, she said, might not become aware of the predator's tactics until they're already in danger.

"For us here at the Child Advocacy Center, we see a lot of times kids are real dependent on the adults that are around them," she said. "They may get into a situation or be put into a situation without ever even realizing that it's an unsafe situation or a situation they don't want be in until it's too late. By having this plan prepared, I think it could be really helpful for kids to have an out."

The "X-Plan" prompts parents to have a conversation with their children about how they would respond in a situation that is uncomfortable or unsafe.

To implement the "X-Plan," Scarmon said your child will need a cell phone or another electronic device from which he or she can send you a message. She said the child also needs to be savvy enough to be able to follow through with the plan.

"The idea with this is that you would have them text you an 'X,' but I think you can be flexible with that. Whatever works with your family as a code word or a letter," she said. "As a parent, you'll know that when you get that message from your kid that they're in a situation that they're feeling uncomfortable with."

Recognizing the code word or letter as a cry for help, Scarmon said parents will respond with a phone call or return text. In that call or text message, they'll state that something has happened and they need to come get their child immediately.

"I think it could be as simple as, 'Your room's a mess. You better get home right now,'" Scarmon said.

Besides getting the child out of an uncomfortable situation, Scarmon said the strategy also allows the child, who is likely heavily influenced by his or her peers, to avoid embarrassment and "save face." As more and more children, pre-teens and teens become aware of the plan, she said it may need to adapted occasionally so peers don't catch on.

"The main point behind this is really just having open conversations with your kids," she said. "There are multitudes of different topics you could talk with your kids about. What if this happened? What would you do?"
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Veenstra awarded Goldwater Honorable Mention

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa | Dordt College senior Jenna Veenstra has been awarded a Goldwater Honorable Mention by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Veenstra, from Cedar Falls, Iowa, is the first Dordt student to receive this honor. Only two Iowa students received this honor. The selection of Goldwater Scholars and Honorable Mentions are based on academic merit.

Veenstra, who is studying life sciences at Dordt, hopes to earn a Ph.D. in biological science and conduct research in biochemistry or bio statistics and one day teach at a college or university.

Wayne State geography professor receives national award

WAYNE, Neb.| The National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) has honored Wayne State College associate geography professor Dr. Lesli Rawlings with the Higher Education Distinguished Teaching Award. The award recognizes and supports excellence in geography teaching among college educators.

Rawlings serves as WSCs co-advisor of Gamma Theta Upsilon, an international geographical honor society. As co-advisor, she introduced the WSC campus-wide geography bowl in honor of Geography Awareness Week in November.

USD announces 2017 academic scholarship winners

Vermillion, S.D. | The University of South Dakota honors six Sioux City area students among its 2017 scholarship winners for this falls freshmen class. Scholarships awarded

Area scholarship winners are: Madeline Bertram, daughter of Trent and Mary Bertram, Coyote Commitment Grant $2,000; Ashley German, daughter of Amy and James German, Coyote Commitment Distinction $7,000; Amiah Grosvenor, daughter of Brandy Thomas, Coyote Commitment Achievement $6,000; Tayler Modlin, daughter of Trevor and Michelle Modlin, Coyote Commitment Leadership $8,000; Madison Elliot, daughter of Dan and Amy Elliot, Coyote Commitment Grant $2,000; Morgan Finken, daughter of Sheri Griese and Jeffrey Finken, Coyote Commitment Grant $2,000.

13 graduate from Annies Project in Sibley

SIBLEY, Iowa | Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Osceola County recently graduated 13 local women from Annies Project, an agricultural business course offered by ISU that focuses on empowering women in agriculture.

The six-session series provided training and resources in five key management areas: financial, human resources, legal, marketing and production.

Annies Project graduates included; Mary Agar, Kaia Darling, Tanya Dykstra, Judy Eben, Jodie Kruger, Dolly McQueen, Maralee Onken, Ashley Peters, Danika Schmidt, Abby Schutte, Riane Vickery, Cindy Wellein and Sanna Wilson.

Morningside student team honored at math competition

SIOUX CITY | A team of three Morningside College students recently received a meritorious designation in an international competition for their solution to a mathematics problem.

The teams meritorious designation placed them in the top 12 percent of more than 8,000 solutions submitted to the Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM).

The Morningside team consisted of Merle Bulbitz, a sophomore biology and math major from Burgwedel, Germany; Jared Jochum, a senior biology and chemistry major from Dakota Dunes, South Dakota; and Alex Watkins, a senior math and philosophy major from Sioux City.
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Zendesk, Inc., a software development company, provides software as a service solutions for organizations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. Its flagship product is Zendesk Support, a system for tracking, prioritizing, and solving customer support tickets across various channels. The company also offers Zendesk Chat, a live chat and messaging software to connect with customers on websites and mobile devices applications; Zendesk Talk, a cloud-based call center software; Zendesk Guide, a knowledge base that powers customer self-service and support agent productivity; Zendesk Gather, a community forum software that allows customer end-users to connect and collaborate; Zendesk Explore, which provides analytics for organizations to measure and enhance the customer experience; and Zendesk Sell, a sales customer relationship management (CRM) product solution to enhance productivity, processes, and pipeline visibility. In addition, it provides Zendesk Sunshine, a CRM platform; Sunshine Conversations, a messaging platform solution; Zendesk Developer Tools, a combination of application programming interfaces, web widget, and mobile software development kits; Zendesk APIs that allow users to build custom integrations and interact with Zendesk data; and Zendesk Apps that enable organizations to customize Zendesk product and platform solution interfaces and optimize workflow through plug-ins, as well as Zendesk Suite, an omnichannel offering, which combines its solutions. The company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
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Cervus Equipment Corporation, an equipment dealer, provides equipment solutions to customers in agriculture, transportation, and industrial markets in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It operates through three segments: Agricultural, Transportation, and Industrial. The company provides riding mower, gator utility vehicles, zero-turn mowers, tractors, commercial mowers, as well as cutters and shredders and front-end loaders. It also offers agricultural equipment, parts, and attachments, such as balers, tractors, mowers conditioners, nutrient application, combines, tillage, air seeding, self-propelled sprayer, self-propelled windrowers, self-propelled forage harvesters, and precision agriculture products. In addition, the company offers forklifts, pallet jacks, telehandlers, and aerial work platforms. Further, it provides transportation equipment, which includes on highway, medium duty, alternative fuel, and vocational trucks; engines; axles; and new technology tucks. Additionally, it offers used equipment, as well as provides repair services. As of December 31, 2020, the company had 38 John Deere dealership locations with 15 in Alberta, 6 in Saskatchewan, 1 in British Columbia, 9 in New Zealand, and 7 in Australia under Agricultural segment; 18 dealerships with 4 Peterbilt truck dealerships and 1 collision center operating in Saskatchewan, and 12 Peterbilt truck dealerships and 1 parts and service center in Ontario under Transportation segment; and 8 material handling and forklift equipment dealership locations with 5 operating in Alberta, 2 in Saskatchewan and 1 in Manitoba under the Industrial segment. The company offers its products under John Deere, Clark, Sellick, Doosan, JLG, Peterbilt, and Baumann brands. Cervus Equipment Corporation was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme  La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza.



Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres.




The I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club recognized trainer/driver Anthony MacDonald of Guelph, Ont. as the Fan Clubs 2016 Ambassador of the Year in a winner's circle presentation at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night (April 22).

Dan Gall, President and CEO of Standardbred Canada, made the Ambassador of the Year presentation to MacDonald following the second race on Saturday.

The Fan Club ambassador is an individual within the industry who has made a significant contribution to the sport and inspires other to get involved. MacDonald is founder of the award-winning fractional ownership program The Stable. The program simplifies buying and owning a horse with the ultimate goal of helping to promote horse ownership and harness racing. With more than 241 owners spread over three continents and six countries, The Stable is easily one of the fastest growing ventures in North American horse racing.

In addition to The Stable, MacDonald is also known as a prominent and successful harness racing trainer and driver with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Since 2010, he has twice placed among the top 10 drivers in Canada for purse earnings. He has been a regular blogger for Standardbred Canadas website and was recently honoured by the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association with its 2016 Lloyd Chisholm Achievement Award. MacDonald continues to generate awareness and interest in the sport and dedicate his free time to ensure that harness racing succeeds across the country.

Standardbred Canada, the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club and Mohawk Racetrack would like to congratulate MacDonald on being named the Fan Clubs 2016 Ambassador of the Year!
Hippodrome 3R kicked off its 2017 season of live harness racing on Sunday, April 23, as the Quebec half-miler played host to a nine-race card that feature both an $8,000 Preferred 1 Trot and an $8,000 Preferred 1 Pace.

Fans that attended live or wagered off-track were met with a surprise, as they found out that Hippodrome 3R has done away with show wagering.

H3R became only the second racetrack in North America and the first in Canada to do away with show wagering. Pompano Park did it for a short period back in 2004.

According to a release from the Quebec Jockey Club, track management cited that over the past years there was little wagering done in the show pools and elected to end the wager in 2017. Doing away with show wagering also prevents possible bridge jumpers, handicappers that risk large show wagers to make the mandatory $0.05 payout for a $1.00 wager.

Fans pictured taking in the opening day festivities at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday, April 23, 2017 (thephotodesk.ca)

In rein to Pierre Luc Roy for trainer Yves Tessier, Torches Angel was a convincing winner in the $8,000 Preferred 1 Trot, which went postward as Race 5.

Sent off as the wagering publics odds-on choice, Roy and Torches Angel utilized a reserved approach early. The duo opted to take a stalking perspective after their Post 6 start. They kept tabs on the early leaders from the back of the pack and were sixth to the opening quarter, which was tripped in :29.3.

Roy had his seven-year-old Angus Hall mare out and racing in the second quarter. They were overland in fourth, three lengths in arrears, by the time the half-mile clock illuminated in 1:00.3. The duo erased their three-length deficit in the third panel, as they clicked off the third call in 1:31.4 while fighting for the lead on the outside.

It was all Touches Angel in the final quarter, as she and Roy came home in :30.3 and stopped the clock in 2:02.2. Caroluzzo (driven by Stephane Gendron) finished second, while Rocky Boy (Marc Belanger) finished third.

The win was the 32nd of Touches Angels career. She has now won two of her six starts this year. The mare, who is owned by Francois Morin of Beauceville, QC, now has $163,479 in career earnings. Touches Angel returned $3.70 on a successful Win wager.

Solid Performance put forth just that in the $8,000 Preferred Pace, as the eight-year-old Armbro Deuce gelding was much the best in Race 8.

With Gaetan Lamy calling the shots in the sulky, Solid Performance was conservative off the gate, as the bay sat fifth through the :27.3 opening quarter and was almost nine lengths off the lead. Lamy shortened up the deficit in the second quarter, as he moved his charge first-over and was charted as fourth, two and a half lengths off the speed at the :58.3 half-mile pole.

Solid Performance was game in the third quarter, as the gelding continued to advance on the outside. He was overland and in the lead by a half length when he clicked off three quarters in 1:27.2.

Solid Performance started to pour it on in final quarter. He was up by two lengths at the head of the lane and went on to record a three-length win in 1:56.2. The pacesetting Bazinga Brad (Stephane Gendron) finished second and Glass Shadow (Richard Simard) finished further back in third.

Solid Performance was part of a two-horse Marc Andre Cormier-trained entry in the tilt. Cormier also owns the winner, who was sent off as the narrow second choice and returned $5.00 on a successful Win wager.

The first race of Hippodrome 3Rs 2017 meet was won by Norvena Hanover, an eight-year-old Western Ideal mare that got the job done in 2:01 for driver Stephane Brosseau and trainer Jessica Turenne.

To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Hippodrome 3R, click the following link: Sunday Results  Hippodrome 3R.

(With files from the Quebec Jockey Club)
John P. Brocklehurst, 81, a second-generation horseman in a family whose reach in harness racing now extends to a fourth generation, passed away during the morning of Saturday, April 22.

A resident of Mercer, Pennsylvania, John, and his brother David, followed their father Paul into the business; Johns son Harold continued the tradition, and the fourth-generation horsemen in the line today are Bryce and Mike, both racing at The Meadows.

John would likely have been proud of his grandson Bryce, who on Saturday decided to continue with a driving assignment at The Meadows only a few hours after finding out his grandfather, who had been ill, had passed away. Bryce went out and guided Media Buzz from eighth at the half to win the $28,400 Tamarind Trotting Series Final at the southwest Pennsylvania oval that afternoon.

The best horse with whom John was associated was Hominy Ros, who was by Rican Ros, a son of Florican, out of the Sharpshooter mare Chickahominy. John trained and drove the horse, and was co-owner with his brother David, who was the breeder. Among Hominy Ross 15 victories at age two in 1978 were two world records for two-year-old trotting geldings: a 2:05.3f at Scioto Downs, and a 2:04.1h at the Delaware Fair. John was also the leading driver at Wheeling Downs for two seasons.

John Brocklehursts wife Mary Jane preceded him in death by six months; for 15 years they operated a harness repair shop on the backstretch at The Meadows. He leaves behind four children: Harold, Austin, Jane Anne, and Amanda; five grandchildren, including Bryce and Mike; and five great-grandchildren.

There will be visiting hours from 12 noon to 2:15 p.m. on Monday at the Robert Snyder Funeral Home in Fredonia, Pennsylvania. At 2:30 p.m., a memorial service will be conducted there by Pastor Joe Di Donato, chaplain at The Meadows.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of John Brocklehurst.

(USHWA)
Lower Columbia College students just got another helpful boost toward achieving their goals.

Richard Nau, an investor, philanthropist and retired Longview pathologist, will contribute $60,000 to LCCs Student Success Fund in the form of an endowment. Its the largest contribution to the fund since its inception in 2013.

The Student Success Fund provides financial assistance to students most at risk of abandoning their education due to miscellaneous expenses. Most gifts from the fund are below $500 and can help cover things that would otherwise become a barrier to education, including rent, childcare expenses and extra tuition not covered by state or federal grants.

Nau said he was inspired to give after he read about LCC president Chris Baileys 500-mile walk with his family to raise money for the fund two years ago.

I was impressed when they said that the relatively small amount helped a couple of very needy people stay in school and complete their education, Nau said. That really impressed me.

Nau grew up in Pennsylvania and received his bachelors degree in geochemistry and geophysics at Pennsylvania State University and received his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. He arrived in Longview in 1974 and has been here ever since.

I made a good salary as a physician but the money (Im donating) is not what I made (as a doctor), Nau said Friday. Its what I have earned from my investing. Yes, I earned a comfortable income, but I saved it and I invested it and thats where this is coming from.

Nau said he is interested in distributing his money both broadly and wisely so that it can do the most work after he dies.

The Salvation Army and Boy Scouts are on my list... when I die theyll get some money, Nau said.

According to trustees documents at Penn State, Nau donated at least $2 million in 2007 to create the Richard C. Nau Endowment for the Earth Sciences, Engineering and Development in Africa and the Richard C. Nau scholarship in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

Nau said he was interested in having Penn State invest some of his money in the development of third world countries, to help develop the natural resources and assets in third world countries, Nau said. Where the people will benefit, not just the rulers and the rich.

Nau has also made other contributions locally, including donations to Oregon Public Broadcasting, Community Home Health and Hospice and Lower Columbia CAP. Nau also helped establish en endowment fund with the late Rob Quoidbach to assist with continuing education for St. John Medical Center staff.

Nau has given to LCC in the past.

I have no association with LCC, but I think a community college or college is an asset to the community, Nau said.

We are most appreciative of not only Dr. Naus service to our local community, but his continued involvement with LCC through the Student Success Fund, said LCC Foundation Vice President Kendra Sprague. Dr. Naus investment in this integral program promotes the continued well-being of our community and our students who are trying to better their lives through education.

The money will be placed into an endowment fund, Nau said, so that it will always be there to support the regular functioning of the Student Success Fund itself.

His gift... will help permanently endow the fund to assist students in need for generations to come, Sprague said.
Editors note: This is the first part in a series about changes at the Monticello Hotel under the new owners. See related article for a preview of the remaining articles, which will run Thursday and next Sunday.

Retired restaurateur Terry Arca said he fell in love with the Monticello Hotel the moment he saw the historic property. The brick facade, the ballroom, the patio  all of it burst with potential.

Its just a gorgeous building, and with a little tweaking, a little paint, it should do really do well.  It sits on a spot that is just right out of a storybook, with a park right out in the front, said Arca, 75, of Lakewood, a Tacoma-area suburb.

Arcas employee and business associate, Craig Dieffenbach, had a knack for snatching up and restoring decrepit properties, having revitalized swaths of Seattle and Everett in the early to mid 2000s. So, while Dieffenbach chipped away at four years of post-prison probation, he also helped Arca and a group of Seattle investors orchestrate a $2.8 million deal to purchase the Monticello Hotel from Phil Lovingfoss. Eventually the Seattle investors would form a partnership and bring along a group of local investors as well.

Almost from the beginning, though, the group had trouble. The local investors were relatively new to the restaurant industry and had no experience running a project of this scale. Many of the parties involved appeared to be unaware of one anothers backgrounds, including run-ins with the law by Dieffenbach and Operating Manager Hollie Hillman. Controversies and financial troubles have splintered the group, leaving the hotel without locally-based owners and still without firm plans for a restaurant and lounge.

Both Craig and Hollie had criminal backgrounds, (but) there was no apparent reason all couldnt work together, Breanna Alleman of Longview, former general manager of the Monticello, said in an emailed statement last week.

For several weeks in February and March last year, the investors researched what it would take to purchase and restore the hotel, conducting site visits, walkthroughs and meeting with City of Longview officials.

In an April 5, 2016 letter to a Monticello investor and Tacoma engineer Sean Comfort, city of Longview officials praised the groups willingness to take on the troubled property and vowed to provide prompt, predictable permitting. Lower Columbia College officials sent a letter to Comfort affirming the need for additional housing for athletes and international students, noting that the Monticello would be an ideal location for student apartments.

Meanwhile, the investors sought out local entrepreneurs to run the restaurant and be the face of the hotel. They connected with Breanna Alleman and her mother, Kathy Nelson  who own Marys Bar & Grill and the Freedom Market marijuana chain  and their employee and friend, Hollie Hillman.

They came looking for (Hillman) specifically because her name was so well known because of her success with Marys. So the community told them, You know, you really got to talk to Hollie. Shes a making it happen kind of deal.  shes been a big part of it, Nelson said in October.

For the investors, the idea was to purchase the hotel and apartments under Monticello Place LLCs name, then lease the bottom floor to a separate company, Five Star Longview LLC, to manage the restaurant, ballroom and cafe and run the hotels day-to-day operations. Alleman and Nelson would have a stake in both companies.

By early May 2016, Monticello Place LLC had been formed. Company officials back then repeatedly declined requests to disclose its members and investors. But according to an initial report filed with the state, its members included Nelson and Alleman; Seattle immigration attorney Katya Stelmakh; Arcas company, Diego Terres, LLC; and Dieffenbachs parents, Timothy and Auverne. Comfort, the Tacoma engineer, is a small investor in the project and a senior project manager. Craig Dieffenbach apparently described himself as a silent partner at times and a project manager too, although neither he nor Comfort were listed in the LLCs membership.

Craig and Timothy Dieffenbach declined to comment for this story. But together with Arcas company, Timothy and Auverne Dieffenbach personally guaranteed a $1.7 million construction loan that Monticello Place took out from Fairview Partners Investment Management, a Seattle real estate investment firm.

By Sept. 8, Monticello Place signed a $2.8 million contract to purchase the Monticello from Lovingfoss. His attorney signed the paperwork on his behalf while he was serving a 90-day sentence in jail for threatening a Cowlitz County judge in July 2015.

That same day, Alleman and Nelson formed Five Star Longview, LLC with two associates from the Freedom Market, Mike and Brenda Young of Longview.

The new owners announced they would revive the property to its original splendor and beauty, including restoring the Crystal Ballroom, remodeling apartments and building 10 luxury suites on the third floor. Five Star would operate a gourmet restaurant, called the Bleu Bison, from the hotels first floor, featuring an original 1880s-era bar and historical lighting fixtures. Everything would be ready within four to six months, they said.

We were so excited we were beside ourselves. Ive been here my whole life, and to think that I am involved with what is currently going on at the Monticello is just phenomenal to me, Nelson said in October.

The tumultuous early days

Together with the Monticello Place board, Alleman said Five Star had a solid partnership.

Yet it started fracturing in just few weeks.

On Oct. 8, just a month after signing the hotel deal, Stelmakh said she received an email from a Monticello employee informing her that Acting Operating Manager, Hollie Hillman, had taken certain unethical actions, according to a letter Stelmakh sent to the companys corporate board.

Stelmakh investigated the claims, interviewing several employees to find that Hillman had apparently exhibited rude behavior and online hostility to members of the public on social media, in addition to issuing unjustified evictions and personnel decisions that seemed be driven by personal interest to benefit her outside acquaintances, according to the letter.

Stelmakh wrote that Alleman had not received permission to appoint Hillman to the operating manager role. The attorney said she was previously unaware of Hillmans criminal background, which included convictions of third-degree assault, criminal impersonation and disorderly conduct, according to court records. Shortly after, the corporate board relieved Hillman of her duties and banned her from the premises.

Two months later, Hillman was convicted with second-degree assault, a felony, a little over a year after she was charged with assaulting a Longview man. Shes currently serving 17 months in prison and 18 months in community custody and could not be reached for comment. Hillman was never listed as an owner but was described by employees and tenants as a key person in the early operations.

Amid the bustle of taking over the hotel and jumpstarting renovations, Alleman said, Hillman stepped into help, (and) the (corporate) board was initially happy to have the free assistance. It turned out that it was indeed not a good fit with Hollie.

After Hillmans brief stint as operations manager, Alleman took the reins as operations and general manager, in charge of running the hotel, tenant relations, employees and restaurant restorations from about October through December. After a series of rent raises and eviction notices, Alleman said by email that she was no longer interested in helping with operations  I didnt feel that the decisions being made were in line with my personal morals. She did not elaborate.

The fallout

In January, Stelmakh hired a new general manager, Sharon Walker, a Longview businesswoman who was seemingly unaware of the corporate turmoil. Within a couple months, Alleman and Nelson dropped out of the project, although legal paperwork is pending, they said.

According to Arca, Nelson and Alleman fell behind on payments to the corporate group, and they couldnt afford to continue the endeavor. However, Alleman said that the Five Star group was up-to-date with all of their payments by the time they separated in March.

Arca seemed fond of the two businesswomen, but he suggested they were in over their heads.

I was really excited about them coming  I think they kind of talked a big deal and they were local and we wanted to run it with someone locally, Arca said. And I think if it was a little smaller, Im sure they would do fine.

Although the Five Star group had prepaid to open and operate a restaurant, Alleman noted that as the project progressed it did grow exponentially. Both sides agreed that it was no longer financially beneficial for either side to continue with the partnership, she said by email, without elaborating.

We were very excited to be part of such a monumental piece of our areas history and very disappointed that the partnership dissolved, especially after a large investment on our part that is now just essentially a donation to local history, Alleman added.

Its not clear how much money Alleman and Nelson lost after the deal went sour.

Whats next for the restaurant?

As construction continues, Arca said he is pursuing other regional restaurateurs to move into the space, such as the Tacoma-based restaurants WildFin and Harmon Brewing Co., as well as an upscale Seattle-chain, 13 Coins. No deal has been inked yet, and Arca said he likely will approach other prospects until then. (A WildFin representative said that after touring the property, he let Arca know he is not interested.) Its not clear whether the new restaurateurs would also run the ballroom and other first-floor day-to-day operations.

Originally from California, Arca said he ran a Sambos restaurant shortly after he got out of the military and later opened a Mexican food restaurant chain, Pacos, when he moved to the Northwest.

I came from a family of food and restaurant operations and when I got up here there was no Mexican restaurant. You couldnt even buy a tortilla in the grocery store, he said, laughing. Pacos grew quickly, adding several locations throughout the region and operating for 28 years, he said. During that time, Arca said he even partnered with Sunkist to produce a national margarita line. Arca said he still has strong ties to the regional restaurant community.

Im interviewing a number of people. Some of them sound pretty serious, but I havent seen any contracts, or money; I havent any seen any letters of intent ... I dont have anything going other than chatter, he said.

Even with the remodel three months away from completion, Arca seemed unfazed about finding someone to run the restaurant.

Worst-case scenario, Ill do it myself, he said.
hidden

Snap Inc has acquired "Geofilters," or photo filters based on location, patent from photo-sharing platform Mobli for $7.7 million, a media report said.

According to a report in Tech Crunch on Friday, Israeli entrepreneur and investor Moshe Hogeg, who co-founded Mobli -- an Instagram competitor launched six years ago, patented the idea of Geo-photo filters in 2012, after launching it the previous year.

This is believed to be the highest amount paid for a patent from the Israeli tech industry. The earlier most expensive patent from Israel was a $2.7 million one to do with Google Maps.

The report said that Mobli first spoke to Facebook about selling the patent and the social media giant "100 per cent wanted it".

However, other Silicon Valley sources poured scorn on the idea that Facebook had even been offered the patent.

Had Facebook secured the patent, it would have destroyed Snap's ability to garner revenues from geo-filters, and thus Snap's main source of income.

According to Snap's S-1 filing for its IPO, of the $400 million in revenues the company has, $360 million is made by selling "Geofilters", which advertisers can buy.

The company has been in a bit of trouble after an allegation made by a former Snap Inc. employee, Anthony Pompliano, who accused Snap Inc CEO Evan Spiegel of making this statement: This app is only for rich people. I dont want to expand into poor countries like India and Spain.

Snap Inc came on record to dismiss these allegations as false. This is ridiculous. Obviously Snapchat is for everyone! Its available worldwide to download for free, said the Snap Inc. statement. It has also alleged that Pompliano worked with Snapchat for only three weeks, and that these allegations were nothing but the rants of a disgruntled employee.

IANS
Russia tried to use Trump advisers to influence election: Report

Carter Page in being scrutinised as part of a wider probe over Russian efforts to influence the 2016 elections.

AFP, Washington :

Russian operatives tried to infiltrate Donald Trump's presidential campaign through his advisers, including foreign policy aide Carter Page, CNN reported on Saturday.

CNN said this emerged through FBI intelligence gathering, which triggered an investigation into any possible coordination between Trump campaign operatives and Russian officials.

US officials told the news network that it was unclear whether Page, who is being scrutinised as part of a wider probe over Russian efforts to influence the 2016 elections, was aware that Moscow was trying to use him.

A Russian agent namely would likely have concealed his or her true role or identity while speaking with Page, who himself has vigorously denied any possible collusion with Moscow.

Page gave a speech critical of US policy towards Russia at a top Moscow university last year that caught the FBI's attention and raised concerns that he was maintaining contact with Russian operatives and was being influenced by them.

But Page is just one of several Trump advisers that US and European intelligence revealed had been in touch with Russian officials and other Russian agents frequently and extensively enough to raise suspicions, according to CNN.

Federal prosecutors say that Page met in 2013 with Victor Podobnyy, who turned out to be a Russian operative living in New York. The FBI thus had Page on its radar for at least four years.

Meanwhile, one of the reasons the U.S. Congress has launched an investigation into Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election is to "prevent the same kind of thing happening" to its NATO and other allies, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said Saturday.

Ryan spoke at a news conference with Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas in Tallinn, the Estonian capital, during a visit by a bipartisan congressional delegation to the Baltic NATO member and staunch Washington ally.

While the Republican speaker claimed that Russia's alleged meddling didn't affect the outcome of the election - won by U.S. President Donald Trump - he said its actions "cannot be tolerated."

"One thing we know for certain is that Russia meddled in our election," Ryan said. "This is a foreign country trying to meddle within the internal activities of a sovereign country or a democracy."

He stressed the U.S has a responsibility to share the results of the Russia investigation with countries like Estonia, which in recent years has faced aggressive Russian disinformation campaigns along with Baltic neighbors Latvia and Lithuania.

"What we're doing through our investigation process is to figure out exactly what is it they did and how they did it so that we can help, equip and assist our allies to prevent the same kind of thing happening to them," Ryan said.
ITHS holds symposium on teachers' role

Campus Report :

A symposium on "The Role of a Teacher as a Nation Builder" was held at International Turkish Hope School (ITHS) on Saturday. The program was conducted in its auditorium at Uttara in the capital. Prof Dr Syed Manzoorul Islam was the keynote speaker. Teachers of ITHS attended the programme.

The programme started with the Principal of ITHS, Yavuz Koca giving a welcome speech and a presentation titled `Characteristics of Wise Teachers'.

Roksana Zareen (Deputy Head of Uttara Pre-School), Ismail Akbas (Head of Gulshan Sections) and Nafisa Talukdar (Student Counselor of ITHS) presented their sessions on teachers' role in nation building.

The anchor of the symposium, Head of Cultural and Publication Affairs of ITHS Shahriar Bin Mukhles concluded the first part of the symposium with his presentation on `Role of Cultural and Publication Activities to Build a Nation'.

Prof Dr Syed Manzoorul Islam, mesmerized the audience with his speech while elaborately explaining the mannerism and importance of playing a significant roles as teachers in nation building.

BedrettinSuata, Chairman of Standing Committee of ITHS thanked everyone for attending and participating in this symposium, specially Dr Syed Manzoorul Islam, and handed over a token of appreciation to him on behalf of ITHS.
Call to extend assistance to deprived community

ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury MP and Director of Chittagong Medical College Hospital Brig.Gen. Dr. Jalaluddin seen witnessing the free medical camp services arranged at Raozan on Friday.

Chittagong Bureau :

A free medical camp with consultant physicians and distribution of medicines to the poors and hapless was arranged at Raozan Barrister Suresh Institution with the partronisation of Nabajatra Foundation on Friday l .

Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Railway ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury MP graced the occasion as chief guest presided by local councilor and panel Mayor Jamiruddin Parvez .

Director of Chittagong Medical college Hospital Brig General Dr. Md. Jalaluddin formally inaugurated the medical camp program. Acting President of Raozan UZ awami league Kamaluddin ahmed, UNO of Raozan Md. Shamim Hossain Reza, Secretary of Nabajatra Abul Mansur graced the occasion as special guests.

The chief guest in his brief deliverations said if the affluents stand beside the under privilege society and hapless , there will be miseries in the society and country will be free from poverty.

The lawmaker also asked the physicians of the areas to become more cordial towards hapless patients and to give priority on humanity other than money.

He also expressed any negligence to a any patients not at all desirable. The inaugurator Brig.Gen.Dr. Md. Jalaluddin said Raozan is prospective upazila of the country and the history and sacrifice of the people of this area during liberation war is praiseworthy .

Panel Mayor Bashiruddin Khan, UZ Health Officer Mozzafar Uddin Ahmed, General Manager of Palli Biddut Samity-2 Abu Bakkar Siddiqui, Md. Masud, Jasimuddin, Shoib Khan, former councilor Samiul Islam Samu, councilor Jane Alam Jony, Dilip Kumar Chy, Adv. Samir Das gupta, Kan Kan Chowdhury, Headmaster of the school Ashoke Kumar Sarkar , Taslimuddin, Md. Iqbal were present on the occasion.


BAHOP confce Homeo physicians providing medicare services in remote areas

Chittagong Bureau :

District conference and science seminar of Bangladesh Homeopathic Parishad(BAHOP) , Cox's Bazar unit and science seminar was held on Friday last at Cosxbazar Cultural centre with its central advisor Dr Kabir Ahmed in the chair.

Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazar Md. Ali Hossain graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Deputy Commissioner in his brief deliverations said Homeopathy medical science now a advancing medical method and research of homeopathy is undergoing broadly globally . He said the homeo doctors in our country are relentlessly working to provide medicare services to the poor patients in the society specifically in remote areas either in urban or rural. Chittagong divisional govt representative of BHB and also the inaugurator of the conference Dr. Saleh Ahmed Suleman said two homeopathy college will be established in Cox's Bazar very shortly .

And hence , all preparations are going ahead in connection with the cordial cooperation of the Deputy commissioner. The chief speaker of the conference and General Secretary of central committee of BAHOP Dr. Anjan Kumar Das said homeopathic practitioners should follow the ethics of Homeopathy medicine rather prescribing other medicines like herbal, ayurbedic etc to any patients in their chambers which is unethical. He also advised the homeo practitioners to provide proper medicines under homeo methodlogy to the patients . BAHOP joint secretary Dr. Nazrul Islam Khan, Principal of Coxsbazar polytechnic Institute Engr. Pradipta Khisa, Executive committee member Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Acting Principal of Cox's Bazar Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital Dr. Samidul Hoque, Dr. Md. Ismail chowdhury , Dr. Amjad Hossain attended the conference as special guests. In second session of the conference, science seminar on' Chronic disease treatment and classical Homeo treatment 'was held duly moderated by the convenor of the Conference preparatory Committee Dr. Md. Alauddin and Member Secretary Dr. Amit Kumar Das . The chief discussant of the seminar was Prof. Dr. Bijoy Banu Dutta, a globally reputed Homeo physician of India and Secretary general of World Homeopathy Research & Publication Parishad.in the second session of the conference, six reputed homeopaths have been awarded with honourable awards.


ICT shows 9 Khulna men arrested in war crimes case



The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Sunday shown nine alleged war criminals from Khulna arrested in a crimes against humanity case.

The arrestees are Shamsur Rahman Gazi, 82, Abdul Rahman Sheikh, 68, Nazer Ali Fakir, 67, Janan Ali Biswas, 67, Rawshan Gazi, 72, Shahjahan Sarder, 67, Abdul Karim Sheikh, 65, Abu Bakkar Sarder, 67, and Shohrab Hossain Sarder, 62.

Justice Md. Shahinur Islam, senior member of the two-judge panel of the ICT-1, also issued arrest warrant against two of their accomplices.

"The probe body of the tribunal launched investigation against the 11 in January, 2017, and already found war crimes evidence against them," senior prosecutor Syed Haider Ali told BSS.

The nine arrestees were arrested recently in a criminal case.
Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone are my seniors, wrong to compare us: Huma Qureshi





Priyanka Chopra started it, and others were quick to follow suit. Making a mark in the West seems to be a trend that's fast picking up among Bollywood actors. Latest to join the league is actor Huma Qureshi, who has made her debut in Hollywood with filmmaker Gurinder Chadha's Viceroy's House. The film is slated to release in India on Independence Day, this year.

Ask her whether she planned working in a Hollywood film, Huma replies, "I've never planned my career. I'm an actor and wherever good work takes me, I'll go there. I'm grateful for the script I chose and the character I played."

While many Indian actors have worked in Hollywood, only a few actors such as Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, and now Huma, have managed to dominate the screen space with lead roles. Ask her about comparison and competition with her contemporaries in the West, who have become ambassadors of sorts of Indian cinema there, Huma says that whether it's Bollywood or Hollywood, she is not participating in the rat race.
Crisis in Syria further worsens

Mohammad Amjad Hossain :

The civil war in Syria which begun in 2011 following failed Arab Spring revolution has caused further tense situation between western countries led by the United States and Russian Federation following firing of 59 Tomahawk missiles on 6 April by the United States at Syrian airbase in Idlib. This Syrian air base is understood being used for chemical weapons in Northern town of Khan Sheikhoum in Idlib killing at least 80 people and injuring hundreds. President Donald Trump warned that it may take further action if necessary. Meanwhile, US led coalition hit west of Raqqa in Syria killing 15 civilians.

The sudden missiles strike after the visit of King of Jordan Abdullah has caused mixed reaction around the world. Both France and Great Britain welcomed, apart from Israel, but President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin described missile strike violated international law while officially Russian Federation holds the opinion that US military action was "illegitimate and encouraged terrorists." Another veto power in the Security council: China remains non-committal. On the other hand, President Bashar-al-Assad's office in a statement said the "US naively followed a false and lying propaganda campaign that led it to carry out this irresponsible and recklessness." Russian Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, called for urgent security council meeting over the airstrike.

The sudden use of cruise missiles against Syrian air base by President Donald Trump could be interpreted that the President is action - oriented as against his predecessor Barack Obama who deviated from his commitment to take action against President Bashar Al-Assad of Syria when he crossed Obama's red line by using chemical weapons against his own people in 2012.

President Obama did not take action against Syrian President when he crossed red line by using chemical weapons against his own people in 2013. That was his greatest mistake in conducting foreign policy. US's inaction at that time enhanced Bashar-al-Assad to gain upper hand in 6 year old civil war in collaboration with allies Russia, Iran and Hezbollah militant group of Lebanon. On the other hand, he succumbed to pressure from Russian Federation to dismantle stockpile of chemical weapons from Syria. In September of 2013 a deal was struck between US and Russia under which Syria gave a manifest of its chemical weapons and facilities to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The organization declared by the end of 2014 all of Syrian declared facilities and weapons were destroyed. However, according to Inspectors of this Organization declared three facilities in Syria were not destroyed due to instability in Syria.

Director of National Intelligence of Obama administration testified to US Senate Armed Services Committee in February of 2016 that Syria did not declare its entire chemical weapons program to Inspectors of Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons while International monitors continue to receive reports of chemical attacks throughout 2016. On 12 January of 2017 US Treasury Department unveiled sanctions against Syrian military, security and research officials accusing of being connected to Syrian chemical weapon's program.

President Donald Trump could possibly acted against Syria to prove that he is not a fan of President Vladimir Putin of Russian Federation as has been speculated for a long time since election campaign had begun in US last year for presidency. As of now there is no comprehensive strategic plan against Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad as can be seen from contradictory statements by US Ambassador to the United Nations Nicki Haley who is on record saying" US does not see a peaceful resolution for Syrian civil war as long as Bashar Al-Assad remains in power "whereas Secretary of State Rex Tillerson emphasized that priority of the United States is "to defeat Islamic State in Syria".

On another occasion Secretary of State said "Syrian President fate would be decided by Syrian people." Defense Secretary of the United States Retired Gen. Mattis at press conference on 11 April echoed of Secretary of State by saying main goal in Syria was to defeat Daesh( ISIS) and reiterated that there was no doubt of involvement of Syria in carrying out chemical weapons in Idlib.

Meanwhile, G-7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Italy on 10 April called on Russia to change its attitude towards Bashar-al-Assad of Syria "ending brutal conflict that has destabilized the Middle East and further frayed relations between the West and ".G7 Foreign Ministers, however, did not approve further economic sanctions against Russia. The meeting also agreed that no solution in war torn Syria was possible with President Bashar al-Assad in power. The meeting also called for an investigation by Organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons to determine who was responsible for this war crime.

Both France, Britain and US submitted resolution in the Security Council requesting UN to conduct an investigation on the alleged use of chemical weapons in Idlib of Syria but the White House on 11 April released a report on chemical attack in Idlib of Syria before investigation is conducted. Russia, meanwhile, vetoed the resolution on 12 April along with Bolivia and criticized OPCW to testify using chemical weapons without visiting place of occurrence. The veto by Russia turns out to be eight times in Security Council, a close ally of Syria which triggers deep division with western countries.

It is also interesting to note while British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson cancelled his visit to Moscow for discussion on the situation in Syria in view of the" war torn Syria had fundamentally changed following a chemical weapons attack on civilians and US air strike targeting a military airfield "while US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow to have tete-e-tete with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to clarify areas of sharp differences between US and Russia in connection with Syria. As of now two sides locked in hornet's net over alleged chemical attack in Idlib of Syria. It is hoped that meeting between two Foreign Ministers of nuclear powers would normalize tense situation in the Middle East. US Secretary of State has had closed door tete-e-tet with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin but relations still remained tense.

Six year civil war in Syria cost by now lives of hundreds of thousands people while several thousands flee from war torn Syria for safety but many people strapped in war torn Syria without food, medicine and water. There is a need for diplomatic solution of the crisis in Syria.



(Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat of Bangladesh, writes from Virginia)
Specter of war threatening world peace

North Korea has warned of preemptive strike against the South as the specter of war threatens the Korea peninsula.. Meanwhile, Talibans killed at least 140 Afghan soldiers on Friday in an ambush on the regime's forces in northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. It is so far the deadliest attack on Afghan military only several days after the US used its 'mother of all bombs' to blow Taliban hideouts in the mountains. The attack and counter attack shows the US and its allies are fighting losing battles to fight terrors - be it in Syria or in mountainous Afghan terrains. The specter of war is now haunting the world but an unpredictable US President lacks clear military and diplomatic strategy as chaos is spreading all over.



It appears the US used the biggest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan only few days after it launched 59 missiles attack on a Syrian airbase to punish Bashar al-Assad for using chemical gas against civilian people killing over 100 people including children. The US Vice President Mike Pence visiting South Korea last week said the bomb attack in Afghanistan is also a message to North Korea if it does not stop testing nuclear weapons threatening the South. He also declared that the era of strategic patience is over and all options are on table including military action against North Korea in the event it continues nuclear tests.



But looking back to a singular strike on a Syrian target without strong follow up military actions in the ground to defeat killer President Assad shows President Trump has no clear vision to defeat him, except to fulfil his domestic agenda. And unless Assad can't be removed, ISIS will continue to exist as by product of his tyrannical rule. So also if Afghanistan does not get a truly elected government; the US bombing on its people will only strengthen the Talibans although people neither want the US military nor the primitive role of Taliban in a country long waiting for far reaching socio-economic change.



Meanwhile, the presence of US nuclear war ships group in seawater closer to North Korea has sent the specter of war in the Korean peninsula and beyond. We are totally opposed to North Korea's nuclear aggrandizement and also condemn it as it threatens world peace. But we are also opposed to provocations of the US military. Many believe that the deployment of high precession THAAD missile system by the USA in South Korea, as it now takes place is causing the latest unrest. North Korea has warned of pre-emptive attack on the South in the unfolding situation. It fears how East Germany disappeared from the map.



As it appears China is also opposed to such missile system in its backward and analysts believe if war breaks out the US may equally target military islands in South China Sea that Beijing recently developed ignoring US protest. Many fear that the Trump administration is spreading the specter of war from Syria to North Korea without clearly matching actions. This war games may prove fatal to the world if not properly handled by US establishments.






Police-BCL clash in Nabinagar

OC among five cops injured during section 144, case filed

Sarail (Brahmanbaria) Correspondent :

A clash was took place between a section of local Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Police during a hartal enforced by the party protesting the visit of Fisheries and Livestock Minister Muhammed Sayedul Hoque in Bijoynagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Nabinagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Imtiaj Ahmed and four cops personnel were injured by some unidentified BCL men during duty to protocol the minister on the way to Bijoynagr from Dhaka in the afternoon, said Chittaranjan Pala, Additional Superintendent of Police (Nabinagar Circle) in Brahmanbaria.

Superintendent of Police of the district Mizanur Rahman said that Imtiaj Ahmed was injured during a chase and counter-chase between police and pickets Chandua bus stand area in the afternoon.

The injured were admitted to Sarail Health Complex, the police official said.

The law enforcers took the control in the upazilas as per the preplan, the SP said.

Two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), five teams of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and more than 150 policemen have been deployed at the important points of the district to ward off any untoward incident, he said.

Later, a case was filed against 120 people with Bijoynagar Police Station in connection with the incident, the SP added.

Earlier on Friday, the district administration imposed section 144 in Sadar, Bijoynagar, Sarail and Ashuganj upazilas amid the hartal, he added.

On Thursday, district unit of Awami League announced the enforcement of the hartal protesting the minister's visit to inaugurate a livestock center in Bijoynagar upazila and boycotted the inaugural programme of the centre.
N Korea ready to strike US aircraft carrier

Reuters, Seoul :

North Korea said on Sunday it was ready to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, as two Japanese navy ships joined a U.S. carrier group for exercises in the western Pacific.

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over the North's nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its Asian allies.

The United States has not specified where the carrier strike group is as it approaches the area. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive "within days" but gave no other details.North Korea remained defiant. "Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in a commentary.

The paper likened the aircraft carrier to a "gross animal" and said a strike on it would be "an actual example to show our military's force".

The commentary was carried on page three of the newspaper, after a two-page feature about leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a pig farm.

North Korea detained a Korean-American man in his fifties on Friday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, bringing the total number of U.S. citizens held by Pyongyang to three.

The man, identified only by his surname Kim, had been in North Korea for a month to discuss relief activities, Yonhap said. He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army on Tuesday.

It has in the past marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States. It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations sanctions. North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump. He has vowed to prevent the North from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike. North Korea says its nuclear program is for self-defense and has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression. It has also threatened to lay waste to South Korea and Japan.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday North Korea's recent statements were provocative but had proven to be hollow in the past and should not be trusted.

"We've all come to hear their words repeatedly; their word has not proven honest," Mattis told a news conference in Tel Aviv, before the latest threat to the aircraft carrier.

Japan's show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads. Some Japanese ruling party lawmakers are urging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to acquire strike weapons that could hit North Korean missile forces before any imminent attack. Japan's navy, which is mostly a destroyer fleet, is the second largest in Asia after China's.

The two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson and will "practice a variety of tactics" with the U.S. strike group, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force said in a statement.

The Japanese force did not specify where the exercises were taking place, but by Sunday the destroyers could have reached an area 2,500 km (1,500 miles) south of Japan, which would be east of the Philippines. From there, it could take three days to reach waters off the Korean peninsula. Japan's ships would accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan said.

U.S. and South Korean officials have been saying for weeks that the North could soon stage another nuclear test, something the United States, China and others have warned against. South Korea has put its forces on heightened alert. China, North Korea's sole major ally, opposes Pyongyang's weapons programs and has appealed for calm. The United States has called on China to do more to help defuse the tension.

Last Thursday, Trump praised Chinese efforts to rein in "the menace of North Korea", after North Korean state media warned the United States of a "super-mighty pre-emptive strike".


Millionaires on rise

Lack of investment climate

Badrul Ahsan :

Number of depositors having at least taka one crore in their accounts in bank increased by 3,759 during the September-December quarter of the current fiscal indicating lack of investment climate and the growing income disparity in the country, economists said.

Of them , balance of 192 individuals' deposits are more than Tk 35 crore.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) data also showed that the total number of depositors having taka one crore or more in their bank accounts rose to 65,797 as on December 31 last.

"People who have money are not sure about investment situation in the country. So they are depositing their cash in banks," A. B. Mirza Azizul Islam, former Advisor to the Caretaker Government told the New Nation.

"Political uncertainty and infrastructure drawback are hindering real growth of investment and employment opportunity in our country reflected in the bank deposit," he said.

Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, former Governor of Bangladesh Bank, said that people are now used to keep their fund idle in banks as the investments situation in the country is not favourable.

He, however, said that increase of the bank accounts having more than taka one crore should be taken better for the economy instead of capital flight.

"On the other hand, increase of such bank account number is an indication of growing income disparity in the society. We all know that a section of people are struggling for their livelihood, and on the other hand, depositors worth millineries increased. It is a clear indicator of disparity," he cautioned.

The money market expert also said that if the idle funds in the banks were invested that could have brought better results for the economy.

However, of the 65,797 accounts, 51,741 account holders' deposit stood above taka one crore, while 769 and 314 men have more than Tk 50 crore and Tk 40 crore respectively in different private and government banks.

In September 2016, number of bank accounts having taka one crore in their bank accounts was 62,038. Of the accounts, 48,897 individuals' deposit stood more than Tk 1 crore in their bank accounts, while 702 individuals' deposit stood above Tk 50 crore.

The BB data also showed that consolidated deposit in all the banks increased to Tk 8,99,414 crore.
The Warren and Griffin, P.C. law firm will travel to Nashville with the Woodmore families to support the Woodmore Belts on the Buses Bill. The big bus leaves the law firm parking lot at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The public is invited to participate. Lunch will be provided.

Mark Warren will be making balloon animals for kids, friends, and families.

Participants should meet at Warren & Griffin, P.C.'s parking lot at 736 Georgia Ave.

The bus trip will travel to Nashville to attend the Belts on Buses hearing.

Admission is free and the event is kid friendly.

For more information call 265-4878.
Affected haor families to get 30 kg rice, Tk 500 cash

A major portion of the embankment of Shonir Haor in Tahirpur Upazila in Sunamganj collapsed early Sunday due to flash flood. About 10,000 hectares of cropland have been damaged. This photo was taken from Lalurgoala embankment (left). Local farmers struggl

UNB, Dhaka :

The government will provide 30 kgs of rice and Tk 500 cash every month under a 100-day scheme to each affected family of disaster-hit haor areas, said Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya on Sunday. "The government has taken a 100-day scheme to provide relief to 3,35,000 families of the flood-ravaged haor region, and each family will get 30 kgs of rice and Tk 500 as emergency support," said Maya. The minister came up with the information while talking to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting over the flood situation in haor areas held at Bangladesh Secretariat with the minister in the chair.

Besides, some 1,71,715 families of the affected areas will get relief materials through Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme and Open Market Sale (OMS), he said. Describing four districts-Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, Sylhet and Netrakona-out of six as the worst affected ones, Maya said farmers of the districts are unable to harvest their Boro crops due to the sudden flood caused by the onrush of hill water and heavy rain.

An inter-ministerial committee, led by an additional secretary of the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, was formed for assessing the losses in the haor areas, and the committee has been asked to submit its report within 15 days, he said. He also said the government will continue support to the victims of the haor areas until they could return to the normal life. Maya also urged all to come forward and provide assistance to the disaster-affected people.
Shanir Haor over-flooded

Embankment breaches at three points; Boro crop on 150,000 hectares washed away: Growers effort to protect dam fails: Loss Tk 1285 crore: Corruption by WDB officials alleged

Shanir Haor, which is known as the grain bowl of Sunamganj district, has been over-flooded due to onrush of upstream hill waters through the collapsed embankment causing huge damage to standing crops on 10,000 hectares of land and other aquatic animals.



With the collapse of Shanir Haor dam, all the 22 haors under Sunamganj district along with the cultivated crops, except Panga Haor, have gone under deep water following the series of cracks in the embankment, officials said on Sunday.



At present, the flash floods have inundated crops in most of the haors in Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Brahmanbaria districts which has appeared as a nightmare to lakhs of people.



Deputy Commissioner of Sunamganj district Sheikh Rafiqul Islam told The New Nation last night that out of 2,23,082 hectares of land [of Sunamganj], the paddy of 1,49, 912 hectares has been washed away due to the flash flood. The loss is equivalent to Tk 1,285 crore.



"The residents of 50 villages under Tahirpur, Jamalganj, and Biswamvarpur upazilas franticly tried to save the dam taking several protective measures for the last few days. But their efforts went in vain due to excessive rain for the last three days," the DC said.



Local people and district administration have directly blamed the widespread corruption of Water Development Board engineers in constructing the dams.



"Apart from corruption, the WDB officials also made delay to start construction work of the dams," the DC added.



Officials of Sunamganj district administration said that Anti Corruption Commission is now conducting investigation into the alleged financial irregularities of WDB officials.



Besides, the Water Resources Ministry, Water Development Board and Sunamganj district administration have formed three separate inquiry committees to find out the anomaly in constructing the dams.



An official of ACC requesting anonymity said in the last two years the WDB had sought bids for 28 embankments in 116 packages for Sunamganj. On the other hand, he said, the engineers and contractors have embezzled Tk 25 crore without doing anything.



The scenario is almost same in other districts where the dams are under threat due to poor construction work.

Local people claimed that water from the haor is now entering the nearby villages in Tahirpur upazila through three massively damaged points of the embankment - Lalur Goala, Ahammak Khali and Radhapur.



"The local people tried to keep the dam intact for the last 20 days as heavy rains and flash floods continued. But water started entering from early Sunday after the dam was collapsed at three locations. The Boro crop, which would have been harvested in a few weeks' time, has gone under water," Upazila Chairman Md Kamruzzaman said.



Echoing the same, Chairman of Tahirpur Sadar Union Md Borhanuddin said around 5,000 workers were trying to repair the dam that was built by bamboo and sand-filled sacks for the last few days.



Local sources said, about 50-feet portion of the Lalaurgoala dam was collapsed adjacent to Rajdharpur village under Sreepur union of Tahirpur upazila at about 2:30am on Saturday.



Another portion in front of Ramjibonpur village was damaged after some time. The water of Bolai River entered the haor through the broken portions of the dam damaging crops of 50,000 farmers of adjacent 50 villages.



Our Sunamganj Correspondent adds, that UP Chairman of Fenarbagh Karunasindhu Talukdar and UP Secretary Ajit Kumar Roy with the cooperation of local villagers were trying to save about seven-kilometer long dam adjacent to Urarbandh, Patilchura, Dhailla, Godaraghat of Sajanpur and Kebol Majhir Khola villages.



Now, the villagers are trying to save the crops of 12,000 hectares of land of Pagna Haor under Fenarbagh union of Jamalganj upazila.



Upazila Agricultural Officer Abdus Salam said: "The farmers of Tahirpur upazila cultivated around 6500 hectares of land at Shanir Haor for producing Baro paddy. The rest of the land was cultivated by the people of Jamalpur and Biswamvar upazilas."



He also claimed that the paddy of 15,000 hectares land under Tahirpur upazila has already gone under water. The local farmers, however, have claimed that the quantity of damaged paddy under water is far bigger than the estimate given by the agricultural department.



Deputy Director of Sunamganj Agricultural Extension Department Md Zahedul Haque said if the farmers would get ten days more time, they could save the paddy in the Shanir Haor.


Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Halla Maynard, Distinguished Young Woman of Tennessee will join with young women across the nation April 24-28 in celebrating National Be Your Best Self Week, a national outreach event sponsored by Evonik and presented by Distinguished Young Women. Ms. Maynard will visit Taylor Elementary School on May 1 to present the programs simple message geared toward inspiring young people to lead successful and productive lives.

The senior at Bradley Central High School will use her personal experiences and talents to create and deliver a presentation designed to develop leaders for the future. Be healthy, be involved, be studious, be ambitious and be responsible are the five elements that help define what it truly means to Be Your Best Self and are the principles upon which the outreach program is based. Young people who agree to accept the Be Your Best Self challenge will complete pledge cards as a personal commitment to live by the programs five principles.

Founded in 1987, the Be Your Best Self program is the official outreach program of Distinguished Young Women. In keeping with the Distinguished Young Women mission, the outreach program provides an opportunity for participants to impact the lives of others in their communities, specifically young boys and girls. The message of the Be Your Best Self program is carried across the country through dynamic and engaging presentations created by Distinguished Young Women participants at all levels (local, state and national).

Ms. Maynard will travel to Mobile, Ala. in June to participate in the 60th annual Distinguished Young Women National Finals. She will gain life experience through a series of activities and events while preparing to compete for cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent the program as the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2017.
Psi State Members from Murfreesboro Delta Chapter and Chattanooga Gamma and Kappa Chapters attended the 50th Year Anniversary Celebration, State Convention meeting, held at Red Bank Church of Christ on Saturday.

Linda Williams, 2nd Vice President of Psi State TN and history chair, gave information about the history of the organization. Mary Ruth Holleman organized Psi State on Dec.

4, 1966. Meetings were held in Chattanooga at the Read House. Psi State TN received its charter on Feb. 11, 1967. Lucille Shugart was the first president and founder. Psi State TN has a scholarship in her honor to high school seniors planning to enter the field of education.

Judy McCready, president, Psi State TN conducted the State Convention 50th Year Anniversary meeting celebration. She said she is proud to be a member of National Kappa Kappa Iota and the scholarship opportunities are available for educators as well as for those who are entering the field of education.

She is also proud of the philanthropic projects supported at local, state, and national levels of the organization.

New officers for 2017-2018 were installed. Three charter members of Psi TN were honored. Charter members are Lorene Hill/Delta, Jane Curtis/Delta, and Barbara Baker/Kappa.
If you are looking for the new Immoral Minority posts, you should know that they can be found here at our new home Please stop by to get caught up on politics, join the conversations, or simply check out the new digs.
The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option.
After retreating to the gym, Red Bank Middle School had a successful day raising money for science, math, and band.

Rich Pokorny said, "A huge thanks to everyone who came out, and especially to World Sales, USBorne Books, Nicolai Designs, Rodan and Fields, Mary Kay, Lularoe, Young Living Essential Oils, Rain on a Tin Roof, Cowbell Central, Bluestar Woodworks, Pet Placement Center, and EPB."

Winners of the chalk art contest were, Adult- Heather Pokorny, High School- Ryan Pokorny, Middle School- Grace Tuckier, and Elementary- Zayla Smith.
Since 2002, I have educated people on the workings of the stock market. As the founder of the Eye on the Market Training Academy and associate professor emeritus of finance at John A. Logan College, my goals have been to empower investors and traders on Main Street, how not to be fleeced by Wall Street and how to build financial wealth.

Mind you, I am not an adviser or a broker, but rather an active trader/investor financial analyst and educator. For the next 12 weeks, I will show what goes on behind the curtain and discuss what Wall Street does not want you to know.

So why am I writing this column? This year and next will be pivotal for many readers and investors in Southern Illinois with the upcoming Fiduciary Rule, along with the current bull market getting long in the tooth, so to speak. Without proper risk management, many may be wiped out by the next bear market begins.

Many may be asking, David, with all the financial analysts, why follow you?

Well, here are five reasons:

First, I have no problem challenging Wall Street. In 2015, I challenged CNBCs main stock picker Jim Cramer and his 49 stocks to buy now. Using my proprietary Simple Simon system, I determined the majority of his buy now stocks were not quality picks. One year after my challenge, only 14 of his 49 picks were in the green. Third-party audit results are on my website.

Second, in early September 2008, using my system, I warned followers and students there was a financial storm coming, and it was time to take profits. Two weeks later, on Sept. 29, the Dow dropped 770 points -- in one day. Those advisers and brokers who made fun of my call were not laughing after the huge drop.

Third, I am not a broker. I do not sell mutual funds or any other securities. Therefore, commissions are not an issue.

Fourth, I develop proven trading systems and provide them, free of charge, on my website at Davidoengland.com.

And, lastly, Wall Street has been extremely successful making investing intimidating. I want to show you how investing can be simple and fun!

I have said that being an adviser/broker can be a difficult occupation. There are good and bad advisers/brokers and many in between. Some are extremely successful for their clients, and some are nothing more than street-corner salespeople selling products that are better for the brokers company than for their clients. In future columns, I will provide questions to ask to determine which group your adviser/broker is in.

By the way, many brokers would appreciate better-educated clients. I do not give buy or sell commands, but teach concepts and tools to make better-informed decisions. In the weeks ahead, you will see how I disprove some market axioms.

Making money without a proven system is tough. Just ask the 82 percent, according to WSJ.com on April 13, of high-fee, actively managed US stock fund mutual fund managers who did not outperform (last fifteen years) the market.

What worked over the last 10, 20 and 30 years may not be as effective in todays market. There is no single best strategy to build financial wealth. I teach proven investing/trading strategies for both Bull and bear markets.

In the weeks ahead, I will be discussing popular topics that include active vs. passive investing, the fiduciary paradox, charting, stocks vs. ETFs, revenue sharing, gold and silver, fundamental vs. technical analysis and how the largest (low vs. high) commission funds performed compared to the market.

And, I hope you will join me.

So, where do we begin? Next week, I will introduce new terms and dispel the Wall Street myth: Dont worry, the market always comes back. This is a very popular mantra with some street-corner brokers to convince customers to buy and hold.
Avon Representatives from all over Southern Illinois have partnered together to launch a fundraiser to support The Womens Center of Carbondale, according to a news release from the organization.

The effort raised more than $1,500, plush toys and daily needed items for the shelter.

Avons drive for womens causes seemed to be a good fit to help our local community. Pulling together as a team and serving our neighbors helps us to empower one another," said District Sales Manager Jennifer Gutierrez.

The Womens Center of Carbondale is one of the first domestic violence centers in the country, The Women's Center, Inc. was created in 1972 by a group of visionaries who recognized the need for a safe, secure environment for Southern Illinois women and their children.

 The Southern
Dear Abby: My wife of 43 years died nine months ago after losing her four-year battle with cancer. I met a woman who had also experienced tragedy in her life, and we started seeing each other casually. When my wife's three sisters found out, I became the outcast. Why do people think there is a set time to grieve? Life is too short to sit and pine. Memories will always be there.

This woman has brought me out of my depression and sorrow. I can't understand how people I thought cared for me could be so mean. I was told by the pastor and hospice counselor that grieving takes time, but what is enough time? I was also told to look at the marriages of these women. When I did, I realized that they were unhappy in their unions and probably don't want anyone else to be happy. So what do I do now?

-- Outcast in Pennsylvania

Dear Outcast: You have had more than four years to grieve your late wife's illness and death. Now go on with your life and don't look back.

There's a story in the book of Genesis about a man named Lot, whose wife looked back during the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and was turned into a pillar of salt. What I take from the story is that sometimes it isn't healthy for people to spend a lot of time looking backward, because if you do, you too can become "frozen" and unable to move forward with your life.

Dear Abby: One of my co-workers, "Bob," has the same bad habit as I do -- smoking. (I know smoking isn't good for me and I have tried to quit several times. One day I will, but not just yet.)

Bob has been bumming cigarettes from me two to three times a day, five days a week, since I started here over a year ago. He's always asking me or another co-worker. He never buys his own. Strike that! He has bought two cartons about eight months apart to "thank me" for giving him cigarettes, but in the end, I smoked only one pack total out of both cartons. It's like he gave them to me so I could ration them to him.

My problem is, Bob is the vice president of the company, and I'm the receptionist. There's a huge salary gap between our positions. How can I respectfully tell him I can no longer afford his habit and mine, and that he should support his own habit?

I have tried to think of different ways to say it, but our cultures are different as well, and I don't want to come across as disrespectful and end up not getting promoted -- or worse, lose my job.

-- Taken Advantage Of in Texas

Dear Taken Advantage Of: Sometimes what we regard as a problem is actually an opportunity. Because you feel that refusing to be your boss' supplier could jeopardize your job, the safest way to handle this would be for you to quit smoking now.

Talk to your doctor (who will be thrilled, I'm sure) about a nicotine withdrawal system to help ease you through the withdrawal. Then, when Mr. VP asks to bum his next cigarette, give him a smile along with the good news that you're kicking your addiction and suggest he join you.
OZARK  Paul Wesselmann remembers well the day he made the decision to reach out for help for the sexual abuse he endured as a young teen. It was 1994  the year "Forrest Gump" was buzzing as the must-see movie of the summer. Wesselmann, then a young man in his 20s, went to see it alone. On the way to the grocery store after leaving the theater, he had to pull over because he was sobbing so hard.

It was that famous scene where Forrest came looking for Jenny because she didnt get on the bus for school that morning that rattled him to the core. As Jennys father stumbles drunk outside with a flask in his hand and yelling for his daughter, Jenny tells Forrest to run. They head out into the cornfield behind her Alabama shack as her father chases after her, and she hits her knees and says, Pray with me, Forrest, and then begins to chant, Dear God, make me a bird, so I can fly far, far, far away from here.

The implication made in the movie  expressed through Forrest Gumps naivete; he described Jennys father as a very loving man  was that young Jenny wanted to get away because her father was sexually molesting her and her sisters. Wesselmann was struck by how much he related to the characters desire to be transported from that horrid abuse  as it happened in real time, and the many times after that it played like a broken record in his head.

Shortly afterward, Wesselmann said he picked up the phone and scheduled an appointment to see a counselor. He realized that he could no longer shove into the dark reaches of his soul the tragedy he endured as a young teenager at Camp Ondessonk in the early- to mid-1980s.

There, as a camp counselor and trainee, Wesselmann, who grew up in Carbondale, said he was molested and raped between the ages of 15 and 17 by Father Robert Vonnahmen, the camps founder and longtime director, and an assistant director  both of whom are long removed from the camp.

Without excusing what was allowed to transpire there, Wesselmann stressed that the people who perpetuated the abuse, and the others who allowed it to happen, have not been affiliated with the camp since the mid-1980s. Today, Wesselmann said he believes the camp is in good hands, and is a place that offers many wonderful opportunities for young boys and girls to enjoy the outdoors while developing self-esteem and self-reliance. Wesselmann said he understands that many people have cherished memories about the summers they spent at Camp Ondessonk, and he counts himself among them.

'I was just a kid'

At present, Wesselmann lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is known as the Ripples Guy for the motivational talks he gives to businesses, schools and associations that are based on the concept that one positive action can create ripples of others.

He credits the many skills and traits developed during the nine summers he spent at Camp Ondessonk as a camper, and later a counselor, with many of his personal and professional successes in adulthood.

And despite that many of his positive memories are overshadowed by the abuse he endured, Wesselmann still calls it one of my favorite places on the planet  as he put it in a letter to the Catholic Church a few years ago stating his case for the church to continue covering the cost of his therapy.

It is that juxtaposition of the good and evil surrounding the wooded, rustic campsite in the Shawnee National Forest in rural Johnson County that has made healing so excruciatingly painful and challenging, Wesselmann said.

One of the reasons these memories are so awful is that they were created when I was just a kid. I randomly relive these moments of feeling so confused and so alone and so terrified, Wesselmann said this week in an interview with The Southern conducted via email and by phone.

These memories are disturbing not only because I didn't LIKE what was happening to me  they are so much worse because I was too young to really UNDERSTAND what was happening to me (emphasis is Wesselmanns).

It seemed logical to my adolescent mind that it happened because of something I did wrong or that I somehow deserved what happened.

Even though Im almost 50 years old, and even though Ive had over 20 years of therapy that has been helpful in many ways, these thoughts and feelings still echo in my soul. And there are still times when I believe them.

Lessons learned from tragedy

Wesselmann said he agreed to speak out about the horror of child sex abuse as part of The Southern Illinoisans month-long April series in recognition of National Child Abuse Awareness Month because he believes what happened in Southern Illinois should not be forgotten.

By speaking out, Wesselmann said his intention is not to inflict pain or shame on the church or camp, but rather, so that lessons can be learned from it and that such a tragedy of systemic abuse and widespread dismissal and cover up is never repeated  by the Catholic Church or any other organization. And so that people may understand the depth of the damage that sexual abuse inflicts upon a child long after they are grown, even in some cases long after the perpetrator has died.

And of equal importance to him, Wesselmann said he hopes his story may provide some sense of comfort to someone else going through a similar situation, and give them the hope and strength to get the help they need to move forward in life if they havent yet taken that step.

Victims of sexual abuse live with that horror for a lifetime, Wesselmann said. Thats especially true for people victimized while they are children, before they have the capacity to understand what is happening, and particularly when the abuse occurs at the hands of a trusted and admired adult, as is most often the case in child sex abuse cases. Rarely is the abuse perpetuated by a stranger.

Vonnahmen, despite that he was never formally charged with any crimes, is widely regarded as one of this regions most notorious alleged child predators. That said, the child sex abuse epidemic stretches far beyond Vonnahmen and the Catholic Church.

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services data indicate that child sex abuse in the region is a longstanding and widespread problem. As is the case with abuse and neglect rates overall, child sex abuse rates in Southern Illinois also are much higher than the statewide average  double or triple the rates in some regional counties. Wesselmann said that if his story touches the heart of just one victim, he will consider the difficulty of sharing it well worth it.

When I cross paths with adults who are abuse survivors, or adults who are trying to help children who they believe were abused, I tell them the bad news and the good news, Wesselmann said. The bad news is that childhood sex abuse is soul-crushing, especially when committed by adults in positions of power that we trusted.

And the earlier the abuse begins and the more frequent it happens, the deeper the scar tissue runs. The good news is that scars are a sign of healing as much as they are a sign of injury. There are many good resources and therapies out there that have provided significant healing to abuse victims. The best news is that it turns out that we humans are remarkably resilient creatures.

Untangling dark thoughts

After he was abused as a teenager, Wesselmann said one of the most difficult personal issues he had to sort through came when, as a young man, he acknowledged to himself that he was gay, even before coming out to his friends and family. Once he acknowledged that fact internally, Wesselmann said he lost the will to live. The next week, Wesselmann said he was hospitalized after his first of what would become multiple suicide attempts.

Wesselmann said he didnt want to live because he had developed a distorted belief  based on the abuse he endured as a child  that if he was gay, that meant he would eventually molest other teenagers as he had been molested.

Wesselmann said that even though he had zero desires in his heart or mind to do that, he assumed that he would have no choice but to eventually morph into a pedophile, and thats why he wanted to take his life  he assumed it would be better to be dead than to end up like his perpetrators. It wasnt until months of therapy that he was able to untangle these dark thoughts, he said. Over time, he came to understand that just because something evil was done to him, that in no way meant evil lived inside of him, and that being gay had nothing at all to do with pedophilia.

I didnt really experience it as a burden or trauma at first  it just seemed a normal part of life because that was the life I knew, Wesselmann said of the feelings he experienced as a young man in the early years after the abuse ended. I think the most damaging outcome of the actual abuse was assuming that my feelings of attraction to other guys was somehow related to what happened to me, and the fear that I myself could/would become a predator terrified me for years  well into adulthood in fact. The churchs concealment of the abuse contributed to the shame I felt, and made it tough to trust and respect others.

'It was life-changing'

Another individual who said he was raped at the camp in the mid-1980s also wanted to tell his story, but anonymously. The 47-year-old man asked only to be referred to as JT. He lives in Southern Illinois, but the newspaper is withholding his hometown to protect his identity. The newspaper interviewed JT in March in his therapists office in Carbondale. His story further illustrates the lasting trauma of childhood sexual abuse.

I was a child. I was 14. I thought I was going to the most wonderful place in the world, Camp Ondessonk, he said, recalling the events that shattered his life. For me, what happened was not wonderful in any way. It was life-changing.

JT described being sexually attacked by Vonnahmen while he was a counselor in training in mid-June, 1984. JT said other camp leaders knew about the abuse, to him and others, and did nothing. JT also said he wanted to come forward with his story because he knows many others out there are struggling as he is, and he wants them to know they are not alone.

Into adulthood, JT said he suffers night terrors  which he describes as far worse than nightmares.

I literally sleep anywhere from two to three hours a night, he said. I have problems eating because Im so nervous. You feel like youre on the outside of the world just looking in. You cant engage and you dont know why.

JT said that one of the many frustrating things about the situation is that it didnt seem as though as much national press attention was paid to Vonnahmen, what happened at Camp Ondessonk and in other Southern Illinois parishes, even though the sex abuse scandal hit particularly hard here. In total, 13 priests and one prominent deacon were removed from their pastoral duties in the 1990s from the Belleville Diocese, which oversees parishes in roughly the bottom third of the state.

But my God, what happened here was a tragedy, a huge tragedy, JT said. JT said he only came forward with his story to the church last year, in April 2016, after therapy helped him gain the courage to contact the diocese. Looking forward, he encourages people to reach out for professional help, and not be afraid or ashamed to do so regardless of where they are in their healing journey.

Vonnahmen defrocked in 2007

Though Vonnahmen was removed from his position as director of Camp Ondessonk in 1985, shortly after Wesselmann and others came forward privately with allegations, Vonnahmen was allowed to continue his role as a priest at a church in Elizabethtown after that.

It wasnt for another eight years until the church found him unfit for ministry and removed him from his priestly duties; it was 22 years later that he was laicized, in 2007.

Meanwhile, The Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville, to which Vonnahmen belonged, has funded and continues to pay out large sums in court settlements and voluntary payments to fund therapy for victims of Vonnahmens and other pedophile priests who were assigned to parishes throughout the Metro East and Southern Illinois. Both Wesselmann and JT said the church continues to pay for their therapy services.

Wesselmann said he is thankful, on one hand, that the church has made these payments, but also continues to press for the church leadership to confess publicly and apologize for what transpired. That includes not only the abuse, but the fact that those at the top of the dioceses hierarchy were informed about what was going on, but did not act with enough expedience or in a manner that indicated they understood and acknowledged the gravity of the situation, both Wesselmann and JT said.

While private acknowledgements and apologies have been made to Wesselmann by church leaders over the years about the fact that they didnt do more or act sooner, he said it would mean more, and provide a greater level of healing, if the apology were made public.

Ive never gotten the sense that the Catholic Church as a whole has recognized its need to publicly confess these sins even though its own holy sacrament of reconciliation is a core tenet of their faith, Wesselmann said. Im confident their public statements could seem more authentic and therefore be more cathartic if they came from leaders who had the capacity to comprehend and fully acknowledge the spiritual holocaust the church unleashed on so many of its own members souls  made significantly worse by concealment and denials.

For example, he said, Vonnahmen should not have been allowed to continue his role as a priest after being removed from the camp in 1985. And he should not have been allowed the ability to oversee a religious-based nonprofit, Catholic Shrine Pilgrimage, which operated a travel agency and led trips to religiously significant sites worldwide, and through which the San Damiano Retreat Center was built on an expansive piece of property between Hardin and Pope counties. In the early 2000s, when questioned about Vonnahmen's activities by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a church leader stated that Vonnahmen had been asked to note in his advertising materials that his group has no ties to the diocese.

Despite the terror Wesselman and JT say Vonnahmen inflicted on them and others, Vonnahmen lived on that beautiful piece of tax-free property in what was essentially his own personal luxurious retirement villa that offered stunning views of the Ohio River. The church did not return a phone call seeking comment by deadline as to the concerns raised by Wesselman and JT.

Mixed emotions at Vonnahmen's death

Vonnahmen died on May 8, 2016. The church did not note his passing, but Wesselmann and others did.

The evening he learned of Vonnahmens death, Wesselmann posted the news on his Facebook page with a statement that ended: His passing may be another opportunity to mourn the more carefree childhoods that many of us never got to experience, and to acknowledge that the world is more complicated than we would like to believe.

After years of therapy and internal work, Wesselmann said that while there is no way to entirely erase the depth of pain that comes from being sexually abused as a young person, healing is possible. He wants other victims who may be at different places in their healing journey to know that a life filled with moments of joy and happiness and peace that surpasses understanding still is possible.

Lately, he counts his blessing for having picked up the phone years ago and scheduling an appointment with a counselor after finding himself frighteningly depressed by that scene in "Forrest Gump," and not really understanding why. Through therapy and over time, the pain has stayed in remission for longer and longer periods of time, he said.

There are still moments, though, when pain re-emerges like a fresh wound. Something as subtle as the sound of certain voices or even smells can transport me back to a time when I felt really alone and afraid, he said.

Wesselmann said that a few employees of the diocese have privately given sincere apologies. That, coupled with the fact that the church has covered the cost of more than 20 years of therapy has been significantly helpful. But he remains frustrated that the only public statements about the abuse he endured and reported was one that amounted to a denial. Publicly, the church has never offered an alternative or corrective statement to the only ones ever made publicly on the ordeal.

Therefore, as Wesselmann sees it, the church maintains its original assertions  that the camp leadership in the mid-1980s were removed from their posts because of financial issues and that the abuse Wesselmann reported to them years ago amounted only to someone touching me on the knee, as he said a church official relayed to the Belleville News-Democrat in the late 1990s  despite vast accusations and private statements made to the contrary.

Observing up-close the capacity of several church leaders to publicly deny the truth while privately acknowledging my pain was frustrating. And heartbreaking, he said. That betrayal of trust, and the continued public denials of my story that they had privately accepted as true, makes it hard for me to trust others  especially authority figures.

Wesselmann said he has come to terms with the fact that there are some answers or acknowledgements about the abuse he and others endured that he may never get. Wesselmann said he held out some small hope over the years that Vonnahmen might write him a letter of apology. When that letter never came and Vonnahmen died, Wesselmann wrote that letter himself  as if it were from Vonnahmen  and included all the things he hoped his abuser would tell him in repenting. It proved to be a cathartic exercise, Wesselmann said. Its one of the many small ways hes helped himself move on  one day at a time.

I think what we hope for most is sustainable peace in the midst of inescapable pain, he said. When youre haunted by untamed ghosts of the past, you dont really get to decide when youll have to relive some of the most terrifying moments of your life.

But Wesselmann also added that he has found some peace from recognizing the abuse did happen, and that he is not alone. Lots of other people have survived really tough stuff and figured out how to keep moving forward, he said.
Leaders on Capitol Hill are about to turn their attention to health care reform again. While repeal and replace has the most attention, what is at stake is beyond the fate of the Affordable Care Act. We have the opportunity to strengthen healthcare for the future and create a more effective and efficient system for all Americans.

While reducing health care costs is an important goal, cutting Medicaid funding or reducing essential benefits alone will not reduce health care costs in the long run. If we really want to transform health care, we have to change the way it is delivered.

If we examine what influences health care costs, one of the most significant drivers of costs is not necessarily coverage, but the fragmented nature of our health care system. Today, close to 5 percent of the population consumes about 50 percent of health care spending. Data and experience have shown that people are more likely to use excessive and costly services in the absence of access to the type of right care. This explains why so many use costly emergency room visits to address health conditions that have spiraled out of control. This is particularly true for the millions of Americans who have mental health or substance use disorders.

Approximately one in five Americans has a mental health disorder. If a person loses mental health coverage under Medicaid, we will compromise their overall health and well-being. We also jeopardize their ability to hold a job, maintain their home and keep their children, and increase the likelihood that they will end up in a hospital or prison. Untreated depression is considered the costliest condition for employers, responsible for the equivalent of 27 lost work days per year. The costs of all these circumstances are far more than the cost of community based care.

The same can be said of substance abuse. Untreated substance abuse can lead to infection, heart disease, liver disease, and death. Too many people with addictions land in emergency rooms or jails, and the cost is astronomical. A 2016 report from the US Surgeon General showed that the yearly annual economic impact from the misuse of prescription drugs, illicit drugs or alcohol in the United States is $442 billion.

Behavioral health treatment services can impact the costs of all these areas  in most cases for far less than the cost of an emergency room visit. If we can focus on improving patient outcomes, we will be making a critical investment in healthier, more self-sufficient citizens. For every dollar spent on improving treatment for just depression and anxiety, the return on the investment is more than $4 in increased productivity and health for our citizens.

This is why we cannot roll back essential health benefits  particularly coverage for mental health and addiction disorders. Removing mental health and addictions treatment from the essential health benefits package will simply shift costs from healthcare spending to other more expensive arenas  all without addressing the health needs of the population. Instead, we need to recognize and reward health care providers who help their patients achieve the best quality outcomes.

As our elected officials prepare to return to Washington, D.C., it is our sincere hope that they look beyond cuts to coverage and toward the ways health care is delivered. Reform that rewards outcomes and value will be the true driver in curbing costs creating a healthier future for us all.
To the Editor:

Very seldom do we see a night and day difference between leaders. When President Donald Trump pulverized the airbase Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad had just used to gas helpless Syrian children, we saw the difference between a man who leads  Trump  and a man who only pretended to lead.

During Barack Obama's presidency, Assad carried out a ruthless terror campaign against his own people. He slaughtered thousands of innocents to preserve his authority. Under Obama's leadership, the United States stood by as the world watched the horrific atrocities Assad committed.

Thankfully for the world, and to the great credit of the American electorate, Obama's ineptitude was swept aside in November when Trump won the Oval Office. When Assad again gassed children, Trump did not talk about "red lines"; he did not run his mouth about Assad's tyranny; and he did not telegraph a plan of response. He sent 59 American Tomahawk missiles to destroy Assad's airbase.

In 1986 Ronald Reagan clipped Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi's wings in a similar manner. Harkening back some thirty years to the days of Reagan, America is once again the superpower which will not tolerate gassing children. Obama's gutless, powerless, inept foreign policies have ended.

Americans, take a bow. Hopefully, the next batch of Tomahawk missiles will have Assad's name written on them. A very dark night has turned into a bright day!

Chris Tabing

Coulterville
Lets cut right to the chase  the situation in Cairo is untenable.

Residents of the city are upset that public housing is being torn down and nobody has been held accountable for the negligence and apparent malfeasance that led to the deterioration of the McBride and Elmwood housing complexes. City leaders are upset that razing public housing could destroy Cairo. And, the states elected officials are upset that nothing has been done.

Quite frankly, everyone involved has the right to be angry.

The residents of the McBride Place and Elmwood Place housing complexes must feel that nobody is on their side.

So, now is a time for the people of Cairo to make a stand and rise up above the mess not of their making. And, from what weve seen, theyre off to a good start.

We have to start looking out for our own, said Cairo community activist Steven Tarver at this past Wednesdays tenant meeting in Cairo.

We agree. It is obvious the federal government isn't interested in allowing residents of the ill-fated housing complexes to remain in Cairo.

Tarver, who owns an establishment in Cairo called Talk of the Town, has put together a group called Men of Power-Sisters of Strength in order to find answers.

Weve spoken to him and he has a lot of ideas that will help the city. His plan involves acquiring the land after the housing complexes are demolished and building anew.

Hes been in contact with developers and other business organizations in Illinois to see what they can do to help. There are no concrete plans yet, but at least someone is taking positive forward looking steps.

Its this kind of leadership that gives us faith in the Cairo and its people. This is exactly the kind of leadership Cairo needs right now.

The McBride and Elmwood housing residents are in an unwinnable situation right now.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has stated the housing complexes will be razed and not rebuilt. Residents will likely be forced to find housing outside of Cairo  the place they want to stay because it is home.

Cairo is where their families are. For most of them, Cairo is where theyve lived their entire lives. Cairo is where there hearts are.

Thats where the community comes in.

During Wednesdays meeting, Tarver had a message for the angry residents: I ask that you guys please dont be fearful. Have hope. Have faith. Dont rely on the government. Rely on yourself. When you go to these meetings, get your information.

Hes right  the residents of the McBride and Elmwood housing complexes need to listen.

We get it. You feel angry and betrayed. Thats a perfectly understandable reaction. But, now is also a time to listen. Get all the answers, so that when it comes to time to make a decision, you are prepared.

Anger makes it difficult to look at the situation rationally, but reason is vitally important.

At the same time, Cairo residents have every right to be angry. They have been wronged so many times in the past, its hard to feel positive. They want to see justice served to those who created this mess.

And, quite frankly, its way past time that somebody was held accountable.

Theyve had more than enough time to investigate this and the residents are upset and they should be, said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., after a town hall meeting Friday with residents in Cairo. We ought to know whether or not there is any action that is going to be taken by HUD or the Department of Justice for mismanagement of this housing authority.

After visiting Cairo and meeting with the residents there, its very evident that the city is not a ghost town like many people think. Residents care about their home. They want to see a brighter future, and they want to help build that future.

Heres the bottom line: Cairo needs a hero. Whether it be Tarver and his group, the community or an elected official, it doesnt matter. Someone needs to step up  and someone needs to be held accountable for this mess.

The people of Cairo deserve better.
Photos: 30+ Beautifully Nerdy Signs From The Chicago Science March

By aaroncynic in News on Apr 22, 2017 8:01PM

Thousands rallied and marched in Grant Park from Jackson Street and Columbus Drive to the Museum Campus for the March For Science Saturday morning.

The Chicago march was one of about 600 taking place worldwide, coinciding with Earth Day, to celebrate science, as well as draw attention to the various attacks certain scientific factsparticularly climate changehave faced in recent months.

I know I wouldnt be who I am today without the science that is the beating heart of broad shoulders, Adam Arcus, one of the organizers of the march, told the crowd. Today is quite possibly the largest global event in the name of science in all of human history.



Organizers estimated at least 40,000 people attended the march. Before attendees even began their short jaunt to the Museum Campus, the crowd was so large that the Chicago Police Department Tweeted, and later deleted , the message that people should refrain from attending if they werent already present: Due to large crowds, if you were planning on attending #marchforscience but are not yet downtown to please refrain. Heavily congested area.

We really wanted to do something and it feels really good to be out on Earth Day marching with scientists, because science is so important to our everyday life, said Lolly Extract of the Jabberwocky Marioneetes, who was helping a group of demonstrators carry two life-sized fossil T-Rexs. The puppets stood about 10 feet high and stretched at least 20 feet in length, and led the march along with a group of middle school children which included 8th grade student Freddie Lopez, who read an essay to the crowd prior to the march.

My dream is to come up with the next great idea, Lopez told the crowd.

Onstage, speakers also mentioned the importance of diversity within the scientific community. Today Im those preaching out against a major issue facing science thats rarely discussed - the rising negative connotation associated with being a scientist, Gary Cooper, CEO of Rheaply Inc. You might assume that scientists by in large are all old, slightly to fully balding, privileged white men who work and reside in ivy league universities and very well to do elite parts of this country.

I am a scientist, added Cooper, who is African American and originally from Dayton, Ohio.

There was a noticeable difference though, between some of the speeches from the stage and signs and attitudes in the crowd. Some of the speeches at times appeared to carefully step around making any direct criticisms of President Donald Trump or others members of his administration, or other politicians in office who have often promoted policy agendas that go against established scientific theories, including climate change. Still, marchers acknowledged the administrations less than enthusiastic attitudes towards science.



The government has made cuts to the EPA, has climate deniers in high positions, funding to educational programs has been slashed. If it werent for science, we just wouldnt be here, said Extract.
COLUMBIA -- From the builders of some of America's earliest railroads and farms to Civil Rights pioneers and digital technology entrepreneurs, Indian Americans have long been an inextricable part of American life. The State Museums new traveling exhibition, "Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation," details the history of Indian Americans and their contributions to the United States from the 1700s to the present. The first-of-its-kind exhibition from the Smithsonian is now open at the State Museum opening.

Approximately 17 million people in the U.S. are of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, and the number is expected to climb to 41 million by 2050. One in every 100 Americans has a family connection to India. Indian immigrants helped build the nations railroads, worked in lumber mills, toiled on farms and established prosperous trading routes that are still in use today. Through a vibrant collection of photographs, artifacts, art and interactive learning stations, guests will experience the Indian American story and explore the many dynamic roles Indian Americans have played in shaping South Carolina and the rest of the nation.

A wonderful aspect of this project has been working with the Indian American community. The museum has been working with some great partners to tell the South Carolina story of Indian Americans in our state and also preparing some amazing programs in conjunction with the exhibition, said JoAnn Ziese, curator of history. Its an honor to share the important story of both immigrants and those who have been in the state for generations. Everyone in the Indian American community has been excited to share their experiences and introduce people to their culture and history.

Created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, "Beyond Bollywood" features Indian Americans migration experiences, working lives, political struggles and cultural and religious contributions. The exhibit will be accompanied by a series of Tuesday night events from 6 to 8 p.m. including:

Midlands Gives Bollywood Celebration (May 2)

Food and Spices of India (May 9)

Clothing and Costumes of India (May 16)

Music and Dance of India (May 23)

Holistic Healing (June 13)

Vedanta Spiritual Philosophy (June 20)

All Tuesday night events are free with museum general admission. "Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation" is also free with museum general admission. Visit scmuseum.org to learn more.
The New Mexico Office of African American Affairs and Warehouse 508 have come together to teach kids that being an artist can be a viable way to live through a series of five workshops called Youth Engagement . Beginning this Saturday, April 15 , kids from 11-20 can learn how to identify skills attained through hobbies that can be used for income. A lot of artistic hobbies are often regarded as just for fun when the skills learned can be used in many careers like therapy, marketing, graphic and interior design, just to name a few. The workshops cover hip-hop dance, financial literacy, poetry, t-shirt printing and social justice art. The dates following this Saturday's event are April 22, May 13 and May 20. These free workshops require a reservation call Shaina Saint-Lot at (505) 383-6215 or email her at shaina.saintlot@state.nm.us to put yourself or your child's name on the list, only 40 kids can join each workshop datewhich lasts from 10am to 3pm . (Rini Grammer)

Kids identify their skills while learning about themselves, how to approach different activities with an economic mindset and find hobbies that are inherently valuable.

OAAA has partnered with Warehouse 508 to create exciting FREE field trips for youth aged 11-20. We are offering five workshops: hip hop dance, financial literacy, poetry, t-shirt printing, & social justice art with free lunch. RSVP to attend!

We have four dates available at 40 youth per day. The dates are Saturday April 15, April 22, May 13, and May 20 from 10am-3pm.

We are offering five workshops: hip hop dance, financial literacy, poetry, t-shirt printing, and social justice art and a free Dions lunch.

In general, goals for the workshops are:

1. Help youth identify their self-worth and skills while learning about themselves and their peers

2. Learn to approach different activities, especially hobbies and passions, with an economic mindset (recognizing the different possibilities and career paths around that activity)

3. Discover that skills normally deemed worthless or just for fun are not only inherently valuable, but also have many ripple effects because of their transferability (e.g. art being used for therapy, marketing, graphics, interior design, etc., poetry being used to strengthen communication skills in writing, interviewing, public speaking, etc.)

4. HAVE FUN & LEARN

The purpose of the Youth Engagement Field Trips is to engage our youth in an interactive, unique manner so they are more receptive to learning. Wed like to teach about financial literacy and creative entrepreneurship to stimulate a business driven mindset. With issues of low self-esteem and low perceived self-worth, wed also like to identify different skills our youth possess and highlight the inherent worth of each skill. Its even more important to help our youth discover that many skills are transferrable. While something may be done just for fun or society may label it as a worthless, there are many ways to channel our hobbies, passions, and underused skills in an economically tangible manner.

RSVP is mandatory for attendance. Children must be from the ages of 11-20.
Artist Sparks Outrage For Ripping Off Design For Michelle Obama Mural

By Stephen Gossett in News on Apr 23, 2017 6:45PM



GoFundMe

A Chicago muralist and self-described urban planner faced a tsunami of criticism this weekend over a recently unveiled mural of Michelle Obama, which shows the former First Lady in the style of an Egyptian queen, in South Shore. But the controversy has nothing to do with content and everything to do with authorship: the image used by the muralist, Chris Devins, appears to have been taken from Ethiopia-native artist Gelila Mesfina credit that Devins didn't at first acknowledge either in speaking about the mural with media or while crowd-funding more than $11,000 for the project on GoFundMe.

Devins told DNAinfo on Friday after the mural was finished, "I wanted to present [Obama] as what I think she is, so she's clothed as an Egyptian queen. I thought that was appropriate. But he didnt recognize Mesfin, who posts work under the handle thick_east_african_girl on Instagram. Users on social media, however, did soon recognize.

This mural was not an original idea- Chris Devin's stole this BW artist work. pic.twitter.com/mC4oY08zen  Lord Rach (@RachaeltheLord) April 22, 2017 So @LeagueOfExtra what's up w/ you claiming Galile Mesfin's aka Thick_East_African_Girl on IG's painting as your own for that mural you did? pic.twitter.com/hYP5blhevF  Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) April 22, 2017



After the firestorm grew, Mesfin expressed dismay and called Devins actions disrespectful.

She wrote in an Instagram post:



"How can you just steal someone's artwork... someone's hard work and claim it like it's yours... how can you go on record and say you designed this... this is so disheartening and so disrespectful on so many levels... like this man seriously created a gofundme page, raised money and did this... it's one thing to share or even profit from someone's work but to claim it as yours is just wrong!"



In an updated version of the DNAinfo post, Devins called his handling of the situation sloppy and said Mesfin has been offered a licensing fee, and that we did not intend to claim authorship, only inspiration.

Still, Devinswho in the past has garnered some local press for previous muralswas on the defensive throughout the weekend over charges of racism (which he tried to deflect by pointing out that his mother is black) and theft.

The broader conversation is one about authorship in the re-mix culture we live in. and this hate coming from people who listen to music that is entirely sampled from other peoples original music., Devins posted in a GoFundMe update. That post linked to a photograph that appears to have served as a base inspiration for Mesfins (transformative, it should be noted) Egyptian design.

In the since-deleted statement below, and elsewhere, Devins has cited urban planning as rationale, alsowhich didnt go over great either.

Meanwhile, in an appropriately we-go-high statement posted on Saturday evening, Mesfin asked for positivity, said that she is contact with Devins " in hopes of resolving this issue in an applicable and professional manner," and noted that another public comment is forthcoming.
An Orangeburg couple has gifted the Medical University of South Carolina's future children's hospital.

Pearl and Frank Tourville gave MUSC's future Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital $10 million, according to an article published by the hospital.

The donation was given toward an advanced fetal care clinic to be named Pearl Tourville Womens Pavilion. The Tourville family owns and operates Orangeburg-based Zeus Industrial Products.

The pavilion will handle complex pregnancies and neonatal care as well as providing the necessary space to ensure mothers and babies -- and their families -- can remain together throughout their hospital stay, according to the hospital's 2016 annual report on giving.

Senior Medical Director for Women's Health Dr. David Soper said the pavilion will "provide a family-centered care in a bright new environment.

"Our building now is many years old and hard to facelift," Soper said. "It will be a beautiful new place to provide what we would like to characterize as a high touch or very caring and high tech using all the technology advancements and resources we have to take care of our complicated pregnancies."

Soper said one thing he wants the public to know is that the hospital will be a "place of safety."

"I want our patients to walk into this building and feel safe," he said, adding that the facility will have the very best of providers and specialists. "Currently, we take care of the most ill and the most complicated patients in the region. That requires us to have the resources available to labor and delivery. We have to intervene relatively rapidly but we have the ability to deliver critical care."

Soper said the facility will also be available for the estimated 15 percent of what are classified as more normal procedures that may require some critical intervention.

The pavilion will be a part of the $385 million, 10-story Shawn Jenkins Childrens Hospital, which is targeted to open in 2019.

The facility itself will have 12 labor and delivery rooms and five high-risk antepartum rooms that are actually inside labor and delivery for women who need a higher level of care.

MUSCs Advanced Fetal Care Center will be housed on the second floor, according the article.

The pavilion will have two dedicated operating rooms for obstetrics.

There are 29 postpartum beds in the tower designed as single room care so families can stay together.

The pavilion will provide a spa-like atmosphere, complete with valet parking and an express stork elevator that opens directly into labor and delivery, according to the August piece.

The rooms will be appointed with separate zones so theres a space for caregivers, the patient and the baby.

A stabilization unit used for babies in a medical crisis features a window so families can see what is happening to their child.

Services provided by the fetal center will include intrauterine surgeries, such as a procedure to address twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome when there is a sharing of blood vessels between twins.

The Tourvilles are no stranger to charitable donations.

About six years ago, the couple also contributed to the hospital's Arrhythmia Center.

The center specializes in complex ablations for atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, as well as device implants and other complex treatments.

The funding from the Tourvilles helped the center expand its medical staff and facilities.

The Tourvilles have also given to The Regional Medical Center for the expansion of the H. Filmore Mabry Center for Cancer Care and construction of the Dialysis Access Institute.

In addition to owning Zeus, the Tourvilles also own the Orangeburg Country Club.
Some Regional Medical Center trustees met with doctors behind closed doors Monday evening to discuss hospital personnel matters, including the search for a new chief executive officer.

The meeting was held between the hospital's seven-member Management Oversight Committee and the ten-member Medical Executive Committee.

The Rev. Dr. Caesar Richburg described the approximately one-hour long meeting as a cordial with good, wholesome discussions.

"There was an excellent exchange," he said.

The meeting was held entirely behind closed doors. Prior to the meeting, hospital attorney Bob Horger cited S.C. Freedom of Information Act provisions allowing private discussions of personnel issues.

Horger said the discussion related to the hiring of a new CEO, such as the characteristics wanted in a new CEO.

"I think if you publish that information, I don't think that is necessarily beneficial to the institution," Horger said. "I think it could be detrimental to the institution."

He said medical staff and the board could be seeking different characteristics in a CEO.

"They could get into (discussions about) specific individuals, I don't know, Horger said.

Richburg said both bodies seem to be on the same page.

"We want someone to come in with his or her skill set and to provide excellent leadership and stellar leadership as we find ourselves involved in this medical institution and the culture we are in right now, particularly as it impacts health care," he said. "That is the concern of all of us and the community as a whole."

Richburg said he is optimistic that discussions will continue to move in a positive direction.

Afterward, RMC Board Chairman Melvin Seabrooks declined to provide specific details of the meeting except to note that discussions and conversations were fruitful.

The hospital trustees voted to end RMCs management contract with Quorum Health Resources at the end of March and enter into an advisory agreement with QHR.

The search for a new CEO follows the hospital's decision to replace RMC CEO Tom Dandridge at the end of January. He had served the hospital for 24 years.

Hospital officials say a national search for a new CEO could take between four and six months, although it may take longer.
Bamberg Police Department

A 32-year-old Denmark man was arrested on April 17 and charged with breach of peace. The arrest occurred at a Main Highway business owned by the man's mother after officers were called to investigate a disturbance there.

Officers were told the son had damaged a mailbox and kicked out the drivers side window of his mother's car.

The woman said she did not want to press charges against her son, saying he was a veteran who needed help. According to the incident report, the man had been drinking.

Dispatch notified the officers there was a bench warrant out on the suspect. At one point during the incident, the man told his mother that her day was coming," the report states.

In other reports:

A 38-year-old Asheville, North Carolina man was arrested on April 17 at The Advertizer-Herald newspaper on McGee Street. Officers were called to the business where employees described the suspect as being dressed all in black with a black backpack. They said he was headed down Sunset Street.

The man had allegedly entered the business, gone into one of the offices and begun going through papers. When police caught up with him, he said he was only trying to get to Job Corps.

He was arrested without incident and charged with breach of peace.

A 47-year-old Calhoun Street woman was arrested and charged with shoplifting, third or subsequent offense, on April 15 after police were dispatched to Dollar Tree on Main Highway. She was also charged with possessing a suspended drivers license.

An employee of the store pointed the woman out to officers when they arrived. When they approached and told she was being watched, the suspect was apologetic, the report states. The woman reached inside her purse and began to pull out items she had reportedly taken from the store shelves. The report noted that the items were not food products but novelty items."

The estimated value of the items in the womans purse was $10. When she was booked, she was found to have $15.86 on her, the report states.
Success breeds success, and Orangeburg County is looking to build on a track record of becoming home to more industries large and small.

Existing industries are key in attracting new firms. That is why as much as industrial acquisitions are cause for celebration, honoring the industries that already call our region home is appropriate and necessary.

In recognition of the significant role both new and existing industries have played in building the county's economy, The Times and Democrat today features the annual Industry Appreciation special section. Youll also find related sections sponsored by the Orangeburg County Development Commission and Orangeburg County.

The special section is one way to thank you to companies for their contributions to our community. It is also a chance to build awareness among citizens that existing business is a fundamental driver of both the local and state economy. Local companies provide jobs, support the state and local tax base, and contribute to every aspect of community leadership.

The numbers tell a significant story.

About 22,983 of Orangeburg County's 34,054 employed are working in the industrial sector, according to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce data from 2016.

"The core of economic development is making or manufacturing something," Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson says in a report in todays special section. "It is about creating wealth."

"The importance of manufacturing in generating wealth for the community is so small business can flourish and small business can service people that work in manufacturing," Robinson said.

Robinson is optimistic about further growth, saying last year saw prospect activity the highest in five years and unemployment at the lowest level the county has seen in more than a decade.

In 2016, the county also had more than 65 prospect visits up, from 57 in 2015.

About 75 percent of the interest was from manufacturing, with 44 percent of Orangeburg Countys project visits from international companies.

Orangeburg County saw new industrial construction of more than 930,000 square feet over the past year and a half, Robinson said.

New facilities in the county that were completed include the IPS Packaging building, Okonite, Sigmatex and a speculative building. And the Inbra Chemicals building was also under construction in early 2017.

Last year, the county alone saw $262.5 million investment and 81 net new jobs.

Importantly, a sizable portion of the investment came from existing industries, including the countys largest employer Husqvarna, SI Group and Dempsey Wood Products.

Nurturing and supporting industries already calling our locality and state their homes are essential, not just to say thank you but to let them know how crucial they are to progress now and in the future. It is not only in their own expansions and their attraction to industries serving them that we grow; their role as communicators is vital.

No matter how good a job our industrial recruiters do, prospects look to the experiences and the satisfaction or dissatisfaction levels of existing industries in sizing up a locale.

Our existing industries have good things to say and a track record of success. We join our communitys leaders in saying thank you.
Like the beautiful springtime in the Carolinas, Orangeburg County is seeing its hard work of infrastructure and capital investment developing into beautiful plants and announcements.

With more than 930,000 square feet (leading the Midlands) of new industrial space in the last 15 months, our time is now and the best is yet to come.

Over the last decade, Orangeburg County has become even more pro-business with an outstanding workforce, strong training programs and great proximity to the interstates and the Port of Charleston.

Now our citizens are reaping these benefits.

The number of prospects (company leaders taking a close look at Orangeburg County) is the highest in five years and unemployment is the lowest in a decade. We continue to target industries like aerospace, transportation, logistics, automotive, plastics, textiles, agribusiness and energy.

During the last year, we have welcomed companies from around the globe. There are now 17 international companies representing 12 foreign countries within the county, with more than 5,000 employees, ranking in the top 10 for the state per capita.

Examples of these new global companies include China-based textile manufacturer Labon, which chose Orangeburg for its first U.S. plant, and Inbra Chemicals from Brazil, which is constructing a new facility on U.S. 21.

Swedish company Husqvarna, the worlds largest producer of outdoor products, also announced a $29 million building expansion on top of a $40 million commitment for new machinery and equipment/expansion.

U.S.-based companies locating or expanding in Orangeburg County include: Carolina Chips, a $36 million facility in Holly Hill; IPS Packaging, which is constructing a 50,000-square-foot facility in the Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park; Colorado-based aerospace supplier Aeridyne; Texas-based metal fabrication company Ameripipe Supply, and wood products company Dempsey.

Its staggering to realize weve had close to 1 million square feet of new construction in the last 15 months as Orangeburg County quickly has become a top business location in the Midlands.

Future growth is constantly on our radar too. We recently finished construction on our new 75,000-square-foot speculative building with 32 feet clear height at Matthews Industrial Park.

Another exciting growth area is solar farms, which have brought the county more than $200 million in investments from companies including Tradewinds, Southern Current and Narenco Solar. Orangeburg County is becoming one of South Carolinas leading centers for renewable energy and is helping reshape the states energy future.

As we welcome new solar farms, we also know that a healthy agricultural community is a necessary part of creating a well-rounded and economically diverse community, so we are taking deliberate steps to more closely align our industrial and agricultural businesses, which ultimately will benefit both.

With all our success, the key ingredient is still collaboration, which Orangeburg County is seeing at encouraging new levels between the county and our 17 municipalities with the One Orangeburg County Initiative.

A group of mayors is working to raise the bar on education with the goal of giving citizens greater access to well-paying jobs. The county also has more than 100 new infrastructure projects that will be funded by the Capital Penny Sales Tax IV, paving the way for new economic development.

Furthermore, the One Orangeburg County Initiative is bringing together hundreds of people committed to making our community an even better place to live, work and play.

As industry grows, commercial retail develops too, benefiting everyone.

In the City of Orangeburg alone, the former Prince of Orange Mall is being renovated in preparation for potential tenants and potentially new commercial shopping areas are under construction.

Texas-based Golden Chick opened its first franchise in Orangeburg County, construction is underway for German discount grocery chain Lidl (first in South Carolina) and Kentucky Fried Chicken returned to the Orangeburg market, just to name a few.

We are proud that Orangeburg County has created a second-to-none environment that attracts businesses.

In addition, Im proud to be part of such a supportive community with committed leaders. Our economic development work would not be possible without the support we receive from so many community leaders, allies and taxpaying citizens.

Our team at OCDC is excited to build on this strong momentum.

In fact, there are several new projects in the pipeline I wish I could tell you about now.

While its too soon to disclose the details, I can tell you Im confident Orangeburg County will continue to rise to new heights and truly make you proud to call her home.
Cox Industries Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mikee Johnson thought he was attending Nov. 17 Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce banquet to see his grandfather William B. Cox Sr. receive an award.

He was not quite sure what award his grandfather was going to receive but that is what he was told.

It did not take Johnson long to realize he was the one receiving the award.

"It was not until they said the first word of the introduction did I know," Johnson said after receiving the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce's Small Business/Person of the Year award. "They did a good job of keeping it secret."

The award is sponsored by First Citizens Bank and highlights a business that has made contributions to the Orangeburg community during the past year.

The business needs to meet five criteria: ethical conduct, respect in the community, recognition for benefiting the community, leadership through improving the local business climate and membership in the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce.

"It is all a good testament to our company,' Johnson said. "There was a foundation set a long time ago and that is really all I am is just a part of Cox and I enjoy being a part of it."

Johnson said Orangeburg has been crucial to Cox's success.

"It is where we got our start," Johnson said. "Headquartered-based companies in the State of South Carolina, I really think they are the lifeblood to our local community. While we love these big-name companies coming in, I am just proud to be a part of a company that was started and headquartered here."

Johnson also noted that rural parts of the state like Orangeburg "are a critical" part of the economy.

"It is where the lion's share of our people live," he said. "It is where the lion's share of our job creation."

When Cox Sr. started the business, he had five employees and a total weekly payroll of $300.

The company now has over a dozen manufacturing facilities and five distribution yards employing some 400 individuals in 10 states. Annual sales are more than $185 million.
A Polaris dealership opened in Orangeburg.

Jimmy Jones Polaris of Orangeburg opened June 6 in the 3,500-square-foot facility that formerly was home to the pre-owned Toyota dealership at 3241 St. Matthews Road.

The full-service Polaris dealership is located next to Jimmy Jones Toyota of Orangeburg and Jimmy Jones Scion of Orangeburg and across the street from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

We wanted to bring a brand to Orangeburg that would not only be a good fit for the community but also something that would complement the Toyota brand as well, owner Jimmy Jones said. We think Polaris is a perfect fit.

The dealership sells all-terrain vehicles, utility vehicles and the Polaris Slingshot, a three-wheeled motor vehicle.

The dealership offers many Polaris products such as Razor, Ranger, Ranger Crew, Sportsman and Highlighter.

The dealership also carries a full line of Polaris accessories for all Polaris and Polaris Slingshot models, as well as a full line of Polaris Youth models and accessories.

After conducting market research, it was determined a Polaris dealership was needed in the Orangeburg area, according to the companys website.

Jones purchased the Toyota of Orangeburg-Scion dealership in July 2014.

Jones has been in the automotive business for 23 years.

He worked at a Ford store in Greenville, North Carolina, for about a year, then joined a Toyota dealership in the same town to sell cars.

In 1998, he left for a Toyota dealership in Goldsboro, North Carolina, eventually becoming its general sales manager.

In 2003 Hubert Vester Toyota-Scion in the neighboring small town of Wilson needed someone with Toyota experience and hired Jones as general manager.
Beijing authorities on Friday issued a drafted citywide rule to regulate the unfettered bike-sharing industry, making the city the fifth Chinese metropolis to lay out concrete requirements in the area, following Shenzhen, Chengdu, Shanghai and Nanjing.

Shared bikes on Chinese streets. [File Photo: Chinanews.com]

Below is a list of major areas addressed by the regulation.

Focus 1: Deposit Management

Most bike-sharing companies in China may charge a deposit to initiate service, and the supervision of the fund remains a hot topic. Numerous cities plan to introduce third-party supervision.

In the newly issued trial document, Beijing requires bike-sharing startups to open special accounts in the city for the deposits they've charged.

The operations office of the People's Bank of China shall take the supervision and management responsibilities for these special accounts so as to prevent and control capital risks.

The companies are obliged to keep the public informed of their time limit for refund and return deposits to users in time.

All refunds should be returned before a firm exits from the bike-sharing market. A public notification is also demanded.

Mobike and ofo, two leading Chinese bike-sharing companies, have responded to the official regulation, expressing a supportive attitude to the rules, in addition to promising to ensure the security of their customers' capital.

Shenzhen, capital of southeast China's Guangdong province, and Shanghai, the largest bike-sharing city in the world  a title claimed by local government last December, have previously announced third-party supervision policies. The latter also requires usage reports of the money and at the same time stipulates that deposits shall be returned within seven days upon request.

Focus 2: Client Security

Along with the spectacularly multiplied fleet of shared bikes have come not only more convenience for commuters but also increasing related traffic accidents, especially those involving children under 12.

Under security considerations, Beijing authorities are placing an emphasis on strengthening insurance claims mechanism for customers and quality inspection for shared bicycles in service.

The draft document is also recommending and encouraging companies to purchase personal accident insurance and third party liability insurance for their clients.

Active assistance should also be provided by enterprises when their users require insurance claims.

Bicycles should be put into use according to relevant legal and technical requirements, equipped with GPS systems.

Bikes in service need to be tested regularly, and those unqualified must be removed in time to ensure safety.

When accidents occur, the division of responsibility should be in compliance with the assertion identified by transport authorities. Users who break relevant regulations will face both credit loss and administrative penalties.

In Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, city officials are also urging insurance purchases and have set up a certain sum of compensation.

Shenzhen and Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu province, clearly demand insurance purchases. The latter has also required the submission of quality examination reports of the shared bikes to local authorities.

According to rules published by Shanghai authorities, shared bikes in service must keep a serviceability rate of 95%, and broken bicycles must be removed within 48 hours. A maintenance crew must be provided, capable of servicing no less than 5% of the total number of bikes in service.

Focus 3: Parking Management

The "stationless" shared-bikes in Chinese metropolitan cities have caused troubles like traffic jams, confusion in parking and vandalism, which constitute the most critical part of the program.

Beijing recommends that bike-sharing companies make use of electronic maps to mark parking and no-parking areas. Users guilty of illegal parking have risk of being blacklisted.

Shenzhen and Nanjing have also promulgated measures to ask users to park properly, thus preventing large numbers of bikes from disturbing others.
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Several officials in Dacheng County in North China's Hebei Province were punished after media reports exposed the state of two sewage pits, local discipline inspection authorities said on Saturday.

Liu Guowang, director of the office of the county committee of the Communist Party of China(CPC), received an intra-Party warning, according to a statement by the Langfang Municipal commission for discipline inspection of the CPC.

From September 2013 to February 2017, Liu was the deputy head of the county in charge of the county's environmental protection work. The county government failed to supervise or help Nanzhaofu Township deal with the sewage pits the statement said.

Liu Zenghuai, former secretary of the township committee of the CPC, who did not highlight the problem of the sewage pits and failed to deal with the pollution should be responsible for the problem, it said. Liu Zenghuai and Ma Donghao, head of Nanzhaofu Township, also received intra-Party warnings.

Deputy head of Dacheng County Xiao Jianjun, and director of the county's environmental protection bureau Fan Junliang, and three other local officials receive a public notice of criticism since they have only been in their posts for a short time, according to the statement.

Pictures of the contaminated pools went viral on Tuesday after a report from an environmental organization exposed the pollution.

Two polluted pools -- 170,000 square meters and 30,000 square meters -- formed by years of digging and illegal dumping of waste acid in 2013, have contaminated water and soil in the area.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) has sent investigation teams to look at the pits and ordered local authorities to intensify monitoring of water and soil in and around the pools.

Dacheng authorities have started to treat the pollution and has set aside 38 million yuan ($5.59 million) to treat the pits in 2017.
By Trend





A Russian contract serviceman was stabbed to death in Armenia, the Russian Southern Military Districts press service said on Saturday, TASS reported.

"On April 22 at about 17.00 hours local time, a contract serviceman of the Russian military base in Armenia has been assaulted by a civilian not far from the base location. The soldier died at the scene from a stab wound. The attacker on the Russian serviceman has been detained by police of the city of Gyumri," the statement said.

The Southern Military Districts command are investigating the case alongside Armenian police, the press service said. "According to preliminary information, it was a voluntary manslaughter," it added.

Earlier, Armenias police said that a Russian soldier was killed in the city of Gyumri on Saturday.

Gyumris ambulance station said that at about 17.30 local time (13.30 GMT) a call came that a man in Russian military uniform was lying breathless near a shop in Kursk Square. Upon arriving at the scene, paramedics declared him dead. The investigation is underway, police said. A suspect has been detained.

Armenia hosts the 102nd Russian Military Base under the interstate treaty signed in 1995. The treaty was amended in 2010 to extend the bases stay in Armenia from 25 years to 49, or to 2044. The base is headquartered in the countrys northwest city of Gyumri.
Bahrain-based wholesale Islamic Investment bank, Ibdar Bank, has announced the appointment of Ayman Sejiny as chief executive officer (CEO) of the bank following Board of Directors approval.



Sejiny brings over 24 years of Investment and corporate banking experience, having held senior roles in a number of leading local, regional and international financial institutions such as Barclays, CITI Bank and ABN Amro.



Previous to his appointment with Ibdar, Sejiny was the Group CEO of Bahrain based Bank Alkhair, which has a presence in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey and Malaysia.



He is also the chairman of Bahrain Financing Company Group (BFC), holds positions on various boards regionally and internationally, and has spoken at numerous banking and finance conferences in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK and the US.



Chairman of Ibdar Bank, Tareq Sadeq said: I am pleased to welcome Ayman Sejiny as Chief Executive Officer of Ibdar Bank. Ibdar is building a fresh thinking, world class management team, and the appointment of Sejiny to the helm of the Bank is aligned with that vision. Ayman has demonstrated strong business and financial talent and a proven track record of investment and management experience that will further strengthen our capabilities and support strategic success.



It is an honour to join the Ibdar team. Ibdar is built on strong foundations, a unique approach and high standards of excellence, and I look forward to strengthening the Banks footprint in the Islamic banking and investment domain, Sejiny said.



My focus will be to further hone the investment strategy, and spearhead efforts to develop the Debt Capital Market (DCM), Equity Capital Market (ECM), Private Equity, Asset Management and Treasury and Capital Market business lines. Building on Ibdars track record and execution platform, we are well placed to deliver the right opportunities to our investors, and ensure the Bank continues to build its reputation as one of the regions most ethical, innovative and results-driven Islamic institutions.



It is an exciting time for Ibdar Bank. Under the acting CEO, Ahmed AlRayes, the banks investment engine gathered momentum with enhanced activities in 2016. We are now well positioned to do more deals as we have sufficient liquidity and a strong balance sheet, having addressed legacy issues, and have a clear strategy to move forward, Sadeq added.  TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi City Municipality has signed two agreements with Emak Investment Group for the construction of two slipways for boats at Al Bahya and Al Sadr areas of the emirate, said a report.



A third agreement was signed with Corner Stone Property Management for building a community market at Al Raha Parks, reported state news agency Wam.



The total cost of all the three projects has been put at Dh60 million ($16.3 million) and is due for completion by 2023.



These projects are being constructed on the BOT (build, operate, transfer) model and the Musataha base, with an investment period extending to 20 years, stated the report.



The community needed a slipway for their boats and ski jets in Abu Dhabi city. The project includes dry docks for boats, marina, supporting retail outlets and a four-star hotel to enhance the experience of sea cruisers, at the same time generating a source of sustainable income for the project, it added.



The community market project will come up over an area of 2,700 sq m in Khalifa City at an estimated cost of Dh15 million ($4.08 million). It will boast retail outlets, community facilities and government service facilities for the residents.
Petronas, a leading oil and gas company in Malaysia, has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabias Unified Lubricants Company (ULC) for the exclusive distribution of its high-quality engine oils and other products in the kingdom.



The contract follows Petronas' agreement with Saudi Aramco in late February on the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project in Malaysia.



Following the February agreement, Saudi Aramco will have an equity stake in the Rapid project developed by Petronas in the Malaysian southern state of Johor, said a statement from the company.



Engineer Mohammad Al Fahl, board of directors of ULC, said: The partnership between Petronas and Saudi Arabia solidifies the kingdoms position as a main player in the global economy, in line with Saudi Arabia Vision 2030.



Through our companys partnership with Petronas, we can offer a wide range of high quality products to motorists, and provide training opportunities to Saudi youth, he said.



Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Petronas is the largest company holding leadership position in Malaysias economy. It is also a technical partner to Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport and has co-engineered a new range of customised fuel and lubricants to provide a competitive edge on track for the three-time Formula One world champion team, said the statement.



Ranked among top 10 lubricant manufacturers in the world, it employs research and development programs in driving an aggressive business growth agenda to secure its position as a leading global lubricants company.



Petronas products in Saudi Arabia include Petronas Syntium, engineered to fight excessive engine heat; Petronas Mach 5, developed to provide reliable protection; and Petronas Urania with ViscGuard to cater for the commercial vehicle segment, in addition to gear oils, hydraulic oils, greases, coolants, and brake fluids, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabias decision to reverse allowance cut is likely to boost overall consumption in the economy, as higher disposable income will benefit core consumption sectors i.e. retail and food sectors, a report said.



Notably these were the sectors which saw the steepest fall post announcement of allowance cut in September 2016, added the Saudi Economy Update from Al Rajhi Capital, a leading financial services provider in the kingdom.



Other sectors such as banks, especially the ones exposed to retail segment are also likely to benefit. The reversal of allowance cut also highlights improved confidence in the economy, which is positive for the broader market in general.



The allowance cut was previously announced when Brent was trading below $45/barrel but there is confidence that oil prices now are likely to remain steady at around $50/barrel or improve from hereon, the report noted.



The enabling factors for the reversal seem to be lower than expected deficit (by 50 per cent) in Q1 2017 due to increase in government revenue and reduction of expenses due to rationalization of government expenditure. Note that the kingdom ordered ministries and agencies to review unfinished infrastructure and other projects which led to SR17 billion ($4.5 billion) of savings, the update said.



Further, the Central Bank now expects the trade deficit to possibly move into a surplus in 2017.



Improving confidence in the economy



The reversal of allowance cut is positive for the economy as it points to higher confidence that the government will be able to meet/better the fiscal targets as mentioned in Fiscal Balance programme.



Notably, the total allowances constituted SR80 billion or around 25 per cent of total public salaries and allowances in 2015 while the savings in expenditure has already been 1/4th of the total allowances.



Impact on stocks



The decision is broadly positive for equities and is likely to boost consumption driven sectors such as retail, food etc. Retail, Consumer services, consumer durables, food and staple sectors had seen the steepest fall in the week post the decision to cut allowances (Sept 2016).



We believe these are the stocks that are likely to benefit from announcement. Even stocks in other sectors such as banking, construction etc. could see a boost due to higher overall confidence in Govt spending while export oriented sectors could also witness an uplift on increased likelihood of progressive subsidy cuts on feedstock being deferred, Al Rajhi Capital said in the report.  TradeArabia News Service
 Flash

Meng Jianzhu (R), head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Sydney, Australia, April 21, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]

China and Australia have pledged to further deepen bilateral relations between the two countries.

While meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Friday, Meng Jianzhu, head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that China and Australia have scored great achievements in developing bilateral ties, with leaders of the two countries exchanging successful visits and reaching important consensus on developing the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides.

As two major countries in the Asia-Pacific, China and Australia have common interests in many aspects and the prospects for future cooperation between the two countries are promising, Meng said.

Meng said as bilateral economic and trade ties are growing stronger and personnel exchanges between the two sides become more frequent, it is necessary for the two countries to establish a high-level security dialogue mechanism so as to lift the level of bilateral security cooperation.

Meng Jianzhu (R), head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Australia's Attorney-General George Brandis (L) and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop before the first China-Australia high-level security dialogue in Sydney, Australia, on April 21, 2017. Meng attended on Friday the first China-Australia high-level security dialogue and delivered a speech. After the security dialogue, China and Australia signed a joint declaration in which the two sides pledged to boost cooperation in the fields of judicial and legal affairs, cyber security, fighting terrorism and transnational crimes. [Photo/Xinhua]

Both sides should take the opportunity of launching the high-level security dialogue mechanism to respect each other's interests and address each other's concerns, deepen sincere dialogue, boost mutual understanding and mutual trust, broaden cooperation in the areas of fighting transnational crimes, anti-drug, anti-terrorism, combating cybercrime, and strengthen dialogue and communications in legal and judicial fields so as to safeguard the security of the two countries and serve the well-being of the two peoples.

For his part, Turnbull said that the two countries have witnessed the smooth development of bilateral ties.

Australia attaches great importance to strengthening cooperation with China in security and law enforcement, the Australian prime minister said, hoping that the two sides will further deepen cooperation and safeguard security and interests of the two countries through the platform of the China-Australia high-level security dialogue.

Also on Friday, Meng attended the first China-Australia high-level security dialogue and delivered a speech.

After the security dialogue, China and Australia signed a joint declaration in which the two sides pledged to boost cooperation in the fields of judicial and legal affairs, cyber security, fighting terrorism and transnational crimes.

In the joint declaration, the two sides also agreed to hold the second China-Australia high-level security dialogue in the first half of 2018 in China.
Mint Leaf of London Dubai has appointed William Fernandes as its new restaurant manager.



Having worked in the food and beverage industry in the Middle East since 2004, Fernandes has developed his leadership and team management skills with international brands including Tablez, along with homegrown outlets in Bahrain and the UAE.



In his new role as restaurant manager, Fernandes will oversee restaurant operations across the restaurant, bar and lounge areas,



He will be responsible for improving productivity, business development and administration of the Mint Leaf Group's internal policies and procedures.



Fernandes looks forward to contributing to staff development and training, streamlining operations across front of house, and increasing compliance with the Mint Leaf Groups strict hygiene and sustainability standards. - TradeArabia News Service


About two years ago, California established an overflow energy market to sell outside its borders  a way to siphon off pulses of renewable energy that flooded the grid when the sun shone and the wind blew.

While that market bloomed, Wyoming energy industries were facing a cold front. Two staples of the energy sector, gas and coal, tumbled in a steep downturn and grappled for a firm hold of the electricity market. Drilling declined across the country, and some coal companies earned more revenue last year from not delivering their product than from selling it.

But the bust in Wyoming and the green energy legislation in the Golden State have had a ripple effect on peoples energy bills.

Last week, Rocky Mountain Power, a subsidiary of PacifiCorp, announced it was seeking permission for a rate decrease for residential and industrial customers in Wyoming. It also pledged not to increase rates for the next four years.

Part of the plan is required household accounting, lining up a year of electricity charges with the actual costs of providing it, which last year was cheaper than forecast.

But the more interesting question in Wyoming is what the rate decrease and pledge reveal about both long-term trends in electricity costs and the states complicated relationship with its distant neighbor on the coast, home to anti-fossil-fuel policy that infuriates many in the Cowboy State.

RMPs pledge is in part a result of evolving energy economics across the West. As gas prices sloped downward, the wholesale market for energy, aided by Californias large supply-and-demand market, was flourishing. The western grid can access cheap renewable energy at peak hours, which means the cost of electricity is declining, and experts say that will likely continue.

Energy superhighways

Western transmission lines used to be fairly straightforward. They were built to take power from a source to a user. They are now more like superhighways, conduits that allow energy to travel rapidly across 11 states, northern Mexico and Canada. Energy is bought, sold and moved at a rapid clip.

Onto this grid are flowing new sources of energy power, largely solar and wind. Though California is an major contributor, smaller producers are rapidly tapping in with solar and wind farms of their own in many western states and selling that energy to larger utilities.

The availability of renewables has changed significantly how we operate our power plant fleet, all of them, said Dave Eskelsen, spokesman for Rocky Mountain Power.

The firm has its own energy sources, coal or gas-fired plants and wind farms, and the company recently announced its plans to spend $2.2 billion expanding its Wyoming wind fleet and transmission lines by 2020. But RMP also buys and sells power on the open market.

California, where aggressive renewable energy standards have caused renewable generation to outpace demand at times, offers practically free electricity at peak hours, when prices are traditionally highest, said Rob Godby, Center for Energy Economics and Public Policy at the University of Wyoming.

That has a far-reaching impact on pricing in places like Wyoming.

Rocky Mountain power is really large, so it can take advantage of spot markets for electricity, and they have a large enough system that they can wheel it across their system and sell it to somebody else or take advantage of it on their own, he said.

RMP has been adapting to that arrangement for a few years.

For example, the company keeps its two new coal-fired plants in Utah burning at night but turns down the power plants in the morning when the sun rises and the renewables begin pumping out power, particularly from California.

You have to keep a coal plant running. If you shut it down, it takes about four hours to get started up again, so the key has been how low can we take them? said Eskelsen, the company spokesman.

Natural gas plants are more flexible to stop and start than coal, so RMP uses the two together to guarantee energy is always at the ready in Wyoming and Utah, while still taking advantage of intermittent zero-fuel-cost energy when its available from the West Coast.

Its been very beneficial because what weve found out is [coal plants] are a very effective shock absorber to the system as variable energy comes on, Eskelsen said.

Cheap coal versus subsides

The price of electricity is also declining because of a system thats been in place on and off since the 1990s: the production tax credit.

Renewables receive federal subsidies, meaning wind and solar producers make a profit per megawatt hour, even when their energy is worth next to nothing. They will even pay utilities to take it, as long as the amount they pay is less than the subsidy they receive.

That system has some years left. The federal tax credits will sunset in 2020. Companies that have new wind generation online by the deadline will keep the subsidy for 10 years after the sunset.

Its a federal helping hand that fossil fuel producers, currently climbing out of a downturn, find categorically unfair. As federal help encouraged renewable growth, it further eroded fossil fuels dominance of the electricity market. And as producers expand their renewable fleets, some of that investment falls back on consumers in the form of higher rates, they argue.

For its part, Rocky Mountain Power has said it does not expect its planned wind expansion to result in rising rates, thanks to increasing energy efficiency, the wholesale market and federal wind subsidies.

To help coal producers, lawmakers in industry states and Washington, D.C., have been pushing for deregulation on emissions that have hampered the once-robust coal industry. President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order requiring all agencies to review regulations that challenge the countrys economy in a push for national energy independence. Proponents of fossil fuel companies say this will help level the playing field and give coal a chance to compete.

The staple fuel for electricity remains a cheap and reliable source of energy, providing 30 percent of electricity demand in 2016 according to the Energy Information Administration. But standards that seek to reduce carbon dioxide emissions have already been hard on the industry, and increasing expectations of emissions regulations in the future, despite a regulatory respite from the current political administration, have stilted projections of growth.

The majority of electricity is provided by fossil fuels, but renewables are taking increasing chunks of the market as a whole  about 15 percent last year.

Bottom line: Cheaper electricity

From a consumer price standpoint, a wholesale market, with excess renewable energy aided by federal tax credits, means lower prices for the average electricity user. And the cost of building and producing wind and solar energy continues to fall even without subsidies, according to the most recent Lazard study that charts energy costs each year.

Renewable energy is the cheapest form of new capacity on the grid, and if you just look at capacity prices going forward, they are only going to go down, said Godby, the economist.

The outlook for electricity prices in the immediate future is good, said Bryce Freeman, administrator for the Wyoming Office of the Consumer Advocate, which works for fair utility pricing.

We are swimming in natural gas in the country, so I dont see [the price] going up precipitously anytime soon, he said. I dont see, frankly, how wholesale prices can be much lower than they are now.

The deregulation of fossil fuels will also benefit electricity production, he said.

Now that we are not dangling under the (sword of) Damocles with the federal government emissions regulations ... that takes some pressure off the coal price, too. Its going to be a buyers market, he said.

And utilities like RMP are ready to buy, metaphorically speaking, allowing the company to make promises, as it did last week, not to raise rates in the short term.

We dont have any big capital projects coming into the rate base right now, plus net power costs tend to be manageable, said Eskelsen, the company spokesman. Wholesale prices are low and not expected to be particularly volatile. Weve done a pretty good job of controlling the costs we can control, our operating and maintenance budgets ... It is a strong promise.
NARFE social

Casper Chapter #358 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association will have a no-host social meeting at noon on Tuesday in the meeting room at the Casper Senior Center, 1831 E. Fourth St.

Gold prospectors meet

The Casper Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America will have its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Building, 2211 King Blvd. Enter through the east door. Members and guests are welcome. The speakers for this month are Mike and Marron Bingle-Davis. They are accomplished geologists and will give a lecture in regards to the geologic history of Wyoming with an emphasis on mineralization. A general club business meeting will follow this presentation. The club will also be holding a farewell party for past president and founder Rick Messina. For more information about the GPAA or the Casper chapter, or about prospecting in general, call Eric Weaner at 513-259-7902 or visit the clubs webpage at caspergpaa.org or email the club at caspergpaa@gmail.com.

County Dems meet Thursday

Natrona County Democrats go into reorganization at 6:30 p.m., on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at the IBEW Hall.

With the election of officers completed, the NC Dems will now focus on filling committee positions, candidate identification for the upcoming Ward II election and recruitment of candidates for the 2018 election cycle. Precinct committee persons will be elected and precinct manual location references provided. The Financial Audit Review Committee will be appointed and given its charge of action and deadline for task completion.

Potluck starts at 6:30 p.m., with the party providing the main dish and attendees bringing sides and sweets. The business meeting and election will begin at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact the office at 234-1992.

Constitution Party meets

Reaching out to any members interested in liberty and who are good moral people. To get involved, come to a Constitution Party of Wyoming Natrona County gathering. The next meeting is 4 to 4:45 p.m. April 29 at the library (Crawford Room). Check us out at wyocp.com/natrona.

Model railroaders host division meeting

The Central Wyoming Model Railroad Association will host the spring meeting of the Northern Wyoming Division of the Rocky Mountain Region NMRA at the clubhouse, 1356 N. Center St., at 10 a.m. May 6.

A couple of clinics are planned, as well as an afternoon operating session, where the HO layout will be turned into a single-tracked mainline resembling a trip from Denver to Billings via Casper. Interested people are invited to try out as engineers, brakemen or conductors and new operators will be trained.

A training session for operators will be held at the next meeting at 1 p.m. April 29 at the clubhouse.

The clubhouse is still open on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fridays from 7 to 10 p.m., and on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. The clubhouse is open to the public at no charge.

New trains include a Spirit of America, Thomas Kinkade Christmas Express and a Wells Fargo Express.

Consider holding a birthday party or other family gathering at the clubhouse. School and daycare groups are welcome as well. Call Nathan at 258-7869, Harry at 235-4950 or Homer at 266-6439 for information or scheduling.

Mayflower descendants meet

The Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Wyoming will hold its annual meeting at 1 p.m., on Saturday, May 6, at the Riverton Holiday Inn & Convention Center. Visiting dignataries will be Governor General Lea Filson and Assistant Governor General Dr. George Garmany.

The Wyoming Mayflower Society was chartered by the General Society on May 17, 1955. Currently there are 107 members in the society. Those interested in seeking membership are invited to attend. To join, you must prove descent from one or more of the 1,620 Mayflower Pilgrims who arrived at Plymouth from its embarkation from England. Research help will be offered to interested people, but the applicant is responsible for doing as much research as possible.

Flycasters meet

May 10

The monthly meeting of the members of Wyoming Flycasters is held the second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Izaak Walton League Lodge, 4205 Fort Caspar Road. Interested people are encouraged to come and consider joining. Annual membership fee is $30. Wyoming Flycasters is dedicated to educating and assisting new or old fly fisher men and women in Wyoming and conserving waters and habitat for Wyomings wildlife and fisheries.

Casper Charla meets

Would you like to practice conversational Spanish or help others learn? Come and join the Casper Charla. Te gustaria platicar en espanol? Ven y charla con nosotros! Todos son bienvenidos! Come and join us on the second Wednesday of each month this spring. The group meets at a different restaurant each month and partakes in food, drink and conversation. All levels of Spanish are welcome, from beginning to native speakers. Nos reunimos los miercoles en varios restaurantes en Casper. Ven por una copa, un antojito o simplemente una charlita. Wednesday, May 10, 5-7 p.m.: La Cocina.

Corvette Cruise and Dine every Tuesday

Cruise and Dines sponsored by the Central Wyoming Corvettes (a non-profit organization) are every Tuesday night through Nov. 7, 2017. Bring your corvette and meet at Whites Chevrolet at 6 p.m. and take a short cruise with several other Vettes to a local restaurant for dinner and share in the fun. Catch up with old friends or make new ones. Guest or new members are always welcome to join in the fun. See us on Facebook or visit our website.

Womens networking meets

The Heart Link Network is a womens networking event held monthly, every second Tuesday (May 9, June 13, July 11) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Ramada Plaza, 300 W. F St. The cost is $20 per person and the meal is included. Come enjoy the fellowship of women in business and showcase what you have to offer. For more information and to register for the event, please call Amy Lund at 262-7475 or visit www.82601.theheartlinknetwork.com.

Panhellenic lunch May 13

The annual Panhellenic lunch, sponsored by the ladies of the Casper Alumnae Panhellenic organization, will be held at 11:30 a.m., on Saturday, May 13, at the Casper Country Club. Please come and meet old and new friends.

The National Panhellenic Council was established in 1902 and is comprised of 26 sororities on over 650 college and university campuses. Besides providing support and and friendship, members have a life-long network of sisters around the world.

Philanthropy is an important part of membership. Together, the sororities raise over $5 million for charities, provide over $2.8 in scholarships for women and volunteer over 500,000 hours each year. Most, if not all of these groups are represented by women in Casper. The University of Wyoming has three NPC sororities.

The cost will $18 and there will be two menu choices. Please call Nancy at 237-3270 or Dyann at 258-7071 for more information or to make a reservation by May 5.

Central Wyoming Corvettes meets monthly

Central Wyoming Corvettes (a non-profit organization) meets monthly the second Thursday of every month (May 11, June 8, July 13, Aug. 10) at the Holiday Inn East restaurant with dinner at 6 p.m. and the meeting at 7 p.m. Come for the cars and stay for the people. This is a group of really fun great people who over the years have donated thousands back to the community by sponsoring fun car events. Guests or potential new members are always welcome. Come see what were all about, down to earth folks who have fun giving back to the community with really fast cars. See us on Facebook or visit our website.

Ice cream in the park

Central Wyoming Corvettes is hosting Ice Cream in the park on Saturday, June 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Washington Park, and if you bring a Corvette, you will get a free ice cream cone. Stop by and have some fun even if you dont have a Corvette. Guests or new members are always welcome. See us on Facebook or visit our website.

Whites All Chevy Car Show, AutoCross

Central Wyoming Corvettes (a non-profit organization) is hosting The Whites all- Chevy Car Show at Whites Chevrolet on June 24, 2017. The car show will be open to all Chevys, not just Corvettes. Come join us. Vote for your favorite Chevy and your favorite Corvette. Registration starts at 9 a.m., the Car Show runs from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be fun for everyone for a small donation, and all proceeds go to local charities. The Shriners will be providing food and there will be multiple door prizes. Come out and see some wonderful Chevys and help us support great local organizations. Guests or new members are always welcome and we have a great time. Sunday, June 25, come join in the fun for a Low Speed AutoCross. This event will be open to Corvettes and the first eight non-Corvettes. The entry fee is $30 for each set of three races or $75 for the day. Registration starts at 8 a.m. with the first car out at 9 a.m. Helmets and closed toe shoes are required and all cars must pass technical inspection. If you want to drive fast and test your driving skills, join us for an autocross. See us on Facebook or visit our website.

Chili cook-off in May

Harley Owners Group Oil City Chapter 3533 presents the second annual chili cook-off open to the public and all ages from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 13 at Oil City Harley Davidson, 831 N. Glen Road. Admission is $5.

Civil Air Patrol meets

Civil Air Patrol meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Casper National Guard Armory, 5905 CY Ave. For more information, call 259-0855.

Stammtisch at Applebees

The Casper German Stammtisch meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays at Applebees. On the second Thursday of each month we will focus on speaking German. All ability levels are welcome, as long as they are eager to hear German.
Poachers, beware: Lawmakers recently proposed a bill offering a $100,000 reward for the best piece of technology that could help solve wildlife crimes.

The bill, aptly named the Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver, or WILD Act, was introduced by U.S. Sen. John Barrasso and unanimously passed the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee. It carries rare bipartisan support, with groups including Family Farm Alliance and the World Wildlife Fund backing its progress.

Our state wildlife managers grapple with many challenges that innovators can help us solve, Barrasso said at a committee oversight hearing in mid-March. For example, poaching is a problem in Wyoming. Hundreds of animals are taken illegally each year in the state, according to our Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

The bill offers a reward not only for new technology to help solve or prevent poaching but also to help with invasive species and protect endangered species. It works by offering an incentive to the private industry to come up with solutions to natural resources issues.

Not long ago, Google and Uber were nouns and verbs yet to be discovered, and Amazon was a rainforest in South America, Barrasso said. Today we Google to search online, we Uber to move around a city and we shop online at Amazon. Innovation changes everything.

New technologies, he said, could help not only solve Wyomings poaching problems but also apply to the rest of the country and even globally.

Wyomings chief game warden, Brian Nesvik, flew to Washington, D.C., in March to testify about what he sees as problems that could be solved on the ground in the Cowboy State.

Wildlife across Wyomings mountainous terrain could be counted from the sky using drones, for example, instead of planes putting biologists lives at risk. Infrared cameras could be used to help tally hard-to-find animals such as mountain lions or bears, he said.

We spend a lot of time patrolling winter ranges where the most vulnerable big deer are, and so to be able to patrol them in new ways with unmanned vehicles or new tracking systems will really help law enforcement, Nesvik said.

Think about how much things have developed with tracking individual animals movements and GPS collars. When I started, you threw a collar on an animal and then had to fly around and look for them with a radio and antenna. Now you can get locations within a meter of their location.

New technology could also be used to help solve issues like cheatgrass, sometimes called the new cancer of the western landscape.

The bill, in addition to reauthorizing the Department of the Interiors Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and legislation to protect endangered species such as elephants and great apes, would create boards that would oversee the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the Promotion of Wildlife Conservation.

If approved, the bill would offer $100,000 per year for a technological innovation in each of the following categories: prevention of wildlife poaching and trafficking, promotion of wildlife conservation, management of invasive species, protection of endangered species and non-lethal management of human-wildlife conflict.

The WILD Act demonstrates that conserving our planets magnificent wildlife is an issue we can all agree on, said Carter Roberts, the president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund. It catalyzes technological innovations that reduce poaching. It reauthorizes critical partnership programs with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including the Multinational Species Conservation Funds.

Locally, Patrick OToole, president of the Family Farm Alliance and a Wyoming rancher, praised the bill for targeting invasive species and for reauthorizing the partners program that helps pay for habitat work on private land.

Conservation groups in Wyoming were encouraged by the bills bipartisan support, said Joy Bannon, field director for the Wyoming Wildlife Federation.

Since the bill passed the Senate committee by voice vote, it can now be considered by the full Senate.
Ira Flatow, host of NPRs Science Friday, will appear in Casper a day before the August solar eclipse.

The Science Zone will present Flatows keynote talk Science is Sexy at 7 p.m. Aug. 20 in the Wheeler Concert Hall at Casper College.

Were excited to bring somebody of national and international fame and importance to the Casper stage, The Science Zone Executive Director Steven Schnell said. It speaks volumes for the community and weve had a lot of interest in tickets.

Flatow is known for his acclaimed call-in program and podcast, which connects 2 million weekly listeners with scientists for lively discussions, according to his website.

Flatows talk in Casper will cover how, contrary to popular belief, the evidence shows that people love science and will consume as much science and technology as possible, according to The Science Zones recent announcement.

Flatow explores how social media, stage, screen, television, podcasts and advertising are helping to satisfy the publics thirst for science and technology, the announcement says.

An award-winning science correspondent and TV journalist, Flatow has served as host and writer for the Emmy Award-winning Newtons Apple on PBS and science reporter for CBS This Morning, according to his website. Ira hosts the PBS series Big Ideas and has been featured on Oprah, Charlie Rose, CNBC, BBC and CBC. Hes also co-starred twice on the CBS hit series The Big Bang Theory.

His most recent awards include the Isaac Asimov Award, and his latest book is Present At The Future. The New York Times has called Flatow one of the most influential communicators of science.

Casper College physics and astronomy instructor Andrew Young said hes excited to see Flatow. Science is part of everyones life, even in daily activities such as driving a car or using a computer, he said.

We want somebody to parlay this information to us in an approachable and reasonable manner, he said. And Ira Flatow is the man to do that.

Mixing his passion for science with a tendency to be a bit of a ham, Flatow in his biography describes his work as the challenge to make science and technology a topic for discussion around the dinner table.
Even V.H. McDonald, a man not given to superlatives, acknowledges that whats taken place at Casper City Hall over the last three weeks is not quite normal.

Its pretty extraordinary, McDonald said.

McDonald recalled the Thursday three weeks ago when, after less than a day of deliberation, he ended his nearly 20 years of employment with the city of Casper.

McDonald, then city manager, was meeting with his deputies and City Council leadership.

I said, I think its just time I retire and heres my letter, mayor, he said.

It was, attendees say, a charged moment.

There was hesitation, I felt, said Interim City Manager Liz Becher.

McDonald, however, said hed made up his mind before the meeting.

Two days earlier, the local lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police delivered a survey to Council members outlining low morale among many Casper police officers and questioning the leadership of Chief Jim Wetzel. At the Council meeting that night, Councilwoman Amanda Huckabay read out a profane attack on Wetzel from the survey while the chief stared on from the back of the room.

Humphrey and Chris Walsh, a former police chief who was elected to Council in November, called for investigations into the FOPs allegations. Walsh wanted the investigation to include city managements handling of the police department. The survey claimed city officials had mishandled complaints made by senior CPD staff months earlier.

The next day, McDonald said that he had no plans to step down. But he lamented the attacks and that people never noticed the good work coming out of his office  strong financial stewardship during the economic downturn, for one.

Its very hard, if youre in this position, McDonald said. Its very hard.

But the origins of the recent tumult at City Hall start prior to the surveys release. For answers, observers point to both McDonalds predecessor and to Caspers model of government, which limits the power of elected officials.

A problem from Patterson?

I think a lot of this has to do with John Patterson, and V.H. tried his best to clean up some of the messes, said local businessman and state representative Pat Sweeney.

McDonald was serving as assistant city manager in 2014 when Patterson, his boss, bypassed more senior candidates to select Wetzel, a sergeant who had earned the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves, as chief.

I believe that was Patterson putting his stamp on the police department and getting somebody with loyalty to him and not to any previous police chief, said former Councilman Keith Goodenough.

The question of loyalty came up in a lawsuit by another former councilman, Craig Hedquist, alleging that Patterson attempted to sabotage his political career including by enlisting the help of the police department. Hedquist had attacked city management over public spending and once called the city engineer a b.

According to depositions and phone call transcripts included in the lawsuit, Patterson asked first Walsh and then Wetzel to use law enforcement databases to look up information he believed would disqualify Hedquist from remaining on Council.

Two senior CPD officers who lost out on the chief position said Patterson had, in a move that confused them at the time, brought up Hedquist during the interview process.

I think Mr. Patterson saw Chief Wetzel as a more willing ally in some activity that certainly I had expressed that we wouldnt be involved in, namely conflict with Councilman Hedquist, Brad Wnuk, a lieutenant at the time, said in his deposition.

Wetzel did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Star-Tribune. In his own deposition, Wetzel said that Patterson had not asked about Hedquist during his interview for chief but acknowledged that after securing the job Patterson asked him to use law enforcement databases to look up information related to Hedquist. Wetzel said that he did not share any information with Patterson.

Walsh, who is being sued by Hedquist, has denied doing anything improper and said he did not conspire with Patterson against Hedquist.

The Star-Tribune was unable to reach Patterson through attorney John Masterson, who represented him during the suit, which was dismissed earlier this month. Masterson told the newspaper he believed Patterson, who retired in 2015, was out of the country.

In contrast to Patterson, McDonald appeared to have no interest in playing politics with the police department or anything else.

V.H. does not see his role as to be a part of politics, Humphrey said shortly before his retirement. His outlook might be different than some of the other city managers.

But politics found McDonald.

Council clash

After McDonald announced his retirement but while he was still working for the city, Councilman Shawn Johnson questioned his handling of the police department matter.

Johnson was concerned that McDonald had abused the council-manager form of government, in which an elected council restricted to setting high-level policy hires a manager to run city operations, including personnel matters.

What if the city manager and his upper level staff not only not do anything about the problem but even conceal it? Johnson wrote in an email to Council members. The city managers office has absolutely failed us, failed the city and failed the employees.

The next day the public learned McDonald was on an open-ended vacation and four days after that, on April 17, Humphrey and Pacheco requested that McDonald make his retirement immediate  six weeks earlier than expected.

Huckabay sees recent events as the result of a more assertive Council, which included four new members seated in January, until Councilman Todd Murphy resigned in early April citing personal reasons.

She said that where Councils past may have been content to rubber-stamp the city managers advice, she and Walsh wanted to bring debates over the direction of the city, and the police department, into the open.

It was just more conflict than he was willing to handle when the new Council came on, Huckabay said. I dont feel like V.H.s personality and demeanor were well-suited for that position at all.

But some more senior members of Council have proven reluctant to jump on board with the criticism of Wetzel and city management and see McDonalds retirement as unfortunate.

Councilman Charlie Powell said McDonald has successfully overseen the citys finances during difficult financial times and was unfairly brought down by criticism over issues like the police department.

Theres just been a real failure, in my opinion, as far as the community recognition of what he has contributed, Powell said.

McDonald said its not true that he was unwilling or unable to handle issues at the police department or to work with a more assertive Council. He is aware of his strong points but understood what the job entailed in its entirety when he took it.

Im not averse to conflict, McDonald said. Im not averse to taking actions that need to be taken.

Perhaps the most strident defender of McDonalds management style on Council is Bob Hopkins, a retired mining engineer now in his second term.

At the same meeting that Council approved McDonalds immediate retirement, Hopkins defended municipal leadership.

I remain in full support of Mr. McDonald: his leadership, dedication and his policies, he said.

Hopkins has declined to read the FOP survey about complaints at the police department and pointedly left an executive session of Council last week when the talk turned to what he considered inappropriate matters.

The chief doesnt work for us, nor do any of the folks who work in the P.D., Hopkins said. I dont have an ax to grind with them at all, but I dont deal with the FOP.

Hopkins said Council took sufficient action on the police issue when it commissioned an external audit of the department this month. Results are expected in September.

More or less, thats McDonalds position as well.

Facing criticism for allowing problems at the police department to fester, he argues that he was taking assertive action by working to develop a strategic plan for the department and recommending the external review. McDonald added that the department had been lacking direction  an issue he had prioritized addressing.

Becher revealed Friday that there were also at least two internal city investigations into issues at CPD, apparently launched under McDonalds oversight, being conducted by the legal and human resources departments. She said those investigations had been going on for several months and would be completed within the next two weeks.

I was walking down the path of objectively looking at all sides of issues concerning Chief Wetzel, McDonald said.

When asked Friday, McDonald declined to say whether Wetzel retained his confidence as chief.

Manager as god

With city officials insisting they have been proactively addressing concerns among CPD employees and some Council members and anonymous police officers disputing that, former councilman Goodenough believes the public is witnessing a flaw in Caspers form of government.

It shows the weakness of the city manager system, Goodenough said.

Barring elected officials from dealing with daily city operations is intended to insulate municipal governments from political meddling, a big concern around the turn of the 20th century when the council-manager system became popular.

Tom Forslund, who served 22 years as Casper city manager, said that councils needed to speak with one voice, limiting the impact of individual members.

A council member has all the right in the world to speak up and advocate, Forslund said. But ultimately its the council as a group that gets together in a formal session and establishes policies.

And even when they do speak with one voice  or a majority vote  the Casper City Council is limited in the instruction it can give to the manager.

Local attorney Don Fuller said Caspers form of government was an impediment to accountability. The manager can point to a lack of direction from Council, and Council members can point to a lack of action from the manager.

Ultimately, Fuller said, the limitations on what Council can do beyond hiring a good city manager render it impotent.

Theres no checks and balances within the system  thats just saying, We appoint a god, he said. Why would we even have a city council if they have no authority over the mandates of the city manager? What do they think they can do?

City Attorney Bill Luben has advised Council that they have no authority to interfere with personnel matters outside of the employees they directly oversee: the city manager, the city attorney and municipal judges.

Advising the city manager on how to handle issues at the police department, in other words, is outside of their legal purview.

Not everyone is sure Luben is correct that Council cannot discuss the effectiveness of department heads with the manager.

Show me the statute that youre relying on to make that statement, said attorney Dallas Laird.

Laird, who is currently suing the city over how it sentences minors in alcohol possession cases, said its possible Lubens interpretation is correct but that Council members shouldnt be so quick to accept it.

The problem is they hand out laymen these different options and for some reason people just buy into them, Laird said.

Luben wasnt available for comment on Friday, but state statutes restrict at least the disclosure of personnel files to the duly elected and appointed officials who supervise his work. The law also makes clear that the city manager, not city council, employs departmental staff including the police chief.

Luben previously declined to answer whether Council members were prohibited from sharing their opinions on city employees with the manager, saying he needed to discuss the matter with his client.

In the email to his colleagues, Councilman Johnson expressed frustration with the legal advice being given to Council.

I cant imagine that its not ok for council to comment on a situation such as a city department crumbling from within! Johnson wrote.

A divided Council

Huckabay said Council members are trying to become more assertive, agreeing in their goal-setting meetings this month that city departments should be asked to report specific metrics on a regular basis so that members can offer informed policy feedback to the city manager.

Its absolutely within our realm of oversight to have measurable outcomes, she said.

One challenge will be setting those outcomes and deciding what direction to give the city administrator if they arent met. On the police issue, at least, Huckabay outlined the breakdown she sees on Council. In favor of fast reform are herself, Walsh, Johnson and Humphrey. In opposition is Hopkins, with Powell on the fence and Pacheco supposedly so concerned with running for higher office in the future that he is worried about making any waves.

While he ran unsuccessfully for the state Legislature in November, Pacheco disputed that hes basing Council decisions on anything other than the best interest of the city  including the prospect of changes at CPD.

Im disappointed and saddened that she thinks that, he said. Im not on the fence, but Im very objective and it takes time. Were dealing with some very big stuff.

Powell said he would like to hold off on any big changes at the police department until Casper has a permanent city manager who can make decisions according to a long-term vision for the city.

Chief Wetzel has been chief for three years, Powell said. If these problems are not evaluated for another several months as were recruiting for the city manager, I dont see how that causes any problems for anyone.

In contrast, Huckabay said Wetzel should resign.

Becher, the interim city manager, has announced that she does not want to be considered for the permanent position.

Becher said in an interview Friday that she had no intention of firing Wetzel based on the information she had at her disposal after three days on the job. While Becher previously served as an assistant city manager, human resources  including any issues at CPD  were not in her portfolio and she is trying to come up to speed while juggling all the other duties of her new position.

Whether there is anything Wetzel can do to restore confidence in his leadership of the police department is the question she is most interested in answering, Becher said.

I still think that Wetzel and leadership are good people, she said.

Becher is awaiting the results of the citys internal investigations as well as meeting with individual officers and studying what internal information exists about issues at the department.

She emphasized the importance of basing her decisions on evidence from investigations and consulting with her executive team and acknowledged shes still learning.

Theres not some written rules that suddenly get laid on my desk for this, she said.

Becher said she has faith that Wetzel will resign if his position becomes untenable but hopes that will not be necessary.

Overall, Becher said the turmoil at the police department was not holding back an otherwise smooth transition following McDonalds exit.

Were in good shape, she said. We have been doing just fine out of this office trying not to let anything fall through the cracks.

Council members are taking a similar approach.

Walsh said Councils current job was to fill Murphys open seat, find a new city manager, create a budget, handle Councils standard business  and find a way to address issues at CPD.

Theres clearly a lot going on, he said. Nothing can be put on the back burner.
James L. Bryan

Casper, Wyoming

October 1, 1954 - March 2, 2017

James L. Bryan was born October 1, 1954 in Casper, Wyoming, to Hugh and Joyce Bryan. He attended St. Anthony's grade school in Casper, Mullen Jesuit High School in Denver, Colorado and graduated with his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Early in life Jim showed an incredible grasp towards math and science and devoted much of his time exploring anything and everything. Jim was also a natural mentor and loved to share his discoveries with his family and friends. Jim had a love for satire and instilled a sense of humor in the family that was cerebral and quick witted and his love for playing ragtime piano filled the house with music on a regular basis. He was mechanically gifted and once drove a truck across country that was previously in several parts strewn about his property. Later in our lives we could count on Jim for a high spirited political discussion for anyone who was up to the task.

After graduating from college Jim worked as a radio repairman for Custom Radio before being offered a position with a company that subcontracted to GTE to install pager equipment for the Chinese Red Army. Jim spent several years in China and while working there he met Ruyan Zhu, the love of his life. Jim married Ruyan in China in December of 1997 and they moved to Casper where he worked for two years. Jim accepted a positon in Oklahoma City as a Radio Frequency Engineer and worked there until his death on March 2, 2017.

Jim is survived by his wife Ruyan Zhu; his parents, Hugh and Joyce of Casper Wyoming; his sisters, Charlotte and Suzanne with her husband, Cal both of Centennial, Colorado; his brother, Hugh of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and his brother, Gary of Casper, Wyoming. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Jim and his wife enjoyed traveling and traveled back to China several times during their almost 20 years of marriage. Jim was an accomplished pianist. He loved birds and coin collecting. Jim's entire life was about a tremendous thirst for knowledge. The Bryan family wishes to express the love and support of our community in this time of special need.
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fearnot absence of fear. Except a creature be part coward it is not a compliment to say it is brave.

 Mark Twain

Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, consistently outranks the fear of death on most top 10 fear lists; in fact, it is usually in the top three. Recently, I attended a three-day public speaking workshop in Florida. And it was exhausting.

I am a trial lawyer by profession and have been an adequate public speaker, but it is still intimidating and scary for me at times. And I knew that I wanted (and still want) to become a better public speaker and storyteller, both for the clients I help every day and for the success of my business.

The workshop was exhausting physically with exceptionally long days; we had very few breaks, worked through our lunches and dinners and worked until midnight multiple days in a row. When it was all over, my body was depleted and my mind hurt from processing all the information. And it was exhausting emotionally because it forced me to be deeply introspective and vulnerable in a room full of strangers.

The week was full of highs and lows, laughter and anger, personal stories, and endless self-analysis and critique from others. I think everyone cried at least once during the week.

I did not return to Wyoming as the next Garrison Keillor. I never expected to. But I did return with deep gratitude for the experience. The experience was difficult, but I learned a lot about myself and 20 amazing other people. I also made tremendous progress toward becoming a better public speaker, attorney, storyteller and business owner.

These rewards were worth every minute of my discomfort and were possible only because I stepped out of my comfort zone. I took a risk. I made myself vulnerable. I did not completely eliminate my fear of public speaking, but I discovered some effective tools and skills as I work to resist that fear and ultimately master it.

My burden of proof is that if you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten. This is true for business, in relationships, at the gym, and, yes, on the public speaking stage.

If you want to create and live well into something different, something better, you must confront your fears. Make a change. Get vulnerable. Take a risk. I promise, awesome rewards await you on the other side.

While you contemplate which fear to tackle first, try your hand at these liquid (en)couragers.

Jeffrey Morganthaler, author of The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique and head barman at Clyde Common in Portland, Oregon, resurrected this notoriously sticky-sweet 1970s favorite. Morganthalers version preserves the classic amaretto backbone, but the high-proof bourbon and egg white reinvent this throwback into a highly approachable whiskey sour, perfectly balanced with sourness, sweetness, and a mouth-filling frothy body.

Hint: the end product is even more satisfying for you and your guests if you practice your funky disco chicken while shaking the drink.

Amaretto Sour

1.5 oz. amaretto

 oz. cask-strength bourbon

1 oz. fresh lemon juice

 oz. egg white (beaten)

1 tsp. 2:1 simple syrup

Lemon twist and brandied cherry (garnish)

Thoroughly whisk or dry shake the egg white. Add the other ingredients and shake for an additional 30 seconds to create a sufficiently frothy drink. Strain into a rocks or old fashioned glass over fresh ice and garnish with a lemon twist and brandied cherry.

Next, we revisit the ginger smash from the boys at the Employees Only speakeasy in New York Citys West Village. To date we have enjoyed the fall and summer versions of the rustic quencher. This spring version capitalizes on seasonally available kumquats and, just in time for your upcoming Cinco de Mayo celebration, offers a tasty way to ensure you get your recommended daily allowance of tequila.

Spring Ginger Smash

1.5 oz. silver tequila

1 oz. orange liqueur

 oz. fresh lime juice

3 slices of thinly sliced fresh ginger root

2 whole kumquats or 1/8 of large tangerine with peel

1 tsp. white sugar

3 dashes Dale Degroffs pimento aromatic bitters [or]

1 dash each of Regans orange bitters No. 6, Angostura bitters, and pimento (allspice) dram

Muddle the ginger, kumquats and sugar in a Boston shaker. Add the remaining ingredients and hard shake with clear ice for 20 seconds. As with all smashes, this drink is not strained. Pour the whole concoction -- fractured ice, pulverized fruit, and all -- into a chilled rocks or old fashioned glass; the smashed fruit becomes a mesmerizing garnish. The smash, as a category of cocktails, originated in the late 1800s, but it is just as tasty nearly 150 years later. With this eye-opener, herbal agave, spicy ginger, tart citrus, and a whisper of baking spice bitterness make for an invigorating refresher just after (and before) mowing the yard or virtually any other time for that matter.

Lastly, I conceived this coyly serious cognac cocktail as an optimistic antidote to winter. It is a bit dark and brooding but not overrun with the typical bevy of fall and winter flavors. Instead, this tipple lets down its stalwart guard and eagerly hints at the playfulness of springtime with a fruity, herbal complexity. Toast this drink as a reminder not to take winter or yourself too seriously.

Cast Your Bloody Caraway

1.5 oz. Cognac

 oz. Dubonnet rouge (or sweet vermouth)

 oz. aquavit

 oz. Fernet-Branca

1 oven-dried sugared blood orange slice with caraway seeds (garnish)

Orange twist

Stir all spirits for 30 seconds until icy and strain into a chilled cocktail coupe. Float a dried blood orange slice with caraway seeds on top. Finally, express the oils from the orange twist over the drink and discard the twist. Serve up.

The blood orange-caraway garnish is fun to make and is a crucial visual and flavorful element of this cocktail. Slice blood oranges as thinly as possible and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. An extra sharp knife is indispensable for these thin slices and the well-being of your fingers!

Lightly sprinkle the tops of the blood oranges with brown sugar and cinnamon. Then, with your fingers, firmly press a generous portion of caraway seeds into the flesh of each slice. Bake with your oven at its lowest possible setting for four hours or until the slices are dried. They can still be slightly tacky, but bake them long enough to ensure that they are not still moist.

The toasted caraway, sugar, and cinnamon is a compelling compliment to the dried blood orange. Here, semi-sweet bitterness, citrus, savory and baking spice notes blend harmoniously as they are buoyed by the spicy vanilla and botanical notes from the Cognac and Dubonnet, the subtle vegetal caraway and dill notes from the aquavit, and a slight hint of minty chocolate bitterness from the Fernet-Branca. This gustatory delight transports you to faraway places where the present preoccupations of life slowly sink below the surface of your mind.

The burden of proof is now yours. Resist a long-standing fear and learn to master it. Do something different than what you have always done in order to get something better than what you have always gotten. Live better. And if you need an extra dose of courage before you embark on this new scary adventure, go make a good drink for a good friend -- and of course one (or two) for yourself.
 Flash

Marine Le Pen [File photo/Xinhua]

After a long and chaotic campaign, 47 million French voters will go to the polls on Sunday for the first round of a historic presidential election.

The election goes beyond national stakes and will have decisive impacts on the future of the European Union (EU) and the Old Continent.

Following a series of unexpected events on the global stage including "Brexit" and the election of Donald Trump as U.S. President, the world's attention is now focused on France, wondering how the EU's third largest economy will respond to the rise of populism, protection and sentiment against globalisation.

The atmosphere of uncertainly will linger until the last moment for Sunday's vote, while in 2012, the duel for the second round was known in advance as they were the clear favourites in polls.

Out of the 11 candidates running for presidency this year, four are currently neck-and-neck in polls, the centrist former Minister of economy Emmanuel Macron, the far-rightist Marine Le Pen, the right-wing conservative Francois Fillon and the far-leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon.

Most polls indicates that Macron and Le Pen are the most likely to face off in the runoff on May 7, but no one can really predict as differences among voting intentions for the four remain narrow.

Whatever choice the French people make will undoubtedly go beyond their national borders, as it is the second of several elections in major European countries, followed by those in Germany and the United Kingdom.

Although the Dutch election in March gave a sign of relief to traditional political elites in Europe as the conservative party was able to trump populist candidate Geert Wilders, the situation in France is more complicated. Some political observers even consider the election as "a referendum on the EU."

Different positions on France's place in the EU have been highlighted thorough the election campaign.

Among the 11 candidates, eight have expressed a a Eurosceptic positioning, with Le Pen being the most prominent.

She has promised a "Frexit" if elected, pledging to "recover the monetary, economic, legislative and territorial sovereignty" of France, re-establish national borders, and leave the Schengen area of free circulation.

Meanwhile, Melenchon, who has seen a big surge in polls in the final sunup, also has very critical of the EU and calls for more reforms, including renegotiating European treaties.

"The EU, we change it or we leave it," he said.

Only Macron appears to be truly pro-EU and pleads for the revival of the Franco-German duo to "strengthen the monetary union," hence the favourite candidate for Berlin and Brussels.

He proposes to "launch democratic conventions throughout the EU by the end of 2017," with an objective to develop a "short road map" laying down the union's priorities for action and their implementation timetable for the next five years.

Right-wing candidate Francois Fillon pleads for a "Europe of Nations". He wants to "end the permanent enlargements of the European Union", "negotiate a European agenda for tax harmonization," and has made the reduction of the public deficit its battleground.

Fillon also highlights his experience as a former prime minister but his image remains tainted by a "fake jobs" scandal.

The French public long had a certain ambiguity when it comes to the EU, as surveys show that people are consistently in favour of the euro, but 54 percent of them also voted against a drafted European Constitution in 2005.

The morose economic context, an unemployment rate close to 10 percent, the still half-mast growth, and continuous security threats are all crystallising resentments towards the EU, often blamed as the culprit.

Therefore, handling the relationship with the EU will be a very difficult task for whoever gets into the Elysee Palace.
Rest easy.

No problem.

Dont worry so much.

Thats the message President Trump sent to the people protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in an interview published Friday by the Associated Press. He actually said of them, The Dreamers should rest easy.

Trump added, We are not after the Dreamers, we are after the criminals.

If so, they have a funny way of showing it.

On several occasions since Trump took office, immigration officials have arrested so-called Dreamers  those who have received DACA status. And naturally, the DACA recipients around the country hear about it and fear.

The latest arrest to be revealed, in reporting last week by USA Today, actually took place two months ago.

On Feb. 19, immigration officials deported Juan Manuel Montes, a 23-year-old in Calexico, California, brought into the country at age 9. The circumstances surrounding his arrest are contested  he left the country involuntarily Feb. 17, his attorneys said, and was found re-entering the country illegally in Calexico on Feb. 19. He wasnt carrying the papers showing he has DACA status until 2018. Immigration officials said his attempted illegal entry into the country is what caused them to kick him out.

He was the first DACA recipient known to have been deported during Trumps presidency, but not the only arrest.

Daniel Ramirez, 24, was arrested Feb. 10 near Seattle despite his DACA status and the fact he arrived in the country at age 7. Immigration agents showed up to arrest his father, a previously deported felon and legitimate target, and took Ramirez in as well. They said Ramirez was a gang member, something his supporters vigorously denied, pointing to his clean record. He was released on bond March 30.

Then there was the disturbing case of Daniela Vargas, a 22-year-old Mississippi resident brought to the country from Argentina at age 7 by parents who overstayed their visa. Vargas spoke at a press conference at City Hall in Jackson, Mississippi, on March 1 and was pulled over afterward by immigration agents. Vargas had twice renewed her DACA status, which lasts two years, but had allowed it to lapse this year because she didnt have the $495 fee. Obviously, paying that fee, however expensive, and renewing their status should be a Dreamers top priority.

There have been other cases, despite Trumps reassurances. Its a shame because, of course, these young adults took a risk when they came out from the shadows and provided their personal information to the federal government and because DACA is not a carte blanche to do whatever you want and stay in the country. Among the terms of the program, recipients must:

Have been brought into the country when they were under age 16, before June 15, 2007.

Have graduated from high school, be in school, or be an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces.

Not have been convicted of a felony or significant misdemeanor or pose a threat to public safety.

If they violate the terms of the program by committing a crime, of course theyve given up their protected status and should have no expectation of staying in the country.

Before Jan. 20, it wasnt hard to find Dreamers to interview  there are thousands in Arizona. Not so in the Trump era. His reassuring words dont mean much if the agents of his administration are out arresting people anyway. And they especially dont mean much if he isnt doing anything to firm up their temporary status. So, theyre staying underground, as much as 750,000 or so people can.

Strategic ambiguity is a phrase thats been used to describe Trumps approach to many issues. He doesnt commit, and that keeps people on their toes, giving him more power because they have to continue to please him. It looks like thats whats happening with the DACA issue. But its one thing to use strategic ambiguity when youre a candidate or even a president dealing with a foreign nation.

Its completely different when youre toying with the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

Politically speaking, you can see why Trump would turn noncommittal after taking office. During the campaign, as Trump gloried in the excited response to his anti-immigrant rhetoric, he vowed to eliminate President Barack Obamas executive amnesty measures like DACA.

Many of his supporters love the idea of deporting anyone in the country illegally. It has a black-and-white appeal. Thats easier to support when youve never met a person brought to the country as a child who grew up speaking English in American schools and knows this country as their home. Its harder when youve met the people and realize the jeopardy theyre under for reasons out of their control.

Trump has obviously realized they are sympathetic cases, politically difficult to turn against because by definition they were brought here as children and have done OK by graduating from school and not getting in serious trouble.

He ought to give them some security by committing to the program until Congress can pass a new immigration bill and by promising the government wont deport Dreamers who havent done anything wrong themselves.

Then they can really rest easier.
Over the past 20 years, thousands of injured birds and critters have been quietly nursed back to health at a wildlife sanctuary nestled in the hills of northwest Tucson.

On the night of March 30, a fire ripped through the center, killing multiple animals and destroying structures, equipment, food and supplies that Wildlife Rehabilitation in Northwest Tucson relied on to operate.

It took 22 firefighters more than 20 minutes to extinguish the fire and another 45 minutes to search through the home for hot spots. With no hydrants in the area, firefighters had to use a water tender to battle the blaze.

Three weeks later, Wildlife Rehabilitations training and operations continue, despite the fact that many of the surviving animals have been moved to other centers or private homes until the sanctuary is rebuilt.

The cause of the fire hasnt been determined and much of the damage is still visible, as volunteers arent able to clear out the wreckage until the fire inspection is complete.

It was devastating, volunteer Nancy Chilton said. The loss of property was one thing, but we lost some of our education birds and other birds who were in recovery and to whom we were very attached.

The sanctuary, owned and operated by 86-year-old Janet Miller, is licensed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. In addition to rehabbing injured animals, the center also provides education to students across Tucson about desert wildlife and the ways animals can be injured by sharing their environment with humans.

The center takes in all types of animals, many of which are birds, but also small and larger mammals, including bobcats and coyotes.

Of the thousands of animals that have come through the center over the years, a high percentage have been rehabbed and released, and a large number of the animals that had permanent injuries that didnt allow them to be released into the wild have been transferred to wildlife education facilities all over the country, including the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the Reid Park Zoo, Chilton said.

The center has always been funded by private donations and staffed by volunteers, whom Miller says are essential to the sanctuarys day-to-day functioning.

There are roughly 60 volunteers who fill two shifts a day at the center, doing everything from housekeeping duties to assisting with wound care, physical therapy and feeding the animals, Chilton said.

Although more than a dozen birds of prey remain on site in the centers outdoor aviaries, many of the other surviving animals have been temporarily moved to other locations, leaving the volunteers with fewer birds to feed and tend.

Were actually using the time that we have to work on other projects that have needed attention for a long time, Chilton said.

Once the fire inspection is complete, volunteers can begin cleaning up the structure, after which theyll begin to replace equipment and restock supplies lost in the fire. The next step will be rebuilding the main room where the animals were held and the adjacent cages.

This is going to be very much focused on redesigning and making the space more appropriate for the kind of work were doing there, Chilton said. The center was one of those things that was added onto as need increased, now we have this opportunity to start from scratch and really design the whole place so that its a good space for the animals and its easy for the volunteers to move around in.

In early April, Chilton set up a fundraising site with a goal of $10,000. In 18 days, its exceeded its goal, raising more than $16,000.

The funding is going to be very helpful, but were going to need continued funding to get through it. The insurance from the fire should help, but as far as running the center, were always going to depend on public help, Chilton said.

While the large volume of donations that rolled in quickly was wonderful, the outpouring of support from community members offering to help in other ways was also a welcome surprise.

A lot of people have called and said they really want to help by either offering services or bringing us supplies, Chilton said. Weve had Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and different groups like that who have come forward to offer their help with cleanup or with anything else where we need people. Its really encouraging.
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China's Ministry of National Defense (MOD) confirmed late Friday that its military forces were maintaining "normal combat readiness and training" activity along the country's border with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The MOD issued the statement in reaction to recent media reports alleging the PLA (People's Liberation Army) Air Force had been mobilizing bombers while raising their combat readiness to "high alert" in response to rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The MOD said such allegations were "inconsistent with the facts."

In late February, the MOD issued a similar statement denying the PLA was sending a 1,000-man military unit to reinforce China's border with North Korea, deeming such reports as "sheer fabrication."
OPINION: "Let's keep our heads for the next few weeks. It could be chaotic, but we'll get through it. When the dust settles, we'll get to work figuring out if we still have a functioning democracy in Arizona," writes Curt Prendergast, the Star's opinion editor.
A new venue and an additional panelist mean there will be plenty of seats and more information to share during the Star panel discussion on Tucsons weather.

A look at Tucson weather: Whats happened, what to expect, set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, has moved into the ballroom of the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road.

The larger room means there are still reservations available for this free, timely discussion. In addition, a senior forecaster from the National Weather Service has joined the panel lineup.

With Tucsons temperature flirting with the century mark, the panelists will discuss some of the burning (pardon the pun) questions on many Tucsonans minds:

What does this heat trend bode for late spring and summer?

What impact might it have for the fire season?

What impact might be seen for the monsoon?

Panelists include:

Tom Beal , Arizona Daily Star science reporter, moderator.

, Arizona Daily Star science reporter, moderator. Mike Crimmins , an associate professor with the Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science at the University of Arizona and a climate science extension specialist for Arizona Cooperative Extension. He compiles and interprets water and weather data for CLIMAS, the Climate Assessment of the Southwest.

, an associate professor with the Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science at the University of Arizona and a climate science extension specialist for Arizona Cooperative Extension. He compiles and interprets water and weather data for CLIMAS, the Climate Assessment of the Southwest. John Glueck , National Weather Service Tucson senior forecaster and climate program leader.

, National Weather Service Tucson senior forecaster and climate program leader. KOLD-TV chief meteorologist Kevin Jeanes , whos on the First Alert weather team and gives daily forecasts and updates for television and the Stars weather page.

, whos on the First Alert weather team and gives daily forecasts and updates for television and the Stars weather page. Heidi Schewel, public affairs specialist with the Coronado National Forest.

Reserve your seat for this free discussion at tucson.com/weatherpanel
Help India!

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

In another case of violence against minorities, three Muslim men were attacked by Gau Rakshaks near the Kalkaji metro station in Delhi last night.

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Ashu(28), Rizwan(25) and Kamil(25) were carrying buffaloes in truck when activists from organization People for Animal (PFA) stopped the truck near Kalkaji Metro station and thrashed them.

Police was called on to the spot by PFA members, but no charges could be framed as there was no cow present in truck.

Two of three men were admitted in AIIMS trauma center last night and are currently receiving medical treatment.

According to family members of victims, they belong to Pataudi of Haryana and work as cattle traders. They were carrying buffaloes to the Ghazipur district of the Uttar Pradesh.

The truck and the animals were confiscated and brought to Tees Hazari Court, New Delhi.

Ved Prakash, SHO at Kalkaji PS, informed TwoCircles.net that investigation in the case is on. Role of animal welfare activists is also under the scanner, although no case has been registered till now.
Help India!

By Twocircles.net Staff Reporter

In yet another incident related to violence unleashed by cow vigilantes in India, the Aluva West Police in Kerala has arrested eight persons, all with RSS-BJP links, for trespassing into someones house and throwing mud into beef preparations on the occasion of Easter.

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The gau rakshaks were taken into custody following a complaint was issued by Karumallur Panchayat president G D Shiju on April 17.

According to police, on Easter eve, a group of RSS activists trespassed into the house of Kallarakkal Jose and threw mud in the beef curry being prepared at Joses house, saying we wont allow cow slaughter. They also spoilt the raw meat stored at the house. Police said the accused barged into the residence of Biju around noon on Sunday and disrupted the Easter celebration.

Jose, according to reports, decided to slaughter his three-year-old cow after it was found incapable for delivery. Scared of threats from Sangh groups, Jose was not ready to file a complaint. However, Karumallur Panchayat president G D Shiju issued a complaint with the police seeking action.

The accused have been identified as Valiyaparambil Baiju, Valiyaparambil Sarath, Ambatt Veettil Anil, Ambatt Veettil Lathan, Kallumpadi Veettil Gireesh, Veliyamparamb Veettil Nithosh, Varun from Revathy Bihar and his brother Arun.

Following an initial probe, a FIR was filed on April 17 and case was taken against 14 persons. The accused were summoned to the police station on Tuesday. But, they failed to turn up.

On Sunday, three Muslim cattle traders were attacked in Delhi for carrying buffaloes in a truck.
The polls open today for the election in France with Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron leading in the polls with 22.1 and 24 percent respectively. Experts have warned that if Le Pen were to win, it could signal the end of the European Union. However, as Trump has proved within the current political climate, anything could happen. The other main contenders are Francois Filon, Jean-Luc Melenchon and Benoit Hamon.

There are also 50,000 police officers and 7,000 soldiers deployed across the countrys polling stations in a bid to keep the public safe.

This follows a recent attack that saw a police officer killed.

Voting begins

The top two will go through to face-off against each other on May 7th and with 11 contenders overall including a shepherd and man who wants to colonise Mars, only 4 have a realistic chance of going through. With current polls suggesting that it will be fight between Macron and Le Pen, due to the margin of error, the likes of Melenchon or Filon could make it through. The exit poll will be released at 7pm UK time and that will confirm who will make it through.

Polls show that 1 in 3 of voters remain uncertain about who they will vote for. The last time the National Front made it through to the second round was in 2002, with Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marines father, as leader.

However, after both left and right-wing voters galvanised, the conservative leader Jaques Chirac crushed the far-right party. Marine Le Pen has since tried to de-demonise them by even attempting to expel her father after comments about the holocaust.

Left, or right?

Benoit Hamon is experiences a collapsed in support after the Socialist Party has currently failed in its endeavour to improve the ailing economy.

However, those are largely down to policies by current president Francois Hollande and the lack of a majority in the National Assembly. If Macron were to win then it would signal that far-right nationalism can only go so far and would mean that a more pragmatic socialist would be in power, after he quit the government to form his own left-centrist party.

A Le Pen victory could cause the collapsed of the EU after she has cited that France would leave the Euro, experts warning it could be economically dangerous. It would also mean that an openly fascist party would be in power despite attempts by Le Pen to reform the party, she has significant traits of her fathers intolerance. With hardened policies that would see Frances borders become hardened and the Burqa being banned. Filon, who is benefitting from the governments failures would be a comprise between most supporters.

Instability

The concern is if Le Pen wins, this would create more uncertainty and instability across the world, with far-right leaders growing in confidence following Brexit and Trump.

But as Trump is very quickly proving, the far-right have little sense when it comes to economic and foreign policy. He has already created uncertainty with Russia and North Korea that could theoretically lead to a third world war. Highly militarised actions are showing that only death and destruction will come from it.

The world needs stability and a right-wing victory would bring further instability within current global politics. It could even continue to cause a ripple across Europe that signals more confidence from parties such as these. Recently, the Dutch voted against far-right populism and so did the Austrians, with the UK general election in June, commentators and politicians alike will have one eye on the French election result. The result could signal either the spark the far-right need or the end to populism of this kind.
Streaming service Netflix is extending its deal with superstar funnyman Adam Sandler. Hes made Netflix his home with the western comedy The Ridiculous 6 and action comedy The Do-Over (alongside David Spade, who this year cropped up in Netflixs original romcom series Love), and the upcoming Sandy Wexler. Lets put it this way: some Netflix originals are powerful, racially charged documentary 13th; others are The Ridiculous 6.

Anyway, Sandlers original deal was for four films, so it looked as though the nightmare was almost over, but now its looking like the nightmares about to start all over again, as hes signed another deal for four more films.

Will it ever end? Probably not. Lets just hope this isnt a premonition of a second Trump term.

Sandlers fourth film rumoured to co-star Chris Rock

The fourth Film in Sandlers first four-film deal with Netflix is rumoured to feature Chris Rock in its cast. Rock recently signed a Netflix deal himself to bring two exclusive new standup specials to the streaming service. Rock is one of the main black voices of comedy, alongside the likes of Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Dave Chappelle. His comedy is edgy and brilliant, and hopefully he can finally make this a Sandler Netflix film thats worth our time.

Sandlers Netflix films, all eight of which they either already have or will fund from day one to completion, reach users in 190 countries.

The actor is expected to remain mostly faithful to Netflix while he is under contract there, with no two-timing theatrical releases. However, he is due to make an appearance in Noah Baumbachs latest little indie, but that wont make too much of a splash that it bankrupts Netflix; his last film made $2.7 million.

Sandy Wexler is based on Sandlers real-life manager

Sandy Wexler is about a talent manager in the 1990s, and its no coincidence that Sandler got his start as a movie star in the 1990s and his managers name is Sandy Wernick. Wexler is based on Wernick and his mannerisms, and from the trailer, he looks like a dimwit, so how he managed to conquer Hollywood is incomprehensible, but he has, and now theres a movie about him coming to Netflix in April.

Sandy Wexler co-stars Jennifer Hudson alongside regular Sandler collaborators like Kevin James, Terry Crews, Nick Swardson (ugh), and Rob Schneider (ugh!!).

For some reason, Sandler has managed to draw in a lot of subscribers for Netflix, and somehow hes managed to get them to stay despite them seeing both The Ridiculous 6 and The Do-Over. Netflix, while they dont release the actual viewership figures, have referred to Sandlers first two originals as their biggest film releases. Its probably because, while Sandlers last theatrical releases before the jump to streaming, like Pixels, underperformed because his comedy is better suited to a late night Netflix sesh than a day out at the movies.

So, this way we skip the middleman and the movie business is revolutionised. And they let Sandler do whatever he wants and kids like to watch his films and adults like to watch them when theyre drunk or high and Netflix are apparently getting huge hits out of it, so everybody wins. Netflix boss Ted Sarandos loves Adam Sandler, saying that his movies have proven to be extremely successful with our subscribers around the world. He says that the company are thrilled at the opportunity to extend our partnership with Adam...and keep the world laughing. Eh.
Red Nose Day 2017 is finally here. The fundraiser that is the public face of 'Comic Relief' is held every two years in tandem with 'Sport Relief' and will be filmed live at The O2 Arena, London tonight from 7 pm.

From the beginning

Comic Relief first appeared on our screens as a fundraiser in 1988 hosted by Lenny Henry and supported by a number of comedians and pop stars. It was watched by 30 million on TV and raised 15 million. From those humble beginnings, Comic Relief has grown into a national institution raising in excess of 1 billion in its' 30 or so years not to mention a knighthood for its' senior presenter Sir Lenny Henry.

What happens to the money?

Since its' inception, the team at 'Comic Relief' have been involved in raising money to eradicate poverty in the UK and in Africa. One of its' most notable cases saw land seized by apartheid in South Africa returned to the people in Elandskloof, South Africa in a landmark legal case.

For the most part, the money is used to improve the lives of people in the poorest parts of Africa and support disabled people in the UK return to work and highlight abuse of the elderly.

What can we expect this year?

This year there will be appearances from comedians French and Saunders, Reeves, and Mortimer and Catherine Tate. James Corden will be hosting a special version of his Car Pool Karaoke with 'Take That.' Later in the evening, Russell Brand will host an hour of the best of British stand-up comedians.

For those who may have forgotten Ed Balls efforts on Strictly Come Dancing there will be the chance to catch his unforgettable version of 'Gangnam Style' as they recreate the opening to 'La La Land'.

Love Actually, the sequel.

By far the biggest talking point of this year's show is the specially written sequel to the 2003 film 'Love Actually'. Richard Curtis, the film's original writer has written a special sketch which will show us where the much-loved characters from the film could be today.

All the original cast will be reprising their roles with the sad exception of Alan Rickman who died last year and his screen wife Emma Thompson who decided she couldn't appear without her on- screen husband.

Supporting the show

As with every year, the merchandise is in the form of a comic red nose which can be purchased from Sainsbury's, Oxfam or online on the Comic Relief website. Viewers are also able to take part in their own fund raising activities knowing that the money raised will be going to the causes supported by the charity.
While President Donald Trump is usually the one who dominates the news cycle, members of his administration have had their fair shot in the spotlight. For White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, the media is not willing to hold back their criticism.

Spicer's trouble

One of the first decisions made by Donald Trump after he was elected president last November was to pick who would be his new press secretary. As the daily face of the president's agenda, the press secretary must be able to communicate and put a positive spin on what is going on in the White House regardless of any outside distractions.

Sean Spicer was formally a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, but has since struggled at times in his new role. Spicer's blunders and blatant falsehoods have become so obvious that even "Saturday Night Live" has mocked his press briefings with actress Melissa McCarthy taking on the role. During a March 23 segment on CNN, Spicer became the butt of the joke.

On Thursday night, a wide-ranging panel joined CNN host Anderson Cooper to discuss Sean Spicer. After playing a short video montage of Spicer attempting to defend the Republican health care bill, the panel couldn't help but laugh in amazement. Former Republican Senator and network contributor Rick Santorum was the first to offer his thoughts, mocking Spicer for his use of certain words in the video clip.

"I want to give some advice to the Trump people who are talking to the media," Santorum said. "Don't use words like 'grind members down.'" Santorum said to the laughter of panel.

'Pay no attention to the man behind the podium': John King calls out Sean Spicer's 'credibility problem' https://t.co/6m0RgHxYwv pic.twitter.com/Ym4H17A9Ba  Raw Story (@RawStory) March 24, 2017

As the segment came to a close, fellow CNN host John King decided to take his own shot at Sean Spicer.

"I hate to say this, but in a sense, just pay no attention to the man at that podium," King said in reference to Spicer. "I hate to say it that early in a new administration, but there's a credibility problem in the White House briefing room," he concluded.

President Trump's wiretap claims have hurt his credibility, new poll finds https://t.co/kLE7Meduhw pic.twitter.com/jIsa1UdlGI  CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) March 23, 2017

Next up

Whether it's Sean Spicer, Presidential Counsel Kellyanne Conway, or even Donald Trump himself, the White House has a credibility and trust issue with the media and the American people.

After Trump's recent baseless allegation that Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower during the election, a new poll released by Quinnipiac poll shows that 60 percent of Americans don't trust the new commander in chief.
'united airlines, fly the friendly skies.' -- Theses "friendly skies" are starting to not seem "friendly". Let's recap. In January, 12 News .com reported that United Airlines (UAL) kicked off an unaccompanied minor and left him -- a 13-year-old boy -- stranded at a New York airport. Then, as Market Watch reported, passengers flying UAL through United's family program were refused by a gate agent to board a plane because they were wearing Yoga Pants. Following that, mainstream media including the Daily Mail ran the story of a doctor from Louisville who was forcefully removed from a flight because he did not give up his seat when bumped.

Finally, a couple post marriage was asked to leave a plane when they moved up a couple seats.

Unaccompanied Minor left at Airport

A Virginia boy flew from Dulles to New York to visit his mother when on his return flight he never actually flew. He, among other passengers, were removed from the flight. The boy, spoke to his brother, his legal guardian, through texts the brother was confused as reported by the Consumerist, the family paid an extra $300 to ensure he was accompanied at all times. Somehow it seems that United employees weren't aware of his UM status when he was left at the gate. His brother had to drive to New York from Virginia. The flight was refunded and the brother was compensated for his travels.

Confusion about Yoga Pants

Family members of a United Airlines employee traveled using UAL's family pass program which offers discounts and deals for their flights. But, two passengers, family members of an employee were denied access to board a flight when they were wearing yoga pants. Many took to Twitter, hitting hard on United for dress code issues.

United stated under rule number 21, the dress code placed for employees must be adhered to.

united airlines: kills pets, doesn't allow yoga pants, and now assaults passengers to give up their seats because they overbooked   muna (@munakhalisah) April 10, 2017

Things that will get you kicked off a #UnitedAirlines flight:

1. Wearing Yoga pants

2. Having a United Airlines ticket  Johnny Bananas (@MTVBananas) April 11, 2017

Man removed from flight forcefully

Dr.

David Dao a man from Kentucky was flying from Chicago to Kentucky when he and 3 other passengers were asked to change flights so that United employees could travel. UAL offered $400 and a hotel voucher for a 2:30 pm flight the following day, but when no one took the offer it was moved to $800 and nobody took that offer, so instead of moving the offer up again they used a computer system which randomly selected four passengers and one passenger did not want to give up his seat. He said to United Airlines that he was a doctor and needed to get work the following day. After a failed phone call, Chicago Aviation Security forcefully removed him and dragged him down the aisle.

The video has sparked many Parody and jokes

Newly married couple removed from UAL flight after moving seats

A couple post-marriage moved to seats a few rows up on a flight when they found another passenger sleeping across their seats. Apparently, they had moved into Economy Plus seats. United said they were okay with the change of seats, as long as they paid the additional fare, which they did not wish to do. They were removed, although not forcefully and United Airlines booked them for a flight the next day.
In a state-regulated periodical in China, Beijing said that it will not take action if the US conducts Preemptive Strikes against North Korea, though they will not condone it. This is after China had apparently ordered its air defenses to be on high alert against a possible war on the North Korean peninsula, which Beijing now denies.

China will still send basic needs to North Korea despite tension

Despite the growing tension between Pyongyang and Washington, China will continue to allow adequate oil exports to North Korea for its citizens to go on with daily lives.

China wants to avoid a humanitarian disaster in Pyongyang, which will occur if exports are completely cut off. North Korea is heavily dependent on Chinese exports as it is the only lifeline that supports the countrys survival.

However, China doesnt support Pyongyang's nuclear adventure and vowed to drastically limit exports if the country still conducts another nuclear test. China doesnt recognize North Korea as a nuclear state and doesnt plan on doing so. This is good news to the United States as a belligerent Nuclear Korea is a major catastrophe for America.

Update on Trumps stand against North Korea

trump continually encourages countries, especially China, to impose stricter sanctions on North Korea in order to force them to the diplomatic table.

However, China is adamant that they will not halt limited exports to North Korea. Items that have dual use  such as metals, which can be used by the military  are now banned. Business as usual is how Chinese traders describe the ambiance between Pyongyang and Beijing as they trade unsanctioned goods by the United Nations.

Trump's apparent move to curb North Korean threat is to continue dialogue with China to cooperate in strangling Pyongyang to end its nuclear ambition. Though military action is still on the table, the Pentagon said that every diplomatic avenue will be exhausted before resorting to military strikes.

President Trump has been more conservative in divulging military actions lately

Another shift in the presidents demeanor is being more conservative in releasing military information to the public. Trump has placed his ultimate trust on his soldiers. This is the reason why he kept mum about the plan against North Korea as the spread of such information may result in failure and more loss of American lives. It is frankly better for Trump to avoid commenting on military operations than may blunder himself towards war.
When a president is finally sworn into office, they are often judged by their first 100 days in the White House. For Donald Trump, he's not happy with how the media has handled their reporting of the start of his administration.

Trump on Twitter

Back in Jun 2015, Donald Trump stood on the floor of Trump Tower in New York City and called a press conference to announce his plan to run for president. During his speech, Trump went on to refer to illegal immigrants as "rapists" and "murderers," and instantly received heavy backlash as a result. From that point forward, the former host of "The Apprentice" would engage in a war of words with the media, leading to Trump calling out journalists during his campaign speeches, labeling them "terrible" and "the most dishonest people" he's ever met in his life.

The feud between both sides only escalated after his election win over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, with Trump targeting CNN, the "failing" New York Times, and other well-respected news outlets for their coverage of his administration that he believes is not fair. The billionaire real estate mogul went on to take control of the term "fake news," using it to describe any report that is negative about his presidency. In addition, Trump even blocked several media outlets from attending a press briefing at the White House earlier this year. As seen on his Twitter account on April 21, the president is now going after the media for their reporting of his first 100 days in office.

No matter how much I accomplish during the ridiculous standard of the first 100 days, & it has been a lot (including S.C.), media will kill!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2017

Taking to his Twitter account on Friday morning, Donald Trump pushed back at the press for criticizing the early part of his presidency.

"No matter how much I accomplish during the ridiculous standard of the first 100 days, & it has been a lot (including S.C.), media will kill!" Trump tweed out. The president has been frustrated during his first three months of being commander in chief, as he's run into issues dealing with the growing Russian scandal, in-fighting within his own administration, his controversial executive orders, as well as backlash stemming from his recent foreign policy decisions.

Another terrorist attack in Paris. The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2017

Trump sounds off

In addition to his comments about his first 100 days, Donald Trump also lashed out on social media over the recent Islamic terrorists attack that took place earlier this week in Paris. "Another terrorist attack in Paris. The people of France will not take much more of this," he wrote on Twitter, before noting, "Will have a big effect on presidential election!"
According to a Yale University psychiatrist panel, President Donald Trump isn't fit to hold office and could have an undiagnosed dangerous Mental illness. The experts stated they felt it was their duty to warn the public of the dangers of a Trump presidency.

Is Trump mentally ill?

According to Independent, the Mental health panel said that Trump is paranoid and delusional and they felt they had an ethical responsibility to warn Americans of his unhealthy behavior.

Donald Trump is 'Too Mentally Ill to Serve' Say Doctors/Academics at Yale Psychiatric Conference https://t.co/FhN3cyX3ML pic.twitter.com/k7eEJpT4Xf  McSpocky  (@mcspocky) April 23, 2017

This isn't the first time Trump's mental status came into question.

During his 2016 campaign trail, experts warned that the then GOP candidate wasn't fit to hold public office and worried that he would make irrational decisions, possibly putting the whole country at risk.

These reports didn't impact his followers at all. If anything, it strengthened their bond to Trump and solidified his "Make America Great Again" revolution.

The proof

Dr. Gartner spoke at the press conference and said that the first red alert to Trump's mental instability was when he claimed that his inauguration drew a larger crowd that President Obama. He continued by stating that it was a signal that the president is not only a liar and a narcissist, he's paranoid, delusional and believes he is something great.

It was the doctor's opinion that he is a danger to the country.

Another doctor, Bandy Lee claims that Trump's mental health status is the elephant in the room and that many Americans have started to pick up the clues that he isn't well.

Dr.James Gilligan added that he's worked with some of the most dangerous people in this country from the prisons and criminally insane institution so he can spot the warning signs of mental illness.

He went on to say that Trump has "all the signs."

The petition to remove the president from office

In January, Dr. Gartner started an online petition that called for Trump's impeachment. The doctor alleged that Trump is not psychologically capable of completing the duties of a president. His petition has over 50,000 signatures.

The petition states that Dr. Gartner believes that he has a duty to not only warn the United States about the dangers of Trump but the whole world. He thinks that the only way to stay safe from danger is to impeach the president and remove him from office.

Goldwater rule

The mental health panel may have violated the American Psychiatric Association's Goldwater rule, which states that no doctor can give a professional diagnosis on a patient they have not personally examined.

The Republican have also tried to discredit the mental health panel's warning, too. Several have said that they are just "mad about the election results" and are using their position as mental health experts to discredit President Trump.

Hundreds Of Mental Health Professionals Warn That Trump Is Mentally Ill https://t.co/f5Il2dCHtm #USRC pic.twitter.com/xc8Z6N8Wyk  U.S. Reality Check (@USRealityCheck) April 23, 2017

The doctors felt that they had to speak up because there is too much at stake with over three years left in Trump's presidential term.

The Republicans continue to believe that the reason the mental health panel made such a dire warning about Trump is to try to discredit him and his administration. Of course, the experts deny that accusation, stating they felt a moral and ethical obligation to warn the American people about Trump's mental status and the dangers of his presidency.

The Republicans said they support Trump's presidency and do not believe the "fake mental status report" from the panel.

They accused the doctors of having a hidden agenda by attacking Trump.

Do you believe the mental health experts opinion about Trump's ability to run this country? Do you think he should be removed from office? Do you believe the petition will help get the president impeached?
Jeff Sessions appeared on ABC's This Week on Sunday morning. He danced around border wall topic, trying to dodge questions about who would fund the pricey wall. Eventually, he snapped and said," We're going to get it paid one way or another!"

Will Mexico pay for it?

The fact is no one knows if Mexico will end up paying for the wall. The president claims that they will "work out a deal" with Mexico and tax goods to pay for the wall. It seems unlikely that they would agree to such terms, especially since the Mexican president said he would not pay for the wall "in any way, shape, or form."

According to Raw Story, Attorney General, Sessions stated that they are combing through the budget to try to find "most of the funding" for the wall.

However, he admitted that they would need billions more to pay for the pricey project.

Will Americans end up footing the bill?

The truth is, Americans will foot the bill by either losing programs or by an increase in taxes. While Sessions won't admit it, we will pay for it. He tried to imply that Mexico will pay for it eventually. What does that really mean?

So Donnie Trump and Jeff Sessions wanna scare democrats in voting for a down payment on wall. That anybody can go around. #SundayMorning pic.twitter.com/iGgJkbOmDQ  Ty (@Tksailor) April 23, 2017

What that means is America will pay for it as the wall is being built. Then after it's up, Mexico will pay for a small part of it each year through taxes and other charges.

It will take decades for them to pay the Untied States back for the total cost of the wall.

In the meantime, Jeff claims that America will save money by reducing the number of Mexican immigrants hoping over the border and trying to stay in the country illegally.

Trump plans "to do things" at the border to create revenue

Sessions statement about how they will make money at the border was extremely vague.

When he was probed to explain how Trump planned to build revenue at the border, he refused to answer.

There are many ways they could create revenue, from charging housing and food for the workers to putting the immigrants in jail and charging them fine to get out to return to Mexico.

@realDonaldTrump Mexico isn't paying for the wall and now you're just making excuses.  Cole Ledford (@ColeLedford11) April 23, 2017

His vague answer had people on Twitter feeling uneasy.

Donald Trump addressed the issue on his personal Twitter account by stating that "at a later date" Mexico will pay for the wall. It seemed to imply that Americans will pay for it now and added to their fears that Trump planned to increase taxes.

Trump expects the border wall construction to begin by the summer if he can find the funding for the expensive project.

Do you think Trump will find the funding for the wall? Do you think Mexico will ever reimburse America for the $70 billion project?
LA's March for Science on Saturday was met by a few dozen Trump supporters, who waved American flags and chanted as marchers reached the City Hall, where the main rallies took place. The counter-voices shouted "Stop the Hate," "USA! USA!" and "Donald Trump," but were largely ignored by the marchers. The only audible reaction came from a few people shouting "sucks" after the President's supporters chanted his name. Police officers were there to prevent any clashes, but none occurred.

Contrary to what happened in previous gatherings, where both sides ended up resorting to violence and people got arrested, the March for Science in downtown Los Angeles was a very peaceful, energetic, and family-oriented event.

Thousands of people marched from Pershing Square to the City Hall holding signs and chanting against what they perceive to be an attack on science, facts, climate change, and the work of immigrant scientists, engineers, and other highly skilled professionals.

Diverse coalition uniting for science

"Science is under attack. What do we do? Stand up and fight back," the promoters of the March chanted, enlisting the help of the people who were marching down the streets of Los Angeles. There were senior couples, young couples with strollers and toddlers, young students, groups of friends, and a huge diversity of races and backgrounds. What united them all was the urgency to act. President Trump's administration features notorious climate change skeptics and a number of alarming changes have been made since January 20th, inauguration day.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now in the hands of an oil tycoon, Scott Pruitt, who previously sued the agency multiple times. Its budget is set to be cut by 31%.

"Science sometimes teaches us things we don't want to hear," clamored Sean Carroll, the first high-profile speaker at the rally, speaking of climate change and the negative impact humans are having on the planet.

He is a cosmologist and physics professor, doing research in the Department of Physics at the California Institute of Technology. Carroll has also appeared on "The Colbert Report" several times.

"The best way to live is to face up to the truth," he added. Speakers called for funding, respect for data and the acknowledgment of climate change.

There is no Planet B

"There is no Planet B" was one of the many signs marchers held high as they marched and chanted for hours, braving high temperatures and very little shadow. Other signs included "There are no jobs on a dead planet," "The oceans are rising and so must we" and "Neurons not morons." One woman held a sign saying "DiCaprio 2020 #NoDAPL," referring to actor Leonardo DiCaprio's environmental activism.

At Pershing Square, where the March for Science started and where it went back to from City Hall, there was a small science expo with demos and various entities trying to recruit supporters  the Physicians for Social Responsibility and Draft Bernie, for instance. The latter is an attempt to get Bernie Sanders running for President via the People's Party.

On Saturday, Earth Day, 600 cities hosted a March for Science, not only in the United States but also in Europe, from Portugal to Germany, France and Ireland.
Earlier this week, it was announced that the Donald Trump administration were preparing to file charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange which would lead to his arrest. In response, the group decided to remind the president of where he stood on the issue just a few months ago.

WikiLeaks on Trump

Years before Donald Trump became a candidate for president, he spoke out in strong opposition to WikiLeaks. Back in 2010, the former host of "The Apprentice" referred to the organization as "disgraceful," while calling on those who took part in leaking classified information to be given the "death penalty." While that may be how Trump felt before he made his campaign offical, during the 2016 election, the billionaire real estate mogul had a new found love of the group and their actions.

"I love WikiLeaks!" Trump said during a campaign rally last year, in regards to the damaging information that the organization released about Hillary Clinton. Reports have since confirmed that Russian hackers obtained private information from the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign, which were then allegedly given to WikiLeaks, who released them in batches at a time during the remainder of the election. Despite this, WikiLeaks recently announced it could reveal controversial information about the CIA, which didn't go over well with the White House. In addition, earlier this year WikiLeaks tweeted out that they would release Trump's tax returns if anyone had them and sent them to the hackers.

After it was announced this week that the administration was planning to target and arrest Julian Assange, WikiLeaks took to Twitter on April 22 to poke fun at Trump's previous remarks.

Donald Trump, October 10, 2016: "This just came out. WikiLeaks! I love WikiLeaks!" pic.twitter.com/KWP7X2aLiN  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 21, 2017

On their official Twitter account over the weekend, WikiLeaks took a shot at the commander in chief.

"Donald Trump, October 10, 2016: 'This just came out. WikiLeaks! I love WikiLeaks!'" the tweet read, while attaching a GIF file of the the president making the remark in question. In an additional social media message, the group noted the apparent timeline in leading to the administration's decision to go after Julian Assange.

"Wednesday 'WikiLeaks will show illegal actions by the CIA'...Friday 'US prepares charges to arrest Assange."

Wednesday "WikiLeaks will show illegal actions by the CIA"

Friday "US prepares charges to arrest Assange"https://t.co/7zRy5A2ZAH  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 21, 2017

Moving forward

As WikiLeaks prepares their defense of Julian Assange, Donald Trump has been surprisingly quiet on the issue, letting other members of his team do the talking. In response, some of the president's strongest supporters have spoken out over the issue, noting their apparent betrayal over Trump wanting to target Assange.
Sarah Palin, the electric and highly volatile Governor Of Alaska, was a running mate to the well known #Senator John McCain in the election in 2012. (John McCain, by the by, is one of the biggest Republican critics of Donald Trump). They lost to Obama and with this loss Palin missed out on a potentially defining chapter in her life. She has since drifted into the background but many wonder when she will return to for a second coming.

The Sarah Palin we saw

#Sarah Palin is fiercely conservative and has drawn much criticism for her personal style and her bad way with words.

But she also appeals to the sort of voters who voted for Trump in the 2016 election, those who felt they were being left behind in the wake of globalism and the loss of manufacturing jobs to other countries.

From the very time that she wowed the #Republican convention with her acceptance in 2012, she was seen as fierce and adamant ideologue, and in time she was charged as being too sensitive and also very vindictive.

But as the Atlantic points out, Palin did a lot of interesting things when she was in office in Alaska as the governor. She worked with #Democrats to try and get #Big Oil into line and she also solved some of the state's biggest issues and challenges. Why then is she so universally hated?
Amanda Stanton and Josh Murray fell in love on "Bachelor in Paradise," but things didn't work out for them. They have since moved on and split, but recently seem to be trying to work out their relationship. Josh recently revealed that Amanda's daughters call him dad, but their father is now speaking out and denying those claims.

What did Nick Buonfiglio have to say?

Josh Murray was quoted talking about how he doesn't just miss Amanda Stanton, but he actually really misses her daughters as well. In this interview, Josh said "Weve been spending a lot of time together again.

The kids are already calling me Daddy and everything. They weren't together for that long, but right after getting engaged on "Bachelor in Paradise" Josh moved to California and moved in with Amanda and her girls.

Now Amanda's ex Nick is speaking out and wants everyone to know that this isn't true at all. He spoke to In Touch Weekly and shared saying, "I know for a fact that my kids have never once called him Daddy. They havent even asked about him in months." He went on to explain that he feels like Josh is using Amanda to make his image better and that she doesn't have any plans to get back together with him regardless of what Josh is saying. Amanda isn't really saying what is going on with them right now.

Right now, it is just Josh Murray's word against Nick Buonfiglio's word. Everyone has to decide who they believe and what is really going on. Since Josh and Amanda split, he has been saying that he misses the girls and was even spotted kissing Amanda, but they haven't ever admitted to officially being back together. They seem to be still be living on opposite sides of the country right now.

Do you believe Josh Murray or Nick Buonfiglio? Do you think that Josh and Amanda should be together? Sound off in the comments section below on your thoughts, and don't miss "Bachelor in Paradise' when it returns to ABC this summer. Josh and Amanda are both single again, so you never know if one of them might decide to give finding love in paradise another chance.
Jill Duggar Dillard and her husband, Derick Dillard left one month ago to return to Central America for their Mission Work. She is currently pregnant with her second child and they are going to be returning to Arkansas before the birth in July. The Dillards have been quiet since arriving in Central America, but have finally released an update about their journey.

There have been some concerns about the health and wellness of Jill Duggar Dillard being that she is pregnant. The risk of the Zika virus has weighed heavily on fans but so far, Jill has been well.

Because they plan to return home before the baby is born, she is taking extra precautions to keep herself well for travel.

The update

According to People, Jill Duggar Dillard and Derick Dillard are doing rather well this time around. They seem to be adjusting to the culture easier this time, and Derick has been actively preaching at several services. Jill is busy baking banana bread for the locals and enjoying watching their son, Israel make new friends. He will be celebrating his second birth abroad. The Dillards seem to be doing well, looking healthier than they did their first time down there.

It was mentioned that Jill and Derick have been traveling through various countries in Central America.

It appears they are not only stationed in El Salvador this time around. There were no specifics given on where they had been, just that they have been incredibly busy with the mission work.

Jill eases fan worry

There has been a lot of concern for Jill Duggar Dillard and her choice to go back to Central America while being pregnant.

The lack of nutrition and medical care were at the top of the list. Seeing the photos of her with the locals and her family has quieted fans down a bit. They have been vocal about their concerns, but now they are just praying for her health and safety as they continue their journey.

Some of this will be documented on the upcoming season of "Counting On." Jill Dillard will be back in a little under two months to prepare for the birth of her second son, and fans are excited to find out what the Dillards will name their newest addition.
Meghan Markle has been making headlines since she started dating Prince Harry last summer. After she started dating Prince Harry, she became Google's most searched actress of 2016. She also made news in reference to her role on "Suits." In fact, you can learn a lot about the 35-year-old actress by watching her legal drama television series. The show is about a man who pretends to be a lawyer in a law firm where Meghan's character is a lawyer.

Character and real life

Meghan's real life has a lot of similarities to Rachel Zane, her onscreen character.

Meghan's real name is Rachel Meghan Markle, but she goes by her middle name. She plays a foodie on "Suits." In real life, she is a foodie. On her Instagram page, she has posted many pictures of foods she likes. Her online profiles show her real name and state that she is a foodie. Before dating Prince Harry, Meghan dated celebrity chef Cory Vitiello. Meghan loves to cook. Before she shut down her blog, The Tig, she had an entire food section. When shes not filming and doing humanitarian work, she is in the kitchen cooking. When she stays with Prince Harry, she loves to cook for him.

Meghan is known for her humanitarian work. That's one reason Prince Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth is impressed with her.

Meghan's humanitarian work offscreen ties into her onscreen humanitarian work. Humanitarian is one of the things Meghan and Prince Harry have in common. In fact, they plan to combine their charities. In real life, Meghan is a Global Ambassador for World Vision Canada. She works with quite a few charities.

Most people know that Meghan is biracial.

She has a black mother and a white father. On "Suits" she also has parents who are of two different races. In the series, the races are just the opposite. Her father, Robert Zane, is black, and her mother is white. On the show, Rachel and her father are lawyers. In real life, Meghan and her father work in film.

Meghan and Prince Harry

Meghan and Prince Harry have spent a lot of time together even though she lives in Toronto, Canada and he lives in the United Kingdom. It was reported that Prince Harry spends so much time with Meghan in Toronto that she had her house renovated to accommodate him when he visits. He recently spent Easter weekend with her, and she spent the first two months of the year with him. They recently met in Jamaica to attend the wedding of Harry's best friends. She has been invited to attend Pippa Middleton's wedding in May with Prince Harry. Many people believe they will become engaged soon.
Blasting News wrote about the first half of a discussion on Charlie Rose between Wall Street Journal columnist Bret Stephens and former deputy national security advisor and deputy Secretary of State under the Obama administration, Tony Blinken. The article was about how much the conservative columnist wanted to make his point that the Obama administration was responsible for the deaths of Syrian civilians for not taking military action in 2013.

The second half of the discussion centered around the consensus view as to what Syria's future should be.

The Charlie Rose program played a clip of an interview from the previous night with former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford. In the clip, he said that the Syrian Civil War was essentially over and that Assad has won. Many had accepted this with the fact that the Obama administration spent the entirety of his second term with a U.S.-led coalition in Syria to conduct air strikes against ISIS targets on the ground and to support the Syrian opposition.

But the presence of Russian forces in Syria since 2015 and their air strikes against rebel fighters and civilian targets provided enough support for the view that Assad would stay in power. To go with this, foreign policy geeks felt that with Donald Trump winning the election, it largely meant a win for Russia and Syria and therefore the end of the West's perception that President Assad had to be toppled.

For those consumers of news about foreign affairs, Syria's future would now be influenced by a U.S president who would let Russia take the lead.

Syrian opposition will not stop

But Ford also said that the opposition would not stop and even continue to fight Assad's forces for another one to two years. Under the feeling that Assad had already won, he said that the regime would crush the opposition and there would no longer be any opposition left.

Bret Stephens disagreed, saying that as long as Assad was in power, the Sunni's would rise up against him. He added that there was no solution to the Syrian Civil War as long as Bashar al-Assad was president. Blinken also contributed to this view saying that one side could not really crush the other because there are always more powers coming in to prop the losing side.

Here is another interview with Charlie Rose on CBS This Morning where Ford talks about the problems of toppling Assad.

The Syrian Civil War got its start with the Arab Spring uprising that spread throughout the Middle East where protesters demanded changes to their government. The Assad regime is rooted with the Alawite branch of Islam which protesters said had ruled Syria for too long, just as those who governed in Egypt and in Libya who were forced out by their own people. Countries such as Iran and Russia have contributed to fighting against the uprising on Assad's behalf while Saudi Arabia's involvement is to support the rebels. In the autonomous northern region are the Kurds who have held the border against ISIS.

The threat to ending the Assad regime was certainly cause for the Kurds to demand their own state, just like the Kurds in northern Iraq who have demanded the same. While Syria and Iraq have become breeding grounds for Islamic extremists, the Kurds have proven themselves to be the most efficient fighting force against ISIS.

Partitioning Syria

Blinken also said that opposing forces would fight to exhaustion, saying that the life cycle of a civil war generally stands at around 10-years. But he also said that the solution to Syria would be a combination of military action and diplomacy driven by external powers but no external power has been willing to do that. This is also the case with the Trump administration which has said that they're not interested in toppling Assad, while Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has tried to influence Russia to accept that there is no future in protecting the Syrian President.

Without a White House that's willing to take a stand past the use of military might, which was recently only used to send a message, this still appears to be the case.

Stephens, however, pushed it further with a plan to partition Syria. As mentioned in another Blasting News article, President Trump's aide Sebastian Gorka has reportedly made a similar suggestion for Libya which is also been entrenched in a civil war for power. Bret said that it makes no sense for Syria to remain a unitary state because it will always be engaged in a power struggle. He said that in a messy way an Alawite state could exist centered around Latakia or the coastal region on the Mediterranean, then the Kurds can take their autonomous region in the north because that appears to be working in Iraq.

And yet, he said that some level of American intervention would have to remain in the area.

Bashar al-Assad is a greater threat than ISIS

He also said that as much as the point is to exterminate ISIS, that they were not the strategic threat that Bashar al-Assad is who could create a nexus between Tehran, Damascus, Beirut with Hezbollah and Moscow. As a candidate, Donald Trump has said that his goal was to wipe ISIS off the face of the earth. But then the question Charlie Rose had was about there being leverage on the ground which Tony Blinken responded to by saying that the strikes on the Syrian airbase was leverage by the U.S. But currently, many would admit that Russia has the leverage on the ground. And since President Trump's attack, it's Russia he's having to answer to.
United States VP Mike Pence is on a public relations mission in Asia in the hope to clean up President Trumps diplomatic mess. Since Trump won the elections last year, world leaders have mixed feelings on dealing with the controversial president.

Asians are not fond of Donald Trump

Despite American support in countries such as South Korea and Japan, most countries in the area are not fond of the new US president. People in Asia, especially developing countries, generally think Trump will make America off limits to them.

In places like the Philippines, where providing overseas workers is one of the main industry of the country, a man like Trump is bad news.

This is disconcerting especially with the upcoming ASEAN summit that is to be held in the said country and Trump is among those invited.

VP Pence tries to mend economic fear of Trumps 'hire American' policy

Trumps voluminous rhetoric about prioritizing Americans for American jobs and placing high tariffs on China is a threat to developing countries in Asia. Trade deals with Asian countries hang in the balance as Trump teeters precariously on a thin diplomatic tightrope over Asia.

His dealings with North Korea and China are a source of major concern to Asian leaders and VP Pence is on his way to clear things up. The Asia-Pacific area became a more tense region once Trump came to office.

What will be the future of Asia as it deals with Trump?

As Trump starts to end trade deals and erase Obama administration legacy in Asia-Pacific, China will surely have the upper hand. America pulling out means China filling in and Asia would be economically conquered by the massive Chinese economy.

The issue in North Korea will continue to worsen unless the US forces Pyongyang to the diplomatic table.

As long as that event doesn't occur, North Korea will continue to play the obnoxious bully that threatens everybody with his "super-might preemptive strike."

Pence in Muslim Indonesia promoting love for Trump

As Mike Pence continue to slave on cleaning up Trumps mess, he is now touring Indonesia to mend trade disagreements over mining.

As the largest Muslim country in the world, it is tricky for Pence to spread love for Trump, who earlier this year issued an immigration ban against Muslims.

Mike Pence is now being nicknamed as the "defender-in-chief" and the "Trump's clean-up guy." The overworked VP is slowly transforming from being the Presidential spare tire, to Trumps personal rhetoric janitor, who will always come to clean the day.
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A delegation from the Hong Kong Cornerstone Association visited the churches in Jiangyou, Sichuan from April 14 to April 16, 2017.

The local churches in Jiangyou, Mianyang face the most daunting task of rebuilding in the quake-hit areas affected by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. So far, five churches have been reconstructed in the villages and towns, while there is a chapel in the downtown which is yet to be completed due to insufficient funds.

The 28-person delegation divided into four teams and visited over 70 elderly people in the local nursing homes, seven poor families and five financially disadvantaged students, who will participate in this year's national college entrance examination, giving financial assistance and care to them. They also attended the Easter Sunday services in the local churches, gatherings and present chorals. After the services, some medical workers with the delegation offered free medical treatment to over 1000 people.

The Hong Kong Cornerstone Association was established in 1994 with two service patterns: Great Commission-Evangelism (Matthew 28:18-20) to assist building and rebuilding of mainland churches and Great Commandment-Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40) to serve the mainland comrades with the love of Christ and assist the poverty alleviation and the development of social services.

(The author is the senior pastor of Gospel Church of Jiangyou, Mianyang, Sichuan)

Translated by Karen Luo
NEW AUBURN  As a child, George Ciampa was scared of dying.

I didnt want any part of death, he said.

So when he was drafted into World War II and the U.S. Army assigned him to the 607 Graves Registration Company, he wasnt happy.

For the last 11 months of the war in Europe, the skinny 18-year-old Private First Class buried soldiers, both Allied and German. He endured going through the D-Day invasion on Utah Beach and the last major German counterattack of the war, the Battle of the Bulge, along with three other campaigns.

He gathered the dead and made sure they were buried, with the soldiers personal effects being sent home to their grieving families.

At the wars end, the company the California man was in handled the burials of a staggering 75,000 soldiers in 17 cemeteries. For reference, Chippewa County has a population of about 63,000.

Each soldier was placed in a mattress cover and lowered into a temporary grave.

I did it like a robot, he said. I couldnt handle it very well.

Later the soldiers would be reburied in permanent cemeteries.

Now 91, Ciampa has made five documentaries about the war, the soldiers who were lost and the people the U.S. soldiers liberated.

On Thursday he described his experiences before students at the New Auburn School District. He previously spoke in the Bloomer School District along with Chetek and Cameron schools.

Guys who did what I did know (more) about the price of liberty than anybody, he said.

The Army

Ciampa said he didnt make for an imposing figure in the Army.

I was a skinny little kid, he said. If I stood sideways, you couldnt see me.

He had decided to try to join the U.S. Army Air Corps, now known as the Air Force.

He needed perfect vision to become a flyer, but I flunked that test.

His doctors advice? Eat some carrots. But it didnt help. He flunked the second vision test, too.

Then I got drafted in the Army, he said. (There), you didnt need perfect vision.

Later, after the Air Corps took many causalities, it wasnt as fussy about having pilots with perfect vision. So Ciampa took the Air Corps vision test again and this time passed.

However, his Army commander wasnt happy about potentially losing Ciampa, so he granted him a furlough. When Ciampa returned, he had been transferred from the 620th Graves Registration Company to the 607th.

In April 1944 he found himself on a ship bound for the United Kingdom, in the run up to the D-Day invasion. Later, while practicing for the invasion, 18 members of his company were killed when a German submarine sunk their Land Ship Tanks, or LSTs.

D-Day

Ciampa was on a ship again on the night of June 5. He wore a flotation device because, to this day, he cant swim.

The next day would be D-Day, the largest invasion ever attempted.

Four thousand ships approached Normandy, France, the point of the invasion. German artillery screamed overhead.

I saw a tanker get hit and destroyed, he said.

Germans had obstacles strewn along the approach of the beaches to stop Allied craft.

We made three attempts to go in before we went in, he said.

Then it came time for the skinny boy from California to get off the water craft and wade into shore.

I was so scared, I didnt know what was happening, he said. He remembers wading in water up to his waist, but doesnt remember much more.

Boots on

For the next 11 months, Ciampa seldom took off his boots except for momentary pauses. He would sleep where ever he could. He poured water into his steel helmet, and used that to take a bath.

For him, some of the hardest deaths to handle were of soldiers in tanks that were hit and set on fire. He recalled one soldier who had burned up, resembling a ball of charcoal.

He stayed in Germany after its surrender on May 7, 1945.

I celebrated with two bottles of wine, he said.

He would stay in Germany during the occupation until the Japanese surrendered in September 1945.

When he got out of the Army, he was 20. Technically, he was still too young to drink alcohol.

He said all he wanted to do was to have fun, and to get the war out of his system.

He didnt like talking about the war. It wasnt until the 50th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1994, that he returned to Normandy, and saw the graves of some of the soldiers he helped bury.

He said today, people dont seem as patriotic as they did during World War II. He would like the U.S. to have better relations with Russia, an ally during WWII, to beat the threat of the Islamic State.

The price of liberty is high. The U.S. suffered over 416,000 military deaths in the war. They left behind grieving widows, husbands and families.

But it was something that needed to be done.

We actually liberated Germany for their own leader who was a manic, Ciampa said.

During Ciampas presentation, Dan North stood straight, his hands clothed in white gloves. The commander of American Legion Post 267 in New Auburn recalled more than 10 percent of the U.S. population served in the military during World War II.

He said he is not sure how much about World War II is taught in schools today, but he hoped Ciampas presentation helped them understand more about the war.

What he hopes for young people is for them to enjoy their liberty.
A team of veterans unwilling to idle their retirement days away deliver yeoman service to their communities by working hard, for free, to build bridges and roads. Nguyen Hanh and Nguyen Van report.

It was a scorching hot day when I attended the launching of a bridge over the Cai Ban River in the Mekong Delta province of ong Thap.

But it was not the heat that warmed the cockles of my heart, and that of others present at the ceremony.

This bridge had been built by people in their late sixties, seventies and eighties, voluntarily, charging nothing for their labour.

Vo Van Loc, a 82 year old native of Tan Hoa Commune in ong Thap, was a founder of the voluntary construction team in 2008.

Initially, it had less than ten members, but boasts more than a hundred now. Over the last years, the team has worked hard to build more than a hundred new bridges and upgrade several dozen kilometres of roads to help local people.

My hometown is poor and quite far from the provinces centre. Seeing locals, especially children, having to use the cau khi (foot bridges) which are unstable and unsafe, my neighbours and I (all senior citizens) decided to form a team to construct bridges in the locality in order to make locals lives easier, said Loc.

Foundation: Part of a bridge being constructed by the team of seniors. The team has built more than a hundred cement bridges and more than 15 kilometres of road have been built over the last nine years.

Over nearly ten years, the team has built more than 100 bridges 2 to 4.5 metres wide and 20 to 45m long, Loc said.

At first the team would identify a dilapidated bridge and replace it with a new one under the approval of the authority.

However, after they built a dozen or so bridges this way, the team became well-known and local authorities began contacting them, said Loc.

When we [the construction team] get a new project, we will study the site, make a design for the bridge and give the authorities an estimate of expenditure. In recent years, local authorities have been giving us 25 per cent of total funding for a project. Together with the locality, we then call for donors to get the remaining funds. Finally the construction team starts the work, and we do it for free, said Loc.

In the first few years, because they lacked people as well as enough construction knowledge and experience, they only built wooden and cement bridges of less than 1.5 tonne weight limit.

In 2010, we realised that we had to replace existing bamboo and wooden bridges with strong and durable cement bridges. If we continued to build bridges that were just 2 metres wide and had a 1.5 ton limit, they were no longer of practical use in a few years.

So we came to find Hai au in Lap Vo District to learn to build bigger bridges with greater weight limits. Now we can build bridges of 5 tonne weight limit and meet construction standards set by the ong Thap Bridge Association.

Le Van Ut, 67, is in charge of construction methods. He said, We havent attended any official class for such things, we just learnt how to construct bridges from Hai au and our friends."

When we build bridges, we have to carefully study reinforced concrete construction and things like that. Other skills such as organising and allocating jobs are also important. We learned to assign different jobs to different people, based on their age and specialisation, said Ut.

We are proud to say that we have constructed more than 100 concrete bridges since our team was established in 2008, and until now none of them has any problem and thanks God that we havent had any accident while working.

The team now has 115 members who are mostly from four communes of Lai Vung District  Tan Hoa, Vinh Thoi, Long Hau, and Long Thang. Among them, more than 50 per cent are 60 and above, the youngest are in their 50s.

I have been with the team for four years. Frankly, this volunteer job is physically heavy for us seniors. Yet, as we share the job, we feel it is less tough. To see a road or a bridge get finished, and local people, especially children commute easily is such a rewarding experience. It motivates us to continue building new bridges and roads, said 76 year old Nguyen Hoa An, a resident of Long Hau Commune.

Men of steel: The construction team in Lai Vung District, founded by Loc (second, right) includes more than 100 members, many of whom are in their 70s. Photos courtesy of Nguyen Hanh

The team has expanded its work outside Lai Vung District to neighbouring Lap Vo and Chau Thanh districts.

Whether it is our district or others, all our work is voluntary. But, for those who live far from the construction site, the locality or contractors should give them some commuting stipend. While we work on a bridge or road, locals always offer us food, said Loc.

What concerns me most now is insurance for the construction team. We are mostly seniors, and while some are reasonably well of, others lead a hard life. When we work on the construction projects, unexpected accident could happen. It would be hard without insurance for their family and the team itself.

Bui Van Loi, 74, said, We joined the project with the aim to refresh and improve the face of our hometown. Our desire is to eliminate all foot bridges and muddy roads in the locality.

We also wish to have health insurance and accident insurance, just in case of unfortunate incidents, said Loi.

Lai Vung Districts Peoples Committee Chairman, Ho Thanh Phuong, praised the team.

The volunteer construction team, over the last few years, have constructed more than 90 cement bridges and kilometres of cement roads for Lai Vung District and other localities. This has improved the face of the rural district," he said.
The Yok on National Park is being opened up to visitors as a way to increase public awareness of the need to protect biodiversity, Huynh Thuy reports

It was a chilly afternoon and there was a sense of quiet excitement and anticipation as we set out on our first foray into Yok on National Park in the Central Highlands province of ak Lak.

Accompanied by a group of forest wardens we were going to trek through a Dipterocarp forest covering thousands of hectares in the national park.

We were excited because wed heard that the forest hides many elephant mysteries.

Crossing a bridge over the Serepok River, we arrived at the edge of the forest as the sun was going down behind the mountains and the trees were gradually cloaking themselves in the mysterious darkness of the night.

Above us, rows of birds flew around, calling each other to come back home.

Tran uc Phuong, vice director of the Centre of Environmental Education and Services in Yok on National Park, said it was a perfect moment of the year for us to contemplate the flowers blooming in the forest before every tree shed its leaves in the struggle against harsh conditions of the dry season.

After months battling thirst, as soon as the first rains of a new season arrived, the forest revives, putting on a new green coat on the Dipterocarp trees. Yok on National Park is the only place in Viet Nam that possesses such a unique forest, he said.

As we took our last photos before the dark set in, some strange sounds startled us. Just wild boar. Dont worry, came the assurance.

Huy, one of the forest wardens, said: When we patrol the forest, we get to see many wild animals like deer, pheasants, peacocks or phoenixes. The elephant herds are appearing more often these days, but wild buffaloes and cows are a rarer sight.

We have never seen wild oxen, tigers or rhinos, though specialists havent ruled out the possibility of their existence in the park.

Catch of the night: A visitor goes fishing to prepare for dinner in the Yok on National Park. VNS Photo Huynh Thuy

The wild animals can sense human beings from afar, so it is very hard to take photos of them.

During the day, visitors can contemplate the forests diverse wild flora, but for seeing the wild animals, they have stay overnight in the deep forest and wait until midnight, he added.

After trekking through the forest for nearly 10 kilometres, we were all exhausted and hungry. We stopped by ak Lau Stream to prepare dinner. Each of us took over a task: some went fishing while others collected the wood to grill com lam (bamboo-cooked rice).

An hour later, our simple but fulfilling meal was ready. Seven of us gathered around the dancing flames and used leaves as plates and bamboo strips as chopsticks.

Night in the deep forest was particularly tranquil. There was no phone call. The sound that dominated the night was that of insects, and the only light came from the moon, high above. It was impossible not to feel the close bond between nature and humans at this point.

Nguyen Van Long, director of the Centre of Environmental Education and Services, said opening eco-tours in Yok on National Park aimed to spread the message of forest protection.

The centre is not concerned much about the income from the tours. We consider them as a long-term plan to further our aim of protecting the forest.

Now, visitors to this park can go fishing, observe wild animals in their national setting, learn about local plants, contemplate beautiful waterfalls and bathe in cool water.

They can also learn about the traditions and customs of ethnic minority communities in the area, like the E e. There are other tours where one can join gong dances and drink wine through long bamboo stems, but doing this in the midst of a thick forest is something else.

We kept talking until the black clouds arrived and covered all the stars above. Hastily, we moved to the centres office to escape the coming rain and get some sleep.

Broad back: Riding on an elephant is a unique experience that visitors to Yok on National Park can enjoy. VNS Photo Huynh Thuy

Becoming a mahout

At the crack of dawn, with the raindrops still on the leaves, we went elephant "hunting". This meant following a 50-year-old mahout called Y Muc Bya, who has dedicated half his life to the profession, into the forest for about five kilometres, searching for an elderly female elephant called Y Tul.

Our journey was a bit challenging because the rain of the previous night had erased all the elephant tracks.

After patiently walking for an hour through the forest, Y Muc discovered some footprints, which became clearer as we followed them.

Many branches had been struck down on the way, and all their leaves were gone. The footprints of the elephant were deep now, and filled with water.

She was eating, but on seeing strangers, Y Tul stood still to assess the situation. As soon as she recognised the familiar voice of Y Muc, she waved her big ears and tail in response. Y Muc signalled Y Tul to come back home. Understanding her keeper, Y Tul obediently followed him, grabbing some leaves as she walked back.

An elephant, on average, needs about 150 kilograms of food, mainly grass and fresh leaves. During the dry season, when the leaves are rare, they have to eat even tree barks.

Y Tul is sometimes naughty, and does not listen to me. I get annoyed but have never hit her, said Y Muc. I have known her since 1990, when she was small so, I have have always loved and treated her like my family member.

She is normally obedient, except when she is in season. At that time I have to comfort her by letting her stay in the forest for a month to freely seek a partner, but there has been no good news yet.

As he ordering Y Tul to move faster, the mahout also checked the elephant dung.

He said he could easily tell the age and health condition of an elephant by looking at its dung. If the dung is thick and smooth, the elephant must be young and healthy. If the dung contains much grass and leaves, the elephant must be old and weak. If the dung smells sour, the elephant needs special treatment, he said.

The life expectancy of an elephant is about 50-70 years. A grown up elephant weighs 3 to 5 tonnes and is 2 to 4 metres tall. When one is found dead, it is buried according to the customs of the local ethnic people.

Y Muc also revealed that there is a kind of tree in the forest that looks similar to tamarind trees but has a white bark. Elephants are very afraid of these trees, and can go crazy if they are tied to them. Therefore, the mahout has to lead the pachyderms away from these trees.

As soon as we arrived at the Serepok River, Y Tul hastily rushed into the cool transparent water to take a bath. That was the end of our lesson in becoming a mahout. Everyone was happy with the encounter with the gentle giant.VNS

Yok on National Park has a total area of 115,545sq.m spanning ak Lak and ak Nong provinces. It is managed by the Vietnam Forestry Administration. It is home to 858 species of flora, 120 of which are precious trees and 64 are herbal plants. The fauna is diverse, too, with 89 mammal species, 305 bird species, 48 reptile species, 16 amphibian species, 50 kinds of fish and over 437 kinds of insects, many of which are on the national and international lists of endangered species.
Mexican-Spanish guitarist Mauricio Diaz Alvarez, a widely travelled performer, also teaches classical guitar at the Conservatory of Fine Arts of Choisy-le-Roi (France). After performing at Ha Noi University on April 19, he spoke to Vuong Bach Lien about his passion and his career.

Inner Sanctum: How did you become a guitarist?

My father was one, and I developed a passion for it as little boy. At 8, I began to learn the guitar seriously. I held my first professional concert when I was 13.

Playing the guitar is something very natural for me, like breathing.

I didnt do well at school. The only thing I wanted to do was to play music.

When I was 17, I left my family in Mexico to live in Madrid (Spain) where I spent another 17 years studying and playing the guitar.

I was young and I wanted to live adventurously. But I did not know that it was a definitive departure from Mexico.

When I arrived in Madrid, I passed a very difficult exam to the Madrid Royal Conservatory. Here, I had a great teacher, the renowned Spanish guitarist Gabriel Estarellas. We have had a very beautiful friendship. He appreciates me a lot. He composed for me a piece, Tribute to Marcel Proust that I recorded in my first CD. I play it everywhere in the world.

Inner Sanctum: You inherited your passion from your father. Would you like to pass it on to your son?

My son is still very small. He is just eight. But he loves listening to music, and is already attracted to the guitar and the piano. Its very natural, as he sees me play the guitar every day.

Since he was small, Ive made him listen to Beethoven and Mozart. Its a marvelous way to begin with music, not to play immediately, but to listen first.

To be honest, I dont wish that my child becomes a guitarist as it is a very hard job. But if he wants it, I cannot say no. Its not for me to decide. I would love it if he could also play well the piano, as it is an instrument that is more traditional in France.

The guitar is a music which is closely attached to the Hispanic culture, not the French culture.

Inner Sanctum: You said being a guitarist is a very hard job. Could you explain?

Not only a guitarist, but the job of a concertist in general is very hard as it requires a minimum of four hours of work per day. They have to play the guitar, the piano or other instruments 4 hours minimum every day, even when they are on a holiday. Concertists have to work with discipline to maintain their good technique.

Music is a complicated job, its a universe which parallels that of pedagogy. I mean that I know many good professors at the conservatory who never perform at concerts. It means that you can be good teacher, but you may never perform at concerts.

There are guitarists who get very stressed when they get on stage and cannot play in public.

As for myself, even though I am already a professor, I still have to work hard. In 2002, I won the Infanta Dona Cristina International Guitar Competition. It is the greatest Spanish guitar competition in Madrid, patronized by the royal family. It allowed me to make an international tour around the world. Its a great honour, but also a big responsibility because I have to keep my level and even enhance it. There are now exceptional guitarists everywhere in the world, from Japan, China and so on. The guitar keeps evolved technically at higher and higher levels. So I have to keep working hard.

Inner Sanctum: You have 35 years of experience in performing with the guitar in nearly 1,000 concerts. Do you still feel stress before and during a concert?

The day when I do not feel any stress will be the day when I retire.

I mean that I am always stressed when I get on stage. Stress is a vital energy, a very important energy that allows musicians to communicate with the public and convey their emotions.

So, if one day I do not feel any stress, it means that I do not care about everything. There is always an uncertainty, we are afraid, of course. And this is a positive thing.

For me, there is no small or big room. If I play tomorrow before 200 people or before 2,000 people, it is always the same emotion, the stress is the same. I cannot make a difference between concerts, saying that this one is more important than the other. All concerts are very important, and it is for me a responsibility to live up to, to meet the expectations of the public.

Inner Sanctum: You are both a concertist and a guitar professor. Which job do you prefer?

I love both jobs. If I stick to teaching only, I will miss the moments when I am on stage. I need to be on stage, to feel the stress and live the strong emotion.

But if I only perform at concerts, Ill miss the pedagogy, the communication with my students. But I have some colleagues who are professors but cannot play in public because of the stress.

Inner Sanctum: What advice do you give to young people who want to become guitarists?

I would say that they have to respect the discipline of this job.

Discipline is the most important.

Of course we can talk about passion and skill. But if one doesnt have discipline, he or she can never succeed.

When I say discipline, I mean that students have to practice playing guitar at least 20 minutes every day, even when they are on holiday.

Sometimes we can feel tired, and we do not want to play anything, but we have to motivate ourselves to practice the guitar every single day.

Inner Sanctum: Will you return to Viet Nam for another concert?

Yes, I love Viet Nam and I hope that I can organize and perform in a concert next year with three other guitarists from Chile, Argentina and Viet Nam. Our concert would be entitled Iberoamerica Songs.

I am very happy to have an opportunity to perform in Viet Nam this time.

My concert at the University of Ha Noi was very important as it was the first time I was playing in the country. And there was also the passion of students. There is a guitar students club here.

My concert also got the support of the Mexican and Spanish embassies. Everyone expected something. And musicians like me have to live up to the expectation of the students and of the public here.VNS
UIU collaborates on more space

FAYETTE  An agreement between Upper Iowa University and Ideal Industries will provide UIU faculty, staff and students about 30,000 square feet of additional classroom and office space at its main campus.

UIU President William Duffy and Ideal Industries President/CEO Patrick C. Lyons signed a five-year lease-transfer agreement of Ideals Fayette facility to UIU on April 12. In addition to the large building, the agreement includes the lease-transfer of the six-acre property located just south of UIUs Fayette Campus.

The UIU in 3D initiative will create a new space for three-dimensional artwork, including ceramics and sculpture courses.

Ideal Industries is a contract manufacturer of fabricated metal products, specializing in mild and stainless steel and aluminum.

Based in Vinton, the company also has a plant in Oelwein and a full-service machine shop in Quasqueton.

Seminar slated on franchising

WATERLOO  Black Hawk Economic Development Inc. will host a free seminar on the ins, outs, benefits, costs, etc. on franchising. The event will be at 11:30 a.m. May 10 at 1001 Peoples Square, Waterloo.

All professionals and business owners who feel they would benefit from a business franchising seminar are welcome. RSVPs should be sent to bhed@bhed.org or by calling 235-2960 to attend.

Engineering conference set

WATERLOO  The 31st annual AMC Engineering Conference will take place Tuesday through Thursday at the Ramada Hotel and Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in downtown Waterloo.

The conference begins Tuesday with Continuing Education sessions in the morning and afternoon. In the afternoon, there will be a tour followed by a keynote speaker and refreshments.

Technical sessions are held Wednesday and Thursday and include subjects such as machine control and safety, wireless technology, simulation/modeling/analysis, new products, environment/emissions, internet of things.

For more information, go to www.amc-online.org or contact Chairman Eric Cullen at Eric.Cullen@cummins.com or Paige Nieman with the Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau at Paige@TravelWaterloo.com.

UNI credit union names officers

CEDAR FALLS  UNI Credit Union board members J. Michael Entz, Latricia Hylton and Mike Zwanziger were re-elected to serve another term. Gayle Pohl was elected to her first term.

Gary Shontz will continue as chairman, with Bill McKinley as vice chairman and Linda Nielsen as secretary.

Entz was elected chief financial officer; Mary Christ, audit committee chair; Entz as credit committee chair; Joel Pike as delinquent loan committee chair; Scott Lawrence-Richards as personnel committee chair; and McKinley as ALM committee chair.

Credit union elects officers

WATERLOO  Lynsey Engels, Sarah Fisher Gardial, Tom Lepic and Marc Moen were elected to the board of directors of University of Iowa Community Credit Union.

The board elected Karin Franklin, chairperson; Jeff Disterhoft, president; Sarah Fisher Gardial, vice-chairperson; Dean Borg, chief financial officer and Laurel Day, secretary.

Andre Perry, Fred Mims, Mark Rolinger and Dave Wright also serve on the board.

Unemployment event planned

WATERLOO  The public is invited to share their insights and perspectives regarding minority unemployment at two listening tours in Waterloo.

The Minority Unemployment and Outreach Standing Committee will host the sessions May 9 at Payne Memorial AME Church and May 30 at the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Both sessions will start at 5:30 p.m. Black Hawk County is one of four pilot counties in which listening tour sessions are being scheduled over the next two months.

The Minority Unemployment and Outreach Standing Committee was formed in February to address disparities in the minority unemployment rate in Iowa.
(AP) Disney theme parks have a big summer ahead of them with major new attractions opening May 27 based on two movies, one about the Marvel Comics superheroes from Guardians of the Galaxy and the other about the lush alien world of Pandora from the James Cameron film Avatar.

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT!attraction opens at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California.

Pandora  The World of Avatar is a 12-acre land opening at Walt Disney Worlds Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

But the creative designer behind the attractions says you dont need to know anything about either movie to enjoy them.

This is not a revisitation of a plot line of a film you already saw, said Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde at an event in New York City previewing the attractions. This is your opportunity to go to an amazing world and have adventures of your own. ... The story is about you.

The premise of the Guardians of the Galaxy ride is that the Guardian superheroes have been captured and riders must participate in an adventure with a character called Rocket Raccoon to free them. It is a prison breakout story, Rohde said. The ride incorporates multiple scenarios for resolving the story line so that riders have a slightly different experience each time they go through it. Guardians of the Galaxy is located in a redesigned drop tower structure that once housed the Twilight Zone of Terror.

At Pandora, there are two rides plus retail and dining components. Riders on Avatar Flight of Passage fly through the forest on the backs of creatures called banshees to participate in a tribal coming of age ceremony. Riders on the Navi River Journey move through the bioluminescent forest on a boat, guided by a mystical singing figure.

Rohde described Pandora as an obsessively real environment that reacts to the change of day on its own. The sounds of creatures in the forest change from day to night, and the Pandoran plants glow by night, Rohde said.
When people describe members of the millennial generation  usually considered those born between 1982 and 2000  a lot of adjectives get thrown around: lazy, entitled, irresponsible, selfish, unambitious.

Some of these critiques seem warranted given that one in three young Americans lives with a parent or parents and a quarter of those individuals dont work or go to school.

Few people would describe millennials as conventional in their thinking, but a recent study suggests a surprising thesis  that many young people today may favor more traditional gender roles in the home.

Sociologists Joanna Pepin and David Cotter explain that, using a survey monitoring the attitudes of high school seniors over four decades, they discovered that since the mid-1990s, the views of young people have shifted from more egalitarian to more traditional.

According to their findings, the belief that males should hold more decision-making authority and females should manage household work declined from the 1970s through the 1990s. But it has since started to rise, with a majority now preferring that men be the breadwinner while women stay home to raise the children.

Its worth noting that when it comes to the principles of equality, millennials seem to be all in. They overwhelmingly support the idea that men and women have equal abilities and should be afforded equal opportunities.

They also support working mothers and strongly disagree with the notion that a mothers decision to work outside the home has a negative effect on young children.

This indicates an abatement of the so-called mommy wars, the researchers write.

But when it comes to the practical decisions of family life, conventional roles are strongly preferred.

Pepin and Cotters study isnt an anomaly.

A second paper prepared for the Council on Contemporary Families had similar findings, although its author found that a significant gender gap in those aged 18-25 is responsible for current trends.

The studys author, Nika Fate-Dixon, wrote that, as of 2014, men aged 18 to 25 were more likely than their older counterparts to agree with the old-fashioned notion that it is better for women to take care of the home and for men to be the achievers in the outside world.

For the authors and most casual observers, this realization is perplexing.

Pepin and Cotter explain that changing population demographics, a decline in religiosity, greater educational attainment for women and an increase in dual-earner households all point to a stronger belief in egalitarian principles.

They wonder if advances for women in the public sphere may increase many peoples desire to reinforce gender essentialist ideology in the family.

Its not clear if or why that is the case, although some might argue that it is a reaction to womens successes in the workplace or even mild retaliation by young men who feel overshadowed by the progress of their female counterparts.

Then there is the fact that many millennials have delayed marriage and children.

A new report from the Census Bureau found that in 2016 the four common milestones of adulthood  getting married, having kids, getting a job and living on ones own  were achieved by only 24 percent of adults by age 34.

In comparison, in 1975 fully 45 percent of adults had achieved all four.

Its possible then that many millennials hold traditional ideals that will change with their life circumstances.

But it seems more likely that these changes in perspective are a response to something.

Perhaps young people have rejected 90s-style feminism and accepted what older women have come to realize the hard way  we cant have it all.

Or it could be that young people are far more insightful than we give them credit for; that they find value in both sexes but view inherent differences between men and women in a positive light, instead of trying to erase them like generations past.

If thats the case, we might begin to see millennials in a different and more positive light, too.
WATERLOO  Federal prosecutors are asking the court to reconsider releasing a Waterloo man who is accused of shooting at a house with a stolen gun in January.

Dayton Jay Myers, 20, was originally arrested on state charges for carrying weapons, criminal mischief and reckless use of a firearm after Waterloo police found him with a .22-caliber GSG 1911 pistol shortly after a garage and parked car were shot in the area of Moir Street and Reber Avenue on Jan. 3.

On April 18, a federal grand jury indictment was unsealed, charging Myers with one count of being a marijuana user in possession with a firearm in connection with the handgun, which court records indicate had been reported stolen.

The following day, a federal magistrate ruled that Myers would be released from jail pending trial, which had been the recommendation of the U.S. Parole Office.

In an appeal filed on Friday, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Iowas Northern District asked the court to revisit its ruling, arguing that Myers is a potential danger to the community because, while the firearm charge itself isnt a violent crime, the underlying circumstances point toward violence.

The firearm involved in the shooting was a stolen firearm, which suggests defendant did not lawfully obtain the firearm, and may continue to be able to obtain firearms in the future. The use of firearms, especially in residential neighborhoods, presents a danger to anyone present in the vicinity of the shooting, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Williams wrote in the appeal.

She said Myers admitted to the shooting and admitted to using marijuana prior to the shooting. Myers also has a history of mental health issues.

Court records indicate that witnesses reported seeing a white van leaving the area of the shooting, and a short time later police found Myers standing next to a van, which contained the pistol and spent shell casings. He allegedly told police he was shooting at the house to send a message to his ex-girlfriend.
WATERLOO  Two people were injured in separate shootings over the weekend.

Both victims are expected to survive, and no arrests have been made.

Police were called gunfire to the area of Frances Drive and Parkview Boulevard at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Chaston Dewite Fox, 24, of Waterloo, suffered a gunshot wound to the buttocks and was taken to Covenant Medical Center by an acquaintance, according to police. Officers found a number of spent shell casings in the area outside.

He remained in the hospital on Monday.

During the investigation, officers found a large bag of marijuana in the hospital parking lot underneath a vehicle that was parked next to the car that brought Fox of the emergency room, said Capt. David Mohlis. He said it wasnt clear if it was related to the shooting.

Then at about 11:20 a.m. Sunday, neighbors reported hearing gunshots in the area of West First and Allen streets, and police found 36-year-old Nickenson Bilsaint with a gunshot wound to his lower right leg at West Second and Denver streets. Paramedics with Waterloo Fire Rescue took him to Covenant Medical Center.

His condition wasnt immediately available, but police said the he had a through-and-through wound.
WATERLOO  Waterloo Community Schools is looking at next steps in the expansion of its career center.

The Board of Education Monday will consider hiring InVision Architects to plan for eventually housing 15 career and technical education programs in the facility at Central Middle School. The board meets at 6 p.m. in the Education Service Center, 1516 Washington St.

The Waterloo Career Center opened last fall, offering classes in two programs for district high school students. Plans are underway to add three more programs next fall, with remodeling occurring this summer. An initial study done in December and January probed the feasibility of further expanding career programs at Central.

According to a board memo, approximately 15 programs can be developed in the excess space at the school, which was originally built as a high school with 1,200 student capacity. The boards facilities committee is recommending hiring the Waterloo architectural firm for further intensive study to determine detailed plans and costs. After this fall, additional programs will be launched as funds are available.

In other business, the board will consider approving:

The purchase 1,499 laptop, desktop and Chromebook computers for 11 schools as part of its regular technology upgrades at a total cost of $486,978. The 1,100 Lenovo N23 Chromebooks will also further expand the districts effort to provide a device for each sixth grader in all four middle schools. Incoming middle school students will each be issued a computer under the proposal while current sixth-graders will continue using the devices they received last fall during the coming school year.

The purchase of $151,782 in computer network equipment from Goldfield Telecom and $32,238 in wireless equipment from Aercor Wireless.

Resignations of Alissa Richards, Central principal, and Shannon Harrelson, George Washington Carver Academy assistant principal, at the end of the school year.
CEDAR FALLS  Iowa Rep. Bob Kressig, D-Cedar Falls, has been a strong and vocal advocate for medical cannabis, so he said the Legislatures last minute action to expand access in Iowa is the right direction for us to go.

He pushed to get the state to adopt a law that would allow possession of cannabidiol oil for Iowans with seizures. While it passed in 2014, Kressig has been working since to expand the law.

On the last day of the 2017 session and as the original law was set to expire, Kressig saw legislators vote overwhelming to expand Iowas medical cannabis law.

There are people that Ive worked with this over the years, and (its) just kind of one of those things, you just dont give up on them, Kressig said. I continued that and was able to convince people to vote for it that you never thought would have voted for it. I think thats the key; were seeing a change in peoples concepts.

Kressig said he is happy something got done but also disappointed it didnt go as far as it could have. A more expansive bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support by a 45-5 vote but couldnt get through the House.

The legislation would create a system for manufacturing and distributing low-THC medical marijuana oil, which would be available through licensed manufacturers. It would be prescribed to treat several conditions.

But Kressig said one of the most significant steps is the creation of an advisory board to make recommendations to the Legislature on the law based on medical evidence and studies, particularly as it relates to expanding the number of conditions included.

The new bill expanded accepted uses to cover cancer, multiple sclerosis, seizures, AIDS and HIV, Crohns disease, ALS and any terminal illness that gives a person a life expectancy of one year or less.

While Republican Gov. Terry Branstad has not said if hed sign the legislation, Kressig said the bill passed in majority-Republican chambers with bipartisan support so he doesnt expect the governor to veto it.

The Associated Press and the Lee-Gazette Des Moines Bureau contributed to this report.
U.S. 20 lanes close at Jesup

JESUP  Some lanes of U.S. Highway 20 near Jesup will be closed beginning Monday for resurfacing work.

A hot-mix asphalt project that started last year will resume to complete the final asphalt layer, placement of shoulder rock, and pavement markings on U.S. 20 near Jesup.

The project work requires lane closures in both directions between Interstate 380 and Buchanan County Road V-65 beginning Monday morning until late June 2017, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportations New Hampton construction office.

For more information about this and other Iowa DOT construction projects in Black Hawk and Bremer counties, follow the Black Hawk and Bremer County Construction Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BlackHawkBremerCo#!/BlackHawkBremerCo.

Physics event winners named

CEDAR FALLS  The University of Northern Iowa department of physics hosted the 2017 State of Iowa Physics Competition on April 11. Approximately 155 high school physics students from 20 schools participated.

In the overall school team competition, Grinnell High School placed first, Marquette Catholic High School placed second and Cedar Falls High School placed third.

Clear Creek Amana High School placed first for the catapult event, Roland Story High School placed first for the mousetrap car event, Cedar Falls High School placed first in the bridge-building event, Moravia High School placed first in the soda straw arm event and Alburnett High School placed first in the challenge problem event.

The first-place school and event team winners are offered $250 individual scholarship awards from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships if they enroll at UNI.

UNI prepares for commencement

CEDAR FALLS  The University of Northern Iowa will host three spring commencement ceremonies on May 6 in the McLeod Center.

The ceremony for undergraduate and graduate students receiving degrees from the Colleges of Business Administration and Social and Behavioral Sciences will be 9 a.m. The ceremony for undergraduate and graduate students receiving degrees from the College of Education, and the Division of Continuing Education and Special Programs will be 2 p.m. The ceremony for undergraduate and graduate students receiving degrees from the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences will be 6 p.m.
WATERLOO  The National Cattle Congress is seeking contestants for the annual National Cattle Congress Queen Contest on June 25 at Electric Park Ballroom.

The queen will compete at the Iowa State Fair Queen Competition in Des Moines in August.

Each contestant must be at least 16 and not more than 21 years of age and must reside in Black Hawk, Benton, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Grundy or Tama counties.

A detailed list of rules is available at www.nationalcattlecongress.com.

Opportunities to win savings bonds and sponsorships will be available. Judging will be based on personality, attitude, appearance and awareness, leadership and citizenship, overall appearance, charm and poise.

For more information, call Heather Wilson at 234-7515 or email Heather@NationalCattleCongress.com.
The 2016 presidential nominating race was barely over, and already Bernie Sanders was looking ahead.

Days before the Democratic National Convention formally nominated Hillary Clinton, the Vermont senator transformed his 2016 campaign organization into Our Revolution to promote his progressive proposals, back like-minded candidates and, in essence, take over the Democratic Party.

We have begun a political revolution to transform America, and that revolution, our revolution, continues, Sanders told the convention, endorsing Clinton but making clear his quest to remake the Democratic Party would continue, regardless of the outcome.

Nine months later, he is well on his way to succeeding. Though his choice for party chairman narrowly lost, Sanders has moved into the leadership vacuum after Clintons defeat to emerge as a leading national voice against President Donald Trump.

Last week, the party chair he opposed, former Labor Secretary Tom Perez, joined the Vermont senator on a second come together and fight back tour of red and purple states. It included a stop Thursday in Grand Prairie, where Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, the deputy chairman and a Sanders ally, represented Perez.

The goal, Sanders said on CNN, is to see that the Democratic party becomes a 50-state party, a bottom up grass roots party that is prepared to stand up to the big money interests.

The tour, similar to one last month, illustrates the degree to which the partys national leadership is latching onto his economic message. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, among others, have joined Sanders in rallies on issues from health care to immigration.

Meanwhile, in state after state, the Sanders forces are moving either to take over the existing party machinery or to set up their own state or even county organizations. Details are a bit hazy since Our Revolution was created as a nonprofit social welfare organization, exempt from federal disclosure rules for political action committees.

Its also been playing an active role in the post-2016 electoral landscape. The Democrat who ran an unexpectedly close race in this months Kansas special congressional election was a Sanders backer, as is Rob Quist, seeking Montanas lone House seat May 25.

In perhaps the biggest test for Sanders continuing clout, he is supporting Tom Perriello, the former congressman who is challenging Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam for the Democratic nomination for governor of Virginia. A Perriello victory in the June 13 primary  and Novembers general election  would be a major boost for the Sanders wing and a setback for outgoing Gov. Terry McAuliffe, one of the leaders of the party establishment that backed Clinton last year.

All of this means the political machine being created by the Independent Vermont senator (still not a registered Democrat) could become a strong underpinning if he decides, at age 78, to undertake a second presidential bid in 2020.

Sanders himself says its too early to speculate about that. But an announcement this week disclosed hell appear in July at the Citizens for Community Improvements action convention in Iowa, the first caucus state.

He is not the only Democrat getting into position to challenge an expected Trump re-election bid. Former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley has made repeated visits to Iowa, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has reportedly been lining up Clinton money people, and former Vice President Joe Biden will address a New Hampshire Democratic dinner next week.

And even if Sanders doesnt run, his organization could be an enormous asset to whomever he backed, especially if Trumps unpopularity continues and inspires a large Democratic field.

The senators growing influence extends beyond the structural aspects of politics to support for his ideas.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently won approval of a higher education plan similar to the proposal Sanders proposed and Clinton endorsed. It provides free tuition at community and public colleges for full-time students with family annual incomes up to $125,000, provided they agree to stay and work in the state afterwards.

And even some conservative columnists have suggested Trumps inability to win approval of legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act will lead inevitably to a single-payer plan similar to Sanders proposal to expand Medicare for all Americans, regardless of age.

A broad national consensus is developing that health care is indeed a right, Charles Krauthammer wrote last month in The Washington Post, adding that, As Obamacare continues to unravel, it wont take much for Democrats to abandon that Rube Goldberg wreckage and go for the simplicity and the universality of Medicare-for-all.

Bernie Sanders may have lost in 2016, but hes more of a factor for the Democratic Party now than the winner has been.
According to numbers compiled and published by Agri-Pulse, the Washington, D.C.-based ag news service, the top bosses at ag-centered commodity groups and federally chartered checkoff agencies had far better recent years than the farmers and ranchers they claim to serve.

For example, Agri-Pulses annual compensation report published last September noted Steve Censky, chief executive officer of the American Soybean Association, received $341,663 in total compensation in 2015.

If that sounds like a lot of dough for a commodity organization to shell out for a hired hand, its peanuts compared to other soybean group CEOs. Jim Sutter, the chief of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, took home $435,944 in total compensation in 2014, the latest available numbers.

John Becherer, the CEO of the United Soybean Board, the operational arm of the mandatory, nonrefundable soybean checkoff, did even better; he earned $464,208 in 2015.

The bean bosses, however, were pikers compared to the livestock boys. For instance, in 2014, Tom Gallagher, CEO of Dairy Management Inc., the operating structure over most of the dairy checkoff, was paid $618,910 in salary alone.

By contrast, Polly Ruhland, boss at the beef checkoffs Cattlemens Beef Promotion & Research Board, earned a skinny $287,500 in 2015.

Meanwhile, the former boss of the almost totally checkoff-dependent National Cattlemens Beef Association, Forrest Roberts, took home nearly twice as much as Ruhland, $548,993, in total compensation in 2014, the year before he rode off into a comfortable sunset.

Also, Phil Seng, the longtime president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, which receives hefty funding from several livestock checkoffs, earned $461,630 in total pay that same year.

By contrast, Wayne Pacelle, the top dog at Humane Society of the U.S. that most livestock groups love to kick, earned but $425,283 in 2015.

The pork checkoffs National Pork Board paid Bill Even, its new CEO, $400,000 in total 2016 compensation last year even though, as Agri-Pulse reported, he worked but a partial year.

And, two years ago  again, the latest data available  Neil Dierks, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council, received $304,384 in total compensation.

If all these commodity and checkoff organizations, titles and salaries appear the same, its only because these groups structure, pay and locations have grown to be oddly similar.

For example, it could be just an interesting coincidence the National Pork Board (the checkoff) and porks most powerful lobbying group, the NPPC, are located just two miles  or six minutes by car  apart on the western edge of Des Moines.

It could be coincidence, right?

Then again, when you Google NPPC, you discover the group is Based in Washington, D.C., not Iowa. Reinforcing that confusion, NPPCs Facebook and Twitter profiles list Washington, D.C., as its headquarters, not metro Des Moines.

The pork boys arent the only neighborly ag groups in America. The United Soybean Board (the checkoff) is located just one floor from one of its key contractors, the U.S. Soybean Export Council, in the same suburban St. Louis, Mo., office building.

The cowboys are only slightly different. The beef checkoffs office in Centennial, Colo., is separated from its largest contractor, the NCBA, by one street. Google maps estimates the walk between the two groups offices at a barnyard-ambling three minutes, or 175 yards  and thats if you take the long way, the sidewalks, and not the backyard-to-backyard lawn.

At one time, coincidences like these mattered. Now, however, todays cross-pollination of mandatory commodity checkoffs with voluntary commodity groups often works more to promote each others livelihood and six-figure staff salaries than your livelihood and declining salaries.

The proof is in the numbers. As CEO compensation continues to climb upward, noted the headline on the Agri-Pulse compensation report, U.S. net farm income continued to tumble  from $124 billion in 2013 to a forecasted $62 billion in 2017.

Thats a 50 percent crash; just to put a number on it.
In his 2002 State of the Union Address, George W. Bush referred to North Korea, Iran and Iraq as constituting an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. In general, Bush was prompted to this characterization by 9/11. His speech was well received in the U.S. given the open wounds from the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. The country was in the mood for blame and revenge and welcomed the identification of an enemy.

In retrospect, we should have been able to predict how the three countries would react. Initially, while the comments were strong, the three nations were used to hearing many negative things in the news and didnt worry too much about them. But, as Bush began to focus on Iraq and seek ways to blame it at least in part for 9/11, Saddam Hussein began to realize the words reflected a determination on our presidents part to take more strident measures against his country. Bush also accused the Iraqis of having weapons of mass destruction that posed a grave and growing danger to U.S. interests. All of this culminated in the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the overthrow of the government and ultimately the execution of Hussein.

Now step back and look at this from the point of view of Iran and North Korea. They were lumped together with Iraq as evil by the only military superpower on Earth that then proceeded to invade one of the three. Wouldnt it be reasonable to think the U.S. would be coming after them next? Further, there were few public pronouncements from Bush to indicate otherwise. Their natural response would be to come up with a strategy that would deter attack. Obviously, the way to deal with threat of attack from a nuclear power would be to work on developing their own nuclear arsenals. Which they both did.

Interestingly, Bush had no desire to do anything with the two remaining evil powers. His focus practically from the time he came into office was solely Iraq. General Tommy Franks says late in 2001 he was asked to provide (Secretary of Defense Donald) Rumsfeld with updated Iraq invasion plans within a week. This was well before the axis of evil speech.

Even though Bush made no aggressive moves toward Iran and North Korea in the balance of his presidency, they continued to fear attack. Over time this concern became less a fear of Bush and more a fear of America. It still exists today. When the Trump administration expresses exasperation with North Korea, it would be wise to remember the Koreans recall Iraq and fear the same thing could happen to them. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un fears ouster and like anyone opposes it. But with nuclear weapons at his disposal and with an unstable personality, he could develop a desperate mindset and use nuclear weapons as a last resort. If he fears Husseins fate, what does he have to lose?

Bullying wont work against him. We would be wise to pull back, calm the situation and seek some peaceful, nonthreatening solutions. It is certainly in everyones best interests.
If President Trump were starring in a new reality show  which, of course, he is  heres a possible title: The Real World.

Washington is awash with commentary that the president is moving to the center and abandoning his conservative principles for a more moderate posture pushed by son-in-law Jared Kushner and other New Yorkers who dont share the heartland populism of Trumps most ardent supporters.

In recent weeks, the president has swiftly altered his position on a range of topics: the relevance of NATO, trade relations with China and Mexico, the Federal Reserve, and the value of the Export-Import Bank, which finances American companies doing business abroad.

As he nears 100 days in the White House, Mr. Trump has demonstrated that while he won office on a populist message, he has not consistently governed that way, reports The New York Times.

But to frame these changes as an ideological shift, from the right to the center, misunderstands this president and his approach to politics. He is not an ideologue. He has no fixed principles or goals, except to win, to make a deal, to enhance his own ego and reputation.

As he has often made clear, his business experience taught him to be a pragmatist, to consider the world as it is, not as it should be. And that practicality is emerging as a core element of his presidency.

Thats why hes marginalizing advisers like Steve Bannon, a hard-eyed bomb-throwing nationalist who is clearly out of sync with Trumps essential nature. And why hes elevating business types like Kushner and former Goldman Sachs executive Gary Cohn, who share Trumps basic worldview that you do what it takes to get the deal done.

The presidents pragmatic streak alarms and even enrages true believers, who thought they were promoting a kindred spirit. As one Bannon ally told The Wall Street Journal: We didnt elect Kushner to bring a New York establishment mentality to Washington. The reason we worked so hard and gave so much money was because we were promised a nationalist revolution. We didnt send him there to go native once he gets to Washington, D.C.

This is Bernieism, but on the right: the willful self-delusion this is somehow a revolutionary country. In fact, thank goodness, this is a stable, centrist country that will celebrate the 241st anniversary of its last revolution this July.

Sure, Trump keeps employing overheated rhetoric on issues like immigration and the media, but hes never been a revolutionary  or even a Republican. Hes a Trumpian, and true Trumpians recognize reality.

Take China. During the campaign, Trump bashed Beijing as a bad commercial partner and threatened a trade war to set things right. Once in office, the world looks very different. The presidents discovered he needs China, so hes offering a bargain: You rein in North Korea, Ill ease up on trade demands.

As Trump told the Journal after his meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping: Now, I did say  but you want to make a great deal? Solve the problem in North Korea. ... Thats worth having not as good a trade deal as I would normally be able to make.

A nationalist revolution thats not.

Or take NATO. Trump called it obsolete during the campaign, but after meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, he declared, Its no longer obsolete.

Trump has now realized that for all his happy talk about Russia during the campaign, Moscow under Vladimir Putin remains an aggressive and expansionist power  and NATO exists for a very good reason: to check and balance that power. Once more, reality reigns.

Another instructive example of Trumps pragmatism is the Ex-Im Bank, which enjoyed bipartisan support for more than 80 years before tea party types started blasting it as an example of crony capitalism. Candidate Trump  he of no fixed principles  adopted the line as a handy way to burnish his populist credentials.

But corporate executives like Dennis Muilenburg of Boeing have told him the truth: the Ex-Im Bank is a valuable asset to Americas job-creating companies that want to compete in the global marketplace.

So instinctively you would say its a ridiculous thing, but actually its a very good thing and it actually makes money, Trump conceded to the Journal.

The president is still an impulsive, intemperate and unqualified leader, but his lack of fixed principles could turn out to be an advantage. He seems willing to listen and learn, at least on some issues, and thats a positive sign.
There was a moment at Press Secretary Sean Spicers White House briefing Monday that was significant. Asked by a reporter about North Koreas missile launch last weekend, Spicer said the administration was aware of the launch and that it failed. End of story. Next question, please.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the former Conservative foreign secretary in Britain, might provide an explanation for Spicers tight-lipped response. Rifkind told the BBC Sunday there is a very strong belief that the U.S.  through cyber methods  has been successful on several occasions in interrupting these sorts of tests and making them fail.

At present, there are no direct links to a cyberattack on North Korea from the U.S., but that hasnt stopped media outlets from reporting the possibility of one.

Last month, the U.S. began sending the first elements of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense system to South Korea, though China opposed the move. When it becomes operational will it, along with cyberattacks, be enough to deter North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un from conducting new missile tests capable of hitting the U.S. with a nuclear warhead, which he has repeatedly threatened to do? Kim has said he will conduct missile tests weekly in response to U.S. threats.

On a recent visit to South Korea, Vice President Mike Pence vowed the era of strategic patience is over, a strategy adopted by the Obama administration to explain its long-term view on global conflict resolution. Pence added, North Korea would do well not to test (President Trumps) resolve  or the strength of the armed forces of the United States in this region.

How much of this is bluster on both sides no one can say for sure. After President Trumps meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping, there is some optimism China might be able to exert sufficient pressure on its unpredictable ally to pull back from a direct confrontation with the U.S. Of greatest concern for the Trump administration, in addition to South Korean civilians who would likely suffer massive casualties should there be a North Korean invasion, are the more than 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. Kim has threatened to attack them and flood South Korea with his ground forces.

What is our goal with North Korea? Is it regime change? If so, who and what would follow if Kim is ousted? Kim, his father and grandfather have established such an atmosphere of complete control and cult-like obedience with North Koreans who have been cut off from all outside information it is hard to predict how the people would react. Its a good bet political prisoners in North Koreas prison camps would be overjoyed if the regime fell and they were set free.

Humanrights.gov estimates between 80,000 and 120,000 political prisoners and family members are detained in these camps, where starvation, forced labor, executions, torture, rape, forced abortion and infanticide are commonplace.

Those who wish to hold off on further challenges to North Korea must ask themselves a question. Given the erratic behavior of Kim Jong-Un and his bellicose promises to strike the U.S. with a nuclear missile, is it better to take him seriously and stop him now, or wait until he has the capability to carry out his threat?

Last week, Hawaiis House public safety committee passed a resolution calling for the states defense agency to repair hundreds of fallout shelters that have not been updated since the 1980s and restock them with medical supplies, food and water.

We havent yet reached the tension level of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, which put the United States in direct confrontation with the Soviet Union and brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, but the current tension between the U.S. and North Korea could quickly spiral downward.

Will the peace through strength doctrine of the Reagan administration, which suggested military power could help preserve peace, work today? During the Reagan years, Soviet leaders were not unstable, as Kim Jong-Un appears to be, and a nuclear confrontation was avoided. Perhaps a demonstration of what the U.S can do with cyberwarfare, a missile defense system and help from China will be enough.

One can only hope.
The Northeast Iowa Food Bank is redoubling its efforts to raise awareness about food insecurity in Northeast Iowa.

Were always happy to assist in spreading that awareness since the Northeast Iowa Food Bank is one of the biggest players in combating hunger in our area. Its a primary need that deserves a great effort from as many people as possible.

The food bank estimates it must come up with another 2 million meals annually in addition to those it and other charities currently provide to meet the growing need.

In Northeast Iowa, it is estimated 48,000 people are food insecure. Thats about 13 percent of the population in the 16-county area the food bank serves. It amounts to about 1 in 8 people and 1 in 5 kinds who are lacking access to an adequate supply of food.

The food bank is trying to get more residents to visit the food bank, volunteer to help package meals, sort food and contribute financially. Its part of the food banks Lets Fix Dinner, campaign, which began Monday.

Our job is to make sure that meal gap is completely closed, said food bank executive Barb Prather, to ensure that we have the necessary resources, whether its food, people or funds.

Prather said the food bank will do more recruiting of people to come in and help us, more recruiting of people in the outer counties. Well continue to go to businesses, the churches, to individuals to continue to help us raise the issue  being the lead voice in the fight against hunger in Northeast Iowa.

It will also be seeking contributions and resources from foundations, United Way, businesses, farmers and others, looking locally for those resources, or regionally through the Feeding America network, a network of food banks.

This organization has always set high goals. We expect that tenacity to continue through this next endeavor, and we hope to see a favorable response from all sectors.

The far-reaching distribution system used by the food bank and the amount of goods distributed makes it a great asset to Northeast Iowa. The food bank handles donated and purchased food for more than 200 agencies across 16 counties. A mobile unit helps get food to those areas farthest from Waterloo.

More help is always needed.

Unfortunately, hunger hasnt gone away, Prather said.

The Cedar Valley is fortunate to have this key asset in its midst, and the communities served through the food bank are better for it.

This campaign offers ways for virtually anyone to help out, whether it is financially or perhaps with some time and effort. That makes it easy for all of us to do our part to assist the food bank in its noble goal of providing nutritious food to those who need it throughout Northeast Iowa.
There has been much news buzz surrounding the recent appointment and approval of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court. And recently, unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidate Michael Lucik Thrames publicly challenged Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley. His scathing comments declared Iowans are uniformly enraged by Grassley and other Republican senators refusal to bring Obamas nominee Merrick Garland to a floor vote in 2016. Grassley is the powerful chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Thrames, an independent, accused Grassley of all sorts of unseemly things including party-line-towing intransigence regarding the Garland nomination, and implored Grassley to depart from his traditional party loyalty. However convincing Thrames may seem, and whatever side of this dispute one might find oneself, its important to gather a few facts on this issue before reaching a conclusion. First, lets take a look at whats happened since Thrames letter was published.

Republicans decided to go nuclear to assure a vote for Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. This prevented Democrats from blocking, via filibuster, an up or down vote on the Senate floor. Gorsuch ultimately obtained the majority vote required for confirmation. He has now been sworn in.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer would have blocked a vote by using the filibuster. He claims this stonewalling started in 2016 when the Republicans refused to hold a vote on Obamas nominee Merrick Garland. A review of history corrects that falsehood.

In 1987, Robert Bork, a Reagan nominee, was denied confirmation. His reputation was brutally pilloried in an obviously unfair and outrageous outburst from the Senate floor.

In 1992, then-Sen. Joe Biden clearly outlined the reasons the Senate wouldnt consider a George H.W. Bush nomination in Bushs last year in office.

In 2001 during George W. Bushs administration, Schumer and others changed the ground rules for systematically using the filibuster to block Supreme Court nominees.

In 2006, then-Senator Obama publicly supported a filibuster to block confirmation of Justice Samuel Alito.

In 2007, 19 months before the end of George W. Bushs second term, Schumer declared the lame-duck president would get no nominees through the Democratic Senate except in extraordinary circumstances.

Following the recent frenzy, Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey assured us the Democrats would return the 60-vote margin required to end a Senate filibuster. Id have to see it to believe it. Im ambivalent about the function of the filibuster as it relates to the advice and consent function of the Senate relative to presidential appointments of all kinds. I believe the value of the filibuster comes into play in the Senates lawmaking responsibilities and the related debate. The legislative filibuster is what we must protect, because its that function in which the Founders were most interested in establishing and maintaining deliberation and thorough debate.

There are no clear-cut good guys in the Supreme Court nominee/filibuster controversy. But, however silly you consider these proceedings and debate, Republicans didnt start this foolish food fight.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo woman who was arrested for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend in the chest during an argument Thursday morning has now been arrested child endangerment.

Police allege when Shaumara Dominiece Taylor, 24, stabbed Tristin Couch with a steak knife in their apartment, her 3-year-old daughter witnessed the violence.

Court records allege the daughter pointed out droplets of blood following the stabbing.

Another new charge against Taylor includes interference for allegedly trying to alter or delete messages on her phone before police seized it as part of the stabbing investigation.

Court records state officers told Taylor the phone would be seized as evidence and allowed her to copy down phone numbers stored inside before surrendering the phone. But she allegedly began altering information and then refused to hand over the phone, which led to a struggle with police.

Taylor was originally arrested for willful injury causing bodily injury in the attack. She remains at the Black Hawk County Jail with bond set at $167,325.

Cedar Falls crash

injures three

CEDAR FALLS Three people, including a 10-year-old boy, were transported to a hospital for injuries received in a three-vehicle accident at Hudson Road and West Ridgeway Avenue Friday afternoon.

None of the injuries appeared to be serious, Public Safety Director Jeff Olson said.

Olson said a van crossing Hudson Road at Ridgeway was T-boned by a vehicle southbound on Hudson and pushed into a third. The van rolled over. Injured were an adult and a child in the van and the driver of the vehicle initially colliding with the van.

The accident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Officers earlier in the afternoon responded to a rollover accident at Cedar Heights Drive and Greenhill Road, where no one was seriously injured or transported.

Prosecutors seeking review of release

WATERLOO  Federal prosecutors are asking the court to reconsider releasing a Waterloo man accused of shooting at a house with a stolen gun in January.

Dayton Jay Myers, 20, was originally arrested on state charges for carrying weapons, criminal mischief and reckless use of a firearm after Waterloo police found him with a .22-caliber GSG 1911 pistol shortly after a garage and parked car were shot in the area of Moir Street and Reber Avenue on Jan. 3.

On April 18, a federal grand jury indictment was unsealed charging Myers with one count of being a marijuana user in possession of a firearm in connection with the handgun, which court records indicate had been reported stolen.

The following day, a federal magistrate ruled Myers would be released from jail pending trial, which had been the recommendation of the U.S. Parole Office.

In an appeal filed on Friday, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Iowas Northern District asked the court to revisit its ruling, arguing Myers is a potential danger to the community because, while the firearm charge itself isnt a violent crime, the underlying circumstances point toward violence.

The firearm involved in the shooting was a stolen firearm, which suggests defendant did not lawfully obtain the firearm, and may continue to be able to obtain firearms in the future. The use of firearms, especially in residential neighborhoods, presents a danger to anyone present in the vicinity of the shooting, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Williams wrote in the appeal.

She said Myers admitted to the shooting and admitted to using marijuana prior to the shooting. Myers also has a history of mental health issues.

Court records indicate witnesses reported seeing a white van leaving the area of the shooting, and a short time later police found Myers standing next to a van, which contained the pistol and spent shell casings. He allegedly told police he was shooting at the house to send a message to his ex-girlfriend.

Hampton man charged with sexual abuse

HAMPTON  Bond has been set at $200,000 for a Hampton man accused of sexual abuse.

Michael Lynn Rodemeyer Sr., 71, was arrested Thursday for three counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree sexual abuse, according to Hampton police. He was taken to the Hardin County Jail in Eldora.

Authorities said the charges stem from incidents over a two-year period that involved one victim. Two of the charges are connected with incidents in Hampton and the other two are from abuse that allegedly happened in rural Franklin County.

The case was investigated by the Hampton Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriffs Office with help from the Iowa Department of Human Services and the Child Protection Center.

Nurse pleads guilty to painkiller theft

OSAGE  A Mason City woman accused of stealing painkillers from patients in Osage and St. Ansgar pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of felony prohibited acts.

Keri Martinez, 33, will be sentenced June 27 in Mitchell County District Court.

Two additional counts of prohibited acts and one count of tampering with records have been dismissed.

Martinez was accused of taking Oxycodone pills from a resident at Osage Rehab twice in July.

She also was accused of taking Tramadol from a resident of Good Samaritan Society in St. Ansgar from Nov. 11-17 and replacing it with Tylenol.

Martinez is scheduled to go to trial on June 13 in Cerro Gordo County on one count of felony prohibited acts.

Shes accused of stealing Oxycontin from a patient at the IOOF Home on May 25, 2015, while working as a nurse at the Mason City facility, according to court documents.

Fire damages

Charles City home

CHARLES CITY  Authorities are investigating a fire that severely damaged a Charles City home.

It broke out about 7:30 a.m. Saturday at 302 Spriggs St. Firefighters say the home had heavy smoke and fire damage.

No one was hurt.

Residents were not home at the time of the blaze, firefighters say.

Crews were on the scene until about 10:30 a.m. The cause was still under investigation on Saturday afternoon.
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Staying out of debt is easier said than done, I know. However, its something you can do, and its something you should be practicing everyday. As Christians, we are in this world, but we are
Apr 23, 2017 | By Benedict

A team of Spanish students aged between 14 and 16 is looking to raise 5,000 to take its 3D printed beekeeping solution to the FIRST LEGO League Asia Pacific Open in Sydney, Australia. The Valencia-based team, named Invictus Lego, has created a 3D printed anti-parasite tool for beehives.

Invictus Lego is on something of a hot streak. Made up of eight students from the Pureza de Maria Cid School in Valencia, the talented group has won eight local prizes for its 3D printing and robotics skills in recent months, including the Spanish grand final of the FIRST LEGO League, an international competition that encourages elementary and middle school students to tackle real-world scientific challengesusing LEGO. Having conquered its compatriots in the Spanish FIRST LEGO League, Invictus is now looking to take on an even bigger challenge.

At least, they will if they can raise enough money.

The group of Valencia youngsters is currently looking to raise 40,000 through a GoFundMe campaign. If they can successfully do so, they will be able to fund a trip to Sydney, where the FIRST LEGO Asia Pacific Open is set to take place between July 6-9. There, the team hopes to showcase its innovative 3D printed beekeeping solution that uses a special 3D printed adapter and other LEGO-constructed gadgets to improve beehives.

We discovered a notable decline in the bee population during recent years which could endanger the planet, Invictus Lego says. This decline is caused by constant wasp attacks on hives, a parasite called the varroa destructor, and high temperatures inside hives caused by global warming. With 3D printing, programming, and block-building skills at the ready, the group set about developing a set of inventions that could tackle all three of these problems.

Using a PLA 3D printing filament from Filaflex, Invictus Lego came up with an ingenious solution to deal with the problem of the varroa parasite. The mite, which attacks honey bees, attaches to a bees body, weakening it by sucking out a blood-like fluid called haemolymph. The parasite has a huge economic impact on the beekeeping industry, and can cause the collapse of entire colonies.

The teams solution to the varroa problem involves using tiny brushes that line the sides of a small 3D printed entry way to the beehive. In principle, this could serve to remove any mites clinging to a bee as it reenters the colonyby gently brushing the sides of the bee as it squeezes through the gap. Usefully, this gap is also too tight for most wasps to fit through, thus combating another of the aforementioned problems.

The group of students has also devised a clever refrigeration system for beehives aimed at keeping the colony cool and healthy, in addition to a vaseline trap that stops ants from entering the hive.

The team hopes that these inventions will be recognized at the Asia Pacific Open, should they raise enough money to get there. At present, they have raised 2,240, so theres still a way to go.

For the sake of bees everywhere, lets hope they make it.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Quarterly Activities Report and Appendix 4C

Perth, April 24, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Flexiroam Ltd ( ASX:FRX ) is pleased to provide the Company's Quarterly Activities Report and Appendix 4C.



Key Performance Highlights



- Flexiroam Limited ("the Company") reports a 52% increase in total sales revenue over the December 2016 quarter, with corporate sales the key contributor, having increased by 185%. Sales generated from retail business increased by a more modest 27% for the quarter.



- Research and development costs were maintained at a level similar to the previous quarter.



- The cash outlay for product manufacturing and operating costs rose significantly in the March 2017 quarter due mainly to the payment of accrued network costs.



- Capital expenditure in the quarter rose on the back of a bulk acquisition of X-Microchips in anticipation of higher sales ahead.



Recent Announcements



- In January 2017 Flexiroam entered into a partnership agreement with Chan Brothers, one of Singapore's largest travel agencies and tour operators with over 50 years' experience in the travel industry. Under the agreement, Chan Brothers will purchase FLEXIROAM X and advertise Flexiroam's products and services on all of their marketing channels, including Facebook posts, newspapers and website banners.



- In February 2017 Flexiroam entered into a partnership agreement with Triip Pte Ltd to target Vietnamese outbound travellers. Triip is an impact travel company that operates a global sharing-economy platform with over 6,000 tours in 100 countries around the world and is very strong in its base market Vietnam.



- In March 2017 Flexiroam launched an updated version of the FLEXIROAM X app. The updated app boasts a completely revamped design and contains exciting new features that enhance the user experience.



- In March 2017 Flexiroam signed a partnership agreement with Grab, Southeast Asia's leading ride-hailing platform, as a partner in the GrabRewards Loyalty Program. GrabRewards is Southeast Asia's first regional loyalty program for ride-hailing passengers. The partnership sees Flexiroam featured in Grab's marketing channels such as their app, press release and blog, gaining exposure to over 33 million Grab customers.



- In March 2017 Flexiroam entered a partnership with Smart Malaysia Apps Sdn Bhd who developed the Smart-I Go Malaysia mobile app designed specifically for tourists visiting Malaysia. The partnership is tailored to meet the needs of tourists in Malaysia by enhancing their overall travel experience. Smart-I users are able to view and purchase FLEXIROAM X starter packs and get free data via the app.



- In March 2017 Flexiroam signed a partnership agreement with GO-JEK, a leading on-demand mobile platform in Indonesia, to collaborate in a customer loyalty program promotion where GO-JEK customers can exchange their points for Flexiroam vouchers to redeem data via the FLEXIROAM X app. GO-JEK runs promotional campaigns featuring Flexiroam across 5 channels of communication; Facebook, Twitter, Line, GO-JEK newsletters and Instagram. The partnership provides Flexiroam with a solid entry point to the substantial Indonesian market



To view tables and figures, please visit:

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About Flexiroam Ltd





FLEXIROAM Limited (ASX:FRX) is a leading telecommunications company offering universal voice and data services for mobile users globally. Its flagship data roaming product, FLEXIROAM X has coverage in over 100 countries with 4G speed in over 56 countries. FLEXIROAM is an asset light telecommunications company that does not own physical infrastructure yet is able to connect to around 580 network operators globally. FLEXIROAM aspires to be a household name in borderless mobile broadband service in Asia and beyond. Please visit https://www.flexiroam.com
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 47F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 47F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.
April 21, 2017

As Egypt's agriculture is threatened by water scarcity, soil nutrient depletion and fast-shrinking agricultural lands, Amr Bassiouny decided to think outside the box in the hope of finding a way out of this predicament and boosting the agricultural industry in general. After a period of intensive self-study of farming systems, Bassiouny, with the help of his partner Adel El Shentenawy, founded one of Egypt's first hydroponic farms  Egyptian Hydrofarms.

Egyptian Hydrofarms became a boon for those who look for affordable healthy and pesticide-free leafy greens. Al-Monitor spoke to Bassiouny to get more details about his farm and the greens he grows hydroponically.

Hydroponics is a farming method that depends entirely on water instead of soil to grow plants. Plants can get the required mineral nutrients directly from the pH-balanced water. Such farming systems are environmentally friendly, do not use chemical pesticides and above all save approximately 95% of the water wasted in traditional farming.

Bassiouny, who studied business at Hong Kong University, told Al-Monitor, "I spent around nine months studying agriculture techniques on my own. Then I built a home hydroponics system and conducted several experiments. After successful trials, I insisted on spreading the idea and having my own farm."

Being fully convinced of this idea, Bassiouny dedicated all his time to establish and develop his farm, leaving his job in the business sector. In cooperation with co-founder Shentenawy, Bassiouny started a hydroponic farm producing leafy greens in January 2013. The farm is located along the Cairo-Alex Desert Road and opens its doors to all consumers and students who visit it.

In Egyptian Hydrofarms, seeds are placed in pots to freely grow. The nutrient-rich water is pumped through pipes. "We adopt the nutrient film technique. It is a hydroponic system by which the necessary dissolved nutrients are delivered to the plants' bare roots through gullies or channels. Under this system, we became able to grow a wide range of leafy greens in the same greenhouse, Bassiouny said.

Lettuce and herbs in general are cool-weather crops, so they flourish in winter and spring. In the summer, these leafy crops grow hydroponically in Egyptian Hydrofarms greenhouses.

Before founding Egyptian Hydrofarms, Bassiouny started up a project called Desert School, which seeks to promote tourism in the Sinai Peninsula. Later he decided to establish the hydroponic farm to give the country's agriculture an extra boost. "The future is for hydroponics. At first, I thought of establishing the farm in Sinai, but I changed my mind. The hydroponic system can be applied at any place. Hence, I look for lands that are not suitable for farming to make the best use of them," he said.

Traditional farming relies on water and soil. In Egypt, water sources are either polluted due to the drainage water being pumped into the Nile or highly salted. The soil also gives rise to insects and, therefore, farmers resort to chemical pesticides to get rid of them. This negatively affects food safety. All these factors along with the threats of global warming put traditional farming at stake, Bassiouny said.

"Under these deplorable conditions, people wont find anything to eat by 2050 and the Nile water won't be enough for irrigation. For this very reason, I was implored to introduce hydroponic techniques, which save more water and its products are of higher quality and larger quantity," he said.

Funding was a key obstacle faced by the farm founders. "Definitely, it is very risky. I left my job and I invested all my money in this project. This is the same condition of my partner. Now, a third partner, who got interested in our project, has recently joined our team," Bassiouny said.

Egyptian Hydrofarms produces around 12 kinds of lettuce, including romaine, baby Tuscan kale and Batavia, besides other leafy greens. These crops are ideal for healthy salads. "We can grow any leafy crop. Surely, many non-leafy greens can grow hydroponically. But in our farm, we focus on the leafy crops. Regarding lettuce production, we can produce 1,000 heads of hydroponic lettuce within 60 days. We are planning to increase our produce in the upcoming period," Bassiouny said.

The farms' produce can be found in many stores in Egypt, gaining more popularity among consumers. "I think the local market is saturated and our products successfully managed to cover the domestic demand," he said.

The farms staff totals nearly 20 people, including college graduates and undergraduates. The majority of them are graduates. "Having previous experience in farming is not among our criteria for selecting our staff members. The ability to learn is more important. Our staff is divided into three teams. One team is in charge of transferring the seedlings to the hydroponics setup. Another team is responsible for harvest. As for the third team, it focuses on maintenance work," Bassiouny said, adding these teams work along with the sales manager.

The workers, he continued, stay at the farm throughout the week and they are provided with appropriate housing. In the morning, the crop is harvested and packed. "We do not store any of our products. They are sold and transferred to stores fresh from the farm," Bassiouny said.

As Bassiounys dreams have no limits, he dreams of expanding the concept of hydroponics not only in Egypt but throughout the Middle East. "We do not aspire to merely become exporters of leafy greens. We want to export hydroponic farming. I want to make Egypt the pivotal hub of this system in the region and we can do that," Bassiouny added.
April 23, 2017

Erdogans high hopes for Trump

Amberin Zaman reports that US President Donald Trumps congratulatory call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following the April 16 referendum to give Turkey's presidency greater powers may have only served to heighten differences over US support for the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG).

The US State Department had been hesitant to congratulate Erdogan on the referendum, according to Zaman, based upon reporting from an observer group from the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Council of Europe. The group's statement said fundamental freedoms essential to a genuinely democratic process were curtailed. The dismissal or detention of thousands of citizens negatively affected the political environment. The head of the delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe said, The referendum did not live up to Council of Europe standards. The legal framework was inadequate for the holding of a genuinely democratic process.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry slammed the OSCE report as politically motivated and accusatory and reflecting a biased and prejudiced approach.

Zaman writes, The prevailing consensus within the administration was that knowing how badly Erdogan wanted Washingtons seal of approval, some concessions could be wrested in exchange, particularly over the bitter differences between Turkey and the United States in the US-led coalitions campaign in Syria.  But such calculations came to naught when Trump placed the phone call without seeking the State Departments advice, though Al-Monitor learned from sources familiar with details of the exchange that [US Secretary of State Rex] Tillerson was in the room when the call took place.

Zaman adds, A Turkish official speaking to Al-Monitor on strict condition of anonymity denied speculation that Trumps business partners in Turkey had helped arrange the phone call. Rather, Erdogans office had sought the conversation with Trump prior to the referendum and it was agreed in advance that it would take place.  The official described the conversation as very very good and confirmed that it was mostly focused on Syria. The official said Erdogan had repeated Turkeys concerns over the US alliance with the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) and had urged they be excluded from a planned offensive to liberate Raqqa.

In an interview on Al Jazeera two days after the call, Erdogan was optimistic about an improvement in US-Turkey relations under Trump, implying the United States would back off its support for the YPG. We previously had an agreement on the issue of the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party], Erdogan said, according to his official website. There was also an agreement during Obamas tenure but Obama unfortunately deceived us over the PYD/YPG. But I dont believe the current administration will do the same. The PYD is the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party.

This column in February noted that Erdogans hopes for a US turnaround on the YPG may be misguided, given the position of US military leaders. Zaman observes that Erdogans hopes may again be misplaced. US Central Command commander Gen. Joseph Votel and other senior administration officials are said to be pushing Trump to sign an executive dispensation that would authorize the Pentagon to directly arm the YPG and its Arab affiliates who fight under the banner of the Syrian Defense Forces (SDF), she writes. While Trump is believed to already be on board with this action, the White House delayed announcing that it was proceeding with the plan until after the Turkish referendum, reportedly because it didnt want Erdogan to use the issue to whip up anti-Americanism during the campaign.  It remains unclear whether the White House will now wait until Erdogans visit before signing. Many analysts say all the prevaricating points to the conflicting goals of defeating IS with the help of the Syrian Kurds without alienating Turkey, a key NATO ally.

Iran limits Iraq-Saudi rapprochement

Ibrahim al-Hatlani writes, Riyadh appears not to have high expectations about rapidly improving ties with Baghdad. A Saudi diplomatic source in Riyadh who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said that the appointment of a new Saudi ambassador to Baghdad is the best that can be expected in the short run. Other issues, such as opening the border, investments and cancellation of debt, cannot be seriously looked at before the Iraqi government gains control over the sectarian militias and their arms and shows that it has the ability to circumscribe Iran's influence in the country.

Ali Mamouri has written on Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis efforts to improve ties with Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and this column noted in January that improved Iraqi-Saudi ties could provide a much-needed spark for an Iran-Saudi dialogue on regional issues.



Hatlani observes that the Saudi and Iraqi governments are aware that normal bilateral ties would serve both their interests beyond any advantage to placating the United States desire for better relations between its allies. Yet there is not much trust between the two countries. Riyadh, which has no military or political influence in Iraq, is not ready to deal with Baghdad in light of Iraq's sectarian issues and the potential of armed groups smuggling arms to Shiites in Qatif or facilitating the movement of extremists from and into the kingdom to Iran's advantage. That said, Baghdad cannot provide Saudi Arabia the assurances it seeks at the expense of losing its Iranian ally.

Al-Bab returns to life

Mohammad al-Khatieb reports that al-Bab has come back to life after the defeat of the Islamic State by Turkish-backed armed groups, including the Free Syrian Army, in February.

The sounds of motorbikes, a frequently used means of transportation in the city center, are a constant as civil defense members remove rubble from the roads, Khatieb writes. As the regime has been cutting off the Euphrates River flow to the city ever since it took control of al-Khafsa station March 8, residents have been forced to rely on water tanks filled from wells.  While many shops in city markets had reopened their doors  including wholesale stores, shops selling gas cylinders, pharmacies and bakeries  activity was limited in comparison with the usual commercial and industrial activity, considering that al-Bab is one of the most populous cities in Aleppo province.

Turkey believes that al-Bab can serve as a haven for displaced Syrians due to the large residential areas stretching from the city and the towns liberated by Operation Euphrates Shield over an area of 30 square kilometers, Khatieb reports. In this regard, Turkeys Gaziantep Mayor Fatma Sahin said in a statement April 6 that she was optimistic that al-Bab would be cleaned up from IS, which, she added, would lead to a win-win situation.
April 21, 2017

TEHRAN, Iran  Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is aiming for another term in office, and as such the May 19 elections in Iran pose an ultimate vote of confidence. Rouhanis aides do not seem to doubt his prospects as they believe this government has done almost everything it could to make the situation in the country better than it was four years ago. It is true that not all the promises were met due to several circumstances, yet it is important to highlight the number of achievements that were made in these difficult years, a political source close to Rouhanis camp told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.

He added, It has been only one year and a few months since the nuclear deal was implemented; everything needs time but people can see the differences  we are exporting more oil and have more investments and the coming months are going to have more [in store] for the nation and the people.

Those close to Rouhani believe his conservative opponents know well that the coming months are going to see improved economic conditions for the country. They want to hijack this governments achievements. They are attacking the president and his government, sabotaging almost everything, and when they come to power they will claim that they saved the country  but with what? With the tools and successes of this government. They dont even have a clear program for change, the source said.

This will be the 12th presidential election in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the 36th election including parliamentary, Assembly of Experts and city council elections. On May 19, Iran will also hold concurrent city and village council elections.

The deadline to register as a candidate for the election ended April 15. More than 1,600 nominations were studied by the Guardian Council, which gave the green light for six candidates on April 20. In the previous presidential election, in 2013, less than half as many registered. This phenomenon has raised criticism from Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, who warned that some of the nominees are trying to make fun of the regime. Yet Tehran University professor Zeinab Ghassemi believes that the registration of very diverse political figures for the elections has increased the dynamics of the competition.

Ghassemi told Al-Monitor, The media is playing a very important role in heating up the elections: Extensive coverage of the candidates registration process in the news media and on social media has triggered substantial interest and vigor among the public.

Only two candidates are seen as potentially able to defeat Rouhani: Ebrahim Raisi, the custodian of the holy shrine of the eighth Shiite imam, and Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Of the two, Raisi seems to be the one who could pose the most serious threat to Rouhani.

The public service paths of Raisi and Rouhani have been very similar since the Islamic Revolution. Raisi is 12 years younger, but old enough that both he and Rouhani were called to service by Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Raisi mainly carried out judicial duties in different regions in Iran. Both Rouhani and Raisi are members of the Assembly of Experts and hence have high qualifications with regard to clerical studies; both are mujtahids. While Rouhani holds a doctoral degree in constitutional law from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland, Raisi obtained a doctoral degree in Islamic jurisprudence and law from Shahid Motahari University in Tehran. But the real advantage Rouhani has over Raisi  with respect to public service  is his extensive experience in politics, which began in 1980 when he became a member of parliament and reached its peak in 2013 when he became president.

Raisis name has been mentioned in several reports as one of the favorites to succeed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but his main disadvantage remains a lack of day-to-day political experience  a shortcoming that could be overcome if the 56-year-old cleric becomes president.

To supporters of Raisi, this is not an issue.

Seyed Raisi is running for change in Iran; he said he is not part of any party or political current. He is running to bring prosperity to his fellow countrymen after all these years of mismanagement and corruption, a Principlist source active in the election process told Al-Monitor. Six months before the elections, there was no real candidate to unite the Principlists behind him. All the other names are respected politicians, yet not unifiers  until the name of Seyed Raisi was suggested by some young activists who thought he has the power to change and unite at the same time.

According to the source, a message was sent to Raisi, who replied that he would study the request; subsequently, people called on him to run for president. The source added, He accepted the nomination [to potentially be the candidate] for JAMNA [Popular Front of Islamic Revolution Forces] because he thought it was time to make a real change in Iranian political life. Yet this still does not mean he is part of the Principlist camp. He is of equal distance from all factions, and if other factions decide to nominate him, he would accept [their nomination].

Despite this kind of rhetoric, some believe that such a consensus is perhaps too difficult to reach in Iran. Political splits are having dire implications on the electorate, whereas the divisions among supporters of the two main Reformist-moderate and Principlist currents in the country seem to be deeper than they were a decade ago. The post-2009 election politics in the country saw the political elite leaning toward using harsh accusations that vary from anti-revolutionary to anti-state. Add to that the exchanged claims of corruption and betrayal.

Ghassemi had a different point of view on this. I don't think a high level of competition is symptomatic of a division or split in Iranian society, she said, stressing that countries with low levels of political competition are more likely to fail. She added, In Iran, especially in the last two decades, there has been heated rhetoric, criticism, debates and news conferences during the presidential elections and the country has moved from [Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi] Rafsanjani to [Mohammad] Khatami and from [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad to Rouhani. These transitions have taken place through competitive elections and not single-candidate elections or a military coup.
April 20, 2017

The Palestinian leadership is preparing for June 2017, which will mark 50 years since the Israeli occupation began. It is preparing for a great surge of nationalistic sentiments. According to a senior PLO official close to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the leadership wants to lead this nationalistic wave, which reflects 50 years of despair, rather than be led by it.

Ramallah is currently preoccupied with the unrest among Fatah prisoners in Israeli jails. Championed by Fatahs most famous prisoner, Marwan Barghouti, the prisoners launched a hunger strike on April 17. Also, Abbas entourage fears increased radicalization among the younger constituency in the West Bank, driven by Hamas virulent criticism of Abbas inaction and his security cooperation with Israel.

Apparently, this concern over the decline in Abbas support is shared by others. A senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official dealing with policy analysis in the research branch of the ministry told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the ministry is concerned by Abbas weakened position and his possible threat to dismantle the Palestinian Authority (PA). In the ministrys analysis, Abbas is pinning his hopes on Egypt and Jordan applying pressure on the Donald Trump administration to engage in a two-state solution process within a regional framework.

The Israeli source said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and King Abdullah II of Jordan have conveyed to Abbas their positive impression of Trumps serious attitude to what was defined to them in the White House as regional deal-making. The two leaders also shared their assessment with Abbas regarding the composition of the Washington new power chain. For them, the most influential people in Trumps entourage are the following, in this order: Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, national security adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster and international negotiation adviser Jason Greenblatt. From the Egyptian/Jordanian point of view, these people come across as staunchly pro-Israel yet also pragmatic and understanding of the centrality of the Palestinian issue in the Arab world. Sisis impression was that the first priority issue for Trump is the fight against the Islamic State and, therefore, keeping the Arab pragmatic coalition intact.

According to the Israeli analysis, Sisi, Abdullah and Abbas are well-coordinated. The three of them met on the sidelines of the Arab League summit in Amman, Jordan, on March 29 and decided that each of them, in their respective meetings with Trump, would prioritize the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative as the basis for a regional conference to be summoned by Trump in Washington this year in order to launch Israeli-Palestinian negotiations for a two-state solution.

And so the threats emanating from Abbas office as to the possible dismantling of the PA are aimed at pressuring Egypt and Jordan to exert their influence on the administration about the urgency for a so-called regional deal. The PLO official told Al-Monitor that 2017 must be the year of Arab unity on the Palestinian statehood issue. He said that the main issue on Abbas diplomatic agenda for the coming months will be a timeline for a regional conference for a two-state solution led by the Trump administration. Abbas and his team are proposing that such a conference take place in September, in parallel with the UN General Assembly, so that other heads of state could also participate. The Palestinian leader will ask for a complete settlement freeze by Israel and will agree to Trumps demand to halt official incitement of violence.

Encouraged by what he heard in Amman from Greenblatt about the presidents belief that time has come for a regional deal, Abbas would like Trump to personally lead this diplomatic effort. But according to the senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is confident about Trump agreeing with Israels position on the conditions for regional deal-making: bilateral and unconditional negotiations without predetermining the outcome, emphasizing Israeli security interests and the recognition of its identity as a Jewish state. Yet the official repeated what the Palestinian official also said  that the most predictable thing about Trump is his unpredictability.
April 21, 2017

MOSUL, Iraq  On April 23, a surprise attack including two suicide attacks by Islamic State (IS) fighters hit a command center for the Iraqi federal police in the south of Mosul. One Iraqi policemen was killed and one was injured.

On arriving at a federal police front line against the IS on April 15, gas masks were being unpacked, plastic wrappings torn off and the masks set atop wooden ammunition boxes for easy access.

After receiving elusive answers about why and seeing the same readying of masks at the nearby, heavily damaged Ninevah hospital, Al-Monitor found out later that day that an area under the control of the Iraqi special forces had been hit by IS mortars containing a chemical agent.

The hospital was taken a few weeks earlier. With its charred beds, abandoned stethoscopes and ubiquitous bullet casings, it is still in the range of IS sniper fire, and the stench of a bloated corpse of an IS fighter splayed out in a narrow alleyway nearby filled the air.

The masks were to protect the troops against a chemical attack that Iraqi forces had received information about, one federal police officer told Al-Monitor the following day as troops waited for orders to advance. Al-Monitor noticed a slight uptick in airstrikes.

As IS-held territory is shrinking and the fight has reached the narrow streets of Old Mosul, Iraqi forces have had to alter their tactics and the pace of the operation.

Federal police units are moving gradually to avoid heavy losses among their own forces and among civilians trapped in the city. Fewer airstrikes can be called in to help in the population-dense areas, and an abundance of snipers remain. The recent chemical attacks underscore the fact that although IS reserves have been drastically reduced, insidious dangers persist.

Informants still inside IS-held territory have intercepted communications between IS members, which has served to advance the fight, but slowly.

Mostly we intercept IS requests for logistics help in certain areas, said Lt. Col. Abbas Hawi from the 1st Division of the federal polices 20th Brigade on a front line in the Old City. But this time we got information of a planned chemical attack. We just didnt know exactly where.

Information on what exactly happened April 15 is still unclear.

A man who works regularly with the media team for the security forces, including the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF), which operates under the Iraqi Defense Ministrys counterterrorism services, told Al-Monitor the following day that 35 fighters in the ISOF had been killed. An Arab journalist on the front line  correctly identifying to Al-Monitor the location of the attack prior to any official reports of it  said that he had overheard a request for more body bags via a walkie-talkie. None of these claims could be independently verified by Al-Monitor.

Hawi said that though the attack had not happened in his area, he had heard that most of the casualties were civilians.

An Iraqi Defense Ministry statement claimed that a small number of ISOF troops suffered minor injuries but that no deaths had resulted.

US and Australian advisers apparently were with the targeted unit at the time of the attack.

Some reports say that Iraqi forces have been pulling out of sections of west Mosul after some neighborhoods became too dangerous to operate in due to the threat of chemical attacks from [IS] still holding ground within parts of the city.

Lack of reliable, detailed information continues to be an issue in the war. The international media has at times been barred from the front lines. At other times, journalists have been allowed to stay on bases and embed with the various Iraqi forces for extended periods of time.

Following an incident in March in which a large number of civilians were reported killed by an apparent airstrike in West Mosul, airstrikes have been drastically reduced. An investigation is ongoing.

Though Al-Monitor noticed an increase in airstrikes the day following the April 15 chemical attack, the incessant bombing of IS-held territory seen a few weeks prior in a previous trip to the front no longer occurs.

Meanwhile, sniper fire is almost constant in many areas along the front line.

Hawi said that many IS snipers remain inside the Old City, and they have perfect conditions at the moment for shooting at the forces surrounding them. He showed Al-Monitor a map on the tablet computers all the officers at the front carry to call in coordinates for airstrike requests.

He added that IS was consistently putting civilians into the highest buildings it could find and then shooting at Iraqi forces from there, using them as human shields, but that the fighters would typically either kill themselves or run when they see we have more people shooting than they do.

In a building in the Nabi Sheet neighborhood, for example, he said, referring to an area where the tall former post and telecommunications headquarters is located, we managed to save over 100 civilians that had been used as human shields.

Al-Monitor visited this building in previous weeks, the day after one of the members of the elite federal police snipers brigade had been killed there by an IS bullet. On attempting to return the following day, Al-Monitor was stopped at a nearby street and forced to go back due to heavy sniper fire in the street leading to the building.

In the Old City on the current federal police front line, around five to seven corpses of dead IS fighters are still lying in the streets, Hawi noted, adding that typically Iraqi forces would dump earth over them to cover them but that they hadnt had time or the means to do so yet with the ones still there.

One body was seen by Al-Monitor in a section of a wider road along which journalists and soldiers must run to limit exposure to sniper fire, and another was seen in a small alleyway virtually blocked off by the remnants of burned cars.

The difficulty in picking off IS fighters left inside without this leading to major civilian casualties has become all the more complicated within the narrow streets of the Old City.

Initial forecasts for a rapid taking of the last sections of IS Iraqi capital have been revised and none of the officers that Al-Monitor spoke with on the front line would give an estimate of how long they expect it to take to clear the entire city.
April 20, 2017

RAMALLAH, West Bank  Hamza Abdul Hadi Jawabra, a 15-year-old student, does not know what the Palestinian pound is. He said that he only knows the shekel because he gets his daily allowance in Israeli shekels, and he sees his parents holding Jordanian dinars and US dollars. His father, who works as a public affairs officer at An-Najah University in Nablus, gets his salary in dinars, while his mother who works at Al-Mada press in Ramallah is paid in dollars.

Jawabra was surprised to find out when talking to Al-Monitor that there is a Palestinian pound and he asked spontaneously, How does it look? He said he would be happier getting his allowance in Palestinian pounds.

Jawabra, like other Palestinian students, knows nothing about the only known Palestinian currency in history  the Palestinian pound issued during the British Mandate (1927-1948).

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education, however, is starting an initiative to introduce children to the Palestinian pound, allowing them to use it to purchase food in school cafeterias.

The Ministry of Education announced March 23 an agreement with the Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) to use the Palestinian pound as a symbolic currency in schools in the West Bank.

Minister of Education and Higher Education Sabri Saidam said in a press statement on the same day that the ministry agreed with the PMA to print Palestinian pounds to be used in schools. This step carries deep significance that strengthens the values of the next generation based on targeted national and social dimensions preparing for independence, Saidam said.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, Sadeq al-Khodour, the general director of activities at the Ministry of Education, said that the aim behind the initiative is to try to connect students to the banking system that was in place in the past and that used the Palestinian pound. This is a step to break free from economic dependency on Israel.

Khodour added that the Ministry of Education is waiting for the PMA to finish printing Palestinian pounds to use them starting May 1, during the remaining part of the current school year ending in June.

The initiative is mainly taking place in public schools as a first stage and is set to be launched in private schools at the onset of the next school year. Khodour said, Many students have siblings or relatives in private schools. So the initiatives restriction to public schools might create a contradiction in the message we are trying to get through. For that reason, this initiative should be launched in all schools.

According to Khodour, before starting to use the Palestinian pound, the public schools in the West Bank, which amount to 1,780, will launch an awareness and cultural campaign through the school morning broadcast to explain to the students the goals, mechanisms and meaning of this step.

Khodour said that the Palestinian pounds will be printed first and then given serial numbers according to the required technical qualifications (printing and paper quality). The Palestinian pounds will be distributed to the West Bank schools, and each school will have pounds six times the number of its students.

A committee will also be formed of a teacher and two students who are tasked with exchanging shekels each morning with Palestinian pounds. Each shekel is equal to 1 Palestinian pound. Then, the student buys from the cafeteria as usual. Two days later, the committee exchanges the Palestinian pounds with shekels with the cafeteria owner.

This initiative in schools brings to mind the declaration of the PMA in April 2011 about its intention to issue a Palestinian currency to be traded. But the initiative never came through due to several obstacles, mainly the Israeli occupation, according to the PMA.

A source from the PMAs public relations office told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, The issuance of the Palestinian currency banks on political and economic considerations as well as previously set conditions that would ensure the success of the issuance and the preservation of the currencys value, strength and stability.

According to the PMA, the economic and political conditions that Israel left for the Palestinian Authority (PA)  including its lack of control over crossings and borders; its lack of freedom of movement, access and ability to export and import; the constant deficit in the general budget and the balance of payments; and the increasing unemployment rates  have all made the economic situation unsuitable for the re-introduction of the Palestinian pound.

Nevertheless, the PMA source said the PAs efforts are ongoing, noting that it has worked on logistic and technical demands, and it is doing what is feasible as per its available capacities to issue a national currency and manage a suitable monetary policy.

Although this is a simple initiative, using the Palestinian pound in schools will give students a different and special experience and will grant them a sort of financial independence through a Palestinian currency that represents their country.
So a North Alabama sheriff took $150,000 out of the jail inmate's food account and dumped it in a skeezy investment in a used car lot that:

Was owned by a felon and; Peddled in stolen vehicles and; Is not something you'd want your sheriff anywhere near. Not without a warrant.

Oh, Alabama. Why do you do what you do?

The state is left with a veritable plethora of questions. Not the least of which is ... What did the Sheriff of Nottingham have that Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin doesn't.

Not a whole heckuva lot, as it turns out.

Stealing from the rich to feed the poor is definitely not the issue here. It's the reverse, all across the lovely land of Alabama. It's robbing hoods to feed the greedy sheriffs. Not in ham, mind you, but in cheese. Good ol' green, fungible cheese.

The whole Franklin thing smells worse than the stuff she feeds her inmates. Especially because, as AL.com's Ashley Remkus has followed in somewhat shocking detail, the head law enforcement officer of Morgan County decided she was simply above the law.

Surprise!

Morgan County - with a history of inmate food profiteering - was under a consent decree when she took office. A federal judge had made it clear, because of a previous sheriff's appetite for cold hard cash, that it couldn't just keep feeding inmates nothing but corn dogs, and ordered every cent of money meant for inmate food be spent on food for inmates.

And not on the old sheriff or this new one. Or her cockamamie investments.

Ana Franklin

The thing is - the Decatur Daily reported this from the start - Franklin got legal advice before she even took office that said she had to use the food money for food. And she chose to ignore it.

She chose to get a second opinion. And now she's fighting to find out whether she'll be held in contempt.

In contempt of court, that is.

Because she's already held in contempt by me, for what that's worth. She ought to be held in contempt by the good voters of Morgan County, my sweet childhood home.

She's even argued that she invested in the car lot to recoup $21,000 lost from the food account, which makes about as much sense as, well, investing more food money in a sketchy car lot.

But the imperfection of some contemptuous Alabama sheriff is not even the big question for Alabamians who want to see their state as decent. It's not the issue for those who dream of an Alabama that is more than an illegal dumping ground for corruption and ineptitude.

Because this isn't just a Morgan County problem. It's an Alabama embarrassment.

Why in the name of all that's decent does Alabama still let sheriffs in many counties scrimp on feeding inmates and pocket whatever's left?

In many counties across Alabama the state sends the sheriff $1.75 cents a day in food money for every inmate in the jail. It tells the sheriff to feed the prisoners, and keep whatever's left.

They can keep it, as a supplement to their pay. So the worst among them find the cheapest way to meet the bare nutritional demands demanded by the federal government - an endless supply of corn dogs is not good enough - and pocket the rest.

It's like going to your mechanic and saying "Hey, here's a hundred bucks. Make my car safe and keep the change."

It's like going to the doc and saying "Hey, here's a grand. Do what you need to do, but keep the change."

It incentivizes inhumanity, disregards decency and encourages corruption. And it is-- in many counties -- alarmingly legal.

It's time for that to change.
The battle over perceptions of inequality and injustice could be at the heart of Septembers national elections.

Bremen, Germany  On a rain-sodden Sunday in March, a current passed through the crowd in a teeming Berlin convention centre as the man of the hour arrived. It was the Social Democratic Partys (SPD) congress, and Martin Schulz was the main attraction. He was mobbed by members of his party as he bobbed towards the stage, clenching his fists and grinning.

It was nothing short of rock-star treatment for the stocky, bespectacled ex-EU Parliament president, and for good reason; Schulz has seemingly turned around the Social Democrats fortunes. After he was announced as the centre-left partys candidate for chancellor in January, the SPD witnessed a 10-point jump in the opinion polls, even overtaking Chancellor Angela Merkel and her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) in early February.

Although the SPD suffered a setback in a March 26 regional election in the small state of Saarland, some political analysts argued the result may have had more to do with the popularity of the CDUs local candidate Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, dubbed mini-Merkel. On the national level, a recent weekly voter poll conducted by the Erfurt-based survey institute INSA put the SPD only two percentage points behind Merkels party.

Schulz has painted himself as Germanys Robin Hood; a salt-of-the-earth, straight-talking dealmaker who fights for blue-collar labourers and struggling families  and it has worked. He was confirmed as the SPDs candidate with 100 percent of the partys votes on March 19, a record result for a party with a long history.

If we dont make sure this country is fairer, no one else can, boomed Schulz at the party congress. I want each and every person to be respected.

WATCH: The Stream  Germanys new hate speech bill (33:37)

Germany has one of the worlds most powerful economies, with a huge export industry, a record trade surplus, rising wages and low unemployment. As Italy, Greece, Spain and France still suffer from the remnants of the eurozones debt crisis, Germany has remained relatively unscathed. It might seem curious, then, that Schulzs message of a return to fairness, dignity and respect seems to have resonated so deeply.

But his popularity has shined a light on a paradox that has become central to this years election: Germans have long prided themselves on the countrys social market economy  free-market capitalism framed by a generous social welfare system. Yet growing inequality and poverty among segments of society have cast a long shadow, and many Germans share a growing sense of not only inequality, but injustice.

The weekly news magazine Der Spiegel released a March issue with two different covers: one featured the headline How Well are Germans Doing while the other read How Poor are Germans Doing. It was partly a ploy to see which would sell better, but also a nod to a debate over how far Germanys social promise has unravelled. As campaign season shifts into full gear before Septembers national, federal elections, the battle over perceptions of inequality and injustice will be at the heart of the vote.

Poverty by numbers

As Germanys well-oiled economic engine has motored on, single parents, long-term unemployed, immigrants, elderly, and low-skilled workers have struggled to keep up. The yearly poverty risk report released in March by the Paritatische Wohlfahrtsverband, an umbrella welfare association, shows relative poverty at 15.7 percent, its highest point since German reunification.

The term relative poverty is commonly used in the European Union to describe anyone who lives on less than 60 percent of the medium household income. For single households in Germany, that is calculated to be 917 euros [$971] a month; for a single parent with a child under six years old, the amount is 1,192 euros [$1,262].





Poverty does not begin when people become paupers, said Ulrich Schneider, head of the welfare association, at the press conference unveiling the figures. Poverty starts when people dont have enough money to take part in the normal way of life of society, when people can no longer keep up.

The study compared statistics from 2005 and 2015 and found that poverty among single parents rose from 39.3 percent to 43.8 percent. Among retirees, the number jumped from 10.7 to 15.9 percent over a decade.

However, the Paritatische report sparked a wave of scepticism. Some economists and media have accused the authors of alarmist exaggeration and raised concerns over the studys methodology.

Some argue that relative poverty is a skewed measure: If all incomes across the board were to be tripled, poverty rates would remain unchanged. Also, students often register as poor, single households because they earn little while they study. The elderly, on the other hand, may draw from several pensions beyond the one that is measured, and assets are also not registered.

The Paritatische has countered this backlash, pointing out that many more poor Germans  the hundreds of thousands of homeless, for example  are not included in the studys statistics. It is calling on the government to do far more to stem the tide and lift struggling Germans out of poverty. And this is precisely what Martin Schulz is promising to do.

In an interview with Germanys largest circulation daily, Bild, Schulz vowed to tackle the gender pay gap, sharply curtail top manager and CEO salaries, and raise wages for workers in the countrys understaffed and underpaid nursing care industry. He avoided making any promises of tax cuts, pointing out that low-wage earners would hardly see a difference because they already pay little or no income tax.

It would help them much more if kindergarten fees cease to exist. That is why we prefer to invest money in education and infrastructure, he told the paper.

OPINION: Angela Merkel is not the great progressive messiah

Sabine Weiss, a member of the CDUs Labour and Social Issues Committee in parliament, argues that Chancellor Merkels economic policies have been a boon for most Germans, and the government has boosted pensioners incomes as well.

Under Angela Merkels leadership, Germany has grown fairer, because so many people have profited from the growing wealth and the economic upswing, she said in an email, pointing to Germanys record-low jobless rates. At the same time, our party wants to make sure Germany is even more just and fair. We dont want to leave anybody behind, and everyone deserves a fair chance to participate in society.

Bremens poor, down and out

The CDUs message might ring hollow in Bremen. It has topped the list of Germanys poorest states for years, with one in four residents living in relative poverty and more than 18 percent drawing welfare benefits  almost double the national average.

Nestled in Germanys northwest near the North Sea, Bremen was once home to large shipbuilding and steel companies, and thousands of guest workers arrived from Turkey as labourers. However, many of the companies were forced to shutter their doors in the 1980s and 1990s, and many working-class neighbourhoods have yet to recover.

Gropelingen is one of them. The sprawling, disparate district has become a symbol of the problems plaguing Bremen, with unemployment at 27.4 percent. There is a high concentration of at-risk groups: long-term unemployed, low-skilled workers and large immigrant families. Some 40 percent of residents have an immigrant background (more than half are of Turkish descent).

Rita Sanze has been a social worker and neighbourhood manager in Gropelingen since 2004, leading various outreach, education, and social projects. A small percentage of immigrant families have successfully built businesses or left the neighbourhood, but poverty and joblessness remain pervasive.

A bad reputation has to come from somewhere. We cant seem to get rid of our image, she said, adding that poverty was actually on the rise.

Its all about education levels: If you didnt study or learn a certain career, you wont find work  even when companies are hiring and the economy is doing well, she added.

Her office is tucked just off the main throughway in Gropelingen, where a tram rumbles past a vibrant mix of Halal butcheries, Turkish bakeries, flower shops and African hair salons. Posters offer counselling for debtors  a rising number of families in Gropelingen are finding themselves struggling under growing debt. Just a few blocks away, a grey cement low-income housing complex rises above the neighbourhood, home to some 600 residents. Sanze says most work in low-wage jobs and still depend upon welfare.

Sanze has helped organise regular resident meetings here to try to prompt civic engagement and community cohesion. The city-state also funds various initiatives with NGOs, neighbourhood organisations, and social workers. Yet Sanze says so much more is needed, especially programmes aimed at helping children and youth excel at school, to shatter the relentless cycle of unemployment and poverty.

OPINION: Control is the new core of Germanys refugee policy

In general, social background plays an extremely decisive role in educational success or upward mobility, she said. Germany isnt very permeable when it comes to social classes.

A few neighbourhoods away, a non-profit association called Solidarity Assistance counsels Bremens poor and struggling on unemployment benefits, social issues and debt relief. Juliane Hegewald, 54, has been counselling local residents for more than a decade.

Everyone who comes here doesnt have enough money, either because the state aid isnt enough or they dont earn enough at their jobs, she said. We have pensioners who worked 40 years and cant live off their pensions because they earned too little.

At one of her appointments on a recent Wednesday afternoon, a 28-year-old hairdresser from Bremen, Natalia*, was struggling to parse the complicated legal structures regulating her low-wage part-time position, state aid and sick pay for a medical condition. The nationwide minimum wage  now 8.84 euros ($9.4)  that came into effect in 2015 has helped, but not enough.

I dont want to get state money but I have to, I cant do without it, said Natalia. A full-time job would be great but I cant [find one] because of my health, and even then I would probably need two full-time positions to live decently. There are just so many costs.

The view from below

Natalia is part of a stubborn low-wage sector that swelled over a decade ago and has stayed relatively constant at around 20 percent ever since.

Germanys unemployment levels have fallen to their lowest levels since the countrys reunification in 1990  in large part due to a series of sweeping labour reforms ushered in under the SDP former Chancellor Gerhard Schroder in 2005. The programme  called Agenda 2010  overhauled unemployment benefits and spawned new, more flexible part-time employment while deregulating temporary work.

Although the programme boosted employment figures significantly, critics blame the Agenda 2010 reforms for the growing underclass of Germans unable to make a decent living. Instead of turning temporary jobs into full-time employment, workers string together various low-wage, precarious positions or mini-jobs  part-time employment that pays 450 euros ($476) a month tax-free  and have little chance to break out of the cycle.

Its very hard to find a well-paid job in a highly productive economy if youre not a qualified worker, said Holger Bonin, a leading labour market and social policy expert at the Centre for European Economic Research in Mannheim.





Bonin believes there is indeed a core of long-term unemployed and poor Germans whose struggles need to be better addressed, but he says the statistics surrounding labour, poverty and inequality must be understood through the context of societal changes.

Germany is ageing rapidly, with one in three people predicted to be over 65 by the year 2060 according to the Federal Agency for Civic Education, with the working-age population especially hard hit.

The ballooning number of elderly and retirees explains some of the rise in inequality, as retirees more often have lower incomes than the working population. Far more women have entered the workforce as well, but many take part-time positions to balance child-rearing.

A better measure of inequality, argues Bonin, is net income equality  comparing income after taxes. Because of Germanys highly progressive tax system, the yawning chasm between incomes is somewhat counterbalanced to ensure more evenly distributed wealth. Germanys Gini coefficient, an internationally used measure to examine income inequality, has remained relatively stable over the last decade.

In the end, Germany may not suffer from deep inequality, but people increasingly perceive it that way, says Bonin.

In a society where everybody drives a Porsche or a Rolls Royce and you drive a Volkswagen, you feel poor, he said.

Stefan Liebig, a sociologist specialising in social inequality and structural analysis at the University of Bielefeld, believes it is primarily a perception of injustice, rather than a sense of inequality, that has roiled the debate.

Liebig studies how perceptions of inequality and injustice have developed over the last 12 years. He and a team of researchers have examined survey data where Germans were asked how they perceived their own income in terms of justice. On the whole, perceptions of injustice have remained relatively unchanged over the last decade with two peaks in 2007 and 2015, according to their data, and the satisfaction or subjective well-being has increased for most Germans.

In fact, Liebig says Germans want inequality in incomes, or unequal distribution  because it reflects the belief that those who work harder and are better qualified deserve better wages. Yet, when there was a perceived gap between the level of productivity and the correlating wage, the sense of injustice climbed. For those in low-wage and temp jobs, perceptions of injustice have also risen, particularly when they are working alongside full-time, regular-wage employees in the same company.

We have this puzzle that, on one side we have a very high level of well-being and satisfaction about the economic situation and on the other side the groups feel Germany is unjust. I dont think this has to do with inequality, it is more about people feeling unfairly treated, Liebig told Al Jazeera.

Whats more, the better Germany does on an international level, the more earners find their situation unjust: They, too, want their piece of the countrys economic success.

Schulz has promised to roll back the Agenda 2010 labour reforms his own party instituted more than a decade ago, and provide relief for wage earners, single parents, and elderly struggling to live a decent life, at least in German terms.

At a rally in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia in early April, Chancellor Merkel announced her party would make children and families its central focus in the coming months  a nod, perhaps, to Schulzs success so far.

Merkel faces a crucial test on May 14, when North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) holds state elections. It is Germanys most populous state with nearly 18 million people; it is also home to the Rhine-Ruhr valley, a former industrial mining heartland that is now the largest metropolitan area in Europe. The urban population density has contributed to poverty rates rising from 14.4 percent in 2005 to 17.5 in 2015, according to the Paritatisches report.

It will be a bellwether vote for Schulz as well, viewed as a sign of whether he can truly translate his strong poll numbers into a win at the ballot boxes. It is also Schulzs home state, making a win for the SPD all the more likely  but a loss all the more crushing.

Bremen, meanwhile, is also an SPD stronghold, although far smaller and less pivotal for the chancellor candidates. Yet Bremen has witnessed a trend in recent years that could spell trouble for both Schulz and Merkel: voter apathy. Whereas nearly 79 percent of the voting population cast their ballots in 2002, only around 69 percent did so in 2013, and the number continues to fall. Rita Sanze, the neighbourhood manager in Gropelingen, says most residents in her district are too consumed with their daily struggles to give much thought to politics; those who do, however, are increasingly disillusioned with the political system and may well stay home on September 24.

These people dont feel like theyre even really noticed  they feel they have been left behind, she said. That kind of disillusionment is an alarm signal.

Both Schulz and Merkel will be vying to win over undecided and disillusioned voters and drive them to the polling stations with promises of change and justice. In what is an increasingly tight race, those very votes across Germany could be a deciding factor.








Keralas Cheraman mosque points to a time of peaceful co-existence in an era when that seems increasingly under threat.

Kodungallur, Kerala  On Indias western coast, facing the Arabian Sea, there once lived a Hindu king who had a vision of the Moon splitting into two halves. Concerned that the dream was a warning, he immediately asked his court astrologers to interpret what he had seen.

They couldnt provide an explanation that would satisfy the king so the problem remained unsolved until a group of Arab traders arrived at his port, in what is now Indias southern state of Kerala. The traders explained that the kings vision was most likely a reference to one of the miracles performed by the Prophet Muhammed.

Convinced, the king converted to Islam and set off to Mecca, Islams holiest site. He died before he could return to his kingdom, but left instructions to build what would become Indias first mosque.

That at least, is how the myth goes.

The actual history of the Cheraman mosque in the town of Kodungallur is murkier. According to a foundation stone on its premises, the mosque was built in AD629, but the evidence is conflicting.

Historian Rajan Gurukkal, who is originally from Kerala, says that the mosque was probably built closer to the 11th or 12th centuries. But Mohamed Sayeed, the president of the mosques managing committee, says tradition maintains that it was the first in India.

Kodungallur is about an hour north of Kochi city, a popular tourist destination, but few foreign visitors come here. The state government, however, hopes that will change as it embarks on an ambitious project that will highlight the areas history.

Known as the Muziris Heritage Project, it stretches across seven panchayats (village councils) in the state, with 27 museums and more than 50 sites of interest planned, ranging from a spice museum to an excavation site where shards of Roman amphorae and Italian ceramic ware have been found.

In the first phase of the project, the state government has restored two synagogues and opened them to the public.

In a state with a large proportion of religious minorities  combined, Muslims and Christians form nearly half of the states population  the state government hopes the historical sites will push a message of religious harmony.

Communal harmony

The Cheraman mosques appearance  baby blue with a coral tile roof, two minarets and a spacious courtyard  belies its age. It has been subjected to a series of renovations over the centuries.

It remains an active place of worship. Many of Kodungallurs more than 7,000 Muslim residents worship here, as do some Hindus.

In the dusk and the early morning, you can see a lot of Hindus coming over here and praying here, Sayeed explains.

There are many other places of worship nearby. Fifty metres away is a Hindu temple, and there are at least five churches in the area.

Of more historical interest are the Paravur Synagogue, one of the oldest Jewish places of worship in the country, which is 10km away, and Kottakavu Church, one of the countrys earliest churches, 8km away.

All are part of the heritage project, which started in 2009 and completed its first phase last year.

Those behind it say the close proximity of these different places of worship offers an important lesson for the world today.

Were setting an example that all these people can co-exist without any problems, explains the projects senior consultant, Benny Kuriakose. We want to put forward Muziris as an example of [religious] harmony.

Resident Antony Deign says multiculturalism continues to thrive in modern-day Kodungallur. Kodungallur is the rarest of places, if you think about Hindus and Muslims and Christians living here, he says.

Deign, a practising Catholic, says he grew up going to temples with his Hindu friends. Any time there was a festival or a celebration, he would go with them. It was a part of our culture, he reflects.

UK Viswanathan was born and raised in Kodungallur, but left his hometown to work in Indias financial capital, Mumbai, in 1969. Forty years later, he returned.

Despite all the facilities a city like Mumbai could offer him, something drew him back to Kodungallur.

We have got very good communal harmony, he says. Thats the very reason that I came back.

Its a sentiment that seems to be at odds with some other Indian states, where the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its allies are trying to curb the sale and consumption of beef and where those accused of killing cows have been lynched by hardline Hindu cow-protection activists known as gau rakshaks.

A need for spice

The origins of Kodungallurs celebrated religious harmony lie in one ingredient: black pepper.

Alhough black pepper is today found in kitchens all over the world, 3,000 years ago, traders travelled long distances to Muziris, a port town at the mouth of the River Periyar, to trade pepper and other spices.

The earliest traders were Egyptians, in the time of King Solomon (900BC). Later, Greeks, Phoenicians and Arab traders, pre-Islam and post-Islam, also came, according to Gurukkal, the author of Rethinking Classical Indo-Roman Trade.

Some of these traders, he explains, ended up settling in Muziris out of necessity.

Around the first century, foreign traders started using the monsoon winds to sail to India in a relatively short period of time. These winds had a natural rhythm that the traders followed, sailing in on one wind and sailing out a few months later when the winds changed.

While waiting, Gurukkal says: Naturally some of them might have made temporary arrangements, taken local spouses.

This practice lasted for a few centuries. But later on, others, such as Syrian Christians, arrived and built their own places of worship with the permission of the local ruler, creating what we might today call cosmopolitanism.

Despite the fact that these diverse groups lived so close together, there were no religious tensions, Gurukkal says, because they were not economic rivals. They all wanted different products from the port town. Conflict only came in the 16th century, with the arrival of the Portuguese, who sought an economic monopoly, he says.

By then, though, Muziris was no longer the epicentre of trade. The port was devastated by a flood and earthquake in the 14th century, and the centre of commerce shifted south to Kochi, which today remains the largest commercial centre in the state.

Kodungallurs revival

Kodungallurs history wasnt well known until the early 2000s when, after some rain, locals found colourful beads in the mud. News of the find eventually reached archaeologists, who started excavating the area in 2007.

Over the course of several years, they recovered more than 95,000 objects, ranging from glass beads to fragments of pottery pieces from Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq.

The state government came forward to fund a large-scale restoration project. The UN cultural body, UNESCO, is funding a separate project focused on the cultural connections between ancient cities that traded along the spice route, an ancient network of sea routes that connected the East and West. India is one of 31 countries participating.

Nine years into the restoration project, much work still remains to be done, explains Kuriakose. Phase II will start in May, and it is likely to take several more years until the project is completed.

Today the first emporium of India, as Pliny the Elder, a Roman author from the first century called Kodungallur, is a shade of its former cosmopolitan self.

Once a place that exported great quantities of pearls, ivory, silk and spikenard, an ointment, from the Ganges and malabathrum, another aromatic ointment, from the interior to the rulers of Rome, the closest modern-day market now caters only to locals.

While only a few of Kodungallurs Jewish residents remain  many of them left for Israel in the 1950s  the areas multiculturalism remains.

Viswanathan, who is Hindu, recently went on a pilgrimage to a local Hindu temple. After praying at the temple, he went to the nearby mosque. There, he says, the imam asked him his name before reciting some verses of the Quran.

I was enthralled by that feeling [that] a Muslim priest was blessing me, he recalls. I had all the blessings in the world during those five seconds.
Palestinians living under occupation will continue to be further brutalised by expansion of Israels gas industry.

Ramallah  An Israel-Europe gas pipeline deal aimed at turning Israel into a major energy exporter in the Mediterranean has come under criticism from Palestinians, particularly as the besieged Gaza Strip continues to suffer from a crippling power crisis.

The pipeline agreement between Israel, Italy, Cyprus and Greece will not only benefit corporations which directly profit from the occupation of the Palestinian territory, Shawan Jabarin, general director of Al-Haq, told Al Jazeera.

It also provides an incentive for Israel to continue the closure of Palestines coast and a tacit approval by Europe of Israels naval blockade and continued international armed conflict in the waters off the Gaza Strip. It is the occupied Palestinian people who will continue to be further brutalised by the expansion of Israels gas industry.

Ministers from Israel, Greece, Italy and Cyprus, as well as the European Unions commissioner for climate action and energy, signed a joint declaration this month to make their commitment to building a gas pipeline that would bring recently discovered natural gas from Israel and Cyprus to Italy and the European market via Greece official.

READ MORE: Jordanians reject stolen gas in Israel-Jordan deal

The pipeline, which Israeli Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz described as the longest and deepest subsea gas pipeline in the world, is expected to be in operation by 2025.

Steinitz hailed the project as the beginning of a wonderful friendship between four Mediterranean countries, while Miguel Arias Canete, the EU commissioner for climate action and energy, noted: We strongly support the development of the region, both from a general point of view and in particular as future gas suppliers.

While Canete could not make formal commitments, he expected the project to meet all the necessary requirements to receive funding via the EUs Connecting Europe Facility, a programme that supports the development of trans-European infrastructure, and which already funded the projects commercial and technical viability study.

Designated as a project of common interest by the EU, the pipeline has been marketed as an alternative to the blocs current reliance on Russian energy and on the depleting North Sea reserves. But analysts are sceptical that the high infrastructure costs, coupled with low gas prices, will be able to compete with Russian gas and that the project will attract investors.

Israel has employed a brutal and unlawful naval operation to protect Noble Energy's gas platforms beside the Gaza Strip, routinely attacking, killing and injuring civilian Palestinian fishermen who fish in the vicinity of Israel's illegally imposed six-nautical-mile closure of Palestine's territorial waters. by Susan Power, law lecturer

Brenda Shaffer, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Centre, suggested that the agreement represents the four countries common political goals, which will not necessarily translate into investment decisions by commercial companies.

Their considerations and goals may be very different than the political level, Shaffer told Al Jazeera. At this stage, the proposed project is a political aspiration and far from a commercial reality, and it is not certain that current gas demand trends in southern Europe commercially justify an additional new gas supply project.

Elio Ruggeri, chief executive of IGI Poseidon, the company overseeing the development of the project, whose partners include Italys Edison and Greeces state-backed DEPA, told Al Jazeera that the pipeline will be approximately 3,500km long and cost 5.2bn euros ($5.6bn) up to Greece, and 6.2bn euros to Italy. Final investment decisions, said Ruggeri, would be made in 2020.

The pipeline would be pumping gas from Israels giant Leviathan field, whose discovery in 2010 turned Israel from an energy importer into a potentially major player in the region. Leviathan is estimated to hold around 20 trillion cubic feet of gas. Texas-based Noble Energy owns 39.7 percent of the field, while Delek Drilling and Avner Oil Exploration, both subsidiaries of Israels Delek Group, each hold 22.7 percent. The Israeli company Ratio Oil owns 15 percent. In an ongoing dispute over maritime borders, Lebanon argues that Leviathan sits partly in Lebanese waters.

The first country to sign up to buy Leviathans gas was Jordan. The country closed a $10bn gas deal with Israel last year, which will see Israel supply 8.5 million cubic metres of gas to its neighbour over 15 years. It sparked a wave of popular protests in Jordan against what people saw as a deal that would increase Jordanian dependency on Israel, as well as finance Israels occupation of the Palestinian territories.





It is impossible to geographically isolate gas fields off mainland Israel and characterise them as separate from the conflict with Palestine, Susan Power, a lecturer in law and author of a 2015 report published by Palestinian human rights group Al Haq and titled Annexing Energy, told Al Jazeera.

In 2011, Noble Energy, the lead operator of the Leviathan field, unilaterally extracted gas from a joint Palestinian/Israeli gas field without Palestinian permission as required under customary international law and the Oslo Accords, she said, adding that Noble Energy also operates a gas storage facility, the Mari-B, located 13 nautical miles off the Gaza Strip and linked by pipeline to another field it operates off the coast of Haifa, the smaller Tamar.

Israel has employed a brutal and unlawful naval operation to protect Noble Energys gas platforms beside the Gaza Strip, routinely attacking, killing and injuring civilian Palestinian fishermen who fish in the vicinity of Israels illegally imposed six-nautical-mile closure of Palestines territorial waters, she added.

Meanwhile, Gaza continues to suffer from a crippling electricity and energy crisis that reached a peak earlier this year, when thousands took to the streets to protest power cuts of 12 to 18 hours, up from the usual eight hours on, eight hours off. The Al Haq report concluded that if Palestinians were allowed to develop their own resources, such as a gas field near the Gaza Marine, not only their energy needs would be covered but they would be economically self-sufficient and free from the shackles of international aid.

INTERACTIVE: The disputed gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean

Gazas only functioning power plant shut down last week, leaving Gaza with only six hours of electricity a day and its basic services, including hospitals, at risk. The plant ran out of fuel, which had been purchased with Qatari and Turkish aid to quell the crisis earlier this year, amid an ongoing dispute over fuel tax between the electricity authority in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority.

The Leviathan deal with Noble Energy and Delek was also the subject of an anti-trust investigation and a Supreme Court challenge in Israel as opponents argued that the two companies would have too much control over the countrys gas reserves, and that the deal was not in the interest of consumers but of big business.

At the time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had defended the deal as borne out of geopolitical considerations and as an as investment in the countrys security. Since the discovery of the Leviathan, Israel has been in talks to negotiate export deals with Turkey and Egypt. The latter became awash with gas, too, as a new supergiant gas field, Zohr, was discovered in 2015.

The ability to export gas makes us more immune to international pressure. We dont want to be vulnerable to boycotts, Netanyahu said.
The seemingly endless crisis in Venezuela appears to have entered a new, dark and alarming chapter.

As if coming off the pages of a terrifying thriller, a crisis that seemed to have reached its worst point in recent months, has actually escalated further after weeks of protests sparked by growing anger and frustration around what looks like a never-ending catalogue of problems.





On Monday, President Nicolas Maduro ordered the military onto the streets, two days before planned peaceful protests across the country on 19 April. He said the military would be marching in defence of morality and against those who betray the homeland.

Amid one of the largest demonstrations in recent months, this call to arms by the government was disastrous: at least two people died in suspicious circumstances, hundreds more were injured and detained  adding to the more than sixteen deaths reported during protests over recent weeks. Evidence grew that groups of armed vigilantes are taking the law into their own hands. Further demonstrations have been called for the coming days.

I thought that living (or surviving) in Venezuela had prepared the population here for anything. The endless strategies to find two kilos of rice, get hold of anticonvulsants or high blood pressure medicine has made us all experts in the art of making do.

Now, people also face the utter terror of going out into the streets. Old and young fear stepping out of their homes, participating in peaceful demonstrations, complaining about what it is like to try and survive here.

READ MORE: Venezuelas crisis explained from the beginning

If you do go out and exercise your human right to speak your mind, you might be tear gassed (including from helicopters), beaten, locked up in jail for years without due process or even shot by one of the paramilitary groups that, although unacknowledged by the authorities, are now running amok across Venezuela.

Violence by some protesters has been cleverly used by the authorities to justify widespread repression and perpetuate the us vs them discourse that has done so much harm to our country. You only need to step outside to breathe this climate of fear.

Repression and violence during protests are not new to Venezuela  in 2014, more than 40 people, including at least six members of the security forces, were killed. More than 650 people were injured and more than 2,000 detained. Impunity has been rife.

Many, perhaps naively, thought these events were a one-off. We thought the country would learn from its recent history. But over the past few weeks, a cloud of uncertainty and violence has cast a new dark shadow over Venezuela. Day after day, we wake up with news of fresh protests followed by the frightening images of violent confrontations between protesters and security forces.

How the crisis began

Since this new wave of demonstrations began on April 4, tensions have escalated daily. People looked like they had nothing to lose. Many of them dont.

What began as ordinary protests against the political and humanitarian situation in the country and against the  since-overturned  supreme courts ruling to ban the National Assembly, quickly turned into something else, something much more worrying.





By the third day, we found ourselves giving shelter to injured demonstrators in the hall of the building where I live, my family and I giving first aid to bruised and battered men and women, frustrated and exhausted by the realities of daily life in Venezuela.

I watched as tear gas canisters were thrown from helicopters while President Maduro, speaking from Cuba, tried to reassure the population, saying that Venezuela is at peace, except for a few pockets of violence that are being dealt with.

This contrasted starkly with the reality on the ground  in just over a fortnight, at least seven people died during the protests and hundreds were injured.

A few days after the initial wave of protests, the Venezuelan Public Ministry announced an investigation to find those responsible for the killings. But this effort towards justice and accountability must not be just for show. Instead, it must be a genuine commitment to the full respect and protection of human rights, one where those who think differently from the government are not portrayed as enemies and where those who violate human rights are brought to justice.

The tragic contrast between the Venezuela portrayed by the authorities and the one we live in is so deep its hard to explain. The country President Maduro speaks about is at peace. People are handed food donations from government-sponsored trucks. Children happily study in school, none of them fainting in class because they have nothing to eat at home. Hospitals are fully stocked, providing their patients with the best care available.

But this is mere fiction  following in the celebrated Latin American tradition of magical realism.

In contrast, the Venezuela I  and millions of others  wake up to every day is a real-life labyrinth where buying the most essential items has become a nearly impossible struggle.

How do people in Venezuela survive? many ask me. I still have not been able to find an answer.

But one thing is certain. The Venezuelan authorities see no evil, hear no evil attitude to the crisis does not cut it anymore. Hiding behind a veil of propaganda and playing victim to some shadowy international plan to destabilise the country is not helping anyone in Venezuela to eat and stay healthy.

The time has come for all state institutions to fulfil their duties and work on behalf of all the people in the country.

How much longer we can go on like this is anybodys guess, but the fact remains that something can, and must, be done to prevent our country from falling into an abyss with no return.

Marcos Gomez is the director of Amnesty International Venezuela.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
India is changing in significant ways. Marginalisation of Muslims, the largest minority in the country, has often been discussed in this context. This marginalisation is getting more and more pronounced with successive elections.

The resounding victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the political arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an organisation committed to turning India into a Hindu nation, in the recently concluded assembly election of Uttar Pradesh is only the latest evidence of the ascendance of this politics.

Now it has taken the form of more vicious, open attacks on Muslims with rising frequency by marauding mobs formed in the name of cow protection in different parts of northern India. It has resulted in deaths of Muslims, but failed to arouse disgust in the larger political class, while the general Hindu population remains in callous apathy.

Indignation over the eating of beef is cited as a rationale to understand the Hindu insensitivity in such cases. But attacks on mosques, or the killing of an imam while he was sleeping, also fail to move the police or the political class. Attacks on Christians in the name of opposing conversion has also now stopped to make news. It is a tiny minority and shrinking into its shell.

Smothering cultural diversity





The politics of Hindu domination over the countrys Muslim and Christian minorities is being achieved by hegemonising all Hindu spaces  cutting across languages and cultures  and smothering hitherto strong regional and cultural variances.

Bengalis, Malayalis, Assamese and others have their own New Years with distinct names such as Vishu, Bihu, Bangla Nobovarsha. But for the past three years, attempts have been made to gradually erase these names. Instead of mentioning these different names, people are being congratulated on the advent of the new Hindu year. Also, the traditional festivals are now being given nationalist slogans. This year Gudi Padva, the Maharashtrian New Year festival, was turned into a militantly Hindu celebration, which was accompanied by slogans to make India a Hindu nation.

Each cultural region also has its own supreme god or goddess. In Kerala, it is Bali, a mythical figure who is venerated by Malayalis. But last year, the BJP tried to replace him by another mythical figure Vamana, an incarnation of Vishnu who is said to have, as legend has it, cunningly dethroned Bali. It asked the Malayalis to celebrate the birth day of Vamana. This audacious move by the BJP drew an angry response from the people, but the BJP remained unfazed.

OPINION: How the BJP has come to dominate lower-caste politics

Similarly, this year, it was observed that Ram Navami, a festival to celebrate the birth of the Hindu god, Ram, another revered deity among Hindus, was celebrated aggressively even in regions where Ram is not counted as a major figure.

For example, in West Bengal state, it is Durga the goddess who dominates all other gods and goddesses. Ram Navami has never been a major festival in Bengal. But this year, the BJP organised aggressive processions in more than 20 Bengal towns. In the state capital Kolkata alone, 22 Ram Navami processions were organised. For the first time, the Bengalis saw boys and girls brandishing swords and other traditional weapons in these processions. In Kerala too, Ram Navami celebrations were organised with a zeal and fervour never seen before.

The colour of the flag of Hanuman, another popular mythical figure, himself a devotee of Ram, is red. But this year it was seen in Patna that the red of Hanumans flag morphed silently into saffron. Saffron as a colour is seen as representing the pan-Hindu identity.

Appropriating national symbols and infusing in them a Hindu content has long been a strategy of the BJP and the RSS. by

Infusing national symbols in Hinduism

The BJP is attempting to fuse Hinduism with nationalism in very creative ways. In the rainy season, devotees of the Hindu god Shiva carry holy waters of the Ganga as an offering to Shiva, one of most powerful Hindu gods. They cover the distance on foot.

Last year, it was seen that most of them were also carrying the Indian national flag with them. The trucks accompanying them were draped in the tricolour. It was a clever ploy to merge nationalism with Hinduism. People did note it, but there was no adverse reaction among the Hindus. Why was this worldly notion of nationalism being foisted on a religious pilgrimage aimed to attain spiritual peace?

Appropriating national symbols and infusing in them a Hindu content has long been a strategy of the BJP and the RSS. For the past 10 years or so, these groups have been using the national flag of India as a symbol of their brand of Hindu nationalism. They organised tricolour marches, known as Tiranga yatras, several times. These gatherings give the impression of an army marching to capture an area for the nation. They also introduce an element of aggression in the nationalist discourse.

OPINION: A new India where fringe is the mainstream

The BJP has been harping on relentlessly about nationalism for quite some time. It has shifted from its platform of Hindu religion in peril to nation in peril. It has succeeded, with the help of Hindi-language media, to portray universities as places where leftists are creating and spreading anti-national ideas and conspiring to break India into pieces. At the moment, showing sympathy for the struggle of the Kashmiri people for autonomy is being dubbed an anti-national act. The presence of Kashmiri students on the Indian campuses is used to spread the notion that they are using Indian taxpayers money to act against the nation.

The BJP and the RSS are trying to hegemonise diverse, regional and cultural spaces and paint them with a broad Hindu brush. Slowly and gradually, they are trying to gain control over institutions  religious and cultural  by putting their people there.

They are trying to create a Hindu umbrella, which will shelter all these diverse traditions and give people a feeling of being part of a unified whole called Hinduism. They are also eyeing the tribal traditions. This entry into their holy and cultural spaces is now conspicuous.

A double seamlessness, between different cultural traditions and Hinduism and simultaneously between Hinduism and nationalism, has given birth to nationalist Hinduism or Hindu nationalism. That this is being done at the cost of Muslims and Christians seems, at least at this point of time, of little concern to the large Hindu population of India.

Apoorvanand teaches Hindi at the University of Delhi. Writes literary and cultural criticism.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Decapitation comes hours after troops kill three Abu Sayyaf fighters on the run on the resort island of Bohol.

A Filipino soldier kidnapped last week in the southern Philippines by Abu Sayyaf fighters was found beheaded hours after government troops killed three more members of the ISIL-linked group in a clash elsewhere.

The head of Sergeant Anni Siraji of the Armys 32nd Infantry Battalion was found 50 metres away from his body in Patikul town in Sulu, Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said.

Sobejana said Siraji was probably abducted and executed because of his involvement in peace initiatives in Sulu.





He is involved in peace efforts. He is not actually a combatant. We are using him to engage stakeholders because he is a Tausug [like most Abu Sayyaf], he said.

Earlier on Sunday, the military said troops had killed three more Abu Sayyaf fighters on the resort island of Bohol where they were hiding after a failed attempt to kidnap tourists.

The military was pursuing two or three more insurgents still at large in Bohol, a long way to the north of their strongholds in the far south of the predominately Christian country.

We have reports indicating that they were also wounded and running out of supplies, said Colonel Edgard Arevalo, chief of the militarys public affairs office.

Inside Abu Sayyaf: Blood, drugs and conspiracies

A group of about 10 fighters infiltrated Bohol this month. Western countries have issued travel warnings about visiting the island.

Six were killed in a clash on April 11 and one last week.

Among those killed was their leader, who had been involved in the kidnap and execution of Canadian and German nationals in recent months, the Philippine military has said.

The military has been struggling to wipe out Abu Sayyaf, which originally had Muslim separatist aims but now engages mostly in banditry and piracy.

The group has been holding more than two dozen captives, most of them Vietnamese sailors, who are easy prey for the fighters equipped with small, fast boats.
Deaths of fighters reported as government positions in Golan Heights are targeted for second time in recent days.

Israeli forces have attacked pro-Syrian government groups in the countryside of Quneitra, two days after carrying out similar strikes in the same region.

An Al Jazeera correspondent said Sundays attacks targeted fighters loyal to the Syrian government in the Naba al-Fawwar area of Quneitra province, which is located in the 30 percent of the Golan Heights that is not under Israeli occupation.

Three fighters from the pro-government National Defence Forces (NDF) were killed and at least two more were wounded in the attack, an NDF official told AFP news agency.





The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the attack but did not have additional details.

Rebel forces and other armed groups battling Syrias Bashar al-Assad government and its allies control much of the Quneitra area.

The Israeli army said on Friday that it had targeted positions inside Syria in retaliation for mortar fire that hit the northern part of the occupied Golan Heights.

The Israeli army targeted the source of the fire, an army statement said without giving further details.

An army spokeswoman told AFP that she was unable to elaborate on how Israel retaliated or to identify any targets that were hit.

Syrias official news agency SANA said Israel struck a Syrian army position in Quneitra province on the Golan plateau on Sunday, causing damage.

SANA said the Israeli fire came after a bid by terrorist groups to infiltrate Syrian military positions was foiled.

Technically at war

The Syrian government labels rebels and other armed groups terrorists and accuses Israel of backing them.

Israel occupied 1,200sq km of the Golan from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.

About 510sq km of the Golan are under Syrian control.

The two countries are still technically at war, although the border remained largely quiet for decades until 2011, when the Syrian conflict broke out.

The Israeli side is hit sporadically by what are usually deemed to be stray rounds, and Israel has recently taken to opening fire in retaliation.
Egyptian president heads to Riyadh for meeting aimed at bolstering strategic relations between the two powers.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi received a royal welcome from King Salman as he landed on Sunday in Saudi Arabia for a visit to boost ties after months of tension.

Salman, surrounded by key Saudi officials, greeted Sisi as he stepped off the plane in the capital Riyadh and hosted him for lunch, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

The Egyptian presidency announced the visit in a statement on Friday, saying Sisis trip was in response to an invitation by Salman and aimed at bolstering strategic relations between the two countries.





It said Salman and Sisi would discuss regional and international issues of common interest.

The struggle against terrorism which threatens security and stability in the region and beyond would top their agenda, it said.

Sisi met Salman on the sidelines of an Arab League summit in Jordan last month to break the ice after months of apparent tensions between the two Middle Eastern allies.

That encounter on March 29 came days after Egypt announced that Saudi energy giant Aramco had resumed delivering shipments of petroleum products after abruptly suspending them in October.

Aramco halted agreed monthly deliveries of 700,000 tonnes of petroleum products without explanation.

But the move came after Egypt voted in favour of a Russian-drafted UN Security Council resolution on Syria that Saudi Arabia strongly opposed.

These are two former giants in the region who are trying to regain their roles, and they understand that by working together they can help each other, Rami Khouri, a senior public policy fellow with the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, told Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: Egypt court voids block on islands transfer to Saudis

Moscow is a staunch supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Riyadh is a key backer of the rebels who are fighting his government.

Ties between Cairo and Riyadh also suffered after an agreement to hand over to Saudi Arabia two Red Sea islands  signed during a visit by Salman to Cairo last year  was blocked by a court ruling.

Earlier this month, an Egyptian court ruled the decision to block the transfer of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia was invalid.

Cairo has said the islands were Saudi territory that had been leased to Egypt in the 1950s.

Saudi Arabia supported Egypt with billions of dollars in aid after Sisi toppled President Mohamed Morsi in 2013 when he was head of the Egyptian army.

Saudi Arabia is opposed to the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, to which Morsi belongs.
Government forces retake the town of Halfaya near Hama city and push deeper into rebel-held areas of Damascus.

The Syrian army and allied forces have advanced against rebels in western Syria near Hama city, building on recent strategic gains in the area, a military source and a monitoring group said.

Government forces on Sunday captured the town of Halfaya and nearby villages, taking back territory that rebels seized last year from forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

We gained control of Halfaya and several hills in the area, a Syrian military source told Reuters news agency.





Boosted by Russian air strikes and Iranian-backed militias, the Syrian army has pushed into rebel areas north of Hama, expanding its control this week along the western highway that links Damascus and Aleppo.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitoring group, said the army began advancing into areas near Halfaya when rebels withdrew on Sunday, following intense battles and air strikes.

Sources on the rebel side could not immediately be reached for comment.

Warplanes have pounded Halfaya and swaths of territory near the highway in a region vitally important to Assads government, which has shored up its rule in the populated west of the country.

Rebel factions, spearheaded by hardline fighters from the former al-Qaeda affiliate and including Free Syrian Army groups, have been fighting fiercely to defend the towns in recent days.

The armys earlier capture of Soran, its northern gateway to Hama city, meant it had reversed most of the territorial gains rebels made in their major offensive last month.

READ MORE: Deadly Israeli strikes target Syrias Quneitra province

With the help of its allies, the government has gained the upper hand in the six-year war against the wide array of rebels, including some groups supported by Turkey, the United States and Gulf monarchies.

The Syrian Central Military Media said government forces pushed deeper into the rebel-held neighbourhood of Qaboun in the capital, capturing a mosque on a main road. The Syrian Observatory reported intense clashes in the area.

The latest advances came as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a cable to the Syrian leader on the occasion of Syrias April 17 Independence Day.





We count on your countrys involvement and effective contribution to help build a stronger United Nations organisation and move our efforts forward to ensure peace, development, and human rights for all people, the letter said, according to a copy released by Assads office.

Assads government still holds the countrys seat at the UN, unlike the 22-member Arab League, which suspended Syrias membership in 2012.

Elsewhere in Syria over the weekend, a fighter jet attacked a makeshift hospital set up in a cave in the northern province of Idlib.

The Syrian Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said it was not immediately clear whether the strike was carried out by a Russian or Syrian jet.

Five staff members were wounded and were pulled from the rubble, but four more are still trapped beneath it, Abdel Rahman said.

Idlib province is controlled by an alliance of rebel fighters that includes a former affiliate of al-Qaeda, and is regularly targeted by both the Syrian government and its Russian allies.
The 73-year-old conservation park owner was ambushed as armed cattle-herders search for scarce grazing land.

Gunmen have seriously wounded 73-year-old conservationist Kuki Gallmann at her conservation park in the latest of a string of attacks during land invasions in drought-stricken northern Kenya.

The Italian-born author of the memoir I Dreamed of Africa was shot in the stomach on Sunday after the vehicle she was driving in was ambushed, a family friend said.

Gallmann was going to inspect damage to her property after invaders burned down a retreat there on Saturday. A luxury hotel had already been torched last month.





She was ambushed when she was forced to stop by a tree laid across the road, the friend said.

The gunmen shot her, but Gallmann was saved when rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Service intervened and fought off the attackers.

Gallmann was flown by helicopter to receive surgery at a hospital in Kenyas capital, Nairobi.

Her daughter  who herself was shot at in an incident in March  said her mother was able to speak, the friend said.

The Gallmann family own the 400 square km Laikipia Nature Conservancy and employ 250 Kenyans on the luxury lodges, ranch, and other businesses on the land.

They also run the Gallmann Africa Conservancy and Gallmann Memorial Foundation, conservation groups focusing on bringing people and wildlife together sustainably.

Unable or unwilling to stop

A wave of violence has hit Kenyas drought-stricken Laikipia region in recent months as armed cattle-herders searching for scarce grazing land have driven tens of thousands of cattle on to private farms and ranches from poor quality communal land.

Many residents of the area accuse local politicians of inciting the violence before the August elections.

They say that the politicians are trying to drive out voters who might oppose them and win votes by promising supporters access to private land.

Martin Evans, head of the Laikipia Farmers Association, condemned the attack on Gallmann and said dozens of people have been killed or wounded and subjected to robbery and vandalism of their property. Kuki is a world-famous author and conservationist  but the LFA urges sympathy for all.

Raila Odinga, the countrys veteran opposition leader, condemned the attack and said we have watched in bewilderment as hooligans take advantage of the drought to subject these ranchers to unwarranted attacks The government is clearly unable or unwilling to bring these attacks to a stop.

National police spokesman George Kinoti said a local politician was already facing charges for inciting violence and arson attacks in the area.

We also wish to caution certain politicians to refrain from making statements that amount to encouraging ranch invasion, he said in a statement.

READ MORE: Number of Kenyans going hungry doubles to three million

At least 14 civilians have been killed, including local resident Duncan Murimi who was shot in the stomach and who died three days ago on a neighbouring property. Another Kenyan man was killed a few days before him in the same area.

Four police have been killed in the last six weeks, Kenyan media reported. Police spokesmen did not return calls seeking comment.

Last month, Tristan Voorspuy, a British military veteran who ran a safari company in Kenya, was shot dead at a private ranch in Laikipia.

He had gone to the ranch to inspect the remains of a friends home that had been burned down.
Fighters target police base in Hamam al-Alil, south of Mosul, killing at least one police officer, Iraqi officials say,

ISIL fighters have attacked a police base in a town that is being used as a staging ground for the Mosul offensive, killing at least three policemen, Iraqi officials say.

Mahmoud Attia, a police spokesman, told AP news agency that a sleeper cell of three ISIL fighters attacked the base on Sunday in Hamam al-Alil, about 30km south of Mosul.

Rudaw, a local television channel whose reporters were inside the base, said at least two suicide attackers entered the facility before detonating their payloads.

A group of about 10 assailants, including four suicide bombers, had tried to infiltrate a Federal Police helicopter base in Al-Areej, a police captain told Reuters.

The largest city in northern Iraq, Mosul was captured by ISIL, or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group, in mid-2014.

Backed by the US-led coalition, Iraqi forces launched an operation, their largest in years, in mid-October last year to retake the city.

They retook the side of the city that lies east of the River Tigris in January and launched a push on remaining ISIL fighters in western Mosul, which is more densely populated and has seen fierce fighting.

On the west bank, Iraqi forces control southern neighbourhoods and are slowly surrounding the Old City, whose narrow streets are expected to make federal operations very difficult.

Residents who managed to escape from the Old City say that there is almost nothing to eat but flour mixed with water and boiled wheat grain.

The loss of Mosul would be a huge blow to ISIL, also known as ISIS, in Iraq.

IN PHOTOS: Born after ISIL  Life starts anew at Qayyarah hospital

According to an Iraqi military spokesman, ISIL only controls seven percent of Iraq, down from the 40 percent of the national territory over which it ruled three years ago.

The only two other significant towns ISIL still holds are Hawija and Tal Afar. The group also controls territory in remote areas of western Iraq, near the Syrian border.

Iraqi forces on Thursday launched a fresh push against ISIL-held villages there, as part of a months-old operation to retake areas along the Euphrates in western Anbar province.

Fighting has killed several thousand civilians and fighters on both sides, according to aid organisations.
One international observer with the European security watchdog OSCE has been killed and two other monitors wounded after their vehicle struck a landmine while on patrol in eastern Ukraine.

The six-member patrol consisting of two armoured vehicles from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe was travelling on Sunday in an area of the Luhansk region, which is not under control of Ukrainian authorities.

The nationalities of the victims were not immediately released.

The Ukrainian military said the incident took place at 10:17am local time (07:17 GMT) near the small village of Pryshyb, which is controlled by Russia-backed separatists.

Sebastian Kurz, the Austrian foreign minister, who also serves as the OSCEs chairman, wrote on Twitter: Death of colleague is a shock to whole OSCE.

He also called for a thorough investigation into who was responsible for the blast.

Heartfelt condolences to family of victim+SMM team. Death of colleague is a shock to whole #OSCE. Hope injured monitor will recover soon.2/3  Sebastian Kurz (@sebastiankurz) April 23, 2017

Sigmar Gabrial, German foreign minister, expressed concern about the killing.

Someone who just wanted to help create peace and put an end to the fighting has lost his life today, Gabrial said.

Rebels comment

The de facto authorities in Luhansk told a local news agency, Luhanskinformcentre, the incident happened because the OSCE convoy made a diversion from its route, Russias TASS news agency reported.

It is known that the aforementioned crew deviated from the main route and was moving along secondary roads, which is prohibited by the mandate of the OSCE SMM. We repeatedly drew the attention of the OSCE SMM on the observance of the necessary security measures during monitoring travel routes, said the unidentified rebel representative.

INTERACTIVE: Ukraine divided  stories from warring sides

OSCE deployed a special monitoring mission to Ukraine in 2014, after conflict erupted between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed rebels.

The 57-member states of the organisation  which include Ukraine, Russia, and the United States  extended the monitoring mission in Ukraine by a year in March.

The OSCE has 600 employees in the country.

Three years after Moscow annexed the Crimean region, tensions between Ukraine and separatists in the Russian-held eastern part of the country remain high and a 2015 ceasefire agreement is violated regularly.
Global event aimed to promote an understanding of science and defend it from proposed government budget cuts.

Thousands of scientists worldwide left their labs to take to the streets on Saturday along with students and research advocates in a push back against what they say are mounting attacks on science.

The March for Science, coinciding with Earth Day, took place in about 600 cities.

It was an event intended to promote the understanding of science and defend the discipline from proposed government budget cuts and threats to global agreements such as the Paris Agreement on climate change.

In London, physicists, astronomers, biologists and celebrities gathered for a march past the citys most celebrated research institutions.

Supporters carried signs showing images of a double helix and chemical symbols.

OPINION: Canada was first to try to muzzle scientists and fail

Marchers in Geneva carried signs that said, Science  A Candle in the Dark and Science is the Answer.

In Berlin, several thousand people participated in a march from the one of the citys universities to the Brandenburg Gate. We need to make more of our decision based on facts again and less on emotions, said Meike Weltin, a doctorate student at an environmental institute near the capital.





The protest put scientists, who generally shy away from advocacy and whose work depends on objective experimentation, into a more public position.

Signs and banners at the Washington, DC, rally reflected anger, humour and obscure scientific references, such as a seven-year-olds No Taxation Without Taxonomy. Taxonomy is the science of classifying animals, plants and other organisms.

On a more serious side, Pam Haddad, a social worker from Pennsylvania, said science saved her life.

I think its been made clear by the government that they want to make a lot of cutting of science funding. Cancer research saved my life five years ago, Haddad told Al Jazeera.

Its important to show solidarity. If one person shows up, no one pays attention. But if we all come, they cant ignore us.

Scientists involved in the march said they were anxious about political and public rejection of established science such as climate change and the safety of vaccine immunisations.

Speakers in Washington included Bill Nye, a TV personality known as the Science Guy, and Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician and public health campaigner who first called attention to the high levels of lead in the drinking water of Flint, Michigan.

Flint is what happens when we dismiss science, she said, referring to the 2014 crisis.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to slash budgets for research at top US agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Trumps head of the EPA, Scott Pruitt, claimed last month that carbon dioxide is not the main driver of global warming, a position starkly at odds with the international scientific consensus on the matter.

Nipa Shah, a physician, told Al Jazeera that budget cuts to science agencies were troubling.

I think its very important to stand up for science and that the current political climate is worrisome with cuts to NIH, cuts to EPA, things that I think are really important. Im a physician and I think vaccines are important, I think research is important, and I just want to make a stand. I think every little bit counts, said Shah.

Trump said in an Earth Day statement his administration is committed to keeping our air and water clean, to preserving our forests, lakes and open spaces and to protecting endangered species.

But that wont be done in a way that harms working families, he said.

OPINION: Science doesnt care if you believe in it or not

The US government is reducing unnecessary burdens on American workers and American companies, while being mindful that our actions must also protect the environment, Trump added.

Library curator Micah Messenheimer said it was scary what the politicians are up to. I believe in facts and I think were in a country and a situation where thats not a given any more, he told Al Jazeera.

We have a president and Congress who dismiss scientific facts and things like climate change. Theyre not passing legislation to improve the environment, theyre making things worse. By disbelieving in facts we create a situation where its hard to have anything thats real. Were in a political situation where lying has become the prevalent mode of acting.

Stephanie Groleau is marine safety engineer for the US Coast Guard. She said its not only the politicians but the media that is to blame for the lack of respect for scientific reason.

One of the things that bothers me right now is that most Americans dont really understand what a scientific consensus is and the media is not helping. For example with climate change, theres a scientific consensus  99 percent of scientists agree that climate change is real, 1 percent doesnt.

But the media, in order to try and appear neutral, will have one person represent climate change is real and one person represent climate change is not real, Groleau told Al Jazeera.

So when regular Americans are watching that on TV, they think its a 50-50. When facts are being discussed, not opinions, its not 50-50.
The far-right female National Front leader will go head-to-head with the 39-year-old favourite to win the presidency.

Who is Emmanuel Macron?

Few could have asked for a better start to a political career than the French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron.

The current frontrunner is a graduate of elite National School of Administration, which produces the countrys top civil servants and counts three French presidents among its alumni.

Macron will be hoping to make it number four in May. As things stand, he looks best positioned to fend off the far-right candidacy of Marine Le Pen, who he is predicted to easily beat in a second round runoff  if the polls are correct.





After graduating, Macron worked as a financial inspector at the Ministry of Economy before joining Rothschild & Cie bank as an investment banker.

Politically, he was a member of the Socialist Party for three years, before becoming an independent politician in 2009.

The 39-year-olds first roles came under Francois Hollande as a member of his personal staff and later as a minister of economy, industry, and digital affairs under the government of Manuel Valls.

As the western world turns increasingly to the far right, Macron is unabashedly centrist in his outlook, appealing to French citizens who are familiar with the chaotic aftermath the election of Trump in the United States and Brexit in the UK caused.

His policies are the status quo, with a nod to the progressive currents emerging in the US and Britain.

Unlike several of his opponents on the left and right, Macron has avoided making pronouncements against Muslim dress codes and is a fierce defender of an open immigration system.

In February, he condemned Frances colonial legacy in Algeria as a crime against humanity, earning rebukes from many on the right.

Nevertheless, Macron stood firm, apologising only for the offence caused and not for the actual comment itself.

His sober brand of politics, youthful looks, and the implosion of competitor Francois Fillons campaign have seen him rise to about 27 percent in the polls  enough to secure him a place in the second round.

OPINION: Can the Muslim vote sway the French elections?

However, his challenge remains in energising an increasingly apathetic electorate, for whom his centrist platform offers little else except an alternative to Le Pen.

As an economic liberal, he has fiscal policies that differ little from the economic consensus built in the decade since the global crash that started in 2007.

On the European Union, Macron is also an unashamed supporter, a standpoint likely to cost him votes on both the eurosceptic left and right.

If Macron can convince the large apathetic segment of the population that he offers more than just not being Le Pen, there would be little standing in his way to taking up residence in the Elysee Palace.

Who is Marine Le Pen?

In March, Marine Le Pen emerged from a meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to deliver a proclamation to the reporters gathered: A new world has emerged.

The leader of Frances far-right National Front (FN) party hopes that she will be a leading figure in this radical reordering of the global elite, which already counts the election of US President Donald Trump and the British vote to leave the EU among its successes.

Once considered an unrealistic prospect, Le Pen would cause shockwaves just as large as Brexit or the Trump victory if she were successful in the upcoming presidential vote.

She currently sits on about a quarter of the first-round vote, a position which, unlike her rival candidates, has barely shifted over the past few months.





Second-round voting against her likely rival Emmanuel Macron puts Le Pen considerably behind on 40 points to Macrons 60, but those who followed Trumps election know better than to write her off on the basis of polls.

The youngest daughter of far-right stalwart Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marine was born in 1968 and followed in her fathers ideological footsteps by joining FN at 18.

In the following decades, she practised law while increasing her standing in FN, contesting several regional elections along the way.

She picked up several minor political roles in regional and municipal councils in her early 30s, and her most significant as a member of the European Parliament in 2009.

Her biggest break came after her father stepped down as FN leader in 2010, after which she took over the reins of the party.

In the followings years, Le Pen sought to shed the partys far-right image, distancing herself and the party from her fathers Holocaust denial and racist outbursts, eventually expelling him from the party in 2015, making the FN more palatable to French conservatives and a coming generation that had little recollection of far-right rule under the Nazis.

However, while the language has changed, the issues remain largely intact, with Islam, the EU and immigration dominating her platform.

On Frances large Muslim minority, Le Pen has been unequivocal.

READ MORE  French Election 2017: Who Ill vote for

We do not want to live under the rule or threat of Islamic fundamentalism, she told supporters, further condemning the hijab, prayer rooms in workplaces, the construction of mosques and pork-free options in school lunches.

On the EU, Le Pen has threatened to withdraw France from the eurozone and hold a referendum on the countrys continued membership of the bloc.

A Le Pen in the Elysee Palace would cut immigration, ban birthright citizenship, and the automatic right to nationality for the spouses of French citizens.

Unlike her competitors, Le Pen seems unperturbed by a corruption scandal or questions over her ties to Putins Russia.

A dogged indifference to scandal made little difference to Trumps popularity, and that seems to be a lesson Le Pen has learned.
Amid regional tensions, Korean-American aid worker reportedly arrested on Friday while trying to leave North Korea.

North Korea has arrested a US citizen, officials say, in the latest case of an American being held in the country.

The Swedish embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of a Korean-American citizen being detained on Friday, but could not comment further.

The embassy looks after consular affairs for the US in North Korea because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

READ MORE: North Korea warns of full-out war with nuclear weapons

South Koreas Yonhap News Agency, citing unnamed sources, reported that a Korean-American man was arrested on Friday at Pyongyangs international airport while trying to leave North Korea.

It said the man, in his late 50s and identified by his surname, Kim, has been involved in aid and relief programmes to North Korea and was a former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China.

The reported arrest comes as tensions rise between North Korea and the US over North Koreas nuclear and missile programmes.

Negotiation leverage

South Koreas unification ministry and its intelligence agency both said they were unable to confirm the report.

BJ Kim, professor of international studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, told Al Jazeera that North Korea will most probably use the arrest of the American to its advantage.

The North Korean government regards the people who are trying to help North Koreans from the inside as a threat. This arrest could be an effort to increase their leverage in possible future negotiations, he said.

At least two other Americans are currently detained in North Korea.





Last year, Otto Warmbier, then a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.

Kim Dong-chul, who was born in South Korea but is also believed to have US citizenship, is serving a sentence of 10 years for espionage.

At least one other foreigner, a Canadian pastor, is also being detained in North Korea.

INFOGRAPHIC: What is the reach of North Koreas missiles?

Hyeon Soo-lim, a South Korean-born Canadian citizen in his 60s, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2015 on charges of trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system and helping US and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens.

Under leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea has stepped up its programmes, carrying out two nuclear tests and launching some 20 ballistic missiles last year alone.

On Saturday, North Korea once again threatened to launch full-out war with nuclear weapons, amid reports of the imminent arrival of an American naval strike group off the Korean Peninsula.

The USS Carl Vinson will arrive in the Sea of Japan within days, US Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday, after mixed messages from the US over the warships whereabouts.
Rhetoric rises as Pyongyang also warns Australia of a nuclear attack if it joins any US strike on the communist nation.

North Korea threatened on Sunday to sink a US aircraft carrier cruising towards the tense Korean peninsula, and said it would strike Australia with nuclear weapons if it blindly followed its American ally.

The latest warnings from Pyongyang came as two Japanese navy ships joined the American carrier strike group for exercises in the western Pacific.

US President Donald Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over the Norths nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its regional allies.

US Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday that it would arrive within days but gave no other details.

READ MORE: North Korea  US has now gone seriously mad

North Koreas growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump. He has vowed to prevent the North from being able to hit the US with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table  including a military strike.

North Korea, meanwhile, remained defiant.





Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike, Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the Norths ruling Workers Party, said in a commentary on Sunday.

The paper likened the aircraft carrier to a gross animal and said a strike on it would be an actual example to show our militarys force.

The commentary was carried on page three of the newspaper, after a two-page feature about leader Kim Jong-un inspecting a pig farm.

Speaking during a visit to Greece, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there were already enough shows of force and confrontation at present and appealed for calm.

We need to issue peaceful and rational sounds, Wang said, according to a statement issued by Chinas foreign ministry.

China is firmly supporting the denuclearisation of the area in the name of stability and peace, he told reporters in Athens.

Adding to the tension, North Korea detained a Korean American man in his 50s on Saturday, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reported, bringing the total number of US citizens held by Pyongyang to three.

The man, identified only by his surname Kim, had been in North Korea for a month to discuss relief activities, Yonhap said. He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean Peoples Army on Tuesday. It has in the past marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.

Pyongyang has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the US. It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

READ MORE: North Korea: Whatever comes, we will handle it

North Korea says its nuclear programme is for self-defence and has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression. It has also threatened to lay waste to South Korea and Japan.

On Sunday, it also added Australia to its list of potential targets.





A North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson accused Australia of following the US moves blindly, according the Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

If Australia persists in following the US moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] and remains a shock brigade of the US master, this will be a suicidal act of coming within the range of the nuclear strike of the strategic force of the DPRK, the KCNA report said.

The threat came after remarks by Julie Bishop, Australian foreign minister, who said Australia sees Pyongyangs weapons programme as a threat.

Jim Mattis, US defence chief, said on Friday that North Koreas recent statements were provocative but had proved to be hollow in the past and should not be trusted. Weve all come to hear their words repeatedly. Their word has not proven honest, he said.

READ MORE: Mike Pence warns North Korea all options on the table

Japans show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads.

Some Japanese ruling party politicians are urging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to acquire strike weapons that could hit North Korean missile forces before any imminent attack.

Japans navy, which is mostly a destroyer fleet, is the second largest in Asia after Chinas.

The two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson and will practise a variety of tactics with the US strike group, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force said in a statement.

The Japanese force did not specify where the exercises were taking place, but by Sunday the destroyers could have reached an area 2,500km south of Japan, which would be east of the Philippines.

OPINION: Will there be a Korean war under Trumps presidency?

From there, it could take three days to reach waters off the Korean peninsula. Japans ships would accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan told Reuters news agency.

US and South Korean officials have been saying for weeks the North could soon stage another nuclear test, something the US, China and others have warned against.

South Korea has put its forces on heightened alert.

Last Thursday, Trump praised Chinese efforts to rein in the menace of North Korea, after North Korean state media warned the US of a super-mighty pre-emptive strike.
Nail-biting first stage of French presidential vote as Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen advance to second round.

Polls have closed in the first round of the presidential vote, and for the first time in modern French history, no major-party candidate will advance to the runoff.

First projections based on partial results showed Emmanuel Macron , a former minister and leader of the centrist En Marche! party and Marine Le Pen , president of the far-right National Front through to the second and final round, which will be held on May 7.

Voter turnout was higher than expected in the closely watched race that could ultimately change the future of Europe.

In a contest that was too close to call up to the last minute, Macron  hailed for months as the favourite to become Frances next president  was projected to get 24 percent by the pollster Harris and 23.7 percent by Elabe.

Le Pen, leader of the anti-immigration and anti-EU National Front, was given 22 percent by both institutes. Three further pollsters all projected broadly similar results.

There was a total of 11 candidates vying for Frances top job, four of whom stood a real chance at making it through to the final round.

Francois Fillon , a former minister and leader of the conservative Republican party and Jean-Luc Melenchon , leader of the far-left La France Insoumise party received around 20 percent each, according to Harris, which means their elimination from the race.

EU relations in focus

Le Pen has promised to review the countrys ties with the European Union and raised the prospect of leaving the bloc.

As soon as voting ended, Le Pens niece Marion Marechal-Le Pen, called the election a historical victory for patriots.

Le Pen later emerged to address her supporters, saying she was the candidate of the people and offered the great alternative in the presidential race.

The major issue of this election is runaway globalisation, which is putting our civilisation in danger, she said.





The French have a very simple choice. Either we continue on the path of  offshoring jobs, unfair foreign competition, mass immigration and free movement of terrorists  or you chose France and borders that protect, she added, in an apparent dig at the EU.

Macron, on the other hand, is an unashamed supporter of the EU, a standpoint likely to cost him votes on both the Eurosceptic left and right.

After voting closed, Macron told the AFP news agency: The French have expressed their desire for change  Were clearly turning a page in French political history.

Later, addressing supporters, he said: I recognise the enormous responsibility that falls on my shoulders  from now on, it is down to me to reconcile our France so that we can win in two weeks time.

I wish to be a president to all the people of France, of patriots faced with the threat of the nationalists, a president who protects, who transforms and who builds, he said.

Jean-Marc Ayrault, Frances foreign minister, was among those who called on French citizens to throw their support behind Macron in the final round.

He tweeted there was a clear choice ahead, and people should mobilise behind Macron for France, for the Republic, for Europe.

Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, meanwhile, said: I solemnly call for a vote for Emmanuel Macron in the second round  to beat the National Front and block its baneful plan to bring France backwards and divide the French.

Losing candidate Fillon also urged citizens to vote for Macron, saying as he conceded defeat there was no other option but to vote against the far right.

High turnout

Some 47 million people are eligible to vote in France.

By late afternoon, turnout was above 69 percent  almost as high as the 2012 presidential vote. Many had expected a lower turnout this year.

The final abstention rate was also similar to levels seen in the previous presidential election at around 20 percent, according to surveys by Harris Interactive and CNews.

Al Jazeeras Shafik Mandhai, reporting from the official Macron celebration at the Paris Exhibition Centre, said: Among the crowds here, there was a sense of optimism but also slight nervousness that Fillon could pull off a surge at Macrons expense.

A few minutes before the official projections were announced, there were loud cheers as news filtered out about the impending result.

Elmire, a 20-year-old student, told Al Jazeera: Im happy that Macron won and that hes going to refresh the French political system.

Supporters of Le Pen, meanwhile, chanted We will win! at her headquarters in Henin-Beaumont.

They burst into a rendition of the French national anthem, and waved French flags and blue flags with Marine President inscribed on them.

Thomas Brisson, a Paris-based political analyst, told Al Jazeera: Le Pen has gained new voters in socio-political terms, including xenophobes and victims of globalisation.

But results night was not as good as Le Pen expected. A few weeks ago, she expected to get something like 26 percent.
Prominent blogger and internet activist Yameen Rasheed was found with multiple stab wounds in stairway of his building.

A liberal blogger was stabbed to death in the Maldives capital on Sunday, his family and colleagues said, the latest media personality to be targeted in the troubled tropical nation.

Yameen Rasheed, 29, was found in the stairwell of his apartment in Male with multiple stab wounds to his neck and chest. He died after being taken to a hospital.

His blog, The Daily Panic, was known for poking fun at the nations politicians.

With The Daily Panic, I hope to cover and comment upon the news, satirise the frequently unsatirisable politics of Maldives, he wrote on his blog.

Colleagues said Rasheed had recently complained to police about death threats received through his social media accounts.

Exclusive: Maldives presidents corruption revealed

He is the third media figure to be targeted in the Maldives in the past five years. Blogger Ismail Rasheed narrowly escaped death when he was stabbed by an unidentified attacker in 2012.

A journalist with the independent Minivan News, Ahmed Rilwan, was probably abducted in August 2014 and has been missing ever since.

Colleagues said Yameen Rasheed was Rilwans friend and had been publicly campaigning for an investigation into the disappearance.





Past and current presidents condemned the killing.

We will not stand idly by while such acts of hatred are forced upon our citizens, President Abdulla Yameen said, appealing for people to come forward with information.

The 29-year-old had reported receiving multiple death threats to the police, according to local press. He posted screen shots of the threats he received via text messages and on the internet on Twitter and Facebook.

The government condemned the brutal and inhumanely attack on a youth.

Actions of the government to avoid opportunity for unrest in the nation by keeping the youth from criminal acts and to build a peaceful society will continue, said Ibrahim Muaz Ali, spokesman for President Abdulla Yameen.

"The Government strongly condemns the brutal inhumanely attack on a youth. Actions of the Government to avoid..

1/2     (@SpokespersonMV) April 23, 2017

.. opportunity for unrest in the nation by keeping the youth from criminal acts and to build a peaceful society will continue." -im

2/2     (@SpokespersonMV) April 23, 2017

Exiled opposition leader and ex-president Mohamed Nasheed demanded an international investigation.

Nasheed, who lives in London, said on Twitter a treasured soul has been stolen from us.

US Ambassador Atul Keshap said Yameen was a fervent believer in free speech and human rights.

The killing comes as political tension mounts in the Maldives after last months failed opposition bid to impeach the parliamentary speaker.

A coalition of opposition parties, led by Nasheed, is trying to undermine Yameen before elections next year.

It faces an uphill struggle, with all opposition leaders now in exile or in jail after a years-long crackdown on dissent under Yameens leadership.

The clampdown has raised fears over the countrys stability and dented its image as a tourist paradise.
Two men abducted while hunting in southern Iraq relish their newfound freedom as they return home.

Two Qatari hunters who endured a 16-month hostage ordeal in Iraq spoke on Sunday of their joy at being released, the first public comments since the group was freed.

Mohammed Marzouki was among 24 Qataris and two Saudis who were on a hunting trip in the Muthanna area of southern Iraq when they were kidnapped in late 2015.

They flew back to Doha on Friday following their release under a complex regional deal linked to the Syrian civil war.

When I saw the lights of Doha, I felt like life was beginning again  my happiness is indescribable, Marzouki told the local Arabic daily newspaper, Al-Sharq.

My joy at returning to the homeland is a feeling that cannot be described in words.

Qatari hunters kidnapped in Iraq freed after 16 months

A fellow hostage, Khalid bin Dhafer Al Dosari, told the same newspaper all our aches and pains disappeared once we reached our homeland.

The hunting party, believed to include prominent members of the Qatari royal family, were captured in mid-December 2015 and held captive until they were freed on Friday.

There was never any claim of responsibility for the kidnapping of the hunters, who were widely believed to have been taken by militias with close ties to Iran.

While the terms of the groups release have not been made public, it has been reported that Qatar paid millions in ransom to secure their freedom.

Qatar seeks release of citizens abducted in Iraq

After flying home on Friday, the hunters were met at Dohas Hamad International Airport by the countrys Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The release deal was linked to the evacuation of thousands of people from the Syrian government-held towns of Foua and Kefraya, long besieged by rebels.

The evacuations marked the end of the first stage of a deal brokered by rebel-backer Qatar and Syrias ally Iran.

Citizens of Arab Gulf states often venture to countries  including Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq  to hunt with falcons.
Ministers, army chiefs must resign for failing to provide security, Afghan public says following deadly base assault.

Afghan families have buried their dead and the country has observed a national day of mourning following the deadliest-ever Taliban attack on a military base that prompted angry calls for ministers and army chiefs to resign.

Flags flew at half-mast throughout the country on Sunday and special prayers were said for the dead.

The exact toll from Fridays assault in the northern province of Balkh remained unclear, with some local officials putting the number of dead as high as 140.

The defence ministry gave a figure of at least 100 soldiers killed or wounded. Kabul has so far ignored media calls for a complete breakdown of casualties from the five-hour attack near the provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif.

READ MORE  Afghanistan: A pawn in major power rivalry?

In the village of Omra Kot, in Balkh, the coffin of soldier Shir Mohammad, 25, was brought home to a house full of weeping relatives.

Qari Ahmadullah, Shirs brother who served as imam at the main northern military headquarters, said: My brother just got married four months ago and now he is dead. The Taliban are the enemy of Islam and Muslims. They are misusing the name of Islam to hide their atrocities.





After the body was buried at a nearby hill, local resident Faiz Mohammad spoke of peoples fears.

We always thought our house is safe because of the base, but now we are shocked. How could this have happened? I cant believe we lost all these young men.

There was also growing anger online, with many slamming the government for its inability to counter a series of brazen Taliban assaults, including one on the countrys largest military hospital in Kabul in March that left dozens dead.

Twelve army officers, including two generals, were sacked for negligence over that attack.

Mothers lost their sons, sisters lost their brothers and wives lost their husbands. What is the government doing to prevent such atrocities, only condemning? I am so tired, I cant do anything but to cry, a person called Zabiullah posted on Facebook about the latest tragedy.

The best way to honour them is to fire and punish those who failed to do their jobs and/or cooperated with the enemy. Some leaders must go! said another user on Twitter.

Probe ordered

President Ashraf Ghanis spokesman Shah Hussain Murtazawi said a thorough investigation had been ordered.

Investigations must be acceptable to the nation and the president, he said. At this moment, the people of Afghanistan need to unite like a strong fist.

Many internet commentators called for the resignation of Defence Minister Abdullah Habibi and the commander of the 209th Corps stationed at the base.

This was no act of desperation. The Taliban infiltrated an Afghan military base. Thats a major sign of strength, tweeted Washington-based analyst Michael Kugelman.

Afghan troops and police, beset by killings and desertions, have been struggling to beat back armed rebels since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

Afghan security force casualties soared by 35 percent in 2016, with 6,800 soldiers and police killed, according to US watchdog SIGAR.
Millions of people join scientists and activists calling on governments to respect and encourage science-based policies.

Scientists and climate activists say they are under attack.

Almost 200 countries had been persuaded of the need to fight global warming with the signing of the Paris Agreement.

Now US President Donald Trump is threatening to pull the United States out of the deal, saying he is not convinced the scientists have got it right.

Marches are being held around the world to rally around the scientists and their findings on climate change.

Millions of people are also taking part in activities to mark the 50th World Earth Day.

Can people power make any difference?

Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault

Guests:

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal  head of climate and energy at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Graciela Chichilnisky  a climate change economist

Dan Kanninen  former White House liaison at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Barack Obama administration
The case against Assange is as political as it is legal; where does it go from here? Plus, Kenyas election influencers.
As cars zipped along West University Avenue on Saturday, a crowd of about 500 UF faculty members, students and community members started their Earth Day off with a march.

They trekked two miles  from UFs Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to downtown Gainesville  in a show of support for science in the face of a president who some worry will endanger scientific progress.

Bruce Ferndahl, a Gainesville retiree, said he hopes President Donald Trump gets the message.

He doesnt really believe in the value of science, the 64-year-old said. Open your eyes and see whats really happening in the world, to our planet.

Echoed by more than 500 similar marches across the world, about 900 participants of the March for Science Gainesville convened on Bo Diddley Community Plaza, where faculty members and others took turns speaking into a microphone about the value of scientific discovery and the harm that could be done if that discovery were to stop.

Creative  and pointed  protest signs dotted the plaza, some borrowing Hillary Clintons Im with her campaign slogan, with an arrow pointed at Mother Earth. Others modified Trumps slogan, hoisting Make America Smart Again signs.

As Jane Lu and Sorin Pascu rested in the shade, overlooking Bo Diddley Plazas center, they kept their homemade signs raised upright.

Lus read, Stand Up For Science.

Pascus read, Global Warming Is Real.

The 39-year-old researcher at UFs Institute of Aging and the 59-year-old UF IT systems engineer, respectively, said they worry about their president and country.

I think we have to make (America) smart first before we can make it great, Pascu said.

Trump signed an executive order March 28 to roll back one of former President Barack Obamas signature climate policies, the Clean Power Plan, and has proposed plans to cut funding to the Environmental Protection Agency, according to The New York Times.

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Juan Zapata, the March for Science Gainesvilles lead organizer, said the goal of the West University Avenue march and Bo Diddley Plaza rally was to not only bridge the scientific community with the general public and young kids, but to keep policymakers accountable.

Their purpose is to represent us in office, the 20-year-old UF electrical engineering junior said. We need to actually start seeing our ideas represented as opposed to private agendas being pushed.

The Gainesville branch of the nationwide group March for Science began organizing the rally in late January in solidarity with the Washington D.C. rally, Zapata said. The events cost, including setup, organizing costs and acquiring permits, totalled about $2,500, he said.

For Chloe Winant, the science rally was all about the youth.

The 36-year-old sixth-grade earth science teacher at Howard W. Bishop Middle School paraded her white-and-green-striped cape and large sign that read, Some People Only Dream Of Meeting Their Fav Scientists  I Teach Mine! across the plaza.

Winant said the politics around science and STEM make her very concerned about cuts.

The fact that were cutting education, and were cutting science education, and were cutting science research, she said. Thats going to make our country suffer.

But Winant, a former UF oceanography researcher and teachers assistant, said she was encouraged by the sense of community at Saturdays rally.

Ive seen so many of my students (here), she said, as well as her fellow teachers and former research colleagues. Locally, thats where it matters.

The March for Science Gainesville hosted about 20 official tabling sites, Zapata said, where some organizations held political outreach. The League of Women Voters, partnered with the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections, offered voter registration services, he said, and the Citizens Climate Lobby offered written forms for demonstrators to submit their concerns to local officials.

Other organizations tabled to bring science to kids.

Hands on Gainesville, a youth and science oriented nonprofit, brought bike-powered light bulbs to their tent. When kids hopped on the stationary bike, which were electrically wired to three light bulbs, and pushed the pedals, light appeared before them.

The purpose of this is to get the kids into science, (to) show them what they can do, said Barbara Beck, a co-founder of Hands on Gainesville.

As Ferndahl, a UF alumnus who graduated from the School of Architecture in the early 70s, took a break from Saturdays heat under the shade and watched the demonstration, he said he wants everyone, especially young people, to reach out to local officials.

They need to hear from all of us, he said. Otherwise they do what they already want.

Contact David Hoffman at dhoffman@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter at @hoffdavid123










English News Bengaluru, India: Tamil politicians and media betraying suicide-prone TN Farmers at Jantar-Mantar

Alwihda Info | Par Hem Raj Jain - 23 Avril 2017







----Tamil Nadu farmers who are protesting for the last 40 days at Jantar-Mantar Delhi demanding that the Centre waive their agricultural loans and provide drought relief funds, on Saturday reportedly drank their own urine as part of their agitation and threatened to eat faeces on Sunday if their demands are not addressed. These farmers had come to the protest site with skulls, which they claimed were those of farmers who committed suicide. As part of their agitation, they have stripped, bitten into mice and snakes, conducted mock funerals and have even been flogged.



But Tamil Nadu especially its politicians and media are apathetic towards the suffering and miseries of TN farmers and have put the entire responsibility of solving this problem on insensitive Government of (GOI) though Tamil Nadu can easily constrain GOI to solve the problems of farmers from Tamil Nadu and other parts of the country. About three hundred thousand farmers in the last two decades have reportedly committed suicide in India due to economic hardship. Though other factors like cash crop, debt, flood, drought etc are considered to be some reasons for farmers suicide but main reason is small land holdings up-to meager 1.7 Hectare which renders small farmers vulnerable.



Though the demand of TN farmers that the Centre waive their agricultural loans and provide drought relief funds has gained legitimacy & punch after UP Government announced loan waivers of its farmers and in the present situation such relief for farmers of TN and of other States is reasonable but it will not permanently solve the problem which has assumed menacing proportion.



In order to solve this problem the small and economically nonviable land holdings will have to be purchased by GOI and the farmers, farm labors engaged in and dependent on these farms will have to be absorbed by GOI in these large scale profitable government farms and in other public programs. One such public program can be of constructing profitable residential and commercial building all over India by GOI which can be given on rent to be decided by Rent Commission. Because Indians engaged in and depended on uneconomical farming are almost half of Indias population it will require immense money to achieve this transformation of Indian economy.



Fortunately it is possible to recover Rs ~ 1,000 Lakh Crore State capital from income tax as mentioned at http://www.alwihdainfo.com/During-on-going-elections-also-If-opposition-does-not-highlight-Rs-1000-Tr-v-s-2-Tr-issue-India-has-no-future_a48651.html and part of this money can be utilized for solving the problems of suiciding farmers from TN and other States of India and also to remove poverty from India. But politicians and media of TN are not at all raising this issue.



If politicians and media of Tamil Nadu can highlight this issue [of Rs ~ 1,000 Lakh Crore (part of it) to be used for poor of India] by wide coverage in print and electronic media, public meetings at Jantar-Mantar, Ramlila Maidan both at Delhi and at all the Tehsil / Taluka, District and State headquarters in Tamil Nadu then GOI will be constrained to recover Rs ~ 1,000 Trillion from ~ 1 million tax evaders and this will not only solve the problem of the farmers of Tamil Nadu (and also of rest of India) very soon but will also solve other problems of India which emanate from lack of funds.



Let us hope that the politicians and media of Tamil Nadu, for change sake, will work in the interest of suffering farmers of TN.



Regards



Hem Raj Jain



(Author of Betrayal of Americanism)



Bengaluru, India





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Perhaps the most disagreeable trait in Machiavelli's controversial writings were his misogynistic comments on women. In The Prince , published in 1532 but written earlier, he wrote, "Fortune is a woman. And if you wish to keep her down, it is necessary to beat and ill-use her." What would he have made of British women who are not kept down, if sometimes ill used?

He would doubtless have admired the Machiavellian nature of the remarks of Queen Elizabeth I to the troops in Tilbury on August 9, 1588: "I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England, too."

It is less certain that two modern female prime ministers would have been similarly admired by Machiavelli. Margaret Thatcher, the Conservative prime minister who became the "Iron Lady," successfully campaigned to keep Britain in Europe at the 1975 referendum on the issue that was approved by 67% of the electorate. Importantly, she changed her mind and became a Euro-skeptic.

Now, another Conservative female prime minister, Theresa May, in relation to the same issue, the European Union, was not "kept down," but in April 2017, she changed her mind and decided to call a British general election to be held on June 8, 2017. Her decision was upheld by a House of Commons motion, 522 to 18, agreeing to the election date.

The British constitutional system has for more than a century provided for parliamentary five-year terms but traditionally allowed the existing prime minister to decide at will, on the basis of prerogative right, to dissolve Parliament and give notice of only six weeks, without requiring the assent of either House of Parliament.

Theresa May acted in accordance with this tradition.

However, she evaded the spirit of a new law, the Fixed Term Parliaments Act of 2011, which laid down not only that elections would be held every five years but there would be five-year fixed terms for governments unless a call for another election were triggered by two thirds of the M.P.s in the House of Commons.

A month earlier, in March 2017, Prime Minister May thought calling an election, not due technically until 2020, would be self-serving and would create uncertainty and instability. However, on April 18, 2017, after a walk with her husband in the mountains of North Wales, she concluded that a new election for the House of Commons was desirable for political reasons. It is Machiavellian political practice that prime ministers call elections when they believe they will win.

Presently, the Conservative government has an overall majority of 17. Like all prime ministers, Theresa May is politically opportunistic and believes she will easily win the election since public opinion polls show positive voting intentions: Conservatives are at 44%, the Labour party at 23%, the pro-E.U. Liberal Democrats at 12%, and UKIP at 10%. Labour is doing badly, with an unpopular leader. The Labour Party is ideologically badly divided and is fighting for its life as a serious party. Indeed, the election might lead to the emergence of a new center-left party, with moderate Labour plus Lib Dems. In this, it resembles a similar possibility in France if Emmanuel Macron becomes president.

May made the electoral decision in order to strengthen her hand in bargaining regarding Brexit with the E.U. A larger parliamentary majority and anticipation of a five-year term of office will give her time to negotiate a transitional arrangement, satisfactory to herself, not to the hardliners in her own Conservative party, as well as the other parties and the Scottish National Party. May has to deal with the thorny issue of the possibility of Scottish secession from the U.K. This is made more difficult because at present, the Conservatives have only one M.P. representative in the whole of Scotland.

May has a clear point of view. She is determined to build a truly global Britain, to restore British national self-determination and a confident country in control of its destiny once again. In this of course, she resembles Donald Trump. She is anxious to propose her own agenda, not that of former prime minister David Cameron, especially on a key issue for her: selective grammar school education.

Everyone now recognizes that negotiations over Brexit and any deal with the E.U. will take a long time. Theresa May faces the fact that the main parties are split on the issue and that her own party is rife with tension and proposes a softer transition than Conservative extremists. As a result of the new election, she will have up to June 2022 to reach a final settlement. She also recognizes that business interests need a transitional period after the U.K. leaves the E.U.

May is conscious that Britain has a choice over Brexit: a trade deal of some kind or a total divorce from the E.U. One is a sharp, complete break from the E.U. The other is a softer option, with minimal disruption from the E.U. and retaining links with the E.U. not only in trade, but on numerous specific issues, such as immigration, single market, and climate change.

Whatever the choice, there are obvious problems. A free trade deal is unlikely to be acceptable while the U.K. is still a member of the E.U. May has already shown her resolve with her past view that "no deal is better than a bad deal" and outlining her chief arguments. She ended the jurisdiction of European judges over British law and, more difficult and controversial, exited the single market (while still keeping the door open for future relationships).

Irrespective of her past view, Theresa May is anxious to make a deal, though she has stated that a failure to get a deal would not be "catastrophic." It is the E.U. that is unwilling to start talks over a future free trade deal while discussing terms of a "divorce," though prepared to enter into negotiations later in the year. Those negotiations will be difficult. Prime Minister May has changed her mind on a number of issues concerning the E.U., but so has President Donald Trump on issues that are important to him.
I am becoming increasingly frustrated by the idiocy of the obsession by seemingly everyone with Russia and Putin and with Syria and Assad. It's nutty (to put it in intellectual terms).

There ar bigger, and more dangerous, fish to fry (speaking intellectually again).

I stipulate that both leaders are tyrants and that both are war criminals, but what does that have to do with the price of tea in China? That is, as things stand now, neither poses a direct threat to the vital national interests of the United States, nor is unbridled opposition to either nation in the vital national interests of the United States.

Russia's re-absorption of Crimea was a direct result of the West's foolish acts in 2014 to force Kiev to choose between it and Russia, politically, economically, and militarily. Putin, in effect, said "Oh, yeah  two can play that game."

Russia did not re-absorb the Donbas. Instead, it supported that region's bilingual and intermarried population in seeking an autonomous and federated relationship with Kiev, albeit by subversive, criminal, and militarily abhorrent means.

Y'all need to get over it! We're talking Great Game stuff that's been going on for centuries east of non-Slavic Europe.

Likewise for the Baltics. Russia ain't gonna invade or re-absorb those tiny nations, and what Putin is doing there is the result of the same foolish things the West did there as was done in Ukraine. We should get our troops out of the area and tell Europe to pound sand!

As for Syria: what a mess! Russia is in Syria in the way it now is because of the West's foolish intervention in a situation that has obtained, in various iterations, for decades between Damascus's Alawites and the Kurds and Sunnis in the area between Damascus and the Syria-Turkey border.

Russia has longstanding interests in Syria, and there has been significant intermarriages between Russians and Syrians.

Led by the increasingly foolish John McCain and the Responsibility-to-Protect crowd in Obama-land, the West (including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf States) took sides that ongoing civil war in a fashion that would give pride to the Keystone Kops. That blundering, farcical intervention brought in Russia (and Tehran) on the side of Damascus.

So, instead of Bashar Assad killing a few thousand opponents and razing a town or two (as his father did in the past), we now have hundreds of thousands dead and an additional hundreds of thousands displaced and on the move into Jordan, Turkey, Europe, and here!

And not only does the civil war go on, but there are now so many factions fighting each other and/or Damascus or whomever that no scorecard could possibly keep track of "Who's on First."

And we have Russia now forevermore firmly entrenched in the Middle East, something ten, count 'em, ten U.S. presidents prior to Mr. Obama successfully foreclosed or forestalled.

And we have ISIS. And we had Benghazi, which was the result of support for "moderate" anti-Assad Syrian forces. And we have ruin and mass killings in northern Iraq.

And we have Iran in Syria not only supporting Assad, but also bolstering Hezb'allah in Syria and Lebanon.

And on and on.

Again: Y'all need to get over obsessing on Putin and Assad! We're talking stuff that's been going on for 1,400 years of Muslim-on-Muslim violence.

I know: this is the 21st century. And I say: If you're not going to do the job completely and finally, then stay the hell out. There are no good guys over there to which we can justify aligning or allying ourselves.

Let Russia keep a lid on Assad, or not. Russia believes, rightly, I think, that it's Assad in Damascus or radical Islam in Damascus. The choice is obvious. There is no alternative, given current realities in the world. QED!

Right now we face three imperatives: contain ISIS/al-Qaeda, contain Iran, and contain North Korea. Unless contained, each has the potential to destroy the United States. That is, each is, demonstrably, a literal existential threat to our national interests and to our very nation. Full stop!

China and Turkey are problems now, but they do not pose the threat of the aforementioned three.

President Trump says he is intent on destroying ISIS (and I combine ISIS with al-Qaeda), but I'm not sure he can do that short of killing every member and destroying every one of the rings and videos and institutions created by ISIS and ilk.

I'm sure there will be lots of kinetic actions and cyber-actions that Team Trump will be making soon that will begin the process, but we'll not "be home by Christmas," as it were, in this war  "for true," as we say in the West Indies!

I believe that an additional option is to declare, by executive action, that any entity doing financial transactions with ISIS or al-Qaeda shall have no access to U.S. banks, that any bank doing business with such entities shall be likewise restricted, and that any insurer doing business with such entities and banks shall be prevented from doing any business in or with the U.S. Again, the lawyers can straighten out the nebulousness.

Similar executive actions should be taken with respect to Iran and North Korea. Additionally, each nation should be the recipient of a demarche declaring that kinetic actions or cyber-actions taken by either shall be met with overwhelming and non-proportional U.S. actions.

I don't know how much effect the executive actions and demarches will have on the Twelvers controlling Iran or on the corpulent Mr. Kim, but it certainly will have an effect on their lessers, who wish not to be incinerated  to what end, we can only hope!

I know that large numbers of readers still reading consider me cold, naive, and callous. Well, tough!

I say we must now act as if we understand Lord Palmerston's dictum: nations have no permanent friends or allies. They have only permanent interests.

I have a permanent interest in not being killed or harmed by ISIS and al-Qaeda, Iran, or North Korea.

So should you.

And so should the United States of America!

The author is retired, his profile may be found on LinkedIn, and he usually responds to emails sent to bilschan@hotmail.com.
It has been over a half-century since the closure of the Second Vatican Council, which ran in multiple sessions from 1963 to 1965 under the papacies of Pope Saint John XXIII and Pope Paul VI. Vatican II, as the ecumenical council is colloquially known, is considered the defining moment of the Church in the twentieth century. The council brought forth historic change to the Roman Catholic Church, fundamentally altering the liturgy and dispensing with centuries of tradition to appease a world society that had freshly emerged from the two deadliest conflicts in human history.

The council, which sought to rigorously examine the challenges that had long plagued the Church in the modern era, was the impetus behind the liberalization of the Catholic Church. The Council Fathers sought to transfer the focus of the liturgical movement from the priests to the laity, ascribing renewed significance to the congregation. This coincided with a movement away from Latin to the vernacular. The way the documents of Vatican II were written allowed practitioners of the Novus Ordo Mass, promulgated by Pope Paul VI, to replace Gregorian Chant with secular religious hymns, thus making the latter the predominant musical tradition.

This and other reforms accelerated the overhaul of traditional customs and likewise reflected the Church's growing aloofness to such things as doctrinal orthodoxy and traditional morality. In keeping with the stylistic changes of the liturgy and the theological approach of aggiornamento, a "bringing up to date," Church architecture, particularly over the past half-century, has been compromised by the spirit of Vatican II. Grandiose cathedrals that once towered over cities and reached toward heaven have been replaced by pedestrian structures devoid of the Romanesque and Gothic elements that in years past fostered the allure and mystique of the Catholic Church. The interiors underwent a similar transformation: tabernacles were, in many cases, relegated to side alcoves, and the centerpiece crucifix was replaced by a resurrected Christ or a barren cross, indistinguishable from Protestant symbolism.

In addition to the liturgical alterations, the rites of the seven sacraments were subject to considerable revision. Traditional vestments were dispensed with, and the regalia of the papal coronation, such as the sporting of the papal tiara, last worn by Pope Paul VI in 1963, was indefinitely retired. Priests have also moved away from the Tridentine custom of celebrating Mass ad orientem (facing "liturgical east," or toward the high altar), instead opting for the more personalized versus populum (facing the congregation), which was consistent with the Church's pivot toward personalized morality and emphasis on self-fulfillment over set dogma.

Perhaps the most salient change is the Second Vatican Council's commitment to ecumenism. Keeping in line with its desire to democratize and reconcile longstanding theological rifts in a rapidly globalizing world, the ecumenical reforms were met with varying degrees of success. In this respect, the Council Fathers had hoped to reorient the Church's perspective to highlight the shared orthodoxies between the Catholic Church and other faiths, a departure from its former practice of highlighting the deviations among other denominations. Some traditionalists viewed these unprecedented measures with horror, believing the Church to have completely abandoned centuries of tradition. But the Council Fathers reiterated that no doctrinal changes had been made; the Council's chief aim was to democratize and appease a modernizing world, not surrender to it.

Over a half-century later, it remains unclear just how successful the Council was in achieving its goals and to what extent the ensuing history of the Church is incumbent upon Vatican II reforms. Some traditionalists cite the vibrant state of the Church prior to the Council's formation in many parts of the world  notably, the United States, Canada, and many parts of Eastern and Southern Europe. Today, Mass attendance in all these regions  particularly those bereft of a prevailing Protestant subculture  has dropped precipitously, suggesting a failure of the Council to deliver on its goals. Incidentally, Mass attendance in the United States has declined as well  approximately three in four practicing Catholics attended Mass on a regular basis prior to Vatican II, whereas now, participation hovers around twenty to twenty-five percent. To some, this is vindication that the Church must restore many of its former traditions or risk annihilation altogether. And while it would be unwise to ascribe a cause-and-effect relationship between Mass attendance and Vatican II, it is nevertheless indisputable that Christianity in the Western world is currently experiencing an existential crisis as people everywhere  particularly the young  abandon organized religion in droves.

Perhaps the most disheartening case of this is the devitalized state of the Irish Catholic Church, which, for centuries, had provided the cultural foundation of one of the most Catholic countries in Europe. Today, Mass attendance barely exceeds thirty percent and remains in decline. This figure is less than a third of its 1950 participation rate and, by some estimates, is markedly lower than in countries that do not have a traditionally Catholic heritage, such as the United States. The long-term results of this wholesale secularization are not yet fully understood. However, the fact that Ireland redefined marriage in 2015 by popular referendum in an attempt to include same-sex couples suggests a certain permanence to these trends, at least for the foreseeable future. Granted, the Catholic Church remains an integral part of Irish society, but its influence has waned considerably in the past few decades, setting the stage for a renewed debate of once untouchable issues like abortion and euthanasia.

The problems facing the Catholic Church in Ireland are very much interrelated with the problems affecting the Catholic Church globally; the former is a concrete derivative of a systemic issue whose origins trace back to the fallout of the Council itself. Some, including Pope Paul VI and Pope Benedict XVI, maintained that it was not Vatican II, strictly speaking, that caused the crisis of the modern Church, but rather how the Council was subsequently misconstrued by the burgeoning news media and leftist academicians. Considering the liberal climate of the late 1960s, there is little doubt that the cultural changes of that era impacted the interpretation of the Council. This, in conjunction with the evolving media climate, in which biased journalists labeled the Council Fathers as winners and losers depending on their philosophy, furthered the confusion about the Council's implications. In recognizing this, some blame can still be accorded to those who backed the Council for haphazardly calling for its creation without accounting for the cultural changes that would invariably dint its rollout, regardless of whatever the actual outcome was.

Ultimately, whether or not the Council accelerated today's lack of religiosity is secondary to the larger premise that the modern Church was, in fact, greatly shaped by Vatican II reforms. Knowing this, it would be wise for Church officials to gradually roll back many of the liturgical changes and work toward implementing a more traditionalist platform. Pope Benedict XVI appeared to sympathize with traditionalists in expressing during his papacy that liberals had wrongly interpreted Vatican II by objecting to such reforms as pushing back against local suppression of the Latin Mass, in addition to smaller reforms, like reviving several papal garments that had fallen into disuse. Although these efforts were rather diminutive in theological significance, they nevertheless signaled that the Vatican was at least open to the idea of bringing tradition back to the Catholic Church.

So where left to go for the surviving religious hoping for a grand awakening of their faith?

Some, like Rod Dreher (who left the Catholic Church for Eastern Orthodoxy), believe that a new "dark ages" have befallen contemporary civilization and that the best way to manage the situation is for the remaining few Christians to organize into monastic communities of believers removed from the moral decay of modern times. This so-called "Benedict Option," named for St. Benedict of Nursia (ca. 480-537), is tailored for Americans who wish to preserve genuine Christian culture by displacing themselves from a society that is in its current state outwardly hostile to the Christian faith. Essentially, the debauchery of American civilization has reached a point of no return, forcing the few devout remaining to withdraw from the world, if not physically, then at least spiritually, into true communities of faith that will uphold the principles of the Church and form a "living spiritual relationship with God."

Others have advocated for less drastic measures, though a common pessimism about the degraded state of Western civilization appears to unify many traditionalists. Indeed, there is a clear metaphysical crisis working to dismember any form of objective truth or attach genuine significance to the human person. Above all, the effects of modernity have reduced the dignity of the modern man into nothing beyond a baseless social construct contingent on no substantive higher moral truth. The horrible eventualities that might result from such spiritual lethargy are, at present, unknown.

Christians should hope that at some point in the future, the truths embedded in the writings of such distinguished theologians as Benedict XVI may ignite an awakening of the Logos and a renewal of faith founded in the memoria Ecclesiae, the memory of the Church. Tracey Rowland, writing for the Catholic Herald, put it this way:

When a new generation arises in full rebellion from the social experiments of the contemporary era, craving a human ecology that respects both God and nature, and wanting to be something more than rootless cosmopolitans, Ratzinger's publications will serve as Harry Potter-style Portkeys, giving creative young rebels access to the missing cultural capital  indeed, access to what Ratzinger calls the memoria Ecclesiae.

So long as current trends continue, traditional Catholics may ultimately become the Church's most prominent voice, if for no reason other than that they will be the only ones remaining, thereby forcing it into this direction by default. Naturally, Catholics should hope it doesn't reach this point, but considering that the updated papal idiom of Pope Francis did not usher a wave of disaffected Catholics back into the Church, it seems that a reversal of course might actually be a good thing. The Church would be well advised to stop pandering to lapsed Christians, and instead to strengthen its resolve on doctrine and tradition, especially given the alarming trend of moral relativism among younger people in particular, which is grossly incompatible with the objectivism espoused by Catholic doctrine. A more reverend, disciplined, and ordered Church might ultimately precipitate a rekindling of the Catholic faith and shift the emphasis away from the material and personal and toward the metaphysical and divine.
With Earth Day come and gone, I could no evidence of public recognition for one of the holiday's founding fathers, the only slightly atypical Ira Einhorn, the soi-disant "Unicorn."

In the way of background, the first formal Earth Day did not take place on the vernal equinox, as originator John McConnell had hoped. Rather, it took place on April 22, 1970, a Wednesday. How this seemingly arbitrary date was picked has been lost to history. No one has taken public credit for choosing it. Still, one does not have to be a conspiracy theorist to suspect that the choice of date might have had something to do with the fact that April 22, 1970 was Vladimir Lenin's one hundredth birthday.

Whoever chose the date chose wisely. The springtime pageantry gave students a pleasant reprieve from their strenuous anti-war activities and proved to be a huge success. It also gave Einhorn the chance to mark publicly the shift in his activism from antiwar to environmentalism.

Einhorn attributed his change in direction to the "the accelerating destruction of the planetary interconnecting web." Not everyone was as tuned in as Einhorn  only the "few of us activists who took the trouble to read the then available ecological literature." Or so Einhorn explained in his book Prelude to Intimacy.

"We intuitively sensed the need to open a new front in the 'movement' battle," he continued, "for Chicago '68 was already pointing towards Kent State and the violence of frustration that lead to the Weathermen and other similarly doomed and fragmented groups."

Although Senator Gaylord Nelson usually gets the credit for organizing that first Earth Day in 1970, it was people like Einhorn who were putting the pieces together on the ground.

Einhorn's terrain was Philadelphia. By his lights, environmental protection required a fundamental transformation of society or, as he phrased it, "a conscious restructuring of all we do." To pull off so ambitious a program, Einhorn claimed to have enlisted a happy cabal of business, academic, and governmental factions. Together, they formed a broad popular front to deal with this unraveling of the planetary web, much as the Soviets organized popular fronts ostensibly to deal with the threat of fascism in the 1930s. And recall, this was back when "global cooling" was the reigning anxiety.

Whether or not Einhorn did as he claimed, there is no denying how well he had insinuated himself into the upper reaches of Philadelphia's good deed-doer set. Ira had a "brilliant network," a local oil executive would later tell Time magazine. "He knew enough corporate people to get our projects funded simply by strolling into people's offices and asking for the money."

These connections would come in handy just nine years after that first Earth Day, when police found the battered and "composted" body of Einhorn's girlfriend, Holly Maddux, in a steamer trunk in Einhorn's apartment. She had been stashed there for eighteen months.

At his bail hearing, one after another of the city's liberal elite took the stand to sing the accused murderer's praises. These included a minister, an economist, a corporate lawyer, a playwright, and many more  what Time called "an unlikely battalion of bluebloods, millionaires and corporate executives."

Representing Einhorn was none other than future Democrat and Republican U.S. Senator Arlen Specter. The combined clout of these worthies swayed the judge to set bail at $40,000, only $4,000 of which was required to put Einhorn back on the streets.

Fronting the money was Barbara Bronfman, a Montreal socialite who had married into the conspicuously liberal Bronfman family, they of Seagram's fame. After Einhorn jumped bail, Bronfman continued to funnel money to Einhorn for some seven years.

French police did not catch up with the self-dubbed "Unicorn" until 1997, sixteen years into his subsidized European exile. In protesting extradition, Einhorn claimed to have been persecuted because he had given his life to "the cause of nonviolent social change." That boast did not overly impress the French, but in their eagerness to spite the United States on the human rights front, they kept Einhorn in country for another five years.

Justice finally felled the Unicorn twenty-five years after he killed would-be flower child Maddux. Einhorn's best line of defense at his 2002 trial in Philadelphia was that somebody  the CIA, most likely  stuffed Maddux's body into the trunk and secreted the trunk in his closet to frame him. Einhorn might have tried the "some other dude did it" defense, but cop-killer and fellow Philadelphian Mumia had already played that one out.

The fact that Einhorn had prior altercations with females, wrote about them in his diary, had engaged in a violent fight with Maddux about the time she disappeared, and repeatedly blocked the landlord from looking into his closet rendered his defense theory even more absurd. It took a mixed-race jury all of two hours to convict him, much of that time spent eating donuts and figuring out the instructions.

Today, the 76-year-old Einhorn spends his twilight years in the Laurel Highlands Correctional Institute in Southern Pennsylvania. The town staged an Earth Day Bike and Yoga Outing, but Einhorn does not appear to have been invited.
Today is the scheduled date for the French election. Darned if I or anyone can say how it will turn out, though I think our President is right -- the attack on three policemen on the Champs-Elysees would certainly seem to boost the chances of Marine le Pen. Of course, I could be wrong, and Barack Obamas apparent favorite Emmanuel Macron, who says terrorism will be a fact of daily life that his countrymen will just have to get used to, will appeal to enough suicidal Frenchmen to carry the day.

March for Science

On Saturday, crowds at the laughably titled global March for Science in our capital city were rained upon. Mother Nature seems to be laughing so hard shes crying at these marchers, most of whom have no idea of what they are marching for on a day after the power grids failed in San Francisco and Los Angeles and New York subways were shut down because of a power outage. We seem to need electrical engineers more than we need marchers for science.

In any event, heres a romp through the 13 most absurd predictions from Earth Day in about 1970. My all-time favorite remains Stanford professor Paul Ehrlichs:

Most of the people who are going to die in the greatest cataclysm in the history of man have already been born [By 1975] some experts feel that food shortages will have escalated the present level of world hunger and starvation into famines of unbelievable proportions. Other experts, more optimistic, think the ultimate food-population collision will not occur until the decade of the 1980s.

In fact, obesity seems a bigger problem here and the world is better fed than ever in the past 50 years.

Marching Against Free Speech

It took thousands of years to develop Western Civilization, with its respect for free speech and assembly, and just decades for big thinkers like Ehrlich to worm their way into academia and create a generation of numbskulls. Unable to defend their puerile beliefs, the academic left is now shutting down free inquiry and destroying the moral and intellectual basis of the very institutions that have fed them. At Berkeley, whose mayor publicly touts his affiliation with Antifa, where rioters fight to smash the heads of those who dare to speak freely, Ann Coulter is defying the university that sought to deny her that right.

And at all the five campuses of the pricey and elite Claremont colleges, the fascists against academic freedom have stirred. The topper was the fuss at Pomona College, whose president David Oxtoby defended free speech as essential to the very purpose of the college the day after Black Lives Matter at sister college Claremont McKenna shut down a presentation by pro-police speaker Heather MacDonald. Twenty-seven Pomona students demanded an apology for previously patronizing statement, enforcing that Pomona College does not tolerate hate speech and speech that projects violence unto the bodies of its marginalized students and oppressed peoples, especially Black students who straddle the intersection of marginalized identities. They also demanded that action be taken against the Claremont Independent editorial staff.

Its hard for me to picture students at a prestigious and expensive school (about $50k per year) on a gorgeous campus as marginalized and oppressed but the text of the letter explains why these students think they are.

Heres the gist of their argument, which rambles on through more incoherent, ungrammatical leftist gibberish:

Though this institution as well as many others including this entire country have been founded upon the oppression and degradation of marginalized bodies, it has a liability to protect the students that it serves. The paradox is that Pomonas past is rooted in domination of marginalized peoples and communities and the student body has a significant population of students from these backgrounds. Your recent statement reveals where Pomonas true intentions lie. Free speech, a right many freedom movements have fought for, has recently become a tool appropriated by hegemonic institutions. It has not just empowered students from marginalized backgrounds to voice their qualms and criticize aspects of the institution, but it has given those who seek to perpetuate systems of domination a platform to project their bigotry. Thus, if our mission is founded upon the discovery of truth, how does free speech uphold that value? The notion of discourse, when it comes to discussions about experiences and identities, deters the Columbusing of established realities and truths (coded as intellectual inquiry) that the institution promotes. Pomona cannot have its cake and eat it, too. Either you support students of marginalized identities, particularly Black students, or leave us to protect and organize for our communities without the impositions of your patronization, without your binary respectability politics, and without your monolithic perceptions of protest and organizing. In addition, non-Black individuals do not have the right to prescribe how Black people respond to anti-Blackness. Your statement contains unnuanced views surrounding the academy and a belief in searching for some venerated truth. Historically, white supremacy has venerated the idea of objectivity, and wielded a dichotomy of subjectivity vs. objectivity as a means of silencing oppressed peoples. The idea that there is a single truth--the Truth--is a construct of the Euro-West that is deeply rooted in the Enlightenment, which was a movement that also described Black and Brown people as both subhuman and impervious to pain. This construction is a myth and white supremacy, imperialism, colonization, capitalism, and the United States of America are all of its progeny. The idea that the truth is an entity for which we must search, in matters that endanger our abilities to exist in open spaces, is an attempt to silence oppressed peoples. We, Black students, exist with a myriad of different identities. We are queer, trans, differently-abled, poor/low-income, undocumented, Muslim, first-generation and/or immigrant, and positioned in different spaces across Africa and the African diaspora. The idea that we must subject ourselves routinely to the hate speech of fascists who want for us not to exist plays on the same Eurocentric constructs that believed Black people to be impervious to pain and apathetic to the brutal and violent conditions of white supremacy.

Its hard for me to understand how great satire sites like The Onion can continue to find readers when reality is more absurd than even the creative geniuses there can fathom.

Marching Through Georgia

Repeatedly the media claims that the Republicans are perilously close to losing their House majority. They bought into the Democrats hyping of three congressional races they thought they could wrest from the Republicans in off-term elections. Two of those three have been held so far, and the Democrats did no such thing. The most watched was the race by Jon T. Osoff, a weak candidate who needed a 50% vote to capture a seat in Atlantas 6th district. Osoff, who received substantial backing from rich leftists, lost and will have to run against a top GOP candidate Karen Handel. In a statement early Wednesday, Ossoff acknowledged that he had fallen short:

This is already a remarkable victory, he said. We defied the odds, shattered expectations, and now are ready to fight on and win in June.

The one thing these elections have proved is the Democrats success in redistributing wealth. They are taking millions from the coastal elites and spreading the money throughout the heartland on races only the media thinks they could win. They are counting on keeping the anger machine stoked up. Like Mike Huckabee, I think its a losing game:

In his speech last night, after it became apparent that for all their spending and spitting, the Democrats had once again failed to win, Ossoff gave a perfect illustration of the utter lack of self-awareness of his own partys flaws, which is their biggest electoral handicap. He melodramatically declared that there is no amount of dark money, Super PAC, negative advertising that can overcome a real grassroots movement like this. So bring it on. To those of us who live in Reality Land, he just described why his own campaign failed to top 50%: because it wasnt a grassroots movement offering fresh policies that people support; it was an attempt to stir up voters base emotions with negative ads paid for by dark money from Super PACs. Are they going to keep trying to stoke the anger machine forever by pouring millions into the run-off, and then into every Congressional election until George Soros is broke? It didnt work in November, and despite the surge of leftist fury following the election, theres already a growing sense of fatigue as more and more voters do what Democratic political activists just cant seem to do: theyre moving past the last election and getting on with more important things in life. You know, the way grown-ups do."

The Great March on Weaponized Intelligence

This week the House Permanent Select Committee invited FBI Director James Comey and National Security Adviser Admiral Mike Rogers to appear at a closed hearing on Russian actions in the 2016 election. As well, they invited former CIA Director John Brennan, DNI James Clapper, and former Deputy Director Sally Yates to appear at an open hearing on that same day, May 2.

The Hill reports that the U.S. is preparing charges against Julian Assange for leaking the DNC emails. My friend daddy explains how silly this makes the claim that Putin colluded with Trump:

It's almost like a Bizarro world version of: "The House That Jack Built." This is the White House that Trump Putin built. This is the Russian Dictator who rigged the election that led to the White House that Trump Putin built. This is the curb that Hillary fell off after she was drugged by the Russian Dictator who rigged the Election that led to the White House that Trump Putin built. This is the bed that the prostitutes peed on to fill up the Dossier that ratted out Putin, that preceded the curb that Hillary fell off after she was drugged by the Russian Dictator who rigged the Election that led to the White House that Trump Putin built

WND details the 31 groups and individuals suspected of targeting by spying, investigation, and/or prosecuting using intelligence information which Sharyl Attkisson earlier reported. Its a new kind of D.C. A List and I imagine people left out might feel socially and politically outcast.

Former DNI James Brennan is now tagged as being intimately connected with the fake charges against Trump by former British spy Christopher Steele:

Seeking to retain his position as CIA director under Hillary, Brennan teamed up with British spies and Estonian spies to cripple Trumps candidacy. He used their phony intelligence as a pretext for a multi-agency investigation into Trump, which led the FBI to probe a computer server connected to Trump Tower and gave cover to [then-National Security Advisor] Susan Rice, among other Hillary supporters, to spy on Trump and his people.

Drawing from a news article in the Guardian (UK), George Neumayr adds:

Brennan got his anti-Trump tips primarily from British spies but also Estonian spies and others. The story confirms that the seed of the espionage into Trump was planted by Estonia. The BBCs Paul Wood reported last year that the intelligence agency of an unnamed Baltic State had tipped Brennan off in April 2016 to a conversation purporting to show that the Kremlin was funneling cash into the Trump campaign.

So much marching going on here. Allow me to tout my newest enterprise? Pitchforks and torches. Were located at convenient spots throughout the capital.
The Democrats, through their rhetoric and their actions, are opposing the Trump administration at every turn. Through Obama administration government holdovers, they intend to bring down the present government and maintain and expand the bureaucratic Administrative State which is destroying federalism, taking away Americans individual rights, and nullifying large swaths of the Constitution of the United States. Their presidential candidate failed to win the office, and the Democrats expected triumph of the Administrative State will at best be postponed and at worst be dismantled to a great extent by President Trump and his appointees.

The Democrats are furious, and, as has been reported in these pages and in other sources, their reaction has been militant, irrational, and destructive to our nation.

We have seen this before. Over 150 years ago the issues were cogently examined and argued by presidential hopeful Abraham Lincoln in his Feb. 27, 1860 address at Cooper Union in New York City. The issue then was slavery, whether the federal government had a right to prevent its expansion into U.S. territories not yet organized into states. Because of the Dred Scott U.S. Supreme Court decision, Lincoln predicted that the right to own slaves would spread to the entire nation if Democrats had their way.

Today the issue is the Administrative State and whether it will destroy federalism and our citizens G-d given individual rights, some of which are enumerated in the Constitution as amended, and our representative republic.

In 1860 the Democratic Party was divided. The slave states were the exclusive territory of the Democratic Party. It was, without argument, the party of slavery. In the North, the policy of the Democratic Party as to slavery was expounded by its leader, Sen. Stephen A. Douglas, who refused to express an opinion as to whether slavery was good or bad, or whether it should or should not expand into the territories. In the end, the Democrats attempted to take their slave-holding states out of the Union and tore the nation apart because they held that slavery was a wonderful condition for the slaves, and that some men had a G-d given right to earn their living in leisure at the expense of other mens sweat and toil. In consequence, over 600,000 Americans lost their lives in an armed struggle to restore the Union.

Today the Democratic Party would intentionally ruin our unique-in-history federalist and constitutional republic in order to replace it with an Administrative State not far removed from what we read about in Brave New World, 1984, and Darkness at Noon. Dr. Larry Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, teaches a course on tyranny which, for good reason, incorporates these books, among others, in its syllabus.

Lincolns Cooper Union address preceded his gaining the presidential nomination of the Republican Party in May 1860 and his election to the office of president of the United States in November of that year. He was inaugurated in March 1861, by which time seven southern states had already voted to leave the Union. Comments by Lincoln in his February 1860 Cooper Union address find us nodding our heads because Democrats behaviors toward Republicans then are conceptually identical to present-day Democrats reactions to the election of Donald Trump to the presidency. As Mr. Lincoln states:

And now, if they would listen - as I suppose they will not - I would address a few words to the Southern people [Democrats]. I would say to them: - You consider yourselves a reasonable and a just people; and I consider that in the general qualities of reason and justice you are not inferior to any other people. Still, when you speak of us Republicans, you do so only to denounce us a reptiles, or, at the best, as no better than outlaws. You will grant a hearing to pirates or murderers, but nothing like it to "Black Republicans." In all your contentions with one another, each of you deems an unconditional condemnation of "Black Republicanism" as the first thing to be attended to. Indeed, such condemnation of us seems to be an indispensable prerequisite - license, so to speak - among you to be admitted or permitted to speak at all. Now, can you, or not, be prevailed upon to pause and to consider whether this is quite just to us, or even to yourselves? Bring forward your charges and specifications, and then be patient long enough to hear us deny or justify. . . .

Lincoln pointed out that the Democrats arguments were denying the validity of the policies set by the framers of the Constitution and of our initial American government, our fathers, as he said:

But you say you are conservative - eminently conservative - while we are revolutionary, destructive, or something of the sort. What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried? We stick to, contend for, the identical old policy on the point in controversy which was adopted by "our fathers who framed the Government under which we live;" while you with one accord reject, and scout, and spit upon that old policy, and insist upon substituting something new. . . . Not one of all your various plans can show a precedent or an advocate in the century within which our Government originated. Consider, then, whether your claim of conservatism for yourselves, and your charge or destructiveness against us, are based on the most clear and stable foundations. . . .

This sounds as modern as recent speeches and comments by Senator Schumer:

Your purpose, then, plainly stated, is that you will destroy the Government, unless you be allowed to construe and enforce the Constitution as you please, on all points in dispute between you and us. You will rule or ruin in all events. . . . Under all these circumstances, do you really feel yourselves justified to break up this Government unless such a court decision [Dred Scott] as yours is, shall be at once submitted to as a conclusive and final rule of political action? But you will not abide the election of a Republican president! In that supposed event, you say, you will destroy the Union; and then, you say, the great crime of having destroyed it will be upon us! That is cool. A highwayman holds a pistol to my ear, and mutters through his teeth, "Stand and deliver, or I shall kill you, and then you will be a murderer!" . . .

The Democrats, then and now, would be satisfied solely by Republican surrender. Today this means by Republican adoption of the rightness of the imposition of the Administrative State:

A few words now to Republicans. It is exceedingly desirable that all parts of this great Confederacy shall be at peace, and in harmony, one with another. Let us Republicans do our part to have it so. Even though much provoked, let us do nothing through passion and ill temper. Even though the southern people will not so much as listen to us, let us calmly consider their demands, and yield to them if, in our deliberate view of our duty, we possibly can. Judging by all they say and do, and by the subject and nature of their controversy with us, let us determine, if we can, what will satisfy them. . . . Will they be satisfied if the Territories be unconditionally surrendered to them? We know they will not. In all their present complaints against us, the Territories are scarcely mentioned. Invasions and insurrections are the rage now. Will it satisfy them, if, in the future, we have nothing to do with invasions and insurrections? We know it will not. We so know, because we know we never had anything to do with invasions and insurrections; and yet this total abstaining does not exempt us from the charge and the denunciation. . . . The question recurs, what will satisfy them? Simply this: We must not only let them alone, but we must somehow, convince them that we do let them alone. This, we know by experience, is no easy task. We have been so trying to convince them from the very beginning of our organization, but with no success. In all our platforms and speeches we have constantly protested our purpose to let them alone; but this has had no tendency to convince them. Alike unavailing to convince them, is the fact that they have never detected a man of us in any attempt to disturb them. . . .

In my reading of this following paragraphs, I replace the word slavery with the term the Administrative State when considering the Democratic Partys present goal:

These natural, and apparently adequate means all failing, what will convince them? This, and this only: cease to call slavery wrong, and join them in calling it right. And this must be done thoroughly - done in acts as well as in words. Silence will not be tolerated - we must place ourselves avowedly with them. Senator Douglas' new sedition law must be enacted and enforced, suppressing all declarations that slavery is wrong, whether made in politics, in presses, in pulpits, or in private. We must arrest and return their fugitive slaves with greedy pleasure. We must pull down our Free State constitutions. The whole atmosphere must be disinfected from all taint of opposition to slavery, before they will cease to believe that all their troubles proceed from us. I am quite aware they do not state their case precisely in this way. Most of them would probably say to us, "Let us alone, do nothing to us, and say what you please about slavery." But we do let them alone - have never disturbed them - so that, after all, it is what we say, which dissatisfies them. They will continue to accuse us of doing, until we cease saying. . . . If our sense of duty forbids this, then let us stand by our duty, fearlessly and effectively. Let us be diverted by none of those sophistical contrivances wherewith we are so industriously plied and belabored - contrivances such as groping for some middle ground between the right and the wrong, vain as the search for a man who should be neither a living man nor a dead man - such as a policy of "don't care" on a question about which all true men do care - such as Union appeals beseeching true Union men to yield to Disunionists, reversing the divine rule, and calling, not the sinners, but the righteous to repentance - such as invocations to Washington, imploring men to unsay what Washington said, and undo what Washington did. Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations against us, nor frightened from it by menaces of destruction to the Government nor of dungeons to ourselves. LET US HAVE FAITH THAT RIGHT MAKES MIGHT, AND IN THAT FAITH, LET US, TO THE END, DARE TO DO OUR DUTY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT.

These are the words of the father of the Republican Party, words for us to live by and to act upon. It is up to our majority party, both those in office and those who are not, to get this done, to deliver us from the pernicious destruction of our constitutional republic by the Administrative State.

Michael S. Goldstein is Ohio State Director of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations. He is an attorney in Northeast Ohio and a 30-year veteran of the Navy and of the U.S. intelligence community. His articles appear in American Thinker. Mr. Goldstein is the husband of, and was the campaign manager for, Dr. Beverly A. Goldstein in her race to be elected in November to represent Ohio's District 11 in Congress.
As sharia continues to make inroads in America and Europe, we should take heed of Ralph Waldo Emerson who once wrote:

"[w]e began well. No inquisition here. No kings, no nobles. No dominant church here, heresy has lost its terror."

If only that founding reality of the American experience were understood by those who foolishly claim tolerance and acceptance for sharia law in this country -- sadly, it is not.

The fact is, sharia is well entrenched in the Middle East and creeping forward to the West. The charge of heresy is imposed on any who would counter its mandates. In the Muslim world, those who speak out for reformation have placed a bull's-eye on their chests. Consequently,

Ayatollah Boroujerdi has spoken out against political Islam and [has] been [a] strong advocate of the separation of religion and state, for which Iran sentenced him to 11 years as an Iranian political prisoner. On September 23, 2014, Mohammad Mohavadi, prosecutor of the Special Clerical Court visited Ayatollah Boroujerdi in Ward 325 of Evin prison. Mohavadi informed him that the contents of Boroujerdi's book were 'heresy' against the leadership and insulted the Supreme Leader of Iran. Mohavadi continued that the punishment for these crimes is execution, and stated that all those who had a hand in publishing the book will also be killed. When Ayatollah Boroujerdi suggested an open, public debate with the Special Court regarding his views, Mohavadi announced that his office did not participate in debates, just trials and punishment [execution].

Iranian Kurdish prisoner Zeinab Jalalian was arrested on March 16, 2008 by the Iranian secret police. An Iranian court charged Jalalian with being a member of the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK), a banned Kurdish group, found her guilty and sentenced her to death. Based on her alleged membership of that Kurdistan political party, she was accused of fighting God (mohareb) and given the death penalty.

The arts are being crushed, too. Thus, "[a] Tehran Revolutionary Court has sentenced the poets Fatemeh Ekhtesari and Mehdi Moosavi to 9 years and 6 months and 99 lashes, and 11 years and 99 lashes, respectively, on charges of 'insulting the sacred' for the social criticism expressed in their poetry." The flogging sentences were as a result "of their shaking hands with strangers (a person of the opposite sex who is not ones immediate kin or spouse) [.]" Thus, "[t]hese sentences show that 'repression in Iran is intensifying,' said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. 'Hardliners arent just going after political activists, they are determined to stamp out any social or cultural expression with which they disagree.'"

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi was "arrested in 2012 and sentenced to ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 1,000 lashes for 'insulting Islam through electronic channels.'" At the New Yorker, Robin Wright describes how the Saudi government "pulled a blogger named Raif Badawi from his jail cell in Jeddah, brought him to a square in front of a mosque, and administered the first phasefifty lashesof a public flogging."

His crime? -- "Badawi, . . . ran a Web site called Saudi Liberal Network, which dared to discuss the countrys rigid Islamic restrictions on culture. One post mocked the prohibition against observing Valentines Day, which, like all non-Muslim holidays, is banned in Saudi Arabia. (Even foreigners arent allowed to buy trees for Christmas.) Religious police, known as the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, have reportedly patrolled flower shops and chocolate shops to warn against selling items that commemorate an infidel celebration."

Badawis site, "which the government ordered taken down, often pressed the Saudi monarchy to show the same degree of religious tolerance that is customary in the West."

Suppression of expression is paramount in the Islamic world. Yet, in Europe, as affirmed by Giulio Meotti, creeping sharia has advanced steadily, too. European writers, artists and museum directors admit that they are accepting their dhimmi status by

removing the art work "Persepolis" because it combines a Persian Islamic rug and a female head.

veiling antique Roman statues in the Vatican to avoid offending Iran's visiting President Hassan Rouhani.

censoring London's Mall Gallery exhibition titled "Passion for Freedom" because it shows a family of toy animals living in an enchanted valley while in the background another set of toy animals are dressed as ISIS, ready to invade the idyllic view. The installation entitled "ISIS Threatens Sylvania" was eliminated because of its alleged "inflammatory" content.

withdrawing a portrait of the Prophet of Islam from the Victoria and Albert Museum of London because a group of Muslims protested.

scrapping the dedication of a new section of the Louvre in Paris concerning the artistic heritage of Eastern Christians. Recall that Eastern Christians have been systematically decimated by the Islamic State but the Louvre caved to fear.

According to Judith Bergman "[t]he West is submitting to blasphemy laws. Denmark, for example, has apparently decided that now is the time to invoke a dusty, old blasphemy provision. Denmark still has a provision in the penal code against blasphemy, but until now, it has only been used three times. The last time was nearly half a century ago, in 1971. Denmark's Attorney General has nevertheless just charged a man for burning a Quran."

Although ". . . blasphemy as a criminal offence has for centuries generally been considered a relic of the past" this is no longer the case in Europe. Thus, "[i]n a largely godless society, few people take offense to blasphemous comments or acts. Christians do not descend upon alleged blasphemers with guns and knives, and publishers do not worry about 'offending Christians.'"

But a double standard is consistently maintained whenever Islam is invoked.

Robert Spencer in his booklet titled "The Muslim Brotherhood's Plan: Eliminating and Destroying Western Civilization from Within" quotes Muhammad Mahdi Othman 'Kef who made this bold announcement:

I have complete faith that Islam will invade Europe and America, because Islam has logic and a mission. Thus, 'the Europeans and the Americans will come into the bosom of Islam out of conviction.'

This stealth jihad has one irrevocable goal -- to eliminate Western civilization, mores, culture, and ideas.

Living under constant security watch, Ayaan Hirsi Ali dares to describe what the future holds for Muslim women. Instead of heeding her prescient words, she is prevented from speaking to college students to explain that "men such as Sayyid Qutb, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, or Osama bin Laden . . . claim that their vision, based on sharia law, is in all ways superior to the norms prevailing in the West." Ignored by far too many in the West is that "[i]n Saudi Arabia, a womans testimony is usually not accepted in criminal cases and is worth half a mans testimony in civil cases." Also, "[i]n Iran, married women cannot leave the country without their husbands permission. After a child is seven years old, custody of the child automatically goes to the father [.] A mother also loses custody of her young children if she remarries. In 2016, the chair of Pakistans Council of Islamic Ideology, an important advisory body, sanctioned 'light' wife-beating."

And while feminist academics in the West would be expected to highlight this abuse, "or at least to enable students to think through the consequences of implementing sharia measures such as we see in Iran and Saudi Arabia" such is not the case. Instead, "[i]t is striking how many American university professors and students reject any analysis of a real conflict between enlightened Western values and unreformed sharia, even as Western civilization is mocked and its many contributions to human freedom and gender equality cynically dismissed."



In fact, the left and the jihadist appear to be joined at the hip. This, despite recent reports in the international news media of gay men being jailed, murdered or tortured in the Russian republic of Chechnya, which is "a hotbed of Islamic honor killings, usually of young women, but of gay men as well."

Michael Lucas, founder of New York's largest gay adult film company, "referred to reports of gay men being murdered by relatives in Islamic honor killings in the Middle East, Europe, and at times the U.S." Lucas asserts that he is referring to the Muslim world when he uses the word barbarians. He emphasizes that

We will not be able to change them but we have to protect our world and our way of life as vigorously as they protect their way of life. And yes immigration is a problem. Yes, on the left this is a very unpopular opinion. If we are taking (refugees and immigrants) we should not take from the pool of people that is so hostile to us. You know, people, theyre saying on the left, well, bring them here and they will enjoy our freedom and they will embrace gays. No, stay there, learn how to love gays and then come here."

How many more atrocities and assaults on our way of life will it take for people to understand that sharia is an existential threat to our freedoms and our civilization?

Eileen can be reached at middlemarch18@gmail.com
Two Harvard researchers have unearthed a find of tremendous historical significance. While researching the Declaration for a project dedicated to finding the hundreds of copies of our founding document published in newspapers and elsewhere, the two scholars came across an entry in an online catalog from a small records office in Sussex County, England. That entry indicated that there was a copy of the Declaration of unknown origin that had been sitting in the archives since the 1950's.

Emily Sneff, a researcher at Harvard, and Danielle Allen, a professor at the university went to the small town of Chichester to examine the document. What they found excited them immediately. The copy was printed on parchment, was in excellent condition, and featured several distinct and important differences with the only other parchment copy of the Declaration, which is kept at the National Archives in Washington.

The copy probably belonged to the Duke of Richmond, one of the only members of the House of Lords to support the rebellion. But it may have been originally ordered printed by James Wilson, one of drafters of the Constitution and an original Supreme Court Justice.

Boston Globe:

The parchment was likely made in New York or Philadelphia. The researchers are still trying to determine the person who wrote the document and who paid for the foundational document of the United States to be copied. The signatories on the Sussex version of the document are not broken down by state, something that distinguished it from the Declaration in the National Archives, the researchers said. In an academic paper, the researchers say the document probably was commissioned by James Wilson of Pennsylvania, who later helped draft the Constitution and was among the original justices appointed to the Supreme Court. The team hypothesizes that this detail supported efforts, made by Wilson and his allies during the Constitutional Convention and ratification process, to argue that the authority of the Declaration rested on a unitary national people, and not on a federation of states, the researchers wrote in the statement. The team, working with British officials, is working to carefully test the document in a way that will not damage the parchment. According to the National Archives, the Massachusetts Historical Commission holds one of 26 copies of the Declaration of Independence prepared by John Dunlap, the printer for the Congressional Congress, after its signing on July 4, 1776.

The New York Times reports on one the most significant difference found on the newly discovered document:

Some details of the text suggest that whoever created it had had access to congressional records, including the 1776 parchment. But it deviated from that parchment  along with every known 18th-century version of the Declaration  in one striking respect: the ordering of the 56 signatures. All known 18th-century iterations, Ms. Allen said, show the signatures grouped by state, with some printers even adding state labels. But here they were all jumbled. I just kept staring at it, she said. There was no discernible order. But then she labeled each name with the number of the column it appeared in on the 1776 parchment, and noticed that they alternated in a clear pattern  a pattern, she and Ms. Sneff argue, created with help from a well-known 18th-century cipher. That random order, Ms. Allen and Ms. Sneff argue, was meant to send a political message: The signers pledged to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor, as the last line puts it, as individuals, not as representatives of states. And that message, they argue, points to Wilson.

Who would have seen this copy during the debates over the Constitution? If it is meant as a political message, it wouldn't do any good unless it was widely viewed. That would seem to me to be one of the next steps in determining the provenance of the document; what was it used for and who used it?

No matter who published it or why, this is a find of tremendous importance. Imagine working in that little records office in an out of the way corner of England and not having a clue that just a few feet away was a document of such significance.

I sincerely hope the Delcaration Project sends the document on tour around the country to be displayed at appropriate venues. There is no better time to remind us of our founding document than today, when so many of its principles have been trampled underfoot by those who sneer at the near miraculous story of our founding.
There was a certain melancholy about Earth Day 2017. The decades of failed predictions of doom, those damn frackers giving us cheap gas back, and now the Trump administration cutting regulations. No wonder some of the front men are getting a little testy.

Like Bill Nye, the guy who doesnt have a science degree. Matthe Balan of Mediaite caught him revealing his inner authoritarian:

TV personality Bill Nye criticized CNN on New Day Saturday for letting a skeptic of man-made climate change participate in a panel discussion. I will say, much as I love CNN, youre doing a disservice by having one climate change skeptic, and not 97 or 98 scientists or engineers concerned about climate change, Nye contended. Nye appeared with May Boeve of the green action group 350.org and Princeton University physics professor William Happer, who has downplayed the impact of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. So despite the two-to-one slant in favor of the environmentalists, the former PBS host wasnt satisfied.

The message of the American Left has devolved into shut up!
What holds Venezuela together these days? According to the New York Times, this state is held together only by an encircling ring of death-squad gangs, who serve as its enforcers. These are the community organizers known as 'colectivos' who ride and circle around menacingly on motorcycles, and shoot randomly into crowds to generate terror. I saw them myself in Caracas in late 2005, and they were scary. Now, they are engorged with drug cash and legitimized by the state. Who could have imagined that this tontons macoute situation would be the logical conclusion of Chavista socialism?

Not Venezuela's celebrity endorsers from the Hollywood elites, that's for sure. These Useful Idiots spent years using their capacity for drawing media attention to browbeat the West into believing that Chavista socialism was the wave of the future. They were no different from the political pilgrims who endorsed the Soviet Union in its early days while the Ukraine starved from the communists' man-made famine. Sean Penn declared that anyone in the West who called the late Hugo Chavez a dictator should be imprisoned and gushed:

(Chavez) is a fascinating guy. Hes done incredible things for the 80% of the people that are very poor there.

Meanwhile, film producers Michael Moore tweeted on Chavez's 2013 death that:

Hugo Chavez declared the oil belonged 2 the ppl. He used the oil $ 2 eliminate 75% of extreme poverty, provide free health & education 4 all

There was also celebrity linguist and leftwing activist Noam Chomsky:

In a 2013 interview, linguist and activist Noam Chomsky described the suggestion that Chavez had suppressed press freedom as a bit of a joke. He added: Theres a strong opposition press bitterly attacking him all the time. Theres much more of an opposition press than there is in most of Latin America There is some repression of the press, but its mostly, you know, verbal intimidation

Had enough? There's plenty more here in this PanAm Post compilation.

Here's the reality of the socialist regime they were defending:

They attack your neighbors when they are in food lines and are identified as opposition members, they attack store owners by making them pay extortions, they attack bakers by taking away part of their production which they later sell on the black market, he said. They are not true collectives, or political actors  they are criminals.

The Times continues:

Colectivos control vast territory across Venezuela, financed in some cases by extortion, black-market food and parts of the drug trade as the government turns a blind eye in exchange for loyalty. Now they appear to be playing a key role in repressing dissent.

Or how about this:

A woman whose butcher's shop was ransacked in violence overnight in Venezuela says the attack was like "a war." Liliana Altuna says looters armed with guns and knives attacked about 30 businesses in the community of El Valle over the course of five hours. An officer tried to help but Altuna says police were unable to stop looters from breaking the windows of her business and violently grabbing refrigerators, lamps, security cameras and anything else they could seize.

Suddenly the Hollywood chi-chi crowd has gone silent. Only Jamie Foxx and 1-800 Dial Joe-4-Oil Joe Kennedy are known to have paid visits in the last year to the palace of Venezuela's now-reigning gang dictator, Nicolas Maduro, who was hand-picked by Chavez to succeed him. Some leftists have attempted to blame the hellhole on 'populism' instead of socialism, as their way of delecting criticism to the perfectly blameless Donald Trump. It's been done in a Times op-ed here, and Rachel Maddow was ripped by Fox News' Tucker Carlson when she tried it here. Anything but put the finger where the culpability belongs - on socialism. Anything but blame their own vile enabling of an indefensible gang regime.

Way back in 2009, there was one voice of moral outrage, a Hollywood celebrity so outraged by the likes of Penn and his socialist coevals that she spoke out, a lone voice crying in the wilderness that in restrospect proved moral and prophetic - the actress Maria Conchita Alonso, who spoke out when speaking out wasn't fashionable. What she said, reading it now, is a thing of beauty:

The saccharine conventions of showbusiness were thrown out of the window last week, when the Hollywood actress Maria Conchita Alonso was collared by paparazzi and asked if she was pleased about her former co-star Sean Penn's recent Oscar victory.



"He's an amazing actor. I can't take that away from him," she said of Penn, who worked with her on the 1988 cop film Colors. "It's just that he has no clue at all what's going on in Venezuela. He's been praising Hugo Chavez, who is a dictator and a killer. He should shut up about what he doesn't know." Alonso, who was raised in Venezuela, was apparently upset by a glowing article that Penn had written for The Nation magazine about her homeland's charismatic but increasingly dictatorial left-wing President.

Alonso should be honored for her truth-telling. And all the Hollywood suckups to this vile tragedy should be held up to public scorn to the extent that they never show their faces in public again.
In case you missed it, yesterday was Earth Day, the high holy day of Earth-worshipers. So it was quite appropriate for Mother Earth's true believers, acolytes, and clueless subservients to trek en masse to the holiest city on the planet, Washington, D.C., for obeisance, especially when the present administration is threatening to cut back on government tithing to insatiable Gaia groupies, particularly in the area of global warming hysteria.

The reason for this year's pilgrimage is more than a bit hypocritical, however.

The pretense for self-righteous indignation this time is that somehow activist snowflakes just discovered that climate science is manipulated by politics. They already know that such science is influenced by money, thus a reason for stomping through the streets of Capital City.

But political influence? Big surprise.

After all, for at least the past eight years, atmospheric science in the form of "carbon pollution" is causing caustic chaos across the climate cosmos, has been practically front and center on the previous administration's agenda. And the previous administration, like so many before it, was all about pure objectivity in science.

Except that it wasn't. Nor were earlier administrations.

Politics influenced past scientific practice. Consider the roots of the global warming issue. Skipping the fact that the fear of the 1970s during the era of the first Earth Day  which began on April 22, 1970  was the coming of the next ice age, the global warming frenzy began in earnest on June 23, 1988. On that day, Senator Timothy Wirth had organized congressional hearings on climate change, staging the event on one of the hottest days of the year. Senator Wirth and his staff left the windows of the hearing room open all the sweltering night before the meeting to ensure an uncomfortable event the next day.

Furthermore, as noted in a recent commentary for The Washington Times, the year 1988 "also saw the establishment of the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC's stated role is to assess the 'risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation[.]" Typically, scientific investigation is not directed to find a preordained conclusion. There is a tendency, rather, to heed what Upton Sinclair cautioned: "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it."

And the championing of the climate craze by political scientist Al Gore is legendary, as is his An Inconvenient Truth film and his anticipated to be equally mythical movie opening this summer, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.

So, with politics already clouding climate science, is a dissipating of the political fog necessary by the current administration?

Anthony J. Sadar is a certified consulting meteorologist and author of In Global Warming We Trust: Too Big to Fail (Stairway Press, 2016).
Back in 1984, I moved to Texas and decided to get acquainted with my congressional district. Therefore, I took a trip over to the local GOP office, introduced myself, and offered my help.

I asked the precinct chairman to show me the boundaries of Representative Martin Frost's district, or the place where I was now living. He took me to the wall and showed me the map. The conversation went sort of like this:

I said: "That's a crazy looking district, isn't it? One side of the street is in one district and the neighbors are in the other."

He said: "Welcome to Texas. The Democrat legislature drew it up just perfect so that Frost could win."

I guess I got a good lesson in gerrymandering. By the way, Mr. Frost was gerrymandered out of his district when the GOP took over Texas.

The Democrats are apparently looking for another reason to explain how President Obama, the man of the high approval rates, or so they tell us, could lose 1,000 state seats under his watch. How could such a popular man not deliver seats? It must be something crooked!

They can't blame the Russians, so I guess blaming gerrymandering is the next best thing.

According to The New York Times, the Democrats are going back to the courts to get some help:

The hand-to-hand political combat in House elections on Tuesday in Georgia and last week in Kansas had the feel of the first rounds of an epic battle next year for control of the House of Representatives and the direction of national politics as the Trump presidency unfolds. But for all the zeal on the ground, none of it may matter as much as a case heading to the Supreme Court, one that could transform political maps from City Hall to Congress  often to Democrats benefit. A bipartisan group of voting rights advocates says the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature, the State Assembly, was gerrymandered by its Republican majority before the 2012 election  so artfully, in fact, that Democrats won a third fewer Assembly seats than Republicans despite prevailing in the popular vote. In November, in a 2-to-1 ruling, a panel of federal judges agreed. Now the Wisconsin case is headed to a Supreme Court that has repeatedly said that extreme partisan gerrymanders are unconstitutional, but has never found a way to decide which ones cross the line.

Let's see what the Supreme Court has to say. We hope they will do what they did not with abortion and marriage. In other words, let the state legislatures figure this out.

The Democrats' real problem, between the coasts, is the number of ethnic districts that result in other districts with large non-minority populations. The result is that they win certain districts easily and can't compete in the others. I don't know what they call that, but it is their real problem.

Let the state legislatures figure this out  the same way they did when Representative Martin Frost had a perfectly crafted district when the Democrats ran Texas.

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
Is there a passage in "The Art of the Deal" which states, "Give your final, best offer first. Then, when it's rejected, start negotiating from there with your opponent to give him everything he wants."? No? Because that's the strategy employed by President Trump in dealing with Chuck Schumer.

The White House is offering Democrats a dollar-for-dollar deal to fund Obamacare subsidies and the border wall in the upcoming spending bill, according to budget director Mick Mulvaney, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer shot it down, with snark. Mulvaney told Bloomberg Live on Friday that White House officials have told Democrats they're willing to fund $1 in Obamacare subsidies for every $1 thats provided for the border wall as both parties look to avert a government shutdown next Friday. Schumers office quickly threw cold water on the proposal, with spokesman Matt House saying Democrats thought Mexico was supposed to pay for the wall. The White House gambit to hold hostage health care for millions of Americans, in order to force American taxpayers to foot the bill for a wall that the president said would be paid for by Mexico is a complete nonstarter, he said. If the administration would drop their eleventh-hour demand for a wall that Democrats, and a good number of Republicans, oppose, congressional leaders could quickly reach a deal.

President Trump offered to keep funding Obamacare in return for getting funding for his border wall. Schumer's response was to pocket the concession and to laugh in the president's face. Now that he knows that Trump, in his opening negotiation, will agree to continue funding Obamacare, Schumer has what he wants, pockets the concession, and realizes he doesn't need to negotiate.

You might think, by the way that Schumer and Trump are acting, that it is Democrats who control the presidency, the House of Representatives, and the Senate, and Republicans are in the minority. But Democrats, who are in the minority, are the ones calling the shots on Obamacare and refusing to fund the border wall.

What a smart negotiator (not President Trump) might have done is first demand the border wall be funded, and offer no concessions. See what the other side says. If Schumer does not concede, and won't agree to a funding bill which funds the border wall, then let Schumer be responsible for shutting the government down, all over the issue of border security. Let the voters see that Schumer would rather shut down the government than let the country have a secure southern border. With such a strategy Trump would be negotiating from strength.

Instead he chooses to negotiate from weakness, even though his party controls the Congress and the presidency. Rather than agreeing to fund Obamacare as a last resort, he does it in his opening gambit. Well, at least we know now where Trump stands on Obamacare!

This is not the act of a skilled negotiator, but rather a dilettante. It's great to be born already rich.

Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com.
Are you against government-funded science? If you are, you must be against all science! That's the conclusion of a large number of parasites and freaks who went to giant costume parties all around the world dressed in white coats to give themselves a patina of authority.

Here are some of the dumbest things that were said at those rallies:

Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, [said] Science matters and without science wildlife have no chance for survival...."

Really? How did wildlife survive before there was "science"? Here's what retired astronaut Leland Melvin said:

"...its a beautiful planet, but there are a lot of things going on and without the data and without the science, we are going to decimate our planet and eradicate our civilization"

Without "the science"? Did Melvin call it "the science" when he was at NASA? For a former astronaut, he talks like an 8 year-old. Which brings us to...

Teddy Shipman, an 8-year-old New Yorker in D.C. for the march, stressed the importance of a healthy environment. Trees make oxygen, Shipman said. It helps us breathe. Who doesnt like that?

Well, Teddy, people hysterical about global warming don't like that. You see, Teddy, trees breathe carbon dioxide, and everyone around you at that rally wants less of that so trees can't breathe so well. But at least Teddy didn't call it "the science." I would put him ahead of Melvin for the next shuttle flight.

Im really concerned that Trump wants to cut the budget for the EPA, April Castoldi said. My mom was an employee of the EPA..."

Aha! Now we get to the nub of it. Not for the environment, but a public jobs program! More from the WaPo:

As marchers waited in a glacially moving line for the bag check, and huddled under umbrellas, 60-year-old Cathy Butler implored everyone to join her in a chant. Science, not silence! Science, not silence! she shouted.

Well, that's certainly a sophisticated argument. Worthy of science!

Erik Molvar... is a sage grouse expert who studies the impact of livestock on grouse habitat [and he wants taxpayer money].

Why should we pay for this guy to study the impact on the grouse habitat?

Emily Fink, 28, and Kayla Denson, 29, are biomedical researchers who drove seven hours from Buffalo to attend the march, and they said they fear the Trump administrations proposed budget cuts will imperil their careers.

What a Fink! She wants to suck on the public teat! What's wrong, they can't get a company to hire them? This next quote is funny:

Fink brought several copies of her resume to the march and held up a neon sign that read, Are you looking for a highly motivated post doc? Ask for CV. She thought the march might be a good networking opportunity, though so far no one had asked for a resume.

I wonder why? Maybe because no one there has a real job in the private sector.

But every time the Left gets together, for whatever reason, they have to fall back on some of their traditional axes to grind:

[Iranian American] Maryam Zaringhalam... a molecular biologist, and Fleming, a chemical engineer, had been concerned about the way diversity issues were dealt with by the march organizing committee. But I thought, people are going to be taking pictures at the march and this is what I want them to see, Zaringhalam said. I want them to see someone who looks like me. At their sign-making event Friday night, a passerby had asked what the women were doing. When they told him, he responded, You dont look like scientists. Craig Fryer, 47, marched down Constitution Avenue alongside several of his colleagues from the University of Maryland School of Public Health, all wearing T-shirts that read Black Scientists Matter. Fryer, a behavioral scientist who studies substance abuse, carried a sign that proclaimed Black Scientists Speaking Truth to Power. He said he and his colleagues are concerned about racial disparities in funding for research.

Black science matters! Do you think the government discriminates by giving science grants on too many "white" topics?

Organizers made sure their rallies had diverse leadership.

Taylor Richardson, a 13-year-old aspiring astronaut who raised $17,000 this year to send other girls to see the film Hidden Figures, chemist Mary Jo Ondrechen, a member of the Mohawk Nation and chair of the board of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society; and Gallaudet University biologist Caroline Solomon, who is deaf.

But there was no mention of a scientist in a burka, or a man dressed up a woman, or a white woman who thinks she is black, or a man who has conjugal relations with a Shetland pony, so how diverse could they really be?

What none of these marchers addressed is the fact that even without government funding of science, most scientific research, especially most practical scientific research, is done by the private sector. That's where most inventions come from. But under the guise of science, they claim that anyone against government funding of science is against science, just as they claim that anyone against illegal immigration is against immigration, and anyone against abortion is against women's health, and so on.

The slogan of the marchers is "There is no planet B." How did planet "A" manage to exist and function before there was a government to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on "science"?

Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com.
It's bad enough that President Trump violated his own campaign promise and continues the illegal, unconstitutional "DREAMer" amnesty created by President Obama. But now Trump is going out of his way to take the most dangerous illegal aliens that other countries don't want!

The United States will honor an Obama-era agreement with Australia to help resettle Syrian refugees, despite the Trump administration not favoring the arrangement, Vice President Mike Pence announced Saturday. "President Trump has made it clear that we'll honor the agreement  that doesn't mean we admire the agreement," Pence said during a joint news conference....

He's honoring it but not admiring it? That's the kind of doubletalk we expect from politicians. Well, I honor President Trump but don't admire him either.

Up to 1,250 refugees housed in Australian detention camps on Nauru and Papua New Guinea would come to the U.S. under the agreement made with President Barack Obama. Within the first 10 days as president, Trump had a tense phone call with Turnbull about the agreement. He followed up the phone call with a tweet several days later where he called the deal "dumb."

Trump was right. But you see that was the view of the January 2017 Donald Trump, whose views are different from the February 2017 Donald Trump and the March and April version as well. This is what you get when you have a president unmoored by a coherent belief system.

Obama made this bad deal, but Trump was not obligated to comply with it. And these are not just any refugees, these are refugees (probably mostly Muslim) from war-torn Syria. There is absolutely no way to vet these refugees, because there is no central, reliable government we trust to get this information from.

Candidate Trump had said that not only would he not admit any more refugees from Syria, he would send the ones here home. President Trump, meanwhile, has been admitting refugees from Syria at a faster rate than Obama, and now is taking in problematic refugees who weren't even trying to come to America.

How many "Trump refugees" will turn around and kill Americans? How many "Trump refugees" will walk around wearing burkas and demand special accommodations? How many "Trump refugees" will build mosques which blare the call to prayer, five times a day, over loudspeakers starting at 6 a.m.?

What's next? Will we start accepting Muslim refugees bound for Germany and France? Is this what Trump supporters voted for?

Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com.
Madeleine McCann: seeking the man by The Dolphin

Madeleine McCann appears on two national newspapers front pages today. You can read more about the Mirrors news on a top cops theories here.

So much for the opinion. What we who have followed this story from the outset crave are facts.

The Express has actual news on the actual investigation into what happened to the missing child. The paper leads with the phone box clue to Missing Maddie.

James Murray says:

DETECTIVES are investigating phone calls made from a telephone box in Praia da Luz in a bid to trace a man acting suspiciously shortly before Madeleine McCann disappeared.

Indeed. It is odd. Who uses a phone box these days?

The story goes that Adrian and Lizelle Marais, a married couple working at an eatery called The Dolphin close to the phone box, spotted a strange man who looked similar to a photofit of a suspect. Their restaurant is around 700 metres from the Ocean Club, where Madeleine McCann was staying.

So which suspect are we looking at? Weve seen a few in the media. The paper notes:

That led Portugals public prosecutor to order all phone records for the call box to be checked in an effort to find the man, who has never been traced.

Adding:

The prosecutor made the order on the grounds that the man may have abducted or murdered the lost three-year-old.

And so the jump is made. From being man at phone box at a busy summer holiday report, he is now someone who may have murdered a child.

We then get to which suspect the story relates to.

The call box is 50 yards from the spot where a man carrying a child similar to Madeleine was seen by Irishman Martin Smith and his family, who had been dining at the Dolphin at around 9pm on the night she disappeared.

Mr Smiths account formed part of a Crimewatch reenactment.

Policia Judiciaria files on the case outline what Lizelle told officers the day after Madeleine vanished. The report states: The person used the public telephone for long periods of time, always more than 10 minutes. To her, the person did not appear to be either a tourist or a resident. One time she had passed close to him and had felt strange but did not know why.

Mysterious stuff. But not new. Just old and in light of no developments in the case over ten years, still worthy of a look. And, as the Star proves with its interpretation of the Express story, anything can be vital in the mystery of Our Maddie. Says the Star: Madeleine McCann: Phone box may be key to finding Maddie. Or not.

Anorak

Posted: 23rd, April 2017 | In: Madeleine McCann, Reviews, Tabloids Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
The chairman of the ballets board of trustees, David Hoffman, said he was sorry the company was losing them but added: I wish them well. People should take opportunities when they get them.'
Study finds conception of new billionaires coming from wealth families as a mistake.

It said that the increase in billionaires is due to massive local economy and globalised Indian enterprises.

New Delhi: India has seen a new billionaire almost every month since 2010 and majority of them are self-made, according to a report by UK based wealth consulting firm Ahmadoff & Company.

It said that the increase in billionaires is due to massive local economy and globalised Indian enterprises. We have always imagined Indian private capital is in hands of old wealth rather than self-made entrepreneurs, however our research explains that self-made Indians take care of 65 per cent of wealth of billionaires and it has been stabilised at this ratio since 2010, said the report released early this month.

The Forbes list had 101 Indian billionaires among them at its record number historically which added twenty two new names in the last two years.

The report said that steady high growth rates of the economy created demand to new services and goods, specifically from pharmaceuticals, healthcare and construction industries.

The report noted that reducing poverty introduces opportunities for entrepreneurs who both understands basic needs of society deeply and is able to execute business operations in given economic situation.

For example, healthcare and pharmaceutical industry has sent 10 business founders to the Forbes billionaires list in the last seven years more than any industry in India followed by retail industry which made 7 billionaires during that period, it said.

While few people even among billionaire control a major chunk of wealth, it is coming down year after year due to fast growth of almost all entrepreneur-led industries in Indian economy.

Enough competition for billions of dollars became intense during the last few years, average wealth level of the richest five men decreased to $16.5 billion this year from $20.3 billion of 2010 though entry ticket was same in these years. It means about $20 billion of wealth from only this group have been redistributed to other billionaires or brought 20 billionaires to the Forbes list, said the report.

The total wealth of the richest fifty billionaires to Indian GDP decreased to 11.7 per cent from 13.4 per cent during 2010-17.

Interestingly marriage and family affairs play important role and only 2 per cent of billionaires have got married second time, in other cases they keep long and calm life with their family. Average number of children in rich families is 2.3 according our research, smaller families with sons and daughters are billionaires existing major family structure in India, said the report.
Quick-reaction teams will now escort the UP CM at all times and secure his residence, office.

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanaths security was upgraded and the state was put on alert on Saturday following intelligence inputs that about two dozen terrorists posing as saffron-clad saints could target religious sites and other public places.

Officials said the terrorists  trained by Pakistans spy agency ISI  have entered UP via Nepal. State DGP Sulkhan Singh told reporters that the police is equipped to deal with any situation.

The alert shared by the Madhya Pradesh police comes about a month after Mr Adityanath took over as UPs CM on the back of fiery anti-Muslim rhetoric. It also comes two days after security agencies busted a suspected module of the terror outfit ISIS.

Following the alert, quick-reaction teams (QRTs) will escort the CM at all times and secure his residence and office.

The saffron-robed 44-year-old has been requested not to meet any visitor not frisked by security personnel. Entry to his residence has been further restricted. People will be thoroughly frisked before being allowed to participate in the daily Janata Darshan of the shaven-headed priest-politician.

We have been informed that these militants have learnt local dialects and accent, and can recite from scriptures, even the Gayatri Mantra for access to places that VIPs frequent, said a senior police official.

The police said that the ISIS suspects arrested recently from UP had been living in rented houses, posing as tilak-wearing Hindus.

Security was being upgraded at religious places  including Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura  and also at vital installations, including airports, bus and railway stations, besides the state Assembly and Lok Bhavan, UPs new seat of power.

Special security measures were being taken for the Gorakhnath temple of which the CM is the spiritual head. Special police teams with sniffer dogs and metal detectors were being deployed to regulate entry into the temple area.

Police officials have been directed to mobilise local intelligence sources and track those seen asserting their Hindu identity. The terrorists may even pose as tantriks to escape police scrutiny, officials said.

Later in the evening, UP ATS IG Aseem Arun however told news agency ANI that the hype is unnecessary and that the security agencies are always on alert.
The DGP said that he was aware of the presence of IS sympathizers in the state and adequate measures would be taken to deal with the challenge.

Lucknow: The newly-appointed director-general of police (DGP) Sulkhan Singh said that that no one would be allowed to take the law in his hands even if he happened to be a gau rakshak (cow vigilante).

Talking to reporters after taking charge, the DGP said that his emphasis would be on improving police-public relations but criminal elements would be dealt with seriously. Mr Singh, also the senior most IPS officer in the state, said, Uniform action will be taken against those who break the law. There will be no bias and the guilty will be punished, irrespective of his political connections.

The DGP said that he was aware of the presence of IS sympathizers in the state and adequate measures would be taken to deal with the challenge. Mr Singh was brought in as the new DGP on Friday night after an intelligence input said that terrorists could don saffron robes to gain easy access to target chief minister Yogi Adityanth. Mr Singh said that the UP police was on alert in the wake of the report.

It may be recalled that on March 8, an alleged member of the Khurasan module of the ISIS was shot dead in an encounter in Lucknow. Some others arrested later confirmed the presence if ISIS sympathizers in the state. Mr Singh added that his priority was to ensure the safety and security of the women in the state.

The DGP, who is due to retire later this year, said, I have to prove my worth during this period.
Modis visit coincides with the establishment of 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

New Delhi: A raft of mega defence deals, including the procurement of an air defence system for the Indian Navy, are likely to be sealed during Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming visit to Israel, which will be the first by an Indian PM to the Jewish nation.

Ahead of the visit, which is likely to take place in July, Israeli envoy Daniel Carmon said it will be a big visit, reflecting the depth of cooperation between the two countries in a range of key areas.

The much-awaited deal for Barak-8 air defence missile systems for the Navy and the procurement of Spike anti-tank missiles for the Indian Army are expected to be firmed up during Mr Modis visit to Tel Aviv.

India, Israel relations are big enough. The visit, when it takes place, will be a very very important visit. It will be one of the most important visits that Israel has witnessed in many many years, Israeli ambassador Daniel Carmon told PTI in an interview.

Mr Modis visit coincides with the establishment of 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. A number of other defence deals are also likely to be discussed.

Asked about specific defence deals, the envoy said only that the relationship has gone beyond buying and selling, and that the two countries were now focussing majorly on joint research and development.

Israel has very good relations with India and the relationship has various facets including defence, he said.

People familiar with defence relations say the two multi-billion dollar acquisition deals are likely to be finalised during the PMs trip.
It is significant that the BJP is also the constituent of the ruling alliance led by Nagaland Peoples Front in Nagaland.

A copy of the notice in possession of this newspaper in which a pan-shop owner at Dimapur has been asked to pay an amount of Rs 15,000 is also published here.

Guwahati: If the parallel administration being run by NSCN(I-M) in Nagaland has decided to reduce the annual tax they collect from Nagaland government employees by 50 per cent, the other factions of the outfit has intensified their self-style tax collections from shops and business establishments in Nagaland.

The NSCN(I-M)s political wing  the Government of Peoples Republic of Nag-alim  in a press release on Saturday informed that employee tax has been reduced from the existing 24 per cent to 12 per cent.

However, at the same time, another faction of NSCN (Reformation), which has its headquarters in Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, has intensified extortion from shop owners and businessmen in Nagaland. The shopkeepers and businessmen pointed out that they have been served notices by the NSCN(R) cadres to pay an amount ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000 as tax for the year 2017-18. A copy of the notice in possession of this newspaper in which a pan-shop owner at Dimapur has been asked to pay an amount of Rs 15000 is also published here.

Though ongoing practices of tax collection by various factions of NSCN has been brought to the notice of state government, it remains indifferent, the shop owners said.

It is significant that the BJP is also the constituent of the ruling alliance led by Nagaland Peoples Front in Nagaland.

Earlier, every employee was required to pay 24 per cent of their one-months salary to NSCN(I-M) once a year. With slashing of rates, each employee will now have to pay 1 per cent of their months salary (12 per cent in a year) to the group.

It is significant that apart from two dominant faction of NSCN  the Isak-Muivah and the Khaplang faction  there are at least two more factions of the outfit which is running a parallel government in the Naga-dominated areas of the Northeast.

The press release also referred that the decision to reduce the taxes was taken in view of the plight of the common Naga people, to ease the burden of the tax payer and requested every responsible individual to cooperate.

Besides taxing state government employees, rebel outfits also impose certain levies on central government employees, traders and business owners and house owners.

The NSCN (IM), has been in a ceasefire mode since 1997 and holding talks with government of India.
It bares open trust deficit between Army and political leadership: RAW report.

New Delhi: The trust deficit between Pakistans security establishment, primarily the Army as well as the ISI, and the countrys political leadership can be gauged from the fact that the former kept the process of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhavs trial completely secret and flagged it to the government only once the process was nearing completion. A Pakistani military court had recently sentenced Mr Jadhav to death, claiming that he was a spy for Indias Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and had carried out subversive activities in Karachi and Baluchistan.

This aspect has been highlighted in a recent report prepared by R&AW on the Jadhav episode and forwarded to some key security agencies. According to the report, details of which have been accessed by this newspaper, The Pakistani security establishment was apprehensive that information on Jadhavs trial could get leaked from some political functionaries in the government. So, they maintained complete secrecy on the trial and informed the government only once the process was in the final stages.

Pakistan has consistently denied India consular access to Mr Jadhav and has not provided any information about his whereabouts or his health condition. The report has also raised serious doubts on whether Mr Jadhav was provided a lawyer or a chance to defend himself. Incidentally, the death sentence was confirmed by Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa after the court found Mr Jadhav guilty.

India has already lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the manner in which Mr Jadhavs trial was conducted. The government has reiterated its commitment of doing everything possible to help Mr Jadhav, but its efforts are being strongly resisted by Pakistans security establishment.

The R&AW report also says that Mr Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran by some subversive outfits being backed by Pak ISI. Union home minister Rajnath Singh had already informed the Parliament during the recently-concluded session that Mr Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran. While punching loopholes in Pakistan theory, the home minister had told Parliament, Pakistan had informed the media that Jadhav was caught with a valid Indian passport. I wonder which spy travels carrying a genuine passport with him.

Meanwhile, intelligence agencies are trying to ascertain the location where Mr Jadhav is being confined by the Pakistani security establishment, as well as his health condition. The manner in which the Pakistan Army and the ISI handled the Jadhav issue shows that they dont trust their own government or leadership. They maintained complete secrecy over his trial and are doing the same even now by keeping his exact location under wraps, a senior intelligence official said.
Locals said that both Jagabandhu and the victim were in a relationship for the past one year.

According to reports, the survivor was thrown into a well after being raped and left to die. (Representational image)

Bhubaneswar: A young woman was allegedly raped and thrown into a well in Odisha on Friday night by her lover after she insisted that he marry her, a report said on Saturday.

The incident was reported from Khuntiapali village in Sonepur district, around 300 km from here. According to reports, the survivor was thrown into a well after being raped and left to die. However, she was rescued in an unconscious state by locals while the accused is reportedly absconding after the incident.

Sources said that the accused, identified as Jagabandhu Pradhan, threw the 24-year-old victim into the well after his attempt to strangulate her to death failed. Locals said that both Jagabandhu and the victim were in a relationship for the past one year.

The victim had eloped from her house following the assurances by the youth that he would marry her. However, the accused subsequently changed his mind. He tried to eliminate the girl by strangulation. As his planned failed due to her stiff resistance, he threw her into a well thinking that she will drown to death in its deep water, said the local Biramaharajpur police.

The inspector added the girl somehow managed to save her life and shouted for help following which the local residents rescued her.

Earlier on April 19, a 12-year-old minor was allegedly gang-raped by three persons, including a juvenile, in Ghatagaon area in Keonjhar. The incident had occurred when the minor was returning home alone after watching a cultural show n the village. Later, police had arrested all three accused basing on the statements of the victim.
The police said that about 300 people had participated in the violence, whom the police was trying to identify.

Lucknow: A BJP MP has been booked for his alleged involvement in violence at Sadak Doodhli in Saharanpur of Uttar Pradesh. Raghav Lakhanpal, the MP from Saharanpur, has also been booked for vandalism at the SSPs residence.

Mr Lakhanpal and a dozen others have been booked a day after members of two communities had clashed after a group led by the BJP MP tried to forcibly take out a procession to mark Ambedkar Jayanti.

The police said that about 300 people had participated in the violence, whom the police was trying to identify. The cases have been registered for rioting, hurting a public servant to deter him from doing his duty and endangering the personal safety of others. Several people were injured in the violence, including stone-pelting and exchange of fire.

The violence comes against the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath repeatedly telling his party cadres not to indulge in violence and get out of the habit of taking to the streets to protest.

Angry that their procession had been cut short, the BJP MP not only led the protesters but also marched to Saharanpur SSP Love Kumars official residence where his supporters broke the officers nameplate and damaged CCTV cameras.

According to news reports, Mr Lakhanpal also made a short speech, saying, If they (police) had any brains, they would have raided those houses (from where stones were allegedly thrown)... and let our procession be completed.

But they did not do it, he said, before pledging to get the police chief sacked.

Because the captaan, a reference to police chief, is naalayak (worthless). Now this captaan will be removed from here. A new captaan will come and the new captaan will get our procession to pass through, with planning, the 40-year-old politician said.

That Thursdays procession was just 100 metres short of its destination when the police dispersed them, he declared, was a big achievement, something that had not happened in seven years.
All officers and security personnel are directed to treat the people with respect and dignity and not to turn away any complainant.

Lucknow: At 6am, the crossing near the UP chief ministers residence is throbbing with activity. More than a 600-700 people from all corners of the state wait patiently for their turn. Chief minister Yogi Adityanaths residence at 5, Kalidas Marg is emerging as the new citadel for those in trouble.

Without fail, the chief minister has been holding his janata darshan for almost three to four hours every morning. On the days he is out of Lucknow, the officers are directed to accept the applications and note down the details. Yogis janata darshan offers immediate relief and people invariably come out of the venue with a smile on their faces.

All officers and security personnel are directed to treat the people with respect and dignity and not to turn away any complainant. The people are made to sit on chairs while the chief minister goes from person to person, taking applications and listening to their woes. In maximum cases, he orders immediate actionwhether it is financial assistance for patients or for marriages. He is also strict about cases related to police atrocities, said an officer on duty.

In the past one month the chief minister has received an estimated 26,000 complaints and requests. Of these, 12, 083 complaints are related to the police department alone. The Lucknow zone has had 2,449 complaints while Varanasi follows with 1,602 complaints. Cases of land grabbing also abound in the yogis janata darshan. and the culprits in most cases are Samajwadi leaders.

In the past three weeks, the chief minister has been beset with complaints of triple talaq from women who have been victims of the practice. The chief minister has now diverted all the complaints to UP minister for womens welfare Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

The janata darshan, initially called the janata darbar, was a practice initiated by Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav in 2003 but was discontinued in the Mayawati regime. Mr Akhilesh Yadav revived the practice but lost interest in it after the first few months.

According to UP BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak, the crowds at the janata darshan are a reflection on the poor governance of the previous Akhilesh government. The thousands who turn up to meet the chief minister are an indication of the fact that the governing system had stopped working at the district level, he said.

A senior minister, meanwhile, said that the chief minister has decided to sift through the complaints. Officials in districts that throw up maximum complaints will be held accountable. We want a system where maximum complaints get addressed at the district and tehsil level. When the crowds at the janata darshan begin dwindling, we will understand that the system has started working, he said.
Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the BJP has not banned cow slaughter though it is in power in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.

Guwahati: After their success in Assam and Manipur, the BJP has embarked upon an ambitious plan to make inroad in Christian-dominated frontier state of Meghalaya in 2018.

Terming Meghalaya as worst-performing state of Northeast, Assam finance minister and convenor of Northeast Democratic Alliance Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the BJP has not banned cow slaughter though it is in power in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.

He also added that the BJP encourages learning of local languages in schools and clarified that there is no move to impose learning of Hindi.

Launching a frontal attack on Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma, who turned 52 on Thursday, Mr Sarma, predicted that Mr Sangma would lose in Ampati constituency. He has been winning from Ampati, his home turf, since the 1993 Assembly polls. Mr Sarma, who was in Shillong to attend the fifth state executive committee meeting, also claimed that they are confident to form BJP government in the state in 2018.

Indicating that the BJP was preparing to contest in all the 60 Assembly seats, Mr Sarma said, We are of view that Meghalaya has a very unpopular government. Meghalaya has not seen the kind of development, which the people of the state deserve. Therefore, in order to make Meghalaya a front-ranking state there should be a government which would be ready to implement Modis vision both in letter and spirit.

Election to the 60-member Assembly was scheduled to take place in February-March 2018. Though, Mr Sarma was confident to win Meghalaya on its own strength, the BJP has also started roping in anti-Congress forces in the state.
Congress vice-president has increased his online presence, now tweeting more frequently about issues and his programmes.

New Delhi: The Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday trolled Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comments to civil servants. The Prime Minister addressing officers on Civil Services Day on Friday had asked officers not to use social media for self promotion.

Mr Gandhi put out a tweet on Saturday saying, Leading by example is clearly overrated. He also attached a picture of the tweet of a newspaper, which showed the Prime Minister addressing the civil servants and a caption PM to babus dont use social media for self promotion or spend too much time online.

This prompted Mr Gandhis rival and textile minister Smriti Irani to rejoin. Look who is talking about being overrated, she tweeted. The tweet was accompanied by a smiley.

Ms Irani has had frequent run-ins with Mr Gandhi ever since she unsuccessfully contested from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat in 2014 against the Congress leader.

After his sabbatical, the Congress vice-president has increased his online presence, now tweeting more frequently about issues and his programmes. The Prime Minister has been using the medium profusely much before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Mr Gandhi had defeated textile minister Smriti Irani in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when she contested against him in his family bastion Amethi. But Ms Irani clearly has not given up in spite of the defeat, as she is a regular in the constituency. The war continues online and offline.
According to sources, the team has asked Dhinakaran to reappear before the investigating officers around 2 .P.M.

New Delhi: Beleagured AIADMK leader and nephew of V.S. Sasikala, T.T.V. Dinakaran, was questioned by sleuths of the Delhi police crime branch on Saturday over his alleged attempts to bribe the Election Commission in order to get the partys two leaves symbol, which had been frozen by the EC.

Mr Dinakaran flew in from Chennai on Saturday morning and arrived at the crime branch inter-state cell office in Chanakyapuri at 3 pm. The questioning began around 3.15 pm at the inter state cell office of the crime branch amid tight security.

The AIADMK leader, who was a candidate for the R.K. Nagar bypoll in Tamil Nadu, has been accused of bribing Sukesh Chandrashekhar to appropriate the two leaves symbol of the AIADMK. The EC had blocked the party symbol after rival factions led by K. Palaniswamy and O. Panneerselvam staked claim to it ahead of the bypoll necessitated by former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaas death.

The two factions had also been asked to pick new party names for the R.K. Nagar bypoll. However, the bypolls have since been countermanded and the two factions are trying to work out the modalities of a merger.

Police sources said Mr Dinakaran was questioned about the money trail, his association with Mr Chandrasekar and whether he met any EC official. The probe team handed over a questionnaire to Mr Dinakaran, which contained his call records. Both Mr Dinakaran and Mr Chandrashekhar were made to sit in the same room. He was grilled for over seven hours and allowed to go at around 10.15 pm, asking him to appear before the probing team for further questioning on Sunday.

According to sources, the team has asked Dhinakaran to reappear before the investigating officers around 2 .P.M.

Mr Dinakarans lawyers were not allowed to accompany him during the questioning. His call details, WhatsApp messages and SMSes are also being examined, the police said. The police is also likely to collect the voice samples of both to ascertain the truth, the sources said.

Mr Chandrashekhar had reportedly tried to strike a deal of `50 crore to help the Dinakaran faction keep the two leaves poll symbol. The crime branch recovered approximately `1.3 crore and two luxury cars, a BMW and a Mercedes, from Mr Chandrashekhar. The Delhi police had also filed an FIR in which Mr Dinakaran was also named.
The BJP chief ministers were also asked to formulate and successfully implement schemes that benefit the common man.

New Delhi: The BJPs top brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah, on Sunday held a meeting of 13 BJP chief ministers and deliberated on the vision for a New India that would include the poor, the deprived and farmers in the development model and in promoting Antodaya schemes. Mr Modi reiterated that a New India could be achieved by bringing in Antodaya  social justice and socio-economic equality  for all. The term Antodaya (reaching out to the last man) was coined by Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhayay and has been the guilding principle of Central government schemes and various BJP campaigns. Several Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari and M. Venkaiah Naidu, also attended this meeting at the BJP headquarters. Two deputy chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh  Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma  also attended the meeting. The chief ministers of BJP-ruled states also told the party bosses about the ways and means used to promote schemes, including Central schemes. The BJP top brass told them to stress on the social media to promote as well as to connect with the masses.

The BJP chief ministers were also asked to formulate and successfully implement schemes that benefit the common man. At the recently-concluded BJP national executive meeting in Bhubaneswar, Mr Modi had asked the party leaders to work towards socio-economic transformation of the country along with providing good and corruption-free governance. They were also asked about the progress of various Central schemes and how these have benefited the poor and marginalised. Some of the chief ministers, including Madhya Pradeshs Shivraj Singh Chouhan, also held presentations of some state schemes.

On many occasions, Mr Modi has stressed on promoting and implementing pro-poor policies with party leaders. It was also the central theme of Mr Modis address at the BJP national executive meeting in Bhubaneswar.
The shocking practice is not only making women feel violated but is being encouraged among men.

Using protection during sex is crucial with availability of more ways and greater willingness to get in action with more partners. But few risky practices are not only exposing young people to STDs but they also violate consent and trust between couples.

Not a very long time back, a man in France was convicted for rape after he removed his condom during intercourse without his partners knowledge. While the violation of consent was shocking, whats more worrying is the revelation that this is actually a trend called stealthing.

A new study not only sheds light on the plight of women who have fallen victim to this practice, but also points out sources on the internet which are actually encouraging more men to do it. One observation was that many women who felt violated were not sure how to report it and couldnt figure out if this counts as rape.

Removing a condom without knowledge of a partner violates conditional consent since a woman consenting to sex with a condom doesnt necessarily agree to have sex without a condom, and hence qualifies as rape. But men encouraging others and doing so feel they are entitled to remove a condom during sex.

The idea of this entitlement comes from male supremacy where men feel violence is their natural right.
A copy of the complaint was posted on the partys official Twitter account.

New Delhi: Taking on the State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the reports of faulty electronic voting machines (EVMs) were pouring in from across the national capital on the polling day.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo also alleged that many voters with valid voter slips were not allowed to exercise their franchise in the municipal polls. The Delhi CM has been raising his pitch against the EVMs and had earlier demanded that the election be postponed till arrangements for VVPAT equipped electronic voting machines were made.

Reports from all over Delhi of EVM malfunction, people wid voter slips not allowed to vote. What is SEC doing? (sic) he wrote on Twitter.

Former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav led Swaraj India party registered a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) regarding the EVM malfunctioning. A copy of the complaint was posted on the partys official Twitter account. Button number 7 of the EVM in the above booth has been allotted to the complainant/candidate. Shakuntala Devi and several others (who are registered voters of above booth) have reported to the complainant/candidate that with the intention of voting for the candidate, they pressed Button No.7 but they could not hear any beep. Further, the button did not return to its original position after being pressed, the complaint filed by Avika Sakha, who is the advocate and legal adviser of the party, said.

An SEC official admitted that there were reports of technical glitches from a few places but added that the faults were rectified.

The VVPAT machine dispenses a slip with the symbol of the party a person has voted for. The slip drops in a box, but the voter cannot take it home. The voters, however, can see the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slip for seven seconds. Earlier, after casting his vote, Mr Kejriwal urged the voters of Delhi to come out of their houses and exercise their franchise for a dengue and chikungunya free Delhi. I appeal to the people to come out in large numbers and vote for a chikungunya and dengue free Delhi, he said. Asked if the MCD polls were a referendum on the AAP government, he said, We will see that when the results are declared.
Aim is to eliminate hassle of buying separate tickets at connecting stns.

Officials took into account that the commuter often has to catch the train on two or more lines.

Mumbai: A pass has been proposed that allows commuters to travel on Western, Central and Harbour lines routes for Rs 500 a month, albeit in second-class. The fare proposal, which was made by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC), also suggests that monthly all-route first-class passes should cost Rs 1,500.

Railway officials said they have proposed this fare structure keeping in mind that the commuter does not have a fixed office and has to catch the train on two or more lines.

Senior MRVC officials made a presentation to the Railway Board members in November. Although nothing has been finalised as of yet, officials feel that the fare restructuring is doable. An official said, This is a very practical suggestion and many people will actually go for this as it is very practical and might even lead to a slight spike in our ticketing revenue.

The MRVC was created exclusively to deal with the problems of the Mumbai suburban railway, where passenger density is massive.

The official explained that the all-route proposal had been suggested to eliminate the hassle of getting off at connecting stations like Kurla or Dadar and buying a separate ticket after the railways stopped the extension system. He said, Earlier, if you had a pass from Kalyan to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) but needed to go to Andheri one day, you would get extension from Dadar. But now you are being asked to pay the entire amount. He further added, And the physical effort of going and taking a separate ticket when you are in hurry is also cumbersome.

MRVC chief managing director Prabhat Sahai said, The proposal has been made to the board but we are yet to hear from it about if it is being taken into consideration.
The deemed universities were aggrieved by the order as it implied that they would have no say in the admission process at all.

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has allowed deemed medical and dental universities in the state to file a fresh writ petition challenging the central governments order and clarification letter issued by the UGC regarding admissions based on National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Earlier, the writ petitions filed by the universities had sought clarity on the procedure of the admission after the state government had said that it would conduct the admissions based on NEET results. However, after the Supreme Court issued an order in September last year enumerating the method of admission, the petitions by the universities became infructuous and hence were disposed of by the high court.

A division bench of Justices Shantanu Kemkar and B.P. Colabawalla was hearing a clutch of petitions filed by various deemed medical and dental colleges in the state. The petition questioned the validity of the state governments decision to conduct admissions to all medical and dental colleges including deemed universities based on the NEET results.

The deemed universities were aggrieved by the order as it implied that they would have no say in the admission process at all. The universities had challenged the constitutional validity of such a decision on the grounds that they were independent and had the right to administer themselves. The universities had managed to get interim relief from the Bombay high court last year before the start of the admission process.

However, after the state challenged the stay, the Supreme Court enumerated the method of admission to deemed universities. The order also said that a committee comprising of state government officials as well as representatives of the deemed universities would conduct the second and third counselling rounds.
China has consistently followed a policy towards India of engagement with containment.

Diplomacy is about strategy and perception. The first requires careful and deliberative planning as well as anticipation, both in the short term and the long term. The second is about working to ensure how other countries perceive us. If, in spite of all the strategic planning, the impression that a country projects is that it is weak-kneed and will bow down to threat and intimidation, then much of its strategy is also devalued.

These ruminations are relevant in the context of recent developments in our relations with China. It is an important neighbour, and an emerging superpower with which we have significant bilateral relations that we should seek to strengthen further. This being said, the manner in which it has reacted to the recent visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh, requires us to reconsider our own response to China within the larger matrix of Indo-Chinese relations.

Reacting to the proposed visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh earlier this month, the Chinese foreign office issued an official statement saying that this step will cause serious damage to bilateral ties, adding ominously that New Delhi must make a choice about whether it still intends to proceed with the visit. Such threatening statements continued throughout the visit. After it was over, the Chinese government assigned Chinese names to six areas in Arunachal Pradesh and reiterated its claim that the state was south Tibet and part of China. An authorised Chinese media outlet said, India will pay dearly if it continues the petty game of playing the Dalai Lama card.

The Dalai Lama was provided refuge in India in 1959, 58 years ago. We have consistently told China that we see him as a religious leader, and that India does not question Chinas claim over Tibet. But, what has Chinas approach been? From our point of view, China is in illegal possession of Aksai Chin, which it occupied after the 1962 war. Since 1993, it has been the clear understanding between both countries that neither side will interfere in the management of territories on either side of the roughly 4, 000 kms disputed line of actual control (LAC). Although we should have, we have not protested on Chinese movements in Aksai Chin. However, China publicly and emphatically continues to lay claim to Arunachal Pradesh that is an integral part of India. In fact, it has even advised us to exercise caution and restraint in our efforts to link Arunachal Pradesh to our national rail network!

Moreover, China has invested heavily in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), which we claim as part of our territory, and is an area internationally accepted as a disputed area. In recent times it is building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through PoK, with investments running into billions of US dollars. But, our response to such direct provocations has been at best muted. In contrast, we appear deferential and accommodating when China protests our oil exploration in the South China Sea, which has not been declared internationally as a disputed area.

China has consistently followed a policy towards India of engagement with containment. We have welcomed it, but have never had a firm or consistent response to the policies of containment. For instance, when China announced that Indian citizens from Arunachal Pradesh will get stapled visas, we seemed to have been taken by surprise. Our response then could have been to announce stapled visas for Tibetans of Chinese origin. But once again, we lacked the guts to provide an appropriate riposte to an openly provocative action.

There are other issues too, vital to our national interest, on which China has been decisively unhelpful. It is the one country that has placed a roadblock to our membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). It has also put a veto on the UN ban on Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Masood Azhar. Chinas defence funding of Pakistan, including clandestinely supplying it with nuclear technology, is also well-documented. It is also no secret that China encourages when it wishes the rebel groups in the North-east against India.

I think, therefore, the time has come for India to decide what the idiom of our response should be to Chinese behaviour. Should we, as we just demonstrated in Arunachal Pradesh, proceed with our resolve on what we believe to be in our national interest, irrespective of Chinas crude threats? I think we should. This does not mean that we needlessly escalate differences to a crisis point. But it does mean that we are also prepared to stand up with dignity in the face of Chinese provocations, reiterate without prevarication what is in our national interest, and eschew our normal pattern of deferential responses.

Such a change in our response would also require us to urgently give attention to our state of defence preparedness along the disputed boundary with China. China spends more than twice of what India does on its defence requirements. Yet, its defence expenditure, as a percentage of its GDP, is lower than that of India. The Chinese economy has grown at a faster pace, and its defence budget, although larger is more efficiently used. Arms imports have come down drastically. Russia and Ukraine are the only major outside suppliers of Chinas weaponry, most of which is now produced at lesser cost at home. In contrast, the state of our indigenous arms production is abysmal, and funds for vitally needed projects along the Indo-China border are perennially in short supply.

In diplomacy, perceptions matter. The time has come for us to ensure that in Chinas perception we are not a nation that can easily be threatened or intimidated, or a country that will perpetually provide a muted response to Chinas openly hostile actions against our interests. Once this is adequately projected, there is no reason why we should not work, in our own national interest, to strengthen bilateral relations with a country, which is not only a neighbour we must live with, but also a major power with whom we have a wide and vital spectrum of interactions.
Since 2015, Daesh has also expanded its footprint under the nose of American troops.

India is still the most popular country for Afghans  as a friend that has offered substantial aid in education, infrastructure, and community projects, more than most developed countries. And yet, the stagnation in Indian policy appears regressive. Indian policy appears to have not changed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi while other powerful neighbours of Afghanistan  Russia, China and Iran  have recalibrated policy to boost the Pakistan-nurtured Taliban, and nudge it towards political settlement with Kabul, hoping that the resulting political consolidation in Afghanistan will be a hedge against the expanding Daesh (Islamic State), which Moscow, Beijing and Teheran fear. Taliban is inimical to Daesh.

While the regional political and security constructs are being finetuned, the US, still the worlds most influential power with military bases in Afghanistan, has come under suspicion in Afghan eyes. It ousted the Taliban from power in Kabul but benignly permitted its regrouping in next-door Pakistan with the ISIs help, and not asked sharp enough questions of the Pakistanis. Since 2015, Daesh has also expanded its footprint under the nose of American troops. The use of the so-called mother of all bombs, the most powerful non-nuclear detonation device in the world, in eastern Afghanistan, ostensibly against Daesh positions, earlier this month, has not persuaded Afghans that this was a part of a genuine US fight against terrorist groups.

Daesh is still considered not strong enough to attract such retributive attention, while the Taliban have been treated with kid gloves over a dozen years. As such, protests erupted in Kabul against the use of the MOAB, which was locally viewed as contemptuous of Afghan sovereignty. High-voltage political preparation seems to be afoot in Afghanistan to challenge the Ashraf Ghani-Abdullah Abdullah government, which accepted the US detonation of the MOAB without demur, by political constituencies that have so far been favourably inclined toward India.

New Delhi, in Afghan eyes, as seen in media writings, is perceived as being quietist, and thus incapable of carrying influence in a situation of flux in the regions strategic dynamics. More, its approach seems to Afghans an adjunct to Washingtons thinking. This became more apparent during last weeks visit to New Delhi by US national security adviser H.R. McMaster.

On Saturday, India strongly condemned the biggest terrorist attack against the Afghan military in Mazar-e-Sharif and spoke of the need to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan. This is now par for the course. To be credible in a changing situation, Delhi needs to nuance its stand from Washingtons, and open communication channels with the Taliban with the goal of an Afghan political reconciliation and to help extricate the Taliban from Pakistans grip, distancing itself in this respect from the Chinese, Russian or Iranian stance.
The announcement was made by the president of GM's China unit, Matt Tsien, at the Shanghai auto show

To support the growth of its NEV line-up, GM has built a battery assembly plant in Shanghai which should be ready to deliver battery packs next year.

General Motors Co will start production of a pure-electric model in China within two years, the Associated Press reported on Friday.

The announcement was made by the president of GM's China unit, Matt Tsien, at the Shanghai auto show, according to the report.

GM, one of the largest automakers in the Chinese market, plans to launch at least 10 "new energy vehicles" by 2020.

To support the growth of its NEV line-up, GM has built a battery assembly plant in Shanghai which should be ready to deliver battery packs next year.

China's auto industry is charging ahead with aggressive plans to electrify cars even as policymakers scale back subsidies aimed at building sales from relatively low levels and consider tapping the brakes on sales quotas for plug-in cars.
Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement released on Saturday by Pyongyangs official KCNA news agency.

Seoul: The US supercarrier Carl Vinson will arrive in the Sea of Japan in days, vice-president Mike Pence said on Saturday, after days of mixed messages from Washington over the warships whereabouts.

The strike group was supposedly steaming towards North Korea last week amid soaring tensions over the rogue states apparent ramping up for a sixth nuclear test, with Pyongyang threatening to hit back at any provocation.

But the US Navy, which had earlier said the aircraft carrier would sail north from waters off Singapore as a prudent measure to deter the regime, admitted on Tuesday the ships were in fact sent away from Singapore and towards Australia to conduct drills with the Australian navy.

The aircraft carrier will arrive in a matter of days, Mr Pence, who is in Sydney, said, after the location of the naval strike group became contentious.

We are sending an armada. Very powerful, Mr Trump had tweeted, while Pentagon chief Jim Mattis had said the Vinson was on her way up.

The authorities of the Trump administration are spouting a load of rubbish, a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement released on Saturday by Pyongyangs official KCNA news agency. America is seeking to bring nuclear aircraft carrier strike groups one after another to the waters off the Korean Peninsula. Such blackmail can never frighten the DPRK, he said.
The move to abolish the visa, used by over 95,000 workers, is aimed at tackling unemployment.

US President Donald Trump is serious about his America First Mission. To realise it, he has come up with serious curbs on the H-1B visas, popular with Indian professionals.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley has strongly raised with US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross Indias concerns over the Trump administration's move to tighten the H-1B visa regime, highlighting the key role played by Indian professionals in boosting the American economy.

Trump this week signed an executive order for tightening the rules of the H-1B visa programme to stop its abuse and ensure that the visas are given to the most-skilled or highest paid petitioners, a decision that would impact Indias $150 billion IT industry.

The Indian IT industry has expressed concerns over the US move. The executive order signed by Trump earlier this week calls for a review of H-1B visas by the departments of State, Labour, Homeland Security and Justice.

Meanwhile, in an unexpected announcement, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced on Tuesday that his government will replace the popular 457 visa that brings temporary foreign workers to the country with a new version that will recruit only the best in the national interest.

The move to abolish the visa, used by over 95,000 workers, is aimed at tackling unemployment.

Immigrants are hopeful as well

Immigration Voice estimates there are some 1.5 million H-1B visa holders in the country waiting for green cards, many of whom are from India and have been waiting for more than a decade. Many of these immigrants welcomed President Donald Trumps executive order this week to the federal departments overseeing the programme to review it, a move that may lead to H-1B visas being awarded to the highest-paying, highest-skilled jobs rather than through a random lottery. Their hope is that merit-based H-1Bs might then lead to merit-based green cards.
The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of a Korean-American citizen being detained recently, but could not comment further.

Kim was detained by officials as he was trying to leave the country from Pyongyang's international airport. (Photo: Representational/PTI)

Pyongyang: North Korea has detained a US citizen, officials said Sunday, bringing to three the number of Americans now being held there.

Tony Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk, was detained on Saturday, according to Park Chan-mo, the chancellor of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology.

Park said Kim, who is in his 50s, taught accounting at the university for about a month. He said Kim was detained by officials as he was trying to leave the country from Pyongyang's international airport.

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of a Korean-American citizen being detained recently, but could not comment further.

The embassy looks after consular affairs for the United States in North Korea because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

Park said Kim had taught at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China before coming to Pyongyang. He said he was informed that the detention had "nothing to do" with Kim's work at the university but did not know further details.

As of Sunday night, North Korea's official media had not reported on the detention.

Though no details on why Kim was detained have been released, the detention comes at a time of unusually heightened tensions between the US and North Korea. Both countries have recently been trading threats of war and having another American in jail will likely up the ante even further.

Last year, Otto Warmbier, then a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.

Kim Dong Chul, who was born in South Korea but is also believed to have US citizenship, is serving a sentence of 10 years for espionage.

Another foreigner, a Canadian pastor, is also being detained in North Korea. Hyeon Soo Lim, a South Korean-born Canadian citizen in his 60s, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2015 on charges of trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system and helping US and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens.
Japan's show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads.

North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump. (Photo: AP)

Seoul: North Korea said on Sunday it was ready to sink a US aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, as two Japanese navy ships joined a US carrier group for exercises in the western Pacific.

US President Donald Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over the North's nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its Asian allies.

The United States has not specified where the carrier strike group is as it approaches the area. US Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive 'within days' but gave no other details.

North Korea remained defiant.

"Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a US nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in a commentary.

The paper likened the aircraft carrier to a 'gross animal' and said a strike on it would be 'an actual example to show our military's force'.

The commentary was carried on page three of the newspaper, after a two-page feature about leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a pig farm.

North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army on Tuesday. It has in the past marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.

It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump.

He has vowed to prevent the North from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.

Worry In Japan

North Korea says its nuclear programme is for self-defence and has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression. It has also threatened to lay waste to South Korea and Japan.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday North Korea's recent statements were provocative but had proven to be hollow in the past and should not be trusted.

"We've all come to hear their words repeatedly, their word has not proven honest," Mr Mattis told a news conference in Tel Aviv, before the latest threat to the aircraft carrier.

Japan's show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads.

Some Japanese ruling party lawmakers are urging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to acquire strike weapons that could hit North Korean missile forces before any imminent attack.

Japan's navy, which is mostly a destroyer fleet, is the second largest in Asia after China's.

The two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson and will 'practice a variety of tactics' with the US strike group, the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force said in a statement.

The Japanese force did not specify where the exercises were taking place but by Sunday the destroyers could have reached an area 2,500 km (1,500 miles) south of Japan, which would be waters east of the Philippines.

From there, it could take three days to reach waters off the Korean peninsula. Japan's ships would accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan said.

US and South Korean officials have been saying for weeks that the North could soon stage another nuclear test, something the United States, China and others have warned against.

South Korea has put is forces on heightened alert.

China, North Korea's sole major ally which nevertheless opposes Pyongyang's weapons programmes and belligerence, has appealed for calm. The United States has called on China to do more to help defuse the tension.

Last Thursday, Mr Trump praised Chinese efforts to rein in "the menace of North Korea", after North Korean state media warned the United States of a 'super-mighty preemptive strike'.
A 17-year-old boy suspected of the murder has been arrested by the Nottinghamshire police.

The victim, Reece Seagrave, collapsed and died from a cardiac arrest after his attackers left him alone in the house. (Photo: Facebook)

London: A 14-year-old boy, who was allegedly murdered, was dragged to an empty house after being slammed on a concrete street in Tenbury Crescent, Aspley in Nottinghamshire on Thursday. The victim, Reece Seagrave, collapsed and died from a cardiac arrest after his attackers left him alone in the house.

According to report in the Daily Mirror, a family friend of the victim said that he was left on a bed by a group of boys, who didnt bother calling for help.

However, after a while one of the boys called for an ambulance and Seagrave was rushed to Queen's Medical Centre but the doctors could not save him.

A 17-year-old boy suspected of the murder has been arrested by the Nottinghamshire police.

The victims neighbours said that it was not surprising for a group of boys to gather on the street. They were a little noisy, but harmless. This incident, however, was quite shocking and unexpected.

People left flowers, candles and notes outside the site of the murder, which has been barricaded by police tape.

His parents are separated and he lived alone with his mother. According to his grandparents, his father was shattered at the news of Seagraves death.

The police have asked people to come forward and report anything they know about the attackers.
On the Sunday of Divine Mercy, established by Saint John Paul II, Francis reiterated the importance of the experience of mercy, "the concrete form in which we give visibility to the resurrection of Jesus". He also explained the meaning of Sunday in Albis, and thanked those who sent him Easter greetings.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Mercy is "a true form of knowledge of the mystery we experience," Pope Francis said today, Sunday of the Divine Mercy, the second of Easter, before he recited the Regina Caeli with the pilgrims in St Peter's Square.

The pontiff noted that, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Saint John Paul II established a special celebration of the Divine Mercy on this Sunday to remember the time when Jesus appeared to the disciples after his resurrection, giving them the power of reconciliation (cf. Jn 20: 19-31).

Pope Francis had stressed the importance of this theme in the life of the Church and the world when he convened the Jubilee of Mercy that ended last November.

"Saint John writes that Jesus, after greeting his disciples, said to them, As the Father has sent me, so I send you. After this, he breathed on them and added, Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them (Jn, 20-21-23). This is the meaning of mercy that occurs on the day of the resurrection of Jesus as [the act of] forgiving the sins. The Risen Jesus passed on to his Church, as its first task, his own mission to bring the concrete announcement of forgiveness to everyone. This visible sign of his mercy brings with him the peace of the heart and the joy of the renewed encounter with the Lord.

"We know," Francis went on to say, "that this is known through so many forms: the senses, intuition, reason, and so on. Well, we can also know it through the experience of mercy! The latter opens the door of the mind to a better understanding of the mystery of God and of our personal existence. It makes us understand that violence, rancour, revenge make no sense, and that the first victim of this are those who experience these feelings because it deprives them of their dignity. Mercy also opens the door of the heart and allows us to express closeness, especially with those who are alone and marginalised, because it makes them feel like brothers and sisters and children of one Father."

"It favours the recognition of those who need consolation and provides the right words to give comfort. Mercy warms the heart and makes it sensitive to the needs of ones brothers and sisters through sharing and participation. Mercy, in short, commits everyone to be instruments of justice, reconciliation and peace. Let us never forget that mercy is the keystone in the life of faith, and the concrete form in which we give visibility to the resurrection of Jesus."

Earlier, Francis explained why this Sunday is called in Albis. "The expression was meant to draw attention to the rite performed by those who received baptism during Easter Vigil. Each of them was given a white robe - alba - to indicate the new dignity of the children of God. Even today babies receive a small symbolic garment whilst adults wear a real one. In the past, the white robe was worn for a week, until Sunday in albis [deponenda], when it was removed, and the new members began their new life in Christ and the Church.

After the Marian prayer of Easter time, the pope thanked "all those who sent me Easter greetings. I reciprocate with all my heart by invoking for each of them and for every family the grace of the Risen Lord."
by NAT da Polis

The changes to the Constitution, through a popular referendum, fertile ground to claim and exercise power, in an authoritarian and personal context, like a new Kemal Ataturk.

Istanbul (AsiaNews)  The referendum of April 16, 2017, has subjected the Constitution of the Turkish Republic founded by General Kemal Ataurk in 1923, to a fifth amendment. The first two, of 1961 and 1982, following the convictions of the Kemali army, the last three, 2007, 2010 and 2017, following the referendums convoked at the express desire of Tayyip Erdogan.

The most important changes to the Constitution of the Turkish Republic following the April 16 referendum, desired by the Turkish president and held during a state of emergency following the attempted coup on July 16, 2016 by some fringes of the armed forces, provide:

The abolition of the Prime Minister. The President of the Republic will nominate the Council of Ministers and a number of Vice-Presidents. The parliament will have no control over the ministers or the right to vote them out.

The president no longer needs to be bipartisan, so he can continue to uphold his own party.

The number of deputies rises from 550 to 600 and the lowering of the minimum age to take up a parliamentary seat from 25 to 18 years.

The parliament may denounce the President of the Republic in the Court of Justice. So far, you could bring the president before the Court in case of treason.

The abolition of Military Courts.

The president will nominate 4 of the thirteen judges of the Supreme Court.

It should be noted that the three previous referendums requested by Erdogan had the support of most of the Turkish electorate in its various components, including Kurdish electorate and non-Muslim minorities. The latter with the rise in power of Erdogan in 2002 began to breathe with the recognition of their property rights, trampled on by the previous regime, and their partial restitution. In real terms, it referred to those properties of which there were still traces following the plundering of Kemalist regimes ... Certainly there is still much to be done.

All referendums are held by Erdogan as a vote of confidence in him, as he considers himself to be the counter culture with regards to Kemalism.

The result of the last referendum, 51.4% in favor, confirmed that the political scene in Turkey hinges on voting for or against Erdogan. As for the geography of the vote, it should be noted that Erdogan lost in the big cities and won in Anatolian Turkey, the land of so-called Anatolian tigers, that of the new Turkish economy, founded on a neo-liberal economy in a conservative society. Turkish emigrants in Europe.

This time the yes vote lacked the constituency of the nationalist MHP party leader, Devlet Baxceli. He had stood with Erdogan at the last political elections of December 2015, dominated by the AKP Erdogans party, with 49.50%, gaining a full 11.90%.

The Kurdish element excluded some outlying areas of Anatolia, which voted no, as well as the alevite element.

The CHP party, seen as the heir apparent to Kemal Atartuk's paty, was truly inconsistent in its opposition.

It should be stressed that Istanbul and Izmir once inhabited by so-called white Turks are turning into Kurdish cities because of Kurdish internal migration, motivated by the conflict between the Turkish forces and the PKK. It should also be emphasized that the same Kurds who had voted in the previous referendum in favor of Erdogan voted against him this time. This because, while in the past Erdogan had tried to resolve the Kurdish question, through confidential contacts between Turkish intelligence chief Hakan Fidan and Ocalan between 2009 and 2011. These agreements were torn apart in 2011 by allies of Imam Fethullah Gulens movement who were within the public administration. This led to a return to the Kemalist military solution to the Kurdish issue and there was the release and absolution of the old military leaders from any involvement in the Ergenekon and Balyoz affairs.

It is well known that the imam Gulen has never sympathized with the Kurds of Turkey. Gulen, President Erdogan's companion in his move to power in 2002 in their united aim of undermining the power of the military and the old establishment and his deadly foe from 2011 onwards.

In short, a clash for power that finds its roots in the conception of democracy in the Turkish universe. It is no coincidence that changes to the Constitution of the Turkish Republic since 2007, with the use of the referendum, have been conceived as fertile ground to claim and exercise power, in an authoritarian and personal framework, like a new Kemal Ataturk.
Australian law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth has patented a new legal search technology which identifies documents with low quality searchable text.The patent granted by IP Australia is for optical character recognition, which Corrs will use as part of a new service called JustOCR.OCR technology was a huge leap forward for the legal industry, particularly in litigation cases, said Corrs Partner James Whittaker. Our new OCR analysis feature is the next step up, providing users with a significant strategic advantage in ascertaining where the gaps are in their own and other parties document collections.The new product was developed by the firms innovation team and head of innovation Graeme Grovum said that it can cut the analysis of 1.5 million pages  a task which can take a week or more  to just a few hours, with a huge benefit for client costs.A team of four lawyers is joining Gibson Dunn in Hong Kong from the local office of Ropes & Gray.The corporate partners - Paul Boltz, Scott Jalowayski, Michael Nicklin and Brian Schwarzwalder  will continue their private equity, finance and securities practice at their new firm.Gibson Dunns Hong Kong partner in charge Kelly Austin says the new arrivals represent a transformational step for the development of our Hong Kong office.Three new members have been appointed to the board of Hogan Lovells.The board comprises 12 members and, although it does not have executive responsibility for running the firm, it oversees its affairs and provides input to key areas including leadership, compensation and lawyers development.Andrew McGinty remains the board member for Asia Pacific and is joined by new members Bruce Oakley for the Americas and Leopold von Gerlach for Continental Europe.Meanwhile, Ben Higson has been re-elected to the 45 and under seat.
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Screen shot of Mercedes-Benz GLE300d 4Matic via YouTube.

Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling 58,323 luxury SUVs because the power steering assist may malfunction, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall includes 2016-model year GLE300d 4Matic, E400 4Matic Coupe, GL63 AMG, GLE350, GLE350 4Matic, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic and GLE63S AMG Coupe 4Matic vehicles. Also included are 2017 E300 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic vehicles, along with 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic BlueTec, GL450 4Matic, and GL550 4Matic vehicles.

In these vehicles, an electric power steering connector might be insufficiently sealed, allowing water to enter the control unit. As a result, the power steering assist may be deactivated, increasing the risk of a crash, NHTSA said.

MBUSA dealers will replace the connector and inspect the electric power steering rack. The rack will be replaced if necessary. Dealers will complete these repairs free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin in May. Vehicle owners can reach MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.
AVwebs General Aviation Accident Bulletin is taken from the pages of our sister publication, Aviation Safety magazine and is published twice a month. All the reports listed here are preliminary and include only initial factual findings about crashes. You can learn more about the final probable cause in the NTSBs web site at www.ntsb.gov. Final reports appear about a year after the accident, although some take longer. Find out more about Aviation Safety at www.aviationsafetymagazine.com.

January 7, 2017, Meeker, Colo.

Cirrus SR22

At about 1000 Mountain time, the pilot made a forced landing on a snow-covered plateau after the engine lost power. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed.

While en route, the cylinder head and exhaust gas temperatures were erratic. Since the pilot previously had experienced problems with the engine sensors, he reverted to monitoring the analog gauges. Shortly thereafter, the engine backfired and lost power. The pilot elected not to deploy the airframe parachute but instead made a forced landing on a plateau in deep snow.

January 7, 2017, Niles, Mich.

Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 Solitaire

The airplane departed the left side of the snow-covered runway after landing at 1506 Eastern time. The solo private pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed; the flight operated on an IFR flight plan.

The pilot did not find any Notam about the runway not being plowed. With the airport was in sight, the pilot activated airport lights and identified the runway. The landing was uneventful until the pilot retarded the power levers into beta range and the airplane made an unexpected left turn then exited the runway. The airplane spun and came to rest in snow-covered field left of the runway.

The airport snowplow operator checked runway conditions earlier that day and noted a light dusting to inch of snow in some areas. He returned about 1530 and observed two or more inches of snow on the runway. An automated weather observation station about nine miles south of the accident site remarked that unknown precipitation began at 1428 and ended at 1438; snow ended at 1428.

January 11, 2017, Green Bay, Wis.

Cessna Model 182T Skylane

At about 0913 Central time, the Canadian-registered airplane was substantially damaged during landing following an in-flight structural icing encounter. The solo pilot was not injured. The airplane incurred structural damage to the forward fuselage and firewall. Visual conditions prevailed at landing.

January 12, 2017, Era, Texas

Steen Skybolt Experimental

Sometime between 1100 to 1200 Central time the airplane sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain after a loss of control. The pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

A witness saw the airplane in a Hammerhead climb (going straight up), then it entered a slow spiraling descent straight down. He was certain the airplane was spiraling down and not in a flat spin. It did not appear to him there was any attempt to recover from the descent. The witness clearly heard the engine during the climb, but not during the descent.

Evidence at the accident site indicated the airplane collided with terrain in about a 45-degree nose-down attitude. Control continuity was confirmed from all flight control surfaces to their respective cockpit controls. One of the propeller blades was bent backward about mid-span and exhibited minimal damage on either the chambered surface or the flat side of the blade. The other blade was underneath the wreckage. It exhibited blade twist, extensive chordwise scratching along the entire span of the blade, and gouges and nicks to its leading edge.

January 12, 2017, Lake Hughes, Calif.

Mooney M20J 201

At about 0905 Pacific time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain. The solo private pilot/owner was fatally injured. Weather conditions at the time of the accident have not been determined.

The pilot used the airplane to commute. On the morning of the accident, which was a Thursday, a co-worker did not hear from the pilot but was not concerned. Days later, a friend of the pilot realized his vehicle was parked at the airport, but no one had seen the pilot for several days. Investigation by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) determined the pilots last known flight date was January 12. When ATC radar data was consulted, a VFR radar track was identified as likely being the missing airplanes. An aerial search on January 18 by the CAP located the wreckage.

The accident site was on the north slope of a mountain peak, about 70 feet below, and 380 feet from, the Lake Hughes very high frequency omnirange navigation beacon (LHS VOR) antenna.

January 13, 2017, Port Orford, Ore.

Piper PA-28-236 Dakota

The airplane impacted a beach at about 1125 Pacific time after its pilot reported a medical issue. The solo private pilot was fatally injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed,

Earlier, at 1052, ATC requested the pilot report clear of Class D airspace. At 1103, ATC queried the pilot on his position. He responded, Im having trouble with err headphones err, say again. The controller asked the pilot to verify clear of the airspace, but only a muffled response was received. About 10 minutes later, controllers at Seattle Center received reports from crews of both a Coast Guard helicopter and an Air Force airplane that the pilot was transmitting on the guard emergency frequency of 121.5 MHz, indicating he had lost vision in one eye. At 1122 a transponder squawking the emergency code of 7700 was recorded northbound along the coastline. The target was present for 24 seconds, during which it descended from 1300 to 1225 feet msl at a 100-knot groundspeed. At about 1400, a Coast Guard helicopter located the airplane wreckage four miles north of the last recorded radar target.

January 14, 2017, Mayo, Fla.

Buccaneer II B Experimental

At about 1715 Eastern time, the amphibious airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted power lines and a river. The solo sport pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

Multiple witnesses reported seeing the airplane take off northbound from the Suwannee River, make a 180-degree left turn, descend below treetop level and fly southbound over the river out of view. Shortly thereafter, witnesses heard a loud boom followed by the engine going quiet. One witness, about a mile from the power lines, stated he saw the airplane flying about 30-40 feet above the river when it suddenly flipped backwards and then hit the water. The wreckage was located beneath a set of power lines running approximately east-west and crossing the river below treetops. All major aircraft components were accounted for at the scene, and flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces.

January 16, 2017, Pilot Point, Alaska

Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six

The airplane sustained substantial damage at about 1520 Alaska time during a forced landing to snow-covered terrain. The airline transport pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a VFR Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight.

While en route, the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing due to light ice accumulation on the windscreen. After confirming weather conditions at the destination 48 nm away, the pilot departed and continued southwest at about 800 feet agl. About eight miles from the destination, the engine started running rough and the pilot noted ice accumulation on the windscreen. He turned back and selected carburetor heat to the on position. The airplane started to accumulate more ice on the windshield and the wing leading edges, and the flight controls felt sluggish.

The pilot noted decreasing altitude and engine performance and at about 400 feet agl, he elected to make a forced landing on ice-covered tundra. During the landing sequence, the right main landing gear sheared off and the right wing sustained substantial damage due to impact with ice. The passenger used her cellphone to call a nearby Flight Service Station and report the accident. A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter arrived onsite at 1830 to extract the occupants.

January 23, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.

Beech Model 300 King Air

At about 1233 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain during takeoff. The pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed.

A witness observed the airplane take off and rapidly pitch up in its initial climb. At an altitude between 100-150 feet above the runway, the airplane suddenly yawed left while maintaining a nose-up pitch attitude. The airplane then appeared to slow down, the left wing dropped and the airplane began rolling left, striking the ground inverted. After impact, the airplane slid about 650 feet across a ramp before colliding with an eight-foot-tall concrete wall.

This article originally appeared in the April 2017 issue ofAviation Safetymagazine.

For more great content like this, subscribe toAviation Safety!
53 gay men in Nigeria have been arrested for attending an unofficial same-sex wedding, though the accuseds lawyers say they were actually at a birthday party.

The arrests happened last Saturday and occurred in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna according to the BBC News..

Gay rights campaigners who have been in touch with people involved in the case told the BBCs Stephanie Hegarty in Lagos the accused were arrested at a birthday party, not a wedding.. The men were also illegally detained for 24 hours, according to the attorney.

Maria Sjodin, deputy executive director of LGBTQ advocacy group OutRight Action International, said she believes the gay wedding story is just an excuse and part of the polices attempt to crackdown on an emerging LGBTQ movement in Nigeria.

Only the police claim that it was a wedding party, she told NBC Out, adding that sources in Nigeria told her organization the event was actually a birthday party.

The police are using the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act as an excuse for mass arrests, maybe even as a way to get bribes, Sjodin said. The Nigerian law is much more far reaching than just same-sex marriage, it really is a way to crack down on anyone advocating for human rights of LGBT people.

The men are charged with conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and belonging to an unlawful society. Their court date is scheduled for May 8.

Homosexual acts are banned in socially conservative Nigeria and are punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

The U.S. Government has given a total of $327,992 to Nigeria in 2017.

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These are just a handful of data points Californians cant access  many more are out there. If you have your own data disappointment with the state, share them by emailing matt@calmatters.org or tweeting to @mlevinreports. CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
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Avon Fire and Rescue has provided more details about an "intense fire" which ripped through a restaurant kitchen in Bath.

Six fire engines carrying around 30 firefighters were deployed to Charles Street and Monmouth Place to help tackle to blaze on Sunday afternoon (April 23).

Both police and the fire service initially said the fire broke out in a flat but the Bath Chronicle understands it happened in an extension of the Bombay Lounge restaurant.

A fire investigation continues but the cause of the blaze was accidental.

Avon and Somerset police also attended the scene where they closed off road access and re-directed traffic.

(Image: Caro Kobras)

Fire investigator of AF&RS Andy Goode told the Bath Chronicle: "It was a really intense fire. The whole part of the property was on fire.

"The fire was accidental, caused by an electrical overload and there is quite a lot of damage to the kitchen."

When asked if this was a flat, as described by official sources earlier, he said it was an "extension of the restaurant."

Around 30 firefighters attended this afternoon with officers brought in from as far as Weston-super-Mare and Clifton.

Manager of Bombay Lounge who gave his name as Jay said: "We are very grateful to how they controlled the fire. It was so scary but the firefighters did the job.

"I was worried about our neighbours. The building will stay but not human beings."

(Image: Google 2017)

The restaurant will be closed until further notice.

Charles Street and Monmouth Place were closed to motorists. Chapel Row was only accessible if driving towards Queen Square.

Bath resident and on-looker Angus Cunning said: "They (fire engines) came round the corner and I followed. Then I saw the place, the flames were up above the chimneys.

(Image: Twitter: @FlanOBriens)

"It looks to be the back of the Indian restaurant. The flames were so high, about 20 foot in the air and I heard an explosion."

Another reader contacted the Chronicle adding she heard "two loud bangs/explosions."

The fire service earlier confirmed nobody was injured as a result of the fire.
Around 200 firefighters from multiple agencies have worked to put out the large Indian Lake Estates brush fire in Polk County.

Indian Lake Estates brush fire burns 700 acres

Around 200 firefighters worked to put out the fire

Fire officials say the fire is suspicious

RELATED: Indian Lake Estates brush fire now 60 percent contained



The Florida Forest Service said the now 700-acre fire had flames as high as 30 to 40 feet when it started Friday afternoon.

A mandatory evacuation has been lifted. Residents are allowed to return to their homes.

The fire is 60-percent contained.

Rebecca Rabe was evacuated from her home. She and her dog were parked outside the neighborhood on Friday.

I thought maybe there might be a chance to get everything under control in a couple of hours and in a couple of hours we might be able to get back in, Rabe said.

She said she couldnt sleep because she was anxious about the status of her home.

Couldnt get in to get anything, Rabe said. Couldnt get in to see where the fire was. So I didnt know. I spent long hours not knowing if my home was in any kind of danger.

On Saturday, Rabe learned that an Indian Lakes Estates maintenance shed burned down. She also learned that fire officials are calling the brush fire suspicious, similar to several others that have happened in the neighborhood in the last two months.

What I want to know is, what would possess somebody to do this to not just one person but several. Lots of people are being affected by this, Rabe said.

Other neighbors were just as upset.

If its intentionally set, I sure hope they find them, said Bobby Denney, another evacuee.

The Florida Forest Service said it isnt sure if the fires were intentionally set.

Investigators want anyone who has seen someone setting fires to call it in to Florida Division of Forestry at 1-800-342-5869. Callers can remain anonymous.

Floridas Forestry Arson Alert Association is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
A historic south St. Petersburg neighborhood was home to a celebration Saturday afternoon.

Jordan Park community rededicated

200 apartments planned; $2 million in home repairs



The Jordan Park community was rededicated during a ceremony that brought new hope for the future.

"Things seem like it's going to be more positive and we're just looking forward to moving forward with the new management and housing taking over, so I think it'll be good, said resident Moneshea Harris.

The Jordan Park neighborhood hasnt always had the best reputation. Over the last fifteen years, while managed by a private company, residents reported dozens of problems with their homes.

"When I first got the opportunity to visit it, it was deplorable. I mean there were rats, it was infested, the air conditioning didn't work in many of the units, leaky roofs... you name it, it was happening, explained Charlie Crist, U.S. Representative.

The property was switched into the hands of the St. Peterburg Housing Authority on March 1. They have big plans for the over 200 apartments, including about $2 million in home repairs and addressing security concerns.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman says hes happy to see the revitalization.

"One of the things that's always frustrated me is that there's this perception about south St. Pete that's just not true, he said.

Residents who stopped by the celebration had a chance to meet their local police officers, play some games, and take home safety kids to help stock their homes in case of emergency.

Spectrum Networks was also a part of the rehab project, offering a lower cost option for households struggling to pay for the essentials. Click here for more information about Spectrum Internet Assist.
A 75-year-old woman was cited for careless driving after she crashed into a jewelry store in Pasco County Saturday afternoon.

Troopers said Aferdita Macdonald, 75, was attempting to pull into a parking spot in front of Royalty Jewelers Inc. when she crashed into the business.

Macdonald said she had moved her foot from the brake to the gas pedal without realizing and pressed down even harder.

Troopers said the vehicle went over the parking curb and traveled through the jewelry store's brick wall and large glass window. The vehicle continued forward through the building and struck statues, an open sign, neon lights, plants, and even the interior wall of the attached vacant building located at 8503 Old County Road 54.

Damages to the building are estimated at $12,000.

No injuries were reported, according to the report.
N. Oregon Coast Events: Tillamook History Book, Local Seafood Issues

Published 04/22/2017 at 6:33 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Tillamook, Oregon)  What's going on with the local seafood industry on the Oregon coast and around Oregon? And are you craving more Tillamook area history? These are the questions being looked at and answered this month in the area with an event and a new release from a history museum. (Above: Tillamook Bay).



The north Oregon coast region around Bay City and Tillamook Bay will be the epicenter of a special discussion on some intriguing questions about local seafood. Fish Tales: Tillamook Traditions and Challenges happens on Saturday, April 29 at the Bay City Arts Center on 5th Street in Bay City. The discussion will be facilitated by Jennifer Burns Bright, a food and travel writer from Port Orford, Oregon.

In this interactive conversation, Bright and the panel of seafood experts will explore the conundrum of eating local seafood on the North Oregon Coast. Why arent we eating more local seafood now that preserving and distribution technologies are the most sophisticated they have ever been? What are the challenges we face in an increasingly globalized market? What traditions would we like to see continue as our community grows and changes? The group will delve into the north Oregon coast's relationship with products of the sea and cultural traditions.

Participating local panelists will be Erin Whitney, Food Manager at Pacific Oyster in Bay City, Ray Monroe, a commercial doryman from Pacific City, Jeremy Coon from Tillamook Bay Seafood Inc. in Garibaldi, and Jeff Wong from the Consumer Supported Fishery, also in Garibaldi.



Dr. Bright holds a PhD from the University of California, Irvine, as well as a Master Food Preserver certification. She has recently retired from teaching at the University of Oregon and is currently a travel and food writer as well as a community organizer who likes linking local producers with consumers.

There is no charge for this program but reservations are encouraged as seating is limited. Please call the Pioneer Museum at 503-842-4553 to register or for more information.

Also in Tillamook, the Tillamook County Historical Society (TCHS) is touting the re-release of its book about Oregon coast life in the early pioneer days, after it funded a reprinting of a memoir by famed figure Dr. Huckleberry. The book digs into the struggles, routines and even comic aspects in the timber country of the Tillamook area, written by the man who spent decades there as a rural doctor.

With the permission of the Oregon Historical Society, TCHS member Karen Hirte has spent three years scanning text, upgrading photos and preparing the book for publication. "The Adventures of Dr. Huckleberry: Tillamook County, Oregon," has been out of print for some time and with the help of Karen and the Jewell High School Graphics Students, has been brought it back to life.

The Garibaldi Maritime Museum has a collection of Dr. Huckleberry memorabilia and will be hosting a reception for the book's reprinting. That event takes place on Saturday, May 13 at 1 p.m., giving you chance to buy a copy of the book and enjoy the Garibaldi Museum's Huckleberry exhibit.

For those locals who remember Dr. Hucklberry, the museum is asking them to attend so they can share stories of the revered resident. The Garibaldi Maritime Museum is located at 112 Garibaldi Ave., Garidbaldi, Oregon. For more information call the Garibaldi Museum at 503-322-8411 or Sally Rissel at 503-781-4102. Where to stay for this event - Where to eat - Map and Virtual Tour

















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When Donald Trump was running for president, he promised voters that he wouldn't be a pushover for foreign dictators the way Barack Obama was. No sirree, Bob. He'd stand up to those thugs and let 'em know who's boss.

Now that Trump is serving as president, reality is setting in. Trump is still talking tough, but with countries like Iran and North Korea, it will have the same effect as Obama's soothing words.

The bottom line is the same: The only way to change the way Iran or North Korea or even Syria operates is to do what George W. Bush did to Iraq. Invade, oust the tyrant and install a new leader.

With Iran, which is not yet a nuclear power thanks to that wimp Obama, that would mean the deaths of thousands of U.S. troops. Then we's suffer countless more in the suicide bombings that would follow during our occupation.

Only a fool believes that more than a handful of Americans would support another major war like that.

With nutty North Korea, the toll would be even worse. If we invade, dictator Kim Jong-un knows it's the end of the only thing he cares about - remaining in power. So he would use nuclear bombs on the South Korean capital of Seoul, killing millions. He would send kamikaze fighter planes loaded with nuclear bombs into the Japanese capital of Tokyo and as many U.S. military bases like Okinawa as he could hit.

Again, the carnage is inconceivable.

Yet Trump keeps acting as if Iran and North Korea better watch out, or else. Before Michael Flynn was fired as national security director, he sternly warned Iran that it was being put "on notice." Trump has said crazy Kim's "gotta behave" and 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."

Those are hollow threats, and Iran and North Korea know it. We aren't going to war with them - unless we're irrational - and they don't care about economic sanctions or U.N. resolutions. They will gladly sacrifice thousands of troops or civilians in any battle because it feeds their propaganda perfectly. We would mourn in anguish over the death of one soldier.

It's also naive to think that China will undermine its communist ally and neighbor. The Syrian dictator wasn't rattled by 69 Tomahawk missiles, which caused minimal damage to an airport that was quickly operational again.

The real danger will come in a few months. Iran and North Korea will keep doing what they're doing - because they can, and because they want to. Trump will be asked about those threats he made a while back if they kept misbehaving. He may then feel pressured to take some kind of military action short of invasion, but all that will do is cause needless casualties while the misbehavior continues.

Neither Iran nor North Korea, as bad as they are, will start a war with us. Trump needs to realize he can't start one with them. Then he needs to stop pretending that he might.

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Thomas Taschinger, TTaschinger@BeaumontEnterprise.com, is the editorial page editor of The Beaumont Enterprise. Follow him on Twitter at @PoliticalTom
In a bid to demonstrate its military prowess North Korea on Sunday claimed that it is combat-ready to take down a US aircraft carrier. Rodong Sinmun, a newspaper owned by the countrys ruling Workers Party was quoted saying, "Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike.Notably, the Trump administration had earlier ordered its aircraft carrier strike group to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over the North's nuclear and missile tests.
Lloyds saw bottom-line profits more than double to 4.24 billion in 2015

The contrasting fortunes of taxpayer-backed lenders Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) will return to the fore next week when the pair post quarterly figures, while Barclays also reports following recent scandals.

Lloyds will post its figures on Thursday as it edges ever closer to being fully returned to private hands, with the Government stake being cut to below 2% earlier this month and the City expecting the holding to be sold off in its entirety by June.

The lender enjoyed a robust 2016, posting its highest annual profits for a decade , with bottom-line profits more than doubling to 4.24 billion from 1.64 billion in 2015.

Analysts at UBS expect Lloyds to have enjoyed a solid start to the new year, forecasting pre-tax profits to have nearly doubled once again in the first quarter, to 1.21 billion from 654 million a year earlier.

But the vast improvement is largely due to the absence of last year's hefty 790 million charge from its controversial move to buy back expensive bonds from investors.

On an underlying basis, UBS is pencilling in a 6% fall in quarterly profits to 1.94 billion.

Lloyds has also recently announced an extra 350 million to cover mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) claims, which will come off its first-quarter bottom line, while earlier this month it put aside 100 million to cover compensation for victims of fraud at the hands of former HBOS staff.

UBS said the wider economy's prospects will be of key interest for Lloyds, given its role as a major mortgage lender, adding that another focus will be succession planning for boss Antonio Horta-Osorio.

Speculation is mounting in the City that the Portuguese banker will look to leave Lloyds once the Government sells out, with the chief executive role at HSBC tipped as a possible next move.

Part-nationalised rival RBS follows with its results on Friday, in the wake of Chancellor Philip Hammond's stark admission that the Government is prepared to sell its stake at a loss to the public purse.

The Government bought its 72% stake in the bank for 45 billion in 2008, at 5.02 a share, as part of a bailout at the height of the financial crisis.

But shares in the troubled lender are now trading at less than half that price.

Cost-cutting is therefore expected to remain a key theme at RBS and progress on the seemingly never-ending restructuring to slim down its balance sheet.

Its first-quarter figures may provide some respite to embattled boss Ross McEwan, with most analysts expecting underlying profits to more than double to 942 million, up from 440 million a year earlier.

Results will likely be flattered by a strong quarter for its private banking arm and personal and business banking division.

The group is also hoping for a reprieve from the European Commission, which is mulling over a plan to spare RBS being forced to sell off 300 Williams & Glyn branches in return for state aid.

There are fears, though, the alternative 750 million plan to boost competition in the banking market may end up costing RBS more, while it is still yet to agree a potentially mammoth settlement with US authorities over mortgage-backed security mis-selling.

Rival Barclays also updates on first quarter trading on Friday, with its figures coming after the group has once again fallen foul of UK banking regulations.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority announced earlier this month that c hief executive Jes Staley will be probed and have his pay docked over governance failings that saw him attempt to identify a whistleblower.

It comes as a separate criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into the bank's 2008 emergency fundraising nears a conclusion.

It is understood the FCA has also reopened its probe into the deal and is reviewing new evidence that could prompt it to reconsider a 50 million fine against the banking giant four years ago.

First-quarter figures will offer some light relief to Mr Staley, with analysts forecasting pre-tax profits for the core business to nudge up to 1.9 billion against 1.7 billion a year earlier.

Like its Wall Street counterparts, Barclays is set to have had a decent start to the year for investment banking returns, with UBS pencilling in a 20% hike in profits from the division.
Police in Northern Ireland have said the "viable device" found near a Belfast school was an attempt by dissident republicans to murder security force members.

The explosive was discovered near Holy Cross Boys' Primary School , in the Herbert Street area of Ardoyne in the north of the city. A number of residents were evacuated for several hours as the security alert took place.

PSNI Chief Supt Chris Noble said the device had put lives at risk in the local community.

"There's no doubt that device was there to try and kill community police officers on the beat in their local area but also it was left in such a reckless manner and in such a reckless location that it would undoubtedly have led to the death or serious injury of a member of the public had it exploded anywhere near them," he said.

"This is an attempt, we believe, by violent dissident republicans to kill police officers but it was also very much an "anti-community act" as well, in terms of where it was located and the way in which it was left."

"The misguided individuals behind this device are seriously out of step with this community and clearly dont care about the lives of those living in Ardoyne or the danger and disruption they have brought to their doorsteps. Placing this device, where they did, beside a school shows the contempt and disregard they hold this community in.

"Many families with young children, older people, the sick and 'those with significant disabilities had to leave their homes in the middle of the night last night. Police and community representatives stepped in to make sure these people had somewhere to go and were kept safe while those responsible for all of this were absent, likely safe in their beds.

Expand Close Chief Supt Chris Noble said the device was 'sizeable' and an attempt by dissident republicans to kill police officers. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Chief Supt Chris Noble said the device was 'sizeable' and an attempt by dissident republicans to kill police officers.

Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said the viable device was 'designed to kill'.

Those behind it have no regard whatsoever for this community and they need to end these futile acts," said Mr Kelly.

This was left at the gate of a school, yards from peoples homes on a busy walkway. Anyone could have been passed this bomb.

Expand Expand Previous Next Close Police and ATO at the scene of an overnight security alert in the Herbert Street area of Ardoyne following the discovery of a suspicious object on April 23rd 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Police at the scene of an overnight security alert in the Herbert Street area of Ardoyne. Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook

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Whatsapp Police and ATO at the scene of an overnight security alert in the Herbert Street area of Ardoyne following the discovery of a suspicious object on April 23rd 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

Twenty homes also had to be evacuated overnight including family homes.

I welcome the fact that this device was found before it killed or injured somebody and anyone with information should bring it to the PSNI.

Police Federation for Northern Ireland chairman, Mark Lindsay, said: The people who did this wanted to murder or maim officers. They didnt care if passers-by or children out playing in the area were caught up in an explosion. It was an entirely reckless act.

This appears to have been a deadly, anti-personnel-type weapon. Thankfully, it was recovered and removed without being detonated. The attackers are terrorising people who live in the area and preventing them from getting on with their everyday lives.

I would echo the appeal that has been made for help in finding the culprits and bringing them before the Courts.

The local community, indeed Northern Ireland as a whole, want to be rid of these terrorists who are holding back communities and creating misery for the many.

Policing Board Chair Anne Connolly said: 'Leaving an explosive device in the heart of the community shows the recklessness of those responsible as anyone could have been caught up in this.

"I'm grateful that the device was found and the attempt to harm our police officers thwarted.

"I urge anyone with information on those responsible to report it on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers.'
A motorcyclist has been taken to hospital following a crash at the Tandragee 100 race event in Northern Ireland.

The condition of the rider, who was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital, has been described as "critical".

The crash happened during the Senior Support race of the Co Armagh event.

The name of the injured rider, who is not believed to be from Northern Ireland, has not been released.

The crash happened on the final lap on the approach to Bells Crossroads, bringing out the red flags.

More to follow
Co Down father-of-three Conor Morgan, who died following in a building site accident in Scotland, has been described as a 'model dad' who was 'liked by everyone'.

The Kilcoo lorry driver was working at the site in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, when the accident happened on Wednesday morning. Mr Morgan (45) died at the scene.

Sinn Fein MLA Chris Hazzard said news of death had shocked the local community.

"Conor was very popular and friendly, he was well liked by everybody in the wider Kilcoo area," said Mr Hazzard.

"I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his wife and young family at this tough time."

Family friend and chairman of Kilcoo GAA club Terry O'Hanlon described Mr Morgan - husband to Shirleen and dad to teenagers Gerard, Anthony and Jason - as a model family man.

He said: "Conor was a model father. His three sons were very close to him and he was fantastic when it came to the club, he left us to it and encouraged the boys to do their best.

"Conor played for the club up until his early 20s then his lorry driving started taking him away off to the continent and over to England and Scotland.

"The three boys are replicas of him. Jason plays for the under-14s, Anthony for the minors and under-16s and Gerard has just made it onto the senior panel.

"They were all very close to their dad and he really was a model family man, with his wife Shirleen doing great work for the club, too. It's an absolute tragedy for them and we're all just devastated.

"Conor was in the middle of building a new house for the family, so it's just a terrible thing to happen but we're all thinking of them and will do whatever we can."

A Facebook message posted by St Malachy's Parish Kilcoo said: "The entire community of Kilcoo is devastated to learn of the untimely and tragic death of Conor Morgan, we would like to offer our most heartfelt condolences to his wife Shirleen, his sons Gerard, Anthony and Jason, his mother Brigid, brothers Patrick and Niall, sisters Mary Teresa, Pauline and Rita at this heartbreaking time."

Police Scotland said Mr Morgan's death was not being treated as suspicious, adding a post-mortem will be conducted to establish the exact cause of his death. It is the second tragedy to hit the area, following the death of Castlewellan teen Conall O'Hare on Tuesday.

Conall, who died days after celebrating his 18th birthday, will be buried today at St Patrick's Church, Bryansford.
Tim Farron said under no circumstances will the Lib Dems enter into coalition with Labour or the Tories after the general election

Tim Farron has insisted the Liberal Democrats will not prop up a minority government via a confidence and supply deal.

The Lib Dem leader reiterated there will be "n o circumstances whatsoever" in which his party will enter into coalition with Labour or the Conservatives after next month's general election, given the current approaches of those two parties and their leaders.

He also dismissed an informal arrangement to offer his party's support on budget measures and other key votes to help a minority Tory or Labour administration.

Challenged about the prospect on ITV 1's Peston On Sunday, Mr Farron replied: " No supply and confidence, no coalition, no deal."

Asked if his party would prop up a minority government, Mr Farron said: "No, because what is very clear at this moment is that we have an official Opposition which has not been behaving like an alternative government but is not even behaving like an opposition.

"It's neither fish nor fowl on the biggest issue that has faced us for generations.

"What Britain needs in this election is clarity and a contest. Theresa May has called this election because she believes it'll be a coronation.

"The Liberal Democrats are determined to make it a contest with a clear alternative position, and I don't want people thinking a vote for the Liberal Democrats is a proxy for anything else."

Mr Farron also said the party raised 1.6 million in the four days following the announcement of a general election.

He said the cash was from "all sorts of different people", including several who previously backed the Conservatives.

Speaking later at a campaign event at Ministry of Sound in London, Mr Farron said of the number of seats his party is hoping to win: " The honest truth is, I haven't got a fixed figure in my head and I think that in itself tells you that horizons are expanding."
TSB was taken over by Spanish rival Banco de Sabadell in 2015

The boss of TSB has hit out at plans to spare Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) from selling off its Williams & Glyn network, adding that competition concerns will not be addressed by a 750 million pot of Government money for challenger banks.

Paul Pester told the Press Association that the high street lender is speaking with the Treasury and European Commission as part of a review of the multimillion-pound programme that aims to meet RBS's state aid conditions without selling Williams & Glyn.

He said: "Clearly we've been successful in creating TSB out of Lloyds and creating a new challenger bank.

"If that's not to happen with Williams & Glyn through the creation of an independent bank, what's important is that we still get the same outcome, which is more competition."

The Government says the 750 million will help challenger banks access cash for increasing their business banking operations, and to woo small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) clients to switch accounts from RBS.

Another pot of cash will invest in fintech firms.

However, Mr Pester said one-off funding is not enough to tackle market dominance by Britain's big five banks.

He said: "If RBS takes 750 million and shares it out and just gives it to the challenger banks, what benefit is that?

"Writing us a cheque of 100 million would be very interesting but it ain't going to do much for competition."

RBS - which is still 72% owned by the Government - was required by European Commission rules to hive off the network as a condition of its bailout at the height of the financial crisis in 2008-2009.

Similar conditions applied to Lloyds Banking Group, which resulted in the spin-off of TSB in 2013.

However, RBS was struggling to find a buyer ahead of its deadline - set for the end of 2017 - prompting the Government's alternative funding plan.

A Treasury spokesman said: "RBS must deliver on its remaining state aid commitments and the new plan being consulted on by the European Commission represents the most effective way of delivering the pro-competition objectives behind them.

"It provides a clear blueprint to increase competition in the UK's business banking market, and would help RBS resolve one of its most significant legacy issues which has held back the sale of the taxpayers' stake."

TSB was taken over by Spanish rival Banco de Sabadell in 2015, taking it private just a year after it listed on the London Stock Exchange.

It is now on track to separate itself from Lloyds' IT platform later this year, which has so far added significant costs to TSB's balance sheet and is expected to hurt profits in 2017.

However, Mr Pester assured the migration to a new platform - done with Sabadell's help - would give TSB the chance to stand on its own two feet, regardless of which company is its parent.

TSB is set to pay 100 million more to Lloyds this year for use of the existing IT platform, about 25 million of which is expected to show up as extra costs in next Thursday's first-quarter results.

"You'll see basically the only change is that part of our costs are going up by - not quite a quarter of 100 million, because obviously it's 100 million spread over the year and this is the first quarter. They've slightly front-loaded those costs, so you'll see our costs go up by a chunk which will drive our profitability down.

"Everything else is going exactly as we expect."
Sir Philip Green could still be stripped of his knighthood, says MP Frank Field

Sir Philip Green has been warned that he could still be stripped of his knighthood and faces further questions from MPs, one year after the collapse of BHS.

Veteran Labour MP Frank Field said Sir Philip has not done enough to keep his title amid lingering concerns over the 363 million settlement struck between the retail tycoon and The Pensions Regulator.

"Sir Philip Green remains on the hook," he told the Press Association.

"When Parliament comes back from the election we need to pursue the charge sheet from The Pensions Regulator against him and what the Pensions Regulator got in return," said Mr Field.

"Once we have done that, we will realise how inadequate his settlement was.

"He has not done enough to hold on to his knighthood.

" It's rather good that Mrs May is waiting for all the reports to come in before she makes a recommendation to the honours forfeiture committee. The case against Sir Philip will continue in the new Parliament, " said Mr Field.

The comments come almost a year to the day since the department store chain plunged into administration, impacting 11,000 jobs and around 19,000 pension holders.

Mr Field, who chairs the Work and Pensions Committee, said a new Government bill was now needed to shore up the law surrounding pensions in order to shield assets.

"We must have a proper pensions bill in the new Parliament to protect these assets," he added.

"We cannot rely on The Pensions Regulator to protect these assets. We have got to think nimbly to find a way to protect these assets that doesn't bring down a firm with it."

Sir Philip agreed to pay 363 million to settle the BHS pension scheme in February, less than the 571 million deficit the firm was left with when it went bust in April last year.

He said the move represented a ''significantly better'' outcome than if the scheme entered the Pension Protection Fund (PPF).

The billionaire boss of Arcadia made a voluntary personal cash payment of 343 million towards improved benefits to the pension scheme members, and made available an additional 20 million towards implementation costs.

It came after the Topshop owner was grilled by MPs over the sale of the chain, which he owned for 15 years before offloading it for 1 to former bankrupt Dominic Chappell in 2015.

Mr Chappell, who may still face a criminal investigation, reiterated his apology to the BHS staff and said he has "nothing to hide".

He said: "It was not any of our doing, the pension deficit in BHS. Green took hundreds of millions out in 10 years, made little or no investment back, and stuck two fingers up at the pension trustees for 10 years.

"He has paid back only a fraction of what he took out.

"The Government should also take a long hard look at its own policies and be asking the question how has this happened and why there are over 5,000 major companies which have massive pensions problems.

"The pension policies are not fit for purpose."

Asked whether he had learnt any lessons from the BHS debacle, Mr Chappell added: " Don't have any thing to do with Green, bring in new blood into the senior management to get honesty, loyalty and a fresh view on what is really going on at the top."

Sir Philip Green declined to comment.

Sources close to Sir Philip said the pensions settlement was accepted and final and that there is no further action outstanding against him.
Benedictine sisters of the Sainte-Cecile Abbey arrive to vote at a polling station in Solesmes, northwestern France, during the first round of the French presidential election. / AFP PHOTO / JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIERJEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty Images

Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right populist Marine Le Pen have advanced to the French presidential run-off vote, overhauling the country's political system and setting up a showdown over its participation in the European Union.

French politicians on the left and right immediately urged voters to block Ms Le Pen's path to power in the May 7 vote, saying her virulently nationalist anti-EU and anti-immigration politics would spell disaster for France.

The selection of Ms Le Pen and Mr Macron presents voters with the starkest possible choice between two diametrically opposed visions of the EU's future and France's place in it.

It sets up a battle between Mr Macron's optimistic vision of a tolerant France with open borders against Ms Le Pen's darker, inward-looking platform calling for closed borders, tougher security, less immigration and dropping the shared euro currency to return to the franc.

With Ms Le Pen wanting France to leave the EU, and Mr Macron proposing even closer co-operation between the bloc's 28 nations, the outcome of the first round of voting on Sunday after a wildly unpredictable and tense campaign means the run-off will have undertones of a referendum on France's EU membership.

The absence in the final vote of candidates from either the mainstream left Socialists or the right-wing Republicans party - the two main groups that have governed post-war France - also marks a seismic shift in the nation's political landscape.

With 34% of the vote counted, the Interior Ministry said Ms Le Pen was leading on 24.6% followed by Mr Macron on 21.9%.

The early vote count includes primarily rural constituencies that lean to the right, while urban areas that lean left are counted later.

Mr Macron, a 39-year-old investment banker, made the run-off on the back of a grassroots start-up campaign without the backing of a major political party.

Defeated conservative candidate Francois Fillon said he would vote for Mr Macron on May 7 because Ms Le Pen's programme "would bankrupt France" and throw the EU into chaos.

Expand Close Voters pick their candidates inside voting booths at a polling station in Paris on April 23, 2017 during the first round of the French presidential election. / AFP PHOTO / Benjamin CremelBENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Voters pick their candidates inside voting booths at a polling station in Paris on April 23, 2017 during the first round of the French presidential election. / AFP PHOTO / Benjamin CremelBENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP/Getty Images

He also cited the history of "violence and intolerance" of Ms Le Pen's far-right National Front party.

In a brief televised message less than 30 minutes after the last polling stations closed, Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve also urged voters to back Mr Macron "to beat the National Front and block its funereal project of regression for France and of division of the French".

Socialist presidential candidate Benoit Hamon, who was far behind in Sunday's results, quickly conceded defeat. Declaring "the left is not dead," he urged supporters to back Mr Macron.

Expand Close Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron waves supporters after casting his vote in the first round of the French presidential election, in le Touquet, northern France, Sunday April 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron waves supporters after casting his vote in the first round of the French presidential election, in le Touquet, northern France, Sunday April 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Macron supporters at his election day headquarters in Paris went wild as news that he would advance to the final round emerged, cheering, singing La Marseillaise anthem, waving French tricolour and European flags and shouting "Macron, president!".

Mathilde Jullien, 23, said she is convinced Mr Macron will be able to win over Ms Le Pen and become France's next president.

"He represents France's future, a future within Europe," she said. "He will win because he is able to unite people from the right and the left against the threat of the National Front and he proposes real solutions for France's economy."

Expand Close French presidential election candidate for the far-left coalition La France Insoumise Jean-Luc Melenchon waves as he leaves a polling station in Paris, on April 23, 2017, during the first round of the Presidential election. / AFP PHOTO / bertrand GUAYBERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp French presidential election candidate for the far-left coalition La France Insoumise Jean-Luc Melenchon waves as he leaves a polling station in Paris, on April 23, 2017, during the first round of the Presidential election. / AFP PHOTO / bertrand GUAYBERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images

But Le Pen supporters were equally enthusiastic.

With a broad smile, Ms Le Pen stood before an adoring crowd and said her National Front party will represent "the great alternative" to the French people and pledged to open a "much-needed" debate on globalisation.

"We will win!" Le Pen supporters chanted in her election day headquarters in the northern French town of Henin-Beaumont. They burst into a rendition of the French national anthem, and waved French flags and blue flags with "Marine President" inscribed on them.

Expand Close French nationals residing in Israel wait outside the French consulate in Tel Aviv to cast their vote on April 23, 2017, during the first round of the French presidential election. / AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp French nationals residing in Israel wait outside the French consulate in Tel Aviv to cast their vote on April 23, 2017, during the first round of the French presidential election. /

Sunday's vote took place amid heightened security in the first election under France's state of emergency, which has been in place since the gun and bomb attacks in Paris in 2015.

AP

In Paris, protesters angry that Ms Le Pen has advanced into the final vote scuffled with police.

Crowds of young people, some from anarchist and "anti-fascist" groups, gathered on the Place de la Bastille in eastern Paris as results were coming in from the first round vote.

Police fired tear gas to disperse an increasingly rowdy crowd and riot police surrounded the area.

Protesters staged demos at several of Ms Le Pen's campaign events, angry at her anti-immigration policies and her party.
A number of soldiers have died following a roadside bombing in Somalia (Farah Abdi Warsameh/PA)

Eight soldiers have been killed in Somalia and a further three are injured after a roadside bomb attack in a remote town in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland.

Police official Ahmed Mohamed told the Associated Press that Sunday's blast targeted a military convoy in Galgala.

Security forces have been battling Islamic State (IS) fighters in the region.

The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group claimed responsibility for the blast.

IS-linked extremists also have carried out such attacks in the past.

Fighters affiliated with IS are a relatively new and growing threat in Somalia, where al-Shabab has been entrenched for years.

AP
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Von: KAI WEISE UND HANNO KAUTZ

Made in Germany  this label is teaching the world the meaning of fear! It was introduced by the British 130 years ago to warn against cheap German reproductions.

Today, it is the bestselling label around the globe, invoking the anger of other economic powers. Hence, they are turning public opinion against the booming Federal Republic!

Very, very unfair!, says US President Donald Trump (70) on the German record trade surplus of 252 billion euros. His accusation: Currency manipulation! According to him, Germany was weakening the Euro on purpose to lower the costs of exports and was investing too little.

A look behind the scenes: In 2016, the US bought goods with the label Made in Germany for 107 billion euros, but in return sold products to Germany worth only 58 billion euros.

1. Cars and car parts  227 billion euros* 2. Machinery  169 billion euros 3. Chemical products  107 billion euros 4. Data processing, electrical and optical products  100 billion euros 5. Electrical equipment  76 billion euros 6. Pharmaceutical products  71 billion euros 7. Other vehicles  59 billion euros 8. Foodstuffs and animal feed  50 billion euros 9. Metals  47 billion euros 10. Rubber and plastic products  43 billion euros 11. Metal products  41 billion euros 12. Stationary  19 billion euros 13. Apparel  15 billion euros *Source: Federal Statistical Office

Trump, therefore, signed a decree to make it more difficult for foreign companies to receive government contracts. His slogan: Buy American!

The anger of the powerful at the label Made in Germany knows no bounds! It, too, has long arrived in the EU. Italy and Greece have long attacked the German government harshly.

In France, it isnt only the right-wing extremist Marine Le Pen (48) who is scolding Germany. The presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron (39) has jumped on the bandwagon: Germanys strength has become intolerable and the French deserve financial compensation, so he says!

The German government has had enough of these attacks! Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries (63, SPD) told BILD: Our companies produce high-quality machinery and equipment which are purchased abroad by companies that like German products. We dont have to apologize for that! According to Zypries, the mounting criticism from abroad is not valid.

Starting today, her cabinet colleague Wolfgang Schauble (74, CDU) will be fighting against these serious accusations during the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington: Trade balance and the euro exchange rate were hardly susceptible to political persuasion. Instead, they were the result of competitive German businesses, he said.

Germanys exporters body leader, Anton Borner, told BILD: Made in Germany faces daily competition with other companies and convinces its buyers with innovative products, excellent quality, great reliability and good services and not primarily by means of pricing policies.

Auch interessant

In addition, German investors in the US belong to the largest group of foreign employers, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance. In 2016, 63 billion dollars of German capital were injected into the US economy.

The head of Ifo (Institute for Economic Research), Clemens Fuest, told BILD: German export surpluses are incurring also, because German companies make investments abroad and create jobs there, which is useful with respect to the countries in question. Furthermore, the surpluses are due to the fact that other countries, mainly the US, are saving very little money and continue accumulating successive debts.

Despite many international conflict zones, the German economy has grown surprisingly strong over the past year.

Lesen Sie auch

However, Germany needs to catch up as far as investment is concerned, says the head of DIW (German Institute for Economic Research), Marcel Fratzscher. Especially with regard to streets and digital infrastructure: The high trade surpluses are mainly a problem for Germany. The problem is not that Germany is exporting too much, but that we are underinvesting.

Stock-market expert Markus Koch makes similar arguments: The weak euro is obviously helping the German economy. If political will existed in Berlin, the excessive surpluses could certainly be dealt with. German citizens would be happy about a lower VAT rate as much as they would be about soaring wage growth. Both ignite consumption which has a favorable affect on the domestic economy. Thanks to zero interest policy, Schauble could afford to deviate from the austerity plan, so that he could invest more heavily into the weakening infrastructure.

*translated into English by Claudia Haj Ali
24.com has accepted the resignation of Verashni Pillay as editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post SA.

Pillay's resignation followed immediately on the release of the findings of the press ombudsman that a blog published on The Huffington Post was both malicious and discriminatory.

This comes after Pillay wrote a response article explaining what had gone wrong in publishing the fake news piece and what measures would be taken to ensure stricter checks in future:

Many things went wrong but here's what I could have done better, writes @verashni. #HuffPostSA https://t.co/BrlcEpNjFF  HuffPost SouthAfrica (@HuffPostSA) April 20, 2017

Andreij Horn, head: 24.com, said editorial control over the site had also been reassigned with immediate effect to the site's editor-at-large Ferial Haffajee and deputy editor Pieter du Toit until a new editor is appointed.

[Editorial] What the Huffington Post saga taught us.https://t.co/M7gXLdvB7D  The Daily VOX (@thedailyvox) April 19, 2017

Click here for the ombudsman's full ruling.

Read more:
The St. Francois County 911 Board approved the purchase of a nearly half-million dollar state-of-the-art 911 system when it recently met in regular session.

The new-generation 911 system is new to the United States, but has reportedly been successfully used in European countries in recent years.

Addressing the board, 911 Communications Director Alan Wells said that the Public Safety Committee had a unanimous recommendation regarding the purchase of the new 911 system for the county.

The committee is made up of board Chairman Ron Bockenkamp and board member Todd Mecey, St. Francois County Sheriff Dan Bullock, fireman Bob Reeves, St. Francois County Ambulance District Director David Tetrault, Ste. Genevieve representative Robert Bach (by phone), Ste. Genevieve Sheriff Gary Stolzer and Ste. Genevieve Ambulance District Administrator Kendall Shrum.

"We fully recommend entering into a contractual agreement with Atos/Unify for our new 911 system at $484,000," Wells said. "This will be a pilot project for this company."

Board member and Desloge Police Chief James Bullock asked, "When you say pilot project, you mean this is the first time they did this?"

Wells replied, "No, sir. It's the first time for this type of a project in the United States. They're in the 911 business in the United States, but not in this new technical arena that we're in."

Atos representative Phillip R. Rotheram interjected, "It's a pilot for a new version of our application app, so the technology that supports it, everything behind it, has been in use for a long, long time  10, 15, 20 years. It's just this new application layer.

"Anytime we come out with a brand new application layer  like a new version of Windows type of thing  we always go and seek a client somewhere to be the first deployment of that within a region. So, you guys would be the first deployment within this region. It has been deployed in Europe already, but as Mr. Wells was saying, this will be the first time in the U.S."

Bullock asked, "With it being done in another country, are we going to be able to experience the same quality of service or will there be technical difficulties?"

Rotheram said, "The level of service that you guys will get as being part of a pilot project is exponentially greater than for our regular deployment. You guys will get a lot of attention and support. Our other deployments haven't experienced any issues. We are actually in the process of going live with the city of Paris, France right now, so it's going very well."

Jumping back into the conversation, Director Wells said, "I might add that the technology is not in development. It is deliverable, it's just not been delivered here in the states yet. The system and us being the pilot brings a lot of extras with it that we could not get if we tried to bid that out. It's a sole-source provider. After much study and evaluation of the 911 equipment providers in the United States, this was the unanimous decision and the recommendation of the administration that we enter into this pilot project."

Chairman Bockenkamp said, "I think the trigger word was 'pilot.' This board has been very adamant  and correctly so, I think  in saying that any vendor we retain on the technical side is committing to a product that they can deliver, not something that is in development. Maybe the word pilot suggested a little weakness in that position  and there is no weakness. Your commitment of your company is deliverables, correct?"

Rotheram replied, "Absolutely chairman."

Bockenkamp asked board attorney Joe Goff Sr. if he had reviewed the contract with Atos/Unify.

"Yes, it seems like an outstanding proposal," Goff said. "We're getting a lot of bang for our buck."

Bockenkamp said, "To Alan's credit  I don't know how you came across these people  but he did a very thorough job. He's been researching other potential vendors and it ends up we sent him over to Spain based on the initial presentation by [Rotheram] representing his company. I think the board  if you approve this motion that has been made and seconded  is making the absolute correct decision for where we want to go."

The board unanimously approved entering an agreement with Atos/Unify for the purchase of the next-generation 911 system.

In other action, incumbent board members David Pratte, Wendall Jarvis, Ginger Taylor and Todd Mecey were sworn in for another two-year term. All ran unopposed in the April 4 election.
Fredericktown Police Chief Eric Hovis joked Thursday that it would have been a particularly bad idea for an individual to perpetrate a violent crime in the area.

Throughout Fredericktown, members of SWAT teams from across the nation were training, hearing presentations, and participating in debriefings and lectures on various aspects of policing and response tactics as part of the SEMO SWAT Challenge, which includes competitive events Friday through Sunday.

Among the classes and presentations was a debriefing of the 2012 Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting, presented by Brian Murphy who was wounded 15 times as one of the responding officers in that incident. Murphy took the gathered officers through the events of the day, highlighting aspects of a real-life tactical situation that could only be explained by one who was involved.

Other speakers included A.J. DeAndrea speaking about the Columbine school shootings, Mike Neal presenting a tactical mindset course, and Dave Kruse teaching a course on how to react in a situation involving a downed officer. Ron McCarthy, one of the founders of the Los Angeles SWAT Team, also spoke.

In addition to the various lectures and presentations taking place at venues around Fredericktown, there was also firearms training taking place at the SRT site. Included were classes in tactical rappelling, use of ballistic shields, combative applications, tactical rifle and handgun, and precision rifle courses.

Daniel Canete, an officer with the Dallas SWAT team, said he and the other officers from Dallas came to Fredericktown to train and compete rather than attend the Texas Tactical Police Officer Association Conference, which is one of the largest tactical conferences in the nation.

Its pretty big, Canete said. Texas has a lot of SWAT teams, and its going on right now. As a result, we have our guys who are at the conference, and a lot of our guys teach at the conference. On top of that, we still need coverage for the City of Dallas. So theyre kind of pulling double-duty right now since were not there.

Canete said the Dallas SWAT team used to compete in other similar events but havent for a while. When organizers of the SEMO SWAT Challenge contacted the Dallas SWAT Commander Bill Humphries to speak at the Fredericktown event, it also enabled Dallas officers to come and compete.

Since our chief was invited to speak, that gave us the opportunity to come and compete and we jumped on it, Canete said. Because we like the training aspect, and we really like meeting other teams to just talk about what everyone else is doing, as far as tactics.

Marshal Milligan, also a Dallas officer, said there are multiple opportunities for the attending officers.

We were invited to come out and do the competitions, Milligan said. Well get to take a few classes, learn some stuff, and obviously network with other departments.

Chris Porche, an officer with what was formerly the Air Forces Tactical Response Force, said he looks forward to the training available at the event.

Yeah, probably the class and training portions, Porche said. I know later this afternoon were doing the basic rifle shooting portion, and thats going to be a good time. So Im looking forward to the actual training events.

"And not only that, but applying tactics in scenario-based training. Testing ourselves physically with the obstacle course. Thats what Im looking forward to.

Also in attendance on Thursday was Danielle Sproull with Reebok Duty, one of the major sponsors of the event. She said the event has undergone tremendous growth in the time shes been involved, which first came from a connection with St. Louis County SWAT.

We work with St. Louis County SWAT quite often, Sproull said. They told us they were coming out, and we came to check it out.

Sproull said that over time Reebok Duty eventually wanted to become more involved with the event.

Once we heard that the team that we normally work with was competing, we wanted to know how to get involved, Sproul said. Last year was the first year we got super involved. We gave free boots to everybody and a bunch of different swag. This year we did the same, so were excited to work with them and partner with all of the different teams.

Eleven teams from around the region and nation made the trip to Fredericktown to compete, train and network.
Country

Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Units from Macroom Fire Brigade are responding to gorse fires in Cork and Kerry, including a blaze near the scenic tourist spot of Gougane Barra.

Dozens of firemen battled over the weekend to fight illegal wildfires across the south-west stretching from north Kerry to West Cork.

Acres of forestry and upland nesting areas were destroyed.

Kerrys assistant chief fire officer John Hegarty, who was on duty trying to co-ordinate resources to fight the fires, said at least 50 personnel were involved in ighting fires from Knocknagoshel in the north of the county to Tuosist in the southern-most Beara peninsula on Friday night and Saturday.

Fires burned on both sides of Kenmare Bay. Between 10 and 15 acres of forestry were destroyed and a number of houses were threatened at one point, though this was contained.

Coast guard helicopter just flew over head. Must be heading for #gouganebarra - stay safe emergency crews. Horrible criminal act.  Sandra Murphy (@sandramurphy999) April 23, 2017

Fire crews and tenders from Listowel, Castleisland, Sneem, Kenmare, Killarney and Tralee were all out.

The fires were all around the southern peninsulas and a there was close liaison with West Cork where crews from Bantry attended a number of fires in the Shehy mountain border area with Kerry, Mr Hegarty said.

Crews were also called to fight gorse fires in the Beaufort areas of mid-Kerry and at Shrone Rathmore in east Kerry.

Mr Hegarty said it was a major challenge for the fire service to not only contain fires over vast areas of the countryside but to also have protection for urban areas and to have units available to attend road traffic crashes.

We want the brigades back in the major towns, he said.

It is not known what caused so many fires, but fine weather is believed to have encouraged the burning of the upland gorse, locals say.
Update 5.41pm: Dissident republicans left a bomb at the gates of a primary school in Northern Ireland in an attempt to murder police, a senior officer has said.

The device, described as viable, significant and reckless, was discovered in an alleyway beside Holy Cross Boys' Primary School in Ardoyne, North Belfast shortly before midnight on Saturday.

People in 20 homes in a row of terraced houses in the Herbert Street area had to be evacuated while the bomb squad was called in.

They included families, pensioners and a six-year-old girl, who local representatives said was frightened and left in tears after being taken from her bed in the middle of the night.

PSNI Chief Superintendent Chris Noble said the bomb plot was provocative as the Holy Cross school name is synonymous with vicious and traumatic sectarian protests a decade and a half ago which targeted Catholic schoolgirls.

"It's a very significant device more than capable of causing death and serious injury," he said.

"There's no doubt that device was there to try and kill community police officers on the beat in their local area, but also it was left in such a reckless manner and in such a reckless location that it would have undoubtedly led to the death or serious injury of a member of the public had it exploded anywhere near them."

Mr Noble said he was in no doubt that dissident republicans were behind the incident in an attempt to kill police officers.

The alleyway where the device was found is used by local people coming and going as a route to and from local houses, and it was also said to be where local young people gather.

The PSNI appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious around midnight to come forward.

"All we need are the bits of the jigsaw to try and understand who was in the area, what people saw, because that's what detectives can then build their investigation on," Mr Noble said.

Sinn Fein MLA for the area Gerry Kelly said the device was designed to kill.

"I condemn it outright," he said.

"Those behind it have no regard whatsoever for this community and they need to end these futile acts."

Mark Lindsay, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said those behind the attack wanted to murder or maim officers.

"They didn't care if passers-by or children out playing in the area were caught up in an explosion. It was an entirely reckless act," he said.

"This appears to have been a deadly, anti-personnel-type weapon. Thankfully, it was recovered and removed without being detonated.

"The attackers are terrorising people who live in the area and preventing them from getting on with their everyday lives."

Local SDLP councillor Paul McCusker said the threat was a chilling reminder that some people are still intent on taking life and causing injury in the community.

He said: "There can be no justification for this kind of attack on our community."

Secretary of State James Brokenshire said: "I am sickened by this incident with dissident republican terrorists placing a bomb close to a primary school in north Belfast.

"This shows their wanton disregard for human life, potentially putting children in danger.

"The consequences could have been utterly devastating and it shows them for what they really are.

"I am grateful to the emergency services for their work in keeping people safe."

Police later clarified the device was discovered on Brookfield Street in Ardoyne, which runs off Herbert Street and near a community centre, after it had been placed by the school gates.

They also said some people with disabilities were among those who had to be taken from their homes in the middle of the night.

A number of controlled explosions were carried out at the scene and the device was taken away for forensic analysis.

Mr Noble said: "Many families with young children, older people, the sick and those with significant disabilities had to leave their homes in the middle of the night last night.

"Police and community representatives stepped in to make sure these people had somewhere to go and were kept safe while those responsible for all of this were absent, likely safe in their beds."

He said the local community deserved an apology and explanation from those behind the incident.

Nigel Dodds, Democratic Unionist MP for North Belfast, said: "Those who constructed and planted this device clearly have no regard for any human life.

"Such a device could have caused devastation and we must all pay tribute to the work of those who have made the scene safe."

Policing Board chairman Anne Connolly said: "Leaving an explosive device in the heart of the community shows the recklessness of those responsible as anyone could have been caught up in this.

"I'm grateful that the device was found and the attempt to harm our police officers thwarted."

Earlier:

Police in Northern Ireland have said a "viable device" has been taken off the streets after a bomb alert.

The explosive was discovered near a school in the Herbert Street area of Ardoyne in north Belfast.

A number of residents in the area around Holy Cross Boys' Primary School were evacuated for several hours as the security alert took place.

Police described the device as viable and said it had been taken away for forensic analysis.

Sinn Fein councillor JJ Magee condemned those behind the bomb alert.

"This security alert in Ardoyne has brought nothing but disruption to the local area," he said.

"A number of residents have had to leave their homes as a result of this alert. This is the last thing people need.

"The local community wants to be able to go about their business in peace without these type of incidents that serve no purpose whatsoever."

The device was placed at the school gates and Sinn Fein MLA for the area Gerry Kelly said it was designed to kill.

"I condemn it outright," he said.

"Those behind it have no regard whatsoever for this community and they need to end these futile acts."

Twenty homes had to be evacuated during the security alert.

Mr Kelly added: "I welcome the fact that this device was found before it killed or injured somebody and anyone with information should bring it to the PSNI."
Arthur Collins, the boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann, has been arrested in connection with the east London nightclub acid attack, which left two revellers partially blinded and others disfigured.

The 25-year-old was arrested at an address in Rushden, Northamptonshire, on Saturday, on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police sought Collins after a noxious substance was sprayed inside the Mangle club in Dalston on April 17.

Collins, from Hertfordshire, had been in a relationship with Ms McCann, best known for her appearances on The Only Way Is Essex and I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

After the incident she urged him to contact police.

His arrest comes after a man was charged with in relation to the same incident.

Andre Phoenix was charged with seven counts of grievous bodily harm on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police said.

He will appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Around 20 clubbers suffered burns after being doused with the substance on Easter Monday, including a 22-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man who were both blinded in one eye.

Detective Inspector Lee McCullough of Hackney CID said: "The noxious substance used has not yet been confirmed but samples retrieved from the scene have been sent for analysis.

"If you were there and saw anyone involved inside or leaving the nightclub, please get in touch."

The blinded man and another victim, a 29-year-old man, were transferred to a specialist burns hospital in Essex and have since been discharged, police said.

Police believe trouble brewed between two groups at the packed club and the acidic substance was flung directly over the pair.

A 24-year-old old man arrested in north London over the attack on Friday has since been released, police said.
Part one of a new two-part documentary will air on TV3 tomorrow night looking at Donald Trump's election as US President and what implications that has for Irish people.

The series, presented by Matt Cooper, will examine the huge influence of Irish Americans within the Trump administration from VP Mike Pence to Steve Bannon, Sean Spicer and Kellyanne Conway.
President Donald Trump has rattled Washington and been chastened by its institutions for almost 100 days.

He has startled world leaders with his unpredictability and tough talk, but won their praise for a surprise strike on Syria.

He has endured the steady drip of investigations and a seemingly endless churn of public drama.

"It's a different kind of a presidency," he said in an Oval Office interview as he approaches the key presidential benchmark of 100 days in office.

Mr Trump, who campaigned on a promise of instant disruption, indirectly acknowledged that change does not come quickly to Washington.

He showed signs that he feels the weight of the office, discussing the "heart" required to do the job.

Although he retained his signature bravado and a salesman's confidence in his upward trajectory, he displayed an awareness that many of his own lofty expectations for his first 100 days in office have not been met.

"It's an artificial barrier. It's not very meaningful," he said.

He was unclear on whether he should be held accountable for the 100-day plan he outlined with great fanfare in his campaign's closing days, suggesting his "Contract with the American Voter" wasn't really his idea to begin with.

One hundred days are just a fraction of a president's tenure, and no president has quite matched the achievements of Franklin D Roosevelt, who set the standard by which all are now judged.

Still, modern presidents have tried to move swiftly to capitalise upon the potent, and often fleeting, mix of political capital and public goodwill that usually accompanies their arrival in Washington.

Mr Trump, however, has never really had either.

A deeply divisive figure, he lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton and had one of the narrower Electoral College victories in history. Since taking office on January 20, his approval rating has hovered around 40% in most polls.

His early presidency has been dogged by FBI and congressional investigations into whether his campaign co-ordinated with Russians to tilt the race in his favour. It is a persistent distraction that Mr Trump would not discuss on the record.

Furthermore, his three months-plus in office have amounted to a swift education in a world wholly unfamiliar to a 70-year-old who spent his career in real estate and reality television.

For his example, his two disputed travel ban executive orders are languishing, blocked by federal judges.

On Capitol Hill, majority Republicans muscled through Mr Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch, but had to blow up long-standing Senate rules to do so.

Then there was the legislative debacle when Mr Trump's own party could not come together to fulfil its long-sought promise of repealing President Barack Obama's healthcare law.

HW Brands, a history professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said Mr Trump is learning that "the world is the way it is for a whole bunch of complicated reasons. And changing the guy at the top doesn't change the world".

Mr Trump would not concede that point, but he did acknowledge that being commander in chief brings with it a "human responsibility" that he did not much bother with in business.

"When it came time to, as an example, send out the 59 missiles, the Tomahawks in Syria," Mr Trump said, "I'm saying to myself, 'You know, this is more than just like 79 (sic) missiles. This is death that's involved because people could have been killed. This is risk that's involved.'

"Here, everything, pretty much everything you do in government involves heart, whereas in business most things don't involve heart," he said. "In fact, in business you're actually better off without it."

As for accomplishments, Mr Trump cited "tremendous success" on an undefined strategy for defeating the so-called 'Islamic State' group and he talked at length about saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars on the price of F-35 fighter jets.

It is too soon to say whether the presidency has changed Mr Trump in substantive ways. He has backpedalled on an array of issues in recent weeks, including his critiques of Nato, but his self-proclaimed flexibility means he could move back to where he started just as quickly.

He fires off tweets at odd hours of the morning and night, sending Washington into a stir with just a few words.

He still litigates the presidential campaign, mentioning multiple times during the interview how difficult it is for a Republican presidential nominee to win the Electoral College.

He is acutely aware of how he is being covered in the media, rattling off the ratings for some of his television appearances. But he says he has surprised even himself with some recent self-discipline: He has stopped watching what he perceives as his negative coverage on CNN and MSNBC.

For the moment, Mr Trump seems to have clamped down on the infighting and rivalries among his top White House staff that have spilled into the press and created a sense of paranoia in the West Wing.

He praised his national security team in particular and said his political team in the White House does not get the credit it deserves for its work in a high-pressure setting.

"This is a very tough environment," he said. "Not caused necessarily by me."
North Korea has reportedly detained a US citizen, bringing the total number of Americans held by them to three.

The man had been in the country for a month to discuss relief activities.
Australians with food allergies are at risk when deciding whether packaged products are safe to eat because manufacturers are unprepared to indicate which unlabelled foods are safe and which are not, a study has found.

The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute surveyed the allergen risk assessment processes of companies representing 454 different manufacturing sites across Australasia.

It found 30 per cent of edible packaged goods on supermarket shelves had been declared safe to eat after a risk assessment for food allergens but still remained unlabelled, while products that had not undergone any assessment were also without a label.

Food assessed in the survey included cereals, breads, pastas, tinned food, biscuits and lollies.
When a person has uncomfortable thoughts or feelings, they may project these onto other people, assigning the thoughts or feelings that they need to repress to a convenient alternative target.



Projection may also happen to obliterate attributes of other people with which we are uncomfortable. We assume that they are like us, and in doing so we allow ourselves to ignore those attributes they have with which we are uncomfortable.



Neurotic projection is perceiving others as operating in ways one unconsciously finds objectionable in yourself.

Complementary projection is assuming that others do, think and feel in the same way as you.

Complimentary projection is assuming that others can do things as well as you.

Projection also appears where we see our own traits in other people, as in the false consensus effect. Thus we see our friends as being more like us than they really are.
When I was The Australian's opinion editor, in the 2000s, I commissioned several writers to make the case against the Iraq war. It was a contrarian thing to do, given the Murdoch press' enthusiastic support for regime change in Baghdad. But in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion, The Australian published an ideologically diverse group of journalists, intellectuals, former diplomats and politicians, who subscribed to the foreign-policy school of deterrence.

The logic was simple. Preventive war was unnecessary, because even a nuclear Iraq could be contained as it had been since the 1991 Gulf War. Saddam Hussein was a brutal tyrant, but he was also a cynical calculator whose overriding concern was to hold onto power. Deterrence was working: if he used nuclear weapons against US interests, it would have guaranteed massive retaliation, perhaps obliteration. But if we attacked him, why expect him to go gently when he had nothing left to lose?

Not surprisingly, many hawks lambasted the "realists" as anything but realist. Everything after September 11, we were told, had changed. So much so that the containment doctrine that won the Cold War was futile against what George W. Bush termed the "axis of evil" (Iraq, Iran, North Korea).

I am reminded of those heady days as I listen to the debates about North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Once again, we are told that a rogue state is bent on developing nuclear weapons that threaten world peace and that either a preventive strike or regime change, or both, will disarm this strategic and moral threat.
No actor from a one-off telemovie or mini-series has won Gold before, according to 2017's Gold winner Samuel Johnson.

The star of Seven's miniseries Molly said Australia's love for Meldrum partly explained his victory. But it was also driven by support from Love Your Sister, the cancer fundraising charity, with 382,000 Facebook likes.

"Facebook has been swinging elections lately and we're no exception," Johnson said.

When his name was called, his "whole brain went fuzzy, and my heart popped - and then Molly's there, and I couldn't hear him because I'm half-deaf".

"I was speaking to Chrissie Swan ... and she was telling me how you never forget [a win]," he said. "If you don't win, you're like, 'Man, Logies don't matter.' And when you do, you're like, 'Logies are very important.'"

Johnson said he would likely post his full acceptance speech on Facebook.

"The Love Your Sister village had so much to do with it, and I'm so annoyed I didn't have the presence of mind to acknowledge it ... I had it all planned! It's about [my sister] Connie."


Although it was widely written off as an embarrassing failure, One Nation's campaign in the Western Australia election was a considerable victory in which the party positioned itself to seize long-term balance of power in the federal senate, according to a new analysis.

In the March state election, One Nation secured three upper house seats, but failed to secure any in the lower house, as had been widely expected. The final days of the campaign were derailed by the resignation of some of its candidates and a disastrous interview in which Ms Hanson questioned the safety of vaccinations.

Many commentators suggested that it was the high tide mark for One Nation's electoral surge over recent years.

But a research paper to be published by the progressive think tank The Australia Institute finds that One Nation's result has been broadly misunderstood and the party underestimated.
Chelsea Clinton was one of the honourees at Variety's Power of Women New York luncheon on Friday, but that didn't stop host Vanessa Bayer from making a joke at the Clinton family's expense.

In her opening monologue at the event, the Saturday Night Live comedian introduced the six women who would be honoured that afternoon: Jessica Chastain, Gayle King, Blake Lively, Audra McDonald, Tina Knowles, Shari Redstone and Clinton.

"And they all have one thing in common," Bayer quipped. "None of their mums are president."

The audience groaned a little at that point.
If you look at the way yoga is portrayed in advertising or magazines, you could be forgiven for thinking it's exclusively for stick-thin women in expensive tights who can twist themselves into myriad pretzel shapes without breaking a sweat. But yoga can have wide-ranging benefits for both mind and body, and there is a movement afoot to ensure larger people don't miss out.

Jessamyn Stanley is a yoga teacher from North Carolina with a massive online following. Her Instagram account on positive body image and yoga has 284,000 followers and she has a book due for release. Stanley describes her body as "thick and juicy". But, she says, "my body epitomises strength. It's worthy of respect." That's why Stanley wants to bring her message to as many people as possible: yoga is for every body.

Sarah Harry is a self described "fat activist", psychotherapist, and yoga teacher. Credit:Eddie Jim

"I'm aware that my experience as a plus-size woman is one of my greatest assets as a teacher," she says. "I am able to fully identify with the experience most new students have because I know what it's like to experience all of the emotions that intimidate many students into never even attempting yoga."
The first dawn Anzac Day service in Sydney's Martin Place happened by accident in 1927 when diggers "wending their way home" in the early hours saw an elderly woman placing flowers. It was very near the recruiting booth where many of the 60,000 men who died in World War 1 were enlisted.

"When she stumbled and dropped the flowers they helped her and awkwardly watched her place the flowers; when she commenced to pray they silently joined her," says the Anzac Day Dawn Service Trust's official history.

"You can hear a pin drop": Ron Brown is president of the Anzac Day Dawn Service Trust, a group of 11 different service associations that brings together the dawn service every year. Credit:Michele Mossop

Those men, Jim Davidson, Ernie Rushbrooke, George Patterson, Len Stickler and Bill Gamble, told others and the next year a hundred or so arrived in the dark.

"With the exception, perhaps, of those sad gates of remembrance on the wharves of Woolloomooloo, there is no spot in all this city that holds so great a store of memories, both proud and pitiful," reported The Sydney Morning Heraldof the unveiling of the cenotaph there in February 1929.
A former Ryde councillor has resigned from the Liberal Party following his conviction for tax fraud over the backdated tax returns of ex Macquarie banker Michael Carapiet.

Artin Etmekdjian, a tax agent, was handed a seven-month suspended jail sentence for fraud last week, to be served as an intensive correction order, after pleading guilty to dishonestly influencing a public official at the tax office over Mr Carapiet's declarations.

Artin Etmekdjian resigned from the Liberal Party after he was handed a seven-month sentence for dishonestly attempting to influence a public official in connection with Michael Carapiet's tax returns. Credit:Peter Rae

Mr Etmekdjian pre-empted the Liberal Party's attempt to expel him on Friday night, formally resigning from the party hours before a meeting of the state executive was to consider a motion to strip him of his membership.

A Liberal party spokesman confirmed Mr Etmekdjian's resignation.
A quick-thinking Sydney Trains worker averted disaster on Saturday when a 40-wagon freight train lost its ability to brake as it hurtled towards Unanderra, near Wollongong.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the incident on the Moss Vale to Unanderra line.

The alarm was raised just before 1pm, when the privately-owned train, carrying grain, reported braking issues at Dombarton, north-west of Dapto.

Sydney Trains' Rail Management Centre was alerted to the problem and staff acted quickly to divert the train to an uphill siding yard.

"Sydney Trains' signallers stopped all other nearby freight and rail services, and diverted the train to a siding yard at Unanderra, where it was able to safely stop," a Sydney Trains spokeswoman said.
The Queensland Police Service's decision to further restrict the use of historical weapons during Anzac Day commemorations has been labelled as "political correctness gone mad" by the opposition.

A weapons licence was issued on April 11 in response to a request from the Queensland Living History Federation, which represents re-enactment groups across the state, however there were numerous new conditions.

The LNP has slammed the updated Anzac Day weapon exemptions, saying it hinders re-enactments and commemorations. Credit:Brock Perks

Operable semi-automatic rifles with magazines of less than 10 rounds, as well as pump-action shotguns with magazines of less than five rounds, could be used for military re-enactments.

However, either of those weapons that exceeded the magazine limits, as well as machine guns, grenades, canons and rocket launchers, would need to be made inoperable before they could be part of the commemorations.
A boozed up P-plater was restrained by a group of residents in Berwick overnight, when he attempted to flee the site of a car crash after losing control of his vehicle and running into a power pole, cutting off an entire street's electricity.

Police believe the man, 20, was driving along Centre Road when he mounted the footpath and ploughed into multiple billboards before he crashed into a power pole, about midnight, early Sunday morning.

A 37-year-old man remains in a critical condition after the stabbing. Credit:Georgia Matts

A number of resident performed a citizen's arrests, restraining the man as he attempted to flee the scene after the crash, according to police.

The Glen Waverly man, who was in the car alone, returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.157 - more than three times the legal driving limit.
BLUE ISLAND, Ill.  Feverish and sick to his stomach, with pinpricks of pain shooting through his massively swollen right leg, Rafael Zuniga called 911.

Please, he said, no sirens: He didn't want the neighbors to point and stare. But when the ambulance arrived, it was with a flash of lights and an ear-piecing blare. Neighbors peeked out through their windows. It took four or five people to get Zuniga's 831-pound body into the ambulance, carrying him on a giant sheet. At the hospital, doctors told him they could treat the immediate problem, a serious obesity-related infection, but his enormous weight was almost too much for his legs.

The suburban Chicago man was in danger of losing the ability to walk or even to stand.

"It was very grim," recalled Zuniga. "I wish I could say the doctors were very inspiring, they gave me positive news, but nobody gave me anything to look forward to."

Five years later, as he tells his story in a downtown Chicago coffee shop, Zuniga, 45, of Blue Island, bears little resemblance to the man in the hospital bed. He carries 302 pounds on his 5-foot-10-inch frame, maybe 30 pounds of that is excess skin from his 529-pound weight loss. His face has lines and angles. His arms are muscled. He walks with a cane at times, due to arthritis in his knees, but he hits the exercise bike six days a week and makes good use of the three weight-lifting stations in his basement.

"You put me in a gym with anybody, I don't care who," he said with a twinkle in his dark eyes. "On the bike, in the pool, I can go."

Weight losses as big as Zuniga's are extremely rare, according to J. Graham Thomas, co-investigator at the National Weight Control Registry, in part, because it's rare for someone to weigh 800 pounds to begin with. The registry tracks thousands of people who have beaten the odds by losing a large amount of weight and keeping it off for at least a year. Registry members have lost up to 300 pounds, according to the website.

"It's extremely inspiring," Thomas said of Zuniga's weight loss. "It shows what can be achieved, via major lifestyle changes."

Zuniga, who has not had weight-loss surgery, according to his doctor, weighed 330 pounds when he graduated from high school; for much of his adult life, he was in the 400-to-500-pound range. He worked hard as a salesman, a public insurance adjuster and a real estate investor, he said, and he dealt with work stress by going out drinking with his friends about four nights a week. Drinking led to eating; he'd often finish a night with pizza or hamburgers.

His weight spiraled upward starting in 2005, and he basically stopped leaving his house in late 2009, though he was still able to work. His parents helped him and urged him to lose weight, he said, but he was like the drug addict who won't change until he hits rock bottom.

Rock bottom came when he was hospitalized in 2011. He remembers looking out the window on a bright summer day.

"I saw my life passing by me," he said. "There was always work, work, work. Drink, drink, drink to relieve the stress. Eat, eat, eat. That was my life. I said, 'To hell with that.' If my credit gets hurt, to hell with it. If I die, what am I going to do (with good credit)? I kind of let it go. I said, 'Whatever's going to happen is going to happen. I've got to take care of myself.'"

He applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, which he received due to lymphedema, in which the drainage of fluid in the lymph vessels is impaired. Symptoms in his case included pain and massive swelling in his legs. He stopped trying to work and focused on his health, losing 47 pounds in a year. Disappointed by that total, he researched weight loss online and discovered the weight loss app Lose It!

The app gave him calorie counts for the foods he was eating  for him, a real game-changer. He was surprised to learn a latte, croissant and low-fat muffin came in at an eye-popping 800 calories. He was actually eating 3,000 calories a day. He joined Lose It!  available at the Apple App Store, the Google Play Store and www.loseit.com (free for all tracking, $39.99 a year for premium features)  and started logging his food intake and the situps and weightlifting he did in bed. He went online and found healthy foods that would fill him up, among them half a Boston Market chicken with no skin and steamed vegetables. He ate that for dinner most nights for a year.

He quickly began losing 30 to 40 pounds a month and was down to 627 pounds by September 2013. At that point, his SSDI-related Medicare health insurance kicked in, and he was finally able to begin therapy for the lymphedema in his legs. The treatment, a combination of massage and compression, reduced the swelling considerably.

Today, Zuniga, who lives with his mother and his 14-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, is working again as a public insurance adjuster. Like many of the people who beat the weight-loss odds, he eats very carefully and exercises religiously. He's hard on himself, he says, because he has to be: For him, food is an addiction, and he can gain weight very easily. He stays away from alcohol, eats high-protein foods and a lot of steamed vegetables, and drinks about a gallon of water a day.

"I started traveling, and that's what keeps me in line. That's my prize," said Zuniga, who recently went to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

There are everyday rewards too. He has gone from not being able to wear street clothes to shopping for regular sizes. Sometimes, he said, he is caught off guard by his own image, glimpsed in a store mirror.

"Wow!" he will say to himself. "That's me."
Melbourne Express: Monday, April 24, 2017

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Nour al-Hoda al-Gammal: "We wanted to move beyond the idea of traditional sheikhs or that we are unapproachable scholars; rather we are at your service, to teach you." Credit:Abdel Rahman Mohamed They are expected to undergo four years of religious instruction in an institute recognised by either the ministry or al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning. Egypt embarked on a similar project in 2015 in collaboration with the National Council of Women, a state body set up during Hosni Mubarak's rule, but this quickly faltered as its responsibilities were so ill-defined. People look at damage inside St George's church after a suicide bombing in the Nile Delta town of Tanta in April. Credit:AP But some critics are troubled that the state is encroaching on already dwindling personal freedoms under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Sisi, who was defence minister under Islamist president Mohamed Morsi until he overthrew him in a 2013 coup, has been keen to portray himself as a moderate who can promote reform in Islam. An ambulance outside Saint Mark's Cathedral following a suicide bombing that killed several people, just after Coptic Pope Tawadros II finished services in the city of Alexandria. Credit:AP It was a point he returned to after the Palm Sunday terrorist attacks on Coptic churches, which killed 44 worshippers and injured dozens. Imposing a national three-month state of emergency after the bombings, Sisi also ordered the formation of a supreme council to combat terrorism and extremism. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi addressing the UN General Assembly in September. Credit:AP

He has routinely cast the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group in league with Islamic State  a claim the Brotherhood denies  and has been locked in an ideological battle with al-Azhar, which includes a university, a mosque and a network of schools, over his vague promises to modernise the faith. Egypt's armed forces have been battling the Islamic State-affiliated Wilayat Sinai (Sinai Province) as the insurgent group has stepped up its attacks on Coptic Christians. Female preacher Mona Salah wears a sash showing she has been approved by Egypt's Ministry for Religious Endowments. Credit:Mona Salah Al-Azhar's Grand Mufti, Ahmed al-Tayeb, has come under pressure since the most recent attacks for comments he made in 2015 refusing to denounce IS militants as infidels. Islam is an integral part of public life in Egypt; three out of four Muslim Egyptians believe religion is central to their lives. The revolution in 2011 laid bare the fault lines of religious expression, between Egyptians who view faith as a matter of personal belief and those who see religious values as inextricably linked to political ones.

Egyptians voted for Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood's nominee for the presidency, in 2012. His slim victory suggested that for some it was not so much a vote for a religious candidate as against his rival, Ahmed Shafiq, who was strongly identified with the ousted Mubarak regime. However, Morsi's disastrous year in power saw the Brotherhood clash with the military and alienated many Egyptians, leading to his overthrow in July 2013. The state, even under monarchic rule before 1952, has had to strike a delicate balance in trying to authorise a version of Islam that appeals to a wide spectrum of the population. Egypt's constitution maintains Islam is the religion of the state and that sharia is the main source of legislation. The decision to appoint female preachers explicitly to tackle extremism is an endorsement by the state of female leadership and fits with Sisi's vision of a "centrist Islam". However, Mahmood says it is also part of a larger pattern of the state asserting control over citizens' lives. "In the early 1990s  the state started requiring that all women who were preachers in mosques be licensed through the government-run centres for dawa [preaching] and those who did not have this licence were then forcibly removed," she explained to Fairfax Media.

"What makes this moment under Sisi slightly different is that it is even more oppressive than the Mubarak regime ... its censorship and regulation of the religious field [is] more intense." Sisi's crackdown on dissidents has widened to include those religious figures who don't toe the state's line. For Gammal, away from the politicisation of female preaching, she points to a spiritual essence in her pedagogy. "Renewing religious speech means that everyone has to preach goodness and elevate their ethics  it is not just a domain reserved for the [Ministry of Religious] Endowments or al-Azhar." Mona Salah, 59, sees dawa as a religious duty and a moral imperative. She memorised the Koran at 19, taught Islamic jurisprudence in Saudi Arabia for years and graduated from a preaching preparation institute in Dokki, an upmarket suburb of Cairo, in 2002.

"Sudden death of loved ones and moral corruption all around us drove me to tread down this path", she told Fairfax Media. "We want to raise a generation with solid moral values  the most important thing in our religious practice are ethics, if we focus on that then the whole umma [global Muslim community] will be fixed." Salah noted that the current political moment is sensitive for preachers striking a balance between their Koranic interpretations and the state's shifting line on what is considered "moderate". "In a lot of mosques, preachers are regularly prevented from giving their sermons based on their religious interpretations if they have become stringent or rebuking in their tone," Salah said. "We are walking next to the wall, as they say." The "centrist" version of Islam that Egypt's institutions are promoting is based on the idea of remaining loyal to its leadership and not encouraging dissent as it faces extremist threats in the region.

An avowed Salafi, Salah campaigned for controversial preacher Hazem Abu Ismail when he unsuccessfully ran for presidential elections in 2012. He, like Morsi, is now behind bars. Salafis, who are extremely conservative in their religious practice, were a critical bloc in Sisi's bid for the presidency in 2014 but have also had a contentious relationship with the authorities since 2011, where they were hesitant to participate in democratic elections. They eventually mobilised their base to enter parliament in 2011, were supportive of Morsi but then turned on him to support Sisi, who has shunned them in recent years. Their ideas have been deemed too extreme for the state's liking. Inas who has been preaching for over two years, enjoys the connections forged with women who attend her religious classes in a small institute in Alexandria. "When I ask a sheikh [male religious elder] for an example about something specific to my womanhood, he will never feel what I am going through because he hasn't experienced it. When a woman asks me I reply through an embodied response as a woman armed with my religious knowledge," she told Fairfax Media.

Mahmood, the University of California professor, says this is an important development in engendered by Muslim women changing perceptions of a conservative patriarchal society. "Issues women were reluctant to ask of male preachers are openly discussed and debated among women in the setting of mosques. This has changed the interpretive discourse on orthodox Islam as well as involved women in the study of religious sources far more intimately than was the case before," she said. Sattar views the ministry's announcement as a positive step in encouraging more women to be religiously active, but would like preaching to be even more present in the public life of Egyptians. "Through your works and actions as a Muslim woman, your behaviour with others, even the intonations in your voice, these are what show me your true Islam  it's never through your veil." The preachers Fairfax Media spoke to emphasised the need for a virtuous life as a priority that goes hand in hand with being a dutiful citizen, and lament what they see as moral decay.

This is a view that authorities under Sisi have also been trying to push forward  with mixed results. In recent years, a pro-regime Islamic preacher with a television program was imprisoned for a year, a poet and loyal supporter of Sisi has been charged with contempt of Islam and four Coptic Christian teenagers were sentenced to five years' jail for making a video mocking Islamic State and later sought asylum in Switzerland. In her newly-opened centre, the soft-spoken Gammal sitting at her desk shrugs off the idea that radicalisation can be tackled through sermons alone. "It shouldn't just be the institutions that should change the religious discourse, it is for every citizen to partake in this endeavour." With a dedicated young team updating her sermons online, she nonetheless sees her calling to preach as a personal duty.
Washington: US House speaker Paul Ryan has told Republican colleagues in Congress that a spending bill will be ready in time to avert a potential government shutdown at week's end, and keep agencies running and financed through the end of September.

Ryan provided few details of that bill, though, during a Saturday afternoon conference call with rank-and-file members, according to three members who participated.

There was no discussion of how any deal on a bill to keep government funded until the October 1 start of a new fiscal year would resolve unsettled issues, including whether money would be provided for US President Donald Trump's promised wall along the border with Mexico.

In an excerpt from an interview to be broadcast on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday, John Kelly, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said he "would suspect" that Trump "will be insistent on the funding" for the wall as negotiations to keep the government open move ahead.
Rupert Murdoch Media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Credit:Getty Images Trump's relationships depend on two crucial measures: Personal success and loyalty to him. Murdoch excels in both categories. His New York Post vaulted Trump from local housing developer to gossip-page royalty, and his Fox News Channel was pro-Trump in the 2016 general election. The two share preferences for transactional tabloid journalism and never giving in to critics. (Trump said fallen Fox star Bill O'Reilly should not have settled sexual harassment complaints.) Fox News host Sean Hannity. Credit:AP

The president's relationship with Murdoch is deeper and more enduring than most in his life, and in their calls they commiserate and plot strategy, according to people close to both. Murdoch even called the White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, to buck him up after Spicer was savaged for a remark about Adolf Hitler. Media baron Rupert Murdoch, pictured with Ivanka Trump The Media Sean Hannity

Presidents always deploy surrogates to appear on television to spout their talking points, but Trump has expanded on that by developing relationships with sympathetic media figures like Hannity who also serve as advisers. Hannity, the Fox News host, defends Trump's most controversial behaviour in public, but privately, according to people close to Trump, he urges the president not to get distracted, and advises him to focus on keeping pledges such as repealing the Affordable Care Act. Chris Ruddy The chief executive of Newsmax Media is a longtime Mar-a-Lago member and was a Trump cheerleader among conservative media well before the website Breitbart joined the parade. He employs writers and editors who tracked Trump's career when they were at The New York Post. He recently visited the Oval Office, and he and Trump kibitz in Florida and by phone. The Lawyer

Sheri Dillon Dillon seemed out of place when she spoke at a too-large lectern in the lobby of Trump Tower on January 11, describing the steps Trump planned to take to separate himself from his business. But Dillon, an ethics lawyer who worked out a highly criticised plan for Trump to retain ownership of his company but step back from running it, has repeatedly counseled the president about the business and made at least one White House visit. (Michael Cohen, a veteran Trump aide, has been serving as his personal lawyer.) Campaign Advisers Corey Lewandowski

Despite his "you're fired" slogan, the president dislikes dismissing people. Lewandowski, Trump's hot-tempered first campaign manager, was fired last June but never really went away. A New England-bred operative whose working-class roots and clenched-teeth loyalty earned him Trump's trust, he continued to be in frequent phone contact with Trump until the election and beyond. Friends of Lewandowski say that he can see the windows of the White House residence from his lobbying office on Pennsylvania Avenue, and that the view is even better during his visits to the West Wing, including when the New England Patriots were at the White House in the past week. Newt Gingrich The former House speaker talks more with Trump's top advisers than he does with the president, but his presence permeates the administration. Gingrich's former spokesman is at the State Department, and two former advisers work in the West Wing.

Gingrich has relentlessly promoted Trump's policy adviser, Stephen Miller, as the West Wing conservative ballast as the chief strategist, Stephen Bannon, has been under fire. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich. Credit:AP Childhood Friend Richard LeFrak Their fathers were developers together in New York, and the two men have been friends for decades. LeFrak is a Mar-a-Lago member, and he agreed to be part of an infrastructure effort that Trump hopes to put forward. Trump has turned to him to vent frustrations about the slow pace of bureaucracy.

The Peers Thomas Barrack Trump divides the people around him into broad categories: family, paid staff and wealthy men like Barrack whom he considers peers. A sunny and loyal near-billionaire who has socialised with the president for years, Barrack is less a strategic adviser than a trusted moneyman, fixer and sounding board who often punctuated his emails to Trump with exhortations like "YOU ROCK!" He has urged Trump to avoid needless, distracting fights. Under Barrack's leadership, Trump's inaugural committee raised a record $US106.7 million ($141.4 million), much of it from big corporations, banks and Republican megadonors like Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson.

Barrack also helped usher Paul Manafort, the international political operative under scrutiny for his ties to Russia, into the Trump fold last year. The velvet-voiced Barrack does not seek out attention for himself, one of the most important and elusive qualities by which the president judges people. Stephen Schwarzman The chairman and chief executive of the Blackstone Group, Schwarzman is the head of Trump's economic advisory council. He and the president don't speak daily, West Wing aides said, but do talk frequently. Schwarzman has counselled him on a number of topics, including advising him to leave in place President Barack Obama's executive order shielding young undocumented immigrants, known as "Dreamers," from deportation. Steve Roth

A good way to get on Trump's side is to do a deal with him, particularly if it means rescuing him from his own financial crisis. That's what real estate tycoon Steve Roth did a decade ago when he bought out Trump's share in a New York City real estate deal that went sour. Roth, head of Vornado Realty Trust and a longtime Democratic donor, also helped Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, when he injected $80 million into 666 Fifth Avenue, a Kushner family property in danger of defaulting on $US1.1 billion in loans. Trump speaks with Roth frequently, and is leaning on him to help develop a trillion-dollar infrastructure package expected this year. Phil Ruffin Trump has 20-odd business partners, but none is closer to him than Ruffin, 82, a Texas billionaire who has lent his ear and private jet. The president was best man at the 2008 wedding of Ruffin to his third wife, a 26-year-old model and former Miss Ukraine. Ruffin has a knack for showing up when Trump needs him most and remains a die-hard defender.

"This stuff about him having financial investments all over Russia - that's just pure crap," Ruffin told Forbes. "I went to Russia with him. We took my airplane. We were having lunch with one of the oligarchs there. No business was discussed." Carl Icahn Rounding out Trump's roster of wealthy octogenarians is this 81-year-old corporate raider and real estate mogul who occupies perhaps the most respected perch in the president's circle of businessmen buddies. The affection is long-standing: The New York-bred Icahn has known Trump and his family for decades. It's also numerical: Icahn is worth an estimated $16 billion, a major plus in the eyes of a president who keeps score. Icahn serves as a free-roving economic counsellor and head of Trump's effort to reduce government regulations on business.

Man of Mystery Roger Stone Few alliances in politics are as complicated as the 40-year relationship between the Nixon-tattooed Stone and Trump. Stone won't say how frequently they speak these days, but he shares the president's tear-down-the-system impulses and is ubiquitous on cable, on radio and on the website InfoWarsnews defending Trump. The Clubgoers Ike Perlmutter

Perlmutter, the chief executive of Marvel Comics who is so reclusive that few public photographs exist of him, has been informally advising Trump on veterans issues. The two men are old friends, and Perlmutter has been a presence at Mar-a-Lago club. Robert Kraft The owner of the Patriots is a Democrat but his loyalty to Trump, Kraft once said, dates partly to the president's thoughtfulness when Kraft's father died. Trump loved talking about the Patriots during the campaign, and Kraft has been a Mar-a-Lago presence since the transition. The First Lady Melania Trump

Melania Trump is uninterested in the limelight, but she has remained a powerful adviser by telephone from New York. Among her roles: giving the president feedback on media coverage, counselling him on staff choices and urging him, repeatedly, to tone down his Twitter feed. Lately, he has listened closely and has a more disciplined Twitter finger. US first lady Melania Trump. Credit:AP The Governor Chris Christie Kushner, the president's son-in-law and palace gatekeeper, has shown a capacity to hobble his rivals, but few have been finished off. The most durable has been Christie, whose transition planning, several West Wing aides now concede, should not have been discarded. He has been a frequent Oval Office visitor and has worked with the White House on the opioid addiction crisis.

The Speaker Paul Ryan Trump and the clean-cut and wonky Wisconsinite aren't exactly best friends forever. But their relationship is closer than in the bad old days of the 2016 campaign when Ryan delayed a hold-my-nose endorsement of Trump, whose morality he had long questioned. But as the president's agenda passes through the razor-blade gantlet of the House, where Ryan faces the constant threat of opposition and overthrow, the two men have become foxhole buddies. The Sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump
London: Tony Blair has expressed his increased desire for a return to frontline politics as Britain is being "hijacked" by Brexit backers.

The former prime minister acknowledged he "agrees with a lot" of what Theresa May says, including an energy price cap, although warned she is not being reasonable when it comes to Britain's departure from the European Union (EU).

Mr Blair said he "almost feels motivated to go right back into it", although sought to focus on how he wants to try and influence the election debate on Brexit.

He argued the issue is "bigger than party allegiance" at the June 8 vote, adding voters should find out where candidates stand on it.
Live election coverage: PA polls closing, the counting begins

The nation is closely watching PA as it could decide the balance of power in Washington. Check back regularly for statewide coverage updates.
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...
South Jersey Election Day results roundup: Who won, who lost?

Follow along for news throughout Election Day and race results as they come in.




NY Times this week, Today was the March for Science. It's kind of embarrassing we even need a march like that. But as Bill McKibben wrote in thethis week, The Planet Can't Stand This Presidency . "Trumps environmental onslaught," he wrote, "will have immediate, dangerous effects... [T]heres an extra dimension to the environmental damage. What Mr. Trump is trying to do to the planets climate will play out over geologic time as well. In fact, its time itself that hes stealing from us. What I mean is, we have only a short window to deal with the climate crisis or else we forever lose the chance to thwart truly catastrophic heating... [E]ven when we vote him out of office, Trumpism will persist, a dark stratum in the planets geological history. In some awful sense, his term could last forever."





The Intercept carried a piece today that mentions Micahel Mann, a climatologist and geophysicist, has pioneered computational models based on patterns of the past 600 years of climate changes. He said he marched today because "Science and scientists are now under attack in this country." Mann is one of the favorite targets of climate deniers, particularly the witch-hunter Ryan placed at the head of the House Science Committee, Texas dangerous crackpot Lamar Smith. "When congressional Republicans are denying basic science, Mann said, and the Trump administration-- run largely by polluting interests-- is trying to revoke policies to protect our health and our environment, more than ever we need to hear the voices of scientists, loudly and clearly."

That lunatic freak and earth-wide villain Grand Inquisitor Lamar Smith issued a statement today-- dripping in irony: "I support the right of science supporters to gather and march this weekend. Opening new frontiers of scientific knowledge, on Earth and beyond, will pave the way to a better, more secure future for the next generation. I will continue to support scientific research that furthers our national interest and is of the highest intellectual merit. In the last few months, the Science Committee has enacted three bills that highlight this commitment: the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017, and the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017. The Committee also has worked to help ensure new opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers by enacting the Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act and the Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act. I look forward to continuing to promote scientific integrity and a healthy, transparent and vibrant research and technology environment in the United States." Smith is ceratinly among the most dangerous and harmful dozen members of Congress. Please help Tom Wakely replace him as the representative for TX-21.





After we saw Smith's statement we called Tom and asked him what he could make of it. He told us that Smith "never ceases to amaze and astound" him. "The press release he sent out today in response to the March for Science, is nothing more than a meager attempt to portray himself as 'pro-women.' By supporting the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act and the Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act he is hoping his constituents will forget how he really feels about women. His support of these two bills belie the fact that he has consistently, over his thirty year career in Congress, voted against women. He voted NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. He voted to defund Planned Parenthood. As far as his anti-science schtick goes, his policy positions and statements are not only wrong-headed but extremely dangerous. Lamar seems to relish in the thought that by turning back the clock we will somehow be the better for it. Maybe he thinks if we all smoked a little from the Mary Baker Eddy Christian Science pipe we would see the world as he does. This man represents the Texas we all want to forget, the Texas that has consistently been found by the federal courts to discriminate against minorities. I truly believe that Smith wants to return to the days of 'no dogs, no Mexicans allowed' and to days where teaching evolution in our schools was a crime."

This morning cognitive scientist and linguist George Lakoff explained to his followers that "the enormous role played by science -- especially government-sponsored science-- in our everyday lives is barely appreciated." Trump and Trumpists are at war with Science. They have to be stopped.
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More global automobile majors seem to feel the need to have an Indian or a person of Indian origin in leadership roles.
Hinduja Group flagship firm is looking at growing the defence business to Rs 5,000 crore from existing Rs 500 crore in the coming years.

Vinod K Dasari, managing director, said that the next five years the company plans to expand its defence business at least three times. He was talking on the sidelines after showcasing indigenously developed Intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation (iEGR) technology for BS4 engine.
The last six years  since the RP- group came into being  have been a process of reinvention through diversification for the younger son of Rama Prasad Goenka.
After consolidation in the online market space, it seems the turn of mobile wallets. plans to merge itself in an all-stock deal with MobiKwik, said sources close to the .
For Indias internet companies, advertising on is becoming increasingly expensive as more traditional offline businesses are now taking to campaigning on the web.
Ramesh Patra, an executive at a Mumbai-based private bank, has been looking to buy a house for the past seven months. But he hasnt made a decision despite developers giving discounts of 10-15 per cent or absorbing stamp duty and registration charges.

Patra says given the uncertainty about how regulations like the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act (Rera), 2016, and goods and services tax (GST) will impact the sector, and freebies doled out by developers, he is not able to take a call.

There are many prospective buyers like him who are waiting and watching across the country.

The lack of new launches and indecisiveness among buyers have hit primary residential sales hard. Home sales have halved in major markets, such as Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai and Bengaluru, in January to March this calendar year from a year ago, says property data analytics firm PropEquity.

According to PropEquity, home sales have fallen the highest in Mumbai to 52 per cent and in Noida to 51 per cent in January-March.

There is enough unsold stock in the secondary market and investors are selling these at good rates to buyers. Thats why sales are not happening in the primary market, said Sameer Jasuja, chief executive at PropEquity.

Though unsold stock in Pune, Bengaluru and Mumbai has come down marginally, they are still at high levels of 112,635, 108,087 and 71,988 units, respectively.

Jasuja said developers were still focusing on old projects and not launching new ones. When launches are not happening, sales are also not happening in the primary market, he said.

Launches have dried up in the National Capital Region, mainly in Gurgaon and Noida, according to the firm. These have come down by 95 per cent and 90 per cent in Gurgaon and Noida, respectively.

Home prices have also dipped or risen only marginally in most of the cities. In Gurgaon, these have gone down by 7.8 per cent while these have gone up 0.7 per cent in Noida and 1.22 per cent in Mumbai.

ASK Property Investment Advisors Chief Executive Officer Amit Bhagat says buyers are still sceptical about the completion risk and given the freebies and offers, they feel there is no hurry to buy properties.

However, he adds, good brands are still selling.

A recent report by CRISIL said demand for homes remains muted as buyers adopt a wait and watch mode. Developers are likely to face funding challenges in the short- to medium-term, which could further delay ongoing projects, it said.

But, developers say sales are gradually picking up.

Buyers have postponed their decision-making due to demonetisation and other issues. I feel they will pick up gradually. Primary sales will take some time in recovery, said Rajeev Talwar, CEO, DLF, the countrys largest developer.

In FY17, DLFs third-quarter profit fell 46 per cent to Rs 98.1 crore from the year-ago period. Revenue also fell 30 per cent to Rs 2,057.9 crore.

Niranjan Hiranandani, chairman of Hiranandani group, says sales were down in December and January after the note ban. He said in some cities like Noida, buyers havent got back their confidence back to invest in properties but in cities like Mumbai, they are taking calls.

However, CRISIL said demand was expected to remain muted in the near term and recover gradually over the medium term, with sustained improvement in macroeconomic conditions. In the affordable housing segment, demand is expected to stay strong, given the relatively low-ticket sizes and impetus from the governments programme, Housing for All.
The Income Tax Department is likely to challenge in high court a tax tribunal order giving relief to British oil firm plc from payment of interest on a Rs 10,247 crore tax demand it had raised retrospectively.

The department feels its January 2016 final assessment order raising a tax demand of Rs 10,247 crore on alleged capital gain the British firm made when it transferred its India assets to a newly created company Cairn India in 2006, and another Rs 18,800 crore in interest for non-payment for 10 years, is correct.

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), in its March 9 order, held that was liable to pay tax on the 2006 transfer of India assets to newly created Cairn India, prior to its listing. It, however, held that interest cannot be charged on it as the demand was raised using retrospective tax legislation.

"We feel interested is due and is liable to be paid. We plan to soon approach the high court seeking quashing of the ITAT order," a senior income tax department official told PTI.

The I-T department is also seeking up to 300 per cent of the principal as penalty for non-payment.

"We have issued a show-cause notice to asking why penalty should not be levied on it. They have sought 10 days to respond to the notice," the official said.

Within weeks of the ITAT ruling, Income Tax Department on March 31 sent a notice to Cairn Energy seeking Rs 10,247 crore principal tax and late payment interest from February 2016 -- one month from the date of original 2016 final assessment order.

"If we get a favourable high court ruling, the interest will be charged from 2006," the official said.

In 2011, Cairn Energy had sold majority stake in Cairn India to mining mogul Anil Agarwal's Vedanta. It had retained a minority 9.8 per cent stake in Cairn India.

Just as it was planning to offload it in the secondary market, the tax department on January 24, 2014 issued draft assessment order alleging it made capital gain in the assessment year 2006-07 and attached the residual stake in Cairn India.

While a Cairn Energy spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comments, the company had in a notice to its shareholders earlier this month stated that the decision of the ITAT is "potentially subject to appeal."



The company maintains that no tax was due and what was done was an internal reorganisation before listing of Indian arm.

It is of the opinion that the enforcement of any tax liability deemed due by the tax department will be limited to India assets, which had a value of about USD 750 million as of December 31, 2016.

These assets comprised principally Cairn's residual shareholding in Cairn India.

Cairn has already initiated international arbitration against the tax demand and freeze on Cairn India shares.
& Diamond, one of the major retail chain of gold jewellery in the country, is planning to invest around Rs 1,000 crore this year mainly to expand its operations in new geographies overseas.



While the funding for the current expansion would be from banks and existing investors, the company would look at options such as Initial Pubic Offering (IPO) or Private Equity by 2020 for further growth, said M P Ahammed, chairman, Malabar Group.


The government is willing to explore options to make telecom companies reach beyond the cities to make Indias ambitious digital plans come alive, said Manoj Sinha, the minister.
After settling the long-drawn dispute with the West Bengal government over the shareholding pattern in its flagship project, Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL), Purnendu Chatterjee-owned (TCG) has started consolidating itself in the state, making Haldia, a port city in West Bengal its stronghold in the country.
For the medium and heavy (M&HCV) segment, having struggled with weak demand in 2016-17, the first half of 2017-18 is going to be as disappointing.
An incident in Jharkhand again seems to have raised some serious questions of Aadhaar's data-breach vulnerabilities.



The numbers of hundreds of thousands of pension beneficiaries were suspected to have been illegally displayed on a government website in Jharkhand, in violation of the Act, The Indian Express reported. The lapse, apparently, occured due to a programming error on the Women and Child & Social Security of the Government of Jharkhand's website, maintained by the Jharkhand Directorate of Social Security.



The Act prohibits public display of an individual's Aadhaar details. But, Opposition and experts have repeatedly raised doubts about its privacy provisions and asserted that misuse of data is a possibility. The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, prohibits the publishing, display or posting publicly of a persons Aadhaar details with the exception of certain regulations.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has called for a complete prohibition of liquor across the country, while saying that it would lead the whole nation to the path of development and progress.

Asserting that people from all religions - Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians - unanimously wanted prohibition, he urged to prohibit alcohol to ensure development of India.

"Every religion supports and that is why it needs to be banned across the country. For the development and progress of the country and to rise above the atmosphere of clashes and conflicts, there must be total all-India prohibition on liquor," the Janata Dal (United) chief said, while addressing party workers here on Saturday marking JD(U) foray into the Maharashtra politics.

A complete ban was imposed on liquor in Bihar from April 1, 2016.

Kumar earlier asserted that a citizen of Bihar was never a burden on anyone, instead he had always striven for productivity.

"Biharis are never a burden on anyone. In fact, they (Bihar citizens) give employment to others. This gives me a great feeling of happiness and satisfaction," Nitish said at the rally.

Prominent JD(U) leaders from Bihar and other states were present at the rally to mark the formal launch of the party in Maharashtra.

Last month, MLC Kapil Patil of the Lok Bharti Party joined the JD(U) after merging his party with the former, making the way for the party to set up base in the state after Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerala.
In one of the most important visits of the year, Turkeys President is to arrive in Delhi on Sunday for a two-day visit. Erdogan had visited India in 2008, when he was prime minister. After 11 years as PM, he was elected President in 2014. This will be his first visit to India as President. He will meet President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice-President Hamid Ansari.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Sunday met protesting farmers from his state at the Jantar Mantar and assured help.

The farmers have protested in New Delhi for the past 40 days and demands loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery management board to resolve their irrigation issues.

Palaniswami, in a brief 20 minutes meeting, assured that he will take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for funds to waive off the loan and urged the farmers to end their protest.

"We will try to cut down the unnecessary expenses and make arrangements...I will take up the farmer's demands to the Prime Minister... We urge the farmers to end their protest," Palaniswami said.

P. Ayyakannu, president of the National-South Indian Rivers Linking Farmers Association, who is also leading the protest, said the agitation will not end until their demands are met which also includes meeting the prime minister.

In past 40 days, the protesting farmers have marched naked outside the Prime Minister's office, ate mice, shaved their heads, marked mock funerals and on Saturday even drank their urine to attract the central government and the Prime Minster's attention towards their cause and plight.

Bold in their way of protesting, farmers demonstrate with the skulls of their kin and other farmers from Tamil Nadu who committed suicide.

Earlier this month, the central government approved Rs 1,712 crore under the Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for Tamil Nadu.

But the state government has sought a relief package of Rs 40,000 crore.

Tamil Nadu is facing a severe drought. In January, the state government declared Tamil Nadu drought-hit after over 100 farmers allegedly committed suicide.

According to the farmers, nothing has grown over 29 lakh hectare in Cauvery delta since 2016 due to lack of water.
In the run-up to the goods and services tax (GST) roll-out, the Central Board of Excise and Customs is set for a major revamp with resect to tax intelligence, information technology, risk assessment, post-clearance audit, taxpayer services, among others.
Chief ministers on Sunday raised concerns over the impact the goods and services tax (GST) regime was likely to have on farmers, traders and tiny and small-scale sector industries.
Pharma companies may soon start wooing chemists as the Narendra Modi government plans to make it mandatory for doctors to prescribe pure-generic drugs, instead of branded generics as they do now.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were among those who skipped Niti Aayog's Governing Council meet here today.

The third meeting of the council began at Rashtrapati Bhawan with the main agenda of deliberating on the 15-year Vision Document to accelerate the country's economic development.

"West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal could not come to attend the Governing Council meeting today at Rashtrapati Bhavan," a source said.

However, the source said that Kejriwal sent Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to represent Delhi.

The source further said a large number of chief ministers are attending the meeting because Prime Minister Narendra Modi had refused to allow their official representatives to participate in the deliberations.

The source said Modi had made it clear that only the chief minister or the deputy chief minister will represent their states and no other official will be allowed to participate in the meeting.

Among the opposition ruled states, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami attended the meeting.

Others who were present include Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, Suresh Prabhu, Prakash Javadekar, Rao Inderjit Singh and Smriti Irani also attended the meet.

The council, which is the apex body of the Niti Aayog, is headed by the Prime Minister and includes all chief ministers and members.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said that for the first time there is popular support for in India and the recent election outcomes are indicative of it.

"The significant part of our economy today is, that there is perhaps for the first time, a huge amount of popular support as far as are concerned," Jaitley said in Washington at a reception hosted in his honour by Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna.

Governments in the past even when they reformed they were in stages, always felt that there was a political cost involved, he said, adding that as a result after some reforms they would take a pause.

"Obviously, people across the world had legitimate grudge as to how long India would take to take some of the steps. I think that phase in now behind us," he told the audience comprising officials from the Trump administration, diplomats, corporate leaders, think-tank community and Indian-Americans.

He said repeated elections indicate that people have become more aspirational and highly supportive of reforms.

Jaitley said that in the last three years India has been able to grow in the range of seven to eight per cent, even as the world has experienced a slowdown. "That is the rate of growth that we have fairly maintained. Our all other economic parameters seems to be fairly well under control," he said.

"We have seen in the last few years, 7-8 per cent growth is the Indian normal now," he said. "We grew 7.2 per cent, followed by 7.9 per cent, followed by likely 7.1 and the next year it is expected to go up," he said, adding that this figure could go up depending on two circumstances.

First being that does growth return to the rest of the world. And second being the untested area, economists feel is the impact of the goods and services tax when implemented itself could result in significant growth jump, he noted.

Under the Modi government, he said, several changes have taken place. "India by far has become one of the more open economies of the world. Most of our sectors are open for international investment. And we have been attracting one of the largest investment that any country has been attracting in the world," he asserted.

Jaitley said it is combination of this investment which has coming into India, couples with higher public spending, even the private sector spending was a little low, that has kept the Indian growth process going.

"The environment for doing business has considerably eased. The image of India that processes are complicated, files were initiated by corruption, I think we have been successful in changing them significantly," he said.

Governments voluntarily have now taken steps to remove all hurdles that were available, decisions like allocations of resources and several others are determined by market mechanism, he said, adding that India has learned from its past experiences.

"This itself has helped in cleaning up the entire process. We have now undertaken a very ambitious reform of cleaning up the system of political funding in India, something which had been eluding Indian democracy for quite sometime," he said.

Jaitley said that over last several decades world's largest democracy did not have a transparent mechanism of political funding. This year in the budget the government has announced a detailed programme in that regard, he said.

"That is work in progress at the moment itself," he said.

Describing targeting of subsidies as one of the unsung reforms in India, he said its impact in India is huge.

"Every Indian today has a unique identity number, his biometric details are recorded. That has enabled the state to directly sent out benefits in the bank account itself via cash transfer. This has resulted in both targeting of the support system to the poor. And at the same time it has also resulted in substantial amount of savings. These savings have been ploughed back for the anti-poverty programs," he said.

One of the most significant reforms in recent years, considered to be one of the biggest taxation reforms in India is the goods and services tax, he told the audience.

There were multiple taxes at the center and multiple taxes at the States. India was not an economic entity. There was tax on tax, resulting in a cascading effect, he said.

"We have prescribed a single tax for the whole country and for each product there would be one single tax as far as the whole country is concerned," he said.

Noting that GST is likely to be rolled out by July 1, he said once rolled out, it will have significant advantage.

"It is an efficient tax system. It is a system which will ensure free flow of goods and services across the country and to the country's GDP, easen the system of doing business, it has a big IT support," he said.

On demonetisation, he said it has been the extremely difficult reform in India so far, for which the government had to take extraordinary steps.

"In a move which required a lot of determination on the part of the government, the prime minister on November 8 announced that high denomination currency ceased to be a legal tender and people per se were required to deposit in the banks, the anonymity around currency was lost and therefore large amount of disclosure have been made by people whose income profile do not tally with the amount that they have deposited," he said.

"This obviously has resulted in large digitisation as far as economy is concerned. So the number of banking transaction, the number of digitised transactions have increased significantly. And hopefully, that is going to be the future as far the Indian economy is concerned," he added.
The government in Uttar Pradesh, which has signed the Power to All document with the Centre to provide 24X7 electricity supply to all households is gearing up to replicate Prime Minister Narendra Modis home state Gujarat Model to curb rampant power theft in the state.
During his visit to Washington D.C., the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley holds a bilateral meeting with his US counterpart and the US Treasury Secretary, Mr. Steven Mnuchin ; Raises the issue of H1B visas for skilled professionals from India; Shri Jaitley also holds separate bilateral meetings with the President of the World Bank Group (WBG) Mr. Jim Yong Kim and the Finance Ministers of Sweden, France and Bangladesh among others. .

On the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF, the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley held a bilateral meeting with his US counterpart and the US Treasury Secretary, Mr. Steven Mnuchin in Washington D.C. yesterday. During the discussions, the Finance Minister Shri Jaitley highlighted the notable progress made in the Indo-US relations over the last few years and Indias ambitious reform agenda which is creating new opportunities towards a deeper economic engagement between both the countries in the years ahead. Critical economic issues like Indo-US Investment Initiative, Infrastructure Collaboration & NIIF, collaboration with USA for Smart Cities Development, etc. were deliberated upon during the meeting. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley raised the issue of H1B visas for skilled professionals from India and highlighted the contribution which Indian companies and professionals are making to US economy. Issues related to terror funding were also discussed and the US Treasury Secretary appreciated the role of India in this regard, including Indo-US cooperation in FATF. .

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The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley also held bilateral meetings with the Finance Ministers of Sweden, France and Bangladesh. The discussions covered a wide spectrum of bilateral collaboration to strengthen the cross-country relationships. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley also held a bilateral meeting with the President of the World Bank Group (WBG), Mr. Jim Yong Kim among others. .

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Shri Shaktikanta Das, Secretary (EA) held bilateral meetings with NDB President, Shri K.V. Kamath and IFAD President, Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo separately. Various policy issues regarding NDB and IFAD were discussed during the meeting. The pipeline of projects posed by India was also reviewed during both the meetings. .

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The Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley is currently on an official tour to Washington D.C., USA to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank and other associated meetings. He is accompanied by Dr. Urjit Patel, Governor RBI, Mr. Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), M/o Finance, Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) and other officials. .

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today called upon State Governments to work with the Union Government, as Team India," to build the India of the dreams of our freedom fighters by 2022, the 75th anniversary of independence. Delivering the closing remarks at the third meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, he urged States, local Governments and all Government and Non-Government organizations to decide goals for 2022, and work in mission mode towards achieving them. .

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Describing the discussions at todays meeting as constructive, the Prime Minister said that the circulated vision document is a draft, and all suggestions given by the Chief Ministers will be taken into account before finalizing it. He laid emphasis on good governance and said it leads to optimum utilization of resources, even when resources are less than desired. .

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The Prime Minister noted that the theme of regional imbalance was raised by a number of Chief Ministers. He agreed that this has to be addressed on priority, both nationally, and within States. .

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Noting the invitation given by the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister suggested that States could organize events there. He also seconded the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers suggestion that States should take interest in the students from her State who are studying in other States. He urged States to reach out to these students from time to time. .

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The Prime Minister reiterated that the legislative arrangements at the State-level for GST should be put in place without delay. .

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The Prime Minister called upon States to use the GeM platform Government e-Marketplace, to reduce corruption and increase transparency in Government procurement. He said the use of technologies such as BHIM and Aadhaar would result in significant savings for the States. .

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Shri Narendra Modi said that the District Mineral Fund, the CAMPA Fund, and the construction workers welfare fund, would provide significant boost to the resources of the State. He asked NITI Aayog to come up with a roadmap for better utilization of such funds by the States. .

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The Prime Minister urged States to join the Ek-Bharat, Shresth Bharat initiative, which was launched on Sardar Patels birth anniversary last year. He said Indias richness of culture and heritage should no longer be ignored. .

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The Prime Minister said a constructive discussion has begun on the subject of holding Union and State elections simultaneously. The Prime Minister said that for long, India had suffered from economic and political mismanagement. He said that because of poor time management, many good initiatives and schemes had failed to deliver the anticipated results. He emphasized on the need to develop robust arrangements that could function amidst diversity. .

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The Prime Minister mentioned the advancing of the budget presentation date. Stating that in a country where agricultural income is exceedingly important, budgets should be prepared immediately after the receipt of agricultural incomes for the year. He said that there have been suggestions to have the financial year from January to December. He urged States to take the initiative in this regard. .

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The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley participates in the Restricted Session of the International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMFC) and the Plenary Session of World Economic Leaders (IMFC Plenary) in Washington D. C. yesterday;

FM calls for the enhanced surveillance by the IMF to address the rising vulnerabilities in the global monetary and financial systems; FM stresses that commitments made in the IMFC Communique to increase the quotas of dynamic emerging economies should be adhered to, among others.

The Union Minister of Finance, Defence and Corporate Affairs of India, Shri Arun Jaitley participated in the Restricted Session of the International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMFC) and the Plenary Session of World Economic Leaders (IMFC Plenary) in Washington D. C. yesterday. The event was attended by the select Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. The discussions centred on the global economic outlook, the resource base and governance framework of IMF and the importance of inclusiveness in terms of distribution of the benefits from global integration.

In the IMFC Plenary, the Finance Minister Shri Jaitley spoke about the Global Economy, Indian Economy and the role of IMF. He stressed that the emerging risks to the global economy, calls for the enhanced surveillance by the IMF to address the rising vulnerabilities in the global monetary and financial systems.

Welcoming the emphasis on inclusiveness in the Global Policy Agenda (GPA) as a positive development, the Finance Minister Shri Jaitley said that India firmly believes that finding ways to simultaneously accelerate growth and make it more inclusive is the right note to strike. However, as the voices against integration become louder across a range of countries, he said that it is critical that the multilateral institutions stand firm in their commitment to helping member countries consolidate on the gains from integration, while finding ways to achieve more equitable distributions of those gains. He further added that the process of 15th General Review of Quotas should remain on track and that the commitments made in the IMFC Communique to increase the quotas of dynamic emerging economies should be adhered to. The Finance Minister said that it would indeed be ironic if an emphasis on inclusiveness on the policy front co-existed with a lack of it on the Governance front.

The Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley is currently on an official tour to Washington D. C., USA to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank and other associated meetings. He is accompanied by Dr. Urjit Patel, Governor RBI, Mr. Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), M/o Finance, Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) and other officials.

Following is the Text of the Intervention made by the Minister of Finance, Corporate Affairs and Defence of India Mr. Arun Jaitley, (representing the Constituency consisting of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka), at the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) in Washington D. C. yesterday(22nd April, 2017):

Mr. Chairman,

Since we met in October 2016, global economic outlook has changed for the better with some silver linings finally emerging. This momentum in global growth is expected to strengthen in 2017 based on gradual improvement in economic conditions in Advanced Economies (AEs), particularly the US, as well as due to the pick-up in growth in some large Emerging Markets (EMs). However, the confidence in global recovery remains weak owing to the risks associated with the future course of economic policies and monetary policy stance of AEs; resurgence of commodity price pressures; and the increasing recourse to protectionism. In these circumstances, it is imperative to fortify efforts to support global recovery by committing ourselves to growth friendly policies and ensuring free and fair trade practices as called for by G-20 leaders at the Hangzhou Summit in September last year. Advanced economies have an important role in stimulating global demand with supportive fiscal and monetary policies and eschewing protectionism. Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDEs) are vulnerable to external shocks and must take ample caution to safeguard ongoing economic recovery. Structural reforms and building buffers constitute the keystones of policy agenda in EMDEs that would ensure sustained growth. Improving the flexibility of labor markets and increasing competition in factor and product markets along with incentives for skill building and innovations are important structural efforts required for boosting productivity and potential growth.

The Role of IMF  Architecture of Global Cooperation

The emerging risks to the global economy call for enhanced surveillance by the IMF. The IMF needs to be sufficiently resourced to be able to fully discharge this responsibility. It also needs to function as a quota based institution. Given that there is broad agreement on maintaining the current overall lending capacity of the Fund and that the Funds existing resource pool is excessively tilted toward borrowed resources, there is a dire need for increasing quotas. Recent work by the Fund also points to the need for realigning quota shares to reflect the changed economic realities. All these must be achieved as part of the 15thGeneral Review of Quotas. We are disappointed that the deadline for completing the 15th GRQ has been pushed back to no later than the 2019 Annual Meetings. Any further delay in the 15th GRQ will erode Funds legitimacy and credibility, and will be against the spirit of the Articles of Agreement. I do hope that the deadlines now set will be honored and adhered to. We look forward to further work on reforming IMFs toolkit for improving its effectiveness. We fully support any reform of the IMF lending toolkit which better addresses the needs of the EMDEs. We also encourage the Fund to continue working on addressing gaps in the Global Financial Safety Net (GFSN), including improved integration of the different layers of the GFSN for the purpose of establishing a credible crisis prevention mechanism. The IMF should play proactive role by productive engagement with Regional Financing Arrangements (RFAs) by way of sharing information and joint mechanisms for surveillance and policy signaling to build confidence among creditors. Moreover, co-financing arrangements between the IMF and regional financing element(s) would help in mitigating stigma and delay in program financing. We also support IMFs work on prequalified state-dependent lending tools for swift and reliable provision of liquidity provision for member countries for the full duration of external shocks faced by them. We welcome IMFs role in fostering multilaterally consistent macroeconomic re-balancing and improving the analytical coverage of spillovers from domestic policies to the global economies. In view of the adverse implications of mounting protectionist pressures on global recovery, I call upon the IMF to lend strong and unambiguous voice in support of free trade and raise awareness about the benefits of rule based open multilateral trading frameworks.

Developments in the Constituency

Bangladesh

Bangladesh has demonstrated resilience amidst global headwinds and domestic challenges. The preliminary estimate of real GDP growth is 7.1 percent in FY16 (ending in June 2016) and 7.2 percent in FY17. Headline inflation eased further in FY16, with annual average CPI inflation reaching 5.9 percent in June 2016, compared to 6.4 percent in June 2015. In FY17 so far, inflation has further moderated to 5.4 percent in February 2017  a five-year low and well within the FY17 ceiling of 5.8 percent. Monetary policy stance will continue to remain prudent, and the authorities remain vigilant against upside risks to inflation. Excess liquidity in the banking system has been declining in recent months, as credit growth has picked up. Both food and non-food CPI inflation has moderated, aided by favorable agricultural production, modest rise in global commodity prices, and growth-focused yet cautious monetary policy stance. Projected rise in global commodity prices in 2017, however, may exert some upward pressure on domestic prices. On the external front, the current account balance recorded a small deficit of US$ 1.12 billion during July-February FY17 as against a surplus of US$ 2.3 billion during the corresponding period in FY16 on account of strong import growth (10.15 percent) coupled with a moderate growth in exports (3.31 percent during July-February) and a slowdown in remittance inflows. The recent decline in remittance reflects a combination of global and local factors, but mainly driven by weaker economic activity in the Middle East, which is expected to recover as oil prices stabilize and manpower exports from Bangladesh increase. Besides, Bangladesh Bank has taken some measures to reduce costs of sending remittance through the formal channels. Bangladesh Bank projects the FY17 overall balance surplus at US$ 2.9 billion, which would help the coverage to remain around 7-8 months of prospective imports of goods and services in FY17. Despite some moderation, garment exports growth has held up well relative to peers.

Fiscal deficit (excluding grants) in FY17 is expected to remain broadly unchanged at around 5.0 percent. The increase reflects mainly the increase in public sector wages. Budget financing was mainly done through National Savings Certificates (NSCs). Gross investment as percent of GDP has risen in FY16 to 29.7 percent but is expected to be around0 percent in FY17. Subsidies as a share of GDP have come down, helped in part by a lower fuel subsidy. With the rolling out of VAT from July 1, 2017, the scope to increase revenue will increase along with improvement in compliance and reduction in tax evasion across the board, and serve as a key building block for future tax policy reforms. In the banking sector, financial stability continues to receive a high priority with intensive monitoring of banks remaining within the statutory limits on their capital market exposures. To improve corporate governance, Bangladesh Bank is further strengthening its supervisory scrutiny, including by IT-based online supervision tools and placement of observers in banks with governance challenges. The Government's reform initiatives to improve the business climate and ease infrastructure bottlenecks, including by developing special economic zones, should help crowd in both private domestic and foreign direct investments that can create more jobs, raise productivity, and potential growth. To undertake the increases in public investment and social spending, so as to boost growth and poverty reduction, while keeping fiscal policy sustainable, the Government is committed to boosting revenue and fully implement the VAT by FY18.

Bhutan

The year 2015/16 saw an acceleration in growth to 6.2 percent from 6.1 percent in 2014/15 and 4 percent in 2013/2014. As in the previous year, the acceleration of growth was mainly driven by a pick-up in services, mining and hydropower-related construction. The medium-term outlook is also promising, with the commissioning of new hydropower projects expected to provide further impetus to output and exports, as well as to fiscal revenues. Consumer price inflation fell further to 3.3 percent in 2015/2016 from 5.2 percent in 2014/15. On account of a gradual pick-up in capital spending, the 2015/2016 fiscal deficit was 1.3 percent of GDP, in contrast to the fiscal surplus of 1.5 percent of GDP in 2014/2015. In 2016/17, because of further acceleration in capital expenditures toward the end of the 11thFive Year Plan, the deficit is projected to reach 5 percent of GDP. The 2015/16 current account deficit increased by about one percent of GDP to 29.1 percent of GDP. The large deficit in 2015/16 and previous years is a result of the imports for the construction of hydropower projects. It is expected to decline after 2017/18 with the commissioning of new power plants and the resultant export of power. In the longer run, the current account balance is likely to return a surplus. Credit growth picked up to 14 percent in 2015 and has approached 17.4 percent by the end of 2016.

India

India continues to be the fastest growing major economy in the world. As per provisional estimates, real GDP grew by 7.9 percent in 2015-16 compared with 7.2 per cent in 2014-15. The second advance estimate for GDP growth for 2016-17 is placed at 7.1 percent. The currency reform initiative will move the Indian economy to a less cash trajectory, increase tax compliance and reduce the threats from counterfeit currency which acts as a source of terror funding. Growth is expected to gain strength in the following years due to externalities derived from deep structural reforms implemented by our Government and robust aggregate demand. CPI inflation which has been easing since August 2016 increased modestly to 3.65 percent in February2017 against 3.17 percent in January 2017. Though it has marginally risen to 3.81% in March, 2017,it is well within the medium term CPI inflation target of 4%. At the system level, our banks are adequately capitalized. At the same time, we are deeply aware of the problem of non-performing loans (NPLs) which are in the process of being effectively resolved. Policies for resolution of NPLs including optimal structuring of credit facilities, change in ownership/management, deep restructuring of stressed assets and facilitation of speedy exit from unviable accounts have been put in place. Additionally, the amendments to debt recovery laws as well as the enactment of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 would provide enabling infrastructure to deal effectively with the recovery of non-performing assets (NPAs) in a time bound manner. The Government is infusing capital in Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to meet their capital requirements in line with global risk norms and to spur credit growth. Recent announcements made by our Prime Minister for the provision of cost effective credit to farmers and housing loans to the poor including enhanced access of credit for MSMEs would enlarge the scope of institutional credit delivery to the hitherto under-banked segments of the economy. The progress of our financial inclusion efforts has been remarkable with 282 million accounts opened by banks under the no-frills PMJDY so far. The objective of the scheme is to provide all households in the country with financial services, with special focus on empowering the weaker sections of society, including women, small and marginal farmers and laborers, both rural and urban. Attractive low cost life and health insurance and pension plans introduced by the Government have expanded the social safety net for weaker sections of the society. Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) is active in facilitating structured microcredit deliveries to small scale entrepreneurs for productive activities. Supported by AADHAR, the biometric based unique identity system for individuals, the ongoing rapid expansion of digital payment mechanisms will provide large push to our financial inclusion efforts. The wide ranging liberalisation of the FDI policy in recent years is expected to provide major impetus to employment and job creation. Most of the sectors, except a small negative list, are now under the automatic approval route. India is now the most open economy in the world for FDI. Net FDI inflows during April-December 2016-17 increased to US $ 31.18 billion from US $ 27.22 billion during the same period in the previous year. The increasing strength of economic fundamentals have made India the most sought after destination for investments. Indias foreign exchange reserves were placed at US $ 367.93 billion as of 24 March 2017. The current account deficit (CAD) was very much at sustainable level of 1.3 percent and 1.1 percent in 2014-15 and 2015-16, respectively. The CA deficit for the three quarters of 2016-17 improved further to 0.7 percent of GDP. As envisaged, the Gross Fiscal Deficit (GFD) was contained at 3.5 percent in 2016-17 following a steady path of fiscal consolidation without compromising on the public investment requirements of the economy and spending on programs for poverty alleviation. The quality of fiscal adjustment is reflected in the improvement in revenue deficit to 2.1 percent in the revised budgetary estimate vis-a-vis 2.5 percent in 2015-16. Next year the revenue deficit will be reduced further to 1.9 percent to below that of 2 percent mandated by the FRBM Act. The GFD for the year 2017-18 is pegged at 3.2 percent with a commitment to achieve 3 percent in the following year. The steady approach towards fiscal consolidation is being judiciously adopted to avoid excessive curtailment of public investment- in view of the need for higher public expenditure in the context of sluggish private sector investment and subdued global growth. For the current financial year, the Union Budget 2017-18 has significantly increased resource allocation for infrastructure as well as rural, agricultural and allied sectors. The allocation for the rural employment guarantee scheme has also been increased substantially. The government would continue to increase fiscal resilience through greater focus on the quality of expenditure and higher tax realizations including those that would accrue from large cash deposits made in banks due to demonetization. The Budget for 2017-18 shows our firm resolve to boost investment in agriculture, social sector, infrastructure and employment generation on the one hand and simultaneously pursue the path of fiscal consolidation on the other. The delivery of AADHAR based direct benefit transfers (DBT) has succeeded in plugging unwarranted leakages resulting in substantial savings to the Government. We are also fully on course to implement the Goods & Service Tax (GST) by 01 July 2017. The GST will deliver significant externalities by way of improved taxation efficiency and the ease of doing business and will convert India into one common market. Since 2014, we have taken efforts to implement deep structural reforms to unlock the full potential of our economy. Widely encompassing reforms have been put in place which, inter alia, include the Goods and Services Tax Act, AADHAAR (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act 2016, rationalization of subsidies, enactment of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 and operationalization of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) for new corporate insolvency framework. Other policy initiatives include implementation of the hybrid annuity model for PPP, passage of Mines and Mineral Amendment Act, announcement of National Capital Goods Policy, directions to PSEs for expediting arbitration in construction sector, roadmap for rapid adoption of digital payments system, extensive liberalization of the FDI regime and improvements in governance processes in the infrastructure delivery. Alongside steady progress in Indias ranking in Ease of Doing Business, the Governments flagship program Make in India encourages new processes, new infrastructure, new sectors and new mindset to boost entrepreneurial energy. Affirmative policies to arrest declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and empowerment of women over the life-cycle continuum and those for enhancing female employment are being vigorously pursued.

Sri Lanka
is preparing to elect its new President on Sunday, amid high security after a series of terror attacks, including a fatal assault on a Paris policeman three days ago.

Voting for the first round began at 8 am.

About 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers have been deployed around the country after Thursday's terror attack claimed by the Islamic State (IS) militant group, BBC reported.

Eleven aspirants are vying to be the country's next President, with leading candidates spanning the political spectrum from far-left to far-right.

The two with the most votes will go to run-off round in a fortnight's time.

Four candidates are currently seen as being within reach of the Elysee palace: the conservative Francois Fillon, the far-right leader Marine Le Pen, liberal centrist Emmanuel Macron and the far-left's Jean-Luc Melenchon.

The candidates have created plenty of debate in the country, all offering dramatically different visions of Europe, immigration, the economy and French identity.

National security had been one of the main talking points during the campaigns, but candidates have been accused of exploiting the Thursday attack for political gains.

The race between the leading contenders is considered too close to call.

However, none are expected to get the 50 per cent of votes required for an outright win.

A second round between the top two will be held on 7 May.

Fillon is the only one among the leading contenders from an established party of government.

Benoit Hamon, the socialist candidate from the same party as the current President, is seen as out of the running.

President Francois Hollande is not seeking a second term, and is the first French President in modern history not to do so.

As voters on Sunday walk into their bureau de vote, many will still be undecided, faced with paper slips for an unprecedented 11 nominees.

According to the Guardian, Benoit Hamon faces a crushing defeat in the first round, ending his leadership dreams and putting the future of the country's Socialist Party (PS) in question.

Since the French Revolution, the country has been governed by various manifestations of one of two camps: right or left.

The divide, known as the clivage gauche-droite, emerged from the turbulent summer of 1789, when the first national constituent assembly was formed.

An analyst believes this presidential election marks the end of "traditional" parties.

Pascal Perrineau, president of Sciences Po's respected political research institute, Cevipof, said: "The PS no longer has a structure, a goal or respect, and has become irreconcilable."
A fur coat worn by a stewardess when the famous passenger liner sank in 1912 was auctioned in Britain for 181,000 pounds ($232,000).

It went under the hammer on Saturday for more than double the estimated price of 80,000 pounds, and was bought by a British collector, Xinhua news agency reported.

Mabel Bennett, wearing a nightdress, grabbed the full length coat for protection from the harsh elements of the North Atlantic as a lifeboat arrived to rescue her.

She survived and died in 1974 aged 96. Bennett had given the coat to a great niece in the 1960s.

The coat has been on display until recently in the US where it was shown in a recreation of a first-class stateroom.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge described the garment as one of the most visual items to go on sale in recent years.

The coat came with a letter of provenance, which reads: "This coat was worn by my Great Aunt Mabel who was a stewardess.

"On her rescue from the she was in her nightdress and this coat was the first garment she snatched for warmth. My aunt gave me the coat in the early 1960s," added the letter.

Bennett, who worked in the first class section of the Titanic, also wore the coat aboard the Red Star Line SS Lapland, which was used to transport the surviving Titanic crew back to Britain.

More than 1,500 passengers and crew died when the so-called unsinkable Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in April 1912, on its maiden voyage from Southampton in England to New York.
As the 11 candidates vying for the French presidency were making their last televised bids to the electorate on the evening of April 20, news broke that a policeman had been killed in an attack on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility, though this has not yet been confirmed, and an investigation was launched by French anti-terror police. Leading right-wing candidates Francois Fillon and Marine Le Pen cancelled their last public campaign rallies ahead of the first round of voting on April 23.
With the countdown underway, the UK has a huge amount to negotiate with the EU. While numerous issues ranging from immigration to trade have been widely discussed, one important matter that has been overlooked is the impact of on corporate lobbying.
futures on MCX, more known for its energy and metal commodities derivative trading, has seen the highest trading volume among all agri commodities across exchanges.

MCX futures turnover clocked Rs 407.65 crore yesterday, which is the highest amongst all agri commodities across exchanges.

According to a broker on MCX , which deals with many companies hedging their requirement on the exchange platform, "Big apparel companies like Arvind, multinational trading firms and mid size year spinning and other textile companies have increased their hedging for cotton requirement on the MCX platform, thus contributing to the high volumes." He declined to be named as some companies are hedging through his broking arm on MCX.

However NCDEX continues to be the major exchange for agri trading and their efforts to lure farmers have yielded results with over one lakh farmers hedging directly or through aggregators on NCDEX platform.

NCDEX has tied up with several NGOs and companies to help and guide farmers to hedge their produce on the exchange.

An MCX spokesperson said, "During the last one year, MCX's focus on agri commodities has substantially increased, thus strengthening its position in the agri segment."

So far as cotton is concerned, MCX cotton prices have become a benchmark for cotton industry in India

MCX cotton average daily volume in the month of March 2017 stood at 1.40 lakh bales as compared to 0.75 lakh bales in March 2016, a notable increase of over 86 per cent.

Average daily turnover on MCX cotton futures increased to Rs 298 crore in the month of March 2017, up by 148% as compared to Rs 120 crore in March 2016.
Validating Tamil Nadu's Dravidian roots, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) asserted that Tamil Nadu would be governed only by Dravidian parties owing to decades of governance by the latter.

Speaking to ANI here on Sunday, AIADMK leader and spokesperson of the O. Panneerselvam (OPS) faction Azhagu Tamil Selvi claimed that it is time the opposition, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stopped 'dreaming about capturing Tamil Nadu.'

"Tamil Nadu has been ruled by Dravidian parties for decades and will continue in the same way. I request the BJP to stop dreaming or imagining about capturing Tamil Nadu," she said, adding that the opposition was "commenting on grounds of greediness and jealousy."

In the wake of the ongoing merger talks between the OPS faction and that of Chief Minister E. Palanisamy (EPS), Selvi asserted that the infamous 'Mannargudi mafia' family, including the likes of AIADMK's former general secretary V.K. Sasikala and her nephew T.T.V. Dinakaran, needed to be completely disassociated with the party henceforth.

"We want Sasikala and the rest of the Mannargudi family to be out of the party. Their affidavits need to be withdrawn from the Election Commission," she said.

Selvi further stressed on the need for a probe into late chief minister J. Jayalalithaa's 'mysterious' death, since the party had several queries regarding the same.

Meanwhile, the first round of merger talks are likely to take place this week, with the two factions looking to merge and bring stability to the state government.

Talks for a merger between the OPS and the EPS camps gained ground after an FIR was registered against AIADMK deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran for bribing Election Commission officials for staking claim of the 'Two Leaves' symbol of the party.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of State for Communications Manoj Sinha on Sunday released coffee scented postage stamps at the General Post Office, Bengaluru.

The stamps, which are being printed at the India Security Press, will be priced at Rs. 100.

These stamps will be made available at the Philately Bureau, Bangalore General Post Office, and all other head post offices.

Bhutan was the first country to release aromatic stamps in 1973. New Zealand, Thailand and Switzerland joined in later.

In 2006, India introduced its first aromatic stamp, with a Rs. 15 sandalwood-scented stamp where 30 lakh of these sold out within two weeks.

In 2007, rose-scented stamps were released in four varieties of flower- Jawahar, Neelam, Delhi Princess and Bhim- each priced at Rs. five and a jasmine fragrance in 2008.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi Police on Sunday arrested three persons against a complaint which was lodged by an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer after he was thrashed by them over a minor scuffle.

The three person's Santro Car was allegedly hit by the IAF officer's motor cycle, which led to the fight.

The incident took place near Delhi's Batra Hospital.

IAF officer Sujay Kumar Sikandar lodged an FIR in the Sangam Vihar Police Station.

The three accused have been identified as Nitin Gupta, Isa and Neeraj.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Attempting to justify his "those opposing Jai Sri Ram will be relegated to history" remark, West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Dilip Ghosh on Sunday said the TMC-ruled state's situation is worrisome as the people are not allowed to perform rituals rather slogans in support of Pakistan can be heard aloud.

"This is not a controversy. The situation in Bengal is worrisome. Chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' is not allowed anymore and on the eve of Ram Navami the processions are being stopped. So, now in India you cannot say 'Jai Shri Ram' but say 'Pakistan Zindabad' aloud. Therefore, in this regard I made that statement," Ghosh told ANI.

He further said the Congress will witness the same fate as that of the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), who have become history in Indian politics.

"I said those who will not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Jai Shri Ram', they will become history or such parties will become history. During the festivals, permissions are not being granted to follow the rituals and cases are being filed against those who continue to do so," Ghosh added.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Power Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay said mocked Ghosh's assertion and said this exposes the frustration in the BJP, which is desperate to establish its political foothold in the entire nation.

"Ram Chandra is our God and Bharat Mata is the mother of India. The party couldn't not come into power (in West Bengal) for a long time and, therefore, I think they have this thing on their mind that they will dominate India, but I understand our nation is not like that," he added.

Chattopadhyay further said the BJP is using religion to gain political mileage.

"We all consider Bharat Mata as our mother land, but such comments are utter nonsense. We cannot use any God as a political weapon, that's a crime," he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill told ANI in New Delhi that Ghosh should keep one thing in mind that the BJP will be relegated to history if he keeps on using religion as a political tool at this pace and misusing the name of Lord Ram.

Ghosh earlier stoked a controversy with his assertion that those opposing the chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and "Jai Sri Ram" in the country will become history.

"A leader like Narendra Modi has the capacity to take such decisions in this platform. If anyone restricts he will be thrown out from here. From Gujarat to Guwahati and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari everyone has to utter Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shri Ram and the one who would oppose this has to be a part of history," Ghosh told a public meeting in North 24 Parganas district.

"The BJP is present all over the nation. I request you not to compel us. The BJP is very good but if you compel then the party would be the worst of all," he added.

The BJP later came out in defence of Ghosh with party secretary Rahul Sinha stating that all Indians should praise the country they live in.

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West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who plays for Gujarat Lions, has been ruled out of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The news was confirmed by Gujarat Lions skipper Suresh Raina during the toss before their clash against Kings XI Punjab.

"Yes, Dwayne Bravo has been ruled out of the tournament. He had been doing all the rehab but just couldn't take the heat. Would need another few weeks to get ready. We need to have a chat with the management and see who could be the replacement," Raina said during the toss.

Bravo, who suffered a hamstring injury in December during Big Bash League after which he went under surgery, has not played a single game in this edition of the IPL.

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With Civic polls underway, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday exuded confidence and asserted that the Capital will vote against the misgovernance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Sisodia said that if people of Delhi want a cleaner and healthier environment, then they must vote for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

"Have cast my vote with an aim to make the capital corruption free. This will lead to cleanliness in Delhi," he noted.

"Today the people of Delhi will vote against the ten year of misgovernance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Today I would like to appeal to the people of Delhi to come out in huge numbers and vote for AAP," Sisodia added.

Polling for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has begun.

The polling is being conducted for 272 wards of three MCD civic bodies and over 2,500 candidates are in the fray.

Over 1.3 crore people are eligible to exercise their voting rights and of them more than 1.1 lakh are first-time voters.

The civic polls will witness a triangular contest involving three major parties- the AAP, BJP and the Congress. Interestingly, None of the Above (NOTA) option has been made available for the first time in MCD elections.

The Delhi Election Commission has set up over 13,000 polling booths, out of which over 3,000 have been identified as sensitive while around 1,500 as hypersensitive.

Nearly 57, 000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls in the capital.

To avoid any untoward incident during the elections, the Delhi Government has ordered dry day to be observed in the national capital on the polling day.

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Coming down heavily upon Congress leader P. Chidambaram for his tweet regarding the People's Democratic Party (PDP)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance, the BJP on Sunday dubbed the former as 'failed ex-home minister,' while saying that the grand old party was fishing in troubled waters by making such negative assertion.

Accusing the Congress of instigating the youth to create a ruckus, the BJP said the wrong policies of Congress were responsible for the anarchy in the Valley.

"The Congress party is fishing in troubled waters and I would like to recall Mr. Chidambaram the era of 2010 stone pelting agitation. We don't bother about Chidambaram's negative statement and tweets. Chidambaram, the failed home minister of India, is suggesting in a very wrong manner. The Congress just wants to topple democratically-elected governments everywhere, including Jammu and Kashmir," BJP leader and MLA from J-K's Nowshera district Ravindra Raina said.

He further said the coalition government of BJP and PDP was committed to restore peace, harmony and brotherhood in Jammu and Kashmir, while Congress party was trying to create problems.

Asserting that Chidambaram should refrain from commenting on Jammu and Kashmir government, BJP leader Shaina NC said, "The BJP and PDP have an alliance on common minimum programme which is in the interest of people of Jammu and Kashmir. I don't think it is for Mr. Chidambaram or any segment of the Congress to comment on it because they are not the elected choice of Jammu and Kashmir."

Amid the turbulent state in the Valley with soaring protests and clashes, Chidambaram on Saturday called on the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to severe all ties with the BJP in the state government and make peace in the state.

"The honourable course for honourable CM of J&K is to snap the coalition with BJP and make peace with the people," Chidambaram said in a series of tweets.

"Growing clamour for Governor's rule in J&K. Glad more people have realised PDP-BJP government is a disaster," he tweeted.
German officials have voiced concern over the possibility of thousands of former Taliban fighters having entered the country over the past two years among an influx of more than a million migrants and refugees.

Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) informed the security officials that thousands of migrants had identified themselves as former Taliban insurgents during the asylum application process, Der Spiegel magazine reported on Saturday.

It stated that at least 70 Afghan men were being investigated by Germany's over-stretched chief federal prosecutor, though it was not clear whether all of them were suspected of being active Taliban militants.

The German government has recently come under fire for allowing the migrant influx, especially after several militant attacks were linked to the migrants last year.

Germany has, however, been deporting groups of rejected Afghan asylum seekers in the recent months.

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The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday arrested a young man from Budgam in case of a 'rumour-mongering' using social networking websites.

The case was registered in Sopore, the police confirmed.

Hamza Farooq Ahmad Dar, a resident of Kanipora Chadoora, was the administrator of a Facebook page called 'JK News Channel', the police official said.

On April 18, the police said the page had uploaded the information that "one person was killed and 15 others injured in Sopore."

The police said that the information was baseless and false.

A case has been registered under Sections 505, 120 B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and 66 IT Act.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a letter to Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday condoled the Mazar-e-Sharif attack.

He offered his assistance and reaffirmed India's steadfast support in fighting terrorism.

More than 100 persons were killed in the Mazar-e-Sharif attack that took place yesterday.

The attack happened at about 1.30pm on Friday at a mosque on the base. Insurgents in army vehicles and reportedly wearing military uniforms penetrated multiple layers of security before launching their attack, reports the Tolo News.

The U.S. military in Afghanistan in a statement condemned the attack.

"The attack on the 209th Corps today shows the barbaric nature of the Taliban. They killed soldiers at prayer in a mosque and others in a dining facility," US commander John Nicholson said in the statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Polling for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will start today at 8 a.m. and will carry on till 5.30 p.m.

Considered largely to be the decider as far as the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) fate in Delhi is concerned, the polling will be conducted for 272 wards of three MCD civic bodies and over 2,500 candidates are in the fray.

The Delhi Election Commission has set up over 13,000 polling booths, out of which over 3,000 have been identified as sensitive while around 1,500 as hypersensitive.

Nearly 57, 000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls in the capital.

To avoid any untoward incident during the elections, the Delhi Government has ordered dry day to be observed in the capital on the polling day.

For the first time in the MCD elections, the None Of The Above (NOTA) option will be available and the elections will be held after the latest delimitation exercise that has restructured the civic wards.

Even as the Yogendra Yadav-led Swaraj India and the Janata Dal (United) look to expand base beyond Bihar and Jharkhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the AAP and the Congress have roped in top leaders and done whatever they could to woo the voters.

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Predicting a thumping majority for the saffron party in the civic polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice-president Shyam Jaju on Sunday said Delhi has already rejected the Congress, adding the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stands exposed courtesy its work in the last two and half years.

"People of Delhi are fed up of Arvind Kejriwal and his party. I am absolutely confident the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win. This is a litmus test for the AAP, as these polls will decide that how the capital has accepted Arvind Kejriwal," said Jaju.

"The people of Delhi have already rejected the Congress and in the past two years the real face of AAP has also been exposed, which is why I am confident that people will vote for the BJP," he added.

The polling for the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi began at 8 a.m. today and will end at 5:30 p.m. Over 2,500 candidates are in the fray.

Over 1.3 crore people are eligible to exercise their voting rights and of them more than 1.1 lakh are first-time voters. More than 2,500 candidates are in the fray.

The civic polls will witness a triangular contest involving three major parties - the AAP, BJP and the Congress. Interestingly, None of the Above (NOTA) option has been made available for the first time in MCD elections.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ahead of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expressed confidence while asserting that the civic polls would prove that the saffron party was far ahead of other political parties.

"The MCD polls will once again prove that BJP is far ahead of other political parties and there's no parallel to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity," BJP leader S. Prakash told ANI.

Hitting out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, another BJP leader Vinay Shasrabuddhe said people would discard both parties in the MCD polls.

"The BJP wants renewal of the mandate. We know that people have discarded the Congress because of the corruption and now, they will reject the AAP too, because of their anarchical politics," he told ANI.

With the AAP, the Congress and the BJP in the fray, polling for the MCD will be held today.

The polling will be spread over 13,000 booths spanning 272 wards of three MCD civic bodies.

The Delhi Election Commission has set up over 13,000 polling booths out of which over 3,000 have been identified as sensitive while around 1500 as hypersensitive.

Nearly 57, 000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls in the capital.

To avoid any untoward incident during the elections, the Delhi government has ordered that dry days will be observed in the capital on the polling day.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
North Korea has warned Australia of a possible nuclear strike if Canberra persists in "blindly and zealously toeing the U.S. line."

North Korea's state new agency (KCNA) quoted a foreign ministry spokesman castigating Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, after she said the rogue nation would be subject to further Australian sanctions and for "spouting a string of rubbish against the DPRK over its entirely just steps for self-defence."

"If Australia persists in following the U.S. moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK and remains a shock brigade of the US master, this will be a suicidal act of coming within the range of the nuclear strike of the strategic force of the DPRK," the report said.

"The Australian foreign minister had better think twice about the consequences to be entailed by her reckless tongue-lashing before flattering the U.S."

The KCNA report said that what Bishop had said "can never be pardoned" as it was "an act against peace" and North Korea's "entirely just steps for self defence."

It said Australia was shielding a hostile U.S. policy of nuclear threats and blackmail against North Korea which was the root cause of the current crisis on on the Korean Peninsula and encouraged the U.S. to opt for "reckless and risky military actions".

Bishop had earlier said North Korea's nuclear weapons program posed a "serious threat" to Australia unless it was stopped by the international community. She said the sanctions were to send "the clearest possible message to North Korea, that its behaviour will not be tolerated, that a nuclear-armed North Korea is not acceptable to our region."

She also urged China to step up pressure on North Korea to stamp out its belligerent and illegal behaviour.

United States Vice-President Mike Pence had then praised Turnbull for publicly calling on China to do more to pressure North Korea to dump its nuclear warheads and ballistic missile program.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Asserting that ObamaCare is in serious trouble, U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said that the healthcare programme will die if it doesn't receive funds to keep it going.

"ObamaCare is in serious trouble. The Dems need big money to keep it going - otherwise it dies far sooner than anyone would have thought," Trump tweeted.

This comes just days before the Democrats and Republicans must agree on a federal budget or face a government shutdown, reports local media.

Trump said that Mexico will eventually pay for his proposed border wall.

He added that democrats don't want money from budget going to border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs

"The Democrats don't want money from budget going to border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs and very bad MS 13 gang members.Eventually, but at a later date so we can get started early, Mexico will be paying, in some form, for the badly needed border wall, Trump said in a series of tweet.

Both Democrats and republicans are pushing for funding of their own priorities.

The White House is pushing for funds to build a wall along the Mexican border and enhance border security, while Democrats hope to make more inroads in healthcare coverage.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently holding a meeting with the Chief Ministers and the Deputy Chief Ministers of all the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states.

The meeting, which is being attended by party chief Amit Shah and top Union Ministers, is being seen as part of the Prime Minister's drive to ensure that his governance agenda dominates public discourse and trumps Opposition parties' attack on his government over a host of issues.

A similar exercise was held in August last year.

Only recently in his address to party leaders in the BJP executive meet, Prime Minister Modi had spoken about the need for India to take a "long jump" to make rapid progress, while Shah had asserted that the saffron party was yet to reach its peak.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Saudi Arabia's Prince Khaled bin Salman has been appointed as the country's new ambassador to the United States.

"Prince Abdullah bin Faysal bin Turki removed as ambassador to the US. Prince Khaled bin Salman bin Abdulaziz appointed ambassador", the official Saudi Press Agency reported, citing a royal order.

Prince Salman replaces Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki, who served in the post for just over a year.

He is former F-15 pilot who graduated from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi.

Prince Salman had earlier in 2014, participated as an air force pilot in Saudi Arabia's contribution to the anti-Daesh coalition to combat ISIS.

Among the other major decisions announced through a series of royal decrees on state television was the removal of Information and Cultural Minister Adel Al-Toraifi, local media reports said.

In an interesting development, all regional governors will have deputies. A number of new deputies were announced.

"The royal order returns all allowances, financial benefits, and bonuses to civil servants and military staff," said the decree.

Saudi Arabia is looking forward to have a strong and friendly relations with the U.S. following the recent visit of Saudi Deputy Crown Prince bin Salman with President Trump at the White House.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Tamil Nadu farmers, who have been protesting in the capital for the past 40 days and demanding loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery management board to resolve their irrigation issues, today hinted at withdrawing their agitation.

This came following assurance from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami, who assured that he will take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to waive off the loan and urged the farmers to end their protest.

Palaniswami yesterday met with the protesting farmers from his state at the Jantar Mantar in the capital.

The farmers have been grabbing headlines for their unique and sometimes bizarre methods of protest since they arrived in Delhi over 38 days ago.

Adorned with human skulls around their necks, the farmers attempted to grab the attention of authorities towards their condition and demands for drought relief package.

Let's have a look at how this issue originated and escalated to this level.

In August last year, protests erupted in Tamil Nadu after Karnataka refused to release Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu. Karnataka's refusal to Tamil Nadu put the farmers in Delta districts in distress.

The failure of monsoon was the next big blow to the farmers. Hit by the drought, many farmers committed suicide as they were unable to repay their crop loans. Since then, farmers took to the streets everyday demanding drought relief fund.

The Tamil Nadu Government sent teams comprising of ministers to review the drought situation in the state. Finally, the state government officially declared a drought in the state.

The Central Government released Rs. 1,740 crore in drought relief fund instead of the Rs. 40,000 crore sought by the state government.

Since mid-March, a group of farmers led by P. Ayyakannu has been staging a protest in front of Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding that the Central Government release Rs. 40,000 crore.

Several Tamil Nadu leaders, including DMK working president M. K. Stalin and MDMK leader Vaiko, met the protesting farmers in Delhi.

The protesting Tamil Nadu farmers stripped outside the South Block earlier on April 10 after they were allegedly denied permission to meet Prime Minister Modi.

The farmers have so far performed 'Angapradakshinam' - rolling prostrate on the street at Jantar Mantar - staged suicides, conducted mock funerals, shaved off half their moustaches and beards, stripped in front of the Prime Minister's office, eaten dal and rice off the road, stood with mice in their mouths and have hung skulls around their necks, which they claim belong to farmers in their state who committed suicide because of mounting debt.

The last time Delhi witnessed a memorable farmers' protest was in 1988, when Mahendra Singh Tikait, a Jat farmer leader from Uttar Pradesh, laid siege to the capital with a charter of demands.

With him, nearly five lakh farmers with their tractors, cattle and cooking utensils took over the Boat Club lawns - the original protest venue in Delhi, on Rajpath - till the Rajiv Gandhi government finally relented to their demands, which included an increase in the price of sugarcane and some waivers.

It was after Tikait's sit-in that the protest venue was shifted to the Jantar Mantar so that the agitators could be kept at a safe distance from the government buildings.

The farmers have been demanding Centre's intervention to write off their loans from nationalised banks, a revised drought relief package and resolve the alleged drying up of the Tamil Nadu leg of the Kaveri river.

The state government and the Madras High Court have already waived their loans from co-operative banks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Tamil Nadu farmers who had been protesting over drought relief funds and waiver of farmers' loans on Sunday suspended their protest till May 25 after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E. Palaniswami's assurance.

"If our demands are not fulfilled we will start our protest again after 25th May. If we get train tickets, we will leave today," said Ayyakanu, an agitating farmer.

Palaniswamy earlier in the day said he discussed the farmers' issue in the NITI Aayog's Governing Council meeting and forwarded their demands to the Prime Minister.

"Also asked the Prime Minister to discuss fishermen boats issue during his Sri Lanka visit," he added.

The farmers have been grabbing headlines for their unique and sometimes bizarre methods of protest since they arrived in Delhi over 38 days ago.

Adorned with human skulls around their necks, the farmers attempted to grab the attention of authorities towards their condition and demands for drought relief package.

The farmers have so far performed 'Angapradakshinam' - rolling prostrate on the street at Jantar Mantar - staged suicides, conducted mock funerals, shaved off half their moustaches and beards, stripped in front of the Prime Minister's office, eaten dal and rice off the road, stood with mice in their mouths and have hung skulls around their necks, which they claim belong to farmers in their state who committed suicide because of mounting debt.

The farmers have been demanding Centre's intervention to write off their loans from nationalised banks, a revised drought relief package and resolve the alleged drying up of the Tamil Nadu leg of the Kaveri river.

The state government and the Madras High Court have already waived their loans from co-operative banks.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) ousted leader T.T.V. Dinakaran has reached the Crime Branch office of Delhi Police where he will be questioned in a case involving bribing of an Election Commission official to get the party's 'two-leaves' symbol.

Yesterday, Dinakaran was given a set of questions by the Delhi Police in connection with the case.

According to sources, Dinakaran has been given questionnaire and an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) is questioning him.

The questionnaire includes queries about the money trail, his association with Sukesh Chandrashekhar, the middleman alleged to have struck deal for Rs. 50 crore to help Dinakaran's AIADMK faction keep the 'two leaves' poll symbol, how many times he met Sukesh and whether any meeting with the Election Commission officials took place, or not, etc.

According to sources, there was a possibility of cross questioning Sukesh and also both of them together.

On Thursday, a team of the Delhi Police Crime Branch reached Chennai and served a notice on Dinakaran and asked him to join the probe.

The Delhi Police had issued a lookout notice against Dinakaran on Tuesday.

The police had arrested and sent Sukesh to custody for allegedly striking a deal of Rs. 50 crore to help the Dinakaran faction to keep the 'two leaves' poll symbol.

The Crime Branch recovered approximately Rs. 1.3 crore and two luxury cars, a BMW and a Mercedes, from Chandrashekhar.

Chandrasekhar was picked up from the Hyatt hotel and was produced at the residence of Special Judge Poonam Chaudhry, who allowed the Delhi Police's plea to interrogate the accused for eight days.

Dinakaran was also named as an accused in the FIR, filed by the Delhi Police Crime Branch.

Dinakaran's faction contested on the hat symbol for the R.K. Nagar assembly by-polls, after the Election Commission froze their two leaves symbol while acknowledging the split in the party.

The polling was later cancelled by the Election Commission.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After reports of Pakistan's involvement in protecting Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden's mentor and successor Ayman al-Zawahiri as well as the slain terrorist's eleventh son Hamza surfaced earlier on Saturday, defence experts asserted that the United States was providing large financial aids to Pakistan, despite being aware of the situation.

Speaking to ANI on Sunday, defence expert Uday Bhaskar alleged that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) was protecting the likes of Al-Qaida, including Taliban and Lashkar-e-Toiba among others, adding that Karachi was the 'hub' of such activities.

"Al-Qaida is determined to carry out an attack replicating the enormity of the infamous 9/11 attacks in Washington D.C. which took place 16 years ago. Pakistan is manifesting itself in the neighbourhood and is clearly protecting such groups," he said.

"The ultimate irony of the situation, however, is that the U.S. Congress is well aware of the situation, yet continues to supply large financial aid to Pakistan," added Bhaskar.

Defence expert Ranjeet Rai said the Al-Qaida was looking to team up with the ISI to fulfill Zawahiri's last wish to carry out an attack in the U.S.

According to a report by a New York-based editorial, the Egyptian-born Zawahiri remains a key player in an attack threat to U.S. that retired Marine Corps General John Kelly, the U.S. homeland security secretary, says was "worse today than what we experienced 16 years ago on 9/11."

The White House signalled a new, tougher approach to eliminating al-Zawahiri and his militant allies in early April with the appointment of Lisa Curtis, a well-known former CIA analyst, congressional staffer and foreign policy hawk in Washington D.C's think-tank circuit to head the South Asia desk for the Security Council.

The ISI has been protecting Zawahiri, a trained surgeon, since U.S. forces evicted Al-Qaeda from Afghanistan in late 2001, sources say.

The New York-based portal reports a former top Pakistani official, who maintains close ties with the Islamabad government, would confirm only that al-Zawahiri is "in a large Pakistani city," adding that he was "100 percent" sure that bin Laden's 26-year-old son, Hamza, a rising power in Al-Qaeda, is also in the country under ISI protection.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A former Korean-American professor was arrested in North Korea last week, becoming the third U.S. citizen to be detained by Pyongyang of late.

Citing sources South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday that the U.S. citizen, identified only by his surname Kim, was arrested by North Korean authorities on Friday at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

The former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology, who is in his late 50s, has been engaged in aid and relief programs to North Korea.

He reportedly was in the North for about a month to discuss relief activities. The reason for his arrest was not clear.

Two other U.S. citizens - college student Otto Warmbier and Korean-American pastor Kim Dong-chul - are also currently detained in North Korea after being sentenced to long prison terms for 'subversive acts against the country'.

Ahn Chan-il, director of the North Korea Research Center in Seoul, said that the North "seems to be intending to use professor Kim as leverage in negotiations" amid the current bad relations between the two countries.

Since 2009, over 10 U.S. citizens have been detained in North Korea on charges of anti-state and other unspecified crimes.

Tensions between the United States and the North have risen sharply in recent weeks as a series of North Korean missile tests have prompted dire warnings from President Donald Trump's administration.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Around 14 activists belonging to rightwing groups Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other groups were arrested by the police after they ransacked the Sadar Bazar Police Station in Agra's Fatehpur Sikri.

An FIR has been registered against the accused after they clashed with the police earlier in the day.

The station came under attack by the right wing activists yesterday as they attempted to rescue five of their workers.

A police official was attacked in the incident and his vehicle was set ablaze by a mob.

The five men had been detained after the Bajrang Dal workers gheraoed the police station demanding that an FIR registered against some men, for allegedly attacking members of minority community, be expunged.

The agitators reportedly misbehaved with a senior police officer following which the police used mild force to disperse the crowd.

Five persons were later caught and detained at the police station. They were later sent to the Sadar Bazar Police Station.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena's Amit Jani was arrested on late Saturday evening in connection with the anti-Kashmiri hoardings that were displayed across the city.

The incident came to light after a complaint was lodged at the Partapur Police Station, accusing Jani of propogating a sense of hatred through the posters, asking Kashmiris to leave the state.

Soon after, Jani absconded and a decision was taken to send out teams to locate and arrest him.

SSP J. Ravindra Gaur said that he was caught, while he was trying to leave the town.

Jani will be presented in court on Sunday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The naked mole rat, one of the world's most bizarre and remarkable animals is surprising scientists once again.

It is already known to be cold-blooded, resistant to cancer and feeling pain, and can live ten times longer than a mouse. The animal is also one of the strangest-looking mammals on the planet.

But now scientists believe these odd creatures can also survive without oxygen, by using a different method of creating energy in their bodies.

"Naked mole-rats are very social animals and typically live in underground colonies of up to 200 in East Africa," Gary Lewin of the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine told CNN. Lewin co-led the study published in Science.

With so many animals crowded into such a small living space -- all of them taking in oxygen and producing carbon dioxide -- they are used to oxygen-deprived environments, Lewin explained.

"We wanted to test systematically just how much oxygen deprivation these animals can stand," he said.

The team first tested the animals in an environment with five percent oxygen. "Anything less than 10 percent kills a human," Lewin pointed out.

But the rodents were hardly affected at all, even after several hours of reduced oxygen.

The next test was to put the rodents in an environment with no oxygen at all.

"The animals quickly went to sleep," explained Lewin. "They entered a state of suspended animation, a kind of coma, and survived like that for 18 minutes."

When oxygen was reintroduced, the animals quickly recovered and suffered no long-term damage at all.

Analyzing the data, the scientists realized the animals were switching from a glucose-based metabolic system, which requires oxygen to release energy, to one based on fructose, which doesn't need oxygen.

To continue creating the energy needed for cells to survive in vital organs such as the brain and heart -- and keeping them functioning -- the mole-rats were using a different form of fuel, one where lack of incoming oxygen is irrelevant.

"This is a fantastic piece of work," said Michael Berenbrink, a senior lecturer on animal sciences at the University of Liverpool, who was not involved in the study.

"This type of metabolism is really unheard of among mammals," he said. "There are some fish that have similar tricks... but they are also an exception. It really broadens our mind in terms of what evolution can do -- how metabolic pathways can adapt," he told CNN.

Lewin is excited about the potential implications for human beings.

Despite all of their remarkable traits, naked mole-rats are genetically very similar to mice, he explained, and not all that different to humans.

"Humans already have the ability to create energy from fructose ... our livers do it all the time," he explained. "The question is whether we can nudge the human body towards switching to a fructose-based metabolism when our supply of oxygen is low."

Understanding just how these tiny, hairless creatures use fructose to stay alive could lead to new treatments for patients suffering oxygen deprivation due to strokes or heart attacks.

"Perhaps even feeding the brain fructose during this period of oxygen deprivation could help," Lewin said.

He also wonders whether extreme divers, who survive for relatively long periods of time without taking in any oxygen, may have unwittingly taught their bodies how to switch from using glucose to fructose in the metabolic process.

"We just don't know," said Lewin. He hopes future studies will shed more light on exactly how these strange creatures survive without oxygen and what humans can learn from them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Afghan government declared Sunday as a national mourning day to pay tribute to Afghans killed in terrorist attacks, including in Kabul a day earlier, the Presidential Palace said.

At least 102 people, mostly civilians, were killed and nearly 200 others injured following a string of attacks in Kabul, Nangarhar in the east and Helmand and Kandahar provinces in the south.

The Afghan national flag will fly at half-mast at home and Afghan diplomatic missions abroad, the palace said in a statement, according to Xinhua news agency.

On Saturday, a member of Taliban outfit blew up an ambulance laden with explosives in central Kabul in the deadliest terrorist attack in months.

This followed an assault by Taliban militants on a luxury hotel in Kabul a week earlier that killed 22 people.

The government has also announced Monday as a holiday in Kabul to further help the affected people.

On Tuesday, special prayers will be held in the Presidential Palace and at mosques across the country to pay tribute for the victims, the statement read.

President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, the UN and various countries have denounced the Saturday mayhem.

--IANS

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BJP will make a clean sweep in Sunday's municipal elections in Delhi while the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress will lag far behind, said an exit poll.

The Exit Poll by ABP News-C Voter claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has ruled the three MCDs for 10 years, will get a landslide victory in all three municipal corporations with 218 of the total 270 seats for which polls were held on Sunday.

The AAP and the Congress will get 25 seats each, the exit poll said.

In East Delhi Municipal Corporation, the poll said, the BJP is expected to get 48 of the 63 seats while the AAP and the Congress may not even reach double-digit mark with seven and eight seats, respectively.

The exit poll said that in North Delhi Municipal Corporation, the BJP is expected to get 87 of the 103 seats while the Congress is expected to get seven and the AAP eight seats.

In South Delhi Municipal Corporation, the exit poll put the tally at 83 of the total 104 seats. The AAP and the Congress were expected to get 10 seats each.

The exit poll said that in all three municipal corporations, the BJP got the support of around 50 per cent voters while the Congress and the AAP share was only 19.1 per cent and 18.6 per cent, respectively.

The exit poll was conducted among 14,503 respondents in all 270 wards of the three civic bodies that went to the polls on Sunday.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BJP on Sunday vowed to oust the Left from power in Tripura in the 2018 assembly elections "to script history".

Addressing the BJP state executive meeting here, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Madhav said: "We will surely win the 2018 elections, ending the 24 years of uninterrupted rule of Left parties in Tripura."

He said top leaders of the BJP, including many Chief Ministers, were keen to campaign in Tripura to vote out the Left Front led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist.

"We will throw out the Left Front from Tripura to script history."

Ram Madhav, the BJP in-charge of northeastern states and Jammu and Kashimir, said Tripura was very important for his party.

"In view of this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and (BJP President) Amit Shah will soon join the campaign in the state.

"To win assembly polls in Tripura and to oust the corrupt Left Front government is a vital political objective of the BJP.

"The Left has been in power for 24 year and it is high time the Left was thrown out of power democratically," he said.

Ram Madhav accused the Left government of cheating people and keeping them in poverty and backwardness despite being in power for several decades.

Since there was no alternative to them earlier, they continued to be in power, he said.

"Now that the BJP has emerged as a real alternative, we should try our best collectively to ensure the ouster of the anti-people Left Front government."

BJP Tripura President Biplab Kumar Deb and party leader Sunil Deodhar also spoke at the two-day meeting that ended on Sunday.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday applauded Chief Ministers of states for setting aside ideological and political differences for a consensus on the GST regime which he said will "go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism".

In his opening remarks at the Niti Aayog Governing Council's third meeting here, Modi said the consensus on Goods and Services Tax (GST) shows the strength and resolve of the Indian federal structure and reflects the spirit of "one nation, one aspiration, one determination".

Urging the states for cooperation, the Prime Minister said the vision of "new India" could be realised only through the combined effort of all states and their Chief Ministers, a NITI Aayog statement said.

The NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog is working on a 15-year vision, seven-year medium-term strategy, and three-year action agenda, which will be presented at the meeting. It will replace the Five-Year Plans prevalent since Independence.

Modi said this effort required support of the states, and will eventually reflect in benefits to them.

During his address, Modi urged the states to speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation.

The Prime Minister also called for carrying forward the debate and discussions on simultaneous elections to the state assemblies and the Lok Sabha.

Modi urged the private sector and civil society to work in tandem with the government for national development.

Speaking of the change in Budget presentation date, the Prime Minister said it will enable timely availability of funds at the beginning of the financial year.

"Earlier, budgeted scheme funds were generally not approved by Parliament till May, after which they would be communicated to states and ministries. By that time, the monsoon arrived. Hence, the best working season for schemes was typically lost," he said.

From this year, the government has advanced the date of Budget presentation by almost a month to February 1.

Modi also mentioned the end of distinction between Plan and Non-Plan Expenditure based on the Rangarajan Committee recommendations in 2011.

"Several important items of expenditure were included as Non-Plan and hence neglected. Hereafter, the emphasis will be on distinguishing between development and welfare expenditure on the one hand, and administrative overheads on the other," he said.

The NITI Ayog Council meeting chaired by the Prime Minister was attended by the Chief Ministers of most of the states.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Complaining of drastic reduction in funds for various centrally-sponsored schemes, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday urged the Centre to ensure adequate allocation to ensure their completion within set time frame.

He said allocations for schemes like Flood Management Programme, Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, which is now part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna, and the National Rural Drinking Water Programme, have been reduced drastically, resulting in difficulty in completing these ongoing projects.

Speaking at the Niti Aayog Governing Council's third meeting here, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister said reimbursement claims of Rs 105 crore under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and Rs 125 crore under the Flood Management Programme were pending with the Centre.

The state, he said, had received Rs 148 crore less under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme in three years, compared with funding in 2013-14.

Virbhadra Singh said fund allocation under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna for the hill state has gone down to Rs 52.76 crore in 2016-17 compared with Rs 77.40 crore in 2013-14.

The Chief Minister also called for increasing allocations under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, keeping in view the high investment requirements in agriculture sector in hill states.

Virbhadra Singh said the state became 100 per cent free of open defecation in 2016 and a scheme to reward government primary and middle schools has been launched to promote hygiene and cleanliness in schools.

He said the state is preparing a 15-year vision, seven-year strategy and three-year action plans for inclusive and sustainable development of its economy.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prateik Babbar has come to terms with all the complications of his life, and says he has fought the demons of substance abuse. But the actor says he is still "work in progress", and wants to write a book about his struggle to inspire people who are going through the same.

The actor said that his fans were under the impression that he was leading a "happy life", and were unaware about the dark truth of his life. And that is the reason he decided to talk about it in public.

He says the "guilt of being an addict yet having unconditional love from people with all aspirations and hope" from him was killing him. The actor came out in the open about substance abuse in April last year, and has maintained his distance from drugs and alcohol for over a year now.

"There was a part of my life that people didn't know about. All these years, people, fans and admirers saw me in a certain way as a good actor, a happy guy. But that wasn't the case. I wasn't happy, I wasn't being good to myself. I was a heavy addict. It was a huge problem," Prateik told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

He added: "I wanted the fans and admirers to know that side of my life. I didn't want them to have any false impression and that is why I wanted people to know about the downfall of my life. I wanted to tell them this happened to me and I am not perfect."

Prateik, son of late actress Smita Patil and actor-politician Raj Babbar, started his acting career with a small but noticeable role in "Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na" in 2008. He followed up his act with films like "Dhobi Ghat", "Dum Maaro Dum" and "Ekk Deewana Tha". His last release came in 2013 with "Issaq".

Prateik says his perspective towards life has changed after the sabbatical and struggle.

"There was a lot of time to introspect and resurrect. There is new direction, drive for life."

Prateik, who also made headlines for his relationship with Amy Jackson and its after-effects, asserted that he is "work in progress".

"It's a full time job -- trying to be at peace in my life, trying to be a better person and be best in every way I can be, be a good brother, be a good actor and a good human being."

The actor, who will soon make his Bengali debut with "Auroni Taukhon", also expressed his plans to write a book about the struggle.

"I have been speaking to people about it and getting positive vibes and feedback. But I want to take baby steps."

While Prateik is interested in the idea of penning a book about his struggle with drugs, he says revisiting the dark days will be troublesome.

"But I have found my peace with it. I have fought back the evils. I have come to terms with all the complications of my life. It will be difficult to revisit the moments but I think it will also give a sense of relief that I have come out of it, and that I have come out as winner."

Prateik will soon venture into the hospitality sector with the launch of a wellness centre in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamsala city later this year.

Talking about the idea, Prateik said: "I was finding myself. I took a sabbatical of five years... The idea is if there are people like me going through a life problem, this is a way to help."

As far as his Bollywood career is concerned, Prateik said talks are on about future projects.

"I am in talks with a lot of producers and directors. The response is very positive... I am looking forward to it."

(Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Her thumbs flying fast over the touchscreen of her smartphone, Purnima Mahato, 35, of this tribal village in Jharkhand, has just discovered ease of doing business with her ubiquitous companion in an otherwise rocky entrepreneurial journey.

Travelling long distances to market homemade pickles and papadum was always tough -- till she started using a smartphone.

She now circulates images with small write-ups about her products through platforms like WhasApp to reach out to her customers before making deliveries to them. Payments to buy and sell are also made online.

"Ho gaya (done)," she said, raising her head and pointing to the images of her products on her phone.

"Sold. The customer agreed. And it will be delivered by the evening," Mahato said with a winning smile.

The wife of an agriculture labourer with four children is one of tens of thousands of tribal women in this state moving beyond the confines of their kitchens and household chores to become economically self-reliant.

Aimed at boosting the central government's twin initiatives of "Digital India" and "less-cash economy", as well as to nurture the rural economy, the Rural Development Department of the Jharkhand government has doled out free smart phones to 100,000 "Sakhi Mandals" or self-help groups (SHGs) of women entrepreneurs.

Smart phones are given to SHG heads who train the women entrepreneurs. A SHG has 7-15 members each.

The businesswomen, much like their urban counterparts, are increasingly reaping the benefits of the internet.

State Rural Development Minister Nilkanth Singh Munda said the smart phone initiative was aimed at further boosting the prospects of the Sakhi Mandal system, which has done "wonders" in boosting Jharkhand's rural economy.

"The major aim is to encourage more and more digital transactions to achieve a less-cash economy, but at the same time none can deny the immense importance a smart phone has acquired in modern times, especially for business," Munda told IANS.

"The 100,000 smart phones with free network will be handed out to the beneficiaries in the next two months and by 2019 we have plans to hand out 100,000 more smart phones to the SHGs."

He said the smart phone initiative will boost the government endeavours for socio-economic empowerment of women.

"Sakhi Mandalis have helped in streamlining women entrepreneurs and coupled with the smart phone initiative it will ensure that benefits of all the women welfare schemes, including the Tejaswini project, effectively reach the beneficiaries," he said.

Funded by the World Bank, the Tejaswini project supports adolescent girls and young women between the ages of 14 and 24 to complete their secondary level education and help them to acquire market-driven skill training.

Munda said that over a million women are members of the SHGs and are engaged in entrepreneurial endeavors like cattle-rearing, poultry farming, dairy products, edibles like jams, fruit squash, pickles, papadum, herbal juices and other household articles.

In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who launched the smart phone initiative here earlier this month, admitted it was "amazing and equally heartening" to see tribal women using mobile apps with such efficiency.

Business interests aside, the women entrepreneurs are also enhancing their social connect with smartphones.

"It took time to learn how to operate a smartphone but now we are realising how important technology is for our daily life. It's really amazing to see that just with a touch of a button you can make payments or reach out to buyers far away with your products," Rina Tudu, an SHG head, told IANS.

State Women and Child Development Minister Louis Marandi said the new initiative will also play a major role in women empowerment and security.

Marandi told IANS: "In time of any emergency or distress they can seek immediate help or even use them to record any wrong doing, or harassment."

While both the government and the SHGs are betting big on the smart phones to change the life of rural Jharkhand, network issues owing to deficient infrastructural facilities is surely a concern.

However, Nilkanth Singh Munda asserted the government was working on improving the communication facilities.

(Anurag Dey can be contacted at anurag.d@ians.in)

--IANS

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The vexed issue of the Trump administration mulling curbs in H-1B visas has been taken up with by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with the American authorities during his ongoing visit, an Indian official said on Sunday.

The issue was raised by Jaitley during his meeting with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Saturday, an Indian Finance Ministry statement said.

"Finance Minister Arun Jaitley raised the issue of H-1B visas for skilled professionals from India and highlighted the contribution which Indian companies and professionals are making to US economy," it said.

The issue stems from recent executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump which indicate a possible tightening of the H-1B visas.

"Issues related to terror funding were also discussed and the US Treasury Secretary appreciated the role of India in this regard, including Indo-US cooperation in FATF (Financial Action Task Force)," the statement said.

"Critical economic issues like Indo-US Investment Initiative, infrastructure collaboration, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, collaboration with USA for smart cities development, etcetera, were deliberated upon during the meeting," it added.

Jaitley is on a five-day visit to the US to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

According to the Finance Ministry, Jaitley also held bilateral meetings with the Finance Ministers of Sweden, France and Bangladesh, as well as with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.

Meanwhile, the US, in turn, has alleged that Indian IT companies were unfairly cornering the major share of H-1B visas by putting extra tickets in the lottery system, which the current US administration wants to replace with a more merit-linked immigration policy.

"The top recipients of the H-1B visa are companies like Tata, Infosys, Cognizant -- they will apply for a very large number of visas, more than they get, by putting extra tickets in the lottery raffle, if you will, and then they'll get the lion's share of visas," a senior US official said at a White House briefing last week, according to transcripts posted on the White House website.

"And those three companies are companies that have an average wage for H-1B visas between $60,000 and $65,000. By contrast, the median Silicon Valley (US) software engineer's wage is probably around $150,000," the official said.

--IANS

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Two Japanese destroyers began joint naval drills on Sunday with the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group in the Pacific Ocean as it nears waters off the Korean Peninsula.

According to Japan's Defencee Ministry, the destroyers "Ashigara" and "Samidare", which set sail on Friday, joined the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier near the Philippine archipelago, Efe news reported.

The US and Japanese vessels were set to conduct drills based on various scenarios for several days, ministry sources told public broadcaster NHK.

Washington announced two weeks ago that it had ordered the deployment of the USS Carl Vinson to the Korean peninsula amid rising tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear arms development programme.

Reports suggest Seoul and Washington may also be discussing the possibility of conducting joint naval drills involving the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered ship.

Tensions have escalated in the region since the beginning of April, when Washington hinted at a preemptive strike against Pyongyang, which was followed by a failed missile test by North Korea on April 16.

Observers fear the Kim Jong-un regime is preparing to conduct a new underground nuclear test over the next few days, following the release of satellite photos that appeared to show heightened activity at the Punggye-ri nuclear test centre.

--IANS

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Kerala Power Minister M.M. Mani has drawn ire for calling an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer "mad", authorities said on Sunday.

Mani made the remark late on Saturday against junior IAS officer Sreeram Venkitaraman because of his strong position on restoring the usurped land in the minister's home district of Idukki.

"In Idukki, most of the religious establishments are located on lands that do not have a clear title deed. He (Venkitaraman) is a mad man and he should be sent to Oolampara (mental hospital in Thiruvananthapuram)," the minister said.

Idukki, especially the picturesque hill station of Munnar, has been in the news for the past one week after Venkitaraman took to recovering usurped lands.

Former state Congress President A.V.M. Sudheeran slammed Mani's remarks against the young administrative officer.

"Mani's statement against the young IAS officer leaves literate Kerala in shambles and he has now become a liability and shame for the state," said Sudheeran on Sunday.

Communist Party of India (CPI) Assistant Secretary Prakash Babu said that all what he can say about Mani is what Jesus Christ said: "Forgive them, for they know not what they are doing".

Babu added that he wished people who occupy important offices do not spoil their sanctity.

He went on to add that revenue officials like Venkitaraman only did what was expected of them and used the statutory powers vested with them.

Meanwhile, state Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan refused to comment on the situation.

State Youth Congress President Dean Kuriakose said Mani should be put in chains for his acts.

With the Kerala assembly scheduled to have its new session beginning this week, the Congress-led opposition is all set to unleash a strong attack against Chief Minister Pinnarai Vijayan's government for its acts against honest officials.

--IANS

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Liberal centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen came out on top in the first round of the French presidential election, according to projections based on initial vote counts by polling agencies.

An updated estimation by research firm Elabe for local broadcaster BFMTV on Sunday indicates that former Minister of Economy Macron leads with 24 per cent of votes, and Le Pen 21.8 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported.

A total of 11 candidates participated in this year's race towards French presidency, and the two leading candidates are set to face off in the runoff on May 7.

At a gathering after the vote, Le Pen hailed the results as "historic", and expressed "profound gratitude" to her supporters.

She also called on voters to join her to create "national unity", promising to bring "great alternative" to the country.

According to French media reports, French president Francois Hollande congratulated Macron on the phone for advancing into the second round.

Right-wing conservative candidate and former Prime Minister Francois Fillon conceded defeat Sunday night, and vowed to vote for Macron in the runoff on May 7.

--IANS

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Muslim voters after casting thei votes during the civic body polls, in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)

Millions of voters in the capital on Sunday exercised their democratic right amid EVM glitches and scorching heat to pick three new municipal bodies in an election crucial for all three main contenders -- the BJP, Congress and the AAP.

According to the State Election Commission, 54 per cent of the 1.32 crore electorate exercised their franchise till 5.30 p.m. when polling ended in 270 wards of the three municipal corporations.

Meanwhile, an exit poll showed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- that has ruled the capital's three municipal bodies for the last 10 years -- would register a landslide victory this time around too.

Voters did not show much enthusiasm till afternoon and voter turnout in the first two hours was a meagre 4.25 per cent, which slowly climbed to 11 per cent in the next few hours as the day temperature soared to 39.6 degrees Celcius.

In the afternoon, more people turned out and by 5.30 p.m. the voting percentage shot up.

Residents reported "low" voting in many areas but in many others there were long queues of both men and women.

The balloting was peaceful but both voters and political parties reported numerous cases of malfunctioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which themselves have come under a cloud.

Even as the polling was on, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said reports of EVM malfunctioning came from all over the capital. He also tweeted that many people with voter slips were not allowed to vote.

Kejriwal, who has been up against the Centre's ruling BJP and the Election Commission over the EVM tampering, has repeatedly flayed the state poll panel for using pre-2006 balloting machines in the civic polls.

By 3 p.m., the AAP "War Room" reported 250 calls from voters complaining about non-functional EVMs. The complaints came from several areas, including Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's constituency Patparganj.

Throughout the day, EVMs which broke down were either quickly repaired or replaced by functional ones.

The BJP used Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to reclaim the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 seats), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 seats) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (64 seats).

Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Kejriwal, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken and Delhi BJP leaders were among the early voters.

Asked if the election was a referendum on his government's two-year performance, Kejriwal replied: "We will see when the results come (on Wednesday)."

Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit reminded voters about the developmental works done by the previous Congress governments and asserted her party was gaining ground.

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi blamed the Kejriwal government for the capital's mess and said she was confident her party would again control the civic body.

The exit poll by ABP News-C Voter, conducted among 14,503 respondents in 270 wards, claimed that the BJP will get a landslide victory in all three municipal corporations with 218 of the total 270 seats for which polls were held on Sunday.

The AAP and the Congress will get 25 seats each, the exit poll said.

It said that in all three municipal corporations, the BJP got the support of around 50 per cent voters while the Congress and the AAP share was only 19.1 per cent and 18.6 per cent respectively.

Polling did not take place in two wards -- Maujpur in east Delhi and Sarai Pipal Thala in north Delhi -- where a candidate each of the Samajwadi Party died.

A total of 2,537 candidates were in the fray.

Among others who contested the election are the Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal-United and Swaraj India of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan who were earlier Kejriwal's colleagues in the AAP.

The three civic bodies cover 68 of the 70 assembly constituencies in Delhi. Two other smaller civic bodies are the Delhi Cantonment Board and the New Delhi Municipal Council.
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal turned nostalgic after paying a visit to his ancestral home after over three decades.

"A revisit to my ancestral home, Elanthoor Punnakkal after 32 years. While sitting on the veranda reminiscing those nostalgic memories," Mohanlal tweeted on Saturday.

He also shared a photo which also featured filmmaker B. Unnikrishnan.

Mohanlal is currently shooting for Unnikrishnan's upcoming Malayalam film "Villain", which stars Vishal and Raashi Khanna too.

Manju Warrier plays the leading lady.

The film marks the fourth time collaboration of Mohanlal and Unnikrishnan.

"Villain" will reunite Mohanlal and Peter Hein, who had previously choreographed stunts for the former's Malayalam blockbuster "Pulimurugan".

Mohanlal reportedly shed a lot of weight for this project.

--IANS

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The Philippines' authorities on Sunday heightened security measures for the upcoming summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Manila, with some 41,000 personnel set to be deployed.

Members of the police, army and maritime units secured the area around the Philippine International Convention Centre, where the 30th edition of the summit will be held from April 26 to 29, Efe news reported.

The deployment of security personnel comes after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte denounced the foiled plot of the Abu Sayyaf terror group to allegedly target Asean trade meetings in the city of Bohol, which precede the main summit.

Duterte announced an award of one million pesos (more than $20,000) for anyone who could provide information on alleged plotters that would lead to their arrest.

--IANS

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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a letter of intent to purchase 16,15,000 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,173.47 crore during 2017-18 and 2018-19 from central PSUs BEL and ECIL, an official statement said on Sunday.

According to the letter sent to the Chairmen and Managing Directors of the Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) on April 21, the poll panel has indicated its willingness to purchase 8,07,500 VVPATS from each of the PSUs by September 18.

"These VVPATs shall be manufactured by both PSUs only as per the design approved by the Commission based on recommendation of the Technical Experts Committee on Electronic Voting Machines constituted by the Commission and comprising of eminent technical professors from Indian Institute of Technology (IITs)," said the statement, adding that the ECI will closely monitor production of VVPATs for timely delivery well before General Elections 2019.

"This will enhance transparency and uphold the voters' right to know which party he or she has voted, thereby increasing voters' confidence in the free and fair electoral process," said the statement quoting Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi.

On April 19, the Union Cabinet approved an outlay of Rs 3,173.47 crore for procuring 16,15,000 VVPATS, to be used in the General Elections 2019.

The decision came in the wake of allegations of EVM-tampering by various opposition parties, including the Congress, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Aam Admi Party.

--IANS

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The makers of actor Prabhass next film announced on Sunday that the film has been titled "Saaho", and it will be made in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi.

In an official statement, UV Creations, makers of the film, announced that after playing the title role in "Baahubali" franchise, Prabhas's next will be an ambitious high-tech action drama titled "Saaho".

The film's director Sujeeth also shared the title on his Twitter page on Sunday.

Talking to IANS earlier this week, Sujeeth said that a major chunk of the film's budget will be used on action sequences.

"The scale on which it is being made, a major budget will be spent on some extravagant action scenes. Although it will be a commercial outing, we are attempting something new and I would like to keep that as a surprise element," Sujeeth said.

International stuntman Kenny Bates, popular for his work on films such as "Die Hard" and "Transformers", has been brought on board.

"Kenny will be supervising the action scenes. We have already finalised locations in Abu Dhabi and some places in Europe where shooting will be done extensively. We go on the floors from the end of May," he said.

The makers also confirmed that a special teaser of "Saaho" will be attached to "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion".

The movie has music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. While Sabu Cyril will take care of production design, Madhie will crank the camera.

"We wanted the music to have a national appeal. We roped in Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy because they understand north as well southern sensibilities when it comes to composing music. They have also worked in the south," Sujeeth had said.

--IANS

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North Korea said that the US is sending nuclear carrier taskforces to waters off the Korean Peninsula around April 25, the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Army.

The official Minju Joson on Sunday, published by the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, quoted unspecified military sources as saying that the US plans to "hurl several nuclear carrier taskforces, including Carl Vinson and Nimitz, into the operational theatre of the Korean Peninsula around April 25".

The North Korean army will hit back "whether they are on the peninsula, at military aggression bases in the Pacific or in the US mainland across the ocean" if provoked, Xinhua news agency quoted the newspaper as saying.

"If our Juche weapons with potentials unimaginable by the US open fire, they will destroy the US forces and their stooges to the last man so that there would not be left even a single man who will sign the surrender document," it added.

Juche means the "self-reliance thoughts" created by the North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, which serves as the basis for all domestic, military and foreign policies of the country.

US President Donald Trump said recently Washington was sending an "armada" to the Korean Peninsula to check attempts by North Korea to conduct more nuclear and missile tests.

Speculations are high on whether Pyongyang could conduct another nuclear or missile test around April 25.

--IANS

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Actress Daisy Shah says that after she completes her eastern tour with superstar Salman Khan and others, she will shoot for the final song of her upcoming film "Ramratan".

Talking about the romantic comedy film "Ramratan", Daisy told IANS in an email interaction: "'Ramratan' has shaped up really well. We are almost done with the film except for one song. I will finish the tour and shoot for the song and then we are done."

"We will soon start with the promotions. It's a nice family film. It has a Rajshri (Rajshri Productions) touch and it's something which I have never done earlier," she said about the film directed by Govind Sakariya.

She is currently on the 'Da-Bangg Tour' with Salman and others, including Sonakshi Sinha, to Malaysia, Hong Kong, Auckland in New Zealand, and Sydney and Melbourne in Australia. The tour will conclude on Sunday.

In the upcoming film, she plays a 'straight-forward wife'. How would she be when she actually gets married?

"One thing I keep in mind while taking up films is that... whatever character I pick up, I make sure there is at least one personal quality of me in the character. That is how I relate myself with the character.

"In 'Ramratan', I play a straight-forward wife, who doesn't give up on the marriage and tries to make things right. Even if she has to take her husband's case to make things right she will do it."

She says her character is exactly like her.

"I don't give up on relationships so easily. I would rather mend them or shake him up to reality and tell him that he is living in a bubble. I would say that try as much as you can to save it. Only and only if you are dead sure about it not working out, I give up. I usually don't give up so easily," she said.

--IANS

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Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for help to revive the Ashok, Nagaon and Cachar Paper Mills, saying their resumption will provide a boost to the state's rural economy.

In his address at the third Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog here, Sonowal requested Modi to assist the state government in reviving the Ashok Paper Mill and restart the functioning of two units of Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC). He also requested continuation of the existing North East Industrial Investment Promotion Policy 2007 (NEIIPP) till a new policy is put in place.

"NEIIPP 2007 has led to significant industrial investment in Assam to the tune of around Rs 5,000 crore before its expiry on March 31 this year. Till a new industrial policy is put in place, NEIIP may be allowed to continue," he said.

The Chief Minister also pleaded that the Union Finance Ministry and NITI Aayog be asked to evolve a mechanism for scheme-wise allocation of Central share well in advance to enable the states to prepare a realistic resource-based action plan. Non-availability of scheme-wise allocation of Central share before the presentation of a state budget creates difficulties in reflecting the correct allocation of funds against each scheme, he added.

"I believe that for a country like ours, we need a long horizon vision supported by appropriate strategy and practical action plans for realizing the avowed vision," he said.

The Chief Minister also said that a special session of the Assam Legislative Assembly will be held from May 8 next for consideration and enactment of the Assam Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.

Lauding the Central Government for considering the amount of revenue forgone due to industrial concession as a part of revenue for the purpose of calculating GST compensation, Sonowal said this will protect the interests of the northeastern States and Jammu & Kashmir and help in bringing them at par with other states in terms of industrialisation.

Reiterating his government's commitment to Modi's vision of Digital India, Sonowal urged the Telecom Ministry to put special emphasis on providing internet access in rural areas of the state. "For making digital payments a reality in rural areas, we need better banking infrastructure and good internet connectivity," he said.

--IANS

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The first tranche of the Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) scheme in this fiscal will open for public subscription on Monday.

A Finance Ministry statement last week had said that the applications for Sovereign Gold Bonds 2017-18 - Series I will be accepted from April 24 to April 28 and the bonds issued on May 12.

The issue price of the gold bonds will be Rs 50 per gram less than the nominal value, it said.

On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India announced the issue price for this tranche at Rs 2,901 per gram.

The bonds would earn a yearly interest of 2.75 per cent, payable every six months and their tenure be 8 years, with an exit option from the fifth year to be exercised on the interest payment dates.

The government said the bonds will be sold through banks, post offices, Stock Holding Corporation of India, as well as the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange.

SGBs are denominated in multiples of gram of gold with a minimum unit of 1 gram and maximum of 500 grams, which is also the maximum allowed per person per fiscal. They can also be held in demat form for ease of trading.

The government, which launched the scheme in November 2015 as an alternative to purchasing the precious metal, has so far issued seven tranches of SGBs mobilising 6,410 kg of gold, as per data furnished last month.

--IANS

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Steven Spielbergs untitled Pentagon Papers drama, which is rumored to star Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, will open in limited release on December 22.

It will expand nationwide on January 12, 2018, a week after the Golden Globes broadcast, reports variety.com.

Hanks is said to play Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee, with Streep handling the role of publisher Katharine Graham.

The Washington Post pair made the decision to publish a classified history of the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War over the objections of the Nixon administration.

The opening slot puts the Spielberg film in the hunt for Academy Awards gold along with the likes of Alexander Payne's "Downsizing," "The Current War" with Benedict Cumberbatch, and "The Greatest Showman" with Hugh Jackman.

Twentieth Century Fox is distributing the film.

The studio also announced that "Red Sparrow," a spy thriller that reunites actress Jennifer Lawrence with her "Hunger Games" director Francis Lawrence, will open on March 2, 2018.

It was originally slated to debut on November 10.

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump said that he will mark his 100th day in office on April 29 by "holding a big rally in Pennsylvania", the media reported.

"Next Saturday night I will be holding a big rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it," Trump tweeted on Saturday.

The rally will take place on the same day as the annual White House correspondents' dinner, which the President has declined to attend, reports CNN.

The announcement comes just a day after Trump tweeted about the "ridiculous standard" of the 100-day construct for measuring the achievements of a new administration.

The 100 days measure is linked to President Franklin Roosevelt, who signed 15 major pieces of legislation early in his presidency; the time frame is when a president's power and influence with Congress is likely the greatest.

Trump himself talked repeatedly about his first 100 days when he was campaigning last year.

It was part of his stump speech in the final week of the campaign -- he asked his crowds in Minnesota, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and elsewhere to "imagine what we can accomplish in the first 100 days of a Trump administration".

--IANS

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UK opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that a government formed by his Labour Party would seek to create four new nationwide bank holidays, the media reported.

The holidays would be on each nation's patron Saint day -- St David's Day on March 1, St Patrick's Day on March 17, St George's Day on April 23 and St Andrew's Day on November 30, the BBC reported.

Corbyn, on Saturday, said the move will "celebrate the national cultures of our proud nations".

Labour Party leader said the UK has fewer bank holidays than other G20 countries.

Normally, England and Wales have eight bank holidays a year, Scotland nine, and Northern Ireland 10.

Under the policy, the devolved administrations would have the final say on whether to approve the extra bank holidays.

However, a ruling Conservative Party source said: "The British economy would be on a permanent holiday if Mr Corbyn got near Downing Street."

Corbyn started his campaign for the upcoming June 8 snap general election, the BBC reports.

On April 18, Prime Minister Theresa May announced the general election despite having repeatedly said that the country would not be going back to the polling stations.

A total of 522 lawmakers backed the motion to approve the general election proposal, while 13 voted against it.

May said she would be holding the vote as the UK was in need of stable leadership that could guarantee certainty and security in the face of the Brexit negotiations that are soon to begin.

--IANS

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The Trump administration is pursuing over 3 per cent economic growth with the support of tax reforms and regulatory relief, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said.

"The US economy is well positioned," Xinhua news agency quoted Mnuchin as saying on Saturday during a conversation with Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He called the IMF's forecast for US growth "a little conservative", saying that the country's economy could grow by 3 per cent or higher with the support of tax reforms and regulatory relief.

The IMF forecast the US economy to grow by 2.3 per cent this year and 2.5 per cent next year.

Mnuchin reiterated that President Donald Trump administration was planning to bring the high corporate tax rates down and simplify tax codes for individuals.

Trump on Friday said the administration was going to release its tax plan next week.

Mnuchin suggested that the tax plan would not be revenue-neutral. "We're looking for reforms that will pay for themselves with growth."

He skipped questions about whether regulatory relief could affect financial stability, saying that the administration is trying to reduce conflicting regulations that hurt economic growth.

--IANS

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A friend of mine is appalled that the Modi government has asked private restaurants to allow people to use their loos for a nominal charge of Rs 5. I can quite understand her annoyance.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has mastered the art of media management like few other. For over four days now, the BJP central office at 11, Ashoka Road, in New Delhi has been abuzz with the news of a prominent Congress leader joining the party. The Congress leader is a known Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist from Madhya Pradesh. If he were to join the BJP, it will not just be a huge loss to the Congress party but also another dent to the leadership of its vice-president Rahul Gandhi. While the news has left the Congress leadership worried, it has also led to nervousness among BJPs Madhya Pradesh leadership. There is already talk of some of the prominent chief ministers of BJP-ruled states likely to be called to the Centre to be part of the Union cabinet. Some other Congress leaders have joined the BJP in the last few days, including its Delhi leaders Arvinder Singh Lovely and Barkha Shukla Singh, but the man in question has remained tight-lipped, neither confirming nor denying rumours.
West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief has stoked yet another controversy by saying that anyone opposing the chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and "Jai Sri Ram" in the country will become history.
In addition to an elected government, Delhi has five different civic bodies. But what do they all do? Which body should the people approach for their issues? Do the civic bodies and Delhi government have overlapping functions? Who do the civic bodies report to? As Delhis civic bodies go to the polls, The Wire breaks it down.
Six Israelis, including two soldiers, have been arrested for racist attacks against Arabs with knives and other weapons and charged with "terrorist" offences, authorities said today.

The suspects are accused of having used knives, clubs and bars to carry out at least five separate anti-Arab attacks and acts of vandalism against cars belonging to Arabs, police said in a statement.

Police did not provide details on whether the attacks resulted in serious injuries or how many people were targeted. They were charged in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba.

The accused were allegedly motivated by "nationalist and racist" beliefs, including seeking to prevent Jewish women from having relationships with Arab men.

According to police, they were influenced by a video from the Jewish extreme right group Lehava, which opposes inter- marriage.

In August 2014, Lehava activists staged a rally where racist slogans, including "Death to Arabs!", were shouted at the wedding near Tel Aviv of a Muslim man and Jewish woman.

The group's leader, Benzi Gopstein, was questioned by police in 2015 after he condoned torching churches in Israel, in accordance with a medieval Jewish commandment to destroy places of idol-worship.

Arabs account for some 17.5 per cent of Israel's eight million population.

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Britain's officials have detained 38 Indians, including nine women, for overstaying their visas or working illegally after conducting raids in two clothing factories in the city of Leicester.

The UK Home Office Enforcement team raided MK Clothing Ltd and Fashion Times UK Ltd in the city in the East Midlands region of England last week and held 38 Indians and one Afghan man.

Of those detained, 31 had outstayed their visas, seven had entered the country illegally and one was working in breach of their visa conditions, Leicester Mercury reported.

The officials took 19 people into detention pending their removal from the UK while remaining 20 were ordered to report regularly to the Home Office while their cases are dealt with.

"Using illegal labour is not victimless. It cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest businesses and denies legitimate job seekers of employment opportunities," saidassistant director Alison Spowage, from East Midlands Enforcement.

"The penalties for businesses that do not play by the rules are rightly severe. This operation, one of the largest- scale my team has conducted, sends a clear message that we have the resources to tackle immigration abuse.

All of our operations are intelligence-led and I would encourage people with detailed and specific information about illegal immigration to contact us," she said.

Immigration officials were accompanied by Leicestershire Police and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers during the raids.

The two firms could face fines of up to 20,000 pounds for each illegal worker if it is proven they did not take steps to establish their employees' legal status.

This translates up to 240,000 pounds for MK Clothing Ltd and 180,000 pounds for Fashion Times UK Ltd.

The two factories are yet to comment on the raids.

Under UK immigration rules, employers are required to carry out details right to work checks on the employees they hire and are liable for hefty fines if they are found to have hired workers who do not have the legal right to work in Britain.
At least five persons have been killed and 24 others injured when a bus carrying pilgrims met with an accident in western Nepal, officials said today.

The bus, with nearly three dozen pilgrims, was headed for the famous Muktinath temple when it turned turtle in Mustang district yesterday, Chief District Officer Bhim Raj Pokharel said.

Security personnel and a Nepal Army helicopter were rushed to the spot for rescue and relief operations.

The bus driver was also injured in the accident which was apparently caused due to the poor road infrastructure in the remote mountainous region, the official said.

Muktinath is a famous Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site as well as a popular tourist destination.

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An abandoned Pakistani fishing boat was seized by the Border Security Force (BSF) today from the Arabian Sea off Gujarat coast.

"The BSF patrolling party... Seized one Pakistani small sized wooden fishing boat fitted with single engine from Harami Nalla near BP number 1162/M inside the Indian territory," a release issued by the BSF said.

It said that the boat was abandoned by the occupants who might have fled after hearing the sound of BSF patrolling boats.

"No apprehension... Seems like on hearing sound of BSF boats, Pakistani fishermen ran away to Pakistan," the BSF said.

Search operation has been launched following the discovery, an official source said.

Before this, the BSF patrolling team had seized four such boats off Sir Creek area in early February. The occupants had managed to flee across the border following a chase.

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Flaying DMK leader M K Stalin's remarks that the Palaniswami government was a 'proxy regime' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ruling AIADMK faction today said he was making such remarks only for political mileage.

"It is a wrong statement. He is making such statements only to make political gains," Finance Minister D Jayakumar told reporters.

He said various issues plaguing the state like the Cauvery water dispute or that related to the ceding of Katchatheevu islet could have been permanently solved, had the DMK taken steps during their 17-year alliance with the UPA government at the Centre, but they did nothing.

"When they were in the UPA alliance for 17 years, they could have got permanent solutions for several issues concerning the state like Cauvery water dispute and ceding of Katchatheevu islet. But they did not do anything," he said.

Jayakumar was responding to a question on comments by DMK working president Stalin, who had dubbed the Palaniswami government as Modi's "proxy regime," and claimed it was not fighting to secure the Tamil Nadu's rights.

Earlier during the day, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had slammed the DMK for terming the AIADMK regime a 'benami' government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking if it was right to call the DMK 'benami' of Congress when it was holding office under the UPA regime.

"Some say it (the AIADMK government) is a benami of the Centre. Was the earlier DMK government a benami of the Congress (during UPA regime)?" Naidu had asked.

On merger talks between the two rival factions in the AIADMK, Jayakumar said the doors for holding the talks were always open as the leaders were ready to discuss the issue "across the table".

"Even if they come for holding the talks tomorrow at the party office, we are ready to discuss. We hope they will come", he said.

On reported remarks that former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam would seek the finance portfolio, now held by him, in case the two factions merge, Jayakumar said he was ready to give up all portfolios after getting the nod from Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

"I am willing to give up all portfolios held by me for the betterment of the party and for the party's unity, after getting the approval of Chief Minister Palaniswami," he said.

Jayakumar currently holds the portfolios of fisheries, finance, personnel and administrative Reforms.

On senior DMK Leader Durai Murugan's comment that the AIADMK government would dissolve in six months, he said the DMK would not be able to come to power in the state "even after 60 years."



"Forget six months... Even after 60 years, the DMK will not be able to form the government. After completion of four year rule, we will face the elections again and form the government", he said to a query.

On whether the party was ready to give the post of general secretary, held by V K Sasikala, now in a jail in Bengaluru after being convicted in a disproportionate assets case, to Panneerselvam, he said, "let them (rival faction) first come for discussions".

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In a bid to clear confusion over Sharia laws, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has decided to tread the social media path and also explore the possibility of starting a TV channel and newspaper.

The board has decided to constitute a special social media committee, which will provide clear information about various issues pertaining to divorce, marriage, halala, warisana haq (inhertiance rights) and women's rights among other issues. It will also convey the board's stand on these contentious issues.

"Senior office bearers along with a large section feel the medium through which Sharia laws are being criticised, the same medium should be utilised to register our presence and also to present the right picture of things," AIMPLB senior executive member Maulana Yasin Usmani told PTI.

He said that in the executive meeting of AIMPLB in Lucknow on April 15 and 16, this issue cropped up and it was decided to form a social media committee.

"For this, the board authorised its Chairman Maulana Rabe Hasan Nadwi and General Secretary Maulana Wali Rahmani," Usmani said.

"The committee is likely to be formed soon. It is quite possible that office bearers of the board, who are active on the social media and have in-depth knowledge about Sharia laws, may be included so that they can immediately respond to queries on the social media and give their reaction," he said.

Besides social media, the board had also discussed at its recent meeting the idea of starting a television channel and newspaper, Usmani said.

"Most of the office bearers in principle had agreed to the idea. But, on the issue of non-availability of the required resources in the current scenario, no decision was taken," he said.

"Keeping in mind the present circumstances, the AIMPLB has to take some tangible steps in this direction," he said.

On the issue of absence of Ulama (clerics) on channels during debates raised by Darul Uloom Deoband, Usmani said, "Generally it has been seen that news channels have their own agenda and they run their programme accordingly. It is better that Ulamas are not a part of these debates."



The issue of triple talaq has been a hot topic of debate throughout the country.

Several Muslim women organisations have been opposing triple talaq, while AIMPLB was of the view that the system is being misused.

AIMPLB did not feel the need to change the law in light of it being misused, rather it suggested spreading awareness in the society as it was already doing.

The board in its executive meeting here last week had declared that a person pronouncing triple talaq without proper Sharia reasons will face a social boycott.

However, the All India Shia Personal Law Board and All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board had termed the move as "inadequate" and said it will not ensure justice to aggrieved women.

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Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena chief Amit Jani has been arrested in connection with the anti- Kashmiri hoardings that were put up in the city.

Partapur police station in-charge Dinesh Sharma said Jani was arrested from the Delhi-Doon highway near Partapur bypass when he was on his way to Dehradun from the capital last night.

Banners calling for boycott of Kashmiris and asking them to leave Uttar Pradesh had been put up by the organisation on NH-58 outside the colleges where students from the Valley study.

The outfit had said it was only the first step and it would launch a "halla bol" campaign from April 30 to "banish" the Kashmiris who do not leave the state on their own.

A case had been lodged against Jani following which he had gone missing.

Yesterday, through his advocate, the organisation's chief submitted a surrender application before the special CJM court.

Upon being questioned, he told police that he had got the hoardings put up because soldiers were being martyred in Kashmir.

Jani had first shot into the limelight in 2012 when he damaged a statue of former chief minister Mayawati. Last year, he had been arrested for threatening to kill JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid.

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As many as 60 CCTV cameras were installed in the district court compound here today to bolster the surveillance system after a gangster was shot dead in a court room in 2015.

The surveillance system was inaugurated by Allahabad High Court CJI Dilip B Bhosale.

No one would be allowed in the court compound without a valid pass, officials told PTI.

The move comes after Vicky Tyagi, a gangster, was gunned down by a shooter during a court hearing in February 2015. The security in the court compound was tightened after the incident.

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The recent launch of commodity futures at the BSE international exchange (India INX) in the Gift City has given trading volumes a leg-up, with the total business registering an 11-fold growth to USD 37.5 million.

The India INX was launched with index and equity futures in January this year, but has not been able to gain much traction. The entry of commodity derivatives in gold, silver and copper on April 13 seems to have changed that.

On the debut, the volume stood at a lowly USD 3.31 million, but surged to USD 37.49 million as on April 22, according to the exchange data. Of the total volume, USD 26.74 million are from index and USD 10.7 million commodity futures.

India INX offers trading in index and equity derivatives as well as gold, silver and copper futures.

The wholly-owned subsidiary of BSE, India INX is the first international exchange to become operational at the International Financial Service Centre at the Gift City in Ahmedabad. Though the rival bourse NSE too has got the licence, it is yet to kickstart operations.

The exchange went live on January 16 and recorded trading volume worth USD 4,30,520 on the first day of trade. India INX will allow trading in futures contracts of 10 companies -- TCS, RIL, HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, Infosys, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, L&T, Axis Bank and Maruti Suzuki -- by the end of April, a BSE spokesperson said.

As many as 74 trading members have taken approval from the SEZ authority to start trading on India INX. Four IFSC banking units (IBUs) are clearing banks of the India International Clearing Corporation.

India INX has been one of the most advanced technology platforms with a turnaround time of 4 micro seconds. It operates 22 hrs, six says a week, to allow global investors and NRIs to trade from anywhere.

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A consumer forum here has issued a bailable warrant against the SpiceJet's managing director for ignoring its two-year-old order to reimburse the air-ticket's cost to a passenger, who was not allowed to board the plane.

Sambhal District Consumer Forum Chairman Liaqat Ali issued the warrant against SpiceJet's MD, taking strong exception to the airline ignoring the Forum's order issued on October 25, 2015, said the passenger's counsel Devendra Varshney today.

The repeated attempts to contact the airline's officials to obtain their version of the incident proved futile.

Senior advocate Varshney said the matter dates back to April 20, 2015 when his client Navdeep Gupta, a resident of Chandausi in Uttar Pradesh had bought an online air ticket for Rs 5,000 at Hyderabad to travel to Delhi the next day.

But when Gupta reached the Hyderabad airport he was denied the boarding pass on the pretext that he did not have a hard-copy of the online ticket and was told to produce one to obtain the boarding pass.

The airline's insistence on producing the hard-copy of the ticket eventually led to Gupta missing the flight. The airlines did not pay back Gupta the cost of the ticket either.

An aggrieved Gupta subsequently moved the district consumer forum, which on October 25, 2015 ordered the airline to pay him Rs 5,000 along with 9 per cent interest and Rs 1,000 as costs.

But, the company did not abide by the forum's order leading Gupta to approach it once again for enforcement of its directions, said Varshney adding the matter has been fixed for next hearing on May 30.

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It was an emotional moment for Diana Robertson, the great-great granddaughter of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus' (CST) designer Fredrick William Stevens, when she visited the iconic building in the city.

Stevens, an English architectural engineer who worked for the British colonial government in India, was in 1877 entrusted with designing the CST (formerly Victoria Terminus) building, now a UNESCO world heritage site.

Besides being the terminus for long-distance and local trains, the CST building in south Mumbai houses the headquarters of the Central Railway.

Stevens, born on May 11, 1847 at Bath city in southwest England, also designed other prominent structures in Mumbai, including the municipal corporation building (opposite the CST) and the one which houses the Maharashtra police headquarters.

Diana, overwhelmed after visiting the historic CST building here on Friday, said, "This is really an unbelievable and unforgettable moment. It's hard to believe that the great work and the legacy of my great-great grandfather is cherished and loved so much in this city."



She also paid homage to Stevens at his grave in a cemetery in Sewri during her two-day visit.

Delving on the history of the landmark structure, CR's Chief PRO Narendra Patil said Stevens had initially joined the engineering branch of the public works department in Poona (now Pune).

Later, because of his extraordinary architectural talent, he was transferred to Bombay (now Mumbai) where he designed several buildings, he said.

"Diana spent almost two hours and showed keen interest in knowing about the CST building," Patil said.

At the time of its completion, the CST building was the largest structure in Asia, he added.

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Cyprus sees a role for India in its reunification process, President Nicos Anastasiades has said ahead of his visit to the country.

"Those who are close to Turkey can be helpful," he said when asked whether he would seek India's help to reunify Cyprus, whose about 37 per cent area is under Turkish occupation since 1974.

"Of course we shall ask Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi if any kind of possibility to intervene on the Cyprus question," he said, but insisted that Cyprus won't do things that may make friends uneasy.

"If they are not able to intervene, we will not ask them. We are not going to ask something that may harm India's interest," he told visiting Indian journalists.

Now, the talks have restarted and he is hopeful of finding a solution.

Anastasiades is visiting India from April 25-28 with a 60-member delegation and will meet President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi. He will also visit Mumbai.

The talks between the two sides to reunify the island stumbled over the years on the issue of territory and security.

The Turkic-speaking community want a significant say in the decision-making process and want Turkish forces on the ground even after the reunification, which are the main sticking points in the talks.

His remarks assume significance as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit India soon after him.

The aim of the visit is to reaffirm Cyprus' ties with India, which has supported the country's unification efforts.

On a question about India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Anastasiades said Cyprus - as a member of the bloc - supports India's bid.

He also reaffirmed Cyprus' support for India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council. "India is not a threat to any of its neighbours. It's a stabilising factor," he said.

During his visit, the president will promote Cyprus as a gateway for Indian companies wanting to enter the European markets. As the double taxation avoidance treaty is in place, authorities here feel that it would give level-playing field to all.

Cyprus also wants India's help in developing a Silicon Valley-type technological park. It also seeks to cooperate with India in the shipping sector.

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Three prisoners of the Nagpur Central Jail - two of them serving life sentences and the third a death row convict - have completed BA and MA degrees from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

Narayan Chaudhary (35), the death row convict, had enrolledwith the IGNOU for MA (sociology) in 2012.

Similarly, Vijay Mahakalkar (30) and Shyamrao Waghmare (45), serving life sentences, had registered themselves with the varsity for BA and MA sociology courses, respectively.

All three inmates have completed their degrees, a senior official of the university said.

However, the inmates could not attend the IGNOU convocation held this month, where degrees were awarded to successful candidates, due to protocol and prison rules.

But they will be handed over their degrees at a function to be held in the jail premises soon, said Nagpur- based Regional Director of IGNOU P Sivaswaroop.

As many as 745 prisoners from Nagpur and Amravati jails have applied for IGNOU courses since July 2010, he said, adding most of them opted for social science disciplines.

Prisoners are provided study material by the university like other students, he said.

DIG (Prisons), Eastern Region, Yogesh Desai, said jail authorities have launched initiatives to impart different skills to the inmates.

They are trained in traditional skills like fabrication and carpentry, among others. Besides, a facility has been set up in the jail premises by a company called Sai Minda to manufacture wiring harnesses, he told PTI.

Similarly, the IGNOU, in collaboration with Hero Motors Corp, will be starting a two-month course in auto mechanics, Desai said.

He said the inmates take a lot of interest in skill development courses as these will help them to get jobs or start their own business once they are released.

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The case against a Michigan doctor accused of circumcising two 7-year-old girls highlights how the practice is alive and well in parts of the Western world where its adherents have migrated and formed communities.

The practice that is common for girls in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East is also called female genital mutilation or cutting and has been condemned by the United Nations and outlawed in the US.

Jumana Nagarwala is accused of performing the procedure on two Minnesota girls from her Shiite Muslim sect, the Dawoodi Bohra. Her lawyer says Nagarwala conducted a benign religious ritual that involved no mutilation.

Zehra Patwa, a 46-year-old Bohra from Connecticut who campaigns against the centuries-old practice, says she only learned in recent years that it was done to her at age 7 during a family trip to India.

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al- Sisi received a royal welcome from King Salman as he landed today in Saudi Arabia for a visit to boost ties after months of tension.

Salman, surrounded by key Saudi officials, greeted Sisi as he stepped off the plane in the capital Riyadh and hosted him for lunch, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

The Egyptian presidency announced the visit in a statement on Friday, saying Sisi's trip was in response to an invitation by Salman and aimed at "bolstering strategic relations between the two countries".

It said Salman and Sisi would discuss "regional and international issues of common interest".

"The struggle against terrorism which threatens security and stability" in the region and beyond would top their agenda, it said.

Sisi met Salman on the sidelines of an Arab League summit in Jordan last month to break the ice after months of apparent tensions between the two allies.

That encounter on March 29 came days after Egypt announced that Saudi energy giant Aramco had resumed delivering shipments of petroleum products after abruptly suspending them in October.

Aramco had halted agreed monthly deliveries of 700,000 tonnes of petroleum products without explanation.

But the halt came after Egypt voted in favour of a Russian-drafted UN Security Council resolution on Syria that Saudi Arabia strongly opposed.

Moscow is a staunch supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Riyadh is a key backer of the rebels who are fighting his regime.

Ties between Cairo and Riyadh had also suffered after an agreement to hand over to Saudi Arabia two Red Sea islands, signed during a visit by Salman to Cairo last year, was blocked by a court ruling.

Earlier this month, an Egyptian court ruled that the decision to block the transfer of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia was invalid.

Cairo has said the islands were Saudi territory which had been leased to Egypt in the 1950s.

Saudi Arabia supported Egypt with billions of dollars in aid after Sisi toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 when the president was head of the Egyptian army.

Saudi Arabia is opposed to the now outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to which Morsi belongs.

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A five-day exhibition on Feluda, a fictional Bengali detective created by author-director Satyajit Ray, will be held here to mark his birth anniversary on May 2.

The exhibition will be organised by the Satyajit Ray Society, of which Sandip Ray, the legendary director's son, is the member secretary.

"We still vividly recall the day he passed away and I feel both 'baba' and 'maa'(Bijoya Roy) are still guiding us," Sandip, who followed in his father's footsteps directing "Double Feluda", said today on the 25th death anniversary of Ray.

The show will contain manuscripts based on different fictions featuring Feluda. Scripts of two Feluda films made by Ray like Sonar Kella and Joy Baba Felunath will also be presented on May 2, he said.

"Some family, friends and others visited our Bishop Lefroy Road residence today where my father-in-law's garlanded photo is kept. But it is hard to believe he is no more. We all feel both 'baba' and 'maa' are with us," Sandip's wife Lolita Ray said.

Ray, the Academy Honorary Award winner and Bharat Ratna recipient died in 1992 at the age of 71, a year after making "Agantuk" (1991), his last film.

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A delegation of Family Business Network (FBN), a global network of family-owned companies, today said family-run business prospered in the region though majority of their promoters hailed from agrarian background.

The 20 members of the delegation, who are next-gen entrepreneurs from some of the finest and largest family businesses of the world, arrived here today on a two-day visit as part of their learning journey to know the best practices adopted by family businesses in this region.

Director of Ekki and Deccan Pumps Kanishka Armugham told reporters that the delegation would visit major family-run businesses such as textile machinery major LMW and Chennai Silks during their stay here.

The members of the delegation expressed happiness that the family business prospered in the region even though majority of them hailed from agrarian background, he said.

Arumugham also said FBN's Next Generation International Summit was being hosted in India for the first time in Goa in July, adding he was one of the hosts for it.

Another host of the summit Shankara Vanavarayar said the delegation members would also get to know the best practices adopted in corporate social responsibility area and also the contribution to the growth of the society by these successful family business.

Arumugham said about 250 family businessmen, representing 58 countries, including India, would participate in the summit and discuss the success stories.

The delegation members would visit Madurai on April 25 and interact with leading family business houses in the temple town, he said.

The Switzerland-headquartered FBN has over 9,100 individual members from over 3,000 family businesses across 58 countries, he added.

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The ministry has initiated detailed discussions with select public to assess their growth blueprint over the next three years and seek turnaround plans to check if they need more growth capital.

The Department of Financial Services will be meeting representatives of 10 state-owned that received funds in March this year.

"The ministry officials have sought business plans for the next three years and also wanted detailed turnaround plans. will also have to submit stressed asset resolution plans," a senior public sector banker told PTI.

The officials will also be assessing capital needs of each bank for the next three years, a source added.

In the second tranche of capital infusion, the government had infused Rs 8,586 crore in 10 banks in March. For the full 2016-17, it had pumped in Rs 25,000 crore.

The recipients last fiscal were Bank of India (Rs 1,500 crore), Bank of Maharashtra (Rs 300 crore), IDBI Bank (Rs 1,900 crore), Indian Overseas Bank (Rs 1,100 crore), Central Bank of India (Rs 100 crore), Dena Bank (Rs 600 crore), UCO Bank (Rs 1,150 crore), Andhra Bank (Rs 1,100 crore), United Bank of India (Rs 418 crore) and Allahabad Bank (Rs 418 crore).

Talks are part of the Indradhanush plan which involved banks submitting detailed growth plans and indicating how they are going to deploy the funds to get additional money.

Some banks have already got calls from the ministry for the meeting and the bankers will be meeting individually.

The government funding is linked to strict parameters. The first tranche of capital infusion for fiscal 2017 was announced in July 2016.

As per the roadmap announced in August 2015, the government will infuse Rs 70,000 crore into the banks over four years while they will have to raise an additional Rs 1.1 trillion from the markets to meet their capital requirements, in line with global risk norms Basel-III.

Public sector banks are to get Rs 25,000 crore in each fiscal of 2016 and 2017 and Rs 10,000 crore each in fiscal 2018 and 2019. The Budget has allocated Rs 10,000 crore in the current financial year.
In an effort to stop poaching, the state Forest department is conducting a sensitisation campaign among villagers about protecting birds frequenting water bodies in their neighbourhoods.

"Forest department personnel of the Wildlife wing have met the Panchayat Pradhan at Kadamtala area in Rajarhat and villagers and discussed ways to stop poaching of birds in the local water bodies," Range Officer Ullas Nath told PTI here yesterday.

"The Panchayat members told us that no locals were involved in such act and this may be the job of outsiders. We have asked them to be more vigilant from now on," Nath said adding that the campaign would be a year-long exercise involving all stakeholders.

He said the birds, hunted by the poachers, included sandpipers, open-billed stork and mostly small birds.

Honorary Wildlife Warden Suchandra Kundu said, "The campaign is a continuing process involving locals to save the endangered avian species who are integral to the rich bio-diversity."



She said that improvised bird catching nets set across vast water bodies as well as poisoned bait to lure fish eating birds in Rajarhat-New Town belt were confiscated last week after a raid by forest personnel.

"None could be arrested but we believe the poachers have sold the bird meat to nearby hotels and restaurants and hence there is need to sensitise villagers about protecting the winged species," she said.

About 35 different species of birds flock to the area, according to a study.

"Under the schedule of Wildlife Act, catching and killing of a bird is an offence," she said adding that people should identify the poachers.

About the situation in other water bodies, frequented by migratory birds, she said, "We regularly conduct raids across the state based on our own feedback from sources including media but we need to involve locals to make any drive successful."



Nath said no report of poaching has been received from another large water body in Santragachi near Kolkata, which is frequented by migratory birds during winter.

Joydip Kundu, a Member of the state Wildife Advisory Board, said, "We need to make people aware to protect the birds from poaching.

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France's conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon conceded defeat in the first round of the vote today, endorsing centrist rival Emmanuel Macron in the May runoff against the far right's Marine Le Pen.

Alluding to the fake jobs scandal that dogged his campaign, Fillon, once the frontrunner in the race, said he had faced obstacles that were "too numerous, too cruel".

Declaring he would vote for Macron, Fillon said there was "no other option but to vote against the far right".

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French nationals from Puducherry and regions coming under the jurisdiction of that nation's consulate, cast their votes in the first round of French Presidential elections, here today.

A 92-year-old woman Marie Antoinette, who was among the early voters, told PTI that she has been exercising her franchise in every presidential poll without fail.

Voters, who were infirm and aged were helped by the staff on duty to reach the booths without waiting in the queue.

Puducherry had two booths each on the premises of the French Consul General office and Lycee, an educational institution.

Chennai and Karaikal had one booth each to enable the voters there to cast their votes, sources said adding the polling which began at 8 AM would go on till 7 PM.

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Amid heightened security, French voters began casting ballots for their next president today in a first-round poll that's being seen as a litmus test for the future of Europe and the spread of populism around the world.

More than 50,000 police and gendarmes were deployed to protect 66,000 polling stations for today's election, which comes just three days after a deadly attack on Paris's famed Champs-Elysees Avenue in which a police officer and a gunman were slain. Another 7,000 soldiers are on patrol.

The presidential poll is the first ever to be held while France is under a state of emergency, put in place since the November 2015 attacks in Paris left 130 people dead.

Voters are choosing between 11 presidential candidates in the most unpredictable contest in generations. The current president, Socialist Francois Hollande, is not among them, having decided that his historic unpopularity would hurt his party's cause.

"We really need a change in this country, with all the difficulties we are facing and terrorism," Paris resident Alain Richaud said as he waited to cast his vote.

"There have been surprises (this year), there have always been scandals," said Le Touquet resident Pierre-Antoine Guilluy.

Opinion polls point to a tight race among the four leading contenders vying to advance to the May 7 presidential runoff, when the top two candidates will go head to head.

Polls suggest far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, an independent centrist and former economy minister, were in the lead. But conservative Francois Fillon, a former prime minister embroiled in a scandal over alleged fake jobs given to his wife and children, appeared to be closing the gap, as was far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.

France's 10 percent unemployment, its lackluster economy and security issues topped concerns for the country's 47 million eligible voters.

Voter Marie-Christine Colrat lamented: "Listen, too many candidates. And candidates that caused us a lot of problems, I think that's not a good thing for France."



The election is widely being seen as a vote on the future of the European Union with most of the French candidates railing against its institutions.

Both Le Pen and Melenchon from opposite extremes of the political spectrum have supported pulling France out of the 28-nation bloc and its shared euro currency in a so-called "Frexit."



A French exit, however, could spark a death spiral for the EU, for France and Germany are the bloc's strongest economies and biggest proponents of a united Europe.

If either Le Pen or Melenchon wins a spot in the runoff, it will be seen as a victory for the rising wave of populism reflected by the votes for Brexit in Britain and Donald Trump in the United States.

"It's definitely risky, but I have faith in the result even if an extreme candidate qualifies for the second round," said Beatrice Schopflin, who was queuing to vote in Paris. Macron and Fillon are committed to European unity and would reform the country's restrictive labor rules.

The sun glistened across most of France today as voters and candidates cast their ballots. France's Interior Ministry said voter turnout at midday was 28.54 percent slightly stronger than it was in 2012, when turnout was high.

In the northern town of Henin-Beaumont, several activists from the feminist group Femen were arrested after staging a topless protest against the far-right Le Pen. Police intervened and stopped the commotion minutes before the candidate arrived to cast her ballot. No one was hurt.

Macron was the image of serenity as he posed for selfies with voters after casting his ballot in the northern coastal town of Le Touquet alongside his wife, Brigitte Macron.

Melenchon voted in Paris, as did Fillon.

But Fillon's wife, the scandal-hit Penelope Fillon, was conspicuously absent from her husband's side and voted 250 kilometers (155 miles) away near their 14th century manor house in Sarthe. She is facing preliminary charges for her role in the fake jobs scandal that has rocked her husband's presidential campaign.

Hollande, the current president, voted in his political fiefdom of Tulle in Correze, southwestern France. Political campaigning was banned from midnight Friday hours ahead of polls opening in France's far-flung overseas territories such as Guadeloupe, French Polynesia and French Guiana, which all voted Saturday.

In Montreal on Saturday, thousands of French nationals waited in lines that stretched at one point up to eight blocks long to cast their votes, with many saying they were motivated to help keep the far-right out of power.

The interminable queue that lasted several hours was caused by lack of polling stations - only one was set up for the estimated 57,000 registered French voters in Canada's most populous French-speaking city.

One retired American in Paris urged her neighbors to make their voices count.

"I think that it's important that every French voter gets out and votes today ... Did you see what happened in the United States? The same could happen here," said Renette Decicco, a 78-year-old out shopping for food.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government order to block child sexual abuse content by using resources of a UK-based organisation will create monopoly and make it an expensive affair for companies, Internet service providers have said.

The Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) also demanded that the government should share the responsibility with industry as companies will pass on extra cost burden to consumers which would not be in the interest of 'Digital India' movement.

"The order issued by Meity (Ministry of Electronics and IT) to block child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is creating monopoly of an organisation where membership varies between 1,000 British pound and about GBP 78,000 (Rs 84,000- Rs 64 lakh). Government should also share responsibility with industry," ISPAI President Rajesh Chharia told PTI.

The government on April 18 directed Internet service providers (ISP) to block distribution and transmission of child sexual abuse content by July 31.

Service providers are required to adopt and implement UK-based Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) resources to prevent distribution and transmission of offensive content.

Chharia said that the solution to block CSAM should be developed in the country, and the order is different from what the government had discussed with the industry.

"We were under impression that any one body in India will subscribe to the IWF and share it with other players as per rule till we do not develop an indigenous solution and the government will also provide support to the industry."



"The order, however, says that every Internet company with ILD permit will have to approach individually to IWF. The IWF will charge fees based on subscriber base of a company which will make it expensive for individual companies," Chharia said.

The order was issued after the recommendation of an inter-ministerial committee that was constituted to suggest solutions to address the issue of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) following a Supreme Court order.

The panel noted that most of the CSAM is being hosted outside India and the websites or web links to access such unlawful content are dynamic in nature and frequently changing which makes it difficult to block such content.

The panel noted that no centralised mechanism exists in India to monitor online CSAM.

When asked about obligation of Internet firms to check transmission of CSAM, Chharia said that Internet companies cannot get into 'deep packet inspection' on what is being transmitted on to networks.

"Deep packet inspection will lead to violation of privacy and also is in violation to government's policy. We are committed to block CSAM but the responsibility should be shared by all, including government. ISPs will pass on extra cost burden to consumers which is not in the interest and spirit of Digital India movement," Chharia said.

The government has asked all the ISPs to continue to observe the existing due diligence requirements prescribed by the central government under the Information Technology Act 2000 and rules and regulations.

The publication or transmission of material depicting children in sexually explicit act or conduct in electronic form is heinous crime, specifically prohibited by section 67B of the IT Act 2000.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gearing up for Assembly elections in Gujarat which are due later this year, BJP today said its 'vistaraks' (full-time workers) would conduct a voter outreach program in all the 47,000 polling booths in the state in the next two months.

The decision was taken at state BJP's executive meeting which concluded yesterday at Somnath.

Speaking at the meeting, BJP president Amit Shah had urged the party workers to uproot Congress from the booth level by getting three-fourth majority in the Assembly.

After the meeting, state BJP general secretary Bhikhubhai Dalsania issued a road-map for strengthening the party at the booth level, a BJP release said here.

In May and June, party vistaraks would reach out to voters in the areas covered by all the 47,000 polling booths in the state, said the release.

Before that, in May, seminars and training sessions would be organised for these vistaraks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The International Monetary Fund has dropped its last year's pledge to fight protectionism after the meetings of finance ministers and central bank governors from its member countries.

The threat of protectionism was explicitly mentioned in the previous annual meeting of International Monetary Fund (IMF) in October. In its joint communique, the IMF member countries said they will refrain from competitive devaluations and will not target exchange rates for competitive purposes.

"We will also work together to reduce excessive global imbalances by pursuing appropriate policies. We are working to strengthen the contribution of trade to our economies," the communique said.

Top IMF officials defended the decision and denied that this move was under pressure from advanced economies, in particular from countries like the US where the new Trump Administration has been articulating policies favouring protectionism.

"What we tried to do in this type of meeting is strike a positive, constructive balance. And the use of the word protectionism is very ambiguous," Mexican central bank chief Agustin Carstens, Chairman of IMF steering committee, told reporters at a conference.

"And, therefore, in different sections of the communique, the issue of the contribution of trade to growth, the issue of promoting a level playing field in international trade, was mentioned. So, it depends, is the glass half full or half empty?" he explained.

"What we tried to do is basically focus on what we can leave, and actually what our final goal is. Our final goal is, yes, to take advantage of trade. Nobody denies that. And, I think everybody is in line that we need free and fair trade, and I think that is what is really reflected in the communique," Carstens said.

In March the G-20 meetings had also left the world protectionism from their joint communique.

Carstens said protectionism was a relative term.

"It is certainly a relative term. There is no country in the world that doesn't have any sort of provision or restriction on trade. So, instead of dwelling on what that concept means, we manage to sort of put it in, I would say, a more positive and more constructive framework," he told reporters at a conference here.

"The membership agreed to counsel against inward-looking policies, and stressed that we should work to strengthen the contribution of trade to our economies. This was a very strong consensus, and I think that is, I would say, a more positive or constructive way to address issues that at the end of the day have to do with free and also fair trade," he said.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said at a time when growth was picking up, where there is that momentum, and to avoid the syndrome of the green shoots turning brown, there is a recognition that they need to secure what has been conducive to growth, and what has served the international community over the last few decades.

"But, if anything, I'm encouraged for the IMF to be as specific as possible, to secure that. So when we are asked by the whole community to continue working hard on the ESR, for instance, and when we expect that there will be a clear focus on that, I think that is exactly where we should be expecting from the membership as well, that it be taken seriously," Lagarde said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India has been a special place for him and the Karmapa says it has helped him personally gain in many ways particularly in developing his spiritual powers including patience.

"Particularly for Tibetan people, India is a very special country. Many of them have fled to India from Tibet. So for all Tibetan people, India really occupies a special place in our hearts," he says.

"It has been 17 years since I myself came to India. Personally, during this period, there have been some difficult times. But since I came, India has helped me develop my spiritual powers including patience," Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa, told PTI in an interview.

The spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism has come up with a book "Interconnected: Embracing Life in Our Global Society", published by Wisdom Publications and distributed by Simon & Schuster, in which he says that the crucial next step is to move beyond theoretical understanding of our interconnectedness, to begin to actually feeling connected.

"...It has been far more beneficial for me to be in India than to have stayed in Tibet. I have been able to do and learn so much and have met so many people I would never have been able to meet had I stayed within my comfort zone," he writes in the book.

The book is structured in three parts - 'Seeing the Connection', 'Feeling the Connection' and 'Living the Connection'.

This book is primarily based on discussions the Karmapa had with a group of students from a US university in 2013.

On growing hatred and conflict on religious lines, he says, "When we talk about religions, those practising these religions are all humans. Because humans have different emotions naturally they have different greed, hatred and mental frictions. And because they are not able to really counter their mental frictions the way they should, religion becomes a way and these mental friction increase.

"This is actually the fault of the practitioner. The situation is related to the practitioner and to the individual and it is difficult to say that this is unilaterally and categorically a question of religion."



Themes also explored in the book include the way electronic connectivity is transforming the way we relate, loneliness, consumer culture, animal protection and environmental sustainability.

Asked if personal connections are seeing a decline, the Karmapa says, "These days due to development in technology, making connections has become easier for people and because it has become so easier people really don't value them. They do different things but most of these are meaningless. People don't value relations they have with other people.

"How important it was when we used to receive a letter from someone when we were young. We would read it again and again and really value the latter. But now, it has become so easy for people to connect virtually that they have lost interest in personal connections."



He says another factor is that people don't have the time to make connections with each other.

"Families don't have the time to sit and have conversations and instead they prefer to exchange messages or call each other. So what is happening is that people are getting more and more lonely," he rues.

Asked if he also feels lonely at times, he says, "Yes. This is because of my responsibility. Also as a Karmapa you have a special role to play and cannot lead a normal life anymore.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The present curriculum and the learning ambience offered to design students need a "thoughtful transformation" if Indian fashion schools want to be at par with their Western counterparts, ace designer Raghavendra Rathore has said.

The internationally-trained fashion designer who is all set to launch his school 'Gurukul School of Design' (GSD), says the lack of customised education supporting Asian fashion trends is a matter of concern.

"The experience that existing design schools offer in India need a rethink and a thoughtful transformation of the curriculum and the ambience they offer.

"Students must demand a more customised education that is fit for the Asian region and not just an associated programme with a western university. These changes will help in bringing back faith in what is there on offer in design schools in India versus the West," Rathore told PTI.

With his new school, the designer wishes to combine the Indian way of learning with contemporary international sensibilities to not just create successful designers, but also a successful brand out of his students.

"Right now we are going through a silent revolution in the country where in we are shifting from a manufacturing to a design-oriented outlook. The shift created will require huge talent in future and we need to be prepared to optimally leverage this design revolution.

At GSD, the aim is to not just create a designer but a successful brand. The deeply rooted Indian Gurukul way of learning juxtaposed with new global commercial wisdom, will be the key differentiator and disruptor for Gurukul School of Design," he says.

According to Rathore, who pioneered the Jodhpuri Bandhgala suits across the globe, Indian fashion industry is in a nascent state in comparison to the West, and it would need time for luxury brands to take a front seat.

"The Indian fashion industry is nascent in its origins compared to the Western hemisphere. The impediments that the industry will constantly battle with will be the high rate of doing business on real estate and the lack of upscale retail. Mid market brands will flourish while the luxury brands will have to wait a little bit longer," he says.

The designer has chosen Jaipur over any other metropolis for the campus of the school owing to the culturally rich environment of the city which, he says, will provide the students an instant access to handicrafts and rare techniques.

"The location of the campus in Jaipur will give students immediate access to handicrafts, endless textiles, rare techniques. This makes this region a global cultural hub. The aim is to provide a new way of 'thinking design' and provide a sound and holistic education," he says.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Indian Space Research Organisation is trying to increase its capacity to deliver by scaling up the frequency of launches to 12 per year from the seven at present by building more satellites and lowering the cost of access to space.

"Earlier, we were doing 2-3 (launches) per year, then we increased it to 4-5, last few years we have been doing seven launches," space agency Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told PTI.

"Now, we are trying to go up to 8-9 PSLV per year, two GSLV-Mk II and one GSLV-Mk III. Total about 12 per year," he said.

ISRO is trying to increase its capacity to deliver by scaling up the frequency of launches by building more satellites, lowering the cost of access to space and also to do heavier satellite launches, the Chairman said.

The space agency is in the process of constructing a second vehicle assembly building to improve the turnaround time and throughput for the PSLV so that with the same launch pad ISRO can do more launches, he said.

Kiran Kumar said approval for a proposal to build a space station was yet to come.

ISRO plans to undertake the Chandrayaan-2 mission in the first quarter of the next calendar year, he said.

"It (Chandrayaan-2) is a fully Indian affair. There is no Russian participation in that," Kiran Kumar said.

"All the developments required for that, all the variable thrust engines, lander, rover....All that work is going on and we are getting ready for this launch," he said.

"Another Mars mission, Venus mission or Asteroids mission...All these possibilities we are working on; study teams are looking at it, and then we will finalise at some point of time and start getting approvals for them," he said.

On reusable launch vehicle, he said ISRO has identified its next steps in terms of air-breathing propulsion system.

"We are now trying to do an experiment where it will demonstrate that the thrust generated is more than the friction so that you have a net positive thrust.

"What we have (already) demonstrated is combustion happening with oxygen and hydrogen. The next step is the thrust whatever is generated should be more than the friction that's going to come up because of the surfaces involved," Kiran Kumar explained.

"Once that is done, then it's a big capability. So we are working towards that now and in terms of reusable launch vehicle I think landing gear system to that and conducting some experiments that is the next step and beyond that we are looking to scale up the model and do the next set of activities," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has raised the issue of tightening of the visa regime with his US counterpart Steven Mnuchin during their first meeting and highlighted the contribution of Indian companies and professionals to the American economy.

This was the second time Jaitley raised the visa issue with the American side during his visit here to attend the annual Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He had also raised the issue with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross earlier.

During their meeting yesterday, Jaitley and Mnuchin discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, in addition to the international cooperation against terror financing.

Jaitley highlighted the notable progress made in the Indo-US relations over the last few years and India's ambitious reform agenda which was creating new opportunities towards a deeper economic engagement between the two countries, a Finance Ministry statement said.

"Critical economic issues like Indo-US investment initiative, infrastructure collaboration and NIIF (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund), collaboration with the US for Smart Cities Development were deliberated upon during the meeting," it said.

President Donald Trump last week signed an executive order for tightening the rules of the H-1B visa programme to stop its "abuse" and ensure that the visas are given to the "most-skilled or highest paid" petitioners, a decision that would impact India's $150 billion IT industry.

The Indian IT industry expressed serious concerns over this as these visas were mainly used by domestic IT professionals for short-term work in America.

The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. Indian technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year for their US operations.

The US market accounts for about 60 per cent of the revenue of the Indian IT industry.

Reforming the H-1B visa system was one of the major election promises of Trump. As per several US reports, a majority of the H-1B visas every year are grabbed by Indian IT professionals.

India accounts for the highest pool of qualified IT professionals, whose services go a long way in making American companies globally competitive.

Last month, NASSCOM president R Chandrashekhar had said that the Indian IT industry actually contributes immensely to the US economy in terms of jobs that are created in America, both directly and indirectly.

"Close to half a million jobs have been supported in the US as of 2015. The number of jobs have also been growing at 10 per cent per year as against a two per cent growth in the rest of the job market," he had said.

Issues related to terror funding were also discussed during Jaitley's meeting with the US Treasury Secretary, who appreciated India's role, including the Indo-US cooperation in Financial Action Task Force.

Jaitley also held bilateral meetings with the finance ministers of Sweden, France and Bangladesh. The discussions covered a wide spectrum of bilateral collaboration to strengthen the cross-country relationships.

He also held a bilateral meeting with World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim among others.

Meanwhile, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das held bilateral meetings with New Development Bank (NDB) President K V Kamath and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President Gilbert F Houngbo separately.

Various policy issues regarding NDB and IFAD were discussed during the meeting.

Jaitley, currently on a US trip, is accompanied by RBI Governor Urjit Patel, Das and Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian among other officials.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has raised the issue of restrictions on H-1B visa with his US counterpart Steven Mnuchin as India fears the curb would impact the movement of Indian IT professionals to America.

During his meeting with the US Treasury Secretary, Jaitley also highlighted the contribution Indian companies and professionals are making to the US economy.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order for tightening the rules of the H-1B visa programme to stop its 'abuse' and ensure that the visas are given to the 'most- skilled or highest paid' petitioners, a decision that would impact India's USD 150 billion IT industry.

The Indian IT industry has expressed serious concerns over this as these visas are mainly used by domestic IT professionals for short-term work in America.

Earlier, the finance minister raised the visa issue with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

An official statement said: "Jaitley raised the issue of H-1B visas for skilled professionals from India."



Issues related to terror funding were also discussed in the meeting and the US Treasury Secretary appreciated the role of India in this regard, including Indo-US cooperation in Financial Action Task Force.

These matters were discussed yesterday on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF.

During the discussions, the statement said Jaitley pointed out India's ambitious reform agenda which is creating new opportunities towards a deeper economic engagement between both the countries in the years ahead.

"Critical economic issues like Indo-US investment initiative, infrastructure collaboration and NIIF (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund), collaboration with the US for Smart Cities Development were deliberated upon during the meeting," it added.

The Indian minister also held bilateral meetings with the finance ministers of Sweden, France and Bangladesh.

The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. Indian technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year for their US operations.

The US market accounts for about 60 per cent of the revenue of the Indian IT industry.

Reforming the H-1B visa system was one of the major election promises of Trump. As per several US reports, a majority of the H-1B visas every year are grabbed by Indian IT professionals.

India accounts for the highest pool of qualified IT professionals, whose services go a long way in making American companies globally competitive.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today said there is an urgent need to link MGNREGA scheme with agricultural activities as the sector faces huge shortage of labour.

Speaking at 3rd Governing Council Meeting of the NITI Ayog in Delhi, Rao said the suggestion, if implemented, will not only help farmers in timely agricultural operations, but also help ensure employment to the weaker sections of the society.

"There is a hue and cry among the farmers due to the scarcity of labour force in agricultural operations. In order to make Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) scheme more useful and productive to the agricultural operations, there is an urgent need to dovetail MGNREGA to agricultural operations, by including it under the permitted activities under MGNREGA.

"It is suggested that 50 per cent of the unskilled wages may be paid under MGNREGA and 50 per cent by the farmers concerned. This may be extended to those states who opt to avail this," said the Chief Minister.

He said in order to double farmers' income in five years, concrete steps such as dividing the entire country into crop colonies for specific crops, based on agro-climatic regions, should be done immediately.

The state government is taking several steps to address the agrarian distress and to revive the farm sector in the state and also to revamp the rural economy by reviving the traditional activities such as, sheep rearing, fisheries dairy, Rao added.

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Nepal's Madhesi parties have struck a deal with the Prachanda-led coalition government under which they would take part in the local body elections after a revised Constitution amendment bill is passed in Parliament through a fast-track process.

The Federal Alliance, a grouping of agitating Madhesi parties and ethnic groups, reached an agreement on issues related to Constitution amendment and local polls.

Agreement was reached between the agitating Madhesi parties and the government representatives on fast track endorsement of revised Constitution amendment bill and to conduct local elections in two phases, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's office.

The government has proposed two dates, May 14 and June 14, for conducting local body polls on two phases.

"The Alliance would take part in local level elections only after the revised Constitution amendment bill gets endorsed in the Parliament," said Rajendra Mahato, a senior leader of the alliance.

Meanwhile, a cabinet meeting endorsed the agreement that the ruling parties forged with the Federal Alliance, and decided to hold the local level elections in two phases.

Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Prachanda had held consultations with chief Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav and main opposition leader and CPN-UML chief K P Sharma Oli and discussed the matters relating to local polls and Constitution amendment.

Madhesi parties have called off their stir following the agreement with the government.

The local bodies election taking place after a gap of two decades would empower the people and distribute power from Singha Durbar government secretariat to villages, he said appealing to all to participate in the polls.

Madhesi parties had earlier warned the government that they would disrupt the local elections if their demands, including proportional representation in Parliament, are not addressed.

The Madhesi parties, who claim to represent the interests of inhabitants of the southern Terai region who are mostly of Indian origin, have been demanding that the Constitution promulgated in 2015 be amended to revise the provisions of citizenship and re-demarcation of the provincial boundary before going to the May polls.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi here tomorrow amid the deteriorating security situation in the state and strains in the PDP-BJP coalition.

Mehbooba, who is under mounting attack in the face of fresh spurt in violence in Kashmir, is expected to discuss with Modi the prevailing situation in the state and the way forward.

She is likely to press for some political initiative from the centre to address the alienation among the people of Kashmir, particularly the youth, which is being reflected in increasing incidents of stone-pelting.

Mehbooba's meeting with the Prime Minister is also taking place against the backdrop of recent bypoll to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency which witnessed largescale violence and the lowest turnout ever.

In the bypoll, the PDP also lost the seat to National Conference, just in nearly three years after the 2014 general elections.

The PDP and the BJP, which are running the coalition government in the troubled state, are not on the same page on the issue of dealing with the growing trend of stone-pelting and this has led to friction between them.

A BJP minister Chander Prakash Ganga recently advocated strong action, saying "traitors and stone-pelters should be treated with bullets".

This comment drew the ire of the PDP, which said there was a"conspiracy" to keep trouble brewing in the Valley.

"Such detestable remarks not only reflect the nauseous mentality of some extremist politicians in the state, but also expose the larger design of certain elements to provoke fresh trouble in Kashmir so that Kashmiris are pushed into perpetual educational and economicdis-empowerment," senior PDP leader Peerzada Mansoor had said in a statement later.

Against the backdrop of the strains, BJP's pointsman for Jammu and Kashmir Ram Madhav on Friday last held a meeting with senior PDP leader Haseeb Drabu in Jammu.

Madhav then met Ganga, who later expressed regret for his controversial comment.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and reaffirmed India's steadfast support to Afghanistan in fighting all forms of terrorism.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Gopal Baglay said today that Modi also offered all possible assistance for those injured in the Mazar-i-Sharif terrorist attack on Friday in which more than 100 soldiers were killed and many others were injured.

In a series of tweets, Baglay said, "PM @narendramodi expresses faith that Afghan people and security forces will overcome all forces against unity, peace, security, stability and prosperity of Afghanistan. PM @narendramodi reaffirms India's steadfast support to Afghanistan in fighting all forms of terrorism."



"PM @narendramodi strongly condemns the attack, states India stands in solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan, offers all possible assistance to the injured. (He) condoles with Afghan President @ashrafghani in a letter the barbaric terrorist attack of 21/4 at Mazar-e-Sharif."



India yesterday condemned the terror attack on an army base in northern Afghanistan, saying it was a stark reminder of the need to immediately dismantle safe havens sustaining terrorism from outside that country's borders.

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Most of the six places in Arunachal Pradesh that China renamed recently have some significance related to the Dalai Lama or Tibet, a China expert said today.

"This is only an attempt to show its severe displeasure to India" for allowing the Dalai Lama to visit the Tawang monastery in Arunachal Pradesh and address religious congregations there, Srikanth Kondapalli, a professor of Chinese studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, told PTI.

China had earlier this week given a new name, Wo'gyainling, to Guling Gompa, located on the outskirts of Tawang. This is the place where the sixth Dalai Lama was born.

Daporijo town in Upper Subansiri district was named Mila Ri. It is located besides the river Subansiri, which is one of the principal rivers of Arunachal Pradesh and a major tributary of the Brahmaputra.

Kondapalli said this place has been used by people from Tibet to enter into India and was a corridor that has not seen military presence from either side for many years.

Renaming of Mechuka as Mainquka was to challenge India's claim on the area as it is strategically located, with heavy military presence, he said. The Indian Air Force maintains an Advanced Landing Ground there, which is located in West Siang district.

Bumla, the place where the Dalai Lama made his first stopover during his April 4-13 visit to Arunachal Pradesh, has also been renamed by the Chinese as Bumola.

Kondapalli said this area was invaded in 1962 by the Chinese troops who were subsequently pushed back by the Indian Army.

Namaka Chu area has been renamed as Namkapub Ri, he said, adding the area has a huge potential for hydro-electricity. China renamed a sixth place as Qoidengarbo Ri area but it is not clear which place in Arunachal Pradesh it refers to.

According to Kondapalli, these areas also have a huge potential for agriculture and fisheries besides hydro- electricity.

All these places came into prominence in the 1980s when several Chinese strategic scholars started writing about them, saying these could solve problems of electricity and vegetation in Tibet, he said.

These green areas, capable of producing vast quantities of food, were seen by Chinese scholars as the "apple of the eye" of the Tibet region, which is generally dry, Kondapalli said.

He said this was part of a trend started by China of giving names to their claims -- specifically the islands in South China Sea where it has conflicting claims with Southeast Asian countries.

Kondapalli suggested that India can hit back at China by renaming Aksai Chin and Mansarovar areas, which are under Chinese occupation but claimed by India.

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A family court here has "nullified" the triple talaq given by a man to his wife on the grounds that due procedure, as prescribed in Muslim religious texts, was not followed in the matter.

Additional principal judge of the family court, Omprakash Sharma on March 9 observed that the procedure adopted by Tousif Sheikh to divorce his wife was "illegal" and "ineffective" and nullified the same.

Arshi Khan got married to Tousif from Dewas on January 19, 2013 and after some time he (Tousif) started demanding money from her. When his demands were not fulfilled, he started troubling her, the victim's lawyer Arvind Gaud said.

After some time the woman left her husband's place and returned to her parents' home. She later filed a case under the Anti-Dowry Act against Tousif, said Gaud.

That case is still pending in the court, he said.

Meanwhile, on October 9, 2014, Tousif verbally divorced Arshi by stating talaq in Ujjain court premises, where they had come in connection with some other case.

Later, he informed her through a notice that he had divorced her by stating talaq thrice while coming out of the court premises on that date.

Arshi challenged divorce on the grounds that due procedure as prescribed in the Muslim religious text was not followed in the matter, Gaud said.

The court in its order found discrepancies in it and said that Tousif had failed to mention in his reply that through which method 'Talaq Ahsan or Talaq Hasan' he had divorced his wife.

The judge said that he failed to give credible evidence of the presence of Arshi in the court premises as mentioned by him when he had pronounced talaq thrice, while as per the religious law, the presence of the woman in question is mandatory.

The court also observed that no steps were taken by the parties concerned for any mediation on the issue as per religious law.

The court took into account various decisions given by other courts on the issue before declaring the talaq as "illegal", "ineffective" and "nullified" it.

Tousif raised the issue of jurisdiction of the family court on the matter but the judge turned down his plea.

A statement issued by Gaud and his assistant Hafiz Qureshi said they highlighted provisions mentioned in various Muslim religious texts on the issue to convince the court that due procedures were not followed in the matter.

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recently detained a US citizen, officials said today, in the latest case of an American being held in the country.

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of a Korean-American citizen being detained recently, but could not comment further. The embassy looks after consular affairs for the US in because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, citing unnamed sources, reported that a Korean-American man was arrested Friday at Pyongyang's airport while trying to leave . It said the man, in his late 50s and identified by his surname, Kim, has been involved in aid and relief programs to North Korea and was a former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China.

South Korea's Unification Ministry and its intelligence agency both said they were unable to confirm the report.

At least two other Americans are currently detained in North Korea. Last year, Otto Warmbier, then a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner. Kim Dong Chul, who was born in South Korea but is also believed to have US citizenship, is serving a sentence of 10 years for espionage.

At least one other foreigner, a Canadian pastor, is also being detained in North Korea. Hyeon Soo Lim, a South Korean- born Canadian citizen in his 60s, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2015 on charges of trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system and helping US and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens.
A US citizen has reportedly been arrested as he tried to fly out of North Korea, becoming the third American to be detained there, South Korea's Yonhap agency said today.

The US State Department said it was aware of the reports, but there was no official confirmation of the arrest, which would come at a tense time in relations between Pyongyang and Washington.

Yonhap quoted sources as saying the man, identified only by his surname Kim, was arrested on Friday at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

It said Kim, aged in his late 50s and a former professor at China's Yanbian University of Science and Technology, had been involved in aid programmes for the North.

He reportedly was in North Korea for about a month to discuss relief activities, Yonhap said. The reason for his arrest was unclear.

"We are aware of reports that a US citizen was detained in North Korea," a State Department official said in Washington.

Due to the lack of diplomatic relations, "In cases where US citizens are reported to be detained in North Korea, we work with the Swedish embassy, which serves as the United States' Protecting Power in North Korea. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment," the official said.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service as well as the unification and foreign ministries said they could not confirm the report.

But the director of a Seoul-based group called the World North Korea Research Center said his sources in Pyongyang had confirmed the arrest.

"The reason North Korea is not saying anything yet is because it is not done with the investigations," Ahn Chan-il, a former defector, told AFP.

"It is important for them to hold a US citizen hostage at this point to prevent Washington from carrying out a decapitation of Kim Jong-Un," Ahn said, referring to the North's fears that the US plans a secret military strike to topple its leader.

"It's also a resolve to point a double-action revolver against the US and China because he is a US citizen who worked in China."



US President Donald Trump has urged China to take stronger steps to press the North to curb its nuclear and missile programmes.

Vice President Mike Pence, during a regional tour last week, warned that "all options are on the table" to curb the North's nuclear ambitions as fears grow it may be planning another atomic test.

Two other US citizens -- college student Otto Warmbier and Korean-American pastor Kim Dong-Chul -- are currently being held in the North after being sentenced to long prison terms.

The pastor Kim was sentenced last year to 10 years of hard labour for spying.

Also last year Warmbier was jailed for 15 years for stealing a propaganda sign and for "crimes against the state".

North Korea has arrested and jailed several US citizens in the past decade, often releasing them only after high- profile visits by current or former US officials.

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The National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in animation, visual effects, gaming and comics will come up in Mumbai in 2018-19, which will be the biggest in Asia, the IIMC Director General KG Suresh said here today.

The NCOE will come up on the 20-acre land in the Film City in the country's financial capital on the PPP (public private partnership) model, the director general of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) told a press conference.

"Maharashtra government has already given the 20-acre land for the purpose. NCOE will be the joint venture between the IIMC and FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry)," Suresh said.

Observing that the animation sector is growing fast in the country, he said animation and gaming are new emerging technologies in media.

"According to a study by the FICCI and KPMG, other than the conventional media, new job opportunities will open up in these sectors for media persons. Keeping this in view, the NCOE is planned in Mumbai," Suresh said.

Deputy Registrar of IIMC, Delhi, PV Krishna Raja told PTI that a fund of Rs 167.5 crore has been alloted for the project and the NBCC, a PSU, will construct the project building.

"The NCOE was announced by Prime minister Narendra Modi during his budget meeting," said Raja.

Meanwhile, Suresh said the IIMC is in the process of becoming a deemed university.

"The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has given its clearance. Under the plan, all the media institutions under the I&B ministry will come under the 'IIMC deemed university' including FTII (Film and Television Institute of India), Pune," he said.

Suresh said IIMC will launch the firstever post-graduate diploma in Marathi journalism from its western regional campus located in Amravati.

"The introduction of the dedicated course in Marathi language is expected to give a boost to Marathi journalism. It is aimed at providing the skilled manpower to the burgeoning regional language media in the state.

"IIMC also imparts Odia language journalism from its campus in Dhenkanal. From the coming academic session, its Kottayam campus in Kerala will be offering a Malayalam journalism course," the DG said.

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A new Virtual Reality (VR) feature allows users to visit any address in the world and fly over it in 3D with the help of a headset system, according to the company.

Using a new updated feature on VR, people can choose their own destinations, as long as they know the address or name of the location.

"People want to quickly find and revisit the places that mean the most to them, whether it is a childhood home or favourite vacation spot," Joanna Kim, a product manager at VR said in a blog post.

Users can type an address or the name of a location, and visit it with a 3D headset system, Kim said.

Sightseers can also visit 27 handpicked locations that are now available on Google Earth VR, including Neuschwanstein Castle that inspired the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty", Table Mountain in South Africa and the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina.

"When we first launched Google Earth VR, we knew there was something powerful about being able to point anywhere in the world and start flying," said Kim.

"You could soar over landscapes and cities, and discover locations you did not even know existed," Kim added.
Nigerian commander Remi Fadairo points to the roiling plume of black smoke blotting the morning horizon in the Niger Delta -- the unmistakable sign of an illicit oil refinery.

"Let's see if we can go eat them for breakfast," he says with an ominous chuckle.

The 44-year-old colonel, a man with broad shoulders wearing his fatigues tucked into gumboots, is standing in the middle of a destroyed illicit refinery in Kana Rugbana, an area in the swamplands some 20 nautical miles from Port Harcourt.

Fadairo is part of the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe, a coalition of Nigerian security forces tasked with protecting the country's oil and gas infrastructure.

Last year, militant attacks cut oil production to 1.4 million barrels per day in August, triggering Nigeria's worst economic slump in 25 years.

Following talks with the government, the militants have suspended their sabotage. But Nigerian troops on the ground say the battle isn't over, it's just changed.

Today, the military says one of its priorities is to crack down on the illicit refineries that they claim fund the operations of the militants.

"The two are interwoven, if they aren't doing militancy, they are doing this," Fadairo tells AFP as he wades through crude-soaked muck.

Despite the site looking like a scrap yard, Fadairo says it actually is being rehabilitated, showing new silver pipes welded to a rusted metal container.

On the ground between iridescent oil puddles lay little sachets of gin, empty packets of instant noodles and cigarette butts left by the bush distillers.

"We just destroyed all this but they are back," says Fadairo. "They are trying to revive it."



The illicit refineries are just one component of oil theft in Nigeria, a mammoth industry estimated to be worth as much as $8 billion a year, according to a 2013 report by Chatham House, a London think-tank.

"The principal security concerns are endemic corruption, which creates economic discontent, breakdown of the rule of law, which allows for criminality to be normalised, and the funding of militancy," said Ian Ralby, founder of the I.R. Consilium, a security advisory firm.

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Nine men, including an Evangelical pastor, massacred in a remote part of western Brazil were knifed and shot to death, police has said after releasing the bodies for burial.

No arrests were announced in the slayings which took place Thursday in a hard-to-access settlement in Mato Grosso state. A human rights group said the killings were part of a pattern of brutal pressure from rich landowners to displace small-scale farmers from lucrative territories.

The state's security service said in a statement yesterday that the victims, all men, ranged in age from 23 to 57.

They were reported to be inhabitants of Gleba Taquarucu do Norte, which is near the border with Bolivia and only reachable on foot or by boat, with no cellphone coverage. One was a pastor from the popular Assembly of God church, police said.

"Preliminary information is that the victims showed signs of stabbings and gunshots," the police statement said.

CBN radio and other Brazilian media reported that some of the dead had been found decapitated, while Globo site said there were signs of torture and that some victims had been tied up. Contacted by AFP, a police spokeswoman would not confirm or deny this.

Earlier, police described the raid as the work of "hooded attackers." Globo reported that the victims had been starting to work on unauthorized plots of land and that they were killed inside the huts they'd erected at the site.

The Pastoral Land Commission, which is linked to the Roman Catholic church, and acts on behalf of the rural poor, described a network of armed gangs employed by ranchers using "terror to get the small producers to leave the area."



"Gleba has been subjected to conflicts and violence for more than 10 years. Other murders and attacks have already taken place there," the commission said.

According to the CPT's latest annual report, 61 people were killed in land conflicts in Brazil last year, the highest number since 2003.

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Osmania University, one of the oldest educational institutions in the country is all set to host its centenary celebrations from April 26-28.

President Pranab Mukherjee will be attending the event as chief guest on the first day.

Special officer for the centenary celebrations H Venkateshwarlu said the university which was established in 1917 with just 25 faculty members and 225 students, currently has over 10,000 students and 1,200 teaching staff.

"The President will be the chief guest for the centenary celebrations. He will be coming on April 26. This is one of the top universities with over 720 affiliated colleges in its fold," the special officer told PTI.

Wilfred Sewen Blunt, an educationist from Great Britain originally proposed a university in the erstwhile Nizam's dominion.

The then home secretary Akbar Hydari Ali, made a petition to the then ruler Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan to set up a university and the king issued a order on April 26, 1917 for the establishment of Osmania University, a special website created for the centenary celebrations mentioned.

Besides cultural programmes, the event will host various seminars and lectures on the university's role in shaping the regions political and cultural aspects.

Former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao, Maharashtra governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, union minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and MIM chief and Lok Sabha Member from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi are among the prominent personalities of the university alumni.

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Smugglers from Pakistan are trying novel ways like throwing small contraband packets and using cross-border irrigation network to push drugs into the Indian side in Punjab.

"As it has become difficult to smuggle big packets of contraband of 1 kg and above, the smugglers are now trying to push heroin in small quantity like in 250 grams. They throw the packets from across the border during the night," BSF Inspector General (Punjab Frontier) Mukul Goel said.

The contraband is then picked up by the local smugglers here, he said.

He said the Border Security Force (BSF) has seized 65.561 kg of heroin so far in this year near the Indo-Pak border.

Zonal Director (Chandigarh Zone unit), Narcotics Control Bureau, Kaustubh Sharma said supplying contraband in smaller quantities means less loss for the smugglers if the substance is seized by the security agencies.

The BSF personnel also found smugglers using tube wells for supplying drugs into the Indian side at Daoke area along the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar.

The force this month seized 5 kg of heroin which was smuggled into Indian side through a water pipe.

"The plastic pipe of a tube well was used to supply heroin in bottles as the field was located beyond the fence. A string was attached to the bottles to help local smugglers here to pull them out," Goel told PTI.

"The white-powdered heroin was packed in plastic bottles in such a way that it looked like 'lassi' (yogurt based drink) apparently to hoodwink the BSF troops," an official said.

As the wheat harvesting season is on, the local associates sometimes try to hide narcotic substance in cavity of tractors, he said.

The BSF is keeping a strict vigil near culverts and water channels to prevent supply of drugs.

The force is also coordinating with the Punjab government as part of the latter's campaign to end drug menace from the state.

"We are working with the Punjab police in this regard," Goel said.

After assuming office, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had formed a Special Task Force (STF) to end drug mafia in the state.

The STF had claimed that it arrested more than 1,400 persons and registered 1,250 cases under the NDPS Act, while "choking" the trans-border and interstate-border drugs supply lines since March 16.

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Claiming that people of Odisha have decided to oust the BJD regime as it failed on all fronts, BJP today said the party has emerged as a political alternative to meet the hopes and aspirations of the public.

The recent panchayat poll results in Odisha clearly show that people have made up their mind to a major political change in the state, said a resolution adopted in the end of BJP's Odisha unit state executive meeting at Baripada in tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district.

Claiming that people are angry over BJD government for its inefficiency, inaction and misrule, it said "BJP is all set to fight for safeguarding the interests of 4.5 crore people of Odisha who have been betrayed by BJD."



The BJP resolution said the Naveen Patnaik government betrayed the people though they reposed their faith in BJD and voted it to power for so many years.

While promising to ensure rapid prosperity of the state and its poor people, BJP said BJD failed to develop the state despite flow of huge funds from the Centre.

Asking Naveen Patnaik to give an explanation for its failure to keep the promises made to the people during the last 17 years, the party said though BJD had promised to provide safe drinking water to all households, only two per cent rural houses are getting piped water.

Water-borne diseases are rampant in major cities and towns in the state, it noted.

Despite its promise to substantially increase areas under under irrigation, the BJD government failed as only 18 per cent area have been irrigated, the party said adding, the government has failed to mitigate the plight of farmers.

Stating that the health sector in Odisha has collapsed, BJP said hospitals in the state are devoid of basic facilities and infrastructure, while more than 1,000 posts of doctors are lying vacant in government hospitals and there is no concrete step to fill them.

The BJP resolution said the scenario in education is equally dismal in the absence of adequate number of teachers in educational institutions starting from primary schools to universities.

Referring to the power supply scenario, it said 41 per cent families in Odisha are deprived of electricity.

Stating that the NDA government is building a new India marked by speedy development and good governance, BJP said the Centre's effort will also pave way for ushering in a new Odisha where all sections will benefit immensely.

Besides fulfilling the dreams of unemployed youths, the policies of BJP will go a long way in meeting aspirations of women in Odisha, the party said adding, the poor will no longer have to depend on the mercy of government as they will get ample opportunities to march ahead.

Under the circumstances, BJP is the only viable choice before the people in Odisha, the party said.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged all state governments to reach out to the students of Jammu and Kashmir in their respective states.

Modi's advice, which came after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti raised the point at a meeting of Chief Ministers here, assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of thrashing of some Kashmiri students in Mewar in Rajasthan and a hoarding in Meerut asking Kashmiris to leave Uttar Pradesh.

At the meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council, Modi "seconded" Mehbooba's suggestion that states should take interest in the students from Jammu and Kashmir who are studying in other states.

The Prime Minister "urged states to reach out to these students (of J&K) from time to time", said a statement by the PMO quoting Modi's concluding remarks.

Six Kashmiri students of Mewar University in Rajasthan were recently thrashed by some locals there.

Also, in Meerut, a hoarding had been put up, asking Kashmiris to leave Uttar Pradesh.

Modi also took note of the invitation extended by Mehbooba to various state governments to organise events in her state.

"The Prime Minister suggested that states could organize events there," the statement said.

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Two Qatari hunters who endured a 16- month hostage ordeal in Iraq spoke today of their joy at being released, in the first public comments since the group were freed.

Mohammed Marzouki was among 24 Qataris and two Saudis who were on a hunting trip in a mainly Shiite area of southern Iraq when they were kidnapped in late 2015.

They flew back to Doha on Friday following their release under a complex regional deal linked to the Syrian civil war.

"When I saw the lights of Doha, I felt like life was beginning again -- my happiness is indescribable," Marzouki told the local Arabic daily newspaper, Al-Sharq.

"My joy at returning to the homeland is a feeling that cannot be described in words."



A fellow hostage, Khalid bin Dhafer Al-Dosari, told the same newspaper that "all our aches and pains disappeared once we reached our homeland".

The hunting party, believed to include prominent members of the Qatari royal family, were captured in mid-December 2015 and held captive until they were freed on Friday.

There was never any claim of responsibility for the kidnapping of the hunters, who were widely believed to have been taken by militias with close ties to Tehran.

While the terms of the group's release have not been made public, it has been reported that Qatar paid millions in ransom to secure their freedom.

After flying home on Friday, the hunters were met at Doha's Hamad International Airport by the country's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The release deal was linked to the evacuation of thousands of people from the Syrian government-held towns of Fuaa and Kafraya, long besieged by rebels.

The evacuations marked the end of the first stage of a deal brokered by rebel backer Qatar and regime ally Iran.

Wealthy citizens of Sunni Gulf states venture to countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq to hunt with falcons without the bag limits and conservation measures they face at home.

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The Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP) will field candidates on all 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat, its president and Maharashtra minister Mahadev Jankar said today.

Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in Gujarat later this year.

"We will field candidates on all 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat. We have presence in 22 states across the country and and now we intend to strengthen the party's base in Gujarat," Jankar told PTI.

RSP has strength of four corporators in 75-member Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) house.

Jankar announced that Rajesh Iyre, RSP leader and corporator from here, will contest the polls from Sayajigunj Assembly constituency in the city.

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Saudi Arabia has named an air force pilot son of King Salman as ambassador to its major ally Washington, with which ties are improving under President Donald Trump.

The change came among a series of orders issued by the king yesterday, who shuffled his cabinet and replaced the head of the army which for two years has been fighting rebels in neighbouring Yemen.

"Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki removed as ambassador to the US. Prince Khaled bin Salman bin Abdulaziz appointed ambassador," the official Saudi Press Agency reported, citing a royal order.

Prince Abdullah had served in the post for just over a year, according to the website of the Saudi embassy in Washington.

The United States and Saudi Arabia have a decades-old relationship based on the exchange of American security for Saudi oil.

But ties between Riyadh and Washington became increasingly frayed during the administration of president Barack Obama.

Saudi leaders felt Obama was reluctant to get involved in the civil war in Syria and was tilting toward Riyadh's regional rival Iran.

The Saudis have found a more favourable ear in Washington under Trump, who took office in January and has denounced Iran's "harmful influence" in the Middle East.

Washington provides some logistical and intelligence support, as well as weapons, for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

The kingdom also belongs to the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

Prince Khaled, the new ambassador, is an air force pilot who flew missions as part of that anti-IS coalition, said Salman al-Ansari, president of the Saudi American Public Relation Affairs Committee (SAPRAC).

Ansari, whose committee is a private initiative to strengthen Saudi-US ties, described Prince Khaled as a "very organised personality, savvy, youthful, and active."



Another son of King Salman, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 31, is second in line to the throne and is one of the kingdom's most powerful figures.

He holds the post of defence minister and is pushing a wide-ranging social and economic reform programme.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis visited Riyadh on Wednesday and said it was in Washington's interest "to see a strong Saudi Arabia". He pointed to the kingdom's "military security services and secret services".

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Seven Yemeni soldiers were killed and 15 others wounded today when a shipment of landmines accidentally exploded in the southern port city of Aden, emergency and health officials said.

The blast occurred as a lorry was unloading the mines in the Jabal Hadid military camp in the centre of Aden, according to the officials.

A health worker at a local hospital confirmed the death toll.

Aden serves as Yemen's temporary capital since government forces backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition pushed the rebels out of the port city along with four other southern provinces in the summer of 2015.

The capital Sanaa remains under the control of Huthi rebels since they overran it in September 2014.

Jihadists from Al-Qaeda and the rival Islamic State group have exploited the vacuum caused by the conflict between the government and the rebels to strengthen their control in southern and eastern Yemen.

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A local Samajwadi Party leader today alleged that she received a threat letter from unidentified persons, prompting police to launch a probe into the matter.

Former district panchayat president Seema Pradhan in a complaint filed at Nauchandi police station said the sender of the letter threatened to kill her and her husband Atul Pradhan, who is also an SP leader and had fought UP assembly elections from Sardhana seat against BJP leader Sangeet Som.

SSP J Ravinder Goud said the SP leader claimed of receiving another threat letter on April 17 and that he has ordered an inquiry into the matter.

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started commercial test drive of its first batch of electric buses under the Marcopolo brand in Shimla over the weekend.

"Last Friday we successfully piloted our first electric bus in Shimla. It was carried out jointly with the Himachal Road Transport Corporation and the state transport department. The 9-meter bus, with a seating capacity of 31 people, was piloted on the Parwanu-Kalka route with the round- trip distance of 160km with no charging en-route," A K Jindal, head of engineering, commercial vehicles, told PTI.

Since the first test was a success, the second level of commercial pilot will happen soon in Shimla city, he added.

Jindal said the vehicle is a success is clear from the fact that the Himachal state utility has decided to increase its order for these buses to 75 from the original order of 25.

Asked when will the commercial production begin, he said as soon as the firm orders are in they can start production. The manufacturing will happen at its Dharward plant for chassis and the body will be built at the Automobile Corporation of Goa facility, a joint venture between the Tatas and the Goa government.

The country's largest bus-maker has priced the 9-meter e-bus at around Rs 1.6 crore, while the 12-meter one will cost about Rs 2 crore. These are the rates that its nearest rival Ashok Leyland also charges.

Leyland had unveiled its e-buses, called the Circuit series, last October, becoming the first in the country to indigenously make such vehicles. The company reportedly piloted the bus in the Rohtang Pass area recently.

Asked about the battery, Jindal said they are Samsung cells sourced from China but the design is fully indigenous.

Whether the company is in talks with any other state, he said soon these buses will be tested in Delhi, the Manali- Rohtang Pass and also Shimla.

Meanwhile, Jindal said the company has won orders from the MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) for supplying 25 hybrid buses, the supply of which will begin soon. These are also made at Dharward and Goa, and are priced at Rs 2 crore.

Hydribd will also be tested in Delhi, Nagpur, and Chandigrah, he said, adding these are on Tata Starbus label, he said.

Leyland claims its e-bus runs 150km on a single charge. The company, at the time of its unveiling, said it plans to sell close to 50 e-buses in fiscal 2017 and around 200 units in fiscal 2018.

Of the Rs 500 crore capital expenditure lined up for the bus business, the Chennai-based company plans to spend 10 per cent of it on electric buses.
Tata Cleantech Capital (TCCL) is looking at growing its asset book to around Rs 5,500 crore by fiscal 2019, with nearly USD 120 billion debt funds expected to flow into the renewable energy space in the next five years.

TCCL, a joint venture between Tata Capital and International Finance Corporation, currently has an asset/loan book size of Rs 2,400 crore.

It has funded over 80 renewable energy projects, including wind, solar and small hydro and biomass, with a total capacity of 3,500 MW.

"We are largely focused on funding clean energy projects and the government's vision of 175 GW of renewable power capacity by 2022 gives us an immense opportunity.

"It is estimated that USD 120 billion of debt fund will be required for these projects and this gives us the hope that we will be able to increase our exposure to nearly Rs 5,500 crore by FY19," the company's Chief Executive Manish Chourasia told PTI here.

He said for the current fiscal, the company is expecting to nearly double its loan book to Rs 4,000 crore.

"Our primary focus is to fund similar quality renewable assets and we expect to participate in the funding of around 10,000 MW generation capacity over next 2-3 years," Chourasia said.

He said though in the current portfolio of renewable energy projects wind-based generation has a larger share, going forward solar (both ground mounted and rooftop) will grow considering the number of projects being undertaken under various schemes of state and Central governments.

Recently, TCCL funded a 450 kW solar rooftop project set up by Avesta Solar at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in the megapolis. TCCL disbursed a total of Rs 2.36 crore for this project.

The company is also exploring funding options for energy efficiency as well as water sector projects.

"There are two segments in this energy efficiency space -- green buildings and LED lighting. We are also looking at certain infrastructure projects like roads, power transmission sectors and as and when there is good opportunity, we will fund them," he said.

Chourasia said the company is also looking at providing financial and techno-commercial advisory services to international firms looking to set up projects in India.

"We are scaling up our expertise to provide financial and techno-commercial advisory services to international firms on how to set up the projects and how to bid for it. So our expansion will happen through the growth of our loan book and also through the advisory business," he added.

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Donald Trump's proposed state visit to the UK later this year is being planned to avoid the US President having to climb any staircases after reports of his phobia of steps and slopes, according to a media report.

Planners want to stage events on the ground floor of buildings, and design routes for Trump that minimise his use of staircases, 'The Sunday Times' reported.

The President is due to visit Britain in October, where he will be honoured with a state dinner at Buckingham Palace and a trip to Queen Elizabeth II's Scottish retreat - Balmoral Castle.

But a senior government figure said he had attended meetings where Trump's dislike of stairs was raised after the President had controversially grasped Theresa May's hand on a ramp during the British Prime Minister's visit to the White House in January.

The official said: "I have heard this discussed in meetings about the state visit. People want everything to go smoothly. Trump won't be able to avoid the stairs at the palace but they can plan things to minimise it".

Trump is a self-confessed "germaphobe" who, aides say, does not like using handrails or shaking hands.

'The Washington Post' has also reported he avoids stairs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two children, aged 8 and 12 years, were among six persons who died while four others were injured in two separate accidents that occurred late last night in the Bikaner district.

In the first incident, an SUV turned turtle after it hit a truck which it was trying to overtake on the Jaipur-Bikaner national highway near Naurangdesar village.

Four persons travelling in the SUV died on spot whereas as many are undergoing treatment at the PBM Hospital in Bikaner, SHO Napasar police station Uday Lal told PTI.

The deceased were identified as Bhagirath Soni (38), Deepak Soni (30), Kartik (8) and Madhusudan (12), all related to each other.

Bodies were handed over to their family members following the post-mortem, police said.

In another accident, a truck coming from Jaisalmer hit a motorcycle that was going to Nokha from Bikaner, killing two persons.

One of the deceased persons was identified as Raju Ram (35) whereas the other is yet to be identified, police said. Family members of Ram have been informed and a case has been registered against the truck driver, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today demanded that 'Bharat Ratna', the country's highest civilian award, be conferred on the late revolutionary and freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

"We all are together in demanding (Bharat Ratna for Savarkar) and some leaders of opposition (in Maharashtra) also want the highest honour for Savarkar. We should now act to make this a reality," Uddhav said here.

The Sena chief was speaking at the closing function of a three-day long convention on Savarkar's writings.

Uddhav also demanded that a replica of prison cell at the Cellular jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands where Savarkar had been kept by the British should be built in Mumbai.

The youth and citizens should be educated about the contribution of Savarkar towards the 'Hindu Rashtra' and the freedom struggle, the Sena chief added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Enigmatic Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal is expected to make a comeback in the Pakistan squad for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in England in June.

After being dropped for the tour to the West Indies on fitness grounds, the national selectors and team management are now considering Umar for a berth in the the Champions Trophy squad.

"Umar is a serious contender for a recall but his elder brother, Kamran Akmal is unlikely to be picked for the tournament as the selectors and management were not impressed with his efforts in the limited over matches in the West Indies," a well-informed source told PTI.

"Kamran got seven innings in the West Indies to make his mark but unfortunately he failed and the selectors are now contemplating bringing back Azhar Ali into the ODI side to open with Ahmad Shahzad," the source added.

Kamran had earned a recall to the national team last month after being on the sidelines since April 2014.

The source said that Umar is a serious contender as the selectors wanted a power hitter option in the top and lower order.

"Umar has also worked on his fitness since being dropped and has led Punjab well in the ongoing Pakistan Cup ODI tournament," he added.

Two rookie players who went to the West Indies for the ODI series and returned without playing a match, batsman Asif Zakir and all-rounder Fahim Ashraf are also expected to be given the axe for the Champions Trophy, a title Pakistan has never won since its inception in 1998.

The source said that another all-rounder Aamir Yamin, who is doing well in the Pakistan Cup, could instead be given the allrounder's role in England but the selectors are yet to make a final decision on his inclusion.

The selectors have to announce the 15-member Champion Trophy squad by the April 25 deadline.

If the selectors recall Azhar for the mega-event in which Pakistan faces India and South Africa in its opening two matches, it is a decision that is bound to come under debate since they had dropped him for the ODIs in West Indies after he stepped down as the captain just before the start of the Pakistan Super League in February.

"Azhar is likely to be included as he is a steady player and the selectors feel in English conditions he can be useful," the source said.

Pacer Sohail Khan is also expected to get a recall for the Champions Trophy after being dumped for the West Indies tour apparently on fitness and disciplinary grounds.

Pakistan's probable Champions Trophy squad: Azhar Ali, Ahmad Shahzad, Babar Azam, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Muhammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Muhammad Aamir, Emad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Sohail Khan, Hassan Ali, Aamir Yamin, Fakhr Zaman.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Hriday Narayan Dixit favours longer sessions of the state legislature and "mutual cooperation" between the ruling party and the Opposition for smooth conduct of the House.

He is also "open" to the idea of live telecast of the proceedings of the House.

"The elected MLAs of both the ruling party and Opposition are interested in running the House. I have full faith that the House will run for more than 90 days as per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the UP Legislative Assembly, 1958," 69-year-old Dixit told PTI in an interview.

Asserting that the elected MLAs of the 17th Uttar Pradesh Assembly -- both ruling and Opposition -- are interested in smooth conduct of business, he exuded confidence that the House will run for more than 90 days a year.

The sessions have been usually been very brief in the past, irrespective of which party was in power, lasting somewhere between less than a week to little over a week, barring the budget sessions.

Asked as to how he was so confident of having a longer session, he said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has himself expressed his willingness to run the House for a "longer time".

"Previous governments did not show the same type of willingness," Dixit, a five-time MLA, said.

According to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the UP Legislative Assembly, 1958, "every year, the Assembly shall ordinarily have three sessions -- the Budget session, the Monsoon session and the Winter session and sit for 90 days of which, as for as possible, a session for at least 10 working days shall be convened at the interval of two months."



On the idea of live telecast of proceedings of the Assembly, Dixit said, "It is a good idea, and we are open to the idea."



He said that positivity exists within the UP Assembly and it must also be highlighted.

On whether the Opposition could be bulldozed, given the brute strength of the BJP and its allies, which have together bagged 325 of the 403 Assembly seats in the recent elections, Dixit said, "The voice of the Opposition will be heard."



The Speaker admitted that from the point of view of numbers, the Opposition is weak.

"But, the responsibility of the Opposition is to present alternative policies to the government and to oppose policies which it thinks are not in the interest of the people. In addition to this, the Opposition is supposed to give constructive suggestions to the government."



Invoking former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the importance of Opposition, Dixit said, "Vajpayee had once said that democracy is not a game of 51-49. Democracy translates to mutual conversation, mutual partnership (paraspar samwaad, paraspar bhaagedaari). Jawaharlal Nehru had said that for a successful democracy, the Opposition should be as strong as the ruling party. There should be mutual cooperation, suggestions and sense of responsibility between the ruling party and the Opposition."



The Speaker also cited British political theorist, economist, author and lecturer Prof Harold Joseph Laski that the role of Opposition is to propose and to oppose.

Asked as to when the first session was likely to commence, he said the first-time MLAs will be called to the state capital for an orientation and training programme where they will be imparted all the relevant knowledge by veteran MLAs, parliamentarians and by Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training (BPST).

"Recently I was in Delhi, where I met Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and requested her to come to Lucknow and impart training to the first-time MLAs," he said.

"After a week-long training session, the House will meet," he said.

On his election as the Speaker, Dixit said, "During my election, MLAs of opposition parties extended their support to me out of affection and not out of formality. I enjoy good rapport with the ruling party and the Opposition as well."



Dixit, who has earlier been minister for panchayati raj and parliamentary affairs, was the leader of the BJP in the Legislative Council till recently. He is also a columnist and has a number of books to his credit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 70-year-old farmer was shot dead when he was sleeping in his house at Sadpur village in the district, police said today.

The deceased Kishanlal's daughter Pramila said in her police complaint that two brothers barged into the house yesterday and killed her father.

A case has been registered against the two who are absconding.

According to the police, the killing happened over a property dispute.

In another incident, police said they found the half burnt body of a man at a cremation ground at another village in the district.

It is suspected that the man was murdered and his body dumped there, Station House Officer of Budhana police station Rajiv Gupta said.

The unidentified body has been sent for post-mortem.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis today urged France to continue its African anti-terror operations under its new presidency, as he visited strategic Djibouti on the day of France's first-round election.

"I have no doubt that the French will continue to make their own decisions in their own best interest and that the terrorists will not enjoy these decisions," Mattis told reporters in the Horn of Africa nation, which hosts Washington's only permanent military base on the continent.

"They have always proven that they will stand up when it is time to stand against something like this."



The US backs France's Operation Barkhane, under which its military is fighting Islamists in five countries across the Sahel region - Mauritania, Mali, Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso - alongside African allies.

"We look for our partners in that part of the continent to really carry the fight there," General Thomas Waldhauser, commander of US forces in Africa, told a press conference with Mattis.

The Americans have notably been providing air refuelling for French planes and exchanging intelligence with the French forces.

Projections showed Sunday that centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen are set to go through to France's presidential run-off on May 7.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US House Speaker Paul Ryan says one of the reasons the US Congress has launched a thorough investigation into Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 US election is to "prevent the same kind of thing happening" to its NATO and other allies.

Ryan spoke today at a conference with Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas during a visit by a bipartisan congressional delegation to the Baltic NATO member and staunch Washington ally.

The Republican speaker said though Russia's alleged meddling didn't affect the outcome of the election its actions "cannot be tolerated."



He stressed the US has a responsibility to share the results of the Russia investigation with countries like Estonia, which in recent years has faced Russia's aggressive disinformation campaigns along with Baltic neighbours Latvia and Lithuania.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's Vani Kapoor rounded off the week at the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Open with the best round of her career on the Ladies European Tour as she carded four-under 67 to finish tied 53rd.

Vani, playing her first full season on the LET, shot rounds of 73, 69, 77 and 67 for a total of two-over 286.

Vani, who started on the 10th, had a great first nine with birdies on 10th, 14th, 15th and 18th to be four-under at the turn. She dropped a shot on first, but a birdie on par-5 fourth made up for that. She ended with five pars and a card of 67.

India's other challenger Amandeep Drall missed the cut.

Florentyna Parker came through a three-way play-off and won on the fourth play-off hole to claim her third LET title.

The last time she won was in 2014 at the Italian Ladies Open.

Florentyna, Anna Nordquist and Carlota Ciganda were all at 15-under in regulation and went into a play-off. Ciganda was the first to fall off and then Florentyna won on the fourth with a birdie.

Flortentyna, who was born in Germany, but spends a lot of time in England, carries both passports and had said she will decide on her nationality once the Brexit is done.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NRIs Virendra Sharma,Labour MP from Ealing and Southall,and Surinder Arora, founder chairman of the Arora Hotels, have won'Pride of Punjab Award' 2017for their outstanding contribution to the communities in the UK.

Britain's Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid MP, presented the awards to them at the annual dinner of the Punjabi society of the British Isles on Thursday night.

The citation for Sharma lauded his outstanding services to the communities as MP for Ealing Southall for the last one decade and prior to that as local Councillor in the London Borough of Ealing from 1982-2010.

Bornin India in 1947 and educated at the London School of Economics on a trade union scholarship, Sharma started his career as a bus conductor, before working as a day services manager for people with learning disabilities in Hillingdon. He was Race Equalities Officer to the Labour Party nationally.

"I am proud to receive the Pride of Punjab Award and will carry on serving not only the Punjabi community but the entire British community globally," Sharma said.

The citation for Arora spoke about his outstanding contribution to the society and his philanthropic work.

"Surinder Arora came to Britain in 1972 and began his career working as a waiter in a hotel he subsequently bought. Today he is chair of the Arora Group which he founded in 1979."



The Arora group is one of the largest independent hotel chains in the country with 15 properties and 6,000 rooms.

Arora, born in Sultanpur near Jalandhar in Punjab in 1958, leads the group which counts some of the country's iconichotels in its stable.

"I owe this award to my late Mum," Arora said.

India's Deputy High Commissioner to the UK Dr Dinesh Patnaik, who was the Guest of Honour, said, "We have decided to celebrate Baisakhi on April 30 in all 13 Gurdwaras in the UK.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) today signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation and knowledge sharing between the two institutions.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed by World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and Beijing-based AIIB President Jin Liqun provides an overall framework for cooperation between the two institutions in common areas of interest, including development financing, staff exchanges and analytical and sector work.

It paves the way for the two institutions to further enhance coordination at the regional and country levels.

"The World Bank Group has worked closely with our partners at the AIIB since its inception," Kim said.

"We're already financing projects together from Azerbaijan to Indonesia, and I'm delighted to further strengthen our partnership. Collaboration between development institutions is essential to make the best use of scarce resources, crowd in the private sector, and meet the rising aspirations of the people we serve," he said.

After the World Bank and AIIB had signed a co-financing framework agreement for investment projects, the two have co- financed five projects, supporting power generation in Pakistan, a natural gas pipeline in Azerbaijan, slum upgrading, dam safety and regional infrastructure development in Indonesia.

The two institutions are discussing more projects to be co-financed in 2017 and 2018, a statement said.

Also the AIIB and the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, have co-invested in a power sector project in Myanmar and are discussing additional potential projects.

"It deepens our relationship with the World Bank Group and sets up the mechanisms through which we can more easily collaborate and share information. We place a high value on our partnerships because by working together, we greatly increase our potential for positive outcomes in Asia," Jin said.

In 2015, the World Bank and Multilateral Interim Secretariat for the Establishment of AIIB signed a memorandum of understanding for overall cooperation and knowledge exchange, which ended when AIIB was formally established.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In just 10 years, the worlds five largest companies by market capitalization have all changed, save for one: Microsoft. Exxon Mobil, General Electric, Citigroup and Shell Oil are out and Apple, Alphabet (the parent company of Google), Amazon and Facebook have taken their place.
The Income Tax Department is likely to challenge in high court a tax tribunal order giving relief to British oil firm Cairn Energy plc from payment of interest on a Rs 10,247 crore tax demand it had raised retrospectively.

The department feels its January 2016 final assessment order raising a tax demand of Rs 10,247 crore on alleged capital gain the British firm made when it transferred its India assets to a newly created company Cairn India in 2006, and another Rs 18,800 crore in interest for non-payment for 10 years, is correct.

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), in its March 9 order, held that Cairn Energy was liable to pay tax on the 2006 transfer of India assets to newly created Cairn India, prior to its listing. It, however, held that interest cannot be charged on it as the demand was raised using retrospective tax legislation.

"We feel interest is due and is liable to be paid. We plan to soon approach the high court seeking quashing of the ITAT order," a senior income tax department official told PTI.

The I-T department is also seeking up to 300 per cent of the principal as penalty for non-payment.

"We have issued a show cause notice to Cairn Energy asking why penalty should not be levied on it. They have sought 10 days to respond to the notice," the official said.

Within weeks of the ITAT ruling, Income Tax Department on March 31 sent a notice to Cairn Energy seeking Rs 10,247 crore principal tax and late payment interest from February 2016 -- one month from the date of original 2016 final assessment order.

"If we get a favourable high court ruling, the interest will be charged from 2006," the official said.

In 2011, Cairn Energy had sold majority stake in Cairn India to mining mogul Anil Agarwal's Vedanta. It had retained a minority 9.8 per cent stake in Cairn India.

Just as it was planning to offload it in the secondary market, the tax department on January 24, 2014 issued draft assessment order alleging it made capital gain in assessment year 2006-07 and attached the residual stake in Cairn India.

While a Cairn Energy spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comments, the company had in a notice to its shareholders earlier this month stated that the decision of the ITAT is "potentially subject to appeal."

The company maintains that no tax was due and what was done was an internal reorganisation before listing of Indian arm.

It is of the opinion that the enforcement of any tax liability deemed due by the tax department will be limited to India assets, which had a value of about USD 750 million as of December 31, 2016.

These assets comprised principally Cairn's residual shareholding in Cairn India.

Cairn has already initiated international arbitration against the tax demand and freeze on Cairn India shares.
Come June, all your train travel- related queries will be answered through one mega application, likely to be named HindRail, which incorporates in it most of the existing railways apps.

The Indian Railways is developing the new app to work as a full-fledged inquiry system providing information on arrivals, departures, delays, cancellations, platform number, running status and berth availability.

Besides, it will also offer booking of taxis, porter services, retiring rooms, hotels, tour packages, e-catering and other travel-related needs.

The Railways will offer all these services on a revenue- sharing model with the service providers.

Thus, the app will serve as a revenue-earning platform for the public transporter and is slated to have a business potential Rs 100 crore every year.

The Railways often finds itself flooded with complaints from passengers about not getting reliable information on train running status, especially when they run late.

Mohd Jamshed, Railway Board member (traffic), acknowledges that there are problems in disseminating accurate information on delays. But, he says, the new app will address all these issues.

"The new app will be launched in June and it will not only give you information, you can also track trains through it," he said.

Currently, there are several apps operated by the Indian Railways which provide various kinds of services. These include the CMS App for complaint management system.

The National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app provides inquiry facility. There are apps for booking reserved and unreserved tickets. There is another app managed by the IRCTC for the e-catering services. All these will be integrated in the proposed app.

Asked about the possible name for app, Jamshed said, "We have to give a suitable name for it but it has not been decided as yet."

However, it is reliably learnt the name HindRail is being considered for the new app among other suggested names such as MeriRail, ERail, MyRail and Rail Anubhuti.


Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 7:16PM

Those in the US that have a 2016 or 2017 Mercedes-Benz are getting new functionalities for its car. Mercedes-Benz is bringing support for Google Assistant via Google Home speaker and Amazon Alexa via Amazon Echo line of speakers. As the video demo shows above, you can have these smart assistants do things such as start the car, turn off any appliances left on when you leave the house, and help with navigation. The feature also brings the ability to remotely lock the car.

Aside from having the smart speakers at home, youll need to have an active Mercedes me account as well as an active Mbrace subscription that costs around US$280 per year. According to the car maker, it plans to bring Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support to Europe later this year.

Source: Android Authority
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"We had some wins in the past and [the government] responded quickly, but other times they don't, and when that happens people have to make repairs themselves, which I don't think they should have to do."
He said it was about balancing the need to be in meetings with his team in Canberra, and being able to do the work over the phone, via email or through Skype.
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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Audi has been toying with the idea of an all-electric crossover for some time now. But the day when it translates its line of concepts into production is apparently almost upon us. In fact its so close that  in one country at least  the automaker is already taking deposits.



Audi Norway announces the plans for a pre-booking solution for the electric SUV Audi e-tron quattro, reads the statement on the automakers Norwegian website (brought to our attention by InsideEVs). The car is ready for production next year, and the Norwegian market will be released first with such a reservation solution.

Following a procession of E-Tron concepts in other forms, Audi showcased the E-Tron Quattro crossover concept at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show, and followed up with an even more rakish E-Tron Sportback concept in Shanghai last week.

The pre-order process begins tomorrow (Monday, April 24) with a down-payment of 20,000 kroner  equivalent to nearly $2,900  refundable or applicable towards the purchase price. Deliveries are set to commence next year, with the Sportback version to follow in 2019, and other markets presumably to follow in due course.

The German automaker says that the new crossover will slot size-wise in between the Q5 and Q7, with a 95-kWh battery pack to give it a range of over 500 kilometers (311 miles). Itll boast the electric equivalent of 435 horsepower (boosted to 503 hp in short intervals) and 590 lb-ft of torque, channeled to all four wheels.

By comparison, the Tesla Model X is offered with a 75-, 90, or 100-kWh battery, with range of up to 289 miles (in 100D spec). Audi promises further range from less power, but well be interested to see if it can match the 2.9-second 0-60 time boasted by the Tesla P100D in Ludicrous mode. The E-Tron will be slightly shorter than the Model X in both and height, but slightly wider.

The interest in the Audi e-tron quattro has been enormous since the first draft edition was shown in 2015, said Audi Norway director Harald Edvardsen-Eibak. Norway is a pioneer market for electrification and we are proud to be first in the Audi Group with a solution like this. At the same time, we have high expectations for the car now approaching Norwegian roads.

Photo Gallery
Despite giving it a makeover some four years ago, the Dacia Duster remains as utilitarian as ever, with limited amenities, but a built-to-last interior.



It shares its underpinnings with the rest of the Romanian brands cars, including the Logan and Sandero, and with a starting price of 9,500 ($12,165) in the UK, it offers a good value for money.

Not everything is as you would expect it to be, though, as CarWow found in their review that despite the soft suspension, its not comfortable for long-distance driving, and there is a lot of wind and tire noise coming into the cabin.

Moreover, the handling can be scary at first, so it wont encourage owners to take it out on a twisty mountain road.

Two engines are particularly good  the 1.5-liter dCi diesel, which is both punchy and economical, and the 1.2-liter turbo petrol that powers the vehicle tested here. It returns 37 UK mpg (30.8 US mpg / 7.6 l/100 km), a bit more than what the manufacturer says  46 UK mpg (38.3 US mpg / 6.1 l/100 km), and it is the best alternative to a diesel.

Considering that it sits in the same price range as a supermini, you cant complain about the fact that it needs a bit more rear legroom, or that the entry-level model doesnt get air conditioning or other features weve come to expect from new cars these days. Then again, as Mat Watson points out in the following review, the Duster does give the impression that it belongs to the 1990s.

VIDEO
Want a future classic Bimmer for just a fraction of an M3 s money? Start reading

The BMW 320si is not another special edition with a handful of red stitching on the seats and some carbon fiber inserts on the dash. Nor is it a pompous top of the range Ring model which costs more than a small apartment in South Kensington.



In fact, it is a natural born future classic and one of the most affordable homologation special models money can buy. All packed in a 4 door saloon for everyday usage.

Nowadays, a decade after production ended, its price has dropped to second hand city cars levels. Anyone seeking for a clever investment? Of course, all that applies if you live in Europe because BMW never offered the 320si in North America.

The story  the engine

BMWs project 320si was born in order to meet the requirements of the WTCC and Super 2000 regulations. To do so, the Germans built 2,600 units between late 2005 and mid-2006, which included 500 RHD models. The car was intended for the European market solely, but in recent years, we have seen some of these rarities enter the Japanese market as imports from the UK.

Some say that the core of the car was its engine (N45B20S), which was hand-built especially for this model in Hams Hall, alongside the racing units. This is half the story. Actually, the engine was one of the highlights.

It produces a maximum output of 170hp (173PS) at 7,000 rpm and 210Nm (155 lbft) at 4,250 rpm. Paired to a six-speed manual, it allowed for a top speed of 225 km/h or 140 mph and acceleration to 100 km/h (62mph) in 8.1 seconds. Thats versus the regular 2005-2007 320is 150PS (148hp) that did 0-100km/h in 9.0 sec and later on, the facelifted 2011/2013 320is 168hp (170PS) and 8.2 sec run.

A completely unique creation, it was not an evolution of the N46B20 of the normal E90 320i. In comparison, it had different bore and stroke dimensions to aid revving (85mm x 88mm), wilder cams, bigger valves, compression ratio up to 11:1 and was Valvetronic free for instant throttle response! Oh, it also wore a kinky valve cover made of carbon, giving an overall 10 kg (22 lbs) weight reduction.

This four-banger loves to be revved hard and the power band extends up to 7,000 rpm, making a sweet sound  sporty and beefy. The low end torque is just adequate but, in conjunction with the ultra-low final drive ratio, it performs surprisingly well for a two liter 4-pot.

By no means should it be considered as a 325i alternative for long distance cruising. It only matches the straight six in consumption matters, where an average of just under 13 l/100 km (equal to 18mpg US / 21.7mpg UK) should be concerned a normality. When driven as it should, 15 l/100km (15.7mpg US or 18.8mpg UK) is the figure to wait for. And all that using 98 or 100 RON fuel. Not because the factory says so, but in order to protect the engine from catastrophic knocking. Which (the engine), is generally prone to failure in one way or another

Although BMW never admitted the fact, the major drawback of the 320si is engine block cracks. To be more precise, the aluminum cylinder sleeves (liners) used in this engine, along with the very thin cylinder block walls, make a deadly cocktail which hates abrupt temperature rises and requires extra care until the engine reaches its operating temperature. And there is not one damn gauge to check this (coolant  oil). If not treated properly, usually the sleeve of the second or the third cylinder (most common ones) fail, and leave the lucky owner 7,000-10,000 short. That is for a new power unit from BMW, which is willing to buy back the broken one in order to rebuild and resell it. Yes, they dont know

Cheaper repairs include replacing the aluminum sleeves with cast iron ones (search through the net  there are dedicated engine specialists who perform such a job), but, of course, prevention is the golden rule. That means treating the engine in a more sensitive way. This includes usage of premium petrol, oil change intervals which should not exceed 8,000-10.000 km or about 5,000 to 6,000 miles (using the proper oil), correct engine warming up before exceeding 3,000-3,500 rpm, injector and fuel pump inspection/cleaning every 4-5 years or so, and last but not least, valve clearances checking as stated by the manufacturer.

Of course, as these cars are already in the streets for 10 years, it is not a bad idea to perform a compression test along with a boroscope camera inspection before buying one, or in order to check the condition of your engine. Better be safe than sorry.

Best handling non-M E9x, by far

As stated before, the unique engine is just one highlight of this special car. Only a few though, have paid attention to the marvelous job carried out in terms of weight balance and suspension set up. Primarily, the engine has been placed in a way to sit lower and further back, towards the cabin, improving vehicles weight distribution and lowering its center of gravity.

BMWs M-division spent quite some time fine tuning the suspension in order to get the maximum out of the car. To do so, everything has been re-calibrated; shock absorbers, springs, torsion bars, bushes and angles. Lastly, the 320si, sits on a special set of 18 BMW Performance alloys (216), which have the exact shape of the WTCC cars.

Together with the use of the 325is brakes, all these provide a rewarding feeling on all kinds of twisty roads. The car hits corners superbly and the balance throughout a curve is fantastic. Understeer occurs purely by drivers misjudgment and oversteer only when asked for. Sadly, the absence of an LSD (inexcusable for the models disposition), deprive a crispier response on slow corners exits.

The 320si is claimed to be the best handling E9x from all the non-M bunch and we couldnt agree more. No sixer can transfuse the balance of a 4-potter in this hull, especially when placed like the BMWs engineers did in the 320si.

In a few words, it is a car for the purist, which lacks 20 or so horses (quad throttle bodies would have been nice) and some kind of limited slip differential.

What to look for

In the European market there are still some well cared examples  but they are rarities. Look for the latest models (production date) where it is claimed that are not so prone to engine failure. Check (and double check) the kilometers in the dash in comparison with the several electronic units. If the average speed during the vehicles lifespan is under 25km/h (16mph), walk away. There might be exemptions, but you must be sure of what you are doing.

Prices start from as low as 7,000 for tired/crash repaired vehicles that operate decently. Pay no more than 14,000 -15,000 for an excellent example in showroom condition with less than 50,000 genuine km (30,000miles) on the clock, fully stamped service book, excellent interior and good tires. Additional extras (professional navi, leather interior, s/r etc.) may alter the price upwards slightly  but not that much.

Check for engine warning lights corresponding to catalytic convertor problems. It is an expensive repair but it might be also just an oxygen sensor

Avoid vehicles with body kits, different rims or other aesthetic improvements, which alter the original looks of the car. Make an exemption for genuine BMW Performance parts, which add up value. You can take a look at used examples over at Mobile.de.

It is not the easiest car to live with but is so rewarding behind the wheel. Since prices remain at these levels, it is a good investment as it has already been considered as a future classic. Think it over and dont hesitate!

By Stratis Petrouneas

POINTS FOR

 Natural born classic, just 2.600 pcs worldwide

 The best handling E9x (M3 excluded)

 Rev-happy engine, great sound

 Will always have spare parts (BMW politics)

POINTS AGAINST

 Engine failure problems

 Fuel consumption

 Service costs (inc. valve clearance adjustment every 4 years/50k km)

Photos George Svolopoulos & BMW

Photo Gallery
Photo: Contributed

The Repair Cafe could be just the event youre looking for to fix up those home projects.

The event is hosted by the regional waste reduction office, and takes place at Okanagan College Trades Building, Saturday April 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

And the best part is, it's free.

Its about reviving the whole culture of repair, get people thinking well maybe I can use this thing again, about changing our habits from a throw away to a fix it society. And a big part of it all is showing people they can actually repair things themselves, so empowerment is a big piece of the puzzle," said Rae Stewart, waste reduction facilitator.

The Repair Cafe concept started in the Netherlands and is now part of a growing international network.

"It is a celebration of the great things that can be done when we pool our skills knowledge and resources," Stewart said.



If you would like to volunteer as a Repair Cafe Fixer, or if you have something youre looking to have repaired, refurbished, revamped or renewed, youre invited to join in on the Repair Cafe. For more info visit their website.
Photo: Google Maps

A Surrey company appears to be the leading candidate for the extension of John Hindle Drive.

BD Hall Constructors Corp. came in with the lowest of the five bids which appeared on BC Bid. Their bid came in at slightly under $9.4 million.

The highest of the five bids was provided by Copcan Civil Ltd. out of Nanaimo, at just under $11 million.

Bids on the project closed Wednesday, however, the contract has not yet been officially awarded.

The bid is unverified

Dollar amounts contained in the bid are still subject to review, calculation, verification and adjustment by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Final ranking of the total tender costs could change.

No Kelowna companies bid on the project.

The province has set out a budget of $11.6 million for the extension of John Hindle Drive from the Glenmore Landfill to Alumni Drive at UBC Okanagan.

The 1.8 kilometre extension will include a two-lane roadway, and a 2.8-kilometre paved multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists.

Construction is expected to begin later this spring with completion expected in the spring of 2018.
Photo: The Canadian Press The Edmonton Police Service has released this photo to the public in the hopes of identifying a child who was found dead outside of a church in the northeast area of the city.

Homicide detectives are investigating and Alberta's premier has issued a plea for help after a toddler's body was found near a church in northeast Edmonton.

Police say a passerby made the tragic discovery on Friday afternoon in the vicinity of Good Shepherd Anglican Church, near 155 Avenue and Castledowns Road.

Police said the identity of the child, who is about 20 months old, is not known.

"This is so heartbreaking," Premier Rachel Notley tweeted, asking members of the public to contact police with any information they might have.

At a news conference late Friday, police echoed that request.

"Someone out there is missing this little boy and we need assistance, not only to identify him, but to find his family and the people around him that will help us put together the events that led to this," said Staff Sgt. Duane Hunter, who called the incident "very sad and unfortunate."

"Our focus right now in the investigation is primarily to identify the young toddler."

At the news conference, police displayed items of the child's clothing, including a blue snowsuit bearing the logos "U.S. Polo Assn" and "USPA Polo Assn."

There was also a blue T-shirt with a Batman logo on it, and a black and grey sneaker with lime green and blue detailing.

Police said an autopsy on the child is pending.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Hundreds of scientists gathered on Parliament Hill and in at least 17 other communities across Canada Saturday, rallying in support of their American counterparts who say they're facing mounting attacks against science.

Science advocate Katie Gibbs said she felt like she was returning a favour. Nearly five years ago, she was in the same place, doing almost the same thing.

In July 2012, she helped organize the "Death of Evidence" rally, protesting cuts to science programs under the former Harper government.

That march paved the way for the advocacy organization that she now heads up, Evidence for Democracy.

The March for Science, which coincides with Earth Day, took place in more than 500 cities around the world -- with about 18 scheduled in cities across Canada.

Gibbs said that when Canadian scientists felt threatened, they got a lot of support from their U.S. counterparts.

"I'm not sure if people really know that," she said. "We worked really closely with the Union of Concerned Scientists in the U.S., for example. They were really supportive of us. So now, it's our turn to return the favour to them."

Organizers of the U.S. events portrayed the march as political but not partisan, promoting the understanding of science as well as defending it from various attacks, including proposed U.S. government budget cuts under Trump, such as a 20 per cent slice of the National Institute of Health
Photo: Skylar Noe-Vack

UPDATE 6:25 p.m.

A Penticton boy is mostly OK, after being struck by a vehicle on Saturday afternoon.

He has bruises and scrapes but no major injuries, said one of the boys parents.

I know people can be worried seeing that a young child has been struck by a vehicle. Thanks to all our neighbours who stayed with our son until help could get there.

ORIGINAL 2:15 p.m.

A nine-year-old child has been struck by a vehicle in Penticton.

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the intersection of Alder street and Redland Road at 1:39 p.m. Saturday.

The extent of the child's injuries are not known at this time.

There are also no details surrounding the circumstances of the incident.

Castanet will have more information as soon as it becomes available.
Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

UPDATE: 7:27 p.m.

A man suspected of being responsible for a shooting in Oliver was arrested in Princeton early Saturday afternoon, following the report of a kidnapped woman.

At about 11 a.m., the Princeton RCMP learned that a woman had allegedly been confined in her vehicle by Afshin Maleki Ighani, who was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for attempted murder.

According to the RCMP, a man and woman were with Ighani in a car on Saturday in a restaurant parking lot, when Ighani ordered the man out of the car and drove away with the woman still inside.

The man then allegedly stole a motorcycle from the restaurant parking lot and attempted to follow Ighani, who had left Princeton heading eastbound. All three individuals are known to each other.

RCMP checkpoints were set up in the Keremeos area, in an attempt to intercept the vehicle, however only the male on the motorcycle was observed coming through, at which time he failed to stop for police.

Penticton RCMP officers located the stolen motorcycle, abandoned, in OK Falls shortly after. The man is still at large.

The RCMP Southeast District helicopter had been dispatched at the start of the incident, with police eventually locating the vehicle via a cell phone ping in the Manning Park area headed towards Princeton.

The vehicle was spotted by the helicopter entering Princeton where officers on the ground converged on it in a local trailer home park.

Officers noted that the vehicle was still occupied by Ighani and the woman. At one point, an officer discharged their firearm towards the vehicle.

Ighani then ditched the car, leaving the woman, but was tracked and captured by a dog team in a wooded area nearby. None of the individuals were injured during the arrest.

Ighani remains in custody and may face further charges in connection to Saturday's incident.

ORIGINAL 3:25 p.m.

There is a heavy police presence in OK Falls.

A resident on Birch Street told Castanet that at around 2 p.m. she heard a lot of noise and when she went outside to investigate, she saw a man running through her yard.

The man left his helmet on the ground and ran into the street.

The woman said police then showed up, took the helmet and told her to stay inside.

The police dog unit arrived at the scene to search for the suspect.

Police have towed the motorcycle from the area.

There is no word on who the police are chasing, but RCMP are still looking for Afshin Maleki Ighani, 45, in relation to a shooting in Oliver earlier this week.

Oliver RCMP have issued a Canada-wide warrant for Ighani.

The Oliver RCMP ask that anyone seeing Afshin Maleki Ighani to immediately call 911. He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the RCMP or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

- with files from Deborah Pfeiffer
Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Volunteers from the South Okanagan Rehabilitation Centre for Owls, SORCO, were at the Penticton Farmers' Market, Saturday, to advise the public about owls nesting in the area.

The SORCO representatives set up a booth under a tree where three baby owls have been in a nest for the last few weeks.

"Our main message is to give them space and don't harass them," said Trish Dobransky. "We also advise never to feed the birds and to call SORCO, if you see one on the ground."

The organization has been spreading the word to leave the owls alone for weeks now, with concern growing as they get bigger and try to leave the nest.

They decided to attend the market, knowing it would draw a big crowd on Saturday.

On Friday night, according to Dobransky, one also dropped from the nest and was picked up by SORCO.

"If these birds were in the forest they would would be fine on the ground, but in this situation it's too stressful and dangerous to leave them on the ground," she said.

The baby owl that left the nest is doing well, she added.

Information on SORCO's upcoming open house on May 7 was also provided, Saturday.

It is the only day of the year they are open to the public.

Anyone seeing any activity at the owls' nest, is asked to call SORCO immediately, at 250-498-4251.
Photo: Contributed

For Canadas 150th birthday this year, Castanet is featuring an Okanagan wine each week, celebrating the bottles of our Valley and the diversity of the Canadian wine industry, including suggested food pairings and Canadian music artist to listen to while enjoying a glass. For current availability, consult the winery.

Wine: Chardonnay, 2015

Winery: Blue Mountain, Okanagan Falls

Why drink it? You know you want to give Chardonnay another chance. Blue Mountain is one of the top oaked chardies around and is a perfect re-introduction to a balanced chard. Because this wine is thoughtfully handled  the vines are 26-years-old, the juice fermented 50 percent in stainless steel, 50 percent in French oak  the pureness of the fruit comes through (think lemon and lime zest), while the creaminess and character of the oak gives the wine an understated note of toasted brioche. Even the most ardent opponents of chard will enjoy this bottle.

Price: $21

Pair with: You can age this for around five years, but if you wish to enjoy now, get some fresh mussels and give them a lemon steam, or grill some scallops. Not wanting to mess up the kitchen? Grab a roast chicken from your favourite deli and whip up a good Caesar salad on the side.

Classic cancon music pairing: English Bay, Blue Rodeo

Have a BC wine you'd like to suggest? Contact us at [email protected], and we will put you in touch with our wine writer.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Retired Canadian spaceman Bob Thirsk asks himself a couple of simple questions when sizing up people who tell him they want to become an astronaut.

The first is whether he could see himself getting along with the person for six months in orbit and the other is whether he could trust them with his life.

"Would I enjoy spending a long period of time ... with this person? If I can say yes, I will go on and consider that person as a potential candidate," Thirsk, who was selected as an astronaut in 1983, told The Canadian Press.

The fourth recruitment process is currently underway as Canada looks to double its astronaut corps this summer with the addition of two new members.

The field has been reduced from 3,772 to 32, including 11 women. A further cut will be announced by Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains in Toronto on Monday.

Those still remaining include engineers, Canadian Forces personnel, doctors, university professors and pilots.

Thirsk, who holds the Canadian record for most time spent in space with more than 200 days, says some stereotypical Canadian traits come in handy for potential astronauts: politeness, diplomacy and mediation.

"You can be technically brilliant, but if you irritate your other five crewmates, the crew is not going to be as efficient and productive as a crew that might have less technical skills, but gets along well together," he said.
Photo: Contributed

A man was killed when a pickup went over an embankment in Abbotsford early this morning.

The crash happened about 3:45 a.m. near Straiton and Willet roads.

Two other occupants were treated for minor injuries.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: Maija Daughtry

Spring has been slow in coming to the Okanagan, but signs are blooming that it's here to stay.

Arrowleaf balsamroot flowers are blooming on Okanagan hillsides.

Commonly called "Okanagan sunflowers," the bright yellow blooms are sure sign spring is here, whether the weatherman agrees or not.

The flowers are an annual delight for hikers, mountain bikers and anyone venturing into the outdoors.

Today might not be the best day to enjoy them, though.

The forecast calls for a mix of sun and cloud, and 60 per cent chance of showers this afternoon  with a risk of thunderstorms. The snow level is at 1,500 metres, and highs of about 18 C are expected.

Mostly cloudy conditions are expected to continue well into the week.
Photo: Wayne Moore

Kevin O'Leary isn't a politician, doesn't pretend to be one, and won't apologize for it.

But, the self-proclaimed Mr. Wonderful who rose to national and international celebrity through the Dragon's Den and Shark Tank reality shows, does hope to soon become leader of the federal Conservative Party, and prime minister in 2019.

O'Leary brought his blunt vision, and message, to nearly 400 party faithful at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna Saturday morning.

Read more
Photo: CTV

Edmonton police have arrested a man and a woman in the case of a toddler whose body was found outside a church on the north side of the city.

A police statement issued Saturday night said the two were arrested without incident in northwest Edmonton earlier in the evening, that they were in police custody, and that charges were pending against both individuals.

The statement said investigators were working to determine the exact relationship between the suspects and the little boy, who was estimated to be about 20 months old.

Police did not publicly identify the suspects, however, they indicated they would have more to say about the investigation sometime Sunday.

Earlier Saturday police released grainy surveillance video pictures of a man and woman they were looking for in connection with the case. The pictures showed the two pushing a stroller as they entered a store.

Investigators have said they believe the boy's body was left near the Good Shepherd Anglican Church on Tuesday morning, three days before it was found by a passerby on Friday.

Police did not say in their statement whether they had identified the child.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday morning to determine how the toddler died.

In the statement issued Saturday night the Edmonton Police Service thanked the many people it said contacted them with tips, adding that no more would be necessary.

The sad case has triggered an outpouring of emotion in the city.

"My heart just really aches to think of this thing happening," said Marryman Porter, who attended a bake sale and lunch held Saturday at the Good Shepherd Anglican Church.

People also stopped by to leave flowers and a teddy bear at the place where the child's body was discovered.

One woman, after laying flowers, hugged another women she'd arrived with, her eyes welling with tears.
Photo: CTV

Three years after a gunman's rampage left three Mounties dead, the RCMP itself faces trial Monday.

The Labour Code trial stems from the force's handling of the 2014 massacre in Moncton, N.B., and the wife of one victim says it will be extremely difficult for everyone involved  but necessary.

"Change in this organization is needed before tragic history repeats itself," Nadine Larche said.

"Had they had proper equipment, proper training and information, I believe that the outcome of that day would have been very different."

Her husband, Constable Doug Larche, and constables Fabrice Gevaudan and Dave Ross were killed, while constables Eric Dubois and Darlene Goguen were wounded when gunman Justin Bourque used a semi-automatic rifle to target police officers in Moncton's northwest end.

The rampage set off a 30-hour manhunt that drew in officers from around the region. People in the area were told not to leave their homes until the gunman was caught. Bourque later said he had hoped to start a rebellion against the government.

The RCMP's lengthy trial is scheduled to begin Monday before a provincial court judge, and is expected to last until the end of June.

Employment and Social Development Canada alleges the force failed to:

Provide its members with appropriate use-of-force equipment and user training when responding to an active threat or active shooter event;

Provide its members with necessary information, instruction and/or training when responding to an active threat or active shooter event;

Provide its supervisory personnel with appropriate information, instruction and/or training when responding to an active threat or active shooter event; and

Ensure, in general, the health and safety of its members.

Larche said she hopes the trial will lead to changes to ensure officer safety and better working conditions.

"I am encouraged by the fact that charges were laid and that the Crown is holding the RCMP responsible for mistakes that were made that cost three RCMP members' lives," she said in an email to The Canadian Press.

A review said officers responding to the shootings faced a litany of problems, including getting access to accurate information, high-powered weaponry and protective equipment.

The RCMP entered not-guilty pleas in May 2016.

Rob Creasser of the Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada said he was "surprised and horrified at the same time" when the force entered not guilty pleas.

He calls the trial a tremendous waste of taxpayers' money that will unnecessarily dredge up a lot of emotions.

Still, Creasser said he hopes it leads to accountability by the force.

"It's important that communities, especially those that have the RCMP looking after them, that those police agencies have the tools, equipment and training they need to be effective in their work and keep those communities safe. I don't think this was the case in Moncton," he said.

Creasser acknowledges that the RCMP have made improvements since the Moncton incident.

"I think they're trying to play catch-up, but they had a 10-year lead time. We go back to what happened in Mayerthorpe, Alberta in 2005 and the recommendations that came out of that  another tragedy where four members lost their lives."

(Four RCMP officers were shot dead in 2005 by gunman James Roszko, who then killed himself, on a farm in northwest Alberta near Mayerthorpe, during a raid to investigate stolen property and a small marijuana grow operation.)

Creasser said the force has not rolled out new C8 carbine rifles quickly enough.

Bourque was sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 75 years after pleading guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

A bronze monument featuring life-size statues of constables Larche, Gevaudan and Ross was unveiled on Moncton's riverfront last June, on the second anniversary of the shootings.

In recent weeks, many members of the RCMP across the country have removed the yellow stripes from their pants to protest pay, staffing levels and working conditions.

"RCMP members and their loved ones are all frustrated and tired of the ill equipped and poor working conditions RCMP officers are placed in daily," Larche said.
Chino, CA (91710)

Today

Rain likely. Low 48F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Localized flooding in recent burn areas..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 48F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Localized flooding in recent burn areas.
Aside from opening a tasting room, Goose Island will offer tours of its Fulton Street brewery. The 60- to 75-minute tours will cost $10 and include three two-ounce samples, plus a Goose Island-branded nonic pint glass. Reservations will be available online. (Goose Island)

Back when Goose Island was nearly the only craft brewer in town, getting the public into its Fulton Street brewery was not a priority. The brewery was for making the beer that went on taps and shelves around town, not hosting people and telling stories.

That philosophy no longer works in an increasingly competitive craft beer landscape, which is why Goose Island is adding public tours and an 89-seat tasting room to its brewery. Both are expected to launch early next year.

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Ken Stout, Goose Island's director of consumer experience, said the lack of public access long nagged at him, but the industry's growth has made opening the brewery's doors essential.

"Lagunitas opened that beautiful tasting room," Stout said. "Revolution has a great tasting room. There are all those new brewpubs. We are the most-known brewery in Chicago, but people don't know where our brewery is."

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It's an obvious missed opportunity in an industry where craft beer has become an experience and ideology almost as much as fermented grain in a bottle or can. Sixty-one percent of American breweries in 2013 had a "significant onsite distribution presence," either as a brewpub or a taproom, according to the Boulder, Colo.-based Brewers Association.

Tours and taprooms are among the most effective methods of connecting with an audience, said Julia Herz, director of the Brewers Association's craft beer program.

"There are many positives, including a deeper connection with the local community, an avenue for sales and event revenue, a place for extended education and also an option to interface directly with the appreciators of their craft beers," Herz said by email. (The Brewers Association has not counted Goose Island as a "craft brewer" since Anheuser-Busch InBev bought the brewery in 2011).

"Tasting rooms often are the birthplace of many of today's craft brewers' greatest ideas," Herz said. "A tasting room is a place where brewers who pay attention can get instant feedback and a read on how beer lovers respond to their offerings."

Gabriel Magliaro, an owner of Half Acre Beer Co., said the tenor of his Lincoln Avenue brewery changed as it opened to the public  first tours, then a bottle shop and, in late 2012, after the brewery had been in business for five years, a taproom.

"The ability to get anyone who wants to come in to see our tanks and talk about beer with the people making it  that is what we do for a living, in my opinion," Magliaro said. "The people who come are in it for the beer, but also the camaraderie and spending time with people elbow-to-elbow at the bar. They're in it for the experience."

Half Acre is planning to expand its Lincoln Avenue taproom by about 60 percent and build a taproom at its forthcoming second brewery, on Balmoral Avenue, which is expected to begin production by the end of the year.

For most breweries "it would be crazy not to" have a taproom or offer tours, Magliaro said.

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"Financially it's a good thing, and to not share what you're doing at the source with the people who care most about it, why wouldn't you do that?"

Craft beer was far less experiential when Goose Island opened the Fulton Street brewery in 1995. And it wasn't so long ago that Chicago brewing barely extended past Goose Island (there was Rock Bottom, Piece Pizza and a smattering of suburban brewers), but Stout said the brewery can't fight change anymore. The Chicago metro area has more than 50 operating breweries with many more in planning.

"There's no better marketing device than getting people in your brewery," he said. "They get to touch the beer and smell it and feel it, and talk with people who love telling the story. You've got to get them in your house and show them a great time, and that we're credible."

Credibility has become particularly important for Goose Island since becoming part of Anheuser-Busch InBev, leading to a robust discussion of its "craft" merits. Stout acknowledged as much, and offered a comparison to his college music-listening days.

"When The Replacements came out, they were underground and sounded great," Stout said. "After a few albums, they got outside of just being played on WXRT and it was like, 'Oh man, they're not as good as they used to be.' We've got a little of that going on."

While Goose Island's expansion isn't directly tied to Anheuser-Busch buying Goose in 2011  the expansion "is all generated by Goose Island revenue and profit," Stout said  Goose production has been up considerably since exporting some of its brewing to A-B plants in New York and Colorado. So in that sense, the expansion can be directly tied to Goose's ownership. Stout said the tour will not shy from that part of its story.

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"We don't want to hide it because it's the truth, but we want to give context," Stout said.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

Which is?

"Our biggest challenge four or five years ago was keeping up with demand," Stout said. "That's not an issue now."

Goose plans to operate the tasting room Thursday through Saturday during January and February, then expand to five or six days a week. Brewery tours, which will last 60 to 75 minutes, will cost $10 and include three two-ounce samples, plus a Goose Island-branded nonic pint glass. Reservations will be available online.

The taproom, at 1800 W. Fulton St., will feature eight taps, Stout said, some of which will be the beers that Goose Island is pushing nationally  like IPA and 312 wheat and pale ales  along with the Chicago- and draft-only Green Line pale ale, beers from its Fulton and Wood series and a rotation of others (Stout mentioned Matilda and Sofie as possibilities).

Renovation is being done by local contractors that include Right Way Signs and Icon Modern.

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jbnoel@tribune.com

Twitter @joshbnoel
Luna the pit bull terrier has a brown spot between her ears, a marking that Maritza Galindo's children say looks like the moon, and that led them to insist that she be named after it.

Her sons, ages 3, 7, and 8, have been asking about the family dog constantly since she disappeared Thursday afternoon. They don't know she was shot in the head and is now hospitalized, awaiting surgery.

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Her children "just know she's hurt, that she got out" of the yard, said Galindo, 23, in a phone interview Saturday. "They don't know what else happened."

Luna was shot late Thursday afternoon after Galindo's mother let out the two family dogs into the yard of their Marquette Park neighborhood home to relieve themselves, Galindo said.

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Within minutes, Luna got out  the family still isn't sure how  and was missing. The family mobilized to look for her.

Galindo and her sister got into their cars and started driving around the neighborhood. While they were looking, Galindo got a call from a neighbor, who told her that Luna had been shot while she was following a group of kids.

"Everybody knows her in the neighborhood," Galindo said. "Here in the neighborhood, kids next door will come to Luna and play with her because they know she is not bad ... She's a pit bull terrier and that's the thing: People always think they're bad dogs by looking at them. They think they're dangerous, but it all depends on how you raise them."

Officers nearby heard a gunshot just after 4:15 p.m. Thursday and went to the 6600 block of South Richmond Street, where they saw a dog with a gunshot wound, according to a police spokesman. In the 2800 block of West Marquette Road, they stopped a 15-year-old boy who had been seen running from the area.

The boy had a gun on him and told officers that he had shot the dog because he was afraid that it was going to hurt him, police said. He was taken into custody and charged as a juvenile with five felonies  aggravated use of a weapon without a state firearms identification card, theft, criminal damage of a domestic animal, aggravated cruelty to animals and reckless discharge of a firearm.

When Galindo and her sister got to the scene, Luna had already been taken away by Chicago Animal Care and Control officers, who later released Luna to Galindo, she said.

Galindo rushed the dog to an animal hospital, where she was told after X-rays that a bullet was lodged between the dog's eyes and that it would require a very delicate surgery to remove. The staff gave Galindo some pain medication for Luna and sent them home.

But Luna's condition worsened. She was vomiting blood, her nose kept bleeding and she couldn't eat, much less take the pain medication. The animal hospital estimated the surgery Luna needed would cost between $1,500 and $8,000 depending on what needed to be done, but Galindo didn't have the money for it.

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"I was just thinking that she is going to die and she is going to be gone and what am I going to do and how am I going to break my kids' heart," Galindo said, her voice breaking. "She's stayed with us since she was a baby. It's really hard to not have the money to save her."

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Friday, Galindo got a call from someone who told her about the Chicagoland Rescue Intervention and Support Program, or CRISP, a nonprofit group that helps families keep their pets instead of giving them up to Animal Care and Control.

They asked Galindo if she wanted to keep Luna, and she said "Of course."

"She is a part of our family, and my kids love her," Galindo said. "We were trying to find somewhere that could help us keep her and save her because honestly we thought there was no other option" than to give her up.

Heather Owen, executive director of One Tail at a Time, one of the lead groups that make up CRISP, told the family that they had found a donor who would be able to help pay for some of the surgery and that more help was coming.

"Our goal is to keep pets in their homes or find new homes. We see people coming in and Animal Control is full and some of these dogs are getting euthanized," Owen said. "To us it makes perfect sense: Why don't we keep them in the home that loves them?"

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CRISP, which is a coalition of eight groups, set up a YouCaring page for Luna. Although enough money has been raised for her hospital stay and CT scans to assess whether she could receive surgery, $3,000 more is needed to pay for the surgery itself, which is scheduled for Monday at MedVet, a North Side veterinary hospital and emergency center.

"We just want her back," Galindo said. "I don't want to sound bad or anything, but we still need help."
Arron Woods, 24, is charged with hiding a loaded handgun underneath the car safety seat his 8-month-old son was riding in Friday, April 21, 2017. (Chicago police photo )

A reputed gang member hid a loaded handgun under the car safety seat his 8-month-old son was riding in Friday in the Roseland neighborhood, prosecutors said Saturday.

Arron Woods, 24, of the 10100 block of South Yale Avenue, faces charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member, child endangerment and marijuana possession. He was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 bail after a hearing at midday Saturday.

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Police stopped the gray 2003 Toyota Camry in which Woods was a passenger just before 6 p.m. Friday when they noticed the driver wasn't wearing a seat belt.

After curbing the car in the 100 block of East 111th Street, police say they noticed the two rear-seat passengers, one of them Woods, take the child out of the baby seat, place a black, wrapped T-shirt into the car seat and then saw the baby put back into the seat, authorities said.

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During a search, police found a Smith & Wesson firearm loaded with 14 live rounds wrapped in the shirt and one bullet in the seat itself, authorities said. Police also confiscated $63 worth of marijuana and $440 cash from Woods, whom they identified as a member of the Gangster Disciples.

Woods was arrested and processed at the Calumet District Police Station and the child was released into his mother's custody, authorities said.

During his court appearance, which came a day before his 25th birthday, Woods was initially ordered held on $75,000, but Judge Peggy Chiampas raised it by $25,000 after considering the potential danger to the infant involved.

If Woods posts bail, Chiampas ordered him to adhere to a 24-hour curfew, allowed to leave his home only for work or school and barred him from socializing with gang members.
A woman was stabbed and seriously wounded during a fight in the Robert Taylor Homes neighborhood on the South Side Saturday night, according to police.

The woman, 32, was standing in the 4700 block of Wentworth Avenue at about 11:45 p.m. when she got into a fight with two other women who were in a silver sedan, police said.

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The two women got out of the car and began fighting with the woman, police said, stabbing her in the chest.

The 32-year-old was taken to Stroger Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition, authorities said.
PARIS  Amid heightened security, French voters began casting ballots for their next president Sunday in a first-round poll that's seen as a litmus test for the spread of populism around the world and a vote on the future of Europe.

More than 50,000 police and gendarmes were deployed to the 66,000 polling stations for Sunday's election, which comes after Thursday's deadly attack on the Champs-Elysees in which a police officer and a gunman were slain. The presidential poll is the first ever to be held during a state of emergency, put in place since the Paris attacks of November 2015.

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Voters are choosing between 11 candidates in the most unpredictable contest in decades.

The vote "is really important, mainly because we really need a change in this country with all the difficulties we are facing and terrorism," said Paris resident Alain Richaud, who was waiting to cast his vote.

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Opinion polls point to a tight race among the four leading contenders vying to advance to the May 7 presidential runoff, when the top two candidates will go head to head.

Polls suggest far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, an independent centrist and former economy minister, were in the lead. But conservative Francois Fillon, a former prime minister, who was embroiled in a scandal over alleged fake jobs appeared to be closing the gap, as was far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.

France's 10 percent unemployment, its lackluster economy and security were issues that top concerns for the 47 million eligible voters.

The election is widely seen as a vote on the future of the European Union  with most of the candidates railing against its institutions.

Both Le Pen and Melenchon  two candidates from opposite extremes of the political spectrum  could pull France out of the 28-nation bloc and its shared euro currency in a so-called "Frexit."

A French exit could spell the end of the EU.

If either candidate wins a spot in the runoff, it will be seen as a victory for the rising wave of populism reflected by the votes for Donald Trump in the U.S. and Brexit in Britain.

"It's definitely risky, but I have faith in the result even if an extreme candidate qualifies for the second round," said Beatrice Schopflin, who was queuing to vote in Paris.

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Macron and Fillon are committed to European unity and would reform labor rules.

The candidates are voting throughout the day.

Meters from the polling station where Le Pen was heading to vote, several feminist activists from the Femen group were arrested after staging a topless protest against the far-right leader, who is the only major female contender in the race. Police intervened and stopped the commotion minutes before the 48-year-old arrived to cast her ballot in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont. No one was hurt.

Macron, meanwhile, was the image of serenity as he posed for selfies with voters after casting his ballot in the coastal town of Le Touquet in northern France alongside his wife, Brigitte Macron.

Fillon voted in Paris, but his wife  who's been handed preliminary charges for her role in the fake jobs scandal that rocked her husband's campaign  voted 250 kilometers (155 miles) away from him near their 14th century manor house in Sarthe.

This year's roller-coaster campaign has seen much controversy, but some voters appear to have become blase or turned off from politics.

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"There have been surprises, there have always been scandals," said Le Touquet resident Pierre-Antoine Guilluy.

Voter Marie-Christine Colrat said: "Listen, too many candidates. And candidates that caused us a lot of problems, I think that's not a good thing for France."

Unpopular incumbent President Francois Hollande, who pledged last year not to stand for re-election, voted in his political fiefdom of Tulle in Correze, southwestern France.

This year's Socialist party presidential candidate Benoit Hamon cast his ballot in Trappes, a Paris suburb. Melenchon also voted in Paris.

Political campaigning was banned from midnight Friday hours ahead of polls opening in France's far-flung overseas territories such as Guadeloupe, French Polynesia and French Guiana, which all voted a day early Saturday.

Associated Press writers Nadine Achoui-Lesage in Paris, Chris den Hond in Le Touquet and Alex Turnbull in Henin-Beaumont contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump and White House officials pressed congressional Republicans on Sunday to use the looming threat of a government shutdown to win funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a top priority for the administration as it nears the symbolic 100-day mark.

Trump wants funding to be included in a spending measure that would keep the government open past April 28, a determined effort that has prompted a possible standoff with lawmakers in both parties, who hope to avert a federal closure next weekend.

Trump's push for fast action on his pledge to build the border wall is part of a mounting and, at times, tense scramble inside the administration to kick-start the president's agenda, even if it risks dire political consequences. It follows weeks of frustration within the White House over inaction and stalemates on Capitol Hill over big-ticket items such as health care and tax cuts.

White House chief of staff Reince Priebus said in an interview Sunday with The Washington Post that the president and his advisers remain "strong" in their commitment to securing funding for border security and a wall.

"This is what the president ran on," Priebus said. "We want to get to a place this week where border-security money is being directed to the Department of Homeland Security so that we can begin surveillance and preliminary work, and then we will keep working on getting DHS what it needs for the structure."

The timing promises a week of high drama on the Hill. The Senate returns Monday night, and the House returns Tuesday from a two-week recess, leaving just three days when both chambers will be in session to wrangle out a funding agreement. Negotiators worked throughout the break, but thus far a deal has not been struck.

The wall, which experts say would cost $21.6 billion and take three and a half years to construct, has emerged as a crucial sticking point for the White House, with the president insisting privately and publicly that progress toward its funding and eventual construction must be showcased this week.

"Congress is right to be nervous, but that's Trump's style to be aggressive, ambitious, right out of 'The Art of the Deal,'" said William Bennett, a conservative commentator and close friend of House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. "Everyone seems to be getting used to that and how Trump doesn't want the half loaf but the whole loaf."

In a tweet Sunday, Trump elbowed Democrats who have resisted his call to include wall funding. He chastised them for not wanting "money from the budget going to the border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs" and gang activity, in his view.

Trump added that he would continue to ask Mexico to pay for the project, another bold proclamation he made during the campaign. Meanwhile, he said, he will press Congress for funding "so we can get started early" on the "badly needed border wall."

It remained unclear Sunday whether moderates within the GOP could convince the White House to avoid a shutdown. Democrats have insisted that they will not vote for any spending bill that gives the White House money or flexibility to begin construction of a border barrier. They believe that the GOP will have to either abandon Trump's demand or assume political responsibility if a shutdown occurs.

"The burden to keep it open is on the Republicans," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." "Building a wall is not an answer. Not here or any place."

Inside the White House on Sunday, West Wing aides made calls to congressional allies, while the president tweeted and reached out to several advisers, according to three officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Trump's tweets included a shot at Democrats in which he drew parallels between border-wall funding and continued federal payments for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Some Trump associates said that they believe Democrats may be willing to deal on border funding if those payments are put on the table this week during cross-party talks.

"ObamaCare is in serious trouble. The Dems need big money to keep it going  otherwise it dies far sooner than anyone would have thought," Trump tweeted. He later followed: "The Democrats don't want money from budget going to border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs and very bad MS 13 gang members."

The tweets did little to assuage concerns created earlier in the day when White House budget director Mick Mulvaney suggested that Trump might not sign a spending bill that does not meet his demands.

"Will he sign a government funding bill that does not include funding for the border wall?" Chris Wallace, host of "Fox News Sunday," asked Mulvaney during a televised interview.

"We don't know yet," Mulvaney responded.

Mulvaney said the White House expects Democrats to cave on the border wall in exchange for guaranteed payments under the ACA.

But Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., have already rejected a White House offer to build into the spending bill a dollar-for-dollar match in wall funding and federal health-care payments. Negotiators want the stopgap measure to keep government open by keeping spending flat, including money to keep the ACA going. Trump is hoping to open that up for negotiation in exchange for wall money.

Democrats believe that voters will blame Trump for a shutdown, particularly if congressional leaders omit wall funding from a spending deal. Democrats and GOP leaders appeared to be nearing a spending agreement last week before Trump ramped up his demands.

Aides hailed the budget talks as one of the only active discussions in which Democrats and Republicans maintained common ground. One clear area of agreement was not to include border funding in the stopgap budget. Democrats agreed to include other border-security measures, including money for new drones to patrol the border, but it was agreed that the wall itself should be debated separately, after the government is kept open.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is among a group of prominent Senate Republicans who have said publicly that they hope to avoid a border wall fight this week.

"I think that's a fight worth having and a conversation and a debate worth having for 2018," Rubio said Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation." "If we can do some of that now, that would be great. But we cannot shut down the government right now.

Mulvaney's hard-line stance is also odds with a White House faction convinced that a government shutdown would be cataclysmic for an administration already struggling to prove its ability to govern, according to GOP aides in the White House and Congress who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing talks.

Republican leaders have signaled that they will concentrate this week on keeping the government open, even if that means ignoring White House calls for action on other major priorities, such as rewriting the tax code and overhauling the ACA.

Trump has pushed his staff in recent days to prod House Republicans for final revisions in a health-care proposal that can win support from both the hard-line conservative Freedom Caucus and the moderate Tuesday Group. And that task led advisers over the weekend to rely especially on three key players  Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., co-chairman of the Tuesday Group; Rep. Mark Meadows R-N.C., chairman of the Freedom Caucus; and Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., the House GOP chief deputy whip - to finalize legislation.

But the White House's efforts to work directly with various House coalitions and piece together a compromise health-care package has led to private unease on Capitol Hill, where some GOP members close to the leadership have grumbled that Trump aides are setting up the party for defeat or a stumble should the tweaked health bill not have as strong support as the White House has suggested.

Trump's advisers, aware of those concerns, still plowed forward Sunday on crafting the bill's language, citing the president's desire for action. There were ongoing conversations about the timing for a health vote, with Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or even sometime in early May, if necessary, discussed as options.

Ryan addressed that pressure in a conference call Saturday afternoon, in which he told GOP members that while he hoped that they would continue health-care talks, his top priority will be the stopgap spending bill.

"Wherever we land will be a product the president can and will support." Ryan said, according to a senior GOP aide on the call.

The Washington Post's Abby Phillip and Sean Sullivan contributed to this report.
A century ago, author Wallace Rice covered the floor of his living room with colorful rectangles. Hed spent six weeks combining shapes and symbols, trying to find just the right image to represent the city where hed spent his life, Chicago. Hed come up with hundreds of possibilities.

Whenever anyone  delivery boys, milkmen, friends  visited Rice's home in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, he quizzed them: Which of these should be the city flag?

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One design was the overwhelming favorite. It had two horizontal blue stripes and three white stripes. Positioned off-center in the middle white stripe, there were two red stars. Each had six sharp points.

"I finally struck upon such a six-pointed star as had never appeared in any flag before, peculiarly and singularly a Chicago star, made by a Chicagoan for his greatly loved city," Rice later recalled.

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Rice won a contest the city was holding for a flag design  a contest for which he just happened to have written the rules  and the City Council officially made it the municipal flag on April 4, 1917.

As it turns 100 years old this month, it's arguably the most popular city flag in the United States.

Those two blue bars represent the branches of the Chicago River. From top to bottom, the white stripes stand for the North Side, the West Side and the South Side. The flag's two original stars symbolized the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893.

This wasn't the first effort at finding a flag or symbol for Chicago. An 1892 contest sponsored by the Chicago Tribune chose terra cotta and white as the city's colors, along with a Y-shaped symbol for the river and its branches. But that symbol  created by local Danish-American architect Alfred Roewad  didn't become official at the time.

In 1915, Republican Ald. James Kearns called for a city flag. Kearns, an Irish immigrant representing the Southwest Side, argued that a flag would "stimulate local patriotism, visualize industrial progress, and instill in school children a concrete evidence of the reality of the city of Chicago as a corporate community and civic organization."

The city formed a commission and held a contest, turning to Rice to write the rules. "He has been interested in flags from his infancy, one of his childhood pastimes being inventive use of colored paper and mucilage," the Chicago Daily News later reported.

The Ontario, Canada, native came to Chicago in 1861, when he was 2 years old. He went on to earn a law degree from Harvard, but he worked as a reporter and literary critic, also lecturing on heraldry and flag design at the Art Institute of Chicago. Rice's rules for the contest said the flag should be beautiful, simple and original.

More than 1,000 entries poured in. "Many designs submitted showed from eight to 12 different and conflicting colors  as many as the designers happened to have in their boxes of crayons or paints," the Tribune later noted. "One ingenious person, who had heard of Chicago as a melting pot of humanity, placed a large black pot in the middle of his design, with red flames overflowing from it."

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Aldermen unanimously endorsed Rice's elegant design. The same vote also designated "a Y-shaped figure in a circle" as the "municipal device, for use by the varied unofficial interests of Chicago and its people."

That spring, Rice explained his flag to Mayor William Hale Thompson, telling the Republican about his six-pointed stars. Thompson "openly expressed" his "enthusiastic approval," according to Rice.

But a decade later, Thompson raised a stink about those stars.

After serving as mayor from 1915 to 1923, the colorful "Big Bill" left City Hall. Thompson  who'd been an outspoken opponent of American participation in World War I  roared back in the 1927 election, accusing Democrat William Dever's administration of foisting pro-British propaganda on Chicago's schoolchildren. Thompson even threatened to punch England's King George V "on the snoot."

Thompson won. And in 1928, the municipal flag caught his eye. He demanded to know why it had six-pointed "British" stars. According to The Associated Press, Thompson pointed to a nearby American flag and said: "The stars in that banner have five points. Draw up an ordinance at once changing the stars of the Chicago flag from the British to the American type."

Author Wallace Rice, who designed the Chicago flag, explains the meaning of the emblem to Sheffield drum and bugle corps members Jimmy Malles, 10, left, and Frank Pfieffer, 12, in 1938. (Chicago Tribune)

Rice insisted there was nothing British about the stars he'd designed. "Five-point stars are the symbols of states and could manifestly have no place in a municipal flag," he told the Tribune. "Mayor Thompson is making not only himself but the flag ridiculous by ordering the change."

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In spite of Rice's protest, the City Council voted to change the stars from six to five points. But then, two years after Thompson left office in 1931, the council voted to put a third star on the flag  symbolizing 1933's Century of Progress Exposition  and the ordinance described them as "bright red stars with sharp points, six in number."

Rice's six-pointed Chicago stars were back.

Finally, in 1939, the council added a fourth star, symbolizing Fort Dearborn, the American military garrison built in 1803 on the site of the future city.

In spite of its eye-catching design, the flag remained obscure for decades. "I didn't know what the flag was until I was elected," Mayor Martin Kennelly remarked in 1948.

Tribune stories suggest it had become more recognizable by the late 1960s, when Mayor Richard J. Daley sent flags to some Chicagoans serving in the Vietnam War. "You'd be surprised how it boosted morale when some of the men found out my mayor sent it to me," Lance Cpl. David Marchi told Daley in a letter. "They are now sending away for flags also."

And in 1971, the Tribune reported that Chicago police officers had begun wearing a patch of the city flag on their right sleeves that spring. "Anyone may wear a city flag patch on his own, an Officer Friendly told us," the article noted.

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The flag's popularity boomed in the years after that, and now Chicago stars are everywhere you look  from beer logos to tattoos.

"It isn't just that people love Chicago and therefore love the flag," Roman Mars, a former Chicagoan who hosts the "99% Invisible" podcast, said in a 2015 TED Talk that went viral, with 4 million online views. "I also think that people love Chicago more because the flag is so cool."

Robert Loerzel is a freelance writer.
ELKO  Christian Sabey has been called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day and assigned to the Arkansas Little Rock Mission. The mission area includes a majority of Arkansas, along with portions of Tennessee and Mississippi.

Im real excited! Im ready to embrace whatever gets thrown my way. I am, of course, nervous because of the unknown but thats what makes it exciting, Christian said shortly before departing for missionary service.

Christian has worked hard to be where he is now. He has prepared, he has faith, and he loves the Lord, said Shayne and Kerry Stone. The Stones and their children are just a few of Christians cousins and relatives who live in the Elko area.

Two years ago, Christian came from Utah  where he and his parents Jason Sabey and Marcy Nickeson, and his two younger sisters live  to visit family in Elko and Christian decided to stay.

Because of the amount of family I have that live in Elko, Ive always found myself coming here all my life. It became my second home, said Christian.

Deciding to move to Elko had a great impact on Christians life. He said, I never considered a mission before moving here, but there came a moment, after going out with the Elders [missionaries] serving here, when I realized it was what I wanted to do.

I am so proud that my son has made the decision to serve a full-time mission, I couldnt be more proud of him. Im excited for him, for the experiences he will have, for the many people he will teach, and for the relationships he will develop, especially the one with his Father in Heaven, Christians mom, Marcy, said.

His father, Jason, added, Christian has always been able to understand the importance of doing things a certain way and has done much to prepare himself for his mission. He cares deeply about people.

Christians service began March 8 at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. He arrived in Arkansas at the end of March, and was assigned to Holly Springs, Mississippi, with two missionary companions.

My first week out in the field was definitely eventful, Christian wrote in a recent letter home. He continued, Holly Springs is a real nice area filled with woods and nice people.

Close to 71,000 full-time missionaries of the Church are currently serving throughout the world, teaching about the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing service. More information about the Church and its missionary program can be found at www.mormon.org.
Hundreds of supporters lined the procession route between the funeral home and the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet on April 22, 2017, paying their respects to sailor Michael Galajdik, who was killed during the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941. (Frank Vaisvilas / Daily Southtown)

Michael Galajdik was finally laid to rest near his Joliet home Saturday after being killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor more than 75 years ago.

"I feel relieved and emotional," said George Sternisha, Galajdik's nephew. "It's been a long journey."

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Galajdik was only 25 years old on Dec. 7, 1941, when he served as a Navy Fireman 1st Class aboard the USS Oklahoma as it was attacked by the Empire of Japan.

He had previously been interred at the Hawaiian naval base along with hundreds of other sailors. But thanks to DNA testing officials were able to identify which remains belonged to Galajdik in order to bring him back to Joliet.

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It was a process Sternisha said he started in 2009 as new technology became available.

The interment for Michael Galajdik, a Navy sailor killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, was held at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery and included flyovers from World War II style planes, April 22, 2017. (Frank Vaisvilas / Daily Southtown)

He regrets his mother, Galajdik's sister, was unable to see it before she died in 1993. Sternisha said his mother, Anna, helped raise Galajdik when she was just a teenager.

His sister, Pauline Mikelich, said their mother wanted her brother close to home so she could visit him often. But she believes her mother was with the family on Saturday and has found closure now that Galajdik's finally home.

"I'm just glad that he's home and it's over with," Mikelich said. "(My mother) always wanted him to come home."

Sternisha, Mikelich and other family members received the well-wishes of dozens of people they just met who wanted to support veterans in such a unique situation.

The Joliet funeral procession, which traveled from Tezak Funeral Home to the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus about a mile away, was lined with hundreds of supporters carrying American flags.

"Both of my grandfathers served in World War II," said Michael Winbun, of Joliet, waving a flag as the procession passed.

He said he wanted to show his support when he heard the Joliet veteran was coming home.

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Robert Locknar, of Joliet, also wanted to show his support and respect. "It's awesome that they're doing this for him," he said.

Groups dotted the route from the church to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery about 13 miles away in Elwood, where Galajdik was finally buried.

At St. Raymond's, the Rev. Ron Neitzke provided the homily after reading Bible verses.

"Welcome home, shipmate," he said as he stood over Galajdik's casket. "Welcome home from the people who stood on the streets who want to commend your dedication to your country in its time of need.  In the midst of the attack (on Pearl Harbor), God said, 'Come to a place where you will never die.' On that day, the Lord welcomed him home."

The Rev. Ron Neitzke reads from scripture and prays with the family of Joliet sailor Michael Galajdik during his burial on April 22, 2017, at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. (Frank Vaisvilas / Daily Southtown)

The procession of about 70 vehicles were led by a firetruck, several police vehicles and about two dozen motorcycle riders from various veterans organizations.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

"We're all here to support veterans," said Lee Young, of the Illinois Patriot Guard, which led the pack. "It's very touching, very happy and very sad at the same time.  It's amazing they could finally do this."

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Galajdik was buried with full military honors, which included a 21-gun salute and the playing of "Taps" by sailors from the Great Lakes Naval Station.

Sternisha said he was amazed to see how many people came out to honor his uncle.

He said he didn't know his uncle personally and it's unlikely anyone who did is still alive because he would be more than 100 years old. But Sternisha and Mikelich feel that bringing their mother's brother home is a way to honor her as well.

Robert Mcleod, representing the state department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said it's up to families to keep pushing for officials to bring their loved ones home.

Some government officials have been working diligently the past several years to return those killed in the battlefield. Mcleod said families can start the process of retrieving their loved ones by visiting the website for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency at www.dpaa.mil.

Frank Vaisvilas is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
A 16-year-old Cedar Lake boy was airlifted to an Illinois hospital with serious injuries after he flipped his all-terrain vehicle Saturday afternoon.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources spokesman Tyler Brock said the boy told officers he'd just finished working on his vehicle when he took it out on private property in the 11000 block of Wicker Avenue around 4 p.m. Saturday. Brock said the boy told them he'd landed a jump improperly and was ejected from the vehicle.

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The ATV then rolled on top of him, lacerating his liver and collapsing his lung, Brock said. The boy is an experienced racer and was wearing a helmet, he said.

"We strongly recommend wearing appropriate safety gear when operating ATV," Brock said. "That includes a helmet, proper riding boots and a chest protector, among other items."

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The boy was first taken to Franciscan Health Crown Point hospital and then later airlifted to Loyola University Hospital in Maywood, Ill., in serious condition. Brock didn't have any further information on his condition Sunday.

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Griffith police were still searching Sunday for suspects involved in a shooting that left two people injured at the Mansards Apartment complex Saturday evening.

Police spokesman Cmdr. Keith Martin said officers responded to a call of shots fired around 8 p.m. in the 1800 block of N. Arbogast. When they arrived, they found a man and woman, each of whom had been shot in the leg.

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Martin said the incident started as a verbal altercation that became physical between a resident there and another group of people. Witnesses said members of the visiting group got into a white 2011 Chevy Malibu and, as they left, they shot a gun toward the residents with whom they'd been arguing but didn't hit anything or anyone.

The group then fled but returned and fired two more shots, which hit a woman and man not involved in the original altercation, Martin said. The two were taken to Methodist Hospital Northlake in Gary for treatment.

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Martin said officers collected evidence at the scene, and witnesses got the Malibu's license plate number and gave it to police, who put out a bulletin to other departments. The car was found unoccupied in the 7500 block of Jarnecke in Hammond.

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
The Porter County Sheriff's Department has released the name of the man shot to death by a Portage police officer during an early Saturday morning traffic stop.

Portage EMS pronounced William D. Spates, 37, of Portage, dead at the scene, Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Sgt. Jamie Erow said in a release Saturday night.

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Authorities said a Portage officer pulled over Spates in the 5300 block of Royal Avenue about 1:45 a.m. Saturday and Spates took actions that led to the officer shooting him.

Portage Police Chief Troy Williams didn't disclose those actions in an earlier release, nor did he return phone calls Saturday.

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Williams will identify the officer Monday, according to Erow. The officer was taken to Portage Hospital for treatment after the incident and was released.

Erow said the Sheriff's Department and the Indiana State Police are investigating, and that additional information would not be released until Monday. The Porter County Coroner's office will also conduct an autopsy and toxicology screen on Spates early in the week, officials said.

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Live updates: Election Day 2022 in Pueblo, Colorado

Follow the Chieftain's coverages of Colorado's 2022 election with live updates from before and after the polls close.
Chinese leading bus maker Zhengzhou Yutong Bus has seen its export volume for the first quarter rising by 56 percent annually, thanks to opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road initiative.

According to the company, it has recently received an order for 500 large buses from Myanmar. The company has delivered over 1,000 passenger buses to Myanmar since it entered the country in 2010.

Company officials said the Belt and Road initiative and the "Made in China 2025" plan are offering more chances for the company to expand global presence.

Yutong's products have been sold to more than 40 countries along the Belt and Road. Yutong has carried out production and technology cooperation with countries including Myanmar, Pakistan, Iran and Cuba, and auto parts from Yutong can be assembled in those countries.

In 2016, the company exported 110 buses to Bulgaria, the first time China's passenger buses entered the EU market in batches.
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China's securities regulator will raise the net capital requirements for futures companies to 30 million yuan (about 4.36 million U.S. dollars) from 15 million yuan.

The raise aims to strengthen settlement risk prevention, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said in a statement Friday.

Futures companies should provide more scientific and detailed data, set aside more capital to guard against risks, and will be under stricter oversight by regulators.

Considering the industry adaptability and market capacity, the new requirements will be implemented from October 1 this year, Zhang Xiaojun, spokesperson with the CSRC.

With a supervisory storm sweeping the country's financial sector, regulators have shown their resolve to protect against systemic financial crises.
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Police in southwest China's Yunnan Province have arrested two suspects and seized 16.82 kg of heroin.

Police with the public security bureau of Longyang District of Baoshan City received reports on April 15 that two men had attempted to transport a batch of drugs to Kunming, capital of the province, according to the bureau on Saturday.

After investigation, police arrested the two suspects and seized the drugs in a car on a highway in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture at 7 p.m. on Monday.

The suspects confessed that they had obtained the heroin from Myanmar and planned to transport it to Kunming.

The investigation is ongoing.
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Chen Quansong [Shanghai Daily]

China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) announced on Saturday that a criminal convicted intentional homicide had been executed after the SPC approved the death sentence.

According to a SPC statement, Chen Quansong killed two young women surnamed Wang and Xian on January 3, 2014 in Shiqian County, southwest China's Guizhou Province after a disagreement. Chen then raped Wang's corpse and covered the two bodies with tree branches.

In the review of the death sentence handed down to Chen by the local court, the SPC formed a collegial panel to review files, interrogate Chen, meet Chen's lawyers and verify evidence, including DNA test results.

The SPC held that the death penalty was given on the basis of clear facts and solid evidence. Chen committed intentional homicide with serious consequence and vile social effect.

To punish serious crimes according to law and safeguard social justice and fairness, the SPC approved the death sentence, according to the SPC statement.

The Intermediate People's Court of Tongren City in Guizhou Province executed Chen on Saturday.
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Twenty-eight Tanzanians working as employees or interns at Chinese companies on Saturday praised the firms for helping them acquire more knowledge and skills.

Speaking at a Labor Skill Contest for local staff working with Chinese companies and award ceremony for college internship programs at the University of Dar es Salaam, the 18 workers and 10 interns said working with the Chinese firms has tremendously improved their work efficiency.

During the contest, 36 workers from Chinese companies in Tanzania competed in six different professions, and 18 of them won awards.

Malegesi Anthony Deogratias, a civil engineering major at the University of Dar es Salaam, had a one-month internship with Jiangsu Jiangdu Construction Group, which is constructing a library at his university.

"I have gained both technological and social knowledge," the second-year student said, adding that he has also been exposed to Chinese hard-working culture.

"The Chinese people work very hard and collaborate with each other," said Deogratias.

Victor Clemence Mushi, said he gained new knowledge and experience during his seven-month internship at Huawei Technologies Tanzania as an IP network engineer.

"Working at Huawei has been interesting, fun, surprising, insightful, inspiring and impactful," said Mushi, a computer science major at the University of Dar es Salaam.

Lu Youqing, China's ambassador to Tanzania, said China will build a center for vocational training in Tanzania, the second largest economy in the region.

"The center will be tailored to provide more skills for the locals that will enable them to improve efficiency at work," Lu said.

"China as a developing country understands the desire for Tanzania, our friends, to reduce poverty," he said. "We want to help the country with our whole heart to improve your ability to develop independently."
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Leela Mani Paudyal, ambassador of Nepal to China delivers welcome remarks on April 21. [Photo/China.org.cn]

The embassy of Nepal presented a tourism-themed cultural show in Beijing on April 21 as the opening ceremony for the 2017 Nepal Tourism Promotion event in China.

The number of visitors from China to Nepal has been growing in recent years, although there was a setback in April 2016, when a catastrophic earthquake occurred. In 2016, the positive trend resumed with 104,000 Chinese visiting the country, accounting for about 15 percent of total tourist arrivals in Nepal, and the embassy in Beijing expects this to continue in 2017.

Wang Xiaofeng, vice chairman of China National Tourism Administration, delivers his remarks. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Leela Mani Paudyal, ambassador of Nepal to China delivered a welcome address at the opening ceremony, pointing out the importance of tourism to Nepal and mentioning the country's efforts to attract more outbound Chinese tourists.

Nepal is willing to further strengthen China-Nepal tourism cooperation with the opportunities provided by of the Belt and Road Initiative, he said, while introducing a series of policies and actions adopted in recent years to restore Nepalese infrastructure.

After the 2015 earthquake, tourism was gradually recovering, he stressed. To attract more Chinese tourists, the embassy in Beijing sought every opportunity to promote the country to the Chinese people. "This is the sixth program in last five months, and more shows, exhibitions and seminars on Nepal tourism will be held in the future.".

Nepal students studying in China present dance performances. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Wang Xiaofeng, vice chairman of China National Tourism Administration, delivered remarks as the guest of honor. He mentioned the progress made in China-Nepal relations in recent years, adding that the CNTA wished to further strengthen tourism cooperation between the two countries.

Zhang Lijun, chairman of the China Association of Travel Services and president of China CYTS Tours Holding Co. Ltd, stressed he was confident of attracting more Chinese tourists to visit Nepal based on closer cooperation between Chinese travel agencies and Nepalese tour operators.

At the end of the ceremony, a renowned photographer Steve Meng shared his experiences in touring Nepal last year and Nepalese students studying in China presented Nepali folk dance performances.
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Voters on France's European mainland began casting their ballots Sunday in the first round of a presidential election that will weigh on the future of Europe.

The voting will winnow down a list of 11 candidates to two finalists for the decisive runoff on May 7.

Polling stations open at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) for a maximum of 12 hours and in the largest cities close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT).

Around 47 million French voters will decide whom to support.

Out of the 11 candidates, four are leading in previous polls, namely the centrist former Minister of economy Emmanuel Macron, the far-rightist Marine Le Pen, the right-wing conservative Francois Fillon and the far-leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) inspects Weihai Port in Weihai city, East China's Shandong province, April 19, 2017. Li visited Shandong from Wednesday to Friday. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has urged Shandong province to quicken efforts to foster new growth drivers to replace old ones and support the firming trend in the broader economy.

In a tour of Shandong from Wednesday to Friday, Li acknowledged the region's economic and social achievements and asked local authorities to adopt new growth concepts under the leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core.
Chinese navy fleet begins half-year friendship visits

Xinhua | Updated: 2017-04-23 13:24

SHANGHAI -- A fleet of three Chinese naval ships left Shanghai Sunday morning for public relations visits to more than 20 countries.



The fleet, composed of missile destroyer Changchun, missile frigate Jingzhou and supply ship Chaohu, will tour Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania for nearly 180 days.



The visits will convey friendship, deepen military communication and cooperation and show a good image of the Chinese navy, according to Miao Hua, Political Commissar of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, who saw the fleet off.



All the three ships were domestically made. It is the maiden voyage of the Jingzhou, commissioned in 2016. The other two ships have conducted many escort, drill and patrol missions.



Sunday marks the 68th anniversary of the establishment of the PLA Navy.
The University of International Business and Economics recently organized a competition on Chinese ancient poems to improve students' understanding of Chinese traditional culture and celebrated World Reading Day, which falls on April 23.

About 1,300 students participated in the preliminary poetry contest in late March and four teams, consisting of 12 students, entered the final, which was Thursday.

The final contained a four-part quiz that tested participants' knowledge of Chinese ancient poems, and other forms of Chinese literature.

University Vice President Zhao Zhongxiu said he was glad that the competition attracted attention from so many students on campus and raised their interest and awareness in traditional Chinese culture.

Qi Xiaoming, an associate professor of Chinese literature at the university who served as one of the judges for the final, said a distinct characteristic of Chinese ancient poems is that they usually contain many profound connotations beneath the literal meaning.

"In that sense, to fully understand a Chinese ancient poem requires students to recite and understand the literal meaning in the very beginning of learning. Then, as the students grow older and combine what the poem talks about with their own lives, they will see more," he said.

The popularity of a TV program on China Central Television, Chinese Poetry Conference, which has been broadcast for two seasons, has inspired an increasing number of education institutions like UIBE to hold a similar event of their own.

The purpose of the TV program is to appreciate the beauty of Chinese ancient poetry and to learn from the wisdom of the great minds of ancient China.
Nadav Cohen, consul general of the Consulate General of Israel in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, is presented a certificate by Wang Qijun in recognition of his contribution to the friendship between China and Israel. [Photo/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Professor Wang Qijun of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing donated one of his oil paintings to the Consulate General of Israel in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Thursday.

The painting was inspired by the story of two Israeli doctors coming to the Guangzhou Hospital of Women and Children last year. Dressed as clowns, they amused sick children and made them so happy they forget their fear of medical procedures.

Reflecting on the friendship between the Chinese and Israeli people, Wang was touched so deeply that he created this painting.

"I am Canadian-Chinese. Norman Bethune was a Canadian doctor who is known to every Chinese person, even to children. He helped Chinese people fight against Japanese aggression and gave his life in China," Wang said.

During the Second World War, Chinese people tried to help Jewish people in distress to escape from persecution. Therefore, love has no boundaries. So I gave the title, Love Across Borders', to this painting," Wang said at the donation ceremony.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Israel. Nadav Cohen, consul general of the Consulate General of Israel in Guangzhou, awarded a certificate to Wang in recognition of his contribution to the friendship between the countries.

"I wish that the friendship between China and Israel remains evergreen, likewise between China and Canada, and between China and people all over the world," Wang said at the ceremony.

A well-known artist, Wang was one of 60 famous painters in the 60-episode documentary Classic and Immortality, co-sponsored by China Film Association and National Art Museum of China.

A public-spirited person, he donated a portrait of Cai Yuanpei, the late president of Peking University, to the university at the opening ceremony of the 13th International Cultural Festival of Peking University last year.

It was also last year that he donated 200,000 yuan ($29,051) to maintain ancient buildings in Taining county, Fujian province.
A fleet of three Chinese naval ships leave Shanghai for public relations visits to more than 20 countries, April 23, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

A trio of Chinese naval ships set sail in Shanghai on Sunday for a goodwill voyage to some 20 countries.

The group consists of missile destroyer Changchun, missile frigate Jingzhou and supply ship Chaohu from the People's Liberation Army Navy. It set sail from the Huangpu river port in Shanghai at 9:30 am.

The trio will visit around 20 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania.

"This voyage is an innovative way to promote harmonious ideals, peace and friendship," said Admiral Miao Hua, political commissar of the PLA Navy. "It is also a good platform to deepen military-military dialogue and cooperation, and showcase our Navy's positive image."

He urged all sailors on the trip to be communicators of Chinese culture, facilitators for military exchange and representatives of the Navy's image.

All three ships were built in China. It is the first goodwill voyage for Jingzhou, which entered service in January of last year.
Monitoring data show that Cao Cao, a 16-year-old giant panda raised in captivity, has mated with a male in the wilda rare occurrence for the endangered speciesaccording to a panda research center in Sichuan province.

Cao Cao was released in the Liziping Nature Reserve in early February in time for mating season from March to May.

In March, researchers reported seeing several males fight for the right to mate with her and began checking data sent by the GPS tag on her neckwhich is fitted with a recording deviceevery five days.

"When we checked the recording on March 27, we heard her making noises similar to those made by females while mating," said Zhang Hemin, head of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, where Cao Cao was raised. "It lasted one minute and 30 seconds."

If the panda is pregnant, she will give birth in July or August, "at which point we will bring her and her cub back to the center", Zhang said.

Cao Cao arrived at the center when she was 2 years old, after being found in poor health inside the Wolong National Nature Reserve. She has already mothered two cubs: male Tao Tao and female Zhang Xiang. Both are 2 years old and have been released into the wild in the Liziping reserve.

The research center, which was set up in the Wolong reserve in 1983, has released seven captive pandas since 2006 in an effort to boost the wild giant panda population.

There are 471 captive pandas worldwide, 234 of which are from the Wolong centerenough to prevent extinction, experts say.

In the early 1990s, the government banned the capture of wild pandas to mate with captive ones. Captive pandas have mated with few of their captive peers, which hurts biodiversity, researchers say.

The center formulated the plan last year to have captive pandas mate with wild ones. Cao Cao is the first to be chosen.

"She has a close bond with humans, and researchers have helped feed her since she was released," Zhang said.

Cao Cao is the equivalent of 48 years old in human terms, and she has only one or two years left before she is too old to participate in a breeding program.

"If she fails to get pregnant this year, she will have one last opportunity to mate with a wild panda next spring," Zhang said.

More captive pandas will be selected to mate wild ones, he said.
Editor's note: Saturday is World Earth Day. Millions of people participate in Earth Hour on the last Saturday of March every year shutting off their lights for an hour to save power and raise awareness. However, some believe that Earth Hour is simply vain symbolism, and does little to reduce emissions. Are you for or against the event?

Earth Hour has turned into a feel-good campaign to make people feel they are doing something, without addressing any of the real problems.
A protestor holds a sign in support of science during the March For Science in Seattle, Washington, US April 22, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW YORK - Tens of thousands of people, mostly scientists, students and research advocates, took to the streets in New York and Chicago, Saturday to promote the understanding of science and defend it from being compromised by proposed federal budget cuts.

The March for Science, coinciding with Earth Day, began with a rally at 10:30 am Saturday near Columbus Circle at Central Park West. An estimated number of over 30,000 people filled up at least a dozen blocks north of the Trump International Hotel at noon.

Marchers held signs with slogans: "Science should be shared not censored," "Rise up before the waters do," "Dinosaurs didn't believe in climate change either," "stop the war on facts," "Denial is not a policy," and "we're not just resistors, we are transformers," etc.

As the massive crowd walked down to Broadway to midtown Manhattan, chants of "Science makes America great" rippled down the street. The march was set to end at West 52nd Street. A 1.6-mile stretch of Broadway was closed to cars for the march.

More than ten thousand people took to streets in Chicago on Saturday to join the worldwide event of "March for Science."

People held placards and banners reading "Don't have a planet B," "Climate change is real," "Science, not silence," "We love science," "Science, our future," "Fund research," "Planet Earth is all we have, save it," "Without science, it's just fiction," "Evidence over ignorance."

A five-year-old boy won praise for the placard he held, which read "Fund science, fund my future."

A lot of people joining the march are university students and teachers, or work at research institutions, some of them are even in their lab robes, or wear a shirt with arithmetic formula.

The march started near Congress Parkway, a main driveway in downtown Chicago and ended in the Field Museum, a museum of science and industry on Lake Michigan.
Wang Guoqiang, the vice director of National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, addresses the one-day symposium, discussing the fast elimination of malaria through a source eradication strategy. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Kenya, a country in Africa, is set to strengthen ties with China, entering into a partnership to radicalize a cost-effective strategy in fighting and eliminating malaria.

Representatives of the East African country hoped to emulate the success of the Comoros, a sovereign archipelago island nation, which has drastically cut the malaria infection by up to 90 percent within the past two years. The national result was achieved with the help of the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, who assisted to administer malaria medication and strengthen surveillance systems to monitor infections.

A one day seminar, under the theme of China-Africa symposium on the fast elimination of malaria through the source of eradication, was held in Nairobi on Friday. Lessons and experiences from Togo and Malawi were also shared.

The cabinet minister of health in Kenya, Cleopa Mailu, said Kenya was "keen to replicate the success witnessed in Comoros."

"The strategy is tested and proven, and we will be happy to replicate the good practices countrywide. A partnership with China is a viable option," he said.

The Vice Director of National Health and Planning commission of China, and director of state administration of traditional Chinese medicine, Wang Guoqianq, was joined by the director of the traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of Guangdong province in China, Xu Qingfeng, and Liu Xianfa, the ambassador of China in Kenya, at the event.

Representatives discussed how Kenya was strongly pushing to eliminate the deadly parasitic disease, easing the burden on the economy. In 2010, 30 percent of outpatient visits in hospitals were attributed to malaria. However, the percentage amount has since dropped to 11 percent.

Areas around Lake Victoria have also had a prevalence of 27 percent, equating 27 people out of every 1,000 tested to be found to have the parasite.

Mailu confirmed the project, implementing the country's malaria strategy, would cost up to $150 million, but added the ministry only received about 7 percent of national budget allocation.

"We have been able to control the vector bone disease; but it is time to eradicate it," he said.

The prevention strategies, which have been used in Kenya, include a wide distribution of long lasting mosquito nets, indoor residual spray and public awareness, urging prompt medical care at the onset of symptoms. The use of Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) was also adopted as first-line of treatment in 2006.

"We are keen to explore all available, effective strategies which adhere to the WHO accepted regulations to fight Malaria," Mailu said.

"We will engage and support any strategy which would help us towards attaining its eradication."

At the event, Wang  the Vice Director of National Health and Planning commission of China and director of state administration of traditional Chinese medicine  acknowledged the significant role artemisinin had played in the global fight against malaria, after being discovered 50-years ago by a Chinese professor, Tu Youyou. Wang said traditional Chinese medicine continued to play a unique role in curing acute communicable diseases, facilitate access to medical services, reduce medical costs, and establish affordable and sustainable medical care systems in African countries.

"It has always been one of our priorities in the process of internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine, continuously communicating and collaborating with African countries in the field of traditional medicine," he said.

Wang noted the global community had earmarked the total elimination of the disease by 2030.

"In the process, China is willing to fulfill its international responsibilities and work together with African countries, developing a quicker and more cost-effective plan in the process of realizing the Belt and Road initiative, as well as helping Africans get rid of Malaria," he said.
HE WEIWEN, a former diplomat, says the recent meeting between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump pointed to a return to normalcy. Zhang Wei / China Daily

Chinese manufacturers could prove to be solution to Trump's Rust Belt job problem, says former diplomat

He Weiwen believes that despite the previous rhetoric, trade relations between the United States and China could be back on track.

During his election campaign, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 45 percent tariff on imported Chinese goods.

But the 72-year-old former diplomat believes the recent meeting between President Xi Jinping and Trump at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida pointed to a return to normalcy.

"The meeting again anchored China-US relations on the fundamental principle of managing differences through dialogue," he says.

Trump also indicated on April 16 that the US is not going to declare China a "currency manipulator", something he had pledged he would do during his election campaign.

He, a former economic and commercial counselor in the Chinese consulates general in San Francisco and New York, says the measures that Trump intended to impose were never realistic options.

"The currency manipulator label on China certainly looks unlikely for the moment. It may, of course, crop up again later depending on the trade issues," he says.

"The across the board 45 percent duty on Chinese goods would never have happened, even if the Mar-a-Lago meeting had not taken place. Duties could still be applied on selected Chinese goods."

The US had a $347 billion trade deficit with China in 2016, with US exports to China just $116 billion, compared with imports from the world's second-largest economy of $463 billion.

"Despite this level of deficit, I still believe the relationship benefits both sides. The trade imbalance is just the logical outcome of the different position the two countries occupy in the global supply chain.

"Although the US has these huge trade deficits, it benefits tremendously from lower prices from cheaper imports and the consequent effect this has on real earnings in the country."

He, who was speaking from the offices of the Center for China& Globalization at Hanwei Plaza in Beijing, where he is a senior fellow, also believes that even before the first 100 days of the Trump presidency ends on April 29, there is room further agreements.

"China and the US should be able to work out practical ways and even projects, even within the 100 days, to increase the exports of US goods and services to China and provide the Chinese with more market access to the US."

He, a highly respected figure who has written a number of books and regularly gives speeches at leading US and European universities, subscribes to the view that Chinese manufacturers could prove to be the solution to Trump's Rust Belt job problem. Fuyao, the Chinese autoglass maker, opened a plant in Ohio in October, which is expected to create 3,000 jobs.

"Both sides should work out a concrete plan and pathway to increase Chinese greenfield investment in the US manufacturing sector and also become involved in US infrastructure investment projects."

He, who is also the author of about 300 papers and articles, believes this is a far easier way of creating jobs than Trump persuading US manufacturers to move their plants back from China.

"There is just no point in General Motors moving its China operations back to the US. They have 10 assembly plants in China selling to the local market, which is the biggest in the world."

He was born in Yudu County in Jiangxi province, although his family originated from Yiwu in Zhejiang province on China's eastern seaboard.

His father, He Zhengsen, an academic engineer who had studied in Paris, was a leading expert on hydropower stations.

He, who was also partly brought up in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, went on to study foreign trade economics at the Beijing Institute of Foreign Trade (now the University of International Business and Economics).

In 1968, during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), he was sent to Inner Mongolia, initially as a farm laborer and then as a teacher.

"Our family was all split up. My younger brother and two younger sisters all worked on farms too. My father suffered a lot because he had been educated in Europe."

After the turmoil was over, He went to work for the International Trade Research Institute, where he worked for more than 10 years.

In 1984, he moved to be officer-in-charge of the China International Information Center, for which he was sent to Cologne, Germany, to set up a European office.

"It was there that I learned how businesses could be done. I also experienced first-hand the advanced technology of German companies, which left a deep impression. Everything was also rules based, whereas in China, it was all about good relations with your boss and the government. This did not matter in Germany."

At the end of the 1990s, He became economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, moving on to the same role in New York.

It was a time when China's trade status was being reviewed annually by the US Congress, which created uncertainty in trade relations between the two countries. When China became a member of the World Trade Organization in 2001, the US had to give China favored nation status without condition.

"This whole issue has come up again recently with Donald Trump saying he wants to review this. There is, however, a separate commission for that, since it is a core principle of the WTO. If the US wants to withdraw this status, then it has to quit the WTO itself," he says.

He was involved in contributing ideas to the final communique of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou in September.

"I believe there were some major changes made in Hangzhou. It no longer was the big countries club. I think it was important to converge the G20 agenda with the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development," he says.

One of the themes of the G20 was industrialization in Africa, which He believes will become one of the defining trends of the 21st century.

"I believe Africa could make up 10 to 15 percent of industrial output within one or two generations. The continent has huge human capital. Its population is expected to double to 2 billion within 35 years. Western economies as well as Japan and China have aging, declining populations," he says.

He says President Xi's defense of globalization at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January was also a landmark event.

The former diplomat says that even with China's own version of globalization, the Belt and Road Initiative, the country is not ready to play a completely leading role in the world. The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing in May.

"If the United States does not want to play a part in the modernization of the international trading system, for example, then it all becomes very difficult for China, the European Union and a large number of countries around the world."

andrewmoody@chinadaily.com.cn

Bio

He Weiwen, former diplomat

Age: 72

Education:

Bachelor of foreign trade economics, Beijing Institute of Foreign Trade (now University of International Business and Economics), 1967

Career:

Farm laborer and also teacher in middle schools, Inner Mongolia, 1968-73

Research assistant rising to deputy division chief, International Trade Research Institute, Ministry of Foreign Trade, 1973-1984

Officer in charge, rising to secretary general, China International Economic Information Center, 1984-89

Trade promotions director, China Chamber of Commerce, 1989-92

Deputy editor-in-chief, International Business Daily, 1992-96

Economic and commercial counselor, Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco (1997-2000) and New York (2000-03)

Book: Unbalanced: The Co-Dependency of America and China by Stephen Roach "Roach is one of the best US experts on China and one who really understands the China-US business relationship."

Music: Symphony No 5 in C minor by Ludwig van Beethoven, Swan Lake by Peter Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss

Film: Les Miserables (2012, directed by Tom Hooper)

Food: steak and caesar salad. "My father used to take me to hotels in Nanjing and Shanghai when I was young, and we would have Western food. Unlike most Chinese, I can eat Western food all week without a problem."
Number of Chinese visitors surges as S. Africa 'casts a spell'

The number of Chinese tourists to South Africa surged by 38 percent year-on-year to 117,000 in 2016, according to the South African tourism authority.

The country has made a series of moves to get a bigger slice of the booming Chinese outbound tourism market.

South African Tourism held road shows in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong from late February to early March.

This year it is focusing on the excitement, surprise, joy and awe that it says awaits Chinese visitors to South Africa.

"We are proud to invite visitors to encounter the jaw-dropping 'Wow!' moments, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and unforgettable adventures found nowhere else in the world," says Bradley Brouwer, South African Tourism's president for the Asia-Pacific region.

"South Africa casts a spell because it is not manufactured and mundane but authentically raw and unfiltered, which is exactly what today's travelers seek," he says.

To encourage a seamless travel experience for Chinese citizens, South African Tourism has established visa facilitation centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Shenyang, Wuhan, Jinan and Hangzhou.

"With China becoming the world's largest outbound tourism source market of South Africa, we continuously participate in global and national events in China, such as CIBTM (the China Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition), to meet top level international hosted buyers with strong purchasing power," Brouwer says.

The country is expecting a continuous Chinese tourism boom in 2017-18, particularly due to the favorable exchange rate of the Chinese yuan versus the South African rand.

Compelling experiences combining pristine nature, wildlife, a city lifestyle, affordable luxury and adventures ranging from mountain hiking to shark cage-diving have made South Africa increasingly appealing to the Chinese.

"The destination fits tourists of all ages," says Li Mengran, the public relations manager of Beijing Utour International Travel Service Co, a major outbound-travel operator in China.

Natural landscapes, culture, wildlife and deserts are all attractive to Chinese visitors, she says.

"September to April is the best season to travel, when weather is relatively chilly in China," Li adds. The country has also caught the attention of wealthy Chinese.

South Africa was one of the top winter destinations for wealthy Chinese families last year, according to HHtravel, a high-end brand of Ctrip, China's biggest online travel agency.

Roughly 5 percent of the agency's clients visited South Africa, HHtravel reports.

Visitors enjoy warm spring and summer weather during the Chinese winter, according to the agency.

The rich have enjoyed viewing lions, black rhinos and leopards at Kruger National Park and watching thousands of seals flop atop rocks at Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve.

yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn
When I was learning to drive in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, my instructor once broke the silence with a short but astonishing remark, one I am unlikely to forget: "Chinese workers on construction sites in Africa are prisoners."

I was stunned. It was impossible to think such a thing. I talked with him about it for a long time, but he seemed confident that it was a valid fact, even though he failed to provide a single example.

I didn't expect that someone would raise a question related to my instructor's "valid fact" at an occasion as formal as an international forum. However, I was in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, covering a forum about investing in Africa, when a man asked during a Q&A session, "Why can't Chinese companies employ local laborers instead of bringing prisoners to Africa?"

Before the speakers could reply, a European woman stood up and said something similar to what I had told my driving instructor, "If you have an example, I will be all ears." She also updated my knowledge of the rumor, saying it had been around since the 1970s.

It wasn't the only rumor about China I heard during my 20 months as a correspondent in Africa. Others included: plastic watches from China are made by child laborers; all Chinese people eat dogs and even snakes; and Chinese men in Africa are injected with a special serum to prevent them from experiencing sexual desire during their stay.

In spite of the rumors, I felt the general public in Africa - at least in Kenya, where I was based - was keen to learn more about China.

When I was waiting to join a vigil for the victims of a terrorist attack in Garissa county, a young man came up and shook my hand. We began a conversation and were quickly joined by five other locals. They surrounded me and asked questions about China. They all listened carefully and we only said goodbye when it was time to attend the vigil.

Once, a boy came up to me in a rural area and touched my skin to see how different I was from him.

Compared with Westerners, Chinese people are still new to Africa. Though many of our grandparents' generation were there more than 50 years ago, the language barrier meant they didn't communicate very much with the local people.

Now, China's younger generation is arriving in Africa, speaking fluent English or other appropriate languages, so it's time to kill off the rumors and deepen the friendship between Africans and Chinese.
Young people can offer the much-needed human capital to speed up economic growth and foster sustainability on the continent

Africa, the continent with the biggest potential for growth because of untapped opportunities, is home to 12 percent of global oil reserves (Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Sudan and new potential sources like Kenya); 40 percent of the world's gold, a commodity once used as an exchange currency; and over 60 percent of the world's underutilized viably arable land.

However, only 1.2 percent of global manufacturing comes from African countries.

If one were to go back in history and assess the development models of reigning superpowers like China, the United Kingdom and the United States, evidence shows that industrialization is what led to the exponential growth in the economies of these countries.

However, a one-size-fits-all model cannot be applied to African countries. To achieve prosperity and have good socioeconomic standards for their citizens, these countries need to develop a robust industrial sector, which is existent in many African nations but is not on a par with what is required to spur growth on the upward scale.

African leaders on several occasions have emphasized the importance of industrialization to Africa in boosting inclusive and resilient growth. This ambition has been articulated by the African Union's Action Plan for Accelerated Development of Africa and further reaffirmed in the AU's Agenda 2063, which has laid out a plan that supports implementation of industrial policies.

The continent has experienced favorable economic growth in recent years and is backed by the expansion of domestic markets in regional blocs like the East African Community and the Economic Community of West African States. With continuing foreign investment, business environments are improving to match standards in the developed world. Additionally, macroeconomic management is on the rise, and the purchasing power parity of regular consumers is increasing with favorable commodity prices and a growth in public investment.

Given all the economic positives of the continent, it is easy for one to conclude that Africa is set for the path of rapid industrialization and we will only hear better versions of that story. However, the reality is quite different. Most of the factors mentioned above are driving growth, but with many of the youth bulge unemployed, economists around the world are fearful that Africa is on a reverse trend and there is more de-industrialization happening than rapid industrial growth.

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest youth population in the world - the biggest strength and weakness of the continent. There are more unemployed youths in African economies than anywhere else in the world. According to recent statistics released by the World Bank, oil-rich Nigeria claims that its youth unemployment stands at 13 percent; however, due to its large population, the actual figure may be much higher.

The de-industrialization wave is because of the overreliance of most African economies on agriculture and unprocessed commodities that add relatively little value to the exporting country's revenues. The manufacturing sector needs solid infrastructure to enable efficient transfer of raw materials and shipment of finished goods to market. However, the roads, railways, ports and air services in Africa are inadequate to serve the growing sector. Additionally, the few industries that do exist in these countries employ youth in the informal sector. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Standards, only 12 percent of the labor force in the country is employed by the formal sector.

Africa offers a young demographic, a growing consumer class and opportunities to build infrastructure and contribute to the service sector that is gaining momentum in the rising African economies, but is not yet at the levels expected of these countries. Many of the services are low-tech and cannot be scaled or traded and lack dynamism.

To break the chain of growing de-industrialization, the focus needs to be shifted to sustainability and alternative economic pathways to industrialization. Africa should use its most precious, yet undervalued asset - its youth. Solutions should be encouraging more intra-and interstate collaboration of African countries in building long-lasting partnerships that will be homegrown and whose effect will be felt by the people at the bottom of the pyramid.

If properly harnessed, Africa's youth bulge can offer the much-needed human capital that will not only speed up economic growth, but will foster sustainability on the continent. Entrepreneurship is not a new concept in Africa and is the solution that Africa needs. The future lies in tapping into the digital revolution and encouraging young entrepreneurs to develop products and services that transform agriculture, business, healthcare and transportation systems.

Success stories of this model are seen in countries like Ghana and Kenya, where the youth have used mobile technology in improving agricultural production and in turn encouraged governmental and policy support for youth-driven innovation. Africa can learn from its leading trading partner, China, and invest in its youth, allowing them to add their quota to the development of the continent.

The author is a research consultant in Nairobi, Kenya. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
African governments need to develop and implement bold and innovative policies for the continent to achieve its industrialization ambitions. Leading economists meeting during the 10th annual meeting of economic experts and finance ministers organized by the African Union and Economic Commission of Africa in Dakar, Senegal agreed that to reverse the current poor performance, stronger commitments have to be made.

According to the pundits, Africa is de-industrializing, a process only witnessed in developed economies where technology is replacing a dwindling labor force. The contribution of Africa's manufacturing sector to the continent's gross domestic product actually declined from 12 percent in 1980 to 11 percent in 2013, where it has remained stagnant over the past few years, according to the ECA.

This comes against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding population, of which youths account for about 70 percent. Rising unemployment levels have fed into increasing insecurity and international terrorism while also straining governments' limited resources.

ECONOMISTS hold a discussion at the ECA Africa Development Week in Dakar, Senegal, in March. Lucy Morangi / China Daily

To reverse this emerging trend, economists are concerned about how to accelerate industrialization and earn dividends from urbanization in a sustainable and all-inclusive economy.

Peter Thomson, president of the United Nations General Assembly, urges Africa to develop a smart, innovative and integrated approach to drive economic transformation and secure sustainable growth needed to eradicate poverty, build infrastructure and support industrialization.

This is in spite of compounding challenges facing the continent. "With many African economies largely reliant on natural resource exports, economic prospects are highly susceptible to external shocks, including price volatility and falling global demand," says Thomson.

Broader global challenges add to this economic vulnerability, he says. "This includes peace and security threats, humanitarian crises, rising terrorism and violent extremism, the large-scale movements of people, population growth, expanding inequality, environmental degradation, extreme weather events and the destructive impacts of climate change," Thomson adds.

Governments therefore need to adopt a more proactive stance as they look to emulate successful models that have worked elsewhere.

In Zimbabwe, the government is putting more emphasis on capacity building. According to Desire Sibanda, the permanent secretary in the ministry of macro-economic planning and investment promotions in Zimbabwe, more projects need to be scaled up to attract foreign investments, and professionals with good negotiation skills are needed, too.

"For Africa to improve its global standings, its capacity must be improved to sharpen its negotiation skills to yield beneficial agreements and discourage exports of raw materials while implementing policies that encourage value addition and, above all, promote research and innovation," he says.

Sibanda also urges governments to move away from financing recurrent expenditure using foreign capital and instead direct it to development of critical infrastructure.

Maria Kiwanuka, the senior adviser to the president of Uganda, says Africa discourse should revolve around infrastructure, innovation, institutions and industrialization. Governments should look at how these sectors can support the labor intensive sectors such as mining and agriculture, she says.

"Infrastructure should be viewed as an industry, as a value chain that should be improved both forward and backward. A cost-benefit analysis should be carried out and benefits should be quantified to justify costs," says the economist, who strongly advocates that government departments be run as private entities where job evaluations are done and underachievers are declared redundant.

She advises governments to strongly support the private sector, since it is the safest avenue for rapid absorption of innovation and technology and possesses a high level of capacity. "The private sector also leverages on productivity, and thus it is the best bet for governments to achieve their modernization ambitions."

She says Africa's industrialization has stagnated because private sectors have been unable to jump higher into the global value chains due to poor linkages. She called for a bigger government presence in private entities. saying government muscle might help them expand rapidly by capitalizing their expansion bids or mergers with other established global entities.

Frederick Musiiwa Makamure, the president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, says Africa needs to leverage its latecomer status by identifying its comparative advantages. "We have the biggest arable land in the world, and thus we need more investments channeled toward food production and manufacturing. A sub-sector such as palm oil has become valuable with the transformation toward green economies by regional blocs such as the European Union. There are great opportunities available if only governments fasttrack their development programs," he says.

lucymorangi@chinadaily.com.cn
Textile factories part of Senegal's plan to woo Chinese investors, generate jobs for youths

Clothes labeled "made in Senegal will soon be on sale in European stores if plans in the pipeline are a success. Four Chinese companies are planning to set up operations in a new industrial zone about 40 kilometers east of the capital, Dakar, following a series of government-led initiatives to woo Chinese investment.

Among the companies that have announced their intention to take part in the $140 million project is C&H, which plans to invest $25 million to build a textile manufacturing plant. It plans to start production by January and already has operations in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda. Co-founder Helen Hai is currently an adviser to the governments of Ethiopia, Rwanda and Senegal on investment and industrialization projects.

The flurry of industrial development across Africa is seen as proof that governments are listening as they strive to generate jobs for the millions of young people who make up 70 percent of the continent's population. As well as attracting businesses relocating from China to escape increasing salary costs, Africa's development blueprint lays emphasis on the need to build manufacturing industries, as opposed to relying on the traditional commodity markets.

It is now apparent that the commodity boom that fueled Africa's economic growth, which averaged 6 percent for decades, was not inclusive or sustainable. Countries that have diversified their economies - such as Kenya, Cote d'Ivoire and Tanzania - are still experiencing steady growth, while commodity-dependent economies such as Nigeria, South Africa and Angola have cooled down.

According to the African Development Bank, persistent lack of industrialization is holding back Africa's economies, which remain largely dependent on raw commodity exports.

"On average, industry generates merely $700 of GDP per capita in Africa, less than a third of Latin America's output ($2,500 per capita) and barely a fifth of East Asia's ($3,400 per capita). Industrial GDP influences overall GDP, as industrial productivity drives productivity in other sectors," says the bank in its High Five initiative.

The recent past has seen Ethiopia emerging as Africa's front runner. While emulating Chinese industrial success, the East African country has engaged in extensive infrastructure and industrial park development in its second five-year growth and transformation plan. This has seen an upsurge in Chinese investments. Around 20 Chinese companies have established themselves, creating more than 8,000 jobs.

Senegal hopes to replicate this success. With the launch of its development blueprint, known as Emerging Senegal Plan, it is financing a series of large scale flagship projects, and among them is the special economic zone. Accessed via the Dakar-Diamniadio toll highway, the Dakar Integrated Special Economic Zone covers a total of 776 hectares and will host state ministries, universities, research centers, hospitality and sporting facilities and the new Diamniadio city. It adjoins the new Blaise Diagne International Airport about 30 minutes away.

The urban center, planned to be green and smart, will decongest the busy, narrow Dakar streets and create homes for the burgeoning middle class.

The four textile factories from China are stirring interest among locals. Ousmane Kamara, a tailor in the downtown area of Yoff Mbenguene in Dakar, is excited at the prospect of having a textile factory set up in Senegal. His shop, which employs three young men, is sustained by a population that prefers locally tailored clothes, using African fabrics, over conventional secondhand clothes from North America and Europe. He believes his business will experience a boom once a textile and apparel factory is set up locally.

"I think more people will love our traditional clothes," says Kamara, referring to the wax print fabric that is popular in sub-Saharan Africa because of the vibrant colors primarily associated with tribal patterns. "Currently, we buy six yards (5.5 meters) of Chinese imported cloth at CFA 6,000 ($10) from le March H.L.M. I think the price will fall once these factories are here."
While lecturing on traditional Chinese medicine during a speaking tour of Thailand, Malaysia and the United States in 1999, Doctor Zhao Weijie met a Kenyan who persuaded her to open a TCM clinic in the East African country. She was told that clinics in the country were inadequate and many people, especially those suffering from chronic diseases, were in distress.

While Zhao had little knowledge of Kenya, she didn't hesitate to take her expertise to Africa. Today, she is not only popular but also a happy and fulfilled doctor because her work has given hope to once-desperate patients.

Among them is Kenneth Kemboi, a diabetes patient, who visited the clinic after suffering for a long time.

"After a check up, Zhao advised me on what to do and what to avoid during my treatment with Chinese herbs and acupuncture. Though the treatment took eight months, I don't regret it, and I can recommend anyone who has diabetes, or any ailment, to visit a TCM clinic," he says.

Maryanne Kwamboka could not conceive, even after consulting several gynecologists and undergoing in-vitro fertilization.

"When I visited Zhao, I was reluctant because I thought I would have to go for more tests and IVF. Luckily, she used Chinese diagnostic techniques and told me exactly what my problem was. She recommended herbs and acupuncture. Today, I'm the mother of a baby girl," she says.

Nabulobi, a throat cancer patient from Uganda, says he was completely healed after more than a year's treatment by Zhao.

"I started my treatment in 2008. At that time, I was desperate and losing hope after attending several hospitals in Uganda without success. A Kenyan friend recommended Zhao to me. At first I was hesitant, but she convinced me to meet the doctor. Today, I'm free of cancer," he says.

Waruna Senavirathna, from Sri Lanka, visited the clinic with catarrh, nose bleeding and persistent sneezing, which he experienced after waking up. He had lived with the problem from a young age.

"When I was recommended to visit Zhao, I was very skeptical because I had visited many hospitals without help. When I arrived in her clinic, the doctor just held my hand and told me everything about my health problems. I was so shocked by her ability to diagnose me correctly by simply listening to my pulse," he says.

With acupuncture treatment and Chinese medicine, Senavirathna says, the bleeding stopped in three days and he can now sleep peacefully.

"Zhao has changed my life and given me hope and health," he says.

Over the last 30 years, Zhao has treated thousands of patients with serious illnesses such as rheumatism, asthma, diabetes, gynecological problems, heart disease, infertility, obesity, hypertension, stomach ulcers, impotence and STDs.

The cost of her treatment depends on the severity of the disease and the duration of the treatment.

"If a patient follows the suggestions, he will be healed. First, I let people heal the heart by themselves. Second, I tell them to exercise, and third, I give them nutritional advice. If the patient is willing to follow these instructions, he or she will be healed. A doctor can only do 30 percent of the treatment - 70 percent is down to the patient," she says.

Zhao refutes claims by some Western critics who say that, since efficacy and toxicity testing in TCM are based on traditional knowledge rather than laboratory analysis, it is potentially harmful.

"TCM is effective and my patients can attest to that. The fact that it has been practiced for thousands of years in China and also is embraced across the globe is testimony that it's effective," she says.

Zhao practices ancient techniques that have been passed down through seven generations of traditional doctors in her family. One of her ancestors was the personal physician to the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China. Both her father and grandfather were renowned traditional doctors.

She is a much sought-after speaker on meditation techniques that promote a healthy mind.

She is also an artist. Among her many talents, she is a painter, calligrapher and sculptor. She freely gives the artworks to her patients.

edithmutethya@chinadaily.com.cn
Chinese manufacturers of solar products hope to tap into the huge potential of African market

Chinese solar products manufacturers are targeting the lucrative African solar market, especially rural areas, where families rely on kerosene lamps that provide dim light but are expensive, unsafe and unhealthy.

In many African countries, less than 20 percent of the population has access to electricity, with the situation much worse in rural areas, where less than 5 percent are connected to the grid.

This is despite Africa having an average of 325 days of sunlight each year, making solar power, though potentially abundant, one of the continent's most scarcely used resources. It is this very opportunity that Chinese solar products manufacturers are eyeing.

SUSAN LEE (left), vice-president of Shenzhen Power-Solutions Ind Co, shows customers her company's solar torch, at the 6th Power and Energy Africa exhibition held in Nairobi, Kenya on April 11-13. Edith Mutethya / China Daily

During the sixth Power and Energy Africa exhibition in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 11 to 13, about 30 Chinese solar product manufacturers participated. The companies expressed their interest in the market, seeing it as huge and unexploited.

Susan Lee, vice-president of Shenzhen Power-Solution Ind Co, a Guangdong province-based manufacturer of solar lighting products, says the African solar market is lucrative because most of the homes are off-grid, relying on kerosene and candles.

"We manufacture low-cost solar lighting systems targeting rural Africa. We want to replace all the candles and kerosene lamps. Two months' kerosene cost can be enough to buy a solar product that will last for two years," she says.

Lee's company has so far signed an agreement with five dealers and two NGOs that are focusing on replacing candles with solar lighting systems.

"We don't wish to have so many dealers, to avoid the products becoming too expensive. We also plan to set up an office in Kenya in 2018 and, later on, a factory, focusing on the manufacture of solar lighting spare parts like batteries, solar panels and cables," she says. "We also look forward to setting up another factory to recycle materials including batteries and plastics."

During the exhibition, her company signed three deals for a total of 50 units of solar lighting systems.

"Solar lighting systems are affordable and cheap to run. Children can also study at night, thus improving their academic performance. The systems can also charge mobile phones," she says.

Focusing on the same market is Yuyao Enflower Co, which is based in Zhejiang province and specializes in the design, production and sales of solar appliance and lighting products.

General Manager Richard Zhang says the company will focus on quality and affordability to penetrate the African market.

"After doing a market survey about solar products being sold in Africa, we realized that some companies had compromised on quality as well as lying on the specifications of their products, like the number of watts. We decided to provide quality products at affordable prices," he says.

The company is already selling its products in Uganda. Plans are underway to open a distribution branch in Kenya within the next two months, after which the company anticipates selling at least 100,000 units of solar lighting systems in the East African country within a year.

Jiangsu Sunllent Electrical Equipment Co, a solar power system manufacturing company, is also eyeing the potentially lucrative sector. Sunllent mostly focuses on high-end products like photovoltaic and wind power products, solar home systems and solar inverters.

Kevin Kiplagat, the company's Africa marketing manager, says the plan is to recruit distributors as well as focus on e-commerce to penetrate the African market. He says high-end solar products are mostly viable for industrial use and have not yet penetrated the African market to the extent of low-end lighting systems.

Kiplagat is optimistic, however, that the market offers much potential. "With high outages in Africa, we foresee increased uptake of our products," which he says can save companies much money lost to power blackouts.

The company is already popular in Zambia, where it has been operating since 2015. It hopes to replicate its success in Kenya and then the East African region.

edithmutethya@chinadaily.com.cn
Councilor Yao Ming (right) presents an award to the first runner-up. [Photo by Pan Siwei/Xinhua]

The winners of the 2017 SGR photography competition were announced on Friday in Nairobi, Kenya.

The competition, co-sponsored by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), Kenya's Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development and the Railway Authorities, aims to nurture creativity and use photography to tell stories.

It embodies the spirit of adventure, culture, discovery and exchange between Kenya and China in development partnership and aims to encourage people to look for unity in diversity and excellence in building the SGR project.

Starting March 1, the CRBC searched for Kenya's most talented photographers. The top 25 photographers were selected for a chance to compete for the top prize in the competition. The photographers traveled from Mombasa to Nairobi between March 20 and March 25 to track CRBC projects. Captivating pictures were taken to showcase the CRBC infrastructure footprint in Kenya and the impact of the projects' contributions to the target sites.

Awards were given for the Best Railway Bridge Photo, Best Locomotive Photo, Best Railway Constructor Photo, Best Railway Station Photo, Best CSR Photo, Best Aerial Photo, Best Environmental Conservation and The Peoples Choice Award.

"One very important thing that we as an association always advocate for is that we are not just technical people behind cameras, but want to be storytellers, using our technical skill and using our knowledge to tell stories that will transform light to tell a successful story," Stephen Nderitu, chairman of the Photographer Association of Kenya, said at the award ceremony.

Yao Ming, councilor of the Embassy of China in Kenya, congratulated and recognized the efforts by the Kenyan side and the CRBC to successfully organize the event.

To make it convenient for applicants who wanted to participate, a website was set up and 50,000 visits were recorded. Almost 800 local photographers submitted applications.

In the end, the organizer selected 25 professional photographers who submitted nearly 300 photos that showcased the achievement of the SGR construction, vividly describing the wonderful vision and stories of the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR Railway.
Jackie Chan, the famous Hong Kong action movie star, brings his latest film Kung-Fu Yoga, a domestic comedy featuring a combination of the cultural essences of China and India, to the Chinese Film Festival in Hungary on Sunday. [Photo by Fu Jing/chinadaily.com.cn]

Moviegoers in Hungary can watch five Chinese films starring renowned Chinese actors including Jackie Chan from Sunday to Thursday during this year's Chinese Film Festival in Hungary, which kicked off in Budapest on Sunday afternoon.

Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Balog Zoltan, Hungary's human resources minister, jointly inaugurated the festival, which aims to boost mutual understanding between the countries.

Liu is scheduled to meet Hungarian leaders and attend other cultural and academic exchanges on Monday before heading to Greece. The trip follows a visit to Morocco aimed at increasing cultural cooperation.

Jackie Chan, the famous Hong Kong action movie star, has brought his latest film Kung-Fu Yoga, a domestic comedy featuring the cultural essences of China and India to the festival.

As an ambassador of the festival, he said the five films featured are among the best titles from China and said he hopes moviegoers in Hungary will enjoy watching them.

"I also found that Hungary is a nice place to produce films as well because this country has such a long history and has enjoyed a richness of cultures," Chan said. "And also I found that the cost is relatively low and affordable if we produce films here."

Chan met fans before the launch of festival and sang a song with students from the Sino-Hungarian School in Budapest.

Gabor Cserkesz, president of Budapest-based Chinese Art Center is a keen fan of Chan and wore a black T-shirt with Chan's name on it when he met him.

"I think this ambassador (Chan) can effectively promote Chinese culture and helps Hungarians to understand China better," said Cserkesz. "And movies are a good medium to for us to know each other."

Minister Zoltan also talked about the role the movies play in bridging understanding between nations, and emphasized that China and Hungary should deepen their friendship and partnership.

"China is a big country and economic power with a huge population; and we are small with much less population. Our economy has started to pick up," said Zoltan in his speech at the launch. "But in the same way that China is keen to develop a friendship with our small country, so we also hope to deepen the relationship with China. And the two countries can develop such a friendship that both sides care about each other."

He said that people in modern times are inclined to forget the past and behave as if everything was created today.

"We have even forgot the ancient Silk Road," he lamented.

Praising China's Belt and Road Initiative, he said: "We need to rebuild the Silk Road, linking the world from the East to West and also from the West to the East."

Hungary is a gateway in the Central and Eastern Europe regions and, after China established an annual summit framework with the 16 countries in the region, both sides have improved cultural cooperation.

Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, is among 28 state leaders who have confirmed that they will attend the Belt and Road Initiative Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on May 14 and 15.

China, Hungary and Serbia have also agreed to build a high-speed railway link between Budapest and Belgrade. They plan to start work on the project after the European Commission completes its approval procedure.
(Photo : Russian Navy) Admiral Gorshkov.

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The Russian Navy has begun sea trials, which will include live fire exercises, of the frigate RFS Admiral Gorshkov (417), the lead ship in its class, built for long-range surface combat and anti-submarine warfare.



The trials of all the systems comprising the Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates, officially Project 22350, are proceeding on schedule and are due to be completed in July, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.



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"The works are not being delayed and are proceeding according to plan. Our plan is due to be completed in July this year. Now the trials of all the assemblies are underway, including air defense systems deployed on this ship. These are Poliment-Redut complexes."



Poliment-Redut refers to the 9K96 Poliment-Redut, a new naval air defense system originally designed for Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates that can engage up to 16 airborne targets simultaneously. It's a maritime version of the land-based Vityaz medium-range air defense system whose interceptor is called the 9M96, a highly maneuverable missile.



Rogozin said the trials of the Admiral Gorshkov are complex and it's necessary to check the work of several dozen advanced systems at a time, including radio-electronics, artillery armament, various shipborne assemblies and air defense systems.



"Problems arise as to how to arrange the trials so that the test of one system does not impede the test of another complex," said Rogozin.



The Admiral Gorshkov, which was designed by the Severnoye Design Bureau, was laid down in early 2006 and floated out in the autumn of 2010. The warship started undergoing trials in November 2014. The final stage of the frigate's trials started this March.



The Gorshkov-class has a displacement of 4,500 tons and a speed of 29 knots. The ships are armed with Oniks (NATO reporting name: SS-N-26 Strobile) and Kalibr (SS-N-27 Sizzler) missiles, and the Poliment-Redut air defense missile system.



The gun/missile system on the Gorshkovs is the Palma/Palash anti-aircraft gun system armed with eight Sosna-R SAMs and two 30 mm six-barreled autocannons.



The second ship of the class, Admiral Kasatonov was launched in 2014. The third frigate, Admiral Golovko, should be launched this year. Both frigates will be outfitted with their weapons and electronic systems and will undergo extensive sea trials before joining the Northern Fleet.



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TagsRussian Navy, RFS Admiral Gorshkov (417), Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, 9K96 Poliment-Redut, Admiral Kasatonov, Admiral Golovko
(Photo : US Navy) USNS Trenton and a General Atomics' turret mounted 10 megajoule EM railgun aboard a US Navy warship (illustration)

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The first at-sea test of the U.S. Navy's electromagnetic railgun developed by BAE Systems is scheduled later this summer but might be delayed since the warship that will test this futuristic weapon hasn't been selected and prepped for the trials.



This might mean another delay in testing a railgun mounted aboard a navy warship, perhaps until later this year. The warship on which the railgun was to have been deployed, the USNS Trenton (T-EPF-5), an expeditionary fast transport ship (EPF) of the Military Sealift Command, began its first operational deployment on Dec. 20, 2016.



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Trenton is now forward deployed to U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Command's area of operation, supporting the United States Sixth Fleet. She was supposed to have begun testing the railgun in the summer of 2016.



The tests scheduled for 2016 would have involved assessing the ability of the BAE Systems railgun to perform naval surface fire support against static floating targets 25 to 50 nautical miles (46 to 93 km) distant.



The railgun would have fired GPS-guided hyper velocity projectiles (HVPs) each weighing 44 lbs. There were supposed to have been 20 planned firings off Florida.



There are six operational EPFs plus four more building. The ship's paltry main armament consists of four M2 .50 caliber machine guns. Railguns are specifically intended as shore bombardment weapons capable of accurately hitting over-the-horizon targets more than 160 kilometers distant.



The addition of railguns to the EPFs will allow this vessel to actively support the troops they land with sustained and accurate shellfire.



The first Navy warship to be armed with a railgun as its main gun armament, however, will be the USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002), a Zumwalt-class destroyer currently being built at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. The destroyer has an expected delivery date in 2018.



Plans call for an EM railgun to replace the 155 mm gun mounted ahead of the Lyndon B. Johnson's deck house. The Zumwalt-class and the Spearhead-class are currently among the only surface combatants that can generate the enormous electric power needed to continuously fire an EM railgun at land and naval targets.



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TagsU.S. Navy, electromagnetic railgun, BAE Systems, USNS Trenton (T-EPF-5), expeditionary fast transport ship, hyper velocity projectiles, USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002)
(Photo : Christianity Daily) Churches in the Inland Empire area gathered at Covenant United Methodist Church in Pomona on the morning of Easter Sunday.

Numerous Korean churches in various regions of Southern California gathered to worship and pray together during the early hours of Easter Sunday.

About 10 joint early morning worship services took place on Sunday, including in Los Angeles, Buena Park, Torrance, Walnut, Pomona, Granada Hills, Camarillo, Phelan, Lancaster, and San Diego, among other regions.

Most, if not all, of these joint services included a message on Easter, special singing or worship dance performances, and a time of prayer for the respective communities, for the nation, for the Korean peninsula, and for the next generation.

This year in particular, many of the services included a time of prayer for the upcoming presidential elections in South Korea, and for a stablization in the nation's political sphere.

(Photo : ) The joint worship service in the Rowland Heights area took place at First Southern Baptist Church in Walnut, CA.

"Christians should pursue change in their lives as they hold on to the hope of the resurrection - from a life that was centered on self, to one that is centered on God," Rev. Seung Hee Ko, the senior pastor of Beautiful Church in Rowland Heights, said during his sermon at the joint worship service which took place at Walnut.

At the Los Angeles joint service in particular, a council of churches released a statement in which the churches urged Christians to refrain from individualism, selfishness, materialism, inconsistency, polarization, legalism, and unethical decisions, among others, and called for repentance.

Those gathered at the Los Angeles service also prayed in particular for the immigrant community, and reconciliation among different ethnic groups.

Korean churches throughout Southern California have observed a tradition in gathering for joint worship services each year on the dawn of Easter, many of which are organized by church councils or associations.

    press@cdaily.co.kr



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After a half-century on the air, legendary Houston anchorman Dave Ward will say his final "Good evening friends" May 2 on Channel 13. He ends his career on KTRK-TV honored by Guinness World Records for "the longest career as a television news broadcaster."

He will deliver his sign-off commentary at 6:55 p.m., then rush to a party hosted by CNBC's "Billion Dollar Buyer," Tilman Fertitta.
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A recently completed study of traffic inside and just outside The Woodlands concluded that a loop around the master-planned community might be the best option to divert cut-through traffic and keep vehicles moving more smoothly.

The loop would amount to an approximately 34-mile circumference using existing roads, including Interstate 45, Texas 242, FM 1488, FM 2978, Hufsmith Kuykendahl Road and the Grand Parkway back to I-45 to form the route. The recommended projects would call for cooperation of -- and funding from -- other governmental entities at the local, state and federal levels.

Brown & Gay Engineers conducted the "Origin-Destination Study" at the request of the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner's Office and The Woodlands Road Utility District No. 1. It cost approximately $60,000, split between the two entities. The goal was to study traffic flow through areas of The Woodlands and outlying corridors by tracking vehicle habits through Bluetooth devices inside vehicles and equipment at key gateways surrounding the community. The sampling took place over a two-week period in two 72-hour increments last November (Tuesday through Thursday, Nov. 8-10 and Nov. 15-17).

"We know The Woodlands is a destination," Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said. "But we didn't have a good idea of where these people are coming from and how they are getting into The Woodlands.

"I just wanted to identify vehicles and where they're going."

In addition to the loop, the study calls for:

* Working with the Texas Department of Transportation to alleviate traffic congestion on I-45 and at Woodlands interchanges

* Widening sawdust road to eight lanes from I-45 to Sawmill/Sawdust Road by the Starbucks, then six lanes along Grogan's Mill to Woodlands Parkway

* Constructing a horseshoe from Budde/Richard Road circling under I-45 and looping back to Rayford Road to minimize traffic at the intersection of I-45 and Rayford/Sawdust

The Woodlands Loop

Megan Siercks, a senior project manager at Brown & Gay, said the loop concept is to look at roads that could be used, if improved. While it wouldn't be a true loop, like 336 in Conroe or 610 in Houston, by adding lanes and widening the identified thoroughfares, traffic should flow better even with the lights on those roads, she said.

While the distance may be longer, it will be quicker, Siercks said.

"Create a functionality of flow with the improvements," she said.

"It's not so much the distance as it is the time ... balance of finding the path of least resistance."

Those recommended improvements are:

* FM 1488: Widen FM 1488 from four lanes to six lanes from Interstate 45 to FM 2978. That falls in Commissioner Charlie Riley's Precinct 2. Noack is proposing using the remaining $66 million in pass-through toll money from the 2005 road bond that the state still owes the county. The right of way for the widening already is owned by the county, according to Noack.

* FM 2978: As previously reported by The Courier, the state is funding the $23 million project to widen the 6.5-mile stretch from FM 1488 south to Conroe-Huffsmith. It was delayed due to the relocation of utilities and redesigning a sound wall along the route. It will be widened from a two-lane undivided road to a four-lane roadway, with a two-way continuous turn lane, wide shoulders for bicycles and a sidewalk in various locations on the east side of FM 2978. The funds are from Proposition 1, passed by voters statewide in 2014.

* Interstate 45: Noack and a couple of members of The Woodlands Township board met with U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, recently to discuss the possibility of federal funding to construct more lanes on I-45 through South Montgomery County, either by widening the highway or creating an elevated expressway above the existing lanes. Noack also wants to work with TxDOT on improving interchanges exiting and entering I-45.

"We need better access off of the freeway to get into The Woodlands," Noack said.

"Half the people traveling through the I-45 corridor do not want to stop in The Woodlands ... so give them a clear path around it and allow for less-impeded traffic."

Noack also has met with state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, regarding a plan to secure state funding as well for the highway improvements, and they plan on setting up a meeting with TxDOT.

The plan also includes widening Hufsmith Kuykendahl Road by working with Harris County Precinct 4.

"It's certainly an option to mitigate traffic through The Woodlands," Noack said of the loop.

Traffic Flow Patterns

The Brown & Gay study tracked vehicles coming into and leaving The Woodlands at various gateways, including Interstate 45 from the north and south, Hardy Toll Road, Kuykendahl, Gosling, FM 2978, Hardin Store Road, FM 1488 from the west, Honea Egypt, and Texas 242 from the east.

It tracked vehicles that were heading to destinations in The Woodlands, those that used The Woodlands as a cut-through and those that "passed through," which meant passed by The Woodlands using surrounding roads but did not enter the community.

Some of the major conclusions of the study:

* Sawdust road generates significant traffic from I-45, Hardy Toll Road and Grand Parkway as a "back door" to residential areas and because of the commercial development. Approximately 20 percent of the traffic traveling along the highway corridor exits Sawdust, resulting in the recommendation for widening the road to eight lanes and asking TxDOT to consider improvements to the I-45 interchange there, including a possible flyover.

* Approximately 40-50 percent of the traffic traveling I-45 through South County bypasses The Woodlands, calling for more highway lanes so traffic doesn't get congested at the I-45 interchanges, such as at Rayford/Sawdust, Woodlands Parkway and Research Forest.

* Approximately 15 percent of traffic from the major thoroughfares east of The Woodlands travels to the Town Center during peak morning traffic hours because it is the main employment hub in the area.

* Traffic along Texas 242 from east of I-45 accounts for 30 percent of the daily traffic in The Woodlands at peak hours in the morning and evening.

* Traffic from West Montgomery County (Hardin Store Road, FM 1488, FM 2978) accounts for approximately 30 percent of the traffic in The Woodlands.

Cut-Through Traffic

Cut-through traffic has been a controversial topic in The Woodlands since the proposed extension of Woodlands Parkway from FM 2978 to Texas 249 was placed on the May 2015 road bond election, which was shot down by overwhelming opposition in The Woodlands.

The controversy has continued, as Riley revealed plans earlier this year to connect Mansions Way, a quarter-mile south of Woodlands Parkway off of FM 2978, to Dobbin Huffsmith Road, and ultimately to Texas 249 by developers when they construct their portion.

A majority of Woodlands residents have opposed opening up any corridor that promotes more traffic coming from the west through The Woodlands.

The Brown & Gay study showed that 5 percent of the total daily traffic to The Woodlands is cut-through traffic from FM 1488, Hardin Store Road and FM 2978.

The study shows that approximately 62,564 vehicles per day enter The Woodlands at either side (FM 2978 or I-45) of the three east-west corridors: Woodlands Parkway, Research Forest Drive and Lake Woodlands Drive. Of those, approximately 10 percent (6,200 vehicles) travel the distance of the roads and actually cut through The Woodlands. According to the data, 2,600 of those vehicles start or finish at FM 1488 west of FM 2978 and another 1,000 start or finish at Hardin Store Road. Around 1,700 wind up or start north of FM 2978 along Honea Egypt, while 900 travel to or from Harris County on FM 2978 to the south.

The study shows that 13 percent (3,400) of vehicles entering Woodlands Parkway at FM 2978 or I-45 cut through the community, while 12 percent (2,500) do so along Research Forest and 2 percent (300) along Lake Woodlands.

However, Brown & Gay believes the traffic from the west, based on a lower sample size, is underrepresented because Bluetooth devices were less prevalent in vehicles traveling from that direction.

The study did not track north-south cut-through traffic. However, it showed that Kuykendahl and Gosling roads are the top two choices for commuters entering The Woodlands as an alternative to Interstate 45, with the highest percentage of vehicles on those roads traveling to homes on the west side of The Woodlands.
The parents of an 8-year-old girl killed in a League City car crash have filed a $1 million wrongful death suit against the accused drunk driver and Ford Motor Company, according to court records.

Kelsey Nalepa died earlier this month after a Jeep Grand Cherokee slammed into her family's Ford on April 6.

Her father, Marcus Nalepa, was driving and had stopped in traffic on West Main when Erika Diebel's car plowed into the family's vehicle. Kelsey, who was seatbelted in on the driver's side of the car, hit the seat in front of her after it failed, according to the suit.

When her parents turned around to check on their daughter, they saw her bloodied and unconscious. The little girl was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital where she died two days later.

Diebel, 41, was arrested Thursday and charged with intoxication manslaughter after authorities said her blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit.

The lawsuit, filed in Galveston County the day of Diebel's arrest, calls the wreck "every parent's nightmare" and accuses Diebel of gross negligence.

The claim also calls the family's 2009 Ford Expedition "unreasonably dangerous," and says it was foreseeable that the driver's side seat would fail, smashing into Kelsey's head.

"This lawsuit is brought in part to exhaust all remedies allowed by law to determine responsibility for this tragedy and to hopefully make a difference so no other family will have to bury their child and endure the torture of such a loss," the family's lawyers write in the suit.

Diebel was originally held in the county jail on $100,000 bail but had bonded out by Saturday. Neither she nor Ford could be reached for comment.
The story of Charles Whitman and his deadly shooting spree from the clock tower at the University of Texas 51 years ago is fairly well known in the state.

But, it is also the subject of a Netflix documentary that scored 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. And, it appears, few people have seen it.
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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Chennai, April 23 (IANS) Malayalam superstar Mohanlal turned nostalgic after paying a visit to his ancestral home after over three decades.



"A revisit to my ancestral home, Elanthoor Punnakkal after 32 years. While sitting on the veranda reminiscing those nostalgic memories," Mohanlal tweeted on Saturday.



He also shared a photo which also featured filmmaker B. Unnikrishnan.



Mohanlal is currently shooting for Unnikrishnan's upcoming Malayalam film "Villain", which stars Vishal and Raashi Khanna too.



Manju Warrier plays the leading lady.



The film marks the fourth time collaboration of Mohanlal and Unnikrishnan.



"Villain" will reunite Mohanlal and Peter Hein, who had previously choreographed stunts for the former's Malayalam blockbuster "Pulimurugan".



Mohanlal reportedly shed a lot of weight for this project.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio's nursing home inspectors examine 960 nursing homes and investigate about 2,000 complaints a year. They also inspect more than 600 assisted-living centers.

The 153 inspectors, also known as surveyors, seek to ensure the safety and care of more than 75,000 residents in Ohio facilities. Interviews, as well as state and federal documents, indicate that these are some of the things that the inspectors do during their examinations:

As part of this series, The Plain Dealer would like to hear about your experiences with nursing homes. Contact reporters John Caniglia at jcaniglia@plaind.com and Jo Ellen Corrigan at jcorrigan@plaind.com.

To file a complaint with the Ohio Department of Health:

Click here.


middleburg heights police car.jpg

(Joanne Berger DuMound/special to cleveland.com)

Theft, Engle Road: A Motel 6 customer placed $400 in cash into his car April 8 during a stay. He then locked the car.

He told police he met a homeless woman the night before and allowed her to stay in his room with him. At about 3 p.m. that day, the woman asked if she could go to his car and get some of her property. He agreed. She went to the car alone. She returned to the room and told him she needed to do some laundry and left. At 3:40 p.m., the man went to his car and found $200 for the $400 missing. He looked for the woman, but didn't find her. Police found the woman's name and phone number in the room, but were unable to contact her.

Lost property, Rosbough Drive: A Canadian visitor stayed at Sonesta Inn April 17 and lost his passport. He was told to file a police report.

Criminal damage, Engle Road: A woman parked her car in the south lot of Crowne Plaza between April 14-17. When she returned to it April 17, she found an 18-inch crack in the driver's side windshield.

Found property, Bagley Road: A man walking his dog April 18 on a paved path near Middleburg Heights Junior High School found a bike buried under some leaves. He walked it to the police station, where it is there for safekeeping until the owner claims it.

Found property, Bagley Road: Someone found a bike in the Heinen's parking lot April 15. Police now have it for safekeeping.

Theft, West 130 Street: Sears contacted police April 12 about an investigation it began March 11 involving money shortages from cash registers. Video surveillance showed an employee removing cash from several registers. The employee admitted to taking the money during a company interview April 12, saying he began stealing in January. About $900 were taken during the thefts. He was arrested.

Theft, Bagley Road: A man in a Red Roof Inn room April 7 fell asleep with his cell phone on his chest. There were about six others in the room at that time. When he awoke at 7:30 a.m. the next morning, the people - and his cell phone - were gone.

Possession of marijuana, Interstate 71

: An officer at 1:55 a.m. April 17 saw a car speeding at 85 mph. During the car stop, the officer smelled marijuana. The motorist said there was nothing in the car about which the officer needed to worry. He was asked again if he had any marijuana and the driver said he smoked some earlier in the day. After a search of the car, a marijuana grinder, pipe and bag of the weed were found in the center console. He was also cited for speeding and having drug paraphernalia.

Weaving, I-71: An officer at 2:10 a.m. April 16 stopped a car that was weaving. He immediately smelled alcohol on the driver, who later failed field sobriety tests and was unable to provide a proper breath sample. He was also cited for drunken driving.

Theft, South Rocky River Drive: A woman reported April 16 that someone entered the four cars parked in her driveway. None of them were locked while parked there overnight. The only items missing were about $20 in spare change.

Disorderly conduct, Sheldon Road: Police questioned a man who started a fight at a local bar. He gave police a debit card as his ID. He was intoxicated and came very close to officers while he told them he was the one who was assaulted. The man became upset and moved closer to officers. He was arrested.

Drunken driving, Webster Road: An officer saw a car weaving at 12:38 a.m. April 15. The driver said she was heading home from a girlfriend's house. The officer detected an odor of alcohol, but the driver said she was not drinking. She failed field sobriety tests and refused to take a breath test.

Criminal damage, Rosbough Drive: A Sonesta Inn patron parked his Jeep near one of its buildings April 13. He returned later to find the driver's side window broken and his GPS unit gone. The officer who took the report told the victim not to leave valuables inside his car in plain view.

Drunken driving, I-71: An officer stopped a car at 3:32 a.m. April 16 that was weaving within and outside its lane. The woman said she had a long day and was tired, which was the reason of her erratic driving. The officer detected the odor of alcohol on her. The woman said she did drink, but much earlier in the day. She failed field sobriety tests and measured a .102 Blood Alcohol Level.

Drunken driving, I-71: An officer noted a motorist was driving more than 75 mph. The driver had a strong odor of alcohol. She said she and her passenger were at a bar and she was taking her back home. The driver told the officer she did not have drinks at the bar, so the alcohol the officer smelled must be from her passenger. She, however, failed field sobriety tests. She also refused to answer questions after a glass smoking pipe and metal grinder with marijuana residue in both were found in the car's glove box. She did admit the items were hers.

Drunken driving, Fry Road: An officer was suspicious of a car that pulled out of the Speedway parking lot at 1:22 a.m. April 9. The car turned into a church's parking lot and stopped. The officer thought that was odd since there were no services occurring at that time. The driver said he pulled into the lot to turn around and drive back to a local motel. The officer noted the motorist showed signs of inebriation. The motorist's driving license was suspended. The driver said he was aware he had an unpaid ticket in North Carolina, where he lived. The officer also noted the scent of marijuana and alcohol. The driver said he had a 24-ounce beer earlier. He failed field sobriety tests. The officer found two sandwich bags of marijuana in the car.

The man also was cited for driving under suspension.

Tinted windows, I-71

: Police cited a driver at 3:29 a.m. April 6 for weaving, drunken driving and having excessive tinted window on his car. The man admitted to having a few beers earlier that day.

Found property, Fox Hollow Drive

: A resident found a bike on the southside corner of his property at 10:29 a.m. April 11. Police took it for safekeeping. Later that day a woman called to say her grandson's bike was stolen. Her description of the bike matched the one found earlier that day. It was returned to the rightful owner.

Found property, Bagley Road: Police have a bike that was left all winter in the bicycle rack outside the Middleburg Heights Community Center.

Drugs, Engle Road: Police are investigating a drug overdose that occurred April 8 at Motel 6. A woman called police about her friend whose face was blue. He was barely breathing. She said he used heroin prior to his current state. The girl said she tried to use CPR compressions on her friend. A rescue squad member did a firm sternum rub and the victim took deep breaths. He also received an injection that counteracted the heroin. He began breathing on his own. He then sat up. The man said it was against his religion to use needles and to accept medical help, but he then calmed down and agreed to the assistance.
North Olmsted police cruiser.jpg

North Olmsted police investigate pot, shoplifting cases.

(File photo)

Marijuana possession, Brookpark Road: Police stopped a car at 3:57 a.m. April 11 on Brookpark Road near Columbia Road because of malfunctioning headlight. An officer discovered a passenger in the car had a felony warrant from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office for vehicle theft. An officer also noticed a smell of marijuana coming from the car. Police found two small packets of marijuana on the passenger as he was searched during his arrest. He was cited for a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana. The driver was cited for the malfunctioning headlight and allowed to drive away from the scene.

Possession of marijuana: An officer on routine patrol April 13 spotted a driver smoking a marijuana cigar. The officer stopped the driver in the Great Northern Mall parking lot. The driver was cited for possession of marijuana. The driver then told officers he believed his car battery had died. They provided a jump start.

Petty theft, Great Northern Mall: Police were called to Macy's store about 4:30 p.m. April 15 about a suspected shoplifter who attempted to leave the store without paying for nearly $350 worth of clothes. Police charged the suspect with petty theft.

Stolen wallet: A woman told police she was shopping at Great Northern Shopping Center and had her wallet. But she discovered the wallet missing later. She believes it was stolen. Police are working with one of the stores to see if any evidence of a crime can be found on surveillance cameras.

Nuisance animal, Hampton Drive: Police were called about 12:43 a.m. April 11 about barking dogs. Police found no one answered the door at the house where the dogs were kept in a back yard. Police said they have received previous complaints. The city has sent the homeowner a court summons for creating a nuisance because of habitual barking.

Damage to property, Clague Road: A motorist told police he was exiting I-480 at Clague Road April 7 when he struck a pothole at the base of the ramp near Clague. Two tires blew out.

If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comment page.

"cleveland.com is a partner of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Every dollar buys four meals for the hungry. Click here to donate."
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The Parma City School board is hoping this message remains the same after May 2.

(Mark Holan/special to cleveland.com)

PARMA, Ohio - The Parma and Brooklyn City School Districts school boards are going back to the residents whose children attend those schools for much-needed funds.

Two levies are on the May 2 ballot in those districts. Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills residents will be asked to pass a new tax levy, and Brooklyn residents will be asked to pass a renewal and increase of an existing levy.

Parma, Seven Hills and Parma Heights

Issue 12 is a proposed tax levy for $11,724, 468 and a levy of taxes to be made outside of the ten-mill limitation estimated by the County Fiscal Officer to average 5.9 mills for each one dollar of valuation.

Mayor Tim DeGeeter

Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter is asking voters to pass Issue 12 and supports keeping all three high schools open.

"Every day, we work hard to attract businesses and jobs, strengthen our neighborhoods, and keep our city safe," DeGeeter said. "Vitally important to this is our schools. Passage of Issue 12 is critically important for the district and our families. It's also crucial for Parma because communities are strengthened by good schools. I support our school levy.

"The levy -- the lowest millage in over two decades -- would help keep class sizes reasonable, attract and keep high-quality teachers, and give us the best chance to keep all three high schools open," DeGeeter said.

Parma Heights Mayor Michael P. Byrne also encourages voters to support Issue 12.

"The wonderful aspect of public education is that it offers every child, regardless of mental, physical, or economic status, the opportunity to learn, discover, and create to the best of their ability," Byrne said.

"We owe it to our children, and to the future of our community, to support public education and give all our children the opportunity to contribute their unique gifts to the world."

Brooklyn

The Brooklyn City School District has Issue 8 on the ballot. It's a renewal of 1 mill and an increase of 0.5 mill for permanent improvements in the school buildings.

"This is the first time that something has been added to it in over 40 years," Brooklyn City Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Gleichauf said.

"We want to be fair to the taxpayers," Gleichauf said. "The good people of Brooklyn have been generous, and we don't want to overtax them."

The City of Brooklyn also has Issue 3 on the ballot. It would amend the city's zoning code for planned unit development for mixed use.

Seven Hills

The City of Seven Hills has two proposed charter amendments on the May 2 ballot.

Issue 4 would make the position of mayor/safety director a full-time job, starting Dec. 10, 2019.

Issue 5 would provide for the mayor to annually appoint a financial advisory board consisting of three electors of the city, each approved by council, to review the financial status of the city and provide recommendations to council and the mayor concerning financial matters.

"cleveland.com is a partner of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Every dollar buys four meals for the hungry. Click here to donate."
westlake police cruiser

Westlake police make attempted burglary arrest: police blotter

(Patrick Cooley, cleveland.com)

Attempted burglary, Hedgewood Avenue: A 35-year-old Rocky River man went to his ex-girlfriend's home April 14 and banged on the door despite a temporary protective order that required he stay away, according to police. He was stopped nearby and arrested for attempted burglary and violating a TPO and on warrants from the Cuyahoga County and Madison County sheriffs' offices. The victim also suspects he was prowling around her home the night before.

Theft, Dover Center Road: A North Ridgeville woman reported that cash and gift cards worth $250 total were taken from her purse April 14 from her workplace.

Petty theft, Detroit Road: A Maple Heights woman is accused of stealing $80 worth of property from a Detroit Road store April 15. Staff detained her until she was arrested for petty theft.

Drone headache, Cedarwood Drive: A man suspects an ex-girlfriend is buzzing his home with a drone. He observed it April 15 and neighbors told him they have also seen it. He supposedly has video of the reconnaissance flight but had not provided it to police as of April 21.

Underage consumption, Dover Center Road: A passing patrolman found a 19-year-old Westlake woman had vomited in the parking lot of a closed gas station April 16. A sober friend took her home. She will receive a summons for underage consumption.

Theft: Thirteen blank checks were reported stolen from a Clemens Road business April 17. A female had tried to cash one at a Cleveland store April 15, but lost her nerve and left when an employee called to verify the authenticity of it. She has been identified and an arrest warrant will be sought.

Identity theft: Someone opened a credit card account using the identity of a Crimson Drive man April 10. The bank closed the account the next day. The victim contacted police April 17.

Theft, Center Ridge Road: A purse belonging to a Dublin, Ohio, woman was stolen from a 2014 Honda Odyssey April 17 while it was parked at a business. Credit cards inside it were used at a nearby gas station. A car seen in the area was located in Elyria the next day and a stolen thumb drive was recovered inside it. The investigation continues.

Carrying a concealed weapon, Detroit Road: A 24-year-old Avon man was stopped for traffic violations April 17. He produced a knife with a prohibited blade length. Officers also found an unloaded .380 pistol and two magazines in the car. He was arrested for a concealed weapon and carrying various weapons.

Disorderly conduct, Bradley Road: An intoxicated 53-year-old Bradley Road man cussed out his 78-year-old mother and her two juvenile granddaughters April 18. He was arrested for disorderly conduct while intoxicated.

Theft, Brick Mill Run: A woman held open houses in March and April in hopes of selling her home. On April 20, she noticed that jewelry was missing from a dresser. She is trying to get a value on the necklaces and watch. Police advise residents always secure any small valuables like cash, jewelry, firearms, credit cards prescription medicine when holding an open house.

If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comment page.

"cleveland.com is a partner of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Every dollar buys four meals for the hungry. Click here to donate."
While the milestone anniversary puts the family's long-tradition front and center, history has never been lost on Dick Leinenkugel who often reflects on the sacrifices made by his ancestors. He invoked Jacob Leinenkugel's daughters, who mortgaged their homes so they could get the brewing equipment up and running again after prohibition. Then there is his father, William, who presided over the brewery for over 40 years  including during the 1970's, when many smaller family owned and regional brewers were forced to close. At the time, larger breweries increased their scale and distribution footprint, squeezing out many of the smaller players. "I think about what my dad did to compete during those times, making pennies on the case, but always investing back into the brewery in terms of quality and people, and keeping the local market strong," said Leinenkugel. "That's what really set us up for success now."

One of America's oldest breweries is going back to its roots to celebrate a milestone anniversary. In a nod to its German heritage, the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company is collaborating with Hofbrau Munchen, the German brewery founded in 1589, to create "Leinenkugel's Anniversary Lager," in celebration of its 150th anniversary this year. As part of a yearlong celebration, the beer will be brewed both in Germany and in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. "It'll be the first time Leinenkugel's has been brewed in Germany forseven generations, when my great, great, great grandfather last brewed beer," Dick Leinenkugel, president of Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company and a fifth generation family member, told CNBC recently.

In 1988, the family made the decision to sell to Miller Brewing, now known as MillerCoors , a move which likely saved the brewery from going out of business.



Fast forward nearly three decades and to a new generation of Leinenkugel family members working in the brewery, the brand is enjoying a resurgence. A big part of that is its successful line of Shandy, beer that's mixed with a soft drink.

The brew is enormously popular during the all-important summer sales season, and Leinenkugel has all but cornered that market.



"Nine out of every ten Shandies consumed in the United States have Leinenkugel on the label," said Leinenkugel. "Early indications are we're going to exceed our summer Shandy plans this year."



In addition to the continued strength of the flagship Summer Shandy brand which was first introduced in 2007, a grapefruit Shandy brand extension has also proven to be a hit.



"In the first year we released it as package it became the number one craft beer brand in 2015 " said Leinenkugel.



So while the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewery Company celebrates its past and the Leinenkugel Shandy remains a current summer success, Dick Leinenkugel is looking toward the future.

"I'm just a caretaker of the brewery and the brand, that's the way I view it and when you look at the four generations that came before me and how much tougher they had it than I do, I'm really humbled," he said. "I'm just looking forward to getting the brewery set up to have another great 150 years."
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A stark reality of retirement planning is that your future is riding on the quality (read: plausibility) of your assumptions. Abject optimism can be dangerous. For example, eight years into this bull market, expecting stocks to deliver as-strong returns over the next decade is an iffy proposition many are nonetheless banking on. Another potential flawed assumption is that you will be able to keep working past 65. The recently released 2017 Retirement Confidence Survey by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute finds that more than half of workers say they expect to still be on the clock past age 65. By comparison, less than 15 percent of today's retirees kept working that long. "If you plan on working longer as a way to get by in retirement, you are going to be in trouble," says Craig Copeland, senior research associate at EBRI. "It should be a complement to a solid savings and spending plan, not the foundation."

It's simply too risky to assume you will indeed be able to work longer. A survey by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS) found that nearly two-thirds of retirees left the workforce earlier than expected because they were laid off, reorg-ed out of a position, or due to general unhappiness with a job. Only 16 percent of retirees who exited the work force earlier than they expected did so because they felt they could financially afford to.

If you plan on working longer as a way to get by in retirement, you are going to be in trouble. Craig Copeland senior research associate, EBRI

Moreover, a report from Prudential puts a dollar value on why your current employer may not be inclined to do back flips to keep an older you happy and engaged. The estimated one-year cost to a firm when an employee delays retirement: $50,000. Prudential estimates that on a company-wide level, delayed retirement can increase overall workforce costs by 1 percent to 1.5 percent. That's not nothing . And it goes a long way in explaining why employers may be more inclined to focus on "financial wellness" strategies to get workers ready to retire sooner than programs to help workers delay retirement. Fewer than one-third of employees surveyed by TCRS report their employer has some sort of "transition" program such as flex work schedules, reduced hours or shifting to a different role.

Kelvin Murray | Getty Images

"Workers' vision of retirement is changing faster than employers' business practices," said Catherine Collinson, president of TCRS. That makes it ever more crucial for pre-retirees to take the steps today that will increase the odds they can continue to work longer, if that's part of the plan. Loosen your death grip on your current job Trying to run the table at a job that doesn't exactly float your boat, or that you sense won't likely be a very friendly place as you age, is doubly risky. Making a move in your 50s can be the ticket to working longer. New research by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College found that 55 percent of 50-somethings who attended college and voluntarily switched jobs continued to work to age 65, compared to 45 percent of workers who didn't make a voluntary move.

JB Reed | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Curb your spending now rather than later It would be personal finance blasphemy to not mention that once you turn 50 you can take advantage of higher catch-up contribution limits and stuff more money in your 401(k) and IRA. But what often gets overlooked is the other side of your balance sheet. Copeland says at this juncture one of the best moves is to reduce your cost of living. "Get your spending in order and you may not need to have as much saved for retirement because you will need to replace less later on," Copeland said.

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Downsizing, or making it a priority to get the mortgage paid off, can also make it more practical to downshift to a lower-paying/part-time job later on. Make your future self more employable Just 40 percent of baby boomers with an eye on working longer told TCRS they are keeping their job skills up to date. Less than 60 percent were focused on performing well at their job, and only 14 percent are locked into the need to network. "If you want to work longer, all those should be at 100 percent," Collinson said. "One of the major disconnects is that few people have taken the important steps to help themselves be able to continue working. You need to be proactive sooner than later." If your employer offers job training, "you should be the first to sign up," she said. Or check out what's available online or at a local community college. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement, and the first $5,200 of assistance is tax-free for employees. How to retire early and save more along the way
Photo for illustration. (Source: VNA)

Locals in Sop Bau district, Houaphan province of Laos are celebrating their traditional New Year, Bunpimay.

Houaphan is a contiguous province with the north central coast Thanh Hoa province of Vietnam. For years, the presence of Vietnamese friends in Laos important festivals has become familiar to generations of Lao people

Hua Phan and Thanh Hoa provinces are twin provinces, sharing nearly 200 km of border lines. Sob Bau district of Hua Phan province and Muong Lat district of Thanh Hoa province have a long and special bond.

Festivals and special events which see the presence of both sides are chances to nurture the traditional friendship between the Vietnamese and Lao people. The depth of the relations has been proved from generation to generation.

To Nguyen Huu Vinh and Nguyen Thi Loi, Laos has become their second fatherland.

The agreement on dealing with free migration in the contiguous region between the two countries signed by the Vietnamese and Lao governments in 2013 has created favourable condition for Vinhs family to stabilise their lives and integrate with the localitys economy, culture and society.

Its the fifth time Vinhs family has celebrated Bunpimay festival with their neighbors.

Bunpimay mean splashing water festival, Lao people believe that pure water will bring freshness, prosperity for all things, health, and happiness while chasing away bad luck and disease in the year ahead.

A special ceremony during Bunpimay which Vinhs family and every Lao person enjoy is the procession of pageant queen spring gasoline Khan, one of the seven daughters of the Divine Quadrilateral God, a guardian God who is believed to brings happiness, health, and wealth for Lao people.

The participation of Vinh and other Vietnamese at the festival helps tighten the friendship which has been built up by many former leaders and people of the two nations.

The sound of Lam Vong rhythm and Vietnamese songs echo merrily in the mountainous area. People of the two nations join in songs and dances, together they are nurturing the special relations of the two nations, which are as strong as the mighty Truong Son Mountain, standing forever./.
Australia's move to scrap the 457 visa program that allowed skilled migrants to work in the country for up to four years was the right move for the trade-dependent economy, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said in an interview with CNBC at the weekend in which he discussed economic challenge ahead of the next federal budget.

Questioned on whether scrapping the visa program would send out the wrong message to trade partners, Cormann said "we are an open trading economy" that needs skilled workers but that the 457 visa did not match people where the country had skill gaps and new rules "will improve" that process.

"There has to be a matchup," Cormann said.

He also suggested the May 9 budget presentation will address some aspects of soaring home prices in parts of Australia, but said that the fundamental issue was one of supply and demand and not nationwide, requiring more of a "scalpel" approach than a "sledgehammer."
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Conservative candidate Francois Fillon has conceded defeat in the French presidential election and has asked his supporters to reject a far-right leadership. Fillon joined other politicians, concerned with the stability of France and the European Union, in asking voters to choose the centrist Emmanuel Macron over the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, after preliminary results showed the two will face off in the final round on May 7.

Christophe Archambault | AFP | Getty Images

Earlier, socialist contender Benoit Hamon, who also failed to qualify for the final round, made the same request to his supporters. Tweet 1 Also, France Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, from the Socialist Party, asked voters on his Twitter page to "unite" and vote for Macron. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault also tweeted a call to vote for Macron in the final round. Tweet Popular Green Party (EELV) politician Cecile Duflot said she will vote for Macron "without hesitation".

Europe congratulates Macron
Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen will face one another in the final round of the French presidential election on May 7, according to exit polls released at 8:00 p.m. local time.

Centrist Emmanuel Macron of the independent En Marche party secured the lion's share of votes in Sunday's preliminary election at 24 percent, with the far-right's Marine Le Pen of France's National Front party trailing narrowly behind at 22 percent, according to Harris poll estimates.
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Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen will face one another in the final round of the French presidential election on May 7, according to exit polls. Global markets breathed a sigh of relief to see establishment candidate Macron receive the largest portion of votes in the first round. Centrist Emmanuel Macron of the independent En Marche party secured the lion's share of votes in Sunday's preliminary election at 23.7 percent, with the far-right's Marine Le Pen of France's National Front party trailing narrowly behind at 21.7 percent, according to Harris poll estimates. Separately, the French Interior ministry announced its final figures at 5 a.m. local time on Monday morning which showed that Emmanuel Macron had won 23.75 percent of the vote versus Le Pen's 21.53 percent.

Tweet 1 Looking ahead, Macron is expected to win the second round of the French election with 62 percent of the vote versus 38 percent for Le Pen, according to a poll from Ipsos/Sopra Steria released on Sunday evening. In a speech made after Sunday's exit polls were released, Le Pen vowed to defend France against globalization and declared that now is the time to free the French population from an arrogant elite. Meanwhile, Macron told his supporters in Paris that he will seek to build a parliamentary majority as soon as Monday as part of his bid to become president and represent the voice of hope for both France and Europe.

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Current French Socialist Prime Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, former conservative French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and losing Socialist contender Benoit Hamon have all now called on all democrats to rally behind Macron in the final round, according to Reuters. "The first round is always kind of a protest vote ... And then you have tactical voting happening in the second round," Antonio Barroso, deputy director of research at Teneo Intelligence, told CNBC on Sunday. The Republican party's Francois Fillon conceded at around 8:40 p.m. local time, saying that he was the sole person responsible for his defeat and adding that he also intends to vote for Macron as Le Pen, he said, would lead the country to failure. The euro reached a five-and-a-half month high against the dollar when markets opened Sunday evening. The single currency jumped to $1.09395 in early trade after having closed at $1.0723, according to Reuters data. This represents a 2 percent jump so far on the day.

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This move was to be expected given that it wasn't the two extreme candidates who made it through into the final round but the euro may not have much further to run for now, Elsa Lignos, global head of FX strategy at RBC, told CNBC on Sunday. "I would be surprised if we went too far up. I heard people talking about 1.10 and even 1.12. That would be surprising just because there wasn't that much positioning heading into this election on a tail risk scenario ... really spot hasn't reflected much of a premium at all," she added. Voter turnout was recorded at 69.42 percent as of 5:00 p.m. local time, according to an official statement from the Interior Ministry.

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When Socialist French presidential candidate Benoit Hamon conceded Sunday after failing to qualify for a runoff, he called it a "historic blow" to his party.

It marks just the latest setback for the mainstream left across Europe  a retreat that has been largely missed by media reports as they focus on far-right leaders, whether they win or lose.

Hamon, part of the same party as incumbent President Francois Hollande, appears set to finish fifth in the vote based on early indications from pollsters. Centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen looked set to finish first and second, respectively, according to exit polls, setting up a runoff next month.
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The struggles of political pollsters to accurately forecast the outcome of votes was a major theme of 2016. Early indications of the first round of the French election show that may not be the case this time. Official results are not yet available, but Harris exit polling indicates that centrist Emmanuel Macron is seen winning 24 percent of the first round vote, with far-right candidate Marine Le Pen projected to win 22 percent of the vote, setting them up for a May runoff.

A man passes by campaign posters for the French presidential election, on official billboards on April 21, 2017 in Lyon, ahead of the first round of the French presidential election which will take place on April 23. Jeff Pachoud | AFP | Getty Images

An average of recent pre-election polls compiled by the Huffington Post forecast that those candidates would take roughly that percentage of the vote. Speculation swirled that Le Pen, an anti-globalist candidate seen in the mold of U.S. President Donald Trump, could muster more support than polls indicated  just as Trump did in many key U.S. states during his own elections. If early indications from pollsters hold, that appears not to be the case, in the first round at least.

Getting it wrong
With signs that North Korea may be preparing for a sixth nuclear test, President Donald Trump has asserted that "China is the economic lifeline" of the rogue state and can solve the problem if they wanted to.

In the meantime Vice-President Mike Pence wound up a 10-day tour of four Asian nations, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Australia by using the last stop to applaud the "unprecedented" steps China has taken recently in applying economic pressure, but adding they "can do more."

"Choppy" is how former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson would describe China's tightening sanctions. Speaking at the Harvard China Forum on Saturday, Paulson said "when you see this tyrant in North Korea parading weapons" and for China to be upset when South Korea brings in a missile defense system, it just "doesn't make sense."

According to Paulson, it may come down to a difference in objectives when it comes to the Korean Peninsula. "China places a bigger importance on stability, whereas the US places a bigger importance on denuclearization."

But he does see positive signs in US China engagement under Trump, adding "it is highly unusual and positive for a Chinese president to give a phone call to (the U.S.) president so soon after a summit on North Korea."
Missiles are driven past the stand with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other high-ranking officials during a military parade marking the 105th birth anniversary of North Korea's founding father, Kim Il Sung, in Pyongyang, April 15, 2017.

Amid rising tensions between the United States and North Korea, a U.S. citizen has reportedly been detained by the government of Kim Jong Un.

Early Sunday, The Wall Street Journal reported that North Korea arrested a U.S. citizen in Pyongyang on Friday, citing two unnamed sources. According to the publication, the person arrested is a Korean-American who taught at a university set up in the capital city by another Korean American who is a Christian.

The detention was confirmed to CNN and The Associated Press by an official at the Swedish Embassy, which represents American interests in North Korea. Both the AP and WSJ reported that the name of the man held is Tony Kim, which brings to three the number of Americans being held by the reclusive North Korean regime.

In response to an inquiry from CNBC, a State Department spokesperson said Foggy Bottom was "aware" of the reports, adding that "the protection of U.S. citizens is one of the Department's highest priorities." The spokesperson added that State would work with the Swedish Embassy, but declined to comment further.

The news comes as North Korea continues to rattle its saber at the U.S., whose officials have made clear that the "strategic patience" with the Communist-run country is nearing an end.

Last week, Vice President Mike Pence toured the demilitarized zone that separates the North from South Korea, and declared that "all options were on the table" and that Kim should not test the U.S.'s "strength and resolve."

In its own display of military might, the North Korean government has recently tested long-range missilesone of which took place just last week, but failed almost immediately.

The WSJ's full story can be found on its website (note subscription may be required).

Correction: Kim Jong Un is leader of North Korea. An earlier version misstated his name and position.

 The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans give President Donald Trump poor or middling marks for his first 100 days in office, including a plurality who say he's off to a "poor start," according to results from a brand-new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

Forty-five percent of respondents in the survey believe Trump is off to a poor start, with an additional 19 percent who say it's been "only a fair start." That's compared with a combined 35 percent who think the president's first three months in office have been either "good" or "great."

Trump's 100th day in office takes place on April 29.

By contrast, in the exact same question from April 2009 NBC/WSJ poll, 54 percent of Americans said that Barack Obama's first 100 days had gotten off to either a good or great start, while 25 percent said they were fair, and 21 percent called them poor.

Trump's overall job-approval rating stands at 40 percent - down four points from February. It's the lowest job-approval rating for a new president at this 100-day stage in the history of the NBC/WSJ poll.

More from NBC News:

Rob Gronkowski crashes Sean Spicer's press briefing, fist-bumps Trump

Chuck Todd: We'll see Donald Trump's tax returns when they're forced out

US prepared for preemptive action if North Korea conducts nuclear test

At this same point in time of their presidencies, Obama's overall rating stood at 61 percent in the poll, George W. Bush's was at 56 percent and Bill Clinton's was at 52 percent.

By party, 82 percent of Republicans approve of Trump's job, versus just 7 percent of Democrats and 30 percent of independents who give the president a thumbs-up.




Deputy PM Dung made the suggestion during his meeting with Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Charles Flanagan in Dublin on April 21st, where he affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to its cooperative ties with Ireland.

The Deputy PM also called on Ireland to provide more scholarships for Vietnamese students and create favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese in Ireland to better integrate into the host society.

For his part, Minister Flanagan agreed to work closely with Vietnam in implementing agreements signed during the Vietnam visit by Irish President Michael D. Higgins in 2016, and maintaining delegation exchanges, and all-level meetings to consolidate the friendship and multilateral cooperation between the two nations, with focus on economic-trade relations, development cooperation, agriculture-food, and education-training.

He pledged to boost bilateral economic cooperation in the coming time, facilitate and encouraging the two nations enterprises to invest and transfer technology, particularly in the sectors with strong potential, such as renewable energy, high-quality agriculture, food industry, aviation, and information and communication technology.

The two ministers agreed to work closely to identify priorities for cooperation in the national strategy between the two nations for 2017-2020, with Irelands commitment to assist Vietnam in socio-economic development, poverty reduction and climate change adaption.

They also consented to implement effectively agreements on child adoption and facilitating the flow of products into each others market.

During his meeting with Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed, Deputy PM Dung spoke highly of Irelands agricultural achievements and urged Ireland to share experience and support Vietnam in hi-tech agricultural development while strengthening cooperation in forestry, environment and response to climate change.

He also called on Ireland to facilitate access to its market for Vietnams agro-forestry-fishery products, and to the European market through the nation.

For his part, Minister Creed shared Irelands experience in applying advanced technology in traditional farming, making it one of the most prosperous nations in Europe.

The Government of Ireland is willing to boost cooperation with Vietnam in diary, pharmaceuticals, meat processing, he said, adding that Ireland also supports promoting the EU-Vietnam relations, thus further facilitating trade and investment ties between the two nations.

He agreed to cooperate with Vietnam in implementing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in agriculture, signed in 2014, with focus on four key areas, namely providing assistance for training managers of modern agriculture, sharing experience in organic agriculture development, developing safe agricultural production management system and cow farming.

The two ministers agreed to promote delegation exchanges, organise workshops and training courses for Vietnam, share advanced technology and scientific application in safe agro-forestry-fishery production models.

During the visit, the Vietnamese delegation made field trips to several high-quality cow farms in Cork province to learn about the model of clean, high-quality and environmentally-friendly agricultural production, and worked with a number of Irish enterprises in trade, education-training, and agriculture./.
A pair of editorials in The New York Times and Business Insider exclaimed recently that the power in the tech industry is concentrated among too few companies, with both publications calling for a new round of antitrust regulation akin to the Department of Justice action against Microsoft in the 1990s.

This argument is stunningly, spectacularly wrong.

Yes, the five big tech companiesAlphabet (Google), Amazon , Apple , Facebook , and Microsoft are more powerful collectively than the tech industry has ever been. They're the five largest companies in the U.S., as measured by market cap, and have been driving most of the stock market's gains since January.

It's also easy to argue, as Matt Stoller does in the Business Insider piece, that innovation in the tech industry is in a lull. Silly venture capital-funded companies like Juicero, which sells a $400 juicer, are a highly visible example. (A recent Bloomberg investigation showed that the juice packets could actually be squeezed by hand to the nearly same effect as the $400 juicer, which apparently irritated some of the start-up's early investors.)

Yet what both of these facts actually demonstrate is that the tech industry is one of the nation's most vibrant, subject to constant competition and disruptionprecisely the opposite of the market characteristics antitrust law was meant to stop.

Consider:

The Big Five are in constant competition. The fact that there are five powerful companies at the top of this industry, rather than one (as was arguably the case with Microsoft in the 1990s) should be a clear clue that the tech industry is exceptionally vibrant.

In fact, it's not clear that any of these companies has an actual monopoly, and it depends on how you define the market.

Does Google have a monopoly in the search market? Probably. But it makes its money from online advertising, where it faces clear competition from Facebook. Amazon arguably has a monopoly only if you define e-commerce as a separate market from retail. Apple doesn't seem to have a monopoly anywhere.

But more to the point, these five companies are in constant battle, both at the margins and in their core areas of business. Consider the following:

Apple invented the modern smartphone business with the iPhone in 2007, but Google quickly rolled out a competing platform, Android, and licensed it broadly to the point where it now has more than 80 percent of the global market;

Amazon is constantly improving product search in an effort to undercut one of Google's core sources of revenuesearch ads that appear when the user seeks information on a particular product;

Facebook is competing against Google for every dollar available in online advertising, particularly in video;

Apple has its own suite of mobile productivity apps that compete with Microsoft's Office apps on its devices, while Google has a strong online version of these kinds of apps;

Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are in brutal competition for the cloud computing market, which itself is disrupting traditional software vendors like Oracle and SAP, with hundreds of billions of dollars of corporate IT budgets at stake.

And on and on.

This isn't a case of five companies sitting comfortably on their piles of gold and colluding to stay out of each other's core areas. It's all-out war, year after year.

The evidence of fast disruption in the industry is clear. Contrary to Stoller's argument, Google did not beat Microsoft because of antitrust litigation; the areas where Microsoft was restricted from competing related to web browsers and forcing PC makers to accept and reject certain software as a condition for getting Windows.

Google became a threat to Microsoft because it solved an entirely different problem that Microsoft hadn't even been focused onorganizing the burgeoning mass of information on the Internet in a way that made it easy for people to find what they were looking for. By the time Microsoft woke up and tried to beat Google with its own search engine, MSN Search (later Bing) in 2005, it was already too late.
Member 13189964 wrote: and youve been awarded the contract to program the test system That's you, not anyone here. This site is not here to provide free code, or to do your homework assignments.





HomeWork is not set to test your skills at begging other people to do your work, it is set to make you think and to help your teacher to check your understanding of the courses you have taken and also the problems you have at applying them.

Any failure of you will help your teacher spot your weaknesses and set remedial actions.

Any failure of you will help you to learn what works and what don't, it is called 'trial and error' learning.

So, give it a try, reread your lessons and start working. If you are stuck on a specific problem, show your code and explain this exact problem, we might help.



As programmer, your job is to create algorithms that solve specific problems and you can't rely on someone else to eternally do it for you, so there is a time where you will have to learn how to. And the sooner, the better.

When you just ask for the solution, it is like trying to learn to drive a car by having someone else training.

Creating an algorithm is basically finding the maths and make necessary adaptation to fit your actual problem.



The idea of "development" is as the word suggests: "The systematic use of scientific and technical knowledge to meet specific objectives or requirements." BusinessDictionary.com[^]

That's not the same thing as "have a quick google and give up if I can't find exactly the right code".

Patrice



Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler. Albert Einstein



it could not print the message like bellow

/*

this is the first program

*/

only print

/*



*/





package javaapplication5;





import java.io.BufferedReader;

import java.io.FileInputStream;

import java.io.FileNotFoundException;

import java.io.IOException;

import java.io.InputStreamReader;

import java.util.logging.Level;

import java.util.logging.Logger;



/**

* BufferedReader and Scanner can be used to read line by line from any File or

* console in Java.

* This Java program demonstrate line by line reading using BufferedReader in Java

*

* @author Javin Paul

*/

public class BufferedReaderExample {



public static void main(String args[]) throws IOException{



//reading file line by line in Java using BufferedReader

FileInputStream fis = null;

BufferedReader br = null;

//String line;

try {

fis = new FileInputStream("E:/Sum.txt");

br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(fis));

String line;

while((line = br.readLine()) != null){

if(line.contains("/*") || line.contains("*/")|| line.contains("//")){



System.out.println(line);



}



else



System.out.println("");



}

br.close();





}

catch(IOException e){

System.out.println("file could not read");



}

}

}



When I tried to run a code, an error occurred. Please explain why error occurred and how to fix it, thanks.



Here is my code:

Java import java.util.ArrayList; class Demo { public static void main( String [] args) { ArrayList<String> list1 = new ArrayList<String>(); ArrayList<String> list2 = new ArrayList<String>(); int index = 0 ; list1.add( " ahio" ); list1.add( " bro" ); list1.add( " higoodbye" ); list2.add( " hi" ); list2.add( " goodbye" ); for ( String x : list1) { for ( String y : list2) { if (x.contains(y)) { index = list1.indexOf(x); list1.set(index, x.replaceAll(y, y.replaceAll( " [a-zA-Z]" , " *" ))); } } } System.out.println( String .join( " " , list1)); } }

Here is my error:

Warning\Error Exception in thread " main" java.lang.ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException: -1 at java.util.ArrayList.elementData(ArrayList.java: 418 ) at java.util.ArrayList. set (ArrayList.java: 446 ) at Demo.main(Main.java: 20 )



index is -1 , which indicates that the element was not found in list1 . You need to check the values of all the variables to see why.



[edit]

In the last case x contains "higoodbye" and y contains "hi" . The search succeeds and the contents of the element in list1 is modified. On the next iteration of list2, y contains "goodbye" so it matches x, but the element in list1 has been modified so the indexOf method returns -1.

[/edit]



modified 1-May-17 3:31am.



I am trying to use third party sdk or restful api to enable Biometric Authentication in our web based application.

Currently I am checking which will be best and fits the requirement.

Any suggestions please?



HI Everyone! So this is my first post here and I'd like some help from you.



So this method should return all priority Notes but they should be sorted by their priority like the notes with priority 1 comes first and after that priority 2 and so like this. This in an ArrayList

and I've stopped here because I can't figure out how to do ..



Could you please help me with this sortation?





Thanks in advance







Java <pre>public PriorityNotes[] getPriorityNotes(){ PriorityNotes[] PriorityNotes = new PriorityNotes[notes.size()]; PriorityNotes = notes.toArray(PriorityNotes); int i; for (i = 0 ; i < notes.size(); i++){ } return PriorityNotes;}











Collections.sort[^] to sort it in order.





here I just posted this method because I thought you'll understand that I created it

So could you explain how to use the Collections.sort[^] ?



and where to put this? inside the for loop



Costea Cornea wrote: So could you explain how to use the Collections.sort[^] ?



and where to put this? inside the for loop What Richard meant was, that you should only call the sort function on the ArrayList object of yours. Also, you have not shown the structure of your PriorityNote object, does it contain a priority field in itself, or do you assign a value on runtime? If that is a built in field there, then just call the sort function, and to even control how an object is sorted, read java - Sort ArrayList of custom Objects by property - Stack Overflow

The sh*t I complain about

It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem

~! Firewall !~





Ok here I'll give you my fields to see which I have



Java private int numberOfNotes; private ArrayList<Note>notes;



and that's all fields which I have



Java Collections.sort(notes);



how to make a chat application in java on wan?



hi



I have created a java application(exe).

Now when I try to execute the application from a directory whose name is in unicode(Japanese),it crashes.

I could not figure out the problem ,its showing packager.dll issue.



Please help..







msvcp100.dll

msvcr100.dll

packager.dll



then double click the .exe application crash shows the error like



Problem Event Name: APPCRASH

Application Name: SimulatorEndUser.exe

Application Version: 0.0.0.0

Application Timestamp: 55761984

Fault Module Name: packager.dll

Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0

Fault Module Timestamp: 55761993

Exception Code: c0000005

Exception Offset: 000129a0

OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.48

Locale ID: 1033

Additional Information 1: 0a9e

Additional Information 2: 0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789

Additional Information 3: 0a9e

Additional Information 4: 0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789



Benjamin Bruno wrote: Exception Code: c0000005 means you are trying to access an address that is not in your address space. You will need to use the debugger to find the actual code that causes the error.



we are working on visa give me a suggetion , and sample code to call the POSLink class?



thanks you for your post is very helpful . I wonder if you could send me your java code for implementing this algorithm. My email address is lamis.guessoum@yahoo.fr Thanks a lot!


This $50 note from the Farmers National Gold Bank at San Jose has an estimated price of $350,000 to $550,000 in PCGS Currency Very Fine 20, a grade that indicates this note was well circulated.

The presence of an astounding 30 California national gold bank notes, the largest offering of such notes in over 70 years, dominates the Heritage Currency Signature auction at the Central States Numismatic Society convention outside Chicago on April 26. Dustin Johnston, director of currency auctions for Heritage, said this is the single finest offering of national gold bank notes at auction since Albert A. Grinnells collection was sold by Barney Bluestone in the 1940s. Grinnell had nearly three dozen, including many of these rare types.

This category of federal currency is among the rarest and most unusual. In Paper Money of the United States, we call them the most romantic of all American currency issues. Gold bank notes trace their existence to the California Gold Rush, when so much gold was trading hands daily that it was impossible for local banks to keep up with it. The national gold banks were created by an act of Congress in July 1870 to help alleviate the situation. The act established 10 gold banks, nine in California and one in Boston, under the same National Banking Act that authorized national bank notes.

Raised lines spark collector interest: Inside Coin World: Raised lines and die gouges can create curious effects on coins. This week's Inside Coin World has plenty on the topic.

Evidence that the notes were well-accepted is that the normal condition in which they are found today is usually Very Good or lower. They are hardly ever seen in a condition better than Very Fine, and then, restorations and repairs are to be expected.

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Surviving notes issued by the First National Gold Bank of San Francisco far outnumber those from all others. Yet, the Heritage sale offers notes from each of the California banks (those from the Kidder National Gold Bank in Boston never entered circulation). Foremost among them is a Friedberg 1161 (as cataloged in Paper Money of the United States by Arthur and Ira Friedberg) $50 note from the Farmers National Gold Bank at San Jose that has an estimated price of $350,000 to $550,000 in PCGS Currency Very Fine 20, one of which sold for $178.50 in the Grinnell sale.

Also expected to reach six-figure results are $100 notes from banks in Santa Barbara, Oakland, and Petaluma, a San Francisco $20 note, an Oakland $10 issue, and several other notes from Santa Barbara and Petaluma.




According to the General Department of Customs (GDC), as of April 15th, exports by FDI firms reached nearly USD10.87 billion, down 13 percent month-on-month.

Despite the fall, however, the sector accounted for 65.1 percent of the total export turnover this year (January 1st to April 15th, 2017) at USD70.05 billion, which marked an increase of 10.95 percent over the same period in 2016.

FDI firms in the country now have an accumulated 2017 trade surplus of USD3.92 billion, making them significant contributors to national export value.

Meanwhile, Vietnams total export from the April 1st to April 15th was USD16.37 billion, a month-on-month drop of 13.9 percent.

This took total exports for this year to more than USD107.58 billion, an increase of nearly USD16.76 billion or 18.5 percent over the same period in 2016.

However, the months leading to April 15th have seen a trade deficit of USD2.56 billion, about 4.9 percent of export value.

On the other hand, Vietnams imports from January 1st to April 15th, 2017 reached USD55.07 billion, up 23.1 percent over the same period last year.

Accumulated import turnover for FDI firms reached more than USD33.06 billion, up 23.7 percent year on year, accounting for 60 percent of the nations total imports.

The GDC report said the manufacturing sector will grow significantly with the opening of new FDI factories, on top of a record FDI disbursement of USD15.8 billion in 2016. The construction sector should benefit in particular from higher FDI disbursements as also continued public investments in the energy and transport sectors.

The first quarter has also saw foreign firms add USD7.71 billion USD in newly registered and supplemental capital. They increased their capital contribution and share purchases by 77.6 percent over the same period in 2016, with USD2.9 billion for 493 newly registered projects and USD3.9 billion for adding capital to 223 existing projects.

On the domestic front, export value for certain goods showed strong declines: steel was down 62.8 percent; computer, electronic parts and accessories, down 27.8 percent; textiles, down 20.4 percent; wood products, down 23.8 percent.

Only a few goods showed improvement in export value. Rice was up 6.5 percent and mobile devices and accessories went up three percent./.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro became the first foreign leader to set foot in the liberated area in central Quang Tri province in 1973 (Source: VNA)

The event brought together representatives from Cuban ministries, sectors and organisations as well as ambassadors and representatives of 20 other countries in Cuba.

In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Trung Thanh highlighted Vietnams great victory in the protracted resistance war in the past, during which Vietnam received valuable support and strong solidarity of progressive forces worldwide, especially assistance of friends from Asia, Africa and Latin America, including the Cuban people.

The ambassador expressed his hope that the Vietnam-Cuba relationship would be deepened, thus promoting the development of each nation as the wishes of President Ho Chi Minh and Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castrol.

Thanh also underlined the need to continue sustaining and strengthening the traditional relations between the two countries, and proposed concrete activities to mark 45 years since Cuban leader Fidel Castro became the first foreign leader to set foot in the liberated area in central Quang Tri province in 1973.

Journalist Santiago Feliu, head of the OSPAAALs Culture and Popularisation Department, recalled activities of progressive movements in the world, which ebulliently followed Vietnams struggle for independence and national reunification.

The Vietnamese people made the world admire for not only the indomitable heroism in their struggle to defend the country but also in their reform (Doi moi) and national construction process, he stressed.

Participants at the meeting had a chance to view videos, photos and posters on Vietnam in the past, the solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba, and Vietnams achievements as well as efforts to reach stronger development in the reform period./.
Perhaps the biggest problem that the Conservatives face at the coming election is opinion poll leads such as most of those below, from this mornings papers.

Conservatives: 50 per cent (ConRes, Sunday Mirror), 48 per cent (YouGov, Sunday Times), 45 per cent (Opinium, Observer), 40 per cent (Survation, Mail on Sunday).

Labour: 26 per cent (Opinium), 29 per cent (Survation), 25 per cent (ComRes), 25 per cent (YouGov).

Liberal Democrats: 12 per cent (YouGov), 11 per cent (ComRes), 11 per cent (Opinium),11 per cent (Survation).

UKIP: 11 per cent (Survation), 9 per cent (Opinium), 7 per cent (ComRes), 5 per cent (YouGov).

So why should Theresa May worry at polls showing her party scooping up perhaps half the vote? Because of their possible effect on turnout.

A core Tory ploy in general elections when in government is to seek to frighten voters with the possibility of Labour winning. Sometimes it works (as in 2015), sometimes it doesnt.

The problem this time round is that many voters have looked at Labour since Jeremy Corbyn became its leader, and looked at Corbyn himself, and decided that he cant be Prime Minister and that Labour wont win  and shouldnt.

This belief is faithfully reflected in the four polls above. The more Conservative voters see poll headlines like these, the more likely they are to believe that Labour cant win. The more they believe that Labour cant win, the less likely they are to vote. And the less likely they are to vote, the better Labour are likely to do  and the Liberal Democrats, too.

That last point could turn out to be important. The Liberal Democrat vote can reasonably be expected to go up, boosted by former Remain voters who are still angry about last Junes referendum result. While that is likely to help the Conservatives in blue-red marginal seats, it can only harm them in blue-yellow ones. So polls like todays will irritate rather than enthuse Tory candidates in south-west London and the south-west of England.

All of which explains why Downing Street and CCHQ will both be muttering quietly to themselves today: can we have lower opinion poll ratings, please?
It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover the
Just like life itself. Let's hurry up with that Doomsday.

The Doomsday Clock is a tradition upheld by an obscure science magazine called the Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists (a name perfectly suited to its founding in 1945). The placement of its hands is decided by a bunch of scientists and climate researchers, who periodically get together to talk about how worried they are about things in general. So that's the first misconception about the Clock: the only thing it actually measures is the worry of a few people.

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In all fairness, said people are esteemed scientists. However, scientists often don't know shit outside their own, narrow fields of expertise, so making a bunch of them from different fields discuss wide-spanning global issues probably isn't all that far from you and your coworkers shooting shit at the water cooler. Sure, you and your office buddies might not run your Fantasy League speculation by several Nobel Laureates like the Doomsday Clock posse does. But since said Nobel Laureates also tend to have very little expertise in the subjects at hand, that's probably for the best.

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"So if you follow these calculations it becomes clear that you need to draft a kicker in the first round."

Anyway, the consensus from these meetings is published in the Bulletin, complete with the updating of a symbolic logo they call the Doomsday Clock. That's it. That's the whole thing. What does it mean to be five minutes to midnight instead of six, or ten, or forty? Nothing. And now you know why the Doomsday Clock folks once randomly counted the Fukushima nuclear disaster right up there with Cold War nuclear proliferation, completely ignoring the fact that Fukushima happened because of an earthquake and tsunami while the latter's cause was massively powerful countries locked in a deliberate arms race of mutually assured destruction.
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After the collapse of the Soviet Union, rumors began to spread about an experimental substance known as "red mercury" developed by the USSR. On its own, red mercury is said to be a harmless compound, but when combined with conventional explosives, it's capable of generating enormous nuclear bomb-sized explosions. Or rather, it would, if the concept of red mercury didn't violate all of the laws of chemistry, physics, and, fuck it, let's throw in biology just because it's that unnaturally stupid a scheme.

But this didn't stop ISIS. In 2014, midway through their sell-out Calpihappetite For Destruction Tour, they tried to place an order for $4 million of red mercury from a local weapons smuggler. And just in case the smuggler (rightfully) didn't know what they were looking for, they sent him some pictures of it on WhatsApp.

C.J. Chivers

The only photos ever sent through WhatsApp that contained zero penises.

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Not wanting to be the guy to tell ISIS that they're a bunch of fucking morons, the smuggler eventually told them he had found someone with the connections to get their hands on some of the magic dust. Only this other, totally not-made-up person wouldn't sell to ISIS. They had standards, you see, and a Canadian girlfriend to impress.

This failure is basically pretty much the exact same story for every other dumbass terrorist group who have tried to get their hands on this mythical compound. In 2013, a group of domestic terrorists was arrested in Turkey after touting their totes-real red mercury on social media (which is where ISIS got the above photo from, by the way). In 2006, the Tamil Tigers tried to acquire a cache of the material as part of their long-running secessionist crusade against the Sri Lankan government. Osama bin Laden even wanted to get his hands on this Armageddon-helper back in 1999, only to be undermined by the "nuclear novices" that he'd sent to negotiate on his behalf.
When Loris Baz lost the front of his Avintia Ducati at the end of his final Q1 lap, it cost him the chance to graduate to Qualifying 2.

But it almost certainly made him an internet legend; the Frenchman hanging on as he slid across the asphalt and then miraculously remounting the bike!

The Avintia team forgot the disappointment of not making Qualifying 2 as they cheered the #76, who was mobbed on his return to the pits.

Laws of physics? What laws of physics?



Could be the greatest save of all time... @lorisbaz pic.twitter.com/dMxMlGVzQx-- MotoGP(TM) (@MotoGP) April 23, 2017

"I pushed to the maximum and in the last corner maybe too much," Baz said. "I realised when I was braking that it was going to be difficult to make the turn without going wide, but I really wanted to get in Q2... I was not able to do it, but I managed to save the crash, and at least my sponsors will be shown all around the world."

The only rider who has come close to such a save in recent MotoGP history is reigning world champion Marc Marquez, who admitted:

"Today I'm a little bit sad, because I was on pole position but I lose the best save of the year! It was amazing. I was in the box and I was happy like being on pole, because that save was incredible!

"It was similar to what I had in the [2014] Brno test, but this time he has the recording. Congratulations to him because it's the best save of the year for sure."

Baz will start Sunday's race from 14th on the grid.
You can tell how bad things are. One person one time talked about spending $1 trillion on infrastructure before the current president took office. Now, months later, with the Trump administration budgeting less than a quarter of that amount, states are scrabbling for a piece. A very, very small piece.

State Sen. Toni Boucher, a Republican, told Hearst Connecticut Media she hoped President Trump would make good on the idea of lighting up the governments fiscal jets. I hope we will be getting more funding that we need and the rest of New England desperately needs, she said.

Stop hoping. We need to face facts. Connecticut officials dont want to raise taxes. Theyd rather get the money from Washington. But its not coming. Bloomberg reported that the presidents budget includes a measly $200 billion for road and bridge repair. Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said Thursday the president is going to get eventually his $1 trillion, but thats unlikely. Not now, perhaps not while Trump is president. Connecticut has got to do the work itself.

Two reasons. One, Steve Bannon once briefly mentioned the T-word in January. He is the reason everyone has been hoping and praying for infrastructure money for months. Bannon is Trumps chief strategist and major-domo of economic nationalism. Hes also rapidly becoming persona non grata in the White House after picking a fight with his bosss son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

The other reason? Trump. To get $1 trillion in spending through Congress, hed need the Democrats. But instead of doing that first, as he should have, thus forcing his Republicans to make nice or risk losing his support on tax reform, Trump spent all his political capital pushing for a health care bill no one, not anyone, liked. That was the end of possible compromise with the Democrats. Now hes stuck with his own party and cant get anything done.

So forgot about Washington.

Fortunately, we have a plan. Its sorta good. Legislators in the Connecticut General Assembly are considering a plan to borrow $3 billion in bonds to be repaid with money from the Special Transportation Fund. That money comes from the gas tax. If tolls are OKd, the fund would be really flush, but it would take a long time to accrue, maybe 25 years.

Thats a good start, as long as we dont spend on unnecessary projects ... like widening our interstates! No one who knows anything about transportation thinks widening I-95 or I-84 is a good idea. You know what you get when you widen highways? More traffic. Not less. More.

I know it sounds backward. Youd think wider roads means less traffic. But we know this is false. Half a century of transportation analysis tells us that when you widen roads to decrease traffic, all you end up doing it increasing it.

There is one good reason and one good reason only to widen I-95: If youre an unpopular governor needing to look like youre getting something done. Luckily, our unpopular governor has decided against a third term. So lets spend on what needs fixing and improve what needs improving.

Theres the rub. Three billion bucks is barely enough to fix things. We need an infrastructure for our kids kids. A lot of us are pining for the day Washington comes to its senses to do the right thing. Well, we need less pining, more taxing.

We need a progressive tax policy to achieve this. We are a small state but a rich one. If we all sacrifice, we can do this. But we need two things to make it happen. One is a leader to sell the idea. I dont know who that will be. Two is to kill, once and for all, the idea that higher taxes make us poorer.

Ask Robert Frank. Hes an economist at Cornell. He contributed to a new book called Economic Ideas You Should Forget. Like widening roads, taxation can be counter-intuitive. Most of us think higher taxes means less purchasing power. But thats the not the case, Frank says.

We tend to think as individuals, not as a society. But across- the-board declines in income  i.e., taxes  do not affect relative purchasing power. Its this cognitive error, Frank writes, that reinforces the tax resistance that has made it so difficult to restore our crumbling public infrastructure.

It would be tricky. Wed have to find the sweet spot between taxing too much and not enough, and then index that to ones income. But theres no shortage of money. The founder of Bridgewater Associates, a Westport hedge fund, earned more than $1 billion last year. Not his firm. Him. Just one guy.

It should be a cake argument. Infrastructure is the gift that keeps on giving. For decades. Its good for individuals. Its good for businesses. Its good for our quality of life. We can, and we must, do it ourselves. Stop waiting for Washington.

John Stoehr is a lecturer in political science at Yale University. He can be reached at johnastoehr@gmail.com.
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The Fairfield Comedy Club, a new venue for weekly shows by an array of stand-up comics, opens Saturday, April 29, at the Circle Inn in Fairfield.

Shows will be presented every Saturday night, the club announced.
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A century of success will be celebrated when the Greenwich Art Society opens its 100th annual Members Exhibition Friday evening, April 28.

The milestone exhibition will be on view through June 1 in the Bendheim Gallery on the second floor at Greenwich Art Center. The free public reception will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. All works will be available for purchase.
In this very unusual Election, many normal rules do not apply. We do not believe there is any need to wait until the end of the campaign to make it plain that we support the Conservative Party and urge our readers to vote to keep Theresa May in Downing Street.

Many think the result is a foregone conclusion, a guaranteed victory for the Government. But wisdom and experience tell us that nothing is certain in democratic politics, and we think it necessary to explain  from the very start  just why a Conservative vote is important and right.

Above all, once Mrs May has a mandate of her own, she will have the room for manoeuvre which she needs  to make a deal with the European Union which will reflect both the needs of the country and the desires of its people.

The Mail on Sunday, like Mrs May herself, was in favour of remaining in the EU. Also like Mrs May, we recognise and accept the result of last years vote, and do not seek to rerun or overturn it.

This, as we already know from the events of the past few months, is likely to be complicated and sensitive.

Brussels will not simply give us all that we want.

To get the best possible arrangement out of the EU, and to be able to stand firm when things get rough, Mrs May cannot be in the pocket of any faction. She must be able to speak for Britain as a whole.

This is why the issue of Brexit will run through every aspect of this campaign. It is this question which made Mrs May Prime Minister and caused the near-revolution in the Tory Party which followed the referendum. It is this question which lies behind her decision to go to the country, despite having a working majority that could have kept her in office for three more years.

The Mail on Sunday, like Mrs May herself, was in favour of remaining in the EU. Also like Mrs May, we recognise and accept the result of last years vote, and do not seek to rerun or overturn it. It is in that civilised and friendly spirit, and also because we wish to respect the opinions on this issue of those who took the other position, that we now set out our view.

This Election cannot and should not be a second referendum. No doubt the Liberal Democrats would like it to be, and they hope to attract support by trumpeting their defiance of last years vote. This is mistaken, and it is opportunism. Tories who took the Remain side cannot afford to encourage it.

They, and Tim Farrons party, must know they cannot actually overturn the settled outcome. Democratic decisions must be respected, or chaos follows. We take part in elections and referendums on the assumption that a majority is decisive for all. Civilised government would swiftly break down if we ceaselessly revisited every decision.

But that does not mean that 48 per cent of British voters can simply be dismissed and ignored. Their concerns can be addressed constructively to improve the deal we ultimately get, and perhaps to curb the wilder and more dogmatic Brexiteers who want a rapid and total exit at all costs  costs which may fall on others more heavily than on them.

Intolerance and rancour will not bring the Remainers on board, let alone win them over. A clear willingness to listen to their concerns and recognise them as reasonable will do so. We are and must remain a tolerant and open country. The views of all are valuable. Nobody should be told to shut up.

Too much militancy will harm Mrs Mays Government and her chances of victory. She needs to avoid pandering to the more extreme elements of her own movement. For instance, any suggestion that Tory candidates have to be supporters of a hard Brexit to be selected should be rejected from the start. When the Tories were dominated by the pro-EU faction, no such ban ever applied to sceptics.

Unity in the divided Tory Party, and the country, can be achieved only if we continue to respect both sides of this divisive argument. Mrs May is especially well qualified to keep a grip on those in her party who are inclined to forget that not everyone in Britain agrees with them. She knows where the fault-lines run in the Tory Party, and  because she is not herself part of any faction  is able to speak to all sides with friendly authority.

This was her achievement so many years ago in warning her fellow Tories that they were widely seen as the Nasty Party and were in danger of talking themselves out of power for ever. Few could now deny that her warning was heeded, and the Tories return to office owes much to her constructive and forceful intervention. They should not forget that now.

Theresa May's message now is unity and she needs to be inclusive to avoid a party civil war

Her message now is unity. She seeks to be inclusive and to avoid civil war in her party and in the country. She has an appeal far beyond the party. Unlike so many of our recent political leaders, she is quite genuinely the voice of Middle Britain, not the mouthpiece of interest groups or the servant of extremists. She is bringing the country together because of who and what she is.

What is more, the reasonable acceptance of the majoritys will, which Mrs May has adopted as her position, is the essence of the Britishness which many Brexiteers went to the polls to support. We think such reasonableness should dominate the campaign; for it is the way in which we pursue our exit from the EU which is really under discussion now.

The Election gives us a chance to discuss this, to establish our priorities, in control of our borders, our laws and our economy. The complex issues of the City of London, the Customs Union, the Single Market, the importance of non-tariff barriers and the future role of the European Court of Justice cannot be decided in a few weeks of campaigning. But our general attitude towards them  of thoughtful compromise where necessary  can be.

This is just part of a wider opportunity. With the Cameron era gone, a reasonable Brexit under way and Mrs Mays more down-to-earth Toryism established, there is a great chance to discuss other issues facing our nation, as it begins to rediscover its independence.

Labours decision to take a long holiday from reality has given the Tories the chance to demonstrate in practice that they are just as concerned for the poor and the disadvantaged as Labour ever were or claimed to be. In the same spirit in which she approaches Brexit, Mrs May can float genuine new ideas about education  free at last to end the ban on academic selection.

There are many other areas of policy which have perhaps been too partisan for too long where she can apply her practical and pragmatic mind. We hope she will. On the other hand, her apparent decisions to abandon the triple lock on pensions, to refuse to rule out tax increases and simultaneously to cling to extravagant foreign aid commitments, are concerning. Our Survation poll today shows the Tory lead has already been halved.

Mrs May needs to move beyond the narrow interests of the Brexit hardliners

At the same time, we regret that there is no viable opposition. It is bad for our democracy, and for politics in general, that there is no credible alternative Government.

This Election, several years before anyone expected it, could yet force the Labour Party to put itself back into commission, and to do its job properly at this crucial time in our history, when the whole future of the United Kingdom is at stake.

To the Prime Minister herself, we say: now is your chance to show your qualities and abilities in full. You would be wise to drop your resistance to debates with other party leaders  for you have little to fear from them and much to gain.

Now too is your chance to move beyond the narrow interests of Brexit hardliners, and to become a truly national leader at this historic moment.
As MPs packed into the Strangers Bar at Westminster on Tuesday evening, still trying to come to terms with Theresa Mays stunning Election announcement, one Labour veteran turned ruefully to his colleague and announced: Thats it for me. I wont be standing. Why not? asked his startled friend. Because if I did, I wouldnt be able to vote for myself, he replied.

This is how the 2017 campaign begins  not with the wider electorate turning their backs on Labour, or even longstanding supporters turning their backs on the party, but with Labour MPs turning their backs on themselves.

Ive voted Labour in every General Election since 1987. In five of those campaigns I worked for the party. But on June 8 Ill be voting for Mrs May. To some this is treason, a betrayal of the party I once professed to love. Im also supposedly subverting parliamentary democracy. In fact, this entire Election is being painted as an assault on democracy.

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MPs tried to come to terms with Theresa May's election announcement on Tuesday while packing themselves into Strangers' Bar in the House of Commons

Chuka Umunna branded Theresa May's decision 'a disgrace' claiming she hates 'opposition'

Theresa May is a disgrace, raged Chuka Umunna after the Prime Ministers announcement. She called an Election because she rejects the idea of an opposition in our democracy. We are not some dictatorship.

Lets process that for a second. By asking the British people to choose their Government in a free and fair Election, Labour MPs now believe Mrs May has joined the ranks of Stalin, Pinochet and Pol Pot.

We will hear this argument a lot in the coming weeks: We need an effective opposition. Jeremy Corbyn must not be crushed. Our democracy will suffer.

No. The opposite needs to happen. For our democracy to be protected, Mr Corbyn does indeed need to be crushed. That is because democracy only works if our politicians and parties are held to account by the people. There must be causality. Their words and actions must carry consequences.

Labour is in this mess precisely because it does not believe it should be held accountable. It believes the British people  in particular the working class  owe it a living. It doesnt matter what we say or do, the party has smugly told itself year after year. Working people will still back us. Maybe not enough to form a Government, but we can still luxuriate in opposition.

To survive and flourish, political parties need to put in the hard graft. They need to challenge themselves. Go out among those they want to represent, find out what their hopes, fears and aspirations are, then reflect them.

Jeremy Corbyns Labour has no wish to reflect the aspirations of the people. It merely wants to sponge off them. Oh God, its Election time. Lets slap on a red rosette, spout some rubbish about 24 hours to save the NHS and the saps will vote for us again. This time they wont. And they shouldnt.

There has not been an Election campaign in my lifetime where a major political party has treated the electorate with such contempt. In the days to come, as the Conservative war machine cranks into life, the old tropes will be trotted out. Theyre smearing Jeremy! his acolytes will wail.

Well, these are not smears. This is the man who would make Britains independent nuclear deterrent redundant through his pledge never to use it; withdraw British troops from protecting our European allies; provide the Islamic State butchers with an effective safe haven in Iraq and Syria; increase the debt by 500 billion on infrastructure spending alone; and brand as rich families in London and the South East getting by on 70,000, and hike up their taxes.

Labour will not change until it is forced to change and only the voters can do that

Over the past couple of years, people have become desensitised to this lunacy, to the extent that when Labour dispatches Emily Thornberry, Sir Keir Starmer and Baroness Chakrabarti to lecture the nation about elites, it barely warrants a mention.

Rock is sticky for George George Osbornes decision to step back from frontline politics has been attributed to his new role editing the London Evening Standard. But Im told the deciding factor was the rumbling discontent over his 650,000-a-year BlackRock consultancy. George decided it was a bad look, a friend tells me. He didnt think he could be seen earning that sort of money while still an MP. Clearly the optics still matter to the ex-Chancellor. Dont breathe too easily, Mrs May. Advertisement

But its vital we do not become desensitised. Labour has been warned time and time and time again about the need for fiscal competence, and about the need to address mounting public concern over issues such as national security, welfare and immigration. And its response has been to scream Tory scum! then troop off to the cinema to watch a Ken Loach film.

Labour will not change until it is forced to change. And the only people who can force it to change now are the voters.

And consider this. Imagine if the British people were to stay their hand; that instead of rewarding Mrs May with a thumping majority, she was returned with a majority of only 20 or 30. The country would be plunged into political purgatory, without effective opposition or effective government.

On Thursday I spoke to a long-standing Corbyn supporter. Hes like a mollusc, he said. Hell try to cling on even if he loses. His malign grip on Labour  and British politics  must be prised away. And there is only one way to do it.

On June 8, Labour must face its reckoning. Jeremy Corbyn must be crushed.

CAMPAIGN CAMERA: Nicola Sturgeon's new low for politics

This may be an apt position for someone who wants a new referendum that could bring the country to its knees.

Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is either getting the lowdown on what voters want  or providing a metaphor for her policies: as flawed as she is floored.

The SNP leader was taking a breather while on the campaign trail, wearing a jacket that seems to be modelled on the bluecoats of Pontins holiday camps. Hi-de-Hi?

More like Low-de-Low...

Nicola Sturgeon's latest pose is appropriate for someone looking to bring the country to is knees

The MoS seat-o-meter

Theresa May called the Election to win a big majority. Last weeks polls put the Tories on 44 per cent, meaning they could win their biggest share of the popular vote since Mrs Thatchers spectacular victory in 1983.

Our latest MoS seat-o-meter, put together with the help of John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, shows that a 104-seat majority looks possible.

But our Survation poll today shows that may be cut to just 46.

Labour is at risk of suffering its worst defeat since the 1930s and Jeremy Corbyn is on course to win just 188 seats.

Labour is at risk of winning just 188 seats - the worst defeat for Labour since the 1930s

As Labour MPs filed through the division lobbies to trigger the Election, parallels were drawn with turkeys and Christmas.

But one party veteran preferred an historic analogy. It was like signing Charles Is death warrant.

'We all had to put our signatures down so we would all bear responsibility.

'And look what happened to that lot.

'They were all executed by Charles II.

There was sadness in Labour ranks when Alan Johnson announced his retirement.

But activists should not despair.

Apprentice winner and TV presenter Michelle Dewberry has confided to her Twitter followers: 'Now that we've lost our MP #AlanJohnson maybe I should stand & represent the area that I love - Hull West (or West Hull as it is to us!).'

Run, Michelle, run!
Im in a leafy car park in Sonning, just outside Maidenhead in Berkshire. If I didnt know already that this is Theresa Mays constituency (she was selected in 1997), I could have guessed. Its just so nice. Its Mary Berry country: all big houses in tiny plots behind electric gates.

Theresa Mays village reminds me of Beverly Hills, stuffed with rich people (I spot three Bentleys and a Range Rover convertible) with few worries. Unlike me.

Ive arrived with the weight of the world on my shoulders: Im a small businesswoman with no pension, no safety net, no husband. Ive lost my home, and am now renting.

Sonnings, Theresa May's home village, pictured, reminds me of Beverly Hills

To borrow Mrs Mays oft-touted phrase, Im just about managing.

I voted Tory last time, but cant decide how to vote next. Im poor, so should I vote Corbyn? I voted Remain, so hard Brexit terrifies me. Could the Lib Dems tempt me to protest?

Perhaps the maidens of Maidenhead can reassure me that the Tories deserve to keep my vote, or are they living in cloud-cuckoo-land, lulled by rich husbands, masses of equity and a boring leader with no real new ideas?

Initial impressions are not encouraging. The car park is stuffed with SUVs.

Inside each is a well-manicured mum, waiting for her infant to be disgorged from the C of E primary school, and each one is on her smartphone.

I tap on a window. Are you reading about what Jeremy Corbyn said this morning, about wealth extractors?

Its not that I dont care, says the mum of two. Im just not that interested in politics. Who knows whats going to happen? Im bored with the Election already. It will make no difference to me. Ive even turned off Facebook.

But its only been 48 hours! This is about your childrens future!

The woman, a tax consultant, adds a surprising insight. Maybe she called the Election because she doesnt want to be there. Maybe she wants someone else in power.

Can she stand up to Trump? I dont know if shes enough. But Id rather it was her than anyone else.

I move to another car. A pretty 42-year-old mum of two tells me, Shes a lovely lady. Everyone here loves her. Look

She holds up her phone, stuffed with joyous messages about play dates, worlds apart from my own emails about tax owing, VAT due. My friend lives in her road, and we went to an Easter egg thing, and Mrs May joined in. But politics doesnt impact on my life.

What does she do? I work in a school. Ill probably vote for her. But she could relate to me more if she was a mum.

Another car, another opinion. I meet Beth, a dead ringer for Geri Halliwell, who tells me shes 46, with her own beauty therapist business, and an 11-year-old son. What does she think of Mrs May? Shes very engaging.

Its just so nice. Its Mary Berry country: all big houses in tiny plots behind electric gates

Does she think the fact the Tories were going to punish the self employed with a hike in National Insurance was unfair? No, I dont. We should all contribute.

I move to the school gates. What a nice life, knocking off at half three to pick up a child. But then I spot a depressed-looking woman, her daughters hand in hers.

Im having a bad day, she tells me. It turns out shes a 48-year-old single mum of two who works in a school and feels she gets no help at all. Oooh, I say, sniffing blood. Are you just about managing? Do you want change?

I get penalised by all of them. They make it hard. If I work more hours, my working tax credits are cut. I cant win. But I will still be voting for May. Theyre as bad as each other.

Even in Maidenhead, when you scratch the glossy veneer, there are plenty of women struggling.

But not one I speak to is even contemplating Labour; I see only one pro-Left poster in a window, which states, Tory Brexit will make you poor.

Take a glamorous 50-year-old mum of children aged 29, 27, 22, 20 and ten I encounter. They all still live with me. And my mum and my stepdad have just moved in, too. How lovely! That must be nice.

Nice! My parents have health problems, and I always said I would look after them. So Im now a carer, and I dont get any allowances. All I get is money off the TV licence.

My children have no hope of a home of their own. I have to cook for everyone!

Id arrived from my home in the frozen, impoverished North wanting to tip all these rich southerners out of their cosy lives.

Do they talk politics at home? My son, whos in a rock band, is very political, he has issues hes concerned about [and he feels] no ones helping him.

My youngest is diabetic, so hes concerned about health. They all want to move out. How will they ever do that? I will have to sell up, move to Devon.

So is she tempted to vote Labour? No. But you say Theresa May isnt helping you. Give her time! Shes not had a chance!

In the bar of the trendy Great House hotel I meet Elloise Tarrant and April Hollamby. They are both 21, and have been friends since primary school. Elloise is a beauty therapist in a local spa.

Did she vote in or out? I didnt vote. I didnt know enough about it. How will she vote on June 8? Does she care her PM is a woman?

Thats so silly! Its a good thing, but that wont influence how I vote. I still live with my parents.

I love living at home, but Im most concerned about being able to buy a house.

I have a friend who managed it, she says its possible.

Our waitress is studying dentistry in Plymouth, home for her vacation. She tells me she sees George Clooney all the time. She points in the direction of his mansion; this part of the Thames was described by Jerome K Jerome as the most fairy-like little nook on the whole river. He got that right, but as in most fairy tales theres darkness, too: the Cinderallas with menial, low-paid jobs whose only hope of owning a house is to snare a prince.

Is she resentful Clooney lives in a mansion, and she cant buy a home here, where even a small new-build is 400,000.

Oh no, its lovely hes here. All my friends are jealous!

At the other end of the age spectrum I meet a retired teacher  a natural candidate for a Left-leaning liberal, I imagine.

Nope. Another Tory. Im really pleased to see more is being done about young people with mental health issues, and that we might see more grammar schools.

So youre not considering Labour? No, I dont like Corbyn. May will fight for us.

The maidens of Maidenhead arent voting for May just because theres no alternative, or because shes a neighbour, or a woman. They think shes decent, stable.

Have they helped me make up my mind? Id arrived from my home in the frozen, impoverished North wanting to tip all these rich southerners out of their cosy lives.

But it turns out no ones ever quite as cosy as they might seem.

And May is like me in many ways: a grammar school girl whos worked hard all her life. Like her, I dont have children, but I do have nieces, nephews.

I can no longer dream of a bigger house, but I can still think of the bigger picture. As the PM sails towards a thumping victory, Im not going to rock the boat.
Aid for despots and dictators. Aid for rich nations with their own aid agencies and others able to afford space programmes. Aid for North Korean officials and Somali jihadis. Aid that ends up in pockets of Palestinian killers, like the one who knifed British tourist Hannah Bladon to death in Jerusalem on Good Friday.

This newspaper has reported on all these cases and more. And our Prime Ministers depressing response? The leader who likes to present herself as the epitome of common sense has decided to continue with the stupidest policy of recent years: the insistence that Britain must give away 0.7 per cent of national income in foreign aid.

Last year alone we sprayed more than 13 billion around the planet that ends up in the pockets of killers and despots

Theresa May says the pledge will remain in place, squashing hope that the Tories might use the Election to ditch a damaging idea that so often does more harm than good. And as our poll reveals today, she makes that pledge at her peril.

Even as she spoke, her Chancellor hinted they might abandon another promise not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT. This is the politics of the madhouse: borrow money and put up domestic taxes while doling out swelling sums on flawed projects abroad. Last year alone we sprayed more than 13 billion around the planet. How much more will be frittered away after another five years of May to hit a dubious and outdated target?

In case anyone doubted the reason for this policy, former Chancellor George Osborne popped up to tweet this was key to creating modern compassionate conservatives. Aid tends to be about the donor, not the recipient.

Once Osborne admitted privately the great British aid giveaway was to keep charities off our back. Certainly there was loud concern voiced last week from charities and global institutions taking our funds as speculation mounted the target might be abandoned.

No doubt May feels she needs to shore up her left flank as voters opposed to Brexit worry about her hardline stance on EU withdrawal. Yet constant revelations of waste will be a running sore during her time in office.

This self-serving political opportunism ignores mountains of evidence exposed by this paper of astonishing profligacy and corruption  the inevitable consequence of prioritising spending over need.

British tourist Hannah Bladon to death in Jerusalem on Good Friday. Her killer's family will now be given 800 a month by the Palestinian Authority which receives aid from the UK

As bills get bigger, growing sums get creamed off by fat-cat consultants earning millions, multilateral bodies flying first-class around the world, and charity chiefs on huge incomes.

May insists they will spend aid money in the most effective manner. Yet I have heard this weary mantra so often before from aid advocates and complacent politicians: that lessons will be learned, that corruption will be tackled.

Action only ever gets taken after exposure by journalists. Nothing was done about those millionaire consultants, for example, until a series of articles in this newspaper culminating in revelations of dirty tricks to win lucrative state deals by the biggest specialist contractor.

Suddenly there were parliamentary probes, government inquiries and termination of deals. Yet still DFID treats whistleblowers with contempt while talking about transparency and reeling off dodgy statistics it refuses to source.

Priti Patel, the Minister in charge of chucking away this cash, seems seduced by jetting around the world spending other peoples money. She claims humanitarian needs in 2017 are unprecedented. This is simply false: poverty is falling around the planet thanks to capitalism, consumerism and technology.

The leader who likes to present herself as the epitome of common sense has decided to continue with the policy that Britain must give away 0.7 per cent of national income in foreign aid.

And she points to famine in South Sudan without acknowledging the role Western funds played in aiding the gangsters and warlords whose fighting led to mass starvation.

What a shame to see Theresa May fall for this silly stunt. It is damaging for her reputation, dreadful for her party and, above all, disastrous in so many circumstances for the poor people who suffer from this corrosive form of neo-colonialism.
Becky Cooper and Bridget Yorston are the Sydney-based best friends behind Australian fashion label Bec & Bridge.

They met while studying fashion design at the University of Technology, Sydney, and have been inseparable ever since. And it all began when the women were asked to customise a pair of their friends jeans.

'We don't have a picture of that first pair of jeans we made unfortunately,' the women joked to Daily Mail Australia.

But a Gold Coast supplier offered the women a deal for 200 pairs of those distressed jeans.

Fifteen years later and they're preparing for Sydney Fashion Week in May.

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Becky Cooper and Bridget Yorston launched Bec & Bridge in 2003 after a pair of customised jeans were picked up by a Gold Coast supplier

Kaia Gerber (left) is wearing Bec & Bridge alongside Kardashian queen Kendall Jenner (centre)

Their feminine luxe style is sold from more than 500 global retailers, and locally through David Jones.

But it has been the embrace from celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian West, Bambi Northwood Blyth and Natasha Oakley that has catapulted the brand to super stardom.

'Running your own business is a 24/7 job however we wouldn't have it any other way. It's also very rewarding and humbling seeing your designs on women all around the world,' they said.

Australian model and entrepreneur Bambi Northwood Blyth in Bec & Bridge swimwear

Kim Kardashian West wearing a Bec & Bridge gold silk slip that isn't online or in store yet

Becky and Bridget are both mums (with five children between them) juggling a full time career.

'It really is a juggle! The key for us has been having a strong partnership  this has allowed us to each take the reigns at different times when we have both had our babies.

'Having children has forced us to be more organised and more decisive. There is no time for dilly dallying,' they said.

With more than fifteen years in the industry Becky and Bridget admit they've seen the business evolve over time as trends come and go. But their core mission to outfit women in the sleekest of styles remains the same.

Jordan Dunn wearing a Bec & Bridge jumpsuit in a camel colour

Celebrities love the label: Tash Oakley and Devin Brugman (pictured left) and Anna Heinrich (pictured right with boyfriend Tim Robards) are keen lovers of the brand

Bella Hadid in a classic gunmetal grey and satin coordinate piece from the Aussie label

'The key now is to keep moving forward, to stay on our A-game and not get complacent.

'The fashion industry is so fast paced and fickle. There is no time for resting on your laurels,' the women said.

Some might say it would be difficult to remain best friends while running a lucrative business with each other but Becky and Bridget aren't ones to shy away from a challenge.

Tahnee Atkinson in a silver slip by the iconic fashion brand Bec & Bridge

Model Elle Morris in a cutaway black dress designed by Bec & Bridge

Eleanor Pendleton flaunting a white off the shoulder jumpsuit against a class white backdrop

'We've always had so much mutual respect for one another and we trust each other with every decision,' they said.

The key to their success remains in the ability to 'openly communicate' problems and issues that need to be addressed in a way that's professional but also friendly. But that doesn't mean everything runs smoothly.

'We've made so many mistakes too,' they said.

'Nothing big enough to make us want to give up though. There isn't really anything that we haven't had to learn and there isn't a time that we're not having to keep reassessing.'
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These breathtaking images capture the candid moments mothers nurse their newborn babies just seconds after giving birth.

The moving photos were taken by Queensland's most talented photographers, gathered for the 2017 Australian Institute of Professional Photography Awards.

The stunning snaps are sure to pull at the heartstrings of any mother recalling her own maternal experience.

Breathtaking images have captured the candid moments mothers nurse their newborn babies just seconds after giving birth. Above, a band of doctors are seen surrounding another new mother and baby delivered by caesarean

A first-time dad looks down at his daughter as the mother is raced to the intensive care unit fighting for her life after a massive postpartum haemorhage

Among the winners was Selena Rollason's photo of a mother who had just given birth to premature twins via c-section.

After a long infertility journey, all the mother wanted to do was hold her twin girls, but touching their humidicribs was as close as she was able to get.

Another of Ms Rollason's award-winning photos shows a band of doctors surrounding another new mother and her baby, also delivered by caesarean.

A new mother gently brings her son to up meet her, and his proud father, supported by theatre staff in a maternal assisted cesarean

The umbilical cord had just been cut and the c-section wound is seen held open.

A series of photos taken by Ms Rollason shows a surrogate mother giving birth, before she fades into the background as the parents and their baby take the focus.

Gold Coast-based photographer Rana Rankin also received an award for her snap of a first-time father cradling his newborn.

The doting dad is pictured looking down at his daughter as her mother is raced to the intensive care unit fighting for her life after a postpartum haemorrhage.

After a dramatic entry into the world, new parents take some moments of peace to meet their new son, born via water birth

A newborn baby girl is pictured making her first cry after she entered the world via caesarean section

Another of Ms Rankin's snaps shows a couple taking a moment of peace to meet their new son after he was born via a water birth.

The Australian Institute of Professional Photography Awards are run annually in every state.

They are the largest awards for professional print photography in Australia and celebrated 40 years in existence in 2016.

A series of photos shows a surrogate mother giving birth, before she fades into the background as the parents and their baby take the focus
Max Kirby was diagnosed with ependymoma, a rare tumour that grows on the brain stem, just five weeks ago.

The Darwin-born one-year-old was getting 'clingy', 'losing his balance' and 'not sleeping well' when his parents Lincoln and Naomi decided to take him to a pediatrician.

He was taken to Darwin hospital where doctors performed multiple MRI scans to decipher the problem.

'Three hours later we were literally ready to board a plane to Monash hospital in Melbourne,' Max's dad Lincoln told the Daily Mail Australia.

Lincoln and Naomi's one-year-old Max was diagnosed with a rare cancer by the name of ependymoma

The tumour was 'as large as a lemon' and could have blocked his spinal fluid 'at any time', hence the need for his parents to act quickly

The tumour was 'as large as a lemon' and could have blocked his spinal fluid 'at any time', hence the need for his parents to act quickly.

Two days after arriving in Melbourne little Max underwent eight hours of intensive surgery to remove his tumour, but doctors were only able to reduce it by 30 per cent.

The one-year-old was in intensive care for two weeks with multiple complications.

Max 'developed some fluid on the brain post-surgery and had to be rushed into theatre again for a drain to be put in and to monitor the pressure,' his Go Fund Me page read.

'Oncologists said it was a 50 per cent survival rate. And that's if they removed the tumour entirely. So they aren't great odds,' Lincoln said.

The one-year-old was in intensive care for two weeks with multiple complications

It was at this point, their little boy 'not recovering as quickly as he should have been', that Lincoln Kirby and his wife Naomi decided to contact renowned brain surgeon Dr Charlie Teo.

'Anything we could do to help Max we were going to do. We were told he [Dr Charlie Teo] was the best, particularly when the tumours are in difficult places like this one is.

'We sent him Max's MRI scans and he asked us if we could make it to Sydney.'

The Kirby family have since packed up their belongings at Ronald McDonald House near Monash Hospital and moved to Sydney in preparation for a $100,000 operation.

The Kirby family have since packed up their belongings at Ronald McDonald House near Monash Hospital and moved to Sydney in preparation for a $100,000 operation

'Dr Teo has advised that he would like to try to remove the tumour which is growing on Maxs brain stem.

'Dr Teo has said if he can't remove the tumour Max only has twelve months to live.

'These tumours are frequently chemo-resistant and the best outcome for long term survival will be a full surgical resection,' Lincoln said.

Teo's surgery will likely take fourteen hours to complete, with the best result being the complete removal of the tumour. The catch is the cost of living in Sydney during the surgery and remission period.

'Lincoln is an apprentice boat mechanic and obviously currently not working due to being relocated between Melbourne and now Sydney.

'Lincoln is an apprentice boat mechanic and obviously currently not working due to being relocated between Melbourne and now Sydney,' the Go Fund Me page reads

'Naomi was a nurse and then a full time Mum to their beautiful little boy.

'After the surgery the Kirbys can expect to be in Sydney for a few months, with the first month Max being in ICU and then the months after him trying to recover, learning how to talk and again,' the Go Fund Me page read.

The fundraising page was only set up two days ago but has already amassed $113,000 at the time of publication.

'Its hard to believe only a month ago life was perfect,' the page read.

You can donate towards Max's surgery here.
Media personality Mia Freedman's son has revealed he had to fend for himself as a child because of how chaotic and disorganised his mum was.

The media personality asked her 19-year-old son Luca Lavigne to write a chapter in her new book, Work Strife Balance, and described reading the result as 'devastating' to Stellar magazine.

Her teenage son recalled how he could never rely on his mother, who founded website Mamamia, to pick him from birthday parties or remember to pack lunches.

But Luca said his mother was always supportive and inspiring and he never resented her but rather he resented her work and how dedicated she was to it.

Mamamia founder Mia Freedman's son Luca (pictured together) has revealed he had to fend for himself as a child because of how chaotic and disorganised his mum was

'She is a walking hurricane of emotions and chaos,' Luca said.

'I did feel - not insecure - but like I had to fend for myself. I have always loved her to absolute bits. I have resented her work.'

Freedman, 45, said: 'It was gut-wrenching for me to read that chapter.

'The part about how deeply my f***-ups impacted on him, and how deeply my being irresponsible or late or careless or distracted, that was devastating,' she told the magazine.

But her regrets don't appear to have hindered her son's education, as he did well at Sydney Grammar School and then spent part of his gap year working for a butcher.

The media personality asked her son Luca Lavigne to write a chapter in her new book

Her teenage son recalled how he could never rely on his mother to pick him from birthday parties or remember to pack lunches

Now, the young aspiring writer is studying psychology as well as working part-time for his parents.

His mother was only 25 and the youngest editor of Cosmopolitan Australia when he was born.

She had met Luca's father Jason only nine months before but described the pregnancy as a 'happy accident'.

The couple have two more children - Coco, 11, and Remy, eight - and Luca thinks they will have an easier time than he did as the 'guinea-pig child'.

Luca said his mother was supportive and inspiring  but he resented her work and how dedicated she was to it

His mother isn't so convinced  and recalls forgetting to order lunch for Remy recently.

For almost two decades, Ms Freedman has struggled with maintaining the work-life balance that so many working mothers do  and felt the guilt too.

Her son insists that he was not left 'scarred' by her, adding: 'She made me the person I am, I have so much love for her, and our relationship to this day is indescribable.'

In her candid memoir, Ms Freedman talks about her abortion, anxiety and bulimia  and says writing the book is the hardest thing she's ever done.
Since mummy blogger Constance Hall announced her new relationship, the Perth-based mother-of-four has been inundated with a mix of support and criticism on social media.

The mother-of-three announced her separation from her estranged husband Bill Mahon just two weeks ago and has since jetted to Ireland to spend time with new lover, Denim Cooke, during her book tour.

And now, the author's haters have taken their trolling to a new level by flooding Mr Mahon with nude photos.

According to the West Australian, members of a 'secret Constance Hall hate group' on social media have sent Mr Mahon 'raunchy nude photos' and have 'spent hours online stalking Hall's private Facebook page and those of her personal friends'.

Constance Hall announced her separation from her estranged husband Bill Mahon (right) just two weeks ago

And now, the author's haters have taken their trolling to a new level by flooding Mr Mahon (pictured with Constance in happier times) with nude photos

The group, titled the Abdication of Constance Hall, has more than 2,000 members - one of whom has 'boasted about sending sexually graphic messages' to Mr Mahon.

According to the publication, the woman posted screen shots of 'unsolicited messages she sent to him' and nude photos.

She said that while Mr Mahon had blocked her, she continued to bombard him with photos from a different account she had created.

The mother-of-three announced her separation from her estranged husband Bill Mahon just two weeks ago and has since jetted to Ireland to spend time with new lover Denim Cooke (right) during her book tour

Mr Mahon 'did not engage with her' after receiving the pictures.

Other women have also 'shared screen shots' of the blogger's personal Facebook page, Mr Cooke's phone number and snaps of Denim's ex-girlfriend.

Former Victorian police officer, Susan McLean, told the West Australian that the members of the hate group could face legal consequences for their actions.

On Saturday, the mummy blogger left some Irish locals looking lost for words as she blew them a kiss while wearing her signature elaborate headpiece and colourful dress.

Mr Cooke was spotted in Ireland on Saturday as he left the building where the mummy blogger was promoting her book.

He is currently accompanying the blogger, who is in Dublin ahead of her international tour to promote her book, 'Like a Queen'.

The same day, the mummy blogger left some Irish locals looking lost for words as she blew them a kiss while wearing her signature elaborate headpiece and colourful dress.

Ms Hall beamed as she arrived for an event at the Smock Alley Theatre - and Mr Cooke was also spotted there - although he shied away from photographers who tried to take his picture.

Mr Cooke was spotted in Ireland as he left the building where the mummy blogger was promoting her book on Saturday

Despite recent dramas in her personal life, the blogger seems to be enjoying her time abroad.

The high-profile writer fired back at fans who turned on her for 'falling in love' just two weeks after she announced her marriage breakdown.

She recently revealed her love for Mr Cooke, a single father-of-two, just weeks after confirming her split from Mr Mahon, 47, who she was married to for seven years.

Ms Hall recently revealed her love for Mr Cooke (pictured), who is accompanying her on tour

Mr Cooke (pictured) is in Dublin with the Perth blogger ahead of her international book tour

And on Thursday, she defended her new relationship, claiming the married couple had 'lived separately and officially separated for months.

'Yes, I announced our separation two weeks ago.... and yes I was trying to fix our marriage however it didn't work. At least I tried,' she wrote.

'Those who know me are thrilled to finally see me happy and my children don't remember the last time they saw their parents together so they are pretty stoked too.'

Ms Hall is in Ireland with the couple's children ahead of her international book tour, along with Mr Cooke and and his two sons
China to push for common prosperity with Kyrgyzstan via Belt &Road: Chinese FM

(Xinhua) 14:50, April 22, 2017

China is ready to work together with Kyrgyzstan to achieve common prosperity by building the Silk Road Economic Belt, as agreed by the leaders of both sides, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Friday.

Wang made the remarks while meeting his Kyrgyz counterpart, Erlan Abdyldayev, on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting.

Since the establishment of their diplomatic ties 25 years ago, the two countries have witnessed the stable and healthy development of their bilateral relations, said Wang.

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev's successful visit to China earlier this year has further consolidated the friendship and trust between the leaders of the two countries, and during the visit they have also mapped out the future development of bilateral ties, said Wang.

Kyrgyzstan is an important partner in building the Silk Road Economic Belt and China is willing to work with the Kyrgyz side in this regard so as to bring about development for both countries, said Wang.

For his part, Abdyldayev said Kyrgyzstan cherishes its relations with China and the country firmly supports China's efforts to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism.

The country is also willing to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the Chinese diplomatic mission in Kyrgyzstan, he added.

The Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan was hit by a suicide attacker in August, with the lone assailant killed and five others injured.
Britain's Got Talent fans have learned to expect the unexpected during auditions.

But a pair of acrobatic dancers still drew gasps from the audience last night with one eye-watering move.

Gao Lin and Liu Xin, a married couple from Beijing, performed a ballet routine to the Gabrielle Aplin version of Power of Love, which saw the flexible Liu extend her leg over her head until it touched the floor.

The judges hailed the pair as 'extraordinary', but some viewers insisted they deserved the Golden Buzzer, which would have sent them directly to the live finals.

Ouch! Viewers were astounded to see the dancer extend her leg behind her and over her head

Dance group Just Us impressed the judges enough to get the Golden Buzzer, but some viewers thought the Chinese acrobats were more deserving

Gao Lin and Liu Xin performed a series of impressive balances and flawless flips during the routine, prompting one viewer to tweet: 'I've pulled five muscles just watching this.'

The judges heaped praise on the pair, with Amanda Holden describing their routine as 'extraordinary', but it wasn't enough for some in the audience at home, who said they deserved the Golden Buzzer more than dance act Just Us.

'How did they get a golden buzzer and not the Chinese duo?' wrote one viewer.

It was echoed by another, who said of Just Us: 'I liked them, but I don't think it was worth the golden buzzer, I'm sorry but those ballet dancers deserved it more.'

Liu extends her leg behind her as her husband clasps her hands to support her

The Chinese acrobat then raised her leg directly above her head in an impressive move

The audience gasped as Liu kept right on rotating, her leg still above her head

Eventually the dancer's entire body was hovering, horizontal, just above the floor

Some viewers were disappointed the couple weren't sent directly to the live finals

The duo appeared on Asia's Got Talent in 2015, and are now trying their luck on the British version of the show.

Acrobatic dancers Gao Lin and Liu Xin, from Beijing, previously appeared on Asia's Got Talent

Fans on Twitter said the couple deserved the Golden Buzzer, which would have sent them straight through to the live shows

Britain's Got Talent airs Saturdays at 8pm on ITV
DS Steve Arnott's balcony fall was one of the most shocking scenes to date in the fourth series of BBC's Line of Duty.

But if fans of the show had been paying attention, they would have seen it coming, according to the actor who plays the AC-12 detective.

Martin Compston has revealed there was a clue to his imminent attack at the hands of the balaclava man hiding in plain sight - and it involves his wardrobe.

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He explained that his character DS Steve Arnott was wearing an old suit in the scenes leading up to the shocking balcony fall

In last week's episode Arnott was seen waking up in hospital but was unable to recall who attacked him - though viewers now know

Martin, 32, explained to presenter Christine Bleakley during an appearance on daytime show Lorraine, that DS Arnott's suit was from an old series, chosen because producers were happy for it to get 'messed up' during the bloody and violent scene.

The actor said it occurred to him that eagle-eyed fans of the show might 'clock' that 'something bad is going to happen'.

Speaking about doing his own stunts Martin, who has appeared on all four series of the popular drama, said: 'That [scene] was stressful for me for different reasons because I know that when the lift doors open, I'm about to get thrown about by a stunt man.

'We spend so much time at our desks, doing long interview scenes and talking... it's nice to get a bit physical.

'But I was wondering if anyone noticed that was my old suit from last series which we were allowed to get messed up.

'I wondered if any eagle-eyed fans clocked, "Well he's in his old suit today, so something bad is going to happen".'

DS Arnott woke up from the fall in last Sunday's episode, but so far he's been unable to nail down what viewers already know - that Thandie Newton's character's husband Nick (Lee Ingleby) is the culprit.

The actor, who actually hails from Inverclyde, Scotland and adopts a London accent to play Steve Arnott, admits he was nervous about the fate of the 'annoying' officer, especially as the writers are not scared of killing off major characters.

'He's hanging in there. That's the beauty of the show, we've trusted Jed [Mercurio, writer] this far and I don't think he would kill anyone off just for the sake of it.

Speaking on daytime show Lorraine, Martin explained that he did his own stunts and had to wear an old suit from the character's wardrobe that could get 'messed up'

'But there's always a bit of trepidation when we get the next set of scripts to see if we're still there.

'I intentionally make [Steve] annoying because he's kind of the hero, but he's - I'm trying to think of words I can say on morning TV - but he's a lot of fun to play.

'And again with him going over the banister and thinking he's dead... People don't realise what they've got until he's gone, so the character got this outpouring of love over the last week which has been really nice.'

Many viewers of the popular drama, which follows the exploits of the anti-police corruption unit and also stars Thandie Newton and Vicky McClure, mightn't realise Martin has a strong Scottish accent.

But as more and more people tune in the actor says he's coming under increasing scrutiny.

'Thebigger this [show] gets the more people figure out Im Scottish, and then the more they become accent detectives and they start listening,' he said.

Fans were on the edge of their seats over the cliffhanger moment when DS Arnott's colleagues attempted to get in contact to tell him of impending danger

But his eagerness to figure out where Thandie Newton's character's husband Nick fit in with the investigation he missed a crucial call

He was thrown over the balcony and landed several flights down with blood pouring from his head and his fate unknown

Martin, who splits his time between his home in LA where his American wife lives, also said that his Scottish accent sometimes slips out during filming

'When I do the accent I tend to just stay in it. For me its like going to the gym, the more youre in it the better you get.'

He added that because he spent a lot of time travelling between LA - where his American wife of eight months, Tianna Chanel Flynn, lives - and Belfast, where the series was filmed, he was worried about the accent slipping.

'This year's probably been the most difficult year.

'A lot of my filming was condensed so I had a lot more time off and I've been travelling within the series more than I would normally do, so apologies if it slips at all.'

Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV from 8.30am and Line of Duty airs tonight on BBC One at 9pm
Charli Howard may be heavier today than she was a few years ago but, she says, she is 'happier than I've ever been'.

The curvy model, who was famously told at size 6 that she was 'too big' to succeed in the fashion industry, recently took to Instagram to show just how far she has come since learning to accept her curves.

Along with a before and after photo she wrote: 'Look how far I've come!! I may be heavier than I was, but I'm happier than I've ever been, and I never, EVER want to go back to that miserable and lonely time.'

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Back in the day: Curvy model Charli Howard, 26, recently shared these before and after photos and declared that 'I may be heavier than I was, but I'm happier than I've ever been'

Sending a message: The model also wrote that she is 'proof' of how 'being thin does not make your life better'

The British-born model went on to claim that she is 'proof that being thin does not make your life better.'

'I know the idea of thinness can often feel like a gateway towards a more fabulous, exotic and fulfilled life, but the reality is very different,' she added. 'You're just masking underlying insecurities or problems.'

Being thin won't make you happier, prettier or more popular, said Charli, adding that these things only come when 'you choose to love yourself and who you're meant to be!'

The New York City resident regularly makes a point on social media to show off her natural form and to tell her followers that there is nothing wrong with having curves or a bit of extra weight - or a backside covered in cellulite.

In another powerful post, Charli shared a close-up image of her butt and thighs, and penned a message that nearly every woman could relate to.

Standing up: Charli has become known for her frequent posts about body positivity

Untouched: Charli recently shared this close-up image of her butt and thighs to show how 'bloody natural' cellulite is

All smiles: The British-born model, who lives in New York City, also wrote about how she used to envy girls who appeared to have no cellulite

'Despite the fact I speed walk everywhere, squat, run and occasionally do [barre], I'm still left with cellulite,' she wrote.

'I went to an all-girls' boarding school and really used to envy the girls in my class who seemingly had none, and whose bodies looked, to me, nothing less than perfect.'

She added that she felt the same pangs of jealousy when she filled through magazines with models and celebrities.

Tabloid stories shaming women for showing off cellulite also contributed to Charli feeling as if 'my cellulite was shameful, or an oddity.'

'It wasn't until I got older and saw other women's bodies that I realized HOW BLOODY NATURAL IT IS,' she said. 'It's nothing to be ashamed of. Your boyfriend isn't gonna care if you have it, and if he does, dump him for his mate. Just kidding (or am I?).'

Sweets: She also added that she felt similar pangs of jealousy when looking at celebrities and models in magazines

Proud form: Despite her previous struggles with her own cellulite, Charli, wearing an Aerie ensemble, told followers that she knows it's not 'something I need to feel embarrassed about'

While she admitted that her cellulite is far from her favorite physical feature, she said: 'I know it doesn't make me any less ugly, or is something I need to feel embarrassed about.'

She finished off the post by quoting some lyrics from Kendrick Lamar's Be Humble: 'Show me something natural like a** with some stretch marks.'

Charli knows better than anyone how misleading beauty standards can be, having been sacked by a modelling agency for being 'too big' at a size 6.

Now, working as a plus-size model in New York City, UK-born Charli is using her voice to support other women in learning to love their bodies.
Nurses repeatedly voiced concerns about urologist Paul Miller  who was using an experimental technique to burn away prostate-cancer cells  as early as 2008

A rogue doctor harmed dozens of cancer patients because hospital chiefs ignored whistleblowers warnings about him for five years, a damning leaked report reveals.

Nurses repeatedly voiced concerns about urologist Paul Miller  who was using an experimental technique to burn away prostate-cancer cells  as early as 2008.

But bosses at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill took five years to act, only suspending the consultant in late 2013, by which time at least 27 men had suffered serious significant harm.

Dozens of former patients are now taking legal action against Mr Miller who, it is claimed, used his forceful personality to deflect criticism.

Rather than challenging him, managers at the hospital presided over a culture that was weighted in favour of protecting a clinicians reputation, rather than protecting patient safety, the report says.

As a result, bosses at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust missed opportunities to act on concerns raised by a number of staff.

Crucially, nurses were not given the credibility they deserved. And managers failed to act because they were terrified of being accused of harassment.

The revelations are made in an internal report, seen by The Mail on Sunday, which was commissioned by the Trusts new management team.

Left unchecked, his maverick approach resulted in 27 patients suffering serious significant harm from 2007 to 2013, according to a subsequent review by the Royal College of Surgeons. Some suffered permanent impotence.

Ten of these patients subsequently died, although there is nothing to suggest Mr Millers actions hastened their deaths.

Last night, clinical negligence lawyers said it was shocking Mr Miller had been left unchallenged for years. Janet Johnson, of Slater and Gordon solicitors, said: It seems inconceivable that any hospital trust, when informed of such serious concerns about patient safety, would fail to act for so long.

But bosses at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill took five years to act, only suspending the consultant in late 2013, by which time at least 27 men had suffered serious significant harm. File pic

Mr Miller was finally dismissed in October 2014 and the General Medical Council suspended his licence to practise medicine the following month. But the watchdog has since lifted the ban, meaning he can practise if he abides by certain conditions  including not treating cancer patients.

It is understood he sometimes works in Los Angeles and Barcelona, and has no plans to return to practise in the UK. However, he still keeps a house here.

Now a report by the Good Governance Institute, a management consultancy brought in to highlight what went wrong at East Surrey Hospital, has revealed many patients could have been spared serious physical damage if bosses had listened to whistleblowers.

A 2010 internal report by the chief nurse for surgery into a serious incident  which involved one of Mr Millers patients  could have potentially brought matters to a head, GGI found. But it was given less credence than it deserved.

Medics were worried he was railroading prostate-cancer patients into a novel treatment called High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, instead of traditional surgery.

With HIFU, the surgeon burns away cancerous cells with a laser-type probe. The method is meant to be less invasive than surgery. However, impotence is a known risk.

At the time Mr Miller was using it, HIFU was not recommended as the standard treatment for prostate cancer, according to Philippa Luscombe of law firm Penningtons Manches. She claimed he failed to mention alternatives to HIFU  or properly explain its risks.

One 77-year-old, who was left impotent, said: I think it is a disgrace he was able to experiment on patients using this method when other treatments may have been more suitable.

Mr Millers colleagues also accused him of being bullying and compiled a red folder of evidence against him.

Last night, there was no response at Mr Millers home. Trust chief executive Michael Wilson said: We regret that historic poor practice led to patients not receiving the best care and, again, I offer our sincere apologies to everyone who has been affected.
Holiday time is almost here, so you might want to start thinking about trading in your old swimsuit for something new should a last-minute weekend to Mykonos appear on the horizon.

This month LK Bennett  not a brand known for bikinis  has collaborated with Biondi to create a capsule collection of super-flattering, super-soft swimwear.

BIKINI TOP, 70, and BOTTOMS, 60, LK Bennett, lkbennett.com. SWIMSUIT, 240, Evarae, evarae.com

Also set to fly off the rails is the first swim collection from Rosie Huntington-Whiteley for Marks & Spencer.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's swimwear range is set to fly off the rails. BIKINI TOP, 32, and BOTTOMS, 25, Marks & Spencer, marksandspencer.com

At the higher end of the scale were loving Ward Whillas  a new US label specialising in beach kit that looks great for sunbathing and can survive surfing  and Evarae for glamorous, sexy one-pieces that are definitely designed with sun-worshippers in mind.

Together with & Other Stories, TOMS  the shoe brand known for giving away a pair of shoes to a person in need for every pair it sells  has created its first ready-to-wear collection, available in selected & Other Stories stores and online.

DRESS, 55, TOMS and & Other Stories, stories.com

The range of cotton pieces will be sold to support the charity Magic Bus  in particular its Womens Scholarship Fund, which supports English language classes for young women in India. stories.com

SANDALS, 65, TOMS and & Other Stories, stories.com

Its glam up North!

Following our story about The Hepworth Wakefields JW Anderson exhibition, heres another sartorially related reason to visit Yorkshire.

The Victorian Harewood exhibit at Harewood House features costumes from the ITV series Victoria

At Harewood House near Leeds, a location for the ITV series Victoria, Victorian Harewood (from now until 29 October) is exhibiting costumes from the show, including an exquisite reproduction of Queen Victorias coronation gown.

House Style at Chatsworth House celebrates five centuries of the stately homes female residents

Meanwhile, at Chatsworth House in neighbouring Derbyshire, House Style (until 22 October) celebrates five centuries of the stately homes fashionable female residents  including 18th-century empress of fashion Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire  in a show curated by US Vogues editor-at-large Hamish Bowles.

chatsworth.org; harewood.org.

WEAR WHERE

Nobu's new Shoreditch hotel opens in June

Nobu is a name more obviously associated with Londons Mayfair than its hipster East End, but Shoreditch is the site of its extraordinary-looking new hotel, which opens in June.

Rooms from 250, nobuhotelshoreditch.com.

We love
I must admit that Ive been cynical about facial mists in the past. But a new generation  plus the dewy complexions of models at Philosophys S/S 17 show  has converted me, so I keep one on my desk, in my gym bag and by my bed.

Dewy complexions on the catwalk at Philosophy, S/S 17

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anti-Shine Invisible Fresh Mist (14, boots.com) contains super-light molecule Airlicium (previously used by Nasa, no less), which can absorb up to 100 times its own weight in sebum, making it a take-everywhere must for the sweaty summer months. Perfect for hot, flushed, post-workout skin is the Time Out Face Mist & Fix from SportFX (5.99, sportfx.com), a brand that has jumped on the bandwagon of todays flourishing fitness movement with products made specifically for active women.

Jax Coco coconut water (from 2.79, ocado.com); Time Out Face Mist & Fix from SportFX (5.99, sportfx.com) and La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anti-Shine Invisible Fresh Mist (14, boots.com)

Spray it on to reduce redness, cool skin and set make-up. The Instagram clan have taken misty matters into their own hands, decanting nutrientrich Jax Coco coconut water (from 2.79, ocado.com) or similar into an empty spray bottle and spritzing it over skin. I cant vouch for its lasting benefits, but it feels hydrating, refreshing and leaves a lovely, lingering aroma thats perfect for summer.

JOIN THE NEW IT CROWD

Having already proven a massive hit in the US, beauty brand IT  or Innovative Technology  Cosmetics is causing quite the stir here.

Developed with leading plastic surgeons to contain some of the most advanced anti-ageing ingredients around, favourites such as Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream SPF 50+ (30), Bye Bye Undereye Concealer (21) and Superhero Mascara (18) all blur the boundaries between skincare and make-up  so you get the best of both worlds.

Available at qvcuk.com now and Selfridges, Oxford Street, London W1, from 8 June.

Superhero Mascara (18); Bye Bye Undereye Concealer (21) and Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream SPF 50+ (30), all qvcuk.com and Selfridges, Oxford Street, London W1 from 8 June

I Am Energised Superfood Blend

As their name suggests, adaptogens are compounds that help your body adapt to stress.

Get your hit by adding a tablespoon of Naomis Kitchen I Am Energised Superfood Blend (from 15, naomis.kitchen) to water or a smoothie.





It shook up the London salon scene in 2006 when it introduced the blow-dry bar phenomenon to the UK  and now Hershesons is extending its menu of looks.

The Twisted Sista braided pigtailed buns

Joining existing favourites such as the classic Half and Half blow-out and elegantly knotted Swank, the Twisted Sista braided pigtail buns and cool, wavy The Flave make it even more difficult to pick just one style when you whiz by one of its London venues in Selfridges, Oxford Street; Topshop, Oxford Circus, or Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge. 30 each, hershesons.com.

The Flave down-do

Photographs: Tobi Jenkins. Beauty assistant: Alice Robertson
Zehra Patwa learned only a few years ago that during a family trip to India at age 7, she was circumcised, which is common for girls in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Patwa, 46, doesn't remember undergoing the procedure, which is also called female genital mutilation or cutting and which has been condemned by the United Nations and outlawed in the U.S. But she doesn't want to.

'I have no desire to get that memory back. ... Psychologically, it feels like a violation, even though I don't remember it,' said Patwa, a technology project manager from New Haven, Connecticut, who now campaigns against the centuries-old practice.

Patwa, 46, now lives in the U.S. and campaigns against the practice performed among certain cultures of different faiths and widely within her community called the Dawoodi Bohra

She learned that she was taken from her home at the time in England to India for a wedding and that is where the mutilation was conducted on her.

The recent arrest of a Michigan doctor accused of performing the procedure on two 7-year-old girls from Patwa's own Shiite Muslim sect, the Dawoodi Bohra, highlights how female genital mutilation is alive and well in parts of the Western world where its adherents have migrated and formed communities.

Depending on the culture, female circumcisions are performed on girls of various ages and by various methods, and they are seen as a way of controlling a girl's sexuality, maintaining her purity or even making her more fertile as she grows into adulthood. Critics, though, say it can cause complications during childbirth, make intercourse painful and eliminate any pleasure a woman can derive from sex.

Dr. Jumana Nagarwala is accused of performing the procedure on two Minnesota girls that left them with scars and lacerations. Her attorney, Shannon Smith, insists that Nagarwala conducted a benign religious ritual that involved no mutilation.

Dr Fakhruddin Attar (left) was arrested with his wife Farida Attar by the FBI on Friday for allegedly conspiring with Dr Jumana Nagarwala (right) in performing female genital mutilations on two girls at his Detroit-area clinic. Nagarwala was charged on April 12

Prosecutors on Friday charged two other Bohras, Dr. Fakhruddin Attar and his wife, Farida Attar, with conspiracy. Fakhruddin Attar owns the Detroit-area clinic where the alleged procedures were performed in February, and investigators say the couple knew Nagarwala was doing the procedures after business hours.

There are more than a million Bohras in the world, most of whom live in India. No one knows how many there are in the U.S., but it's estimated there are about 25,000 and that they have about 20 mosques and gathering places.

Patwa, who is part of the activist group Speak Out on FGM, said that given its clandestine nature, it's hard to estimate how many people perform female circumcisions in the U.S. But there are a small number in the Bohra community who are known by elders and tend to be clustered around large cities with Bohra mosques, she said.

When many Bohra girls are age 6 to 8, their parents approach - or are approached by - a 'secret network' of female elders about getting the girls cut. There is then an informal vetting process to make sure a request is legitimate and not an attempt to expose any activities, Patwa said.

'Everybody knows somebody who has gotten their daughter cut ... but nobody wants to rat out their family members or friends,' she said.

A spokesman for the Syedna, the Bohras' religious head in Mumbai, India, could not be reached for comment.

The two men vying to succeed the Syedna, his half brother and the son of a former Syedna, have different views on female circumcision. The half brother says it is time to end the practice of female circumcision. The former Syedna's son, whom most Bohras accept as their new leader, says the tradition must continue and notes that Bohra men are also circumcised.

Officials say Nagarwala performed the illegal procedure on two seven-year-old girls at Dr Attar's clinic (pictured), with his knowledge in February. They accuse his wife of assisting Nagarwala during the procedure

'Men have to do it, and even women have to do it,' Syedna Muffadal Saifuddin said in a speech last year.

The World Health Organisation said the practice of removing or injuring female genital organs has no known health benefits but has been performed on roughly 200 million women and girls in 30 countries.

Multiple Islamic scholars and experts say the practice is cultural, not based in religious principles. Those who don't have their daughters circumcised are subjected to pressure, and those who do believe they are protecting the girls.

Although Patwa and others describe it as a widespread practice, it's not universally performed among the Bohra. Sahiyo, a Mumbai-based organisation that campaigns against the procedure, estimates that about 80 percent of girls within the community have had it done.

Zehra Patwa learned a few years ago that at 7 years old, she was taken from her home in England to India for a wedding, and was circumcised in a procedure widely known as female genital mutilation

She said she attends a Bohra mosque near Boston, which she describes as a welcoming and largely educated and tolerant congregation, but not one in which the procedure they call 'khatna' is openly discussed.

'Part of my campaigning is always, 'We have a problem within our community. We can only deal with it as a community,' she said. 'We can expose it, but other people aren't going to swoop in and help us.''

Patwa said many Bohra mosques, including hers, have sent letters to members encouraging them not to engage in khatna because it could be considered illegal. But she said some critics don't see this as a serious attempt by mosques to end the practice, but rather as legal cover.

Dr. Mohammed Arsiwala, president and CEO of Michigan Urgent Care and a board member of the Michigan State Medical Society, said he was a Bohra until about five years ago. He has shared his concerns about the procedure through a resolution presented to the state medical group, which adopted a policy several years ago labeling it unethical for doctors to perform.

Jiwajee Bhai Bootwala belongs to the Minneapolis-area Bohra community, which he said consists of about 25 to 30 families. He said he doesn't know of anyone involved in the practice and didn't know about the families who went to Michigan, or if they even belong to his group. Still, he said, the news will spoil his community's image.

'The law for the country is part of your faith,' he said. 'So we would never do something against the laws of the country.'
Keeping a positive tone for third governing council meeting of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed chief ministers (CMs) of states stressing: 'Vision of New India could only be realised through combined efforts and cooperation of all states and chief ministers.'

Sources said the attendance was high with 27 CMs marking their presence. However, absentees' list of the Team India meet includes two key names - West Bengal CM Mamata Bannerjee and her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal. 'However the states were represented' the source added.

NITI vice-chairman Arvind Pangariya confirmed that Manish Sisodia, deputy CM of Delhi, filled in for Kejriwal but only for the first half, when the Capital witnessed a bitter fight between AAP and BJP for the MCD polls for 270 wards.

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar flanked by Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed, Goa CM Manohar Parrikar along with other chief ministers during the 3rd meeting of Governing Council of NITI Aayog chaired by PM Modi

Even Captain Amrinder Singh, the new chief minister of Punjab was absent owing to ill health, sources said.

Addressing 'Team India', PM Modi said: 'It is the collective responsibility of this gathering to envision the India of 2022 - on the 75th anniversary of Independence - and see how the nation can swiftly move forward to achieve goals.'

The meeting saw chief ministers speaking their minds. The CM of the trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Muft,i appealed to all her counterparts to pay a visit to her state.

Speaking on youths, Mufti added: 'Children should be seen as ambassadors to states.'

The Prime Minister further appealed to each state to appoint an officer to ensure safety of children.

Modi said: 'Vision of New India could only be realised through combined efforts and cooperation of all states and chief ministers'

Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar, on the other hand raised the issue of regional imbalance, to which the Prime Minister concurred saying, while states progressed, some other were on the periphery.

That states which had attained development and better resources should not shy away from helping others who were lagging, the PM advised.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath asked for loan waiver for farmers. Interestingly, Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami, who earlier on the day met protesting farmers, failed to raise state-specific demand of loan waiver, though sources say the demand has been communicated to the Centre by the state.

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chauhan in a presentation, outlined plans to double farmers' income through irrigation, policy & market reforms.

Kejriwal was noticably absent from the meeting, presumably tied up with the Delhi civic polls

It was Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, who congratulated Modi for his demonetisation move and steps taken to curb black money, sources said.

The organisers called it a path-breaking meet across all sectors, where '300 action points' have been outlined as part of the government's Action Agenda, which included a 15-year vision, accompanied by a 7-year strategy and a 3-year action agenda.

The government's apex planning body listed goals such as winning 50 Olympic medals, development of North-Eastern states and land reforms, health and education goals.

The day-long meeting covered key initiatives in 15 sectors including agriculture, poverty elimination, health, education, digital payments, disinvestment & island development. The body also reviewed the performance of the 12th Five Year Plan.

The Niti Aayog also came out with a list of 100 least developed districts. Revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia made a presentation on GST urging the states to expedite the enactment of State GST Acts.

NITI Aayog officials later said they have envisaged a growth of 8 per cent for 2031-32.
Vijay Mallya was arrested by the Scotland Yard in London on April 18

The excitement that many showed on social media and on television after Vijay Mallya was arrested by the Scotland Yard in London on April 18 was doused after news of his subsequent bail came out.

Nevertheless, as the London court hears a case to extradite him to India on several charges ranging from money laundering to tax evasion to loan default, hopes are high that at the end of it all, he will be handed over to the Indian authorities.

Those who rejoice most, would be the bankers and Mallya's ex-staff, whom he owes money.

After all, Indian banks have alleged he owes them Rs 9,000 crore, interest included, which he raised from them to fund his airline, which subsequently grounded, much before he fled to London on March 2 last year.

On the other hand, he reportedly owes his 3,000 strong staff Rs 300 crore in unpaid dues over several months.

The real trouble for Mallya started in November, 2015, when the State Bank of India (SBI), the largest lender to Mallya who owed it Rs 1,600 crore, declared him and two of his group companies, the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) and its holding company United Breweries Holdings, as wilful defaulters.

In March 2016, SBI was able to join hands with 16 other banks to appeal the Karnataka High Court that the businessman be arrested and his passport impounded.

Force India team principal Vijay Mallya waves in the paddock during the third practice session of the Indian F1 Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida

In a separate development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also registered a case of money laundering against Mallya, based on a CBI probe into a Rs 900-crore loan KFA took from IDBI Bank.

Surely, there would be a political reason for arresting him, but purely from a banker's point of view, an arrest, extradition and possible punishment will set a big example for defaulters.

The general feeling is that punishment should be meted out to a few big defaulters who feel they can take the system for a ride. That will go a long way in preventing future defaults to a great extent.

At present, in most cases, it is the bankers who are at the receiving end, and not the industrialist.

Chairman of United Breweries group Vijay Mallya poses with models featured in Kingfisher's Swimsuit Special 2007 calendar

One of the major mistakes that banks have done is to fund Mallya's dreams to fly, which seemed legitimate, but then continuing to fund him even after several consecutive years of losses, resulting in good money being thrown in after the bad.

Perhaps the one biggest factor that pulled down his business was Air Deccan, which he bought to gain a licence to fly international, as Indian rules allow only airlines with five years of domestic operations to fly abroad.

Mallya had created a product which needed more money to sustain itself than it was generating, leading to accusations that he siphoned off huge funds from his companies into his airline business.

Auditors of Diageo, which took a controlling stake in Mallya's United Spirit (USL) in 2014, reportedly found that Mallya had diverted Rs 7,200 crore of USL's funds to the airline, which again was diverted elsewhere.

Apart from this, he is facing a probe for allegedly siphoning off over Rs 1,300 crore from United Breweries, a group firm.

Force India's Formula One team drivers Giancarlo Fisichella (L) of Italy, Adrian Sutil (2nd R) of Germany and Vitantonio Liuzzi of Italy and team chairman Vijay Mallya (C) pose with the team's new car for the 2008 season during its launch in Mumbai

But the biggest accusation against him was the way in which he seemed to be squandering money and throwing lavish birthday parties at a time when he was unable to even pay salaries to his staff.

Banks were to blame too, since public sector banks were in a high lending mode as the economy boomed, disbursing loans to big projects, but in many cases without considering all the pros and cons of these businesses.

These banks neither had the manpower nor the inclination to adequately appraise such projects, resulting in several loans turning bad.

Add to this a legal system, which while tough on retail borrowers, but seemed to allow large corporates go scot-free.

Now, the same bankers are hoping that the government make an example of the liquor tycoon through an arrest and possible jail, although they know very well there is little money that they can extract from his assets now.

An auction of his Goa bungalow gave the SBI just Rs 73 crore. The Indian banking system, straddled with non performing assets of Rs 7 lakh crore, needs some real pepping up, and hope bringing defaulters to book would be a major step in preventing more such defaults in future.

The writer is deputy editor at India Today
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal continued with his tirade against electronic voting machines (EVMs) as the Capital went to civic polls on Sunday, claiming that reports of EVM malfunctions kept pouring in from across the city.

In an angry post on micro-blogging site Twitter, the chief minister wrote: 'Reports from all over Delhi of EVM malfunction, people wid voter slips not allowed to vote. What is SEC doing? (sic).'

State election commissioner SK Srivastava, however, dismissed such claims and said the performance spoke for the reliability of the machines. Srivastava also clarified that only 18 EVMs in more than 13,000 polling stations threw up a glitch and all of them were rectified.

The electronic voting machines have come under fire for weeks for being vulnerable to hacking and tampering

'Out of the 18 complaints, five were received from north Delhi, eight from south Delhi and five from east Delhi. All the issues were rectified or machines were replaced,' the state election commissioner said.

The Congress found common ground with AAP on the issue of faulty machines as its Maharashtra leader Shehzad Poonawalla branded the machines as 'Extremely Vulnerable Machines' on Sunday.

In a rare show of camaraderie, Kejriwal re-tweeted Poonawala's sentiments.

Kejriwal, who had also blamed EVM tampering for Aam Aadmi Party's loss in Punjab, has said he was sure five to ten per cent of the machines were tampered with in Delhi too and also alleged that many voters with valid voter slips were not allowed to exercise their franchise in the municipal polls.

Former Delhi minister and BJP leader Arvind Singh Lovely was among those who could not cast their vote early in the morning due to the glitches in the EVM at a polling booth in East Azad Nagar area.

'I reached the polling station at 8am. But, I could not cast my vote as the EVM was not working. I had to leave the place due to some urgent work. I will later go to exercise my franchise,' said Lovely.

Earlier, after casting his vote, Kejriwal urged the voters of Delhi to come out of their houses and exercise their franchise for a dengue and chikungunya-free Delhi.

'I appeal to the people to come out in large numbers and vote for a chikungunya and dengue-free Delhi,' he told reporters.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's after cast his vote for Delhi MCD elections in New Delhi, on Sunday

When asked if the MCD polls were a referendum on the AAP government's two-year performance in Delhi, he said: 'We will see that when the results are declared on Wednesday.'

But some Delhiites, who braved a scorching sun to reach polling stations to cast their vote, had to return home disappointed as their names were missing from the electoral rolls.

Looking for a solution, many of them approached polling officials but in vain. A GTB Nagar resident and voter of N 14 ward, businessman Pawan Chaudhary, reached the polling booth armed with his voter ID card, but realised that his name was missing from the voters' list.

'My father votes in every election but this time his name and photo were missing. Another man's name and photo were in the voters' list against our residential address,' said Chaudhary's daughter Juhi.

'We tried to contact the helpline number of the Election Commission but it turned out to be invalid,' she said.
(Xinhua) 14:51, April 22, 2017

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said here on Saturday that an aircraft carrier strike group led by USS Carl Vinson was steaming toward the Sea of Japan.

"Our expectation is that they will be in the Sea of Japan in position in a matter of days, before the end of this month," he told a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

USS Carl Vinson has continued to steam toward the Korean Peninsula, after confusion from the Trump administration earlier this week as to the location of the aircraft carrier.

Earlier on Saturday, the U.S. Navy confirmed reports of a pilot ejecting from his F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet while making an attempt to land on the aircraft carrier, which was at that time located in the Celebes Sea, just south of the Philippines.

Pence met with Turnbull and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop early in the day for talks, in which he told Turnbull "the (U.S.) President wanted me to be here early in this administration to reaffirm the strong and historic alliance between the United States of America and Australia."
International Monetary Fund members on Saturday dropped a pledge to fight protectionism amid a split over trade policy and turned their attention to another looming threat to global economic integration: the first round of France's presidential election.

Concerns that far-right leader Marine Le Pen and far-left rival Jean-Luc Melenchon, both critics of the European Union, could top the field in Sunday's vote added to nervousness over U.S. trade policy at the IMF and World Bank spring meetings.

'There was a clear recognition in the room that we have probably moved from high financial and economic risks to more geopolitical risks,' IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde told a news conference.

Mexico's Finance Minister Agustin Carstens, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, Germany's Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin take their seats for a group photo for the International Monetary and Financial Committee

Lagarde, a former French finance minister who has warned that a Le Pen presidency could lead to political and economic upheaval, added that a policy shift from 'growth momentum to more sharing and inclusive growth' was now needed.

A communique from the IMF's steering committee on Saturday dropped an anti-protectionism pledge, adopting language from the Group of 20 nations that the Trump administration sought last month in Germany as it develops a strategy to slash U.S. trade deficits.

Far-right leader and candidate for the 2017 French presidential election, Marine Le Pen, blows a kiss on stage after exit poll results of the first round of the presidential election were announced

Earlier in the week, the IMF had warned that protectionist policies that restrict trade could choke off improving global growth.

Instead, the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) statement pledged that members would 'work together' to reduce global trade and current account imbalances 'through appropriate policies.'

Mexican central bank chief Agustin Carstens, the IMFC chairman, said most countries have some trade restrictions and that protectionism was an 'ambiguous' term.

'Instead of dwelling on what that concept means, we managed to put it in a more positive, more constructive framework,' Carstens told a news conference.

Some officials chose to focus on the brightening global economy instead of the risks posed by the French election, new U.S. trade barriers and Britain's decision to leave the European Union, said James Boughton, a former IMF official.

'There's an awful lot of forced optimism about what these people are saying,' said Boughton, who is now with the Centre for International Governance Innovation, a Canadian think-tank.

'Until the train goes off the tracks, everything looks fine.'

Founder and Leader of the political movement 'En Marche !' Emmanuel Macron speaks after winning the lead percentage of votes in the first round of the French Presidential Elections

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin called for the IMF to step up its surveillance of members' foreign exchange rates. President Donald Trump 'believes in reciprocal trade deals and reciprocal free trade,' Mnuchin told Lagarde in an onstage interview.

'What that means is that if our markets are open there should be a reciprocal nature to other markets which should be open as well.'

Contingency Plans

The French election presents free trade advocates with a third potential blow in less than a year after Britain's EU referendum and Trump's election on a platform to restrict imports and protect US jobs.

Trump has voiced support for Le Pen, the National Front candidate who has promised a referendum on France's membership in the EU.

Investors fear that a potential run-off between Le Pen and Melenchon, who has vowed to end the independence of the European Central Bank, would roil financial markets and drive out capital

Investors fear that a potential run-off between Le Pen and Melenchon, who has vowed to end the independence of the European Central Bank, would roil financial markets and drive out capital.

ECB policymaker Ewald Nowotny said on Saturday that the central bank was ready to provide emergency cash to French banks if necessary.

'If there should be problems for specific French banks liquidity-wise, then the ECB has the ... ELA, Emergency Liquidity Assistance, but we don't expect, of course, any special movements,' Nowotny, who heads Austria's central bank, told reporters at the IMF.

Jaitley says protectionism will hurt global economy

by Lalit K Jha

The attempt to change the discourse from opening up and focusing on competitive advantage to increased protectionism will only hurt the global economy and welfare of people, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in his address to the World Bank Development Committee.

'We need to bond together and renew our compact to protect the World from falling into spiral of slow economic growth, rising inequality and irreversibly altered climate, conflict and fragility,' he observed.

'I would thus like to call upon this august gathering today to reaffirm our full commitment to the mandate of the Development Committee and to deliver Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and our own twin goals.'

The Indian finance minister, Arun Jaitley, is in Washington for spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank

Noting that there is no doubt that the developing world needs large and growing resources for achieving SDGs and the twin goals of our institutions, he said this necessity is the underlying argument of the billions to trillions discourse.

Jaitley also expressed disappointment over the slow pace of IMF quota reforms and said any further delay would erode the legitimacy and credibility of the multi-lateral organisation.

The minister, who is in Washington for spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank, also underlined the need for enhanced surveillance by the IMF to address the rising vulnerabilities in the global monetary and financial systems.

The IMF also needs to function as a quota-based institution, he said at the meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC).

Given that there is a broad agreement on maintaining the current overall lending capacity of the Fund.
Senior citizen being helped by Police personnel after casting the vote for the MCD Elections at a booth in Vivek Vihar Area in New Delhi

All the familiar faces were out in force, despite the heat, on Sunday, for the long-awaited Delhi civic polls. While exit polls suggest BJP might claim another landslide victory, the AAP continue to shout about problems with EVMs.

There was a 53 per cent turnout for voters in this high-stakes battle - the highest it has been in 15 years with electorate engagement increasing across India. 270 wards in Delhi went to the polls out of a possible 272, as two candidates died, causing delays.

Setting an example, senior citizens were the first to enter the voting booths in east Delhi on Sunday morning, showing their enthusiasm or confidence in the process had not waned.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia with his family before casting vote, in East Delhi

Former Delhi CM and Congress leader Sheila Dikshit showing her inked finger after casting her vote

BJP MP Mahesh Giri and party workers showing inked fingre after casting their vote

Cleanliness and health issues were also major concerns of those who came out to vote in the north of the Capital on Sunday

Trickling in as early in the morning were voters aged in their 80s and 90s. Health concerns and sanitation topped the priority of most voters in the east zone, as residents feared another year where dengue and chiklungunya might break out.

Cleanliness and health issues were also major concerns of those who came out to vote in the north of the Capital on Sunday.

Sisters, Nisma and Shaiza Taqi, who came to cast their votes for the first time at the Ango Arabic Senior Secondary School near Ajmeri Gate emphasised that cleanliness was most important to them.

'The roads in Old Delhi are crowded and cluttered because of unauthorised buildings and encroachments. Drains are overflowing and roads are broken. Someone has to take care of this,' said Shaiza, who studies English at Zakir Hussain College.

UP Home Gard during out side polling station as no voters are in the queue at behind cewek center Govt School in New Delhi on Sunday

Voters wait to cast votes for the for MCD elections at

Jafrabad School in New Delhi

DPCC President Ajay Maken along with his daughter shows inked fingers after casting vote for MCD elections at Rajauri Garden

Vijay Goel sports minister after cast his vote for Delhi MCD elections in New Delhi

The pomp and show during the MCD poll campaigning fell flat on the polling day, however, with a low turnout in the south zone. Residents blamed it on heat and the monotony that had crept in during the last two years of the 'blame game'.

Most of the polling booths in upscale colonies were empty. The turnout was better in areas with middle income groups or economically weaker sections.

Speaking to Mail Today, Rabinder Singh, a chartered accountant who lives in Vasant Vihar, said little changes with the polls.

'Municipal elections are nothing but a referendum on how the political parties in power have fared in the stint just gone would be useful. But the civic problems remain as they are.'

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's after cast his vote for Delhi MCD elections in New Delhi

Voters queue up at Tuglakabad polling booth during civic body elections
Mail-order fashion brand Boden is set to step out of the catalogue and into high streets across the UK.

The retailer well known for its bright prints and cosy knitwear is due to open concessions in John Lewis stores.

This autumn it will open inside John Lewis branches in Oxford Street, Cambridge, Reading, Southampton and Oxford. More are planned for 2018.

Branching out: Boden is known for its bright prints and cosy knitwear

So far the companys only physical shop is in Hanger Green, west London, but it plans to roll out shops across the UK and beyond.

The brand had a turnover of 283m in 2015 and pre-tax profit of 23.9m.

Jill Easterbrook, the former Tesco director who joined Boden in February, said:

We are really excited to be going into John Lewis. I cant wait for more people to discover Boden.
Tyranne Beckless, four, died on April 15 from an apparent opioid overdose

A four-year-old Milwaukee boy died after overdosing on prescription pain pills or heroin.

Tyranne Beckless would be the seventh child under five to die after swallowing opioids in Milwaukee County in the last 19 months if further toxicology tests in the latest case confirm preliminary results.

Two people have been arrested in connection with his April 15 death.

Tyranne Beckless was pronounced dead at a home on Milwaukee's north side on Saturday, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office.

The office labeled his death a 'probable opioid overdose.'

Milwaukee Police Sgt. Timothy Gaurke declined Thursday to provide additional details about the two people arrested because of the ongoing investigation. There is also more toxicology testing being done, according to the medical examiner.

Beckless lived at the home with his parents, sister and brother according to WTMJ .

The number of children's deaths is relatively small compared to the overall toll from opioids, but toddler fatalities have climbed steadily over the last 10 years.

Beckless was found on 26th Street between Melvina and Capitol Drive where he lived with his parents, brother and sister

Three people have been charged in Milwaukee County this year with the deaths of their children from an opioid overdose

In 2000, 14 children in the U.S. under age 5 died after ingesting opioids. By 2015, that number climbed to 51, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Three people have been charged in Milwaukee County this year with the deaths of their young children, including Martis Dickerson, 39, accused of second-degree endangering safety in the death of her 2-year-old son, James Vessell.

The child died after ingesting opioids prescribed to his mother that were left in a purse on a bed where the boy was playing, according to a criminal complaint. Dickerson is scheduled to be arraigned next week.

Sara J. Schreiber, who oversees the toxicology lab at the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office, recently said that in most cases the opioid deaths of young children are preventable.

Police are not yet identifying the two people arrested in connection with the toddler's death

'In the case of a toddler, especially if they're mobile, they've got access to a lot of things in the home as long as they're within their reach,' Schreiber said. 'So the risk is there and the danger is there inherently just by having those drugs available in the home.'

Margarita Balderas, 34, and Darrell Woodson, 35, were charged in February with party to second-degree reckless homicide in the 2016 death of their daughter, London Maria Woodson. She was pronounced dead at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee Aug. 15, just a day before her third birthday.

The girl's death was attributed to an acute toxic mix of oxycodone and trazodone, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office autopsy report. An older sibling told child advocates that Woodson and her mother would break off pieces of prescription pills and give them to London in order to get her to sleep, according to the criminal complaint.

Balderas' attorney, Thomas Harris, said the case is still in the early stages and that Balderas remains incarcerated. Woodson's attorney did not immediately return a call for comment on the case.
The run-down house in which accused burglar killer Ben Batterham confronted 'home invader' Ricky Slater has undergone a significant upgrade and is being rented for more than $500 a week.

More than a year after Batterham chased Slater from his home in inner-city Newcastle, north of Sydney, the once dilapidated property has been fully renovated. But Batterham still cannot live in it.

Batterham has spent almost 12 months on bail awaiting a committal hearing to decide if he will face a murder trial. He has been working as a chef at the exclusive Newcastle Club.

A photo of Ben Batterham's facial injuries at the time of the alleged home invasion taken by police

Ben Batterham's home in Cleary Street, Hamilton, as it was when he confronted burglar Ricky Slater on March 26 last year

Ben Batterham's run-down home at the time of his confrontation with burglar Ricky Slater

Accused home invasion killer Ben Batterham's home in Cleary Street, Hamilton, as it is today after renovations

The Batterham home in Cleary Street, Hamilton, has been fully renovated since his release on bail

Batterham suffered injuries including to his cheek when he became involved in a struggle with 'home invader' Ricker Slater

The 34-year-old has been living, by court order, at an undisclosed location with his fiancee and toddler daughter, and following bail conditions including that he not drink alcohol, take drugs or travel overseas.

While Batterham has been on bail his home in Cleary Street, Hamilton, which once stood out for its run-down state, has been fully renovated and is being rented for $520 a week.

Batterham's parents Bruce and Dianne paid $395,000 for the three-bedroom property in October 2015. The plan was for their son and his young family to live there until it could be renovated.

Less than six months later it became the scene of the confrontation with Slater that led police to charge Batterham with murder and supporters to hail him as a hero for defending his home.

On March 26 - Easter Saturday - last year, Batterham was celebrating his 33rd birthday in the house with his friend Paul O'Keeffe. His fiancee Monique Cameron and their daughter were at his parents' nearby home.

Police allege that while Batterham and his friend were drinking and listening to music in the lounge room, 37-year-old burglar Ricky Slater entered the house about 3am.

Ricky Slater (pictured) died after a chase and struggle with Ben Batterham, who had caught him inside his home

The newly renovated kitchen and laundry area in the Hamilton home

It looks as if the house's bathroom has also been refurbished with new features

One of the bedrooms of the Hamilton home complete with a built-in wardrobe

Burglar Ricky Slater died in hospital after his family decided to turn off his life support

Chef Ben Batterham is on bail awaiting a committal hearing into a charge he murdered burglar Ricky Slater

Ben Batterham was found to have suffered cuts and bruises and a bite mark (pictured) from the altercation that preceded Ricky Slater's death

Slater, who had convictions for rape, assault, drug possession and break and enter, had been released from prison about three months earlier. He was allegedly carrying three knives, ecstasy tablets and three new iPhones.

Police say once inside the house, Slater made his way to Batterham's daughter's nursery and stole Ms Cameron's handbag. Batterham confronted him and Slater fled out the side door.

Batterham then chased Slater from his home and for 365m along several streets. Police allege Batterham tackled Slater to the ground, held him down and punched him in the head.

Police say Ben Batterham was in his lounge room (pictured recently) when he heard Ricky Slater inside his home

Air-conditioning also appears to have been installed in the rented home

Another one of the rooms inside the former Batterham home where the alleged incident took place

The well-manicured gardens at the back of the home, which is now up for rent

The home in which Ben Batterham confronted burglar Ricky Slater is being rented for $520 a week

Ben Batterham's home in Cleary Street, Hamilton, was run-down at the time of his confrontation with Ricky Slater last year

Ben Batterham suffered cuts and bruises (pictured) in the altercation with Ricky Slater, after which Slater died

Slater was taken to hospital and his life support was switched off the next day.

Batterham, who suffered a bite wound as well as cuts and bruises during the melee, was charged with murder and spent six weeks in Cessnock jail.

He was eventually granted bail which included a $200,000 surety on his parents' home. Magistrate Robert Stone disagreed the Crown had a strong murder case.

Mr Stone said Batterham finding a stranger in his child's nursery holding his fiancee's handbag at 3am were factors that could explain him reacting with 'aggression and anger'.

'It appears to be an immediate reaction to a stranger in his home,' Mr Stone said.

Ricky Slater's mother Beryl Dickson (pictured) was distraught when Ben Batterham was granted bail in Newcastle last year

Burglar Ricky Slater fled the home of Ben Batterham (pictured) through a side door when Batterham caught him stealing a handbag

Accused killer Ben Batterham has been working as a chef at the exclusive Newcastle Club while on bail

Ben Batterham was granted bail on conditions including him living at an address disclosed to the court

The Newcastle Club welcomed Batterham back to work as a chef after his release on bail and Daily Mail Australia understands the club paid his wages for the six weeks he was behind bars.

The case was back before Newcastle Local Court on April 12, when magistrate Ian Cheetham was told police had finished compiling a brief of evidence.

A date for a committal hearing is due to be set on May 17.
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A mother who watched as her 10-year-old son rocked in a corner of his room begging for someone to kill him to end his misery has revealed how anti-depressants turned her 'gentle, loving' son into angry and suicidal young boy.

Sydney mother Donna is one of dozens of people involved in a class action over the use of 'adult' antidepressants in children in Australia.

The concerned mother spoke to Daily Mail Australia from beside her son Seth's hospital bed on Friday after he was admitted for psychiatric care following multiple attempts to end his own life while being weaned off the antidepressant Aropax.

'One day I came outside and he had a pair of scissors to his chest  he kept saying he was going to do it, so I had to call an ambulance,' Donna said.

'He was cuffed by paramedics and at the hospital I had to watch as he was held down by doctors, three security guards, nurses, and his father so he could be sedated.

Seth, pictured with mother Donna, has suffered from side effects of his antidepressants which include suicidal thoughts

The ten-year-old is now being weened off the drug is a Sydney psych ward

Maiya, 13, has been on Zoloft since she was six, after she had some tantrums at school

'He looked at me and said 'please don't let them do it mummy I will be good' I will never forget that look on his face.'

Now, aged 10, he is in a psych ward of a Sydney hospital after a devastating few months where he would go from 'rocking and crying in the corner asking his parents to kill him', to trying to jump out of his mother's moving car.

Brisbane mother Mel, 34, also revealed the devastating effect antidepressants had on her daughter Maiya, now 13. The child, who after taking the drugs at just six years old, started 'fantasising about death'.

'I will never forget the moment she looked up to me and said 'mummy, I want to go with the angels now', it was just after an episode which saw her crying for days,' Mel said.

The despairing mothers said they both 'feel like it is their fault' for making their young children take the doctor-prescribed pills.

But the lawyer running the proposed class action, Tony Nikolic, told Daily Mail Australia he had heard the stories of up to 60 children who suffered severely after taking antidepressants.

This picture was taken two weeks ago while Seth was being weened off the drugs

'I will never forget the moment she looked up to me and said 'mummy, I want to go with the angels now',' her mother Mel said

Maiya, pictured here with her younger sisters 6 months after being off the drug is now a happier person

The young girl, pictured here with her mother Mel, used to cut at her hair when she got angry

A bad night: Seths anxiety got the better of him at his brothers birthday and he had to leave the crowd shortly after this photo was taken

'The complaints range from people who were given it from as young as five  to teenagers who were put on them,' he said.

The lawyer says the fact the two drugs are 'not recommended for children' is little known.

'We know the 90 days coming on and 90 days coming off are the worst times for these families  as well as any time the dose is changed- that is when there is most likely to be trouble.'

The product information on both drugs says they are not recommended for children, but doctors continue to prescribe them.

Psychiatrist and Adelaide University research leader Doctor Jon Jureidini told Daily Mail Australia the drugs are widely used to treat anxiety in young children  but there is 'no evidence supporting it'.

He claims doctors are given 'contradictory information' from the pharmaceutical companies  which 'over the years have promoted the use of antidepressants in children' despite the warnings on the drugs which say use for children isn't recommended.

The young girl was at her most depressed when she was 11 and 12, pictured during that time here

Seth was diagnosed with separation anxiety and ADHD in March 2012, when he was five, at the end of the year he was put on 20mg of Aropax

'There is information which suggests tens of thousands of young people are on anti-depressants in Australia.

'With these so-called anti-depressants a small number of children become suicidal and violent.

'With any drug used in children it should be monitored very closely, and parents should get a second opinion,' he said.

Seth's mother Donna thought she was 'doing the right thing' by her son when she gave him the drugs because she 'assumed the doctors knew what they were talking about'.

He was diagnosed with separation anxiety and ADHD in March 2012, when he was five, at the end of the year he was put on 20mg of Aropax.

According to the company's product information 'when AROPAX was tested in children under 18 years with major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder or social anxiety, there were additional unwanted effects to those seen in adults, such as suicidal thoughts, hostile and unfriendly behaviour and changing moods.

'The use of AROPAX is not recommended to treat major depressive disorder in children under 18, as the drug has not been shown to be effective in this age group. The long-term safety effects of paroxetine in this age group have not yet been demonstrated.'

The drugs appeared to 'fix' the boy's anxiety when he was first introduced to them.

This picture was taken just weeks before going on the drug

Seth's mother Donna thought she was 'doing the right thing' by her son when she gave him the drugs because she 'assumed the doctors knew what they were talking about'

'For five days he was almost euphoric. He had no fear or inhibitions, he was busking, he was going to class, he was like a normal child. I thought it was working.

'Then he started having fits laughter- even when he was in trouble. Not long after that things started going wrong.'

Then the angry bursts started, which meant he became a problem at school and could no longer attend.

'The smallest things would set him off it could be something simple like asking him to have a bath or go brush his teeth.'

He became violent toward his mother and started hitting her and trying to rip out her hair.

When he was nine, and his behaviour was deteriorating the family decided he needed more help. Doctors doubled his dose of the drug.

'He was euphoric again and I thought I must have been wrong to think it wasn't working the way they said it would. But then he got way worse and I knew it was the medication. Seth's suicidal tendencies got worse.

'His father called me one day and told me Seth needed me, by the time I got to him he was in a ball, rocking in the corner yelling ''daddy please kill me I don't want to do this anymore'' it was absolutely heart-breaking, really hard to see your own child like that,' she said.

'I never knew it wasn't for children, we were never told, if I had I wouldn't have made him take it.'

She was ten, pictured left when her 2nd psychiatrist 'upped her dose'

The family is happier now that Maiya has stopped having angry bursts and depressive thoughts

Mel's daughter Maiya, 13, took Zoloft for seven years  her depression continued to spiral out of control so doctors gave her more of the drug  which her mother says just made her sicker.

The once bubbly little girl had her two sisters, Jazlyn, 12 and Gemirah, seven, 'walking on eggshells every day'.

'I thought I was doing the right thing for her, I was just doing what the doctors said, I thought I had lost my baby girl to depression. Finding out the drugs I told her she had to have were making her sad kills me,' Mel said.

'She would attack her sisters and scream and yell  but what is worse is when she would just cry.

'She cried for hours and hours and hours at a time it is heart-breaking to see your baby do that and not know how to help.'

Then 12 months ago Mel stumbled across information on antidepressants which revealed Zoloft, the drug her daughter had been taking, was 'not recommended for children and could cause suicidal thoughts'.

Pfizer, the maker of Zoloft has confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that it should only be used for children aged 6 to 18 years of age to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

The teenager pictured weeks ago with her sister is excited to be able to 'be happy'

The family used to 'walk on eggshells' to avoid an explosion of anger from the girl

Maiya pictured here a few weeks before she was first given anti depressants

'I just burst into tears when I read it  I showed my mum I couldn't believe it. We weened her off Zoloft, which was really tough but now she is a completely different kid.

'She is not angry and there is no aggression. We don't have unhappy days anymore,' Mel said.

'She will always have anxiety but we can cope with that  better then all those days of uncertainty, unhappiness and utter sadness. We never want to see that again.'

The young girl had 'given up on life' by the time her mother found the information on Zoloft and had stopped going to school and playing sport.

'By the time she was 10 she was cutting her hair every time she got frustrated  when we went to see doctors they would put up her dose.

'I am only speaking out because I never want any parent to go through what we have been through or to have their kids suffer like this.

The young girl had 'given up on life' by the time her mother found the information on Zoloft and had stopped going to school and playing sport

'I have seen a spark in her beautiful face that I though we lost a long time ago.'

Mr Nikolic has also looked into the possibility of a class action for adults  because they 'are not told it is so hard to get off' and has had about 1,400 people contact him for that.

'This is a hard one as people don't know how to complain because they are just one little person who have to try and prove their case against a multi-billion dollar corporation.

'There is interest in both cases but I have a firm belief a case for children for Aropax and Zoloft has a reasonable prospect of success.'

The lawyer is looking for more people effected by antidepressants after being diagnosed the drugs as children.

'We are looking for children who have demoniacal physical and psychological disabilities  Kids who took meds and are now in jail or took meds and jumped off a balcony and are now paraplegics.'

'I am only speaking out because I never want any parent to go through what we have been through or to have their kids suffer like this,' Mel said

These cases could help move the proposed class action forward.

'The Australian court is difficult, instead of the corporation having to prove they are right the little people have to prove the medication is dangerous and whatever has happened was caused by it.'

Pfizer the manufacturer of Zoloft and GSK the manufacturer of Aropax have both been approached for comment by Daily Mail Australia.

'Pfizer takes the safety of our medicines very seriously and we are committed to ensuring the appropriate communication of important safety information to health care professionals and patients,' a spokesperson said.

'Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) is approved in Australia for use in children with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) aged 6 years or older.

'Zoloft is not indicated for use in children and adolescents under the age of 18 years for the treatment of any medical condition other than OCD.'

GSK has not yet responded to our request.
North Korea has issued statement threatening 'nuclear war' against the United States if it is attacked.

'The DPRK will react to a total war with an all-out war, a nuclear war with nuclear strikes of its own and surely win a victory in the death-defying struggle against the US imperialists,' a Foreign Ministry spokesman wrote Saturday.

This message, which was one of three delivered Saturday, echoed the message delivered by a top official at the massive 'Day of the Sun' military parade in Pyongyang earlier this month.

North Korea has issued a statement threatening 'nuclear war' against the United States if it is attacked

A Foreign Ministry spokesman accused mounting tensions in the region on the Trump administration and said that they would start nuclear war if they are attacked. Pictured is a submarine-launched ballistic missile displayed during a 'Day of the Sun' military parade

The spokesman accused the United States and the Trump administration of the spike in tensions in recent months, saying that officials have been 'spouting a load of rubbish,' and are 'seeking to bring nuclear aircraft carrier strike groups one after another to the waters of the Korean peninsula,' reported CBS News.

His message appears to refer directly to the impending arrival of the USS Carl Vinson carrier group to the region.

North Korea appears to have resumed work at its nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, in the northeastern part of the country, according to the New York Times.

In photos dating from Wednesday analysts noted that North Korea appears to be preparing for what would be its sixth nuclear test

Satellite photos posted by two international studies analysts show that the country appears to be going about work as usual after a bizarre series of volleyball matches were held there. The photos of volleyball matches could have been a form of deception

Satellite photos posted by two international studies analysts show that the country appears to be going about work as usual after a bizarre series of volleyball matches were held there.

In a previous study of satellite photos, taken last Sunday, analysts noted several times that there were teams of individuals playing volleyball, which could have been a form of deception, or could have been a leisurely past time activity on a day off.

However, in photos dating from Wednesday, the analysts noted that North Korea appears to be preparing for what would be its sixth nuclear test.

This would come just as the country plans to celebrate another major holiday on Tuesday - the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army, an occasion they normally use to show off military advances, reported the New York Times.

Another nuclear test would come just as the country plans to celebrate a holiday celebrating the anniversary of the Korean People's Army, and occasion they normally use to show off military advances. Pictured are soldiers on the last major North Korean holiday, the 'Day of the Sun'

If the country were to test another nuclear device, it would be a major show of defiance by their leader after repeated warnings by the American President. Pictured is a North Korean missile displayed during the 'Day of the Sun' parade

If the country were to test another nuclear device, it would be a major show of defiance by their leader after repeated warnings by the American President.

The increased tension in the region and with the United States will be a hot topic in Washington on Monday with the visit of US Ambassador Nikki Haley, who will be escorting Security Council members to the capital for a series of meetings with congress and in the White House, according to CBS.

At the White House the members of the Security council will have a photo-op and lunch with Trump, giving UN diplomats an unusually high level of access to the new President.

The increased tension in the region and with the United States will be a hot topic in Washington on Monday with the visit of US Ambassador Nikki Haley (pictured)

This statement from North Korean officials comes about a week after a failed missile test on the anniversary of the birth of King Il Sung, the country's late founder.

US officials said that the missile, which was meant to be a show of force from the current leader, exploded immediately after liftoff.

However, that failure did not dial back the regime's intense rhetoric, and they are hoping that this most recent statement, in which the spokesman refers to North Korea as a 'peace-loving socialist state' will send a message of strength.

'The DPRK is a nuclear power capable of countering any option and means of the US and will not avoid any options made by it. The world will clearly witness this time the fact that gone are the days never to return when the US forced is will upon other countries,' the statement read.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman says that North Korea 'neither fears war nor wants to avoid it,' and claims that the country's nuclear program is defensive in its nature.

The spokesman issued two other memos on Saturday, one that was titled 'Are You Good at Dancing to the Tune of Others,' that backhandedly takes aim at China.

Vice President Mike Pence recently visited South Korea (pictured), and declared that 'the era of strategic patience is over'

The third is meant for Australia, and warns the country that it has 'better think twice' about the 'rubbish' statements of its foreign minister, reported CBS.

This new show of force comes in response to those shown by the United States and its ally South Korea last week.

Vice President Mike Pence recently visited the country, and declared that 'the era of strategic patience is over'.

Tens of thousands of US troops are already stationed in South Korea, and ambassador Haley told reporters Tuesday that 'we are not trying to pick a fight, so don't try and give us one,' reported CBS.

On Thursday the UN Security Council issued a strongly worded statement, condemning North Korea's latest missile test (which took place just hours after the pictured parade ended), and calling for a 'dialogue' with Pyongyang at the request of Russia

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday that the President is reviewing whether or not to add North Korea to the US list of state sponsored terrorism.

On Thursday the UN Security Council issued a strongly worded statement, condemning North Korea's latest missile test, and calling for a 'dialogue' with Pyongyang at the request of Russia.

The body said that these nuclear activities are 'greatly increasing tension in the region and beyond,' and demanded an immediate end with a threat to take 'further significant measures'.

Since 2006, North Korea has worked to develop a small nuclear warhead and an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that would be capable of reaching targets as far as the United States.
American Airlines has become the butt of Twitter users' jokes after a shocking video of an angry flight attendant emerged online.

Thousands of Twitter users are mocking the airline after the employee allegedly hit a woman in the head with a metal stroller - and nearly hit her baby - on a flight leaving San Francisco on Friday.

The footage then shows the same attendant goading a passenger who came to the woman's defense, saying 'hit me.'

The incident, the latest PR nightmare for the US aviation industry, follows United Airlines's controversy stemming from its violent removal of passenger David Dao from a flight bound for Louisville on April 9.

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User Tony Posnanski got political and compared the American Airlines flight attendant to Sean Spicer. He posted a picture of Melissa McCarthy's 'Saturday Night Live' impersonation of him

Another user compared the behavior of the attendant, who later challenged a male passenger who defended the woman to a fight, to that of a Finnair flight attendant holding a baby

Some users wondered whether there might be some competition between American and United for worst public relations nightmare. Two weeks ago, a passenger was violently removed from a Louisville-bound United flight

One user, Tony Posnanski, evoked Melissa McCarthy's characterization of White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer as a violent fool in describing the flight attendant's behavior.

He cheekily wrote: 'BREAKING - Sean Spicer has decided to become an American Airlines flight attendant.'

Another user played on the utopian image of Scandinavia, comparing the American attendant to a Finnair employee who appears to be kindly helping a baby who looks up in adoration.

User Harry T had some fun writing: 'These American Airlines are really trying to outdo each other! #AmericanAirlines #unitedAirlines.'

Meanwhile other users noted that American Airlines perhaps wanted to be in the limelight following extensive coverage of United's scandal.

User Jenniya imagined a conversation between the two airlines.

Portraying United, she wrote: 'We treat our passengers the worst.'

Not to be outdone, American replied: 'Hold my beer!'

'Meanwhile at SouthWest': One user imagined a celebration among Southwest Airlines employees as two of their competitors wallow in public relations controversies. The American flight left San Francisco on Friday afternoon

Will it continue? Some suggested other airlines may soon find themselves embroiled in controversy

One tweeter evoked The Walking Dead, a series about a zombie apocalypse, to parody the situation

Grim: One user imagined 'the good ole days' when the only thing fliers had to worry about was extreme injury or death by plane crash

One user imagined how employees of American and United rival, Southwest Airlines, must be feeling right about now.

Abhishek Pratap used a GIF of Michael Scott and Erin Hannon, characters respectively portrayed by Steve Carell and Ellie Kemper on 'The Office,' celebrating with champagne.

And one user had a rather grim observation that while formerly one might fear flying due to the possibility of a plane crash, 'the good ole days' are long gone.

Now, it is implied, one must worry about potentially violent service.

A parody Sean Spicer account, called 'Sean Spicier,' poked fun at a hypothetical connection between the Trump administration's immigration policy and the flight attendant's alleged near-hitting of a baby.

The user wrote: 'The President is pleased to announce a new collaboration between American Airlines and DHS [Department of Homeland Security] called "Don't bring your babies here."'

Some users wondered whether American was receiving sponsorship from other entities or adding new in-flight entertainment such as free wrestling

One Twitter user imagined that American's stock price will go down like a fiery plane crash

Another user wondered whether WorldStarHipHop - a video blog dedicated to outlandish behaviors - was sponsoring the recent sordid behaviors of airline personnel.

The attendant has been removed from duty following the video.

The upsetting footage, filmed before Flight 591 departed from San Francisco on Friday afternoon, shows the airline staff member goading a passenger and saying, 'hit me.'

The clip was uploaded by passenger Surain Adyanthaya, who explained he started filming after the flight attendant 'violently took a stroller from a lady with her baby on my flight, hitting her and just missing the baby.'

Adyanthaya went on to explain: 'They just involuntarily escorted the mother and her kids off the flight and let the flight attendant back on, who tried to fight other passengers. The mom asked for an apology and the AA official declined.'

Surain Adyanthaya posted a photo on his Facebook page showing the woman with two young children in her arms

In the video, a distraught woman, who was flying from Argentina according to Q13 Fox, is seen standing at the front of the plane holding a child.

Olivia Morgan, who was standing in the door to the cabin with her eight-year-old daughter when the incident occurred, said the woman had been looking for a space to put the collapsible stroller.

'The flight attendant wrestled the stroller away from the woman, who was sobbing, holding one baby with the second baby in a car seat on the ground next to her,' Morgan said.

The woman can be seen sobbing and asks staff members to get her stroller back. Witnesses said the attendant struck her with the metal stroller as he was dragging it out of her hands.

At this point, other passengers are heard expressing their disgust at the situation.

Others on board were clearly disturbed by the incident. One male passenger (left) got up and made his feelings known

The male passenger who intervened confronts the uniformed employee. 'You do that to me and I'll knock you flat,' the man says. That's when the employee retorts: 'Try it. Hit me'

The American Airlines employee challenges a passenger to a fight after the woman was allegedly hit with her stroller

One says he's 'not going to sit here and watch this...' and then gets up and walks to the front of the plane to confront flight attendants.

The man asks for the name of the employee who is alleged to have hit the crying woman.

The situation escalates further when a man in an American Airlines uniform boards the plane.

The male passenger who got up out of his seat to intervene confronts the uniformed employee.

'You do that to me and I'll knock you flat,' the man says.

The staff member responds by pointing his finger at the man tells him: 'You stay out of this.'

The male passenger then steps closer to the employee, who challenges him to a fight.

'Try it,' the employee tells the customer. 'Hit me. You don't know what the story is.'

'You almost hurt a baby!' the man replies.

Two weeks prior, Dao was forcibly removed from a Louisville-bound United flight.

The flight was already full when four airline crew members showed up after passengers had boarded and requested seats so they could commute to their next flight out of Louisville, Kentucky.

Dao, a 69-year-old doctor who had immigrated to the United States from Vietnam, repeatedly accused airline officials of discriminating against him for being Chinese before he was hauled off the plane, according to a fellow passenger.

Dao's attorney said his client had suffered a significant concussion, broken his nose and lost two front teeth in the altercation with airport security, and said Dao would likely sue the airline.
Armed police have arrested acid attack fugitive Arthur Collins on suspicion of attempted murder.

Officers from the Met's Specialist Crime and Operations unit took the 25-year-old into custody in Rushden, a small town in Northamptonshire - 85 miles away from London.

It comes as his girlfriend, former TOWIE star Ferne Mcann revealed that she's pregnant with Collins's baby.

Towie star Ferne McCann deleted all images of Arthur Collins from her social media, including this one on holiday in the Maldives (right)

The 25-year-old was wanted in connection with the horrifying acid attack at an east London nightclub on Easter Monday.

Two people were left partially blinded and 20 others suffered injuries - and Collins has been on the run for five days.

In a statement Metropolitan Police said: 'Arthur Collins, 25, was arrested at an address in Rushden, Northamptonshires on Saturday night, 22 April.

'Officers from the Met's Specialist Crime & Operations and Hackney Borough, with the assistance of armed officers from the East Midlands Operational Support Service and Northamptonshire Police.'

Ferne had begged her boyfriend to give himself up to the police in since with the horrifying acid attack in east London.

The development comes as police reveal they've charged a 21-year-old in connection with the attack.

Police have previously swooped in on Collins' 1million Hertfordshire home, where two people were arrested after cannabis and firearms were found

Andre Phoenix was charged with seven counts of grievous bodily harm.

Police had also previously raided Collins's house looking for firearms and cannabis.

Ferne Mcann told told Collins of her pregnancy shortly before the acid attack in the early hours of Easter Monday, the Sun reported.

Around 20 clubbers suffered burns after being doused with the substance including a 22-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man who were both blinded in one eye.

Detective Inspector Lee McCullough of Hackney CID had previously said the net was closing in on Collins.

He said: 'This investigation continues to move at great pace and the net is closing in on those we believe to be responsible.

Around 20 clubbers suffered burns after being doused with the acid. Sophie Hall, 21 (pictured), fears she's been scarred for life

'My team continues to act on a number of leads to bring in those wanted for questioning in relation to this awful incident.

'Anyone found harbouring those wanted for questioning by police can expect a knock at the door and could well find themselves under arrest.

The shocking incident occurred at the Mangle nightclub in Dalston, east London where partygoers were celebrating Easter

'We have 20 people suffering from the effects of an acidic substance being sprayed in a confined space in a busy nightclub.

'All have burn-related injuries. This incident has caused suffering to a large group of people and left many others needing long term treatment.

'The noxious substance used has not yet been confirmed but samples retrieved from the scene have been sent for analysis. If you were there and saw anyone involved inside or leaving the nightclub, please get in touch.'

The former TOWIE star has also revealed that she's pregnant with fugitive Arthur Collins's baby

The man blinded in one eye and another victim, a 29-year-old man, were transferred to a specialist burns hospital in Essex, and have since been discharged, police said.

Police believe trouble brewed between two groups at the packed club and the acidic substance was flung directly over the pair.

Ferne McCann has launched a career as a presenter on ITV's This Morning

Arthur Collins and Ferne McCann pictured here on holiday in Ibiza

A 24-year-old old man arrested in north London over the attack on Friday has since been released, police said.

Phoenix will appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Marine Le Pen was today poised for a historic breakthrough in Frances nail-biting presidential race.

The far-Right leader is confident her chances of winning the elections first round have been strengthened by last weeks terrorist murder of a police officer on the Champs-Elysees.

But with the country on high alert as voters head to the polls, 48-year-old Le Pen  dubbed Madame Frexit for threatening to follow Britain out of the EU  was accused of using the shooting for her own ends.

Marine Le Pen was today poised for a historic breakthrough in Frances nail-biting presidential race

Her campaign has been dominated by anti-Islam and anti-immigration rhetoric and critics said she has used the violence to stoke further hostility.

She is locked in a duel with centrist front-runner Emmanuel Macron, 39, a staunch defender of the single market who has told Theresa May he favours a hard Brexit.

If, as expected, Le Pen and Macron are successful in the first round of voting today, they will face each other in the run-off on May 7.

But analysts say the battle for the Elysee Palace is by no means a two-horse race.

Le Pen has moved from 22 per cent to 23 per cent in the latest opinion poll while her three rivals have all lost half a percentage point of support.

Macron dropped back to 24.5 per cent, while republican candidate Francois Fillon and leftist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon were back on 19 per cent.

The far-Right leader is confident her chances of winning the elections first round have been strengthened by last weeks terrorist murder of a police officer on the Champs-Elysees

Experts said a Le Pen victory in the first round could mean cheaper holidays for Brits heading to Europe.

Kathleen Brooks, of City Index Direct, said: I think if Le Pen wins today by a wide enough margin, then the euro will fall significantly, possibly to the lowest levels weve seen this year. And a weak euro will initially be great for us as everything will be much cheaper in Europe.

Le Pens father, the convicted racist Jean-Marie Le Pen, caused shockwaves around the world in 2002 when he came second in the first round. He then went on to lose to Jacques Chirac by a landslide of more than 80 per cent.

But Marine Le Pen is convinced she can go one better by positioning herself as the candidate who is toughest on terror.

She had pledged to immediately reinstate border checks, to expel foreigners and to ban all immigration, whether illegal or not. Supporters include Donald Trump who said the Paris attack would have a big effect on the presidential election because the French people will not take much more of this.

But French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve accused Le Pen of shamelessly seeking to exploit fear and emotion for exclusively political ends. Mr Cazeneuve pointed out that Karim Cheurfi, the 39-year-old responsible for the murder of traffic officer Xavier Jugele, 37, was a born and bred Frenchman.

Le Pen has called for negotiation with Brussels on a new EU, followed by a referendum; extremist mosques closed and priority to French nationals in social housing; and retirement age fixed at 60.

Macron forged a reputation with his Macron Law, a controversial reform bill that allowed shops to open more often on Sundays. On security, he has said France is paying for the intelligence jobs cuts made when Fillon was PM between 2007 and 2012.
MUMBAI, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The sky and ocean of Asia are big enough for the dragon and elephant (China and India) to dance together, which will bring a true Asian Age, a senior Chinese diplomat said.

Delivering a speech titled "'Belt and Road': Sharing Opportunities" Friday, Liu Jinsong, deputy chief of mission of the Chinese Embassy in India, said India is a country with distinctive character and China always respects India's independent diplomatic choices.

"China is willing to discuss all problems and possibilities with India on the basis of mutual benefits, " Liu told a seminar organized by India's Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Mumbai on the Belt and Road Initiative.

"The Belt and Road Initiative will benefit South Asian countries, including India, in the long run," he said.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road were proposed by China in 2013 with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.

Liu said the Belt and Road Initiative and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) were aimed at promoting economic cooperation and connectivity.

"The CPEC is open, transparent, market-driven and international, in compliance with economic logic and legal procedures," he noted.

In an opening speech at the seminar, a renowned Indian scholar urged India to participate in the Belt and Roat Initiative for the interest of India and its neighboring countries.

Sudheendra Kulkarni, chairman of ORF Mumbai, said the Belt and Road Initiative provided an opportunity for win-win cooperation between India and China, which is both trust-promoting and development-promoting.

"We are firmly of the view that India should participate in the Belt and Road Initiative for our own benefit and for the benefit of our neighbors," Kulkarni said.

"Isolation does not help India, " he added.

He also urged India to "welcome and support" the CPEC as "it has the potential to contribute hugely to Pakistan's development and prosperity."

The ORF, a leading non-profit and independent public policy think tank, conducts research and advocacy in a wide range of domestic and international issues.

India's former national security advisor and former foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon, Consul-General of China in Mumbai Zheng Xiyuan, scholars, business and media representatives from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myarmar and Sri Lanka attended the seminar.
Conservative Anglican archbishops from Africa and Asia are plotting to create a new missionary bishop to lead traditionalists in the UK  after warning that the Church of England is becoming too liberal on homosexuality.

The rebel archbishops are set to give the green light to the controversial plan at a crucial meeting in Africa this week in defiance of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

Insiders said the move was the nuclear option as it would represent a highly provocative intervention into the Church of England by foreign archbishops and a direct challenge to the authority of Archbishop Welby, who is nominal head of Anglicans worldwide.

The move represents a highly provocative challenge for Archbishop Welby, who softened his stance on homosexuality in February

Archbishop Welby alarmed conservatives in February by issuing a letter softening his stance on homosexuality. In the letter, written with his counterpart in York, John Sentamu, he called for a radical new inclusion for gays and a 21st Century understanding of sexuality  apparently paving the way for the first formal services to celebrate gay couples.

The Archbishop of Nigeria, Nicholas Okoh, who chairs the Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON) group of conservative archbishops, said the distressing letter had downgraded the historic and biblical mind of the Church.

Even more alarming for GAFCON leaders, however, is that the liberal Scottish Episcopal Church is expected to become the first Anglican body in the UK to approve full-scale gay marriage at its annual synod in June.

At least seven GAFCON archbishops, who represent a vast swathe of the worlds Anglicans, will be at the five-day meeting starting tomorrow in Lagos, together with UK clergy.

Archbishop of Nigeria, Nicholas Okoh, (pictured) said the distressing move had downgraded the historic and biblical mind of the Church

Although several options will be discussed, the most dramatic would involve African archbishops consecrating a new bishop who could then be parachuted into the UK to minister to traditional parishes.

Church of England leaders will see this as a highly unwelcome parallel Anglican Church set up without the permission of Archbishop Welby.

It is thought the most likely candidate to become the first such bishop is Canon Andrew Lines, who runs the mission organisation Crosslinks in South London and who is already the chair of GAFCON UK.

One source said: I would say there is now a 75 per cent probability of the GAFCON archbishops voting to consecrate a new bishop for the UK. Andy Lines has a lot of credibility internationally.

If it did happen, though, there is a serious risk that Archbishop Welby would press the nuclear button. This would be very dangerous territory.
A pregnant woman and her partner who were saved from outback Australia after their four-wheel-drive got bogged have been released from hospital after a massive air-rescue operation.

The Darwin couple spent 24 hours awaiting rescue in the Gibson Desert, where temperatures reached a high of 32C, before they were plucked to safety by a helicopter.

The man, 32, and woman, 27, were heading to Warburton when they got stuck about 300km north-west of the remote community.

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A Darwin couple were saved from outback Western Australia after their 4WD (pictured) got bogged

The couple spent 24 hours awaiting rescue in the Gibson Desert before they were plucked to safety by a helicopter

They activated a personal locator beacon about 11.30am on Friday.

A two-day rescue bid ensued led by WA Police and assisted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Temperatures reached a high of 32C on both days.

On Friday afternoon, a search plane from Kalgoorlie - more than 900km away - spotted the pair who had made camp by their Toyota LandCruiser and appeared to be in good health.

On Saturday morning, a second plane, an AMSA Challenger, flew over the couple to drop off an emergency kit which included a satellite phone so they could make contact with Warburton police.

The young couple are seen landing in Broome before being transported to hospital

A two-day rescue bid ensued, led by WA Police and assisted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority

Finally, a long-range search and rescue helicopter from Bristowe Helicopters in Broome was enlisted and reached the pair about 11.45am local time on Saturday.

Four hours later, the helicopter arrived in Broome and the couple were taken to the Broome Regional Hospital.

The Darwin residents have since been released, police said on Saturday evening.

A long-range search and rescue helicopter was enlisted and reached the pair about 11.45am local time on Saturday

The rapid response was possible because of the personal locator beacon the pair used, which told authorities to their location, a police spokesman told Perth Now.

'The PLB was registered, which meant we were able to contact a family member and establish how many people were on the trip, which is extremely important in assessing the urgency of the situation,' he said.
FBI Director James Comey distrusted former Attorney General Loretta Lynch because he believed she helped play down the investigation into Hillary Clinton's private server, according to a new report.

Comey ended up plunging the FBI into the center of the 2016 presidential election when he reopened the investigation into Clinton's emails just weeks before the election.

The New York Times revealed that Comey handled the investigations into Clinton and Donald Trump, very differently.

According to several government officials, Comey rewrote the script when it came down to the Clinton case, mainly because the FBI believed she would win the election and feared they would be accused of helping her.

In Trump's case, Comey did everything by the book, with the FBI's traditional secrecy, according to the Times.

FBI Director James Comey (left) distrusted former Attorney General Loretta Lynch (right) because he believed she helped play down the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails, according to a new report by the New York Times

The Times report also revealed that Lynch did not want Comey to send a letter to Congress about the discovery of new emails relating to the investigation into Clintons private server before the November election

It is claimed this master plan, which the Times has called a 'go-it-alone strategy', stemmed from Comey's distrust of senior officials at the Justice Department, including his boss, Lynch.

Comey and other FBI officials felt Lynch and other in the Justice Department had provided Clinton with political cover, according to the Times.

During a meeting in September 2015, Lynch reportedly called on Comey to use the word 'matter' instead of 'investigation' when publicly discussing the Clinton case, three officials told the Times.

According to the newspaper, Lynch reasoned that the word 'investigation' would raise a number of other questions.

She also reportedly argued that the department should maintain its policy of not confirming investigations.

Shortly after the investigation was opened against Clinton, the Justice Department confirmed to reporters that it had received a criminal referral, a step toward a criminal investigation.

But the next day, the department revised its statement, saying it was 'not a criminal referral'.

'The department has received a referral related to the potential compromise of classified information,' the new statement read.

In reality, agents had already been alerted to mishandled classified information and had opened a full criminal investigation, despite what officials said in public.

Authorities within the FBI also suspected that Democratic appointees were playing games to help Clinton, who immediately released a statement reiterating that it was 'not a criminal investigation', but a 'security review', according to the Times.

In a separate probe, Comey sent a letter to Congress and informed lawmakers that emails had been discovered in connection with Rep Anthony Weiner (left in 2013), who is married to longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin (right)

The FBI announced that it had found no information to change its initial conclusion to not bring charges against Clinton (pictured in April 2017), just days before the election

After Clinton's shocking defeat against Trump in the presidential election, she and her aides blamed the FBI and Comey as one reason why they lost

Lynch then came under pressure to recuse herself from the investigation entirely after she had a discussion with former President Bill Clinton in June 2016.

However, Lynch did not recuse herself, but the situation did lead her to say she would accept whatever conclusions career prosecutors and the FBI reached, according to the Times.

The Times report also revealed that Lynch did not want Comey to send a letter to Congress about the discovery of new emails relating to the investigation into Clintons private server before the November election.

Lynch was 'stunned and confused' to hear that Comey was planning to send the letter just weeks before Election Day, according to the newspaper.

Aides for Lynch talked to Comey's staff about putting off the decision, according to the Times, and Lynch could have ordered Comey against sending the letter.

However, her aides advised her not to because if Comey refused, Lynch could have been put in the position of having to fire him, the Times reported.

Comey's letter went straight to Congress and informed lawmakers that emails had been discovered in a separate FBI probe into former Rep Anthony Weiner, who is married to longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin.

The FBI announced that it had found no information to change its initial conclusion to not bring charges against Clinton, just days before the election.

After Clinton's shocking defeat in the presidential election, she and her aides blamed the FBI and Comey as one reason why they lost.
Voters go to the polls today amid warnings that Frances 67,000 polling stations are potential terrorist targets

Voters go to the polls today amid warnings that Frances 67,000 polling stations are potential terrorist targets.

Fears of an attack increased after it emerged that police are prevented by law from guarding them with guns.

The countrys Interior Minister Matthias Fekl declared yesterday that no armed security force can appear in and in the immediate vicinity of the polling stations. This is the democratic rule.

His warning prompted concerns that fears of a random attack could deter some voters from turning out. While 50,000 police officers will be on duty, supported by 7,000 soldiers, they can only be called in an emergency. Polling station managers will be given a hotline to summon the nearest patrol.

Police trade union leader Celine Berthon said France was facing a dangerous day. She added: There will be more voting stations than police and gendarmes mobilised.

She described polling booths as extremely symbolic targets which would undoubtedly be an important target for a terrorist organisation.

Frances Counter-Terrorism Co-ordination Unit has confirmed that the threat to all the leading candidates, who will vote this morning, is high.

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Fears of an attack increased after it emerged that police are prevented by law from guarding them with guns

Two men with links to Islamic State were arrested in Marseilles last week after threatening to murder one of them, believed to be the republican contender Francois Fillon.

There was panic at Pariss busiest rail station, Gare du Nord, yesterday when a man walked in brandishing a knife. He was quickly arrested by police.
A new app uses sophisticated image-recognition algorithms to identify inappropriate pictures that appear on a childs mobile phone  and immediately alerts a parent when anything suspicious is detected

It's a modern craze that terrifies parents the length of Britain.

But finally they have been given a tool to fight back against the alarming and potentially dangerous phenomenon of sexting  when mobile users, often children, send sexually explicit messages and images of themselves.

A new app uses sophisticated image-recognition algorithms to identify inappropriate pictures that appear on a childs mobile phone  and immediately alerts a parent when anything suspicious is detected.

The app, called Gallery Guardian and due to be launched this month, scans images as they are created or received to detect naked skin, genitalia or breast exposure.

Seconds after potentially offensive content appears on a childs smartphone  already synced to their parents device  a message is sent to the adult, reading: Suspicious Image Detected.

Parents are then able to take the phone from the child to investigate the photo  or alert an adult nearby if the child is away from home.

Android phone users will not only be told when a suspicious photograph has been sent or received, but also what method it has come by, for instance from programs such as WhatsApp or Snapchat, or if it has been downloaded from the internet  possibly from a pornography website.

The app on Apple phones will not provide the same level of detail, with parents simply told when the suspicious picture arrived in the devices photo gallery. Because it is illegal to share images of child porn, the app does not copy suspicious pictures to the parents.

Gallery Guardian enables parents to synchronise up to six devices. It comes with information on how to contact the NSPCC or Crimestoppers if worried parents need to seek help.

It is the brainchild of Daniel Skowronski, 50, a father-of-four including a 12-year-old daughter, from Hampstead, North London. I realised how widely children as young as eight were sharing these inappropriate images, said Mr Skowronski, founder of YIPO Technologies, which specialises in photo-recognition technology.

Gallery Guardian enables parents to synchronise up to six devices. It comes with information on how to contact the NSPCC or Crimestoppers if worried parents need to seek help

Boys are saying to girls right now, If you dont send me something Im not going to ask you out. Its ridiculous to imagine the world theyre living in right now.

This app brings parents peace of mind that there is technology working for them and watching everything their child is doing. Its all about putting power back into the parents hands.

Child protection campaigner Pippa Smith said: New technology that can help parents keep an eye and give their children more guidance sounds like a good thing.

But ultimately, reducing sexting cant just be left to technology. Children need to know it is wrong and why. However, they do not have the cognitive maturity to resist this sexualised culture.

An NSPCC spokesman said: More and more young people are contacting Childline about sexting, with counselling sessions on sexting up 15 per cent last year to 1,392.

Once a child sends an image, they lose control over where it is shared. Thats why its vital parents talk to their child about the risks of sexting.

If a young person is worried about an image they have shared, they can talk to a Childline counsellor who will work with the Internet Watch Foundation to have the image removed from the internet.
As many as 140 Afghan soldiers were killed by Taliban insurgents disguised in army uniforms in what could be the deadliest attack ever on a military base in the country.

Officials in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif said the death toll from Fridays raid was likely to be even higher with many others wounded.

They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the government had not yet released figures.

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Officials in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif said the death toll from Fridays raid was likely to be even higher with many others wounded

An official in Washington had initially put the toll at more than 50 killed and wounded.

The Taliban fighters, driving military vehicles, talked their way into the base and opened fire on soldiers eating in a canteen and leaving a mosque after prayers, according to the officials. The attackers used rocket-propelled grenades and rifles.

At least ten militants were reported to have been killed in the fighting and one attacker detained. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement yesterday that the attack was retribution for the recent killings of several of its leaders in northern Afghanistan.

The Nato-led military coalition deploys advisers to the base to train and assist Afghan forces, but no international troops were reported to have been involved.

They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the government had not yet released figures

The Western-backed Afghan government is locked in a prolonged war with the Taliban and other militant groups.

An Afghan soldier who heard the gunfire said: I asked my friend what was happening, and he said, Relax, it must be one of us.

It wasnt. It was the Taliban.
A terrorist accused of murdering a British student in Jerusalem will be paid a salary of more than 800 a month by the Palestinian government  which receives more than 25 million a year from the UK in foreign aid.

Jamil Tamimi, who has a history of mental health issues, killed theology student Hannah Bladon in a frenzied knife attack on Good Friday after the 21-year-old gave up her seat on a tram to a woman with a baby.

The 57-year-old Palestinian told police that he attacked Hannah, a Birmingham University exchange student attached to Jerusalem's Hebrew University, in the hope that a soldier in the carriage would kill him.

Hannah Bladon was a Birmingham University exchange student attached to Jerusalem's Hebrew University

Instead Tamimi was arrested and is almost certain to be lauded as a resistance 'hero' by the Palestinian Authority (PA), like hundreds of others before him.

An Israeli court has already ruled, following a psychiatric evaluation, that he is fit to stand trial and should be treated as a terrorist by the justice system.

It means Tamimi or his family qualify for a 'salary' from the PA, according to Itamar Marcus, the founder and director of the Israeli monitoring group Palestinian Media Watch.

'According to PA law, everyone who is imprisoned for 'resisting the occupation' receives a PA salary,' he said. 'In PA practice, 100 per cent of the suicide bombers, stabbers, shooters and car rammers have been included in this category and do receive PA salaries.'

Terrorists who have 'resisted the occupation' are paid a monthly amount by the PA and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) on a sliding scale related to their sentence.

An Israeli court has ruled that murderer Jamil is fit to stand trial and should be treated as a terrorist by the justice system

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official spokesman, Ofir Gendelman, tweeted his outrage, saying: 'Not only didn't PA president Abbas condemn Hannah Bladon's murder, but he'll reward the Palestinian attacker who did it with a monthly salary.'

Influential commentator Avi Mayer, a former spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces, added: 'If you're British and you pay taxes, know that your money is going to fund a body that rewards convicted murderers.'

British taxpayers give the PA 25 million a year from foreign aid for health and education.

The knife Jamil used in the murder. His family will now qualify for an 800 salary

The Mail on Sunday has repeatedly highlighted the way in which such funding has been abused, and the news comes as our poll shows a pledge to continue spending 0.7 per cent of GDP on aid will be a voter loser for the Tories. Last month, we exposed how terrorism was openly promoted to pupils at West Bank schools named after mass murderers and Islamist militants.

Last December, the Department for International Development announced that it would restrict its payments to the PA to health and education with a 'vetted list' of public servants. But critics point out that when British taxpayers' cash goes to education and health, it frees up money in other budgets controlled by the PA.

DFID said: 'UK financial support is only used to provide essential health and education services to Palestinians, as part of our efforts to help deliver peace and the two-state solution. We have extensive precautions in place to ensure that UK money does not support terror groups or organisations.'
Erin Moran, who shot to fame playing teenager Joanie Cunningham in 1970s sitcom Happy Days, has died at the age of 56.

Authorities found Morans body in Indiana following a call about an unresponsive female about 4pm Saturday.

A source told DailyMail.com Moran, who lived in a trailer park in New Salisbury, Indiana, died of a suspected heroin overdose.

Her former co-stars including Henry Winkler and Ron Howard were quick to pay tribute to her on Twitter.

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Moran was just 14 when she signed on to play Joanie, the feisty little sister of Richie Cunningham on the show

Moran is pictured here in January 2013. The California native began acting before she was 10 years old

Winkler, who played Arthur Fonzie Fonzarelli in the show, tweeted just moments after the death was announced: 'OH Erin, now you will finally have the peace you wanted so badly here on earth, Rest In It serenely now, too soon.'

Howard, who played Richie Cunningham, tweeted a tribute to his on-screen little sister, saying: 'Such sad sad news. RIP Erin. I'll always choose to remember you on our show making scenes better, getting laughs and lighting up tv screens.'

A Burbank, California native, Moran began acting in TV and movies before she was 10 years old. She was just 14 when she signed on to play Joanie, the feisty little sister of Ron Howard's character Richie Cunningham, on Happy Days.

She became a household name as a result of her performance on the show, which started in 1974 and ran for almost a decade.

Her downward spiral became evident in September 2012, when she was photographed looking worse for wear outside a Holiday Inn in Corydon, Indiana, after reportedly being kicked out of the trailer she shared with her husband Steve Fleischmann. She is pictured left in 2009, and right with Fleischmann on September 25, 2012

Henry Winkler has led the tribute to his former Happy Days co-star Erin Moran, who has been found dead at 56

She continued the role in 1982 in the short-lived spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi, alongside Scott Baio, until it was canceled the following year.

More of her former co-stars commented after hearing about her tragic death. Anson Williams, who played Warren 'Potsie' Weber on the show told ABC 7: 'Erin was a person who made everyone around her feel better. She truly cared about others first, a true angel. I will miss her so much... she is in God's hands'.

Don Most, who starred alongside Moran as Ralph Malph on the hit sitcom, said: 'She was a wonderful, sweet, caring, talented young woman... A very painful loss.'

After Joanie Loves Chachi, Moran's career essentially stalled, with the exception of several television guest spots, and an appearance in the 2007 independent comedy feature Not Another B Movie.

Howard also tweeted a tribute to his on-screen little sister, saying: 'Such sad sad news. RIP Erin. I'll always choose to remember you on our show making scenes better, getting laughs and lighting up tv screens'

Moran is remembered by former co-stars and on social media for the feisty and youthful character that she played in Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi

In 2008, she was a contestant on VH1's reality show Celebrity Fit Club.

Her downward spiral became evident in September 2012, when she was photographed looking worse for wear outside a Holiday Inn in Corydon, Indiana, after reportedly being kicked out of the trailer she shared with her husband Steve Fleischmann.

Erin was reportedly told to leave the trailer she'd been sharing with her husband by his mother, who was tired of her 'hard-partying ways.'

The National Enquirer reported earlier that year the couple had moved into the 'rundown trailer park' after losing their California home to foreclosure.

She continued the role in 1982 in the short-lived spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi, alongside Scott Baio, until its cancellation the following year

Happy Days was one of the most popular sitcoms of its time, and started in 1974 and ran for almost a decade

'Erin was going out to bars and coming home at all hours of the night, sometimes with her rowdy bar friends, and Steve's mom just couldn't take it anymore,' a source said.

The publication claimed Erin was 'bouncing' from motel to motel.

In the photographs, Moran was seen walking in a grey T-shirt and plaid shorts, a cigarette hanging out of her mouth.

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Moran is pictured bottom left with the rest of the Happy Days cast. She shot to fame in that role throughout the 70s and 80s before her career essentially stalled

Erin Moran appears alongside Scott Baio in a 1975 episode of Happy Days

She stood outside the motel with her husband Steve, who is also smoking, both of them looking worse for wear.

In other shots, Moran sat smoking with another man on a bench with two Great Danes.

It was reported in 2013 she was on the verge of a split from her husband, who she married in 1993.

Happy Days' star Erin Moran was kicked out of a trailer home where she was living with her husband Steve Fleischmann and his mother

Erin Moran is pictured walking through a mobile home park in New Salisbury, Indiana in 2012

At the time they were understood to be living off a dwindling sum of money which was the result of a payout springing from a lawsuit filed by several Happy Days cast members in April 2011.

The actress and three of her Happy Days co-stars, Don Most, Anson Williams and Marion Ross, plus the estate of Tom Bosley, who died in 2010, filed a $10 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against CBS, which owns the show.

The suit claimed cast members had not been paid for merchandising revenues owed under their contracts.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has angrily insisted the alleged sexual assault of a five-year-old boy on Manus Island was the cause of riots in a heated ABC interview and accused the national broadcaster of taking things from Twitter.

Mr Dutton's exchange with ABC Insiders host Barrie Cassidy became tense when he mentioned how the boy's parents had not made any formal complaint to Papua New Guinean police.

The Immigration Minister is continuing to assert the alleged sexual assault of a boy was behind the Good Friday riots between locals and detainees, which saw 100 gunshots fired into the asylum seeker complex.

The melee on April 14 injured three detainee as rocks were thrown.

ABC Insiders host Barrie Cassidy, a former Labor press secretary, asked the minister if he had been given the wrong information during a tense interview

'Again Barrie, there are facts that I have and you don't so why don't we let the police investigation run its course allow then some independent analysis of it?' he said looking exasperated by the host's line of questioning.

'I have that on very good authority on the island and the parents of the boy involved in the incident might have a different view from the one you've read off Twitter.'

The interview took a personal turn when Mr Cassidy, a former Labor press secretary, brought up Mr Dutton's previous career as a Queensland police detective.

'You're an ex-Queensland policeman. You know that you're presumed innocent,' Mr Cassidy said.

Mr Dutton hit back by continuing to insist a boy was allegedly sexually assaulted.

'Of course. You're talking about what the elevation of the mood was on the ground. And it was elevated by the allegations around this sexual assault,' he said.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is continuing to insist the alleged sexual assault of a boy caused the Manus Island riots

Peter Dutton became tense when he was asked if his information about the riot was wrong

The mood of the interview soured when Mr Cassidy asked the Immigration Minister if his information was wrong, considering Manus police commander David Yapu said the boy in question was 10 and not five-years-old.

'It's not my claim. The police commander says that there's CCTV footage showing that the boy was waiting outside the gate and was looking for food,' Mr Cassidy said.

'Food was placed into a plastic bag and given to him. He was 10 years old.

'It happened a week before the disturbance and he left. That's the extent of it.'

The interview was already off to a tense start when Mr Cassidy questioned Mr Dutton's earlier assertion three asylum seekers had led the boy into the centre.

A Manus Island asylum seeker sustained a head wound during the Good Friday riot

'Now that's not true is it?' Mr Cassidy asked.

Mr Dutton replied he had significant contacts on Manus Island.

'Well, Barrie, I have senior people on the island. We also have obviously significant contacts with the governor and the people of Manus,' the Minister said.

Mr Dutton accused the ABC interviewer of taking his facts from Twitter, but he declined to say if he had spoken with the Manus Island police commander or admit if his details about the boy's age were wrong.

'Well, I'll leave the detail to them to explain,' the Minister said.

Rocks were thrown while 100 rounds of ammunition were fired during the Manus Island riot

On Friday, the Manus province's police commander David Yapu disputed Mr Dutton's assertion that a boy was sexually assaulted.

'If there was a sexual assault, a formal complaint would be made by the parents for the police to pursue investigations,' he told the ABC.

On Good Friday at 6pm, a fight between locals and detainees was quickly broken up by the Papua New Guinea Navy Defence Force after rocks were allegedly thrown over the fence of the compound.

More than 100 rounds of ammunition were fired into the centre, which was left peppered with gunshots.
The mysterious murders of two Sydney housewives in the 1970s have long been linked by police who believed it was the work of the same killer.

But 40 years later, investigations into the deaths of Lynette White in 1973 and Maria Smith in 1974 have been split into two investigations after detectives abandoned their one-killer theory.

Lynette White was found dead in her Coogee home, in Sydney's east, on June 8, 1973 after she was stabbed 11 times and had her throat slit by a sadistic intruder.

Lynette White (pictured) was found murdered in her Coogee flat on June 8, 1973

The 26-year-old mother was forced to undress in front of him and fold her clothes in a neat pile as her newborn baby Shane lay in a cot nearby.

Ms White's body was discovered by her husband, Paul, who returned from work hours later.

Their son Shane was found unharmed still tucked in his cot inside the second-storey flat.

Her murder remained a cold case for 43 years until police discovered a bloodstain still soaked into the cement floor when they pulled back the carpet last year.

It is believed to contain the DNA of Ms White's killer who injured himself during the frenzied attack.

Preliminary results from the blood found under the carpet showed a male DNA profile mixed with Ms White's DNA profile.

Less than a year after Ms White's death, Maria Smith (pictured on her wedding day) was found strangled to death at her Randwick apartment

Newlywed Maria Smith was found dead in her Randwick apartment almost a year later on April 22, 1974, only three kilometres away from Ms White's Coogee home.

The 20-year-old teacher was bound, gagged and raped by her killer before she was strangled with her stockings and left for her husband to find that same day.

Since 1974, investigations into both homicides treated the killings as if they were done by the same killer.

Police found striking similarities between the two cases - both women were in their 20s, lived in the eastern suburbs, were left for their husbands to find and the murders occurred less than a year apart.

A red-bearded, thin-legged man in his 20s wearing long socks and shorts who was spotted leaving Ms White's unit block - matching the description given by a nearby rape victim

The killer's failed attempt to sexually assault Ms White was also linked to the rape of Ms Smith, and it was believed in both cases the man forced his way in after asking for a drink of water as shattered mugs and glasses were found in the same position near the door.

The new bloodstain found in Ms White's case in 2016 gave detectives a fresh lead in the 43-year-old court case, which opened the possibility Ms Smith was killed by another man.

At the time police believed both women were killed by the same man who in 1972 raped another woman in Coogee but let her live.

Her description of the attacker matched a red-bearded, thin-legged man in his 20s wearing long socks and shorts who was spotted leaving Ms White's unit block.

NSW police are now treating the cases as two separate cases in a bid to catch two killers who have walked free for over 40 years.

'While Maria Smith and Lynette White were both young recently married women living in the Eastern Suburbs in the early 70s, we don't have a definitive link between their murders,' Detective Chief Inspector Chris Olen said.

'As we reviewed the cases, we saw that there was more potential for success if the investigations are conducted independently of each other. Of course we are keeping an open mind, but we are being led by the evidence we have at hand and the results of more recent inquiries.'

He added: 'We have received incredible support from the community over the years and will continue to follow lines of inquiry to bring justice.'
Photo taken on April 20, 2017 shows the containers in a railway container center in Qingbaijiang District in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province. This container center serves as a railway logistic hub in southwest China. Till April 16, 2017, 559 cargo trains departed from the center and went to Europe. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)

BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Railway authorities of China, Belarus, Germany, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Poland and Russia, have signed an agreement to deepen cooperation on China-Europe freight rail services, according to China Railway Corporation.

The agreement serves the Belt and Road Initiative, expands the market share of rail freight between Asia and Europe and drives economic development and trade cooperation for counties along the route.

The countries will jointly push for better railway infrastructure for a safe, smooth, fast, convenient and competitive rail route, according to the agreement.

Information technology will boost train speed and unified service. Information sharing platforms will be built to ensure transport safety.

The countries will expand the rail services to more areas with faster customs clearance. A joint work team and expert team will be formed to solve problems.

The China-Europe freight train service was launched in 2011 and grown rapidly with high efficiency. It has become an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

A total of 3,557 freight trains have run so far, with services reaching 27 Chinese cities and 28 cities in 11 countries in Europe.
Notorious gangland killer Arthur 'Neddy' Smith's family have rubbished claims the geriatric killer attempted to escape from hospital, saying he is a physical wreck who is incapable of moving any distance without a wheelchair or walker.

The 72-year-old's ex-wife, Debra, told Daily Mail Australia Smith suffered from dementia and advanced Parkinson's disease, can barely walk and was mentally incapable of planning an escape.

'He's in a wheelchair. So how's he going to escape? He can hardly stand up. He can't even walk, let alone run,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

The 72-year-old's ex-wife Debra Smith said her former husband is mentally incapable of planning an escape

Gangland killer Arthur 'Neddy' Smith, 72, allegedly attempted to escape from hospital while his two guards were distracted

'Sydney's hardest man' was caught by nurses attempting to remove his intravenous drip at Randwick's Prince of Wales Hospital after one guard fell asleep, and another was on a laptop

'If he was going to escape they'd have to have an electric scooter to get him to the carpark. I don't think he's got any more friends out there anyway. It's bull****.'

The gangland killer dubbed 'Sydney's hardest man' during the violent drug wars of the 1980s allegedly attempted to escape from hospital while his two guards were distracted.

As one of his guard dozed and another was immersed in his laptop, Smith allegedly attempted to make a break from his bed at Randwick's Prince of Wales Hospital on Monday.

But Smith, who is one of the country's most notorious criminals, didn't get far and was caught attempting to remove his intravenous drip by nurses, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Debra Smith said if her ex-husband was going to escape they'd have to have an electric scooter to get him to the carpark

Aruthur 'Ned' Smith and Debra Smith pictured on their wedding day

Ned Smith and Debra with former brothel owner Harvey Jones, who Smith was convicted of murdering

Smith was admitted to a secure annex of Prince of Wales on April 13 and released on Thursday. Ms Smith described the annex as 'exactly like a jail'.

He was being treated for a urinary tract infection and having scans on his hip after a fall. Smith has a permanent catheter and urinary tract infections 'send him crazy'.

'From what I gather he was acting a bit strange,' Ms Smith said.

'They know when he's not himself it's always been a urinary tract infection.'

Ms Smith, who still maintains contact with her ex-husband and is writing a book about her life with the former gangster, said Smith - who prison authorities have previously described as a model inmate - was sometimes so confused he still believed they were married.

'He's incompetent. Ned's not even got the [mental capacity] to think of something like that. There is no way in the world he could do it. It's just absolutely ridiculous,' she said.

Ned Smith (right) with his daughter Jaime

Smith's health problems have been well-known for two decades.

It was reported 15 years ago his paralysis from Parkinson's disease was so advanced he could not write, climb stairs or brush his teeth without an electric toothbrush.

Smith's health has deteriorated dramatically since then.

He is currently serving two life sentences for murder at NSW's Long Bay jail.

It was confirmed that two officers had 'failed to keep watch' over Smith, a Corrective Services spokeswoman said.

But she denied Smith had been attempting to escape.

'On Monday April 17, CSNSW received a complaint that two correctional officers had failed to keep watch over a 72-year-old inmate during a hospital visit,' she said.

'Its alleged the inmate attempted to get out of his bed.

'The allegation is being taken seriously and the Governance and Continuous Improvement Division will interview the two officers as part of an investigation.

'The officers will be disciplined if the allegation is proven.'

Smith (right), pictured with his former friend Graham 'Abo' Henry in prison, was the kingpin at the centre of Sydney's thriving drug trade in the 1980s

Smith has not been a free man since 1989 when he was caught trying to rob Botany Council as it deposited its $160,000 Christmas payroll and sentenced to 13 years in prison

Smith (pictured in prison with two of his grandchildren) is currently serving two life sentences for murder at NSW's Long Bay jail

The spokeswoman said the two guards would be disciplined if if the allegation were proven.

Smith has not been a free man since 1989 when he was caught trying to rob Botany Council as it deposited its $160,000 Christmas payroll and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

A year after his arrest, while inside Sydney's Long Bay Prison, he was convicted of the 1987 road rage murder of truck driver Ronnie Flavell, who infuriated Smith just by flashing his lights at him.

Then in 1998 Smith was given his second life sentence for murdering brothel keeper Harvey Jones in 1983 before dumping his body in Botany Bay.

It's understood Smith will not face any additional charges over the alleged escape.
Tragic final photos of the 14-year-old who went missing while on a hike in the Grand Canyon with his step-grandmother have been released after his GoPro was found by a search and rescue team.

The National Parks service had been searching for Jackson Standefer and LouAnn Merrell since they went missing on April 15, when they fell and were swept away by water in the park.

Search and rescue crews found Standefer's GoPro camera, which was mounted on his backpack when he went under.

The National Parks Service said in a statement on Thursday that it is reducing the scale of the search after five unsuccessful days of extensive searching for the pair.

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Final photos of Jackson Standefer, who went missing along with his grandmother while on a hike in the Grand Canyon were found. Standefer is pictured on April 15

The National Parks service had been searching for Jackson Standefer (L) and LouAnn Merrell (R) since they went missing on Saturday, April 15

The camera was returned to his uncle, who marked a week since the two went missing by sharing a few of the images Saturday.

Memorial services have been planned for the pair on Sunday in spite of the fact that search and rescue teams have been unsuccessful in finding their bodies.

Standefer's step-grandmother, who is also missing, is married to Randy Merrell, the founder of the Merrell Boot Co.

Search and rescue crews found Standefer's (pictured) GoPro camera, which was mounted on his backpack earlier this week

The camera was returned to his uncle, who marked a week since the two initially went missing by sharing a few of what might be final photos of his nephew (pictured with his mother)

The company earlier this week provided climbers and rescuers to aid in the search for the missing pair.

The teenager's family had also offered to provide a military-grade drone to help the National Park Service in the search, which rangers said is a difficult and complex one.

A billboard was put up in Standefer's hometown that urged community members to pray that he will be found safe

Jackson and LouAnn had been hiking with Randy and Julie Standefer (Jackson's mother) when they slipped and fell into rushing water while crossing Tapeats Creek in the park.

Randy and Julie were able to alert officials by setting off an emergency GPS locator beacon in the backcountry below the canyon's North Rim, according to Chief Ranger Matt Vandzura of the National Park Service.

The National Park Service deployed a drone, helicopter and dozens of rescuers to help find the missing pair to no avail.

Their backbacks were found earlier this week with their belongings still inside, and it is assumed by the family that the pair have drowned.

The remote area where the family was hiking on multi-day backpacking trip is at the bottom of the canyon near the North Rim, a much-less visited area of the park.

The service again deployed three ground search teams, a helicopter, a drone and an inflatable motor raft on Wednesday in an attempt to find them.

Ground search crews spent multiple nights at the bottom of the canyon even though their searches only take place in daylight.

The National Park Service deployed a drone, helicopter and dozens of rescuers to help find the missing pair but to no avail
Linguistics experts, studying the future of the Icelandic language, which is spoken by fewer than 400,000 people in an increasingly globalized world, wonder if this is the beginning of the end for the Icelandic tongue.

When an Icelander arrives at an office building and sees 'Solarfri' posted, they need no further explanation for the empty premises: The word means 'when staff get an unexpected afternoon off to enjoy good weather.'

Hundslappadrifa, for example, means 'heavy snowfall with large flakes occurring in calm wind'.

But the revered Icelandic language, seen by many as a source of identity and pride, is being undermined by the widespread use of English, both for mass tourism and in the voice-controlled artificial intelligence devices coming into vogue.

Linguistics experts, studying the future of the Icelandic language, which is spoken by fewer than 400,000 people, wonder if this is the beginning of the end for the Icelandic tongue. One concern is that many new computer devices (pictured) do not recognize Icelandic

Iceland's Ministry of Education estimates about 1 billion Icelandic krona, or $8.8 million, is needed for seed funding for an open-access database to help tech developers adapt Icelandic as a language option. A law book penned on calf skin in 1363 at a museum in Iceland

Former President Vigdis Finnbogadottir told the Associated Press that Iceland must take steps to protect its language. She is particularly concerned that programs be developed so the language can be easily used in digital technology.

'Otherwise, Icelandic will end in the Latin bin,' she warned.

The problem is compounded because many new computer devices are designed to recognize English but they do not understand Icelandic.

'Not being able to speak Icelandic to voice-activated fridges, interactive robots and similar devices would be yet another lost field,' said Asgeir Jonsson, an economics professor at the University of Iceland.

The people of the rugged North Atlantic island settled by Norsemen some 1,100 years ago have a unique dialect of Old Norse that has adapted to life at the edge of the Arctic.

Jonsson said without a unique language Iceland could experience a brain drain, particularly among certain professions.

'A British town with a population the size of Iceland has far fewer scientists and artists, for example,' Jonsson said. 'They've simply moved to the metropolis.'

Icelandic ranks among the weakest and least-supported language in terms of digital technology - along with Irish Gaelic, Latvian, Maltese and Lithuanian - according to a report by the Multilingual Europe Technology Alliance assessing 30 European languages.

Iceland's Ministry of Education estimates about 1 billion Icelandic krona, or $8.8 million, is needed for seed funding for an open-access database to help tech developers adapt Icelandic as a language option.

Teachers are already sensing a change among students in the scope of their Icelandic vocabulary and reading comprehension.

Icelandic ranks among the weakest and least-supported language (pictured) in terms of digital technology - along with Irish Gaelic, Latvian, Maltese and Lithuanian

A number of factors combine to make the future of the Icelandic language uncertain, such as tourism (pictured). That is increasing the use of English as a universal communicator and diminishing the role of Icelandic, experts say

Anna Jonsdottir, a teaching consultant, said she often hears teenagers speak English among themselves when she visits schools in Reykjavik, the capital.

She said 15-year-old students are no longer assigned a volume from the Sagas of Icelanders, the medieval literature chronicling the early settlers of Iceland.

Icelanders have long prided themselves of being able to fluently read the epic tales originally penned on calfskin.

Most high schools are also waiting until senior year to read author Halldor Laxness, the 1955 winner of the Nobel Prize in literature, who rests in a small cemetery near his farm in West Iceland.

A number of factors combine to make the future of the Icelandic language uncertain.

Tourism has exploded in recent years, becoming the country's single biggest employer, and analysts at Arion Bank say one in two new jobs is being filled by foreign labor.

That is increasing the use of English as a universal communicator and diminishing the role of Icelandic, experts say.

Since Iceland (pictured) became fully independent from Denmark in 1944, its presidents have long championed the need to protect the language. Members of Iceland's parliament said it they continue to wait 'it may already be too late'

'The less useful Icelandic becomes in people's daily life, the closer we as a nation get to the threshold of giving up its use,' said Eirikur Rognvaldsson, a language professor at the University of Iceland.

He has embarked on a three-year study of 5,000 people that will be the largest inquiry ever into the use of the language.

'Preliminary studies suggest children at their first-language acquisition are increasingly not exposed to enough Icelandic to foster a strong base for later years,' he said.

Concerns for the Icelandic language are by no means new. In the 19th century, when its vocabulary and syntax were heavily influenced by Danish, independence movements fought to revive Icelandic as the common tongue, central to the claim that Icelanders were a nation.

Since Iceland became fully independent from Denmark in 1944, its presidents have long championed the need to protect the language.

Svandis Svavarsdottir, a member of Iceland's parliament for the Left-Green Movement, said the government should not be weighing costs when the nation's cultural heritage is at stake.

'If we wait, it may already be too late,' she said.
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Scientists and nerds brought ingenious signs to protests across the nation on Earth Day.

The March for Science Saturday, which was anchored in Washington and mirrored in 500 other cities, attracted support from celebrities including Bill Nye the Science Guy, Rosario Dawson, Grey's Anatomy star Kate Walsh and Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi.

Although officially non-partisan, it was dreamed up at the Women's March on Washington, which took place a day after Donald Trump's inauguration on January 21.

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Ignoring science is irrational: Several people held up signs with the equation for an irrational number (pictured, Boston)

Grab 'em by the data: Many signs (and sines) paid homage to the Women's March and targeted President Trump (San Francisco rally, pictured)

Alternative planet: A flurry of signs made fun of Kellyanne Conway's gaffe when she offered 'alternative facts' (San Francisco)

During the protests, Donald Trump Junior posted a photo of him celebrating Earth Day by fishing in Montana

Many signs brought to light serious issues, but for the most part the messages were puns and nerdy jokes.

These included signs saying they were 'sines' and equations of irrational numbers.

The protest was putting scientists, who generally shy away from advocacy and whose work depends on objective experimentation, into a more public position.

Organizers portrayed the march as political but not partisan, promoting the understanding of science as well as defending it from various attacks.

Those attacks include proposed US government budget cuts under President Donald Trump, such as a 20 per cent slice off the National Institute of Health.

Women dressed up as a 'brain storm' for the Science March in Midland, Michigan on Saturday afternoon

Several thousand demonstrators rallied on Central Park West in New York City near Trump International Hotel

Support labs: Puppies wore adorable signs to protest the president's stances on science research funding

People mocked the unique curvature of President Trump's hair at the Science March in Washington, D.C.

'I'm with her' was a popular slogan for the signs at the Science March (pictured, the rally in Boston)

People hold signs during the March for Science in San Francisco, California to make fun of President Trump

Many signs were funny, but they also advocated for the need of government supported scientific research

Signs and banners readied for the Washington rally reflected anger, humor and obscure scientific references, such as a seven-year-old's 'No Taxation Without Taxonomy.' Taxonomy is the science of classifying animals, plants and other organisms.

Scientists involved in the march said they were anxious about political and public rejection of established science such as climate change and the safety of vaccine immunizations.

'Scientists find it appalling that evidence has been crowded out by ideological assertions,' said Rush Holt, a former physicist and Democratic congressman who runs the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

'It is not just about Donald Trump, but there is also no question that marchers are saying 'when the shoe fits.'

Demonstrators display signs as they gather for the March For Science on Earth Day on the National Mall in D.C.

Melanin envy: People made signs to protest President Trump's anti-immigrant policies at the science rally as well

A protester in Washington, D.C had a sign that joked about how without science there would not be Viagra
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Mike Pence might be one of the world's most powerful men but he didn't seem to impress Penny the kangaroo when he dropped by to visit her at Taronga Zoo.

The U.S. vice president brought his wife Karen and daughters Audrey and Charlotte to the zoo for a bit of down time on Sunday and the chance to get up close with some of Australia's furry friends.

Penny, an orphaned red kangaroo who was hand raised by a keeper, was snoozing happily in the shade of a gum tree when her unexpected guests from America dropped by.

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Not interested: Mike Pence may have struck up a charming friendship with Australia's Prime Minister, but the national animal appeared less tham impressed

'That's my usual position on a Sunday afternoon,' Mr Pence joked to Penny's keepers.

After a few pats from the vice-president, Penny rolled over and slowly got to her feet and tried to move away.

But there was no escape.

Mr Pence was determined to get a family picture with Penny who reluctantly complied.

Giving in: The US Vice President remained determined to win over Penny the Kangaroo, and appeared to get her on side in the end

Taking it easy: Penny the Kangaroo may have been put offside when she was woken from her nap by the high-profile Americans

The Vice President's wife, Karen, appeared much more interested in Australia's national bird and was seen reaching out to stroke an emu as the family visited Taronga Zoo in Sydney on Sunday

Though clearly intrigued by the emu, Mrs Pence appeared to find the giant bird a bit intimidating, and was seen grimacing as she held out some leaves for it to eat

Penny's mate Widgi the emu was more keen to meet America's second family, possibly because they had some tasty treats to munch on.

Security was tight at the zoo for the Pence family visit, with some families slightly perturbed by the temporary closure of some sections.

'That's annoying,' one dad told a police officer who confirmed the vice president was visiting.

Before sitting down to enjoy lunch overlooking the harbour in the zoo's Roar and Snore enclosure, the Pence family got to meet Cheezel the ringtail possum, Jindi the echidna, Griffin the sooty owl and Bai'yali the koala.

Out of all the animals he was pictured meeting on Sunday, the Vice President appeared most comfortable with the spiky echidna

Vice President Pence's daughters Audrey and Charlotte were pictured cuddling up to an owl during the visit

The Pence family looked intrigued as a keeper brought out a koala for them to meet

While Cheezel, Jindi and Griffin were perfectly behaved, Bai'yali did attempt to make a break for the top of the branch she was clinging to as Mr Pence tried to make friends.

During the Pence family's visit, the Vice President appeared mostly uncomfortable with his surroundings, and was seen posing awkwardly with the animals.

It was a mutual feeling, as more than one native animal was seen trying to make a run for it as he approached.

His wife Karen appeared much more interested in the creatures, and was seen gazing adoringly at a koala, and grimacing as she held leaves out for an emu.

The Koala appeared to take a shine to Mrs Pence, and was seen looking at her as she beamed back

The Pence family will head to Hawaii on Monday for the final leg of the Vice President's Asia-Pacific tour

The US Vice President appeared somewhat baffled by Australia's native wildlife, and the animals did not seem incredibly keen on him either

Mr Pence and his family are spending the day sightseeing in Sydney on their final day of their whirlwind visit, which included bilateral talks with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday.

After their time at the zoo, the family hopped aboard a cruise ship named Enigma to tour Sydney Harbour with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

The family were under heavy security during the boat ride, with people both on the water and in the air.

After their time at Taronga Zoo, the family jumped on board a cruise ship called Enigma with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (right)

Keeping guard: Security was tight on the water, and included armed NSW and Federal police

The black security boat did not appear to impede on the Pence family's stunning view of Sydney Harbour

They were flanked by armed NSW and Federal Police officers, as well as members of the US Secret Service and a Navy boat.

Following his cruise, the Pence family will meet with NSW Governor David Hurley and his wife Linda at NSW Government House.

They will also be taken on a private tour of the Sydney Opera House before their trip down under concludes.

Mr Pence is due to fly out of Sydney on Monday when he heads to Hawaii, the final stop on his 10-day tour of the Asia-Pacific region.

Some security took place above water too, with people stationed in the air above the cruise ship

The cruise lasted one hour, and later the Vice President and his family went to meet with the NSW Governor

The Pence family will head to Hawaii on Monday, the last stop on their tour of the Asia Pacific

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes a look over the balcony of the Sydney Opera House

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his daughter Charlotte visit the Sydney Opera House
James and Lachlan Murdoch set out to battle for control over their father's 'band-of-pirates' empire after a yearlong battle with sexual harassment allegations against ex-Fox News chief Roger Ailes and most recently, Fox host Bill O'Reilly.

In the past two weeks, following claims O'Reilly sexually harassed multiple women, James, 44, who is the CEO of 21st Century Fox, aggressively called for his ousting.

The same thing happened last July, when Ailes was forced to resign over sexual harassment claims against him.

When James and Lachlan, the sons of, Rupert Murdoch, the executive chairman of 21st Century Fox, first took over the company, they both were willing to tolerate the Fox News culture, according to a New York Times report.

James (right) and Lachlan Murdoch (left) have set out to battle for control over their father, Rupert Murdoch's (center) 'band-of-pirates' empire after a yearlong battle with sexual harassment allegations against ex-Fox News chief Roger Ailes and Fox host Bill O'Reilly

In the past two weeks, following claims O'Reilly sexually harassed multiple women, James Murdoch (pictured), 44, who is the CEO of 21st Century Fox, aggressively called for his ousting

The same thing happened last July, when Ailes (left) was forced to resign over sexual harassment claims against him. O'Reilly (right) was let go from his show last Wednesday

But James and his wife, Kathryn, have long been embarrassed by certain elements of Fox News, sources told the newspaper.

Meanwhile Lachlan's views of the network have been more in line with their father's.

The generational change didn't really kick in until last year when Ailes was forced to resign amid claims of sexual harassment, which he vehemently denied.

James and Lachlan (pictured with his wife Sarah), 45, who serves as the executive chairman of 21st Century Fox, have begun to insert themselves in the company

James and Lachlan, 45, who serves as the executive chairman of 21st Century Fox, have begun to insert themselves in the company.

Doug Creutz, a media analyst at Cowen and Company told the Times that both James and Lachlan are 'young enough to see and understand that the company has to change'.

Conservative Rupert Murdoch showed time after time that he was willing to trade workplace culture for profits, according to the Times.

But when his sons took over two years ago, the company began to become something different.

The brothers set out to create a friendlier and warmer work environment for employees.

They started with inviting Fox employees to a town hall in which they spoke of transparency and workplace diversity.

They introduced additional benefits, including more paid vacation, reproductive coverage for women and 'expanded coverage for our transgender colleagues', the Times reported.

James and Lachlan also poured money into National Geographic, an act that is very important to James, who recently said he deeply cares about the 'issues related to the environment, conservation, exploration and education'.

But it was not until the Times disclosed financial settlements, which involved multiple women alleging O'Reilly had behaved inappropriately, that James, Lachlan and even Rupert forced change.

The change was mainly due to dozens of advertisers leaving O'Reilly's show.

But some are still skeptical about whether the brothers are genuinely on the same page.

James and Lachlan also poured money into National Geographic, something James (pictured) said he deeply cares about

'James has a lot of experience in senior management, and he is capable of running a business,' Creutz told the Times.

'Lachlan? I don't know. People don't know him as well. He is looked at a bit more skeptically by investors,' Creutz added.

But Anthony DiClemente, an analyst at Nomura Instinet, sees things a bit differently.

He told the Times that 'Lachlan has grown and developed quite a bit' as a manager.

'I think the brothers get along well, and that Lachlan's views are falling into line with James's.'

The announcement of O'Reilly's termination was made on Wednesday in an internal memo that was signed by Rupert Murdoch and his sons.

It had been reported by New York magazine one day prior that James wanted O'Reilly out soon after this latest sexual harassment scandal broke, while Lachlan was on the fence.

When the Murdochs finally made a decision, it was coming close to three weeks after news broke about five women who had accused O'Reilly of sexual harassment in the past at Fox News, allegations O'Reilly denies.

Three of those women were given settlements totaling $13million.

The announcement of O'Reilly's (pictured) termination was made on Wednesday in an internal memo that was signed by Rupert Murdoch and his sons. O'Reilly will be getting $25million from the network, according to Matthew Garrahan of the Financial Times

'After a thorough and careful review of the allegations,the company and Bill O'Reilly have agreed that Bill O'Reilly will not be returning to the Fox News Channel,' 21st Century Fox said in a statement on Wednesday while announcing the termination of O'Reilly.

O'Reilly, who recently signed a multiyear contract worth more than $20million a year, was halfway around the world at the time, having spent the morning meeting Pope Francis in Vatican City.

The popular host was in St Peter's Square with his son for Pope Francis' weekly address, and afterwards stood in a VIP line to shake hands with the holy leader.

O'Reilly released a statement on Wednesday afternoon saying: 'It is tremendously disheartening that we part ways due to completely unfounded claims.'

He will be getting $25million from the network, according to Matthew Garrahan of the Financial Times.
North Korea has arrested a US citizen, according to reports, bringing the total number of Americans held by the Hermit Kingdom to three.

The man, a Korean-American in his fifties identified only by his surname Kim, had been in North Korea for a month to discuss relief activities, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country on Friday.

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Travellers stand in front of an information desk at Pyongyang airport on April 17; A US citizen has been arrested at the airport on his way out of the country

US student Otto Frederick Warmbier, who was sentenced last year to 15 years of hard labor for stealing a political banner from a hotel, stands on trial at the Supreme Court in Pyongyang on March 16, 2016

North Korea, which has been criticized for its human rights record, has in the past used detained Americans to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations.

Two other Americans are currently being held in the country. Kim Dong Chul was sentenced last April to 10 years of hard labor for espionage.

Otto Warmbier has been held since January 2016 for committing 'hostile acts' against North Korea by allegedly stealing a political banner from the Pyongyang hotel where he was staying on an organized tour.

The State Department last month urged North Korea to pardon Warmbier, who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor.

Tensions between the US and North Korea are particularly high at the moment however, with the isolated country threatening America with nuclear war if it is attacked.

'The DPRK will react to a total war with an all-out war, a nuclear war with nuclear strikes of its own and surely win a victory in the death-defying struggle against the US imperialists,' a Foreign Ministry spokesman wrote Saturday.

This message, which was one of three delivered Saturday, echoed the message delivered by a top official at the massive 'Day of the Sun' military parade in Pyongyang earlier this month.

North Korea has issued a statement threatening 'nuclear war' against the United States if it is attacked (pictured last week is Kim Jong-un attending a military parade)

In photos dating from Wednesday analysts noted that North Korea appears to be preparing for what would be its sixth nuclear test

Satellite photos posted by two international studies analysts show that the country appears to be going about work as usual after a bizarre series of volleyball matches were held there. The photos of volleyball matches could have been a form of deception

The increased tension in the region and with the United States will be a hot topic in Washington on Monday with the visit of US Ambassador Nikki Haley, who will be escorting Security Council members to the capital for a series of meetings with congress and in the White House.

North Korea appears to have resumed work at its nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, in the northeastern part of the country, according to the New York Times.

Satellite photos posted by two international studies analysts show that the country appears to be going about work as usual after a bizarre series of volleyball matches were held there.

In a previous study of satellite photos, taken last Sunday, analysts noted several times that there were teams of individuals playing volleyball, which could have been a form of deception, or could have been a leisurely past time activity on a day off.

However, in photos dating from Wednesday, the analysts noted that North Korea appears to be preparing for what would be its sixth nuclear test.

This would come just as the country plans to celebrate another major holiday on Tuesday - the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army, an occasion they normally use to show off military advances.

If the country were to test another nuclear device, it would be a major show of defiance by their leader after repeated warnings by the American President.
The family of a murdered mother say police are looking in the wrong place for her killer.

Prabha Kumar, 41, had been talking on her mobile phone to husband Arun, who was living in their native India with their daughter, after leaving Parramatta train station when she was brutally killed in 2015.

The IT worker had been walking down a dimly lit path just 300 metres from her home in western Sydney on the night of March 7 when she was attacked by someone and stabbed in the neck.

'I think I've been stabbed, he stabbed me, darling,' she managed to tell her husband before collapsing.

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The family of a murdered Prabha Kumar (pictured) believe police are looking in the wrong place for her killer

Police believe the murder was orchestrated by someone from India, Mrs Kumar's nephew Thrijesh Jayachandra told News Corp.

But her family's theory is she was killed by someone she knew in Sydney who 'hated her'.

Mr Jayachandra said Mrs Kumar had revealed to her relatives she had a conflict at work but did not give any names.

'Someone she knew hated her. It was a crime of hatred, it was not racism, not by someone who was psychotic [or affected] by drug abuse,' he said.

'We have told police this and have asked them to double-check [possible suspects].'

Her husband said he had passed on details of conflicts his wife had at work before her murder, The Sydney Morning Herald reported last year.

The slain IT worker (pictured moments before her murder) was talking on the phone with her husband when she was fatally stabbed

Mrs Kumar was living and working in Sydney while her husband and daughter Meghana (pictured at her funeral in Bangalore) lived in India

But speculation in Indian media reports centred around theories that Mrs Kumar may have been killed by someone she was close to, possibly a relative.

As part of the murder inquiry, NSW Police visited India and have interviewed more than 2000 people.

They ruled out robbery, sexual assault or the attack being racially motivated, instead focusing on the mother-of-one's personal life.

Police believe Mrs Kumar may have been the victim of a contract killing orchestrated by someone she knew, the Times of India reported.

Officers interviewed 28 people in Mrs Kumar's hometown of Bengaluru including her husband, parents, close family friends and colleagues.

A source told the newspaper that Mrs Kumar's decision to become an Australian citizen could have 'sparked a tussle and led to the killing.'

A property issue also caused a rift in the family, police sources said.

Police have ruled out robbery, sexual assault or race being a motive in the brutal crime

The IT worker had been walking down a dimly lit path just 300 metres from her home in western Sydney when she was attacked

Meanwhile, the Deccan Herald reported on a 'suspicious' transfer of funds to a woman in Sri Lanka from compensation from Mrs Kumar's life insurance policy.

But the woman told Australian detectives that the money had been transferred as a loan to help her overcome a financial crisis, according to the Herald.

Mr Jayachandra, 26, dismissed those reports as wrong, insisting that his family is not involved and they 'blame someone from the company.'

He also claimed that Mrs Kumar did not want to remain in Australia and was planning on returning home.

Her visa had been set to expire, but her husband said that he and his wife had been making plans for him and their daughter Meghana, then nine, to join her in Australia.

She arrived in February 2014 to work for the Sydney branch of Indian IT firm Mindtree.

Before she died, Mrs Kumar, who spent her spare time at temples, had a citizenship application waiting to be completed.

A NSW Police spokesman said detectives investigating Mrs Kumar's case continue to appeal for information in the case.

He said the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad established Strike Force Marcoala to investigate the circumstances surrounding her murder.

'Over the past two years, Strike Force Marcoala investigators have spoken with more than 2000 people, and continue to follow numerous lines of inquiry, both in Australia and India,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'As investigations are ongoing, it is not appropriate to comment further.'
Hillary Clinton made a surprise appearance at the Tribeca Film Festival Saturday night.

Clinton was an unannounced panelist, who appeared to discuss the scourge of elephant poaching.

The former secretary of state sat alongside Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, who was premiering her new virtual reality short, The Protectors: Walk in the Rangers' Shoes.

'Thanks for seeing this remarkable film which brings to reality what we're up against,' said Clinton.

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Hillary Clinton (pictured) made a surprise appearance at the Tribeca Film Festival Saturday night. Clinton was an unannounced panelist, who appeared to discuss the scourge of elephant poaching

The former secretary of state sat alongside Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow (left), who premiered her new virtual reality short, The Protectors: Walk in the Rangers' Shoes. Bigelow's film is about park rangers trying to save elephants from poachers

Bigelow's film is about park rangers trying to save elephants from poachers in Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Clinton spoke about her work to save elephants from poachers slaughtering them for their ivory tusks, both as secretary of state in the Obama administration, and later with the Clinton Global Initiative.

'I'm proud we passed a near total ban of ivory and proud that the Chinese made a very important announcement last year on ivory [trade],' she said.

'Large mammals like elephants have a large role to play both in reality and in our imaginations. China had been the number one market, but the US is the second biggest market for illegal ivory,' Clinton added.

She says it is crucial that three goals be pursued simultaneously: stopping the killing of elephants, stopping the trafficking of ivory, and stopping the demand.

Clinton also encouraged attendees to donate to outfitranger.org. Donations on the site will help 'buy a ranger a better vest, decent shoes to have a better chance,' she said.

'It is Earth Day and we are marching on behalf of science, and part of science is understanding the intricate relationships we share with those on this planet,' Clinton added.

Clinton spoke about her work to save elephants from poachers slaughtering them for their ivory tusks, both as secretary of state in the Obama administration, and later with the Clinton Global Initiative

The panel also featured African Parks Andrea Heydlauf (left) and National Geographics Rachel Webber (second from left), Bigelow and director Imraan Ismail (center) created the eight minute project with National Geographic and African Parks

Clinton was referring to the march that took place earlier on Saturday in Washington DC, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago and other locations.

The march was organized as a response to President Donald Trump's various policies, such as funding cuts for the Environmental Protection Agency.

Bigelow and director Imraan Ismail created the eight minute project with National Geographic, Here Be Dragons, Annapurna Pictures and African Parks.

The project also marked Bigelow's virtual reality debut.

'I thought shooting a virtual reality would be a great opportunity being in DR Congo, moving within the brush with these gentleman who are moving through the jungle, insects, animals and also the poachers who are very well armed,' she explained.

'It's no joke out there.'

The panel also featured African Parks Andrea Heydlauf and National Geographics Rachel Webber.
A Philippine Airlines flight bound for Manila has been forced to land at Sydney Airport.

Flight PR212 was scheduled to depart Sydney at 12.36pm, but was grounded at 2.10pm, the airport said.

Nine News reported the plane had been towed off the runway.

There were no injuries.

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A Philippine Airlines flight bound for Manila has been forced to land at Sydney Airport (pictured)

Flight PR212 was scheduled to depart Sydney at 12.45pm, but was grounded at 2.10pm

The cause of the emergency landing is still unknown.

The emergency landing was due to operational requirements,' Philippine Airlines told Daily Mail Australia in a statement.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Sydney airport for comment.
PYONGYANG, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Saturday that it is not interested in holding any dialogue with the United States as long as Washington refuses to abandon its hostile policy towards Pyongyang.

The present U.S. administration is blaming Pyongyang for 20-odd years of failed DPRK-U.S. talks to justify its economic sanctions and military standoff, Rodong Sinmum, the official daily of the ruling Korean Workers' Party, said in a commentary.

"It openly reveals its intention not to rule out the use of military force including unilateral preemptive attack, to say nothing of multilateral military and diplomatic pressure and high-intensity economic sanctions and redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea," the newspaper said.

The United States has claimed that "it does not harbor any illusion about dialogue with the DPRK," said the paper.

"Meanwhile, the U.S. is pressurizing countries around the DPRK to join it in putting diplomatic pressure and high-intensity economic sanctions on the DPRK. It even threatens that it would seek out an independent way of preventing the DPRK from bolstering nuclear deterrence," it added.

The United States has been calling for tighter economic sanctions against the DPRK and has threatened to take military action for its nuclear and missile tests, triggering high tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The two countries had held dialogue both bilaterally and within the framework of the Six-Party Talks on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula in the past, but failed to achieve any results.
Nigel Farage could be acting as a human courier passing secret communications to Julian Assange inside the Ecuadorian embassy, an intelligence expert has said.

Questions have swirled around the connection between the two men after the former UKIP leader was seen going into the embassy last month - where the Wikileaks founder has been holed up since 2012.

One theory is that Farage could be acting as a 'back-channel' between President Trump's team and Assange after Roger Stone, a Republican strategist who is close to Trump, exposed links with Assange in an interview with CBS.

Nigel Farage could be passing secret communications to Julian Assange inside the Ecuadorian embassy, a US intelligence expert has speculated, weeks after the MEP was pictured there

Roger Stone, a Republican close to Trump, said he has 'back-channel communications' with Assange through an intermediary. Asked if that person was Farage, he denied it

Now a senior US intelligence source, speaking to the Observer, has poured fuel on the fire by suggesting that Farage could be a conduit for secret communications.

The unnamed source said: 'When the heat is turned up and all electronic communication, you have to assume, is being intensely monitored, then those are the times when intelligence communications falls back on human couriers; where you have individuals passing information in ways and places that cannot be monitored.'

Since Farage was seen at the embassy, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said that charges are being prepared against Assange and that arresting him is 'a priority'.

Separately, Leave.EU - the Brexit campaign run by Mr Farage - has also been placed under investigation by the UK Electoral Commission.

The commission says it is looking into whether donations to the campaign were 'impermissible'. One of the grounds for a donation to be declared impermissible is that it come from a foreign source.

Mr Farage has refused to comment on whether he was at the embassy to meet Assange on March 9, claiming he couldn't remember what he had been doing inside when he was photographed emerging by Buzzfeed.

The MEP was inside for around 40 minutes, according to reports, and has no known connections with Ecuador.

Mr Farage's team refused to comment when contacted by Mail Online.

Mr Farage spent 40 minutes inside the London embassy last month. When he emerged, he claimed he couldn't remember why he had been inside

Mr Farage's visit was only exposed after a passerby happened to notice him going inside, before journalists arrived to question him

Alternative explanations for Farage's presence at the embassy include recording a segment for his LBC show, as he was spotted with producer Christian Mitchell.

If a segment was recorded at the time, it has yet to be aired.

Elsewhere Mr Stone confirmed contact between Trump's team and Assange when he told CBS4: 'I do have a back-channel communication with Assange, because we have a good mutual friend.

'That friend travels back and forth from the United States to London and we talk.'

But asked whether that friend was Mr Farage, a spokesman said: 'Definitely not.'

Mr Stone is currently under investigation by the FBI for his links to Russia.

Assange's links to the Kremlin have also been the subject to scrutiny after US Intelligence agencies claimed leaked emails he published from the Democratic National Committee were obtained by agents acting for the Russia state.

For his part, Assange has strongly denied any connection between the information he published and Russia.

The FBI has confirmed that it is investigating links between Trump's campaign and Russia, amid speculation the Kremlin interfered in the US election.

Hillary Clinton's camp firmly believes Russia was behind the DNC leaks, and views them as being instrumental in her shock defeat to Mr Trump.
Jeremy Corbyn in No 10 would mean Britain is more vulnerable to terrorists because he cannot take hard decisions, the Tory campaign chief has warned.

Sir Patrick McLoughlin launched the first salvo of what will be a deeply personal Conservative campaign against the Labour leader ahead of the June 8 election.

The Tory Party Chairman said voters could trust Theresa May to make the 'uncomfortable' decisions to keep Britain safe.

Mr Corbyn has been repeatedly criticised for being soft on terror. He appeared to hesitate over whether he backed police policy to shoot to kill terrorists last year.

The Labour leader has also come under fire for a history of meetings with senior figures in the IRA and Hamas.

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Jeremy Corbyn (pictured on the campaign trail yesterday) in No 10 would leave Britain more vulnerable to terrorists because he cannot take hard decisions, the Tory campaign chief has warned

Conservative chairman Patrick McLoughlin launched the first salvo of what will be a deeply personal Conservative campaign against the Labour leader ahead of the June 8 election (file)

Elsewhere in the fast-moving campaign today, the Conservatives are trailing a promise to cap standard rate tariffs on household energy bills.

The policy - similar to a Labour plan sharply criticised by the Tories in 2015 - is expected to be the centrepiece of the manifesto on May 8, the Sunday Times said.

Mr Corbyn is offering workers four extra bank holidays if voters defy expectations and install him in Downing Street.

Today's attack on Mr Corbyn was made by Sir Patrick in a punchy interview with the Sunday Telegraph.

He accused the veteran MP of being a 'rebel without a cause'

'There are decisions which prime ministers have to take and those people in authority have to take (which) are sometimes very uncomfortable,' Sir Patrick said.

'If they don't take them, we're at danger ... I know that with Theresa May, she would take them. I'm not sure that Jeremy Corbyn would.'

Mr Corbyn (pictured greeting supporters in Crewe yesterday) has been repeatedly criticised for being soft on terror. He appeared to hesitate over whether he backed police policy to shoot to kill terrorists last year

Mr Corbyn is offering workers four extra bank holidays if voters defy expectations and install him in Downing Street

Asked if he had concerns about Mr Corbyn's record on security and defence, Sir Patrick said: 'The man is not suitable to become prime minister of this country. He has been a rebel without a cause in the Labour Party.

'With Theresa May's record as home secretary and the way she's conducted herself since she's been Prime Minister, I don't think anybody can be in doubt as to how serious she takes those responsibilities and is really on top of the detail.

'I just think she has shown herself as the person most qualified and most suitable to the job.'

Labour warned the Conservatives' claims on energy bills should be treated with 'a pinch of salt' as they had repeatedly broken promises to deal with the issue in the past.

Polls suggest the Conservatives have a commanding lead in the race for power on June 8 and indicate Theresa May will be returned to No 10 with a big new majority

Andrew Gwynne , the party's campaigns and elections chairman, said: 'The Tories don't stand for working people, their record is one of failure and broken promises, letting ordinary people down at every turn.

'The Tories' promises to deal with energy bills should be taken with a huge pinch of salt.

'Time and again they've promised action but when it comes to it they broke those promises. Under them, energy bills have soared.

'At the last election, when Labour promised action the Tories opposed it, putting themselves on the side of protecting the big energy companies' profits rather than the interest of working people.'

The Prime Minister (pictured campaigning in Dudley yesterday) is set to offer voters a new cap on energy bills when her manifesto is published on May 8

Meanwhile Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron insisted that he would not be prepared to enter into a coalition with either the Conservatives or the Labour Party under Mr Corbyn.

'There is no way we can countenance any kind of arrangement or coalition with the Conservative Party and likewise with the Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn,' he told The Observer.

'He (Mr Corbyn) accepted hard Brexit, he voted for it. He enabled it. It has put us in the situation we are now in.'
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has hit back at North Korea over its threat of a nuclear strike on Australia.

Ms Bishop said Pyongyang should be investing in the welfare of its 'long-suffering citizens' rather than weapons of mass destruction.

The rogue state turned its sights on Australia on Saturday, threatening nuclear retaliation after Ms Bishop said North Korea could be subject to further Australian sanctions.

Julie Bishop has hit back at war threats from North Korea, telling Pyongyang to stop investing in weapons and start investing in its citizens

'If Australia persists in following the US moves to isolate and stifle the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and remains a shock brigade of the US master, this will be a suicidal act of coming within the range of the nuclear strike of the strategic force of the DPRK,' Pyongyang said in a statement.

Undeterred Ms Bishop told AAP on Sunday North Korea's threats of nuclear strikes against other nations further underlines the need for the regime to abandon its illegal nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

'These present a grave threat to its neighbours and, if left unchecked, to the broader region including Australia,' she said.

'The North Korean government should invest in the welfare of its long-suffering citizens, rather than weapons of mass destruction.'

Following the nation's threats of war on Australia, Ms Bishop referred to North Korea's citizens as 'long suffering'

On Saturday night, North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman accusing Ms Bishop of 'spouting a string of rubbish against the DPRK over its entirely just steps for self-defence'.

The same spokesman also accused Australia of 'blindly and zealously toeing the US line'.

The channel said Ms Bishop had 'better think twice' about the consequences of her 'reckless tongue-lashing'.

Ms Bishop said last week Australian sanctions would send 'the clearest possible message' to North Korea that its behaviour would not be tolerated.

North Korea's latest missile test fizzled last weekend, but it conducted two nuclear test explosions and 24 ballistic missile tests last year.

North Korea 'present a grave threat to its neighbours and, if left unchecked, to the broader region including Australia', Ms Bishop said (pictured: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un)

North Korea's nuclear threat dominated talks on Saturday between Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and visiting US Vice President Mike Pence.

Mr Pence praised Mr Turnbull for publicly calling on China to do more to pressure North Korea.

Labor's defence spokesman Richard Marles said on Sunday North Korea's latest statement was a matter of enormous concern, but noted Pyongyang had made similar threats to other nations, even a veiled one at China.

But he did not believe conflict on the Korean peninsula was particularly likely and backed the approach the US has taken on North Korea.

'I do think a harder edge being presented by America in respect of North Korea is not a bad thing,' Mr Marles told Sky News.

He believed the early signs coming out of China, an ally of North Korea, were positive, it saying if the problem is going to be dealt with it needs to be through 'China, America and the whole world'.

Ms Bishop had 'better think twice' about the consequences of her 'reckless tongue-lashing', a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said to North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency

On Wednesday, spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry Lu Kang said China is 'gravely concerned' about North Korea's recent military activity - but stressed China was still hoping for a resolution through talks.

Nevertheless, China sent back a shipment of coal from North Korea, believed to be one of the nation's main sources of income, reported Reuters.

The wire service also noted North Korea is celebrating a number of anniversaries this year and often marks the occasions with the testing of military weapons.

An article published in KCNA on Friday, entitled Are You Good At Dancing To The Tune of Others, issued a thinly veiled threat to 'a country around the DPRK' - believed to be China.

'If the country keeps applying economic sanctions on the DPRK while dancing to the tune of someone after misjudging the will of the DPRK, it may be applauded by the enemies of the DPRK but it should get itself ready to face the catastrophic consequences in the relations with the DPRK,' the article said.
Police are hunting a man after a 12-year-old boy escaped an attempted sexual assault in a public toilet in Sydney's south-west on Saturday night.

The boy had walked into a public toilet inside Bass Hill Plaza, a shopping complex on the Hume Highway, at about 8.15pm.

As he entered, he noticed a man in a cubicle with the door open, police said.

Police want to speak to a man (pictured on CCTV) after a 12-year-old boy escaped an attempted sexual assault in a public toilet in Sydney's south-west on Saturday night

The boy had walked into a public toilet inside Bass Hill Plaza (above, file photo), a shopping complex on the Hume Highway, at about 8.15pm

The boy quickly moved to leave the toilet but the man grabbed him by the waist and pulled him into the cubicle.

Police were told the man hit the boy across the head, while attempting to pull him closer.

As the assault was occurring, two men entered, startling the suspect and allowing the boy to break free and run out of the facility.

Police were called and detectives from Bankstown Local Area Command attended the scene and commenced an investigation.

CCTV footage was seized and detectives are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry, NSW Police said in a statement.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Bankstown Police, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.
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French nationals in London hoping to cast their vote in the presidential election were waiting more than three hours as massive queues snaked along the streets.

The capital's massive French population of an estimated 400,000 were expected to cram into just three polling stations resulting in excruciating waits and lengthy lines.

Some turned their back on the election, refusing to wait, while others decided to leave the queues after hours of standing around and planned to return later to cast ballots in a tense first-round poll.

More than 60,000 polling stations opened at 6am for voters who will choose between 11 candidates in the most unpredictable election in decades.

Opinion polls point to a tight race among the four leading contenders vying to advance to the May 7 presidential runoff, when the top two candidates face off.

Polls suggest far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, an independent centrist and former economy minister, were in the lead. But conservative Francois Fillon, a former prime minister, who was embroiled in a scandal over alleged fake jobs appeared to be closing the gap, as was far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.

French nationals queue up outside the Lycee Francaise Charles de Gaulle in London on April 23, 2017, as voting begins for the first-round of the French 2017 presidential election

Massive queue of French nationals lining the streets of London as some voters were forced to wait more than three hours

French nationals queue up outside the Lycee Francaise Charles de Gaulle in London on April 23, 2017, as voting begins for the first-round of the French 2017 presidential election

A police officer stands on a street corner as French nationals queue around the corner as they wait to vote in their country's election

French nationals residing in Hong Kong wait in line to vote in the first round of France's presidential election at the French International School in Hong Kong on April 23, 2017

A woman walks through the door at the French Consulate in South Kensington, London, to cast her vote in the French election

A policeman stands near a polling station during the first round of 2017 French presidential election in Paris, France, April 23, amid heightened security following a terrorist attack on Thursday

Volunteers prepare themselves for a huge onslaught of French nationals pouring into the polling station to vote in the French election

A woman casts her ballot in the first round of France's presidential election at a polling station at the French embassy in Tokyo on April 23, 2017

VOTING IN THE UK Ashford If your post code starts with CT, ME or TN, you are voting at Ashford School, East Hill, Ashford TN24 8PB. Belfast If your post code starts with BT, you are voting at Carrickfergus Borough Council, Marina Conference Suite, 3 Quayside, Carrickfergus BT38 8BJ. Birmingham If your post code starts with B, CV, DE, DY, HR, LD, LE, NG, NN, ST, SY, TF, WR or WS, you are voting at The Council House, Commitee Rooms 3 & 4, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB. Brighton If your post code starts with BN, PO or SO, you are voting at Mercure Brighton Seafront, Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2PP. Bristol If your post code starts with BA, BH, BS, CF, DT, EX, GL, NP, PL, SA, SN, SP, TA, TQ or TR, you are voting at Hotel Bristol, Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6HY. Leeds If your post code starts with BD, DH, DL, DN, HD, HG, HU, HX, LN, LS, NE, S, SR, TS or WF, you are voting at Hotel Leeds, 4 Whitehal Quay, Leeds, LS1 4HR. Manchester If your post code starts with A, B, B, C, F, L, LA, LL, M, OL, PR, SK, WA or WN, you are voting at Hotel Manchester, 21 Dickinson Street, Manchester M1 4LX. London If your post code starts with GY, GX or JE, you are voting at Consulate General of France 21 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2EN. If your post code starts with BR, CR, DA, EC, GU, KT, RH, SE, SM, SW, TW, W or WC you are voting at French High School Charles de Gaulle. Alphabetically - surnames from Aadi to Heyser should use entrance to 35 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2DG. Surnames from Hia to Zysman should use entrance to Queensberry Way, London SW7 2DT. If your post code starts with G, CB, CM, CO, E, EN, HA, HP, IG, IP, LU, MK, N, NR, NW, IL, PE, RG, RM, SG, SL, SS, UB or WD, you are voting at Winston Churchill International High School, 54 Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9LY. Aberdeen If your post code starts with AB, IV, KW or ZE, you are voting at Total Business School, 1-5 Whitehall Place, Aberdeen AB25 2RH. Edinburgh If your post code starts with DD, EH, KY, PH or TD, you are voting at Edinburgh Consulate, General of France in Edinburgh, 13 Randolph Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7TT. Glasgow If your post code starts with DG, FK, G, HS, IM, KA, ML or PA, you are voting at Glasgow French Alliance, 3 Park Circus, Glasgow, G3 6AX. Advertisement

Among the polling stations to open their doors was the French Consulate in South Kensington, where the bulk of the UK's French nationals are expected to cast their votes.

According to figures from 2014, there are 400,000 French people living in London, which prompted Boris Johnson to call it France's sixth biggest city.

At the end of 2013, the Foreign Ministry recorded 1.6million French expats living abroad.

Outside of the capital, there are polling stations in Ashford, Brighton, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Security was tight after a deadly attack on the Champs-Elysees on Thursday in which a police officer and a gunman were slain.

The vote 'is really important, mainly because we really need a change in this country with all the difficulties we are facing and terrorism,' said Paris resident Alain Richaud, who was waiting to cast his vote.

The 11 candidates are also voting throughout the day.

Hard-line right-winger Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, who rails against Europe, was the first of the presidential candidates to vote Sunday morning in his constituency in the leafy Paris suburbs.

Far-left candidate Nathalie Arthaud cast her ballot soon after in the Paris suburb of Pantin.

France's 10 percent unemployment, its lackluster economy and security issues topped concerns for the 47 million eligible voters.

If Le Pen or Melenchon win a spot in the runoff, it will be seen as a victory for the rising wave of populism reflected by the votes for Donald Trump and Brexit - the British departure from the European Union.

'It's definitely risky, but I have faith in the result even if an extreme candidate qualifies for the second round,' said Beatrice Schopflin, who was queuing to vote in Paris.

Macron and Fillon are committed to European unity and would reform labor rules.

Political campaigning was banned from midnight Friday hours ahead of polls opening in France's far-flung overseas territories such as Guadeloupe, French Polynesia and French Guiana, which all voted a day early Saturday.

Unpopular incumbent President Francois Hollande made the unusual move last year of pledging to not stand for re-election.

French citizens also began voting Sunday under heavy security in the first round of the most unpredictable presidential election in decades, with the outcome seen as vital for the future of the beleaguered European Union.

In the wake of the policeman's killing on Thursday, 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers have been deployed around France to protect voters.

Analysts believe the attack so late in the campaign could shift the focus from the economy to security and hand an advantage to candidates seen as taking a hard line on the issue.

'If it were to benefit someone, that would clearly be Marine Le Pen who has dominated this issue throughout the campaign, or Francois Fillon,' said Adelaide Zulfikarpasic of the BVA polling institute.

In the aftermath of the attack, Le Pen called for France to 'immediately' take back control of its borders from the EU and deport all foreigners on a terror watchlist.

US President Trump tweeted that the shooting 'will have a big effect' on the election.

Closely watched around the world, the French campaign has been a rollercoaster ride of unpredictable twists and turns.

A race that began with the surprise nomination of Fillon as right-wing candidate in November shifted into a higher gear in December when unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande decided not to seek re-election.

Hollande's five years in office have been dogged by a sluggish economy and a string of terror attacks that have cost more than 230 lives since 2015.

Fillon was the early frontrunner until his support waned after he was charged following accusations he gave his British-born wife a fictional job as his parliamentary assistant for which she was paid nearly 700,000 euros ($750,000) of public money.

A massive crowd gathers outside the French Consulate in London preparing to cast their vote for one of 11 candidates

Volunteers prepare for the busy stream of French nationals making their way through the doors to vote for their preferred candidates

French citizens line up to enter their embassy to vote in the first round of France's presidential election in Tokyo, Japan

French nationals residing in Hong Kong wait in line to vote in the first round of France's presidential election at the French International School in Hong Kong on April 23, 2017

People cast their ballots in the first round of France's presidential election at a polling station at the French embassy in Tokyo on April 23, 2017

A man finishes casting his vote in Noumea, capital of the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, as a woman holds a piece of paper behind the desk

French nationals in Hong Kong wait to cast their vote with the volunteers as they line up against the city's impressive skyline in the background

A man in a flamboyant shirt drops his vote into the clear ballot box as a female volunteer watches on in New Caledonia

Though there are four main contenders in the election, a total of 11 candidates are taking part, most polling in single digits.

The candidate for the governing Socialists, Benoit Hamon, was a distant fifth going into the final weekend.

In such a close-fought race, the quarter of French voters still undecided could play a crucial role in the outcome.

'I don't like any of them, they're all disappointing,' 73-year-old Ghislaine Pincont said in the northern city of Lille on Saturday.

'At worst, I'll cast a blank vote.'

In Berlin, people braved rain and hail in in queues extending for up to 200 metres (yards) outside the French embassy in the shadow of Brandenburg Gate.

As they waited, voters chatted amongst each other, some debating what a victory for Le Pen or Melenchon could mean for France and Europe.

Residents in French overseas territories such as Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean had begun voting on Saturday, along with expatriates in the United States, Canada and Latin America.

Adrien Gontier, voting in the rainy US capital Washington on Saturday, said he was fulfilling his duty as a citizen.

'In the United States, you can see what happens when people don't vote, or vote badly,' he said. 'We don't want there to be a Trump in France.'

Security measures were strengthened at the 69 polling stations across the United States following a jihadist's killing of a policeman in Paris on Thursday night that put the country on edge after a string of bloody terror attacks.

The French consulate in New York was briefly evacuated late Saturday after a suspicious vehicle raised fears of a bomb threat.

'After the Champs Elysees attack, the New York police department was told to be especially vigilant,' Consul General Anne-Claire Legendre said.

Analysts said the policeman's killing could shift opinions, possibly handing an advantage to candidates seen as taking a hard line on security, such as Le Pen.

In the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, voters cast their ballots Saturday in the French embassy, housed in the grandiose Ortiz Basualdo Palace.

Retired doctor Pierre Aguerre, 78, said he was taking part 'against the extreme right'.

'This is an important moment in the history of France,' he said.

'A lot of people have come to vote,' said his wife Noemie Nabel, 75. 'I think the attacks have mobilised people.'

Caroline Rostain, 41, said she was surprised by a campaign that included corruption allegations and fluctuating polls.

'I was disappointed by so much lack of transparency and ethics during the campaign,' she said. 'I think we're lagging behind our European neighbours.'
Amber Harrison has cheekily lent her support to Logies host Dave Hughes and his plan to take aim at some of the country's biggest television personalities, including Tim Worner.

Mr Hughes has said Mr Worner, the Channel Seven boss, will be in his sights on Sunday night as he hosts his third consecutive Logies.

Ms Harrison, who had an affair with Mr Worner when she was working at Channel Seven and is now suing the network, posted a cheeky tweet in response to the comments from Mr Hughes.

'Hey [Dave Hughes] good luck tonight. You can't be slapped with suppression order for taking the p**s but if you need a lawyer borrow one of mine,' Ms Harrison tweeted.

Amber Harrison (pictured) has cheekily lent her support to Logies host Dave Hughes, who has Tim Worner - the man Ms Harrison had an affair with - in his sights on Logies night

Ms Harrison's cheeky tweet to Dave Hughes after he said he planned to take aim at Channel Seven boss Tim Worner while hosting the Logies

Mr Hughes was quick to respond to Ms Harrison's cheeky tweet, while further promoting the Logies

He responded with a brief 'Thanks for the tip'.

Mr Hughes has brought the laughs to Australian television's night of nights for the last two years.

And when he returns for a third time hosting on Sunday, Mr Hughes promised it will be no different as he takes aim at some of the countries biggest personalities.

Speaking with The Daily Telegraph, the 46-year-old confirmed he has set his sights Mr Worner, as well as presenter Grant Denyer.

Jokes on them! Returning to host his third Logie Awards, Dave Hughes confirmed he has set his sights on some of the countries biggest personalities, including Grant Denyer and Tim Worner

In his sights: Mr Hughes revealed that he would not overlook TV executive Tim Worner, but said he would have to tread a thin line with his jokes so as not to get in trouble

Mr Hughes revealed that he would not overlook TV executive Mr Worner when he delivered his opening monologue, after the CEO made headlines earlier in the year for his affair with Ms Harrison.

But the comedian revealed he would have to tread a thin line with his jokes, telling the publication: 'I'm trying to work out how I can do it [without getting into legal trouble]'.

Former Gold Logie winner Karl Stefanovic is also said to be in Dave's sights, having made headlines following his marriage break-up and new romance.

In the firing line: Former Gold Logie winner Karl Stefanovic is also set to be the brunt of a joke, having made headlines following his marriage break-up and new romance

After poking fun at 'Jacketgate' during a recent interview with The Today Show, the funnyman also promised the publication that Amber Sherlock will again be among the targets.

And joining her among the butt of the jokes will be Grant Denyer, who is a contender for a statue in the top category at the awards.

The Family Feud host, who has been recovering after a disastrous race accident earlier in the year, posted confirmation in an Instagram screenshot from Dave.

The comment read 'Mate, I''m going to do a joke about you tomorrow night!' with Grant captioning the picture: 'Uh oh. It's about to go down. #logies2017'.

He won't be wearing white: After poking fun at 'Jacketgate' during a recent interview with The Today Show, the funnyman also promised Amber Sherlock will again be among the targets

Given fair warning: Joining her among the butt of the jokes will be Grant Denyer, who is a contender for a statue in the top category at the awards

Confirmation: The Family Feud host, who has been recovering after a disastrous race accident earlier in the year, posted a verificationin by way of an Instagram screenshot

Dave previously revealed that he has been testing out his jokes on audiences in the lead up to the show.

He reiterated the point to the Daily Telegraph, stating: 'I've been sneaking a few (jokes) into my stand-up gigs to try them out.'

The comedian added: 'It is a tricky one because you don't want people to hate you forever after you've done a joke about them.'

It's unsure whether The Project's Carrie Bickmore will bear the brunt of his humour tomorrow night too though, after running late to his show Saturday night.

He tweeted the star before his Deluded performance, writing: 'My old buddy @BickmoreCarrie is gonna be a bit late to my show tonight apparently. Do I pick on her?'
For years English wine was derided as inferior to European varieties but now UK viticulturists are starting to produce successful bottles of pinot noir.

In fact, pinot noir grapes now account for 22 per cent of UK vine plantings - second only to Chardonnay.

Wine buffs even say pinot noir is perfectly suited to England's soil and climate.

For years English wine was derided as inferior to European varieties but now UK viticulturists are starting to produce successful bottles of pinot noir (Stock image)

Sam Linter, chief winemaker at the Bolney wine estate in Sussex, told The Guardian: 'Everyone told me I was completely bonkers. But we experimented and it took years of hard work to get right.'

She added: 'Pinot noir is a great variety for the UK... it really likes the climate and soil we have here. It has a real future.'

Pinot noir grapes are used around the world in some of the finest wine varieties including Burgundy, made in the Burgundy region in eastern France.

It is estimated that around five million bottles of wine are produced in England and Wales each year.

Bolney Estate now produces about 15,000 bottles of pinot a year but plans to increase production to 50,000 by 2021, according to The Guardian.

According to the English Wine Producers website, pinot noir is one of the most ancient and noble of all grape varieties.

It is the classic grape for red Burgundy but is also an important element of sparkling wines in England.

In fact, pinot noir grapes now account for 22 per cent of UK vine plantings - second only to Chardonnay (Stock image)

Last year, it was reported that English sparkling wine was set to overtake Prosecco in popularity with experts saying it tastes better than Champagne .

Wine experts insisted that the flavour of English sparkling wine was superior to Prosecco, with a 'more elegant and complex' taste.

Beth Willard, wine buyer for Lathwaite's Wine, said: 'We are seeing English fizz making waves abroad. It is really taking off in the US with full containers of English sparkling wine being shipped over now.

'It is very high quality, with an increasingly good reputation. People are curious to try it - and not only ex-pats.

'Its delicious, refreshing, elegant - and just as good as sparkling wine from any other country.'
Melbourne will host the Logies for at least one more year despite concerns about the $1 million annual price tag.

The Victorian Government's five-year deal expires after Sunday night's extravaganza but it is keen to hang on to TV's night of night's for its 60th anniversary next year.

Government bean counters were concerned the awards show, which costs the state $1 million a year in funding, did not bring in enough revenue and thus wanted to slash investment, according to the Herald Sun.

Melbourne will host the Logies for at least one more year despite concerns about the $1 million annual price tag (pictured Danni Minogue and Delta Goodrem)

Pia Miller arrives at the 2017 Logies on Sunday night, as government bean counters are concerned the awards show does not drag in enough revenue

Organisers, TV Week owner Bauer Media, Crown, and broadcaster Channel 9 were hashing out the details for the 2018 event ahead of the state's commitment.

'All the stakeholders we are talking to, the feedback we are getting is very positive.

'I feel very positive, and I am hopeful of a good outcome,' Bauer women's lifestyle general manager Jayne Ferguson said.

'We have been here for 30 years so it is hard to imagine it anywhere else.'

The Project Host and defending Gold Logies champion Waleed Aly and wife Susan Carland at the 2017 Logies

Bachelor stars Richie Strahan and Alex Nation arrive for the last Logies under contract for the city of Melbourne

Bachelor couple Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich arrive at TV's night of nights which Sydney is hoping to poach from 2019

Sydney was looking to poach to awards but according to insiders were not offering as much as the current contract in Melbourne.

TV Legend Bert Newton threw his support behind the event staying in Melbourne for the foreseeable future, despite having won a Logie it in Sydney decades ago.

'From a loyalty point of view Melbourne built the Logies and made it the telecast that it is,' he said.

Today show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson on the Logies red carpet on Sunday night
Labour spinners have been forced to step in and insist the party does support Britain's nuclear deterrent after Jeremy Corbyn suggested he would never use it and might scrap it.

Mr Corbyn said using nuclear weapons would be a 'disaster' and said the essential renewal of Britain's Trident submarines would be included in his defence review.

The shock claims came in a car crash interview in which Mr Corbyn also said he would stop all air strikes on Syria, refused to back a drone strike on the terror group's leader and hinted at pulling UK troops out of Nato's defence against Russia.

The Tories said it was clear 'Jeremy Corbyn would refuse to strike against terrorists and dismantle our nuclear defences'.

Hours after the disastrous interview aired, a Labour spokesman said: 'The decision to renew Trident has been taken and Labour supports that.'

Mr Corbyn told the BBC's Andrew Marr he wanted a peaceful world but rebuffed a barrage of questions about real security threats facing Britain today

Mr Corbyn, who is a life-long opponent of nuclear weapons, told the BBC's Andrew Marr he would have an 'immediate' security and defence review if he takes power.

BLAIR HINTS AT RETURN TO POLITICS Tony Blair has hinted he could try for a stunning return to Parliament to lead the fight against Brexit as he said Labour voters should consider backing pro-EU Tories. The former Prime Minister, who quit Westminster 10 years ago after a decade in No 10, admitted he felt 'motivated' to return to the front line. He insisted Brexit was 'bigger than party allegiance' and said while he would vote Labour on June 8, voters should look at the choice on their own patch and back the best anti Brexit candidates - even if they were Tories. The remarks prompted a former senior aide to Jeremy Corbyn to call for Mr Blair to be expelled from Labour. Advertisement

Asked if he would ever use nuclear weapons, Mr Corbyn said: 'We want a secure and peaceful world. We achieve that by promoting peace, but also by promoting security.

'Security comes from that process.'

Mr Corbyn was asked what he would write in his 'letters of last resort' to British submarine commanders. The letters dictate what the four Trident sub captains should do in the event of catastrophic war and they are cut off from London.

The Labour leader said he would tell them to do no more than 'follow orders when given'.

Asked a third time whether he would ever authorise the use of Trident, he said: 'I have made clear my views on nuclear weapons, I have made clear there would be no first use of it, I have made clear any use of nuclear weapons is a disaster for the whole world.

'Nuclear weapons are not the solution to the world's security issues, they are the disaster of the world's security issues if ever used.'

Mr Corbyn said he would 'suspend' strikes against ISIS in Syria and northern Iraq and insisted a political solution was needed

Mr Corbyn told Marr he would have an 'immediate' security and defence review if he takes power

Asked if would tell US President Donald Trump Britain was no longer a nuclear power under his leadership, Mr Corbyn said: 'I would say I want to talk to you, I want us to work together for a secure and peaceful world.'

Questioned on whether he would cancel the renewal of Trident via the construction of new submarines, a 41billion scheme approved by MPs last year, Mr Corbyn said 'all aspects of defence' would be reviewed.

Mr Corbyn, pictured arriving at the BBC today, was already under fire from the Tories for being weak on national security

He said: 'We would look at the situation at that time.'

Mr Corbyn said he wanted to work with Nato leaders to build a 'sensible relationship' with Russia and added: 'We need to de-escalate tensions around the world'.

Pressed on whether he would bring home the 800 British troops recently sent to the Nato operation in Estonia, the Labour leader said: 'We would keep those troops there for the moment but we would use the opportunity of a newly elected government to say look we want to reduce tensions.'

And on British air strikes against ISIS in Syria and Iraq, Mr Corbyn said: 'I will say I want to see a process that brings about the end of the conflicts in both of those countries.

'The only solution in Syria is a political one. There is no other way of getting it. There has to be a reconvening quickly of the Geneva peace process.

'In the meantime, no more strikes, have the UN investigation into the war crime of the use of chemical weapons in Syria.'

Mr Corbyn suggested he could scrap the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent following a security review if he takes office

Britain's nuclear deterrent is based on four submarines carrying Trident missiles

Mr Corbyn equivocated on whether he would order the RAF to kill the leader of ISIS with a drone strike if he was handed intelligence proving the terrorist's location.

He said: 'What I would tell them is give me the information you have got, tell me how accurate that is and tell me what you think can be achieved.'

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said it was clear Mr Corbyn would refuse to strike terrorists

He continued: 'What is the objective here? Is the objective to start more strikes that may kill many innocent people as has happened or is the objective to get a political solution in Syria?

'My whole point would be does this help to get a political solution in Syria?'

Mr Corbyn insisted he was not a 'supporter' of ISIS in 'any way'.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: 'This morning we learnt that Jeremy Corbyn would refuse to strike against terrorists, dismantle our nuclear defences and fail to control our borders.

'Unless people turn out and vote Conservative, this man could be our Prime Minister in less than 7 weeks' time - propped up by the SNP and Lib Dems in a coalition of chaos.

'For strong and stable leadership as we approach Brexit and beyond it is critical to vote for Theresa May and her Conservative team on 8 June. Every vote in this election counts.'

Earlier, Tory chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin launched the first salvo of what will be a deeply personal Conservative campaign against the Labour leader ahead of the June 8 election

Earlier, Sir Patrick McLoughlin launched the first salvo of what will be a deeply personal Conservative campaign against the Labour leader ahead of the June 8 election.

The Tory Party Chairman said voters could trust Theresa May to make the 'uncomfortable' decisions to keep Britain safe.

Mr Corbyn has been repeatedly criticised for being soft on terror. He appeared to hesitate over whether he backed police policy to shoot to kill terrorists last year.

The Labour leader has also come under fire for a history of meetings with senior figures in the IRA and Hamas.

'There are decisions which prime ministers have to take and those people in authority have to take (which) are sometimes very uncomfortable,' Sir Patrick said.

'If they don't take them, we're at danger ... I know that with Theresa May, she would take them. I'm not sure that Jeremy Corbyn would.'

Ex-military chiefs questioned Mr Corbyns suitability for high office and warned his defence policies would embolden Islamic State at home and abroad.

Ex-Labour security minister Lord West of Spithead, a former First Sea Lord, said: His answer on what he would put in the last letter to the commander of a Trident nuclear submarine was wishy-washy. If you had responsibility for a boat, you dont want a 12-page missive about multi-lateral disarmament. You would want clear, concise instructions.

On Islamic State, if you had intelligence that a leader was plotting to kill British people and you were able to strike him without killing innocent people, then any prime minister worth his salt would do that.

There needs to be more clarity about what our defence policies are, especially on Trident and whether we are committed to spending 2 per cent of national income on defence. I hope they are going to be in the manifesto. If not I will be extremely grumpy.

That, coupled with slightly dodgy answers, will lead people in the forces to ask, Is this chap really fully supportive of us in the military?

Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of UK forces, said: British citizens have been dying on the streets of London, elsewhere in Europe and in the Middle East as a result of Islamic State attacks.

His refusal to take vital military action against them would cause much greater bloodshed among our people.

His weakness would also encourage and embolden Islamic State terrorists at home and abroad to redouble their efforts.

Quite literally if Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister enacted the policies he describes, he would have blood on his hands. These comments show why he must never be elected to lead this country.

Senior Tories also warned that Mr Corbyn posed a national security threat. Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green told Sky News: This man could be prime minister in seven weeks time, I cannot think of a better reason for sticking with the strong leadership of Theresa May than the fact that Jeremy Corbyn would dismantle this countrys defences.

Jeremy Corbyn backs the END of grammar schools as Labour plans for general elections become clear

Jeremy Corbyn has said he would like all grammar schools to become comprehensives.

The Labour leader said he did not 'like' selective schools and would support the end of the grammar system.

His intervention, in an interview today with the BBC's Andrew Marr, sets up a big clash on domestic policy ahead of the June 8 election.

Jeremy Corbyn has said he would like all grammar schools to become comprehensives in an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr today, pictured

Expanding grammar schools is expected to be at the heart of the Conservative manifesto after Theresa May put them at the centre of her vision for Britain.

Asked by the BBC's Andrew Marr if he supported all grammars becoming comprehensives, Mr Corbyn said: 'I would like them to be.'

The Labour leader said the type of schools available should be a local decision.

Labour's pitch to voters today is dominated by a promise for four new bank holidays to mark the nation's saints days.

Under the plan, it would make tomorrow a bank holiday for St George's Day.

Tories target TWELVE Scottish seats in audacious raid of Nicola Sturgeon's heartland

The Conservatives could win as many 12 Scottish seats at the general election, polls suggest today, ending a 30 year slump for the party north of the border.

In what would be an audacious raid on Nicola Sturgeon's electoral heartlands Theresa May's party is hoping to add to its single Scottish seat.

A Panelbase poll of voters intentions in the Westminster election found the Tories, led in Scotland by Ruth Davidson, on 33 per cent - 11 points behind the SNP but 20 per cent ahead of Labour.

If 11 new seats did fall to the Tories it would be the party's best performance in Scotland since the 1970's and end a near wipe out that began in the 1980s.

In what would be an audacious raid on Nicola Sturgeon's electoral heartlands Theresa May's party is hoping to add to its single Scottish seats

The poll, of 1,029 people for the Sunday Times, suggests Labour could lose its final constituency in Scotland, Ian Murray's Edinburgh South, to the Tories.

Moray constituency, held by SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson, is a Tory target.

The Tories finished second there in 2015 by 9,000 votes and it is the most Eurosceptic patch in Scotland.

Berwickshire would fall to the Tories with a swing of just 328 votes.
The opening of a new Domino's pizza brought chaos to the UK's fattest town.

Police were called in to maintain order in Whitehaven, Cumbria after an offer of free pizzas to the first 100 customers ignited a feeding frenzy.

Witnesses said they saw people pushing and shoving in an attempt to skip the queue and satisfy their deep pan desires.

A new Domino's pizza opened in the UK's fattest town of Whitehaven in Cumbria and sparked chaos among locals keen to take advantage of the first 100 pizzas for free offer

Police were called in to keep order in Whitehaven after an offer of free pizzas to the first 100 customers ignited a feeding frenzy - locals queued around the block hoping for their free slice

One even claimed people had abandoned their cars in order to get their quicker on foot.

Andrew Burns, 26, said: 'Cars ditched. Police called. All for a free pizza.'

Another said: 'The town was ridiculed for being the fattest in England and this is the result when a new pizza shop opens.

'Police were called because of the sheer volume of greedy people pushing and shoving.'

A survey by Public Health England found that Copeland, a borough in Whitehaven, was the fattest in England in 2014 with a staggering 76 per cent of the population considered clinically obese.

A survey by Public Health England found Whitehaven's borough of Copeland was the fattest in England in 2014, with a staggering 76 per cent of the population considered clinically obese

Some said they saw people pushing and shoving in an attempt to skip the queue and satisfy their deep pan desires - another claimed that families deserted their cars to get their quicker

The opening of the store prompted Whitehaven mayor Raymond Gill to complain there were too many fast food outlets in the area.

He said: 'I am not having a go at Domino's but it is terrible how many kebab shops and pizza outlets there are now.

'It's a shame now people don't really cook.

A spokesperson for Domino's said: 'We were delighted to receive such an enthusiastic welcome by the residents of Whitehaven...Our menu caters for all tastes including lighter options.'

'There is nothing the council can do. There's an obesity problem across the country.'

A spokesperson for Domino's said: 'We were delighted to receive such an enthusiastic welcome by the residents of Whitehaven and we look forward to bringing the unique taste of Domino's to the area.

'Our menu caters for all tastes including lighter options.'

Louise Butler, a Dominos spokesperson commented: 'We look forward to bringing the unique taste of Domino's to Whitehaven locals, using hand stretched dough and the finest quality ingredients our menu caters for all tastes, from the truly indulgent to better for you options such as our lighter 'Italiano' range, which typically contains a third less fat'.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang(C) inspects Weihai Port in Weihai City, east China's Shandong Province, April 19, 2017. Li visited Shandong from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has urged Shandong Province to quicken efforts to foster new growth drivers to replace old ones and support the firming trend in the broader economy.

In a tour of Shandong from Wednesday to Friday, Li acknowledged the region's economic and social achievements and asked local authorities to adopt new growth concepts under the leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with Xi Jinpingas the core.

At the port of Weihai, Li learned about export and import growth there and urged regulators to boost capacity to facilitate China's central and western regions, as well as small and micro businesses to tap the global market.

"As a big trading nation, China will stick to opening-up to the world," Li stressed.

While visiting medical equipment producer Wego Group and garment company Dishang Group, Li underscored the role of innovation in creating high-quality products and fostering new business models.

He urged Wego to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the government's "Made in China 2025" strategy and encouraged Dishang to transform business models to boost product quality and brand to higher levels.

After being briefed on the capacity-cut progress at Jinan Iron and Steel Company, Li told employees that the drive needs support from both central and local authorities, and the government will ensure that workers made redundant in the process will be reassigned for other jobs.

Visiting a shantytown in Jinan city, the premier demanded greater efforts to speed up renovation as the project is an important part of China's new type of urbanization.

Li also went to a township health center where he urged further efforts to make medical services more easily accessible to the public.

Other issues Li has stressed during the tour include further streamlining of government administrative power and the development of modern agriculture.
A paraglider who plummeted to his death into a primary school has been remembered as 'a really nice guy' by close friends left devastated by his death.

Ben Letham, 26, died on Saturday when his parachute 'folded in half' while he was paragliding in Queenstown, on New Zealand's South Island.

Mr Letham landed on the roof of a building at Queenstown Primary School after launching from a gondola about 10am.

'Our whole team is absolutely devastated by his death. He was a really nice guy, a talented pilot, and we're stunned to lose one of the youngest members of our team with his whole life ahead of him,' GForce Paragliding co-director Gavin Taylor said in a statement.

Ben Letham (pictured) has been remembered as 'a really nice guy' by close friends left devastated by his death

This is the last picture of Mr Letham who died after his parachute 'folded in half' causing him to fall from great height and land on the roof of a school

Mr Letham had spent the past three years flying commercially for GForce Paragliding but at the time of his death he was on a solo recreational flight.

'We've lost a close colleague and friend who will be very sadly missed. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his partner, friends and family,' Mr Taylor said.

Mr Letham, who was originally from Scotland, 'was a qualified, experienced tandem pilot', the statement said.

GForce Paragliding said they have temporarily suspended operations as a mark of respect.

Mr Letham died after losing control of his paraglider and crashing into a building in a school

The incident happened on Saturday morning at about 10am in Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island

Mr Letham had spent the past three years flying commercially for GForce Paragliding but at the time of his death he was on a solo recreational flight

Queenstown Primary School Fiona Cavanagh said she was 'shocked and saddened' to hear Mr Letham had died inside the school's grounds.

Chris Prudden, from Queenstown Alpine Cliff Rescue where Mr Letham was a member, said 'Ben was a great guy and he will be very sorely missed'.

'He was renowned for his flying expertise and he was also a very capable climber,' Mr Prudden told the NZ Herald.

Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Mike Richards said Mr Letham 'lost control and fell through trees and impacted the roof on a prefabricated school building'.

Witness who were setting up for the Night Noodle Market held at the school described the harrowing incident, saying Mr Letham's parachute just 'folded in half'.

Witnesses who were setting up for the Night Noodle Market (pictured) held at the school described the harrowing incident, saying Mr Letham's parachute just 'folded in half'

Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Mike Richards said Mr Letham landed on a roof of a building at Queenstown Primary School after launching from Queenstown gondola (above)

'He began flipping over and over again, seemingly out of control,' witness Mindy Hill told Stuff.

'Then his parachute just folded and he plummeted to the ground.'

Another said Mr Letham fell for about five seconds from a great height.

'We saw them making a loop, sort of, and then they fell in his paraglider,' the witness told Otago Daily Times.

'They dropped, with their back to the ground,' her friend said.
Union chief Len McCluskey celebrated his re-election with 51 bottles of champagne.

The left-wing Unite boss was spotted in the Boot and Flogger pub in Southwark, London, partying after his victory against Gerard Coyne.

He was joined by Jeremy Corbyn's close political aide Seumas Milne.

Len McCluskey celebrated his election in the Boot and Flogger pub, right

An onlooker told The Sun: 'They were celebrating big. The champagne was everywhere.'

The cheapest bottle of champagne at the Boot and Flogger is 51 which can be drunk from tankards.

The source added: 'Len was locked in deep conversation with Seumas. It looked like they were plotting.

'They were there for hours. The group must have been steaming by the end.'

Just 12 per cent of Britain's largest union turned up to cast their ballots in an election that saw Mr McCluskey see off moderate candidate Mr Coyne by just 5,500 votes.

One day before the election, Mr Coyne was suspended from his post as West Midlands regional secretary.

Hard-Left trade union leader Len McCluskey, pictured with his close friend Jeremy Corbyn

He was told the move was over an investigation into whether he had brought the union into disrepute during his campaign to lead Unite.

The result is a blow to Labour moderates, who had seen the race as vital in the wider battle of the party's movement.

Mr McCluskey is Mr Corbyn's main ally and ensures that the union gives his party 1.5million a year.
A stripper who was punched in the face by a middle-aged racist clubber claims he had pestered her for sex all night.

Anastasia Frances, 21, suffered a shattered cheekbone and broken eye socket due to the sickening blow while trying to break up a fight with the thug and her boyfriend.

The mother-of-one from Leeds said her attacker offered her cash for sex at the strip club where she worked in Doncaster.

When she turned him down the brute left - but lurked outside for her, followed her to a taxi rank and began calling her boyfriend a 'n*****'.

Stripper Anastasia Frances, 21, who was punched in the face by a racist clubber claims he had been pestering for her sex all night. Right, her injuries after the attack and left, with her son Kartier

Her partner Kane Wilson, 29, asked the man what he was doing tailing the couple as they left Bentleys Gentleman's Club together.

A clip captured the thug then racially abusing Mr Wilson, yelling, 'What you got, you n*****?'

But as the exotic dancer tried to part the men, her cheekbone shattered in three places following a single flailing fist.

She will now need two metal plates put in her cheek.

Miss Frances was left dazed and the impact damaged a nerve down the left side of her body causing constant numbness.

Miss Frances said: 'Look, I'm not a prostitute - I'm an exotic dancer. I have been a stripper since I was 18-years-old and I have never had any trouble.

A sickening video shows the moment the thug threw a punch at her outside a nightclub in Doncaster - shattering her cheekbone in three places and breaking her eye socket

The brawl broke out when the thug lurked outside the club and began tailing Ms Frances and her boyfriend. The brute called her partner a 'n*****' and the pair started swinging punches at each other

'You can get the odd p***k in and this time he hasn't let it go - he was shouting 'I'm not leaving until I've had sex with you'.

'He punched me just once near my ear and it's broke my eye socket and all my cheek bone and have numbness down my left hand side.

'The attack has left me anxious and I have said I am not going to strip at that venue anymore.

'The guy was gross and kept asking me for sex - he wouldn't leave me alone. He was offering me cash and everything.'

Miss Frances, who is half-Maltese herself, was stalked back to a taxi by the man in his 30s as she left work at the strip club - her first time back in the industry following the birth of her month-old son Kartier.

Miss Frances was left dazed and the impact damaged a nerve down the left side of her body causing constant numbness

In the 25-second video clip Miss Frances is heard telling her attacker, who is dressed in a black blazer, to 'get away from him now' during the early hours of Saturday, April 15.

The attacker is heard shouting in the video 'what you got you n*****?' as he taunts Kane before aiming the sickening punch at Miss Frances - without looking at her.

Witnesses gasp in horror as he hits her with a crushing blow to the head and she staggers away in a daze.

One woman cries: 'He's just smacked that bird.'

Speaking about the sickening punch, Miss Frances said: 'I work in Bentley's Strip Club, he wanted to have sex with me and I was with my boyfriend who had come to support me.

'I had just given birth to our first child in March and I wanted to get back to working straight away.

'The bloke who attacked me was on drugs and as we were leaving he followed Kane and I back to the taxi - he was waiting for me.

'He didn't even look at me, he just swung around and punched me on my cheek, next to my ear.

'In the video, you can see the dad gives him something shiny before he hits me and he was calling Kane a 'n*****'. It was awful - I couldn't believe it and I was in shock.

'The guy was about 35 [years old] and people who were drinking in the town centre said they were from Surrey.'

The police arrived on the scene and broke up the fracas between the attacker and Kane, while Miss Frances was taken to St James' Hospital in Leeds for treatment.

Miss Frances added: 'It made it worse because I was actually out celebrating my 21st birthday - I haven't had a drink obviously while I've been pregnant.'

She underwent surgery on Monday to have two metal plates put in her face.

Miss Frances, who works mainly looking after her newborn, added: 'I'm conscious about my face now and the left had side of it is completely numb.

Miss Frances, who had just returned to stripping after giving birth to her son Kartier a month ago, said the thug had repeatedly pestered her for sex and offered her cash

'I daren't go back to work now - and people might remember me for this now.

'For people saying I shouldn't be a stripper. I'm a erotic dancer - not a prostitute. This bloke has no right to be able to have sex with me.'

She added: 'I enjoy stripping - but this has made me think twice about doing it.'

Facebook users suggested the man may have punched her by 'accident' but said this was no excuse.

Laura Wright wrote: 'Did he mean to punch her or did he just swing and miss by accident? Either way it's disgusting and I hope the young girl is ok xx'

Kim Smart said: 'Looks like he didn't mean to do it but still really bad. Hope she is ok and he gets done for this. Poor b*****.'

Dave Potts said: 'Disgraceful. Never hit a woman regardless of what they've done. I hope she's ok.'

Gail Betts wrote: 'Hope someone names and shames him. Big brave man hitting a young girl!'

Bev Batty added: 'It's bloody disgusting what he did to her. He needs putting behind bars.'

South Yorkshire Police has been contacted for comment.
A former Portuguese police chief believes Madeleine McCann was snatched and taken to a secret network of caves under the resort she was last seen alive.

Paulo Pereira Cristovao, who became the head of Portugal's missing children agency the year the three-year-old vanished, put himself in the shoes of the kidnapper to come up with the theory and lambasted his ex-colleagues for their mistakes.

He said the errors in the case are to blame for the fact there are no answers in the complex case a decade after Maddie's disappearance from Praia da Luz.

An aerial view of the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz where Madeleine McCann was last seen alive

Gerry and Kate McCann have a private moment together on the seafront in Praia du Luz Parents of the missing four-year-old British girl, Madeleine McCann

Madeleine McCann in an Everton Football shirt in a widely-distributed photograph since her disappearance on May 3, 2007

With the 10th anniversary of the incident just days away, Cristovao said he emulated what a person new to the area would have done in the situation.

'Where would I put the body of a girl?' he told the Sunday Mirror.

'I stood at the apartment door  to the right is the town of Portimao. There are lots of people there, lots of buildings.

'If I had kidnapped her thats not the way Id want to go. I would want to go left, and find the first side road. I put my car on that road, and I went straight to Burgau. Its a nearby beach, with a lot of rocks with caves.

'Its a good place to put somebody. As far as I know the police never went there, because you would need divers.'

He dismissed a number of outlandish theories such as an alien abduction and called the speculation of Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry's involvement 'bulls***t'.

'Weve heard theories so stupid over these 10 years. When we dont understand something, we complicate it.'

The Ocean Club in Praia da Luz in Portugal where Madeleine McCann was last seen alive

British police with sniffer dogs (right) check an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine McCann (left) went missing seven years ago, in the resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal

Gerry McCann and Kate McCann, parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann, who have been accused of being involved in the disappearance of their daughter

Cristovao reserved some criticism for his former colleagues and thinks somebody is still concealing evidence.

'I think this case has lots of mistakes  from many persons, from many situations, from the police and maybe from the government,' he told the Mirror.

'At the end of the day we all forgot one person - Madeleine McCann.'

With more theories emerging as the anniversary nears, an investigative journalist believes the then three-year-old was snatched from the street after she wandered outside to find her parents.

The Sun's Danny Collins speculated the shutters of the apartment in the Algarve could not be prized aparet as has been previously suggested, and could only be opened from the inside.
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French voters turned their backs on the political establishment last night in round one of the presidential election.

Emmanuel Macron  an independent centrist  won first place ahead of National Front leader Marine Le Pen.

The result will have major implications for Britain and its departure from the EU.

Miss Le Pen wants to completely renegotiate Frances relationship with Brussels while Mr Macron wants closer links.

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Marine Le Pen (left) and Emmanuel Macron (right) celebrated the initial results of the polls, which said they both made it to the second round of the election

Le Pen went to greet her supporters after the initial results and said: ''This is a historic result. The French must take the step for this historic opportunity. This is the first step to drive the French [people] into the Elysee Palace'

Supporters of Le Pen, leader of the French National Front, were seen waving their flags emblazoned with 'Marine Presidente' at her election headquarters in Henin-Beaumont, after the inital results were announced

Supporters of French centrist candidate Macron were also seen cheering in delight at the results and waving the French flag

Many people were seen hugging after initial results showed Macron winning 23.9 percent of the vote, beating France's two main parties

According to France's Interior Ministry, 46 million people voted in the first stage of the elections which knocked the traditional Right and Left parties out of the running for the first time in 60 years.

With 97 per cent of the vote counted, Macron achieved 23.9 per cent, followed by Le Pen on 21.4. A total of 36.7million voted, a turnout of 78.2 per cent.

But it is thought that Le Pen's chances of winning the second round are limited as supporters for Republican candidate Francois Fillon, who conceded but has gained 19.9 per cent of the votes, will support Macron.

However, far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who gained 19.6 per cent, refused to concede until the final results of first-round vote were announced.

Macron took to the stage in Paris earlier, with his wife Brigitte, and urged national unity against Le Pen.

To chants of 'Macron president!' and 'We're going to win,' Macron began his speech by paying tribute to his opponents, and praised his supporters for his lightning rise.

He said: We have turned a page in French political history,' and added he wants to gather 'the largest possible' support before May 7.

Macron acknowledged widespread anger at traditional parties and promised 'new transformations' in French politics.

At a rally last night, Le Pen told her supporters she is offering 'the great alternative' in the presidential race.

She added: 'It is time to liberate the French people from the arrogant [political] elite.' Le Pen was later given a bunch of flowers

She said: 'This is a historic result. The French must take the step for this historic opportunity. This is the first step to drive the French [people] into the Elysee Palace.

'It is time to liberate the French people from the arrogant [political] elite.'

Former favourite Fillon conceded and voiced his support for Macron after initial projections showed he and Melanchon got 19.5 per cent of the vote.

Shortly afterwards, France's Prime Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, also called on voters to support Macron.

The outcome capped an extraordinary few months for a deeply divided France, which saw a campaign full of twists and turns and widespread anger at traditional parties.

It signals a stinging defeat for the Fillon and Socialist Benoit Hamon, meaning neither of France's mainstream parties will be in the second round for the first time in 60 years.

Macron, a 39-year-old who had never before stood for election and only started his independent centrist movement 12 months ago, will be the overwhelming favourite to win the second round on May 7.

He served as an economy minister under President Francois Hollande, ran without the backing of an established party, forming his own called En Marche!.

His wife Brigitte is 25 years his senior and taught him at school.

Macron, a 39-year-old who had never before stood for election and only started his independent centrist movement, En Marche!, 12 months ago

He said he wants to gather 'the largest possible' support before the May 7 runoff. He praised his supporters for a campaign that 'changed the course of our country'

Macron acknowledged widespread anger at traditional parties and promised 'new transformations' in French politics

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated Macron on Sunday and wished the centrist well for the May 7 French presidential runoff against Le Pen.

'Juncker congratulated Macron on his result in the first round and wished him all the best for the next round,' Margaritis Schinas said on Twitter.

Underlining broad support for Macron among leaders of the European Union institutions in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini from the Italian centre-left added her congratulations to those of Juncker, a centre-right former prime minister of Luxembourg.

'To see the flags of France and the EU hailing Emmanuel Macron's result shows hope and the future of our generation,' tweeted Mogherini, 43, after the 39-year-old Macron's first-round victory speech to supporters was broadcast on television.

Last night he was congratulated by former Labour MP David Miliband and by former chancellor George Osborne.

Mr Miliband said: Tremendous achievement by Emmanuel Macron. Bulwark against evil forces and tribune for modernization in France and Europe.

Mr Osborne said: Congratulations to my friend Emmanuel Macron. Proof you can win from the centre. At last the chance for the leadership that France needs.

Despite his defeat, supporters for the election candidate far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon still cheered for him outside his election headquarters

Anti-fascist activists clashed with riot police in Paris' Place de la Bastille - the birthplace of the French Revolution

Demonstrators in Nantes chanted anti-Le Pen slogans as they showed their opposition to the National Front leader

The euro has jumped 2 per cent on Sunday night, to more than 85p ($1.09), after projections showed Macron and Le Pen would go head to head.

Macron has vowed to reinforce France's commitment to the EU and euro.

Stock markets will next open in Asia before Europe starts trading on Monday morning.

But despite stock markets around the world improving significantly, investors fretted beforehand that another unforseen election outcome could upend the market. In addition, the presidential race was plagued by controversy.

Republican candidate Fillon, 63, is accused of embezzling state money by paying his British wife Penelope, 61, as his assistant  despite her allegedly carrying out no work.

Le Pen faces a fraud inquiry, with her chief of staff accused of misusing EU funds while Melenchon, 65, had vowed to pull his country out of Europe and get rid of the euro.

Earlier this evening, Le Pen had security authorities on high alert, with rioting expected across the country in protest due to her election success.

More than 50,000 police and gendarmes were deployed to the 66,000 polling stations for Sunday's election, which comes after Thursday's deadly attack on the Champs-Elysees in which a police officer and a gunman were slain.

However, initial election results triggered riots across the country, initially sparked in Paris' Place du la Bastille, the birthplace of the French Revolution, tonight against the Le Pen's National Front.

The crowds of young people, some from anarchist and anti-fascist groups, gathered in eastern Paris as results were coming in from Sunday's first-round vote.

Police fired tear gas to disperse an increasingly rowdy crowd. Riot police surrounded the area.

Protesters have greeted several of Le Pen's campaign events, angry at her anti-immigration policies and her party, which she has sought to detoxify after a past tainted by racism and anti-Semitism.

There were angry scenes in Nantes in western France, where anti-fascists took to the streets to protest

Ballot boxes in Le Port, on the French overseas island of La Reunion were seen locked after the polls closed earlier this evening

Two officials were seen tipping out the votes ready to count them ahead of the results, which are expected to be announced within the hour

Le Pen has vowed to offer French voters a referendum to leave the EU and wants to leave the euro, known as Frexit.

Her father, the convicted racist and anti-Semite Jean-Marie Le Pen, won through to the second round of the 2002 presidential election but was then crushed by the conservative Jacques Chirac.

However she faces a similar prospect of defeat when she goes up against Macron in the second round of the next week.

He is widely expected to win the contest against Le Pen.

In France the election took place with the nation on high alert, with the vote taking place just three days after a police officer was gunned down by a Jihadi on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

In Besancon, eastern France a stolen car was abandoned outside a polling station with the engine running.

A policeman secures the entrance of a polling station as people arrive to vote in the first round of 2017 French presidential election in Henin-Beaumont, France, April 23, 2017

Policemen stand near a polling station during the first round of 2017 French presidential election in Paris, France

Femen activists with masks, including one wearing a mask of Marine Le Pen, top left, are detained as they demonstrate in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, where far-right leader and presidential candidate Le Pen voted during the first round of the French presidential election

Police found a hunting rifle inside the vehicle which had been disguised with stolen number plates.

In Rouen, Normandy, a gunman shot and wounded another man but the incident was classified as 'non-terror related'.

Two other polling station, in Saint Omer, northern France, were evacuated because of a suspicious vehicle with Dutch number plates.

Ballots were cast in the wake of took place after a series of devastating terror attacks across France, but despite that armed police and soldiers are outlawed from protecting 67,000 French polling stations.

There had been a serious concern that groups including Islamic State would target the election.

However the 50,000 policemen and gendarmes that were only standby along with 7,000 soldiers were not required as the day went on.

The presidential poll is the first to be held during a state of emergency, put in place since the Paris attacks of November 2015.

A Femen activists wearing the mask of Marine le Pen is detained as they demonstrate in Henin Beaumont, northern France

Voters are choosing between 11 candidates in the most unpredictable contest in decades, and the poll conducted by RTBF suggests just that.

Topless demonstrators from the Femen activist group caused a commotion as they staged a stunt against Le Pen outside a polling station where the far-right presidential candidate was heading to vote.

Around six activists were detained Sunday morning after jumping out of an SUV limo wearing masks of Le Pen and United States President Donald Trump.

Police and security forces quickly forced them into police vans, confiscating their signs.

Le Pen voted at the station shortly after without further disruption.

After nine hours of voting, turnout was 69.4 percent, one of the highest levels in 40 years.

While down slightly on the same point in the 2012 election, an extra hour of voting in smaller towns was expected to take turnout to around 78 to 81 percent.

A Femen activist wearing the mask of U.S President Donald Trump is taken away from the scene near a scrum of photographers

People line up before casting their vote for the first-round presidential election at a polling station in Paris, Sunday, April 23, 2017

Outgoing French president Francois Hollande casts his ballot at a polling station in Tulle (left) as Marine Le Pen emerges from a booth (right)

Outgoing French president Francois Hollande picks up ballot papers before casting his vote at a polling station in Tulle, central France, on April 23, 2017, during the first round of the Presidential election

Former French President and former Head of Les Republicains right wing Party Nicolas Sarkozy (centre) and his wife, the singer Carla Bruni Sarkozy (left) vote in the first round of the 2017 French Presidential Election at the Jean de la Fontaine High School in the 16th arrondissement on April 23, 2017 in Paris, France

Former French President and former Head of Les Republicains right wing Party Nicolas Sarkozy sweeps the curtain aside as he leaves a voting booth

Marine Le Pen was today poised for a historic breakthrough in France's nail-biting presidential race

Her campaign has been dominated by anti-Islam and anti-immigration rhetoric and critics said she has used the violence to stoke further hostility.

Defiant voters proclaimed the Paris terrorist attack would not alter their political loyalties in the French presidential elections today, although many feared a surge in support for the National Front.

As citizens flocked to polling stations across the country Parisians told how they would 'vote with their hearts' to reject extremist ideas, in the first round of voting to decide the new leader of France.

Mother-of-one Marie-Noelle Liesse told MailOnline she voted for independent centrist Emmanuel Macron to stop Marine Le Pen.

She said: 'I voted with my heart to stop the extremists, the National Front, from getting into power.

'The terrorist attack on the Champs Elysee has not affected the way I voted, but I fear it may have influenced some people.

'I voted for Macron. I believe he is the right candidate to lead France.'

Mrs Liesse, 45, a communications executive, brought her five-year-old son Amant, to the polling station in the central Marais district of Paris.

French presidential election candidate for the far-right Front National (FN) party, Marine Le Pen casts her ballot in the first round of the French presidential elections in Henin-Beaumont, Northern France, shortly after the commotion

Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron waves supporters after casting his vote in the first round of the French presidential election, in le Touquet, northern France, Sunday April 23, 2017

People line up before casting their vote for the first-round presidential election at a polling station in Paris, Sunday, April 23, 2017

Young professional couple Max Nivoix and Mariam Guedra voted for independent centrist Emmanuel Macron for said they feared the terrorist attack would galvanise support for Marine Le Pen's National Front.

Mr Nivoix, 28, an industrial products buyer, told MailOnline: 'I have voted for Macron. I think he is the best candidate to lead France.

'The terrorist attack last week has not influenced the way I voted. But I fear that people outside of Paris will turn to Le Pen because of it.'

French nationals in the UK casting their votes Among the 60,000 polling stations to open their doors was the French Consulate in South Kensington, where the bulk of the UK's French nationals are expected to cast their votes. According to figures from 2014, there are 400,000 French people living in London, which prompted Boris Johnson to call it France's sixth biggest city. At the end of 2013, the Foreign Ministry recorded 1.6million French expats living in the UK, according to The Independent. Outside of the capital, there are polling stations in Ashford, Brighton, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Advertisement

His partner Ms Guedra, 28, an engineer, added: 'I voted for Emmanuel Macron too. He has the best policies for young people and for the time we live in now.

'But we are both educated and from the city. I know that old people and people in the countryside are more in favour of Le Pen.'

Flight attendant Baptiste Laurent said he voted for communist-backed firebrand Jean-Luc Melonchon he feared National Front candidate Marine Le Pen could come top in the poll.

Mr Laurent, 39, told MailOnline: 'I voted for Melonchon because I voted for what I believe in  a more equal society.

'But I fear that Le Pen could be the biggest winner today.'

Mr Laurent came to the polling station with his 14-month-old daughter Romy.

A primary school teacher also backed communist-backed firebrand Jean-Luc Melonchon but feared a surge of support for Le Pen's National Front.

Alexandre, 42, told MailOnline: 'I voted for Melonchon because I support his programme and his socialist policies.

'But Le Pen will do well in the polls today. She has a strong base of support. And after the terrorist attack she will get more votes. I think she will get through to the second round of voting.'

The second round of voting between the two front runners of today's poll will take place on Sunday 7 May.

She is locked in a duel with centrist front-runner Emmanuel Macron, 39, a staunch defender of the single market who has told Theresa May he favours a 'hard Brexit'.

If, as expected, Le Pen and Macron are successful in the first round of voting today, they will face each other in the run-off on May 7.

People line up to vote at a polling station in the first round of 2017 French presidential election in Vaulx-en-Velin, France, April 23, 2017

Brigitte Trogneux casts her ballot next to her husband, French presidential election candidate for the En Marche movement Emmanuel Macron during the first round of the Presidential election at a polling station in Le Touquet

But analysts say the battle for the Elysee Palace is by no means a two-horse race.

Le Pen has moved from 22 per cent to 23 per cent in the latest opinion poll while her three rivals have all lost half a percentage point of support.

Macron dropped back to 24.5 per cent, while republican candidate Francois Fillon and leftist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon were back on 19 per cent.

The far-Right leader is confident her chances of winning the election's first round have been strengthened by last week's terrorist murder of a police officer on the Champs-Elysees

Experts said a Le Pen victory in the first round could mean cheaper holidays for Brits heading to Europe.

Kathleen Brooks, of City Index Direct, said: 'I think if Le Pen wins today by a wide enough margin, then the euro will fall significantly, possibly to the lowest levels we've seen this year. And a weak euro will initially be great for us as everything will be much cheaper in Europe.'

Le Pen's father, the convicted racist Jean-Marie Le Pen, caused shockwaves around the world in 2002 when he came second in the first round. He then went on to lose to Jacques Chirac by a landslide of more than 80 per cent.

But Marine Le Pen is convinced she can go one better by positioning herself as the candidate who is toughest on terror.

She had pledged to 'immediately reinstate border checks', to expel foreigners and to ban all immigration, whether illegal or not. Supporters include Donald Trump who said the Paris attack would 'have a big effect on the presidential election' because the French people 'will not take much more of this'.

But Prime Minister Cazeneuve accused Le Pen of 'shamelessly seeking to exploit fear and emotion for exclusively political ends'. Mr Cazeneuve pointed out that Karim Cheurfi, the 39-year-old responsible for the murder of traffic officer Xavier Jugele, 37, was a born and bred Frenchman.

Le Pen has called for negotiation with Brussels on a new EU, followed by a referendum; extremist mosques closed and priority to French nationals in social housing; and retirement age fixed at 60.

Macron forged a reputation with his 'Macron Law', a controversial reform bill that allowed shops to open more often on Sundays. On security, he has said France is paying for the intelligence jobs cuts made when Fillon was PM between 2007 and 2012.
A seven-foot Great Dane who weighs the same as a baby elephant could be Britain's heaviest dog.

The huge hound, called Balthazar, tipped the scales at 15st 6lbs during a recent trip to the vets.

And he measures a whopping 3ft 3in from his paw to his shoulder but is 7ft from his nose to his tail.

Balthazar the Blue Great Dane with his owner Vinnie Monte-Irvine

The huge hound tops the scales at a whopping 15st 6lbs

Now his owners Vinnie, 46, and Dixie Monte-Irvine, 39, from Nottingham, say they are shocked at how big their five-year-old pooch has become.

On Sunday, self-employed business analyst Vinnie said: 'He is a big dog and we were told from when he was a lot smaller that he was always quite heavy for his age.

'He isn't a fat dog though as you can still see his ribs.

'We took him to the vets as he has a poorly leg and he needed to be weighed to see how much medication he can take.

The dog measures 7ft from his nose to his tail and right, pictured with 11-year-old Francessca

Balthazar's owners say he gets through 15kg of dog food every two weeks

'After he was weighed everyone at the surgery was gobsmacked and we were all just Googling to see if he was actually the world's heaviest living dog.'

The enormous hound chomps his way through two and a half stone of dog food every two weeks - costing his owners a staggering 108 every month.

But Vinnie said Balthazar is a gentle giant who likes to play with their children Francesca, 11, Gloria, four, and Tyrion, two.

He added: 'He is a calm dog and he mostly likes to just sit around with our cats.

'They see themselves as a pack and will usually all come out on a walk together.

The Great Dane pictured with the other family dog, Patterdale Terrier Fifi

Frankie takes Balthazar for a walk to stretch his legs

'We have three cats, Magic, Buffy and Leo. Buffy and Leo sleeping on either side of him when they go to bed.

'We have to buy him special dog beds online and he regularly eats them.

'He lives in the kitchen which thankfully is a big kitchen but it can make a cooking a challenge at times.'

The familys other dog, 15-year-old Patterdale Terrier Fifi, has become a surrogate mum to Balthazar who the family got when he was just six-weeks-old.

A spokesperson for The Vet Nottingham, in Nottingham, where Balthazar was weighed, said: 'We certainly haven't ever seen a dog that is as heavy as that here before.'

The dog lives in the kitchen at the family's home in Nottingham

Last summer a three-year-old Great Dane called Major was in the running to be crowned the world's tallest dog.

The giant dog, who lives with owners Brian and Julie Williams in Penmaen near Swansea, South Wales, stands at a whopping eight-feet tall on his hind legs.

But he only weighs 12 stone which is three stone less than Balthazar.
Dozens of punters were dragged out of nightclub lines as police swooped on Melbourne's party district targeting drug use.

More than 100 people were pulled from lines and questioned after sniffer dogs detected drugs, 20 were arrested and four charged with drug possession.

The drug blitz came after a dodgy batch of MDMA killed four people in January on the city's famed Chapel Street, home to dozens of nightspots.

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Dozens of punters were dragged out of nightclub lines as police swooped on Melbourne's party district targeting drug use

In just one weekend more than 20 people overdosed, including a 17-year-old boy from the tainted drugs and multiple alleged dealers were charged.

'The numbers are disturbing,' Victorian Police Superintendent Phillip Green told Seven News.

'The four deaths we saw here in January were people most probably, with all confidence, thinking "it's ecstasy, it's MDMA, I'm safe I've done it before" and we've got four people who are dead.'

However, young people told the program they would take drugs anyway and wanted pill testing kits to make it safer.

Police want to change Melbourne's party culture to drastically reduce drug use and will run the nightspot blitzes until August.

More than 100 people were pulled from lines and questioned after sniffer dogs detected drugs, 20 were arrested (pictured) and four charged with drug possession
The three children of a woman who went missing on Easter Sunday have made an emotional plea for her safe return.

Jillian Fahey, 50, went missing from a home in Crookwell, a small town located in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales on the morning of April 17.

The grandmother failed to return to a family lunch after going for a walk, something which her two daughter's Taegan and Carli described as being 'not like her'.

The three children of Jillian Fahey, 50 (above), who went missing on Easter Sunday have made an emotional plea for her safe return

'I just want her to come back,' Taegan told 7 News as she fought back tears.

'It's bizarre, it's like a dream, it's not like her at all.'

Carli backed her sisters claims saying she would always let someone know if she was going away.

'It's not like her to not contact somebody,' Carli said.

Taegan left an Easter present on her mother's door after finding the property locked up but when the 50-year-old failed to return she rang police.

Jillian's daughter Taegan, fought back tears as she said that it was unlike her mother to disappear like this

Jillian Fahey, 50, went missing from a home in Crookwell, a small town located in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales on the morning of April 17.

Ms Fahey is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall, of thin build, fair complexion, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

A social media posting by Ms Faheys family stated the she was on foot and wearing pink/blue Asics runners, beige cargo pants, and a short sleeved tee shirt when she went missing.

The search for Ms Fahey continues with police appealing for anyone with information about her whereabouts to come forward.
Hundreds of people gathered to farewell California elementary school teacher Karen Smith (pictured), who was shot dead by her estranged husband earlier this month

Hundreds of people gathered to farewell the California elementary school teacher shot dead by her estranged husband earlier this month.

Karen Smith, 53, was gunned down inside her classroom full of students at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino on April 10, by Cedric Anderson, also 53.

Two of Smith's students were also shot in the attack - Jonathan Martinez, 8, and nine-year-old Nolan Brandy. Martinez later died from his injuries at a nearby hospital.

Anderson turned the gun on himself inside the classroom after the shooting.

KABC reports Smith's family and friends were joined at the emotional ceremony by San Bernardino school district superintendent, Dale Marsden, as well as the city mayor, Carey Davis, on Saturday.

Some of Smith's four children, including her daughter, Jennifer, spoke at the service, while one of her sons played a song on his guitar as a tribute.

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Smith (left and right), 53, was gunned down inside her classroom full of students at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino on April 10, by Cedric Anderson (right), also 53

Smith's family and friends were joined at the emotional ceremony (pictured) by San Bernardino school district superintendent, Dale Marsden, as well as the city mayor, Carey Davis

One of Smith's brothers continued the musical theme, performing a song on the saxophone to honor his sister.

Irma Sykes, Smith's mother, spoke at the service about her daughter's strong religious beliefs.

'I know that Karen is in the presence of the Lord,' Sykes said, KACB reports.

'I know that Karen's work is finished. If it wasn't finished, God would not have taken her home.'

The service (pictured) was held at Shield of Faith Christian Center in Pomona, California, on Saturday

Some of Smith's four children, including her daughter, Jennifer (pictured), spoke at the service

A San Bernardino Police Department officer leads children from North Park Elementary from the school after the shooting on April 10

The service was held at Shield of Faith Christian Center in Pomona.

It comes after police revealed earlier this month Smith and Anderson had been married just months before the 53-year-old man opened fire.

The couple married in late January, but Smith left her husband about a month ago after discovering the man she married 'wasn't wonderful'.
Two million of his subjects may be starving - but that seemed to be the last thing on Kim Jong-un's mind as he visited a pig farm

The 'Glorious Leader' could be seen smiling and laughing alongside officials as he toured the abattoir at Thaechon Pig Farm, which supplies the country's military.

Jong-un, whose own taste for fine meats and cheeses is well-documented, was pictured inspecting pig pens and carcasses.

Kim Jong-un has been pictured visiting a North Korean pig farm in Thaechon which is used to supply the country's military

The North Korean dictator was all smiles as he wandered through the abattoir with regime officials in propaganda images

The images were released by the regime-controlled Korean Central News Agency. It is not known when the pictures were taken.

The UN believes that 2million people inside the world's most secretive state are struggling to survive on meagre state handouts.

The daily ration includes just 650g of maize, rice or meat, according to the UN.

Defectors who survived the regime have told of people regularly starving to death, with bodies laid out in the streets.

An estimated 2million people inside the communist state are believed to be starving, according to reports by the UN

Survivors of the Kim regime have told of how they ate insects and plants because government rations left them starving

Park Yeonmi, who fled the country in 2007 under the rule of Kim Jong-il, told The Express this month: 'Every day I wondered if I was going to stay alive or not.

'Food was limited as everyone was hungry and people like us, who were in the bottom class, were starving.

'My mother traded in the market but this was not enough. So we had to find food in the mountains, eating dragonflies and grasshoppers and plants  anything to stay alive.'
(Xinhua) 09:49, April 23, 2017

Several officials in Dacheng County in north China's Hebei Province were punished after media reports exposed the state of two sewage pits, local discipline inspection authorities said on Saturday.

An aerial photo shows the sewage pits in Dacheng County, north China's Hebei Province.[Photo: china.com]

Liu Guowang, director of the office of the county committee of the Communist Party of China(CPC), received a intra-Party warning, according to a statement by the Langfang Municipal commission for discipline inspection of the CPC.

From September 2013 to February 2017, Liu was the deputy head of the county in charge of the county's environmental protection work. The county government failed to supervise or help Nanzhaofu Township deal with the sewage pits the statement said.

Liu Zenghuai, former secretary of the township committee of the CPC, who did not highlight the problem of the sewage pits and failed to deal with the pollution should be responsible for the problem, it said. Liu Zenghuai and Ma Donghao, head of Nanzhaofu Township, also received intra-Party warnings.

Deputy head of Dacheng County Xiao Jianjun, and director of the county's environmental protection bureau Fan Junliang, and three other local officials receive a public notice of criticism since they have only been in their posts for a short time, according to the statement.

Pictures of the contaminated pools went viral on Tuesday after a report from an environmental organization exposed the pollution.

Two polluted pools -- 170,000 square meters and 30,000 square meters -- formed by years of digging and illegal dumping of waste acid in 2013, have contaminated water and soil in the area.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) has sent investigation teams to look at the pits and ordered local authorities to intensify monitoring of water and soil in and around the pools.

Dacheng authorities have started to treat the pollution and has set aside 38 million yuan (5.59 million U.S. dollars) to treat the pits in 2017.
She's fending off accusations of preparing to usurp new mother Kelly O'Dwyer's seat in parliament with millionaire backing.

But Peta Credlin shook off the swirling rumours to let her hair down and rub shoulders with celebrities at the 2017 Logies in Melbourne on Sunday night.

The former chief of staff to ex-Prime Minister Tony Abbott ditched her usual blouse, jacket and pants combination for a sparkling black gown.

Peta Credlin cut a slim figure as she strutted the Logies red carpet in Melbourne

The former chief of staff to ex-Prime Minister Tony Abbott ditched her usual blouse, jacket and pants combination for a sparkling black gown (pictured right in 2013)

The 46-year-old cut a slim figure as she strutted the red carpet in the long strapless number that covered her arms but showed off her slender shoulders.

Ms Credlin's time away from politics appeared to have done her plenty of good as she debuted a markedly narrower profile in the flattering outfit.

The fearsome enforcer smiled sweetly between her chestnut locks that flowed over her shoulders past elaborate circular earrings.

She held a dark hexagonal clutch with both hands, one wrist adorned with a simple but elegant watch.

Ms Credlin's (R) time away from politics appeared to have done her plenty of good as she debuted a markedly narrower profile in the flattering outfit (pictured in 2010)

Ms Credlin joined Sky News in May last year which won a Logie for election coverage (pictured in 2015 with her husband Brian Loughnane)

Ms Credlin was in November rumoured to be joining Channel Nine, the broadcaster and major stakeholder of the Logies.

Instead, she got her own show on Sky News less than two weeks after the speculation, which won a Logie for its coverage of the 2016 Federal Election.

The political commentator said she had 'not been formally approached to run for [Ms O'Dwyer's seat of] Higgins' when questioned on Saturday.

The group chasing Ms Credlin was reportedly unhappy at Ms O'Dwyer's support for the government's tax increase for superannuation contributions for people who earn more than $250,000 a year.

During her time as Mr Abbott's right hand woman she was accused of holding back Ms O'Dwyer's career.

The political commentator said she had 'not been formally approached to run for [Ms O'Dwyer's seat of] Higgins' when questioned on Saturday (pictured in November 2016)
Dwarf Martin Henderson, 42, from Somerset, was robbed by 'friend' Adam Rowe, 35, and Robert Davies who forced him to drive to a cash point over an unpaid debt. Henderson died in 2016

Two thugs who robbed a dwarf made famous by Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage have been jailed.

Martin Henderson was kidnapped by the yobs who broke into his home ordered him to take them to a cash machine in a dispute over an unpaid sofa.

The 42-year-old, who was 4ft 6ins tall, drove them to a bank in his specially-adapted car but managed to escape when he sped off as the pair got out.

Martin rose to worldwide fame after Dinklage - who plays Tyrion Lannister in the cult series - mentioned him during an acceptance speech at the Golden Globes in 2012.

The US star was picking up the Best Supporting Actor award at the ceremony in California when he said: 'I want to mention a gentleman I'm thinking about in England.

'His name is Martin Henderson. Google him.'

Months earlier Martin had been cruelly thrown by a drunken rugby fan outside a pub while out celebrating his 37th birthday.

He suffered serious injuries in the sick prank which was blamed on the antics of the England rugby team who were pictured in papers performing a similar stunt.

Martin, from Milborne Port, Somerset who played a goblin in Harry Potter, sadly died in December 2016 of unrelated illness.

Taunton Crown Court heard how ten months prior he fell victim to 'friend' Adam Rowe, 35, and fellow thug Robert Davies.

Prosecuting, Nikki Coombe said: 'Mr Henderson stood at only four-feet and six inches and had a number of medical problems, including spinal difficulties.

'He considered Rowe a friend - he had met him around nine months before - and had bought a sofa from him for 120, which he was paying him back for.

'But he got into financial difficulties and had been having trouble making the payments.'

Martin rose to worldwide fame after Dinklage (pictured left) - who plays Tyrion Lannister in the cult series - mentioned him during an acceptance speech at the Golden Globes in 2012

She said that Martin had heard of Rowe's violent reputation and began avoiding him and refused to answer the door to him.

He woke in the dead of night on February 17 to find Rowe and Davies in his bedroom, one pinning him down to the bed by his neck before he was punched in the head.

Martin managed to get free and ran down the hallway to the front door, but was grabbed and forced back inside.

He eventually agreed to drive the pair to a cashpoint in his mobility car but after Rowe and Davies got out he drove straight to Yeovil police station and dialled 999.

Ms Coombe said: 'In the recording of the 999 call, Mr Henderson sounds incredibly distressed.

Mr Henderson got into difficulties over a debt repayment to 'friend' Rowe and was violently assaulted in his bedroom and forced to drive to a cash point to repay the thug. Rowe was jailed for four years and 10 months for robbery and Davies was jailed for four years eight months

'He describes the men as being 'psycho' and says that he is too scared to go back home.'

Rowe and Davies, who live in Milborne Port, were arrested and denied being involved in the robbery, despite Davies being picked out in a police line-up and his fingerprint being found on the bathroom door of Mr Henderson's home.

Judge David Evans told them: 'You targeted Mr Henderson, a man of short stature and one of your neighbours.

'It is clear that you terrified him that night and it is clear from his victim impact statement that the violence you handed out that night had a profound effect on him.

'This was the drunken bullying of a vulnerable man.'

Rowe was jailed for four years and 10 months for robbery and Davies was jailed for four years for the robbery with a consecutive eight months in prison for possession of criminal property.
David Lo, an English teacher at Brooklyn Technical High School, resigned after alleged improper contact with a student, in July 2016

A Brooklyn teacher has resigned from his post after he reportedly invited a student to Flo Rida concert with him and asked her to send him workout pictures.

David Lo is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with one of his high school students at Brooklyn Technical High School in New York after she came to the English teacher for extra credit in June of 2015.

The 39-year-old allegedly exchanged more than 100 messages with the unnamed student, where he requested workout photos and asked her to attend a Flo Rida concert with him.

Lo resigned in July of 2016, making him the fourth employee in less than three years to get ousted from the elite and academically competitive school for behaving in an inappropriate manner.

The news of the school's latest scandal was reported on Sunday.

The unnamed student accused him of asking her for workout pictures and pressuring her to spend time together outside of the school (pictured)

The Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation (SCI) brought around the accusations against Lo after the student expressed concern about the situation, reported the NY Post on Sunday.

The office has a broad authority to investigate any wrongdoing within the New York City School District, according to its website.

According to the student, she felt pressured to hang out with Lo outside of school hours as the teacher bombarded her with messages that requested 'daily' photos.

They began to correspond over his personal account after Lo told her 'they could not communicate by e-mail because a teacher lost his job for that contact,' according to the SCI report.

Lo is the fourth staffer ousted at the elite school in less than three years. Former music teacher Marisa Cazanave (left and right) was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a teen after the boy's mother found messages professing their love for each other

One of the messages Lo allegedly sent reads: 'How did you look when you were younger? The same? Different? How did you look when you first entered high school? I remember the first day when you walked up to me.'

Preceding Lo in teacher-student scandals at the school are Marisa Casanave, aide Robert Sutton Jr and Sean Shaynak.

Casanave, once the school's music teacher and a mother-of-two, resigned in October after it was discovered she was exchanging dozens of text messages and emails professing her love for one of her students.

Sutton, a former aide, was fired after he allegedly sent a girl a video of himself masturbating on school grounds.

In 2014, physics teacher Shaynak was arrested for having sex with six students. The victims claimed he took them to nude beaches and sex clubs and demanded they have sex with others girls.
Two top drug traffickers have been killed in pre-dawn shootouts Saturday with federal forces in the northern Mexico border state of Tamaulipas, authorities reported.

The Tamaulipas security spokesman's office said the men were killed in separate confrontations, which left highways littered with burned-out vehicles.

Julian Loisa Salinas, better known as 'Comandante Toro' and also known as Juan Manuel Loisa Salinas, was killed in a clash with marines in Reynosa, a city across the border from McAllen, Texas.

Alleged drug traffickers Julian Loisa Salinas (L) and Francisco 'Pancho' Carreon (R) were fatally shot by police Saturday in different clashes in the northern Mexico border state of Tamaulipas

Loisa Salinas reportedly was the Gulf cartel's local leader in Reynosa. Authorities had tried to capture him a number of times, leading to gunbattles with his gang. In early April, two US citizens were reported wounded in one such gunfight.

On Saturday, photos showed burned-out cars, trucks and buses littering streets in Reynosa. State authorities said his supporters had set fires and tried to block roads in an unsuccessful effort to help him escape.

Luis Alberto Rodriguez, the state security spokesman, said there were a total of 32 highway and street blockades, 11 of which were erected using burning vehicles. Such vehicles are usually hijacked from their owners by armed men and then set on fire.

Nine businesses were burned and 18 vacant lots were set on fire.

Salinas's supporters reportedly set fires (pictured) and tried to block roads to help him escape

Cars were torched in Reynosa, Mexico, on April 17 in reaction to a drug cartel leader's arrest

There were a total of 32 highway and street blockades, 11 of which were erected using burning vehicles, said state security spokesman Luis Alberto Rodriguez

Also Saturday, the local leader for the rival Zetas cartel in Tamaulipas' capital, Ciudad Victoria, was killed in a similar shootout farther south. He was tentatively identified as Francisco 'Pancho' Carreon.

The two were believed to be behind much of the recent violence in Tamaulipas.

America renewed warnings against unnecessary travel to certain parts of Mexico because of gang violence.

US citizens have been the victims of violent crimes, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking and robbery in various Mexican states.
An Israel-American teen has been charged with 31 counts after allegedly threatening Jewish centers, schools and commercial flights across the US, hiding his voice with voice-modulating software.

NBC News . Michael Ron David Kadar, 18, was arrested in Israel in March. A dual US citizen, he is being charged in Georgia and Florida, according to

In one February 2017 call, Kadar promised that 'in a short time, a large number of "Jew children" were going to have their heads blown off from the shrapnel,' an FBI report alleged.

Kadar is Jewish, an official told ABC 7.

Arrested: Michael Kadar (pictured in an Israeli court in 2017) was arrested after allegedly threatening US Jewish organizations over the web from Israel. He is reportedly Jewish

The calls date back as far as August 2015, and frequently saw Kadar threatening 'bombs' and 'bloodbaths', the FBI said.

He disguised his identity by using text-to-voice services and voice modulation software.

And he equipped his home with an antenna that allowed him to use multiple wi-fi connections in his neighborhood to further hide his identity.

But the FBI were able to track the calls after serving 100 subopenas and search warrants to various internet providers.

They then tracked the time of day and phrases to pinpoint the suspect.

According to the Florida indictment, which covers calls made between January 4 and March 3, when the voice modulation was stripped out, the recordings retained a speech impediment similar to Kadar's own.

And Israeli police said that his home contained recordings of the calls, organized by date, on a USB drive.

He has been charged with 28 counts of making threatening calls and conveying false information to police in that state.

The Georgia case involves Kadar allegedly reporting a fabricated home invasion and shooting in order to get a location 'swatted' - that is, raided by police as a 'prank'.

There, he has been charged with three counts of making threatening calls, conveying false information and cyberstalking.

He is also accused of making threats against Jewish centers in Australia and New Zealand.

Threats: Kadar allegedly threatened to blow up Jewish children at centers and schools. He used a voice modulator to hide his identity, the FBI claims. He's a dual Israeli-US citizen

Both Kadar's mother and lawyer claim that his actions were likely influenced by his autism and an inoperable brain tumor.

'The best surgeons in the world refused to operate on him due to immediate danger for his life,' his lawyer, Shira Nir, told NBC News.

At the time of Kadar's arrest, his lawyer had claimed that his condition had stopped him going to elementary or high school, and had got him out of compulsory enlistment in the Israeli army.

The Jewish Community Center Association said in a statement that it was 'troubled to learn that the individual ... is reportedly Jewish.'

In a statement, US attorney Jeff Sessions said in a statement: 'Today's charges into these violent threats to Jewish Community Centers and others represent this Department's commitment to fighting all forms of violent crime.

'These threats of violence instilled terror in Jewish and other communities across this country and our investigation into these acts as possible hate crimes continues.'

Johnathan A Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, warned: 'Anti-Semitism in the US remains a very serious concern.

'No arrests have been made in three cemetery desecrations or a series of other anti-Semitic incidents involving swastika graffiti and hate fliers.

'JCCs and other institutions should not relax security measures or become less vigilant.'
A pet Maltese terrier has been left to die after a towel was tied to his neck before being bound to a plant.

Scruffy was found dead by his owners in Northam Avenue in the Brisbane suburb of Bardon on Friday.

The dog, who was 17, is believed to have died sometime between 10.30am and 3.00pm.

Scruffy the pet Maltese terrier has been left to die after a towel was tied to his neck before being bound to a plant

Police believe the cruel attacker took a towel from the washing line and tied one end to Scruffy's neck, and the other to a plant before leaving the pooch to die.

Queensland police called the attack 'sickening' in a media release on Sunday.

The beloved pet was found at the back of the property by the distressed owners.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about the attack to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
An employee at the Portuguese hotel where Madeleine McCann vanished from a decade ago may know what happened to her.

The lead is the newest in the search for the missing British girl, who was four when she disappeared from her parent's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while they dined nearby in April 2007.

Scotland Yard police officer Colin Sutton revealed to Sunday Night evidence suggests a worker at the Ocean Club Resort could solve the case.

'There is an employee, somebody who worked within the Ocean Villa complex who has some information or some knowledge that may be of assistance,' he said.

An employee at the Ocean Club Resort in Portugal, where four-year-old Madeleine McCann (pictured) vanished from 10 years ago, could be able to solve her disappearance, police claim

Scotland Yard police officer Colin Sutton revealed to Sunday Night evidence suggests a worker at the resort (pictured) could know what happened to her

'There is an employee, somebody who worked within the Ocean Villa complex who has some information or some knowledge that may be of assistance,' he said (pictured)

It is unknown if the employee is female or male, but a search for them is underway.

The Scotland Yard, who took over the investigation from Portuguese police in 2013, was given more than $140,000 (AUD) in March to look into the lead and fund inquiries for another six months.

The revelation comes just days after a minder who cared for Madeleine claimed the Ocean Club Resort was dangerous.

The woman, who was not named, told The Mirror the resort was considered so unsafe the nannies who worked there were given rape whistles.

She also claimed they were told not to walk around alone.

The disappearance of Madeleine has been shrouded in mystery since she vanished a decade ago.

It has been pondered if the child wandered off and had an accident or if she was taken in a burglary gone wrong.

The lead is the newest in the search for the missing British girl, who disappeared from her parent's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while they dined nearby in April 2007

Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry, have adamantly denied any involvement in their daughter's disappearance (pictured)

Gerry and Kate were dining at the resort's (pictured is the McCann apartment) tapas restaurant nearby when they discovered Madeleine had gone missing

Mr Sutton said he has come up with five plausible theories to explain Madeleine's disappearance.

The detective claimed she could have been taken by a paedophile or she could have been snatched by a trafficking gang to replace a dead child.

Although the area near where she was last seen has been ransacked by police for any trace of her, Mr Collins said it would be 'almost impossible' to find her body, if she is dead.

'It's a large area of very low population, of scrubland, of ancient wells.'

'There are areas there where, you know, humans probably don't go, from one year - or one decade, even - to the next.'

Although the area (pictured) near where she was last seen has been ransacked by police for any trace of her, Mr Collins said it would be 'almost impossible' to find her body, if she is dead

British police and their Portuguese counterparts search Praia da Luz on the Algarve

Kate McCann, holding Madeleine's Cuddle Cat soft toy, and Gerry, leave after attending a church service in Portugal soon after her disappearance

In the weeks before Madeleine disappeared, witnesses reported seeing people loitering in the area.

One schoolgirl even reported seeing a man looking at the McCann's resort apartment.

There were two burglaries at the resort just before the family arrived, officers told Sunday Night.

Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate, told the Seven Network program they did not have anything to do with their eldest child's disappearance.

Just four months after they frantically discovered her bed empty, Gerry and Kate were named the prime suspects  a claim they vehemently deny.

'No. No, never. And you know, there's nothing with any logic that could, you know... You would have to start with why, you know? How? When? Who? And there's just simply, you know, no answer to any of these things,' Gerry said when asked if he killed his daughter.

Detectives have released composite images of what Madeleine would look like now at the age of 14 to help progress the investigation.
Her father's brand may be struggling for popularity in the US, but Ivanka Trump is cultivating a cult following in China.

An online fan club on the website Weibo, which is similar to Twitter, even refers to the president's daughter as 'Goddess Ivanka'.

NBC News reports the page with the same title has about 12,000 followers, many of whom are effusive in their praise for the 35-year-old.

Hu Xingdou, a Beijing professor, told the network much of Ivanka Trump's popularity comes from people thinking she is supportive of China.

Ivanka Trump is cultivating a huge following in China - where fan clubs have popped up across social media

'Most people in China love Ivanka because of her friendly gestures towards the Chinese people,' Xingdou said.

'Ivanka is an important bridge during this period of uncertainties in China-US relations.'

The professor then referenced videos Trump posted on social media of her daughter, Arabella, singing in Chinese to President Xi Jinping earlier this month.

'That was a boost for Chinese cultural nationalism,' he said.

This picture shows the 'Goddess Ivanka' fan club page that has more than 12,000 followers on Weibo

'It shows that Chinese culture has an important place in international society.'

The reports of Trump's popularity came as the Chinese foreign ministry was forced to defend the government's handling of Ivanka's trademark applications in the wake of her father becoming president.

Beijing Foreign Affairs spokesman Lu Kang was asked about the trademarks Wednesday, a day after it was reported the president's daughter had won provisional approval for at least five January's inauguration.

Three of those approvals were granted April 6, the day Ivanka Trump and her husband sat next to Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife for dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida during a state visit to the US.

Ivanka Trump and her husband are seen during a dinner with Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago on April 6

Ivanka Trump speaks in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington on April 4

Lu said China follows the law in granting trademarks and 'the principle of giving equal protection to foreign trademark holders.'

Asked about the timing of the April 6 approvals, Lu said: 'There are perhaps some media engaging in hyping certain gossip to hint at something undisclosed.

'I can tell you that they will never succeed.'

Beyond the provisionally approved trademarks, Ivanka Trump Marks LLC has 16 registered trademarks in China and more than 30 pending applications, according to China's Trademark Office database.

Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are pictured during a dinner this month. Ivanka Trump is seen on the left

They collectively cover a wide range of goods and services, including cosmetics, jewelry, leather handbags, luggage, clothes, shoes, retail, spa and beauty services.

The trademarks grant the company monopoly rights to sell Ivanka-brand jewelry, bags and spa services in the world's second-largest economy.

Other countries where the company has pending and registered trademarks include Japan, Mexico, Turkey, Israel, Canada and Saudi Arabia.
Viewers of this year's Logies were left contemplating what had happened to Molly Meldrum after he gave a rambling speech.



The former Countdown host appeared on stage when Samuel Johnson was awarded the Gold Logie, before interrupting the winner's speech and providing his own address.

Johnson won the coveted gong for his portrayal of Meldrum in the Channel Seven mini-series Molly.

Meldrum's drawn-out speech was expletive-laden and at many times he was incoherent, leading viewers to take to social media saying they need 'subtitles' to understand what he was talking about.

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Molly Meldrum, at left with Samuel Johnson, interrupting the Gold Logie winner's speech and provided his own rambling address

Meldrum, flanked by Johnson, gave a rambling speech which many people found hard to understand

It was a rare appearance for Meldrum, who has kept a low public profile in recent years.

'Still working out what the hell happened with the acceptance by Samuel Johnson/Molly Meldrum and the Gold Logie,' one person wrote.

Another said: 'Did anyone understand a word out of [Molly Meldrum] just then'.

While Meldrum's speech was difficult to follow, many were quick to also throw their support behind the veteran Australian music presenter and critic.

Social media lit up as commentators said they couldn't understand Meldrum's speech at the Logies on Sunday night but many were also quick to throw their support behind the former Countdown host

'I really needed subtitles for Molly Meldrum's speech! Well done Sam. Love you Molly!' a tweet read.

One person wrote: 'Molly Meldrum, you're a living legend, adored and admired, a true Australian treasure'.

Meldrum has been involved in a series of serious falls in recent years.

In December 2011, he suffered life-threatening injuries after he fell from a ladder at his home in Richmond, inner Melbourne.

He fractured his skull, punctured his lungs and broke his ribs in the shocking accident.

Then in January 2016 while in Bangkok, Thailand, he fell outside a hotel and dislodged a vertebrae, requiring emergency surgery.

Six months later, he was taken to hospital after attending a birthday cruise for trucking magnate Lindsay Fox after the injuries he suffered in Bangkok flared up.
For years, conventional wisdom has long dictated that those who wish to combat alcoholism must stop drinking entirely.

Going cold turkey seems like an instant solution to combating alcohol addiction, but it is also a shock to the system with the temptation to return forever lingering.

A new Illinois alcohol support group aims to strike a balance, with participants allowed to hit the bottle while still gradually reducing their intake.

Known as 'harm reduction' the support group called Moderation Management based in Evanston, Illinois near Chicago, also provides private therapy.

The popular practice of stopping drinking entirely is being abandoned by a support group in Chicago which believes a better way is to stop consuming alcohol little by little

Adrienne, who is in her 30s and has three kids under age 14 told the Chicago Tribune that she has managed to cut her drinking to about half of what it was a before she looked for help. She still drinks socially and enjoys an occasional drink or two with her partner.

'I feel like I'm on the right track,' she said. 'I needed the help, and I'm getting the help, so I feel good.'

'I was spending a lot of time in church basements doing things that I don't think added to my life in a meaningful way,' she said. 'It was taking away from friends and family. And I didn't enjoy having something scary looming over my head. They would tell you things in meetings like, 'Oh, your disease is in the parking lot doing pushups.' Or, 'If you leave, the only thing out there is jail, institutions and death.''

Harm reduction is also known as controlled drinking which pushes drinkers to reduce the amount the consume but not for complete abstinence.

It is a rare and controversial course of action in a world where going sober is often seen as the ultimate goal through 12-step recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

But there is more evidence to suggest that harm reduction works.

Those who attend the Chicago center undergo group and individuale therapy to try and understand the underlying causes that push them to hit the bottle

A number of studies have found that a reduced consumption of alcohol can be just as effective as being tee-total.

The Tribune noted that a 2013 study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology and a 2017 piece in Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research found that problem drinkers who reduced their alcohol intake during treatment experienced significantly fewer alcohol-related consequences, as well as better mental health.

'Harm reduction is an effective way to tackle problem drinking,' said Katie Witkiewitz, the lead author of the 2017 study and an associate professor of psychology at the University of New Mexico.

'It's as effective as other approaches, in some cases more effective, especially when you consider most people don't want to quit drinking, and so if we offer them tools to reduce their drinking, then that's going to reduce harm, and that's a good thing.'

Colin Peters, pictured, is one of the social workers at the Moderation Management center in Chicago, Illinois

At the Moderation Management center in Chicago, patients undergo group therapy along with individual sessions with Colin Peters, who is one of the social workers.

In Adrienne's case, therapists get her to talk about her values and how they relate to her drinking goals, as well as some of the reasons she drinks too much, and the situations where that tends to happen.

Adrienne says that she is only drinking four days a week instead of seven and consuming about 15 drinks a week as opposed to 30.

She is also taking prescription medication, naltrexone, which is supposed to block the buzz from alcohol and reduce cravings.

IN the three months in which she has been in therapy she has only had one mis-step when she ended up doing tequila shots on a night out.

But not everyone agrees that such a drastic tactic is necessary.

Constance Scharff is the director of addiction research at the abstinence-based Cliffside Malibu treatment center in Malibu, California.

She believes that those who are already suffering from an addiction will find it difficult to cut back in stages and says that to solve the problem of alcohol, one has to cut the problem off at the source instead of attempting to 'moderate' or 'reduce' consumption.

'If we have to focus that much support to get you to moderate, you've already crossed the line, and you need to be in an abstinence-based program,' she said.
Beijing authorities on Friday issued a drafted citywide rule to regulate the unfettered bike-sharing industry, making the city the fifth Chinese metropolis to lay out concrete requirements in the area, following Shenzhen, Chengdu, Shanghai and Nanjing.

Shared bikes on Chinese streets. [File Photo: Chinanews.com]

Below is a list of major areas addressed by the regulation.

Focus 1: Deposit Management

Most bike-sharing companies in China may charge a deposit to initiate service, and the supervision of the fund remains a hot topic. Numerous cities plan to introduce third-party supervision.

Shared bikes on Chinese streets. [File Photo: Chinanews.com]

In the newly issued trial document, Beijing requires bike-sharing startups to open special accounts in the city for the deposits they've charged.

The operations office of the People's Bank of China shall take the supervision and management responsibilities for these special accounts so as to prevent and control capital risks.

The companies are obliged to keep the public informed of their time limit for refund and return deposits to users in time.

All refunds should be returned before a firm exits from the bike-sharing market. A public notification is also demanded.

Mobike and ofo, two leading Chinese bike-sharing companies, have responded to the official regulation, expressing a supportive attitude to the rules, in addition to promising to ensure the security of their customers' capital.

Shenzhen, capital of southeast China's Guangdong province, and Shanghai, the largest bike-sharing city in the world  a title claimed by local government last December, have previously announced third-party supervision policies. The latter also requires usage reports of the money and at the same time stipulates that deposits shall be returned within seven days upon request.

Focus 2: Client Security

Along with the spectacularly multiplied fleet of shared bikes have come not only more convenience for commuters but also increasing related traffic accidents, especially those involving children under 12.

Shared bikes on Chinese streets. [File Photo: Chinanews.com]

Under security considerations, Beijing authorities are placing an emphasis on strengthening insurance claims mechanism for customers and quality inspection for shared bicycles in service.

The draft document is also recommending and encouraging companies to purchase personal accident insurance and third party liability insurance for their clients.

Active assistance should also be provided by enterprises when their users require insurance claims.

Bicycles should be put into use according to relevant legal and technical requirements, equipped with GPS systems.

Bikes in service need to be tested regularly, and those unqualified must be removed in time to ensure safety.

When accidents occur, the division of responsibility should be in compliance with the assertion identified by transport authorities. Users who break relevant regulations will face both credit loss and administrative penalties.

In Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, city officials are also urging insurance purchases and have set up a certain sum of compensation.

Shenzhenand Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu province, clearly demand insurance purchases. The latter has also required the submission of quality examination reports of the shared bikes to local authorities.

According to rules published by Shanghaiauthorities, shared bikes in service must keep a serviceability rate of 95%, and broken bicycles must be removed within 48 hours. A maintenance crew must be provided, capable of servicing no less than 5% of the total number of bikes in service.

Focus 3: Parking Management

The "stationless" shared-bikes in Chinese metropolitan cities have caused troubles like traffic jams, confusion in parking and vandalism, which constitute the most critical part of the program.

Shared bikes on Chinese streets. [File Photo: Chinanews.com]

Beijingr ecommends that bike-sharing companies make use of electronic maps to mark parking and no-parking areas. Users guilty of illegal parking have risk of being blacklisted.

Shenzhenand Nanjinghave also promulgated measures to ask users to park properly, thus preventing large numbers of bikes from disturbing others.
A woman looking for love online almost lost hope when she fell for a handsome bachelor, only to find out she had been duped by a 'bored and lonely' divorcee.

Restaurant manager Emma Perrier, 35, fell for a man named Ronaldo on the website Zoosk - but after a year of talking, began to get suspicious when he repeatedly refused to meet face to face.

After a year of messaging she discovered 55-year-old shop fitter Alan Stanley from Stratford-upon-Avon had stolen the pictures from another man.

But determined not to give up, Ms Perrier tracked down the man in the pictures - and found they belonged to 35-year-old model Adam Guzel who lived nearly 2,000 miles away in Turkey.

Fairytale ending: Emma Perrier, 35, turned detective and tracked down the man whose pictures had been stolen - and found love with Turkish model Adam Guzel (pictured together)

Now in a remarkable twist of fate, Emma and Adam have met and fallen for each other and they want to thank Stanley for bringing them together.

Ms Perrier said: 'At first I hated Alan for duping me and was shocked to discover his real identity. But now we are grateful he tricked me as it led me to finding the love of my life.

'I hope my story serves as a cautionary tale to others. I was lucky it led to me finding love but most people just end up heartbroken.'

Ms Perrier, from Richmond in London, joined online dating site Zoosk in September 2015 because her anti-social restaurant hours made it difficult to meet new people.

She quickly received a message from 'Ronaldo Scicluna' who was tall dark and handsome and was blown away by his picture.

She added: 'We were talking from morning until night every day. Plus, Ronny, as I called him, was absolutely gorgeous. I couldn't believe my luck.'

But after a year of online romance, Ms Perrier began to feel something was not right as Ronaldo was never free for a video call or to meet up in person.

So she downloaded Reverse Image - an app that traces pictures - in September 2016 and the truth was devastating.

Alan Stanley, 55 (left) stole the pictures (right) from 35-year-old model Adam Guzel who lived nearly 2,000 miles away in Turkey

She said: 'Some pics Ronaldo had sent me of food from a holiday to Italy traced back to a Tripadvisor account - and the name on it was Alan.

Two weeks later, Emma received a picture of a steak from Ronaldo claiming he was having dinner on another trip to Zurich.

But when she put the picture into the app it linked back to the same Tripadvisor account. She confronted Ronaldo online who confessed and apologised.

She said: 'It was devastating and I felt sick. He told me he was bored and lonely.

'He admitted he was a dad, over 50 and divorced. He said he found 'Ronaldo's' pictures online and used them as he thought no one would talk to him if he used his own.'

Devastated, she began to wonder who the man in the picture was. Using Reverse Image, she went through every photo Ronaldo had ever sent her - and one traced back to a Twitter account for Adam Guzel who lived in Istanbul.

In September last year, Emma tracked Adam down on Facebook, and messaged him. A few hours later, she received a reply. 'He thanked me for alerting him and told me he suspected the photos had been stolen.'

The pair are now a happy couple, and Adam has moved 2,000 miles to be with Ms Perrier in London

For three months the pair chatted and in January 2017, Emma suggested they do a video call: 'I wanted to know it was really him after all this time. He agreed. I was so nervous, but when I saw his face I was hysterical.

'It was really him. The man I had fallen for with was real. His English was perfect too.'

He explained he was a model and aspiring actor in Turkey.

Ms Perrier then sent a screenshot of Adam and herself on FaceTime to Alan, and told him to leave Adam's photos alone. She said: 'I wanted Alan to know what he did was wrong.'

For seven months, the pair spoke nearly every day and now Adam has moved 2,000 miles to be with Ms Perrier in Richmond.

Ms Perrier said: 'I was so nervous at the airport when I went to pick him up.

'He came up to me smiling, and we hugged. I burst into tears. Now we are taking each day as it comes, but I have never been happier.'

Adam is planning to continue his modelling career in the UK. Speaking about Alan, he said: 'I knew there were people in Turkey stealing my identity but I had no idea it was happening in the UK too.

'I don't know what to say about Alan. Sometimes what he did makes me angry, but sometimes I feel grateful to him because I would never have met Emma.'

When contacted, Alan admitted his actions were wrong and wished the pair the best. He said: 'I have asked myself a million times why I did it.

'I knew she wouldn't talk to me as Alan, that's why I used the photos. I know what I did was wrong and felt guilty but the more she involved me, the harder it was to admit what I'd done.

'I was going through a low point and wanted someone to talk to. But I think it's brilliant Emma and Adam have met, it's almost like fate.'

Emma added: 'My catfish became cupid and now we're living happily ever after. There's no point holding grudges. I hope Alan meets someone nice too who will love him for who he really is.'
A baby born with her brain outside of her skull has been sent home to die.

Medics say there's nothing they can do for six-week-old May Rose Gibney, whose brain developed in a sac-like protrusion at the back of her head and almost as large.

Mother Analee Gibney, 24, from Moy, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland, was given the diagnosis when a 20-week scan revealed her baby had encephalocele.

A baby born with her brain outside of her skull has been allowed home to die. Six-week-old May Rose Gibney developed a sack-like protrusion behind her head and given no chance of survival

Doctors at consultants with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust warned her that her baby might not survive birth and delivered her by C-section.

They say there's nothing they can do for her other than providing palliative care.

Encephalocele, a form of spina bifida, occurs when the neural tube - a structure that goes on to form the brain and spinal cord - fails to close completely during pregnancy.

Little May Rose hasn't cried since she was delivered on March 9 and rarely opens her eyes.

But determined mum Analee refuses to accept her fate and is pinning her hopes on pioneering treatment in Boston, USA.

She told how she stopped enjoying pregnancy, and with all her dreams shattered, when she learned of May Rose's illness.

She says she didn't buy her daughter any of the things expectant mums excitedly pick out or welcomed the first time she felt her baby kick.

Her happiness was replaced with a horror she kept to herself, only grieving for the baby she was told she would never have while alone in the safety of her own bedroom.

'I bought nothing, what was the point? I didn't do all those lovely things that first mums are supposed to do, buying a pram or a cot, wee outfits and that.

'I thought what's the point? I was heartbroken and terrified from the moment I was told she would not survive.

'It was hell but look at her now, she is six weeks today and she is doing everything they said she wouldn't,' said Analee.

'I won't give up hope on May Rose, I want to make sure I do everything I can to help her, to see if there is anything I can do to save her. I have hope that she will keep getting stronger and I won't let her down.

Mother Analee Gibney, 24, from Moy, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland, was given the diagnosis when a 20-week scan revealed her baby had encephalocele

'If the doctors are right and I do have to say goodbye then I can do that knowing that there was nothing else I could have done for her. I love her so much, every time I look at her I am overwhelmed at my beautiful miracle,' she said.

Tragically, the odds are stacked against the tiny tot who has not cried since the moment she was born.

Analee said: 'I never cried to anyone from the minute I found out, not in public. I cried when I was alone, in my room but I never told anyone.

'The only people who knew something had gone wrong were my mummy and best friend, I couldn't bear telling people. I couldn't even enjoy a kick, they would just make me cry, but only when I was alone.

'The first time I cried was when I heard May Rose cry after she was born by C-section. It was a sound I had prepared myself never to hear.

'She has not cried since, but she is here and she is getting stronger by the day. She is gaining weight by the day and considering doctors told me she would never gain a pound that's says something to me. That's something positive to hold on to,' she explained.

Doctors at consultants with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust warned her that her baby might not survive birth and delivered her by C-section. They say there's nothing they can do for her other than providing palliative care

Since May Rose was welcomed into this world, Analee spends every spare second researching her baby's condition.

Doctors have withdrawn all treatment and May Rose is now at home in the bosom of her family to 'die peacefully'.

'Doctors have said there is nothing more they can do, that she has been sent home for palliative care, to pass away, but I don't accept that now.

' I'm determined to bring her to other medical experts to see what they can do.

'I am going to give it my best shot.

'I'm not naive. I know there is a really strong chance she won't make it before I examine every possibility of getting her the help that could save her or keep her with us that bit longer. I could never forgive myself if I never tried.

'But I would never see her suffer, if it was her time then I would let her go, I would never hold her back, have her in pain, I will let her go when I have to, but I just don't think she is ready to go, just not yet,' she said, smiling weakly.

Mother Analee Gibney, 24 said: 'I won't give up hope on May Rose, I want to make sure I do everything I can to help her, to see if there is anything I can do to save her. I have hope that she will keep getting stronger and I won't let her down

Analee is determined to raise the necessary funds to bring May Rose to Boston, which is considered a centre of excellence for the rare condition. There are cases when children can live for years, one case in America where the young man is now 25 years old.

'I don't want to think in the future that I didn't do all I could have for my baby and trying to get her to Boston is one of those things.

'I have researched other cases and I know that even with treatment a lot of disabilities will come with that but... I can't explain. It's so hard because I just love her and I can't imagine a life without her in it,' she added through tears.

What is Encephalocele? Encephalocele, sometimes known as cranium bifidum, is a neural tube defect characterized by sac-like protrusions of the brain and the membranes that cover it through openings in the skull. Babies with the diagnosis have a 55 percent rate. Long-term for becomes less likely if there are other complications, such as associated defects or syndromes or if brain tissue protrudes into the sac. Advertisement

May Rose is the most perfect of babies, sleeping through the night and feeding well; her mum says she couldn't be any easier.

'I find looking after her so easy. I have even surprised myself by how I have adapted but it's all for my daughter,' she says.

'Most of the time she doesn't open her eyes but every now and then she does for about five or ten minutes and we are all so excited, we can't keep our eyes off her. They are special moments.

'When she kicks her legs and moves her arms, when she reacts when you call her name. When she gains a pound, it's all progress because we were told she would never have done any of that. She isn't even supposed to be here.

'When I have bad moments and she does something like that, then it makes it all better. I adore her, she is worth everything.

'If the worst comes to the worst, that's what I will have in my head: I tried and I was lucky enough to love her, to give her a chance.'

May's parents are raising money for the little girl on JustGiving.
The stars of The Only Way Is Essex can often be seen on television flaunting their enviable lifestyles.

But the arrest of Arthur Collins - the boyfriend of TOWIE star Ferne McCann - following an acid attack in a London nightclub has shed a new light on the glitzy reality show.

Beneath the fashion and glamour the stars of TOWIE have friends who are associated with the underworld of Essex.

Ferne McCann's boyfriend arrested after acid attack

Armed police arrested fugitive Arthur Collins on suspicion of attempted murder as his girlfriend Ferne McCann revealed she was pregnant. Two people were left partially blinded and 20 others suffered injuries

Armed police this weekend arrested Arthur Collins on suspicion of attempted murder.

Officers from the Met's Specialist Crime and Operations unit took the 25-year-old into custody in Rushden, a small town in Northamptonshire - 85 miles away from London.

It comes as his girlfriend, former TOWIE star Ferne McCann revealed that she's pregnant with Collins's baby.

Collins was wanted in connection with the a horrifying acid attack at an east London nightclub on Easter Monday.

Two people were left partially blinded and 20 others suffered injuries - and Collins has been on the run for five days.

Sam and Billie Faiers father convicted of assault

Sam and Billie Faiers' real father, Lee Faiers was convicted of assaulting his partner Fay Simmons in June 2011.

He was given a community service order and told to attend a domestic violence programme.

Sam and Billie Faiers' father Lee was convicted of assaulting partner Fay Simmons in June 2011 and was given a community service order. The sister's stepfather David Chapwood was released from prison after serving just four months of a four-year jail sentence

Sam and Billie Faiers stepfather jailed for 1.1million bullion heist

In April 2013, the sisters' stepfather was released from prison after serving just four months of a four-year jail sentence.

David Chatwood was jailed for four years for his part in 1.1 million bullion robbery in December 2012 - but because he had already served seven-and-a-half months on remand the career criminal was let out early.

Chatwood was one of the ringleaders behind the staged robbery gold and silver bars in Belgium.

Known to pals as 'Chatty', he helped organised the plot which saw 29kg of gold and 160kg of silver stolen from a lorry near Antwerp. He pleaded guilty at the plea and case management hearing.

Cara Kilbey's boyfriend Daniel Harris, 33, was cleared of two counts of conspiracy to supply cocaine but found guilty of one count of possession of criminal property

Cara Kilbey's boyfriend cleared of masterminding multi-million pound drugs empire

Cara Kilbey starred on the ITVBe show for four seasons before departing in 2012.

Her boyfriend Daniel Harris, 33, was accused of making 'vast profits' by sending drug couriers on mopeds disguised as trainee cab drivers around central London over three-and-a-half years.

He was cleared in February of two counts of conspiracy to supply cocaine, but found guilty of one count of possession of criminal property. Police found a stash of some 116,000 in ill-gotten gains, hidden in his daughter's bedroom.

While he was sentenced to two years, he was released in February after serving almost a year on remand in Wandsworth prison.

Lauren Goodger's jailbird boyfriend serving 16-year sentence for violent drugs-related charges

Lauren Goodger was one of the original cast of TOWIE in 2010, starring alongside then-boyfriend Mark Wright.

She has been dating Joey Morrison, who is serving a jail sentence in HMP Highpoint South for around a year.

He was sentenced to 16 years behind bars in 2010 after he dressed like a postman to burgle properties in Enfield, north London.

Morrison, who was found guilty with Marvin Russell Jenkins, then both 24, could be released next year.

When Morrison was arrested in 2009, police found 60,000 worth of cocaine and a 90,000 Land Rover.

Gemma Collins's ex-boyfriend Stephen was previously handed a two-year sentence for GBH. He had been released early but breached the terms of his licence by moving in with Miss Collins. He was jailed for burglary in October 2016

Gemma Collins's ex-boyfriend jailed for GBH and burglary

Gemma Collins joined The Only Way Is Essex for the show's second series, in 2011.

Stephen Mortimer dated Collins from February 2015 to April 2016.

He had been released early from his previous two-year jail term for GBH but breached the terms of his licence by moving into Miss Collins's house in Brentwood.

In October 2016, Mortimer was handed a two-year sentence for burglary.

He broke into a house in the middle of the afternoon and stole 100 in coins.

Just 11 days earlier, the 35-year-old had forced his way into another property and stolen jewellery.

Mortimer appeared via a video link from Chelmsford prison as he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Wanted man linked to Mark Wright was shot dead by assassins

A man who was pictured with original cast member Mark Wright was shot from point blank range by a gunman in December 2015.

Paul Simmons-Turner was shot in the mouth by a balaclava-clad gunman as he sat in his car next to the Marriott hotel in Waltham Abbey, Essex.

Paul Simmons-Turner, who was pictured with Mark Wright, was shot from point blank range by a gunman in December 2015. He was shot in the mouth by a balaclava-clad gunman next to the Marriot hotel in Waltham Abbey, Essex. Mark Wright denied he was friends with him

Miraculously Simmons-Turner managed to survive the first attack, flagging down a passing car and attempting to flee.

However, the gunman blocked the car's path and shot his victim in the chest.

Even though a picture emerged of Simmons-Turner with his arm around the Towie star, Mark Wright denied he was friends with the man.

Michael Hassini ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work after crashing his car and being found with cocaine

Michael Hassini was ordered to carry out unpaid work after crashing his car on his way home from a wrap party and being found with cocaine.

The 22-year-old was more than two times over the drink-drive limit when he was pulled over following the crash, in Oxford Street, central London, on August 15 2016.

Hassini pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to possessing the class A drug, having admitted at a previous hearing to driving with excess alcohol.

After the incident, Hassini was suspended from the ITVBe series.
President Donald Trump again brought attention to the French election, as the country's voters head to the polls today for the first round of voting.

'Very interesting election currently taking place in France,' Trump tweeted Sunday morning.

On Friday, the American president hinted on Twitter that the latest ISIS terror attack in Paris would have a 'big effect' on France's presidential election and told the Associated Press that it would 'probably help' far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who is often compared to Trump.

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On Sunday, President Donald Trump again tweeted about the French election, as voters head to the polls for the first round of voting today

President Donald Trump tied Thursday's Paris terror attack to the upcoming French elections, hinting that right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen could benefit

'The people of France will not take much more of this,' Trump tweeted

Police officers secured the area after a gunman opened fire on Champs Elysees on Thursday, killing one officer

Trump tweeted early Friday, 'Another terrorist attack in Paris. The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!'

An attacker emerged from a car in Paris Thursday and used an automatic weapon to shoot at officers in the center of the Champs-Elysees. One officer was killed, as was the gunman.

While Trump did not endorse Le Pen, he said the attack will be to her benefit because she's the candidate who is 'strongest on borders, and she's the strongest on what's been going on in France.'

Asked what kind of 'effect' Trump foresees on the weekend election, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Friday: 'I dont know. I mean, I think major events have, clearly, effects on voters' attitudes.'

'But I'm not going to weigh in on  I'll let the voters of France decide this Sunday what direction they want their country to go in,' he said.

Sitting down with Meet the Press host Chuck Todd, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said Sunday that Trump's tweets shouldn't be interpreted as an endorsement for Le Pen.

'He is going to support whoever the winner is,' Priebus told Todd. 'We've got a long term relationship that's historical with the French people and the French government and not matter who wins that relationship is going to continue.'

When Todd pressed Priebus again if Trump had a preference for Le Pen, the president's chief of staff answered, 'No, not at all.'

'He may have some opinions of who he thinks might win, but he certainly doesn't have a preference,' Priebus replied.

He then added, 'Other than a right-of-center person who believes in free markets.'

Candidates in France's presidential election treaded carefully in response to the attack.

Le Pen and conservative candidate Francois Fillon declared 'war against Islamism' as they seek to gain ground in the wake of the attack.

Le Pen said in a high-profile speech that Frances 'so-called leaders' had failed to protect citizens.

'Islamism is a monstrous totalitarian ideology that has declared war on our nation, on reason, on civilisation,' the Front National leader said.

'The names of these new victims are added to the long list of martyrs of terrorism.'

The gunman was detained in February for threatening police and then freed.

French National Front party leader Marine Le Pen blamed France's 'so-called' leaders for allowing terorists to run rampant through Paris

Two French officials said the gunman was detained toward the end of February after speaking threateningly about the police, but he was then released due to a lack of evidence.

He was also convicted in 2003 of attempted murder in the shooting of two police officers.

Police shot and killed the gunman after he opened fire on a police van on Paris most famous boulevard on Thursday night.

ISIS quickly claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Paris prosecutors office leading the investigation has said a pump-action shotgun and knives were found in the gunmans car.

Police have detained for questioning three of his family members, as investigators seek to determine whether he was acting alone and where he got his weapons.

A Belgian man who had been linked by some as an accomplice to the gunman has turned himself in, and authorities said there was no link to the incident.
Satellite TV businesses are booming in Mosul as Iraqis rush to have dishes installed after part of the city was liberated by ISIS.

Despite much of the city not having running water or basic services, shops are struggling to keep up with demand from people in newly-freed areas.

ISIS banned television after taking control of Mosul back in 2014, stripping satellites from rooftops after claiming it was being used to 'brainwash' people.

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Satellite TV businesses in the Iraqi city of Mosul are struggling to keep up with demand as people rush to have dishes installed after they were liberated from ISIS rule

Despite not having running water or basic services, many people are having the television service installed more than two years after ISIS banned it

A source in Mosul, who spoke to Mail Online, said there are now 'many shops' selling the satellites but they are struggling to keep up with demand.

The source added: 'They rely on TVs to watch news and stay connected and know about the war that surrounds them.

'Despite the fact that they don't have water and other services, TV is very important for them as a means of receiving information.'

The majority of Mosul has now been liberated from ISIS control, two and a half years after the extremists seized control and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a Caliphate from a mosque in the city.

The terrorists are now confined to western areas, including the Old City, where Iraqi troops have been bogged down by house-to-house fighting in the winding streets.

It comes after violinist Ameen Muqdad played a concert at the shrine of Nabi Yunus after ISIS also banned music.

A source in Mosul said most people watch news programs to keep up to date with the war being fought there, but also use it to relax

Muqdad had to go into hiding for six months after terrorists discovered his stash of musical instruments and accused him of being cursed.

The militants also destroyed the shrine he played at, strapping it with C4 explosives and detonating them as tearful worshippers were forced to watch.

Around a dozen people watched him play, with witnesses saying they laughed and cried at the same time.

At one stage ISIS controlled around 40 per cent of territory in Iraq, but thanks to efforts by the Iraqi army backed by coalition airstrikes, that has been whittled down to just seven per cent.

If the terrorists are ejected from Mosul it will spell an end to their last stronghold in Iraq and shatter their so-called Caliphate.
Gable Tostee has hit back at online critics who falsely called him a 'murderer', telling them the 'the only thing he murders is p***y.'

Mr Tostee, who now goes by the name Eric Thomas, made the remark to a woman on his Facebook on Saturday.

The woman commented on a post from Mr Tostee which read: 'If "Benny" is short for Ben, why is "Benny'" longer??' '

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Gold Coast man Gable Tostee (pictured) has hit back at critics on Facebook who called him a 'murderer', telling them the 'the only thing he murders is p****'

Mr Tostee was acquitted in October of murdering New Zealand tourist Warriena Wright (pictured) in 2014

Mr Tostee, who now goes by the name Eric Thomas, made the remark to a woman on his Facebook on Saturday (pictured)

'Says the murderer with a fake name..' the woman wrote.

'The only thing I murder is p***y,' the 31-year-old responded.

Supporters rallied to Mr Tostee's defense, telling the woman to go away.

Others told Mr Tostee that he loves the attention.

Mr Tostee was acquitted in October of murdering New Zealand tourist Warriena Wright in 2014.

Ms Wright, 26, died after she fell from Mr Tostee's 14th floor Gold Coast apartment balcony after the pair met on Tinder and went on a date.

Mr Tostee appeared to have activated a new Tinder account earlier this month.

Mr Tostee's new Tinder profile was spotted by a Gold Coast woman who uses the dating app and recognised the self-confessed playboy, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Mr Tostee appears to activated a new Tinder account just months after he was acquitted of killing Ms Wright (pictured)

The 31-year-old's age and new name of Eric Thomas appear on the new profile.

It also lists Griffith University as his educational background.

One image shows Mr Tostee lying shirtless in bed and another is of the 31-year-old partaking in a food contest.

'Shhh don't tell Channel 9,' the profile reads, referring to the media attention surrounding the death of Ms Wright and his subsequent trial.

Mr Tostee has previously accused Channel 9 of having 'ruined his life.'

Mr Tostee drew criticism in March after he posted a derogatory post on Facebook to mark International Women's Day.

'Happy International Women's Day to all ma hoes!!', he wrote at the time.

The post angered some social media users and one woman threatened to send his post to Clementine Ford - an Australian feminist writer.
On Twitter Sunday, President Trump wagged a finger at Democrats for being against his promised border wall, while pledging that Mexico would still 'eventually' pay for it.

'The Democrats don't want money from budget going to border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs and very bad MS 13 gang members,' Trump tweeted. 'Eventually, but at a later date so we can get started early, Mexico will be paying, in some form, for the badly needed border wall.'

Trump's tweets come amid negotiations on Capitol Hill to keep the government funded beyond the president's 100th day in office, as the much-talked-about political benchmark will occur the same day the government's temporary funding measure is set to expire.

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President Donald Trump knocked Democrats for not wanting to put border wall dollars into a new funding bill that will keep the government running after Saturday

President Trump pointed a finger at Democrats Sunday for the party's resistance to his planned Southern border wall

The president also repeated a campaign promise to get Mexico to pay for the construction of the wall, saying that it would happen 'eventually' and 'in some form'

Both Republicans and Democrats are looking to the White House for signs of whether the president will blow up negotiations over some of his more politically-sensitive demands, like funding for the border wall.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., sent out a dire warning over a shutdown when appearing on Face the Nation Sunday.

While he argued that a discussion over the border wall is a 'fight worth having,' the measure Congress needs to pass this week just needs to keep the government funded through the rest of this fiscal year, and then a bigger budget can be debated come fall.

Rubio, who ran against Trump for the Republican nomination, argued that 'if we can do some of that now, that would be great,' he said of wall negotiations.

'But we cannot shut down the government right now,' he urged.

'The last thing we can afford is to send a message to the world that the United States government, by the way, is only partially functioning,' Rubio said, pointing to the current crises in North Korea and Syria, along with the French election, which could 'throw the European Union and the NATO alliance into some level of consternation' if far-right candidate Marine Le Pen wins.

A shutdown, the GOP senator argued, 'would just have a catastrophic impact in my view, or certainly [a] very destabilizing, I should say, impact on global affairs.'

'And so we should keep that in mind going into this week,' Rubio warned.

On Friday, the White House seemed poised to throw a wrench into negotiations with Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney announcing that 'elections have consequences,' explaining that if Trump didn't get money for the border wall, and more dollars for defense spending, than Democrats could see the federal payments for Obamacare subsidies go bye, bye.

Mulvaney, a former House member, was among those who ushered in a government shutdown in 2013, as right-wing members of the Republican caucus, in cahoots with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, attempted to defund Obamacare with a Democratic president in the White House.

The effort failed.

Speaking to Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday, Mulvaney struck a more conciliatory tone Sunday.

'I don't think anybody is trying to get to a shutdown. Shutdown is not a desired end. Its not a tool. It's not something that we want to have,' Mulvaney said of the shutdown threat.

Wallace pointed out that Democrats are arguing that the White House is 'holding hostage health insurance for millions of lower income Americans' by making its subsidy cuts threat.

'Actually, what I would say is that they are holding hostage national security,' Mulvaney countered. 'We're trying to get a border wall to protect millions of low-income Americans.'

Though Mulvaney criticized 'Democratic obstruction' he said Republicans were negotiating with the opposing party.

'The negotiations are not finished yet,' he pointed out.

When Wallace asked if the White House would be OK with a funding bill that didn't include border wall funding, Mulvaney said, 'We don't know yet. We are asking for our priorities.'

Trump told the Associated Press' Julie Pace the same thing when the two sat down in the Oval Office on Friday.

'I don't want to comment. I just don't know yet,' the president said.

White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, speaking to Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, indicated that as long as the White House got something, no shutdown would occur.

'We've already seen progress in regard to getting money for border security in the [continuing resolution],' the chief of staff said.

However, when Todd asked if House Speaker Paul Ryan had signed off on the White House's plan to push for some of Trump's campaign promises, Priebus answered in the negative.

'No,' he said. 'We expect the priorities of the president to be reflective in the CR. So, we expect a massive increase in military spending. We expect money for border security in this bill. And it ought to be.'

'Because the president won overwhelmingly,' Priebus continued. 'And everyone understands the border wall was part of it.'

'I think that as long as the president's priorities are adequately reflected in the C.R. and allows us to get moving with an increase in military spending ... and there's enough as far as flexibility for the border wall and border security, I think we'll be OK with that,' the chief of staff acknowledged.

Priebus comments on the president having a mandate  despite losing the popular vote  were likely meant to keep Republicans in line as some GOP lawmakers view the border wall the same way as their Democratic peers  they're opposed to it.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., brought up that point when she also sat down with Todd on Meet the Press.

'The Democrats do not support the wall,' she said. 'I think that the Republicans on the border states do not support the wall.'

She also pointed out that Republicans, alone, could keep the government open, as the GOP has majorities in both the House and Senate, along with control of the White House.

'The burden to keep it open is on the Republicans,' Pelosi said.

However, it's likely some Republican members won't vote for the funding measure and thus some Democratic support will be needed in the House.

Democrats will definitely be needed in the Senate to overcome the threat of a filibuster.

'The wall is, in my view, immoral, expensive, unwise, and when the president says "well I promised a wall during my campaign," I don't think he said he was going to pass billions of dollars of cost of the wall on to the taxpayer,' Pelosi noted.

On the campaign trail, Trump's popular back-and-forth was to ask his supporters who was going to pay for the wall, as they shouted back 'Mexico!' in unison.
Elaine Kingston gave up her own son Stephen Trinder, 22, to the police after finding sexually explicit messages he had sent to underage girls on her phone

A horrified mother gave up her own son to the police after finding sexually explicit messages he had sent to underage girls on her phone.

Elaine Kingston's son Stephen Trinder, 22, had been talking to five girls - the youngest of whom was 13 - while staying with her over Christmas.

Ms Kingston, of Oxford, only found out after a message popped up on her screen from one of the victims that read 'I'll f***** kill you, leave her alone, she's only 14'.

She then unearthed a drove of 'explicit, sexual' messages chatting to girls and asking them their age and alerted Thames Valley Police, Oxford Crown Court heard.

He sent the texts between October 25 2016 and January 3 this year.

Jailing him for 12 months, Judge Maria Lamb said his mum should be 'commended' for her actions, adding it was something no mother would want to do.

'She acted to safeguard others' added the judge.

Trinder said he was 'really angry' with his mother at first, but now he fully understood how she felt.

Prosecutor Merril Hughes said Trinder had gone to stay with his mother over the Christmas period for six days.

'He used his mother's phone and when he left her address, a message popped up on her phone when she was accessing Facebook.'

Ms Hughes said the message said words to the effect of 'I'll f****** kill you, leave her alone, she's only 14.

She added 'His mother found a list of message conversations to females. She realised they were from her son's Facebook account on reading them.'

Ms Hughes said Trinder, aged 21 at the time, had asked intimate questions and sent messages of a sexual nature.

Trinder, 22, had been talking to five girls - the youngest of whom was 13 - while staying with her over Christmas, Oxford Crown Court heard

'His mother was shocked by what she saw and she contacted the police and handed over her phone them.'

Trinder was then arrested and two of his own phones were seized.

He told police he didn't have 'anything with underage girls' on his phone and claimed he sent some messages 'while stoned'.

Alexandra Bull, defending, said there were 'elements of immaturity which certainly had an impact on his behaviour'.

Although the messages were explicit, there was no physical contact.

The court heard he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at 14 and suffered from feelings of loneliness and depression.

Ms Bull added 'He has used cannabis at significant levels. He puts a lot of blame on the cannabis.

'He is a young man who is thinking things through and he says he wants to help people.'

He pleaded guilty to six counts of attempting to incite a child in sexual activity and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

The judge said 'You have got a problem and you need help. This sort of behaviour is very serious.'
As President Donald Trump's 100-day mark nears, his supporters aren't going anywhere, with 96 percent saying they would vote for the Republican businessman again.

Tweeting Sunday afternoon, Trump considered this good news.

'New polls out today are very good considering that much of the media is FAKE and almost always negative,' he wrote. 'ABC News/Washington Post Poll (wrong big on election) said almost all stand by their vote on me & 53% said strong leader.'

'Would still beat Hillary in popular vote,' Trump also said.

The president didn't beat rival Hillary Clinton in the popular vote last November, but bested her in the Electoral College to win the White House.

However, while respondents matched up like the general election, with 46 percent saying they voted Clinton and 43 percent saying they selected Trump, a smaller percentage said they'd vote again for Clinton if the 2016 election was held today.

Now Trump would win the national popular vote among these survey respondents 43 percent to Clinton's 40 percent.

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President Donald Trump's poll numbers are at a historic low - as he'll mark 100 days in office next week - though his core base of supporters remains at his side

President Trump responded to the ABC News/Washington Post poll by saying it was 'very good' since, in his opinion, 'much of the media is FAKE and almost always negative'

President Trump made a perplexing claim saying he would 'still beat Hillary in popular vote,' despite losing to Hillary Clinton in the popular vote last November

The biggest chunk of respondents 'strongly disapprove' of the job President Trump has done in his first three months

Though while Trump's voters are sticking by his side, he hasn't broadened his base, which is plaguing his poll numbers, at historic lows.

For instance, 43 percent of voters said they strongly disapproved of the job Trump has done, according to a new Washington Post/ABC News survey, which is a record.

That same poll shows Trump's approval rating at 42 percent.

This is the lowest a president has received at this point in his administration since polling began during the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration.

Historically, a president is given a honeymoon period to settle in during his first 100 days  and, with that, higher than usual poll numbers.

But not Trump.

His 53 percent disapproval rating is 14 points higher than that of President Bill Clinton, who formerly held the record.

Clinton had a rocky start and thus a 39 percent disapproval rating back in April of 1993.

President Barack Obama, Trump's most recent predecessor, had a nice honeymoon, with voters giving him a 69 percent approval rating after the first three months, with a disapproval rating of 26 percent.

When just Trump voters were surveyed, however, they gave the new commander-in-chief an approval rating of 94 percent.

When his broader Republican Party was asked, Trump received an 84 percent approval rating from GOP voters.

Ninety-six percent of those who voted for him said supporting Trump was the right thing to do, while only 2 percent said they had regrets.

And while 96 percent of Trump voters said they would vote for Trump again in a 2016 vote do-over, a lower percentage, 85 percent, of Hillary Clinton supporters say they would cast a vote for the Democratic loser all over again.

This is how she under performs in the new tally of the popular vote, which Trump was likely referencing in his Sunday afternoon tweet.

Trump, however, wouldn't get those voters, with only 2 percent of Clinton defectors saying they would now cast a vote for the current commander-in-chief.

They told pollsters they would be more likely to cast a vote for a third-party choice or stay home.

The Washington Post/ABC News poll was conducted over cell phones and landlines with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.
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After a peaceful protest on the weekend went uncontested by Venezuelan authorities, civilians are poised to ramp up their demonstrations on Monday.

Thousands of protesters dressed in white marched into the west of Venezuela's capital on Saturday- an act likened to 'crossing the Berlin Wall' - in reaction to the deaths of 20 people during anti-government riots.

Three weeks of constant protests have involved violent clashes between the people of Caracas and riot police, and after a short respite over the weekend, things look set to turn ugly once more.

Civilians are being urged by the opposition to the government to flood the streets and block off the roads in order to grind the country to a halt.

Supporters of opposition leader Henrique Capriles cheer him during a protest in homage to the at least 20 people killed in unrest generated after the nation's Supreme Court stripped congress of its last powers, a decision it later reversed, outside the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, April 22, 2017

A woman with beads over her index finger holds up her arms in a deliberately peaceful fashion. Saturday's protest was the latest mass gathering in a wave of tumult that has rocked the nation over the last three weeks as demonstrators continue to press for new elections

Supporters of opposition leader Henrique Capriles cheer, take pictures and wave Venezuelan flags in Caracas, Venezuela

Massive crowds gather in Puerta del Sol square, in Madrid, Spain to take part in a rally to support the Venezuelans who demand an end of the regime of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro

Experts have previously said that under-fire President Nicolas Maduro will remain in power as long as Venezuelan's poorest citizens do not rise up.

One of the opposition leaders, Henrique Capriles, urged the crowd 'to keep coming out into the streets - this isn't the time to give up, it's a time to resist.'

The opposition plans to return to a more confrontational strategy on Monday, when it is calling for Venezuelans to block roads in a bid to grind the country to a halt.

Its leaders blame Maduro for the unraveling of oil giant Venezuela's once-booming economy, which has left the country with shortages of food, medicine and basic goods.

The spark that set off the near-daily protests was an attempt by the Supreme Court to take over the powers of the opposition-dominated Congress.

Although it partly reversed course after an international outcry, the move fueled widespread indignation in Venezuela that was heightened when an order came down barring Capriles from political office.

It will be a far cry from the weekend when demonstrators - who have called for elections and measures to halt the economic freefall which has engulfed the South American nation - dressed in white in honour of the 20 protesters who have died in clashes with police in the past month.

Opposition lawmaker Freddy Guevara likened the march toward some of the city's more humble neighborhoods as 'crossing the Berlin wall'.

Dressed in white, Venezuelan protesters opposed to President Maduro marched in silence in several cities on Saturday to pay respects to 20 people killed in three weeks of unrest.

The silent protest saw opposition leaders march with their arms wrapped around each other, having vowed to continue protests until their call for elections are granted.

They were joined in protest by Spaniards in Puerta del Sol square, in Madrid, Spain, where people gathered in their droves to show solidarity.

Tens of thousands joined a rally in Venezuelan capital Caracas to honour victims of violence in a blood-soaked month of protests against the country's president

After three weeks of protests centred in the most wealthy areas of Caracas, today's march saw demonstrators march toward the city's slums

Lawmakers walk together with Venezuelan opposition leader and Governor of Miranda state Henrique Capriles (third right) and Lilian Tintori (second left), wife of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, as they take part in a rally to honour victims of violence

Thousands of protesters gathered outside the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference to pay homage to the 20 people killed in protests in the past month

Unlike demonstrations in recent days, the rallies in Caracas, Maracaibo, Barquisimeto and San Cristobal passed with no major violence reported between protesters and police.

A few minor scuffles briefly broke out in the east of the capital when police forced back the crowd with tear gas. A female journalist said she was assaulted by pro-government heavies downtown and a male journalist was detained for hours by intelligence officers, their union said.

For the first time since the turmoil in the streets started at the beginning of April, the demonstrators were able to cross Caracas, including several districts loyal to Maduro and his late predecessor Hugo Chavez.

Tense negotiations saw security forces who had been blocking their way step aside to allow them to march to their destination, the headquarters of the Catholic bishops' conference.

A demonstrator holds a Venezuelan flag aloft during the protest over a wave of violence which has left 20 people dead over the past month

Opposition activists wore white as they joined the demonstration in memory of 20 people who died in clashes with police and by electrocution amid widespread protests

Opponents of the Venezuelan president have vowed to continue marching until elections are held

Protesters also marched to the Catholic Church's episcopal seats in several other cities across the country, tightly guarded by the police and national guard.

The opposition is seen as close to the Church, which the government accuses of playing politics against it.

The 'silent protest' was a test of the authorities' tolerance for peaceful demonstrations.

The center-right opposition has accused the leftist government of repressing past protests and sending armed thugs to attack them.

Many wore white T-shirts emblazoned with the word 'peace.' Others carried white flowers or Venezuelan flags, while one protester wielded a giant wooden cross.

A young woman holds a Venezuelan hat to her chest as people sing in protest over 20 people who were killed in violent clashes

A man wipes a tear from his eye as he takes part in a rally to support the Venezuelans who demand an end of the regime of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, at the Puerta del Sol square, in Madrid, Spain

In Caracas, a priest and an evangelical pastor led a mass for the demonstrators from the back of a truck.

Some of the protesters said they were not afraid of the government.

'We've got nothing left to lose. The government's already taken everything, all possibility of living our lives with dignity,' said protester Jessica Muchacho, 33.

'The government has to back down, it has to listen to the people,' said a protesting lawyer, Rosibel Torres.

A sociologist, Francisco Coello, predicted that 'the people will continue to protest,' demanding early elections.

On Thursday, protests descended into a night of clashes, riots and looting that left 12 people dead in Caracas. More pockets of violence erupted Friday night.

Residents described terrifying scenes Thursday night and early Friday.

'It was like a war,' said Carlos Yanez, a resident of the El Valle neighborhood in southwestern Caracas, where 11 people were killed.

The two sides blame each other for the unrest.

People throw up their arms in a deliberately peaceful protest in homage to the at least 20 people killed in unrest in Venezuela

People protest in homage to the at least 20 people killed in unrest generated after the nation's Supreme Court stripped congress of its last powers, a decision it later reversed, during a silent march to the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, April 22, 2017

People take part in a rally to support the Venezuelans who demand an end of the regime of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, at the Puerta del Sol square, in Madrid, Spain, 23 April 2017

Maduro, the heir of the leftist 'Bolivarian revolution' launched by the late Hugo Chavez in 1999, says the protests are part of a US-backed coup plot.

Pressure on the socialist president has been mounting since 2014, when prices for Venezuela's crucial oil exports started to plunge.

According to pollster Venebarometro, seven in 10 Venezuelans disapprove of Maduro, whose term does not end until 2019.

The secretary general of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro - one of Maduro's harshest critics - accused the government of cowardice.

'When the political leadership gives the order to open fire on its own people, that's a very strong signal of cowardice and weakness,' he said.

A dozen people died in unrest on Friday during overnight clashes and looting. Victims of violence in the past month have included protesters and bystanders struck by gunfire.

Most of the deaths took place in El Valle, a working class neighborhood near Caracas' biggest military base where opposition leaders say a group of people were hit with an electrical current while trying to loot a bakery protected by an electric fence.

Several businesses were wrecked during a night of looting in the Venezuelan capital on Friday, and authorities have come under fire over their response to widespread protests

A man walks down the aisle of a destroyed grocery store in Caracas today following a night of violence and looting as the national crisis deepens

People look for food outside a looted supermarket in the El Valle neighbourhood today following a night of violence in Caracas yesterday

Two days of massive protests on the streets of Caracas spilled into a violent night in several parts of the city, with residents in El Valle witnessing repetitive gunfire, street barricades set aflame and more than a dozen businesses looted.

Amid the confusion, mothers and newborn children had to be evacuated from a maternity hospital named after the late leader Hugo Chavez when it was swamped with tear gas.

Opposition leaders blamed the government for repressing protesters with tear gas but standing idly by as businesses were looted. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez pointed the finger at the opposition, saying armed groups controlled by them were responsible for the attack at the hospital.

'We reject and do not accept those irresponsible declarations,' said Henrique Capriles, a former presidential candidate who the government recently barred from running for public office.
(Xinhua) 09:58, April 23, 2017

TEHRAN, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong said here Saturday that China is willing to strengthen all-round cooperation with Iranand achieve tangible results in various sectors.

The vice premier made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian Vice President Sorena Sattari in Iran's capital Tehran.

Liu said that the relations between China and Iran, which provide mutual support at crucial moments and on major issues, have maintained steady momentum of development.

In January 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinpingpaid a state visit to Iran and formulated a strategic plan with Iranian leaders on China-Iran relations, she said.

"Over the past year, the two sides have achieved significant progress in their cooperation in politics, trade, energy, agriculture and culture," Liu said.

Under the frame of the Belt and Road initiative, which will benefit the region and beyond, China will further promote the comprehensive strategic partnership with Iran, strenghthen cooperation in the traditional sectors such as energy, tap the potential of cooperation in emerging sectors of capacity, connectivity and industrial parks, and expand cooperation in science and technology, education, culture, medicine and health, Liu added.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, known as the Belt and Road Initiative, was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes.

For his part, Sattari said the relations between Iran and China have made considerable progress in recent years.

Iran always places its relations with China as a high priority of its foreign policy, the vice president said, adding that Xi's historic visit to Iran in 2016 helped boost significant progress in bilateral relations.

Sattari expressed the hope that the two countries could further promote the Belt and Road initiative and strengthen cooperation in various fields.

After the meeting, Liu and Sattari witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation documents in the fields of science and technology, culture and art.
As her boyfriend was arrested by armed police, TOWIE star Ferne McCann has been dealt another blow by cruel Twitter trolls.

The 26-year-old television personality this weekend revealed she was pregnant with Arthur Collins' child - as he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following an acid attack in a London nightclub.

Now Ms McCann has been targeted by social media users claiming her 'career has been ruined' and criticising her for dating a 'violent criminal'.

Towie star Ferne McCann deleted all images of Arthur Collins from her social media, including this one on holiday in the Maldives

TOWIE star Ferne McCann has been dealt another blow by cruel Twitter trolls, targeting her online

The 25-year-old was wanted in connection with the horrifying acid attack at an east London nightclub on Easter Monday.

Two people were left partially blinded and 20 others suffered injuries - and Collins has been on the run for five days.

Now Ferne has been targeted by Twitter users. One wrote: 'Your career ruined! Hope the bad boy was worth it'.

Another Twitter user said: 'Stay off TV for a long time now. Not a good image to have, as an alleged acid attackers missus. Firearms and cultivation too'.

In a statement Metropolitan Police said: 'Arthur Collins, 25, was arrested at an address in Rushden, Northamptonshires on Saturday night, 22 April.

'Officers from the Met's Specialist Crime & Operations and Hackney Borough, with the assistance of armed officers from the East Midlands Operational Support Service and Northamptonshire Police.'

Ferne had begged her boyfriend to give himself up to the police in since with the horrifying acid attack in east London.

The development comes as police reveal they've charged a 21-year-old in connection with the attack.

Police have previously swooped in on Collins' 1million Hertfordshire home, where two people were arrested after cannabis and firearms were found

Andre Phoenix was charged with seven counts of grievous bodily harm.

Police had also previously raided Collins's house looking for firearms and cannabis.

Ferne Mcann told told Collins of her pregnancy shortly before the acid attack in the early hours of Easter Monday, the Sun reported.

Around 20 clubbers suffered burns after being doused with the substance including a 22-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man who were both blinded in one eye.

Detective Inspector Lee McCullough of Hackney CID had previously said the net was closing in on Collins.

Around 20 clubbers suffered burns after being doused with the acid. Sophie Hall, 21 (pictured), fears she's been scarred for life

The shocking incident occurred at the Mangle nightclub in Dalston, east London where partygoers were celebrating Easter

He said: 'This investigation continues to move at great pace and the net is closing in on those we believe to be responsible.

'My team continues to act on a number of leads to bring in those wanted for questioning in relation to this awful incident.

'Anyone found harbouring those wanted for questioning by police can expect a knock at the door and could well find themselves under arrest.

'We have 20 people suffering from the effects of an acidic substance being sprayed in a confined space in a busy nightclub.

'All have burn-related injuries. This incident has caused suffering to a large group of people and left many others needing long term treatment.

'The noxious substance used has not yet been confirmed but samples retrieved from the scene have been sent for analysis. If you were there and saw anyone involved inside or leaving the nightclub, please get in touch.'

The former TOWIE star has also revealed that she's pregnant with fugitive Arthur Collins's baby

Ferne McCann has launched a career as a presenter on ITV's This Morning

Arthur Collins and Ferne McCann pictured here on holiday in Ibiza

The man blinded in one eye and another victim, a 29-year-old man, were transferred to a specialist burns hospital in Essex, and have since been discharged, police said.

Police believe trouble brewed between two groups at the packed club and the acidic substance was flung directly over the pair.

A 24-year-old old man arrested in north London over the attack on Friday has since been released, police said.

Phoenix will appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday.
An eight-year-old girl has relived her terrifying escape from a sinking car that claimed the lives of her mother and two siblings.

Chloe-May Kabealo was the only survivor when her family's car skidded off a muddy road into the Tweed River during horrific flooding caused by Cyclone Debbie.

'I unbuckled my seatbelt and I tried to go up for air. And I just kept floating up out of something, and then I got out,' she told reporters at a community fundraiser.

Eight-year-old Chloe-May Kabealo relived her terrifying escape from a sinking car in the Tweed River, NSW, that claimed the lives of her mother and two siblings

Her mother Stephanie King, 43, sister Ella-Jade, 11, and brother Jacob, eight, all perished when family's car plunged into the swollen Tweed River in northern NSW

The brave young girl swam to shore near Tumbulgum, NSW, on April 3, and hiked to the nearest farmhouse to raise the alarm.

'They just took me in, and lent me some clean clothes and cleaned up the cuts on my feet,' she recalled.

Clutching a blue shushie with her father Matthew by her side, Chloe-May paid tribute to her mother Stephanie King, 43, sister Ella-Jade, 11, and brother Jacob, eight.

'They were all loved and they will never be forgotten,' she said.

Her father Matthew Kabealo (R) said he was 'shattered' and 'not holding it [together]' after the heroic death of his wife who fought to save their children until her last breath

The pair were at a fundraiser by local police, many of whom had to retrieve the family's bodies from the swollen river, to raise money for Chloe-May and her dad

NSW Police said Ms King died tried to free her young children and would be alive if she hadn't fought for them until her last breath

Mr Kabealo said he was 'shattered' and 'not holding it [together]' after the heroic death of his wife who fought to save their children until her last breath.

'I'm just being strong for my daughter. We're just going to get through it the best we can,' he said.

The pair were at a fundraiser by local police, many of whom had to retrieve the family's bodies from the swollen river, to raise money for Chloe-May and her dad.

A GoFundMe page also raised more than $156,000 from 1,500 donors.

NSW Police Superintendent Wayne Starling said in the days following the tragedy in the state's north that Ms King would be alive had she not tried to free her young children.

'I can tell you the mother was trying to get one of her children out of the car when she passed away. She was with the child, holding the child,' he said.

Chloe-May is comforted by family at the funeral of her mother, brother, and sister earlier this month

A GoFundMe page also raised more than $156,000 from 1,500 donors for the brave girl and her father who had to watch their family be buried

'She died trying to save a child. I've got no doubt whatsoever that that woman is a hero. She'd be alive today if she wasn't trying to save her children.'

She was found cradling her son Jacob when their car was pulled from the river.

Superintendent Starling added that Chloe-May was a 'very brave little girl'.

'She had injuries to her feet, trying to get out. Her main focus was trying to save her mum, her brother and sister,' he said.

'I wouldn't be surprised if the mother helped her out.'

Police work to extract the bodies from the flooded Tweed River after the tragedy
Pope Francis has outraged Jewish leaders by comparing European refugee centres to 'concentration camps'.

The pontiff was speaking to a group of migrants at the Basilica of St. Bartholomew in Rome on Saturday.

The pontiff was speaking to a group of migrants about a refugee he met on a Greek island

He was talking about a refugee he met on the Greek island of Lesbos.

Speaking in Italian he said: 'I don't know if he was able to get out of that concentration camp because the refugee camps - many - are concentration (camps) because they are crowded with so many people.

The American Jewish Committee soon after urged the pontiff to 'reconsider his regrettable choice of words,' Reuters reported.

AJC CEO David Harris said: 'The conditions in which migrants are currently living in some European countries may well be difficult and deserve still greater international attention, but concentration camps they certainly are not.

'The Nazis and their allies erected and used concentration camps for slave labour and the extermination of millions of people during World War II.

'There is no comparison to the magnitude of that tragedy.'

American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris said that while migrants may be living in difficult conditions, there was 'no comparison' that could be made with the Holocaust

Pope Francis also urged northern Italy to take in more migrants, who have up to now been concentrated in the south of the country

Pope Francis also urged northern Italy to take more migrants and hoped that the generosity of the south of the country could 'infect the north a bit.'

He added that Italy had one of the world's lowest birth rates and said: 'If we close the doors to migrants, this is called suicide.'

Italy is home to the far-right and anti-immigrant Northern League, which has called for Roma camps to be razed and is vehemently against the Euro.

The party, currently led by Matteo Salvini, started as a secessionist party arguing for the separation of northern Italy and the poorer south.

But Salvini has changed its tone, focusing on the migrant crisis and likening it to an 'invasion'.
Extraordinary: Sheila Abdus-Salaam (pictured) grew up in working-class Brooklyn but rose to become the first female black judge in NY's highest court

The mysterious death of Sheila Abdus-Salaam, the pioneering judge who became the first black female to be appointed to New York state's highest court, this month, shocked the state.

But the circumstances of her death in the Hudson river - which could be suspicious or suicide, the NYPD are not yet sure - cannot overshadow her incredible life.

That includes standing up to the leader of the Nation of Islam after he publicly told her off for attending a 'white devil's' college; marrying four times; and giving up lucrative law work to help the impoverished in Brooklyn, the New York Post reported.

Abdus-Salaam - born Sheila Turner - grew up a working-class Catholic in Brooklyn, and was inspired to become a lawyer after her school was visited by civil rights attorney Frankie Muse Freeman.

'She was riveting,' Abdus-Salaam told Columbia Law School Magazine in 2012. 'She was doing what I wanted to do: using the law to help people.'

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She went to Barnard College in 1974, then to Columbia Law School in 1977, where she married boyfriend Ed Michael, who had adopted the name Sharif Abdus-Salaam after joining the Nation of Islam.

It was his surname she would keep through the next three marriages - but as the great-granddaughter of a slave, Adbus-Salaam didn't much care about names.

'Philosophically, surnames were not important because the names our fathers got were passed down from slave owners,' Paula Mason, her friend from Columbia, explained.

Abdus-Salaam and Madison joined the Nation of Islam too, although Madison said 'It wasn't about religion.'

'We shared a passion to better our communities,' she explained, 'and for us, the Nation of Islam was an organization that we felt we could work within.'

Standing up: Abdus-Salaam (left) and friend Paula Mason (right) joined the Nation of Islam in the '70s, but were told off by its leader in front of 400 people for studying law at the 'white' Columbia college. Abdus-Salaam just laughed it off, Mason said

Not that it was easy going: The pair were called up in front of the 400-strong group by its leader, Louis Farrakhan, and publicly rebuked for attending the 'white' university, a supposed bastion of 'the devil'.

Abdus-Salaam shook off the criticism with ease and continued her studies - and found 'a staggering number of brothers' coming to her for advice, Madison said.

She left the group when she divorced Sharif Abdus-Salaam seven years later, having drifted apart from him.

But by that point she had become well-established as a crusading lawyer, helping the impoverished in Brooklyn.

Early on in her career she led an anti-discrimination case for a group of women bus drivers who had been denied promotions, netting the group a victory.

She also defended a historic black neighborhood in Harlem where taxes had been raised so high that locals were selling their apartments for a dollar.

Abdus-Salaam met her second husband while campaigning to become a judge - a role she took in 1993 - but again they drifted apart.

Her personal life took another downturn when she developed uterine cancer, though the support of her close friends helped her get through it.

Inspiration: Abdus-Salaam was inspired by pioneering civil rights lawyer Frankie Muse Freeman (right, in 1964), and went on to defend women, the poor and black communities

She also married - and then divorced - her third husband, contractor Hector Nova.

But in the courtroom she continued to power on - and in 2009 she became the first female African-American judge to be appointed to the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, First Judicial Department.

It was there, last August, that she made a landmark decision to overturn a 1991 ruling that said nonbiological parents in a same-sex union could not seek custody.

Wed: Last year Abdus-Salaam married Rev. Gregory Jacobs (right). As a judge, she was instrumental in ensuring gay parents had equal custody rights in law

Expanding the definition of what it means to be a parent, she said: '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 also married her fourth husband, the Reverend Gregory Jacobs, last year, in June.

Then, on April 12, the life of this extraordinary woman ended abruptly.

Jacobs contacted police after Abdus-Salaam failed to turn up to work, and shortly afterward her body was hauled out of the Hudsdon River.

Police initially suggested that Abdus-Salaam - who was wearing exercise clothes - had committed suicide.

That was partly based on water found in her lungs, which suggested she'd been alive when she hit the water.

And April was always a difficult month for her: She lost her brother Benny in April 2014, and her mother in April 2012.

But Jacobs, and her friends, said that was nonsense. 'Those of us who loved Sheila and knew her well do not believe that these unfounded conclusions have any basis in reality,' Jacobs said in a statement.

Her first husband was similarly adamant. 'She was a wonderful person with a great sense of humor,' he said. 'I just don't believe she killed herself.'

The NYPD says it is still leaning towards suicide, but is treating the death as suspicious.
Protesters burned cars, danced around bonfires and clashed with police in violent demonstrations in France against Marine Le Pen's National Front.

Anti-fascist activists clashed with riot police in Paris' Place de la Bastille - the birthplace of the French Revolution, where anarchists lit flares and chanted anti-National Front songs.

Three people were detained in election night scuffles across the country, but no serious injuries have been reported.

Protesters waved red flags and sang 'No Marine and No Macron!' in anger at the results of Sunday's first-round presidential election.

Later, around 300 people gathered at a peaceful protest at nearby Place de la Republique, waving red flags and dancing around the flames of a bonfire.

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Police fired tear gas to disperse an increasingly rowdy crowd in the heart of Paris. Riot police surrounded the area

French police clashed with anti-fascist demonstrators following the announcement of the first round of results in today's election in Paris this afternoon

Anti-fascist activists clashed with riot police in Paris' Place du la Bastille - the birthplace of the French Revolution

A woman lies on the ground during the demonstration as results of today's election began to filter through

The crowds of young people, some from anarchist and anti-fascist groups, gathered in eastern Paris as results were coming in from Sunday's first-round vote.

Police fired tear gas to disperse an increasingly rowdy crowd. Riot police surrounded the area.

Protesters have greeted several of Le Pen's campaign events, angry at her anti-immigration policies and her party, which she has sought to detoxify after a past tainted by racism and anti-Semitism.

There were angry scenes in Nantes in western France, where anti-fascists took to the streets to protest

Demonstrators in Nantes chanted anti-Le Pen slogans as they showed their opposition to the National Front leader

Teams of riots cops, in full battle armour were seen running towards the baying mob.

A group of 200 youths chanted slogans against Marine Le Pen, urging support for centrist Emmanuel Macron.

They sang: 'Macron, the whole world hates the National Front!'

Meanwhile riot police descended en masse to secure the streets and squares around the Place de la Bastille.

Anti-riot police tend to a demonstrator lying on the ground today following angry clashes

Anti-fascists stand behind a banner reading 'Vote Jose Pave' as they demonstrate in Paris, where intelligence services fear there will be riots after the election results

Intelligence officers have warned of a 'jihadist threat' as millions go to the polls in today's election, a leaked security document has revealed

The warning comes as Paris remains on lockdown after a police officer was shot dead on the Champs-Elysees by an ISIS gunman, who was then killed by police

Marine Le Pen drops her vote into the ballot box (left) while opposition Emmanuel Macron (right, left) does the same under the watchful eye of his wife Brigitte

Earlier today it emerged that intelligence officers had warned of a 'jihadist threat' as millions went to the polls in today's election, a leaked security document has revealed.

The warning came as Paris remains on lockdown after a police officer was shot dead on the Champs-Elysees by an ISIS gunman, who was then killed by police.

The report, leaked today to newspaper Le Parisien, also warns that there could be rioting on the streets of French cities after the election results are announced.

Intelligence services warned there would be 'public disturbances in the case of the presence of parties in the second round that are extremist,' Le Parisien said.

Le Pen, 48, came second in the national poll behind Emmanuel Macron, with 22 per cent of the vote in the tense election, which saw 11 candidates vying for the role.

Tonight Le Pen and her supporters were celebrating in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont, 120 miles north of Paris, where security services were on high alert.

After winning today, Le Pen and Macron will go head to head on May 7 and one of them will become President.

More than 50,000 police and gendarmes were deployed to the 66,000 polling stations today, just a few days after the attack in Paris on Thursday.

Le Pen has vowed to offer French voters a referendum to leave the EU and wants to leave the Euro, known as Frexit.

Femen activists with masks, including one wearing a mask of Marine Le Pen, top left, are detained as they demonstrate in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, where far-right leader and presidential candidate Le Pen voted during the first round of the French presidential election

Her father, the convicted racist and anti-Semite Jean-Marie Le Pen, won through to the second round of the 2002 presidential election but was then crushed by the conservative Jacques Chirac.

However she faces a similar prospect of defeat when she goes up against Macron, 39 in the second round of the election in two weeks time.

Pro-EU Macron, is against Brexit, but despite being a former socialist finance minister is standing a centrist independent candidate, who counts former US President Barack Obama as a supporter.

According to exit polls last night in France, which usually accurately reflect the result, Macron won 24 per cent of the vote, according to Belgian broadcaster RTBF.

He is widely expected to win the contest against Le Pen.

Up to 80 per cent of the French population went to polling stations, which was slightly down on the last general election in 2012, won by Francois Hollande, according to French cable netowork BFMTV.

A Femen activists wearing the mask of Marine le Pen is detained as they demonstrate in Henin Beaumont, northern France

In France the election took place with the nation on high alert, with the vote taking place just three days after a police officer was gunned down by a Jihadi on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

In Besancon eastern France a stolen car was abandoned outside a polling station with the engine running.

Police found a hunting rifle inside the vehicle which had been disguised with stolen number plates.

In Rouen, Normandy, a gunman shot and wounded another man but the incident was classified as non-terror related.

Two other polling station, in Saint Omer, northern France, were evacuated because of a suspicious vehicle with Dutch number plates.

Ballots were cast in the wake of took place after a series of devastating terror attacks across France, but despite that armed police and soldiers are outlawed from protecting 67,000 French polling stations.

There had been a serious concern that groups including Islamic State would target the election.

However the 50,000 policemen and gendarmes that were only standby along with 7,000 soldiers were not required as the day went on.

The top two candidates Macron and Le Pen face an election run off for the French presidency on Sunday 7 May.

The presidential poll is the first to be held during a state of emergency, put in place since the Paris attacks of November 2015.

Voters are choosing between 11 candidates in the most unpredictable contest in decades, and the poll conducted by RTBF suggests just that.

Marine Le Pen was today poised for a historic breakthrough in Frances nail-biting presidential race.

Despite lagging behind early, the far-Right leader is confident her chances of winning the elections first round have been strengthened by last weeks terrorist murder of a police officer on the Champs-Elysees.

But with the country on high alert as voters head to the polls, 48-year-old Le Pen  dubbed Madame Frexit for threatening to follow Britain out of the EU  was accused of using the shooting for her own ends.

Topless demonstrators from the Femen activist group caused a commotion as they staged a stunt against Le Pen outside a polling station where the far-right presidential candidate was heading to vote.

Around sixactivists were detained Sunday morning after jumping out of an SUV limo wearing masks of Le Pen and United States President Donald Trump.

Police and security forces quickly forced them into police vans, confiscating their signs.

Le Pen voted at the station shortly after without further disruption.

After nine hours of voting, turnout was 69.42 percent, one of the highest levels in 40 years.

While down slightly on the same point in the 2012 election, an extra hour of voting in smaller towns was expected to take turnout to around 78 to 81 percent.

A Femen activist wearing the mask of U.S President Donald Trump is taken away from the scene near a scrum of photographers

People line up before casting their vote for the first-round presidential election at a polling station in Paris, Sunday, April 23, 2017

Outgoing French president Francois Hollande casts his ballot at a polling station in Tulle (left) as Marine Le Pen emerges from a booth (right)

Outgoing French president Francois Hollande picks up ballot papers before casting his vote at a polling station in Tulle, central France, on April 23, 2017, during the first round of the Presidential election

Former French President and former Head of Les Republicains right wing Party Nicolas Sarkozy (centre) and his wife, the singer Carla Bruni Sarkozy (left) vote in the first round of the 2017 French Presidential Election at the Jean de la Fontaine High School in the 16th arrondissement on April 23, 2017 in Paris, France

Former French President and former Head of Les Republicains right wing Party Nicolas Sarkozy sweeps the curtain aside as he leaves a voting booth

Marine Le Pen was today poised for a historic breakthrough in Frances nail-biting presidential race

Her campaign has been dominated by anti-Islam and anti-immigration rhetoric and critics said she has used the violence to stoke further hostility.

Defiant voters proclaimed the Paris terrorist attack would not alter their political loyalties in the French presidential elections today, although many feared a surge in support for the National Front.

As citizens flocked to polling stations across the country Parisians told how they would vote with their hearts to reject extremist ideas, in the first round of voting to decide the new leader of France.

Mother-of-one Marie-Noelle Liesse told MailOnline she voted for independent centrist Emmanuel Macron to stop Marine Le Pen.

She said: I voted with my heart to stop the extremists, the National Front, from getting into power.

The terrorist attack on the Champs Elysee has not affected the way I voted, but I fear it may have influenced some people.

I voted for Macron. I believe he is the right candidate to lead France.

Mrs Liesse, 45, a communications executive, brought her five-year-old son Amant, to the polling station in the central Marais district of Paris.

French presidential election candidate for the far-right Front National (FN) party, Marine Le Pen casts her ballot in the first round of the French presidential elections in Henin-Beaumont, Northern France, shortly after the commotion

Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron waves supporters after casting his vote in the first round of the French presidential election, in le Touquet, northern France, Sunday April 23, 2017

People line up before casting their vote for the first-round presidential election at a polling station in Paris, Sunday, April 23, 2017

Young professional couple Max Nivoix and Mariam Guedra voted for independent centrist Emmanuel Macron for said they feared the terrorist attack would galvanise support for Marine Le Pens National Front.

Mr Nivoix, 28, an industrial products buyer, told MailOnline: I have voted for Macron. I think he is the best candidate to lead France.

The terrorist attack last week has not influenced the way I voted. But I fear that people outside of Paris will turn to Le Pen because of it.

French nationals in the UK casting their votes Among the 60,000 polling stations to open their doors was the French Consulate in South Kensington, where the bulk of the UK's French nationals are expected to cast their votes. According to figures from 2014, there are 400,000 French people living in London, which prompted Boris Johnson to call it France's sixth biggest city. At the end of 2013, the Foreign Ministry recorded 1.6million French expats living in the UK, according to The Independent. Outside of the capital, there are polling stations in Ashford, Brighton, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Advertisement

His partner Ms Guedra, 28, an engineer, added: I voted for Emmanuel Macron too. He has the best policies for young people and for the time we live in now.

But we are both educated and from the city. I know that old people and people in the countryside are more in favour of Le Pen.

Flight attendant Baptiste Laurent said he voted for communist-backed firebrand Jean-Luc Melonchon he feared National Front candidate Marine Le Pen could come top in the poll.

Mr Laurent, 39, told MailOnline: I voted for Melonchon because I voted for what I believe in  a more equal society.

But I fear that Le Pen could be the biggest winner today.

Mr Laurent came to the polling station with his 14-month-old daughter Romy.

A primary school teacher also backed communist-backed firebrand Jean-Luc Melonchon but feared a surge of support for Le Pens National Front.

Alexandre, 42, told MailOnline: I voted for Melonchon because I support his programme and his socialist policies.

But Le Pen will do well in the polls today. She has a strong base of support. And after the terrorist attack she will get more votes. I think she will get through to the second round of voting.

The second round of voting between the two front runners of todays poll will take place on Sunday 7 May.

She is locked in a duel with centrist front-runner Emmanuel Macron, 39, a staunch defender of the single market who has told Theresa May he favours a hard Brexit.

If, as expected, Le Pen and Macron are successful in the first round of voting today, they will face each other in the run-off on May 7.

People line up to vote at a polling station in the first round of 2017 French presidential election in Vaulx-en-Velin, France, April 23, 2017

Brigitte Trogneux casts her ballot next to her husband, French presidential election candidate for the En Marche movement Emmanuel Macron during the first round of the Presidential election at a polling station in Le Touquet

But analysts say the battle for the Elysee Palace is by no means a two-horse race.

Le Pen has moved from 22 per cent to 23 per cent in the latest opinion poll while her three rivals have all lost half a percentage point of support.

Macron dropped back to 24.5 per cent, while republican candidate Francois Fillon and leftist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon were back on 19 per cent.

The far-Right leader is confident her chances of winning the elections first round have been strengthened by last weeks terrorist murder of a police officer on the Champs-Elysees

Experts said a Le Pen victory in the first round could mean cheaper holidays for Brits heading to Europe.

Kathleen Brooks, of City Index Direct, said: I think if Le Pen wins today by a wide enough margin, then the euro will fall significantly, possibly to the lowest levels weve seen this year. And a weak euro will initially be great for us as everything will be much cheaper in Europe.

Le Pens father, the convicted racist Jean-Marie Le Pen, caused shockwaves around the world in 2002 when he came second in the first round. He then went on to lose to Jacques Chirac by a landslide of more than 80 per cent.

But Marine Le Pen is convinced she can go one better by positioning herself as the candidate who is toughest on terror.

She had pledged to immediately reinstate border checks, to expel foreigners and to ban all immigration, whether illegal or not. Supporters include Donald Trump who said the Paris attack would have a big effect on the presidential election because the French people will not take much more of this.

But French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve accused Le Pen of shamelessly seeking to exploit fear and emotion for exclusively political ends. Mr Cazeneuve pointed out that Karim Cheurfi, the 39-year-old responsible for the murder of traffic officer Xavier Jugele, 37, was a born and bred Frenchman.

Le Pen has called for negotiation with Brussels on a new EU, followed by a referendum; extremist mosques closed and priority to French nationals in social housing; and retirement age fixed at 60.

Macron forged a reputation with his Macron Law, a controversial reform bill that allowed shops to open more often on Sundays. On security, he has said France is paying for the intelligence jobs cuts made when Fillon was PM between 2007 and 2012.
North Korea has threatened to sink an American aircraft carrier heading towards the peninsula as part of joint military exercises with Japanese naval ships in the Philippine Sea.

The USS Carl Vinson was the target of North Korea's hypothetical attack, CNN reports, with state-run media in the country boasting about its military might and capabilities.

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper published an editorial warning Kim Jong-un is ready to use its 'military force' that is able to sink a 'nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike'.

North Korea has threatened to sink the USS Carl Vinson (pictured) - which is currently part of joint military exercises with Japanese naval ships in the Philippine Sea

This map shows where the USS Carl Vinson is currently said to be located as part of naval exercises with Japan

The outlet went on to claim North Korea's military has the ability to 'reach continental US and Asia Pacific region', and that the country is in possession of a hydrogen bomb - described as the 'absolute weapon'.

The warning came as a pair of Japanese destroyers joined the Vinson and two other US warships as they continued their journey north in the western Pacific Ocean, the Navy said in a statement.

The US vessel had canceled a scheduled visit to Australia to divert toward North Korea in a show of force, though it still conducted a curtailed training exercise with Australia before doing so.

Tensions are elevated on the Korean Peninsula, with the Trump administration saying that all options are on the table, and indications Kim Jong-un may be preparing to test a nuclear weapon or long-range missile.

The USS Carl Vinson was the target of North Korea's hypothetical attack, with state-run media in the country boasting about its military might and the ability to sink a: 'nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike''

This undated picture released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on March 7, 2017 shows the launch of four ballistic missiles by the Korean People's Arm

Two Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers left Sasebo port in southern Japan on Friday to join the Vinson strike group.

The US group also includes a guided-missile cruiser and a guided-missile destroyer.

The Navy called the exercise 'routine' and said it is designed to improve combined maritime response and defense capabilities, as well as joint maneuvering proficiency.

The Vinson group has conducted three previous bilateral exercises with the Japanese navy since leaving San Diego on January 5 for a western Pacific deployment.

North Korea has issued a statement threatening 'nuclear war' against the United States if it is attacked

A Foreign Ministry spokesman accused mounting tensions in the region on the Trump administration and said that they would start nuclear war if they are attacked. Pictured is a submarine-launched ballistic missile displayed during a 'Day of the Sun' military parade

The most recent one was in March.

The new tests come just after North Korea threatened 'nuclear war' against the United States if it is attacked.

'The DPRK will react to a total war with an all-out war, a nuclear war with nuclear strikes of its own and surely win a victory in the death-defying struggle against the US imperialists,' a Foreign Ministry spokesman wrote Saturday.

If the country were to test another nuclear device, it would be a major show of defiance by their leader after repeated warnings by the American President. Pictured is a North Korean missile displayed during the 'Day of the Sun' parade

This message, which was one of three delivered Saturday, echoed the message delivered by a top official at the massive 'Day of the Sun' military parade in Pyongyang earlier this month.

The spokesman accused the United States and the Trump administration of the spike in tensions in recent months, saying officials have been 'spouting a load of rubbish,' and are 'seeking to bring nuclear aircraft carrier strike groups one after another to the waters of the Korean peninsula,' CBS News reports.

North Korea appears to have resumed work at its nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, in the northeastern part of the country, the New York Times reports.
Melania and Ivanka have a reported frosty relationship as Trump's eldest daughter has frequently filled the role as First Lady in Melania's absence.

Two unnamed sources said they noticed the president's leading ladies were not getting along, it was revealed on Sunday.

Although a White House spokesperson denied the allegations by saying the two women have always had a close bond and still do, the frigid relationship could stem from Ivanka being a stand-in for First Lady duties.

Melania and Ivanka have a reported frosty relationship as Trump's eldest daughter has frequently filled her role as First Lady in Melania's absence, insiders revealed on Sunday

Although a White House spokesperson denied the allegations by saying the two women have always had a close bond, the frigid relationship could stem from Ivanka taking on more roles at the White House

In a Vanity Fair article centered on the private life of Melania, the magazine claims that two unidentified sources in both fashion and media noticed the cold interactions.

Melania was greeted with disapproving headlines when it was announced she would be staying in New York City with her son Barron for the remainder of the 11-year-old's academic school year, despite Trump moving to Washington DC.

Ivanka on the other hand, quickly rounded up her three children and husband Jared Kushner to move into a $5.5million dollar home in the exclusive neighborhood of Kalorama.

The First Daughter, who will be traveling to Germany next week on behalf of the president to mourn Holocaust victims, has always been at her father's side.

Ivanka has been beside her father in business and politics and will be traveling to Germany next week as the First Daughter to mourn Holocaust victims. Pictured: Trump with his leading ladies at the Met Gala in 2004

From being an integral part of his company, to appearing on his Apprentice show and cheering him on during his presidential campaign, Ivanka has been Trump's go-to child and perhaps biggest supporter.

So when Melania, who was absent for a host of campaign rallies and speeches, shied away from her new political duties as First Lady, Ivanka was the clear choice to fill her shoes.

The 35-year-old businesswoman since has appeared at meetings with Chinese leaders, accompanied Trump on his Dover Air Force Base visit and welcomed back a recently freed American charity worker in the Oval Office.

But now Melania seems ready to take back her place at Trump's side. She has been seen more frequently in Washington DC and joined her husband in his first military hospital visit where he awarded an Army veteran with a Purple Heart, on Saturday.
He is the top actor who has played tough guys in a string of Oscar-winning Hollywood blockbusters.

From his career-launching role as a thug in borstal drama Scum in 1979 to his hard-bitten Cockney copper character in 2015s The Legend Of Barney Thomson, via being star of Martin Scorceses The Departed, Ray Winstone is known as the hard man of the movies.

But the film heros latest role is helping raise much-needed money for a charity which helps the victims of domestic violence.

Winstone, the star of big-screen triumphs such as Sexy Beast, Nil By Mouth and The Sweeney, has pledged to drum up funds for London-based good cause Against Violence And Abuse (AVA).

The charity provides services for those who have been battered by their partners or other family members, with a focus on helping women and girls. The latest project is aiming to raise thousands of pounds.

Research has shown that 30 per cent of women - about five million - and 16 per cent of men, or 2.5million, experience domestic abuse during their lives.

Ray Winstone has starred in a chilling domestic abuse film in a bid to raise money for charity Against Violence and Abuse. Winstone plays himself, an actor who has starred in popular gangster movies

Winstone plays himself  an actor who has played a hard case in a raft of acclaimed and popular gangster movies  in a darkly comic murder story written by best-selling crime novelist Peter James.

The plot centres on fictional vintner James Montague who is angered at the unreasonable scowling reviews on British wine by beautiful but snobbish critic Candice Deville.

She attends a posh party but scornfully dismisses his latest bouquet of English fizz as unremarkable. Pouring a glass of wine into the dirt, she mocks: This has absolutely no nose at all  none. It totally lacks body.

In a murderous rage, the suave but dastardly Montague calls Winstone for advice  hypothetically  on committing the perfect murder.

Fictional vintner James Montague asks Winstone for help on committing the 'perfect murder' on beautiful but snobbish critic Candice Deville. He replies: 'I may be a hard man but that don't make me a killer in real life'

The actor replies: I may be a hard man in the movies but that dont make me a killer in real life. But I have picked up a few simple rules along the way. I could tell you as long as you promise not to act on them.

Montague insists his request is just a bit of fun. But he is lying through his wine-stained teeth, says the book.

Reassured, Winstone says that he thought poison would be a good option. Unless the pathologist knows what to look for it can be hard to detect, he says.

He also suggests smashing the victim over the head with a wine bottle: For a wine producer like yourself, that would have a certain  shall we say  finesse. He also suggests strangulation: No murder weapon.

Montague eventually kills the critic by hurling her into a vat then making wine in it. Over the course of three years, the chemical process dissolves her corpse, but creates a wine with such a wonderful nose'

But he warns: The real perfect murder is the one where there is no body. Without a body, murder is extremely hard to prove. You must of course be completely thorough. Even just the tiniest body part can give the modern detective all he needs.

His words spur Montague into action, who kills the critic by hurling her into a vat then making wine in it. Over the course of three years, the chemical process dissolves her corpse, but creates a wine with such a wonderful nose  and truly full-bodied.

The booklet costs 3, with 2 going to charity. The rest of the money covers the costs of production. The story  called Murder At Ridgeview  was dreamed up by Mr James and Brighton-based tailor Gresham Blake and shot at Ridgeview Wine Estate on the outskirts of the city.

Against Violence And Abuse is a leading charity committed to ending gender-based violence and abuse. It works to end violence against women and girls through policy, research and prevention.

It trains around 3,000 people a year, including local authority workers and health professionals, how to recognise the signs of domestic abuse, how to ask the right questions and where to refer victims so they get help.

Around five million women and 2.5 million men will experience domestic abuse. The cost of domestic violence in England and Wales is 23 billion a year

The cost of domestic violence in England and Wales is a staggering 23billion a year. Shockingly, two women are murdered by their partners or ex-partners every week. Every year, 400,000 women are sexually assaulted and 80,000 raped.

The toll of the trauma also extends to children, with some 750,000 witnessing domestic violence  often scarring them emotionally for life.

Donna Covey, director of Against Violence And Abuse, said: For the two women a week murdered by their partner or ex-partner, death at the hands of a man are a reality, not a fantasy.

We are delighted that this project is recognising this by giving the profits from Murder at Ridgeview to AVA which we will use in our attempt to end violence against women and girls. We hope this book will remind people in a subtle way of that appalling figure.

Two women are murdered by their partners or ex-partners every week. Every year, 400,000 women are sexually assaulted and 80,000 raped. Ray Winstone said: 'Violence is not acceptable in any form

Ray Winstone said: This story is a bit of fun. But it is important to remember that violence is not acceptable in any form so it's great that money from the book goes to help those who suffer from domestic violence.

Peter James said: It is a terribly sad statistic that victims of domestic violence are so demoralised and afraid, they will endure over 30 attacks from their partner before they first seek help.

Ive been going out with the police in this country on a regular basis for over 25 years. On every response shift Ive ever done, there has always been at least one emergency call from a domestic violence victim.

Gresham Blake said: Just like any crime story there is violence. I volunteer with an addiction rehabilitation centre in London and I have heard many stories first hand of domestic violence, in these cases relating to alcohol and drug abuse. It made sense to put money made from the sale of the book to help create awareness of this unfortunate but very present problem in our society.

To buy the book, visit the Gresham Blake site.

To contact Against Violence And Abuse, visit their website.
She is the leader of a party founded by her father, who was booted out because of his toxic anti-semitic views.

Now far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is set to battle with centrist independent Emmanuel Macron to become the next French president.

She is a polarising figure who has previously stood trial on charges of inciting racial hatred, and her policies include expelling foreigners from the country.

Just last month MEPs voted to lift her immunity after she was accused of posting sickening images of ISIS killings on Twitter. The distribution of violent images is illegal under French law.

It is not Ms Le Pen's first attempt to become head of state since taking over the leadership of the National Front in 2011.

Marine Le Pen is in the running to be the next French president after being projected to receive 21.7 per cent of the vote in the first round of elections

She is the daughter of controversial National Front founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was expelled from the party in 2015 because of remarks he made about the Holocaust

Le Pen's rise has been met with fierce opposition by anti-fascist campaigners, who have held demonstrations including this in Marsailles last week

Five years ago she won 18 per cent of the vote. She is currently projected to receive 21.7 per cent of the vote.

The far-right candidate is the daughter of former party leader Jean-Marie Le Pen and his first wife, Pierrette Lalanne.

Her father, who founded the party in 1972, was expelled in 2015, having been convicted of racism and anti-semitism. He had repeatedly described the Holocaust as a 'detail' in history.

Despite his toxic legacy, the former paratrooper, who served in the Algerian war, managed to get through to the second round of the French presidential elections in 2002. His hopes of victory were dashed when he was convincingly defeated by conservative Jacques Chirac.

Le Pen's father is a polarising figure in France, and his showing in the 2002 presidential elections sparked widespread protests across the country

The far-right leader is pictured today in Henin-Beaumont casting her vote in the first round of the presidential elections

Ms Le Pen, who became leader of the party in 2011, is legally trained, having graduated with a Master of Laws in 1991 and worked as a lawyer for six years from 1992 to 1998.

Her pledges include expelling foreigners and organising a referendum to bring France out of the EU as quickly as possible, which would mean returning to the Franc and leaving NATO.

In 2010 she controversially compared Muslim prayers on the streets of France to Nazi occupation during the Second World War.

The statement resulted in a court case after she was accused of inciting discrimination, violence or hatred toward a group of people based on their religious beliefs.

Le Pen is a divisive figure in French politics, and in 2015 was put on trial for inciting racial hatred, a charge which was eventually dismissed by a court in Lyon

Despite today's result, even her supporters admit she faces a tough challenge, with her younger rival tipped to appeal to a broader spectrum of voters

Le Pen supporters greeted election results with delight as it emerged she would face Emmanuel Macron in the second round of voting

A court in Lyon dismissed the charges in 2015, ruling that her comments did not target the entire Muslim community.

The presiding judge did however describe her comments as 'shocking'.

As an eight-year-old girl in 1976, her world changed when a bomb ripped through her family home.

No one was killed, but the perpetrators were never caught.

Cecie Alduy, who wrote a book about the controversial far-right figure, said the event was crucial in shaping her politics.

He said: 'She traces her worldview actually, about how violent the world is, back to this event that was so traumatizing.'

If Le Pen is to become France's first female president, she will need to defeat favourite Emmanuel Macron

The far-right candidate is a divisive figure in French politics, having taken over leadership of the National Front from her father in 2011

Le Pen would later recount in her autobiography, Against the Flow: 'That night I went to sleep like all little girls my age. But when I woke, I was no longer a little girl like the others.'

As a child, she found her father's overtly racist comments led to her being ostracized by her classmates, and her relationship would sour as she attempted to soften the party's tone.

Le Pen has been backed by US President Donald Trump because she he says she is the 'strongest on borders, and she's the strongest on what's been going on in France'.

Ms Le Pen is a mother of three children and has been divorced twice.

Despite today's result, even her supporters admit she faces a tough challenge, with her younger rival tipped to appeal to a broader spectrum of voters.

Le Pen has been backed by US President Donald Trump because she he says she is the 'strongest on borders, and she's the strongest on what's been going on in France'

Ms Le Pen pictured in 2002, following the election defeat of her father in 2002

She also goes into the runoff with several investigations hanging over the FN and her entourage for alleged funding scandals, while she is also being probed after tweeting pictures of Islamic State atrocities.

Over the past six years, Le Pen's rebranded 'party of patriots' has gone from strength to strength, propelled by the kind of anti-globalisation, anti-establishment fury that drove Britain's vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump's election in the United States.

Le Pen has predicted the EU 'will die' and has vowed to take France out of the euro and hold a referendum on membership of the union.

The proposal has caused alarm, with most polls showing the French are against a Frexit" or a return of the franc, fearing economic chaos.

Supporters of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen wave flags celebrating her showing in the first round of the presidential election

Le Pen has downplayed the risks, accusing sceptical rivals and economists of scaremongering.

But she never strayed far from the FN's stock themes of immigration and Islamic fundamentalism - hot-button issues after a string of jihadist attacks that have killed 239 people since 2015, including a policeman shot dead on Paris's Champs Elysees three days before the election.

'With me there would never have been the migrant terrorists of the Bataclan,' she told supporters in the final days of the campaign, referring to the Paris concert hall where dozens were killed in the November 2015 attacks.

Le Pen launched a drive to detoxify the FN's image on taking over the leadership in 2011 - propelling the party to victory in European elections in 2014.
Right-wing rock star Ted Nugent has been derided as 'brainless' by folk-rock legend David Crosby after his White House visit on Wednesday.

Nugent, invited by Donald Trump himself, posed for photos with the president and gave him a signed red-white-and-blue guitar.

Crosby, however, was not impressed, and retweeted a photo of Nugent and Trump shaking hands that day with the message 'This picture says it all... the two most insincere smiles in history, what a pair of a**holes.'

Spat: Ted Nugent's visit to the White House on Wednesday (left) led to ire from folk-rocker David Crosby, of Crosby, Stills and Nash (right). Crosby called the pair 'a**holes'

'Insincere': Crosby doubted the sincerity of Nugent's enthusiasm for Trump on Twitter, although the rocker has been backing the president since before the election

Nugent fired back during an interview with 77 WABC, saying: 'Well I've always been attacked, and, you know, the hate from the dopers out there.

'If you smoke enough dope, you just become overwhelmed with hate and ignorance.'

He added: 'David Crosby, he's kind of a lost soul, and he's done so much substance abuse throughout his life that his logic meter is gone.

'His reasoning and his depth of understanding is pretty much gone, so it doesn't surprise me, I feel quite sad for the guy.'

Crosby took another swing at Nugent on Friday, Tweeting: 'Nugent is a brainless twit... I can out think him without even trying hard.'

The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash founder was asked by a fan in the wake of his initial incendiary burst whether he and Nugent had had a prior run-in.

Crosby simply said 'No.'

'Brainless': Nugent wrote off Crosby as a 'doper' and said 'he's done so much substance abuse throughout his life that his logic meter is gone' - Crosby hit back saying Nugent was 'a twit'

Special event: Trump invited Nugent, Sarah Palin and Kid Rock (right) and their plus-ones to a four-hour private dinner on Wednesday. Crosby, a long-time Trump hater, was not pleased

Nugent was one of a group of invitees to the White House on Wednesday, along with Sarah Palin and Kid Rock.

He had previously given Trump support during his election campaign, speaking for him at rallies.

And in a Facebook Live event after the victory, he said: 'Are you kidding me? America still has a soul. Not everybody, but enough of us. We went to the Concord bridge and we stopped the enemy.'

Crosby, meanwhile, has been a long-standing critic of Trump, having called him 'a bad joke on the world' and saying that after the election 'America is not a democracy... it's a corporate-run place.'

And on Wednesday David Nash suggested that he, Stephen Stills, Neil Young and Crosby might reunite - after years of angry division - because they hate Trump more than each other.

'Heres how I feel about it: I believe that the issues that are keeping us apart pale in comparison to the good that we can do if we get out there and start talking about whats happening,' he told Variety.

Reunion: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (pictured in the '70s, l-r: Neil Young, David Crosby, Graham Nash and Stephen Stills) could reform despite an acrimonious break-up because they hate Trump more than they hate each other, Nash said Wednesday

Wednesday's dinner was held as a private event, and few details were released by the White House beyond photographs.

But speaking afterwards, Nugent said that he was impressed by Trump's vim during the four-hour visit, which included dinner and a tour of the White House.

Describing the atmosphere in the dining room, Nugent said: 'The spirit could not have been more buoyant. It was fun, silliness. And we talked about serious things, like Russia and North Korea. We covered the bases.'

He also said that Trump broke into an Elvis impersonation upon being given the guitar.

'It was really rather precious,' he enthused.
(Xinhua) 09:59, April 23, 2017

ZHENGZHOU, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese leading bus maker Zhengzhou Yutong Bus has seen its export volume for the first quarter rising by 56 percent annually, thanks to opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road initiative.

According to the company, it has recently received an order for 500 large buses from Myanmar. The company has delivered over 1,000 passenger buses to Myanmar since it entered the country in 2010.

Company officials said the Belt and Road initiative and the "Made in China 2025" plan are offering more chances for the company to expand global presence.

Yutong's products have been sold to more than 40 countries along the Belt and Road. Yutong has carried out production and technology cooperation with countries including Myanmar, Pakistan, Iranand Cuba, and auto parts from Yutong can be assembled in those countries.

In 2016, the company exported 110 buses to Bulgaria, the first time China's passenger buses entered the EU market in batches.
Happy Days actress Erin Moran spent her final days reportedly broke and homeless after she was kicked out of mother-in-law's trailer park house in a drunken brawl.

Moran, who shot to fame playing teenager Joanie Cunningham in the 1970s sitcom Happy Days, died of a suspected heroin overdose at the age of 56 in Indiana on Saturday.

Her fellow co-stars were quick to pay tribute to the actress who spent her final years in an apparent downward spiral after it was reported she had squandered away her money and was without a permanent place to live.

Actor Henry Winkler even tried to help Moran nab a spot on his show Arrested Development as it emerged she had been bouncing around motels after a drunken brawl with her mother-in-law in 2012.

Child actor advocate Paul Petersen commented on the heartbreaking loss and said on Sunday that his team did its best with the actress but she 'ran from the help'.

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Happy Days actress Erin Moran spent her final days reportedly broke and homeless. She was found dead at the age of 56, of a suspected heroin overdose, in Indiana on Saturday afternoon

Moran was just 14 when she signed on to play Joanie, the feisty little sister of Richie Cunningham on the popular sitcom

Moran was seen looking worse for wear outside a Holiday Inn in fall 2012, after reportedly being kicked out of the trailer she lived in with her husband Steve Fleischmann.

The couple shared the space with Fleischmann's elderly mother after foreclosing on their California home in 2010 and blowing through $65,000 in settlement money, reported The Mercury News.

One night, Moran allegedly came home from a night of drinking when Fleischmann's mother decided she had enough and kicked her out of the Indiana trailer park home.

The two stood outside screaming profanities at each other, with the older woman in curlers and nightgown, reported Radar Online.

'Erin was going out to bars and coming home at all hours of the night, sometimes with her rowdy bar friends, and Steve's mom just couldn't take it anymore,' a source told The National Enquirer years ago.

The publication claimed Erin was 'bouncing' from motel to motel and that Moran was on the verge of a split from her husband, who she married in 1993.

One of the last times she was seen was in Facebook photo posted in 2014 (above)

She had been bouncing around motels after a drunken brawl with her mother-in-law in 2012. Pictured: Moran living in a trailer park in New Salisbury, Indiana, in 2012

Moran was kicked out of a trailer home where she was living with her husband Steve Fleischmann and his mother (pictured) after a reported night of drinking

Her troubles were not ignored by her fellow childhood actors, as advocate Petersen said 'Erin had friends and she knew it' and they 'were actively reaching out to Erin in the last week of her life'.

He wrote on the Facebook page A Minor Consideration and said: 'I am proud of our efforts over the years to help Erin Moran whose troubles were many and complex. Dont doubt for a moment that we triedsincerely tried through time and treasureto give comfort to one of our own.'

Petersen said her 'troubles were many and complex' and added: 'Abandonment was not the issue. The perversity of human frailty is at the root of this loss, not failure.

'We did our best with the resources available to us, but it was a very dark room. Some dont find the light switch in time.'

The defeated comments were Petersen's second remarks about Moran. He had earlier posted on the page that Moran 'ran' from the help that was offered to her.

The series of unfortunate events reportedly ended in a drug overdose as a source told DailyMail.com that Moran, who lived in a trailer park in New Salisbury, Indiana, died of a suspected heroin overdose.

Her former co-stars including Winkler and Ron Howard were quick to pay tribute to her on Twitter.

Winkler, who played Arthur Fonzie Fonzarelli in the show, tweeted just moments after the death was announced: 'OH Erin, now you will finally have the peace you wanted so badly here on earth, Rest In It serenely now, too soon.'

CHILD ADVOCATE PAUL PETERSEN'S REMARKS ON ERIN MORAN'S DEATH We Pulled Our Weight With Erin 'I am proud of our efforts over the years to help Erin Moran whose troubles were many and complex. Dont doubt for a moment that we triedsincerely tried through time and treasureto give comfort to one of our own. 'At least a half-dozen formers were actively reaching out to Erin in the last week of her life. These arent publicity photos her friends are posting, but family portraits. From Paris to London, from New York to LA, our members were in there pitching, doing what they could to help. Do not doubt that for a minute. 'Erin had friends and she knew it. Abandonment was not the issue. The perversity of human frailty is at the root of this loss, not failure. We did our best with the resources available to us, but it was a very dark room. Some dont find the light switch in time.' Advertisement

Moran's costar Henry Winkler (right) heard about her troubles and tried to get her on his show Arrested Development. Happy Days was one of the most popular sitcoms of its time and started in 1974 and ran for almost a decade

Winkler led the tribute to his former Happy Days co-star Erin Moran and said she would 'finally have the peace [she] wanted so badly'

Moran was remembered by former co-stars and on social media for the feisty and youthful character that she played in Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi

Howard, who played Richie Cunningham, tweeted a tribute to his on-screen little sister, saying: 'Such sad sad news. RIP Erin. I'll always choose to remember you on our show making scenes better, getting laughs and lighting up tv screens.'

Scott Baio wrote on Facebook on Sunday: 'May people remember Erin for her contagious smile, warm heart, and animal loving soul. I always hoped she could find peace in her life. God has you now, Erin.'

A Burbank, California native, Moran began acting in TV and movies before she was 10 years old. She was just 14 when she signed on to play Joanie, the feisty little sister of Ron Howard's character Richie Cunningham, on Happy Days.

She became a household name as a result of her performance on the show, which started in 1974 and ran for almost a decade.

She continued the role in 1982 in the short-lived spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi, alongside Scott Baio, until it was canceled the following year.

More of her former co-stars commented after hearing about her tragic death. Anson Williams, who played Warren 'Potsie' Weber on the show told ABC 7: 'Erin was a person who made everyone around her feel better. She truly cared about others first, a true angel. I will miss her so much... she is in God's hands'.

Don Most, who starred alongside Moran as Ralph Malph on the hit sitcom, said: 'She was a wonderful, sweet, caring, talented young woman... A very painful loss.'

After Joanie Loves Chachi, Moran's career essentially stalled, with the exception of several television guest spots, and an appearance in the 2007 independent comedy feature Not Another B Movie.

Howard also tweeted a tribute to his on-screen little sister, saying: 'Such sad sad news. RIP Erin. I'll always choose to remember you on our show making scenes better, getting laughs and lighting up tv screens'

Moran continued her sitcom role in 1982 in the short-lived spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi, alongside Scott Baio, until its cancellation the following year

Moran is pictured bottom left with the rest of the Happy Days cast. She shot to fame in that role throughout the 70s and 80s before her career essentially stalled

Moran and her husband were understood to be living off a dwindling sum of money which was the result of a payout springing from a lawsuit filed by several Happy Days cast members in April 2011.

The actress and three of her Happy Days co-stars, Don Most, Anson Williams and Marion Ross, plus the estate of Tom Bosley, who died in 2010, filed a $10 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against CBS, which owns the show.

The suit claimed cast members had not been paid for merchandising revenues owed under their contracts.

In July 2012, the actors settled their lawsuit with CBS. Each received a payment of $65,000 and a promise by CBS to continue honoring the terms of their contracts.
Kayleigh Wood, 26, suffered 16 miscarriages before she gave birth to Reggie in October. The full-time mother first became pregnant at 16 but suffered a miscarriage weeks later

When Kayleigh Wood suffered her fifteenth miscarriage, she thought she would never be a mother.

And after many fruitless trips to the doctors, she had almost lost all hope until they discovered the cause  excess scarring in her abdomen.

So she had an operation to remove it, and after one more miscarriage, Miss Wood became pregnant again for the seventeenth time. She gave birth to Reggie in October, and says her boy has made all the heartache worth it.

Miss Wood, 26, said: I used to cry all the time because of all the babies I have lost.

But to hold Reggie in my arms at last was the most wonderful feeling  and helped make up for all that devastation. The full-time mother, who lives in March, Cambridgeshire, with her partner Tony Garner, first became pregnant at 16, but she suffered a miscarriage weeks later.

She said: I was shocked when I fell pregnant, but it was devastating when weeks later I suffered a miscarriage. I never thought then that I was going to go on and lose so many more babies.

Miss Wood lost more babies over the years, but nothing was ever done to investigate the cause. She said: I kept going back to the doctors, who told me it was just one of those things and nothing was ever done to look into why I was losing so many babies.

Doctors discovered Miss Wood's miscarriages were caused by excess scarring in her abdomen. So she had an operation to remove it, and after one more miscarriage, Miss Wood became pregnant again with Reggie

Miss Wood contacted her MP, Steven Barclay, for help. He called the hospital for her and insisted they look into her case. She was examined at the Royal London Hospital two years ago. Pictured right, Miss Wood with Reggie and partner Tony Garner

Miss Wood suffered a total of 15 miscarriages, losing all her babies before she reached eight weeks.

She then contacted her MP, Conservative Stephen Barclay, for help. She said: I had even considered at one point taking my own life as I felt so desperate.

So I contacted my MP and he was such a help. He contacted the hospital for me and insisted that they look into my case.

Miss Wood was examined at the Royal London Hospital two years ago and surgeons discovered excess scarring in her womb.

She said: They didnt really know what had caused the scarring, but they removed it in the hope that it could help me continue with any further pregnancies.

Miss Wood suffered one more miscarriage after the operation, before she discovered she was pregnant again in February last year.

After doctors removed the scar tissue in an operation, Miss Wood suffered one more miscarriage before she became pregnant with Reggie. She made it to her 12-week scan at Peterborough City Hospital  which was the first time she had ever reached that point

She made it to her 12-week scan at Peterborough City Hospital  which was the first time she had ever reached that point.

She said: I still didnt dare hope that it was going to work out. She eventually made it to two weeks before her due date.

But then doctors discovered the amniotic fluid around her baby had vanished, putting his life in danger, and she had an emergency caesarean.

She said: I was terrified that after all this time, I was going to lose him at the end. I had worried every single day of my pregnancy.

Reggie was delivered in an emergency caesarian section when doctors discovered the amniotic fluid around the baby had vanished. Miss Wood said: 'He has finally made my life complete

But the doctors managed to safely deliver Reggie, weighing a healthy 5lb 3oz.

Miss Wood said: The moment when I finally held him in my arms at last was just indescribable. It was the most amazing feeling.

He went some way to healing all the hurt. I feel so incredibly lucky. He is such a happy, contented baby. Hes always smiling.

I still feel sad that I have lost so many babies, but he has finally made my life complete.
A woman has been suspended for a year by her church for having an affair with a married minister who killed himself, it was reported yesterday.

The Mail revealed last month that the Reverend Dr Iain D Campbell had hanged himself in hospital, where he was being treated for an overdose, after he was accused of seven affairs.

His church tried to keep the scandal quiet  but it emerged that his widow Anne reported his alleged infidelity to church leaders and called for up to seven women to be kicked out.

The late Reverend Dr Iain D Campbell, and his wife Anne, who has told church leaders that he had affairs with seven women and demanded they be banned from services

Incredulous defenders of Dr Campbell struggled to believe the claims were true.

But an official inquiry by the Free Church of Scotland was begun and  according to a report yesterday  ministers have suspended one woman from receiving communion after finding that she had an affair with Dr Campbell.

They are following the long-standing church procedure of carrying out a semi-judicial inquiry into sinful behaviour. Four other women involved are all understood to have denied having affairs. An announcement from the church is expected soon. Mrs Campbell was unavailable for comment last night. But if church elders follow up the inquiry with a hearing and convict any of the women, she is likely to see it as a vindication of her claims against her late husband, which split opinion on the Isle of Lewis, off north-west Scotland.

Dr Campbell, 53, a father of three, had been widely respected in the church  known as the Wee Frees  when his death was announced in January. The fact that he had killed himself was kept quiet, and shopkeepers closed their doors during his funeral.

But even before he was buried, Mrs Campbell, 54, began accusing him of adultery.

A source close to her last night told the Mail that the widow understands that a husband and wife had gone to see Iain with a complaint of adultery shortly before he died.

Mrs Campbell is said to have found evidence of adultery on her husbands computer, along with what church sources say was as a mass of pornography.

The inquiry led by fellow ministers on tight-knit Lewis  all of them male  could have led to hearings in church, with women accused of adultery expected to represent themselves.

The church is deeply traditional, taking a strict line on such things as failing to keep Sunday as the Lords day  let alone adultery and suicide. Critics compared the possibility of hearings as akin to the Salem witch trials in 17th century America, in which a tight-knit Massachusetts church community turned on some of its female members.

The Free Church Of Scotland has launched an investigation after the death of the the reverend, who worked at the church on the Isle of Lewis, off the coast of Scotland

The Mail understands the allegations involved Free Church women as far afield as Manchester and London, and date back to the late Eighties. The Scottish Mail on Sunday reported yesterday how it was told by a source close to the church: The allegations against all but one of the women have not been proved. Those cleared denied any wrongdoing. One of the women did admit a relationship and has been suspended, I understand, for a year.

Its a very sad state of affairs. Iain was a gifted minister. But what was going on in his mind, nobody will ever really know. I believe he may have shut down his email communication a few days before he went to hospital.

Lewis minister the Reverend James MacIver, said: This has been a particularly sad time, and we would like to thank all our members for their patience and understanding throughout this difficult and sensitive process. The investigation into the allegations surrounding Iain D Campbells conduct is due to complete next week, following which a statement will be issued.
Nightclubs are hosting 'best abs' and 'sexy sailor' competitions for Anzac Day events, with nearly-nude models dressed as suggestive soldiers.

A topless sailor stands next to Australian Flags and fighter jets in promotional pictures for Anzac Day events at Stonewall Hotel on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst.

The Sydney club is hosting 'best abs' and 'sexy sailor' competitions. Stonewall will be collecting donations for Soldier On, a charity which provides counselling, employment and education for veterans and their families, the website shows.

A topless sailor stands next to Australian Flags and fighter jets in promotional pictures for Anzac Day events at Stonewall Hotel on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst

The Colombian Hotel used an image of a topless man wearing camouflage shorts and war paint to promote 'Anzac Week' celebrations at the Darlinghurst venue

The Colombian Hotel used an image of a topless man wearing camouflage shorts and war paint to promote 'Anzac Week' celebrations at the Darlinghurst venue.

The Watershed in Darling Harbour had used photos of Rihanna and The Weeknd wearing camouflage to promote Anzac events.

The imagery, first reported by Daily Telegraph, appears to have been taken down from the venue's website and social media.

A spokesperson said the reference to 'Anzac Day eve' was merely to provide the date for the event.

Military personnel will receive a discount on the day and donations will be raised for veterans, the spokesperson told Daily Telegraph.

The Watershed in Darling Harbour had used photos of Rihanna and The Weeknd wearing camouflage to promote Anzac events

Australian soldiers are pictured during the Anzac march to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli landings in Sydney on April 25 last year

NSW Veteran Affairs Minister David Elliot said he would not hesitate to refer unauthorised use of the Anzac name to the Commonwealth for investigation.

'I am concerned at the way "Anzac" is used for commercial gain without any apparent consideration to veterans and war widows,' the minister told Daily Mail Australia in a statement.

'I will be referring any examples of the illegal use of the word to the Commonwealth for investigation and prosecution and would remind all Australians that the term "Anzac" is governed by federal legislation.

'As long as I am the minister I will not allow individuals or organisations to use the day we commemorate the sacrifice of 100,000 fellow countrymen and women in any way that disrespects their legacy.'

Anzac Day events are common among Australian pubs, with two-up gambling game legal only on April 25 each year.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Stonewall, Colombian Hotel and Watershed for comment.
Police are investigating after a fruit shop went up in flames in Sydney's south overnight.

Emergency services were called to Sylvania Fruit World on Princes Highway in Gymea just before 1am on Monday to reports of a business that was well alight, NSW Police said.

The ferocious blaze was extinguished a short time later by firefighters and there was a moderate amount of damage done to the shop.

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Police are investigating after a fruit shop went up in flames in Sydney's south overnight

No-one was injured in the fire.

Officers from Sutherland Local Area Command established a crime scene and an investigation is underway to determine the fire's cause.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

Officers are looking at some petrol cans that were found in the car park area nearby, Today reports.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the online reporting page.

Emergency services were called to Sylvania Fruit World on Princes Highway just before 1am
The man who stood up for a weeping mother-of-two after an American Airlines employee hit her in the head with a metal stroller while yanking it out of her hands has been identified.

Insurance agency president and Texas church deacon Tony Fierro, 42, was filmed stepping in to defend the woman in the Friday incident, demanding the flight attendant's name and nearly getting into a fight.

'A baby almost got hurt. That's what just fired me up, so that was it,' he told by WFAA on Saturday. 'I don't want to make a big deal about it.'

Tony Fierro has been identified as the man who stood up for a weeping mother after she was allegedly assaulted by an American Airlines employee on board a plane on Friday

Fierro (left, with the woman) said he was upset when he saw the attendant nearly hit her baby with a metal stroller as he yanked it off her. The woman's head was also hit, witnesses said

Fierro confronted the uniformed employee, saying 'You do that to me and I'll knock you flat.' The employee then retorted, 'Try it. Hit me.' AA says he has been suspended

Fierro, a university of North Texas alumni who spent two years in the finance industry, is president of K&S Insurance Agency, which he joined in 1999.

Despite his fierce image in the video, Fierro - who lives in Dallas - is the founder of the Crosspoint Community Church in Rockwall, Texas, for which he is also a deacon.

He is also a board member of the The Last Well, a charity project that aims to provide clean water to the entire nation of Liberia.

He and his wife Breann also sponsor a scholarship for finance, insurance or radio/TV/film courses at the University of North Texas.

They also support the El Paso Symphony Orchestras Tocando Music Project, which provides musical education to elementary school kids.

Fierro was one of several passengers aboard AA Flight 591 from San Francisco to Dallas-Fort Worth who were horrified when the woman was struck in the head by the metal stroller.

Footage, filmed before the plane departed and uploaded by passenger Surain Adyanthaya, shows the immediate aftermath of the confrontation - followed by Fierro's interjection

In the footage the distraught woman, who was flying from Argentina according to Q13 Fox, is seen standing at the front of the plane holding a child and weeping.

She asks staff members to get her metal stroller back while passengers are heard expressing their disgust at the situation.

Fierro 'not going to sit here and watch this...' and then gets up and walks to the front of the plane to confront flight attendants.

The video shows a woman with a child in her arms after allegedly being hit with a stroller on the flight

The man asks for the name of the employee who is alleged to have hit the crying woman.

Another passenger, a woman, also confronts an American Airlines employee about the situation.

Things escalate further when a man in an American Airlines uniform - believed to be the original employee who caused the situation - boards the plane and is confronted by Fierro.

'Hey bud, you do that to me and I'll knock you flat,' Fierro says.

The staff member, who has not been identified, responds by pointing his finger at him and saying: 'You stay out of this.'

Fierro then steps closer to the employee, who challenges him to a fight.

'Try it,' the employee tells Fierro. 'Hit me. You don't know what the story is.'

'You almost hurt a baby!' Fierro replies.

Adyanthaya said the American Airline staff 'just involuntarily escorted the mother and her kids off the flight and let the flight attendant back on, who tried to fight other passengers. The mom asked for an apology and the AA official declined.'

After viewing the video, AA announced that the offending employee had been suspended pending an investigation.

The situation escalates further when a man in an American Airlines uniform boards the plane

Olivia Morgan, who was standing in the door to the cabin with her eight-year-old daughter when the incident occurred, said the woman had been looking for a space to put the collapsible stroller.

A female flight attendant had given her permission to look for a storage space as it folds up small, but said she would have to check it in if there was no room.

The American Airlines website says small, collapsible strollers can be checked at the gate. There is no specific rule about not putting them in overhead bins.

'She was looking for space when the male attendant tried to take it away from her... and she said she told him the other attendant had told her it was okay to look,' Morgan said.

But that wasn't good enough for the man, she said.

'The flight attendant wrestled the stroller away from the woman, who was sobbing, holding one baby with the second baby in a car seat on the ground next to her,' Morgan said.

The American Airlines employee challenges a passenger to a fight after the woman was allegedly hit with her stroller

Surain Adyanthaya posted a photo on his Facebook page showing the woman with two young children in her arms

Tom Watson, a first-class passenger, said that he saw the incident, and says that the female passenger responded strongly to the flight attendant's demand to take the stroller.

'She refused to let him take it and she was almost to the point of shouting,' he said.

But he said the flight attendant was 'aggressive' as he tried to pull the stroller away from her, and that his demands for security escalated the situation.

He said the stroller struck the woman in the head, and almost hit the kids.

'The woman knows not to bring the stroller on a plane, she refused to let it go - she was shouting, so she is also at fault in my opinion,' he said.

'But don't get me wrong, the flight attendant should be way more professional than he was.'

Adyanthaya posted another photo on his Facebook page showing the woman with two young children - believed to be twins - in her arms.

It appears she is being escorted off of the plane.

Adyanthaya claimed the woman was removed and the employee who supposedly was violent toward her was permitted back on the plane.

This is the latest PR nightmare for the US aviation industry.

AMERICAN AIRLINES COMMENT ON FLIGHT ATTENDANT INCIDENT The airline released a statement late Friday saying that it was 'disappointed by these actions' and had already started to investigate the incident. 'What we see on this video does not reflect our values or how we care for our customers,' the company said in a statement. 'We are deeply sorry for the pain we have caused this passenger and her family and to any other customers affected by the incident. 'We are making sure all of her family's needs are being met while she is in our care.' 'After electing to take another flight, we are taking special care of her and her family and upgrading them to first class for the remainder of their international trip. 'The actions of our team member captured here do not appear to reflect patience or empathy, two values necessary for customer care. 'In short, we are disappointed by these actions. The American team member has been removed from duty while we immediately investigate this incident.' Advertisement

United Airlines was slammed after a passenger was dragged off an April 9 flight in Chicago.

The flight was already full when four airline crew members showed up after passengers had boarded and requested seats so they could commute to their next flight out of Louisville, Kentucky.

That's when aviation officers forcibly removed Dr. David Dao of Louisville, Kentucky, from the plane.

Dao, a 69-year-old doctor who had immigrated to the United States from Vietnam, repeatedly accused airline officials of discriminating against him for being Chinese before he was hauled off the plane, according to a fellow passenger.

Dao's attorney said his client had suffered a significant concussion, broken his nose and lost two front teeth in the altercation with airport security, and said Dao would likely sue the airline.
This is the horrifying moment a toddler fell out the back door of a church van onto Highway 65 in Harrison, Arkansas.

Fortunately, Ryan Ciampoli, an emergency medical technician and volunteer firefighter, was driving behind the van and rescued the four-year-old.

The moment the unnamed girl fell out of the moving van was caught on his dashcam.

He moved her out of the road to a nearby truck bed and monitored her vital signs.

Ryan Ciampoli, , an emergency medical technician, pulled a four-year-old girl who fell out the back of a church van out of the street

Ciampoli told KHBS she was unconscious at first but woke up as he walked towards her. Paramedics arrived at the scene five minutes after the accident and took her to the hospital.

He told the station: 'The shock kicked in her little body and she started kicking and screaming. Stuff like that is really heartbreaking.'

He said the little girl started begging for her mother once she gained consciousness.

Amazingly, she only suffered a broken jaw and will need surgery but is expected to fully recover.

The girl is expected to be released from the hospital on Monday.

Ciampoli said: 'It can happen anywhere anytime, never would you think driving down the road, that something like that would happen.'

It is not clear if the door was already unlocked or if she opened it when she fell out.

The mother told WKRG she does not blame the bus driver and is focusing on her recovery.
The names of new members of President Trump's private clubs Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster won't be made public, his Chief of Staff Reince Priebus confirmed Sunday, arguing the president is too much of a 'boss' to be influenced by guests.

Speaking with Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, Priebus was asked if he thought the American people should know who's bought memberships, which cost $200,000 and $300,000 a year, respectively, since Trump was elected, as the president has spent weekends working at the two clubs.

'No,' Priebus answered. 'This is a private business. It's a private organization. It's a private club. I don't think that has anything to do with it.'

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Chief of Staff told Chuck Todd on Meet the Press that the White House wouldn't be releasing the names of new members to President Trump's private clubs

President Trump has spent many a weekend at Mar-a-Lago (pictured) since being sworn in, but the names of those willing to spend $200,000 on the club won't be made public

Trump, seen at Bedminster in November, will use the property this summer. The names of new members, who might be looking to influence the president, won't see the light of day

Todd challenged the chief of staff, and former Republican National Committee chair, saying, 'so if somebody decides this is the best way to get access to you or the president there's nothing the American people can do about it?'

Priebus responded by suggesting that Trump is above being influenced by the moneyed members of his private clubs in Florida and New Jersey, where the billionaire businessman has entertained world leaders and interviewed incoming staff.

'One thing that the American people, I think, know about President Trump is that he's the boss,' Priebus argued.

While Trump spent many a weekend at Mar-a-Lago this winter, he's expected to spend his summer weekends at Bedminster in New Jersey.

On Meet the Press, Priebus pointed to a New York Times piece, which charted the president's broader circle and noted, 'some of these folks the president doesn't even talk to.

'But the president talks to a lot of people,' the chief of staff continued. 'That doesn't change his ultimate views.'

As evidence, Priebus said to look no further than Trump's consistency on the issues.

White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus (left) told NBC's Chuck Todd (right) that people shouldn't be worried about guests influencing President Trump because he's a 'boss'

'If you go back on YouTube and you look at Donald Trump talking about trade in the 1980s, in the 1990s, this is the same person today,' Priebus said. 'He's no different.'

'So, while a lot of people like to talk and argue about who's talking to President Trump and who's influencing him to make decisions, it's Donald Trump. It's his agenda. It's always been his agenda,' Priebus continued.

'And over time, people are going to see that he's the guy that's going to deliver to the American people, putting America first and making the future better for everyone across the country,' the top Trump aide added.

In fact, Trump has historically been inconsistent on a number of issues.

In the past, he's said he's pro-choice. Now he says he's pro-life. He's expressed support for 'universal health care,' suggesting that Canada's health care could be a good guide.

And while Trump has been in office fewer than 100 days, he's already waffled on some of the bold statements he made on the campaign trail, such as his promise to label China a currency manipulator.

On that issue, he suggested his successful Mar-a-Lago-based meeting with Chinese President Xi, made him change his tune.

And while Trump pledged to 'drain the swamp' once he got to Washington, his administration has hired lobbyists and it's waved the five year ban for some individuals.

For instance, Marcus Peacock, who worked briefly for Trump's Office of Management and Budget was able to walk through the revolving door and land a gig at lobbying group, the Business Roundtable.

Peacock will recuse himself from lobbying the OMB for six months, according to Bloomberg. The White House granted him an out from the ethics pledge he signed to refrain from lobbying for five years.

The White House also decided against releasing visitor logs of the campus, citing that it was following the law.

The Obama administration had voluntarily and selectively released visitor logs every 90 days online, while fighting in court so that the records, kept by the Secret Service, weren't able to be obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

An appellate court ruled in the Obama administration's favor, meaning Trump's team can't be compelled to release the documents under FOIA.

A trio of government watchdogs, however, sued over access to the visitor logs earlier this month, in hopes that another circuit would rule differently on the matter, potentially forcing the Supreme Court to pick up the case.
A fire in Queens on Sunday afternoon has killed five people, including three children, the city police fire department said.

The three-alarm blaze broke out in a two-story home at 112-16 208th St in Queens Village after a car parked next to the house caught fire close to 2:30pm, according to authorities.

The victims were two-year-old Chase Green, nine-year-old Ray Shawn Matthew, 14-year-old Jaden Foxworth, 20-year-old Destiny Vickers, and 45-year-old Maurice Matthew, police sources said.

Ray Shawn was Chase's uncle, and Foxworth and Vickers were sisters, according to friends and neighbors.

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A fire in Queens on Sunday afternoon has killed five people, including three tchildren, the city police fire department said

Neighbors and family members embraced to console one another after five were killed in house fire in Queens Village

A source told the New York Post that the mother of the two and nine-year-old boys was screaming 'My babies! My babies!' as flames engulfed her home.

Firefighters were at the scene within four minutes after the blaze broke out, but the two-year-old and another child were stuck in the attic, according to Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

Foster McPhee, 67, lives near the home, and told the post that it was the worst thing he had ever seen.

'The baby was burned literally to a crisp. The guy who was carrying the baby out, you could just see the stress on his face. I'm just emotional about it because I'm a grandfather and I have kids, too,' he said.

A source told the New York Post that the mother (pictured) of the two and nine-year-old boys was screaming 'My babies! My babies!' as flames engulfed her hom

Johnson explained that there was incredibly heavy smoke, and that firefighters had to exit the house by jumping out of windows

Denise Coleman told the New York Daily News that the firefighters struggled to rescue children, saying: 'People were screaming, get them out. The whole sky was black.

'There was a lot of smoke, the fire was very bad. The firefighters carried some of the children out. They were limp, the whole house was on fire'.

An hour after the catastrophic fire erupted it spread to a second home and firefighters were still battling the flames

Firefighters were at the scene within four minutes after the blaze broke out, but the two-year-old and another child were stuck in the attic, according to Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro

Another witness who knew the family, Tiasha Johnson, told the Daily News that a relative screamed out for the children.

'They were screaming, "Get the kids out! Get the kids out!"' she said. 'It took the firefighters a while to get in'.

Johnson explained that there was incredibly heavy smoke, and that firefighters had to exit the house by jumping out of windows.

An hour after the catastrophic fire erupted it spread to a second home and firefighters were still battling the flames.

A woman grieves on the scene of the fire. A witness to the tragic event who knew the family, Tiasha Johnson, told the Daily News that a relative screamed out for the children

Mayor Bill de Blasio (center) was on the scene around 5:30pm on Sunday, and said that this is the biggest loss of life in a New York City fire in two years

The New York Fire Department has said that the fire is under control, and a spokesperson said that there were no critical injuries to firefighters on the scene.

However, stricken firefighters were consoled by neighbors and others as they fought back tears.

Mayor Bill de Blasio was on the scene around 5:30pm on Sunday, and said that this is the biggest loss of life in a New York City fire in two years.

He also wrote on Twitter: 'Our job now is to get down to the bottom of what happened and do everything we can to make sure that no family ever suffers like this again.'
Madeleine McCann might have been abducted to order and sold on to a wealthy family, according to a theory from an ex-policeman.

Investigators fear she could have been smuggled by boat to Morocco after going missing from the family home at Praia da Luz in Portugal.

Gangs based in nearby Mauritania, West Africa, frequently sell youngsters as slaves to rich families from the Middle East.

Madeleine McCann might have been abducted to order and sold on to a wealthy family, according to a theory from an ex-policeman

Investigators fear she could have been smuggled by boat to Morocco after going missing from the family home at Praia da Luz in Portugal (pictured)

Colin Sutton, an ex-Scotland Yard detective, told The Mirror's Andy Lines: 'The Mauritania line is certainly a possibility and needs to be looked at.'

The newspaper also reported a child 'identical' to Madeline was sighted on a well-known people-smuggling route to Morocco.

Mari Olli, who was with her British husband Ray Pollard, said the youngster looked 'sad' and asked: 'Can we see Mummy soon?', the Mirror reported.

The couple emailed Leicestershire police, who passed the message onto colleagues in Portugal, according to emails released in 2008.

Private detectives employed by the McCanns are examining the theory Madeleine was taken to Morocco, although it is not known if police are looking into it.

In 2007, a small girl said to resemble Madeleine was spotted in Tangier.

Pictured is a stock image of a ferry crossing to Morocco. The detective fears Madeleine might have taken a similar route

Spaniard Clara Torres and her partner spotted the likeness after taking what they thought would simply be a colourful shot of Moroccan life.

Interpol detectives scrutinised a photograph of the child, who could be seen being carried by a group of Moroccans.

It was the fourth reported sighting of the missing four-year-old in Morocco, the first two having come only six days after she disappeared.

The first reported sighting in Morocco was by Norwegian tourist Mari Pollard, who said she saw a girl who looked like Madeleine with a man at petrol station in Marrakesh on May 9, 2007.

Colin Sutton, an ex-Scotland Yard detective, said: 'The Mauritania line is certainly a possibility and needs to be looked at'

A British holidaymaker later reported seeing a youngster with a strong likeness on the same day outside the Ibis Hotel in Marrakesh, which is virtually opposite the garage.

The third sighting came around three weeks later when a Spanish woman contacted Portuguese police to say she had seen someone she thought looked like the missing girl in Zaio, in the north of Morocco.

She said she saw a 'sad and scared' blonde girl being dragged across a street by a woman in a Muslim headscarf.
Researchers from the China Conservation and Research Centre have recently made a breakthrough, discovering one of their captive female giant pandas has naturally mated with a wild male giant panda.

A giant panda feeds her cub in Qinling Mountains, Shaanxi province. [Photo: CCTV]

Researchers believed the female panda, named Cao Cao, mated with the male on March 23, 2017, after retrieving a recorder placed on her, on March 27.

It is believed the natural mate occurred at the Wolong National Nature Reserve, in Sichuan province, for 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Currently, there are 471 captive pandas in China, which are mainly bred using artificial insemination. Researchers confirmed a big problem was the lack of new blood  with limited genetic diversity in mating in the sexually mature pandas held captive.

Zhang Hemin, deputy director of the center, said the only way to increase the amount of genetic diversity at the facility was to release captive pandas into the wild to naturally mate with wild companions.
Bill Clinton showed his sense of humor on Sunday, needling President Donald Trump and his claim that he was wiretapped by Barack Obama.

The former president tweeted a photo of himself on Sunday as he stood outside the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Standing next to a giant replica grasshopper, the 42nd president tweeted: 'BREAKING: We just learned that the @ClintonCenter has been bugged.'

The Clinton Center's official Twitter account then retweeted the pic with the caption: 'Please bee advised.'

On March 4, Trump took to Twitter to accuse Obama of having his 'wires tapped' at Trump Tower before he was elected president on November 8.

Former President Bill Clinton showed off his sense of humor on Sunday, needling President Donald Trump and his claim that he was wiretapped by Barack Obama

That same day, Trump tweeted: 'How low has President Obama gone to tap my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!'

Obama denied the accusation, and the White House has been under pressure to provide evidence to substantiate the claim.

James Clapper, who served as Obama's Director of National Intelligence, rejected the accusation of a wiretap  as did FBI Director James Comey and National Security Agency chief Admiral Mike Rogers.

The White House asked Congress, controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans, to examine whether the Obama administration abused its investigative authority during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, as part of an ongoing congressional probe into Russia's influence on the election.

On March 4, Trump (right) took to Twitter to accuse former President Barack Obama (left) of having his 'wires tapped' at Trump Tower before he was elected president on November 8

Trump Tower (above) is the building in New York City in which Trump resides. He also ran his presidential transition team from Trump Tower

'Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my "wires tapped" in Trump Tower just before the victory,' Trump tweeted on March 4

That same day, Trump tweeted: 'How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process'

'There was no such wiretap activity mounted against the president-elect at the time, or as a candidate or against his campaign,' former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, who left his post at the end of Obama's term in office in January, said last month.

Under U.S. law, a federal court would have to have found probable cause that the target of the surveillance is an 'agent of a foreign power' in order to approve a warrant authorizing electronic surveillance of Trump Tower.

Asked whether there was such a court order, Clapper said, 'I can deny it.'

Democrats accused Trump of trying to distract from the rising controversy about possible ties to Russia.

His administration has come under pressure from FBI and congressional investigations into contacts between members of his campaign team and Russian officials.
They talked of nuclear weapons, killing an Islamist terrorist leader, and the armageddon letters a new prime minister must write to Trident-equipped submarine captains  grim subject matter for the first Sunday after Easter.

Yet the mood on yesterday mornings Andrew Marr programme was as congenial as a college sociology tutorial.

Jeremy Corbyn sat languidly in his chair, one knee over the other, a donnish expression on his trimmed beard. He seemed thoroughly at ease with the BBCs Marr, and why not?

On yesterday morning's Andrew Marr programme, Jeremy Corbyn sat languidly in his chair, one knee over the other, a donnish expression on his trimmed beard. He seemed thoroughly at ease

The Labour leader, who in a few short weeks could have his hands on (or off) our nuclear button, prevaricated in the most civilised way.

He chewed on the issues  that Tony Benn word  and looked for compromise and agreement. He said that he would consult the main world leaders, meet ALL of them, to prevent further bloodshed in Syria.

As for our nuclear defences, well, that was a matter still to be decided by the personnel compiling the Labour election manifesto. We would have to wait until Labours internal wrangles had been finalised before he would say if hed ever authorise our armed forces to retaliate against attack.

Lets just hope our enemies do not attack a Corbyn-led Britain in the weeks running up to a Labour Party conference, when their policy is still under discussion. Marr presented the Labour leader with various scenarios.

Mr Corbyn said that he would consult the main world leaders, meet ALL of them, to prevent further bloodshed in Syria. As for our nuclear defences, well, e would have to wait until Labours internal wrangles had been finalised

For instance, what if the spooks (he meant MI6 and our intelligence chiefs) arrived at Downing Street and told Prime Minister Corbyn there was a good chance of whacking Islamist terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi with a drone strike. Would he, Corbyn, approve the operation?

You wouldnt call them spooks, murmured Mr Corbyn, quite the man of delicate aesthetics when it comes to slang.

As for the meat of the question about killing al-Baghdadi, he said would ask the security people, what is the objective here?

James Bond and Co may need to accustom themselves to writing university-style essays before taking any emergency action in future.

Lets hope that nice Mr Kim or Mr Putin give them time to complete their hypothetical scenarios before we are all blown to smithereens.

Some might say there was an unworldly, surreal tone to this interview  compounded by the repeated flash of pale brown sock from the Corbyn ankle. Yet it was also markedly more composed than some of Mr Corbyns early interviews as leader.

Presentationally, he is improving. He has acquired a certain Zen-like calmness, withstood interruptions from Marr well  Youre jumping in too quick Andrew  and did not snap as he has done sometimes in the past. I find him quite a lot less irritating than Ed Miliband.

He has started to play along with the TV producers demands, doing a gameshow-style smile and facial reaction when his name was mentioned at the top of the programme.

Presentationally, he is improving. He has acquired a certain Zen-like calmness, withstood interruptions from Marr well and did not snap as he has done sometimes in the past

No proper socialist has ever been as close to No 10 as Mr Corbyn is this morning, said Marr. Was Gordon Brown not a proper socialist? Ted Heath? David Cameron?

Mr Corbyns left eye was lightly hooded but his right eye beamed. He has scrubbed up well in terms of dress and beardiness.

He even produced a soundbite  I want to get an economy that works for all. Pinching a Tory slogan! Good one.

Marr asked about grammar schools, private healthcare and the Labour idea of wage limits at any companies doing public work. Mr Corbyn disliked the first two but was vaguely in favour of the third.

The economy  possibly Labours weakest area  was not much discussed but he did talk about yesterdays big idea to introduce four new bank holidays for St Davids, St Patricks, St Georges and St Andrews Day.

Mr Corbyn, by now almost horizontal, he was so spaced-out, said: People being relaxed and spending more time with their families is quite a good thing.

Marr, Britains most notorious workaholic, replied: Im always in favour of a holiday. We believe you, Andrew. But will the wife?
Vandals have scrawled sickening graffiti on a war memorial just a day before Anzac Day.

Residents living near Warrandyte RSL in Melbourne's north east spotted the vandalism early on Monday morning and reported it to police.

The vile message, daubed in red paint alongside anarchy symbols, reads: 'War is murder.'

Vandals have scrawled a sickening message on a war memorial just a day before Anzac Day

Residents living near Warrandyte RSL in Melbourne's north east spotted the vandalism early on Monday morning and reported it to police. Pictured, the memorial before it was vandalised

Members of Warrandyte RSL were left outraged by the graffiti and told Daily Mail Australia they were already hard at work cleaning up the memorial.

'Our priority is cleaning it off in time for tomorrow,' one upset member said.

'[It's] ignorant and it couldn't be further from our community's mindset.

'I would love for whoever is responsible to spend some time in our club, learning, and giving back in some tiny form for all that they gave to us. The timing is poor but no doubt on purpose.'

Warrandyte RSL president Hank Van Der Helm said he was 'disgusted'.

'It's being cleaned now. There's a lot of gold leaf lettering that's being blasted off.

'We've got no idea who did it. We've told the police but there's only so much they can do.

'We're disgusted. It's one of these things that happens these day unfortunately. All we can do is clear it up and havr security on watch overnight.'

Warrandyte RSL will hold a march to commemorate Anzac Day on nearby Yarra Street on Tuesday morning. Pictured, last year's commemorations

Members of Warrandyte RSL (pictured) were left outraged by the graffiti on Monday

The RSL have refused to be bowed by the cowardly vandalism, and will go ahead with their march tomorrow.

As many as 600 people are expected to turn out to honour the fallen and those who have served.

Victoria Police is investigating after receiving 'numerous reports' on Monday morning. No arrests have been made at this stage.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted RSL Victoria Branch for comment.

The red paint has since been carefully scrubbed off ahead of Anzac Day commemorations on Tuesday.

Volunteers Steven and Ben Papel repaired two of the plaques at the Warrandyte RSL.

The vile graffiti has since been scrubbed off ahead of Anzac Day on Tuesday (pictured)

Workers quickly removed the red markings on the memorial (pictured)
At 39, Emmanuel Macron is hotly tipped to become the youngest ever president of France.

Without the backing of a mainstream political party, the former merchant banker is expected by pollsters to defeat far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in a face-off next month.

Macron is a former member of the Socialist Party, but became an independent politician in 2009.

Macron was a member of outgoing president Francois Hollande's staff, and served as an economic minister under the government of Manuel Valls

In April last year he founded the En Marche! movement, meaning On The Move, saying he wanted it to unite the left and right

He was a member of outgoing president Francois Hollande's staff, and served as an economic minister under the government of Manuel Valls.

Macron sparked controversy when he branded France's legacy in Algeria 'a crime against humanity'.

In April last year he founded the En Marche! movement, meaning On The Move, saying he wanted it to unite the left and right.

During the campaign, a lot of focus has fallen on his relationship with wife Brigitte Trogneux, who at 64 is 25 years his senior.

During the campaign, a lot of focus has fallen on his relationship with wife Brigitte Trogneux, who at 64 is 25 years his senior

The pair met when Mrs Trogneux, then married with three children, was his French and drama teacher at his high school in Amiens, northern France.

In February Mr Macron laughed off rumours of a gay extramarital affair after political rivals alleged he was backed by a gay lobby.

He denied claims of a relationship with Radio France chief executive Mathieu Gallet.

The candidate said, making reference to rival Jean-Luc Melenchon appearing as a hollogram, quipped: If youre told I lead a double life with Mr Gallet its because my hologram has escaped.'

Macron will face far-right National Front leader in the second round of the presidential race next month

A spokesman for Mr Macron confirmed the comments were a clear denial of the rumours.

Mr Macron stated after yesterday's vote: 'From today I want to build a majority for a government and for a new transformation.

'It will be made up of new faces and new talent in which every man and woman can have a place.'

Mr Macron studied Philosophy at Paris Nanterre University, and attended Frances elite Ecole Nationale dAdministration for graduate school.

After working as a public servant, he became an investment banker at Rothschild, earning illions before becoming an economic .

He rapidly climbed the career ladder, earning millions, before becoming an economic advisor to Francois Hollandes presidency in 2012 and then economy minister two years later.
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Finding food is an essential task when stranded on a desert island. And it appears that things on Pig Beach in the Bahamas can get a little heated when it comes to mealtime as the famed hog residents battle it out for grub.

Emmanuel Keller, 39, from Switzerland, captured the unusual moment two pigs went trotter-to-trotter over a carrot while splashing through the crystal clear waters.

One of the squealers runs with a carrot firmly held in its mouth while a larger hog runs behind, determinedly craning its neck forward for a crunchy bite.

It's not known how the pigs originally arrived on the tiny uninhabited island of Exuma and today the colony consists of around 20 adults and piglets.

Some speculate that the animals were dumped on the island by a group of sailors who intended to come back to eat them but never made the return trip.

Today the pigs survive off titbits from tourists. Tragically several of the pigs were reported to have died earlier this year after visitors were thought to have fed them beer and rum.

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Food fight! Emmanuel Keller, 39, from Switzerland, captured the unusual moment two of the famous pigs living on Pig Beach in the Bahamas went trotter-to-trotter over a carrot

Feeling the sand between my trotters: A young pig looks pretty content with life as it paddles into the crystal clear waters

Unsolved mystery: It's not known how the pigs originally arrived on the tiny uninhabited island of Exuma and today the colony consists of around 20 pigs and piglets

Stranded: Some speculate that the animals were dumped on the island by a group of sailors who intended to come back to eat them but never made the return trip

Main attraction: The prestigious porkers have attracted a bevy of celebrity guests to their pristine island getaway

Slice of paradise: Exuma is a remote island, measuring three and a half miles long and half a mile wide, 40 miles from the busier capital island of Nassau

Soggy sandwich: A pig struggles to stop a slice of bread disintegrating as it swims back to shore

Bathing beauty: The pigs spend much of their time in the water scavenging for food and cooling off from the intense heat

Ready for my close-up: The pigs are used to humans and they often swim up to tourist boats in the hope of getting fed
Over the years you might have racked up some air miles, but how well travelled are you compared to some of the world's most notorious globe trotters?

A new interactive map lets you pitch yourself against a number of travel icons, including David Attenborough, Bear Grylls, Karl Pilkington and the Queen.

It turns out the late Pope, John Paul II, spent the most hours in the sky, visiting an impressive 129 countries during his reign.

Where in the world have you been? A new interactive map lets you pitch yourself against a number of travel icons, including David Attenborough, Karl Pilkington and the Queen

The Queen, who turned 91 on Friday, comes in close behind on the leader board, with 112 countries to her name.

Much of her travel has taken her to Oceania, Europe and North America.

The one place she's yet to visit is Antarctica.

Michael Palin, known for his 'around the world in 80s days' adventure, has seen 39 per cent of the world according to the map.

Meanwhile, David Attenborough has apparently hit 37 per cent of the globe.

Business trip: The Queen during a visit to Raj Ghat, a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, in 1997 where she was presented with orange scarves and garlands of marigolds

The map, created by Travelsupermarket.com, also includes some celebrities who are less well travelled but making progress.

It shows that TOWIE star Joey Essex, 26, has seen 10 per cent of the planet, with stints on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Educating Joey Essex boosting his number of passport stamps.

Meanwhile, Geordie Shore cast member Charlotte Crosby also broke out of her comfort zone with The Charlotte Crosby Experience where she learned about different cultures.

Thanks to the show, the 26-year-old has now seen 8 per cent of the world, with more adventuring set to come.

So, if you want to know where you stand on the 'well-travelled list', give the map a whirl.

First you must 'scratch' the places you've been by clicking on countries to reveal your destination checklist.
He married makeup artist Audrey Griffen earlier this year.

But it seems Osher Gunsberg won't be walking the red carpet with his stunning wife at the 2017 TV Week Logies.

Instead, the 43-year-old will reportedly strut his stuff alongside Matty Johnson, this year's Bachelor.

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Suited up! The Bachelor host Osher Gunsberg will reportedly walk the Logies red carpet with 2017 Bachelor Matty J

'I've managed to match my outfit with my date, Matty our Bachelor,' Gunsberg said in a report by The Sydney Morning Herald.

'The only thing is he doesn't know yet, because I snuck into his dressing room to check, so we'll totally be twinning,' he quipped.

Osher has been a familiar face at the awards show, as far back as 2003 alongside James Mathison when they both hosted Australian Idol.

'We'll totally be twinning!' The 43-year-old revealed that he has coordinated his outfit with Matty J's

While he is known to cut a dapper look at the event, Osher did admit he had an embarrassing moment in front of comedy genius Chris Lilley.

'I once drunkenly punished Chris Lilley about how much I loved Summer Heights High. He smiled and backed away,' he said about his awkward run-in.

At the 2016 Logies, he was seated in between The Bachelorette couple Sam Frost and Sasha Mielczarek, and The Bachelor couple Sam Wood and Snezana Markoski.

Looking for love: Osher said, 'The only thing is he doesn't know yet, because I snuck into his dressing room to check, so we'll totally be twinning' (Matty J with Georgia Love on The Bachelorette)

The Bachelor host tied the knot in January with makeup artist Audrey Griffin in an extravagant three day celebration on the Hunter Valley.

'It's great. I'm just really, really happy, and I'm so lucky,' he told New Idea.

He was previously married to Israeli actress Noa Tishby from 2008, before announcing on that they had split in 2011.
They're Hollywood heavyweights known for their acting credentials.

But now Elsa Pataky has opened up to The Sun Herald this week about how her marriage to Aussie Chris Hemsworth isn't all it seems to be.

The 40-year-old actress said that her Hollywood hunk hubby can be a little bit annoying at times.

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Hollywood actress Elsa Pataky, 40, has revealed that there are things about her husband Chris Hemsworth, 33, that annoy her

She said: 'Nobody is perfect, but you have to accept people the way they are'

While in Sydney for her ambassador role unveiling the Botanicals Fresh Care at Sydney's Centennial Homestead, the Fast and the Furious star said there are things her and Chris, 33, don't agree on.

She said: 'Nobody is perfect, but you have to accept people the way they are. There's lots of things I love about him and there are some things I don't.'

She continued: 'It's the same with him [about me]. We have our things that bother each other, but most of the things we love about each other, so that's why we're together.'

'We have our things that bother each other, but most of the things we love about each other, so that's why we're together'

The Madrid-born actress said life has been 'busy' on their $7million Byron Bay property with her husband, daughter India, 4, and twin boys Tristan and Sasha, 3.

Although saying being a mother is her favourite job, there are no plans to have any more kids.

She said: 'I think we have enough, they're a lot of work!'

The Fast and the Furious actress said she doesn't want anymore kids because 'they are a lot of work'

Despite having made a promise with Chris that they would never make the other live in their home countries 'because it's so far from our families', Elsa said she has fallen in love with Australia.

She said: 'Chris convinced me because this country is so special, it feels like you're on holidays.'

She continued: 'My friends from Spain say to me "But you have snakes outside of your bedroom," and I'm like "Yes, and I love it!"'

Elsa has fallen in love with Australia as she said: 'Chris convinced me because this country is so special, it feels like you're on holidays'

Despite the call of Hollywood for acting work, the power couple have decided to stay in Byron Bay to raise their kids because of the privacy.

She said: 'It's a small town, so you become a local. There's nothing special about seeing us around because we know everybody there and they treat us like another person and we don't have that attention on our kids.'

Elsa said she's hoping to find more acting work in Australia, but has ruled out Home & Away which Chris's platform for his acting debut as she laughed: 'That would be a little bit strange.'
Time has treated her well.

Andie Macdowell is still turning heads at 59 as she glowed on the red carpet in New York on Saturday.

The timeless beauty stunned in a chic Bottega Veneta dress as she posed for the premiere of her film Love after Love.

Wow: Andie MacDowell, 59, stunned in a chic Bottega Veneta dress as she posed for the premiere of her film Love after Love

The Groundhog Day actress looked ravishing in a mauve dress that had lovely embroidery on the shoulders.

The couture number was loose to mid ankle but was cinched at the waist with a color coordinated band.

She carried a fabulous clutch and wore fashionable brown and green shoes.

The former model kept her signature brunette locks long and loose framing her ageless face.

Pretty: The Groundhog Day actress looked ravishing in a mauve dress that had lovely embroidery on the shoulders

Stunner: The former model kept her signature brunette locks long and loose framing her ageless face

The beauty - who raises son Justin, 30, and daughters Rainey, 26, and Sarah, 22, with first husband Paul Qualley - recently credited hiking with helping her to maintain her envy-inducing figure.

Talking about what she was grateful for at Thanksgiving, Andie told the New York Daily News: 'Im thankful that my a** still looks good at 58!'

'Im thankful that Im still strong and I can still hike as well as any young person.'

Star: Love After Love profiles a mother called Suzanne, played by Andie, as she reunites and separates with her two grown sons over the course of many years

Love After Love profiles a mother called Suzanne, played by Andie, as she reunites and separates with her two grown sons over the course of many years.

The movie co-stars Chris O'Dowd and Dree Hemingway and was co-written by Russell Harbaugh and Eric Mendelsohn.

Up next for the actress is the movie Granite Mountain with Jeff Bridges and Jennifer Connolly.
Jennifer Lopez will be starring in the live TV version of Bye Bye Birdie.

And on Friday her good friend Kristin Chenoweth talked about the project, which will air later this year.

'She's going to nail it!' said the pretty blonde at the You Can't Stop The Beat: The Art And Artistry of Hairspray Live! event inside the Paley Center in Beverly Hills. She worked with Lopez on 2015's The Boy Next Door.

A fan! Jennifer Lopez will be starring in the live TV version of Bye Bye Birdie. And on Friday her good friend Kristin Chenoweth talked about the project, which will air later this year

She will of course impress: Here the 47-year-old Lopez is seen in 2015

Classic: The 1963 film starred Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret and Janet Leigh

Chenoweth looked pretty in a curve-hugging emerald dress.

The 48-year-old highlighted her toned legs in the low-cut mini.

Kristin arrived in the glittering sequin frock for the event, which took place at the Paley Center for Media.

Beaming: Greenblatt with Kristin Chenoweth and Craig Zadan

The actress' three-quarter length number had a fitted waist with a v-neckline.

The blonde star complemented the dazzling look with gold pointed heels.

She shimmered in a diamond bracelet, adding several matching rings.

Unique: The 48-year-old highlighted her toned legs and her svelte frame in the low-cut mini with a custom clutch

She carried a custom black and silver clutch featuring part of her last name emblazoned on it.

Kristin styled her blonde locks loose with a slight wave.

The star painted her pout with pink lipstick, adding smoky eye makeup.
On the eve of the 22nd annual World Book Day, here is some thought-provoking data. Although, on average, the Chinese adult read 7.86 books in 2016, 0.02 more than in 2015, the number still lags far behind Japan or Germany. Chinese are spending more time reading paper books in recent years, but the increase has been far outpaced by the surge of reading on mobile devices. In 2016, an adult Chinese read paper books for an average of about 20 minutes. They read up to about 74 minutes on mobile devices, 3.7 times higher than paper book-reading time.

In the Internet age, we have more information at our fingertips than ever before. So, why should we value reading? An important reason is that, compared to knowledge that is fragmented or acquired through passive reception, reading provides systematic knowledge and encourages holistic thinking.

Officials should read more. The information explosion has made it all the more important for leading officials to read and improve themselves. But the current reading situation among leading officials is not very promising. Some officials dont do a good job of reading and they give a variety of excuses. Some blame their failure to read on their tight schedules or lack of time. But reading and study should be taken as life attitude, responsibility, and spiritual pursuit.

Universal reading should become a fashion among the public. The low-level of reading in the Internet era is worrisome. People are bending their heads down a lot, mostly for on-screen shallow reading; and while libraries are getting better and better, good books are more and more difficult to find. We need to put our minds together and figure out how to improve the supply of book resources, so that peoples quality of reading is improved. More importantly, we must beat the addiction that some people have to their mobile devices and the Internet, so that reading enriches our spirit and our lives.

For the question, Whered all the time go? President Xi Jinping has a simple answer: Make time outside of work to study. In Shaanxi, President Xi walked 30 li (15 kilometers) to borrow a book, he would read while eating, and he frequently recommend books to officials. Reading is a habit, and its a hobby. Its a way of life, because Reading keeps the mind alive, gives people wisdom and inspiration, and cultivates a nobile spirit.

On World Book Day, lets open a page with the president, so that the sun of wisdom illuminates our time and our life.
It's TV's night of nights, and the stars are going all out for the Logie Awards on Sunday evening.

Sharing their preparations for the big night with fans, the likes of WAG Rebecca Judd, Fiona Falkiner and Anna Heinrich took to Instagram to share the results of their glamorous makeovers.

Rebecca Judd shared to Instagram a shot of herself holding one of her twin sons at the J'Aton Couture studio - her favourite designers - who are creating her gown for the night.

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Glamour girl! Rebecca Judd showed off the results of her classic-style hair and makeup on Instagram ahead of the Logies red carpet

Pretty in pink: Ready to go with hubby Chris Judd, Bec showed off her completed look with a daring choice of an interesting pink and red J'Aton Couture dress

Bachelor babe before: Anna Heinrich opted for romance curls and elegant makeup

After: Ready for the red carpet, Anna looked fittingly gold in her Steven Khalil frock

She previously revealed she was wearing J'Aton Couture and will be wearing stunning pink Gucci heals, with the same heel in another colour, costing $785.

For the visit, Rebecca wore a short blue dress but kept her Logies outfit under wraps.

She also revealed that she enjoyed some pizza ahead of the Logies and also got hair extensions.

Recently engaged Erin Molan showed off her make-up and hair prep, striking a retro pose with her hair in curlers and her face already made up with a soft pink lip.

Curly temple: Recently engaged Erin Molan showed off her make-up and hair prep, striking a retro pose with her hair in curlers and her face already made up with a soft pink lip

Beaming beauty: Fiona Falkiner looked radiant as she showed off her glam look and expensive bling

Elegant: Sylvia Jeffreys opted to wear her hair in messy waves

Blushing beauty: Sylvia looked stunning in a salmon pink Rebecca Vallance dress with ruffle details and low cut neckline

Wow: Kylie Gillies dazzled in this pre-Logies snap after having her hair and makeup done

TV presenter Fiona Falkiner dazzled while sporting elegant makeup and very expensive bling.

Former Bachelor star Anna Heinrich looked radiant while showcasing her luscious romance curls and flawlessly applied evening makeup.

Ksenija Lukich showed off her completed look including a plum lip, slicked hair and burgundy dress that gave her a 1990s feel.

Ready for her makeover! Lisa Wilkinson was pictured makeup-free while waiting on hair and makeup

Glam squad engaged! Lisa looked stunning insoft make up and a lace and tulle gown

Final tweaks: Rebecca shared to Instagram a shot of herself holding one of her twin sons at the J'Aton Couture studio

Ready for the red carpet: Bec later showed off the dress she had picked

Almost the big reveal! She previously revealed she was wearing J'Aton Couture and will be wearing stunning pink Gucci heals

Andy Lee's girlfriend Rebecca Harding meanwhile, shared a stunning shot of herself to Instagram, sitting in a white tulle dress, her gown for the Logies.

She revealed the gown was made by Cappellazzo Couture and featured a structured bodice that cinched in at the waist.

'Logies prep': Rebecca also revealed that she enjoyed some pizza ahead of the Logies

Adding some length: Rebecca also said she was adding hair extensions

Princess-style: Andy Lee's girlfriend Rebecca Harding meanwhile, shared a stunning shot of herself to Instagram, sitting in a white tulle dress, her gown for the Logies

The brunette also shared a full length shot of the dress, stunning in her outfit.

She showed off a fresh spray tan and her hair out in loose tousled curls.

The Bachelor's Anna Heinrich said she was jetting from Sydney to Melbourne on Sunday, and shared a shot of her gown, revealing she was wearing Steven Khalil.

Belle of the ball! The brunette also shared a full length shot of the dress, stunning in her outfit

Ready to go! The Bachelor's Anna Heinrich said she was jetting from Sydney to Melbourne on Sunday, and shared a shot of her gown, revealing she was wearing Steven Khalil

A girl's dream! Meanwhile, she also shared a shot with fans holding boxes of Stuart Weitzman shoes, joking: 'Stocking up for the #Logies. You can NEVER have enough shoes!'

Meanwhile, she also shared a shot with fans holding boxes of Stuart Weitzman shoes, joking: 'Stocking up for the #Logies. You can NEVER have enough shoes!'

Also obsessed with their heels, was pregnant writer Zoe Foster Blake.

The wife of Hamish Blake revealed she was wearing gold Gucci heels with a snake feature on the heel.

They retail on MyTheresa.com for AU $1,035.

'You know what they say when you're pregnant: Comfort first': Also obsessed with their heels, was pregnant writer Zoe Foster Blake

'You know what they say when you're pregnant: Comfort first. OR...is it badass snakes slitherin' up your heels, first?! (No. It's definitely the comfort one) # Logies,' Zoe captioned the Instagram shot.

The Bachelor's Alex Nation also shared to Instagram a shot of herself makeup free, complaining that she has a pimple on her face.

Still gorgeous! The Bachelor's Alex Nation also shared to Instagram a shot of herself makeup free, complaining that she has a pimple on her face

Scrubbed up alright! Alex's pimple had vanished by the time she appeared on the Logies red carpet alongside beau Richie Strahan

Still looking gorgeous, she pointed to the pimple on her cheek and pulled a sad expression.

She humorously captioned the snap saying that she had a 'Logie on my face.'

'So it's Logies day and this decides to grow on my face. Don't worry about the nomination guys, I've my own Logie, and it's on my face.'

Skin-focused: The Real Housewives of Melbourne's Jackie Gillies, shared to Instagram a shot of herself getting a HydraFacial

The Real Housewives of Melbourne's Jackie Gillies, shared to Instagram a shot of herself getting a HydraFacial.

According to it's official website, the treatment 'utilises super-serums filled with antioxidants, peptides and hyaluronic acid to boost hydration, help address the signs of aging and protect skin from environmental [damage] leaving it recharged, renewed, and invigorated.'

'Fun times': On Saturday, Today's Lisa Wilkinson shared a shot of herself at the Logies in 2015 and said she had landed in Melbourne ahead of the event and had designers making her dress last minute

She'll be glowing! Lisa also enjoyed a facial on Sunday

Also getting a facial on Sunday, was Lisa Wilkinson.

On Saturday, the Today star shared a shot of herself at the Logies in 2015, and said she had landed in Melbourne ahead of the event and had designers making her dress last minute.

'Just arrived in Melbourne. #Logies weekend, here we come!! This afternoon, we make my dress. #notevenkidding #funtimes with @capellazzocouture.'

Chrissie Swan took to Instagram on Saturday evening, to share a shot of herself waxing her upper lip.

'#Logiesprep,' Chrissie captioned the selfie, which gained over 6,500 likes and numerous fan comments praising the personality for keeping it real.

Keeping it real: Chrissie Swan took to Instagram to share a shot of herself waxing her upper lip

Glamming up! Sunrise's Samantha Armytage got a pedicure at a local salon, with her pet pooch in tow

Last-minute sweat: Today Extra and The Voice's Sonia Kruger meanwhile, exercised on Sunday ahead of getting into her dress

Sunrise's Samantha Armytage got a pedicure at a local salon on Saturday, with her pet pooch in tow.

'The Logies prep continues...there's no party without the punch,' Samantha captioned the image, showing her feet being painted red.

Today Extra and The Voice's Sonia Kruger meanwhile, exercised on Sunday ahead of getting into her dress.

Natalie Bassingthwaighte also enjoyed some morning pilates ahead of the night.

Jessica Rowe and Keira Maguire skipped any hard dieting and enjoyed naughty treats, with Keira scoffing cheesy pizza and Jessica enjoying a sugar hit with a pastry.

Stretch it out: Natalie Bassingthwaighte also enjoyed some morning pilates ahead of the night

No diets here! Jessica Rowe (pictured) and Keira Maguire skipped any hard dieting and enjoyed naughty treats. Jessica had a pastry for breakfast on Sunday

Naughty! The Bachelor's Keira Maguire scoffed cheesy pizza, saying it was a 'pre-Logies meal'

The Bachelorette's Georgia Love meanwhile had a bit of a spat with SBS star Lee Lin Chin on Twitter.

Georgia tweeted how excited she was to be in the same room as the presenter at the Logies, before Lee Lin tweeted back a rather scathing reply.

'With only 35 hours until the Logies it has only just occurred to me I will be in the same room as @LeeLinChinSBS. This changes everything,' Georgia first tweeted.

Lee Lin retweeted it and wrote: 'It changes nothing. I shan't be attending.'

Georgia on Sunday, didn't mention Lee Lin Chin on her Instagram and instead said she was getting ready for the Logies, posting a shot of makeup just before lunch time.

Ouch! The Bachelorette's Georgia Love meanwhile had a bit of a spat with SBS star Lee Lin Chin on Twitter

Not a fan? Georgia (R, pictured with boyfriend Lee Elliott) tweeted how excited she was to be in the same room as the presenter at the Logies, before Lee Lin tweeted back a rather scathing reply

Hitting back: Lee Lin retweeted it and wrote: 'It changes nothing. I shan't be attending'
Olivia Buckland set pulses racing when she posted a racy Instagram post on Saturday.

The 23-year-old sent temperatures soaring when she put her eye-popping cleavage on display in the tiny lacy bralette.

Not leaving much to the imagination, the Love Island personality showed off her intimate underboob tattoos.

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Busty Olivia Buckland showed off her intimate underboob tattoos in tiny bralette in a racy Instagram post which drove fans wild on Saturday

On trend as ever, the lacy edged neckline gave a stylish finish to the lacy lingerie as it had a choker-style effect.

The blonde beauty styled her cropped golden locks in a choppy array, pulling off a tousled look.

She posed in sparkly sequin-studded sandals, which added a hint of glamour and sparkle to her appearance.

Olivia captioned the Instagram post, 'Loved these frill trousers from last night.'

A match made in reality heaven: Love Island's Olivia (pictured last week) has now revealed she and fiancee Alex Bowen have set a date for the ITVBe show's first-ever wedding

Her legion of 1.1million fans flooded the social media post with gushing compliments, a fan said: 'Wow one sexy girl,you look so hot.'

Others followed suit, saying: 'You look insane body goals. Stunning. Looking totally beaut babe.'

No doubt the stunner is excited to wed co-star and fiancee Alex Bowen in the ITVBe show's first-ever wedding after they met filming in Mallorca last year.

She will tie the knot with her scaffolder beau, 24, in September 2018, with Love Island's host Caroline Flack, 37, as a guest and Olivia's best pal from the series, winner Cara De La Hoyde, 26, bridesmaid.

Speaking to this week's issue of Closer magazine, Olivia revealed that she wants 'party animal' Caroline to come - despite the TV presenter being accused by viewers of being flirty with Alex in the 2016 show's finale.

Dream day: The reality star, 23, revealed she and her scaffolder beau, 24, will tied the knot in September 2018

Olivia said: 'Caroline Flack needs to come to the wedding! She's a real party animal so we need her there. We're inviting all the Love Island producers too, as they made it happen.'

The reality star did not mention whether fellow Love Islander Zara Holland, 21 - who slept with Alex on his first night in the villa, resulting in her losing her Miss Great Britain crown - would be on the guest list.

Olivia revealed she has started planning her dream day with former co-star and best pal Cara De La Hoyde - who won Love Island in 2016 alongside Nathan Massey, before confirming their split last week.

'She's a real party animal, we need her there': Love Island's host Caroline Flack, 37, will be invited as a guest at the couple's nuptials

Olivia also divulged that Cara is set to be a bridesmaid on the big day, telling Closer: 'Of course Cara is going to be my bridesmaid.'

Olivia is keeping tight-lipped about details of the wedding, but admitted that it will be in the UK so the pair's friends and family don't miss out, and they will plan a 'fab honeymoon abroad' after.

The curvaceous reality TV star has finished filming Say Yes To The Dress, so fans will have a sneak preview of what her dress is like before the big day.

Olivia and Alex announced their engagement during a New Year's Eve break in December, despite only being a couple for five months.

Loved-up: Alex popped the question to the blonde beauty on a romantic trip to New York in December 2016 after just five months of dating

Here comes the bridesmaid: Olivia revealed she has started planning her dream day with former co-star and best pal Cara De La Hoyde, 26, who will be one of her bridesmaids

Hunky scaffolder and fitness model Alex ignored claims that the couple were only a "showmance" and popped the question after whisking Olivia away to a romantic trip to New York.

Olivia spoke excitedly about her upcoming nuptials, saying: 'I'm loving being engaged and calling him my fiance. I can't believe we're going to be husband and wife!

'I'm not worried it will change anything - we're meant to be together.'

Despite coming in second place to Nathan and Cara, 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.

No showmance here! Olivia revealed has revealed the couple have plans for children - but will keep an integral element of their love story quiet, particularly their various on-screen romps

Alex popped the question to the blonde beauty on a romantic trip to New York in December 2016 after just five months of dating.

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.'

Supportive: Olivia and Alex have given their support to the new I've Got Guts campaign as part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
He has endured a tough few weeks, after splitting from his long-term girlfriend Megan McKenna.

But things appear to have only gone from bad to worse for Pete Wicks, after he was spotted publicly rowing with Georgia Kousoulou during TOWIE filming on Saturday.

The long-haired hunk cut an incredibly tense figure as he embarked on the fiery exchange with the 25-year-old on the streets of Essex - perhaps in light of his recent separation from the brunette beauty, who is close friends with Georgia.

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Tense: Pete Wicks was spotted publicly rowing with co-star Georgia Kousoulou during TOWIE filming on Saturday

Clashing: The long-haired hunk cut an incredibly tense figure as he embarked on the fiery exchange with the 25-year-old in Essex - perhaps in light of his split from Megan McKenna

The pair looked a far cry from their usual upbeat selves as they appeared to meet at loggerheads during an altercation on the street in Essex.

While Georgia oozed her usual glamour in a studded leather jacket and chic top knot, her face told another story as she adopted a stern frown during the tense conversation.

Meanwhile Pete, who was dressed in a low-key denim jacket, was seen fiercely throwing his arms out in frustration as he discussed an unknown issue with his co-star.

Fiery: The pair looked a far cry from their usual upbeat selves as they appeared to meet at loggerheads during an altercation on the street in Essex

Annoyed: Pete, who was dressed in a low-key denim jacket, was seen fiercely throwing his arms out in frustration as he discussed an unknown issue with his co-star

Not my fault: The star was then seen holding his hands up, almost as if in guilt, as he worked through his issue with Georgia

Not happy: While Georgia oozed her usual glamour in a studded leather jacket and chic top knot, her face told another story as she adopted a stern frown during the tense conversation

As Georgia later defended herself, Pete was seen with his hands firmly behind his back as he tried to keep his cool during the confrontation.

It is not yet known what the argument, which was filmed for the reality show, was about - but it is likely to have surrounded around his ex Megan McKenna, who is a close friend of Georgia's.

The blonde has been supporting Megan on TOWIE over the last few weeks, as she recovers from her heartache from her breakup with Pete.

Staying calm: As Georgia later defended herself, Pete was seen with his hands firmly behind his back as he tried to keep his cool

What's up? It is not yet known what the argument, which was filmed for the reality show, was about

Standing her ground: However it is likely to have surrounded around his ex Megan McKenna, who is a close friend of Georgia's

Most recently, she comforted the star after she clashed with Chloe Sims - who claimed she was 'making a scene' of the split.

However earlier this week, it was reported that Pete is still very much 'in love' with his ex-girlfriend, and keen to grow close to her once again.

After seeing the pair together at a charity event earlier this month, a source claimed to Now: 'He's still besotted... he was by her side and spending a lot of the night with Megan.

'Megan didn't seem to mind - she was enjoying his company.

Support system: The blonde has been supporting Megan on TOWIE over the last few weeks, as she recovers from her heartache from her breakup with Pete

Not over it? However earlier this week, it was reported that Pete is still very much 'in love' with his ex-girlfriend, and keen to grow close to her once again

'He kept saying how gorgeous she looked and she was blushing.'

TOWIE fans saw the power couple emotionally split on the show last month, after a year of dating.

Their relationship had become incredibly turbulent after it surfaced Pete had sent explicit texts to his ex Jacqui Ryland and a slew of others behind Megan's back, during a holiday to Marbella in September.

While many had allegedly been too explicit to print, others saw the reality star refer to the holiday with his girlfriend 'boring', and claim Jacqui is not the only one who misses their relationship.

'Besotted': After seeing the pair together at a charity event earlier this month, a source claimed: 'He's still besotted... he was by her side and spending a lot of the night with Megan'

Despite taking Pete back at Christmas, Megan admitted she was unable to forgive his unfaithful actions, and claimed he hadn't seemed happy in their relationship.

Following the pair's decision to call it quits, their break up then took a bitter turn when both were accused of cheating - Megan was pictured with her ex-boyfriend during a night out, while Pete was seen 'getting close' to Chloe.

Despite both staunchly denying accusations they had been unfaithful, the pair then came to blows just days later in another fierce row - causing crew members to intervene and force them apart.

Megan has since apologised for the way she lashed out at Pete - and vice versa - as both have said they want to be 'civil'.

They appeared to get back on amicable terms and when Megan told Pete 'she'll see him around,' he replied: 'I'll buy you a drink' on a recent episode of TOWIE.
She found herself turned away from a glittering Logies party last year and it remains to be seen if Pia Miller will face the same fate at this year's event.

The 33-year-old jetted in from Los Angeles on Sunday just in time to attend the ceremony, posting two images to her Instagram Story to announce her arrival in Melbourne.

In one picture she is seated at LAX ready to depart, looking adorable in a brown hat and poking her tongue out at the camera.

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Not welcome? She found herself turned away from a glittering Logies party last year and it remains to be seen if Pia Miller will face the same fate at this year's event

The Home and Away star captioned the image with a koala emoji and the words 'home time'.

In the second image she has arrived back in Melbourne and captioned the picture with the word 'Home 'and a pink heart.

While it's unclear if Pia is in fact attending the Logies this year, at the 2016 event she experienced an embarrassing faux pas when she was refused entry to a sought-after VIP party.

Standing outside Shane Warne's Club 23 with her boyfriend Tyson Mullane, a woman clutching a clipboard turned away the actress telling her 'uh uh... wrong network.'

she's back! The 33-year-old jetted in from Los Angeles on Sunday just in time to attend the ceremony, posting two images to her Instagram Story to announce her arrival in Melbourne

The woman tells her brother Jesus Loyola, who was DJ'ing at the party: 'I can let you in,' before turning to Pia and Tyson saying: 'But you two guys...uh uh.

The woman then added, 'Sorry, wrong network, sorry darling.'

Looking a little worse for wear, the actress politely accepted the refusal to the bash around 2.40am.

Drama:While it's unclear if Pia is in fact attending the Logies this year, at the 2016 event she experienced an embarrassing faux pas when she was refused entry to a sought-after VIP party

Yet in an embarrassing moment, Pia and Tyson are seen later wandering up to the club door again and attempting to charm their way in for a second time.

The doorman laughed with the pair standing arm-in-arm, but stood steadfastly firm and refused to let in the actress, who stars in the long-running Channel Seven soap.
She's the busy model, who recently welcomed her second child to actor husband Sam Worthington.

Now Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) and her family have taken some family time out to enjoy a day on the beach during their trip to Mexico.

The family flew out to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico last week to enjoy some down time six months after their son Racer was born.

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Lara Worthington (Bingle) and her family have taken some family time out to enjoy a day on the beach during their trip to Mexico

The family flew out to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico last week to enjoy some down time six months after their son Racer was born

The Worthington's looked content and relaxed while they soaked up the Mexican sunshine after enjoying a picnic on the beach.

Lara and Sam strolled around the beach in their swimwear while their kids stayed protected from the sun.

Lara, 29, ran around after her energetic two-year-old son Rocket while Sam, 40, cuddled with Racer in the shade.

The Worthington's looked content and relaxed while they soaked up the Mexican sunshine after enjoying a picnic on the beach

Lara, 29, ran around after her energetic two-year-old son Rocket while Sam, 40, cuddled with Racer in the shade

From a young socialite who once chased the spotlight to a young mum, Lara told Fairfax that the model turned businesswoman has never felt more fulfilled.

She said: 'It's amazing. Two children under the age of two definitely keeps us busy, but it's the most rewarding thing ever.'

Moving from Sydney's Cronulla to New York, Lara is content to lead a low-key life that revolves around her family.

Sam Worthington cuddled up with six-month-old son Racer in the shade

Lara said about motherhood: 'It's amazing. Two children under the age of two definitely keeps us busy, but it's the most rewarding thing ever'

Lara said that living in New York means her family have more privacy than back in Australia, which Lara and Sam both want for their young kids

Lara said that living in New York means her family have more privacy than back in Australia, which Lara and Sam both want for their young kids.

She said: 'Living away has made me softer and being able to raise the boys here, I haven't had as much scrutiny.'

Husband Sam Worthington said: 'My happy place is with my family wherever they are, especially with my wife.'
She's known for her individualistic sense of style.

And Lena Dunham walked her own fashion path once again on Saturday, in NYC.

The 30-year-old Girls star teamed chunky sneakers with her dress, at the premiere of My Art at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival.

Bright spark: Lena Dunham walked her own fashion path once again on Saturday, in NYC

The newly-slimmed down star showcased her sartorial savvy in a brightly patterned dress, with spaghetti straps.

She was joined at the festival, which is sponsored by Bai, by her mother Laurie Simmons - who stars in the film.

Lena flashed her arm tattoo of a grazing bull peeking out of flowers - which she said she got inked 11 years ago.

Interesting choice: The 30-year-old Girls star teamed chunky sneakers with her dress, at the premiere of My Art at the Bai-sponsored 2017 Tribeca Film Festival

She said on Instagram recently: 'Ferdinand restored to his original pacifist glory...this was definitely the coolest thing I did at age 19.'

The tattoo was inspired by The Story Of Ferdinand - a children's book about a bull who would rather stop and smell flowers than fight.

Both Lena and her sister Grace make cameos in their mums new film which follows Laurie playing a once-prominent visual artist struggling to recapture her creativity in late middle age.

Family time: She was joined by her mum Laurie Simmons - who stars in the film

Girls day out! The newly-slimmed down star showcased her sartorial savvy in a brightly patterned dress, with spaghetti straps as she hugged her mum

On display: Lena flashed her arm tattoo of a grazing bull peeking out of flowers - which she said she got inked 11 years ago

Her HBO series Girls, a critical favourite despite low ratings, came to an end on Sunday and managed to cause one final storm in a teapot.

Angry viewers took to Twitter after the final episode aired to moan about the twin baby boys cast to play the newborn son of Lena's character Hannah Horvath.

Their problem was the baby was black in their opinion, despite none of them knowing or citing the actual ethnic background of the twins.

Dunham is a white actress, and the man who got her pregnant in the show was played by Riz Ahmed, a Muslim actor of Pakistani descent.

'Y'all no one can convince me that that beautiful black baby was Hannah's and that racially ambiguous surf instructor. #GirlsHBO #Girls,' wrote one Twitter user.

'How did Hannah give birth to a black baby?' asked another person on Twitter.

One man wrote: 'All you need to know about Girls ending is that Lena Dunham really wanted you to see her holding and mothering a black baby.'

Perhaps unsurprisingly, neither Lena nor anyone from Girls has commented on these tweets.

Giving birth to more controversy: They complained about the twin baby boys cast to play the newborn son of Lena's character Hannah Horvath
She's one of Hollywood's most outspoken environmentalists, so it makes sense Kristen Bell would enjoy her Earth Day outdoors.

Bell, 36, was snapped with her two young daughters with husband Dax Shepard - Lincoln, four, and Delta, two - visiting Griffith Park in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles Saturday.

The Good Place actress was quaintly styled for the springtime outing, wearing a cream-colored straw hat with a button-down collared shirt with white and ballet slipper pink vertical stripes, and denim blue jeans.

Sunny day: Kristen Bell, 36, was snapped with her children Lincoln, four, and Delta, two, at an event at Griffith Park in the LA neighborhood of Los Feliz Saturday

Bell cuffed up her sleeves, with a pair of black sunglasses with gold frames, with a brown leather bag and amber brown open toe sandals.

The Gossip Girl beauty had both of her tots in matching straw hats, with Lincoln in a pink princess-style dress and Delta in a white top and denim shorts.

The Frozen star has established herself as one of the premiere environmental crusaders in show business, often lending her celebrity to green causes such as the World Wildlife Fund.

Low-key: The How to Be a Latin Lover actress was engaged in the ongoings at the Southern California attraction

Weekend fun: The actress and her two kids were entertained by a performer at the event

Devoted mom: Kristen held hands with both of her daughters as the trio made their way from the festivities

She told The Huffington Post last month: 'We all have to start thinking about passing earth on. Its not here to be used and abused.'

Kristen, who's partnered up with Tide on a campaign to wash clothes in the most environmentally-friendly methods, said she was 'inspired by companies that are doing it right.'

Dedicated: The actress, who says it's important for environmentally-minded folks to support companies with the same tenets, works with the detergent manufacturer Tide

She said that it's important for people to pledge their support toward environmentally-conscious companies, as people 'vote with [their] dollars.

'When the consumer makes their desires known to companies, they have no choice but to give us what we want,' she said. 'Thats how capitalism works and it can work for us if we are loud and proud and protect what we care about.'

Kristen appears in the upcoming comedy ensemble How to Be a Latin Lover, which hits theaters Friday.

Out and about: Kristen was snapped with husband Dax Shepard at SiriusXM in NYC last month
As Peggy Olson in Madmen, she was often clad in period fashion.

And on Saturday, Elizabeth Moss took a cue from vintage fifties for the premiere of her short, Tokyo Project, at New York's Tribeca Film Festival.

The 34-year-old looked lovely in a draped, yellow dress with silver polka dots.

The main attraction: On Saturday, Elizabeth Moss, 34, took a cue from vintage fifties for the premiere of her short, Tokyo Project, at New York's Tribeca Film Festival

The actress complemented her bright frock's detailing with a large brooch, jewelry from Eva Fehren, clutch, and pointed heels.

Elizabeth wore her blonde, shoulder length locks to one side and styled in an effortless, natural do.

The blue-eyed beauty accentuated her features with liner and mascara. Her look was complete with a touch of bold red lipstick.

Classic: The actress looked lovely in a draped, yellow dress with silver polka dots, accessorizing with Eva Fehren jewelry

The main crew: Girls' director Richard Shepard (L) is behind the project. Ebon Moss-Bachrach, 39, is Elizabeth's co-star in the film

Their roles: In the short, the two play love interests who run into each other on many occasions in Tokyo

Girls' director Richard Shepard is behind the project.He also attended the short's red carpet.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, 39, also came out, dressed in a monochromatic navy look.

In the film, the two play love interests who continually run into each other in Tokyo.

Girls' writer and showrunner Jennifer Konner came out to support her boyfriend Richard. The show's star Lena Dunham, 30, also came by for the premiere

Chatting it up: Lena and Elizabeth shared a greeting while on the red carpet

Girls' writer and showrunner Jennifer Konner came out to support her boyfriend Richard.

The show's star Lena Dunham, 30, also came by for the premiere.

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, director Richard described his reason for creating the film.

'I was really wanting to make a love story,' he began.

'Tokyo Project was a way to direct a different sort of film than I was used to making. I wanted to do something intimate, with a small crew. Something beautiful, and from the heart.'

'I was blessed with great actors and a location as romantic and mysterious as the story itself. Add to that a donated camera and post work, and a few residual checks from Girls and this special movie emerged.'
Melanie Griffith knows how to make a classy entrance.

The 59-year-old was one of a number of big names who attended The Humane Society for the United States' To the Rescue! gala in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Held at the Paramount Studios Backlot the event raised a record setting $1.4 million.

Beaming: Melanie Griffith, 59, looked amazing as she posed at The Humane Society of the United States' To the Rescue gala at Paramount Studio in LA

For the event, the Disaster Artist actress wore a long-sleeved black dress with white floral highlights.

The well-styled blonde beauty wore her hair up, with diamond earrings and black pointy toe heels.

The Working Girl star was one of many big names to attend the swanky function, which was aimed at creating support and awareness for the organization's Farm Animal Protection campaign.

The event honored Senator Cory Booker and the late Christina Grimmie featured performances by Pharrell Williams, Noah Cyrus, and Rachel Platten.

Immaculate: The veteran actress was styled in a black floral dress with her blonde tresses up at the charity event

Showing support: Griffith was one of the many stars at the event, which was aimed at the organization's Farm Animal Protection campaign

Touching tribute: Christina Grimmie's relatives (L-R) Bud, Tina and Marcus Grimmie accepted a posthumous honor for The Voice singer, who was murdered last summer by a crazed fan

Gone but not forgotten: The singer's family posed with Rachel Platten (3rd from L)

Christina was murdered by a fan last year and her family accepted the organization's Impact Award on the late star's behalf for her devotion to protecting animals.

Sen. Booker was honored with its Humanitarian of the Year Award for his dedication to animal protection, the advancement of animal welfare laws and for sponsoring humane legislation.

The Senator said: 'I'm humbled to receive the Humanitarian of the Year award from The Humane Society of the United States.

Legends: Diane Keaton (L) and James Caan were among the stars attending the function

Ubiquitous: Talented entertainer Jane Lynch is one of Hollywood's most philanthropic-minded celebs, as she's a regular at charity events

Sweet sounds: Rachel Platten (L) and Pharrell posed for a shot at the swanky La La Land gala

Fashionista: Gorgeous actress Jaime King put her best foot forward as she posed in a long cream gown

'HSUS is working every day to end animal cruelty, and I've been proud to stand with them. No living creature is so insignificant as to not be worthy of our kindness and compassion.

'I'm energized by the progress we've already made, and I look forward to continuing to work on animal welfare issues in the United States Senate in the years to come.'

Also at the proceedings included film icons James Caan and Diane Keaton, and Emmy-winning actress Jane Lynch.

Because he's happy! Pharrell performed at the event and had people jumping out of their seats

Doing his part: The evening raised more than $1.4M for the organization, with the help of Pharrell's impromptu fundraising efforts during his performance

Dance it out: Many people joined the singer on stage to celebrate the big night

Big night: Miley Cyrus's younger sister Noah, wearing an Alexis Bittar choker, performed in front of the room full of Hollywood players

Pretty: Talented actresses Elizabeth Banks (L) and Rooney Mara (R) posed for a shot inside

Cute couple: Right Here Waiting singer Richard Marx and wife Daisy Fuentes were well put-together for the lavish event

Other notable celebs on hand included Jaime King, Alana Stewart, Rooney Mara and Elizabeth Banks.

Notable names from the music community included Pharrell, Moby, Richard Marx with wife Daisy Fuentes, songwriter Diane Warren and Rachel Platten.

Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour and a gourmet vegan dinner, followed by a live auction and evening program.

A touch of spring! Elizabeth Banks (right) and Jen Lowery (left) brought pastel delight to the event

Elegant; Rooney Mara put on an ethereal appearance in a white lace dress and blunt fringe
She spent Saturday night partying in Sydney alongside her Hell's Kitchen Australia cast-mates.

But on Sunday it was all about the Logies for Sam Frost, as she jetted into Melbourne for Australian television's night of nights.

The 28-year-old cut a casual figure as she exited the airport, clutching her gown close.

Getting ready! Sam Frost cut a casual figure in leggings and thongs as she jetted into Melbourne for the Logie Awards

The former Bachelorette star wore dark leggings and a grey long-sleeve shirt as she tried to hail a cab.

Keeping things simple, the radio host teamed them with a pair of black flip flops and thick headphones that she wore around her neck.

She let her sun-kissed locks hang out around her face and opted for natural make-ups tones and a pink lipstick.

Keeping it simple: As she arrived she let her sun-kissed locks hang out around her face and opted for natural make-ups tones and a pink lipstick

The reality star juggled multiple bags as she walked, including one that seemed to be carrying her gala gown.

The bag was folded up to protect the frock, with Sam clutching another tight with her left hand.

After touching down, Sam was reportedly spotted chatting to The Chaser's Issa Schultz before leaving to get ready.

She is expected to join a bevy of celebrities at the awards night, including other former Bachelor and Bachelorette stars Anna Heinrich, Tim Robards, Alex Nation, Georgia Love and Lee Elliot.

Frocking up: After touching down, Sam was reportedly spotted chatting to The Chaser's Issa Schultz before leaving to get ready

It comes as the beauty set tongues wagging again on Saturday when she was spotted out with former NRL star 'Big Willie' Mason.

The pair were joined by Hell's Kitchen contestants Lincoln Lewis, Pettifleur Berenger and Issa.

Sam split from boyfriend Sasha Mielczarek, in December, after 18 months together, cutting distance as one of the reasons for the break-up.
(Xinhua) 13:15, April 23, 2017

HAVANA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Over the last 20 years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been gaining ground in Cuba as a new way of easing ailments and treating chronic pains and diseases.

Cubans have since the 1990s benefited from TCM, whose ancient roots have deepened in the island's awareness without the need to conduct publicity campaigns.

GOOD TREATMENT EFFECTS ARE WALKING ADVERTISEMENTS

"I saw the effects in other patients. Therefore I went to a local clinic for treatment and the results have been very favorable," Marta Gonzalez told Xinhua.

At 77 years of age and diagnosed with osteoarthritis, Marta said that after a few courses of treatment using suction cups and moxibustion -- a therapy which involves burning dried mugwort on the body's particular points, her pains almost disappeared.

Just like her, Rigoberto Villalza came to Havana's Camilo Cienfuegos primary care center in search of a better quality of life free from years of sufferings from two herniated discs in his spinal cord.

"They treated me with ozone and acupuncture and I've noticed considerable relief. Also with these treatments, I am avoiding surgery, which is very traumatic," he noted.

In addition to targeting ailments associated with joint pains, Cuba applies traditional and natural medicine to other health conditions.

Diana Guillen has treated thousands of patients over the years and was one of the first TCM specialists on the Caribbean island.

"This rehab center is always full because favorable results have been obtained over time. We always make an initial diagnosis through an exhaustive questionnaire and a physical examination to determine the best treatment for each case," she said.

Although most of her patients are elderly, Guillen is also very satisfied with treating other conditions such as chronic asthma, gastric ulcer or high blood pressure with TCM.

"What we do is to raise the quality of life of the population and we start each treatment with that expectation. What fulfills us most as doctors is that results can be seen in a short time," she said.

In Cuba, family doctors are able to provide such treatments while polyclinics are mostly better equipped. A number of hospitals and research institutes have both TCM and specialized doctors to treat specific disorders with a range of therapies.

This is the case with the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Institute of Gastroenterology, both based in the capital Havana.

Working with the Institute of Gastroenterology, Mirna Quintero is a pioneer in treating digestive disorders with TCM.

"At the beginning, I was alone and started doing acupuncture and its related techniques, then years later others were introduced. Recently we have incorporated laser therapy and drug puncture," she said.

Currently, said Quintero, the institute's research protocols include treatments which have shown positive results and great acceptance by patients who are interested in such techniques previously unknown but praised today by many.

TCM HISTORY IN CUBA

Cuban doctors first learned TCM from Chinese professionals through a program that began in 1995, when this discipline was included in the national curriculum of medical studies.

International cooperation has since been a key factor in developing this medical program over the years.

"In the 1990s, we had an exchange with Chinese, Vietnamese and North Korean advisers to fully implement the program. Many of the doctors trained in those years received classes directly from Chinese professors," Johann Perdomo, head of the department of natural and traditional medicine of the Cuban Ministry of Health (MINSAP), told Xinhua.

Later on, he added, there has been cooperation with different Asian nations to bring to Cuba herbs and plants for traditional medicine treatments.

The development of traditional and natural medicine is also part of a comprehensive program involving MINSAP, as well as other government agencies.

According to Perdomo, such medical treatments began as a necessity due to the deep economic crisis the island faced after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

"It was a good and cheap way to solve some of the most important health issues of our population at the time while maintaining a universal and free healthcare system," he said.

However, realities have changed dramatically with natural and traditional medicine now being firmly integrated into the Cuban health system after more than 20 years of sustained application.

By 2016, more than 200 Cuban doctors had graduated as specialists in traditional and natural medicine, allowing the island to open more healthcare centers.

The service is also complemented by the use of 144 natural medicine products, most of which are made at local centers while others by pharmaceutical factories.

"Some have been registered and patented in different countries while we currently export others. One example is Vidatox, whose principal ingredient is obtained from the venom of the blue scorpion to treat cancer patients," said Perdomo.

Other examples include Abexol, an extract drawn from beeswax, and Policosanol (PPG), a mixture of aliphatic alcohols isolated from sugarcane for reducing cholesterol and treating osteoporosis.

The practice of TCM is so successful in Cuba that the government has integrated it into a plan to promote health tourism, seeking to attract foreign visitors for chronic diseases and ailments treatment here.
She rose to prominence after a brief appearance on Made In Chelsea.

And Kimberley Garner proved she could still turn heads as she enjoyed a night out at Chiltern Firehouse on Saturday.

The 27-year-old former reality star showed off her slender physique in a crop top and jeans ensemble.

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Delight in white! Kimberley Garner proved she could still turn heads as she enjoyed a night out at Chiltern Firehouse on Saturday

Flaunting her washboard abs, she opted for a stylish cream off-the-shoulder Bardot top with exposed sleeves and pretty tassels.

She teamed it with a pair of low-rise black skinny jeans and a pair of casual ankle boots.

And adding a touch of designer, she accessorised with a delicate YSL clutch bag.

Fab abs! The 27-year-old former reality star showed off her slender physique in a crop top and jeans ensemble

The bikini designer shot to fame in 2012 in Series 3 of MIC where she caught the gaze of many male cast members including Spencer, 27, and Richard Dinan.

After one date with Spencer, the pair decided not to take the chemistry any further.

Meanwhile she has been spending time in LA to kick-start her acting career.

But it hasn't all been plain-sailing as she recently 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.

Chic: Flaunting her washboard abs, she opted for a stylish cream off-the-shoulder Bardot top with exposed sleeves and pretty tassels

'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.

'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.'
Sylvia Jeffreys' Logies dress divided social media on Sunday after she hit the red carpet in a blush ruffled frock.

Several Twitter users mercilessly mocked the frock, saying they thought the dress looked like a certain part of the anatomy.

'Is @SylviaJeffreys a giant vagina? I do like that she recycled Nanna's pink velveteen bedspread from '86 into her wearable vagina. #LOGIES' one wrote.

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Blushing beauty! Newlywed Sylvia Jeffreys flaunted her svelte frame in a ruffled blush frock at the Logie Awards in Melbourne on Sunday night

'Oh it's the Logies and someone is in a vagina dress, the talking Labia #Logies,' one person added.

Meanwhile, newlywed Sylvia didn't appear to have a care in the world as she attended the event on Sunday night.

'Ready to roll! tvweeklogies red carpet starts now!' Sylvia wrote in a caption alongside an Instagram picture she posted of herself.

Wearable vagina: 'Is @SylviaJeffreys a giant vagina? I do like that she recycled Nanna's pink velveteen bedspread from '86 into her wearable vagina. #LOGIES' one wrote

Vaginagate: Several Twitter users mercilessly mocked the frock, saying they thought the dress looked like a certain part of the anatomy

'Thank you to my friend @rebeccavallance for another gorgeous frock!' she continued alongside the hashtags #9today.

Many of her fans took to her Instagram to praise the blonde for her outfit choice:

'Stunning @sylviajeffreys !!' Gushed one. '

Oh @sylviajeffreys that dress is DIVINE!!!!' said another.

The blonde beauty highlighted her slimline frame in her fitted blush frock with a plunging neckline and ruffled detailing.

Sylvia's shoulder-length locks were styled in relaxed waves, framing her striking facial features enhanced with a flawless complexion, defined brows, a false set of lashes and a matte nude lip.

Divine: Many of her fans took to her Instagram to praise the blonde for her outfit choice

Glowing! Sylvia's shoulder-length locks were styled in relaxed waves, framing her striking facial features enhanced with a flawless complexion, defined brows, a false set of lashes and a matte nude lip

'Ready to roll': Sylvia Jeffreys, 31, flaunted her svelte frame in a ruffled blush frock in an Instagram snap on Sunday, as she prepared for the Logies red carpet

Not the first time: Edwina Bartholomew was also mocked for wearing a vagina dress

Beauty: A previous snap saw the media personality, sporting a fluffy white robe while in a Melbourne hotel suite, and drawing attention to her glam squad

A previous snap saw Sylvia drawing attention to her glam squad.

Sporting a fluffy white robe while in a Melbourne hotel suite, the media personality offered the camera a close-up look at her hair and makeup.

Morgan Hill from Valonz Haircutters styled Sylvia's tresses in a deep side part, allowing her strands to fall predominately over one side in relaxed waves.

Makeup by Simone Forte included a flawless complexion, defined brows, a subtle smoky eye, a false set of lashes, a touch of bronzer on the apples of her cheeks and a matte nude lip.

'She's not a huge drinker': Meanwhile, Sylvia told The Daily Telegraph on Friday, that she will take advice from Lisa Wilkinson about how to tackle the early start after the big night

Meanwhile, Sylvia told The Daily Telegraph on Friday, that she will take advice from Lisa Wilkinson about how to tackle the early start after the big night.

'I'll tell you who is an example - Lisa (Wilkinson). Lisa doesn't sleep, she just pushes through every year.

She added: 'She's not a huge drinker, she stays up and she parties and always looks a million bucks.'

Sylvia's comments come years after her brother-in-law Karl, who co-hosts the Today show alongside Lisa, shocked viewers by appearing on live TV slightly worse for wear the morning after the 2009 Logie Awards.

Infamous: Regular viewers of Channel Nine breakfast program the Today show, would recall of the morning after the 2009 Logie Awards, that saw co-host Karl Stefanovic, 42, intoxicated

Antics: The personality appeared flushed, would often slur his words and erupt in laughter

The 42-year-old looked flushed and slurred his words, while occasionally erupting in laughter.

In a YouTube interview back in 2014, Karl opened up about that now infamous Logies bender.

'It wasn't any different to any other year - we all get smashed at the Logies and go to work the next day; we'd done it for years and years. But this was the first Logies when stuff really started working on the internet,' he said.

'I remember seeing it (the footage) on Today Tonight and going, 'Oh god'. I really was drunk, or at least I certainly looked and sounded drunk.

Adding that the public was supportive, Karl added with a laugh: 'The only drama is that every time I go out now, everybody wants me to get drunk with them.'
She rose to fame in the nineties for her angsty songwriting and powerful voice.

And Alanis Morissette, who has also turned to acting and producing alongside her music, looked absolutely incredible as she arrived to the screening of the Amazon prime show Transparent in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The 42-year-old musician opted for a stylish navy trouser suit with chic colourful lining, which showed off her svelte frame.

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Stylish: Alanis Morissette, 42, looked absolutely incredible as she turned out to the screening of the Amazon prime show Transparent in Los Angeles on Saturday

Alanis' stylish blazer consisted of yellow and white lining and complemented her white blouse underneath.

The Ironic songstress teamed the look with matching trousers, which gave her the illusion of longer legs with the yellow panel down the side.

A labyrinth of necklaces dangled down her front, while her blonde locks were styled in waves down one side.

Alanis, who is most prominently recognized for the 1995 hit album Jagged Little Pill. topped the look off with a slick of bright red lipstick.

Chic: The musician opted for a stylish navy trouser-suit with chic colourful lining, which showed off her svelte frame

Sartorially savvy: Alanis' stylish blazer consisted of yellow and white lining and complemented her white blouse underneath

Fashion rules: The Ironic songstress teamed the look with matching trousers, which gave her the illusion of longer legs with the yellow panel down the side

Talented: She rose to fame in the nineties for her angsty songwriting and powerful voice - most prominently recognized for the 1995 hit album Jagged Little Pill

She looked in high spirits as she posed with the likes of Kathryn Hahn, Judith Light, Jill Soloway, Jeffrey Tambor, Our Lady J, Gaby Hoffmann, Trace Lysette and Amy Landecker.

Meanwhile, it hasn't been a great few months for Alanis who had her Brentwood, California home raided by thief - where they were able to make off with $2million worth of her stuff, according to TMZ.

Meanwhile, this isn't the only legal scandal surrounding the Canadian musician.

Attention-grabbing: A labyrinth of necklaces dangled down her front, while her blonde locks were styled in waves down one side

Pals: She looked in high spirits as she posed with (L-R) Kathryn Hahn, Judith Light, Jill Soloway, Jeffrey Tambor, Our Lady J, Gaby Hoffmann, Trace Lysette and Amy Landecker

Fashionista: Amy Landecker looked sensational in a pinstripe wrap jumpsuit, which cinched in her tiny waist with a thick black belt

Wow: Judith Light (L) and Trace Lysette (R) looked demure in sexy black pieces, which showed off their incredible figures

Looking good! Kathryn Hahn went for a flirty nude coloured ensemble and boosted her height with towering black heels

Feeling perky! Gaby Hoffman put on the raunchiest display of all - as she went braless under her sheer blue top

Relaxed: Andrea Sterling kept it casual in an all-black outfit which was topped off with a super cool khaki bomber

Sex appeal: Our Lady J flashed her bra underneath a semi-sheer lace bodysuit

Handsome: Jeffrey Tambor was dapper in a navy blazer

Alanis has been dealing with former business manager Jonathan Schwartz, who recently admitted to stealing $4.8 million from her over the course of four years and plead guilty to committing wire fraud and filing false tax returns from 2010 to 2014.

As part of a plea deal, Schwartz agreed to serve between four and six years in prison as well as paying $8.2 million in restitution - however his sentence will ultimately be decided by a federal judge on May 3.

Alanis is very happily married to rapper Souleye, who she wed in 2010 and together they raise six-year-old Ever Imre and six-month-old Onyx.
Sonia Kruger has graced the screens for 25 years and is known for her glamorous attire.

And on Sunday, the 51-year-old stepped out in a plunging Balmain gown at the 2017 Logie Awards.

However, it wasn't so much her gown that drew attention, but Sonia's extremely taut visage, which appeared seemingly wrinkle-free.

Glamourpuss! On Sunday, Sonia Kruger stepped out in a plunging Balmain gown at the 2017 Logie Awards

Wearing her blonde locks out, Sonia's fresh face defied her years.

Cutting a relaxed pose, Sonia smiled for the cameras, showcasing her smooth complexion and bold makeup.

The Today Extra host also flaunted her cleavage in the low cut designer gown that clung to her curves.

looking taut! It wasn't so much her gown that drew attention, but Sonia's extremely taut visage, which appeared seemingly wrinkle-free

Recently, Sonia shared her 25 secrets to success with The Daily Telegraph, while reflecting on the 'thrill' she still gets from live TV.

She said: 'There are so many things that can go wrong - and genuinely do - but that's what people love and that's why I love live television because it's so immediate, no editing required.'

Still going strong: Sonia Kruger has loved 'flying by the seat of her pants' during 25 years on television

Among the secrets behind the Queensland native's TV longevity is her appearance, which falls just after lighting on her list.

'Hair and makeup is everything else. There's no point being well lit if you look like you just walked out of a swamp,' she said.

Famous face: The 51-year-old is currently the host of The Voice and Today Extra after getting her break as Tina Sparkle in 1992 rom-com Strictly Ballroom

Social media didn't exist when Sonia was cutting her teeth in TV, hosting Wonder World and appearing on Today Tonight, Sunrise and 11AM.

And despite the power that sites such as Facebook and Twitter now hold in determining the success of a certain show, Sonia believes it's not the be all and end all.

She said: 'Social media reaction does not equal ratings. These days I see people commenting on source material without even having watched or read it.'

Top tips: And despite the power that sites such as Facebook and Twitter now hold in determining the success of a certain show, Sonia believes it's not the be all and end all

Sonia was on the receiving end of a social media backlash in July last year after one of the biggest black marks on her career to date.

The broadcaster garnered national attention when she made controversial comments on Today Extra calling for Australia to ban Muslim immigrants in the wake of the Paris terror attacks.

She said at the time: 'Personally I would like to see it [the immigration of Muslims] stopped now for Australia because I would like to feel safe as all of our citizens do when they go out to celebrate Australia Day and I'd like to see freedom of speech.'
She's been surrounded by her bevy of sexy pals since splitting with Lewis Bloor after his cheating ways came to light.

And Marnie Simpson looked ready to party as she cosied up to her equally glamorous pals Sophie Kasaei, Nicole Bass and Lateysha Grace for a wild night out at Faces Nightclub in London on Saturday.

The 25-year-old Geordie Shore star flashed her toned tummy in a skin-tight co-ord, while her company for the night also pulled out all the stops in the sex appeal department.

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Ready to party! Marnie Simpson looked ready to party as she cosied up to her glamorous pals Sophie Kasaei, Nicole Bass and Lateysha Grace for a wild night out at Faces Nightclub in London on Saturday

Marnie looked sensational as she flaunted every inch of her enviable frame in the skin-tight crop top, which teased at her bronzed stomach.

The sizzling reality star teamed it with a pair of figure-hugging leggings - which flaunted her pert derriere.

Adding a further touch of glamour, she boosted her height in a pair of towering knee-high suede black boots and held on to a chic chained handbag.

Her brunette locks proved to be in an incredible glossy condition and framed her striking features, which boasted bronzed cheekbones and a pink pout.

Sexy: Marnie looked sensational as she flaunted every inch of her enviable frame in the skin-tight crop top, which teased at her bronzed stomach

Racy display: The sizzling reality star teamed it with a pair of figure-hugging matching leggings - which flaunted her pert derriere

Gorgeous: Her brunette locks proved to be in an incredible glossy condition and framed her striking features, which boasted bronzed cheekbones and a pink pout

Joining her was Geordie Shore cast-mate Sophie Kasaei - who flaunted her curves in a pastel pink bardot style mini-dress.

The Newcastle native, who opted for sexy purple smokey eyes, teamed her clingy number with strappy white ankle boots.

The Valleys star Lateysha Grace put on a very daring display in a skin-tight number, which bared her incredible curves with tie-detailing down each side.

She proved to go underwear-free in the eye-catching number.

TOWIE's Amber Turner looked every inch the blonde bombshell as she took the plunge in a semi-sheer lace bodysuit, which was neatly tucked into a super short skirt.

Looking good: Joining her was Geordie Shore cast-mate Sophie Kasaei - who flaunted her curves in a pastel pink bardot style mini-dress

Bold: The Valleys star Lateysha Grace put on a very daring display in a skin-tight number, which bared her incredible curves with tie-detailing down each side

Saucy: TOWIE's Amber Turner looked every inch the blonde bombshell as she took the plunge in a semi-sheer lace bodysuit, which was neatly tucked into a super short skirt

Walk this way: The stunning TV personality was hard to miss as she strutted around in towering open-toe heels

The look was completed with a chic blazer, nineties inspired choker and matching handbag.

The stunning TV personality was hard to miss as she strutted around in towering open-toe heels.

Not to be outdone, Nicole Bass also put on a saucy display in a cut-out crop top which bared her toned stomach.

She paired the looked with skin-tight denims, a biker jacket and black heels.



Meanwhile, Marnie has been candid about her sexuality, since coming out as bisexual last year.

Fashionista: The look was completed with a chic blazer, nineties inspired choker and matching handbag

Not to be outdone: Nicole Bass also put on a saucy display in a cut-out crop top and blue jeans which bared her toned stomach

And after the demise of her latest relationship, Marnie once again opened up as she revealed in a Twitter question and answer session that her romance with love rat Lewis Bloor could see her date women once again.

The reality star split with the former TOWIE cast member earlier this year amid claims he cheated with 'every Tom, Dick and Harry' and she is now adamant she is on the hunt for a new girlfriend rather than boyfriend.

Marnie and Lewis' relationship came to a bitter end after it was revealed he cheated on his ex on several occasions.

Opening up: Meanwhile, Marnie has been candid about her sexuality, since coming out as bisexual last year

After returning from a friendly trip to Dubai which ended in a blazing public row, Marnie later stated that if she were to tell all about her ex, he would be 'ruined'.

Writing in her column for Star, she said: 'Lets just say if people knew the truth of whats gone on and how Lewis has treated me, it would ruin him. But I couldnt do that to him, even though he deserves it. Karma will do my dirty work for me.'

Elaborating further on the shocking developments, she replied to a fan who asked if she liked guys or girls better with: 'After the last guy defo girls.'

Despite Marnie's heartbreak, she went on to say: 'Ill keep going until I find Mr Right and get married and have kids.'
She was propelled to fame in Woody Allen's 1977 hit Annie Hall.

And Diane Keaton still oozed star quality as she attended the Humane Society of The United States' Annual To The Rescue in LA on Friday.

The Academy-award nominated actress, 71, wore a daring all-white ensemble as she made a cheery appearance on the red carpet.

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Standing out: Diane Keaton oozed star quality as she attended the Humane Society of The United States' Annual To The Rescue in LA on Friday

Showcasing her enviably slender figure, Diane slipped into a bright two piece suit and teamed it with a poloneck top.

Cinching in her waist, she teamed it with a wide waist belt and even accessorised with a funky white top hat.

Boasting a flawless complexion, she smiled cheerily on the red carpet as she posed for pictures.

Giving Snoop Dog a run for his money! The Academy-award nominated actress, 71, wore a daring all-white ensemble as she made a cheery appearance on the red carpet

The youthful star is proud mum to a daughter, 19, and son, 16.

Diane adopted her son Duke and daughter Dexter in 2001 and 1996, respectively and says motherhood turned her world upside down at the age of 50.

Speaking to The Independent in 2015, she said: '[It] changed my life and made it so much more meaningful. It's given me a purpose other than myself, which is really nice.'

Alright in white! Showcasing her enviably slender figure, Diane slipped into a bright two piece suit and teamed it with a poloneck top

And it's clear to see her kids help her stay so young at heart.

'I listen to a lot of pop music with my kids,' she continues, listing Beyonce, Rihanna and Kanye West as her favourites. 'I just like the way they make music now.'

Diane was one of many big names to attend the swanky function, which was aimed at creating support and awareness for the organization's Farm Animal Protection campaign.

The event honoured Senator Cory Booker and the late Christina Grimmie featured performances by Pharrell Williams, Noah Cyrus, and Rachel Platten.

Posing with Elizabeth Banks: Boasting a flawless complexion, she smiled cheerily on the red carpet as she posed for pictures

Christina was murdered by a fan last year and her family accepted the organization's Impact Award on the late star's behalf for her devotion to protecting animals.

Sen. Booker was honored with its Humanitarian of the Year Award for his dedication to animal protection, the advancement of animal welfare laws and for sponsoring humane legislation.

The Senator said: 'I'm humbled to receive the Humanitarian of the Year award from The Humane Society of the United States.

'HSUS is working every day to end animal cruelty, and I've been proud to stand with them. No living creature is so insignificant as to not be worthy of our kindness and compassion.

'I'm energized by the progress we've already made, and I look forward to continuing to work on animal welfare issues in the United States Senate in the years to come.'
She's the Aussie actress who made a name for herself in a US TV series.

But despite her success overseas Orange Is The New Black's Yael Stone, 32, was keen to show her support for Australian television, attending the Logies on Sunday night.

The petite beauty insisted on still attending the awards gala despite battling pneumonia in hospital the night before.

She's a trooper! Orange is The New Black's Yael Stone attending the Logies despite having pneumonia

Yael shared news of her illness with her Instagram followers, sharing a photo on Saturday.

The social media snap shows the Netflix star lying in a hospital bed and medical gown, also sporting an oxygen mask.

Despite her serious surrounds Yael looked upbeat in the photo, smiling and giving a thumbs up.

Not well! The social media snap shows the Netflix star lying in a hospital bed and in a gown, sporting an oxygen mask

'Alright let's do this!' And Yael appeared to have made somewhat of a recovery on Sunday, sharing a selfie while en route to the ceremony

In the accompanying caption she jokingly wrote this was her way of getting ready for television's night of nights.

'Super fancy Logies prep. #pneumonia,' Yael captioned the photo to her 859,000 Instagram followers.

Fans were quick to share their concern in the comments, sending their best wishes for the actress to get well soon.

Looking good: There were no signs of Yael's illness as she posed for photos on the red carpet, the actress beaming

And Yael appeared to have made somewhat of a recovery on Sunday, sharing a selfie while en route to the ceremony.

'Alright let's do this!' She captioned the photo enthusiastically, also adding the hashtags 'Logies' and 'withpneumonia'.

There were no signs of Yael's illness as she posed for photos on the red carpet, the actress beaming.

Yael wore a playful mini dress with ruffled sleeves, pairing the look with pointed sparkly heels.

You beauty! Yael wore a playful mini dress with ruffled sleeves, pairing the look with pointed sparkly heels
They're the breakfast show rivals locked in an epic ratings war.

But it appears that the Sunrise and Today show hosts may have called a temporary truce in order to celebrate TV's night of nights.

At the Logie Awards on Sunday night, Sunrise stars Sam Armytage and David Koch cosied up with Today's Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic for a friendly photo, before a somewhat awkward interview.

A little awkward? Sunrise stars David Koch and Sam Armytage (centre) posed with Today show rivals Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic on the Logies red carpet on Sunday night

Sam shared the snap with her 176,000 followers on Instagram, accompanied by the cryptic caption 'Let's make Australia great...'.

However, the picture comes just days after Kochie referred to Today as 'a bunch of losers'.

The slur came after a Cash Cow winner answered a phone called from Sunrise with the words 'I wake up with Today', the winning slogan for Today's rival cash prize competition.

Overcompensating? Karl and Kochie had an over-the-top embrace

'That's a depressing fact, Lisa': Sunrise's Sam had an awkward exchange with Today show's Lisa

And when Karl and Lisa, who were hosting Sunday night's red carpet arrivals, interviewed Sam and Kochie, the stars awkwardly joked about the incident.

Karl told Kochie, 'There is no footy on tonight, but there's plenty of other stuff on and in the morning, you can wake up with 'Today'.

'Get stuffed!' Kochie quickly replied, referencing the now infamous phrase he uttered to the Cash Cow caller.

Calling a truce? The breakfast show stars have been locked in an epic ratings battle

There was also another awkward exchange between Lisa and Sam, with Lisa stating, 'You know what I worked out earlier, between us, we've got 40 years of alarms at a ridiculous hour'.

'Yes...' Sam replied in a stunted manner. 'That's really depressing. That's a really depressing fact, Lisa.'

The ratings battle between the two breakfast shows is further heating up at the current time, with The Daily Telegraph reporting that Sunrise will 'broadcast from the Logies for the first time in years in a bid to one-up rivals Today.'

All smiles: Today show's Karl and Lisa clowned around on the red carpet

The publication states that, 'in a major coup', Channel 7 secured the Logies headline acts- including James Blunt- to perform exclusively on their morning after show.

In October last year, Today claimed it was the ratings winner for 2016, a title so disputed by Sunrise it had threatened to take Channel Nine to court.

However, Today's ratings are reported to have slipped this year, with New Idea last month claiming that it had created enormous tension on the show's set.

But first, let me take a selfie! Sam looked stunning as she posed in her Logies gown
She once worked as a bum double for Cameron Diaz.

And Chloe Goodman is naturally proud of her lucrative physique - hence her defiance in the face of trolls who claim she has gone under the knife to boost her God-given assets.

The 25-year-old reality veteran took to Instagram on Saturday to share a sizzling snap from her recent trip to the Maldives as she reclined in a hammock while using only her hands to protect her modesty, while hitting out in the caption.

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Cheeky! Chloe Goodman is naturally proud of her lucrative physique hence no doubt leading to her defiance in the face of trolls who claim she has gone under the knife to boost her already God-given assets

Chloe soared to fame in 2014 when she starred on the inaugural series of MTV's Ex On The Beach before hitting screens once again on CBB a year later.

She made her big TV comeback last year when she appeared on the All Stars edition of EOTB, yet was left red faced after she was ejected following a series of aggressive arguments with CBB victor Stephen Bear.

While she has made scarce TV appearances since EOTB, she has been enjoying the sun with sister Amelia and Lauryn as the stunning trio have been spotted living it up with bikini-clad frolics in the Indian Ocean island.

She has now shared her steamiest snap to date as she made a cheeky reference to dodging tan lines before making the bold defence aimed at trolls, although she did admit to boosting her pout with lip fillers.

Sizzling: The 25-year-old reality veteran took to Instagram on Saturday to share a sizzling snap from her recent trip to the Maldives as she reclined in a hammock while using only her hands to protect her modesty, while hitting out in the caption

Chloe penned: 'Never been a massive fan of tan lines... Q the haters saying I have implants Before you all start I don't I've not had ANY surgery only lip fillers'.

In another somewhat acrobatic image, she climbed atop a palm tree trunk to lie along the length of the bark in a clashing bikini while writing: 'Maldives dreaming sometimes you just got to find a leaning palm tree'.

Atop EOTB, Chloe hit headlines during her CBB stint following a devastating incident, in which she was groped by fellow housemate Jeremy Jackson, 35 - after which she revealed she felt unsafe living in the house.

Sister, sister: While she has made scarce TV appearances since EOTB, she has been enjoying the sun with sister Amelia and Lauryn (pictured) as the stunning trio have been spotted living it up with bikini-clad frolics in the Indian Ocean island

In the infamous scenes from the series, Chloe was seen running out of the bathroom in tears after heading in to comfort the worse-for-wear Baywatch star. She later revealed he had pulled back her robe to indecently expose her.

Reflecting on the incident, the Ex On The Beach star explained on This Morning: 'It affected me because I was really comfortable, you're in a show that you've got security, you've got producers, you know you think nothing can touch me in here.'

She continued: 'Then to feel so secure and safe, then to go... I felt like my kindness was seen as weakness a little bit with Jeremy.'

That was then: Atop EOTB, Chloe also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and hit the headlines following a devastating incident, in which she was groped by fellow housemate Jeremy Jackson, 35 - after which she revealed she felt unsafe living in the house

Regrets: In the infamous scenes from the series, Chloe was seen running out of the bathroom in tears after heading in to comfort the worse-for-wear Baywatch star (pictured)

Chloe was joined by Michelle Visage and Cami Li in comforting the star, who was concerned he'd be sick after mixing rum and vodka.

But Chloe revealed she believes his motives were not genuine as she explained:

'Then as soon as he had me on his own in the bathroom I felt like he was waiting for Michelle and Cami to leave to go ahead and do what he did. That's why I felt really vulnerable quite quickly and then after that I didn't feel the same in the house.'
She's the blonde beauty who won hearts as Joan Millar in Love Child.

But on Sunday, Jessica Marais, 32, was more concerned with turning heads.

Flashing generous glimpses of her slender frame and cleavage, the blonde bombshell cut a sexy figure on the Logies red carpet at Melbourne's Crown Casino.

Lacy Love Child: Love Child's Jessica Marais showed off her slimmed-down frame in a see-through lace gown at the Logies on Sunday night

While she took the stage to accept her award for Best Actress during the broadcast, the Gold Logie nominee had all eyes on her from the get-go.

Her vintage-inspired gown hugged the beauty's slimmed-down frame, and then flared out at the skirt and arms.

The low-cut ensemble flashed a glimpse of Jessica's cleavage, as a tiny nude slip insert was all that covered her modesty.

Subtle floral embroidery made it's way down the length of the ornate number.

Contrast! The 32-year-old's vintage-inspired gown hugged the beauty's slimmed-down frame through the body

The mother-of-one's lithe legs were also on display as the raunchy-yet-elegant gown flowed freely to the floor.

Tying her luscious blonde locks behind her head, the beauty opted for a sensual, smokey eyeliner that drew attention to her stunning blue eyes.

She applied a light pink lipstick to her porcelain skin, holding her toned arms to her waist as she pouted and posed.

Blue beauty! Tying her luscious blonde locks behind her head, the beauty opted for a sensual, smokey eyeliner that drew attention to her stunning blue eyes

Later in the night, Jessica thanked the audience as she took the stage to accept the award for Best Actress - her fourth Logie.

'Thank you. That's an amazing start to the night. I really wasn't expecting that,' she gushed.

She praised the women in her support network adding: 'They paved the way for me and showed me the way in a career that is such a gift.'

That makes four! Later in the night, Jessica thanked the audience as she took the stage to accept the award for Best Actress - her fourth Logie

The single mother made sure to express love for her adorable daughter Scout in the brief speech.

'To my beautiful scout, I love you a lot,' she said.

Four-time Logie winner Jessica returned to her seat, turning her anticipation to her Gold Logie nomination to be announced earlier in the night.
SHANGHAI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A fleet of three Chinese naval ships left Shanghai Sunday morning for public relations visits to more than 20 countries.

The fleet, composed of missile destroyer Changchun, missile frigate Jingzhou and supply ship Chaohu, will tour Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania for nearly 180 days.

The visits will convey friendship, deepen military communication and cooperation and show a good image of the Chinese navy, according to Miao Hua, Political Commissar of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, who saw the fleet off.

All the three ships were domestically made. It is the maiden voyage of the Jingzhou, commissioned in 2016. The other two ships have conducted many escort, drill and patrol missions.

Sunday marks the 68th anniversary of the establishment of the PLA Navy.
She appeared tired as she touched down in Melbourne on Sunday ahead of the 59th Logie Awards.

But Sam Frost, 28, turned it around when she hit the red carpet, looking edgy in a plunging metallic number.

The former Bachelorette beauty cut a slender figure in her frock, a week after fans expressed concern she was 'too skinny'.

Bachelorette beauty: Sam Frost, 28, cut a slender figure in her Logies frock, just a week after fans expressed concern she was 'too skinny'

The navy silk dress cinched at Sam's waist, showing off the reality star's cleavage and tiny arms.

Meanwhile, a thigh split offered a glimpse of her lean legs.

Opting for a simple and chic style, the radio star went for minimal jewellery with just a pair of hoop earrings.

She teamed the long gown with a pair of black strappy heels and a velvet ebony clutch.

Keeping it simple: The radio host showed off her tiny arms and lean legs in the dress, opting for minimal jewellery with just a pair of hoop earrings

Edgy: She teamed the long gown with a pair of black strappy heels and a velvet ebony clutch

Revealing: The navy silk dress cinched at her waist, showing off the reality star's cleavage

Her gorgeous golden tresses were styled in relaxed waves, hanging low over her shoulders.

Sam's face appeared less gaunt than in an Instagram photo shared last week, sporting a nude make-up palette and burgundy lip.

It comes as the radio host sparked controversy on social media when she showed off the results of a session with her make-up artist.

It saw her followers flock to the comments section, asking what 'happened to the happy healthy glowing Sam?'

Classic: Her gorgeous golden tresses were styled in relaxed waves, hanging low over her shoulders

Slim: Although her face appeared less gaunt than in an Instagram photo shared last week, the actress nude make-up palette and burgundy lip made her appear drawn

Skinny Sam: It comes as the reality star sparked controversy on social media last week after showing off the results of a session with her make-up artist

'Sam - this is scary! You are a beautiful person but are way too thin right now. This is not a good look. Said with concern not body shaming,' one follower wrote.

'To be honest this post does not look like healthy and cheerful Sam to me xx,' another commented.

'Honestly love you to death @fro01 please eat a burger. Much love,' one person added.

Last year Sam hit back at 'body shamers' after fans suggested she was 'so thin' and had an 'eating disorder'.

Contrast: Her appearance was vastly different from her time on The Bachelorette, with fans saying 'This is scary! You are a beautiful person but are way too thin right now'

Setting the record straight: Last year Sam hit back at 'body shamers' after fans suggested she was 'so thin' and had an 'eating disorder'

Speaking on her 2DayFM breakfast radio show with co-host Rove McManus, she said she had been brought close to tears by the comments, calling them 'appalling'.

Putting the comments behind her, the beauty set tongues wagging during a night out Saturday though, when she was spotted with former NRL star 'Big Willie' Mason.

The pair were joined by fellow Hell's Kitchen Australia contestants Lincoln Lewis, Pettifleur Berenger and Issa Schultz.

Sam split from boyfriend Sasha Mielczarek, in December, after 18 months together, citing distance as one of the reasons for the break-up.
He's the lead in new movie Dog Years and has three other films set for release this year.

And although Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon, the 81-year-old actor looked a little frail at the photocall for his latest film.

Attending the Tribeca Film Festival in the US, Burt was joined by co-stars Ariel Winter and Chevy Chase, alongside fellow Hollywood veteran Robert De Niro on the red carpet, where they posed for photographs.

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Support system: Burt Reynolds, 81, has to sit on a stool at the red carpet photocall for new movie Dog Years at the Tribeca Film Festival... as co-stars Robert De Niro and Ariel Winter lend a helping hand

Close knit: Robert, Ariel and Chevy were all there to support their pal Burt

Burt, however, had to sit on a stool, clearly unable to stand for too long.

The star looked serene and cheerful atop the seat, his walking cane in one hand, a smile on his face.

He sported a pair of orange-tinted glasses, a cornflower blue shirt and a black suit.

When he stood, however, he seemed a little more pained, as Ariel, 19, allowed him to lean on her for support.

Helping hand: When he stood, Burt seemed a little more pained, as Ariel, 19, allowed him to lean on her for support

What a pro: Burt's ailments didn't stop him from taking part in the photocall to promote Dog Years

Ensemble cast: The actress, who was wearing a halterneck black mini dress decorated with a formation of sparkles, held gently and tenderly onto Burt's arm as he stood, while old-time pal Robert, 73, put a kind arm around his shoulders

The actress, who was wearing a halterneck black mini dress decorated with a formation of sparkles, held gently and tenderly onto Burt's arm as he stood, while old-time pal Robert, 73, put a kind arm around his shoulders.

Dog Years follows an aging, former movie star, played by Burt, who is forced to face the reality that his glory days are behind him.

He plays over-the-hill Vic Edwards, who enlists Ariel's character to drive him to Nashville in the road trip drama.

The film is being plugged as 'a tale about faded fame, but at its core, it's a universal story about growing old'.

Easy does it: Dog Years follows an aging, former movie star, played by Burt, who is forced to face the reality that his glory days are behind him

Happy: The star looked serene and cheerful atop the seat, his walking cane in one hand, a smile on his face

'Such an honor to know you': Reynolds plays over-the-hill movie star Vic Edwards, who enlists Modern Family's Ariel Winter (R) to drive him to Nashville in the road trip drama

Coming soon! Adam Rifkin (L) wrote and directed Dog Years which also stars Chevy Chase, Ellar Coltrane, and Nikki Blonsky

Burt proved he is most definitely not past having a good time at the event, much like he did earlier this month when he hung out with rapper Vanilla Ice.

The pair were backstage at the Palm Beach International Film Festival in Boca Raton and snapped a selfie together.

The Floridian celebrities - both rocking black suits - managed to achieve great success during their respective nineties and seventies heydays.

'Shout out to my friend, #legand Burt Reynolds!' the 49-year-old Grammy nominee captioned the picture.
He secured the Best Presenter Logie at this Sunday's awards night.

And as he took the award, The Project's Waleed Aly said he thought 'any idiot' could host the show.

'I honestly think any idiot could host the show. I am genuinely delighted tonight to be that idiot,' the 38-year-old said.

Going for gong! Waleed Aly secured the Best Presenter Logie at this Sunday's awards night

Any idiot! The Project's Waleed Aly said he thought any idiot could host the show as he took to the stage to accept the Gold Logie for the second year running at the 2017 Awards

'There is, I think, a mythology in our game that if you front a show, then you are a show.

'That is really, really not true for our shows. I feel vaguely fraudulent, frankly, standing here,' he added.

Waleed attended the awards with his wife Susan Carland, who he thanked for his success on the show.

He also paid tribute to his co-hosts Carrie Bickmore and Peter Helliar who he said he 'was nothing without'.

A fraud? I feel vaguely fraudulent, frankly, standing here,' he added

Grateful: Waleed attended the awards with his wife Susan Carland, who he thanked for his success on the show

The Project also took the TV Week Award for the second time in a row.

Meanwhile in The Herald Sun, it was alleged that rival TV bigwigs, were not in favour of Waleed taking out the Gold Logie gong.

Page 13 reported that the 38-year-old had been described as 'that Muslim'.

Racist jibes: The Project's Waleed Aly, 38, has reportedly been described as 'that Muslim' by rival TV bosses, as the television personality is nominated for a second Gold Logie Award. Pictured with wife Susan Carland

The publication claimed that bosses of rival TV networks were disgraced at Waleed's win of the Gold Logie at last year's event.

They reportedly went on to say that a host of a higher rating program should take home the prestigious trophy.

Meanwhile, viewers of last year's Logie Awards, would remember Waleed's candid acceptance speech.

Allegations: The Herald Sun claimed that bosses of rival TV networks were disgraced at Waleed's win of the Gold Logie at last year's event

Infamous: Meanwhile, viewers of last year's Logie Awards, would remember Waleed's candid acceptance speech. The Channel Ten personality used the opportunity to discuss a lack of diversity in media and television

The Channel Ten personality used the opportunity to discuss a lack of diversity in media and television.

Waleed said he knew someone in the industry who used a more common name, in the fear of not being able to secure work.

The comments surrounding an ethnic-sounding name prompted the audience to question who 'Mustafa' was.

Identity: It was later confirmed that Tyler De Nawi (pictured) of Here Come The Habibs, was in fact who Waleed was referring to

It was later confirmed that Tyler De Nawi of Here Come The Habibs, was in fact who Waleed was referring to.

Tyler, having been raised in Sydney's south-west, is a budding actor, already featured in SBS series The Principal, alongside Alex Dimitriades.

He currently stars in Channel Nine's Here Come The Habibs, taking on the role of middle child and university student Elias Habib.
She may be looking younger by the day, but Demi Moore was welcoming a close friend into the forties club on Saturday night.

The 51-year-old appeared to have rolled back the years once more in a gorgeous midnight blue dress, as she joined stars at Jennifer Meyer's 40th birthday party.

Held in West Hollywood, the coveted jewellery designer's celebrations were attended by the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Katy Perry.

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Ageless: Demi Moore was just one of the starry-eyed guests to be seen at Jennifer Meyer's 40th Birthday Bash in Los Angeles on Saturday

The actress did well to blend into the night, wearing a deep blue chiffon dress with contrasting black heels.

Her dress sat off her shoulders in an elegant fashion, teasing only inches of her cleavage with a glimpse at the keyhole neckline.

In her signature style, Demi wore clear retro spectacles and otherwise left her line-free face largely make-up free.

Ageless: She looked especially glamorous in a midnight blue dress

Jen is among one of the most well-loved jewellery purveyors in Hollywood, which would explain the A-list turnout.

She is also well-known among the acting set for her now-defunct relationship with actor Tobey Maguire.

The 10-year marriage - during which they had two children, Ruby and Otis - ended in late 2016, announcing the news in a joint statement.

'After much soul searching and consideration we have made the decision to separate as a couple,' the pair said in a statement to People in October.

'As devoted parents, our first priority remains raising our children together with enduring love, respect and friendship.'

Elegant: The stunner wore black heels to contrast her look but did well to blend in with the dark night

Elsewhere, Demi has finally managed to cut tie with ex-husband Bruce Willis that remained in their 7,000 square feet, 6 bedrooms New York City penthouse.

The San Remo property was originally purchased in 1990, when they were a couple but the actress has been trying to find a new buyer for over two years.

'I'm spending the majority of my time in my other homes, and this apartment is too magnificent not to be lived in full time,' Moore explained of the sale in 2015.

It reportedly sold for $45m this week - a fraction of the $75 million original asking price.

Demi and Bruce were married for 13 years, between 1987 and 2000, and Demi later remarried after meeting actor Ashton Kutcher, who was 15 years her junior.
They announced their amicable split just a month ago.

But apparently Orlando Bloom and ex Katy Perry were less than friendly when they 'cross[ed] paths' at Jennifer Meyer's 40th birthday party in West Hollywood Saturday.

At the soiree, the 32-year-old pop star and her actor ex were spotted exchanging 'a quick hello and a brief chat' but the pair 'werent too friendly', according to People.

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Impending doom? Orlando Bloom and ex Katy Perry reportedly had a not 'too friendly' encounter Saturday, when the former couple both headed to Jennifer Meyer's 40th birthday party in West Hollywood

'At the party, Orlando and Katy had a quick hello and a brief chat,' explained the source, 'They weren't too friendly and hung out with separate friends at the party.'

Another insider who spoke with Us Weekly confirmed the icy encounter, explaining the pair 'said hello... but they didn't hang out,' adding that 'It's pretty clear they are moving on.'

At the birthday fete, the British gent kept things super low-key in a casual ensemble while the Roar singer remained camera-shy ahead of the bash although was instantly recognizable by her shock blonde buzzcut.

Katy climbed into a car while sporting a leather biker jacket and rocking her shock of blonde hair which she unveiled earlier this month.

Hello Miss Perry! Katy, 32, was spotted saying a 'quick hello' to the Brit, but didn't speak long and 'hung out with separate friends at the party.' She remained camera-shy ahead of the bash although was instantly recognizable by her shock blonde buzzcut

Out of hand: Despite their icy encounter, the pair stressed their ease of their split at the time of the break up. They released a joint statement that read, 'Before rumors or falsifications get out of hand, we can confirm that Orlando and Katy are taking respectful, loving space at this time'

Adding to the edgy feel of the ensemble was her bold red glasses while she perfected her punky vibes with an edgy safety pin earring.

Orlando and Katy announced in March that they had split after dating for a year, and at the time both parties stressed the ease and amicable nature of the split.

They put out a joint statement that read, 'Before rumors or falsifications get out of hand, we can confirm that Orlando and Katy are taking respectful, loving space at this time.'

Grown-ups: After their split, Orlando spoke to ELLE magazine about their current relationship as he revealed: 'We're friends. It's good. We're all grown-up. She happens to be someone who is very visible, but I don't think anybody cares what I'm up to'

After their split, Orlando spoke to ELLE magazine about their current relationship as he revealed: 'We're friends. It's good. We're all grown-up. She happens to be someone who is very visible, but I don't think anybody cares what I'm up to.

'Nor should they. It's between us. It's better to set an example for kids and show that (break-ups) don't have to be about hate.'

Seemingly in the midst of exes, just days before Orlando posted a gushing tribute to his supermodel ex-wife Miranda Kerr with whom he shares six-year-old son Flynn.

Mummy dearest: Seemingly in the midst of exes, just days before Orlando posted a gushing tribute to his supermodel ex-wife Miranda Kerr with whom he shares six-year-old son Flynn

Taking to Instagram, Orlando was marking her 34th birthday on Thursday, where he penned: 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY to an amazing mother, co-parent, and friend.'

He also shared a snap of son Flynn's present for his mother, which included a wooden plank reading 'I love you mum'.

Fans immediately praised Orlando for the tribute, with @kirsten.elizabethh writing 'Good for you!! What awesome examples you both are for your little boy! So impressed.'

Another, posting under @miss_justinenoelle, added: '@orlandobloom I can't believe how awesome you two are. Lots of love. xx'
They have been married for a blissful six years.

And Paul McCartney proved he is as loved-up as ever with his stunning wife Nancy Shevell as they arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Sunday where he was greeted by a throng of admirers and fans.

The 74-year-old Beatles star proved he is defying the age odds with his youthful look while Nancy, 57, looked chic in a varsity-inspired ensemble shortly before he reached into the crowd before being grabbed by an overzealous fan.

Paul found stratospheric fame in the Fifties, as one quarter of The Beatles, alongside John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, as they grew to be one of the most famous groups in the world.

The Liverpool-formed group's legacy lives on seven decades later and Paul's greeting when he arrived in Japan proved The Beatles hysteria is not going anywhere.

Looking stylish, the septuagenarian wore a black denim jacket with dark chinos and trainers while keeping on a pair of designer sunglasses.

Nancy meanwhile, who married Paul in a civil ceremony at Old Marylebone Town Hall, London in 2011, injected a fun flare into her airport style.

Hurrah! Paul McCartney proves he is as loved-up as ever with his stunning wife Nancy Shevell as they arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Sunday where he was greeted by a throng of admirers and fans

Be careful! The 74-year-old Beatles star proved he is defying the age odds with his youthful look while Nancy, 57, looked chic in a varsity-inspired ensemble shortly before he reached into the crowd before being grabbed by an overzealous fan

World famous: Paul found stratospheric fame in the Fifties, as one quarter of The Beatles, alongside John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, as they grew to be one of the most famous groups in the world

All smiles: The Liverpool-formed group's legacy lives on seven decades later and Paul's greeting when he arrived in Japan proved The Beatles hysteria is not going anywhere

Keeping her colours bold, she opted for a cobalt blue jacket with a red trim to coordinate perfectly with her red T-shirt worn underneath.

She showed off her endless legs from beneath her navy chinos, she added a super trendy addition with the touch of a pair of leather buckled loafers.

Her make-up was minimal yet perfectly applied while her locks were worn in an envy-inducing bouncy blow-dry with turquoise earring peeking from underneath.

Trendy: Keeping her colours bold, she opted for a cobalt blue jacket with a red trim to coordinate perfectly with her red T-shirt worn underneath

Beaming: Her make-up was minimal yet perfectly applied while her locks were worn in an envy-inducing bouncy blow-dry with turquoise earring peeking from underneath

He's here: On the official Instagram page for the star, followed by 1.3million fans, a video was posted in which Paul walked along a line of fans while the caption read: 'Strong fan welcome in Japan!'

On the official Instagram page for the star, followed by 1.3million fans, a video was posted in which Paul walked along a line of fans while the caption read: 'Strong fan welcome in Japan!'

While Paul certainly maintained his composure in the face of the vying crowd, security were forced to intervene when he was grabbed by an overzealous fan.

While the star remained perfectly put together, the security unit were quick to jump in to ensure the star remained unharmed.

Watch out: While Paul certainly maintained his composure in the face of the vying crowd, security were forced to intervene when he was grabbed by an overzealous fan
Tyra Banks has indicated that Life-Size 2, the Freeform sequel to her 2000 ABC movie Life-Size, will be an 'edgy' offering 'for young adults.'

Dishing from the red carpet at the Freeform 2017 Upfront in Manhattan this week, she told TV Guide the new film will 'be a little more real.'

She'll star in and help executive produce Life-Size 2, which Variety revealed on Wednesday had finally been greenlit, after years of reports it was on the way.

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'A little more real': Tyra Banks has indicated that Life-Size 2, the Freeform sequel to her 2000 ABC movie Life-Size, will be an 'edgy' offering 'for young adults'

Life-Size had starred Tyra as a doll named Eve who becomes a live woman and Lindsay Lohan as the girl who'd played with the doll before it transformed.

The American's Next Top Model frontwoman told TV Guide on Wednesday that it'd been her mother, Carolyn London, who'd 'told me I should do Life-Size 2.'

At which point, 'We did three or four versions and then finally, we were like: "You know what? Eve has grown up now. Let's not do a kiddie movie."

Chic as ever: Dishing from the red carpet at the Freeform 2017 Upfront in Manhattan this week, she told TV Guide the new film will 'be a little more real'

The idea was: '"Let's do a movie for young adults,"" with the result that 'this is going to be an edgy Eve that you see, an edgy Life-Size 2.'

As to the specifics, Tyra said to TV Guide: 'The script is being written right now so even I don't know 100 percent, but it's definitely going to be like: "Oh my God Eve does WHAT? Cover your eyes!"'

A sequel had been percolating for years, with Tyra telling Hollywood Life in 2015 that 'We have gotten many drafts of scripts' and were 'in another round of redos.'

Flashback: Life-Size had starred Tyra as a doll named Eve who becomes a live woman and Lindsay Lohan as the girl who'd played with the doll before it transformed

Freeform will apparently be airing Life-Size 2 next December, and there's been no confirmation of whether or not Lindsay will reprise her role as Casey.

Tyra had been a showstopper when she trod the red carpet for the Freeform 2017 Upfront at Hudson Mercantile in Manhattan on Wednesday.

The 43-year-old had swung by in a deep purple blouse she'd worn beneath in a stylish pantsuit swirled with multicolored patterns of flowers and birds.
She is seldom seen out of a cutting edge ensemble.

And Pixie Lott made no exception as she recorded her latest music video during a recent trip to Los Angeles in which she hit the streets in just a barely-there leopard print body with underwired cups and high-rise hips.

The 25-year-old Mama Do hitmaker looked phenomenal as she strutted her stuff in the slinky leopard print one-piece which made the most of her flawless frame while she pulled a mackintosh over the top to add to the Sixties feel.

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Miaow! Pixie Lott made no exception as she recorded her latest music video during a recent trip to Los Angeles in which she hit the streets in just a barely-there leopard print body with underwired cups and high-rise hips

Pixie has taken a break from the music scene for some time as she focused on other ventures including dipping her toe into the acting waters, as she scooped the role of Holly Golightly in the stage edition of Breakfast At Tiffany's last year.

As she prepares to make her return to music, she is making sure to make full impact as she sizzled in a Sixties-style ensemble which would look better placed on the beach rather than the sunny sidewalks of Los Angeles.

The leopard print one-piece sat perfectly on Pixie's toned frame as she showed off her perky busty through the sculpted cup, while the ribbed middle nipped in perfectly at her tiny waist.

Peeling a coat on top, she made a feeble bid at protecting her modesty yet let the overcoat cascade down to her elbows to ensure her full body was on show.

Purrrfect! The 25-year-old Mama Do hitmaker looked phenomenal as she strutted her stuff in the slinky leopard print one-piece which made the most of her flawless frame while she pulled a mackintosh over the top to add to the Sixties feel

Changing it up: Pixie has taken a break from the music scene for some time as she focused on other ventures including dipping her toe into the acting waters, as she scooped the role of Holly Golightly in the stage edition of Breakfast At Tiffany's (pictured) in December

Rather than slip on her heels, Pixie walked barefoot while clutching the stylish sling back lace numbers which would no doubt later feature in her look.

Peeling on a pair of huge, retro-style sunglasses, the blonde beauty later bit the arm of the eyewear seductively in a pose which added perfectly to her sizzling look.

Her peroxide tresses were piled on top of her head with loose tendrils tumbling over her flawlessly made-up face which rounded out the sex kitten look.

While she screams sex appeal in her videos, Pixie will no doubt opt for a totally different ensemble when she ties the knot with her fiance Oliver Cheshire.

Pretty in pink: Since shooting the video, Pixie dyed her hair a bold shade of pink

She recently spoke about her upcoming nuptials with dashing model fiance Oliver Cheshire, saying: 'I want it to be either July or September next year. That is the aim. But it literally has been non-stop recently.

'I dont want to just wedge it in, shoehorn it in somewhere, because it is a big deal. So I want to have time to properly focus on it. So yeah when it calms down a bit, but its just been so busy.

'But my mum organised my sisters wedding in six weeks and it was amazing. So that gives gives me hope.'

Happy couple: While she screams sex appeal in her videos, Pixie will no doubt opt for a totally different ensemble when she ties the knot with her fiance Oliver Cheshire

Romantic Oliver got down on one knee in front of imposing London landmark St Paul's Cathedral in November.

Pixie confessed she was left speechless by his romantic proposal, telling MailOnline soon afterwards: 'I just burst into tears.

'I was so tired and jet lagged as I'd just got back from LA and we'd been at a wedding party the night before. I'd had no sleep, so I just burst into tears, for once I was speechless!'
Her husband is a former Gold Logie winner, and the TV series she executive produces was nominated for a slew of acting awards.

So it was no surprise that Zoe Foster-Blake was front and centre at the Logie Awards in Melbourne on Sunday night.

The 36-year-old multi-talented writer and beauty maven showed off her baby bump as she posed on the red carpet in a figure-hugging frock.

Golden girl! Zoe Foster-Blake showed off her baby bump on the red carpet at Sunday night's Logie Awards in Melbourne

Zoe put her hand over her burgeoning belly as she posed in the golden gown, which was designed by high-end Melbourne label Con Ilio.

Known for often broadcasting the brands she is wearing, Zoe took to Instagram to announce that her shoes were Gucci and her ring was from Cerrone Jewellers.

For the occasion, the brunette beauty left her hair out for and completed her winning look with a bold red lip and smoky eye make-up.

Keeping it local! Melbourne based Zoe wore a gown by high-end label Con Ilio, which is based in the same city

Power couple: Funnyman Hamish is one of radio's most popular stars, while multi-talented Zoe has many different ventures

The star is pregnant with her second child to husband, Hamish Blake, who joined her for photos on the red carpet.

The couple's new addition will join their son, Sonny, who turns three next month.

Clowning around: Never one to take herself too seriously, Zoe poked her tongue out for photographers on the red carpet

In addition to her role as a doting mum, Zoe is the executive producer for Channel Ten's drama series, The Wrong Girl, which is based on her 2014 novel of the same name.

The star is also the CEO of skincare brand Go-To and recently launched an app, Break Up Boss, which helps women who are struggling after the end of a relationship.
He found fame playing road sweeper Robbie Jackson in EastEnders and took full advantage of his increased pulling power as a celebrity.

But Dean Gaffney, 39, has sworn that his womanising is in the past, now that he is with Rebekah Ward, 23, and it seems the star has even won over her father.

Rebekah's dad Merlay Wood told the Sunday People that he believed Dean had 'turned over a new leaf' now that he had found love with Rebekah.

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Lucky man: Dean Gaffney, 39, has won the approval of the dad of girlfriend Rebekah Ward, 23. Merlay Wood said: 'He seems like he's turned over a new leaf'

Merlay said: 'He seems like he's turned over a new leaf. They're having a happy relationship.'

Despite the 16-year age gap, the couple just celebrated their first anniversary with a romantic holiday in Cape Verde, off the West African coast.

Rebekah made sure to keep fans updated on their exotic break by treating her Instagram followers to plenty of bikini snaps.

Dean must be enjoying the happy relationship after enduring a turbulent love life.

Lookalikes! Dean's girlfriend Rebekah (left) is obviously well-loved within Dean's family too, here pictured with his daughters Charlotte and Chloe (right)

Sizzling holiday: The couple celebrated their first anniversary with a romantic holiday to Cape Verde where Rebekah made sure to take plenty of bikini snaps

The dad-of-two admitted to The Sun last year that in the past he saw women as 'a drug' and that he had cheated on Sarah Burge, the mother of his twin daughters, countless times.

He told the publication: 'Women were my drug and now, looking back, I'm ashamed of my past.

'How many times did it happen? I couldn't put a finger on it.'

Troubled past: He admitted to cheating repeatedly on his former partner of 22 years and the mother of his two daughters, Sarah Burge - pictured in 2006

He added: 'Whenever Sarah confronted me about my cheating, I'd just deny, deny, deny. She loved me so much, she wanted to believe me.'

The couple were together for 22 years and were parents to twins Charlotte and Chloe, 21.

Charlotte and Chloe are only two years younger than their father's new girlfriend but it doesn't seem to bother the girls as they are spotted out and about with Rebekah.

A picture of the four together caused a sensation on social media as fans were shocked by just how similar Charlotte, Chloe and Rebekah looked.

Dean will return to Albert Square in the next few weeks after an absence of 14 years.
Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) kicked off a joint drill with American warships in the western Pacific Ocean on Sunday as a fleet led by the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier heads to waters near the Korean Peninsula, The Japan Times reported.

Two Japanese destroyers, "Samidare" and "Ashigara," which departed from Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture on Friday, are scheduled to join the US carrier strike group for training on tactics and communications, Japan Times said, citing the countrys defense ministry.

MSDF destroyers held joint drills with the USS Carl Vinson twice last month in the East China Sea, and the latest one came amid heightened tensions over the DPRK's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

The DPRK will celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Korean Peoples Army on Tuesday. In the past, Pyongyang has marked major anniversaries with missile launches or nuclear weapons launches.

Speaking in Australia on Saturday, US Vice President Mike Pence said the USS Carl Vinson would be in waters near the Korean Peninsula before the end of this month.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the USS Carl Vinson was on its way to the region, but it was later revealed to be sailing in the opposite direction.
She was among the A-list attending the Logies on Sunday night.

But while happy to pose for photos on the red carpet, Studio 10's Sarah Harris, 35, was just as keen to see what she would be getting to take home from the event.

The Channel 10 journalist shared a sneak peak of the $4500 work of goods inside the bag to Instagram.

'A peek inside': Studio 10's Sarah Harris reveals what's in her Logies gift bag after it was revealed the totes contain $4500 worth of holidays and skin treatments

Sarah cut a stunning figure on the Logies red carpet, wowing in a sequin haltered blush gown.

After posing for photos, the bubbly blonde shared a Boomerang video to Instagram of what was inside her Logies gift bag.

The quick clip showed the bag contained a watch, beauty products and an item from computer retailer Apple.

'A peek inside the Logies goodies box,' Sarah captioned the video to her 45,000 Instagram followers.

Plenty of swag! The quick clip showed the bag contained a watch, beauty products and an item from computer retailer Apple

Chic: Sarah cut a stunning figure on the Logie red carpet, wowing in a sequin haltered blush gown

The gift bag, put together by Celebrity And Hollywood Gifting, is significantly larger than last year's $1400 offering.

The full contents were revealed by the company to TV Week last week, which included a luxury three-night stay at Bali's Menjangan Dynasty Resort.

For celebrities to make the most of their Bali escape, they've also added a voucher for Bali's Finns Beach Club, a day at the Canggu Club in Bali (which has a water park, trampoline centre and Strike Ten Pin Bowling) and a spa day at Bali's Body Temple Spa.

To keep the A-listers relaxed and beautiful, they've filled the bags with beauty and spa treatments, including a dermal face lift mask and a skin-tightening laser treatment.

Need some help? On Sunday Sarah received a helping hand with her gown's train on the red carpet

A laughing matter: Sarah broke out into giggles as a photographer helped arrange her dress, while Studio 10 co-host Joe Hildebrand (left) looked on

Luxury holiday: The gift bag includes three nights accommodation in a luxury beach camp safari tent at Balis Menjangan Dynasty Resort

For the adrenaline seekers, a one-day car racing experience has been offered.

Treats, such as doughnuts, chocolates, cookies and lollies are likely to sweeten the deal for those unsuccessful nominees.

Of the more bizarre contents, Logies special guests will also receive eco-friendly bamboo socks, a power bank charger and an Orbit key finder.
They have had their fair share of strife in recent weeks, naturally played out in excruciating detail on TOWIE.

Yet Megan McKenna appeared to be extending an olive branch to co-star ex Pete Wicks as he was seen heading to the opening of her new restaurant MCK Grill in their native Essex on Sunday, in a hint that they have settled on becoming pals.

The 24-year-old reality veteran was dressed to the nines as she headed to the launch, while sizzling in an all-black ensemble, which looked slightly bizarre given the bright daylight yet her well-rehearsed poses proved she was loving her look.

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All good? Megan McKenna appeared to be extending an olive branch to co-star ex Pete Wicks as he was seen heading to the opening of her new restaurant MCK Grill in their native Essex on Sunday, in a hint that they have settled on becoming pals

Megan and Pete's love story has spun a convoluted tale ever since they first coupled up in March last year - with accusations of adultery flaring up resentment and hurt.

In January, the couple were seen rowing at the NTAs while filming descended into chaos earlier this month when the duo were locked in a furious row in the street shortly after Pete was pictured looking close with co-star Chloe Sims.

After rows on both sides, including a now-iconic flare up in the street, the duo decided to put their differences aside and remain civil.

Both Megan and Pete appeared to be prepared to come face-to-face, as the duo were dressed to very much dressed to impress in their complementary all black looks which no doubt left each other to see what they're missing.

Got the giggles: The 24-year-old reality veteran was dressed to the nines as she headed to the launch, while sizzling in an all-black ensemble, which looked slightly bizarre given the bright daylight yet her well-rehearsed poses proved she was loving her look

Fuming: Megan and Pete's love story has spun a convoluted tale ever since they first coupled up in March last year - with accusations of adultery flaring up resentment and hurt

Sizzling: In January, the couple were seen rowing at the NTAs while filming descended into chaos earlier this month when the duo were locked in a furious row in the street shortly after Pete was pictured looking close with co-star Chloe Sims

Moving on: After rows on both sides, including a now-iconic flare up in the street, the duo decided to put their differences aside and remain civil

Megan was keen to show off all her best bits as she slipped into a skin-tight black bandeau dress which clung to her entire physique while also teasing a glimpse of her cleavage from beneath the second skin number.

Layered over the top but left to cascade off her elbows was a billowing sheer striped kimono which added to the chic look with a black choker while she boosted her height with her pointed strappy heels.

Her hair was flawlessly coiffed into a beehive with a loose frame falling around her cheekbones and the rest pinned into an elegant chignon at the nape of her neck.

Megan was joined by her stunning sister Millie who suited up in a crimson blazer dress which she gave a designer touch with the addition of a pair of Valentino Rockstud heels which market for an eye-watering 650.

Stunner: Megan was keen to show off all her best bits as she slipped into a skin-tight black bandeau dress which clung to her entire physique while also teasing a glimpse of her cleavage from beneath the second skin number

Chic: Layered over the top but left to cascade off her elbows was a billowing sheer striped kimono which added to the chic look with a black choker while she boosted her height with her pointed strappy heels

Great genes! Megan was joined by her stunning sister Millie who suited up in a crimson blazer dress which she gave a designer touch with the addition of a pair of Valentino Rockstud heels which market for an eye-watering 650

Stylish: Pete was determined to impress the reality star-turned-restaurateur as he sported a double-breasted black blazer with a crew-neck T-shirt underneath alongside dark skinny jeans and boots while his long tresses were pulled into a bun

On the up: The former couple looked like they had forgotten their woes

Pete was determined to impress the reality star-turned-restaurateur as he sported a double-breasted black blazer with a crew-neck T-shirt underneath alongside dark skinny jeans and boots while his long tresses were pulled into a bun.

Megan's mum and dad, Tanya and Dave, arrived to throw their support behind the star as they proudly walked alongside ahead of the launch.

Megan's good pals Jack Rigden and Jordan Brook headed to filming having recently scooped roles on the show, as they giggled alongside Millie.

Supportive: Megan's mum and dad, Tanya and Dave, arrived to throw their support behind the star as they proudly walked alongside ahead of the launch

Here come the girls! The stunning pair proved good looks truly run in the family

The lads: Megan's good pals Jack Rigden and Jordan Brook headed to filming having recently scooped roles on the show, as they giggled alongside Millie

After the photos emerged last month of Chloe and Pete looking cosy in the street, sparking romance rumours just weeks after his split from Megan.

While the pair staunchly denied the claims, Chloe and Megan soon clashed after Megan supposedly claimed she had a problem with the photos - and the lack of explanation for them from Chloe as a friend of both her and Pete.

After their blazing row in the street, Wednesday's episode saw the duo agree to be amicable with Pete offering to buy Megan a drink when they're out, in a comment which reduced the stunning star into a fit of giggles.
She normally covers up in boho dresses.

But on Saturday evening Nicole Richie let her chest show as she hit friend Jennifer Meyer's 40th birthday bash in LA. Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux, Courteney Cox, Jessica Alba, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson and Demi Moore were also at the event.

The 35-year-old designer, reality star and actress wore a low-cut black top and fitted jeans that flared out at the bottom 1970s style.

Lovely lady: She normally covers up in boho dresses. But on Saturday evening Nicole Richie let her chest show as she hit friend Jennifer Meyer's 40th birthday bash in LA

Cute gal: The 35-year-old designer, reality star and actress wore a low-cut black top and fitted jeans that flared out at the bottom 1970s style

The beauty may be sexing it up a little bit in the wardrobe department because she has a new show to promote: the series Great News from the creators of 30 Rock.

Nicole has long wanted an acting career as several years ago she appeared on the TV series Chuck.

In 2015 Nicole appeared on the series Empire.

New path in life: The beauty may be sexing it up a little bit in the wardrobe department because she has a new show to promote: the series Great News from the creators of 30 Rock

Great News is about a New Jersey mom puts her relationship with her daughter to the test when she lands an internship at her new job.

Adam Campbell and John Michael Higgins also star on the show.

Richie has made quite a transformation since her wild party days when she starred on The Simple Life with Paris Hilton.

So in love: Also at the Meyer bash was Jennifer Aniston with husband Justin Theroux, who wore a Gucci T-shirt

She has a heart on her neck: Friends vet Courteney Cox was also there

A 10! Demi Moore looked sensational in a blue dress and tinted glasses with strappy black heels

She had two children, Harlow and Sparrow, with musician Joel Madden.

And she has become successful at jewelry and clothing design.

Also at the Meyer bash was Aniston with husband Theroux, who wore a Gucci T-shirt.

Part of the cool crowd: Gwyneth Paltrow posed with Moore and Meyer as well as Sara Foster and other friends

Cool trio: Here Foster is in the middle of Kate Hudson (left) and Meyer (right)

Going strong: And Honest Company founder Jessica Alba came hand-in-hand with her husband Cash Warren

Friends vet Cox was also there.

Moore looked sensational in a blue dress and tinted glasses with strappy black heels.

Perry arrived separately from ex-beau Bloom.

And Honest Company founder Alba came hand-in-hand with her husband Cash Warren.
Stephanie Davis was pictured out with baby Caben Albi for the first time in London on Sunday, following Jeremy McConnell's arrest and subsequent rehab stint.

With her ex lover still in rehab 'battling his demons', the new mum put the drama behind her as she styled a casual, 'Things will be fine' T-shirt.

Ahead of her appearance on This Morning, the 24-year-old looked on trend as ever in blue skinny jeans ripped at the knees, showing off her post-baby body.

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Mum's the word! Stephanie Davis and Caben Albi stepped out together for the first time on Sunday since her former flame Jeremy McConnell was arrested and released

The smiling starlet looked as pleased as punch when she took her little boy out for a stroll soaking up the sunshine.

She sashayed down the street with confidence in a pair of sequin-studded loafers, which added sparkle to her appearance.

Stephanie looked every inch the doting mum as she carried an oversized handbag no doubt filled with necessities for little Caben.

Pulling off a tousled look, she looked carefree when she let her mid-length raven-haired locks styled in loose curls.

The first outing out together comes after Jeremy, 27, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Stephanie.

Fresh start: The 24-year-old mum put the drama behind her as she styled a casual 'Things will be fine' T-shirt

Following his release, the Irish heartthrob sought help to battle his demons when he checked himself into a rehab clinic.

Despite their ups and downs over the last year, Stephanie continued to voice her support for her former flame on Saturday with a gushing Instagram post.

First posting a sweet throwback snap of their son Caben-Albi, the 24-year-old then shared a collage of the turbulent couple to her Instagram.

She declared she is 'proud' of him for 'getting on the right track', as their little boy 'needs his daddy'.

'Proud of you': Stephanie Davis continued to voice her support for Jeremy McConnell during his rehab stint on Saturday with a gushing Instagram post (above)

The pair, who met on Celebrity Big Brother last year, looked more loved-up than ever as they cuddled in the throwback shots, taken during happier times.

While they recently rekindled their romance after the birth of their son, their relationship was once again rocked when Jeremy was arrested on the grounds of assault last month - motivating his decision to head to rehab.

Addressing their difficult few weeks, Stephanie vowed to support of her man in the caption of the post, writing defiantly: 'Proud of him for facing all of this.

'It's not been easy and one hell of a hard long road, but finally on the right track.'

'Pride and joy': Clearly feeling in a reflective mood, Stephanie had already reminisced over the first time she laid eyes on Caben in a throwback snap of him as a newborn earlier on Saturday

Admitting the pair were back on good terms, she continued: 'Missing my best friend. Can't wait till he's home. New lease of life, fresh start.'

She then followed the gushing post with the motivational hashtags: '#quesera #takesgutts #cabenneedshisdaddy #proudofubaby @jeremymcconnellcooke #nolookingback'

Clearly feeling in a reflective mood, Stephanie had already reminisced over the first time she laid eyes on Caben in a throwback snap of him as a newborn earlier on Saturday.

The photo shows a tiny Caben-Albi clutching his mother's finger as he sleeps peacefully.

Supportive: Admitting the pair were back on good terms after a fraught few weeks, she said beside the snap: 'Missing my best friend. Can't wait till he's home. New lease of life, fresh start'

Stephanie appeared to be nostalgic as she looked back on how small Caben-Albi was when he was first born.

The former CBB housemate gushed about her love for her firstborn, and called him her pride and joy.

Lamenting the fact that he was growing quickly, the actress captioned the photo:

'Can't believe how quick he is growing from when he was first born [sad face emoji] Would do anything to go back and do it all again.'

'Just my absolute pride and joy [heart emoji] Love him so so much [heart emoji]'

Better days: She is proving things are well and truly on the up with on-off love Jeremy McConnell, with whom she shares her son, as it has been claimed that she wants to marry him

Stephanie appeared to be nostalgic as she looked back on how small Caben-Albi was when he was first born.

Her relationship with Jeremy began when they starred together on Celebrity Big Brother in January 2016 before becoming embroiled in a toxic romance which ended in April a month before she announced she was expecting.

After persistently denying the paternity, Jeremy vowed to step up when he discovered he was the father although last month's assault arrest left fans aghast although kind-hearted Stephanie vowed to stand by the star.

While he has now headed to rehab, Stephanie persists in documenting life with Caben on social media, with Tuesday being no exception as they cosied up in the sweet snap while she wore a dressing gown ahead of the dip.

Shortly before her swimming session, sources revealed to The Sun that Stephanie was determined to marry recovering Jeremy as she believes the root of all their woes was drink and drugs.

'He's a nightmare, but he's my nightmare': Sources told The Sun the former Hollyoaks star wanted to wed her beau when he departs rehab, just hours before she shared an incredibly sweet snap with their son ahead of a swimming session

Fuelling speculation: Stephanie had got fans talking after sharing a photo of a diamond ring on her finger

'I am not engaged': She was recently forced to deny rumours she and Jeremy are set to wed on Twitter

Last month, Stephanie had to deny rumours she and Jeremy were engaged, as fans began to speculate after she was pictured wearing a diamond ring on her finger.

Steph responded: 'I am not engaged guys. One day' (heart emoji) This weather is amazingggg but there's too many wasps and bees about #anxietycentral'.

On Saturday, the stunning star sent a gushing message to Jeremy, shortly before delighting her fans with her sweet snaps of Caben in which she thanked Jeremy for buying an outfit for their son.

Adorable: On Saturday, the stunning star sent a gushing message to Jeremy, shortly before delighting her fans with her sweet snaps of Caben in which she thanked Jeremy for buying an outfit for their son

She added a caption reading: 'Happy Easter Everyone... This is my first Easter! I got lots of eggs which my mummy is helping to eat.. hehe. I love my outfit off my daddy, it makes my eyes look extra blue! Thanks daddy! Hope you all have a great day'.

In her sweet snap the day before, Stephanie insisted she will 'stand by' her on/off boyfriend no matter what while publicly declaring her love for the Irish model in an emotional Instagram post.

She branded Jeremy a 'nightmare' in her tribute, but claimed he was 'her nightmare' as she brushed off their tumultuous past and looked ahead to their future as a couple.

'He is my soul mate and I love him': The former Hollyoaks star branded Jeremy a 'nightmare' in her tribute, but claimed he was 'her nightmare' as she brushed off their tumultuous past and looked ahead to their future as a couple

Taking to the photosharing site, Stephanie uploaded two photos of herself and Jeremy that had been taking during their time together in the CBB house. The duo are cuddling in one shot and looking adoringly at each other in the second.

Captioning her photo, Stephanie threw her support behind Jeremy - who is currently seeking treatment in rehab - and professed her undying love for the father of her child, Caben-Albi.

She penned: 'No matter what people say, no matter what people feel.. we have been though the most major ups and downs. He's been wrong, I've been wrong.. but I LOVE him.

'I met him un expectedly on cbb, but what you seen was TRUE LOVE!! When you go though that, with money and media, anyone in the industry would understand... ours was just played out in front of the nation.

'I will stand by him always and love him unconditionally': Stephanie is supporting Jeremy through his rehab stay after he voluntarily checked himself in to receive help for his issues

'He is my soul mate and I love him, you never give up on the one you love do you.... Jezz got a little lost, but who hasn't f**ked up in life??

'I know I have.... Just so happens ours is played through the media. And no we haven't been adults about it a lot, and it's been wild, but when your so in love with someone, passion gets the best of you! (sic)'

Stephanie continued: 'He's my rock my soul mate and I love him with ALL my heart!! Do you think we would put each other through this for fun?????? No... its because we match. And u seen us fall in love.

'And forever I will always love him. I'm proud [of] him! [It's] this change to get better, no matter what anyone says. I will stand by him always and love him unconditionally, he may seem a nightmare but [he's] my nightmare.

Family unit: The couple are parents to their three-month-old son Caben-Albi who was born in January earlier this year

'My best friend, my everything. Words couldn't describe the love I have for him! I love u baby and so proud of you. U will make Caben proud and can't wait for us to be a family again. I LOVE you!!!! Your baby, stephanie @jeremymcconnellcooke.'

Stephanie's tribute to Jeremy comes after the pair recently reunited following their bitter split last year.

He had confessed to cheating on Stephanie while they were together and shortly after their split, the starlet announced she was expecting Jeremy's baby.

At first, Jeremy contested Steph's paternity claims, but following Caben's birth in January earlier this year, he undertook a DNA test that proved he is the dad of Stephanie's little boy.

Supportive: Stephanie has insisted she is 'proud' of Jeremy for seeking treatment - his rehab stay came after he was arrested for allegedly assaulting her

'I just never handled fame': Jeremy shared a lengthy statement addressing his decision to check into rehab

Keen to form a relationship with his son and re-connect with Stephanie, Jeremy had reunited with his ex-girlfriend and later shared a photo of little Caben to his Instagram page, along with the caption: 'Happiest man alive, my new focus.'

Stephanie had told fans she was 'proud' of Jeremy for making the step to address his issues, while he posted a statement to social media explaining his reasons for seeking treatment.

Jeremy explained that he 'hasn't handled fame very well' and acknowledged he had 'let his family, friends and management down' with his behaviour.

The reality star insisted he is a 'good guy with a good heart' and claimed he is hoping to 'fix' his issues by taking the 'appropriate action'.

Penning her heartbreak: Stephanie has recalled her tumultuous history with Jeremy in a new song that includes the lyrics: 'Drowning out the pain cos you're not mine anymore, I was a chore but I adored you'

Stephanie, meanwhile, has recounted her heartbreak over her relationship with Jeremy in a new song.

Turning her attentions back to her music, the mum-of-one has penned a track to release the emotions she has of the last year.

The lyrics give a raw account of her feelings and include the lines: 'I've been missing spending time with your drinking and let me hear what you wanna say.. sipping on my liqueur cos it tastes so fine drowning out the pain cos you're not mine anymore, I was a chore but I adored you.'

Making reference to her latest music material on Twitter, Stephanie wrote: 'Started a new sound cloud. Songs to upload soon. Copyright enjoy :)'
Jennifer Meyer through a very star-studded birthday party at the Peppermint Night Club in West Hollywood on Saturday evening.

Every hot Hollywood standout was there, including Jennifer Aniston along with spouse Justin Theroux, Courteney Cox, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom and Demi Moore.

But it appeared as if Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Hudson had the most fun as they were seen smiling in two separate Instagram posts.

The blonde bunch: Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Hudson had the most fun as they were seen smiling in two separate Instagram posts at Jennifer Meyer's 40th birthday party

Part of the cool crowd: Paltrow posed with Moore and Meyer as well as Sara Foster and other friends

Cool trio: Here Foster is in the middle of Hudson (left) and Meyer (right)

Paltrow wore her hair down and straight. She was with Demi and party gal Meyer in her snap.

Hudson had her locks up on a ponytail with a V-neck black dress on.

The Almost Famous actress was with Sara Foster and Meyer.

Another: Hudson shared this image with Jennifer and Derek Blasberg

Going strong: Honest Company founder Jessica Alba came hand-in-hand with her husband Cash Warren

Attired lady: Alba looked chic in a green and blue patterned maxi dress with a denim jacket, Black strappy heels added sex appeal

Alba looked chic in a green and blue patterned maxi dress with a denim jacket,

Black strappy heels added sex appeal.

A blue Chanel purse was worn crossbody style.

Her spouse wore a black leather jacket over a checkered shirt and black leather Vans style sneakers. Jeans looked to have a snug fit.

Lovely lady: She normally covers up in boho dresses. But on Saturday evening Nicole Richie let her chest show

Richie looked sexy in a low cut black tank top.

The 35-year-old designer, reality star and actress wore a low-cut black top.

She also had on fitted jeans that flared out at the bottom 1970s style.

Cute gal: The 35-year-old designer, reality star and actress wore a low-cut black top and fitted jeans that flared out at the bottom 1970s style

The beauty may be sexing it up a little bit in the wardrobe department because she has a new show to promote: the series Great News from the creators of 30 Rock.

Nicole has long wanted an acting career as several years ago she appeared on the TV series Chuck.

In 2015 Nicole appeared on the series Empire.

New path in life: The beauty may be sexing it up a little bit in the wardrobe department because she has a new show to promote: the series Great News from the creators of 30 Rock

Great News is about a New Jersey mom puts her relationship with her daughter to the test when she lands an internship at her new job.

Adam Campbell and John Michael Higgins also star on the show.

Richie has made quite a transformation since her wild party days when she starred on The Simple Life with Paris Hilton.

So in love: Also at the Meyer bash was Jennifer Aniston with husband Justin Theroux, who wore a Gucci T-shirt

She has a heart on her neck: Friends vet Courteney Cox was also there

A 10! Demi Moore looked sensational in a blue dress and tinted glasses with strappy black heels

She had two children, Harlow and Sparrow, with musician Joel Madden.

And she has become successful at jewelry and clothing design.

Also at the Meyer bash was Aniston with husband Theroux, who wore a Gucci T-shirt.

Friends vet Cox was also there.

Moore looked sensational in a blue dress and tinted glasses with strappy black heels.

Perry arrived separately from ex-beau Bloom.

And Honest Company founder Alba came hand-in-hand with her husband Cash Warren.
Bryan Cranston swung by the Los Angeles Times Book Festival at the University Of Southern California on Saturday.

Much to his apparent delight, a rag doll of his iconic Breaking Bad character Walter White wound up in his hands, and he got in a bit of posing with it.

The dashing 61-year-old actor was at the festival discussing his new memoir, A Life In Parts, which Simon And Schuster published this past October.

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Taking the stage: Bryan Cranston swung by the Los Angeles Times Book Festival at the University Of Southern California on Saturday

His hair coiffed, he'd slipped on a purple and green checked shirt with its sleeves rolled part of the way up, teaming it with navy trousers and faded grey shoes.

The Malcolm In The Middle star had accessorized with small yellow shades, and spoke onstage while settling into a wicker chair sitting beside a matching table.

He was sitting at another table, copies of his book in front of him, once he got the doll, which resembled Walter as he appears in the show's first season.

Dead ringer: Much to his apparent delight, a rag doll of his iconic Breaking Bad character Walter White wound up in his hands, and he got in a bit of posing with it

A Life In Parts offers up a smorgasbord of details about the Trumbo actor's once-private life, including a story about losing his virginity to a prostitute.

'There'd been no fireworks. No tenderness. No talking. We never exchanged names. I'd had no idea what I was doing,' wrote Bryan, who'd previously chewed over this Amsterdam experience on Inside The Actor's Studio.

The book also covers brutal fantasies he'd had about an ex-girlfriend-turned-stalker, imagining slamming 'her head against the wall with a metronomic consistency. Clumps of hair and bits of skin and brain matter stuck to the brick,' he wrote.

The way they were: The doll resembled Walter as he appeared in the first season of the show, which saw Bryan starring alongside Aaron Paul (pictured)

'I remained calm. I was released from fear and anger. I wasn't glad or relieved or filled with satisfaction. I felt nothing. I let go of her and the body slid to the floor.'

Cheerier stories include his proposal to his wife since 1989, Robin Dearden, dishing that they were about to take a bath and 'I had the ring. But then, I had to hide it.'

The concern was that 'I had to put it within reach, I couldn't jump out of the bathtub mid-proposal, sopping wet and stark naked, to go searching for the ring. The only thing I could think to do was put it on a digit. I decided on my baby toe.'
Made In Chelsea's Louise Thompson and Stephanie Pratt dressed to impress when they attended Binky Felstead's baby shower in Chelsea, London on Sunday.

Louise, 27, put on a leggy display as she showcased her sun-kissed slender pins in a thigh-skimming lemon minidress for the bash.

Wearing her brunette locks in waterfall of natural curls, she dressed down her chic attire with a funky over-sized denim jacket complete with eye-catching embroidery.

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Leggy! Louise Thompson showed off assets in a thigh-skimming minidress as Steph Pratt styled a floor-length gown for Pregnant Binky's baby shower in Chelsea, London on Sunday

The sassy TV personality accessorised with big hoop earrings, glossy sunglasses and several loose mismatch bangles.

Making a statement, she contrasted her pretty party gear with a leopard print rucksack which was no doubt brimming with gifts.

On trend as ever, the Instagram starlet sashayed down the sidewalk to the shower in open-toe lace up sandals.

Louise was closely followed by Steph, 31, who pulled off a showstopping floor-length dress as she embraced Oscar Wilde's sentiment, 'You can never be overdressed'.

Summery! The 27-year-old dressed down her chic attire with a funky over-sized denim jacket complete with eye-catching embroidery

The glitzy gown showed off all of the Hills star's best assets as it had a plunging neckline, which teased her ample cleavage.

She brought the showstopping attire in at the waist with a quirky belt to put her phenomenal hourglass figure on display.

The blonde beauty went all out there on her jewellery wearing three necklaces and a pair of drop earrings which complemented them.

Proving accessories make an outfit, she styled a pair of animal print cat-eye sunglasses.

Prezzies! The Los Angeles native was swamped with presents for Binky, 26, and her 27-year-old beau Josh Paterson - known on the Kings Road as JP

The Los Angeles native was swamped with presents for Binky, 26, and her 27-year-old beau Josh Paterson - known on the Kings Road as JP.

The 26-year-old announced she was pregnant in January, which the couple confessed brought them closer together as they look forward to welcoming their baby.

In a recent interview, Binky told MailOnline: 'We are beyond the boyfriend and girlfriend thing.

Close friends! Binky was delighted to welcome her guests as she gave the 31-year-old a kiss on the cheek when she made an appearance

'A lot of people automatically thought that the baby could be a bad thing for our relationship, and that if we got together again it was just for the baby.

'But we have always loved each other. The love was never gone.'

Addressing their messy split which played out on the previous series of the E4 show, she continued: 'When we broke up last year, it was only a couple of weeks before we found out about me being pregnant. And for me, those two weeks showed me that Ive always missed him.'

Strength to strength! Binky and JP confessed the exciting news brought them closer together as they look forward to welcoming their baby

Binky and JP looked more loved-up than ever at the baby shower as they put on a cosy display.

The mother-to-be was the belle of the ball as she looked a vision in white in her gorgeous gown, complete with billowing lace sleeves.

JP opted for a more casual look, making an appearance in a grey T-shirt and skinny black chinos.

Mum's the word! The mother-to-be was the belle of the ball as she looked a vision in white in her gorgeous gown, complete with billowing lace sleeves

Team! JP opted for a more casual look, making an appearance in a grey T-shirt and skinny black chinos while Binky happily opened the presents from their friends

They were pleased to be in good company as Rosie Fortescue and Georgia Toffolo came with presents, spilling out of their bags.

Wearing her golden locks swept off her face, Georgia flashed a lot of leg in a long sleeved grey mini dress decorated with butterflies.

While Rosie showed off her slender frame in a checkered playsuit, with matching ribbon sandals.

Check her out: Georgia Toffolo flashed a lot of leg in a long sleeved grey mini dress decorated with butterflies
She is fast approaching the birth of her first child with boyfriend Josh 'JP' Patterson.

And Binky Felstead gathered her friends and family together on Sunday as she hosted a baby shower in London, to celebrate her exciting news.

The Made In Chelsea star, 26, looked every inch the glowing mother-to-be in a chic white lace mini dress, which skimmed her ever-growing bump, as she cosied up to her on/off beau, 27, inside the bash.

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Hot mama! Pregnant Binky Felstead gathered her friends and family together on Sunday as she hosted a baby shower in London, to celebrate her exciting news

Loved-up: The Made In Chelsea star, 26, looked every inch the glowing mother-to-be in a chic white lace mini dressas she cosied up to boyfriend Josh 'JP' Patterson (above) inside the bash

The brunette, who announced she was expecting her first child four months ago, looked truly radiant as she headed into the party with her nearest and dearest.

Proving her style has not faltered in pregnancy, Binky opted for a soft white mini dress, which was both sophisticated and sexy with its low plunging neckline, fastened with small white buttons.

Falling into a chic lace bodice and sleeves, the frock then maintained its boho style by cascading into a soft linen skirt, which skimmed her blossoming stomach.

Boho babe: The brunette, who announced she was expecting her first child four months ago, looked truly radiant as she headed into the party with her nearest and dearest

Angelic: Proving her style has not faltered in pregnancy, Binky opted for a soft white mini dress, which was both sophisticated and sexy with its plunging neckline and lace sleeves

Cutting off high at her thigh, the E4 star then left her svelte legs on show - which she lengthened further with a classy pair of nude court shoes.

Tying her outfit together with a quilted shoulder bag and oversized cat-eye sunglasses, the beauty looked effortlessly glamorous as she embarked on the undoubtedly emotional day with her nearest and dearest.

First posing for photos against a wall of stunning white roses, Binky spent the rest of her afternoon happily greeting her guests - who showered her with gifts for her new arrival.

Elegant: Cutting off high at her thigh, the E4 star then left her svelte legs on show - which she lengthened further with a classy pair of nude court shoes

Can't wait: First posing for photos against a wall of stunning white roses, Binky spent the rest of her afternoon happily greeting her guests - who showered her with gifts for her new arrival

Exciting: Binky beamed with delight as she accepted an array of sweet baby clothes for her tot, who she announced was a girl last month

After accepting an array of adorable baby clothes and toys for the tot, who she announced was a girl last month, the brunette was then seen cuddling up to boyfriend JP in a tender moment at the exciting event.

Clad in a simple grey T-shirt and black jeans, the hunk kept all eyes on the mother-to-be as he pulled her in for a sweet embrace, caressing her bump as he did so.

The pair had already hosted a smaller-scale baby shower on Made In Chelsea last month, in order to announce the sex of their tot to their co-stars.

Besotted: After accepting an array of adorable baby clothes for their daughter, the brunette was then seen cuddling up to boyfriend JP in a tender moment at the event

Casually cool: Clad in a simple grey T-shirt and black jeans, the hunk kept all eyes on the mother-to-be as he carried her presents into the bash for her

Slick: Accessorising with grey trainers and a trendy pair of rounded shades, the handsome reality star looked as suave as ever as embarked on celebrations with his family and friends

Binky announced she was pregnant in January - causing a stir among fans, as she was not officially dating JP, the baby's father, at the time.

However, the pair have since admitted that the exciting news has only brought them closer, and they are now looking forward to the next chapter of their journey together.

Binky told MailOnline last month: 'We are beyond the boyfriend and girlfriend thing.'

The happy couple: JP pulled his girlfriend in for a sweet embrace in front of their guests - caressing her bump as he did so

So excited: Binky could not help but flash a beaming smile as she was joined by her best friends to celebrate her pregnancy

On the way: Binky announced she was pregnant in January - and has since assured fans that the news has only brought her closer to on/off beau JP, who is the baby's father

'A lot of people automatically thought that the baby could be a bad thing for our relationship, and that if we got together again it was just for the baby.

'But we have always loved each other. The love was never gone.'

Addressing their messy split which played out on the previous series of the E4 show, she continued: 'When we broke up last year, it was only a couple of weeks before we found out about me being pregnant. And for me, those two weeks showed me that Ive always missed him.'

Chic: Leading the glamour of guests at the bash was Louise Thompson, who embraced the gloriously sunny weather in a thigh-skimming summer dress

Finishing touches: Giving her feminine look a grungier edge however, she teamed the frock with an oversized denim jacket and retro rectangular shades

The happy couple were joined for their celebrations by a number of their close friends, and familiar faces from the show.

First leading the glamour was Louise Thompson, who embraced the gloriously sunny weather in a thigh-skimming summer dress.

The brunette, 27, showed off her enviably tanned and toned legs in the soft white mini dress, patterned with vibrant yellow lemons all over.

Giving her feminine look a grungier edge however, she teamed the frock with an oversized denim jacket - which was embroidered with sporty team logos and cartoon stars across the front.

Glam girls: Louise arrived at the bash alongside sister duo Lucy (L) and Tiffany Watson (R), who mirrored Binky's style by opting for boho-inspired ensembles

She added height to her petite frame with sky-high raffia wedges of blue and grey, and accessorised with a bold leopard print rucksack in a chic finishing touch.

Adding a plethora of tribal jewellery and retro rectangular sunglasses, the fitness fanatic oozed glamour as she headed in to support her close friend Binky - who she has known since filming the very first season of Made In Chelsea back in 2011.

Louise arrived at the bash alongside sister duo Lucy and Tiffany Watson, who mirrored Binky's style by opting for boho-inspired ensembles.

In their genes: Lucy showed off her famously slender figure in a black and white paisley mini skirt, while Tiffany followed Binky's suit in a white lace mini dress

Lucy, who left the London-based reality show in September, showed off her famously slender figure in a black and white paisley mini skirt, paired with a pussy bow blouse.

Keeping co-oridnated throughout, she layered a thin black duster coat on top and accessorised with black sandals, adorned with flowers across the toe.

Meanwhile her blonde sibling, 23, slipped her slim frame into a white lace mini dress, which she layered beneath a quirky suede biker jacket of summery beige.

Arriving not long after was Stephanie Pratt, who certainly turned heads as she went braless in a metallic gold maxi dress.

Going for gold: Arriving not long after was Stephanie Pratt, who certainly turned heads as she went braless in a metallic gold maxi dress

The LA native gave a saucy flash of her cleavage in the ruched dress, which plunged into a daringly low halter neckline.

Cinching in at her petite waist with a straw belt, the high-shine number then fell into soft pleats all the way to the floor - which blew behind her as she headed inside.

The blonde kept her standout look casual with silver trainers and a bright red bag, for a splash of colour, as she arrived at the lavish bash laden with gifts for her friend.

Sexy: The LA native gave a saucy flash of her cleavage in the ruched dress, which plunged into a daringly low halter neckline, as she arrived at the bash laden with gifts

Exciting: Steph happily greeted Binky with a kiss on the cheek once inside as they embarked on the exciting day, surrounded by friends

Stunning: Georgia Toffolo also made a glamorous arrival in a eye-wateringly short chiffon dress, patterned with pretty white butterflies

Georgia Toffolo also made a glamorous arrival in a eye-wateringly short chiffon dress, patterned with pretty white butterflies.

Remaining demure with a high round neck and long sleeves, the frock then upped the sex appeal by cinching in at her middle, to emphasise her slim figure, before cutting off high at her thigh to flash her leggy figure to all.

Leaving her hair in her trademark bouncy waves and adding minimal make-up, the blonde, who goes by 'Toff' on the show, proved her natural beauty as she arrived to celebrate with Binky.

Fashionista Rosie Fortescue rounded up the pack in an on-trend gingham midi dress, and matching wedge heels - which she jazzed up with a handbag on a playful chain, adorned with colourful pom poms.

Model material: Remaining demure with a high round neck and long sleeves, the frock then upped the sex appeal by cutting off high at her thigh to flash her leggy figure to all
Former fitness guru Richard Simmons took to Facebook on Sunday to thank everyone who helped him during his hospital stay for indigestion in Los Angeles.

In only his second social media blast in some three years, the 68-year-old wrote: 'Hope you're having a beautiful Sunday.

'I wanted to take a moment to send a big thank you to the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center during my short stay there this week. They make you feel good even though you're in the hospital for feeling bad.'

Grateful star: Former fitness guru Richard Simmons, seen in 2014 before he withdrew from public life, took to Facebook on Sunday to thank medics at Cedars-Sinai in Beverly Hills and the LAPD for their help after he was hospitalized for indigestion last week

And he added: 'Another shout out goes to the wonderful men and women of the Los Angeles Police Dept. They were so helpful and kind as I returned home.

'Let's take a minute and all be thankful for medical professionals, police, firefighters and our brave military forces here and around the world.

'They risk so much every day to make us well and keep us protected. God Bless all of them.'

KInd words: The 68-year-old celebrity posted this gushing message

Staying undercover: Richard, who was draped in a blanket, was helped out of hospital by his housekeeper Teresa Reveles and the LAPD, who escorted him through the media scrum

Richard has made headlines and sparked concern after the once outgoing celebrity withdrew from public life in 2014.

His absence was even the subject of the No. 1 podcast Missing Richard Simmons.

His admission to hospital on Monday is thought to be the first time the celebrity has left home in three years, with his manager Michael Catalano breaking the news of his illness the same day.

Not much to see: At one point, the celebrity stuck his hand out from under the blanket

Waiting at his home: The police also turned up at Richard's house as the star stayed in his car until they worked out how to get him inside without revealing his condition

But while he managed to stay under the radar for his trip to Cedars Sinai in Beverly Hills, the same was not true of Richard's trip home.

He emerged from hospital with a blanket over his head, accompanied by his housekeeper Teresa Reveles, 64, who drove him home, and members of the LAPD.

Richard remained covered up in the car for some 40 minutes until Teresa, the police and his manager could get him into the house while keeping him as little in the public eye as possible.

Working it: The popular TV fitness expert seen leading a workout class in 1980
She is a Made In Chelsea veteran who has managed to hone a superbly toned gym body since embarking on a relationship with gym buff Ryan Libbey last year.

And Louise Thompson flaunted the fruits of her hard work as she launched a new swimwear campaign on Sunday.

The 27-year-old has teamed with supermarket Asda on its latest George swimwear range.

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Unusual move: Veteran Louise Thompson, 27, launched her latest swimwear campaign on Sunday - this time modelling George at ASDA in a move away from her usual upscale brands

The former reality star and healthy living advocate showcased her washboard abs in the promotional snaps.

Louise, who soared to fame on the E4 show in 2011's second season, becoming a central character after an initial introduction as lothario Spencer Matthews' then-girlfriend, proved her physique would look good in anything in the photographs.

Holding palm fronds in one hand and nonchalantly placing an on-trend pair of aviators over her eyes, the star looked the epitome of chic as she modelled a sparkling silver halterneck bikini.

The star, who sported her trademark pale-pink lip, opted for toned-down make-up for the shoot - displaying her natural beauty.

Confident: Wearing her blonde-tinged locks in loose curls around her shoulders, Louise smiled confidently into the camera, cocking her hip to one side as she posed in a neon blue and pink-edged two-piece.

Holiday fan: In one photo, while showcasing a simple black-and-floral piece, she carried a broad-rimmed sunhat - perhaps evoking her passion for sun-drenched beach holidays with her buff beau

Wearing her blonde-tinged locks in loose curls around her shoulders, Louise smiled confidently into the camera, cocking her hip to one side as she posed in a neon blue and pink-edged two-piece.

The wellness guru decided to add a few inches to her height for the shoot, and wore a pair of shining silver sling-backs with wedge heels.

In one photo, while showcasing a simple black-and-floral piece, she carried a broad-rimmed sunhat - perhaps evoking her passion for sun-drenched beach holidays with her buff beau.

Stunning: The wellness guru decided to add a few inches to her height for the shoot, and wore a pair of shining silver sling-backs with wedge heels

Sexy: The star of the hit reality show even managed to make a simple black one-piece sexy, shooting a sultry gaze at the lens as she showed off her pert derriere

The star of the hit reality show even managed to make a simple black one-piece sexy, shooting a sultry gaze at the lens as she showed off her pert derriere.

And the model proved she could look completely natural even in the most artificial of settings as she donned a casual white kaftan and stared thoughtfully into the distance.

The star has had a lot of practice posing for the lens, as when not modelling professionally, Louise regularly posts equally swimwear and lingerie-focused snaps on her Instagram page.

Composed: The model proved she could look completely natural even in the most artificial of settings as she donned a casual white kaftan and stared thoughtfully into the distance

Over the past year her always-petite frame has come to resemble that of an athlete.

Earlier this week the stunning brunette posted a bathroom selfie, in which she was wearing only a white bandeau top, which perfectly highlighted her rippling abs.

Captioning the shot: 'Hard work pays off in the gym,' Louise revealed how proud she is of her new body.

'Hard work pays off!' MIC's Louise Thompson goes braless in a new selfie as she pulls up her top to display her incredibly chisled abs

True love: After dating stars including Jamie Laing, Andy Jordan and Alik Alfus, she recently found love with personal trainer Ryan who she kept secret for five months after falling for him over gym sessions

Louise revealed she is getting ready to jet away on her fifth holiday in just four months, after travelling to various luxurious locations with her beefcake beau.

The star's romantic getaways included two holidays in January, to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, alongside another duo last month, to Dubai and Paris.

The stunning star is quick to show off her figure with total confidence - and no wonder, as she has such core strength, as demonstrated when she and Ryan worked out on the beach together.

After dating stars including Jamie Laing, Andy Jordan and Alik Alfus, she recently found love with personal trainer Ryan who she kept secret for five months after falling for him over gym sessions.

Her Instagram activity with her beau has been the subject of much envy - and some ridicule - as the couple document their excessive holidays with the help of professional photographers on the photosharing site.

Once again sparking envy among fans, Louise stripped down to just a scanty striped swimsuit last week, as she revealed the pair would be embarking on yet another trip - though she teased fans by failing to specify a location.

She wrote: 'Trying on swimmers for next vacay!'
Photo shows the new aircraft carrier is under outfitting in north China. [Photo: sina.com.cn]

China's first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Type 001A, is now ready for launch. According to the military, the warship may be launched as early as April 23, the anniversary of the founding of the PLA Navy.

The Type 001A weighs about 70,000 tonnes, is 315 meters long, 75 meters wide and has a cruising speed of 31 knots.

Photo taken in May 2012 shows a Chinese aircraft carrier cruising for a test on the sea. China's first aircraft carrier was delivered and commissioned to the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on Sept. 25, 2012. The carrier, with the name "Liaoning" and hull number 16, was officially handed over to the Navy at a ceremony held in a naval base of northeast China's Dalian Port. [Photo: Xinhua]
She's a busy mom with a high profile job, so it's no surprise Jennifer Garner was in a rush Sunday.

The 45-year-old star looked happy but hurried while arriving to work in Los Angeles.

On set the Texas native appeared to be fresh from the shower, arriving with still-wet hair while dressed in casual cotton.

Cleans up nice! Jennifer Garner looked freshly showered on Sunday, arriving to set with still-wet hair

The mother-of-three kept simple in loose layers and easy flip flops for her weekend work day.

It appeared that the Alias starlet was freshly showered, still sporting wet locks as she emerged from her car.

She carried her things in a navy tote by Saint Laurent while hiding her beautiful green eyes behind Celine sunglasses.

Loose layers: The mother-of-three kept simple in a loose tee and relaxed pants

In the bag! The Alias actress carried a handsome tote from Saint Laurent

The Dallas Buyer's Club actress, who jointly filed for divorce with Ben Affleck last week, looked like she was in a good mood - perhaps a sign she was coping just fine with the split.

On Wednesday, it was reported that the Southern sweetheart 'wants to start dating' again, according a source who spoke to People.

A separate source told the magazine that Ben is already meeting new people, but that 'he is not dating anyone seriously' at the moment.

The source also revealed although the co-parents aren't currently pursuing new relationships, they 'have not ruled that out in the future.'

Ready to mingle! The ex of Ben Affleck seemed to be in good spirits, as it was recently reported that she 'wants to start dating' again

The way they were: Garner (L) and husband director Ben Affleck attend the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Though they're ending their marriage, Jen and Ben are as committed as ever to raising their children together.

The duo, who originally announced their split in summer 2015, have three kids: Violet, 11, Seraphina, eight, and Samuel, five.

Last week, the entire family attended Easter church service together where Ben and Jennifer were spotted chatting happily after the mass.

'Those two have so much love for each other,' explained one source, 'Its deep.'

Feeling the strain? Ben Affleck looked weary as he spoke at a film festival in Orange on Sunday
Oscar Munoz, President and CEO of United Airlines, attends a meeting with airline industry executives hosted by US President Donald Trump in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, February 9, 2017

United Airlines said Friday it no longer plans to name chief executive Oscar Munoz chairman as it revised its compensation program following an uproar over its treatment of a passenger.

Munoz and the airline were slammed with heavy criticism after a passenger was violently dragged off a United flight earlier this month in an incident that sparked global outrage.

Under the previous plan, Munoz had been slated to assume the chairman's role in 2018. But the company amended its contract with Munoz to remove that provision.

"The Board believes that separating the roles of chief executive officer and chairman of the board is the most appropriate structure at this time," the company said in a securities filing.

That design "is a means to ensure that Mr. Munoz is able to more exclusively focus on his role as Chief Executive Officer," it added.

United described its shift on compensation to take into account customer satisfaction as part of "a response to recent events," according to the document.

Executive compensation will now depend on "progress in 2017 on significant improvement in the customer experience at United, and aligned changes to United's culture and processes," the filing said.

United has been under fire since video went viral showing security personnel dragging battered and bloodied passenger David Dao off a flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky, to make room for an airline employee.

Munoz apologized for the debacle and said the airline is reviewing its policies and will make further changes. The chief executive was initially lambasted for appearing to suggest Dao was partly at fault for the encounter.

The airline already has announced some policy changes, such as no longer having law enforcement remove customers from overbooked flights.

Munoz was paid $18.7 million in 2016, more than three times the $5.8 million in 2015, the filing showed.
Dozens of US companies including Ford, Boeing, Wells Fargo, General Electric and Facebook, face shareholder votes on more disclosure about political lobbying

Dozens of major US companies are facing shareholder votes this spring that seek to require more disclosure about political lobbying, as activists demand greater corporate transparency.

Votes are set to take place at more than 40 annual meetings, including those for Boeing, Wells Fargo, Ford, General Electric and Facebook.

The proposals have in many cases been offered before and predate the searing national political debates that have dominated America with the rise and election of President Donald Trump.

But whether or not they have anything to do with broader political dynamics, early tallies in the 2017 season show more investors want to know about corporate spending on lobbying.

About 37 percent of Disney's shareholders voted in favor of a measure on this issue, up five percent from last year's outcome, while Monsanto's vote came in at about 28 percent, up 7.5 percent from a year ago.

There were also modest increases at Emerson Electric and Tyson Foods.

While still a minority of shareholders, these counts are high enough to force management to take notice, corporate governance experts say.

"There's a general discomfort with the notion of corporate funds for political purposes," said Charles Elson, corporate governance chair at the University of Delaware Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics.

"If it's explained and it's legitimate, there's nothing wrong with it. The question is the transparency."

- Trade groups in focus -

Companies are already required to account for annual lobbying expenditures in reports to Congress that detail the targeted issues and the amounts spent.

However, proponents of the stepped-up measures say there are no requirements for reporting other aspects of lobbying, such as activities at the grassroots level or donations to trade organizations that lobby.

Activists point to companies like GE and Disney that favor climate change policies and their links to groups like the Chamber of Commerce which have opposed key climate policies.

They argue the companies should disclose their trade group memberships and the amount of money given to those groups that is then used for lobbying.

"Transparency is good for investors and good for companies and it kind of goes to the principle of what gets disclosed gets managed," said John Keenan, corporate governance analyst at public employees union AFSCME, which has been in a leader in pushing for the measures.

In response, companies argue that the additional sunshining is unnecessary and misstates the nature of a company's relationship with a trade group.

"The associations and coalitions to which GE belongs perform many valuable functions," GE said in urging a "no" vote. "Lobbying is not the primary focus of these entities."

"GE may not agree with every position or lobbying action taken by such associations," the company added.

Disney said the proposal would exceed legal disclosure requirements and would "be misleadingly suggestive of the control we exercise over" trade groups.

Some companies have revised their policies following talks with shareholders. Keenan said Wal-Mart Stores agreed to provide lobbying spending by state, while defense company Raytheon increased its disclosures, including providing a list of its trade association dues.

A Wal-Mart spokesman declined to comment on the specifics about negotiations on lobbying disclosures, but said shareholders regularly decide to withdraw proposals following talks with the company.

Raytheon declined comment.

This year, Pfizer strengthened its oversight of lobbying by amending the corporate charter to place the responsibility with the Corporate Governance committee.

- Business strikes back -

As they battle this year's shareholder proposals, large companies through the Business Roundtable, a trade group, are pushing to limit future battles involving activists.

In a letter to National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, the Business Roundtable urged officials to "tighten eligibility" to restrict investors "with insignificant stakes" from making proposals "that pursue social or political agendas unrelated to the interests of shareholders as a whole."

The Business Roundtable argues the current $2,000 minimum requirement is "no longer a reasonable standard" to get on the ballot and should be raised to at least 0.15 percent at large companies.

But corporate governance expert Elson rejected that argument.

"Sometimes terrific ideas come from small investors," he said. "It's also become an important signaling mechanism that boards need to be aware of."
Farida Kachwala is vacating her family's cramped home of eighty years, one of thousands receiving modern apartments through a project that hopes to transform Mumbai's historic Bhendi Bazaar from a dilapidated ghetto into a slick Singapore-like enclave.

Six hundred million dollars is being spent to demolish hundreds of rundown low-rise buildings in the dirty colonial-era market and replace them with shiny skyscrapers that will house 20,000 Dawoodi Bohras, a sect of Shia Muslims, who have made the area their home for decades.

'We have many problems here. It's smelly because there's sewage and garbage everywhere and the wooden stairs are really steep and dangerous. I'm so happy that we're moving,' says Kachwala.

Hundreds of rundown low-rise buildings in the colonial-era market will be demolished and replaced with shiny skyscrapers that will house 20,000 Dawoodi Bohras, a sect of Shia Muslims, who have made the area their home for decades

The rehousing project aims to replace the decrepit structures and maze-like narrow streets, where hawkers sell everything from sunglasses to sweets as goats meander docilely, with gleaming towers and polished shopping arcades.

It is also hoped the scheme will help cleanse the neighbourhood of its underworld image. Dawood Ibrahim, who carried out the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts, lived in Bhendi Bazaar during the 1980s and Bollywood films often portray the area as a gangster hangout.

In India it is common for tenants to stall development projects by refusing to move, or for homeowners to hold out for more cash, but this project is unique in that it is being driven by residents' faith as much as their desire for 21st century amenities.

Bohras, whose women wear colourful ridas akin to hijabs while men sport gold and white caps, are a Shia Islamic sect who follow a religious leader they call his holiness. They originally arrived in western India from Yemen in the 11th century.

Mumbai's Bhendi Bazaar makeover

Bohras often seek guidance from his holiness on many matters ranging from marriage to naming a child. The redevelopment was the brainchild of late leader Syedna Burhanuddin, who died aged 101 in 2014, a key reason why residents support it.

Spiritual leader

'Our families took his holiness Syedna's advice and supported the project so we hope it will be good for everyone involved,' says Juzer Morbiwala at a transit home where he is being housed until his new apartment is ready.

Some 250 decrepit three and four-storey buildings known as chawls - originally built for single male labourers in the 1800s and where residents often share toilets - are being razed and replaced with 17 high-rise towers across 16.5 acres.

Three thousand two hundred families will receive new homes free of charge. Each will be a minimum of 350 square feet in size with private bathrooms and separate sleeping and living spaces.

Some 250 decrepit three and four-storey buildings known as chawls - originally built for single male labourers in the 1800s and where residents often share toilets - are being razed and replaced with 17 high-rise towers across 16.5 acres

It will be a significant improvement on the tiny, dark one-room home Kachwala shares with her husband, daughter and father-in-law, who moved in as a ten-year-old in the 1930s.

'I'm attached to this place because I've lived here almost my whole life but our children will have a better environment to live and grow in the new home,' says Kachwala, 45.

The demolition and construction is taking place in nine phases. The first started around three years ago and the entire project is expected to be completed by 2025. The only buildings not being torn down are the area's mosques.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is taking a keen interest, hoping that the cluster redevelopment method can become a model for urban renewal across India.

It is budgeted to cost 40 billion rupees ($600 million) and a trust attached to the Bohra community's governing body is providing the funding through donations. Money will also be raised by selling off four of the new towers that could stretch 60 storeys into the sky.

Conservationists' lament

Abbas Master, Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust CEO, says the trust had acquired almost 90 per cent of properties but that a small fraction of residents were refusing to negotiate.

Conservation architects lament the loss of another historic district and the personality attached to it

'To uproot people and to bring them back is a challenge. It happens in places like China but in a democratic world I think this is the first example,' he told AFP.

Some 1,250 businesses will move from ramshackle shops and stalls down dingy lanes into shopping arcades above street level which will be connected by pedestrian bridges.

Rapid development has altered Mumbai's skyline over the past two decades and conservation architects lament the loss of another historic district and the personality attached to it.

'The entire fabric is going to get erased, the history, the artefacts. It's going to have an impact on the social character,' architect Vikram Pawar told AFP, adding that the skyscrapers will be out of keeping with neighbouring areas.

But that doesn't seem to concern the majority of residents, including Shirin Electricwala.

'It will change the way we live. We'll have more space, hygiene and comfort,' she told AFP.
Washington has sought to clarify the whereabouts of the USS Carl Vinson (pictured) after US President Donald Trump suggested it was steaming towards North Korea when in fact it was sent towards Australia

The US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and other warships started joint exercises with Japan on Sunday, the American navy said, as regional tensions rise over North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes.

The exercises -- also involving a US guided-missile cruiser and guided-missile destroyer -- are being held in the Philippine Sea, the navy said, as the naval strike group "continued its northern transit in the Western Pacific".

Confusion has clouded the carrier group's whereabouts in recent days after President Donald Trump suggested the "armada" was steaming towards North Korea when in fact it was sent towards Australia.

On Saturday US Vice President Mike Pence said in Sydney the strike group would arrive in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) "in a matter of days".

Pence has vowed an "overwhelming and effective" response to any North Korean attack as fears grow it may be preparing for another nuclear test.

Pyongyang reacted defiantly.

State newspaper Minju Joson quoted what it called military sources as saying Washington plans to station "several nuclear carrier task forces" off the Korean peninsula this week.

"The army of the DPRK (North Korea) already declared it will deal merciless destructive blows at the enemies so that they would not come back to life again should they make reckless provocation," the paper said.

The Carl Vinson carrier strike group and the Japanese navy "commenced an at-sea bilateral exercise in the Philippine Sea" on Sunday, the US Navy posted on its Facebook page.

The joint drill is designed to "ensure maritime forces remain ready to defend the region when called upon", it said.

"Seeing the threats we are facing now, it is no surprise that Japan and the United States conduct joint exercises," Toshimitsu Motegi, a senior ruling party lawmaker, told Japan's NHK public broadcaster, adding the exercises would send a "strong message".

The Carl Vinson drills, expected to last several days, involve two Japanese warships, Japan's defence ministry said.

Pence, during a regional tour last week that ended in Australia, and other US officials have warned that "all options are on the table" to curb the North's nuclear ambitions.

Pence and Trump have also renewed calls for China to use its influence to bring Pyongyang to heel.

The North has ramped up its rhetoric in recent weeks, threatening to hit back against any provocation.

It has also renewed threats against regional US allies, including Japan and South Korea, which both host large American military contingents.

Even Australia has been cautioned.

"If Australia persists in following the US's moves to isolate and stifle North Korea... this will be a suicidal act," a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called the nation a "serious threat".

Bishop responded Sunday that the North "should invest in the welfare of its long-suffering citizens, rather than weapons of mass destruction".

Washington is sending a senior envoy on the nuclear standoff with North Korea to Tokyo this week for talks with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts.
An aerial view of the island of Male, the capital of the Maldives

A liberal blogger, Yameen Rasheed, was stabbed to death in the politically restive Maldivian capital Male, his family members and colleagues said Sunday. He was 29.

Rasheed was found in the stairwell of his apartment with multiple stab wounds to his neck and chest early Sunday and died shortly after being taken to hospital, family members said.

His blog, The Daily Panic, had a considerable following and was known for poking fun at politicians in the nation of some 340,000 Sunni Muslims.

"With The Daily Panic, I hope to cover and comment upon the news, satirise the frequently unsatirisable politics of Maldives," he wrote on his blog.

Rasheed is the third media personality to be targeted in the Maldives in the past five years. Blogger Ismail Rasheed, also known as Hilath, was stabbed and wounded by an unidentified attacker in 2012.

A journalist with the independent Minivan News, Ahmed Rilwan, was likely abducted in August 2014 and has been missing ever since.

Exiled opposition leader and former president Mohamed Nasheed on Sunday demanded action on the latest killing of an independent journalist.

"President Nasheed is demanding an inquiry with international participation so it can't be swept under the carpet as usual," a spokesman for Nasheed told AFP.

Political tension has mounted in the Maldives after a failed bid by the opposition to impeach the country's parliamentary speaker late last month.

The regime of President Abdulla Yameen has arrested the last Maldives opposition leader not to be in jail or in exile as part of a major government crackdown on rival politicians, who narrowly failed to seize control of parliament.

Qasim Ibrahim, who ran for president in 2013 and currently heads the Jumhooree Party (JP), was one of four signatories of an opposition unity deal aimed at toppling Yameen.

Ibrahim was briefly detained and released earlier this month only to be re-arrested over the weekend.

A coalition of opposition parties, led by exiled leader Nasheed, is trying to undermine Yameen before elections next year.

It faces an uphill struggle, with all opposition leaders now in exile or in jail after a years-long crackdown on dissent under Yameen's leadership.

The clampdown has raised fears over the country's stability and dented its image as a tourist paradise.
North Korea has long been seeking to develop a long-range missile capable of hitting the US mainland with a nuclear warhead

Australia and New Zealand stiffened their rhetoric against North Korea Sunday after the isolated state threatened Canberra with a nuclear strike, urging it to think twice before "blindly and zealously toeing the US line".

The move comes as US Vice President Mike Pence wraps up an Asia tour, which has included visits to South Korea, Japan and Australia partly to reassure allies amid fears that Pyongyang may be readying for a sixth nuclear test.

"If Australia persists in following the US' moves to isolate and stifle North Korea... this will be a suicidal act," a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called the hermit state a "serious threat".

The spokesman, speaking to the North's official KCNA news agency, warned Bishop to "think twice about the consequences".

Australia's close ally New Zealand has since accused North Korea of having "evil intent".

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee told Television New Zealand Sunday people knew little about Kim Jong-Un's regime but "you would assume that underneath him there is a very big machinery of people who have equally evil intent".

US Vice President Mike Pence (L) poses for a photo next to Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop during a visit to the Australian Museum in Sydney, on April 22, 2017

"It's North Korea that is sending the missiles into the Sea of Japan and making the various outrageous threats including the threats overnight to Australia," he added.

Australia's Bishop added on Sunday that the North Korean government "should invest in the welfare of its long-suffering citizens, rather than weapons of mass destruction".

The reclusive state has long been seeking 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.

Pence vowed Wednesday that the US would counter any attack with an "overwhelming and effective" response after a senior North Korean official pledged weekly missile tests and "all-out war" if the US took any action against it.

In Sydney, Pence maintained calls for Pyongyang's sole ally China to do more to rein in its neighbour.

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also urged China to use its leverage over the hermit state, describing the North Korean regime as "reckless and dangerous".

He added that Australia and the US were "absolutely united" in their determination to achieve a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.

Supercarrier Carl Vinson is due to start joint exercises with Japan's navy on Sunday, Tokyo's defence ministry said, with the drills expected to last several days and involve two Japanese warships.
A wounded Afghan soldier in hospital in Mazar-i-Sharif on April 22, 2017, following a bloody Taliban attack on an army base

Afghan families buried their dead and the country observed a national day of mourning Sunday after at least 100 soldiers were killed or wounded in a Taliban attack on a military base, prompting angry calls for ministers and army chiefs to resign.

The exact toll from Friday's assault in the northern province of Balkh remained unclear, with some local officials putting the number of dead alone as high as 130.

The raid, the deadliest-ever by the Taliban on a military base, underscores their growing strength more than 15 years after they were ousted from power.

Flags flew at half-mast throughout the country and special prayers were said for the dead.

The defence ministry gave a figure of at least 100 soldiers killed or wounded. Kabul has so far ignored media calls for a complete breakdown of casualties from the five-hour attack near the provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif.

But local officials including, Mohammad Ibrahim Khairandish the head of the provincial council, put the death toll as high as 130 and said about 60 were wounded.

Ten gunmen dressed in soldiers' uniforms and armed with suicide vests entered the base in army trucks and opened fire at unarmed troops at close range in the base's mosque and dining hall.

A military source at the base indicated the assault was an insider attack, and the militants were "young recruits who had come for training".

Families said prayers for the dead. In the village of Omra Kot in Balkh, the coffin of soldier Shir Mohammad, 25, was brought home to a house full of weeping relatives.

Qari Ahmadullah, Shir's brother who also served as the imam (cleric) of the 209th Corps which was attacked, said: "My brother just got married four months ago and now he is dead. The Taliban are the enemy of Islam and Muslims: they are misusing the name of Islam to hide their atrocities."

After the body was buried at a nearby hill, local resident Faiz Mohammad spoke of people's fears.

"We always thought our house is safe because of the base but now we are shocked. How could this have happened? I can't believe we lost all these young men."

- Growing anger -

There was also growing anger online, with many slamming the government for its inability to counter a series of brazen Taliban assaults, including one on the country's largest military hospital in Kabul in March that left dozens dead.

Twelve army officers, including two generals, were sacked for negligence over that attack.

"Mothers lost their sons, sisters lost their brothers and wives lost their husbands. What is the government doing to prevent such atrocities, only condemning? I am so tired, I can't do anything but to cry," a user called Zabiullah posted on Facebook about the latest tragedy.

"The best way to honour them is to fire and punish those who failed to do their jobs and/or cooperated with the enemy. Some leaders must go!" said another user on Twitter.

President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman Shah Hussain Murtazawi told reporters a thorough investigation had been ordered.

"Investigations must be acceptable to the nation and the president," he vowed, adding "At this moment, the people of Afghanistan need to unite like a strong fist."

Many internet commentators called for the resignation of Defence Minister Abdullah Habibi and the commander of the 209th Corps stationed at the base.

"This was no act of desperation. The Taliban infiltrated an Afghan military base. That's a major sign of strength," tweeted Washington-based analyst Michael Kugelman.

Afghan troops and police, beset by killings and desertions, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

Afghan security force casualties soared by 35 percent in 2016, with 6,800 soldiers and police killed, according to US watchdog SIGAR.
A handout picture provided by the Saudi royal palace on April 23, 2017 shows Saudi Arabia's King Salman receiving Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received a royal welcome from King Salman as he landed Sunday in Saudi Arabia for a visit to boost ties after months of tension.

Salman, surrounded by key Saudi officials, greeted Sisi as he stepped off the plane in the capital Riyadh and hosted him for lunch, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

The two Arab leaders then had talks during which they "reviewed the strong and brotherly relations as well as cooperation between their two countries" and regional issues, the agency said.

The Egyptian presidency announced the visit in a statement on Friday, saying Sisi's trip was in response to an invitation by Salman and aimed at "bolstering strategic relations between the two countries".

It said Salman and Sisi would discuss "regional and international issues of common interest".

"The struggle against terrorism which threatens security and stability" in the region and beyond would top their agenda, it said.

Sisi met Salman on the sidelines of an Arab League summit in Jordan last month to break the ice after months of apparent tensions between the two allies.

That encounter on March 29 came days after Egypt announced that Saudi energy giant Aramco had resumed delivering shipments of petroleum products after abruptly suspending them in October.

Aramco had halted agreed monthly deliveries of 700,000 tonnes of petroleum products without explanation.

But the halt came after Egypt voted in favour of a Russian-drafted UN Security Council resolution on Syria that Saudi Arabia strongly opposed.

Moscow is a staunch supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Riyadh is a key backer of the rebels who are fighting his regime.

Ties between Cairo and Riyadh had also suffered after an agreement to hand over to Saudi Arabia two Red Sea islands, signed during a visit by Salman to Cairo last year, was blocked by a court ruling.

Earlier this month, an Egyptian court ruled that the decision to block the transfer of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia was invalid.

Cairo has said the islands were Saudi territory which had been leased to Egypt in the 1950s.

Saudi Arabia supported Egypt with billions of dollars in aid after Sisi toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 when the president was head of the Egyptian army.

Saudi Arabia is opposed to the now outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to which Morsi belongs.
Migrants waiting to be rescued off the Libyan coast

Charity boats rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean are colluding with traffickers in Libya, an Italian prosecutor was quoted as saying Sunday, stirring up a simmering row over aid groups' role in Europe's migrant crisis.

In an interview with Italian daily La Stampa, Sicily-based prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro made his most specific claims yet over NGO activities off Libya, which the EU border agency Frontex recently described as tantamount to providing a "taxi" service to Europe.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active in the rescue effort include long-established groups such as Doctors without Borders and Save the Children, and smaller, newer operations such as the Malta-based MOAS.

They have all dismissed suggestions of de facto collusion with smugglers as a baseless slur on volunteer crews whose only mission is to save lives in the absence of EU governments acting effectively to do so.

Over 1,000 migrants are feared to have died in waters between Libya and Italy so far this year, according to the UN refugee agency. Nearly 37,000 have been rescued and brought to Italy.

"We have evidence that there are direct contacts between certain NGOs and people traffickers in Libya," Zuccaro was quoted as saying by La Stampa.

"We do not yet know if and how we could use this evidence in court, but we are quite certain about what we say; telephone calls from Libya to certain NGOs, lamps that illuminate the route to these organisations' boats, boats that suddenly turn off their (locating) transponders, are ascertained facts."

- Libya deal in doubt -

Zuccaro is the head of a five-strong pool of prosecutors investigating criminal aspects of the migrant crisis, from trafficking to illegal exploitation of migrants on Italian farms and via prostitution to rackets in the provision of reception facilities.

La Stampa reported that prosecutors were looking into whether some of the newly-established NGOs may be financed by the traffickers as a way of making it easier to guarantee their human cargoes get to Italy.

A member of the Italian Red Cross helps a rescued migrant disembark

The organisations involved have all dismissed the charges against them. They fear they are being targeted by a smear campaign designed to get them out of the way.

One group, SOS Mediterranee, told AFP last week it had "never, not once" been put in touch with a migrant boat via smugglers.

Under an EU-backed strategy, Italy is currently trying to beef up Libya's coastguard in the hope more boats can be prevented from getting out of Libyan territorial waters and the migrants returned to holding camps in the troubled country.

The strategy has been described by rights groups as a breach of Europe's obligations under international refugee conventions.

And it has so far made little headway towards closing down the Libya-Italy migrant route.

Rome said Friday it would be providing Libya with ten new coastguard boats but a cooperation deal covering holding camps and repatriations is in limbo after it was suspended by Libya's Court of Appeal.

- Food ban lifted -

The number of people leaving Libya in the hope of starting a new life in Europe is up nearly 50 percent this year compared with the opening months of 2016.

With most departures coming in the warm summer months, the trend points to around 250,000 people arriving over the course of 2017 - a forecast Zuccaro described as "an under-estimate".

Some 500,000 migrants were registered in Italy in the three years spanning 2014-16.

And pressure on the country's reception facilities has increased in the last year as a result of neighbouring countries tightening border controls, making it harder for migrants to move further north.

Tensions at bottleneck border points were underlined when Ventimiglia, a town on the Riviera border with France, issued an order banning locals from distributing food to migrants.

The order, similar to one issued in Calais in northern France, was withdrawn on Sunday in a move welcomed by aid groups who hope it will have a bearing on a court case against French activist Felix Croft.

Prosecutors have asked for a prison term and 50,000 euros fine for Croft, 28, for trying to help a Sudanese family from Darfur to cross the border into France in July 2016.

"This is excellent news. You cannot use the law to persecute solidarity, however it is expressed," said Patrizio Gonnella, president of Antigone, a civil rights group. Croft is due to learn his fate on Thursday.
Russia has offered Switzerland to sign an agreement in collaboration in the sphere of customs, Ruslan Davydov, first deputy director of Russias Federal Customs Service told TASS on Saturday.

As the incumbent chairperson of the Council of the World Customs Organization (WCO), he took part in a conference of the organizations Europe region, held in Vienna from April 19 through April 21.

"Russia and Switzerland dont have a general agreement on collaboration in the sphere of customs," Davydov said. "We held talks and agreed to try and meet each other halfway and to initiate an agreement of the kind."

The stressed the importance of contacts of this kind, adding: "We have a need to ask definite information from the Swiss in connection with various financial patterns but the Swiss tell us they cant give it out to us because they dont have an agreement with us."

"In the light of it, we offered them to sign a document of this kind," Davydov said.

Transits in the European region were the central issue at the conference of Europe region member entities. A total of 51 nations and the European commission as a separate entre have membership of the WCOs European subdivision.

On the whole, the World Customs Organization has 180 member-states accounting for 98 percen of world trade. As a legal successor to the USSR, Russia received membership of the organization in 1992.

The WCO develops, implements and upgrades the legal instruments in the sphere of customs operations and is a depositary of seventeen international conventions, including the Kyoto Convention, which is known officially as the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures.
Chen and her grandfather Avraham, 85, a Holocaust survivor, light candles next to a train wagon used to transport Jews to concentration camps, in Netanya on April 23, 2017

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday threatened to destroy those who call for the destruction of Israel, in a speech to mark the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day.

"Iran and the Islamic state want to destroy us, and a hatred for Jews is being directed towards the Jewish state today," he said at a ceremony in Jerusalem's Yad Vashem memorial.

"Those who threaten to destroy us risk being destroyed themselves," Netanyahu warned.

"From being defenceless people, we have become a state with a defensive capacity that is among the strongest in the world," he said.

Six Holocaust survivors lit torches in memory of the six million Jews killed by the Nazis during the 1939-1945 World War II.

Israel will also come to a standstill for two minutes at 10 am local time (0700 GMT) on Thursday as sirens wail in remembrance of the Jewish victims of Nazism.

Radio stations and television channels on Sunday were broadcasting programmes about the genocide.

More than 213,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel today, many of them below the poverty line, according to survivors' groups.
The US has been providing air refuelling for French planes and exchanging intelligence with the French forces in Djibouti

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis on Sunday urged France to continue its African anti-terror operations under its new presidency, as he visited strategic Djibouti on the day of France's first-round election.

"I have no doubt that the French will continue to make their own decisions in their own best interest and that the terrorists will not enjoy these decisions," Mattis told reporters in the Horn of Africa nation, which hosts Washington's only permanent military base on the continent.

"They have always proven that they will stand up when it is time to stand against something like this."

The US backs France's Operation Barkhane, under which its military is fighting Islamists in five countries across the Sahel region -- Mauritania, Mali, Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso -- alongside African allies.

"We look for our partners in that part of the continent to really carry the fight there," General Thomas Waldhauser, commander of US forces in Africa, told a press conference with Mattis.

The Americans have notably been providing air refuelling for French planes and exchanging intelligence with the French forces.

Projections showed Sunday that centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen are set to go through to France's presidential run-off on May 7.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The head of a U.N. investigative panel on Syria warned Friday that thousands of evacuees sent to rebel-held Idlib and government-controlled western Aleppo province are likely to be caught in escalating fighting from increasingly radicalized extremist groups.

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro told reporters after meeting with the U.N. Security Council behind closed doors that the panel is especially concerned that "a disaster" will happen in Idlib.

Syrians now concentrated there "are under serious risk about their lives," he said.

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian government forces welcome a bus carry Syrian citizens and pro-government fighters who evacuated from the two pro-government villages of Foua and Kfarya, upon their arrival at a cross point between the rebels and the Syrian government forces on the outskirts of Aleppo city, Syria, Friday, April, 21, 2017. Syrian state TV says the troubled population transfers involving thousands of Syrians have resumed after stalling for days following a massive explosion that killed dozens. (SANA via AP)

Pinheiro, chairman of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, painted a grim picture of the plight of civilians caught in the conflict, now in its sixth year with more than 400,000 people killed.

"Parties to the Syrian war continue to put their interests ahead of those of the Syrian population," he said. "In fact, more often than not, they use military tactics that directly target civilians as a way to gain military advantage."

Pinheiro said the commission found that all warring parties committed human rights violations during the siege and fall of Aleppo.

The siege ended in December when the rebels effectively surrendered the city to the government and evacuated their stronghold in the east, mainly to Idlib.

"Several other evacuation agreements have taken place after Aleppo resulting in tens of thousands of civilians moving to Idlib and western Aleppo province where they live in dire conditions," he said.

Under a recent deal reached by the Syrian government and rebels, up to 30,000 people are being allowed to leave four besieged areas over the coming two months, a population transfer that critics say is redrawing Syria's map along sectarian and political lines. On Friday, the first phase of the transfer ended.

Pinheiro said that "Aleppo has also resulted in further radicalization of some armed groups."

He singled out the militant group Hay'at Tahrir al Sham, known as HTS. According to reports, it formed in late January by uniting the al-Qaida affiliate in Syria, the Fatah al-Sham Front, formerly known as the Nusra Front, with four other groups.

Pinheiro said the extremists' presence in Idlib and western Aleppo "raise serious concerns for escalation of hostilities in those areas which puts at risk the evacuees now living there."

In northern Syria, he said, the fight against the Islamic State extremist group has resulted in that group's loss of significant swaths of territory. But even as it loses ground, "let's not forget that there are multiple parties contesting the same territory which further puts civilians at risk," he said.

Pinheiro said the committee has documented the use of chlorine as a chemical weapon and is now investigating the reported use of sarin or a sarin-like substance to kill nearly 100 people in the opposition-held town of Khan Sheikhoun on April 4.

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian government forces, left, welcome a bus carry Syrian citizens and pro-government fighters who evacuated from the two pro-government villages of Foua and Kfarya, upon their arrival at a cross point between the rebels and the Syrian government forces on the outskirts of Aleppo city, Syria, Friday, April, 21, 2017. Syrian state TV says the troubled population transfers involving thousands of Syrians have resumed after stalling for days following a massive explosion that killed dozens. (SANA via AP)

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, buses carry Syrian citizens who evacuated from the two pro-government villages of Foua and Kfarya, pass in front of damaged buildings upon their arrival at a handover point between the two rebels and the Syrian forces on the outskirts of Aleppo city, Syria, Friday, April, 21, 2017. A Syrian state TV says the troubled population transfers involving thousands of Syrians have resumed after stalling for days following a massive explosion that killed dozens. (SANA via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) - Shawn Porter didn't live up to his nickname, Showtime.

What mattered to Porter, though, was that he earned another title shot at Keith Thurman.

Porter stopped Andre Berto in the ninth round of a sloppy, often inartistic WBC welterweight elimination bout Saturday night at Barclays Center. Porter was in control for much of the bout, which resembled a street brawl more than a prize fight. There was some wrestling, lots of clutching, even a near chop-block, and lots of blood, mainly from head butts.

"I got to clean up those head butts," Porter admitted.

He'll need to for a rematch with Thurman, who outpointed Porter at this arena last June.

"I was just up here wishing he said yes - that's the fight I want next," Porter said.

In the end of this one, it was Berto's inability to get off the ropes against the relentless Porter, who figures to get that title shot before year's end.

"We tried to use the whole ring but sometimes in the heat of the battle, I'm a fighter and Mr. Berto is a fighter as well," Porter said. "Those head butts were just the two of us going in and fighting."

Porter, 29, of Las Vegas, had lost two of his last four fights, including last June at this arena to Keith Thurman. The former champion was well ahead when the fight was stopped at 1:31 in the ninth as Berto stumbled around. Porter outlanded Berto 60-12 in last two rounds.

Overall, 51 of Porter's 138 landed power shots were to the body.

Porter is 27-2-1 with 17 knockouts. Berto is now 31-5.

"I got a lot of head butts, and he did, too," said Berto, who won the WBC title in 2008, had five successful defenses, then lost it to Victor Ortiz by decision in 2011. He also was the IBF champion and was the loser to Floyd Mayweather in "Money Man's" final fight.

"Shawn is a tough competitor. We had a good, competitive fight until the head butts got to be a little too much for me."

Thurman, who beat Danny Garcia in March at Barclays Center, was on hand to see the win by Porter, who previously has held the WBO and IBF crowns. Porter will need to be sharper and better defensively against Thurman.

"Me and Berto are different fighters," Thurman said. "'There were a lot of head butts, but I know to watch out for that. Berto is a little more flat-footed than me and that played in Shawn's favor."

Referee Mark Nelson often stopped the fight to have doctors look at each boxer's eyes. Porter, 147 pounds, was cut first and bled profusely near his left eye in the second round. But it also was one of his best rounds, and he knocked down Berto (146 1-2 pounds) with a left-right combination - his sharpest of a mostly clumsy showing.

Porter began bleeding in the areas of both eyes in the fourth round, but Berto also was cut in that round. Soon after began the short delays as ring doctors periodically examined each fighter.

Had Porter backed off and then thrown some straight rights when he consistently had Berto against the ropes, he might have settled matters earlier before a crowd of 9,118 in the Showtime telecast. Instead, as he is wont to do, Porter fought from close in, negating his power.

But Berto, 33, of Winter Haven, Florida, had little left after a strong seventh round in which he kept Porter off-balance.

"I have to give him credit, but he's a rough fighter," said Berto, who hadn't fought since avenging his first defeat by beating Ortiz a year ago. "He has great skills but, at the same time, he's going to be rough and try to handle me anyway he can."

It was rough, and Porter did handle Berto. Thurman should be up next.

"His team was adamant about the rematch," Thurman said, "and now he's fought his way to earn that. We just need to sit down and talk about it. He's hungry; you see the way he fights. It could be a great fight again."
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) - North Korea has detained a U.S. citizen, officials said, bringing to three the number of Americans now being held there.

Tony Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk, was detained on Saturday, according to Park Chan-mo, the chancellor of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology.

Park said Kim, who is 58, taught accounting at the university for about a month. He said Kim was detained by officials as he was trying to leave the country from Pyongyang's international airport. A university spokesman said he was trying to leave with his wife on a flight to China.

This image made from May 21, 2014, video shows the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. According to Park Chan-mo, the chancellor of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, on Sunday, April 23, 2017, North Korea has detained a U.S. citizen, Tony Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk. Park said Kim taught accounting at the university for about a month. (AP Photo)

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said Sunday it was aware of a Korean-American citizen being detained recently, but could not comment further. The embassy looks after consular affairs for the United States in North Korea because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

The State Department also said it was aware of the report about a U.S. citizen being detained, but declined further comment "due to privacy considerations."

Park said Kim had taught at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China before coming to Pyongyang. He said he was informed that the detention had "nothing to do" with Kim's work at the university but did not know further details.

As of Sunday night, North Korea's official media had not reported on the detention.

The Pyongyang University of Science and Technology is the only privately funded university in North Korea. It held its first classes in 2010. It is unique in the North for its large number of foreign staff.

Colin McCulloch, the director of external affairs, said the university was not under investigation and was continuing its normal operations. He said he could not immediately confirm Kim's hometown.

Though no details on why Kim was detained have been released, the detention comes at a time of unusually heightened tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. Both countries have recently been trading threats of war and having another American in jail will likely up the ante even further.

Last year, Otto Warmbier, then a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.

Kim Dong Chul, who was born in South Korea but is also believed to have U.S. citizenship, is serving a sentence of 10 years for espionage.

Another foreigner, a Canadian pastor, is also being detained in North Korea. Hyeon Soo Lim, a South Korean-born Canadian citizen in his 60s, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2015 on charges of trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system and helping U.S. and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens.

FILE - In this combination of file photos, U.S. citizens Otto Warmbier on March 16, 2016, left, and Kim Dong Chul on April 29, 2016; are escorted at court in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea has detained U.S. citizen, Tony Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk, officials said Sunday, April 23, 2017, bringing to three the number of Americans now being held there. (AP Photo/Files)

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2011, file photo, students at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology descend the stairs after a lecture. According to Park Chan-mo, the chancellor of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, on Sunday, April 23, 2017, North Korea has detained a U.S. citizen, Tony Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk. Park said Kim taught accounting at the university for about a month. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder, File)
TOP STORIES:

KOREAS-TENSION - Fresh off an immense North Korean parade that revealed an arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles, rival South Korea and its allies are bracing for the possibility that Pyongyang's follow-up act will be even bigger. North Korea often marks significant dates by displaying military capability, and South Korean officials say there's a chance the country will conduct its sixth nuclear test or its maiden test launch of an ICBM around the founding anniversary of its military on Tuesday. By Kim Tong-Hyung. SENT: 890 words, photos. With CHINA-US-NORTH KOREA - Xi urges restraint on N. Korea in phone call with Trump. SENT: 240 words.

NKOREA-DETAINED AMERICAN - North Korea has detained a U.S. citizen, officials said, bringing to three the number of Americans now being held there. By Eric Talmadge. SENT: 520 words, photos.

ONLY ON AP: NKOREA-ATM TRANSACTION DENIED - No modern airport terminal is complete without an ATM, and Pyongyang's now has two. But they don't work - because of new Chinese sanctions, according to bank employees - and it's not clear when they will. By Eric Talmadge. SENT: 620 words, photos.

PENCE - Pence cites 'challenging times' to troops in American Samoa. By Ken Thomas. SENT: 130 words, photos.

AUSTRALIA-YOUNG DRIVER - Police stop 12-year-old boy from driving across Australia. SENT: 130 words.

THE WEEK THAT WAS IN ASIA-PHOTO GALLERY - AP PHOTOS: Editor selections from the past week in Asia. SENT: 170 words, photos.

BUSINESS AND FINANCE:

FINANCIAL MARKETS - Asian stocks mixed as investors mull French election outcome. By Yuri Kageyama. SENT: 330 words, photo.

TAIWAN-DIGITAL MINISTER - Taiwan's "digital minister" Audrey Tang, a computer prodigy and entrepreneur who taught herself programming at age 8, says she's a "civic hacker," who like a locksmith uses specialized skills to help rather than harm. Appointed by leaders hoping to better connect with young voters who helped sweep independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen into office last year, 35-year-old Tang is using her expertise to more directly involve the public in policymaking, and to counter "fake news." By Youkyung Lee. SENT: 860 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.
LONDON (AP) - British police say they have arrested the boyfriend of a reality TV performer sought in connection to an acid attack at an east London nightclub.

Police said Sunday that Arthur Collins had been arrested late Saturday night on suspicion of attempted murder. Police had earlier named him as a suspect in the unusual assault, which left two people seriously injured and many others suffering from burns inflicted at the Mangle nightclub on April 17.

Police say a noxious substance believed to be acidic was sprayed after a dispute between two groups of people.

The 25-year-old suspect was arrested in Rushden, 70 miles (1010 kilometers) north of London.

He had been in a relationship with television celebrity Ferne McCann, who had urged him to turn himself in to police.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - Violent attacks on Jews dropped for a second straight year in 2016, but other forms of anti-Semitism are on the rise worldwide, particularly on U.S. university campuses, according to a report released Sunday.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University said assaults specifically targeting Jews, vandalism and other violent incidents fell 12 percent last year. They recorded 361 cases compared to 410 in 2015, which had already been the lowest number in a decade. The figure reported Sunday is the lowest since 2003, when 360 incidents were recorded.

The report attributed much of the drop to increased security measures in European countries including France, where there were 15 attacks compared to 72 in the previous year, and the United Kingdom, where the number of incidents fell from 62 to 43.

People look at an exhibit as they tour the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Jerusalem, Sunday, April 23, 2017. Israel is marking the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day beginning at sunset Sunday. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Another reason for the decreased violence may be that far-right groups in Europe appear to be focusing their attacks on migrants who have reached the continent in large numbers over the last years, said Dina Porat, a historian who leads the team of researchers behind the report.

"Fears that the influx of Muslim refugees from the Middle East would lead to an increase in anti-Semitism appear so far to have been unjustified," Porat said.

While Islamic extremists are often involved in attacks on Jews, the perpetrators are usually second or third generation immigrants who have been radicalized at home in Europe or during trips to territories held by the Islamic State group, she said.

Tel Aviv University's Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry releases the report every year on the eve of Israel's Holocaust memorial day, which begins Sunday at sundown.

According to the report, the reduced violence was not mirrored by a drop in cases of general anti-Semitism, which increased in countries including the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States.

"There is a dramatic rise in all forms of verbal and visual anti-Semitism, harassment and insults, mainly on the internet, but also offline," Porat said.

On U.S. university campuses there was a 45 percent rise in anti-Semitic incidents, mostly insults and harassment of Jewish students, the report said. Porat said these were usually connected to increased anti-Israel activities by pro-Palestinian groups on campus.

The number of violent anti-Semitic incidents in the United States was largely stable compared to 2015, rising slightly from 88 to 91. While the report dealt only with cases until the end of 2016, Porat said there were no indications so far of a major increase connected to the tense U.S. election or Donald Trump's new presidency.

Jewish leaders who commented on the report praised the increased security measures credited with reducing violence, but said this may be masking a trend of anti-Semitism becoming more mainstream and acceptable, especially on the far left and right of European politics.

"We see a dramatic growth in the number of parliamentarians who allow themselves to express anti-Semitic views," said Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, an umbrella group representing Jewish communities across the continent.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Kantor cited the controversy over anti-Jewish remarks made by some members of Britain's Labour Party, the close defeat of the far-right candidate in last year's Austrian presidential election and the strong polling of National Front leader Marine Le Pen ahead of Sunday's vote in France.

"We are very, very close today to a situation in which anti-Semites will come to executive power," he said.

People visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, Sunday, April 23, 2017. Israel is marking the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day beginning at sunset Sunday. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

People visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, Sunday, April 23, 2017. Israel is marking the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day beginning at sunset Sunday. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Visitors pray before their tour at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, Sunday, April 23, 2017. Israel is marking the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day beginning at sunset Sunday. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
DJIBOUTI (AP) - Pirates have returned to the waters off Somalia, but the spike in attacks on commercial shipping does not yet constitute a trend, senior U.S. officials said Sunday.

The attacks follow about a five-year respite for the region, where piracy had grown to crisis proportions during the 2010-2012 period, drawing the navies of the United States and other nations into a lengthy campaign against the pirates.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at a military base in the African nation of Djibouti, near the Gulf of Aden, that even if the piracy problem persists, he would not expect it to require significant involvement by the U.S. military.

U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, left, and U.S. Marine Corps General Thomas Waldhauser at Camp Lemonnier in Ambouli, Djibouti, Sunday April 23, 2017. Mattis on Sunday visited Djibouti to bolster ties with the tiny and impoverished African country that is home to an important base for U.S. counterterrorism forces, including drones. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP)

At a news conference with Mattis, the commander of U.S. Africa Command said there have been about six pirate attacks on vulnerable commercial ships in the past several weeks.

"We're not ready to say there's a trend there yet," Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser said, adding that he views the spurt of attacks as a response to the effects of drought and famine on the Horn of Africa.

He said he was focused on ensuring that the commercial shipping industry, which tightened security procedures in response to the earlier piracy crisis, has not become complacent.

Navy Capt. Richard A. Rodriguez, chief of staff for a specially designated U.S. military task force based in Djibouti, said piracy "certainly has increased" in recent weeks. But he said countering it is not a mission for his troops, who are focused on counterterrorism in the Horn of Africa and developing the capacities of national armies in Somalia and elsewhere in the region.

Anti-piracy patrolling is among several missions China cited for constructing what it calls a naval logistics center in Djibouti. The base is under construction, and U.S. officials say they don't see it as a major threat to interfere with American operations at Camp Lemonnier.

Several other countries have a military presence on or near that U.S. site, including France, Italy, Germany and Japan. This reflects Djibouti's strategic location at the nexus of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Mattis made a point of spending several hours in Djibouti during a weeklong trip that has otherwise focused on the Mideast. As a measure of his concern for nurturing relations with the Djiboutian government, he flew four hours from Doha, Qatar, and then flew right back.

At his news conference, Mattis praised Djibouti for having offered U.S. access to Camp Lemonnier shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"They have been with us every day and every month and every year since," he said.

The U.S. rotates a range of forces through Lemonnier and flies drone aircraft from a separate airfield in the former French colony. U.S. special operations commandos are based at Lemonnier for counterterrorism missions in Somalia and elsewhere in the region.

During Mattis' visit, elements of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, including V-22 Osprey aircraft and Harrier attack jets were visible on Lemonnier's airfield.

The U.S. military presence has grown substantially in recent years, as reflected by construction of a new headquarters building, gym, enlisted barracks and other expanded infrastructure.

Djibouti has a highly prized port on the Gulf of Aden. The country is sandwiched between Somalia and Eritrea, and also shares a border with Ethiopia.

Mattis is using the early months as defense secretary to renew or strengthen relations with key defense allies and partners such as Djibouti, whose location makes it a strategic link in the network of overseas U.S. military bases.

Djibouti took on added importance to the U.S. military after 9/11, in part as a means of tracking and intercepting al-Qaida militants fleeing Afghanistan after the U.S. invaded that country in October 2001.

The U.S. has a long-term agreement with Djibouti for hosting American forces; that pact was renewed in 2014.

Over the past week Mattis has met with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt and Qatar.

U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, 2nd right, meets a detachment of French troops and sailors at Camp Lemonnier in Ambouli, Djibouti, Sunday April 23, 2017. Mattis on Sunday visited Djibouti to bolster ties with the tiny and impoverished African country that is home to an important base for U.S. counterterrorism forces, including drones. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP)

US Defense Secretary James Mattis, second left, US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Mark Boulware, second right, and other members of their delegation are greeted byUS Marine Corps General Thomas Waldhauser, right, as they arrive at Camp Lemonnier in Ambouli, Djibouti, Sunday, April 23, 2017. (Jonathan Ernst/ Pool via AP)
BERNARDS, N.J. (AP) - For hundreds of years, an imposing white oak tree has watched over a New Jersey community and a church, providing protection from the blazing summer sun, serving as a scenic backdrop for thousands of photos and - according to legend - was a picnic site for George Washington.

But the tree - believed to be among the oldest in the nation - is not long for its place in the church graveyard that it's called home for 600 years. Crews are due Monday at the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards to begin removing the tree.

The two to three days of chopping and pulling will draw attention from residents of a bedroom community about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of New York that has long celebrated its white oak. It's been the place to go for formal photos, a landmark for driving directions and a remarkable piece of natural history.

This 2006 photo provided by the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church shows a 600-year-old white oak tree that's believed to be among the oldest in the nation, in Bernards, N.J. Crews are scheduled to remove the church's tree which was declared dead after numerous problems started appearing in the summer 2016. The tree has served as a scenic backdrop for thousands of photographs over the years and according to legend, was a spot where George Washington once held a picnic. (J. Wayman Williams/Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church via AP )

"I know it seems funny to some to mourn a tree, but I'm really going to miss seeing it," said Bernards resident Monica Evans, recalling family photos during weddings and communions.

Arborists say the tree had stood for nearly 300 years before the church was built in 1717. It stands about 100 feet tall, has a trunk circumference of 18 feet and has a branch spread of roughly 150 feet. Officials say the crews plan to initially remove the large limb segments until there is a large trunk section still standing, then remove that section in one piece.

The tree was declared dead after it began showing rot and weakness in the last couple of years, likely due to its age. Arborists determined it wouldn't be able to withstand many more harsh winters or spring storms.

Among its notable visitors was Gen. George Washington, who town officials say picnicked at the tree with the Marquis de Lafayette. The Rev. George Whitefield, a noted evangelist, also preached to more than 3,000 people beneath the tree in 1740.

"It has been an integral part of the town, that's for sure," said Jon Klippel, a member of the church's planning council. "It has always been there, even before there was a town, and over the years many people have met there, been photographed there, had a meal under the tree. We've been blessed to have it here."

The tree's pending removal is a reminder of how older trees are starting to become less common across the nation.

Experts say fewer trees are replicating the old oak's 600-year lifespan. They note that several factors - including droughts, intensive wildfires and invasive insects - can greatly harm trees, which become more susceptible to damage as they age.

"Research shows that older trees are dying off at alarming rates," said Ian Leahy, director of urban forest programs for the Washington-based conservation group American Forests. He says the problem can be mitigated in part if people and communities care for the trees and monitor their health.

"People connect with older trees, they become a symbol to the community, and arborists go to great lengths to keep them well," Leahy said. "It's also important to protect vulnerable species, since trees can store big amounts of carbon and larger trees can help protect other species."

While the tree is being removed, its legacy will continue at the church.

Another white oak, cultivated from the old tree's acorns, was recently planted on another part of the church property. It now stands about 20 feet tall.

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In a photograph taken Friday, April 21, 2017, Keith Keiling carries boards to be used for support beams in holding a 600-year-old white oak tree on the grounds of Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards, N.J. Keiling's tree removal company is scheduled to remove the tree, believed to be among the oldest in the nation but was declared dead after numerous problems started appearing last summer. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

In a photograph taken Friday, April 21, 2017, Keith Keiling, right, and his brother Bobby Keiling set up a support beam to hold up a limb of a 600-year-old white oak tree on the grounds of Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards, N.J. The Keiling's tree removal company is scheduled to remove the tree, believed to be among the oldest in the nation but was declared dead after numerous problems started appearing last summer. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

This Friday, April 21, 2017, shows a 600-year-old white oak tree on the grounds of Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards, N.J. Crews are scheduled to remove the tree, believed to be among the oldest in the nation but was declared dead after numerous problems started appearing last summer. The tree has served as a scenic backdrop for thousands of photographs over the years and according to legend, was a spot where George Washington once held a picnic. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

In a photograph taken Friday, April 21, 2017, a street sign warns motorists of upcoming work to remove a 600-year-old white oak tree, back, at Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards, N.J. Crews are scheduled to remove the tree, believed to be among the oldest in the nation but was declared dead after numerous problems started appearing last summer. The tree has served as a scenic backdrop for thousands of photographs over the years and according to legend, was a spot where George Washington once held a picnic. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

In a photograph taken Friday, April 21, 2017, Keith Keiling, left, and his brother Bobby Keiling set up a support beam to hold up a limb of a 600-year-old white oak tree on the grounds of Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards, N.J. The Keiling's tree removal company is scheduled to remove the tree, believed to be among the oldest in the nation but was declared dead after numerous problems started appearing last summer. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

In a photograph taken Friday, April 21, 2017, cables support a limb of a 600-year-old white oak tree on the grounds of Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards, N.J. Crews are scheduled to remove the tree, believed to be among the oldest in the nation but was declared dead after numerous problems started appearing last summer. The tree has served as a scenic backdrop for thousands of photographs over the years and according to legend, was a spot where George Washington once held a picnic. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

The Auction Center has been established in Azerbaijan, where the sale of movable and immovable property of banks will be carried out, President of Azerbaijan Banks Association (ABA) Zakir Nuriyev told Trend.

Nuriyev said that the Center will operate under the Association.

The Auction Center emerged on the eve of the sale of property of 11 banks that were closed in Azerbaijan.

As the Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) Azad Javadov said previously, the property of those banks will be sold through auctions.

Eleven banks  Caucasus Development Bank, United Credit Bank, Bank Standard, Zaminbank, Dekabank, Kredobank, Atrabank, Bank of Azerbaijan, Ganjabank, Texnikabank and Parabank were closed in Azerbaijan in 2016. Total volume of assets of those banks exceeds billions of manats, while their liabilities total 2.9 billion manats.
BERLIN (AP) - Germany's nationalist party Alternative for Germany on Sunday elected two new top candidates for the September general election after the party's best-known politician, Frauke Petry, said last week she would no longer be available.

Members of the far-right party, known by its acronym AfD, elected Alexander Gauland and Alice Weidel at their weekend party convention in Cologne.

Divisions erupted among the different factions of the German nationalists as delegates from the AfD rejected an appeal Saturday by Petry to seek a more pragmatic political path instead of turning into a "fundamental opposition" party. The defeat was a significant blow for AfD co-leader Petry, whose position in the party is now substantially weakened.

Alice Weidel, left, and Alexander Gauland, members of the AfD (Alternative for Germany) wave to the delegates during the party convention in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, April 23, 2017. The delegates elected Weidel and Gauland as new top candidates for the September general election on Sunday, after the party's best-known politician, Frauke Petry, said she would no longer be available. (Rolf Vennenbernd//dpa via AP)

Gauland, 76, is one of the party's most prominent members and one of Petry's main rivals.

"We want to keep our home country, keep our identity, and we are proud to be German," he said in his acceptance speech.

Weidel, 38, is a consultant from southwestern Germany who has not stood in the spotlight of the four-year-old party so far.

"If we now stick together and fight together, then finally a true opposition party will be getting into German Parliament," Weidel told cheering delegates.

The party members also voted for an election manifesto that is harsh on immigration and Muslims and reiterates calls for leaving the European Union's euro currency.

The head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany condemned the AfD's further move to the far right, saying the party is trying to make "a chauvinist-nationalist way of thinking socially acceptable in Germany again."

Joseph Schuster warned that the party is "threatening Jewish and Muslim life in Germany."

The conference in Cologne was overshadowed by massive protests on Saturday, when tens of thousands rallied against the populist party and blocked access to the hotel where the convention took place. On Sunday, the city remained relatively calm and police reported only a few small demonstrations.

Around 68 percent voted for the duo, with 28 percent voting against, the German news agency dpa reported.

AfD's poll ratings soared amid the influx of migrants to Germany in late 2015 and early 2016. However, they have sagged in recent months as the issue faded from headlines and the party became increasingly mired in infighting, with Petry and her husband Marcus Pretzell against other senior figures like Gauland even further on the right.

Petry, 41, announced Wednesday that she would no longer be her party's top candidate. She also irked some rivals by leading an effort to expel Bjoern Hoecke, AfD's regional leader in the eastern Thuringia state, after he suggested that Germany stop acknowledging and atoning for its Nazi past. Gauland has repeatedly protected Hoecke, even after his remarks created an outrage in Germany.

German political parties choose lead candidates for elections who generally dominate their campaigns and, in the case of bigger parties, compete to become chancellor.

The country holds general elections on Sept. 24.

Nationalist politician Frauke Petry arrives for the second day of a party convention of the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, April 23, 2017. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)

Alice Weidel, left, and Alexander Gauland, members of the AfD (Alternative for Germany) wave to the delegates during the party convention in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, April 23, 2017. The delegates elected Weidel and Gauland as new top candidates for the September general election on Sunday, after the party's best-known politician, Frauke Petry, said she would no longer be available. (Rolf Vennenbernd//dpa via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Republicans have put President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee on the bench, and they're now in a position to fill dozens more federal judgeships - and reshape some of the nation's highest courts.

Democrats have few ways to stop them.

The Republicans' opportunity comes with the GOP in control of Congress and the White House, about 120 vacancies in federal district and appeals courts to be filled and after years of partisan fights over judicial nominations.

FILE - In this April 10, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump watches as Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy administers the judicial oath to Judge Neil Gorsuch during a re-enactment in the Rose Garden of the White House, in Washington. Gorsuch's wife Marie Louise Gorsuch hold a bible. Republicans have put President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee on the bench, and they're now in a position to fill dozens more federal judgeships and reshape some of the nation's highest courts. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Frustrated by Republican obstruction in 2013, then-majority Democrats changed Senate rules so judicial nominations for those trial and appeals courts are filibuster-proof, meaning it takes only 51 votes, a simple majority in the 100-member Senate, for confirmation.

Today, Senate Republicans hold 52 seats.

The Democratic rules change did not apply to Supreme Court nominations. But Senate Republicans are now in the majority, and they changed the rules in similar fashion this month to confirm federal Judge Neil Gorsuch to the high court over Democratic opposition. As a result, the GOP can almost guarantee confirmation of future Supreme Court justices, as well, if there are more openings with Trump in office and Republicans are in the majority.

"The Trump administration does have an opportunity to really put its mark on the future of the federal judiciary," says Leonard Leo, the executive vice president of the conservative Federalist Society and an adviser to Trump on the Gorsuch nomination.

Reflecting a conservative judicial philosophy, Leo says the unusual number of vacancies that Trump is inheriting could reorient the courts of appeals, in particular, "in a way that better reflects the traditional judicial role, which is interpreting the law according to its text and placing a premium on the Constitution's limits on government power."

That philosophy was a priority for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, whom Gorsuch replaced, and Trump has said he wants the federal judiciary to reflect those values.

There are currently 20 vacancies in the federal appeals courts, which are one step below the Supreme Court, and roughly 100 more in district courts, where cases are originally tried. Former President Barack Obama had around half that number of vacancies when he took office in 2009. Of the current vacancies, 49 are considered judicial emergencies, a designation based on how many court filings are in the district and how long the seat has been open.

As the White House has focused on the Gorsuch nomination, Trump has so far only nominated one lower-court judge, Amul R. Thapar, a friend of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, for the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Republican senators say they hope to see more nominations soon from the White House.

"We've heard from them and we're talking to them," says Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the No. 2 Republican leader.

The number of vacancies is a monumental opportunity for conservatives looking to exert more influence on a judiciary that they see as too liberal and activist. But it also could work to Republicans' disadvantage. Democrats can't stop the process, but they can delay it, and they still can call for procedural votes that will delay other Senate business when Republicans are trying to confirm each individual judge.

If they do that, says Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, "we'll have more vacancies than we have now."

Democrats haven't signaled a strategy for lower court judges, but partisan tension over the judiciary is at a peak after McConnell blocked Obama's nominee for Scalia's seat, federal Judge Merrick Garland, then changed the Senate rules to avert a Democratic filibuster of Gorsuch this month. They're also frustrated that Senate Republicans confirmed very few of Obama's picks once the GOP regained control of the Senate in 2015.

Also unclear is whether the traditional practice will persist in which both senators from a state, regardless of party, consult with the White House on a nominee and then have to approve of the nominee for the Senate Judiciary Committee to move forward. Grassley said this month he is committed to honoring the practice, but said "there are always some exceptions."

Of Democratic senators working with the White House, Grassley says "it ought to be pretty easy" in states that have at least one Republican senator. But there are multiple vacancies in states with two Democrats, including eight district court openings in New York and six in California.

In Texas, which has two Republican senators, there are two appeals court vacancies and 11 district court vacancies. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are continuing their practice of creating and consulting with a bipartisan panel of leading state attorneys to help identify the most qualified candidates for those jobs.

Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., a committee member, says he thinks the future of the bipartisan process is "the real fight" going forward. He says he hope it doesn't change.

"I think there's a lot of desire to keep that power within the Senate," he said.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - A group of marine scientists says collisions of whales and boats off of the New England coast may be more common than previously thought.

The scientists focused on the humpback whale population in the southern Gulf of Maine, a body of water off of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. They found that almost 15 percent of the whales, which come to New England to feed every spring, had injuries or scarring consistent with at least one vessel strike.

The researchers, who published their findings in the March issue of the journal Marine Mammal Science, said the work shows that the occurrence of such strikes is most likely underestimated. They also said their own figure is likely low because it does not account for whales that are killed in ship strikes.

In this undated photo provided by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation a humpback whale bears injuries and wounds consistent with vessel strikes. A new study in the journal Marine Mammal Science said whale ship strikes might be more common than previously suspected sighting almost 15 percent of humpback whales are injured by ships strikes. (Skyler Suhrer/Whale and Dolphin Conservation via AP)

"Vessel strikes are a significant risk to both whales and to boaters," said Alex Hill, the lead author of the study, who is a scientist with conservation group Whale and Dolphin Conservation, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. "Long term studies can help us figure out if our outreach programs to boaters are effective, what kind of management actions are needed and help to assess the health of the population."

Other scientists have also studied whether ship strikes have the ability to negatively affect whale populations, and the subject is a source of some debate.

A 2014 study of 171 blue whales in the eastern North Pacific that appeared in PLOS ONE stated that modifications to shipping lanes could "reduce the likelihood of collisions with vessels." But a study that appeared in Marine Mammal Science that same year said mitigating ship strikes would have a minimal impact on the blue whales.

Off Alaska, 25 of 108 reported whale collisions that occurred between 1978 and 2011 resulted in the animal's death, according to a 2012 report in the Journal of Marine Biology.

For the Gulf of Maine study, the authors reviewed more than 200,000 photos of 624 individual humpback whales over a nine-year period to evaluate them for injuries and trauma, the conservation group said. The group is recommending that marine managers develop a strategy for vessels that transit near whales to minimize collisions.

Dave Wiley, a research coordinator for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, said the paper could indeed inform regulations for federal managers. Wiley, who was not involved in the study, said it was "troublesome" to see the rate of strikes so high.

Scott Kraus, chief scientist for marine mammals at the New England Aquarium, was slightly more skeptical. Kraus, who was also not involved in the study, said the level of ship strikes could be overestimated in the paper because of the way the authors interpret scars and markings on humpback whales. However, Kraus said the findings are still valid.

"There are a lot of whales getting hit by small vessels, and there may very well need to be some management actions around high-density whale areas," he said.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - China's foreign minister says China insists on the elimination of nuclear weapons in the Korean peninsula and will continue to pursue the resumption of talks among the involved parties.

Wang Yi, who is visiting Greece to take part in an international forum on ancient civilizations, made the comments when asked about North Korea's nuclear arsenal.

He said: "We need voices of peace and reason. China will not be swayed by words and will continue to play its role."

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, shakes hands with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias following a news briefing, in Athens, on Sunday, April 23, 2017. The Chinese minister visits Athens to attend the ministerial Conference of the states of the "Ancient Civilizations Forum" (ACForum), which will be held in the Greek capital on April 24. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)

Wang was meeting his Greek counterpart, Nikos Kotzias, Sunday. China and Greece want to strengthen cooperation, and Greek premier Alexis Tsipras will make his second trip to China next month. future.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, shakes hands with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias ahead of a meeting in Athens, on Sunday, April 23, 2017. The Chinese minister visits Athens to attend the ministerial Conference of the states of the "Ancient Civilizations Forum" (ACForum), which will be held in the Greek capital on April 24. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
April the giraffe has brought a bundle to a tiny zoo in rural upstate New York, thanks to a YouTube video livestream of her pregnancy and birth of an incredibly cute calf that has riveted viewers around the world.

Owners of the for-profit Animal Adventure Park won't say exactly how much they've pulled in from all April-related ventures, but internet marketing experts conservatively estimate the haul in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The money will be used for zoo upkeep, wildlife conservation in Africa, and a favorite cause of the zoo's founders - local children with unexpected medical expenses, the park owners say.

FILE - In this April 15, 2017, file photo, provided by Animal Adventure Park in Binghamton, N.Y., a giraffe named April licks her new calf. The baby's birth was broadcast to an online audience with more than a million viewers. Owners of the animal park won't say exactly how much profit they've pulled in from all April-related ventures, but internet marketing experts conservatively estimate the haul in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Animal Adventure Park via AP, File)

"The monies are going to allow the park to continue to grow and improve," said Jordan Patch, who started the 20-acre zoo with his wife four years ago in Harpursville, about 130 miles northwest of New York City. "But also the money will help support our conservation efforts in Africa, so we're actually providing tangible results for wild giraffes."

The ventures include the Toys 'R' Us-sponsored YouTube stream, monetized text messages, a clothing line and the sale of T-shirts, caps and fuzzy toys.

All Patch would say for sure, moneywise, is that a Gofundme campaign has raised more than $150,000 for the care of April, her mate Oliver and their male calf, as well as upgrades to their exhibit space. And he expects 150,000 park visitors - twice as many as last year - to pay $11-$13 to see the giraffe family along with the park's 200 other animals, including alligators, monkeys and zebras.

Neither Patch nor Toys 'R' Us, which features a giraffe as its corporate mascot, would talk about how many dollars were attached to April's video stream. After coming online Feb. 23, it has become the second most-watched livestream in YouTube history with more than 232 million views and 7.6 billion minutes of live watch time.

Digital media analysts say the money alone may be beside the point.

"Every marketer dreams of getting something that will go viral," said Allen Adamson of Brand Simple Consulting, which helps companies define and market their brand. "The real value is the way the organization has been cemented in millions of people's minds in a compelling way. You can't buy advertising like that."

Danny Fratella of Social Blade, which provides social media statistics and earnings estimates, said he believes the video livestream alone has been a major moneymaker. "I couldn't speculate as to how much Toys 'R' Us is paying, but I'm sure it's a huge chunk of change," probably in the "low six-figures," he said.

Still, some YouTube followers have griped about some of the park's approach to the animal's birth, such as the $5 charge to sign up for giraffe news text alerts and $1 to vote for a baby name that will be announced May 1. The park also is selling $20 "Hello Baby" tote bags, $16 "April's View Crew" T-shirts and a $50 three-pack of giraffe prints. And Toys 'R' Us, which is driving traffic to its own Facebook page with exclusive video visits to the park, is coming out with new giraffe plush toys based on April's little family.

Patch said the proceeds will be split among park improvements, a contribution to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and a fund to help local children with unexpected medical expenses. The latter is named for Patch's baby daughter Ava, who has a rare form of epilepsy.

Other businesses in the surrounding Southern Tier of New York, which has struggled economically in recent years with the loss of manufacturing jobs, are also hoping for a baby bump.

"We're booking fast and furious," said Eddie Bello, assistant general manager at the Doubletree Hilton in nearby Binghamton. The hotel has sold more than 200 special lodging packages that include park tickets, a toy giraffe and other goodies stuffed in a miniature wooden crate.

"The response has been huge," said Judi Hess, director of the Greater Binghamton Convention and Visitors Bureau, adding that inquiries have come in from as far away as England.

Patch didn't expect his pregnant giraffe would become a global sensation. The livestream was intended to free up park staff to tend to their daily duties like feeding and poop-scooping rather than fielding inquiries about April's pregnancy. It ended up doing the opposite, bringing a flood of questions, comments and sometimes criticism from far-flung fans and followers.

As for the 6-foot-tall baby, after he's weaned from his mother he will be sent to another zoo to help sire more offspring.

"But the weaning process could take as long as 15 months," Patch said, "so he could easily be here with us another year or two."

___

Giraffe Cam livestream: https://youtu.be/N4bU1i-XAxE
SANAA, Yemen (AP) - Yemeni tribal and security officials say a suspected U.S. airstrike has killed three al-Qaida operatives on Yemen's southern coast.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, say the operatives killed in Shabwa province on Sunday were driving a car when an unmanned aircraft targeted their vehicle.

Their bodies have not yet been identified.

Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, long seen by Washington as among the most dangerous branches of the global terror network, has exploited the chaos of Yemen's civil war, seizing territory in the south and east.
NEW YORK (AP) - New York billionaire Michael Bloomberg urged world leaders not to follow President Donald Trump's lead on climate change and declared his intention to help save an international agreement to reduce carbon emissions.

Bloomberg, who considered a presidential bid after serving three terms as New York City's mayor, addressed his intensifying focus on climate change in an interview with The Associated Press. He said there was no political motive tied to last week's release of his new book, "Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet," co-authored by former Sierra Club executive director Carl Pope.

"I'm not running for office," the 75-year-old Bloomberg said.

FILE - In this Wednesday, July 27, 2016, file photo, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg waves after speaking to delegates during the third day session of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. The former New York City mayor addressed his intensifying focus on climate change on Saturday, April 22, 2017, in an email interview with The Associated Press. Bloomberg said he wants to help save an international agreement to reduce carbon emissions. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Instead of helping to re-ignite his political career, he said the new book offered a specific policy objective: To help save an international agreement, negotiated in Paris, to reduce global carbon emissions.

The Trump administration is debating whether to abandon the pact as the president promised during his campaign. Under the agreement, the U.S. pledged that by 2025 it would reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels, which would be a reduction of about 1.6 billion tons.

Bloomberg said he believed the U.S. would hit that goal regardless of what Trump does because of leadership at the state level and market forces already at play in the private sector.

"Washington won't determine the fate of our ability to meet our Paris commitment," he said in an email Saturday to the AP. "And what a tragedy it would be if the failure to understand that led to an unraveling of the agreement. We hope this book will help to correct that wrong impression - and help save the Paris deal."

Bloomberg already plays a significant role in shaping some of the nation's fiercest policy debates, having invested millions of dollars in one advocacy group that pushes for stronger gun control and another that promotes liberal immigration policies. In the new book, which follows what a spokeswoman described as $80 million in donations to the Sierra Club in recent years, the New York businessman solidifies his status as a prominent climate change advocate as well.

His policy repertoire aligns him with core values of the Democratic Party, although the Democrat-turned-Republican-turned independent has no formal political affiliation.

In the interview, Bloomberg shrugged off conservatives who condemn him as a paternalistic New York elitist. He noted that policies he helped initiate in New York City - including a smoking ban and high taxes on sugary drinks - have eventually caught on elsewhere.

"My goal has been to save and improve lives," he said. "Some ways of doing that can be controversial at first, but end up being highly popular and successful."

In his new focus on climate change, Bloomberg directs particularly aggressive language at the coal industry.

"I don't have much sympathy for industries whose products leave behind a trail of diseased and dead bodies," he wrote in the book. He added: "But for everyone's sake, we should aim to put them out of business..."

Similar language haunted Hillary Clinton's presidential bid last year and fueled criticism from Trump and other top Republicans that Democrats were engaged in a "war on coal."

Bloomberg offered a pragmatic approach when asked about the political consequences for politicians who embrace such a stance.

"The fact is, coal in Appalachia is running out," he said, adding that "Washington can't put generations of people back to work in a dying industry."

Saying that coal miners "have paid a terrible price," Bloomberg also disclosed for the first time plans to donate $3 million to organizations that help unemployed miners and their communities find new economic opportunities. Bloomberg Philanthropies highlights the plight of coal miners in a new film to be featured at the Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday.

He avoided condemning the Trump administration directly, however, largely casting the new president's steps on climate change as irrelevant. The White House declined to comment when asked about Bloomberg's statements.

"As it turns out, Trump's election makes the book's message - that the most important solutions lie outside of Washington - even more important and urgent," Bloomberg said.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Carl Pope is the former, not current, Sierra Club executive director.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - The Nicaraguan government has once again blocked a planned protest by opponents of a Chinese company's project to build an interoceanic canal across Nicaragua.

The country's National Police force said in a statement Saturday that the protesters were disturbing the peace.

A lawyer for the farm groups organizing the weekend protest in the central town of Juigalpa said at least one person was wounded.

Monica Lopez Baltodano said about a dozen organizers had been detained by police.

Sceptics have doubted whether the canal concession, granted in 2014 to a Chinese company, will ever be built. It has barely broken ground.

Critics say the canal project threatens to displace rural communities and damage the environment. About 7,000 families living along the route face displacement.
CHICAGO (AP) - An Illinois sailor has been laid to rest near the community where he grew up - more than 75 years after he was killed at Pearl Harbor.

Michael Galajdik was buried with full military honors on Saturday at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

The 25-year-old Navy Fireman First Class from Lockport Township was aboard the U.S.S. Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

The remains of Galajdik - one of more than 2,300 Americans killed in the attack - were recovered after the attack but they could only be positively identified recently because of improvements in DNA technology.

WLS-TV (http://abc7.ws/2p9YWxI ) reported that Galajdik's remains arrived at O'Hare International Airport on Friday to full military honors from both the Navy and the Chicago Fire Department.
A California judge has decided that a man suspected of killing seven former classmates at a small Oakland Christian college in 2012 is now mentally competent to stand trial.

Oikos University shooting suspect One Goh's trial had been put on hold in 2015 after a judge determined Goh had a mental illness that prevented him from rationally assisting his attorneys with his defense.

But on Friday, a prosecutor working on Goh's case reveled the new ruling, which means that the case can now go forward, East Bay Times reports.

A California judge has deemed alleged shooter One Goh mentally competent to stand trial for the April 2012 shooting spree at Oikos University, which left seven dead and three wounded

The 48-year-old Korean national is now expected to appear in court on Wednesday and enter a plea.

Goh is charged with seven counts of murder, three counts of premeditated attempted murder and other enhancements for committing a murder during a kidnapping and committing multiple murders at once, stemming from the shooting that took place on the vocational school's campus on April 2, 2012.

That day, police say Goh had gone to the campus, looking for a female administrator and demanding a refund for his $6,000 tuition fees, after dropping out of the program the previous fall.

When told the administrator was not on campus, Goh allegedly opened fire, shooting the reception and nine students.

Seven people were killed, three were wounded.

The bodies of Goh's alleged victims seen pictured on the day of the shooting on April 2, 2012

Goh, pictured in 2012, plead not guilty in Oakland's Alameda County Superior courtroom

Court proceedings against Goh were halted several times over the intervening years, due to concerns about his mental competency, reports SF Gate.

In October 2012, his lawyers questioned his mental competency to stand trial. Then in January 2013, based on psychiatrist's reports, a judge ruled him incompetent and had him sent to Napa State Hospital. In July 2015, the hospital's forensic psychologist determined he was competent to stand trial.

Five months later, in December 2015, at the end of a competency hearing, a judge ruled that Goh was still mentally unfit to stand trial and placed him into a conservatorship and would receive an annual review that assessed the status of his mental health.

Goh confessed to the killings and said that he wanted to die for his actions. He has also said that he doesn't believe himself to be mentally ill.

Shooting victims (left to right): Sonam Chodon, Lydia Sim, 21, and Grace Eunhae Kim, 23

Shooting victims (left to right): Tshering Rinzing Bhutia, Doris Chibuko and Judith Seymour

However, Goh has also said that he wants to plead not guilty to the charges, laying the blame for the deaths and wounded at the hands of Oikos University's staff and administration.

Shooting victim Kathleen Ping, 24, pictured with her then four-year-old son Kayzzer

He is said to believe that the school's staff bugged his home, tracked his car and isolated him from his classmates.

Goh is eligible for the death penalty, but the Alameda County District Attorneys Office has not yet stated whether they intend to seek it in his trial.

When reached by phone, the husband of one of the victims of Oikos shooting, Doris Chibuko, expressed relief that the case could now go forward.

We just need to put this behind us so we all can move on with our lives, Efanye Chibuko told East Bay Times.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Apr. 22

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Turkmenistans Turkmengas State Concern is inviting consulting companies to partake in the construction project of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, said the countrys Oil and Gas Complex in a message Apr. 22.

Construction of the Turkmen section of TAPI was launched on Dec. 13, 2015. The pipelines annual capacity will be 33 billion cubic meters. TAPIs total length will be 1,814 kilometers.

The Turkmengas State Concern is recalling that previously, the Turkmen government earlier applied for loans of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in order to pay the cost of construction of TAPIs Turkmen section (214 km) and auxiliary facilities, and intends to use a part of these funds to make payments under the contract for consulting services.

The services include construction supervision and professional technical supervision over the construction of facilities during the entire period of construction of the TAPI gas pipelines Turkmen section.

Bidders must submit a package of information about the company, the main type of its activities and seniority in business, financial opportunities and reserve capacities, organizational structure, general qualifications and the number of key personnel.

The company must have experience in providing similar services, including in the Central Asian region (supervision practice, technical and managerial capabilities, detailed description of similar tasks, experience in similar conditions, brochures).

Bids should be sent until May 20, 2017, to: Oil and Gas Complex of Turkmenistan, 56 Archabil Avenue, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 744036.

Phone: +993 12 403 201, +993 12 403 260.

Fax: +993 12 403 254.

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
PARIS (AP) - French authorities have filed preliminary charges against two people of plotting an attack days before a tense presidential election.

The Paris prosecutor's office said Sunday the two men are being kept in custody pending further investigation. They were given preliminary charges Sunday of "association with a terrorist enterprise with plans to prepare one or several attacks," and weapons and explosives charges.

The two suspected Islamic radicals were arrested Tuesday in Marseille and police seized guns and explosives. The target of their potential attack is unclear, though presidential campaign teams were warned about the threat.

Meanwhile, prosecutors said that investigators have released three people without charge after they were detained in an attack on Paris' Champs-Elysees. The attacker was killed but three people in his entourage were detained for two days.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Kevin Chappell made an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the Valero Texas Open by one stroke on Sunday.

Chappell had a 4-under 68 in the final round to finish at 12 under for the tournament, edging Brooks Koepka at TPC San Antonio to earn his first PGA Tour victory in his 180th career start.

"A big relief," the 30-year-old Chappell said. "There's been quite the monkey on my back for some time now about getting that first win. And to take that off and not have to answer those questions anymore is nice."

Kevin Chappell hits into the wind on the 9th tee during the third round of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday, April 22, 2017. (Tom Reel/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

Koepka, a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team last year, was aiming for his second PGA Tour win. He had the best round of the day at 65. Before Chappell came down the 18th hole, Koepka had birdied the hole with a 3-foot putt to tie him.

"It's hard to win out here - everybody knows that," Koepka said. "I'm knocking on the door to get my second win. It's nice for Kevin to get his first win. That's pretty cool."

Second-round co-leader Tony Finau got in a position to tie Koepka when he birdied four of five holes on the back nine. But his par-bogey finish left him to settle for 69 and a share of third place with Kevin Tway (69) at 9 under.

Australian Aaron Baddeley fired 68 to finish fourth at 8 under.

Brian Gay (70), Sung Kang (68), Ryan Palmer (71) and Cameron Smith (71) were a shot further back tied for sixth.

Koepka, trailing Chappell by a shot coming up the 18th, took a 3-metal out of his bag and considered taking a crack at reaching the 606-yard par-5 in two. But he had 293 yards left with a slight uphill shot into the wind with a creek fronting the green.

"I really wanted to go for it - I really wanted to," Koepka said. "But my caddy was kind of pulling the reins back and he wanted me to lay up, and it was probably a good thing that we did."

He put the club back in his bag and laid up to create a 90-wedge approach. He stuck that to about three feet and made the birdie to go into the clubhouse tied with Chappell.

Chappell had almost the same distance for his approach on 18, and he landed it past the hole to set up the winning putt.

"I wouldn't want it any other way," said Chappell, who had been runner-up six times in his career. "Brooks kept me honest out there today. He made me had to do it the right way. There wasn't any question I was going to make 4 (birdie) and win the golf tournament."

Finau closed with birdies on four of five holes coming to the 17th. He was just a shot behind Chappell's lead, but he parred there and drove next to a cactus bush on the 18th. He punched out to the fairway, removed cactus needles from his leg, then put his approach into the creek. He took a penalty drop, and his bogey ended his chances.

Kevin Chappell studies the map of the 9th with his caddy as a stiff wind blows against them during the third round of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday, April 22, 2017. (Tom Reel/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

Bob Tway hits his tee shot on nine during the third round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course, Saturday, April 22, 2017, San Antonio. (Tom Reel/The San Antonio Express-News via AP) / )

Ken Duke looks to the skies after seeing his putt miss on the 9th green during the third round of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday, April 22, 2017. (Tom Reel/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

Branden Grace lifts up as he urges his putt forward on the 18th during the third round of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday, April 22, 2017. (Tom Reel/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

John Huh gets off the club on his tee shot into the wind on the ninth teebox during the third round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course, Saturday, April 22, 2017, San Antonio. (Tom Reel/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)
Fired-up Jeremy Corbyn ordered activists to go for it as he visited a Tory marginal on the first weekend of Labours "flying start" election campaign.

Mr Corbyn was mobbed and met with cheers from around 100 party activists knocking doors and posting leaflets in the Warrington South constituency.

He spent around 50 minutes on the visit, knocking on a door himself  of a local Labour Party member.

Jeremy Corbyn speaking to party activists

The Labour leader was also buttonholed by a member of the public asking about the break-up of the union and shook hands with a local teacher and a newly joined party member who came over to him in the street to give their support.

Speaking to activists, Mr Corbyn, on his eighth campaign visit since the election was called last week, said: Were calling time on this Tory government and weve got until June the 8th to get a message out there.

Labour leader @jeremycorbyn fires up party activists on campaign trail in Warrington for @UKLabour pic.twitter.com/Ad0sT8Vx9K  Patrick Hurst (@paddyhurst) April 22, 2017

A message out there of what this country could be. What it could achieve, for everybody. So that nobody and no community is left behind.

So when we knock on those doors, the message is of hope, the message is of opportunity, the message is of decency for older people and opportunities for younger people.

.@jeremycorbyn speaking to new party member before knocking doors in Warrington for @UKLabour pic.twitter.com/aypWvWBe6K  Patrick Hurst (@paddyhurst) April 22, 2017

We embrace the entire community, that is the Labour way and that is the Labour message.

Go for it. Get those votes, get their support.

Earlier Mr Corbyn visited a phone bank operation being run by Unison in Manchester and later will travel to Crewe to do another stump speech in the town centre.

At our Manchester phone bank and joining our volunteers who are calling voters to secure a Labour #GE2017 win pic.twitter.com/gzZ1c77PYB  Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) April 22, 2017

In Warrington where we are taking our message of an economy for the many, not the few to every household #LabourDoorstep pic.twitter.com/LTYPY0ZsI6  Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) April 22, 2017

Warrington South was held by Labour until 2010 and Tory MP, with a majority of 2,750 in 2015, is being targeted by Corbyns supporters.

Mr Corbyn was joined for a photo by a local young resident, accompanied by the local councillor and the towns mayor.

The Labour leader said she had the ear of three elected representatives and told her to hold them to account before asking what she wanted the politicians to do.

She replied, to laughter: Pick up the dog poo!

Mr Corbyn said: This is the absolute basics of all politics! Dont worry mate, well clean up Britain.
US president Donald Trump has pledged to mark his 100th day in office with a BIG rally in Pennsylvania.

Mr Trump hits the milestone on April 29  next Saturday.

He said on Twitter that next week I will be holding a BIG rally in Pennsylvania.

President Donald Trump

April 29 is also the date of the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington.

Most presidents attend the event. Mr Trump previously announced that he is boycotting this years dinner in protest over what he says is unfavourable coverage by the news media.

His staff are also boycotting in a show of solidarity with the president.

Mr Trumps campaign team later announced that the rally will be held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Centre in Harrisburg.
Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right populist Marine Le Pen have advanced to the French presidential run-off vote, overhauling the countrys political system and setting up a showdown over its participation in the European Union.

French politicians on the left and right immediately urged voters to block Ms Le Pens path to power in the May 7 vote, saying her virulently nationalist anti-EU and anti-immigration politics would spell disaster for France.

The selection of Ms Le Pen and Mr Macron presents voters with the starkest possible choice between two diametrically opposed visions of the EUs future and Frances place in it.

Emmanuel Macron (Christophe Ena/AP)

It sets up a battle between Mr Macrons optimistic vision of a tolerant France with open borders against Ms Le Pens darker, inward-looking platform calling for closed borders, tougher security, less immigration and dropping the shared euro currency to return to the franc.

With Ms Le Pen wanting France to leave the EU, and Mr Macron proposing even closer co-operation between the blocs 28 nations, the outcome of the first round of voting on Sunday after a wildly unpredictable and tense campaign means the run-off will have undertones of a referendum on Frances EU membership.

The absence in the final vote of candidates from either the mainstream left Socialists or the right-wing Republicans party  the two main groups that have governed post-war France  also marks a seismic shift in the nations political landscape.

Marine Le Pen (Frank Augstein/AP)

With 34% of the vote counted, the Interior Ministry said Ms Le Pen was leading on 24.6% followed by Mr Macron on 21.9%.

The early vote count includes primarily rural constituencies that lean to the right, while urban areas that lean left are counted later.

Mr Macron, a 39-year-old investment banker, made the run-off on the back of a grassroots start-up campaign without the backing of a major political party.

French conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon addresses his supporters after the first partial official results and polling agencies projections were announced (Michel Euler/AP)

Defeated conservative candidate Francois Fillon said he would vote for Mr Macron on May 7 because Ms Le Pens programme would bankrupt France and throw the EU into chaos.

He also cited the history of violence and intolerance of Ms Le Pens far-right National Front party.

In a brief televised message less than 30 minutes after the last polling stations closed, Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve also urged voters to back Mr Macron to beat the National Front and block its funereal project of regression for France and of division of the French.

Vive la France  Vive la liberte , France isn't finished yet !  Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) April 23, 2017

Socialist presidential candidate Benoit Hamon, who was far behind in Sundays results, quickly conceded defeat. Declaring the left is not dead, he urged supporters to back Mr Macron.

Macron supporters at his election day headquarters in Paris went wild as news that he would advance to the final round emerged, cheering, singing La Marseillaise anthem, waving French tricolour and European flags and shouting Macron, president!.

Mathilde Jullien, 23, said she is convinced Mr Macron will be able to win over Ms Le Pen and become Frances next president.

He represents Frances future, a future within Europe, she said. He will win because he is able to unite people from the right and the left against the threat of the National Front and he proposes real solutions for Frances economy.

Supporters of far-right leader and candidate for the 2017 French presidential election, Marine Le Pen, celebrate after exit poll results of the first round of the presidential election are announced (Frank Augstein/AP)

But Le Pen supporters were equally enthusiastic.

With a broad smile, Ms Le Pen stood before an adoring crowd and said her National Front party will represent the great alternative to the French people and pledged to open a much-needed debate on globalisation.

We will win! Le Pen supporters chanted in her election day headquarters in the northern French town of Henin-Beaumont. They burst into a rendition of the French national anthem, and waved French flags and blue flags with Marine President inscribed on them.
Global finance leaders have dropped a sharp condemnation of trade protectionism and references to climate change from a closing statement at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

This years meetings in Washington DC were dominated by a debate over how to respond to a rising tide of anti-globalisation sentiment evidenced in the United States by the election of Donald Trump.

Mr Trump pledged during last years campaign that he would reduce Americas huge trade deficits, which he blamed for the loss of millions of well-paid factory jobs.

Very strong consensus in IMFC on avoiding inward-looking policies -IMFC Chair Carstens at presser pic.twitter.com/fCGjTWSEOg  IMF (@IMFNews) April 22, 2017

In its communique, the 189-nation IMF urged nations to avoid inward-looking policies, but it did not include tougher language it had used in an October statement in which it called on all countries to resist all forms of protectionism.

The new statement also dropped any mention of the threat of climate change.

President Trump has threatened to impose punitive tariffs of up to 45% against Mexico, China and other nations he believes are competing unfairly with American workers. During his presidential campaign he called climate change a hoax.

.@Lagarde at presser: Our Global Policy Agenda was welcome today by the entire IMF membership. A welcome first! https://t.co/rrPYDDekbU pic.twitter.com/zvHhGt5JBs  IMF (@IMFNews) April 22, 2017

At a closing news conference, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde and Agustin Carstens, head of the Bank of Mexico and chairman of the IMFs policy committee, sought to downplay the changes.

Ms Lagarde noted that strong language condemning protectionism and promoting efforts to combat climate change, while taken out of the communique, remained in a separate document setting out the IMFs policy agenda.

A similar change on the issue of protectionism was made in a communique that the Group of 20 major economies issued last month in Baden-Baden, Germany.

Steven Mnuchin discussed the US economy with Christine Legarde (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Steven Mnuchin, attending his first international gathering as Mr Trumps treasury secretary, had defended the change in the G20 communique by saying: The historical language was not really relevant.

Eswar Prasad, a trade economist at Cornell University, said the changes in the IMF and G-20 communiques showed the Trump administrations desire to signal that US policy will be different under a new president.

The G-20 consensus on issues such as free trade and combating climate change is crumbling in the face of the Trump administrations hostility to those positions, he said. The notion of allowing for freer trade has run up against the Trump administrations conviction that its major trading partners are manipulating trade and currency policies to their own benefit.

Great to welcome @RealDonaldTrump to @USTreasury & sign directives for economic & job growth for all Americans. https://t.co/wMMyPbgkfY pic.twitter.com/nnHJQ6CktV  Steven Mnuchin (@stevenmnuchin1) April 21, 2017

At a joint appearance with Ms Lagade on Saturday, Mr Mnuchin said the internal debate over the wording of the IMF communique had taken much less time than the debate over the wording of the G-20 communique last month.

He said the administrations goal was to make trade more fair and was not aimed at erecting protectionist barriers: The United States is probably the most open trading market there is.

The spring IMF and World Bank meetings took place against the backdrop of an improving global economy, helped by better performances in the United States and China, the worlds two biggest economies, and in a rise in commodity prices which has helped many developing nations.

The IMFs latest economic forecast projects global growth of 3.5% this year, which would be the fastest pace in five years and up from 3.1% last year.
NAIROBI, April 23 (Reuters) - Gunmen shot and wounded Italian-born conservationist Kuki Gallmann at her conservation park in northern Kenya on Sunday, a source close to her family said.

The 73-year-old author of the memoir I Dreamed of Africa was shot in the stomach after the vehicle she was driving in was ambushed by a group of gunmen, the source said.

Gallmann was flown by helicopter to Nanyuki Hospital where she is undergoing treatment. (Reporting by Katharine Houreld; editing by Jason Neely)
BEIRUT, April 23 (Reuters) - An Israeli attack against a military base for the Syrian pro-government National Defence Forces in southern Syria killed three NDF members on Sunday, the NDF militia and a monitoring group said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitoring group, said it remained unclear if the source of the bombardment in Quneitra province was an air strike or shelling.

Israel has carried out air strikes or fired mortar rounds during the six-year war in Syria, often in response to the occasional spillover, including stray shells from fighting among Syrian factions.

The Israeli military declined to comment on the reports. The Syrian army could not immediately be reached for comment.

The NDF said the attack struck its military camp in the countryside of Quneitra, which sits near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, territory that Israel captured from Syria in a 1967 war.

Rebel groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad's government in the Syrian conflict hold swathes of Quneitra, while the army and pro-government forces control another part of the province. (Reporting by Ellen Francis in Beirut and Omar Fahmy in Cairo, additional reporting by Jeffrey Heller in Jerusalem. Editing by Jane Merriman)
By Katharine Houreld

NAIROBI, April 23 (Reuters) - Gunmen wounded Italian-born conservationist Kuki Gallmann at her conservation park on Sunday in the latest of a string of attacks during land invasions in drought-stricken northern Kenya, which residents say are intensifying as August polls approach.

The 73-year-old author of the memoir "I Dreamed of Africa" was shot in the stomach after the vehicle she was driving in was ambushed by a group of gunmen, a family friend said.

Gallmann, who was played by Kim Basinger in the 2000 film of her book, was going to inspect fresh damage to her property after invaders burned down a retreat there on Saturday. A luxury hotel there had already been burnt down last month.

She was ambushed when she was forced to stop by a tree laid across the track, the friend said. The gunmen shot her, but Gallmann was saved when rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Service intervened and fought off the attackers.

Gallmann was first flown to a hospital in the nearby town of Nanyuki to be stabilised. British military medics accompanied her on another helicopter to receive surgery at a hospital in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, the friend said.

Her daughter -- who herself was shot at in an incident in March -- said that her mother was able to speak, the friend said.

The Gallmann family own the 100,000-acre (400 square km) Laikipia Nature Conservancy and employ 250 Kenyans on the luxury lodges, ranch, and other businesses on the land.

They also run the Gallmann Africa Conservancy and Gallmann Memorial Foundation, conservation groups focusing on bringing people and wildlife together sustainably.

A wave of violence has hit Kenya's drought-stricken Laikipia region in recent months as armed cattle-herders searching for scarce grazing land have driven tens of thousands of cattle onto private farms and ranches from poor quality communal land.

Many residents of the area accuse local politicians of inciting the violence ahead of the August elections. They say the men are trying to drive out voters who might oppose them and win votes by promising supporters access to private land.

National police spokesman George Kinoti said a local politician was already facing court charges for inciting violence and arson in the area.

"We also wish to caution certain politicians to refrain from making statements that amount to encouraging ranch invasion," he said in a statement.

At least 14 civilians have been killed, including local resident Duncan Murimi, who was shot in the stomach by militias and who died three days ago on a neighbouring property. Another Kenyan, Ethaju Eloto, was killed 10 days ago in the same area.

Last month, Tristan Voorspuy, a British military veteran who ran a safari company in Kenya, was shot dead at a private ranch in Laikipia after he went to inspect the remains of a friend's home that had been burnt down.

Laikipia county police commander Ezekial Chepkwony said four policeman had also been killed in a week in the area.

Martin Evans, head of the Laikipia Farmers' Association, condemned the attack on Gallmann and said "dozens of people have been killed or wounded and subjected to robbery and vandalism of their property. Kuki is a world famous author and conservationist -- but the LFA urges sympathy for all."

Raila Odinga, the country's veteran opposition leader, also condemned the attack and said "we have watched in bewilderment as hooligans take advantage of the drought to subject these ranchers to unwarranted attacks ... the government is clearly unable or unwilling to bring these attacks to a stop." (Additional reporting by Noor Ali in Isiolo and Humphrey Malalo in Nairobi; editing by Elias Biryabarema/; Jeremy Gaunt)
JOHANNESBURG, April 23 (Reuters) - South Africa's public enterprises minister has blocked power utility Eskom from giving its former chief executive a 30 million rand ($2.3 million) pension payout, the government said on Sunday.

Brian Molefe, who is largely credited with stabilising electricity supply following months of rolling blackouts, resigned last year after he was implicated in a report by the anti-graft watchdog on alleged influence-peddling.

Molefe has denied any wrongdoing.

"I have considered the Eskom board's reasoning in formulating the proposed pension payout and cannot support it," public enterprises minister Lynne Brown said in a statement.

Brown said the payout could not be seen as a performance reward, as Molefe had already received a bonus for his role in turning Eskom around.

"Nor is the proposed pension payout justifiable in light of the current financial challenges faced not only by state-owned companies, but by the country as a whole," she said.

Credit ratings agencies S&P Global and Fitch downgraded South Africa to sub-investment grade this month after President Jacob Zuma removed respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan.

Eskom's credit rating was downgraded afterwards, a blow to the utility as it is yet to complete work on two coal-fired power stations, years behind schedule and over budget, and as it plans to build nuclear reactors.

Brown ordered Eskom's board to meet with Molefe and present her with an "appropriate pension proposal" within seven days.

Molefe, now a member of parliament for the ruling African National Congress, took the reins at Eskom in 2015 as Africa's most industrialised economy endured daily power cuts, but soon implemented new maintenance policies to get more out of the nation's fleet of ageing coal-fired power stations. ($1 = 13.1238 rand) (Reporting by TJ Strydom; Editing by Dale Hudson)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

China and Germany will take part in a project of electrifying the railroad linking Tehran to the holy northeastern city of Mashhad, Iran, the Iranian deputy minister of transportation, Saeed Mohammadzadeh, said.

Mohammadzadeh, who heads Iranian Railways company, said that China has agreed to provide $2 billion in loans for the project, Mehr news agency reported Apr. 23.

He further said that talks are underway with the Chinese side regarding the issue, expressing hope that the talks will be concluded within one week.

Iran is expected to receive the Chinese finance for the project in May, he added.

Mohammadzadeh also said that Germanys Siemens will provide the electric locomotives for project.

The technical issues regarding the contract have been finalized between the Iranian and German sides, he added.

The Iranian counterpart of Siemens for locomotive manufacturing is Mapna group.

The electrification project is planned to be implemented in less than four years.

The project, headed by a consortium which sees MAPNA Group at its head, aims to electrify the 926 km railway from Tehran to the city of Mashhad, Irans primary pilgrimage site which attracts tens of millions of visitors each year.

The project envisages reforms and construction of the current Tehran-Mashhad railroad for trains with 200km/h speed, electric railroad for trains with 250km/h speed and purchase of 70 electric locomotives.
The indefinite strike announced by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Unions Collective on couldnt be justified and the demands were groundless, Petroleum Resources Development Minister Chandima Weerakkody said today.

He said the Government had not taken any decision in favour of the China Bay Oil Tank Farm in Trincomalee.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror Minister Weerakkody said that the unions were not aware about the facts and therefore were making false allegations about the Oil Tank Farm and the Hambantota Port.

I have submitted a Cabinet Paper requesting permission to develop tanks in Hambantota in partnership with the CPC and the Sri Lanka Port Authority.

The Trincomalee tanks were given to India for 35 years at a cost of 100,000 USD per annum and the payment had been made for 15 years, he said.

He said that of the 99 tanks ten would be taken back, while the rest remain on a shared basis with the Lanka IOC and the CPC.

Therefore, Minister Weerakkody said what the unions were accusing the Government was ill-founded.

He said that however, that the demands of the TUs would be negotiated tomorrow.

Minister Weerakkody assured that so far no agreement had been closed regarding the oil tanks in Hambantota or Trincomalee and therefore the trade Unions should not create unnecessary fears among the general public. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)
ince June 2016, and continuing until September 2017, the democratic western nations from Britain to the US, from Holland, to France, to Germany have been awash with election mania. Unfortunately the plethora of elections in the democratic western countries and in the US has witnessed the rise of open race hatred, Islamophobia and exclusivity.

In all these countries political parties challenge the incumbent rulers for the right to force regime change via the ballot. And, after all that is one of the issues democracy is all about. Democracy is about the right to challenge and change without fear of repercussions.

Democracy and elections are about the right to freedom and enhancing the rights and freedom of all people in a particular nation or country. They are supposed to be all-inclusive and a means of bringing together diverse communities and groups of a particular country around shared commonalities. In some countries however, elections are held not to enhance peoples freedoms but rather to grab power from the people.



In Sri Lanka this happened in 1982, when the then President of the country held a plebiscite to postpone the holding of general elections knowing he would lose his majority in parliament. The president claimed he needed the majority to move forward legislation he deemed important for the country. The government of the day won the plebiscite amid blatant election law violation, charges of ballot-box stuffing and intimidation of voters.

In the end, the referendum led to a bloody insurgency in the south of the country which was crushed with extreme brutality, a 3-decade long-Tamil insurgency which reached a bloody climax at the isthmus of Nandhikkadal around a decade ago, and finally to Sri Lankas armed forces being charged with crimes against humanity at the United Nations.

More recently, the Turkish republic held a plebiscite to increase the powers of its President at the expense of parliament. Western democracies condemned the said plebiscite and described it as an attempted power-grab by the Turkish President in the aftermath of a failed coup-detat against his regime.

Just last week, British Prime Minister Theresa May called for snap elections in Britain. Elections in the UK are not due until 2020 and the PMs stated aim for calling for early elections is to strengthen her power in parliament to make changes she deems necessary for the British people, especially in the wake of a victory of plebiscite to take Britain out of the European Union (EU) commonly referred to as BREXIT held on 23 June 2016.



The plebiscite which saw a victory for those opposed to Britains membership in the European Union (EU), was fought mainly on a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment, and shocked both a large section of the British people themselves, and has been a forerunner for unexpected political change of leadership in the US where a no-hoper won a stunning victory campaigning on anti-immigrant, anti Islam fears and calling for exclusivity.

The US, a country largely made up of European migrants is now busy rounding up and deporting mainly persons of Latin American descent whom it describes as illicit immigrants! Police attacks on the black African community have increased and the new regime knowingly or unknowingly preaches and practises Islamophobia.



In Holland, the Dutch general election was widely seen as a litmus test for the strength of anti-immigration populism of Geert Wilders anti-Islam, anti-EU Freedom Party against Prime Minister, Mark Ruttes liberal VVD. The recently concluded Austrian presidential election on December 4, 2016, saw a tussle between what the Sun newspaper referred to as the EUs first far-right leader since Hitler - Nobert Hofer - of the Freedom Party (FPO) go head-to-head with former Greens Party leader Alexander Van der Bellen who ultimately defeated his rival in a second run-off.

The first round of the French elections which is taking place on Sunday, will be a one-on-one, winner-takes-all contest; the French are electing a president, not a parliament. Though unpredictable, the second round appears to be a struggle between an independent - Emmanuel Macron - against Le Pen canvassing on an anti-immigrant, anti-Islam and anti -EU ticket.



In Germany, though, incumbent German Chancellor Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), seems to be unshakeable, but in Germany, the far-right is campaigning on an anti-immigrant ticket - again rousing fear of immigrants. The electoral process in democratic western Europe and in the US has unfortunately brought to the forefront divisions among the populace.

Democratic ideals unity, and rule By the People, For the People and Of the People seem to have fallen by the wayside and limited to text books studied in the ex-colonial states ruled by the democratic imperial powers.
Good Shepherd AMI Montessori Training Centre- Internationally recognised pre-school teacher training institute

Dr Montessori being welcomed by the children of the Kotahena Montessori. Also in the picture are Mario and Renilde being presented with flowers by a little child - 1948

Following the footsteps of Dr. Maria Montessori, the genius who introduced world renowned pre-school method and the founder of the AMI method of educating children, Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre in Colombo, has produced hundreds of Montessori teachers who serve in Sri Lanka and the world around.

For more than 70 years this hallowed institution has been silently shaping the minds of thousands of school leaving young women, some of whom are now teaching and guiding toddlers and world around.

" Handed over to the Good Shepherd Sisters by Dr. Maria Montessori herself in 1944, the legacy continues with the mission to understand that the true spirit of teaching is in the imparting of knowledge, the building of a good character and with love and dedication to be faithful custodians of the Montessori Method

Founded and run by the Good Shepherd Sisters-a congregation of reverent nuns in the Roman Catholic Church-over the years the Montessori Training Centre has produced hundreds of highly qualified and internationally recognised preschool or Montessori teachers who are now serving in countries like Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada.

Affiliated to the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre is the only authorized AMI Montessori Training Centre in Sri Lanka.

Handed over to the Good Shepherd Sisters by Dr. Maria Montessori herself in 1944, the legacy continues with the mission to understand that the true spirit of teaching is in the imparting of knowledge, the building of a good character and with love and dedication to be faithful custodians of the

Montessori Method.

Situated at St. Bridgets Convent, 85, C.W.W. Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 07, the centre has a commendable vision, To communicate an understanding of education as a help to life, nurtured by love, compassion, patience, care and commitment to the needs of little children the world over, practising the principles of Dr. Maria Montessoris method of Education.



A milestone in Montessori education in Sri Lanka



In 1944 Dr. Maria Montessori who visited Sri Lanka to train teachers and introduce AMI method handed over her pedagogical legacy to Rev. Mother Immaculate Conception Hughes, Provincial Superior of the Good Shepherd Sisters, who became her extended family, under the umbrella of the AMI. Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena started its first Childrens House with Sr. Ita Cleery as Directress in 1944 .

Having completed conducting a Training Course in Koddaikanal, India, on the invitation of the Ceylon Teachers Association, in 1944 Dr. Maria Montessori along with her son Mario came over to conduct the first-ever Training Course in Sri Lanka.At the Training Course in Kodaikanal, India , a few Sri Lankans including the late Joyce Goonesekera and Lena Wickramaratne too, followed and successfully completed the course. At the course conducted at Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena, Colombo 13, Joyce and Lena assisted Dr. Maria Montessori.

The course was participated in by 300 principals of schools, teachers, lecturers and their wives from universities and training colleges, young students from schools, mothers interested in helping their children and many Good Shepherd Sisters, who later opened childrens houses in their convents in different parts of the island.

At the conclusion of the course in 1944 ( July  September ) those who attended lectures having the required credits in the written and practical examinations were awarded certificates, which were endorsed after practice in a recognized institute. This was the beginning of training Montessori teachers who studied AMI method of educating children.

In the same year Leena Wickramaratne started her House of Children in Colpetty and later in her home town, Kandy. Having given the initiation to this world renowned method Montessori teaching to Sri Lanka, Dr. Maria Montessori returned to the country in 1948 at the invitation of the Government of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) for the Celebration of its Independence.

In 1957 under the auspices of the AMI, A. M. Joosten, was appointed the personal representative of Mario Montessori and Director of the Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, St. Bridgets Convent, Colombo 07.

" In the same year Leena Wickramaratne started her House of Children in Colpetty and later in her home town, Kandy. Having given the initiation to this world renowned method, Dr. Maria Montessori returned to the country in 1948 at the invitation of the Government..."

Sr. Ita Cleery was appointed as the First Directress aided by Joyce Goonesekera, which position she held till Sr. M. John Bosco Curley succeeded her in 1961 . Sr. John Bosco worked with zeal to spread the Montessori Method.

A.M. Joosten visited Sri Lanka every year, presided at the Practical Examinations, Awarded Diplomas, visited the Childrens Houses affiliated to the Training Centre and conducted Lectures for those interested in Montessori Education until his death in 1980.

Joyce Goonesekera continued to work unstintingly for the Children of Sri Lanka, opening Childrens Houses in many parts of the island. Many students who studied at these childrens houses and now adult would witness what a strong and important foundation as children they received by going through the AMI Montessori education. In recognition of her work for the children and the young girls Joyce was presented the Deshabandu Title by the Government.



AMI Training in Sinhala

Initially there was a crying need for Montessori education in Sinhala as the course was conducted only in English.

In 1963 Srs. John Bosco and Stanislaus Vas visited Mario with the intention of requesting permission for a course to be conducted in Sinhala and for Dr. Montessoris Book The Secret of Childhood  to be translated into Sinhala.

Sr. Stanislaus did not return to Sri Lanka but stayed on in Calcutta , India to do her Trainers Training under Mr. A.M. Joosten, to join the Staff of the Good Shepherd Training Centre on her return in 1964. The first ever course in Sinhala was started with 14 students and it continues to date with the numbers increasing every year.

In 1976 Sr. John Bosco was succeeded by Sr. Stanislaus Vas as Directress of the Training Centre. Sr. John Bosco returned to Ireland in 1986 and in 1994 she was called to her Eternal Reward.

In 1985 Sr. Benildus was appointed as the Directress of the Training Centre and under her leadership Training Centre celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Montessori work in Sri Lanka in 1994. This took place with great pomp and pageantry. She was again succeeded by Sr. Stanislaus Vas in 1994 and she continues to lead the Training Centre to date.

The large number of our Montessori diploma holders are working in the many childrens Houses that have come into existence in Sri Lanka , some opening their own Childrens Houses. Others have gone further a field and are devoting themselves to the service of children in various parts of the world. Some others are working in the Primary Departments of the Public and International Schools and their services are much appreciated, says Rev. Sr. Stanislaus Vas, the present Directress of Montessori Training Centre.

Our beginnings were small as we conducted lectures in St. Bridgets Montessori House of Children, after School hours. With gratitude we acknowledge the generosity of our benefactors Mr. & Mrs, Ananda Senarath for we now have a beautiful two storied building where we have our lectures and demonstration classes, since then we have had more extensions with a Practice class , a library and an atrium, yet again through the generosity of another benefactor Sr. Vas elaborated.



It is not enough for the teacher to love the child. She must first love and understand the universe. She must prepare herself, and truly work at it.  Dr. Maria Montessori

Applications called for AMI Montessori teacher training

AMI Good Shepherd Maria Montessori Training Centre, the only AMI authorised Montessori training Course in Sri Lanka is now in the process of calling for application for its Diploma Course (two years) at the end of which the successful candidates are offered an internationally recogniaed diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale in the Netherlands.

Conducted in both English and Sinhala languages, the closing date for the application is May 10.

Further information can be obtained by calling 0112697896 (From 8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.) or emailing mont2638@sltnet.lk and writing to The Secretary, Montessori Training Centre, St Bridgets Convent, Colombo 7.
India and Sri Lanka may next week give final shape to a deal for jointly developing the Trincomalee Port in the north-eastern region of the island nation.

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will arrive in New Delhi on Tuesday on a five-day visit. His meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to focus on Sri Lankas offer to India for developing the Trincomalee Port. Modi and Wickremesinghe are also expected to discuss Sri Lankas proposal for India and Japan to jointly develop a Liquefied Natural Gas terminal in Trincomalee, sources told Indian Deccan Herald.

Both the deals are likely to be signed during Modis visit to the island nation next month to attend the celebrations marking the International Day of Vesak or Buddha Purnima.

Modi and Wickremesinghe will also discuss ways to speed up negotiations on the much-awaited Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement.

Colombo has put forward the proposal to India for developing the Trincomalee Port to strike a balance between India and China to allay New Delhis concern over Beijings bid to expand its footprints and build strategic assets in and around Sri Lanka.(Deccan Herald)
Fresh evidence suggests that Malaysia Airlines flight 370 is most likely located to the north of a main search zone, Australian scientists say.

MH370 disappeared while flying to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board in 2014.

Australia, Malaysia and China called off their hunt for the jet in January.

Analysing drift modelling of a real Boeing 777 wing part for the first time, scientists backed a December report about MH370's likely location.

That location is an area of approximately 25,000 sq km (9,700 sq miles) lying north of the earlier search zone in the southern Indian Ocean.

"Testing an actual flaperon [wing part] has added an extra level of assurance to the findings from our earlier drift modelling work," said Dr David Griffin, from Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Earlier modelling had used replicas of a flaperon recovered from Reunion Island, the report said.

"We've found that an actual flaperon goes about 20 degrees to the left, and faster than the replicas, as we thought it might," Dr Griffin said.

"The arrival of MH370's flaperon at La Reunion in July 2015 now makes perfect sense."

Last year, Australia's Transport Minister Darren Chester said the December report would not be grounds for a new search because it did not give a "specific location" for the aircraft.

Speaking on Friday, he reiterated that position but said the report had been sent to Malaysia for consideration.

"Malaysia is the lead investigator and any future requests in relation to searching for MH370 would be considered by Australia, at that time."(BBC)
Former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa called on the people to bring the Government to its knees by thronging in thousands to the Galle Face Green on the May Day where the Joint Opposition is scheduled to hold its May Day Rally.

Speaking at the gathering called "Jayanada commemoration" to felicitate Western Provincial Council member Gunasiri Jayanath on his completion of twenty years as a people's representative on Saturday, Mr. Rajapaksa said that the Government had given the Galle Face Green to the Joint Opposition for the May Day rally presuming that the rally would be a ridiculous flop.

"But we must show them our strength," he called on the people.

He charged that the only thing that the Government had done for the past two and a half years, was going round the country making vile allegations against his Government. Apart from this the Government had planned to sell out the country during the past two years, he said.

Comparing the present Government and his regime the former President stated that he had brought the war to an end within the first three years of his tenure and built highways and hospitals, introduced new subjects to the school curriculum and supplied electricity for 98 percent of the population.

"That was the difference between my Government and the Yahapalanaya Government. Had we also been intoxicated with hatred like these people, one could imagine where the country would have been now."

Commenting on the last week's Gazette notification issued by President Maithripala Sirisena declaring garbage disposal as an essential service, he said it was only water, electricity and health that had been declared as essential services so far whereas garbage had been declared as an essential service for the first time.

He also charged that the Government was acting in a highhanded manner ignoring even court rulings.

The former President accused that the Government was planning to bring in a law enabling the soldiers, who protected the country and the people to be hauled before courts on charges levelled even by foreigners. (Sudath Pubudu Keerthi)
The on-going discussions on amendments to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) and the extensive coverage being given by the countrys media to the several view-points expressed, require warm appreciation.

When I initiated the move for improvements not only to the MMDA of 1951 but also to the Muslim Mosques and Charitable Trusts or Wakfs Act of 1956 way back in 1970, in my capacity as the President of the Law Students Muslim Majlis by holding a two- day seminar and establishing the Muslim Law Research Committee, public discussion in the media at that time on Muslim Law was virtually nil. We were encouraged and supported by the highly respected Principal of Sri Lanka Law College the late Mr. R. K. W. Gunasekera in holding the seminar and in following up thereon for two more years.

Following the two- day seminar and the setting up of the Muslim Law Research Committee (MLRC) a committee was established to recommend amendments to the MMDA, headed by then Registrar- General H. M. Z. Farouque, current Professor of Law at the Monash University and another committee to recommend amendments to the Wakfs Act headed by the late A. M. Ameen, then District Judge.



After two years of continual work the two Committees produced two separate reports in 1972, which were submitted to the government. The Mosques Act was amended by Act No. 33 of 1982 incorporating several recommendations of the A. M. Ameen Committee thanks to the dedicated efforts of the then Wakfs Commissioner the late M. I. M. Nalir. Coincidentally the file relating to the Mosques Act was referred to me by the Hon. Attorney-General in my capacity as Senior State Counsel, which enabled me to expedite the amendments, enacted later by Parliament as Act No. 33 of 1982.

But nothing was heard from the government of the H. M. Z. Farouque Committee recommendations, which received the scholarly inputs of late M. A. M. Hussain, District Judge and late A. M. Ismail, then City Coroner, Late M. Markhani, Advocate and Editor of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Law Reports (MMDLR) in addition to the Chairman Farouque. The MLRC report on amendments to the MMDA could be referred to in the (1978) 4 Colombo L. Rev. at page 60. Also for a related publication, please refer to (1972) 4 MMDLR 13.

Presently there are many interesting points of view and counter points of view in the print and social media that require the earnest attention of the Justice Marsoof Saleem Committee. It would be a good idea for the Committee to invite all those interested in the amendments to spend time and engage with them. For this the Committee needs time, particularly if what happened to the several previous laudable efforts, post-Farouque Committee, does not happen to the present Committee! Patience plus assistance to the Committee and not angry retorts at incorrectly quoted statements of a few, are what is presently required.



We ought not to forget that Muslim Law in Sri Lanka has a long and distinguished history. It is as long as the history of the Muslims in this country, dating back from the eighth century onwards. According to Tennent, Ceylon 1, page 597, from Idrisis account of the Sinhalese court of the 12th century, it would appear that the Muslims as well as the Christians and Jews were accorded complete freedom of worship and a matter of internal jurisdiction to be governed by their own laws and usages, apart from being actively associated in the royal consultative council. Dr. H. G. Reissner, Ceylon Historical Journal 111 No. 2 page 141 has stated that in line with their conception that all law was derived from revealed scripture, these communities must have been governed by their respective legal systems in the whole range of civilian commitments from marriage contracts to commercial obligations.

Rev. Fr. S. G. Perera, History of Ceylon for Schools, Volume 1, 1947, page 9 quoting Chief Justice Sir Alexander Johnston, says that when the Portuguese arrived in 1505, Colombo which was the chief port and the mart of the islands trade with a largely Muslim population, had a court of justice to settle disputes according to Islamic Law. For a detailed account of the historical sequence of the Muslim Law in Sri Lanka, one must read Muslims of Sri Lanka, Avenues to Antiquity edited by Dr. M. A. M. Shukry, Chapter on Islamic Law in Sri Lanka- An Historical Survey with Particular Reference to Matrimonial Laws by H. M. Z. Farouque. For a greater appreciation of Islamic jurisprudence by a Sri Lankan jurist, one may delve into the writings and speeches of Justice Dr. C . G. Weeramantry and for historical perspectives, to the writings of Pro. K. M. de Silva, Dr. C. R. de Silva, Dr. Sirima Kiribamune, Dr. Lorna Dewarajah, Dr. Shirani Ponnambalam amongst several others.

"MMDA is reflective of the enjoyment in community with other members of their group the Muslim culture and the practice of the Islamic religion. Enacted by the post independent Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1951, the MMDA has governed the Muslims of Sri Lanka, in their matrimonial matters, for the past 66 years with great acceptance, notwithstanding shortcomings"



In an earlier article published in the Daily Mirror on November 18, 2016 under the title, International Treaties protect the Personal Laws of Minorities(http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/119344.html), reference was made to Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which prevents the state from denying the rights of minorities, in community with other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion or to use their own language. Reference was also made to the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. MMDA is reflective of the enjoyment in community with other members of their group the Muslim culture and the practice of the Islamic religion. Enacted by the post independent Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1951, the MMDA has governed the Muslims of Sri Lanka, in their matrimonial matters, for the past 66 years with great acceptance, notwithstanding shortcomings. Under these and other international treaties to which Sri Lanka is a state party, the Sri Lankan state is obliged to protect the MMDA and as per Article 1 of the ICCPR encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity. Changes to the MMDA must therefore come from within the Muslim community. MMDA requires improvement both from the legal and administrative perspectives. We need to support the Justice Marsoof Saleem Committee with goodwill and adequate time to achieve the objectives of reform with the fresh experiences of the past 66 years.



The writer could be reached on mm_zuhair@yahoo.com
An individual, who attempted to smuggle 511 kgs of red sandalwood into the country from India via sea, was arrested by the Navy today.

The suspect was arrested on receipt of intelligence information to the Navy.

The Navy said the search operation was carried out in the Anawasala area in Kalpitiya and the racketeer was nabbed along with the dinghy used for the transportation of the high  valued red sandalwood stock.

The suspect and the stock of red sandalwood were handed over to the Sri Lanka Customs Sub-Preventive Office in Sinnapadu for legal action.
Even though the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was having a difficult time, it was not worth abandoning for short term benefits, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva today said.

While addressing a SLFP electorate meeting held at the Badulla Postal Auditorium, the Minister made the above remark and said the party should be saved for long term rather than following short term advantages.

There were times we lost elections and lost our positions, however, we survived and we were able to protect the party. Each and every single member has a shared responsibility to safeguard the SLFP. Even though there are some misgivings we should work towards the betterment of the party, he said.

Minister Siripala also said creating a new political party was not an answer to resolve the matters. He stressed that whatever the issue, it should be solved within the party. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)
Jayalath Manorathna in a scene from Socrates

It was a delight to see the name Socrates on a billboard, advertising a play with Jayalath Manoratne playing the Greek philosopher, who was sentenced to death, accused of corrupting the minds of the young.

It is a bold theme nowadays for the Sinhala theatre, which looks pedestrian and small-minded, having lost almost its entire capacity to take on intellectual themes and classics from the international stage.

The staging of Shakespeares Hamlet in Sinhala last month was a rare glimmer of hope but one misses Sugathapala de Silva and Marat-Sade on the one hand and Henry Jayasena and Hunuwataye Kathawa on the other. In that context, a play which can take on a big idea is welcome indeed.

Socrates is neither a translation nor an adaptation of a foreign play. The script has been written by Prof. Sunanda Mahendra and the play directed by Nimal Ekanayake, with music by Navaratne Gamage.

The cast included Wasantha Wittachchi, Chamila Pieris, Lal Kularatne, Sanjeewa Dissanayake, Richard Manamudali, Susil Wickremasinghe and others.

Unfortunately, this production leaves much to be desired. Some of the dialogues were delivered too rapidly and hence unintelligible. The play focuses on key events in the latter part of Socrates life, but fails to come alive. The use of masks in several scenes reinforces the sense of a classical Greek tragedy, but such devices cannot make up for the lack of dramatic force.

The Clouds, a satirical comedy by Aristophanes, is central to the plot of Socrates. There are three contemporary historical sources about Socrates  Aristophanes, Xenophon and Plato (Xenophon was a pupil of Socrates). Aristophanes was mostly negative about the philosopher, while Xenophon and Plato were positive.



For example, Aristophanes claimed that Socrates was a sophist and accepted money for his teaching, while the latter two both denied this. Aristophanes denied too, that Socrates died a martyrs death, while Xenophon said it was a voluntary suicide and Plato said that Socrates died as a hero for truth.

Aristophanes lampooned Socrates and Athenian intellectual fashions in his

play The Clouds.

Plato believed that the play was directly responsible for the trial and condemnation of Socrates. But other historical sources do not attribute such influence to the play, which was initially badly received by the public. According to one Greek source, when foreigners in the audience began asking who this Socrates was during a performance, the then middle-aged philosopher who was watching the play silently got up to answer that question.

Jayalath Manoratne as a very mature actor succeeds in getting under the skin of his role-that of a septuagenarian man of intellect puzzled that his ideas for a better world should earn the wrath of those who ruled.

It is a classic case of the individual against the State. But he was not a solitary individual; Socrates had a significant following, especially among the young, fed up with the

established order.

"Jayalath Manoratne as a very mature actor succeeds in getting under the skin of his role-that of a septuagenarian man of intellect puzzled that his ideas for a better world should earn the wrath of those who ruled. "



He was a rebel without a politically volatile ism. Instead of workers stomachs, Socrates wants to bring relief to the brains of a new generation starved of new ideas. But the ruling class is rattled by his ideas.

The trouble is that Manoratne does not physically fit the Socrates, we know from historical sources. It is generally accepted that he came from the lower classes. His father was a stone mason. As a young man, he was a soldier in the Athenian army, part of its armoured infantry. Though a short figure, he must have been physically very strong, and his bravery is attested for by contemporary sources.

Manoratne does not fit this description. He looks erudite, which he should be. But you cant believe hed ever been a soldier, nor is there any reference to that part of Socrates life. There is one effective scene where two parents, who put their son under Socrates tutelage, are shocked when the son returns home as a madman.

This episode with its surrealistic mood is the best in the entire play. But other scenes do not match up to this, and the use of stage props and lighting leaves much to be desired.

One should be glad that a production of this magnitude has been undertaken, but one could also wish it could have been better.
Tehran, Iran, April 23

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Iran is going to sign a deal on South Pars gas fields Phase 11 with Total which will most likely happen in less than a month, Irans Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs and Trade Amir Hossein Zamaninia said.

The news comes a few days after US President Donald Trump extended a halt to the implementation of a set of sanctions on Iran, easing concerns by Total that their deal with Iran would be stalled if Trump implemented the sanctions.

Previously, the company was waiting for the settlement of some changes in Washington, which now have happened and the company is continuing the talks, Zamaninia mentioned in an interview with ISNA news agency April 23.

On February 19, Irans Deputy Oil Minister Ali Kardor said Total had started planning to build the first pillar of the platform at South Pars Phase 11. A team from Total recently visited Iran. They have stressed that they will continue their cooperation with Iran, Kardor said.

The CEO of Frances Total Patrick Pouyanne had said Feb. 9 that the company planned to make a final investment decision on a $2 billion gas project in Iran by summer, but added the decision hinged on the renewal of US sanctions waivers.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson certified on April 18 that Iran is complying with the terms of former President Barack Obama's historic deal to roll back its nuclear program. The certification, made to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), extended sanctions relief to Iran.

In an April 2016 campaign speech, Trump claimed that Iran had already violated the deal, immediately after Obama had made it.

Last week Iran caught up with Qatar in extracting gas from the joint field. With the new deal, Iran will probably leave Qatar behind, fulfilling a decades-long dream.
African and Middle Eastern refugee flow created huge crises in Europe

ISIS strategically managed to draw US into a war against them

In France, in the aftermath of the lone wolf attack at the Champs-Elysees, the Ultra Right French Nationalist Party candidate Marine Le Pen said if she becomes president, she will close down all mosques. Secondly she said every individual who is a suspect in the French investigations on terrorism - if they are not French citizens - will be deported immediately. Two days later in Germany, when the anti-immigration party which shares many views similar to Le Penn organized a forum in Cologne, nearly 50,000 Germans started descending in Cologne to oppose the party forum. These two narratives sum up the crises in Europe which are engulfing the two key states in the European Union.



Frances first round of the election just concluded yesterday, which was carefully observed by analysts, global media and policy makers with interest, enthusiasm and concern. The 2017 presidential election has four main contenders out of whom three were new comers and had not held any political office and they all represent very different world views. These candidates represent the new realities, not just in France but a reconfiguration of political communities on a

global scale.

The success and prosperity of a common Europe was grounded on the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) mooted in the 1950s, which saw for the first time two historical rivals in Europe - France and Germany - setting aside their rivalries and looking forward to moving ahead together. Based on this ending of hostilities, Europe slowly started to prosper around the integration of trade, markets, finance, borders, common currency to creating a political institution all encompassed into what we call the European Union.

"What the Brexit and Trump election symbolized was a recession or rupture in both the liberal project and the liberal order"



For the European Union and European states, the importance was that the organization was not purely political but represented a powerful bloc in the world that could work towards sustaining and spreading the liberal values of the European project. This is different from the liberal world order that the Americans championed after the Second World War. These two do complement each other but are different in form and intention. For the Americans it is a way of maintaining strategic advantage and dominance. For the Europeans; it is a vehicle of making European values the moral high ground for any political community, the gold standard of democratic societies.

What the Brexit and Trump election symbolized was a recession or rupture in both the liberal project and the liberal order. While the world is yet to understand the full force of a Trump candidacy, it is getting some snapshots; what is more alarming for liberals globally is that the election outcome in France would determine the very existence of the European project. The Europe liberal project is already undergoing a major unravelling. The catalyst for this was not Trump, Le Pen or the Brexit, it was the ascendancy of populist leaders in Hungary and Poland to power. Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban and the Polish leader Jarosaw Kaczynski represent a power duo, i.e. they both have one thing in common they are ex-communists. Yet they managed to inspire a new generation of nationalists who felt under the European project their rights were taken away by bureaucrats and the European Union did nothing for the betterment of many ailing European economies in the aftermath of the 2007 financial crises and the massive demographic challenges with refugee flows from North Africa and the Middle East.

While the Liberal project is facing ominous signs, and the liberal order itself is in a self-destructive mode, Liberal thinker John Ikenberry calls recent actions of the Trump presidency as a means of sabotaging the liberal world order by the nation that created it in the mid 20th Century. While there is so much being discussed about the fate of the liberal order and the liberal project, the common denominator of both democracies itself seems to be the weapon of choice that is being used to dismantle the core values and institutions built by them both. Thus every election win for the nationalists is through democratic means; another significant European democracy the Turkish democracy - went through a process of reinventing its

political landscape.

On 16th April, the referendum to make 18 amendments to the Turkish constitution took place giving a slim victory to the incumbent President Tayyip Erdogan. Soli Ozel, a Turkish professor of international relations, in a recent opinion piece claimed that the amendments were approved after a relentless campaign of obfuscation, misrepresentation, and vilification. Yet the outcome came through democratic means of a referendum. Thus any form of national and long-term consolidation of power even through democratic means is not a healthy option. Yet all these developments in Europe signal that the European project is not under siege - it is being recreated from inside by a new set of forces.



There are multitudes of interpretations about populist movements, nationalist politics in the recent past, but a major phenomenon which is driving this narrative is under-discussed. The year 2016 not only gave rise to the Trump movement it also gave rise to an alarming trend of misinformation and scant disregard for facts. The politics of lies, misinformation was never the main stream in advanced democratic societies. Suddenly it has become the norm. Political scientist Francis Fukuyama well known for his end of history thesis, called this development the emergence of a Post fact world.

The idea of a Post fact world is a serious analysis, not just a mere observation of a simple fact that politicians in advanced societies have resorted to lies or fake information. This idea goes beyond this simplistic narrative, the concern is how come political communities, ordinary citizens do not care about facts or truth but tend to vote and make decisions on a set of subjective narratives disconnected from ground realities. Thus existential threats to human security have become so fictitious, it is creating a dangerous outcome for global politics.

The internet, according to the Fukuyama is now like the Wild West, it came with so much promise, many analysts, activists saw the internet as providing spaces and agency for the oppressed and the voiceless, Larry diamond called it a liberation technology. Yet in the current context it has become a battleground for misinformation campaigns, it has become the hub of fake news, the cauldron of the post factual world. French political campaigns for the first round of the presidential election has spawned stories, accusations, where global intelligence analysts are claiming that there are a multitude of external players who are trying to effect the election process by generating false information for the advantage of one candidate.

"Can the French save themselves and in turn save the genuine liberals or will the election create the fracture that will open a political fault line with repercussions reaching beyond the limits of Western Europe ? "



It seems terror outfits like ISIL are cashing in on the uncertainty of information and political decision making gripping Western societies. The lone wolf attack just a few days before the first round of the French elections, the letter that the attacker had in possession announcing his allegiance to the ISIS, seems like an orchestration to make the French public elect a candidate that beats the war drums. ISIS strategically has managed to draw America into a war against them, it seems now they want France to follow suit. ISIS thrives on war not on peace; any violent extremist group cannot exist if there is no counter-violence against them. Thus the most interesting and alarming fact is that ironically the democratic societies themselves are the most vulnerable to misinformation and fake narratives campaigns that aid and extend strategic outcomes desired by organization which want to destroy the democratic world.

France stands as the bastion for liberalism that cant afford to fall, can it wither a post factual onslaught? Can the French save themselves and in turn save the genuine liberals or will the election create the fracture that will open a political fault line with repercussions reaching beyond the limits of Western Europe ? Are liberals globally about to taste the French kiss of death or will France preserve its liberty, freedom and the republic? At this moment all bets are off.



The Writer is the Director, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS)
In yet another chilling instance of self-styled gau rakshaks targeting cattle traders  and mob mentality thriving undeterred  three men transporting buffaloes were attacked by "cow vigilantes" in south Delhi's Kalkaji late Saturday, a Hindustan Times report said.

The sequence of events was uncannily similar to the way Pehlu Khan, a dairy farmer from Alwar, was lynched by gau rakshaks on April 1. The Delhi Police said that three men, Ashu, Rizwan and Kamran  all incidentally Muslim  were beaten up by members of the People For Animals, an NGO headed by Union minister Menaka Gandhi.

Late Saturday, the officials recieved a phone call from few "animal activists" who claimed that some buffaloes were being transported illegally from the South Delhi suburb. However, upon reaching the spot, they found that two cattle traders, and the driver of the truck carrying the buffaloes had been beaten up, and rushed the wounded to the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Cattle trader Ashu had a bleeding cut under his left eye. (Photo: Twitter/The Quint)

Senior journalist Hartosh Singh Bal, a witness to the incident, tweeted that he spoke to the "cow vigilantes", who admitted to assaulting the three men:

Just at kalkaji p.s. Saw 3 truck drivers transporting buffaloes lying by roadside beaten badly by gau rakshaks near kalkaji metro station  Hartosh Singh Bal (@HartoshSinghBal) April 22, 2017

Was at spot talking to the men sporting saffron tilaks who admitted to beating them https://t.co/9JmmbagHH0  Hartosh Singh Bal (@HartoshSinghBal) April 22, 2017

All 3 beaten up muslims. Get call from some ankit claiming to be from @aajtak saying cops told him they were beaten by locals. A lie  Hartosh Singh Bal (@HartoshSinghBal) April 22, 2017

any nonsense will do? Meneka Gandhi denies it, if cops are right they should charge Modi's minister for culpability in assault & battery https://t.co/fh7wePsnld  Hartosh Singh Bal (@HartoshSinghBal) April 23, 2017

An attack every week

The Kalkaji attack comes only a day after another group of "gau rakshaks" attacked a family in Jammu's Reasi district, injuring five people, including a nine-year-old girl, over suspicions of cattle smuggling.

The family of nomads was travelling with their cows, dogs and herds of goats and sheep when it was singled out and beaten up by the vigilantes.

In the recent past, such vigilante groups have grown in presence and numbers across the country, emboldened by the indifference of the state and the Union government. These self-styled "gau rakshaks" use social media and WhatsApp to peddle false reports of cow slaughter and incense the public in communally-sensitive pockets.

With the rising number of lynchings, attacks and threats in the name of the cow, considered holy by the Hindu majority, protests against intolerance, protests witnessed following the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq at Dadri, have been replaced by inaction and silence.

The medieval-style lynchings, no longer an exception, have ceased to elicit massive outrage, let alone constructive action against the mobs.

Responding to Pehlu Khan's horrific murder, Union minister for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi denied that any such incident took place, far from condoling the dairy farmer's death. The home minster in the BJP-ruled Rajasthan, meanwhile, blamed the victim: He must have transported the cows illegally, hence he was penalised.

From Dadri to Latehar, from Una to Alwar, and from Jammu to now the capital, "cow terrror" has spread throughout the country.
Have you ever heard of a minister saying a bureaucrat serving under his government should be sent to a mental hospital? A Kerala minister is of the opinion that the state's most popular bureaucrat needs to be sent to Oolampara, a famous mental asylum in Kerala.

"Devikulam subcollector Sriram Venkitaraman should be sent to Oolampara," Kerala electricity minister and CPI (M) leader MM Mani said on Saturday.

30-year-old Venkitraman has been in the headlines since he started an anti-encroachment drive in Munnar, taking on the land mafia as they bulldozed through the forests to build illegal resorts and commercial establishments in one of India's most ecologically-fragile areas.

Unfazed by opposition from the local cadres and leaders of the ruling party, the young bureaucrat cracked the whip on the encroachers. It was a mission to save Munnar, an ecologically-sensitive place known for its picturesque beauty, with the backing of Kerala's revenue department, headed by E Chandrasekharan, a minister from the CPI.

MM Mani lashed out at the subcollector by calling him a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) agent, and the social media trolled him for this "revelation", posting that even Che Guevara would be branded as RSS leader in the existing socio-political ecosystem of Kerala.

The subcollector gained popularity for implementing the law of the land without succumbing to political pressure from any party. Photo: Deccan Chronicle

Sriram's anti-encroachment drive reached a crossroads when his team demolished a crucifix at Pappathichola in Munnar, which the revenue department officials claimed was erected illegally.

As the subcollector gained popularity for implementing the law of the land without succumbing to political pressure from any party, the Kerala society saw the demolition of the cross as a legitimate move. But the CPI (M) leaders were not impressed with the man behind it.

The party rules the state under the leadership of strongman Pinarayi Vijayan, and the bureaucratic machinery is working under their direction. But leaders like MM Mani think that the officers are acting in line with the RSS agenda.

Minister Mani has gone to the extent of saying the cross was demolished just like the Babri Masjid was attacked in Ayodhya.

These remarks have put the LDF government on a defensive plank, at the same time demotivating the young IAS officers to carry on with such popular initiatives.

It's a fact that inaction from government machineries has amplified the courage of encroachers in Munnar, resulting in ruining a large extent of forest area.

Sriram, a doctor-turned IAS officer, has put a halt on the free run of encroachers. This has caused irritation among the land mafia and local political leaders who have vested interests in the hilly destination.

Munnar, one of the top hill stations in the country, is situated at around 1,600 metres above the sea level in the Western Ghats.

An ecologically-fragile land with two wildlife sanctuaries and four national parks, Munnar has some exceptional natural attractions like Neelakurinji, a flowering plant that blooms once in 12 years, and the endangered Nilgiri tahr, along with more than 3,000 species of flowers, endangered birds, insects, and mammals.

The encroachers have put this rich biological diversity at risk. Sriram has given notices to more than 100 unauthorised constructions, spurring hope among the environmentalists. After visiting Munnar recently, Union minister CR Choudhary, has presented an inspection report to the Centre stating that place is in an extremely dangerous position.

But, the problem is that our "isms" don't bother about the ecology, and the political parties are trained at grabbing power and retaining it at any cost.

The immature, yet powerful politicians have put the delicate ecosystem of Munnar at stake.

That's the reason why this young bureaucrat makes great sense. To him, ecology matters.

Sriram Venkitaraman has been cornered now for taking on the politically-backed land mafia, and branded an RSS man.
Tehran, Iran, April 23

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

An Iranian and a Norwegian company have signed an agreement in principle to cooperate to improve Irans polypropylene technology and the technology of related catalysts.

The agreement was signed by officials from Irans Petrochemical Research and Technology Company Norways Norner, SHANA news agency reported April 23.

The signing of the agreement comes shortly after Hyosung Corp., South Koreas leading chemical and textile company, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Irans state-run National Petrochemical Company in the business of polypropylene (PP), thermoplastic polymer used in making plastic products and home appliance, products.

The Korean company said it has been in talks with its Iranian counterpart to determine the feasibility of its PP business in the country, but has not made any conclusion yet.
Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. operates as a branded consumer products company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Home and Personal Care; Global Pet Care; and Home and Garden. The Home and Personal Care segment provides home appliances under the Black & Decker, Russell Hobbs, George Foreman, Toastmaster, Juiceman, Farberware, and Breadman brands; and personal care products under the Remington and LumaBella brands. The Global Pet Care segment provides rawhide chewing, dog and cat clean-up and food, training, health and grooming, small animal food and care, and rawhide-free products under the 8IN1 (8-in-1), Dingo, Nature's Miracle, Wild Harvest, Littermaid, Jungle, Excel, FURminator, IAMS, Eukanuba, Healthy-Hide, DreamBone, SmartBones, ProSense, Perfect Coat, eCOTRITION, Birdola, Good Boy, Meowee!, Wildbird, and Wafcol brands. This segment also offers aquarium kits, stand-alone tanks, and aquatics equipment and consumables under the Tetra, Marineland, Whisper, Instant Ocean, GloFish, OmegaOne, and OmegaSea brands. The Home and Garden segment provides outdoor insect and weed control solutions, and animal repellents under the Spectracide, Garden Safe, Liquid Fence, and EcoLogic brands; household pest control solutions under the Hot Shot, Black Flag, Real-Kill, Ultra Kill, The Ant Trap, and Rid-A-Bug brand names; household surface cleaning, maintenance, and restoration products, including bottled liquids, mops, wipes, and markers under the Rejuvenate brand name; and personal-use pesticides and insect repellent products under the Cutter and Repel brands. The company sells its products through retailers, e-commerce and online retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the electric utility, banking, and renewable/sustainable infrastructure investment businesses in the state of Hawaii. It operates in three segments: Electric Utility, Bank, and Other. The Electric Utility segment engages in the production, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. Its renewable energy sources and potential sources include wind, solar, photovoltaic, geothermal, wave, hydroelectric, municipal waste, and other biofuels. This segment serves suburban communities, resorts, the United States armed forces installations, and agricultural operations. The Bank segment operates a community bank that offers banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses, including savings and checking accounts; and loans comprising residential and commercial real estate, residential mortgage, construction and development, multifamily residential and commercial real estate, consumer, and commercial loans. This segment operates 42 branches, including 29 branches in Oahu, 6 branches in Maui, 4 branches in Hawaii, 2 branches in Kauai, and 1 branch in Molokai. The Other segment invests in non-regulated renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure in the State of Hawaii. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. was incorporated in 1891 and is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Citizens Bank, National Association that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, corporations, and institutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. The Consumer Banking segment offers deposit products, mortgage and home equity lending products, credit cards, business loans, wealth management, and investment services; and auto, education, and point-of-sale finance loans, as well as digital deposit products. This segment serves its customers through telephone service centers, as well as through its online and mobile platforms. The Commercial Banking segment provides various financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, and interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as syndicated loans, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and debt and equity capital markets services. This segment serves government banking, not-for-profit, healthcare, technology, professionals, oil and gas, asset finance, franchise finance, asset-based lending, commercial real estate, private equity, and sponsor finance industries. It operates approximately 1,200 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia; 114 retail and commercial non-branch offices in national markets; and approximately 3,300 automated teller machines. The company was formerly known as RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and changed its name to Citizens Financial Group, Inc. in April 2014. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1828 and is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.
Consolidated Edison, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses in the United States. It offers electric services to approximately 3.5 million customers in New York City and Westchester County; gas to approximately 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens, and Westchester County; and steam to approximately 1,555 customers in parts of Manhattan. The company also supplies electricity to approximately 0.3 million customers in southeastern New York and northern New Jersey; and gas to approximately 0.1 million customers in southeastern New York. In addition, it operates 533 circuit miles of transmission lines; 15 transmission substations; 64 distribution substations; 87,564 in-service line transformers; 3,924 pole miles of overhead distribution lines; and 2,291 miles of underground distribution lines, as well as 4,350 miles of mains and 377,971 service lines for natural gas distribution. Further, the company owns, operates, and develops renewable and energy infrastructure projects; and provides energy-related products and services to wholesale and retail customers, as well as invests in electric and gas transmission projects. It primarily sells electricity to industrial, commercial, residential, and government customers. The company was founded in 1823 and is based in New York, New York.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

Iran and China have signed an agreement on redesigning the Islamic Republics heavy water reactor of Arak, IRNA news agency reported.

According to the report, the deal on modernizing the nuclear reactor in central Iran came as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA aka nuclear deal) implemented last January.

Under the deal signed on April 23 in Vienna, China will oversee the projects prepared by Iranian experts on modernizing the nuclear reactor.

The report added that China must confirm whether the projects meet the international standards on safety.

Under the nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers, the US and China should approve the project for modernizing the Arak heavy water reactor.

The 40-megawatt Arak reactor is intended to produce isotopes for cancer and other medical treatments. Iran is redesigning the planned research reactor to sharply cut its potential output of plutonium.

Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, earlier said that the amount of plutonium the reactor will be able to yield will be reduced to less than 1 kg a year from 9-10 kg in its original design. Iran had earlier removed the sensitive core of the Arak nuclear reactor.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani has called for expansion of intelligence cooperation with neighboring Afghanistan aimed at strengthening fight against terrorism.

In a telephone conversation with National Security Adviser of Afghanistan Mohammad Hanif Atmar last night, Shamkhani said that accelerating intelligence and security cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan will contribute to protecting stability and security in both countries, IRNA news agency reported.

Shamkhani further condemned a recent terrorist attack by Taliban on a military base in Afghanistan and expressed his sympathy for the victims of the terror attack.

He also accused some regional countries of destabilizing Afghanistan and weakening its security structure in order to pave the ground for transferring defeated terrorists from Syria and Iraq to this country.

Afghanistans defense ministry has announced that at least 100 Afghan soldiers were killed or wounded following the Taliban attack on the army base near the city of Mazar-e Sharif in northern Balkh province on Friday.
President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that Iran is now paving the path of success and progress as ill-wishers are trying to create obstacles to hinder such advances, IRNA reported.

President Rouhani made the remarks duing inaugural ceremony of a number of industrial projects via video conference on Sunday.

'We should take advantage of the sound atmosphere created mainly after the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to boost the country's economy and industry in the province,' he said.

Trade exchanges have been eased and big ships have now berthed at the Iranian ports to load and unload commodities which mean grounds for export of our products are well-prepared, Rouhani said.

Referring to the upcoming presidential elections, President Rouhani said it is 'our duty to encourage people to go to the ballot boxes and we hope to witness another epic' much greater than the former round of presidential election campaign.
Staff and officials at Charlottesville City Schools recently received the first feedback from the School Board on a draft of the divisions next strategic plan.

The division is in the process of finalizing the five-year plan, which focuses on academics, supportive school environments and organizational supports.

Board members discussed the draft Wednesday after parents, students, teachers and other stakeholders gave their feedback at several community meetings held over a period of months.

School divisions are required to have a strategic plan, and many use the document as a guide for decisions on operations, budgets and other functions.

Jeff Faust, director of technology, and Beth Cheuk, city schools spokeswoman, presented the draft and took feedback from board members.

I think it was gratifying that the School Board seemed in sync with the feedback that we've heard from the community, Cheuk said. And I think the School Board, like other people who are looking at the document, looked at it very carefully and gave very helpful feedback, which makes the plan a better plan in the long run.

Board members hashed out concerns with wording in the draft and whether the plan is targeting the right areas, ideas and principles.

Division staffers will take that feedback as they work on a new draft of the plan to be presented to the board at a future meeting.

We spent a lot of time speaking about issues of equity, and I would say that those issues of making sure that all of our students succeed really came out again, not just last night, but in lots of meetings with parents, students, teachers, staff and people in the community, Cheuk said Thursday.

The section on academic excellence focuses on equitable, student-centered leaning and on developing well-rounded citizens.

The board is really looking at this plan as being really transformational, in that we are looking beyond the baseline, we are looking at  I think the term that we used was moonshot-type of recommendations for our kids. And we want to look at each of our kids and see how we can make the school system and what we teach meaningful to them, said Juandiego Wade, board chairman.

Part of framing the context of the strategic plan is watching standards and influences at the state and national level.

In particular, the city schools are keeping an eye on the states Profile of a Virginia Graduate, which focuses on the knowledge and skills high school students need for life after graduation.

The safe and supportive schools component of the revised plan focuses on creating spaces that foster social, emotional and physical wellness. The organizational supports component targets the systems and processes that will allow students, staff and schools to thrive, according to the draft of the plan.

Faust said that among the most notable parts of the draft plan is how the division will try to make the current structures and systems already in place more accessible to all students.

What stands out to me is putting forward the idea that we want all learners to not only have the opportunity but have the support and have the staff believe in the fact that everybody can achieve at a high level, he said. And that's what we want this plan to put forward and thats what we want this plan to support.

The School Board is set to approve the 2017-23 strategic plan in July, Cheuk said, but will have other chances to hash out details before then.

Cheuk, Faust and division staff will continue working with parents, teachers and other focus groups as they fine-tune the details of the plan. They have scheduled meetings with the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce and the University of Virginias Curry School of Education.

We have a group of professors over at the Curry School that were going to bounce things off of and have them provide any input that they might see either as, Oh, this is a great way to put this, or what things that they see as being possible red flags, Faust said.

A community-wide forum seeking more input on the plan is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. May 11 at Charlottesville High School.

The School Board has a retreat scheduled for May 19. Faust said he hopes that the refinement process of the plan will continue during the retreat.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif conferred with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the first International Forum on Ancient Civilizations in Athens, Greece, on Sunday, IRNA reported.

During the meeting, both officials discussed bilateral ties, regional and international issues.

Zarif arrived in the Greek capital Sunday morning for a two-day visit to participate in the international forum.

While in Athens, Zarif is also expected to meet his counterparts from other participating countries.

The two-day forum of ancient civilizations kicked off on Sunday. It is attended by foreign ministers from Iran, China, India, Italy and Egypt, among other participating states.
Recently, the Department of Homeland Securitys Customs and Border Protection division demanded that Twitter reveal the identity of the person behind an account that has been criticizing the Trump administration.

The agency had no authority to issue such a demand, and quickly retracted it. But you could not have scripted a better incident to confirm the worst fears of Trump administration critics about its neo-fascist tendencies.

As a Washington Post story noted, Twitters primary objection, the company said, is that allowing the government to unmask Twitter critics violates the Constitutions First Amendment right to free speech. ... That right, the company said, is particularly important when discussing political speech. First Amendment interests are at their zenith when, as here, the speech at issue touches on matters of public political life, [Twitters court] filing said (washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/04/06/the-government-is-demanding-to-know-who-this-trump-critic-is-twitter-is-suing-to-keep-it-a-secret/?utm_term=.9d342f16baef).

Twitter fretted that the demand may reflect the very sort of official retaliation that can result from speech that criticizes government officials and agencies.

Civil libertarians were  quite properly  outraged.

Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden called the DHS demand a witch hunt. In a letter to CPB, he pronounced himself gravely alarmed by an apparent attempt to squelch the exercise of First Amendment rights to comment on U.S. policy, and to make those comments anonymously.

The case was about the broader right to speak anonymously on the Internet, said Esha Bhandari, a staff lawyer with the ACLU. In a subsequent statement, she told The Washington Post, Speaking anonymously about issues of the day is a longstanding American tradition, dating back to when the framers of the Constitution wrote under pseudonyms. The anonymity that the First Amendment guarantees is often most essential when people criticize the government, and this free speech right is as important today as ever.

Alex Howard, deputy director of the Sunlight Foundation, praised Twitters rebuff of the CBP demand: The choices they made to stand up for their users set important precedents for other companies now and into the future.

This is all very good to hear, especially in light of the hand-wringing over dark money in political campaigns. Dark money consists of donations to groups such as Americans for Prosperity, the League of Conservation Voters, and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Those politically oriented nonprofit groups can use the money for independent expenditures urging the public to vote for or against a political candidate.

Dark-money expenditures have increased in recent years, but they still represent only a tiny fraction of total campaign spending. The vast majority of the money  more than 90 percent  gets spent by candidates, political parties, and groups formed to support specific candidates.

Nevertheless, dark money sounds despicable. It summons images of robber barons twirling their mustaches as they plot world domination  even though it is just as likely to be spent by NARAL Pro-Choice America or the Environmental Defense Action Fund.

Because it sounds awful, it has elicited calls for disclosure. Legislation has been introduced in Congress and in more than half the states that would require such incorporated nonprofits to disclose their donors. One New York proposal would require nonprofits to disclose the identities of anyone who gave them more than $1,000 if they express any opinion about any position taken on any issue by any candidate, legislature, or executive agency. If Friends of the Earth says state Sen. Smith is wrong to support fracking, the group would have to reveal the identity of all its donors, submit internal communications to the government for review, and more.

And guess who supports such disclosure?

Right: Ron Wyden. The senator says he was proud to sponsor legislation that would require all entities that engage in election-related activity to report their significant donors.

And the Sunlight Foundation, which wants Congress to pass the DISCLOSE Act, which it says would require secretive nonprofits to reveal the names of significant donors, unless those donors specify that their money cant be used for political purposes.

To its credit, the ACLU has criticized dark-money disclosure laws, at least those like the one in New York, as overly broad measures that could chill constitutionally protected speech.

Campaign-finance reformers like to pretend their concern has to do with money, especially corporate money  not political speech. But its impossible to separate the two. When NARAL Pro-Choice America blasts a Republican for his stance on abortion rights, it spends money to do so. The money isnt speech. But it makes the speech possible, and you cant limit the expenditure without limiting the speech, too  any more than you could cap the amount of money spent on abortions without limiting abortion rights.

Indeed, thats precisely the question that lay at the heart of the Supreme Courts widely reviled, and even more widely misunderstood, ruling in Citizens United: whether the government could stop a non-profit corporation from publishing criticism of a politician in the weeks leading into an election.

Twitter is a for-profit corporation that recently published criticism of a politician by the name of Donald Trump. Lets hope those who were horrified by the administrations demand that the user be unmasked think long and hard about whether they want the government unmasking other critics, too.

A. Barton Hinkle is a writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Contact him at bhinkle@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6627.
Opponents of closing a Madison Heights facility for the severely disabled warned that moving residents would result in deaths.

They were right  tragically so.

Now Virginia has yet another federal Justice Department investigation on its hands  this one focused on the deaths of three former residents, at least one of whom was transferred without the permission of his family.

State officials decided to move residents from the Central Virginia Training Center in order to deal with a current nursing shortage and to accommodate the centers eventual closure. CVTC serves Virginians with severe developmental disabilities.

Opponents, including families, argued that many of the residents, who are highly vulnerable mentally, emotionally and physically, had lived at CVTC for decades. It was their home; many had grown up there; they were well adjusted to their environment. Any upheaval would be dangerous.

They were right. Of six residents transferred to a new facility since last October, three have died.

Ironically, the transfer program is linked to an older effort to try to improve conditions for Virginias mentally and developmentally disabled. A decade ago, the Justice Department launched its first investigation into the quality of care being given to the states severely disabled residents. The investigation began at CVTC and expanded to other facilities. It was prompted in part by complaints from family members and other advocates over what was seen as an atrociously dismal level of care.

Virginia settled with the DOJ and, as part of its effort to rectify conditions, decided to close all but one of the old centers and move residents either into one remaining facility or into local community care.

Critics warned that local care would not suffice for residents as severely disabled as some of those being served at the centers.

Meanwhile, CVTC suffered a nursing shortage and found itself unable to meet nursing standards in its skilled care facility. It downgraded the facility to a level requiring fewer nurses.

The state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services then upgraded Petersburgs Hiram W. Davis Medical Center to training center status so that it could accept residents from CVTC.

Three of the six residents sent there since October 2016 have died. Critics want the investigation expanded to determine whether any other deaths occurred prior to that time.

Also heartbreaking is the fact that several families warned of such likely consequences  and had to watch as the state acted despite their protestations.

CVTC is facing a tough situation. If it doesnt have enough nurses to care for severely disabled patients, then what are its alternatives?

But the state must ensure that if residents are transferred, they then are accommodated at a superior facility. That Hiram Davis is an improvement is now in doubt.

Secretary of Health and Human Resources William A. Hazel Jr. says he welcomes the DOJ probe. Investigators cant get here fast enough, he said.

Our thoughts exactly.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

Iranian parliaments judiciary commission has agreed with a proposal on the abolition of death penalty for a group of convicts of drug-related crimes.

Under the bill, the drug-related death penalty will be abolished except for those involved in organized and armed narcotics offenses, Mehr news agency reported.

According to the bill, this group of convicts will face at least 25 years in jail instead of execution.

However, the bill still needs to pass the parliament and move through Guardian Council, the countrys constitutional watchdog body, in order to become a law.
Syria, North Korea, Afghanistan, Russia: These are just some of the unresolved global crises that President Trump inherited. But the new administration is being forced to manage all these crises with one hand tied behind its back because it lacks a fully staffed State Department.

The president demonstrated that he intends to embark on an aggressive, forward-leaning, hard-power-based foreign policy with the strikes against Syria following the chemical weapons attack against civilians, the use of the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) in Afghanistan, the tough posture toward North Korea and the devolution of greater authority to the military in operational theaters.

At the same time, in line with much of his campaign rhetoric, Trump has proposed a series of significant cuts at the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, while refraining from filling most of the appointed positions in Foggy Bottom.

The White House seems to think that military muscle and effective soft power are mutually exclusivebut in reality, the president can employ both at the same time. In fact, it is imperative that he does so for our countrys national security.

Does the State Department need reforming and streamlining? Yes.

Over the past few decades, the department has grown to include a number of offices and personnel that could be downsized and refocused. At times, Foggy Bottom has seemed entirely disconnected from the realities we face internationallya rather surprising observation. The State Department was found wanting in Iraq and Afghanistan, unable to provide the personnel and expertise needed to support counterinsurgency campaigns in both countries. Yet, at the same time, the department had numerous duplicative outreach and grant programs in place around the world.

These programs do have a place in our foreign policybut an honest accounting of the missions, mandates, personnel and resources would undoubtedly lead to rationalization, increased efficiency and cost savings.

Is starving the State Department of leadership the way to achieve this goal? No.

Right now, there are nearly 100 unfilled political appointees and ambassadorships at the department. These include the deputy secretary of state; deputy secretary of state for management and resources; undersecretary for management; undersecretary for arms control and international security; undersecretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights; undersecretary for economic growth, energy and the environment; and counselor of the department. Of the nine senior officials at the department who sit below the secretary, only two slots are filled.

Given the crisis with North Korea, having an undersecretary for arms control and international security would probably be helpful. How about the situation in Syria? An undersecretary of civilian security, democracy and human rights would likely be useful as well.

Aggressive diplomacy requires personnel who know the countries, the issues and how to navigate complex social, cultural and political webs. At the moment, were on a dangerous path to losing that capability through unfilled posts.

No less than Trumps defense secretary, Jim Mattis, said in 2013: If you dont fully fund the State Department, then I need to buy more ammunition. A strong diplomatic effort must support a strong military effort. The two are not mutually exclusive, but are mutually beneficial to Americas interests.

The presidents use of the vice president and others to fill the void is unsustainable. Vice President Pence, while eminently capable, cannot be the presidents lead diplomat in South Korea.

State Department political appointees are more than just representatives of the administration. They are the gears that turn the policy machine, communicate its message and develop and implement policy. Without them, nothing gets done smoothly, if at all.

And if the president wants to reform Foggy Bottom, it is imperative that he appoint people to do the job. Preventing the State Department from functioning by leaving key leadership positions vacant is not reform; it simply prevents critical diplomatic operations from taking place.

An effort to appoint reformers must take into consideration the need to carry out the vital diplomatic mission of the department. The president would be well served by selecting experienced diplomats who share his vision of reform, and undoubtedly there are many available. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson brought with him a unique combination of business acumen and international experience. While not a traditional diplomat, he does seem to embody the goals of the president.

But Tillerson cannot do it alone. He must be surrounded by trusted deputies who can carry out the business of diplomacy along with the business of reform.
Thirteen PKK terrorists were killed during ongoing counter-terrorism operations in southeastern provinces since the last two days, Anadolu reported.

In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said anti-PKK operations had been carried out in the provinces of Sirnak, Hakkari, Bingol, Diyarbakir and Tunceli between Friday and Saturday.

Three terrorists were killed in southeastern Sirnak province and eight others were killed in the province's Uludere district, it said.

In southeastern Hakkari's Cukurca district, two more terrorists, suspected of preparing an attack on a military base, were killed.

In southeastern Diyarbakir's Lice district, a PKK collaborator was captured.

In eastern Tuncelis Nazimiye region, two caves were detected.

Turkish armed forces also seized several weapons and ammunition, including RPG-7 artillery, AK-47s, grenades, improvised explosive devices, cartridges, ammonium nitrate and various food supplies from the region.

More than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July 2015.
Morocco has accused Algeria of expelling 55 Syrian migrants across the countries' shared border, criticising it for "inhumane behaviour" in the latest row between the North African rivals.

The migrants were sent across the frontier near the desert town of Figuig, Morocco's interior ministry said in a statement Friday.

They had reached the area in several groups before being "surrounded" by the Algerian police amid searing heat in the rugged terrain, according to the Moroccan authorities.

Rabat condemned its North African neighbour's "inhumane behaviour" towards the migrants who included "women and children in a very vulnerable situation".

The expulsion was "contrary to the rules of good neighbourliness advocated by Morocco," it added.

The Moroccan media reported that the Syrians had been left to their fate in the border region as Morocco prevented them from entering its territory.

The ministry's statement did not say whether they had been allowed to seek asylum in Morocco.

"This is not the first time that the Algerian authorities have expelled immigrants to Moroccan territory," it said.

An NGO official in Figuig, who requested anonymity, said the migrants were still stuck at the border Saturday in two groups, without access to water or food.

In mid-March, a Moroccan migrant rights group, GADEM, reported that around 30 sub-Saharan migrants had been arrested in Morocco then left stranded in no man's land between Morocco and Algeria, having been deported from both countries.

Morocco adopted a new migration policy in 2013. In December it launched a new campaign to regularise the status of clandestine migrants on its territory, most of them from sub-Saharan Africa.

Rabat insists its migration policy is "humane and generous" -- in contrast, it says, with the policy of its Algerian rival.

In January 2014, Morocco summoned Algeria's ambassador to protest its alleged expulsion of Syrians across their common border.

Algeria responded in kind, saying its border guards had merely refused to allow Syrians deported by Morocco to enter its territory.

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Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Saudi King Salman stressed during talks in Riyadh on Sunday the need to preserve the security and stability of Arab states and to combat attempts to drive a wedge between Arab allies, Egypt's state news agency MENA said.

President El-Sisi landed in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday for a visit to boost ties after months of apparent tensions between the two Arab allies. The Egyptian presidency said El-Sisi's visit came in response to an invitation by King Salman last month when the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Arab League Summit held in Jordan.

The two Arab leaders said they look forward to enhancing cooperation between their countries to face challenges and restore security and stability in the region, referring to the civil conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Libya.

The official Saudi Press Agency said the talks between El-Sisi and Salman "reviewed the strong and brotherly relations as well as cooperation between the two countries" and recent developments in the region.

Earlier on Sunday, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement that Salman and El-Sisi would discuss "regional and international issues of common interest" and that the "fight against terrorism" in the region would top their agenda.

On Friday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said the visit would also be a good opportunity to discuss international and regional developments in light of the new US foreign policies under the Trump administration, especially after El-Sisi's recent visit to Washington.

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Egypt grew last year when an agreement between the two countries to transfer ownership of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia was met with protests and lawsuits in Egypt.

Some reports have suggested that the two countries also differ on their stances on how to reach a resolution to the Syrian civil war.

There has been speculation that the reported row over Syria stems from Riyadh's conviction that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad must be removed to put an end to the country's six-year civil war, while Cairo advocates a political solution that denies Islamist militants any future role in Syria.

However, officials from both countries have repeatedly emphasised the close ties between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, denying the existence of tensions or disagreements.

Saudi Arabian state oil company Aramco decided in March to resume oil shipments to Egypt following a six months suspension.

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Steel demand grew 3.5 per cent in fiscal 2017 and JSW expects demand growth to expand 1.2-1.3 times of GDP growth if investments pick up.

Mumbai: Leading alloy-maker JSW Steel is planning to increase its manufacturing capacity to 40-45 million tonne by 2030 from the present 18 million tonne.

"Today we have 18 mt installed capacity which is 15 per cent of the national steel manufacturing capacity of 128 mt.

If the country builds 300 mt capacity by 2030, we would like to plan accordingly to maintain our 15 per cent share, which will be 40-45 mt," JSW Steel joint managing director & group CFO Seshagiri Rao told PTI.

The national steel policy envisages to increase installed capacity to 300 mt by 2030 from the current 128 mt.

"We have environmental clearances to increase the capacity at the Vijaynagar plant from 12 mt to 16 mt. At Dolvi, we have approvals to double the capacity to 10 mt. This means we have the approval to increase our capacity to 27 mt from the present 18 mt," Rao said.

Claiming that his company has one of the lowest cost per tonne, Rao said, "to set up a greenfield steel project today it costs Rs 6,000-7,000 crore per million tonne. But we spend only almost half of this at Rs 3,000-3,500 crore per mt. So, that is the kind of capex we will require to create an incremental 22 mt capacity."

Steel demand grew 3.5 per cent in fiscal 2017 and JSW expects demand growth to expand 1.2-1.3 times of GDP growth if investments pick up. This will take demand growth to 9-10 per cent, implying an incremental demand of 9-10 mt per annum.

Commenting on the government seeking suggestions from the industry over anti-dumping duty imposed last year, Rao said the duty generally is a medium term for five years.

"We have made a request to commerce and steel ministries that anti-dumping duty reference price be fixed only for the investigation period 2015-16 as during that period, steel price and cost of production were different than what it is today," Rao said.
In first year of the implementation of the PMFBY, a substantial progress has been achieved. In 2017-18.

New Delhi: The government is aiming to bring 40 per cent of gross sown area of 194.4 million hectare under crop insurance schemes in 2017-18 season beginning July.

In 2016-17 crop year, about 26.28 per cent or 51.1 million hectare of gross area under crops was insured.

At present, crops are being insured under two schemes: Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) and Pradhan Manthri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The PMFBY was launched last year.

"In first year of the implementation of the PMFBY, a substantial progress has been achieved. In 2017-18, the target for insured area is set at 40 per cent gross cropped area, which translates to 77.6 million hectare," a senior Agriculture Ministry official told PTI.

The state governments, banks and insurance companies will be asked to adopt appropriate strategies to achieve the targets including notification of more number of crops and greater focus on non-loanees including utilisation of Common Service Centre (CSC) for this purpose, he said.

Banks will be told to ensure compulsory coverage of all eligible loanees and electronic transmission of premium on time, the official added.

For timely settlement of claims, the official said the government is making efforts to incorporate innovative technology like use of smartphone application to record the details of crop cutting experiments (CCE) digitally.

"Some states like Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Odisha have taken the lead in this direction. Unless this mode is adopted completely and successfully by all implementing States/UTs, issues of area discrepancy with sown area will remain and continue to compromise transparency and genuine relief to the farmers," he said.

The central government has put in place a mechanism to facilitate adoption of this new technology and is providing 50 per cent share of the cost involved in the purchase of smartphones. The capacity building has also been done on constant basis, he added.

Under the PMFBY, the premium to be paid by farmers is kept lower and claims are settled early.
New Delhi: Evoking the spirit of Team India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on all states to work in tandem with the Centre to ensure that the legislative arrangements at their level for the landmark GST was put in place without delay.

According to an official statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office after the meeting, Mr Modi described the day-long deliberations as constructive.

Quoting him, it said that the circulated vision document is a draft, and all suggestions given by the chief ministers will be taken into account before finalising it.

The PM noted that the theme of regional imbalance was raised by a number of chief ministers. He agreed that this had to be addressed on priority, both nationally, and within states. In this context, Mr Modi sent out a message of inclusivity in line with the spirit of cooperative federalism espoused by the Niti Aayog.

Mr Modi also seconded J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Muftis suggestion that states should take an interest in students from her state who are now studying in other states, and urged all state governments to reach out to these students from time to time.

His comments assume significance given some recent incidents of Kashmiri students living and studying in various states who faced violent attacks and harrassment. Some Kashmiri students were thrashed in Chittorgarh last week, and a hoarding was put up in Meerut asking Kashmiris to leave UP.

Highlighting some constructive feedback received at the meeting from the chief ministers, the Prime Minister said there have been suggestions to have the financial year from January to December, instead of April to March. He urged states to take the initiative in this regard.

Ironically, as the Prime Minister harped on cooperative federalism, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal skipped the Niti Aayogs governing council meeting. Ms Banerjee had missed the last meeting of the council as well on July 15, 2015.
Ranveer Singh shared the selfie on his official Instagram account.

Mumbai: Now that she is back in town, Priyanka Chopra is making full use of her break by catching up with her friends in Bollywood. Last night, a mini reunion took place where the actress met her 'Dil Dhadakne Do' team.

Priyanka posed for few selfies with Ranveer and Zoya. Flashing their best smiles, the three looked charming as ever.

The black and white snap, showing the trio posing together, was shared by the 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' director and Ranveer Singh on Instagram.

Zoya captioned it as, "Illuminated #reunion #dildhadaknedo #boozecruise @ranveersingh photo courtesy : @kkapadias."

Ranveer shared the same picture.

Later, Priyanka shared a seflie with the gang which was clicked inside an elevator.

On the professional front, Priyanka, who is in India after wrapping up the 'Quantico' shoot, will soon begin promotions of her Hollywood debut 'Baywatch'.
Mumbai: Cast of 1970's popular sitcom, 'Happy Days,' lost one of its own, Erin Moran today.

56-year-old Moran, who was best known for playing Joanie Cunningham, was found unresponsive in her apartment and the cause of death is unknown, reports TMZ.

Moran climbed the ladder of success in the 1970s when she was cast as Joanie Cunningham on the widely beloved sitcom, 'Happy Days'.

The actress starred as Ron Howard's character's outspoken younger sister before landing a titular role in Happy Days spin-off Joanie Loves Chachie alongside Scott Baio.

In 2008, Moran competed on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club.

The celebrity's later years were plagued by hardship, as in 2012 it was reported that Erin was homeless and living in hotels after being kicked out of her mother-in-law's Indiana mobile home due to hard-partying.

That same year the Happy Days cast settled a royalties lawsuit that awarded Moran, and five of her co-stars $65,000 each.

Our heartfelt condolences are with Moran's family.
After Sathyarajs statement on Friday regretting his comments on the Cauvery issue, the release of Baahubali: The Conclusion has been cleared. On Saturday, the Kannada organisations issued a statement saying that the film can be released in Karnataka. The organisations are satisfied with Sathyarajs regret about his earlier comment. The makers of the film were worried as Karnataka is a territory from where they can generate huge revenues. Director S.S. Rajamouli too appealed to all Kannadigas and now, with Sathyarajs statement, the organisations have given a green signal. It is also reported that Kannada actor Sudeep played a key role in the entire process as he spoke to both parties. Sudeep and Rajamouli have worked earlier in Eega and he has also done a cameo in Baahubali part one. Both Sudeep and Rajamouli have been good friends since then.
They want to live life this way and aspire to be veterinarians (Photo: Instagram)

Connecticut: Heartbreaking stories of children born with possibly life threatening medical conditions have often been in the news, as a lot of them have been saved by surgery. But some defy all odds to not only survive despite these conditions, but also spend a happy life.

(Photo: Instagram)

Conjoined twins Lupita and Carmen Andrade were given only three days to live after they were born, but at 16 they have not only defeated certain death, but are also living a normal life sharing everything together. When it was suggested that they may be separated surgically, both of them refused saying it would be like cutting them in half.

The twins from Connecticut are joined along the walls of their chest till the pelvis as they have two arms each but share one set of legs, as Carmen controls the right leg and Lupita has the left. They also have separate hearts, sets of lungs and a stomach, which is rare among conjoined twins.

(Photo: Instagram)

They do share a liver, circulatory system as well as digestive and reproductive system. They went for therapy as kids to learn to stand and sit together, they live life like any teenager getting learners permit and playing the piano together. Carmen and Lupita coordinate as one handles the right hand notes on the piano and the other has the left.

Both have very different personalities as Carmen is witty and good at school, while Lupita is reserved and struggles with reading. They are also opposite when it comes to make up.

(Photo: Instagram)

But all isnt well as health conditions are beginning to surface with Lupita having scoliosis where her spine curves sideways to cramp her lung. She needs surgery which may not be as simple for conjoined twins and faces risk of brain damage or death.

When Lupita has difficulty breathing due to lungs working at low capacity Carmen breaths harder to compensate for her. The duo aspire to be veterinarians and are hoping to live life.

They refuse to be separated since they are used to being together and surgery will leave them with one leg each and more therapy. They see higher risk than benefits and hope to live out life the way they are.
Iran will air live debates on state television ahead of May's presidential election, the interior ministry said Sunday, reversing a decision to show recorded versions that had triggered an outcry.

"After demands by the Iranian nation and the candidates for a review (of the decision), the presidential elections campaign commission decided... that debates may be broadcast live," the ministry said in a statement on official news agency IRNA.

The U-turn came days after the commission, which sets campaigning rules ahead of the May 19 poll, said the debates would not be broadcast live as in previous elections, sparking outrage on social media.

Moderate President Hassan Rouhani and his conservative rivals Ebrahim Raisi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf all rejected the ban.

Televised debates are a relatively new feature of Iranian presidential elections and are believed to have influenced the results of votes in 2009 and 2013.

The ban on live debates was seen as an attempt to avoid embarrassing certain candidates by exposing details about their actions in previous roles.

Ghalibaf lost momentum in a 2013 election bid after his rival Rouhani said the hardline former police chief had proposed allowing student protests in 1999 so security forces could crush them.

In 2009, live debates between conservative incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and reformist candidates Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi turned into heated exchanges of accusations that many said went too far for the regime.

Karroubi and Mousavi have been under house arrest since 2011 for leading protests against the re-election of Ahmadinejad.

Prior to the reversal, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli, a member of the conservative-dominated commission, defended the ban on live debates, saying it would avoid "insults, accusations and (violations of) public ethical codes".

All six candidates are set to take part in the first debate on Friday, the commission's head told news agency ISNA.

The powerful Guardian Council last week blocked Ahmadinejad from standing for another term.

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The Tulu Baduku Museum at Bantwal near Mangaluru preserves memories of the illustrious Tulunadu people. Every object here speaks about the life and culture of the common man of Tulunadu and helps in giving a birds eye view of the history of the region. Be it the fan that runs on heat generated by the lamp or the cradle, or the ancient inscriptions and carvings, everything has a story to tell, writes Gururaj A. Paniyadi

Who does not know of the famed people of Tulunadu, of the lovely Aishwarya Rai, of the King of Hearts Dr Devi Shetty and businessman R.N. Shetty?

Preserving memories of many such illustrious personalities for future generations is the Tulu Baduku Museum, part of Rani Abbakka Tulu Adhyayana Kendra in Bantwal, on a narrow road near the BC Road bus stand which houses the rich heritage of Tulunadu. There is an air of history pervading in the building where a huge cannon, hero stones (veera kallu to commemorate valiant soldiers) and inscriptions take any visitor to a totally different world which existed several centuries ago.

The man behind the project- Prof Thukaram Poojary- enthusiastically explains that the Kendra was built on 35 cents of land adjacent to his house. A visitor does not need much time to walk through the big rooms but the artefacts here are so enthralling that it would take you more than two hours to come out of the museum.

As the name suggests, the museum is related to Tulu Baduku or the life of Tulunadu and Tulu culture and its inhabitants, the Billavas and Bunts. There are over 4,000 artefacts which he has collected from various places in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts since 1993. The museum in its present form was inaugurated in 2008. Every object here speaks about the life and culture of the common man of Tulunadu and helps in giving a birds eye view of the history of the region. Be it the fan that runs on heat generated by the lamp or the cradle, or the ancient inscriptions and carvings, everything has a story to tell about Tulu traditions.

There may be other museums with collections of artefacts related to Tulunadu but at this museum, Prof, Poojary has studied and recreated history in a non-traditional way- through the objects used by people of the region in their day to day life. In addition to rare traditional jewellery boxes, various types of metal and earthen vessels, traditional locks and keys, material used for worship, material used for Kambala and Bhuta Kola (worship of the Godly spirit), there are some very interesting arterfacts which tell you fascinating stories. For instance, there is a cradle in the museum with a partition which is hardly seen anywhere else. It is a cradle for twins, says Poojarys daughter Sindhura. She did her engineering and joined IBM only to quit her job to join her father. She is presently doing her post-graduate diploma course in archaeology!

And there is another rectangular shaped wooden cradle which Prof. Poojary says, is made up of wood from five different trees. The lower portion on which the child is placed is made from the mango tree. This plank is prepared out of wood that is half burnt during cremation. The belief may be that the child should get rid of the fear of death! Poojary explains.

And there are weapons to prove how brave the men of Tulunadu were. A palanquin denoting married life and pooja material are all part of the museum. Not to mention amazing items like a traditional, earthen vessel for refrigeration where people used to preserve vegetables and fruits for about 10 days, the horn of an animal used to store oil, a small metal container Ladar, where toddy tappers would preserve the permit letter given to them by the British government and hang it around their vest, are the other artefacts. The life of the common man of Tulunadu reflects in each of the displays at the museum. They have some meaning and a story to narrate about the history of the region. I am collecting everything possible so that anybody who wants to do research, can be helped. If written documents are the traditional material for history, such objects too provide us important information about the common mans life, the museum founder says. For example, there are some material like Taala (a metal plate used for mass food), Petari (traditional suitcase), and Pathaya (wooden box to store paddy). These three items have the same name in Tulu, Arabic and Hebrew! This shows how closely the three languages are linked, he says.

Teacher couples brainchild

If Dr Thukaram Poojary is a history professor at SVS College- Bantwal, his wife Dr Ashalatha S Suvarna is a commerce lecturer. They have saved and contributed their money to build the museum. The centre is built in a portion of the land which the professor had acquired for his house. Some well-wishers and friends too have supported him in his project.

The Adhyayana Kendra, has a beautiful gallery with various paintings of Rani Abbakka, the first queen who fought against the Portuguese. The library is named after famous freedom fighter of Tulunadu and Gandhian S.U. Paniyadi.
Bengaluru: Basaveshwaranagar police on Saturday arrested two people who were trying to exchange Rs 82 lakh demonetised currency notes with the valid ones.

While the police are interrogating the accused, Srinath and Bhaskar, two others, Hemant and Swift Seena, fled when the police reached the car in which the cash was kept.

The accused had struck a deal to exchange the scrapped currency notes, and the police, who got a tip-off, raided the car. The police said that the money belonged to Swift Seena who was in another car and fled when the police arrived.
Hyderabad: A city resident who was working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was allegedly set on fire following a dispute with a family member of his employer (kafil). Mr Md. Abdul Qader, 26, of Zehranagar in Banjara Hills, went to Riyadh in November 2015 on a driver visa after paying a local agent Farhan `1 lakh. Mr Qaders brother, Mr Md. Abdul Qayyum, said: He last spoke to me on March 28 and after that there was no communication. In the last conversation he said that he wanted to return but his employer was not allowing him to leave, and had not paid him for six months.

On March 31, I received a call from Riyadh that my brother was admitted at the King Abdul Aziz Hospital with more than 75 per cent burns. We were informed that he had some dispute with a member of the employers family, Mr Qayyum said. The family approached Mr Amjadullah Khan for help. Mr Khan said, I have informed the ministry of external affairs about the incident. We are hopeful that they will respond positively and the family will get justice. He demanded action on agents who were luring youngsters with lucrative job offers in the Gulf.
After directions by the Indian government, major manpower agencies in the Gulf supplying labour/workers to individuals and companies have improved their track record. (Representational image)

Manama (Bahrain): Nearly 20 per cent of workers from Telugu states working in Gulf countries are exploited by Indian agents.

Desperate and often illiterate job seekers are not aware of what is in the job agreement, and lured by the agent's promise of a high salary they are pushed into jobs that are exploitative and not what they were promised. Agents from both the Telugu states are taking advantage of the illiteracy of job seekers and are concerned only about their own commissions.

Mohammad Irfan from Darussalam in the city, working in Jeddah presently, said agents are getting Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 commission for supplying manpower to recognised agencies in the Gulf countries, but unauthorised agencies in the Gulf, which supply manpower to individuals, are offering `50,000 and more commission to agents. Although, the Gulf countries issued orders to employers not to take away the passports of their workers, some employers continue to do so.

After directions by the Indian government, major manpower agencies in the Gulf supplying labour/workers to individuals and companies have improved their track record. But illiterate people still fall into the clutches of unauthorised agencies, Mr Irfan said. These unscrupulous agents promise Telugu workers Rs 25,000 to Rs 40,000 salary per month. The agreement with the employer is always in Arabic, which the employee doesnt understand.

The worker only comes to know that he/she has been cheated after getting the first salary. Most employers in Saudi, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and other Gulf countries pay only Rs 10,000 per month. Workers who go through unauthorised agents dont even get salaries, Mr Irfan claims.

A worker in Jeddah, who is not willing to disclose his identity, said, Most of the workers from Asia are being given less salaries. Especially those working as drivers and maids with individuals are facing torture from their kafils (employers). I am also one of the victims. My passport was seized by our employer.
Chennai: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the issue regarding the ongoing agitation of Tamil Nadu farmers seeking loan waiver concerns the state, adding the matter should, therefore, be taken up by the state government.

Urging the people not to politicise the matter, Naidu told the media that the Government of India has sent central teams and provided norms as per the central relief is concerned.

"It is an issue concerning the state; it has to be taken up at the state level. The problems of Uttar Pradesh farmers were taken up by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. The problem of Andhra was taken up by the Andhra CM and the problems for any state matter have to be taken up by the state. So, they should meet the state government and try to sort out the issues," said Naidu.

"And as far as the Central Government is concerned, there is a well laid down formula. Lets us not politicise. The farmers are in distress because of lack of rains and drought conditions," he added.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy earlier in the day urged the farmers protesting at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital for the last 39 days to call off their protest.

Palanisamy said that he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and submit a memorandum highlighting their plight.

Palanisamy said, "I will take up with PM Narendra Modi the demands put forward by the farmers. I urge them to end this protest."

The protesting farmers have been demanding a Rs 40,000-crore drought relief package, farm loan waiver and setting up of the Cauvery Management Board by the Centre.

Over the last 39 days, they have shaved their heads, halved their moustaches, held mice and snakes in their mouths, conducted mock funerals, flogged themselves and even carried skulls of other farmers who had committed suicide due to debt pressure.

The protesting farmers yesterday drank their own urine in another desperate bid to draw the government's attention to their plight.

On April 10, they had stripped in front of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to press for their demands.
Bengaluru: Queen Latifa, the Neil Darashah-trained filly whose record-breaking victory at the Karnataka Racehorse Owners' Association Million Cup made her the cynosure of all eyes, appears to be paying the price, along with her owners, for the murky politics of the Bangalore Turf Club.

"I'm going to make T-shirts with my face on them with the word 'accused', printed across," said a vexed Arjun Sajnani, restaurateur and race horse enthusiast. "This has played havoc with my piece of mind and Neil is in tatters." Neil Darashah, the 33-year-old trainer and part-owner of Queen Latifa, has his career at stake too, with BTC Chairman Harindra Shetty filing an FIR against what he claims is a "cover-up attempt" in the doping scam. "I never expected it of Shetty, who has been a friend for many years. He has called me a breeder, which I'm not and a punter  these are lowlife claims. As it happens, I now believe that if I don't bet a horse, it wins. So no, I didn't bet on Queen Latifa back in March," he said.

The controversy began back in March after Queen Latifa's record-breaking victory at The Racehorse Owners' Association Million during the prestigious Invitation Cup hosted in Bengaluru this year. "Neil had discovered an abscess in her throat and told the club's vets to treat her. This was done with a procaine-penicillin shot, a routine, albeit old fashioned method," said Sajnani.

"This took place against a certain backdrop  there is a political quarrel going on in the turf club between the committee members, many of whom didn't like the appointment of Nirmal Prasad as CEO. It's a matter of disgruntled people who have gotten together and tried to stop proceedings, muddy the waters and bring the conduct of the club into question ever since the Invitation Cup."

Queen Latifa's urine samples were sent to the National Dope Testing Lab in Delhi  Which tests for doping in humans," Sajnani pointed out. "Queen Latifa had been administered the procaine-penicillin shot 25 days before the race and then again four days later. This still put her in the clear  21 days is the accepted window for procaine." The lab found 1.22 nanograms/ml of procaine and claimed she had tested positive.

The results were sent for a second quantitative analysis allegedly because they knew the BTC had administered the injection. "They were worried. How did this happen? So far, the trainer, the other owners and I are blameless. It had nothing to do with us. The treatment was given in keeping with the schedule maintained by the club itself." Dr Karthikeyan, chief vet at the Madras Race Club, who also ran a lab of his own, suggested sending the sample to another centre like Hong Kong or the UK. "The permissible limit is 10, anything below that doesn't require testing. He told me this on the phone - the levels are too low, there's nothing here, really," he said.

Meanwhile, a political controversy is fast unfolding at the Bangalore Turf Club. People are being instigated to do all kinds of things. I have been a part of this for quite a while and I have never seen an owner being accused of something like this! I'm not involved in the injections my horse receives, that's what the trainer does. And procaine is a deadener, it's not going to help a horse win a race!

"We have been targetted from every corner," said prominent restaurateur Arjun Sajnani, who owns a 20 percent share of Queen Latifa. Harish Shetty, the Club's Chairman, said Sajnani, reportedly had differences with steward Vivek Ubaykar who brought Nirmal Prasad back as CEO. "This is his way of thanking Vivek, by targeting the horse that belongs to me. And we, the owners, are being made to suffer for it."

The filly returns early Sunday from Ooty and will race if she clears the fitness test.

BTC CEO summoned

The High Grounds police have summoned the CEO of Bangalore Turf Club, S. Nirmal Prasad, Chief Stipendiary Officer Pradyumna Singh, Steward Vivek Ubaykar, Stable Trainer Neil Darashah and race horse enthusiast Arjun Sajnani, for an inquiry in the dope test cover-up case. The investigating officer has sent notices to all the five accused and has asked them to appear at the police station for the inquiry. The officer said the inquiry will be held on Sunday and Monday, and the accused will be asked to present their version.
Chennai: After a lull of two years, the Chennai smart city project will move forward in 2017, focussing on traffic congestion. Congested commercial hub T Nagar will be the first to benefit from the smart city project and the next area in the pipeline is Broadway, a senior corporation official said. The official also noted that the smart city project will progress at its own pace and has nothing to do with the current state political scenario. The Rs 200 crore smart city project has now cleared all the paper works and the complete recruitment process for Chennai smart city Ltd will be over by next month.

The neighbourhood of T Nagar like Pondy Bazaar, Mambalam, Pangal Park are to be studied and in the selected area, dedicated projects will be taken up. These projects will deal with issues like strengthening of the electrical network, water supply, solid waste management, IT connectivity and digitisation, sanitation, pedestrian-friendly pathways and ramp, non-motorised transport, intelligent traffic management systems and retrofit of green open spaces, the source added. The dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will soon start coordinating with the State, Chennai Corporation and the Union Ministry of urban development which funds the project, Chennai corporation commissioner D. Karthikeyan said.

We are planning for a series of board meetings over the next few weeks to finalise the smart city plans and T Nagar will be the first locality to benefit from the project. Based on the pilot project experience the concept will be introduced to Broadway and other parts of north and south Chennai, top official told DC.

The SPV for Chennai will be responsible for overall supervision of the project starting with planning, approving, implementing and evaluating the development. Already a CEO and company secretary has been appointed for the project and another senior official for finance is to be appointed, Ripon Building sources said.

The Chennai Smart City Ltd (CSCL) formed under the Companies Act, 2013 will be promoted jointly by the state government and the Greater Chennai Corporation with an equal equity share holding and will be an independent body promoting the concept of smart city under which traffic, pollution, online services, water management and solar energy are to be dealt with advance technology.
New Delhi: The BJP could be headed for a landslide victory in the Delhi municipal polls with two exit polls predicting the party finishing way ahead of the AAP and the Congress with over 200 of the 270 wards where polling was held today.

Going by the projected figures, the AAP could well be staring at a rout on its home turf, barely two years into its rise to power bagging a staggering 67 of the 70 Assembly seats, while the Congress' attempt to regain ground may come a cropper.

According to the India Today-Axis exit poll, the BJP may bag anything between 202 and 220 seats, while the AAP and the Congress will score something around 23-35 and 19-31 respectively.

The CVoter-ABP exit poll claimed the BJP was likely to sweep Delhi with 218 seats, limiting the AAP and the Congress to 24 and 22 seats respectively.

Polling was held in 270 wards of the three municipal corporations. The election to two wards has been postponed due to the death of candidates.

Voting to elect the municipal councillors commenced at over 13,000 polling stations across the national capital at 8 AM amid tight security arrangements.

Of the 13,022 polling stations, the police had declared 3,284 as 'sensitive' and 1,464 as 'hyper-sensitive'.

For the first time, the 'None Of The Above' (NOTA) option was made available in the MCD polls.

A total of 1,32,10,206 voters, including over 1.1 lakh first-time voters, were entitled to exercise their franchise to elect councillors for the 270 wards under the three civic bodies -- NDMC (103 wards), SDMC (104) and EDMC (63).

Voting officially ended at 5.30 PM, although those who had queued up in front of the polling booths by that time were allowed to cast their votes.
Lucknow: Newly appointed director general of police (DGP) Sulkhan Singh has said that that no one would be allowed to take law in his hands even if he happened to be a gau rakshak (cow vigilante).

Talking to reporters after taking charge, the DGP said that his emphasis would be on improving police-public relations but criminal elements would be dealt with seriously.

Mr Singh, also the senior most IPS officer in the state, said, Uniform action will be taken against those who break the law. There will be no bias and the guilty will be punished, irrespective of his political connections.

The DGP said that he was aware of the presence of ISIS sympathizers in the state and adequate measures would be taken to deal with the challenge.

Incidentally, Mr Sulkhan Singh was brought in as new DGP on Friday night after an Intelligence input said that terrorists could don saffron robes to gain easy access to target Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Mr Sulkhan Singh said that the UP police was on alert in the wake of the report.

It may be recalled that on March 8, an alleged member of the Khurasan module of ISIS was shot dead in an encounter in Lucknow. Some others arrested later confirmed the presence if ISIS sympathizers in the state.

Meanwhile, replying to a question, Mr Singh said his priority was to ensure the safety and security of women in the state.

The director general of police who is due to retire later this year, said, I have to prove my worth during this period. The new police chief of Uttar Pradesh vowed to crush goondagardi.

Those indulging in goondagardi and criminal activities will be dealt with without mercy. They cannot escape and even VIPs will not be spared, the 1980-batch IPS officer said.

We will not allow anyone to indulge in forceful behaviour as it leads to hatred in society and it will not be allowed, Singh said in response to a question.

To a query on anti-Romeo squads, Singh said it was not a drive and would continue on a regular basis as policing. To another question pertaining to allegations of rampant corruption in the police machinery, he said, Fair inquiry will be held in all cases.
Saniya Fatima, a Class I student, went too close to the fire to collect a ball, and her clothes caught fire, setting her afire.

Hyderabad: A six-year-old girl was charred to death when she was playing near a burning GHMC garbage pit in Millatnagar in Chandrayangutta.

Saniya Fatima, a Class I student, went too close to the fire to collect a ball, and her clothes caught fire, setting her afire.

The incident began when Saniya and a few other kids were playing in the street with a ball. One of the kids threw the ball, which ended up near the garbage pit. Somebody had lit the garbage and a fire was slowly spreading. Saniya, unattended by her parents, went too close to the fire to collect the ball. Accident-ally her dress caught fire, said Chandrayan-gutta sub-inspector M. Srinivas Rao.

As Saniya started screaming for help, some locals rushed to her rescue and one of them put off the flames. But by then it was already too late. The child had sustained 90 per cent burns on her body. She was then rushed to a private hospital, from where she was shifted to Osmania General Hospital. Doctors declared her dead after a few hours, said another cop.

We are investigating if GHMC staffers burnt the garbage. As of now, a case for suspicious death (under CrPc 174) has been filed, Mr Srinivas Rao.

Saniyas father Abdul Razzak alleged that a private hospital asked for lakhs of rupees to treat the kid and hence they were forced to shift her to the OGH.
The Central African Republic held unprecedented talks with armed groups this week seeking to speed up disarmament in a country struggling to turn the page on years of bloodshed, officials said Saturday.

For the first time since the disarmament process began, the government -- facing a resurgence of violence since last September -- sat down with representatives of 14 armed groups in Bangui on Thursday and Friday.

"General progress has been quite substantial," said Jean-Marc Tafani, head of the disarmament process for the UN peacekeeping mission in Central Africa, MINUSCA.

The national plan for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) "was drawn up with details of steps to implement the project," he added.

Responding to concerns that former fighters could escape unpunished under the process, Tafani said "people suspected of various crimes will be brought to justice," and "kept out of the DDR programme," although he noted that during this week's talks "certain groups said they were against this".

President Faustin-Archange Touadera has repeatedly stressed the importance of the DDR since he took power last year in a country scarred by conflict since the 2013 overthrow of former president Francois Bozize by a Muslim-dominated rebellion.

A counter-offensive by majority Christian militias left thousands dead and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.

The nation breathed a sigh of relief in March 2016 when Touadera took office, with a mandate to lead the country through its transition to peace.

But Central Africa's war wounds have proved hard to heal, with swathes of the country still facing unrest.

Since November, violence has raged in the central Ouaka region, leaving hundreds dead and many more injured.

Due to the rise of violence, coupled with a shortfall in aid funding, the humanitarian situation in the country has taken a turn for the worse.

The UN says some 2.2 million people -- more than half the population -- remain in dire need of assistance.

While parts of the country remain wracked by violence, a military intervention in 2013 by France and MINUSCA restored relative calm to the capital Bangui.

But since France withdrew in October, and with the Central African army still under an international arms embargo, UN peacekeepers are now the sole functioning force on the ground.

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Bengaluru: Annoyed and surprised by the sudden rebellion in the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the saffron partys national leadership is trying to establish who is instigating it, according to sources close to Karnataka unit chief B S Yeddyurappa.

The partys national leaders are reportedly unhappy with the meeting convened by the rebels in Bengaluru on April 27 as Karnatakas affairs had been discussed in detail at the recent national committee meeting in Odisha. They believe the rebels would not have dared to challenge the party high command without some behind the scenes provocation.

The process of identifying the leaders provoking the rebellion has started,sources added.

When the state unit had fixed April 23 for holding an introspection and discuss what went wrong in the Nanjangud and Gundlupet bypolls, the rebel leaders have preferred to hold a BJP Bachao meet of their own on April 27 , much against the wishes of the party bosses, they noted.

The national leaders reportedly seem to think that somebody is firing over the shoulders of senior leader, K S Eshwarappa at Mr Yeddyurappa and a few state leaders are blindly following him, when this could upset the plans of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah to dislodge the Congress government in the state

 The disgruntled leaders should have met Mr Muralidhar Rao, who is in charge of Karnataka affairs before airing their views in public. By doing this they are not only risking their political careers, but also impacting the partys prospects in the coming.elections. This kind of indiscipline by senior leaders will not be tolerated and they will have to pay a heavy price in the coming days, warned party insiders.

While Mr Yeddurappa is believed to have consulted Delhi leaders on taking disciplinary action against those likely to participate in the April 27 meeting, he has been advised to adopt a wait and watch policy as any drastic step such as slapping show cause notice could affect the partys prospects in 2018.

The rebellion is expected to cast a shadow over the party s Sunday meeting in Bengaluru.

Although notices have been sent to all leaders concerned to attend it, it remains to be seen how many will actually turn up for it.
CHENNAI: DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Saturday appealed to Tamil Nadu farmers protesting in Delhi to suspend the agitations and join the general strike on April 25 announced in an all party meeting convened by the DMK and attended by the Congress, CPM, CPI, VCK and other outfits.

Addressing the media after a consultation with the leaders of the parties, he said farmers headed by Ayyakannu are protesting in the capital for the last 40 days and they should suspend their agitations and support the general strike. Asked about the efforts by the DMK to arrange a meeting of farmers with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said DMK MP 'Tiruchy' N.Siva tried to meet the Prime Minister in this regard, but there was no result and added that there was no response for the letter submitted by the DMK. Stalin said he had sought the support of the Tamil film industry, transport unions, traders and all sections of people for the general strike.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing the 3rd Governing Council Meet of the NITI Aayog in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the consensus on Goods and Services Tax (GST) will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism, adding the landmark legislation reflects spirit of "one nation, one aspiration, one determination".

Addressing the third meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog New Delhi, the Prime Minister said the GST shows the strength and resolve of the federal structure.

Thanking all the Chief Ministers for coming on one platform for this cause while keeping aside their ideological and political differences, Modi said the vision of "New India" can only be realised through the combined effort and cooperation of all states and Chief Ministers.

Prime Minister Modi said that "Team India" has once again assembled today to discuss and reflect on ways to prepare India for changing global trends.

He said the meeting today would be an opportunity to exchange views on policies and implementation.

"It is the collective responsibility of this gathering to envision the India of 2022 - the 75th anniversary of independence - and see how we can swiftly move forward to achieve these goals," Prime Minister Modi said.

Recalling the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of the centenary of the Champaran Satyagraha, the Prime Minister said NITI Aayog has been taking steps to transform India with fresh vigour, adding the government, private sector and civil society need to work in sync.

He noted that NITI was a collaborative federal body whose strength was is in its ideas rather than in administrative or financial control.

He pointed out that the Chief Ministers did not have to come to NITI for approval of budgets or plans.

"NITI Aayog had gone beyond relying on government inputs and taken on board a number of outside specialists, subject experts and young professionals; and states can also contribute to policy formulation," he added.

Giving the example of e-NAM, where experiences of states played a key role in the final policy, Prime Minister Modi noted that sub-groups of state Chief Ministers had given vital inputs on subjects such as Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Swachh Bharat, Skill Development and Digital payments.

Stressing the importance given to the views of Chief Ministers, Prime Minister Modi noted that it was the first time that the former had been asked to recommend the list of Centrally sponsored schemes and the sharing pattern; despite funding constraints, the recommendations were accepted immediately.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that while there has been a 40 percent increase in overall fund allocation to states between 2014-15 and 2016-17, the percentage of funds tied to central schemes has declined from 40 percent of the earlier total to 25 percent of the enhanced total with a corresponding increase in the untied share.

The Prime Minister urged the states to speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation.

Speaking of the historic change in budget presentation date, the Prime Minister said this would enable timely availability of funds at the beginning of the financial year.

"Earlier, budgeted scheme funds were generally not approved by Parliament till May, after which they would be communicated to states and ministries. By that time, the monsoon arrived. Hence the best working season for schemes was typically lost," he added.

Mentioning the ending of the distinction between plan and non-plan expenditure based on the recommendation of the Rangarajan Committee in 2011, which had found the distinction to be counter-productive, Prime Minister Modi said, "Several important items of expenditure were included as 'non-plan' and hence neglected. Hereafter the emphasis would be on distinguishing between development and welfare expenditure on one hand, and administrative overheads on the other."

The Prime Minister called for carrying forward the debate and discussion on simultaneous elections.

Prime Minister Modi said the NITI Aayog is working on a 15-year long term vision, seven-year medium term strategy and three- year action agenda, adding this effort needs the support of states and will eventually reflect in benefits to them.
Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has downgraded the security cover of several important Opposition leaders.

Those whose cover has been reduced include Samajwadi Party chief and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, leaders Shivpal Yadav and Azam Khan, Dimple Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav, and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, said reports.

However, BJP leader Vinay Katiyar has been provided Z-degree security cover. Adityanath's security has also been increased following inputs of a terror threat to him.

The decision was taken late on Saturday, said reports, following a meeting of UP Principal Secretary (Home), ADG Intelligence, ADG Security and new UP DGP Sulkhan Singh. The order came into effect immediately.

So far, the Adityanath government has downgraded security cover of 46 VIPs, and done away completely with that of 105 others.

Among those who totally lost their security is BSP national general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Satish Chandra Mishra.

Former state chief secretary Alok Ranjan and two SP MLCs, Ashu Malik and Atul Pradhan, have also lost their security, said reports.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier said that those who are enjoying security cover for the sake of status symbol should be prepared to part with them.

The move comes as a further step in the BJP governments move to do away with VIP culture, after a Modi government order to remove red beacons from vehicles of VIPs.
Stalin said the Prime Minister did not have the heart to even meet the Tamil Nadu ryots protesting in Delhi for the last 40 days, leave alone fulfilling their demands.

Chennai: DMK working president MK Stalin on Saturday dubbed the K Palaniswami government as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "proxy regime", and alleged that it was not fighting to secure Tamil Nadu's rights.

Several Chief Ministers fight for the respective rights of their states and it has been the case in the past as well, he said adding it was, however, not the case with Tamil Nadu.

"This regime, proxy regime, pardon me, Modi's proxy regime, is not bothered about anything," he said at a public meeting to explain the reasons for calling a state-wide bandh on April 25 in support of the drought hit farmers.

He took a swipe at the Palaniswami regime for "not taking action" in stalling NEET, the Hydrocarbon project and getting constituted the Cauvery Management Board.

Stalin alleged that the ryots and the public were affected due to the inter-state river water disputes and action was not taken by the state government to address it.

Also, the state did not act to get relief from the Centre for the present drought, the last year's cyclone and the floods of 2015.

While the state government had demanded a total relief of Rs 88,050 crore which comprises Rs 39,565 crore for the drought, Rs 22,579 crore for cyclone and Rs 25,912 crore for floods he said the Centre had sanctioned only a total of Rs 2,014 crore, he claimed.

Taking potshots at Palaniswami for removing red beacons from vehicles after "Modi had ordered it", he asked why the incumbent regime did not show such resoluteness in getting the Rs 88,050 crore relief from the BJP-regime.

Hitting out at the state government on farmers' protests, he said when Palaniswami reaches Delhi, the farmers should ask him if he could arrange a meeting with the Prime Minister and then call off their stir to take part in the April 25 bandh, he said.

Stalin had earlier in the day appealed to the farmers to defer their agitation and take part in the bandh.

He said the Prime Minister did not have the heart to even meet the Tamil Nadu ryots protesting in Delhi for the last 40 days, leave alone fulfilling their demands.

"Both the present Chief Minister Palaniswami and the then chief minister Panneerselvam's regimes pledged the entire Tamil Nadu with the BJP government at the Centre, with Modi," he said, adding they will never allow "communal forces," to gain foothold in the state, "come what may".

The proposed bandh and bringing together opposition parties was not for stitching a political alliance but it was only for the welfare of farmers and people, he claimed.

In a separate statement, he strongly opposed a proposal to request dignitaries, including the President and union ministers, to deliver their speeches only in Hindi.

He said the Modi regime should not turn "India into a Hindi nation," and sow the seeds for another anti-Hindi agitation.

Large scale anti-Hindi agitations were witnessed in 1960's in Tamil Nadu which led to the ascendance of Dravidian parties easing out Congress from power.

He alleged that ever since the BJP-led regime assumed power in the Centre it was imposing Hindi and Sanskrit in as many forms as possible.

The DMK has also announced that it would hold its district secretaries meet on April 28.
Chennai/New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy on Sunday met the protesting farmers at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Speaking to the media, Palanisamy said, I will take up with PM Narendra Modi the demands put forward by the farmers. I urge them to end this protest.

However, farmer Ayyakanu, speaking for the group, said, We want immediate loan waiver for farmers. Recently the Uttar Pradesh government waived off farmer loans. We also want it".

He asserted that the farmers would continue their month-old protest for loan waiver until Palanisamy ensured their meeting with Modi.

In a drastic step, the farmers drank their own urine on Saturday, because their demands were not heeded by the government.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the farmers said that if the Centre still ignores their demands, they will eat faeces on Sunday.

We are not getting water to drink in Tamil Nadu, and PM Modi has been ignoring our thirst. So, we will have to quench our thirst with our own urine, P Ayyakkannu, the state president of the National South-Indian Rivers Linking Farmers Association was quoted as saying.

This is not the fist time farmers are resorting to unconventional protest forms since it started over a month ago. They have protested with skulls, allegedly of farmers who committed suicide, stripped, bitten mice and snakes and even held mock funerals.

The farmers had agreed to be patient for two days, giving some time for government to get affairs in order. The move had come after they met the Minister of state for road transport and highways Pon Radhakrishnan, the only Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Tamil Nadu.

Radhakrishnan allegedly had assured the farmers that he would talk to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and try to get a solution by May 15. He had also reportedly alleged that he would get all loan collections and payments postponed for a year. Also assuring that attempts to seize property will be suspended during this time, Radhakrishnan had promised them help for procuring new loans.

I know it is humiliating to eat and drink our own waste. But, should the government not be ashamed of forcing us farmers to use such desperate measures? If only Modi would meet with us and hear us out, 65-year-old Palanichamy who has been protesting at the site since day one was quoted as saying.

But Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president MK Stalin on Saturday urged the farmers to defer their agitation in Delhi and take part in the April 25 bandh called by Opposition parties in the state in support of the drought-hit farmers.

"They (the farmers protesting in Delhi) should take part in the bandh and support the other steps we are to going to take on behalf of all the political parties," he said.

The farmers from the state have been demanding a drought relief package of Rs 40,000 crore, farm loan waiver and setting up of Cauvery Management Board by the Centre. The state government has already waived its loans from cooperative banks.
BENGALURU: Acquitting former French diplomat Pascal Mazurier in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) case, in which his estranged wife Suja Jones accused him of raping their minor daughter, Additional City, Civil and Sessions Judge B.S. Rekha has stated that Mazurier was fixed by the complainant, who used their minor child as a weapon to prevent him from leaving India for his next posting to South Africa.

In this case, the conduct of the complainant (Suja) itself shows that her intention was not to take care of the child (victim) or the husband, but to connect the accused with the crime and she went to that extent of using the child as a weapon. Further, the doctors (who had examined the victim) have stated that the child had shown some pictures and stated that her father has hurt her. But in the statement recorded by the Investigation Officer the child has stated that she loves her papa and he is very good and at that particular time the complainant was not with the child when the statement was recorded. This shows that the child has not suffered any sexual harassment by the father, whereas this complainant with the assistance of the people around her, had made plan and preparation to connect the accused with the crime, so that he can be detained in India and he should not take her children out of India, stated the order.

The judgement further stated, The entire episode is supported by the NGO and they have helped the complainant in all aspects, including financial assistance, for conducting her case in the Family Court. If at all the mother (Suja) was having responsibility of the children, she should not have allowed the child to be with the father. Further, before making these allegations, the complainant has contacted as far as possible all the NGOs and the doctors so that she can prepare a case. Further when the clothes worn by the child at the time of the alleged incident were not given to the doctor, then how she can get the presence of semenal stains and the spermatozoa is also doubtful.

If at all such an incident has occurred, then naturally the victim would have sustained bleeding injuries in her private part or in anus, but it is not forthcoming. Further there are no injuries found on the private parts of the victim. The complainant intentionally with the help of the NGO and doctors has made the accused as scapegoat in order to restrain him from going out of India, the order stated.
A Tamil Nadu farmer drinks urine during their ongoing protest over drought relief funds and waiver of farmers loans at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Grabbing eyeballs with their novel way of protest, Tamil Nadu farmers on Saturday drank urine in another desperate bid to draw the governments attention towards their plight.

Over the last 39 days, they have shaved half of their moustache and head, kept mice and snakes in their mouth, conducted mock funerals, flogged themselves and carried skulls of other farmers, who had committed suicide due to debt pressure.

The farmers, whose protest entered the 40th day on Saturday, drank urine even as police tried to stop them. They have been demanding a loan waiver, a revised drought relief package and better support prices for their produce.

P. Ayyakkannu, who is leading the protest, said, The Union government is not giving us water. So we are consuming urine.

The protesters had on Friday said they would drink urine if the Centre failed to offer a solution to their problems within a day. On April 10, they had stripped in front of the Prime Ministers Office here to press for their demands.

Meanwhile, in Chennai DMK working president MK Stalin urged the farmers from Tamil Nadu staging a protest in Delhi to defer their agitation and take part in the April 25 bandh called by the Opposition parties.

They (the farmers protesting in Delhi) should take part in the bandh and support the other steps we are to going to take on behalf of all the political parties, he said.

Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting of leaders of various political parties, including the Congress, to discuss the agenda of the proposed bandh, Stalin said a resolution has been adopted urging the farmers to postpone their protest in Delhi. On April 16, it was decided at a meeting of political parties, chaired by Stalin, to observe a state-wide bandh on April 25. The Congress, the CPM, the CPI, the VCK, the MMK and the IUML are among the parties that have pledged support to the bandh.

Stalin said employees in the transport sector, traders and members of the film fraternity were among those who had pledged their support to the proposed shutdown.

The Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly said efforts to get the protesting farmers in Delhi an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yielded no result so far.
New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu farmers who had been protesting over drought relief funds and waiver of farmers' loans on Sunday suspended their protest till May 25 after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E. Palaniswamy's assurance.

"If our demands are not fulfilled we will start our protest again after 25th May. If we get train tickets, we will leave today," said Ayyakanu, an agitating farmer.

Palaniswamy earlier in the day said he discussed the farmers' issue in the NITI Aayog's Governing Council meeting and forwarded their demands to the Prime Minister.

"Also asked the Prime Minister to discuss fishermen boats issue during his Sri Lanka visit," he added.

The farmers have been grabbing headlines for their unique and sometimes bizarre methods of protest since they arrived in Delhi over 38 days ago.

Adorned with human skulls around their necks, the farmers attempted to grab the attention of authorities towards their condition and demands for drought relief package.

The farmers have so far performed 'Angapradakshinam' - rolling prostrate on the street at Jantar Mantar - staged suicides, conducted mock funerals, shaved off half their moustaches and beards, stripped in front of the Prime Minister's office, eaten dal and rice off the road, stood with mice in their mouths and have hung skulls around their necks, which they claim belong to farmers in their state who committed suicide because of mounting debt.

The farmers have been demanding Centre's intervention to write off their loans from nationalised banks, a revised drought relief package and resolve the alleged drying up of the Tamil Nadu leg of the Kaveri river.

The state government and the Madras High Court have already waived their loans from co-operative banks.
New Delhi: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) ousted leader TTV Dhinakaran has reached the Crime Branch office of Delhi Police where he will be questioned in a case involving bribing of an Election Commission (EC) official to get the party's 'two leaves' symbol.

On Saturday, Dhinakaran was given a set of questions by the Delhi Police in connection with the case.

According to sources, Dhinakaran has been given questionnaire and an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) is questioning him.

The questionnaire includes queries about the money trail, his association with Sukesh Chandrashekhar, the middleman alleged to have struck deal for Rs. 50 crore to help Dhinakaran's AIADMK faction keep the 'two leaves' poll symbol, how many times he met Sukesh and whether any meeting with the Election Commission officials took place, or not, etc.

According to sources, there was a possibility of cross questioning Sukesh and also both of them together.

On Thursday, a team of the Delhi Police Crime Branch reached Chennai and served a notice on Dhinakaran and asked him to join the probe.

The Delhi Police had issued a lookout notice against Dhinakaran on Tuesday.

The police had arrested and sent Sukesh to custody for allegedly striking a deal of Rs. 50 crore to help the Dhinakaran faction to keep the 'two leaves' poll symbol.

The Crime Branch recovered approximately Rs. 1.3 crore and two luxury cars, a BMW and a Mercedes, from Chandrashekhar.

Chandrasekhar was picked up from the Hyatt hotel and was produced at the residence of Special Judge Poonam Chaudhry, who allowed the Delhi Police's plea to interrogate the accused for eight days.

Dhinakaran was also named as an accused in the FIR, filed by the Delhi Police Crime Branch.

Dhinakaran's faction contested on the hat symbol for the R.K. Nagar assembly by-polls, after the Election Commission froze their two leaves symbol while acknowledging the split in the party.

The polling was later cancelled by the Election Commission.
With the possible exception of a win by Le Pen or Melenchon, the French presidential elections are unlikely to bring any major changes in policy on the Middle East, commentator Alain Gresh tells Ahram Online's Dina Ezzat

The French people went to the polls on 23 April for the first round of the nation's presidential elections. Hours before the voting began, Alain Gresh, prominent commentator and editor of Orient XXI, said that it would be wrong to completely fudge the differences between the Middle East positions of the five key people in the race to the Elysee. This would be a mistake, said Gresh, just as it would be wrong to expect something really big from the next French president  whoever might win  on the Middle East.

As Gresh spoke to Ahram Online from Paris, there was little difference in the polls between the five main contenders: Froncois Fillon (of the traditional center-right Republicans); Marine Le Pen (of the far-right National Front); Emanuel Macron (who only a year ago founded his new party En Marche, which translates as "Moving on");Jean-Luc Melenchon (from the left of the left-wing Unsubmissive France); and Benoit Hamon (of the Socialist Party). Hamon's party is also that of outgoing French President Francois Hollande, who is not running for a second term and who is actually backing Melenchon.

According to Gresh, "This is one of the most interesting presidential elections for France. For the first time since the establishment of the Fifth Republic, the presidential election is not really a bras de fer between Gaullists (of the Republican Party) and socialists (of the Socicalist Party). Actually, in this election, we could well see Macron and Len Pen going to the run-offs of the presidential election on 7 May, Gresh said.

At the time of the interview, said Gresh, there was no clear-cut indication as to how things would turn out: And it is not only that the polls are not really offering a big difference between the chances of the key candidates, but also that we learned from the last presidential elections  and from the UK vote on the Brexit  that we should never have such blind faith in the polls.

However, according to the commentator, who has spent the last four decades writing about French foreign policy and the Middle East, the elections will have no major impact on the Middle East - not really - unless the victor is Le Pen, who is really opposed to migration, or Melanchon, who is really on the side of a fair, negotiated peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

Particularly on the issue of the Palestinian cause, Gresh seems hesitant to think that France could really write the agenda of the next phase of possible negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. This is not about the position of France under any given president on the issue, but it is rather about the limited impact that France really has on the management of Middle East foreign policy today," said Gresh. "This is not the 1950s, or even the 1970s.

With Le Pen, however, Gresh is expecting the National Front leader to opt for a slightly "more pro-Israel" policy. Traditionally, the NF has had a somehow confused position on the matter, because it neither supported the French right nor the Israelis  given the radical positions of the Jean-Marie Le Pen [former leader of the party] on the Holocaust, Gresh said.

Recently, his daughter Marine Le Pen has tried somehow to mend fences with Israel by sending an envoy, but it did not really pick up, and it is not clear how things might unfold in the future should she be elected, said Gresh.

Marine Le Pen is not worried about the Jews; she is worried about the radical Islamist groups  not just the militants, but also the political ones, Gresh stated.

During her campaigning tours, Le Pen said that is crucial for France to stand alongside those Middle East countries that are at war with radical Islamism. She particularly praised the role of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi as one of the most dependable partners against the Muslim Brotherhood.

This, Gresh said, is very similar, if not fully identical, to the position of Fillon on Islamism. In statements he had made in the run-up to the campaigning phase, Fillon described the veil worn by some Muslim women as "a symptom of an illness. To combat the illness, he said, there should be an offensive against radicalism, including the Islamic State group, along with a ban on Salafis and the Muslim Brotherhood.

However, unlike Le Pen, Fillon, is not willing to engage in a diplomatic offensive against the Gulf states, particularly for their assumed roles in supporting radical Islamic movements that at times have militant wings or offshoots. Instead, he sees the Gulf states as equal victims of terrorism, and he wishes to work with them to eliminate radicalism and militant Islamism.

As for Melenchon, Gresh said, he has called for France to use its influence to secure political resolutions to the conficts in the Middle East. And in this respect, said Gresh, Melenchon does take a very clear and sound position on the rights of the Palestinian people in the context of international legitimacy, which should make it possible for the "weaker side" to see their legitimate rights acknowledged.

This, said Gresh, goes beyond Fillon's rhetoric on the two-state solution on the basis of a commitment to the security of Israel, and it is certainly less drastic than Hamon's position, which favours the recoginition of a Palestinian state side-by-side with the state of Israel. However, Melenchon's stance is quite similar to that of Marcron.

For the most part, Gresh does not see any major differences between the key players on the issue of migration and how they might conduct relations with the North African states  including Egypt  to control migration, especially illegal migration from across Africa and the Middle East.

The same, he argued, goes for a general sense of realization that it is not worthwhile France maintaining tough pressure on Iran; this combines with a general sense that France cannot be very compromising or too accommodating when it comes to the political choices of Turkeys Erdogan.

It is on Syria that Gresh does see some clear differences between the candidates. Le Pen perceives the regime of Assad as a protector of the Christian minority and insists that it was a mistake for France to close its embassy in Syria in 2011. Fillon argues the case for a balanced position between the two sides, which he views as running the show by proxy in Syria, namely Russia and Iran on the one hand and the Gulf countries on the other, thereby ensuring that France has a say in the political process. Hamon insists on the elimination of the Assad regime, but Macron says that it should not be France's objective at any price. This is quite similar to the position of Melenchon, who argues that French influence on the Syria issue has been weakened by insisting on the removal of Assad without having anyone to take his place.

Then again, Gresh points out, such differences might have become somewhat diluted  perhaps considerably diluted  once the elected president enters the Elysee Palace. Once in power, he or she would also have to keep an eye on the big economic interests that link France with the Arab Gulf countries, not to mention the leading world capitals such as Washington and Brussels. And this includes the poll-favoured Macron, said Gresh.

At the end of the day, Gresh says, one cannot overlook the diplomatic hassel that France suffered under Hollande for over a year in order to arrange a Middle East peace conference in Paris  with few significant results or, for that matter, prospects.

In any event, Gresh is convinced that the re-making of the French political scene, which manifests in the failure of the two traditional leading camps to establish a clear path to the run-offs, is the big story for France in the coming years.

I think we have a very interesting political scene to observe, given that Hollande is not running for a second term and that we are not even seeing Alain Juppe [of the Republicans] running against Manuel Valls [of the Socialist Party], Gresh said.

Actually, as Melenchon said, we might well be talking about the establishment of the Sixth Republic, rather than anything else, said Gresh.

So, does Gresh subscribe to the popular view that the run-offs will see Le Pen and Macron going head to head, or does he share the leftist fear of a run-off between LePen and Fillon?

I really dont know; it is not clear, he said.

Then does he subscribe to the common position that France is not America and Le Pen cannot be elected the way Donald Trump was?

Well, we will see, he concluded, almost skeptically.

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New Delhi: Mega defence deals, including procurement of an air defence system for the Indian Navy, are likely to be sealed during Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming visit to Israel which will be first by an Indian PM to the Jewish nation.

Ahead of the visit, which is likely to take place in July, Israeli envoy Daniel Carmon said it will be a big visit, reflecting the depth of cooperation between the two countries in a range of key areas.

The much-awaited deal for Barak-8 air defence missile systems for the navy and procurement of Spike anti-tank missiles for the Indian Army are expected to be firmed up during Modi's visit to Tel Aviv.
Belagavi: Intense efforts are underway to pull out six-year-old Kaveri Madar who has been trapped in an abandoned borewell at a farm in Junjarwad village of Athani taluk in Belagavi district since Saturday evening.

Kaveri slipped and fell into the borewell while playing with her brother and elder sister and is stuck at a depth of 20 feet. Doctors and rescue teams lowered a robot with a camera into the defunct borewell but the operation suffered a jolt because of rock and hard soil which they encountered while digging a parallel trench to reach the girl. Now, another borewell is being dug to reach her through a horizontal tunnel instead of blasting the rock with explosives.

Farmer Shankar Hipparagi had drilled the 400-feet borewell in his agricultural land a few years ago and left it abandoned after it dried up due to failure of the monsoon. He is at large ever since the tragedy occurred as the state government had warned of strict action against farm owners if they failed to fill defunct borewells.

The staff of National Disaster Relief Force from Pune, Hatti Gold Mines, fire brigade and police officials are working round the clock to rescue the child. They have removed soil which had fallen on the girl with the help of a sucking machine. After this, her hand and clothes are visible through the camera. Several attempts made to pull out the girl with hooks and ropes have failed.

Savita, the mother of the child, is inconsolable and is being treated at the adjacent Kukanur primary health centre due to high blood pressure as she has stopped eating. Belagavi district in-charge minister Ramesh Jarakiholi, the district deputy commissioner and superintendent of police have been monitoring the rescue operation.

We have taken all precautionary measures to prevent the girl from falling below 20 feet. We have also stepped up rescue work. We are hopeful of rescuing the girl, said fire brigade officer Fakkirappa Kalakundi.
New Delhi: The trust deficit between Pakistans security establishment, primarily the Army as well as the ISI, and the countrys political leadership can be gauged from the fact that the former kept the process of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhavs trial completely secret and flagged it to the government only once the process was nearing completion.

A Pakistani military court had recently sentenced Mr Jadhav to death, claiming that he was a spy for India's Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and had carried out subversive activities in Karachi and Baluchistan.

This aspect has been highlighted in a recent report prepared by R&AW on the Jadhav episode and forwarded to some key security agencies. According to the report, details of which have been accessed by this newspaper, The Pakistani security establishment was apprehensive that information on Jadhavs trial could get leaked from some political functionaries in the government. So they maintained complete secrecy on the trial and informed the government only once the process was in the final stages.

Intelligence working on Kulbhushan Jadhav's location

Pakistan has consistently denied India consular access to Mr Jadhav and has not provided any information about his whereabouts or his health condition. The report has also raised serious doubts on whether Mr Jadhav was provided a lawyer or a chance to defend himself. Incidentally, the death sentence was confirmed by Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa after the court found Mr Jadhav guilty.

India has already lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the manner in which Mr Jadhavs trial was conducted. The government has reiterated its commitment of doing everything possible to help Mr Jadhav, but its efforts are being strongly resisted by Pakistans security establishment.

The R&AW report also says that Mr Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran by some subversive outfits being backed by Pak ISI. Meanwhile, intelligence agencies are trying to ascertain the location where Mr Jadhav is being confined by the Pakistani security, as well as his health condition.
KOTTAYAM: The Kurisumala ashram at Vagamon, established by the Benedictine monk Francis Acharya in 1955, stands in striking contrast to the latest spiritual activities and encroachments happening in Idukki district. Francis Acharya, a Cistercian monk belonging to the Benedictine congregation, was born in Belgium. Christian spirituality blends with the Indian tradition in the ashram where the word Om is inscribed on the prayer room. It also has a Bhagavad Gita along with the Bible.

The ashram is covered in the mist of Sahya mountains and the visitors who come in search of peace and serenity can enjoy the gentle breeze blowing across the place. The ashram was established on the model of the Sachidananda ashram run by the Benedictine priests at Kulithalai near Trichinapally where the symbols and wordings of Hindu style of prayers are used. Francis Acharya had spent a considerable time at the ashram on the banks of Kaveri where 88 acres of land was gifted for the ashram by K.V. Thomas Pottenkulam. Father Francis was asked to start the monastery by Zacharias Mar Athanasios, the then bishop of Tiruvalla.

The scenic beauty and the peace of the ashram will rejuvenate the visitors, recalls V. Jayakumar who has been a frequent visitor there for the last ten years. Silence pervades the ashram with boards reminding the visitors to please maintain silence. The Benedictine priests, attired in saffron, who run the ashram speak very little and are immersed in meditation and prayers. The people ascend the hills to the ashram on Good Friday. It rears cows for milk and the food given to the inmates is pure vegetarian with vegetables grown on the premises.
Hyderabad: The recent noises made by TD national president N. Chandrababu Naidu on early polls for both Lok Sabha and Assembly, preferably in 2018, have renewed the debate on such a possibility, as well as talk on whether the government was really interested in such a move.

Factually, the five-year terms of both the Assemblies of AP and Telangana states, which were formed in June 2014, will end in June, 2019.

Normally, the term of Assembly is for five years; the clock starts ticking from the date of first sitting of the Assembly.

While the present TS Assemblys term will continue till June 8, 2019, the AP Assemblys term expires on June 18, 2019.

As per the Representation of Peoples Act, the Election Commission on its own can schedule the next elections any time in the six months before the expiry of the Assembly. This means Assembly elections for AP and TS can be held anywhere between January to June, 2019. However, its not possible to hold polls before January 2019, unless they are forced.

The State Cabinet, headed by the Chief Minister, can pass a resolution recommending the Governor to dissolve the State Assembly. This, the Governor has to accept, then dissolve the House and inform the Election Commission. Under normal circumstances, the EC is bound to conduct polls within six months from the date of dissolution of the House.

However, it did not do so in case of Gujarat Assembly in 2002 and even conveyed to the Supreme Court that the six month clause to hold elections was not mandatory on it for a dissolved House.

And as far as simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies are concerned, it will require an amendment to the Constitution to bring changes like preponement and postponement of the tenure of various State Assemblies.

The amendment should get the approval of both Houses of Parliament by a special majority and later endorsed by a minimum of 50 per cent of Legislatures in the country.

More than that, it requires consensus among all the political parties. Recently, the EC briefed the logistics behind the move to the Union Law Ministry.

However, there is a clear difference between simultaneous polls, something that is not new as far as AP is concerned (Since 1999, simultaneous polls have been held for four consecutive terms) and holding early polls which is possible only after dissolution of either the Lok Sabha or state Assembly, whichever the case maybe.

Interestingly, early polls appeared to be jinxed for the TD. Whenever the TD preferred early polls by dissolving the Assembly (A scenario opted by the party three times in the past) except for one occasion, it never returned to power.

After 1984 August crisis, N.T. Rama Rao dissolved the Assembly on November 22, 1984 (House formed in 1983), elections were held in March 1985 and NTR stormed back to power.

In 1989 when Lok Sabha elections were held, N.T. Rama Rao wrote to Election Commission to hold simultaneous polls to AP Assembly though its term was till March 1995. Polls were held and TD lost miserably.

In 2003, after Maoist attack on him on October 1, Mr Naidu preferred early polls, hoping to cash in on the sympathy wave. The TD lost.
All the do-gooders seeking an out-of-the-box solution to the Kashmir imbroglio miss a central point. Can a BJP government at the Centre and in a coalition in the state surmount its inherent limitations to prove equal to the task? The answer, as events in the Kashmir Valley prove each day, is a qualified no. To begin with, the BJPs ideological blinkers and narrow definition of nationalism make any solution of the problem more difficult. Add to this mix, the macho culture the BJP cultivates  as opposed to its concept of weak coalition governments of the past  is eminently unsuited to tackling the problem. Witness the suggestion of a BJP minister in the state Cabinet recently suggesting that stone-pelting protesters should be shot. The tragedy is that the one politician who could make a bold move to untangle the situation is inhibited by his own upbringing in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its long arm over the governments decision-making process. To add to a series of failures, Prime Minister Narendra Modi erred in believing that the impasse would work to his advantage even as the frustrations among the young in particular grew.

Besides, the decision to speed up the Hinduisation of the rest of the country inevitably riles the people of the Valley. Mr Modis limitations can best be judged from his public declaration some time ago that a vast majority of the cow protection units were goons, only to eat his words in less than 24 hours to suggest that goons were participants in only a few of such units. We are living with the consequences of such mixed signals: the lynching to death of a Muslim dairy farmer transporting cattle and, more recently, of a nomad family severely beaten up in Jammu because they were with their cattle, their only source of livelihood. Proposals for a solution of the Kashmir problem have been repeated ad nauseam. Begin serious talks with all sections and parties in the Valley, including the separatists, and set up parallel talks with Pakistan. The latter prospect has receded in view of Pakistans decision to hang an Indian to death after a secret military trial on spying charges. But there is nothing to prevent discussions with Kashmiris in the Valley, once the ground has been prepared. Mr Ram Madhav, the BJPs pointman for Kashmir, had to make a quick trip to the state to try to stem the growing fissures in the coalition; whether he administered a slap on the wrist of the erring BJP state minister for his foolish comment is not known. On his part, Mr Modi seems unable to discipline his partymen to refrain from making provocative remarks that seek to raise issues of cow protection and other concepts to keep the communal pot boiling.

Thus far, for party political reasons or otherwise, Mr Modi has been unable to build a consensus on a peaceful solution of the Kashmir problem. The abysmal scale of voting in the Srinagar byeelection made the country sit up and even the May date for the byeelection in Anantnag seems unrealistic. Members of mainstream parties, including the states ruling party, are hiding, instead of campaigning, with terror of the gun dominating the environment. The projected meeting of the state chief minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, with the Prime Minister will lead nowhere unless the latter is clear on how to begin resolving the problem. If he can get rid of his own inhibitions, he must convince the RSS leadership that the country requires a different approach to Kashmir. The only BJP leader who had a measure of credibility with Kashmiris is Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who headed a coalition government, and sang the song of insaniyat (humanity). But you cannot begin the process if your leitmotif is to shoot the stone-pelters.

In a sense, the question boils down to Mr Modis capacity to make a sharp U-turn in the larger interest of the country by prevailing upon the RSS to give him the room to resolve an old problem which bears the burden of the subcontinents tragic partition and its murderous consequences. He could get past the RSS for a time in Gujarat, but it was one state, not the whole country, and the RSS is riding high with the BJPs victory in the 2014 election bringing three decades of coalition governments to an end. Its dream of a Hindu rashtra is within grasp. Before setting out for Rawalpindi as the first Indian newspaper correspondent to be posted in Pakistan after the 1965 war, I had a meeting with Indira Gandhi on the morning of April 21, 1967. In her view, Field Marshal Ayub Khan had to give in to pressure from Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (then foreign minister) and associates to adopt an anti-India stance because the latter felt that only such a posture could keep Pakistan together. She said no Indian government could placate Pakistan on Kashmir, adding, And what new solution can there be on Kashmir? The actors on the two sides have changed, but Mrs Gandhis words ring as true today as it did then. It is thus essential to begin the task of reconciling with the people in the Valley in a dramatically changed environment in India.

She espoused secularism and although the secular creed is still enshrined in the Constitution, Mr Modis followers in the BJP and the RSS are doing everything in their power to push their concept of the Hindu rashtra. Where do we go from here? There is only one sane argument: create the mood for reconciliation by making moves on the ground. Mr Farooq Abdullahs suggestion to impose Presidents rule is no answer. Rather, the answer lies in building bridges to the people of the Valley. Inevitably, terrorists of the local and Pakistani provenance must be answered with the gun. But New Delhis best answer would be otherwise to sheath the sword and befriend the Valley and its people by assuring them of autonomy and fair play.
India is still the most popular country for Afghans  as a friend that has offered substantial aid in education, infrastructure, and community projects, more than what most developed countries did. And yet, the stagnation in Indian policy appears regressive. Indian policy appears to have not changed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi while other powerful neighbours of Afghanistan  Russia, China and Iran  have recalibrated policy to boost the Pakistan-nurtured Taliban, and nudge it towards political settlement with Kabul, hoping that the resulting political consolidation in Afghanistan will be a hedge against the expanding Daesh (Islamic State). Taliban is inimical to Daesh. While the regional political and security constructs are being finetuned, the US has come under suspicion in Afghan eyes. It ousted the Taliban from power in Kabul but benignly permitted its regrouping in next-door Pakistan with the ISIs help, and not asked sharp enough questions of the Pakistanis. Since 2015, Daesh has also expanded its footprint under the nose of American troops.

The use of the so-called mother of all bombs, the most powerful non-nuclear detonation device in the world, in eastern Afghanistan, ostensibly against Daesh positions, failed to prove that this was a genuine US fight against terror groups. Daesh is still considered not strong enough to attract such retributive attention, while the Taliban have been treated with kid gloves for over a dozen years. As such, protests erupted in Kabul against the use of the MOAB, which was locally viewed as contemptuous of Afghan sovereignty. High-voltage political preparation seems to be afoot in Afghanistan to challenge the Ashraf Ghani-Abdullah Abdullah government, which accepted the US detonation of the MOAB without demur, by political constituencies that have so far been favourably inclined toward India.

New Delhi, in Afghan eyes, as seen in media writings, is perceived as being quietest, and thus incapable of carrying influence in a situation of flux. More, its approach seems to Afghans an adjunct to Washingtons thinking. This became more apparent during last weeks visit to New Delhi by US national security adviser H.R. McMaster. On Saturday, India strongly condemned the biggest terrorist attack against the Afghan military in Mazar-e-Sharif and spoke of the need to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan. This is now par for the course. To be credible in a changing situation, Delhi needs to nuance its stand from Washingtons, and open communication channels with the Taliban with the goal of an Afghan political reconciliation and to help extricate the Taliban from Pakistans grip, distancing itself in this respect from the Chinese, Russian or Iranian stance.
Hindi, despite official backing, has not managed to gear itself up to make itself an eligible language to meet the needs and challenges of governance on the one hand, and of raising itself to the level of easy communication in the fields of science and technology, economics, philosophy and literature.

A month after President Pranab Mukherjee extolled the virtues of diversity,

he made a surprising announcement that all official speeches should be

made in hindi. We cut through the noise to find out what this really means.

The Union ministry of home affairs March 31, 2017, notification of the Presidential Order accepting the recommendations of the committee of Parliament on official language is nothing more than a routine affair. That it should be dug out of the bureaucratic pile and given an airing smacks of Hindi politics associated with Hindi-Hindu heartlands Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in power at the Centre, and in all of the Hindi-speaking states in north India excepting Bihar and Himachal Pradesh. But the political furore that the news has created needs to be played down. Hindi is not going to swamp the country. There are both political and cultural reasons why it cannot do so. We will talk about them a little later in this piece. First, there is need to pay attention to the facts of the case.

The committee had made 117 recommendations, and the one that got most prominence among others, that the President and others should make their official speeches in Hindi, stands at 105. It is not an injunction but a recommendation couched in officialese: All dignitaries, including President and all ministers, especially who can read and speak Hindi may be requested to give their speech/statement in Hindi only. This recommendation has been accepted, but this would not mean that President Pranab Mukherjee in his last two months in office  his term ends in July  will switch to Hindi in haste.

Read | National language and the Hindi hegemony

The committees first recommendation is a lament, a gripe. It says, The committee has observed that the recommendations prepared with collective wisdom are not being deeply analysed by the department of official language. Thus, effective orders are not being issued on the recommendations made by the committee due to which fruitful results are not achieved. Therefore, the committee suggests that the department of official language before issuing final orders on the recommendations may hold discussions with the committee. After issue of orders, the department of official language may pursue their implementation in all ministries/departments of the Government of India, in a time-bound matter. This recommendation has been accepted by the home ministry. But it is unlikely, that in the foreseeable future, the Government of India will become Hindi-ised.

There are a couple of significant, and ominous, depending on the point of view, recommendations which have been rejected. For example, recommendation 110 has been rejected which said, There should be a provision for punishment for not complying to the Official Language Act. Recommendation 108, which said, There should be a provision for all the candidates willing to get employed in Central government offices to pass Hindi competitive exam in accordance with the post has been rejected.

Read | Tamil pride, not Hindi hatred, drives movement

It seems that while the Hindi proponents, who can be inoffensively labelled as Hindi-wallahs, are always looking for ways to push Hindi as far as they can, there are enough sensible people in political parties and in governmental institutions who are deeply aware that this project of pushing Hindi cannot be taken too far because of practical difficulties.

Hindi, despite official backing, has not managed to gear itself up to make itself an eligible language to meet the needs and challenges of governance on the one hand, and of raising itself to the level of easy communication in the fields of science and technology, economics, philosophy and literature. There are not enough translations into Hindi from other India and foreign languages. There are no competent and expansive translation bureaus in Hindi, and this would require funding. Hindi is not updated and not up to the mark to tackle changing society of 21st century.

Hindi is not alone in its inability to measure up to the technological needs. Most Indian languages do not seem to make the grade. If the Hindi advocates, and of course they are not to be clubbed with the zealots, are to cite the examples of Chinese, Korean and Japanese being successful economies managing without English, then they would have to study closely the huge efforts in translating science and technology stuff into their own languages.

Forgetting for the moment that multilingual India is not in the same position as monolingual China, South Korea and Japan, the Hindi or Tamil or Bengali experiment fails in their respective states. The challenges of translating the latest developments in all the fields into ones own language remain almost unmet.

The best way for Hindi or any other Indian language to beat English is to master English well enough to translate everything that is on offer in English into Hindi so that there is no need for the Hindi-knowing person to make the effort to learn English and that too in such an unsatisfactory manner. This would require an army of Hindi speakers and writers who are polyglots, who know other languages, Indian and foreign, and bring back the intellectual treasures of other languages into their own. That is how English made its way in the world, translating stuff from Greek and Latin, French and German, Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian, Chinese and Japanese. This openness to other languages took English to the top of the table.

The general attitude of the Hindi proponents is one of grouse and resentment against English. This prevents them taking cues from the success of English. It has to be remembered that everyone, including Hindi-speakers, learn English because it offers advantages, opens up opportunities. The day Hindi makes the world accessible, even non-Hindi speakers in India will embrace Hindi. At the moment that it remains a distant goal. The committee on Official Language can make recommendations but they will not succeed.
Earlier this week, the National Green Tribunal took a definitive stand to protect Bellandur lake, ordering a total shut-down of all industries in the vicinity of the water body. The bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar noted that no industry will be allowed to operate unless effluents are analysed and found to be within permissible limits by a joint inspection team.

Over the years, Bellandur Lake, which has been at the heart of the city's IT boom, has paid the price for Bengaluru's development. Once a thriving agrarian neighbourhood, the crops that do continue to grow there now receive their nourishment from the polluted lake waters. A number of garages and textile units sprung up in the neighbourhood, as did towering apartment complexes constructed by greedy builders who encroached mercilessly upon the lake bed. In light of all this, the NGT's stand is very welcome indeed!

Now the question we need to ask ourselves is  how have we arrived at this point? Bengaluru was home to a network of hundreds of lakes, which gave the city its verdant beauty and its famous weather. As it happens, Bellandur, in its peak, was one of the city's largest lakes. Over the years, numerous agencies have been involved in the running and maintenance of these water bodies. In fact, the popular belief is that Bellandur Lake belongs to the BDA. The government went on to form the Lake Development Authority and gave it the responsibility of monitoring and maintaining our water bodies. The LDA, however, was run by a section of the Forest Department and found itself constantly short of personnel. Instead of seeing to and tightening regulations in the area, industries were allowed to grow, many of them illegal.

Garages and textile factories which didn't know what to do with their effluents found in Bellandur Lake a most convenient waste disposal zone. This is a trait peculiar to Indians - we don't drink the lake water and are not directly affected by its pollution, so we dont bat an eyelid over turning it into a dumping ground. Apartment complexes mushroomed as well, all with permissions granted by authorities like the BBMP and BDA, which lack any kind of conviction in their approach. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, of which I was a member for five years, the BDA and BBMP have a vague, "anything goes" attitude toward land development. They are, quite simply, not committed institutions.

And how can they be? India is not an industrialised country, we're starkly different still, from our western counterparts. Most of these countries took nearly two centuries to get an all-encompassing urban policy in place. Numerous issues presented themselves along the way and the solution was a process comprising various technological interventions. Challenges like water pollution, air pollution and traditional differences were addressed one after another before a feasible system was put in place to achieve social democracy. The concept of democracy, after all, is not limited to politics alone. We need to be socially and culturally sound as well. In the space of those 150 years, they were presented with unemployment, so they created jobs. Younger generations thrived and the elderly were neglected, so world-class hospitals were set up. It's a journey and each one is different.

India, however, is still grappling with the cultural changes that industrialisation has brought with it. Large numbers of people migrate to cities from rural areas, with no connection to the city save for the financial opportunity it presents. Our urban areas are too young to have established a collective identity and what we have instead, is an assortment of people with varying degrees of social commitment to the city in which they live. For instance, Bengaluru has around 80,000 cabs, most of which are driven by people who have migrated to the city from rural areas. These people make a good living but are not 'urbanised' yet. The same goes for government jobs, which were, at one point, widely deemed a stable, most desirable option. Young, highly paid techies buy apartments in areas like Sarjapur and Whitefield without ever stopping to question if builders have encroached a lake bed or a storm water drain. BBMP engineers come from small towns and behave as such - with a lacklustre attitude toward long-term ur

ban development. We hand over our biggest projects to private entities, but a basic civic duty like building a road, for instance, is in the hands of these people. That's why our roads are full of potholes and our lakes filled with sewage.

Let's do what we can for Bellandur Lake, which has been suffering since 1990, when the IT boom first began, reaching unprecedented proportions after 2005. It's hard to say what can be done for our ailing water body - can the authorities remove the water and muck collected over four decades? A lake as large as Bellandur also requires a large catchment area, which encroachments have deemed impossible. The odds are stacked against a total recovery but the NGT has done a good thing by sending a notice to the government. Perhaps it will spur them into action, which certainly wouldn't have been taken otherwise.
PFull generals of the Pakistan Army retire when they turn 60 or on completing their three-year tenure as chief, whichever is earlier. This thumb rule, however, has attained notoriety more for its violation by successive Army coup masters. It does not come as any surprise, therefore, that three India-origin officers who headed the Pakistan Army  the Punjabi Zia-ul Haq from Jalandhar; Urdu-speaking Mirza Aslam Beg from Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh) and Old Delhi's Pervez Musharraf  played a major role in shaping the psyche and state of Pakistan's Army for around 24 years: Gen. Zia-ul Haq from March 1, 1976 to August 18, 1988 (when he died, at the age of 64, in an aircrash that is still something of a mystery); Gen. Mirza Aslam Beg from August 18, 1988 to August 17, 1991; and Gen. Pervez Musharraf from October 6, 1998 to November 28, 2007 (till he was compelled to abdicate the generals post at 64). Both Gen. Zia and Gen. Musharraf flouted the retirement rule, thus severely weakening the system of their adopted state. Interesting? Lets now examine the Gen. Zia case. At 23, in 1947, he began his new professional innings in a new two-winged Pakistans widely separated army, as captain; by the time he rose, at age 52 in 1976, to be its chief, it was a vanquished force of a clipped, single-wing nation smarting for revenge. The long 29-year interregnum journey from captain to chief, within which came the humiliating 1971 defeat, not only turned Gen. Zia into a religious zealot, but it also went viral among Pakistani Army officials. Collectively, they adversely affected, and reversed, the professionalism for successive generations.

Gen. Zia changed the ethos of the Pakistan Army, making Islamic rituals and teachings part of its day-to-day activities. Also, its motto was changed from Unity, Faith and Discipline to Iman. Taqwa. Jihad-fi-Sabilillah. Iman  which means faith, piety, holy war in the path of Allah. In addition, he allowed the members of the fundamentalist Tablighi Jamaat to preach at the Pakistan Military Academy. In reality, through changes in demographics of the newly-recruited cadets, Gen. Zia created a unique breed of officers whose religious conviction, good or bad, coloured their professional judgments about their "enemies". The contaminated Zia-era recruits, commonly known as the Zia Bhartis (Zia recruits), from 1976 to 1988, started entering the senior general officer category, that is, brigadier upwards, from the beginning of the 21st century. The Punjabi Gen. Raheel Sharif, commissioned in October 1976, was the first Zia Bharti to head the Pakistan Army, from November 2013 to November 2016. And the world knows what visceral hatred he had for India and its Army. Gen. Raheel Sharif, who now heads the Islamic Military Alliance sponsored by the Saudi government, has been succeeded by another Zia Bharti  Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, also a Punjabi. Commissioned in the Baloch Regiment in October 1980, during Gen. Zia's diabolical anti-Soviet game in Afghanistan and pro-Khalistan game in the 1980s, Gen. Bajwa is one of the suave, yet deceptive, current faces of the Punjabi-dominated Pakistan Army command structure. He acts professionally and seldom speaks, except on China and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

His signature can be seen all over the entire Kulbhushan Jadhav episode, loud and clear. And it would be an extraordinary development in India-Pakistan bilateral ties if the Pakistani Army eats humble pie after deciding to send Mr Jadhav to the gallows. The ghost of Gen. Zia will not allow it. Gen. Bajwa cannot afford to incur the wrath and fury of his nine corps commanders, all of whom are Zia Bhartis. Fanaticism over Kashmir, among other matters, blind hatred towards Pakistans minorities and thoughts of revenge over the 1971 Bangladesh war, that led to Pakistans dismemberment, are always high on their agenda. Abdul Basit, Pakistans current high commissioner to India, confessed a week ago of the centrality of the ISI and the Pakistan Army in all matters pertaining to India. It reconfirms Indias long-standing assessment and claim that Islamabads diplomats posted in New Delhi all act at the behest of, and ultimately report to the Army-ISI combine rather than to the civilian establishment. In the overall scheme of things, however, the Jadhav case appears to be a diversionary matter because the Pakistan Army is under pressure from within its Punjabi military machine and militants  the former for developing and the latter for destroying the CPEC.

China has laid the bait. The bait of money and countering India through extra-diplomatic dollars, cutting through Central Asia's historically hostile hinterland and heartland. One wonders about the wisdom of pumping cash into a desert and turbulence-infested terrain, but that is the area where Pakistans Army now operates. China has to constantly manipulate and capture the imagination of the Army to rule the area by proxy. And what could be the best way to provoke the Punjabi Muslim-dominated Pakistani military to prove its prowess than put to the gallows a spy who hails from hinterland of India? Coming back to the other two Indian-origin generals of the Pakistani Army, Gen. Mirza and Gen. Musharraf. They too, like Gen. Zia, inevitably challenged the civilian political masters. Gen. Mirza was accused of playing a role in the aircrash that killed Gen. Zia in 1988, and this accusation came from none less than Gen. Zia's son. Again, Gen. Mirza, as Army chief, severely undermined the authority of his Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, by financially aligning himself with the Islamic parties in the Mehran scandal.

The classic of this triumvirate of Pakistan's Army chiefs is, however, Gen. Musharraf, who revels in his inherent inability to be loyal to anyone. He tried tricks on Ms Bhutto in the mid-1990s, but failed. He, however, succeeded in his coup against Nawaz Sharif in 1999. Thereafter, he proved himself just as unpredictable, bordering on disloyal, in the midst of a Punjabi-dominated military. Before showing his hand in the October 1999 coup, he showed his jihadi warfare tricks through supreme acts of treachery in Kargil. Today, even in his adopted land, Gen. Musharraf is persona non grata, being at the mercy of his oncetime military comrades, the judiciary and, ironically, Nawaz Sharif himself. Given this background, Kulbhushan Jadhavs fate truly appears bleak. In a country where generals have put to the sword their Prime Minister, killed their own Army chief and deported constitutionally-elected Prime Minister within minutes, India can only be seen as door ast (far off) as far as normal diplomatic relations are concerned.There is almost no common ground in India-Pakistan relations today. One could be wrong too. One doesnt mind being wrong!
Centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen will contest the second round of the French presidential election, initial projections suggested Sunday, after a nailbiting vote seen as vital for the future of the EU.

Macron was projected to win between 23 and 24 percent in Sunday's first round, slightly ahead of National Front leader Le Pen with between 21.6 and 23 percent, according to estimates on public television.

The outcome capped an extraordinary few months for a deeply divided France, which saw a campaign full of twists and turns and a movement away from traditional parties.

The French vote was being closely watched as a bellwether for populist sentiment following the election of Donald Trump as US President and Britain's vote to leave the EU.

Le Pen and Macron were the pre-vote favourites to progress to the run-off on May 7 but late gains by conservative Francois Fillon and radical leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon had blown the race wide open.

The vote took place under heavy security after the killing on Thursday of a policeman on Paris's Champs Elysees avenue claimed by the Islamic State group.

With France still under the state of emergency imposed after the Paris attacks of November 2015, around 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers were deployed to guard voters.

Thursday's shooting on the most famous street in Paris was the latest in a bloody series of terror attacks that have cost more than 230 lives since 2015.

Nearly 47 million people were eligible to vote in the eurozone's second biggest economy.

Voting was brisk on a bright spring day, defying forecasts of a low turnout after a campaign dominated by scandals and disillusionment with the mainstream parties of the left and right that have alternated in power for the past half century.

Riding the wave of disaffection with globalisation that carried Trump to the White House and led Britain to vote for Brexit, Le Pen vowed to abandon the euro, hold a referendum on withdrawing from the EU and adopt a French-first policy on jobs and housing.

Analysts had said a Le Pen victory could nonetheless be a devastating blow for the EU, already weakened by Britain's shock vote to leave.

Macron, a 39-year-old pro-EU reformer, is seeking to become France's youngest ever president despite never having held elected office.

Tapping into anger with established parties, the former banker and economy minister formed his own movement, "En Marche" (On the Move), that he says is "neither to the left nor to the right."

Le Pen cast her ballot in Henin-Beaumont, a former coal mining town in the party's northern heartland.

Macron voted in the chic northern seaside resort of Le Touquet with wife Brigitte, his former high school teacher who is 25 years his senior. Fillon and Melenchon both voted in Paris.

Many voters had spent weeks agonising over their choices, with many opting for the contender they considered likeliest to beat Le Pen in a run-off.

Guy Belkechout, a 79-year-old pensioner who was voting in the working-class Parisian suburb of Trappes, said security was one of his main concerns.

"Candidates who want fewer security measures, who want to reduce the police's powers, have not got my vote," he told AFP.

But Hajar Erhamani, a 39-year-old teaching assistant from the well-heeled Paris suburb of Sevres, said she was more worried about the economy and allegations about lawmakers lining their pockets with public money.

"You can't trust politicians these days. On the left and the right, they're stealing from us," she complained.

Closely watched around the world, the French campaign has been full of twists and turns.

A race that began with the low-key Fillon trumping ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy for the right-wing nomination shifted into higher gear when unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande decided not to seek re-election.

Hollande's five years in office have been dogged by a sluggish economy and the constant terror threat.

With voters hungry for change Fillon had been seen as a shoo-in but in January he was knocked off course by allegations that he gave his British-born wife a fictitious job as his parliamentary assistant for which she was paid nearly 700,000 euros ($750,000).

The Socialist nominee Benoit Hamon also struggled, haemorrhaging support to the fiery Melenchon.

A total of 11 candidates took part in the election.

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Mars  or the Red Planet is a dry, cold wasteland. The atmosphere existing on the planet is so thin that even water cannot exist. However, as reported by The Daily Mail, some alien hunters are claiming to have discovered photographic evidence that Mars may have had green vegetation at some point of time.

Curiosity rover on Sol 164 snapped an image which showcases what looks like an ancient tree stump, about 3-feet high on Mars. First published by Paranormal Crucible, NASA later released the image recently.

This object definitely looks out of place and in my opinion could be the petrified remnants of a Martian tree, the video description read. Object is around 3 feet in height, and with numerous discoveries of plant and animal life on mars, it would be logical to assume, that a variety of tree either existed, or still exists on this enigmatic planet, YouTube user WhatsUpInTheSky37 further added.

As per what NASA described, the image was captured by Mastcam onboard NASAs Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 1647 in March this year. Many believe it might be many of the rocks discovered on the planet, however; others feel that it could prove that life was present at some point of time.

It is a good assumption since NASA themselves said Mars was Earth-like when a solar explosion hit the planet, stripping the atmosphere and oceans from the surface, well-known Martian researcher Scott C Warning shared on UFO Sightings Daily regarding Paranormal Crucible's discovery.

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Nokia 3310 is available in four colour variantsWarm Red, Yellow, both with a gloss finish, and matte finished Dark Blue and Grey.

Nokia revived its classic 3310 feature phone along with other Android-enabled devices at the Mobile World Congress that took place in Barcelona in February. At that time, the company announced that the devices will be made available for sale globally in Q2 of 2017.

Also read: Nokia 3310: launch date in India, availability, price and more

The Nokia 3310 was announced with a price tag of 49 pounds (approximately Rs 4000). However, according to a new report by Gizbot, it appears like HMD Global-backed Nokia is planning on increasing the price of its feature phone in Europe.

Nokia  who is expected to begin sale of its feature phone in Europe from next week  is planning on selling the 3310 feature phone at a slightly higher price than earlier announced. The report claims that Nokia will be selling the 3310 phone in Austria for 59 pounds, whereas; in Germany, the same device will made available for 58 pounds.

It is believed that the high tax rates imposed in the European countries has led to the rise in the price of the Nokia 3310 feature phone.

As far as the specifications of the devices are concerned, the Nokia 3310 runs Series 30+, features a 2.4-inch QVGA display, 2MP primary camera and supports microSD cards. The device also comes equipped with an upgraded version of the classic Snake game.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Some 28,500 French citizens living in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are registered to vote at the consulate. (Photo: AP)

New York: The French consulate in New York, where thousands of expatriates were registered to cast ballots in their presidential election, was briefly evacuated following a bomb threat, officials said.

A suspicious vehicle prompted police to clear the building on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park, Consul General Anne-Claire Legendre said on Saturday.

"After the Champs Elysees attack, the New York police department was told to be especially vigilant," she said.

Dozens of people who were inside the building at about 5 pm (2100 GMT) waited on the sidewalk while authorities checked the vehicle.

The situation returned to normal after about 50 minutes, consulate press officer Amelie Geoffroy said.

Voting activities, which were scheduled to take place until 7 pm, also resumed, she added.

Some 28,500 French citizens living in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are registered to vote at the consulate.

Security measures were strengthened at French polling stations across the United States following a jihadist's killing of a policeman on Paris' famed Champs Elysees avenue this week.
Kim was detained by officials as he was trying to leave the country from Pyongyang's international airport. (Photo: Representational Image)

Pyongyang: North Korea has detained a US citizen, officials said Sunday, bringing to three the number of Americans now being held there.

Tony Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk, was detained on Saturday, according to Park Chan-mo, the chancellor of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology.

Park said Kim, who is in his 50s, taught accounting at the university for about a month. He said Kim was detained by officials as he was trying to leave the country from Pyongyang's international airport.

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of a Korean-American citizen being detained recently, but could not comment further.

The embassy looks after consular affairs for the United States in North Korea because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

Park said Kim had taught at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China before coming to Pyongyang. He said he was informed that the detention had "nothing to do" with Kim's work at the university but did not know further details.

As of Sunday night, North Korea's official media had not reported on the detention.

Though no details on why Kim was detained have been released, the detention comes at a time of unusually heightened tensions between the US and North Korea. Both countries have recently been trading threats of war and having another American in jail will likely up the ante even further.

Last year, Otto Warmbier, then a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.

Kim Dong Chul, who was born in South Korea but is also believed to have US citizenship, is serving a sentence of 10 years for espionage.

Another foreigner, a Canadian pastor, is also being detained in North Korea. Hyeon Soo Lim, a South Korean-born Canadian citizen in his 60s, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2015 on charges of trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system and helping US and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens.
The US supercarrier Carl Vinson will arrive in the Sea of Japan in days, Vice- President Mike Pence said in Australia on Saturday amid high tensions with North Korea.(Photo: AP)

The US supercarrier Carl Vinson will arrive in the Sea of Japan in days, Vice- President Mike Pence said in Australia on Saturday amid high tensions with North Korea.

The Trump administration has been trying to clear the waters after sending out confusing messages concerning the whereabouts of the Vinson carrier group that supposedly was steaming toward North Korea last week. Our expectation is that they will be in the Sea of Japan in position in a matter of days, before the end of this month, Pence told reporters.

(What) the regime in North Korea should make no mistake about, is that the US has the resources, the personnel and the presence in this region of the world to see to our interests and to see to the security of those interests and our allies, Pence said.

Tensions between the US and North Korea have soared following a drumbeat of missile tests and fears that Pyongyang may be readying a sixth nuclear test. The US Navy on April 8 said it was directing a naval strike group headed by the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to sail north from Singapore, as a prudent measure to deter the regime. We are sending an armada. Very powerful, said President Donald Trump as other officials made it sound like the ships were steaming toward the region.

Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said the Vinson was on her way up. But the Navy admitted Tuesday the ships were in fact sent in the opposite direction  away from Singapore and toward Australia to conduct drills with the Australian navy. Pence warned Wednesday that the US would counter any North Korean attack with an overwhelming and effective response.
The victim, Reece Seagrave, collapsed and died from a cardiac arrest after his attackers left him alone in the house. (Photo: Facebook)

London: A 14-year-old boy, who was allegedly murdered, was dragged to an empty house after being slammed on a concrete street in Tenbury Crescent, Aspley in Nottinghamshire on Thursday.

The victim, Reece Seagrave, collapsed and died from a cardiac arrest after his attackers left him alone in the house.

According to report in the Daily Mirror, a family friend of the victim said that he was left on a bed by a group of boys, who didnt bother calling for help.

However, after a while one of the boys called for an ambulance and Seagrave was rushed to Queen's Medical Centre but the doctors could not save him.

A 17-year-old boy suspected of the murder has been arrested by the Nottinghamshire police.

The victims neighbours said that it was not surprising for a group of boys to gather on the street. They were a little noisy, but harmless. This incident, however, was quite shocking and unexpected.

People left flowers, candles and notes outside the site of the murder, which has been barricaded by police tape.

His parents are separated and he lived alone with his mother. According to his grandparents, his father was shattered at the news of Seagraves death.

The police have asked people to come forward and report anything they know about the attackers.
A Pakistani man has been living on leaves and branches of the trees for the past 25 years. Mehmood Butt, a poor man from Gujranwala has been eating leaves and branches for the past 25 years, a habit he developed because of extreme poverty and since then he has lived on leaves and surprisingly, has never fell ill.

Mr Butt, 50, started eating leaves 25 years ago because he had no work and couldnt afford basic meal. There was too much poverty in my family. Everything was beyond limit and it was very difficult for me to get a meal, so I thought it is better to eat wood rather than begging on a street, he said.

Years later, as he found work and could afford to buy meals, he found himself strangely keen on maintaining his unique eating practice. Eating wood and leaves has become my habit now, he said.
In a damp corner of a dimly-lit hospital ward, Nasreen lay quietly on the bed. I asked her father if I could talk to her for a while, soon realising it was pointless. Her overwhelming silence almost seemed to mute the clamour that filled the ward.



She is in trauma, said Nasreens father, who sat beside her. It was in August when I met Nasreen, an eight-year-old Kashmiri girl from Pulwama, at SHMS hospital in Srinagar, while interviewing some pellet victims, their families and friends. The Valley had reached tipping point after the killing of Burhan Wani, a militant commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, by the security forces in July. Soon after the incident, a large number of Kashmiris took to the streets in several parts of the Valley to denounce Wanis death.



As a result of the unrest which followed his death, over 80 people, including two security personnel, were killed and a large number of people on both sides injured. Many civilians, including children, were injured and some killed by non-lethal or Crowd Control Weapons (CCW) such as pellet guns, rubber bullets and tear gas shells.



However, Nasreen was a victim of none of these. Her father explained, Nasreen was playing right outside her home with her friends when the incident took place. When she heard the sound of gunfire in the vicinity, due to fear, she tripped and soon fell unconscious. Then we took her to a hospital, but the doctor asked us to shift her to SHMS in Srinagar. My daughter has hardly spoken anything for days.



Kashmir is the most heavily militarised zone in the world, with around half a million troops stationed there. Early 1990s witnessed increasing militarisation of the Valley. After decades of political discontent and excesses of the Indian state, in the early 1990s, thousands of Kashmiri men travelled to Pakistan Administered Kashmir for arms training, with a goal to fight the Indian state. The Indian security forces reportedly led a harsh campaign against the insurgents and their families. The militarisation of Kashmir is well reflected in a series of emergency provisions, particularly the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act  called AFSPA  which was imposed in 1990 to deal with armed militancy.



This draconian law grants legal cover from prosecution to the armed forces operating in the disturbed areas. AFSPA provides extraordinary powers to the security forces, including power to detain and enter property without warrant and to fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death, against any person who is acting in contravention of any law or order for the time being in force in the disturbed area if that officer believes that it is essential for the maintenance of public order.



Sense of marginalisation



Further, the breathtaking landscape of Kashmir is juxtaposed with cantonments, barracks, detention centres, roadside morchas, personnel in battle gear and olive green armoured vehicles. It is, as if, almost impossible to visualise the Valley without these tools of militarisation.



During my visits to the districts and interactions with the youth since 2010, most of the youth across the Valley expressed disenchantment with the Indian state, and their statements often elicited a sense of marginalisation and collective alienation. Many felt that they live in a state of eternal incarceration.



In July 2014, as Omar and I walked past Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar, he asked - What do you think of Kashmir? Before I could even respond, he said, Kashmir is nothing but a prison and I am a prisoner in my own home. The feeling of incarceration seems to be reinforced by the landlocked geography of the state. In the north is the impregnable Himalayas and to the southern is the perceived wall of alienation created by the Indian state. The only proverbial light at the end of the tunnel for them seems to be the opening with Pakistan.



In another instance the same year, Mansoor from Bandipora, emphatically asked, Why do we have to constantly prove our identity? Why are we frequently interrogated by the forces? Search and interrogation of civilians at any given time by the security forces pervades everyday life in the Valley. Frequent encounters with the forces, and the constant pressure to prove their identity on the streets, in public spaces and even their own homes, are likely to generate a sense of vulnerability and alienation among the locals.



In the past couple of years, the Valley has witnessed large-scale protests by the youth (some protesters have also engaged in stone-pelting) shouting slogans of azadi which have been met violently by the forces, only to subside and erupt again. Criminalisation of the protesters and further militarisation are likely to alienate people further. A dialogue with all the parties concerned and most significantly, the people of Kashmir for addressing their underlying grievances, seems to be the only way out.



(The writer has a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and has taught in Kashmir University)




The government is considering steps to ensure transparency in the practice of overbooking seats by airlines amid public outrage over a US carrier forcefully offloading a passenger from a packed flight.



Overbooking of a flight has been a long-standing practice in the airline industry as seats are considered as a "time sensitive and perishable" product once the flight takes off. While the practice is aimed at ensuring all seats are occupied in a flight, there have been concerns over the possibility of a passenger with a valid ticket unable to travel in case of seats being oversold.



The civil aviation ministry is looking at ways to bring in transparency in the practice of overbooking by airlines, according to a senior official. Right now, there is no particular framework or system to have a clear understanding about the practice of overbooking.



Various ideas, including measures that can be put in place for cases where the ticket of a passenger who does not show up at the airport can be given to another passenger, are being discussed, the official said.



Another idea could be the possibility of auctioning the overbooked tickets in a transparent manner within a specified timeframe before take-off of the particular flight, the official added.



Preliminary discussions on ways to bring in transparency in the practice of overbooking air tickets have been held among the ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials.



Earlier this month, a passenger with valid ticket was forcibly evicted from an aircraft by the US-based United Airlines, sparking global outrage. Following the incident, the practice of overbooking has become a talking point.



Last week, global airlines' grouping IATA said carriers should be permitted to continue with the overbooking practice as seats in a flight are a time sensitive and perishable product.



"Airlines should be allowed to continue long-established overbooking practices. The airline business is unique in that once a flight takes off, the seats on that flight are no longer available for sale; it is a time-sensitive, perishable product," IATA had said.



It had also said airlines can, with a degree of certainty, overbook a flight, considering the number of no-shows expected.



Official data show that more passengers are being denied boarding by Indian carriers on account of multiple reasons, including possible overbooking.



Under Indian regulations, a passenger can be denied boarding for a particular reason and provided with an alternative option subject to certain conditions.



The DGCA does not make public specific reasons for a passenger being denied boarding by a domestic carrier. Industry experts said overbooking can well be a factor, apart from security issues.



As per the latest data available with the aviation regulator, a total of 18,242 passengers were denied boarding by various airlines during April 2016 and February 2017, nearly double the number compared to the year-ago period
The government order to block child sexual abuse content by using resources of a UK-based organisation will create a monopoly and make it an expensive affair for companies, Internet service providers have said.



The Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) also demanded that the government should share the responsibility with industry as companies will pass on extra cost burden to consumers which would not be in the interest of 'Digital India' movement.



"The order issued by Meity (Ministry of Electronics and IT) to block child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is creating a monopoly of an organisation where membership varies between 1,000 British pounds and about GBP 78,000 (Rs 84,000- Rs 64 lakh). The government should also share responsibility with industry," ISPAI President Rajesh Chharia told PTI.



The government on April 18 directed Internet service providers (ISP) to block distribution and transmission of child sexual abuse content by July 31.



Service providers are required to adopt and implement UK-based Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) resources to prevent distribution and transmission of offensive content.



Chharia said that the solution to block CSAM should be developed in the country, and the order is different from what the government had discussed with the industry.



"We were under impression that any one body in India will subscribe to the IWF and share it with other players as per rule till we do not develop an indigenous solution and the government will also provide support to the industry."



"The order, however, says that every Internet company with ILD permit will have to approach individually to IWF. The IWF will charge fees based on the subscriber base of a company which will make it expensive for individual companies," Chharia said.



The order was issued after the recommendation of an inter-ministerial committee that was constituted to suggest solutions to address the issue of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) following a Supreme Court order.



The panel noted that most of the CSAM is being hosted outside India and the websites or web links to access such unlawful content are dynamic in nature and frequently changing which makes it difficult to block such content.



The panel noted that no centralised mechanism exists in India to monitor online CSAM. When asked about the obligation of Internet firms to check transmission of CSAM, Chharia said that Internet companies cannot get into 'deep packet inspection' on what is being transmitted onto networks.



"Deep packet inspection will lead to a violation of privacy and also is in violation to government's policy. We are committed to blocking CSAM but the responsibility should be shared by all, including government. ISPs will pass on extra cost burden to consumers which is not in the interest and spirit of Digital India movement," Chharia said.



The government has asked all the ISPs to continue to observe the existing due diligence requirements prescribed by the central government under the Information Technology Act 2000 and rules and regulations.



The publication or transmission of material depicting children in a sexually explicit act or conduct in electronic form is a heinous crime, specifically prohibited by section 67B of the IT Act 2000.
Centrist Macron, far-right leader Le Pen advance to French presidential runoff after major opponents concede defeat.

French far-right candidate Marine Le Pen claimed victory, says the debate over globalization is open.

With 19.1 percent of the vote counted, the Interior Ministry said Sunday night that Le Pen was leading with 25 percent followed by Macron with 21.3 percent. The early vote count includes primarily rural constituencies that lean to the right, while urban areas that lean left are counted later.

Polling agency projections show Macron in the lead with between 23 and 24 percent, followed by Le Pen with between 21 and 23 percent.

The results set up a duel between a young candidate with no electoral experience and the woman who remade the image of a party tainted by racism and anti-Semitism.

French socialist candidate Benoit Hamon has conceded defeat in the first round presidential vote, as polling agency projections showed Hamon a distant fifth place after five years of a deeply unpopular socialist government. Hamon called on voters to back Macron in the May 7 runoff.

France's conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon also conceded defeat in the first round of the vote on Sunday, endorsing centrist rival Emmanuel Macron in the May runoff against the far right's Marine Le Pen.

The outcome capped an extraordinary few months for a deeply divided France, which saw a campaign full of twists and turns and a movement away from traditional parties.

The French vote was being closely watched as a bellwether for populist sentiment following the election of Donald Trump as US President and Britain's vote to leave the EU.

Le Pen and Macron were the pre-vote favourites to progress to the run-off on May 7 but late gains by conservative Francois Fillon and radical leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon had blown the race wide open.

The vote took place under heavy security after the killing on Thursday of a policeman on Paris's Champs Elysees avenue claimed by the Islamic State group.

With France still under the state of emergency imposed after the Paris attacks of November 2015, around 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers were deployed to guard voters.

Thursday's shooting on the most famous street in Paris was the latest in a bloody series of terror attacks that have cost more than 230 lives since 2015.

Nearly 47 million people were eligible to vote in the eurozone's second biggest economy.

Voting was brisk on a bright spring day, defying forecasts of a low turnout after a campaign dominated by scandals and disillusionment with the mainstream parties of the left and right that have alternated in power for the past half century.

Riding the wave of disaffection with globalisation that carried Trump to the White House and led Britain to vote for Brexit, Le Pen vowed to abandon the euro, hold a referendum on withdrawing from the EU and adopt a French-first policy on jobs and housing.

Analysts had said a Le Pen victory could nonetheless be a devastating blow for the EU, already weakened by Britain's shock vote to leave.

Macron, a 39-year-old pro-EU reformer, is seeking to become France's youngest ever president despite never having held elected office.

Tapping into anger with established parties, the former banker and economy minister formed his own movement, "En Marche" (On the Move), that he says is "neither to the left nor to the right."

Le Pen cast her ballot in Henin-Beaumont, a former coal mining town in the party's northern heartland.

Macron voted in the chic northern seaside resort of Le Touquet with wife Brigitte, his former high school teacher who is 25 years his senior. Fillon and Melenchon both voted in Paris.

Many voters had spent weeks agonising over their choices, with many opting for the contender they considered likeliest to beat Le Pen in a run-off.

Guy Belkechout, a 79-year-old pensioner who was voting in the working-class Parisian suburb of Trappes, said security was one of his main concerns.

"Candidates who want fewer security measures, who want to reduce the police's powers, have not got my vote," he told AFP.

But Hajar Erhamani, a 39-year-old teaching assistant from the well-heeled Paris suburb of Sevres, said she was more worried about the economy and allegations about lawmakers lining their pockets with public money.

"You can't trust politicians these days. On the left and the right, they're stealing from us," she complained.

Closely watched around the world, the French campaign has been full of twists and turns.

A race that began with the low-key Fillon trumping ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy for the right-wing nomination shifted into higher gear when unpopular Socialist

President Francois Hollande decided not to seek re-election.

Hollande's five years in office have been dogged by a sluggish economy and the constant terror threat.

With voters hungry for change Fillon had been seen as a shoo-in but in January he was knocked off course by allegations that he gave his British-born wife a fictitious job as his parliamentary assistant for which she was paid nearly 700,000 euros ($750,000).

The Socialist nominee Benoit Hamon also struggled, haemorrhaging support to the fiery Melenchon.

A total of 11 candidates took part in the election.

*Story edited by Ahram Online

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A parliamentary panel has taken strong exception to the government's move to reduce the number of new outposts along the Indo-Pak and the Indo-Bangla borders, saying such posts are crucial for the country's security.



The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, headed by senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, said no reasons were furnished by the home ministry on why the proposal to construct 509 additional border out posts (BOPs) in the two borders had been revised and reduced to 422. The panel recommended that the original plan of constructing 509 BOPs should be reconsidered in the interest of the country's security.



"Reducing inter-BOP distance is very crucial for the security of the country and to keep a tab on the activities going on at the border," the panel said in its report. In 2009, the government had approved a proposal to construct additional 509 BOPs along the Indo-Pak and the Indo-Bangla border at an estimated cost of Rs 1,832 crore. In 2016, the scope of the project was revised by the Cabinet Committee on Security from 509 BOPs to 422 BOPs.



At present, there are 609 BOPs along the 3,323 km-long Indo-Pak border and an additional 126 BOPs (including upgrading of 38 BOPs in Jammu) are to be constructed to reduce the inter-BOP distance to 3.5 km. There are 802 BOPs along 4,096 km-long Indo-Bangla border where the additional 383 BOPs were to be constructed.



The parliamentary panel said even the reduced target was not achieved and only 97 BOPs have been completed by the end of 2016 along the Indo-Bangla border. It has also taken serious view of the cost and time overrun due to delay in land acquisition. "The government should have taken advance action to overcome all such difficulties for timely implementation of the project," it said.



There will be barracks, generator room, kitchen, toilet block and officers' chamber in each of the BOP. The committee said it was anguished over the extremely slow pace of construction of fencing along the Indo-Bangla border as the home ministry has been able to complete just 21 km of fencing in 17 months since July 2015.



"The committee notes that a long stretch of 423.34 km has remained unfenced due to non-feasibility of physical barrier and deployment of non-physical barriers is still in its testing phase and will require time before its implementation," it said.


North Korea said on Sunday it was ready to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, as two Japanese navy ships joined a U.S. carrier group for exercises in the western Pacific.



U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over the North's nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its Asian allies.



The United States has not specified where the carrier strike group is as it approaches the area. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive "within days" but gave no other details.



North Korea remained defiant.



"Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in a commentary.



The paper likened the aircraft carrier to a "gross animal" and said a strike on it would be "an actual example to show our military's force".



The commentary was carried on page three of the newspaper, after a two-page feature about leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a pig farm.



North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army on Tuesday.



It has in the past marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.



North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.



It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations sanctions.



North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump.



He has vowed to prevent the North from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.



Worry in Japan



North Korea says its nuclear programme is for self-defence and has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression. It has also threatened to lay waste to South Korea and Japan.



U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday North Korea's recent statements were provocative but had proven to be hollow in the past and should not be trusted.



"We've all come to hear their words repeatedly, their word has not proven honest," Mattis told a news conference in Tel Aviv, before the latest threat to the aircraft carrier.



Japan's show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads.



Some Japanese ruling party lawmakers are urging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to acquire strike weapons that could hit North Korean missile forces before any imminent attack.



Japan's navy, which is mostly a destroyer fleet, is the second largest in Asia after China's.



The two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson and will "practice a variety of tactics" with the U.S. strike group, the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force said in a statement.



The Japanese force did not specify where the exercises were taking place but by Sunday the destroyers could have reached an area 2,500 km (1,500 miles) south of Japan, which would be waters east of the Philippines.



From there, it could take three days to reach waters off the Korean peninsula. Japan's ships would accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan said.



U.S. and South Korean officials have been saying for weeks that the North could soon stage another nuclear test, something the United States, China and others have warned against.



South Korea has put is forces on heightened alert.



China, North Korea's sole major ally which nevertheless opposes Pyongyang's weapons programmes and belligerence, has appealed for calm. The United States has called on China to do more to help defuse the tension.



Last Thursday, Trump praised Chinese efforts to rein in "the menace of North Korea", after North Korean state media warned the United States of a "super-mighty preemptive strike".


A family court here has "nullified" the triple talaq given by a man to his wife on the grounds that due procedure, as prescribed in Muslim religious texts, was not followed in the matter. Additional principal judge of the family court, Omprakash Sharma on March 9 observed that the procedure adopted by Tousif Sheikh to divorce his wife was "illegal" and "ineffective" and nullified the same.



Arshi Khan got married to Tousif from Dewas on January 19, 2013 and after some time he (Tousif) started demanding money from her. When his demands were not fulfilled, he started troubling her, the victim's lawyer Arvind Gaud said. After some time the woman left her husband's place and returned to her parents' home. She later filed a case under the Anti-Dowry Act against Tousif, said Gaud. That case is still pending in the court, he said.



Meanwhile, on October 9, 2014, Tousif verbally divorced Arshi by stating talaq in Ujjain court premises, where they had come in connection with some other case. Later, he informed her through a notice that he had divorced her by stating talaq thrice while coming out of the court premises on that date. Arshi challenged divorce on the grounds that due procedure as prescribed in the Muslim religious text was not followed in the matter, Gaud said.



The court in its order found discrepancies in it and said that Tousif had failed to mention in his reply that through which method 'Talaq Ahsan or Talaq Hasan' he had divorced his wife. The judge said that he failed to give credible evidence of the presence of Arshi in the court premises as mentioned by him when he had pronounced talaq thrice, while as per the religious law, the presence of the woman in question is mandatory.



The court also observed that no steps were taken by the parties concerned for any mediation on the issue as per religious law. The court took into account various decisions given by other courts on the issue before declaring the talaq as "illegal", "ineffective" and "nullified" it.



Tousif raised the issue of jurisdiction of the family court on the matter but the judge turned down his plea. A statement issued by Gaud and his assistant Hafiz Qureshi said they highlighted provisions mentioned in various Muslim religious texts on the issue to convince the court that due procedures were not followed in the matter.
Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena chief Amit Jani has been arrested in connection with the anti- Kashmiri hoardings that were put up in the city.



Partapur police station in-charge Dinesh Sharma said Jani was arrested from the Delhi-Doon highway near Partapur bypass when he was on his way to Dehradun from the capital last night.

Banners calling for boycott of Kashmiris and asking them to leave Uttar Pradesh had been put up by the organisation on NH-58 outside the colleges where students from the Valley study.



The outfit had said it was only the first step and it would launch a "halla bol" campaign from April 30 to "banish" the Kashmiris who do not leave the state on their own.

A case had been lodged against Jani following which he had gone missing.



Yesterday, through his advocate, the organisation's chief submitted a surrender application before the special CJM court.



Upon being questioned, he told police that he had got the hoardings put up because soldiers were being martyred in Kashmir.



Jani had first shot into the limelight in 2012 when he damaged a statue of former chief minister Mayawati. Last year, he had been arrested for threatening to kill JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid.
Close on the heels of Tamil Nadu seeing the closure of 3,400 liquor shops along highways owing to the Supreme Court order, the state has proposed to denotify these stretches so that they come under the purview of the municipal corporations.



The municipal administration has, however, claimed that the move would help the state government carry out several civic works along those routes quickly as it will not have to wait for the Centres consent.



Tamil Nadus road network stretches to about 1.9 lakh km, out of which about 14,000 km is classified as national and state highways on the basis of traffic activities and connectivity. It has been proposed to shift the state and national highways to the control of the municipalities so that various civic works, including water and sewage pipe laying operations along the highways, especially during a calamity, could be carried out immediately without awaiting permission from various state and central government departments, municipal administration Commissioner K Prakash said in the order.



The Tamil Nadu government, which controls the liquor business in the state, is on the verge of losing more than Rs 10,000 crore following the Supreme Court order to close liquor shops along the state and national highways.



The state was so far managing to spend on freebies with the revenue generated from liquor sales.


Citing post-mortem findings, Police today ruled out any possible foul play in the death of a Bajrang Dal activist near a beach here and said it appeared to be a case of "drowning by accident".



The body of 35-year old Jagadish Suvarna, Bengre unit Bajrang Dal Convenor and a boat co-pilot, was found close to an estuary at Alivebagilu near here on April 21.



Police had initially stated that the body had injuries and it was suspected Survarna was killed by unknown persons. However, police today said the postmortem did not reveal any injury and there was no reason to suspect foul play. It appeared to be a case of drowning by accident.



Mangaluru Police Commissioner M Chandra Sekhar told reporters that a case of unnatural death had been registered on a complaint by the victims brother Shivananda.



He said there appeared to be no cause for suspicion as alleged by some people on social media. It was a "clear case of drowning by accident", but further investigation was underway, he the Commissioner added.



Suvarna, who worked as co-pilot of a passenger boat, was an active member of Bajrang Dal and was appointed convenor of the Bengre unit two months ago, police said.



Assistant Commissioner of Police Udaya Nayak said Suvarna had attended a wedding the previous night and reportedly went for a few drinks with friends.



He set out to report for his duty as boat co-pilot at 4.30 am. Police suspect Suvarna fell into the sea and drowned.
Top army commanders have carried out a detailed analysis of India's internal and external security threats and decided to push for modernisation of the force, besides advocating a tri-service doctrine to deal with major security challenges.



At a six-day annual commanders' conference, the top brass of the army also deliberated extensively on human resource policy of the force, including growing complaints against the Sahayak system, and decided to evolve a "more pragmatic" approach to addressing such issues.



On the promotion of its personnel, which is another sticky issue, the conference felt that the "highly pyramidal structure" in the army results in over 50 per cent of the workforce not being promoted despite being highly competent and decided to go for enhanced transparency and inclusiveness to ensure "greater equability".



Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, during the deliberations, called for a more "participative" form of policy formulation to address human resource issues, and senior officials said branches of the army headquarters concerned have accordingly been directed to initiate wide-ranging interactions on it.



In his address at the valedictory session, General Rawat stressed the need to work in a collaborative manner for maintaining combat effectiveness of the army and sought a greater focus on enhancing air defence and aviation capabilities.



"It has been decided to give heft to the modernisation plan," the army said in a statement sharing details of deliberations at the conference which came to an end yesterday.



It said Gen Rawat expressed confidence at the way the army has been adapting itself to the "dynamic" internal and external operational environment while stressing the need for sustained and holistic modernisation of the force.



India's security challenges including the situation in Jammu and Kashmir were discussed at length in the conference.



"He added that there is a need for sustained and holistic modernisation of the army wherein combat and manoeuvre arms, air defence and aviation are on high priority," it said.



It said a comprehensive plan to speed up land acquisition for infrastructure development has been decided to be addressed through state governments.



The conference was also addressed by Chief of Air Staff B S Dhanoa and navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba.They laid emphasis on evolving a joint operational philosophy to deal with various security challenges.



"During the deliberations, a session was dedicated to discussion with the Ministry of Defence to evolve a more wholesome action plan on administrative and modernisation issues," the army said.



In the backdrop of rising cases of jawans coming out against the Sahayak system and army personnel approaching courts for grievance redressal, the conference extensively deliberated on internal health of the force.



"During the deliberations, important issues having HR policy ramifications have been discussed. There is an impetus to evolve a more pragmatic HR plan. The core values of the army though haven't changed; rapid societal changes and discernible impact of socio-economic aspirations on army have been a focus area," it said.



In the recent months, a number of videos had surfaced in which some army jawans were seen voicing their anger over the colonial-era system, complaining about being made to do household chores of superior officers.



Referring to issues relating to promotions, it said, "The army, unlike most government departments, has a highly pyramidal structure, which results in over 50 per cent personnel not being promoted despite being highly competent thus necessitating the optimum utilisation of this pool of competent personnel."



"The conference deliberated measures to enhance transparency and inclusiveness leading to greater equability," the army said.



It said the proposals to make the Short Service Officers entry scheme more popular, streamlining the intake pattern, employment of women officers and grant of honorary ranks to Junior Commissioned Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers have been deliberated with positive roadmaps.



The army commanders conference is an important event in the planning and execution process of the force. To ensure due diligence, decisions are taken through the collegiate system comprising army commanders and senior officers.
Protesters angry that far-right leader Marine Le Pen is advancing the French presidential runoff are scuffling with police in Paris.

Crowds of young people, some from anarchist and "anti-fascist" groups, gathered on the Place de la Bastille in eastern Paris as results were coming in from Sunday's first-round vote.

Police fired tear gas to disperse an increasingly rowdy crowd. Riot police surrounded the area.

Protesters have greeted several of Le Pen's campaign events, angry at her anti-immigration policies and her party, which she has sought to detoxify after a past tainted by racism and anti-Semitism.

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Rising incidents of attacks on the cops by saffron activists, including BJP leaders, in Uttar Pradesh have sent alarm bells ringing in the police force.



Apparently alarmed by the attacks, the state IPS Association members have decided to meet chief minister Yogi Adityanath to apprise him of their concern in this regard.



According to the sources the Association members have taken strong exception to the alleged attack on the official residence of Saharanpur police chief Luv Kumar by saffron activists and BJP workers a few days back.



What was more shocking that the mob that attacked the SSPs residence was led by a ruling party MP, said a senior IPS officer here.



Sources said that the wife and two children of the SSP, who were present at the residence, when it was stormed by the mob, were yet to come out of the trauma.



Saffron activists were enraged after Kumar stopped a procession being taken out by BJP workers in Saharanpur a few days back to celebrate birth anniversary of B.R.Ambedkar through an unauthorized route.



Around a dozen people were injured in clashes, that erupted after the other community objected to the procession. BJP MP from Saharanpur Raghav Lakhanpal was among those booked in connection with the violence.



There have been several incidents of saffron activists and senior BJP legislators publicly assaulting the cops, flouting the rules and misbehaving with officials since the saffron party was swept to power in the state last month.



On Saturday a Bajarang Dal worker allegedly slapped a circle officer in Agra after the police refused to release a saffron activist arrested on charges of assaulting a Muslim vegetable trader.



In yet another incident a BJP worker allegedly misbehaved with a lady official and barged into her bed room in Mahoba district a few days back. .



BJP legislator Mahendra Yadav allegedly assaulted the employees of a toll plaza in Bareilly district after the latter insisted on payment of toll charges from the vehicles in the MLA's cavalcade on Wednesday night. A case was registered in this regard.



Another BJP legislator Yogesh Dhama allegedly forced his way into a degree college at Baraut in Baghpat district while the students were writing their examination paper last week.


A Kashmiri research student of BITS Pilani in Rajasthan was forced to leave the campus after he was badgered by some unknown people.



On Friday, 27-year-old Hashim Sofi returned home to Bandipora in Kashmir after facing abuses and threat to life. Sofi, a junior research fellow at the Department of Pharmaceutics of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) staying at Malviya Bhavan hostel, found threats written on the door of his room and his clothes.



The threats forced him to leave the campus and return to his house in Bandipora district of Kashmir.

On Friday, I woke up to the threats and abuses inked on the door of my hostel room (MalviyaBhavan). I straight away went to my warden and narrated the incident. He asked me to concentrate on studies.



Later, when I went to my balcony to fetch my dried clothes, I found them painted with abuses and threats. I fail to see why there is such animosity towards Kashmiris, Sofi, told DH over phone.



Sofi was enrolled under Dr Anirudh Roy and was staying in the campus only since three weeks. Sofi said he again went to hostel superintendent Mahaveer and explained the whole incident.



The warden told me that there were some miscreants on the campus and I was shifted to a new accommodation by noon. But, when I updated my parents on the developments, they asked me to return fearing my safety, he said.



Sofis parents are happy to see their son back safe, but the young researcher can see his long-yearning dream dying.



I had worked hard to make it to BITS. But now, I am sure my parents will not send me there again. I will have to work hard again to find another institute, Sofi said.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has expressed disappointment over the slow pace of IMF quota reforms and said any further delay would erode the legitimacy and credibility of the multi-lateral organisation.



The minister, who is here for spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), also underlined the need for enhanced surveillance by the IMF to address the rising vulnerabilities in the global monetary and financial systems.



"The emerging risks to the global economy call for enhanced surveillance by the IMF. The IMF needs to be sufficiently resourced to be able to fully discharge this responsibility. It also needs to function as a quota-based institution," he said at the meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC).



Given that there is a broad agreement on maintaining the current overall lending capacity of the Fund and that the IMF's existing resource pool is excessively tilted towards borrowed resources, there is a "dire need" for increasing quotas, he added.



"We are disappointed that the deadline for completing the 15th GRQ (General Review of Quotas) has been pushed back to no later than the 2019 annual meetings," Jaitlety added.



"Any further delay in the 15th GRQ will erode Fund's legitimacy and credibility, and will be against the spirit of the Articles of Agreement. I do hope that the deadlines now set will be honoured and adhered to," he said.



India has been pressing for IMF quota reforms as it would give more say to developing nations in the activities of the multi-lateral organisation. Also the quota reform would reflect the changed economic realities, specially with regard to the increasing prowess of the developing nations.



Commenting on increasing protectionism and its adverse implications, the finance minister called upon the IMF to lend strong and unambiguous voice in support of free trade and raise awareness about the benefits of rule based open multilateral trading frameworks.



He added that the IMF should play proactive role by productive engagement with Regional Financing Arrangements by way of sharing information and joint mechanisms for surveillance and policy signalling to build confidence among creditors.
In a bizarre case, a two-year-old has been charged with molesting a 35-year-old woman in Bihars Motihari district.



A woman, in the FIR lodged at the Patahi police station in East Champaran, has not only charged the toddler with outraging her modesty but also snatching gold chain.



However, according to Section 82 of the Indian Penal Code, a child below the age of seven cannot be prosecuted simply because no act by such a child can be considered an offence.



The toddler is now so terrorised that he remains confined to his room after he was told that police would soon arrest him and his father.



His father (name withheld on his request) has been running from pillar to post to get the toddlers name deleted from the FIR.



The woman, who has lodged the complaint, is believed to have done so due to enmity with the toddlers family.



The childs father met the station house officer of Patahi police station Narendra Kumar but all his pleas went in vain.



The SHO, in turn, suggested me to surrender in the court at the earliest, he said.



The SHO, however, denied being vindictive.



He said when an FIR is lodged, the age of the accused will not be mentioned.



After I heard the case, I suggested to the aggrieved person to meet senior police officers, Kumar said.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has raised the issue of restrictions on H-1B visa with his US counterpart Steven Mnuchin as India fears the curb would impact the movement of Indian IT professionals to America.



During his meeting with the US Treasury Secretary, Jaitley also highlighted the contribution Indian companies and professionals are making to the US economy.



President Donald Trump has signed an executive order for tightening the rules of the H-1B visa programme to stop its 'abuse' and ensure that the visas are given to the 'most- skilled or highest paid' petitioners, a decision that would impact India's USD 150 billion IT industry.



The Indian IT industry has expressed serious concerns over this as these visas are mainly used by domestic IT professionals for short-term work in America. Earlier, the finance minister raised the visa issue with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

An official statement said: "Jaitley raised the issue of H-1B visas for skilled professionals from India."



Issues related to terror funding were also discussed in the meeting and the US Treasury Secretary appreciated the role of India in this regard, including Indo-US cooperation in Financial Action Task Force.



These matters were discussed yesterday on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF.



During the discussions, the statement said Jaitley pointed out India's ambitious reform agenda which is creating new opportunities towards a deeper economic engagement between both the countries in the years ahead.



"Critical economic issues like Indo-US investment initiative, infrastructure collaboration and NIIF (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund), collaboration with the US for Smart Cities Development were deliberated upon during the meeting," it added.



The Indian minister also held bilateral meetings with the finance ministers of Sweden, France and Bangladesh.



The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. Indian technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year for their US operations.



The US market accounts for about 60 percent of the revenue of the Indian IT industry.



Reforming the H-1B visa system was one of the major election promises of Trump. As per several US reports, a majority of the H-1B visas every year are grabbed by Indian IT professionals.



India accounts for the highest pool of qualified IT professionals, whose services go a long way in making American companies globally competitive.
Mega defence deals, including procurement of an air defence system for the Indian Navy, are likely to be sealed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Israel which will be first by an Indian PM to the Jewish nation.



Ahead of the visit, which is likely to take place in July, Israeli envoy Daniel Carmon said it will be a "big" visit, reflecting the depth of cooperation between the two countries in a range of key areas.



The much-awaited deal for Barak-8 air defence missile systems for the navy and procurement of Spike anti-tank missiles for the Indian Army are expected to be firmed up during Modi's visit to Tel Aviv.



"India, Israel relations are big enough. The visit, when it takes place, will be a very very important visit. It will be one of the most important visits that Israel has witnessed in many many years," Israeli Ambassador Daniel Carmon told PTI in an interview.



Modi's visit coincides with the establishment of 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.



A number of other defence deals are also likely to be discussed. Asked about specific defence deals, the envoy only said the relationship has gone beyond buying and selling and that the two countries are now focussing majorly on joint research and development.



"Israel has very good relations with India and the relationship has various facets including defence," he said.



People familiar with defence relations say the two multi-billion dollar acquisition deals are likely to be finalised during the PM's trip.



India is the largest buyer of Israel's military hardware and the latter has been supplying various weapon systems, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles over the last few years but the transactions have largely remained behind the curtains.



In February, India had cleared a Rs 17,000 crore deal for jointly developing with Israel a medium-range surface-to-air missile (MR-SAM) for the army. A formal announcement on the deal is likely to take place during Modi's maiden trip.



Carmon said ties between the two countries have expanded manifold in the last few years in diverse sectors and both countries are resolved to deepen the engagement further.



"We are really talking about things which are very very deep. Much deeper than the deliverables," he said.


Nearly 300 Whatsapp groups were being used to mobilise stone-pelters in Kashmir to disrupt security forces' operations at encounter sites, of which 90 per cent have been shut down, a police official said today.



Each of these 300 Whatsapp groups had around 250 members, the official said while explaining how determined attempts were being made to disrupt the operations of the security forces by mobilising stone-pelting mobs at the encounter sites.



"We identified the groups and the group administrators, who were called in by police for counselling. We have had a good response to this initiative," he said on the condition of anonymity.



In the last three weeks, more than 90 per cent of these Whatsapp groups have been shut down, the official said.



He said the government's policy of suspending internet services appeared to be showing positive results in curbing stone-pelting during encounters and cited the case of yesterday's encounter in Budgam district.



Just a few youth gathered to hurl stones after two militants were gunned down in the encounter yesterday.



This was in sharp contrast to an encounter in Durbugh village in the same area on March 28, when a large number of stone-pelters had assembled and three of them were killed in firing by security forces.



"With no internet services, the mobilisation of mobs has almost become impossible. Earlier, we would see youth from as far as 10 kilometres from the encounter sites joining the protesters to pelt stones at security forces to disrupt the anti-militancy operations.



"That did not happen yesterday during or after the encounter in the absence of internet on mobiles," the official said.



He said some of the youth listed personal issues like alleged harassment by security forces as reasons for taking to stone-pelting.



"Most of them get carried away momentarily," he said, adding authorities are also looking at further sensitising the personnel on the need to adopt a humane approach while dealing with the youth.



"With the internet facility withdrawn, the activity on these social networking groups and other sites like Facebook has come down drastically," he added.



Stone-pelting on security forces near the encounter sites has been causing major operational problems for the law enforcing agencies over the past one year. More than half a dozen youth have been killed in such incidents in the first quarter of this year.



However, the common people especially those from the business community say they are facing hardships, because of the inability to stay connected online.



"Today, the business depends on internet for communication. I am into stock markets and I have had no business since the mobile internet services were withdrawn on Monday," Mudasir Bhat said.



Bhat said most of the people had done away with landlines and broadband internet services as mobile internet facility gave them more freedom and were also cheaper.



Ishfaq Ahmad, a contractor by profession, said life, without internet, had come to a standstill.



"I had to submit a tender document two days after the internet facility was withdrawn. As the document was to be submitted online, we had to request the concerned department to extend the date till we make arrangements for e-filing," Ahmad said.



He said he has applied for landline connection but the service provider, BSNL, has informed him that it will take time.



"BSNL is the only landline services provider here in Kashmir. I hope the government takes steps to ensure that businesses do not suffer because of this internet ban," he added.
It was in 1997 that LG Electronics set foot in India. Gradually, the South Korean consumer electronics major has bloomed into a national brand here, with the company securing massive revenues of Rs 22,000 crore in India last year.



As the company completes 20 years of growth in India, in a candid interview with DHs Hrithik Kiran Bagade, LG Electronics India Managing Director Kim Ki-wan reflects on what has kept the Seoul-based multinational prospering in the Rs 60,000-crore Indian consumer electronics space, and shares what works best in this dynamic market.



How was the journey for LG in India?



For 20 years, we were learning and growing, and recognising each other (LG and India). We have been identifying what India is as a consumer, and what India is as a market. Indian consumers also took 20 years to recognise what LG is all about. We now realise, its time to reshape and build something of newer value from those 20 years of experience. We are referring to big categorisation. Coincidentally, industry globally is entering its 4th generation (Industry 4.0); likewise, were also entering our new vision.



Can you elaborate on the vision that youre describing?



We keep striving to make the lifestyle of Indians better. Were seeking to understand Indian consumer insights, and what customers are looking for. If we get to know their need, we could offer them some product, solution, function, service and delivery, thus adding value to their lifestyle.



More specifically, were now entering into IoT, wherein new products will be more integrated with the function. Also, in terms of shopping and purchasing points, we will see innovation, such as enhancing the ambiance and offering more experience opportunities, enabling customers to comprehend the value proposition of LGs products. Our stores will turn into more experience centres.



Owing to some conflict between online and offline in view of consumers, we would offer the combined benefit of a hybrid channel, where one could get to know about a product online, but pick it up offline.



What is driving this strategic shift in the way LG looks at its customers and their needs?



LG is a national brand. But its also true that some segments of the market, largely the high-end customers, are looking for something different, and are not satisfied by the existing LG brand image and product level. For them, weve invented an additional range LG Signature, which is not meant to replace, but rather sit on top of our entire portfolio. This premium range will be introduced in India very soon.



You mentioned about IoT. What are your plans in this trending space?



IoT is nothing special, and isnt any new technology. With merely good Internet connectivity, IoT can be applied. IoT functions are already available in several LGs products abroad, from washing machines and refrigerators, to ACs, which can be controlled from a mobile device. We already have the technology, which can be attached onto appliances to enable them with IoT. Some new products from the factory also come incorporated with the IoT function. Also, the software and app have been developed in-house. We will push IoT in India in a small way, by promoting and retailing limited stocks of our range before Deepavali, and wait for interest to build.



IoT is still relatively novel in the Indian market. What challenges do you see, and what is motivating LG to push the technology here?



Infrastructure in the country is gradually improving. Internet penetration is slowly growing, while bandwidth issues persist. The time is right for us and we have the advantage of proven technology for India. We are ready, but for launch, we need to collaborate with infrastructure providers, without which, we cannot do much. Were negotiating with telecom carriers to achieve this goal.



The G6 (smartphone) is due for launch anytime now. Can you share details of the product offensive this year? What is your strategy?



Our strategy is to lead the market, and not follow it. We understand customers concerns and pain-points, and want to find solutions. According to changes in the Indian consumer profile, our products and services will be relevantly changed, with a wider line-up. Two areas that were focusing on are energy-saving and health-consciousness. We would keep differentiating LG from our competitors based on these two key pillars.



With new innovations coming, have you seen Indian consumers becoming early adopters of new technologies over the last 20 years?



India is diversity, and one cannot say that all consumers are alike. Indian consumers arent that easy to attract either. In the meantime, a small segment of the market, say 10%, comprise very early adopters, whore tech-savvy, knowledgeable, curious, and aware about emerging technologies.



What are the trends and challenges you have seen in the Indian market?



In the last 10 years or so, many brands (Indian and foreign) gave an impression of making it big in the Indian market, which was constantly transforming and evolving, but failed to grow accordingly. Attracting is easy by investing in marketing, but sustainability is another issue.



What have you learnt from the market and what is working well for LG?



We substantially pursue value, and not just one-time heavy investment in marketing. We keep investing in R&D, consumer insight, and improving productivity at our factories. Every year, we invest more than $10 million to improve productivity and (India-specific) technology.



Brands tend to get outdated in a changing market. Are you ready to face any competition going forward?



Substance ought to be substantially satisfying, and not just temporarily seducing or alluring. Hence, its important to know the substance consumers pursue, regardless of how much theyre dynamically changing. As we maintain our stance to identify their insight and what theyre looking for, we can win the market. According to changes in their lifestyle, well prepare devices, features, solutions and services in advance.


District In-charge Minister M R Seetharam said that the Congress will welcome leaders with secular mindset into its fold.



He was speaking to reporters after a mass marriage organised by Al Ameen Kodagu district committee at Kaveri Hall in Madikeri on Sunday.



Seetharam said, Discussions are on regarding appointing KPCC chief. The High Command will decide on a suitable candidate for the post. After the appointment, the Kodagu DCC chief will be appointed.



He lauded the efforts of the organisers in organising mass marriage for the last 11 years. There is a need to help the poor to come to the mainstream in the society. Financial constraints come in the way of marriage of girls of poor family. The state government introduced the Shaadi Bhagya scheme to help the poor. A total of 400 persons have availed of the benefit under Shaadi Bhagya scheme in Kodagu. A donation of Rs 1 lakh will be given to the Al Ameen Kodagu district committee.



Former MLA K M Ibrahim Master said that the state government has taken a revolutionary step to distribute title deeds for the houses of the poor.



The Congress-led state government has taken up welfare programmes for the poor. The poor who have been residing on paisari, gomala and government land for the last several years were denied of title deeds. Now, the state government has decided to provide title deeds to poor, he added.



Exhorting the Muslim community members to unite, he called upon the community members to educate female children.



SP P Rajendra Prasad said organising mass marriage by identifying the poor is good work. It is not a good trend to exhibit wealth in a marriage. I had gotten married in a simple ceremony and am happy in my life. Small differences of opinion in a family life are common, which need to be sorted out patiently, he reminded.



Deputy Commissioner Richard Vincent DSouza and others were present.


Germany's Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Sunday hailed projected results in France's first-round presidential vote putting centrist Emmanuel Macron ahead of far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

The Social Democrat said he was "sure" Macron would be elected president in the run-off on May 7.

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The Mico Layout police have arrested a police head constable on the charge of helping a group of people run high-profile prostitution racket in BTM Layout.



The police said Karibasavayya (39), a native of Chitradurga, works as head constable at the Parapanna Agrahara police station. He had joined hands with a group of people some three years ago and had been sheltering them.



He had identified a house for them to run the prostitution racket. He ensured that the local police never raided this house.



He often shared alerts about possible raids by CCB sleuths with the group and regularly received money from it for the help. Money was remitted to Karibasavayyas account regularly, the police said.



Karibasavayyas involvement in the racket came to light after the police interrogated four people recently, said a senior police officer.



The Mico Layout police raided a posh villa in BTM Layout on April 17 and arrested Usman, Sharavana, Farvaze Khan and Naresh Singh for their involvement in the prostitution racket. During the interrogation, the suspects claimed that Karibasavayya helped them run the racket without any hurdles.



The police analysed Karibasavayyas phone call details and found that the suspects were in regular touch with him. The police checked his bank account details which revealed regular remittance by the suspects, the officer added.



The police have booked Karibasavayya under various sections of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code.


An Airtel executive has been reportedly detained by the R T Nagar police on the charge of molesting a software engineer at her flat in Ganganagar on Sunday afternoon.



The suspect Prabhakar (25) too is a resident of Ganganagar. He molested the techie when he had gone to her house on an official work, the police said.



According to the police, the woman had requested the Airtel staff to provide internet connection to her house and Prabhakar was entrusted with the work.



Prabhakar had sent a text message to the victim asking her if he could visit her house around 10 pm on Sunday. However, she had told him to come around afternoon, said sources.



Prabhakar went to her house in the afternoon. After completing the work, he intentionally left his cellphone at her house and went away. He came back after some time and told the woman that he had left his cellphone inside the room where he provided the internet connection, said sources.



The victim let him in. He went inside the room and she followed him. He collected his mobile phone and came out and asked her for a glass of drinking water. After having water, he suddenly locked the door from inside, hugged her and dragged her inside the room where he touched her inappropriately.



The victim resisted his moves, but he kept molesting her. As she raised an alarm, he ran outside and escaped, added the sources.



Though she informed the police, she was hesitant to lodge a formal complaint. Based on her friends advice, she lodged a complaint and shared Prabhakars phone number with the police.



The police sent a message to Prabhakar through a person asking him to fix an internet problem at a particular house. The police detained Prabhakar when he came there. He was taken to the RT Nagar police station and interrogated.



Raghupathi, inspector R T Nagar police station, told DH: Prabhakar works with Airtel and he has been booked for molesting the techie. The police are yet to arrest him.




A section of private schools has raised the banner of revolt against the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), accusing it of crossing its jurisdiction.



The basic purpose of having the CBSE is to conduct examinations, provide certification and maintain the standard of education in affiliated schools. However, the board is continuously deviating from its purpose and intervening in the operations of the schools. The CBSE cant dictate terms to unaided private schools, said Kulbhushan Sharma, president of the National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA).



The CBSE issued show-cause notices to at least 13 private schools in last 15 days and withdrew the affiliation of three private schools in Uttar Pradesh, acting on various complaints of irregularities.

It has also maintained pressure on private schools to use textbooks of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for classes I to XII.



The board recently slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 each on more than 2,000 private schools, when they failed to furnish some details that the CBSE had asked for.



Last year, the board had asked private schools to furnish details about their fee structure, infrastructure, salaries of teachers and other staff and the mode of payment of salaries.



The NISA said the details sought by the board were confidential information.



Only the state government has the right to seek information on school operations. Private schools provide this information to the state governments from time to time, NISA convener Amit Chandra said.

The NISA demanded that the circular seeking the confidential information be withdrawn.



It also demanded that the penalty of Rs 50,000 imposed on schools be revoked.



The NISA said that if its demands are not met at the earliest, it will be compelled to approach the court.

The CBSE, however, remained unmoved by NISAs stand.



Official sources in the board said that a few more months can be given to the schools to submit the information sought from them.



If schools do not comply with the affiliation by-laws and directives issued from time to time in the best interest of students, the board will have no option but to take action as per the affiliation rules, they said.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged the states to ensure the safety of Kashmiri students, who fear attacks in retaliation to pelting stones at security forces in their home state.



Modi seconded Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Muftis suggestion that all the states should reach out to the students, following incidents of violence against them from different parts of the country.



Mehbooba raised the issue during the meeting of chief ministers at Niti Aayog.



In his concluding remarks, Modi urged the states to reach out to these students (of J&K) from time to time, a statement from the prime ministers office said. Recently, Kashmiri students of Mewar University in Rajasthan were assaulted, and a hoarding had cropped up in Meerut asking Kashmiris to get out of Uttar Pradesh.
The forthcoming Presidential election has brought Sonia Gandhi back into the thick of political activities, with the 70-year-old Congress chief holding discussions with other parties to field a single candidate.



In recent times, Sonia has been gradually receding to the backstage, handing over the reigns of the leadership to her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi.



Last week, Sonia met Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar and CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, besides speaking to NCP chief Sharad Pawar to discuss the Presidential election. She will soon meet CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy, DMK working president M K Stalin and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.



Opposition leaders are reportedly considering the names of JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav and Pawar as their candidates for the Presidential election scheduled in July. Vice president Hamid Ansari had also been discussed as a possible nominee, but it is learnt that he is not keen to fight the election. Sonias return has raised questions over Rahuls elevation as Congress president later this year.



A section of the party leadership still feels that Sonia should continue. Things would become clear with time, a senior Congress leader said.



Since her freak accident at a road show in Prime Minister Narendra Modis Varanasi constituency last year, Sonia delegated the party responsibilities to Rahul.




India on Saturday tacitly blamed the terror networks operating out of Pakistan for the latest attack by the Taliban on a military base at Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan.



The terrorist attack is a stark reminder of the need to immediately dismantle the safe havens and sanctuaries that support and sustain terrorism in Afghanistan from outside its borders, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, without directly referring to Pakistan.



Over 100 people were killed after Taliban militants attacked a camp of Afghan Army at Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan on Friday. Some reports indicated that the death toll could be as high as 140.



India condemned the deplorable terrorist attack in the strongest terms, noting that it resulted in loss of lives, including the brave personnel of the Afghan National Defence Forces.



Strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Mazar-e-Sharif. Our prayers and condolences to the families who lost loved ones, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on Twitter. He had lately discussed the situation in Afghanistan with H R McMaster, National Security Advisor to US President Donald Trump, and Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for foreign and security policies.



The government and the people of India extend their deepest condolences and stand with the government and people of Afghanistan at this difficult moment, Gopal Baglay, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said on Saturday.



New Delhi reaffirmed India's steadfast support to Afghanistan in fighting all forms of terrorism and bringing perpetrators of terrorist violence to justice, wherever they may be.



India has been concerned over the surge in violence in Afghanistan as well as the lack of progress in the peace process.



New Delhi has always maintained that any peace process in Afghanistan should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and should not be based on any artificial distinction between good terrorist and bad terrorist.


Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has raised the issue of restrictions on H-1B visa with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, as India fears the curb would impact the movement of Indian IT professionals to America.



During a meeting with his US counterpart, Jaitley also highlighted the contribution Indian companies and professionals are making to the US economy.



US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order for tightening the rules of the H-1B visa programme to stop its abuse and ensure that the visas are given to the most- skilled or highest paid petitioners, a decision that would impact Indias $150 billion IT industry. The Indian IT industry has expressed serious concerns over this as these visas are mainly used by domestic IT professionals for short-term work in America.



Earlier, Jaitley raised the visa issue with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. An official statement said: Jaitley raised the issue of H-1B visas for skilled professionals from India.



Issues related to terror funding were also discussed in the meeting and Mnuchin appreciated the role of India in this regard, including Indo-US cooperation in Financial Action Task Force. These matters were discussed on Saturday on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF.



During the discussions, the statement said that Jaitley pointed out Indias ambitious reform agenda which is creating new opportunities towards a deeper economic engagement between both the countries in the years ahead.



As per several US reports, a majority of H-1B visas every year are grabbed by Indian IT professionals, and India accounts for the highest pool of qualified IT professionals, whose services go a long way in making US companies globally competitive.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday pushed for conducting the state Assembly polls and general elections simultaneously.



Chairing the Niti Aayogs Governing Council meeting here, Modi also said he was in favour of having a January to December financial year to benefit the countrys vast agriculture sector.



He unveiled a 15-year vision document for New India at the meeting, which was attended by the chief ministers of all the states, except Punjab, West Bengal, Sikkim and Manipur.



Being a former chief minister, I am convinced that the vision of New India can only be realised through the combined effort and cooperation of all the states and chief ministers, said Modi, who served as the chief minister of Gujarat for nearly 13 years before becoming the prime minister, in his opening remarks to the council, which met for the first time after it was formed in 2015.



During the meeting, attended by 171 officials, including senior Cabinet ministers, 300 specific action points were presented to speed up the economy. The prime minister urged the states to speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation, which would create jobs and help develop economic growth.



We must move away from the old ways of doing things and think new. If resources are there, but governance is poor, there will be no result, he said.



Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya gave a presentation on the 15-year vision document, a seven-year medium-term strategy and a three-year action plan of Niti Aayog, even as it bid a formal goodbye to the Nehruvian-era five-year plans, with the 12th plan ending on March 31.



Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan gave a presentation on doubling farmers income by 2022, while Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao raised the issue of the farm sector facing huge labour shortage.



The chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala drew attention to the drought situation in their states. Karnataka also raised concerns of a severe fund cut under central welfare schemes.



Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant spoke about 100 districts which were lagging behind on health, education and connectivity parameters, even as the prime minister said the country could progress faster if these districts performed well.




Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday described as lack of experience the Congress vice president Rahul Gandhis comments on an advice given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the officials on using social media.



It (Rahuls remark) shows lack of experience. The prime minister has been a motivating person for both his ministers and bureaucrats. The prime minister asked the officials not to use social media for self promotion and instead focus on serving people, she told reporters here on seeking her reaction on Rahuls comments.



Rahul had said that Modi was not in a position to lead by example on his counsel against self promotion, taking a swipe at the prime minister who extensively uses social media.



Niramala was speaking after inaugurating her office on Ali Asker Road in Bengaluru. She is a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka. She also announced to adopt Mallanayakanahalli village in Kolar district under Adarsh Gram yojane. Asked about accusations that the Centre is trying to impose Hindi language by implementing the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme, the minister said the Centre has no such intentions. The programme is aimed at promoting regional languages and culture.
Growing cultural ties between Iran and Europe were on display on Wednesday night as a French-Iranian conductor became one of the first Westerners to lead the Tehran Symphony Orchestra since the revolution.

Iran's efforts to rebuild ties with the West -- most notably through a nuclear deal with world powers -- have triggered a flood of tourists and trade delegations into the country.

Cultural links are more sensitive but are slowly developing, and Wednesday night's performance of two pieces by Gabriel Faure were thought to be the first time the Tehran orchestra's choir has sung in French.

It marks another step in conductor Pejman Memarzadeh's efforts to connect his Iranian birthplace and adopted home in France.

"I've always been very interested in trying to bring these two civilisations, these two great countries, closer together," the 44-year-old told AFP.

He was speaking ahead of the concert in the 750-seat Vahdat Hall, one of the best-equipped opera houses when it opened during the time of the shah in the 1960s, with only a slightly faded grandeur today.

The orchestra itself is celebrating its 80th anniversary, having lived through some dark days, particularly just after the 1979 revolution when much music -- particularly Western -- was banned.

Neglected for many years, the orchestra has seen a revival under moderate President Hassan Rouhani, and while Western pop music is still frowned upon by Iran's conservative authorities, the classics are once again widely taught and practised.

Memarzadeh, who left Iran as a young boy in the 1970s and founded the Orchestre de l'Alliance in France in the 1990s, said part of his mission was to draw attention to Iran's overlooked classical music heritage.

"Iran is a very ancient civilisation with a high level of traditional music in its roots, but people are probably less aware that like other highly cultured countries... classical music has been practised here for a long time," he said.

"There have been great artists, great conductors, great composers. The practice of classical musical is very much alive in Iran."

Shardad Rohani, musical director of the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, said one of Iran's great advantages was the continuing interest of young people in classical music.

"The average age of the orchestra is 25, and I'd say 80 percent of the audiences are young followers. In Europe, it's the opposite," Rohani told AFP.

The talent is homegrown, with many studying at the conservatory across the road.

"One positive thing about the Tehran Symphony Orchestra is they're all Iranians. They all studied here... and that shows that classical music is alive and well," he said.

This is not Memarzadeh's first musical foray in Iran.

In 2002, he led the first performance by a Western orchestra in Iran since the revolution, and last year returned to perform at historic sites including the ancient ruins at Persepolis.

The nuclear deal signed with world powers in 2015 "has helped rebuild trust," he said.

"Artistic, cultural and educational projects are very important because they help remind us of what unites us and what will help us build a better and more constructive future," he said.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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The Bangalore Development Authority will start weeding at the Bellandur lake from Monday.



The decision comes in the wake of a meeting chaired by chief secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia with stakeholders of the lake on Friday, two days after the National Green Tribunal cracked the whip on its clean-up.



The BDA, custodian of the lake, on Saturday issued orders to clear weeds from the 900-acre water body at a cost of Rs 3.35 crore, P N Nayak, BDA engineer-member, told DH.



Earlier, the BDA had set aside Rs 3.75 crore for the weeding. Private contractor Harvin Engineering, however, quoted Rs 3.35 crore, Nayak said.



The tribunal has given the state government one month to restore the lake. It is not possible to rejuvenate the lake in a month. It is a long-term project. Directions have been issued to the contractor to complete the weeding in three months, Nayak said.



The BDA had invited an expression of interest (EoI) in February to undertaking the weeding.

Harvins Construction Private Limited, Somu Enterprises Private Limited, Gujarat Eco Microbial Technologies Private Limited and Euro Tech Environmental Private Limited had sent in their proposals. But none of them were accepted, following which their tenders were cancelled, he said.



Conditions relaxed

Later, the BDA relaxed the conditions specified in the EoI, which included introducing dissolved oxygen into the lake and using weeds to generate biogas or electricity or convert it into organic manure, and called for a short-term tender.



Nayak, however, said that now there was no such thinking. The BDA is planning to allot some space on the lake embankment to store the weed. As weed is used as cattle feed, we will allow farmers to use it, he said.


I was sitting with friends at a busy coffee shop in Downtown Cairo when the Whatsapp message came: permits issued, we leave on the 26th.

It had been a dream of mine to visit Egypts southern triangle of Shalateen, Abou Ramaad, and Halayeb.

However, our request for permits took longer than expected to be approved, and the permits were finally issued just over a day before our trip.

Filled with excitement, we packed our bags and began at noon our 17-hour journey to the south of Egypt, stopping in several cities along the way.

Somewhere around 3:30am the following day, we arrived at Ras Hadarba  about 200 kilometres north of Shalateen  where we were woken up at an army checkpoint, with soldiers boarding the bus to confirm that every passenger has a permit and does not look suspicious.

This was a very common occurrence as we kept heading south.

Just before sunrise we had reached the borders of Shalateen, where our permits were checked again and we were finally ushered to the start of a magical adventure.

Reaching the centre of the small Bedouin city just after 6am, we found a few shops already open; a camels milk stand, a bread shop, and a green grocer.

The entire market has just over 10 shops, with a goat market on one side and a camel market on the other.

The city centre has around three or so restaurants. As we settled in the larger one, we began our breakfast with gabbana, a spiced coffee  also common in Nubia  followed by a delicious traditional Egyptian breakfast feast of bread, cheese, eggs, foul, and jam.

The market and the goats

We arrived early, and our hotel rooms were not yet ready, so we spent a couple of hours checking every shop in the one-street city centre.

Even though the market is very limited in variety, Shalteens herb shops are very rich with options that we had not come across in other Egyptian cities, not even in Aswan.

From Khorinjal to Sudanese garad, I bought every herb I could not pronounce. Now they are all in my kitchen and I have no idea what I should use them for.

Most shops in Shalateen do not have locals managing them. Almost all the salesmen were from Qena, with the exception of one Bedouin in the camels milk shop.

Intrigued, I had a brief chat with the man, who, while very friendly, was a bit cautious with his words.

He explained that he does not always have camels milk to sell, and thus needs to diversify his means of income. He then showed me a chilli-flavoured Sudanese cigarette packet, which, according to my smoker friends, is beyond heavy.

Locals are very friendly and welcoming; yet the significant lack of tourism in the area has rendered them inhibited when approached by any outsider.

As we walked through the poor streets of Shalateen, many asked us if we were a medical or charity convoy, our answer that we were simply visitors seemed to confuse almost all the locals.

It is quite a common occurrence to see goats roaming the street unmonitored, though the owner of every goat is known.

Walking towards the end of the main street, we stumbled onto the goat market, filled with all ages and colours of goats.

While to an outsider it looks like a confusing group of goats surrounded by herdsmen; each herd was skilfully separated from the rest.

The whole market shared their smiles, offered us their goats to carry, and some even asked to pose for photos.

Closing in on 24 hours, we were delighted to know that the hotel was finally ready to receive us.

The hotel

Dr Barghouts Hotel is one of the few three-storey buildings constructions in the entire town, and probably the largest building in Shalateen.

The hotel has only one clerk, Shazly, who is also the cleaning man and the manager.

As we walked through the corridors, we kept stumbling across paper notes stuck to the walls with his phone number in case he was needed.

I only saw Shazly  who is also from Qena  twice in five days; the day he gave us the room key and the day we gave him the key back.

Otherwise, the hotel was completely void of help or security, yet completely safe.

The beds were very comfortable, and the rooms technically had modern amenities, even though most of them barely worked.

Once we opened the shower we were unable to shut it off for five days straight, and thats just to name one example; the rest of the bathroom was also a hilarious adventure. Needless to say, we loved every bit of it. It was all part of our adventure.

The magnificent beach

To seize the day, we only rested for one hour and then headed to the beach.

The bus dropped us off in the middle of nowhere, and we were asked to walk straight right into the desert. We walked around 1.5 kilometres (about a mile), finally reaching an emerald blue lagoon.

It is very raw out there. As you look at the sand you see the different tracks of birds, crabs, and other animals. Looking to the side, you see some Bedouins with a couple of camels standing by the shoreline.

Truly, pictures do not do justice to the beaches of the south; we quickly took off our clothes and ran towards the water, partly due to excitement but mostly due to the cold wind.

The water was excruciatingly cold and saltier than northern regions of the Red Sea, but we couldnt care less. It was gorgeous and the experience was breathtaking.

As the day got warmer, we left the saltiness of the emerald waves and enjoyed our lunch under the warmth of the sun.

We were often visited by army soldiers throughout our journey, who asked for our permits and double checked who we were; and the faraway lagoon was no exception.

As the afternoon approached, the tide began to narrow the pathway we walked to reach our secluded beach. We then quickly packed our stuff and walked back towards the main road.

By the time we made it back to our hotel it was late afternoon.

I jumped into our ongoing shower, washed off the saltiness of the sea and got ready for the night.

We sat in a local coffee shop (ahwa) and ordered Shalateens special; tea with helf barr, an herb found in the mountains that is believed to be very healthy for the digestive system.

As we laughed the night away, our energy finally ran out and it was time to sleep.

The camel market

Waking up with the crack of dawn, it was time for some more exploring. We began our day with a visit to the camel market.

Camels make their way from Sudan or further south in Africa to Cairos camel markets, though some end their journey in Shalateen.

The place is unexpectedly quiet, clean, and well organised for a camel market.

Everyone was very welcoming and they were all very patient with the overly excited tourists; after all, it was our first time in a camel market.

The camels not only differed in size, but were visibly of different grades.

Additionally, many of the camels had one tied leg to prevent them from running away, a common practice as explained by the herdsmen.

As we went back towards the city centre and our coffee shop, to relax and have some more gabbana, one of our friends went to buy some camel meat.

When he returned, he surprised us with a common Sudanese drink called Sharboot.

As the name would cause any Egyptian to laugh hysterically, we all took our time to absorb the drinks name, which sounds remarkably similar to a vulgar Egyptian insult.

The drink is mostly made out of dates, herbs and spices simmered for several hours.

In terms of smell and taste, Sharboot is by no means average, it is very sharp and heavily date-infused. It is definitely worth a try!

As the day came to a close, so did our adventure in Shalateen.

We went to our hotel rooms, packed lightly and headed towards Abou Ramad and Halayeb to explore the southernmost point in Egypt.

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The Donegal Democrat has been informed of the following deaths:



- Sean McEniff Church Road, Bundoran

- Sister Eucharia McLoone, Chapelizod, Dublin/Glenties

- Joe McGrory, Marian Park, Buncrana

- Dylan Crawford, Crossroads, Killygordon



Sean McEniff Church Road, Bundoran

The death has taken place at the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin of Sean McEniff, late of Church Road, Bundoran.

His remains are reposing at his home.

Removal on Monday, April 23, at 11.30am going to the Star of the Sea Church for Requiem Mass at 12 noon.

Wake from 12pm to 9pm on Sunday. House private on Monday morning, 23rd April.

Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to Ben Bulben COPD care of any family member.

Joe McGrory, Marian Park, Buncrana

The death has taken place at his residence of Joe McGrory, late of 34 Marian Park, Buncrana.

His remains reposing at his residence.

Funeral on Sunday April 23 at 10.15am going to St Marys Church, Cockhill for 11oclock Requiem Mass.

Burial afterwards in the adjoining graveyard. House private from 10pm  11am



Dylan Crawford, Crossroads, Killygordon

The sudden death has occurred in Manchester, England, of Dylan Crawford, late of Dromore, Crossroads, Killygordon.



His remains will be reposing at his family home from 5pm on Saturday April 22.

Funeral leaving his home on Monday (April 24) at 10.30am for Requiem Mass at 11am in St. Patrick's Church, Crossroads, Killygordon, with interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Donations in lieu of flowers, if so desired to the Crawford family, c/o G. Mc Cool & Son, Funeral Directors, Dooish, Ballybofey.



Death notices can be sent to editorial@donegaldemocrat.com; please include a contact number for verification.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has expressed his sympathy to the family and friends of Sean McEniff, following the passing of the late Donegal Councillor.

Deputy Martin commented, This is an extremely difficult time for Seans family and I wish to extend my sincere sympathies to them. Sean was a proud Donegal man and played an integral role in the promotion and development of business and tourism in the county and the North West region."

He added: "His experience and expertise in these areas saw him appointed Chairman of North West Tourism in 1986  a post he held for two decades. He was also awarded the title of Donegal Person of the Year in 1996  an accolade I know he was particularly proud of. "

The Fianna Fail leader continued: "Sean was our longest serving councillor, first elected to Donegal County Council in 1967 and subsequently re-elected on seven occasions, most recently in the 2014 local elections. This record alone is testament to the work he undertook across the community, and the respect in which he was held by the people of Bundoran."

On behalf of myself and the Fianna Fail organisation I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Seans family and wide circle of friends.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dhilis.

Cllr McEniff, 81, passed away on Friday in hospital in Dublin and will be laid to rest in his home town of Bundoran on Monday.


The Donegal Democrat has been informed of the following deaths:

- Thomas Denes, Prucklish, Churchill

- Sean McEniff Church Road, Bundoran

- Joe McGrory, Marian Park, Buncrana

- Dylan Crawford, Crossroads, Killygordon

- John Mc Carron, Strabane and Magherahane, Raphoe

Thomas Denes, Prucklish Churchill

The death has taken place at Letterkenny University Hospital of Thomas Denes, late of Prucklish, Churchill,

His remains are in repose at his late residence.

Funeral mass in St Colmcilles church Glendowan at 11am on Tuesday April 25th, burial will take place in Ballina, Co. Mayo on Wednesday.

Family time from 11pm to 11am and on the morning of the funeral. Family flowers only please, donations to Our ladies hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.

Sean McEniff Church Road, Bundoran

The death has taken place at the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin of Sean McEniff, late of Church Road, Bundoran.

His remains are reposing at his home.

Removal on Monday, April 23, at 11.30am going to the Star of the Sea Church for Requiem Mass at 12 noon.

Wake from 2pm to 10pm today, Saturday and 12pm to 9pm on Sunday. House private on Monday morning, 23rd April.

Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to Ben Bulben COPD care of any family member.

Joe McGrory, Marian Park, Buncrana

The death has taken place at his residence of Joe McGrory, late of 34 Marian Park, Buncrana.

His remains reposing at his residence.

Funeral on Sunday April 23 at 10.15am going to St Marys Church, Cockhill for 11oclock Requiem Mass.

Burial afterwards in the adjoining graveyard. House private from 10pm  11am



Dylan Crawford, Crossroads, Killygordon

The sudden death has occurred in Manchester, England, of Dylan Crawford, late of Dromore, Crossroads, Killygordon.

His remains will be reposing at his family home from 5pm on Saturday April 22.

Funeral leaving his home on Monday (April 24) at 10.30am for Requiem Mass at 11am in St. Patrick's Church, Crossroads, Killygordon, with interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Donations in lieu of flowers, if so desired to the Crawford family, c/o G. Mc Cool & Son, Funeral Directors, Dooish, Ballybofey.

David McLaughlin, Porthall, Lifford

The death has taken place at Letterkenny University Hospital of David Mc Laughlin, late of 7 Hollybush Park, Porthall, Lifford

Reposing at his home from today, Sunday, April 23, from 6p.m.

Funeral leaving his home on Tuesday at 9.15a.m.for Requiem Mass in St Patricks Church, Murlog at 10a.m. with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Donations in lieu of flowers please to the Friends of Lifford Hospital c/o Quigley Funeral Directors, 1A Newtown Place, Strabane.

John Mc Carron, Strabane and Magherahane, Raphoe

The death has taken place at the Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh, of John Mc Carron, late of 7 Beechmount Avenue, Strabane and formerly Magherahane, Raphoe .

Reposing at his home from 3pm today Sunday, April 23rd.

Funeral on Tuesday in St Marys Church, Melmount at 12noon with interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery,

Donations in lieu of flowers please to Alzheimers Society c/o Quigley Funeral Directors, 1A Newtown Place, Strabane.

Family time please from 10p.m. to 10a.m.

Death notices can be sent to editorial@donegaldemocrat.com; please include a contact number for verification.
Members of the Donegal branch of the Irish farmers Association will travel to Co. Kildare tomorrow, Monday, for a major meeting on the impact of Brexit on the agricultural sector.

Several Donegal branch members will travel to a conference taking part in Goffs that will include the President of COPA and the European Union Commissioner for Agriculture.

The Donegal contingent will be led by local IFA branch president, Michael Chance, who says the potential impact of Brexit could not only impact farming in the border areas but have a significant impact on all irish agriculture.

He said the recent announcement of a snap UK election set for June 8th next could add greater uncertainty and he believes it will be a very decisive election.

Speaking ahead of the event Mr Chance stated: The IFA have a very detailed document on Brexit and we have presented it Michel Barnier the European Union chief negotiator. Our president met the British Ambassador last week. I met him in Letterkenny.

Our attitude is that we have to everything we can to influence the outcome. It is crucial to the livestock and all agriculture, and much more, but agriculture particular. Britain have one thing in mind and that is a cheap food policy. Even if they havent that in mind we are going to up against tariff and so on. It will have a huge impact on the livestock and beef in particular. That is the backbone of Donegal from the agricultural end anyway.

The President of COPA Martin Merrild will be among the speakers at a major IFA Brexit event on April 24th, ahead of the crucial EU Summit on Sat, 29th April, at which EU leaders will set out their negotiating position.

EU Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan, the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed, IFA representatives and several industry leaders, and representatives from the Ulster Farmers Union will speak at the event which will be attended by more than 600 farmers.
A 1.5-mile section of West College Street will be resurfaced in the future thanks to an agreement the City of Enterprise has made with the Alabama Department of Transportation.

The Enterprise City Council on Tuesday approved the agreement, which is an 80/20 matching grant. With the total cost of the project estimated to be $405,000, the state will pay about $300,000, according to Enterprise mayor Kenneth Boswell.

Boswell said the city will budget its share of the project for the 2018 fiscal year.

The section that will be resurfaced begins at the city limits just inside the western section of Boll Weevil Circle and ends at Kentucky Street. Boswell said the project leaves the concrete section that approaches the downtown area.

Simultaneously with that project, the city will also replace some culverts along the stretch of road. Boswell said the city obtained a federal grant for that project following major erosion caused by torrential downpours earlier this year.
Local paramedics rushed to the aid of a woman who gave birth on the side of the Dublin Road in Dundalk last week.

The National Ambulance Service confirmed to the Democrat that the National Emergency Operations Centre received an emergency 999 call at 1.30am last Tuesday morning.

The Emergency Call Taker was informed by the caller that a pregnant woman was in labour.

The call was triaged using the internationally recognised Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS). This system prioritises calls using internationally agreed procedures and protocols thus ensuring that life threatening and potentially life threatening calls receive an appropriate response.

The emergency call taker stayed on the line with the caller, providing post-dispatch and pre arrival instructions, until the ambulance crew arrived on scene just five minutes later.

The Paramedics then assisted the mother with the delivery of the baby.

Both mother and baby were treated and stabilised on scene and transferred by emergency ambulance to Our Ladys Hospital in Drogheda, arriving at 2.30am.
It was not immediately clear how long the Japanese destroyers would sail alongside the U.S. carrier group.

The USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group, which includes a guided-missile cruiser and a guided missile destroyer, was diverted from its trip to Australia by U.S. President Donald Trump, as tensions rise in the Korean peninsula over North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear tests.

Two Japanese destroyers have joined an American aircraft carrier headed toward the Korean peninsula. The Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan Friday to join the Carl Vinson. The vessels of the two countries began joint exercises Sunday in the Western Pacific.

The U.S. Navy says the joint exercises are routine, designed to improve combined maritime response and defense capabilities, as well as joint maneuvering proficiency.

Japan's show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike Japan with nuclear or chemical warheads.

Meanwhile on Sunday, North Korea said it was ready to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, as two Japanese navy ships joined a U.S. carrier group for exercises in the western Pacific.

"Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in a commentary.

North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army on Tuesday. In the past, it has marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear weapons tests, two of them last year, and has carried out a stream of ballistic missile tests, in defiance of UN sanctions. North Korea's tests have been carried out despite United Nations sanctions against them.

Trump has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the U.S. with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Once upon a time, an oil field engineer named Erle Halliburton, decided to develop luggage that is durable enough to suit grueling travels across the rough Texas terrain. His team created the worlds first aluminum travel case.

Seeing how incredible the prototype was, friends of Halliburton convinced him to make it commercially available. Halliburton first buyers came from big names in California and Europe. In 1969, Zero Halliburton became part of history when Apollo 11 astronauts Edwin Eugene Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and Neil Armstrong took it to the moon and back. The rest is what they sais history.

A little tip we got from our sources said, the briefcase that carries the most dangerous weapon in world is made by Zero Halliburton! I wont be surprised if it is.

Recently, Zero Halliburton arrives in the Philippines as it launch its first branch in the country at S Maison at Conrad Manila.

Introducing the iconic aluminum briefcase that stored rock and soil samples from NASA back in 1969. Zero Halliburton also unveils its lightweight aluminum polycarbonate luggage and the Greenwich Collection, their lightweight cordura nylon luggage with built-in smart features such as moisture wick material and padded design.

In recent years, the premium luggage expanded its line to wheeled business bags, pilot cases, backpacks and duffel bags.

But personally the classic never goes out of style.



Take a piece of history and class when you travel. Check out the exquisite collection from this legendary brand by visiting Zero Halliburton boutique in S Maison at Conrad Manila located at the Seaside Boulevard corner Coral Way Mall of Asia Complex Pasay City.

Stay gorgeous everyone!
A draft law specifying the governments role in strengthening public library functions, has been approved by the State Council.

Its very important for a country to develop nationwide reading, which is inseparable from the popularity of public libraries, said Premier Li Keqiang at the State Council executive meeting on April 19.

The Premier linked the success of Israel in innovation to its high numbers of public libraries.

Although China is the worlds second largest economy, there is still a long way to go in the construction of public libraries, said the Premier.

At the press conference after the conclusion of the annual legislative sessions in 2015, Premier Li said he hoped nationwide reading would become a ubiquitous social habit.

Since 2014, the concept of nationwide reading has been included in the government work reports. This years government work report has replaced encouraging nationwide reading with striving to promote nationwide reading, showing the central governments increased focus.

Public libraries play an important role in promoting nationwide reading. Since ancient times, reading has been valued and promoted in China. Now we should pay more attention to this work and efforts should be made to build better public libraries, Premier Li said.

The Premier also urged integrated development of online and offline platforms for public libraries to share their resources with the public.

He also stressed the need for proper storage and use of rare books in public libraries and encouraged books to be exhibited to give the public, especially children, a chance to witness the countrys excellent culture in person.
Considered to be the Ten Best UFO Photos Ever Taken I am sure that we could add more pictures to this list but these are considered ten o...
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More effort should be made to transform the driving forces behind the economy and social development, Premier Li Keqiang stressed during a visit to Shandong province.

Accompanied by Shandongs provincial leaders, Premier Li visited Weihai and Jinan cities.

At the Weihai port, the Premier was briefed about the development of the port and the import and export growth in recent years.

As a large trading country, China should insist on opening up, and Weihai port should learn from other countries to strengthen port management, help mid-west regions and small-and-micro businesses to expand into the international market, he said.

Premier Li also visited Sunjiatuan Hospital in Weihai, a community hospital that formed an alliance with Weihai City Chinese Medicine Hospital.

A patient at the hospital told Premier Li that it used to take half a day to go to the urban hospitals 20 kilometers away, but now people can seek treatment near their homes.

Premier Li was glad to hear such development, saying that the medical alliance model is a major policy measure impacting peoples lives.

Chinese medicine is based on the belief that a person will no longer feel discomfort if their meridians flow smoothly.

We should make efforts to break through the barriers and make high-quality medical resources flow, to seek better treatment for patients by means of medical alliances, the Premier said.

Premier Li also visited people at the hospitals elderly care room and said that efforts should be made to promote integration between hospitals and elder care institutions so that older people can enjoy comfortable and healthy lives.

At Wego Group, a medical equipment manufacturer based in Weihai city, Premier Li told the companys leaders that they should take the opportunity of the Made in China 2025 initiative and promote mass entrepreneurship and innovation and the spirit of craftsmanship, making more high-tech and high value-added products.

He also told the companys researchers that the target of development is to make people live a happy life. The demand from the healthcare industry is huge and more high-quality and low-price medical products are expected to benefit people.

At clothing company Dishang Group, the Premier said that China is at a crucial period where new economic driving forces are replacing old ones. New technologies and business models are keys to promote the traditional garment industry. Efforts should be made in innovation to promote product quality, he said.

At a market supervision bureau in Weihai, the Premier urged more effort on promoting Internet-plus administrative services. He said more convenience should be provided to the people, and supervision on such reform should be enhanced to maintain a fair market order.

During his visit, the Premier also visited farms, inspecting a wheat field and discussing grain prices and a farmers income.

To develop modern agriculture and increase farmers income, efforts should be made to adjust the structure of the industry, improve crop breeds, promote contract farming, and boost meticulous agricultural production. The government should also improve relevant policies and protect farmers interests, the Premier said.

Agriculture can be developed through integration with industry, he added.

The Premier listened to a report on cutting overcapacity in Shandong province when visiting Jinan Iron & Steel Group. He told the staff that the country will remember their contribution to national construction, but some sacrifice has to be made in resolving excessive capacity. Premier Li called on both central and local governments to work together to ensure re-employment of laid-off workers.

On the third day of his inspection of Shandong, Premier Li visited a shantytown area in Jinan, the provincial capital. Due to the lack of basic public facilities such as heating, the residents have to cover themselves with three or four quilts to bear the winter cold. Learning that, the Premier urged efforts to accelerate the rebuilding of shantytowns to move the residents to new houses. Shantytown renovation is an important way to advance new-type urbanization, and also to help build a healthy and stable real estate market, Premier Li told local officials.

During his visit to Shandong University, Premier Li listened to an introduction on the universitys history and key subjects such as crystal materials, and watched an exhibition on the universitys innovation and entrepreneurship. When visiting the editorial office of Journal of Chinese Humanities, a famous Chinese journal published by Shandong University, the Premier affirmed its efforts in collecting Chinese literature from around the world, and encouraged the staff to shoulder more responsibilities in inheriting good traditional culture. The Premier also talked with graduates who were seeking jobs at a job fair on campus. He encouraged them to actively take part in social activities and improve their overall ability to contribute to the country.

Premier Li affirmed Shandong provinces achievements in economic and social development. He hoped that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with President Xi Jinping as the core, Shandong will implement the new development concept, replace old growth drivers with new ones, and actively explore solutions to key problems concerning peoples lives, to keep the momentum of the national economy going.
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The founder of a charity that aims to combat knife crime is standing for election as the MP for Clacton.

Caroline Shearer, 52, has confirmed she will be running as an independent candidate for the constituency in the upcoming General Election on June 8.

Caroline is currently CEO of Only Cowards Carry , an awareness charity that she founded after her 17-year-old son, Jay Whiston, was fatally stabbed in September 2012.

"I started the charity when my son was murdered and now I'm ready to step down and move on, it's something I've been thinking about for a year," said Caroline.

"I'm local , I know the area and a lot of people have asked me to stand because I can act as a voice for them - I will be the voice for local people."

When asked why people should vote for an independent candidate, she said: "Rather than wasting votes by backing Conservative or Labour, whose MPs have to toe the political line, voting for an independent means things can get done because we don't have to toe a political line.

"People here don't want to be lumped with the majority, they aren't part of the majority, they're special."

Caroline, who won the British Citizen Award in 2015 for her inspirational work, will battle for the seat currently held by Douglas Carswell, who is not seeking re-election.

Carswell, formerly the country's only UKIP MP, has sat as an independent since quitting the party in March.

If elected to Carswell's seat, which he's held since 2005, Caroline feels that Clacton's constituents will have someone they can trust.

"I'm an honest person, I'm an everyday mum," said Caroline.

"I aim to help the community grow and to solve the issues that the constituents have - I am a doer, not just a talker."

"Both Theresa May and Ed Miliband have called be inspirational in the past, but that's not why I'm running.

"I have quite a bit of backing but the process is new to me. I know I can hold myself in Westminster very well."

Should she be successful, Caroline would be Clacton's first female MP.

When asked about how she thought she'd fare against the other candidates, she said: "My chances? Well, let's wait and see. Let's see if the people of Clacton want to have their first woman MP.
There is no job market 'in Canada' so your question is impossible to answer. Canada is the second largest country in the world so the job market will vary widely from one region to the next, as well as within regions.



As for the provinces - do you have any idea how big some of our provinces are? Within Ontario the job market will be vastly different in Windsor than it is in Ottawa.



And since accounting is a regulated profession here you will not be able to work as an accountant until you have passed licensing exams. Depending on where you were educated, that might involve going back to school if your education is deemed to not be up to Canadian standards (the info next to your name indicates that you are from Pakistan and the Pakistani education system is vastly inferior to the Canadian system which means that your Pakistani education will not be considered equivalent to a Canadian education).
Hello all,



One of my friends needs guidance on ECA ?



He is already done with assessment but is confused "how to capture it on EE profile"



He is bachelor's in Microbiology (3 years as per indian system)



Plus



Masters in Microbiology (2 year as per indian system)



Now the WES ECA reads that



Bachelor's degree (three years) and bachelor's degree ( four years).



His question is how to capture the same in EE profile?



Do he need to create two lines/record and capture bachelor's degree for both? Or a single line/record ?



Thanks in advance



Sent from my XT1663 using Tapatalk
One big consideration is that you already speak English - certainly well enough to post messages here on the boards. If you're starting German from scratch, it is going to take some time to get up to a usable level. And while there is no formal level of German you need to have, and some high tech companies have English as their "company language" you do need some level of German just for day-to-day functioning - shopping, administrative functions, doctors, etc.



The other thing to consider are the respective cultures. Yes, there are more Indians in Canada than in Germany, and the Canadian culture is quite a bit more "open" to foreigners than Germany tends to be. Canada is admittedly "multi-cultural" whereas folks in Germany (at least the older ones) insist they aren't interested in "multi-culti."



I'm not saying to forget about Germany. If you're up for the experience, Germany can be a fascinating place to live and work, but be prepared to have to make lots of adjustments and compromises in your "lifestyle." Canada may be more open, but it's a lot farther away if you're trying to maintain ties to friends and family back in India. There are advantages and disadvantages to both moves.

Cheers,

Bev
Hello All,



I am moving to Istanbul in one month to start a new job.



I've read around that VPN are needed in Turkey to unblock some websites



I read those 2 guides:



anonymster.com/best-turkey-vpn

turkeyblocks.org



It seems some websites are blocked and that I will need a VPN to unblock websites like Netflix to watch American content.



I see Express VPN and PsiphonVPN (a VPN made in turkey) are recommended.



What is your experience about this ?



Thanks for your opinion.
The mother of a son killed in Iraq called the 211 help line one day recently and reached Aaron Davis, whose task is to connect people with organizations who can help them with such things as utility bills or food stamps.

As he heard the Gold Star mothers voice crack, Davis recalled his own friends who fell on hard times after deployment. Davis, 30, received a Purple Heart and a Silver Star for enduring multiple injuries from rocket-propelled grenades as he helped other injured soldiers escape a Taliban attack in 2008.

I have friends who have come back, who have fallen on hard times, who are struggling, Davis said. I think I could be that guy calling whos a homeless veteran.

The 2-1-1 Texas / United Way Help Line received 11,144 calls in 2016 from local service members and veterans in need of social services. The calls provide a snapshot into the needs of the military population around San Antonio.

Calls from veterans made up about 5 percent of the 230,005 calls from Bexar County and its 11 surrounding counties in 2016.

The top needs for military callers in 2016 was help with food stamps, with 2,445 callers. Other needs included help with utilities (1,580 callers), rent (1,534 callers), veterans benefits (1,287 callers), and emergency food services (1,051 callers).

The highest number of unmet needs are for utilities and rental assistance.

Overall, military callers had similar needs compared with civilians. Requests for assistance with utilities, food and shelter decreased in 2016 from the previous three years, both overall and for veterans.

One difference: domestic violence calls represented a higher percentage of calls from the overall population, compared with the military.

Sondra Tellechea, a San Antonio Army veteran and single mother, recalled contacting 211 last August. The summer air conditioning bill devoured most of the grocery budget for her and her son. I was literally out of food, Tellechea, 47, said.

She called 211 and received a referral to a food pantry, which unfortunately did not have much food that accommodated her sons nut allergy. Tellechea said the service is useful for finding resources but added she wishes there was more follow-up for when referrals dont solve the problem. She said she called twice but didnt get the help she needed.

211 states they are committed to making sure the issue is resolved. But they don't, Tellechea said. I would need to call back in with 211 and start all over again!

Andrew Sasseville, senior vice president at United Way San Antonio, said he was disappointed to hear about Tellecheas case. He said United Way began a program in 2016 to identify military and veteran callers for follow-up conversations.

Those calling 211 often have complex needs, and follow-up calls often reveal additional issues, said Juliana Stith, a Navy veteran and one of the navigators with the referral program.

When an individual calls and is IDd as military or veteran, then my team will follow up, Stith said. We delve in deeper, we connect them to any services they can reach.

Michael Chapman, another navigator and an Air Force veteran, recalled a conversation with a veteran and his wife who were homeless after their business closed. The call began with referrals to employment services and transitioned to talking about mental health resources for the veterans depression. Another call from an elderly woman about her lights getting shut off became a referral for her memory problems.

Older veterans tend to need help with medical issues and transportation, while younger veterans need more help with rent and employment, Chapman said. Ages of those calling are evenly distributed, with 25 to 34-year-olds forming the largest group of callers.

United Way in San Antonio plans to put together an advisory council to look over call data and address gaps, Sasseville said.

It helps us target those gaps in services that need attention, Sasseville said. It will allow us to do more than what we are doing now.

jlawrence@express-news.net
NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico  Sewage gushing into the Rio Grande offers a pungent reminder of problems that could worsen under the Trump administrations plan to reduce the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency budget by nearly a third and eliminate dozens of anti-pollution programs.

Joint U.S.-Mexico spending under the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement has helped stop release of millions of gallons daily of Nuevo Laredo wastewater into the river.

The EPA has spent $650 million on water projects on both sides of the border, bringing drinking water and sewer connections to tens of thousands of people in colonias.

No agency in the government would suffer more than the EPA, which Trump is targeting for a 31 percent budget cut and removal of one-fourth of its staff. That is the opening shot in a Back-to-Basics overhaul of the EPA by an administration determined to cancel long-established federal commitments or shift them to states and localities.

An EPA memo circulating among regional administrators and top staff asserts flatly that U.S.-Mexico border activities will be eliminated starting next fall. Border spending of more than $10 million a year is among more than 50 programs the administration intends to scrap.

They include the nearly $3 million EPA Gulf of Mexico program, which distributes grants for water testing, habitat repair and environmental restoration in the five Gulf states. Among projects last year were restoration of Brownsville wetlands and efforts to protect the waters of Galveston Bay.

That would end, along with programs to restore other water bodies, including the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay.

The agency's work will center on our core legal requirements, federal-only and national efforts, providing support to states in implementing environmental laws and easing regulatory burden, says the memo, written last month by the EPAs acting chief budget officer, David Bloom.

Meanwhile, a plan by the San Antonio-based North American Development Bank, a key link in border environmental funding under NAFTA, could test whether Trumps America First sentiments have spread in Congress.

The U.S.-Mexico bank is seeking another $450 million  $225 million from each country over the next five to seven years  for loans and grants. The United States recently has fallen behind Mexico in its support.

Border interests have allies in Congress. But the new budget is shaping up as a pitiless exercise given a White House demand to finance a $54 billion military buildup this year with domestic cuts.

With so much percolating along the border  reopening NAFTA, building a multibillion-dollar wall between the countries and inflamed emotions from Trumps immigration policies  theres fear on both sides of the river that the environment could be a loser in recast relations with Mexico.

Beginning with an initial $100 million outlay in the mid-1990s, the EPA has financed dozens of projects from San Diego, California, to Brownsville. By design, EPA money flows to projects within 62 miles of the U.S. border and three times farther into Mexico. No other federal program is allowed by law to spend directly in Mexico; grants must have direct benefit to Americans.

Getting people drinking water and sewage disposal has been a priority. The Border Water Infrastructure Program has provided first-time water hook-ups to nearly 66,000 homes and initial sewage treatment to 626,000 homes, the EPA calculated last fall.

In Laredo, a $21 million EPA project brought water and sewer service to 900 homes in 15 colonias, among more than 40 colonias outside the citys corporate limits.

Improved quality of life in the neighborhoods, which were built without basic public works, reflects the investment: Roads are paved; homeowners have cleaned up their properties; and new businesses have opened.

Nearby in a development known as Old Milwaukee, colonias labeled as economically distressed by the Texas Water Development Board showed no such improvements.

Along deeply rutted roads, cesspools and garbage piles are visible next to crude homes where inhabitants haul in water in plastic tanks.

According to an EPA internal assessment, an additional $300 million is needed for highest priority water and sewer improvements along the border.

But given the situation, EPA staff and the Juarez-based Border Environment Cooperation Commission  a joint U.S.-Mexico entity that develops and certifies projects  are revising plans. EPA border officials believe they will have money to complete six or seven projects.

Another 10 to 15 projects in various stages of planning would not get funded, 70 percent of them in the United States. Among them are water and wastewater improvements in El Paso County.

An additional 15 or so projects on both sides of the border would be on hold, officials said, with the impact felt primarily by poorer communities and small-town utilities unable to qualify for loans.

The EPA declined requests to make officials available to talk about U.S.-Mexico programs and other priorities. But EPA employees in Texas and elsewhere described an agency in turmoil with disheartened staff uncertain about the near future, let alone the years ahead.

If the White House succeeds, no longer will the EPA pay for public health initiatives like the arsenic removal that started last month at Tornillo in El Paso County. The solar project begun at a childrens cancer center in Tijuana last November could be the last of its kind.

Maria Elena Giner, general manager of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission, said the end of EPA border programs would dramatically slow down investment in border communities. Mexicos environmental spending well might be redirected away from the border, she said.

Our work is not yet done, she said.

Sewage worries

In Nuevo Laredo, Rodolfo Gonzalez, who heads the water utility COMAPA, pointed toward untreated sewage flowing into the Rio Grande just 100 yards from his office. He lamented leaking 60-year-old sewer pipes and his inability to find money to make repairs.

Gonzalez praised the United States for its system of checks and balances which, he added, Mexico often lacks. But news out of Washington makes him wonder about the ability of the two countries to work together.

In the end, we have to hope that reason will prevail, he said.

The United States has done a lot already. Since 2004, the North American Development Bank has financed more than $200 million in Nuevo Laredo projects, mostly with loans.

At least $23 million in EPA money went into wastewater treatment and a storm sewer project  improvements that have contributed to an estimated 80 percent reduction in fecal coliform levels in that stretch of the Rio Grande.

Despite those investments, an estimated 6 million gallons of untreated sewage flows daily into the river from Nuevo Laredo.

Nuevo Laredo water utility workers guided a reporter to discharges of raw sewage, one of them gushing near the Rio Grande like a waterfall and emitting rank odors 20 yards away. A second flow trickled toward the river near where a man fished. At still another site away from the river, untreated wastewater poured from faulty pipes into a fetid, lifeless creek.

Amid recent concern in Laredo, a COMAPA representative from Nuevo Laredo promised at a Laredo City Council meeting last week that his utility would do a better job of plugging sewage outfalls.

A day later, staff from the International Boundary and Water Commission and other environmental planners meeting in Laredo formalized plans for a new round of water quality testing in the Rio Grande starting later this year.

Tom Vaughn, a retired Texas A&M International University biologist and co-founder of the Rio Grande International Study Center, a Laredo-based advocacy group, noted one reason why people elsewhere might want to pay attention to the rivers health.

A lot of people who eat fruits and vegetables from farmland downriver might prefer that that they not be irrigated with sewage water, he said, referring to potential E. coli and fecal coliform contamination from human wastes.

EPA deconstruction

The presidents choice of Scott Pruitt to head the EPA signaled change given that Pruitt had sued the federal agency more than a dozen times as Oklahoma attorney general.

Selection of more EPA critics to surround Pruitt underscored what might lay ahead.

They include new EPA chief of staff Ryan Jackson, who had been the top aide to Oklahoma GOP Sen. James Inhofe, the leading climate change skeptic in Congress.

As a candidate, Trump vowed to reduce the EPA to little tidbits. Even so, his administrations resolve to dismantle the agency has been eye-opening, considering unfulfilled promises that include repealing the Affordable Care Act and moving to correct the trade imbalance with China.

In a years time, according to plans, the EPA staff, which numbered 18,000 in the late 1990s, would be reduced to 12,000. An EPA memo sent to regional administrators last week said the agency would begin an early out/buy out program.

Earlier this month, the EPA announced a formal review  with an eye toward revoking  the Obama administrations Clean Power Program.

The court-delayed initiative would be the nations principal means of cutting carbon initiatives and complying with the Paris climate accord.

Lesser-known are plans to cut EPA enforcement by over half and slash grants used by states and Indian tribes to clean up water and air pollution by more than 40 percent. The Public Water Supervision Grant Program, used by Texas and other states to monitor drinking water, would be pared by a third to $71 million, EPA internal documents show.

David Goldston, who heads government affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council, contended that the administrations plan is an effort to undermine the EPAs ability to carry out its mission.

He added, They talk about states picking up the slack while at the same time theyre cutting funding to states.

A spokeswoman for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said in email that her agency wouldnt comment on proposed cuts because the budget is not final.

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, an Appropriations Committee member who has been instrumental in securing border environment monies, expects a fight in Congress.

Pollution doesnt stop at an imaginary line in the middle of the river, he said. Were talking here about border communities that have poor quality drinking water and sanitation problems that cause disease.

blambrecht@express-news.net
The tremors were felt in Delhi and surrounding areas of Ghaziabad and Gurugram and even in Lucknow.
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Only two native Texans signed the Texas Declaration of Independence  Jose Francisco Ruiz and his nephew, Jose Antonio Navarro.

They are among the 59 men who signed it on March 2, 1836. Ruiz, an important figure in San Antonios history, would serve as the senator for the Bexar District at the First Congress.

Ruiz was a colorful adventurer and lived through a time of political and military upheaval. Mexico would gain its independence from Spain; settlers in Texas were looking to break away from Mexico.

Amy Fulkerson, chief curator at the Witte Museum, said Ruiz is important because he comes on the scene as San Antonio is on the cusp of change.

Hes one of the people who is uniquely positioned to take advantage of these (social and cultural) changes, Fulkerson said.

Hes unique in how active he was in all of these key events that really helped define our community early on. Its incredible for a single lifetime.

In a film in its gallery theater, the Witte Museum uses a fictional dialogue between Ruiz and his nephew, a distinguished statesman in his own right, as a way to address the changes in Texas in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

1838: A Moment Between Wars  based on Bryce Milligans play, 1838: A Moment Between Wars,  touches on Texas independence and the move toward statehood.

Milligans play delved into the ugly politics of the times and the coming (of) this massive intolerance from the Anglo settlers.

Ive always been fascinated with San Antonios downtown history, said Milligan. And he was a main character.

As a historical figure, Ruiz is more recognized now than he was a generation ago, Fulkerson added.

According to the Handbook of Texas, Ruiz  a military officer and a public official who became San Antonios first schoolmaster  was born in late January 1783 to Juan Manuel Ruiz and Maria Manuela de la Pena. His father was from Spain; his mother from Mexico.

Where he was born is not certain. His baptism was registered several days after his birth in the church of San Fernando de Bexar, the first chartered settlement in Texas, which later became San Antonio.

At the time, the settlements population growth was slow and it numbered less than 1,000 settlers.

Ruiz, who is believed to have received some of his formal education in Spain, taught school in a house once owned by his father. It was located in Military Plaza, on its southern edge. Prior to that time, education was handled through the church.

He was barely 20 years old. It was the first time a public official here was put in charge of secular education for children.

It is still possible to walk through history by entering its doors.

The historic Spanish Colonial structure, which was built in 1745, most likely by settlers of the Canary Islands, was moved and salvaged by the Witte in 1943. It had been targeted for demolition after years of various uses, including a feed store, and was reconstructed on the grounds of the Witte Museum, close to Tuleta Drive.

Its currently used as a snack and refreshment center and marketplace at the museum. Until recently, it was used for a classroom. Its decorated with historic photos of the original structure. The Navarro House is also on the museums grounds.

But Ruizs dedication to public service went far beyond his efforts in education. As a young man, he was elected to serve in an administrative capacity, similar to city councilman. He served as a city attorney.

He began a long and distinguished military career in early 1811 when he joined the Bexar Provincial Militia, serving as a lieutenant. As a member of the Republican Army at Bexar, Ruiz fought in the Battle of Medina on August 18, 1813. It was a full-blown rebellion.

The conflict happened just south of San Antonio and is considered the bloodiest battle ever on Texas soil. Ruiz was among the troops  a disparate group of 1,400 Anglos, Tejanos, Indians and others  which were ambushed and defeated. Fewer than a hundred escaped.

Ruiz and his nephew managed to escape and traveled in self-imposed exile outside of Texas, mostly in swampy Louisiana.

The Battle of Medina is a sometimes forgotten moment. But it was an indicator, more than 20 years before the Alamo battle, of the brewing unrest in the area and of how different the culture and identity was in San Antonio than in Mexico. New scholarship is under way about the battle, said Fulkerson.

Ruiz was in exile for nearly 10 years, spending much of the time negotiating peace with Indian tribes. His report, Report on the Indian tribes of Texas in 1818 documents his efforts. The document is kept at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

When he returned to Texas, he was issued a command post by the Mexican government. One of his tasks was to quell any further Americanization of the Texas territory. But by the mid-1830s, he was part of the movement toward independence. In a later letter to a family member, his attitude about the new republic was evident and unwavering.

Under no circumstance take sides against the Texans, he wrote in December 1836. Ruiz died four years later in his hometown.

hsaldana@express-news.net

COMING MONDAY: The historic Yturri-Edmunds house.
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Lawmakers in Austin are considering legislation that could quickly double the number of death penalty-qualified defense attorneys in Bexar County, backed by judges who say a critical shortage of such lawyers is delaying trials and possibly undercutting their fairness.

Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins is sponsoring House Bill 3411, which would loosen a requirement that lawyers have experience in presenting mitigating evidence to a jury if theyre going to represent capital murder defendants who might face the death penalty.

Plenty of otherwise able attorneys with death penalty expertise have never done that and cant be appointed to such cases, backers of the measure say.

Theres been a sea change in Texas about the death penalty, said Gervin-Hawkins, a San Antonio Democrat. Texans are searching their souls and they dont want to be responsible for sending an innocent person to their death.

But an opponent, Amanda Marzullo, executive director of Texas Defender Service, a nonprofit devoted to improving capital defense, says passage of the bill would be akin to letting doctors do open heart surgery just by studying and writing about the subject.

Since 2011, Texas law has required court-appointed attorneys representing indigent capital murder defendants to have a high level of legal education and experience in cases where prosecutors have not ruled out seeking the death penalty.

They must have five years of criminal law experience, experience trying eight major felony cases as lead counsel, and trial experience in using or challenging mental health and forensic experts.

They also must have trial experience in investigating and presenting mitigating evidence at the penalty phase of a death penalty trial, a hurdle that disqualifies attorneys who may have prepared for and done numerous capital murder trials that didnt require such evidence because of last-minute guilty pleas or 11th-hour decisions by prosecutors not to seek the death sentence.

Gervin-Hawkins bill would qualify those attorneys who have experience in preparing for the complex penalty phase, but didnt get to follow through, and also give a local selection committee of judges and attorneys the ability to approve some lawyers due to an equivalent amount of trial experience.

But thats too big of a tweak for Marzullo.

This is a very meaningful change, she said. Preparing for the mitigation penalty phase is very different from having actually presented it.

Scott Henson, who writes the widely read Texas criminal justice blog Grits For Breakfast, said in an email that the hair-raising examples of incompetence by the private defense bar in Texas capital cases do not suggest a need to loosen standards.

Henson and various judges agree that the problem is often exacerbated by district attorneys who over-charge capital murder cases by seeking the death penalty as a way to gain leverage over the defendant in a plea bargain.

But because of the requirement for penalty phase trial experience, Bexar County has only 11 active defense attorneys qualified to do death penalty cases. Some of them, judges and other observers agree, have taken far too many such court appointments, leaving them open to criticism and potential appeals arguments that they were ineffective lawyers.

State District Judge Ron Rangel, who testified last week in support of the bill before the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, said its passage would conservatively add at least 15 experienced local lawyers to the pool of first chair death penalty defense attorneys. (All death penalty defense teams require at least two attorneys.)

Our local selection committee, which has defense attorneys, prosecutors and judges, really knows the skills of these lawyers, Rangel said. I would trust them completely to make these appointments.

State District Judge Jefferson Moore concurred, saying, Judges have no interest in appointing a lawyer who is not up to the job. No one wants to see a case come back on appeal (due to) mistakes by the defense attorney.

The public has little to worry about if Bexar County judges are given more discretion, state District Judge Sid Harle said.

There are board-certified practitioners who I would not want to handle a traffic ticket, he said. We know by seeing their work if theyre qualified.

Gervin-Hawkins said last week that she is still hunting for a Senate sponsor, and Rangel acknowledged theres a good chance the bill wont get any serious attention until the 2019 session.

I can see legislators thinking this bill is not very sexy, said Rangel, a former prosecutor and defense attorney. But it is so significant. We have some defense attorneys who are stretched way too thin. One day there will be a horrendous outcome.  I would hope we can be proactive and prevent a massive injustice.
President Donald Trump on Saturday announced plans to hold a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on April 29, marking his 100th day in office.

The White House did not offer details about where the rally would take place or what Trump's focus would be, referring questions to Trump's campaign apparatus.

The campaign listed on its website an event scheduled for that night in Harrisburg, Pa.

The rally will coincide with the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, which Trump decided not to attend in a break from tradition. Trump tweeted:

"Next Saturday night I will be holding a BIG rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it!"

The 100th-day mark has traditionally been an early measuring point for a new president's effectiveness.

Trump's rally would offer counter-programming to the annual celebration of political journalism that draws more than 2,000 reporters, celebrities and advertisers to the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.

Trump announced in February that he would be the first president in 36 years to skip the dinner. His staff also turned down invitations to be guests at the event.

Trump has had a contentious relationship with the media, which he has labeled "fake news," and some news organizations have canceled their parties that weekend.

Comedian Hasan Minhaj of the Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" will be the featured performer at the dinner. Reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are scheduled to present the journalism awards.
It would be an understatement to say that the issue of school-district consolidation is a heavy lift.

Its the two-ton boulder of Bexar County politics; fun to talk about, but hard to move.

Over the past few weeks, consolidation has inserted itself into the mayoral race, with Councilman Ron Nirenberg touting it as a way to fix funding and performance disparities between the 16 traditional public school districts in the San Antonio area.

At an April 3 mayoral forum with members of the nonprofit community, Nirenberg promised that if elected, he would work with business leaders, educators and neighborhood groups to push for school-district consolidation.

Not necessarily to one school district, Nirenberg said, but to reduce the number of boundaries between school districts, so we can ensure that theres much more parity in educational outcomes and more parity in resources.

Mayor Ivy Taylor wanted no part of it.

That is not something that Im running on, Taylor said. If youd asked me 10 years ago, I would have said, Oh, consolidation is the answer. I cannot confidently say that today, because I look at huge, inner-city school districts in other places, like Los Angeles or Houston, and I dont know that their outcomes are necessarily much better than what we have here in San Antonio.

Manuel Medina, the other major candidate in this years race, said Friday that he backs a limited form of consolidation.

I support consolidation of purchasing power among school districts, because it will save taxpayers a lot of money, Medina said. But I do not support consolidating local governance, because it will lead to one big bureaucratic system that is less responsive to PTA parents and more responsive to special interest money.

The arguments in favor of consolidation tend to be that it could reduce administrative costs and address the dynamic of local school districts competing against each other for exemplary teachers. Its commonly said that talented young teachers get their experience on the South Side, and then get lured away by North Side districts.

With three San Antonio districts  Southside, South San and Edgewood  facing management problems so serious that the state had to step in and assume some form of control, you can make a persuasive case that this is a good time to consider a structural shakeup.

The problem with consolidation, however, is that while it sounds promising in theory, its an ultracomplicated political headache in practice.

Heres the big question: Who will do the consolidating? A well-funded, high-achieving district like Alamo Heights wont want to merge with Edgewood or South San, because it will likely result in lower test scores and a diluted revenue stream. By the same token, struggling districts wont necessarily derive any benefit from merging with each other.

Theres also the fact that consolidation can only happen if the various school districts  either by a resolution from the board of trustees or a petition from voters  agree to simultaneously put the issue on the ballot. Good luck with that.

Consolidation is so thorny that it even divides two close friends and South Side political allies: Democrats state Rep. Roland Gutierrez and his former Texas House colleague Joe Farias.

Gutierrez has long pushed for consolidation (down to about five districts) and considers it an inevitability.

In 2013, he attached an amendment to a charter-school bill, calling for a state study on the impact of consolidation. The following year, the state report concluded that merging Bexar Countys school districts into one big district would result in a 6.5-percent increase in cost per pupil. It also debunked the notion that consolidation would improve student performance.

Gutierrez dismissed the TEA study as canned and boilerplate and a waste of time and money.

Were creating these very small fiefdoms, Gutierrez said. (Consolidation) is not the most popular thing to do, but we have to look at how to get money out of administration and into the classrooms.

Farias lauded Gutierrez for taking on such a contentious issue but expressed concerns about the complicated logistics of consolidation.

Were still going to have the same amount of students, the same amount of principals, the same cafeteria staff, the same number of buses, Farias said. So where are we actually gaining?

Dont look now, but that big boulder isnt moving.

ggarcia@express-news.net

Twitter: @gilgamesh470
Amazone has gone to a great deal of trouble to equip the Pantera with an almost no-fuss boom, which is equipped with the DUS pressure recirculation system, pre-charged lines which allow instant full coverage at boom switch-on, automatic flush, nozzle protection bars, four height sensors and Amaselect-four nozzle bodies, which provide seven selections to suit conditions.
There was Jim Woodsie Woods, 88  fit as a fiddle, he still plays lawn bowls every week  who started as a shed hand in 1949, earned a learners pen and graduated to shearer, and Gil Barr who sheared for 20 years from 1948-68, until his back gave out and he became an organiser for the Australian Workers Union, finishing up as national secretary.
A group of marijuana-selling nuns have said US president Donald Trump has made them think about moving to Canada.

Weed selling nuns to move to Canada because of Donald Trump

The Sisters of the Valley in California call themselves ''weed nuns'', and sell the substance to help the needy as they say they are on a mission to heal and empower women with their products.

However, whilst the US president and his Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a longtime critic of marijuana legalisation, have cast doubt over the legalisation of the substance, the nuns say they are now planning on moving their business to Canada.

Founder of the group Sister Kate, 58, said: ''The thing Trump has done for us is put a fire under our butts to get launched in another country. Our response to Trump is Canada.''

At present, the group make online sales in Canada, but are planning on moving their operations there full time.

The sisterhood was founded in 2014, and although they take on the persona of nuns - something which Sister Kate adopted after she took part in an Occupy Wall Street protest in 2011 dressed as a Catholic nun - they say they are ''against religion''.

Sister Kate added: ''We're against religion, so we're not a religion. We consider ourselves Beguine revivalists, and we reach back to pre-Christian practices. We've gotten a few hate calls but, by and far, the Catholics understand what we're doing.''


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - American Airlines has removed an employee from duty after clash over a baby's stroller in San Francisco.



A passenger who uploaded video of the aftermath of the incident said a mother had been struck with the stroller as it was forcibly removed by the employee. The video shows the employee saying, 'Hit me! Come on, bring it on!', when challenged by another male passenger.



American Airlines said it was 'deeply sorry for the pain we have caused' the woman passenger and her family.



The incident follows another high-profile clash on a United Airlines plane two weeks ago, when a passenger was violently removed from an overbooked flight.



The American Airlines incident took place at San Francisco International Airport as flight 591 prepared to take off for Dallas/Fort Worth.



Passenger Surain Adyanthaya, who posted the video to Facebook, said that preceding the footage the employee had 'violently' taken the pram from the mother, hitting her and narrowly missing her baby.



The footage shows the mother clearly distraught as other employees and passengers try to intervene.



One male passenger demands the name of the employee involved and when a man dressed in American Airlines uniform enters the plane, the passenger tells him: 'Hey, bud, you do that to me and I'll knock you flat.'



The employee confronts the passenger, telling him to 'stay out of this', then saying: 'Hit me! Come on, bring it on.'



He adds: 'You don't even know what the story is.'



The passenger replies: 'I don't care what the story is. You almost hurt a baby.'



In its statement, American Airlines said: 'What we see on this video does not reflect our values or how we care for our customers. We are deeply sorry for the pain we have caused this passenger and her family and to any other customers affected by the incident.'



It said it was 'making sure all of her family's needs are being met while she is in our care'.



The airline upgraded the woman and her family to first class when she took another flight to Dallas.



'The actions of our team member captured here do not appear to reflect patience or empathy, two values necessary for customer care. In short, we are disappointed by these actions. The American team member has been removed from duty while we immediately investigate this incident ,' the airline said.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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SEOUL (dpa-AFX) - North Korea has arrested a U.S. citizen in Pyongyang, according to reports citing people familiar with the matter. The arrested man, a Korean-American professor named Tony Kim, had been teaching at a university in Pyongyang set up by a Korean-American Christian businessman. Mr. Kim is the third known U.S. citizen to be detained by North Korea in recent months. Pyongyang last year sentenced Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia undergraduate, and Kim Dong-chul, a Korean-American businessman, to terms of 15 years and 10 years of hard labor, respectively. The arrest of Mr. Kim comes at a time of heightened tensions between Pyongyang and Washington. Mr. Kim, who also goes by the Korean name Kim Sang-duk, was detained by North Korean authorities at Pyongyang airport on Saturday, as he was about to leave the country, according to a statement Sunday by the Pyongyang University of Science of Technology, where he had been teaching. The reports noted that Kim, a former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in his late 50s, has been engaged in aid and relief programs to North Korea. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Aanand L Rai's upcoming project with Shah Rukh Khan, in which he plays the role of a midget, has been looking for an actress to play the lead female role.

In a picture that has surfaced, Alia Bhatt, Shah Rukh Khan and Aanand L Rai can be seen together at Dubai airport. It is now being speculated that Alia is on board for this film.

Reports suggest that Alia Bhatt has replaced Deepika Padukone, who opted out of the film because of date issues. The actress is currently busy working towards the completion of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati, which is due to release in November this year.

The film is set to be one with three lead characters, played by Alia, Shah Rukh and Katrina Kaif.

Rai has mentioned that he does not want people to refer to this project as the 'dwarf film'. It will release in December 2018.

Speaking about his look in the film, Shah Rukh Khan said, "My look is very different from Kamal Hassans in Appu Raja. We have done the test, we are through with the trailers. We will be releasing it (look) properly. Its important that the audience accepts our effort."
By Tanya Vasundharan

I grew up endlessly romanticising my mothers propensity for rebellion. Her escape from her super-conservative parents through weed, booze, chain-smoking, and shaving her head was, I thought, the only way to be a true-blue rebel. But at the age of 13, I began to realise that booze and weed couldnt be the tools of my anti-parent revolution because they were a passe ghar ka mamla. (Would the woman who taught me how to roll joints at the age of two be pissed if I took up smoking? No.)

Directed by Ken Ghosh (best known for Ishq Vishk) and released earlier this week by ALTBalaji (a new app launched by Balaji Telefilms), eight 22-minute episodes are now available for streaming on its website. The series is meant to be a modern-day retelling of Sarat Chandras Devdas, and revolves around a protagonist Devika DD (Aasheema Vardhan) as she goes through heartbreaks and highs, while trying to be convincing as the most liberated person youll ever encounter.

The bizarre array of comments under the YouTube extracts from Dev DD, the web series produced by Ekta Kapoor, should give you a sense of how people have reacted to this depiction of a liberated woman.

Pataa nahi aisi ladkiyaan kahan hain India mein. Very wrong message. Never expected from Ekta but I think she is also horny type.

These are the type of girls I can relate to, not the idiotic Katrina Kaif dancing girls in masala movies whose only job is to be beautiful and laugh at everything the hero says.

And, my personal favourite: Puri duniya ka feminism is ek episode mein daal diya.

The problem is that these commenters debates  womens empowerment vs. barbadi, modern India vs. the way things used to be, celebrations of feminism vs. sanskari neurosis  about the degeneration of society, and amazingly irrelevant wishful thinking from horny dudes on YouTube (I hope more and more Indian girls start behaving like this so that I get to fk more sluts.) make the show sound a lot more fun than it is.

Devika gives #Zerof***s' about public opinion, says the trailer, which created quite a stir amongst Ekta Kapoor fans when it was released on 12 April. She is cool with casual sex and chasing men, not big on marriage, doesnt want to be a traditional bahu, and spends her time smoking cigarettes, getting high, and drinking neat Old Monk when shes feeling rejected.

Kapoor has reportedly said that challenging the idea of what actually makes a good Indian girl was the inspiration behind Dev DD, but you might want to hold back the applause for this apparent smashing of inhibitions and norms, because the duniya of feminism in the series is actually a massive bore.

A wild woman character at the centre of series doesnt quite cut it in 2017, especially when you depict her idea of rebellion as being a loud unlikeable brat, saying f a lot, stereotyping her lesbian best friend (who is, conveniently, crazily in love with her), stealing jewellery, buying Zara clothes, whining over a chomu rich guy (who treats everyone poorer than him like s**t), and sabotaging his next relationship by leaking their intimate videos.

Devika is based in Jaipur at the beginning of the series, but soon takes off to Mumbai, so there is also the over-used trope of the small-town yearning-for-liberation girl whos made it to the big city. Also predictable is how every conceivable coincidence rolls into place: Dev DD goes from being an escort in Mumbai to being saved from this fate in the nick of time by an older sugar daddy. When the drum rolls and electric guitar distortions tell you that this gent is her lesbian best friends long-lost father, you cant decide whether its writers were bored or just couldnt be bothered with trying harder.

Dev DD is equally unimaginative in its depictions of its other variety of women: mothers, who remain blunt stereotypes  perpetually scandalised, hysterical, uptight about sex, mega-homophobic and insistent about their daughters dressing appropriately and avoiding boys. Which makes you wonder if the only time the house of Balaji can effectively imagine a womans rebellion is when that woman is young, conventionally desirable and sex-crazed, while the older women are forever destined to roam the saas-bahu wastelands.

But perhaps the biggest screw-up is the shows imagination of friendships. Like another recently launched web series by ALTBalaji, Boygiri, which explores the dynamic between a group of six men, much of this is down-to-dud dialogues and bad acting. Conversations are confined to sad puns about sex, masturbation, and ball-scratching. If the biggest favour one guy can do another in Boygiri is to provide him space to sleep with women (Dude I had to tell them this place was mine, it makes them much hornier), in Dev DD, the lesbian best friend Chandni is relegated to the sidelines, while Devika uses her room to have sex with the chomu. Unlike other recent pop culture depictions of rebellion and breaking free (Queen, for instance, has a sweet, quirky dynamic between Rani and Vijaylakshmi, in which they pour their hearts out to each other), the best friends in Dev DD barely talk. And this might be where ALTBalaji is making its biggest mistake about young people  the fact that friends usually tend to be instrumental in your rebellion rather than ancillary to it.

Sometimes things do fall in place for Dev DD and you see something true depicted about young urban Indians today  such as when Devika tells a chemist she doesnt need her pads hidden in a black bag and brandishes them to the world, or when she fights the cliche that portrays promiscuous women as sluts but troublemaker men as heroes.

Mostly, though, ALTBalaji is proving to not be so very alternative, sounding very much like every recycled ad campaign youve heard about womens empowerment, or assuming that a rejection of religion is synonymous with modernity (a trap another recent web-series, Brown Girls, also fell into). Modernity, coolness, and rebellion dont have to be about such secondhand notions or borrowed behaviours; theyre about authenticity and developing self-expression. And theyre certainly not always about giving #ZeroF***s.

The Ladies Finger (TLF) is a leading online womens magazine
By Balazs Koranyi

| FRANKFURT

FRANKFURT Europe's political fog may finally start to lift in the coming week, with the French presidential election and the European Union's summit on Brexit strategy putting the bloc on a new path after months of uncertainty.With growth on its best run in years and sentiment indicators pointing to buoyant consumption, clarity in an election-heavy year could help Europe move past a decade of economic pain.Indeed, cautious optimism from normally reserved central bankers suggests Europe could be nearing a turn towards normalisation after years of economic firefighting and improvisation.The biggest immediate obstacle is the French election and the outlier scenario of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and far-left contender Jean-Luc Melenchon squaring off in the second round next month."The election of Le Pen or Melenchon would trigger a period of financial turmoil and economic instability, which might require authorities to step in," Barclays analysts Francois Cabau and Philippe Gudin said in a note."We cannot rule out capital outflows taking place immediately after the election, which in an extreme case could require the deployment of some form of capital controls."Even after last year's shock victories by Donald Trump and the Brexit campaign, however, businesses, consumers and investors seem unconcerned by the possibility of an extremist leader and anticipate that a mainstream candidate will win.

Euro zone purchasing managers' index (PMI) data, a strong indicator of growth, climbed to six-year high in April, with French business activity also blowing past expectations. [nU8N1D302M]"France seems to be going from strength to strength, obviously dismissing any concerns about the election," IHS Markit chief economist Chris Williamson said after the release of the PMI, which Markit compiles."A lot of companies are saying there is a very positive outlook for business once this election is out of the way."ECB, BREXIT

The European Central Bank, whose policymakers meet on Thursday, may acknowledge Europe's unexpected strength.Board member Benoit Coeure, a top lieutenant of ECB President Mario Draghi, has already broken with the bank's long-standing line that economic risks are tilted to the downside, arguing this week that they were broadly balanced.Discussing a topic that has been largely taboo within the ECB, Coeure also said he saw prospects for policy normalisation, an indication that policymakers may soon start to formally discuss a reduction of stimulus.Such a conversation is unlikely to start at Thursday's meeting and the ECB's ultra-easy stance will be left unchanged. But a nuanced shift in communication is possible, which would reinforce growing investor optimism. [nL3N1HR3TM]

"An interesting feature of the current upswing is that the positive momentum is broadly spread across most euro zone countries and not only driven by a few strong ones," ING economist Carsten Brzeski said."Even though on the eve of the first round of the French elections a good portion of caution is recommendable, evidence is piling up that the euro zone economy could become the positive growth surprise of the year."April 29's EU summit could also aid the healing process, at least setting a direction for divorce talks with Britain and making clear the bloc's priorities.The 27 EU leaders are likely make it a top goal to protect the rights of 3 million EU citizens living in Britain, also protecting earned pension rights and other rights of any who have already left.They are also likely to seek cash from London to cover a wide range of existing commitments, ask for a schedule of annual payments, and will want the European Court of Justice to maintain a jurisdiction over certain commitments. [nL8N1HT26E] Though Britain's own election in June suggests that no real negotiation is likely to happen for months, clarity on the EU's own demands could also aid growth. (Additional reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by Catherine Evans)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Agra: Fourteen persons associated with different right-wing outfits were arrested on Sunday in connection with violence at Agra's Sadar Bazaar and Fatehpur Sikri police stations on Saturday.

We have arrested 14 persons in connection with the violence on Saturday, DIG Mahesh Mishra told PTI.

There had been a tiff between two groups in Fatehpur Sikri, after which the police had detained some persons on Saturday. But the incident snowballed into a violent protest as members of right-wing groups gathered insisting that the detainees be released.

Some police personnel including a senior officer were roughed up by the protesters and a motor-bike damaged. A BJP MLA was also alleged to be among the protesters though there were reports that he may have left before the violence began.

The incident occurred barely a few hours after the new Uttar Pradesh DGP Sulkhan Singh took charge and vowed to crush hooliganism. Singh had also warned those who try to take the law into their hands in the name of cow protection or tackling eve-teasing.

In Agra, senior police officials indicated that they would not bow to any pressure and action would be initiated against those involved in the rampage. More arrests are likely, they said.

Activists of Hindutva groups have been quite active in the area in recent times. On Saturday they had entered the Taj Mahal premises to protest against an alleged ban on saffron scarves. On Sunday activists of right-wing outfits took out a march through the city to protest against certain developments in Kerala.
New Delhi: An Indian Air Force corporal was allegedly assaulted and robbed by a group of men after his motorcycle brushed past their car in southeast Delhi's Sangam Vihar area, police said on Sunday.

A case has been registered on his complaint and three men have been arrested, they added.

A video has also surfaced online showing the IAF man being roughed up.

Sujay Kr Sikandar, a corporal posted at Tughlakabad told police that on 20 April, his motorcycle had brushed past a Swift car. After that, the vehicle overtook and stopped him on the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road near Batra Hospital.

Two persons came out of the car and started beating him and his colleague, he told police.

He added that in the meantime, another car also pulled up and its driver got into an argument over the road getting blocked.

The three of them then dragged him and robbed his ID card as well as the registration certificate of his motorcycle, police said.

One of the accused works as a milk supplier in Malviya Nagar. The others work as a storekeeper at a hotel in Mehrauli and as a bouncer at a club in Vasant Vihar.

The robbed items have been recovered and the two cars have been seized.
New Delhi: Appreciating that Indo-Israel ties were more "visible" after the Modi government has come to power, Israel said on Sunday that India's policy of not having a "zero-sum game" while dealing with the Jewish nation and the Arab countries has sent a strong message.

Ahead of first prime ministerial visit from India, expected to take place in July, Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon also strongly pitched for deeper cooperation in strategic ties, spread over wide-ranging sectors, including, defence, security, agriculture, education and culture.

There is a lot of "visibility" in Indo-Israel relations after Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come to power and the Jewish nation respects that change, Carmon told PTI in an interview.

"India's policy of not having a zero-sum game while dealing with Israel and the Arab nations has sent a positive message.

"The relations between India and Israel did not start in 2014, but what has changed is the visibility of things that we are doing together. What has changed is the very important and very much respected in Israel," Carmon said.

The Israeli Ambassador also said that there may be a change in the declaration and policy of India after the Modi-led government has came to power.

The current NDA dispensation has been very open about its relations with Israel as compared to the Manmohan Singh government, which was cautious in openly flaunting India's ties with Israel.

As India and Israel celebrate 25 years of their diplomatic relations this year, Modi is expected to visit the Middle Eastern country in July during which the two sides are expected to finalise pacts in key sectors.

"In relation to the past, we are at the peak, but this is not the peak. The peak will never happen because we will continue to try for more and more and I think we are in a very good period of time. We are looking back at 25 years of relations we are celebrating. We are very satisfied with what we have achieved," he said.

Carmon said Israel is fine with India having relations with it as well the Arab countries and noted that the scenario in the Middle East has changed.

"Nowadays, things have changed in the Middle East and Israel has good relations with a few Arab countries. We (Israel and some Arab states) have joint-interests with many others. We see eye to eye on danger coming out of Iran," he said.

He also asserted that Israel respects India's policy that this is not a zero-sum game and that it can have a good relations with Israelis and good relations with the Arabs.

"I have not heard too much protest from the Arabs (on this), which means there is coexistence. This is very important and positive message from India which is well accepted in Israel," Carmon said.
Over 1.32 crore voters will cast their poll on Sunday for municipal elections in Delhi across 272 wards.

The voters will seal the fate of over 2,500 candidates for elections to North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 seats each) and East Delhi Municipal Congress (64 seats).

While on one hand, the civic body elections will be seen as a referendum of sorts on the work of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in its home turf, the Bharatiya Janata Party will hope to maintain their grip on MCD. Congress will fight for reemergence in the power circles of the National capital. Meanwhile, Swaraj India, a new entrant to the fray this time, has brought along a fresh twist, with its promise of politics of change.

Polling has started early morning on Sunday, as registered voters started queuing up at 13,022 polling booths across the city. All voters are required to carry their voter slip and voter ID to exercise their franchise. To avoid any last minute confusion, the Election Commission has this year put out the list of registered voters along with the polling booth allotted to each voter, online.

Here is how one can check your name in the voter list:

Visit this link and click on the third option, ie "Check Your Name in the Voters' List (Electoral Roll)"

In a new tab, you will see two options to help you search for your name: searching the list for your name, or your unique voter ID number. Your voter ID number is mentioned on your voter ID card.

If you choose to search the voter list for your name, enter the district in which you are registered to vote, your assembly constituency name, father/ mother's name and your house number. Enter the captcha code and hit submit.

If you choose to search through your voter ID number, select the option and feed in your voter ID in the form that appears. Fill out the captcha code and hit submit.

The counting of votes will take place on 26 April.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked all chief ministers to stay in touch with the Kashmiri youth in their states and take care of their interests.

He made the appeal during his closing remarks at the third meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog.

"The Prime Minister told all chief ministers to contact Kashmiri youth in their state. He told chief ministers to take care of the interest of Kashmiri students," Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya said at a press conference after the meet.

The appeal came days after hoardings appeared in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut city asking Kashmiris to leave the state.

An official statement said that the Prime Minister, noting the invitation given by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, suggested that various states could organise events there.

"He also seconded the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister's suggestion that states should take interest in the students from her state who are studying in other states. He urged states to reach out to these students from time to time," the statement said.
New Delhi: NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya on Sunday presented a draft of the three-year action agenda for the nation's development at the planning body's Governing Council meeting here.

The NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog Vice Chairman said inputs from the states as well as central ministries and subject experts were incorporated in the agenda.

Panagariya invited further inputs and support of the states in taking the vision forward.

"The action agenda is co-terminus with the 14th Finance Commission's award. This gives stability to the funding estimates of both the Centre and states," he said.

Panagariya said that apart from the action agenda, there would be a seven-year strategy and a 15-year long-term vision that will replace the erstwhile Five-Year Plans for the nation's planning framework.

The 12th Five-Year Plan ended on 31 March.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the action agenda was just a draft and that all suggestions by the chief ministers of various states would be taken into account before finalising it.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Panagariya said the 15-year vision document pegs the Indian economy's growth from Rs 137 lakh crore in 2015-16 to Rs 469 lakh crore by 2031-32 at 2015-16 prices.

This projection is based on growth estimate of 8 percent per annum, he said.

Panagariya said the three-year agenda has been divided into seven parts, with each part having a number of specific action points.

Over 300 specific action points have been identified covering the whole gamut of sectors, he said.

"In part one, a revenue and expenditure exercise is undertaken to illustrate how we can begin to shift our expenditure based on set priorities within a three-year period -- like increasing expenditure on health, infrastructure, agriculture, and rural economy," he said.

The NITI Vice-Chairman said subsequent parts deal with major sectors, growth enablers, governance, social sectors and sustainable development.

"Part two deals with agriculture, industry and services; part three with transport connectivity, digital connectivity, public-private partnership, energy, and science and technology.

"Part four focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship; part five on governance, tax policy and administration, rule of law, and pro-competition policies and regulations.

"Part six deals with health, education and building an inclusive society; and part seven on environment and forests, and sustainable management of water resources," he added.

NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said the major take-away was that the think tank assured there was no vacuum after the 12th Five-Year plan that ended on March 31 as it quickly worked on the three-year plan.

During NITI Aayog Governing Council's third meeting here, Kant outlined the initiatives taken in areas like agriculture, poverty elimination, health, education, digital payments, disinvestment, coastal zone, and island development.

He said that NITI Aayog will work with states to improve basic services and infrastructure, especially in districts and regions which require specific attention.

Union Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia made a presentation on the Goods and Services Tax (GST), explaining the benefits of the indirect tax collection system and the way forward. He urged the chief ministers of states to expedite the legislation of State GST Bills.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan made a presentation on doubling farmers' income by focusing on irrigation, technology generation and dissemination, and policy and market reforms.
Editor's note: Dhirendra K Jha spent a substantial part of 2015 and 2016 studying eight Hindu rightwing organisations across India for their connections with the BJP, and wrote about it in his new book Shadow Armies: Fringe Organisations and Foot Soldiers of Hindutva. This is his account of why and how he selected the organisations, what he learnt about them, and the surprising theme that repeated itself across the country.

Every time an obscure organisation leads a mob to ban a book, murder a dairy farmer or stop a movie from being made because they hurt Hindu sentiments, they are dismissed by the RSS and the BJP as fringe organisations. The crimes are usually not punished. Even if criminal charges are filed and cases reach the court, they are eventually thwarted. Although there is no equivalent of a paper trail linking the organizations, they all seemed to be on the same page: they believe and work towards a Hindu India.

It made me curious. Could these organisations be legitimately called the shadow armies of the RSS and the BJP? Even if a number of them were not direct offshoots of the RSS, were all of them motivated by a single strategy? How did they arise? What were their histories? I decided to select four that were not part of the Sangh family and four that were born of the Sangh and explore their stories.

The beginnings of this project lie in the Karnataka governments announcement in July 2015 of the link that existed in the murders of the rationalists MM Kalburgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar. The country was in a ferment. Writers and artists were returning their state awards in droves, protesting the inaction of the government. Who had triggered this churning? Sanatan Sanstha, the organisation accused of having commissioned these killings, seemed the obvious first chapter in my journey.

The repeated electoral success experienced by of the Mahant of the Goraknath Temple made his organisation, the Hindu Yuva Vahini, a body of interest. Right from its inception, the HYV ran toxic campaigns projecting Muslims as enemies of Hindus, creating fear by stressing on love jihad, beef-eating, the deliberate Muslim disrespect of Hindu rituals and nation symbols etc. The HYV was not founded or managed by the RSS, but it gave me a clear view of the kind of connections that organisations like the HYV had with the RSS and the BJP. Yogi Adityanath, the moving spirit behind the HYV, was a BJP MP multiple times and is now the chief minister of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh. The highest members of these organisations tended to have a foot firmly planted in the RSS or the BJP.

While the Bajrang Dal had a clear line of descent from the RSS via the VHP and had been integral to the Ramjanmabhoomi campaign and the demolition of Babri Masjid, the Sri Ram Sene, a group that splintered from the Bajrang Dal, had a more chequered history. A group of mid-level activists of the Bajrang Dal split from it to form the Sri Ram Sene because they found that only Brahmins and Brahminical upper castes could hold top positions. The Sangh saw the backward castes merely as useful foot soldiers.

Given Keralas historically progressive politics and its left governments, I wanted to investigate the RSSs attempt and strategies to get a foothold in the state through the Hindu Aikya Vedi. A similar interest led me to study the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat and Hindutva presence in Punjab. The exposure of a Hindu terror network by the Maharastra Anti-Terrorism and the involvement of Lt Col Shrikant Purohit brought to light the mysterious organisation revived by him, Abhinav Bharat, and the Bhonsala Military School that he was associated with.

I had expected these organisations to be recruiting and training centres for their fellow pan-Indian Hindutva organisations (such as the BJP) that officially practise politics. But when I travelled and talked to people I began to see that these were not only feeders for the RSS and the BJP and their larger agendas. These organisations were also shaped by the needs and anxieties of the people of their regions.

I met fascinating characters some of whom were intelligent, some dumb, and a few even criminals looking for political cover, but they were all full of vitality and vigour and quite aware of what they were doing. Take, for instance, Sharan Pampwell. The Bajrang Dal leader in Karnataka organised agitations against and issued threats to Muslim shopkeepers, businessmen and mall owners. He also ran a firm that provided security. If the minority shopkeepers and businessmen accepted his security guards  who were the agitators in the first place  they could buy peace. It was a business model. We strictly follow the rules of business, he told me.

The one generalisation I feel confident to make, the one theme that repeats itself across organisations and regions is that the leaders and top functionaries of these bodies are Brahmins or upper castes while the foot soldiers are, as a rule, young men of lower castes. The lack of jobs and the prospect of a share in power and prosperity seduces them to abandon their own legacies of resistance and struggles against the Brahmanical Hinduism that had kept them oppressed for centuries.

The irony is that the young men from backward or lower castes who constitute a significant portion of the foot soldiers of these shadow armies are rarely able to recognise that Hindutva, to which they have dedicated their energies, is nothing but Brahminism. Blinded by their surging Hindu religiosity and hatred for the other, they simply cannot see how the Hindutva they are working for ultimately seeks to revive the historical domination of the Brahmins and other upper castes.

Occasionally, the truth becomes visible. For instance, when caste hierarchies affect the distribution of power even at the local level. Sometimes this leads to the revolt of backward caste leaders and cadres (as in the case of the Sri Ram Sene), but the rebels hardly ever look for an ideological alternative.

The triumph of Hindutva, following the BJPs striking victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and in many of the state polls thereafter, has resulted in brahminism trying to recolonize the spaces it had been forced to vacate due to social reform movements and anti-brahminical struggles. My profiles of these organisations ended up illustrating how the shadow world of Hindutva, with its reliance on violence, hate speech and even terror, has contributed to these electoral triumphs as well as to the brahminical agenda underpinning the overall Hindu nationalist project.

Shadow Armies: Fringe Organizations and Foot Soldiers of Hindutva by Dhirendra K Jha is available in bookstores and on Juggernaut
The Kerala police, which was probing a multiple murder in the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram in the first week of April, rejected the defence of the accused that he committed the heinous crime as part of an experiment to "detach human souls from their bodies", but warned people against clandestine groups promoting such bizarre practices, gaining ground in the state.

The investigators had taken the statement of accused, Cadell Jeanson Raja, 30, who confessed to murdering his parents, sister and aunt with an axe, seriously, since he had shown some signs of delusional disorders during the initial interrogation. However, Raja changed his version when he was questioned further with the help of a psychologist. The latest reason he advanced for committing the crime is his animosity against his father for his "immoral activities".

A senior police official associated with the investigation said that they do not fully subscribe to the fresh claim of the accused. He told Firstpost that they will reach a conclusion on the motive behind the crime only after examining all aspects since Raja is a 'tough customer'.

The accused did not make any attempt to escape from the police. Though he went to Chennai after committing the crime, he returned to the city in a couple of days knowing fully well that the police were after him. When we arrested him, he readily confessed to the crime. He did not show any remorse over the murders. On the contrary, he appeared proud in claiming that he has 'freed' his family members," said the official, who did not want to be identified.

The police investigation has revealed that Raja was obsessed with occult practices. He reportedly told the investigators that he was researching the subject for decades without the knowledge of his family. He mostly confined himself to his room, and none of his neighbours knew anything about him.

The police believe that the accused might have taken to astral projection as part of the devil (satanic) worship which is gaining ground in a big way in the state. Raja had also told the police officials, who arrested him, that he was involved in satanic worship.

Intelligence officials claim that satan worshippers are trying to spread their net in the state and have warned the people against coming under their spell. The cult gained ground in Kerala following the tourism boom.

The Satan cult disagrees on the fundamental principles of Christianity, according to this report, which further states, Satan worshippers are against everything that is deemed sacred by the church. Black Mass is the main ritual of Satan worshippers. Though Black Mass is a parody of the Holy Mass in Christianity, it has reportedly turned into the desecration of anything considered to be divine by other religions, including Hinduism and Islam. The desecration of communion bread (host) is reported to be an important aspect of Black Mass.

Satanic rituals include sacrilegious sexual behaviour, human and animal sacrifices, drinking wine out of a human skull, the recital of Biblical hymns backwards and use of pagan occult symbols, according to a priest in Kochi.

Satan is invoked by using a desecrated host. They mostly steal consecrated hosts from churches and desecrate it by defecating and urinating on it. Impure blood and urine collected in a human skull, triangle-shaped slices of bread etc are other things used for the 'black mass' which is usually held on the 13th of every month, the priest said.

Recent reports of an increase in the incidents of disappearance or theft of consecrated hosts from many Catholic churches in the state is viewed as a sign of the growing penetration of Satan worshippers in the state. Several churches in the state reported theft or attempted theft of consecrated hosts recently.

There have also been reports of some Christian devotees selling consecrated hosts to the Satan worshippers. The Catholic priest at Kochi said that a girl from his parish was caught for selling consecrated host. The parents found out after they noticed unexplained cash credits in the girl's bank account. The priest said that the girl later confessed the crime and made penance for it.

Selling consecrated hosts to Satan worshippers is considered lucrative since they are ready to pay even up to Rs 1 lakh for a consecrated host, the priest told Firstpost on condition of anonymity. The increase in thefts and disappearance of consecrated hosts has forced the Church officials to be vigilant in handling the hosts.

Authorities at the St James Church, Cheranallore, under the Archdiocese of Verapoly in Ernakulam district, have stopped giving communion bread in hand, after it was found that the bread is taken away for selling to the Satan worshippers.

Sex and drugs seem to be the main attractions of Satan worship. Since these two form a part of satanic rituals, many believe that they can get both easily if they join a satanic cult. There have also been sexual abuse of children by the Satan worshippers. The Kerala police had in 2016 August arrested 11 people, who were part of Satan cult, for sexually abusing a Class 11 student for years.

The police do not rule out the involvement of the drug mafia in the growth of this cult, especially since it offers them a chance to make quick money. Satan worshippers spread their message through tattoos, T-shirts and inverted crosses. These symbols are available across Kerala.

Journalist Rajeev Sivshankar, who studied the subject for his book (Thamovedam), said that the states commercial capital of Kochi is the main hub of the satanic cult in the state. The cult originated in Fort Kochi, a major tourist centre. It was believed to have been brought by French tourists in early 2000. The cult contains mostly Christians and Hindus. Most of them are youths.

Rajeev said that the cult was fast spreading its wings in Kerala. He said that the Satan worshippers had already established churches in seven out of 14 districts in the state. The service is conducted mostly in isolated houses or apartments.

He said that the organisers of 'Satan seva' have been luring people by making fake claims that it can solve their problems and bring riches, besides destroying their enemies. Its mainly businessmen, who have suffered losses in their business, who are participating in the Black mass, for which the organisers charge Rs 30,000 per person, Rajeev said.

A Hindu cult in the state has also been offering similar rituals that include black arts since centuries for those seeking fortunes and relief from sufferings. The sect, which is based at Peringottukara village in Thrissur, worship a dark avatar of Vishnu, who rides a buffalo, as their deity.

The puja, which involves animal sacrifice, is performed every Friday and the priest who conducts the rituals inside the temple, comes out, meets people individually and prescribes specific offerings to the deity for specific needs.

People from all faiths throng the village, which has 17 major and 60 small temples, in an area of 10 square kilometres offering the puja. The temples charge 10 percent of the 'profit' if the worshippers benefit from the ritual.

A report in Times of India said that many of these temples had amassed huge wealth through the rituals. Apart from the religious practices, some of them are also running businesses. An Income Tax raid in one such temple in 2003 had led to seizure of Rs 17 lakhs in unaccounted receipts. The organisers of the cult lure people by placing advertisements in the newspapers and television channels saying their rituals will help believers prosper. Quoting advertising industry circles, the TOI report said that that each temple was spending lakhs of rupees on advertisements every year.

Finding a steady flow of Christians to these temples, the Catholic Church in Kerala has issued a warning to their followers not to practice the chathan service.

The police, who have warned people against those spreading superstition and promoting black magic in the name of faith, are unable to do any thing to prevent such activities as Kerala has no law to deal with such cases.

Though the previous Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government made an attempt to enact a law similar to the Maharashtra Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act (2013), the draft bill has not found it way to the State Assembly so far.

A senior police officer told Firstpost there was no provision in the existing laws to act against those promoting 'Satan seva' and 'chathan seva'. The law allows the enforcement agency to act only if they receive a complaint about any harm caused to them by those indulging in occult practices," he said.

The officer agreed that a law to check these activities was needed since incidents of superstition and black magic were thriving in the state despite its high literacy rate. He said that those promoting these practices were actually exploiting the people by promising them impossible things.
In the first two weeks of April 2017, three instances of witch-hunting have been reported in the state of Assam. In the first instance, a couple was hacked to death and their five children orphaned; in the second, another couple and their neighbour were buried alive (they were rescued by the police); and in the third, a woman sustained grievous injuries after being attacked by a mob in her village in Kokrajhar. The Assam Witch-Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2015  that made such attacks a non-bailable offence, passed by the Assam Assembly in 2015  is still to receive the Union ministrys approval.

Meanwhile, on 20 April 2017, the Rajasthan police booked 18 people under various sections, including the state's Prevention of Witch Hunting Act, after they beat up, stripped and paraded a young couple (who had previously eloped) in Shambhupura village.

The National Crime Records Bureau data shows that 2,290 people  mostly women  were killed in India between 2001 and 2014 for witchcraft; and before these April 2017 incidents, the issue reared its head in 2016 as well.

Professor Soma Chaudhuri (Ph.D) of Michigan State University, has studied for over a decade the problem of witch-hunting in the tea plantation community of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. Her findings were published in a book called Witches, Tea Plantations, and Lives of Migrant Laborers in India: Tempest In a Teapot.

The book is summarised as illuminating "how witchcraft accusations should be interpreted within the backdrop of labor-planters relationship, characterized by rigidity of power, patronage, and social distance. A complex network of relationshipsties of friendship, family, politics, and genderprovide the necessary legitimacy for the witch hunt to take place. At the height of the conflict, the exploitative relationship between the plantation management and the Adivasi migrant workers often gets hidden, and the dain (witch) becomes a scapegoat for the malice of the plantation economy."

In an email exchange with Firstpost, Prof Chaudhuri spoke about the practice of witch-hunting in Jalpaiguri. Excerpts:

What led you to study witch hunts in the state of West Bengal? How did the problem first come to your attention?

Towards the end of my first year at Vanderbilt University (April of 2003), and I had a conversation with Professor Gary F Jensen (a professor in the Department of Sociology there), who was writing a book on American witch hunts. During our chat he asked whether there are any similar incidents that are taking place in contemporary India. At that time I had no idea about the existence of witch hunts in India. I did a little bit of research on the topic online at the local Kolkata newspaper archives and found out about the witchcraft accusations among the tea plantations workers in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. I became intrigued, and tried to read more on the plantation witch hunts. However I found that most of the academic research was at the time concentrated around the states of Bihar and Jharkhand with some mention of the hunts in the Purulia district in West Bengal. As a native of West Bengal, the incidents at the plantations took me by surprise. Thus began a decade long interest in the issue.

Common knowledge would attribute the persecution of women from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds as a matter of misogyny or lack of literacy. But you place the problem at the vortex of more complex factors  the tea plantation economy, the marginalisation of certain communities. How did you realise that there was much more at work than straightforward (for want of a better word) misogyny?

Misogyny exists in all cultures and in communities. Can you think of any society  developed/developing  where you will not find examples of misogyny? For example rape. Rape takes place in all societies. So attributing witch hunts to misogyny or other obvious factors seemed rather simplistic and dismissive, as problems with literacy, violence against women, impoverishment exists in other communities as well. But not all such communities, including among many Adivasi groups, experience witchcraft accusations. As a sociologist, I am always intrigued by the social context within which events takes place. The geographical location of the tea plantations, the violent history of the Adivasi workers in the plantation system, the complete marginalisation of Adivasi issues from the mainstream politics, and the treatment of Adivasis particularly Adivasi women, provided initial clues leading to a decade long research as to why the incidents are taking place.

Reports estimate the number of women who have been killed after being branded witches at about 150 in 2014  and about 2,000 in all from the year 2000 onwards. Would you say this might be an accurate figure, and what of the other forms of persecution  being driven from their homes, being sexually or physically attacked  that arent mentioned in these reports?

I am unsure about where the numbers that you quote are located. Are they national numbers or state specific? In any case it is hard to accurately estimate the numbers, as often cases do not make to police, newspapers or NGO records. In addition, with the lack of state laws (with the exception of Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand) against witch hunting or witchcraft accusations, often these cases are registered under murder, physical assault, sexual assault and harassment, and this further dilutes statistics.

The problem is reportedly most severe in states like Odisha, West Bengal why might that be? Are the tea plantation economies a microcosm for examining what is happening in the states in general?

There are quite a few states where the situation is quite severe including the ones that you mention. However, it is important not to generalise the findings from context to another. In social science we are very conscious about the social context and the limits of generalization. However, one can summarise some general causes behind witch hunts. First, the treatment of Adivasis, especially the social isolation and marginalisation of these communities from mainstream politics is an important cause behind these incidents. Related to it are (the) complete lack of resources related to healthcare, education, and other facilities for community building for the Adivasis. We have laws, we have reservations; but unfortunately it is not implemented through good governance. Second, the constant stress and related frustrations over encroachment that Adivasi communities everywhere are facing over their land, and other resources by government and corporations, is a factor in instigating accusations. Third, the position of the Adivasi woman is perhaps the most vulnerable at this pyramid of hierarchy, where she faces both gender and ethnicity related ostracism from members of majority Hindu community as well as by Adivasi men.

Have there been grassroots movements that youve found, in the course of your research, as tackling the problem? What do these initiatives get right, and what more could be done?

I have found self-help groups to be quite powerful in resisting witchcraft accusations. Women in such groups collectively come together against witch hunts, and such campaigns have been found to be sustainable in the long run. North Bengal Peoples Development Center, an NGO in Jalpaiguri, is doing very important work in this regard.

The Assam Assembly passed a bill against witch hunting in 2015 that many see as a very positive step in the fight against this issue; what were your thoughts on it?

This is great news as this means that the police will take the case seriously when parties come to lodge complaints. In addition the courts will now have laws to prosecute.

Could you please share any stories of the women and men that you came across when researching Tempest in a Teapot that you found particularly poignant or inspiring?

I found all stories to be very moving. However there is one story that has created a lasting impression on my mind. In 2003, five women were tortured over two days on witchcraft accusations by a janguru, and at the end of their ordeal they were murdered, their bodies cut and thrown in the nearby river. All this happened over a weekend, and parts of their bodies were not discovered until Wednesday. The incident took place at a plantation labour community near Chalsa area in Jalpaiguri district, a rather popular location for tourists with its picturesque river, plantations, resorts and state parks. Can you imagine such a heinous event happening and the police and plantation management being unaware of it for more than two days? It was such a tragedy, and had a devastating impact for the families of these five women, who were mothers, daughters and grandmothers.

What are the aspects of this problem that you wish would get more attention, from the press, from the authorities?

I would like the media to be very careful while reporting such incidents. Instead of dismissing it as an Adivasi problem, I would like the press to explore the events responsibly, and to investigate the bigger issues that are prompting such violence in the first place.
Arnab Goswami is coming back. Yes, in a few weeks, the news on TV will be entertaining again. And no, Karan Johar didnt have anything to do with our guys exit from Times Now. Barkha, get over it. Goswami has gotten on with his life and is putting out little teasers via the Republic TV YouTube channel. From the looks of it, it seems like he will continue to don the avatar of the righteous journalist asking the tough questions.

On his show, he had a new cause celebre every day. On his YT channel, he seems to have one every 12 hours. His fight, three days ago, was against a media group that has threatened him with imprisonment for using the phrase the nation wants to know. His spiel did remind me of Amitabh Bachchan and his character, Vijay, in Deewar: Tum log mujhe dhoond rahe ho, aur mein tumhara yahan intazar kar raha hoon. Arnab says his angrezi line, a little differently though. "Spend all the money you have and arrest me. I am waiting right now on my studio floor. Come, enforce your threat," he says dramatically.

This kind of fight over popular catch-phrases is now humdrum. (Goswamis video got 64,124 odd views on YouTube). But what is surprising, is Goswamis sudden lack of perspective. Isnt this the man who knew exactly what the nation wanted to know every day? Well maybe, his nation has changed in the transition period. It now comprises the 3051 subscribers his channel currently has.

Lets be fair, he isnt a YouTube star, his audience watches television. The people that BARC (the Audience Reaseach Council India) measures week on week. The same people who watch Times Now and give it 5,95,000 impressions some weeks making it the most popular English news channel in the country. Oh, by the way, BARCs TV universe is 1,56,000 TV owning households in India. So, even if there are four people on an average in each household, thats about 6,24,000 people, representing a country of over 1.2 billion. I guess the estimated Rs 27,378 crores thatll get spent on TV advertising this year will be on the basis of the above data and its massive extrapolation.

As a high-income millennial, who spends all her time on the internet but would probably be categorised C2 on BARC because I dont own a lot of the durables they use as income surrogates, Im thinking 595,000 impressions hi chahiye tha toh apna paisa AIB ke YT channel ko de dete! And what the hell, BARC? I watch English news in the gymkhana everyday and I also have a Netflix subscription. Im not C2!

Top brand consultant and founder of SKA Advisors Sunil Alagh feels this interpretation may have a flaw. Arnab does have a good sense of what people want to know. And it was because of him that the Times Now viewership increased dramatically week on week. You cant suddenly compare him to YouTubers whove been around for 10-odd years and say hes lost it. All that will be put to rest in about six months after his new channel launches. As far as measurement goes, BARCs the best weve got and till we find something better, itll stay. Also, Arnab caters to the bulk of India which includes the youth and middle-class. And let's not forget our diaspora. The moment he puts out content about burning economic issues, erring politicians or Pakistan, hell get his audience back.

In my view, TV advertising is for brands that know people dont care about them. So theyre okay with BARC measurements and brand scores. The media dark areas that the FMCGs work so hard to conquer, are no longer the places with no TVs and newspapers. They are places with no Jio internet and YouTube popularity. In an age where Amazon and FB are thriving by guessing our likes and purchases, how much research and AI is going into what we really want to watch? The Indian news television set up seems to be focused on building anchor brands who are trusted wholeheartedly in choosing what to highlight on the news.

As a country, our perceptions about the basic realities of religion, female employment, rural living or internet access are warped. If this Index of Ignorance published by Ipsos is to be believed, India receives the number two position in a list that compiles most inaccurate perceptions on some general topics like the number of female politicians we have, how rural our economy is, how skewed female employment ratios are and how many people actually have internet access in the country.

Who shall we blame for this ignorance? The people who dont watch the news or read the newspaper and get their news updates from their FB timelines instead? Or the media, that puts out stuff we dont need to know about because theyd rather report their stellar ratings rather than the news? Just for fun, I decided to compare what new age media (FB, Google and Firstpost) and traditional news media (Times Now, Times of India, CNN-News 18) consider important.

Googles top searches:

1. Earth Day Tips - 2,00,00+ changes

2. Europa League - 20,000+ searches

3. CBSE 10th result - 2,00,000 + searches

4. Noor - 1,00,000+ searches

5. KKR vs GL - 50,000 + searches

6. Rajkummar Rao - 50,000 + searches

7. Earth Day - 20,000+ searches

Facebooks top trends:

1. Hashim Amla

2. Ram Vilas Paswan

3. Andhra Pradesh

4. Boston University School of Medicine

5. Permanent Account Number

Now Facebooks trends are customised; so they dont reflect the countrys trends as a whole as much as what the individual will consider important. How is this decided, you ask? According to the platform, Trending shows you topics that have recently become popular on Facebook. The topics you see are based on a number of factors including engagement, timeliness, pages you've liked and your location.

Trending on Firstpost at 5 am on 22 April:

1. Fire kills 14 people in MP's Chhindwara district, four people critically injured

2. Kashmir unrest: Ram Madhav's approval of Army 'human' shield triggers PDP ire

3. China's Arunachal gambit: 1962 unlikely but India must recognise Dragon's psychological warfare

4. AIADMK tussle: Trust deficit between OPS, EPS camps breaks down merger talks

5. South India's Drought Part 2: Chennai slum dwellers forced to beg for water, authorities remain helpless

Latest from Times Now (as of 7.40 am on 22 April):

1. Service Charge Not Mandatory; Government Issues Guidelines

2. Indian Navy Successfully Test-fires Brahmos Supersonic Missile

3. Mamata Banerjee Urges Opposition To Unite Against BJP

4. Kashmir Unrest: Mehbooba Mufti Govt Gags Social Media In Valley

5. Sludge Woes End For Chennai Residents

None of these Times Now videos have more than 1800 views.

Latest from CNN-News 18 (as of 7.40 am on 22 April):

1. Bandipore Hero Chetan Cheeta, Who Took 9 Bullets, Raring to go Back

2. News360: It's Official, No More Service Charge

3. IPL 2017: Finch, Karthik Dissect Gujarat Lions Season So Far

Meanwhile, heres what was trending on YouTube at 5.19 am on 22 April:

1. Noor | Latest Hindi Song | Anurag Sharma | Dedicated to the Movie Noor 2017 | Namastey Entertainment

2. CHANN KITTHAN - PARADOGS | New Hindi Song 2017 | Latest Hindi Songs 2017 |

3. Shael's Meri Jaaan__A Preview(((Shael Official)))

If youre keen on knowing how YouTube goes about curating their top trends, head here.

Times of Indias front page on 22 April (Mumbai edition):

1. The real front page was a Ruparel Realty ad with Anushka Sharma on it. Theyre talking about some homes they want to sell in Kandivali West.

2. The second page was a Crystal Xrbia ad. Theyre also selling homes.

3. The third page was a Paradise Group ad. Yeah, also homes.

4. Top story on the page that has the Times of India masthead: SC says not all 'insults' to religion an offence.

5. The other top story: In a first, court gives 2 IS agents chance to reform.

6. Instead of an anchor story, readers can enjoy the Allen Solly ad today.





Is it strange, that there isnt much consensus on whats really important in the media? How could there be? They all have different target segments! I would think that by tracking the FB, Google and YouTube behavior of Indias 432 million internet users (40 percent of the countrys population), one would get a pretty good idea of what the nation wants to know.

But Pavni Mittal, a former CNBC TV-18 anchor, who tracked the Trump campaign for Al Jazeera from NYC and is the only Indian journalist to have hosted an MSL Group and PRWeek session at Cannes says that isn't right. Journalism as a profession and end product has a human interest mission. There are companies that look at whats read and shared most, and then they generate more of that but thats not news. Thats just content. But we do stories because they have an impact.

I think at one point Indian anchors didn't care about ratings at all. It was never a talking point. As someone who has anchored Storyboard and reported on ratings, I can tell you that news is bought on perception and brand  especially Indian news because it has such a tiny audience. But today, thanks to the trend started by Fox in the US and aped by the Indian press, we have loud promos about ratings. But if you read the fine print below these ratings, youll see its just slicing and dicing of data. BARC was supposed to address that, but as budgets for newsgathering get slashed, our focus shifts from news to views. Its all about taking heads and ratings for 9 pm and big days like elections and budgets. The most shared stuff in the US is from Breitbart News thats all conspiracy, she says.

So does that mean we, the people, dont really know anything, and maybe we should leave it to the likes of Arnab to decide what the nation wants to know? He could use a little tip from media entrepreneur, Abhimanyu Radhakrishnan though. While he refused to comment specifically on how news anchors decide on bulletins because he hasnt produced/anchored one in seven years, he did share his pinned tweet that sums up his broader views:

"the media is filled with incompetent, self-admiring dipshits": @Gawker in 2012 on why journos are no longer heroes https://t.co/Z1ywBfFQ0R  Abhi Manyu (@abhi2point0) May 28, 2016

For those of you who thought this article was solely going to be about Goswami and his right to use the phrase the nation wants to know  apologies. This piece here may offer some perspective.

(Firstpost is from the same stable as CNN-News18, which competes with Times Now)
New Delhi: Tainted AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran appeared before the Crime Branch for the second day on Sunday for being questioned on the alleged case of bribing an Election Commission official for retaining the "two leaves" party symbol.

Dinakaran reached the Crime Branch Inter State Cell office in Chanakyapuri around 2 pm. There was heavy security outside the residential compound that houses the office of the Inter State Cell.

On Saturday, he was questioned for close to seven hours in the case.

An ACP rank investigating officer had quizzed Dinakaran, the nephew of jailed AIADMK chief Sasikala.

A senior police official had said that Dinakaran was given a questionnaire concerning the money trail, his association with Sukesh Chandrasekar (the middleman who was arrested) and whether he had met any Election Commission official.

His call logs, WhatsApp messages and SMSes were also examined.
Chennai: Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu claimed on Saturday that the Centre or the BJP had no role in the "internal" problems of the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.

"The Centre or the BJP has no role in the internal problems of the AIADMK. What is happening in the party...they (AIADMK leaders) alone will be able to explain. We do not pull strings. We do not get involved in other parties' affairs. Let me make it very clear and categorical," the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister told reporters in Chennai.

Asserting that the BJP and the Centre wanted a stable government in Tamil Nadu, he said, "We want the developmental initiatives undertaken by Madam (former chief minister) Jayalalithaaji to be carried forward by the state government." The people of Tamil Nadu wanted good governance and the Centre wanted the AIADMK government to focus on development and sort out the party-related issues, said Naidu. The Government of India was willing to work with the Tamil Nadu government for initiating development works in the state, he added.

Regarding the ongoing agitation of Tamil Nadu farmers seeking loan waiver in Delhi, Naidu said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had met their representatives. The issue had to be sorted out by the state government, he said, adding, "Let us not make the matter political."

Meanwhile, delivering his address at the 205th birth anniversary celebrations of Carnatic musician-saint Thyagaraja Swamy, Naidu alleged that a section of people in the country was "allergic" about the word "Hindu" because of "vote-bank politics".

Praising the trend of conducting Carnatic music festivals during the Tamil month of Margazhi in December, he said music gave solace to human beings.
Dharmanagar (Tripura): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday vowed to oust the Left from power in Tripura in the 2018 assembly elections "to script history".

Addressing the BJP state executive meeting in Dharmanagar, BJP leader Ram Madhav said: "We will surely win the 2018 elections, ending the 24 years of uninterrupted rule of Left parties in Tripura."

He said top leaders of the BJP, including many chief ministers, were keen to campaign in Tripura to vote out the Left Front led by the CPM. "We will throw out the Left Front from Tripura to script history."

Ram Madhav, the BJP in-charge of northeastern states and Jammu and Kashimir, said Tripura was very important for his party.

"In view of this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and (BJP President) Amit Shah will soon join the campaign in the state.

"To win assembly polls in Tripura and to oust the corrupt Left Front government is a vital political objective of the BJP.

"The Left has been in power for 24 year and it is high time the Left was thrown out of power democratically," he said.

Ram Madhav accused the Left government of cheating people and keeping them in poverty and backwardness despite being in power for several decades.

Since there was no alternative to them earlier, they continued to be in power, he said.

"Now that the BJP has emerged as a real alternative, we should try our best collectively to ensure the ouster of the anti-people Left Front government."

BJP Tripura President Biplab Kumar Deb and party leader Sunil Deodhar also spoke at the two-day meeting that ended on Sunday.
New Delhi: The Delhi BJP on Sunday filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, accusing him of violating the Model Code of Conduct during the civic polls.

Delhi BJP moves SEC alleging that Dy CM @msisodia appealed to the people for votes during a TV interview today while polling was underway pic.twitter.com/sgexFse85A  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 23, 2017

Demanding legal action against Sisodia, Delhi BJP vice-president Abhay Verma and BJP Legal Cell member Neeraj claimed that the AAP leader had, during an interview to a private news channel, appealed to the people to vote for Aam Aadmi Party even while balloting for the three municipal corporations was on.

"Repeated violation of Model Code of Conduct by Aam Aadmi Party leaders is a repeat of what they did during the 2015 Vidhan Sabha elections in Delhi, Punjab, and Goa. It is a proof of anarchic nature of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's party," Bharatiya Janata Party's Delhi unit President Manoj Tiwari told IANS.

Earlier on Saturday, Tiwari has shared a letter on Twitter urging the SEC to block AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Facebook account for breaching election code of conduct.

State Election Commissioner and @CPDelhi you are requested to block FB account of @ArvindKejriwal who is breaching election code of conduct pic.twitter.com/PBPq7ayAB1  Manoj Tiwari (@ManojTiwariMP) April 22, 2017

Tiwari while speaking to CNN-News18 also rejected the Sisodia's claims that the municipality elections were a referendum on the 10 years rule of BJP in the municipal corporations of Delhi.

 With agency inputs
Union ministers Harsh Vardhan and Vijay Goel were among the BJP leaders and party MPs who cast their vote in elections to the three municipal corporations on Sunday.

They also hit out at the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government for "misgovernance" in Delhi.

Harsh Vardhan, who voted at a polling booth in Krishna Nagar in East Delhi, asserted that BJP will work to restore the happiness of people. "We will work to restore the happiness of people and provide relief to them from those who have become synonymous with corruption, scams, inefficiency and abusive discourse," he said without naming anyone.

New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi cast her vote at a polling booth in South Extension, under the South Delhi Municipal Corporation area. She slammed the Delhi government for its alleged "misgovernance" and defended allegations against the BJP-ruled municipal corporations. "In Delhi, misgovernance comes from the Delhi government. The ruling AAP spent on advertisements instead of creating awareness about the ways to fight dengue and chikungunya," she said.

She added that the civic bodies were working under financial constraints as the government has "failed" to provide them funds.

Union minister Vijay Goel exercised his franchise at a polling station near Raj Niwas. He asked the people to come out in large number to vote for "development and public welfare policies".

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, who is not a voter in the municipal corporation elections, as he lives in New Delhi Municipal Council area, started his day by offering a prayer at the Balmiki Mandir on Mandir Marg, and then met party workers engaged in election work in the city.
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The Congress, which has considerably increased its vote share in polls held after 2015, where it was reduced to zero seats, is hoping to gain its lost ground and make its presence felt, despite unabated infighting...

For the ruling BJP, holding on to power and fighting a decade-long anti-incumbency wave is a challenge and an opportunity to blunt Kejriwal's attempts to emerge as the principal adversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Wondering what all the fuss is about? Here's all you need to know about the MCD Election

"People have full faith that we will abolish residential house tax if voted to power. The problem with our country is that parties change but the circumstances dont. If the school fees are increasing, then despite a change in the party in power, itll keep increasing. The reason for this is that there are all kinds of mafias at work. They affect peoples daily lives in areas like electricity, water, hospitals or schools. These mafias bribe ministers and thereby secure their comfort zone within the state. They make money whenever theres an increase in rates..."

Voters in the Begumpur constituency have started reaching the polling booth to cast their vote. There is excitement in the air, as voters of the constituency are hopeful that the conditions of their area will finally improve with a change in their corporator.

This time around, with more than 1.1 lakh first-time voters, the turnout is expected to breach the 60 percent mark.

In the 2012 Delhi municipal polls, the capital had recorded its highest polling percentage for the civic polls in fifteen years, at 55 percent. In 1997, the polling percentage was 41 percent, 51 percent in 2002 and 42.78 percent in 2007.

North MCD: BJP has 59 councillors, Congress 29, the Bahujan Samaj Party 7, while others have 9 seats in the House. South MCD: BJP leads the tally with 44 members, followed by 29 of Congress, five of the BSP while others have 26 seats in the House. East MCD: BJP - 39 seats, Congress - 19 and BSP - 3.

Before you cast your vote, here's a quick look at how things presently look:

Polling has started early morning on Sunday, as registered voters started queuing up at 13,022 polling booths across the city. All voters are required to carry their voter slip and voter ID to exercise their franchise. To avoid any last minute confusion, the Election Commission has this year put out the list of registered voters along with the polling booth allotted to each voter, online.

Not sure if your name is on the voter list? Here's how to find out

The Delhi State Election Commission has declared that all polling booths during the MCD election will be tobacco free. The pilot move comes after the Delhi government's Health Department urged the State Election Commissioner to take action

A steady flow of voters was seen at this booth, with many senior citizens among the early risers. "It is a B-category colony and I have been living here since 1959. There are several issues bothering residents here like water scarcity, bad roads, encroachment, lack of security. Roads inside the colony have not been repaired in over 10 years," says Naresh Suri, a resident. The picture of a pothole on the road opposite the polling booth reflects the apathy of MCD South.

The South Extension Part II booth is one of the most high-profile in South Delhi, comprising a large number of politicians and bureaucrats, besides the 'elite' residents of the area. BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi, one such resident, is expected to cast her vote shortly.

Unsuspecting voters are facing problems as mobile phones and tablets are not permitted inside the polling stations. BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi, before going to cast her vote in the South Extension II booth said, "There should have been proper announcements by the Election Commission that voters can't carry their mobile phones inside the booth. It has been causing a lot of inconvenience."

The jhuggi-jhopdi Delhi has these problems in common; the posh Delhi has its own set of problems. For many in the fray for councillor jobs, the real aim is access to politics at a higher level. That perhaps explains why crorepatis  there are more than 700 of them in the MCD polls  with little engagement with people on the ground are so keen on a position that offers so little in terms of money. Personal ambition is fine but what about everyday problems of people? As people queue up at the booths, it's possible they do so without much expectation.

It is difficult not to be cynical about Delhi's politicians and their promises. No matter what the parties promise, you know for sure that the garbage dump in the neighbourhood, the overflowing sewers, the packs of aggressive stray dogs and the general chaos and disorderliness won't disappear in a hurry.

Why it's difficult not to be cynical about politicians in Delhi

While many constituencies in Delhi see politicians employ electoral optics, Laxminagar, an area plagued with garbage disposal problems, doesn't shy away from offering a reality check to voters. Even on election day, heaps of garbage right next to the polling booth were set on fire, reflecting the apathy of the MCD in the area.

If you have survived all this, you have dengue and chikungunya to deal with. You need to be a Djinn to survive in the city. Because the civic bodies don't work, neither does the state government and the multiple authorities that supposedly manage the National Capital. In the MCD polls, Djinns are voting for Djinns. No matter who wins, everyone will survive. All is well here so long as this already poor situation does not deteriorate further.

The City of Djinns, that's how writer William Dalrymple would describe Delhi. Yeah, it has to be so. How can ordinary mortals survive in a place like this? With every unit of air you breathe, you inhale toxic substances; with every morsel of food you gulp at roadside eateries you take in quantities of road dust and god knows what; every ride in the city is a test of strength for your skeleton and joints; and every walk you take in parks and secluded streets is fraught with the threat of physical assault.

Polling been postponed in two constituencies  Maujpur in East Delhi and Sarai Pipal in North Delhi  after candidates belonging to the Samajwadi Party died on Sunday. While the Maujpur candidate died of natural causes, the Sarai Pipal candidate was a man who died from an electric shock. Maujpur polling will now be held on 14 May, while in Sarai Pipal, it will take place on 21 May.

With temperatures in Delhi crossing 40 degrees, people are staying away from polling booths. Several polling booths are completely deserted now.

The Delhi heat has melted away all hopes of breaching the 60 percent voter turnout mark, it seems. Polling booths across the city are reporting dwindling crowds as Delhiites choose to stay indoors. Parties hoping for a strong turnout to propel an anti-incumbancy wave will be praying to the weather gods right about now.

The sanitation workers went on strike on a number of occasions in the last two years, when the MCD failed to pay them, which left the city in a total mess.

While the MCD is financially dependent on the Delhi government for the salary of its employees, especially its gigantic workforce of sanitation workers, the responsibility of keeping the city clean rests on the MCD.

This is an important question that many Delhiites must have had in their minds before going to vote, as none of the parties have a clear stance on the issue. In the last two and half years, the capital saw the ugly face of a political blame game between the BJP-run MCD and the Delhi government, about their responsibility for controlling the outbreak of Dengue and Chikungunya.

According to these volunteers at an East Patel Nagar polling station, the voter turnout is steadily declining due to the scorching heat.

The policemen at the booths took the view that while people complain all the time, when it comes to doing their part, they stay away.

In East Delhi's,Vishwas Nagar, of a total 2,304 voters registered to cast their ballots at polling booths 25 and 26, only 400 or so had turned up till 1 pm.

Three parties  BJP, AAP and Congress  are involved in the MCD Election, and the results of these polls will determine the parties' future on the national stage.

"This means that only the people who are traditional voters have come out to vote this time. These voters mainly belong to the BJP and the Congress party. On the other hand, the voters of AAP are non-traditional voters, he said.

Speaking to Firstpost, the partys former founding executive member said that the dismal voter turnout in MCD election reflects the peoples loss of trust in the Arvind Kejriwal-led party  till 12:30 pm, Delhi registered a dismal voter turnout of 12 percent.

According to Agarwal, more than 80 percent of the Aam Aadmi Party candidates in this MCD election are set to forfeit their security deposit.

'As soon as you enter Shahdara, the smell of garbage greets you first.'

Out of 1,000 students between the age group of 15 to 18 there, 46 have dropped out. Usha Malhotra, who is a teacher at the Anganwadi, says that the unsanitary state of affairs affects the health of pregnant women and new born children adversely.

An Anganwadi inside the Janta Jeevan Camp-Tigri on the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road is situated right next to a big garbage dump. This has led to widespread health hazards in the area. According to a survey conducted by Swati, an NGO affiliated with 'Child Relief & You', in 1,000 households within the camp, 70 percent people suffered from Chikungunya and the rest had diarrhoea and cholera.

Voters in a few municipal wards faced problems as Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at some polling booths did not work properly in the city. Former Delhi minister and BJP leader Arvind Singh Lovely couldn't cast his vote early morning, as there were some problems in the EVMs at the polling booth in East Azad Nagar.

Several polling booths across the city, like this one in Green Park, are completely deserted given the heat wave. The soaring temperatures, however, cannot be the only reason behind the low voter turnout as it also shows that the people of Delhi are not interested in the MCD polls or that they don't believe that the electoral exercise can lead to change.

Ward 100s (ps no- 39,40,41,42) is witnessing a second surge of voters following a healthy crowd in the morning. As Delhi cools off, closer to the closing time of the polls, more voters are expected to exercise their democratic right. This surge could help improve the abysmal voting percentage in the capital  recorded at 16% at 1:30 pm

Senior BJP leaders Harsh Vardhan, Vijay Goel and Meenakshi Lekhi cast their votes in the MCD election on Sunday and urged people of Delhi to reject the Aam Aadmi Party's "misgovernance".

Around 35 percent votes were polled in municipal elections in the national capital till 2 pm, with the electorates in north Delhi leading the tally. "Around 3,82,359 votes have been polled since 8 am. As many as 16,40,304 people have cast their vote in areas under the North Delhi Municipal Corporation," according to the State Election Commission (SEC).

Annoyed over delays in sending poll percentage by the officials concerned, the SEC has decided to issue a memo to them. "There has been a delay on the part of concerned official in sending poll percentage data to a control room which has been set up at the SEC headquarters. It has been decided to issue a memo to them," an official said.

In ward No. 100, the garbage situation is getting out of hand. People are distressed with the stench of garbage in the area. They hope that whoever is elected this year will look into the matter and rid them of the stench.

Ward S002 in the Punjabi Bagh Extension area saw 460/654 votes cast till 16:30 pm. A volunteer on election duty there revealed that the booth, located near slum-dwellings, has seen a surge in voting numbers as the heat wave subsided.

According to an ANI video posted on YouTube, some voters created a ruckus outside the polling station in Patparganj in East Delhi after voters alleged that Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) was not working properly. Voters in Ward No 12 also accused officials of not taking the issue seriously, the video said. "The voters also alleged that the staff inside the polling booth was forcing voters to press the other partys symbol button. However, the officials refuted the allegations and said nothing has happened of that sort," ANI said on its YouTube channel.

Congress leaders expressed hope that Delhi voters would remember their track record of governance and help the party in winning the MCD polls for which voting took place Sunday.

"People will vote for the Congress for governance based on the party's track record. Both Kejriwal and the BJP indulged in verbal duel. The BJP-ruled municipal corporations have done enough damage that need to be rectified. Now people have to decide whether they want 'tu-tu main-main' of BJP and AAP or good governance by Congress," he said.

Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken, who along with his daughter Arushi, cast his vote at a polling station in Rajouri Garden, said that this election is all about the governance symbolised by the Congress and the "slanging match" that both the BJP and the AAP are involved in.

"Before you cast your vote today, please think of all the work done by Congress government(s) in the city," she tweeted. She asserted that the Congress is gaining ground in the MCD polls, citing a large number of voters reaching the polling station when she went to cast her vote.

Dikshit also asked the voters to think about the development work done by the previous Congress governments.

"It will be unfair to say that this election is a referendum on the Kejriwal government. In fact, it is a referendum on the BJP's performance as it ruled the MCD in last ten years," she said.

Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who cast her vote in Nizamuddin, refused to accept the MCD polls as a referendum on the AAP government's two years rule, saying it was actually a referendum on the BJP's ten-year rule in the MCD.

In both the polls, BJP is seen getting almost four times the number of combined seats of AAP and Congress put together. If the voting trends hold true, it becomes clear that BJP has managed to buck the anti-incumbency trend.

ABP News predicted that BJP will get 218 seats out of 272 seats. Aam Aadmi Party, which runs the state government in Delhi, was predicted to get 24 seats, while the Congress party was pegged to get 22 seats. Meanwhile, an India Today-Axis poll gave the BJP a lead between 202 and 220 seats .

Exit polls clearly favour the BJP. AAP and Congress are locked in a close battle for second place.

CNN-News18 has BJP ahead in three seats, Congress in five and AAP in two.

India Today has the BJP ahead in 21 seats with AAP ahead in five and Congress in four.

According to Times Now, BJP leads in nine seats, Congress and AAP in one apiece.

The AAP has to prove that its victory was no fluke. If it wins or even does well, it will remain a strong counter-force to the BJP in Delhi. For the Congress, the question, of course, is revival. A decent performance will be a much-needed booster dose for it. Besides all that, a victory in Delhi has a certain bang value. It's the power hub of the country.

Why would a mere civic body poll be so important for national parties? Well, it's not 'mere' if one considers what is at stake. It's prestige. Delhi was the first state to halt the Narendra Modi victory juggernaut post the 2014 General Election. The BJP has to prove that it was a minor bleep, not a definitive statement of its strength in the capital state.

CNN-News18 has BJP ahead in three seats, Congress in five and AAP in two.

India Today has the BJP ahead in 21 seats with AAP ahead in five and Congress in four.

According to Times Now, BJP leads in nine seats, Congress and AAP in one apiece.

While Times Now and India Today have BJP ahead in a monstrous 185 seats (among 270), other channels are being more conservative  CNN-News18 puts the figure at 82, while NDTV pegs the BJP's leads at 92.

BJP's Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari on Wednesday said he was sure his party would win the civic polls. "I am sure we will win. I have no doubt about it," Tiwari told the media, as counting of votes began. He said the BJP would make Delhi a "clean city" and free it from all sorts of diseases after the party "wins" the municipal elections.

"We have zero expectations. But anything we get above that is a plus for us," Yadav told NDTV on Wednesday as counting of votes for Delhi's civic polls began.

The municipal elections in Delhi were "foundational elections" for the Swaraj India Party and leaders have "zero expectations" of winning any seat, party chief Yogendra Yadav said on Wednesday.

The BJP was leading in 110 wards, the AAP in 28 and the Congress in 23 wards.

The BJP was leading in all the three civic bodies, while Delhi's ruling AAP was at second spot, and the Congress was trailing at third spot, according to counting trends after an hour, Delhi State Election Commission officials said on Wednesday.

The minister added, "For 10 years, BJP has been ruling the MCD. The way they have won today, it's only due to the EVM wave."

AAP minister Gopal Rai has dismissed notions that the Modi wave that has been sweeping state after state (with a few exceptions) is responsible for the saffron party's performance in the civic election. "AAP winning or losing is a small thing. But if EVM decides democracy, then it is a dangerous trend... This is not the Modi wave, this is an EVM wave."

"AAP must show grace and accept defeat," he said, adding that there was "no indication that EVMs were tampered with in Delhi." Yadav continued, "AAP needs to introspect, it is not right to blame others."

"Even in the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, trends of the results and the media didn't predict the correct numbers. But, we proved everyone wrong. So, let us wait till the final result is out," said Sunil Kumar, an AAP volunteer outside the party office .

In spite of the early trends of the MCD election say, the volunteers of AAP remain optimistic that their party would do well in the MCD election.

Dejected Congress supporters outside ward 64E, Shriram Colony at Yamuna Vihar. All trends show that BJP is set to secure a landslide victory in the MCD election.

The minister added, "For 10 years, BJP has been ruling the MCD. The way they have won today, it's only due to the EVM wave."

AAP minister Gopal Rai has dismissed notions that the Modi wave that has been sweeping state after state (with a few exceptions) is responsible for the saffron party's performance in the civic election. "AAP winning or losing is a small thing. But if EVM decides democracy, then it is a dangerous trend... This is not the Modi wave, this is an EVM wave."

"AAP must show grace and accept defeat," he said, adding that there was "no indication that EVMs were tampered with in Delhi." Yadav continued, "AAP needs to introspect, it is not right to blame others."

However, a large section of voters in Delhi, including AAP insiders, feel that Delhi CM and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal's dictatorial and unilateral decisions and adverse comments against PM Narendra Modi have gone against the party. They believe that it is not the party's performance but rather Kejriwal who is behind the AAP's demise.

The people of Delhi seem generally happy with these deliverables as they have benefited Delhi voters a lot.

Though the AAP might have gained credence for delivering in Delhi, with two factors working strongly in its favour  free water subsidised electricity  the same is not showing in terms of its MCD performance.

Celebrations break out at various counting centres in the city. Trends show BJP will secure a landslide victory in the MCD polls, while AAP and Congress fight neck and neck for second place.

The day of the high stake municipal polls in Delhi is here and, on Sunday, people of the National Capital will elect its municipal councillors, in what has turned out to be a triangular contest, the political ramifications of which will go much beyond the city's borders.

The campaign in the lead up to the election saw three main players emerge  AAP, BJP and the Congress  and was marked by rancour as the verdict will reshape the political equations in the country's power capital.

It will determine whether the electoral sway of Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP  which had stunned all by bagging 67 seats in the 2015 Assembly polls out of 70  still holds and if the Rajouri Garden defeat in the recent bypoll was just because of the hostile constituency dynamics.

For the ruling BJP, holding on to power and fighting a decade-long anti-incumbency wave is a challenge and an opportunity to blunt Kejriwal's attempts to emerge as the principal adversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress, which has considerably increased its vote share in polls held after 2015, where it was reduced to zero seats, is hoping to gain its lost ground and make its presence felt, despite unabated infighting.

Addressing the booth-level workers, BJP chief Amit Shah had said a favourable verdict could be a stepping stone to victory in the next Assembly election in the city. The run-up to the polls have also been dominated by allegations of tampered EVMs, made by Kejriwal, a charge rejected by the Election Commission.

The Generation-1 electronic voting machines (EVMs) are to be used for the MCD elections, which the poll body has described as "fool proof". The State Election Commission is gearing up to carry out the electoral exercise, that will be spread over 13,000 booths spanning 272 wards.

Over 1.3 crore people are eligible to vote in the polls and of them, more than 1.1 lakh are first-time voters. Out of the 13,022 polling stations, police authorities have declared 3,284 as sensitive and 1,464 as hypersensitive.

For the first time in MCD elections, none of the above (NOTA) option will be available. The total number of registered electorate for the civic polls stands at 1,32,10,206 which include 73,15,915 men, 58,93,418 women and 793 voters in the other category.

This would be the first civic poll after the latest delimitation which has redrawn the civic wards. As per the new delimitation exercise, based on the 2011 Census, each ward now has an average of 60,000 people with an estimated 40,000 voters. Delhi has 70 Assembly seats and before the delimitation, every constituency had four wards, but, now it ranges from 3-7. The erstwhile unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was trifurcated in 2012 into North, South and East Municipal Corporations. While NDMC and SDMC have 104 wards each, EDMC has 64.

Earlier, during campaigning, the BJP fielded several senior leaders to seek votes in Delhi. Party president Amit Shah was scheduled to address an election rally in south-west Delhis Dwarka along with party leader and Bhojpuri film actor Ravi Kishan on Thursday, though it was cancelled as Shah was reportedly unwell. Senior party leader Smriti Irani was brought in his place to bolster the campaign. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also held election rallies in Kirari and Mustafabad.

Rajnath, speaking at the rallies, had said that the Modi government took tough decisions in the past year, including surgical strike and demonetisation and got massive support of people.

"People of Delhi have been deprived of inclusive development during the last two years because Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government did not take benefits of central schemes to the poor," he said.

Other Union ministers and senior party leaders including Venkaiah Naidu, Uma Bharti, Harsh Vardhan, Santosh Gangwar and Sanjiv Balyan, also addressed rallies in different parts of the city on Friday.

The Kejriwal-led party has been looking to wrestle more power in the capital by taking control of the civic bodies from BJP, which they say will allow them to 'better govern and develop the city'.

AAP recently released its manifesto at a press conference  with Kejriwal along with senior party leaders Manish Sisodia, Ashutosh, Ashish Talwar, Dilip Pandey, and Alka Lamba present. In an attempt to establish itself as a clear alternative to BJP, it focused primarily on the sanitation in the city  a rampant problem of the BJP regime. It said that the party aims to make Delhi a garbage-free city, with the promise to make the city free of vector-borne diseases in three years.

Kejriwal also posted a video and audio message, promising to clean up the national capital in one year if his AAP wins Sunday's municipal election.

On the other hand, Congress has focussed on youth, to help with both education and employment. The party has also promised to tackle poverty and infrastructure if it wins the popular mandate.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken and former Union ministers Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khurshid and Sashi Tharoor were among those who campaigned for the party.
New Delhi: Polling for choosing municipal councillors is underway across the national capital with Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia casting their votes. The Delhi Municipal polls appear to be a triangular high-octane contest between the BJP, the AAP and the Congress.

More than 1.3 crore people are eligible to vote in the civic elections, spread over 13,000 polling stations across the city.

Polling began at 8 am amid tight security arrangements across the city. People were seen standing in long queues in Delhi's Pandav Nagar area even as the pace of voting at some polling booths was slow.

Kejriwal, accompanied by his parents, wife and daughter, reached a polling booth in North Delhi's Civil Lines area to cast vote. Kejriwal's daughter, Harshita, voted for the first time. After casting his vote, he said the people of Delhi should come out of their houses and exercise their franchise for "dengue and chikungunya-free Delhi".

"I appeal to all the people to come out in large numbers and vote for chikungunya and dengue-free Delhi," Kejriwal told reporters.

Asked whether the MCD elections were a referendum on the AAP government's two-year performance in Delhi, he said, "We will see as the results will come out on Wednesday."

Baijal cast his vote at a polling station in Greater Kailash 3. Union minister Harsh Vardhan also voted in his Krishna Nagar constituency.

Sisodia, after exercising his franchise in East Delhi's Patparganj constituency, said that Delhi was voting gainst poor sanitation management.

Attacking the BJP which has ruled the municipal corporations for ten years, he said, "If people are fed up with filth, dumps of garbage, corruption, people should vote

against them."

Out of the 13,022 polling stations, the police have declared 3,284 as sensitive and 1,464 as hyper-sensitive.

There are over 1.1 lakh first-time voters. Also, for the first time in the MCD elections, None Of The Above (Nota) option has been made available.

There are a total of 1,32,10,206 voters entitled to exercise their franchise in electing councillors for the wards falling under the three civic bodies  North Delhi Municipal

Coporation (104), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (64).

Voting will be held until 5 pm. Counting of votes will be held on 26 April.

The Delhi State Election Commission has deployed ample staff to man its polling stations, some of which fall in outer Delhi areas. The verdict of the elections will have political ramifications beyond the capital's borders and reshape the political equations.

The BJP, which is seeking to retain the turf it has held for the last 10 years, has fielded all fresh faces from 267 wards. The party has projected for itself a tally of over 200

out of the 272 seats. The AAP and the Congress too have claimed that they will cross the 200-mark. The AAP has fielded candidates in all 272 wards while the Congress has 271 candidates in the fray.

Incidentally, in May last year, bypolls to 13 wards were held, in which the AAP had finished on top with five seats, followed by the Congress with 4, the BJP at 3. One seat had gone to an independent candidate.
New Delhi: Many Delhiites who braved a scorching sun to reach polling stations to cast their vote for the municipal elections on Sunday had to return home disappointed as their names were missing from the electoral rolls. Such complaints were received from different wards across the city.

Looking for a solution, many of them approached polling officials but in vain. A GTB Nagar resident and voter of N 14 ward, businessman Pawan Chaudhary, reached the polling booth armed with his voter ID card, but realised that his name was missing from the voters' list.

"My father votes in every election but this time his name and photo were missing. Another man's name and photo were in the voters' list against our residential address," said Chaudhary's daughter Juhi.

"We tried to contact the helpline number of the Election Commission but it turned out to be invalid," she said. Parveen Kumar, a resident of Burari, also could not vote owing to the same problem.

"I have been casting my vote for the last 20 years. I was surprised when I was told by officials at the polling booth that my name is not in the list," said Kumar.

Senior media professional Sanjay Kaw experienced a similar problem. "I had voted in the MCD bypoll last year but on Sunday when I reached the polling booth at Kondli, I found my name missing from the voters' list. I sought help from officials but they could not do anything," Kaw said.

An official of the State Election Commission said that the voters' list is upgraded regularly and voters are provided the opportunity to rectify any error in it, failing which problems are encountered in casting vote.
New Delhi: Voting for all the three municipal corporations started at a sluggish pace with only 1.16 percent of the total 1.33 crore voters casting their votes by 10 am across the city.

Polling for 270 wards of municipal corporations in East,North and South Delhi commenced at 8 am. Voting was the slowest in East Delhi as compared to North and South Delhi.

In North Delhi, 73,051 votes out of 49.55 lakh were polled with the voting percentage being 1.47. In South Delhi, out of 52,09,933, 57,330 votes were polled which was 1.1 percent of the total.

Voting was the slowest in East Delhi where out of a total of 31,60,325, only 24,759 votes were polled. The voting percentage was 0.78.

Voters were seen in queues at polling stations with Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal casting their votes.

Kejriwal, accompanied by his parents, wife and daughter, reached a polling booth in North Delhi's Civil Lines area to cast vote. Kejriwal's daughter, Harshita, voted for the first time.

Out of the 13,022 polling stations, the police have declared 3,284 as sensitive and 1,464 as hyper-sensitive.

There are over 1.1 lakh first-time voters. Also, for the first time in the MCD elections, None Of The Above (Nota) option has been made available.

There are a total of 1,32,10,206 voters entitled to exercise their franchise in electing councillors for the wards falling under the three civic bodies--North Delhi Municipal Corporation (104), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (64).
New Delhi: The Delhi State Election Commission on Sunday asked two major news channels to explain the reason for the telecast of the survey they made ahead of the MCD polls.

State Election Commissioner SK Srivastava also said that he has also asked the two channels ABP News and Times Now not to broadcast the survey news again.

"We took a suo moto action against them as one could see it being played on TV. We didn't have to wait for anyone to come with a complaint to us. We have demanded an explanation from the channels for the survey... it was a breach of the Model Code of Conduct," Srivastava told IANS.

The results of the survey were telecast on the eve of the capital's municipal elections on Sunday. The Congress also said it had complained to the SEC about the matter.
After a horrendous defeat in Uttar Pradesh at the hands of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), its opponents like Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) have been seen sending feelers to each other and forming a grand alliance to take on the BJP in 2019. The Hindi adage marta kya na karta aptly describes this situation.

Akhilesh had talked about a grand alliance on the lines of Bihar's mahagathbandhan, soon after the state's election results were out in November 2015 but Mayawati was not keen on it back then. She was under the impression that BSP is the only party which is a natural claimant of anti-incumbency votes. The first opinion poll which was aired in March 2016 showed BSP as the single largest party. This boosted her confidence further.

Now BSP is staring at extinction. BJP has made a severe dent into the partys Dalit vote bank as the saffron party is estimated to have received 32 percent Dalit support in state elections as per Todays Chanakya polls.

Besides, BSP doesn't have a single MP in Lok Sabha, and only 6 members in Rajya Sabha. Elections to 10 Rajya Sabha seats are due next year in April. Of the MPs completing their terms, two BSP members are also due for retirement including Mayawati. However, reelection of BSP candidates appears to be in a limbo as a candidate needs 38 votes to win a Rajya Sabha seat in 2018.



BSP has only 19 MLAs in the state Assembly, meaning even Mayawati may not be able to get elected to Rajya Sabha marking a heavy blow to her political career.

This is one of the main reasons she is talking about a grand alliance now. SP and Congress combine won 54 seats in 2017. They can get one of their members elected through 38 votes. Hence they have 16 surplus votes. Mayawati hopes to get these, which makes it 35 votes for her including her partys 19. With help of others (five), she may still manage the 38 votes required to retain her seat.

Now coming to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the simple logic behind the talks of grand alliance is that the combined vote share of SP, BSP, and INC ( at 50.2 percent) is higher than BJP plus allies (41.4 percent). However, we have oft heard that it's not all about arithmetic but more about the chemistry in any alliance, which in this case is clearly missing. Consider the trust deficit between the proposed allies. Mayawati has, at a time, accused the Yadav clan of trying to assassinate her in 2013 after she pulled the plug on SP-BSP coalition government.

Besides this, even after the proposed alliance, BJP would still be leading among upper caste and non Yadav OBC vote bank, which accounts for half of the population.

Another logic given for alliance is that if it could work in Bihar then why not in Uttar Pradesh. But what people forget is that each election is different from the other. Same formula for all elections doesn't work in politics. Elections are also situational, depending upon the environment prevailing at that time.

The mini-gathbandhan of SP and Congress has already failed in UP. They didn't even manage to retain their 2014 Lok Sabha vote share, which has dipped to 28 percent in state elections as compared to 30 percent in Lok Sabha. Arithmetic was fine but the chemistry was low! Leaders from both sides who lost their tickets did not support their party wholeheartedly. Some even contested as independents. The alliance also did not have Mulayam and Shivpal Yadav's blessings.

If such an alliance is indeed stitched, its sole objective will be to defeat BJP. Hence its foundation will be on a negative vote rather than positive. They have nothing new to offer. People have seen their performance from 2002-2017.

In Bihar, Nitish Kumar was the incumbent chief minister and was asking for a vote for retention. People loved Nitish's work. He had a good track record of 15 years and the people of Bihar felt he won't allow Lalu Prasad Yadav to do any wrong. Thats why he got overwhelming support.

Another big factor in any alliance is seamless transferability of votes between allies. Lalu and Nitish both were architects of OBC votes and enjoyed similar vote banks. Muslims too used to support Nitish despite the alliance with the BJP due to his image. This ensured high transferability between the allying parties.

However, despite all working well for the alliance, it lost 5 percent of its central election vote share in state polls. JDU, Congress and RJD combined had received 45.1 percent vote share in 2014 Lok Sabha polls which got reduced to 42.9 percent in 2015 state Assembly polls. So leakages are bound to happen.

In Uttar Pradesh the parties which are proposing alliance have antagonistic vote banks. Dalits hold Yadavs responsible for their plight in the state. It is alleged that atrocities committed by the community were not even reported during Mulayam's and later Akhilesh's tenure.

Moreover, upper caste Congress voters will not vote for SP (as already evident from 2017 state elections). Upper caste holds Yadavs responsible for the decline of their might and political power that they enjoyed in the state's politics. In addition, there will be normal leakage in the range of 5 to 10 percent

Caste / Religion SP BSP INC SP+BSP+INC Upper Caste     OBC     Yadavs     Dalits     Muslims    

64 percent voters opted for SP, BSP, Congress combined in 2017. 30 percent upper caste voted for this combine. Assuming 25 percent of these votes do not get transferred, the combine could lose five percent vote share only due to transferability issue another 2.5 to 5 percent due to normal leakage. This will put the proposed alliance vote bank at around 40 percent, which is at a similar levels of BJP and its allies.

Whether the BJP will retain its 2014 tally in 2019 will depend upon Yogi governments performance in the state and not because Mayawati and Akhilesh (two foes turned friends) decide to form an opportunistic alliance. If BJP government fulfills few of its promises, shows an improvement in law and order, it may well repeat its performance. Farm loan waiver will definitely help the party retain its farmer support in 2019.

Meanwhile, the proposed gathbandhan will also need to take into account any counter polarization threat. This was already evident in 2017 and may continue to hold with an even greater force in 2019. Congress in its performance review for UP polls has admitted that it lost votes because the alliance with SP positioned it as a Muslim party.

Moreover, ideologically the Congress is poles apart from SP and BSP. SP/BSP was formed to fight against the Brahminical policies of Congress and for the upliftment of poor, downtrodden and backward classes. This uneasy alliance may not go well with the people.

The nitty-gritties of the alliance, who will lead, how many seats will each party contest and so on, will make matters more difficult. The distrust which has evolved between Mayawati and Yadav family in the last 2.5 decades will be difficult to get rid of. Besides, SP could split if it goes with the alliance; Shivpal may leave and form a new party. BSP leaders who see no future in the party will also get an excuse to jump ship.

The mahagathbandhan is on the lines of a similar set up being explored at the national level to take on BJP. However, at this juncture, it looks more of a ploy by BSP to ensure Mayawati gets re-elected to Rajya Sabha. If SP and Congress get her re-elected then she could agree to be part of an anti-BJP block to ensure survival. Its success though is highly doubtful due to lack of chemistry, antagonistic vote banks, and ideological differences.
By Josh Smith and Hamid Shalizi

| KABUL

KABUL Eight days after the U.S. military dropped its largest ever conventional bomb on suspected Islamic State fighters in eastern Afghanistan, Taliban militants breached an army base in the north of the country and killed scores of local soldiers.To Afghan and other critics of President Donald Trump's apparent indecision over how to win a seemingly intractable war, Friday's assault - the worse of its kind since the Taliban were ousted in 2001 - was evidence he was getting it wrong."The biggest threat to the security and stability of this country is the Taliban insurgents, not Daesh forces," said Mirwais Yasini, an influential Afghan member of parliament from Nangarhar province, using an Arabic term for Islamic State."You drop your biggest bomb on Daesh, but what about the Taliban who kill dozens of our people every day?"The American military command in Kabul did not respond to a request for comment, but in the wake of the base attack the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, promised to "continue to stand" with Afghan security forces.Nearly 9,000 U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan, some 7,000 of them to train and assist local forces that Washington has spent billions of dollars to build virtually from scratch in the hope of one day handing over control completely.While the advisers are seldom involved in direct combat with the Taliban or other militants, a smaller counter-terrorism unit of about 1,500 soldiers does engage insurgents, but its main targets are pockets of al Qaeda and Islamic State fighters.They are estimated to number in their hundreds, while the Taliban number thousands or tens of thousands and have gained swathes of territory in the last few years.Islamic State has claimed several deadly bombings in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan, but many experts believe the Taliban are the fundamental threat to the U.S.-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani.Leaders in Washington and Kabul often had "almost diametrically" opposed views of the threat, said Christopher Kolenda, a former U.S. Army officer who served in Afghanistan and worked on American strategies for the conflict.

U.S. officials tended to focus on international groups like Islamic State and al Qaeda, while Afghan officials see Pakistan, and the Taliban as an extension of that, as the major threat, he added."With those differences, you can't possibly have a coherent strategy."In the final years of former U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, American troops in Afghanistan were discouraged from directly targeting the Taliban, amid hopes the group could be brought to the negotiating table for peace talks."The Obama administration was very much existing in a parallel universe where if you don't call the Taliban terrorists then there's a chance you can reconcile with them," said Ioannis Koskinas, senior fellow with think-tank New America.UNCERTAIN STRATEGY

Despite a surge of tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers that ended in 2012, some Afghan officials became impatient with what they saw as an American fixation on withdrawal, and since then, a lack of focus on ending the war.

They say the lack of attention has continued in the first months of the new Trump administration, which has yet to appoint an ambassador to Kabul and some of the supporting officials at the State Department."It's very hard to have a coordinated policy and strategy when you don't have positions filled," Kolenda said. "From the Trump administration standpoint, Afghanistan is pretty far down the list of priorities."In Kabul, some Afghan leaders are angry at what they see as a failure by the Americans to act as strongly as possible against the Taliban, as well as Pakistan, which they accuse of harbouring and supporting insurgents as a hedge against Indian influence in the region.Pakistan denies this and instead says it is itself a victim of terrorism, including from groups operating from within Afghanistan."The Taliban are the single biggest challenge in the country, but unfortunately since the regime's collapse, the United States and the Afghan government have not had a clear strategy to eliminate them or push them to negotiation," said Mohammad Farhad Sediqi, a member of parliament from Kabul.

"As you dropped the 'Mother of All Bombs' on Daesh, there should be one dropped on the Taliban sanctuaries and training grounds on the other side of the border in Pakistan."Some statements by incoming U.S. officials have hinted they may take a harder line on Pakistan, but the Trump administration has yet to outline clearly new strategies for the region.LOST TERRITORY

Analysts say the recent U.S.-endorsed strategy of focusing on protecting major cities and other population centres in Afghanistan while consolidating forces will not be enough to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.With Afghan army units pulling back, and in some cases forced to abandon more scattered and rural bases, the government could only claim to control or influence 57 percent of the country, according to U.S. military estimates late last year.Resurgent Taliban forces, meanwhile, control or contest 43 percent of the country, a 15 percent increase over the year before."In what universe does that not matter?" Koskinas said. "Territory means resources for them. You're giving away all the smuggling routes and opium and all the things that are enriching the Taliban and fueling the insurgency."Retaking territory lost to the Taliban will be key to turning the tide, Koskinas said."At this point we almost don't need to talk about safe havens in Pakistan, because they have safe havens in Afghanistan." (Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Mike Collett-White)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Kabul: The Afghan government declared Sunday as a national mourning day to pay tributes to scores of army personnel who died in a Taliban attack at a military base in Balkh province.

At least 10 Taliban militants disguised as army personnel on Friday sneaked in at 209 Shaheen Base Headquarters in Mazar-e-Sharif city, opening fire on unarmed and unsuspecting soldiers as they prayed at a mosque in the base.

"In order to pay tributes to the honourable and brave Afghan soldiers who martyred during Friday prayers in Shaheen 209 Corps mosque, the President declared Sunday as a National Mourning Day," a presidential palace statement said on Saturday.

The toll in the Taliban stealth attack continued to rise as of Sunday morning while there was no official statement on it.

Local media cited officials as saying that the deaths have surpassed 150 and over 80 have been injured.

The toll was likely to rise as many of injured were in a critical condition, officials said.

Several bodies were on Sunday morning handed over to their families or shifted to their houses.

"Special prayers will be held in the Presidential Palace mosque and at mosques across the country and the national flag will be at half-mast at home and Afghan diplomatic missions abroad," the statement said.

The heavily armed militants in two military vehicles stormed the base after passing several security gates under the guise of carrying wounded persons to the base hospital.

President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday inspected the site and chaired an emergency security meeting at the base, ordering a serious investigation into the deadly attack. He later visited the injured at the Corps hospital.

"This terrorist attack is fully contradictory to all human values and Islamic teachings," the statement said.

The Taliban insurgency has been on the rampage since the beginning of 2015, as the Afghan forces assumed full responsibility for Afghanistan's security from the US and NATO troops.
Sydney: Australia and New Zealand stiffened their rhetoric against North Korea on Sunday after the isolated state threatened Canberra with a nuclear strike, urging it to think twice before "blindly and zealously toeing the US line".

The move comes as US Vice-President Mike Pence wraps up an Asia tour, which has included visits to South Korea, Japan and Australia partly to reassure allies amid fears that Pyongyang may be readying for a sixth nuclear test.

"If Australia persists in following the US' moves to isolate and stifle North Korea... this will be a suicidal act," a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called the hermit state a "serious threat".

The spokesman, speaking to the North's official KCNA news agency, warned Bishop to "think twice about the consequences".

Australia's close ally New Zealand has since accused North Korea of having "evil intent".

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee told Television New Zealand on Sunday that people knew little about Kim Jong-un's regime but "you would assume that underneath him there is a very big machinery of people who have equally evil intent".

"It's North Korea that is sending the missiles into the Sea of Japan and making the various outrageous threats including the threats overnight to Australia," he added.

Australia's Bishop added on Sunday that the North Korean government "should invest in the welfare of its long-suffering citizens, rather than weapons of mass destruction".

The reclusive state has long been seeking 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.

Pence vowed Wednesday that the US would counter any attack with an "overwhelming and effective" response after a senior North Korean official pledged weekly missile tests and "all-out war" if the US took any action against it.

In Sydney, Pence maintained calls for Pyongyang's sole ally China to do more to rein in its neighbour.

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also urged China to use its leverage over the hermit state, describing the North Korean regime as "reckless and dangerous".

He added that Australia and the US were "absolutely united" in their determination to achieve a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.

Supercarrier Carl Vinson is due to start joint exercises with Japan's navy on Sunday, Tokyo's defence ministry said, with the drills expected to last several days and involve two Japanese warships.
New Delhi/Dakar: The abduction of 276 Chibok girls by Boko Haram in Nigeria three years ago marked a defining feature in the conflict in the Lake Chad region which

has since witnessed an increasing use of children in so-called 'suicide' attacks, says a UNICEF report. Since January 2014, 117 children  more than 80 percent of them, girls  have been used in suicide attacks in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon (the four together forming the Lake Chad basin/region), said the report 'Silent Shame: Bringing out the voices of children caught in the Lake Chad crisis', released on the third anniversary of the abduction of girls.

"A defining feature of this conflict has been the increasing use of children in so-called 'suicide' attacks," the report said. The increase reflects an alarming tactic by Boko Haram. So far, four children in 2014, 56 in 2015, 30 in 2016 and 27 only in the first three months of 2017 have been used to carry out bomb attacks in public places across Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon, the report said, adding that girls have been used in the vast majority of these attacks.

The Islamic State-linked militant group Boko Haram had kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Nigeria's northeastern town of Chibok in April, 2014. While some girls managed to escape, 21 were released last year after negotiations with the militant group. However, as many as 195 girls still remain missing even

as the Nigerian Defence Minister General Manir Dan Ali was recently quoted as saying that it may take "years" to find all the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by the militant group.

Talking about the situation, UNICEF regional officer Patrick Rose said the children in the lake Chad basin face a range of challenges. "More than 1.3 million have been displaced, many have lost loved ones and witnessed extreme violence. They're struggling to get back to school, back to normal life. Several thousand children have been abducted by Boko Haram and need additional support to help the return to their families and find a sense of hope," Rose said.

On the relief works going on in the affected countries both at the government and at the non-governmental level, he said the humanitarian response is reaching millions of people with health care, water, food and education. He, however, said that despite a collection of global experts, security concerns make progress slower than what's

needed.

"The increased use of children in attacks adds a horrific layer to the problem that's inhibiting the humanitarian response," he added. When asked about the efforts to rescue the Chibok girls, Rose highlighted the challenges faced by the security forces that have thus far rendered their attempts unsuccessful in Borno state in northeast of Nigeria, a hub of the insurgents.

"Borno state is roughly the size of Belgium. Boko Haram, while weakened, still controls large parts of the areas outside urban centres. Finding a group of children who are likely moving constantly in a heavily defended forest is a significant challenge that the security forces are dealing with. Our focus remains the needs of the thousands of children in equally desperate need of support," he said.

Rose is the Crisis Communications Specialist for West and Central Africa, UNICEF and based out of Dakar in Senegal. He said that in Lake Chad region, at present, the UNICEF is coordinating a multi-sectoral response helping children access health care, clean water, malnutrition treatment and education. "Our work with the children who've been abducted is leading a series of community discussions about reintegration of the children and starting the healing process," he added.

However, UNICEF, which works across 190 countries and territories on issues of child rights, notes that the response to this crisis remains severely underfunded. Last year, UNICEF's USD 154 million appeal for the Lake Chad Basin was only 40 percent funded, it said. With the conflict now in its eighth year, families have gone through years of violence, loss and hardship in camps or host communities, and they have watched their children languish out of school and suffer from illness and malnutrition, the UNICEF report said.

"This crisis is marked by massive violations of children's rights  evident in the use of children on both sides of the insurgency. Boko Haram, in particular, has been

leading a systematic campaign of abduction that has forced thousands of girls and boys into their ranks. Local militias, formed to protect their communities, have played a key role in stemming the tide of Boko Haram violence, but they too have used children in their operations," it said.
French voters flocked to the polls under heavy security Sunday in the first round of a highly unpredictable presidential election seen as vital for the future of the ailing European Union. Turnout in the French presidential election was on track to be around 80 percent, polling groups estimated on Sunday, which would put it in line with 2012 and confound fears of high abstention levels.

In the late afternoon (1500 GMT), turnout was 69.42 percent, according to official data, one of its highest levels in 40 years.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron are the favourites to progress to a run-off on May 7 but the race is too close to call in a deeply divided country.

Le Pen, the 48-year-old leader of the anti-immigration National Front (FN), hopes to capitalise on security fears that were catapulted to the fore of the campaign after the fatal shooting on Thursday of a policeman on Paris's Champs Elysees avenue claimed by the Islamic State group.

Aiming to ride a wave of populism that carried Donald Trump to the White House and led Britain to vote for Brexit, Le Pen wants France to abandon the euro and also intends to call a referendum on withdrawing from the EU.

Observers predict a Le Pen victory could be a fatal blow for the EU, already weakened by Britain's "Brexit" vote to leave.

Macron, 39, is seeking to become France's youngest ever president and has campaigned on a strongly pro-EU and pro-business platform.

Riding the crest of a worldwide shift away from established political parties, the former banker and economy minister formed his own movement, "En Marche" (On the Move), that he says is "neither to the left nor to the right."

But polls show scandal-tainted conservative candidate Francois Fillon, a former prime minister, and hard-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon are also in with a fighting chance of finishing first or second in order to reach the all-important second round.

Le Pen cast her ballot in Henin-Beaumont, a former coal-mining town in northern France that has an FN mayor.

Macron voted in the chic northern seaside resort of Le Touquet with wife Brigitte, his former high school teacher who is 25 years his senior. Fillon and Melenchon both voted in Paris.

At midday, turnout on a bright spring day was up slightly compared with the same time in 2012 -- when a total 79.48 percent of the electorate cast ballots -- seemingly defying forecasts of a record low participation rate.

Nearly 47 million people are eligible to vote in the eurozone's second biggest economy.

Most polling stations will close at 1700 GMT, with those in major cities shutting an hour later. First projected results are expected shortly afterwards.

In the wake of the policeman's killing on Thursday, 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers have been deployed around France to protect voters.

The terror attack was the latest in a bloody series that have cost more than 230 lives since 2015.

Guy Belkechout, a 79-year-old pensioner who was voting in the working-class Parisian suburb of Trappes, said he was concerned.

"Security issues influenced me after the attacks. Candidates who want fewer security measures, who want to reduce the police's powers, have not got my vote," he told AFP.

Analysts were divided over whether Thursday's attack would sway voters in a country that has begun to take the jihadist threat in its stride.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Le Pen called for France to "immediately" take back control of its borders from the EU and deport all foreigners on a terror watchlist.

"If it were to benefit someone, that would clearly be Marine Le Pen who has dominated this issue throughout the campaign, or Francois Fillon," said Adelaide Zulfikarpasic of the BVA polling institute.

Hajaf Erhamani, a 39-year-old teaching assistant from the well-heeled Paris suburb of Sevres, said she was more worried about the economy and the slew of ethics scandals that marred the campaign.

"You can't trust politicians these days. On the left and the right, they're stealing from us," she complained.

Several voters told AFP they had voted tactically in a bid to keep the far right out of power.

Closely watched around the world, the French campaign has been full of twists and turns.

A race that began with the surprise nomination of Fillon as right-wing candidate in November shifted into higher gear in December when unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande decided not to seek re-election.

Hollande's five years in office have been dogged by a sluggish economy and the constant terror threat.

After voting in Tulle, central France, Hollande said "democracy is stronger than all else", in a reference to the Champs Elysees attack.

Fillon was the early frontrunner until his support waned after he was charged following accusations he gave his British-born wife a fictitious job as his parliamentary assistant for which she was paid nearly 700,000 euros ($750,000) of public money.

Though there are four main contenders in the election, a total of 11 candidates are taking part.

The candidate for the governing Socialists, Benoit Hamon, was a distant fifth going into the final weekend.
By Michelle Martin

| COLOGNE, Germany

COLOGNE, Germany The co-leader of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) suffered an embarrassing defeat on Saturday when delegates refused to discuss her motion to shift the party into the "mainstream", putting it on course to turn further right.The party, a pariah in German politics, has seen its support drop in recent months, and thousands turned up to protest the congress and the party's anti-immigrant stance. Frauke Petry, the AfD's public face, shocked supporters on Wednesday by announcing that she would not lead the AfD's campaign for a Sept. 24 federal election. She had ruffled feathers by proposing to rebrand the AfD as a party that would seek to join coalitions from 2021 elections rather than becoming a "fundamental" opposition party. All established parties refuse to work with the AfD.Petry said she was prepared to edit the text with her arch-rival Alexander Gauland, whom she upset by naming as the key proponent of the "fundamental" opposition camp. Her foes within the party say the division laid out in her motion is artificial.But delegates stressed the need to use the congress in Cologne to signal the AfD was united ahead of the elections after months of bitter infighting that have helped drag down its poll ratings by about one-third to 8-10 percent.

They voted against discussing Petry's motion or another proposal in which she and others said the AfD should reject "racist, anti-Semitic ... and nationalist ideologies".Speaking after the vote, Petry said the AfD had made a "mistake" and added that those acquainted with the party since it was founded in 2013 knew that it was "exactly this lack of strategy" that was behind much of its internal strife. "As long as the party does not indicate which direction it actually wants to go in, protagonists who can live with this non-decision a lot better than I can have to lead this election campaign," Petry said, adding that she would however do her bit to make the AfD successful.

Co-leader Joerg Meuthen gained wild applause - and a standing ovation from some - for saying the AfD would never form an alliance with the likes of Chancellor Angela Merkel, Social Democrat leader Martin Schulz or the Greens, who he said were wrecking Germany with their pro-migrant stances. Around 10-15,000 protesters demonstrated against the AfD's meeting in Cologne, a police spokesman told broadcaster n-tv - well below initial expectations that 50,000 could turn up. Two police officers were injured and a police car was set ablaze.Delegates also voted on Saturday in favour of having a team of national candidates for the election campaign despite Petry warning against such a strategy. The line-up is due to be decided on during the congress.

In a firebrand speech, economics professor Meuthen said Germans were increasingly "few and far between" and that without action now, "the irrevocable change of our homeland into a Muslim-dominated country is a mathematical certainty".Many of the more than one million migrants who have arrived in Germany in the last two years are Muslims.Meuthen said he was not xenophobic but was concerned about the extent to which migrants were changing Germany and that Germans did not want to become a minority in their own country.He likened the country to the Titanic."Everybody is still in good spirits and there's a relaxed party mood above and below deck but it's almost impossible for the huge ship to make the necessary change in direction anymore," Meuthen said. "People can't or don't want to imagine a collision with an iceberg but it's already unavoidable." (Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal in Berlin; Editing by Catherine Evans)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Maher Chmaytelli

| MOSUL, Iraq

MOSUL, Iraq Pushing carts loaded with bags, babies and the elderly, hundreds of people fled Mosul on Saturday after Iraqi forces retook two more districts in the west of the city from Islamic State.After walking for miles, families were taken by bus from a government checkpoint in the south of the city to camps housing more than 410,000 people displaced since the offensive to retake Mosul began in October."We left with no water, food or electricity," said 63-year-old Abu Qahtan, the elder of a group of 41 people from five families. "We left with the clothes on our backs."Iraqi forces have taken much of Mosul from the militants who overran the city in June 2014. The military now controls the eastern districts and are making advances in the west. Islamic State fighters, holding out in the Old City, are surrounded in the northwest and are using booby traps, sniper and mortar fire to defend themselves.

On Saturday, artillery and gun fire could be heard as families arrived from Hay al-Tanak district which they said was still half controlled by the militants.Troops, backed by helicopters, were moving towards the al-Nuri mosque where, nearly three years ago, Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi announced his self-declared caliphate spanning parts of Iraq and Syria.A Reuters reporter, standing within sight of the mosque, saw heavy smoke in that area after an air strike.

The U.S.-trained Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) has retaken the nearby al-Thaura and al-Saha districts, statements said.CTS commander Major General Maan Saadi said his troops were linking up with Iraq's Federal Police moving in on the Old City from a different position.

"We are completing the encirclement of the terrorists in the Old City," he told Reuters.Hundreds of thousands of civilians are still trapped in western Mosul, where Iraqi forces are making slow progress against Islamic State in what is a labyrinth of narrow streets.As of April 20, some 503,000 people have been displaced from Mosul, of which 91,000 have returned, a spokeswoman for the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said, citing government figures. Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, is the militants' last urban stronghold in the country. (Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Louise Ireland)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Alexander Cornwell

| DUBAI

DUBAI New Zealand is considering additional security checks on flights from Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East, its transport minister said on Sunday.The new rules would follow similar measures introduced last month by the United States, Britain and Australia.New Zealand's civil aviation authority "is assessing the evidence to determine what is appropriate," Transport Minister Simon Bridges told Reuters in an interview in Dubai.Additional security measures would affect passengers flying from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Doha, Qatar, where carriers Emirates and Qatar Airways, respectively, fly direct to New Zealand.Bridges said a decision to add new checks would be made independent of the government by the aviation authority .He declined to say when a decision could be made. He did not say what measures were being considered.On March 25, the United States banned electronic devices larger than a mobile phone from passenger cabins of direct flights from eight countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, including the Qatar and the UAE.

Britain followed the same day with similar measures, including banning larger electronics on flights from some Middle East countries but not Qatar and the UAE where it instead requested additional security checks. Australia's additional checks on passengers and baggage apply to Qatar and the UAE as they are the only Middle East countries with which it has direct air links.The additional security measures were made based on intelligence suggesting flights could be targeted for attack."What we have seen from them is a less than uniform way of doing things," Bridges said of the different measures introduced by the United States, Britain and Australia, all close allies of New Zealand.

Last week, Emirates said it was cutting flights to the United States after new restrictions weakened demand.Bridges said he is scheduled to meet with Emirates Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum this week where he would make clear that New Zealand is open to additional services.Emirates flies to New Zealand cities Auckland and Christchurch, mostly via Australia, although it operates a direct daily flight to Auckland. Qatar Airways only flies direct to Auckland.Bridges, who is also minister for economic development, is in the UAE to formally announce New Zealand's participation in the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.

New Zealand has committed NZ$53.3 million ($37.5 million) to build its country's pavilion to host its companies at the trade fair, Wellington announced on Sunday.Bridges visit is one of several senior ministerial trips to the region so far this year as New Zealand pushes to conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) with the six member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)."We are hopeful over the next year or so we will get somewhere with that," he said.The UAE has said finalising the trade deal with New Zealand is a priority.Along with the UAE and Qatar, the GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.($1 = 1.4223 New Zealand dollars) (Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Male: A liberal blogger was stabbed to death in the Maldives' capital on Sunday, his family and colleagues said, the latest media personality to be targeted in the troubled honeymoon destination.

Yameen Rasheed, 29, was found in the stairwell of his Male apartment with multiple stab wounds to his neck and chest. He died after being taken to hospital.

His blog, The Daily Panic, was known for poking fun at the nation's politicians.

"With The Daily Panic, I hope to cover and comment upon the news, satirise the frequently unsatirisable politics of Maldives," he wrote on his blog.

Colleagues said Rasheed had recently complained to police about death threats received through his social media accounts.

He is the third media figure to be targeted in the Maldives in the past five years. Blogger Ismail Rasheed narrowly escaped death when he was stabbed by an unidentified attacker in 2012.

A journalist with the independent Minivan News, Ahmed Rilwan, was likely abducted in August 2014 and has been missing ever since.

Colleagues said Yameen Rasheed was Rilwan's friend and had been publicly campaigning for an investigation into the disappearance.

Past and current presidents condemned the killing.

"We will not stand idly by while such acts of hatred are forced upon our citizens," President Abdulla Yameen said, appealing for people to come forward with information.

Exiled opposition leader and ex-president Mohamed Nasheed demanded an international investigation.

Nasheed, who is living in London, said on Twitter that "a treasured soul has been stolen from us".

The killing comes as political tension mounts in the Maldives after last month's failed opposition bid to impeach the parliamentary speaker.

A coalition of opposition parties, led by Nasheed, is trying to undermine Yameen before elections next year.

It faces an uphill struggle, with all opposition leaders now in exile or in jail after a years-long crackdown on dissent under Yameen's leadership.

The clampdown has raised fears over the country's stability and dented its image as a tourist paradise.
By Shihar Aneez

A prominent Maldivian blogger, who was critical of Islamist extremism and government corruption, was stabbed to death on Sunday, police said, and the main opposition party demanded an international probe into the killing. Social media activist Yameen Rasheed was stabbed 14 times in the chest and once each in the neck and face, local media reported. "He was stabbed to death early in the morning and we are investigating the matter," police spokesman Ahmed Shifan said.

The government in a statement condemned the killing and said President Abdulla Yameen had instructed state agencies to bring the perpetrators of "this heinous act to justice".Significant numbers of radicalised Maldives youths have enlisted to fight for Islamic State in the Middle East. Three Western diplomats told Reuters that moderate Islamists have been threatened via social media for their "anti-Islamic" views.

Rasheed had received death threats, mainly after he posted criticism of radical Islam, his close friends told Reuters. The 29-year-old blogger worked as a computer programmer and software developer at the Maldives Stock Exchange and identified himself as "disobedient writer" in social media. He ran a website called The Daily Panic.

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), in a statement, called for an international investigation into Rasheed's death as the incident followed a "spate of similar stabbings of prominent politicians and political commentators"."The MDP strongly believes that the Maldivian police service does not possess the capacity, credibility or political impartiality to conduct such a high-profile investigation on its own." (Reporting by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Dale Hudson)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Pyongyang: North Korea recently detained a US citizen, officials said Sunday, in the latest case of an American being held in the country.

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of a Korean-American citizen being detained recently, but could not comment further. The embassy looks after consular affairs for the US in North Korea because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, citing unnamed sources, reported that a Korean-American man was arrested Friday at Pyongyang's international airport while trying to leave North Korea.

It said the man, in his late 50s and identified by his surname, Kim, has been involved in aid and relief programs to North Korea and was a former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China.

South Korea's Unification Ministry and its intelligence agency both said they were unable to confirm the report. At least two other Americans are currently detained in North Korea. Last year, Otto Warmbier, then a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.

Kim Dong Chul, who was born in South Korea but is also believed to have US citizenship, is serving a sentence of 10 years for espionage.

At least one other foreigner, a Canadian pastor, is also being detained in North Korea. Hyeon Soo Lim, a South Korean-born Canadian citizen in his 60s, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2015 on charges of trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system and helping US and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens.
COPENHAGEN Russia has hacked the Danish defence and gained access to employees' emails in 2015 and 2016, NATO member Denmark's defence minister told newspaper Berlingske on Sunday.The report comes at a time when several Western governments, including the United States, France and Britain, have accused Russia of resorting to hacking to influence elections -- allegations Moscow has repeatedly dismissed as baseless.A report from the Danish Defence Intelligence Service's unit for cyber security said "a foreign player" had spied against Danish authorities and gained access to non-classified documents.

It did not name the country behind the espionage, but Foreign Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen told Berlingske it was Russia."It is linked to the intelligence services or central elements in the Russian government, and it is a constant battle to keep them away," Frederiksen told the newspaper.

A spokeswoman from the Danish Defence Ministry confirmed that the minister had been quoted correctly but said he would give no further comments for the time being.Spokespeople at the Kremlin were not available to comment on Sunday.

Frederiksen told Berlingske the hacking had been possible due to insufficient security around emails with non-classified material, something that has since been improved.The group behind the attack went under the name APT28 or Fancy Bear and was one of two groups which allegedly gained illegal access to U.S. democrats' emails last year, according to Berlingske.Frederiksen said in January that Denmark plans to increase military spending in response to Russian missile deployments in the Baltic region that it perceives as a threat. (Reporting by Teis Jensen, additional reporting by Maria Kiselyova; editing by Clelia Oziel)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Colombo: Workers's of Sri Lanka's state-run petroleum firm are set to launch an indefinite strike from Monday against the government's proposed deal with India to jointly operate an oil storage facility at the strategic eastern port town of Trincomalee.

(CPC) Trade Union Collective workers have threatened to cripple entire transportation sector in the country.

Sri Lanka and India are expected to sign an agreement to jointly invest and develop the Trincomalee Port and establish a petroleum refinery and other industries there.

The workers have three demands which include getting the government to stop granting outright ownership of some 14 World War II oil storage tanks in the eastern port district of Trincomalee.

The Petroleum Joint Union Alliance says it opposes the proposal to transfer operations rights to oil tanks to India since the agreement would benefit the Lanka IOC, Indian Oil's subsidiary, allowing it to expand further and the CPC, which is already in debt, will incur further financial losses.

They also asked the government to shelve plans to build a new oil refinery with Chinese assistance in the southern port of Hambantota and to immediately begin repairing the existing refinery near Colombo.

"We will be striking from tomorrow and stop all fuel distribution in the country," Bandula Saman Kumara a spokesman for the trade unions told reporters today. He said by mid-week the Colombo international airport would face the danger of becoming non-operational due to fuel

sector strike.

At least 73 of the 99 storage tanks in Trincomalee is to be managed under a new equity arrangement between the two countries, Lankan Petroleum Minister Chandima Weerakkody had said earlier.

The union has taken the decision to strike after President Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly turned down a request for a meeting to discuss the issue.

Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who will visit India on April 25, had said on Saturday the development of eastern port district of Trincomalee will be discussed during his visit.
London: The far-right, anti-immigration UK Independence Party is set to announce a ban on burqas in public places in its manifesto pledge for the 8 June general election.

As part of a so-called "integration agenda" to be unveiled on Monday, party leader Paul Nuttall will also vow to outlaw Sharia law to prevent any Sharia courts operating in Britain.

The party wants to put Britain in line with France, Belgium and Bulgaria where the burqa  which covers the entire body including the face  is outlawed, according to The Sun newspaper.

Nuttall believes garments such as the burqa are a barrier to social harmony and a security risk. Under their plans, people with evidence of female genital mutilation will be bound by law to inform police. UKIP will also call for postal voting to be abolished for most citizens amid fears it is being used for electoral fraud.

The sweeping measures have been drawn up by the partys deputy leader and culture spokesperson Peter Whittle. Whittle said: "We are the party that speaks up about the threat we face from Islamism from without and within, at a time when the established parties are mute either from fear, denial or sheer cowardice".

The new pledges come as the party faces an existential crisis of explaining to voters why it remains relevant after Britain voted to leave the EU last year  the very purpose it was created for.

The party's support has dropped from close to 13 per cent in the 2015 general election to around 7 percent, according to recent polls.

It has also been dogged by a string of public showdowns between prominent figures and high profile resignations, including its only MP in the House of Commons Douglas Carswell.
Washington: A top US official said he believes that president Donald Trump "will be insistent" that lawmakers include funds for the Mexico border wall in a spending bill that his administration needs to pass to avoid a government shutdown, the media reported.

In a CNN interview, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly on Saturday said he was confident that Trump will "do the right thing".

"I think it goes without saying that the president has been pretty straightforward about his desire and the need for a border wall...So I would suspect he'll do the right thing for sure."

Kelly said he thought Trump "will be insistent on the funding" for the wall, a lingering question ahead of the spending battle lawmakers face as they work this week to avoid the shutdown on 28 April.

But a senior administration official told CNN on Saturday that the White House would not let the government shut down over the issue.

"The White House is not going to allow the government to shut down," the official said, adding "We've been clear about what our priorities are. Leadership in both chambers understands that."

Kelly also commented on the timing of the wall's construction."

"We hope to begin construction by the end of the summer," the official added.

During a tour of the border, Kelly and Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Thursday met with law enforcement personnel from several federal agencies in El Paso, Texas.

Kelly said he spoke with local and state lawmakers willing to share their views on the best way to build the wall.

Putting up a wall along the US-Mexico border was one of Trump's key campaign promises, and he issued an executive order in January directing that construction begin, reports CNN.

The Trump administration has already asked Congress for money to start building the wall, but Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and other top Democrats oppose the wall and say adding any money to the spending bill for it is a "non-starter".
Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping has underlined the need for building a combat-ready army and accelerate the building of the theatre joint combat command system, amidst the PLA flexing its muscles in the disputed South China Sea.

Xi, the ruling Communist party's General Secretary and the Central Military Commission's Chairman, made the comments while inspecting the Southern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Friday and stressed building a strong army which should also avoid being corrupt.

Xi, 63, viewed as the most powerful leader heading the party, military and the government will complete his first five year term this year and expected to be re-elected for another five-year term during the 19th Party Congress to be held later this year.

He vowed to fight corruption and enhance the "sense of gain" among officers and soldiers of the 2.3 million-strong Peoples Liberation Army, the worlds largest.

Xi asked military personnel to strengthen their awareness in preparing for war, closely follow changes of situations and make unremitting efforts to enhance combat capabilities.

Xi required an accelerated building of the theatre joint combat command system, vigorous development of a new-type fighting force and simultaneous improvement of national defence strength and economic development, the official Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.

His comments came amid China's maritime disputes with its South China Sea neighbours.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including islands more than 800 miles from the Chinese mainland, despite objections from neighbours such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam.

Beijing has also created artificial islands in the area, outfitting some of them with military features. The issue is a source of ongoing tension and anger in the region.

In his speech, Xi urged all military personnel to resolutely safeguard the authority of CPC Central Committee, unswervingly follow the Party's leadership and combat corruption.

He asked all military personnel to greet the 19th CPC National Congress scheduled for later this year with "outstanding achievements," Xinhua quoted him as saying.

Noting that 2017 is of great significance for the Party and the country, Xi urged the PLA to strengthen ideological building, combat preparation and reform implementation.

Xi urged PLA officers to eliminate the impact of Gen Guo Boxiong and Gen Xu Caihou, two corrupt former CMC vice chairmen, and strictly observe political discipline and rules.

"It must be ensured that the PLA resolutely follows the command of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC at any time, in any circumstances," Xi said.

A campaign, which focuses on the study of the Party Constitution and rules, as well as the speeches by Xi, and calls for being qualified Party members, is required to be further launched in the army.
In a market where differentiation between smartphone models is minimal at best, it is hard for a brand to make a mark. While specifications are increasingly becoming homologous across devices, were starting to see some interesting new additions in terms of software features. Panasonic, recently launched the Eluga Ray Max smartphone and while the phone is more than competitive from a hardware point of view, whats under the hood is a lot more interesting. Our review of the Panasonic Eluga Ray Max is forthcoming but for now lets take a walk through Arbo, the defining feature of the smartphone.

Dubbed Arbo, Panasonic has built an artificial intelligence companion for their latest smartphone. The premise is simple, the software uses machine learning to get a better idea of how you use your smartphone. Over time, the personal assistant onboard the Panasonic Ray Max is able to understand your daily usage habits, your work schedule and where you usually are to give you context specific prompts that simplify your life. To make it even more approachable, the entire interface is in the form of a radial UI that can be easily used even with one hand.

During out testing period, the one feature that we found particularly convenient was the settings switch cue. Arbo uses the built-in GPS on the smartphone to know exactly where you are at a given point. Using this information, it can determine if you are at work, home or somewhere and give you a profile settings prompt so that you can easily switch between phone profiles.



Another interesting capability on the Panasonic Ray Max due to the onboard Arbo smart assistant are the predictive prompts for frequently used apps. Once the phone figures out what apps you use the most, it can automatically give you suggestions based on the time of day, you location and what it believes youll want to use at the moment.

Of note is the way that Arbo is able to hook into the entire operating system and learn from each and every aspect of it. The assistant is capable of tracking your phone calls and messages to keep a track on potential missed calls and messages that need to be replied to. Think of it like your personal secretary that will always keep a a tab on your communications to make sure that you dont skip a beat. With that in mind, the assistant uses an account to make sure that all your personal settings carry forward even when you switch to a new phone. This way you do not need to retrain the assistant right from the start.

With Arbo, we feel that Panasonic has a really cool feature on hand that takes a different, dare we say fresher approach towards simplifying your life. While the likes of Google Assistant help you make more sense of your online life, there havent been many solutions to make using your smartphone a simpler and friendlier experience. With Arbo, it seems like Panasonic has a good solution at hand and we cant wait to see where the company takes this in future iterations.
LafargeHolcim is close to announcing that its chief executive Eric Olsen is to step down following an internal investigation into activities at a former Lafarge cement plant in Syria, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing sources close to the company.

LafargeHolcim declined to comment on the FT report.

The cement maker in March said one of its cement plants probably paid protection money to armed groups in Syria to keep the factory running in the country.

The disclosure followed an internal investigation and highlighted the dilemmas companies face when working in conflict zones.

The sources said Olsen's departure terms were still under discussion on Sunday.

(Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi. Editing by Jane Merriman)
SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea said on Sunday it was ready to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, in the latest sign of rising tension as U.S. President Donald Trump prepared to call the leaders of China and Japan.

The United States ordered the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to mounting concern over the North's nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its Asian allies.

The U.S. government has not specified where the carrier strike group is as it approaches the area. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive "within days," but gave no other details.

North Korea remained defiant.

"Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in a commentary.

The paper likened the aircraft carrier to a "gross animal" and said a strike on it would be "an actual example to show our military's force".

The commentary was carried on page three of the newspaper, after a two-page feature about leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a pig farm.

A senior U.S. administration official said Trump was expected to speak later on Sunday with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

In another sign of the intense focus on Pyongyang in Washington, the White House is expected to host U.S. senators for a top-level briefing on North Korea on Wednesday, a White House official said.

The official said the briefing would be led by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

U.S. and South Korean officials have been saying for weeks the North could soon stage another nuclear test, something the United States, China and others have warned against.

South Korea has put its forces on heightened alert.

China, North Korea's sole major ally, opposes Pyongyang's weapons programs and has appealed for calm. The United States has called on China to do more to help defuse the tension.

Speaking during a visit to Greece, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there were already enough shows of force and confrontation and appealed for calm.

"We need to issue peaceful and rational sounds," Wang said, according to a statement issued by China's Foreign Ministry.

U.S. CITIZEN DETAINED

Adding to the tensions, North Korea detained a Korean-American man in his 50s, bringing the total number of U.S. citizens held by Pyongyang to three.

The man, Tony Kim, had been in North Korea for a month teaching accounting at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), the institution's chancellor, Chan-Mo Park, told Reuters. He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

The arrest took place on Saturday morning local time, the university said in a statement, and was "related to an investigation into matters that are not connected in any way to PUST".

North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army on Tuesday.

It has in the past marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.

It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of U.N. sanctions.

North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump.

He has vowed to prevent the North from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.

WORRY IN JAPAN

North Korea says its nuclear program is for self-defense and has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression. It has also threatened to lay waste to South Korea and Japan.

The U.S. defense secretary said on Friday that North Korea's recent statements were provocative but had proven to be hollow in the past and should not be trusted.

"We've all come to hear their words repeatedly; their word has not proven honest," Mattis told a news conference in Tel Aviv, before the latest threat to the aircraft carrier.

Two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson and will "practice a variety of tactics" with the U.S. strike group, the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force said in a statement.

The Japanese force did not specify where the exercises were taking place, but the destroyers by Sunday could have reached an area 2,500 km (1,500 miles) south of Japan, which would be east of the Philippines.

From there, it could take three days to reach waters off the Korean peninsula. Japan's ships would accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan said.

Japan's show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads.

Some Japanese ruling party lawmakers are urging Abe to acquire strike weapons that could hit North Korean missile forces before any imminent attack.

Japan's navy, which is mostly a destroyer fleet, is the second largest in Asia after China's.

(Additional reporting by Ju-min Park in SEOUL, Tim Kelly in TOKYO and Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Writing by James Pearson and Phil Stewart; Editing by Alexander Smith and Peter Cooney)
What do you like to see in dividend stocks? Many people would probably say that they want solid dividend yields that are reliable, with the stock belonging to stable and financially strong company.

Three stocks that check off all of those boxes are AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), Southern Company (NYSE: SO), and Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP). Here's why investors should love these dividend stocks.

Image source: Getty Images.

AbbVie: A booming biotech with a big dividend

AbbVie boasts a dividend yield of 3.98%. The big biotech has a solid track record of increasing its dividend. Since being spun off from parent Abbott Laboratories in 2013, AbbVie has raised its dividend by 60% -- with dividend hikes every year.

The company shouldn't have any problem with keeping that streak going. AbbVie currently uses less than 63% of earnings to fund its dividend program. Earnings should increase over the next few years with rapidly growing sales for cancer drug Imbruvica and continued solid performance from top-selling autoimmune disease drug Humira.

AbbVie's pipeline includes 14 late-stage programs. Several of the experimental drugs in these late-stage clinical studies could be big winners for the company. Elagolix could be the first of AbbVie's potential blockbusters to reach the market. The company expects to file for regulatory approval of the drug in treating endometriosis this year.

The biggest challenge for AbbVie is fending off competition for Humira. A biosimilar to the drug has been approved in the U.S. and in Europe. AbbVie is hoping to defend its patents on Humira to keep rivals at bay for a few years, though.

Southern Company: A low volatility, high yield utility

Southern Company's dividend yield currently stands at 4.5%. The large power company has increased its dividend for 15 years in a row.

Although Southern Company's dividend payout ratio is 87%, relatively high payout ratios aren't unusual for utility companies. Southern Company's dividend should be pretty safe, thanks to its strong operating cash flow.

Don't expect tremendous earnings growth from Southern Company. However, the company's acquisition of AGL Resources should improve its top and bottom lines. The $12 billion deal bumped Southern Company into the No. 2 spot among U.S. utility companies in terms of customer base.

Southern Company has a very low beta value of 0.04, meaning that the stock is much less volatile than the overall market. There are still some risks for the company, of course. Problems at one or more of its power plants could hurt the stock's performance. Even if any problems arise, though, they would likely be short-term rather than longer-term issues.

Tupperware: More than food-storage containers

Tupperware's dividend yield of 4.21% is only slightly below Southern Company's. Although the company didn't increase its dividend last year, Tupperware has paid out dividends for several decades.

There don't appear to be any dark clouds on the horizon that would prevent Tupperware from keeping the dividends flowing. The company uses around 62% of its earnings to pay dividends.

While Tupperware is mostly known for its food storage containers, the company's product line is actually much broader than just food storage. Tupperware markets cosmetic products, toiletries, fragrances, and jewelry, among other products.Revenue has been hurt due primarily to currency fluctuations, but the company has steadily improved its profitability.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for Tupperware is its reliance on a sales team of independent contractors. The company must continually recruit new people due to high turnover rates. However, Tupperware has been doing this successfully for a long time and should be able to keep moving forward.

Two common denominators

All three of these stocks have great dividends. There's also another common denominator for AbbVie, Southern Company, and Tupperware: Their stocks are relatively cheap.

AbbVie's shares trade at less than 10 times expected earnings. Southern Company's forward earnings multiple is 16. Tupperware's share price is 13 times expected earnings.If you're looking for stocks with high dividend yields, sustainable payout ratios, solid business models, and that aren't too expensive, you won't find too many that beat these three.

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First came the Tomahawks -- 59 of them, launched at a military airfield in Syria. Then came the bombing of an ISIS cave fortress in Afghanistan. With every passing week, it seems, Americans get another introduction to the weapons that make up the arsenal of democracy. (Next week, it could be aircraft carriers in Korea...)

Of course, this week the talk is all about the Air Force's GBU-43/B "MOAB."Officially designated the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, MOAB has been more popularly christened the "Mother of All Bombs" -- which works just as well for the acronym.

MOAB on the move. Image source: U.S. Air Force.

At 30 feet long and 40 inches in diameter, MOAB is the largest nonnuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal. It weighs 21,715 pounds -- 18,739 pounds of which is warhead -- more than 10 full tons. It's so big that conventional bomber aircraft can't even carry it.

Instead, MOAB must be loaded into the hold of a C-130 transport, then pushed out the back door for delivery. Exploding in the air above its target, MOAB unleashes a blast equivalent to 11 tonsof TNT going off at once, incinerating everything within one mile of ground zero.

But here's perhaps the most surprising thing about MOAB, for investors: No one company seems to make it.

Whence came MOAB?

Designed by the Pentagon's Air Force Research Lab, MOAB is put together at the government-owned-and-operated McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in Oklahoma. You might think the Pentagon would have contracted a professional munitions maker such as General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) to put MOAB together. Instead, the Air Force built MOAB itself. Why?

It could be that the Air Force never asked; it could be that defense contractors simply weren't interested. You see, as big as an individual MOAB may be, the MOAB program itself was vanishingly small. Only 15 MOABs were ever produced, and two of those were used for testing. The MOAB dropped in Afghanistan was the third -- which leaves just a dozen MOABs in the Pentagon's arsenal (as far as we know).

In any case, to date, it seems that not a single contract to build additional MOABs has been awarded to any private defense contractor, ever. So, while MOAB may be dominating headlines right now, it's not a program likely to help any defense stock's bottom line.

Three defense contractors you can count on

If headlines can't be relied upon to reveal promising investments, what is a better way to invest? Personally, I use common sense.

Let's start with the Constitution. The U.S. Navy is the only branch of the military specifically authorized by the Constitution (Article I, Sec. 8) to be maintained as a standing force. It's also, I think, the one branch of the military most likely to receive steady funding in all international environments -- both in times of war and in times of peace.

Why? Simply because of its mission. America needs a full-strength Navy in both war-and peacetime to ensure freedom of navigation, to protect commerce from pirates (yes, pirates still do exist), and to "show the flag" to prevent conflicts between other nations from happening. These missions ensure a steady flow of funding to the Navy to build new ships and keep the fleet operational and in good repair. They also, I feel, insulate the Navy somewhat from defense spending cuts in times of international tranquility.

To my mind, this makes the three biggest naval contractors -- General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls (NYSE: HII), and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) -- three of the most reliable defense contractors to invest in. General Dynamics builds submarines and destroyers for the Navy. Huntington Ingalls' specialty is aircraft carriers and amphibious assault vessels -- although it builds submarines and destroyers as well. Lockheed Martin builds aircraft, of course, including the Navy's new F-35C stealth fighter jet and the Marine Corps' F-35B. But Lockheed also has contracts to build Littoral Combat Ships for the Navy.

Speaking of shipbuilding contracts, in contrast to other weapons systems that can be built in a day, or several days, it takes several years to build a complete warship from the keel up. Your average Virginia-class nuclear submarine, for example, can take General Dynamics or Huntington Ingalls two yearsto complete. The nuclear-powered supercarriers that Huntington builds take even longer -- about five years each.

These long timelines mean that when a naval defense contractor wins a contract, investors can map out future revenues, and estimate future profits, several years into the future -- which lends a bit of certainty to an investment. It's one thing I like about investing in the naval contractors.

Caution: Caveats ahead

What don't I like? Honestly, I find the stocks of the shipbuilders,like most defense contractors these days, unattractively valued at present. While not the most egregiously priced stocks in the defense industry, General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls, and Lockheed Martin currently sell for valuations far above the "one times sales" valuation that I use as my rule of thumb for fair value in a defense stock.

However, this is only a temporary obstacle to investing in the defense industry, where valuations tend to move in cycles. (For an illustration of what the industry looks like when defense is out of favor, check out the articles I was writing seven years ago -- when defense stocks were consistently underperforming the S&P 500.) Although they're expensive today, there will come a day when defense stocks are undervalued again.

And now you know which stocks to invest in once that day arrives.

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Whether you realize it or not, Social Security is a critical program that's relied upon by tens of millions of retired workers. The February snapshot from the Social Security Administration (SSA) shows that more than 41.4 million retired workers were being paid an average of $1,363.66 each month.

What's more, 61% of these retired workers count on this average payout to comprise at least half of their monthly income. Thus, Social Security has transformed over the past couple of decades from being just a supplemental income source during retirement to a primary income source for millions of senior citizens.

Image source: Getty Images.

Your claiming age has a major influence on your payout

What a lot of working Americans and pre-retirees probably fail to realize is that what they're ultimately paid each month by the program is entirely up to them. The SSA takes your 35 highest-earning years into account when calculating your average annual earnings, so it's in your best interests to work for at least 35 years, as well as earn as much as you can while working.

But the biggest X-factor of all is likely your claiming age. Depending on when you file for Social Security benefits, your monthly payout could vary by as much as 76%! This is because your eventual payout grows by approximately 8% for each year that you hold off on filing for benefits, beginning at age 62 and ending at age 70.

The most important figure you need to know is your full retirement age, or FRA. Your FRA is determined by your birth year (this handy SSA table should help you locate your FRA), and it's the age at which the SSA will pay you 100% of your due monthly benefits. For the newest eligible retirees born in 1955, your FRA is 66 years and 2 months. If you claim at any point prior to hitting your full retirement age, your benefits are permanently reduced. Claiming at the earliest age possible, age 62, could result in up to a 25% to 30% permanent reduction, depending on your birth year.

Conversely, claiming at any point after your FRA can actually result in a larger monthly payout. Filing for benefits at age 70 could increase your payout by 24% to 32% over what you would have received at your FRA.

Image source: Getty Images.

An illustration of what the average American would be paid by claiming Social Security at age 65

According to data from the Centers for Retirement Research (CRR) at Boston College, roughly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will file for benefits at or before reaching their full retirement age. Nearly a third do so at age 65 or 66, which is deemed to be the full retirement age by CRR's calculations, while approximately 60% do so between the age of 62 and 64.

Traditionally, age 65 has been a popular time for seniors to hang up their coats and work gloves for good. For those born in 1955 (i.e., the newest retirees), this would mean accepting a permanent 7.8% reduction in monthly payouts, since their full retirement age is 66 years and 2 months.

Let's take an illustrative look at what the average American claiming at age 65 would be expected to receive in lifetime benefits. For this, we'll use the aforementioned $1,363.66 average monthly payout to retired workers as our full retirement age baseline, and we'll also assume an average annual cost-of-living adjustment of 2%.

Data source: Social Security Administration. Author's calculations based on a 2% annual cost-of-living adjustment for an individual born in 1955 and claiming at age 65. Chart by author.

As you can see from the above, an individual born in 1955 and claiming at age 65 would receive about $15,088 in his or her first year. By age 75, more than $183,500 in income would have been received from Social Security. By age 80, which is a tad bit longer than the average Americans' life expectancy (78.8 years), $281,211 would have been paid out. Should you make it to age 90, you'd collect more than $508,000!

It's a personal decision, but there are some guidelines

So what should you do? Should you claim before hitting your full retirement age like most people do and reap the early rewards of extra income, or should you patiently wait until your FRA -- or longer -- to receive a fatter monthly payment?

Surprisingly, the answer is going to be different for everyone. Your claiming decision is going to be influenced by a number of factors that are unique to you: your health, your income, your expenses, your savings, and whether other people are relying on you are just some of the factors that'll go into helping you decide when to claim Social Security benefits. Thankfully, though, there are some guidelines that may help steer you in the right direction.

Image source: Getty Images.

For instance, some people actually benefit from taking Social Security at an earlier age and accepting a permanently reduced payout. If you're in poor health, for example, it doesn't do you any good to wait to claim benefits. Other strong candidates to file for benefits early include those who are deeply in debt, low-earning spouses, the rich who won't be relying on Social Security income, and those who are struggling to generate income or can't find work.

On the other hand, there are people who would appear to benefit by waiting until their FRA, or even later. A good example is the higher earning spouse within a couple. Having the higher-income spouse wait to file means a bigger cumulative bump in pay for the couple later in life. People in good or excellent health, as well as those with little to nothing saved for retirement who'll probably lean heavily on Social Security, are best off waiting as long as possible to claim benefits.

Deciding when to claim benefits is an important decision, but it's ultimately in your hands.

The $16,122 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,122 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after.Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.

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If French presidential front-runner Marine Le Pen  labeled Frances Trump  wins the first round of the countrys elections Sunday, global markets will be impacted, according to Nile Gardiner of the Heritage Foundation.

Certainly that will hit the markets hard, I think, in France and across Europepossibly here in the United States as well, Gardiner told Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures.

I think the markets would react if there was a suggestion that France could possibly leave the European Union, he said.

As polls in France near closing time, all eyes are focusing in on who will win the first round of the countrys presidential election.

The two front-runners in the presidential campaign are Le Pen of the National Front party and Emmanuel Macron, who is running as an independent candidate. Among the top issues of the French election are terrorism and the security of the countrys borders.

Therell be a slight boost for Le Pen at the polls, I think, following the terrorist attack in France earlier this week, said Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation.

Le Pen is running on a platform of tighter border control and, like one of her opponents, Francois Fillon, an anti-Islamist platform, as well.

Though Gardiner thinks Le Pen has the better chance to win the first round of the election, polls show Emmanuel Macron, the former French finance minister, would emerge the victor in the second round, he said.

I would describe him [Macron] as sort of a limousine liberal, sort of champagne socialist-type politician  But I think Macron really represents business as usual for France and I dont think youre going to see much change.
Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., said on Sunday he and his constituents can work together to prevent a looming government shutdown on Friday.

[With] every fiber in my being, theres not going to be a government slowdown, the congressman told Maria Bartiromo during an interview on Sunday Morning Futures.

If lawmakers in Washington fail to pass the budget by Friday, the government would run out of money and the operation of non-essential services (such as national parks) would be suspended. The most recent shutdown took place in September and October of 2013. During that period, 800,000 federal workers were furloughed.

However, Schweikert believes Congress will be able to put together a funding package this week to avoid a shutdown, though it wont be a simple task.

The tough part is we have to find eight votes in the Senate to avoid the Senate filibuster. So were going to have to find what brings those Senate Democrats along and well probably have to put that in the way we designed the language in the House, he explained.
The World Bank Group and the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank said on Sunday they agreed to deepen their cooperation with a framework for knowledge sharing, staff exchanges, analytical work, development financing and country-level coordination.

The memorandum of understanding signed at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund spring meetings in Washington comes a year after the two multilateral lenders established mechanisms for cost-sharing and co-financing of investment projects.

Since then, the AIIB and the World Bank have co-financed five projects, supporting power generation in Pakistan, a natural gas pipeline in Azerbaijan, and projects in Indonesia to rebuild slums, improve dam safety and develop regional infrastructure.

They said in a joint statement that they are discussing more projects to be co-financed in 2017 and 2018.

"Signing this memorandum of understanding fits into our vision of a new kind of internationalism," AIIB President Jin Liqun said in a statement. "It deepens our relationship with the World Bank Group and sets up the mechanisms through which we can more easily collaborate and share information."

A World Bank spokeswoman said the knowledge-sharing memorandum was similar to one that was in place during the AIIB's early development stages, but which ended when the Beijing-based institution was formally launched in January 2016.

She said the new agreement does not specify financing amounts or targets, adding that those will be determined through meetings and consultations to discuss the banks' respective portfolios.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim told Reuters on Thursday that he wants to push the Washington-based lender's business model towards harnessing more private capital for development finance.

In a statement on Sunday, Kim said: "Collaboration between development institutions is essential to make the best use of scarce resources, crowd-in the private sector, and meet the rising aspirations of the people we serve."

(Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
Erin Moran, the former child star who played Joanie Cunningham in the sitcoms Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi, died Saturday at 56.

Authorities in Indiana said "received a 911 call about an unresponsive female. Upon arrival of first responders, it was determined that Erin Moran Fleischmann was deceased. An autopsy is pending."

The Harrison County dispatcher told the AP that the woman was an actress, who had been married to Steven Fleischmann.

A Burbank, Calif. native, Moran began acting in TV and movies before she was 10 years old. She had nearly a decade's worth of experience when she was cast in 1974 in "Happy Days" as Joanie Cunningham, the kid sister to high school student Richie Cunningham, played by Ron Howard.

Debuting at a time of nostalgia for the seemingly innocent 1950s, the sitcom was set in Milwaukee and soon became a hit. Howard and Henry Winkler, who played tough guy Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli, were the show's biggest stars, but Moran also became popular. In 1982, she was paired off with fellow "Happy Days" performer Scott Baio in the short-lived "Joanie Loves Chachi."

Her more recent credits included "The Love Boat" and "Murder, She Wrote," but she never approached the success of "Happy Days" and was more often in the news for her numerous personal struggles.

Winkler tweeted his condolences late Saturday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
John Cena and Nikki Bella are stripping down!

The newly engaged couple celebrated Bella's 500,000 YouTube subscribers with a sexy nude video -- well, it starts off sexy, anyway.

EXCLUSIVE: Nikki Bella Gushes Over Her Dream Wedding Dress, Details the Moment John Cena Proposed

"We are finally ready to have this huge celebration. Sorry it took a few days. It took a while to convince someone to do this," the "Total Divas"star says in the video, pointing to her fiance. "This is a very good idea because why? We got half a million subscribers! So, we are ready to give all of us to all of you."

"I still don't think this is a good idea," Cena quipped, before giving in and pulling down his shorts as Bella removed her silk robe.

"I think my tube's on YouTube!" the actor shouted as he and Bella pranced around in their censored birthday suits. "I think my, uh, yeah ... everything is on YouTube!" Bella added.

Cena then bent over and let out a fake fart in Bella's direction. "What the f--k? Are you kidding me?" she replied. "God, what did you eat? Someone else's farts? You honestly ruin everything."

WATCH: John Cena Gushes Over Getting Engaged to Nikki Bella During WrestleMania -- See the Ring!
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Bill Nye, an engineer and educator known as the science guy through his appearances on television, spoke to thousands of enthusiastic marchers in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, declaring that science serves everyone and must be for all.

Today we have a great many lawmakers, not just here, but around the world, deliberately ignoring and actively surpassing science, he told the crowd of scientists, students and research advocates at the National Mall, according to Variety. Their inclination is misguided, and in no ones best interest.

Nye, who served as an honorary co-chair for the March for Science, chided lawmakers who ignore scientific research in areas like climate change and railed against the Trump administrations proposed budget cuts.

The March for Science protests, according to News Corp Australia Network, come amid growing anxiety over what many see as a mounting political assault on facts and evidence and fears that research is being excluded from policymaking. Triggered by concern over the rise of alternative facts, marchers sought to present a united front, particularly against the roll back of environmental protection policies and apparent lack of support for climate change.

Nye, the CEO of the Planetary Society, said the march was to remind people everywhere of the significance of science for health and prosperity, according to Variety.

The framers of the Constitution of the United States, which has become a model for constitutional governments everywhere, included Article One, Section 8, which refers to promoting the progress of science and useful arts," Nye said.

Nye told The Guardian earlier this week that scientists should unapologetically throw themselves into the political fray as Trumps administration seeks to dismantle large areas of scientific endeavor, from cancer research to climate analysis.

We are in a dangerous place right now, Nye told The Guardian. Science has always been political but we dont want science to be partisan. Objective truths have become set aside and diminished and lawmakers are acting like a strong belief in something is as valid as careful peer review.

More than 600 companion marches conveying a global message of scientific freedom without political interference occurred around the world.
President Trump on Saturday presented a Purple Heart medal to an Army sergeant during a visit to nearby Walter Reed National Medical Center, in suburban Maryland.

Looking forward to seeing our bravest and greatest Americans!, Trump tweeted before visiting the premier military rehabilitation facility with first lady Melania Trump.

VA retaliation against whistleblower: doctor kept in empty room

The soldier who received the Purple Heart -- awarded in the name of the president to military members wounded or killed while serving -- is Army Sgt. 1st Class Alvaro Barrietos.

Barrietos suffered a serve leg injury while serving in Afghanistan. His wife, Tammy, attended the ceremony Saturday.

Trump thanked Barrietos and said that when he heard Barrietos would receive the medal he went to Walter Reed because I wanted to do this myself.

The medal is the oldest, continuous military award, dating back on 1917.
FBI Director James Comey reportedly did not trust former Attorney General Loretta Lynch and other senior officials at the Justice Department, speculating they might provide Hillary Clinton some political cover over her email scandal during the presidential election.

Comeys so-called go-it-alone strategy in the Clinton investigation emerged from suspicions that Lynch and other Justice Department officials might look to down play the email probe, The New York Times reported Saturday.

Comeys suspicions may have been confirmed in a 2015 meeting when Lynch reportedly told him to use the word matter instead of investigation when publicly discussing the probe. According to the Times, Lynch said that using the world investigation would raise other questions and argued that the department should maintain its policy of not confirming whether an investigation was ongoing.

Lynch was called to recuse herself from the Clinton email investigation after she had a private discussion with former President Bill Clinton in an airplane on the tarmac of Phoenixs airport in June 16. Lynch did not recuse herself, but was forced to say she would accept the any conclusions reached by federal authorities.

Tensions boiled over after new emails were found through a separate investigation into former New York congressman Anthony Weiner, who was married to top Clinton confidant Huma Abedin.

Comey wanted to alert Congress about what it found on the laptop and feared that if he did not notify lawmakers, it would look like the FBI was withholding information before the election.

Lynch did not want Comey to send the letter to Congress about the findings, but decided against ordering him not to send it, according to The Times.

Click for more from The Hill.
Congress returns to Washington this week to take on the now-familiar task of passing an 11th-hour spending bill to avert a government shutdown, with President Trumps promised border wall emerging this time as the big sticking point between Democrats and Republicans.

Trump tweeted several times about the issue Sunday, with one tweet saying Democrats don't want budget money paying for the wall "despite the fact it will stop drugs and very bad MS-13 gang members."

The deadline to avert a shutdown is Saturday, Trump's 100th day in office, which has increased pressure on the GOP-controlled Congress to also pass an ObamaCare repeal and replacement plan after failing to do so in March.

Congress OKs Planned Parenthood funding crackdown, as Pence breaks tie

In exchange for funding Trump's planned wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, congressional Democrats want any ObamaCare overhaul bill to continue to include subsides for health insurance companies that helped low-income people afford health policies.

The payments are a critical subsidy and the subject of a lawsuit by House Republicans. Trump has threatened to withhold the money to force Democrats to negotiate on health legislation.

Though Republicans have control of Congress, they have yet to send the GOP president a single major bill, such as an ObamaCare overhaul.

In addition to the wall, Trump also hopes to use the $1 trillion catchall spending bill to salvage victories on a multibillion-dollar down payment on a Pentagon buildup and perhaps a crackdown on so-called sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement by federal authorities.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has indicated that his priority is avoiding a politically unpopular shutdown, like the one in fall 2013 over ObamaCare funding, for which voters largely blamed Republicans.

I dont think anyone thinks a shutdown is desirable, Mick Mulvaney, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, told Fox News Sunday.

Rank-and-file Republicans received few answers Saturday on conference call by top House GOP leaders, who said deals remained elusive on both health care and the spending measure, with no votes scheduled yet.

A temporary measure could be needed to prevent a shutdown and buy time for more talks.

Democratic support will be needed to pass the spending measure, as Republicans fear taking the blame again if the government shuts down on their watch.

"We have the leverage and they have the exposure," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California, told fellow Democrats on Thursday on a conference call, according to a senior Democratic aide.

Pelosi wants the spending bill to give the cash-strapped government of Puerto Rico help with its Medicaid obligations. Democrats are also pressing for money for overseas famine relief, treatment for opioid abuse, and the extension of health benefits for 22,000 retired Appalachian coal miners and their families.

Mulvaney also told Fox News on Sunday: We are offering to give Democrats some of their priorities. They made it very clear that they want these cost-sharing reduction payments as part of ObamaCare. We don't like those very much, but we have offered to open the discussions to give the Democrats something they want in order to get something we want.

The White House and Democrats each have adopted hard-line positions on Trump's $1 billion request for a down payment on construction of the border wall, a central plank of last year's campaign.

Talk of forcing Mexico to pay for it has largely been abandoned. But in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, Trump stopped short of demanding that money for the project be included in the must-pass spending bill.

GOP leaders have shown no desire to revisit ObamaCare until they're assured they have enough votes to succeed, a point Ryan reiterated to lawmakers Saturday, according to participants in the call.

An initial attempt in March ended in a legislative train wreck, stinging Trump and Ryan. The measure would have repealed much of Obama's 2010 overhaul and replaced it with fewer coverage requirements and less generous federal subsidies for many people.

Two leaders of the House GOP's warring moderate and conservative factions devised a compromise during the recess to let states get federal waivers to ignore some requirements of the health law. Those include one that now requires insurers to cover specified services such as for mental health, and one that bars them from raising premiums on seriously ill patients.

But there are widespread doubts that the new attempt has achieved the support it needs.

Rep. Dan Donovan, R-N.Y., an opponent of the bill, said last week that "it doesn't cure the issues that I had concerns" about. The moderate said his objections included changes to Obama's law that would still leave people with excessive out-of-pocket costs.

The potential amendment was brokered by Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., who heads the conservative House Freedom Caucus and Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., a leader of the moderate House Tuesday Group.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Evan McMullin, who ran as a "Never Trump" conservative in the 2016 presidential elections, is having financial trouble bouncing back from his defeat.

McMullin's latest filings with the Federal Election Commission show that he is $670,000 in campaign debt, with his largest debt of $520,000 to a Florida-based law firm, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

The debt became public at a time when he may need more political donors.

Chaffetz announces he will not seek re-election

McMullin, a Republican turn independent last year, and who described himself as a conservative alternative to Republican Donald Trump, has been vocal about plans to run for public office again.

And Utah GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz announcing his resignation last week adds to speculation about McMullin perhaps gearing up to run for that seat.

In March, before the announcement by Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight committee, McMullin told Reddit in an "ask me anything" interview: It is possible that I will challenge Chaffetz or Sen. (Orrin) Hatch. But there are a lot of factors that go into that decision. One of the primary factors is what the people of Utah want.

McMullin was born in Chaffetzs district and has strong ties to Utahs 3rd congressional district. But he may have trouble gathering financial support if he does not repay the debts.

Joel Searby, McMullin's campaign manager, told the Associated Press: We are working hard to do what we can within the law to retire as much debt as possible."

In the 2016 election, McMullin did not win any states but had his best showing in homestate Utah, receiving 21 percent of the vote.

He has also been mentioned as a possible challenger to Hatch in the 2018 midterm elections. Hatch is the longest serving Republican senator in history.
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney declined to say Sunday whether President Trump will insist Congress include money for his border wall in a spending bill or risk a government shutdown later this week.

We dont know yet, Mulvaney, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said on Fox News Sunday. Im not going to negotiate with you on national television. We will negotiate with the Democrats.

Ryan reportedly vows to prevent government shutdown

Congress has until Friday to pass the spending measure to keep the federal government from technically running out of money, which would result in a shutdown of non-essential services.

Mulvaney reiterated Sunday that one of Trumps biggest presidential campaign platforms was national security, which included building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

I dont think anyone thinks a shutdown is desirable, Mulvaney said.

However, he wouldnt say whether Trump would risk a politically unpopular shutdown to get his way. And he suggested that Democrats would be to blame because of their demands on an ObamaCare overhaul plan in exchange for border wall funding in the measure.

We are asking for our priorities, Mulvaney told Fox News. I would say is that theyre holding hostage national security. Again, something theyve supported in the recent past when President Obama was in the Senate. So we dont understand why this is breaking down like this.

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly suggested earlier Sunday on CNN that Trump would insist on the border wall funding.

Mulvaney also said Sunday that members of Congress, returning Monday from a roughly two-week recess, are working on the spending measure as we speak and that members could pass it and a revised ObamaCare overhaul plan within the next seven days.

We dont see any structural reason the House and Senate cannot do both things in a week, he said.

Trump signing a major bill like ObamaCare repeal and replace into law within his first 100 days of office, which ends this week, would be a major victory for the president.

Trump tweeted several times Sunday about the issue, saying Democrats don't want budget money paying for the wall "despite the fact it will stop drugs and very bad MS-13 gang members."

Muvaney also said Sunday that if House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has the votes in the GOP-controlled chamber, Ryan will hold a vote.

However, Ryan continues to say that passing a budget is the top priority this week.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., reportedly told fellow GOP lawmakers Saturday that his main goal this week is to pass a stopgap spending bill that will keep the federal government open past April 28.

Ryan, during the conference call, did not pledge to take up the health care bill and offered no specific plan on how or when lawmakers could see a new proposal to repeal ObamaCare, which White House officials suggested might receive a vote by Wednesday, according to The Washington Post.

While Ryan affirmed his commitment to avoiding a government shutdown, any spending bill proposal will need Democratic support and the bill must include funding for the hallmark of President Trumps campaign  a border wall. White House aides told the paper there is no guarantee Trump would sign a spending plan without border wall funding.

Wherever we land will be a product the president can and will support, Ryan said, according to The Post.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said congressional leaders can reach an agreement on spending, but only if the White House stays out of negotiations.

I want to come up with an agreement, Schumer said Tuesday on a conference call with reporters. Our Republican colleagues know that since they control, you know, the House, the Senate and the White House, that a shutdown would fall on their shoulders, and they dont want it.

Ryan has vowed there will be no government shutdown, but has received enormous pressure from the White House as Congress has been called on to vote on a health care bill, start tax reform plans and make Democrats submit to approving a stopgap spending bill that will include border-wall funding.

According to The Post, Ryans comments on Saturdays conference call could signal that he is pushing back on some of the pressure. Ryan said that the House will vote on a health care bill when there are enough votes to pass it. Ryan and fellow Republicans suggested that it is more important to work with the Democrats on a spending bill than to push the border wall funding, which goes against what the Trump administration wants.

Ryan reportedly ended the conference call encouraging members to keep up the discussion on ideas, but did not field questions on the call.

Click for more from The Washington Post.
American Airlines on Friday responded quickly to a video that shows a sobbing mother with baby in arm after a confrontation with a male member of the flight crew.

WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE

The initial reported confrontation was not in the video, but a passenger on the flight out of San Francisco said the employee violently took a stroller from a lady with a baby and hit her, just missing the child. The airline announced the worker was removed from duty.

The woman in the video appears shaken and barely can catch her breath.

A male passenger is seen getting up from his seat. He can be heard saying he wanted to know the workers name.

Later, this unidentified passenger confronts the flight attendant, telling him, "You do that to me and I'll knock you flat." The flight attendant responds with, "Hit me. Bring it on."

The flight landed at about 7:45 p.m. at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. American Airlines issued the statement minutes after the plane landed.

The airline apparently learned from the recent United Airlines fiasco, and acted quickly. The womans seat was upgraded to first class, and she was put on another flight.

The airline's statement added, We have seen the video and have already started an investigation to obtain the facts. What we see on this video does not reflect our values or how we care for our customers. We are deeply sorry for the pain we have caused this passenger and her family and to any other customers affected by the incident. We are making sure all of her family's needs are being met while she is in our care.

Bob Ross, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants union, which represents American Airlines workers, said in a statement that tight schedules, overcrowded planes, shrinking seats and limited overhead bin space have made it difficult for flight attendants to board passengers.

"All of these factors are related to corporate decisions beyond the control of passengers and flight attendants," Ross said.

The incident comes less than two weeks after video of a man being violently dragged off a United Express flight sparked widespread outrage."American doesn't want to become the next United, but then, United didn't want to become the next United," said Henry Harteveldt, travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group. "No airline wants to be seen as being anti-consumer or anti-passenger."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


California prison authorities say two inmates were found dead in unrelated events at Salinas Valley State Prison.

The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said 22-year-old Cedric Saunders was found dead in his cell Saturday and that his death is being investigated as a homicide. It gave no other details.

It says Saunders transferred to the facility in Soledad from Riverside County in July 2013 to serve a five-year sentence for second-degree robbery with a street gang enhancement.

The department says that minutes later a 61-year-old inmate was found dead in his cell. He was the cell's only occupant. A cause of death was not released.

His name is being withheld until his family can be notified.

Officials didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.

The state prison in Monterey County holds about 3,500 minimum and maximum custody male inmates.
A shocking video of a grandfather being shot dead was still available on Facebook last night  a week after it was posted.

Maniac Steve Stephens filmed himself murdering innocent Robert Godwin, 74, on Easter Sunday and uploaded the sick clip to the social network.

Stephens, 37, shot himself dead on Tuesday while on the run from cops in Pennsylvania, USA.

Last night, the Sun on Sunday found his graphic footage could still be viewed on Facebook  despite the social networks claims it had been removed.

Robert Godwin Jr, 48, son of the slain victim, said: I just dont understand why they havent taken it down.

I dont know what the process of taking it down is  I just know I want that video gone.

I have to relive it every day  so I wish it would just go away.

It is so hard having this constant reminder for my family and all the people who cared about my father and have love in their hearts.

Choking back tears, he added: It hurts us.

In the 30-second clip, killer Stephens can be heard growling Found me somebody Im about to kill...this old dude before brutally executing Godwin in the street in Cleveland, Ohio.

This week it was the top result when Facebook users searched for RIP Robert Godwin and Steve Stephens shooting.

MPs and politicians called on Facebook to do more to police what gets uploaded to the site.

LibDem home affairs spokesman and ex-senior Met police chief Brian Paddick said Facebook had a responsibility and duty of care in setting the standards for a civilised society.

He said: This video shows total insensitivity for the tragic death of this innocent man. It must be unbearably traumatic for the victims family.

Facebook should be doing everything they can to make sure it is taken down and not shared across its platforms. This is about dignity and respect and they cannot be allowed to continue with this hands-off approach.

Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke said: It is always difficult to monitor millions of things being uploaded but this case is very high profile.

It shows a complete lack of corporate governance and care by Facebook to allow the video to still appear on its system.

You would expect them to act with immediacy with something as high profile as this.

It clearly shouldnt be on there and you would expect them to act with immediacy and it raises bigger questions about their corporate governance.

"History has always shown that companies with poor corporate governance suffer in the long run.

Stephens, who worked for a behavioural health agency, uploaded the clip, titled Easter day slaughter, to Facebook on Sunday shortly after the shooting.

The video shows him approaching Godwin and asking the elderly man to repeat his ex-girlfriends name, saying: Can you say Joy Lane? Shes the reason this is about to happen to you.

The killer brandishes his gun as Godwin tries to shield his head with a plastic bag, pleading: I dont know anybody by that name.

Stephens then pulls the trigger.

In a second Facebook video he claimed to have killed more than a dozen other people, adding: Like I said, I killed 13, so Im working on 14 as we speak.

He also claimed he was motivated to kill after breaking up with Joy, who he dated for three years.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg admitted on Tuesday that his firm had more to do over the issue of violent videos.

Cops had offered a $50,000 reward for Stephens.

They traced his phone to Pennsylvania following the killing.

They received a tip-off Stephens car was in a McDonalds car park in Erie, but he sped off before turning his weapon on himself.

In rambling messages, Stephens claimed he snapped over gambling debts and breaking up with his girlfriend.

Click for more from The Sun.
An Arkansas Volunteer firefighter comes to the rescue after a little girl falls out of the back of a bus. His dash camera, running the entire time.

A licensed EMT and volunteer firefighter for Crawford county is seen driving down highway 65 in Harrison when the back door of a bus flings open and a four-year-old girl is hanging onto it. She falls to the pavement and the bus continues to drive away.

Ciampoli immediately goes to help the girl.

He says she was unconscious at first but started to wake up when he approached her. He picked her up and carried her off the road where he laid her on a truck bed in a nearby parking lot and got to work keeping her conscious and checking her vitals.

"Then the shock kicked in in her little body and she started kicking and screaming and "where's my mommy?" and things like that, stuff like that is really heartbreaking," Ciampoli says.

It took about five minutes for paramedics to get to the scene and transport the child to the hospital.

Her mother says she has a broken jaw and will need surgery but is expected to be okay. She says she is not blaming the driver of the bus and she just wants to focus on her daughter's recovery. The girl's father says she should be released from the hospital on Monday.

Read more from FOX 16.
Louisiana has rescinded a controversial parole order granted to an ex-soldier sentenced to 71 years in prison -- but who only served 20 years -- for kidnapping, raping and killing a young woman.

Samuel Galbraith was a soldier at Fort Polk when he killed 21-year-old Karen Hill, the wife of an Army sergeant in 1988, WBRZ-TV reports. He was arrested for the murder in 1997 and then pleaded guilty on the eve of trial.

He became eligible for parole after turning 45 and serving 20 years of his sentence.

The Louisiana Parole Board granted him parole last year, but the decision left detectives and prosecutors on the case and Hills family outraged.

It was just unconscionable that this particular person would get out after serving less than one-third of his sentence for such a heinous murder and rape he committed, Vernon Parish District Attorney Asa Skinner told the station.

Galbraith, now 47, was two days from being freed when the Louisiana Department of Corrections announced Friday that Galbraith would have to reapply for parole.

The announcement came after a WBRZ reporter questioned Gov. John Bel Edwards Friday about Galbraith.

Officials said Hills mother wasnt properly notified of his parole hearing in November, The Baton Rouge Advocate reported. The notification letter went to an address in Albany, N.Y., not Albany, Ill., where the mother Jesse McWilliams lives.

Prosecutors said Galbraith abducted Hill from a convenience store where she worked and took her to the Kisatchi National Forest near Fort Polk. After he raped her, he tied her to a tree and then shot her in the left eye with a .22-caliber handgun.

DNA linked him to the crime, the paper reported.

Skinner suspects Galbraith may have killed two other women who were last seen at a convenience store and whose bodies were found in the woods near Fort Polk, according to the paper.
A federal judge is warning an ex-treasure hunter that he could face another contempt-of-court charge if he doesn't reveal the location of 500 missing gold coins.



Ohio Judge Algenon Marbley on Friday ordered Tommy Thompson to cooperate by granting power of attorney to allow the government to figure out if a trust in Belize knows the coins' whereabouts.



The Columbus Dispatch reports that Marbley refused Thompson's request to appoint a civil attorney to help him review records.



Marbley has held Thompson in contempt of court since December 2015 for violating terms of a plea deal by refusing to respond to questions about the coins' locations.



The coins, valued up to $4 million, were minted from gold taken from the S.S. Central America, which sank in an 1857 hurricane.
A California judge has decided that a defendant is mentally competent to stand trial for killing seven former classmates at a small Christian college in 2012.

The East Bay Times reports (http://bayareane.ws/2q4lH3o) a trial was ordered Friday for One Goh. He's scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

The former nursing student is charged with killing seven and injuring three during an April 2, 2012, rampage on the Oakland campus of Oikos University.

The trial had been put on hold in 2015 after a judge determined Goh had a mental illness that prevented him from rationally assisting his attorneys with his defense.

Prosecutors say Goh dropped out of Oikos several months before the shooting and wanted his tuition refunded.

___

Information from: East Bay Times, http://www.eastbaytimes.com
As warmer weather approaches and mosquito seasons take flight, health professionals are warning that a Zika outbreak in the Rio Grande Valley at the southernmost tip on the Texas border with Mexico is just a matter of time.

The area, home to 1.3 million people, many living in poverty, has many houses without sufficient air-conditioning and window screens.

ZIKA BIRTH DEFECTS FOUND IN 1 IN 10 INFECTED US PREGNANT WOMEN

You have a lot of these families who dont even have money to get rid of their garbage, Patricia Pena, who works with the community nonprofit La Frontera Ministries to educate locals on the virus, told the Guardian newspaper. And their houses are infested with all kinds of creatures, including mosquitoes.

Joseph McCormick, regional dean of the University of Texas School of Public Health, also expressed concern that the disease is going to hit the poorest people.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is currently urging pregnant woman and symptomatic individuals in the lower Rio Grande Valley to promptly get tested.

US ZIKA VACCINE BEGINS SECOND PHASE OF TESTING

But making matters worse, the number of people without health insurance in the region is one of the highest in the U.S, and there is no public hospital. Furthermore, 80 percent of Zika cases do not show symptoms  but the local-mosquito-borne virus comes with serious consequences from severe birth defects to neurological problems.

And while much of the nations attention has been on the spread of the disease in Florida, Texas has already had to contend with some ten documented cases this year.

The state reported its first case in late November, in the border town of Brownsville, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to designate it a cautionary area that pregnant women should avoid.
Students at the University of California at Berkeley who invited conservative commentator Ann Coulter to speak on campus are threatening to sue the university if it does not find a proper time and venue for her to speak next week.

Harmeet Dhillon, who represents the Berkeley College Republicans, said in letters sent Friday to UC Berkeleys Interim Vice Chancellor Stephen Sutton and chief attorney Christopher Patti that if Coulter is not allowed to give a speech on campus on April 27 she will file a lawsuit in federal court because the university is violating the students constitutional right to free speech.

"It is a sad day indeed when the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, is morphing before our eyes into the cemetery of free speech on college campuses," Dhillon wrote.

School officials told the Berkeley College Republicans on Tuesday, and the nonpartisan Bridge USA which coordinated the event, that it was being cancelled due to security concerns.

Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks said that police have "very specific intelligence regarding threats that could pose a grave danger to the speaker," her audience and protesters if the event goes ahead next Thursday.

Officials offered an afternoon event on May 2, when they can offer an "appropriate, protectable venue" but Coulter rejected it, saying she is not available that day. She also tweeted, "THERE ARE NO CLASSES AT BERKELEY THE WEEK OF MAY 2." The period is known as Dead Week, when students are studying for final exams.

"You cannot impose arbitrary and harassing restrictions on the exercise of a constitutional right," Coulter told "Hannity" on Thursday night. "None of this has to do with security."

It is the latest skirmish in a free-speech fight involving conservative voices on college campuses across the country, including at Berkeley. In February, masked rioters at the school smashed windows, set fires, and shut down an appearance by former Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos. Last week, the Berkeley College Republicans said threats of violence forced them to cancel a speech by writer David Horowitz. Writer Charles Murray's appearance at Middlebury saw riots last month, and Heather Mac Donald's speech at Claremont McKenna College was streamed online earlier this month after protesters blocked the door to the venue.

Berkeley has been the site of clashes between far-right and far-left protesters, most recently at a rally last weekend called in support of President Donald Trump in downtown Berkeley.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kansas police announced Sunday the capture of a man who they say murdered a woman near the playground named for the victim's sister -- who was just 10 when she was abducted and killed in 1999.

Emenencio Lansdown, the subject of a massive manhunt, was taken into custody after an overnight standoff, according to reports.

Suspect in custody following overnight standoff. Live reports ahead on @fox4kc. #fox4kc https://t.co/QgTTbmduZv  Rob Collins (@RCFOX4KC) April 23, 2017

Kansas City Kansas Police Chief Terry Zeigler said on Twitter Sunday morning that Landsdown surrendered and no one was injured.

Lansdown faces second-degree murder and criminal possession of a firearm in connection with the death of 34-year-old Casey Eaton, a mother of four who had one grandson. She was shot to death Wednesday night in front of her home. Her body was found in a vehicle.

Her sister was Pamela Butler, who was 10 in October 1999 when she was kidnapped while roller-skating near her Kansas City, Kansas, home. The abduction sparked a two-day manhunt that included an early high-speed chase through the city when a passer-by saw Keith Nelson grab Pamela. Nelson managed to elude the witness, who got his license plate number and called police.

Nelson, who was sentenced to death in federal court for the crime, drove the girl east into Missouri and then dragged her into a densely wooded area of Grain Valley, where he beat her and strangled her with speaker wire. In return for pleading guilty, prosecutors agreed to drop a count alleging that he sexually assaulted the girl.

Cherri West, the mother of Eaton and Pamela, told Fox4KC that Casey ran after Nelson when he took Pamela.

"She was screaming down the street, and that's where the neighbor on the next block come down and started chasing the truck and lost it, but he got the tag number for us," West told the station.

She told the station she cant believe another daughter has been murdered.

I can't believe this has happened to me again," she said. "You kind of sit back and you wonder what have you done in life for something like this to be done to you."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from Fox4KC.
A land mine blew up a vehicle carrying an OSCE monitoring team in the separatist Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine on Sunday, killing an American observer and wounding two European members of the mission, officials reported.



The mission's deputy head, Alexander Hug, said the member killed was from the U.S. and the two wounded are from Germany and the Czech Republic.



Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, who holds the rotating chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, called for an investigation into the blast and said on Twitter that "those responsible will be held accountable."



In Washington, the State Department expressed shock and sadness and extended condolences to family and friends of the victim, who was not identified in the statement.



Spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. "again calls upon Russia to use its influence with the separatists to take the first step toward peace to eastern Ukraine and ensure a visible, verifiable and irreversible improvement in the security situation."



"This death underscores the increasingly dangerous conditions under which these courageous monitors work, including access restrictions, threats and harassment. The United States urges Russia to use its influence with the separatists to allow the OSCE to conduct a full, transparent and timely investigation," Toner added.



In a separate statement, the State Department said U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson phoned Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to discuss his recent trip to Moscow and his message to Russian officials that Moscow's actions in eastern Ukraine remain an obstacle to improved relations with the U.S.



Tillerson accepted Poroshenko's condolences on the OSCE observer's death and the two leaders agreed that "this tragic incident makes clear the need for all sides -- and particularly the Russian-led separatist forces -- to implement their commitments under the Minsk Agreements immediately," the statement said.



The self-proclaimed security ministry for the Russia-backed separatist rebels in Luhansk said the mine had been laid by Ukrainian forces. The rebels and the Ukrainian government have been fighting in eastern Ukraine since 2014 in a war that has killed more than 9,900 people.



The monitoring mission assesses compliance with the 2-year-old Minsk peace deal that was to bring a cease-fire and heavy weapons pullback to the region. It also conducts work on human rights and civil society issues as well as mine-awareness programs.


Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has met with Saudi Arabia's King Salman in his first visit to the kingdom since a rare public spat last year erupted over diverging policies on Syria.

The close allies hold different views on Syria, where Saudi Arabia has aggressively pursued efforts to oust President Bashar Assad. In October, however, Egypt voted in favor of two separate draft resolutions on Syria at the U.N. Security Council, one of which had been drafted by Syria's staunch ally Russia.

In statements after the bilateral meeting Sunday, both sides stressed the importance of the relationship.

Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, depends on aid from Saudi Arabia, the region's largest economy. The kingdom also backed el-Sissi's rise to power after the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood.
French politics was shaken to its core Sunday as far-right populist Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron advanced to a runoff presidential election after the first round of voting.

As it became clear that Le Pen would be one of the top two vote-getters, her rivals on the left and right urged voters to block her path to power in the May 7 runoff, saying her virulently nationalist anti-EU and anti-immigration politics would spell disaster for France.



"Extremism can only bring unhappiness and division to France," defeated conservative candidate Francois Fillon said. "As such, there is no other choice than to vote against the extreme right."



With 97 percent of votes counted, the Interior Ministry said Macron had nearly 24 percent, giving him a slight cushion over Le Pen's 21 percent. Fillon, with just under 20 percent, was slightly ahead of the far-left's Jean-Luc Melenchon, who had 19 percent.

The selection of Le Pen and Macron marked the first time in the 59-year history of the French Fifth Republic that neither of the country's two main parties, the Socialists and the Republicans, made the second round of presidential balloting. Macron, a 39-year-old investment banker, made the runoff on the back of a grassroots campaign without the support of a major political party.

With Le Pen wanting France to leave the EU and Macron wanting even closer cooperation between the bloc's 28 nations, Sunday's outcome meant the May 7 runoff will have undertones of a referendum on France's EU membership.



The euro jumped 2 percent to more than $1.09 after the initial results were announced because Macron has vowed to reinforce France's commitments to the EU and euro -- and opinion polls give him a big lead heading into the second round.

While Le Pen faces the runoff as the underdog, it's already stunning that she brought her once-taboo party so close to the Elysee Palace. She hopes to win over far-left and other voters angry at the global elite and distrustful of the untested Macron.

Le Pen, in a chest-thumping speech to cheering supporters, declared that she embodies "the great alternative" for French voters. She portrayed her duel with Macron as a battle between "patriots" and "wild deregulation" -- warning of job losses overseas, mass migration straining resources at home and "the free circulation of terrorists."

"The time has come to free the French people," she said at her election day headquarters in the northern French town of Henin-Beaumont, adding that nothing short of "the survival of France" will be at stake in the presidential runoff.

Her supporters burst into a rendition of the French national anthem, chanted "We will win!" and waved French flags and blue flags with "Marine President" on them.



With a wink at his cheering, flag-waving supporters who yelled "We will win!" in his election day headquarters in Paris, Macron promised to be a president "who protects, who transforms and builds" if elected.



"You are the faces of French hope," he said. His wife, Brigitte, joined him on stage before his speech -- the only couple among the leading candidates to do so on Sunday night.

France is now steaming into unchartered territory, because whoever wins on May 7 cannot count on the backing of France's political mainstream parties. Even under a constitution that concentrates power in the president's hands, both Macron and Le Pen will need legislators in parliament to pass laws and implement much of their programs.



France's legislative election in June now takes on a vital importance, with huge questions about whether Le Pen and even the more moderate Macron will be able to rally sufficient lawmakers to their causes.



In Paris, protesters angry at Le Pen's advance -- some from anarchist and anti-fascist groups -- scuffled with police. Officers fired tear gas to disperse the rowdy crowd. Two people were injured and police detained three people as demonstrators burned cars, danced around bonfires and dodged riot police. At a peaceful protest by around 300 people at the Place de la Republique some sang "No Marine and no Macron!" and "Now burn your voting cards."



Macron supporters at his Paris election-day headquarters went wild as polling agency projections showed the ex-finance minister making the runoff, cheering, singing "La Marseillaise" anthem, waving French tricolor and European flags and shouting "Macron, president!"



Mathilde Jullien, 23, said she is convinced Macron will beat Le Pen.



"He represents France's future, a future within Europe," she said. "He will win because he is able to unite people from the right and the left against the threat of the National Front and he proposes real solutions for France's economy."



Fillon, the Republican candidate said he would vote for Macron on May 7 because Le Pen's program "would bankrupt France" and throw the EU into chaos. He also cited the history of "violence and intolerance" of Le Pen's far-right National Front party, founded by her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was trounced in the presidential runoff in 2002.



In a defiant speech to supporters, Melenchon refused to cede defeat before the official count confirmed pollsters' projections and did not say how he would vote in the next round.



In a brief televised message, Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve urged voters to back Macron to defeat the National Front's "funereal project of regression for France and of division of the French."



Socialist presidential candidate Benoit Hamon, who was far behind in Sunday's results, quickly conceded defeat. Declaring "the left is not dead!" he also urged supporters to back Macron.



Voting took place amid heightened security in the first election under France's state of emergency, which has been in place since gun-and-bomb attacks in Paris in 2015. On Thursday, a gunman killed a police officer and wounded two others on Paris' iconic Champs-Elysees boulevard before he was fatally shot.



The Associated Press contributed to this report.
French voters began to flood the polls Sunday under heightened security to kick-off the start of a tense first-round poll that has been seen as a test for the spread of populism around the world.

Security around the more than 60,000 polling stations was tightened up in wake of the deadly shooting on the Champs-Elysses on Thursday, which left one police officer and a gunman dead. The government mobilized more than 50,000 police and gendarmes to protect the polling places and an additional 7,000 soldiers were on patrol.

It is the first time in recent memory that a presidential election, in which 47 million people are eligible to vote, taking place during a state of emergency, which was put in place after the Paris attacks of November 2015.

The vote "is really important, mainly because we really need a change in this country with all the difficulties we are facing and terrorism," said Paris resident Alain Richaud, who was waiting to cast his vote.

Opinion polls point to a tight race among the four top contenders vying to get into the May 7 presidential runoff that will decide who becomes France's next head of state.

Polls suggest far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, an independent centrist and former economy minister, were in the lead. But conservative Francois Fillon, a former prime minister, appeared to be closing the gap, as was far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.

France's 10 percent unemployment, its lackluster economy and security issues topped concerns for the 47 million eligible voters.

Hard-line right-winger Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, who rails against Europe, was the first of the presidential candidates to vote Sunday morning in his constituency in the leafy Paris suburbs. Far-left candidate Nathalie Arthaud cast her ballot soon after in the Paris suburb of Pantin.

Fillon will vote in Paris, but his wife  who's been handed preliminary charges for her role in the fake jobs scandal that rocked her husband's campaign  voted 250 155 miles away near their 14th century manor house in Sarthe.

If Le Pen or Melenchon win a spot in the summers runoff, it will be seen as a victory for the rising wave of populism reflected by the votes for Donald Trump and Brexit.

Macron and Fillon are committed to European unity and would reform labor rules.

Political campaigning was banned from midnight Friday hours ahead of polls opening in France's far-flung overseas territories such as Guadeloupe, French Polynesia and French Guiana, which all voted a day early Saturday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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French voters have begun casting ballots for the presidential election in a tense first-round poll that's seen as a test for the spread of populism around the world.

Over 60,000 polling stations opened Sunday at 0600 GMT for some 47 million eligible voters, who will choose between 11 candidates. It's the most unpredictable election in generations.

Polls suggest far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, an independent centrist and former economy minister, were in the lead. But conservative Francois Fillon, a former prime minister, appeared to be closing the gap, as was far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.

France's 10 percent unemployment, its lackluster economy and security issues topped voters' concerns.

Early voting began Saturday in France's overseas territories.
North Korea reportedly detained an American on Friday.

The man, only identified as Kim, is a Korean-American who is about 50 years old, the Yonhap news agency reported. The man had been in North Korea for the last month to discuss aid and relief programs.

North Korean authorities arrested Kim at Pyongyang International Airport just before he was going to leave the country. The reason for his arrest is unclear, according to Yonhap.

The reported arrest is the latest American to be detained in the isolated country. College student Otto Warmbier and pastor Kim Dong-chul are also being held in North Korea. They were both sentenced to lengthy prison terms for what were described as subversive acts against the country.

South Koreas national spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, said it was not aware of any arrest.

Click for more from Yonhap News Agency.
North Korea recently detained a U.S. citizen, officials said Sunday, in the latest case of an American being held in the country.

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of a Korean-American citizen being detained recently, but could not comment further. The embassy looks after consular affairs for the United States in North Korea because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, citing unnamed sources, reported that a Korean-American man was arrested Friday at Pyongyang's international airport while trying to leave North Korea. It said the man, in his late 50s and identified by his surname, Kim, has been involved in aid and relief programs to North Korea and was a former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China.

South Korea's Unification Ministry and its intelligence agency both said they were unable to confirm the report.

At least two other Americans are currently detained in North Korea. Last year, Otto Warmbier, then a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner. Kim Dong Chul, who was born in South Korea but is also believed to have U.S. citizenship, is serving a sentence of 10 years for espionage.

At least one other foreigner, a Canadian pastor, is also being detained in North Korea. Hyeon Soo Lim, a South Korean-born Canadian citizen in his 60s, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2015 on charges of trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system and helping U.S. and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens.
A U.S. citizen has been detained in North Korea, according to Martina Aberg, deputy head of mission for the Swedish Embassy in North Korea.

We have been informed and can confirm that there has been a detention of a US citizen Saturday morning local, she said.

He was prevented from getting on the flight out of Pyongyang. We dont comment further than this.

Tony Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk, was detained on Saturday, according to Park Chan-mo, the chancellor of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology.

Park said Kim, who is in his 50s, taught accounting at the university for about a month. He said Kim was detained by officials as he was trying to leave the country from Pyongyangs international airport.

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of a Korean-American citizen being detained recently, but could not comment further.

The embassy looks after consular affairs for the United States in North Korea because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

Park said Kim had taught at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China before coming to Pyongyang. He said he was informed that the detention had nothing to do with Kims work at the university but did not know further details.

As of Sunday night, North Koreas official media had not reported on the detention.

Though no details on why Kim was detained have been released, the detention comes at a time of unusually heightened tensions between the US and North Korea.

Both countries have recently been trading threats of war and having another American in jail will likely up the ante even further. Last year, Otto Warmbier, then a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.

Kim Dong Chul, who was born in South Korea but is also believed to have US citizenship, is serving a sentence of 10 years for espionage. Another foreigner, a Canadian pastor, is also being detained in North Korea.

Read more from News.com.au.
North Korea threatened Sunday to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military prowess as two Japanese Navy ships joined a U.S. strike group for exercises in the Philippine Sea.

Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," according to North Koreas ruling Workers Partys newspaper, the Rodong Sinmum.

The paper also likened the USS Carl Vinson to a gross animal and said a strike on the carrier would be an actual example to show our militarys force.

President Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson to sail to waters off the Korean Peninsula in response to the rising tensions over Pyongyangs nuclear and missile tests and threats to attack the U.S. and its allies. Vice President Pence said Saturday that group would arrive within days.

The Vinson and two other U.S. warships were joined by two Japanese destroyers as they continued their journey north in the western Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Navy said in a statement. The U.S. group also includes a guided-missile cruiser and a guided-missile destroyer.

The aircraft carrier had canceled a scheduled visit to Australia to divert toward North Korea in a show of force, though it still conducted a curtailed training exercise with Australia before doing so.

The Navy called the exercise "routine" and said it is designed to improve combined maritime response and defense capabilities, as well as joint maneuvering proficiency.

The Vinson group has conducted three previous bilateral exercises with the Japanese Navy since leaving San Diego on Jan. 5 for a western Pacific deployment. The most recent one was in March.

Analysts believe that North Korea could be gearing up for its sixth nuclear test in wake of a failed missile launch and ahead of the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Peoples Army, which takes place Tuesday.

North Korea conducted two of its five nuclear tests last year and is believed to be working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that could reach the mainland U.S.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from Reuters.
Just over a week after the U.S military galvanized headlines by dropping its largest non-nuclear bomb to destroy tunnels created by ISISs branch in Afghanistan, the country experienced the deadliest attack on its military since the sixteen-year conflict began.

An estimated ten Taliban insurgents on Friday made their way through multiple checkpoints dressed in military attire, flashing what appeared to be authentic identification cards, to launch an attack at the mosque at the 209 Shaheen Army Corps base following morning prayers. Three of the attackers detonated suicide vests while others reportedly opened fire and threw grenades, slaughtering at least 135 Army soldiers  with officials fearing the number could climb as high as 200.

Today, there was a shortage of coffins, Balkh Province council member Ibrahim Khairandish declared in the aftermath of the incursion.

Mawlawi Ahmadullah  who has been the Imam at the Armys Mosque where the horrific attack happened for a decade  has said luck was on his side as he was not there that morning, but was close enough to hear the gunfire. However, Ahmadullah said his brother  a newly-married unit commander  was killed in the onslaught.

Enemies once again demonstrated their barbaric action toward the people of Afghanistan, Ahmaduallah told Afghanistans 24-hour news station, TOLONews. Insurgents commit crimes in the name of Islam and it is a horrific trend.

TALIBANS SURPRISE ATTACK FORCED 30 COALITION TROOPS TO SHELTER IN PLACE

US AIRSTRIKE KILLS TALIBAN SHADOW GOVERNOR IN AFGHANISTAN SOUGHT SINCE 2011

It remains unclear as to whether the assailants were members of the Afghanistan Army since recruited by the Taliban, or if they were soldier impersonators. The Taliban has long been known to use both methods to infiltrate the U.S-supported government military, often using coercive intimidation tactics such as kidnapping family members to convince soldiers to strike their own. Deep tribal grievances and distrust is also rampant within military units, giving Taliban operatives opportunities to pervade.

Abdul Qahar, spokesperson for the military corps, stated that the attack was planned outside the country, and President Ashraf Ghani  who visited the base and declared Sunday a national day of mourning  has ordered an investigation to determine if there was insider involvement.

An unprecedented 6,700 Afghan security forces lost their lives in 2016 and many experts and officials fear that Afghanistan is fast deteriorating despite the continued U.S troop presence and the trillions of dollars that have been spent. Gen. John W. Nicholson, head of the U.S Forces Afghanistan, recently requested a few thousand additional ground troops to help with training local security forces in what is fast emerging as an intractable war.

FoxNews.com's Hollie McKay contributed to this report.
A Palestinian stabbed and lightly wounded four people in Tel Aviv before being arrested Sunday, the latest violence in a wave of attacks by Palestinians in the last year and a half, Israeli police said.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld called the violence a "terror attack" and said the 18-year-old suspect was being questioned by police.

The attack took place on a street near the city's popular beachfront.

Since September 2015, Palestinians have killed 42 Israelis, two visiting Americans and a British tourist in a wave of stabbing, shooting and car-ramming attacks.

In that same period of time, Israeli forces killed at least 244 Palestinians, most of them identified as attackers by Israeli authorities. The rest died in clashes with Israeli troops.

Israel says the violence is fueled by a Palestinian campaign of incitement compounded on social media sites that glorify such attacks. Palestinians say it stems from anger over decades of Israeli rule in territory they claim for a state.
Did ISIS speak too soon?

Some experts believe the terror group bungled its claim of responsibility for a terror attack in France last week  perhaps even revealing the identity of an at-large operative  after the identity of the attacker given by ISIS failed to match the mans actual name and nationality.

French national Karim Cheurfi, 39, killed a policeman in Paris on Thursday and was shot and killed himself while fleeing the scene. But ISIS claim of responsibility  delivered through its Amaq agency  named the assailant as Abu Yussef al-Belgiki, seemingly identifying the militant as a Belgian.

Whether [ISIS] had foresight of the event, mistook yesterdays attacker for someone else or simply made an imbecilic error remains to be seen, ISIS expert Jade Parker told AFP.

Charlie Winter, a senior research fellow focusing on radicalization at Kings College in London, told AFP the speed of ISIS claim  which came the same night as the attack  was an unusual step for the Islamist group.

The claim was much faster than it has ever been for this kind of attack, Winter said. The sooner the claim comes after the attack, the more easy it is for the organization to amplify it.

The quick claim also suggested that ISIS had foreknowledge of the attack. However, Cheurfi left behind a note extoling ISIS, which some experts interpreted as a sign he was trying to make it known to ISIS that he committed the attack in the groups name  a strange action if ISIS already knew of his plans.

It could be they thought one guy was carrying out the attack and it turned out to be another, Winter told AFP. It could just be they were plain wrong.
Pirates have returned to the waters off Somalia, but the spike in attacks on commercial shipping does not yet constitute a trend, senior U.S. officials said Sunday.

The attacks follow about a five-year respite for the region, where piracy had grown to crisis proportions during the 2010-2012 period, drawing the navies of the United States and other nations into a lengthy campaign against the pirates.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at a military base in the African nation of Djibouti, near the Gulf of Aden, that even if the piracy problem persists, he would not expect it to require significant involvement by the U.S. military.

At a news conference with Mattis, the commander of U.S. Africa Command said there have been about six pirate attacks on vulnerable commercial ships in the past several weeks.

"We're not ready to say there's a trend there yet," Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser said, adding that he views the spurt of attacks as a response to the effects of drought and famine on the Horn of Africa.

He said he was focused on ensuring that the commercial shipping industry, which tightened security procedures in response to the earlier piracy crisis, has not become complacent.

Navy Capt. Richard A. Rodriguez, chief of staff for a specially designated U.S. military task force based in Djibouti, said piracy "certainly has increased" in recent weeks. But he said countering it is not a mission for his troops, who are focused on counterterrorism in the Horn of Africa and developing the capacities of national armies in Somalia and elsewhere in the region.

Anti-piracy patrolling is among several missions China cited for constructing what it calls a naval logistics center in Djibouti. The base is under construction, and U.S. officials say they don't see it as a major threat to interfere with American operations at Camp Lemonnier.

Several other countries have a military presence on or near that U.S. site, including France, Italy, Germany and Japan. This reflects Djibouti's strategic location at the nexus of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Mattis made a point of spending several hours in Djibouti during a weeklong trip that has otherwise focused on the Mideast. As a measure of his concern for nurturing relations with the Djiboutian government, he flew four hours from Doha, Qatar, and then flew right back.

At his news conference, Mattis praised Djibouti for having offered U.S. access to Camp Lemonnier shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"They have been with us every day and every month and every year since," he said.

The U.S. rotates a range of forces through Lemonnier and flies drone aircraft from a separate airfield in the former French colony. U.S. special operations commandos are based at Lemonnier for counterterrorism missions in Somalia and elsewhere in the region.

During Mattis' visit, elements of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, including V-22 Osprey aircraft and Harrier attack jets were visible on Lemonnier's airfield.

The U.S. military presence has grown substantially in recent years, as reflected by construction of a new headquarters building, gym, enlisted barracks and other expanded infrastructure.

Djibouti has a highly prized port on the Gulf of Aden. The country is sandwiched between Somalia and Eritrea, and also shares a border with Ethiopia.

Mattis is using the early months as defense secretary to renew or strengthen relations with key defense allies and partners such as Djibouti, whose location makes it a strategic link in the network of overseas U.S. military bases.

Djibouti took on added importance to the U.S. military after 9/11, in part as a means of tracking and intercepting al-Qaida militants fleeing Afghanistan after the U.S. invaded that country in October 2001.

The U.S. has a long-term agreement with Djibouti for hosting American forces; that pact was renewed in 2014.

Over the past week Mattis has met with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt and Qatar.
Russia has protested the U.S. refusal to allow its inspectors to participate in a formal investigation into a chemical weapons attack that struck the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhan in northern Idlib, Syria, earlier this month.

According to Reuters, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S Secretary of State Rex Tillerson discussed the matter in a phone call on Friday, with Tillerson reinforcing his backing of the current investigative system carried out by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

As it stands, OPCW  an independent international watchdog  is probing the source of the attack and is expected to issue a report within the next two weeks.

Despite predictions that Trumps election to the White House would usher in a new era of strong ties between the two countries, the President said last week that relations with Russia may be at an all-time low.

U.S officials have unequivocally blamed the Syrian government for the chemical attacks, in which the use of the nerve agent sarin is suspected. Yet Moscow has staunchly defended its Damascus allies, instead pointing the finger at rebels battling the regime.

After sarin struck other opposition-controlled areas outside of Damascus in 2013, igniting international outrage, Syrian President Bashar Assad  while denying responsibility  agreed to declare and dispose of its some 1,300 tons of chemical weapons  including sarin, VX and mustard gas. Under the guise of Russian leadership, the entire stockpile was said to have been destroyed.

THE LATEST: NO RUSSIAN TROOPS FOR SYRIA'S ASSAD IN IS FIGHT

SYRIAN OPPOSITION OFFICIAL SHARES HIS GROUP'S VISION, DETAILS MISTAKES

However, various violations have since been reported and Israel defense officials last week cautioned that Assads forces still possess up to 3 tons of such toxic weapons. Former Brig. Gen. Zaher al-Sakat also told Fox News that he believed the government had retained much of its chemical arsenal despite the agreement, with some of it in the offshore protection of allies Iran and the Lebanese Shia militia, Hezbollah.

And while peace seems a far-fetched ideal in war-ravaged Syria and Moscow-Washington ties are less than stellar, Russia has agreed to participate in talks with the U.S and the United Nations in Geneva this week in yet another effort to bring an effort to the more than six-year civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced up to half its population.
A prosecutor in Sicily says that an investigation has found "evidence" of contacts between rescue boats run by some humanitarian groups and Libya-based migrant smugglers.

Catania Chief Prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro was quoted as saying in an interview published Sunday in La Stampa newspaper that the probe has revealed "evidence there's direct contacts between some NGOs and human traffickers in Libya."

Nine nongovernmental organizations have operated rescue boats in the Mediterranean just outside Libya's territorial waters. Rescue operations are ultimately coordinated by the Italian coast guard under maritime rules requiring help be given to distressed boats.

Populist Italian politicians on Sunday demanded to know who's financing the NGOs.

Premier Paolo Gentiloni has praised NGOs' saving lives, but says it's right that prosecutors investigate any contacts.
Still have a bottle of prescription painkillers in your cabinet or bedside table that you didnt use after you got a tooth pulled or a hip replaced?

Officials suggest you get rid of it during the annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday. Local hospitals and pharmacies will work with law-enforcement agencies in the Fredericksburg regionand nationwideto offer a safe way for residents to dispose of the old drugs.

The collection will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The effort is sponsored by Drug Enforcement Agency officials, who remind consumers that getting rid of unused painkillers can prevent future problems. Seven of 10 people who abused prescription painkillers either got them free or purchased or stole them from a friend or relative, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Likewise, eight of 10 heroin users began their addiction to opioidsdrugs that act on the nervous system to relieve painby abusing legally prescribed pain medicine, according to the DEA.

Storing medicines that are no longer needed may lead to serious health problems if teenagers or young adults in the home use them accidentally to self-medicate, said Dr. Indra Cidambi, an addiction medicine expert with the Center for Network Therapy. Theres the misconception that its safe to use someone elses drugs because the medicine was prescribed by a physician, Cidambi said.

Its also bad for the environment to toss medicines into the trash or down the drain, where they could seep into groundwater. Researchers discovered , for example, that people used high levels of Tramadol, a synthetic opiate, and when their waste seeped into the soil and groundwater, the vegetation absorbed it, according to the DEA press release.

Since the DEA started the take-back program in 2010, its collected almost 6 million pounds of unwanted, unneeded or expired medicines. Last years effort broke records with a collection of 447 tons of medicine.

DEA officials remind consumers that if they miss the national take-back day, they can safely dispose of prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines at their local pharmacies.
Police have identified the man who died after he and another man became stuck under a freight train in Fredericksburg on Saturday.

The victim was 30-year-old Jeremy David Day of Fredericksburg, who was taken to the hospital with the other man after emergency crews rescued them from beneath a CSX train early Saturday morning, according to the Fredericksburg Police Department.

Day died at the hospital about 1 p.m. The other victim is in critical but stable condition at a Richmond-area hospital.

According to the Fredericksburg Fire Department, units went to the scene, near the Virginia Railway Express lot, about 3:30 a.m. and found the victims underneath a tanker car of a CSX train headed to Richmond. Its still unclear how the men became stuck under the train.

The section of track is elevated about 20 feet above street grade where the incident happened near Frederick Street, Deputy Chief Mike Jones said.

Fire crews used ladders to access the tracks and treat the victims, then used a tower truck to remove the victims in basket-style stretchers, Jones said. It took about an hour to free the victims.

All train traffic was shut down during the rescue operation and initial investigation.

CSX and the Fredericksburg Police Department are handling the investigation.

Anyone with information can contact police at 373-3122. To make an anonymous tip, send a text to 847-411 and text FPDtip followed by your tip. Tips can also be sent by using a free FPD Tip app available for Android and iPhones.
Theres a phrase thats been running through my mind lately.

It comes from the first Jurassic Park movie, when the park owner is talking about his foolproof plan to have dangerous dinosaurs roam the Earth again.

The character says his animals are genetically engineered females, so theres no chance they will reproduce. A scientist disputes that, saying evolution has proven that life escapes all barriers, breaks free, expands to new territories.

Life finds a way, the scientist declares.

In the first film, geneticists used frog DNA to produce the dinosaurs, and there actually are some frogs that can change gender as needed. That survival device kicked in at Jurassic Park, and you have to admit thats a pretty amazing example of life finding a way.

But I have two more for you. The first is simple; the second, borderline astonishing.

During a hike along the rocks of the Rappahannock River, I pointed out to my grandson, Hunter, what I thought was a breathtaking sight. Not the circling eagle or sunbathing cormorants, though they were awesome, as was the springtime weather.

I showed him a clump of violets, growing out of a crevice in the rocks. A few handfuls of sand had washed up on the boulders, and the seeds somehow germinated. It demonstrated what little life matter is needed to make wild flowers emerge from a rock bed.

The second example also involves Hunter, who recently celebrated his sixth birthday. At his party, held at a bowling alley, we sang, he blew out the candles and we passed out pieces of his birthday cake.

People were enjoying the yellow or chocolate confection, or a sample of both, when his father brought out a second cake.

It showed the fuzzy image that most people have come to associate with a fetal ultrasound. In green icing were the words: Surprise!! Hunters gonna be a big brother.

This revelation came as a surprise to all of us, not to mention his parents, who were not planning another child. His mother had been taking birth control pills. His father had helped pack up and give away every piece of clothing, toy and accessory as Hunter outgrew them.

A month before Hunters birthday, his parents sold his crib that converted into a toddler bed.

So its only natural that life found a way to make them need another one.

In the weeks since then, my daughter Diana has commented that this pregnancy feels so different from the first one, it must be a girl. One night she went to get a pedicure and hadnt mentioned a word about being pregnant to the nail technician.

Diana doesnt even have a baby bump.

Still, the wise old woman pointed to her tummy and proclaimed that a girl is on the way.

A few days later, Diana got the results of blood tests that look at various chromosomes, and you guessed it. The scientific results matched the old ladys.

As members of the growing family have talked about a name, Hunter first suggested Princess Peach, a Nintendo character from the fictional Mushroom Kingdom. His parents nixed that, and one of the contenders thats bloomed in its place is Bella Ann.

Hunter likes it, and the fact that his baby sisters initials would be BAM.

I do, too. They describe the fashion with which shes making her way into the world.
UPDATE: The boil-water advisory has been lifted for all areas except Commonwealth Drive and Onyx Court off U.S. 1 in the Massaponax area. Due to the location of repairs, restoration of water service was delayed to that area. Results of additional testing for that area will be released Monday morning.

Spotsylvania continues to tell many residents to boil their water before using it, after a U.S. 1 water main break Friday.

Utilities staff is flushing the distribution system to eliminate issues from the water main break.

County officials issued a boil-water advisory because water pressure dropped after the break, increasing the possibility of contamination. Residents can take baths or showers, but should take care not to swallow the water.

The voluntary notice will stay in effect until officials get results from two consecutive bacteriological samples, each spanning 24 hours, a spokeswoman said Saturday. They expect to issue an update Sunday evening.

The break near the Cosners Corner shopping center temporarily cut off water to homes and businesses along the U.S. 1 corridor, from the FredericksburgSpotsylvania line to Thornburg.

The county said residents outside the posted area whose water is discolored should run cold water for 15 minutes to let it clear. If it doesnt clear, email the Utilities Department at utilities@spotsylvania.va.us or call 507-3700, extension 1. The impacted area extends from Kingswood subdivision in the north to Lancaster Gate in the south and includes big developments such as Lees Hill and Lees Parke.

Workers are continuing to make repairs.

The break occurred at 7:30 a.m., but crews quickly restored water everywhere except an industrial building on Commonwealth Drive, just south of Cosners Corner.

Deputy County Administrator Ed Petrovitch said rising temperatures could have caused the break, though he could not confirm that.

from staff reports
Adam and Ashley Mayo were spending a relaxing week at the Monroe Bay Campground near Colonial Beach when things changed in the blink of an eye Friday evening.

At about 7 p.m., rain started to fall. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a fierce storm swept through the campground.

Heavy rain and hail poured down and howling wind tore up trees and toppled campers. Debris, trashcans and tables whizzed through the air, Ashley Mayo, 33, said Saturday.

The couple fled their mobile home, which is close to Monroe Creeks shoreline, and ran to a friends nearby camper, where he held the glass sliding door closed. The Mayos held on for dear life.

That damned camper was lifting off the blocks, Ashley Mayo said. It was so loud you couldnt hear anything.

The Charlottesville-area couple said the storm lasted only about five to 10 minutes, but seemed like forever.

Worst thing Ive ever been through, I can tell you that, said Adam Mayo, 36, who described the storm as unbelievable.

The couple said the storm was the worst theyd seen in the 10 years theyve used the campground as their getaway.

The Mayos avoided major damage to their camper, vehicles and their boat, which was so full of water and hail that it nearly sank. Adam Mayo said a tree fell on his fathers truck nearby and probably totaled it.

There was other damage throughout the campground. Several mobile homes either toppled over or were hit by falling trees. Buzzing chainsaws echoed throughout the campground Saturday as crews were busy clearing up the mess caused by dozens of felled trees.

The Mayos consider themselves lucky to have escaped the storm mostly unscathed, as do many others who experienced the storm, which appears to have been isolated mostly to the campground area and Colonial Beach.

A Colonial Beach firefighter suffered leg injuries when saturated ground gave way and sent a fire truck tipping onto its side, but otherwise there were no reports of serious injuries.

Dominion Virginia Power spokesman Mike Duffy said the storm knocked out power to more than 3,000 customers in and around Colonial Beach. As of early Saturday evening, about 2,000 customers still had no power. Duffy said most Dominion customers were expected to have power back sometime Saturday, but he added that it will probably take days before all electricity is restored.

Most of the south side of the Potomac River town, from Boundary Avenue to whats known as the Point, was shut down Saturday, with Virginia State Police cruisers blocking off numerous streets and crews sawing felled trees and fixing power lines.

There were unconfirmed reports that the storm toppled some 50 utility poles in the area.

A curfew was set up in to keep people from walking or driving in the most heavily damaged area after 10 p.m. Saturday.

Its still dangerous, Colonial Beach Police Chief Danny Plott said during a media briefing Saturday afternoon. He explained that more trees could fall and that there could still be exposed power lines.

Colonial Beach Fire Department Chief David Robey said early estimates show the storm caused more than $1 million in damage to numerous houses. One house was destroyed, six severely damaged and 25 others were impacted by the storm.

The American Red Cross helped find shelter for one family and provided dinner for other residents Saturday.

Plott and Robey said the storm also damaged nearby marinas. They said the roof collapsed at the Boathouse Marina, but luckily there were no injuries.

While there has been conjecture that a tornado struck, Robey said National Weather Service officials told him the storm had straight-line winds reaching about 70 mph.

Plott and Robey praised the response by the numerous agencies involved and said they felt lucky there were no serious injuries or deaths. They also noted there is a lot of cleaning up to do.

There are power lines down all over the place, Plott said. It is simply a mess.

Worse thing Ive ever been through, I can tell you that. ADAM MAYO,

mONROE BAY CAMPER
THE crisis with North Korea may appear trumped up. Its not.

Given that Pyongyang has had nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles for more than a decade, why the panic now? Because North Korea is headed for a nuclear breakout. The regime has openly declared that it is racing to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach the United Statesand thus destroy an American city at a Kim Jong Un push of a button.

The North Koreans are not bluffing. Theyve made significant progress with solid-fuel rockets, which are more quickly deployable and thus more easily hidden and less subject to detection and pre-emption.

At the same time, Pyongyang has been steadily adding to its supply of nuclear weapons. Today, it has an estimated 10 to 16. By 2020, it could very well have a hundred. (For context: the British are thought to have about 200.)

Hence the crisis. We simply cannot concede to Kim Jong Un the capacity to annihilate American cities.

Some will argue for deterrence. If it held off the Russians and the Chinese for all these years, why not the North Koreans? First, because deterrence, even with a rational adversary like the old Soviet Union, is never a sure thing. We came pretty close to nuclear war in October 1962.

And second, because North Koreas regime is bizarre in the extreme, a hermit kingdom run by a weird, utterly ruthless and highly erratic godking. You cant count on Caligula. The regime is savage and cultlike; its people, robotic. Karen Elliott House once noted that while Saddam Husseins Iraq was a prison, North Korea was an ant colony.

Ant colonies do not have good checks and balances.

If not deterrence, then prevention. But how? The best hope is for China to exercise its influence and induce North Korea to give up its programs.

For years, the Chinese made gestures, but never did anything remotely decisive. They have their reasons. Its not just that they fear a massive influx of refugees if the Kim regime disintegrates. Its also that Pyongyang is a perpetual thorn in the side of the Americans, whereas regime collapse brings South Korea (and thus America) right up to the Yalu River.

So why would the Chinese do our bidding now?

For a variety of reasons:

 They dont mind tension but they dont want war. And the risk of war is rising. They know that the ICBM threat is totally unacceptable to the Americans. And that the current administration appears particularly committed to enforcing this undeclared red line.

 Chinese interests are being significantly damaged by the erection of regional missile defenses to counteract North Koreas nukes. South Korea is racing to install a THAAD anti-missile system. Japan may follow. THAADs mission is to track and shoot down incoming rockets from North Korea but, like any missile shield, it necessarily reduces the power and penetration of the Chinese nuclear arsenal.

 For China to do nothing risks the return of the American tactical nukes in South Korea, withdrawn in 1991.

 If the crisis deepens, the possibility arises of South Korea and, most importantly, Japan going nuclear themselves. The latter is the ultimate Chinese nightmare.

These are major cards America can play. Our objective should be clear. At a minimum, a testing freeze. At the maximum, regime change.

Because Beijing has such a strong interest in the current regime, we could sweeten the latter offer by abjuring Korean reunification. This would not be Germany, where the communist state was absorbed into the West. We would accept an independent, but Finlandized, North.

During the Cold War, Finland was, by agreement, independent but always pro-Russian in foreign policy. Here we would guarantee that a new North Korea would be independent but always oriented toward China. For example, the new regime would forswear ever joining any hostile alliance.

There are deals to be made. They may have to be underpinned by demonstrations of American resolve. A pre-emptive attack on North Koreas nuclear facilities and missile sites would be too dangerous, as it would almost surely precipitate an invasion of South Korea, with untold millions of casualties. We might, however, try to shoot down a North Korean missile in mid-flight to demonstrate both our capacity to defend ourselves and the futility of a North Korean missile force that can be neutralized technologically.

The Korea crisis is real and growing. But we are not helpless. We have choices. We have assets. Its time to deploy them.

Charles Krauthammer is a columnist for The Washington Post Writers Group. His email address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com.
Dominion should value people over profits

Virginians should not have to worry about the safety of their water, but if we continue to be subservient to Dominion that could become the reality for many.

A federal judge recently ruled that Dominions Chesapeake Energy Center, containing millions of tons of coal ash, violated the law by releasing deadly arsenic into the Elizabeth River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Dominion seeks to leave the waste in place to avoid a hefty charge, but that will come at the expense of residents who will continue to have their water poisoned.

This area, like all of Virginia, should be safe for recreation and free of contaminants, which degrade our riparian and coastal communities, but it never will be unless the power company is held accountable.

Dominion had requested a permit to leave million of tons of coal ash in the ground at Possum Point on the Potomac River in Prince William County. But its own monitoring data shows decades of groundwater contamination by noxious metals from the pond it proposed to cap in place. [Editors note: Dominion is now studying how to contain potential pollution from its ponds. Gov. Terry McAuliffe has signed a bill this year revising coal ash solid-waste permits.]

The companys operations span Virginia, so where else is it leaking harmful toxins?

A recent report from American Rivers says that fracking, in which Dominion is actively involved, threatens the Rappahannock River and puts our local waters at risk.

If Dominion has a history of poisoning Virginians groundwater and waterways, why does it continue to operate as a monopoly in our commonwealth?

Access to clean water is an inherent right that crosses all political lines, and communities should never feel helpless against powerful groups that endanger their health.

Dominion must clean up its toxic mess and value the health of people over profits. We have a voice and we should all be saying unanimously that we need to protect our water.

Christian Meoli

Fredericksburg
Dont be fooled by Americas would-be strong man

Trump supporters arent too bothered by Donald Trumps connections with Russia.

There isnt proof that Trump or his campaign is guilty of conspiring with Russians, but there is reasonable cause for suspicion such that an investigation is warranted.

The character of Trump and the Russians together is troubling. Russians dont care much for freedom. They think freedom is risky. They believe a strong, authoritarian leader is the best safeguard of their security. They want to be safe more than they want to be free.

Trump is more like a Russian than an American. Dont be fooled by him saying, Make America great. He wants to be an authoritarian strong man and goes about it Russian-style, with propaganda, denial and deception, etc. Those are psychological warfare tactics.

At the same time, Russia is engaged in a psywar campaign against the United States.

Trump is corrupt and incompetent, and having such a president weakens us. Thats why Russia helped Trumps campaign.

Dont let Trumps pathetic strike against Syria, Russias ally, mislead you. Russia is a threat to us and were being threatened by North Korea, Russias ally. If the Russians can goad Trump into a war with North Korea, it will serve Russian interests. No one will truly win, but we will be weakened and Russia will be pleased.

Trump supporters arent so concerned about Russia because they dont see Trump for what he is.

Trump only cares about money and power and he see Russia as a source for both. Hes a guy who likes to win. Hell do anything to get what he wants.

John Sterne

Falmouth
Newspaper carrier praised for service

This is a letter in the same vein as a recent one from Collette Caprara. We also have a wonderful newspaper carrier for The Free LanceStar, named Nancy Vanmeter.

The papers are delivered very early no matter what the weather is. It is a pleasure to find the papers waiting for us.

When I see her, she is always smiling and has a kind word to say. We also say, sincerely, thank you!

Jim and Nancy Rewis

Spotsylvania
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The sound was deafening as a massive crowd howled in imitation of wolves  a cry the speaker leading the crowd said he hoped would be heard all the way at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trumps Florida vacation home.

The moment came at a rally following the March for Science in downtown Corvallis Saturday afternoon, which coincided with similar marches across the United States. Organizers estimated the crowd in Corvallis was between four and five thousand.

Kelby Hahn, one of the events coordinators, said the organizers estimated the crowd size by handing out march stickers to everyone passing a certain point in the march. After running out after handing out 2,000 stickers, she said, they counted heads.

Were amazed, she said. It was more than we anticipated, but were excited.

Hahn said the purpose of the event was to promote policy decisions based on science.

I think (the crowd size) shows the Corvallis community cares about science and is very excited to share it, she said.

She added that it was intended to be a nonpartisan event, and people came out because they dont want science-based public agencies to be silenced.

Theres been a lot of concern about that lately, she said.

Signs carried by marchers included messages like: Darwin 2020. Gradual change we can believe in, Theres no alternative facts to climate change, Jumping off a building will hurt even if you dont believe in gravity, Science doesnt lie. Trump does, and Im with her, with an arrow pointing to an image of the earth.

Paige Hovenga, a graduate student in engineering at Oregon State University, said concern about climate change and advocating for science were why she attended the march.

We want to present people with science objectively and allow people to make informed decisions, she said.

She added that the event had a positive atmosphere.

There are a lot more people than I expected and the people here seem passionate, she said.

Gaylen Sinclair, a graduate student in climate sciences at OSU, said seeing so many people come out for the march was encouraging.

You can be in the lab for weeks and its easy to forget at the end of it there are people who are interested and care, Sinclair said.

Sinclair added that there are a lot of negative things said about scientists online, so showing that scientists are real people through events like this is important.

I think that its really important to show everyone science is important, she said.
As Oregon State University officials last week celebrated the announcement of a $25 million donation that will jump-start a performing arts and education center on campus, OSU President Ed Ray had the chance to reflect on what the arts have meant to him.

Ray grew up in the Queens borough of New York City and attended Queens College, part of the City University of New York system. He was the first member of his family to attend college.

It was in college that he had his first opportunity to take a deep dive into the arts: Alongside his classes on economics, he took art-appreciation classes, music classes. Some of his classmates didn't take those classes seriously, Ray remembered, but he was "totally transported."

"It was like the whole universe just got bigger," Ray said.

So when Ray talks about the $60 million project to expand and enhance The LaSells Stewart Center, there's a personal side to this.

Ray can't help but think of the nearly one-quarter of OSU students who are the first members of their families to attend college. For many of those students, the college years represent their first real opportunity to experience the arts.

Some of those students might breeze through those classes, like some of Ray's classmates.

But some will be transformed, just like Ray. They may not become actors or musicians or visual artists. But they will be transformed nonetheless: "To me," Ray said, "the arts are the closest thing we have for one soul to talk to another without interruption and without needing words."

Ray's story resonates with me because it echoes my own. My hometown (which shall go unnamed) wasn't exactly a cultural wasteland, but it wasn't bristling with artistic opportunities, although it does host one of the nation's biggest auctions of Western art every year.

It wasn't until my college years until I took that deep dive into the arts. Now, as my former saxophone instructor can testify, I was never a threat to develop into a world-class musician. As a visual artist, I'm the last person you want on your Pictionary team.

But a vibrant arts program isn't all about training artists. It's also about exposing students (and others) to the arts. We're not all going to be playing in the New York Philharmonic. But we might be playing in our local orchestras  or buying tickets to hear those orchestras perform. We might be volunteering at the Albany Civic Theater. We might be planning a trip to see the latest exhibit at The Arts Center in Corvallis or in Albany City Hall. We might stop in our tracks to take in one of the Art in Rural Storefront displays (curated by The Arts Center) in places such as Harrisburg, Brownsville and Philomath.

The arts open up all those possibilities. And when Ray talks about how his universe expanded, that's exactly what the arts can do: They can open up worlds we never knew existed. They can ask questions we never thought to ask. They can make us better human beings.

So when OSU opens its $60 million facility in 2022, my hope is that students (or community members) get the chance to see or hear something inside those walls that is transporting, that allows them to take their own deep dives. When they surface, they never will see the world in quite the same way again.

Last call for poetry

Remember that Thursday is "Poem in Your Pocket Day," when you pick a favorite poem, put it in your pocket and read it to friends or passersby. So the time has come to select a poem.

My offer stands: If you feel odd reading your poem to some stranger, call me on Thursday at 541-758-9502 and read the poem. (If you get my message, go ahead and read the poem after the tone.) My phone message on Thursday will include my selected poem. I understand that this could irritate some of you who just want to leave a message. I'd like to say I'm sorry about that, but I'm not, really. (mm)
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.
#jobless rate S. Korea's on-year job additions slow in Oct. amid uncertainties South Korea added jobs for the 20th straight month in October, data showed Wednesday, but the growth continued to slow for the fifth month in a row as the country braces for a poss...

#mine collapse Ministry to check 35 mines over recent collapse case South Korea will carry out special inspections into 35 mines across the country that are deemed to have relatively high chances of accidents by the end of this year in the wake of ...
Nokia 3310 to go on sale in Europe from next week; Price is slightly higher News oi -Shilpa Finally, it goes on sale in Europe.

In February, Nokia unveiled its several Android-powered smartphones at the Mobile World Congress which held in Barcelona. The company even announced that these smartphone will be made available for sale globally in Q2, 2017.

There was also a report suggesting that Nokia is gearing up to launch its smartphones in April. Those reports said that Nokia is set to launch its Nokia 3310 followed by Nokia 3, 5 and 6 smartphones globally by end of April and starting of May. Out of those phones, Nokia 3310 made everyone to raise their eyebrows. With a price tag of 49, it is designed to have a fresh look.

Though it is a feature phone, there is no doubt in people looking forward to buy it as their second phone. Now a new report says that Nokia 3310 will begin its sale in Europe from next week onwards. But as a surprise, many European markets started displaying different price.

Nokia 7, Nokia 8, Nokia 9 is expected to be launched in July

It looks like this phone will see a slightly higher price compared to what HMD Global announced earlier. In Austria, this phone will be sold for 59 from April 28th and few have put the price tag of 53 to attract some more buyers to their retail shop.

Whereas, in Germany, the same phone will be made available for 58. Sources say that the high tax rates in European countries made its price to see slight variations when compared to the announced price. To brush up your memory, go through this article to read more about its specs and designs.

Sleek design The Nokia 3310 features to have a bigger QVGA display of 2.4-inch with color LCD. If you compare it with the earlier version of Nokia 3310, the new model comes with a sleeker look and also looks very light weight. Software and Optics The new model of Nokia 3310 runs on Series 30+ software platform and packed with a 2MP primary camera. It even offers an internal storage of 16MB and also supports microSD cards to extend it further. Also Read: Nokia 9 to be launched in Q3 with SD835, dual camera, IP68 and more Battery capacity The battery being the biggest feature of Nokia phones, it houses a removable battery of 1200mAh capacity. It is having the strength to offer 31 days standby time and 22 hours talk time. Connectivity options The Nokia 3310 (2017) model includes connectivity options such as dual band GMS 900/1800MHz, Micro-USB, Bluetooth, 3.5mm jack, microSD, and FM radio. Unlike newly released smartphones, this feature phone only support 2G. Also Read: Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6 and Nokia 3310 will be released in India in May Price and Availability The old Nokia 3310 was available only in navy blue color, while this new model will be made available in several color options like - yellow, red, matt blue and more. The old phone was costing just Rs. 2,710, whereas the new variant is expected to be available at Rs. 3,500.

Other than the above-mentioned features, this new model will come with the most played classic snake game.

Best Mobiles in India
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A supermarket worker has spoken of the moment her car caught fire as she was taking it for a bit of a run-out along the Golden Valley Bypass.

Caroline Cheshire, 58, was on her way back home to Churchdown after her Saturday shift at the Morrisons store in Up Hatherley, Cheltenham.

As she approached the Gloucester end of the dual-carriageway at Elmbridge Court roundabout, she noticed smoke coming out of Ford Focus estate's engine as she stopped at the red lights.

Pulling over on to the verge, she was shocked to see police officers who told her that they had seen flames under her car.

After getting her clear of the scene and closing the roundabout, the fire service doused the flames.

Caroline said: "When I was out of the car and saw all the smoke, I was feeling really giddy.

"I said to the police officers that they had got there really quickly, but they said they had seen the flames under the car.

"I feel very lucky that they were there, even though my car is destroyed."

Caroline had been away for Easter and a lot of personal belongings were in the car, which have been lost.

Today, she said she was still feeling a bit shaky, but knows she was lucky that the fire happened where and when it did.

"I would like to thank the police officers and the fire crew, they were amazing."

British Transport Police specials and dog handlers had driving behind her car when it caught fire.

The roundabout was closed for a while from about 6.30pm as the fire service dealt with the car.
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There is never a good time for your car to suddenly catch fire as you are driving along.

Especially when you are on one of the busiest roundabouts in Gloucestershire.

But if the Fates have decided that today is the day that smoke and flames will billow out from your car's engine, it best that it happens when emergency services are right behind you.

That's what happened to the unlucky/lucky driver at Elmbridge Court roundabout in Gloucester yesterday evening.

Because British Transport Police specials and the dog handlers were driving behind the moving car when it caught fire.

Luckily, the lucky/unlucky driver was safe and well.

The blaze brought the Elmbridge Court roundabout to a standstill.

Smoke billowed from the car across the roundabout, which is at the end of the A40 Golden Valley linking Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Police closed the road at about 6.30pm and it was reopened shortly afterwards as Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service dealt with the fire.
Painters, photographers and other artists from the Dan River Region showed off their work at the Danville Art Leagues Springtime Again, show Sunday.

Whats nice is this has become a regional show rather than a Danville show, said art league member Melanie Vaughan.

Vaughan said about 50 people showed up on a dreary Sunday afternoon to the American National Bank & Trust Co.s downtown location for the exhibit opening. The event features dozens of artwork in both the painting and photography mediums.

The best-in-show winner this year is 15-year-old Annie Chang, a Chinese student attending high school at Westover Christian Academy. Changs portrait of a woman surrounded by grapes, entitled Vine, impressed judges with its references to the Pre-Raphaelite movement.

Chang said she wanted to portray the beauty of a sleeping woman in her work.

I think its pretty, she said.

Chang said she felt like she was dreaming after winning her very first art show. The young artist already had plans for her prize money.

I want to buy an art pen, Chang said with excitement.

The event was judged by Russian artist Alla Parsons, who works with oils and mixed media. Her works have been shown in exhibits internationally and are in private collections across the United States, Canada, Russia and Germany.

The art league also is sponsoring another judged exhibit this fall in October, Vaughan said. For more information about entering the show or about the Danville Art League, call Vaughan at (434) 709-0695.
A federal trial for a Virginia Civil War reenactor accused of planting a pipe bomb at a Virginia battlefield and threatening to disrupt other events has been set for next year. Gerald Leonard Drake had been on the docket for a jury trial in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia starting Dec. 16. But The Winchester Star reports a judge ordered last week that proceedings be rescheduled for July. Drake was charged last month and has pleaded not guilty. He's being held without bond, though his attorney has asked a judge to consider releasing him pre-trial.
On Youtube you can find a number of old interviews of the famous psychologist Carl Jung (1875-1961). They mostly date from the 1950s, and the ever-present pipe, heavy Swiss/German accent, and little, round, owl-like eyeglasses only add to the perception of a wise sage with secret knowledge who could heal the tortured psyche.

One of these clips is particularly revealing. Its from the BBCs Face to Face program in 1959. Jung is asked, does he believe in God? He hesitates for a moment, but finally answers, I dont need to believe, I know.

This is Dr. Jungs thought in a nutshell: that he knew God, because God resided in him and he had spent virtually his entire life exploring his God within. He did this through the study of occult phenomena, mythology, Gnosticism and, toward the end of his life, alchemy, and of course by finding subconscious traces of these things in himself and others.

All this necessitated a remarkable intellect, which Dr. Jung had, but the one thing he did lack was money  money to afford him the freedom to follow his muse wherever it led  and by plan or happenstance he resolved this dilemma by marrying one the wealthiest heiresses in Switzerland, Emma Rauschenbach (1882-1955). Catrine Clays Labyrinths: Emma Jung, Her Marriage to Carl, and the Early Years of Psychoanalysis (2016) attempts to tell Emma Jungs story  though perhaps the towering figure of Carl Jung makes Clays book more a biography of Emmas husband.

Emma Rauschenbach was the daughter of a prominent industrialist in Schaffhausen, a northern Swiss town on the Rhine River. Though she was very inquisitive and had an interest in the natural sciences as a girl, she was discouraged (as were many intelligent women of her time) from a university education and instead went to finishing school in Paris. It was not long after completing her studies in Paris that Emma met Jung. Though he was beneath her social station, Clay speculates there was also something that he brought to the marriage: Emmas father had syphilis, which was regarded as a great stigma, and having a physician in the family made it possible for her fathers treatment to be discrete.

Emma and Carl were married in 1903. By this time, Jung had completed his medical studies at the University of Basel and was employed in Zurich at a hospital for the insane called the Burgholzli. Staff lived on the premises, so Emma joined him there. They started a family and Emma enjoyed the good life in Zurich while her husband toiled at the asylum.

Dr. Jung began experiments with word-association tests and studied patients at the Burgholzli in his explorations of the unconscious. He also began having affairs, most notably at this time with a young Russian patient of his named Sabina Spielrein. In 1907, Jung first met Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis whose famous book, The Interpretation of Dreams (1900), had greatly influenced Jung and many others who worked with the mentally ill. Dr. Freud quickly saw in the brilliant Swiss someone who could help spread his new science to a wider audience.

Jung thus rapidly became Freuds heir apparent. But Jungs interest in the occult, which Freud regarded as mere superstition, as well as publication of Psychology of the Unconscious, in which Jung broke with the Freudian emphasis on the libido or sexuality, led to the disintegration of their relationship.

The Freud-Jung quarrel also precipitated Jungs mental breakdown in 1913. By then he had left the Burgholzli and established a private practice. Though deeply troubled, he continued to see patients in the Jungs new home in Kusnacht. But the break with Freud led Jung to an exploration of his own mind and self-healing which would in turn inspire his later work on myth, symbolism and the collective unconscious.

About the time of his breakdown, Jung also began a lengthy sexual relationship with one of his acolytes, Toni Wolff. Emma acquiesced to Wolff becoming virtually a member of the Jung household, apparently out of concern for Carls mental fragility.

Emmas wealth and her Job-like tolerance for Carls infidelities made the latters explorations of the mind possible. Though she was to remain in Jungs shadow, she would eventually become a Jungian analyst herself and research a book on the Holy Grail, which was a life-long interest. During the later years of their marriage, their bond strengthened and it was clear to all that the world would not have had the Carl Jung it knew without Emma Jung, steady in the background.

Though Labyrinths does not give us much insight into the mind of Emma Jung, it is a useful, concise and clearly written introduction to the life of her husband, and can be a good starting point, especially for casual readers to whom Deidre Bairs massive Jung: A Biography (2003) may be a bit daunting. Clays focus on the early years of psychoanalysis also makes Labyrinths a fine complement to David Cronenbergs excellent film, A Dangerous Method (2011), which dramatizes Jungs relationships.

Carl Jung emerges from Clays book as flawed in many ways. Above all, certainly he was indifferent to the shame his affairs must have caused his wife. There are some who regard Jung the thinker as a bit of a charlatan too, much as Freud must have as he realized his would-be successor could never quite reject the superstitions of a provincial Swiss upbringing. You can find this sort of skepticism in Richard Nolls The Jung Cult: Origins of a Charismatic Movement (1994) and The Aryan Christ: The Secret Life of Carl Jung (1997).

But whereas modern thinkers had cast God aside, Carl Jung finds a way back, superstitious or not, rediscovering God in the life of the mind through his researches into the unconscious, as was argued by the English theologian, Don Cupitt, in the BBCs Sea of Faith television series (1984). This was a singular achievement. If nothing else, Labyrinths reminds us that his wife was a vital helpmate in his quest.
BURLINGTON  Police are looking for a person who stole money from a convenience store Sunday morning.

According to a police news release, at 4:50 a.m., officers responded to Huff's Neighborhood Store at 2562 Maple Ave. in reference to a robbery.

The store clerk told police that a male came into the store and asked for change for a $5 bill. As the clerk opened the drawer, the robber reached in and stole money from the cash register. The clerk tried to stop him, but the robber pulled away.

The suspect fled through the front door to an awaiting light-colored four-door car parked near the front of the store. The vehicle went north on Maple Avenue.

No one was injured during the incident.

The suspect was described as a white male in his 20s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall with black spiked hair. He was wearing a black coat, blue shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information concerning this crime is encouraged to contact the Burlington Police Department at 336-229-3503. For anonymous methods to leave information, call Alamance County-Wide Crimestoppers at 336-229-7100 or text 8398 to 274637 for a text-a-tip method, both with possible cash rewards.
Two competitive races for North Carolina Supreme Court seats will determine the partisan makeup of the state's highest court and lay the groundwork for upcoming legal battles. Democrats hold a slim 4-3 majority, but two Democrat-held seats are up for election this year. Republicans only need to win one to flip the majority in their favor. The judicial elections come in the final months of a tumultuous two-year court term distinguished by several split decisions favoring the Democratic majority. These high-profile rulings have drawn criticism from both sides that the judiciary has become too politicized. All four candidates are vowing to keep their personal politics from interfering with their rulings, should they win.
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It has been disheartening to hear of recent reports of some individuals who participate in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program  or Dreamers  being swept up in a broad net of anti-immigration sentiment stirring in our country. For moral and economic reasons, we must find a way to keep these bright and hardworking students and workers here in the U.S.

Thankfully, both President Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan have indicated a desire to do just that. DACA was first put into place in 2012 by President Obama as an executive order to provide temporary relief from deportation for undocumented immigrants who, through no fault of their own, came to the United States as children. It also allowed them to work and study openly for the first time.

It is essential to our national and state economies that the nearly 1 million Dreamers in the United States are allowed to stay in this country  in most cases, the only country they have ever known  and continue to contribute to growth, job creation and expansion of the American Dream. Dreamers have built their lives in the U.S., and 6 percent have also created businesses that employ native-born citizens. Almost 90 percent of Dreamers are employed. By one estimation, repeal of DACA would cost the United States more than $400 billion over the next decade.

North Carolina would not be isolated from these impacts. We are home to more than three-quarters-of-a-million immigrants of all kinds in our state  8 percent of our population  and North Carolina has a higher immigration rate than the United States as a whole.

In North Carolina, about 50,000 of these immigrants are self-employed, and immigrant-owned businesses generated more than $972 million in business income in 2014. More than 120,000 North Carolinians are employed by an immigrant. According to a 2014 UNC-Chapel Hill study, immigrants contribute more than $27,000 annually per capita in North Carolina.

The economic consequences of repealing DACA and forcibly removing hundreds of thousands of young people would be dire. Businesses will be forced to close, putting people out of work. The number of consumers in our state would take a major hit, greatly impacting sectors such as retail. Significant numbers of workers would not be able to show up to work anymore, generating nothing more than chaos for many businesses.

Instead of removing these hardworking young people, the president and his administration should focus on ways to strengthen the program so that Dreamers can continue to contribute to the states economy until Congress finally enacts a comprehensive immigration reform package. President Trump can do so  as can members of the North Carolina congressional delegation  by supporting two pieces of legislation currently proposed in Congress: the bipartisan Bar Removal of Individuals Who Dream of Growing Our Economy (BRIDGE) Act and the Recognizing Americas Children (RAC) Act, which would effectively extend the life of DACA.

If President Trump does not take such a path, there will be both immediate and long-term consequences for our economy, and hence for all of us  not just immigrants.
As more than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners engage in hunger strikes in Israeli prisons, North Carolinians should be aware of moves by legislators to pass a law further complicating Israeli-Palestinian relations.

House Bill 161 prohibits state agencies from contracting with companies that boycott Israel. This takes aim at the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement (BDS). The goal of BDS is to use nonviolent means to promote freedom, justice and equality for Palestinians.

These are coveted American values, so why pass a law hindering this? Sponsors of the bill say companies refusing to do business with Israeli entities are engaged in unsound business practices and claim such decisions are discriminatory.

While any type of discrimination is wrong, a deeper understanding of the BDS movement reveals legitimate motivations based on human-rights abuses.

In Israel, administrative detention is used to hold adults and children without charge. Additionally, Israel continues to demolish Palestinian homes, seize land and force people to areas with limited access to water, electricity and schools.

Israel is an important ally, but this does not validate its treatment of the Palestinian people. As a North Carolinian, I am saddened by our legislators use of language like economic warfare to demonize a nonviolent, human-rights movement.

Kylie Stephens

High Point
Bethany Brooke wanders into the living room of her Westport home to show some of the pieces in her burgeoning Illusions series, which are leaning against a wall. They are her latest works.

The meaning behind them is what appears on the outside is not always on the inside, she says of these labor-intensive pieces, which were inspired by trips to Rome and Florence, Italy. I paint a whole mural underneath, and then I glaze it and paint over it (with oil) and chip it back. I see how it looks, and then it might be layer, chip, peel all over again.

There is this idea of two ancient cities steeped in history and human habitation. As centuries passed, layers of architecture, art, culture and daily life built up, burying years of self-expression and creativity. If they were uncovered, what might one find?

Brooke leaves a viewer with mere peeks of those mysteries  snatches of color that are revealed with her technique. I like to keep it somewhat ambiguous, she says, several moments earlier, while sitting at her large dining room table. The room has mostly been co-opted to serve as her studio. You want people to be able to make it their own and you want people to identify with it. ... You want them to be curious by what they are looking at  to enjoy it, to feel comfort or to feel uplifted, whatever it may be.

She largely, however, has had a laser focus when it comes to her own creativity. A compulsion got her started, but compassion has kept her at it. She began painting about a year and a half ago while pregnant with her third child. I couldnt stop it, she says, laughing. It was almost like I had no control over it. I had to paint daily.

She used her experiences, feelings and intentions, many discovered during meditation, to guide her abstract works. They reflect her feelings as a woman who left a 10-year finance career to become a stay-at-home mom, which can be felt in her Born series. Her landscapes tend to be memories of places she has been and things she has seen, while her Human series is inspired by traits or characteristics that she visually conveys.

But her art also is a vehicle to express gratitude for a fortunate life. The idea of artists donating work to charity auctions and shows, for instance, is not an unusual phenomenon, but Brooke wanted something more enduring and constant. Given her familys longtime affiliation with the local charity, Als Angels, she gives a percentage (which varies) of each sale toward the organizations work. Her works can go from hundreds to several thousand dollars.

Being able to paint and produce art and being able to acquire art is a luxury, and I am super grateful that I am in a position that I can create it and acquire it, she says. And I am fortunate that I am living in and amongst a community of others who can do that and place value on it and appreciate it.

So, for me, it was really important to align my art and my self-expression  to have a greater impact, she says. This is not a fundraiser, this is my lifestyle. ... I realize I am very blessed. There is not a day that goes by that I dont reflect how grateful that I am for everyone and everything I have. I create these paintings, and they bring me so much joy. I want to them to bring joy to others and for that joy to carry on and have deeper meaning.

Brooke is the first artist to approach the organization with this idea, says Westport resident Al DiGuido, who formed Als Angels in 2004. Brookes ongoing commitment helps the nonprofit raise funds for its donation of holiday meals, gifts and clothing to children and families across the tri-state area who are facing cancer, rare blood diseases and severe financial hardship. The holiday meal bins provide about $100 worth of groceries.

As has been the case from the beginning, Brooke has listened to herself, to her gut, as she says, and let that guide her in these next steps. After all, she is not your traditional painter. She didnt go to school for it. She really only dabbled in it over the years. Early on, before her children, she thought she would have a career in finance. Yet, as she started posting images to Instagram (@bethanybrookeart), and expanding beyond her circle of friends and acquaintances, the works began resonating with people she didnt know and the sales started coming. Two galleries have picked up her work, too, including Dovecote in Westport and Southport Gallery.

It seems she was right on when it came to her intentions, since another artist, Frank Fanelli, simultaneously was coming up with an idea about doing exhibitions with multiple artists and raising funds for Als Angels another first for the group. Recently, the two coordinated shows. Another organization, Bens Lighthouse, which works to keep the children and youth of Newtown in a safe and nonviolent environment, also benefited.

I love that what I create makes people happy, Brooke says.

chennessy@hearstmedia.com;

Twitter: @xtinahennessy
Google's web-based Chrome OS and the accompanying array of affordable Chromebook devices are hardly chart-toppers when it comes to overall market shares on today's tech scene. Still, there is one specific market niche, where Google's brainchild really reigns supreme. And a pretty important and prospective one at that. At the end of last year, Chromebooks comprised a whopping 49% of the K-12 education sector, up from 40% in 2015 and only 9% in 2013.

Clearly the web giant is on to something and is seems Redmond wants in. Windows Central recently obtained some insider information, hinting that Microsoft's upcoming May 2 event, will see the release of a new cloud-based variant of Windows 10. One designed specifically to take Chrome OS head on in the classroom. Rumors suggest it will go by the name "Windows 10 S" and that it is thankfully a lot closer to Microsoft's current Universal Windows Platform apps and advanced cloud services, than the company's last misguided attempts at budgets ARM-based solutions - the dreaded Windows RT.

Judging by the minimum specs sheet, as well as some additional leaked info, Windows 10 S indeed appears to be intended for standard x86 PC hardware and should run on the unified Windows 10 kernel. This theory is further backed up by the fact that it is said to offer an upgrade path to Windows 10 Home or Pro, through the purchase of an additional license.

Microsoft's game plan here will be to offload a lot of tasks from the machine on to the cloud, just like Google does with its Chrome OS. This shouldn't be hard either, since Microsoft's lineup of cloud services, like OneDrive and Office 365 have really come a long way. If Redmond plays its cards right, it could benefit from the long-standing Windows compatibility and versatility arguments as well. Not only is Win32 compatibility for regular desktop applications possible with this approach, but the company's ongoing push towards the UWP model has created tools like Desktop Bridge, or "Project Centennial", for easy migration and running of older code in Microsoft's new ecosystem.

And if the US giant is at all serious in its plans to take on Chrome OS in the K-12 realm, this push towards the more streamlined and manageable UWP format needs to become even harder. One of the main reasons Google has been so successful and popular for the particular K-12 use case has always been simplicity to both operate and manage Chrome OS with ease. Teachers, professors and other educators and IT support staff benefit just as much from having a user-friendly experience on the administrative end of the ecosystem. Remote lockups and assistance, strict content control, seamless data transfer are all things Microsoft needs to personally supervise under the UWP flag, so Windows S doesn't get drowned in the sea that is traditional Widows support.

But, we digress. Circling back to the May 2 event, some industry insiders hope to see interesting K-12 hardware offers on stage as well. Most speculations seem to revolve around a cheaper laptop-style device, with a non-detachable keyboard, economical enough to make and sell in mass. Still, just like a Surface tablet, it will most likely have a touch screen and perhaps even a stylus. Also, a Lenovo Youga-style hinge setup to properly utilize touch input. Still, others believe Microsoft will hold off on any potential hardware announcements until its Build conference, the following week.

Even if that doesn't come to pass and Microsoft decides to rely on third-party compatible hardware offers instead of ones under its own Surface brand, Windows 10 S still holds a lot of potential.

Source
Hello and welcome to the Week 16 edition of our Sunday Q&A! This week we talk Galaxy S8, Sony Xperia performance and Xiaomi battery tests.

Peter: I am very much interested in buying the Xperia X performance dual (64 GB). I heard it is only for the Asian market - is that true? Can I use it in Europe?

The Sony Xperia X Performance dual is indeed mostly officially available in Asian markets, but some European retailers are importing it so if you are willing to pay a bit of a premium you can still have it.

Its penta-band 3G and quad-band 2G support mean it will work anywhere in Europe, while the LTE band support is mostly identical so chances are you will getting 4G from the same carriers as with the regular version.

That said, buying a unit not targeted to your market might cause some issues with the support of certain features as well as with the updates of the device. So know what you are getting yourself into.

Arjun: Is Sony Xperia C3 is waterproof or not?

An easy one this - theres no water-resistance rating on the Xperia C3 so you are better off keeping it away from water.

MShakir: Which phone has the most fans?. I understand that top 10 by fans ranking only lists phones no older than 18 months. Which is why I wish to know the phone with all time most fans on GSMarena.

Sony Xperia Z, Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4 and the HTC One are the top three in the all time chart.

DrearyDepp: With the launch of the new S8 and S8+, everyone is predictably going crazy over these 2 phones. On paper, however, these phones don't really seem to offer much in terms of upgrades over the S7 edge. The new generation has the exact same amount of RAM in the global versions as the previous generation; the screens look uncomfortably big and have an unusual aspect ratio that may not work properly with all apps; the camera, I believe, has the same sensor from S7 , the new chipsets, although faster than the older ones; do not offer any groundbreaking performance increase over the 8890/SD 821 and still lag behind the A10 in single core performance and last but not the least, the fingerprint sensor is in one of the most awkward places I've ever seen (People may argue that the iris scanner makes the FP sensor redundant but lets face it - it'll be years before iris scanners gain the same amount of popularity fingerprint now has).

Anyway my question is that in your professional opinion, judging from the specs on paper and your hands-on experience, do you believe that the S8/8+ will actually be prominent upgrades to an S7/S7 edge user? Or are they for people who have older phones, such as the S6/S6 edge?

There are many different aspects to that question. To get the older devices out of the way first - the Galaxy S8/S8+ are substantial upgrade over the S6 generation so if the price isnt an issue than its an easily recommended upgrade.

Things are more complicated with the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, although the S8 duo is certainly a step forward in terms of looks (that Infinity screen really takes things to another level). It also has a better low-light still camera, thanks to the new multi-shot stacking and finally the new chipset is a step forward over the old one if the SD820 was no slouch.

There are no huge issues with the usability of the overly tall screen (although the S8+ does cause some thumb stretching and grip readjustments) - in fact the fingerprint location is more of an issue.

Overall the S8 generation is certainly a notable improvement over its predecessor, but with that kind of price difference its hard to recommend an upgrade unless you really have plenty of cash to burn. Or, you know, the desire to have the latest and greatest to exceeds your sensibility.

Chris: Does or does not, the Samsung S8 / S8+ have stereo speakers?

This one is far easier - no stereo speakers on either of the new phones.

Kerth: The Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime and Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 which you have reviewed recently are both running the same Snapdragon 625 SoC, have the same battery size at 4100 mAh and sport the same screen resolution.

One would think that they would have the same battery endurance score with the Note probably scoring a bit lower due to a larger screen, however according to your battery test Note 4 has an 119h endurance rating with 34:40h 3G talk time, 17:56h web browsing time and 15:30h video playback time, while Redmi 4 Prime scores much lower with 91h endurance rating, with 29:15h 3G talk time, 20:00h web browsing time and 9:48h video playback time.

Could you please comment on this crazy disparity in battery endurance scores of these two handsets?

The results were somewhat surprising for us too, but they are what they are. Theres more to battery endurance than capacity and chipset - screen technology, software optimizations and the way the decoding works for video or the rendering for web browsing all play huge part in that. And in this case Xiaomi did a strangely better job with one of their handsets than with the other. But then again thats what we are here for - if it was only about the specs we wouldnt need to do the test at all.

If you have any questions for us - you can send them by using the form over here.
One phone took most of the spotlight this week - the Xiaomi Mi 6 was finally unveiled. The device comes in 11 sweet colors, has a dual camera and the latest chipset Snapdragon 835. Qualcomms SoC also starred in another popular article - the benchmark comparison of Galaxy S8+ versions.

Other manufacturers also made headlines - ZTE unveiled Axon 7s, while HTC tested its upcoming U flagship.

Scroll down for the full list of the most interesting and trending articles in the past week.



Xiaomi Mi 6 official - dual camera and Snapdragon 835 Xiaomi finally took the wraps off the Mi 6 - it comes with a Snapdragon 835, 6GB of RAM.





Samsung Galaxy S8+ Exynos 8895 vs Snapdragon 835 benchmark comparison The US variant of Samsung's latest flagship seems to fall short and we have the numbers to prove it.





Xiaomi Mi 6 press renders leak just a few hours ahead of unveiling The handset is also the star of a grainy hands-on video, and its specs have been listed one last time.





Samsung Galaxy S8+ prototype with dual rear cameras surfaces in hands-on photos The overall design may be an indication of what we are to expect from the Note8.





Xiaomi Mi Max 2 gets pictured inside a transparent case The huge phablet is likely to be unveiled at the company's event on April 19.





ZTE unveils Axon 7s with Snapdragon 821 A laconic press release doesn't tell us much more. does it get the 6GB RAM/128GB storage upgrade? That's TBD.





Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 listed on GearBest with full list of specs Although there has been no official developments surrounding the Mi Mixs successor, the Mi Mix 2 was listed along with its specs and a mockup render.





Sony Xperia XZ Premium prototype is on sale in a Romanian pawn shop The smartphone will be officially released at the beginning of June, but someone has already pawned a prototype.





HTC U (Ocean) image leaks The leaked image comes courtesy of the usually reliable tipster Evan Blass (a.k.a @evleaks).





Xiaomi Mi 6 to be available in 11 colors A TENAA listing for the newest Xiaomi flagship lists eleven different colors to choose from.





New Google Play Store update makes it easier to manage your apps New server-side update for the Play Store totally improves how we see available updates and manage apps we barely use.





Moto X (2017) stars in more leaked hands-on images These reveal that the smartphone will have a version with 4GB of RAM too.





Samsung Galaxy S8+ teardown reveals poor repairability Samsung's latest big flagship has only been able to receive a 4 out of 10 repairability score.






Haiti - Social : Visit of the First Lady to the communal Asylum





On Saturday, First Lady Martine Moise, accompanied by Roosevelt Bellevue, Minister of Social Affairs and Deputy Mayor of Port-au-Prince, Kettyna Bellabe visited the communal Asylum of Port-au-Prince on the street St-Martin (Delmas 2), to make an inventory and inquire about the problems that this institution has faced for some time.



The heads of the institution spoke of urgent difficulties concerning, among others, drinking water, health care, food and electricity. Minister Bellevue promised, in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady and the City of Port-au-Prince, to work as soon as possible to improve the living conditions of the residents.



Kettyna Bellabe took the opportunity to reiterate the will of the Municipal Administration of Port-au-Prince, under the instruction of Mayor Ralph Youri Chevry, to work tirelessly to the proper running of the institutions under his management, with the support of central power to the good of the community in a spirit of living together.



The First Lady, Mrs. Martine Moise, took advantage of her visit to meet the residents of the Asylum before proceeding to the distribution of some food and hygienic kits.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2017/04/22

Travelers Today picks South Korea as one of their top food designations for 2017, My Korean Kitchen has the ultimate guide for making steamed eggs, CNN counts down Korea's most delicious dishes, and "mukbang" takes off in America.

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The Confucius Institute in Madrid celebrated its 10th anniversary on Saturday with gala.

The event was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Spain Lyu Fan and people from the Spanish and Chinese communities.

The Confucius Institute first opened its door in Madrid in 2007 and since then has been a beacon for Spanish people interested in learning the Chinese language, as well as those who want to know more about Chinese culture. It has been important in strengthening the ties between the two countries.

Maria Navarro, coordinator of the institute in Madrid, had been a student there 10 years ago. She told Xinhua she believed its work was "very important."

"Everyone now wants to know things about China. We have more students all of the time and we do a lot of cultural work," she explained.

Saturday's event had plenty for those interested in culture, as following the opening speeches, there was a Wushu display which clearly impressed the audience.
Tax Casualty? Maui Memorial Hospital

by Tom Yamachika, President, Tax Foundation Hawaii

This week our series of tax news returns to Maui, where we have an update on the efforts to help with Maui Memorial Hospital workers and other employees of our state health system.

As we have written before, our state-run hospitals in Maui County, including Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital & Clinic, and Lanai Community Hospital, have been losing vast quantities of money over an extended period. Act 103 of 2015 allowed Maui Memorials operations to be privatized. The government employees union sued to block the transition, and simultaneously efforts were made at the Legislature to give those employees a special severance package. The Governor vetoed the bill providing the severance benefits, SB 2077, citing concerns that the bill would disqualify the whole of our Employees Retirement System from tax-exempt status. The Legislature overrode the veto, making the bill law immediately. (Act 1, 2nd Special Session 2016.) To prevent disaster, the ERS sued in First Circuit Court to block implementation of the law until it could obtain a letter ruling from the IRS to see if its concerns were well-founded, and the court granted a preliminary injunction to this effect in September 2016.

On March 9, 2017, the IRS issued the letter ruling. The Service explained that a cash or deferred election is any direct or indirect election by an employee to have the employer provide either cash (or some other taxable benefit) that is not currently available, or to have the employer provide a benefit under a plan deferring the receipt of compensation. Act 1 allowed an employee to choose between a cash voluntary severance benefit, or a subsidized early retirement benefit under the ERS plan. Thus, Act 1 gave an employee a cash or deferred election.

Then, the Service explained that only certain types of retirement plans, namely profit sharing, stock bonus, pre-ERISA money purchase pension, or rural cooperative plans, are allowed cash or deferred elections. The ERS plan is a governmental defined benefit plan, and is not one of the above. Therefore, if Act 1 became effective, the ERS plan would not satisfy the requirements to be a qualified plan under the Internal Revenue Code. (Which is what ERS counsel advised last year.)

Finally, ERS had asked the IRS to rule on what would happen to the members and beneficiaries if the ERS plan were disqualified. IRS declined to do so, given that the members and beneficiaries were not asking for the ruling, and the question may be entirely academic because Act 1 did not take effect and may never become effective.

Even with this ruling, the wrangling continues. HB 233 and HB 234 provided for separation benefits but were not heard by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The House Finance Committee gutted SB 207 and replaced it with language allowing affected employees to purchase credited service to qualify for, or increase the percentage of, benefits under the state retirees health plan, known as EUTF. The HGEA union wasnt happy about SB 207, however, objecting that the proposal was dramatically antithetical to the dialogue of the past two entire legislative sessions and does not comport to prior legislative intent.

But didnt the IRS just say that the prior legislation, namely Act 1, would have disqualified the plan for everyone, not just the Maui hospital workers?

We do not live in a vacuum, especially when it comes to complex, federally regulated retirement plans. We see some displaced workers and it is understandable to want to help them, but we need to beware of unintended consequences that may make life worse for everyone.

---30---

PDF: HGEA Cries a River April 4, 2017

August 16, 2016: Full Text: ERS Files Suit to Stop SB2077 Catastrophe

August 23, 2016: ERS Saved: Judge Grants Restraining Order Against SB2077

PDF: IRS Letter Ruling
HSTA BOARD RECOMMENDS TENTATIVE AGREEMENT FOR FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT TO HSTA MEMBERS

Statement From Corey Rosenlee, President of the 13,500-Member Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) April 22, 2017

I am pleased that after nine months of negotiations, the state and the HSTA have reached a tentative agreement on a contract that will benefit Hawaiis teachers and their students.

I believe this agreement is the beginning of providing professional salaries that will attract and retain the best and the brightest into Hawaiis classrooms.

Hawaiis public school teachers will see a compounded salary increase of 13.6 percent over the next four years. This raise will help stabilize the teaching force, which we know will improve teaching and learning conditions. This package is the best we could do for our teachers, in spite of the states difficult fiscal outlook. It allows for HSTA to renegotiate health plan contributions and professional development in years three and four of the contract.

Under this agreement, we are also pleased that the state is increasing its share of health insurance premiums, addressing rising health care costs.

Teachers will be happy that the agreement calls for streamlined evaluations for most tenured teachers during the next two years while the HSTA and Department of Education work together on an improved evaluation process.

I believe that the reason we have a tentative agreement in large part is because of the ongoing pressure teachers put on the state to settle the contract in the best interests of the teachers and students. HSTA members are very grateful to Gov. David Ige for personally taking part in negotiations over several days to help us reach an agreement thats fair to everyone.

I am hopeful that HSTA members will vote to ratify the agreement at polling sites across the state on Thursday, April 27. Then we can move toward transforming public education in Hawaii to give our keiki the schools they deserve.

# # #

Note from HSTA: If a simple majority {50 percent plus one vote} of the teachers who vote Thursday ratify the agreement, the contract will begin July 1, 2017. The April 27 vote allows for the Legislature to fund the settlement by its April 28 fiscal deadline.

UPDATE From HSTA April 26, 2017: After school on April 27, the HSTAs 13,500 members across the state will cast ratification votes at 30 polling places on the four-year contract tentative agreement reached with the State of Hawaii over the weekend. On Oahu, McKinley High is the only school where reporters and news crews will be allowed while teachers are voting. Video and still photos inside the cafeteria/voting area will be prohibited. Later that evening, after the vote, results will be announced and remarks will be provided by HSTA President Corey Rosenlee at the HSTA headquarters.
An exhibition named "The Forbidden City -- Life in the Court of Chinese Emperors" is open to public on Friday in Tampere, southwestern Finland.

This is the first time that the Chinese historical relics preserved in the Beijing Palace Museum are exhibited in the Nordic region.

The Chinese red is the predominant color in the exhibition venues, which are decorated with Chinese elements such as lanterns, pattern dragons, wood carvings, and columns. The exquisite illustrations, photos and cultural relics bring a shocking visual experience to the audience.

The relics on show include Emperor Qianlong's throne and robe, Emperor Kangxi's helmet and cotton amour, as well as some other antiques and art crafts, such as incense burner tables, screens and Four Treasures of the Study .

Marjo-Riitta Saloniemi, exhibition manager of the Museum Center Vapriikki in Tampere, told Xinhua that it is the first time that the Chinese historical relics of the Beijing Palace Museum are exhibited in Finland, and also the first time in the Nordic region.

In addition to Finnish local residents, visitors from Sweden, Estonia and other neighboring countries are also expected to come to visit the exhibition.

Vice president of the Beijing Palace Museum Song Jirong, said even though the exhibition is not as large as the previous ones held in major European countries, the over 100 pieces and sets of artworks are exquisite objects selected from the previous exhibitions, with some being displayed abroad for the first time.
BRISTOL, Tenn.  NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin played a key role in the transformation of Bristol Motor Speedway from a regional treasure into a national wonder.

One moment stands out in his successful run at BMS.

One Aug. 8, 1998, Martins father, Julian, was killed in a private plane crash in the foothills of 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak in Ely, Nevada. Julians wife, Shelley, and their 11-year-old daughter, Sarah, also perished in the crash which caught the forest on fire.

Mark Martin was informed of the deaths after finishing second in the Bud at the Glen Cup race that Sunday at Watkins Glen.

On Aug. 21 of that same year, Martin found a degree of closure by winning the Goodys 500 in Bristol in dominant fashion.

This helps me because I was so devastated, said Martin who lingered in the press box well past midnight after his emotional victory. My relationship with my dad goes way beyond father and son. My dad was fun. I will miss having fun with him.

On Thursday of this week, Martin returned to Bristol for the first time since 2013 to serve as featured guest speaker at the annual Speedway Childrens Charities Legends of NASCAR Dinner.

I have many fond memories of this place, Martin said. I remember the night when we were the first car to go into the 15 second bracket, which was pretty cool.

But obviously my greatest memory was that win that we had in 1998. It was two weeks after my fathers accident, and it was really cool to get a win in the memory of my family.

Martin said Thursday that BMS has changed more on the outside than the inside.

The first time I came here to race was 1982, and the track surface was asphalt, Martin said. It was not the amazing coliseum that it is today, but the racetrack part of it was just as awesome.

Ive seen Bristol evolve through multiple pavings of asphalt and different iterations of concrete, so the track itself has changed some. But man, this is and always has been the greatest place on the NASCAR circuit to come and watch a race.

As for the introduction of stage racing across all three top levels of NASCAR this season, Martin is a fan.

I love the stage racing, Martin said. I think its a great addition to the format. It makes for some great strategies to play out and some additional racing.

The guys have to race in all three stages. They cant just focus on being at the very right place at the last lap.

Martin has been encouraged by the influx of young talent into NASCAR.

The sport is evolving, and I love it, Martin said. Ive been a big fan of Kyle Larson for quite some time and Im so happy to see Chip Ganassi Racing upping their program to allow Kyle to get up there and put on a real show. Thats great for the sport.

Martin rarely makes public appearances now, but he returned to Bristol to support a cause he believes in.

I really salute the SMI racetracks for all the efforts they put into helping out their local communities with Speedway Childrens Charities, he said. Its something that is very important to Arlene, my wife, and I. We certainly have a soft spot in our hearts for young people and it means a lot to have the opportunity to be a part of this.

Martin said he takes pride in the transformation of BMS into a multi-use showplace.

This facility is something that everybody in NASCAR racing can be proud of, he said. It brings something for everyone, for the racers on the competition side, and for the fans. Its just a great facility.
AP: Moore wins Maryland governor race

The Associated Press is calling the Maryland governor's race in favor of Democrat Wes Moore over GOP challenger Dan Cox.
HICKORY  There were no billy clubs or tear gas, but students from Catawba Valley Community College had the opportunity to walk the same steps supporters of the civil rights movement took during the 1965 Bloody Sunday march in Selma, Ala.

Richard Ellers CVCC African-American History Class focused on giving students a chance to go beyond the headlines of that time.

For the eighth year, Eller took his students to the annual memorial celebration of the March 7, 1965 march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala.

The 1965 event was focused on the effort to register black voters in the South.

Six hundred civil rights marchers headed east out of the city on U.S. Route 80. They got only as far as the Edmund Pettus Bridge six blocks away, where state and local lawmen attacked them and drove them back into Selma, according to a National Park Service release at nps.gov.

On Sunday, March 21, about 3,200 marchers set out for Montgomery, walking 12 miles a day and sleeping in fields, according to the release. By the time they reached the capitol on Thursday, March 25, they were 25,000-strong. Less than five months after the last of the three marches, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

For CVCC student Joe McCorkle, 60, it was the first time he ever attended the annual celebration.

When you go into something like that, its such a historical event that I wanted to put myself in the situation. I wanted to somewhat relive what people were going through at that point in our history, he said.

McCorkle talked about seeing the memorial in honor of Viola Liuzzo, a Detroit white mother who was killed by the Ku Klux Klan while transporting marchers between Selma and Montgomery in 1965 after the march, according to encyclopediaofalabama.org.

She was so passionate about that particular movement and wanted to go down and help, McCorkle said. They have a marked grave on the side of the highway she was traveling that night. You can only imagine what that night must have been like for her.

Shes helping people but you know she was missing her family too, but her passion to help won out only for her to lose her life in this process.

Eller wanted his students to learn more about the movement than just Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Along with Liuzzo, the class had a chance to meet Fred Gray, who was the lawyer for Parks and King.

The co-founder for the Southern Poverty Law Center, Morris Dees, also visited this years march and got a chance to talk to Ellers students.

Remembering not to forget

Taryn Miller, a CVCC student from Taylorsville, said there are still racial issues the country needs to address.

If we dont look at our past, well just repeat what happened and have another conflict, Miller said.

She admits her knowledge of the original march in the 1965 came mainly from movies. This trip gave her a more historical and wider perspective of everything leading up to Bloody Sunday and the aftermath for the country, legally and culturally.

Matthew Hines, another student from Taylorsville, said the trip opened his eyes to parts of American history he didnt know much about.

I learned the contributions of Selma to the nation at large and the more full realization of our democratic oath and how poorly that contribution has been repaid to the city of Selma, Hines said.

The class inspired him, as Caucasian, to look closer at his familys history discovering and learning about his ancestors plantation.

It was a lot of hard, important truths, he said. What it really did was hold up a mirror to what our history overlooks, and its important to find these truths.

Despite everything those marchers 52 years ago suffered through, there are still similar issues the country faces today, Hines said.

Were certainly fighting for the memory of it, but were still fighting for the actually concrete rights as well, he said.

Local connections

The class also worked on an exhibit for the Catawba County Museum of History called African-American Heritage in Catawba County.

Students collected photos, letters and various other memorabilia from local residents, chronicling their contributions to African-American history and Catawba County history overall.

There are so many people that were involved with the African-American experience in the county they didnt know about, and they had a firsthand chance to research, and on a couple of occasions, meet some of them, Eller said.

Some things have changed and some havent since the original march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Culturally, we all know we still have problems, racially, McCorkle said. There is still a heck of a lot of work to do, but I think human nature seems to have dictated it takes catastrophes before we, as men, realize we need to stop the foolishness and come together.

He is hopeful though, saying the more races mix and spend time getting to know each other, the more theyll realize theyre all the same.

I think were on the precipice of starting to eradicate racism because the people who harbor it are older and starting to die off, he said.

The Catawba County Museum of History is located at 30 N. College Ave. in Newton.

For more information about the exhibit, visit catawbahistory.org/museum-of-history.
China's leadership has repeatedly demonstrated a sophisticated capacity to adeptly wade through awkward diplomatic situations. But since North Korea's failed missile test this week, China faces a unique dilemma. Despite his seemingly erratic behavior, North Korea's Kim Jong-un has made a cold calculation familiar to enemies of the United States. If his scientists can manufacture a nuclear missile that can hit the continental United States, or at least if he can give the impression that they have done so, then he has bought himself the insurance he needs against any American attack.

As long as he appears irrational enough to be willing to sacrifice millions of his compatriots, then his threat of a reprisal if the North is attacked is credible. But he is taking a grave risk on the way to that point: that the United States and maybe its allies will launch a preemptive attack before North Korea can develop a nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile that can hit the US.

For the North Koreans, negotiating a wind down of the country's nuclear program is not an option. That's because they look at two examples as instructive. The first is Muammar Ghaddafi's Libya. Ghaddafi negotiated away his clandestine nuclear program in 2003, only to be swept away by Western forces in 2011. The second is Iran today, as President Trump now insists that the multilateral nuclear deal concluded by President Obama and five other nations with Iran was a bad one and that Iran is not keeping up to the "spirit" of the UN agreement. Kim Jong-un has concluded that the West is not to be trusted.

China's leaders dislike the idea of an aggressive and nuclearized North Korea about as much as the Americans do. Its state media in the last 12 months has taken the unprecedented step of publicly criticizing Kim Jong-un's government's behavior. And the North Koreans have reciprocated. Diplomatic visits between the two countries, a historically good indicator of the state of their relations, have ground to a crawl.

But the Chinese are just as concerned about North Korea completely falling apart. They don't like the South importing American anti-missile systems, because those could also be used against China. They don't want millions of refugees flooding across their border if tensions get worse or the country breaks down. They don't want a war breaking out next door. And they certainly don't want a united Korea, allied to the US, abutting China.

There are three contending views in China about what to do about the current situation. The first is the traditional view: that the Chinese should stand by North Korea, and hope that its aggression remains firmly focused on the US, Japan and South Korea - and doesn't turn towards China at some point. The second is that China should severe ties with North Korea because it is having such a debilitating effect on US-China relations. In effect, they argue, North Korean bellicosity is providing the US with an excuse to deploy closer to China. The third, more whispered than boldly stated, is to "eliminate' North Korea. The details are fuzzy, but the implication is that the Chinese could simply invade the North themselves.

The third is, of course, the least likely. And China's prudent leadership would prefer to buy time rather than act hastily.

President Trump's efforts to work with China's leaders, by offering them a new trade deal, in exchange for greater cooperation in dealing with the North Koreans, may not be a bad one. But it overstates China's influence. Sure, China can stop trading with and feeding the North Koreans. But will that make Kim Jong-un more pliant or more resilient? He hasn't demonstrated too much compassion towards his compatriots. And there is no opposition in North Korea that the Chinese can back against him, even if they wanted. What the Chinese really want is stability.

The clock is ticking. And China's preference for awaiting developments, in the hope that the status quo that has lasted decades will hold, will be sorely tested. If Trump's escalation backs down, then the Chinese may be able to muddle through the current situation. And many Americans may be unaware that we have been here before: The US almost went to war during the Clinton administration in 1994. But the North had no nuclear weapons then to embolden them and threaten neighbors across the region. And once that first shot is fired, the only guarantee is that it won't be the last.

Simon Reich is a professor of global affairs and former director of the the Division of Global Affairs at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey.

See original article on Fortune.com

More from Fortune.com
Lenoir-Rhyne University senior and Student Government Association president, Thinh Truong, has been named a Fulbright grantee for the 2017-18 academic year. During LRs 126-year history, five professors have received Fulbright fellowships for research study abroad. Truong is the first LR student to receive the prestigious award.

I am honored and humbled to have received a Fulbright grant, Truong said. As a first-generation college student, being selected as a Fulbright Finalist is a great honor for me and my family. I truly feel I am living the American dream and am grateful for this opportunity to pursue my future goals. I appreciate the support of those who have helped me during my college career and most importantly, those who believe in me.

Through the Fulbright Study/Research Grant, Truong will have the opportunity to study at the Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland. Following his graduation in May, he will begin summer courses to provide an introduction to the Finnish language, culture, and society. He will then embark on a nine-month fellowship to study energy systems. Truong is hoping to take advantage of the renewable grant which will afford him the opportunity to complete his masters degree in energy systems, with a focus on nuclear energy, in Finland.

I have had the privilege of getting to know Thinh over the past two months and remain in awe of his accomplishments, said Fred Whitt, president of LRU. He demonstrates the determination, leadership, integrity, and passion for learning that are central to our core values and commitment at Lenoir-Rhyne. We feel fortunate to have him as a student and to be a part of his success.

Thinhs selection for a Fulbright award is an achievement for which he can be justly proud, said Jeffery Bleich, chairman of the Fulbright Program. The Fulbright Program aims to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Thinh will be joining the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S Department of State, alongside many distinguished figures around the world.

Truong is pursuing a double major in physics and mathematics. This past summer, he completed a 10-week research program in nuclear physics at Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory in Durham. He also traveled to Ireland in May 2016 and to Iceland this past March as part of LRs Broyhill Business Leadership program. The objectives of both trips are to study business, leadership, sustainability, and innovation, and to practice interacting and developing relationships with people from each country.

Truongs family moved from Danang City, Vietnam, to Hickory eight years ago. As an international student, Truong was drawn to helping other students feel welcome and acclimate to collegiate life. He has remained involved in LRs IPAL organization which strives to befriend international students by introducing them to the university and encouraging them to become an integral part of campus life.

Truong was selected as the SGA president for the 2016-17 academic year. Truongs leadership skills are also evident through his role as president of Circle K International. Sponsored by Kiwanis International, the organization promotes community service, leadership development, and fellowship. He has also served as president of the LR Broyhill Institute for Leadership, captain for the Homecoming Alumni Relations Committee, and as a new student orientation leader.

Truongs academic success has been recognized through membership to four honor societies as well as the Lineberger Fellows program. He finds time to assist other students with their studies, serving as a tutor in the math center and physics laboratory. He also works in LRs Career and Professional Development Center which helps students prepare for their employment search after graduation.
A court in Madhya Pradeshs Ujjain has set aside divorce given by a Muslim man to his wife by uttering the word talaq thrice, saying he failed to meet the conditions for ending the marriage.

The womans lawyer told media on Saturday that the court agreed with him that the man didnt follow sharia, the Islamic legal and moral code, while divorcing his wife.

The decision comes at a time when a debate is raging over controversial practices of triple talaq and polygamy among the Muslim community.

The Supreme Court is hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the practice of men divorcing their wives by pronouncing the word talaq, or divorce, thrice. The court will be sitting through its summer break that begins next month to decide the issue.

Arshi, a resident of Begambagh in Ujjain, married Taushif Sheikh in January 2013. Soon after the wedding, Sheikh started demanding money from her and her parents and physically tortured her, Arshi told the court.

On October 9, 2014, Sheikh divorced her by uttering the word talaq three times in the presence of some people.

Arshi challenged the divorce in the Ujjain family court and enlisted qazi Khaliqur Rahman, who had solemnised the marriage, a respondent in the case. A qazi is a judge in a Muslim community who presides over marriages and performs other duties as well.

Several conditions laid down in Islam for divorce were not followed by Sheikh, Arshis lawyer Arvind Gaud told media.

As per sharia, an attempt at reconciliation should have been made and at least one mediator each should have represented the husband and the wife, Gaud said.

Shiekh should have paid mahr  money or assets promised by the groom or his side to the woman at the time of marriage  before divorcing Arshi but he didnt.

The court accepted the arguments and declared the divorce void on March 9, he said.

A Muslim scholar and lawyer, Hafiz Qureshi, said several opinions were being expressed on triple talaq but no one was going through the provisions laid out in Quran. Misinterpretation of Muslim law and rituals must be stopped, he said.

India has separate sets of personal laws for each religion governing marriage, divorce and succession. While Hindu law overhaul began in the 1950s and continues, activists have long argued that Muslim personal law has remained mostly unchanged.
When Massimo Bottura was a child, he would hide under his grandmothers kitchen table and sneakily eat raw, folded tortellini.

If I had to eat only one food for the rest of my life, it would be tortellini, says Bottura, the worlds No. 1 European chef in the list of The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants. My kitchen could never be anything other than Italian because it is in my blood and in my bones.

It took Osteria Francescana over five years to receive its first Michelin star. (Paolo Terzi)

With food constantly on his mind, its no wonder Bottura grew up to be a chef. His Michelin award-winning restaurant, Osteria Francescana, has been in the top five in the last few years and earned the top spot in 2016. On April 5, he lost his number one ranking to New York-based Daniel Humm. But that doesnt take away any points from this Modena-based chef whos been creating magic in his kitchen for over two decades.

Bottura credits his success to his mentors and values the years he spent working under many talented chefs from all around Europe.

My first mentor was George Coigny, a French chef living in Piacenza, says Bottura. He taught me how to apply classic French techniques to the ingredients from our local terroir in Emilia-Romagna. Then came Lidia Cristoni, a true Rezdora (a homemaker in local Modena dialect), who taught me everything about traditional cooking and the basics of running a clean and efficient kitchen. He adds, My encounter with the one and only Alain Ducasse taught me the value of using locally sourced ingredients and establishing trusting relationships with artisans, farmers, fishmongers and so forth. These lessons at Louis VX, Ducasses restaurant, were very valuable to me and contributed towards my decision to open Osteria Francescana. My last mentor was Ferran Adria. During the summer of 2000, I was able to cook with his incredible team at El Bulli.

5 tips for budding chefs from Massimo Bottura Read. Travel. Listen to music. Know where you come from. Know who you are. *Be a citizen of the world, not just of the kitchen. *Be humble. Be a team player. Help others. *Be like a tree. Learn to grow slowly.

Building the dream

Ferran Adria taught Bottura not to be afraid of ideas. Bottura vividly remembers the day they opened Osteria Francescana in 1995. That morning, while getting the kitchen ready, he called Lara, his girlfriend who was busy attending to her ill father in New York.

I asked her to marry me, then and there, on the phone; because I knew what I was starting was going to be my future. She said yes and together we have made Osteria Francescana our dream, our future, and our family, he smiles.

It took Osteria Francescana over five years to receive its first Michelin star. Those were the most difficult and agonising years of my life, says Bottura. I was determined to bring authenticity and value to a new and more contemporary Italian kitchen. Could I do this and get a Michelin star?

We did not want to be a cookie-cutter Michelin restaurant. We wanted to express our Italian identity and our love for contemporary art and design

Osteria Francescana had contemporary art on the walls, but no fancy curtains or silver trays. Our style was clean and minimal with personal touches added by my wife and me, says Bottura. We did not want to be a cookie-cutter Michelin restaurant. We wanted to express our Italian identity and our love for contemporary art and design. Our first Michelin star was a sign that we were on the right path. The second star (2006) was even more important to our growth as a restaurant and as a team. It meant we had worked hard, but it also meant we had more hard work to do. And when the third Michelin star arrived, I dedicated it to my team, my family and my town, and to the Italian kitchen. To bring that kind of prestige to a small town like Modena was very important.

Bringing creativity back to the kitchen

Five ages of Parmigiano Reggiano in different textures and temperatures; fish soup; the crunchy part of the lasagna and a neel swimming up the Po river. (Paolo Terzi)

Like every other chef, Bottura also finds himself lost in the complacency of a recipe. This reflects in his advice to younger chefs and his focus on bringing creativity back to the kitchen

The biggest challenge after years of working in the kitchen is to be able to keep a small window open for poetrythe poetry of the everyday, he explains. You drop a lemon tart and realise that youve found your next recipe. You are listening to a Thelonious Monk album and catch a flash in the dark, and create a dish that is black on black and expresses the darkness in your soul. You are thinking about your childhood and remember eating fish on the Adriatic. That memory leads to a recipe such as Mediterranean Sole in which you combine three classic cooking techniques into one recipe, Bottura explains.

My experience with Indian food is very limited...I imagine that every region of India has its specialities, different techniques, spices etc.

Travelling is another way to keep the creative juices flowing. Bottura has never been to India, but visiting the country is on top of his list, because Italy has very few Indian restaurants, and Modena has none.

My experience of Indian food is very limited. I have eaten it in New York and in London, and perhaps the best Indian food I ever ate was in the Maldives (cooked by a chef from Sri Lanka), but I am sure none of these experiences compare to eating Indian food in India, he says.

When he does visit India, its bound to be a long trip, because Bottura wants to try everything. I imagine that each region of India has its specialities, different techniques, traditional recipes, spices, etc, he grins. But more than anything else, hes keen to explore traditional spice mixes, passed down via generations of families.

These traditional recipes need to be preserved, he says. Protecting culinary heritage is something I am passionate about. Its even more important to share this knowledge and let chefs bring those traditional recipes into our contemporary world. Whether we realise it or not, culinary traditions are constantly being broken. What is a traditional recipe after all? Most likely, it is an experiment or an improvisation that was successful, surprisingly delicious, using seasonal local ingredients, and often with kitchen scraps and leftovers.

Traditional recipes need to be preserved. Protecting culinary heritage is something I am passionate about.

Perhaps one of the reasons Bottura is so keen on exploring Indian cuisines is the rising number of Indian guests he serves at Osteria Francescana. Cooking for Indians, he says, was a challenge. The most common request is for a vegetarian tasting menu, he explains. But the Italian kitchen, and especially the northern Italian kitchen, is pork heavy, and meat is often used to flavour sauces, ragouts and soups. Our Indian guests stimulated us to work on a 12-course vegetarian menu. Working on this menu has been very exciting and we have found unexpected flavours, textures and colours. We have our Indian guests to thank for this.

Cooking for a cause

Bottura is an author as well as a chef. His best-selling book, Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef, tells his life story through recipes and the evolution of Osteria Francescana.

It was more painful than I thought to look back and tell the story from the beginning, he says. Fortunately, my wife helped me. I am lucky I have a partner like her because she is really tough, but at the same time my biggest fan. We are a good team.

A new book is out soon, titled Bread is Gold, where he talks about his experience cooking for homeless guests. Currently, his energy and that of his wife, is focussed on their new project, Food for Soul a project targeted at cutting down food wastage and global hunger issues.

More proof that a happy chef is good news not just for the guests of a restaurant, but for the world at large.

From HT Brunch, April 23, 2017

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You walk up to your office door and it automatically slides open for you  no security codes to tap in. Your car senses your presence, the doors unlock and the engine comes to life  all without you using a key. You pay for your movie and the dinner that follows, simply by standing there, no credit card, no cash, no wallet. Your child leaves for school with the driver, followed by a dance class and an evening out with friends. Every activity shows up on a location map, but without any phone, GPS or any other tracker device on your child.

Sci-fi movies and books have predicted it, Nostradamus had some pretty fantastic things to say about it and even the Bible (the Mark of the Beast described it in the book of Revelation) may have had some observations on it. The microchip implanted inside the human body  the ultimate geek fantasy has become a reality now!

Its real

Swedish start-up Epicenter implants its workers with a microchip the size of a grain of rice. No more identity cards. Just waving your hand opens doors, gives you access to printers, buys things from the cafeteria and logs your attendance. The implant itself isnt a very big deal. No surgery, no time consuming complex operation. All it needs is a syringe pre-loaded with the chip. The chip is implanted into the fleshy area just underneath the thumb in a process that takes a second and is almost painless. This seems to be creating quite a frenzy, as more than 150 people have opted for the implant.

Digital RFID tattoos can monitor body temperature and UV exposure

All around us

And they arent the only ones. Multiple companies all around the world have the chip implant option and people seem to be opening up their hands in droves to become the first to have a semi-bionic hand. Massachusetts-based MicroCHIPS implants a contraceptive chip that allows a woman to turn birth control medicine on and off by remote control. There are now digital RFID tattoos to monitor body temperature, hydration levels and even UV exposure, all of it on your body with no fitness bands and smartwatches needed. But thats just the beginning.

Brain tool

Elon Musk wants to take it to a whole new level and to a whole new location. In the brain! His new company Neuralink is working towards a brain implant that will emit tiny electrodes to treat brain disorders. But thats just early stuff. The final objective is to have brain implants that turn you into a superhuman computer, providing the mental boost to take on the dangers of artificial intelligence and robotics taking over the workforce and making us redundant.

The microchip is even smaller than a matchstick

Its here and now

It seems like the chip in our body is pretty much a given thing. Thats the next big thing, the holy grail, the tech that will make us superhuman. Our smartphone will be an implant as will all other physical forms of access and utilities we carry around with us. Amazing, isnt it? Unfortunately this also opens a can of worms, the likes of which weve never seen before.

Chipped away

As with any radical breakthrough technologies, chip implant raises serious issues. The information these chips will generate are a hackers gold mine. Unlike your smartphone or your credit card, you cant separate yourself from your chip when you want to. Its right there, in you at all times. These chips could be a health hazard too. What if all the signals and radio waves and the processing taking place inside is proven dangerous for the human body, but only 20 years later? And while its awesome that you can gain access to your car or house, what if youre locked out by your bank because you missed an instalment? The chip gives complete control of you to an outsider. And privacy would be deemed as a joke due to the amount of data this chip would give out. Where you are, who youre with, how long you worked, how many toilet breaks you took and how fast youre driving, its all there for the right people to tap into.

So give it some thought. The world of implantable microchips is just around the corner. Is a chip implanted in your body really worth it? How about opening the door by hand, how about fishing out a wallet and paying, how about starting your car with a key? Maybe, just maybe  we dont need a throbbing pulsating flashing chip inside our body to do things weve done very well on our own for years.

Rajiv Makhni is managing editor, Technology, NDTV, and the anchor of Gadget Guru, Cell Guru and Newsnet 3

From HT Brunch, April 23, 2017

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There are cities. There are great cities. And then there is Rome.

Magnificent art and architecture with lip-smacking food. Tradition walking arm-in-arm with trends. Its chaotic. Its charming too.

In Rome, almost every street has a story to tell. After walking for an hour through the ruins of the Roman Forum  the commercial and political centre of ancient Rome  I reach a small, tin-shaded space walled from three sides.

Its an eyesore in this cradle of history. But on the two small boulders inside, visitors have left coins and flowers as a mark of respect.

This is where Julius Caesar was killed!

The temples, the broken arches, the house of Vestal Virgins, Caligulas home and this assassination point can take anyone to an imaginary flight to Romes old glory, when this place was the capital of the world. I feel guilty: should have been more attentive when Shakespeares Julius Caesar was taught in school.

Its easy to find the landmarks, but not the toilet. So, I head towards the Colosseum to use the loo (and, of course, to see it).

No tour of Rome is complete without a visit to Colosseum and the Roman Forum (Saubhadra Chatterji)

The largest of amphitheatres stands near a busy road  like the Eiffel Tower or India Gate. It demands at least two hours tour to do justice to its grandeur and importance. I spend three.

Convinced I have seen it all, I come out and munch on a panini from a nearby stall. But when the dying sun spreads a golden glow in the sky and Im on the terrace of Vittorio Emanuele II monument, I realise Im horribly wrong: the vast canvas called Rome offers a new, incredible view.

The ruins of the Roman Empire, the dome of the St Peters Cathedral rising above it all, the mountains at the horizon and the thousands of old houses  you cant help falling in love with the eternal city.

When in Rome...

Oh, its so difficult to be a house owner, sulks Gianni, the owner of my B&B, Even for changing window frames, permission is required from the municipality. I waited for four months to change a window.

Demolition of old houses is out of question, no random colour to paint houseshe goes on.

But it is this beauty of Rome that attracts millions of tourists every year, I argue, tasting the Prosecco Gianni has offered.

I want to dine at a trattoria (an informal, cheaper version of a restaurant) which is the locals favourite. Go to Trattoria Vecchia Roma, I am told.

A touch of India: the Ganga sculpture at Piazza Navona (Saubhadra Chatterji)

Its more chaotic than a roadside dhaba. The only cool head seems to be the old lady supervising the kitchen. Her boisterous sons take the orders and serve.

The decibel level of Romans is higher than others. Added to it, the chatter of guests and street noise. My wife forgets her Rabindra Sangeet modulation to place our orders.

After we request for seafood, pasta and bruschetta, the elder son puts a glass and a pitcher of red liquid on the table. Vino de la casa (the house wine), he announces. He cant think anyone will dine without wine.

Before my better half can demand explanation as to why Im drinking wine barely an hour after consuming a bottle of Prosecco, I take a long sip and utter a cliche: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Speaka da Bengali

When the food arrives, it melts our hearts. Amidst this disorder and drama, the mothers kitchen has produced a superb dinner.

I try to talk as much Italian as I can, but why? Half of the people know English and the rest are Bangladeshis. I can ask for directions in my mother tongue.

Some places disappoint us. For, whenever you go, at least one monument, building or fountain is under repair. We saw scaffoldings and barriers at two top sites: Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.

Pinocchio, a favourite character in Rome (Saubhadra Chatterji)

Whenever we are on foreign soil, my wife and I invariably debate on whether we should walk or take public transport. In Rome, I lose the argument: most of the places are reachable only by foot.

Like SantAgnese in Agone  the majestic church housing Baroque art. After a brief tour of Baroque art we sit on the pew as a four-member team gets ready to present Baroque era music.

Paola Alonzi, the fabled soprano, starts singing in the near-empty church. Others accompany her with instruments from the lost era.

Just when Paolas music lights up our evening, I realise the need to take out my Nikon from the bag. I try to make minimum noise but end up earning frowns from everyone, including, possibly, Paola.

Oh God!

Bus number 64 is particularly a favourite of pickpockets. But we take that bus because it is the easiest way to go to the Vatican City  technically, a different country  from Rome.

Assuming everyone else in the bus is a thief, I stand in a corner, where no one can reach my back pockets.

I get down safely, take a turn and find a sea of people in the greatest courtyard of Christianity. The queue is at least a kilometre long. I will take two hours to reach the steps of the edifice where architecture meets divinity. On my right, somewhere theres the Sistine Chapel. I booked its evening slot expecting less of a crowd. But looking at the scene here, I know my strategy will not work.

If you pose for pictures with these fake gladiators, you have to pay (Saubhadra Chatterji)

I enter the St Peters Basilica, designed by arguably Italys greatest son, Michelangelo Buonarroti. Every inch of it is a gem of creation, just like the Sistine Chapel.

Visitors can hardly wait for the mass to be over. They rush towards the altar to see its intricate art.

And there in a corner, behind bullet-proof glass, stands Michelangelos Pieta: the body of Jesus on Mother Marys lap after Crucifixion.

The folklore is: Michelangelo asked a stonecutters family to take the massive sculpture to the chapel. The stonecutters saw the sculpture and didnt say a word. Overnight, with great effort and many hours of backbreaking work, they transferred it.

Michelangelo asked them how much he should pay. The poor stonecutters lit candles, prayed before Pieta and replied: We will take our pay in heaven.

Theres no way I will reach heaven. Thats okay. I have seen the Vatican City and Rome.

Follow @SaubhadraC on Twitter

From HT Brunch, April 23, 2017

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India on Sunday drew a long-term vision plan that envisages faster reforms to help the economy grow at an annual average rate of 8% in the next 15-16 years.

Presenting the draft 15-year vision document at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya said the Centre and states discussed various reforms that are required in coming years including the implementation of Goods and Services Tax from July.

The future looks extremely bright...There is a very good case that we should over the next 15-16 years grow at 8%, he said.

After 15-16 years, Indias gross domestic product or the size of the economy will touch Rs 469 lakh crore from Rs 137 lakh crore in 2015-16, Panagariya said.

This means a 3.4 times increase in the size of the economy in one-and-a-half decades.

Niti Aayogs governing council thrashed out the 15-year vision document for faster development as well as improve social goals such as reducing poverty, improve health and sanitation.

Another seven-year strategy document for 2017-24 will also be charted out as the National Development Agenda.

A three-year Action Agenda from 2017-18 to 2019-20 is also being worked out to assess funding requirements.

During the meeting, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan outlined the need to double farmers income. Ramesh Chand, member of Niti Aayog, highlighted steps needed to be taken to give farmers remunerative prices and increase productivity.

Revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia urged states to pass the state GST (SGST) laws so that the countrys biggest tax reform can be implemented from July 1. That is very much the target, Panagariya said.

He said Modi has urged states to use the government e-market place (GeM) platform to reduce corruption and increase transparency in procurement.

Modi also pitched for use of technologies such as BHIM and Aadhaar.Niti Aayog has been asked to help states in judicious use of the District Mineral Fund, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and the construction workers welfare fund.
In the clearest signal yet on the target of the US crackdown on alleged abuse of the H-1B temporary visa programme for foreign workers, senior Trump administration officials named Indian tech firms during a briefing on the presidents executive order issued last week.

You may know their names well, but like the top recipients of the H-1B visa are companies like Tata, Infosys, Cognizant -- they will apply for a very large number of visas, more than they get, by putting extra tickets in the lottery raffle, if you will, and then theyll get the lions share of visas, an official had said.

Asked why only three companies were named, the official had said, These are the top three recipients of H-1B visas. And those three companies are companies that have an average wage for H-1B visas between $60,000 and $65,000. By contrast, the median Silicon Valley software engineers wage is probably around $150,000. So it just illustrates the point that I was walking you through about how H-1B visas are awarded.

In reply to a question if he was criticising the companies, he said, Its a criticism of the way the H-1B visa program is run.

On April 18, President Trump signed an executive order called Buy American, Hire American, directing federal agencies to review the H-1B visa programme with the aim to end fraud and abuse and ensure only the most-skilled and highest-paid applicants were successfully processed.

India has said H-1B was a trade and services issue and not one of immigration. Finance minister Arun Jaitely raised the matter of the review in his meetings with US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross and US treasury Wilbur Mnuchin during his visit this week to the US for the annual spring meetings of the World Bank group.

The United States grants 85,000 H-1B temporary visas to high-skilled foreigners every year  65,000 hired from abroad and 20,000 from those enrolled in US colleges.

Due to the heavy demand for these visa, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which runs the programme, receives several time more applications than it can grant and uses an electronic lottery to pick the ones that will go through.

The administration believes the lottery system allows companies to game the system. Were going to switch away from a random lottery system in which its weighted toward the lowest wage workers towards a system that prioritises higher-skilled, higher-paid workers, which would make it much more difficult to use it to replace American workers.

American critics of the programme allege it is being abused by companies to bring foreigners, who are typically on lower wages compared to the median, to displace local workers.
The respect and sanctity of some of our most important democratic institutions have been threatened. The latest incident relates to Indias Election Commission. A few people who lost elections owing to their obsolete politics have begun to raise a clamour. Allegations have been made that the ruling BJP had tampered with the electronic voting machines (EVMs). What is surprising is that the BJP had made similar allegations against its political adversaries after losing the elections in 2009.

Here I would not hesitate to say that the prestige of institutions and the judiciary prevents them from slipping into the quagmire of allegations and counter-allegations. Many centuries ago, the policy makers of India had created a wonderful code of ethics and conduct, so that the institutes that protect the interests of the common man stay impartial and unbiased. Just imagine, if the Supreme Court judge who decided to charge such heavyweight politicians as Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti held a press conference to pat his own back. It would have made the judiciary a laughing stock.

I can understand the compulsions of such politicians. The balloons they inflate with lies during the elections are often pricked by the poll results. What can be a better option than distracting people from their embarrassment and frustration than making irresponsible statements? They begin exercising this option with aplomb, but things become tragic when the common man begins getting misled by these statements. This is what is happening these days. Still, unaffected by these allegations, these government bodies and the judiciary have no option but to stick to the policy of impartiality. In a country where trials by fire are a norm, even national institutions have to go through these. In 2009, the Election Commission had challenged those who were making allegations about tampering with EVMs in a public forum. No eminent personality reached the Election Commission to take up the challenge. Now the Election Commission is challenging those who are making allegations to hack the EVMs once again. Will any political heavyweight approach the Election Commission to prove his allegation? If they cant do it, they should be prepared to be punished in the peoples court.

A few days ago, I asked a retired government servant associated with the Election Commission whether it was at all possible to tamper with the EVMs. He said it wasnt possible, but human error could provide an opportunity for those making allegations. That was the case in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh. The EVMs used in the by-poll here had been sent from a constituency that the BJP had won. When the chief election commissioner of Madhya Pradesh told journalists that the bypolls in Bhind will be free and fair, the reporters asked her why one of the machines couldnt be tested to ensure this happened. She was confident that going by the standard operating process of the Commission the memory of the machine would have been washed. But owing to someones callousness the memory hadnt been washed. So, the lotus election symbol emerged when the button was pressed. When the reporters asked for a clarification, instead of making things clear, the lady officer threatened them that she would have them arrested if word got out. That was when things went awry.

After the incident, the Election Commission must learn a lesson: it should ensure 100% implementation of all parameters of the electoral process. Those officers violating this should be given the strictest punishment. At the same time, to make its functioning more transparent, the Election Commission had demanded the facility of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) with every EVM. The Centre has sanctioned a sum of Rs 3,174 crore for this. It is an auspicious signal.

It is believed that the results in those five states where the EVMs already had VVPATs installed were analysed after the assembly polls. The analysis showed that the votes polled were in the same ratio as the final verdict. For instance, the machines registered more voting for the Congress in Punjab and the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. Is this fact not enough to remove the misconceptions in the minds of those making wild allegations? They are themselves not without blemish.

Here I must request self-styled social media stalwarts not to fire missiles of words without pausing to think about the consequences. The generations before us have refined our conventions time and again to make sure that the sanctity of these institutions is maintained after a lot of deliberation. We have no right to shatter it.
* Partial results put Macron and Le Pen ahead

* Defeated main rivals urge their supporters to stop Le Pen

* New surveys suggest Macron will easily beat Le Pen

* Euro soars on investor relief

* Result means defeat for parties that have dominated for 60 years (Adds partial results, Macron quote)

By Sybille de La Hamaide and Matthias Blamont

PARIS/HENIN-BEAUMONT, France, April 23 (Reuters) - Centrist Emmanuel Macron took a big step towards the French presidency on Sunday by winning the first round of voting and qualifying for a May 7 runoff alongside far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Though Macron, 39, is a comparative political novice who has never held elected office, new opinion polls on Sunday had him easily winning the final clash against the 48-year-old Le Pen.

Sunday's outcome is a huge defeat for the two centre-right and centre-left groupings that have dominated French politics for 60 years, and also reduces the prospect of an anti-establishment shock on the scale of Britain's vote last June to quit the European Union and the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president.

In a victory speech, Macron told supporters of his fledgling En Marche! (Onwards!) movement: "In one year, we have changed the face of French politics." He went on to say he would bring in new faces and talent to transform a stale political system if elected.

Conceding defeat even before figures from the count came in, rival conservative and Socialist candidates urged their supporters now to put their energies into backing Macron and stopping any chance of a second-round victory by Le Pen, whose anti-immigration and anti-Europe policies they said spelled disaster for France.

As investors breathed a collective sigh of relief at what the market regarded as the best of several possible outcomes, the euro soared 2 percent to $1.09395 when markets opened in Asia before slipping back to around $1.0886.

It was the euro's highest level since Nov. 10, the day after the results of the U.S. presidential election.

Story continues

In a race that was too close to call up to the last minute, Macron, a pro-EU ex-banker and former economy minister who founded his own party only a year ago, had 23.54 percent of the votes against 22.33 percent for Le Pen, according to partial figures from the Interior Ministry with the bulk of votes counted.

Seconds after the first projections came through, Macron supporters at a Paris conference centre burst into the national anthem, the Marseillaise. Many were under 25, reflecting some of the appeal of a man aiming to become France's youngest head of state since Napoleon.

"PRESIDENT OF PATRIOTS"

With an eye to Le Pen's avowedly France-first policies, Macron told the crowd: "I want to be the president of patriots in the face of a threat from nationalists."

If he wins, Macron's biggest challenges will lie ahead, as he first tries to secure a working parliamentary majority for his young party in June, and then seeks broad popular support for labour reforms that are sure to meet resistance.

Addressing the battle ahead, he declared he would seek to break with a system that "has been incapable of responding to the problems of our country for more than 30 years".

"From today I want to build a majority for a government and for a new transformation. It will be made up of new faces and new talent in which every man and woman can have a place," he said.

Le Pen, who is herself bidding to make history as France's first female president, follows in the footsteps of her father, who founded the National Front and reached the second round of the presidential election in 2002.

Jean-Marie Le Pen was ultimately crushed when voters from right and left rallied around the conservative Jacques Chirac in order to keep out a party whose far-right, anti-immigrant views they considered unpalatably xenophobic.

His daughter has done much to soften her party's image, and found widespread support among young voters by pitching herself as an anti-establishment defender of French workers and French interests against global corporations and an economically constricting EU.

"The great issue in this election is the rampant globalisation that is putting our civilisation at risk," she declared in her first word after results came through.

She went on to launch an attack on the policies of Macron, whom she again described as "the money king" in a disparaging swipe at his investment banker background.

His deregulation policies, she said, would lead to unjust international competition against France's business interests, mass immigration and free movement of terrorists.

Nevertheless, with several defeated candidates calling on supporters to stop her, Le Pen she seems destined to suffer a similar fate to her father when she goes up against Macron in two weeks' time.

Defeated Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon, Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and defeated right-wing candidate Francois Fillon all urged voters to rally behind Macron in the second round.

A new Harris survey saw Macron winning the runoff by 64 percent to 36, and an Ipsos/Sopra Steria poll gave a similar result.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman hailed Macron's success, tweeting: "Good that @EmmanuelMacron succeeded with his policy for a strong EU and social market economy. Wishing him all the best for the next two weeks."

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed similar good wishes for the second round, his spokesman said in Brussels.

BITTER DEFEAT

It was a bitter night for Fillon, seen as a shoo-in for the Elysee until he was hit in January by allegations that his wife had been paid from the public purse for work she did not do.

Ifop give him 20.0 percent in the first round and far-left contender Jean-Luc Melenchon 19.5 percent.

"This defeat is mine and it is for me and me alone to bear it," Fillon, a 63-year-old former conservative prime minister, told a news conference, adding that he would now vote for Macron.

The two politicians left in the race offer radically contrasting economic visions for a country whose economy lags that of its neighbours and where a quarter of young people are unemployed.

Macron's gradual deregulation measures are likely to be welcomed by global financial markets, as are cuts in state expenditure and the civil service. Le Pen wants to print money to finance expanded welfare payments and tax cuts, ditch the euro currency and possibly pull out of the EU.

"Markets will be reassured that the dreaded Le Pen versus Melenchon run-off has been avoided," said Diego Iscaro, an economist from IHS Markit.

"As a result, we expect some recovery in French bond prices, while the euro is also likely to benefit," he said. "However, a lot can happen in two weeks and French assets are likely under some pressure until the second round is out of the way."

Timothy Ash, an economist at Bluebay asset management, said Trump's victory last November marked a turning point for electorates playing the protest card.

"Despite all the hype about the rise of populism, 60 percent of voters went for mainstream candidates ... In an uncertain world, they rather go for what they know best and want to take fewer risks," he said.

(Additional reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Bate Felix, Michaela Cabrera, Michel Rose, Geert De Clercq, Mathieu Rosemain, John Irish, Andrew Callus, Sarah White, Ingrid Melander and Leigh Thomas in Paris, and Ilze Filks in Henin-Beaumont; Writing by Richard Balmforth; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Newsrooms, including the one I am part of, are deeply, sometimes obsessively interested in the funding rounds of start-ups.

Sure, deal stories are always interesting, and the staple on which a newsroom focused on business and economics makes its name, but I have always believed that it is important for journalists to step back and look at the larger picture -- the strategies adopted by start-ups and/or their investors-- and step in and look at the nuts and bolts aspects of how things work. With several well-funded start-ups eyeing the grocery business, for instance, it would be interesting to understand how they are getting the so-called farm-to-fork supply chain to work. This is a problem that has stymied the brightest of minds in Indian business.

Still, as a business journalist, I am aware of what makes the world go round ( I realised to my dismay many decades ago, that Kepler was wrong).

Given the interest in funding rounds, it is easy to explain why SoftBank Group gets the kind of attention it does in India. In 2014 and 2015 -- actually, in one frenetic 12-month period ending November 2015, as Mint pointed out -- the company invested around $2 billion in India, cutting really big cheques. I am not going to analyse how those investments have done. Mint, and others, have written extensively on that. But it is interesting to look at what this burst of investment by SoftBank, and, to a lesser extent, Tiger Global Management, in 2014 and 2015 did.

At one level, it crowded a lot of other investors, including storied venture capital firms such as Sequoia, out of the market. Some of these investors simply didnt have the kind of dry powder to match this burst of investment. And some didnt have the appetite required for the level of risk.

At another level, it probably encouraged managers at start-ups to do the kind of things they otherwise wouldnt have done.

Money, especially a lot of it, encourages profligacy. The behaviour of executives at start-ups who suddenly find that they have money to burn isnt very different from that of their peers at older, more established companies when times are good. Good times (as the fable of the man who titled himself the king of these attests) induce an expansiveness in management decisions, both strategic and operational. Companies expand rashly into new markets. They spend a lot on advertising and marketing. They hire people they dont really need, tapping hot-shot executives at consulting firms, blue-chip multinational firms, even Silicon Valley hot-shops. They move into bigger (and better-looking offices) they do not really need. In general, and with the benefit of hindsight, it makes them stop doing the very things that, in part, contributed to their success in the first place.

It is the rare entrepreneur who realises this before it is too late (in general, entrepreneurs are better at recognising when an idea or a business model isnt working than when they are going overboard in terms of spending) although there are exceptions. I can think of a few entrepreneurs sitting pretty on businesses that, while smaller and not as valuable as they once were, are viable; these entrepreneurs also have money in the bank (a lot of it), left over from the last round of funding.

This year, 2017, marks a return to rationality. Both start-ups and investors are focused on costs and profitability. Unviable businesses are closing down, and theres a lot of cleaning up going on as evident from the rash of news about consolidation in the start-up space. Its a temporary phase, though. Boom and bust cycles come and go, with intervening periods of good sense. It wont be long before someone cuts a really big cheque.

R Sukumar is editor, Mint
This has been an uneasy week for the great Indian middle class  especially for those who think that history is full of lessons and irony. When the Soviet Union dissolved in the winter of 1991, a pronounced ideological shock wave ripped through Indias then incipient middle class. Their assured world of the mixed economy, the pre-eminence of government jobs, the commanding heights of the public sector and the boring world of Doordarshan news began to wobble.

But after a few years of social and psychological disorientation, there was a surging return. By the late 1990s, the Indian middle class acquired a new story based on market-led growth, jobs for the asking in the private sector, the fresh youthful economic energies unleashed by digital technologies and, above all, the rise and rise of aspirational thinking. Children were not only expected to be financially better off than their parents generation but the outlook was going to be global rather than local.

In all these changes, the United States and Americanism acquired the full force of a powerful winning imagination. The US, for the Indian middle class, beckoned not simply as a place to go to, but became the desired future itself. More so, the manner in which Indian students vigorously and ambitiously sought educational prospects in American universities. Interest in clearing the SAT and TOFEL easily surpassed the previous middle class enthusiasm for the UPSC, more popularly called the IAS exam.

From the early 2000s, for many, getting a loan, admitting oneself into an American university and then taking up a job in the US was a neat hop,skip and jump formula for landing the coveted Green Card. From about 65,000 in 1995, the number of Indians leaving for the US had gone past 100,000 by 2014, riding primarily on the H-1B visa programme. Americanism acted as a psychological and ideological frontier for the Indian middle class  providing a mix of hope, opportunity, aspiration and the idea of a better future.

But last week, globalisation was dealt an unceremonious set of legal twists. While Brexit and Trump had already raised anxieties, the final blow was delivered with the executive decision to tweak the H-1B rules. This was, as if on cue, followed by the Australians scrapping the 457 visa programme and New Zealands decision to institute the Kiwi first programme. Indians account for nearly a third of the visa holders under Australias 457 category of visas for foreign skilled workers, while 85% of the H-1B visas issued in the information technology sector in the US goes to Indians.

Earlier, the UK, where about 60% of visas for foreign skilled workers are held by Indians, has also tightened its entry rules by raising the salary thresholds for employing outsiders. It had already begun the process of making it impossible for Indian students to exceed their stay through jobs. Singapore, another popular destination for the upwardly mobile Indian middle class, has ordered its companies to advertise any vacancy for two weeks before seeking employment passes for jobseekers from overseas.

While shrinking job prospects in the advanced West have been making headlines, few have paid attention to what is happening in the oil-producing Gulf region that has been a preferred destination for many unskilled or semi-skilled Indian workers from relatively lower economic strata. Jobs for Indians in the Gulf region fell sharply by 33% in 2016. For many Indians, the petrodollar dream is fast drying up. Remittances, according to World Bank estimates, saw an 8.9% drop in 2016, recording a contraction for the second straight year.

The great Indian middle class must now reconcile to the fact that globalisation as we know it is dead. It needs a fresh and hopeful script for its growth story. But while it reworks its ideas about the neo-liberal moment, there is one house fire that needs to be immediately doused  higher education. Many students will be returning from universities abroad with unpayable loans and many will be unable to find the quality within India that they so critically desire to create new futures.

It is no secret that higher education in India is in a mess and the private sector is in no way anywhere close to closing the gap between expectation, education and employment. If the recent tumult in Panjab University over a steep hike in fees is any indication, the rising costs of education and the lack of jobs to cover loans is potentially the most dangerous political challenge that stares at this government and the ruling political class. We will be ignoring it, if we choose to, at our own peril.

(Rajesh Mahapatra is chief content officer, Hindustan Times. He tweets @RajeshMahapatra)

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Washington/New Delhi/Melbourne: The number of petitions the US received for the high-skill H-1B visas in 2017 dropped unexpectedly, and sharply, for the first time in four years amid speculation that it was due to the Trump administrations hostile measures and Indian tech companies scaling down applications for fear of reprisals.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which runs the H-1B visa programme, announced on Monday it had received 199,000 applications in 2017 for the 2018 cycle. This was 37,000 less than the 236,000 in 2016, ending a rising trend.

The USCIS got 233,000 applications in 2015 and 172,500 in 2014.

It is a significant drop, said George Ganey, an immigration lawyer in Maryland, who was expecting the numbers to rise because of the improving economy. There is no doubt that it has been caused at least in part by President Trumps election.

Trump will sign an executive order later on Tuesday ordering a full review of the temporary visa programme for high-skilled foreign workers and seek recommendations on how to prevent it from being used to displace Americans.The order, which the President is expected to sign during a visit to a manufacturing facility in Wisconsin state, will direct departments of justice, labour, state and homeland security to suggest reforms and ways to prevent fraud and abuse.

Indians are by far the largest recipients of these visas  70% in 2015  and Indian outsourcing firms, who bring them to the US, have found themselves under withering scrutiny and criticism, from both Republicans and Democrats.

Mukesh Aghi, president of the US-India Business Council, a trade body, attributed the fall to much lower petitions from Indian companies. He didnt know by how much, but industry sources said it could be by as much as 20% or 30%. Indian tech companies are among the highest recipients of H-1B visas and have been accused of gaming the system by filing a huge number of applications, apparently much in excess of their need, to crowd out American counterparts.

They have been under increasing scrutiny in recent years, and more so since Trumps election, with the new administration threatening raids and inspections to prevent alleged abuse of the programme to displace American workers. The US grants 65,000 H-1B visas every year to highly skilled foreign workers and 20,000 to foreigners enrolled in advanced studies in American colleges and universities, subject to a congressionally mandated annual cap of 85,000.

More Indians seek jobs back home as Trump cracks down on H-1B visa

Meanwhile, more Indians living in the US want a job back home after Donald Trump became the president of the worlds largest economy. The number of Indians in the US searching for jobs in India has gone up more than 10 times between December and March, according to an analysis by consulting firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Pvt Ltd, shared exclusively with Mint.

There were approximately 600 US-based Indians seeking jobs in India in December 2016. By the end of March 2017, the number of had gone up to approximately 7,000, Deloitte analysis said. This data comes amid a crackdown by the Trump administration on job visas for skilled workers, including software engineers from India.

On an average, global in-house centres (GICs) add 50,000 to 70,000 people in India every year and due to the volume requirements, this number is expected to go up, according to Nasscom. As per the lobby group, there are over 1,000 GICs in India. Of these, around 67% of them are of US origin.

Subheadline

Oz abolishes visa programme used largely by Indians

Australia will abolish a popular work visa used by over 95,000 foreign workers, majority of them Indians, to tackle the growing unemployment in the country and replace it with a new programme requiring higher English-language profiency and job skills. The programme known as 457 visa allows business to employ foreign workers for a period up to four years in skilled jobs where there is a shortage of Australian workers.

We are an immigration nation, but the fact remains: Australian workers must have priority for Australian jobs, so

we are abolishing the 457 visa, the visa that brings temporary foreign workers into our country, said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The majority of the visa holders under this category were from India, accounting almost a quarter of the intake,

followed by the UK and China at 19.5% and 5.8% respectively, ABC reported.
DEHRADUN: Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Sunday urged the Centre to scrap its order notifying the Bhagirathi valleys 4,000 km area as the eco-sensitive zone, saying its continuation would affect the all-weather Chardham road project.

As it is, it (order) has blocked development forcing people to migrate creating demographic vacuum in the Bhagirathi valley. I insist that the issue needs to be reviewed and scrapped as it will end up hampering the (Rs 12,000) crore all weather Chardham road project mooted by the Prime Minister, Rawat said at a meeting of chief ministers convened by NIti Ayog in Delhi.

Rawat emphasised on the need to lift the ban on the construction of hydropower projects in the central Himalayan region. The construction of some 33 hydropower projects (with a 4,100 megawatt power generation capacity) is hampered, thanks to a slew of orders by the Centre as well as the 2013 order issued by the Supreme Court, he said. As a result, investments worth Rs 41,000 crore are affected.

He urged the Centre to provide Uttarakhand an annual assistance of Rs 2,000 crore to compensate the annual financial loss of Rs 1,500 crore after it was divested of its special category status.The special category status was withdrawn in keeping with the 14th Finance Commissions recommendations.

Rawat appealed the Centre to provide a special package to facilitate rehabilitation of over 337 villages that fall in the geologically sensitive zone. The number of such villages that stood at 232 before the floods that ravaged the state in 2013 has now increased.

The CM suggested that the Rs 16, 200 core Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail project would be inordinately delayed, if suitable changes were not made in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013. Acquiring land for the project is taking time, thanks to the strict provisions of the law.

Rawat stressed the need for setting up infrastructural facilities in Uttarakhand to check forced migration and also in view of its tough geographical terrain as well as its sensitive location.

He suggested that the Centre constitute a separate ministry for the mountain states. Such a ministry, if formed, would help prepare development strategies for hilly areas. (At least), Niti Aayog should have a dedicated cell to ensure development in the mountain states, he said urging the Centre to provide Uttarakhand an annual green bonus of at least Rs 4,000 crore as compensation for the ecosystem services.

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Voting for polls to three municipal corporations in Delhi ended on Sunday at 5.30pm with exit polls predicting huge win for BJP in all three corporations. The day began with thin turnout of voters, with the number crawling to about 35% by 2pm. While the final reports of voter turnout were awaited, polling officials said the figure was likely to cross 54%. There were reports of faults in EVMs in some wards, which were flagged by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on social media. Some voters also complained that their names were missing from the voters list in some areas.

The day began with L-G Anil Baijal turning up early 8am to cast his vote at Masjid Moth polling centre. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also exercised his franchise and said that people should vote against vector-borne diseases this time. Among other leaders who have cast their vote are deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Congress leaders Ajay Maken and BJP leader Dr Harsh Vardhan.

Read: No voter id, no problem: How to find your booth, what to carry to vote in MCD elections

Delhi had a total electorate of over 1.32 crore voters who cast their votes to choose councillors in 272 wards for three corporations  North, East, South. While the North and South corporations have 104 wards each, the East ward has 64 wards. The voter turnout remained low for most part of the day even as the last civic polls in 2012 was at a record 54%.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made across the Capital for the election. The fate of 2,537 candidates is now locked in the EVMs which will be now opened on Wednesday for counting.

Read: MCD elections: Come out and vote if you want cleaner and better Delhi

Here are the days highlights:

7.05 pm: Another exit poll by Aaj Tak and India Today TV also calls the election for BJP. The India Today exit poll predicts around 80 seats for BJP in North and South corporations and around 50 seats in East corporation. AAP is far behind in second place in all three corporations, according to the poll, just ahead of the Congress.

6.40pm: Exit poll by ABP News predicts huge win for BJP in all the three municipal corporations with AAP a distant second. They give the BJP 88 out of 104 seats in North, 83 out of 104 in South and 47 out of 64 in East. In the overall tally, the ABP News poll gives BJP 218 seats out of 272 seats, AAP 24 and Congress 22.

BJPs Manoj Tiwari at a ward on Sunday. (HT Photo)

6.35pm: Many Delhiites who braved the scorching sun to reach polling stations had to return home disappointed as their names were missing from the electoral rolls. Such complaints were received from wards across the Capital.

6.25pm: Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit says MCD polls are not a referendum on two years of AAP government in the Capital, but on BJPs 10-year-rule in the MCDs. It will be unfair to say that this election is referendum on the Kejriwal government. In fact, it is a referendum on the BJPs performance as it ruled the MCD in last ten years, she said.

6.15pm: Security was a priority for women voters across wards in the Capital. Urmila Devi, 73, said security of her grand daughter was her prime concern. Similarly, Isha Goel, a first-time voter and DU student, said security was the key issue for her.

6.05pm: State Election Commission says voting percentage of 252 wards till 4pm is 44.48%.

6pm: Polling booth gates closed as voting ends. Voters already standing in queues will be allowed to vote.

5.55pm: With over 1 lakh first-time voters in MCD polls, many expressed hope that the councillors they vote for will actually work. Some of the young voters had also come well informed about the candidates and their promises.

5.45pm:The Delhi State Election Commission asks two major news channels to explain the reason for the telecast of the survey ahead of the MCD polls, in which they had projected a big BJP win.

5.35pm: Voting percentage so far reported by State Election Commission till 4pm was 42.89% in 219 wards. Data from other wards is being compiled. Officials estimate the turnout will cross 50% after a late surge.

5.25pm: ANI reported ruckus outside Patparganj polling station by voters alleged that the EVMs were not functioning properly. Voters also alleged that the officials did not take note of the problem.

5.08pm: Irked over delay in sending poll percentage by the officials concerned, the SEC has decided to issue a memo to them, PTI reported. There has been a delay on the part of concerned official in sending poll percentage data to a control room which has been set up at the SEC headquarters. It has been decided to issue a memo to them, an official said.

4.30pm: Among voters who came out to vote, sanitation was a key issue. A number of voters also pointed to heaps of garbage outside polling stations indicating that it was a major concern to them.

On the day Delhi is voting for #MCDelections2017 , garbage can be seen lying everywhere. @htTweets @htdelhi pic.twitter.com/qPY4KIZXrc  Faizan Haidar (@FaiHaider) April 23, 2017

4pm: Voting begins to pick pace again in some wards. With only one-and-a-half hour more to go, voters were seen arriving in dozens at Tilak Nagar, Punjabi Bagh and Jehangirpuri. Voting will close across the Capital at 5.30pm. However, in last Assembly polls election time was increased by an hour due to rush of last minute voters.

3.50pm: Former Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely says BJP will get majority in all three municipal bodies.The BJP is laying the foundation of a new corporation with an idea of clean politics. And this is why I have joined this party. Today history will be made, as no party on the face of Indian politics has taken such a decision where it has changed its entire political leadership. I believe that BJP will win with majority in all three MCDs, Lovely said.

3.40pm: Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari visits a polling station in Vasundhara Enclave in East Delhi. Meets party workers.

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari meets party workers near a polling station at Vasundhara Enclave in East Delhi. (Ravi Choudhary/HT Photo)

3.35pm: 44,46,000 (33.37%) voters turn up to cast their vote till 2 pm in 236 of 272 wards. Data for the rest of the wards being compiled.

3.30pm: Polling picks up at a booth in Tilak Nagar. Voters arriving by dozens. Will Delhi redeem itself in the last two hours?

3.20pm: 95-year old Digambar Sen Sawhney braves the heatwave to exercise his franchise.

2.40pm: Sheila Dikshit says people will vote for the Congress in the civic polls this time. We are very hopeful about these polls. And I am sure that we will perform much better this time. People are really angry with the BJP as there is no cleanliness, workers dont get their pay, Dikshit said.

2.30pm: CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury says MCD election is a big battle for the future of Delhi and said that people should vote to create a world-class city in Delhi and not in terms of political bickering. It is not a political battle between the BJP, Congress or the AAP. Yes, the political parties are there in the fray, the Left is also there in the fray. The point is that Delhi has become a city that has virtually becoming unmanageable in terms of your civic amenities, Yechury said.

Voters stand in a queue at a polling station in Sarita Vihar. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

2.20pm: Voters faced problem due to faulty EVMs in some wards. Former Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely, who joined BJP recently, could not cast his vote due to problem in EVMs at East Azad Nagar polling booth. There were also complaints of faulty EVMs in North Delhi Burari area and South West Delhis Kapashera due to which voting had to be stopped for a few minutes. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal took to social media over the matter saying that many EVMs had malfunctioned.

Reports from all over Delhi of EVM malfunction, people wid voter slips not allowed to vote. What is SEC doing?  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 23, 2017

2.10pm: The participation of Delhis affluent in MCD poll process has remained low over the years. This time too, polling station at posh Vasant Vihar has stayed empty with officials saying that only voters from illegal colonies and slums have cast their votes so far.

Empty tent at a polling station in posh Vasant Vihar.Only those from slums & illegal colonies coming,officials #MCDpolls @htTweets @htdelhi pic.twitter.com/Ju3pnVJkgl  Sweta Goswami (@sweta_goswami) April 23, 2017

2pm: Despite relatively moderate temperature on Sunday, voters stay away. Temperature was 36 degrees Celsius at 11.30am in the Capital and is expected to touch 38 degrees Celsius by 2.30pm.

1.45pm: State Election Commission says only 29.23% polling seen in Delhi by 1.30pm.

1.35pm: After declining AAPs plea for EVMs with paper trail for MCD polls, the EC has set the ball rolling to buy over 16 lakh paper trail machines in the next two years to be used in all polling stations in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

1.25pm: There were some voters who felt disillusioned with the system. They complained that their problems are never addressed and voting makes not difference. Maulana Rahi from JJ Colony in Dwarka, said the poor locals vote every time but their problems are never solved. Najafgarh farmers, too had a similar stand. Mahender Singh of Punjabi Bagh said he is from a family that suffered during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. No one bothers about our colonies, he said.

Maulana Rahi from JJ Colony, a farmer from Najafgarh and Manhender Singh of Punjabi Bagh. (HT Photo)

1.15pm: Villagers of Kanjhawala, who had boycotted the MCD polls last time, voted on Sunday. They however, said that they have been demanding metro connectivity in the area and threatened to boycott the next Lok Sabha elections if their demands are not met.

They had boycotted the last municipal polls, the villagers of Ladpur says only candidate matters. #MCDelections2017 @htTweets @htdelhi pic.twitter.com/ua5ZonRXv3  Faizan Haidar (@FaiHaider) April 23, 2017

1.05pm: AAP leader Sanjay Singh removed from Janakpuri polling booth after an argument with polling officials over giving an interview after he cast his vote.

12.50am: Union minister Harsh Vardhan confident of the AAPs rout in the civic polls, says people of Delhi have a clear choice in front of them. The people of Delhi want to be governed by the BJP, which is led by Prime Minister Modi, who is leaving no stone unturned in developing the nation on all fronts, said Vardhan.

In pics | Delhis senior citizens lead the way in MCD election, cast their vote by all means

12.40pm: Delhi State Election Commission registers 12.62% tuned out till 12pm.

12.30pm: At a polling booth in Jamai Nagar, 28-year-old Aas Mohammed cast his vote. Aas, who does not have both arms was helped by his wife Afsana and was inked on one shoulder. Aas runs and embroidery business and said he was proud to have exercised his ballot.

Aas Mohammed, 28 - I have no arms. My wife will help me vote. I am lucky to live in a democracy @htdelhi @htTweets pic.twitter.com/TGyLVWqbuE  prawesh lama (@LamaPrawesh) April 23, 2017

12.25pm: In polling stations at Sarita Vihar, Burari and Tughlaqabad voters are braving long queues to exercise their vote. Senior citizens are being assisted by the Delhi police personnel on duty at the polling booths.

12.15pm: Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit casts her vote at a polling booth in DAV School, Nizamuddin East.

Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit after casting her vote for MCD polls on Sunday. (HT Photo)

12.10pm: Voters says sanitation is a prime concern for them in this election. The MCDs have seen repeated strike by sanitation workers over the past years. Each time such a strike left the citys civic infrastructure in tatters.

Garbage dumped outside a polling station in north Delhi's Burari. Voters say cleanliness main agenda for #MCDPolls2017 @htTweets @htdelhi pic.twitter.com/P0dBzfMsa4  Faizan Haidar (@FaiHaider) April 23, 2017

11.58am: Among a number of women voters who said security is a crucial issue for them, is Ratna who lives in Defence Colony. She rues that while leaders come to seek votes, they forget about it once elections are over. For her too, security of young girls is a prime concern. Watch here:

In posh Defence Colony, Ratna also came to vote. She worries about the girls who live with her below a #Delhi flyover @htTweets @htdelhi pic.twitter.com/dbpvTVpynP  Sweta Goswami (@sweta_goswami) April 23, 2017

11.50am: The otherwise crowded lanes of Karol Bagh stand deserted today because of MCD elections. Voter turnout at the polling booth in Karol Bagh has also thinned with increase in temperature.

11.40am: Delhi Police received 300 calls related to polls till 11 am, one was about firing outside a booth in Dhansa,Najafgarh.

11.30am: Turnout is also low in villages where election officers are still waiting for voters to turn up.

Officials waiting for voters as turn out is low in the villages in of Delhi. @htTweets @htdelhi #MCDPolls2017 pic.twitter.com/HZjYL10RDT  Faizan Haidar (@FaiHaider) April 23, 2017

11.20am: Delhi State Election Commission reports 7.67% polling till 11am.

11.10am: BJP vice-president Shyam Jaju says Delhi has already rejected the Congress. People of Delhi are fed up of Arvind Kejriwal and his party. I am absolutely confident the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win. This is a litmus test for the AAP, as these polls will decide that how the national capital has accepted Arvind Kejriwal, said Jaju.

Voters in a polling booth to cast their ballot at Burari, Nourth Delhi. (HT Photo)

11am: BJP leader Vijender Gupta casts his vote, says that with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ruling the nation, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will find it hard to rule the national capital again. I have done my best to win peoples hearts; its like a challenge for me to contest in the MCD polls. With Modi ruling the nation, it is going to be difficult for Arvind Kejriwal to rule in the state again, Gupta told ANI.

10.50am: Some voters in areas like Sangam Vihar and Tilak Nagar complain that they were unable to find their name in the voters list.

Have the voter ID, but can't vote as my name is missing in voters' list: Mohinder Singh, Tilak Nagar. #MCDelections2017 pic.twitter.com/ZhTqQAWmrX  Vishal Kant (@VishKant) April 23, 2017

10.40am: Only 1.16% voting reported from across three corporations till 10am. East, is the slowest so far with only .78% votes polled while North and South have reported 1.47% and 1.10%, respectively.

10.30am: Ajay Maken says Delhi should vote for Congress for sensible governance. Looking at the track record of the Congress Party, the people will vote for the Congress in Delhi. BJP ruled corporations have caused enough damage. We need to rectify this now and give good governance in Delhi, said Maken.

10.12am: Congress leader Ajay Maken arrives with his daughter Arushi to vote at Rajouri Garden polling station. Sports minister Vijay Goel also cast his vote along with his wife.

Ajay Maken with his daughter Arushi and Vijay Goel with his wife. (HT Photo)

10.05am: North Delhis Burari has seen 13% votes till 10am. With the heat increasing now, voters have to stand in the open to cast vote.

13% votes till 10 am in north Delhi's Burari. Voters standing in open in this heat. @htTweets @htdelhi #MCDelections2017 pic.twitter.com/6cGEAvrmK9  Faizan Haidar (@FaiHaider) April 23, 2017

9.58am: The Delhi State Election Commission has deployed ample staff to man its polling stations, some of which fall in outer Delhi areas and the EVMs being used this time do not have paper trail. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had raised fears of tampering and demanded that EVMs with paper trails be used this time.

9.50am: Rajouri Garden councillor Subhash Arya casts his ballot, says confident of winning over 200 seats. AAP will be at the third spot, says Arya

9.38am: Over an hour after voting began across the Capital, some polling booths are yet to see voters. Polling booth, at Deoli for example, has not seen any turnout so far.

9.30am: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwals daughter Harsita, who accompanied her father, exercised ballot for the first time. Young and first-time voters were also seen enthusiastically taking part in the polling process at polling booths in Rajouri Garden.

Arvind Kejriwals daughter Harsita, after casting her vote for the first time. (HT Photo)

9.18am: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal casts his vote at a Civil Lines polling booth, says people should vote to make Delhi free of dengue and chikungunya.

9.10am: A number of senior citizens are turning up to vote. Seen below is 82-year-old Raja Ram who voted at Rajpura Road polling booth and 88-year-old Gulaab Devi in Dwarka, who voted for the fifth time in an MCD election. Polling booths in Lado Sarai and Jungpura also reported a number of senior citizens arriving to exercise ballot.

Senior citizens turn out to vote for MCD elections. Seen in the picture: Raja Ram, 82, and Gulaab Delvi, 88. (HT Photo)

9.08am: Union Minister Dr Harshvardhan casts his vote at the polling booth in Krishna Nagars Ratan Devi School. He was accompanied by his mother, who also cast her vote.

9.01am: Voting also reportedly slow at Hari Nagar, voters are in and out in two minutes.

8.53am: Polling has a slow start near Tiraha Bairam khan, Delhi Gate. Volunteers at counters set by political parties sit idle as voters yet to arrive. In Pandav Nagar, on the other hand, people have queued up to cast vote in the early hours.

8.42am: EVM at a polling booth in East Azad Nagar reportedly not working. Arvinder Singh Lovely, who recently quit Congress to join BJP, could not cast his vote.

8.39am: Couples, families and elderly seen arriving at polling booths to vote. Out of 1.32 crore voters, nearly 1 lakh are expected to exercise franchise for the first time.

.@htTweets @htdelhi Couple brings elderly parents to vote. "Security is a concern. It is not a municipal issue, but will decide our votes". @htTweets @htdelhi pic.twitter.com/5RBWscsNhB  Shiv Sunny (@shivsunny) April 23, 2017

8.29am: Leave your phones at home when going out to vote today. Voters carrying mobile phones have to return home as phones are not allowed inside polling booths.

8.25am: Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia arrives at Pandav Nagar, says if people want to see a clean Delhi and get rid of dengue they should vote AAP. Also adds that you should definitely vote if you are troubled by corruption in MCDs.

8.20am: Arvind Kejriwal likely to vote at 9am at Civil Lines polling booth.

8.17am: Pleasant Delhi weather expected to draw out early voters today. Voting expected to be highest in the morning and evening hours.

8.10am: Voting begins for 272 wards in Delhi. Voters line up at booths across the Capital early Sunday morning to cats ballot.

A couple show their ink-marked finger after casting vote at Rajpura Road polling station in New Delhi. (Ravi Choudhary /HTPhoto)

8.05am: Elections in Sarai Pipal Thala and Maujpur ward postponed due death of two candidates. Bypolls for these wards will take place on May 21 and May 14, respectively and the results will be declared on May 16 and May 23.

8am: Delhi L-G Anil Baijal arrives at Masjid Moth polling station to cast his vote.

Delhi Lt.Governor Anil Baijal after casting his vote in a polling station in Greater Kailash-3 #MCDelections2017 pic.twitter.com/9QyWVTmyHp  ANI (@ANI_news) April 23, 2017

7.55am: Delhi sky is expected to remain partly cloudy throughout the voting day Sunday. Met officials have predicted possibility of thundery development in the evening. The day temperature is expected to remain around 39 degrees Celsius

7.45am: Posters at polling booth instruct voters not carry mobile phones and cigarettes inside. Voters should carry Aadhar card, passport, voter identification card or driving licence.

7.40am: Volunteer of key political parties have stationed their desks at various polling booths to help voters.

Viren&Nidhi Razdan first ones to turn up to vote. #MCDelections2017 They have been asked to wait as voting begins at 8am @htTweets @htdelhi pic.twitter.com/9btr4Jvva0  Shradha Chettri (@Shrads_chettri) April 23, 2017

7.35am: In a first, voters will have the option to choose NOTA in Delhi civic polls this time.

7.25am: Voters have already started to arrive at polling booths in some areas. Voting begins in about 30 minutes.

Voters start coming in at one of the polling stations in Dwarka. Voting to begin from 8am @htdelhi @MCDElections pic.twitter.com/xTxntSK1fz  Snehal Tripathi (@SnehalATripathi) April 23, 2017

7.17am: As one EVM can only have 16 candidates, wards with more candidates will have two EVMs placed side by side at polling booths.

7.07am: Nearly 13,100 polling stations across the Capital are set to receive voters as the polling for MCD election begins at 8am today. Polling will close at 5.30pm.
At 94, Ratna Mahajan was one of the first persons to cast her vote at a polling station in Jangpura in south Delhi.

Mahajan said that with a rising number of dengue and chikungunya cases in the city, mosquito breeding was turning out to be a big problem in her area.

But Mahajan was not alone. Senior citizens turned up in large numbers early in the day to cast their vote.

Some, who were not sure of the poll timings, reached the poll booths before 8am. They were seen killing time by chatting with other early birds or by simply saving their space in the queue.

I never knew that voting was to start from 8 am. I reached too early. Then I thought I would go for a walk and return later, said Manju Soni a 67-year-old voter from Dwarka Sector 5 told HT.

An elderly woman at Noor Nagar. (Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo)

Some had even come to the stations straight from their morning walk sessions wearing jogging suits. They said they were trying to take advantage of the shorter queues and the cooler temperature during the morning hours.

I thought it would be best to vote early as the temperature would be low and the queues wont be that long, said Gulaab Devi 88 from Dwarka.

Lawrence Michael (62) at Jsola. (Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo)

Issues including stray dogs, drainage and sewerage, drinking water, mosquitoes and waste disposal topped the senior voters concerns.

But not all were lucky enough. Some had to wait for long hours as they couldnt locate their polling stations after the delimitation. A few others had to return to drop their mobile phone at home. I had to wait for more than an hour as I failed to locate the polling booth. It has changed after delimitation, said Madan Lal, a physically challenged voter from Milap Nagar

Akeela Begum (88) at Jamia Nagar. (Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo)

I forgot that mobile phone wont be allowed inside the booths. I had to return home and come back later, said MC Saxena a senior citizen voter from Janakpuri area.

Several elderly couples were also being escorted by their children to the polling booths. At many booths, they complained that there were no facilities for the old. They had a tough time reaching to the EVM without help.

Raja Ram (82) at Rajpura Road. (Ravi Choudhary/HT Photo)

Even as Delhi witnessed a turnout of 55% during the 2012 civic polls, which was the highest in 15 years, the poll panel is expecting a turnout of nearly 70% this year.
Not expecting much from the administration to look into their civic demands, voters from some of Delhis villages on Sunday decided cast their votes only for candidates from their own communities in the municipal elections.

I have been living in Model Town since the time it was a jungle. Big buildings have come up now and in the next few years, even our villages will be commercialised. For us, the candidate matters. Someone who is local and from the community is preferred. Candidates from the three main parties are from the same community, said Nafe Singh Dabas, a retired principal from Model Town.

In Najafgarh, the owners of farm lands voted based on their loyalty towards a party or a candidate.

Every family here comes out to vote based on their closeness to a particular candidate. For example, one of the elders in my family is a friend of a candidate who is contesting from here. So, everyone in my family will vote for him, said Anil Kumar, 35, a resident of Najafgarh.

Villagers said there were certain issues that they wanted the candidates in general and civic bodies in particular to address. In Ghoga village of Alipur, for example, lack of a primary healthcare center is an issue that makes residents travel at least 10km when they are sick.

There is no dispensary for a village with a population of 6,000. We have requested the MP, MLA and ministers several times and hope we get a small healthcare facility after this election, said Rameshwar, a resident of Ghoga.

In the 2012 municipal elections, the villagers of Ladpur and Sannoth in outer Delhis Kanjhawla had boycotted the polls demanding chakbandi (consolidation of land). The problem was later resolved by the Delhi government. Queued up in front of polling booths on Sunday, the villagers threatened to boycott the Lok Sabha polls in 2019, if they didnt get Metro connectivity.

Residents of some other villages complained about absence of roads.

Our lives wont change after voting. No one listens to our plight anyway, said a resident. She, along with her husband and three children, work at a field in Dharampura, Najafgarh.

She said that it is difficult to transport crops from the field up to local markets due to bad condition of roads and streets in the area.

I have been living in Najafgarh for ten years. But there has been no development in the locality. What should we vote for in the MCD polls? Roads are broken. There is no proper road to even go to my house, she said.
In south Delhis Jamia Nagar, the mood of the voters on Sundays municipal election was that of anger and disillusionment. The area, which emerged as the dengue, chikungunya hotbed of the city reporting maximum deaths last year, is still facing neglect.

Despite the fact that the civic agency failed to ensure sanitation and check growth of mosquitoes, a large number of people came out to vote. However, most people HT spoke to, were angry with the continued neglect by both the municipal corporation and the Delhi government.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has promised to rid Delhi of dengue and chikungunya if AAP wins MCD polls.Will we get justice only if we vote for him? The BJP runs the MCDs and we have seen their work last year. Dengue was bred in Jamia Nagar because the MCD did not do their work. We do not know what to do. We will be neglected by whoever comes to power again, said Amir Hussain, a resident of Batla House.

Though the official figure for dengue and chikungunya deaths in Jamia Nagar, according to MCD records, is less than 10, there were over 70 suspected deaths in this part of south east Delhi. Sameer Khan, a social worker told HT, We do not know who will win the election but what we do know is that people are angry with the municipality. There is filth everywhere across Jamia Nagar and Okhla.

A resident said MCDs failure to provide sanitation -- one of the most important responsibilities of the civic body -- is evident from the insanitary conditions at Jamia Nagars Shaheen Bagh and Abu Fazal Enclave areas, which are situated on the banks of the Yamuna.

Try standing in the open. The mosquitoes will not let you stand for even a minute. There is no impact of Prime Ministers Swachh Bharat campaign here. One can see carcass of stray dogs lying around almost every day. The Swachh Bharat campaign has failed here, the resident said, while returning from a polling booth.

Asim Khan said his 14-year-old nephew died of dengue last year. He said the teenager died within three days of being admitted to the hospital. I am worried more people will die this year. My nephew returned after writing his exams. He had high fever and had to be admitted to the hospital, Khan said.

This year is no different. Mosquitoes are breeding everywhere in our colony and we are worried that the vector-borne disease might spread again, he said.

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Residents of the 377-year-old Shahjahanabad, who have seen little improvement in the Walled Citys civic conditions over the years, hoped against hope that the coming dispensation would take interest in their lost city as they cast their votes in Sundays municipal polls.

Akram Qureshi, president of the Bazaar Matia Mahal Shopkeepers Association, said cleanliness, lack of green space and parking are three major issues plaguing the area.

It seems our children are no longer interested in outdoor activities. But they are not at fault. The civic authority is to be blamed. Even senior citizens and women have no green space or park to go for a walk, he said.

Qureshi said the municipal corporations are installing garbage bins in areas other than the old city. Over the years, problems in old Delhi have multiplied manifold but the administration cant find a solution, he added.

VK Jain, a retired government official living in Dharampura, expressed a similar opinion. The civic body lets an issue go a level. When it becomes a do and die situation, it acts, he said.

However, Renu, a housewife from Delhi Gate, said she had no complaints as she managed to build her house without paying any bribe to the corporation. The structure was on the verge of collapse but I got approval well in time, she said.

The Walled City area is divided into seven wardsDaryaganj, Delhi Gate, Ajmeri Gate, Bazaar Sita Ram, Balliamaran, Jama Masjid, and Chandni Chowk. Daryaganj is part of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation but the remaining five wards come under the North Delhi Municipal Corporations jurisdiction.

Rafia Siddique, a resident of Bazaar Sita Ram ward, cast her vote with a different concern in her mind. As she is unable to pay up the exorbitant fees, the mother of two children wants quality education in municipal schools. So, I am hopeful the candidate, whom I am voting today, will work to upgrade quality of education in municipal schools, she said.

Polling was off toa slow start on Sunday morning in the area. At a polling station in Delhi Gate area, only 25 votes were polled in first two hours. But voting started picking up pace later.

Mahesh Mathur, a polling agent in Dariba locality near Kinari Bazaar, said voters generally come out after lunch. By evening, the percentage had crossed 50% in all seven wards except Chandni Chowk, where it was only 49.7 %.

The highest voting was in Ballimaran ward (60.84 %) and 58.08 % in Ajmeri Gate. The voting percentage was above 50% in other wards -- Delhi Gate (56.49 %), Bazaar Sita Ram (55.37 %), and Jama Masjid (52.05 %).

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Tucked away in the northern most corner of Delhi, Bakhtawarpur ward in North Delhi Municipal Corporation hogged the limelight on Sunday again. The village recorded the highest voter turnout in municipal elections, second time in a row.

While the citys average stood at around 54%, this seat, mostly comprising rural areas, witnessed 69% voting, which is the maximum in the three corporations.

Located near the Delhi-Haryana-UP border, Bakhtawarpur has a history of turning up in large numbers to exercise their franchise. In 2012 municipal elections, its voting percentage was 69.33%, which was 4.7 percentage points higher than the 2007 elections.

Villagers say every resident here has inherited the habit of voting from his elders. Our elders tell us how our area always has the highest vote percentage and we take pride in it. Almost every family is concerned and voters come in large number, said Sharad Rana.

Sanjay, another local said that while agriculture is the main occupation, most villagers are literate and know their rights. We have people who file RTI on regular basis and participate in every election from local to central. They know everything about politics. It is because of the awareness, the turnout is huge, he said

However, Deepak Chauhan, cited a different reason for huge polling in the ward. It is a village of Chauhans and candidates of all the three major parties are locals and belong to the Chauhan clan. All of them are known to everyone and that is why the first thing we did in the morning was to go to the polling booth. We have a wedding in the family and that was another reason we went early in the morning to cast votes, he said.

Other residents feel that another reason for the highest turnout is the presence of a large number of young voters. Given the track-record of the village, their elder family members motivate them to use their voting rights, said Sunil Chauhan, another resident.

Lado Sarai, a ward in South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), earned a dubious distinction of having recorded the lowest polling percentage this time too. As per initial statistics released on Sunday evening, the seat saw 39.14% while in 2012, it was 39. 43%.

One major reason for the low turnout in Lado Sarai ward was cancellation of nomination of BJP candidate from the area, said Pramjeet Sejwal, a resident.

The cancellation of nomination of a candidate of a major political party might have been the reason that many people didnt come out in the heat. Secondly, Lado Sarai municipal ward also comprises most parts of Saket  an upmarket locality  where people generally tend to come out less to vote for civic polls, he said.

A resident of Saket, which comes under the Lado Sarai ward, said it is unfortunate that despite awareness campaigns and given the political scenario, the area could not improve its performance in the democratic process.

We have lost any right to complain, said a resident, requesting anonymity.

Peeragarhi ward recorded the lowest turnout  46% in the North Delhi municipality, which is 7. 66 percentage points less than last election. In 2012, it was 53.66 %.

Madipur ward was on the top of the list in terms of polling percentage in SDMC where it was 61.6%.

In East Delhi Municipal Corporation, the highest polling was witnessed in Sundar Nagari ward (63.62 %) and lowest was registered in Shakarpur at 48. 78%.

With inputs from Vibha Sharma
The voter turnout in the posh neighbourhoods of the national capital remained low during Sundays municipal corporation elections even as the numbers were better than the 2012 municipal elections.

South Delhis Greater Kailash-I, which in the last polls had seen the lowest turnout (37.3%), gained by more than five percentage points this time with the ward registering 42.44% votes.

Despite the sweltering heat, people in other posh colonies too stepped out of their homes to vote. Vasant Kunj, for example, also set a positive example by casting 45.18% votes compared to 39.43% in 2012. Back in the 2007 civic polls, the ward had seen only 25% voter turnout.

Vasant Vihar also saw an increase of 3.38 percentage points with 43.3% people coming out to vote. While all these constituencies probably have seen the highest ever turnout, they still remained way below the city average of 54-55% during the last two civic polls.

Most people Hindustan Times spoke to in the posh South Delhi colonies said they voted for better civic services. I am voting this time because I am saddened to see the unhygienic conditions in my locality. Whats the point of calling it a posh colony if basic fogging is also not done at regular intervals, said Indu, a resident of GK-I.

Sixty nine-year-old Umesh Kochar, a trader living in Defence Colony, felt sanitation, or rather the lack of it, was the deciding factor behind his vote. Even posh colonies become hell if the safai karamcharis dont do their work. This election is vital as the municipal corporations provide these basic facilities, Kochar said.

However, Rajender Bharadwaj, a resident of Vasant Kunj said the high voter turnout in the affluent colonies could be for a different reason. One of the reasons behind the increasing turnout is that most of the prominent candidates were from village areas such as Rajokri, Masoodpur and Mehrauli and people in villages come out to vote more than posh colonies, he said.

With inputs from Vibha Sharma
Hundreds of unauthorised colonies across the city have remained at the core of Delhi politics. But, despite all political parties promising to provide basic civic amenities ahead of every election, for the lakhs of residents dwelling in these colonies the issues remain unchanged.

Even as the residents headed to polling booths to choose their municipal councillors on Sunday, they listed basic amenities such as sanitation, water supply, sewerage, dangling electric wires and dust pollution as some of the issues which they battle on a daily basis.

Expressing hopelessness over chances of improvement in these colonies, Uday Pratap Singh, a resident of C-block Sangam Vihar, said: Narendra Modi or Arvind Kejriwal will not come to clean our drains, which is always overflowing. Earlier we had voted for a new party, but nothing happened. Also in five years time, we never saw our councillor. So this time, we dont want to make the same mistake.

Sangam Vihar is one of the biggest unauthorised colonies, which also had the distinction of being one of the most parched areas of the city, with residents forced to be dependent on water tankers for supply. The AAP government claims to have brought 70% of the colony area under the piped water network.

Complaints of lack of water and sanitation also emerged in Burari assembly segment in North Delhi, dotted with unauthorised colonies, dominated by migrants from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh  commonly known as purvanchalis.

The significance of the area could be gauged from that fact that both Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar launched the campaign for municipal elections from the area.

Water comes once in two days and that too just for an hour. Population of the area has increased like anything and but there is no infrastructure to back it up. We hope the problem will be resolved, said Jamaluddin, a resident of the area for the past 40 years.

Issues of barbed wires hanging dangerously figured among the top priorities of the people living in unauthorised colonies such as New Ashok Nagar and Karawal Nagar.

The wires here are hanging dangerously. In case of a storm it can lead to major accidents. I prefer voting for NOTA as no political party has cared to solve the issue in past 30 years, said Bhim Kaushik, a resident of Karawal Nagar.

A section of voters in Chander Vihar in east Delhi said they feel ashamed about where they stay.

We feel ashamed to take the name of our colony because of the unhygienic condition we live in. There are open drains across the locality, said Surbhi Gupta, a resident.

(With inputs from Faizan Haidar)
Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh got into a heated argument with election officials when he went to cast his vote at a booth in Janakpuri during the MCD elections on Sunday.

Singh was speaking to reporters inside the polling booth after casting his vote when an EC official objected to it. He asked Singh to immediately go out of the polling booth. Singh told him that the had just come to exercise his franchise while his supporters argued with the official.

How could you stand here. Just leave now, the official could be seen telling Singh and his supporters in a video as some policemen tried to pacify him.

Speaking to HT, Singh said: I had gone to cast my vote. The reporters came to me seeking my views. I was talking to them when a poll official asked me to leave the booth. I immediately left. Nobody was thrown out.

Earlier, Singh told the reporters that the peoples verdict will come out soon. They will vote against the 10 years of mismanagement and corruption in the MCDs by the BJP. The BJP has turned Delhi into a big garbage dump, Singh said.

We are confident that the AAP is heading toward a big victory in the elections, Singh told reporters.

Meanwhile, the first three hours of voting for Delhi municipal polls saw thin turnout with election officers in Delhi village areas still waiting for voters. The day began with L-G Anil Baijal turning up early 8am to cast his vote at Masjid Moth polling centre.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also exercised his franchise and said that people should vote against vector-borne diseases this time. Among other leaders who have cast their vote are deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Congress leaders Ajay Maken and BJP leader Dr Harshvardhan.

Over 1.32 crore Delhi voters will cast their votes to choose councillors in 272 wards for three corporations  North, East, South. While the North and South corporations have 104 wards each, the East ward has 64 wards. It is expected that the polling percentage will cross 60% this time, though the voter turnout in the first few hours remained low. In the last civic polls, the voter turnout was a record 54%.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made across the Capital for the election. Campaigning ended on Friday as over 2,537 candidates are geared up for the final poll battle on Sunday.
Former Congress minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, who joined the BJP just days ahead of the MCD polls, reportedly had to return without casting his vote after the electronic voting machine (EVM) was not working.

The EVM at a polling booth in East Azad Nagar, where Lovely went to vote on Sunday morning, was reportedly not functional.

Delhi went to polls on Sunday morning to elect representatives to 272 municipal wards. By 11 am, 5.66 lakh people had cast their votes with the highest turnout in north Delhi.

Delhi State Election Commission reported 7.67% polling till 11am. There are 1.3 crore registered voters for the municipal election in Delhi.

Lovely joined the BJP on April 18, dealing a severe blow to the grand old party just a week ahead of the much-watched, three-cornered municipal elections.

I had given 31 years to the party but what did I get in the end? Nothing. I was not even included in the core committee set up for the municipal elections, Singh had said.
The controversy over electronic voting machines (EVMs) refuses to die down with voters in few municipal wards allegedly complaining of faulty machines as they turned out to vote on Sunday morning.

Former Delhi minister and BJP leader Arvind Singh Lovely also could not cast his vote as there were some problems in the EVMs at the polling booth in East Azad Nagar area.

Reports from all over Delhi of EVM malfunction, people wid voter slips not allowed to vote. What is SEC doing?  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 23, 2017

I reached the polling station at 8am. However, I could not vote as the EVM was not working so I had to leave due to some urgent work. I will go later to cast my vote, he said.

There were also complaints of faulty EVMs in North Delhis Burari area and South West Delhis Kapashera due to which voting had to be reportedly stopped for a few minutes.

There were few complaints of the functioning of EVMs at Burari and Kapashera which has been rectified, an official source said.

Meanwhile, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal questioned the State Election Commission over its preparedness for the polls in a tweet. Reports from all over Delhi of EVM malfunction, people wid voter slips not allowed to vote. What is SEC doing? Kejriwal tweeted.

Kejriwal also retweeted Maharashtra Congress leader Shehzad Poonawallas tweet about complaints on EVM malfunctioning.

@ashu3page @ArvindKejriwal The way these EVMs are malfunctioning in #MCDelections2017 better we call them (E)xtremely (V)ulnerable (M)achines! Don't be like Nero SEC!!  Shehzad Poonawalla (@Shehzad_Ind) April 23, 2017

The poll panel, however, clarified that only three such complaints were received and all faulty EVMs were immediately replaced.

Each returning officer is given 4-5 extra EVMs as precautionary measures. As and when, any error is reported, the EVM is replaced immediately. We had received complaints of malfunctioning from three areas in the morning where EVMs were changed, said a senior official of the state election commission.

With PTI inputs
Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami visited the protesting farmers from his state at Delhis Jantar Mantar on Sunday morning and urged them to end their agitation.

Palaniswami also assured the protesters that he will submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the plight of farmers and ask him to waive off their loans. Palaniswami has reportedly discussed the issue with finance minister Arun Jaitley and home minister Rajnath Singh.

Over the past 40 days, the farmers have grabbed national attention through novel, and often shocking, forms of protest. They have shaved their heads and half their moustaches, put mice and snakes in their mouths, conducted mock funerals, flogged themselves, stripped at Raisina Hill, and carried skulls of farmers who committed suicide due to debt pressure. On Saturday, they said they would drink urine but were persuaded not to by Delhi Police.

The farmers have been demanding intervention by Centre to write off their loans from nationalised banks, a revised drought relief package and resolve the alleged drying up of the Tamil Nadu leg of the Kaveri river. The state government and the Madras High Court have already waived their loans from co-operative banks.

The farmers have met multiple political leaders, including Jaitley, water resources minister Uma Bharti, agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, and Pon Radhakrishnan, minister of state for road transport and highways, who is also the only elected BJP MP from Tamil Nadu.

In Saturday, the farmers had decided to wait for two days to see what steps the government takes to help them.
Farmers from Tamil Nadu protesting at Jantar Mantar called off their agitation on Sunday evening, hours after they met with state chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami.

If our demands are not met, we will start our protest again after May 25. We will leave today if we get tickets, ANI quotes Ayyakkannu, one of the farmers. This leaves the government one months time to meet their demands, which includes writing off their loans from nationalised banks and a revised drought relief package.

Over the past 40 days, the farmers have grabbed national attention through novel, and often shocking, forms of protest. They have shaved their heads and half their moustaches, put mice and snakes in their mouths, conducted mock funerals, flogged themselves, stripped at Raisina Hill, and carried skulls of farmers who committed suicide due to debt pressure. On Saturday, they said they would drink urine but were persuaded not to by Delhi Police.

Ayyakkannu, who was leading the protesters, had a meeting with the local district commissioner of police and was told not to drink urine. He had told HT that the protesters would send their urine in buckets back to Tamil Nadu as a symbolic gesture of protest.

Speaking to reporters after the NITI Aayog governing council meet, chief minister Palaniswami said that he discussed the farmers plight during the meeting and forwarded their demands to the Prime Minister.

During the course of their protest, the farmers met political leaders including Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, finance minister Arun Jaitley and Pon Radhakrishnan, minister of state for road transport and highways, who is also the only elected BJP MP from Tamil Nadu.

Apart from demands to write off their loans from nationalised banks, the farmers have also demanded a revised drought relief package and to resolve the alleged drying up of the Tamil Nadu leg of the Cauvery river.

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Following orders of the Punjab and Haryana high court to the Gurgaon police not to interfere in issues between the developer and the residents of Ambience Lagoon, an election for residents body is likely to be held soon. Ambience Lagoon is an upscale condominium near Ambience Mall.

The move comes as a relief to residents of the society, who had filed a writ petition in the high court in January 2017, challenging the recommendations of a government panel to resolve the problems between them and the developer.

Residents alleged that the developer had formed its own residents welfare association, Lagoon Residents Apartments Complex Association (LRACA) despite an elected RWA  Ambience Lagoon residents welfare complex association (Alarwa)  in place.

Its a victory for residents. We can finally choose the association and will run the complex without any hassle, Neeti Dabral, secretary of Alarwa, said.

Alarwa is not a welfare association but an association of apartment owners formed in 2003.

As the builder failed to file a deed of declaration within the stipulated 90-day period after obtaining the occupation certificate in 2002, the apartment owners formed the association.

On April 26, we have to appear at the high court to confirm if the list of owners provided by the builder is correct. Hopefully, the bench will announce the date for elections on the same day, said Praveen Kakkar, president of Alarwa.

The order states that for holding fresh polls under the direct supervision of the court, all apartment owners shall be treated as being members of LRACA.

The recent judgement of the Punjab and Haryana high court, ordering court-supervised elections in the RWA, is a welcome relief, Sanjay Lal Mathur, president of the Ambience Lagoon RWA, said.

It is a strong statement from the court that the democratic will of the majority must not be subverted by subterfuge and manipulation by powerful, vested interests, Mathur said.

Sandeep Khirwar, Gurgaon police commissioner, said that the police never interfered in the issue.

Raj Singh Gahlot, the chairman of Ambience group, the developer of the condominium, said, The high court has upheld the stand of the builder and of the committee formed by the chief minister. The court said LRACA is a legally formed association and all residents should join it.

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A 42-year-old peon of a private school was arrested after he was allegedly caught recording a meeting of parents held on Saturday to discus strategy on protesting fee hikes.

A case was registered under Section 506 (threatening for life) of the IPC against Anil Kumar, from Jharkhand, who was arrested from the Leisure Valley Ground on Saturday.

According to the police, they received a call from the police control room after the parents caught hold of Kumar, a peon at Shalom Hills School, when he was recording a video of the parents meeting. He told the parents that he was recording their discussion on the school managements orders, police said. However, the school has denied any knowledge of the incident.

Over 100 parents had gathered at Leisure Valley Ground at 9am on Saturday to discuss their plans for further fights against fee hike. During the protest, a parent noticed that a man was recording their video and taking pictures, the complainant alleged.

Sub-inspector Mool Chand, investigating officer, Sector 29 police station, said, The man was found recording a video of the parents. We have registered a case against him after we received the complaint and arrested Kumar. We are conducting an investigation.

The complaint was lodged by advocate Ramphal Sheoran (42) of Sector 55 whose two children were not allowed to attend the new academic session in Shalom Hills school after he did not deposit increased fees.

The school management has threatened me for life several times and has been keeping a watch on my daily activities, said Sheoran.

Kumar admitted that an employee of schools administration department asked him to record the parents discussion and to share pictures of parents from another school so that they can identify and harass other parents and students like we were targeted, he added.

However, Atul Bhatt, principal of Shalom Hills school, said, We are not aware of any such incident or registration of the case. Meetings and protests of parents are regularly shared on various social media sites anyway, why would we get involved in any such activity?

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After getting no respite on the fee hike issue, Gurgaon parents have now tried to draw the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi through his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat. More than 600 complaints over the unjustified fee hike have already been sent to the PM through the Mann Ki Baat route.

Students too have sent their recorded voice messages and videos requesting the PM to provide some respite to their parents by ensuring a rollback of the fee hike. Different groups of parents are spreading their message across the city and asking more parents to come under one umbrella in a show of strength.

A number of parents and students met at Leisure Valley on Sunday morning for three hours and discussed how to rally more aggrieved parents to their cause.

We are meeting every weekend to discuss the next step and involve parents from different fields to get a better understanding of the hierarchy in the education system. We couldnt think of a better way to make the government listen to our voices than to reach the PM through his monthly radio address, Anjana Singh, a parent, said.

Gurgaon: Parents catch school peon spying on meeting to plan protest strategy

Many parents are still unaware of the protests and the meetings being held on the issue at different places. We are spreading awareness among the parents and requesting them to join us. Instead of holding meetings and protests, we now want to come together and hold discussions on a strategy to take this movement forward, said Ramkesh Jangra, also a parent.

Despite several protests and meetings with the officials, there has been little or no assurance of respite to the aggrieved parents and they havent made much progress in putting pressure on the government and schools to roll back the fee hike.

Parents said they have been running from pillar to post to ensure that the schools dont fleece them in the name of providing better infrastructure for their children, but their effort, so far, has come to nought.

We only got an assurance in the matter from government officials. However, the school authorities are simply not bothered by our plight and continue to hold their ground, Anoop Singhal, an aggrieved parent, said.

Another parent, Sarfaraz Khan, said, We have been holding protests for the last one month. We cant get back to our jobs as we dont want our movement to lose momentum. We want this issue resolved at the earliest. This is a critical issue as we are being treated as ATMs by these schools. We are being exploited.

Despite holding protests at Delhis Jantar Mantar and submitting a memorandum to the Haryana government, they are yet to get the desired result, the parents claimed.

The continued protests over the fee hike issue are starting to affect the students as well as they are not able to focus on their studies at home or school.

Parents from 40 private schools in the city, including DPSG, Ryan International School, Salwan Public School, Shalom Hills, Presidium, Blue Bells Model School, GD Goenka, Shiv Nadar and The Heritage, have already held multiple protests without getting the desired results.

Apart from demanding a rollback of the fee hike, the parents said they also want the schools to comply with the norms laid down by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), ensure more transparency in the audit process and focus more on parent-teacher associations and safety of students on campus.

Divisional commissioner D Suresh has directed the schools not to charge advance fee and collect only monthly fee as per the Form 6.

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Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso arrives to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin during the IMF/World Bank spring meetings in Washington, U.S., April 20, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Saturday trade imbalances cannot be fixed through exchange-rate adjustments alone, pushing back against Washington's calls to have more rigorous IMF scrutiny of currency moves.

Earlier, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin called on the International Monetary Fund to enhance surveillance of its members' exchange rates and external imbalances, as large trade imbalances would hamper "free and fair" trade.

But Aso told the IMF's steering committee there were limits to using exchange-rate assessments to address current account imbalances for a country like Japan.

That is because the recent increases in Japan's current account surplus are driven largely by rising dividend payments and repatriation of revenues from overseas investments, instead of any boost to exports from a weak yen.

"In cases where 'excessive' imbalances exist, they should be addressed by a package of macroeconomic and structural policy measures," Aso said in a speech to the International Monetary and Financial Committee.

"Adjustment through changes in the exchange rate is not necessarily required," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized countries like Japan, Germany and China for running large trade surpluses with the United States and weakening their currencies to gain an unfair trade advantage.

Japanese policymakers fear the Trump administration may accuse the Bank of Japan of using ultra-loose monetary policy to weaken the yen and bind Tokyo's hands on currency intervention to address any unwelcome spike in the yen.

"With downside risks and uncertainty persisting, the stability of financial and exchange rate markets is especially important," Aso said.

"Excess volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates can have adverse implications for economic and financial stability," he added, referring to language in the G20 agreement that Tokyo cites as giving it room to intervene in the currency market to stem sharp yen gains.

(Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Paul Simao)
Boston Scientific, a stent manufacturing giant, has asked the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to let them sell stents in India at special prices higher than Rs 30,000.

Although the NPPA in February capped the coronary stent prices at Rs30,000, section 11B of the Drug Price Control Act, allows companies to seek special category status.

Moreover, two leading international stent manufacturers  Abbott and Medtronics  approached the NPPA last week to withdraw their latest generation of stents from the Indian market.

On February 15, the government slashed stent prices in the country by nearly 75%. While the bare metal stents were capped at Rs7,260 per unit, the price of drug eluting stents and biodegradable stents has been fixed at Rs29,600 per unit. The government made the move after learning that patients were grossly overcharged for stents, with hospitals making maximum margins.

The move had upset international stent manufacturers who said it was not commercially viable for them to sell the stents in India, at the capped prices.

Last week, Abbott approached the NPPA to withdraw their two stents Absorb, a bio-absorbable stent and drug eluting stent Xience Alpine, which were priced at Rs 1.9 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh respectively.

Medtronics too has written to the NPPA, asking permission for withdrawal of its drug eluting stent, Resolute Onyx. We have submitted an application for withdrawal of Resolute Onyx (latest generation drug eluting stent) under the provisions of Drug Price Control Order. We will continue to supply Resolute Onyx till we get the required permissions from the authorities. Our decision to withdraw or introduce products is made only after taking into consideration all guidelines and norms set by the government, Medtronics told HT.

The NPPA authorities however said they are yet to look at the applications submitted by Abbott and Medtronics. I havent gone through their applications. Will be able to comment on them on Monday evening, said Dr Bhupendra Singh, NPPA chairman. The decision on Boston Scientifics application is yet to be put up on the NPPA website.
The merc with a mouth is returning to the big screen, and now we know when!

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the follow up to the 2016 superhero film Deadpool will hit the theatres on June 1, 2018, Fox announced.

Production for the sequel is scheduled to begin in June 2016.

Ryan Reynolds is all set to reprise his role as the titular superhero, while John Wick director David Leitch will sit behind the camera for the project.

The movie has made some new cast additions, recruiting Josh Brolin to play Cable and Zazie Beetz as Domino. This will be second outing for Brolin in a Marvel property. He also portrays Thanos in Avengers franchise. Both films are produced by different studios.

Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick reunite to write the script, with Drew Goddard assisting on writing duties as well.

The first movie, released in February 2016, was a sleeper hit, earning $783 million worldwide to become the top-grossing R-rated film of all time.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Will naming Beijing as Mumbai make Chinas capital an Indian territory, asks the president of the Arunachal Chamber of Commerce and Industries summing up the mood of locals on China renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh.

People and political leaders cutting across party lines here have strongly denounced Chinas move to standardise official names of six places in Arunachal Pradesh.

Arunachal BJP president Tapir Gao said Chinas claim over Arunachal is baseless.

China forcefully occupied Tibet in 1959 and it wants to capture Arunachal Pradesh, he said.

Gao said the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama had stated many times at various international and national fora that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.

So renaming of places in Arunachal by China is baseless and Beijing should learn from history that they forcefully occupied Tibet and their claim is meaningless, he said.

Criticising Chinas move, he said India has no boundary with China but with Tibet since 1914 when MacMohan, the British India representative, had signed an agreement with the Chinese representative at Shimla over the boundary.

When contacted, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Shakuntala Doley Gamlin refused to comment on the issue.

We have nothing to say on the issue as the external affairs ministry will handle it, she said.

Senior Congress lawmaker and former chief minister Nabam Tuki also ridiculed Beijings claim over the states territory and said, There is no logic in such claim. Everybody knows that Arunachal is an integral part of India. The Centre should take up the matter seriously and resolve the matter once and for all.

China had announced standardised official names for six places in Arunachal Pradesh, days after it lodged strong protests with India over the Dalai Lamas visit to the frontier state.

The state media in Beijing had said the move was aimed at reaffirming Chinas claim over the state.

India had hit out at China for giving Chinese names to some parts of Arunachal Pradesh, saying assigning invented names to towns of the neighbour does not make illegal territorial claims legal.

APCC president Takam Sanjoy said that there is no doubt and confusion that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the Indian Union.

The indigenous and ethnic people of Arunachal Pradesh have got integrated with the Indian mainstream. Some ethnic tribe leaders had even participated in the freedom struggle. Therefore, Arunachal being disputed as claimed by China is absolutely absurd, Sanjoy said.

Chinas move evoked strong protests here with the apex students body All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) terming it as intriguing and uncalled for.

China is unnecessarily interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation. The development is an unwarranted act on the part of the Chinese government.

We reject outright the renaming which has been done without the concern and certification of the indigenous populace of Arunachal Pradesh, AAPSU president Hawa Bagang said.

Arunachal was never a part of China at any given point of time and such a parochial approach and idea wont have any takers in Arunachal Pradesh, he said.

Arunachal Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Tchi Lala and general secretary Tarh Nachung pooh-poohed China for renaming six places in the state and called it a whimsical move.

Will naming Beijing as Mumbai make Chinas capital an Indian territory?

China is ignorant of the democratic development through which Arunachal Pradesh has evolved into its present status, or else it would not have made a mockery of itself by making such an announcement, they said.
The leak of confidential information of more than a million citizens from a Jharkhand government website exposes systemic vulnerabilities in Indias much-touted e-governance framework, experts have said.

The warnings come after the Jharkhand Directorate of Social Security published on its website 1.4 million names, addresses, bank account details and Aadhaar numbers. Twenty-four hours after the breach was noticed by media outlets, officials had no idea how the details made it onto the website unsecured, but they had taken the page offline.

User education is not adequate at this point in time to match the rate at which security-related risks are growing, said Subhashis Banerjee, professor of Computer Science at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

Banerjee explained that while the Centre and states are gathering more and more data about citizens to ensure government schemes reach intended beneficiaries, departments that hold this information are ill-equipped to maintain and safeguard these sensitive databases. Even the government is not fully aware of what it is doing, he said.

The introduction of Aadhaar-seeding, to inter-link these discreet databases, has only exacerbated this vulnerability as a leak in one database could leave a citizens entire digital life vulnerable to a hack.

It [Aadhaar] can be used to correlate and find out the identity of an individual very easily, said Banerjee, Availability of these databases enables adversaries to keep a tab on individuals unless special precautions are taken to prevent this.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which oversees the Aadhaar framework, insists that its servers are impervious to attack, but most leaks are likely to come from an attack on the weakest link of the Aadhaar chain: thousands of insecure computers maintained by rickety block-level government offices across the country.

In Jharkhand, for instance, cyber security experts had long warned that many websites maintained by the state government were insecure.

We had demonstrated these vulnerabilities to the state government in December, said Vineet Kumar, a former member of Jharkhand polices cyber cell, who has since set up the Cyber Peace Foundation, an NGO.

Officials at the Jharkhand IT department acknowledged the vulnerabilities of their websites, but pointed out that this particular lapse occurred on a website managed by the National Informatics Centre, Indias premier e-governance provider.

The NIC has been taking care of all the technical aspects of Aadhaar related issues for us. They have been doing it since 2014, but this is the first time that such a leak has occurred on the website, said Ram Parvesh, Director for Social Security, adding that his department had called for a meeting with NIC on Monday to solve the problem.

Jharkhand-type leaks could happen anywhere, said an official who works closely with the Ministry of Rural Development, In many states, each department has its own IT vendors who build the software that stores this information. There is no common security standard across states and departments.

This multiplicity of software solutions and private service providers, the official said, also made it difficult to implement nation-wide fixes once vulnerability had been discovered in one state.

So even if we fix Jharkhands problem, we cant simply upgrade all systems to ensure a similar problem does not occur in a different department in a different state, he said.

The UIDAI declined comment on this story. An official statement on the Jharkhand leak is expected on Monday.
Flaying DMK leader MK Stalins remarks that the Palaniswami government was a proxy regime run by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ruling AIADMK faction said on Sunday that he was making such remarks only for political mileage.

It is a wrong statement. He is making such statements only to make political gains, finance minister D Jayakumar told reporters.

He said various issues plaguing the state like the Cauvery water dispute or that related to the ceding of Katchatheevu islet could have been permanently solved, had the DMK taken steps during their 17-year alliance with the UPA government at the Centre, but they did nothing.

When they were in the UPA alliance for 17 years, they could have got permanent solutions for several issues concerning the state like Cauvery water dispute and ceding of Katchatheevu islet. But they did not do anything, he said.

Jayakumar was responding to a question on comments by DMK working president Stalin, who had dubbed the Palaniswami government as Modis proxy regime, and claimed it was not fighting to secure the Tamil Nadus rights.

Earlier during the day, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had slammed the DMK for terming the AIADMK regime a benami government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking if it was right to call the DMK benami of Congress when it was holding office under the UPA regime.

Some say it (the AIADMK government) is a benami of the Centre. Was the earlier DMK government a benami of the Congress (during UPA regime)? Naidu had asked.

On merger talks between the two rival factions in the AIADMK, Jayakumar said the doors for holding the talks were always open as the leaders were ready to discuss the issue across the table.

Even if they come for holding the talks tomorrow at the party office, we are ready to discuss. We hope they will come, he said.

On reported remarks that former chief minister O Panneerselvam would seek the finance portfolio, now held by him, in case the two factions merge, Jayakumar said he was ready to give up all portfolios after getting the nod from chief minister K Palaniswami.

I am willing to give up all portfolios held by me for the betterment of the party and for the partys unity, after getting the approval of chief minister Palaniswami, he said.

Jayakumar currently holds the portfolios of fisheries, finance, personnel and administrative Reforms.

On senior DMK Leader Durai Murugans comment that the AIADMK government would dissolve in six months, he said the DMK would not be able to come to power in the state even after 60 years.

Forget six months... even after 60 years, the DMK will not be able to form the government. After completion of four year rule, we will face the elections again and form the government, he said to a query.

On whether the party was ready to give the post of general secretary, held by V K Sasikala, now in a jail in Bengaluru after being convicted in a disproportionate assets case, to Panneerselvam, he said, let them (rival faction) first come for discussions.
Finance minister Arun Jaitley raised the issue of tightening of the H-1B visa regime with his US counterpart Steven Mnuchin during their first meeting and highlighted the contribution of Indian companies and professionals to the American economy.

This was the second time Jaitley raised the H-1B visa issue with the American side during his visit here to attend the annual spring meetings of the international monetary fund and the World Bank.

He had also raised the issue with US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross earlier.

During their meeting on Saturday, Jaitley and Mnuchin discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, in addition to the international cooperation against terror financing.

Jaitley highlighted the notable progress made in the Indo-US relations over the last few years and Indias ambitious reform agenda which was creating new opportunities towards a deeper economic engagement between the two countries, a finance ministry statement said.

Critical economic issues like Indo-US investment initiative, infrastructure collaboration and NIIF (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund), collaboration with the US for Smart Cities Development were deliberated upon during the meeting, it said.

Jaitley raised the issue of H-1B visas for skilled professionals from India and highlighted the contribution which Indian companies and professionals are making to the US economy, the statement said.

US President Donald Trump last week signed an executive order for tightening the rules of the H-1B visa programme to stop its abuse and ensure that the visas are given to the most-skilled or highest paid petitioners, a decision that would impact Indias $50 billion IT industry.

The Indian IT industry expressed serious concerns over this as these visas were mainly used by domestic IT professionals for short-term work in America.

The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. Indian technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year for their US operations.

The US market accounts for about 60% of the revenue of the Indian IT industry.

Reforming the H-1B visa system was one of the major election promises of Trump. As per several US reports, a majority of the H-1B visas every year are grabbed by Indian IT professionals.

India accounts for the highest pool of qualified IT professionals, whose services go a long way in making American companies globally competitive.

Last month, NASSCOM president R Chandrashekhar had said the Indian IT industry actually contributes immensely to the US economy in terms of jobs that are created in America, both directly and indirectly.

Close to half a million jobs have been supported in the US as of 2015. The number of jobs have also been growing at 10 per cent per year as against a two per cent growth in the rest of the job market, he had said.

Issues related to terror funding were also discussed during Jaitleys meeting with the US treasury secretary, who appreciated Indias role, including the Indo-US cooperation in financial action task force.

Jaitley also held bilateral meetings with the finance ministers of Sweden, France and Bangladesh. The discussions covered a wide spectrum of bilateral collaboration to strengthen the cross-country relationships.

He also held a bilateral meeting with World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim among others.

Economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das held bilateral meetings with New Development Bank (NDB) President KV Kamath and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) president Gilbert F Houngbo separately.

Various policy issues regarding NDB and IFAD were discussed during the meeting.

Jaitley is accompanied on the US trip by RBI governor Urjit Patel, Das and chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian among other officials.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon states on Sunday to speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation to spur economic growth.

Addressing the third meeting of the Governing Council of Niti Aayog, Modi also said the think-tanks long, medium and short term action plans would benefit all the states.

Niti Aayog is working on a 15-year long term vision, seven-year medium term strategy, and three-year action agenda, he told the meeting, which was attended by chief ministers, Union ministers and senior officials.

The prime minister further said the vision of New India can only be realised through the combined efforts and cooperation of all the states.

Team India has assembled here to discuss and reflect on ways to prepare the country for changing global trends, Modi said.

It is the collective responsibility of this gathering to envision the India of 2022 -- the 75th anniversary of Independence -- and see how the nation can swiftly move forward to achieve these goals, he added.

Observing that Niti Aayog has been taking steps to transform India, the prime minister asked the government, private sector and civil society to work in sync to promote development.

The Aayog, he said, is a collaborative federal body whose strength is in its ideas, rather than in administrative or financial control.

Noting that the chief ministers need not come to Niti for approval of budgets or plans, he said the body had gone beyond relying on government inputs and taken on board a number of outside specialists, experts and young professionals.

The states too can contribute to policy formulation, he added.

Modi noted that while there has been a 40% increase in overall fund allocation to states between 2014-15 and 2016-17, the percentage of funds tied to Central schemes has declined from 40% to 25% .

States need to speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation, he said.

Stating that poor infrastructure in the country is hampering economic development, Modi said more expenditure on basic infrastructure such as roads, ports, power and rail would help in accelerating the pace of growth.

Referring to the change in budget presentation date, the prime minister said the move enables timely availability of funds at the beginning of the financial year.

Earlier, budgeted scheme funds were generally not approved by Parliament till May, after which they would be communicated to states and ministries. By that time, the monsoon arrived. Hence, the best working season for schemes was typically lost, he added.

He said the decision to end the distinction between plan and non-plan expenditure was based on the recommendation of the Rangarajan Committee in 2011.

Now the emphasis would be on distinguishing between development and welfare expenditure on one hand, and administrative overheads on the other, Modi said.

Talking about the Goods and Services Tax (GST), he said the consensus on the new indirect tax regime will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism.

GST reflects the spirit of One nation, One aspiration, One determination, he added.

He also called for carrying forward the debate and discussion on simultaneous Central and state elections.

The meeting at the Rashtrapati Bhavan is being attended by several chief ministers, including from non-BJP ruled states such as Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Bihars Nitish Kumar, Tripuras Manik Sarkar and Karnatakas Siddaramaiah.

The council, which is the apex body of the Niti Aayog, is headed by the Prime Minister and includes all chief ministers and the think-tanks members.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday states need to work together for what he calls a vision to create a New India, addressing a meeting of the Niti Aayogs governing council that was skipped by chief ministers Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal  two of his staunchest critics.

The Niti Aayog is the countrys top-most policy making body, and its governing council has among its members the Prime Minister and all chief ministers of the country.

Sundays meeting was called to discuss a 15-year vision document that would lay down the roadmap for Indias growth, economically and socially.

The NITI Aayog is working on a 15-year long term vision, 7-year medium term strategy, and 3-year action agenda This effort needs support of states, PMO quoted Modi as saying in his opening statement.

The country is trying to push its GDP growth to upwards of 7.5% after it slipped to 7.1% in 2016-17 from 7.9% a year ago, due to the demonetisation drive in November.

Among those efforts is the rollout of a new indirect taxation regime, the GST, which the PM referred to on Sunday to drive home his point about federal cooperation.

Consensus on GST will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism, Modi said. GST reflects the spirit of one nation, one aspiration, one determination.

The Prime Minister also called for discussions on a plan to hold simultaneous elections be carried on.

Save for Banerjee and Kejriwal, Sundays meeting was attended by most of the other CMs.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal could not come to attend the Governing Council meeting today at Rashtrapati Bhavan, news agency PTI quoted a source as saying.

Kejriwal, however, sent deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia to represent Delhi, the source said.

According to the unidentified source, Prime Minister Modi had refused to allow anyone but the CMs and their deputies to attend the deliberations.

From opposition-ruled states, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami were at the meeting.

In addition to the CMs, Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, Suresh Prabhu, Prakash Javadekar, Rao Inderjit Singh and Smriti Irani also attended the meet.

Appreciating state and central ministers, Modi said, Team India has once again assembled today to discuss and reflect on ways to prepare India for changing global trends.

The meeting today would be an opportunity to exchange views on policies and implementation.

The PM said the government, private sector and civil society need to work in sync for the countrys development.

States can also contribute to the policy formulation, he said referring to e-NAM, the online national agriculture marketing platform that was drawn up on the lines of states proposals.

The PM appreciated chief ministers suggestions on centrally-sponsored schemes, and the Swachh Bharat, skill development and digital payments programmes. It was the first time chief ministers had been asked to recommend the list of Centrally sponsored schemes and the sharing pattern despite funding constraints. The recommendations were accepted immediately, he said.
Bharatiya Janata Partys Bengal unit chief Dilip Ghosh on Sunday threatened to assault members of states ruling Trinamool Congress, a day after saying that opponents of Hindutva will be relegated to history.

Ghosh is a senior pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the BJPs ideological parent, and has in recent weeks made controversial remarks, especially on religion.

Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Sri Ram will be chanted all over the country  from Gujarat to Guwahati and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Dare not oppose it, for the consequence will be dire. They will be relegated to history, Ghosh said at Basirhat in North 24 Parganas district on Saturday.

On Sunday, he threatened to beat up Trinamool Congress if they harassed BJP workers. You are showing your power here. You are resorting to extortion. BJP is there throughout the country. It has 11 crore members.

Taking aim at chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Ghosh said: Let the chief minister try stopping Dilip Ghosh. BJP will create havoc.

Trinamool Congress, however, downplayed Ghoshs threats. All their instigating speeches reflect their frustrations. Let him shout. They will be relegated to history, state education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee said.

He is talking about 11 crore BJP members, but there are another 110 crore population in the country who will not allow BJP to fulfil its dream, Chatterjee said.

Since he took charge as the BJPs state chief in 2015, Ghosh has threatened to attack anti-national professors and mounted in April a strident campaign to celebrate Ram Navami in Bengal, which has traditionally not celebrated the festival at a large scale.

He had at the time said that the fight to hold the celebrations was a fight between Ramzada (one born of Ram) and Haramzada (an illegitimate- born).
As Canadian defence minister Harjit Sajjan wrapped up a week-long official trip to India, the visit that could have turned into a diplomatic disaster may have instead managed to circumvent the distractions of controversies.

As Sajjan arrived in Mumbai on Friday, he had a conference call with Canada-based media and described the visit as extremely successful. It may have drifted in another direction if the Indian government had stuck to its original position of downgrading it. The possibility of a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not materialise, but New Delhi recalibrated its approach after the controversy created by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh who accused Sajjan of having pro-Khalistan leanings and refused to meet him.

While a ceremonial guard of honour was, at one point, not on the agenda, it was reinstated. The reasoning was that hardline elements in Canada, already buoyed by a motion in the Ontario Assembly describing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as genocide and the Punjab chief ministers comments, would get more ballast if Sajjan was snubbed.

As it is, before the tri-services honoured the Canadian defence minister, Khalistanis were already fulminating: Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) Canadas president Sukhminder Singh Hansra said in a statement, The Indian state insulted Canadas defence minister Sardar Harjit Singh Sajjan and refused to give him a Guard of Honour, the traditional protocol for all visiting defence ministers.

While the Indian Government made its point about disapproving of the Ontario Assembly motion, particularly during Sajjans meeting with his counterpart (and finance minister) Arun Jaitley, it did not allow that aspect of the dialogue to overshadow the bilateral process. Sajjan said they spoke on many aspects of how we can move forward n our defence relationship and also our broader relationship as well.

Meanwhile, Sajjan also met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as well as the chief ministers of Haryana and Maharashtra, both BJP-ruled states. He described those meetings as a great opportunity. If a divide persists following the visit, it will be between the Canadian government and its attitude towards the Punjab government, rather than the Centre, as Sajjan made it a point of repeatedly praising the Modi governments actions.

As a coda to his remarks, Sajjan said, I look forward to future visits and moving that cooperation further. Both nations will hope that if and when such a visit occurs, it will prove far tamer than the one of April 2017.

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Mexico protest Ayotzinapa disappearance violence

In March, Mexico had more than 2,000 homicide cases in a month for the first time since summer 2011, when the country was mired in the throes of a bloody cartel war.

The country also had more killings in the first quarter of 2017 than in the start of any year in at least two decades, according to government data released Friday.

Unlike in 2011, when a bloody cartel fight in Ciudad Juarez pushed the national body count to new heights, the current violence has been spread over a number of states.

In January, 25 of the country's 32 states saw increases in homicides compared to the same month in 2016.

Throughout Mexico, there were 2,020 homicide cases in March, up roughly 11% from February. For January through March, there were 5,775 killings around the country, up 29% from the same period in 2016.

March also reached a new high in terms of homicide victims. (A single homicide case can contain multiple victims.) March's 2,256 homicide victims were the most so far this year and the highest number reported since the Mexican government started releasing those figures in 2014.

Every month in 2017 has exceeded 2,000 homicide victims, as did each of the last six months of 2016. No month prior to that for which there is data available surpassed that mark.

Acapulco Guerrero Mexico drug cartel criminal violence murder

Mexican authorities and observers have blamed the rise in killings on turf battles stemming from breakdowns in the leadership of some cartels, like the powerful Sinaloa cartel, and the splintering of others, like the Zetas, into smaller gangs.

Baja California Sur had the biggest year-on-year percentage increase during the first quarter of 2017, with 133 homicide cases, spiking 682% from the 17 it had during the same period in 2016.

Story continues

A turf battle between the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels is believed to be driving much of the violence in the state, which is home to a popular tourist area in Los Cabos, at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula.

The southwest state of Guerrero, home to the once idyllic resort city of Acapulco, remains the homicide leader, with 550 cases during the first three months of the year.

Mexico homicides 2011 - 2017

"Every now and then bagged bodies appear in Chilpancingo," Pioquinto Damian Huato, a business leader in the city, Guerrero's capital, told the Associated Press. "Yesterday three appeared."

"I live in my home with armored doors to be able to protect my family," said Damian Huato, who led an anti-crime crusade until an attempt on his life caused the death of his daughter-in-law in 2014.

"How could I go out when they could kill me in any moment?"

The leader of the state's leftist Democratic Revolution Party, Demetrio Saldivar, was also killed on Wednesday night in Chilpancingo.

The spike in violence in Guerrero, as in other states on Mexico's west coast, is large part related to drugs and organized crime.

Guerrero is not only a major producer of opium, but it location also makes it a prime transshipment point.

Criminal groups in the state are jockeying for control of production areas and trafficking routes. Many of those criminal groups are also fragmenting, which has led to greater violence.

The surge in violence comes as the country's legislature debates a national-security law that would affect the military's ongoing role in domestic security  a long-standing feature of the country's war on drugs.

Many, especially those who have suffered abuses committed by military personnel deployed in law-enforcement roles, worry the law could eventually shield soldiers from punishment for crimes. Concern over the measure is such that it is unlikely to pass before the end of the current legislative session on April 30.

Currently, more than 50,000 military personnel are deployed around Mexico to fight crime.

pena nieto

Rising violence could pose a problem for the governing Institutional Revolutionary Party of President Enrique Pena Nieto in this summer's state elections and in next year's presidential election.

Other states seeing significantly more homicides this year include Veracruz, a Gulf coast state that recorded 372 homicide cases through March, up 94% from the same period last year.

Recent violence in the state is thought to be related to the growing presence of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, but the state's strategic location on the Gulf coast has made it territory worth fighting over for some time.

Citizen investigators in the state recently uncovered mass graves containing the remains of more than 250 people, thought to be the victims of organized-crime-related killings.

Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua Mexico crime scene police children victims

Former Veracruz Gov. Javier Duarte was arrested last weekend in Guatemala after six months on the run from corruption charges.

Chihuahua state, home to Ciudad Juarez, has also seen a spike in violence this year. Its 384 homicides through March were 78% more than the same period last year.

Ciudad Juarez, ground zero for a bloody cartel fight between 2008 and 2012, has witnessed a surge in killing over the last year as well.

While the earlier cartel battle was won by the Sinaloa cartel, now it appears that the cartel is being challenged there by the Jalisco New Generation cartel. Local newspaper El Diario reported 84 homicides in the city in February, making it Ciudad Juarez's most violent February since 2011.

Border cities have become focal points for organized crime in recent months, in large part because of lucrative drug-smuggling routes that go through them.

In Tijuana, just across the border from San Diego, December was the only month in 2016 to see triple-digit homicide victims, with 112. In the first three months of this year, the city had 103, 108, and 121 homicide victims, respectively.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A consumer forum has issued a bailable warrant against the SpiceJets managing director for ignoring its two-year-old order to reimburse the air-tickets cost to a passenger, who was not allowed to board the plane.

Sambhal district consumer forum chairman Liaqat Ali issued the warrant against SpiceJets MD, taking strong exception to the airline ignoring the forums order issued on October 25, 2015, said the passengers counsel Devendra Varshney on Sunday.

The repeated attempts to contact the airlines officials to obtain their version of the incident proved futile.

Senior advocate Varshney said the matter dates back to April 20, 2015 when his client Navdeep Gupta, a resident of Chandausi in Uttar Pradesh bought an online air ticket for Rs 5,000 at Hyderabad to travel to Delhi the next day.

But when Gupta reached the Hyderabad airport he was denied the boarding pass on the pretext that he did not have a hard-copy of the online ticket and was told to produce one to obtain the boarding pass.

The airlines insistence on producing the hard-copy of the ticket eventually led to Gupta missing the flight. The airlines did not pay back Gupta the cost of the ticket either.

An aggrieved Gupta subsequently moved the district consumer forum, which on October 25, 2015 ordered the airline to pay him Rs 5,000 along with 9 per cent interest and Rs 1,000 as costs.

But, the company did not abide by the forums order leading Gupta to approach it once again for enforcement of its directions, said Varshney adding the matter has been fixed for next hearing on May 30.
Three of the four death row convicts in the December 16 gang-rape and murder case have moved the Delhi High Court challenging the 10-year jail term awarded to them by a trial court in a robbery case.

Justice SP Garg admitted the appeal filed by convicts Akshay Kumar Singh, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma and said the same will be heard in due course.

The three convicted for dacoity and dishonestly receiving stolen property have alleged before the high court that the trial courts order was bad, in law and against the principle of natural justice.

Besides the three, the trial court on September 2, 2015 also awarded a 10-year imprisonment to convict Mukesh, saying they do not deserve any leniency.

It had also imposed a fine of Rs 1.01 lakh on each on the four convicts, who are lodged in Tihar jail.

Read: She lit a flame: December 16 Delhi gang rape and its impact on lives, laws

The convicts in their appeal, filed through advocate AP Singh, have sought setting aside of the trial court verdict saying it did not pay heed towards facts produced by the accused persons during the trial of the case.

The plea stated that the prosecution has failed to prove its case and not placed any material evidence, which could point to their guilt.

Trial court had passed order (conviction and sentence) without applying its judicial mind and without taking into consideration the facts and documents placed by the convicts on record and has wrongly relied upon the version of the complainant, the convicts have submitted in their appeal, while seeking bail during pendency of their appeals.

Six persons, including a juvenile, had beaten up and robbed carpenter Ram Adhar before raping and brutally assaulting a 23-year-old woman in a moving bus in south Delhi on the night of December 16, 2012.

Thirteen days after the assault, the victim was transferred to a hospital in Singapore for emergency treatment where she succumbed to injuries.

As per the charge sheet in the robbery case, the police had alleged that bus driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, Vinay, Pawan and Akshay, along with the juvenile, had snatched the 35-year-old carpenters mobile phone and Rs1,500 after luring him into the bus.

Read: Dec 16 gangrape: Witness who helped in legal fight left struggling to meet ends

Mukesh, Vinay, Pawan and Akshay were awarded death penalty on September 10, 2013 by a trial court here in the case which was confirmed by the Delhi High Court on March 13, 2014.

Their appeals are pending before the Supreme Court, which in March this year had reserved its verdict on the appeals filed by four death row convicts in the case.

Out of the six, accused Ram Singh had allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail on March 11, 2013 and proceedings against him were abated.

On August 31, 2013 the Juvenile Justice Board sentenced the minor accused to a three-year stay in a special home for gangrape and murder of the girl.The juvenile, now 21-year-old, was released from the reformation home in November, last year.
Once crowned monarch, he now lives the reclusive life of a monk. Wangchuk Namgyal has preferred to slip into monasteries, caves and resultant oblivion despite being the scion of the Chogyal dynasty that once ruled Sikkim before merging with the Indian Republic to become its 22th province in 1975.

But some four decades later, Namgyal still evokes awe in at least some of his former subjects and derision among those opposed to the erstwhile royalty. Monarchists still speculate about his whereabouts and well-being. Where is he and how is he are frequent themes of discussions behind closed doors of many homes in Gangtok, the states laid-back capital.

Critics, however, are happy to wish him away as inconsequential. The Chogyal is a forgotten past. He is nothing but a sort of a vague symbol of unity among the handful of royalists within the former ruling class and hardcore Lepcha and Bhutia minorities, said a minister in the Pawan Chamling-led government in the state.

Namgyal, who ascended to the throne that his father Palden Thondup Namgyal had forfeited, has stayed away from controversies. Rarely seen in public, his mystique has grown instead. Now 64, he has spent the last 35 years meditating, sometimes in the caves of Bhutan and Nepal.

He visits what was the family palace in Gangtok at times. But he never ventures out, slipping out as quietly as he had arrived. The Chogyal visits Sikkim quietly and leaves the same way, a close relative said.

The former royal family is overzealously guarded about him. We want the people to understand that the Namgyal family has lost the kingdom and people should respect our privacy, one of them told HT.

Old-timers, however, say the Namgyal was a reluctant monk. Once he realised there was no way of getting back his throne, he could only fall back on religion to seek solace, pointed out a local.

But monkhood was far from his mind on February 19, 1982, the day he was crowned at the Tsuklakhang Palace atop a hill overlooking Gangtok even as his fathers funeral pyres were being lit at the Luksyama royal crematorium.

Inside the palace drawing room, Namgyal sat on the throne as a motley crowd of people  commoners, relatives and even 10 MLAs of the then 32-member state assembly  trooped in one by one to present him the traditional Khada (silk scarf) and wish good luck.

India never recognized the coronation, though those present said Namgyal was the 13th Chogyal of Sikkim. Prominent lamas from more than 44 monasteries chanted prayers while school students shouted long live the Chogyal, waving the banned Sikkim national flag, recollected a former chief minister who happened to be present.

But the excitement died out soon and Namgyal receded to the background. He cant even be contacted on mobile as he takes no calls. It is he who contacts people when he needs some work done, pointed out a cousin.

The family owns cardamom plantations and real estates and hotels across the globe, but Namgyal, it is said, is more at peace leading an austere life. He has not even pursued the compensation claim of Rs 110 crore that his father had sought from the Indian government for taking away his kingdom.

Forget the throne, even the compensation is not in the realm of possibility, pointed out one of his cousins, citing the fact that Palden Namgyal had refused to sign the instrument of accession. Taking refuge in religion has therefore been the best option for the monarch who ended up as a monk.

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The School Teachers Eligibility Test (STET) of Haryana, if cleared before 2011, will be valid for the recruitment that the state government started before July 20, 2016.

This significant decision is set to benefit a sizable number of pre-2011 STET qualified candidates aspiring for teachers job through the ongoing recruitment of 11,000 Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs) and Post Graduate Teachers (PGTs) that the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) had advertised in 2015.

The number of candidates who had passed the STET before 2011 is estimated to be around 10,000.

This move is set to end the ongoing legal battle in the Punjab and Haryana high court.

Now, all the pre-2011 STET qualified candidates will be eligible for the ongoing recruitment of TGTs and PGTs, government sources say.

The Manohar Lal Khattarled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government took this decision on Friday following a series of meetings education minister Ram Bilas Sharma held to resolve the deadlock with the STET qualified candidates.

Later, the education department amended the earlier notification by issuing a clarification regarding the validity of the STET.

The government has given a one-time concession to those who had passed the STET before July 2011. There was also litigation on this subject in the high court, PK Das, additional chief secretary (school education), told Hindustan Times.

In his April 21 letter to HSSC, joint secretary (school education) Virender Singh said: the validity of such STET certificate shall be up to 20.07.2016.

Government sources say after the state government reconsidered the matter it was decided that certain clauses mentioned in the July 15, 2011 and July 21, 2011 notifications will be construed to be having prospective effect--- a demand that the candidates had raised.

The state government had introduced STET in April 2008 for recruitment of all categories of teachers. It was made one of the eligibility conditions for recruitment.

However, this notification was further amended on July 24, 2008. And, in this notification the government didnt mention anything about the validity of the STET certificate.

Later, to implement the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act-2009, the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) issued guidelines vide August 23, 2010 and February 11, 2011 notifications for conducting the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET).

Hence, Haryana issued notifications on July 15, 2011 and July 21, 2011 about the guidelines to conduct Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test (HTET) for various categories of teachers.

Both the notifications prescribed that the validity period of HTET qualifying certificate for appointment will be for five years and that the validity of already STET qualified candidates will also continue for a period of five years from the date of passing the exam on the pattern of present Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test.

This five years validity period of the certificate was in sharp contrast to the unspecified period of July 24, 2008 notification.

The education department has sent various requisitions for the posts of the TGTs and the PGTs which were advertised by Haryana Staff Selection Commission in 2015.

The candidates who had passed the STET examination filed representations and petitioned the high court with a plea July 2011 notifications cannot have retrospective effect.

All these candidates will now be eligible for the ongoing recruitment of TGT and PGT, said PK Das, additional chief secretary (school education).

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Kashmiri photojournalist Dar Yasins alacrity in rescuing a hurt Kashmiri girl while on duty drew him praise from all over, striking a note not just with Kashmiris but also people across the country and beyond for what many felt was a symbol of hope in the Valleys troubled time.

On Thursday, Khusboo  a Class 12 student  was one of scores of high-school girls demonstrating in Srinagars Nawakadal area when a stone hit her on the forehead. Blood gushed out and her friends panicked, finding no one around to help.

Yasin tossed his camera aside, leapt to Khusboo and scooped her in his arms and rushed to get her a cab to the nearest hospital. The image  of Yasin running with the girl in his arms  was captured by another young photojournalist. His story went viral after HT reported it on Saturday.

Thanks to the quick thinking, the girl got to the hospital in time, was treated and is now stable.

Here is the detailed interview that Dar gave to HTs Srinagar correspondent, Abhishek Saha:

Tell us about what happened that evening.

We were covering a protest by college girls in Srinagar. Suddenly I saw that this girl, who was protesting, bleeding from the forehead. I took some pictures and then I realised there was no one around to help her. Her friends were panicking.

I left aside my camera and took her in my arms and starting running to see if I can find a car to put her into and take her to a hospital.

I told the girls friends that they should not worry because I have two daughters, and she is just like one of them.

What went on your mind when you saw the girl and decided to help her?

It is human nature. You cant leave a wounded person like that. If you are the father of two girls, or if you are a father of any child, you cannot just see anyones child suffer helplessly like that

When I realised there was no one to help, I just decided to help.

Looking back, what do you think?

Looking back, I feel happy that I helped her. Pictures will keep coming.

I guess in any conflict situation, photographers often face such situations.

Of course, it happens so many times. In May 2005, there was a blast (near a school in Lal Chowk in Srinagar). My colleague and I were coincidentally there and I saw a woman badly injured... I went to her and minutes later she died in my arms...

I am not the first one to have done this (help an injured person). There are so many colleagues who would have done the same.

I can tell you there are so many guys on the field in Kashmir who would have done the same just like I did that day.

Dar Yasin, 43, is a staff photographer with the Associated Press in Srinagar and has been covering the Kashmir conflict since 2002. A recipient of at least 15 national and international awards, Dar is the father of two daughters, aged 10 and 7.

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Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to discuss the volatile situation in the Valley, amid growing demand from the Opposition for imposition of governors rule in the state.

The meeting, which PMO sources said is possible, also comes in the backdrop of tensions between the ruling alliance partners that escalated after last weeks elections to the legislative council brought the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) face-to-face with the BJP.

A cross vote by an Independent legislator from Zanskar in Ladakh region helped the BJP trounce the PDP in a close finish. The PDP later accused the party of betrayal and violating the coalition dharma.

Mufti, who attended a NITI Aayog meeting in Delhi on Sunday, is also expected to meet home minister Rajnath Singh.

The Valley has been on the boil since the Lok Sabha bypolls in Srinagar on April 9, with clashes being witnessed between protesters and security forces.

During the meetings, Mehbooba will reiterate her demand for initiating a dialogue process with all stakeholders to restore peace in the state. The chief minister is also expected to raise the issue of assaults on some Kashmiri students in different parts of the country and an attack on a Muslim nomadic family, allegedly by VHP and Bajrang Dal activists in Jammu.

Meanwhile, upping its ante against the BJP, senior PDP leader and minister for education Altaf Bukhari issued a hard-hitting statement against the partys pointsman on Kashmir, Ram Madhav, for his everything is fair in love and war statement.

Is it a war declared against Kashmiris who, despite all odds, cast their votes reaffirming their belief in democracy? Or it is a war declared to satiate the sanguine electoral interests of a particular political party in the country? Bukhari asked. The PDP minister said Madhavs remarks had put pressure on the party, whose core constituency had eroded significantly due to little action on the Agenda of the Alliance (AoA) by the BJP.

(With inputs from Toufiq Rashid)
Incidents of chain pulling, hooliganism, protests, calls for bandh and dharna (sit-in), blast on railway tracks, besides operational limitations, are delaying trains passing through Patna.

A study by the East Central Railway (ECR) zone, has revealed that only 63.29% trains passing through Patna could maintain punctuality in 2016-17.

The study attributed the delay to organised student groups, acting like hoodlums and pulling chains, holding up trains during bandhs, dharna and even triggering blasts on railway tracks, besides lack of a third line between Mughalsarai and Asansol.

A spate of bandhs - 97 till March 2017 - and six blasts on railway tracks delayed 2,499 trains last year.

The alarming frequency of chain pulling, rampant on the Patna-Gaya, Patna-Kiul, Patna-Barh, Patna-Ara and Patna-Buxar sections, tend to delay trains on the main lines daily, said ECR chief spokesperson Arvind Kumar Rajak.

He, however, said cases of chain pulling had come down from 1,944 in March to 1,475 in April after the ECR launched a spirited drive to check it. Railway security personnel had nabbed 221 passengers for chain pulling last month and realised Rs 1.57 lakh as penalty.

Operational limitations were also equally responsible for train delays.

Insufficient number of railway lines have also contributed to delays. The railway lines have remained stagnant since 1980s, when just 82 pairs of trains used the main line corridor (between Mughalsarai and Kolkata via Patna). As a result, incoming trains are forced to halt at outer signals of stations for even up to an hour, leading to 30% punctuality loss each day, said another official.

Defending this, Rajak said, The survey work for the 335 km long third line will commence soon and Rs 1.67 crore has been earmarked for the first route survey this fiscal. The proposed third line, parallel to existing double track between Mughalsarai and Kiul under the Danapur railway division, will certainly help improve punctuality to 99%. 

Over 250 mail, express and passenger trains, in addition to freight trains originate or pass through Patna daily, making it one of the busiest railway traffic section through the choked main line.

The Danapur division, with highest passenger footfall, is also the highest revenue earner for the ECR. Yet, the over three decade old proposal for a third line via Patna has been slow to get off the ground.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appealed to the states to work closely with the Centre to realise the dreams of a new India, days after he spoke about his governments strong political will to push economic reforms.

States, local governments and all government and non-government organisations should set goals for 2022, and work in a mission mode towards achieving them, he said at the third meeting of the governing council of Niti Aayog.

He, however, didnt spare the chance to point out the economic and political mismanagement during the earlier regimes.

For long, India had suffered from economic and political mismanagement. Because of this, many good initiatives and schemes had failed to deliver results. There is a need to develop robust arrangements that could function amidst diversity, Modi said.

To drive home his point about cooperative federalismoften raised by the Opposition to attack Modithe PM showcased the consensus on Goods and Services Tax as a great illustration. GST reflects the spirit of One nation, one aspiration, one determination, the PM said, even as he stated that the state-level legislative arrangements for the new tax regime should be cleared quickly.

In the meeting, which comes against the backdrop of the BJPs recent victory in the assembly polls, the PM called upon the states to work as Team India and realise the dreams the countrys freedom fighters by 2022, the 75th anniversary of independence.

Most CMs, barring West Bengals Mamata Banerjee and her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, were present to discuss the 15-year vision document or the new roadmap for the countrys economic and social growth.

Being aware that his government would require active support from key Opposition-ruled states, Modi left no stones unturned to create a consensus and take them along in the plan. He even added that the BHIM app, created amid the ruckus over demonetisation of high-value currency, will help states to save money.

The Niti Aayog is working on a 15-year long term vision, 7-year medium term strategy, and a 3-year action agenda This effort needs support of states, Modi was quoted saying in his opening statement.

Punjabs new CM Captain Amarinder Singh, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Tripura CM Manik Sarkar , Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami were among the heads of the Opposition-ruled states who spoke at the meeting.

As many CMs had given suggestions on centrally-sponsored schemes like Swachh Bharat and Digital India ahead of the meeting. Modi pointed out that it was for the first time CMs were asked to recommend on Centrally-sponsored schemes. The recommendations were accepted immediately, he informed.

The PM again batted for simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and assemblies.

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The government run by Isak-Muivah faction of the extremist group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) has decided to halve the annual tax they impose on Nagaland government employees.

A release issued by the information department of NSCN-IMs Government of Peoples Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) on Saturday informed that employee tax has been reduced from the existing 24% to 12%.

Earlier, every employee was required to pay 24% of their one months salary to NSCN (IM) once a year. With slashing of rates, each employee will now have to pay 1% of their months salary (12% in a year) to the group.

Both the Isak-Muivah faction of NSCN and the Khaplang faction run parallel governments in areas they dominate in Nagaland, neighbouring states and Myanmarwhich is collectively called Nagalim.

The release mentioned the decision was taken in view of the plight of the common Naga people, to ease the burden of the tax payer and requested every responsible individual to cooperate.

NSCN-IM, which has been in a ceasefire mode since 1997, wants creation of a greater Nagalim by carving areas in Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar where Nagas reside.

Last month, HT had written how recalling of high value currencies had affected revenues of rebel groups as traders and business houses affected by the move had failed to pay shop and commercial taxes.

The tax is reportedly deducted at source by the government departments. Besides NSCN (IM) and NSCN-K, smaller outfits like NSCN (Reformation) and NSCN (KN) also impose such taxes on employees.

Resident tribes in Nagaland, who enjoy special privileges, are exempted from paying taxes to the state and central governments.

Besides taxing state government employees, rebel outfits also impose certain levies on central government employees, traders and business owners and house owners.

The outfits also hold annual budget sessions where they decide on revenue collection and other financial matters. NSCN-IMs budget for current fiscal, reportedly close to Rs 180 crore in 2016-17, was passed last month.

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Over 2.3 lakh people employed at various mining sites are at the risk of contracting silicosis, a lung disease caused due to inhalation of dust containing silica, the Supreme Court was told last week.

The large number is despite the regulations binding mining operators to prevent and suppress air-borne dust so that nobody falls sick to the life-threatening ailment.

The information was submitted to the top court by the Director General of Mines Safety in an affidavit, which also gave details of how many deaths have taken place due to silicosis in a decade. Rajasthan saw maximum casualties where 323 people died of the disease. The state spent 9.73 crore to compensate family members of the victims.

Read | Tales of despair and exploitation resonate at public hearing on silicosis

Four deaths were reported from MP and two from Karnataka. Centre did not furnish data regarding other states.

The government affidavit was filed before the SC in a case where the top court had last year ordered Gujarat government to pay 3 lakh each to the kin of 238 workers from Madhya Pradesh who died of silicosis contracted while working in stone crushing units in Godhra. A bench headed by Justice Kurien Joseph issued the order on a 2006 petition filed by Peoples Rights and Social Research Centre.

The court had then asked the Centre for a report detailing the measures undertaken to increase awareness about the disease.

It also wanted to know whether action has been taken against mines that flouted the regulations.

Read | About 10 m workers are exposed to silicosis in India. But the State does not care

According to the data, there are over 44,000 mines where 3.44 lakh labourers are working. The survey suggests that 2.35 lakh face the hazard of contracting the lung disease.

According to Centres affidavit, there are over 1.4 lakh people working in Rajasthan mines and all could be afflicted with the respiratory problem. Similarly in Tamil Nadu all the 18,000 odd mining employees may end up with the disease, the data revealed.

In the last five years, 14,064 mines have been inspected out of which 3,076 were found to have violated the regulations. Notices were issued to 998 and prohibitory orders were issued against 847.

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Kuwait Oil Minister Ali Al-Omair gives his opening speech during OPEC 2nd Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee meeting as Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo attend the meeting in Kuwait City, Kuwait, March 26, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee

By Osamu Tsukimori

TOKYO (Reuters) - Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday a decision on extending a global pact to cut oil production had not yet been taken, but would be discussed with OPEC on May 24.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other leading oil producers have pledged to curb output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd), with Russia's contribution of cuts amounting to 300,000 bpd to be gradually phased in.

The goal was to reduce bulging global inventories and lift oil prices. Despite a modest recovery in the market, oil stocks remain high and the focus is now on whether OPEC and non-OPEC producers will prolong the cuts into the second half of 2017.

OPEC's next policy-setting meeting is set for May 25, with a decision expected at that time on whether to extend the curbs.

Novak said information on the oil market's situation and forecasts were being digested in order to draw a conclusion.

"The OPEC Secretariat will send the information to all the countries that are taking part in the agreement and we will discuss the issue during a ministerial meeting on May 24," said Novak.

He was believed to be referring to a joint committee of ministers from OPEC and non-OPEC producers that monitors compliance with the accord.

"There are no firm decisions on that. Each country is looking into the matter by itself so it can make its proposals and evaluations," said Novak, who was on a visit to Tokyo.

He also said Russia's oil output cuts had reached 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) and would hit a targeted 300,000 bpd by the end of April.

MARKET IMPROVES

Earlier on Friday, Novak said the oil market was improving with production cuts by OPEC and non-OPEC members, including Russia, trimming a surplus that had squeezed prices for years.

"The situation has gradually been improving since the beginning of March," Novak said. "The oil surplus has been reduced. The situation is getting more and more stable and there's less volatility on the market."

Story continues

Novak said current oil prices reflected the market situation, with benchmark Brent around $53 a barrel.

Leading Gulf oil exporters Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signalled on Thursday that OPEC is seriously considering an output-cut extension. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said a consensus was growing that the pact should be prolonged.

OPEC sources said an internal assessment was that without an extension, oil could slide to $30-40 a barrel.

(Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Dale Hudson)
Lucknow Rajasthan governor Kalyan Singh had a close shave on Sunday evening when his plane had to make an emergency landing at Lucknows Chaudhary Charan Singh airport after five failed attempts to land on the runway.

Airport officials said that the aircraft had been circling the airport since 4.35 pm as it was unable to land due to a technical snag with its landing gear.

The pilot, they said, had to abort the landing five times before calling air traffic control for an emergency landing at 6.40 am. All the 11 crew members and the governor, also the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, escaped unhurt.

The director general Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a probe into the incident as aircraft was checked before its departure from Jaipur.

No flights were allowed to land or take off from Lucknow airport after the emergency was declared by the pilot. The fire brigade and a team of doctors from a government hospital were ready at the air strip along with a posse of policemen.

Six flights four arrivals and two departures were affected.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has found in Bangladeshs national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam an epitome of a good Hindu. The revolutionary-poets nationalism, which the Sangh says is reflected in his opposition to the British imperial rule in India and his efforts at uniting Hindus and Muslims, has earned him the epithet.

To honour the poet-laureate, the Sangh is planning to mark his birth anniversary on May 25 in West Bengal. It will also translate Nazruls works into all Indian languages. A Hindi translation of 39-poems by him is expected to hit the stands by the year-end.

Being Hindu is not practising a religion, but a way of life. Kazi Nasrul practised Islam, yet he lived as a dedicated Hindu, fighting for Indian ethos and against the British, RSSs West Bengal unit secretary Jishnu Basu said.

The RSS, and its protege the BJP have been in conflict with the Trinamool government in West Bengal over what they allege is the governments vote bank policy. While the TMC accuses the RSS and BJP of perpetrating anti-minority sentiments, the Sangh at a meeting of its highest decisionmaking body in March, passed a resolution expressing grave concern over violence against Hindus in the state.

It condemned the Mamata Bannerjee government for failing to check unabated rise in violence by jihadi elements in West Bengal, encouragement to the anti-national elements

Eulogising Nazrul, a Muslim as the good Hindu, is also an attempt to reposition the Sangh as an inclusive organisation not opposed to Muslims, but to the radicalised sections. In the past statements by RSS functionaries describing all Indians as Hindus have been criticised as an attempt to obliterate religious identities.

Hinduism is not clearly understood by a lot of people. When the RSS says Hinduism it does not mean a communal school of thought that wants to throw out Muslims. I tell people Nazrul was a better Hindu because he was a nationalist, Basu said.

On why the Sangh has chosen to co-opt Nazrul who passed away in Bangladesh in 1976, Sangh ideologue Rakesh Sinha said, The Sangh puts Nazrul like former President Abdul Kalam on a pedestal, because he identified the bonds between philosophy, culture and spirituality. He was a revolutionary secular.

Nazruls works capturing his rebellion against the colonial forces, his writings on Durga Puja and goddess Kali, will also be introduced to the Sangh affiliates.

We have been celebrating his memory by singing Nazrul geet (songs written and composed by him) at various events; this was also done on the 150th year celebrations of Swami Vivekananda, Basu said.

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The story of Kashmiri photojournalist Dar Yasin dropping his camera to help an injured schoolgirl -- reported by HT on Saturday -- has been widely read and the lensmans act of going beyond his call of duty is being talked about on social media as well.

Several national and international publications quoted the HT report and carried the news item on their websites.

Ami Vitale, a photographer with the world National Geographic, shared the HT story on Facebook with a comment: Yasin Dar... the best of humanity. More than 200 users reacted to the post.

Several others shared the story as well.

On April 20, Yasin was out on an assignment in Srinagar, covering a student protest against security forces when he noticed Khusboo Jan bleeding profusely.

A Class 12 student, Jan was one of the many demonstrating in the Nawakadal area of Srinagar when a stone hit her on the forehead and cracked open her skull.

Blood splattered her white school uniform and hijab and she collapsed. Her friends panicked. There was no one to help them, only policemen and a battery of press people.

Yasin, a staffer with news agency The Associated Press, tossed his camera aside, scooped Jan in his arms and rushed to get her a cab to the nearest hospital.

The image of the 43-year-old father of two rushing with Jan in his arms was captured by another photojournalist and created a stir.

The hallmark of a best sort of photographer! This story must read! https://t.co/WPBgD7hG4x  mayank austen soofi (@thedelhiwalla) April 23, 2017

Kudos @Daryasin. And congrats Faisal Khan - Photojournalist drops camera to save girl during Kashmir protest https://t.co/AGYBnK4Dgl  Kewrious (@Kewrious) April 23, 2017

In a powerful display humanity, photographer Dar Yasin drops his camera, saves life of girl injured in Kashmir https://t.co/sbNIFWLOkW  Shaktisinh Gohil (@shaktisinhgohil) April 23, 2017

Highly appreciate the humanitarian act of the photojournalist ...,a value for us all to emulate! @daryasin pic.twitter.com/I52jXu1Vt8  Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) April 23, 2017

Salute sir!!! For demonstrating what ought to be the priority, tweeted @RajaCarpediem.

Retweeting a link to the story, Kashmiri journalist Fahad Shah wrote: Dar Yasin, a brilliant photographer and a lovely human being.

Yasin, whose daughters are aged 7 and 10, says what did was nothing new.

I am not the first one to have done this. I can tell you there are so many guys on the field in Kashmir who would have done the same what I did that day, he said.

But he is happy to be of help.

Looking back, I feel happy that I helped her. Pictures will keep coming, he said.

Jan got to the hospital in time and is now stable.
The government on Sunday denied any involvement of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) or the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in restricting foreign models from entering Taj Mahal wearing saffron scarves inscribed with name of Lord Ram.

A couple of international models, sporting such scarves, were reportedly asked to remove them when they were about to enter the 17th century monument last week.

There is no restriction on colour, religious design or inscriptions on the scarves or dresses of visitors coming to see the Taj Mahal, said a culture and tourism ministry statement, adding no CISF personnel or ASI officials were involved.

It also said there were no such provisions and the ASI has also not issued any such circulars.

According to the statement, cigarettes, lighters, chewing gums, chocolates and other items were deposited in the cloak room but no scarf was sought to be removed.

The CCTV footage related to this incident is in the custody of the CISF. It is evident in the footage that those tourists were granted entry into the Taj complex wearing the saffron scarves with Ram naam written on it, it said, adding that Agras superintending archaeologist confirmed that the persons collecting the scarves were neither from the ASI nor the CISF.

It appears that these people getting the scarves removed could either be guides or members of their group. Local police has been directed to look into this aspect, said the statement.
Author Rashmi Bansal has accused venture investor Mahesh Murthy of sexual harassment, which he has denied as absolute and complete lies.

The author, who made the allegations ahead of her book launch, said she has not filed a police complaint against the sexual advances that Murthy allegedly made in a cafe in 2004.

This story dates back to 2004. In one of my meetings with that person (Mahesh Murthy) at Mocha Cafe in Mumbai, he kicked off a conversation about his open marriage. He was sitting opposite of me and then got up and sat closer to me. He leaned forward and touched me inappropriately, Bansal said.

However, Murthy has denied all these charges.

Not only has she suddenly come up with claims about a period more than 13 years ago, the claims themselves are absolute and complete lies, he said.

It is a part of concerted and planned movement to discredit me. I am taking the strongest legal action, he said, but did not elaborate.

On why she has not filed an FIR against Murthy, Bansal said she plans to do that after consulting elders.

Asked what prompted her to level this allegation after 13 years, Bansal said, I saw him doing (this) to others. They all suffered what I suffered, mentally.

Asked to elaborate her charges, Bansal said, I am a woman...I cannot go on repeating what already is there in public domain. Whatever I have said it is available online. You can quote me from it.

Both Bansal and Murthy have posted a series of tweets on the issue. There have been a number of cases of alleged sexual harassment involving startup executives in the recent past.

First they invented stuff from 14 months ago. Now they're inventing stuff from 14 years ago.  Mahesh Murthy (@maheshmurthy) April 21, 2017

Bansal said she met him at the cafe after Murthy texted her and she expected him to talk about her venture , a publication for youth she was running at the time.

I received a message from him (Murthy). He asked me to drop at Mocha for a cup of coffee or tea. I visited him, expecting he would advise me on my media business. I was then running Just Another Magazine (JAM), she said.

In an earlier meeting, he asked me how was JAM doing, and I replied it was doing fine but finding it difficult to get advertisement. Since I had discussed this earlier, I expected Murthy invited me for discussion on these lines, added Bansal, who has authored Stay Hungry Stay Foolish, a book on entrepreneurship, which has sold over half a million copies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to state governments on Sunday to watch over students from Jammu and Kashmir studying outside their state in the backdrop of violence against them.

His appeal came after Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti flagged at a Niti Aayog governing council meeting the issue of safety of Kashmiri students at colleges and institutes in different states.

Modi seconded her suggestion that states should take interest in Kashmiri students and urged the state governments to reach out to them from time to time, a government statement said.

Chief minister Mufti, whose Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shares power in the state with the BJP, is likely to meet the Prime Minister on Monday to discuss the situation after violence escalated again during the bypoll to the Srinagar parliamentary seat on April 9.

Kashmir Valley plunged into violence as mobs of youngsters targeted security forces with stones and petrol bombs, wounding hundreds of soldiers. Many protesters have been killed too in growing clashes between soldiers and stone-pelters.

Incidents of soldiers being targeted by stone-throwers have upset people outside the strife-torn border state.

On April 19, about six Kashmiri students in Chittorgarhs Mewar University were allegedly called terrorists and assaulted by locals. The private university in Rajasthan has around 500 students from the northern state.

In another incident last week, a fringe right-wing outfit called Uttar Pradesh Nav Nirman Sena put up banners in Meerut, asking stone-pelting Kashmiris to leave the state.

The incidents prompted the Union home ministry to send advisories to the state governments to protect Kashmiris in their states.

The PM backed Muftis suggestions that states should organise programmes in Jammu and Kashmir to build awareness and bridge cultural gaps.

Kashmir has been intensely restive since the killing of a popular militant leader, Burhan Wani, last summer. The death triggered a long unrest in which more than 80 people were killed and hundreds wounded in clashes with security forces.

The incidents prompted the BJP to send its national general secretary, Ram Madhav, for a meeting with the PDP leadership last week.

But his alleged comments that everything is fair in love and war have drawn flak from the PDP, with education minister Altaf Bukhari calling the statement indefensible.

Is it a war declared against Kashmiris who despite all odds cast their votes reaffirming their belief in democracy? Or it is a war declared to satiate the sanguine electoral interests of a particular political party in the country? he asked.

Bhukari, refused to meet Madhav in protest, said the sole solution to the current unrest could be a comprehensive dialogue.

You cant be indifferent and think that the situation will improve. There is no other way; the only solution is talking to Kashmiri people.

Voices of dissent in the PDP have been increasing lately as its workers and leaders feel the leadership is showing no sympathy to the people, its core constituency, sources said.

At least (former chief minister) Omar Abdullah would express grief, oppose killings and say stones dont deserve bullets. But she (Mufti) is not showing sympathy, a PDP leader said.

(With inputs from Toufiq Rashid in Srinagar)

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A police constable was beaten up by the family members of a local BJP politician for imposing fine on their two relatives for violating traffic rules, said a police officer on Sunday.

Guna police station in-charge Vivek Asthana said the police subsequently arrested two persons on charges of assaulting a government official on duty and obstructing him from discharging his duty.

Asthana said the beating incident, captured on cell phone camera, occurred on April 21 when a police team stopped two girls, the relatives of BJP Janpad (Block) president Shobha Raghuvansi, for riding a scooter without helmets.

On being intercepted and fined, the girls contacted their family members on phone, prompting over half a dozen of them, including Shobhas husband Rajiv, descend on the scene.

The group thrashed constable Ashutosh Tiwari, who sustained injuries, Asthana added.

Police arrested two members of the group, identified as Jitendra and Rahul Raghuvansi. Besides the duo, Rajiv and others were also named in the FIR, he added.

We are investigating the incident. Further action would be taken after the investigation gets over, he added.

A video of the incident has gone viral on the social media.

When contacted, Rajiv Raghuvansi claimed, Policemen misbehaved with the two girls of our family. When my nephew (Rahul) went to the spot, policemen misbehaved with him too.

Our family members did not thrash the policeman. People gathered at the spot beat him up as they were angry with his misbehaviour.
The third meeting of Niti Aayogs Governing Council began on Sunday with the main agenda of deliberating on the 15-year Vision Document to accelerate the countrys economic development.

#NowOn: Third Meeting of Niti Aayogs Governing Council begins with Prime Minister @narendramodi and Team India!, the government think-tank said in a tweet.

#TeamIndia, headed by PM @narendramodi, with Niti Aayog and all CMs, begin their deliberations to take India forward #CooperativeFederalism, it said in another tweet.

The daylong meeting of the council is being held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Niti Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya will make a presentation on roadmap for rapid transformation of India by outlining key aspects of the document, comprising a seven-year strategy paper and a three-year action plan, an official statement had said yesterday.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will talk about the strategy for doubling farmers income.

The council, which includes all CMs, Niti Aayogs members and special invitees, will also discuss the progress made towards the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from July 1.

During the meeting, action taken on decisions of the earlier two meetings of the Governing Council held on February 8, 2015 and July 15, 2015 respectively will be discussed in detail, the statement had said.
The assembly session starting from Monday is likely to be stormy with opposition Congress set to corner the BJP government over the failure of police to nab the main accused in the Alwar lynching case in which five people were beaten up by cow vigilantes and one succumbed to his injuries.

The Opposition is also likely to corner the BJP government over the controversial statements made by state BJP leaders over the lynching case.

State Congress chief Sachin Pilot has questioned the silence of chief minister Vasundhara Raje on the issue. Such incidents will make it impossible for the cattle breeders and dairy farmers to survive, he said.

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who is quite active on social media, is yet to break her silence on the issue.

The state Congress is also gunning for the home minister Gulab Chand Kataria. Police action and statements of the home minister after the Alwar lynching incident show that efforts are being made to protect the culprits, Pilot said.

A number of BJP leaders say that the issue could have been handled in a better way. Prevention of cow slaughter is an emotive issue but people of both the community are involved in cow smuggling, a BJP lawmaker, who did not wish to be named, said.

It is also true that genuine dairy farmers buy cows from the cattle fair and Pehlu Khan was one of them, he said.

Leader of Opposition in state assembly Rameshwar Dudi said the state government should ban the Bajrang Dal and VHP.

We will be demanding CBI probe. Home minister is saying that both the parties are guilty. Government is shielding the accused and should come clean on it, Dudi told HT.

The government needs to send a message that it is firm about preventing cow smuggling but at the same time will not encourage cow vigilantes to take law in their own hand.

Ramgarh BJP legislator Gyandev Ahuja, criticizing the Alwar police, who have announced a reward for the arrest of the six people named in the FIR and are absconding.

Calling the accused prominent social workers of the area, the lawmaker said there was no need to announce an award for the arrest of the accused.

Meanwhile, a rights group--Peoples Union for Civil Libertieshas decide to launch an agitation over the alleged lynching of the dairy farmer.

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The state forest department will ban entry of private vehicles to the Jhalana forest area in Jaipur from next month to encourage tourism and wildlife conservation, officials said.

The department also plans to start wildlife safari from May.

Located in the heart of Jaipur city, the Jhalana forest is spread over 20 sq km area, and is home to around 20 leopards, including four to five cubs, over 120 species of birds, reptiles, and blue bulls, among others.

In coming 10-15 days, entry of private vehicles to the forest area will be banned, and only those registered with the department will be allowed, state forest and environment minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar told HT.

He said safari will be conducted in the forest area, the way it is being done at Ranthambore in Sawai Madhopur area, on a roaster basis. Around 10 vehicles will be allowed at a time.

We are also exploring more routes in the forest area; at present there are two  Neem Gatta (7-8km) and Chitalwada (10km). More grassland area will be developed and Gular trees will be planted near water bodies, said Khinvsar.

For effective surveillance and monitoring, 40 cameras and 10 CCTV cameras will be installed in sensitive areas, he said. Directions have been issued to stop release of industrial waste water into the forest area, he added.

A senior forest department official said the safari in forest area would not only encourage tourism but also generate funds, which could be used for the development of the area. The rates of safari are yet to be decided; however, seven vehicles have been registered through tender, the official said on condition of anonymity.

To avoid human-animal conflict, fencing and strengthening of boundary walls of the forest area will be undertaken in phases, which is proposed to be completed by March 2018. The safari will be conducted in morning and evening, the official said.

An action plan of around 6 crore for development works in forest area has been proposed for approval, he said.

Safari in last one year

Wildlife safari is being conducted in the Jhalana forest area by private players since March 2016. The entry fee ranges from 375 to 800, depending upon the vehicle. In the last one year, over 16,000 Indian and 88 foreign tourists have visited the forest, yielding a revenue of around 27.32 lakh.

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Its back to the basics for Bengals Left Front and its principle component, the CPI(M). Nearly six years after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee threw them out of power by hijacking the land issue that has been integral to Left politics, CPI(M) has decided to bank on land struggles to revive organisation at a time the party is fast losing its support base to Trinamool Congress and BJP.

Not only has the Left Front extended its support to small land agitations that spontaneously broke out in different parts of the state over the past six months, but All India Krishak Sabha, the CPI(M)s peasant wing, has also called for a farmers rally to march to the state secretariat on May 22 to demand the government agrees to the agitators demand.

Land struggle is central to Left politics. We have decided to organise land struggles all over the country against forceful acquisition of land and forced eviction. We have also asked our organisers in West Bengal to initiate land struggles and participate in the land agitations led by other Left or democratic forces, Hannan Mollah, the general secretary All India Krishak Sabha, countrys largest farmers organisation, told HT.

More than two lakh farmers from different districts of the state are expected to participate in the march to Nabanna, which is being co-organised by 10 other farmers organisations, Mollah said.

The CPI(M) demands the provisions of the land acquisition Act of 2013 has to be strictly adhered to.

Read: The Bhangar land row shows that Mamatas land acquisition model has failed

Despite the Mamata Banerjee governments sensitivity to the land issue and the policy of zero land acquisition for private industrial projects, a number of land agitations have broken out in West Bengal over the past six months and all of them are against central or state government projects. These movements were primarily organised by small Naxalite outfits and human rights organisations but the CPI(M) has rushed to express solidarity and lend support.

Land struggle has been central to the Lefts political programme and will always be. The reason behind land agitations during Mamata Banerjee regime is the policy vacuum on land acquisition, which has allowed land sharks a free hand, said CPI(M) MP and politburo member Mohammad Salim.

Read: As Left, Congress rush to join land agitations in Bengal, BJP stays away

The movements include the one at Bhangar in South 24-Parganas district against the setting up of a power grid by the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, at Goghat in Hooghly district against the filling parts of a century-old 27-acre pond for a railway project and in North 24-Parganas against the expansion of National Highway. Small land agitations have also broken out at Aushgram in Burdwan and Bolpur in Birbhum district.

Party workers will participate in land-related agitation, with the partys flag and without it.

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Amid mad scramble among politicians and top officials to give up the lal batti culture, a group of PCS officers on Saturday announced to go the other way.

In a letter to the president of UP PCS Association, the officers have demanded that they be allowed to use the blue beacons on their vehicles.

The officers maintain that since they have the responsibility of maintaining law and order, they be allowed to use the privilege as the blue beacon facility helps them reach the spot of the incident without much hassle.

Along with police officers we have to go to the spot soon after receiving information about dharna, breach of peace, demonstration or any other disaster. If we travel by a vehicle without blue beacon and dont reach the spot on time, situation may go out of control, argue the officers in the letter, a copy of which is with HT.

The letter reads that in a communication issued by public relation office of the chief minister, the use of blue beacons has been banned for officers, excluding those on emergency services.

Read more: Despite restrictions, beacon-fitted vehicles ruled the roads in UP

The officers maintain that revenue officers and other PCS officers shoulder responsibility of nodal officer of disaster management, which comes under the emergency services as per rule number 397 (A) of draft of union ministry of road transport and national highways.

Officials of various departments and police function under guidance of a magistrate during protocol duty, removal of illegal encroachment and surprise inspections. Controlling crowd and leading various inspections without blue beacon would be too difficult, said the officials while maintaining: For speedy and timely action to maintain law and order effectively, the use of blue beacon is very essential.

In view of the above situation, all officers of PCS cadre currently posted in Varanasi demand that the use of blue beacon should be allowed on their vehicles for effective and efficient delivery of their administrative works and duties, reads the letter signed by as many as 12 PCS officers.

The letter has been sent to UP PCS Association chief and we are awaiting further instructions, said Munindra Nath Upadhyaya, additional district magistrate (administration), while talking to HT.

Read more| Red, blue, amber beacons: The many shades of Indias VIP culture

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Intensifying their demand for waiving off loans of the distressed farmers, the Opposition parties would be embarking on the third leg of Sangharsh Yatra from April 25. The three-day protest march will cover three districts of western Maharashtra  Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur.

Well be covering 700km and the third phase of the Yatra will conclude at Sangli on April 27. All the districts in Konkan region would be covered during the fourth phase Yatra, said a source.

The Opposition parties so far have completed two phases of the Yatra  March 29 and April 15  covering Vidarbha, Marathwada, and several districts in northern and western Maharashtra. During the first two phases, party leaders held public meetings and interacted with families of the farmers who committed suicide.

Six Opposition parties  Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), Republican Party (Kawade) and United Janata Dal  joined hands to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Maharashtra government over farm loan waiver. They have been mounting pressure on chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to grant Rs30,500 crore loan waiver for farmers in Maharashtra.

However, political pundits believe that the Opposition parties have taken up the issue to recover lost ground across rural Maharshtra.

The state, feeling the heat from the Opposition, recently announced a slew of schemes under its Unnat Sheti, Samruddha Sheti (Upgraded farming, prosperous farming) initiative. Moreover, Fadnavis is personally interacting with the with farmers to hear out their grievances.

Also read: Sangharsh Yatra: Waive loan before farmers lose patience, say Maharashtra opposition leaders

Maharashtra Opposition intensifies attacks on govt, kicks off second Sangharsh Yatra for farm loan waiver

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A 20-year-old man, arrested for raping a four-and-a-half year old girl under the jurisdiction of Masuri police station in Ghaziabad on Friday, has been found to be a repeat offender.

The accused, identified as Ankit, was nabbed after the victim told her family about the incident and also named him. Ankit, who was out on bail in connection with a sexual assault case in 2015, was arrested and jailed on Friday.

The accused lives with his maternal grandparents in Ghaziabad, but is originally from nearby Hapur district.

Police said the incident took place around 9pm on Thursday when Ankit allegedly lured the minor girl who was playing outside her house, took her to a vacant plot nearby and raped her.

When she went missing, we launched a thorough search in the area. A woman in our neighbourhood said my daughter was lying unconscious at a nearby vacant plot, adjacent to a school. We rushed her to a hospital. When she regained consciousness, she told us the name of the accused, the girls father said. Following this, local residents handed him over to the police.

The man was nabbed by locals after the girl named him. When we questioned him, he also told us about the previous sexual assault case of 2015. We registered an FIR for rape and under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, said Dinesh Yadav, station house officer, Masuri.

According to the police, Ankit is a repeat offender and has targeted minor girls earlier too. In October 2015, he was arrested by Masuri police for allegedly assaulting a two-year-old girl and was booked under Section 377 (unnatural offences) of IPC and provisions of Pocso Act.

According to the police, in that case, he had allegedly targeted the sister of his friend and had taken her to a local shop at night to buy candies. Later, he handed over the unconscious girl to her brother. Upon examination, she was found to have been subjected to an unnatural assault. Ankit was thrashed by residents and handed over to police. He was out on bail in that case, but yet again targeted another minor girl on Thursday night.

In the 2015 incident, he tried to prove himself as minor, but he was around 18 years old. He got bail, which gave way to the second incident on Thursday night, Yadav said.

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State industries minister Satish Mahana is to yet act on the promises he made during his visit to gutted Noida building in Sector 11. Six employees of a factory that deals with the packaging of CFLs were burnt to death in a fire that engulfed the building in Noidas Sector 11 on Wednesday.

After inspecting the gutted building and files of many other buildings he said almost all tall or low-rise buildings in Noida lack proper fire safety mechanism, thereby putting peoples life at risk. He had said that the UP government will take action against those responsible for lapses in fire incident as the building was not authorised. On a visit to Noida on April 20, the minister promised to take action against the officials responsible in 24 hours.

He had asked the Noida authority and the fire department officials to send reports on the incident.

Our department has sent report on the incident as per orders of the minister. In the report, we have clearly mentioned that if the building owner had obtained no objection certificate from the fire department and had also taken occupancy certificate, which is issued only when the fire safety mechanism is put in place, this incident could have been averted. The fire department had no role in issuing the OC (occupancy certificate) or the NOC. It is the Noida authority that should made it binding on the factory owners to comply with the rules, Aman Sharma, deputy director, fire department, UP, said.

The Noida authority allegedly allowed operations in the building, which neither had the necessary clearance from the fire department and nor did it obtain the occupancy certificate. The same marked a violation of several building by-laws.

But even after four days of the industries ministers announcement, no one from the fire department or the Noida authority has been held accountable for the incident.

We have sent our reports on the incident to government officials in Lucknow. Pramod Kumar Aggarwal, additional CEO of the Noida authority, who is heading the inquiry panel, sent the report, Amit Mohan Prasad, chief executive officer of the Noida authority, said.

Those who survived the blaze said that if the fire safety mechanism was in place, the fire would have been put out before it grew bigger and gutted the building.

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The Super Specialty Child Hospital and Post Graduate Institute (SSCHPGI) in Sector 30 will have facilities for psychiatry, medicine, ENT and skin for patients of all age from July. The institute authorities have decided to provide 30 beds for general treatment for adults also from July.

Nine posts have already been sanctioned for the purpose and the appointments will start in the next couple of months. Posts of two gynaecologists, one general physician, one general surgeon, one dermatologist, one psychiatrist and three doctors in genetics were to be advertised this month. However, due to the freeze in appointments announced by the government, the process got a bit delayed, said Dr Shekhar Yadav, medical superintendent, SSCHPGI.

Besides these, treatment for adults will be available in the departments of ENT and ophthalmology (eye). It was decided by the governing body of the SSCHPGI that there must be a provision for followup of patients up to 18 years of age who got treatment at the child hospital. Hence, 30 beds must be provided for general treatment as well. Ninety percent of the equipment has already been received. Appointment will also take place soon. We are hopeful to start the facility by July, said Dr Dinesh Kumar, executive registrar, SSCHPGI.

The hospital, with a residential campus in Sector 30, has been built at a cost of around 701 crore. The estimated cost with infrastructure and equipment is pegged at 1,500 crore. The hospital has also started facilities for outpatient department and admission.

The departments of paediatric surgery, medicine, neurology, neonatology, gastroenterology, ENT, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery, plastic surgery, pathology, microbiology, biochemistry, radiology, psychology, dental surgery and physiotherapy have already been made functional.

The institute, which started providing admission facility over a year ago, has remained largely underutilised.

Health minister Siddharth Nath Singh during his visit to Noida on April 17 to review the facilities in Gautam Budh Nagar had told mediapersons that he would take up the matter of the super specialty child hospital with education minister Ashutosh Tandon, under whose ministry the child institute comes.

TIMELINE:

Head: Super care in Noida

Intro: Despite having high-end facilities, the super specialty child hospital, set up at a cost of 701 crore, has remained largely underutilised

May 13, 2008: The foundation stone of the 312-bed SSCHPGI laid.

October 7, 2013: Outpatient department for paediatrics, gynaecology, physiotherapy and dental treatment made functional

November 30, 2015: 29 doctors appointed across various disciplines

December 5, 2015: OPDs for eye and ENT examination made functional

December 22, 2015: OPDs of paediatric surgery, plastic surgery and gastroenterology made functional

April 1, 2016: Admission facility with 60 beds started

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In a bid to boost the potential for tourism and employment in Dankaur, Jewar MLA Thakur Dhirendra Singh met state tourism minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Sunday and proposed that Dankaur be developed as a tourist spot owing to its historical and mythological significance.

Legend has it that Dankaur was earlier known as Dron Nagri and as is documented in the epic Mahabharata, it was here that Dronacharya taught Pandavas the skills of warfare.

Stressing on the need to restore the lost glory of Dankaur, Singh said, Development of Dron Nagri will show the way for development of tourist spots in the state. The place has a historical as well as cultural significance and it has a lot of potential for tourism.

Read I Need to boost quality of services at tourist destinations

Earlier, Singh had also met UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and proposed that his constituency be developed as a tourist spot.

According to Singh, the development of Dankaur will result in employment for the youth.

Read | We will be working to promote tourism on the F1 circuit in Noida

As we have already stated in the manifesto during recent assembly polls, our priority is development and employment for our youths. Dankaur enjoys a prime location, as it is connected to the Yamuna Expressway and the Eastern Peripheral Corridor. The possibilities are endless once the place is developed as a tourist spot. Tourists who travel to Agra from Delhi using the Yamuna Expressway could also visit Dankaur, Singh said.

Singh also expressed his desire to construct an airport in his constituency. He believes that a concerted effort to build an airport besides harnessing Dankaurs tourism potential could help locals derive multiple benefits.

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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken a serious note of illegal borewells and directed the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) to seal all borewells run by industries, private individuals and private water suppliers without the consent of authorities concerned in Ghaziabad and Hapur districts. The tribunal has also asked the district magistrate to enforce the directive.

In its order on April 13, the tribunal directed the CGWA to seal all borewells run by the existing and newly established industries, as they were deemed illegal by the NGT in a previous order on April 15, 2015. The latest direction came in response to a petition filed by activist Sushil Raghav and the Society for Protection of Environment and Biodiversity (SPEnBIO).

Extraction of water from borewells by such industries, whose applications to the CGWA for permission are pending, shall also be prevented till their applications are objectively examined individually (sic), the order said.

The tribunal also directed the authority to review permissions so far granted to the industries and private individuals or any person till April 15, 2015. It said each case should be judged on merit and a decision needs to be taken on whether the permissions granted are legally valid or merits revocation.

Apart from the industries who are brought into the mischief of our order, we further direct extraction of ground water by, private individuals, any person or builders without permission or having valid permission, shall face the same consequences and the CGWA shall seal all their borewells (sic), the tribunal further said.

The petitioners had contended that barring one development block each in Ghaziabad and Hapur, the rest have listed in the over-exploited category where the water table is critically low.

New borewells, including those by private individuals, are coming up every day in two districts and are affecting the groundwater levels. The court has rightly pointed out that instead of groundwater conservation, the CGWA has become an agency that allows groundwater exploitation, Akash Vashistha, convener, SPEnBIO, said.

The tribunal has also slammed the CGWA and directed it to ensure that no private water supplier or tanker operator is allowed extract water within or beyond the limits of the municipal-corporation without the authorisation of the CGWA.

The CGWA shall draw up a list of such water suppliers and the make a detailed inquiry on how and where they source their supply. If water is being extracted after obtaining consent, then ascertain the quantity of water so far extracted, the NGT order said.

The tribunal also voiced its displeasure with the CGWA and said that it was disturbing that the authority failed to enforce a previous order, which clearly directed the it to ensure that the extraction of groundwater is legally valid and take necessary action if it isnt.

The CGWA has virtually become a nodal authority for all industries indulging in illegal extraction of groundwater to apply for sanction. It has, in fact, extended the last date for submitting such applications, the tribunal added.

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When Union finance minister presented the budget earlier this year, he allocated funds for different sections of the society. However, the interest of the transgender community did not a find a mention. It never has. Are we not citizens of this country? asks Kajal Mangalmukhi, president of Sakshama an NGO for transgenders in Chandigarh. She was speaking at an event organised jointly by Sakhsham , the social welfare department of Panjab University and Voluntary Health Service (VHS), Chennai, in Chandigarh on Saturday.

Around 70 transgenders from Nabha, Nawashahar, Jalandhar and Chandigarh got together at the event to commemorate the Supreme Courts historic verdict of 2014, upholding rights of the transgenders. They were also joined by members of the LGBT community in Chandigarh and students of PU.

The event was part of an initiative to demand that April 15, day of the SC verdict, be observed as Transgender Day. Similar events are being organised in other states too.

Speaking at the event, Dr G Pannerselvam, senior programme manager at VHS, said, Following the SC verdict, some change is visible. Now people have the legal freedom to declare their sexuality, strive to get education and some economic freedom. But, a lot of sensitisation is still required.

However, despite three years of the apex courts verdict, challenges are far from over for the community. When a transgender wants to undergo a sex readjustment surgery or silicone, there are few hospitals for them. They face problems at all fronts, be it social, medical, legal or personal, added Pannerselvam.

Why cant the government allocate us houses under the Indira Aawas Yojana? There arent separate toilets for trangenders at public spaces. We face harassments at security checks because neither male nor female cops agree to frisk us, says Kajal.

Reflecting upon the legal status of transgenders, Mahavir Singh Ahlawat, member secretary of Punjab state legal service authority, said, Judicial recognition is just the first step. Getting social recognition through sensitisation is the bigger challenge ahead.

Dhananjay Mangalmukhi, who made headlines last year when she became the first transgender student of PU, said, We cant depend on others for it. Education is the best weapon that we have as it empowers us to strive for the better. The government should bring out scholarships for transgenders because we dont have any income source.

But are transgenders sufficiently aware about their own rights? Dhananjay says its a long road ahead. We are scarred from our own selves. No doubt that there is discrimination in the society. But many times, we perceive ourselves to be discriminated.

Only education can help us overcome this, she adds.

During the event, the participants also raised problems of housing, lack of public toilets, scholarships, personal and legal protection.

Raising concerns about sexual abuse, a participant from Nabha said, When a girl is molested, the police and society reacts. But when we are molested, we are mocked upon.

Kajal, however, added that everything isnt dark on the horizon. She said she feels encouraged when reading about transgenders becoming students, models, police officers and college principals. But a lot needs to be done, she said.

Dhananjay is left with a musing, Just like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, why cant there be Transgenders Bachao, Transgenders Padhao?

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The UT administration in its new draft on law against snatching has proposed to make the offence non-bailable with a rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years. The proposal has been sent to the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) for approval.

With its relatively lenient laws failing to deter the snatchers, the administration and the police have finally woken up to the menace and decided to amend the rulebook.

We have decided to replicate the Punjab law on snatching that was amended a few years ago. Were awaiting home ministrys approval, said a senior official.

The police department had made these recommendations to the administration which after approving these sent the draft to the home ministry. Now, the Union law ministry is evaluating the case. The amended provisions will make this crime as cognisable, punishable/non-bailable and can be tried in the district and sessions court.

REPLICATES PUNJAB LAW AMENDED IN 2010

In 2010, the Punjab cabinet had amended section 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), inserting into it subsections 379-A and 379-B.

UT too wants to do the same. Incidentally, after Punjab, even Haryana had made the amendment, making its law on snatching stricter.

Under the new law, one commits snatching will be jailed for not less than five years. The imprisonment may extend up to 10 years besides a fine of Rs 10,000 fine or both.

Presently, snatching is punishable with a maximum of three-year jail. The police register cases of snatching under section 379 (theft) and section 356 (use of criminal force to commit theft).

As many as 160 incidents of snatching were reported in 2015 and 2016 in the city while 73 cases have been registered this year so far.
Panjab University Committee Against Sexual Harassment (PUCASH) has refused to consider the complaint of varsitys female assistant professor against a male assistant professor claiming the complaint to be of mental harassment which doesnt fall under its purview.

The female assistant professor, also the chairperson of a PU department, had complained on March 1 this year against a male assistant professor who works in another research centre of the university.

According to complainant, the assistant professor barged into her room and threatened her of dire consequences if she stopped him from exporting things property from department.

She added that a security guard had to be called till the staff and another teacher reached her room. She said that she was humiliated, claiming the case to be that of outraging the modesty of woman and mental harassment.

The committee had called her to record her statement on March 22.

Nishtha Jaswal, chairperson, Panjab Universitys committee against sexual harassment, in her letter dated March 29 said the complainant in her written statement clearly mentioned that it was a case of mental harassment, not a sexual one.

Therefore PUCASH resolved that complaint was not within the purview of this committee while appropriate authority may take suitable decision, read the letter. The complaint and relevant documents will now be placed before syndicate on April 30 to take further decision on the issue.

The complainant has threatened to approach the police if action is not taken against the male assistant professor.

Meanwhile, a committee is yet to be appointed by the vice president of India and PU chancellor Hamid Ansari to look into a case wherein a woman professor had levelled sexual harassment allegations against varsitys vice-chancellor prof Arun Kumar Grover.

In a special senate meeting held on January 29 this year on this issue, it was decided to forward the recommendation of the syndicate to the chancellor, regarding the formation of a committee to look into the allegations.

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Major Gogoi of 53 Rashtriya Rifles may have, with his on the spur of the moment tactical decision, saved the lives of the polling party he was called upon to rescue, his own men and not to forget, hundreds of innocent and not-so-innocent civilians in Budgam the other day.

But the optics of using a civilian as a human shield will resonate for a long time. While we are certainly winning the military battle, the political struggle for the hearts and minds of Kashmiris is in utter chaos. We have not only to win the military campaign but to be seen to be prevailing using fair, legal, ethically sound means.

While soldiers do bend the rules on occasion for the greater good or in tactically vulnerable situation, such visuals are best avoided in the smartphone-rich environment of the Kashmir valley. Pakistans agents in the Valley, who appear to be in firm control of the insurgency, are determined to create similar untenable situations to provoke the security forces to use disproportionate force against civilians. This must be resisted. Easier said than done, but we must learn a lesson from the British experience in Northern Ireland.

Highly motivated Republican supporters in so-called no-go areas used all means possible to thwart, psychologically cow down and provoke their troops. The latter, however, kept their cool except in the case of a few wellpublicised incidents like Bloody Sunday in Londonderry. We must, at all costs, avoid giving Pakistan more ammunition to use against us in what now appears to be a well-organised social media campaign.

Lastly, what of our own constantly under-siege soldiers and their well-being and interest?

Politicians and social media drumbeaters relentlessly urge us to stand behind them while conveniently abandoning the Budgam Ten (a JCO and ten jawans of the same unit who still face the threat of court-martial).

SIKH REGIMENT BAISAKHI LUNCH

Captain Amarinder Singh reiterated his deep commitment to the Sikh Regiment by attending its Baisakhi lunch at Chandimandir on April 9.

The annual affair was also attended by General SK Jha, Colonel of the Regiment and currently commanding XXXIII Corps defending the eastern ramparts, General JS Cheema, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems and Training) and General AK Sharma commanding XVI Corps which confronts Pakistan along the LOC in Jammu province as well as combating insurgency south of the Pir Panjal range.

Veterans and serving officers mixed in a sublime atmosphere replete with that very special awe-inspiring spirit which inspires the regiment on to ever greater heights.

ISSUES WITH THE CANADIANS

Old Canada hands in the foreign and intelligence services can vouch for Captain Amarinder Singhs allegation that Canadian defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan has sympathies with Khalistani separatists.

However, there is another aspect of our relations with that country which directly involves our uniformed services. Dozens of officers and men from the armed forces, intelligence services, paramilitary forces and police have had their applications for visas to visit Canada rejected on extremely dubious grounds of being likely to have been involved in human rights violations if they were found to have served in J&K, the North-East and Punjab.

A qualification which just about covers the entire gamut of Indias security forces! Im glad the Punjab chief minister has stood up for the country. Honour is always more important.

(Please write in with your narratives of war and military life to msbajwa@gmail.com or call/WhatsApp on 093161-35343)
With the earlier air-conditioned multi-storey inter-state bus terminal (ISBT) project failing to materialise due to legal hitches, the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) has come up with a fresh proposal for the construction a new ISBT at another site. The proposal is at its initial stage, but the PRTC has written a communique to the secretary transport to go ahead with full-fledged project details at the earliest.

Moreover, the PRTC has asked the transport department to take up the matter with the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) to transfer six-acre land in the Rajpura colony opposite the present ISBT for construction of the new establishment.

However, as per the proposal, the PRTC has planned to come up with two bus stands, one for long route buses and the other for mini and local buses.

One of the senior officials said the new ISBT is need of the hour as the shortage of space at the present bus stand and increase of buses in the past years cause traffic congestion all around the area. There is hardly any space for parking of the buses as transporters are forced to park their buses along the roadside.

Managing director of PRTC Manjit Singh Narang said they have only mooted the proposal, but it is up to the state government to take the final call on the project. We have identified land near the present ISBT and informed the senior officials about it. The decision of coming up with new ISBT has been taken as the PRTCs earlier such project has been delayed due to litigation in the Punjab and Haryana high court, he said.

He added that the proposal also aims at making the new ISBT more commercially viable so that revenue should be generated from it. He added that the new ISBT will help ease out traffic congestion and better movement of buses.

TIMELINE OF EARLIER ISBT PROJECT 2005: Former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh announces the project 2009: Just before 2009 Lok Sabha elections, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal laid the foundation stone of the project amid much fanfare. October 2009: PRTC struck a deal with a construction company for its development and handed over land against payment of Rs 27 crore. 2012: The MoU between both the parties lapsed after the construction agency failed to kick off its work. The PRTC moved the court against the company and the company also filed a counter suit for lease money. The case is still pending in the court 2017: A fresh proposal prepared for new ISBT over six-acre land in Rajpura colony

EARLIER ISBT PROJECT

The project was mooted in 2005 during the tenure of then chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and it was decided to shift the present bus stand to a new location on the Patiala-Rajpura road. The state government acquired 20 acres of land for the project, of which former deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal laid the foundation stone in 2009. But, the project soon got entangled in legal hitches. After the laying of its foundation stone, the PRTC signed a memorandum of understanding and handed over the project to a private company on the built-operate-transfer (BOT) basis in October 2009.

Even the company had paid an initial amount of Rs 27 crore to the PRTC as lease money for 20 years, following which the PRTC handed over possession of the land to it.

However, despite repeated notices and communiques to the company, they failed to start the project in the time as stipulated in the MoU, following which it crashed in 2012.

Following this, PRTC authorities moved the court against the company to get back the possession of land, while the firm followed the same to get their lease amount. The case of cross litigation between both the parties is still pending in Punjab and Haryana government.

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A 28-year-old widow succumbed to injuries on Saturday, three days after a man allegedly inserted a beer bottle inside her private parts for refusing to have sex with him in Jharkhands Latehar district.

The brutal act happened at Banpur locality of the district headquarters under the Sadar police station limits on Tuesday night.

Three days later, the 28-year old woman succumbed to injuries during treatment at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi early on Saturday.

The victims family staged a demonstration in front of the accuseds home along with her body, demanding death penalty for him.

Latehar police have arrested the accused Sudershan Thakur after the woman registered a statement was with the police during treatment.

The victim, a widow, lived alone with her four-year old daughter, close to the culprits home. Her husband Upendra Ram had committed suicide a year ago.

Victims brother-in-law Surendra Ram said Sudershan Thakur beat her up after she refused him sex on Tuesday night. He, then, forced a beer bottle into her private parts by hitting it with legs causing grievous injuries, he said.

We rushed her to Latehar hospital from where she was immediately referred to Ranchi...Doctors there informed us that her uterus was blown apart, Ram said, demanding exemplary punishment for the culprit. He should be hanged.

Latehar police station officer in-charge Ramesh Prasad Singh said, We have sent the culprit to jail. The victim suffered internal injuries in her stomach after being hit by leg.

The accused denied any wrongdoing. He said he had a heated argument with a woman.

Yogendra Thakur, the father of the accused who is a barber by profession, said, We have compensated the family by giving them the amount they asked for despite knowing it fully well that my son has been framed in the case.
For two years, eight-year-old Yashwant could only watch as his friends played and ran around in the neighbourhood. Even a small walk would leave him tired and breathless.

Two years of medication but the condition of the boy from East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh only worsened.

His young body was swollen and his eight per cent. He was suffering these symptoms for over two years and not responding to any medication, Dr Mannem Gopichand, chief cardiac surgeon at Hyderabads Star Hospitals, said.

Yashwant was suffering from severe biventricular dysfunction that compromised his hearts ability to pump blood and was at the end stage of the disease, according to a team of paediatric heart surgeons at Star Hospitals.

He was saved in the nick of time.

A heart transplant at the hospital on April 4 gave the eight-year-old a new life.

The organ came from neighbouring Telangana. Naveen, an 18-year-old from Chityal in Nalgonda district, was declared brain dead after an accident.

Naveens family agreed to donate his heart to Yashwant and that saved the boys life, said Gopichand, who led the team of 12 doctors that carried out the rare surgery. Doctors had struggled to find a compatible heart.

Expenses were another hurdle. The surgery cost around Rs 20 lakh, a sum Yashwants mother Satyavathi, a domestic cook, couldnt afford.

But her persistent efforts paid off. The Andhra Pradesh government sanctioned Rs 7 lakh from the chief ministers relief fund for the surgery. The remaining cost was borne by Karvy Computershare Ltd. through Hrudaya Foundation that provides treatment to poor children with a heart condition.

On Saturday, doctors presented Yashwant to the media. I want to be a doctor and save lives, a beaming Yashwant told media.

Transplant is half the battle won. His body is still adjusting to the donated heart. New technology and improved immunosuppressant drugs have increased percentage of survival rates with a donor heart, doctors say, but he will have to be careful.

The chances of survival for a year after a heart transplant in India are 85%, five years 75% and for a decade its 62%.

Given the weak economic background of Yashwant, we are looking for a long-term rehabilitation programme, Gopichand said. They were pooling resources so that Yashwant could be admitted to a boarding school to reduce chances of infection.

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Thirty-eight Indian citizens who had overstayed their visa periods were detained in one of the largest operations by immigration and police officials in Leicester in the east Midlands, which has a large minority of Indian origin.

They were found working illegally in two clothing factories in the city, and now face removal to India. The 38 Indians include 29 men and nine women; the companies that employed them also face fines up to 20,000 pounds for each illegal worker, reports from Leicester said.

Alison Spowage of East Midlands Immigration Enforcement said: "Using illegal labour is not victimless. It cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest businesses and denies legitimate job seekers of employment opportunities.

"The penalties for businesses that do not play by the rules are rightly severe. This operation, one of the largest-scale my team has conducted, sends a clear message that we have the resources to tackle immigration abuse.

Seven of those detained last week had entered the United Kingdom illegally, while others had overstayed their visa period; an Afghan national was also detained in the operation, Leicester Mercury, a leading local daily, reported.

Many foreign nationals without the right to work in the UK have been detained in recent years following a crackdown by immigration and police officials. Several employers hiring them have been fined thousands of pounds.

Employers are obliged to check the immigration status before recruiting under rules put in place when Prime Minister Theresa May was the Home secretary.

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Chinese schools and colleges will train students how to spot and catch foreign spies through easy-to-read books and ready reckoners on anti-espionage in a new Communist Party of China campaign thats expected to spread its net nationwide this year.

The books to be distributed among primary, middle school and senior college students will have graphics, comics and games like find the spy.

On April 15, China marked the countrys second National Security Education Day and the first set of readers on how to spot a spy was published eastern Chinas Jiangsu province.

The books use easy-to-read language and comics to spread knowledge about national security, the threat apparently posed by spies and how to spot potential terror threats, the tabloid Global Times said in a report.

Students from primary schools to colleges were specifically targeted by this publicity drive to mobilise them as a huge counter-spy force, the report said about the aim of the countrywide publicity events held to mark the day.

It seems the governments thinking is that even primary school students should be aware of the complicated world situation.

The publishing house told the newspaper that the books will used on a large scale from this year on. It is very trendy for middle and primary students to receive this kind of education given the increasingly complicated world situation.

In another educational chart circulated online, ...readers were given definitions of a spy, what kinds of people are vulnerable to manipulation by foreign governments and how agents of overseas intelligence agencies may set traps or lure people to work for them.

An intelligence officer with the Peoples Liberation Army lectured students in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province that threats lie all around them.

The lecture was broadcast live in all Hubei schools; it was viewed by 1.53 million college students and 5.52 million primary and middle school students.

We can never be too careful even in peacetime. Spies and secret agents might be all around us, Wang Dawei from the People's Public Security University of China said.

The governments focus on catching spies could be based on intelligence but some could say the new anti-espionage campaigns give out a hint of paranoia.

Only earlier this month, the official Beijing Daily newspaper said the Beijing City National Security Bureau is encouraging citizens to join counter-intelligence efforts, by offering rewards of 10,000 to 500,000 yuan ($1,500 to $73,000) for information on spies.

And, last year, a cartoon had warned Chinese women to stay away from men from western countries because they could be spies.
Chinas foreign minister called Sunday for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula amid rising tension over North Koreas missile and nuclear programmes.

China is firmly supporting the denuclearisation of the area in the name of stability and peace, Wang Yi told reporters in Athens after meeting Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias.

China may not have the key to this solution ... but we are happy that more sides are accepting our point of view, he added.

US President Donald Trump has urged China to take stronger steps to press the North to curb its nuclear and missile programmes.

During a regional tour last week, Vice-President Mike Pence warned that all options are on the table to curb the Norths nuclear ambitions, as fears grow it may be planning another atomic test.

Pyongyang has ramped up its rhetoric in recent weeks, threatening to hit back against any provocation.

It has also renewed threats against regional US allies, including Japan and South Korea, which both host large American military contingents.

Even Australia has received a warning from Pyongyang.

If Australia persists in following the USs moves to isolate and stifle North Korea... this will be a suicidal act, a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called the nation a serious threat.

On Sunday, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reported that a US citizen had been arrested as he tried to fly out of North Korea, becoming the third American to be detained there.

It is important for them to hold a US citizen hostage at this point to prevent Washington from carrying out a decapitation of Kim Jong-Un, Ahn Chan-il, a former defector, told AFP, referring to the Norths fears that the US plans a secret military strike to topple its leader.

Its also a resolve to point a double-action revolver against the US and China because he is a US citizen who worked in China.
Phobias and foibles of visiting dignitaries are often factored in, but officials in Whitehall preparing for a visit by President Donald Trump are taking it one step at a time: staircases, railings and slopes may be ruled out for the worlds most powerful man.

Trumps visit has already caused some waves here. Indications are that he will come calling in October, though no dates have been finalised yet. By then, Britain will be through the June 8 election, a new government will be in place, and Brexit talks will be on in Brussels.

But given Trumps known phobia of steps, railings and slopes - also reported by the US news media - officials are already discussing ways to keep him away from such pitfalls during the visit, according to The Sunday Times.

Trump, who has large business interests in Scotland, including a golf course, is expected to be honoured with a state dinner in Buckingham Palace. The visit is also likely to include time in Queen Elizabeths Scottish retreat Balmoral.

An official in step with arranging Trumps visit told the paper: Ive heard this discussed in meetings about the state visit. People want everything to go smoothly. Trump wont be able to avoid the stairs at the palace but they can plan things to minimise it.

A petition to stop his visit since it would cause embarrassment to the Queen has gained over 1.86 million signatures, but the Theresa May government said he should be extended the full courtesy of a state visit.

One of the most seen images of Mays visit to the US in January was of Trump holding her hand as they walked through a ramp in the White House. His dislike for steps and stairs has reportedly been raised in meetings to prepare for the visit.

A Trump visit here has already raised hackles, particularly due to his comments during the US election campaign that parts of London were so radicalised that they were no-go areas for the police. His ban on the entry of citizens from some countries further infuriated many.
North Korea said on Sunday it was ready to sink a US aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, as two Japanese navy ships joined a US carrier group for exercises in the western Pacific.

US President Donald Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over the Norths nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its Asian allies.

The United States has not specified where the carrier strike group is as it approaches the area. US vice-president Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive within days but gave no other details.

North Korea remained defiant.

Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a US nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike, the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the Norths ruling Workers Party, said in a commentary.

The paper likened the aircraft carrier to a gross animal and said a strike on it would be an actual example to show our militarys force.

The commentary was carried on page three of the newspaper, after a two-page feature about leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a pig farm.

North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean Peoples Army on Tuesday.

It has in the past marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.

It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

North Koreas growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump.

He has vowed to prevent the North from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.

Worry in Japan

North Korea says its nuclear programme is for self-defence and has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression. It has also threatened to lay waste to South Korea and Japan.

US defense secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday North Koreas recent statements were provocative but had proven to be hollow in the past and should not be trusted.

Weve all come to hear their words repeatedly, their word has not proven honest, Mattis told a news conference in Tel Aviv, before the latest threat to the aircraft carrier.

Japans show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads.

Some Japanese ruling party lawmakers are urging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to acquire strike weapons that could hit North Korean missile forces before any imminent attack.

Japans navy, which is mostly a destroyer fleet, is the second largest in Asia after Chinas.

The two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson and will practice a variety of tactics with the US strike group, the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force said in a statement.

The Japanese force did not specify where the exercises were taking place but by Sunday the destroyers could have reached an area 2,500 km (1,500 miles) south of Japan, which would be waters east of the Philippines.

From there, it could take three days to reach waters off the Korean peninsula. Japans ships would accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan said.

US and South Korean officials have been saying for weeks that the North could soon stage another nuclear test, something the United States, China and others have warned against.

South Korea has put is forces on heightened alert.

China, North Koreas sole major ally which nevertheless opposes Pyongyangs weapons programmes and belligerence, has appealed for calm. The United States has called on China to do more to help defuse the tension.

Last Thursday, Trump praised Chinese efforts to rein in the menace of North Korea, after North Korean state media warned the United States of a super-mighty preemptive strike.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday that the Trump administration's tax reform plan would produce some "short term issues" when viewed under traditional "static" budget analysis rules.

His comments during an interview by International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde suggested that the plan would not be revenue-neutral and would increase deficits in the short term.

Mnuchin said that the tax plan would pay for itself when viewed through a "dynamic scoring" analysis, which accounts for the increased tax revenues that would be produced by higher growth prompted by the tax changes.

"We're looking for reforms that will pay for themselves with growth," Mnuchin said. "Under dynamic scoring, this will pay for itself, under static scoring, there'll be short term issues."

Mnuchin also said the tax plan would be aimed at helping the middle class to "get more money in their pockets" and would be much simpler.

"The tax code is way, way, way too complicated. We want to create a system where the average American can file a tax code on a big postcard," Mnuchin said.

(Reporting by David Lawder; editing by Diane Craft)
Iraqi officials said Islamic State militants attacked a police base in a town that is being used as a staging ground for the Mosul offensive, killing at least one policeman.

Captain Mahmoud Attia, a police spokesman, saida sleeper cell of three IS fighters attacked the base on Sunday in Hamam al-Alil, some 30km south of Mosul.

Rudaw, a local television channel whose reporters were inside the base, said at least two suicide attackers entered the facility before detonating their payloads.
Pope Francis urged governments on Saturday to get migrants and refugees out of holding centres, saying many had become concentration camps.

During a visit to a Rome basilica, where he met migrants, Francis told of his trip to a camp on the Greek island of Lesbos last year.

He met a Muslim refugee from the Middle East there who told him how terrorists came to our country. Islamists had slit the throat of the mans Christian wife because she refused to throw her crucifix on the ground.

I dont know if he managed to leave that concentration camp, because refugee camps, many of them, are of concentration (type) because of the great number of people left there inside them, the pope said.

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) later urged the pope to reconsider his regrettable choice of words for using the term concentration camp.

The conditions in which migrants are currently living in some European countries may well be difficult, and deserve still greater international attention, but concentration camps they certainly are not, the AJCs head, David Harris, said in a statement.

The Nazis and their allies erected and used concentration camps for slave labour and the extermination of millions of people during World War II. There is no comparison to the magnitude of that tragedy, he said.

Francis praised countries helping refugees and thanked them for bearing this extra burden, because it seems that international accords are more important than human rights.

He did not elaborate but appeared to be referring to agreements that keep migrants from crossing borders, such as deals between the European Union (EU) and Libya and the EU and Turkey. Humanitarian groups have criticised both deals.

The pope urged people in northern Italy, home to an anti-immigrant party, to take more migrants, hoping that the generosity of southern Italy could infect the north a bit.

Noting that Italy had one of the worlds lowest birth rates, he said: If we also close the door to migrants, this is called suicide.

The basilica of St Bartholomew is a shine to Christians killed for their faith in the 20th and 21st centuries.

It contains a prayer book used by Father Jacques Hamel, the 85-year-old French priest killed by Islamist militants who stormed into a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray last year, forced Hamel to his knees, and slit his throat while they chanted in Arabic. His sister Roselyne attended the service.
France began voting Sunday under heavy security in the first round of the most unpredictable presidential election in decades, with the outcome seen as vital for the future of the beleaguered European Union.

Nearly 47 million people will choose between 11 candidates that include a far-right leader praised by US President Donald Trump; a scandal-hit conservative; a 39-year-old former investment banker; and a leftwing radical who campaigns by hologram.

Frances 10% unemployment, its lacklustre economy and security are the top concerns in this election.

Security was tight after a deadly attack on the Champs-Elysees on Thursday in which a police officer and a gunman were slain.

The vote is really important, mainly because we really need a change in this country with all the difficulties we are facing and terrorism, said Paris resident Alain Richaud, who was waiting to cast his vote.

This election will be the first in the history of Frances 59-year-old Fifth Republic to take place under a state of emergency, which was put in place after the Paris attacks of November 2015.

Heres a lowdown on everything you need to know, and some:

Why is it important?

France is the European Unions second-biggest economy and also one of the worlds biggest military and diplomatic powers.

With two of the leading four top candidates hostile to the EU and NATO, the election could further shake up the Wests liberal post-war order, already rattled by Britains vote to leave the EU and Donald Trumps election to the White House.

How is the president elected?

The president is elected directly by the people in a vote of one or two rounds. If no candidate obtains an absolute majority in the first round, a run-off is held two weeks later. Every presidential election since 1965 has gone to a second round.

Who is running?

Eleven candidates spanning the spectrum from Trotskyist left to far-right are running.

The four favourites are far-right:

 National Front (FN) leader Marine Le Pen, 48

 Centrist En Marche (On The Move) leader Emmanuel Macron, 39

 Conservative Republicans nominee Francois Fillon, 63

 Hard left La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, 65.

The others:

 Socialist nominee Benoit Hamon, 49

 Philippe Poutou, a 50-year-old Ford factory worker

Pro-sovereignty candidates Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, 56, Francois Asselineau, 59 and Jacques Cheminade, 75

 Trotskyist economy teacher Nathalie Arthaud, 47

 Jean Lassalle, a 61-year-old MP and former shepherd.

How does the election work?

46.87 million voters are registered to vote. More than 50,000 police backed by 7,000 soldiers from the Sentinelle (Sentry) anti-terror operation will be on patrol during the vote.

When will the results be known?

Projections based on partial results usually come in at 8:00pm but could be delayed due to the extra hour of voting. The two top will go through to a run-off on May 7.

The next president will be sworn in by May 14 at the latest, taking over from Socialist President Francois Hollande.
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WASHINGTON - Military leaders have long warned that the United States' nearly 4,000 nuclear warheads are getting dangerously old and in need of an overhaul, the scale of which the United States hasn't attempted in decades.

Now, a quarter century after the Cold War ended and the United States halted production of nuclear weapons, the task of bringing into the modern age the country's nuclear arsenal and the laboratories and facilities that maintain it will fall on the shoulders of Energy Secretary Rick Perry, the former Texas governor. At a time when tensions with North Korea are rising over its nuclear weapons program, Perry will be charged with setting into motion a decadeslong project to refurbish and modernize the warheads, a critical element in a larger upgrade of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex that will mean new bombers, submarines and other infrastructure that is estimated to cost upward of $1 trillion.

"The U.S. hasn't done anything like this since the Cold War, " said Kingston Reif, a director at the Arms Control Association, a nonprofit that advocates for reductions in nuclear weapons. "And the big ramp-up will be over the course of the next decade."

Building support

New to Washington after a two-year hiatus from government service - which included a failed presidential run and a stint on the television program "Dancing With the Stars" - Perry is quickly being brought up to speed on a project that has been years in the making.

Developed by the Pentagon during the Obama administration, the plans to modernize the country's nuclear weapons are under review by Defense Secretary James Mattis. Energy secretaries typically let their counterpart in the Department of Defense take the lead, but Perry will be expected to offer a clear-eyed picture of the Department of Energy's capability to produce, restore and deliver warheads on schedule, said Steven Koonin, a former Energy Department undersecretary for science during the Obama administration.

"These are complex industrial operations with extraordinary safety and security requirements," he said. "It's not like you're building toasters."

Perry's biggest challenge will be building consensus and political support across Congress, the White House and the Defense Department for a plan that will require congressional funding for decades to come, Koonin said. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, is signaling he wants to increase spending on nuclear weapons.

On the campaign trail, Trump expressed concern that the United States was not keeping up with Russia and China in modernizing its nuclear weapons.

"I looked the other night," he said then. "I was seeing B-52s; they're old enough that your father, your grandfather could be flying them."

Asked how Perry was approaching the nuclear overhaul, an Energy Department spokeswoman said the secretary planned to increase spending on the existing modernization program by 11 percent, "consistent with the president's budget blueprint." She added the former governor is taking regular briefings on the program and is now "fully engaged" in the larger review of the nation's strategy.

Traditionally, the topic of nuclear security draws little debate in Congress, with neither party eager to cut funding to an arsenal that, through deterrence, might very well prevent the end of the world as we know it. But with the estimated $1 trillion price tag, the Pentagon proposal is attracting questions from both sides of the aisle of whether the military is taking the modernization program too far.

Last year Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned what has been a cornerstone of U.S. nuclear security policy going back decades, the so-called triad strategy of maintaining the capability to deliver warheads from missile silos, submarines and bombers, calling it "very, very, very expensive."

"It's very easy to be scared into a passive acceptance of what the Pentagon requests. There are a lot of legitimate threats out there," said Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. "You're spending vast sums of money today to maintain the nuclear triad, and you're being asked to add to that hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 years, when you already have the ability to annihilate the enemy in triplicate."

A former cargo plane pilot in the Air Force who went on to serve four terms as Texas governor, Perry has long maintained and cultivated the reputation of a consummate politician, who, while lacking in book smarts, knows how to lead and bring opposing sides together on a compromise. Speaking to Energy Department employees on his first day in the job, Perry quipped how despite hopes of becoming a veterinarian, "organic chemistry made a pilot out of me."

Huge technical task

What, if any, points of view Perry has on the country's nuclear weapons arsenal are difficult to parse. Despite two presidential runs and two books, he has revealed little publicly about his thoughts on nuclear weapons and national security, said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

"He has never had to speak to those kinds of issues," Jillson said, "but to the extent he has, it's been in Reagan-esque terms of a strong national security and national defense being critical to maintaining America's place in the world."

The Energy's Department role in nuclear security has long been considered more technical than strategic. Koonin, the former Energy Department undersecretary, described the Defense Department as the "client," essentially ordering the Energy Department to design and manufacture the warheads the Pentagon needs.

But Perry faces a technical task that no U.S. energy secretary has faced since the height of the Cold War. Under the 2010 Pentagon plan, the Energy Department is required to shrink the current arsenal of 12 different types of nuclear warheads and bombs down to five - part of a nonproliferation strategy that a spokesman for the Department of Energy said officials hope will one day yield cost savings in terms of efficiencies and reduced maintenance.

Where that gets especially complicated is that land-based ballistic missiles housed in underground silos use different warheads than missiles launched from submarines. The Pentagon is giving the Energy Department until 2030 to start producing warheads that can be placed atop either missile.

That order has prompted questions among many experts about whether the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons program has the capability - after many years of underfunding by Congress - to pull off a technical feat that entails a major redesign of the existing warheads.

Old nuclear labs

Matthew Kroenig, a professor at Georgetown University and former CIA analyst who advised the presidential campaigns of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, said that because the radioactive material within nuclear warheads is constantly degrading the warheads can be prone to failure.

"Some of the nuclear engineers I've talked to are worried about going to a smaller number of warheads because if something goes wrong, we have less warheads," Kroenig said. "There's the chance you might actually be called upon to use these things, and if they're more effective, it's more likely to be a deterrent in peace time."

Within the Department of Energy, the state of the network of nuclear laboratories and production facilities - from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico to the Plantex Plant outside Amarillo where nuclear weapons are assembled - has long raised concern from staff. At a hearing last year, Frank Klotz, administrator of the Energy Department's National Nuclear Security Administration, testified that almost a third of his facilities dated back to the Manhattan Project - the groundbreaking 1940s effort that developed the first atomic bomb.

"We are long overdue to build the modern, smaller and safer complex that will meet military requirements; keep the deterrent safe, secure and effective; and improve worker and public safety," he said.

But rehabilitating the warheads also will mean reviving a controversial and hazardous practice: Manufacturing what the military refers to as "pits." Pits, which are softball-size spheres of plutonium, sit at the center of nuclear warheads. When compressed through the triggering of surrounding explosives, they set off a nuclear reaction that can level an entire city.

The government halted the practice in the early 1990s, after an Energy Department facility outside of Denver, which produced the pits, was raided by the FBI following a series of fires and other accidents that resulted in radioactive plutonium being released into the environment.

"The plutonium is incredibly toxic stuff, so everything you do has to be very carefully monitored," said Stephen Young, a lobbyist with the Union of Concerned Scientists. "It's very high risk."

Political prowess

That Perry - whose academic career has been the source of many a joke, by none more so than the secretary himself - will lead such a complex and potentially dangerous scientific effort has prompted behind-the-scenes questioning among analysts and other observers of whether he's up to the task.

Perry is not the first energy secretary without an advanced scientific degree, but political savvy and managerial expertise can be just as important as scientific knowledge, said Koonin, who served in the Energy Department under Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu. Chu was often criticized that his ability to reassure Congress never lived up to his scientific prowess.

"Perry probably has got credibility in two of those three," Koonin said.

Now, with the nuclear strategy review underway, Perry will need to adapt the governing style he honed in battles over education and health care while in Austin to national security. The critical questions the White House will put to Perry, Koonin said, will be "what can the department deliver," and, "if we decide to go direction A, B or C, how will the department be impacted?"

"I expect he will not be able to answer that himself," Koonin said, "and I can only hope he will turn to the right people."
There exists in theater a new phenomenon. Call it the "Trump groan." It's more of a chortle - a burst of quiet laughter among the audience whenever a work of art evokes the current commander in chief. Just this year in Houston, it happened at the Hobby Center during "The King and I," when the King says, "I would like to build a fence around Siam."

At the Alley Theatre, during a reading of Rajiv Joseph's still-in-development play "Describe the Night," you heard it when a journalist says to a Russian dictator, "You act like a little boy, surrounding yourself with your house of lies."

And last week, during the University of Houston's well-timed production of "Animal Farm," the audience knowingly chuckled when the citizens of Animal Farm discover that their constitution now reads, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

It would be easy to write off the Trump groan as a partisan response, elicited only by certain people with certain political leanings. But no one can deny that theater being presented in 2017 feels more emotional, more urgent and in many ways more political than ever. Theaters across the nation, after all, are flocking to produce "1984," the George Orwell book whose sales have skyrocketed since the election (a Broadway production, starring Olivia Wilde, opens June 22).

Robert Schenkkan, author of "All the Way," the play about President Lyndon B. Johnson that was a big hit at the Alley last season, has a new Trump play called "Building the Wall." "An Enemy of the People," Henrik Ibsen's 1882 play about corruption whose title recalls the president's recent comment on the media, will have a production on Broadway and at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.

More Information '1984' When: June 1-17 Where: Obsidian Theater Info: obsidiantheater.org See More Collapse

Houston has hopped on this wave as much as any other city. The Catastrophic Theatre responded to the election with Wallace Shawn's "The Designated Mourner," about a totalitarian government that rose to power after a wave of populist rage that now jails and assassinates artists and intellectuals. Joseph's "Describe the Night," about Russia, dictators and the manipulation of truth, opens the Alley Theatre's next season in September. University of Houston just finished "Animal Farm." And Obsidian Theater opens its production of "1984" on June 1.

Expect the Trump groans only to increase in frequency this year.

"You can't pretend there isn't some kind of awakening of our fears, of our conflicts," says Chicago director and actor William Brown, who directed "Animal Farm." "It's hard not to think in these terms."

But here's what's weird about the "Trump groan" phenomenon: No one meant for it to happen, not really. "Animal Farm" was programmed two years ago, with Russian history and not American politics in mind, says Rob Shimko, head of UH's theater program. Joseph's play began long before he thought of current events - at a question-and-answer session, he told audiences that he avoided writing topical plays, preferring to delve into history's lessons rather than taking a ripped-from-the-headlines approach.

Even the more provocative choices by Catastrophic Theatre and Obsidian Theater lack any mention of you-know-who, and his name remains mostly absent from marketing materials, interviews with journalists or even rehearsals. Artists are taking a subtle approach to commentary, carefully weighing politics' inevitability with its toxicity and asking the audience instead to make the connection to current events.

It's as if Houston artists know that saying the word "Trump" might make their plays too simple, divisive and prescriptive, and that overt political statements go against their built-in preference for complex stories with universal themes. It's the same instinct a newspaper editor might make when, rather than publishing yet another political column, assigns instead a profile that humanizes an undocumented immigrant.

And yet.

When do "1984," "Animal Farm" and all plays about fascism being produced in the theater right now stop being an implication and start becoming an outright protest?

"We didn't pick '1984.' The world picked '1984,' " says Tom Stell, artistic director of the Obsidian Theater.

Stell says "1984" is meant for all audiences, that conservatives and liberals alike can engage in conversations about liberty, truth and governmental overreach.

It's the idea that art can say more about the viewer than the artist, that open-ended symbols and allegories can fit into any number of narratives.

Consider, for example, the scene in "Animal Farm" in which the three hens revolt against their leader, Napoleon. Napoleon has risen to power after ousting his rival, Snowball, and has demanded more labor from the animals while giving them less food. When the hens realize that he plans to sell their eggs, they stage a rebellion, refusing to give up their offspring.

"One of (the actors playing) the hens said, 'Isn't this a right-to-life message?' " Brown says of a conversation he had during rehearsal. "I said, "Yeah, they don't want the eggs to be aborted. But they want to be in charge of their own eggs, which also is a pro-choice stance.' "

Interpretations of the hen's revolt don't stop there. Be it a pro-choice or anti-abortion moment, it could be for an animal rights activist a literal indictment of agriculture, for a libertarian a symbol of unfair taxation or for a feminist a commentary on the policing of female bodies. That Orwell's original intent might have been to reference Stalin's Great Purge feels, by now, hardly relevant.

"That's the beauty of art. You're presenting this piece, and the audience themselves make up their own mind," Stell says. "We allow them to say, that's irrelevant or that's relevant to what's happening in the world - that this scares me, this is real right now."
Historians are famous for simplifying the complex processes of history into "inflection points" - those transformative events that forever changed the course of human evolution.

Sometime in the distant past, they tell us, a fishlike creature flopped onto a beach somewhere, and the race to mammalian dominance began. Later, a pre-human ancestor stood upright to grab fruit off a tree and decided that moving around on two legs was the way to go. The rest, as they say, is history.

The history of barbecue also has inflection points. You can even go back as far as those pre-human ancestors, when they watched with curiosity as a lightning strike torched a grove of trees, resulting in a few unlucky critters getting crisped by the resulting fire. Animal meat transformed by fire, smoke and heat into tasty food became the preferred method of sating hunger.

And so it is to this day. The ancient roots of meat cooked and flavored by fire and smoke have become more codified, of course. Another inflection point for the evolution of barbecue is in the development of the offset brick barbecue pit.

Such a barbecue pit is a simple, effective tool for cooking meat with fire and smoke. The meat is placed in a central, rectangular box made of brick or cinder block. A "firebox" is attached to one end ("offset"), where wood is burned to produce smoke and heat. A flue attached to the other end draws the smoke and heat from the firebox into the cooking chamber, where the meat is transformed into barbecue.

Before the brick pit gained wide acceptance, barbecue was produced in trenches dug into the ground, which were filled with coals and the meat cooked on top, directly over the heat. It was an effective, though primitive and potentially unhealthy, method of making barbecue.

The offset brick pit paved the way for commercial barbecue as we know it. And yet little is known of the history of this transformative tool for making barbecue.

There are no definitive photographs or descriptions of offset brick pits before circa 1930 that I am aware of. Photographs and descriptions before that time are almost always of the trench-pit method.

Kreuz Market in Lockhart claims that it was using brick pits as early as 1900, though there doesn't appear to be any hard evidence of that.

In Southeast Texas, the brick pit seems to make an appearance circa 1940.

When I spoke with Houston pitmaster Felix Powell of Powell Bar-B-Q in Sunnyside, he related that when he moved from Louisiana to Beaumont as a child in the 1940s, his family was still using the trench method when cooking barbecue in the backyard. It was sometime later, possibly the late 1940s or early 1950s, that the brick pit made an appearance.

Powell still uses a classic brick pit at his current location, which was built in the late 1960s or early 1970s.

Similarly, the brick pits at Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue in Houston can be traced to the 1940s. Originally known as Shepherd Drive BBQ, founders John and Leila Davis became famous for pork ribs cooked on custom-made brick pits. When the original location was moved to make way for the construction of Interstate 10 in the early 1960s, those original pits were moved brick by brick to the current location and are still in use today.

Starting around 1980, the heyday of offset brick pits had ended. Barbecue pits had evolved to more automated rotisserie pits, or easier-to-manage offset barrel pits made of steel. In the name of public safety, health and building departments began to frown on the use of brick pits, preferring the more self-contained and easier-to-clean steel pits.

Occasionally when driving through the back roads of Texas, you'll spot a boxlike structure made of bricks with an attached chimney, sitting forlornly in a pasture or clearing in the woods. It's a remnant of a barbecue joint from the past, with only the bones left for study by contemporary barbecue archaeologists.
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Personnel from the county's fire departments gathered Saturday at Hardin Volunteer Fire Department to accept $100 donations to each agency from First Liberty National Bank.

The modest donations will be put to good use, said Hardin Fire Chief Craig Powell.

"We think it's great. Every dollar counts," said Powell, adding that his department is facing a $5,000 expenditure for bumper-to-bumper service checks on three fire trucks.

The check presentations came on a day when Hardin VFD was hosting its first-ever crawfish boil. Over the course of the afternoon, firefighters served up fresh-boiled crawfish, potatoes and corn on the cob until all 350 pounds were sold.

Powell said the department was anxious to try the crawfish boil as another fundraising event, even though plans are already underway for Flag Day, the department's biggest annual fundraiser.

This year's event is slated for June 17 at Hardin High School and includes the sale of fried fish platters and auctions.

After making the check presentations, FLNB's David Castle and Bryan Reynolds explained how the bank feels it is important to support the community, particularly first responders who do so much for others with very little recognition.

"Most of these folks don't get paid for what they do for their communities. They could be out fishing or spending time with their families, but instead they choose to serve the community," Reynolds said.
The whole point of having Texas lawmakers meet only every other year is so they can't do too much damage in a limited time frame.

Yet somehow, some end up using their precious hours on bills that are harmful or flat-out unnecessary, and some that are both.

So it is with the bathroom bill.

For a while, it seemed cooler heads had finally flushed away the Senate's menacing legislation regulating potty time in public facilities, an odd fixation of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Apparently, somebody forgot to jiggle the handle.

Last week, it came back up in the House. Bathroom Bill 2.0 is supposed to be a kinder and gentler version - a compromise that the business community can hold its nose and support.

Here's the problem - and I promise I'm almost done with the quips - the provision still carries a stench.

New words. Same discrimination.

The original bill, passed by the Senate, requires people to use the restroom in public facilities and schools that correspond with "biological sex" while nullifying local ordinances and school policies that protect the rights of transgender individuals to use the bathroom of their choice.

The House bill, sponsored by state Rep. Ron Simmons, R-Carrollton, doesn't mention biology. It simply bans cities and schools - where public bathrooms, showers and changing facilities are concerned - from protecting people who aren't already protected by state and federal law.

Yes, Simmons' so-called Texas Protection Act bans protection.

And yes, it would hurt transgender individuals, who pose no special threat - as even the lieutenant governor admits. And it's yet another blow to local control, a disturbing trend in a gung-ho, local-control state.

But it also could hurt the elderly, military veterans, pregnant women and anybody else the state and federal government haven't gotten around to protecting. A Texas city that extends protections beyond race, religion and national origin wouldn't be able to enforce them.

Goodbye age protections

Fort Worth and Austin, for instance, both have "age" as a protected class in public accommodations, The Dallas Morning News reported. Well not anymore, if this bill passes. Some pool facility could put up a "Nobody Over 65!" sign, and there's not a darn thing senior citizens could do about it.

This makes it all the more disturbing that Gov. Greg Abbott, who has thus far remained mum about his bathroom bill preferences, has signaled support for Simmons' bill, calling it thoughtful.

Now, I understand the very real fear of a Republican primary. But thankfully, not every elected leader is cowering in a politically charged bathroom stall.

House Speaker Joe Straus, a Republican from San Antonio, doesn't appear moved by the newest manifestation of the bill.

"The Speaker has not been personally involved with House Bill 2899," spokesman Jason Embry told me Friday, adding that Straus "remains concerned about the effect that bathroom legislation could have on the economy in San Antonio and across Texas."

'It's risky business'

If we've learned nothing else from North Carolina, it should be that scoring points with the party faithful means losing billions.

"I don't think we want to go down this road," said Chris Wallace, president of the state's chamber of commerce, Texas Association of Business. "Frankly, it's risky business. We cannot afford it as a state."

TAB, through its campaign Keep Texas Open for Business, has loudly opposed the Senate bill, touting nearly 70 businesses and chambers of commerce that signed an open letter to the state's top leadership and lawmakers.

The House bill is no different, Wallace said Friday: "It's discriminatory. Any time you pass a bill that points out a specific class of people, that's the perception that will impact the brand of Texas."

Could lose $5.6 billion

He pointed out a study by Angelou Economics released last week that found many economic development corporations in Texas have reported that companies looking to move here have placed plans on hold, pending the outcome of the legislation.

It also identified $5.6 billion in verifiable losses through 2026.

"This is not a projection. Not a range. Verifiable losses of $5.6 billion," he said. "That's a lot of money in our state that could be going to education, CPS or other core services that are lacking. We're trying to fix something that's not broken here."

And that's the point. As we say in Texas, don't fix what ain't broke.

Especially when there's so much else that's truly broken.
Does climate change mean more big storms? Officials in Houston and Harris County aren't sure, but some scientists are

Does climate change mean more big storms? Officials in Houston and Harris County aren't sure, but some scientists are

As a string of thunderstorms rolled through Harris County last week, local flood control officials were monitoring creeks and bayous, all of which stayed safely in their banks.

That's in sharp contrast to last spring, when back-to-back floods dumped biblical amounts of rain, prompting many Houston residents to wonder if heavy downpours were the new normal thanks to climate change.

Local leaders aren't sure. They are still searching for definitive proof, bristling at the notion that current climate change projections should alter flood control efforts.

"We don't knee-jerk react to having a very wet year," said Russ Poppe, the new executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District, about 2016.

Instead, the district is seeking more data about rainfall frequency as it considers the idea that climate change might be increasing heavy downpours. County officials have contributed funding to a federal study to update that information for Texas, a task not expected to be complete until mid-2018.

Many scientists say that concerns about climate change are justified, pointing to studies that suggest Houston and other coastal cities can expect more frequent flooding in the not-so-distant future. Some believe that climate change is already influencing the extreme weather here.

"The No. 1 question people ask when there's an extreme event is, 'Is this climate change or is this natural?' " said Katharine Hayhoe, the acclaimed climate scientist from Texas Tech University. "The answer is that human-induced climate change has irrevocably altered the background conditions of our atmosphere. And so everything that happens now has some component of climate change. The question is now, how much?"

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Houston struggles to stay afloat

Life in Houston is becoming all too predictable  first, the rain. Then, the floods. Why is this happening? And what can be done to stop it? Read our full flooding coverage and explore interactive tools at HoustonChronicle.com/Swamped.

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A man holds a baby as they help a woman and their family evacuate from the flooding at the Arbor Court Apartments in the Greenspoint area Monday, April 18, 2016 in Houston. A man holds a baby as they help a woman and their family evacuate from the flooding at the Arbor Court Apartments in the Greenspoint area Monday, April 18, 2016 in Houston. Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Does climate change mean more big storms? 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

Mayor Sylvester Turner appointed Stephen Costello as Houston's flood czar last year in the aftermath of the Tax Day flood, seeking someone who would "revise and update policies and ordinances to mitigate the risks of potential events."

Ask Costello today if climate change is behind not just Tax Day but also the four storms in the past two years that should come around once every century, he says: "I haven't come to that conclusion just yet."

Costello and Poppe, two of the top flood control officials in the Houston area, caution that weather extremes have been a regular, and expected, part of the region's climate.

Poppe points to cycles: There are droughts, like the one in 2011, which dried out much of the state, including the Houston region. It killed tens of millions of trees and fanned devastating wildfires that burned dozens of homes to the ground.

Then there are years like the past two, or 2001, with Tropical Storm Allison. To say that climate change is behind these swings would be premature, Poppe and Costello say.

And the district is already constrained by its budget, Poppe said. For example, the Brays Bayou project, one of the largest flood control efforts ever conducted in the region, in a neighborhood notorious for floods, won't even be able to protect all of the areas along the channel from the current 100-year storm estimate, meaning that even routine storms could flood homes despite improvements - more protection would necessitate more money.

Costello also said rainfall projections, climate change or not, are an inexact science, limited by the small pot of data used. It's difficult to accurately predict the next day's weather, he said, let alone how the whole climate could be shifting.

In the aftermath of Allison, the city and county undertook a concerted, multimillion-dollar effort to better understand how storms impact the region. It showed that the estimates of how much it would rain during a 100-year storm were underestimated by several inches in some parts of the county.

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Some climate scientists say not only is more flooding in Houston's future, those storms will be more intense.

It's simple physics. As the Earth warms, the atmosphere is capable of holding much more moisture.

Already, torrential downpours in Houston are happening much more frequently than they did in the early 20th century.

An analysis by John Nielsen-Gammon, the state climatologist appointed by George W. Bush in 2000, shows that downpours that struck every two years back then now come every year on average. Deluges that used to drop each 100, 500 or 1,000 years should fall more frequently as well.

"We've confirmed that there's an overall increase in extreme rainfall in Texas over the past century," Nielsen-Gammon told the Chronicle last May after the Tax Day flood. "Specifically for Houston, the increase has been particularly large."

Hayhoe said it's clear that climate change has played a role in Houston's recent floods. At the same time, she acknowledged the city's natural propensity to flood.

"The analogy I would use is this: Someone has a heart attack. They go to their doctor, and say, 'Was the cause genetics or lifestyle?' And the doctor says, well, it was probably a little bit of both. Right? Because unless you come from a family where every single person has had a heart attack, or unless you lived a lifestyle that was obviously, completely unhealthy, for most of us, our heart risk is a combination of genetics and lifestyle. So just because our genetics might predispose us to a heart attack, it doesn't mean that our lifestyle doesn't make a difference. It does. Houston has always been at risk from 'genetic' heavy rainfall and hurricanes, but climate change is increasing the risk because of the lifestyle choices we make, such as how we get our energy or how much impervious surfaces and pavement we put down."

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While scientists overwhelming agree that climate change is influencing extreme weather around the globe, they have been reluctant to say how much it's driving those events.

That appears to be changing, too.

When downpours caused deadly flash flooding last August in Louisiana, a group of scientists was able to determine that climate change increased the odds of that event by 40 percent and increased the intensity of the storm by 10 percent.

The team, which included scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, performed the assessment by analyzing rainfall observations and using two of the federal agency's high-resolution climate models.

"You have to make sure you have sufficient data and carefully review that data to conduct your analysis," said Heidi Cullen, the chief scientist at Climate Central who helped conduct the assessment of the Louisiana floods. "But in the case of Louisiana, we had enough to say that climate change increased the intensity.

"I'm not sure why the flood control district in Houston would need to wait on any data to see how climate change has influenced extreme weather there," she said. "It seems like there's enough information at this point."

---

Jazurnique Okray doesn't need to be convinced that flooding is increasing in Houston.

A year ago, as a resident of the Arbor Court apartment complex in Greenspoint, she watched her television, family photos and furniture float out the front door during the Tax Day flood.

The fear remains.

"I feel like it's kind of traumatizing," Okray said. "Every time it rains, I'm always looking outside. Is this water going to come in here?"

Despite the reluctance of local officials to acknowledge climate change is behind Houston's worsening weather, they still point to several steps being taken in the wake of recent flooding.

In addition to appointing Costello, the city has worked with the flood control district to channel $46 million in state funds to Brays Bayou - never before done.

He said a "stormwater action team" in the public works department, with $10 million in funding, is identifying repeat flood areas and seeing if it can invest in new infrastructure there - ditches, culverts, inlets or other measures.

Costello said the city will re-examine its criteria for developers to make sure they are doing enough to offset their potential impact on floodwaters, which happens when they pave over flood-absorbent ground.

"I think as a result of the last two years of flooding, the public does want to take a new look at our criteria," he said.

The flood control district also has hired a consultant to re-examine its detention requirements - how much water developers must hold back to offset the impact of pavement - to see whether they are effective.

Costello said the city also will look at the results of the federal analysis, which the district helped fund with $200,000, and see whether or not that means more changes should be in the works. The study is being conducted by NOAA, which has already provided precipitation frequency estimates for most of the country. The agency's estimates are based on a stationary climate, something it concedes there are questions about. It is reviewing its methodology to determine whether future estimates should be based on a climate in flux.

---

Houston has won national accolades for its commitment to reducing greenhouse gases and for embracing renewable energy, efforts jump-started under former Mayor Annise Parker.

But environmentalists say local leaders should come up with a plan to adapt to the changing climate.

"I think it's time the flood control district acknowledge the problem," said Luke Metzger, director of Environment Texas. "It's reckless and irresponsible not to do so."

Talking about climate change in Texas has never been easy. Many state leaders are skeptical, while others simply deny that humans are causing the Earth to warm.

That's in stark contrast to other cities and states, which factor climate change into planning efforts. Louisiana's $50 billion coastal master plan, for example, cites climate change as one of the primary culprits behind both rising sea levels and increased flooding. Similarly, NASA, the Department of Defense and the Army Corps of Engineers have studied how climate change affects operations.

In 2015, Austin adopted a plan that identifies threats due to climate change and how the city is tackling those challenges or plans to do so in the future. It mentions, for example, how more intense heat waves might prompt the city to plant trees better adapted to a hotter climate.

Until there's a seismic political shift on climate change in Texas, many believe businesses, industries and nonprofits will drive any shift in practices or preparation.

Already, some local architecture firms, backed by the Houston-Galveston Area Council, have adopted "low-impact" design strategies to help with flood control. These include structures like "green roofs," increasing vegetative cover and installing rain barrels.

Those projects should augment current flood control efforts, which will be tested not only by climate change but also by an increasing population.

"I think the one thing we all agree on is that more and more people are going to move to Houston in coming years," said Lisa Gonzalez, president of the Houston Advanced Research Center. "That alone is going to trigger a paradigm shift on flood control."
Those plagued by a longtime nuisance known as the Crestmont Village apartments chanted "tear it down, tear it down" as a construction excavator's claw loomed over the roof of a corner unit Saturday morning.

A worker in a fluorescent vest and hard hat directed a stream of water toward the building. The heavy equipment's engine revved and its arm jolted before crushing a wall.

The crowd cheered.

Razing units where tenants were plagued by leaks, rodents and raw sewage brought an end to an eyesore at 5638 Selinsky and the beginning of a rental-housing revival in South Acres.

Crestmont Village became a symbol of Houston's absentee slumlord crisis in September 2015 when CenterPoint Energy shut off power for 15 days for non-payment at the all-bills-paid complex.

Former Crestmont Village resident Christina Douglas said "it's such a relief" to see a place that harbored "so many bad memories" come down. She was the final occupant of apartment No. 119, which became a neighborhood pantry and community relief headquarters during the two weeks in September 2015 when there was no power.

"I was here when the sewage started backing up. I was here when the lights went off, when the gas went out, when we had no water, when we had no air conditioner and when we were barbecuing out here because we couldn't have all of our food spoiling in the refrigerators," the 27-year-old said.

The issue galvanized community activists, social services agencies and the city, which had sued complex owners two years earlier for operating a nuisance. The city went back to court and a state district judge signed a final order in October 2015 approving demolition. Since then, the vacant apartments have been a haven for squatters and other illegal activity.

'A glorious day'

Mayor Sylvester Turner said that taking down Crestmont Village signals that the city is serious about dealing with substandard housing.

"Working together to address this blight sends a message to future investors that we are committed to stabilizing the Crestmont community to create fertile ground for new development and economic growth," he said. "No longer will slums and blight be allowed to go unchecked in our city. Apartment owners will be held to a standard of quality beyond the ribbon-cutting and into perpetuity. The city will work with property owners to address any issues and bring properties into compliance with city regulations or we will be working aggressively to tear down properties where the physical conditions have deteriorated."

For a while, the mayor said, the residents will have the lull of "green space" before a new project emerges on the nearly 7 acres. City housing records indicate that the new owners have preliminary plans to construct senior housing on the site.

Lynn Lewis, a leader in the Crestmont Park Civic Association, reminded elected officials and developers about the role of area residents in the long fight for better living conditions at Crestmont Village and the former Crestmont West at 5602 Selinsky, which will be rebuilt as The Pointe at Crestmont with 192 units of affordable housing.

"This is a glorious day," she said. "We will be involved as a civic club in making the decisions on what is put in this area. We know what we want and we will be talking to them weekly if not daily."

Feeling of betrayal

More than 100 people including former residents, city officials and area civic club members witnessed the demolition. U.S. Rep. Al Green, a Houston Democrat, and City Council member Dwight Boykins - both of whom represent the area - also offered remarks at the program.

Alma Hurts, 61, lived in Crestmont Village for many years and was paying $500 for a one-bedroom apartment. She said she still feels betrayed by the former owners.

"Seeing it come down is a good thing because I have family members who live in the neighborhood and it's going to be safe for them," she said.

Douglas, a U.S. Army Reservist and community volunteer who now lives in a safer residence on Houston's south side, said she's hopeful for a brighter future for the property and its former residents.

"The things that we went through here could have been fixed but because they kept putting it off - thinking that we didn't deserve to have anything better - and many people were damaged in the process," she said. "I don't ever want to live like this ever again and I don't want other people to have to go through it."
SAN ANTONIO - Some of the Alamo devotees who drew a defiant line in the sand against a conceptual plan for the Texas shrine have modified their stance, now saying elements of it would improve the mission and battlefield.

In the days since renderings were publicly revealed April 11, residents, Hispanic heritage scholars and Alamo lovers worldwide have registered strong opinions about the most ambitious project ever presented for redevelopment of Alamo Plaza and the surrounding area.

A third public meeting on the plan is set for May 2. The second meeting on Tuesday ran nearly twice as long as planned as 56 people addressed officials of the city, Texas General Land Office, nonprofit Alamo Endowment and design team members.

Many consider the Alamo hallowed ground. More than 1,000 mission-era burials were documented there before 500-700 Mexican soldiers, pro-independence Tejanos and American and European settlers and adventurers were killed or wounded in the famous battle of March 6, 1836.

Gene Powell, chairman of a six-member Alamo master plan management committee, said the plan is not fully "baked," but seeks to expand pedestrian space, by closing streets to traffic and other changes, to up to nearly 12 acres, at least doubling the existing vehicle-free zone.

Although most people associate the Alamo with the iconic facade of its mission-era church, the fortified compound besieged in 1836 contained several other buildings, cannon ramps, small courtyards and a large main courtyard, now covered by the city-owned Alamo Plaza.

"What we're trying to do is return the reverence and dignity in front of the church, while at the same time providing twice as much, (or) three times as much additional space around for the community to use," Powell told some 300 people Tuesday.

Although the House version of the state budget includes $75 million requested by the Land Office for the Alamo, the Senate proposal is $46.2 million. A conference committee of House and Senate members will iron out those differences.

"We'll end up somewhere in between" the two figures, predicted Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond.

Calls and letters from the public "can sometimes be effective, or at least it helps us stop and dig a little deeper into what some of the circumstances might be," Zerwas added.

Sen. Jane Nelson, appropriations chair in the Senate, also did not voice support or opposition Thursday.

"We have heard from 30 individuals who are concerned about the master plan and want to ensure that the Alamo and its historic significance is preserved," said Nelson, R-Flower Mound.

The plan follows decades of complaints from visitors that the state-owned, 4.2-acre Alamo complex is small, unimpressive and hard to find. Unlike the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, it lacks open space for large-scale commemorations involving horses, cannons and re-enactors.

Critics on Facebook reposted a statement made Wednesday by Glenn Effler, an Alamo researcher and author of "13 The Alamo Book of Days," encouraging others to "oppose any new funding for the Alamo project at the present time."

But Effler posted Thursday that portions of the plan are critical, including structural repair and preservation of the 250-year-old church, closure of the plaza to traffic and relocation of amusement businesses that have long made a home there.

Although the state should halt the "ill-conceived" plan for the plaza, "we don't want to turn off the money completely," Effler wrote.

Peggy Fikac contributed to this report.
When a young Sul Ross State college student went missing in October, it sent chills around parts of West Texas.

When her remains were found in a shallow grave near Alpine in February, it brought tears.
In the age of "alternative facts," Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is sitting on a golden opportunity to provide some actual data into an important debate.

It's been over a decade since the state's last real attempt to look at the implications of immigrants on our state's economy. This means many discussions about so-called "sanctuary cities," public benefits and education remain bogged down in emotion and assumption instead of research.

Fortunately, the Legislature has a chance right now to give Texas leaders access to the best information available when making far-reaching policy decisions that impact all of us, no matter where we were born.

Texas House Bill 826, authored by Rep. Cesar J. Blanco, DEl Paso, would require the comptroller to annually update a 2006 special report titled "Undocumented Immigrants in Texas: A Financial Analysis of the Impact to the State Budget and Economy." The valuable report would shed light on the benefits and costs to the state associated with undocumented immigrants.

The original 2006 report - it also was developed by the state Comptroller's Office, then run by Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a Republican - found that undocumented immigrants in Texas generate more taxes and revenue than the state spends on them. Further, it found that the 1.4 million unauthorized immigrants living in the state at the time contributed $17.6 billion to the state economy.

With all the rhetoric roaring inside the Capitol about Texas immigrants, it's past time to update the study. We have experienced significant economic changes over the past decade, and migration patterns have shifted, too. Not only are more undocumented immigrants living in Texas today, but they have also been living here much longer on average than the undocumented population was in 2006. Longer stays in the U.S. also have important implications for how undocumented immigrants in Texas participate in the economy - as workers, business owners, consumers and taxpayers.

In a March 2017 analysis we did at the Center for Public Policy Priorities called "Immigrants Drive the Texas Economy," we found that as consumers, immigrants of all statuses (documented and undocumented) add billions to the Texas economy and to our state's sales-tax based revenue system. Texas immigrants earned nearly $119 billion in wage, salary and self-employment income in 2015. Immigrant earnings represent 18.5 percent of wage, salary and self-employment income in Texas. The direct purchasing power from these sources of income for immigrants in 2015 is estimated to be between $95.5 billion and $100 billion.

In the Houston metro area, 22.5 percent of the population is made up of immigrants, and 1 in 3 Texas immigrants live in the hyperdiverse city. Houston immigrants, documented and undocumented, power the local economy in jobs most heavily concentrated in education, health care and social services, and are self-employed at a significantly higher rate than that of the native born population.

Our analysis has proven helpful to lawmakers from both political parties, but an updated analysis from the Comptroller is needed to better understand the role of undocumented immigrants in particular on our economy. This is especially urgent as the Legislature considers proposals on immigration enforcement and access by undocumented immigrants and their families to critical public services and opportunities.

Despite Hegar's previous remarks indicating support for an updated study, a representative from the Comptroller's Office told members of the House State Affairs committee at a hearing Thursday that they were uncomfortable producing a report based on estimates. While there are admittedly challenges to counting a population that doesn't always want to be counted, lawmakers rely on the Comptroller, the Legislative Budget Board and other agencies to provide them with fiscal estimates to help them make state budget decisions and other policy choices all the time. The Comptroller's most important report - the Biennial Revenue Estimate - even has the word "estimate" right there in the title.

Texas has a strong tradition of embracing immigrant culture and leading the nation with common-sense policies, such as the Texas DREAM Act, that have been critical to the prosperity of our state. An updated analysis is long overdue to understand the full implications of the past decade. Without up-to-date information, lawmakers can't understand where we are at this moment, let alone where their policy decisions might take us.

In a time when data and facts are under assault, there's even more reason to update this important study. Instead of treating immigration as a purely social issue without a dynamic and inextricable connection to our economy, lawmakers should take full advantage of all the tools available to them when making far-reaching policy decisions on behalf of all Texans.

Ibarra is a policy and planning analyst with the Center for Public Policy Priorities in Austin.
WASHINGTON - The Bill O'Reilly saga has three villains: the revolting former anchor himself; the network that ignored accusations of serial abuse; and a broader system that punishes confrontation and enables silence and complicity. Each deserves flaying - along with President Donald Trump, so eager to vouch for O'Reilly and dismiss suggestions of wrongdoing.

O'Reilly's behavior - allegedly pressuring women to have sexual relationships, retaliating against them if they refused, and warning them about coming forward - doesn't require much more in the way of condemnation. Let's focus, instead, on the disgraceful circumstances of his departure from Fox News.

When the New York Times reported earlier this month that the network and its star anchor had paid at least $13 million to settle sexual harassment suits brought by five women, O'Reilly cast himself as a target of extortion and said his decision to settle was driven by - get this - a sense of paternal responsibility. He was settling "to spare my children," O'Reilly said, as "a father ... who would do anything to avoid hurting them in any way." If there is anything more sickening than O'Reilly's reported behavior, it is stooping to use his own children as a shield and the excuse of fatherly love to evade responsibility.

O'Reilly's lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, one-upped his own client in moral repulsiveness when, on the eve of the anchor's departure from Fox, he complained that O'Reilly "has been subjected to a brutal campaign of character assassination that is unprecedented in post-McCarthyist America."

Joseph McCarthy used the power of his office to make unfounded smears of treason, and helped ruin the lives and careers of hundreds of Americans. Here, O'Reilly is the figure with McCarthyite power, not the victim, no matter how hard he tries to present himself as one. Invoking the ghost of McCarthy should be done nearly as carefully as making a Hitler analogy. At least White House press secretary Sean Spicer was deploying the Holocaust analogy in the service of denouncing war crimes.

If anything, Fox's conduct is even more contemptible than that attributed to O'Reilly, driven as it seems to have been not by sick compulsion but by cool financial calculations: paying off its anchor's alleged victims made better business sense than cleaning up their already soiled workplace. Most astonishing, the network signed its latest contract with O'Reilly not only after the forced departure of Fox News chairman Roger Ailes over similar complaints but when it was fully aware of the impending publication of the Times story. As The Washington Post's Paul Farhi reported, Times reporters "had sent Fox's executives a long list of questions, placing senior executives on alert months in advance of its publication."

In other words, it wasn't necessarily a problem for Fox if O'Reilly was harassing women, or even if O'Reilly's behavior was costing it millions in settlement money - so long as his market power was such that he made the network millions more in advertising revenue and cable fees. The news that O'Reilly will walk away with a severance package worth a reported $25 million is salt in the wound inflicted on every woman who works at Fox - no, make that, every Fox employee who believes in a workplace free of such behavior.

It would be nice to think that the rest of corporate America will no longer tolerate O'Reilly-esque behavior. Certainly, the public outcry against O'Reilly and advertisers' consequent flight from his program are evidence of change. Companies now have mandatory sexual harassment training and HR departments that are supposed to intervene. Yet in practice, the tolerance may be greater than zero for those who are star performers, and while the Fox News culture may be particularly toxic, it is not unique. See the description by a former engineer at Uber about what happened when she complained of sexual harassment there.

Meanwhile, legal constraints and societal repercussions combine to dissuade women from coming forward. Complaining of sexual harassment remains risky business. Women fear looking like troublemakers - or worse. Staying in your job may become untenable, finding another impossible if you have taken legal action. At the same time, rules requiring that disputes be mediated, or settlements reached only with the proviso of gag orders prohibiting disclosure, as happened in O'Reilly's case, serve to keep harassment hidden and to protect harassers.

Finally, there is Trump, who, in the aftermath of the Times story, declared, "I don't think Bill did anything wrong." He probably doesn't - and doesn't see anything wrong with someone in his position rushing to O'Reilly's defense. Just another disturbing twist in an already dispiriting tale.

Marcus' email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com.
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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds a copy of a U.N. ruling as he makes a speech from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy, in central London, Britain February 5, 2016. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

WikiLeaks released another trove of information on the Central Intelligence Agency's secrets Friday afternoon, after the Justice Department said it was considering criminal charges against the organization and its founder, Julian Assange.

The latest release is a 31-page user guide for a CIA device called "Weeping Angel" that was posted online on Friday, CBS News reported. The tool was able to turn Samsung televisions into surveillance tools  by way of activating the television's built-in microphone to record audio.

The tool was co-developed by the CIA and the UK's MI5 intelligence agency, CNET reported in March. It was designed to "pretend" to turn itself off by deactivating the screen and front LED lights, while using the television's built-in microphone to record conversations, CNET's report alleged.

Samsung released a statement addressing the vulnerability in March, saying "Protecting consumers' privacy and the security of our devices is a top priority at Samsung. We are aware of the report in question and are urgently looking into the matter."

The latest leak follows the battle between WikiLeaks, the Justice Department and CIA, where officials denounced the leaking of classified government material, and had reopened the case to prosecute the controversial organization. Government officials also announced that they were actively pursuing a possible CIA insider who they believe was responsible for the security breach.

Jeff Sessions

"We are going to step up our effort and already are stepping up our efforts on all leaks," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a news conference on Thursday. "This is a matter that's gone beyond anything I'm aware of."

"We have professionals that have been in the security business of the United States for many years that are shocked by the number of leaks and some of them are quite serious," Sessions continued. "So yes, it is a priority. We've already begun to step up our efforts and whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail."

Story continues

Meanwhile, WikiLeaks maintains that it is no different from a genuine news organization, and that its activities are protected by the First Amendment.

"The fact of the matter is  however frustrating it might be to whoever looks bad when information is published  WikiLeaks is a publisher, and they are publishing truthful information that is in the publics interest," said Barry J. Pollack, Assange's attorney, in The Washington Post. "Democracy thrives because there are independent journalists reporting on what it is that the government is doing."

Some civil rights organizations have railed against the US government's rhetoric on data leaks. Ben Wizner with the American Civil Liberties Union's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project said in a statement to Business Insider: "Never in the history of this country has a publisher been prosecuted for presenting truthful information to the public."

"Any prosecution of Wikileaks for publishing government secrets would set a dangerous precedent that the Trump administration would surely use to target other news organizations."

NOW WATCH: Hackers and governments can see you through your phones camera  heres how to protect yourself





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'They truly believe in luck': Winning Powerball ticket worth $2.04 billion sold in LA area
School Committee member Edmund St. John IV is running for the Board of Selectmen in Cheshire.

St. John To Make Run For Cheshire Select Board

CHESHIRE, Mass.  Edmund St. John IV is running for selectman to advocate for Cheshire and help move the town forward.

"I am dedicated to this town, and I want to advocate for the people in town," St. John said. "I'd like to create a collaborative community. Not just neighbor to neighbor but department to department and town to town."

St. John, who is a local attorney, has served as town moderator and is chairman of the Cheshire Master Plan Committee. St. John has also served on the Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee since 2011.

He said he decided to run because he wanted to be able to do more for the town he has lived in since the age of 10.

"I have been wanting to get more involved in the community in different ways, and ... I wanted to be able to do more to serve the town so this was the next logical step," he said. "Especially when it comes to the master plan ... we are putting all of this time and effort into creating this master plan and I want to make sure it doesn't just gather dust on a shelf."

St. John added that he may not have the same experience the current seasoned board members do, but he believes coming to the board with new eyes could be a benefit to the town. He said a fresh approach may be needed to resurrect old projects.

"I don't want to take any idea off the table," he said. "Just because we may have through about it in the past it doesn't mean we can't look at it again and see if there is a new way to approach some of the issues we see in town."

St. John said he thinks the biggest issue facing Cheshire is demographics and one of his goals would be to make Cheshire an attractive place to move to.

"I want to make Cheshire a more attractive place for families of all generations to come to," he said. "Especially for families of my generation and younger. If people are moving I want them to come to Cheshire."

St. John added that he wants to make the government more accessible and integrate online permitting. He said he wants to update the town website and make it more useful for residents.

St. John said he also wants to invest into the community.

"I want to effectively utilize town resources and I don't want to look at it as spending but investing money in our community," St. John said.

St. John will be vying against E. Richard Scholz for the seat being left vacant by longtime Selectman Paul Astorino.

The election is Monday, May 1.
Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

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While promoting upcoming Marvel blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Chris Pratt talked himself into a tricky situation.

I dont see personal stories that necessarily resonate with me, because theyre not my stories, the actor told Mens Fitness.

I think theres room for me to tell mine, and probably an audience that would be hungry for them. The voice of the average, blue-collar American isnt necessarily represented in Hollywood.

Many publications reported on Pratts words, pointing out how blue-collar Americans are one of the most prominently represented groups in Hollywood movies.

Soon after the comments were picked up on, Pratt delivered an apology on Twitter, writing: That was actually a pretty stupid thing to say. I'll own that. There's a ton of movies about blue-collar America.

In the same interview, the actor  who was recently filming Jurassic World 2  also spoke about the polarising nature of modern politics and the need for both sides to find common ground.

I really feel theres common ground out there thats missed because we focus on the things that separate us, he said.

Youre either the red state or the blue state, the left or the right. Not everything is politics. And maybe thats something Id want to help bridge, because I dont feel represented by either side.

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

Pratt will next appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which reaches UK cinemas 28 April.
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Now that I've spent some quality time with the new Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6, I can comfortably place them in our top 20 smartphones list.

The Galaxy S8 was a clear contender for the top spot, and the G6 finally let me place an LG phone within the top 10. To be clear, the top 10 smartphones in this list come very close to each other in terms of performance, design, and features, and you'd easily be happy with our number 10 pick as you would with our number one pick. It all comes down to your personal preference over design and features.

Here's our list of the best smartphones you can buy.

Note: Prices may vary depending on the retailer.

20. BlackBerry Classic

(Blackberry (Blackberry)

If you were a BlackBerry fan in the company's heyday, you're going to love the BlackBerry Classic. It looks similar to older BlackBerry models but features a sharp touchscreen and an excellent physical keyboard.

Price: $309

19. BlackBerry Priv

The BlackBerry Priv is a huge departure for BlackBerry. Instead of running BlackBerry's own operating system, the Priv runs Android. While it may look like a standard Android phone, the Priv has a slide-out keyboard.

This could be a great device for those who want a physical keyboard but still want access to Google's apps and services that aren't available on other BlackBerry devices.

Price: $294

18. Samsung Galaxy Note 5

The Galaxy Note 5 is a killer big-screen phone. Like previous versions of the Note, it has a large, vibrant display and a stylus for taking notes. The metal-and-glass design is great, too.

Price: $478

17. ZTE Axon 7

(Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider (Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider)

The Axon 7 is made by ZTE, a Chinese smartphone maker that's relatively unknown in the US.

Why does it deserve a spot on this list? Because it offers the same  if not better  specs as the top Android players here, and it'll cost you $250 less than the big-name brands like Samsung, LG, or HTC.

That means if you don't like the Nexus devices and don't want to pay top dollar for a Galaxy S8, the ZTE Axon 7 might just be the phone for you.

Price: $400

16. LG V20

The LG V20's second screen at the top of the device is genuinely useful, as it gives you shortcuts to your favorite apps and music controls even when the screen is locked.

It also has great specs and a good camera, and it's incredibly light for its size. It'll also appeal to Android diehards holding on to legacy Android features like a removable battery and expandable microSD storage.

Unfortunately, those legacy Android features mean LG had to compromise on the overall build quality of the V20, which doesn't match the premium flagship league it's in.

Price: $489

15. Moto G5 Plus

The Moto G5 continues to be our favorite budget-friendly Android smartphone, as it proves that "good-but-not-great hardware can become strong value at the right price," according to my colleague, Jeff Dunn, who reviewed the phone.

With the G5 Plus, you get a 5.2-inch 1080p screen, a fingerprint scanner, a great battery life, a 12-megapixel camera that beats other phones in its price range, a near-pure version of Android, and a sleek design.

Still, at the G5 Plus' $230 price tag, you'll be making a few compromises over the premium flagships. For example, there's no NFC for mobile payments. And the phone still uses microUSB for charging while USB-C  the new standard for charging smartphones  has been out for a couple years now.

Price: $230

14. HTC 10

(Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider (Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider)

The HTC 10 is a beautiful, extremely well-built smartphone. It can be bought unlocked, which means you won't find annoying bloatware on the 10.

Price: $499

13. Moto Z

Tech Insider/Jeff Dunn

The regular Z model is one of the thinnest phones we've held, and it's gorgeous. We also love the fact that it runs a near-pure version of Android.

The Moto Z also supports different modules that can attach to the back of the phone to give it new and better functionality. For example, you can attach a speaker module for better sound, or a projector module to project videos on a nearby wall.

The Moto Z should work with most carriers. The Moto Z Force model is a Verizon exclusive that's currently available for a pricey $720.

Compared with the regular Z model, it has an extra strong screen that Motorola claims is shatterproof, as well as a larger battery.

Price: $408 to $720 (Depends on exclusive Verizon "Droid" models.)

Check out our review of the regular Moto Z 

12. Huawei Mate 9

Business Insider/Jeff Dunn

The Huawei Mate 9 boasts a huge 5.9-inch display and great battery life, thanks to its larger-than-average battery.

It's also one of the fastest Android phones you can buy at the moment, and Huawei's own layer of software that runs on top of Android largely maintains the pure Android look that we prefer.

The Mate 9 features a dual camera that helps create depth-of-field effects  blurry backgrounds  otherwise known as "bokeh," which the iPhone 7 Plus also has.

It's not water-resistant like Samsung's Galaxy S8 or Apple's iPhone 7, but for $600, Huawei's Mate 9 makes a strong case for a place in your pocket.

Price: $572

11. OnePlus 3T

(Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider (Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider)

OnePlus pulled an unusual move by announcing the OnePlus 3T five months after the OnePlus 3's release.

The good news is that OnePlus 3 owners need not feel left out, as the OnePlus 3T isn't much of an upgrade.

The changes include a slightly faster processor (Snapdragon 820 versus the 821), a slightly larger battery, a 16-megapixel front camera (versus 8-megapixel), better stabilization for video, and a darker color option.

However, the new front camera with more megapixels seems to do the opposite of what it was intended by taking blurrier selfies than its predecessor's 8-megapixel front camera.

Price: $440

10. iPhone SE

The iPhone SE, with its 4-inch screen, is the best small-form smartphone you can buy at the moment. You get all the best apps, ecosystem, support, and the same performance as the iPhone 6S for a relatively low $400 price tag.

It also comes with Apple Pay, among other premium features like Live Photos and a fingerprint sensor  not to mention great battery life.

Price: $399

9. iPhone 6S

The iPhone 6S is also a great deal, as you still get the premium Apple experience for $100 less than the new iPhone 7.

In addition to getting beautiful hardware, iPhone owners are guaranteed to always get the best apps first from third-party developers and reliable software updates with the latest and greatest features from Apple.

Price: $478

8. iPhone 6S Plus

(Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider)

Now that the iPhone 7 Plus is out, the iPhone 6S Plus gets a $100 price cut, and that's a great deal.

Fine, you don't get all of the latest features that the iPhone 7 Plus has, like water resistance or that fancy dual-lens camera, but the iPhone 6S Plus is no slouch. It runs on the powerful A9 chip and has features like 3D Touch, which can detect how hard you press on the screen and open up a new layer of controls for your apps.

It also has an incredibly fast fingerprint sensor, as well as Live Photos, which let you capture a three-second video with audio when you press the shutter button.

Price: $650

7. LG G6

The G6 is LG's best smartphone, and it's truly a great phone. LG finally implemented key features, like a premium design and water resistance, which finally put LG phones in the same league as other flagship smartphones from Samsung and Apple.

The G6 has a good dual-lens camera that everyone should be pleased with. It also has a slightly-taller-than-average screen that's great for viewing and using your apps, as it shows more of an app than regular screen.

Unfortunately, however, it's running a somewhat older processor, which prevents me from recommending the G6 outright. The Snapdragon 821 processor in the G6 is still a great processor, but Samsung announced the Galaxy S8 with the latest Snapdragon 835 just two months after the G6 was released. With that in mind, you're likely to feel the G6's older processor start to slow down before the Galaxy S8's.

Price: $680

6. Galaxy S8

Samsung's Galaxy S8 is the best-looking smartphone, period. Yes, it's better-looking than the iPhone, too. The curved glass on both the front and back of the S8 is a refinement of its predecessor, the Galaxy S7. And the ultra-narrow borders around the screen makes the S8 the new reference for premium, luxurious design in smartphones.

Apart from looks, the Galaxy S8 is laden with features, including water resistance, a taller-than-average screen that's great for viewing more of your content, fast charging, wireless charging, face recognition, iris recognition, the best-in-class camera, Samsung Pay, and a hidden home button.

It sounds like the S8 should take the top spot on this list, but I'm not a fan of Samsung's layer of software, called Touchwiz, that runs on top of stock Android. Unfortunately, it will inevitably prevent the Galaxy S8 from receiving the latest Android updates from Google on time when they're released. And, overall, I prefer stock Android's clean look and functionality.

It's true that the Galaxy S8 wouldn't have features like face or iris recognition without Touchwiz, but those Samsung-specific features don't tempt me as much as timely Android updates. And Samsung's own software isn't even fully baked onto this phone yet; the company's own Siri-like virtual assistant, Bixby, will not be ready at launch, and will roll out in an update for this phone later in the year.

Price: $720 (depending on your carrier. Unlocked models coming soon)

5. Galaxy S8+

(Hollis Johnson (Hollis Johnson)

The Galaxy S8+ is identical in features to the S8, except it's slightly larger and features a larger 6.2-inch display.

The bigger S8+ model pulls ahead of the regular S8 in this list due to its size-to-screen ratio. It's about the same size as the Plus models of iPhone while sporting a much larger screen. Also, apps and content look fantastic on the large display.

Price: $840 (depending on your carrier. Unlocked models will be available soon)

4. iPhone 7

Without a doubt, the iPhone 7 brings the best apps and ecosystem to its users. And by ecosystem, we mean the support you get from Apple if something goes wrong, as well as getting the latest software updates straight from Apple.

It also works amazingly well with other Apple products, too, like Apple's new wireless earphones, called AirPods.

The hardware also got a few improvements over the iPhone 6S, like water resistance, a camera that performs better in low light, a more powerful processor, and even redesigned antenna bands.

Price: $650

3. iPhone 7 Plus

The iPhone 7 Plus' dual-lens camera is the key feature that places the larger iPhone 7 Plus in over the iPhone 7.

It lets you take pictures with a professional-looking "bokeh" effect, in which the background is blurry in contrast to the subject. The second lens is also a telephoto lens that achieves 2x optical zoom, which means it zooms into subjects without sacrificing picture quality like digital zoom does on most smartphone cameras.

Price: $769

2. Google Pixel XL

(Hollis Johnson/Business Insider)

The new Pixels are Google's first smartphones  the company took more control over the hardware than it did with its earlier line of Nexus devices.

What you get is a sleek-looking aluminum phone with a stylish glass panel on the back that cleverly offers grip for your index finger. The Pixel XL's camera holds its own against the iPhone 7 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S8, too, and its HDR mode adjusts your photos to look amazing.

Google's Pixel XL, the larger model with a 5.5-inch screen, shares the same specs as its smaller sibling, the Pixel. Yet the XL doesn't offer more features that help justify its higher price tag like the iPhone 7 Plus does  it's just a larger Pixel.

Price: $769

1. Google Pixel

Yes, despite the availability of the newer and flashier Galaxy S8, Google's Pixel still takes the top spot because it runs stock Android and Google's Pixel launcher, which gives Android a cleaner look and gets the latest Android updates on time.

It's also a superior phone overall to our previous top pick, the iPhone 7 Plus. It has a better screen, is lighter, and has useful features like fast charging.

The Pixel runs on the powerful and power-efficient Snapdragon 821 and 4 GB of RAM, which should hold up until the next Pixel is released. It also has an excellent 12.3-megapixel camera that easily holds its own against the iPhone 7 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S8. If you want the best Android experience, this is the phone to get.

Price: $649

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Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
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Gunmen shot and wounded Italian-born conservationist Kuki Gallmann at her conservation park in northern Kenya on Sunday, a source close to her family said.

The 73-year-old author of the memoir I Dreamed of Africa was shot in the stomach after the vehicle she was driving in was ambushed by a group of gunmen, the source said.

Gallmann was first flown by helicopter to Nanyuki Hospital, where she received treatment, but was later transferred to another hospital in Kenyas capital, Nairobi.

A wave of violence has hit Kenyas drought-stricken Laikipia region in recent months as armed cattle-herders searching for scarce grazing land have driven tens of thousands of cattle onto private farms and ranches from poor quality communal land.

At least 14 people have been killed.

Some local Kenyan farmers have also been attacked and had their livestock stolen.

The source also told Reuters a local Kenyan, Duncan Murimi, was shot in the stomach by militias from the local Pokot tribe and died three days ago in the same area.

The militias stole nothing from him and had no cattle looking for grass when they attacked him.

Last month, Tristan Voorspuy, a British military veteran who ran a safari company in Kenya, was shot dead at a private ranch in Laikipia.

He had gone to the ranch to inspect the remains of a friends home that had been burnt down by herders days earlier
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Police have arrested the boyfriend of a reality TV star in connection with an acid attack at an east London nightclub that left two seriously hurt.

Arthur Collins, 25, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. He is the boyfriend of The Only Way is Essex star Ferne McCann.

Mr Collins is the fourth person to be arrested following the attack at Mangle nightclub in Hackney, which took place on 17 April.

Twenty people suffered the effects of an acidic substance sprayed inside the club, with two people, aged 24 and 29, moved to a specialist burns hospital in Essex.

Police tracked Mr Collins to an address in Rushden, a town in Northamptonshire, and said he will be taken into custody at a police station in London.

Ms MCann had appealed to her boyfriend to turn himself in, describing accusations against him as "highly shocking".

A 21-year-old man has been charged in connection to the attack. Another man, aged 24, and a 33-year-old woman were also arrested but have been released from custody.
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Thieves killed a man by running him over with his own car as they drove it away from his Manchester home.

Michael Samwell, 35, caught them in the act after he went to check on a loud bang he heard with his wife in the early hours of Sunday morning, Greater Manchester Police said.

Then they ran him over with his black Audi S3, leaving him with severe injuries. He died after being rushed to hospital.

The thieves fled the scene and the car was found abandoned and severely damaged shortly after the incident.

A murder investigation has since been launched and police are appealing for information.

"My thoughts go out to Michaels wife and his family, " Detective Superintendent Jon Chadwick. "I cannot comprehend what they must be going through.

We have now launched a murder investigation and are searching for those responsible.

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 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pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the 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Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at 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during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. 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"This is the murder of an innocent man who has merely sought to protect his property from criminals.

I appeal for anyone with any knowledge of what happened to come forward... If you know who has done this you must inform the police of what you know. We will not stop until we have found the person responsible for this dreadful crime.

Additional reporting by PA
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A patient with "complex" health needs has been waiting more than three-and-a-half years to leave hospital after being declared fit for discharge, it has been revealed.

The patient, who has not been named, and who suffers from a "serious mental health condition" plus a learning disability and physical health problems, has now been in a hospital bed for 1,338 days, according to a letter sent by the Welsh Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething.

The letter, sent to Conservative Assembly member Darren Millar and shown to the Press Association, was in response to the Clwyd West representative's call for details on the longest number of bed days lost by individual patients experiencing delayed transfers of care.

In the letter, Mr Gething lists the longest delays experienced by individual patients at each of Wales's seven health boards as of January 2017, and reveals that along with the Hywel Dda University Health Board patient who has been waiting for three-and-a-half years, two other patients in the country have been stuck in hospital beds for more than a year-and-a-half each.

Mr Millar described the delays as "truly scandalous" and said it was clear that a more integrated approach between the Welsh NHS and other care providers was long overdue.

He said: "No patient should have to wait almost four years to be discharged from hospital.

"While bed blocking is extremely costly for the NHS in Wales, the real cost is the quality of life of patients for whom it affects."

The letter goes on to say that it is anticipated that the health board's clinical team anticipates being able to discharge them "in about six months".

Mr Gething wrote: "We have recently been advised that using a bespoke commissioning approach, the health board has secured a provider who is able to meet all of the patient's complex needs, subject to some structural alterations to their premises."

Two other health boards, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMU) (589 days) and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (583 days) were caring for patients who had been waiting more than a year to be discharged, according to the letter.

Commenting on the letter, a spokesman for the Welsh Government said the figures must be seen in context.

He said: "Delayed transfers of care are at their lowest level for 12 years.

"This is an exceptional achievement, especially when considered against the backdrop of increasing demand on services as our population ages.

"The patients referred to in this correspondence had complex needs associated with mental health conditions and required highly specialist  often bespoke  services to be put in place. None were occupying acute hospital beds."

Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves Show all 6 1 /6 Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves The elderly We acknowledge that there are pressures on the health service, there are always extra pressures on the NHS in the winter, but we have the added pressures of the ageing population and the growing complex needs of the population, Theresa May has said. Waits of over 12 hours in A&E among elderly people have more than doubled in two years, according to figures from NHS Digital. Getty Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves Patients going to A&E instead of seeing their GPs Jeremy Hunt has called for a honest discussion with the public about the purpose of A&E departments, saying that around a third of A&E patients were in hospital unnecessarily. Mr Hunt told Radio 4s Today programme the NHS now had more doctors, nurses and funding than ever, but explained what he called very serious problems at some hospitals by suggesting pressures were increasing in part because people are going to A&Es when they should not. He urged patients to visit their GP for non-emergency illnesses, outlined plans to release time for family doctors to support urgent care work, and said the NHS will soon be able to deliver seven-day access to a GP from 8am to 8pm. But doctors struggling amid a GP recruitment crisis said Mr Hunts plans were unrealistic and demanded the Government commit to investing in all areas of the overstretched health service. Getty Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves Simon Stevens, head of NHS England Reports that key members of Ms Mays team used internal meetings to accuse Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, of being unenthusiastic and unresponsive have been rejected by Downing Street. Mr Stevens had allegedly rejected claims made by Ms May that the NHS had been given more funding than required. Getty Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves Previous health policy, not funding In an interview with Sky Newss Sophy Ridge, Ms May acknowledged the NHS faced pressures but said it was a problem that had been ducked by government over the years. She refuted the claim that hospitals were tackling a humanitarian crisis and said health funding was at record levels. We asked the NHS a while back to set out what it needed over the next five years in terms of its plan for the future and the funding that it would need, said the Prime Minister. They did that, we gave them that funding, in fact we gave them more funding than they required Funding is now at record levels for the NHS, more money has been going in. But doctors accused Ms May of being in denial about how the lack of additional funding provided for health and social care were behind a spiralling crisis in NHS hospitals. Getty Images Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves Target to treat all A&E patients within four hours Mr Hunt was accused of watering down the flagship target to treat all A&E patients within four hours. The Health Secretary told MPs the promise  introduced by Tony Blairs government in 2000  should only be for those who actually need it. Amid jeers in the Commons, Mr Hunt said only four other countries pledged to treat all patients within a similar timeframe and all had less stringent rules. But Ms May has now said the Government will stand by the four-hour target for A&E, which says 95 per cent of patients must be dealt with within that time frame. Getty Images Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves No one Mr Hunt was accused of hiding from the public eye following news of the Red Crosss comments and didnt make an official statement for two days. He was also filmed refusing to answer questions from journalists who pursued him down the street yesterday to ask whether he planned to scrap the four-hour A&E waiting time target. Sky News reporter Beth Rigby pressed the Health Secretary on his position on the matter, saying the public will want to know, Mr Hunt. Sorry Beth, Ive answered questions about this already, replied Mr Hunt. But you didnt answer questions on this. You said it was over-interpreted in the House of Commons and you didnt want to water it down. Is that what youre saying? said Ms Rigby. Its very difficult, because how are we going to explain to the public what your intention is, when you change your position and then wont answer the question, Mr Hunt. But the Health Secretary maintained his silence until he reached his car and got in. Getty

Mr Gething also wrote that the February census period had shown a reduction in delayed transfers of care for the fourth successive month.

The Labour AM said: "We continue to have lower totals than were previously seen in Wales ... this position has been achieved despite additional pressures the NHS in Wales faces through the winter months and against a backdrop of increasing demand for both health and social care services as our population ages."

Welsh Conservative shadow Health Secretary Angela Burns AM said the "shocking" figures were "a further indictment of the Welsh Labour Government's failure to process patients through hospitals and into community care within an acceptable timescale".

Joe Teape, director of operations for Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: "We are unable to discuss individual patient cases, however we continue to work hard to reduce delayed transfers of care and have good relationships with our local authority and third-sector partners in providing care in the community as and when appropriate."

A spokesman for ABMU Health Board said the 589-day delay was due to waiting for adaptations to the patient's home to be completed.

He said: "ABMU Health board, working closely with local authority and other partners, strives to discharge patients from hospital as soon as they are well enough to leave, either to their own homes or to the next stage of their care.

The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? Show all 19 1 /19 The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36454.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36456.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36455.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36457.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36458.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36459.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36460.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36461.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36462.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36464.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36463.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36466.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36467.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36468.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36469.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36470.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36472.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36473.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36474.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk

"However, our overriding priority is to ensure patients are discharged into a safe environment.

"For some patients this means they will require additional support arrangements to be put in place, which can include home adaptations requiring to be carried out prior to discharge."

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board was contacted for comment.

For each health board the number of bed days lost as a result of an individual patient experiencing delayed transfer of care as of January 2017 were as follows:

Hywel Dda University Health Board: 1,338

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board: 589

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board: 583

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board: 330

Powys Teaching Health Board: 218

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board: 162

Cwm Taf University Health Board: 135

Press Association
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North Korea is suspected of using a London house to finance its nuclear weapons programme.

Up to 33m a year have been funnelled through a property in Blackheath registered as the UK branch of a regime-controlled insurance firm, a Sunday Times investigation found.

The firm, Korea National Insurance Corporation (KNIC) was placed under EU sanctions last year after operating in Britain for more than two decades.

An EU sanctions listing, disclosing the address of the property, concluded: "The Korea National Insurance Corporation, a state-owned and controlled company, is generating substantial foreign exchange revenue which could contribute to the DPRKs [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] nuclear-related, ballistic missile-related or other weapons of mass destruction-related programmes."

 US and South Korea hold joint military exercises amid North Korea crisis

It also links the company to "Office 39," which The Times reports offers direct financial support for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's extravagant lifestyle through illicit activities such as drugs trafficking and arms dealing.

KNIC's UK assets, including the house in Blackheath, have been frozen by the Treasury and cannot be sold without the Government's permisson.

The North Korean embassy in London told The Times the allegations were "groundless."

In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Show all 16 1 /16 In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun North Korean women soldiers take part in a military parade in Pyongyang on 15 April AFP/Getty Images In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun A huge military parade in Pyongyang marks the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves during a military parade on 15 April 2017 AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun North Korean soldiers carry flags and a photo of Kim Il-sung during a military parade in Pyongyang on 15 April AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Soldiers march across Kim Il Sung Square during a military parade on 15 April AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun What military experts say appears to be a North Korean KN-08 inter-continental ballistic missile is paraded across Kim Il Sung Square during a military parade on 15 April AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Women wearing traditional Korean dress wave flowers and shout slogans as they pass Kim Jong-Un during a parade in Pyongyang on 15 April AFP/Getty Images In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun North Korean female soldiers march during a parade for the 'Day of the Sun' festival on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on 15 April EPA In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Military vehicles carry missiles with characters reading 'Pukkuksong' during a military parade marking the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il-sung in Pyongyang on 15 April 2017 EPA In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Attendees carry sheets in the colours of North Korea's national flag during a military parade in Pyongyang on 15 April Reuters In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun A soldier salutes from atop an armoured vehicle during a military parade in Pyongyang on 15 April Reuters In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun A North Korean woman cries as she looks towards Kim Jong-un during a parade on 15 April AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun University students carry the national flag and two bronze statues of the late leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il during a military parade on 15 April AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Missiles are driven past Kim Jong-un and other high ranking officials during a military parade marking the Day of the Sun in Pyongyang on 15 April Reuters In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves from a balcony during a parade for the 'Day of the Sun' festival in Pyongyang on 15 April 2017 EPA In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Missiles are driven past Kim Jong-un and other high ranking officials during a military parade marking the Day of the Sun in Pyongyang on 15 April Reuters

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.

It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations sanctions.
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The Equality and Human Rights Commission has attacked the Governments regressive child tax credit reforms and has encouraged politicians to re-think the policy.

In focus is the so-called rape clause, which requires a mother seeking benefits for a third child to prove she has been sexually assaulted or that the child was conceived during an abusive relationship.

CEO of the EHRC, Rebecca Hilsenrath, said in a letter to employment minister Damian Hinds that the Department for Work and Pensions did not complete a sufficiently detailed impact assessment for the reforms and said the law could violate human rights laws.

The policy instates a family cap of two children and has been described as inhumane by campaigners and liberal politicians.

In our view the exception [about rape or abuse] raises serious issues in relation to a child and mothers right to private life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the letter read.

The exception, which purports to prevent women from being penalised requires, in our view, invasive reporting requirements of intimate details.

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 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during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty

Children who may not be aware that they were born of rape may well become aware through this process and through the creation of a record.

We consider that there has been a failure to fully consider the impact of the implementation of this exemption, including the potentially traumatic process for having eligibility assessed and the risk of re-traumatisation upon survivors of rape.

Scottish lawmakers are planning to debate the clause in Holyrood as it has received cross-party condemnation.

SNP MP Alison Thewliss first raised the controversial clause in October 2016. It was signed into law on 20 January, the same day as Donald Trumps Inauguration.

Prime Minister Theresa May has not responded to the controversy since the law was signed.

The letter by Ms Hilsenrath continued: This system would rely upon women, who we know from statistics are overwhelmingly unlikely to report rape to police, reporting it to Department for Work and Pensions.

The approach also does not account for children born of an ongoing abusive relationship, where women may not exercise power over decisions on how many children to have  and when.

Some campaigners have argued the rape clause is a distraction tactic for a two-child policy.

A Government spokesman told The Herald that the policy was debated and voted on in Parliament and the exceptions were consulted on widely.

Our welfare reforms are incentivising work, as thats the best way to help people improve their lives, restoring fairness and ensuring everyone can access the support they need.

This reform means people on benefits have to make the same choices as those supporting themselves solely through work.

But we have always been clear this will be delivered in the most effective, compassionate way. Thats why we have the right exceptions and safeguards in place, including the crucial exception to protect women who are faced with very difficult circumstances."

Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson has been criticised for backing the clause.

She was met with calls of shame from her Parliamentary colleagues during Ms Sturgeons First Minister questions.

Ms Sturgeon asked her whether she agreed it was utterly abhorrent.

Ms Davidson replied that the Scottish Government had been granted devolved powers.

"If the First Minister doesn't like the two-child tax policy, she can change it."
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Anti-racist group Hope Not Hate is suing Nigel Farage for libel after he alleged that it makes use of violence in its campaigning.

Lawyers acting for the group filed a libel claim in the High Court on Friday, asking for damages for reputational harm and an injunction to restrain Mr Farage from repeating his lies.

This case is not about money. Its about Hope not Hate saying no more to Nigel Farages fake news, Nick Lowles, chief executive of Hope Not Hate, said.

We are an avowedly peaceful organisation and Nigel Farages lies are deeply damaging to the vital work we do bringing communities together across cultural and religious divides.

As the election campaign gets underway, we are putting Nigel Farage and his supporters on notice that we will not tolerate being smeared with the violent tag.

The group, which is partly a charity, is crowd-funding 100,000 to cover its legal costs. It is seeking between 50,000 and 100,000 in damages.

Mr Farage had alleged that Hope Not Hate masquerade as being lovely and peaceful, but actually pursue violent and undemocratic means.

He made the comments in reference to Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox. Mr Farage said Mr Cox would know more about extremists than me because he backs organisations like Hope Not Hate.

Nigel Farage's most controversial moments Show all 12 1 /12 Nigel Farage's most controversial moments Nigel Farage's most controversial moments When he unveiled that 'breaking point' poster during the referendum Mr Farage was accused of deploying Nazi-style propaganda when he unveiled a poster showing Syrian refugees travelling to Europe under the next Breaking point. Users on social media were quick to compare the advert to a Nazi propaganda film with similar visuals and featuring Jewish refugees. The poster was particularly controversial because it was unveiled the morning of the killing of Labour MP Jo Cox Rex Nigel Farage's most controversial moments When he said hed be concerned if his neighbours were Romanian In May 2014 Mr Farage was accused of a racial slur against Romanians after he suggested he would be concerned living next to a house of them. I was asked if a group of Romanian men moved in next to you, would you be concerned? And if you lived in London, I think you would be, he told LBC radio during an interview. Asked whether he would also object to living next to German children, he said: You know the difference Bongarts/Getty Images Nigel Farage's most controversial moments When he said the EU campaign was won 'without a bullet being fired' Nigel Farage has said the next Prime Minister has to be a Leave supporter AFP/Getty Nigel Farage's most controversial moments When he resigned as Ukip leader and came back days later After failing to win the seat of South Thanet at the general election, Nigel Farage stepped down as Ukip leader  as he had promised to do during the campaign. Days later on 11 May he un-resigned and said he would stay after being convinced by supporters within the party. Well see how long his resignation lasts this time AP/Matt Dunham Nigel Farage's most controversial moments When he blamed immigrants for making him late Mr Farage turned up late to a 25-a-head meet the leader style event in Port Talbot, Wales in December 2014. Asked why he was late, he blamed immigrants. It took me six hours and 15 minutes to get here - it should have taken three-and-a-half to four, he said. That has nothing to do with professionalism, what it does have to do with is a country in which the population is going through the roof chiefly because of open-door immigration and the fact that the M4 is not as navigable as it used to be Getty Nigel Farage's most controversial moments When he wanted to ban immigrants with HIV from Britain Mr Farage has used his platform as Ukip leader call for people with HIV to be banned from coming to Britain. Asked in an interview with Newsweek Europe in October 2014 who he thought should be allowed to come to the UK, he said: People who do not have HIV, to be frank. Thats a good start. And people with a skill. He also repeated similar comments in the 2015 general election leadership debates Getty Nigel Farage's most controversial moments When he defended the use of a racial slur against Chinese people Defending one of Ukips candidates, who used the word ch**ky to describe a Chinese person, Mr Farage said: If you and your mates were going out for a Chinese, what do you say you're going for?" When he was told by the presented that he honestly would not use the slur, Mr Farage replied: A lot would Lintao Zhang/Getty Images Nigel Farage's most controversial moments When he said parts of Britain were like a foreign land The Ukip leader used his 2014 conference speech to declare parts of Britain as being like a foreign land. He told his audience in Torquay that parts of the country were unrecognisable because of the number of foreigners there. Mr Farage has also previously said he felt uncomfortable when people spoke other language on a train Screengrab Nigel Farage's most controversial moments When he said the British army should be deployed to France At the height of trouble at Britains Calais border Mr Farage proposed a novel solution. The Ukip leader called for the British army to be sent to France to put down a migrant rebellion. In all civil emergencies like this we have an army, we have a bit of a Territorial Army as well and we have a very, very overburdened police force and border agency, he said. If in a crisis to make sure weve actually got the manpower to check lorries coming in, to stop people illegally coming to Britain, if in those circumstances we can use the army or other forces then why not AFP/Getty Nigel Farage's most controversial moments When he said breastfeeding women should sit in the corner Mr Farage sparked protests from mothers after he told women to sit on the corner if they wanted to breastfeed their children. I think that given that some people feel very embarrassed by it, it isnt too difficult to breastfeed a baby in a way that's not openly ostentatious, Mr Farage said. He added: "Or perhaps sit in the corner, or whatever it might be AFP/Getty Images Nigel Farage's most controversial moments When he said the gender pay gap exists because women are worth less At a Q&A on the European Union in January 2014 Mr Farage said there was no discrimination against women causing the gender pay gap. Instead, he said, women were paid less because they were simply worth far less than many of their male counterparts. A woman who has a client base, has a child and takes two or three years off - she is worth far less to her employer when she comes back than when she went away because that client base won't be stuck as rigidly to her portfolio, he said Getty Nigel Farage's most controversial moments When he said he actually couldnt guarantee 350m to the NHS after Brexit During the EU referendum campaign the Leave side pledged to spend 350 million a week on the National Health Service  claiming that this is what the UK sends to Brussels. Nigel Farage didnt speak out against this figure and also pledged to spend EU cash on the health service and other public services himself. Then the day of the election result he suddenly changed his tone, saying he couldnt guarantee the cash for the NHS and that to pledge to do so was a mistake Getty

The group says it received a barrage of hate-filled social media messages after Mr Farage made his comments.

The Independent approached a spokesperson for Mr Farage for comment on this story but has not yet received a response.

Mr Farage stepped down as Ukip party leader after the EU referendum but still leads its group of MEPs in the European Parliament. He also presents a radio show on LBC Radio.
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A Labour government would move to suspend British air strikes against targets in Syria, Jeremy Corbyn has said.

The Labour leader said his foreign policy priority in the country if he became prime minister would be to urge US President Donald Trump to resume international peace talks in Geneva.

RAF warplanes are currently hitting Isis targets in Iraq and Syria, though they are not engaging with Assad regime targets. The US has made strikes against the Assad regime under Mr Trump, however.

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Asked about whether Britain would continue to take part in strikes, Mr Corbyn told The Andrew Marr Show: I would say to President Trump 'Listen, it's nobody's interests for this war to continue. Let's get the Geneva process going quickly.

In the meantime, no more strikes. Have the UN investigation into the war crime of the use of chemical weapons in Syria and take it on from there.

He continued: I want us to say 'Listen, let's get people around the table quickly'. A way of achieving that  suspend the strikes? Possibly. The point has to be to bring about a political solution.

The Labour leader refused to be drawn on whether he would be prepared to authorise a drone strike on the leader of Isis Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi if British intelligence discovered his whereabouts.

What is the objective here? Is the objective to start more strikes which may kill many innocent people, as has happened, or is the objective to get a political solution in Syria? Approach it from that position," he said.

I think the leader of Isis not being around would be helpful. I am no supporter or defender in any way whatsoever of Isis. But I would also argue that the bombing campaign has killed a large number of civilians who are virtually prisoners of Isis, so you have got to think about these things.

In November 2015, shortly after Mr Corbyn became leader, Labour suffered a split over whether to back air strikes in Syria. The leader ultimately offered his MPs a free vote on the issue.

In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Show all 30 1 /30 In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian family arrives at a checkpoint, manned by pro-government forces, at the al-Hawoz street roundabout, after leaving Aleppo's eastern neighbourhoods Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian woman, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, reacts as she stands with her children in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood, after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian pro-regime fighters, gesture as they drive past resident fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood , after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian pro-regime fighters, gesture as they drive past residents fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood, after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian pro-regime fighter speaks with a child, as residents flee violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood. Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops AFP/Getty Images In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Smoke rises as seen from a governement-held area of Aleppo, Syria Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian soldiers targeting rebels-held areas in the eastern neighborhoods in Aleppo, Syria. According to media reports, the army is now holding on 99 percent of Aleppois eastern neighborhoods EPA In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian pro-government forces patrol Aleppo's eastern al-Salihin neighbourhood after troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian soldiers rest following the battle at al-Sheik Saeed neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria EPA In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian pro-government fighter walking past closed shops in the Bab al-Nasr district of Aleppo's Old City. Once renowned for its bustling souks, grand citadel and historic gates, Aleppo's Old City has been rendered virtually unrecognisable by some of the worst violence of Syria's war Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria The crucial battle for Aleppo entered its 'final phase' after Syrian rebels retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances. The retreat leaves opposition fighters confined to just a handful of neighbourhoods in southeast Aleppo, the largest of them Sukkari and Mashhad Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian civilans arrive at a checkpoint, manned by pro-government forces, at the al-Hawoz street roundabout, after leaving Aleppo's eastern neighbourhoods. Syria's government has retaken at least 85 percent of east Aleppo, which fell to rebels in 2012, since beginning its operation Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian civilians flee the Sukkari neighbourhood towards safer rebel-held areas in southeastern Aleppo Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrians celebrate in the government-held Mogambo neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, after rebel fighters retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrians celebrate in the government-held Mogambo neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, after rebel fighters retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances. The fall of Aleppo would be the worst rebel defeat since Syria's conflict began in 2011, and leave the government in control of the country's five major cities Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian refugee Aliya inside the tent where she lives with her husband and ten children in a camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian refugee women and children outside the entrance to their tents in the refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA Wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA Wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee woman outside the entrance to the tent where her family live, in the refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A vehicle drives past a mosque at night in Idlib, Syria. Picture taken with a long exposure Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Damaged buildings stand in the rebel-controlled town of Binnish in Idlib province, Syria Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria The night sky is seen through damaged windows in the rebel-controlled town of Binnish in Idlib province, Syria Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Damaged buildings stand in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province, Syria Reuters

In his wide-ranging interview on Sunday, Mr Corbyn was also quizzed again on his stance on nuclear weapons. He said: "I have made clear my views on nuclear weapons. I have made clear there would be no first use of it. I have made clear that any use of it would be a disaster for the whole world," he said.

Asked what he would say in the "letters of last resort" written by prime ministers with their final instructions to the commanders of Britain's four Trident submarines, he said only: "A strict instruction, follow orders when given."

He was also asked whether it could be cancelled under Labour, to which he replied: We will have a strategic defence review immediately which will include all aspects of defence. We would then look at the situation at that time.

Pressed on whether it would be in Labour's election manifesto, he said: We haven't completed work on the manifesto yet. We are having that discussion in the Labour Party and we will produce our manifesto early in May.

Following the interview, Labour was forced to issue a statement, insisting the party still supported Britain's retention of the Trident programme. It read: The decision to renew Trident has been taken and Labour supports that.

Mr Corbyn's comments threatened to reopen the bitter divisions within the party after he was forced last year to abandon his attempts to persuade it to back his unilateralist position in the face of opposition from the trade unions.

Additional reporting by PA
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Britain would be at increased risk of terror attacks under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, the man running the Conservative general election campaign has claimed.

Sir Patrick McLoughlin said the 67-year-old was not suitable for the role of Prime Minister because he would be unable to make uncomfortable decisions that the job entailed.

The comments came before Mr Corbyn on Sunday suggested the Labour Party may no longer support the Trident nuclear deterrent, although a party spokesperson denied any change in Labour's stance.

There are decisions which prime ministers have to take and those people in authority have to take [which] are sometimes very uncomfortable, Sir Patrick told The Telegraph. If they dont take them, were at danger... I know that with Theresa May, she would take them. Im not sure that Jeremy Corbyn would.

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A spokesperson for the Labour leader refuted the allegations, saying as an MP, Mr Corbyn had "consistently made the correct calls in the interests of Britain's security".

Sir Patrick's comments demonstrate a ramping-up in the Conservative Party's efforts to depict Mr Corbyn as a threat to the safety of the country.

According to polls by Opinium, ComRes and YouGov, Ms May's Conservatives hold a lead of between 19 and 25 percentage points, with the party's support ranging from 45 percent to 50 percent.

In two other polls, Ms May's Conservatives also gained ground in Scotland at the expense of the Scottish National Party.

Sir Patrick's comments touch on comments Mr Corbyn made in 2015 when he said he would never use Britains nuclear deterrent, even in the event of a nuclear attack.

In an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr on Sunday, Mr Corbyn also cast doubt on a future Labour government's support for the Trident nuclear deterrent.

Refusing to commit to keeping Trident in the party's manifesto, Mr Corbyn said: I want us to achieve a nuclear-free world, to adhere to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and take part in negotiations surrounding that.

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 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during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty

The issue has to be that we want a secure and peaceful world, he said. You achieve that by promoting peace and also promoting security. Security comes from that process.

The Labour leader has in the past attracted criticism for voting against military intervention in Syria, saying peace could only be achieved through diplomatic means.

Shortly after assuming control of the party, Mr Corbyn also sparked controversy when he appeared to question the UKs shoot-to-kill policy in terror attacks, although broadcasting regulator BBC Trust ruled his comments were misrepresented. He later publicly backed the rule.

A spokesperson for Mr Corbyn said: "Jeremy has consistently made the correct calls in the interests of Britain's security and international peace.

"He has proved right time and time again, from Libya to his opposition to the disastrous and illegal war in Iraq, which had caused such catastrophe in the region and made us less safe at home."
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Pressure on Theresa May to ditch her discredited immigration target intensifies today as Labour throws its full weight behind The Independents campaign to abolish it.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott branded the target to lower immigration to the tens of thousands as illogical, unworkable and a distraction.

She went on to accuse the Prime Minister of suppressing a government study, first uncovered by The Independent, that points to the positive impacts of immigration on the economy and public services.

Ms Mays determination to stick to the target has left her isolated in her own Cabinet, with several ministers pushing for changes that would alter the way immigration figures are calculated.

But despite increasing pressure to use the new Tory election manifesto as an opportunity to ditch the target, Ms May has until now refused to budge and even took to the airwaves this evening to recommit to it.

The Independent launched the Drop the Target campaign alongside the Open Britain group, which is also urging the Government to abandon its goal.

Backing the campaign, Ms Abbott said: The target is illogical, unworkable and a distraction from the real problems people are facing in terms of living standards, the NHS, public services, housing and so on.

Theresa May is isolated on this ridiculous policy and the more rational argument is aired, the better.

She told The Independent the Governments goal was a campaign, not a policy, warning that it could cost the Prime Minister her cherished reputation for straight dealing because it would never actually be achieved.

She demanded Ms May come clean with the British public and say that leaving the EU would not lead to a sharp decline in numbers of migrants coming in.

Instead, Ms Abbott argued ministers were slowly accepting the reality that Britains trading partners will insist on freer migration rules.

She said: This will be the case with the EU, with the US, with Canada or anyone else.

When Theresa May went to India she refused to move on the issue of more business visas and more student visas. As a result, she came away empty-handed. There was no significant trade deal.

Pointing that the Government has always been in charge of non-EU migration, which stands at more than 100,000 a year, she added: The reality is we need migration.

The Government isnt investing in the NHS, schools, public services and homes that a growing population needs and which would share the benefits of immigration more widely. Instead, we have a bad faith campaign against migration while immigration numbers are at an all-time high.

A string of senior cabinet ministers  including Chancellor Philip Hammond, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox  have either hinted or said openly that overseas students should be not be counted in the migration statistics as Ms May attempts to lower the figures.

The change to the way net migration is calculated has also been backed by universities and business groups who point to the huge economic benefits foreign students bring, but going way back to her time at the Home Office Ms May has resisted the change, believing that voters may see it as an attempt to fiddle the data.

Other cabinet ministers are understood to be urging Ms May to abandon the goal altogether on the grounds that it is unlikely to be met.

One senior Tory said: There is a live debate about it. The manifesto is an opportunity to change what was David Camerons target, not Theresa Mays.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters

On Thursday Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, a close ally of Ms May, hinted the target might be dropped when she told Sky News: Its not about putting numbers on it, its about making sure we can deliver where industries need skills.

Later Ms Bradley's spokesman insisted she was not speculating about next months manifesto, clarifying that we are committed to reducing net migration to sustainable levels. We have always been clear that means the tens of thousands.

In an interview later in the day, Ms May parroted the line saying: Weve been very clear, as I was as Home Secretary for six years, that its important that we have net migration that is in sustainable numbers. We believe sustainable numbers are the tens of thousands.

Some ministers believe the Prime Minister will stick to the target to show voters she is tougher than Labour on the issue, and determined to bring down net migration, which stood at 273,000 in the year to last September.

However, Ms Abbott called for an honest debate about the benefits of migration and accused the Government of suppressing its own study pointing to a positive impact on the economy and public services.

She urged ministers to publish a Cabinet Office report suggesting that Ms May blocked a cross-departmental drive to highlight the benefits of migration when she was Home Secretary last year.

The Labour frontbencher said: This raises serious questions about the Prime Ministers motivation. She has suppressed analysis which highlights the positive impact of immigration.

The report, revealed by The Independent earlier this month, cited experts who found that migration is broadly positive for the economy and that EU migration is likely to make a positive contribution to the public finances.

Ms Abbott pointed to recent suggestions by cabinet ministers that leaving the EU would not necessarily reduce migration from the bloc because the UK would still need migrant labour. She said this showed that promises on immigration made by the Leave camp in last years referendum were false.

There are very serious risks attached to Government policy, which affect virtually all sectors of the economy, she said.

We have heard from the City and from the NHS and social care, from car makers and farmers and many others that they will be in serious difficulties without continued migration from the EU and elsewhere. The NHS would be placed under enormous strain without the contribution of workers from overseas, the crops could literally stay in the ground, our leading firms could decide to relocate. Jobs are at stake.
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The Liberal Democrats have raised 1.6m since Theresa May announced her intention to hold an early election, Tim Farron has said.

Mr Farron also ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition government with either Labour or the Tories, warning they would both lead the country into a Hard Brexit.

"Since the announcement on Tuesday, the Liberal Democrats have raised 1.6 million," he told ITV 1's Peston On Sunday.

When asked if his party had ever raised so much money in such a short timeframe, he said: "No where near in that short time.

"That's until Friday, so goodness knows what it is today."

He encouraged anyone feeling generous to "consider the Liberal Democrat bank account ... still open for business".

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

The Lib Dem leader also insisted his party will not prop up a minority government via a confidence and supply deal.

Mr Farron reiterated there will be "no circumstances whatsoever" in which his party will enter into coalition with Labour or the Conservatives after next month's general election, given the current approaches of those two parties and their leaders.

He also dismissed an informal arrangement to offer his party's support on budget measures and other key votes to help a minority Tory or Labour administration.

Challenged about the prospect by presenter Robert Peston, Mr Farron replied: "No supply and confidence, no coalition, no deal."

Asked if his party would prop up a minority government, Mr Farron said: "No, because what is very clear at this moment is that we have an official Opposition which has not been behaving like an alternative government but is not even behaving like an opposition.

"It's neither fish nor fowl on the biggest issue that has faced us for generations.

"What Britain needs in this election is clarity and a contest. Theresa May has called this election because she believes it'll be a coronation.

"The Liberal Democrats are determined to make it a contest with a clear alternative position, and I don't want people thinking a vote for the Liberal Democrats is a proxy for anything else."
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Ukip leader Paul Nuttall has refused to say whether he will stand as a candidate to become an MP at the general election.

Asked on Sunday whether he would be standing, Mr Nuttall said he would have conversations with branches about his potential candidacy.

It comes after the Ukip leader suggested his party could stand down in certain seats in favour of eurosceptic MPs from other parties.

Ukip has dipped in the polls since the start of the general election campaign, with significant numbers of the partys voters swinging behind Theresa Mays Conservatives.

Mr Nuttall clarified that his party was not only considering standing down against Conservative candidates, but also potentially the small number of eurosceptic Labour MPs.

I didnt just say Tory candidates. They could be people like Kate Hoey as well. This will not be an order coming down from the top of the party, I will speak to branches over the coming weeks and we will make discussions, he told the BBCs The Andrew Marr Show.

What I dont want to see happen is good Brexiteers people whove campaigned for years for Brexit, I dont want to see them lose their seats and get a Remainer in their place.

In the same interview Mr Nuttall defended his partys policy of banning Muslim women from wearing face covering veils such as the burqa and niqab.

We have a heightened security risk at the moment and for CCTV to be effective you need to see peoples faces, because whether we like it or not in this country theres more CCTV per head than anywhere else on the planet, he said.

Were the most watched and for that to be effective you need to see peoples faces.

Secondly, theres the issue of integration  I dont believe you can integrate fully and enjoy the fruits of British society if you cant see peoples faces.

The rise and rise of Ukip  the new party of the protest voter Show all 3 1 /3 The rise and rise of Ukip  the new party of the protest voter The rise and rise of Ukip  the new party of the protest voter 30-ukipprotest-gt.jpg Getty Images The rise and rise of Ukip  the new party of the protest voter 30-ukipprotest2-gt.jpg Getty Images The rise and rise of Ukip  the new party of the protest voter 30-ukipprotest3-gt.jpg Getty Images

Asked why Ukip had changed from its 2013 stance of not wanting to ban the veil, Mr Nuttall said: Theres obviously the bigger security threat that we face now.

The latest ComRes poll has Ukip on just 7 per cent. The same survey shows the Conservatives on 50 per cent, Labour on 25 per cent and Lib Dems on 11 per cent.
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Theresa May has proposed to slash 100 off the energy bills of 17 million families.

The Conservative manifesto  due to be published on 8 May  is expected to include a cap on gas and electricity bills for the seven out of 10 households on standard variable tariffs.

In an interview with ITV 1's Peston On Sunday, Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green said the policy differed from a previous policy to freeze bills suggested by former Labour leader Ed Miliband at the 2015 general election.

At the time, the Tories condemned Mr Miliband's plans to intervene in the energy market.

 May dismisses claims Tories planning post-election tax hike

Mr Green said: "I think people feel some of the big energy companies have taken advantage of them with the tariffs they've got."

He said it differed from Mr Miliband's policy to freeze bills at the 2015 general election.

He added: "The difference is that we would have Ofgem setting a limit so it would be a cap, more flexible, be able to reflect market conditions so the market would still have an influence.

"That would mean, in practical terms, if the oil price fell again then consumers would benefit in a way they wouldn't have done under Ed Miliband's proposal."

Labour warned the Conservatives' claims on energy bills should be treated with "a pinch of salt" as they had repeatedly broken promises to deal with the issue in the past.

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

Andrew Gwynne, the party's campaigns and elections chairman, said: "The Tories don't stand for working people, their record is one of failure and broken promises, letting ordinary people down at every turn.

"The Tories' promises to deal with energy bills should be taken with a huge pinch of salt.

"Time and again they've promised action but when it comes to it they broke those promises. Under them, energy bills have soared.

"At the last election, when Labour promised action the Tories opposed it, putting themselves on the side of protecting the big energy companies' profits rather than the interest of working people."
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Tony Blair has advised those going to the polls to consider voting for the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats in order to weaken the Prime Ministers mandate for a hard Brexit.

The former Prime Minister said it was important to vote for candidates who had an open mind on the final deal and that people should not limit their votes to just Labour because the issue was bigger than party allegiance.

He also praised Theresa May, arguing: Shes very sensible, shes a very decent person, shes very solid, I agree with a lot she says.

Mr Blair has previously admitted that he wouldnt want to win on an old-fashioned leftist platform like Jeremy Corbyns, even if I thought it was the route to victory.

Speaking on Sunday on the BBCs The World This Weekend programme he said: The absolutely central question at this general election is less who is the prime minister on 9 June, and more what is the nature of the mandate.

Otherwise frankly this is a steamroller election  is it possible that we can return as many members of parliament as possible to parliament that are going to keep an open mind on this Brexit negotiation until we see the final terms.

Asked whether this political approach could mean voting Liberal Democrat, Mr Blair replied: What Im advocating may mean that. It may mean voting Labour. It may mean, by the way, that they vote Tory, for candidates who are prepared to give this commitment.

This is something thats bigger than party allegiance, in this particular election.

The former Prime Minister said candidates should be asked whether they backed Brexit at any cost or whether they were prepared to say any final deal was not in the interests of the country.

Mr Blairs advice comes despite Ms May suggesting that votes for the Conservatives are an indication of the country coming together behind her Brexit plan.

He said that he personally will always vote Labour.

The former PMs comments provoked anger on social media, with some Labour members suggesting he be ejected from the party for backing rival candidates. Matt Zarb-Cousin, a former spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn, said Mr Blair should be kicked out of the party.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

Labours rulebook states that a member of the party who joins and/or supports a political organisation other than an official Labour group or other unit of the party, or supports any candidate who stands against an official Labour candidate, or publicly declares their intent to stand against a Labour candidate, shall automatically be ineligible to be or remain a party member.

One Labour source poured derision on Mr Blairs comments, telling The Independent that voting for the Lib Dems because youre unhappy with Brexit is like voting for them because you dont like tuition fees.

Mr Blair also hinted at the possibility of a political return. He said: I look at the British political scene at the moment and I actually almost feel motivated to go right back into it.

A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn said: On 9 June, we will either have a Labour government or a Tory one.

If you want Brexit to be used to turn Britain into a low-wage tax haven, vote Tory. If you want a Britain for the many not the few after Brexit, vote Labour. The choice is clear.
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Police in Algeria told a pregnant woman to go back to her husband after he punched her and threw her against a wall, according to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report that details alleged failings in Algerias treatment of domestic violence victims

Officers told the 31-year-old it was not our business after she escaped her house in her pyjamas to report the attack.

The report said police told the woman: This is a family affair. Maybe he was angry. He will come back to his senses.

She was even told by her father that your destiny is to stay with him, according to HRW.

The report said police in the north African country often ignore recent legislation that criminalises domestic violence and tell women it is a private matter. Relatives also pressure women to reconcile with abusive husbands, it added.

Recommended Thousands of domestic violence victims withdrawing from legal action

Lawyers told the group that most survivors either do not press charges or drop their complaints at the investigative stage.

While only about 4,000 cases of domestic violence were logged by Algerian police in 2016, a state survey 10 years prior found 9.4 per cent of women aged 19 to 64 said they were victims of family violence often or daily.

A second woman told HRW her husband tied her up, beat her with a broom and slashed her breasts with scissors, but police said they would not investigate because the man had told them she fell.

Despite being treated at hospital and having blood on her clothes, the 39-year-old was reportedly told: We called your husband, he said you fell and that is why you are bruised.

Officers then took the woman to a homeless shelter, according to HRW.

HRW accused the Algerian government of failing to adequately prevent domestic violence, protect survivors, and create a comprehensive system for the prosecution of perpetrators.

Service provision for survivors of domestic violence, including shelter, psychosocial care, and facilitation of access to justice, lies almost entirely in the hands of non-governmental organisations, most of which receive no state support, it added.

Algeria, with a population of 41 million, has just three state-run shelters dedicated to helping female victims of violence, HRW 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. 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In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. 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Laws introduced in 2015 to criminalise domestic abuse were a positive step, HRW said, but it called for a more comprehensive solution, saying victims should be able to seek protection orders from the courts.

The current rules do not explicitly mention marital rape, the report said, and rely excessively on doctors assessment of womens injuries without providing guidelines on how to judge their severity for legal purposes.

The government should establish a national database to track prosecutions and sentences, it added.

The Independent has contacted the Algerian consulate in the UK for comment.

Read the full report here
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Donald Trump has drawn criticism for failing to mention climate change in his Earth Day statement.

Despite the fact the 47th global annual event urges people to build a global citizenry fluent in the concepts of climate change and aware of its unprecedented threat to our planet, the President ceased to make any explicit mention of global warming.

The omission marks a significant break with previous US governments. Fellow Republican President George W Bush highlighted the need to address climate change in his final statement and Barack Obama mentioned the term five times in his 2016 earth day statement.

The billionaire property developer sought to defend his teams environmental plans in the statement, saying: Rigorous science is critical to my Administrations efforts to achieve the twin goals of economic growth and environmental protection.

Last month, Mr Trump signed an executive order overhauling Obama-era rules directed at tackling climate change. The controversial order seeks to suspend, rescind or review more than a half-dozen measures in an effort to boost domestic energy production in the form of fossil fuels.

My administration is committed to advancing scientific research that leads to a better understanding of our environment and of environmental risks, the statement added. As we do so, we should remember that rigorous science depends not on ideology, but on a spirit of honest inquiry and robust debate."

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

This April 22nd, as we observe Earth Day, I hope that our nation can come together to give thanks for the land we all love and call home," he concluded.

Mr Trump, who has previously claimed that climate change is a hoax invented by the Chinese, later took to Twitter to argue that growth in the economy boosts the protection of the environment.

I am committed to keeping our air and water clean but always remember that economic growth enhances environmental protection. Jobs matter! he said.

Mr Trumps comments coincide with thousands of scientists and their supporters marching across the globe to protest against what they perceive to be Mr Trumps rejection of science on Earth Day. More than 600 marches took place around the world on every single continent but Antarctica.

The Trump administration's environmental policies have raised concern among many. Last month, Mr Trump pledged to end the war on coal by cutting job-killing regulations and putting miners back to work.

The president also released a $1.1 trillion budget outline last month which includes proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency. Under the plan, the EPAs budget is to be cut by 31 per cent and some 3,200 staff to lose their jobs.
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Donald Trumps key campaign pledge to build a wall on the US border with Mexico could lead to an American government shutdown, senior US officials have claimed.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told CNN that Mr Trump will be insistent on the funding of the wall, which is estimated to cost around $22bn (17bn).

It goes without saying that the President has been pretty straightforward about his desire and the need for a border wall so I would suspect  hell do the right thing for sure  but I suspect he will be insistent on the funding, he said.

If Congress does not send Mr Trump a government funding bill by midnight on Friday, the US Government would run out of money and would be forced to shut down.

During Bill Clinton's administration, there were two full government shutdowns during 1995 and 1996 as politicians squabbled over the US budget deficit.

There was also a federal shutdown under Barack Obama as Republicans tried to delay and defund the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, from signed into law.

Mr Trump has requested $1.4bn (1.09bn) to start the construction of the wall.

But Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told Fox News that Democrats were unwilling to fund the wall as they were angry about Mr Trumps pick for Supreme Court Justice, conservative-leaning Neil Gorsuch.

When asked if Mr Trump would refuse to sign the funding bill if it did not include money for the wall, Mr Mulvaney replied: We dont know yet.

He added: No one foresees or wants a shutdown next week.

 US had 'no conversation' with Mexico about paying for Trump's border wall, Rex Tillerson admits

In a separate interview with Bloomberg, Mr Mulvaney revealed that the White House had offered the Democrats to fund $1 in Obamacare subsidies for every $1 towards the border wall, in the hope of reaching a deal before the expiration date.

Democratic Senator Dick Durbin told CNN that if Mr Trump did shut down the government over his outlandish proposals, it would be the height of irresponsibility.

He would not want that to define his first 100 days, he said.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who strongly advocates a crack down on immigration, told ABC News that the wall would be paid for one way or another, but refused to suggest that its southern neighbour would foot the bill.

 Jeff Sessions: Congress will pay for the wall

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that no Congress member who represents districts on the border supports Mr Trumps plans for the wall, according to a survey which included four Republican senators.

Build that wall was one of the rallying cries of Mr Trumps campaign as he promised to crack down on illegal immigration, drug cartels and to deport convicted criminals.

He promised that Mexico would pay for the wall, but after he was elected he said the US would pay and Mexico would reimburse the US. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has strongly denied the claim, and cancelled his first scheduled trip to meet the President in Washington DC.

The President has long demanded that a big, beautiful wall, measuring 30 feet high and made of concrete, be built across the entire border.

 Mexican Congressman Braulio Guerra proves Trumps border wall is absurd by climbing it

But Mr Kelly admitted earlier this month that it was unlikely the wall would stretch from sea to shining sea, and said he could not provide a cost estimate  although a revealed DHS memo reported $22bn.

There is no way I can give the committee an estimate of how much it will cost, Mr Kelly said at an April hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

I dont know what it will be made of, I dont know how high it will be, I dont know if its going to have solar panels on its side and what the one side is going to look like and how its going to be painted, he said.

In June 2015, the President accused Mexicans of being drug dealers and rapists to justify the project, which landed him in hot water on the first day of his campaign.

Along with charges of racism, activists have claimed the wall would be catastrophic for the environment and could kill off endangered species.
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A Canadian oil and gas company has decided to halt a huge concession in the Peruvian Amazon which was seen as a threat to uncontacted indigenous tribes.

Pacific Exploration and Production, who began its first phase of oil exploration back in 2012, was previously awarded the right to explore for oil in a large area of the region which contains massive biodiversity. It is thought to be home to more uncontacted tribes than anywhere else in the world.

The concession, referred to as Lot 135, includes around 40 per cent of the Sierra del Divisor national park which was founded back in 2015.

The concession, which stretches for more than one million hectares and is estimated to hold prospective deposits of almost one billion barrels of oil, has sparked massive resistance in Peru and its neighbour Brazil for many years.

Oil exploration requires continued and consistent invasion of land which has the ability to drastically increase the risk of forced contact with uncontacted tribes. It makes the tribes more likely to experience violence from outsiders who commandeer their land and resources and vulnerable to illnesses such as flu and measles which they have no resistance towards.

The firms decision to pull the concession was first revealed by Survival International, an NGO based in the UK. In a letter dated 13 March 2017, Institutional Relations and Sustainability Manager Alejandro Jimenez Ramirez told the charity the company would be relinquishing its exploration plans. The last day of Pacifics contract is said to have been 17 March.

As you may know, the company has a new management and post evaluations of current opportunities, it has made the decision to relinquish its exploration rights in Block 135 and return the block to Perupetro [the Peruvian state entity responsible for establishing concessions and contracting companies] effective immediately, he said.

In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon A group from the Mashco Piro people in Peru, photographed from a distance by the Madre de Dios river Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International

To date legal processes are underway. . . [W]e wish to reiterate the companys commitment to conduct its operations under the highest sustainability and human rights guidelines, avoiding damages to cultures and their surroundings; a value promise we feel remains intact.

While the decision has been hailed as a significant victory by campaigners, the Toronto-listed company has in the past been insistent about the fact they halted plans because of financial concerns.

David Frietas from Regional indigenous federation ORPIO told The Guardian the decision was good news but warned that the concession is still in existence and a different company could be brought into embark on oil exploration instead.

The essential thing is for Lot 135 to be annulled. It can be done. More pressure [is required]," he said.
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WikiLeaks has leaked what it calls a 31-page user manual for a device allegedly used by the CIA to spy on people from their televisions and smartphones.

The device, code named Weeping Angel, hit the headlines last month when WikiLeaks claimed the CIA had built the software to exploit vulnerabilities in Samsung products which would allow them to turn any phone or smart TV into a listening device. The group described the software as something out of George Orwells 1984.

The newly released CIA documents appear to corroborate the earlier claims about the capabilities of the system.

WikiLeaks famously published 250,000 State Department cables and US military logs from Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010 which led to the arrest and imprisonment of Chelsea Manning, a US soldier who acted as a whistleblower.

Concerns have been raised about smart TVs' security. The microphone is always on and the device is always connected to the internet, making it easier for third parties to hack into and take them over as recording device.

Immediately prior to the release of the documents, CNN reported that US authorities were considering seeking the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Mr Assange is currently in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid extradition over accusations of rape in Sweden.

He claims the US government is using the allegations as a proxy and will immediate extradite him if he steps foot on Swedish soil.

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 Obama administration declined to press charges against him on the grounds that as a journalist he was protected by the First Amendment and as an Australian citizen he cannot be guilty of treason against the US.

It reportedly concluded that prosecuting WikiLeaks would be the same as prosecuting a mainstream news organisation for publishing classified information but never formally closed the case.

But the Trump administration is willing to make a move and the possible charges being considered include conspiracy, theft of government property and violating the Espionage Act.

Any charges brought against Mr Assange would still need to be approved by high-ranking officials in the Justice Department and could come unstuck in the courts.

Recommended US seeks Assange arrest but UK suggests Sweden has priority

The UK or Sweden might not agree to Mr Assange's extradition to the US as they are both signatories of the European Convention on Human Rights which says a person cannot to be extradited to country where their alleged offence carries the death penalty.

CIA director Mike Pompeo last week denounced WikiLeaks as a "hostile intelligence service" and a threat to US national security.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions told reporters that Mr Assange's arrest was a priority as the Justice Department steps up efforts to prosecute people who leak classified information to the media.

"We've already begun to step up our efforts and whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail," Mr Sessions said.

Their condemnation of WikiLeaks differed sharply from Donald Trump's past praise of the organisation.

Julian Assange has been in the Ecuadorian embassy since 2012 (Reuters)

Before last year's election, Mr Trump said he was happy to see WikiLeaks publish private, politically damaging emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign manager, John Podesta.

He was less thrilled about the release of CIA tactics, which the White House said was different because it involved information about national security tools.

Mr Assanges lawyer, Barry Pollack, said: "The Department of Justice should not be treating the publication of truthful information as a reason for a criminal investigation of the publisher.

"Democracy has always depended on journalists being able to inform the public of what their government is doing."

Additional reporting by AP
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Now that we possess mighty nuclear power to protect ourselves from US nuclear threat, we will respond without the slightest hesitation to full-out war with full-out war and to nuclear war with our style of nuclear strike, and we will emerge victor in the final battle with the US.

That is just one of the latest statements from North Koreas interior ministry as tensions continue to rise over its missile tests and nuclear weapons programme. while on Sunday the ruling Workers' Party newspaper said the country's forces were "combat-ready to sink a US nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike". The editorial further likened USS Carl Vinson to a "gross animal".

From sending new intercontinental ballistic missiles rolling through Pyongyang in a huge parade to threatening an annihilating strike on its American enemies, theres little sign of Kim Jong-uns government bowing to international pressure.

Donald Trump has attempted to strike a tough tone, threatening to properly deal with North Korea if China is unable to rein in its ally and sending what he described as an armada of warships to the region.

 Trump's Easter message for North Korea: 'Gotta behave'

His orders to destroy a cave system used by Isis militants in Afghanistan using the mother of all bombs  which had never before been deployed  and attack a government air base in Syria were seen as warning signals to Pyongyang.

But the attacks have raised questions over whether the President would be prepared to take the same steps in North Korea and risk all-out nuclear war.

David S Maxwell, a retired US army special forces colonel who served in Korea and Japan, said an even more powerful bomb known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (Mop) had been developed for American forces with North Koreas underground facilities in mind.

There are many targets in the world buried deeply underground and the Mop was developed for that, he told The Independent. But I think you have to ask the question: Can a military action against North Korea not result in a catastrophic response by the North?

Mr Maxwell, who is now the associate director at the Centre for Security Studies at Georgetown University, warned that if Pyongyang felt the existence of its regime was threatened it could launch a nuclear attack.

They would not win a war with South Korea and the US, but they might believe thats their only option, he added.

In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Show all 16 1 /16 In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun North Korean women soldiers take part in a military parade in Pyongyang on 15 April AFP/Getty Images In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun A huge military parade in Pyongyang marks the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves during a military parade on 15 April 2017 AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun North Korean soldiers carry flags and a photo of Kim Il-sung during a military parade in Pyongyang on 15 April AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Soldiers march across Kim Il Sung Square during a military parade on 15 April AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun What military experts say appears to be a North Korean KN-08 inter-continental ballistic missile is paraded across Kim Il Sung Square during a military parade on 15 April AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Women wearing traditional Korean dress wave flowers and shout slogans as they pass Kim Jong-Un during a parade in Pyongyang on 15 April AFP/Getty Images In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun North Korean female soldiers march during a parade for the 'Day of the Sun' festival on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on 15 April EPA In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Military vehicles carry missiles with characters reading 'Pukkuksong' during a military parade marking the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il-sung in Pyongyang on 15 April 2017 EPA In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Attendees carry sheets in the colours of North Korea's national flag during a military parade in Pyongyang on 15 April Reuters In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun A soldier salutes from atop an armoured vehicle during a military parade in Pyongyang on 15 April Reuters In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun A North Korean woman cries as she looks towards Kim Jong-un during a parade on 15 April AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun University students carry the national flag and two bronze statues of the late leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il during a military parade on 15 April AP In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Missiles are driven past Kim Jong-un and other high ranking officials during a military parade marking the Day of the Sun in Pyongyang on 15 April Reuters In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves from a balcony during a parade for the 'Day of the Sun' festival in Pyongyang on 15 April 2017 EPA In pictures: North Korea marks the Day of the Sun Missiles are driven past Kim Jong-un and other high ranking officials during a military parade marking the Day of the Sun in Pyongyang on 15 April Reuters

Even if its a pre-emptive strike to take out missile and nuclear capabilities, North Korea may feel it has to respond. This is the dilemma that strategists and policymakers face.

The decorated former Special Operations Command Korea policy director warned that even an isolated air strike could trigger a catastrophic response, necessitating the evacuation of large parts of South Korea and deployment of American forces in preparation for a ground war.

Dr John Nilsson-Wright, a senior research fellow in the Asia programme at Chatham House, believes the probability of military intervention by the US is very low.

The risk of provoking a conventional conflict or worse with huge casualties in South Korea militates against such a course of action, he told The Independent. Washington cannot risk alienating Seoul and Tokyo, and Trump himself appears more interested in using the bully pulpit of calculated ambiguity and rhetorical provocation than any serious commitment to full blown military action.

 Trump appears to not know who the leader of North Korea is, referring to him as 'this gentleman'

Mr Trump dialled down his rhetoric on Friday, calling China the economic lifeline to North Korea after discussing the issue with Xi Jinping. While nothing is easy, if they want to solve the North Korean problem, they will, the President added.

His tweet came after defence sources repeatedly briefed journalists that the US was not considering a military strike, with Mike Pence insisting a peaceful resolution was still possible.

We truly believe that, as our allies in the region and China bring that pressure to bear, there is a chance that we can achieve a historic objective of a nuclear-free Korea peninsula by peaceful means, the Vice President said on Saturday.

We are encouraged by the steps that China has taken so far.

The strike force, led by the USS Carl Vinson, is heading for the Korean peninsular (AFP)

Mr Pence insisted a strike group headed by the USS Carl Vinson, which had been completing a training exercise with the Australian navy when Mr Trump made his announcement, would arrive in waters off the Korean peninsula within days.

Like the strikes in Syria and Afghanistan, the move could merely harden North Korean resolve to increase its military capabilities, Mr Maxwell warned.

He said the real wildcard was Kim himself, who has brutally purged challengers from his inner circle in his six years of power, adding: There is not an intelligence service in the world that can tell us what he will do.

South Korea is on heightened alert for potential new weapons tests as the 85th anniversary of the Korean Peoples Army approaches on Tuesday, with a large concentration of military hardware massed on both sides of the border.

Joseph Yun, the US special representative for North Korea policy, will be in Tokyo on the day for meetings with Japanese and South Korean representatives.

North Korea has previously launched missiles or conducted nuclear experiments to mark key dates, while next week also coincides with the conclusion of its winter military drills and huge joint exercises conducted by the US and South Korea.

Satellite imagery analysed by 38 North, a Washington-based monitoring group, found activity underway at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, but it was unclear whether the site was in a tactical pause before another test or was carrying out normal operations.

Dr Nilsson-Wright said that while there have been calls for the US to destroy North Koreas weapons of mass destruction, its stockpiles would be difficult to pinpoint and heavily reinforced, with sites dispersed across the secretive country.He argued that the only way the US can hope to solve the crisis is via coordinated pressure with allies  and a willingness to negotiate.

Possible measures could include economic sanctions from China, offering political concessions in exchange for a freeze on testing and peace talks involving regional actors.

 US and South Korea hold joint military exercises amid North Korea crisis

Mr Maxwell agreed, saying that although Kims government had learned to get around international banking after previous crackdowns, financial action was still the most effective. He urged the US to mitigate uncertainty and lower tensions by refusing to rise to every missile test and every military movement with rhetoric.

Kim acts like a terrorist and one of the things terrorists want is notoriety, Mr Maxwell added.

The world should instead focus on North Koreas appalling human rights record, he said, which has largely fallen off the radar since a UN investigation revealed unspeakable atrocities in 2014. When we talk about human rights, it undermines the legitimacy of the regime, Mr Maxwell said. There is a moral and strategic value to informing the North Korean people that we know they are suffering.
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North Korea has said it is ready to sink a US aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, as two Japanese navy ships joined a US carrier group for exercises in the western Pacific.

US President Donald Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over the Norths nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its Asian allies.

The United States has not specified where the carrier strike group is as it approaches the area. US vice president Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive within days but gave no other details.

The US supercarrier Carl Vinson will arrive in the Sea of Japan in days, Mike Pence has said (AFP/Getty)

North Korea remained defiant. Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a US nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike, the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the Norths ruling Workers Party, said in a commentary.

The paper likened the aircraft carrier to a gross animal and said a strike on it would be an actual example to show our militarys force.

The commentary was carried on page three of the newspaper, after a two-page feature about leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a pig farm.

Speaking during a visit to Greece, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there were already enough shows of force and confrontation at present and appealed for calm.

We need to issue peaceful and rational sounds, Wang said, according to a statement issued by Chinas Foreign Ministry.

Adding to the tensions, North Korea detained a Korean-American man in his fifties, bringing the total number of US citizens held by Pyongyang to three.

The man, Tony Kim, had been in North Korea for a month teaching accounting at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), the institutions chancellor Chan-Mo Park told Reuters. He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

The arrest took place on Saturday morning local time, a statement by the university said, and was related to an investigation into matters that are not connected in any way to PUST.

Tensions have been heightened between the US and the isolationist state ahead of North Koreas 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean Peoples Army, which it will celebrate on Tuesday. It has in the past marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.

It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

North Koreas growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Mr Trump. He has vowed to prevent the North from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.

North Korea says its nuclear programme is for self-defence and has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression. It has also threatened to lay waste to South Korea and Japan.

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

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday that North Koreas recent statements were provocative but had proven to be hollow in the past and should not be trusted.

Weve all come to hear their words repeatedly, their word has not proven honest, Mr Mattis told a news conference in Tel Aviv, before the latest threat to the aircraft carrier.

Japans show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads.

Some Japanese ruling party MPs are urging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to acquire strike weapons that could hit North Korean missile forces before any imminent attack.

Japans navy, which is mostly a destroyer fleet, is the second largest in Asia after Chinas.

The two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson and will practise a variety of tactics with the US strike group, the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force said in a statement.

The Japanese force did not specify where the exercises were taking place but by Sunday the destroyers could have reached an area 1,500 miles (2,500km) south of Japan, which would be waters east of the Philippines.

From there, it could take three days to reach waters off the Korean peninsula. Japans ships would accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan said.

US and South Korean officials have been saying for weeks that the North could soon stage another nuclear test, something the United States, China and others have warned against.

South Korea has put its forces on heightened alert.

China, North Koreas sole major ally, opposes Pyongyangs weapons programmes. The United States has called on China to do more to help defuse the tension.

Last Thursday, Mr Trump praised Chinese efforts to rein in the menace of North Korea, after North Korean state media warned the United States of a super-mighty pre-emptive strike.

Reuters
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A 12-year-old boy attempting to drive the entire distance of Australia on his own has been stopped by police, some 1,300 kilometres into his journey.

The young boy was pulled over in Broken Hill, an isolated mining city in the far west of outback New South Wales, on Saturday after appearing to have driven across a third of the country.

He appears to have driven across the whole state of NSW, starting in Kendall near Port Macquarie.

A police spokesperson said he was on his way to Perth in a statement released on Sunday.

Checks revealed the driver to be a 12-year-old boy travelling from Kendall NSW on his way to Perth, the spokesperson told Associated Press.

Local highway patrol officers stopped the young boys car at around 11am on Saturday when they saw its bumper dragging along the ground.

The 12-year-old was then arrested and taken to Broken Hill police station. Inquiries are ongoing.

The journey from Kendall to Perth by car takes about 40 hours and involves going across some of the harshest deserts in Australia, including the Nullarbor Plain.

The countrys official tourism site advises visitors to take six days solely to get across the Nullarbor on an infamous highway which goes through barren scrubland. It recommends drivers to carry extra petrol and plenty of water and food.
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Crowds of anarchists, anti-fascists and others clashed with police in Paris after early French presidential election results suggested Marine Le Pen would make it into the final round of voting.

Police fired tear-gas to disperse the demonstrators and officers in riot gear surrounded the Place de la Bastille.

French newspaper Le Monde reported several hundreds protesters threw bottles and fireworks at police.

One of the organisers reportedly told the crowd to protest against Marine and against Macron and added whatever the results are, we will not recognise them.

Riot police reacted by charging at the protesters, some wearing balaclavas and black clothes, and trying to contain them in the Opera area, Le Parisien reported.

French riot police clash with demonstrators after partial results in the first round of 2017 French presidential election, in Paris. (REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pellisier)

At about 9pm local time, the protesters moved to the Boulevard Beaumarchais, where they reportedly smashed shop windows, bus shelters and the windows of police vehicles.

Police authorities in Paris are advising motorists to avoid the area around Bastille.
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Emmanuel Macron has done something thought unthinkable just six months ago: getting into the final round of the French presidential race without the support of either of the two major political parties.

When the 39-year-old resigned from Socialist President Francois Hollandes government in 2016 to launch his En Marche! (On the Move!) political movement many thought he was doomed to failure.

But in just 18 months the movement now has more than 200,000 signed-up members and Mr Macron has now won the first round of the French presidential election, beating another political outsider, the Front National's Marine Le Pen, into second place.

This election has been the most shocking and unpredictable in modern French history. Mr Hollande became the first president not to run for a second term since the founding of the Fifth Republic in 1958 and his partys chosen successor, Benoit Hamon, came in an unprecedented fifth place behind far-left rival Jean-Luc Melenchon.

Meanwhile the centre-right Republicains had a disastrous campaign after their candidate, former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, suffered from several scandals including allegations that he used public money to pay his wife for administrative work she does not appear to have done.

Now Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen face a run-off election on 7 May in which Mr Macron is expected to triumph.

Should Mr Macron make it into the Elysee Palace it will be a remarkable achievement for a former banker who was plucked from relative obscurity by Mr Hollande to become his economy minister in 2014.

 French Presidential Debate: Le Pen and Macron clash over immigration and burkini policy

Mr Macron was born into a middle-class family in the northern city of Amiens where he was educated at mostly private Catholic schools.

While in high school he fell in love with his drama teacher, Brigitte Trogneux, who was 24 years his senior, when they collaborated on an end of year play. When his parents sent him to finish his final year of school at an elite establishment in Paris, he refused to give up on Ms Trogneux and proclaimed he would come back and marry her.

Sure enough, the couple stayed together and eventually married in 2007. They now live together in Paris with her three children from her first marriage.

Ms Trogneux has played a key role in the election campaign, with Mr Macron vowing that she will have a role in his administration. She has been quoted as saying she is the president of his fan club and is often seen attending high-level meetings by his side.

Emmanuel Macron kisses his wife Brigitte at a campaign rally (REUTERS)

Despite initially wanting to be a novelist, Mr Macron graduated from the elite Sciences Po university in Paris before entering the civil service. He worked at the French treasury for four years before leaving to become a banker. In 2012 he was appointed as Mr Hollandes deputy chief of staff, then economy minister.

During his tenure in government Mr Macron became particularly unpopular among the traditional left as he enacted a series of labour laws, including one which allows companies to negotiate over the 35-hour week, which led to severe strikes across France.

Mr Macron has pitched himself as a socialist-liberal and played on his personal appeal as a young, fresh face and a counterpoint to the xenophobic, nationalistic, anti-globalisation campaign of Ms Le Pen.

Recommended Polling opens in French election amid tight security and high tension

Before he announced his candidacy for president his team, inspired by the Obama campaign in the US in 2008, carried out a survey of thousands of French citizens to hear what policies they wanted from their politicians.

Le grande marche (the great walkabout) by supporters and activists resulted in 25,000 unusually in-depth interviews with votes which he has built his policy platform on, the BBC reported.

The resulting centrist manifesto has been ridiculed for being too bland and trying to please everyone but broadly speaking he vows to cut taxes and spending but also provide support for those on low incomes along with 50bn (42bn) for public infrastructure and a shift to renewable energy.

More controversially he has vowed to cut corporation tax and red tape, allowing companies to renegotiate the 35-hour week and make it easier to hire and fire.

His supporters say this will help revive Frances moribund economy as many believe strict statist rules. The French labour code is famously longer than the Bible, deterring investment and private sector growth.

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. 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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. 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Mr Macron has vowed to bring unemployment down from its current 10 per cent to 7 per cent. His biggest challenge is winning over blue collar workers who are put off by his support for globalisation, multiculturalism and the EU.

Some dissatisfied voters see immigration as the source of their woes and have flocked to the Front National, which is vowing to bring back French sovereignty with a referendum on EU membership; the suspension of immigration; and to fight back against perceived Islamist extremism in civil society.

During a presidential debate last month, Ms Le Pen attacked Mr Macron for his vague policy positions saying he managed to speak about foreign policy for seven minutes without saying anything at all.

But in his victory speech on Sunday night, Mr Macron made it clear that he plans to win over the rest of the electorate by warning against the "threat" of the far-right.

"I hope that in a fortnight I will become your president," he said. "I want to become the president of all the people of France - the president of the patriots in the face of the threat from the nationalists."
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Marine Le Pen has made it through to the final round of the French presidential election.

With almost all of the 47 million ballots counted, the leader of the far-right Front National (FN) had secured 21.6 per cent of the vote. She will face centrist Emmanuel Macron, the former Socialist minister who set up his own party to run for president. He won the first round with about 23.8 per cent.

Mr Macron is now the clear favourite to triumph in the second, and final, round in two weeks, according to polls.

The vote marks the end of a political era with the two major parties, the Socialists and centre-right Les Republicains, which have traditionally been the pillars of France's political arena, both being eliminated in the first round.

Conservative Francois Fillon was on just under 20 per cent of the vote, marginally ahead of far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon on 19.5 per cent. Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon was set to pick up an historically low 6.3 per cent.

Emmanuel Macron takes to the stage after the first results of the election were announced (AP)

According to the latest polling about voters' intentions in the second round, Mr Macron is forecast to beat Ms Le Pen by 62 per cent to 38 per cent, with many political figures quick to join the 'anyone but Le Pen camp'.

Conceding defeat, Mr Fillon asked his supporters to back Mr Macron in the second round of voting on 7 May, urging them to keep Ms Le Pen away from the presidency.

"Despite all my efforts, my determination, I have not succeeded in convincing my fellow countrymen and women. The obstacles in my path were too numerous and too cruel. This defeat is mine, I accept the responsibility, it is mine and mine alone to bear," Mr Fillon told his supporters.

"Extremism can only bring unhappiness and division to France. There is no other choice than to vote against the far right. I will vote for Emmanuel Macron. I consider it my duty to tell you this frankly. It is up to you to reflect on what is best for your country, and for your children."

As for Mr Melenchon, he said he would not endorse any candidate for the second round.

Mr Macron said the vote showed that the election meant "turning a page in French political history" and that he wanted to gather "the largest possible support" before the run-off.

The frontrunner called for hope in Europe in stark contrast to Ms Le Pen, who campaigned to leave the European Union (EU).

Mr Macron said the EU would have to be reformed and revived with a project "which protects" and offers a place to every French citizen.

(Alamy)

Addressing her supporters in the town of Henin-Baumont, an FN stronghold, Ms Le Pen said the first hurdle towards the Elysee Palace had been overcome.

She hailed the results as historic and warned the survival of French civilisation was now at stake.

European leaders made clear who they wanted the next French president to be.

A spokesman for European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, Margaritis Schinas, tweeted that Mr Juncker had congratulated Mr Macron and wished him good luck for the second round.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel also welcomed the success of Mr Macron and said he was sure the centrist would become the next French president.

Mr Gabriel tweeted: "Felicitations a @EmmanuelMacron. Vive la France, vive l'Europe!"

In an usual move, Mr Gabriel said he would continue to do all he could to support Mr Macron.

Mr Gabriel said: "He was the only really pro-European candidate who didn't hide behind stereotypes about Europe. I'm certain that he will put right-wing radicalism, right-wing populism and anti-Europeans in their place in the second round."

His comments were echoed by Martin Schultz, the Social Democrat who will challenge Angela Merkel in Germany's federal election in September. He said he hoped Mr Macron would win the second round with a broad majority to defeat the "anti-European and openly racist candidate Marine Le Pen".

Macron supporters celebrating the results (AP)

Gunther Krichbaum, a member of Ms Merkel's conservatives and the head of the parliamentary European affairs committee, said Mr Macron's results were "a valuable sign" for German-French cooperation. He also said he was alarmed that the combined projected votes of Ms Le Pen and Mr Melenchon, who are both critical of European integration, totaled about 40 per cent.

Downing Street told The Independent it would not comment on the results.

It is the second time the FN has made it to the final round of a presidential election after the partys founder Jean-Marie Le Pen went head to head with conservative Jacques Chirac in 2002.

French Presidential Election Show all 20 1 /20 French Presidential Election French Presidential Election Voters line up to cast their ballots REUTERS French Presidential Election REUTERS French Presidential Election REUTERS French Presidential Election Police patrol polling stations in France REUTERS French Presidential Election REUTERS French Presidential Election REUTERS French Presidential Election REUTERS French Presidential Election REUTERS French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte Trogneux REUTERS French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron casts his ballot REUTERS French Presidential Election SAA/ French Presidential Election REUTERS French Presidential Election Front National leader Marine Le Pen casts her ballot REUTERS French Presidential Election Early ballots are read as results continue to come in Reuters French Presidential Election Macron supporters react as results come in early in the evening AP French Presidential Election Supporters of Front National leader Marine Le Pen cheer as early results come in Reuters French Presidential Election Alamy French Presidential Election Front National leader Marine Le Pen takes to the stage to address her supporters as fans cheer Reuters French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron greets supporters on Sunday night AP French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte Trogneux celebrate the incoming results EPA

Supporters of Ms Le Pen were quick to hail her at the hall where she gave a speech celebrating the fact she made it through. The packed crowd waved flags and shouting "We will win!"

Quentin Leclerc, 22, a history student said: Marine Le Pen is making history after Brexit [and] Donald Trump.

The second round is another battle but we are prepared."

Michele Lojanne, who came with her 16-year-old son, said: Really happy she is in the second round."

Louise-Marie Le Maire, 50 and unemployed, said it was a pity that she is not first but the right wing takes a slap".

Marion Marechal Le Pen, Marines niece and a FN MP called Ms Le Pens progression to the second round run-off a historic victory for patriots and sovereignists.

In Paris, others were not so happy. Police fired tear gas on the Place de la Bastille in eastern Paris as crowds of young people, some from anarchist and anti-fascist groups, gathered to protest at Ms Le Pens second-place finish and her anti-immigrant policies. They were a number of arrests

The fact that results are so close to end of the count is unsurprising given it was one of the most open election campaigns in recent memory with four candidates all in with a chance of progressing according to the polls before election day.

Very interesting election currently taking place in France, tweeted the US President Donald Trump, who has previously spoken of his admiration for strict anti-immigrant security measures proposed by Ms Le Pen. It was perhaps the understatement of the day.

The presidential poll was the first to be held during a state of emergency, put in place since the Paris attacks of November 2015. More than 50,000 police and gendarmes were deployed to the 66,000 polling stations across the country.

Among the first of the candidates to step out earlier in the day was Ms Le Pen, who cast her vote at the Jacques Rousseau primary school in Henin-Beaumont, the town she would celebrate in later.

Situated in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, a stronghold for her party, there was a heavy police presence at the polling station and the roads around the school were closed.

Shortly before her arrival however, topless demonstrators from the Femen activist group were detained at the polling station after jumping out of an SUV limo wearing masks of Ms Le Pen and Mr Trump.

Elsewhere a voting station in eastern French town of Besancon was evacuated after reports of a suspicious vehicle.

Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said that explosives experts examined the car, but they deemed there to be no risk.

Turnout was just under 80 per cent across the country, but given the close nature of the result, and the fact that polls suggested around 20 per cent of voters could abstain from voting, Ms Le Pen was not the only candidate receiving support among voters in Henin-Beaumont,

Arlette, 79 and retired, told The Independent she has always lived in Henin-Beaumont but was considering not voting after the show the 11 candidates put on during the campaign. But in the end she turned out to vote for Marine Le Pen. Robert, another retiree, came to greet her. He was also going to vote but said he was sickened, because it was always the same speech, the same system offered by the main contenders. To try to change things, he said, he would vote for a small candidate - the trade unionist Philippe Poutou.

Justine, 26, a cashier who has never voted before, decided to give her support to Marine Le Pen. She made her choice because of the terrorist threat that hangs over France, she said. If she [Le Pen] can do what she said she would concerning the 'fiches S' (a terrorist threat register) and to control borders, it would be a good thing, she said. Jeremy, 37, also voted Marine Le Pen to block Macron and Melenchon.

However, with Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen having make it through to the final round, whoever wins will face difficulties even after the 7 May run-off.

Parliamentary elections are to be held in June, with the make up of the MPs in the lower house set to determine how the winner of the election can govern. Mr Macron, who will be fielding candidates from his new En Marche! movement, will need quite a board coalition, while Ms Le Pen will want to see an increase on the current two FN MPs, but she may find herself stymied when it comes to trying to form a majority.
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Halfway through the French election, and despite predictions of a low turnout favouring extreme candidates, by mid afternoon the rate of participation was running as high as it was five years ago.

"Very interesting election currently taking place in France," tweeted the US President Donald Trump, who has previously spoken of his admiration for strict anti-immigrant security measures proposed by Front National's Marine Le Pen.

But Ms Le Pen was not the only candidate receiving support among voters in Henin-Beaumont, the Front National's northern stronghold, where Ms Le Pen went to vote this morning at 11am and avoided a confrontation with Femen activists, topless and wearing masks of Mr Trump's face, who were diverted away by police at the polling station on Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau. A heightened police presence across the country appears to have worked to restore calm after Thursday's terror attack in Paris, and voters continued to drop their ballots in the urn without being disturbed.

Far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen exits a polling booth (AP)

Arlette, 79 and retired, told The Independent she has always lived in Henin-Beaumont but was considering not voting "after the show the 11 candidates put on during the campaign". But in the end she has turned out, to put a ballot for Marine Le Pen. Robert, another retiree, comes to greet her. He is also going to vote but says he is "sickened", because it is always "the same speech, the same system" offered by the main contenders. To try to change things, he says, he will vote "for a small candidate" - the trade unionist Philippe Poutou.

Justine, 26, is cashier who has never voted before, but has now decided to give her support to Marine Le Pen. What has pushed her this time is the terrorist threat that hangs over France - "If she can do what she said she would concerning the 'fiches S' (a terrorist threat register) and to control borders, it would be a good thing," she says. Jeremy, 37, also voted Marine Le Pen to "block Macron and Melenchon.

But even if this city is considered a stronghold of the National Front, of the people interviewed, many said they would turn to the far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon. Stephanie Rappasse, 37, and her husband Julien, 47, parents of three children, both voted for the candidate of "La France insoumise", Unbowed France. She is a client manager in social housing, he an archaeologist, and have previously only ever voted for the Socialist party.

This year it was Melenchon's speeches that convinced them to change their minds. "It is someone who has the merit of speaking on behalf of the workers, the unemployed, the most deprived, without ever discriminating against anyone," they explain. Yvette Tiffore, a 67-year-old retiree who has always lived in Henin-Beaumont, has also voted Melenchon.

Only Marie, another retiree of 80, is worried about a second round opposing Marine Le Pen to Melenchon and still hesitates when going to vote, between Macron and Fillon. But she confesses "I think I'll vote Fillon in the first round and Macron in the second." We won't know until the release of initial results, after 8pm (7pm BST), whether Mary will be able to follow through with her plan.
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Germanys nationalist party, Alternative fur Deutschland, has elected two new top candidates for the September general election after the partys best-known politician, Frauke Petry, said last week she would no longer be available.

Members of the far-right party, known by its acronym AfD, elected Alexander Gauland and Alice Weidel at their weekend party convention in Cologne.

Divisions erupted among the different factions of the German nationalists as delegates from the AfD rejected an appeal on Saturday by Ms Petry to seek a more pragmatic political path instead of turning into a fundamental opposition party. The defeat was a significant blow for AfD co-leader Ms Petry, whose position in the party is now substantially weakened.

Mr Gauland, 76, is one of the partys most prominent members and one of Ms Petrys main rivals.

We want to keep our home country, keep our identity, and we are proud to be German, he said in his acceptance speech.

Ms Weidel, 38, is a consultant from southwestern Germany who has not stood in the spotlight of the four-year-old party so far.

If we now stick together and fight together, then finally a true opposition party will be getting into German Parliament, she told cheering delegates.

The party members also voted for an election manifesto that is harsh on immigration and Muslims and reiterates calls for leaving the European Unions euro currency.

The head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany condemned the AfDs further move to the far right, saying the party is trying to make a chauvinist-nationalist way of thinking socially acceptable in Germany again.

Josef Schuster warned that the party is threatening Jewish and Muslim life in Germany.

The conference in Cologne was overshadowed by massive protests on Saturday, when tens of thousands rallied against the populist party and blocked access to the hotel where the convention took place. The city remained relatively calm on Sunday and police reported only a few small demonstrations.

About 68 per cent voted for the duo, with 28 per cent voting against, the German news agency DPA reported.

AfDs poll ratings soared amid the influx of migrants to Germany in late 2015 and early 2016. However, they have sagged in recent months as the issue faded from headlines and the party became increasingly mired in infighting, with Ms Petry and her husband Marcus Pretzell against other senior figures like Mr Gauland even further on the right.

Ms Petry, 41, announced on Wednesday that she would no longer be her partys top candidate. She also irked some rivals by leading an effort to expel Bjorn Hocke, AfDs regional leader in the eastern Thuringia state, after he suggested that Germany stops acknowledging and atoning for its Nazi past. Mr Gauland has repeatedly protected Mr Hocke, even after his remarks created an outrage in Germany.

German political parties choose lead candidates for elections who generally dominate their campaigns and, in the case of bigger parties, compete to become chancellor.

The country holds general elections on 24 September.

AP
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Pope Francis has drawn criticism from a Jewish organisation for comparing European refugee holding centres to concentration camps.

The pontiff made the comparison during a visit to Rome Basilica where he met with migrants on Saturday. Recalling his visit to a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos last year, he talked of encountering a Muslim refugee from the Middle East who told him how terrorists came to our country.

According to Reuters, islamists cut the throat of the man's Christian wife because she refused to throw her crucifix on the ground

Pope Francis said: I don't know if he managed to leave that concentration camp, because refugee camps, many of them, are of concentration (type) because of the great number of people left there inside them.

Soon afterwards, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) urged the pontiff to reconsider his regrettable choice of words.

The conditions in which migrants are currently living in some European countries may well be difficult, and deserve still greater international attention, but concentration camps they certainly are not, David Harris, the head of the AJC, said in a statement.

Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Live and let live.' GETTY IMAGES Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Proceed calmly" in life' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Be giving of yourself to others' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Even though many parents work long hours, they must set aside time to play with their children' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Sunday is for family' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Respect and take care of nature' OSSERVATORE ROMANO/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Stop being negative' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: Respect others' beliefs' AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness Pope Francis: 'Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive' FP/Getty Images Pope Francis gives life advice: in pictures Pope Francis' guide to happiness AFP/Getty Images

The Nazis and their allies erected and used concentration camps for slave labour and the extermination of millions of people during World War II. There is no comparison to the magnitude of that tragedy.

We respectfully urge the pope to reconsider his regrettable choice of words. Precision of language and facts is absolutely essential when making any historical reference, all the more so when coming from such a prominent and admired world figure.

Adolf Hitlers Nazi Germany maintained concentration camps across the territories it controlled before and during World War II. The camps were utilised to incarcerate, torture and kill so-called racially undesirable elements of German society, such as Jews, criminals, homosexuals, and Romani, and political opponents.
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Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has urged the United Nations to help negotiate a permanent ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Following a month-long war between Israeli forces and the Shia militant group Hezbollah in 2006, the two sides agreed to stop fighting but never signed a formal peace deal.

Now Mr Hariri has called the UN to intervene to end what he described as Israels continous violations of Lebanese territory.

"I urge the UN Secretary-General to support efforts to secure, as soon as possible, a state of permanent ceasefire. This is long overdue and my government is committed to move this agenda forward," he said.

He was speaking during a visit to south Lebanon a day after Hezbollah officials staged a media tour of what they called recent Israeli fortifications on the border and warned they were prepared to go to war again.

Mr Hariri said tensions between the group and Israel were not something Beirut was involved in, nor something they would accept in their territory.

Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said in a Facebook post that Hezbollah's media tour was to "shake their sabres and pound their chests".

Under the UN resolution which ended the war in 2006, Hezbollah is banned from going near the border which the Lebanese and Israeli armies are responsible for patrolling on their respective sides.

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. 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In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. 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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. 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The conflict killed an estimated 1,200 Lebanese people, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis.

Since the war, the Lebanese have remained deeply split over Hezbollah's role.

The powerful Shia group has an arsenal that rivals that of the Lebanese army and has sent thousands of its fighters to shore up Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces against predominantly Sunni rebels during the neighbouring country's six-year civil war.

Lebanons government, which is required to be run by a Maronite Christian, a Shia Muslim and a Sunni Muslim under the constitution, has been struggling to keep the instability in the region out of its borders.

Currently it is hosting the largest concentration of Syrian refugees per capita in the world with over a million fleeing to refugee camps within its territory since the civil war began in 2011. The total Lebanese population is roughly four million.

Mr Hariri and others in Lebanon have repeatedly called on Hezbollah to withdraw its troops from Syria.

Meanwhile the army said it had arrested 10 members of militant groups linked to Isis following a raid in the border town of Arsal which the Sunni terror group briefly overran in 2014.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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Bathed in sunshine, the French presidential candidates stepped out to cast their votes in one of the most unpredictable contests in decades.

The poll is the first to be held during a state of emergency, put in place since the Paris attacks of November 2015 and more than 50,000 police and gendarmes were deployed to the 66,000 polling stations across the country.

Among the first of the 11 candidates to step out was the far right leader of the Front National, Marine le Pen, who cast her vote at the Jacques Rousseau primary school in Henin-Beaumont, a small town of around 26,500.

Situated in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, a stronghold for her party, there was a heavy police presence at the polling station and the roads around the school were closed.

Dressed in a navy blue suit, a blue rose pinned on the left side of her jacket (her party symbol for this campaign), Ms le Pen smiled at the crowd of journalists and onlookers. But with rules preventing her from influencing the election, she did not speak to them.

Shortly before her arrival however, topless demonstrators from the Femen activist group were detained at the polling station after jumping out of an SUV limo wearing masks of Le Pen and United States President Donald Trump.

Elsewhere a voting station in eastern French town of Besancon was evacuated after reports of a suspicious vehicle.

Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said that explosives experts examined the car, but they deemed there to be no risk.

Along with Ms le Pen the other candidates came out to cast their votes. Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron, one of the front-runners in the unpredictable election went to the ballot box in the coastal town of Le Touquet in northern France alongside his wife Brigitte Macron.

Surprise surge for hard left could scramble French election results Show all 2 1 /2 Surprise surge for hard left could scramble French election results Surprise surge for hard left could scramble French election results Pg-26-surprise2-ap.jpg AP Surprise surge for hard left could scramble French election results Pg-26-surprise-reu.jpg Reuters

Hardline right-winger Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, who rails against Europe, was the first of the 11 presidential candidates to vote in his constituency in the leafy Paris suburbs. Far-left candidate Nathalie Arthaud cast her ballot soon after in the Paris suburb of Pantin.

The wife of conservative presidential candidate and former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon cast her ballot near their country home  conspicuously not alongside her husband, due to vote miles away in Paris.

Welsh-born Penelope Fillon, 61, was handed preliminary charges for her role in a fake jobs scandal  dubbed "Penelopegate"  that had threatened to derail her husband's campaign.

Despite their votes, polls before the elections suggested that there would be high level - around 27 or 28 per cent - of abstentions. At the last presidential election around 80 per cent of people turned out.

This time, there are around 47 million eligible voters, who will choose between 11 candidates.
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When Austin Powers nemesis Dr Evil came out of deep freeze and held the world to ransom he hilariously imagined that one million dollars was a lot of money. The response to the suggestion of Labours shadow chancellor John McDonnell last week that earning an annual salary of more than 70,000 makes one rich has prompted similar guffaws.

Doesnt he know how much it costs to buy a house in London these days? Doesnt he know how expensive private school fees are? Honestly, how out of touch can you get? Of course, as many have pointed out, its not McDonnell who is out of touch.

The most recent data from HMRC shows that the median average pre-tax income is around 22,400. An income of over 70,000 a year will actually put you in the top five per cent of all UK earners.

When Ed Miliband proposed a mansion tax on properties valued at more than 2m in 2015 right wing newspapers exploded with fury, screaming about how that this would lay waste to middle England. In fact, it would have affected around 100,000 homes, less than half a per cent of the total UK residential dwelling stock. The average house price today, by the way, is around 220,000. And wealth is a far more unequally distributed than income, with the luckiest tenth owning almost half of all the assets.

Rich is like the inverse of middle class. In Britain, everyone seems to think of themselves as middle class, whether theyre earning hundreds of thousands of pounds a year or taking home barely more than the minimum wage. Being middle class (preferably the hard working variety) is a badge of honour.

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But people are extraordinarily reticent about allowing themselves to be labelled rich. Many would sooner present themselves in the Daily Mail offices as a Brexit saboteur.

Is this simply because people dont want to pay more tax and fear that admitting wealth will invite a raid from opportunistic politicians? Up to a point. But another big influence is reference point psychology. People dont have a mental snapshot of the national distribution of income or assets in their heads when they consider the question of whether or not they are rich or well off or not. They answer an easier question instead: where do they feel themselves to be relative to their peer group and relative to their own expectations?

This helps explain why research shows people from all over the income distribution have a tendency to place themselves in the middle of the pack when asked to guess. We all know some people who are doing better than us and some who are doing worse.

Even the indisputably prosperous are prone to this. Consider the FTSE 100 chief executive who is awarded a compensation package of 4m a year. Rich? Not when you consider that the boss of an American company earns five times as much.

What about the investment banker who extracts a bonus worth tens of millions of pounds from his employer? Well off? Not compared to that bankers hedge fund or private equity friends who might earn ten times as much. And so on right up to the billionaire classes.

But this psychology can be found well down the pay scale too, even among those who earn below 70,000. As HL Mencken put it, wealth is any income that is at least one hundred dollars more a year than the income of ones wifes sisters husband.

Recommended Tories pledge higher taxes for overseas buyers of England homes

So where does this fiesta of unscientific relativity leave tax policy? In a dire state is the answer. Most public finance experts, at least those who are not employed by the super-rich to evangelise for tax cuts, now agree that residential property in the UK is inefficiently and unfairly taxed.

But its proven impossible to reform the system in a more equitable direction because the bulk of the public can be so easily misled by politicians and the partisan media into believing that they personally will feel the pain.

The consequence is that residential wealth, which has risen substantially in recent decades, is under-taxed relative to income, which impedes our national productivity growth and encourages us to plough our savings into property, leaving us perpetually prone to a dangerous orgy of housing speculation. If we are ever to escape from this doom loop of public ignorance, dysfunctional policymaking and financial instability, the first step out will probably be an acknowledgement of the source of the problem: misinformation and right wing propaganda.

When political commentators react like scalded cats to the very suggestion that someone on more than three times the average income could be labelled well off, there is a problem. When we are inundated with chin-stroking discussions in the broadcast media (even among public broadcasters like the BBC) about who can fairly be considered rich, that tells us something important and troubling about whose financial interests the essential channels of information in our society are, directly or indirectly, serving. And its not those who really are in the middle.

This article was first published on 23rd April, 2017...
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A frantic burst of policy activity shows Jeremy Corbyn on mixed form on the clarity front. On the one hand, he was absolutely plain about bank holidays. The Labour leader could not have been clearer about his intention to boost them by four with an extra one for each UK patron saint.

On the other hand, the more trivial question of nuclear weapons caught him in less decisive mode. Until now, the Jezza doctrine has been to keep Trident while guaranteeing that there are never any circumstances to use it.

Some considered that a bit bemusing, but I cant see why. It makes as much sense as Jose Mourinho buying Antoine Griezmann for 150m from Atletico Madrid, and swearing on his childrens lives at the signing ceremony never to put Griezmann on the Manchester United bench, let alone in the starting XI. What on earth would be bonkers about that?

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

In a bid to clarify on Andrew Marrs BBC1 sofa, Corbyn went beyond restating that he would never call for the codes. He also said there will be no pledge to retain Trident in Labours manifesto, and stated beyond a scintilla of doubt that maybe, once installed in Downing Street, who knows, he might consider, well, its too early to be sure, but mm, it is conceivable that his government would scrap Trident. Or not.

Now you cant be clearer than that.

I was mightily impressed by his squirming on this point. If you or I were facing his election odds  its three times likelier that Miley Cyrus will infiltrate the Pyongyang regime on Thursday, twerk the Young Leader to death on Friday, and have reunited North and South Korea by Saturday teatime  we wouldnt bother nuancing the policy commitments.

If only for the merriment, you or I would blatantly promise anything and everything in the certainty that a) almost no one is listening; b) those who are wont take a blind bit of notice; and c) there is more chance of Miley defusing the North Korean nuclear menace on the timescale stipulated above, than of you or I kissing Her Majestys gloved hand on 9 June.

 Jeremy Corbyn defends four new bank holidays policy

For the impact it would have on the future occupancy of No 10, Jeremy Corbyn might as well promise every UK national their own hippopotamus and an ornamental lake to keep it in, or to ennoble Ilie Nastase and make him the minister of state for women and minorities in the Lords.

At 8.10am on tomorrows Today programme, he could inform John Humphrys that his first act as PM will be to pass emergency legislation, making it an inalienable human right for British citizens to have a date with Bradley Cooper and/or Jennifer Lawrence once a week  and the polls wouldnt move a fraction either way.

If Corbyn rose at noon on Wednesday to launch PMQs with Will the Prime Minister tell the House if she will join me in promising to make singing the national anthem a criminal offence punishable by an all-expenses-paid weekend in a fantasy suite at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, with tickets to see Celine Dion thrown in, the electoral weathercock wouldnt budge. Hed still be losing both the Celine Dion lover and Celine Dion hater demographics to Theresa May, just as he is losing all the rest.

Admittedly, its only a rumour that ICM has him trailing her by 49-37 per cent among the Jeremy Corbyn blood relatives demographic. But it is a recorded fact that the Labour leader  the Labour leader, if you care to imagine those italics in Neil Kinnocks gravelly tones  is losing (29-26) to May on trustworthiness to run the NHS. After seven years of Tory/Tory-led government, with the health service widely perceived to be in crisis, a Tory PM is deemed more competent to manage it than her Labour counterpart. If the history of electoral polling in Britain has ever produced a more chilling figure for an opposition party, it slipped my notice.

In this desperate context, it feels churlish and pointless to wonder why Corbyn promoted the bank holiday banality above a seriously populist policy such as renationalising the railways. If he is making the worst of an abysmal hand  and the combination of Brexit and the anti-centre left backlash elsewhere in Europe and the US  the outcome will be much the same as from making the best of it.

Recommended Jeremy Corbyn says he would suspend British air strikes in Syria

So rather than carp at his stubbornly inadequate line on Trident, or the failure over 18 months to develop a coherent strategy (let alone anything approaching a vision), lets celebrate Corbyns resilience as he marches cheerily towards the gunfire.

One of his four new bank holidays (St Andrews Day) falls on November 30. That also happens to be Churchills birthday, and in one regard Winston would be proud to have inspired the man who would succeed him in Downing Street. Corbyn may or may not take some beating when it comes to messing up. But no one in peacetime memory has given such a courageous demonstration of what it means, when facing impossible odds, to keep buggering on.
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Two political factions have a palpable sense of sour grapes right now. If your entire raison detre is opposition to war, or if you regard every act of solidarity with the oppressed as a waste of taxpayers money, what do you say when confronted with footage of jubilant crowds singing the praises of Western military intervention in Mali?

You pretend they do not exist, of course.

Last week French forces drove Islamist rebels out of the north of Mali, where fanatics had established an African base for Al Qaeda and imposed sharia law and everything that goes with it, including amputations, the banning of music and the reduction of women to the status of chattel.

In driving out the Islamists, a French socialist politician has provided Malians with sanctuary from the fanatical whims of the Islamists; hence the celebrations. Most Malians want their lives dictated by the totalitarian edicts of religious fanatics about as much as they want lectures from Western cultural relativists about the legitimate grievances of those who would chop off their hands for stealing a loaf of bread. As would you; why suppose Africans feel differently?

France will likely begin the gradual withdrawal of its troops from Mali in the next few weeks, handing over responsibility for security to an African force.

For those at a safe distance from the reach of the jihadists, one can welcome the liberation of the Malian people from this stark nightmare or shrug ones shoulders and mutter about colonialism or the expense to European taxpayers.

While it would be unsurprising to hear little Englanders denounce the involvement of British forces in Mali using the same rational they use to denounce all aid to Africa  i.e. they dont care - the sheer number of self-appointed humanitarians willing to watch the enslavement of Malian society with equanimity is shameful.

No it is worse than that; it is utterly repulsive.

According to the Stop the War Coalition, Frances intervention in Mali is part of a growing scramble for Africa.

Stop the War condemns the intervention in Mali, and calls on the government to withdraw all support immediately, a statement reads.

First of all, anyone who wishes to understand the conflict in Mali must recognise that this is not a resource grab by the French. It isnt anything of the sort. France and Mali already have an excellent (and consensual) trading relationship, with French direct investment in the Malian economy increasing from $210 million US dollars in 2001 to $1,093 million by the end of 2008; in 2010 Mali hosted nearly 50 subsidiaries and companies with French capital. The idea that socialist President Francois Hollande, a man who was welcomed into office eight months ago promising a 75 per cent tax for Frances rich, is embarked on a final push into West Africa on behalf of French corporations is bonkers to put it mildly.

Rather than enrich French corporations, what the intervention did do, however, was drive out of Mali some of the most unpleasant people on earth. Jihadists. People who murder women for looking at the wrong man; men who hang gay people for their sexuality; bigots who execute Jews for being Jews.

The reaction of the Malian people to the French military victory should tell you all you need to know. As Lindsey Hilsum put it in one of her excellent dispatches for Channel 4 news: The scenes of joy and excitement as the French and Malians drove into town showed the majority of people in Gao utterly rejected jihadi rule.

As a person of the left, I find I have absolutely no problem with that.

If you remain unconvinced, I have a quick thought experiment. Suppose for a moment those who believe that Western intervention can never be a force for good in the world were held to account for the human cost of inaction? It is deeply fashionable these days to denounce Tony Blair as a war criminal, for example, yet what about slaughters such as that carried out by the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, where over 60,000 people and counting have lost their lives - at least in part because the West has decided not to intervene militarily?

Do those people not count? Or can inaction at times be as bad as intervention on the side of the aggressor and against the victim?

It is always possible of course to seek comfort in conspiracy theories whenever the West intervenes militarily, muttering under ones breath about blowback, resource grab or colonialism. What one cannot do is simultaneously keep up a pretence of humanitarianism.

Sometimes intervention is wrong, and sometimes it isnt.

In the case of Mali, Vive la France is more appropriate than all the predictable cries of "Troops Out" by the usual suspects.
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The suspect in the attack on the Borussia Dortmund Team bus on 11 April was looking to profit financially in a convoluted plan reliant on a share price crash. This is a step change, all be it with some heritage, but it is ultimately a flawed one.

Already labelled as speculator terrorism, such a strategy relies on the terror effect, and therein lies the flaw. Fear of terrorism is rarely seen for all the headlines, alerts and policies it generates. Instead terrorism has become the prominent means of othering, those in our societies and distinguishing politicised identities.

Terrorism reporting regularly exposes our sadly less than deep prejudices and the Dortmund attack is just another expose of that. Muslims are the go-to other, and the author of the fake claims of responsibility knew he was feeding on an insatiable appetite that barely needed baiting. The presumption of militant Islam is sadly understandable but no less a trap. It provides cover and the Dortmund attack was taking advantage of it.

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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 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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. 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In this respect, the novelty in taking advantage of that cover is something we should watch out for. The prospects of false flag terrorism from far right groups looking to undermine German policy toward refugees from Syria was mooted last week. Nobody was suggesting a false flag for individual commercial profit.

Though terrorism has often had a commercial element. Not least in Germany, where from the 1970s the Red Army Faction robbed banks to service their anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist revolution. While political reform is the banner, financial gain has formed a regular undercurrent in terrorism. Terrorism is classically misunderstood as violence in service of a collective strategy rather than an individualistic one.

Carlos the Jackal may not have gone short on M&S stocks before he attempted to assassinate Joseph Sieff, the companies chairman (and leading figure in the British Zionist Federation), in 1973 on behalf of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). But the prospect of attacks on financially sensitive figures was made clear, though until now it seemed more theoretical than practical.

 Borussia Dortmund bus blasts injure player Marc Bartra

Terrorism that is primarily commercial and individual is most definitely on the agenda now as never before, and while our prejudices might misguide us, they don't fuel it. Some human beings can profit from the death, injury and imposition of fear on other human beings. But it is not very easy. We do not scare that easy.

Relying on the stock market to react rationally to a terrorist attacks is hardly a sound investment strategy. Borussia Dortmund shares actually rose the day after the attack. Quantifying the fear effect is a mugs game. Fear of terrorism is largely overblown, even when commercially manifest. After 9/11, the US stock markets bounced back within a month while there was still smoke coming from the rubble of the World Trade Centre. After 7/7, for most Londoners 8/7 was a sad working day, not a fear-filled one. We can go back to the IRA and beyond these shores for more such evidence.

Beyond those immediately affected, terrorism is principally a media event. One that politicians, and yes commentators, nearly always fall for. In spite of the risks presented by their mental health issues, individuals with everyday objects should not make us fear one another. Politicians regularly profit from manufacturing fear around terrorism. Theresa Mays staggering over-reaction to the Westminster attack, calling it no less than an attack on us and our freedom came as she was also stating the obvious, that we will not be cowed. Cars and kitchen knives kill, but they dont constitute an attack on our country or our values. We can maybe forgive some hyperbole given that was an attack on the Westminster Bubble. But Dortmund shows us that it is long past time to burst the terrorism fear bubble.

By at least reducing the hot air from the fear mongering on terrorism, we reduce the scope for over reaction, and for political and financial profiteering.

Tom Smith is a lecturer in international relations at the University of Portsmouth.
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Government securities were once regarded as gilt-edged investments, guaranteeing a steady income and safety of capital. Income levels have declined with lower rates. No more!

Heavily indebted governments have seen their credit standing decline, making return of principal less certain. Even where the state can print money to meet its liabilities, the purchasing power of investors in government bonds may be eroded. Trade and currency wars mean that international investors face additional risks.

National Front leader Marine Le Pen has indicated that if she gains Frances presidency euro denominated government bonds will be re-denominated in new French Francs.

The risks are compounded by the fact that the entire global financial system is now underpinned by the use of government bonds as collateral to secure financial transactions. The practice continues to be a central tenet of banking regulation, despite its role in compounding the 2008 crisis.

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 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during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty

Collateral is used to secure borrowing, structured as repurchased agreements as well as mortgages over or pledges of real estate or other assets. In derivative transactions, collateral is lodged periodically to secure current mark-to-market exposure.

But there are several issues with collateral. As Yogi Berra astutely observed, in theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. Rather than make the financial system safer, collateral use does not reduce but creates different risks.

First, the emphasis shifts from the borrower or counterpartys creditworthiness to the collateral. Focus on financial strength and ability to perform is reduced. Parties normally ineligible to borrow or transact in the first place are able to enter into transactions. The rapid growth in debt levels, volume of derivative contracts and hedge funds or structured investment vehicles relies on collateral.

Second, the choice of collateral, originally limited to cash and government securities, creates risks. Even government securities now are not risk free.

To accommodate growth, the range of securities accepted as collateral has increased. In these cases, the value attributed to each security is adjusted by haircuts, introducing the risk of volatile unexpected changes in the value of the collateral itself.

 Marine Le Pen pledges to expel 'foreign extremists'

The correlation between the risk covered and the value of the collateral becomes crucial. Wrong way correlation, where the underlying risk increases at the same time the value of the collateral decreases, reduces its utility as security.

Third, it assumes liquid markets for the collateral, which must be realised in case of default. Fourth, it creates asset liability mismatches where the loan is for a shorter maturity than the security pledged or where collateral must be adjusted frequently over the life of the transaction. Unexpected changes in the amount of collateral needed create liquidity risks.

Fifth, collateral use entails significant model risk. The underlying exposure (in the case of derivatives) as well as the value of the collateral must be determined. As evident during crises, there are difficulties in valuing less liquid securities, as well as risk of potential manipulation of and disputes about valuations. Models must establish the level of initial collateral posted, to cover the fall in value between the last margin call and the close out date. Initial margin amounts are based on historical volatility that may be inadequate in periods of stress. Where collateral is calculated on a portfolio basis, offset methodologies (based on correlation) may be flawed.

Sixth, collateral introduces significant operational and legal risk. It places large demands on operational procedures to ensure mark-to-market calculations are accurate, collateral is paid and received, collateral is monitored and control over the cash or securities are held. The legal validity of these arrangements in all jurisdictions is not assured because of a complex mix of domestic and international laws. Enforcement may be practically difficult because of the frequent unwillingness of courts to enforce foreign judgements.

Seventh, the use of collateral entails moral hazards. While lowering collateral levels increases leverage but decreases risk mitigation, pressure to increase business volumes may lead to inadequate collateralisation.

Finally, collateral has systemic risks which deeply alter the functioning of financial markets, especially the quantum of credit available, liquidity risk and behaviour.

Use of collateral is an important source of endogenous liquidity. The practice of re-hypothecation  where collateral received is re-pledged to support other transactions  allows exponential expansion in leverage. But if re-hypothecation is restricted, then the cash and securities committed as collateral cannot be used, precipitating a rapid contraction in liquidity.

Reliance on collateral encourages the creation of high quality securities that lenders are willing to lend against. This led to the creation of complex structured securities, reliant on complex ratings models. According to the Bank for International Settlements, between 1990 and 2006, AAA rated securities increased from around 20 per cent to over 55 per cent of all securities on issue, with asset-backed securities accounting for about two-thirds of the increase.

Collateral exacerbates financial distress risk where a solvent party cannot meet unexpected margin calls. Limited disclosure of collateral provisions and potential liquidity claims also makes it difficult to assess the financial position of counterparties.

Where collateral use is widespread, it exacerbates the problem of herding behaviour. In periods of stress, market participants all seek more collateral or need to sell pledged securities increasing market instability, potentially fatally.

Collateral use is becoming more entrenched. Banks rely on secured funding, including repos with central banks. Regulations encourage the use of collateral through favourable capital treatment. The Central Counter Party (CCP), the key element of derivative market reform, is predicated on collateralisation.

Economist Hyman Minsky identified three phases of finance. Hedge financing is where income flows can meet principal and interest on debt used to finance. Speculative financing is where income flows cover only interest repayments but not principal, requiring debt to be continually refinanced. Ponzi finance is where income flows cover neither principal nor interest repayments with the borrower relying on increasing asset values to service debt.

In the progression from hedge financing to Ponzi finance, asset prices become completely delinked from fundamental values until the structure collapses as no one is willing to borrow or lend the required amounts to finance asset purchases. The decline in quality of once gilt edged government securities and their inappropriate use of collateral is central to this process.

Satyajit Das is a former banker. His latest book is A Banquet of Consequences (published in North America as The Age of Stagnation to avoid confusion as a cookbook). He is also the author of Extreme Money and Traders, Guns & Money
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Whenever news of the Bunny Ranch brothel in Nevada pops up on my social media I can rarely resist a read. I spent time in 2012 in this brothel, accompanied by America's biggest pimp, Dennis Hof. I met women in his brothels who were as sad as they were desperate, and so disappointed that legalisation had made it worse for them, rather than better. One woman, who was heavily pregnant, had asked the brothel manager if she could take off six months to have her baby and come back without having to reapply for her old job. The manager told her that she would be far better off working throughout her pregnancy, "because there are plenty of men who want to squeeze pregnant ladies boobies".

When I read an article entitled A Woman's Right to Choose to be a Pregnant Sex Worker on the Bunny Ranch Blog, written by a prostituted woman named Summer Sebastian, who is unfortunate enough to work there, I figured that Dennis Hof had simply cashed in on yet another way to make money from women's bodies.

I cut my feminist teeth while still a teenager in the early 1980s campaigning against the porn industry. We knew very little then about just how indivisible porn and prostitution were. What I found out in those early days was that whatever men's kink was, there would be a porn genre for it. And this was some years before the invention of the internet.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA

One such genre was pregnancy porn. I found, looking through old issues of Hustler magazine, heavily pregnant and naked women fetishised by their large bellies, and swollen breasts. I recall the photographs of adult men appearing to suckle on these breasts, while others masturbated over their stomachs.

I learnt to stop wondering after a while how men came to fantasise about inflicting sex on women about to give birth, just as I locked away in the filing cabinet of my mind marked horror those men who collected photographs of the soles of prepubescent children's feet.

Having just conducted two years of intensive research into the global sex trade, I have been reminded of how pornography is simply prostitution with a camera. Having visited brothels  both legal and illegal  in countries around the world, I have seen how sex buyers get what they demand so long as they have enough to pay for it. One story will never leave me. A woman being prostituted in a legal German brothel was paid to be gangbanged by six men all of whom had asked for a heavily pregnant woman to have sex with. She said after enduring this hideous experience  which was perfectly legal under German law  that she felt she had pimped out her unborn child. She of course had done nothing of the sort. But the pimp, or "brothel owner" as legalisation demand he be dignified, certainly was doing just that.

 We need to talk about porn

Where there is legal prostitution, such as in Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand, legal pimps will sell literally anything to anyone without concern for law enforcement's interference.

Where there are no bestiality laws, a woman in a legal brothel can be penetrated by animals, however large, and no one is breaking the law. The woman is very likely to be harmed and highly traumatised, but who cares about her under a system where profit trumps safety and dignity?

The rise in pregnant women for sale in the sex trade fits perfectly with the neoliberal notion that the female body is nothing but a marketplace, where everything is for sale. As I recently discovered while investigating the breast-milk trade market in Cambodia, rich white Westerners have no problem with mining the bodies of poor brown women for their convenience.

Recommended What the future of porn and sex technology means for women

Summer Sebastian is arguing in her article that prostituting while pregnant is nothing more than a good business plan. If prostitution were really a job like any other then she would surely be asking for maternity leave? I can't think of any other job where being pregnant is an advantage for women, not even in midwifery (which, by the way, is the real oldest profession.) Sebastian is simply playing to market forces. Men who pay for sex dehumanise the women they buy, and that means every part of them, including the unborn child that may be growing inside them. Some of these men simply will not give a damn that the woman they are abusing is pregnant, and could suffer health complications by having the type of rough sex that many punters demand, or by being at risk of sexually transmitted infections.

Others are sexually excited by the idea of a foetus close to full development being almost involved in the prostitution act. This is as disturbing as can be. But it shouldn't be a surprise to any of us  the men who pay for sex are paying for consent. They neither know nor care if the woman they are buying is traumatised, upset, or indifferent to the man paying the money. When you dehumanise a person for the purposes of one-sided sexual pleasure, you cease to care about any humanity involved, including your own.
A special committee set up to deliberate on Ireland's abortion regime has made a landmark call for the procedure to be allowed without restriction.

The Citizens' Assembly, a randomly selected group of 99 members of the public and chaired by Supreme Court Judge Mary Laffoy, voted in favour of terminations in cases of rape, foetal abnormalities including non-fatal conditions, a risk to the mother's health and for socio-economic reasons.

The committee also called for no distinction to be drawn between the woman's health issue being physical or mental.

Judge Laffoy will include the results in a report being submitted to the Irish parliament in late June with an onus on politicians to introduce new laws.

"The recommendations you have made certainly have called for a change to the status quo," she said.

Judge Laffoy paid tribute to the work of the assembly members over the last few months and also offered a special note of thanks to women who came to the meetings to give personal evidence about how they were affected by abortion laws.

She also said her report would include the views of "dissenting voices".

At the heart of the Citizens Assembly's work was an examination of the eighth amendment to the Republic's Constitution which gives equal right to life to the mother and to the unborn child.

If politicians accept the recommendations a constitutional referendum will be needed to determine any reform.

The Assembly members initially voted to replace or amend Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution and then called for it to be changed to a provision explicitly authorising the Irish parliament to address termination of pregnancy, any rights of the unborn and any rights of the pregnant woman.

In a series of subsequent ballots on Sunday the Assembly set out its support for fundamental liberalisation of Ireland's strict regime on abortion.

Some 78% were in favour of allowing abortion if a woman's health was at risk from the pregnancy, 89% in cases of rape and fatal foetal abnormality, 80% in cases of non-fatal foetal abnormality and 72% in favour of allowing the procedure if a woman wishes to express socio-economic reasons.

More than 3,400 women gave Irish addresses while attending abortion clinics in Britain in 2015.

Judge Laffoy said: "I will leave it for others to parse the immediate significance of these recommendations but it is important to acknowledge the work of the members since this process began.

"Over five weekends they have engaged with some of the most complex pieces of legislation, immersed themselves in medical and ethical discourse, and listened with respect to the voices and opinions of others.

"This has been to the benefit both to the process and to the wider conversation on this topic."

In Ireland, since 2014, a pregnancy can be terminated under the Protection Of Life During Pregnancy Act if there is a risk to a woman's life, including from suicide.

The procedure can involve a medical or surgical termination or an early delivery by induction or Caesarean section to deliver the baby.

But there are growing campaigns for women to be allowed access to abortion if their unborn child is diagnosed with a fatal foetal abnormality or in cases of rape and incest.

Figures from the Health Service Executive showed 26 terminations were carried out under the legislation in 2014 and the same number again in 2015.

In both years, 14 arose from a risk to the life of the mother from physical illness, three in relation to suicide and nine following emergencies arising from physical illness.

As the Assembly results were announced Ireland's most senior Catholic cleric, Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin, gave a homily at Knock Shrine reiterating total opposition to the constitutional change.

" Demands to quash and abolish this amendment go against the good news that the life of every person is sacred and inviolable, irrespective of the stage or state of that life, from the first moment of conception until the moment of natural death," he said.

The Archbishop added: "To deliberately and intentionally take the life of an innocent person, whatever their state or stage of life, is always gravely morally wrong."
Theresa May has said 'all bits of the EU' will be discarded in a hard Brexit

Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Tuesday that she is engineering a snap general election for June 8 with Brexit being the primary motivation.

The unexpected announcement, which the House of Commons ratified on Wednesday, signals the third UK-wide vote in two years and has taken the country by surprise following repeated denials from Downing Street that an early national ballot would be called before the previously scheduled one in 2020.

May's Conservative Party currently has a strong lead in polls, and her calculated gamble in calling the ballot is based on the premise that she can now win a huge, historic victory to not just secure a personal mandate as prime minister but also bolster her current fragile majority in the House of Commons. This is by no means certain, however, in what will be a potentially remarkable election, in unusual circumstances, which May is trying to base around a single issue.

For the chief reason the prime minister asserted for her spectacular U-turn over calling an early poll is that opposition parties are, by and large, at odds with her Brexit plan. She told the country that she is not prepared to allow her political opponents to jeopardise the forthcoming exit negotiations with the EU. In her own words, the "country is coming together, but Westminster is not" and what the country needs is "certainty, stability and strong leadership".

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Tensions on Brexit

However, far from the nation pulling together in the way May asserts, there are in fact stark intra-UK divisions over Brexit, with not just Scotland, but also Northern Ireland and some large English and Welsh cities such as London and Cardiff having sizeable majorities last year to remain in the EU.

Indeed, given opposition of most key party leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to May's Brexit vision, the forthcoming exit negotiations with the EU could test existing UK constitutional and legal frameworks to their limits, as may well become apparent during the election campaign.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) have, for instance, said that the Conservative UK government is "leading [the nation] blindly off a hard Brexit cliff". She has asserted that Scotland, which voted 62-38 to remain in the EU, must have a proper choice about its future in a second Scottish independence referendum before the United Kingdom leaves the EU, a prospect that has so far been ruled out by May. This will be a rallying cry of the SNP campaign in coming weeks.

Scotland is by no means alone in its discontent, however. In Northern Ireland, for instance, Sinn Fein leader Michelle O'Neill has said that May has "ignored the views of the majority of the people" in the country who voted by 56pc to 44pc to remain.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has also asserted that Brexit will undermine the Good Friday peace deal, and poses a unique opportunity to "unite the island of Ireland". His argument is that it makes no sense, going forward, to have one part of island (the Republic of Ireland) within the EU and the other outside it (Northern Ireland).

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The Remainer turned Brexiteer

Debates about Brexit are thus ringing their way right around the nation from Scotland, to Northern Ireland, but also Wales and England too. For instance, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has made clear his concerns about the implication of Brexit for the metropolis which also voted overwhelmingly last year to remain in the EU.

One of the key discussions under way across the United Kingdom between the 52pc who voted to leave, and the 48pc plumping for remain, is what the true meaning and implications are of last June's referendum which may yet become a trigger for a series of profound changes to the nation's unity, constitution, identity, political economy, and place in the world.

The prime minister - a reluctant Remainer who has turned into a staunch Brexiteer - has made clear her strong view that immigration and sovereignty were the primary drivers behind the Leave campaign's victory last summer. From this perspective, it follows that controlling migration flows from the EU and ending the jurisdiction in the United Kingdom of the European Court of Justice should therefore become the key UK objectives for the forthcoming Brexit negotiations. Given the EU's commitment to the free movement of goods, people, services, and capital, this has pushed May towards a hard Brexit negotiating stance which opposition parties have expressed grave concerns about.

This hard Brexit will see the United Kingdom, in May's words, discarding all "bits of the EU". This includes membership of the 500 million consumer European Single Market, full membership of the EU Customs Union, leaving the Common Commercial Policy, and no longer being tied to the Common Commercial Tariff.

Divergence in Brexit camp

However, May's narrative about Brexit is far from the entire picture, and there were - in fact - diverse and sometimes divergent views expressed by people voting to exit the EU last year. Some Leave voters, for instance, including some isolationalists, focused last June on perceived costs and constraints of EU membership other than immigration and sovereignty, including the issue of UK financial contributions to the supranational organisation's budget. Many UK voters were encouraged by the claim made in the referendum that leaving the EU would mean a mammoth 350m a week financial bonanza that could be ploughed back into the National Health Service.

However, this misleading pledge has since been dropped by Brexiteers.

Others voted to leave the EU for a vision of a buccaneering global UK that could, post-Brexit, allow the nation to secure new ties with non-EU countries, including in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas. Meanwhile, a significant slice of the electorate voted Leave as a protest against non-EU issues such as the domestic austerity measures implemented by the UK governments since the 2008-09 international financial crisis.

No consensus

Contrary to what many Brexiteers now insist, the Leave vote therefore encapsulated a range of sentiments, and there was (and still is) not an overwhelming consensus across the nation behind any specific version of Brexit, whether hard or soft, disorderly or orderly.

Indeed, the continuing divisions within the electorate on these issues - perhaps as big as on the basic merits of last June's referendum decision itself - are still underlined in polls which tend to show the country split over whether maintaining access to the European Single Market, or being able to limit migration, should be the key objective in negotiations.

These are the key questions that May wants to now try to see resolved in the forthcoming election in which she is seeking her first mandate from the country as Conservative Party leader. She will assume - should she win a vastly bigger majority in the House of Commons - that she has the backing of the country behind her hard-Brexit stance and believes this will empower her in the forthcoming negotiations with the EU.

She hopes that if she can win a huge, historic victory, it would send a clear signal to Brussels and the remaining 27 EU states that May's government is resolute, and that the best win-win solution for all sides would be to move speedily toward a mutually agreeable long-term trading relationship. The prime minister feels this is important given a lingering belief in some quarters of Europe that the UK populace might still be persuaded to change its mind over Brexit, especially given the closeness of last year's referendum.

The Lib-Dem factor

While the precise result of the forthcoming election is uncertain, one factor that has become clearer since last year's referendum is how Brexit is driving new positioning, and potentially even new pro and anti-EU electoral cleavages, by some of the UK's main political parties (those with representation in England, Scotland and Wales). On one pole, the Conservatives have made a significant shift and are unifying around the government's hard-Brexit stance. Like the prime minister herself, this includes many former Remainers who have now switched sides to back her EU exit vision.

The other major party with a pro-Brexit message is the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). Yet, its vote could now be squeezed by the significant shift in the positioning of the Conservatives toward a hard EU exit.

Conversely, the Tim Farron-led Liberal Democrats are seeking to make political capital through steadfast opposition to Brexit. This stance has given the party clearer differentiation against many of the main UK parties, and led it in December to a by-election victory in Richmond Park in London against the Conservatives when Brexit was the defining issue.

Taken overall, May's election announcement underlines that her government will be defined by last year's referendum and its aftermath. The prime minister has taken a calculated gamble on her expectation she will win a huge, historic victory on June 8, yet the Conservative's sizeable polling lead could soften during the campaign if opposition parties turn in a strong performance and present an attractive 'Brexit and beyond' vision for the UK that mobilises voters.

Andrew Hammond is an Associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics

Tough talk: May in her own words

"Every vote for the Conservatives will make me stronger"

"Politics could do with some bloody difficult women actually."

(when Ken Clarke called her "bloody difficult")

"You know what some people call them? The nasty party."

(on the UK Labour Party)

"I think there can only ever be one Margaret Thatcher. I'm not someone who naturally looks to role models."

"Haven't you ever noticed? Sometimes opposites attract."

(on meeting President Trump)

"Yes, it takes two men to step into the shoes of one woman"

(On being replaced as chairman by Lord Saatchi and Liam Fox in 2003)
The former sick man of Europe, Spain's Iberia, has become something of the star performer - outshadowing even sister airline Aer Lingus - in Willie Walsh's International Airlines Group (IAG).

In a turnaround faster than a Ryanair jet rushing to catch a slot, the former underperformer has boosted performance times, management culture and the bottom line of profits.

Now it's just unveiled its long-haul Premium Economy offering, with its new seats a decent 19" wide with a 37" seat pitch in a 2-3-2 configuration, compared to 18.1"/31" and the 2-4-2 in normal Economy. So why is this important? It's all economics.

Businesses might not want their executives jet-lagged and unproductive after a 10-hour flight in Economy - but nor do they want to fork out 10 times that seat price for the frills of Business Class. That's where Premium Economy (not a new idea, but a growing one) comes in. As well as more backside space, there's a better recline on the seat, priority check-in and boarding, as well as the allowance of an extra suitcase.

Iberia's new class is only on a handful of routes for now (Madrid to New York, Chicago and Bogota), but that will extend to Mexico City (a big plus for Irish businesses, with its connectivity) from June. Iberia is following in the jet stream of American Airlines, which is rolling out Premium Economy across its long-haul fleet, with similar perks to Iberia's offering.

 KLM is to fly direct from Amsterdam to San Jose, Costa Rica. It's the latest push by European carriers to open up access to Central and South America, and another plus for Irish travellers. KLM currently serves San Jose via Panama, with the direct Dreamliner service starting up on October 31.

 Norwegian Air, which commences flights from Ireland to the US this summer, is in flying form at the moment. Speaking in America during the week, senior executive Lars Sande was trying hard to keep in the smiles - and fears that the new Trump administration, under US union pressure, would try to derail the low-cost operation haven't panned out.

Indeed, Sande had noted that White House spokesman Sean Spicer had even talked up Norwegian, adding: "That was more or less what we were hoping for, so we weren't surprised." And he added: "We are doing exactly what Trump asked. We are buying American aircraft, and we are hiring American crews to fly these routes. And the number of seats sold has been just great, both from the US and the Irish and the Scottish sides.

"This is definitely something that our customers want. And it gives those regions easy access to the UK and Ireland, but also vice versa."

Interestingly, he also talked about the plans to work with Ryanair to transfer passengers from the Irish airline's European networks onto his own transatlantic services. "That might happen within the next three months," Sande said. "We'll keep on with the discussions until we find a way going forward together."

 Here's a hotel option - if you're lucky enough to have a travel manager who doesn't look too closely at what you're costing him or her.

London is soon to get what's being billed as a revolutionary business hotel, The Ned. Bang in the middle of the City (the Bank of England is a three-minute walk), the 450m development is aiming to be a cut above your normal bland corporate offering.

It will boast seven public restaurants; a private members' club; three bars; a rooftop pool; six meeting and event spaces; and other frills including a fitness club and spa.

And The Ned - rooms from 292 a night - is aiming to mix business with pleasure, pitching at the creative set as well as the grey-suited traveller.

"Nobody wants to stay in the same boring business hotels with the same restaurant menus and the same ugly awnings," said Jack Ezon of Ovation Travel, whose company books at least 30,000 corporate room nights in London annually. "You want a cool place with a great vibe."

And if you want to impress clients, there's the private club membership (1,750 a year) which gives access to private restaurants, a hammam and the rooftop areas with view over St Paul's Cathedral.

Will business become a pleasure? We'll soon see, with The Ned opening for business next Thursday.
The study warns that proposed measures on 'minimum unit pricing' would incentivise cross-border shopping to the detriment of the local economy. Stock photo

Plans by international drinks firms to use Ireland to trial and launch new alcohol brands may be hampered by the proposed Public Health Alcohol Bill, a new study has warned.

The study by DKM Economic Consultants was commissioned by the Irish drinks industry to examine the economic impact of the planned government bill.

The legislation, which has been delayed following heated political debate, aims to ensure that alcohol is regulated effectively to reduce alcohol harm in Ireland and improve public health.

Prof Frank Murray, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said last week: "Every night, 1,500 hospital beds are occupied as a result of alcohol use, which directly contributes to the number of patients who are forced to wait on trolleys to access hospital care."

However, the DKM report outlines the economic consequences of the proposed measures, which include incentivising cross-border shopping, stifling growth and product innovation in the sector, and negatively impacting small producers and retailers, particularly in rural Ireland.

Proposed restrictions on marketing and advertising would "impact the ability of large and small producers to innovate and launch new products", warns the report. "Ireland is currently a popular test market for alcohol products, as a small, English-speaking market with an already highly-developed regulatory structure," it notes.

The report warns that recent high-profile product launches such Diageo's Hop House 13 craft-style beer, Heineken Light and Jameson Caskmates would have been jeopardised by the proposed new restrictions.

"Diageo's Hop House 13 craft-style beer, developed and brewed in Dublin, was successfully launched in Ireland and is now exported to the UK and beyond.

"Heineken Light, a low-alcohol and low-calorie beer brewed in Ireland, available in the US for a number of years, was launched in Ireland before a full launch in Europe," said the report's author DKM director John Lawlor.

"Similarly, Jameson Caskmates, an innovative whiskey product aged in craft stout casks, was developed and test-marketed in Ireland and has since been launched globally.

"There would be a question mark over whether this aspect of the Irish market would survive these proposals, which would have a detrimental impact on more innovative firms seeking to test out their new products here, as well as those new entrants in whiskey and brewing looking to build export businesses out of Ireland", said Lawlor.

"Sterling has depreciated by approximately 16pc since the Brexit vote last June, and experience confirms that consumers are willing to react in response to differences in cross-border prices," said Lawlor.

"If Minimum Unit Pricing is implemented in the Republic but not in the North, then there will be a permanent shift in price levels, which will be to the detriment of the retail trade, consumers, and the Exchequer in the Republic."

The study also highlights what it describes as the "detrimental impact on rural Ireland" if the measures are introduced.

"The bill would unduly impact rural Ireland," it warns. "In particular, small retailers may decide that it is too costly to adapt their premises to comply with the structural separation proposals. This could result in them no longer selling alcohol which would result in a loss of revenue, as well as reducing product availability and choice for their customers."

Commenting on the impact on small shops in rural Ireland, John Lawlor said: "The bill would give a competitive advantage to pubs and stand-alone off-licenses vis a vis mixed retailers. The latter have obtained licenses under the current regulatory regime, and have invested in their alcohol sales business in good faith.

"This investment is now being undermined, and could be an unwarranted interference in the marketplace."

In conclusion, Lawlor said the bill would impose potentially substantial costs on producers, particularly small local producers, new market entrants and smaller and rural retailers, placing jobs in those sectors in jeopardy.

The Irish drinks industry exported goods valued at 1.1bn in 2015 and employs more than 90,000 people, both directly and indirectly.
Dairy farmers in South Africa are blaming EU farmers for flooding world markets with unwanted dairy produce.

And Irish farmers, too, have been criticised for 'losing control of their own destiny' by increasing production once the milk quota system ended in 2015.

I visited a number of dairy farms across South Africa last week and all of them blamed farmers in Europe for 'going mad' when the shackles of the milk quota system were lifted.

Melt Loubser is the chief executive officer of Fair Cape Dairies near Cape Town and a director of Milk SA.

He said the glut of milk dumped on world markets hurt global prices, and even though South Africa is a net importer of dairy produce, the price depression hit their own export businesses badly.

Speaking on the family farm near Cape Town, Melt said it was fairly obvious who the culprits were when it came to overproducing.

He said: "The Irish made many claims of how they were going to increase their production once the quota system ended and that is what they did.

"There was a lot of oversupply which had nowhere to go. In the end this was just dumped into EU intervention which depleted world prices.

"South Africa exports dairy produce as well but is a net importer. With cheap imports coming into the country there is no way we can compete on a national basis.

"Our prices fell and with so many farmers leaving the dairy industry it is concerning to see where it will end up," he added.

Along with his four brothers Melt operates Fair Cape Dairies which currently produces 70m litres of milk per year from 2,500 Holstein, Ayrshire and Jersey cows.

The cows are milked three times per day with the Holsteins averaging 40 litres per day; Ayrshires averaging 50 litres per day and the Jerseys averaging 22 litres per day.

Cows are kept indoors all year long in cool sheds to reduce the heat stress and are walked to the 64 point rotary parlour at milking times.

Fly across the country to Pretoria and the Bosparadys Farm is run by the Khourie family consisting of William and his sons Joe, Anthony and Pieter, who all take charge of the various different enterprises.

Dairying is the dominant enterprise accounting for 80pc of the total farm income but the Khourie's also farm with sheep, pigs, hens, goats and game.

The Khourie family have farmed there for over 20 years and have built up a profitable business with an annual turnover of just under R200m (14m).

The family own a total of 2,000 hectares and rent a further 500 hectares from a local landowner.

Around 400 hectares of this land is planted out in grasses and 1,100 hectares is used to produce maize silage averaging 14 tonnes per hectare. The remainder is natural land used for game farming.

Anthony Khourie is in charge of feed planning and production, and runs a stable feed bank that provides the fodder flow for continuous dairy production. Joe manages the dairy herd and the heifer herd while Pieter is the overall marketing manager for the farm.

Bosparadys Farm milks 800 cows with an average yield of 30 litres per cow per day but they have a high yielding batch of 250 cows producing 40 litres per day. The high yielders are milked three times per day in the 14/28 herringbone milking parlour while the rest are milked twice per day.

The farm currently averages milk quality of 3.3pc Protein and 3.6pc Butterfat which is quite important as they bottle their own milk and produce yoghurt, cheese and buttermilk on site as well.

In total, the farm's daily production of 24,000 litres is used in their on-site factory together with an additional 26,000 litres that are bought in each day from a local supply network of 12 other dairy farmers.

In terms of other dairy livestock there are 200 dry cows, 150 in calf heifers aged up to two years old and 420 young heifers from birth to 15 months old.

Delivery fleet

The older cows are inseminated by Dutch sires via AI and the younger heifers all run with groups of young Holstein bulls.

Of the total output, liquid bottled milk accounts for 85pc while 12pc is made into buttermilk and 3pc for yoghurts and cheese.

The business operates its own fleet of delivery trucks that deliver the milk to a network of 200 shops and supermarkets up to a 150kms radius of the home farm.

Milk is most popular with customers when sold in two litre containers which sell in the shops for around R25 (1.74). The farmer, also being the processor, receives R10 (0.70) per litre for the milk and his cost of production is R4 (0.28) per litre.

The dairy cows are kept outdoors in corals and are fed according to yield with the majority being fed to produce 30 litres per day,

Cows are fed 38.9kgs of a Total Mixed Ration per day using the farm's feed mixers. The ration contains 2.3kgs grass, 6.7kgs brewers grain, 17.7kgs of maize silage, 6.3kgs of a 28pc High Protein Content supplement and 5.9kgs of maize meal. This ration costs R69.34 (4.83) per cow per day and equates to a feed cost per litre of R2.72 (0.19).

The Khourie family employs 250 staff which work in all the sectors on the farm. The dairy factory operates on two shifts almost 24 hours per day and a more relaxed timetable at the weekend.

Aside the dairy enterprise the farm also runs 22,000 hens, 100 pigs, 1,000 ewes, 300 goats, a tourist holiday park and a game farm.

Just over 1,000 Suffolk ewes are run on the farm producing lambs which are sold for meat. All the ewes lamb outdoors with a respectable lambing percentage of 150pc.

Pigs are kept on the farm primarily to feed on the returns of milk produce from the retail outlets which currently accounts for 2pc of the total output.

From 50,000 dairy farmers in 1997 to just 1,600 today

In a country where no subsidy is paid to farmers for producing milk they are under a growing strain to make a profit while trying to keep costs to a minimum.

Two decades ago there were around 50,000 dairy farmers in South Africa but today there are only 1,600 of them left.

Naturally with a decrease in overall numbers, there has been a sharp rise in the national average herd size which now stands at just over 350.

There are only around two per cent of the herds in the country that have thousands of cows in the herd and the national dairy herd size stands at 1.6m animals.

Holstein, Ayrshire and Jersey breeds are used throughout South Africa producing average yields of 29 litres, 22.4 litres and 19.3 litres respectively. Raw milk sales in 2014 were on average 250m litres per month.

Profit on all of these farms is controlled by a number of factors which can fluctuate from month to month.

These include currency changes but more crucially weather factors and the availability of rain and therefore fodder.

It is now a common trend for dairy farms to excel in the maritime regions while decreasing in the centre of the country due to the access to water.

Larger herds are kept indoors while smaller ones are kept in corals and fed up to three times per day depending on their yield.
This is the incredible moment when a motorist driving through Newry managed to capture a video of three calves crammed into the back of a Land Cruiser.

Tony Shields (35) filmed the bizarre rush-hour sight, intending to show it to his two-year-old son - and was staggered when the video went viral. The haulier from Cullyhanna in Co Armagh said that 200,000 people have viewed the video since he posted it on Wednesday.

"I was driving though Newry, saw this in front of me and I grabbed the phone," he told the Belfast Telegraph. "I knew it was a little bit unusual. My intention at the time was to send it to my wife to show my son as he's into cattle and young calves. Then I put it on Facebook and the next thing everyone's looking at it."

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As the son of a farmer, Tony says he moves cattle himself from time to time - but he always uses a trailer.

He realised after posting the video that the 4x4 was owned by one of his neighbours who lives a few miles away from him in Cullyhanna.

"It's definitely not a very 21st century mode of transport and you don't see it all the time. But it's a very humane way of carrying them, more humane than having them in the trailer. I've never seen this myself - well, certainly not in the last 25 years or so."

A PSNI spokesman said it is "ill-advised but not illegal" to carry cattle in a car, saying it doesn't breach the offence of driving without due care and attention.
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Retail group Musgrave is introducing a chip shop franchise, the Sunday Independent has learned.

The company, which owns brands including SuperValu, Centra and Mace, is now adding Chipmongers to its portfolio.

Three outlets have been opened - in Churchtown, Co Dublin; Bray, Co Wicklow; and Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. The company is in discussions with more potential franchisees as it looks to roll the brand out further.

"Chipmongers is targeted at the fast food sector, with 1,800 existing independent fast food outlets representing a 1.6bn market opportunity. Musgrave will provide the marketing, sales and IT expertise to enable independent food businesses to succeed, similar to the business model of its SuperValu and Centra brands, which are number one in the grocery retail and convenience sectors respectively," Musgrave said in a statement to the Sunday Independent.

"The three initial Chipmongers outlets have proved popular in their local communities, each recording strong sales increases since joining the Chipmongers family. Similar to SuperValu and Centra stores, Chipmongers outlets are owned and operated by local entrepreneurs. For example, Marsella's Chipmongers in Churchtown is a family-owned business which has operated a traditional Italian fish and chip shop in the area for almost 50 years." Musgrave said the Chipmongers menu includes standard chip shop offerings, as well as items like sweet potato fries and "lighter bites" designed to take advantage of current trends.

Recently the company - which employs around 35,000 people across its network in Ireland - said it was investing 24m to overhaul Centra and provide a healthier offering to its customers, aiming to have 150 stores refurbished by the end of this year.

It has also begun exporting SuperValu own-brand products to China via a partnership with ecommerce giant Alibaba. Musgrave also owns the Dialprix brand under which 80 stores operate in Spain.
FULL LIFE: Battle of Normandy veteran, industrialist and sheep farmer Aleck Crichton with great-grandson Conrad Boyle in 2014. Photo: St Johns College, University of Cambridge

As grandson and heir of the former leading unionist the Right Honourable Andrew Jameson, head of the Jameson whiskey firm, Aleck Crichton, who has died aged 98, became, as a young man in the 1940s, a major figure in Irish commercial life.

These were testing times for Irish whiskey as it had been displaced after World War I as the market leader in Britain and America by the more ruthless and less law-abiding pedlars of Scotch, who had run the gauntlet during the prohibition years.

In the 1960s, so as to meet the challenge of marketing Irish whiskey abroad, Aleck initiated the merger that brought Jameson, Powers and Cork Distillers together to form Irish Distillers.

Ever dutiful, painstaking and cautious, he became the new company's delegate at the European Economic Community in Brussels, where vital battles about regulation and competition had to be fought.

In export markets, especially the United States, it was the Jameson brand, not the more Irish-sounding Paddy or Powers, that made most impact, even among Irish Americans, a trend maintained since the 1980s when Irish Distillers was absorbed by the French giant Pernod Ricard. That pleased Aleck, who was quite competitive.

Like his grandfather, Aleck joined other captains of Irish business on the Court of the Bank of Ireland. He served his two-year term as governor between 1962 and 1964. A conversation he had with John Leydon of the National Bank opened the way for the merger of the Irish business of the two banks in 1965.

This led to other bank mergers and probably prevented the Irish banks from being swallowed up by foreign predators.

Apart from playing a seminal role in charting the future shape of two important sectors of the Irish economy, Aleck served business in this country selflessly as president of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Post Office Users Council.

What was remarkable about Aleck was that he had a full life both before and after his long business career.

Born Alexander Cochrane Crichton in Dublin on May 9, 1918, he was the son of a medical doctor with a family tradition in the profession going back to Scotsman Sir Alexander Crichton, a pioneer in psychiatry who, around 1800, was Physician in Ordinary to Tsar Alexander I of Russia.

Brought up between the Crichton family home at Beltra in Sligo and England, Aleck himself was educated at Uppingham School in Rutland and King's College Cambridge.

He was commissioned in the Irish Guards at the outbreak of war and was in the second wave of troops to invade Normandy in June 1944.

Two months later, he was wounded by mortar fire in heavy fighting near Caen but returned to serve in Germany at the end of the war before coming home to start his business career in Dublin.

Aleck was a deeply serious man. On his retirement from business in the 1980s, he sold his house in Wellington Road and committed himself to sheep farming at Carrowgarry, Co Sligo.

He contributed quietly and diplomatically to Sligo life as chairman of a Foundation for Sligo Hospital and promoted his beloved chamber music locally - he was an accomplished pianist himself.

Later, he was president of the Yeats Society Council, which hosts the annual Yeats Summer School founded in 1960 and established as a major literary festival under the directorship of Tom Henn, an Anglo-Irish Cambridge academic who was the uncle of Aleck's wife, Joan.

In 2014, Aleck was among the surviving Irishmen conferred with the Legion d'Honneur by the French ambassador in appreciation of their wartime service assisting in the liberation of France.

Very deaf and becoming frail, he did not feel able to make the celebrations in Normandy, but was consoled to be represented by a great-grandson, Conrad, singing in a choir that came from his old university of Cambridge.

Aleck was predeceased by his wife Joan and is survived by his four daughters, Mary, Tania, Barbara and Catherine, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A new SSIA-style savings scheme should be introduced to try to tackle our 'pensions time bomb', according to Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar.

The original State-backed five-year SSIA plan, introduced in 2001, offered a bonus of 1 for every 4 saved monthly, subject to an agreed maximum.

Now Minister Varadkar wants a similar type of incentive for workers to pay into their own "personal" pension fund. The plan would give them additional retirement cover - on top of their State pension entitlement - and employers would be required to match their contributions.

"The minister's preferred option would be an SSIA-type top-up from the Government, rather than the current system of a tax-relief incentive," a spokesperson confirmed to the Sunday Independent.

"The SSIA top-up is very well understood, much more so than tax relief.

"It costs much the same, and would add to an individual's pension income, as the money would go into their personal pension savings account."

The fund would have to be phased in over a period of time with contributions starting at a "low level" in the first year.

The most favoured model would be similar to the Australian, Singaporean and New Zealand systems, and specially "tailored" for Ireland.

Every worker would be automatically enrolled in the scheme - but would have the right to avail of an opt-out clause. The fund would be the "private property" of the individual, could not be expropriated by any government, and could be inherited by a partner or family members if the worker passed away before drawing down any benefits.

It could be transferred to another jurisdiction, and there would be flexibility as to when benefits accrued could be taken out. The SSIA scheme of 16 years ago was generally regarded as a success, generating a huge national savings kitty.

Only a third of private-sector workers have a pension. During the recession years, many people sacrificed saving for their retirement as they battled to cope with more immediate bills such as mortgages, heating and food.

Meanwhile, the latest census data shows the proportion of those in the older age bracket continues to increase.

There are now 296,837 males and 340,730 females aged 65 or older in Ireland.

The number of men in this age category has gone up by 22pc since 2011, compared with an increase of 16 per cent for women. Medical experts predict improved medical care and other lifestyle changes will result in people generally living longer.

Financial studies show the demise of the traditional 'permanent pensionable job' as the nature of the workplace changes. Problems in many company schemes are an added complication.

Dermot O'Leary, chief economist with Goodbody Stockbrokers, suggests an SSIA-style government initiative could help deal with the 'ticking pensions time bomb'.

He said recent census figures provided further confirmation that the over 60s segment of the population will increase in the coming years.

He suggested there would be obvious benefits to an SSIA-style scheme linked to pensions provision.
'Alan McQuaid, chief economist with Merrion Capital, said the return of workers was a positive development - but it raised questions as to how this will impact on an already dysfunctional housing market' (stock photo)

A surge in the number of returning emigrants - some with significant cash savings for down payments on a new house - has emerged as the latest pressure point in pushing up property prices.

More than 300,000 people emigrated after the economic crash.

But the latest census figures and other trends suggest an average of 1,500 people have been streaming back to Ireland every week.

The Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers says a significant chunk of house-buyers include those who have returned to this country after years earning overseas.

Some are coming back to well-paid jobs - and with their savings can easily meet a deposit and gain loan approval.

This group also includes a number of cash buyers. Pat Devitt, chief executive of the institute, says some of the retuning emigrants have significant savings.

"There are also people who don't need a mortgage of any description.

''A lot of them are returning home from Canada, America, and Australia, and they can buy a property outright. It's another ingredient in the mix and obviously a factor in pushing up prices."

Alan McQuaid, chief economist with Merrion Capital, said the return of workers was a positive development - but it raised questions as to how this will impact on an already dysfunctional housing market.

"Shortage of supply is critical. Data shows prices grew by nearly 11pc year on year, and I don't see it changing anytime soon, unfortunately. The fiscal measures in the budget are only fuelling things further.

"Certain people returning home have money and are in a position to buy, but the ordinary punter is being squeezed out. Giving people subsidies is not the answer."

This latest development comes as house prices are now shooting up even in the west of Ireland.

In the year to the end of February, the market in Dublin was up just over 8pc, but in parts of the west, prices increased almost 20pc.

Meanwhile, some 82,346 people moved to this country in the year leading up to the census in April last year. Some 28,000 of those moving here were Irish-born, 54,000 were non-Irish. The upward trend in the property market continued in February, with prices up almost 11pc when compared with last year.
Amazon is starting to kill off high street shops in Ireland. What has become an epidemic in the US, with Walmart, Macy's and others shrivelling against the competition of Amazon, is now hitting these shores.

So landlords may be foolish in thinking they can jack up commercial rents because of a growing economy. If anything, they might have to lower them if they want long-term retail tenants.

Last week, I met a veteran of the Irish tech retail industry who ran one of the biggest tech accessory businesses in Ireland, dealing directly with brands such as Apple, Samsung and Nokia. His turnover was over 100m per annum. He also had a retail outlet in a prominent Dublin shopping centre.

But he has now ditched this offline business completely because of the shrinkage in offline retail economics. He has moved all his resources onto Amazon, where he runs a rapidly growing business for parts and accessories across Europe and the US. If you want to buy a vacuum filter or a phone accessory online, there's a good chance it will be from his business on Amazon.

"It's working out much better," he told me. "I don't get screwed on price by retail chains here. I give Amazon 15pc and they take care of everything from storage to fulfilment, both here and in the US, as soon as the container lands off the boat. And I'm doing it all from an office here on the north side."

He says that a combination of his landlord, his trading partners and people's changed shopping habits pushed him into it. Last year, his landlord told him that the shop's rent was going up by 50pc. He told the landlord that neither he nor anyone else in his business could survive that kind of hike. The landlord thought he was bluffing and insisted on the rise. So he quit. Today, the shopping centre space his shop occupied is still vacant.

The bad news for commercial landlords is that Ireland is in a relatively early stage of this retail substitution.

A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers report into Irish shopping habits found that a quarter of Irish people now shop online every week and 23pc bought most or all of their clothes online last year.

As big a hole as that is for high street shops to plug, the PwC report suggests it's about to get much deeper. Ireland's online migration curve is following the UK, where 43pc of shoppers now shop online every week. In countries such as China, the weekly online shopping participation rate is 73pc.

Meanwhile, shopping on phones has doubled as a percentage of ecommerce in the last four years. Almost half of Irish people, in the midst of a switch to large-screen smartphones, say they have yet to buy something on a phone. That adds up to a near-certain chunk of imminent shopping activity that will transfer further over to online channels.

Lighting a fire under all of this in Ireland is the gradual spread of competent broadband. For all of rural Ireland's internet woes, the footprint of high speed broadband is undeniably increasing in towns and cities, the very places where shops seek to do almost all of their business.

Too gloomy a view? Sorry, but look at the US. In a growing economy with unemployment at under 5pc, the number of major retail chain bankruptcies and store closures is unparalleled. Major chains such as Macy's and Sears are shrinking. Clothes chains such as Urban Outfitters, Ralph Lauren and Payless seem to be hit worst.

This is bad news for Ireland, where clothes shops are the heartbeat of any thriving main street or shopping centre.

It's especially bad as retail spending in the US is still rising. So who is gaining at the retailers' expense? You guessed it: Amazon. Its sales have risen fivefold in the last six years. It has also changed the rules of retailing with services such as Amazon Prime (not yet available in Ireland).

In Ireland, entities such as Asos are wreaking havoc among traditional retailers such as H&M and Debenhams Ireland. It's easy now to buy something online and return it if you're not happy.

Indeed, some categories of shops barely exist in Irish cities any more. Try finding a general electronics store in Dublin city. (There's arguably only one left: PC World in the Jervis Centre.) People won't pay an extra 100 for a TV or a laptop any more just to get it in a physical shop.

This means that it's a grossly unequal playing field in terms of retailers' fixed costs. All things being the same, shops with higher costs must either charge higher prices or sell things not available online, such as treatments or services.

"But what about Primark?" some might ask. "It's embarking on a big physical expansion in Ireland and Europe."

Yes it is. But only because the goods it sells are so cheap that it's no advantage to order them online due to postage costs. The same might be said for Dunnes Stores, Lidl and Aldi. But as soon as items start costing over 20 or 30 (but not into the realm of boutique stores), the traffic is one way.

Increasingly, that leads to Amazon and other big online retailers. Some 71pc of Irish people now shop on Amazon, according to recent PwC research. And a quarter of those say that this has led directly to less shopping at other retail outlets.

Ominously, Amazon is only getting started. Its latest patent shows a system that automates clothes manufacturing even more. It is now buying its own planes and looking into robot deliveries. It is doing this while being unconcerned about making a profit.

How are Irish retailers to compete? Customer service and personal attention can only get them so far. Price and convenience always wins.

Against this backdrop, do shopping centres and high street landlords really think that they can hike up retail rents? Or even maintain them at current levels?

If so, our shopping streets and centres may look very, very different five or 10 years from now.

In short, get ready for a future Henry Street made up largely of cafes and discount stores.
Malls across the US are finding new ways to counter the threat from online rivals. Stock picture

Shopping malls in the United States are fighting for shoppers with one thing their web rivals can't offer: car parks.

With customer traffic sagging, US retail landlords are using their sprawling concrete lots to host events such as carnivals, concerts and food-truck festivals. They're aiming to lure visitors with experiences that can't be replicated online - and then get them inside the building to spend some money.

"Events draw people to the shopping centre," said Keith Herkimer, whose company, KevaWorks, is working with big landlords such as GGP and Simon Property to produce outdoor events. "They generate revenue for the owner and offer a chance for cross-promotion, so they can try and drive more customers into the stores."

Mall owners across the US are grappling with record store closings and declining rents. Retail property values are down 3pc in the past six months, as all other types of commercial real estate showed gains, according to the Moody's/Real Capital Analytics indexes.

A Bloomberg gauge of publicly traded mall landlords has tumbled 15pc in the past year, the worst performance among US real estate investment trusts.

Amazon and other internet retailers continue to grow, while department stores including Sears and Macy's have been closing hundreds of sites. Payless, the discount shoe seller, is among the latest to announce a massive closure of 400 stores as part of a bankruptcy plan.

"We expect to see a trend of more closings," said Carol Kemple, an analyst at Hilliard Lyons. "Most retailers, if they're still standing in September, will probably try to make it through the holiday season."

Retail landlords have already made a push toward experience-driven offerings by adding restaurants, cinemas and activity centres for children. Many malls are also adding rotating stores around for only a short time - known as pop-ups - that are meant to attract young customers who see shopping as an event.

Now, events are reaching beyond the malls themselves. Herkimer's task is to lure crowds to car parks with outdoor events that generate as much as $60,000 (56,000) a week for mall owners.

The idea is gaining traction. Next month, Simon Property is hosting the first carnival in its Round Rock Premium Outlets car park, about 20 miles north of Austin, Texas. Similar events are being held for the first time at locations such as Central Mall in Port Arthur, Texas, managed by JLL.

Lisa Harper, senior director of specialty leasing for Chattanooga-based CBL, said the Tennessee company has expanded its carnival business at many of its 87 properties over the past couple of years. She and Herkimer have discussed the possibility of adding movie nights to some properties. CBL's Triangle Town Centre in Raleigh, North Carolina, is about to start its second mini-concert and food-truck series, Harper said.

Sandeep Mathrani, chief executive officer of GGP, said at a conference earlier this month that the perfect mall now would include one department store, a supermarket, an Apple shop, a Tesla store and businesses that started out online, like Warby Parker, which sells prescription glasses and sunglasses.

Clothing stores now represent about 50pc of the average shopping centre, down from about 70pc, he said.

"Landlords are trying to give people reasons to come to the mall, whether it's a Tesla charging station or getting local car clubs to host events in their parking lots," said Alexander Goldfarb, an analyst at Sandler O'Neill & Partner. "It's not a fun time to be either a retailer or landlord, but it doesn't mean every single mall or shopping centre is going to close. Far from it."

And for some retailer landlords with better-performing properties, the industry's turmoil could mean more opportunity.

"This very painful process will surely take more than five years," Steven Roth, Vornado Realty Trust's chief executive officer, said in a letter to shareholders this month. "It will also create enormous opportunity for those with the capital and management platforms to feed on the carnage."

Bloomberg
When Arja Kajermo began writing about childhood, she thought she was making notes for a graphic novel. A cartoonist, she was used to thinking visually and at first drew pictures to accompany her story about a girl growing up in post-war Finland. But some way into the process, she stopped drawing, and the notes turned into The Iron Age, her first novel, which will be published by Tramp Press next week.

Dark, witty and deceptively simple, the book is illustrated by Kajermo's niece, Susanna Kajermo Torner.

Its unnamed narrator lives with her family on a small farm. Her brothers ski to school in minus 30 degrees, sometimes having to call into a neighbour halfway so they can rub their hands to prevent frostbite. The coldness of the winters is mirrored by the coldness of key characters. Bitter and violent, the girl's father is traumatised by the war. Her grandmother is harsh, cruel even, her mother softer but overworked. Poverty intensifies the fraught relationships between the adults in the house.

When the girl is six, the family moves to Sweden and she is doubly displaced. Having lost her language, she stops speaking, finding safety in silence.

On the surface there are several similarities between the novel and the early life of Kajermo.

"It's based to some extent on my own experiences," she tells me in the Dublin hotel where we meet, "but I had to add bits to make it a story.

"Even if you wanted to tell the absolute truth about your own childhood, you can't do it because you interpret it differently than other people who were there."

Kajermo moved Stockholm when she was six, after her father found work in a paper mill, but she has lived in Ireland for longer than she lived in Northern Europe, initially coming here in the 1970s as an au pair.

"I must have been mad," she says now.

She found Ireland "charming" and was not affected by the repression of the time - though she was shocked to see children begging on O'Connell Bridge. "We are talking 40 years ago. All the houses were black from soot. It was so dark. People had the same woolly coat all winter; it never dried out. You'd never see any colour. Women would have maybe a green coat - it was called Kelly green. That was the only colour you'd see really."

She began drawing cartoons for In Dublin magazine and illustrated the Irish Women's Diary for the now defunct feminist publishing house Attic Press. Art had always been a central, if secret, part of her life.

"When I started school in Sweden, I didn't know the language and the teacher said, 'you sit there at the back of the class, you can draw.' So I did that a lot. I had a notion that I would like to go to art school but in my family it wasn't really on. It was for slackers. Mentally, it was very hard to break away from your family and say, 'I'll do this thing that you don't like', especially as a young person, so I did it on the sly."

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She continues to draw a weekly cartoon strip for the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter and three books of her cartoons have been published in Sweden. The distance makes it "a bit awkward" to come up with material but she gets Swedish television, reads Swedish newspapers and still feels an affinity with the country, where her mother, now 92, still lives.

In Ireland, she's used to being quizzed about her nationality. Because of her accent, she says, people who stop her to ask for directions sometimes walk off before she can finish telling them which way to go. She would have liked to blend in more.

"I went to a speech therapist several times to try and get rid of my accent, until a friend of mine said, 'There's no point. You don't think like an Irish person. You don't even look like an Irish person and there's no point in trying to sound like one'."

Dressed in a loose, black, pocketed dress, Kajermo is softly spoken and self-deprecating - her wit understated, much like her narrator's. Her husband is Irish and she has two grown sons.

"I gave the eldest one a Finnish name, which was a mistake. He would've liked to have been Declan... That was selfish. I tried to tie him to me. So the second one got a Swedish name. It has to be even."

The Iron Age is split between Finland and Sweden, the Finnish section at once strange and strangely familiar. The depictions of poverty, storytelling and a close-knit, patriarchal community are reminiscent of many Irish novels and memoirs. The girl's father is not unlike the fathers in John McGahern's novels or the father in Hugo Hamilton's The Speckled People.

Kajermo's characters are influenced by dreams, myths, and folk and fairy tales. For them, there is a world beyond what is seen and seeable. The illustrations - with striking contrasts of light, shade and shadow - beautifully reflect the novel's themes, foregrounding the emotion inherent in the narrative.

The fallout from World War II looms over the girl's childhood, impacting on her father, her family and her community.

Because Finland had fought against the Russians (referred to as the "Vanyas" in the novel) it was forced to pay reparations to the Soviet Union until the early 1950s. In The Iron Age, the girl says that the shrapnel that had gotten lodged in her father's legs in 1944, "somehow worked its way into his children".

She and her brothers - hardened smokers by age six and seven - are wonderfully memorable characters, as resilient as they are vulnerable. Subject to the vagaries of their father's moods, they develop different methods of resistance; the girl reads obsessively and develops a keen awareness of the inequality between men and women.

In some ways, says Kajermo, she was describing "a fairly normal childhood for that age".

"When I was a child, the children were there for the sake of the parents," she says. "Now it's the other way around. Better for the children."
This week it emerged that our own Saoirse Ronan may have "pranked" Ed Sheeran into getting a tattoo that read "Galway Grill" instead of the title of his new display of musical incontinence, Galway Girl.

I like to think it wasn't charming tomfoolery between friends as reported, but a passive-aggressive howl of indignation on behalf of Irish girls all over the world who've had to suffer the attentions of a dude like Ed.

Galway Girl describes Ed's wet dream in which he meets a "pretty little" Galway girl who "plays the fiddle in an Irish band", drinks him under the table and beats him at pool.

There's ceilidh, there's trad tunes, there's Van on the jukebox.

He stops just short of fiddle-dee-dee and potatoes. As an Irish girl who lived in London, I know Ed's sort. They'll be beside you at the bar on a night out, when you try to get the server's attention they'll give you a conspiratorial smile and say: "Is that an Irish lilt I hear?" You will concede that yes, yes it is. They will nod smugly and say, with the wisdom of ages: "I knew it. I thought you would be somewhere with a bit more craic than this?" You will smile.

They'll tell you about their Irish granny. They'll ask you where you're heading after this place closes because you're a Paddy so you'll know where to continue the party. If they're after a few, they will insist repeatedly and passionately that you sing a song, "an Irish song".

Ed will have made this much, much worse. Like all of his songs, Galway Girl will be played on a loop in public for months, maybe years. I don't know when it will be safe for me to leave the house again. I am angry with Ed.

The "original" Galway Girl hit the big time in 2008, so you'd be forgiven for thinking that a reworking was premature. It's worth remembering, however, that a large proportion of Ed's listeners couldn't tie their own shoelaces in 2008. The rest of them won't really have listened to music before Ed.

Either way - it was ripe for the picking.

This is what Ed Sheeran does. He is to real music what baby food is to a nice roast dinner. Bland, easily digestible facsimiles of the real thing, requiring absolutely no effort at all.

I don't think he's copying anyone: I think he's just so aggressively generic that even if you haven't heard it somewhere before, it feels like you have. His boring music sounds like Matt Cardle's boring music because it's all boring.

There's just not that much you can do with a 2-minute catchy pop song that is guaranteed to sell.

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He is open about the fact that he writes his music to commercially appeal to as wide a demographic as humanly possible: the result is records so bland you wonder whether you're hearing them at all.

I put on Shape of You while writing this - I only realised when it finished that it had been playing. And not quietly. It seems, after the first 10 or 20 seconds, I simply ceased to hear it. That is the music of Ed Sheeran. He is the comfort zone made flesh: he demands nothing of you at all.

Last week, to the surprise of nobody at all, Ed featured in Time magazine's 100 most influential people.

His best friend, walking Brunch ice cream Taylor Swift, wrote, in a truly remarkable feat of saying absolutely nothing at all: "Whether by choice or an unconscious evolution, when he decided on his musical ambitions, Ed became less of a boy and more of a tank."

She's more right than she knows. Ed is a tank, unstoppably mowing down music with no care for the consequences.

When his album came out he occupied nearly all of the slots on the top 20.

All music is Ed Sheeran now. Even the music that isn't Ed Sheeran is Ed Sheeran. He writes for Justin Bieber, One Direction and Taylor Swift, to name but a few.

He's putting together a boy band to churn out more of it.

The consensus among grown-ups is "it's nice to have on in the background". This is what Ed is doing to music. Music used to be something to engage with. It challenged you, forced you to listen. It used to be something your mystified parents would shout at you to turn down when you were blasting it in your bedroom.

Now it's noise to fill the silence. Nothing too distracting. Teens now have their mammies popping their head around the door, asking: "Is that that nice boy Ed Sheeran?"

I have just remembered something: I've seen Ed live. I was one of his Wembley Stadium gigs where it was just him and a guitar. The ticket was free - I'd nothing else on.

I've just spent a long time trying to scavenge the depths of my memory for something, anything, about that night, something to add a bit of personal colour.

I remember the hordes of young girls and their parents. But Ed? The music? Nothing.

There's not a single solitary thought or memory from that night, other than a vague feeling that I wouldn't do it again.

It was insistently forgettable and utterly unaffecting - but maybe that's the point?
He is wanted for questioning.

The partner of reality TV star Ferne McCann is being hunted by detectives investigating a suspected acid attack at a packed nightclub.

Arthur Collins is wanted for questioning after 20 people were injured when corrosive liquid was sprayed at Mangle in Dalston, east London.

The 25-year-old, from Hertfordshire, has been in a relationship with Ferne, best known for her appearances on The Only Way Is Essex and Im A CelebrityGet Me Out of Here!

Two clubbers, aged 24 and 29, were seriously hurt in the attack, which followed an argument, early on Monday morning and have been moved to a specialist burns hospital in Essex.

Police said Collins should not be approached, urging members of the public to instead ring 999.

They added an address in Hertfordshire was raided on Monday night by officers carrying out an arrest warrant in connection with the attack.

A spokeswoman for Ferne said: Ferne is aware that the police wish to speak to Arthur Collins and the nature of the accusations against him. Obviously these are highly shocking and Ferne has co-operated with the police in their inquiries.

She was not with Arthur on Sunday night; was not at Mangle; and has no direct knowledge of the events that unfolded. As much as anybody she wants to know the truth and urges Arthur to co-operate fully with the police and attend a police station immediately.

Ten people were taken to hospital for burns, while two others with similar injuries sought treatment, emergency services said.

A further eight people have since contacted police to report they were injured.

Detective inspector Lee McCullough said: We now have 20 people suffering from the effects of an acidic substance being sprayed in a confined space in a busy nightclub.

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All have burn related injuries. The noxious substance used has not yet been confirmed but samples retrieved from the scene have been sent for analysis.

If you were there and saw anyone involved inside or leaving the nightclub, please get in touch.

The police search for Collins comes just one day after Ferne revealed the couple had plans to wed.

In an interview with OK! magazine, the 26-year-old said: Weve spoken about our wedding.

We want to get married on a beach. I want it to be a party and a celebration.

She said the pair had met on Instagram last August.
In At Your Service (RTE1), holistic healer Finola wanted to run a B&B in her Fethard-on-Sea house but had no cooking skills. She was also averse to setting up a website for the enterprise.

"I have no interest being on the internet", she blithely informed hotelier adviser John, the more steely of the Brennan brothers. "You're wrong not to be online," he sagely informed her, but she wasn't listening.

So would she consider putting her holistics on hold while she sorted out all the washing and ironing and cooking that's involved in running a B&B? "I wouldn't dream of it", she replied.

"She's a little bit airy-fairy", said Francis Brennan, and he should know, though in the end everything did get sorted. That's always the way on this amiable show, even if I'd be keen to see a follow-up series in which the brothers returned to these ventures a year later to see how they're getting on, or even if they're still there.

That, of course, might put a dent in the show's feel-good factor. On the other hand, it might divert Francis from taking yet another of his manic RTE trips to exotic climes in his guise as frantic tour guide leader.

And continuing to look on the bright side, I note that Daniel and Majella's B&B Road Trip (RTE1) came to an end this week, though I wouldn't bet against this laboured, sycophantic nonsense returning in the autumn for another run.

Away from RTE, this week's schedules had a few programmes of real substance, not least Hunting the KGB Killers (Channel 4). This was a forensic retelling of the 2006 London poisoning of former KGB operative agent Alexander Litvinenko and of the subsequent dogged investigation by Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism unit - which led to last year's High Court judgment that the KGB (now the FSB) had probably directed the killing and that Russian president Vladimir Putin had probably approved it.

At the outset a voiceover noted that the story "reads like a Cold War crime thriller", though even John le Carre might have thought twice about some of the skulduggery revealed here, with traces of deadly polonium discovered in London hotel rooms where the perpetrators had stayed and sushi bars in which they'd met their victim.

Litvinenko's widow Marina was a striking interviewee, as were the Scotland Yard officers who had conducted the investigation and who clearly had real feelings about Litvinenko and what had happened to him.

Theresa May, in her former role as home secretary, had ruled out a public inquiry that might damage UK-Russian relations, but some form of justice was finally achieved in last year's judgment, though it's unlikely that Putin gives a hoot.

And for decades, no one seemed to give a hoot about the 100,000 people who "disappeared" in Colombia or about the seven million people driven from their homes during that country's violent turbulence.

I learned these figures from Colombia with Simon Reeve (BBC2), in which the boyish presenter observed that the seven million were "refugees in their own country" and that there were more displaced people in this South American country than anywhere else in the world.

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He chatted to tour guide Lina in Cartagena, who told him that she had fallen in love with a FARC fighter who suddenly vanished after he tried to leave that guerrilla organisation. And in Bogota, he met a group of women who had been raped and thrown off their lands, and who now roamed the city streets literally singing for their suppers.

The cocaine trade has always been at the root of Colombia's ills, whether in the hands of murderous drug cartels or FARC, though now the latter has come to a fragile peace deal with the authorities. However, the intrepid Reeve had a jungle encounter with a FARC commander rumoured to be responsible for many atrocities but unable to recall anything bad he had done.

Are all these horrors now in the past? Well, the upbeat mayor of Medellin seemed to think so as he showed Reeve around his rejuvenated city, but the presenter retained a commendably sceptical tone throughout. An arresting film.

The first episode of Inside the Freemasons (Sky One) featured lots of aprons, sashes, chains, rosettes, ribbons, white gloves and rolled-up trouser legs. These constituted the preferred attire of the 200,000 British masons who, in celebration of their 300th anniversary, had allowed cameras to cast some light on their hitherto secret shenanigans.

The entire absence of women was obvious, if not noted, though the viewer was informed that "we hold our ladies in high regard".

But this has always been a boys' club, even if nearly all the boys are either middle-aged or elderly.

Oh, let them at it as they seek to assure the world that there's nothing sinister about Freemasonry and that they're really all about brotherhood and decency and doing the right thing and whatever you're having yourself. But, jeepers, it all looked incredibly dull.

In the fourth instalment of Line of Duty (BBC1), murderously shifty cop Roz (Thandie Newton) turned the tables on her anti-corruption interrogators. It was brilliantly done, though not as brilliantly as the fast-food restaurant scene in this week's Better Call Saul (Netflix).

Here Jimmy McGill unknowingly encountered Gus Fring, whom he later will meet as one of Breaking Bad's most memorable villains, but here assuming the identity of a pleasantly helpful cafe cleaner. Terrific.
A man fell to his death from a 700ft-high cliff in Co Clare yesterday when a parachute jump went tragically wrong.

Three men had gone to Aill Na Searrach, part of the Cliffs of Moher range, early yesterday morning to undertake a 'base jump', where people leap from a fixed structure or cliff wearing a parachute or wingsuit.

The first man safely completed his jump but the second man fell onto the rocks below. It wasn't immediately known whether his parachute had failed to open or did not deploy in time.

The alarm was raised when the third man, who had been observing from the clifftop, called the emergency services at 7am. An ambulance from Ennistymon and a rapid response advanced paramedic unit from Ennis responded.

When it became clear that the scene was at the base of a cliff, the Irish Coast Guard was also alerted. The Doolin-based volunteer unit was tasked along with the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter Rescue 115.

The Doolin Coast Guard rescue boat was able to get close enough to the bottom of the cliff to allow three members, one of whom was a doctor, to make their way ashore.

Rescue 115 manoeuvred safely into position and winched a crew member onto the shore below.

Ambulance service paramedics and Coast Guard members also made their way to the cliff base via a goat track that meanders down the side of another cliff.

The first jumper is understood to have attempted to resuscitate the seriously injured man by administering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

The injured man was later placed on a stretcher and winched on board the rescue helicopter and flown to University Hospital Galway about two hours after the first emergency crews had arrived on the scene. He was pronounced dead a short time later.

The two other men were reported to have been badly shaken by the incident.

Gardai at Ennistymon have launched an investigation into the incident and a post-mortem examination is expected to take place today.
THE Citizens' Assembly voted overwhelmingly for women to have the right to abortion in Ireland for the first time in a historic day.

89pc said of the Assembly voted in favour of Irish women being given the right to access abortion for a foetal abnormality likely to result in the death before or shortly after birth, of a child.

89pc voted for the right to have abortion as the result of rape, 78pc voted yes to abortion when there is a risk to a woman's health.

78pc stated that they wanted women to have the right to abortion when there is a risk to mental health, 79pc voted for the right to termination when physical health is at risk.

But one of the most startling figures showed 72pc want women to have a right to abortion for socioeconomic reasons.

50pc said termination could take place up to 22 weeks gestation, which falls short of only two weeks at the latest stage UK abortion can be carried out.

64pc said yes to abortion with no restrictions - meaning that way over half want women to have full access to abortion rights as our neighbours in the UK already do.

Assembly Chair Justice Mary Laffoy thanked the members of the Assembly for their determination and resolve.

The vote now paves the way for a referendum and will see campaigners push for a definitive change in the law to give Irish women the full legal right to abortion.

The results in full:

64pc of the Members have recommended that the termination of pregnancy without restriction should be lawful. Of that group of Members:

48pc have recommended that the termination of pregnancy without restriction should be lawful up to 12 weeks gestation age only.

44pc have recommended that the termination of pregnancy without restriction should be lawful up to 22 weeks gestation age only.

8pc have recommended that the termination of pregnancy with no restriction to gestational age.

In addition, a majority of Assembly Members recommended by ballot the following reasons, for which termination of pregnancy should be lawful in Ireland:

Real and substantial physical risk to the life of the woman (99pc)

Real and substantial risk to the life of the woman by suicide (95pc)

Serious risk to the physical health of the woman (93pc)

Serious risk to the mental health of the woman (90pc)

Serious risk to the health of the woman (91pc)

Risk to the physical health of the woman (79pc)

Risk to the mental health of the woman (78pc)

Risk to the health of the woman (78pc)

Pregnancy as result of rape (89pc)

The unborn child has a foetal abnormality that is likely to result in death before or shortly after birth (89pc)

The unborn child has a significant foetal abnormality that is not likely to result in death before or shortly after birth (80pc)

Socio-economic reasons (72pc)
Yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of the day Gary Cahillane buried his murdered father, James. It was also Gary's birthday.

Two suspects, a mother and son, have been arrested twice in the five years since James was killed at his home in Beaufort, Co Kerry - a sleepy, picturesque village at the foot of Carrauntoohil.

Gardai believe James knew his killer and say the answers remain in the local community. As suspects, the mother and son at the centre of the case faced intense questioning about James's death but were never charged with the killing.

Vital evidence is missing or was destroyed when the Cahillane home was burned to the ground after James was bludgeoned to death with a hammer.

A review of the case has been carried out by specialist gardai in Limerick and recommendations are now being followed up by a team in Killarney.

One of the suspects is already serving time for other offences.

Gardai are examining if James's death was the result of a botched break-in.

Gary said his family had been robbed of shared experiences and cherished memories. "At the moment it is part of life, trying to find justice and put the case to bed.

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"My sister, Lisa, has got married and had a daughter in the last two years so he has missed out on that as well as seeing his kids grow up.

"We have been robbed of so much."

Lisa said it is frightening that gardai say local people have a significant role to play in the ongoing investigation.

"Knowing you could pass this person on the street and not know who they are, or the fact it could happen in the local community again, is frightening"

On the night he was killed in April 2012, James left work in Killorglin at 5.30pm. He bought some groceries, took cash from an ATM and went to two local bars to watch Chelsea take on Barcelona.

He had separated from his wife a few years previously and, with his children now adults, was living alone in a rural community. At 10.50pm he got in a taxi and made the five-mile journey home. It was the last time he was seen alive.

About three hours later a neighbour was woken by her dog barking. She went to see what had disturbed him and noticed the flames from James's house.

As firefighters fought the blaze at the mouth of the Gap of Dunloe, they discovered his body in the hallway. The door was already ajar.

It was thought the father-of-two perished after being overcome by smoke in a fire - a tragic accident.

However, an examination by pathologist Margot Bolster uncovered severe injuries to his face and head. He had been murdered before the fire started.

"Getting the body back was delayed by the post mortem," said Gary, "but we certainly had a funeral planned for a man who we thought we had lost in a fire. It was a few days later before we found out what really happened."

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A hammer was found at the scene and injuries to Mr Cahillane's face and head showed a blunt force trauma. Gardai concluded he was beaten after foiling a burglary. It is unclear if the burglar was there before or after James arrived home.

Supt Flor Murphy said gardai are following several lines of inquiry locally and appealed for information. "Five years have passed so relationships, friendships, loyalties and associations may have changed in that time. Other areas of enquiry will continue and there are people in the local community that may have vital information."

However, the mother and son at the centre of the case remain crucial. He is due to be released from prison in the next two years.

Gary said: "The manner of it overshadows a lot of things. It is very hard to put that to one side and think about the man himself, your father and how much you loved him."
Huge success: The 2015 campaign for marriage equality was one of the longest that GLEN was involved with, and inset, Kieran Rose. Photo: Niall Carson

Over three decades it has been one of the most successful campaign groups in the country.

Using subtle and effective lobbying tactics, the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) helped to spearhead the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1993.

Originally set up in 1988, it campaigned against all types of discrimination against gay and lesbian people, and reached the pinnacle of its success when it contributed to the successful passing of the same sex marriage referendum.

But this week, Glen has found itself under a financial cloud after revelations about its use of funds.

Tonie Walsh, a veteran gay rights campaigner, said he was "flabbergasted" by the reports.

The Charities Regulator is investigating allegations about financial mismanagement at GLEN.

Questions were raised about the charity's finances by Glen's executive director Aine Duggan, who brought her concerns to the board several months ago. She has now stepped down from her role.

Duggan, a UCD graduate, only arrived at Glen in October. She had two decades of experience in the voluntary sector under her belt, having worked in the United States as chief executive of Re: Gender, a group that campaigns for gender equality. For justifiable reasons, staff at Glen could look back with pride at the passing of same sex marriage referendum.

Together with others, they had been part of a well-managed, slick campaign that had turned Ireland into a poster boy for the global gay rights movement.

But when Duggan looked into Glen's finances she did not like what she saw, and by November she was expressing her grave concerns to the board. This led her to made a voluntary disclosure to the Charities Regulator.

The new boss of Glen became concerned when she discovered that some transactions of over 60,000, were not recorded in management accounts seen by the board.

She told RTE's Morning Ireland this week how she also became concerned about the use of company credit cards.

"People got into the habit of doing things without necessarily thinking about it, and that was all behaviour that needed to be corrected," she said.

Another issue of concern was the use of GLEN's printing facilities in a failed Seanad election campaign by the former co-chairman Kieran Rose.

The 11,500 cost of this printing has since been reimbursed.

Rose has for long been an important and highly respected figure in the gay rights movement, and helped to set up Glen in the 1980s.

He stepped down from his role as GLEN co-chairman last December and last week resigned from the organisation's board as well, saying he regretted that the arrangement over his Seanad campaign "has contributed to recent controversy".

"I regret that this issue has occurred and is causing a distraction from the important work of GLEN and the other issues that are concerning it at present," he said.

Aine Duggan also expressed concern that some transactions appeared in a "side account", rather than in the management accounts seen by the board.

UCD Professor Niamh Brennan, an authority on corporate governance, this week expressed surprise at the way the organisation was run.

"It is astonishing that sizeable sums of money were not being put through the main books and records. That is basic inappropriate financial management," she tells Review.

"At the moment there is no evidence that money was misappropriated," adds Prof Brennan. "If you have transactions going back 10 years that were accounted for outside the normal books and records, you would not necessarily know what happened to that money."

Brennan says it was a real problem if there were things going on in the organisation that non-executive directors did not know about.

"It is pretty bad funding a Seanad campaign using the money of the charity - even when the candidate did pay back the money," she adds.

The charity has been the recipient of hundreds of thousands of euro in State and philanthropic funding. The latest accounts of Glen are for 2015, the year of the Marriage Equality referendum. Income that year included more than 112,000 from the HSE, including 25,000 for LGBT mental health.

Atlantic Philanthropies, the charity run by billionaire Chuck Feeney, handed over 150,000. In 2015, its total income from all sources came to 685,390. However, it also had a deficit of almost 92,000.

"Regardless of the source of the funding a company has a duty to account for its resources," says Brennan.

She says the consequences for Glen as a result of the financial mismanagement are seismic.

"They will have auditors, accountants, the HSE, and the charity regulator crawling all over it, which will cost a fortune - and they already have deficits. It could have the knock-on consequence of drying up its funding."

GLEN was born in a much more repressive era in the late 1980s when homosexual acts were still illegal in Ireland.

In 1988, the year of its foundation, the European Court had ruled that the law criminalising same-sex activities was contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Tonie Walsh, who is curator of the Irish Queer Archive, says: "Glen was formed with immediate aim of repealing anti-gay laws.

"In its early days, it was hugely successful and brought together some of the brightest talents. It upped the ante in terms of the professionalism it displayed and brought gay activism to a level that had never been seen before in Ireland."

The group was methodical in its strategy in winning over politicians to its cause.

It built alliances with other groups in the equality arena. Rather than browbeating the public and politicians, it sought to bring the gay rights agenda into the mainstream as a simple issue of fairness.

As one of the activists Suzy Byrne put it in an interview in Q-Life magazine: "There were no drag queens chaining themselves to the gates of Leinster House. Lesbians and gay men were presented as ordinary members of Irish society who didn't have two heads, and who deserved to be treated like everyone else."

A similar strategy was adopted in marriage equality referendum, when a deliberate attempt was made to identify the cause as a concern for ordinary parents and families.

But after the success of the marriage equality referendum, Tonie Walsh questions whether GLEN still has a role in the gay rights movement.

"Some of its political objectives have been superseded by more specialist groups. I imagine that Glen has been coming to the end of its term, and I struggle to see what its purpose is."
Dr. Ciara Kelly has lashed out against move to make the Sisters of Charity the sole owners of the new National Maternity Hospital

Dr. Kelly criticised the religious order in showing a "significant failure of atonement" in failing to pay off their outstanding debt to the redress scheme, adding that there was a "huge anger" among the public.

"The big thing is about the ethos. There is a long history of conflict between the church and providing womens health in this country. The church does not approve of contraception, sterilisation, IVF, egg freezing," Dr. Kelly said.

"Its not acceptable that women have to fight for healthcare in this country."

Speaking on Friday night's Late Late Show, Dr. Kelly recalled her time working in Holles Street in the early years of her career, "when obstetricians still had to make things up in order to be able to do a sterilisation on a woman.2

Dr. Kelly questioned how there could not be points of conflict in making the nuns the owners of the National Maternity Hospital, "where all they deal with is womens health and sexual health2.

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"It seems to be quite logical that the Sisters owe some money to the State. The State want to buy a plot of land on the Sisters site in St. Vincents. Thats not rocket science.

"Lets buy a plot of land, lets own the hospital and let the hospital be there for the women of Ireland," she suggested.

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Earlier in the week, Dr. Kelly spoke on Newstalks Alive and Kicking, arguing that the decision to grant ownership to the religious order was "financial stupidity".

"We should not be spending 300 million on a hospital and not owning it."

Meanwhile, former Labour Party leader Joan Burton has slammed Minister for Health Simon Harris as being "hapless, helpless and hopeless" in dealing with the plans.

"We need a new National Maternity Hospital for the 21st century, and we need it as soon as possible," TD Burton said.

"But we want it in public ownership and trust, to ensure the best of care for women and babies, and we want a hospital that provides the full range of services," Minister Burton said.

Burton criticised the Minister for completing secret deals, with no publication of the agreement to provide the ownership of the hospital to the Sisters.

"So, I am calling on the Minister to make public the agreement reached with St Vincents, as the people have a right to see what the Minister has signed up to in their name.

"Minister publish the deal. Publish it next week, and publish it in full. Our citizens are entitled to know and not be treated as infants and babies, patted on the head and told all will be well," Minister Burton said.
A man understood to be Irish has been killed in a car accident in Magaluf, Spain in the early hours of this morning.

The man, who has not yet been named, was struck by a car on the Calle Pinada, off the Calle Punta Ballena, at approximately 3am.

Police arrested a Spanish citizen who has tested positive for alcohol and drugs, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

The publication reports that the deceased is Irish.

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Emergency services rushed to the scene where paramedics spent approximately 30 minutes attending to the man.

However, the man, aged in his forties, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 3.30am.

It is not yet known if the man was a resident of the area or a tourist.

Independent.ie have contacted Spanish police for a comment.
Travels: John F Kennedy, pictured here in 1945, wrote his diary notes the same year during a trip to post-war Europe after his ambassador father Joseph got him a reporting job with newspaper company, Hearst

The American ambassador to Ireland considered Eamon de Valera to be a "lunatic" although he was also "sincere and incorruptible".

This is according to a remarkable diary written by a young John F Kennedy when he visited Ireland - the country of his heritage - in July 1945, a year before starting with his run for Congress.

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The future US President, who was just 28 years old at the time, was on a post-college "fact-finding" visit to a number of European countries.

His multimillionaire father Joseph Kennedy, who was an ambassador, had got him a job as a reporter with US newspaper chain Hearst.

Now a numbers of diaries and other written material compiled by JFK during his trip are to be auctioned with an estimated price tag of $200,000.

Kennedy stayed with the US minister to Ireland, the controversial David Gray, during his visit.

"Mr Gray's opinion of de Valera was that he was sincere, incorruptible, also a paranoiac and a lunatic," he wrote.

"His promise is that the partition of Ireland is indefensible.

"He kept strict neutrality even towards the simplest United States demand," concluded Kennedy on Ireland's position during World War II, which had just ended.

"Mr Gray admits that Mr de Valera was not any more friendly to the Germans than he was to us. He does not think German submarines were aided from Ireland, at least with the knowledge of Mr de Valera, although there were many German sympathisers."

He said Mr Gray "quoted the Cardinal in 1940 as having said 'he would take Germany as soon as England'.

"The Cardinal believes that Ireland was created by God - a single island and people - and partition is therefore an offence to God.

"Gray says the island was maintained by the British during the war - gasoline, shoes, and coal - all were British."

Kennedy also wrote that the US ambassador believed Ireland's civil war "was caused by the pride" of then Taoiseach de Valera.

He said de Valera's "constitutional proposals" were very similar to those favoured by a majority of the Dail. Yet he split the country over the issue."

Part of his diary was written under the heading of "finance" and Kennedy concluded: "Many Irishmen feel that it is a great mistake to be so closely tied up with the sterling bloc.

"It is bondage, they claim. England has many weapons with which she could strangle Ireland - a tariff on beef, shutting off her credit, as well as the use of force.

"England so far has done remarkably in practising self-restraint, but Gray believes that on its previous form, it will probably make some serious error in the future."

Kennedy argued the legacy of Ireland's civil war was still dominating many of the debates in the Dail. But he suggested that recovery of the treaty ports in 1938 had provided a major political boost for Fianna Fail.

He wrote: "This has given de Valera ammunition, and has given some substance to his feeling that everything that has been gotten by Ireland from England has been given grudgingly, and at the end of a long and bitter battle."

Among the countries visited by Kennedy was post-war Germany, where he saw the remains of Hitler's bunker in Berlin.

He was deeply affected by the devastation he saw as he walked through the streets of the German capital Berlin, and wrote: "The stench - sickish and sweet from dead bodies - is overwhelming."

A live auction of JFK's diary will take place at RR Auction's gallery in Boston, US, on April 26. Details about how to bid can be found at www.rrauction.com
A new SSIA-style savings scheme is Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar's "preferred option" to help tackle Ireland's 'pensions time bomb'.

Introduced in 2001, the original State-backed five-year SSIA plan offered a bonus of 1 for every 4 saved monthly, subject to an agreed maximum.

Now, as Ireland faces an unprecedented pensions crisis, Minister Varadkar wants a similar type of incentive for workers to pay into their own "personal" pension fund.

The plan would provide vital additional retirement cover - on top of their state pension entitlement - and employers would also be required to contribute.

"The minister's preferred option would be an SSIA-type top-up from the Government, rather than the current system of a tax relief incentive," a spokesperson last night confirmed to the Sunday Independent.

"The SSIA top-up is very well understood, much more so than tax relief.

"It costs much the same, and would add to an individual's pension income, as the money would go into their personal pension savings account."

The fund would be made up of separate contributions from individuals, employers, and the Exchequer.

Contributions would start at a "low level" in the first year, and the fund would be phased in over a period of time.

The "favoured model" is similar to schemes in Australia, Singapore and New Zealand. Every worker would be automatically enrolled in the scheme - but could also avail of an opt-out clause.
A Co Down father-of-three has been killed in a building site tragedy in Scotland.

Kilcoo lorry driver Conor Morgan was working at the site in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, when the accident happened on Wednesday morning.

Police and emergency services were called but Mr Morgan (45) died at the scene.

Family friend and chairman of Kilcoo GAA club Terry O'Hanlon described Mr Morgan - husband to Shirleen and dad to teenagers Gerard, Anthony and Jason - as a model family man.

He said: "Conor was a model father. His three sons were very close to him and he was fantastic when it came to the club, he left us to it and encouraged the boys to do their best.

"Conor played for the club up until his early 20s then his lorry driving started taking him away off to the continent and over to England and Scotland.

"The three boys are replicas of him. Jason plays for the under-14s, Anthony for the minors and under-16s and Gerard has just made it onto the senior panel.

"They were all very close to their dad and he really was a model family man, with his wife Shirleen doing great work for the club, too. It's an absolute tragedy for them and we're all just devastated.

"Conor was in the middle of building a new house for the family, so it's just a terrible thing to happen but we're all thinking of them and will do whatever we can."

A Facebook message posted by St Malachy's Parish Kilcoo said: "The entire community of Kilcoo is devastated to learn of the untimely and tragic death of Conor Morgan, we would like to offer our most heartfelt condolences to his wife Shirleen, his sons Gerard, Anthony and Jason, his mother Brigid, brothers Patrick and Niall, sisters Mary Teresa, Pauline and Rita at this heartbreaking time."

Police Scotland said Mr Morgan's death was not being treated as suspicious, adding a post-mortem will be conducted to establish the exact cause of his death. It is the second tragedy to hit the area, following the death of Castlewellan teen Conall O'Hare on Tuesday.

Conall, who died days after celebrating his 18th birthday, will be buried today at St Patrick's Church, Bryansford.
He claimed to be in the dark about his own pension but new figures reveal former justice minister Dermot Ahern is collecting almost 110,000 a year in State pension payments.

The ex-Fianna Fail TD raised eyebrows when he shrugged off questions about his pension during an RTE radio appearance last April, saying: "I'm not exactly sure what it is. But I do know it was reduced."

He added the reduction was "very substantial".

However, new figures released by the Department of Finance show Mr Ahern received 56,669 from the State purse in 2015 on the back of his 14 years at the Cabinet table.

This is on top of around 53,000 that he is entitled to in a TD's pension, bringing his total close to 110,000.

Efforts to contact Mr Ahern yesterday were unsuccessful.

Some 122 ex-ministers shared 3.8m in pension payments last year, averaging just over 31,000. The list includes a number of high-profile names who have returned to Leinster House in the wake of February's election.

Among the sitting TDs to get payments were Fianna Fail's Sean Haughey (17,585), John Curran (15,324) and Pat the Cope Gallagher (33,341).

Their pensions were stopped when they formally became TDs again.

Former Tanaiste Michael McDowell received a ministerial pension of 67,456 last year, as well as a TD's pension in the region of 30,000.

This is substantially more than the 65,000 a year he now receives, having won a seat in the Seanad elections.

He told the Irish Independent he has donated the payments to charity since the economic downturn.

"The funny thing is the day I was elected to the Seanad, it [the pension] stopped," he said.

"I actually lost out on about 30,000 - but it wasn't a loss to me because ever since the financial crash I've been giving it to charity," he said.

Only three politicians gifted pension payments back to the State last year, including President Michael D Higgins.

The former minister for arts was entitled to 38,325 but settled for his 250,000 salary as President.

Former EU Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn gave back 5,712 of her 55,357, while ex-Labour Party minister Eithne Fitzgerald gave back her full entitlement of 17,636.

Other notable names on the list included Ivan Yates (29,329), Dick Spring (58,554), Ivor Callely (15,451), Noel Dempsey (50,912), Alan Dukes (47,219), Padraig Flynn (34,573), Mary Harney (65,919), Conor Lenihan (16,008) and Charlie McCreevey (56,920).

The top earners were former presidents Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson, who collected 137,749 and 121,158 respectively.

Former Taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen both took their full entitlement of 83,918, which is on top of the 53,000 they get annually for their service as TDs.
Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin has castigated the Government and said Finance Minister Michael Noonan has resorted to Tory tactics since the last election.

At his first party conference as Labour leader he lashed out at the front runners to replace Enda Kenny as Fine Gael leader, saying Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar were dragging the country to the right.

He also took swipes at US president Donald Trump.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent yesterday, Mr Howlin said that without Labour in power, Michael Noonan and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe "resorted to typical Tory tactics".

"Their only solution to the challenge of Brexit is tax cuts."

Last night, while addressing 1,000 party delegates, Mr Howlin said the Fine Gael-led Coalition was "a single-party right-wing government."

The former Public Spending Minister said the Government had not delivered public spending to develop schools, hospitals and other badly-needed public services.

"This is a sham of a government - FF, FG and a rag-bag of Independents who show no ambition. And they seem quite content about it.

"Leo and Simon square up to each other, playing to their base, dragging the country further to the right. Running a false election based on tax cuts and shutting down Bus Eireann. Dog whistles to their supporters on the right. Meanwhile, Enda and Micheal are content to play for time. It means that government begins to do actual harm."

He used the speech to label Donald Trump "a danger", adding: "He is a racist, sexist, homophobe who doesn't have the patience to run the world's greatest power...

"People are voting in large part out of fear and out of hurt. There are many people happy to prey on these fears.

"And they are not restricted to the US, Britain, or France. We have our own, less extreme perhaps, but hurlers on the ditch nonetheless, who will say anything to make people afraid, whose 'solutions' would only make things worse."
Tributes have been paid to a much-respected member of the paragliding and parachuting community.

Malcolm Rowley, aged in his mid-forties, died yesterday in a tragic base-jumping accident.

The incident happened at around 7.00am at Aill Na Searrach part of the Cliffs of Moher range in Co Clare.

Gardai confirmed to Independent.ie they are now investigating the sudden death.

Mr Rowley, who is based in west Cork, had gone to the area early on Saturday to undertake a so-called base jump with two friends. Base jumping is when people jump from a fixed structure or cliff wearing a parachute or wingsuit.

Its understood the first man completed a safe jump, however tragedy struck for Mr Rowley.

It wasn't immediately clear whether his parachute failed to open or deployed too late for the man to land safely.

The Irish Coast Guard was alerted while an ambulance, rapid response advanced paramedic unit and gardai also responded to the scene.

The man was airlifted onto the helicopter and flown to Galway University Hospital where he was later confirmed dead.

Mr Rowley is understood to have travelled extensively with the sport and was an experienced member of the community.

One friend paid tribute online, writing; "So, so sorry to have to pass on the news of the death of my paragliding mate Malcolm Rowley while out base-jumping. Condolences to all who knew him."

Meanwhile, Councillor Danny Collins, from the Bantry area where Mr Rowley lived, said that the victim was a nice man who had frequented his bar.

"I believe he was big into his sky diving and had been at it for years," Cllr Collins said.

"I didn't know him personally but he came into the bar and was a nice, quiet guy. May he rest in peace."
A mother who went viral after she said she would carry her terminally ill baby to term in order to donate her organs has given birth.

Keri Young, from Oklahoma, gave birth to her daughter Eva Grace on Monday April 17.

Keri and her husband Royce Young shared a photo of the couple with their baby girl and son Harrison to Instagram the following day.

They captioned the image, "We said hello and goodbye to our sweet Eva Grace yesterday. Eva Grace Young -- 4-17-17."

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Keri and Royce, who are Christian and pro-life, were told, following their 19 week scan, that their baby had anencephaly, which results in an underdeveloped brain and incomplete skull.

They went viral in December when they announced that they wanted carry Eva, who would not survive, to term to donate her organs.

At the time Keri said, "Eva will have life even though it will be short. She'll donate anything she can and do more in her time on earth than I ever will..."

She said they were not hoping for a miracle as they knew she would not survive.

However, she added, "Someone else is desperately hoping for a miracle. Their kidneys are failing them. Their liver has betrayed them. They deserve life, and they're probably praying for it. Eva can be their answer to it."
Chef and restaurateur, Jacob Kenedy from the award-winning Bocca di Lupo in London brings diners on a gastronomic tour of Italy. He is one of the culinary talents taking part in the fifth Ballymaloe Litfest which runs from May 19-21 and puts the spotlight on literacy and knowledge about food and drink

Pappardelle with courgettes and their flowers

My dad and I once found ourselves with time to kill in Ciampino Airport - a result of neuroses about flying with small children, and certain others specific to my family (we're early for everything). Taking a random punt on a nearby lake, we headed to Castel Gandolfo, location of the Pope's summer residence. It sits on the edge of a volcanic crater filled with water, Lago Albano. Luck was clearly with us, as we were the only people in a small restaurant perched over the water, where I ate one of the best pastas of my life, made with courgette flowers.

Serves 4 as a starter, 2 as a main

Ingredients

200g courgettes

12 male courgette flowers (the ones with no courgette attached, much cheaper than the female)

1 garlic clove, thinly sliced

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

200g dried pappardelle, or 260g fresh

4 basil leaves

25g butter

2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra to serve

Method

Sweet courgettes are the key to this dish - zucchini romane are best (long, ridged and pale green), otherwise young, firm courgettes are a safe bet.

Slice two-thirds of them across into 4mm discs, and shave the rest as thinly as you can. Season the shaved ones lightly with salt a few minutes before you start to cook, to soften them slightly.

Prepare the flowers by tearing the petals, including the green bases, from the stalks.

Discard the stalks and tear the flowers in half lengthways (many discard the stamens at this point, but they won't do any harm left in).

Cook the thicker discs of courgette with the garlic, oil, and 2 tbsp of water for 10-15 minutes over a medium heat in a wide frying pan until the water has evaporated and the courgettes are very tender.

Meanwhile, add the pasta to another pan of boiling, salted water, such that it should be ready when the courgettes are done (a minute before they are cooked for fresh pappardelle, dramatically longer for dried ones).

To the frying pan, just before the pasta is done, add the shaved courgettes, blossoms and torn basil leaves and cook for maybe half a minute, seasoning with salt and pepper.

Drain the pasta (as ever, reserving a little of the cooked water) and add to the sauce, along with the butter, Parmesan and a couple of spoons of the pasta water. Cook for 30 seconds more, adding a touch more water if the dish looks dry. Serve immediately with a light sprinkling of extra Parmesan.

Pastiera Napoletana

An unusual recipe this, a cake of ricotta and grain, aromatic with candied oranges and the essence of their flowers. Heavenly, and making it is the surest way I know to befriend a Neapolitan. Pastiera can be made like a deep cake, or shallow tart. Neapolitans tell me my rich filling is too much for a deep cake, though even they admit it does make a good tart.

Serves 14-16

Ingredients

For the pastry:

500g plain flour

200g icing sugar

300g unsalted butter

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

6 large egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla extract

For the filling:

250g grano cotto (cooked wheat sold in jars, otherwise wheat berries, farro, or small barley boiled until tender)

175ml whole milk

30g unsalted butter

350g ricotta cheese

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

1 tsp orange-blossom water (optional)

2 large egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla extract

350g caster sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

30g candied orange peel, finely diced to the same size of the wheat

20g candied lemon peel (or 20g more candied orange peel)

1 large egg white, whisked to moist peaks

Method

To make the pastry, combine the flour and sugar, then work in the butter until almost evenly incorporated a few golden flecks won't hurt a bit.

Add the lemon zest, egg yolks and vanilla and bring the pastry together; wrap in clingfilm and let it rest in the fridge until firm - a flattened pastry will chill fastest.

Meanwhile, make the filling. Combine the cooked grain, milk and butter, and simmer over a medium heat until creamy and viscous, stirring as though for a risotto. Let it cool to room temperature, then add all the other ingredients (apart from the egg white) and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until well mixed and sloppy.

Fold in the beaten egg white and the filling is ready. If you haven't already decided whether to make a cake or two tarts, do so now.

To make a homely cake, line the bottom and sides of a 24cm springform cake tin with baking paper. Roll the pastry about 5mm thick, line the tin well, and trim the pastry level with the top; keep the trimmings for later.

To make fancier tarts - and this quantity will suffice for two of them - roll the pastry out thinner, 3-4mm. Line a pair of 28cm fluted tart tins, trimming the pastry nice and level to the rim.

Prick the bases all over with a fork. In either case, pour the filling into the lined tin(s), and roll the leftover dough out thinly, about 3mm. Cut it into 1.5cm strips, and use these to decorate the top of the pastiera with a lattice.

Bake for about an hour (just more for a cake, just less for tarts) at 180C/160C fan/gas 4, until the top is browned, and doesn't wobble when shaken gently.

Leave to cool completely before cutting. Pastiera is best in the evening if made that morning, but will keep for a few days - if you can resist.

Mussels with celery, tomatoes and thyme Veneto

I spent a little over a week travelling around Lake Garda, just as spring was breaking, the snow caps melting, the sun shining but the tourists not yet arriving from over the Dolomites. Curiously, it was in Malcesine that I enjoyed the best plate of mussels I have had in my life - despite the distance from the sea, and the abundance of freshwater fish dishes on authentically local menus. There is, therefore, some claim to say this recipe is from the Veneto, but I have no idea how typical it is. I have probably cooked the dish for more people at Bocca di Lupo than ever ate it on the shore of Lake Garda - of that I am pretty much certain.

Serves 4 as a starter or a light main

Ingredients

3 celery stalks, sliced on the bias into 2cm chunks

4 garlic cloves, broken but whole

8 sprigs thyme

A good pinch of crushed dried chilli flakes

200ml extra virgin olive oil

400g cherry tomatoes (look for datterino or baby plum), halved

1kg mussels, bearded

20 basil leaves

Method

In a wide pan, fry the celery, garlic, thyme and chilli in the oil

very gently for 5 minutes, to infuse the flavours. When the garlic threatens to colour on its broken edges, crank up the heat to high and add the tomatoes and mussels, a good amount of pepper and a tiny amount of salt.

If your pan is wide enough (the mussels no more than two or three deep), you should be able to cook it easily, just by shaking the pan for 3 or 4 minutes until all have opened.

In a narrower, deeper arrangement I prefer to pick the mussels out as they pop.

They are ready as soon as this has happened, and my dislike for overcooked mussels is so entrenched it extends even to the people who make them that way.

In either case, when the mussels are open, stir in the basil, taste for seasoning and serve with good bread.

The liquid will be a rich, velvety broth - quite sparse as it is only the natural juices of the ingredients, hence its pure and intense flavour.
Divorce becomes legal, The English Patient is best picture and the Pokemon craze finally makes life worth living. Princess Diana dies, Mary McAleese is elected, Steve Jobs re-joins Apple and South Park makes its debut.

With all this going on, it would be easy to forget that 1997 was a vintage year to be in the market for a new car. Toyota's first Avensis premiered alongside the Citroen Xsara, Mercedes' clever if troubled A-Class, the original Land Rover Freelander and Ford's universally admired Puma. Meanwhile, budget-conscious motorists began to get their tongues around how to pronounce Daewoo properly. Despite all of this, there was one car that got everyone's attention when it debuted at that year's Frankfurt Motorshow. Alfa Romeo's new dawn, the 156, was not an especially innovative car. It was not a car entering a market that was crying out for new models either, as Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Saab and Audi clamoured for the attention of the aspirational.

But it was a pretty car, it was not German or Swedish and it would go on to be one of Alfa's most successful premium models ever. In another 20 years, when these things are being restored and dragged out of barns and garages, we who are old enough will look back on the 156 and go "I remember those... very late Nineties".

Styled by Walter de Silva, an Italian car designer whose work at Fiat would see him poached by the Volkswagen Group, the 156 was an in-house Alfa design and sat on a compact, front-wheel-drive platform. Power came from a range of Alfa's acclaimed Twin-Spark four-cylinder range in 1.8 and 2-litre guises. These were powerful little engines - the 1.8 churned out 144 fizzy horsepower - and were supplemented shortly after launch with a 120hp 1.6. The 156 would go onto have a bewildering array of engine and transmission options but it is in Twin-Spark manual form that most owners experienced it. Journalists were suitably impressed with the Alfa's road manners, performance and looks to award it the 1998 European Car of the Year gong, the only Alfa to win.

Buoyed by critical and sales success, Alfa Romeo set to work expanding the range in an effort to finally beat the Swedes and Germans at their own game. The 190bhp 2.5-litre V6 was fast and fun even if it ate tyres and was a perennial theft magnet, while the Selespeed semi-automatic transmission was an early and only semi- successful attempt at what Mr Clarkson would call a "flappy- paddle gearbox". Bizarrely, Alfa Romeo came over all practical and introduced a vaguely useful but very handsome estate version, dubbed the Sportwagon, in 1999, while even more practicality ensued with the shock introduction of a diesel version. Alfa Romeo had made diesel cars before, but this time around it was a diesel you might actually want to buy, with 2.4 litres and 136bhp, later climbing to 150bhp.

Customers flocked into Alfa showrooms. Not only was the 156 pretty but it was well equipped and good value compared to the increasingly pricey-looking opposition. The hidden rear door handle is a feature widely copied today - just look at the current Renault Clio or the new Nissan Micra. The offset number plate is still seen at the front of all Alfa Romeo models, as is the cowl over the instrument panel and the long, slim taillights.

But by the new millennium it was becoming apparent that looks alone would not sustain the fairest of them all, so the 156 started to innovate. The 2002 2-litre JTS replaced the Twin-Spark system with a more efficient direct-injection system, a move that boosted power to a healthy 165bhp while also improving emissions and fuel economy. That year also saw the 3.2-litre GTA - a V6-powered 250bhp invitation to chat to your local judge. On a more practical front, a 115bhp 1.9 diesel came along in 2003 as people come round to the idea of a diesel- powered premium car.

A Giugiaro design update for the 156 was introduced in 2003. While changing the 156 might have seemed as pointless as giving Natalie Portman a facelift, the result was a success and the 156 retained its looks and its following even if, sadly, the 2.5 V6 got the boot later that same year.

The 156 bowed out in 2005, although a bizarre European four-wheel-drive variant carried on for a bit longer, replaced by the 159 that was less charismatic, less popular but a much more reliable and better-built car.

Subjectively, the 156 has its flaws. The Twin-Spark engines were not especially economical, while bits of trim got buzzy and the odd button stopped working. The V6 Busso engine guzzled petrol and oil and demolished the tyres of anything it was attached to, while the 2.4 diesel was known to bottom its sump off speed ramps. That said, it was handsome enough to forgive it anything and entertaining enough to help you forget. I wonder will the new Giulia evoke memories like that in 2037?
So, here's the problem. We have four children - three boys, aged 16, 15 and nine, and a young lady of 12. Eoghan (15) has recently graduated from a manual wheelchair to a very large power chair. In addition, he is accompanied everywhere by his assistance dog Duke, a 37kg adult male golden retriever. The problem is how to fit them all into a family car.

When they were younger, I did once manage to ger them into a Nissan Micra for an emergency dash to Nenagh in Tipperary. By the time we had got to the M50, however, the youngest boy, Rossa, was able to pull the driver's hair even though he was strapped into his car-seat in the back at the time.

Until January of this year, we had tried a variety of people-carriers and seven-seaters to accommodate our growing family along with wheelchairs, dogs and luggage. We eventually settled on a SsangYong Rodius, which, surprisingly perhaps, comfortably seats six passengers and can accommodate a manual wheelchair in the rear luggage space.

However, the advent of the large power chair meant that we needed to find a family vehicle that Eoghan could drive his chair into but could comfortably and safely get us all from A to B. I began my search for the right car last September, when the Rodius had reached almost 380,000km on the clock. This apparently, is the distance from the Earth to the Moon - a long way to drive with three teenagers and a large dog on board.

After a lot of reading and researching, I initially focused my search on Mercedes and Volkswagen for their Viano and Transporter passenger vehicles. While the Mercedes and Volkswagen offerings were attractive, their pricing was a little over budget and styling a little clunky and dated.

I discovered the Ford Transit Tourneo option quite by accident. I was passing by Spirit Ford Sandyford, Dublin, and spotted a Transit passenger vehicle in their showroom window. On impulse, I called in and was surprised and impressed by the styling, interior design and build quality.

For car dealers reading this, the next bit is probably the most important part of the sale from my perspective. While I was looking over the vehicle, I was approached by the salesperson at Spirit Ford - Marcus Nicolai. When I explained the family situation and requirements, Marcus went away and returned with a full and explicit list of prices and specifications. I cannot emphasise enough how important this aspect of the sale was to me. The prices were there in black and white. There was no ambiguity or fast-talking sales patois. None of the hocus pocus that one often gets on the forecourt.

In fact, the understated, helpful and informative approach adopted by Spirit Ford sealed the deal for me. That and the price. We settled on the Ford Transit Tourneo Custom, Trend model and chose the short-wheelbase model for ease of manoeuvre and parking.

The kids call the car 'the Tardis' because it is deceptively large on the inside. Ford have updated the styling of their entire range, and the Transit has benefited from this development. It is less 'van-like' in appearance than many of its competitors but retains a massive, roomy interior.

Having researched and visited a number of vehicle adaptors, I chose Parfit to install a hydraulic lift at the rear of the vehicle to make it accessible for Eoghan's power chair. Pat Fitzsimons, CEO of Parfit, called to our family home several times to observe the family - and Duke the dog - to design a tailor-made adaptation to suit our particular needs. Parfit installed a Ricon hydraulic lift to the rear of the vehicle and modified the interior seating arrangement so that the Transit can accommodate seven passengers, including Eoghan in his chair. The vehicle also has ample space for Duke to travel in comfort next to Eoghan. The staff at Parfit were also extremely helpful in assisting in the process of claiming the VAT and VRT refunds for adapted vehicles for passengers with disabilities.

The specification levels in the Ford Transit Trend are very high, with air-conditioning as standard - which is very important for us as we intend to drive from Dublin to Girona, Barcelona, Seville and Morocco this summer. The stereo system is also Bluetooth-enabled and the teenagers can take turns in listening to their Spotify playlists when we are on the move. The drive quality of the vehicle is excellent - and being so high up, the driver and passengers have a bird's-eye view of the landscape.

For all of these reasons, much of the stress of the cramped family car experience is eliminated and travel becomes an adventure - the classic road trip. Most importantly, however, the Ford Transit has given Eoghan the independence to explore the wider world in his power chair.

Tom Clonan is a retired Irish Army Captain, author and security analyst.

The Ford Transit Tourneo Custom Trend model cost 44,000, including metallic paint and alloy wheels. Vat and VRT refund from Revenue for vehicles adapted for passengers with disabilities is 16,000 (maximum).
Back in the saddle: Declan Murphy with his girlfriend Joanna Park after winning on Jibereen in 1995, a year after his horrific fall

Not many people get to read their own obituary in the paper. Declan Murphy, the former jockey from Hospital, Co Limerick, is one of the privileged few.

On May 2, 1994, the Racing Post had written the story of his life with a headline in bold capitals: "DECLAN MURPHY DIES AFTER HORROR FALL".

But there was Declan, lying on his hospital bed, reading his own obituary over a cup of tea and a ginger biscuit just a few days later.

There in front of him was a factfile of his life and death. He read of his career highlights, his glorious days at Cheltenham when he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase and other illustrious moments.

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But what interested him most was to read about how he would be remembered - as a jockey, as a person and as a friend.

As he puts it in his remarkable new memoir, Centaur, "I was so astonished by it all, I nearly toppled off the bed, wires and everything. Here I was - not quite alive and kicking but alive nonetheless."

As with Mark Twain, rumours of his death had been exaggerated.

"It's amazing the things people say about you when you are dead," says the former jockey with amusement.

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Murphy says he faced a struggle to reconstruct his own life for this autobiography, written with Ami Rao.

Events are lost in his memory bank. Time is blurred, and a period of four-and-a-half years has been wiped clean from his brain.

Although his intellect is razor sharp, he tells Review: "Putting together my life story has been like trying to find the right pieces in a jigsaw puzzle - some of the pieces are still missing."

Declan was one of the most renowned jump jockeys of his generation when his life was all but taken away - with the sickening thud of a horse's hoof against his head at Haydock Park, Merseyside on May 2, 1994.

Brought up in rural Ireland, and placed upon ponies from the age of four, he had been a champion amateur. Declan was a reluctant but naturally gifted jockey, who studied law at UCLA in California, but seemed destined to live a life in the saddle in the remorselessly tough occupation of National Hunt racing.

That Bank Holiday Monday at Haydock Park, there was a sense of foreboding among the jockeys in the weighing room, a place of camaraderie where a shared sense of mortal danger brings riders together.

On the previous day, the Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna had been killed at the San Marino Grand Prix. At Haydock, Declan felt unsettled by Senna's passing and discussed his death with his friend the Irish jockey Charlie Swan.

Like Senna's demise, Declan's disaster was played out on live television. His long-time girlfriend Joanna Park was watching, as were his parents back in Ireland.

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On YouTube clips, you can follow the eerie commentary of the distinctive BBC presenter Peter O'Sullevan as Declan's horse Arcot came to the last hurdle.

As he approached the fence, he felt he had to adjust the horse's stride to make it leap clear. But then, just as he reached the hurdle, the horse suddenly took off a moment too soon. The hyperextension of his body snapped Arcot's pelvis in mid-flight. There was a deafening crash as his legs smashed into the timber of the fence.

Just as Declan's head flew forward, the horse's head flew back, and their two skulls collided. The jockey lost consciousness before he was catapulted off and hit the ground.

Declan's friend Charlie Swan, galloping from behind, tried in vain to avoid hitting him, but the hoof of his horse hit Declan on the head.

Arcot died in the fall, meeting a fate that is all too common in the sport - and Declan was taken to hospital unconscious. Declan's girlfriend Joanna was horrified as she watched on TV. Peter O'Sullevan signed off his broadcast with an ominous message: "Sadly, Declan Murphy (has had) a crushing fall at the last we hope to have favourable news of him soon."

There was to be little favourable news in the hours that followed. But split-second decisions worked in Declan's favour. As he lay on a stretcher at Haydock, a paramedic put his hand under the right side of his head to stem the flow of blood from his brain.

"I never met this man, but I know that his expertise helped to keep me alive," Declan says.

He was put on a life support machine at Warrington Hospital and then a decision was taken to transfer him under police escort to the Walton Centre of Neurology in Liverpool. Again it was a lifesaver.

By the time Joanna arrived at the hospital, most people feared the worst, including the crowds of journalists and photographers who had assembled.

A priest, Father Patsy Foley, was brought in to read Declan the last rites.

At one point the doctors were considering turning off the life-support machine, but his sister, Geraldine, insisted that Declan's parents had to be there.

It was fortunate that Declan's father had a fear of flying and refused to board a plane.

As a result, it took Declan's parents much longer to get there by boat, and in the intervening period, he suddenly regained consciousness.

When Declan woke up in the hospital, he had ventured back in time. It was as if he had returned to his childhood.

"The only things I could remember and talked about was when I was a 12-year-old boy," he says.

He recalls how three men stood above him asking him questions:

"What country do you live in?"

"Ireland."

"Who is the Taoiseach?"

"Jack Lynch,"

"What age are you?"

"Twelve,"

He couldn't walk, he couldn't eat and he was paralysed.

Physically, he started to recover, slowly but surely, but the knock to the head and the operations afterwards left him with severe mental difficulties that were not apparent to many who knew him.

As a couple, Declan and Joanna had been extremely close, but after he regained consciousness, it was impossible to rebuild the relationship. He still talks of it with a deep sense of regret.

With the mentality of a 12-year-old when he woke up from his coma, he related to her more as a sister than as a lover.

"It was the hardest thing I ever had to deal with in my life - to own up to not being able to remember her in the way I was expected to," he says.

As he made his recovery, Declan and Joanna became the subject of intense media scrutiny, because his story was considered to be one of triumph against adversity.

He was the jockey who had come back from the dead. But, despite appearances, both were suffering an inner turmoil.

Although Joanna went to great lengths to look after Declan following the accident, the relationship was ultimately doomed.

Declan recovered most of his memories, but there are still four-and-a-half years that are missing. He can pinpoint the dates - from October 12, 1989 until the disastrous fall in May 1994.

That was the period of his greatest riding success. He recalls how he looked around his house at the gallery of memories from his past - framed photos of himself in famous races, his moments of glory in the saddle.

"I wanted to feel something when I saw them. But I felt nothing. Because I didn't remember any of it."

Declan was overwhelmed by confusion and bewilderment. In his earlier life, he had not wanted to be a jockey. So he wondered how he had become one.

"I tried to be the person that I was meant to be."

He watched back the video of the fateful race, and tried to imagine that he was the jockey on board Arcot. But he still felt like a third party, looking on.

Declan was disturbed to find that people considered him a figure from the past. At least, that was the way he perceived it.

They told him: "You were a great jockey you were the most stylish of riders."

But Declan was determined to recover as a man of the present. He thought to himself: "Maybe if I can race horses, I'll become me again."

Remarkably, through grit and determination, the jockey made a comeback at Chepstow racecourse, south Wales in October 1995.

After winning the race, he felt free from the burden of expectation, and free from the shackles of his mind - and he then walked away from racing. "I had placed my flag on top of the mountain," he says.

In writing the autobiography, Declan and co-author Ami have had to piece together the jigsaw. Up until then, he had kept it a secret from other people that there was a gap in his memory.

"Ami was stunned when I told her that I didn't remember four-and-a-half years of my life. She just froze on the spot.

"Talking to Ami became a form of therapy for me because I was able to talk to her about things that I had never talked about before with anyone."

The pair had to reconstruct the lost years of his life, by whatever means possible.

They assembled reams of press cuttings about Declan. They put together the missing pieces by talking at length to his friends and family about incidents on and off the track. Fellow jockeys remembered the races he had won and lost.

They painstakingly watched YouTube videos of his races.

When he watched the races to reconstruct his life, he began to feel a sense of pride.

Declan now lives in Barcelona. He is married, and has a seven-year-old daughter.

Looking back, he says:"The man who fell off the horse that day never really came back. A different man did. I consider myself fortunate. I am living a life that I may not have had."

Centaur is published by Doubleday on April 27
Everyone is entitled to a change of career - but when that person happens to be famous and the pivot is into fashion, expect the claws to come out.

This is not to be confused with the 'celebrity collaborations' that flood the high street: Kate Moss for Topshop, Alexa Chung for M&S, Gigi Hadid for Tommy Hilfiger and Rihanna for Puma. No, this is an audacious celebrity taking on the mantle of designer - not collaborator - while being woefully underqualified for the job. The industry tends to take umbrage with such endeavours, and rightly so.

The journey from broke student to even broker designer is long and unrewarding. The glamour of fashion week is superseded by the day-to-day running of a fledgling business in an overcrowded industry. No wonder the fash pack gets a bit snarky when an actress - who really likes gingham - considers herself one of them.

Mostly, these ventures stink of endorsement and are guffawed at by the industry. No matter how earnest the actress/model/singer is, it's difficult for anybody to take them seriously, especially when the likes of Lindsay Lohan take on the likes of luxury house Emanuel Ungaro. Her tenure lasted just a single season in 2009, and the nipple pasties she sent down the runway of the hallowed Parisian house remained etched in the memory of the aghast editors sitting front row.

Lohan was probably the very worst choice for the job, not least because she doesn't appear to have an ounce of personal style. Gwen Stefani, on the other hand, managed to leverage her good looks and tomboy-in-Harajuku aesthetic for her commercially successful brand L.A.M.B.

But fashion cred does not make a designer, as Sarah Jessica Parker discovered when she was named chief creative officer of American luxury label Halston Heritage in 2010. Although the Sex and the City costumes were the brilliant work of costume designer Patricia Field, SJP became a default fashion icon for carrying off the many weird and wonderful looks of Carrie Bradshaw. Unfortunately the ability to wear a kooky hat is not quite the same skill set required to head up a team of designers - and she quietly exited the role just over a year later.

The weight of celebrity can carry a brand for only so long. Without vision and creativity these forays into fashion are doomed for failure; with a handful of exceptions, of course.

The Olsen twins were famous before they could even speak, taking turns playing infant Michelle Tanner in sitcom Full House. They spent their childhood and adolescence starring in countless television shows and movies before an abrupt makeover in the mid 2000s.

They latched onto the 'hobo-chic' look, a raggedy cast off from the 'boho-chic' look popularised by Kate Moss and Sienna Miller. The Olsens's aesthetic largely consisted of too-big sweaters, shawls so oversized they resembled duvets artfully draped over a shoulder and a large cup of Starbucks (to sip from, not collect coins in), all accessorised with a dour facial expression.

The twins already had a fashion and beauty line for girls but their first serious fashion conquest was the launch of their luxe brand The Row. Founded in 2006, it was fawned over by fashion and famous types. If there were any residual sniggers at the child stars turned couturiers, they were firmly snuffed out with the news that their cult crocodile backpack, debuted in 2011, was the first item to sell out - with a price tag of $39,000.

Closer to home, Pippa O'Connor is enjoying success with her denim line POCO. I road-tested the various styles for an online review for this newspaper and can confirm that yes, they are very good jeans. The classic comfy styles have proved a hit, so much so that the e-tail brand is currently operating a bricks and mortar pop-up shop.

Just last week, Victoria Beckham (former pop singer, now serious designer) was awarded an OBE for her contribution to the fashion industry, as well as her charity work. After launching her eponymous line in 2008, the 43-year-old was goaded by unbelievers who didn't think it possible for her to create something that was original and well, any good.

Posh has gained well-earned praise from the industry for her sleek, contemporary aesthetic. She cannily uses her own celebrity to subtly promote her brand, slinking around in a multitude of louche, cooler-than-thou ensembles that drape particularly well on her skinny, and much-papped, frame.

If a thumbs up from HRH wasn't enough, her recent diffusion line for Target in the US was quickly snapped up by the ordinary folk who are unlikely to pay the quadruple figures for a dress from her mainline collection. With many items selling out within days, it seems the people have spoken - Victoria Beckham is officially a serious designer.
The Duchess of Cambridge and sister Pippa Middleton (left) attending the the Men's Singles Final during day thirteen of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon

Pippa Middleton and James Matthews attend day nine of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at Wimbledon on July 06, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Pippa Middleton and James Matthews attend day nine of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at Wimbledon on July 06, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Pippa Middleton and James Matthews attend church on Christmas Day on December 25, 2016 in Bucklebury, Berkshire. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Pippa Middleton's fiance James Matthews has stepped down from his position as director of his brother's production company.

The hedge fund manager, who is due to wed Kate Middleton's younger sister on the 20th of May, is reportedly leaving Pug Productions Ltd., which he set up with brother Spencer five years ago.

Made in Chelsea star Spencer - Pippa's soon-to-be brother-in-law - has had his party-boy lifestyle in the gossip columns again recently with his new romance with Irish model Vogue Williams, who has said that she will not be attending the upcoming wedding due to a previous engagement.

"Spencer had high hopes of the company," an insider told the Daily Mail. "He wanted to move into acting and his brother was happy to help him."

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It's reported that Spencer was "told in no uncertain terms to be on his best behaviour in the run-up to the wedding" and keep the spotlight on the bride and groom.

"His family know there will be a lot of attention, and they want it to be focused on Pippa and James for their big day  not on him."

James' representatives have played down the resignation, stating that the company was "in the process of being wound down."

Pippa and James became engaged last July during a romantic weekend getaway to the Lake District, where James popped the question with a diamond sparkler reportedly worth over $250,000.

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They had been dating for less than a year, but had previously enjoyed a brief romance back in 2012.

Thanks to Pippa's royal connections, the wedding is sure to be a massive draw for photographers worldwide, especially after the recent confirmation that her sister Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge's, two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are in the bridal party.

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A representative for Catherine and husband Prince William's London residence, Kensington Palace, confirmed three-year-old George will serve as a page boy, while little Charlotte, who turns two in May, will be a bridesmaid.

It is not believed the Duchess will be a part of the bridal party, preferring instead to let her kids shine alongside their aunt, who caught the world's attention by wearing a figure-hugging Alexander McQueen dress as Catherine's maid of honour at her 2011 wedding to Prince William.
CCTV image issued by the Metropolitan Police of Arthur Collins, 25, who police would like to speak to after a suspected acid attack injured 16 revellers at Mangle in Dalston, east London, early on Monday morning. Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

Ferne McCann attends the House Of Fraser British Academy Television Awards 2016 at the Royal Festival Hall on May 8, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Ferne McCann attends the House Of Fraser British Academy Television Awards 2016 at the Royal Festival Hall on May 8, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Ferne McCann attends the House Of Fraser British Academy Television Awards 2016 at the Royal Festival Hall on May 8, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Ferne McCann attend the National Television Awards on January 25, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Arthur Collins, the boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann, has been arrested in connection with the east London nightclub acid attack, which left two revellers partially blinded and others disfigured.

The 25-year-old was arrested at an address in Rushden, Northamptonshire, on Saturday, on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police sought Collins after a noxious substance was sprayed inside the Mangle club in Dalston on April 17.

Collins, from Hertfordshire, had been in a relationship with Ms McCann, best known for her appearances on The Only Way Is Essex and I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

After the incident she urged him to contact police.

His arrest comes after a man was charged with in relation to the same incident.

Andre Phoenix was charged with seven counts of grievous bodily harm on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police said.

He will appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Around 20 clubbers suffered burns after being doused with the substance on Easter Monday, including a 22-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man who were both blinded in one eye.

Detective Inspector Lee McCullough of Hackney CID said: "The noxious substance used has not yet been confirmed but samples retrieved from the scene have been sent for analysis.

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"If you were there and saw anyone involved inside or leaving the nightclub, please get in touch."

The blinded man and another victim, a 29-year-old man, were transferred to a specialist burns hospital in Essex and have since been discharged, police said.

Police believe trouble brewed between two groups at the packed club and the acidic substance was flung directly over the pair.

A 24-year-old old man arrested in north London over the attack on Friday has since been released, police said.
Yemeni officials reported that three al Qaida operatives died in a suspected US air strike

Three al Qaida operatives have been killed in a suspected US air strike on Yemen's southern coast.

An unmanned aircraft hit the operatives as they were driving a car in Shabwa province, said officials.

None of the bodies have been identified.

Al Qaida has exploited the chaos of Yemen's civil war, seizing land in the south and east of the country.

The US has long considered the group in the Arabian Peninsula to be among the most dangerous branches of the worldwide terror network.

AP
American Airlines has grounded a flight attendant involved in the confrontation (AP)

A passenger on an American Airlines plane has said a flight attendant nearly hit a baby as he took a pushchair from a passenger who was holding the child.

The incident comes less than two weeks after video of a man being violently dragged off a United Express flight sparked widespread outrage.

Olivia Morgan, an executive with an education-related organisation, told the New York Times that she witnessed the latest episode before the American Airlines flight left San Francisco for Dallas on Friday afternoon.

Ms Morgan said when she complained about the woman's treatment, the attendant pointed his finger in her face and yelled: "You stay out of it!"

The crew member has since been suspended.

A video of the incident posted on Facebook shows the sobbing woman holding a small child and saying: "You can't use violence with a baby."

A male passenger later confronts the attendant, telling him: "You do that to me and I'll knock you flat."

The flight attendant responds with: "Hit me. Bring it on."

American Airlines spokeswoman Leslie Scott said the airline was looking into whether the flight attendant violently took away the stroller from the woman just before she boarded the flight.

He has been removed from duty pending an investigation.

AP
Its a battle between centre and far-right.

The French presidential battle will be between far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron after major opponents conceded defeat following the first round ballot.

It is the first time in modern French history that no mainstream party candidate will advance to the final vote.

Macron, who quit current president Francois Hollandes Socialists just last year ago to set up a new party, led the way with 23.7% of the first round vote, according to an exit poll by Ipsos and Sopra Steria.

He led Le Pen (21.7%) by 2%, with scandal-plagued Gaullist Francois Fillon and far-left challenger Jean-Luc Melenchon tied in third on 19.5%. Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon trailed with just 6.2% of the vote.

Voters will go to the polls on May 7 to choose between the former investment banker Macron and Le Pen, who has tried to shake her National Front party of its racist and anti-Semitic association.

As the projections came in, young protesters outside the Place de la Bastille in eastern Paris clashed with police who fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The scenes were understandably very different among supporters.

Over on Twitter, many have been expressing their lack of surprise for the way the voting has gone.

After conceding defeat Fillon joined fellow conservative politicians and Socialist prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve in throwing their weight behind Macron as an anti-Le Pen candidate in the second round of voting.
Were going to need a few scientists to explain this one to us.

Moto GP racers regularly demonstrate breathtaking skill in keeping their bikes upright, but this from Loris Baz is something else.

The 24-year-old Frenchman, who rides a Ducati bike for Reale Avintia Racing, was taking part in qualifying ahead of the Americas GP when this happened.

If youre like us, you probably watched that a couple of times to make sure you saw it correctly.

Baz intially comes as close as it is possible to falling off his bike without actually coming off it, before his bike throws him about a bit and he continues on his way.

It was certainly something.

Were not sure Baz will want to have to demonstrate such skill again any time soon, however.
Its set to be one of the most exciting clashes in the upcoming general election.

Shipley will be one of the most closely scrutinised seats in the upcoming general election, because it will see Womens Equality Party (WEP) leader Sophie Walker pitted against Tory MP Philip Davies.

Heres everything you need to know about Walker, who launched her challenge today.

Whats her background?

Walker grew up in Glasgow and lives with her husband and two daughters. She worked as a journalist for 20 years, covering politics, business and finance.

In May 2016, Walker ran for mayor of London as the WEPs candidate  coming sixth with 5.2% of the total votes.

What is the Womens Equality party?

The party was founded by Catherine Mayer and Sandi Toksvig in 2015, making it particularly new on the scene. Walker was chosen unanimously to be the partys leader the same year.

It describes itself as a new collaborative force in British politics uniting people of all genders, diverse ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, beliefs and experiences in the shared determination to see women enjoy the same rights and opportunities as men so that all can flourish.

Why is it particularly interesting that she is standing against Davies?

Davies has a chequered track record when it comes to womens issues. He has campaigned for Parliament to recognise International Mens Day and previously criticised militant feminists. He was also accused of trying to filibuster a proposal to help end violence against women by speaking for 77 minutes  he opposed the bill saying that it is sexist to say the focus should only be on violence against women, adding that he stands for true equality where all people are treated equally.

As leader of the WEP, Walkers views are far from Davies, so its set to be a particularly tense show-down.

Walker said to The Guardian: Philip Davies basically is a sexist misogynist who puts his own ego ahead of his constituents. His anti-equality agenda in Westminster threatens the rights and freedoms not just of women but also people with disabilities, BAME (black, Asian, and minority ethnic) and LGBT+ communities.

However, Davies refutes accusations that he is sexist, saying: I have consistently asked Sophie Walker to quote just one thing I have ever said which has asked for a woman to be treated less favourably than a man, and she hasnt been able to find even one quote from the 12 years I have spent in parliament.

How are people reacting to the news?

Many are thrilled not only that Walker is running, but also by the fact that shes up against Davies.

What happens next?

The campaign will begin in earnest now, with the WEP unveiling its full election campaign strategy later this week.

The party is also in talks with the Lib Dems and Green Party about standing down to help Walkers chances in Shipley. It looks like Walkers gearing up for a fight as well, judging by what shes been saying.

I have spoken to women across the constituency who are determined to make this election his last, she said. I understand that Philip Davies is a bit of a gambling man  Id advise him not to bet against us.
Kim Jong-un has ramped up tension with the US. Photo: Reuters

North Korea said on Sunday it was ready to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, as two Japanese navy ships joined a U.S. carrier group for exercises in the western Pacific.

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over the North's nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its Asian allies.

The United States has not specified where the carrier strike group is as it approaches the area. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive "within days" but gave no other details.

North Korea remained defiant.

"Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in a commentary.

The paper likened the aircraft carrier to a "gross animal" and said a strike on it would be "an actual example to show our military's force".

The commentary was carried on page three of the newspaper, after a two-page feature about leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a pig farm.

Speaking during a visit to Greece, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there were already enough shows of force and confrontation at present and appealed for calm.

"We need to issue peaceful and rational sounds," Wang said, according to a statement issued by China's Foreign Ministry.

Adding to the tensions, North Korea detained a Korean-American man in his fifties on Friday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, bringing the total number of U.S. citizens held by Pyongyang to three.

The man, identified only by his surname Kim, had been in North Korea for a month to discuss relief activities, Yonhap said. He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army on Tuesday.

It has in the past marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.

It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump.

He has vowed to prevent the North from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.

North Korea says its nuclear programme is for self-defence and has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression. It has also threatened to lay waste to South Korea and Japan.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday North Korea's recent statements were provocative but had proven to be hollow in the past and should not be trusted.

"We've all come to hear their words repeatedly; their word has not proven honest," Mattis told a news conference in Tel Aviv, before the latest threat to the aircraft carrier.

Japan's show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads.

Some Japanese ruling party lawmakers are urging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to acquire strike weapons that could hit North Korean missile forces before any imminent attack.

Japan's navy, which is mostly a destroyer fleet, is the second largest in Asia after China's.

The two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson and will "practice a variety of tactics" with the U.S. strike group, the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force said in a statement.

The Japanese force did not specify where the exercises were taking place, but by Sunday the destroyers could have reached an area 2,500 km (1,500 miles) south of Japan, which would be east of the Philippines.

From there, it could take three days to reach waters off the Korean peninsula. Japan's ships would accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan said.

U.S. and South Korean officials have been saying for weeks that the North could soon stage another nuclear test, something the United States, China and others have warned against.

South Korea has put its forces on heightened alert.

China, North Korea's sole major ally, opposes Pyongyang's weapons programmes and has appealed for calm. The United States has called on China to do more to help defuse the tension.

Last Thursday, Trump praised Chinese efforts to rein in "the menace of North Korea", after North Korean state media warned the United States of a "super-mighty pre-emptive strike".
President Donald Trump has rattled Washington and been chastened by its institutions f or almost 100 days .

He has startled world leaders with his unpredictability and tough talk, but won their praise for a surprise strike on Syria.

He has endured the steady drip of investigations and a seemingly endless churn of public drama.

"It's a different kind of a presidency," he said in an Oval Office interview as he approaches the key presidential benchmark of 100 days in office.

Mr Trump, who campaigned on a promise of instant disruption, indirectly acknowledged that change does not come quickly to Washington.

He showed signs that he feels the weight of the office, discussing the "heart" required to do the job. Although he retained his signature bravado and a salesman's confidence in his upward trajectory, he displayed an awareness that many of his own lofty expectations for his first 100 days in office have not been met.

"It's an artificial barrier. It's not very meaningful," he said.

He was unclear on whether he should be held accountable for the 100-day plan he outlined with great fanfare in his campaign's closing days, suggesting his "Contract with the American Voter" wasn't really his idea to begin with.

One hundred days are just a fraction of a president's tenure, and no president has quite matched the achievements of Franklin D Roosevelt, who set the standard by which all are now judged.

Still, modern presidents have tried to move swiftly to capitalise upon the potent, and often fleeting, mix of political capital and public goodwill that usually accompanies their arrival in Washington.

Mr Trump, however, has never really had either.

A deeply divisive figure, he lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton and had one of the narrower Electoral College victories in history. Since taking office on January 20, his approval rating has hovered around 40% in most polls.

His early presidency has been dogged by FBI and congressional investigations into whether his campaign co-ordinated with Russians to tilt the race in his favour. It is a persistent distraction that Mr Trump would not discuss on the record.

Furthermore, his three months-plus in office have amounted to a swift education in a world wholly unfamiliar to a 70-year-old who spent his career in real estate and reality television.

For his example, his two disputed travel ban executive orders are languishing, blocked by federal judges.

On Capitol Hill, majority Republicans muscled through Mr Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch, but had to blow up long-standing Senate rules to do so.

Then there was the legislative debacle when Mr Trump's own party could not come together to fulfil its long-sought promise of repealing President Barack Obama's healthcare law.

HW Brands, a history professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said Mr Trump is learning that "the world is the way it is for a whole bunch of complicated reasons. And changing the guy at the top doesn't change the world".

Mr Trump would not concede that point, but he did ack nowledge that being commander in chief brings with it a "human responsibility" that he did not much bother with in business.

"When it came time to, as an example, send out the 59 missiles, the Tomahawks in Syria," Mr Trump said, "I'm saying to myself, 'You know, this is more than just like 79 (sic) missiles. This is death that's involved because people could have been killed. This is risk that's involved.'

"Here, everything, pretty much everything you do in government involves heart, whereas in business most things don't involve heart," he said. "In fact, in business you're actually better off without it."

As for accomplishments, Mr Trump cited "tremendous success" on an undefined strategy for defeating the Islamic State group and he talked at length about saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars on the price of F-35 fighter jets.

It is too soon to say whether the presidency has changed Mr Trump in substantive ways. He has backpedalled on an array of issues in recent weeks, including his critiques of Nato, b ut his self-proclaimed flexibility means he could move back to where he started just as quickly.

He fires off tweets at odd hours of the morning and night, sending Washington into a stir with just a few words. He still litigates the presidential campaign, mentioning multiple times during the interview how difficult it is for a Republican presidential nominee to win the Electoral College.

He is acutely aware of how he is being covered in the media, rattling off the ratings for some of his television appearances. But he says he has surprised even himself with some recent self-discipline: He has stopped watching what he perceives as his negative coverage on CNN and MSNBC.

For the moment, Mr Trump seems to have clamped down on the infighting and rivalries among his top White House staff that have spilled into the press and created a sense of paranoia in the West Wing.

He praised his national security team in particular and said his political team in the White House does not get the credit it deserves for its work in a high-pressure setting.

"This is a very tough environment," he said. "Not caused necessarily by me."

AP
Tony Blair has predicted Theresa May will win a "large majority" in the UK general election but called for a "movement" of pro-EU voters to prevent her getting a mandate for a "Brexit at any cost".

The former prime minister said the opinion polls, which put Labour as many as 24 points behind the Tories, "appear to be definitive" in pointing towards a big Tory victory on June 8.

But he called for a "movement of informed voters" to demand candidates make clear whether they would support the UK leaving the European Union with no deal, or one that does not give good access to the single market.

A failure to do so would give Mrs May, who has said "no deal is better than a bad deal", a "free hand" to pursue a "Brexit at any cost", with no option for the UK to change its mind about leaving the EU if the exit terms are unpalatable.

"Whatever may be desirable, the polls appear to be definitive on the election and the respective polling positions of the leaders of the government and opposition," he said.

"There are many great Labour candidates and MPs and I will be fully supportive of them. But the fact is that if the polls are right, Theresa May will be PM on June 9 with a large majority. But with what mandate?

"Unless there is some clarity around that mandate, a re-elected Tory government could do what it wants. The PM says she wants her hand strengthened in the Brexit negotiations... what she really wants is a free hand - but to do what?"

Mr Blair also said that the Daily Mail's 'Crush the saboteurs' headline the day after Mrs May called the election revealed her true intentions.
A combination picture shows portraits of the candidates who will run in the second round in the 2017 French presidential election

Centrist Emmanuel Macron will face far right leader Marine le Pen in a head-to-head battle for the French presidency as the country's voters abandoned the orthodox political establishment.

Mr Macron, who quit current president Francois Hollande's Socialists only last year ago to launch a new party, led the way with 23.7% of the first round vote, according to an exit poll by Ipsos and Sopra Steria.

He led his Front National challenger Ms Le Pen (21.7%) by 2%, with scandal-plagued Gaullist Francois Fillon and far-left challenger Jean-Luc Melenchon tied in third on 19.5%.

Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon trailed in a distant fifth with just 6.2% of the vote.

The risk of a victory by Ms Le Pen prompted centre right politicians including Mr Fillon and Socialist prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve to urge supporters to back Mr Macron in the second round of voting on May 7.

The last opinion polls before voting opened showed Ms Le Pen and Mr Macron narrowly ahead of Mr Fillon and Mr Melenchon, in what was billed as one of the most unpredictable elections in generations.

Pro-European Mr Macron was the Socialist finance minister until the autumn, when he quit to set up the En Marche movement, which he defines as centrist, and which has attracted support from left, centre and right.

The anti-EU Ms Le Pen's campaign majored on jobs, security and the threat from Islamic extremism.

It also saw her deny French state complicity rounding up Jews for the Nazis in the Second World War, but she also picked up muted plaudits from US President Donald Trump.

Speaking at the White House after a terrorist attack on Paris last week left a policeman dead, Mr Trump said she was "strongest on borders, and she's the strongest on what's been going on in France".

The country is going to the polls to elect the successor to Mr Hollande, who is not running after serving a single term in office.

Bookmakers made Mr Macron the odds-on favourite to win the run-off, with both Ladbrokes and Coral offering 1-6, with Ms Le Pen at 4-1 and 7-2 respectively.

Conceding defeat, Mr Fillon told reporters in France: "The voice of the right and centre can be heard in the (upcoming) parliamentary elections.

"While waiting, we have to choose: I don't do it with joy in my heart but abstention is not in my genes.

"The Front National has a history known for its violence and intolerance: there is no other choice, I will vote in favour of Emmanuel Macron."

Alain Juppe, the former prime minister and current mayor of Bordeaux, who was favourite to become president until beaten by Mr Fillon in a Gaullist primary, also backed Mr Macron "in his fight against the extreme right".
It is unclear whether the stabbing attack on four people was politically motivated (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Four people have been injured in a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv by a young Palestinian.

The four victims suffered light injuries and the 18-year-old Palestinian was arrested, though it remains unclear whether the attack on Sunday was politically motivated.

Palestinians have killed 42 Israelis, two visiting Americans and a British tourist in a wave of stabbings, shootings and car-rammings since September 2015.

Israeli forces killed at least 244 Palestinians in the same period, most of the Palestinians being identified as attackers by Israeli authorities, the rest dying in clashes with Israeli troops.

Israel says the violence is fueled by Palestinian incitement. Palestinians say it stems from anger over 50 years of occupation.
Marine Le Pen exits a polling booth after voting in the first round of the presidential election in France (Frank Augstein/AP)

Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right populist Marine Le Pen have advanced to the French presidential run-off vote, overhauling the country's political system and setting up a showdown over its participation in the European Union.

French politicians on the left and right immediately urged voters to block Ms Le Pen's path to power in the May 7 vote, saying her virulently nationalist anti-EU and anti-immigration politics would spell disaster for France.

The selection of Ms Le Pen and Mr Macron presents voters with the starkest possible choice between two diametrically opposed visions of the EU's future and France's place in it.

It sets up a battle between Mr Macron's optimistic vision of a tolerant France with open borders against Ms Le Pen's darker, inward-looking platform calling for closed borders, tougher security, less immigration and dropping the shared euro currency to return to the franc.

With Ms Le Pen wanting France to leave the EU, and Mr Macron proposing even closer co-operation between the bloc's 28 nations, the outcome of the first round of voting on Sunday after a wildly unpredictable and tense campaign means the run-off will have undertones of a referendum on France's EU membership.

The absence in the final vote of candidates from either the mainstream left Socialists or the right-wing Republicans party - the two main groups that have governed post-war France - also marks a seismic shift in the nation's political landscape.

With 34% of the vote counted, the Interior Ministry said Ms Le Pen was leading on 24.6% followed by Mr Macron on 21.9%.

The early vote count includes primarily rural constituencies that lean to the right, while urban areas that lean left are counted later.

Mr Macron, a 39-year-old investment banker, made the run-off on the back of a grassroots start-up campaign without the backing of a major political party.

Defeated conservative candidate Francois Fillon said he would vote for Mr Macron on May 7 because Ms Le Pen's programme "would bankrupt France" and throw the EU into chaos.

He also cited the history of "violence and intolerance" of Ms Le Pen's far-right National Front party.

In a brief televised message less than 30 minutes after the last polling stations closed, Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve also urged voters to back Mr Macron "to beat the National Front and block its funereal project of regression for France and of division of the French".

Socialist presidential candidate Benoit Hamon, who was far behind in Sunday's results, quickly conceded defeat. Declaring "the left is not dead," he urged supporters to back Mr Macron.

Macron supporters at his election day headquarters in Paris went wild as news that he would advance to the final round emerged, cheering, singing La Marseillaise anthem, waving French tricolour and European flags and shouting "Macron, president!".

Mathilde Jullien, 23, said she is convinced Mr Macron will be able to win over Ms Le Pen and become France's next president.

"He represents France's future, a future within Europe," she said. "He will win because he is able to unite people from the right and the left against the threat of the National Front and he proposes real solutions for France's economy."

But Le Pen supporters were equally enthusiastic.

With a broad smile, Ms Le Pen stood before an adoring crowd and said her National Front party will represent "the great alternative" to the French people and pledged to open a "much-needed" debate on globalisation.

"We will win!" Le Pen supporters chanted in her election day headquarters in the northern French town of Henin-Beaumont. They burst into a rendition of the French national anthem, and waved French flags and blue flags with "Marine President" inscribed on them.

Sunday's vote took place amid heightened security in the first election under France's state of emergency, which has been in place since the gun and bomb attacks in Paris in 2015.

AP

In Paris, protesters angry that Ms Le Pen has advanced into the final vote scuffled with police.

Crowds of young people, some from anarchist and "anti-fascist" groups, gathered on the Place de la Bastille in eastern Paris as results were coming in from the first round vote.

Police fired tear gas to disperse an increasingly rowdy crowd and riot police surrounded the area.

Protesters staged demos at several of Ms Le Pen's campaign events, angry at her anti-immigration policies and her party.
Federal police gather before moving to the frontline near the old city during fighting against IS militants on the western side of Mosul (Felipe Dana/AP)

Islamic State (IS) militants have attacked an Iraqi police base in a town that is being used as a staging ground for the Mosul offensive, killing at least one policeman.

Police spokesman Captain Mahmoud Attia told the Associated Press that a sleeper cell of three IS fighters attacked the base on Sunday in Hamam al-Alil, some 20 miles south of Mosul.

Local television channel Rudaw, whose reporters were inside the base, said at least two suicide attackers entered the facility before detonating their devices.

AP
Global finance leaders have dropped a sharp condemnation of trade protectionism and references to climate change from a closing statement at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

This year's meetings in Washington DC were dominated by a debate over how to respond to a rising tide of anti-globalisation sentiment evidenced in the United States by the election of Donald Trump.

Mr Trump pledged during last year's campaign that he would reduce America's huge trade deficits, which he blamed for the loss of millions of well-paid factory jobs.

In its communique, the 189-nation IMF urged nations to avoid "inward-looking policies", but it did not include tougher language it had used in an October statement in which it called on all countries to "resist all forms of protectionism".

The new statement also dropped any mention of the threat of climate change.

President Trump has threatened to impose punitive tariffs of up to 45% against Mexico, China and other nations he believes are competing unfairly with American workers. During his presidential campaign he called climate change a hoax.

At a closing news conference, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde and Agustin Carstens, head of the Bank of Mexico and chairman of the IMF's policy committee, sought to downplay the changes.

Ms Lagarde noted that strong language condemning protectionism and promoting efforts to combat climate change, while taken out of the communique, remained in a separate document setting out the IMF's policy agenda.

Mr Carstens said it was important on the issue of trade to recognise the viewpoints of different countries.

"We all want free and fair trade and that is what is reflected in the communique," he said when asked why the language on protectionism had been dropped.

A similar change on the issue of protectionism was made in a communique that the Group of 20 major economies issued last month in Baden-Baden, Germany.

Steven Mnuchin, attending his first international gathering as Mr Trump's treasury secretary, had defended the change in the G20 communique by saying: "The historical language was not really relevant."

Eswar Prasad, a trade economist at Cornell University, said the changes in the IMF and G-20 communiques showed the Trump administration's desire to signal that US policy will be different under a new president.

"The G-20 consensus on issues such as free trade and combating climate change is crumbling in the face of the Trump administration's hostility to those positions," he said.

"The notion of allowing for freer trade has run up against the Trump administration's conviction that its major trading partners are manipulating trade and currency policies to their own benefit."

At a joint appearance with Ms Lagade on Saturday, Mr Mnuchin said the internal debate over the wording of the IMF communique had taken much less time than the debate over the wording of the G-20 communique last month.

He said the administration's goal was to make trade more fair and was not aimed at erecting protectionist barriers.

"The United States is probably the most open trading market there is," he said.

Mr Mnuchin was also asked about the administration's tax plan, which Mr Trump said would be unveiled on Wednesday.

Mr Mnuchin said the administration's goal was to simplify the tax system for both individuals and businesses.

"We want to create a system where the average American can do their taxes on a postcard, not a book," he said.

"Maybe a big postcard, but you can still stick it in the mail."

He did not provide details of the plan, which Mr Trump said would provide a "massive" tax cut for Americans.

Throughout his presidential campaign last year, Mr Trump pointed to closed factories around America and said they represented a failure of past presidents to be tough enough in negotiating trade agreements to protect US jobs.

Since taking office he has pulled the United States out of a 12-nation Pacific trade agreement negotiated by the Obama administration and just this week ordered the Commerce Department to speed up an investigation into whether steel imports posed a national security threat.

His action could lead to higher tariffs on steel imports.

The spring IMF and World Bank meetings took place against the backdrop of an improving global economy, helped by better performances in the United States and China, the world's two biggest economies, and in a rise in commodity prices which has helped many developing nations.

The IMF's latest economic forecast projects global growth of 3.5% this year, which would be the fastest pace in five years and up from 3.1% last year.

AP
Washington/Seoul, Apr 23 (IBNS): An US citizen has been detained in North Korea, South Korean media reported on Sunday.

The U.S. citizen, identified only by his surname Kim, was arrested by North Korean authorities on Friday at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country, sources told Yonhap News Agency.

According to reports, the detained person is a former Korean-American professor.

The reason of the person's arrest is not known.

Image: Wikimedia Commons
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The deportation of Afghans seeking asylum has been continuing for a while now as on Saturday two more planes carrying Afghans deported from Europe arrived in Kabul on Saturday. The deportation took place because of the agreement between the European Union and the Afghan government.

Hafiz Ahmad Miakhel, the spokesman for the ministry of Refugees and Repatriations told Reuters that in 2016, 580 Afghans had been deported whereas, in last three months, 248 Afghan nationals have already been deported from various European countries.

AP

According to the government of European countries, those deported back have failed the rigorous asylum test that major cities like Kabul are sufficiently safe. The Afghan government was made to signed an agreement by EU in October last year allowing its member states to deport an unlimited number of asylum seekers while the Afghan government is obliged to receive them.

The agreement states while a maximum of 50 non-voluntary deportees per chartered flight in the first six months after the agreement, there is no limit to the number of daily deportation flights European governments can charter to Kabul.

Though the numbers of Afghans being deported are on a rise, its still less compared to the thousands of refugees of different nationalities returning voluntarily. Nearly 55,000 migrants and refugees who were not eligible for or were likely to be denied asylum left Germany voluntarily in 2016.

"We are committed to the agreements but we need more assistance from the international community to help these people," Miakhel told Reuters news agency, referring to an October agreement between the EU and the Afghan government.

Reuters

"There is a war against the Taliban, against Daesh aka ISIS, against al-Qaeda and this year we will have more forced deportees than last year," he said.

Afghans were the second largest group of asylum seekers in Europe in 2015, and concerns about security and their integration have encouraged politicians to take a tougher line.

However, last month Germany reported seeing an immense drop in the arrival of asylum seekers in the country, with the total number in 2016 down to less than a third of the 890,000 who arrived in 2015
Recent reports claim that Pakistans spy agency ISI has given safe haven to Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, among the most wanted terrorists in the world. The country has also provided shelter to Dawood Ibrahim and Osama Bin Laden.

NewsWeek, a US-based media outlet, claims Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) has been protecting al-Zawahiri, a trained surgeon since US forces evicted Al-Qaeda from Afghanistan in late 2001, based on authoritative sources.

His most likely location today, they say: Karachi, the teeming port city of 26 million people on the Arabian Sea, the news outlet reported.

Screenshot

This would be a logical place to hide out, where he would feel pretty comfortable that the Americans cant come and get him. Bruce Riedel, a 30-year CIA veteran who was the top adviser on South Asia and the Middle East for the past four US presidents, told the magazine.

There are pretty good indications, including some of the material found in Abbottabad (the Pakistani garrison town where Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011), that point in that direction, he added.

The weekly magazine states that the United States had a failed drone strike on al-Zawahari in January 2016.
India has undergone much political, economic and social change in the last decade or so. The Centre for the Study of Developing Societies along with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) has released a reported on the anxieties, aspirations and attitudes of Indias population aged between 15-34 years.

The report acknowledged a few significant moments that have shaped the country in the last 10 years. India, it said, has witnessed a major anticorruption movement that spawned the rise of a brand new political party and a landmark national election in 2014 that fundamentally changed the nature of the regime ruling the country.

BCCL

In the socio-cultural context, there have been frequent conflicts between conservatism and liberalism on issues such as womens rights, decriminalising homosexuality, censorship, freedom of expression and also on the recent growing intolerance in society.

The rapid sprouting of malls and leisure facilities, the manner in which urban Indians spend their money has radically changed, the report pointed out.

The aim of the study was to find out the social and psychological well-being of young people. Researchers felt it was important to know the mindsets of young people and their opinions on important socio-cultural issues.

The survey was conducting in 19 states including Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

1. Beef ban

BCCL

Almost half the population  46% - support the beef ban. Among Muslims, 69% of them consider beef consumption to be a personal choice and are against its banning. In contrast, only 31% of the Hindu youth and 33% of the Sikh youth seem to concur with this view. More specifically, 40% of non-vegetarian Hindu youth support beef consumption, while only 20% of vegetarian Hindu youth does.

2. Patriarchy

the odyssey online

51% of the Indian youth believe wives should listen to their husbands, while 40% disagreed with this proposition and 9% did not answer the question. Also, more than 41% of the youth agreed that it is not right for women to work after marriage. A fairly high number of women were in this group  one in three young women agreed with this view. And more than two out of every five of them favoured the idea of an obedient wife.

3. Homosexuality

India today

Three in five or 61% think that a romantic and sexual relationship between two men is wrong, while 10% think its somewhat right, and only one in seven think its right. With lesbian relationships, only 14% saw absolutely nothing wrong with it.

4. Marriage

lawyer chennai

The importance laid on marriage among the youth has reduced and there has been a significant shift in attitude towards marriage. In 2007, 80% felt it important to get married, and in the current survey, only 52% thought it important. There has be a considerable decline in the proportion of married youth in rural areas, more so than in urban ones. In 2007, in rural areas over 61% of 15- to 34-year-olds were married. In this latest survey it has dropped to 52%. In urban areas the proportion of married youth, from 46% to 40% in the last decade.

5. Inter-caste and inter-religion marriages

court marriage

36% dont believe in inter-caste marriage, and think its completely wrong. One fourth think its only partially right and one third completely approve of marrying outside ones caste. Almost half of the countrys youth is completely against marrying someone from a foreign religion - this idea was only supported by 28%.

6. Live-in relationships

Comedy mood

Two-thirds or 67% of the youth does not approve of living in with ones romantic partner before marriage. And more than half of the young population (53%) disapproved of dating  in fact only a small margin of people approved of it  one in seven, that is. Also, Valentines Day isnt considered all that popular  two in five disliked and disapproved its celebration.

7. Love or arranged marriage?

Indie pepper

There is still a high preference for arranged marriage among young Indian people. 50% would like their parents to decide who they should marry. Only 12% would go for a love marriage, and one would like to opt for a love-arranged marriage.

8. Cigarettes and alcohol

lord of the drinks

According to the survey, smoking and drinking isnt all that common among the young cohort, but it was quick to acknowledge that they might not have reported so. 75% said they have never smoked a cigarette and 77% said they had never had alcohol. Interestingly, 12% of the less anxious youth were smokers, and 14% of young people who reported no anxieties were also those who consumed alcohol.

9. Political thoughts

BCCL

Close to half of the young population has no interest in politics. 46% said they have no interest in politics at all, while 18% reported little interest, 25% some and 7% a lot of interest. The urban youth in Indias metropolitan cities were found to be least interested in politics  more than half or 53% said they werent interested in politics at all. A little more than half of the youth, 52%, identified themselves with one party. Only 20% affiliated themselves with BJP, and only 10% with Congress.

10. Education and employment

BCCL

Employment is the primary concern of young Indians. 18% of those surveyed said jobs and unemployment is more important issue in the country, while 12% said it was economic inequality and 9% said corruption. A third or 32% of the countrys youth is occupied as student, a 17% increase from 2007. Dalits and Adivasis are lagging behind in education compared to upper-caste youth. Only 25% of Dalit youth and 16% of Adivasi youth reported themselves as students. Only 41% of Dalits and 20% Adivasis are college graduates. An overwhelming majority of Indias youth said it prefers a government job, while 19% said they would prefer establishing their own business, and only 7% said they prefer a job in the private sector.
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Bannon Down, Pentagon Up, Neocons In?





By Jim Lobe

April 22, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - The apparent and surprisingly abrupt demise in Steve Bannons influence offers a major potential opening for neoconservatives, many of whom opposed Trumps election precisely because of his association with Bannon and the America Firsters, to return to power after so many years of being relegated to the sidelines. Bannons decline suggest that he no longer wields the kind of veto power that prevented the nomination of Elliott Abrams as deputy secretary of state. Moreover, the administrations ongoing failure to fill key posts at the undersecretary, assistant secretary, and deputy assistant secretary levels across the governments foreign-policy apparatus provides a veritable cornucopia of opportunities for aspiring neocons who didnt express their opposition to the Trump campaign too loudly.

Ninety days into the administration, the military brasswhose interests and general worldview are well represented by National Security Advisor Gen. H.R. McMaster and Pentagon chief Gen. James Mattis (ret.), not to mention the various military veterans led by National Security Council (NSC) chief of staff Gen. Kenneth Kellogg (ret.) who are taking positions on the NSCappears to be very much in the drivers seat on key foreign policy issues, especially regarding the Greater Middle East. Their influence is evident not only in the attention theyve paid to mending ties with NATO and northeast Asian allies, but also in the more forceful actions in the Greater Middle East of the past two weeks. These latter demonstrations of force seem designed above all to reassure Washingtons traditional allies in the region, who had worried most loudly about both Obamas non-interventionism and Trumps America First rhetoric, that the U.S. is not shy about exerting its military muscle.

Nor could it be lost on many observers that Bannons expulsion from the NSC took place immediately after Jared Kushner returned from his surprise visit to Iraq hosted by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunfordreportedly the culmination of a calculated strategy of seduction by the Pentagon . Kushner has emerged as the chief conduit to Trump (aside, perhaps, from Ivanka). The timing of Bannons fall from graceand Kushners reported role in itwas particularly remarkable given that Kushner and Bannon were allied in opposing McMasters effort to fire Ezra Cohen-Watnick from the NSC just a week before Kushner flew to Baghdad.)

The Ascendance of the Military

The militarys emergenceat least, for nowhas a number of implications, some favorable to neocons, others not so much.

On the favorable side of the ledger, there are clear areas of convergence between both the brass and the neocons (although its important to emphasize that neither is monolithic and that there are variations in opinion within both groups). Although both the military and the neocons give lip service to the importance of soft power in promoting U.S. interests abroad, they share the belief that, ultimately, hard power is the only coin of the realm that really counts.

With substantial experience in counter-insurgency (COIN) doctrine in Iraq and Afghanistan, both McMaster and Mattis appreciate the importance of politics in military strategy in principle. But they are ultimately military men and hence naturally inclined to look in the first instance to military tools to pound in any loose nails, whether in the form of failing states or failing regional security structures. (That hammer will likely look even more compelling as the Trump administration follows through on its budgetary proposals to deplete U.S. diplomatic and development capabilities.) Like neoconservatives, they also appreciate large military budgets, and although they certainly oppose, in principle, the idea that the U.S. should play globocop for fear of overextension, they have no problem with the notion of U.S. global military primacy and the necessity of maintaining hundreds of military bases around the world to uphold it.

Moreover, the military and neoconservatives share to some extent an enduring hostility toward certain states. The Pentagon is quite comfortable with an adversarial relationship with Russia, if only because it is familiar and ensures European adherence to NATO, which the United States will dominate for the foreseeable future. This applies in particular to McMaster , who spent the last couple of years planning for conflict with Russia. For similar reasons, the military is generally comfortable with a mostly hostile relationship toward Iran. Such a stance ensures close ties with Washingtons traditional allies/autocrats in the Gulf (whose insatiable demand for U.S. weaponry helps sustain the industrial base of the U.S. military as well as the compensation for retired flag officers who serve on the boards of the arms sellers). And, as Mattis has made clear on any number of occasions, he sees Iran as the greatest long-term threat to U.S. interests in the region and welcomes an opportunity to push back against what he has claimed are Tehrans hegemonic ambitions there. All of this is clearly encouraging to neocons whose antipathy toward both the Islamic Republic and Russia is deeply ingrained and of long standing.

On the more negative side, however, the military as an institution naturally harbors a distrust of neoconservatives, a distrust established by the Iraq debacle in which the military still finds itself bogged down with no clear exit. Regime change and nation-buildingmuch touted by neocons in the post-Cold War eraare dirty words among most of the brass, for whom such phrases have become synonymous with quagmire, over-extension, and, as much as they resist coming to terms with it, failure. Of course, many active-duty and retired senior military officers, of whom McMaster may well be one , consider the 2007-08 Surgea plan heavily promoted by neoconservativesto have been a great success (despite its manifest failure to achieve the strategic goal of political and sectarian reconciliation) that was undone by Obamas premature withdrawal. But even the most ardent COINistas are aware that, absent a catastrophic attack on the U.S. mainland, the American public will have very limited patience for major new investments of blood and treasure in the Middle East, especially given the general perception that Russia and China pose increasing threats to more important U.S. interests and allies in Europe and East Asia, respectively, compared to five or six years ago.

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The prevailing wisdom among the brass remains pretty much as former Defense Secretary Bob Gates enunciated it before his retirement in 2011: In my opinion, any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should have his head examined, as General MacArthur so delicately put it. The military may indeed escalate its presence and loosen its rules of engagement in Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, and even Yemen in the coming months, but not so much as to attract sustained public attention and concern, despite the wishes of neocons like Bloomberg columnist Eli Lake , Gen. Jack Keane (ret.) , or the Kagans . The desirability of a light footprint has become conventional wisdom at the Pentagon, while some neocons still believe that the U.S. occupation of post-World War II Germany and Japan should be the model for Iraq.

Besides Iraqs legacy, the military has other reasons to resist neocon efforts to gain influence in the Trump administration. As successive flag officers, including one of their heroes, Gen. David Petraeus (ret.), have testified , the virtually unconditional U.S. embrace of Israel has long made their efforts to enlist Arab support for U.S. military initiatives in the region more difficult. Of course, like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, neocons argue that circumstances have changed over the last decade, that the reigning regional chaos and the fear of a rising Iran shared by both Israel and the Sunni-led Arab states have created a new strategic convergence that has made the Israeli-Palestinian conflict virtually irrelevant. According to this view, Washingtons perceived acquiescence in, if not support for, expanding Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank and its quarantine of Gaza are no longer a big deal for Arab leaders.

But this perception runs up against the reality that the Pentagon and CENTCOM have always faced in the region. Even the most autocratic Arab leaders, including those who have intensified their covert intelligence and military cooperation with Israel in recent years, are worried about their own public opinion, and, that until Israel takes concrete steps toward the creation of a viable and contiguous Palestinian state pursuant to the solution outlined in the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative (API), their cooperation will remain limited, as well as covert. In the meantime, the ever-present possibility of a new Palestinian uprising or another armed conflict in Gaza threatens both continuing cooperation as well as the U.S. position in the region to the extent that Washington is seen as backing Israel.

There are other differences. Despite the experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, neocons have long believed that states necessarily constitute the greatest threat to U.S. national security, while the military tends to take relatively more seriously threats posed by non-state actors, such as the Islamic State and al-Qaeda or, for that matter, al-Shabaab or Boko Haram to which neocons pay almost no attention. Although some neocons are clearly Islamophobic and/or Arabophobic (in major part due to their Likudist worldview), the military, as shown most recently by McMasters opposition to the use of the phrase radical Islamic terrorism, sees that attitude as counter-productive. And although neocons and the military share a strong antipathy toward Iran, the latter, unlike the former, appears to recognize that both countries share some common interests. Mattis, in particular, sees the nuclear deal as imperfect but very much worth preserving. Most neocons want to kill it, if not by simply tearing it up, then indirectly, either through new congressional sanctions or other means designed to provoke Iran into renouncing it.

The military tends to appreciate the importance of mobilizing multilateral and especially allied support for U.S. policies, especially the use of force. Many neocons, however, dont accord such support so much importance. Indeed, some are openly contemptuous of multilateralism and international law in general, believing that they unduly constrain Washingtons freedom of action (to do good for the world). Neocons see themselves above all as moral actors in a world of good and evil; the brass is more grounded in realism, albeit of a pretty hardline nature.

Thus, to the extent that the militarys worldview emerges as dominant under Donald Trump, neoconservatives may have a hard time gaining influence. However, on some issues, such as lobbying for a larger Pentagon budget, taking a more aggressive stance against Moscow, aligning the U.S. more closely with the Sunni-led Gulf states, and promoting a more confrontational stance vis-a-vis Iran in the Middle East, neocons may gain an entree.

Other Avenues of Influence

Just as the Pentagon deliberately courted Kushner who appears, like his father-in-law, to be something of an empty vessel on foreign policy issues despite the rapid expansion of his international responsibilities in the first 90 daysso others will. Indeed, Abrams himself appears to have gotten the message. In his interview last week with Politico, he unsurprisingly praises Trumps cruise-missile strikes against Syria and Kushners modesty. (I dont view him at all as an empire builder.) At the end of the article, the author notes,

As for his own future with Trump, Abrams teased that it may still be in front of him, depending on how things shape up with Bannon and Kushner, the latter of whom he kept going out of his way to praise. [ Emphasis added.]

Although the deputy secretary of state position now appears to be taken , Abrams was also careful to laud his erstwhile promoter, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Now reportedly coordinating increasingly with Mattis and McMaster, Tillerson seems to have gained significant ground with Trump himself in recent weeks. Neocons may yet find a home at State, although I think Tillersons initial promotion of Abrams as his deputy was due primarily to the latters experience and skills as a bureaucratic infighter rather than for his ideological predispositions. Meanwhile, UN Amb. Nikki Haley, who was promoted to the NSCs Principals Committee on the same day that Bannon was expelled, appears to have become a neocon favorite for her Kirkpatrickesque denunciations of Russia, Syria, and the UN itself. That she initially supported neocon heartthrob Sen. Marco Rubio for president and has been aligned politically with Sen. Lindsey Graham, who stressed Haleys commitment to Israel when she was nominated as ambassador, also offers hope to neocons looking for avenues of influence and infiltration.

Yet another avenue into the administrationindeed, perhaps the most effectivelies with none other than casino king Sheldon Adelson , the single biggest donor to the Trump campaign and inaugural festivities (as well as to Haleys political action committee ). As we noted in January , Kushner himself, along with Israeli Amb. Ron Dermer , had become a critical, pro-Likud conduit between Trump and Adelson beginning shortly after Trumps rather controversial appearance before the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) at the beginning of the presidential campaign. Although Adelson has maintained a low profile since the inauguration, he clearly enjoys unusual access to both Kushner and Trump. Indeed, the fact that Sean Spicer reportedly apologized personally to Adelson , of all people, almost immediately after his Holocaust center fiasco last week serves as a helpful reminder that, as much as the various factions, institutions, and individuals jockey for power in the new administration, moneyespecially campaign cashstill talks in Washington. This is a reality that neoconservatives absorbed long ago.

Jim Lobe served for some 30 years as the Washington DC bureau chief for Inter Press Service and is best known for his coverage of U.S. foreign policy and the influence of the neoconservative movement. http://lobelog.com
Why Does North Korea Want Nukes?

By Paul Atwood

We are fighting in Korea so we wont have to fight in Wichita, or in Chicago, or in New Orleans, or in San Francisco Bay.  President Harry S Truman, 1952

April 22, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Why has this tiny nation of 24 million people invested so much of its limited resources in acquiring nuclear weapons? North Korea is universally condemned as a bizarre and failed state, its nuclear posture denounced as irrational.

Yet North Koreas stance cannot be separated out from its turbulent history during the 20th Century, especially its four decade long occupation by Japan, the forced division of the Korean peninsula after World War II, and, of course, the subsequent utterly devastating war with the United States from 1950-1953 that ended in an armistice in which a technical state of war still exists.

Korea is an ancient nation and culture, achieving national unity in 608 CE, and despite its near envelopment by gigantic China it has retained its own unique language and traditions throughout its recorded history. National independence came to an end in 1910 after five years of war when Japan, taking advantage of Chinese weakness, invaded and occupied Korea using impressed labor for the industries Japan created for the benefit of its own economy. As always the case for colonization the Japanese easily found collaborators among the Korean elite Koreans to manage their first colony.

Naturally a nationalist resistance movement emerged rapidly and, given the history of the early 20th Century, it was not long before communists began to play a significant role in Koreas effort to regain its independence. The primary form of resistance came in the form of peoples committees which became deeply rooted throughout the entire peninsula, pointedly in the south as well. It was from these deeply political and nationalistic village and city committees that guerrilla groups engaged the Japanese throughout WWII. The parallels with similar organizations in Vietnam against the Japanese, and later against the French and Americans, are obvious. Another analogous similarity is that Franklin Roosevelt also wanted a Great Power trusteeship for Korea, as for Vietnam. Needless to say both Britain and France objected to this plan.

When Russia entered the war against Japanese in August of 1945 the end of Japanese rule was at hand regardless of the atomic bomb. As events turned out Japan surrendered on 15 August when Soviet troops had occupied much of the northern peninsula. It should be noted that American forces played no role in the liberation of Korea from Japanese rule. However, because the Soviets, as allies of the U.S., wished to remain on friendly terms they agreed to the division of Korea between Soviet and American forces. The young Dean Rusk, later to become Secretary of State under Kennedy and Johnson, arbitrarily drew a line of division across the 38th Parallel because, as he said, that would leave the capital city, Seoul, in the American zone.

Written reports at the time criticized Washington for allowing the Red Army into Korea but the fact was it was the other way around. The Soviets could easily have occupied the entirety of Korea but chose not to do so, instead opting for a negotiated settlement with the U.S. over the future of Korea. Theoretically the peninsula would be reunited after some agreement between the two victors at some future date.

However, the U.S. immediately began to favor those Koreans who had collaborated with the Japanese in the exploitation of their own country and its people, largely the landed elites, and Washington began to arm the provisional government it set up to root out the peoples committees. For their part the Soviets supported the communist nationalist leader, Kim Il-Sung who had led the guerrilla army against Japan at great cost in lives.

In 1947 the United Nations authorized elections in Korea, but the election monitors were all American allies so the Soviets and communist Koreans refused to participate. By then the Cold War was in full swing, the critical alliance between Washington and Moscow that had defeated Nazi Germany had already been sundered. As would later also occur in Vietnam in 1956, the U.S. oversaw elections only in the south of Korea and only those candidates approved by Washington. Syngman Rhee became South Koreas first president protected by the new American armed and trained Army of the Republic of Korea. This ROK was commanded by officers who had served the Japanese occupation including one who had been decorated by Emperor Hirohito himself and who had tried to track down and kill Kim Il Sung for the Japanese.

With Korea thus seemingly divided permanently both Russian and American troops withdrew in 1948 though they left advisers behind. On both sides of the new artificial border pressures mounted for a forcible reunification. The fact remained that much of rural southern Korea was still loyal to the peoples committees. This did not necessarily mean that they were committed communists but they were virulent nationalists who recognized the role that Kims forces had played against the Japanese. Rhees forces then began to systematically root out Kims supporters. Meanwhile the American advisers had constantly to keep Rhees forces from crossing the border to invade the north.

In 1948 guerrilla war broke out against the Rhee regime on the southern island of Cheju, the population of which ultimately rose in wholesale revolt. The suppression of the rebellion was guided by many American agents soon to become part of the Central Intelligence Agency and by military advisers. Eventually the entire population was removed to the coast and kept in guarded compounds and between 20,000 and 30,000 villagers died. Simultaneously elements of the ROK army refused to participate in this war against their own people and this mutiny was brutally suppressed by those ROK soldiers who would obey such orders. Over one thousand of the mutineers escaped to join Kims guerrillas in the mountains.

Though Washington claimed that these rebellions were fomented by the communists no evidence surfaced that the Soviets provided anything other than moral support. Most of the rebels captured or killed had Japanese or American weapons.

In North Korea the political system had evolved in response to decades of foreign occupation and war. Though it was always assumed to be a Soviet satellite, North Korea more nearly bears comparison to Titos Yugoslavia. The North Koreans were always able to balance the tensions between the Soviets and the Chinese to their own advantage. During the period when the Comintern exercised most influence over national communist parties not a single Korean communist served in any capacity and the number of Soviet advisers in the north was never high.

Nineteen forty-nine marked a watershed year. The Chinese Communist Revolution, the Soviet Atomic Bomb, the massive reorganization of the National Security State in the U.S. all occurred that year. In 1950 Washington issued its famous National Security Paper-68 (NSC-68) which outlined the agenda for a global anti-communist campaign, requiring the tripling of the American defense budget. Congress balked at this all-encompassing blueprint when in the deathless words of Secretary of State Dean Acheson Thank God! Korea came along. Only months before Acheson had made a speech in which he pointedly omitted Korea from Americas Defense perimeter.

The Korean War seemed to vindicate everything written and said about the international communist conspiracy. In popular myth on June 25, 1950 the North Korean Army suddenly attacked without warning, overwhelming surprised ROK defenders. In fact the entire 38th Parallel had been progressively militarized and there had been numerous cross border incursions by both sides going back to 1949. On numerous occasions Syngman Rhee had to be restrained by American advisers from invading the north. The Korean civil war was all but inevitable. Given postwar American plans for access globally to resources, markets and cheaper labor power any form of national liberation, communist or liberal democratic, was to be opposed. Acheson and his second, Dean Rusk, told President Truman that we must draw the line here! Truman decided to request authorization for American intervention from the United Nations and bypassed Congress thereby leading to widespread opposition and, later, a return to Republican rule under Dwight Eisenhower..

Among the remaining mysteries of the UN decision to undertake the American led military effort to reject North Korea from the south was the USSRs failure to make use of its veto in the Security Council. The Soviet ambassador was ostensibly boycotting the meetings in protest of the UNs refusal to seat the Chinese communists as Chinas official delegation. According to Bruce Cumings though, evidence exists that Stalin ordered the Soviet ambassador to abstain. Why? The UN resolution authorizing war could have been prevented. At that moment the Sino-Soviet split was already in evidence and Stalin may have wished to weaken China, something which actually happened as a result of that nations subsequent entry into the war. Or he may have wished that cloaking the UN mission under the U.S. flag would have revealed the UN to be largely under the control of the United States, which indeed it was. What is known is that Stalin refused to allow Soviet combat troops and reduced shipments of arms to Kims forces. Later, however Soviet pilots would engage Americans in the air. The Chinese were quick to condemn the UN action as American imperialism and warned of dire consequences if China itself were threatened.

The war went badly at first for the U.S. despite numerical advantages in forces. Rout after rout followed with the ROK in full retreat. Meanwhile tens of thousands of southern guerrillas who had originated in peoples committees fought the Americans and the ROK. At one point the North Koreans were in control of Seoul and seemed about to drive American forces into the sea. At that point the commander- in-chief of all UN forces, General Douglas MacArthur, announced that he saw unique opportunities for the deployment of atomic weapons. This call was taken up by many in Congress.

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Truman was loathe to introduce nukes and instead authorized MacArthur to conduct the famous landings at Inchon in September 1950 with few losses by the Marine Corps vaunted 1st Division. This threw North Korean troops into disarray and MacArthur began pushing them back across the 38th Parallel, the mandate imposed by the UN resolution. But the State Department claimed that the border was not recognized under international law and therefore the UN mandate had no real legal bearing. It was this that MacArthur claimed gave him the right to take the war into the north. Though the North Koreans had suffered a resounding defeat in the south, they withdrew into northern mountain redoubts forcing the American forces that followed them into bloody and costly combat, led Americans into a trap.

The Chinese had said from the beginning that any approach of foreign troops toward their border would result in dire consequences. Fearing an invasion of Manchuria to crush the nascent communist revolution the Chinese foreign minister, Zhou En-Lai declared that China will not supinely tolerate seeing their neighbors invaded by the imperialists. MacArthur sneered at this warning.  They have no airforceif the Chinese tried to get down to Pyongyang there would be a great slaughterwe are the best. He then ordered airstrikes to lay waste thousands of square miles of northern Korea bordering China and ordered infantry divisions ever closer to its border.

It was the terrible devastation of this bombing campaign, worse than anything seen during World War II short of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that to this day dominates North Koreas relations with the United States and drives its determination never to submit to any American diktat.

General Curtis Lemay directed this onslaught. It was he who had firebombed Tokyo in March 1945 saying it was about time we stopped swatting at flies and gone after the manure pile. It was he who later said that the US ought to bomb North Vietnam back into the stone age. Remarking about his desire to lay waste to North Korea he said We burned down every town in North Korea and South Korea too. Lemay was by no means exaggerating.

On November 27, 1950 hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops suddenly crossed the border into North Korea completely overwhelming US forces. Acheson said this was the worst defeat of American forces since Bull Run. One famous incident was the battle at the Chosin Reservoir, where 50,000 US marines were surrounded. As they escaped their enclosure they said they were advancing to the rear but in fact all American forces were being routed.

Panic took hold in Washington. Truman now said use of A-bombs was under active consideration. MacArthur demanded the bombs As he put it in his memoirs:

I would have dropped between thirty and fifty atomic bombsstrung across the neck of Manchuriaand spread behind us  from the Sea of Japan to the Yellow Sea- a belt of radioactive cobalt. It has an active life of between 60 and 120 years.

Cobalt it should be noted is at least 100 times more radioactive than uranium.

He also expressed a desire for chemicals and gas.

It is well known that MacArthur was fired for insubordination for publically announcing his desire to use nukes. Actually, Truman himself put the nukes at ready and threatened to use them if China launched air raids against American forces. But he did not want to put them under MacArthurs command because he feared MacArthur would conduct a preemptive strike against China anyway.

By June 1951, one year after the beginning of the war, the communists had pushed UN forces back across the 38th parallel. Chinese ground forces might have been able to push the entire UN force off the peninsula entirely but that would not have negated US naval and air forces, and would have probably resulted in nuclear strikes against the Chinese mainland and that brought the real risk of Soviet entry and all out nuclear exchanges. So from this point on the war became one of attrition, much like the trench warfare of World War I. casualties continued to be high on both sides for the duration of the war which lasted until 1953 when an armistice without reunification was signed.

Of course the victims suffering worst were the civilians. In 1951 the U.S. initiated Operation Strangle which officialls estimated killed at least 3 million people on both sides of the 38th parallel, but the figure is probably closer to 4 million. We do not know how many Chinese died  either solders or civilians killed in cross border bombings.

The question of whether the U.S. carried out germ warfare has been raised but has never been fully proved or disproved. The North accused the U.S. of dropping bombs laden with cholera, anthrax, plague, and encephalitis and hemorrhagic fever, all of which turned up among soldiers and civilians in the north. Some American prisoners of war confessed to such war crimes but these were dismissed as evidence of torture by North Korea on Americans. However, none of the U.S. POWs who did confess and were later repatriated were allowed to meet the press. A number of investigations were carried out by scientists from friendly western countries. One of the most prominent concluded the charges were true. At this time the US was engaged in top secret germ-warfare research with captured Nazi and Japanese germ warfare experts, and also experimenting with Sarin, despite its ban by the Geneva Convention. Washington accused the communists of introducing germ warfare.

Napalm was used extensively, completely and utterly destroying the northern capital of Pyongyang. By 1953 American pilots were returning to carriers and bases claiming there were no longer any significant targets in all of North Korea to bomb. In fact a very large percentage of the northern population was by then living in tunnels dug by hand underground. A British journalist wrote that the northern population was living a troglodyte existence.In the Spring of 1953 US warplanes hit five of the largest dams along the Yalu river completely inundating and killing Pyongyangs harvest of rice. Air Force documents reveal calculated premeditation saying that Attacks in May will be most effective psychologically because it was the end of the rice-transplanting season before the roots could become completely embedded. Flash floods scooped out hundreds of square miles of vital food producing valleys and killed untold numbers of farmers.

At Nuremberg after WWII, Nazi officers who carried out similar attacks on the dikes of Holland, creating a mass famine in 1944, were tried as criminals and some were executed for their crimes.

So after a horrific war Korea returned to the status quo ante bellum in terms of political boundaries but it was completely devastated, especially the north.

I submit that it is the collective memory of all of what Ive described that animates North Koreas policies toward the US today which has nuclear weapons on constant alert and stations almost 30,000 forces at the ready. Remember, a state of war still exists and has since 1953.

While South Korea received heavy American investment in the industries fleeing the United States in search of cheaper labor and new markets it was nevertheless ruled until quite recently by military dictatorships scarcely different than those of the north. For its part the north constructed its economy along five-year plans and collectivized its agriculture. While it never enjoyed the sort of consumer society that now characterizes some of South Korea, its GDP grew substantially until the collapse of communism globally brought about the withdrawal of all foreign aid to north Korea.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, as some American policymakers took note of the norths growing weakness Secretary of Defense Cheney and Paul Wolfowitz talked openly of using force finally to settle the question of Korean reunification and the claimed threat to international peace posed by North Korea.

In 1993 the Clinton Administration discovered that North Korea was constructing a nuclear processing plant and also developing medium range missiles. The Pentagon desired to destroy these facilities but that would mean wholesale war so the administration fostered an agreement whereby North Korea would stand down in return for the provision of oil and other economic aid. When in 2001, after the events of 9-11, the Bush II neo-conservatives militarized policy and declared North Korea to be an element of the axis of evil. All bets were now off. In that context North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, reasoning that nuclear weapons were the only way possible to prevent a full scale attack by the US in the future. Given a stark choice between another war with the US and all that would entail this decision seems hardly surprising. Under no circumstances could any westerner reasonably expect, after all the history Ive described, that the North Korean regime would simply submit to any ultimatums by the US, by far the worst enemy Korea ever had measured by the damage inflicted on the entirety of the Korean peninsula.

(Acknowledgement to Bruce Cumings and I.F. Stone)

This article was first published at Counterpunch
US 'Deep State' Sold Out Counter-terrorism to Keep Itself in Business

By Gareth Porter

April 22, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " MEE " - New York Times columnist Tom Friedman outraged many readers when he wrote an opinion piece on 12 April calling on President Trump to "back off fighting territorial ISIS in Syria". The reason he gave for that recommendation was not that US wars in the Middle East are inevitably self-defeating and endless, but that it would reduce the "pressure on Assad, Iran, Russia and Hezbollah".

That suggestion that the US sell out its interest in counter-terrorism in the Middle East to gain some advantage in power competition with its adversaries was rightly attacked as cynical.

But, in fact, the national security bureaucracies of the US  which many have come to call the "Deep State" - have been selling out their interests in counter-terrorism in order to pursue various adventures in the region ever since George W Bush declared a "Global War on Terrorism" in late 2001.

The whole war on terrorism has been, in effect, a bait-and-switch operation from the beginning. The idea that US military operations were somehow going to make America safer after the 9/11 attacks was the bait. What has actually happened ever since then, however, is that senior officials at the Pentagon and the CIA have been sacrificing the interest of American people in weakening al-Qaeda in order to pursue their own institutional interests.

'The only game in town'

It all began, of course, with the invasion of Iraq. Counter-terrorism specialists in the US government knew perfectly well that US regime change in Iraq through military force would give a powerful boost to Osama bin Laden's organisation and to anti-American terrorism generally. Rand Beers, then senior director for counter-terrorism on the National Security Council staff, told his predecessor Richard Clarke in late 2002, "Do you know how much it will strengthen al-Qaeda and groups like that if we occupy Iraq?"

After it quickly became clear that the US war in Iraq was already motivating young men across the Middle East to wage jihad against the US in Iraq, the chief architect of the occupation of Iraq, Paul Wolfowitz, came up with the patently false rationalisation that Iraq would be a "flytrap" for jihadists.

But in January 2005, after a year of research, the CIA issued a major intelligence assessment warning that the war was breeding more al-Qaeda extremist militants from all over the Middle East and even giving them combat experience that they would eventually be able to use back home. In a 2006 National Intelligence Estimate , the intelligence community warned that the number of people identifying themselves as jihadists was growing and was becoming more widespread geographically and even the predicted growing terrorist threats from "self-radicalized cells" both in the US and abroad.

The war managers continued to claim that their wars were making Americans safer. CIA director Michael Hayden not only sought to sell the flypaper argument on Iraq, but also bragged to the Washington Post in 2008 that the CIA was making great progress against al-Qaeda, based mainly on its burgeoning drone war in Pakistan.

But Hayden and the CIA had a huge bureaucratic interest in that war. He had lobbied Bush in 2007 to loosen restraints on drone strikes in Pakistan and let the CIA launch lethal attacks on the mere suspicion that a group of males were al-Qaeda.

It soon became clear that it wasn't really weakening the al-Qaeda in the northwest Pakistan at all. Even drone operators themselves began privately criticising the drone attacks for making many more young Pakistanis hate the United States and support al-Qaeda. The only thing Leon Panetta, Hayden's successor as CIA director, could say in defence of the programme was that it was "the only game in town" .

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Covert wars

Barack Obama wanted out of a big war in Iraq. But CENTCOM Commander Gen David Petraeus and Joint Staff director Gen Stanley A McChyrstal talked Obama into approving a whole new series of covert wars using CIA drone strikes and special operations commando raids against al-Qaeda and other jihadist organisations in a dozen countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. At the top of their list of covert wars was Yemen, where al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) had just been formed.

Since 2009, the Joint Special Operations Command and the CIA have launched 16 cruise missile strikes and 183 drone strikes in Yemen. Unfortunately, they lacked the intelligence necessary for such a campaign. As many as one-third of the strikes killed innocent civilians and local notables - including the cruise missile strike in December 2009 which killed 41 civilians and attack on a wedding party in December 2013.

Virtually every independent observer agrees that those killings have fed Yemeni hatred of the US and contributed to AQAP's lustre as the leading anti-US organisation in the country.

The CIA again claimed they were doing a splendid job of hitting AQAP, but in fact the Yemeni offshoot of al-Qaeda continued to be the primary terrorism threat while the covert war continued. Three times between late 2009 and 2012, it mounted efforts to bring down airliners and nearly succeeded in two of the three.

Sharpened contradictions

In late 2011 and early 2012, the contradiction between the US pretension to counter-terrorism in its Middle East policy and the interests sharpened even further. That's when the Obama administration adopted a new anti-Iran hard line in the region to reassure the Saudis that we were still committed to the security alliance. That hard line policy had nothing to do with a nuclear deal with Iran, which came more than a year later.

At first, it took form of covert logistical assistance to the Sunni allies to arm Sunni anti-Assad forces in Syria. But in 2014, the Obama administration began providing anti-tank missiles to selected anti-Assad armed groups. And when the Nusra Front wanted the groups the CIA had supported in Idlib to coordinate with the jihadist offensive to seize control of Idlib province, the Obama administration did not object.

The Obama national security team was willing to take advantage of the considerable military power of the Nusra Front-led jihadist alliance. But it was all done with a wink and a nod to maintain the fiction that it was still committed to defeating al-Qaeda everywhere.

When the Saudis came to Washington in March 2015 with a plan to wage a major war in Yemen against the Houthis and their new ally, former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, the deep state was ready to give Saudi a green light . A predictable consequence of that decision has been to fuel the rise of AQAP, which had already emerged as the primary threat of terrorist attack on the US, to an unprecedented position of power.

The biggest winner

As documented by the International Crisis Group, AQAP has been the biggest winner in the war, taking advantage of state collapse, an open alliance with the Saudi-supported government and a major infusion of arms  much of its provided indirectly by the Saudis.

Endowed with a political strategy of playing up AQAP's role as champion of Sunni sectarian interests against those Yemenis whom they wrongly call Shia, AQAP controlled a large swath of territory across southern Yemen, with the port of Mukalla as their headquarters. And even though the Saudi coalition recaptured the territory, they maintain a strong political presence there.

AQAP will certainly emerge from the disastrous war in Yemen as the strongest political force in the south, with a de-facto safe haven in which to plot terrorist attacks against the US. And they can thank the war bureaucracies in the US who helped them achieve that powerful position.

But the reason for the betrayal of US counter-terrorism interests is not that the senior officials in charge of these war bureaucracies want to promote al-Qaeda. It is because they had to sacrifice the priority of countering al-Qaeda to maintain the alliances, the facilities and the operations on which their continued power and resources depend.

Gareth Porter is an independent investigative journalist and winner of the 2012 Gellhorn Prize for journalism. He is the author of the newly published Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare.
The Peace Commandment

By Philip A. Farruggio

April 22, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - John Locke, a philosopher who lived nearly 400 years ago, summed it up best: "To love one's neighbor as ourselves is such a truth for regulating human society that by that alone one might determine the cases of social morality."

One can understand the first part of this ideal, as one of the 10 Commandments is about loving one's neighbor as ourselves. The latter part of Locke's quote wraps it all up quite nicely as to determining our social morality. If we all truly treated our fellow man as we would like to be treated, WOW!!! No more exploitation of others for our own financial gain; no more torture or harsh treatment of a detainee.; No more lying to others to support our own agenda... and on and on.

Imperialism: "the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas; broadly: the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence." This defines the exact opposite of not only that commandment, but of what Locke suggests above.

Yet, throughout history, spanning perhaps ad infinitum of human life on this planet, man has constantly used imperialism to enrich himself. Every great empire has been defined by its use of imperialism. The great 20th century wars were fought by imperialist nations on both sides.

During WW2, Churchill and the Brits blasted Hitler and his mad Nazi regime for their concentration camps and ethnic cleansing of Jews and Slavs. .. And right they were. Yet, few recall that it was the Brits (and Churchill participated) who coined the phrase concentration camp during the Boer War in Africa... and placed the Boers in them. It was the Brits (again with Churchill front and center) who, after WW1, used their aircraft to gas the hell out of the Iraqis in order to keep control of that region. All the Nazis did was take these concepts to a much deeper and darker place.

In our nation, founded on life, liberty and the pursuit of...the "happiness to own slaves." Racism and jingoism has always used the tactic of scapegoating to divide us working stiffs. During and after the Civil War freed blacks were never accepted as truly free men and women. Poor and low income whites were propagandized to hate and fear freed blacks, mostly for economic reasons.

The New York City draft riots of 1863 ( captured somewhat in Scorsese's 2002 film "Gangs of New York") revealed how brutal white working stiffs could be towards blacks, who they feared (sometimes rightly so) would take away their low paying jobs.

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In the South after the Civil War, the fear of freed blacks, coupled with generational tribal and religious dictums of 'separation of the races' saw more brutality and discrimination. The Brits had their own imperial arrogance throughout their empire. Films like Attenborough's "Ghandi" (1982) or Sheridan's "In the Name of the Father" (1993) reveal how the Brits viewed their colonial peons in India and Northern Ireland.

WW2 was a war basically fought by imperialists against imperialists. The Germans and the Japanese just made their 'imperial claims' overt to the n-th degree. Every Allied player in that war had colonies or 'spheres of interest' throughout Asia, the Middle East and Africa, which were then under assault by the aforementioned Axis...who wanted them for their own interests and control. Not one major nation in that war cared **** about the peoples of those colonies and 'spheres of interest'!

The Russians knew that Hitler and his gang would very soon turn on them and attack...for lebensraum or 'living space' for German settlers, and of course their raw materials and agricultural land. Yet, Stalin made a non-aggression pact with Hitler so as to share in the carving up of another sovereign nation, Poland, while buying time to get his military up to snuff. Peace never entered into the equation!

We Americans should finally come to grips with the hype and spin about our beloved nation being the 'good guy' of the world. It is time to realize that the Military industrial Empire cares only about satisfying its enormous hunger for using our tax dollars to fatten itself.

Philip A Farruggio is the son and grandson of Brooklyn, NYC longshoremen. A graduate of Brooklyn College ( class of '74 with a BA in Speech & Theater), he is a free lance columnist.
US Secretary of State Issues War Threat Against Iran

By Bill Van Auken

April 22, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " WSWS " - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued a threat of military confrontation with Iran Wednesday at a hastily called news conference in which he drew a direct parallel to Washingtons reckless and increasingly dangerous confrontation with North Korea.

Referring to the nuclear agreement negotiated between Iran and the major world powers, Tillerson said: This deal represents the same failed approach of the past that brought us to the current imminent threat that we face from North Korea. The Trump administration has no intention of passing the buck to a future administration on Iran. The evidence is clear: Irans provocative actions threaten the United States, the region and the world.

The Trump administration had acknowledged on Tuesday that Iran has fully complied with the terms of the nuclear agreement that it negotiated in July 2015 with the so-called P5+1China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States plus Germany. In the same breath, however, it signaled that it is preparing measures designed to blow the agreement up.

In a formal notification required every 90 days to the US Congressthe first delivered since Trumps inaugurationSecretary of State Tillerson certified that, as of April 18, Iran was meeting its terms of the deal, which required it to cap its uranium enrichment, reduce its number of centrifuges by two-thirds and submit to international inspections to ensure compliance. These terms were supposed to preclude Irans ability to develop a nuclear weapon, something which Tehran insisted it had never sought.

The rest of Tillersons statement, however, revealed that the Trump administration is conducting a systematic review of all of the economic and financial sanctions that were waived in return for Irans reining in of its nuclear program.

Iran, the secretary of state alleged, remains a leading sponsor of terror through many platforms and methods, and therefore Trump has directed a National Security Council-led interagency review of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that will evaluate whether suspension of sanctions related to Iran pursuant to the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the formal name of the Iran nuclear deal) is vital to the national security interests of the United States.

On Wednesday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer deflected a direct question as to whether the administration was seeking to abrogate the nuclear agreement, saying that the inter-agency review would be concluded in 90 days and would serve as the basis for policy recommendations.

We're well aware of any potential negative impacts that an action could have, he added, in relation to the re-imposition of suspended sanctions.

Indeed such negative impacts are precisely the purpose of taking this action, which would be designed to provoke Iran into repudiating its own obligations under the nuclear agreement and thereby creating the pretext for US military aggression.

Thus, even as Washington is pushing the world to the brink of a potential nuclear confrontation on the Korean peninsula, it is laying the foundations for another catastrophic war in the Middle East.

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly denounced the Iran nuclear agreement as the worst deal ever negotiated and vowed to rip it up once elected.

In February, his since ousted national security advisor Gen. Michael Flynn marched into a White House briefing to ominously announce that he was putting Iran on notice, implying possible US military retaliation for the Iranian militarys testing of non-nuclear missiles, which is not barred by the nuclear agreement.

And last month, Gen. Joseph Votel, the chief of US Central Command, which oversees the American wars and interventions in the Middle East and Central Asia, denounced Iran as the greatest long-term threat to stability in the Middle East and advocated a campaign to disrupt [Iran] through military means or other means.

The latest escalation of these threats came as Trumps defense secretary, Gen. James Mad Dog Mattis, is conducting a tour of the Middle East, with meetings scheduled with Irans principal regional enemies, including the Saudi and Qatari monarchies and Israel.

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Mattis has reportedly advocated a policy of increasing the already massive US military aid and arms sales to the Saudi royal dictatorship and providing more direct US collaboration in its more than two-year-old war against the impoverished population of Yemen, which has killed some 12,000 people, the majority of them civilians, turned 3 million into refugees and left large portions of the population on the brink of starvation.

Speaking to reporters in Riyadh after meeting with Saudi King Salman and Deputy Crown Prince and minister of defense Mohammed bin Salman, Mattis declared, Everywhere you look if there is trouble in the region, you find Iran. He added, We will have to overcome Irans efforts to destabilize yet another country and create another militia in their image of Lebanese Hezbollah but the bottom line is we are on the right path for it.

The charges of Iranian destabilization stem from Irans objective position as Washingtons rival for regional hegemony in the Middle East and its participation, alongside Russia, in defending the government of Syria against the US-orchestrated war for regime change.

The hypocrisy of Washingtons labeling Iran as a sponsor of terrorism and the source of all trouble in the region is shameless. US imperialism has carried out a series of wars that have killed millions, toppled governments and devastated entire societies. The CIA has armed and funded terrorist Islamist groups in Libya, Iraq and Syria, including those directly tied to Al Qaeda.

In Yemen, the Pentagon has supplied the warplanes, bombs and missiles that have slaughtered men, women and children, while offering intelligence assistance as well as mid-air refueling to enable round-the-clock bombing aimed at crushing the Yemeni populations resistance and compelling them to accept the re-imposition of the puppet regime of ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Now, the Pentagon is reportedly preparing to directly assist a Saudi-UAE offensive to conquer the Yemeni port of Hodeida, the last link between the countrys starving population and the outside world. Aid agencies have warned that such an attack may well tip the country into a full-blown famine.

Speaking alongside the Saudi deputy crown prince on Wednesday, Mattis offered an obsequious tribute to the 31-year-old royal highness while vowing to reinforce Saudi Arabia's resistance to Irans mischief and make you more effective with your military as we work together as partners.

Mattis went on to declare that it was in the US interest to see a strong Saudi Arabia military security service and secret services, this in a country where the secret services ruthlessly repress any manifestation of dissent and where criticism of the ruling royal family is grounds for beheading.

As with the attack on Syria, the ratchetting up of tensions with Russia and the ongoing nuclear brinksmanship with North Korea, the Trump administration has enjoyed crucial support from the Democrats for the buildup toward war with Iran. Key Democratic members of the House and Senate have joined with Republicans in supporting the imposition of new sanctions. From the 2016 presidential campaign onward, the Democrats criticisms of Trump have been focused centrally on foreign policy and have come from the right, particularly over concern that the Trump administration would prove too soft on Russia, and, by extension, Iran, which has allied itself with Russia in Syria.
Apostle Johnson Suleman, General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, has vowed not to allow allegations made against him by his alleged lover, Miss Stephanie Otobo, go unchallenged.

Apostle Suleman, who spoke to The Sun through his Media Adviser, Phrank Shaibu, dared Otobo to prove all her allegations in court.

He said: It is not for her to probe the wisdom of the mother in going to beg for forgiveness. The mother has done what she felt was right and we have responded to the mothers appeal for forgiveness.

Cant you see the contradiction in the claim of being poisoned by Apostle? First, she claimed that the poison was given to her by Apostle in a hotel. Next she said it was in a dream. Perhaps, she would come up with another bizarre tale. Seriously, even my three -year- old daughter can do better.

On Otobos claims that if Apostle Suleman presents his international passport, it will reveal that both of them travelled together on a certain day to Canada, Shuaib responded: How do you travel with someone you have never met? It is clearly an illusion and part of her romantic fantasy.

But again, if she wants to prove her case before the media, are we the ones to help her do so? Cant she go to the airline and get a manifest on how they travelled together? Tell the world her seat number and that of Apostle Suleman. Let her get those facts and give to the press.

Besides, when a stalker is desperate, he/she can go to any length to get his/her victims attention. If you know the itinerary of your target, particularly a preacher whose international meetings are made public, a desperate stalker can go there in attempt to see the person. The truth is that, this is an unnecessary media trial and it is deceitful, mendaciously knavish and full of falsehood.

On bank statement showing payments Apostle Suleman allegedly made into her (Stephanies) account, Sulemans aide said Anyone can type and print a statement and call it by any name. But it cannot be called a genuine bank statement, except such a statement has been so verified by a forensic expert under the direction of a court of competent jurisdiction to so do.

More so, what we had expected was evidence to buttress her initial claims of tons of dollars, Euros and the Pound Sterling being paid into her account, not the lodgment in a Naira account. Certainly, this is an afterthought, but it is not strange as Apostle Suleman engages in a lot of charity. On a daily basis, men and women come for help and he assists them.

Was Apostle Johnson Suleman sleeping with Nollywood Actor, Leo Mezie, when he paid his entire medical bill of 30,000 for kidney transplant in UK? This is what they dont tell you. Was Apostle Suleman sleeping with the nine poor Nigerians (male and female) he gave cars to on February 5th, 2016?

Was he sleeping with the 30 widows and other indigent people that he gave out millions to start their own businesses? To Johnson Suleman, giving is a lifestyle. The fact is that, we have never denied extending help to this girl.

Asked if the matter has eroded the confidence of the public and members of the church have in Apostle Suleman, Shuaib maintained that the church has reached a decision on this matter.

And I dont think there is any need expanding any debate on this. Her mother has come to beg for forgiveness and we have reached a decision on that. The church also knows that this is a lady that deliberately wants to distract Apostle Suleman from his good works and there is no point giving her attention.

Till date, she has not brought out any credible evidence that she has been able to hold on to. Everything she has said in the past, she contradicted in her subsequent videos. Its so unfortunate that she has wasted everybodys time.

Source: Dailypost
Top actor, Ayo Badmus who is seen as a ladies man in the Nigerian movie industry has disclosed that his female fans still love him even though there is a woman in his life.

Speaking with Punch, Badmus said;My female fans love me more despite having a woman and they want me to be settled. They want me to be responsible and they wave at me whenever I walk past or I am in the car. They like me and nobody has ever complained. The relationship continues,

The actor denied rumours flying around that he is married, saying that when the time comes, everyone would know about it.

Badmus said, I dont know where you heard that I got married, I have my children and I also have my woman. I did not tell anyone I want to get married. I know that I am settled, I have children and I have my woman. Whatever I want to do about settling down and marriage, I would let people know at the right time. Right now, I dont want to talk about it. But at the right time, I would come out openly. My woman does not pressurise me. Everything is under control, when I am ready to come out, I would do so.

The actor who was based in England for a long while explained why he had to relocate to Nigeria. He said that it would not have been possible for him to join Hollywood as an actor so he decided to come back to Nigeria which is known to be a land of opportunities.

He said, I relocated to Nigeria because Nigeria is my country and there is so much opportunity here in Nigeria. I know that I cannot be an actor in Hollywood or in England.

Source: Punch
Nigerian music producer, Samuel Oguachuba, also known as SamKlef, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign in order to save Nigeria.

The talented music producer cum artiste was reacting to the recent suspension of the Secretary General of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and the Director General of National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ayo Oke.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari suspended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, David Babachir Lawal and ordered an investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against him in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).

Buhari also directed the suspension of the Director General of the NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The suspension of the two top civil servants has generated lots of controversies in the country.

However, in his reaction, the musician said Buhari should also suspend himself by resigning as the president of Nigeria.

He wrote via @SamKlef, his twitter handle, My opinion! I think President Buhari needs to suspend himself by resigning to save us all.

Source: Dailypost
In a chat with The Nation, Odule said that he gave up the ghost on his way to the hospital.

He was declared dead on arrival at UCH Ibadan, he said, quoting a family source.

On rumours of a failed surgery as it is being peddled online, Odule said It is not true that he went through surgery again. He did undergo a surgery, but that was a long time ago and it was successful.

It will be recalled that he was very sick at one time, but he came out of it and he has been in his home, he added.

Bakare had been ill for over three years, battling heart and lung illnesses.

Source: The Nation
16 undergraduates of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State have been arrested by the Imo State Police Command for their alleged involvement in cult-related activities in the state.

In a statement on Saturday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Enwerem, stated that the suspected cultists were arrested on April 14.

In a renewed onslaught against the menace of cultism in Imo State, operatives of the state police command on April 14, 2017, arrested over 16 suspected cultists in a bush in Ihiagwa in the Owerri West Local Government Area. They are members of the Neo black movement of Africa confraternity. The suspects have been charged to court, accordingly, the statement read in part.

Enwerem said three live cartridges and expended SMG ammunition were recovered from the undergraduates.

The police spokesperson further said the new commissioner of police in the state, Chris Ezike, was committed to reducing cultism and criminal activities.

Source:( Punch Newspaper )
Ever heard of "little-itus"? It's a condition some shorter males suffer from so they get all pumped up.

That's what the little pygmy from Pyongyang is suffering from. Nobody takes NK seriously because no one really needs to and in the big wide world of geo-politics, that means the little turd feels the need to make a lot of noise to get some much needed attention. After all, when fearless leader isn't sabre rattling, who really gives any thought to NK?
Mo Abudu, who is describes by Forbes as Africas most successful woman is a media entrepreneur with a world-renowned empire she built from the ground up.

The Ebonylife TVs founder and CEO delivered the 2017 Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) annual lecture and she shared tips that have worked for her in her over the years.

All our journeys are very different, so what works for me might not work for you. Here are a few of my ideas and tips on what Ive done that has worked for me, she says.

See video:

Source: Youtube
YBNL Frontman, Olamide has revealed that he never met Dagrin..

Da Grin died on the 22nd of April, 2010.. Making it 7 years since the death of one of Nigerias prolific, indigenous rapper. He died after a vehicle accident in Lagos State.

And although he is late, his influence on Nigerian Hip-hop will never be forgotten.

In an interview with Olisa Adibua on The Truth, Olamide revealed that he never met Dagrin.

In an interview with Olisa Adibua on talk show, The Truth, the rapper disclosed that he never met the late Dagrin.
A United States Federal court has convicted a Nigerian, Wiseman Oputa, who set up a number of bank accounts with bogus passports over a year, in which he managed to steal at least $500,000 through wire fraud and Internet scams.

The court convicted Oputa of one count of wire fraud, the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of Texas announced.

Wiseman Oputa, 25, pleaded guilty to opening bank accounts in the area surrounding Houston, using counterfeit passports.

Once the accounts were created, Oputa and his associates conducted a number of Internet scams from romance schemes to hacking into company email accounts to make their phishing efforts appear more real.

The victims sent at least a total of $500,000 to these bank accounts via checks and wire transfers, which Oputa and his associates controlled.

He would then use the bogus passports to withdraw the money from the accounts.

Oputa is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a potential maximum fine of $250,000.

The statement by the US Attorneys Office, Southern District of Texas read in part, A 25-year-old Nigerian man who was residing in Houston has pleaded guilty to perpetuating a wire fraud scheme involving various Internet scams, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez.

Wiseman Oputa pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, until Jan. 25, 2017, Oputa used counterfeit passports to open bank accounts in the greater Houston area. The passports contained photographs of Oputa but had different names and identification information. He then worked with others to lure victims into sending money into these bank accounts.

These funds were obtained through a variety of internet scams, including business email compromise, romance schemes and unauthorised intrusions into company email accounts. Checks or wire transfers were then sent from the companys accounts payable to accounts Oputa or others controlled. Oputa would then use the counterfeit passports to retrieve the fraudulently obtained funds.

U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the guilty plea and has set sentencing for July 6, 2017. At that time, Oputa faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

NAN.
North Korea has threatened to hit Australia with a nuclear strike if it continues to follow the United States. The stern warning comes after Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Thursday that North Korea would be hit with further Australian sanctions as a clear message that its behaviour will not be tolerated.

Ms Bishop also called on China to do more to pressure North Korea into getting rid of its hostile and aggressive ways and dumping its nuclear warheads and ballistic missile program.

However, in response to the comments, North Koreas state-run KCNA news agency on Saturday quoted a foreign ministry spokesman accusing Ms Bishop of spouting a string of rubbish against the nation.

The spokesman accused the Australian Government of blindly and zealously toeing the U.S. line and warned of a possible nuclear strike if it continues.

If Australia persists in following the US moves to isolate and stifle North Korea  this will be a suicidal act of coming within the range of the nuclear strike of the strategic force of North Korea, the spokesman said.

The spokesman also warned Ms Bishop to think twice about the consequences of her reckless tongue-lashing flattering the U.S.. Adding:

What she uttered can never be pardoned, the spokesman said. It is hard to expect good words from the foreign minister of such government. But if she is the foreign minister of a country, she should speak with elementary common sense about the essence of the situation.

It is entirely attributable to the nuclear threat escalated by the US and its anachronistic policy hostile to North Korea that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is inching close to the brink of war in an evil cycle of increasing tensions.
44th President of the United States of Ameirca, Barack Obama has been in the quiet since he left office three months enjoying his vacation with his wife.

Obama is set to deliver the first public remarks of his post-presidency. Obama is slated to speak with young leaders on Monday, April 24th in his adopted hometown of Chicago.

The event at the University of Chicago is billed by his office as a conversation on community organizing and civic engagement and a part of Obamas goal to encourage and support the next generation of leaders.

Obama is also slated to appear with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin in late May.
A United States Citizen was detained at the North Korea Airport as he tried to fly out of North Korea, becoming the third American to be detained there, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reportA US citizen has been arreed Sunday.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the reported arrest, which would come at a tense time in relations between Pyongyang and Washington.

Yonhap quoted sources as saying the man, identified only by his surname Kim, was arrested last Friday at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

It said Kim, aged in his late 50s and a former professor at Chinas Yanbian University of Science and Technology, had been involved in aid programmes for the North.

He reportedly was in the North for about a month to discuss relief activities, Yonhap said. The reason for his arrest was unclear.

South Koreas National Intelligence Service and the unification and foreign ministries said they could not confirm the report.

But the director of a Seoul-based group called the World North Korea Research Center said his sources in Pyongyang had confirmed the arrest.

The reason North Korea is not saying anything yet is because it is not done with the investigations, Ahn Chan-il, a former defector, told AFP.

It is important for them to hold a US citizen hostage at this point to prevent Washington from carrying out a decapitation of Kim Jong-Un, Ahn said, referring to the Norths fears that the US plans a secret military strike to topple its leader.

Its also a resolve to point a double-action revolver against the US and China because he is a US citizen who worked in China.

US President Donald Trump has urged China to take stronger steps to press the North to curb its nuclear and missile programmes.

Trumps deputy Mike Pence, during a regional tour last week, warned that all options are on the table to curb the Norths nuclear ambitions as fears grow it may be planning another atomic test.

Two other US citizens  college student Otto Warmbier and Korean-American pastor Kim Dong-Chul  are currently being held in the North after being sentenced to long prison terms.

Kim was sentenced last year to 10 years hard labour for spying.

Also last year Warmbier was jailed for 15 years for stealing a propaganda sign and for crimes against the state.

The North has arrested and jailed several US citizens in the past decade, often releasing them only after high-profile visits by current or former US officials.

Source: (AFP )
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a woman identified as Sherifat for assaulting her four year old nephew identified as Pamilerin, for bed-wetting and stooling on his bed repeatedly.

According to her neighbors in her Oko-Oba Agege residence, Sherifat has been assaulting the little boy since he was brought to live with her in February.

Neighbors accused her of using electric cables to beat him for being sluggish and not being a smart  kid.

Police say she would be arraigned in court on Monday April 24th.

The boys parents live in Ogun state

Source: ( Linda Ikeji )
(LOL beat ya to it Flossy)

Looks like the Trumptard following will be happy with the Election.. another Anti-Immigrant Nationalist Marine Le Pen looks to be the favourite.

The pivotal, and unpredictable, presidential election in France is drawing thousands of eligible voters to polling stations in Quebec.Voters in France head to the polls on Sunday. But for citizens outside the country, Saturday was their last chance to cast a ballot for the country's next president.In Montreal, French citizens lined up for hours outside a private school in Outremont. Of the 85,000 eligible French voters in Canada, the vast majority of them were registered to vote here.Many of those in line expressed fears that Marine Le Pen, leader of the anti-immigrant Front National, could win the election."I'm a bit worried right now about what's going on in France," said Manon Harsigny, who waited two hours to cast her vote."I know the far right is gaining more and more power and I really, really need to express my opinion and I don't want to feel guilty after the election."Le Pen is among 11 candidates in the running for the presidency. The winner is required to capture more than 50 per cent of the vote, meaning a run-off election with the two highest vote-getters will likely be held next month.Recent polls suggest Le Pen could make the run-off, along with Emmanuel Macron, who has campaigned on a centrist platform.But not far behind the front-runners are the establishment conservative Francois Fillion and the leftist outsider Jean-Luc Melenchon.Fillion, who represents the Republican Party, looked poised at one point to make the second round, but his campaign was hampered by allegations he used public money to pay his wife and children for work they never did.Since the scandal broke, though, he has managed to claw his way back into contention.As for Melenchon, his campaign was off the radar until a spirited debate performance saw him climb to within a stone's throw of the leaders. His leftist brand of populism has some calling him the French Bernie Sanders."For me the worst is any kind of extreme," said Lisa Di Jorio, as she waited in a line that stretched at least eight blocks."That can be Marine Le Pen but it can also be the extreme opposite of that. The extreme left is not any better."Around 10,000 voters were also registered at a polling station in Quebec City, which was expected to draw French citizens from as far as Trois-Rivieres and Saguenay.The polls in Quebec close at 8 p.m. tonight.[youtube]lb0P2JjJiVU[/youtube]
Beginning March 21, 2017, the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian opposition began to advance in the north of Hama, and reached within three kilometers of the city of Hama. According to an article published by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the IRGC dispatched its forces in Damascus and its suburbs, using its highest ranking commanders. These forces were present in the North and West of the city of Hama and around the town of Soran. They include battalions of the 19th Fajr Shiraz Division, battalions of the division known as Nabi Akram of Kermanshah, Saberine special battalions of Tehran province, and Ninawa brigade forces in Golestan province.

Dozens of IRGC forces and their mercenaries, including some IRGC commanders, were killed in the region less than two weeks before the chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun. The NCRI reports that some of them include:

 Revolutionary Guards Corps Brigadier General Abdullah Khoshnoud from 19th Fajr Division on March 29 in the outskirts of Hama;

 Colonel Morad Abbasifar, from the division known as Nabi Akram who had close relationship with Qasem Soleimani, in late March in the town of Moardas in northeast of city of Hama;

 Mohammad Jannati known as Haj Haidar, a commander of the Revolutionary Guards in Syria, in late March in Tarabee near the city of Halfaya;

 Saeed Khaja Salehani, an IRGC officer, on March 25 in north of Hama;

 Hossein Moez Gholami of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Tehran, Abuzar Farahbakhsh and Ghodratollah Aboudi from 19th Fajr Division in Hama province.

A large number of Iraqi, Afghan and Pakistani mercenaries sent by the IRGC to Hama province were also killed. So high were the losses, that on March 31, four days before the chemical attack, Qassem Soleimani visited the IRGC forces to boost their morale.

The goal of chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun was changing the balance of power in favor of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, writes the NCRI, adding, The IRGC conflict zone was on average 20 km away from Khan Sheikhoun.

The IRGC forces continued their assault after the chemical attack, and last week, the bodies of a number of Afghan and Pakistani mercenaries were returned to Iran.

Bashar al-Assads ground force is weakened, and so offensive ground operations in Syria are now carried out by the IRGC, with support from Assads air force.

In his memoirs, Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Hamadani, who commanded the IRGC forces and was killed in October 2015 near the city of Aleppo, wrote, In March 2013 (opposition) was quite close to a victory  they tightened the noose and got closer to the Syrian Presidential Palace such that they were set to occupy the palace Bashar al-Assad also thought it was over and was pursuing to go to another country. Hamadani goes on to tell how the IRGC saved Bashar al-Assad from being overthrown.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran writes,The role of the clerical regime and the IRGC in recent chemical attack proves once again that the only way to end war and bloodshed in Syria is to evict the mullahs regime and to expel the IRGC and its mercenaries from the country.
A second man has been arrested as part of an investigation in London by counter-terrorism officers.

The Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command detained the 40-year-old man in south-east London on Saturday.
Missiles struck a hospital in Syria's northern rebel-held province, putting the facility built underground for protection out of service and killing a number of its staff, opposition activists said on Saturday.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that air strikes had seriously damaged the medical centre in Abdin village, in Idlib. The activist-run Aleppo Today media group also reported on the air strikes.

But later the Observatory said missiles, likely fired from land, have also hit the underground centre, penetrating it and causing serious damage. Air strikes then followed, the Observatory said.

International medical charities said Syrian government forces target hospitals, clinics and ambulances in opposition-held areas. To protect against the targeting, many opposition-area medical facilities have set up their operations underground.

The attack against the Abdin medical centre caused fires and killed a person, the Observatory said. Rescue workers sifted through the rubble to find survivors, lifting nine medical staff as a search continued for four still missing.

The Aleppo Today group said three medical staff members were presumed killed.

According to Physicians for Human Rights, government and allied Russian forces have killed 727 medical workers in the course of the conflict.

The medical centre in Abdin is only a few miles north of Khan Sheikhoun, the town that was hit earlier this month with a chemical attack that left more than 80 people dead.

In Damascus on Saturday, Syrian President Bashar Assad said his war on terrorism would not cease as long as there is any terrorist "desecrating the sanctity of the Syrian soil".

He made the remarks as he presided over a meeting of the central committee of the ruling Syrian Arab Socialist Baath Party.

Assad said the US strikes against a Syrian military base in the country's centre following the Idlib chemical attack were in response to the "terrorists'" defeat in the central city of Hama's countryside, where they had launched an offensive.

Assad's government, which denied using chemical weapons in the Idlib attack, calls all armed opposition groups terrorists.
legislators are debating a national security law that would have implications for the military's continued role in domestic security. Rising violence could pose a problem for the governing Institutional Revolutionary Party of President Enrique Pena Nieto in next year's presidential election.

Other states seeing significantly more homicides this year include the Gulf coast state

Mexico has surpassed 2,000 homicides in a month for the first time since the summer of 2011 and had more killings in the first quarter of 2017 than in the start of any year in at least two decades, according to data released Friday.Unlike 2011, when bloody cartel clashes in Ciudad Juarez drove the national toll to new heights, the killings pushing the 2017 total have been spread across a number of states. Authorities attribute them to vicious turf battles resulting from breakdowns in the leadership of some cartels and the splintering of others into smaller gangs.The southern state of Guerrero, where Acapulco is located, continues to be the homicide leader, with 550 during the first three months of the year.But Baja California Sur with 133 slayings during the first quarter had the largest year-on-year percentage increase, skyrocketing 682 percent from the 17 homicides it had during the same period in 2016. A territorial dispute between the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels is believed to be driving much of the violence in the southern part of the peninsula popular with foreign tourists.Nationally, there were 2,020 homicides in March, up about 11 percent from February. For January through March, the national total was 5,775 killings, up 29 percent from the same three months last year.Pioquinto Damian Huato, a business leader in the Guerrero state capital of Chilpancingo, led an anti-crime crusade until an attempt was made on his life that resulted in the death of his daughter-in-law in 2014."Every now and then bagged bodies appear in Chilpancingo," he said. "Yesterday three appeared." The leader of the state's leftist Democratic Revolution Party, Demetrio Saldivar, also was killed Wednesday night in Chilpancingo."I live in my home with armored doors to be able to protect my family," Damian Huato said. "How could I go out when they could kill me in any moment?"Mexico's surge in violence comes at a time whenof Veracruz, which registered 372 through March, up 94 percent from the same period last year. A former Veracruz governor, Javier Duarte, was arrested last weekend in Guatemala after six months on the run from corruption charges.Chihuahua state, home to Ciudad Juarez, is also seeing more violence this year. Its 384 homicides through March were 78 percent more than the same period last year.
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(W)e see the compromise bill to replace HB2 achieving what was necessary on the economic development front for North Carolina. John H. Boyd, New Jersey-based site-selection expert

Two Forsyth County commissioners on Thursday pushed for the inclusion of more businesses owned by minorities as local school officials plan some major projects.

In a November referendum, voters gave approval for Forsyth County to borrow $350 million in bonds for big-ticket school projects. On Thursday, a school official gave a preliminary report about the first wave of projects. After the report, Commissioner Fleming El-Amin had a question.

El-Amin, a Democrat, said he had been contacted by constituents who have expressed concerns about being left out of school projects that will come out of the bond money. At a public meeting of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, he asked: What percentage of the projects  or bond money  will be directed toward businesses owned by minorities?

There to respond was Darrell Walker, the assistant superintendent of operations for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

State law requires general contractors to make good-faith efforts to find businesses owned by minorities or women for 10 percent of project costs, Walker said. For past projects, he said, the school system has reached 17 percent.

Commissioner Everette Witherspoon, a Democrat, also advocated for minority participation, particularly since project costs will be shouldered by taxpayers.

African-Americans  we pay taxes. Latinos  they pay taxes. Women pay taxes. So, you know, it has to be distributed, Witherspoon said.

On $350 million, a 10 percent good-faith share target required by the state would come to $35 million.

Commissioner Don Martin, a Republican, cautioned against implementing a local policy that would increase costs. This is a bid-rich environment, he said, meaning that contractors are in a position to use leverage to keep costs down by squeezing subcontractors. Let the market decide, he said.

I would not want to create a rule that costs more money, Martin said.

Responding to Martin, Witherspoon said there is no evidence that the practice of subcontracting projects to minority business owners drives up costs.

In separate meetings, members of the school board have also expressed interest in shoring up participation by businesses owned by minorities or women.

Until the school system changes its method of managing projects, Walker said, the portion of taxpayer dollars that might go to businesses owned by minorities or women would continue to be subject to the 10 percent floor set by state law.

Our intent is to change our method going forward, Walker said.
Sophia Cody of Winston-Salem died last weekend at the age of 97, but her legacy will long live. She was a compassionate and humble leader with Goodwill Industries who played a leading role in the push for a rehabilitation facility. And she was a savvy businesswoman, the states first woman Realtor, in what was then still very much a mans world.

Through it all, she always put people, women and men, first. That was apparent until the end among her many friends at Arbor Acres. The City of Arts and Innovation could use many more in the mold of this woman who was known to many friends as Sophie.

The citys strong women of today still sing her praises:

Sophia Cody was my trailblazer in business and my friend and hero, local businesswoman and community leader Claudette Weston told me in an email last week. Once in a while someone comes along that is rare and remarkable. They make the lives of folks around them nicer, brighter and more beautiful. Sophia Cody was that person. She had a big heart and a caring soul. Much love for her. She also sold us our first home.

Nan Griswold, a former head of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, said in an email: Sophia is one of the greatest generation of women who cared so deeply about our community. With her passing, goes a lot of history of how and when. Griswold noted that her sister, Jeanne Butler, the first executive director of the Kenan Institute of the Arts, was very close to Cody.

Gayle Anderson, the head of the local chamber of commerce, said in an email that At a time when women were not visible leaders in our community, Sophia Cody was. She was tireless in promoting Winston-Salem as an ideal place for business and for family. She cared deeply about all aspects of Winston-Salem, and she worked tirelessly for its betterment, even as late as a few months ago when she was working on another development opportunity.

She earned the respect of many men as well. Sophia seemed to know everyone, Dave Plyler, the chairman of the Forsyth County commissioners, said in an email. She was one of those people you couldnt help but like.

And best of all, Cody was a fine mother. Her daughter, Mary Ann Tucker, made that clear in her email to me:

As the daughter of a quiet but memorable Southern woman, I realized decades after my childhood that women had found words and phrases for the phenomena that my own mother was living daily. Her energy and intelligence were channeled directly into her own community with an ongoing generosity and concern for the general welfare. As the first woman Realtor, she made sure the GI Bill after WWII helped every returning veteran find a first home. .... That led to the next home the family would need, and suddenly Sophia realized that she was sometimes being called for the fourth generation of house- hunting in the same families.

As a young woman, Sophia went before the state legislature to ask for funding for Goodwill Industries in Winston-Salem, resulting in what was then an outstanding local example of workplace for the handicapped. After receiving numerous national awards, Sophia said in a newspaper interview: Each of us is handicapped in some way. Some handicaps are more obvious than others.

For Sophia Cody and other determined women of her generation in Winston-Salem, many impossible dreams were realized, role models to subsequent generations. Their confidence was tempered with humility and they reinforced each other in meaningful ways.

What a woman Sophia Cody was. Yellowed clippings from the Journal confirm these comments and add more. A Louisburg native, she was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as a research chemist in college and at what was then the Bowman Gray School of Medicine here. Her husband, William Cody, died in 1945. A broken neck from an accident in a taxi in Spain fueled her interest in rehabilitation, according to a Journal article. She recovered and fought on, serving her community in many ways, most notably through Goodwill Industries. Cody, Alice Danner Googe and James Hartman were instrumental in establishing the Goodwill Industries rehabilitation center for the handicapped. A Journal editorial from 1959 headlined Plaudits for Star of Goodwill Drama praised Codys role in helping lead the establishment of the center:

However, in the telling of this exciting story, Mrs. Cody invariably omits one of the key points  the part she herself played. She places the credit on the community and its leaders, and they deserve every word of it. But at the same time, it was Mrs. Cody who had caught hold of the idea in the first place. It was her enthusiasm, determination and business-like efficiency which had pushed it safely through community channels and governmental red tape. And it is she who now lovingly watches every brick being laid.

God only knows how many lives she touched and inspired through that rehab center and her other work. Her legacy will long live for women. And for men.
Correspondent of the week

HELEN BATTERTON, Winston-Salem

Reducing education

I could understand an occasional course correction, once every few years. But it seems like every year, the Republican legislature fights to reduce, in one way or another, the states education budget. Every year, teachers and newspaper editors have to make the public aware of the fact that the legislature is once again shortchanging our children.

Sure, they might offer a token raise for teachers, but with the other hand, theyre cutting something.

The subhead of the April 16 story Teacher pipeline repairs in works is N.C. Senate bills take aim at ways to solve ongoing shortages. These shortages have been ongoing as far back as I can remember. School financing is a problem that should have been solved long ago.

Havent the states millionaires had enough tax cuts for a while? Enough is enough. We need some legislators who wont try to balance the budget on the backs of our children and our educators.

GRAY BRENDLE, Winston-Salem

Partisan media

Ted Koppels recent interview with Sean Hannity and the accompanying piece on CBS Sunday Morning is getting a lot of attention.

Koppels premise is that partisan opinion media figures exaggerate the political, philosophical divide. He could not be more wrong.

Conservative media and the expressly liberal media shows merely express the philosophical worldviews of at least half the population. Studies and elections show that the American public is more conservative than liberal. Those who want Republicans and Democrats to work together need to demand it of their elected Democratic leaders.

I know that sounds incendiary and I dont intend it that way. In the mainstream media what is often called bipartisanship is, in reality, a few elected Republicans agreeing with Democrats on this issue or that one.

I thought that Koppel came off as smug and pompous to say that the American people did not see a partisan divide without it being pointed out to them. As a kid before Rush Limbaugh, I remember heated discussions between my uncles about politics. Before Limbaugh, the nation elected Ronald Reagan against the biased tide of establishment Republicans and the media. Before Limbaugh, there was National Review and the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal.

Conservative or liberal, these shows merely illuminate worldviews that are already present. The landscape has changed; 24-hour news cycles and the internet keep partisans on both sides honest and in my humble opinion that is a good thing.

***

RONNIE MILLER, Winston-Salem

The average Joe

I thought conservative legislators were against picking winners and losers in the economy. But thats exactly what N.C. legislators are trying to do.

How in the world can they even consider making it harder for landowners to sue over the damage from hog and poultry operations (Environmentalists map homes, hog farms, April 17)? We have the right to go to court to seek redress for damages  dont we?

Im no tree hugger, but if someone set up a hog farm near my home and I couldnt even sit on the porch without smelling it, and then the legislature kept me from seeking a legal solution, Id be very upset.

Our elected officials need to stop trying to protect these special-interest groups and start thinking about the average Joe, like theyre supposed to. If they dont, we might have to replace them.

***

ANITRA BANKS, Winston-Salem

No Trump war

I love America, but I will oppose any war President Trump starts. He has no sound temperament or judgment and is incredibly unqualified to decide whether the U.S. should attack another country. Hes simply too incompetent to trust.

Too many conservatives, desperate to find something of which they can be proud, seem to think that true strength is exemplified by a dilettante ordering a military strike on foreign ground while sitting at a dinner table eating chocolate cake.

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PAUL SCHNEIDEREIT: Treatment centre for PTSD in first responders, military opens in Nova Scotia

Imagine its your job, every day, to be ready to rush to scenes where men, women or even children had been killed or badly injured, often in horrific circumstances. Really, consider what that might be like. If youre like most of us, the thought ...
JURIST Guest Columnist David M. Crane, Syracuse University College of Law, discusses the necessity of use of force in the Syrian conflict

The cornerstone to the UN paradigm is to settle disputes peacefully, using force only as a last resort. Yet, restoring international peace and security sometimes requires a hardened approach to ensure that peace and security.

There are decades of international treaties, custom and precedent that support what I call hardened humanitarianism. When we have to deal with a tyrant, thug, dictator or rogue head of state who turns on his own citizens, the international community or a member state of that community should step forward with a clear and firm position-stop it or force will be used.

A tyrant only understands one thing-power. When he feels the sting of consequence for his actions that tyrant begins to focus on that use of force against him. The use of this more hardened approach in using force to stop a tyrants actions will cause that tyrant to pause, to consider his next steps.

Appeasement in the face of tyranny never works. History is replete with anecdotal evidence of this from the Armenian genocide to the Sudetenland. A hardened policy of seeking a peaceful dialog with the assurance of a forceful resolution, should that dialog fail, makes for a more meaningful discourse.

Our international legal and policy system has drawn lines related to protecting civilians in a conflict and banning certain type of weapons systems per se. Most, if not all, states parties have signed onto these norms. We dont have to be histrionic when a tyrant ignores these clear lines beating our chests with empty words. When that tyrant steps over a line hit them hard, use force, show the world there are consequences!

US action against Al Qaeda after they attacked the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania are examples of facing down the lawless elements of our society under the international legal concept of reprisal. In 2005 the world came together to create a doctrine that laid down a marker that declared that the international community has a right to step in to block a tyrant or head of state who is turning against his own citizens committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Called the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), the doctrine was a clarion call to arms should there be alleged violations of international law. Unfortunately, R2P has fallen short of the ideal based on the political perception that it is a doctrine that can be easily used by various powers against weaker nation states for alleged violations. Despite this the principle idea of this responsibility to protect citizens from their own leaders remains.

The long and tragic kaleidoscopic conflict that is Syria has now gone beyond peaceful resolution. A hardened sense of humanity calls for continued cruise missiles strikes and other military action every time Assad crosses the lines laid out under international norms. Kaleidoscopic conflict is fast becoming a new concept in the dirty little wars of the 21st century. Old doctrines for war fighting and the legal set of rules that surround warfare that have been tested over time are being challenged at all levels. Just when planners think there is a viable course of action developing related to a conflict, such as in Syria, one thing changes and everything changes, hence the term kaleidoscopic. This impacts on what is called the deliberate planning cycle in modern parlance throwing out how international and domestic organizations plan for and deal with conflict on a day to day basis. At the end of the day we are beginning to face situations where there is no solution under current policy and doctrine. This gives us pause as to how to advise world leaders in dealing with any given conflict. This pause can allow a tragedy, such as in Syria, to go on and on without any foreseeable ending.

These dirty little wars have a direct impact on how parties to a conflict deal with civilians found in and around the battlefield. One of the key cornerstone concepts of the international humanitarian law is that civilians are to be protected and that the intentional targeting of a civilian is a war crime plain and simple. We see around the globe today parties to a conflict flagrantly ignoring this key legal concept. With no apparent repercussion to these attacks on civilians, actors move about the battlefield with impunity. Again this is the conflict in Syria, but can be seen also in the fighting in South Sudan. This is why a more hardened approach to our humanitarian principle of using force where legally appropriate will cause actors to pause and reconsider wholesale destruction in any given conflict.

This hardened approach must be done under law or we weaken our international norms, yet it must be done. Enough is enough in Syria. States parties who for whatever reason give that tyrant support should also be dealt with for their aiding and abetting of international crimes with legal sanctions. We charged President Charles Taylor with aiding and abetting a conflict, among other modes of liability, in next door Sierra Leone, and he was convicted on those charges I signed in an indictment against him on an aiding and abetting theory. The aiding and abetting mode of liability in international criminal law is alive and well and certainly can be touted as a possible ramification for a country who aids a party to a conflict that gasses its own people with sarin. Russias complicity in that gas attack sets Putin and his regime up for political sanction and possible legal action in the future.

Certainly, dialog and appropriate diplomatic discourse should continue. An end to the Syrian conflict must be the goal, hopefully a peaceful end, yet the hardened fist of a legal use of force to protect humanity should be a viable course to bolster that dialog. The missile strike on the airfield in Syria changed the political discourse on how the worlds is looking at the quagmire that is the Syrian conflict. Regardless of how one feels about the motives or the rationale behind the strike, it is posited that Assad, with the advice of Russia and Iran will think carefully about another sarin gas attack. If they know that force could be used again in reprisal for clear violations of international norms such as gas, perhaps they will refrain. This is the outcome that is hoped in using this new concept of hardened humanitarianism.

Suggested citation: David M. Crane, The Fist in a Velvet Glove-Hardened Humanitarianism, JURIST  Forum, Apr. 20, 2017, http://jurist.org/forum/2017/04/David-Crane-hardened-humanitarianism.php

This article was prepared for publication by Yuxin Jiang, a Senior Editor for JURIST Commentary service. Please direct any questions or comments to her at commentary@jurist.org
[JURIST] Nigerian prosecutors in Kaduna on Wednesday charged 53 men for celebrating an LGBTQ wedding in violation of the states law against unlawful assembly and the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act [text]. The men were arrested last Saturday, and were released on bail after sentencing. The defendants claim they were at a birthday party, not a wedding, and various human rights groups have come out in their defense. Maria Sjodin, deputy executive director of LGBTQ advocacy group OutRight Action International [official website] said [NBC report] she believes the wedding story is an excuse for Nigerian police to crackdown on an emerging LGBTQ movement, adding that the police are using the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act as an excuse for mass arrests, maybe even as a way to get bribes. The men have pled not guilty.

LGBTQ rights have become controversial in recent years. Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups urged [JURIST report] UN Secretary General to investigate alleged abuse against LGBT people in Chechnya. According to the open letter about 100 gay and bisexual men have been detained, went missing, were tortured, or were murdered under the authority of Chechen officials. Last week, the US Department of Justice dropped [JURIST report] a federal lawsuit against the state of North Carolina over a bill requiring transgender people to use the public bathroom associated with their birth gender. Earlier in the month, the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld [JURIST report] a lower court decision overruling the state of Nebraskas long-time ban on same sex partner foster parenting.
[JURIST] Roman Seleznev, the son of a member of the Russian Parliament, was sentenced [Aljazeera report] on Friday for hacking into more than 500 US businesses, stealing then selling millions of credit card numbers. Seleznev was sentenced to 27 years, the longest-ever sentence for such a crime, and ordered to pay nearly $170 million in restitution. US District Judge Richard Jones [official profile] took no leniency on Seleznev, despite Seleznevs pleas for mercy. After sentencing, Seleznevs lawyer read a politically-charged statement:

This decision made by the United States government clearly demonstrates to the entire world that Im a political prisoner, I was kidnapped by the US Now they want to send a message to the world using me as a pawn. This message that the US is sending today is not the right way to show Vladimar Putin of Russia, or any government in this world how justice works in a democracy.

Seleznev was indicted [press release] in 2011, a sealed indictment that was unsealed in 2014 when the Russian citizen was found in Maldives and arrested in Guam. Seleznevs 2014 arrest prompted JURIST Guest Columnist Arkady Bukh to question [JURIST op-ed] whether the country in which a cybercrime originates have sole jurisdiction over the act and the person committing the crime, or can countries whose citizens have been harmed by the crime, in this instance hacking, bring the criminal to justice? With Seleznevs conviction, the United States answer is that the harmed citizens retain jurisdiction. While Seleznev questioned the US commitment to human rights, Russia has been criticized for its own humanitarian controversies, most recently embodied in the Russian Supreme Courts grant [JURIST report] of the Russian governments request to ban the Jehovahs Witnesses religious group. The court ruled that the group is an extremist organization and outlawed their activities in the entire country.















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One of the nurses knocked on my door on a quiet Monday morning.

Hey, can you see this patient? I guess its not urgent but hes here now, and I think what the doctor told him just threw him for a loop.

Of course I had time. In my role as clinical nurse specialist in a busy uro-oncology unit, I see men who need help making a treatment decision for management of their prostate cancer. As we walked towards the clinic room where the patient was waiting, the nurse filled me in on what had transpired. The patient, a man in his early 60s, had been diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer. He had come to see the urologist to talk about next steps. He wanted to have surgery, a radical prostatectomy, and was expecting to sign consent for the surgery and receive pre-operative education from the nurse. She explained the procedure to him and when she asked him about any previous surgeries, he told her that he had a bilateral hernia repair with mesh. She then explained to him that we do not do radical prostatectomies in these instances as the mesh prevents access to the prostate. The patient was disappointed and asked to see the surgeon.

The nurse went on to tell me that the surgeon went into the room and came out roughly five-minutes later.

OK, he said to the nurse, Ill book him for exploratory surgery when I have time. Its not likely that Ill be able to remove his prostate but he really wants the surgery.

The nurse went back into the room and explained to the patient that she had an ethical responsibility to tell him that the likelihood of the procedure having the desired outcome, removal of the prostate, was low and that he would be having an unnecessary surgery with its attendant risks for nothing. She went back to the urologist and asked him why he was prepared to do the surgery if ultimately the prostate could not be removed.

The surgeons reply was, Well, he wants surgery, and I want him to be happy.

Thats when the nurse came to call me.

I introduced myself to the patient and asked him what he understood about the goings-on that morning. He seemed clear that he wanted surgery but was less clear about exactly what would be done during the surgery. He had read some material from the American Cancer Society that recommended surgery, and that is what he wanted. He recalled that the nurse had mentioned something about radiation therapy but the material he had read said that if he had radiation first, he could not have surgery in the event of a recurrence. So he wanted surgery.

We had a long talk and at the end of the discussion, the man was agreeable to seeing a radiation oncologist about external beam radiation therapy in conjunction with androgen-deprivation therapy, the evidence-based recommendation for high-risk prostate cancer when surgery is not possible or recommended. He saw the radiation oncologist the same day, was booked to have fiducial markers inserted and was started on a non-steroidal anti-androgen immediately according to protocol.

I was left thinking about keeping patients happy and what that means. In this case, the man would have had surgery, been hospitalized and then had to wait another six weeks before starting radiation therapy. He would be exposed to the risks of anesthesia, albeit low, and the potential for hospital-acquired infection or sepsis. He would miss work, have to stop his daily exercise routine, and depend on family and friends for assistance while recovering. This being Canada, he would not have had to pay out of pocket for the surgery, anesthesia or hospital stay; that is covered by our taxes. But he would certainly pay in other ways, and how happy would he be then?

Patients often have to make difficult decisions about treatment without the benefit of knowledge and experience. They rely on instinct (just get the cancer out now!) and anecdotes from and about others who may have a significantly different cancer or histology. Discussing the options and rationale for treatment, and not trying to make the patient happy serves multiple purposes, the most important being minimizing harm from ineffective treatment.

The nurse who asked me to see this man is a knowledgeable professional with close to 40 years of experience in urology and now uro-oncology. She is also a fierce patient advocate and someone who acts with ethical principles in mind. She makes patients happy by looking out for their best interests, which is not always the same thing as giving them what they want. I wish everyone on the team was like her.

Anne Katz is a certified sexual counselor and a clinical nurse specialist at a large, regional cancer center in Canada who blogs at ASCO Connection, where this post originally appeared. She can be reached at her self-titled site, Dr. Anne Katz.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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There is an interesting article from ProPublica called When Evidence Says No, but Doctors say Yes making the rounds. Its about the number of doctors who disbelieve, dont know or dont care about medical evidence to the detriment of patients. I do not find any fault with the article. I rail against this daily. I have my whole professional life. It is actually a big reason why I blog because I regularly hear: I didnt know that, from providers or If I had only known, from patients. I love when people tell me they took in something I wrote to show their provider. I love when a doctor tells me they turned a post into a handout.

The sad fact is some doctors dont learn anything new after residency. Yes, they go to continuing medical education (CME), but they do not learn anything.

Heres one example: I used to lecture very often about herpes testing, which is a little complex, mostly because there is so much mythology. I would lay all the evidence out over 45 minutes, dispel the myths that were never even grounded in science to begin with, and then prepare for the always-present onslaught of questions and shaking heads. At times, I wondered that they might not understand. But they were doctors, and I didnt see how that could be possible? Were they not listening? Possibly, although many of these lectures were pre-laptops and smartphones, so distractions were minimal. Did they not believe me? Oh, yes. Some would argue with me afterward about how I could not be right, meaning they didnt believe the irrefutable basic science I presented as well as the clinical studies. As Spock would say, Fascinating. Whenever I give a lecture, and I am considered to be an entertaining speaker, I consider myself successful if I can get two to three doctors in a room of 30 to change one thing about their practice.

Some doctors didnt get good information in residency. A good example in OB/GYN is the belief that IUDs are not acceptable for women who have never been pregnant. Studies disproving this are over 20 years old, and yet a 2014 study indicated that 32% of doctors did not believe IUDs were safe for women who have not been pregnant. THIRTY-TWO PERCENT. I guess they were taught by someone who didnt know?

Undoing incorrect information is hard. There are articles written about anchoring, which is getting stuck on the first diagnosis and when treatment fails a doctor assumes the treatment was ineffective and keeps prescribing more and more treatments instead of taking the other road and questioning the diagnosis. As a sub-specialist, I can tell you the wrong initial diagnosis is most common thing I see in my field.

On top of it, the science is not always good, and Big Pharma controls a lot of the funding and of course what data gets released so that we may be making decisions with biased information.

Sometimes, doctors are just jerks. Two years ago my then 86-year-old father had a mycotic femoral aneurysm and needed emergency surgery that took six hours. The day after surgery, there was a concern he may have had a heart attack during the procedure. Was it from the cardiac stress of the long surgery with a lot of blood loss or did he have blocked vessels? He had normal cholesterol, before the surgery could ride his bike for several miles, had normal blood pressure and no one in his family has ever had a heart attack. His dad lived to 98, and he had a 92-year-old brother. I was told he needed a cath by a surgical resident over the phone as I ran to catch the plane to see him. He would have to be transferred to another hospital to have the procedure. All kinds of complications flew through my head. Could I just speak with the cardiologist, I asked? I just wanted to know the complication rate and what would happen if he did and if he did not have the procedure. The cardiologist refused to speak with me. He even refused to see my dad, all of this decision making was made speaking with a resident. Instead of answering my simple questions and seeing my father, the cardiologist canceled the cath. I was furious. All I had done was dare to ask he see my father and give me some information about risks and benefits. What if my dad died because I had just asked for data? Turns out my dad didnt need the cath because here we are two years later and my dad is 88 and walking a little more slowly because of his femoral nerve injury, but hes up and about and still has never had any chest pain. However, this is not an ideal way to have this outcome.

Then there is money. Some surgeons do an awful lot of hysterectomies while others seem to be able to manage their patients with a much lower rate of surgery. I assume this holds in all surgical fields and not just gynecology. I have heard surgeons say about a not indicated surgery, Well, if I dont do it someone else well, so I may as well do it right. And then, Who knows, maybe it will help?

Who knows? What if your pilot said, Who knows, maybe well land the plane safely?

Some doctors follow guidelines and some do not. The preferred method of hysterectomy is vaginal according to national guidelines, but, hey, the robot is cool! Hospitals have to pay for them, so they are advertised as state of the art because you have to pay the upkeep. Patients are happy because they think they are getting the best! Insurers dont seem to balk at the necessary expense. How does this happen?

But there are other issues too.

Sometimes doctors feel pressured to do something when they have no real medical therapy to offer. The art of doing nothing has been lost. The urge to help can trump the need to sit on our hands and listen. Doctors are also worried about their patient satisfaction scores, either at work on online. An unhappy patient can leave lots of terrible comments, and two or three can affect your salary or at the very least leave you answering to your superiors. If you dont think the drive to make patients or administrators happy changes medical practice, then you are wrong.

Pills and surgeries are easier for everyone  providers, patients and insurers. It is my experience that, in general, people are happier when they leave with something tangible. A prescription validates the symptoms perhaps? Maybe it validates the time off of work? However, many things have no easy answer. For example, talking about sleep hygiene is hard. When I tell people about turning off the screen or what they need to do if they are staring at the clock, I have received eye rolls. How could a behavior change fix something that is so devastating? People who dont want pills dont come to the doctor, so we see many people who are biased towards wanting medical interventions. Some people turn to yoga or cognitive behavioral therapy for their insomnia without ever making a doctors appointment.

And what about that knee pain? It hurts so much. How could physical therapy help something that painful? So there is that hurdle. Then there is the co-payment for physical therapy that can be $100 or $150 and there may be eight or 10 visits as well as daily home exercises to see improvement. However, what if someone dangles a surgery with a $250 co-payment? The doctor wouldnt offer it if it werent helpful, right? It is pretty easy to see how people, including even well-meaning surgeons, convince themselves that surgery is the answer. It is easier to get a unindicated MRI and a unindicated knee or back surgery in almost every single health system than it is physical therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The path of least resistance is rarely the right one, and that is terrible.

I have spoken with patients who have had a clearly un-indicated surgery who are no better, and yet many are perfectly satisfied with the unhelpful surgery. In fact, they are happy because they equate the surgery with their doctor taking their complaints seriously and trying something. The bigger the intervention, the less unhappy people seem about it not working.

We all believe what we want to believe. If patients dont come back after surgery, it must have helped, right? If your cold or cough went away after antibiotics, they must have helped, right? I was ill for a week or two before I went to the doctor because I didnt want it to be pneumonia. In my field, multiple studies tell us that self-diagnosis of yeast infections is very inaccurate and that women are wrong about 70% of the time, which is worse than flipping a coin. Trying to convince someone over the phone they need to be seen when they dont want to be because they are confident they are right is hard and time-consuming. Everyone, doctors included, often refuse to believe statistics apply to them. I get the competing pressures of work and co-payments and convenience, but I see a rise in resistant yeast, and I am scared for my patients. And I want to do the right thing medically. Some people yell at me. Some write nasty things. Some doctors just stare at me in disbelief that self-diagnosis of yeast infections is wrong. Others thank me for caring and being dedicated to giving them the right therapy.

If blogging for six years has taught me anything, it is that everyone, not just doctors, wants to believe what they want to believe. When people can reply to you anonymously, you hear a lot more than you hear in the office. I delete so many nasty comments from people who accuse me of lying about iodine allergies or vaginal Valium or vaccines. Some people even believe walking around wearing a vaginal jade egg helped them. I often close comments because of that very issue, the rancorous minority claiming a therapy works for them can change the minds of others. Disbelieving evidence, it seems, is a very human trait. If it were not people like the Medical Medium, who gets his health information from a ghost, would not be a best-selling author.

People often want a unifying diagnosis for their symptoms. Some people dont want to have depression or fibromyalgia or hear that sleep hygiene can help, a unifying diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease or heavy metal poisoning or chronic EBV has real treatments. Its taking symptoms seriously, and so charlatans profit.

I have no easy answers. Its not just medical education that needs overhauling and empathy training and interpersonal skills. We have to stop publishing low-quality articles. Fewer journals with more rigorous peer review would be great, but then how will doctors keep their academic jobs? Its publish or perish, not publish quality or perish. Wouldnt it be better to have one amazing article that changes lives than a bunch of crappy ones?

The press also needs to stop writing about case reports and articles with seven patients. People read those headlines and insist on that therapy.

We need to do something about direct to consumer advertising. Its not helpful.

Magazines and lifestyle websites and physicians with platforms  Dr. Oz, Im talking to you  need to stop giving voice to ludicrous therapies and ideas like wheat or EBV or chronic yeast or vitamin D3 or whenever the new whipping boy is that is causing every autoimmune condition. By the way, no one seems to have grain brain in France.

We need more government investment in high-quality clinical trials but are we willing to pay more taxes for it?

We need vetted sources of quality information. Again, that will take tax dollars.

We need professional societies to take stronger stances on what constitutes high-quality therapy, what is not and about gray areas. We need those guidelines to be handed out to patients.

We need investment in health literacy.

We need doctors trained to understand studies, to stay up to date in their fields and who can communicate and who are also trained when needed to do nothing. They also need more than 15 minutes to listen, communicate and treat, but again, that will cost more.

Doctors are certainly part of the problem, but saying its all on doctors is like saying global warming is only from coal. There are lots of industries involved, and every single one of us has a carbon footprint.

Doing the right thing in medicine is almost always the hardest thing. Not because its hard medically, but because life and the medical system have set it up that way. Until that changes, care will still vary from state to state and office to office and person to person and whether you live or die might depend on what search terms you entered into Google  and that is just wrong.

Jennifer Gunter is an obstetrician-gynecologist and author of the Preemie Primer. She blogs at her self-titled site, Dr. Jen Gunter.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
A goal in either half and a solid team performance paid rich dividends as Kilkenny retained their Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division One title.

Ann Downeys side won their third League in four years as they beat old rivals Cork in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, today (Sunday).

The Cats were quick off the mark, grabbing a goal after just three minutes when Denise Gaule gathered Miriam Walshs pass and hand-passed the sliotar over Cork netminder Aoife Murray.

Kilkenny kept up a good pace, landing three of the next four points to fashion a good lead.

Cork struggled to find their form  they had just one point from play in the opening half, that coming from Gemma OConnor  but with Aisling Dunphy, Julie Ann Malone and Denise Gaule all raising white flags the Cats looked good for their 1-6 to 0-4 lead at the break.

Cork were more alert in the second half. They were boosted by the introduction of Orla Cotter, who helped herself to three points in the new half. However, their charge was halted when a quickly-taken Gaule free caught Cork out of position, the sliotar eventually falling to Miriam Walsh, who rattled the net.

Cork rallied late on, grabbing two late points, but by that stage there was no way the Cats were giving up the silverware.

SCORERS: Kilkenny - Denise Gaule (1-2, 0-1 free); Miriam Walsh (1-0); Katie Power (0-2); Danielle Morrissey (0-1, free); Aisling Dunphy, Julie Ann Malone (0-1 each). Cork - Katrina Mackey (0-4, 0-3 frees); Orla Cotter (0-3, 0-1 free); Gemma OConnor, Libby Coppinger, Hannah Looney (0-1 each.
Irelands second National Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) challenge takes place at noon next Friday, April 28.

The main focus of the initiative is to promote reading for pleasure by encouraging everyone to take time out to read on the day.

The founder of the national challenge is a Kilkenny woman  Kathleen Moran, who lives in Tullahought. She says the main focus of DEAR is to draw attention to the importance of reading for pleasure.

If reading is to become a lifelong habit then young people must see themselves as participants in a community that views reading as a significant and enjoyable activity, she said.

The 2017 National DEAR Challenge was launched in the JCSP Library in Dublin recently by well-known illustrator, author and Laureate na nOg, PJ Lynch. PJ is National DEAR Challenge Ambassador for 2017 and at the launch he spoke about the importance of reading.

Its so important to see the world from another persons point of view to hear other peoples stories Thats how we learn to care for and respect other people, and I think that a book is still the best way to share a story. On April 28, we want you to Drop Everything and Read just for 20 minutes, and remember how good it feels to lose yourself in a book.

The National DEAR Challenge is supported by a range of organisations, including the JCSP Library Project, Poetry Ireland, Childrens Books Ireland, School Library Association Ireland and many more. DEAR is open to all. Schools, community groups, individuals, families and workplaces can register to participate at www.jcsp.ie - where you will also find information, ideas and inspiration.

Over 45,000 people registered to participate last year and the aim is to have even greater participation this year. Getting involved is very simple  register now and when the clock strikes noon on April 28.

You can follow on Twitter @dear_Ireland and share your comments, photos and video clips using the hashtag #DEARIrl or send to dear@jcsplibraries.ie.
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 ...
By Jemima Kelly

LONDON, April 23 (Reuters) - The euro surged in early trading in Asia on Sunday, while French bond yields were expected to fall and French stocks to rally on Monday morning, on relief that France had not been left with a choice between two radical, anti-EU presidential candidates.

Multiple projections showed centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen set to face each other in a May 7 runoff for the French presidency, after coming first and second in Sunday's first round of voting. Investors' greatest worry had been that the far-left, eurosceptic Jean-Luc Melenchon, who had surged in the polls in recent weeks, could jump ahead of Macron and make it into the final run-off against Le Pen, giving voters the choice between two radical candidates who would threaten the future of the EU.

That this worse-case scenario looked likely to have been averted, therefore, was seen as positive for risk sentiment. While Sunday's results looked broadly in line with polls, failures to predict the outcome of the Brexit referendum and U.S. elections had shaken investors' trust in them.

And while the anti-EU Le Pen looked likely to have made it through to the second round, polls have consistently shown Macron will beat her in the runoff.

"The assumption now is that centrist voters will rally around Macron, denying Le Pen the presidency and hence this will effectively be a pro-establishment, pro-European result which will be positive for risk appetite on Monday morning," said Rabobank's head of rates strategy in London, Richard McGuire.

"We are likely to see a notable tightening of European sovereign spreads and this would also be positive for the euro and stocks," he said, although he added that the exit polls must be viewed with a degree of caution.

The spread between French 10-year government bond yields and their German equivalents has been a key gauge of investor sentiment around the French election in recent months.

That gap was widely expected to narrow on Monday as investors buy back into French debt, and as safe-haven German Bunds are sold off on higher risk appetite. FREXIT FEARS FADE

The euro jumped as much as 2 percent to $1.09395 , its highest level since Nov. 10, the day after the results of the U.S. presidential election, as some markets opened in Asia.

Against the yen, which investors tend to flock to when they perceive high levels of risk, the euro jumped as much as 3 percent to trade at a five-week high of 120.905 yen .

"I think people will be fairly confident that Macron will win in the second round, and the market will be relieved by that," said Insight fund manager and head of currency investment in London, Paul Lambert.

"The euro will benefit from the perceived decline in the break-up risk in the euro area," he added, though he said the single currency's moves would be limited by the fact that this outcome had been expected.

French and European equities were expected to rally when they begin trading on Monday morning, while peripheral bond yields were expected to fall as investors regained their risk appetite.

The projected result will mean a face-off between politicians with radically contrasting economic visions. Macron favours deregulation measures that will be welcomed by financial markets, while Le Pen wants to ditch the euro currency and possibly pull out of the EU - markets' biggest fear.

Even if Le Pen springs a surprise on May 7, her "Frexit" ambitions will require constitutional change which experts say will be difficult, especially as her National Front party only has a handful of federal lawmakers and is seen as highly unlikely to win anything like a majority in June's parliamentary elections.

June's legislative elections also pose a challenge for Macron, who wants to win a parliamentary majority with his brand-new party "En Marche!" ("Forward!")

"We can now conclude that (Frexit) is off the table, assuming that most people will now regard Mr. Macron as the likely winner of round two," said Marie Owens Thomsen, head of economic research at Indosuez Wealth Management in London.

"But, the open question is still the June parliamentary election, what the future president's government will look like and whether or not he will have a majority."

(Reporting by Jemima Kelly; Additional reporting by Maya Nikolaeva in Paris, Dhara Ranasinghe, Helen Reid and Nigel Stephenson in London, and Jonathan Spicer in Washington, DC; editing by Susan Thomas)
(Repeats column sent on Friday, no change to text)

By Andy Home

LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) - Is aluminium the new steel for China's policy-makers?

The country's steel producers are already being subjected to a host of measures intended to weed out excess capacity.

A wholesale restructuring of the enormous steel sector is a key component of the country's declared war on pollution.

It also provides some negotiating leeway for China when it comes to dealing with the growing international pressure to rein in exports.

China's aluminium producers, which like their steel counterparts now dominate global supply, seem to be next in line for "supply-side reform".

Threats to close capacity in the region around Beijing over the winter heating months had already propelled aluminium prices higher.

They have just been given a further boost by news that Beijing has ordered the suspension of new capacity in the northwestern province of Xinjiang. Further measures seem certain to follow.

The country's aluminium output growth is already showing signs of braking sharply, although, as ever, statistical confusion may simply be adding to the general confusion as to what Beijing's real aluminium policy goals are.

XINJIANG AND BEYOND

Beijing's plan to force capacity reductions in the area around the capital city next winter had already lit a fire underneath the aluminium price. Sceptics argue that the size of the likely cuts will be dwarfed by the continuing roll-out of new capacity, particularly in the far-flung northwestern province of Xinjiang.

That calculation has now just been thrown into question after three Xinjiang smelter projects were ordered suspended last weekend. Xinjiang has emerged as the new hub of both Chinese and global aluminium capacity with more than seven million tonnes of operating production and a seemingly endless supply of new smelter projects.

Work on three of those has been ordered to stop because they have not been correctly permitted.

The order, posted on the government website of Changji County in Xinjiang and dated April 14, specifically identifies smelter projects being built by Xinjiang East Hope Ferrous Metals Co. Ltd., Xinjiang Qiya Energy Aluminium Electric Co. Ltd. and Xinjiang Jiarun Resources Co. Ltd.

The amount of capacity affected is thought to be around two million tonnes.

Quite why these three projects have been singled out, and, unusually in such cases, specifically named, continues to cause head-scratching both within China and without.

The best bet is to send a warning shot across the bows of other producers.

According to consultancy AZ China, another policy document is doing the rounds calling for all the country's smelters to submit to audits covering the full spectrum of permitting and regulatory compliance.

Previous attempts to clean up the sector after years of unbridled growth have come and gone without any noticeable impact but this time Beijing seems serious with multiple government departments involved.

AZ China's preliminary view is that capacity closures will take place towards the end of the year.

STALLING PRODUCTION?

China's current production rate, meanwhile, seems to be slowing sharply.

The country produced 2.71 million tonnes of aluminium in March and 8.19 million tonnes in the first quarter of this year.

Quarterly production was up 14 percent on the same period of 2016 but growth in March itself slumped to just 3.3 percent.

The year-on-year comparisons are distorted by last year's low and volatile base.

Expressed in annualised terms Chinese run-rates have dropped by almost 2.2 million tonnes so far this year with March's 31.9 million tonnes the lowest since July of last year.

It's a counter-intuitive outcome. The current high price might have been expected to encourage faster production rates, particularly from those companies now facing potential capacity cuts from the start of the winter heating season in the middle of November.

It is, of course, possible, that the statistics themselves are wrong. There have been enough problems in the past to justify a healthy degree of caution, but it's worth noting that the two sets of official production data, from the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, are saying the same thing.

THE NEW STEEL?

Statistical uncertainty is compounding the uncertainty over Chinese aluminium policy.

Although aluminium is now the best performer among the core base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange, up 15 percent so far this year at a current $1,945 per tonne, there is still a deep-seated scepticism that Beijing is serious about closing capacity.

After all, recent aluminium history is littered with restraining edicts from Beijing, none of which has prevented the runaway growth of its production sector.

Is it going to be any different this time?

Two things suggest it might be.

Environmental crackdown has risen to the top of the domestic policy agenda and aluminium smelters, as seen in the winter heating directive, are clearly in the firing line, not least because they are a major user of coal power.

Secondly, as with steel, "supply-side reform" is being given extra impetus by the proliferation of trade cases against Chinese exports.

Although it is President Trump currently grabbing the protectionist headlines, it was the outgoing Obama administration that filed a broad-reaching case against the Chinese aluminium sector with the World Trade Organization. China has, unsurprisingly, strongly denied it has subsidised its aluminium producers, the base of the WTO complaint, and can be expected to defend itself rigorously.

But it will be easier to do so, if it can claim to be actively curtailing excess capacity.

This seems to be the policy in steel and, given the similarities between China's role in global supply in both markets, it must offer Beijing a tempting template for aluminium.

Not least because the Trump administration has just raised the trade stakes further with a new probe into steel imports in the U.S. How long before it does the same for aluminium imports?

(Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
* Polling stations opened at 0600 GMT; last close at 1800 GMT

* Vote is the most unpredictable in living memory

* Turnout by midday near 2012 levels, confounding some polls

* Macron and Le Pen favourites to qualify for May 7 run-off

* Election is key for fate of euro zone and EU

(updates with first turnout figures, more voter quotes)

By Ingrid Melander

PARIS, April 23 (Reuters) - France voted on Sunday in the first round of a bitterly fought presidential election that is crucial to the future of Europe and a closely-watched test of voters' anger with the political establishment.

Over 50,000 police backed by elite units of the French security services patrolled the streets less than three days after a suspected Islamist gunman shot dead a policeman and wounded two others on the central Champs Elysees avenue.

Voters will decide whether to back a pro-EU centrist newcomer, a scandal-ridden veteran conservative who wants to slash public spending, a far-left eurosceptic admirer of Fidel Castro or to appoint France's first woman president who would shut borders and ditch the euro.

The outcome will show whether the populist tide that saw Britain vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump's election in the United States is still rising, or starting to ebb. A high level of indecision adds to nervousness.

Hanan Fanidi, a 33-year-old financial project manager, was still unsure as she arrived at a polling station in Paris' 18th arrondissement.

"I don't believe in anyone, actually. I haven't arrived at a candidate in particular who could advance things. I'm very, very pessimistic," she said.

Emmanuel Macron, 39, a centrist ex-banker who set up his party just a year ago, is the opinion polls' favourite to win the first round and beat far-right National Front chief Marine Le Pen in the two-person run-off on May 7.

For them to win the top two qualifying positions on Sunday would represent a huge change in the political landscape. The second round would then feature neither of the mainstream parties that have governed France for decades.

But conservative Francois Fillon is making a comeback after being plagued for months by a fake jobs scandal, and leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon's ratings have surged in recent weeks. Any two of the four has a chance to qualify for the run-off.

"It wouldn't be the classic left versus right divide but two views of the world clashing," said Ifop pollsters' Jerome Fourquet. "Macron bills himself as the progressive versus conservatives, Le Pen as the patriot versus the globalists."

The seven other candidates, including the ruling Socialist party's Benoit Hamon lag behind in opinion polls.

By noon (1000 GMT), turnout amid sunshine and clear skies across much of France was 28.54 percent, according to official figures - around the same as in the 2012 first round, in which almost 80 percent eventually took part.

Some polls had been predicting a much lower turnout, closer to the 70 percent that took the then National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen into the second round in 2002. Pollsters are unclear about what a low or high turnout could mean in 2017.

President Francois Hollande and his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy have failed through both of the past two five-year presidencies to tackle the high unemployment and sluggish growth.

That issue, and the general trustworthiness of politicians, stands out, polls say, even though security has re-entered the debate since Thursday's killing of a policeman.

Some argue the incident increases Le Pen's chances; but previous militant attacks, such as the November 2015 killing of 130 people in Paris ahead of regional polls, have not appeared to have any impact on votes.

Earlier on Sunday a polling station in Besancon, eastern France was evacuated after a stolen vehicle was abandoned with the engine running while voting took place.

"CHEERING MADLY"?

The possibility of a Le Pen-Melenchon run-off is not the most likely scenario but is one which alarms bankers and investors. While Macron wants to further beef up the euro zone, Le Pen has told supporters "the EU will die". She wants to return to the Franc, re-denominate the country's debt stock, tax imports and reject international treaties.

Melenchon also wants to radically overhaul the European Union and hold a referendum on whether to leave the bloc.

Le Pen or Melenchon would struggle, in parliamentary elections in June, to win a majority to carry out such radical moves, but their growing popularity also worries France's EU partners.

"It is no secret that we will not be cheering madly should Sunday's result produce a second round between Le Pen and Melenchon," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said.

If either Macron or Fillon were victorious, each would face challenges.

For Macron, a big question would be whether he could win a majority in parliament in June. Fillon, though likely to struggle less to get a majority, would likely be dogged by an embezzlement scandal, in which he denies wrongdoing.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Election graphic FN voting in past presidential elections Decision Europe Eikon page cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?navid=72745 Election stories ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Additional reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Bate Felix and Michaela Cabrera in Paris and Ilze Filks in Henin-Beaumont,; Editing by Andrew Callus and Ralph Boulton)
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The Herald reports:

Labour is shipping in foreign support for its election campaign with dozens of United States Democrats signalling an interesting in helping with the campaign.

Excellent. The more people who helped on Clintons campaign the better!

The move was uncovered by Te Tai Tokerau contender Hone Harawira, who says its really dumb of Labour to enlist foreign support to tell Maori people how to vote.

But its been seized on by Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis as an example of Harawiras desperate attempts to win the seat. 

The Herald asked Harawira if the link up with Dotcom had provided any lessons when it comes to accepting help from foreigners.

He had a one-word response: Dont.

Harawira said his community networks let him know the US support for Labour was on its way after a marae was sounded out to be used for accommodation.

From what I understand it is to target voter areas where Labour is struggling to get attention.

Harawira said that was likely to be the Maori vote and it showed Andrew Little doesnt think hes got the Maori volunteer base to get the job done.

To bring Americans in seems weird, disconnected and surreal. To do what? Tell Maori how to vote?

Davis  who wasnt involved in arranging off-shore support and was unaware of it  said Harawira had hooked up with Dotcom last election in a deal which allowed access to the tycoons wealth to fund a joint campaign.

If hes going to get millions from a foreigner and hes complaining about people coming to help, thats just total hypocrisy.
Tourists purchase apple pies made of apples and other local ingredients at a culinary experience center in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province, June 3, 2016. The ministry has been organizing food tour programs for both Koreans and non-Koreans to promote iconic dishes from each municipality and to bolster the consumption of agricultural products. / Courtesy of Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs



By Lee Hyo-sik

Korea has stepped up efforts to foster culinary tourism as a tool to attract more foreign visitors by capitalizing on the increasing popularity of the nation's food among people from around the world.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has been organizing food tour programs for Koreans and non-Koreans to visit municipalities, and cook and taste their iconic dishes.

It has partnered with Afreeca TV and other broadcasters, which have been covering a series of culinary tours, cooking classes and other events to promote signature dishes and locally-grown agricultural products.

Korea's ongoing efforts to have "hansik," traditional cuisine, designated on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list have provided further momentum to turning its culinary culture into an appealing tourism asset.

"The government has been trying to combine food with tourism to encourage more Korean and non-Korean tourists to visit provincial areas," said Lee Chang-il, deputy director of the agriculture ministry's food industry promotion division.

"Each region has a unique culinary culture as they make a variety of dishes using locally-grown ingredients that taste so different from those of other areas. Food is very useful for attracting visitors."

In cooperation with tourism agencies, the ministry has developed K-Food Road, culinary tourism courses that provide a collection of seasonal food ingredients, local food and tourist attractions, Lee said.

"The program has gained increasing popularity among foreign residents and visitors as well as Koreans. We will expand the scope of K-Food Road to enable participants to experience culinary culture in more regions," he said.

For instance, the agriculture ministry organized a culinary tour to Yesan, South Chungcheon Province, where tourists learned about its dishes and indigenous products. They also sampled some representative dishes made of local ingredients and cooked them, while visiting popular tourist spots in the county.

In order to reach a broad audience, the ministry has formed a partnership with broadcasters to run TV programs showcasing tourist destinations and their culinary culture.

Afreeca TV, Korea's largest video streaming company, has been covering K-Food Road courses and posts video clips on its website for millions of its users to view them.

In addition, some of the firm's broadcast jockeys have been airing cooking classes at the Korean Food Cultural Center in Seoul, and food festivals nationwide to bolster the awareness of traditional cuisine.

"We are also cooperating with KBS and other broadcasters to promote events designed to foster iconic dishes and agricultural products in each region," the deputy director said.

"This year, Korea will host a number of international events nationwide. We will be there to offer foreign visitors opportunities to learn about and experience what Korean food is like."





Agriculture Vice Minister Lee Jun-won, left, poses with Afreeca TV CEO Seo Soo-kiel after signing an agreement at the government complex in Sejong, July 6, 2016, to jointly promote culinary tourism. Korea's largest video streaming company has been covering the ministry's monthly food tours and other events to foster signature dishes and agricultural products in each region. / Courtesy of Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

The ongoing campaign to list traditional food on the UNESCO list has increased the awareness of Korean food among foreigners, providing a boost for food tourism.

In 2013, kimchi and kimchi-making culture were listed as UNESCO heritages and the government has been trying to list all Korean cuisine since 2015.

"The hansik globalization campaign has helped fuel culinary tourism by improving Korea's image among foreign diners. We will continue to organize Korea Gourmet and other food festivals both at home and abroad," the deputy director said.

The ministry also plans to bolster education for Koreans, he said. "The government has been training a pool of cultural experts who will travel around the country to lecture on Korean cuisine. We will also spend money on consolidating information on traditional food and creating a comprehensive online archive."

This article is sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
By The Korea Times finance team



The buzz phrase for investors and analysts who joined the "desert island challenge" survey of The Korea Times was the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Before being stranded on the imaginary island, they anticipated that the world will be more dependent on info-tech devices, and pay more attention to the virtual world rather than the actual one.



In the survey of 20 research analysts and investment experts, Samsung Electronics was a runaway leader with 80 percent of respondents picking the technology giant for their "desert island" portfolio.



The country's leading internet company Naver came in second followed by battery powerhouse LG Chem. Cosmetics maker AmorePacific and mobile carrier SK Telecom shared the fourth spot.



Also, some pointed out that drug makers, food-related firms and defense companies will surge because people care about foods and health, while Seoul will have to keep spending big money for its defense against the belligerent Pyongyang.





Hail to the king: Samsung Electronics



Samsung Electronics earned the most recommendations as 16 out of 20 respondents picked it as the "bluest" of the blue chips on the Seoul bourse.



Investors and analysts cited the firm's market dominance in key info-tech products and its readiness to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution as its main advantage.



"For the next 10 years, the importance of the info-tech industry will continue to increase and the company is making aggressive investments in new businesses in this area," said KB Securities senior analyst Kim Young-hwan.



"Along with its market dominance in the core sectors of the Fourth Industrial Revolution including semiconductors, displays and hardware, the firm has a well-defined strategy to follow the trend," ING Life Insurance CIO Koo Do-hyun said.



Samsung Electronics' shares have continued to rally since last year and peaked at 2,134,000 won on March 21, buoyed by the release of its new flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone.



Samsung is the world's largest maker of smartphones and memory chips.



"You should buy stocks when the market is sluggish, but this is a bullish market, with firms posting record earnings," Cape Investment & Securities research head Chi Ki-ho said. "However, if you are really going onto a desert island, I would say buy No. 1 companies in each sector."



On Friday, Samsung Electronics shares ended at 2.04 million won, up 1.19 percent from a day earlier. Its market cap stood at 284.6 trillion won, with a price-to-book ratio (PBR) reaching 1.53.





Green dinosaur: Naver



Naver came second after getting picks from 14 respondents.



The experts cited Naver's sustainability amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution and market dominance as its power.



They also praised the outfit's seamless efforts to extend its business horizons.



"Naver has recently revealed the outcome of its aggressive research and development efforts, such as its neural machine translation service Papago, the Whale web browser and artificial intelligence (AI) platform, the Clova-Cloud Virtual Assistant," Korea Investment & Securities analyst Jung Hun-seog said.



Experts agreed that the company holds technologies and content to catapult it to become a more powerful firm.

"The core infrastructure of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is the internet platform. Internet-based online-to-offline businesses will penetrate into human life more deeply down the road," KB's Kim added.













In the short-term, Naver's outlook is also rosy. Investors said the photo and video communication app SNOW, developed by Naver's subsidiary Camp Mobile, is building a reputation as the "Asian Snapchat clone."



Naver accounts for around 80 percent of the domestic search engine market and its sales from advertisements stood at 3 trillion won last year.



Naver ended at 813,000 won, Friday, up 2.14 percent from a session earlier. Its market cap stood at 26.8 trillion won, with its PBR reaching 6.52.





Battery matters: LG Chem



Korea's largest chemical firm LG Chem, sitting in third place, was selected by nine respondents. Experts said the key strength in the firm is its rechargeable battery business, which they believe is a critical factor in an info-tech device's mobility.



"The firm is ahead of the curve in chemical materials and energy efficiency," Kiwoom Securities research head Park Hee-jung said. "Of these, the most formidable is its secondary battery business, which has the potential for enormous growth."



A mounting number of businesses are expected to depend on rechargeable batteries in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, because not only mobile devices but also electric vehicles are powered by batteries, thus raising the value of the company.



"Given that Korea is a powerhouse in manufacturing semiconductors and info-tech hardware, it is reasonable to include the firm into the five-stock portfolio," MetLife Korea CIO Jake Yoon said.



In line with their positive outlook, LG Chem said last week that its earnings in the first quarter this year stood at 6.49 trillion won, surpassing 6 trillion won for the first time. Its operating profit reached 796.9 billion won, the largest since the first quarter of 2011.



Thanks to the surge, LG Chem ended at 280,000 won, Friday, up 0.36 percent from a day earlier. Its market cap reached 19.78 trillion won and the PBR was 1.48.





Mass market powerhouse: AmorePacific

Next generation network: SK Telecom



Cosmetics giant AmorePacific and Korea's No. 1 wireless telephony service provider SK Telecom each won three votes to share fourth place.



Investors and analysts said the domestic and global cosmetics market will become friendlier for players appealing to the masses.



"AmorePacific has an array of mass-market brands that are globally recognized and this will help the firm rise," Samsung Securities research head Shin Dong-seok said.



Also they pointed out that the cosmetics market is expanding its coverage to hair care and "cosmeceuticals," a combination of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals; and AmorePacific's brand lineup is already embracing the expansion. AmorePacific's parent, AmorePacific Group, also earned two votes.



They said SK Telecom stocks are worth buying given the firm's aggressive investment in fifth-generation networks, AI, autonomous vehicles and big data.



Also, the firm's management strategy of focusing on mergers and acquisitions will likely raise its price, experts said.

On Friday, AmorePacific ended at 317,500 won, while AmorePacific Group closed at 140,000 won. SK Telecom finished trading at 251,500 won.





Other prominent stocks



Though the respondents did not cast many votes to single out a drug maker, they placed a number of pharmaceutical firms into their portfolio. Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Samsung BioLogics earned two votes each, and other drug makers including Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Daewon Pharmaceutical and Yuhan Corp. grabbed attention.



CJ Cheil Jedang, a food ingredient manufacturer; Harim, a chicken processing firm; and E-mart, the nation's leading discount chain, were also in the portfolio of some investors.



Korea Aerospace Industries, one of the most mentioned defense firms, also won two votes from analysts who focused on the geopolitical risks on the Korean Peninsula.






By The Korea Times finance team





Imagine an investor had some cash and bought her five favorite stocks before she boarded a plane for an overseas trip.



But the plane crashed in the ocean, claiming all aboard but she washed up on the nearest uninhabited island. After being marooned and living like Tom Hanks in the movie "Cast Away" for the next two decades losing contact with the real world, she was rescued and returned home to find herself rich because of the stocks.



Warren Buffett, the renowned value investor, recommends investors choose the "desert island stock" portfolio.



The Korea Times' finance team surveyed investors, analysts, researchers and economists about their top five or favorite stocks they would invest in if they were in her place.



Responses varied.



Based on the surveys of 20 professionals who gave their five desert island stocks, Samsung Electronics, Naver, LG Chem, SK Telecom and AmorePacific were the top choices.



The most interesting commonality to note of the survey is that almost all of the stocks they picked were in the tech sector  the industry that will thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.



"Samsung Electronics and Naver have the technological capability to further sharpen their edge in the Fourth Industrial Revolution," said Jeong Da-i, an analyst at Meritz Securities.



Many say Samsung Electronics has the potential to lead the tech revolution in the new age when the market will see more robots and connected devices used in daily life.













With chips being essential elements for making robots come to life, Samsung Electronics, the world's largest memory chipmaker, will benefit most from the envisioned world.



"Samsung is at the forefront of tech companies leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution," Shinhan Investment analyst Ahn Hyun-gook said.



Naver, the nation's largest search engine with a market cap of about 26 trillion won, ranked second in the list of desert island stocks. The dominating internet portal is the sixth largest on the KOSPI.



Naver has been aggressive in investing in artificial intelligence (AI).



Teachers' Pension Chief Investment Officer David Park said it has the potential to become "the platform of our future lives."



Yozma Group CEO Lee Won-jae agreed that given the majority of the people here use the portal, Naver is considered Korea's information gateway.



"With all the data flowing through the search engine, Naver can provide information services via data analysis aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution," Lee said.



LG Chem also made the list. Kiwoom Securities research head Park Hee-jung said, "It has high potential in the business of rechargeable batteries," which will be part of the crucial technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.



SK Telecom, the 13th biggest on the KOSPI, was highlighted for its efforts in investing in next-generation technologies such as AI, big data and autonomous driving.



"It has detailed plans to invest 11 trillion won in new information and communication technology, including 5G telecommunication networks for the future," said Jung Hun-seog, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities.



The surveyed also noted AmorePacific and its parent AmorePacific Group as a company that not only has strength in cosmetics but also is looking to expand into healthcare, another potential tech sector of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.



AmorePacific is the 15th-biggest cap on the stock market. Its parent AmorePacific Group, which is also listed on the KOSPI, has a 35.4 percent stake in AmorePacific.
Kwangdong Pharmaceutical has started marketing two low-calorie soft drinks called HP and MP. HP stands for Healing Point and MP is Mind Point. Courtesy of Kwangdong Pharmaceutical

Kwangdong Pharmaceutical has unveiled low-calorie soft drinks as part of a campaign to reduce sugar consumption, a company spokesman said Friday.

The two new bottled products are called HP and MP. HP represents Healing Point and MP is Mind Point, the spokesman said.

A 400-milliliter bottle of HP and MP contains only 120 kilocalories each, 30 percent lower than the average calories of existing carbonated drinks sold in Korea, according to the company.

"We target young consumers, particularly in their teens and 20s. Also we'll make efforts to supply more healthy soft drinks to them," the spokesman said.

HP contains grape and aronia juice as well as 100 milligrams of taurine, an amino acid which supports neurological development and helps regulate the level of water and minerals in the blood.

MP is a sparkling drink with apple juice. It contains 100 milligrams of theanine, an amino acid found in tea, which may be responsible for tea's unique relaxing and rejuvenating effects.

Kwangdong held an event celebrating the sale of the new products Friday at the Incheon Samsan World Gymnasium in Incheon where the 2017 League of Legend Champions Korea spring final match took place.

Kwangdong is well-known for its hit drink Vita 500. Its other brands include Corn Silk Tea and herbal tonic drink Kwangdong Ssangwha.

It also distributes SamDaSoo, the country's most popular bottled water brand, under a contract with the Jeju Provincial Development Co.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (center) attends a business meeting with Australian and U.S. companies in Sydney, Australia, Apr. 22. / AFP-Yonhap



By Ko Dong-hwan





Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson on the South China Sea while conducting flight operations on Apr. 9. / AFP-Yonhap

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and its strike group will arrive in the East Sea "within days" to warn nuclear-armed North Korea against further acts of provocation, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday.

Visiting Australia, Pence said at a joint press conference with the country's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that the carrier and strike group were expected east of the Korean Peninsula within this month, Australian media reported.

Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun had earlier reported that the battleships would sail to Korean waters after completing training drills with the Australian Navy.

On a final leg of his Asian tour, Pence said he believed a nuclear-free Korean peninsula was possible because of the U.S. President Donald Trump's "engagement" with China, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a summit in Florida this month. Pence added that "all options are on the table," and that if China, "the key to influence North Korea," was unable to deal with Pyongyang, the U.S. and its allies would step up.

Tension has been rising, with expectations that North Korea could conduct a sixth nuclear test around Apr. 25, when the regime celebrates the 85th anniversary of the Korean People's Army with a show of its military power.

There was controversy after top U.S. officials misleadingly said last week that the USS Carl Vinson was heading to the Korean Peninsula to deter North Korea. But the aircraft carrier was actually going the other way to participate in exercises with Australia.

North Korean government mouthpiece the Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary Saturday, "If the U.S. provokes the Democratic People's Republic of Korea even a bit, its army and people will start a great war of justice for national reunification without hesitation."
By Park Si-soo



A U.S. citizen has been detained in North Korea, CNN reported Sunday citing Martina Aberg, deputy head of mission for the Swedish Embassy in North Korea.

"We have been informed and can confirm that there has been a detention of a U.S. citizen Saturday morning local," she said. "He was prevented from getting on the flight out of Pyongyang. We don't comment further than this."

Sweden represents the United States' interests in North Korea.

According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, a former Korean-American professor was arrested on Friday at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the isolated country.













The U.S. citizen was identified only by his surname Kim and a former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in his late 50s. He reportedly was in the North for about a month to discuss relief activities. The reason for his arrest was not clear.

Ahn Chan-il, director of the World North Korea Research Center in Seoul, said that the North "seems to be intending to use Kim as leverage in negotiations" amid rising tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula.

Since 2009, over 10 American citizens have been detained in North Korea on charges of anti-state and other unspecified crimes.
Seoul advised to reexamine all policy options after May election



This is the fifth in a series of interviews with international experts on North Korea to see how its nuclear issues will unfold down the road and seek ways to secure stability on the Korean Peninsula. -- ED.



By Kim Jae-kyoung





Kelsey Davenport

Donald Trump's provocative strategy on North Korea could lead to a military conflict making South Korea the biggest victim, warned Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association.

She said diplomacy through negotiations is the only way to stop North Korea's nuclear brinkmanship, calling for the Trump administration to give more weight to engagement.

Her warning came as Trump has chosen a policy that will maximize pressure on the reclusive country through tougher sanctions and military signaling, while keeping a door open for engagement.

"If Trump is serious about talking with North Korea and reaching an agreement, this plan could lead to progress on halting and eventually rolling back North Korea's nuclear and missile programs," she said.

"But to get there, Trump needs to signal to Kim Jong-un that the offer for engagement is real. Otherwise, pressure _ without a plan for diplomacy _ is a dead end."

Davenport, who provides research and analysis on nuclear and missile programs in North Korea and Iran, forecast that a pre-emptive strike will result in a military conflict.

"There is a lot of loose talk about a U.S. military strike to prevent a North Korean ICBM test. This rhetoric is dangerous and unhelpful."

She pointed out that in addition to the illegality of a preventative strike, U.S. military action would only inflame tensions, likely lead to a military conflict, and increase the risk of nuclear weapons being used," she said.

"In this case, South Korea would pay the price for Washington's blunder. Diplomacy is the only way to stop North Korea's dangerous and illicit activities."

She recommended the Trump administration "consider all options" when reviewing its policies. "That will acquaint Trump and his advisers with the costs and consequences of certain policy choices," she said.

According to Davenport, additional sanctions have some effect on sending a message that Pyongyang's provocations will not go unpunished but they are short of changing the totalitarian country's behavior.

"Sanctions are not a strategy. They have little chance of success without a plan to engage North Korea in negotiations to first freeze and then roll back its illicit nuclear and missile activities," she said.

Talks without preconditions

The Washington-based North Korea expert said that absent a diplomatic effort, continued nuclear and missile testing in North Korea is inevitable.

"North Korea is clearly taking steps to strengthen its nuclear deterrent and develop the capability to target the United States with its ballistic missiles," she said.

"North Korea could certainly test either on short notice or in response to a perceived provocation by South Korea or the U.S."

Negotiations in her words are the only way to halt the dangerous trajectory of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

"It will be critical for Trump to move quickly and for both sides to refrain from provocative rhetoric and actions that could cause escalatory spirals and narrow the chances for diplomacy," she said.

Once the South Korean election takes place and Washington confers with Seoul, she said, "The Trump administration should explore the possibility of talks without preconditions designed to freeze and eventually roll back North Korea's nuclear program."

She urged Trump to find the right package of pressure and incentives to spur North Korea to reach an agreement and abide by it.

She said these incentives can be carefully calibrated to ensure that if Kim Jong-un violates a deal, pressure can be quickly reapplied because the U.S. has cards it can play that would be attractive to North Korea.

In her view, reducing military exercises with South Korea, delaying the deployment of missile defenses and offering security guarantees can be possible incentives.

"These are all things the U.S. can put on the table to reach a deal," she said. "Washington can also quickly reverse these actions if North Korea pulls out of an agreement."

She warned that the longer the Trump administration waits, however, the more time North Korea has to advance its nuclear and missile programs.

"These developments will make negotiating more difficult and could result in North Korea demanding a higher price from the United States and its negotiating partners to freeze and then ideally dismantle its capabilities," she said.

Reassessing policy options

Davenport said that once a new leader is elected in the May election, South Korea should take a fresh look at its policies and role in resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis.

"It is imperative that Seoul push back against policy options or tactics that might undermine South Korean security, such as redeploying U.S. nuclear weapons, expanding missile defenses, or preventative strikes on North Korean sites such as missile launch areas," she said.

She thinks these actions risk escalation, possibly toward military conflict, in which South Korea would pay a high price.

"Slowing down missile defense also sends a message to China that South Korea is cognizant of Beijing's concerns about the system and recognizes China should play a role in diplomacy with North Korea," she said.

She also said the U.S. and South Korea should not count on North Korean regime collapse, nor contribute to any collapse by targeting its leaders.

"If the state does collapse, uncertainty about the locations of North Korea's nuclear warheads will contribute to the chaos and increase the likelihood of a nuclear accident or intentional use by a desperate regime," she said.

"Scenarios like this underscore the urgency of a diplomatic effort to cap and roll back Pyongyang's nuclear program and ultimately reduce the risk posed by North Korea."
By Lee Han-soo





Korean students face an uncertain job future in the U.S. after President Trump calls for changes to the H1-B visa program. / Courtesy of Pixabay

International students and high-tech workers, including Koreans, face uncertain times after U.S. President Donald Trump last week signed an executive order seeking to change the H1-B temporary visa program that allows high-skilled foreign workers to work in the U.S. for three years.

The visa program has recently been criticized for taking American jobs and lowering wages.

"We are going to use a tool you all know very well. It's called the sledgehammer," Trump said during a speech at a company in Kenosha, Wisconsin. "They [jobs] should be given to the most skilled and highest-paid applicants and not be used to replace Americans."



Trump has directed four federal agencies to suggest changes to the visa program. The order has brought panic to Korean students studying in the U.S.

"It was always uncertain if I would get a job in the U.S. after graduating," said a Korean studying molecular biology at Stanford University. "But I fear that if the guidelines are changed that possibility will change to zero."

According to U.S. State Department data, South Koreans made up 1.3 percent (2,337) of 180,057 H1-B visas issued last year.
By Kim Bo-eun







A group of university student bodies filed a petition with the National Election Commission (NEC) last week, requesting early voting booths to be set up on campuses ahead of the presidential election on May 9.



The early voting system allows people who are unable to cast their ballots on election day to vote four and five days in advance. Under the current system, early voting booths are only set up at local community centers.



College students are asking for the booths to be set up on their campuses, to promote accessibility and boost the voting rate.



"Universities also assume the roles as public institutions and in certain cases are more accessible than community centers," the group said.



"As the early voting system has helped raise voter turnout, establishing booths on university campuses will contribute further."



The group added it could secure votes from not only students, but professors and school staff as well.



The student body network is comprised of 30 student councils of universities and departments across the nation.



Other universities have also separately filed petitions for the same request, according to Yonhap News Agency. They include Ewha Womans, Hanyang, Kyung Hee, Chungnam and Gangneung-Wonju national universities as well as Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and the University of Seoul.



However, the NEC said the students' request would be difficult to accept.



"Based on the law, additional early voting booths can only be set up in areas such as army units," an NEC official said Sunday.



"This is based on the characteristics of the army, in which soldiers cannot leave their bases. Only adding schools to the list could invite controversy, as many other institutions will want to have booths as well."



Started in March, the student council group makes a collective voice on issues such as college tuition, living expenses and jobs for young people, in the face of soaring tuition and housing costs and the tight job market.



The group earlier said it aims for a 100 percent turnout among student voters.



In the last presidential election in 2012, 68.5 percent of voters in their 20s cast ballots, the lowest turnout of all age groups.




By Lee Kyung-min



More than half a million young people with bachelor's degrees remain jobless in the first quarter, the highest number since the government revised its methods on collecting such data in 2000, a study showed Sunday.



According to Statistics Korea, the number of unemployed people stood at 1.17 million in the first quarter, up 1.2 percent from a year earlier.



The number of jobless university graduates increased 9.2 percent year-on-year to 543,000 over the same period, accounting for almost half of the jobless people.



The increase is attributable to highly educated young adults seeking jobs only at large conglomerates that provide high-paying, full-time jobs with generous employee benefits, according to experts.



Another factor is young adults seeking to become public servants guaranteeing job security and post-retirement social security benefits.



On the other hand, there have been layoffs and hiring freezes in the manufacturing sector amid the protracted economic slump including shipbuilding, steel manufacturing and engineering, which traditionally offered high wages and generous benefits.



Meanwhile, the number of economically inactive people, meaning those aged 15 and over who did not seek employment over the last few weeks, stood at 16.55 million in the first quarter from the previous year. Of them, 352,800 were university graduates.



These "economically inactive people," are not classified as unemployed, but are a major part of unemployment.



The increase is likely to continue as most university graduates refuse to take jobs at small- and medium-sized firms but only seek jobs at large conglomerates, according to Park Jin-hee, a scholar at the Korea Employment Information Service.



"This trend is explained by what analysts call a mismatch between the needs and expectations of the employers and jobseekers," Park said.



"Rather than taking jobs at companies that don't meet their satisfaction and ending up regretting getting them in the first place, most of the graduates spend time raising their profiles on their resumes by doing internships at companies or obtaining licenses for skilled tasks," she said.



Those who wish to avoid stress altogether from the endless competition even after landing a job turn to becoming mid- to low-level public servants.



According to the Ministry of Personnel Management, 228,368 people applied for the state-administered exam to become the lowest level (Level 9) public servant up 7,000 than the previous year. It plans to have 4,910 openings. The competition rate is 46.5 to 1.



Last year, 66,712 people applied for the exam to become mid-level (Level 7) that had 870 openings, marking the competition rate at 76.1 to 1.



According to an official at the Korea Development Institute, universities should increase their efforts to produce more qualified and skilled human resources.



"As the economy shows no signs of improving anytime soon, it is the average-level university graduates who will have a hard time finding a quality job. The universities should strengthen curricula to better educate students to put into workforce," he added.




Firefighters pose for the muscle contest at Yeouido Park, Seoul, Thursday. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Lee Han-soo

Firefighters showed off their fit and ready bodies in the sixth annual charity "muscle contest," organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters Thursday.

Twenty four firefighters from Seoul fire departments participated in the event, which supports child patients and other various charitable causes.

The authority plans to sell 2018 calendars, which will include pictures of the winners, to help treat children with burns.




Muslim women clad in hanbok visit Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, Sunday / Yonhap

By Lee Kyung-min

About 20 stores that rent hanbok, the traditional Korean attire, will offer discounts up to 50 percent on rental fees, for the upcoming "golden holiday week" in May.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Sunday the stores in central and downtown Seoul will offer the discount between April 29 and May 14.

Stores at Namsangol Hanok Village near Chungmuro Station on Line 3 will offer 50 percent discounts on hanbok, allowing customers to pay only 5,000 won ($4.4) to wear the dress for the day.

Namsangol Hanok Village will hold numerous cultural events on May 6 and May 13 including flower decoration program, traditional folk games and concerts. Cheon Woo Gak Square at the village will sell picnic food at 20,000 won (meant to feed two).

Those clad in hanbok will be allowed to enter the traditional palaces of downtown Seoul without paying admission.

The city also offers a 20 percent discount on city tour bus fees.

The city government will offer tour packages in four traditional districts including Dongchon (eastern), Seochon (western), Namchon (southern) and Bukchon (northern).

On May 6, numerous cultural events are scheduled in the Sinchon area in Seodaemun, including a hanbok fashion show, world traditional attire fashion show, among others.

The city government will select five online applicants to offer them makeup and hanbok rentals and take their photographs for free. Those interested can apply by visiting http:// spring.visitseoul.or.kr

Of those who share their photographs and stories online, the city government will give gift icons of a certain value to a select few.

The city government will also offer 15 single moms aged 29 and younger a free tour package program in which they will take photographs with their children wearing hanbok in Seoul's traditional villages.
Liberal candidate refutes allegations of UN vote on NK



By Kim Hyo-jin





Moon Jae-in, presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea

Moon Jae-in, presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said Sunday he will prioritize increasing military strength and seek the early transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean forces from the U.S. to Seoul if elected.



As part of the nation's efforts to defend against North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations, the frontrunner vowed a strong commitment to national defense.



Moon apparently hopes to attract centrist voters in the lead-up to the May 9 election by allaying their worries about his liberal attitude toward the North.



The pledges come amid accusations calling him a North Korean sympathizer. He faces the allegations that when serving as presidential chief of staff for ex-President Roh Moo-hyun, Moon consulted with Pyongyang before the South abstained from a vote on a U.N. resolution on the North's human rights abuse in 2007.



"I will never allow any military provocations by North Korea. I will prevent war based on thorough crisis management and a strong Korea-U.S. alliance," he said during a press conference at the National Assembly. "I will put a priority on securing military capabilities to curb the North's nuclear and missile threats."



Moon pledged to speed up the deployment of the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike system and the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) plan, and improve independent surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities as part of such efforts.



He also promised to advance the timetable for OPCON transfer, which is scheduled to take place in the mid-2020s, although he did not specify an exact timeline.



While laying out plans for defense capabilities, the liberal candidate said he will take an active diplomatic approach with the U.S., China, and North Korea in dealing with the nuclear issue.



"I will persuade China to resume the six-party talks and the U.S. to improve its relations with the North, and North Korea to come to the negotiating table," he said, stressing Seoul should take the initiative rather than relying on China.



The security pledges were unveiled as Moon has taken flak from rival presidential candidates and parties over a controversial abstention from a U.N. vote on North Korea's human rights in 2007.



Their offensives gained steam after former Foreign Minister Song Min-soon disclosed a memo suggesting the Roh administration asked for Pyongyang's opinion before it abstained from voting.



Moon's camp responded sternly, saying it will file a complaint against Song with the National Election Commission for making a false allegation against him.



In an apparent bid to fend off the accusation, Moon's spokesman Kim Kyoung-soo unveiled documents Sunday that showed the Roh administration had decided on the abstention independently.



In his memo written while he served as presidential secretary for speechwriting and documentation, Roh clearly said "This time we shall go for abstention" during a security meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Nov. 16, 2007, indicating that the decision had already been made then.



It was supported by another memo by Park Sun-won, then presidential secretary for security strategy. According to the script, Baek Jong-chun, then chief presidential secretary for foreign and security policy, confirmed Roh's abstention decision during a Nov. 18 meeting.



Song has argued the Roh administration had decided to abstain only after it received the North's negative opinion on Nov. 20 over Seoul's possible voting in favor of the human rights resolution.



The controversy continued during the third televised debate among presidential candidates Sunday evening.

Yoo Seong-min of the conservative Bareun Party repeatedly put Moon on the defensive, accusing him of having changed the details of his explanation.



"It's an issue of integrity of someone who can possibly be a national leader. We have witnessed how many times Moon changed his words on the scandal," he said.



Moon claimed in turn that Yoo's attack is an old-fashioned tactic to smear liberal politicians by painting them as North Korea sympathizers.



"It is another version of the controversy over the Northern Limit Line. Then conservatives accused Roh of giving the NLL up to the North but later they were punished for making false accusations. It's repeating again. I will not look on idly this time," he said.
By Kim Rahn

Bareun Party presidential candidate Yoo Seong-min is deep in thought at Imjingak, a park near the inter-Korean border in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Fellow lawmakers want him to quit the presidential race due to his stagnating public support. / Yonhap

The minor conservative Bareun Party faces a internal dispute as some of its members are demanding its presidential candidate Yoo Seong-min withdraw from the race or seek a unified candidacy with other parties' nominees amid stagnant public support.

Yoo, however, said he would not quit and there would be no candidate unification. But he doesn't seem to have an idea for a breakthrough to increase his approval.

According to sources, Sunday, 16 lawmakers of the party _ about half of its 33 members _ asked the party's floor leader Joo Ho-young to hold a meeting Monday.

In the meeting, they plan to demand Yoo seek a single candidacy with center-left People's Party contender Ahn Cheol-soo or conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP) candidate Hong Joon-pyo, or voluntarily withdraw from the race.

Rep. Kim Jae-kyung of the party called for Hong, who has more support than Yoo and belongs to a larger conservative party, to suggest a unified candidacy to Yoo. "I'll lead the single candidacy move together with other Bareun members," he said in a text message sent to reporters.

Another party member, Rep. Lee Jong-koo, also said earlier that Yoo may have to quit if the situation doesn't improve by April 29, a day before the ballot papers will be printed.

Yoo's support rate has remained around 3 percent, the lowest among the five major candidates, for months despite his good performance in the TV debates and favorable public responses to his campaign pledges. His support is much lower than Hong's 9 percent, and incomparably lower than the liberal Democratic Party of Korea contender Moon Jae-in's 41 percent and Ahn's 30 percent, according to Friday's Gallup Korea poll.

Before the official campaign period started earlier this month, Hong proposed a merger between the LKP and the Bareun Party for a single candidacy. Bareun, which was formed by dissenters from the former ruling Saenuri Party, the predecessor of the LKP, flatly rejected it at that time.

To such calls, Yoo sternly insists he would finish the race, saying he would not attend any party meetings that are held.

Party members supporting him also say it is undemocratic to demand Yoo's withdrawal only because he is unlikely to win, because he is a candidate who was chosen through a vote by party members and the public.



They say it is inappropriate to unify the candidacy with Hong only to beat frontrunner Moon as they defected from Saenuri because of different views among Saenuri members on conservative values.

But the problem for Yoo is that he doesn't have a plan to boost his stagnant support rate.

"The only solution to change the situation is to pull the approval rating up, but the rate does not move," an aide to Yoo said. "Now we have no other way but to keep promoting his ability to voters under the catchphrase of new conservative."
By Oh Young-jin





First, some sleuth work is in order.

U.S. President Donald Trump revealed he had a history lesson from Chinese leader Xi Jinping in which the latter falsely claimed Korea used to be a part of China. This misguided claim was left unnoticed in the Wall Street Journal's interview article with Trump at first but was discovered later when the transcript was made available.

There are two educated guesses about what happened: Xi actually said it or Trump was dumb enough to get mixed up.

By three factors, it is apparent that Xi made such a false claim rather than Trump got facts wrong.

First is the media's bias against Trump, amplified by his belittlement of the fourth estate, as part of the Trump vs. media war. Trump may not be the type to like studying but he is not dumb.

The second is Trump's reference to "not just North Korea but the entire Korea," which Xi claimed used to belong to China. This gives away the context by which the Chinese leader indeed talked about its unfounded claim to Korea, exonerating Trump from the claim of dumbness.

Thirdly, China is a habitual liar about history  bending and twisting it in the way that fits its tastes best. For instance, the Xi regime claims that Goguryo, the biggest of the three-kingdom-era entities in old Korea, which ruled the current Chinese Northeast, was part of China. This historic claim is engineered to fuel Xi's anachronistic pursuit of becoming a modern emperor in a fever of unfounded irredentism for the whole Asia.












A gulf between two supposed allies _ North Korea and China _ appears to be widening amid the greater collaboration between the United States and China following the April 7 Donald Trump-Xi Jinping summit. There is every reason to exploit this gap to isolate the North further and force it to give up its nuclear and missile programs.



The latest sign comes from the Global Times, a Chinese government mouthpiece, about Beijing having no obligation to help its ally if the U.S. makes a surgical strike to take out the North's weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).



By treaty, Beijing is supposed to defend Pyongyang in the event of an outside invasion so the assertion is rather surprising. But experts say the North Korea-China mutual defense treaty only covers conventional war, meaning the Chinese leadership believes the North's WMDs violate the treaty's spirit of preserving the peace.



Chinese media have talked about the need to cut off the oil supply to the North if it conducts a sixth nuclear test or fires an intercontinental ballistic missile. Amid the U.S. adoption of "maximum pressure" against it, the North ended up not carrying out a nuclear test on the 105th birthday of its founder Kim Il-sung on April 15. The world is waiting to see whether the North will go ahead with the test on April 25, the anniversary of the North's Army foundation.



Residents near the site in Punggye-ri have been evacuated with preparations for a test completed, according to reports.



China has already rejected coal imports, sending them back to the North. Without Chinese oil supplies, it is a matter of time before the North is paralyzed. Without coal exports to China, Pyongyang will be starved of foreign currency that is pivotal to purchasing weapons components.



China joined the United Nations' condemnation of a failed April 15 missile test, with the missile exploding after lift-off.



China is now coming to its senses after being cajoled by President Trump into facing the outlook of the internecine catastrophe at the end of the North's brinkmanship. It is important for the rest of the world to encourage China to stop condoning the North's wanton behavior and force the country to realize there is no other choice but to give up its nuclear weapons and missiles if it wants to survive.




By Carl Bildt





WASHINGTON, DC  After a series of foreign-policy U-turns, there is now talk of a "new" Donald Trump who is far more inclined to use military power than the Trump we saw during the 2016 US presidential campaign. That earlier Trump seemed to regard any use of US military force in Syria as pointless and dangerous, and called for the United States to ensconce itself behind new walls.



Now, suddenly, the Trump administration has launched a missile attack on one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's air bases, hinted at taking military action against North Korea, and dropped the "mother of all bombs" on an Islamic State redoubt in Eastern Afghanistan. All of this was accompanied by tweets from the president himself, declaring that the US will pursue its own solutions to key issues if other countries do not offer to help.



The international community  including China  seemed to understand why the US would strike the Syrian air base from which a hideous chemical-weapons attack was launched. But the Trump administration is still following an "America first" agenda. Having awoken to global realities, the administration is now adjusting its policies, sometimes so abruptly that one might reasonably worry that diplomacy is taking a backseat to bombs and tweets.



That concern is reinforced by the dramatic cuts to the US State Department budget, and to US funding for the United Nations, that Trump has proposed. At the same time, many key positions in the US diplomatic apparatus remain unfilled. Even America's friends recognize that this is a dangerous trajectory. Bombs can only destroy. To build lasting peace requires compromise and coalition building  in a word, diplomacy.



There are many conflicts around the world, starting with Syria, that will only become harder to solve without US diplomatic attention. The UN-sponsored talks to end the civil war have gone nowhere partly because no one knows where the US under Trump stands. Faced with this leadership vacuum, other countries are hedging their bets and looking after their own narrow interests.



Another issue that demands diplomacy is North Korea, which is developing nuclear weapons and the intercontinental ballistic weapons needed to deliver them. So far, Trump has tried to pressure China to find a solution, by threatening to take dramatic unilateral action if the Chinese fail to rein in their client. But whether the Trump administration actually has any specific strategy with respect to North Korea, or the means to realize it, remains unclear.



Beyond North Korea, the UN recently warned that the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which rarely makes headlines, is "rapidly pushing the country toward social, economic, and institutional collapse." The humanitarian situation is already dire for 60% of Yemen's 30 million inhabitants: an estimated seven million people could be close to famine; and almost 500,000 children are at risk of severe malnutrition.



The war between Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi's Saudi-backed government and former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's rebel Houthi coalition has been raging for years, with no military breakthrough in sight. Former US President Barack Obama's administration made repeated but futile efforts to broker a ceasefire; but it also reluctantly supported Saudi Arabia's air campaign by supplying bombs. Trump appears set to provide such support far more eagerly.



One simplistic explanation for the Yemen conflict is that it was engineered by Iran. According to this view, US and Saudi intervention is meant to stymie the Islamic Republic's geopolitical ambitions. And now that Trump has tacitly accepted the Iran nuclear deal, some of his advisers believe that it is necessary to apply pressure on Iran from elsewhere. As a result, US raids and sorties in Yemen have become more frequent in recent months.



But, in reality, Iran's support for the Houthis is often exaggerated. And Iran, for its part, probably welcomes a scenario in which the US and Saudi Arabia are bogged down in the Yemen quagmire.



Another possible justification for US engagement in Yemen is that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has found a foothold there. But AQAP thrives in an environment of destruction and despair, so there is little that can be done about the group so long as Yemen is being ripped apart by war.



Even as the UN issues stark warnings about an impending catastrophe in Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition is preparing an offensive to capture the coastline around the port of Hodeida  a move that the International Crisis Group has warned would aggravate Yemen's humanitarian crisis.



Rather than stepping up the fight, the US should be pursuing further diplomacy and humanitarian-aid efforts. Indeed, the latter go hand in hand with the former. And, after all, it was Hadi and the Saudis who rejected the UN's last attempt to broker a ceasefire.



To resolve the conflict, the rebels and the government need to re-engage immediately with the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, who has furnished a roadmap for talks. In addition, the UN Security Council should do its part to support a political solution, by adopting a long-overdue resolution demanding that both sides agree to an immediate ceasefire, grant access to humanitarian aid, and return to the negotiating table.



Diplomacy will require that all parties compromise. No one  except, perhaps, Iran  has anything to gain from further escalation. If Yemen's humanitarian catastrophe leads to a total collapse, millions of desperate people might flee the country, enabling AQAP and other extremist organizations to profit from disorder and despair.



America's re-engagement with the world should be welcomed, but not if the Trump administration continues to view conflicts solely through a military lens. Yes, fighting is sometimes necessary; but diplomacy always is. Nowhere is this more obvious than in places like Yemen. The complete collapse of yet another country is the last thing the world  including Trump  needs.







Carl Bildt is a former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate.




Visitors from other nations jump; no tourism cliff' occurs



The fear of a "tourism cliff" triggered by China's decision to block its people from visiting Korea has by and large not materialized. The shortage of Chinese tourists is being made up for by an increase in the numbers of local tourists and those from Japan and Southeast Asian countries. The general response from these tourists is positive _ without armies of Chinese, it is better: cleaner, quieter and more peaceful. True, their presence is missed by some members of the tourism industry from bus rental services to restaurants but the impact seems bearable.



On Jeju, Korea's top tourist destination, local tourists were tallied at 3.71 million in the January-April period, up 320,000 or 9.5 percent from 3.39 million from the previous year. Chinese visitors dropped from 690,000 to 460,000 or 33.3 percent. Still, the total number of visitors rose 2.3 percent to 4.3 million.



Yonhap News Agency quoted a tourist surnamed Park, 38, as saying about her recent visit to Jeju, "Last autumn when I visited, there were so many Chinese that one couldn't walk without bumping into them. They also talked loudly and didn't respect basic etiquette. Now, with fewer Chinese, I can enjoy myself more."



It's not just local tourists but visitors from countries other than China who have been on a steep increase. According to the Justice Ministry, 379,000 Chinese visited Korea in March, down 38 percent from the month before. However, Japanese visitors jumped 48 percent to 276,000 and Americans climbed 37 percent to 81,700. Visitors from Hong Kong and Thailand went up about 30 percent, while Malaysian tourists skyrocketed by more than 50 percent.



The Chinese government's ban on Korean tours has come as part of its retaliatory package against Korea for pressing ahead with the deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) against North Korea's missile threat. Arguing that the U.S. missile interceptor radar will sweep deep into its territory, Beijing has cut off cultural exchanges and harassed Lotte and other Korean companies operating there. A major impact on the Korean economy was initially feared because of China's status as Korea's biggest trading partner but the retaliation has been limited to the tourism sector.



As in the case of Jeju, the dwindling Chinese tourists are a boon in other areas too. In Myeong-dong, a popular tourist market in central Seoul, the streets had been jam-packed with Chinese, who carelessly smoked, spat, littered and talked loudly to the point that Koreans avoided going there. With fewer Chinese, the situation has improved. This improvement has come at a time when the tourism industry is in dire need of making a transition from its dependency on Chinese visitors _ diversifying portfolios of tourists, upgrading products in general and customizing them in particular. In that sense, the Chinese ban has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.




By Tong Kim





Tensions keep mounting on the Korean peninsula as the U.S. and North Korea ratchet up their mutual threats of a preemptive strike against each other through bellicose rhetoric and saber rattling. There is no question any preventive or preempt strike by one side would instantly lead to a renewed war in Korea, that could spread beyond the peninsula.

It is not new that Pyongyang puts out provocative statements, sticking to its nuclear and missile development. It is new that Washington keeps Pyongyang on notice with the threat of military option, although measured.

Pyongyang's latest warning: the North could retaliate any U.S. strike with "a super-mighty preemptive strike to reduce the United States to ashes." The U.S. has warned them of its military option on the table and not to test the U.S. "resolve and strength" that was demonstrated by a recent attack on Syria.

Perhaps, preoccupied with the North, Washington misled people to believe that the Carl Vincent battle group was heading for the Korean peninsula, which Trump called "an armada, very powerful. with nuclear submarines, more powerful than the aircraft carrier." At the time, the armada was travelling in the opposite direction. Ten days after this flap, the armada is now heading for the peninsula.

The North did not test a sixth nuclear bomb or another ICBM to celebrate Kim Il-sung's 105th birthday. The next day they launched a failed missile test. Experts believe this had nothing to do with U.S. sabotage by way of cyber hacking. Failures in rocket launches are common; the North Koreans learn from their failures to correct the problems and advance their technology.

Trump's team seems to have reached a point where they are considering all options available, to increase pressure on the North Korean regime to change its current path. The first option leans on China, backed by the threat of a preemptive strike, which so far seems to have more impact on Beijing than on Pyongyang. Washington's North Korea policy is still evolving.

In the wake of a Sino-American summit at "Mar-a-Lago," Trump speaks highly of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, pressing him to rein in Pyongyang'snuclear arsenal. Ironically, this may reflect that there is no other viable option. However, U.S. rhetoric relies more on military might than on diplomacy.

Trump described North Korea as a menace last Thursday and applauded the Chinese for working hard to do something about the menace. Trump said:

"As far as North Korea is concerned, we are in very good shape. We're building our military rapidly. We're going to see what happens.... I have great respect for the President of China. And, I think he's working very hard. We don't know whether or not they're able to do that.I actually told him, I said, you'll make a much better deal on trade if you get rid of this menace of North Korea."

Vice President Pence and Secretary of State Tillerson have declared: "The policy of strategic patience is over and all options are on the table." In Tokyo last week, Pence said, "The United States is not seeking to negotiate with North Korea and it is not in direct talks at this time."

Tillerson's latest comment last Wednesday: "We're reviewing all of the status of North Korea, both in terms of state sponsorship of terrorism as well as all the other ways in which we can bring pressure to bear on the regime in Pyongyang to re-engage, but re-engage with us on a different footing than the past talks have been held"

As Trump would not "telegraph" what he will or will not do, nobody can tell what will happen on the peninsula. The White House recently said there would be no red line for the North. Trump will take decisive action when he wants. This warning may sound like a bluff, but it is a dangerous one to test.

Are both Trump and Kim Jong-un employing a "madman strategy" evolved from Nixon's madman theory: if Kim believes Trump is mad enough to use nuclear weapons to get rid of the North's nukes and ballistic missiles, Kim may be forced to cave in. What happens if Kim Jong-un also uses the madman strategy? The madness will have to be removed. What's your take?
Michael Zoller, vice president of Samsung Electronics' visual display business in Europe, speaks during the IFA Global Press Conference in Lisbon, Friday (local time). / Courtesy of IFA



By Yoon Sung-won



LISBON  Samsung Electronics is pushing to strengthen its grip on the European television market by rolling out premium wall-mounted models focused on design, according to the company, Friday (local time).



Michael Zoller, vice president of Samsung Electronics' visual display business in Europe, said the company will roll out a new type of wall-mounted 55-inch TV, called "the Frame," in Europe in late May. The company unveiled the TV in Paris earlier in March.



"The selling point of premium TVs is becoming more about lifestyle than picture quality," he said during the IFA Global Press Conference in Lisbon. "Discussion about picture quality will be obsolete."



The new TV is designed like a frame of a painting. It detects human presence nearby and automatically turns to art mode if there is no one around. It can either be hanged on the wall or put on stands with diverse shapes, according to Samsung Electronics.



The world's largest TV maker has increasingly highlighted the design aspect of its premium TVs to compete with OLED TV providers such as LG Electronics and Sony. Samsung's move has come as advances in picture quality of high-end displays no longer make a big difference for ordinary consumers.



Zoller also pledged to boost the sales of wall-mounted TVs in Europe with its new products.



"Only 30 percent of European consumers have a wall-mounted TV due to difficulties of installation. But about 70 percent them said they will choose one if they are easier to set up," he said.



Samsung Electronics previously released quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) TVs, which adopt futuristic display technologies, in the European market. It has said the QLED TV series provides abundant color volume, brightness and high contrast, as well as good design features for mounting on a wall.



According to Zoller, the company's wall-mount system allows users to set a TV up in 15 minutes. It also provides an integrated invisible cable system to help users remove bunches of cables coming from the TV, he said.
By Chris Khang





Last February, the Korean government officially launched a joint public-private committee to outline the policies and visions for the administrative and corporate sectors in preparation for the new industrial age.

The new committee aims to redesign the country's economic and social systems for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which includes improving R&D policies and the education system to cultivate creative talents.

Such an initiative by the government clearly demonstrates its strong will to increase the nation's productivity and global competitiveness by nurturing the environment, ultimately promoting the digitization of the industry.

In "Extreme Automation and Connectivity: the global, regional, and investment implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution," presented by the Swiss bank UBS at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting earlier this year, Korea was ranked the 25th most "winning country" out of 139 in getting ready for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Switzerland topped the list, followed by the United States (fifth), Japan (12th) and Germany (13th). Although it may seem as though Korea is far behind other developed countries, we should not be too pessimistic about it.

Korea boasts an outstanding information and communication technology infrastructure and strong manufacturing capabilities. By endorsing destructive innovation, switching from hardware to software and promoting horizontal communication strategies, more and more Korean companies are seeking a powerful breakthrough that will drive sustainable growth in the new digital era.

It is clear that "digital transformation" has risen as one of the most prioritized business agendas, and many Korean companies are seeking new growth opportunities with their global partners. Among the many, GE has been one of the key partners of many Korean companies in this arena.

During GE Chairman Jeff Immelt's recent visit to Korea, GE witnessed firsthand the strong desire and commitment of many leading Korean corporations that wished to advance into the digital era.

One such leader was Hanwha Techwin, which has been in a partnership with GE in the fields of aviation engines and gas turbines for the past 30 years. The two corporations discussed the feasibility of implementing an industrial internet of things, and sought business opportunities in the solar energy industry.

Another example would be the Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), the state-run utility company which also signed a memorandum of understanding with GE for the establishment of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) infrastructure in the Bitgaram Energy Valley in Naju, South Jeolla Province.

HVDC technology is ideal for connecting renewable and offshore wind power sources. By partnering with GE, KEPCO expects Energy Valley to become a successful test bed for HVDC, with investment in digital grid applications and big data analysis.

Last but not least, POSCO is also collaborating with GE in an effort to establish a new smart industrial system, one that combines GE's strength in equipment manufacturing and POSCO's expertise in steelmaking.

GE no longer sells jet engines, locomotives or wind turbines solely, but it rather combines data and actionable systems with the necessary hardware to reduce costs and improve performance.

In doing so, the company has been making many bold business decisions and taking proactive actions. It has already hired more than 1,500 software engineers and data scientists, and continues to hire thousands of software engineers to provide enhanced software and analytical skills across various businesses.

GE believes the journey down the road to digital industrial transformation is inevitable, and that this road should be taken together with its customers and other partnering companies.

GE has made the conscious choice to build an "ecosystem," instead of becoming a part of another, and its ecosystem will assist in establishing the digital industrial world.

Global corporations such as GE will prove to be important partners to fulfilling Korean industries' ambitions of becoming a pioneer of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Chris Khang is President and CEO of GE Korea.
Lee Min Ho's and Bae Suzy's relationship is always a hot topic. The two big stars in K-Pop industry have a lot of attention for their romantic love. Rumor came up that "While You Were Sleeping" actress got anxiety of her relationship with "The Heirs" actor.

Lee Min Ho is about to leave for army duty soon. The schedule of his enlistment has been set and he will serve as public service worker in Gangnam District Office in Seoul on May 12, Soompi reported. Due to his car accident in the past, Lee Min Ho couldn't do his army duty in the past. Thus, he will leave for army duty this year.

Regarding about Lee Min Ho's enlistment, Bae Suzy is rumored to have anxiety about their relationship. There are also many rumors about the split of their relationship, KoreaPortal reported. The rumors arise as some couples might have gone through breakup when the man leaved for army. But there are also many couples who can survive well. Although having many rumors around, both Lee Min Ho and Suzy's fans want them to have a long relationship.

Recently, Lee Min Ho shared his feeling about leaving for army. He said that he was sad having army duty at his age, yet he couldn't do it at his young age due to many reasons. Still, he said that he was happy having late enlistment, which made him able to work at his young age, Soompi reported.

Despite the strong rumors about their split, their relationship was reported getting stronger, Poor Primadona reported. The two seems getting closer than ever. Moreover, recently, the two just celebrated their second anniversary together. Even though JYP didn't want to give their statement, but people have already speculated their romance date through the picture posted by Lee Min Ho.

The relationship of Lee Min Ho and Bae Suzy will be anticipated by many people as they want to see the follow-up of their romance. Due to Lee Min Ho's enlistment, people will have to wait more to hearing for his statement.

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The blackface comedy is something which is so sensitive. It is considered rude to mock people just because of their complexion. This is what happens to Hong Hyun Hee when she was doing blackface comedy on a show.

In the SBS comedy show "People Searching for Laughter" aired on Apr. 19, Hong Hyun Hee had her appearance having makeup with dark skin and wore Native American Headdress as well. Due to her appearance, international viewers critiqued her a lot, AllKpop reported.

It is considered rude to differentiate people due to their complexion. Moreover, Heng Hyun Hee even wore the certain headdress to point certain area. Thus, people were mad at his comedy. The video got 1,900 dislikes on Apr. 21.

Many international viewers have demanded for apology from SBS. They expressed their anger through the comments section on YouTube and also on Twitter, Soompi reported. Sam Hammington, one of celebrity in Korea from Australia also expressed his anger, saying that Hong Hyun Hee was pathetic for doing blackface comedy, AllKpop reported.

Thankfully, SBS responded fast. They made the official statement, saying sorry for not carefully checking out the content of the comedy. They also promised that such an act would never happen again in the future, AllKpop reported.

The apology has been said. But still, many people are angry at SBS since this is not the first time the TV channel did the controversy skit. As the blackface is a sensitive case, it will be wise to have another topic for doing comedy. Many people in Twitter and YouTube still express their anger and they feel disgusted to see such comedy.

This controversy can be used as learning for SBS to check more of their content. Also, for the comedian, it will be to wise to learn the content first before deciding to have one. The comedy doesn't need to be rude or upset certain people. Having long thought before deciding a topic can be good for a better result.

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Aaron Carter, the singer-rapper who began performing as a child and had hit albums starting in his teen years, was found dead at his home in Southern California. He was 34. Representatives for Carters family confirmed the singers death Saturday. They did not provide any immediate further comment. A sheriff's official says deputies responding to reports of a medical emergency found a person deceased at the home in Lancaster. Aaron Carter, the younger brother of Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, performed as an opening act for Britney Spears as well as his brothers boy band, and appeared on the familys reality series, House of Carters.
A Lake Geneva manufacturer plans to add more than 20,000 square feet to its facility and double its employment.

The Lake Geneva Plan Commission approved a concept plan submitted by Plasti-Coil, 901 Geneva Parkway N, a company that specializes in injection molding of plastic parts, particularly bobbins.

After the plan commissions approval of the concept plan, company owner Lawrence P. Austin, Walworth, said Plasti-Coil recently purchased Tri-Tec, a plastic molding company in Darien.

The addition, which will cost about $2 million, will double the workforce at the current plant site from 22 to 44, Austin said.

Austin said he likes the Lake Geneva Industrial Park, where Plasti-Coil is located. He said it wasnt a difficult decision to bring Tri-Tec operations to Lake Geneva.

Austin, who worked at MPC in Walworth, bought Plasti-Coil in 2015.

In a statement on the Plasti-Coil website, Austin said he plans to merge the two enterprises in Lake Geneva but run each as a separate company.

The current plant has 38,330 square feet. The addition will be a total of 20,080 square feet.

According to a city staff report, the proposed building is properly zoned and meets all setback requirements.

Architects Dirk Debbink and Bert Zenker of MSI General, Neshota, are to come back to the plan commission with more detailed plans for the addition and a request for a precise implementation plan amendment.

In other business:

n The commission recommended city council approval of a conditional use permit request by Nicolas Carone, Gilberts, Illinois, to open a hot dog stand at 272 Broad St., the former location of Global Hands.

Operating hours are expected to be 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays (possibly closing earlier during the off-season). Up to five employees will be onsite at a time. No alcohol will be served.

The proposed restaurant would occupy the eastern portion of the building. It would entail a dining area with an ordering counter and counter seating for 18 guests.

An outdoor patio at the corner of Broad and Geneva Streets would provide seating for about 16 more guests.

Carone told the commissioners in addition to hot dogs, the restaurant would also serve hamburgers, Polish sausages and chorizoes.

Will you serve bratwurst? asked Michael Slavney, city planner with VandeWalle & Associates.

Yes, replied Carone. As long as I dont have to go through another level of review, he added.

The commission also recommended approval of a precise implementation plan (PIP) for the first phase of the Golden Years Senior Living Community, at the northwest corner of North Bloomfield Road and Harmony Way.

The projects general development plan was approved by the council in February.

The proposed PIP will pave the way for construction of a new skilled nursing and rehabilitation services facility.

The facility will have 30 skilled nursing bedrooms, each with one bed. Nursing staff will be on-site 24 hours a day.

According to city planning staff, the proposed implementation plan is fully consistent with Golden Years submitted concept and general development plans.

This will be the first phase of a Golden Years senior housing project.

The development will be on 11.5 acres of the southwestern corner of the former Lake Geneva Raceway property about 500 feet east of Edwards Boulevard on North Bloomfield Road.

It is south and west of the proposed Symphony Bay subdivision.

The for-profit Golden Years campus is planned to provide a continuum of care, including independent living, rehabilitation services, assisted living options, memory care, and long-term care.

The finished project is proposed to contain a total of 202,000 square feet of floor area and 171 total residential units. The owners are proposing to develop the site in phases over 10 to 15 years.

Hans Melges, Lake Geneva, approached the commission with samples of the siding material he plans to put on the building at 233 Center St., the former Sign of the Unicorn store.

The commission approved Melges proposal to change the color of the building from green to white and to remove the bay windows and install lifting windows that can open and close.

Melges has said the building will house real estate offices.
Book editor Carolyn Kellogg: My picks for Saturday at the Festival of Books

The book prizes are tonight, and, with Tig Notaro hosting, they will be our most fun yet. Theres still time to get tickets

Im Carolyn Kellogg, book editor of the Los Angeles Times, and for me, the book festival is an amazing time of year when we get to celebrate reading and meet authors face-to-face. And as someone whos been involved with planning it for months, I have to say I love every panel and speaker equally.

That said, I want to highlight a couple of panels at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. You may still be able to get tickets to some; if theyre sold out, theres a chance youll still get a seat if you wait in the standby line.

Saturday

As I write, its the one-year anniversary of Princes death. The vastness of his brilliance is something that Ben Greenman tries to come to grips with in Dig If You Will the Picture: Funk, Sex, God and Genius in the Music of Prince, published last week. Hell be on the panel And the Beat Goes On on Saturday at noon with Simon Reynolds, whose latest book is Shock and Awe: Glam Rock and Its Legacy, from the Seventies to the Twenty-first Century, and Tony Fletcher, author of In the Midnight Hour: The Life and Soul of Wilson Pickett. It will be moderated by The Times Jessica Gelt, a reporter with a rock-n-roll secret.

Also on Saturday at noon: Nonfiction: The Future Is Female featuring feminists from three generations. Lindy West, whose book is Shrill, is a millennial; the latest from Rebecca Solnit, a baby boomer, is The Mother of All Questions; and Betty Fussell, who is in her 80s, is a James Beard award-winning food writer (her new book is Eat Live Love Die) who decided, as a 21-year-old bride, that housewifery wasnt enough. It will be moderated by Joy Press, The Times former book and pop culture editor (I think shes Gen X  which would make it four generations).

The festival is full of smart people, but if you want to spend an hour in the company of the absolute smartest of the bunch, dont miss Nonfiction: Science and Our World on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Its panelists include Sean Carroll, a theoretical physicist at Caltech whose new book is The Big Picture, Lawrence Weschler, who will be talking about his latest book, Waves Passing in the Night: Walter Murch in the Land of the Astrophysicists, and Bruce Watson, an L.A. Times book prize finalist for his biography of light, titled Light: A Radiant History from Creation to the Quantum Age, all moderated by The Times Alan Zarembo.

Rigoberto Gonzalez (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

As book editor here, Ive noticed that the books coming out of New York publishing dont reflect the city I live in. At 4:30 p.m., Ill be moderating a panel with two of our critics at large  Adriana Ramirez and Rigoberto Gonzalez  along with Rueben Martinez, recipient of our Innovators Award. During the panel, titled Listen up, New York: Latino Readers & Writers Have Something to Say, Ill be asking about what publishing could learn from Latino writers and readers. Please bring your questions, complaints  and ideas.
There are many, many interesting anecdotes circulating about Puccinis Tosca  which figures since Tosca is among the most performed operas in the business. James Conlon told a few of them Saturday night in his pre-performance talk before Los Angeles Opera revived its 2013 production, and he had some of his listeners rolling in the aisles.

Here are a couple more: Miles Davis once told me that he yearned to record an interpretation of Tosca with the great arranger Gil Evans. Wouldnt that have been something to hear? Alas, the two friends never got around to it. Also, a Warner Classics recording of Tosca from 1980 features the tiny part of the Jailer in Act III sung by, would you believe, Itzhak Perlman, making his debut as a basso profundo (and hes pretty good).

There are no odd anecdotes from Saturday nights performance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion  and that might be a good thing. It was mostly a night of powerhouse singing and strong conducting, and that will be enough for many.

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Much of the hype preceding the performance revolved around the Tosca du jour, the American Canadian soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, who reportedly wowed audiences here in 2013. She did it again Saturday, revealing the full spectrum of Toscas ever-shifting mix of diva temperament and devout religiosity. Her voice was huge and opulent, the timbre sometimes reminiscent of that of the supreme Tosca of the ages, Maria Callas, with a slight edge at top volume that is appropriate to the character. And when Radvanovsky ratcheted up the intensity in Act II, crowned by an impassioned Vissi darte, she brought down the house.

As Mario Cavaradossi, tenor Russell Thomas might have looked somewhat professorial at first glance, but his rendition of Recondita armonia was suitably fervent and well-projected; the further up he went on the three-level painters scaffold, the better he sounded in the big hall. The imposing baritone Ambrogio Maestri conveyed plenty of imperious power and the usual sadism, but also the cunning geniality that can lift Scarpia a bit above the level of a cartoon bad-guy. Nicholas Brownlee displayed a tremulous bass-baritone as Angelotti and bass-baritone Philip Cokorinos sounded sturdy as the Sacristan.

Conlon said he has conducted Tosca more often than any other opera  this was his 69th performance by his count  yet this was his first Tosca in Los Angeles in his 11 seasons as music director. He brought a sweeping symphonic richness to a score that is so often tossed off casually in live performances, and many passages were given unusual care, like the caressing cellos near the start of Act III. The Act I Te Deum  for me, the best part of the score by far  moved along, but not without touches of grace and revealing dissonances.

John Caird returned to direct his 2013 production, with scenery designer Bunny Christies dark, intimidating, sometimes ramshackle sets whisking the setting well into the war-torn 20th century. Act IIs clutter of various looted sacred and profane sculptures piled on stacks of packing crates illustrated Cairds notion that Scarpia is a collector in every sense of the word, kind of like Bartoks Bluebeard.

Later on in the run, baritone Greer Grimsley assumes the role of Scarpia on May 2, 5 and 7. On the last night of the run, May 13, Melody Moore is scheduled to assume the role of Tosca, Kihun Yoon will step in as Scarpia, and Grant Gershon will take over for Conlon in the pit.

         

Tosca

Where: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A.

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, May 5 and May 13; 2 p.m. April 30 and May 7

Tickets: $22-$374

Info: (213) 972-8001, www.laopera.org

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Hello! Im Mark Olsen, and welcome to another edition of your regular field guide to a world of Only Good Movies.

The L.A. Times Summer Movie Sneaks published Sunday, and it is reliably full of information on movies big and small coming out over the next few months.

Josh Rottenberg wrote about Fionn Whitehead, star of Christopher Nolans much-anticipated World War II story Dunkirk, as well as Steve Zahn for War for the Planet of the Apes. Glenn Whipp spoke to Kumail Nanjiani about The Big Sick and Kurt Russell about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

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Trevell Anderson wrote about actor Demetrius Shipp Jr., who will be playing Tupac Shakur in All Eyez On Me. Sonaiya Kelley spoke to Jude Law about his appearance in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Meredith Woerner examined whats new with Spider-Mans suit in the new Spider-Man: Homecoming and how the mythical island of Themyscira will be depicted in Wonder Woman. And Steve Zeitchik spoke to Taylor Sheridan about his directing debut Wind River.

I took a look at summer at the arthouse and movies aimed at both older and younger audiences. From Paris Can Wait, the fiction feature debut of 80-something writer-director Eleanor Coppola to the Instagram stalking story of Ingrid Goes West, these films have something for many different audiences.

And I interviewed Sofia Coppola (Eleanors daughter) about her new film The Beguiled, a Civil War-era tale steeped in Southern Gothic imagery in which Colin Farrell plays a Union soldier who finds shelter with the inhabitants of a Southern all-girls school inhabited by the likes of Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning.

The LAT Events team had its hands full with the recent Festival of Books, but we will get back to work on our screenings and Q&As soon enough. Keep on the lookout for future events at events.latimes.com.

Free Fire

Having emerged quickly over the last few years and continuing to work at a brisk pace, Ben Wheatley is among the most exciting filmmakers in the world. Along with his collaborator (and wife) Amy Jump, Wheatley turns genre expectations inside out and upside down, making movies that are full of a movie-fans delight even as they maintain a power to disturb and unnerve. His latest is Free Fire, about a late-70s gun deal that goes wrong and leads to an extended shootout. The movie stars Brie Larson, Armie Hammer, Sharlto Copley, Cillian Murphy and others. Its bloody and good and fun.

For The Times, I reviewed the film, calling it ferocious, funny and relentless, while noting that for fans of Wheatleys films, it is a rollicking good time and, more important, an inadvertent skeleton key to thinking about and understanding the rest of his films.

For The Times, Chris Lee met with actor Sharlto Copley, who turns in an outrageous performance in Free Fire as the movies ostensible villain. Copley acknowledged his performance was purposefully pitched to the extreme, as he said, Its not for everyone. When you take a strong position as an actor, its risky. It is what you might call scene-stealing or chewing the scenery. But thats my instinct: to do the thing Id like to watch on-screen.

Reviewing the film for the New York Times, Glenn Kenny called it, a formal exercise in spectacle under restraint, while adding of Wheatley that the film shows that hes a technically virtuosic director whose humor has a bracingly nasty side. Hes also no dummy. Free Fire is an action movie finely tuned to even the most potentially vicious audiences tolerances.

For the Ringer, Adam Nayman conducted an interview with actor Michael Smiley, who has a longstanding relationship with Wheatley. Also at the Ringer, Sean Fennessey interviewed Wheatley.

Nayman has written a book on the filmmaker, Ben Wheatley: Confusion and Carnage, and was interviewed by Matt Zoller Seitz. As Nayman puts it, Id say this is one of Wheatleys greatest strengths as a filmmaker  hes always pushing, to the point of nearly imploding the movies from the inside-out. It doesnt surprise me that some people find it annoying; I find it exhilarating.

A Quiet Passion

Terence Davies is a prolific British filmmaker, a regular of the festival circuit who inspires passion in some moviegoers and a dutiful half-interest in others. It seems that his A Quiet Passion, about 19th century author Emily Dickinson, played by Cynthia Nixon, is worth checking in with for anyone. Jennifer Ehle plays Dickinsons sister Vinnie in the story of women struggling to find their place in a world that leaves them few options.

For The Times, Justin Chang noted: If that sounds forbiddingly austere, rest assured that Davies also wants to make you laugh. The first half of A Quiet Passion, in particular, is a riotous assemblage of drawing-room banter to rival Whit Stillmans recent adaptation of the Jane Austen comedy Love & Friendship, though the line readings here are more deliberate than effervescent, and even throwaway witticisms prove intimately revealing of character, milieu and circumstance.

Reviewing the film for the New York Times, A.O. Scott added, Though A Quiet Passion is small  modest in scope, inward rather than expansive, precise in word and gesture  it contains multitudes. It opens a window into an era whose political and moral legacies are still with us, and illuminates, with a practiced portraitists sureness of touch, the mind of someone who lived completely in her time, knowing all the while that she would eventually escape it.

For the New Yorker, Richard Brody called the film an absolute drop-dead masterwork, going on to say it is one of the rare movies about a writer that conveys the sense that the character, as depicted, is capable of artistic creation at a world-historical height of achievement.

Also at the New Yorker, Rachel Syme spoke to Nixon about taking on a literary giant. Terence didnt want her to be solemn or meek about it, though, she said. He thought she was savagely funny. She saw the world around her and herself with a really unforgiving eye. And when you see the gaps between whats supposed to be and what is, you can be depressed, or you can see the humor in it.

Karl Marx City

For their latest work, documentary filmmakers Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker  best known for their Iraq-set film Gunner Palace  return to Chemnitz, Germany, where Epperlein was born when it was part of East Germany and known as Karl Marx Stadt, or Karl Marx City. They attempt to piece together parts of her family history while also examining the culture of fear that was part of that repressive regime. The film plays out as something personal but also partly like a surveillance thriller, with the filmmakers gathering clues from declassified evidence.

Reviewing the film for The Times, Justin Chang said the film ingeniously subverts the weaponry of Cold War-era surveillance, employing the tools of the Stasis intelligence-gathering operation toward a far more principled end.  Epperlein and Tucker sift through these illicit materials  and forge their own fresh images and interviews  with an eye toward illuminating the truth and possibly even vindicating the innocent.

For the New York Times, A.O. Scott added that the film is a smart, highly personal addition to the growing syllabus of distressingly relevant cautionary political tales. The volumes currently crowding bookstore front tables  George Orwells 1984, Sinclair Lewiss It Cant Happen Here, Hannah Arendts The Origins of Totalitarianism  offer time-tested prophecies and autopsies of dictatorship. Karl Marx City supplements their theories and speculations with everyday facts about life in the supposed workers paradise of the German Democratic Republic.

Email me if you have questions, comments or suggestions, and follow me on Twitter@IndieFocus.
Imagine your boss is Tina Fey.

Now imagine what would happen when you tell her that your mom has the password to your email account.

She looked at me like I was crazy, Tracey Wigfield says. Literally, she looked at me like I was diseased.

When Wigfield made that confession, she was a writers assistant on NBCs 30 Rock, Feys comedic riff on the behind-the-scenes chaos of a Saturday Night Live-type sketch show.

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As Fey tells it, there was a lot of playful judgment in the writers room that day. But it was accompanied by an odd sense of comraderie.

Other people started raising their hands to say, Uh, yeah, my mom has my email password, too, Fey recalls with a laugh. So maybe Im the dope.

Or maybe Wigfield had a feeling her exceptionally close relationship with her mother would come in handy one day. It turns out she was more than right.

Their bond is the inspiration for Great News, the new comedy premiering Tuesday on NBC that Wigfield created and co-wrote. The series follows a TV news producer, Katie (Briga Heelan), whose overbearing mother, Carol (Andrea Martin), comes to work as an intern at her station. Fey and Wigfields other 30 Rock boss Robert Carlock are executive producers along with Wigfield.

I feel like a lot of girls are like me, where theyre very close with their mother maybe too close, says Wigfield, who also appears occasionally in the show as a meteorologist. And I wanted to look at how that plays out when youre trying to be your own person as an adult. How much is that voice in your head your mothers voice, and how much is it yours?

Wigfield is assessing that mother-daughter dynamic a few weeks before the shows debut, vacillating between oh, Mom-type embarrassment and heartfelt gratitude over muffled chatter at Katsu-Ya in Studio City, one of her favorite spots.

She speaks of the time her mother, Kathy, who she is convinced would have been an agent or running a Hollywood studio if circumstances were different, once cornered 30 Rock guest star James Marsden to tell him how much she loved him in 

Well, she couldnt quite remember the title of the movie, but she kept him captive as she tried to figure it out. It turned out she had him confused with James Van Der Beek.

But then there are the near-constant calls, texts, emails and FaceTime chats when Wigfield is seeking advice or just soothing uh-huhs when life gets a bit hectic.

I love that woman, Wigfield says. And she loves that Im doing a show about her. Im interested to see if there are any things where its like, How could you say that I would do something like that!

Carlock says theres a difference between Great News and other sitcoms that pit adult children and their parents against each other.

Usually on sitcoms, the mom comes into the room and its a wet blanket, and its just butting heads, and thats really good for story conflict, sure, Carlock says. But this mother-daughter relationship felt different from what I think you usually see. It makes things more complicated. Her mom is coming to her work.

People who know Wigfield, a former writer on The Mindy Project, are not surprised that the first sitcom she developed rst sitcom would be inspired by her mother.

I love that woman.  Tracey Wigfield, creator of NBCs Great News, about her mom

Mindy Project creator Mindy Kaling writes in an email, A running character in our writers room was Traceys mom.  She was a fixture.

But for Wigfield, its still surreal that she  the girl who used to put on Saturday Night Live-type sketches with her friends as a kid  now has her own series, with her mom as a character.

Instead of making Great News completely autobiographical and setting it behind the scenes of a comedy show (Weve seen it, she says) Wigfield placed the series in a newsroom, much like the CNN newsroom she worked at as an intern after graduating from Boston College.

In addition to Heelan and Martin, the cast includes John Michael Higgins (The Late Shift) and Nicole Richie (The Simple Life) as the national cable news shows lead anchors with a generational gap, Chuck Pierce and Portia Scott-Griffith. Also appearing in the series are Adam Campbell (Epic Movie) as Greg, the young executive producer of the news team; and Horatio Sanz (Saturday Night Live) as Justin, a video editor and Katies workplace confidant.

Its amazing to watch her. I stare at [her Emmy] every day. Im just so proud.  Kathy Wigfield of daughter Tracey

Even though theyre separated geographically  Wigfield, who got married last year, lives in California while Kathy lives in New Jersey  their connection is still strong.

Her being out in California, her being married, and now running a show  shes grown up now, Kathy says by phone. Her daughters 2013 Emmy for writing on 30 Rock is on her mantel.

Says Kathy, I stare at [her Emmy] every day. Im just so proud.

As for the show, Kathy had one stipulation: I used to say to her, just write it like Frasier. Frasier made me laugh.

The most-read Entertainment stories this hour 

Great News

Where: NBC

When: 9 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday

Rating: TV-PG-D (may be unsuitable for young children with an advisory for suggestive dialogue)

yvonne.villarreal@latimes.com

Twitter: @villarrealy
The parking lot of the River City Phoenix medical cannabis dispensary was jammed last Thursday. As a security guard directed traffic, a line of patients stretched out the door of the North Sacramento outlet in a funky industrial neighborhood.

Unlike people who show up at cannabis festivals such as the Emerald Cup  young and looking for a good high  these marijuana seekers were indistinguishable from the folks you see in line every day at the grocery store.

Some were youngish, but many were middle-aged and elderly. Some looked pretty sick as they waited to get into the dispensary, which grosses $16 million a year in sales despite being crammed into only 1,700 square feet.

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Everyone still had to show a medical marijuana card to get in; even though California voters legalized recreational cannabis last November, the new rules dont kick in until 2018. Until then, unless you grow your own, you must have a doctors recommendation to buy.

Since this was April 20, a national marijuana holiday for reasons you should know by now, the dispensary was especially busy.

Like many around the state, River City Phoenix celebrated the occasion by offering treats to its patients: vouchers for pizza and tacos from food trucks outside and a goodie bag with a prerolled joint, a gram of bud and an edible sample or two. (Next to cosmetics, cannabis is the most sample crazy industry Ive ever seen. Some pot lovers even treat 4/20 like Halloween, roaming around from dispensary to dispensary, collecting freebies.)

Have a great 4/20! a budtender cheerfully told a young woman who was buying a rainbow-colored Rice Krispies square.

::

Just as the high-end coffee culture gave us the barista, so has the booming marijuana trade given us a the budtender, the dispensary equivalent of the pharmacy technician.

If a new patient came in, I would definitely ask what kind of effect you were looking for. Do you want something to relax at the end of the day? Are you suffering from joint pain, back pain, headaches? said Shayna Schonauer, 27, who began working as a budtender at River City Phoenix almost five years ago.

Last month, Schonauer became Californias first official cannabis pharmacy technician. She completed 2,000 hours of training  on safety, packaging, patient verification and best business practices  and was awarded her journeyman certificate by the California Apprenticeship Council of the state department of Industrial Relations. Another 35 enrollees in the Sacramento-area pilot program are still working toward their certificates. The program was spearheaded by the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents 1.3 million members and began reaching out to dispensary workers about four years ago.

Shayna Schonauers cannabis pharmacy technician certificate from the California Department of Industrial Relations (Robin Abcarian/Los Angeles Times)

This is an exciting time, said Jeff Ferro, director of the UFCWs Cannabis Workers Rising campaign.

He envisions apprenticeship programs covering every part of the cannabis industry from seed to sale. He is working with educational institutions like City College of San Francisco to create a cannabis apprenticeship curriculum that could be a model for other parts of the industry. (Dispensaries do not have to be unionized to participate.)

In addition to creating a more standardized workforce, Ferro said, apprenticeships will help level the playing field for the folks who have been penalized the most by the failed war on drugs. This will be an opportunity for people of color to really thrive, because its the skills that will get you there, not your gender or color, he said.

The apprenticeship program is yet another measure of how cannabis is professionalizing at a breakneck pace.

Another sign: the unionization of the cannabis workforce. The UFCW, which represents workers at River City Phoenix, has organized thousands of them in eight states.

Unlike many employers who want to run screaming when they hear a union is sniffing around their workers, River City Phoenix actually invited the union in.

I had a real fear I was going to get hauled off to jail, said David Spradling, an engaging 36-year-old who owns the River City Phoenix dispensary with Mark Pelter, 68, a serene former Buddhist monk who got his start in cannabis years ago as a seasonal worker, or trimmigrant, in Mendocino County.

I reached out to the union because I wanted to solidify my staff wages and benefits, so if I was arrested or had to sell, the people I employed would be secure, Spradling said.

Dispensary owners David Spradling and Mark Pelter, right, with cannabis pharmacy technician Shayna Schonauer (Robin Abcarian / Los Angeles Times)

With 100 workers on the payroll, he and Pelter operate the largest unionized dispensary in the state. Their employees start at $13 an hour and get bumped to $15 after 90 days. They receive health benefits, and will eventually participate in the UFCWs pension plan as well. (Spradling said many of his entry level employees are not as excited about the health benefits as they could be, since theyre under 26, and not desperate for insurance because they are still on their parents plans.)

Spradling and Pelter have recently purchased a second dispensary nearby, and have plans to expand to Marysville and Portland, Ore. Their goal is to open three dispensaries a year for the next five years, including, they hope, in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is the biggest market in the world, Spradling said. You cant be an industry leader without having a presence in Los Angeles. It dwarfs everything.

::

When Schonauer, who did not attend college, first went to work for River City Phoenix as a budtender, she earned $9 an hour. Now a manager who oversees two stores, she is earning nearly quadruple that.

Im hoping this program will put some sort of standard into our industry, which we dont have yet, Schonauer said.

Jeffrey Ferro of the United Food and Commercial Workers Cannabis Workers Rising project has pushed for a state apprenticeship program for cannabis workers (Robin Abcarian/Los Angeles Times)

We were chatting in a small, airy space next door to the dispensary called Honeys Hideaway Gallery, recently opened by Spradling. The gallery is devoted to high-end blown-glass pipes, bongs and rigs, which are used to smoke concentrated forms of cannabis. Some of the pieces, which cost up to $5,000, looked like no smoking implements Id ever seen. Personally, I couldnt imagine befouling any of the delicate glass with gooey cannabis extracts.

Then again, I could hardly have imagined that cannabis workers would be unionized now, or that the state of California would put its golden seal of approval on a new class of cannabis industry journeymen.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

More columns 

For more on politics 

robin.abcarian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AbcarianLAT

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California has long been what one expert calls a symbolic death penalty state, one of 12 that has capital punishment on the books but has not executed anyone in more than a decade.

Prodded by voters and lawsuits, the nations most populous state may now be easing back toward allowing executions, though observers are split on how quickly they will resume, if at all.

Related: Inside Californias death row

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Corrections officials expect to meet a Wednesday deadline to submit revised lethal injection rules to state regulators, trying again with technical changes after the first attempt was rejected in December.

The California Supreme Court, meanwhile, is expected to rule by August on challenges to a ballot initiative narrowly approved by voters in November that would speed up executions by reducing the time allowed for appeals.

Still, it is a far cry from the situation in Arkansas, which carried out its first execution since 2005 last week after trying to put eight inmates to death this month in an unprecedented series of double executions. Courts have blocked three of them. Legal rulings have put at least one other in doubt.

California could come close to resuming executions in the next year, said law professor Robert Weisberg, co-director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center, though others say too many variables and challenges remain to make a prediction.

California has by far the nations largest death row with nearly 750 inmates, about double that of No. 2 Florida.

The states proposed lethal injection regulations are patterned after a single-drug process that already passed muster with the U.S. Supreme Court, Weisberg said.

Corrections officials submitted the regulations only after they were forced to act by a judges ruling on behalf of crime victims angered at the states three-year delay. But the regulations replacing Californias old three-drug method are likely to be approved at some point, Weisberg said.

Deborah Denno, a professor at Fordham University School of Law and an expert on lethal injections, was among those who said recent revisions to the states proposed regulations still dont cure underlying problems that can lead to botched executions.

For instance, the proposed rules now give executioners 10 minutes to administer each round of lethal drugs. The first batch is supposed to kill, but if that initial dose doesnt work, executioners would administer four more similar doses, each with a 10-minute countdown clock to make sure the process doesnt drag on for hours as critics said was a possibility under the original rules.

If the inmate is still alive after five massive doses, the San Quentin Warden shall stop the execution and summon medical assistance for the inmate, the proposed rules say.

The regulations still call for letting the warden at San Quentin State Prison pick from among four powerful barbiturates  amobarbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital or thiopental  depending on which one is available as manufacturers try to limit the use of their drugs for executions. Inmates could also choose to die in the gas chamber.
UC Berkeley students who invited Ann Coulter to speak on campus are threatening to sue the university if it doesnt find a proper time and venue for the conservative pundit to speak next week.

Harmeet Dhillon, who represents the Berkeley College Republicans, said in letters sent Friday to UC Berkeleys Interim Vice Chancellor Stephen Sutton and chief attorney Christopher Patti that if Coulter is not allowed to give a speech on campus on Thursday, she will file a lawsuit in federal court because the university is violating the students constitutional right to free speech.

It is a sad day indeed when the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, is morphing before our eyes into the cemetery of free speech on college campuses, wrote Dhillon, a committeewoman to the Republican National Convention for California and former vice chairwoman of the California Republican Party.

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Berkeley officials on Tuesday informed the Berkeley College Republicans and the nonpartisan BridgeUSA, which organized the Coulter event, that it was being cancelled due to security concerns.

The cancellation comes after a series of violent clashes this year on campus and in downtown Berkeley between far-right and far-left protesters who come armed with pepper spray, Molotov cocktails, brass knuckles and soda cans filled with concrete.

Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks said that police have very specific intelligence regarding threats that could pose a grave danger to the speaker, her audience and protesters if the event goes ahead Thursday.

Officials offered an afternoon event on May 2, when they can offer an appropriate, protectable venue but Coulter rejected it, saying she is not available that day. She also tweeted, THERE ARE NO CLASSES AT BERKELEY THE WEEK OF MAY 2. The period is known as Dead Week, when students are studying for final exams.

Dhillon said the university offered eight possible venues for the event students had planned to take place between 7 and 9 p.m. but then abruptly cancelled the event.

Patti said in a letter to Dhillon that university police and officials have determined neither the groups free speech nor the safety of the universitys 36,000 students can be safeguarded on Thursday.

Coulter has vowed to speak at Berkeley on that date.
The presidency of Donald Trump and its implications on a wide range of areas  feminism, race relations, arts, science, children and even writing itself  was a powerful theme during the first day of the 22nd annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on Saturday at USC.

The two-day festival  the nations largest dedicated to books  featured lectures, workshops and discussions with such luminaries as bestselling author George Saunders, former Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, writer and historian Rebecca Solnit and civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis.

On Saturday afternoon, a packed house greeted Lewis and his coauthors of the March trilogy, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell, at USCs Bovard Auditorium. Their graphic novel March: Book Three is based on Lewis life.

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As a young man, Lewis said he was inspired to join the civil rights movement by the 1950s comic book Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story. He went on to organize sit-ins and participated in the so-called Freedom Rides challenging segregation on public buses.

Lewis said he hopes his experiences covered in the book will inspire others to continue the fight, especially in the current political climate.

Weve made too much progress. Weve gone too far, and we are not going back, he said. They must understand that they will be the leaders of the 21st century. Maybe we can serve as a model.

One group discussion  titled The Future is Female  included a panel of feminists who tried to answer an audience members question about what it means to be a woman today.

The panel was moderated by former Times book editor Joy Press and featured three generations of feminists: Lindy West, a millennial who has written about body image and being harassed by online trolls; Rebecca Solnit, a baby boomer and prolific essayist whose book Men Explain Things to Me introduced the term mansplaining to the American lexicon; and Betty Fussell, an 89-year-old who has written extensively about food and said that the 1950s label feminist didnt apply to her as a wife, mother and cook who had an independent outlook.

It was very interesting to me that they were so separate in their viewpoints, said Carolyn Stuart, who attended the panel.

Stuart, an art historian, and the panelists were heartened that feminists of all stripes have been galvanized by the election of President Trump and united in a common cause.

The panelists  and, evidently, their audience  were joined by their blatant dislike of Trump and concern for how his election would affect womens rights and feminism in general. West referred, only half-jokingly, to Trumps election as the incident, and Solnit described the current political climate as one of crisis.

But they were also optimistic.

Solnit said the womens marches, the voices of women who were instrumental in ousting Roger Ailes and Bill OReilly at Fox News, and the coming of age of a younger, multicultural generation gave her hope for the future.

Fifty percent of people under 18 are not white, Solnit said. Their generation may make its own mistakes, but they are not going to be nice to conservatives, much less the far right and the alt-right.

But it was not all politics. At another seminar, author Michael Connelly sat down with scriptwriter Dan Pyne to talk about the Amazon TV show based on Connellys mystery novels.

Connellys popular Harry Bosch series first finds his hero, Hieronymus Harry Bosch, in his early 40s as an LAPD detective. The character ages throughout the books, going from detective to private investigator, back to the LAPD, on to early retirement and then to more P.I. work.

I didnt freeze Harry in time, because its better storytelling not to, Connelly said. As long as he can keep his health and his knees are good, he can close cases.

Bosch is now the longest-running original series on the Amazon streaming service.

Other lectures, readings and discussions included Los Angeles Times Editor in Chief Davan Maharajs Q&A with Lakers legend Abdul-Jabbar, whose recent book, Writings on the Wall, focuses on searching for a new equality beyond black and white; a conversation with actor Bryan Cranston on his new book, A Life in Parts; and Jon Agees reading of his childrens book Life on Mars.

The festival, which continues Sunday, also includes concerts and booths representing booksellers, publishers, after-school programs and health clinics. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More than 160,000 people are expected to attend the festival over the course of the weekend.

nina.agrawal@latimes.com

UPDATES:

8:25 p.m. This story was updated with new comments and details from events at the book festival.

This story was originally posted at 11:45 a.m.
A 5-year-old boy was still missing Sunday afternoon after an extensive search of the South Pasadena park where his father, who was later taken into custody, was found passed out Saturday.

Police first learned that the child, Aramazd Andressian Jr., had disappeared around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, when a woman called San Marino police saying the father of her child had never shown up to drop off their son.

The couple are separated but share custody of their child, authorities said. The woman had handed off the boy to his father in Baldwin Park on Saturday, April 15, and told detectives she had last seen the boy during a Skype video conversation on Tuesday.

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UPDATE: Search continues Monday for missing 5-year-old 

Earlier Saturday morning, Aramazd Andressian Sr., 35, had been found outside a car in Arroyo Park. South Pasadena police said Andressian was arrested late Saturday and booked on suspicion of child endangerment and child abduction.

At a Sunday news conference, South Pasadena Police Chief Art Miller said Andressians bail had been set at $10 million, far higher than the $100,000 originally planned, because of the seriousness of the case.

His story was all over the place, Miller told reporters.

The boys mother gave police the license plate of her estranged husbands vehicle, which investigators matched to a vehicle authorities had impounded from the park earlier in the day, San Marino Police Chief John Incontro said at a news conference Saturday afternoon.

Although the boys mother was concerned and upset, Incontro said, she didnt express directly to us that she felt the father was going to do the child any harm.

Investigators said Sunday that the car he was driving, a 2004 gray BMW, had previously been seen early Friday morning in Orange County. They urged anyone with any information about the car, the father or the child to contact police.

Any information, no matter how slight, may be the key to solving this mystery. Every little detail has its place, Miller said.

Dozens of officers from the South Pasadena, San Marino and Los Angeles police departments, along with the L.A. County Sheriffs Department, searched the park and surrounding area for Aramazd, who was last seen wearing a turquoise shirt and plaid shorts. The search, which began around noon Saturday, concluded early Sunday, authorities said.

Police said Aramazd is 3 feet, 5 inches and weighs about 55 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, as well as a small mole on his right shoulder, authorities said.

Miller told reporters that investigators dont know why the boys father was unconscious, but he said theres no evidence suggesting the man was attacked.

Earlier Saturday, Miller had said that the father hadnt been able to give police any tips about where his son might be or what happened to him.

We [dont] know if he crawled out of the car himself, if he walked away, if he was abducted  we have no idea, Miller said.

Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Capt. Chris Bergner said Sunday that Andressian had given convoluted and not consistent statements.

The boys mother told KABC-TV that she and Andressian had joint custody of the boy and that she became suspicious after her son missed a planned Thursday chat on Skype.

They were in the process of being divorced, she said.

emily.alpert@latimes.com

cindy.chang@latimes.com

Times staff writer Hailey Branson-Potts contributed to this story.

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UPDATES:

6:40 p.m.: Updated with new information from police.

11:30 a.m.: Updated with search ending.

7:10 a.m.: Updated with comments from boys mother.

7 a.m.: Updated with search continuing.

12:05 a.m. April 23: Updated with reports of the fathers arrest.

This article was first published at 8:25 p.m. April 22.
Homicide detectives are investigating a shooting in Monrovia on Saturday night that left one man dead and a juvenile injured.

Monrovia police responded to a call of shots fired just after 11:30 p.m. in the 100 block of West Cypress Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, which is assisting Monrovia police with the investigation.

When police arrived, they found a Latino man and a Latino youth; both had been shot at least once in the torso. The adult victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and the juvenile was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, according to the sheriffs department.

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Anyone with information about the shooting has been asked to contact the sheriffs homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500 or to submit anonymous tips to lacrimestoppers.org.

hailey.branson@latimes.com

Twitter: @haileybranson
Two inmates were found dead inside separate cells at a state prison in Monterey County early Saturday, officials said.

Authorities at Salinas Valley State Prison are investigating the death of Cedric J. Saunders as a homicide, saying the 22-year-old inmate serving a five-year sentence for robbery was found unresponsive inside his cell Saturday morning.

Corrections spokesman Luis Patino said he couldnt yet comment on how many other men shared the cell with Saunders or how the inmate died.

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Its all under investigation, Patino said, stressing that the deaths were unrelated and happened in separate buildings on the 300-acre prison compound.

At 9:53 a.m.  less than an hour after Saunders was pronounced dead  prison officials declared a second man dead. The 61-year-old inmate, whose identity hasnt yet been released, died inside his single-occupancy cell.

Patino said he couldnt comment on whether the second death is being investigated as a suicide.

The mens prison in Soledad, which houses about 3,500 minimum- and maximum-security inmates, is one of several California facilities with a history of violent outbreaks. Seven inmates were injured during riots there in 2015.

marisa.gerber@latimes.com

For more news from the Los Angeles County courts, follow me on Twitter: @marisagerber

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In the dozen years she has lived in the U.S., Farah Larrieux has built a successful career in southern Florida as a bilingual television host and Haitian American community activist.

Elizabeth Fabien enjoys a comfortable life centered on her business as a financial planner in Orlando.

And Jean  a Miami-Dade County man who asked that his last name not be used because he fears immigration action against him  has put his professional career on hold to care for his two American-born children, ages 11 and 7. One child has special needs, and Jean is a stay-at-home dad.

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But all three fear they could soon find themselves uprooted from their American lives and back in their native Haiti if the Trump administration does not renew the special immigration status that has allowed about 50,000 Haitians to stay in the U.S. as their impoverished Caribbean nation coped with a devastating 2010 earthquake. It expires July 22.

Its like you are counting the days, and hoping something good will happen, said Larrieux, 38, who hosts a show on Tele Anacaona, an Orlando-based satellite television channel serving Haitian communities. But in the back of your head you have to tell yourself, if TPS doesnt happen, you have to find a plan B. It gets more stressful every day.

TPS, or Temporary Protected Status, was approved by the secretary of Homeland Security for Haiti after the earthquake. That designation allows Haitians already in the U.S. to apply to stay here due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the countrys nationals from returning safely, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

(Aside from the Haitians who came to the U.S. soon after the earthquake, thousands more have sought asylum in the U.S. in recent years. Some had been living in Brazil since the quake and headed north as the economy soured there.)

TPS has been renewed every 18 months since the earthquake. But it was not renewed in the waning days of the Obama administration.

On Thursday USA Today reported that the acting director of the Citizenship and Immigration Services, James McCament, was recommending the U.S. end temporary protections by January, saying in a letter that conditions in Haiti have improved.

During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump made a brief stop in Miamis Little Haiti, saying in September that even if Haitian Americans did not vote for him, he wanted to be their biggest champion.

Still, his anti-immigrant comments have people worried.

The uncertainty created by the looming deadline haunts thousands of Haitians in south and central Florida.

Its like walking around with your heart beating heavily, faster every day, said Fabien, 30. I have tons of friends in the same situation.

Last month a bipartisan group of 10 members of Congress representing south Florida sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly urging an extension, citing, in addition to the destructive 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti, a cholera outbreak and Octobers Hurricane Matthew. The hurricane killed more than 1,000 people and destroyed thousands of homes on the islands southwestern peninsula.

Among those who signed the letter were Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Alcee L. Hastings, and Lois Frankel, all Democrats, and Republicans Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart. Also signing were both of Floridas senators, Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Marco Rubio.

People are really scared about what will happen if this is not renewed, said Steve Forester, a Miami-based policy coordinator for the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti. It is unsafe to deport these people. The vast majority have been here from 7 1/2 to 15 years. Many have children born in the U.S., he said.

Our hope is that the facts regarding TPS in this instance will convince those in the national security establishment that it is in the U.S. interests not to have instability in Haiti.

Instability could result from the arrival of thousands of Haitians who had been living in the U.S., and the sudden end of an estimated $1.3 billion in annual remittances that they sent back to the country, Forester said.

This is a volatile moment for immigrants in general, especially because of the political climate, said Broward College history professor Rudy Jean-Bart. Haitians recognize that their country is struggling, and may not be in a condition for them to go back.

So the question the government has to ask is: If TPS is not renewed, what are you sending people back to? Jean-Bart said.

After more than a decade in the U.S., Larrieux said she has little to go back to in Haiti.

I was in deportation proceedings in 2008, 2009, and that was very tough for me, said Larrieux, recalling the time when her residency petition was stalled and she faced being forced to leave the U.S.

With her permit to work invalid, Larrieux said, she lost her marketing business, her credit and her car while also going through a divorce. I lost everything, and was hardly able to function, she said.

Getting TPS allowed her to rebuild her life, said Larrieux, who lives in the Miramar, north of Miami. Now I am financially stable, and I have many plans, but have to consider if nothing happens [with TPS], my plans wont happen, said Larrieux.

Fabien, the financial planner, has a Plan B if TPS is not renewed. If deported, she can join her mothers business in Haiti, she said.

Still, she does not want to leave the U.S., where she has lived for more than 12 years. She came here on a student visa and has a degree in industrial psychology from Florida International University.

The future I see here is working to build up my business while continuing to be able to help my family in Haiti, she said. That is my dream. That is what makes sense to me. That is Plan A.

Jean, 50, at home with his children, said that if he were deported, it would be a disaster for my family.

My kids have never been to Haiti. They dont speak Creole, he said. We just have to have faith in God.

Clary writes for the Sun Sentinel.

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After strong showings in two special elections for congressional seats, Democrats are beginning to believe they have a real shot at winning control of the House of Representatives next year. But if they hope to succeed, theyre going to have to stop fighting one another.

The first straw in the wind came in Kansas, where a virtually unknown Democrat came within a few percentage points of winning the House seat that Mike Pompeo, now President Trumps CIA director, won by 32 points only six months ago.

That threw a scare into us, a top Republican strategist in Washington confessed. Even in conservative districts, theres a backlash against Trump.

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Even more tantalizing was last weeks primary election in the suburban Atlanta district once held by Tom Price, Trumps secretary of Health and Human Services. A 30-year-old Democratic newbie named Jon Ossoff took 48% of the vote and almost won the seat outright. Now Ossoff faces a tough runoff in June against a well-funded Republican, Karen Handel, who wisely distanced herself from Trump.

Democrats seem trapped in an endless loop of their bitter 2016 primary campaign.

In a district owned by the GOP for the last 37 years, Ossoff rode a wave of anti-Trump enthusiasm and raised an astounding $8 million from Democrats around the country. He had help from a long list of progressive groups, too, with one exception: Our Revolution, the political action committee founded by Bernie Sanders.

Why didnt Sanders pitch in for Ossoff? Hes not a progressive, the Vermont senator told the Washington Post.

By Sanders yardstick, thats true. In a district Trump won narrowly in November, Ossoff ran as a generic moderate-to-liberal Democrat  a Hillary Clinton Democrat, in effect. A Bernie Sanders-style progressive, he wasnt.

But Sanders brusque dismissal of the Democrats hottest new face produced anguish even among some of his allies. What was Bernie thinking? a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus moaned to me. Thats going to make it harder for Ossoff to raise money for the runoff.

On Friday, Sanders relented. It is imperative that Jon Ossoff be elected, he said in a written statement. I applaud the energy and grassroots activism in Jons campaign. But the episode revealed a problem for the Democrats: They seem trapped in an endless loop of their bitter 2016 primary campaign.

The unresolved conflicts were on painful display last week when Sanders and the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee, former Clinton backer Tom Perez, attempted to stage a unity tour. The official theme was Come Together/Fight Back, but togetherness was in short supply on the first few stops.

Perez was booed by Sanders supporters several times, even though he praised the Vermont senator lavishly and presented a policy message (drawn from Clintons notably progressive platform) not too different from Our Revolutions. In return, Sanders delivered a reprise of his 2016 message, arguing that the party still doesnt get it. The Democrats have not put forward an agenda that speaks to the needs of people in pain, he said.

Intraparty squabbles normally wouldnt matter much in a non-election year. But in addition to Georgia, House seats are up in Montana and South Carolina, conservative states where Democrats need to cast a broad net.

Their strength in the Kansas and Georgia contests have led many to believe that they have a better-than-expected chance to gain 24 House seats in 2018, the number they need to gain a majority. Georgia showed that the House is in play, Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster and strategist, argued. That was a huge turnout for a special election. Democrats are energized and mobilized.

Still, the House remains an uphill battle, in part because redistricting has made few seats susceptible to change. And Democrats have a chronic problem turning out voters in a non-presidential year. Democrats underperformed the last two midterms by about 20%, warned Doug Sosnik, a former aide to President Clinton. Can they change that? Maybe, but just opposing Donald Trump wont be enough.

In Georgias sixth district race, for example, even though Ossoff came in first, he drew only a slightly larger percentage of the vote than Hillary Clinton did last year. DNC Chair Perez noted that at least 30,000 Democrats failed to turn out in the special election. Ossoff would have won outright if 5,500 of them had shown up.

In other words, to win a majority in the House, Democrats will have to do everything right. Running Sanders progressives in every district is probably not one of those things. Democratic strategists have targeted 23 districts with Republican incumbents where Clinton won the presidential vote. Most of those seats are in the Sun Belt, seven in California alone.

Many of the up-for-grabs districts are not natural progressive territory, Mellman said. The winning coalition in Georgia 6 is not a Bernie Sanders coalition, he said.

The Sanders-Perez not-ready-for-unity tour suggests that Democrats have a long way to go before the wounds of 2016 heal. Until then, Sanders and his supporters have decisions to make ahead of the 2018 congressional election: How progressive will they demand that Democratic candidates be? How tough a litmus test will they apply?

They hope to change the party and change control of Congress, too. The choice before them is: Which do they want to do first?

doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com

Twitter: @DoyleMcManus

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook

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When we study racial inequality, we tend to consider factors that affect people while they are awake. Differential access to safe neighborhoods with good schools, decent jobs and unbalanced treatment by police and the courts surely have much to do with the stubborn disparities in wealth and well-being among blacks and whites, in particular. Yet it may be just as important to consider what happens when were asleep. Race shapes our sleep, a relationship that has surprising roots deep in our national past.

African Americans suffer from a sleep gap: Fewer black people are able to sleep for the recommended six to nine nightly hours than any other ethnic group in the United States; compounding matters, a smaller percentage of African Americans slumber is spent in slow-wave sleep, the deepest and most restorative phase of sleep that produces the most benefits in healing and cognition. Poor sleep has cascading effects on racial health disparities, including increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The racial sleep gap is largely a matter of unequal access to safe, reliable and comfortable sleep environments, and this sleeping inequality has a long history. For centuries, whites have tacitly accepted  and even actively created  such inequality. Aboard the ships of the transatlantic slave trade, African captives were made to sleep en masse in the hold, often while chained together. Once in the New World, enslaved people were usually still made to sleep in tight quarters, sometimes on the bare floor, and they struggled to snatch any sleep at all while chained together in the coffle. Slaveholders systematically disallowed privacy as they attempted round-the-clock surveillance, and enslaved women were especially susceptible at night to sexual assault from white men.

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Poor sleep has cascading effects on racial health disparities, including increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

One might think that slaveholders, looking out for their bottom line, would be interested in ensuring at least a modicum of restful slumber for their enslaved workers. The social reformer Thomas Tryon made this argument in 1684 when he wrote of inconsiderate masters who compel the enslaved to work so hard that they were often so overcome with weariness and want of proper Rest that they would fall into the fierce boyling Syrups of the sugar pots. Ensuring proper rest, he wrote, would add much to their Profit as well as to the slaves health.

Yet just as often, slaveholders justified overwork and minimal rest as a positive good, in the process elaborating curious theories about the supposed natural differences between the races.

Thomas Jefferson, for instance, opined that black people simply require less sleep than whites. And while he noted enslaved peoples propensity to drop off quickly at the end of a long day, he convinced himself that a rapid descent into sleep was evidence of inferior intellects (rather than insufficient rest). White people, he observed, could keep themselves up late into the night to pursue intellectual or creative endeavors, whereas negroes were deficient in the powers of reflection that allowed them to do so: An animal whose body is at rest, and who does not reflect, must be disposed to sleep of course.

Louisiana physician Samuel Cartwright, who conducted a widely disseminated study of the medical condition of slaves, also believed that differences in sleeping were evidence of the natural supremacy of the white race. He claimed that black people at rest instinctively smothered their own faces with blankets or clothing, impeding the flow of oxygen to the brain, and that this obstruction permanently stunted their intellectual development. As for slaves who wandered exhausted across the plantation, he considered this a special kind of black-people disease known as dysaesthesia aethiopica. The cure, Cartwright counseled, was hard work in the open air and increased discipline on the part of the slaveholders.

The killing labors, constant anxiety and wretched sleeping conditions of slavery no doubt produced chronic fatigue, and yet Jefferson and Cartwright perversely identified exhaustion as the problem and hard work as the cure. Such cures were often administered at the end of a whip. As Frederick Douglass put it in his memoir, More slaves were whipped for oversleeping than for any other fault. Douglass went as far as to suggest that keeping the enslaved population in a state of constant fatigue was a useful tool in breaking their will. He wrote that, on Sundays, he regularly found himself in a beast-like state, between sleep and wake that made it impossible for him to act on the flash of energetic freedom [that] would dart through my soul. Sinking back to the ground, he would simply mourn over his wretched condition.

What remains of this history is a profound confusion as to the causes and effects of our racial inequalities. Out of Jefferson and Cartwrights pseudo-scientific racism, the stereotype of the lazy black man was given medical legitimacy: Exhaustion was seen as a character trait requiring more hard work, rather than an effect of a fractured sleeping environment and extreme physical and emotional duress.

To this day, opportunities for sound sleep are distributed unequally among the races, while the effects of such disparities are frequently misidentified. For example, minority students who perform poorly on tests, appear apathetic or act out in school are often blamed for lack of will or poor values, when in fact they may be irritable, depressed, or unfocused in large part because theyre tired and stressed. An ongoing study by psychologist Tiffany Yip of Fordham University examines the joint effects of ethnic discrimination and sleep deprivation on African American and Latino youth; her preliminary findings suggest a vicious cycle in which experiences of discrimination lead to poor sleep, which in turn leads to higher levels of anxiety, lower engagement in school and deepening problems of self-esteem.

Some pediatricians, psychologists and public health advocates are beginning to understand that detection, prevention and treatment of poor sleep is an important aspect of improving the educational performance of socioeconomically disadvantaged children. Little public attention, however, is given to the more pervasive problem of unequal sleeping conditions that is borne of our troublesome racial history.

Slave quarters are now tourist attractions, but the descendants of enslaved Africans are still more likely than whites to live in inhospitable sleeping environments. As public health scholar Lauren Hale points out, African Americans tend to live in noisier and more dangerous urban environments than whites; such environments may lead to shorter and shallower sleep. African Americans are also more likely to have undesirable or unpredictable work schedules than whites, which leads to chaotic sleep schedules. Increased risk of hunger as well as fear of violence or of harassment by police make a good nights sleep even harder to obtain.

Langston Hughes described American slavery as the rock on which/Freedom stumped its toe. As we attempt to address the inequities of wealth, education, health and incarceration that persist across the color line, we would do well to remember that these problems were formed by night as well as by day. If we want to close that gap, well have to confront Hughes stubborn rock, which for too many serves in place of a pillow.

Benjamin Reiss, a professor of English at Emory University, is the author most recently of Wild Nights: How Taming Sleep Created Our Restless World. He wrote previously for Opinion on why we make children sleep alone.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook

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As a young federal prosecutor in the 1990s, Rod J. Rosenstein played a key role in the highly charged independent investigation of the president and first lady, Bill and Hillary Clinton, over their investments in a failed real estate company known as Whitewater.

Rosenstein now is poised to take over another sensitive investigation: the FBI counterintelligence inquiry into whether President Trumps current or former aides colluded with Russian intelligence to interfere with last years election.



For the record: An earlier version of this article said Rosenstein took over an anti-crime program in Baltimore called Project Exile from his predecessor. The project began in 2006, the year after Rosenstein was confirmed as U.S. attorney for Maryland.

The Senate is expected to easily confirm Rosenstein as deputy attorney general, the No. 2 position in the Justice Department, on Monday night.

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The 52-year-old career federal prosecutor ultimately will decide whether to file criminal charges, to drop the case entirely  or to hand it off to an independent counsel, just as the controversial Whitewater investigation was later run by special prosecutor Kenneth W. Starr.

Rosenstein, who has served under Republican and Democratic presidents, will be responsible because Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation after news reports revealed that during his Senate confirmation hearing he failed to disclose his own meetings with a Russian diplomat last year.

In all, Rosenstein has spent 27 years at the Department of Justice, the last 12 as U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland. He rose steadily through the ranks with a reputation as a hard-edged career prosecutor uninterested in politics.

Rosensteins by-the-numbers work stood out in the highly politicized, widely criticized Whitewater investigation, colleagues recall.

Hes a very thoughtful guy  and I wouldnt say that about everybody at the independent counsels office, said Bruce W. Udolf, now a defense lawyer in Miami. Hes a solid guy and can be relied on to do the right thing, no matter what the politics.

During his contentious Senate confirmation hearing on March 7, Rosenstein would not say whether he would appoint a special prosecutor for the Russian investigation, as some Democrats demanded.

But he expressed confidence that the Justice Department could handle even the most politically fraught case without compromising its independence. He said he wouldnt have qualms about questioning Sessions or even Trump, if the investigation led to them.

Ive done that before, said Rosenstein, who was part of the team that questioned President Clinton at the White House in the Whitewater case. Ive been involved in questioning a president of the United States.

Rosenstein told lawmakers he had no reason to doubt the conclusion of the 17 U.S. intelligence agencies that Russias government sought to influence the U.S. presidential race through cyberhacks of Democratic Party leaders and other operations.

As deputy attorney general, Rosenstein will oversee day-to-day operations at the Justice Department and help carry out the conservative shift in legal priorities that both Trump and Sessions have promised.

Rosenstein will lead the departments efforts to investigate more violent crime, one of his priorities as a prosecutor in Maryland.

He also will help lead efforts aimed at tougher enforcement of immigration laws, including trying to compel so-called sanctuary cities to share information on people in the country illegally and to hand over suspects for deportation.

Rosenstein grew up in a Philadelphia suburb, where his father ran a company that processed mortgage payments for banks. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Law School, where he was editor of the Harvard Law Review. He and his wife have two teenage daughters.

After law school, he served as a law clerk to Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In 1990, he joined the Justice Department, landing a spot in the honors program for young lawyers that grooms future stars.

He soon joined the agencys top levels, working as a counsel for Deputy Atty. Gen. Philip B. Heymann in Clintons first term.

For me, the grand hallways of Main Justice echo with the voices of mentors and friends, Rosenstein told lawmakers last month. They taught me to ask the right questions. First, what can we do? Second, what should we do? And third, how will we explain it?

In 1995, he joined the independent counsel investigation looking into real estate investments in Arkansas by the Clintons and several of their associates. He was part of the trial team that won convictions against Arkansas Gov. Jim Guy Tucker and two others. The Clintons were never charged.

Rosenstein later led an investigation into whether the Clinton administration had improperly obtained FBI background reports, and questioned Hillary Clinton at the White House in January 1998. No one was charged in that case.

Rosenstein left the special prosecutors office before it looked into the extramarital affair between President Clinton and White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky. That investigation ultimately led to a House vote to impeach Clinton in 1998, although he later was acquitted in the Senate.

After working several years as a federal prosecutor in Maryland, Rosenstein ran the Justice Departments tax division. In May 2005, President George W. Bush nominated him to be U.S. attorney in Maryland, and he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate.

Shortly after he arrived in Baltimore, his office launched Project Exile, a long-planned program to attack violent crime. In the first year, the program looked like a flop because the violent crime rate didnt budge, said Steve Levin, one of Rosensteins top deputies at the time.

It would have been very easy for Rod to end the program and blame it on a predecessor and say, Lets try something else, said Levin. He was willing to take any hits he was getting. He wasnt concerned about himself. He was concerned with the office.

In November 2007, Bush nominated Rosenstein to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. But the Democratic-controlled Senate refused to schedule a hearing and the nomination lapsed. President Obama then reappointed him to the U.S. attorneys job.

As a federal prosecutor, supporters say, Rosenstein forged close relationships with local law enforcement, devoting resources to gritty drug and gun cases and standing with police chiefs at raucous community meetings.

He also handled some notable public corruption cases, including a bribery case that sent a powerful county executive to jail for seven years.

Rosensteins office chose not to file charges in the case of Freddie Gray, whose death from injuries in police custody sparked riots in Baltimore in 2015. But he filed racketeering charges last month against seven Baltimore police officers in another case.

Hes seen it all, so nothing surprises him, said Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, who has watched Rosensteins work closely over the years. He said he was impressed with Rosensteins collegiality and willingness to hash out strategy on complex investigations.

When you get to that level of leadership, you know that every day can be your last day on the job, Davis said. Hell be able to sleep eight hours a night. Hes going to make decisions in the right interests of justice.

joseph.tanfani@latimes.com

Twitter: @jtanfani

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She knew to hold her tongue during a business trip to Chicago the night Donald Trump was elected, and endured a long evening of schmoozing with the other sales reps and executives.

Back in her hotel room the next morning, Lisa drew a hot bath and sobbed.

Then her sadness turned to an anger that startled even her. The 55-year-old mom, never particularly active in politics, went outside, looked up at the nearby Trump Tower office building and flipped the icon of the new president the double bird.

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From that point, there was no turning back. Within days she had organized a Trump resistance group, donned a pink pussyhat and drove 14 hours with a carload of like-minded crusaders to the Womens March in Washington.

Were all terrified at whats going on  that our country is going to be somehow ruined, said Lisa, who kick-started early retirement to focus almost full time on civic activism. Even so, shes reluctant to allow her full name to be used, worried about how her efforts could affect her life and her family.

President Trumps election has mobilized thousands of first-time activists in a do-it-yourself movement like nothing seen on the political left in years. With bountiful energy and some impressive early successes, the grass-roots movement has stunned even Democratic Party officials, drawing comparisons to the tea party movement that transformed the GOP with its unyielding opposition after President Obamas election.

Women nationwide  and much of the movement is being fueled by women  are organizing via Facebook, email and often tearful support meetings around kitchen tables.

The Indivisible Project, launched after Trumps election, has already sprouted nearly 6,000 chapters nationwide, at least two in each of the 435 congressional districts.

More established activist groups like MoveOn.org  which holds weekly Resist Trump Tuesdays protests  are enjoying a surge in membership, particularly in blue states, but most surprisingly in some deep-red pockets, where liberals had largely kept quieter. One Colorado activist said that in past years, event turnout rarely matched the number of advance sign-ups; now it routinely surpasses it.

These newly minted activists  along with other long-standing protest groups on the left  flooded the U.S. Capitol switchboard during Senate confirmation hearings for Trumps Cabinet, pushed Democrats to filibuster Neil M. Gorsuchs Supreme Court nomination and helped tank the presidents plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act  often by noisily protesting at lawmakers town hall meetings.

With old-school organizing and modern-day social media they have formed instant communities that can mobilize hundreds  even thousands  as a group of stay-at-home moms in Kenosha, Wis., did recently to protest Trumps visit there.

We always told our kids theres a lot of really smart people in our country, and we all want to make it better, said Julia Kozel, one of the women who organized the Kenosha rally. But I dont feel like I could say that anymore.

Jodi Muerhoff, left, and Julia Kozel organized a Trump resistance group in Kenosha, Wis. (Lisa Mascaro / Los Angeles Times)

Like the tea party activists before them, many of the resisters  as they call themselves  are newcomers to the political process. And much in the same way tea party activists grieved for the country they no longer recognized under Obama, these women recount being devastated that fellow Americans elected Trump and say they are fighting to restore their own vision of the country.

Publicly, Democratic officials embrace the newfound energy on the left. Party strategists even marvel at the large turnouts that they had been unable to achieve in recent years.

But privately, many Democrats also worry the movement is whipping up a deep-rooted emotional and ideological fervor, much like the tea party did in blocking Obamas agenda. Unpredictable and with no clear leadership, the liberal uprising could prove difficult to contain and may turn its anger  currently focused on Trump  toward the Democratic Party itself, just as the tea party fractured the GOP.

Wounds from the 2016 primary battle between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont still run deep among Democrats, and the protest movement could split the party further between moderates and progressives.

Even Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a favorite among progressives, found herself under fire after voting to confirm Housing Secretary Ben Carson. Some progressives threatened to challenge the Massachusetts liberal in the next primary.

California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein felt pressured enough to hold her first town hall in years early this month. There she was heckled as a sellout from an occasionally rowdy crowd of liberals.

When airport protests erupted over Trumps first travel ban, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) raced to Dulles International Airport to demonstrate his solidarity.

No party is safe, said Jeanne Peters, a jewelry designer in West Virginia, whose Indivisible chapter has started calling its House member and both its Republican and Democratic senator every weekday with a coordinated message, such as demanding a congressional vote on Syrian airstrikes or opposing the GOP healthcare plan.

If the threat from the left wasnt evident enough, a new political action committee, #WeWillRreplaceYou, is raising money to back primary campaigns against Democrats they view as insufficiently progressive  much the way outside conservative groups targeted RINOs, politicians they considered Republicans in Name Only.

Voters who are fed up with the Democratic Party at every level want to see their Democratic representatives stand up and fight Trump, said Claire Sandberg, a former Sanders organizer who is a cofounder of the PAC.

Another group run by former Sanders allies, Brand New Congress, is recruiting challengers for every single House district  Democrats and Republicans alike  in 2018.

Rep. Ted Lieu, a progressive from Torrance known even in Oshkosh for his pointed tweets about the president, acknowledged the risk for Democrats as passions run like nothing he has ever seen.

People call my office all the time, and they want President Trump impeached two months ago, he said. We just have to tamp down expectations.

The groups make it no secret that they are using the tea party playbook to fight Trump.

The tea party had a method of organizing that works, said Hillary Shields, 32, a paralegal whose Indivisible group drew nearly 150 to a Saturday spring training for activists in Kansas City, Mo. Why reinvent the wheel?

Ezra Levin, a former Capitol Hill staffer who is president of the Indivisible Project, helped fuel the movement by posting online a how-to organizing guide that borrows heavily from the tea party. The goal of this tactic isnt just to target Republicans. Its to stiffen the spines of Democrats, he said.

But while the resistance groups share many similarities with the tea party, it remains to be seen how far they are willing to go to block Trumps agenda. Would they be willing to shut down the government, as the tea party did over Obamacare, for their own priorities  say, to save Planned Parenthood or stop Trumps travel ban?

The moms sitting around the dining room table at Kozels house the day after the Kenosha protest shake their heads no, saying they wouldnt want to disrupt government operations or break laws with civil disobedience.

Our endgame is getting people elected, said Kozel, as three of her school-age kids munched doughnuts and played nearby.

But others know playing nicely may only go so far. Many women said that the Democratic Party needs to be more progressive  and they are trying to push the party in that direction.

Among the new activists is Lisa E. Hansen, 51, a former graphic artist who had never been politically active much beyond casting her vote.

And then the election happened, said Hansen, after she and others wrote postcards to lawmakers at her Oshkosh home.

She said she sunk into a depression, spending her days scouring the news to make sense of it all. Only when protesters turned out for the Womens March did she think to herself: I can do that.

Resisters gather for a weekly protest outside GOP Sen. Ron Johnsons office in Oshkosh, Wis. (Lisa Mascaro / Los Angeles Times)

Now every Tuesday, Hansen, who is partly disabled by Lyme disease, puts her walker in the trunk of her familys car and heads to downtown Oshkosh to Republican Sen. Ron Johnsons office, where a few dozen resisters have been protesting every week since the inauguration.

She dials up the senators office on Mondays to say that her group is coming and would like a meeting.

The senator has not agreed to meet with them. But his staff comes out to hear their concerns, and sometimes Hansen brings them snacks.

On a recent Tuesday, more than two dozen protesters quietly formed a neat line outside the office with homemade signs reading, Not paying for Trumps wall! and Dont let Wisconsin values be Trumpd.

The Tuesday protests were supposed to last only for the first 100 days of the new administration. But as that date approaches, no one wants to quit, so they agreed to extend it for another 100 days.

Its given me a sense of purpose, Hansen said. Maybe we should send Donald Trump a thank-you note. He brought all of us together.

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

Twitter: @LisaMascaro

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A bill winding its way through the Legislature proposes a creative way to fund early childhood education: imposing a tax on companies that do business with Californias prison systems.

A tax on the privilege of such contracts, as Assemblyman Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) puts it, is an unorthodox policy prescription. But by directly tying the states incarceration system to its education programs, Thurmond is treading familiar political territory.

The slogans vary: Books not bars, schools not prisons, even educate not incarcerate. The messengers range from former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the rapper Jay Z. Increasingly, the rallying cry for prison overhaul is linked to education.

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Theres a natural nexus, Thurmond said. The fact that we pay so much for prisons  if we had spent just a portion of that on education, we wouldve prevented so many people from being incarcerated.

Social science has consistently found data on education achievement  particularly drop-out rates  to be a strong indicator of who ends up behind bars.

The benefits extend to early childhood programs. A University of Chicago study released in December found that low-income children enrolled in high-quality child care programs tended to commit crime at a lower rate as adults.

The research shows early investment is a better, more sound, more humane, more cost-effective investment. I just think thats a fact, state Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) said.

Political Road Map: What does the state spend more money on, prisons or schools? 

Other factors, such as income, mental health and substance abuse, all figure prominently as drivers of crime. But schools, like prisons, are a major budget item for the state, making it convenient to compare the two.

For Californians, the quality of the public education system has been a concern for a long time, said Lenore Anderson, executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice, a nonprofit group advocating an overhaul of the criminal justice system. It is front and center on the minds of voters that there are better things that we can do with this money.

The idea that corrections and schools were in competition for scarce state dollars was embraced by Schwarzenegger, who grappled with prison overcrowding during his tenure.

What does it say about our state  about any state that focuses more on prison uniforms than on caps and gowns? It simply is not healthy, Schwarzenegger said during his 2010 State of the State address.

Schwarzenegger proposed an amendment to cap prison spending relative to higher education, but that soon fizzled. And while California has substantially reduced its inmate population under the order of a federal three-judge panel, state spending on corrections hasnt similarly declined.

Thanks to the healthy state economy, funding for education has improved as well as funding for prisons. We were able to have our cake and eat it too in this way, said Joan Petersilia, a criminology professor at Stanford Law School. We never had to run the test of whether or not we were willing to forgo prison spending in favor of education spending.

Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, left and California Rehabilitation Center Warden Guillermina Hall, right, tour a prison gym in March 2007 in Norco, Calif. (Terry Pierson / Associated Press)

Education for grades K-12 is the largest area of spending in the state budget, although a recent survey found nearly 40% of Californians thought prisons were the the biggest line item. In the current budget year, the state spends more than $71 billion on K-12 education, around $14 billion on higher education and $10 billion on corrections.

The prisons-versus-schools messaging figured prominently in the 2014 campaign for Proposition 47, which reclassified certain drug and theft felonies as misdemeanors.

Prop. 47, California: Build more schools, less prisons, Jay Z said at the start of a concert at the Rose Bowl that fall. The slogan was common on social media among the initiatives backers.

The measure, branded the Safe Neighborhood and Schools Act, requires that savings from the declining prison population go to drug treatment, mental health and anti-truancy programs.

Schoolchildren are not the primary beneficiaries of those dollars. But Magnus Lofstrom, an expert on criminal justice with the Public Policy Institute of California, said by playing up the benefits for youth, criminal justice advocates are appealing to popular sentiment.

Theres a broader acceptance of directing resources toward a population thats maybe less responsible for their actions  as opposed to saying we need to help offenders convicted of a crime, Lofstrom said.

Thurmonds measure, Assembly Bill 43, is an attempt to turn the rhetorical link between schools and prisons into a fiscal one.

The idea just hit me, he said, why arent we taxing those who profit off of incarceration to generate a new funding stream to pay for the services that we know make the most sense?

Thurmond, who is running in 2018 to be state schools superintendent, is proposing a 10% tax on companies that provide goods and services, such as food, office supplies and reentry programs, to Californias prison system. His office estimates the tax would generate between $110 million and $170 million annually for early childhood education and after-school programs.

According to the California Budget and Policy Center, the state is spending around $3 billion this fiscal year on such programs.

The concept of finding new revenue dedicated to preschool and other child-care programs is absolutely music to our ears, said Moira Kenney, executive director of the First 5 Assn. of California, which represents the states county-level commissions that run early childhood development projects.

But as the bill faces its first committee hearing Monday, it will see steep hurdles with opposition from business groups.

It unfairly targets the contractors that are providing goods and services to the prisons, said Marti Fisher, a lobbyist with the California Chamber of Commerce, which branded the bill a job killer.

Fisher said the chamber supports funding for preschool and after-school programs, but added this is not the way to get there.

But Thurmond said his intent isnt to harm prison contractors.

This isnt per se about punishment, he said. This is just about saying if you benefit from state dollars, why shouldnt you also give back and contribute to helping to prevent the problem?

melanie.mason@latimes.com

Follow @melmason on Twitter for the latest on California politics.

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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.
Fe Inocentes in April took her elderly mom, Senen, who lives in the Philippines, and other family members to Japan for 10 days. It turned out to be the perfect moment for cherry blossoms.

Inocentes shot this photograph of the trees in full bloom at Kinkaku-Ji, or the Golden Pavilion, in Kyoto.

Once a year our family tries to get together in a convenient destination that would allow our 88-year-old mother to join in the fun! Inocentes writes in an email. This year, we were lucky to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom in Japan.

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The Redondo Beach resident used an iPhone 6.

This photo is featured in Your Scene in the L.A. Times Sunday Travel section. To submit a photo, send unaltered original files to yourscene-travel@latimes.com or post them on Instagram with the hashtag #yourscenelat. Photographers agree that The Times may reproduce photos in any format.

Here are more photos of Japans epic cherry blossom bloom in 2017.

Japanese cherry trees in bloom on Mt. Yoshino in Yoshino city, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Mt. Yoshino, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been one of the countrys most famous cherry blossom viewing spots for more than 1,300 years. (Everett Kennedy Brown / EPA)

Visitors enjoy the blooming cherry blossoms at the Meguro river in Tokyo. (Shizuo Kambayashi / Associated Press)

A two-car local train and cherry blossoms in full bloom are reflected on the water in Ichihara, east of Tokyo. (Kimimasa Mayama / EPA)

Visitors enjoy stand-up paddleboarding near the blooming cherry blossoms along the Oka River in Yokohama, Japan. (Koji Sasahara / Associated Press)

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travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel
North Korean authorities have reportedly detained a U.S. citizen, raising the total number of Americans known to be held in North Korea to three and potentially deepening animosities between Washington and Pyongyang at an already tense moment.

North Korean officials detained Tony Kim, an academic who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk, as he was trying to leave the country from Pyongyangs international airport on Saturday, Park Chan-mo, chancellor of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, told the Associated Press.

Park said Kim, who is 58, taught accounting at the university for about a month. The reason for his detention was unclear.

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South Koreas Yonhap news agency, which first reported the incident on Sunday, said Kim is a former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology, a research university in Chinas Jilin province, which borders North Korea.

The agency said that South Koreas national intelligence agency was unaware of the detention.

Martina Aberg, deputy head of mission for the Swedish Embassy in North Korea, confirmed the detention to CNN on Sunday. We have been informed and can confirm that there has been a detention of a U.S. citizen Saturday morning local, she said. He was prevented from getting on the flight out of Pyongyang. We dont comment further than this.

In the absence of a U.S. embassy in North Korea, Sweden handles consular matters involving U.S. citizens there.

The State Department issued a statement Sunday saying it was aware of reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea, and that it was working with the Swedish Embassy. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment, the statement said.

North Korea is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the U.S., and analysts say it could soon conduct its sixth-ever nuclear test. The U.S., in response to rising tensions, has dispatched the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson toward the Korean peninsula. It is expected to arrive later this week.

Previously, the Trump administration had said the naval strike group led by the Vinson was headed to North Korea when it was, at the time, headed in the opposite direction.

North Korean state media said on Sunday that the country is ready to sink the Carl Vinson with a single strike. On Friday, it said it would launch a nuclear strike against Australia if it doesnt stop blindly and zealously toeing the U.S. line.

More than 10 U.S. citizens have been detained in North Korea since 2009, according to Yonhap. Two remain in the country; others have been released after visits to Pyongyang by prominent Americans.

American student Otto Warmbier at North Koreas Supreme Court on March 16, 2016, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Jon Chol Jin / AP)

In March, 2016, North Korea sentenced Otto Warmbier, 22, a University of Virginia student, to 15 years of labor for attempting to steal a propaganda poster from his hotel. He had been in North Korea as a tourist, on a five-day visit.

North Korean state media accused him of entering the country with the intent of bringing down the foundation of its single-minded unity.

The following month, North Korea sentenced Kim Dong Chul, 62, a South Korean-born naturalized American citizen, to 10 years hard labor for espionage.

A Canadian pastor, Hyeon Soo Lim, has also been held in the country since early 2015.

Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson in Washington contributed to this report.

jonathan.kaiman@latimes.com

For more news from Asia, follow @JRKaiman on Twitter

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5:15 p.m.: This article was updated with the full name of the person detained and other details.

This article was originally published at 9 a.m.
For 44 million French voters, it is not just about choosing the person to lead them out of an economic downturn that has left them morose and frustrated, but whether that person also will take them out of Europe and bring about the collapse of the postwar European dream.

France goes to the polls Sunday for the first round of a presidential election that has been shaken by terrorism and could change the countrys relationship with the world.

As polling stations opened at 8 a.m., there was a sense that anything could happen in the next few hours before polls close  even revolution.

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No pollster or political specialist has been willing to bet his shirt on the outcome. Pascal Perrineau, president of the respected Sciences Po universitys political research center, laughed when asked.

We know that around 20% make up their mind in the two days before the vote, so there can be surprises right up to the last minute, he said. We can say what is possible and what is probable; we cannot say what will or will not happen.

Marc-Olivier Padis of the Paris-based independent think tank Terra Nova described it as an all or nothing election. He also was not willing to predict a result. France is heading for an enormous upheaval is all he would say.

Normally, France picks its leaders from one of two parties, the Socialists or the Republicans. This time, in an unprecedented field of 11 candidates, the traditional left and right have been shunted aside.

Two of the four leaders, the far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen and the far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, want to disengage either wholly or partially with the European Union, to renegotiate treaties and to turn away from globalization and capitalism.

Favorite Emmanuel Macron is a political newcomer nobody had heard of three years ago and who has never been elected to any post. The Republican candidate, Francois Fillon, is a scandal-hit former prime minister under investigation on suspicion of fraud and is in fourth place. And the Socialist Party candidate, Benoit Hamon, has plunged to fifth, according to opinion polls.

Far-right leader and French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen speaks during a meeting in Marseille on April 19, 2017. (Michel Euler / Associated Press)

The top two vote-getters Sunday will advance to a runoff in two weeks. The most likely outcome, pollsters say, is a Macron-Le Pen final. But as the electioneering deadline passed midnight Friday, political and market analysts, and normally reliable pundits, were unable to predict the outcome with any certainty.

As we saw from Brexit and Donald Trump, the opinion polls are not exactly obsolete, but have their limits, Perrineau said.

The most controversial and troubling candidate whose election would have the most far-reaching consequences is Le Pen. She wants a Brexit-style referendum to pull out of the EU and has promised to dump the euro. As part of her economic nationalism program, she proposes to close Frances borders, halt immigration and make France great again by giving the French preference for jobs, housing and social benefits. Her tough and controversial stance has captured the imagination of those struggling at the bottom of the social heap confronting stubbornly high unemployment, a fall in spending power and job insecurity, and has put her neck and neck with Macron.

On the other side of the French political spectrum, the far-left firebrand Melenchon, an anti-capitalist, anti-globalization candidate backed by Frances dwindling Communists, is in fourth place in the opinion polls but still very much in the running. Melenchons high-spending, high-taxing program also weakens ties with Europe; he too is a fierce opponent of any transatlantic free-trade treaties and wants a citizens revolution.

The popularity of Le Pen, currently the joint favorite with 23% in the polls, and Melenchon, who holds 19.5%, stems from a rejection of the traditional right and left parties that have governed France for more than a century. If this sounds familiar to U.S. voters, it is. The rising populism and right-wing rhetoric echoes President Trumps campaign promises and the insular nationalism and nostalgia of Britains Brexit campaign.

It is a strategy of pulling up the drawbridge or circling the wagons.

Its an election for France but also one that could have consequences for Europe and perhaps the world, which is why its so interesting.  Dominique Reynie, founder of the Fondapol political research institute

The candidate currently jostling with Le Pen is independent centrist Macron, at 39, the youngest of those running. A former minister in the government of deeply unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande, Macron has come from nowhere, having never held an elected post, and has no political party backing him. He is economically liberal but left-leaning on social issues. Macron, who worked briefly as an investment banker with Rothschild & Co., has charm, youthful enthusiasm and matinee idol looks that have critics like Le Pen suggesting he is all style and no substance.

During a live televised debate among the five main candidates, Le Pen sneered at Macron: Youve been speaking for seven minutes, and Im incapable of summarizing your thoughts. Youve said nothing, she said before turning to the audience. Its an art, huh?

Fourth man Fillon, a conservative Catholic described as Frances answer to Britains Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher, became a symbol of the turbulence of the presidential campaign. A shoo-in to win in January, Fillons popularity plummeted following allegations he paid his British-born wife and children hundreds of thousands of taxpayers money for jobs that did not exist. Fillon denied any wrongdoing but was put under official investigation, Frances equivalent of being indicted, on suspicion of fraud and forgery.

On top of the uncertainty, tensions have been heightened by the threat of terrorism and the state of emergency, introduced after the bombings and shootings in Paris in November 2015, which left 130 dead and 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers now patrolling the country. On Sunday, Frances security forces will concentrate on major polling centers to reassure voters.

In the days before the first-round vote, police arrested two men in the southern port city of Marseille suspected of planning an imminent and violent attack to disrupt the election, and in Paris a suspected terrorist shot and killed a police officer and injured two others on the Champs-Elysees.

In both cases, suspects were linked to Islamic fundamentalism, allowing Le Pen and Fillon to reiterate their hawkish line on crime, security and extremism with individual declarations claiming France was at war. Le Pen demanded Frances borders be closed and foreigners suspected of sympathy for the enemy be expelled.

Independent centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during a meeting in Paris on April 17, 2017. (Christophe Ena / Associated Press)

In a situation that is already uncertain, its hard to say what impact this [terrorism threat] will have, except to add more uncertainty, and perhaps impact on people who were not sure how to vote, Padis said.

In any case, the timing is not good.

Padis said the election could have consequences far beyond French borders, especially if an anti-Europe candidate wins.

If France leaves Europe, its the end of Europe. The whole postwar project collapses. All the alliances collapse. It would be enormous internationally.

After five years of Hollandes socialist administration, unemployment in France is stuck around 10%  and twice that figure among the young  while consumer spending power has dropped, public debt remains high and growth is weak.

The U.S. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported last year that a lack of economic growth was Frances fundamental economic problem even though it admitted the country had an enviable standard of living.

If France leaves Europe its the end of Europe. The whole postwar project collapses, all the alliances collapse. It would be enormous internationally.  Marc-Olivier Padis of the Paris-based independent think tank Terra Nova

Dominique Reynie, founder of the Fondapol political research institute, a professor at Sciences Po and a former Republican local election candidate, agrees the election results could resonate internationally.

Its an election for France but also one that could have consequences for Europe and perhaps the world, which is why its so interesting, Reynie said.

The small gap between the candidates suggests we could have quite a profound upset. With four candidates quite close together, theres great uncertainty about what will happen. We have regularly seen two candidates, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, pull away from the others, and this has been constant in the polls. What we dont know is if this will actually happen.

Reynie said the only certainty is Frances next president, whoever he or she is, will face a lot of problems.

This is a prediction I can make with 100% certainty, he said.

Willsher is a special correspondent.

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Frances far-right leader Marine Le Pen took her party to within reach of power on Sunday with a second-place finish in the countrys presidential election that catapulted her into a runoff with centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron.

The result pits the French-first Le Pen, who is staunchly anti-immigrant and proposes a national, Brexit-style referendum on leaving the European Union, against the outward gazing Macron, who proposes greater EU integration.

The two-week runoff campaign promises to be a battle for the soul of France that will decide not only the countrys future, but that of the EU.

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Few political experts expect Le Pen to expand her support sufficiently past her base to win the May 7 election  but then, few predicted Britains Brexit or the U.S. election of Donald Trump.

The first round of voting Sunday was notable not only for Le Pens strong finish, but because neither of the countrys traditional ruling parties  the Socialists on the left or the Republicans on the right  finished in the running.

We have seen this tendency recently in democracies for the great parties of government to either disappear or become weak, said Dominique Reynie, founder of the think tank Fondapol. We saw this in Greece and also in Italy. The absence of the big parties means the political universe in France has changed.

The words most used to describe the election were historic and unprecedented. The unheard of field of 11 candidates included a former sheep farmer, two Trotskyists and a man who wants to colonize Mars.

Macron, who ran as an independent, led the field with 23.8%, followed by Le Pen with 21.6%. The candidate of the ruling Socialist Party, Benoit Hamon, suffered an especially humiliating defeat, finishing fifth with just 6.1% of the vote.

The incomplete results showed a virtual tie for third place, with Francois Fillon of the opposition conservative Republicans and the far leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon hovering just under 20%.

In a brief victory speech, Le Pen said she welcomed the result with humility and gratitude but did not waver an inch from her tough anti-immigration, anti-Europe, protectionist line.

She called her finish historic, adding: I now have the immense responsibility of defending the French nation. This result is an act of pride of a country raising its head.

Le Pen regards globalization as a savage enemy of the people and a threat to civilization. She also speaks disparagingly about capitalism. Macron, a former Socialist economy minister and one-time Rothschild banker, seeks to harness the benefits of the world economy.

Macron, who has never held an elected position and, at 39, would be the youngest president in Frances history, called for unity in his speech. He said he intended to govern for all France.

The challenge is to open a new page in our political life and to take action so that everyone is able to find their place in France and in Europe, Macron said. I want to be the president of all the people of France, for the patriots facing the threat of nationalism.

The result was consistent with what polls had measured for two months, but with up to one-third of French voters undecided or threatening to abstain right up to voting day, there was a sense that anything could happen.

That sense had been heightened on Thursday when a gunman killed a police officer on the Champs-Elysees in Paris  a crime for which Islamic State later claimed responsibility. There had been speculation that the attack could give Le Pen a bounce in the election, but that didnt happen  in fact, her share of the vote was lower than her numbers in the most recent preelection polls.

In their concession speeches, both Hamon and Fillon urged their supporters to back Macron in the runoff election.

Hamon, running to succeed his partys deeply unpopular incumbent president, Francois Hollande, never really stood a chance. Fillon, the one-time favorite to win, saw his campaign implode under the pressure of a fraud investigation.

The prospect of a Macron-Le Pen matchup enraged some people. Hundreds protested in Paris, some singing, No Marine and no Macron. Police detained three people as demonstrators burned cars and danced around bonfires, the Associated Press reported.

A Benedictine sister of the Sainte-Cecile Abbey casts her ballot at a polling station in Solesmes, northwestern France, on Sunday. (Jean-Francois Monier / AFP/Getty Images)

Maia Cross, an expert on European politics at Northeastern University in Boston, said she believes the vote for Le Pen will collapse and Macron will win the second round by a large majority.

There has been a lot of hype about Le Pen, which has emerged mainly in the context of Trumps win and Brexit, but traditionally she has always come out consistently under 50%, Cross said.

People may say they like Marine Le Pen, but I believe when it goes to the wire they have difficulty envisaging France with an extremist leader and they go for the safer candidate.

We have to remember the French electorate is not the U.S. electorate, she added. The French are not big fans of Trump and are unlikely, having seen the lesson of Trump, to vote in a similar way and elect someone as radical as Le Pen.

Cross warned that Le Pen could be a real threat to the liberal world order if she won.

But a Macron victory would carry its own challenges.

Reynie, who in addition to his position at Fondapol is a professor at Sciences Po university and a former Republican regional election candidate, said Macrons first task would be to win enough seats in legislative elections next month to form a majority in the National Assembly.

With no party mechanism behind him, Macron has promised to field ordinary civilian candidates in the two-round legislative vote.

Can the center govern, that is the question. We have an institutional system in France that relies on the division between political camps, the famous right-left divide. The two-round vote system helps this divide, Reynie said.

Can Macron obtain a major force in Parliament? I think even for him it will be difficult.

It is not the first time the National Front has been in the second round of a presidential election. In 2002, Le Pens father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who founded the party in the 1970s, caused a political tsunami when he received a surprising 16.8% of the vote to defeat the Socialist prime minister, Lionel Jospin.

If the country was shocked, Jean-Marie Le Pen, a pugilistic rebel who appeared barely interested in power, was astonished. Unprepared and without a credible program, he was badly defeated in the second round after Frances mainstream right and left parties formed a Republican bloc to keep him out.

In the 2012 presidential election, Marine Le Pen was knocked out in the first round, when she scored a party record of 18% against the incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy and the eventual victor, Hollande.

Marc-Olivier Padis, research director at the Paris-based Terra Nova think tank said whoever wins the second round, Macron or Le Pen, will have difficulty governing.

They will not have a majority in the National Assembly and our political institutions are made for a majority to govern. If there isnt one, it will be hard for those institutions to function. If this happens, France will lose its energy and its ranking in Europe and internationally as well as its role as a world power.

Having said that, if Emmanuel Macron is elected there will be an enormous renewal of the political class and an upheaval of roles. But perhaps this is what French politics needs. If he doesnt win, the situation is very, very negative. That would be bad news.

Willsher is a special correspondent.

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UPDATES:

5:05 p.m.: This article has been updated throughout with Macron comments, analysis, background.

12:35 p.m.: This article has been updated with Le Pen comments, Hamon and Fillon urging supporters to support Macron.

This article was originally posted at 11:30 a.m.
A gunman opened fire on a police van on the Champs-Elysees late Thursday, killing one officer and injuring two other people in an attack that came just days before the French presidential election and heightened tensions in this terrorism-weary capital.

Islamic State identified the attacker as an Islamic State fighter and gave a pseudonym suggesting he was from Belgium, according to its Amaq News Agency. French President Francois Hollande had earlier said the circumstances of the attack pointed to terrorism.

The gunman, carrying an automatic weapon, was shot dead by officers who returned fire as he ran off.

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Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said the man had driven up the busy boulevard in a car just before 9 p.m. local time. He stopped the vehicle, jumped out and opened fire on a parked police van.

One police officer died at the scene, Brandet said. A second officer was hospitalized with critical injuries. A woman passerby was slightly injured by a flying shard of glass, authorities said.

The gunman continued firing at officers as he ran up the sidewalk before being gunned down by police.

Its too early to say why these police officers were deliberately targeted on the Champs-Elysees this evening, Brandet said. Police are investigating whether the gunman had acted alone, he said.

There were news agency reports of a second officer dying, and a second gunman fleeing, but authorities said those were false. Although the motive was not clear, police were treating the crime as a potential act of terrorism.

The Paris anti-terrorist brigade was investigating the attack. French television reported that the gunman was known to security services and that officers were searching his home in the east of Paris.

This is a serious incident, Brandet said. We are facing a particularly high terrorist threat in our country right now. There is a threat to target symbolic places like the Champs Elysees, cultural and tourist sites and, as we have seen, the forces of law and order.

He said the gunman was carrying an automatic gun that he described as a weapon of war.

Police are trying to secure the area and around. We dont know the motivation [for the attack] or whether this man acted alone or had accomplices, Brandet told journalists.

Police immediately closed the Champs-Elysees and surrounding streets and began evacuating restaurants and bars. Local subway stations were closed, and officials asked the public to keep away from the area.

The shooting comes two days after police arrested two men in Marseilles suspected of plotting an imminent and violent attack in the run-up to the first round of Frances presidential elections Sunday. Frances interior minister, Matthias Fekl, said the two men were seeking to have an impact on this [electoral] period.

Police said they found an arsenal of weapons and homemade explosives in the apartment where the two men were staying.

British intelligence had tipped off their French counterparts after reportedly intercepting an attempt by one of the suspects, Mahiedine Merabet, 29, to contact Islamic State to declare his allegiance.

An unidentified witness told BFMTV he had been on the pavement on the Champs-Elysees when the shooting started Thursday. He said he heard six shots, which he at first thought were fireworks.

We were so close, [the gunman] could have fired at us, but thankfully the police shot him dead, the man said.

Fekl was summoned to an emergency meeting with Hollande at the Elysees Palace. Thousands of police, gendarmes and soldiers have been patrolling streets, cities and tourist attractions across France as part of the state of emergency introduced after the wave of bombings and shootings in Paris in November 2015.

Willsher is a special correspondent.

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UPDATES:

3:30 p.m. This article has been updated with Islamic State claiming responsibility.

2:50 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting, Islamic State claiming responsibility, other details.

2:05 p.m.: This article was updated with details about a third officer wounded in the attack.

1:20 p.m.: This article was updated with details about the attack and the police investigation.

12:55 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details about the attack.

This article was originally published at 12:40 p.m.
A former Mexican governor who fled the country to avoid facing corruption charges has been arrested in Guatemala, authorities said.

Former Veracruz Gov. Javier Duarte had been on the run since October, shortly after he resigned his post amid a series of allegations that included money laundering, involvement with organized crime and various acts of fraud.

Duarte was arrested Saturday in Guatemala and will be extradited to face charges in Mexico, according to a statement released Saturday night by Mexican prosecutors.

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Once seen as a promising young member of Mexicos long-dominant Institutional Revolutionary Party, Duarte instead became a symbol of the corruption engrained deep in Mexicos institutions. He is one of several former governors who are currently facing charges of corruption.

Prosecutors have accused him of setting up shell companies to divert public funds for his private use and of having connections to the criminal groups that have made Veracruz one of Mexicos most violent states.

After his resignation Oct. 12, Duarte disappeared, leading Mexican authorities to launch a global manhunt.

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UPDATES:

12:45 a.m.: This story was updated throughout with staff reporting.

This story was originally published at 9:15 p.m.
The death toll from protest marches and disturbances rocking Venezuela for much of this month rose significantly Friday as 12 people were reported killed overnight in various parts of Caracas amid accounts of looting, tear gas and attacks on protesters by government-supported gangs.

The government prosecutors office said 11 of the victims were from the El Valle barrio of south central Caracas. El Nacional newspaper reported eight people were electrocuted in a bakery as it was being looted.

The additional deaths brings the death toll to 20 since April 4 when a new round of protests were triggered by a supreme court decision that stripped the opposition controlled National Assembly of its powers.

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Although President Nicolas Maduro quickly reinstated the congress powers, the subsequent disqualification by the controllers office of opposition leader Henrique Capriles from running for office fueled more protests.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters filled Caracas streets on Wednesday, a national holiday. Large numbers of Maduro supporters also held mass rallies.

El Valle is a densely populated barrio where 17 businesses also were reported looted Thursday night. According to El Nacional, the eight electrocution victims died after having come in contact with an exposed power line connected to the bakerys refrigerator.

There were also reports of motorcycle-riding Maduro supporters known as colectivos in El Valle attacking and harassing opponents to the president.

Police used tear gas in the El Valle area to disperse crowds, according to reports. Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguezs office said on social media that 54 patients at the Maternal-Childrens Hospital in El Valle were evacuated Thursday night because of heavy concentrations of tear gas in the area.

At least two other residents of El Valle were killed Thursday night by gunshots, the newspaper said. One of the victims, Ramon Martinez, 29, was shot as he was trying to defend the family business from looters. The newspaper gave no details on the death of the other gunshot victim, Kelvin Leon.

Meanwhile in Valencia, officials on Thursday met with employees of a General Motors auto assembly plant that was seized by the government the day before. At an assembly attended by an unspecified number of the plants 2,600 employees, a government representative promised to ensure workplace stability of the facility.

At its peak, GM was producing 45,000 cars a year at the facility. But GM shut down operations at the plant in September, blaming currency restrictions. GM produced no cars at the factory in 2016, according to an auto trade publication Motor. Venezuelan law prohibits employers from letting employees go without government approval.

Mogollon is a special correspondent.

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12:20 p.m. This article was updated with a revised death toll and reporting from the city of Valencia.

10:40 a.m. This article was updated with a revised death toll and news of a planned protest.

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Syria has dispersed its air force combat planes in recent days in response to the U.S. cruise missile strike two weeks ago following a chemical attack on civilians in the province of Idlib, said Defense Secretary James Mattis during a visit to Israel on Friday.

Mattis, speaking at a news conference with Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, also said there was no doubt that the Syrian government has retained stockpiles of chemical weapons in violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution from 2013 that called for their removal.

The defense secretary declined to reveal how many chemical weapons Syria has held on to, but said that the issue would have to be taken up diplomatically. An Israeli army officer told local reporters earlier this week that most of the Syrian chemical weapons stockpile was either removed or destroyed after 2013, but that Syrian President Bashar Assad held on to a residual amount.

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Mattis, on a swing through the Middle East that includes stops in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, warned that Syria would be ill advised to use chemical weapons in the future, saying that weve made that very clear with our strike two weeks ago. On April 7, the U.S. fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles in response to a Sarin gas attack, which killed scores of people.

The Defense secretarys remarks about the dispersal of the Syrian combat aircraft came in response to a question about reports that Assads military had moved its planes near Russian air bases in the governorate of Latikia to protect them from a possible U.S. attack.

They have dispersed their aircraft in recent days, no doubt, Mattis told reporters Friday morning at the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv.

The Defense secretary, the first Cabinet level official in the Trump administration to visit Israel, later held a meeting in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reiterated praise for the U.S. cruise missile strike, calling it a sign of a strategic change in U.S. leadership and policy from the Obama administration.

Israeli politicians and defense experts unanimously hailed the attack earlier this month, arguing that it indicated that the Trump administration would become more deeply engaged in the region than its predecessor and that it would not hesitate to use force when necessary to defend its policy red lines.

However, its still unclear what changes if any the Trump administration is planning regarding U.S. policy toward Irans nuclear program  a source of bitter open disagreement between Israel and the Obama administration.

When asked by a reporter whether he supports changes to the U.S.-led international agreement from 2015 to limit Irans nuclear fuel program, the Defense secretary declined to comment except to reiterate the conclusions of a State Department report this week that Iran is honoring the agreement.

Standing alongside Lieberman, Mattis said that we are pretty confident that they are living up to their part of the agreement the agreement on nuclear issues still stands. The Defense secretary said, however, that Tehrans fulfillment of the deal did not excuse Irans involvement in Yemens civil war and its support for Assad in the Syria conflict.

After the regular criticism of Obamas policy on Iran and on the peace process with the Palestinians, Netanyahu and other politicians in his right-wing government have largely been deferential to the Trump administration despite the mixed messages from the president and U.S. officials on policy.

Given the opportunity to comment on what Israel would like to see change in the U.S. stance toward Iran, Lieberman said that Israel welcomed a decision by the U.S. to initiate a review of Washingtons policy toward Iran, and that Israel is not in a position to give advice.

We are satisfied, and have enough patience to wait for concrete steps, the defense minister said.

Mattis visit comes less than two weeks before Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to visit Washington for a White House meeting with the president, and the defense minister also steered clear of thorny issues on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

When asked if he still stands by a 2013 remark that the Israels Jewish settlements in the West Bank could lead to apartheid, he gave a rambling and confused response.

Whatever it takes to keep Israel secure is where we stand, he said. How Israel achieves its level of sustainable security is absolutely critical, and that includes all the peoples here inside the borders of the Middle East. All of these people are going to have to work together, were going to have to resolve it, and its got to be done in a way that looks out for the rights of all those people.

The U.S. has been trying to enlist Arab countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to help restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Questioned about Trumps hesitation to make good on a promise to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Mattis declined to comment and referred reporters to the State Department.

Mitnick is a special correspondent.

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Islamic State claims responsibility for Paris shooting that kills 1 officer and wounds 2 others

Civilian casualties from airstrikes grow in Iraq and Syria: Why would they make a mistake like this?

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UPDATES:

8:55 a.m.: This article updated with additional details about the Syrian warplanes.

11:15 a.m.: This article updated with additional background on U.S.-Israeli relations.

This article was originally published at 5:40 a.m.
Google's new handsets, the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL, were no doubt a success when the company released the phones in late 2016. However, recent reports have emerged that the brands were not exactly as successful as one might think in terms of sales.

The tech giant had only managed to roll out 552,000 units of Google Pixel before the year 2016 ended, according to The Washington Post. When compared with other leading manufacturers' products, Google's sales for the phone is nothing short but inferior. For example, Apple managed to make 78 million units sold between September and December 2016. Samsung, on the other hand, had sold 2.5 million units of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 - before it was pulled out from the market in October 2016.

On a global scale, the shipped units that the tech giant made for Google Pixel has only received less than 1 percent of shares, The Washington Post report continued. Samsung and Apple, however, have managed to make 18 and 18.2 percent shares, said International Data Corporation research manager, Ramon Llamas.

The number of sales for Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL shouldn't really come much as a surprise. Aside from the company itself, consumers can only purchase the phone from Verizon. This is also a factor why the phone didn't quite live up in terms of sold units - especially it is the first one after the tech giant moved away from its Nexus line.

It is still unclear, though, if the tech giant would continue with this kind of strategy for its upcoming Google Pixel 2. More news about the matter should emerge in the coming months - possibly when the release date is near.

Despite that, though, many tech enthusiasts seem to think that Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL are still one of the best smartphones in the industry. This is accompanied alongside by the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, as said on Droid Report.
Security researchers found out that Samsung TV and smartwatch are vulnerable to attackers due to its Tizen OS. By the end of the year, the South Korean company plans to have 10 million phones running the same operating system.

Around 30 million Samsung TV are run by Tizen OS which an Israeli researcher named Amihai Neiderman said as the worst code he has ever seen. "Everything you can do wrong there, they do it. You can see that nobody with any understanding of security looked at this code or wrote it. It's like taking an undergraduate and letting him program your software," he said in an interview with Motherboard.

One flaw seen by the Israeli researcher on Tizen OS is that it lets attackers hijack a Samsung TV and install a malicious code on it. Hackers can take full control over the device through the TizenStore software.

The Verge reports that Samsung plans to have 10 million phones on Tizen OS by the end of the year. This is the attempt of the South Korean tech company to detach itself from Google's Android software. However, with the discovery of these security issues, they may not be ready to install the operating system to its Galaxy range of handsets.

Samsung Gear smartwatches and phones in countries like Bangladesh, India, and Russia have Tizen OS running already. Early this year, Samsung has announced that it is planning to put Tizen on their smart devices like washing machines and refrigerators.

Neiderman has contacted Samsung to report the flaws he found on his Samsung TV with Tizen OS. The Israeli researcher only got an automated email in response. However, the company sent him another email after an article was published concerning security issues. "We are fully committed to cooperating with Mr. Neiderman to mitigate any potential vulnerabilities," the statement reads.
A.J. Heightman calls it nothing short of a miracle 27 years ago when he made a split, gut decision to begin resuscitation on a premature baby not breathing.

Heightman, with the help of other medics, in May 1990 eventually got the baby breathing again on his own while en route to the hospital. But after leaving the hospital, Heightman said he never knew what happened to the child and always hoped the infant survived.

Heightman, who now lives in California and serves as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Emergency Medical Services, went on with his life. But he often thought about the baby -- born weighing 2 pounds, 27 ounces -- at just 27 weeks gestation.

He received a Facebook message about two years ago from Rodney Barron Sr., of Easton, the baby's father. He told Heightman his son, Rodney Barron Jr. of Allentown, not only survived, but now is a father himself to Rodney Barron III.

They invited Heightman to join the family at Rodney III's birthday party to finally meet his father -- the baby he resuscitated nearly three decades ago. But Heightman wanted to do better than that.

On Sunday morning, Heightman introduced Rodney Barron Jr. to a room of about 50 medics participating in a two-day mass casualty training seminar at East Hills Middle School in Bethlehem. The event was hosted by the Bethlehem Township Fire Co.

In an emotional reunion, the pair hugged with Heightman getting choked up as he told the group the story of Barron Jr.'s birth. Heightman also shared a Christmas card he received when Rodney III was born from Barron Jr. and his girlfriend, Brianna Negron.

The card stated, "I made it" and included a picture of Rodney III.

"I was like, 'Holy cow,'" Heightman said. "I couldn't believe it. It was a miracle."

Gut decision

Heightman recalled at 1:44 a.m. May 24, 1990, receiving a call of a reported pregnant woman in abdominal pain. He was a volunteer paramedic for the Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Co. at the time.

Heightman then learned he was being called to assist another paramedic unit already at the home that requested assistance with what was now being declared an imminent birth. But when he got to the house, Heightman said what he encountered was anything unlike he was thinking.

The mother, Dianne Barr, was laying on the floor of her Bethlehem home and already had given birth to the baby boy. The baby, however, wasn't breathing.

Bethlehem Township police officer Scott Lapare handed Heightman the baby wrapped in a towel and stated, "Here, this is your patient -- just born!" Heightman said he moved the towel back to see the "smallest, most lifeless" body he had ever seen in his career.

Heightman said he knew from his training that less than 1 percent of babies born earlier than 28 weeks survive and those that do survive stand a good chance of having neurodevelopmental problems and respiratory distress syndrome. But nowhere in his paramedic training did he feel prepared to make the go/no-go decision about resuscitating such a preterm baby.

There were many things that challenged him, he said, noting the infant looked much different than a full-term baby. The baby had wrinkled skin that was reddish/purplish with tiny blood vessels underneath. The tiny body, he described, was covered in "fur-like soft hair."

"Most frightening for me was that my tiny neonatal patient's eyes were closed and, because his eyelashes hadn't yet developed, his facial appearance made me wonder if I was starting care on a patient too young and underdeveloped to survive," Heightman said.

"I had to go with a gut decision, and once I decided to begin the resuscitation I knew it would require every bit of my education and every second of my attention. I also knew that his only chance for survival was truly in my hands."

When he heard no sign of air movement, Heightman said he placed his mouth over the baby's nose and mouth and began breathing small puffs of air into his fragile lungs. He used his stethoscope to obtain an apical pulse, which he estimated was at the time to be over 100 beats per minute.

Once in the ambulance, the baby was placed on a blanket on the stretcher, suctioned with a tiny bulb syringe and wrapped in an aluminized silver swaddler to ensure his body heat was maintained. Tiny puffs into his mouth continued by Heightman.

About a minute into transport to the hospital, Heightman heard a tiny grunting sound and saw the baby start to breathe on his own, as well as his skin color begin "pinking up" and his limbs starting to move.

"My partner and I looked at each other as if we had just won the lottery," Heightman said.

'Thank you'

Rodney Barron Jr. said he was touched Sunday in meeting Heightman for the first time. When asked to speak, all he could say at first was, "Thank you" over and over.

Also shown to the group was a news broadcast of Barron's survival in May 1990 -- something Barron said he never saw.

"I don't know, this whole thing has been nothing but a surprise for me," he said. "I mean it's just overwhelming."

Barron handed Heightman a framed keepsake with a photo of himself as a baby with a caption, "In the beginning;" a photo of him as an adult with the caption, "To this;" and with his son, "And passed it on." Another frame had his baby photo with his birthdate and other birth information.

Both Barron's parents -- Rodney Barron Sr. and Dianne Barr -- stayed to take photographs with Heightman after the reunion. Barron Sr. said not a day goes by that he doesn't think of his son's fateful birth.

"I think about it every day and all he went through," he said.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The Easton Area School Board's decision to spend $1 million on iPads for every high school student was years in the making.

Administrators say the lease-purchase agreement will position its graduates for success for years to come.

"This is something that we have really been discussing probably for the last decade, but more intentionally discussing since last May," Assistant Superintendent Alyssa Emili said at the April 4 school board meeting.

The school board voted 7-2 to make the purchase with board members Jodi Hess and Robert Fehnel dissenting.

iPads are more expensive than Chromebooks, but they're more durable and can run educational software rather than just surf the Web, according to Lisa Manzo, the supervisor of educational technology at the high school.

Resident Peter Moran said Chromebooks cost about half the price of iPads when you factor in the cost to maintain the iPads and configure them to run Google apps. The district could have saved $500,000 had it gone with the cheaper alternative, he said.

"That's a million-dollar decision you're making today," he said April 18.

Manzo said the iPads the district purchased cost $294 each compared to $230 for a Chromebook. She said teachers can tailor each iPad to each student's needs. They're more mobile and easier to manage, she said. She said one school district had to hire four technicians to fix the "flimsy" and easy-to-break Chromebooks.

Annual $209,000 payments for the iPads will be spread over five years. Students will pick them up in early August.

Moran, a technology teacher in New Jersey, agreed that the one-to-one device plan is an important step for the district.

Emili said children in the 21st century don't necessarily need to memorize information the way their parents did. That information is immediately accessible on a tablet or computer. Today's children need familiarity with these devices and need to learn how to manage and manipulate this easily accessible data, she said.

"There's only one goal for all of this and that's to raise achievement levels and the success levels of our kids," said Superintendent John Reinhart on April 4. He said that goal must be achieved at the best value for taxpayers.

"Everyone has paid attention to cost," Reinhart said. "That is as important as anything else."

Hess said at the April 4 meeting that technology upgrades won't work if graduating seniors don't have concrete career plans.

"Part of the problem I have with some of this is we don't do enough career development for our students," she said. "We need to start looking in that area as well."

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
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An employee of the holiday resort where Madeleine McCann went missing 10 years ago could hold the key to solving the mystery of the missing toddler, it has been claimed.

Madeleine, of Rothley, disappeared from her bed inside the family's holiday apartment in the coastal town of Praia da Luz, Portugal, on the night of May 3, 2007.

In a 'world exclusive' Australian documentary aired today, former Scotland Yard police officer Colin Sutton told reporter Rahni Sadler: "There is an employee, somebody who worked within the Ocean Villa complex who has some information or some knowledge that may be of assistance.

Meanwhile, Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry, told the makers of the programme, called Sunday Night, that they would not rest until they had found their daughter.

Kate said: "It's every parent's worst nightmare, and it's touched everybody, I think."

She added: "I don't believe we would ever reach a point where we think, 'Oh, we've done everything now'.

"Whilst the situation remains as it is, Madeleine is out there and she needs us to find her."

While there is no evidence that Madeleine is not alive, the programme looked at theories about why, if she had been killed, her body had not been found.

Mr Sutton told Sunday Night that despite Portuguese authorities conducting their largest ever police search, it was possible Madeleine's remains could still be hidden in the Praia da Luz area.

He said it was "just large enough and difficult enough terrain to search" that police officers could "search for years and still not be satisfied you'd actually done it properly".

Publisher of The Portugal News Paul Luckman said he believed there are up to 600 wells scattered throughout Praia da Luz, and that Madeleine's remains could be in one of them.

He said: "[In] five, 10 years time, somebody suddenly decides to clear the well and they will bring it back into operation... they would clean it out and bones would be found."

Madeleine went missing as Kate and Gerry dined at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends. Their apartment block was in sight. It was the night before the family was due to fly home.

Reliving the moment she realised Madeleine had gone missing, Kate said that when she went to check on the children at 10pm, she felt a gust of wind as she entered their bedroom.

"The curtains which had been closed just swung open, in to the room and revealed that the shutter was all the way open," she told Sunday Night.

"The window had been pushed right across, and then I just knew, I just knew she'd been taken."

The search that followed became the largest police hunt in Portugal's history.

"The window had been pushed right across, and then I just knew, I just knew she'd been taken."

British detectives who conducted their own investigation in 2013 discovered that Madeleine's case might not have been an isolated incident.
St Farnan's Post Primary school in Prosperous recently completed the third year of its partnership in the Skills@Work programme in partnership with SAP Ireland.

It has proved a most successful collaboration and positive results and analysis of the partnership to date have exceeded the national averages in all areas, said school spokesperson, Tanya Flanagan.

For the last 15 years, the Schools Business Partnership has worked with schools and companies in Ireland to promote various programmes which address key educational issues.

Liam Ryan, Managing Director of SAP Ireland who was recently voted Most Trusted Business Leader for 2017 by the Irish Times wished the students well during a recent visit to the school.

He presented 35 participating students with their Certificates of Achievement.

He commended the students for their energy and commitment to the programme and urged them to also give back to similar initiatives when they reach the workplace.

Mr. Ryan committed to SAP Irelands continued involvement in the partnership with St. Farnans into the future.

He thanked in particular Ms. Victoria Carroll from SAP Ireland and Tanya Flanagan, who coordinates the project for St. Farnans for their commitment.

The programme aims to introduce senior cycle students to the work world.
The Curragh Local History Group will host a very interesting talk next Tuesday evening, April 25 entitled "Major Patrick Colgan, (1890-1960), Commandant of the North Kildare Battalion, IRA; Internee; Career Soldier and Hotelier."

The speaker is John Colgan, historian and author. It will be held in the Old Band Hall, opposite the Post Office in the Curragh Camp at 8pm and all are welcome to attend.

Mr Colgan, a native of Phibsborough, Dublin, has lived in Leixlip since March, 1969. In 1989, his water-colourist wife, Janet, took a fancy to an empty house where she had charge of a community art exhibition. The house was The Toll House, shortly to be 300 years old, and abutting the long bridge of Leixlip over the Liffey, which was built at the same time.

In 1991 they bought the Toll House and shortly after John began to wonder who lived in it and why. John is a life long researcher, first in electrical engineering, then science and technology policy for the State, so he turned his hand to local history and then family history.

After a couple of articles he wrote a history of Leixlip - 92 topics, 300 pages long, as many illustrations. This was launched in Leixlip Castle in June, 2005, by the Minister for Justice, whose uncle, Col Niall Mac Neill, retired head of the Ordnance Survey, lived in the town.

Minister Michael McDowell, and his brother Moore, spent his summer holidays in Leixlip. John then turned his mind to his own family's history, starting with papers his granduncle left to his Dad, and going back to 1813, at a hatches, matches, or despatches event in St Andrew's, Westland Row, Dublin.

He began doing research on the microfilmed parish registers in the National Library next door to the Dail, and feeling sorry for the many foreign Colgans who could only spend a day there, he decided to compile a data base of all the Colgan material he could find, to make it easier for them.

This led him to find a young man, Patrick J Colgan, from Maynooth, who had been long forgotten and neglected - mainly because his PR and connections were was not as good as Domnall Ua Buachalla (son of a Cork man), and he left Maynooth in 1920, and had no next generation relatives there, on his way to the Curragh Camp and after his retirement at the rank of Major - now called Lieutenant Colonel - from the Army to run a hotel in Killarney.

John also piloted a DNA project for male Colgans and now has about 33 tested and will mention these in his talk. He is married with two adult children and four grandchildren.

As well as finding time for Leixlip Community Council, which he chaired from its inception, the Town Council which he helped establish, he also chaired the Consumers Association of Ireland, stood for the Dail and County Council and founded the Campaign to Separate Church and State in 1987. He has worked for three multinationals, lectured for 10 years, and advised to government for another decade.
My love of horse racing was with me from an early age.

Growing up living near Gilltown Stud, where some of the best race horses of the world are retired, it was practically a foregone conclusion that the racing passion would come my way, and that it certainly did.

National Hunt racing was always my preference compared to the Flat. A regular at Punchestown Festival, which I have been attending for since 1995.

Like any racing fan though, Cheltenham was the Olympics of the National Hunt Racing.

One of my fondest races at Cheltenham was What's Up Boy's, the grey horse ridden by Richard Johnson bolting up, having come from the far parish, winning at 33/1, but it was the way he won that excited me.

My favourite horse of the Cheltenham Festival was Ingles Drever who has won three World Hurdles in such work man like and brilliant fashion. By the middle of the race he would look to be in trouble but always improved up the famous hill.

My mother attended Cheltenham twice with her employer the Independent News & Media, as they sponsored the Queen Mother Chase, which the great Jessica Harrington who trained Moscow Flyer dominated.

To say I was jealous was an understatement.

My mother walked on the course that day also and brought me home the race card and that was like a Christmas present in March for me.

Fast forward to Cheltenham 2017 and when I received my Christmas present from my girlfriend which was two days at the Cheltenham Festival, I was ecstatic, the dream was about to become a reality.

Dublin airport at 6.30 am and the flight to Birmingham was choc-a-bloc with racegoers; all with that vital ingredient, the Racing Post as the search for winners was suddenly top of the agenda.

The flight was short we landed in Birmingham as the excitement intensified by the minute.

I got suited and booted at the hotel and we travelled by bus from the train station to the racecourse passing through Cheltenham town which was a hive of activity, everyone dressed for the occasion.

As we were travelling in style, on a double decker, the first sight of Cheltenham Racecourse was the big blip in the sky.

Twenty-two years waiting and I arrived at the enclosure beside the beautifully crafted parade ring.

The buzz around was simply overpowering as the first race about to commence.

Ihad heard that the roar from the punters before the opener was deafening and I can honestly say it lived up to expectations, it sent shivers down the spine.

Many of the people were Irish and when a Naas guy passes you it really shows it's a small world.

The crowd was enormous, it took a while to get served a drink, but overall it was easy to get around and surprisingly quite comfortable to move.

The races are frantic and time (and races) seem to literally fly by.

The weather certainly helped and Day 2 was very much a repeat, great fun, great racing and a great buzz especially as the Irish horses were cleaning up.

One down point was the fact that Douvan failed to perform on the day, the banker of the meeting in many folk's eyes.

I watched that race beside the Parade Ring and it was as if someone had passed away, not to mention the many accumulator's going down the suwannee river, including yours truly. The news that Douvan had picked up an injury and would re-appear next season certainly was great to hear, even allowing for the many accumulators going up in smoke.

With this trip being my first at Cheltenham, but certainly not my last, the travelling, the buzz, the excitement, was all very exhausting but most brilliant.

I loved every minute of Cheltenham 2017, it lived up to all my expectations and more.

Now we have Punchestown and what a week in store; one of my favourite week's of the year.

Undoubtedly the Pun-chestown Festival is Ireland's Olympics of the National Hunt season.
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The first Scottish opinion polls since the General Election was announced have been published and theres mixed news for the Liberal Democrats.

Panelbase has us on just 5% (but thats still up since January) and Survation has us up 1 from the 2015 election at 9%. If we go up at the rate that we have done in every election other than 2015, we could be on for a fair few gains up here. Edinburgh West and North East Fife, both gained from the SNP at Holyrood last year are the top targets but seats like Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross and Charles Kennedys old seat of Ross, Skye and Lochaber are definitely in play. Winning back those highland heartlands from the SNP would be a marvellous thing and it is eminently doable.

On a UK level, weve gone up 4 points to 12% in a YouGov poll.

And there has been another important development:

For the first time in our polling average models since December 2012, the Liberal Democrats are in third place, above UKIP.  Britain Elects (@britainelects) April 22, 2017

UKIP are on the way down, and they certainly dont seem to have learned any lessons about candidate approval, if one of their Glasgow council candidates is anything to go by. Its quite something when being in favour of the guillotine and flogging are the mildest of your bizarre views. From the Herald:

She said: I am not anti-gay  but how can you call that a community? Sex life is everybodys private affair. You do not come out and declare openly. Do you think I am going all over the city and saying my idea of a sexually-attractive creature is a gorilla? When I go to a zoo and I see a gorilla my hormones go absolutely crazy. I find a gorilla very attractive. The mother-of-four was also adamant that mothers should stay at home and look after their young children, adding that councils should withdraw nursery funding. She said: When you have very small children it is advisable that you look after them yourself. If a woman is a dentist or a doctor, or in any career important to the community, we should do our best to get her back to work as soon as possible, because such careers shouldnt really be interrupted. But if somebody sits in an office at a computer, I think her place is at home until the children are bigger.

This week has seen us rise from the 7-8% levels where we have languished for too long to some consistent 11-12% showings. Id rather see a slow and steady increase than a massive surge that evaporated.

Tim Farron is playing a blinder in the media at the moment. This morning hes on Peston on Sunday at 10 am on ITV/STV.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
The Isle of Wight County Press reports:

A FRESH face will be taking the reigns in the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats fight for parliament on June 8.

Nicholas Belfitt, 24, of Shanklin, was selected as the parliamentary candidate at a local party meeting today Saturday.

Mr Belfitt is the youngest parliamentary candidate on the Island but was Isle of Wight Lib Dem vice chair for two years, before being elected as party chair last autumn.

He said: I am deeply honoured on being selected for a chance to represent my home, but now the real work begins.

This is now the time for the Island to be offered a true voice in Parliament, one that will finally fight tooth and nail for our Island.

I am going to take Island issues straight to the heart of government. People are tired of the established groups, they need know this isnt a re-run of 2015, but a time for real change.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has declared that momentum has given the Liberal Democrats the upper hand in the snap general election.

Since the announcement on Tuesday of a snap election 8,000 people have joined the party with membership more than double than what it was before the election in 2015. The party also raised 500,000 in just 48 hours.

In an email to members, Willie wrote:
The Telegraph reports:

The Liberal Democrats have drawn up a hit-list of pro-EU Tory MPs who they want to unseat as they plot a Brexit purge for the election campaign.

The Telegraph can reveal that four Conservatives in parts of the country which most voted to stay in the European Union have been singled out.

Among those targeted will be Tania Mathias MP, whose Twickenham constituency overwhelmingly backed staying in the EU at last years referendum.

According to Lib Dem party analysis just one in three voters in Twickenham wanted Brexit  something the Tories are now promising to deliver at this election.

The Lib Dems will also seek to challenge Nicola Blackwood, the Conservative MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, along with Anne Main, the MP for St Albans and Ben Howlett, MP for Bath. All three are going into the election supporting Brexit despite a minority of their constituents voting for Brexit at the EU referendum.
FORMER MEP and minister, Tom ODonnell was the guest of honour at Easter Sundays Sean Wall commemoration.

Mr Wall, one of the most significant commanders in the region during the War of Independence, is remembered in Bruff every Sunday.

Born in Ardykeohane, Bruff in 1888, he was killed in action following an attack by a raiding party on a house in Annacarty in May 1921. He was married with a young family.

Around 1944, a committee of former IRA members set about erecting the memorial, which was finally unveiled in October 1952 by President Sean T O'Kelly.

The ceremony on Easter Sunday has been running for decades. Mr ODonnells nephew, Cllr Bill ODonnell said his uncle was honoured and delighted to be asked to lay the wreath at the annual ceremony.

Mr ODonnell, now aged 90, served as TD for Limerick East from 1961 until 1987 and was Minister for the Gaeltacht from 1973-1977. He was an MEP for Munster from 1979 to 1987.

Cllr ODonnell said, like every year, it was a brief but dignified ceremony.

It was a tale of three Toms, as Tom Meaney, chairman of the Sean Wall committee, spoke and Tom Bulfin read the proclamation.

Mr Meaney touched on the success of last years ceremonies in Bruff and their erection of large portraits of the16 men executed as a result of the Easter Rising. These stood for eight months without anybody laying a finger on them.

It was a great sign of respect, said Mr Meaney.

Fr John Daly said a decade of the rosary before Christy OConnor, and his comrades in the ONE, raised the Irish flag, played The Last Post and the national anthem.

Cllr ODonnell said the former TD and minister, Michael J Noonan was fondly remembered on Easter Sunday in Bruff.

He was the driving force behind the Sean Wall memorial ceremony for many years, said Cllr ODonnell.

In 2012, Mr Noonan said: The years may dull the memories of the enormity of the fight, and the pain suffered, borne with courage.

He would be proud to see the Sean Wall committee and the people of Bruff continuing to honour those who have gone before us but have shaped our lives today.

Cllr ODonnell praised the hard working committee for their efforts in keeping the monument and its surroundings looking immaculate all year around.

Mr Wall was also chairman of the Limerick County Council and had a significant involvement in several developments including creameries in the county.
May 1, 2021, 2 PM

An April 22-23 postmark from Comstock, Mich., commemorating the 100th anniversary of the United States entry into World War I.

Postmark Pursuit  By Michael Baadke

The United States entered World War I when Congress declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, almost two years after the Great War began on the European continent and at sea.

A postmark commemorating the U.S. entry into the war is offered by the U.S. Postal Service in association with the April 22-23 stamp show held by the Kalamazoo Stamp Club in Kalamazoo, Mich.

The artwork on the square or diamond-shape postmark shows a WWI-era biplane in flight with rocky peaks in the background. Three stars are featured in the upper point of the postmark. The inscription commemorates U.S. ENTRY WW1, and 100th anniversary station in Comstock, Mich.

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At this time, the U.S. Postal Service has not revealed any plans to issue postage stamps commemorating the 100th anniversary of U.S. involvement in the First World War.

Collectors should be able to find past U.S. stamps that fit well with this commemorative postmark, including the 50 Eddie Rickenbacker stamp issued in 1995 (Scott 2998), the 55 Billy Mitchell stamp issued in 1999 (3330), or stamps from the 2000 Distinguished Soldiers set (3393-3396), the 2005 Distinguished Marines set (3961-3964), or the 2010 Distinguished Sailors set (4440-4443). Stamps from these later sets would require additional postage to make up the current 49 letter rate, as would the 22 World War I Veterans stamp issued in 1985 (2154).

To obtain the U.S. Entry into World War I postmark, address your request to:

100th ANNIVERSARY Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Comstock, MI 49041-9998, April 22-23.

The following postmarks are also available.

BICENTENNIAL Station, Postmaster, 180 Canada St., Lake George, NY 12845-9998, April 15. (Ships wheel, Lake George Steamboat Company.)

POW WOW Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Hollister, NC 27844-9998, April 15. (Tribal seal, Seal of the Haliwa Saponi Tribe, trees, Celebrating 52 years.)

DOOLITTLE RAID ON TOKYO 75th ANNIVERSARY Station, Postmaster, 1111 E. Fifth St., Suite A210, Dayton, OH 45401-9998, April 18. (B-25 bomber in front of star insignia, 1942.)

 Postmaster, 307 W. Van Matre Ave., Eglin AFB, FL 32542-9998, April 18.

CHEYENNE-ARAPAHO OLD SETTLERS REUNION Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Cheyenne, OK 73628-9998, April 19-22. (Oval postmark with covered wagon, Oklahoma state map outline, Cheyenne Arapaho Land Run, 125th anniversary, drum with feathers.)

CERAPEX Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-9998, April 22. (Farmer cutting field with tool.)

NEW CASTLE, DE DELPEX Station, Postmaster, Box 7500, Wilmington, DE 19803-9998, April 22. (Text only, JFK*100 Centennial Celebration.)

100th ANNIVERSARY PILGRIMAGE Station, Postmaster, 1 Shore Ave., Oyster Bay, NY 11771-9998, April 22. (Boy Scout insignia, Theodore Roosevelt Council, 1917-2017, portrait of Roosevelt.)

The following postmarks have been granted 30-day extensions.

59th ANNUAL MAPLE FESTIVAL Station, Postmaster, Route 250, Monterey, VA 24465-9998, March 11-12 and March 18-19. (Text within maple leaf outline.)

USS CARL VINSON CVN-70 35th ANNIVERSARY Station, Postmaster, Box 719, Norfolk, VA 23501-9998, March 13. (USS Carl Vinson insignia includes eagle, anchors; Navy wings insignia.)

DOROTHY HEIGHT Station, Braddock, PA, Retail, 1001 California Ave., Room 2036, Pittsburgh, PA 15290-9998, March 21. (Floral pattern, Dorothy Height signature).

 Jamaica, NY Station, Postmaster, 164-100 Baisley Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11434-9998, March 23.

 Brooklyn, NY Station, Postmaster, 1360 Fulton St., Suite 1, Brooklyn, NY 11216-9998, March 30.

Instructions for requesting postmarks

Linns subscribers can see complete instructions for requesting postmarks here.
May 2, 2021, 5 PM

This miniature sheet of four stamps pictures sculptor Arnold Machin on a first-class stamp. The sheet was issued by Great Britains Royal Mail in 2007 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Machin stamps.

Editor's Insights  By Donna Houseman

Larry Rosenblum has begun a series of articles on Great Britains Machin definitive stamps. The Great Britain column published April 21 on Linns.com and Rosenblums next two columns celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Machin series.

The definitives, one of the longest-running series of regular stamp issues, feature British artist Arnold Machins sculpted portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

Machin (pronounced MAY-chin) was born Sept. 30, 1911, in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, to a family of potters.

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He was an apprentice potter and attended various art schools, including the Royal College of Art, where he later taught.

He became a member of the Royal Academy of Art in 1947.

In 1964, the queen approved Machins portrait of the monarch for new coins in anticipation of the United Kingdoms adoption of decimal currency in 1971.

Britains decimal coins from 1968 to 1984 show Machins royal portrait on the obverse. Other British coins also feature his work.

Linns Introduction to the Stamps of Great Britain by David Alderfer and Rosenblum provides an excellent introduction to the Machin definitive stamps. The authors explain: Arnold Machin, sculptor at the Royal College of Art, modeled a plaster cast of the profile of the queen. The cast is shown in the book.

In its obituary for Arnold Machin, the New York Times stated, The longevity of the Machins, Sir Arnold once speculated, was due to the fact that the profile portrait was derived not from a photograph of the Queen but from a photograph of a delicately lit sculpture, whose subtle highlights and shadows produce a timeless cameo effect.

Achieving that subtlety was not easy. As Sir Arnold recalled, when studio lighting failed to produce the desired effect, the sculpture was taken outside on a foggy day and photographed in a parking lot.

Though the design is simple, the Machin definitives are a complicated, fascinating series for stamp collectors. The Machins have undergone numerous changes through the years, and offer many challenges for the collector who is not faint of heart.

Rosenblum has proven himself up to the challenge, and we are pleased to present his tribute to this stamp series that is still going strong after a half century.
Film Review: The Zookeepers Wife An incredible chapter from Nazi-invaded Poland is dulled by familiar storytelling /how-to-lounge/movies-tv/film-review-the-zookeeper-s-wife-111646834717038.html 111646834717038 story

The Zookeepers Wife opens with a montage of an assortment of wondrous animals in the Warsaw Zoo and soon, cuts to a party at a private residence. A party with the formal grace of an army gathering but full of people who care for animals -- the zoo director Jan Zabinski (Johan Heldenbergh), and his wife Antonina (Jessica Chastain) and German zoologist Lutz Heck (Daniel Bruhl). Everything seems to be going smooth. People, with drinks in their hands, are chatting and laughing, until someone drops Hitlers name. We are in August, 1939, the guests reminds us, a month before the Nazis take over Poland, which means that Hitlers army will take over the zoo as well. And its a great moment which foreshadows the peculiar event. Will they needlessly kill animals? They cant be ghettoised, like the Jews, because they are, well, already caged.

Turns out that the Nazi idea of racial purity and Aryan aggressive masculinity extended to animals too; we see feebler creatures like birds and monkeys being mercilessly killed. The Zookeepers Wife is adapted from a book, which in turn based on Antoninas diary, and Heck, in real life, who was a Nazi stooge, supplied lion cubs to officers and other more wilder animals to the zoos in Germany. But he is known more for his obsession with bringing back aurochs -- a type of primeval wild cattle which pure-blood Germans used to hunt for game -- by selective breeding within existing domestic animals. By going back to hunting aurochs, Heck and his compatriots theorized, would enable Germans to reconnect with their roots and thus help in the Nazi propaganda.

Heck is a fascinating character  more fascinating than the zookeeper and his wife -- and the film, directed by Niki Karo, thankfully, gives him the footage he deserves. Bruhl, gifted with an interesting, puckish face, effectively plays a man who wants to gain full control but cant help with the vulnerabilities of the human heart. He is interested in Antonina and the films most engaging portions are the dynamics between him and the Zabinskis, who are the opposite of him, selfless volunteers in German-occupied Poland with incredible compassion for humans and animals alike. Unlike Heck, they stick to their principles after the shift in power. The fact that Heck thinks he is as a superior zoologist to Jan amps up the tension between them.

But the movies unique, metaphoric central premise -- of humans hiding in cages meant for animals at the Zabinskis basement -- doesnt achieve its fruition. The other rescues" dont have the necessary dramatic tension either. The staid, period-piece-treatment doesnt help. As a result, a large part of The Zookeepers Wife feels like a familiar WW II movie about Nazi defiance.

It isnt a bad film. It isnt even that you dont care for the characters. The story is powerful in itself to warrant that. But it is not good enough to sustain our interest over its 127 minutes run time, especially since we know where its heading. Part of the reason could be the predictability of Antonina  who does everything we expect from a noble, well-intentioned character such as her.

Stories such as this need to be told to the larger world and movies, by virtue of being a mass medium, do a great service in that respect  I was unaware of this episode in Nazi history. But when you come out of the theatre more thrilled with the real story than the film itself, the latter owes much more to the former and not the other way around.
DES MOINES  What will Iowa Republicans do for an encore?

Given complete state lawmaking control by voters in the 2016 elections, Republicans used the recently completed 2017 session of the Iowa Legislature to enact several significant, conservative laws.

Over the course of roughly four months, Republicans enacted measures that dramatically reshaped state laws regarding gun and abortion regulations, distracted driving enforcement, the amount of compensation workers can receive from lawsuits and the way public employees bargain for wages and benefits, just to name a few.

But Republicans aren't done yet.

They will return to the Iowa Legislature in 2018 with more on their conservative agenda and at least one more year of that same unfettered lawmaking control, albeit likely with a new governor.

Statehouse Republicans seem to agree the top priority will be to lower taxes, most likely on working Iowans incomes.

I think probably, realistically, the next step to continue to make Iowa competitive is comprehensive tax reform, said Kim Reynolds, who for now is Iowas lieutenant governor but soon will step into the chief executives role when Gov. Terry Branstad resigns to become the U.S. ambassador to China.

You look at a lot of states, thats where theyre really focusing on, Reynolds said. So I think that really needs to be the next thing that we need to look at to keep Iowa competitive.

Republicans wanted to tackle tax reform immediately under their newfound authority  with a GOP governor and majorities in the House and Senate, they have complete lawmaking control at the state Capitol for the first time in two decades.

But the state budget did not cooperate. Lawmakers were forced to cut from the current fiscal years spending and wound up with less state money than they previously expected to be available for the coming fiscal year, which starts July 1. Any tax cut would have removed revenue from an already-shrinking budget pie.

In other words, Republicans hoped to cut taxes this year, but they couldnt afford it.

To me, the biggest disappointment is we werent able to do major tax reform, said Senate President Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny. Thats something weve been talking about for six or seven years. I ran on that, Ive talked about it in newsletters for the last six years. Im disappointed that didnt happen, but Im hopeful that we can put forward a really good plan and come back next session and really make a big difference on taxes in this state.

One of Whitvers colleagues in the Senate already has introduced such a plan.

Sen. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, chairman of the Senates tax policy committee, has unveiled a reform plan that would cut taxes to the tune of $500 million over the next five years, reduce the number of income brackets and phase out federal deductibility.

Feenstra acknowledged the money is too tight to implement his proposal now, but he hopes it gets a chance during next years session.

We believe that how you grow the economy is to lower rates. Once you lower rates, that should drive an economy, injecting more revenue coming into the state, Feenstra said. 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.

But just as a tight budget spoiled any hope of significant tax reform this year, the same could happen in 2018.

Everything is going to depend on the revenue picture, and that is totally unpredictable at this point, said Rep. Guy Vander Linden, R-Oskaloosa, chairman of the Houses tax policy committee. Sen. Feenstras got kind of a penciled-in plan of bracket reduction and rate reduction and lots of good things. I support all those in principle, but I think until we have more information on revenue, were kind of just shooting in the dark here. If revenue picks up, thats all possible, and I certainly would support it.

The tax reform conversation also may include a debate about tax credits and incentives. Democrats accuse tax relief programs of causing most of the state's budget problems. Although Republicans do not necessarily agree with that assessment, they have indicated a willingness to examine those programs and explore potential limitations.

Republicans say they also will try in 2018 to tackle another conservative agenda item that was thwarted this year by the tight budget: school choice programs.

Rep. Walt Rogers, R-Cedar Falls, chairman of the House education committee, said he plans to study school choice programs, which generally allow parents to use taxpayer funds in some fashion to help their children enroll at a non-public school, in the coming months and will present his findings and recommendations during next years session.

Over the interim, thats one of the things I want to do, is dig gown deeper into educational savings accounts: Is it really a beneficial thing for states to try? Rogers said. That will guide me on how much I come back next year with a will to do something.

Although Statehouse Republicans do not need any Democratic votes to approve legislation so long as all members of their party are on board with a proposal, they generally will find opposition on school choice programs from Democrats, who worry any funding to such programs takes away money from public schools.

Sen. Rick Bertrand, R-Sioux City, nonetheless said he thinks it is time Iowa expands its school choice programs.

This will create mobility and portability for Iowa students. Its good for Iowa, Bertrand said. If we dont set up the funding next year, at the least, we need to set up the infrastructure that puts Iowa on course for education spending accounts. Its time.

Just as with tax reform, most any new school choice program will require new funding. And that means legislators will need a healthier state budget to work with than they had this year.

Another potentially costly solution that was put on the shelf this year was the states complicated formula for funding K-12 public schools. For multiple years, various school districts have complained the formula is antiquated and in need of an update. Some rural districts say they are devoting a larger percentage of their funding to transportation, leaving less money for the classroom. Other districts are frustrated with an inability to spend as much per pupil as neighboring districts because of restrictions in the funding formula.

The Senate this year passed what would have been a solution, but the proposal was not considered by the House in large part because of the funding it required.

Rogers said the school funding formula is another issue legislators will attempt to address next year.

All of those things are going to be on the table, Rogers said, if theres any revenue to play with.

Republicans this year landed a big conservative victory in passing legislation that bans abortions after 20 weeks and requires an ultrasound and three-day waiting period before an abortion is performed.

But some Republicans say they are not yet finished with what they call pro-life legislation; they hope in 2018 to pass even stronger anti-abortion regulations.

Bertrand said he will encourage Republicans to support a proposal to either define life as beginning at fertilization  a so-called personhood measure  or a ban on abortions just one week after fertilization.

Bertrand said the latter would make exceptions for artificial fertilization techniques, life-threatening issues for the mother and pregnancies that are the result of incest or rape.

Bertrand acknowledged opponents likely would challenge such a law in the courts but said he is ready to see that legal debate play out.

We are in a position that we can challenge the courts, Bertrand said. No doubt about it, this one-week (proposal) is about saving babies, but its also about sending this back to the (U.S.) Supreme Court where this horrific thing started. So theres a twofold message here, and thats where my frustration came this year. Because I think when you have the trifecta (of lawmaking power at the state Capitol), if not now, when?
MASON CITY | A North Iowa man pleaded not guilty this week to a felony charge of vehicular homicide by operating under the influence in connection with an accident that killed a Hampton woman last year.

Paul Edward Wood, 59, of Manly, is scheduled to be tried June 13 in Cerro Gordo County District Court on that charge, as well as felony charges of methamphetamine possession and marijuana possession, both third or subsequent offense.

Update: North Iowa man accused of being on drugs during fatal crash MASON CITY | A North Iowa man had methamphetamine and marijuana in his system when he crosse

Wood had methamphetamine and marijuana in his system when he crossed the center line and hit a vehicle driven by 22-year-old Griselda Castaneda Tello, according to authorities.

Tello was pronounced dead at the scene of the Nov. 25 head-on collision.

Investigators say Wood crossed the center line in a southbound pickup and hit Tello's northbound Impala on Patridge Avenue between Mason City and Rockwell.

Marijuana and methamphetamine were found in Wood's pickup after the crash, according to court documents.

If convicted on the vehicular homicide charge, Wood faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. The two drug possession charges are punishable by up to five years in prison each.

 Mary Pieper
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. | Rhoda Faye Jutting passed away on April 15, 2017, at the Minnesota Masonic Home in Bloomington, Minnesota, following several months in Hospice.

Rhoda was born on May 16, 1934, on a farm in Winnebago County, Iowa. She attended high school in Thompson, Iowa, and Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. It was there that she met and married Douglas Eddy. She taught school in Forest City for 5 years while managing her home and raising two daughters, Brenda Lee and Linda Lou. Later in life she graduated from Lake Worth, Florida Community College as a registered nurse. She returned to Iowa where she met and married Randal Jutting. His daughter, Mary Beth Jackson, had two children who referred to her as grandma Rhoda. They brought her great joy and she cherished time spent with them.

She is survived by: Brenda (Don) Elthon and Linda Eddy; grandchildren Martin and Synneva Elthon, Joseph and Katherine Rizzo, Jacob and Lily Jackson, sister Mary Lou Lawson, Gesche (Leslie/Butch) Holland, Barbara (Dennis) Holland, three generations of nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral arrangements were made at the Masonic Home where the Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, in the Masonic Chapel. Please plan to arrive early.

A coffee will be served after the service and a visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. for those who would like to converse with family.

Memorials may be made to the Masonic Home or the American Cancer Society. They can be sent to: 11501 Minnesota Masonic Home Drive, Bloomington, MN 55437.
Two early morning accidents in Liberty County Friday claimed the lives of two young men.

The first accident took place around 4:30 a.m. on SH 321 around 12 miles south of Cleveland. According to a report from the Texas Department of Public Safety, 20-year-old Zachary Kyle Needham, of Cleveland, was traveling southbound in a 1997 Ford Mustang when he crossed into the northbound lane and entered the east ditch.

Needham's vehicle struck a fence, causing it to enter a side-skid before striking a tree on the left passenger side.

Needham died on the scene. Liberty County Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Larry Wilburn made the pronouncement of death.

Just two hours after that crash, Dayton Police Department responded to a fatal accident on FM 1960 at CR 609 inside the city limits.

According to Sgt. John Coleman, spokesperson for DPD, 22-year-old Dale Wayne Whitsell Jr., was killed in a horrific crash that ended with both vehicles catching on fire.

Whitsell was reportedly heading westbound on FM 1960 at a high rate of speed.

"As he approached another vehicle, he passed them on the inside lane and over-corrected to get back in the outside lane. We believe speed, fog and conditions of the vehicle's tires contributed to the accident," Coleman said.

Whitsell's vehicle went into a side-spin and crossed into the eastbound lane of traffic, where it was struck by a 2012 Chevy pickup truck driven by Forrest John Green, 30, of New Iberia, La.

"We believe Mr. Whitsell was killed on impact. Both vehicles caught on fire and Mr. Green was able to make it out of his vehicle in time," Coleman said.

Green was airlifted by LifeFlight to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. His condition is unknown at this time.

Due to the severity of burns to Whitsell's body, law enforcement was not able to make a positive identification until an autopsy was performed.

According to Coleman, the Liberty County Sheriff's Office, Dayton Volunteer Fire Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and Liberty County EMS assisted at the accident scene in Dayton.
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Saturday, April 22, was the 47th anniversary of Earth Day, the birth of the modern environmental movement, which began in 1970 and the Trinity River Wildlife Refuge staff celebrated the day with plenty of festivities for families.

The event was held on the picturesque Champion Lake, a 6,000-acre spread replete with moss covered trees, cypress trees that look like a storybook and full of wildlife that are typical to that particular habitat.

The lake is only part of the entire 30,000-acre piece of the Refuge and is the site of the old Champion Paper Company lodge and camping facility.

"They used to bring congressmen and their bigwigs here to camp out and go duck hunting," said Marcus Stuart, refuge manager of the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge.

There is a manmade levy that separates the lake and Pickett's Bayou that was bolstered after the acres were purchased from Buddy Alders almost a decade ago.

The old lodge that was built back in the 1940s is still standing, but in need of about a half-million in repairs before it can ever be utilized again.

Just down the road from the lodge is the boat ramp where all of the festivities were centered.

"Children and family can go out on kayaks, canoes, look at critters, live snakes, turtles, do dip netting and take boat tours out on the lake. Some of these kids have never been in a kayak before and they jump right in and know exactly what to do," Stuart said incredulously. "How do they know that?"

The lake is home to a lot of wildlife that includes a rare species of bats.

The Rafinesque's big-eared bat can be found roosting in older growth bottomland hardwood forests where they have a lot of space between trees.

Their rabbit-like ears, scientists say, help them with hunting and navigating through the forest at night.

"There's only about 175 of them, but they are the largest colony in the state of Texas," Stuart said.

In addition to the bats, the lake was also home to the largest live caught alligator in the state back in October of 2016.

"He was 13-feet 18-inches and a big one," Stuart said.

The gator was a popular one for visitors to the lake, but posed a threat to them.

"He was coming up on shore because people were feeding him so he had to go," the refuge manager said.

There's a pier with a couple of built-in benches for fishermen to cast their lines and while the lake is not stocked by the staff, there's plenty to go around for anglers.

Boating is allowed with a 10 horse-power motor or less, and on neighboring Pickett's Bayou, it's 40 horse-power.

"The restrictions are for a couple of reasons," Stuart said. "There are stumps hidden just under the water line. If the water's high enough, you just don't see them. We don't jet skis or water skis for safety reasons."

The second reason is sound.

"The larger boats make a lot of noise and scare off the wildlife. It's a wildlife refuge and we're on Mother Nature's home," he said.

The children were fascinated by the dip netting.

"They can drop their net in, pull it out and have five or more things in it and they want to know what it is," Stuart said.

There were opportunities for fishing and exhibits where kids could hold a live snake and look at some of their dead skins.

"A lot of it's educational. If we hear or see a bird that they may not recognize, we point it out to them and give them an explanation," he said.

This is their tenth year for the event and participation was down a bit, but there was considerable competition in the area with Liberty Faux Real Days, Dayton Ole Time Days, an event in Mont Belvieu and Winnie Trade Days to name a few.

"We have a lot of volunteers here on the grounds helping us out today," he said.

One of the most fascinating events was the boat tours.

Small groups would don life jackets and take a seat on the small boat and be escorted out on the lake and shown many of the pockets where hunters would set up for their duck shoots.

"It's all different inside of there," Stuart said.

The clusters of cypress trees, all similar in statue, resemble a storybook type atmosphere.

Moss-covered trees and some completely barren show off a variety of handiwork from untouched, virgin land.

The tours were given by federal law enforcement agent for the Refuge, Silvester Martincic.

Stuart said the next big event at Champion Lake would be Fish Day in June. For more information, search for the Refuge on Facebook.
And just like that, the Sharks are done.

Edmonton scored two breakaway goals 56 seconds apart early in the second period and beat San Jose 3-1 and win the Western Conference first-round playoff series 4-2.

Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot stopped 27 of 28 shots as the defending West champion Sharks just couldnt muster the tying goal despite a late third-period score.

Patrick Marleaus third goal of the series  and 68th of his 177-game postseason career  at 12:12 of the third period cut the Sharks deficit to a goal and brought the SAP Center sellout crowd to life.

Edmonton was guilty of a too-many-men penalty at 15:03 to give San Jose a third power play, but the Sharks could not convert, despite captain Joe Pavelski ringing a turn-around backhand effort off both the crossbar and goalpost 1:15 into the advantage.

The Oilers prevailed with goalie Martin Jones pulled for an extra attacker late before Connor McDavid filled an empty net with less than a second remaining to set up a second-round matchup against Anaheim next week.

The Oilers scored 54 seconds into the second period when Leon Draisaitl converted a breakaway with a backhand-to-forehand move to tuck his first goal of the series between the legs of Sharks goalie Martin Jones.

The sequence started when Edmontons Oscar Klefbom blocked a shot by San Jose defenseman Justin Braun at the right point, forwarded the puck to defense partner Adam Larrson, who sprung Draisaitl with the outlet pass as Braun trailed.

Edmonton then took advantage of a San Jose turnover to score again quickly. Sharks defenseman Paul Martin stretched for a Chris Tierney pass at the right point, but the puck squirted off the defensemans stick to a breaking Anton Slepyshev. He broke in alone and filled Jones five-hole at 1:50 for his first goal of the series.

The Sharks tried to muster at least one goal before the end of the second period, but Talbot stoned them at every turn.

Rookie Marcus Sorensen, promoted from the fourth line to the second line at the outset of the period, drew iron with 11:12 left. The Sharks managed two shots on goal on their only power play of the opening two periods and Edmontons Benoit Pouliot checked Logan Coutures stick or he might have converted into an open net.

Talbot denied Joonas Donskoi on a turnaround effort inside the final 25 seconds of the period.

Edmonton had the better of play in the opening 20 minutes but couldnt find the back of the net. The Oilers outshot San Jose 9-6 in the period, despite of losing 10 of 12 faceoffs.

They had the only power play of the period. San Joses Joel Ward hooked Draisaitl at 14:19, but the Sharks had as good of a chance to score shorthanded as Edmonton did with the 5-on-4 advantage.

Couture intercepted a Mark Letestu pass deep in the Edmonton zone, fed Melker Karlsson, and the San Jose forward was denied in close by Talbot midway through the kill.

Edmonton finished with just one shot on goal during the power play.

Briefly: Joonas Donskoi replaced rookie Timo Meier as the only change for Game 6.  San Jose is now 6-18 in Game 6s.  The Sharks are 12-19 in elimination games.

Ross McKeon is a freelance writer. Twitter: @rossmckeon
As'ad's Bio

As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants.
MASON CITY | The family of Ruth Ellen Boyenga invite her friends, our friends and family to a memorial gathering on Saturday, April 29, from 3 until 7 p.m., hosted by her children: Cheryl, Karen, Bill and Beth, at the family home: 1310 Limestone Drive, Mason City, Iowa.

Ruth passed away peacefully on Friday, April 7. Although she will be missed, we are grateful that her suffering has ended and wish to celebrate her life. If you have a nice memory to share with us please bring it, so that she may live in our hearts forever.
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The Houston man accused of leaving a decomposing body in his car at the Captain D's Restaurant in Porter earlier this year had been driving around with the body for days, court records indicate.

Brayan Rodriguez-Valtierra, 18, probably will have his first-degree murder charge presented to a Montgomery County grand jury soon, as the mandatory 90-day deadline for obtaining an indictment for felony charges is coming up May 10. Rodriguez-Valtierra is accused of killing Pete Figueroa, Jr., 67, who was found dead in a car registered to the suspect Feb. 7 at the East Montgomery County restaurant.

The two had lived together for about eight months in an apartment in the 13800 block of Ella Boulevard, investigators said, although neighbors told detectives they had not seen Figueroa since Feb. 3.

An autopsy showed Figueroa died of a shotgun blow to the face and was likely strangled. Forensic detectives preliminarily ruled he died on either Feb. 4 or 5, or about two or three days before he was discovered Feb. 7.

Captain D's Discovery

A witness told detectives he saw Rodriguez-Valtierra driving north on the U.S. 59 feeder in a white Nissan car that was on its rims, creating sparks across the road, early in the morning of Feb. 7. Rodriguez-Valtierra pulled over into the back of the Captain D's Restaurant in the 23800 block of U.S. 59, which is where the witness drove up to offer him a ride after seeing his car troubles.

Rodriguez-Valtierra accepted the witness' help and, after pulling some items from his Nissan, told the witness to drive him to a gas station at the intersection of FM 1314 and Texas 242. The witness told detectives that Rodriguez-Valtierra was acting odd during the trip, sometimes mumbling curse words under his breath.

Trying to console the man, the witness told him it was going to be OK and that the only problem was with the car. But the witness told detectives that's when Rodriguez-Valtierra admitted there was a body in the Nissan.

The witness told detectives that Rodriguez-Valtierra wiped off his fingerprints from the door handle as he exited the witness's vehicle minutes later.

After the witness called 911, detectives rolled up to the Captain D's Restaurant and found Rodriguez-Valtierra's car parked behind the restaurant. Looking through the car, they found Figueroa covered with clothing, a board and a roll of black upholstery fabric.

The car's windows were rolled down, detectives said, and they found what looked like a painter's mask stuffed between the driver's seat and center console. Days later as forensic detectives were searching the car, they found 21 fired shotgun pellets consistent with the pellets recovered from Figueroa's autopsy, court documents show.

They found pooled blood and a rope-like material that was fashioned into a noose, detectives said. The investigators also found a traffic citation issued by the Harris County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 21.

'Smelled like a dead rat'

Detectives began working backward, first starting their investigation at Rodriguez-Valtierra and Figueroa's apartment in Houston the day his body was found. They met with neighbors, who said they thought Rodriguez-Valtierra could have been Figueroa's cousin and confirmed the suspect drove a white Nissan car.

The detectives entered the apartment and found no one home. They did find, however, a six-pack of beer that had been left on the counter.

The detectives found this odd, thinking any person would immediately put the beer in the refrigerator, they said. Investigators thought something abrupt must have occurred in the apartment, although they found no signs of a struggle.

The next day, the detectives talked with Figueroa's daughter and nephew about Rodriguez-Valtierra and his relationship with Figueroa. They told detectives Figueroa oftentimes had problems with getting Rodriguez-Valtierra's portion of rent from him and said Rodriguez-Valtierra almost always had Figueroa's phone on him.

Figueroa's wallet and credit cards also were missing, detectives discovered. Despite this, Figueroa's cards were used to withdraw a total of $760 on Feb. 3 and 6.

Detectives looked at ATM surveillance footage from the transactions on Feb. 3 and 6 and found a person matched Rodriguez-Valtierra's description making the withdrawals. None of the photos matched Figueroa's description, court documents show.

Investigators also discovered Rodriguez-Valtierra had purchased a pay-as-you-go phone from a retail store in the 11100 block of Airline Drive in Houston Feb. 6. Detectives spoke with the salesperson at the store, who recalled Rodriguez-Valtierra smelling like a "dead rat" as he talked to her in the store.

The clerk told detectives Rodriguez-Valtierra asked if the pay-as-you-go phone would track him before the purchase.

Rodriguez-Valtierra was arrested in Liberty County Feb. 11 on the first-degree murder charge. He will be back in Judge Patty Maginnis's 435th state District Court for a hearing sometime in May. He is in the county jail with no bond.
Despite President Donald Trumps claims that investing in climate action is a waste of money or that decarbonizing our energy would be job-killing, Texas has proved the opposite.

The state has helped the nation reduce its carbon footprint and has earned a lot of money along the way. As the world chooses a path of decarbonization, we will deploy our vast expanses of cheap, flat, sunny, windy land and extensive reserves of natural gas trapped in shales to sell consumers the low-carbon energy they desire.

The biggest impact on Texas in recent years has been from the shale revolution, which has helped the nation wean itself from coal and has reduced emissions dramatically along the way. Shale production created an abundance of affordable natural gas, which is cleaner to burn than coal. New natural gas plants are also about twice as efficient as decades-old coal plants, compounding the benefits of switching from coal to gas.

Combine that with the rise of renewables such as wind and solar, along with efficiency standards for autos and appliances, and you get the remarkable trend that is afoot: U.S. carbon emissions have been dropping even as the population and economy have grown.

And the states leadership helped make it so. The shale boom in many ways is Texan in origin. Its modern incarnation took root in the Barnett Shale outside the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. If Texas were a country, it would be the third-largest natural gas producer in the world.

But shale production invited environmental conundrums: Although dropping emissions is a desirable goal, and its satisfying to see how affordably and quickly emissions could be cut by market competition between coal and natural gas, doing so through propagation of fossil fuel use isnt what many environmentalists had in mind.

Although Texas role as an international leader in oil and gas is part of its reputation, dont overlook our leadership in the renewable power sector, too, and how that helped the nation reduce its carbon emissions. If Texas were a country, it would be the sixth-largest wind power generator in the world. The lesson of Texas is that when we move forward, we do it at a global scale.

We also lead the world in industrial efficiency. Our refineries are the worlds cleanest and most efficient primarily because of the widespread implementation of combined heat and power, which cleverly uses waste heat from on-site power plants for refining and chemicals manufacturing.

Trumps campaign promises are confounding for Texas. One of the most specific policy pledges he made on the campaign trail is to bring back coal. That is not in Texas interest.

Although it is a common talking point that President Barack Obamas war on coal caused coals decline, in reality, it was fierce competition from cheap natural gas that doomed it. If the Trump administration intervenes to directly benefit coal  via mandates or subsidies  that will be bad for natural gas. We need the opposite: The tighter the rules are for reducing emissions, the more we benefit. The nation will turn to us to sell them clean gas, wind and solar.

The lessons offered by the shale and wind booms are many. When we work together, we get great solutions. If we invest in our infrastructure, we enable affordable energy production. If we build out markets sensibly, we get the cleanest, cheapest, most reliable forms of energy.

But its not clear that these are lessons some politicians are ready to learn. And maybe thats the most important outcome from Trumps arrival into power: His policies look so erratic and jarring that they have the net effect of undermining trust in the federal government. That means the future of energy will run through Texas, not Washington, D.C.

Michael E. Webber is the deputy director of the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
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Al Qaedas propaganda arm, As Sahab, released an audio message from emir Ayman al Zawahiri earlier today. The audio file, which was spliced together with images from the Sunni jihad in Syria, is just over six minutes long. It was released via social media, including on As Sahabs Telegram channel.

Zawahiri warns that the Syrian war shouldnt be considered an exclusively nationalist effort, because this is what the Sunni jihadists enemies want. Instead, he says the Syrian conflict should be viewed as the cause of the entire Ummah, or worldwide community of Muslims.

Zawahiris comments are potentially interesting in light of Al Nusrah Fronts rebranding last year, and then the groups merger with several others to form Hayat Tahrir al Sham (Assembly for the Liberation of the Levant) in January. Various al Qaeda actors and other jihadists inside Syria have debated how to best portray themselves to the world. Al Nusrahs relaunch in July 2016 was blessed beforehand by Zawahiris deputy, but some al Qaeda figures rejected it.

Zawahiri does not specifically mention Hayat Tahrir al Sham or any other group in Syria, so we can only speculate if he is commenting on some specific debate within jihadist circles. But that appears likely.

Zawahiri does explicitly endorse the insurgency in Syria, saying that it is a guerrilla war and the jihadists should not focus on holding territory at this time. Instead, Zawahiri says, they must focus on weakening their enemies.

To begin with, I would like to tell our beloved people in Sham [the Levant] that your wounds are the wounds of the entire Ummah, and your pain is the pain of the entire Ummah. You are in our prayers at every moment, and we wish to sacrifice our souls for you, Zawahiri begins his message, which was released with an English transcript.

If anything stands in our way, Zawahiri continues, it is the fact that we are engaged in fighting the same Crusader enemy which you are up against, though on a different front.

The al Qaeda chieftain claims that the only reason Sunni Muslims in Syria are being targeted is that they want Islam to rule over the land of Sham. The International Satanic Alliance will never accept this, and it will spare no effort to stop this Islamic tide, Zawahiri says.

Consistent with al Qaedas messaging in the past, Zawahiri portrays the US and the West as being in league with Iran and Bashar al Assads regime. Indeed, he advises the people of Syria to prepare themselves for a protracted war against the Crusaders and their Rafidhi [derogatory term for Shiites and Iran] and Nusayri [meaning the Assad regime] allies.

Zawahiri praises the people for having taken up the path of jihad in the way of Allah to raise the flag of Islam and jihad on the land of Sham, and to liberate it from oppression, tyranny and corruption.

So do not backtrack, he says. Know no wavering or compromise. Die honorably, but never accept a life of humiliation.

The al Qaeda head reiterates his organizations call for unity within the insurgency. Since the beginning of the war, with a few exceptions, al Qaedas men have attempted to remain as closely allied with other rebel groups as possible. This strategy was upset by the rise of Abu Bakr al Baghdadis Islamic State in 2013 and 2014, but al Qaedas arm continued to cooperate with other Islamist, jihadist and Free Syrian Army-branded outfits.

Unite and close your ranks with your Muslim brothers and mujahideen not just in Sham, but the entire world, for it is a single Crusader campaign being waged against Muslims the world over, Zawahiri says.

He then pivots to a critique of anyone who thinks the Syrian war can be separated from the jihad elsewhere around the globe.

Speaking to the jihadists in Syria, Zawahiri says that some wish to deceive you into buying the myth that only if you were to change your jihad to an exclusively nationalist Syrian struggle, [then] the leading international criminals would be pleased with you.

My people and my brothers in Sham, Zawahiri says, I would like to offer here a few words of advice as a reminder to you and myself. Then, somewhat cryptically, he adds: We must constantly review our actions, and retract ourselves from everything which is capable of hindering victory. For we can never be better than the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who were denied victory when they disobeyed. Critical reassessment and correction of mistakes is the first step in the patch to victory.

Zawahiri does not say which mistakes he has mind.

In my humble opinion, the al Qaeda head continues, the strategy for jihad in Sham must focus on a guerrilla war aimed at wearing down the enemy and bleeding it to death. This has been the weapon of choice of the oppressed against arrogant transgressors in every age, Zawahiri says. Do not occupy yourselves with holding on to territory, instead focus on destroying the morale of your enemy. Take the enemy to the point of abysmal despair by inflicting unrelenting blows and unbearable losses on its forces.

For the second time in his short message, Zawahiri again warns against treating the Syrian conflict as a nationalist struggle. The cause of Sham is the cause of the entire Ummah, he says. We must not present it as merely a cause of the people of Sham, and then further narrow it down to a cause of Syrians alone, for this is precisely the enemys plan and his much sought after objective.

The enemy seeks to transform the jihad in Sham from a cause of the Muslim Ummah to an exclusively nationalist Syrian cause, then turn the nationalist cause to an issue of specific regions and localities, and finally reduce this to an issue of a few cities, villages and neighborhoods, Zawahiri argues. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to confront this evil strategy by declaring that the jihad in Sham is the jihad of the Muslim Ummah aimed at establishing the rule of Allah in the land of Allah. This must coincide with encouraging the entire Ummah to participate in the jihad of Sham with its sons, wealth, efforts, and energies.

Zawahiri provides a short list of Muslims who have defended Sham earlier in history, including Salahuddin and the Ottoman Turks. He points out that none of the people on his list were Syrians, but were Muslims and mujahids before anything else. This is likely a reminder to jihadists to treat the many foreign fighters in Syria who have joined the anti-Assad insurgency as equals.

The al Qaeda leader closes by saying that the jihadists should not seek to placate the West, or any others. We must not submit therefore to the dictations of the leading criminals, who seek to intimidate us with accusations of terrorism and extremism, Zawahiri says. He warns that this will lead to the same fate as that suffered by Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood leader who briefly served as president of Egypt.

These are the same forces that did not even spare Mohamed Morsi, inspite of the fact that he had given them all they had asked for, Zawahiri says. He adds: I ask Allah to give our people in Sham steadfastness. May Allah bless them with His victory and support, and guide them to take a common stance alongside their Mujahideen brethren the world over against a common united enemy.

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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Photo 1: Qods Force commander Iraj Masjedi delivering a speech in Irans northern province of Mazandaran, December 2016.

An Iranian general from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) began his new position this week as Tehrans ambassador to Iraq. The selection of Brigadier General Iraj Masjedi, the senior adviser to the commander of the IRGC extraterritorial branch the Qods Force, highlights Tehrans strategy to assert itself as the dominant foreign power and block Washingtons influence in Iraq following the Mosul campaign.

Under the guise of Irans top diplomat in Iraq, Masjedi will likely coordinate key Iranian activities including support of Iranian-backed Iraqi groups, who dominate the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), in their quest to expand their networks influence under the guise of helping to fill security vacuum in Iraq. Masjedi will also be involved in Tehrans efforts to consolidate political influence via Iraqi allies in the upcoming provincial and parliamentary elections.

Opportunities and challenges ahead

Last month during a speech in Tehran, Masjedi hinted at potential paths for Tehran to increase its leverage in Iraq.

Masjedi has suggested that Iranian-assisted parallel security and intelligence groups at the provincial level could assist Iraq in combating the security threats of Sunni extremist groups. Masjedi said the Islamic State would become a security group following the liberation of Mosul, which is true, as affiliated militants have started to creep back into areas that they used to control, such as Salahuddin and Anbar, as covered in The Washington Post. In order to assist Iraqi security forces, Masjedi called for the formation of popular intelligence organizations and security groups in various provinces using new equipment provided by Iran. By popular, he means paramilitary groups, like IRGC-backed militias in the PMF, formed in parallel to regular Iraqi security forces. Masjedi hopes to exploit the opportunity to expand the footprint of the IRGC-backed network under the cover of helping the state address security voids.

The Qods Force general has hinted at another opportunity to expand irregular groups under the guise of addressing security issues. Iran can prevent terrorisms entry by creating networks that are formed in the borders of Iran and Iraq, Masjedi said in what appeared to be a more proactive approach in combating insurgents such as the Islamic State and Kurdish separatists, all of which the regime calls terrorists.

Masjedi has indicated Tehran would yet again be involved in Baghdads upcoming elections. Iraqs elections for provincial councils and council authorities are slated for September, followed by parliamentary elections in 2018. For more than a decade, the Qods Force has influenced key political decisions in Iraq, to extent that the selections of Iraqi prime ministers need Tehrans sign off. Iraqs upcoming elections are very important, Masjedi said. Indeed, political alliances and the balance of power have significantly changed since 2014. Masjedi reaffirmed Irans support for a unified Shiite National Alliance coalition, which is rife with deep fractures, as are the Sunni and Kurdish blocs. Tehran aspires to navigate through upcoming redrawing of the political landscape to shape the next Iraqi government.

Covert operations commander



Masjedis military background provides insight into Irans designs for Iraq. Born in the Arab-majority city of Abadan in southwestern Iran, Masjedi served in the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88), establishing his credentials at the Ramezan Base, a proto-Qods Force where he coordinated special operations behind enemy lines and worked with Iraqi insurgents, according to a biography by Ali Alfoneh. A number of those Iraqi insurgents have risen to key positions in the post-Saddam era. During the U.S. occupation, Masjedi was involved in Qods Force operations against US and coalition forces  operations that killed hundreds.

In recent years, Iranian press have described Masjedi as the supreme adviser to Qods Force chief Qassem Soleimani, and some reports say he is Soleimanis adviser on Iraq, according to IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency. That indicates Masjedi has significantly shaped the Qods Forces Iraq policies.

In speeches last year, Masjedi praised the PMF as the IRGCs next step.

The Qods Forces successes and failures in Iraq

Masjedis selection highlights the Qods Forces control over Tehrans Iraq portfolio. Soleimani answers to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has the final word on all matters of Iranian foreign policy. Since 2003, all Iranian ambassadors to Iraq have been Qods Force officers. Soleimani was designated by the US Treasury as a global terrorist in 2007.

While the Qods Force has been successful in cultivating organic support in Iraq, it has faced significant failures. Soleimani brokered the 2010 re-election of the pro-Tehran, former prime minister Nouri al Maliki, whose corruption and sectarianism contributed to the states near full collapse and the Islamic States rise in 2014.

But as with so many other times in Irans post-revolution history, it saw opportunity in another countrys crises. Under the Qods Forces supervision, IRGC-backed groups joined the PMF, the 60,000-to-100,000-strong umbrella organization of diverse Iraqi militias formed following the 2014 fatwa of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani to drive the Islamic State from the country. IRGC-backed groups are now the dominant formations in the PMF. In November 2016, the Iraqi parliament officially made the PMF a legal military bureaucracy separate from the national armed forces.

Outlook

Masjedis history of working with Iraqi groups and his connection to Soleimani make him a trusted appointee to help advance Tehrans interests through upcoming opportunities and challenges in Iraq. While the success of these efforts is far from clear, he and his cohorts are determined to achieve objectives at all costs, including Iraqs stability.

Tehrans strength in Iraq lies in its cultivated, organic network. Any effective plan to counter that should incorporate a network-based approach to support Iraqis who seek an independent future.

Amir Toumaj is a independent analyst and contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.

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Shabaab, al Qaedas branch in East Africa, has claimed a massive improvised explosive device (IED) attack on Somali soldiers near Galgala in the northern semi-autonomous region of Puntland. The blast left at least eight soldiers dead and many others wounded. Shabaab claimed credit for the ambush on its Radio al Andalus website.

Galgala has long been within Shabaabs areas of operations. Since 2015, the region has also seen activity from Islamic State-loyal militants led by a former Shabaab commander, Abdulqadir Mumin. The wider Bari region has seen the town of Qandala taken over and a suicide assault on a popular hotel in Bosaso by the Islamic State. While military operations are underway against the Islamic State and Shabaab in the Bari region of Puntland, the Islamic State militants briefly seized another village last week before being forced to retreat.

Additionally, Shabaab claimed targeting the Baledogle Airfield in the Lower Shabelle region via its Shahada News Telegram channel. The statement reported that the jihadists fired 35 mortars at the base, which allegedly landed inside. The airfield is used as a base for the Somali military, African Union forces, and reportedly American troops. Shabaab was quick to include this information in its statement by saying it specifically targeted Americans inside the base.

However, no Somali officials, the African Union, or any US officials have commented on any attack or shelling on the base. Shabaab often claims targeting American military forces in Somalia, but these attacks often go without any comment from US officials. This will likely increase as the US military has been granted approval by President Donald Trump to target Shabaab with additional precision fires.

Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

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The Taliban claimed that four of the fighters who executed Fridays suicide assault on an Afghan Army corps headquarters in Mazar-i-Sharif in Balkh had infiltrated the military. At least 140 Afghan soldiers were reportedly killed during the Taliban operation, making it one of the deadliest and most effective attacks on a military installation in Afghanistan since the US invaded in 2001.

In a detailed statement released on Voice of Jihad, the Talibans official website, the group claimed credit for the assault on the 209th Shaheen Corps headquarters, which directs military operations in the Afghan north. It explained both the how and why of the decimating assault.

The Taliban said 10 martyrdom seekers Mujahideen equipped with heavy and light arms attacked the base and fought Afghan forces for eight hours before being killed. The Taliban named members of the suicide team as Ahmad Safi Balkhi, Mullah Lal Mohammad Nangahari, Hafiz Neamatullah Kabuli, Qari Fida Muhammad Baghlani, Hafiz Zabihullah Kunduzi, Engineer Talha Wardak, Mullah Jawad Kandahari, Hafiz Ziaur Rahman Kosti, Abdul Basir Parwani and Mohammad Nabi Ghaznavi.

Their names indicate that the attackers came from 10 different provinces.

According to the statement, four of these martyrdom seekers were infiltrated Mujahideen that were performing their duties in headquarter as soldiers for a long period of time in order to conduct this type of attack. One of the Taliban fighters who infiltrated the military planted a heavy amount of explosive materials in a large dining room before the fighting began. The nine other fighters, dressed as Afghan military personnel, entered the base, fanned out and attacked Afghan military personnel.

The Talibans statement largely matches eyewitness accounts of the attack. Soldiers interviewed by Reuters said that two military pickup trucks with Taliban fighters dressed as Afghan soldiers penetrated security at the main gate first by pretending that they had wounded soldiers. When challenged at the next security checkpoint, the Taliban fighters opened fire and pushed their way past. Once inside the base, the Taliban fighters assaulted the mosque and dining facility and opened fire with RPGs, machine guns, assault rifles, and hand grenades. Several Taliban fighters detonated suicide vests in crowds of Afghan troops.

Disarmed Afghan troops inside the base were unable to return fire as Taliban fighters went on a killing spree. Afghan commandos from another part of the base were called in to engage the Taliban fighters. Afghan troops inside the base likely were disarmed as the facility is also used by NATO personnel to train local forces. NATO troops have suffered scores of casualties in green-on-blue or insider attacks, where Afghan forces, often aided by the Taliban, turn their weapons on their allies.

The Taliban claimed that the attack on the 209th Corps was executed to avenge the deaths of Mullah Abdul Salam, the Talibans shadow governor for Kunduz, and Maulvi Lal Muhammad, the shadow governor of Baghlan. The US military killed Salam, who directed Taliban operations in Kunduz, in February. Afghan forces claimed they killed Muhammad on April 19.

The martyrdom battalion directed its ground [sic] of 10 Mujahideen for taking revenge of both governors by targeting the key enemy centers of the east region, the group claimed.

The Taliban ended its statement by threatening Afghan security personnel who continue to work with NATO forces.

It is better for mercenaries to avoid sacrificing for American and foreign interests anymore, it said. If they still continue protection of their masters, they are then responsible for their actions.

The Talibans Suicide Groups

In the past, the Taliban has claimed to have thousands of fully armed martyrdom seekers at its disposal to conduct attacks inside Afghanistan and has provided some information on the structure of its martyrdom units.

The Taliban has identified two key leaders of its Suicide Groups. Mullah Taj Mir Jawad has been described as the head of a martyrdom-seekers battalion. Jawad swore allegiance to Mullah Mansour, the groups previous emir, in a video released in Sept. 2015.

Qari Abdul Raouf Zakir, the commander of the Talibans suicide groups, also swore allegiance to Mullah Mansour in the same video. Qari Zakir, who was designated as a terrorist by the State Department in Nov. 2012, has long commanded the Haqqani Networks suicide operations.

The Haqqani Network is an al Qaeda-linked Taliban subgroup that operates throughout Afghanistan and is based in Pakistan, where it is supported by Pakistans military and the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the operational commander of the Haqqani Network, serves as one of two deputies to Mullah Habaitullah, the emir of the Taliban, and as the head of the Talibans military.

The Taliban has also promoted suicide teams in its propaganda. The Muaskar ul Fida, one of several suicide squads operating in Afghanistan, previously swore allegiance to the Talibans last emir in Nov. 2015.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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Cars / Cars and Bikes

Apr 23, 2017 | By AFP Relaxnews







For a car with Great Britain in its name, it sure is ironic that the Aston Martin V8 Vantage S Great Britain Edition will only be available in China. While there is no end of environmentally conscious concepts and full production cars making their debut at this years Auto Shanghai, Aston Martin was on hand to remind the crowds that the present state of the automobile industry is pretty exciting, too.

Aston Martins stand this year is the performance of the fossil-fuel-powered cars on display. While its new hardcore race-focused ARM range of cars is already familiar to anyone who attended the Geneva Motor Show in March, the company did have something special just for Shanghai.

Built by the companys Q bespoke services division, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage S Great Britain Edition looks suitably stunning. But underneath the unique paint finish, custom embroidery and handmade badges, the Great Britain Edition is mechanically identical to a standard V8 Vantage, right down to its 4.7-liter, 436hp, naturally aspirated V8.

However, that small detail will be of little consequence to its potential owners. As well as being the worlds biggest market for electric cars, China will soon also be able to claim to be the biggest consumer of exotic and luxury cars. And in the highest echelons of the automotive market, exclusivity will always be a marques trump card.

Production of the V8 Vantage S Great Britain Edition is capped at five hand-built examples and will be exclusive to China. It will cost RMB 2,088,000 ($303,000), but for that substantial outlay buyers will get a car finished in Stratus White with blue-tinted wing mirrors and rear light inserts. Exterior Aston Martin badges boast a Union Flag pattern, while a final exterior reference to the British flag can be found on the brakes, which boast red calipers.

Inside, metal rotary switches are finished in anodized blue, the seats feature the wave quilting pattern usually reserved for its Zagato co-designed cars, theres Aurora Blue leather and Union Jack embroidered details.

The Q by Aston Martin service has grown substantially since it was first established in 2012. We have the opportunity to work with our customers, taking personalization to a different level, said Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman. Our commitment to Chinese customers is absolute, as demonstrated with the announcement that we are creating products designed specifically with the Chinese customer in mind.

For more information, visit Aston Martin.
Washington: An American media reported that the al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is in Karachi under the protection of the Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI).

There are no definite proofs about his location but Karachi is his most likely location, the Newsweek magazine said, quoting a CIA official.

Zawahiri narrowly escaped a U.S drone strike in Afghanistan last year that killed five of his security guards. Following this, he escaped to Pakistan.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canyon Gate, an Associa company, recently hosted a successful board member education event as part of its ongoing commitment to education and training of its local clients. Canyon Gate continually strives to equip its board members with the resources, skills and training needed to meet the complex demands of today's communities.



"At Canyon Gate, we believe knowledge is power," said Canyon Gate President Kim Corcoran. "As part of our commitment to sharing information that better serves our clients, we believe these semiars are invaluable and offer unmatched guidance and instructional programs."



The event was a great opportunity to learn, ask questions and engage with Canyon Gate's community management professionals. It was greatly attended and offered unmatched guidance and instructional programs designed to help your community succeed.



Held at the Marriott Courtyard in Albuquerque, the event included two different sessions to allow for greater attendance for all board members, both new and seasoned. This is the first of many events for Canyon Gate in 2017.



The next board member education event will be on May 15, 2017, also at the Marriott Courtyard. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m., followed by a panel discussion at 6:45 p.m. covering condominium and HOA law and insurance, as well as HOA banking.



For more information and to RSVP, please contact Leslie Lucero at llucero@cgres.com.



Building and managing successful communities for more than 37 years, Associa is the worldwide leader in community management with over 10,000 employees operating more than 180 branch offices in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Based in Dallas, Texas, our industry expertise, financial strength and innovation meet the unique needs of clients across the world with customized services and solutions designed to help communities achieve their vision. To learn more about Associa and its charitable organization, Associa Cares, go to www.associaonline.com or www.associacares.com.

Stay Connected:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa

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BASSETT-Justin Washer still plans to run for a seat in the House of Delegates. Hell just be doing it as an independent. The Bassett resident, who had filed to challenge Charles Poindexter in the District 9 Republican primary, had his petitions declined by the Republican Party of Virginia this month.

The problem with the petitions, Washer said, involved how he went about collecting them.

They were collected on one front page, containing signature lines 1 through 6 and one back page containing signature lines 7 through 12, Washer said. Then [I] made [them] into one front to back single paged form, [which was] then notarized and signed by me.

That wasnt enough for party officials, who felt it went against the rules. The argument was that because the signatures were copied, there was no way to verify that they were truly originals.

My argument is that all the signatures were collected by me personally, Washer said. I swore that they were legitimate and that I turned them in on one form as required.

Officials with the State Board of Elections stated that Washer was no longer on the primary ballot, as he didn't qualify. The Martinsville Bulletin reached out to the Virginia Republican Party for comment multiple times over the span of four days, but did not get a response by presstime.

Even though Washer wont run in the primary, he still plans to compete in the election. The Bassett resident said hell run now as an independent in November.

Washer said he felt it was important to continue to run, even if not with a specific party, to give a voice to local challenges.

Over the years, Ive been following our national and statewide politics and Ive not seen enough action, Washer said. Ive become more and more frustrated. A lot of the growth [in the 9th District] over the last five years is in the food and retail service industry. That just doesnt provide a living wage. If thats where most of our job growth is going to come, thats unacceptable. One of my main goals is to flip flop that.

As for how he wants to do that, Washer outlines several points. First, he wants to sit down with existing businesses in the area, to understand what can be done on a state level to help them grow and develop.

I want to make sure we as a state get out of the way, Washer said.

The 28-year-old Georgia native, who has called Bassett home for the past six years, said he also sees a need to help people understand the opportunities already here. He works as a machine operator at Eastman Chemical Company and pointed out training programs like the partnership between Eastman and the New College Institute as an example. That program guarantees a person a job interview at the end of their session.

I joined Eastman with no manufacturing experience, Washer said. Ive become successful there. Someone whos capable of working can enter that field and enter the middle class by doing so. If you talk to a 19-year-old, when they think manufacturing, a lot of times they have that old school way of thinking. Building that awareness, letting them know what opportunities exist, can help. Our citizens are hard workers with lots of trade skills. They learn things from their parents that they carry over for a job.

Thats another thing Washer would like to help with in Richmond, identifying companies that need the skillsets local workers have. He feels that politicians can help at times, serving as an extra voice of support.

Even if theyre out of state, Ill go see them personally, to court these businesses, Washer said. We need to get their attention, to solicit companies that will appreciate the work ethic and trade skills of people here.

Washer sees it as a marketing campaign, with the state helping to start up conversations with companies. There may be businesses out there who fit perfectly in the 9th District, Washer said, but just havent considered the area.

Overall, Washer, who lives in Bassett with his wife and 6-year-old twins, said he just wants to help the community. He encouraged people to start up discussions with him on his Facebook page, Justin Washer for Delegate.
MARTINSVILLE-Earlier in April, Noel Honeyman had been volunteering with a blood drive. It was a normal practice for the Patrick Springs resident, who dedicated his time to helping the Red Cross. After he passed away this month, the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Red Cross paid tribute to him, as well as the other volunteers who give their time and effort.

Hes (Honeyman) going to be missed by the Patrick County crew, said Ralph Lawson, disaster program manager for the Red Crosss Blue Ridge region. Speaking to a group of volunteers this week, he told them that the lives you all have touched as volunteers are amazing. Each and every person in this room makes such a difference in this organization.

Good Neighbor Awards were presented to Penny House in Patrick County, the Martinsville Fire Department and the Henry County Fire Marshals Office.

Lawson said Penny House, ran by Larry and Margaret Vernon, has been there time again for clients who need a little extra time to get back on their feet after a disaster like a house fire.

Generally, what the American Red Cross does is help folks with their immediate needs  we get them through the first few days, Lawson said. Weve had a family helped who lost a young son in a fire, another couple who received serious burns in a fire, and we had one family whose mobile home burned while they were at the hospital. Thank God for the Penny House that took them in and allowed them to stay there.

Martinsville Fire and EMS Department, represented by Assistant Chief Dan Howell, and the Henry County Marshals Office, represented by Fire Marshal Lisa Garrett, were recognized for providing much support to the free smoke alarm installation program.

From June 1, 2015 to April 16, 2017, in Martinsville, 1,911 free smoke alarms were installed, 50 batteries replaced, and preparedness information with escape plan materials were provided to 521 homes. During this time, 1,488 doors were knocked on during canvassing events in the city.

In Henry County, 474 free smoke alarms were installed, 17 batteries replaced, and preparedness information with escape plan materials were provided to 159 homes.

Within our territory, and we cover 10 jurisdictions, weve had 11 deaths in the past 12 months from house fires, Lawson said. Of those homes, 95 percent didnt have a single working smoke alarm in their home. This is a mission of the American Red Cross, and we cant do this without our partners.

Anna Sparks received the Clara Barton Honor Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership. Sparks has been a volunteer for the past 27 years, serving in various roles within the organization.

This is an amazing woman whos known for her expertise in health and safety training, and she also assists us at the office with cleaning, and all the other things going on behind the scenes that you dont see, Lawson said.

Volunteers who received one- and two-year service pins included Kay Dedrick, Teddy Martin, David Rives, Latala Hodges, W.C. Fowlkes, Robert Gillespie, Pearl Minter and Barbara Riggin. Volunteers who received five-year pins were Tony Dix and Thelma Rotenberry. Janice Lawson received a 15-year pin and Clovice Cooper received a 25-year service pin for their volunteer service.

With our workforce being made up of 90 percent volunteers, we certainly want to recognize those people for the gift of their time, Lawson added.

Danielle Englund, senior volunteer services specialist, said its important for volunteers to know theyre appreciated.

People have lots of opportunities of places to go and volunteer, she said. When we are gone, the American Red Cross will still be here and people will still be in need. We owe our volunteers a huge debt of gratitude  more than a dinner. We owe them so much more.

Michelle McCormick, executive director for the Virginia Blue Ridge chapter, likened the organization to a human body.

Volunteers are like the heart, she said. You cant have a functioning body if the hearts not beating, and without our volunteers, American Red Cross wouldnt have the resources necessary to function effectively in our community.
PHOENIX, April 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- When pet owners need expert veterinary care, they turn to Dr. Hillary Frank, who not only runs her veterinary hospital, but also puts the needs of animals first at the Animal Humane Society of Phoenix. Dr. Hillary Frank of North Central Animal Hospital is a passionate advocate for pet health and educates pet owners on what they need to do to provide pets the care that they deserve. A primary goal of the Animal Humane Society of Phoenix (AHSPHX) is to educate pet owners and help them support the needs of a pet of any age.



The mission of the Animal Humane Society of Phoenix is to promote the humane care of all pets and the health of the humans around them by providing education based on science and research. They regularly offer educational lectures on humane pet care and related human health concerns. Groups can contact them directly to schedule a talk on a particular concern. Education about routine care, home care, and medical care for animals helps them live longer and healthier lives. Improper care is the leading cause of illness and premature death in many exotics. More commonly seen animals need special care and attention too. There are a number of misconceptions concerning proper pet care for dogs and cats. Preventative care starting at the minimum with an annual checkup can help keep pets healthy.

Dr. Hillary Frank opened North Central Animal Hospital in Phoenix in 1995. She treats a wide variety of companion animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, rabbits, reptiles, and exotics. In addition to being a general practitioner, in 2004, she became the first avian specialist in Arizona and recertifies for her competency every ten years. Active in the community and numerous veterinary and civic organizations, she is also an adjunct professor at the Midwestern University, College of Veterinary Medicine.

Pet owners need to understand the diverse needs of beloved pets, including dogs, cats, and exotics, said Dr. Hillary Frank. We are here to help pet owners dispel myths and provide their pets with the very best of care. In the long run, this makes for healthier pets and allows pet owners to enjoy pet companionship for many years to come. Feel free to reach out to me at North Central Animal Hospital or at the Animal Humane Society of Phoenix with your pet care concerns.

Dr. Hillary Frank of North Central Animal Hospital has served Phoenix area pets and owners since 1995. Their AAHA accredited animal hospital offers high-quality veterinary care for dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, reptiles, and other exotics. From routine to advanced optimal care in all stages of life.

Call (602) 900-9586 to learn about the Animal Humane Society of Phoenix or visit http://ahsphx.org/.

North Central Animal Hospital

20 W. Dunlap Avenue

Phoenix, AZ 85021

(602) 395-9773
COLLINSVILLE-Dr. David Martin announced Friday that he will seek the Iriswood District seat on the Henry County Board of Supervisors.

The current Iriswood District supervisor, Milton Kendall, announced in February that he will not be seeking re-election in order to devote more time to his family and business.

At a press conference in front of the Henry County Administration Building on Friday afternoon, Martin said that he was looking forward to another opportunity to serve the citizens of Henry County. Martin previously served as Superintendent of Henry County Schools from 1995-2000, and served as Acting Superintendent from July 2011-January 2012.

Those were some of the proudest times of my life, Martin said. He and his wife, Joyce Martin, moved away from Henry County after his initial stint as superintendent, but he said that when the discussion came up about where we wanted to retire, we quickly talked about Henry County and moving back here.

Martin said that he has ventured door-to-door in his district collecting signatures and listening to area residents.

Ive found lots of interesting and wonderful people here in this county who want to become involved in whats happening and ensure the countys growth, he said.

I want to give you an example, he said. Joe and Jacqueline Keen. They live on Morgan Ford Road in Sandy Level. Ive been to their citizens group meeting, and they really want to make their community the best it can be. More importantly, they want this county to be the best that it can be. I give that example because it only takes a few citizens with a couple of ideas to make something happen within a community.

Martin said that he hopes to use his communication skills and collaborative skills to work jointly with the board of supervisors, not only for the benefit of the Iriswood District, but for the benefit of the county as a whole.

In answering media questions following the press conference, Martin said that he is generally in favor of the tax increases that have been included in the proposed FY 2017/2018 Henry County budget. These tax increases are necessary to build Meadow View Elementary School, the new elementary that will serve students in the Collinsville District, and to build the new Henry County Jail, he said.

Martin said that he didnt fully understand the need for the new jail until he saw that the 2017/2018 county budget includes a $400,000 line item just to cover the cost of farming inmates out to other localities due to the overcrowded state of the current jail.

Thats concerning to me, Martin said. Thats like a mortgage payment on a new jail. I understand that the jail is overcrowded, and at the public hearing for this, there was a lot of support (for the new jail and tax increase), at least from the people I spoke to.

While he was serving as Henry County Schools Superintendent, Martin said, he spear-headed the school systems focus on introducing modern technology and computers to county students. Now, he said, people are coming to Henry County from all over the country to study the school systems technology integration.

Education is very near and dear to my heart, particularly this school system, Martin said, and education plays a powerful role in training people for the jobs of tomorrow.

When asked his opinion on the school systems $615,035 carryover  funds which the school system generally uses for capital improvements, but this year will instead potentially go toward the construction of Meadow View Elementary School  Martin said he needed more information to provide an informed opinion.

At a budget public hearing last week, Henry County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jared Cotton told the board of supervisors that the school system should be allowed to keep the funds for much-needed improvements at Bassett High School.

Martin said before rendering an opinion on the issue, he would first need to sit down with Cotton and discuss how much it would delay the improvement projects if the school system didnt receive the carryover.

Martin added that after talking to local constituents, he heard a number of questions that he would like to research. For example, he said, some parts of his district do not have water provided by the PSA.

Id like to ask some questions and find out more, what the future expansion areas are for water, he said. Everybody has a right to clean water.

According to Henry County Registrar Elizabeth Stone, Martin is the first person to file paperwork to run for the Iriswood District seat on the board of supervisors, or for any seat on the board of supervisors, for that matter. Those wishing to run for the board of supervisors must file their paperwork no later than 7 p.m. June 13, she said.

Stone added that due to a recent decision by the General Assembly, effective in November, names will no longer be listed alphabetically on ballots. Instead, the names will be listed in the order that the paperwork was filed.
TODAYS WORD is balaclava (bal-uh-klah-vuh). Example: The police told Mitch that since the bank was located next to a ski resort, he really shouldnt call 911 every time someone walked in wearing a balaclava.

FRIDAYS WORD was horologist. It means a maker of clocks or watches. Example: The popular podcast S-Town delves into the life of a brilliant  if slightly demented  horologist named John B. McLemore.

Farmers Market

Fairy Stone State Park is hosting a planning meeting this Monday, to discuss its Farmers Market. Monday Market at Fairy Stone State Park is scheduled to open Monday, June 12, at Picnic Shelters 3 and 4 (Allied Picnic Area) and will be held each subsequent Monday evening this summer from 5-7 p.m. As in the past, vendors are being sought who produce agricultural products grown in Patrick County or adjoining counties. In addition to local farm products, this year the market is being expanded to include hand-made crafts. The planning meeting will take place Monday at Shelter 4 at 5 p.m. and more details will be provided. Those who cannot attend but are interested in participating can call 930-2424 for more information.

Conservation meeting

The Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District Board will meet on Monday at 5 p.m. at Ippys Restaurant and Lounge, North Main Street, Rocky Mount.

TODAY IS: National Picnic Day

Picnics hearken back to mid-18th century al fresco French dining, when people would venture outside with a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread, some cheese and fruit and enjoy a meal under the sky. Picnics are intended to be informal, relaxing affairs. The word picnic comes from the French piquenique, meaning a meal eaten outdoors.

Free meal

Smith Memorial United Methodist Church, 2703 Daniels Creek Road in Collinsville, will have a free community meal on Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

TRIVIA QUESTION: The phrase always a bridesmaid but never a bride is not a particularly old saying. It was invented in 1925 by an advertising agency to sell what product?

FRIDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: Since 1980, the diminutive Dr. Ruth Westheimer has been professionally dispensing, shall we say, advice of a personal nature. As a young woman in the late 1940s, Dr. Ruth learned that she had another surprising talent. What was it? The answer: She was a skilled sniper. Dr. Ruth was born Karola Ruth Siegel in Germany in 1928, the only child of an Orthodox Jewish couple. In 1939, her father was taken by the Nazis, and her mother and grandmother sent her to Switzerland to get her out of harms way. She never saw any of her family again; they were killed in the Holocaust. At 16, she moved to Israel and joined Haganah, an underground Jewish military organization. She served as a lookout and trained as a sniper, and while she never actually shot anyone, she was apparently a crack shot with a rifle. Even today, she has said, she can still load a Sten automatic rifle in a single minute while blindfolded. Her military career was cut short when she was seriously injured by cannon ball shrapnel in 1948. She moved to Paris and studied psychology at the Sorbonne, and later immigrated to the U.S. in 1956 and obtained her Masters in Sociology and a Ph.D. in education from Columbia University. A job with Planned Parenthood inspired her to study human sexuality, and the rest is history.
A six-alarm fire in Dorchester Sunday morning caused $2.5 million worth of damage to four buildings and displaced about 17 people.

Boston firefighters were called to Marie Street, the Fields Corner section of Dorchester, around 4 a.m. The first fire was reported at 8 Marie St. Firefighters arrived to find the rear porches engulfed in flames.

Wow, this video shows the intensity of the Marie Street fire in Dorchester this morning. (Sent to us by viewer Royfael) @fox25news pic.twitter.com/vqWih3BqEr  Jason Law (@JasonLawNews) April 23, 2017

Fire spread from the vacant building to two other nearby three-deckers on Marie Street. Several residents from 10 Marie St. and 6 Marie St. were displaced.

The rear side of a three-decker on Fox Street was also damaged. Fire officials said no residents were injured.

Good Command decisions made early at the 6 alarm fire. Protecting exposures, quick searches and aggressive firefighting.  Commissioner JoeFinn (@ChiefJoeFinn) April 23, 2017

The fire was under control by 5:30 a.m., but hot spots flared up a couple hours later. A firefighter suffered an ankle injury when firefighters put out the hot spots.

Investigators are working to determine the cause and origin of the blaze.
GREENFIELD - Vietnam veterans crammed into an auditorium at Greenfield Community College Saturday afternoon to hear about the health effects of one of the U.S. military's most infamous tools of combat during the Vietnam War: "Agent Orange."

"Orange" was a defoliant utilized by the U.S. military during the East Asia conflict as a method of clearing jungle vegetation--to destroy the habitat and natural line of defense of the Vietcong.

"Orange" was dropped from the sky in aerial spray campaigns and manually sprayed by U.S. soldiers. It is estimated that nearly 11 million gallons of the herbicide was sprayed between the 1962 and 1971, according to the VVA Self Help Guide, a pamphlet handed out at Saturday's forum. During the time it was sprayed, many soldiers found themselves exposed to it, though no official estimates exist as to how many veterans may suffer from its effects.

The forum Saturday was hosted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and designed to brief veterans on the resources available to them if they felt they suffered from conditions caused by the agent.

It was made clear that veterans who believed they suffered from health effects could seek "service-connected disability compensation," which would assist with paying for treatment related to potential side-effects.

Speakers included several medical professionals who discussed potential causes of specific health maladies associated with Agent Orange, as well as methods of care and lifestyle that could potentially alleviate them.

The list of possible health side effects associated with "Orange" is long. Numerous cancers, Type 2 Diabetes, Hodgkin's Disease, Multiple Myeloma, Parkinson's Disease, and Ischemic Heart Disease, are just some of many other potential diseases and crippling health effects resultant from exposure to the herbicide.

Many of these diseases were discussed by Rab Cross, M.D., a doctor with the Central Western Massachusetts Veterans Health Administration. These "presumptive conditions," or medical maladies that are considered to be connected to a veteran's service, are motives to apply for compensation, Cross said.

While there was a robust feeling of support for veterans at the event, there were also questions as to why the government hadn't provided better transparency and treatment to them.

Rick Weidman, Executive Director of Government Affairs with Vietnam Veterans of America, was one of the more vociferous critics to speak at the forum. He openly criticized the treatment that veterans had received from the government.

Weidman also argued that there was a small contingent of people within the government that had purposely kept information about the effects of "Orange" from veterans and from the wider public for a long time.

Weidman concluded, finally, that more resources needed to be put forward to making sure that soldiers get the care and the treatment they need after returning home. "If you can take us to war on a credit card, by God you can use that same credit card to take care of the men and women who fought that war, and their families," Weidman said, to widespread applause.
IRVINE, Calif., April 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Rick Letts has recently announced that the Department of Labor Office of Worker's Compensation (OWCP) has certified him and his clinic, the Pain Management Center of Irvine, to accept FECA employees who have been injured on the job. This certification is considered to be very prestigious and carries with it a serious responsibility to provide ethical, high-quality health care to federal employees.



With many types of insurance, it takes no more than a license to practice in order to accept them. The Department of Labor Office of Worker's Compensation (OWCP), on the other hand, requires medical professionals to pass their certification requirements before they will authorize payments to them and their health care centers. This helps protect patients and makes it so that a certified provider stands above those without the credential.

"Even though the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) allows agencies the right to examine a patient at their facilities, employees have the right to choose their own physicians for treatment. Qualifying medical disciplines include chiropractors as well as several others. As certified chiropractors, we should have no trouble working with the OWCP for worker's compensation claims," said Dr. Rick Letts of the Pain Management Center of Irvine.

There is one thing that patients should be aware of when filing worker's compensation claims for chiropractic care: The policy will only cover the detection and treatment of subluxations. The care needed that does not fall into this definition will not be covered by the OWCP's worker's compensation plan.

Those who do not get worker's compensation coverage through the OWCP can still use other forms of insurance at the Pain Management Center of Irvine. The clinic accepts multiple types of worker's compensation, standard medical insurance, Medicare, and other coverage types. The definition of a covered service may vary between insurers, so patients are welcome to call The Pain Management Center of Irvine, who can explain to them their eligible benefits.

About the Pain Management Center of Irvine

The Pain Management Center of Irvine offers chiropractic and other care designed to correct problems caused by occupational injuries, auto accidents, and other types of trauma. Their medical staff includes doctors of various disciplines so that they can provide all-encompassing health and wellness care.

Visit them online at http://chirocenterofirvine.com/ for additional details on their services, hours, and location.
There were fewer tables with rows upon rows of glass pipes, apparently replaced by booths with high-end technology that takes a pound of dried marijuana and extracts oil concentrate in 20 minutes.

Fewer t-shirts, more blazers.

On a rainy Saturday, hundreds of people packed the Hynes Convention Center for the third annual New England Cannabis Convention, months after Massachusetts voters broadly legalized marijuana for recreational use.

Attendees were not allowed to smoke or vape inside the center: Signs were posted outside the entrances and inside vestibules as reminders. The convention's main focus wasn't on smoking anyway, and centered instead on growing, cultivating and protecting the substance that remains illegal at the federal level.

One vendor touted a $1,995 machine that promised to vacuum-seal your stash, at a rate of 360 packages per hour. Another, Arch Solar of Portland, Maine, showed off a tiny model of the "Grow-Box," an hybrid indoor-outdoor greenhouse that seeks to take advantage of natural light in a bid to offer savings on energy costs. CannaCloud, based in Stoneham, Mass., seeks to become the "Keurig" of the marijuana world through a vaporizing system based on little pods.

But the industry still has a ways to go. The marijuana plants many vendors used to help model their indoor growing lights were plastic. The vacuum sealing machine's demo had broccoli inside instead of cannabis.

And inside the convention hall, people by and large declined to stop and chat with reporters. One man, who said he is an engineer, asked that his name not be used as he relayed how he's scouting out the technology on display for his wife. She's looking to start a grow facility in Massachusetts, he said.

Looking around the floor of the Hynes Center, he remarked that the scene appeared closer to an electronics convention or a medical conference than a gathering of marijuana enthusiasts.

Marijuana is legal in eight states, including the entire West Coast, Massachusetts, Nevada, Colorado, Alaska, and Maine. Legalization activists are hoping pass bills in six states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont in 2017 and 2018.

Medical marijuana is legal in more than half the country, including Massachusetts.

Nic Easley, CEO of Comprehensive Cannabis Consulting, offered attendees at the convention a rosy future for marijuana. "There will be fields in Iowa" full of marijuana where there was grain, he said.

"Start thinking about it as an agricultural commodity," he said.

Steve Flaks, vice president of sales at BioTrackTHC, a seed-to-sale software company, said he expects a "whole new wave" of people to get into the industry over the next few years, leading to a "professionalization" of the business.

"There's a big shift coming," he said during a panel on the marijuana industry.

That shift will extend to politics, activists say.

Kamani Jefferson, president of the nonprofit Massachusetts Recreational Consumer Council, said he previously didn't care about politics.

But now he's interested in keeping tabs on Massachusetts lawmakers who may change the law voters endorsed in November and the 2018 race for governor, since the executive branch will play a role in implementation of the law.

Gov. Charlie Baker opposed the ballot question that legalized marijuana, as did most elected officials across Massachusetts. They warning that it would bring a massive industry harmful to children, and as many pot shops as there are Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts stores.

"This industry's all politics," Jefferson said. "I care because I care about marijuana."
PALMER - Excessive speed is believed to be at least one cause of a crash that killed a man who slammed his car into a bridge abutment on Boston Road early Saturday morning.

A preliminary investigation by Palmer Police detectives showed a 2017 Infinity Q60 was traveling south on Boston Road at a high rate of speed when it crashed head-on into the concrete abutment of the Massachusetts Turnpike overpass, police said.

The driver, who was alone in the car, was ejected in the crash and the vehicle burst into flames. The victim has been tentatively identified as a man in his 30s. The State Medical Examiner's Office is scheduled to do an autopsy and will confirm the man's identity, Palmer Police said.

The name of the man will not be released until his identity is confirmed and his family is notified, police said.

The crash happened just before 3 a.m. and the road, also known as Route 67, was closed for about four hours while police examined the crash site. Palmer Police are being assisted by the Massachusetts State Police Crash Analysis Reconstruction Section.
The man accused of assaulting a woman at the Lechmere Station in Cambridge while she chaperoned a group of young students has turned himself in, according to the MTBA Transit Police.

Authorities have not released the man's name, but they announced on Twitter Saturday that he turned himself in.

The woman was chaperoning a group of first and second-graders on a field trip. The group took the MBTA home when the suspect got on at North Station.

The man had a dog with him. The woman asked "politely" if the man could keep the dog away from the children. The man shouted at the woman and used obscene language, the MBTA Transit Police said.

"The suspect also threatened to 'kill' the victim and bragged of 'killing people' for less," authorities said. "Upon arrival at Lechmere station the suspect male physically assaulted the victim and left the area towards the direction of CambridgeSide Galleria."
WEST SPRINGFIELD West Springfield police and Massachusetts State Police detectives swarmed the Wentworth Estates Condominium complex in West Springfield after an apparent officer-involved shooting.

One person was transported from the scene of the shooting with multiple gunshot wounds, Sgt. Brian Pomeroy confirmed. Pomeroy said the injured individual is not a police officer. West Springfield police did not have information about the wounded person's condition at about 3:30 a.m.

Pomeroy could not confirm that the shooting involved a member of the West Springfield police force.

The shooting took place in a parking area accessed by a driveway from Colony Road into the complex. A number of yellow evidence cones mark where spent shell casings fell during the shooting.

The incident began shortly before 1 a.m when a West Springfield officer on patrol attempted to stop a black Lexus traveling at a high rate of speed, Pomeroy said. The car did not stop and led several patrol vehicles to a point near the intersection of Colony Road and Cold Spring Avenue. There the suspect used his car to ram four West Springfield cruisers, injuring several officers and damaging the police cars. The suspect drove away in his badly damaged car.

Several officers suffered injuries in the crashes, but Pomeroy said none are believed to be serious.

The suspect didn't get very far, however. Police found the Lexus abandoned in an open lot near 52 York St., several hundred yards from the original scene. But the suspect had disappeared.

Joe Felsentreder said he was sitting out on his Exposition Avenue porch at about 1 a.m. when the gunfire erupted.

"I was just sitting there and I heard a string of six shots, and it sounded close," he said. "Then the shooting stopped and I heard a crash. It was quiet after that."

For at least 45 minutes, police scoured the streets in that area of the town but were unable to find the suspect, described as a black male, perhaps in his late 20s or early 30s.

About 45 minutes later, Felsentreder said he heard a lot of shots.

"It was maybe five, six, seven, eight shots or more," he said.

Donna and David live close to the shooting scene. They asked not to have their full names published. Both agree with Felsentreder.

"I saw the car and the police car turn into the project. Then I heard the shots," David said. "I heard the crash."

Donna said from her window she could see the suspect run toward the project's pool area just before the shooting.

"First I heard maybe six or seven shots," she said. "Then I heard someone shout, 'On the ground or I will shoot.' Then there was eight shots and a pause then three more shots."

At about that time, an officer broadcast across the West Springfield police radio frequency that multiple gunshots had been fired. Then he requested an ambulance for "multiple gunshot wounds."

Every member of the West Springfield Police Department is on duty Sunday morning and along with State Police detectives continue the investigation.

The headline and article were changed on April 25, 2017 to update details reported while the story was breaking
MANSFIELD, CT - A man robbed a Subway restaurant and attempted to rob a gas station within 20 minutes other Friday night.

Connecticut State Police are asking for the public's help to identify the suspect in the back-to-back crimes that happened in Mansfield and then North Windham. He is described as Hispanic, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a medium build. He was wearing a dark-colored bulky winter jacket, grey sweatpants and white sneakers in both crimes.

At about 8:40 p.m., Friday, the suspect entered the Mobil Gas Station at 9 Stafford Road, pulled out a handgun and demanded money. The store clerk refused and the suspect fled, police said.

About 20 minutes later the same suspect walked into the Subway on 361 Boston Post Road in North Windham, implied he had a gun and demanded money. The man fled after being given an undisclosed amount of money, police said.

"The suspect in both the Mansfield attempted robbery and the North Windham armed robbery are believed to be the same person," police said.

The two businesses are located about 8 miles apart.

Anyone who may have information about either crime or can identify the suspect is asked to call detectives at 860-896-3236 or text TIP711 with any information to 274637. All calls and texts will remain confidential, police said.
SPRINGFIELD -- At the risk of sounding cliched, Daniel Almodovar-Vazquez said he is turning his life around.

After spending his teens going between foster houses and juvenile detention facilities, and his late teens and early 20s in state prison for assault and battery and carjacking, Almodovar-Vazquez said now -- for perhaps the first time in his life -- he has plans.

Long-term, big-picture plans.

"My brother used to say a man without a plan is planning to fail," he said.

Dressed in dark gray pinstripe suit coat and a purple shirt with a collar that almost hides his neck tattoos, Almodovar-Vazquez, 23, of Springfield, said he is allowing himself to believe he has a future, one that includes a career as a carpenter, as well as a home of his own and a stable family life.

This, he said, is a full 180-degree reversal from his frame of mind two years ago when he got out of prison after his assault and carjacking sentence.

"I didn't have a plan whatsoever," he said. "I was lost."

The difference between then and now, he said, is Roca.

"Roca helped me to set small goals, and over time they went from small goals to big goals and bigger goals," he said. "Without them, I think it's possible I would have ended up back in jail."

Roca Inc. is an outreach organization that operates in 21 communities from four locations statewide, including Springfield. Publicly and privately funded, Roca works to provide both direction and life skills to young men ages 17 to 23 who are considered at high risk of either going to or returning to prison.

Its slogan: "Less jail, more future."

The Springfield chapter of Roca works with people like Almodovar-Vazquez who have been released from jail, but it also begins reaching out to inmates at the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow before they are released. Up to 8 weeks before they are released from the Ludlow facility or transferred to any of its transitional programs, inmates begin going through group counseling with Roca staff.

This helps establish a relationship with counselors who can then aid them after they are released.

"Life hits them at 100 mph when they get out," said Christine Judd, director of Roca Springfield.

"A job, housing, just so many things. Just getting them talking helps with the anxiety," she said.

Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi said he is fully behind Roca and its efforts in the jail because he is convinced it can help lessen the chances that someone completing a sentence will reoffend.

Roca and its goal of rehabilitating high-risk young men with criminal histories dovetails nicely into what Cocchi and his predecessor, Michael Ashe, see as the role of the jail.

"We have the same goal in mind, to have these young offenders re-entering and returning to our community as productive and law-abiding citizens," Cocchi said.

Martha Sager-Cutt, program manager for Roca Springfield, said beginning the work while inmates are still in jail creates a near-seamless transition from pre- to post-release.

"We pick them up on the day they are released and bring them to our building," she said.

The group sessions behind the wall focus on good decision making and the consequences of actions. This continues on the outside, but there is also an emphasis on life skills, healthy habits and how to respond when provoked. Counselors also work on substance-abuse and mental health issues, preparation for high school equivalency exams, and career training and vocational skills.

"We're a little bit of a one-stop shop," Sager-Cutt said.

Which is how Almodovar-Vazquez is now on his way to becoming a state-certified carpenter.

When Almodovar-Vazquez started with Roca a few months after his release, it was at the urging of his parole officer. "My PO advised me that this is a good place to check out. He said, 'Go check it out because it can help you.'"

For the first few months he was put on a painting crew that worked at public parks in communities around the area, which also brought him out of Springfield for one of the few times in his life.

Then he was put on a three-man crew assigned to demolish the interior of two storage buildings in the rear of the Roca property on School Street. After they tore it all down, they were assigned the job of building it back up. One of the buildings is now a woodworking shop and the other houses offices.

It took a year from start to finish, and from it Almodovar-Vazquez emerged with both a love of carpentry and the satisfaction that comes from a job well done.

When it was completed a year ago in January, Roca scheduled a grand opening celebration with a ribbon cutting ceremony that was attended by Mayor Domenic Sarno, District Attorney Anthony Gulluni and officials with the Sheriff's Department.

"There were a lot of people. It was a good feeling," Almodovar-Vazquez said.

On the entrance to the woodworking shop, there's a large plaque bearing Almodovar-Vazquez's name and those of crewmates Jose Bermudez and Dennis Rodriguez, as well as their supervisor Jack Cascio.

Almodovar-Vazquez beams with pride when he sees it and thinks about the work they did.

"The building was commemorated in our names," he said. "I was like, 'I got a building in my name. I can always go back and say this is my building. I built this.'"

After that, Almodovar-Vazquez wanted to continue with carpentry, so the Roca staff prepared him for the state certification exam and even drove him to Milbury to take it.

He's now an apprentice carpenter, a four-year process, and after that has his eyes set on gaining his journeyman carpenter certification.

"I like carpentry and I love it. Carpentry is something that I would work to do," he said. "I would do it for work for the rest of my life."

People enroll in Roca for four years. It starts off intensively with people meeting counselors face to face two to five times a week.

With progress comes more responsibility. After two years, the near-daily meetings are reduced to a few times a month. But to reach that point, a person needs to demonstrate some stability in their life: regular employment, stable housing, an upright lifestyle.

Sager-Cutt and Judd each said one aspect of Roca that is different is that the program does not easily let go of people enrolled -- even if the people want to let go of Roca.

"If they fall off the radar, we don't just go, 'Oh well, I guess they don't want our services,'" Sager-Cutt said. "We go out looking for them and get them back in the building."

Almodovar-Vazquez said that prior to the moment when it all clicked for him, he had what he called a couple of "relapses" where he stopped going to Roca and started falling back upon the old ways that got him in jail.

"I got tired of everything and disappeared for a month or two," he said. "And Roca was at my door almost every day saying, 'Come back, come back, come back.'"

At the office on School Street, the front lobby is ringed with GED certificates earned by those in the program. There's also a small plaque bearing the names of those who have completed the program.

Almodovar-Vazquez said if all goes as planned his name will also be on that plaque in two years.

"Not a lot of people care about criminals. Not a lot of people give you a second chance," he said. "You can only go so far when people are pushing you down. But when people are lifting you up, you can keep climbing to the top."
HOLYOKE -- The City Council is researching what other communities have done in erecting memorials to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America in planning a monument here.

"I filed this order because one of the things I think we always have to do is honor our past...I think the city of Holyoke definitely should have one (9/11 memorial)," said James M. Leahy, chairman of the Council's Public Service Committee.

The committee discussed the proposal on April 12 at City Hall with members of the Holyoke Soldiers' Memorial Commission.

The sacrifices made in responding to the 9/11 attacks were made by first-responders and civilians, so an appropriate spot to place a memorial would be at a fire station instead of a military-related venue like Veterans Park, the veterans told the committee.

"When you think of 9/11, you think of first-responders. For the most part it's really a civilian and police officer type of day," commission member Paul E. Seifert said.

"We're 100 percent behind it," commission member James B. J. Hoar said. "It's just that we want to make sure it goes to the appropriate place."

Leahy told the veterans that placing such a monument in front of a fire station was a good idea.

"See that's why we have you here," Leahy said.

No funding has been appropriated for a 9/11 memorial at this point. Hoar suggested the city seek grants.

The committee asked Ryan Allen, City Council administrative aide, to find what other communities have done for 9/11 memorials and report back in a few months. Committee member Howard B. Greaney Jr. said perhaps the Holyoke Fire Commission could help.

The city also should contact U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, for help in establishing a 9/11 memorial, Leahy said.

On that morning in 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners. Two were crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C. and the fourth in an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The attacks killed about 3,000 people.

Westfield has a 9/11 Monument on North Elm Street honoring three Whip City natives killed at the World Trade Center: Tara Kathleen Shea Creamer, Brian Joseph Murphy and Daniel Patrick Trant. Creamer was aboard one of two commercial planes that flew into the Twin Towers while Murphy and Trant were at work during the attack.

Sons of Erin in Westfield also has a monument to Creamer, Murphy and Trant on its grounds at 22 William St.
WEST SPRINGFIELD  A West Springfield police officer shot and wounded a man Sunday morning after the suspect crashed his car into several cruisers.

West Springfield Sgt. Brian Pomeroy said the suspect was taken to the Baystate Medical Center after the 1:45 a.m. shooting near the community pool in the Wentworth Condominium complex on Colony Road.

The incident started shortly before 1 a.m., when the suspect , who was driving at a high rate of speed, refused to stop for a police officer. The suspect led police to the intersection of Colony Road and Cold Spring Avenue, where he used his black Lexus to ram several cruisers, injuring officers and damaging the cars.

Pomeroy said none of the officers suffered serious injuries.

The suspect didn't get far. He abandoned his damaged car in a lot near 52 York St., several hundred yards from the initial scene, and took off on foot. Police scoured the area but were unable to find him until about 45 minutes later, when he showed up in the condominium complex parking area.

A woman, who lives near the shooting scene and asked not to be identified by name, said she heard shouting, then gunfire.

"I looked out my window and saw a man run toward the pool," she said. "Then I heard someone shout, 'On the ground or I'll shoot.' Then I heard eight shots and a pause, then three more."

A dozen or more evidence markers sat in the grass next to the pool entrance, apparently marking where spent shell casings were located after the shooting. Similar evidence cones marked casings found at the intersection of Cold Spring Avenue and Colony Road about 100 yards away.

Massachusetts State Police detectives and West Springfield police cordoned off areas at the two scenes as they investigate the incident.

WWLP-TV reported that West Springfield police have confirmed that the shooting did involve an officer.

The headline and article were changed on April 25, 2017 to update details reported while the story was breaking
WEST SPRINGFIELD -- Authorities have not released much information about the police officer and the suspect he allegedly shot and wounded early Sunday morning in West Springfield.

"Unfortunately, I can't give you anything other than what we have put out," West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurciani told The Republican in an email today.

"The DA's office has asked that all media inquiries go through them," Campurciani said.

Jim Leydon, communications director for Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, declined to comment on the incident immediately. He said more information would be released later.

The officer shot and wounded the man after the suspect fired at officers and crashed his car into several cruisers, police said. Officers were injured in the incident, but not by the gunfire, according to authorities, who continue to investigate.

Sgt. Brian Pomeroy said the suspect was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield for emergency treatment. An update on his condition was unavailable.

The shooting occurred around 1:45 a.m. near the community pool in the Wentworth Estates Condominiums at 1600 Memorial Ave., just across from the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition.

The incident began shortly before 1 a.m., when a black Lexus driving at a high rate of speed refused to stop for an officer, police said.

The suspect led officers to the intersection of Colony Road and Cold Spring Avenue, where he rammed several cruisers, injuring officers and damaging their cars.

The suspect also fired several shots before fleeing, police said.

The suspect abandoned his damaged car near 52 York St., several hundred yards from the initial scene, and continued to flee on foot. Police located him about 45 minutes later at the condo complex, which is bounded by Memorial Avenue and River Street.

"I looked out my window and saw a man run toward the pool," said a witness, who declined to give her full name. "Then I heard someone shout, 'On the ground or I'll shoot.' Then I heard eight shots and a pause, then three more."

Massachusetts State Police detectives are assisting with the investigation.
A 54-year-old man serving a life sentence for the 1990 murder of a man inside a Worcester rooming house over a case of beer was denied parole after he said he had no involvement in the slaying.

Shakir Abdullah, who was formerly known as Dennis Shelton, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the Jan. 8, 1990 shooting death of Greg White. A Worcester County Superior Court jury found him guilty in August 1991.

Abdullah was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder.

In a recently released state Parole Board decision, authorities said Abdullah, then 28, and his co-defendant, Emmanuel Gee, robbed White at gunpoint for a case of beer then shot him in the chest.

"These atrocities occurred in a common bathroom in a boarding house in Worcester," the decision said. "Shortly after the shooting, Mr. Abdullah and Mr. Gee attempted to rob a female at the same address."

Abdullah was found guilty of assault to rob and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in the robbery case. He was sentenced to 6-to-10-years on those charges.

Abdullah appeared before the Parole Board in October and was represented by a Northeastern University Law School student. At the hearing, he denied any role in the killing and robbery.

"He still maintains, however, that he did not take part in the murder of the victim or the assault and attempted robbery of the female," the Parole Board decision states.

Abdullah made the same statements during parole hearings in 2005 and 2010.

When asked why he was convicted of both crimes, Abdullah said he was at the rooming house the day of the murder, but left before the shooting. He did not know why the robbery victim identified him as the suspect.

Abdullah, according to the decision, believes he was mistakenly identified as the person involved. He believed evidence in the trial was manipulated.

During his 26 years in prison, Abdullah was disciplined three times, the last infraction taking place in 2003. At the hearing, Abdullah said becoming a devout Muslim helped him rehabilitate.

The Parole Board found that Abdullah only began participating in rehabilitation programs in 2010, after his last hearing.

"The Board continues to have concerns with his inability to take responsibility for his actions and his inconsistent statements regarding the governing offenses," the board wrote.
DUARTE, Calif., April 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To get under the gum line and perform a thorough oral health assessment, many veterinarians recommend a pet dental cleaning performed while the pet is under anesthesia. Pets enjoy a less stressful experience and benefit from a more comprehensive cleaning when using anesthesia. Regular dental cleanings are important in order to remove the plaque and tartar buildup that can lead to gum disease. However, without anesthesia, pets do not benefit from a thorough cleaning as bacteria likely remains below the gum line. Duarte Azusa Animal Hospital dispels the misconceptions surrounding anesthetic pet dental cleanings to allow pet owners to make a more informed choice.



According to the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC), it is recommended that pets are put under anesthesia for their dental cleanings. Anesthesia Free Dentistry or No Anesthesia Dentistry (NAD) may be available at local animal hospitals or clinics; however, this method is not the best approach for improving and maintaining the oral health of a pet.

With anesthetic-free pet cleanings, it is not possible for a pet to receive the deep cleaning necessary or an assessment of gum condition and developing pockets that may detect the existence or progress of gingivitis or periodontitis. After an anesthesia-free cleaning, the teeth above the surface of the gum line may appear whiter, however, the bacteria and plaque under the gum line has not been removed and continues to undermine a pets oral health. When gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, pets may experience unnecessary pain and tooth loss, making it difficult to chew and play. Thorough anesthetic pet dental cleanings and daily tooth brushing and homecare support optimal oral health results.

Anesthesia helps providers perform a thorough cleaning. Pets are put under and do not suffer stress with restraints often used during NAD. Use of anesthesia during a cleaning allows pet owners to get a better evaluation of any symptoms of gum disease and receive the scaling needed to improve oral health in a beloved pet.



Pet owners need to be aware of the difference that anesthetic pet dental cleaning can make when it comes to the oral health of a pet, said Dr. Rahim Zabihi. We often see signs of gum disease in pets and the deep cleaning and assessment that happens during an anesthetic pet dental cleaning can effectively prevent and treat such conditions.

Dr. Rahim Zabihi, owner and primary veterinarian and surgeon at Duarte Azusa Animal Hospital, serves pets and owners in Duarte and Azusa. This full-service small animal hospital offers pets and their owners the highest standards of veterinary excellence. Services include new pet exams, puppy and kitten care, pet dentistry, general and orthopedic surgery, anesthesia, and wellness care.

Call (626) 357-2251 to learn about anesthetic pet dental cleaning services or visit http://duarteazusaanimalhospital.com/ for more information.
This Earth Day, I am pleased to celebrate our outdoor heritage and the values we share as Montanans. Montana is a vast and diverse state with mountains, canyons, river valleys, forests, grassy plains, badlands, and caverns, making it rich in beauty and resources.

These lands play a significant role in our way of life. These lands are our heritage. These lands are our birthright. I am a big believer that the people who live in Montana know whats best to protect our land, our clean air and water. Its part of who we are.

I want Montana to always be the place you can find the cleanest air, the freshest water, and the healthiest folks in the nation. Clean air is your right, and as Governor of the state, it is my responsibility to ensure that right. Thats why I am committed to moving Montanas energy industry into the future. Its the right thing to do. When our children and grandchildren are all grown up, I want them to be able to look back and say we took the necessary steps to get this right.

Our job is to accomplish these steps in the short-term while building a sustainable energy solution for the long-term. My Energy Blueprint charts a course to do just that. We cant just sit back and wait for other people to have ideas and then react to them. Our job is to act on ideas. Ideas like relying more on renewable energy. We can drive economic growth while realizing the potential for wind, solar, and hydro, and improving energy efficiency. We can continue to improve Montanas traditional base of energy while sparking a new generation of clean technology businesses.

Montanans should determine our energy future, one that safeguards our quality of life and environment. My administration continues to fight for Montanas constitutional right to a "clean and healthful" environment and oppose any efforts that would lead to selling off Montanas public lands. I work hard every day to make sure my children, and all future generations, can enjoy the same Montana we all grew up with.

On this Earth Day, lets send a message that Montanas future is worth protecting  our clean air and water, our abundant wildlife, and our access to public lands. The future of the Treasure State deserves no less.

Sincerely,

STEVE BULLOCK

Governor
Teachers from all across Montana gathered in Helena to expand their knowledge of science on Friday.

The S.T.E.A.M education workshop, short for Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics, taught hands on activities to bring back to their classrooms. Some of the topics they dove into  sound and frequency.

By Lindsey Ford

Full Story: http://www.kpax.com/story/35217123/montana-teachers-gather-for-steam-education-workshop
Debra Kraner spent two years figuring out how farmers can do a better job growing medicinal herbs so theyre as potent as wild herbs, and now shes sharing her results with national and international audiences.

Kraner, 24, a junior majoring in sustainable food and bioenergy systems, will get to present her findings this summer in China, where people are overharvesting wild herbs. Her research found that when herbs like basil and mint are stressed and have to struggle, they work a little harder and turn out more medicinal compounds than if theyre pampered.

By Gail Schontzler Chronicle Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/montana_state_university/msu-students-research-ranges-from-brain-waves-to-carnegie-rating/article_4a3d2370-53e1-5df5-9e33-e57c35c76073.html
Bozemans five-member city commission decided unanimously Thursday that it will use a national search firm to help find a replacement for former City Manager Chris Kukulski.

City Human Resources Director Bethany Jorgenson told the body a search firms services will probably cost the city between $20,000 and $25,000, but advised the investment would bring the city a broader pool of applicants as it looks for its next top administrator.

"Its just critical that we do this," said Commissioner Jeff Krauss. "Its a once-every-13-year thing lately, and you want to do it right."



"This is the time," he said, "to use an expert."

By Eric Dietrich Chronicle Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/city/commission-will-use-search-firm-to-help-find-bozeman-s/article_6ec1659c-5439-50ed-bf71-4e8e38825ab9.html
While Montana might be known internationally for recreational jewels such as Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, Native Americans say the state needs to do more to develop and promote its vast tribal lands as tourist destinations.

Some lawmakers want the state to invest more into drawing visitors to places of historical and cultural importance to the states Indian tribes  not only to spark entrepreneurship but also help outsiders better understand Native Americans.

"Folks want to come, and they want to see Native American people, and see our culture, and learn about our history. I think thats going to create income when they come flying in," said Democratic state Sen. Lea Whitford, who represents Browning and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. "Its just going to increase the flow of dollars into the state."

By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN Associated Press

Full Story: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/ap_news/montana/montana-lawmakers-seek-to-make-native-america-a-destination/article_176333bf-0a55-5250-9658-cf70ace8ed30.html
"People recognize clusters are good things because they help build networks, but clusters are also hard on businesses," Ketels said at his talk April 5. "They force companies to compete for talent and to move quickly to innovate before someone else with a similar idea jumps into their growing market."

Innovation, wages and employment growth can be found in industry clusters around the United States. Idaho needs to work on its clusters, Christian Ketels, principal associate at Harvard Business School, told Idaho industry and economic development leaders at an Idaho Technology Council event.

An industry cluster is a group of companies from the same field in close proximity to each other. One example is the social media cluster in Silicon Valley where Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram all have headquarters. A smaller cluster is the food processing industry in Idahos Magic Valley.

By: Benton Alexander Smith

Full Story: http://idahobusinessreview.com/2017/04/21/harvard-professor-stop-incentivizing-out-of-state-companies-and-build-up-idaho-ones/
HAMILTON, Bermuda, April 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An American university has chosen Bermuda as its domicile for the first known student-run captive insurance company.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f0cd6ce8-ef9e-4cc6-aa6f-56f9615bfec7

Students enrolled in the Davey Risk Management & Insurance Program at Butler Universitys Lacy School of Business in Indianapolis, IN, were granted licensing approval from the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) this month to launch the captive, which will self-insure a variety of risks for the university, including its celebrity mascot, a bulldog, and its fine art collection. MJ Student-Run Insurance Company Ltd, to formally open for business this August, is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.

Were the first university I know of to have a student-run captive, said Zach Finn, Clinical Professor and Director of the four-year programme he helped launch in 2012. Other universities have told us weve now disrupted the marketthat we are basically akin to the first finance programme to have students manage an endowment. Many believe that in the next 20 years, this will be the standard for insurance and risk education.

Butler students and faculty received the news from the BMA this month during a five-day visit to the island in which they also met with members of industry and the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA).

Butlers recognition reaffirms the fact of Bermudas top-tier qualities; its independent analysis validates what many in the risk solutions industry have long determined, said BDA CEO Ross Webber. The students research and application is a wonderful endorsement of Bermudas strengths, responsiveness and robust, agile regulation. These attributes have made our jurisdiction the worlds leading captive domicile for several decades.

Students also met with service providers Aon, KPMG and Conyers law firm, companies they had selected to work with to create, launch and manage the captive.

It has been a privilege to partner with Butler University and assist with the formation and management of what is believed to be the first US student-led insurance company, said Anup Seth, Managing Director of Aon Insurance Managers Bermuda.

The project took shape at Butler last year when Professor Finn, who previously worked as a risk manager and risk analyst, assigned students an objective comparison of insurance domiciles both in the United States and overseas. Two groups of students each were assigned five competing markets for which they conducted analyses on capitalisation, premium and excise taxes, and other standard comparisons. Finn then asked them to contact the regulators of each domicile to check responsiveness. Bermuda and Vermont were the only two domiciles that got back to uswithin four hours, he said.

Students ultimately made Bermuda their top choice because of its mature market and sophisticated infrastructure. In a captive feasibility study, they noted Bermuda is the oldest and most established captive domicile in the world and one of the largest international markets for insurance. They added: The main advantage that sets Bermuda above [other domiciles] is the regulatory environmentand the access to professional infrastructure. The regulatory environment is robust, yet flexible, as the regulation is risk-based.

The opportunity to have our students come down here and interface with a large swath of the global reinsurance market is unbelievably powerful, said Finn, whose team then worked with Conyers to set up the captive as a legal entity, did an RFP for a captive manager, selecting Aon, and worked with KPMG to develop five-year pro-forma financial statements.

We identified risks we might want to write and underwrote those. We identified loss-control recommendations and specimen policies and talked about rating and audit, and just everything, said Finn. Im a big believer that all business education should be a mix of academic and experiential.

Bermuda is the top global captive jurisdiction, home to close to 800 captive insurance companies, supporting primarily Fortune 500 corporations in the US, and generating over $55 billion in annual gross written premiums.

Butlers student-run captive concept is an extremely innovative idea, noted Eric Heinrichs, Managing Director, KPMG Bermuda. Its no surprise theyve identified Bermuda as the best domicile for their captive, and Im very excited to be working with this great group of students.

Conyers is very excited to work alongside the students and staff of Butler University. The Butler team is both knowledgeable and energetic, which has made it a pleasure to work with them on this very hands-on initiative, said Conyers Associate Jacqueline King. We look forward to continuing to work with them.

The Bermuda captive will insure the schools mascot, celebrity English bulldog Butler Blue III, nicknamed Trip, which has 20,000 Twitter followers, as well as Butlers bomb-sniffing dog, Marcus. It will also cover all other student-run start-ups at the university and Butlers fine-art collection.

This was the coolest project I have been a part of in my four years at Butler, said Brad Weber, 22, who, after graduating next month begins his first jobas a risk analyst with a manufacturing multinational serving the aerospace industry.

This captive was formed to change the way insurance is taught in schools and help alleviate the current talent crisis in the insurance industry, he said. Its already serving that purpose.

CONNECTING BUSINESS

The BDA encourages direct investment and helps companies start up, re-locate or expand their operations in our premier jurisdiction. An independent, public-private partnership, we connect you to industry professionals, regulatory officials, and key contacts in the Bermuda government to assist domicile decisions. Our goal? To make doing business in Bermuda smooth and beneficial.
CLEARWATER, Fla., April 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Church of Scientologys Information Center in Downtown Clearwater announces that its doors are open to religious studies students to learn about one of the worlds fastest growing religions. The center is open from 10am-9:30pm Monday through Wednesday, 10am-8pm Thursday & Friday, and 1pm-9:30pm Saturdays and Sundays.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed16dbd5-4ad8-4dbb-a8d5-fa5aabe237eb

Since the beginning of the New Year, the center has welcomed several groups of students from some of the St. Pete College Campuses for their comparative religions classes, as well as students from out of state visiting Clearwater for vacation. A student from Georgia also called in to do an interview about Scientology for her school article and was also assisted with information for her assignment.

Were happy to answer questions and provide information for the community. There really arent any dumb questions. This center is a great location where anyone is able to find out for themselves and was established for that reason, said Information Center Manager, Amber Skjelset.

As an example, during the last Blast Friday several students walked into the center asking Ms. Skjelset, Would it be OK if I asked you a few questions? The student added he originally was a member of the Nation of Islam and that they were all interested in learning about Scientology for their class. The other young men were from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, each with their own list of questions for their assignments.

Ms. Skjelset helped provide basic information from the centers gallery of exhibits which contain videos presentations about basic concepts of Dianetics, Scientology, Churches around the world and the life of Mr. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientologys founder.

Wow! This was so helpful! Thank you so much for your time answering our questions  we really appreciate it, said the students, who each received a DVD, Introduction to Scientology, a videoed interview of L. Ron Hubbard, Scientologys founder, answering common questions about Scientology.

The Center welcomes individuals and classes to visit daily with no appointment necessary. For more information please contact Amber Skjelset, Manager of the Scientology Information Center, at 727-467-6966 or e-mail her at amber@cos.flag.org.

About the Church of Scientology:

The Scientology religion was founded by humanitarian and philosopher, L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in the United States in 1954 and has expanded to more than 11,000 churches, missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 nations. Scientologists are optimistic about life and believe there is hope for a saner world and better civilization, and actively do all they can to help achieve this. Based on L. Ron Hubbards words, A community that pulls together can make a better society for all.

Photo caption: Visitors enjoy the welcome at the Scientology Information Center in downtown Clearwater, Florida
Its almost every day that I come across new music, through some way or the other. Its like an addiction. Like when youre out of your stash and you go out in search of some new stuff. Thats exactly what its like. And the thing about music is that it only gets better when its shared with everyone.

So, heres a list of the 10 songs that Ive been listening to this week. Now, these are largely latest releases by current artists and bands. But, theyre either lesser known to most of us, or the music is insanely good enough to guarantee a spot on the list. So, in short, you should check it out.

1. Kissing Strangers  DNCE

We know them from Cake By The Ocean; a song that is wild and crazy and all parts fun. Kissing Strangers is just as good if not better. The lyrics are smart and play out really well for the likes of us. Youll even find a hint of their signature rhythm and melody in the groove.

2. Hard Times  Paramore

Hayley Williams is back with her band Paramore after more than a year and were so glad to have her back, honestly. Before signing off the last time, the band gave us Aint It Fun and it was the best song on our playlists for a while because it appealed to our Rebel with a Cause side, blatantly. Hard Times is just as good and has a unique rhythm and tune of its own. Paramore knows how to change things up like that.

3. Emoji Of A Wave  John Mayer

Where do I even start with this guy? I mean, his voice in itself can give women all sorts of spasms and men all sorts of complexities, no kidding. But, its the lyrics, the tune, the instruments and the feel of each of his song that sets you into a whole other zone completely. His latest album comes after John Mayers stint quite a few years ago and were so glad because The Search For Everything is gold! And its this particular song that is the magic of it all.

4. What Do I Know  Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheerans Divide has been creating waves ever since it released, for obvious reasons. Its by far, one of Sheerans best projects ever. And each track supersedes the previous one; I mean theres so much variety in terms of music, lyrics, rhythm and genre that Im pretty amazed at the versatility of Ed Sheeran as a musician. This is one of the lesser known ones, when compared to a Galway Girl, or Shape Of You but is so good its almost unfair you dont know it yet. But, hey, what do I know?

5. Oh Man Oh Woman  London Grammar

London Grammar is one of the sickest groups I know for the contemporary music, filled with soulful vocals and hard-hitting lyrics. Youd probably know Hey Now to be one of their most popular tracks. Its been remixed by some of the best Dance musicians in the world, too. Their music is seriously something you should listen to if youve been looking for edgy and soulful with a hint of electronic that isnt too obvious. This particular song by the groupone of their latest releasesis whats on the charts right now and its as amazing as most of their previously popular tracks!

6. Done  The Band Perry

The Band Perry became popular for the hit track If I Die Younga country song talking about death of a young soul. It climbed the charts so soon and stayed there and has come to remain one of the popular cult songs for youngsters, even now. Its a beautiful song, really. But, this particular track takes a complete 180 spin on its predecessor. Its country badass at its besttalking about breakups with a zero-fucks-given attitude. Its bloody awesome.

7. Attention  Charlie Puth

Its deviously good. Puth is one of the contemporary young guys whose voice is as good, if not better than, his looks. And he does justice to it too. If youve heard See You Again, One Call Away and Marvin Gaye, forget about those tracks for a bit. Attention is much more mature, a song and gives you a peak at what Charlie Puth is actually capable of, aside from being the nice guy with the cutesy songs. Its one of those songs you could imagine play at a sultry do.

8. Passport Home  JP Cooper

His track, September Song is one that most of you would know to be more popular. Passport Home is one of his more recent tracks and its mellow, with a subtle punch of emotion. Its very current in its rhythm; gives you a little of an old school R&B song. Its really a soulful song with all the right words.

9. Spirits  The Strumbellas

I stumbled upon this one on my brothers playlist some weeks ago. And ever since this track has been stuck in my head. Its not just the lyrics, or the way the song kickstarts. Its about every break, the way its been sung and the way it hits you in the head.

10. No Regrets  Magic!

They rose to popularity with Rude and it was a favourite for every boy and girl, hoping to elope the fun way. What I like is that these guys bring a very subtle variation to each of their progressive songs. This last one is all guitar and acoustic and its a beautiful song. Very different from Rude, or Red Dress. Its something different and yet, you can almost tell its by them.
Air travel! It's an unending nightmare which manages to turn the incredible achievement of human flight into an experience to dread each time you embark on it. In the latest setback to the idea of ever getting on an airplane again, a passenger on a Delta plane found an air marshal's gun in the bathroom of a flight from England to New York. Oops!

CNN reports that a passenger onboard Flight 221 from Manchester to New York found the loaded gun in the plane's bathroom on April 6. Rather than keep it around as a self-defense measure in case of fisticuffs-throwing crew, the passenger gave the weapon to a member of the flight crew, who then returned it to the air marshal. No harm, no foul I guess.

Delta and TSA wouldn't talk about the incident with CNN, only telling the news organization that they were aware that yes, someone just casually left a loaded gun on an airplane. Current and former air marshals blamed the screw up on a culture that throws untrained agents into unsupervised situations they might not be prepared for.

"Air marshals work in punishing conditions, labor under poor leadership and have seen their law enforcement functions curtailed by an administration that lacks vision. The problem is not the air marshals, it's the TSA," John Casaretti, the president of the Air Marshal Association, told CNN.
At 11:00 on Tuesday, 25 April, Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos will deliver the opening address at an event being held in Athens, at the Foreign Ministry's Giannos Kranidiotis Amphitheatre, to present the actions planned for 2017, as well as those carried out in 2016, to bolster the extrovert character of the Greek economy.

The Secretary General for International Economic Relations, Giorgos Tsipras, will also participate in the event, focusing on the overall plan and priorities for economic diplomacy. Finally, Foreign Ministry officials will provide detailed presentations of specific outward-looking actions for bolstering international business-to-business cooperation and actions in the energy sector.
Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias today met with the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is in Athens to participate in the Ancient Civilizations Forum, which is taking place tomorrow at Zappeion Megaron.

During the meeting, which took place at the Foreign Ministry, the two ministers discussed international and regional issues, as well as matters concerning the two countries' bilateral cooperation.
Ladies and Gentlemen Ministers,

Conference Attendees,

Dear Friends,

I welcome you to Athens, to the opening session of the Academic Conference being held in the context of the Ancient Civilizations Forum, the proceedings of which are being carried out for the first time, on the initiative of the Greek government and, in particular, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

All of us share the good fortune and the responsibility of a cultural heritage thousands of years old; a cultural heritage that travels the contemporary world in the hopes, principles and values of the citizens of every country represented here today. Countries that are worthy successors to their brilliant past; countries endowed with the added value of millennia-old cultural legacies.

But the contemporary international environment is characterized by instability and, at the same time, a multidimensional array of challenges that are having an ever greater impact on the economic and social life of states and, consequently, the day-to-day lives of citizens. Until recently, traditional policies were the response to these challenges. The current reality, however, indicates that dealing effectively with contemporary global problems requires a combination of initiatives and actions based mainly on soft power.

Culture is the epitome of soft power, as it is an intrinsic part of the historical continuity of states and peoples, and a timeless link between societies with different characteristics.

The use of networks and new tools that will point up the dynamic of our cultural wealth, to the benefit of our peoples, is an opportunity for us to shape our present and future on better terms, with our common values and parallel cultural traditions as our point of departure.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Cultural Diplomacy is based on the policy of broad consensus and helps to create a foundation of trust with other peoples  a foundation of trust that policy-makers can use to achieve political, economic and other agreements.

Cultural Diplomacy also creates relations with nations and peoples that exist beyond changes in government. It provides a positive cooperation agenda in spite of any political differences, and it creates a neutral platform for communication and exchange of ideas, functioning as a flexible, universally acceptable vehicle even for rapprochement between countries with tense or non-existent diplomatic relations.

Moreover, it is the only form of diplomacy that can reach young people and a broad range of the public  people with cultural interests  bringing younger generations and citizens in general into contact with different backgrounds and cultures.

Cultural Diplomacy familiarises us with different traditions, reduces stereotypes and combats prejudice. This is why, now more than ever before, the modern world has urgent need of it.

But to implement it, we need to listen to one another. Academics, scholars, artists and historians from different cultures need to seek common ground.

And that is why we are here today.

In seeking this common ground, each culture has its own way of processing and understanding our common meaning. However, allow me to say that ancient Greek civilization was based on ongoing dialogue with the artistic and cultural wealth of other civilizations.

Thus, Greek Studies were not just the foundation of Humanism and the source of Western Civilization and the Enlightenment, but are today, too, a springboard for our creating a network of cooperation, dynamically promoting the values represented by our ancient civilizations.

So we are being called upon not just to promote the added value of our cultural heritage, but also to capitalise on this heritage to promote solutions to our contemporary problems.

We expect the views expressed and findings made at this two-day academic conference to contribute precisely in this direction.

Thank you.
Camp Lejeune Town Halls Aim to Help Those Exposed to Toxic Water. Heres How You Can Go.

Retired Marine Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger made it his mission to tell the world that if they lived or served on Camp Lejeune...
Grandville United Methodist Church is hosting a presentation May 9 featuring former Aquinas College president Harry Knopke, who now leads a local nonprofit organization focusing on clean water.

Knopke will present an audio-visual presentation on how Aqua Clara International, based in Holland, develops affordable water purification systems that are currently used in 30 countries, including Kenya, Nicaragua, Mexico and India.

The organization's solutions to contaminated water are used to clean 2 million liters of water each day.

Before serving as president of Aqua Clara International, Knopke was the fifth president of Aquinas College, leading the college from 1997 until his retirement in 2006.

Area residents are invited to attend Knopke's presentation, which is free and open to the public.

Water and cookies are available after the presentation.

The event starts at 7 p.m. Grandville United Methodist Church is located at 3140 Wilson Ave. SW.
Heart Walk02.JPG

Statewide adoption resource center Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange will hold the grand opening of its 2017 Michigan Heart Gallery, helping the public learn about adoption through foster care, on Saturday, April 29, at Emagine Theatres in Royal Oak.

(MLive File Photo)

ROYAL OAK, MI - Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange will host a Hollywood-style grand opening premiere of its 2017 Michigan Heart Gallery on Saturday, April 29 in Royal Oak.

Running from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Emagine Theatres, the event, which is free and open to the public, will launch the group's statewide photographic tour showcasing many of Michigan's youth awaiting adoption from foster care.

The grand opening will feature food, refreshments, stars, paparazzi and a red carpet -- all to introduce the 2017 Heart Gallery, which comprises the work of 50 photographers.

"At this event, the public and media can learn about adoption through foster care, see the unveiling of the 2017 Michigan Heart Gallery exhibit and the premiere of the 2017 Heart Gallery video," said Michelle Parra, MARE program manager.

One of the photographers whose work appears in the Heart Gallery will be showcased at the event, and remarks from Judson Center CEO Lenora Hardy-Foster, as well as a representative from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, will be given.

Emagine Theatres is located at 200 N. Main Street in Royal Oak.

MARE, a statewide information and referral service for families interested in adopting children from foster care and for adoption workers looking for homes for these children, maintains an office in Ann Arbor at 3840 Packard Road.

Visit www.miheart.org or call 800-589-6273 to learn more about the Michigan Heart Gallery.
ANN ARBOR, MI - An Ann Arbor man is facing deportation for the second time in three years, and his family is asking for community support to help at least delay his involuntary trip to Mexico.

Jose Luis Sanchez-Ronquillo has lived in Ann Arbor for 19 years, after illegally entering the country from Mexico. He is the primary financial supporter of his family, which includes his wife and their two children, who are U.S. citizens and attend Ann Arbor Public Schools. It was previously reported Sanchez-Ronquillo does not have a criminal record; he was taken into police custody in 2009 following a verbal argument in public, but was not charged in the incident.

Sanchez-Ronquillo faced deportation in 2014 too, but a campaign of letter writing and phone calls by community members helped to get him a one-year stay of removal. The family is again looking to the community for support as they fear Sanchez-Ronquillo will be deported on Tuesday, April 25.

"I think they're hopeful, but this is a much shorter time in which we had to rally. ... It's just looking less and less likely," family friend Leticia Valdez told The Ann Arbor News on Sunday, April 23.

On Wednesday, April 19, Sanchez-Ronquillo went to the U.S. Immigration Court in Detroit to file paperwork to request a stay on his pending deportation, said Valdez, whose son is in fifth grade at Bach Elementary School with Sanchez-Ronquillo's youngest son.

Immigration and Custom Enforcement officers took Sanchez-Ronquillo into custody then, and he's currently being detained at St. Clair County Jail in Port Huron, his family says.

Now they fear Sanchez-Ronquillo will be sent to Mexico on Tuesday, and they question whether he received due process before being detained. They've had difficulty getting information from an attorney over the weekend.

"I was there when they told the younger one that his dad was detained," Valdez said. "He was asking if he would ever see his dad again, and they said, 'Not never, but it will be years.' It just was heartbreaking to have to watch him have to digest that information."

The family is asking the Ann Arbor community to contact U.S. Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow to ask that they review whether Sanchez-Ronquillo received due process and request his release.

Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor asked local families to take action in a Facebook post on Saturday, April 22.

"Mr. Sanchez-Ronquillo's deportation will not make us safer, will not protect American jobs; all it will achieve is to devastate a warm home and impoverish a family," Taylor wrote. "A great and strong nation would not be afraid to allow Mr. Sanchez-Ronquillo to remain. We should be better than this."

Contact Peters by calling 202-224-6221 or 313-226-6020 for his Detroit office or via email. Contact Stabenow by calling 202-224-4822 or 313-961-4330 for her Detroit office or via email.
This post has been updated to include a statement from Benjamin Edmondson.

OKEMOS, MI - Ypsilanti Community Schools Superintendent Benjamin Edmondson is one of four finalists in Okemos Public Schools' superintendent search.

Edmondson is set to interview for the Okemos position on May 3, according to an April 20 announcement on the Okemos schools website. The other finalists include: John Deiter, superintendent of DeWitt Public Schools; Alena Zachery-Ross, superintendent of Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System; and Karen Sherwood, superintendent of Kalkaska Public Schools.

Following the first round of interviews on May 3 and 4, the Okemos school board expects to hold second interviews on May 11 and either announce the superintendent then or on May 22.

Okemos Public Schools, located near East Lansing in Ingham County, enrolls about 4,300 students. YCS enrolls 3,790 students. Current Okemos Schools Superintendent Catherine Ash plans to retire on June 30, according to the Lansing State Journal.

Edmondson is in his second school year leading Ypsilanti Community Schools, making him the longest-serving superintendent of the district that formed in the 2013-14 school year.

He was principal of Ann Arbor's Pathways to Success alternative high school before being hired as YCS superintendent. He attended the University of Virginia for his undergraduate degree, Ohio State University for his master's degree and Eastern Michigan University for his doctorate.

Edmondson is currently under a rolling three-year contract with YCS, which either he or the school board can terminate early under certain circumstances.

At a school board meeting on March 13, the board discussed re-opening contract negotiations with Edmondson, referencing his requests earlier this school year for an increase in compensation.

"It is humbling to have my leadership recognized within and outside of the Ypsilanti Community Schools, and I remain 100 percent committed as your superintendent. ... I will continue to focus on the success of all students at YCS as your superintendent of schools as there is lots of work that lies ahead," Edmondson said in a statement issued Sunday, April 23.
crash-04-22.JPG

(Courtesy: MDOT)

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - A crash on westbound Michigan Avenue at Harris Road affected traffic near the intersection during the evening on Saturday, April 22.

The crash was blocking all lanes of traffic at Michigan and Harris as of 6:33 p.m., according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Further information was not immediately available.
Names and faces

Freedom Bodyworks of Helena has opened an office in the St. John's building at 25 S. Ewing St. Suite 424. Rolfing Structural Integration sessions are now available with Terry J. Riehl, Certified Rolfer. Riehl is a Helena native who recently graduated from the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration in Boulder, Colorado. Call 431-3873 for more information or to make an appointment.

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Jerry Gray, P.E. has joined the Stahly Engineering transportation team having recently completed an award-winning project for MDT in Deep Creek Canyon while employed by another firm. Gray has more than 20 years of experience in transportation engineering projects in Montana. He will provide project management, construction engineering, street, highway, and interchange design, hydrologic analysis, culvert design, and storm drain design for transportation and other civil engineering related projects.

Darrick Zuelke joins Stahly Engineering and specializes in CADD/technical design. Zuelke earned a bachelors degree in design drafting technology from Montana State University Northern in 2008. He has more than 10 years of experience in the construction field, eight of which he has served as a draftsman. Zuelke is assisting with the firms transportation related projects.

News and notes

SCORE sponsoring workshops

Western Montana SCORE and the Helena Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring two workshops on April 26 at the UM-Helena Airport Campus Lecture Hall on April 26. From 9 a.m.-noon is "Social Media Marketing Trends 2017" and 1-3:30 p.m. is "Getting Started with Email Marketing." The guest presenter is Rick Hogan, an authorized expert for Constant Contact, a social media consultant and speaker, and a former professor of management and marketing. There is no charge for either workshop.

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Wellbank co-authors book

Mary Ann Wellbank, former administrator of the Montana Child Support Enforcement Division, Department of Public Health and Human Services co-authored a book entitled, The Insiders Guide to Child Support: How the System Works. Wellbank, now retired from the state, continues her child support career in the private sector. She is a recipient of the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement Award for Distinguished Service, and is past president of the National Council of Child Support Directors and the National Child Support Enforcement Association. She resides in the Helena area.

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Credit union earns CDFI certification

As of March 23, Vocal Credit Union has become one of only 1,000 nancial institutions certied as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Vocal is one of only five CDFI-certied credit unions in the state of Montana.

CDFI certification is earned by a financial institution that offers fair and affordable financial services to economically distressed individuals, and continually works to transform the lives of under-served populations in its community. CDFIs invest in their local communities by providing important funding sources to people who are often denied loans from larger mainstream banks and credit unions.

For more information, visit www.vocal.coop or contact Eddie Black, eddie@vocal.coop or 442-1421.

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Agents donate $5K to local charities

Clearwater Montana Properties, Inc., residential, recreational, farm and ranch real estate specialists, has announced that the Helena office has donated at total of $5,442 to six local charities.

Since its founding in 1994, Clearwater Montana Properties has emphasized community-building as a core component of its company culture. Agents give back a portion of all real estate proceeds to the communities in which they were earned. To date, the Charitable Giving Program has produced more than $377,000 in donations to causes throughout Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming.

This years local contributions went to support Helena Food Share, Family Promise, Lewis & Clark Humane Society, Montana City Trails and Trust, Prickly Pear Land Trust, and Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance.

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Guidelines

The IR welcomes reports of hiring, promotions, awards, recognition, learning opportunities and other news from local companies and nonprofits. We accept press releases and photos (digital images at 300 dpi or more are preferred, but we can also use regular photos; we dont guarantee return of these). Email your information to irstaff@helenair.com.

There is no charge for items appearing in the Business Briefcase. Items are run on a space-available basis, and we reserve the right to edit and use information as we see fit.

The deadline is Tuesday at noon to be considered for publication the following Sunday.
The Guardian Apartments in Helena will remain available to low-income seniors and people with disabilities after a partnership between organizations funded a $9.8 million renovation.

There are 118 one- and two-bedroom apartments for people 62 and older or with a disability. More than 90 percent of the residents live at or below 30 percent of the average median income, which works out to be $14,700 a year. Tenants pay 30 percent of their income with the remaining portion paid by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Monthly rent ranges from $550 to $650 a month.

HUD partnered with the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and Montana Board of Housing tax credits to pay for the project. The property is managed by the Human Resource Development Council District IX in Bozeman.

The Guardian Apartments were built in the early 70s and needed new heating and plumbing. Each unit received updates like new flooring and paint.

Pam Haxby Cote, director of the Department of Commerce, toured the building last week as part of Fair Housing Month. She thanked all the people involved in the project for stabilizing the neighborhood.

They got a safe, accessible, lovely place to be, Haxby Cote said.

Since tenants were living in the units when the renovation started in 2015, empty units were renovated first and tenants were given the option to temporarily move into a different unit while theirs was rehabilitated, or to stay in the new one.

Breana Thomas, the asset manager for the Human Resource Development Center, said there are few instances of affordable housing similar to the Guardian Apartments project.

In Montana, affordable housing is such a rare commodity, Thomas said. We need more of it.

Thomas said the need for affordable housing in Helena was apparent. They filled 27 of the units in two and a half weeks and only a few units are vacant now.

The renovation project provided 73 jobs and generated $6 million in wages, the Department of Commerce said. The exterior of the building will be renovated this spring funded by housing tax credits.
Emmanuel Macron, head of the political movement En Marche !, or Onwards !, and candidate for the 2017 presidential election, delivers a speech during a campaign rally in Lyon, France, February 4, 2017. REUTERS/Robert Pratta TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX2ZMQN

French nationals from Puducherry and regions coming under the jurisdiction of that nation's consulate, cast their votes in the first round of French Presidential elections, here today.

A 92-year-old woman Marie Antoinette, who was among the early voters, told PTI that she has been exercising her franchise in every presidential poll without fail.

Voters, who were infirm and aged were helped by the staff on duty to reach the booths without waiting in the queue.

Puducherry had two booths each on the premises of the French Consul General office and Lycee, an educational institution.

Chennai and Karaikal had one booth each to enable the voters there to cast their votes, sources said adding the polling which began at 8 AM would go on till 7 PM.
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) will start selling mutual funds and insurance products of other companies by early 2018 and is open only to "non- exclusive" tie-ups, its Chief Executive A P Singh has said.

Nearly 100 firms, both domestic and foreign, have evinced interest in partnering the government-promoted IPPB.

In an interview to PTI, Singh said that IPPB will start full fledged operations in every district of the country by September 2017. The bank had launched its pilot project with a branch each in Raipur and Ranchi on January 30 this year.

Asked about plans to diversify and sell third party products through its platform, Singh said he is looking at offering only those products which customers can easily understand.

"We will sell third party products, but it is a question of biting as much as I can chew. We basically will provide a platform and the idea is to open it to everyone on a non-exclusive basis," he said.

Singh said the IPPB will curate third party products before selling it so as to ensure that it is simple for customers.

Also, there would not be any training of staff necessary as no individual product of any specific company is to be sold.

Asked when the IPPB would be ready to sell third party products, Singh said "by first quarter of calendar year 2018 it should be there".

As per RBI norms, Payments banks have to focus on providing basic financial services, including social security and utility bill payments, remittance functions, and can mobilise deposits of up to Rs 1 lakh.

Also, they can distribute insurance, mutual funds and pension products, and act as business correspondent for other banks for credit products.

As many as 100 entities including IDBI Bank, HSBC, Axis Bank, Deutsche Bank, Barclays Bank, Citibank, SBI and LIC have evinced interest in partnering with IPPB for various functions given the unmatched rural reach India Post has.

The list of insurance companies which have approached the payments bank include HDFC Life, ICICI Prudential, Max Life Insurance and Bajaj Allianz Life.

"I don't want to get into selection bias or exclusive relationships. I am clear that I am built by public money, I am offering a public platform and I don't want to appropriate the Post Office exclusively for a particular company. This infrastructure must remain open for everyone," Singh said.

He said IPPB's sales force would not advise customers on third party products and instead offer just a table depicting the returns that a simple group term insurance product or an Index Mutual Fund would offer to a customer.

"The thumb rule is if you sell you don't advise, if you advise you don't sell. We will basically be selling, we won't be advising. You cannot both advise and sell, it is a conflict of interest," Singh said.

As part of its expansion drive, IPPB plans to open 650 new branches by September. The Postal Department at present has a network of 1.55 lakh post offices and the new branches will be set up within the them.
Emmanuel Macron, head of the political movement En Marche !, or Onwards !, and candidate for the 2017 presidential election, delivers a speech during a campaign rally in Lyon, France, February 4, 2017. REUTERS/Robert Pratta TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX2ZMQN

France voted on Sunday in the first round of a bitterly fought presidential election that is crucial to the future of Europe and a closely-watched test of voters' anger with the political establishment.

Over 50,000 police backed by elite units of the French security services patrolled the streets less than three days after a suspected Islamist gunman shot dead a policeman and wounded two others on the central Champs Elysees avenue.

Voters will decide whether to back a pro-EU centrist newcomer, a scandal-ridden veteran conservative who wants to slash public spending, a far-left eurosceptic admirer of Fidel Castro or to appoint France's first woman president who would shut borders and ditch the euro.

The outcome will show whether the populist tide that saw Britain vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump's election in the United States is still rising, or starting to ebb. A high level of indecision adds to nervousness.

Hanan Fanidi, a 33-year-old financial project manager, was still unsure as she arrived at a polling station in Paris' 18th arrondissement.

"I don't believe in anyone, actually. I haven't arrived at a candidate in particular who could advance things. I'm very, very pessimistic," she said.

Emmanuel Macron, 39, a centrist ex-banker who set up his party just a year ago, is the opinion polls' favourite to win the first round and beat far-right National Front chief Marine Le Pen in the two-person run-off on May 7.

For them to win the top two qualifying positions on Sunday would represent a huge change in the political landscape. The second round would then feature neither of the mainstream parties that have governed France for decades.

But conservative Francois Fillon is making a comeback after being plagued for months by a fake jobs scandal, and leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon's ratings have surged in recent weeks. Any two of the four has a chance to qualify for the run-off.

"It wouldn't be the classic left versus right divide but two views of the world clashing," said Ifop pollsters' Jerome Fourquet. "Macron bills himself as the progressive versus conservatives, Le Pen as the patriot versus the globalists."

The seven other candidates, including the ruling Socialist party's Benoit Hamon lag behind in opinion polls.

By noon (1000 GMT), turnout amid sunshine and clear skies across much of France was 28.54 percent, according to official figures - around the same as in the 2012 first round, in which almost 80 percent eventually took part.

Some polls had been predicting a much lower turnout, closer to the 70 percent that took the then National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen into the second round in 2002. Pollsters are unclear about what a low or high turnout could mean in 2017.

President Francois Hollande and his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy have failed through both of the past two five-year presidencies to tackle the high unemployment and sluggish growth.

That issue, and the general trustworthiness of politicians, stands out, polls say, even though security has re-entered the debate since Thursday's killing of a policeman.

Some argue the incident increases Le Pen's chances; but previous militant attacks, such as the November 2015 killing of 130 people in Paris ahead of regional polls, have not appeared to have any impact on votes.

Earlier on Sunday a polling station in Besancon, eastern France was evacuated after a stolen vehicle was abandoned with the engine running while voting took place.

"CHEERING MADLY"?

The possibility of a Le Pen-Melenchon run-off is not the most likely scenario but is one which alarms bankers and investors.

While Macron wants to further beef up the euro zone, Le Pen has told supporters "the EU will die". She wants to return to the Franc, re-denominate the country's debt stock, tax imports and reject international treaties.

Melenchon also wants to radically overhaul the European Union and hold a referendum on whether to leave the bloc.

Le Pen or Melenchon would struggle, in parliamentary elections in June, to win a majority to carry out such radical moves, but their growing popularity also worries France's EU partners.

"It is no secret that we will not be cheering madly should Sunday's result produce a second round between Le Pen and Melenchon," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said.

If either Macron or Fillon were victorious, each would face challenges.

For Macron, a big question would be whether he could win a majority in parliament in June. Fillon, though likely to struggle less to get a majority, would likely be dogged by an embezzlement scandal, in which he denies wrongdoing.
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,
Rabbis installation at Keneseth Israel will get a boost of student creativity
After 12 years as dean of Helena College, Daniel Bingham is preparing to lead his church as a mission president in Sydney, Australia.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asked Bingham and his wife, Donna, to move to Australia for a three-year stint managing 170 missionaries in the area. Bingham said he will be on call 24 hours a day for the entire three year period. According to the Mormon Newsroom, there are 70,946 missionaries serving in 421 missions across the world.

Bingham will be responsible for making sure missionaries are effective teachers and maintain their physical and emotional health. He will also baptize new converts.

While missionaries ask the church to assign them a mission, mission presidents are called on by the church without warning. Although Bingham didnt hesitate in making the commitment and said hes excited to take on the responsibility, its still a big change.

As a mission president, you have no knowledge that youre going to be asked to go, he said. I was merrily going on my way and having a great time in life.

Bingham served a two-year mission in Melbourne, Australia, when he was 19. He said the decision to be a mission president is an extension of his first mission.

I know that if the question ever was asked, I would say yes, he said. You give up pretty much everything youve got.

His position as a mission president is unpaid, although hell receive reimbursement for his living expenses.

Beyond his leadership at Helena College University of Montana for past 12 years, where enrollment doubled and programs were expanded or added, Bingham has been the stake president for the LDS church in the Helena region for five years. Hes managed 3,300 members in 10 different units and kept track of at least a dozen missionaries.

Everything I think Ive done in my life has helped prepare me to be responsible in this role, he said.

While Bingham is ready to go to Australia, hes sad to leave Helena. He said since he doesnt have family here, he wont return to Helena.

Im not ready to retire. Ill be looking for a next opportunity for senior leadership at a college some place, he said. Its really tough to leave this college.
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Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process.
REAM, Robert R. Bob, died at home on March 22, 2017 with family at his side. A memorial service for Bob is scheduled for today, April 23rd at 12:00 p.m. at the Kleffner Ranch in East Helena with reception and open mic to follow. Friends are encouraged to share their stories of Bob at the reception. Before he died, Bob established the Bob Ream Endowment for Wilderness and Civilization, held at the University of Montana Foundation, to provide continuing support to the Wilderness and Civilization Program within the College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana. He requested that in lieu of flowers, gifts be made in his honor toward this endowment, by sending checks to the University of Montana Foundation, in memory of Bob Ream, P.O. Box 7159, Missoula, MT 59807-7159, or through on-line donations at http://www.cfc.umt.edu/bobream.
Kristina Leigh Wiggins has guided many Texans through the home-building and remodeling processes. Now people from other areas can access her tips through a new book.

In Building Your Home: A Simple Guide to Making Good Decisions, Wiggins offers readers advice about planning their projects.

They become overwhelmed with the stuff that goes on, Wiggins said. With a small house or big house, it doesnt matter. It all has to do with decisions. Theyve got to get organized and turn it into something thats manageable.

Wiggins, 37, celebrated the book this month at a launch party, where she raised more than $20,000 for charity: water, a nonprofit that provides clean drinking water for people in remote areas of the world.

I think its so easy to take water for granted, Wiggins said. We turn on the tap, and when people are building houses, they put in plumbing.

Wiggins, who had previously contributed to charity: water, also chose to dedicate her book to the cause. She was grateful that others were willing to contribute.

Its humbling, Wiggins said. People in Midland are so generous. Every time somebody placed a donation, I was overwhelmed with the generosity.

Wiggins is also pleased about the response to her book. Amazon declared it a top new release soon after its April 11 publication, she said.

It resonated quickly the day after the release, even though it had a quiet launch, Wiggins said. There was not anything before it. If youre getting married or having a baby, you can get books even in a small bookstore. It seemed there was nothing about building.

Wiggins, who grew up in West Texas, worked near Houston before returning to this area. She noticed a demand for architectural designers during oil booms.

I was used to a housing market that was very busy, and I worked on lots of estate homes, Wiggins said. I realized very quickly the need for design work was [in Midland].

As her architectural design company  LWJ Design and Consulting  gained clients, Wiggins realized she couldnt help every person who sought services.

I started to put together packets, Wiggins said. I thought if I had a book to hand someone it would be so much easier.

Wiggins took a break from the business when her two daughters, now 6 and 9, had health issues. She still wanted to ease the home-building process and received a boost from a friend, Larissa Wiese.

To make the book a reality, Wiese used her journalism and graphic design skills to edit text and lay out pages. She said Wiggins showed determination during the collaboration.

Kristina is full of a million brilliant ideas, Wiese said in a Skype interview. She had kids and stopped working for awhile, but she had ideas stored up.

Another idea, an app called Simpleigh Done, also came to fruition. Wiggins said the tool is designed to help people keep track of home projects from their mobile devices.

Making a difference for others also plays a role in Wiggins clothing line, LIL&TESS. A portion of the companys proceeds goes toward sending mosquito netting to other countries through local mission groups and the nonprofit Samaritans Purse.

It has lots of potential to help people, Wiggins said. It will be exciting to see where it goes.

The clothing line includes mesh garments that are treated with insect repellent. Wiggins husband suggested she start the company  named for their daughters  after one of the girls developed a mosquito allergy.

I couldnt find a way to protect her, Wiggins said. In the heat of West Texas with cotton pants or sleeves, she could overheat easily. Small-town girls want to be outside. I didnt want to put chemicals on her.

Wiggins received input from her daughters during the design process. She said the clothing items have helped to protect others from mosquito bites.

Wiggins clothing line and book highlight her giving spirit, according to her parents, Gary and Mayra Wiggins.

She has always shown kindness, Mayra Wiggins said. She has a good heart. Every time she does something, she makes sure it goes to charity.
After five people were arrested for leading Christian services in a remote part of western China, the nonprofit China Aid sponsored lawyers for their defense. Bob Fu, founder and president of the Midland-based organization, said the leaders recently received sentences ranging from three to five years.

It really represents a major escalation of religious persecution in China for the past 10 years, Fu said. There had been some arrests and detentions, but it hadnt been that severe. Especially this organization  was a worship service, and the charges were disturbing public order. People were in a home worshipping together.

Fu was disheartened when he read through the legal documents in the case, which listed Bibles, hymnbooks and other materials as evidence. He said his organization has worked to expose religious oppression.

Last year alone according to documentation shows a major [increase] compared to 2015, Fu said. Over 50,000 were persecuted according to our measurement.

Fu said Chinese Christians experience harassment, church desecration and other punishments. He shared some of their stories with people attending the China Freedom Banquet on Thursday.

The banquet at Midland Country Club celebrated the 15th anniversary of China Aid. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican and co-chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, touted the nonprofits advocacy on Capitol Hill.

The efforts of China Aid are critically important to those who are suffering every day from physical torture, mental torture and depravation of every kind, Smith said.

The 19-term congressman, who has visited oppressed groups around the world, expressed concern about Chinas policies. In particular, the pro-life lawmaker denounced the governments family-planning efforts.

Imagine a policy where brothers and sisters are illegal and the government tells you when and if you can have a child, Smith said.

One woman who became pregnant with a second child shared her story through a written statement. Liu Xiaodong, the wife of a political activist, escaped from China to Thailand. With Fus help, she arrived in the United States before delivering her daughter.

I really appreciate deeply the brothers and sisters who dedicate financial support through Pastor Bob Fu, Xiaodong said through a translator before the event. It was a really dangerous circumstance in Thailand last year. I could have been in China last year without Pastor Fu. I was rescued successfully. Both my two children dont have to live in fear anymore.

Also at the event was Wang Yanfang, the wife of an imprisoned human rights lawyer.

Fu, who has raised awareness since he fled China two decades ago, said theres an increasing need for the nonprofits work. He said hes grateful West Texans help the cause.

Most of our operating costs and support  the majority of them come from Midland-Odessa, the Permian Basin community, Fu said before the event. They come together.
And, no, this time, it's not United.

Surain Adyanthaya recorded an intense confrontation between passengers and an American Airlines flight attendant on a San Francisco to Dallas about a woman's stroller.

The video shows a flight attendant dealing with a mother trying to store a stroller in an overhead bin. The woman sought her stroller back and things escalated.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter gives United Airlines the business after passenger dragged off plane

On the video, a man can be heard yelling at the flight attendant, "Hey bud, hey bud, you do that to me and I'll knock you flat!" The attendant getting visibly agitated and gestures at the passenger, replying "you stay out of this!"

No fight broke out and the mother with the stroller can be heard crying at times.

The flight landed in Dallas Friday night. Social media wasted no time giving the the airline a hard time. Many of the comments referenced United Airlines infamous moment of bloodying and dragging a passenger off of a plane in Chicago.

WE'RE SORRY: United Airlines CEO issues apology about passenger dragged off plane

"United Airlines: We treat our passengers the worst," tweeted Jeeniya. "American Airlines: Hold my beer."

American quickly issued a statement apologizing to the woman with the stroller and saying the incident was unacceptable.

"The American team member has been removed from duty while we immediately investigate this incident," the airline said in the statement.

Scroll through the gallery above to see the social media reaction to the dispute on the American Airlines flight
You may not see any contractors or visible signage, but the National Park Service is working to transform Auburn-area sites related to Harriet Tubman's life into a major attraction.

In the three months since then-Interior Secretary Sally Jewell formally established the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, the National Park Service has been focused on preserving landmarks that are relevant to the park.

Frank Barrows, superintendent of Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome, is overseeing the work at various sites in the Auburn area, which include Tubman's brick residence and the Home for the Aged on South Street and the former Thompson A.M.E. Zion Church and rectory on Parker Street. There are two studies being conducted that will help the National Park Service determine how to manage the park.

One study, a historic structures report, is focused on the Parker Street church and rectory. The historic church property was acquired by the National Park Service as part of an agreement with the Harriet Tubman Home, which manages sites related to the abolitionist's life.

The National Park Service and the Massachusetts-based Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, a program within the agency, are engaged in preservation work at the church, Barrows said in an interview with The Citizen last week.

"Right now, we're just in the research phase of that," he said. "But it provides documentary, graphic and physical information about a property's history and its existing condition. This is a critical step for us that will help to inform the preservation work."

While the National Park Service is still determining what work is necessary, the church and rectory appear to be in need of significant renovations.

Barrows said the preservation crews are determining how to achieve "basic stabilization" of the facilities. He estimated that the buildings likely won't be open to the public for at least a few years.

The other National Park Service study is a cultural landscape report. This report examines the Tubman resources available for the park  everything from vegetation on the properties to the historic structures.

The National Park Service is partnering with the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse and the Olmsted Preservation Center to complete the report.

"That's a long process that just begun, but very critical and typical of what you would see when the National Park Service comes into a new site," Barrows said.

"We really just want to understand the landscape and, historically, the use of the resources so that we can inform, again, design and planning decisions but also how we connect visitors to those resources as well."

If the work seems limited so far, that's because it is. Barrows said a park faces challenges in its first year in the form of no operating budget and, as a result, a reliance on outside resources. For the Tubman park in Auburn, the National Park Service is receiving assistance from regional offices and throughout the agency.

Based on the typical timeline for new parks, Barrows said the Tubman park will have its first full-time employee in its second year. That employee may be the park superintendent, or it could be another permanent position at the park.

The third year is when the park could receive more federal funding and have a better idea of the organizational structure. But Barrows seemed to suggest that a three-year timeline might not be long enough for the Tubman park.

"There's no typical path," he said. "You're probably five years out. A park that has had the proper planning, proper input from the partners and stakeholders  we make sure we're listening to the needs and kind of plan a park that works for everybody."

PARTNERSHIPS

One of the misconceptions about the park is that the National Park Service will be in full control. That's not the case with some parks  and that won't be how the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn will operate.

The National Park Service did acquire the church, but it will jointly manage the South Street property with Harriet Tubman Home Inc.

An important component in the park's development will be partnerships. Karen Hill, executive director of the Harriet Tubman Home, said her organization met with the National Park Service last week. She said it's the first major meeting between the two sides since the park's formal establishment in January.

"We're just working on the steps that really more formalize our relationship operationally and otherwise," Hill said. "That's really where we are right now."

The partnerships will extend beyond the Harriet Tubman Home and National Park Service. Barrows highlighted the importance of relationships with the community, especially the city of Auburn.

Community outreach is part of that strategy. Barrows said the park has a website, nps.gov/hart, and a tri-fold brochure to promote the landmarks.

Signage is also being pursued and the park is participating in the National Park Service's National Park Travelers Club, which allows visitors to obtain a passport stamp for a booklet.

There are two stamps available for the Tubman park  one for the park itself and another because it's part of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

When the Harriet Tubman Home holds its annual pilgrimage in Auburn commemorating Tubman's life over Memorial Day weekend in May, Barrows said the National Park Service will have a presence at the event.

VISITOR CENTER

Perhaps the largest investment that will be made is the construction of a new visitor center for the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn.

Local stakeholders have eyed a new visitor center to complement the park, and it was included in the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council's plan for the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, a $1.5 billion contest held in 2015.

The region won $500 million in economic development funding that will be allocated over a five-year period. One of the future investments listed by the regional council is $30 million for the Tubman visitor center.

However, before any Upstate Revitalization Initiative funding is allocated, the Harriet Tubman Home must submit an application and receive approval from the central New York council and the state.

The first step for the Harriet Tubman Home is to submit an intent to apply. Tracy Verrier, executive director of the Cayuga Economic Development Agency and one of the county's regional council representatives, said the intent to apply allows the council and state officials to review the proposal and determine if the project should advance.

If the intent to apply is approved, the Harriet Tubman Home will be invited to complete a full funding application.

Hill said the Harriet Tubman Home is moving ahead with plans to construct a visitor center on the South Street property. The likely location for the facility will be where the current visitor center is now at the rear of the property.

The goal, Hill said, is to hire an architect this spring for initial work related to the center's construction. That would begin an ambitious plan to have the visitor center built by 2020.

Verrier said the state's support is "imperative" to build the Tubman visitor center. She touted the role Maryland played in the construction of a visitor center and the establishment of the Harriet Tubman State Park on the state's Eastern Shore. The park and its accompanying visitor center opened in March.

The visitor center at the Tubman state park in Maryland received more than $22.2 million in funding. Most of the aid  more than $17.3 million  was provided by the state government.

"The state bought in down there and they got it done," Verrier said. "You can kind of see how important that is to making this come to fruition."

Hill views the visitor center as an opportunity for the Harriet Tubman Home to showcase the 60,000 Tubman artifacts in its collection. There's an extensive library of Tubman-related books, documents and other artifacts that the Tubman Home hasn't been able to publicly display because it lacks the proper environment.

"I'd like for us to embrace the abolitionist story of central New York," she said. "That would be important. And just have the Tubman story become something that people feel that they can reach out and touch."
I am supporting Pam Attardo for School Board. She has a demonstrated ability to listen to members of the public. In her current position she has demonstrated her ability to mediate and find consensus on many issues. She supports transparency in decisionmaking with infrastructure and other decisions our School Board makes. Pam has identified school student suicide, school facilities and overall teacher and staff morale as her priorities when elected. Please join me in voting for Pam Attardo in the school election.
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FRENCHTOWN  This is a story of railroad passions.

It starts in 1910 with a fatal train wreck west of Alberton, and again in 1973, when Bill ONeill spotted the locomotives boiler plate in the Clark Fork River. He was looking for the bell.

Today ONeill is 77 and lives near Frenchtown Pond. Hes not a railroader  he helped build Interstate 90 through this valley and retired from Smurfit-Stone at age 68 after a career operating the kilns and washers.

But he loved to listen to the stories of the conductors, engineers and brakemen in the Milwaukee Road town of Alberton. Often those conversations turned to wrecks.

Over the years ONeill has written and updated a detailed account of what hes learned about the boiler explosion and derailment of Northern Pacific Engine 1565.

If I dont, he reasoned last week, the history is lost.

He has accumulated vintage photos of the Sept. 30, 1910, derailment on the Northern Pacific line. He obtained a copy of the death certificate of fireman Starr B. Scotty Robinson from the Missoula County Courthouse. Hes collected newspaper accounts from the Missoulian and its short-lived Democratic rival of the day, the Missoula Herald.

Still his proudest possession is the boiler plate that blew off the nose of the locomotive and lay lodged in the bottom of the river for more than 60 years.

ONeill planted it upright in cement within days of recovering it in late August 1973. He has moved the whole sculpture to the front yards of each of the three homes in which he and Nancy have lived since then.

Walter Owens was engineer of 1565 that Friday morning in 1910. He was badly scalded in the accident but survived.

The next day, from his bed in the Northern Pacific Hospital in Missoula, Owens said he had no idea what caused the explosion.

I had just taken a full tank of water at Lothrop and had a good supply in the boiler, he told a Missoulian reporter. The first thing that I knew of anything being wrong was when the engine seemed to lift itself from the track and start to roll down to the river.

Thrown free, Owens found himself tumbling down the steep bank, expecting every minute that something would drop on me.

When I finally stopped I was within a few feet of the waters edge and could have touched it with my hands. A flat car had fallen over me and I was wedged in pretty tight, he said.

Owens tore his overalls and trousers extricating himself, then started up the bank, all the while searching for the two colleagues in the engine with him. He heard C.E. Connors calling for help. The brakeman was buried under a boxcar.

I started to work on him and had gotten his head free when the rear brakeman arrived, Owens reported. I began to feel faint and left the job to him and went back to the caboose.

Owens said he was mighty lucky to survive the wreck, adding, Im only sorry that the same luck was not with the other boys.

Connors suffered a smashed leg and other injuries. He faced months of hospitalization.

In December 1907, a Northern Pacific engine crew refused to make a run from Helena to Livingston, citing the poor condition of their locomotives boiler. A replacement crew was called in, and near Bozeman the boiler blew. Result: one dead, one badly injured. It was the second explosion of a steam locomotive on the NP line in two weeks.

The majority of the boilers of the mountain engines, both Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads, are in an unsound condition, and could not stand an official test if made by the state boiler inspector at the present time, the Montana News of Lewistown opined at the time.

Starr Robertsons death in September 1910 was one of 21 for which claims were filed to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engine Men in the 30-day period starting Sept. 15. Five were attributed to collisions and another five to derailings. Scotty Robertson, nicknamed thus, according to ONeill, because his father Hugh was from Scotland, was one of four men that month to die when a locomotives boiler exploded.

It must have been horrendous.

The Missoula Herald was an afternoon paper and it rushed a story of the wreck onto Page 1 the same day. At the time, Robertson was nowhere to be found.

Late this afternoon reports from the scene of the wreck indicate that pieces of clothing, recognized as belonging to the unfortunate fireman, have been found near the dismantled engine, the Herald reported, adding that particles of seared and torn flesh believed to be from Robertsons body had been found.

It is now believed that the body must have been blown to atoms and mingled with the debris, the account concluded.

By the next day, the Missoulian had something approximating the gruesome truth:

Instead of going downhill with the engine, Robertson had been blown 300 feet up the hill. All his clothes but a shoe and a sock were torn off.

He was burned so badly that it was difficult to tell the body from the burned logs that lay on the hillside, the account said.

Years ago ONeill obtained a number of professional-quality photographs of the wreck from the late Harvey Hackman of Missoula. Some came from the remarkable collection of Ron V. Nixon thats housed at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman and can now be found online at www.morphotoarchive.org/rvndb. All of those are marked photographer unknown.

The source of a couple of others, very official-looking, is also unknown. One depicts the sweep of the tracks, the wrecker that recovered Engine 1565, and the engine itself, attached to a cable but still in the water. The location of the explosion is marked in writing, as is the spot where Robertsons body was found  not 300 feet but 465 feet up the tracks.

Im not the hero, ONeill said. The hero of the story is the photographer, to get all the pictures he got. I was impressed with them. I just wish I knew who took them.

Of the three men in the locomotive that day, the 38-year-old Robertson was the only one with a family. He and May lived in Missoula with one daughter. Robertsons charred remains were transported to his home town of Prairie City, in western Illinois. May, his brother L.M. Robertson, and a representative of the local firemen union accompanied the body back to Illinois  by train, of course.

An article from the Bushnell (Illinois) Record, posted on a findagrave.com page, said he and May had been married 16 years. They left Prairie City five years earlier and Robertson has since been employed at railroading in various points in the west.

According to the Find A Grave website, May was laid next to her husband in the Prairie City Cemetery after her death in 1959.

Engine 1565, built in 1906, was initially declared a total loss. But ONeills photos show the elaborate recovery process.

In his early research, ONeill was introduced to a man he identified as Otis Edman, a retired engineer in Missoula who said he operated the Class W steam engine after it was refurbished. The online Nixon collection includes photos of 1565 at the Livingston yard in 1931, crossing the Clark Fork River near East Missoula in 1938, and pulling a work train near St. Regis in 1943, where another sunken steam engine was retrieved.

A website of vintage railroad photos, the Don Ross Group, includes one of a dilapidated Engine 1565 in Duluth, Minnesota, and says it was scrapped by Duluth Iron & Metal on Aug. 15, 1957.

ONeills imagination was fired by rumors that remnants of the locomotive remained in the Clark Fork. He matched the photos to the landscape during that low-water summer of 1973 and walked along the riverbank.

The river was kind of glassy and I couldnt see, so I got back up on the edge of the bank and walked along it, he said. I could see what looked like little holes around there, which were the holes of that boilerplate way down in the water.

ONeill used a handyman jack, some 2-by-4s for outriggers and a couple of inner tubes to raise it up. As dark descended, Bob (B.J.) McComb, a friend who lived nearby, cast a piece of clothesline cable across the river from the other side, and with help from two canoeists passing by they secured the line to the boiler plate. Then they called it a night.

The next day ONeill, along with McComb and McCombs son Keith, used the cable to swing the plate across the river like a pendulum to a gravel bar, where they loaded it in McCombs pickup and hauled it to ONeills home in Alberton. When the ONeills moved to Mullan Road in Frenchtown in 1979 and to their current home on Twin Ponds Lane in 2006, the relic of railroads past went with them.

Thereve been other train disasters, many of them with fatalities, between Missoula and St. Regis since the first Northern Pacific train rolled down the Missoula/Clark Fork River in 1891. ONeill keeps a running list but to him the plight of Engine 1565 and its unlucky fireman is special.

Of all the wrecks Ive found, I never did find any authentication except for this one here, he said.

Like so many passions, his is not easy to put into words.

My dad was a boilermaker in Casper, Wyoming, during the boom years of the 20s, ONeill said. He told me about the railroads. Ive always just kind of liked the railroad, the history of it.
Slow yet steady improvement in Midlands labor market continued to be seen as the Texas Workforce Commission issued its March unemployment data.

The commission reported Midlands unemployment rate was 4 percent, down from 4.2 percent in February and 4.4 percent in March 2016.

Odessa followed a similar trend with its March unemployment rate dropping to 5.6 percent from 5.8 percent in February and well below the 6.4 percent rate seen last March.

The primary reason for Midlands dip in unemployment rate was a decline in the civilian labor force, which declined almost 400 from February to March and is about 1,100 below March 2016 levels. Similar declines were seen in the number of employed and unemployed Midlanders, down about 200 each.

Willie Taylor, chief executive officer of the commissions Workforce Solutions Permian Basin, acknowledged that trend but remained upbeat about how steady the areas workforce has remained amid the sharp decline in crude prices.

One thing we saw during the slow down is a lot of people stayed here, he said.

Taylor added that the offices in the 17 West Texas counties he oversees have seen a sharp decline in the number of continuous claims, from about 4300 last year to about 1300 this year.

He praised the steadiness of the labor market, pointing out that Midlands industry composition is little changed, with the Mining, Logging and Construction sector continuing to dominate at 28 percent, followed by Trade, Transportation and Utilities at 20 percent.

Having just returned from a board meeting of the commissions various workforce boards, Taylor said representatives from Houston told him the Permian Basin is moving faster than Houston in terms of job recovery.

Another consensus at the meeting is that no one expects an exploration of new employees coming in because of technology, which has improved efficiency and productivity and cut the need for as many jobs. Taylor said. Thats why he continues to encourage people, employed or not, to upgrade their skills to increase their earning opportunities.

Amarillo Economist Karr Ingham reported that Midlands employment in February was down less than a percent from February 2016 levels, far below the 8 to 9 percent declines seen in the last couple of years amid low oil prices.

Despite the slow recovery in jobs, Taylor noted that Midland also continues to enjoy higher average wages than the rest of the state.

As summer approaches, Taylor said there are factors that could impact employment that will need to be watched, primarily crude oil prices, which will affect the level of activity in the Permian Basin and thus employment levels.

So far, industry members on my board tell me theyre hiring, whether it technicians or medical personnel, he said. If you have good skills you can go to work.

Still, Taylor said, I continue to say if we want to bring stability to the region, we need to work on diversifying the economy.

Midland lost 100 jobs from February to March as 100-job gains each in the Leisure and Hospitality sector and the Government sector were offset by 100-job losses each in the Mining, Logging and Construction sector, Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector and Education and Health Services sector.

For the 12 months from March 2016 to March 2017, Midland lost 100 jobs as a 1,100-job loss in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector and 300 jobs in the Professional and Business Services sector offset sharp gains other sectors: A 900-job gain in Mining, Logging and Construction, 300 in Government, 200 in Education and Health Services and 100 jobs in Other Services. The Financial Services and the Manufacturing sectors each posted 100-job losses.

Statewide, the unemployment rate rose to 5 percent from 4.9 percent in February.

While Amarillo had the lowest unemployment at 3.5 percent, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission reported the highest at 8.5 percent.

---

Midland Unemployment

January 2017 4.1 percent

January 2016 4 percent

---

February 2017 4.2 percent

February 2016 4.2 percent

---

March 2017 4 percent

March 2016 4.4 percent

Preliminary numbers for March with February numbers in parentheses:

Amarillo 3.5 (3.6)

Austin-Round Rock 3.6 (3.7)

College Station-Bryan 3.6 (3.8)

Lubbock 4.0 (3.7)

Midland 4.0 (4.2)

San Antonio-New Braunfels 4.1 (4.2)

Abilene 4.2 (4.4)

Dallas-Plano-Irving 4.2 (4.3)

Sherman-Denison 4.2 (4.3)

Fort Worth-Arlington 4.4 (4.4)

Waco 4.3 (4.5)

San Angelo 4.5 (4.6)

Wichita Falls 4.5 (4.6)

Tyler 4.7 (4.8)

Killeen-Temple 4.8 (4.9)

Texarkana 4.8 (5.3)

Laredo 5.0 (5.2)

El Paso 5.3 (5.5)

Odessa 5.6 (5.8)

Victoria 5.6 (5.9)

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land 5.7 (5.9)

Longview 6.3 (6.6)

Corpus Christi 6.6 (6.8)

Beaumont-Port Arthur 7.9 (8.1)

Brownsville-Harlingen 7.9 (8.3)

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission 8.5 (8.8)
Those drilling rigs that are increasingly dotting Permian Basin skies are generating more than crude oil and natural gas.

With more drilling comes more waste byproducts to be processed. The higher the rig count, the higher our revenues, said George Wommack, founder and chief executive officer of Petro Waste Environmental.

Speaking by phone from his San Antonio office, Wommack said the new regulatory atmosphere in Washington, D.C., could benefit the industry, and those benefits could trickle down to his company.

His company is primarily regulated at the state level, specifically by the Railroad Commission, he said.

There is more scrutiny at the state level of how E&P companies dispose of oil-based cuttings, he said.

Any changes to state regulations could affect his company in the future, he said.

At the federal level, Wommack sees only positive changes that are making it more attractive to drill in the U.S.

The biggest benefit, I believe, really, in the Permian Basin, is the relaxation of regulations on drilling on federal lands and the relaxation of regulations on pipelines, he said. First, that would drop the break-even cost on developing minerals on federal land, speed up the process and make it more seamless. Second, with a more pro-industry approach to pipelines, we can avoid bottlenecks and ensure producers get top dollar.

That all happens when government gets out of the way and lets businesses do their job, Wommack said.

His company just opened its Orla Landfill in Reeves County, to accept oil- and water-based mud, oil- and water-based drill cuttings, contaminated soil and RCRA-exempt non-hazardous E&P waste. A second facility in Howard County is expected to open in July, and Wommack said the company holds Railroad Commission permits for two more facilities.

More and more of the large oil companies making these substantial acquisitions are taking it upon themselves to exceed the minimum regulatory requirements in disposing of oil field waste, Wommack said. The bigger they are, the more likely they are to do so.

He said the larger companies, with departments dedicated to environmental issues, have studied the issue extensively and decide to dispose of waste as opposed to deep-burying it at the site.

I dont think legislation is needed to entice companies to do the right thing  theyre doing it on their own, he said.
BUTTE -- Hauntingly dark with dense smoke roiling against a tell-tale burnt-orange sky, the No Greater Love Than This oil painting conveys a heart-wrenching depiction of the Granite Mountain-Speculator fire.

Created by Irish artist Stephen Madden, the painting draws in the viewer, trying to make sense of the in-the-moment disaster going on under the Granite Mountain headframe, when 168 miners died in a fire in 1917.

It looks to me like a ship going down, said Jerry Sullivan, part of the No Greater Love musical production organizing committee. The fire itself represents the chaos going on underground  and the sacrifice taking place.

Irish artist Stephen Madden has taken on the emotion, the heartbreak, the danger of a storyteller with his handsome 3-foot by 2-foot oil piece embellished with an appropriate dark, industrial frame.

That was the idea  the fire and the smoke has a glow and a fierceness, said Madden, 32, a native of Newry in County Down, Ireland  a 40-minute drive from Belfast with a population of about 30,000. He was in town to unveil his painting at a donors-only reception at the Clark Chateau on Saturday commemorating the 100th anniversary of the disaster. The unveiling is part of the original No Greater Love musical production to be staged June 9-10 at the Mother Lode Theater.

The realistic painting portrays the worst hard-rock mining disaster in American history that rocked Butte and its immigrant workers to the core. Madden used historic photos and his own present-day photos as guides back home, where it took him about six months to paint the piece.

The smoke trails from the defunct Speculator Mine on the right to the Granite Mountain Mine headframe in the foreground. Mine dumps surround the hoist house, headframe and other buildings.

Its kind of a reminder of whats going on down below, said Sullivan, hosting Madden for the second time in a year. It looks a bit serene, but the mine is sort of ghostly.

In Gaelic, the piece is titled Nil Gra Nios Mo Na Seo.

Commissioned pieces

Personally, Sullivan commissioned Madden for three other pieces: scenes of the Stewart Mine, Sullivans mothers home in Eyeries, Ireland, and another family home in Beara.

The two men connected through Maddens grandparents, Louis and Olwen Morgan, who worked in Ireland behind the scenes for Project Children in the 1990s. At the time, Sullivan was the Butte lead, placing many Irish Catholic and Protestant children in Butte during the summer  an extension of the original 1975 program that provided kids a peaceful break from the religious and political strife in Ireland.

The Morgan-Sullivan friendship developed  and Madden visited Butte for the first time last year.

After my visit to Butte, I read the book, Fire and Brimstone, which told me what the disaster was like, said Madden. It was big-time inspiration  very heartfelt.

Artist's plans

A self-employed artist, Madden makes a living as a painter. He graduated with a master's degree in fine arts from the University of Belfast at Ulster in 2013. He received a bachelors degree from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art school in 2009.

Hoping to land back in New York City, Madden said President Donald Trumps current immigration restrictions have made it more difficult to get a work visa. So he plans to move from Ireland to Germany  probably Berlin  because its a big, arty city, he said.

Madden hails from a family of stone-cutters, but he said an artistic bent runs in the family.

The No Greater Love Than This subject matter is totally new for Madden who added, I do a bit of everything.

His online website is loaded with a mix of realistic photography-like paintings, abstract portraits and still-life. He sells mostly from his website: www.stephenmaddenstudio.blogspot.co.uk/.

I had a gallery in Newry, but it just didnt work out, said Madden. I may open an art gallery again in Berlin. Its just better selling online. Ive been very successful.
State lawmakers say a report detailing decades of sexual abuse by faculty of Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford demonstrates the need for a handful of bills before the legislature, including one that would establish background check standards for some private school employees and extend the statute of limitations for more serious sexual assault offenses.



The bills were introduced before the Choate report this month, and thus are not a direct response to the investigation, but are aimed at addressing the same types of problems.



Im not typically a fan of over regulating school systems and telling them how to do things, particularly in the private sector, however this goes beyond, Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, said. Its about the health and safety of our children.



The legislature last year passed background check standards for schools when they hire someone who comes into regular contact with students as part of their job, but an oversight in the language resulted in private schools being excluded.



This years bill seeks to address that, establishing hiring standards and requiring them to share information about applicants with other potential education employers and the state Department of Education.



It also extends prohibition on severance agreements that suppress information related to the investigation of employees suspected of abuse, neglect, or sexual misconduct, among other changes.



Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, who has also been critical of the state regulating school districts, agreed that governments main obligation is public safety, a concern that outweighs the private sectors desire to be free from government requirements.



Separately, the legislatures Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would extend the statute of limitations for first-, second- and third-degree sexual assault from five years to 10 years. Subsections of first- and second-degree sexual assault include incidents when a defendant has sex with minor, and when a teacher has sex with a student, regardless of age.



The Kestenbaum investigation found complaints as recent as this decade, although no substantiated allegations involved current faculty or students.



Rep. Mary Mushinsky, D-Wallingford, said she has long supported efforts to extend the statute of limitations for sex-related offenses, and referenced the case of George Reardon as another reason why it should be done.



While Reardon, a Hartford physician, was forced to resign from his post as chief of endocrinology at St. Francis Hospital in 1993 amid sexual abuse complaints, it wasnt until someone purchased his home in 2007 that authorities learned of a stash of child pornography.



The stash included pictures and videos he took of underage patients. That incident led to a push in 2010 to abolish altogether the statute of limitations for such offenses, but leaders with the Catholic Church were able to block that bill.



Candelora also supports that bill, as well as one that would require notification to superintendents anytime a student convicted of a sexual offense as a juvenile enters their school system.



msavino@record-journal.com 203-317-2266 Twitter: @reporter_savino






A snapshot of the Federal Reserves Eleventh District energy industry shows continued recovery from the oil price downturn.

OPEC provided that confidence in the sector, said Kunal Patel, senior research analyst with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

The Dallas Feds new Energy Indicators report found Permian Basin production rose by 57,700 barrels per day in March to 2.21 million barrels a day, while Eagle Ford production rose by 13,200 barrels a day to 1.15 million barrels.

A lot of rigs have gone back to work in the Permian; more rigs means more production, Patel said, forecasting further production increases in both areas this year.

The state rig count climbed to 411 rigs as of the end of March from a low of 173 last May. The counties showing the largest increases during that time are all in the Permian Basin: Reeves, which added 31, Martin, which added 15, and Howard, which added 14.

That increased activity has also resulted in the highest number of drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs) in the Permian Basin since at least December 2013. The number of DUCs rose to 1,864 in March from 1,774 in February. While operators like to keep an inventory of DUCs, Patel said the rising DUC count could be attributed to either busy completion firms not being able to get crews out to new wells quickly enough or, more likely, wells being held until market conditions are more favorable.

The rising rig count has not resulted in equally robust job creation. The report said Texas oil and gas extraction employment had risen slightly to 91,900 jobs in February, while payrolls in the service sector rose to 116,300. Combined, the states oil and gas employment rose 3,000 jobs to 208,300, only marginally above the lows reported last fall.

Using the data, we can see it does show a pick-up for employment, Patel said. But there are a lot of reports on efficiency improvements. Rigs can drill faster, theyre more productive. Theres a chance the industry wont need as many workers as during the last boom.

He said there has been a bigger jump in the support sector, with more employment and more hours worked.

Patel speculated that the rise in domestic production as oil prices rose above $50 a barrel may have begun to undercut prices. The average West Texas Intermediate spot price fell to $49.33 in March from $53.47, ending their run above $50 from January through early March as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries implemented their production cuts.

U.S. producers, especially those developing the nations shale plays, must navigate a balance in bringing their production to market, Patel said. They cant produce too much and oversupply the market, or produce too little and hurt their finances, he said.

Still, Patel said in all measures, particularly the business activity measure, the districts broadest measure of business conditions, continued expansion is expected.

The new Energy Indicators report will be issued monthly, usually on the third Thursday of the month, and include data on prices, employment and production levels. Patel said each month will include highlights of other areas, such as rig counts, exports and storage levels.
HARTFORD  Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has appointed former federal Environmental Protection Agency administrator Gina McCarthy to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Green Bank.

McCarthy previously served as commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, now known as the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, under Governor M. Jodi Rell.

During her extensive career, McCarthy has worked at both the state and local levels on critical environmental issues and helped coordinate policies on economic growth, energy, transportation, and the environment.

As the Connecticut Green Bank demonstrates how mobilizing private investment into our clean energy economy can reduce the energy burden on households and businesses while creating jobs in our communities, it is imperative that these investments also improve public health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Malloy said.

Gina McCarthy will be fantastic advocate for advancing these causes. She has dedicated her career toward advocating for the very issues that the Connecticut Green Bank seeks to accomplish, and we are thrilled to have her expertise back in Connecticut serving the people of our state, Malloy said.

The Connecticut Green Bank is a quasi-public authority created through legislation Governor Malloy to help the state in encouraging the creation of new jobs in the clean energy sector, promoting economic prosperity and energy security, and addressing climate change.

As the nations first full-scale green bank, the organization partners with private-sector investors to create low-cost, long-term, sustainable financing to implement green energy measures in the residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and infrastructure sectors.

I look forward to reuniting with my colleagues in Connecticut, McCarthy said. There is no greater imperative at this time than mobilizing more private investment in clean energy deployment in communities throughout Connecticut and across this country to combat global climate change. I am discovering that there is a need and urgency for more green banks in cities, counties, and states across the nation.
Contributed / Contributed

Sacred Heart University will host a Walk to End Violence Against Women and Girls at 9 .m. Sunday, April 30, at its new West Campus (former GE global headquarters), 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield. The event  sponsored by The Center for Family Justice Inc., Delta Tau Delta fraternity and SHU  is designed to raise awareness and take steps to end violence against females of all ages.

Sacred Heart is opening its West Campus for the event, and members of the local community are invited to participate. Participants will be able to walk the grounds, and light refreshments will be served.
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After a contentious winter that saw protestors descend on congressional town hall meetings across the nation, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York's 21st Congressional District has quietly re-emerged  holding her traditional small gatherings in the district's most far-flung places.

Stefanik, R-Willsboro, took a break from publicized constituent meetings during the tumult surrounding Republicans' attempt to overhaul the Affordable Health Care Act. Many town hall-style meetings across the country were filled with shouts from progressive protesters questioning their representatives not just about health care, but about their stances on President Trump's immigration and environmental policies.

There were also occasional protesters outside Stefanik's Glens Falls office during those weeks.

But Stefanik last week went back to her "Coffee with your Congresswoman," series, hosting a 3:15 p.m. meeting in Lyons Falls  a village in Lewis County about 40 miles southeast of Watertown.

She will hold another meeting at noon Monday at the Shirley J. Luck Senior Center in Johnstown, Fulton County.

Stefanik's spokesman said in a statement Sunday that Stefanik has held 13 other coffee events since she took office in 2015 and hosted 50 private meetings with constituents this year. She will also be part of a town hall broadcast May 8 on the Mountain Lake PBS station in Plattsburgh.

"The televised town hall is a way we can reach a very broad audience in our geographically large district at a time of heightened national interest," wrote Tom Flanagin, Stefanik's communications director. She "is committed to finding fresh approaches to reaching her constituents," Flanagin said.

But some commenters on the congresswoman's Facebook page at the end of last week expressed displeasure with the format of her public outreach.

"An hour meeting on a Monday in the middle of the day. Yeah, sounds like you're real interested in hearing from your constituents, huh?" Mike Chapman posted.

Stefanik hosted about 80 people last week at the Lyons Falls Library, where much of the conversation focused on challenges facing farmers such as dropping milk prices and tightening labor standards, according to coverage of the meeting in the Watertown Daily Times.

Republican Rep. John Faso of Kinderhook, of the 19th Congressional District, also was greeted with protesters at recent Capital Region events, including outside his televised town hall meeting held at WMHT studios in North Greenbush earlier this month. Faso has said town halls offer organized groups more of an opportunity to disrupt than allow constituents a space to ask meaningful questions.

Around the same time as a February protest outside Stefanik's Glens Falls office, the congresswoman said on her Facebook page that it was "unfortunate and counterproductive that a small number of activists believe the best way to address the very serious issues facing our country is to hijack and ambush community events for the sole purpose of political theater."

Wendy Liberatore contributed. lstanforth@timesunion.com  518-454-5697
With an increasing focus on an epidemic of opioid abuse in the United States, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., may be more critical than ever before.

During the four hours set aside for collection at the more than 5,400 sites set up across the nation last year by the Drug Enforcement Agency, millions of pounds of drugs were collected and destroyed by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

"We've been doing this program both years that I've been here and I'm sure they were doing it before I came," said Liberty Police Chief Thomas Claunch.

Claunch was appreciative of the effort on behalf of the DEA. Only Liberty and Cleveland are participating this year.

"This is a program set up by the DEA and we work in conjunction with them," he said.

Claunch said this program focused on old prescriptions or medications that residents need to dispose of in a safe manner.

"Bring it to us and drop it off and the DEA will pick it up and dispose of it properly," he said.

The chief said not to flush them down the toilet or disposal in the sink.

"We don't want them doing that," he said.

Drugs that are flushed down the toilet can contaminate the water supply, he said. Drugs thrown away in the trash can still be retrieved and abused leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and even abuse.

According to the DEA website, more than 46,000 Americans die each year from drug-related deaths, with more than half being from heroin and prescription opioids. The abuse of prescription narcotics is second only to the use of marijuana.

"When my mom passed, we had a lot of leftover medications. What do you do with that? You have to dispose of it someway and this is the best way to do that," he said.

The disposal service is free and anonymous for consumers -- no questions asked. Keep in mind that needles, asthma inhalers and illicit drugs are not accepted at the drop box.

"This is not a gotcha moment," he said. "You can drive up, drop them in the box and drive off. There's an employee standing there to receive your drugs and they are thrown in the box and the DEA will pick them up on Monday or Tuesday for disposal."

The DEA's "Take-Back" initiative is one of several strategies under the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 to reduce prescription drug abuse.

"We're not trying to prosecute anyone, that's not the issue. We just want to see folks get rid of the old drugs," Claunch said.

The chief said they've had a good response for the program.

"We'll be putting up flyers in local pharmacies in Walgreens, Brookshire Brothers, Walmart, everywhere," he said, "to remind folks about the drop-off day."

The DEA site said that the majority of teens abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends  and the home medicine cabinet.

If there's no way to attend the drop-off or a program is not available in your area, the DEA suggests:

1.Take the meds out of their bottles;

2.Mix them with something unappealing like used kitty litter or coffee grounds;

3.Seal them in a bag or disposable container and throw that away.

Want to know more about the program? Call the Liberty Police Department at 936-336-5666 or visit the department's Facebook page by searching for Liberty Police Department.
We find in the seventh chapter of II Samuel the account of King David desiring to build a house or temple for the Lord.

King David loved the Lord and was a man after God's own heart, according to Acts 13:22, which states: "And when he had removed him (King Saul), he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will."

David loved and served the Lord with all of His heart.

When David realized that he lived in a beautiful mansion, his heart longed to build a magnificent temple to honor the Lord for all He had done for Israel and to be a place where the name of the Lord could dwell. Now, that's not a bad desire! However, it was not the Lord's will for David to be the one to build that temple. So, David made provisions for the building of the temple but would not build it because the Lord said "No." The Lord told David that his son, Solomon, who would follow him as king would be the one to build the temple.

What does this mean for you and for me? There is a saying I know you have heard that says, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last." That is a sweet sentiment, but it is not true. The true statement should be, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what Christ does through me will last."

Do you remember the Bible passage that says "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"? (Matthew 6:33) The issue is not what I desire to do for the Lord, but what He desires to do through me.

When we seek to serve or do something to honor the Lord, we need first to seek His will. He knows our hearts and knows when we desire to serve Him. So, when we truly seek to do what He desires, He is able to give leadership to our lives so that we will do what He desire. He will bless that!

If David had gone on and built the temple to honor the Lord, as wonderful as that would seem, it would not have been God's will and David would have disobeyed what the Lord really desired for him to do. If you really want to do what will honor the Lord, seek first His will, His kingdom, and He will be pleased, honored and He will bless you and use what He led you to do for His glory!
A crane near the Galleria toppled early Sunday morning, shutting down the intersection at Westheimer and Post Oak Boulevard.

Firefighters had to help down a worker in an elevated crane who was performing scheduled maintenance on the round Post Oak Boulevard street sign during the accident, according to Houston Fire Department deputy chief Fernando Herrera.
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He may have been 7,000 miles away during his wife's pregnancy but that didn't keep Navy corpsman Wesley Bedwell out of the maternity photos.

Bedwell and wife Nicole have become a viral sensation thanks to some quick thinking on the part of Mabank photographer Traci Lynn Fugitt. She was able to cut the distance between the corpsman and his wife by Photohopping him fully dressed in uniform reaching out to his pregnant wife.

FAMILY TRIALS: Keri Young gave birth to her daughter so the baby's organs could be harvested

"Nicole had expressed how upsetting it was that he was deployed, and asked that we do something to have in in the portraits," Fugitt said via email. "Wesley posed like he was reaching for her, a popular pose that I usually do with the Dad present."

What really makes the photo pop, though, is the contrast of backgrounds between husband and wife.

"While I could have used Photoshop to add him into the bluebonnets, we decided that putting the pictures side by side really presented the difference between the two locations," Fugitt said. "It really told the story we wanted together. Wesley is stationed in Japan and Nicole is in East Texas, but they waited for (their daughter) Pyper together."

BABY NEWS: Two KHOU reporters announce their pregnancies on Twitter

Fugitt said Pyper was born at 6 a.m. on April 13, more than a week before her expected April 22 due date.

Luckily, Bedwell was able to make it home in time for Pyper's birth. Fugitt said he'll stay in America until April 28, giving him more time to be with his wife and newborn daughter.

"When we took the photos, we didn't realize how big of an impact it would have on the world around us," Fugitt said. "It's still overwhelming thinking of where this photos hoot has gone and touched so many lives."

Click through the slideshow above to see images from the photo shoot.
WACO, Texas (AP)  Officials say upcoming trials related to the 2015 Central Texas gunfight involving rival motorcycle gangs that left nine people dead, 20 others hurt have effectively been put on hold due to a separate federal case involving one of the gangs.

The Waco Tribune-Herald reports (http://bit.ly/2ofL31E ) state District Judge Matt Johnson on Friday delayed the first trial related to the deadly shootout at the Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco. The trial was set for June 5.
The May 6 election is fast approaching. Im sure you are up to your ears in political messaging and candidate forums. It seems no matter where you drive in the city, each corner is plastered with the names and faces of those seeking your vote. But there is another ballot item worth showing up to the polls for: the 2017 bond package.

The price tag for the 2017-2022 General Obligation Bond Program is unprecedented for San Antonio and also concerns some residents  $850 million is a lot of money. So lets take a real look at where and how that money would be spent.

There are six propositions and a grand total of 180 projects.

Proposition 6 is the only section with a spending limit but without specified projects. Proposition 6 is a combination of an urban renewal plan and proposed neighborhood improvements bond for 12 identified distressed areas to be vetted and considered for improvements, including but not limited to property clearing and the installation of new utilities, sidewalks and streets to prepare for single or multifamily housing construction. This proposition is priced at $20 million and has the potential to lay the groundwork for long-term neighborhood growth.

Proposition 1 is dedicated to 64 named projects to improve streets, bridges and sidewalks. Infrastructure is by far our citys greatest need and generally its most expensive. An estimated $4.4 billion is needed to build and reconstruct streets in San Antonio, and an additional $1 million is needed to fill the 2,155 miles of sidewalk gaps. With the population set to double by 2040, we must start making tangible strides toward improvements. While the $445 million allocated toward streets, bridges and sidewalk for the 2017 bond does not satisfy every need, its a crucial start.

There is $139 million set aside for 19 projects with Proposition 2 to combat our citys drainage and flooding concerns. San Antonio is a part of a nationally recognized area called Flash Flood Alley, and that is a problem. Resolving flooding in our community is an uphill battle, but thanks to a combined $280 million from the 2007 and 2012 bond programs, we are making promising progress. Proposition 2 will allow San Antonio to continue bringing our drainage infrastructure to current design standards, and protect millions from the death and destruction that can accompany a major flood event.

We have 247 parks in San Antonio. With so much green space, it is crucial that we provide improvements and upgrades, as well as expand our park system. The 79 projects outlined in Proposition 3, totaling $187 million, not only upgrades over 25 percent of our current park space throughout the city but also proposes new park developments.

Proposition 4 has the smallest price tag at $24 million but aims to deliver 13 projects that provide much-needed rehabilitation and upgrades to five libraries and other community centers. The goal with Proposition 4 is to lend a hand in preserving the parts of the community that serve residents of all ages.

Five projects are reserved for Proposition 5: public safety facilities improvements. The top priorities for the $35 million program include building a new police substation close to the Central Business District and replacing the fire station on Austin Highway. Proposition 5 involves the smallest number of designated projects, but it is not hard to argue that providing safe, centrally located and well-designed facilities for those departments charged with protecting our community is non-negotiable.

Now, it is true that some projects in some of the propositions are not my top priority. We all have opinions on what the city needs. But now, more than ever, we must all agree that we need to start seriously investing in those needs before San Antonio gets any bigger. The 2017 bond package, while big to some and imperfect to others, is that investment. It deserves our support.

Casting a ballot is one of our greatest responsibilities as citizens. Please take the time to go to the polls for early voting or on election day, May 6.

Mike Gallagher represents District 10 on the San Antonio City Council. He is not running for re-election.
Bexar County election officials are using cutting-edge strategies to enhance voter experience and ensure election accessibility for the brave men and women who serve in our nations armed forces. For these and so many other reasons, we could hardly think of a more fitting place for the U.S. Election Assistance Commissions upcoming Standards Board meeting, which will take place here beginning Wednesday.

The board is comprised of 110 state and local election leaders representing each state and territory in the United States. Their gathering in San Antonio comes as stories about potential voting irregularities, attempted election-system hacking and implications of our nations aging election equipment continue to shape headlines and threaten to undermine voter confidence in our nations election system.

We will kick off our meeting by venturing out into your community to get a firsthand look at some of San Antonios best practices and strategies for election administration.

San Antonio knows how to take care of U.S. military personnel. There are few cities in the nation with a higher concentration of soldiers, airman and veterans. During our visit to your state-of-the-art wounded warrior treatment center at Fort Sam Houston, we will meet with military personnel to discuss ways to make sure all who defend our freedom have the opportunity to independently cast a ballot to shape it.

During the past decade, the EAC has issued Help America Vote Act, or HAVA, grants to fund research to determine the voting needs of recently injured military personnel, and to recommend practical and efficient ways to improve voting technologies and election administration practices to assist these voters.

Weve also partnered with the Department of Defenses Federal Voting Assistance Program, or FVAP, to assess voter registration and absentee voting issues among wounded warriors, as well as active military personnel serving away from home voting jurisdictions, either within the United States or abroad. Voting needs to be as easy for a soldier on the front line as it is for those of us here on the home front.

We also know that your officials administer fair and accurate elections, which they are doing right now with early voting underway for city and school board races.

Bexar County is among the nations most notable jurisdictions when it comes to fulfilling election best practices, maintaining voting lists and equipment, and providing transparency of its election procedures and processes.

It has also demonstrated commitment to ensuring every voter, including those with disabilities and limited English language proficiency, has the opportunity to vote independently. These achievements will be on full display when we visit the countys new election office that was built using funds distributed by the EAC as part of our mandate under the HAVA.

And San Antonio knows how to secure its elections. For all of the talk of potential election system hacking and other cybersecurity threats, 2016 affirmed that election officials across the United States can administer a secure and accessible election that produces reliable results.

Bexar County was no exception. It is setting the pace with regard to physical security of election equipment and protecting the election systems as a whole. County officials have worked with experts, including Department of Homeland Security and FBI officials, to implement a security approach that can serve as a model for election offices across the nation.

Election administrators in Bexar County and beyond know that we must remain vigilant in the work to secure our systems, continue to seek ways to improve voter experience, and double-down on the day-to-day work that serves as the foundation for any successful election.

Like San Antonio, we are keeping our mission focused on improving the accessibility, accuracy and security of the 2018 vote.

Matthew Masterson, a Republican, is chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Thomas Hicks, a Democrat, is vice chairman, and Christy McCormick, a Republican, is a member of the commission.
CLINTON  The effort to raise enough money to purchase and turn a vacant downtown Clinton building into a youth center is ahead of schedule as community support blossoms for the project viewed as a much-needed resource for local teens.

The concept of a place teens can go to socialize, get help with homework and talk to a mentor about life issues has been on Michelle Witzke's mind for several years.

The combination of an empty building on the north side of the downtown square and positive feedback from community leaders and other parents proved a catalyst late last year for the project to get off the ground.

"The doors just started opening where they weren't opening before," said Witzke.

One of the first donations to come through the door was $25,000 in March from the Warner Foundation. The donation came with a challenge: the $25,000 would double if a similar amount was raised in the community. More money followed as local businesses, individuals and churches stepped up with more than $165,000 pledged or submitted as of April 10.

In a statement from Witzke on Monday, John Warner IV said The Vault "represents a much needed opportunity for our county and the young people who live here. Supporting our youth is an investment in everyone's future."

Clinton's three banks, the State Bank of Lincoln, First National Bank and Trust and DeWitt Savings Bank also have provided financial support for the project.

A series of 12 fundraisers are planned this year to help organizers secure the estimated $300,000 needed to purchase and renovate the structure.

The new community center will target the 3,500 youth in DeWitt County and surrounding Heyworth and Maroa-Forsyth areas, but organizers expect students from as far away as Leroy and Mount Pulaski to visit the program in the 11,000-square-foot, two-story building that housed Ben Franklin and Woolworth's stores in the past.

In a marketing plan for the project, advocates cited data from the 2016 Illinois Youth Survey that shows DeWitt County youth ahead of state averages in several areas of concern. Fifty-one percent of 10th graders reported being bullied in DeWitt County compared to the 2014 state average of 35 percent, said the report that also noted increased reports of dating violence and depression among local youth.

According to Witzke, 80 percent of 347 Clinton high school students surveyed in 2014 said they would attend a teen center.

A mix of volunteer and paid staff are expected to be used to operate the center that will be open from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Texas Transportation Commission recently approved an update of the Texas Department of Transportations $70 billion Unified Transportation Program. The UTP represents a 10-year project-funding outlook that includes plans to add or improve more than 1,200 miles of roadways to enhance safety and mobility, and reduce congestion.

Seventy billion dollars is a historic amount of funding and includes more than $38 billion in additional funding, which Gov. Greg Abbott and the Legislature presented to the public in 2015 for approval as Proposition 7 and the ending of diversions of highway funds for other purposes.

Texas is a dynamic state with a robust economy. With more than 27 million people  a number expected to double by 2050  this transportation funding is not only welcome, its crucial to our quality of life, economic health and global competitiveness.

TxDOT is committed to anticipating and addressing the transportation demands of our state. The 10-year plan, the largest in TxDOT history, dedicates funding for safety, maintenance and rural connectivity needs across all 25 TxDOT districts and 25 metropolitan planning areas throughout the state.

Abbott has charged the Texas Transportation Commission with addressing the growing congestion facing our largest metro areas.

Ninety-seven of Texas Top 100 congested roadways are in the five major metro areas, resulting in the average driver in those areas losing more than 52 hours last year while negotiating traffic choke points.

Over the next four years, $2.5 billion of the influx of new dollars will fund 19 much-needed new projects in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio through a program called Texas Clear Lanes, which is intended to add capacity and improvements to some of our most notorious areas of gridlock.

In addition, the commission has targeted funds to improve our major transportation and trade corridors, energy sector roads and hurricane evacuation routes.

There is still much to be done. Next August, the commission will program additional projects. TxDOT is reaching out for public input as it works with transportation professionals and other stakeholder groups to ensure a quality planning process.

Commission members  Jeff Austin of Tyler, Victor Vandergriff of Arlington, Bruce Bugg of San Antonio, Laura Ryan of Houston and me, from Odessa  have worked diligently to maximize the resources Abbott, the Legislature and taxpayers have provided.

As the commission and the department it oversees, TxDOT, celebrate their 100-year anniversary, we are ever more dedicated to serving the public and continuing the tradition of excellence established by those who served before us.

(An earlier version on this commentary mistated the manner of oversight. The Texas Transportation Commission oversees TxDOT.)

Tryon Lewis is chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission.
Immigrants dignity has been compromised

A war has been declared on immigration in the United States. Innocent victims of circumstance are vilified along with the thugs who are the true enemy. I applaud the current administration for making the security of American citizens, with regard to immigration, a priority. However, the dignity of the immigrant, legal or illegal, has been compromised. The president has insulted their values, threatened deportation, frightened them into silence or whipped them into frenzied protests. Desperate mothers who risk the lives of their children and their own, care not about visas or status. An ocean does not stop refugees, and a physical wall will not stop migration from the south. I would propose that Americas advanced society could build a technical wall with the same results and should instead focus on more progressive immigration policies.

There is currently no way for an illegal alien, even those here under the Dream Act, to gain legal status; yet still they come. Immigrants do not take jobs from Americans who want to work. They contribute much to our society and to the success of many American industries. Foreigners living here with no criminal history should be allowed to apply for a work visa for the opportunity to better contribute to the American economy.

A U.S. citizen can apply for government assistance, financial aid and student loans. Contrary to popular belief, non-citizen immigrants do not qualify for government assistance, cannot incur debt and do not have the earning power afforded to U.S. citizens.

On network news last week, the world witnessed footage of a grieving father holding his lifeless babies after a chemical attack. These are the dangerous illegal aliens about whom Americans complain. The enemy. We owe them our compassion and attention.

Katrina Montoya

Conaway townhall was not a productive meeting

Because U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway chose not to inform our local newspaper, the Comanche Chief, about his townhall schedule, my wife and I had to drive 118 miles to participate in his question-and-answer session in Mason. As it turned out, it was a lesson in arithmetic beginning with our 118-mile drive, times two.

The room was 30 by 42 feet, with 54 chairs set up for 71 people. Congressman Conaway opened the townhall by filibustering 13 minutes, during which time he promised two times not to filibuster. After wasting our 13 minutes, he began answering questions. Each of the 12 questions took one minute to ask. Unfortunately, Representative Conaway used four minutes to answer each.

Congressman Conaway abruptly ended the Q&A with 15 unanswered questions.

He did make time to filibuster one last time to his captive audience for seven minutes with mind-numbing anecdotes.

A productive townhall? You do the math.

Felix Laughlin

Proctor

Pit bulls pose danger to residents

This letter is a letter of concern for our neighborhood about a resident letting their pit bulls run loose and nearly attacking my grandchild and coming after my 84-year-old father-in-law and several others. We have called the Midland County Sheriffs Office for help about these dogs and the owners. We have been told because the county does not have a leash law that there is nothing we can do.

Will it take someone getting attacked before anything can be done? What rights do we have to defend ourselves against this happening? Im at a loss to where to get help and if anything legally can be done. Several neighbors have complained to the sheriffs office as well as to the owners.

Its a shame to not feel safe and that our children or anyone else will not be attacked. Everyone else out here has fenced-in yards and our animals are contained so that we dont have to worry about this.

I am asking for help on this issue because Im not sure who to contact or what we can do; any feedback would be greatly appreciated. We are talking about human lives over an animals life. I love my dogs but if they were to ever be aggressive toward a child that would be the end of it. We have dogs for protection.

Aggressive dogs definitely should not be roaming our neighborhood freely to prey on innocent people. I dont blame the dogs; I blame the people who own them and allow this to happen knowing that they are dangerous to others. Please help guide us the right direction so that hopefully something can be done. We have lived in this neighborhood for many years and have never had this kind of problem. I am thankful that my grandchild or anyone else has not bitten yet. Why would people not do anything about the problem at hand and why does it have to come to this? To me this is a very serious situation because it involves human lives, and should that matter?

Carolyn Williams

There are more important issues than bathroom bill

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus reflects my views in that he has reservations about the state adopting new bathroom regulations. The Midland Reporter-Telegram this week included an article by Patrick Svitek from the Texas Tribune in which Straus is quoted as saying that it was not the most urgent concern of mine. There are indeed more important issues to for our state government to address. The repeal of Robin Hood would be high on my list.

Public policy should be simple. If a man purposefully goes into an occupied ladies bathroom, fine him and/or jail him. Women must stay out of the mens room, too.

As a youth in Midland back in the days of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, I was puzzled by something I saw at the Ritz Theatre on Main Street (except I called it the picture show). Sometimes they had a double double feature and a continued piece (serial). There were separate bathrooms that had signs on the doors: White men, Colored men, White women, Colored women. There were even drinking fountains that had signs specifying white or colored. That practice was wrong.

As a teenager, the word to describe certain groups of individuals was queer. To me, that was a cuss word, and I do not remember saying it. That term does mean that something is odd or unusual.

Another puzzling thing is that there is a lot said about nondiscriminatory practices, but in some quarters little is said about respecting the God-given rights and responsibilities of the gainfully employed, taxpaying, marriage vow-keeping, churchgoing, law-abiding Caucasian adult male.

Robert L. Williams

Letters policy

There is a 350-word limit; candidate letters have a 200-word limit.

Letters must be submitted to letters@mrt.com.

Deadline is noon Thursdays for the following Sunday.

Reporter-Telegram policy limits individuals to one letter in a 30-day period.

Letter-writers should include phone number and address. Failure to do so could delay letters publication.
With early voting barely underway, its the perfect time for Manuel Medina to drop out of the race. He has made it abundantly clear lately he is completely unqualified for mayor. His bizarre responses at mayoral forums (or his no-show at many of them), his phony protests and using homeless people  all these factors send a clear signal.

All he will do by staying in the race is draw votes from legitimate candidates, of which he is definitely not one.

Mr. Medina, if you really care about San Antonio, withdraw from the race now!

Charles John

Decaying society

Re: Reptile photo op at the strawberry festival, Metro, April 10:

I was disappointed that you chose to run a picture of a father and son seated on an alligator at the Poteet Strawberry Festival. Is this the best representation of the event, where humans take an animal, tape its mouth shut, allow humans to sit on it, and call it a photo op? Shame on the festival, shame on the father and son, and shame on the Express-News for a lack of respect for this creature.

Albert Einstein reminded us, Any society which does not insist upon respect for all life must necessarily decay.

Nancy York

The good of ACA

Re: Repeal Obamacare, Your Turn, April 9:

The letter writer stated, I was hoping the Republicans would repeal Obamacare and get the government out of health care. She must also want to repeal Medicare, which is run by the federal government.

She said, Let people pay for their doctor visits and then buy coverage for the big events that might happen. This remark shows either a lack of understanding of those whose incomes fall at the lower end of the spectrum or an absence of compassion for the less-privileged. For many, even the full premium for a high deductible plan would be unaffordable, and in the event of a serious illness, they could not afford the deductible.

She also said, Costs would come down quickly. There might be some truth to that since with repeal of Obamacare, those with pre-existing conditions could no longer purchase insurance plans even if they could afford them. With fewer sick people in the mix, insurers costs might decline.

Too many fail to understand the profound goodness that the Affordable Care Act, though imperfect, has brought to so many. If they could walk in the shoes of others who have experienced, often for the first time, the relief of having affordable health care, perhaps they would ask that Obamacare be improved, not repealed.

Stephen Baird, New Braunfels
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.Job Number: 504234Location: Abuja, NigeriaWork Type : ConsultancySupervisor: Chief, Social Policy and Gender EqualityDuration: 7 MonthsUNICEF Nigeria has been at the forefront of providing technical assistance to the production of the SITAN report which provides statistical and qualitative evidence of the status and trends of issues affecting Nigerian children.An important element of the SITAN is the description and analysis of equity which is very much aligned with UNICEFs Social Policy focus. Based on the findings from the SITAN, further and more recent statistical evidence is required to further analyse the immediate, underlying and structural causes of gaps that exist in realizing the rights of the Nigerian child; in particular urban children and adolescents, in particular due to the recent availability of MICS 2016 micro-data.Therefore, this proposal seeks a National Consultant to provide statistical data to the UNICEF Nigeria Social Policy team, particularly in respect to the measure of child poverty, intra-regional comparisons, as well as trends in rural to urban disparities that exist in relation to the wellbeing of Nigerian children. It is expected that the National Consultant will liaise with relevant national data agencies, other research and specialized institutions in the process of data collection.Purpose of the Consultancy: to assist UNICEF Nigeria measure, analyze, compare and summarize data on child poverty and urban and rural as well as intra-regional disparities that exist in realizing the rights of the Nigerian child (urban children and adolescents, in particular).Provision of estimates to multidimensional child poverty.Intra-regional comparisons of multidimensional child poverty.Identification and analysis of trends in Urban and Rural disparities that exist in the context of child well being in Nigeria.Provision of an equity ranking of all 36 states of Nigeria.Calculation of young people and adolescent Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) and their Vulnerability in Employment and Labour (VEL) in Nigeria.Under the guidance of the Chief, Social Policy and Gender Equality unit, the consultant will provide statistical and analytical support to the unit by:Producing estimates of multidimensional child poverty based on micro-data from national householdSurveys, in particular MICS 2016.Producing estimates of inequality/disparities in childrens access to services (health, education, nutrition,WASH, HIV/AIDS, and child protection systems) distributions in the sub-regions and between rural and urban areas. (rural to rural, rural to urban, urban to urban).Contributing substantively to the design and compilation of identified indicator tables, identification and quality assessment and evaluation of new indicators and the creative presentation of statistical information for the Child Poverty Report to be prepared in collaboration with the MBNP, WB, and other partners.Participating in the editing and quality control of tables, graphs and other statistical information contained in the chapters of the report, to ensure accuracy, consistency and clear presentation.Comparing trends in rural and urban disparities across 36 states.Producing estimates of young people and adolescent not in school or in employmentProducing the final tables which are part of the statistical annex and ensure quality and standards.End Product:Draft data analysis for Child Poverty Report, including data summarized into tables with corresponding text interpreting the data (paragraph form, corresponding to each data table).Final draft of data analysis reports on urban children, adolescents, and equity ranking of 36 States, revised based on comments from UNICEF Nigeria Social Policy team.Advanced university degree in the Social Science disciplines with special focus on Statistics, Economics, Demography, monitoring and evaluation or any quantitative social science.At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in applying statistical theory and techniques to design, plan and manage data collection and processing efforts for large scale surveys and/or census;Excellent knowledge and application of statistical packages (STATA, SPSS, e.t.c) in calculating and analysing large datasets from various sources.Proven experience with the analysis of datasets.Ability to research, analyse and present complex information in a user-friendly manner.Knowledge of the work of UNICEF and childrens rights and rights based approach would be an asset.Good computer skills including and various office applications.Local knowledge and understanding of cultural, social and economic conditions and intra-regional disparities in Nigeria.Knowledge of CRC is desirable.1 May, 2017
By Michael T. Klare, a TomDispatch regular, is a professor of peace and world security studies at Hampshire College and the author, most recently, of The Race for Whats Left. A documentary movie version of his book Blood and Oil is available from the Media Education Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @mklare1. Originally published at TomDispatch

Not since World War II have more human beings been at risk from disease and starvation than at this very moment. On March 10th, Stephen OBrien, under secretary-general of the United Nations for humanitarian affairs, informed the Security Council that 20 million people in three African countries  Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan  as well as in Yemen were likely to die if not provided with emergency food and medical aid. We are at a critical point in history, he declared. Already at the beginning of the year we are facing the largest humanitarian crisis since the creation of the U.N. Without coordinated international action, he added, people will simply starve to death [or] suffer and die from disease.

Major famines have, of course, occurred before, but never in memory on such a scale in four places simultaneously. According to OBrien, 7.3 million people are at risk in Yemen, 5.1 million in the Lake Chad area of northeastern Nigeria, 5 million in South Sudan, and 2.9 million in Somalia. In each of these countries, some lethal combination of war, persistent drought, and political instability is causing drastic cuts in essential food and water supplies. Of those 20 million people at risk of death, an estimated 1.4 million are young children.

Despite the potential severity of the crisis, U.N. officials remain confident that many of those at risk can be saved if sufficient food and medical assistance is provided in time and the warring parties allow humanitarian aid workers to reach those in the greatest need. We have strategic, coordinated, and prioritized plans in every country, OBrien said. With sufficient and timely financial support, humanitarians can still help to prevent the worst-case scenario.

All in all, the cost of such an intervention is not great: an estimated $4.4 billion to implement that U.N. action plan and save most of those 20 million lives.

The international response? Essentially, a giant shrug of indifference.

To have time to deliver sufficient supplies, U.N. officials indicated that the money would need to be in pocket by the end of March. Its now April and international donors have given only a paltry $423 million  less than a tenth of whats needed. While, for instance, President Donald Trump sought Congressional approval for a $54 billion increase in U.S. military spending (bringing total defense expenditures in the coming year to $603 billion) and launched $89 million worth of Tomahawk missiles against a single Syrian air base, the U.S. has offered precious little to allay the coming disaster in three countries in which it has taken military actions in recent years. As if to add insult to injury, on February 15th Trump told Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari that he was inclined to sell his country 12 Super-Tucano light-strike aircraft, potentially depleting Nigeria of $600 million it desperately needs for famine relief.

Moreover, just as those U.N. officials were pleading fruitlessly for increased humanitarian funding and an end to the fierce and complex set of conflicts in South Sudan and Yemen (so that they could facilitate the safe delivery of emergency food supplies to those countries), the Trump administration was announcing plans to reduce American contributions to the United Nations by 40%. It was also preparing to send additional weaponry to Saudi Arabia, the country most responsible for devastating air strikes on Yemens food and water infrastructure. This goes beyond indifference. This is complicity in mass extermination.

Like many people around the world, President Trump was horrified by images of young children suffocating from the nerve gas used by Syrian government forces in an April 4th raid on the rebel-held village of Khan Sheikhoun. That attack on children yesterday had a big impact on me  big impact, he told reporters. That was a horrible, horrible thing. And Ive been watching it and seeing it, and it doesnt get any worse than that. In reaction to those images, he ordered a barrage of cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base the following day. But Trump does not seem to have seen  or has ignored  equally heart-rending images of young children dying from the spreading famines in Africa and Yemen. Those children evidently dont merit White House sympathy.

Who knows why not just Donald Trump but the world is proving so indifferent to the famines of 2017? It could simply be donor fatigue or a media focused on the daily psychodrama that is now Washington, or growing fears about the unprecedented global refugee crisis and, of course, terrorism. Its a question worth a piece in itself, but I want to explore another one entirely.

Heres the question I think we all should be asking: Is this what a world battered by climate change will be like  one in which tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of people perish from disease, starvation, and heat prostration while the rest of us, living in less exposed areas, essentially do nothing to prevent their annihilation?

Famine, Drought, and Climate Change

First, though, lets consider whether the famines of 2017 are even a valid indicator of what a climate-changed planet might look like. After all, severe famines accompanied by widespread starvation have occurred throughout human history. In addition, the brutal armed conflicts now underway in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen are at least in part responsible for the spreading famines. In all four countries, there are forces  Boko Haram in Nigeria, al-Shabaab in Somalia, assorted militias and the government in South Sudan, and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen  interfering with the delivery of aid supplies. Nevertheless, there can be no doubt that pervasive water scarcity and prolonged drought (expected consequences of global warming) are contributing significantly to the disastrous conditions in most of them. The likelihood that droughts this severe would be occurring simultaneously in the absence of climate change is vanishingly small.

In fact, scientists generally agree that global warming will ensure diminished rainfall and ever more frequent droughts over much of Africa and the Middle East. This, in turn, will heighten conflicts of every sort and endanger basic survival in a myriad of ways. In their most recent 2014 assessment of global trends, the scientists of the prestigious Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that agriculture in Africa will face significant challenges in adapting to climate changes projected to occur by mid-century, as negative effects of high temperatures become increasingly prominent. Even in 2014, as that report suggested, climate change was already contributing to water scarcity and persistent drought conditions in large parts of Africa and the Middle East. Scientific studies had, for instance, revealed an overall expansion of desert and contraction of vegetated areas on that continent. With arable land in retreat and water supplies falling, crop yields were already in decline in many areas, while malnutrition rates were rising  precisely the conditions witnessed in more extreme forms in the famine-affected areas today.

Its seldom possible to attribute any specific weather-induced event, including droughts or storms, to global warming with absolute certainty. Such things happen with or without climate change. Nonetheless, scientists are becoming even more confident that severe storms and droughts (especially when occurring in tandem or in several parts of the world at once) are best explained as climate-change related. If, for instance, a type of storm that might normally occur only once every hundred years occurs twice in one decade and four times in the next, you can be reasonably confident that youre in a new climate era.

It will undoubtedly take more time for scientists to determine to what extent the current famines in Africa and Yemen are mainly climate-change-induced and to what extent they are the product of political and military mayhem and disarray. But doesnt this already offer us a sense of just what kind of world we are now entering?

History and social science research indicate that, as environmental conditions deteriorate, people will naturally compete over access to vital materials and the opportunists in any society  warlords, militia leaders, demagogues, government officials, and the like  will exploit such clashes for their personal advantage. The data suggests a definite link between food insecurity and conflict, points out Ertharin Cousin, head of the U.N.s World Food Program. Climate is an added stress factor. In this sense, the current famines in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen provide us with a perfect template for our future, one in which resource wars and climate mayhem team up as temperatures continue their steady rise.

The Selective Impact of Climate Change

In some popular accounts of the future depredations of climate change, there is a tendency to suggest that its effects will be felt more or less democratically around the globe  that we will all suffer to some degree, if not equally, from the bad things that happen as temperatures rise. And its certainly true that everyone on this planet will feel the effects of global warming in some fashion, but dont for a second imagine that the harshest effects will be distributed anything but deeply inequitably. It wont even be a complicated equation. As with so much else, those at the bottom rungs of society  the poor, the marginalized, and those in countries already at or near the edge  will suffer so much more (and so much earlier) than those at the top and in the most developed, wealthiest countries.

As a start, the geophysical dynamics of climate change dictate that, when it comes to soaring temperatures and reduced rainfall, the most severe effects are likely to be felt first and worst in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Latin America  home to hundreds of millions of people who depend on rain-fed agriculture to sustain themselves and their families. Research conducted by scientists in New Zealand, Switzerland, and Great Britain found that the rise in the number of extremely hot days is already more intense in tropical latitudes and disproportionately affects poor farmers.

Living at subsistence levels, such farmers and their communities are especially vulnerable to drought and desertification. In a future in which climate-change disasters are commonplace, they will undoubtedly be forced to choose ever more frequently between the unpalatable alternatives of starvation or flight. In other words, if you thought the global refugee crisis was bad today, just wait a few decades.

Climate change is also intensifying the dangers faced by the poor and marginalized in another way. As interior croplands turn to dust, ever more farmers are migrating to cities, especially coastal ones. If you want a historical analogy, think of the great Dust Bowl migration of the Okies from the interior of the U.S. to the California coast in the 1930s. In todays climate-change era, the only available housing such migrants are likely to find will be in vast and expanding shantytowns (or informal settlements, as theyre euphemistically called), often located in floodplains and low-lying coastal areas exposed to storm surges and sea-level rise. As global warming advances, the victims of water scarcity and desertification will be afflicted anew. Those storm surges will destroy the most exposed parts of the coastal mega-cities in which they will be clustered. In other words, for the uprooted and desperate, there will be no escaping climate change. As the latest IPCC report noted, Poor people living in urban informal settlements, of which there are [already] about one billion worldwide, are particularly vulnerable to weather and climate effects.

The scientific literature on climate change indicates that the lives of the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed will be the first to be turned upside down by the effects of global warming. The socially and economically disadvantaged and the marginalized are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change and extreme events, the IPCC indicated in 2014. Vulnerability is often high among indigenous peoples, women, children, the elderly, and disabled people who experience multiple deprivations that inhibit them from managing daily risks and shocks. It should go without saying that these are also the people least responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming in the first place (something no less true of the countries most of them live in).

Inaction Equals Annihilation

In this context, consider the moral consequences of inaction on climate change. Once it seemed that the process of global warming would occur slowly enough to allow societies to adapt to higher temperatures without excessive disruption, and that the entire human family would somehow make this transition more or less simultaneously. That now looks more and more like a fairy tale. Climate change is occurring far too swiftly for all human societies to adapt to it successfully. Only the richest are likely to succeed in even the most tenuous way. Unless colossal efforts are undertaken now to halt the emission of greenhouse gases, those living in less affluent societies can expect to suffer from extremes of flooding, drought, starvation, disease, and death in potentially staggering numbers.

And you dont need a Ph.D. in climatology to arrive at this conclusion either. The overwhelming majority of the worlds scientists agree that any increase in average world temperatures that exceeds 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the pre-industrial era  some opt for a rise of no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius  will alter the global climate system drastically. In such a situation, a number of societies will simply disintegrate in the fashion of South Sudan today, producing staggering chaos and misery. So far, the world has heated up by at least one of those two degrees, and unless we stop burning fossil fuels in quantity soon, the 1.5 degree level will probably be reached in the not-too-distant future.

Worse yet, on our present trajectory, it seems highly unlikely that the warming process will stop at 2 or even 3 degrees Celsius, meaning that later in this century many of the worst-case climate-change scenarios  the inundation of coastal cities, the desertification of vast interior regions, and the collapse of rain-fed agriculture in many areas  will become everyday reality.

In other words, think of the developments in those three African lands and Yemen as previews of what far larger parts of our world could look like in another quarter-century or so: a world in which hundreds of millions of people are at risk of annihilation from disease or starvation, or are on the march or at sea, crossing borders, heading for the shantytowns of major cities, looking for refugee camps or other places where survival appears even minimally possible. If the worlds response to the current famine catastrophe and the escalating fears of refugees in wealthy countries are any indication, people will die in vast numbers without hope of help.

In other words, failing to halt the advance of climate change  to the extent that halting it, at this point, remains within our power  means complicity with mass human annihilation. We know, or at this point should know, that such scenarios are already on the horizon. We still retain the power, if not to stop them, then to radically ameliorate what they will look like, so our failure to do all we can means that we become complicit in what  not to mince words  is clearly going to be a process of climate genocide. How can those of us in countries responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions escape such a verdict?

And if such a conclusion is indeed inescapable, then each of us must do whatever we can to reduce our individual, community, and institutional contributions to global warming. Even if we are already doing a lot  as many of us are  more is needed. Unfortunately, we Americans are living not only in a time of climate crisis, but in the era of President Trump, which means the federal government and its partners in the fossil fuel industry will be wielding their immense powers to obstruct all imaginable progress on limiting global warming. They will be the true perpetrators of climate genocide. As a result, the rest of us bear a moral responsibility not just to do what we can at the local level to slow the pace of climate change, but also to engage in political struggle to counteract or neutralize the acts of Trump and company. Only dramatic and concerted action on multiple fronts can prevent the human disasters now unfolding in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen from becoming the global norm.

[Note: On Saturday, April 29th, folks from all over the United States will participate in the Peoples Climate March in Washington, D.C. You can get information on the march by clicking here. Joining the march, or otherwise supporting its objectives, is a good way to begin the resistance to climate genocide. For those who wish to aid the victims of famine in Africa and Yemen, donations can be made to the U.N.s World Food Program by clicking here.]

Copyright 2017 Michael T. Klare
(Natural News) A recent report from Mother Jones has revealed disconcerting information regarding the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) particularly regarding financial influence on behalf of a variety of industry giants. It really shows how commonplace industry influence over science and policy has become.

The ACSH is essentially nothing more than a consumer front group for the businesses that fund it  despite their assertions that the organization is independent, a quick look at their financial donors would certainly suggest otherwise. You can view the full financial summary here. One of the most concerning finds is their deep ties to the fracking industry, which has grown notorious for environmental pollution. Two fracking organizations  Achelis Bodman Foundation and American Petroleum  donated a combined $77,500 to the ACSH in just 2013 alone. Coca-Cola, which has come under fire for using their financial prowess for nefarious purposes in the past, donated a whopping $50,000 to the ACSH that year as well. Some other notable names on their list of corporate donors include McDonalds, Syngenta, Proctor & Gamble, and Bayer Cropscience.

The ACSH has been subject to much criticism over the years. Sourcewatch.org quotes consumer advocate Ralph Nader as saying, A consumer group is an organization which advocates the interests of unrepresented consumers and must either maintain its own intellectual independence or be directly accountable to its membership. In contrast, ACSH is a consumer front organization for its business backers. It has seized the language and style of the existing consumer organizations, but its real purpose, you might say, is to glove the hand that feeds it.

The ACSH purports itself as an independent science organization that sifts through scientific claims and evidence to determine what is true. The problem here is that their truth, like many others version of the truth, is colored by the cash they receive from corporate behemoths. For twenty-some-odd years, the ACSH kept their donation records in the dark, nary an eye had glanced upon their record of industry funding. But recently, that all changed when their financial summary for the year 2012 had been leaked to the press.

In addition to the lengthy list of corporate donors, the document also reveals that the organization would be operating at a constant deficit, if not for the money they receive from their industry masters. In spite of the obvious evidence, the ACSH has continued to maintain that the organization is innocent and free of corporate influence, even as they rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars from questionable companies  and even as the group sets goals for obtaining even more money from corporate donors. As the internal documents from 2012 reveal, one of the ACSHs top goals was to Look for and seize opportunities to cultivate new funding possibilities. The document also states that the agency wanted to increase their revenue that year by $100,000.

In addition to all of these donations, the ACSH has made a number of questionable  if not downright wrong  assertions regarding a number of chemicals and practices over the years. As Sourecwatch.org reports, the ACSH has supported and defended many hazardous products over the years  including things like DDT, asbestos and Agent Orange. The organization has even allegedly referred to environmentalists and activists as terrorists whose arguments and criticisms are threats to society. The ACSH is infamous for their defense of GMOs, pesticides and other toxic modern technologies.

Many people dont realize that ACSH is run by a convicted felon, explains Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, editor of Natural News. The group is headed by a convicted con artist who was convicted for medical fraud. Now he collects money from the drug industry to attack scientists who question the safety of vaccine ingredients and GMOs.

U.S. Right To Know reports that in the past, the ACSH has denied that fracking pollutes water or air, that there is no evidence BPAs are harmful, and that exposure to mercury (a widely recognized neurotoxic heavy metal) in seafood does not cause harm to humans.

And were supposed to trust that this organization not only knows what theyre talking about, but also that none of their opinions are influenced by the corporations that back them?

Sources:

MotherJones.com

USRTK.org

SourceWatch.org

NaturalNews.com
In lieu of Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, the United Nations have emphasized the need for environmental and climate literacy to save the planet.

Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, during a protest against the effects of the industrial revolution for more than a century. The protest led to a rampant change in environmental laws, with US Congress and President Nixon creating the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Also in the same year, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act were passed, CNN reports.

Since 1970, April 22 has been marked as a celebration for Mother Earth. The holiday is celebrated around the world with 192 countries and 1 billion people participating in this event. Earth Day has been a venue for groups to raise environmental awareness to the greater public.

For this year's theme, Earth Day 2017 is campaigning for environmental and climate literacy. According to the Earth Day Network, proper awareness and education about the unprecedented threats of climate change to the Earth are vital to lay out plans to protect the environment.

"Education is the foundation for progress ... Environmental and climate literacy is the engine not only for creating green voters and advancing environmental and climate laws and policies but also for accelerating green technologies and jobs," the Earth Day Network wrote in a news release.

The Paris Agreement has also prioritized climate and environmental literacy, encouraging its member countries to educate people through policies and access to information. CNN noted that since the establishment of Earth Day in 1970, climate education has evolved and expanded. From just focusing on the natural world, climate education now includes sustainable development and its benefits to the economy.

Recognizing that Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year, the United Nations also designated this day as International Mother Earth Day via resolution A/RES/63/278 adopted in 2009.

Meanwhile, in honor of Earth Day, many organizations, including NASA, has commemorated this special day. The space agency has released a stunning Ultra High Definition video of planet Earth taken 250 miles up on the International Space Station. Watch it below.
It may not be quite like the Jetsons, but for over a million dollars you too can soon fly around in a car.

A Slovakian company called AeroMobil unveiled on Thursday its version of a flying car, a light-framed plane whose wings can fold back, like an insect, and is boosted by a hybrid engine and rear propeller.

It will be available to preorder as soon as this year but is not for everyone: besides the big price tag  between 1.2 million and 1.5 million euros ($1.3 million-$1.6 million)  you'd need a pilot's license to use it in the air.

"I think it's going to be a very niche product," said Philip Mawby, professor of electronic engineering and head of research at the University of Warwick.

Several companies are working on flying cars, either like Aeromobil's two-seater that needs a runway, or others that function more like helicopters, lifting off vertically. But not many companies are seriously looking at marketing these vehicles anytime soon, Mawby said.

"The technology is there... The question is bringing it to the market at an affordable cost, and making it a useful product."

Among the big questions is how to control the air traffic if there are hundreds of such vehicles zipping through the air. There is no control except for traditional aircraft, notes Mawby.

So while vehicles like the AeroMobil could be used for recreational purposes by people who have a large piece of land, flying cars are unlikely to become a mass market reality anytime soon, he says.

The AeroMobil has a driving range of about 100 kms (62 miles) and a top speed of 160 kph (99 mph). When flying, its maximum cruising range is 750 kms (466 miles), and it takes about three minutes for the car to transform into a plane.

"You can use it as a regular car," said Juraj Vaculik, co-founder and CEO of Aeromobil, at the unveiling in Monaco. Though it is not legal  yet  to take off from a highway.

The previous AeroMobil 3.0 prototype made news in 2014 when it was presented in Vienna, but no test-flight took place then. It crashed during a test flight in Slovakia in 2015 with its inventor Stefan Klein on board. He escaped largely unharmed.

Charlton reported from Paris. Karel Janicek in Prague contributed to this report.
Civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson is in Boston speaking at various events throughout the city discussing current events and politics in America.

Jackson made the trip to Boston to speak at an event hosted by Boston College in honor of world renowned theologian Reverend Raymond Helmick who died last year. Sunday, Jackson delivered the sermon at the Grace of All Nations Church in Dorchester. Topics ranging from immigration to Russian hacking into the presidential election were mentioned in Jacksons message.

We just went through a decisive and ugly campaign, Jackson said. We the people must hold those accountable in position of power and have to accept their responsibilities and protect all Americans.

Some churchgoers were unhappy with Jacksons decision to inject politics into the message

Joseph Alford who attended the service commented, Im not into politics. I dont think politics and church should be mixed, other than that hes a good man.

Others were encouraged by Jacksons speech.

It was an amazing message. A message of hope and inspiration, said Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate Tito Jackson.

Boston resident Kenny Fonfield added, Its something we all need to hear, a good message.

Jackson also met privately with local elected officials about the issues plaguing Boston such as voter turnout and ensuring all equal rights among all Bostonians.
The Illinois General Assembly - unable to reach a budget deal in more than two years - will make one more try this week.

As legislators return to Springfield on Monday following a two-week recess, the Illinois Senate is expected to amend the stopgap budget and send it back to the House, but there's no clear indication that a deal has been reached.

At the same time, lawmakers are also expected to tackle a controversial bill on abortion.

House Bill 40, which cleared committee in February, would allow the state to cover abortions for its employees and Medicaid recipients, as well as protect access to abortion in Illinois should the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing it be overturned. [[419186634, C]]

The legislation has made headlines in recent weeks, as Republican Governor Bruce Rauner has said he planned to veto the bill if it passes, because he does not support expanding Medicaid expenses for abortion - a position in direct contradiction with what he promised during the 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

Legislators also plan to discuss several measures to increase the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour before the end of the spring legislative session in May.
Torrington Police have released the name of a 79-year-old woman as the unresponsive person in suspicious death investigation.

Torrington police said they were called to a home on Cider Mill Crossing around 4:15 a.m. Saturday on a report of an unresponsive person.

At this time we are treating this as a suspicious death, Lt. Bart Barown, Torrington Police, said.

Torrington police have now identified the unresponsive person as 79-year-old Phyllis Gervais.

Torrington Police Detectives are conducting the investigation into Gervais' death, Barown said.

Connecticut State Police are helping with the investigation.

Gervais' death has been ruled a homicide and the medical examiner's office said she had blunt-impact injuries to the head and upper exremity.

Police said this is an open and active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Torrington Police Department.
A 15-year-old Tennessee student who was allegedly kidnapped by her teacher and taken to California is back home, a lawyer for the girl's family said Friday.

The girl is being evaluated and treated by mental health experts specializing in trauma, lawyer Jason Whatley said in a press release.

"There is no doubt that she has suffered severe emotional trauma and that her process of recovery is only just beginning," Whatley said.

He said the girl is in a safe location with friends and family and is now resting.

Authorities credit the caretaker of a remote northern California property for helping police find her and arrest her alleged abductor, fired teacher Tad Cummins. After Griffin Barry became suspicious of two people he initially thought were in distress, his tip led police to the teacher accused of kidnapping his student and taking her on a 2,500-mile cross-country journey.

Barry said the pair told him their names were John and Joanna and they needed money for food, gas and a place to stay, ABC News Good Morning America reported Friday. But Barry, 29, said he became suspicious when the older man tried to keep the teen away.

"The girl wasn't really looking at me or anything and he was always dominating the conversation. That kind of clues people in," Barry said.

After seeing a photo of Cummins in an Amber Alert, Barry said he made the connection and called authorities.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office sent a tactical unit to the cabin Thursday morning. Cummins was arrested after he came out the cabin with the girl walking behind him, the sheriff's office said.

Cummins was cooperative with law enforcement, Siskiyou Sheriff Jon E. Lopey told the Associated Press. He said the girl was at times "laughing, crying and acting stoic" after police found her at the remote cabin.

"These two had a relationship to the extent where she didn't exhibit any anger toward him. I didn't observe any emotional distress," he said. "She didn't act like a rescued person would act," showing no signs of elation, he said. She appeared fine physically, Lopey said, and there were no signs of trauma.

In the cabin, he said, was a single sleeping pad and clothing along with the two loaded guns  a 9mm and a .380 compact pistol.

Lopey said the two had previously been at a commune called Black Bear Ranch, but "didn't get along" with commune residents and ended up leaving. The sheriff said the two had stopped in Berkeley first and that's how they found out about the commune.

The Associated Press is not naming the girl or her family members because she is an alleged victim of a sex crime.

Cummins faces federal and state charges.

Before leaving with the girl, Cummins had been suspended from teaching and police were zeroing in on him, questioning his relationship with the girl.

Cummins was fired about a month after being suspended  a day after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Amber Alert about the teen.

After taking out a loan for $4,500, the records say, the teacher took the money and two handguns and wrote a note to his wife saying he needed to go to Virginia Beach or the D.C. area to clear his head.

But instead of going to the beach, police say he picked up the student in Columbia, Tennessee, in his wife's silver Nissan Rogue on the morning of March 13, triggering a six-week police manhunt.

"It is believed based on the investigation to date, as set forth herein, that Cummins, age 50, and victim, age 15, are involved in a sexual relationship and traveled in interstate commerce to continue their relationship and to engage in unlawful sexual activity," the criminal complaint against Cummins says.

Cummins, the federal complaint says, is charged with taking a minor across states lines to have sex.

The girl's father has told news media he believes his daughter was brainwashed.

Cummins also faces state charges of aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor. If convicted of the federal charge, he faces at least 10 years in prison, acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith said.

Before disappearing, Cummins was investigated by the school system when another student reported seeing the then-married teacher kiss the girl at the Culleoka Unit School. Culleoka is about 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Nashville near the Alabama state line.

Associated Press writer Kristin Bender in San Francisco contributed to this report.
Erin Moran, the former child star who played Joanie Cunningham in the sitcoms "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi," died Saturday at age 56.

A statement from the sheriff's department in Harrison County, Indiana, said the dispatcher "received a 911 call about an unresponsive female. Upon arrival of first responders, it was determined that Erin Moran Fleischmann was deceased. An autopsy is pending."

The dispatcher confirmed to The Associated Press that the woman was the actress, who had been married to Steven Fleischmann.

[NATLu002du002dDO NOT USE] In Memoriam: Influential People We've Lost This Year

A Burbank, California native, Moran began acting in TV and movies before she was 10 years old. She had nearly a decade's worth of experience when she was cast in 1974 in "Happy Days" as Joanie Cunningham, the kid sister to high school student Richie Cunningham, played by Ron Howard.

Debuting at a time of nostalgia for the seemingly innocent 1950s, the sitcom was set in Milwaukee and soon became a hit. Howard and Henry Winkler, who played tough guy Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli, were the show's biggest stars, but Moran also became popular. In 1982, she was paired off with fellow "Happy Days" performer Scott Baio in the short-lived "Joanie Loves Chachi."

Her more recent credits included "The Love Boat" and "Murder, She Wrote," but she never approached the success of "Happy Days" and was more often in the news for her numerous personal struggles.

Moran's former co-stars reacted to the news online.
Eleven different Police & Firefighters Associations have now responded to Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings' letter to taxpayers.

In the open letter to Mayor Rawlings, the groups accuse him of misleading taxpayers over the current pension crisis.

A portion of the letter reads "the Mayor has turned his back on the men and women who risk their lives to protect Dallas. The Mayor has used scare tactics, bullied police and fire fighters and provided false testimony during Texas legislative hearings."

Mayor Rawlings issued a letter to taxpayers saying the proposed bill would put the taxpayers on the hook for more than $1 billion dollars over the next 30 years. Rawlings went on to say the city would be forced to either give up some services or deal with a tax hike.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 68F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 68F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
A San Diego-based nonprofit organization that trains U.S. military veterans with job skills for manufacturing careers is not only giving vets a fresh start  its helping them find their purpose again.

Its been a blast, all around, said U.S. Marine veteran Brian Riley, referring to his courses and certifications received from the nonprofit school, Workshops for Warriors (WFW). And kind of give back a purpose again. [This is] breathing a spot of fresh life back into my plans.

Founded in 2008, WFW is a state-licensed, free, nonprofit school that helps train, certify and place U.S. military veterans, wounded warriors and transitioning service members into advanced manufacturing careers. Vets can take courses and obtain nationally-recognized credentials in 62 trades including welding and machining and CAD/CAM programming.

On Friday, the school held its spring graduation ceremony for 57 veterans who had completed programs. A Marine Color Guard marked the milestone.

The graduating class included Riley, an amputee who proudly walked across the stage to receive his certification in machining. The vet is a two-time graduate of WFW; in May 2016, he earned his certification in welding.

For Riley, the school has been instrumental to helping him back on his feet as he transitioned from being an active duty service member to life as a civilian.

Riley said he served as a reconnaissance man in the Marines. While deployed in Afghanistan, he was wounded by a gunshot. The bullet left the young service member with a permanent injury that eventually led to the amputation of his left leg below his knee.

He was discharged in 2012.

While recovering in San Diego, Riley worried about where his new life would take him. Luckily, in a military town like San Diego, he didnt have to look too far for a little bit of help.

There are a lot of friendly veteran organizations out here in San Diego, he said.

Soon, he found WFW and began taking courses in the trades that were of interest to him.

Riley said he sought to learn something that would pave the path for gainful employment.

Something where it feels like youre contributing to society, he told NBC 7.

Hes grateful to the nonprofit for helping him on his way to just that.

A small portion of the graduation ceremony held on April 21 by the nonprofit, Workshops For Warriors, in San Diego. The school helps train, certify and place veterans and wounded warriors into careers in advanced manufacturing.

For veterans moving into civilian life like Riley, the transition can be tough. Riley said that sometimes, service members only have about a week to prepare for the major life change.

Like anything new, it can be scary and difficult.

For some guys, thats going to be the first time that theyve had to worry about paying rent, the electric bill, life insurance, he explained. Thats a lot to take in in seven days.

Riley said the WFW courses include both longtime veterans and recently-discharged vets. He said the longtime vets are often able to help the new civilians during that tough time, which, in a way, builds a camaraderie much like those days as active duty service members.

Im really glad for the opportunity, he added.

Each semester at WFW runs for 16 weeks. The nonprofit said more than 350 U.S. veterans have been trained and certified through its courses. In 2015, the WFW said 94 percent of its graduates were able to get jobs in the manufacturing field after completing the schools programs.

New classes for WFW's summer session begin on May 1. To learn more about the nonprofit, click here.
Rioters took over the streets of Los Angeles on April 29, 1992, lighting fires, looting stores and causing mayhem after a jury acquitted four white Los Angeles Police Department officers of the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King.

More than 60 people died and thousands were injured. The riots caused more than $1 billion in damage.



Many watched in horror on their TVs as rioters severely beat truck driver Reginald Denny. Members of the Korean community picked up arms in the absence of police and a dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed across much of the region.



Thousands of California National Guard troops, Marines, and members of federal law enforcement agencies were deployed to help local police and order crowds to disperse.



What has changed -- demographically, socially, economically and politically -- in the region since the riots tore the city apart 25 years ago?

Politically, the biggest shift is the higher number of Latino elected officials holding office, said Fernando Guerra, a political science and Chicano professor at Loyola Marymount University and director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles. Blacks maintain the same number and Korean Americans occupy the fewest number of elective offices, he said.



The number of Latinos and Asians continues to increase, he said, while blacks and whites maintain their numbers. The city's economic disparity is worse today, with a shrinking middle class, than it was then. A decrease in industrial jobs and an increase in tech and service jobs have created an increasing number of rich people, but also an increasing number of poor people, Guerra said.



"Next year, LA County will be richer than any other county, but it will also create more poor people than any other county in the country," Guerra said.



Socially, Guerra said, he's seeing more people than ever before claiming an Angeleno identity, suggesting "a sense of belonging, a sense of place."



"The greater the sense of belonging, the more you're going to protect that place and 'try to get along,'" Guerra said.



He talked about results from a survey done every five years since the riots that asks residents how they feel about their city, race relations and the direction the city is going.



Over the years, LMU researchers found that the farther away from the events of 1992, the more comfortable people are in the direction of the city, race relations, and the belief that there won't be a repeat of the riots in the next five years.



Results set to be released Wednesday from this year's survey show the numbers are higher than they were in 2012, but still lower than in previous years.



"Now, we're stagnating in terms of community-police relations and race relations," said Guerra.



Darnell Hunt, a professor and chair of UCLA department of sociology, said that while police and community relations have improved since 1992, tensions remain.



He said that groups such as Black Lives Matter, fueled by high-profile police confrontations across the country, remain active. But the protests have not eclipsed the violence of the 1992 riots.



"It was more shocking to see the acquittals after having seen the video, which was really one of the first times that this widespread practice had been exposed and documented," Hunt said. "The difference today is we see it all the time. We're almost desensitized to it because of these changes in technology, the widespread availabitliy of smartphones."



Political analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson said vows by city leaders to pour money into South LA businesses remain unfulfilled.



"These are the conditions that still exist 25 years later, unchanged," he said.



Edward Chang, a professor of ethnic studies at UC Riverside, said 2,280 Korean American owned businesses were destroyed in the riots. One Korean American, Edward Lee, was killed near a Korean restaurant in Koreatown. Many Korean Americans lost their livelihoods. Some suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, he said. Others felt unfairly portrayed by the media as a community of vigilantes.



Chang said Korean Americans have made great strides in gaining a voice. The city of LA swore in its first Korean American city councilman, David Ryu, in 2015. Activists from the so-called 1.5 generation of immigrants who came to the U.S. when they were young, are returning to their communities and pointing to the riots as the reason they're coming back, Chang said.



But there is more work to be done, Chang said.



Young Korean Americans need to put themselves in line for political careers and need to institutionalize the political process, he said.



"They have to have an organizational structure, support particular candidates and particular issues," said Chang, also the founding director of the Young Oak Kim Center for Korean American Studies. "I call April 29, 1992 a wake up call and watershed event that turned around Korean American consciousness."
Thousands of people in cities across California took to the streets Saturday as part of the nationwide March for Science, decrying President Donald Trump's policies and urging him and the rest of the U.S. to put faith in evidence-based science.

Led by two massive electric Hummers, several thousand people marched in downtown Los Angeles. They chanted "Money for science and education, not for wars and climate alteration" and carried signs that read: "There is no Planet B" and "The Earth does not belong to man."

"We've gone through a time where we used to look up to intelligence and aspire to learn more and do more with that and intellectual curiosity ... And now we've got a government that is saying that climate change is a Chinese hoax," said Danny Leserman, 26, who was carrying a sign showing a sad polar bear wishing for more ice.

"It needs to be known throughout the world that America isn't just those people at the top saying climate change isn't real, that vaccines are going to cause autism," said Leserman, director of digital media at the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. "We need officials that are more representative of the fact that people are really for science."

At the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, hundreds of professors, researchers, engineers and ordinary citizens gathered on a lawn before marching across the city to a park.

Many carried homemade signs that included, "The oceans are rising and so are we" and "A woman's place is in the lab!!"

Before they set out under a glaring morning sun, they cheered recitations of scientific achievements and booed mentions of two Trump administration appointees who are climate change skeptics.

Michael Roukes, a physics and biological engineering professor at Caltech, spoke of immigration and travel by foreigners to the United States, citing the contributions of such "exceptional international minds" as Albert Einstein and mathematician/aerospace engineer Theodore Von Karman, among others.

"The ascension of the United States, a relatively young nation, to its stature as the major worldwide scientific force is due in no small part to the crucial contributions of these valued visitors and immigrants," he said.

Roukes spoke of fear in the U.S. in the 1957 when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into space. Many worried about "being scientifically dominated by a foreign power," he said.

"This ushered in an era here in the U.S where science was revered and, of special note, trusted by the U.S. public at large," Roukes said. "But in the intervening decades this trust has profoundly decayed."

Roukes cited political turmoil, government missteps and corporate overreach based on greed.

Marches took place in Southern California cities Burbank, Fullerton and Riverside as well. Across the state, marches were held in San Francisco, Berkeley, San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento, San Diego and Palm Springs. More than 500 such marches are happening across the country, anchored in Washington.
Cheers rang out as the Broward Heart Walk kicked off Sunday morning.

The event raised more than $1 million for the American Heart Association

"The money we raise which is already over a million dollars stays right here in South Florida to fight heart disease and to help people who have heart disease," said Rick Case, owner of Rick Case Automotive Group.

More than 10,000 people came out to help fight heart disease and stroke by either walking a 5K, volunteering and donating.

"I have a best friend who died of a heart attack at age of 26 so I'm doing this in solidarity to him," Juilet Stewart said.

Rick Case is co-chair of this years heart walk alongside Keith Koeing of City Furniture who said that he is here in memory of his brother Kevin who died of a heart disease at age 54.

The fields of Nova Southeastern University were filled with families and friends as they enjoyed the day and learned more about why heart disease is America's number one killer.

"I'm a heart surgeon and I hope that whatever the American heart to do can and one of the things is they want to put me out of business and that's fine by me if they can put me out of business because that means people are getting better and healthier," said Ed Savage, Cleveland Clinic heart surgeon.

The million dollars raised will go to research in Broward County and education.

"We want to get the school system to certify every graduating senior in CPR," Koenig said. "So education will help."
A police officer in Rockaway Township was accused of sexually assaulting two teen girls, prosecutors said Sunday.

Wilfredo Guzman, 40, of Rockaway Township, was charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, Morris County prosecutors said.

One of the girls was 15 years old and the other was between 16 and 17 years old at the time of the alleged assaults in 2014 and 2015, prosecutors said.

He is also accused of giving the girls alcohol and perscription drugs.

Guzman was being held at the Morris County Correctional Facility.

It wasn't clear whether he had an attorney.
Convicted church shooter Dylann Roof has been transferred to death row at Terre Haute Federal Prison in Indiana  the facility that houses male inmates awaiting execution under the federal government, NBC News reported.

Roof, the first person to be convicted of a federal hate crime and sentenced to the death penalty, was removed from custody in Al Cannon Detention Center in North Charleston, South Carolina, on Friday and transferred to Terre Haute, prison records show.

Terre Haute, a medium-security prison where inmates are put to death by lethal injection, currently houses 1,338 inmates.

In January, a jury sentenced the self-proclaimed white supremacist to death for killing nine black worshipers in June 2015 at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston during a Bible study. The 23-year-old told FBI agents that he was trying to start a race war.
San Diego joined rallies across the country and even outside of the U.S. in supporting science Saturday. An estimated 15,000 people braved the hot weather and crowded streets of downtown to support environmentalism, medicine and other scientific research as well as concerns over the Trump administrations stance on science.

I think youre probably going to see more stuff like this, Scripps Research Institute graduate student Colby Sandate tells NBC 7 while holding a sign that says Like facts and black lives science matters. Just kind of like more demonstrations and more scientists speaking their mind about their disapproval of where the current administration is going.

NBC 7

Stephanie Gaines, who also participated in the Womens March in January, says its important to have our voices heard. This is how we let of representatives know whats important to us as constituents. So we came out today to support science.

Her sign read Make earth great again, a parody of Trumps famous campaign slogan. We think American is already great, she says We could do more to help the earth though.

She says locally we should make good choices regarding the environmental and let California lawmakers know that supporting science and research is important to the community.

But what the administration can do is not diminish the funding for important departments like the [Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)], [National Institute of Health] funding , any sort of science based funding, Gaines says. We got where we are today because of science, so its important that we keep those funds going and we keep that research going as well.

President Trump nominated Scott Pruitt as head of the EPA in December. Pruitt has been a vocal critic of the agency, as has sued them multiple times. In March, he said he does not believe carbon dioxide is a primary factor in global warming, a view which is at odds with almost all climate scientists.

Trump has also voiced doubts over the legitimacy of climate change, suggests via Tweet that the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese. He has also embraced the discredited theory that vaccines cause autism. Medical experts overwhelmingly reject the idea, saying not immunizing children endangers public safety.

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

Trumps first budget request to Congress asked to cut the NIH by 20 percent, the Department of Energys Department of Science by 20 percent, as well as cuts to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the EPA, NASA and the National parks Service.

I would expect to hear from more of us, Sandate adds.
A three-alarm fire that ripped through an apartment building in Fort Washington, Maryland, Sunday morning was accidental, and caused by an electrical problem, investigators said Monday.

The fire left people crying for help on upper floors after some tried to extinguish it with handheld fire extinguishers, investigators said.

When Prince George's County Fire and EMS arrived, they found fire and smoke coming from a third floor apartment.

A witness told News4s Derrick Ward that a woman cried for help to save her children.

This lady is screaming, saying, Help me, help me get my kids. Somebody call 911, Tiara Parker said. So I get on my balcony and then I see her with her kids on her balcony. I saw guys running over there and she started tossing them off of the balcony, tossing her kids. And then next thing I know, she got down, and thats when it got real bad.

"Two women were at the window, and smoke was just going, and they were just screaming and screaming for help," neighbor Karen Craig said.

Firefighters made several rescues. At least one person was trapped on an upper floor.

Alexandria, Virginia, firefighters assisted.

Two people were rushed to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including a woman in her 80s who jumped from her top-floor window to escape the flames, a spokesman for the Prince George's County fire department said.

Four people, including a firefighter, were evaluated at the scene.

About 30 people who live in 11 apartments were displaced. Residents were standing outside in their pajamas.

The fire broke out at Glen Rock Landing Apartments in the 2500 block of Corning Avenue near Glen Rock Avenue. Officials received multiple panicked 911 calls about the fire about 8:30 a.m.

Dramatic video footage shows flames leaping from the roof.

Dramatic video shows flames leaping from the roof of an apartment building in Fort Washington, Maryland. News4's Derrick Ward reports.

The fire completely gutted one apartment. Residents stood nearby in their pajamas.

Investigators believe some residents tried to fight the flames for too long before calling for help. Fire officials said the building's fire alarm bells were never pulled and activated, which meant many residents didn't have enough warning of the fire.

The fire department said residents should stop trying to put out a fire and exit a house or apartment once a fire grows larger than the size of a cooking pan or small trash can. Residents should also call 911 as soon as possible and activate the fire alarm on the way out of the building so others can escape.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation. Damages total $150,000, the fire department estimates.

Video shot by a viewer shows flames leaping from the roof of the building.
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A truck carrying a porta-potty crashed into an apartment complex in Northern Virginia after the driver lost control of the vehicle.

Virginia State Police said the flatbed truck was driving in Sterling on Friday when the driver lost control. The truck hit the curb, went through a median and crashed into a residence in the Parc Dulles Apartment Homes. No one in the building was injured, police said.

Virginia State Police

Police identified the driver as 41-year-old Joshua H. Ritter of Glen Burnie, Maryland. He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Ritter has been charged with reckless driving, according to police.

It was not immediately clear on Saturday whether he has an attorney.
Police say a man was burned beyond recognition after his car crashed into a Massachusetts Turnpike overpass and burst into flames.

Palmer police told The Republican newspaper that the crash occurred just before 4 a.m. Saturday on Boston Road near the intersection with Route 67. Authorities say the car was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived.

The man was identified Wednesday as 32-year-old Glen Gilmore of Monson. The medical examiner's office has taken custody of his body and is trying to confirm his identity.

No one else was in the car.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.
MBTA Transit Police say the man who allegedly assaulted a woman Thursday at the Lechmere Station in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has turned himself in.

Police said the woman was chaperoning 1st and 2nd grade children on the Green Line when she asked a man who got on at North Station to politely keep his dog away.

The man responded by using obscene language in front of the children while allegedly threatening to kill the victim. Police said he also bragged of "killing people" for less.

When the train stopped at Lechmere, police said the man physically assaulted the victim and left in the area of the Cambridge Side Galleria.

Police said the man, who has not yet been identified, turned himself in on Saturday. It's unclear what charges he will face, if any.
If you had been living under a rock, then you might actually believe that President Trump plans to protect the environment and support science.

Trumps Earth Day statement began:

Our Nation is blessed with abundant natural resources and awe-inspiring beauty. Americans are rightly grateful for these God-given gifts and have an obligation to safeguard them for future generations. My Administration is committed to keeping our air and water clean, to preserving our forests, lakes, and open spaces, and to protecting endangered species.

The statement was too little, too late as thousands of scientists and science-lovers gathered to celebrate science and protest Trumps views on science. The March for Science, which occurred on Earth Day in more than 600 cities around the globe, included a crowd of about 40,000 marchers in DC; Reuters estimated that about 15,000 people gathered on Washingtons National Mall. Even though it was raining, it was said that more people showed up for DCs March for Science than did for Trumps inauguration.

More crowd in DC today than the inauguration even as it rained all day! https://t.co/RPkaCZ3CCF  ALT Immigration (@ALT_uscis) April 22, 2017

(FYI: Yes, that tweet is from the Twitter user who is critical of the Trump administration and who sparked on internal investigation by the DHS Inspector General after the feds tried to unmask the account owner. Twitter filed a lawsuit and Senator Ron Wyden called it witch hunt and a disturbing threat to free speech and whistleblower protections. DHS backed down and withdrew its demand for Twitter to release the information.)

There were tens of thousands of clever signs to be seen during the March for Science, which was theoretically a nonpartisan event. Chicago Police estimated that about 40,000 people participated; NYPD estimated that at least 20,000 participated; Reuters reported that over 12,000, of the expected 50,000, marched in Los Angeles.

In DC, Bill Nye the science guy, told to the crowd, Today we have a great many lawmakers -- not just here but around the world -- deliberately ignoring and actively suppressing science.

Although Nye didnt come right out and blame President Donald Trump, Trump has been leading the charge for attacks on science.

President Trump did not mention the March for Science crowds in his Earth Day statement, even though he passed demonstrators on his way to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. There, he awarded the Purple Heart to a wounded soldier; even that met with criticism.

In his Earth Day statement, Trump also failed to mentioned climate change. Unfortunately, that is not surprising when you consider that in March, Mick Mulvaney, the head of Trumps Office of Management and Budget, said of climate change, cWe're not spending money on that anymore. We consider that to be a waste of your money to go out and do that.

Among the many actions the Trump administration has taken on environmental issues, one included the EPAs Office of Science and Technology removing the word science from its mission statement. Yet if you took Trumps Earth Day statement as factual, you would think Trump is a fan of science. He said:

Rigorous science is critical to my Administrations efforts to achieve the twin goals of economic growth and environmental protection. My Administration is committed to advancing scientific research that leads to a better understanding of our environment and of environmental risks. As we do so, we should remember that rigorous science depends not on ideology, but on a spirit of honest inquiry and robust debate.

He attempted to defend his environmental and economic policies, saying, Economic growth enhances environmental protection. Trump later took to Twitter to echo that sentiment, tweeting, I am committed to keeping our air and water clean but always remember that economic growth enhances environmental protection. Jobs matter!

Science and the planet matter too, Mr. President.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Of the past 15 years, 13 have been drought years in Karnataka. And this year doesnt bode too well either, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). The worrying scenario doesnt end there. KSNDMC authorities also state that after desert state Rajasthan, Karnataka has the most extent of land ravaged by drought, with 80 per cent of its land prone to drought.

While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a normal rainfall this year, doubts linger. Last year too, the IMD had projected an above normal 108 per cent of rainfall in India. Though some parts of the country, including Madhya Pradesh, witnessed good rainfall, south Indian states witnessed severe drought. Last year, of the 176 taluks in Karnataka, 160 were declared as drought hit. This year, the IMD has predicted 95 per cent rainfall, which is five percent less than normal.

When they predicted more rainfall last year, the state witnessed severe drought. This year they are projecting less rain, so we cannot predict how much rainfall the state will receive, KSNDM director Srinivas Reddy told Express. In preparation, the government is already planning to go for cloud seeding.

During a workshop on weather information, Reddy said that while the state has been hit by deficit rainfall, it has curiously also seen flooding. Since 2001, state witnessed 13 years of drought and 10 years of flooding, he said.

Last year, the state witnessed 26 per cent deficit rainfall. Malnad belt, which plays an important role in recharging dams as a catchment area, saw 34 per cent rain deficit which is more than the state average.

There are 3,598 tanks that come under minor irrigation department. Of these, 75 per cent of them are bone dry, while the rest have little water left, Reddy added.

BENGALURU: Of the past 15 years, 13 have been drought years in Karnataka. And this year doesnt bode too well either, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). The worrying scenario doesnt end there. KSNDMC authorities also state that after desert state Rajasthan, Karnataka has the most extent of land ravaged by drought, with 80 per cent of its land prone to drought. While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a normal rainfall this year, doubts linger. Last year too, the IMD had projected an above normal 108 per cent of rainfall in India. Though some parts of the country, including Madhya Pradesh, witnessed good rainfall, south Indian states witnessed severe drought. Last year, of the 176 taluks in Karnataka, 160 were declared as drought hit. This year, the IMD has predicted 95 per cent rainfall, which is five percent less than normal. When they predicted more rainfall last year, the state witnessed severe drought. This year they are projecting less rain, so we cannot predict how much rainfall the state will receive, KSNDM director Srinivas Reddy told Express. In preparation, the government is already planning to go for cloud seeding. During a workshop on weather information, Reddy said that while the state has been hit by deficit rainfall, it has curiously also seen flooding. Since 2001, state witnessed 13 years of drought and 10 years of flooding, he said. Last year, the state witnessed 26 per cent deficit rainfall. Malnad belt, which plays an important role in recharging dams as a catchment area, saw 34 per cent rain deficit which is more than the state average. There are 3,598 tanks that come under minor irrigation department. Of these, 75 per cent of them are bone dry, while the rest have little water left, Reddy added.
By PTI

LOAS ANGELES: A new Google Earth Virtual Reality (VR) feature allows users to visit any address in the world and fly over it in 3D with the help of a headset system, according to the company. Using a new updated feature on Google Earth VR, people can choose their own destinations, as long as they know the address or name of the location. "People want to quickly find and revisit the places that mean the most to them, whether it is a childhood home or favourite vacation spot," Joanna Kim, a product manager at Google Earth VR said in a blog post. Users can type an address or the name of a location, and visit it with a 3D headset system, Kim said.

Sightseers can also visit 27 handpicked locations that are now available on Google Earth VR, including Neuschwanstein Castle that inspired the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty", Table Mountain in South Africa and the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina. "When we first launched Google Earth VR, we knew there was something powerful about being able to point anywhere in the world and start flying," said Kim. "You could soar over landscapes and cities, and discover locations you did not even know existed," Kim added.

LOAS ANGELES: A new Google Earth Virtual Reality (VR) feature allows users to visit any address in the world and fly over it in 3D with the help of a headset system, according to the company. Using a new updated feature on Google Earth VR, people can choose their own destinations, as long as they know the address or name of the location. "People want to quickly find and revisit the places that mean the most to them, whether it is a childhood home or favourite vacation spot," Joanna Kim, a product manager at Google Earth VR said in a blog post. Users can type an address or the name of a location, and visit it with a 3D headset system, Kim said. Sightseers can also visit 27 handpicked locations that are now available on Google Earth VR, including Neuschwanstein Castle that inspired the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty", Table Mountain in South Africa and the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina. "When we first launched Google Earth VR, we knew there was something powerful about being able to point anywhere in the world and start flying," said Kim. "You could soar over landscapes and cities, and discover locations you did not even know existed," Kim added.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: Two incidents of assault on cops in last 48 hours in Guna and Satna districts of Madhya Pradesh have put under cloud the safety of police personnel at police stations and control rooms in the BJP-ruled State.

A woman assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Baby Tarannum posted at Kolgawan police station of Satna district (400m km from Bhopal) alleged on Saturday about having been beaten up in the police station premises by her junior head constable. In a video that went viral in the social media she is seen narrating about the physical assault on her by head constable Rajendra Tiwari.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW:

He (Tiwari) has been troubling me since last one month. He reaches the police station before me and captures the chair meant for me. He has often been making objectionable remarks about me, alleged Tarannun.

She alleged that when she arrived at the police station on Saturday, Tiwari, did not leave her chair despite her requesting him to empty the chair as she had to record statements of some complainants who had lost their cellphones.

Instead of vacating the chair, he used highly abusive words against me and then physically assaulted me within the police station in the presence of other on duty staff, including the police station in-charge. He even tried to push me onto an electric inverter, said Tarannum.

She added that despite lodging complaints against the head constable, the senior police officials have failed to take action against Tiwari. The senior police officials, including the city SP (CSP) Sitaram Yadav has asked the officials to lodge cases against both of us instead. How is this justified? questioned the cop.

Inspector general of police (Rewa Zone) Ashutosh Roy told the New Indian Express, There was a clash between the two cops at the police station, which is unacceptable. The CSP was immediately sent to the police station by the SP Satna. As preliminary action in the episode, both the head constable and female ASI have been removed from the police station and attached to Satna district police lines. The CSP has been directed by the SP Satna to conduct an enquiry into the entire episode, said Roy.

Meanwhile, in another incident on Friday in Guna district, a police constable identified as Ashutosh Tiwari was beaten up by a group of men inside the Guna police control room (PCR), some 200 km from Bhopal.

The assaulted cop alleged that a group of men barged into the PCR and beat him up badly, besides tearing his uniform. The men led by Rajiv Raghvanshi, the husband of Guna block panchayat head and BJP leader Shobhna Raghuvanshi were angry over three girls from their family having been stopped by traffic police personnel for triple riding a scooter sans helmets.

The three girls on one scooter, all relatives of the influential Raghuvanshi family, had called their kin over phone as the traffic cops were determined to impose monetary penalty on the girls for breaking traffic rules. Subsequently, the men led by the BJP leader's husband arrived at the PCR and assaulted the constable Ashutosh Tiwari before other cops.

According to the Guna SP Avinash Singh, a case against Rajiv Raghuvanshi and his kin has been lodged under Section 353 of IPC (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty). Two accused have already been arrested in the matter, said Singh.

However, Raghuvanshi alleged that the police have acted against him in one sided manner.

BHOPAL: Two incidents of assault on cops in last 48 hours in Guna and Satna districts of Madhya Pradesh have put under cloud the safety of police personnel at police stations and control rooms in the BJP-ruled State. A woman assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Baby Tarannum posted at Kolgawan police station of Satna district (400m km from Bhopal) alleged on Saturday about having been beaten up in the police station premises by her junior head constable. In a video that went viral in the social media she is seen narrating about the physical assault on her by head constable Rajendra Tiwari. WATCH VIDEO BELOW: He (Tiwari) has been troubling me since last one month. He reaches the police station before me and captures the chair meant for me. He has often been making objectionable remarks about me, alleged Tarannun. She alleged that when she arrived at the police station on Saturday, Tiwari, did not leave her chair despite her requesting him to empty the chair as she had to record statements of some complainants who had lost their cellphones. Instead of vacating the chair, he used highly abusive words against me and then physically assaulted me within the police station in the presence of other on duty staff, including the police station in-charge. He even tried to push me onto an electric inverter, said Tarannum. She added that despite lodging complaints against the head constable, the senior police officials have failed to take action against Tiwari. The senior police officials, including the city SP (CSP) Sitaram Yadav has asked the officials to lodge cases against both of us instead. How is this justified? questioned the cop. Inspector general of police (Rewa Zone) Ashutosh Roy told the New Indian Express, There was a clash between the two cops at the police station, which is unacceptable. The CSP was immediately sent to the police station by the SP Satna. As preliminary action in the episode, both the head constable and female ASI have been removed from the police station and attached to Satna district police lines. The CSP has been directed by the SP Satna to conduct an enquiry into the entire episode, said Roy. Meanwhile, in another incident on Friday in Guna district, a police constable identified as Ashutosh Tiwari was beaten up by a group of men inside the Guna police control room (PCR), some 200 km from Bhopal. The assaulted cop alleged that a group of men barged into the PCR and beat him up badly, besides tearing his uniform. The men led by Rajiv Raghvanshi, the husband of Guna block panchayat head and BJP leader Shobhna Raghuvanshi were angry over three girls from their family having been stopped by traffic police personnel for triple riding a scooter sans helmets. The three girls on one scooter, all relatives of the influential Raghuvanshi family, had called their kin over phone as the traffic cops were determined to impose monetary penalty on the girls for breaking traffic rules. Subsequently, the men led by the BJP leader's husband arrived at the PCR and assaulted the constable Ashutosh Tiwari before other cops. According to the Guna SP Avinash Singh, a case against Rajiv Raghuvanshi and his kin has been lodged under Section 353 of IPC (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty). Two accused have already been arrested in the matter, said Singh. However, Raghuvanshi alleged that the police have acted against him in one sided manner.
Padmaja Shaw By

Freud famously said, In the last resort we must begin to love in order not to fall ill, and we are bound to fall ill if ... we are unable to love. Love is an essential human instinct that keeps us sane. It transcends all artificial categories of caste, class, religion, race or ethnicity.

It is evident from the increasing attacks on young people in love, whether in the name of caste, anti-Romeo squads or love jihad, that we are surrounded by a muscular but sick society that considers love a bad worda bad emotion. It is incapable of understanding that to love is to realise ones humanity in its truest sense.

A loveless sick society destroys the effervescence of a Romeos love for his consenting Juliet. Madhukar Manthani of Telangana and V Shankar of Kumaralingam village in TN were brutally killed for being in love with a higher caste girl. Neither were stalkers. Their love was reciprocated.

Our popular culture celebrates violence, but frowns on any expression of love. This was said in the 1960s by the Khosla committee report on film censorship. Nothing much has changed since.

Love was never much of a factor in traditional marriages, primarily because of endogamy and the mandated age difference between men and women. Sex in marriage is to fulfil the duty of procreation, it should not be confused with love.

Many a time, when young brides complain to their families about the coldness of the relationship with their spouse, mothers advice them to get a baby quickly to establish their position in the family.

Of course, mostly nothing changes. The woman just gets busier, with no time to think about the vast emptiness within her soul.

This equation is also the basis of marriages where caste, community and religion are important. The bride must understand her place in family and society. No new indoctrination should be necessary. She should be homely, well-brought up to fit into the family from day one, and is not supposed to recognise love if it stares her in the face.

And the ability of the young bride to make food allowed and relished by the community is ensured. The bride is seamlessly integrated into the family. The age difference between men and women

insisted upon in arranged marriages is to ensure that women stay fit enough to serve the men in old age. Marriage is a house-keeping, bonded-labour arrangement. This, in essence, is the root of anxiety about youngsters finding mates of their choice, the anxiety that such independent women may not play their assigned role.

With wives fully occupied with perpetuation of the bloodline, men are free to find their pleasures elsewhere, without attracting any social opprobrium. The devadasis and joginis are an artful

exploitation of unattached women with full religious approval under the noses of presiding deities.

In the orthodox mind, this thing called love is a dangerous emotion. It is associated with joy in another being that thrives outside the accepted social relations they are familiar with. So every time it sees a couple happily in love, the orthodox mind rises up in rage as whatever love they themselves experienced in their taboo world is associated with illegitimacy. The well-brought-up girl you are married to is not supposed to know anything about love. In a woman, it reflects an autonomy of spirit that can pose a threat to the male authority.

Killing our own kind for reasons other than threat to ones very survival goes against species loyalty. But in India, we see incidents of murder and violence perpetrated daily against people of a

different faith or caste to protect the honour of the family. Humans have exploited colour, language, gods and demeanour to differentiate between groups. In this process of pseudo-speciation, we have created artificial divisions and differentiations that allow us to disrespect basic loyalty to our own species. The caste system is a despicable example of such pseudo-speciation. Humans across races, ethnicities and colour can cohabit and reproduce. Such pseudo-speciation that is socio-culturally manufactured and imposed ensures that people do not break out of the traps of exploitation and discrimination.

The young people of India are emerging out of the stranglehold of these divisions and becoming more human, by the fact that they are able to love someone transcending the social boundaries. It is also a

healthy sign that the very ability to love also makes them saner and more empathetic. It allows them to see through the social and political games played by those who want to preserve old structures and orthodoxies that are designed for accumulation of wealth and ensuring the right to its enjoyment through a rigid system of succession within bloodlines. An elaborate cultural charade of family honour and purity of descent is built around it to justify this basic objective. Everyone and everythingwomen,

children, gods, faith, ritualsare subordinate to this overarching purpose. The powerful cultural hegemony of the rich castes and classes has cast its spell on the rest, even the poor and the deprived,

who emulate this cultural charade even more seriously.

This is the 21st century India that stakes its claim to global leadership. It is an India that has forgotten how to love. The anti-Romeo squads and the anti-love-jihadists are coercing the young back into their caste and community, essentially to preserve the upper class/caste hegemony. Only in such fragmented soil can divisive politics thrive. Are we tacitly approving self-righteous vigilante violence, allowing them to destroy love around us by keeping silent? Or are we silent because the vigilantes are the foot soldiers who are ensuring the perpetuation of our little empires without us getting our hands dirty? Is a dead son here and a dead daughter there a small price to pay for a superpower that has taken ill?

(The author is a retired journalism professor, Osmania University.

Email: padmajashaw@gmail.com)

Freud famously said, In the last resort we must begin to love in order not to fall ill, and we are bound to fall ill if ... we are unable to love. Love is an essential human instinct that keeps us sane. It transcends all artificial categories of caste, class, religion, race or ethnicity. It is evident from the increasing attacks on young people in love, whether in the name of caste, anti-Romeo squads or love jihad, that we are surrounded by a muscular but sick society that considers love a bad worda bad emotion. It is incapable of understanding that to love is to realise ones humanity in its truest sense. A loveless sick society destroys the effervescence of a Romeos love for his consenting Juliet. Madhukar Manthani of Telangana and V Shankar of Kumaralingam village in TN were brutally killed for being in love with a higher caste girl. Neither were stalkers. Their love was reciprocated. Our popular culture celebrates violence, but frowns on any expression of love. This was said in the 1960s by the Khosla committee report on film censorship. Nothing much has changed since. Love was never much of a factor in traditional marriages, primarily because of endogamy and the mandated age difference between men and women. Sex in marriage is to fulfil the duty of procreation, it should not be confused with love. Many a time, when young brides complain to their families about the coldness of the relationship with their spouse, mothers advice them to get a baby quickly to establish their position in the family. Of course, mostly nothing changes. The woman just gets busier, with no time to think about the vast emptiness within her soul. This equation is also the basis of marriages where caste, community and religion are important. The bride must understand her place in family and society. No new indoctrination should be necessary. She should be homely, well-brought up to fit into the family from day one, and is not supposed to recognise love if it stares her in the face. And the ability of the young bride to make food allowed and relished by the community is ensured. The bride is seamlessly integrated into the family. The age difference between men and women insisted upon in arranged marriages is to ensure that women stay fit enough to serve the men in old age. Marriage is a house-keeping, bonded-labour arrangement. This, in essence, is the root of anxiety about youngsters finding mates of their choice, the anxiety that such independent women may not play their assigned role. With wives fully occupied with perpetuation of the bloodline, men are free to find their pleasures elsewhere, without attracting any social opprobrium. The devadasis and joginis are an artful exploitation of unattached women with full religious approval under the noses of presiding deities. In the orthodox mind, this thing called love is a dangerous emotion. It is associated with joy in another being that thrives outside the accepted social relations they are familiar with. So every time it sees a couple happily in love, the orthodox mind rises up in rage as whatever love they themselves experienced in their taboo world is associated with illegitimacy. The well-brought-up girl you are married to is not supposed to know anything about love. In a woman, it reflects an autonomy of spirit that can pose a threat to the male authority. Killing our own kind for reasons other than threat to ones very survival goes against species loyalty. But in India, we see incidents of murder and violence perpetrated daily against people of a different faith or caste to protect the honour of the family. Humans have exploited colour, language, gods and demeanour to differentiate between groups. In this process of pseudo-speciation, we have created artificial divisions and differentiations that allow us to disrespect basic loyalty to our own species. The caste system is a despicable example of such pseudo-speciation. Humans across races, ethnicities and colour can cohabit and reproduce. Such pseudo-speciation that is socio-culturally manufactured and imposed ensures that people do not break out of the traps of exploitation and discrimination. The young people of India are emerging out of the stranglehold of these divisions and becoming more human, by the fact that they are able to love someone transcending the social boundaries. It is also a healthy sign that the very ability to love also makes them saner and more empathetic. It allows them to see through the social and political games played by those who want to preserve old structures and orthodoxies that are designed for accumulation of wealth and ensuring the right to its enjoyment through a rigid system of succession within bloodlines. An elaborate cultural charade of family honour and purity of descent is built around it to justify this basic objective. Everyone and everythingwomen, children, gods, faith, ritualsare subordinate to this overarching purpose. The powerful cultural hegemony of the rich castes and classes has cast its spell on the rest, even the poor and the deprived, who emulate this cultural charade even more seriously. This is the 21st century India that stakes its claim to global leadership. It is an India that has forgotten how to love. The anti-Romeo squads and the anti-love-jihadists are coercing the young back into their caste and community, essentially to preserve the upper class/caste hegemony. Only in such fragmented soil can divisive politics thrive. Are we tacitly approving self-righteous vigilante violence, allowing them to destroy love around us by keeping silent? Or are we silent because the vigilantes are the foot soldiers who are ensuring the perpetuation of our little empires without us getting our hands dirty? Is a dead son here and a dead daughter there a small price to pay for a superpower that has taken ill? (The author is a retired journalism professor, Osmania University. Email: padmajashaw@gmail.com)
WASHINGTON D.C.  They'd rode on a bus for hours Friday, some not knowing what to expect. John Morabito and Michael Trapani almost decided not to go on the veterans' trip to Washington D.C. from Auburn.

They were not alone in their hesitation.

But then they saw the Vietnam Veterans Memorial  the first stop on Saturday's schedule for Operation Enduring Gratitude. The black wall covered in the names of those missing in action or fallen sloped upward and then fell down again into the earth, a metaphor, said Karima Hurt with the National Park Service, for the feelings around the war.

Vietnam War veterans walked along that path of remembrance, pointing at names and leaving notes, which Hurt said the service collects and hopes to one day display in its own museum. Vietnam War veterans had not been invited to the first Operation Enduring Gratitude trip in 2012. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 207, the event gives precedence to World War II and Korean War veterans to make sure they see the memorials and monuments made in memory of their fallen comrades and in honor of their own service.

David Reyer, of Throop, served in the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War. He'd brought his father, a World War II veteran, on the trip in 2012. His father passed away three years later. Now, Reyer is on the trip not as a guest but as an honored veteran.

"I'm glad I came down with him," Reyer said. "Now I'm down here, and I kind of wish he was here with me. I do."

With just six World War II veterans on the trip and several Korean War veterans, many representing the Vietnam War era, including Reyer, saw their memorial for the first time on Saturday. It's tough for them to talk about. The war had much criticism and Jim Orman, treasurer of Cayuga County and Vietnam War veteran from Aurora, said the reception when he came home was chillier than the 18-degree temperatures outside.

Bill Cowmey, of Auburn, who served as a radio operator in Vietnam, said he was glad for the trip "to see all these names here and to just re-bond with people." Choked up, he would not say more.

Jack Kulis, of Auburn, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1968 to 1972 in Peshawar, West Pakistan. While the experience was eye-opening  he said working in a third world country was like stepping back in time  he made friendships and bonds like no other. Good friends with Reyer and U.S. Army veteran Jerry Kelly, of Auburn, the servicemen said the Operation Enduring Gratitude trip has given them a chance to enjoy themselves with those who can understand what they've been through.

"It's very humbling," Kelly said. "Nobody has really cared since 1971 until these people."

Though decades apart, that same quietness about the past resides with World War II veteran Robert Strohm, of Auburn. All the Operation Enduring Gratitude veterans revere Strohm, who served in four invasions over four years in the U.S. Navy. He'd just turned 19 when he joined the service, but he didn't want to talk about it any more than that. He was overwhelmed by the trip, though. It was his first time to the nation's capital.

"Oh man, I can't believe the way they treated me," he said. "I've never been treated so good in my life.

"I'll never forget it," he added. "Believe me."

Besides the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, travel goers saw the stoic face of President Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial, the ghostly men trekking through the greenery of the Korean War Veterans Memorial and what perhaps impressed them most of all  the National World War II Memorial. A downpour could not keep the veterans from gazing at the site, taking portraits and tours under umbrellas and watching members of the United States Color Guard representing all branches present arms.

Former U.S. Sen. Robert "Bob" Dole, who is also a World War II veteran, sat near the memorial to greet not only Cayuga County veterans, but many others from across the country who had flown down for the day on the Honor Flight, another organization that brings veterans to the capital. He posed for photos and shook many hands, taking time to talk to each individual in a long line of admirers.

Though a Korean War veteran, Morabito said the National World War II Memorial impressed him the most  that and the Lincoln Memorial. Seeing Lincoln, he said, is what made him decide to come on the trip.

"I wasn't really going to come, but I finally decided I was going to come, and I'm glad I did," he said.

Veterans continued on their tour, viewing the United States Navy Memorial and the United States Air Force Memorial. At the navy memorial, Morabito got to talking about his service. He met Admiral William "Bull" Halsey when he was in boot camp, and the famous World War II admiral attended Morabito's commencement ceremony, too.

"It was pretty cool," Morabito said about his service. "We had some good times."

Though many would not discuss the difficult times, most of the veterans valued their experiences. They grew up. They made bonds that span strangers also wearing wings, color bars, embroidered hats with labels that mean so much.

"I wouldn't trade it for anything," Reyer said.
Azerbaijan violated the Karabakh ceasefire 35 times yesterday and last night, firing 600 rounds of various caliber small arms, this according to the Artsakh Ministry of Defense.



Along the eastern and northeastern border, Azerbaijan fired ten handheld anti-tank grenades and eight anti-tank automatic grenade shells .
Ravi Shankar By

Since the beginning of time, stone has been mankinds strongest allegory of strength. In Kashmir it is a symbol of weakness, wielded by a lost generation angry with history. These stone men are metaphors of shattered self-belief; shrapnel scattered by the hammer of hate. Kashmir is stoned on the opiate of despair and self-destruction. Last week, Indian Armys Major Gogoi tied a stone pelter to the bonnet of his jeep as a defence against other stone pelters. The miscreant is a symbol of all that is wrong with Kashmira piece of separatist gravel challenging the pillar of the Indian state. The picture went viral, creating further faultlines in a political quarry mined for decades by opportunistic leaders. The Army has ordered an inquiry. Hopefully, justice would be served and the young Major vindicated.



Because Gogoi was leading a convoy through a street filled with stone pelters, ranged on rooftops, walls and along the roadside, ready to launch deadly missiles at soldiers. By using the stone man for protection, the Major was protecting his own life and that of his men. So far, 2,083 CRPF personnel have been injured by stones in the Valley. In the last 26 years, over 6,000 security personnel have died fighting militants in Kashmir; of which 1,000 belonged to J&K police. The irony is that it is also the job magnet for stone throwers.

Of course, the sight of the stone man on the bonnet sent Indias stone pelters of selective conscience into a frenzy. Kashmir experts took to the TV and social media asking the government to understand Kashmirs rocky relationship with Delhi, and punish Gogoi.



Politicians have damaged Kashmir, they cried.



Sure, politicians have damaged much in India. But what can ordinary soldiers do when stone men try to kill them?



We dont have to be like them, comes the sanctimonious reply.



Really?

When stone pelters use their own children as human shields to prevent security forces from retaliating, what should be the strategy? Offer a pumice stone to smoothen things out?



The young stone men of Kashmir are stoning the land back to the Stone Age. In their distorted imagination, and that of their NGO brethern, Major Gogoi is Indias Goliath to their David. Unfortunately, it is their own future that the sling of history will bring down. The corrupt paradise of Kashmir needs an ecosystem of progressdevelopment, education, jobs and stability. Its young stone men need to do with their stones what their prehisoric forebears didinvent the wheel of progress. If need be, reinvent it. For, early man invented the wheel with stone. They hunted with spearheads of stone as excavations show us. Druids used stones as sacred objects, visible at Stonehenge in England. Religions found stone as dependable objects of reverence; for idols and temples; the crosses of Saxon and Norman churches. Muslims worship their sacred stone in Mecca, the centrestage of Muslim faith. The stone is mans most reassuring image of fortitude. India is one such rocka monolith which has endured through centuries. Kashmir is a chip off the old block. Its time for its youth to come home, riding the vehicle of destiny, not tied to its bonnet. Peace and progress are just a stones throw away.

Since the beginning of time, stone has been mankinds strongest allegory of strength. In Kashmir it is a symbol of weakness, wielded by a lost generation angry with history. These stone men are metaphors of shattered self-belief; shrapnel scattered by the hammer of hate. Kashmir is stoned on the opiate of despair and self-destruction. Last week, Indian Armys Major Gogoi tied a stone pelter to the bonnet of his jeep as a defence against other stone pelters. The miscreant is a symbol of all that is wrong with Kashmira piece of separatist gravel challenging the pillar of the Indian state. The picture went viral, creating further faultlines in a political quarry mined for decades by opportunistic leaders. The Army has ordered an inquiry. Hopefully, justice would be served and the young Major vindicated. Because Gogoi was leading a convoy through a street filled with stone pelters, ranged on rooftops, walls and along the roadside, ready to launch deadly missiles at soldiers. By using the stone man for protection, the Major was protecting his own life and that of his men. So far, 2,083 CRPF personnel have been injured by stones in the Valley. In the last 26 years, over 6,000 security personnel have died fighting militants in Kashmir; of which 1,000 belonged to J&K police. The irony is that it is also the job magnet for stone throwers. Of course, the sight of the stone man on the bonnet sent Indias stone pelters of selective conscience into a frenzy. Kashmir experts took to the TV and social media asking the government to understand Kashmirs rocky relationship with Delhi, and punish Gogoi. Politicians have damaged Kashmir, they cried. Sure, politicians have damaged much in India. But what can ordinary soldiers do when stone men try to kill them? We dont have to be like them, comes the sanctimonious reply. Really? When stone pelters use their own children as human shields to prevent security forces from retaliating, what should be the strategy? Offer a pumice stone to smoothen things out? The young stone men of Kashmir are stoning the land back to the Stone Age. In their distorted imagination, and that of their NGO brethern, Major Gogoi is Indias Goliath to their David. Unfortunately, it is their own future that the sling of history will bring down. The corrupt paradise of Kashmir needs an ecosystem of progressdevelopment, education, jobs and stability. Its young stone men need to do with their stones what their prehisoric forebears didinvent the wheel of progress. If need be, reinvent it. For, early man invented the wheel with stone. They hunted with spearheads of stone as excavations show us. Druids used stones as sacred objects, visible at Stonehenge in England. Religions found stone as dependable objects of reverence; for idols and temples; the crosses of Saxon and Norman churches. Muslims worship their sacred stone in Mecca, the centrestage of Muslim faith. The stone is mans most reassuring image of fortitude. India is one such rocka monolith which has endured through centuries. Kashmir is a chip off the old block. Its time for its youth to come home, riding the vehicle of destiny, not tied to its bonnet. Peace and progress are just a stones throw away.
Shankkar Aiyar By

It is an innocuous clauseSection 70 (f) in the Motor Vehicles Act 1939, and Rule 108 of the MV Act of 1988. It deals with the use of signalling appliances, lamps and reflectors. The origins of the ploy to deploy the clause on signaling appliances to signal privilege is rather fuzzy. What is clear is that politicians and bureaucrats employed their genius to leverage a clause to create class distinction.

This week, the Modi government barred the use of red beacons on all official cars across India except by the President of India, the Vice President of India and the Chief Justice of India. Symbolically some very important persons were rendered less important and, arguably, allowed some Indians to feel more equal.

True parity, however, demands follow-up for lasting effect. In any democracy, the elected are agents of the principal, of the people who are the sovereign. That is the theory. In practice, the political class, particularly the elected, have come to believe that victory in the first past the post system puts them ahead, entitles them to a more equal than others status.

It is indisputable that elected representatives deserve regard and recognitionthey are faced with a tough task, to reconcile the grievances of the constituents and the gross failures of the system. Unfortunately, the political class tends to interpret the right to recognition as an entitlement for greater privileges. Those who profess to serve want to be served. And this expectation is nurtured by the fawn and genuflect culture inexplicable unexplained obsequiousness has preserved this new variety of feudalism.

Politicians, elected or trounced, rarely carry their bagsthere is always someone doing the needful. In Delhis International Airport those that trudged up ladders while boarding expect the buggy at their beck to ferry them. This nurtured feudalism is what emboldens an MP to believe that he cannot complain to anyone lesser than the CMD of Air India and hurts the collective sense of manufactured superiority when the civil aviation minister says an MP is just another passenger.

Mocked by the arrogance of the elected, public anger has fixated on the flashing red beacon. Unmindful of the anger, the politicos, in their quest for privileges, have shred propriety along the way. Whether they like it or not, propriety does define perceptions.vTake the issue of salaries and allowances. A committee of MPs had recommended that the basic salary of MPs be doubled from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 12 lakh a year and allowances hiked from Rs 45,000 to Rs 90,000 per month. Currently the salary of an MP is roughly six times the per capita income of Indiansfor reference the salary of British MPs is twice and that of a US Congressman is three times the per capita income of their countries.

Whether a hike in salaries and allowances is justified is a secondary question. The primary question is whether MPs should be giving themselves a hike? Britain for instance has instituted a process whereby an Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority recommends changes in remuneration and allowances. In the US, since the mid-1970s, salaries are automatically adjusted with cost of living adjustments for federal workers. Why not follow suit?

The MPs get housing, train and air tickets, allowances and perks. The discourse is less about the reality of need for it and more about the optics of seeming greed. Parliament of India specifies that MPs are entitled to 50,000 units of electricity per yearthat is 136 units per day (Indias average per capita consumption is 1075 kwhr/year). MPs are also entitled to 170,000 free callsthat is 465 calls per day. The average John Jani Janardhan sees this as freeloading and it acquires political undertones when over a crore households have given up LPG subsidies  incidentally it would be interesting to know how many MPs/MLAs have given up LPG subsidies.

Prima facie MPs/MLAs do need resources to service their constituents. Fact is they have made a hash of their case. The need for a hike in the budget for operational expenses has been presented as a demand for higher personal allowances. Image repair will need rebooting the system. Atul Bhatkhalkar, BJP MLA from Mumbai, says the solution is in creating permanent institutional infrastructure for MPs/MLAs.

How about creating permanent offices for MPs and MLAs in the constituency? Why not look at a constituency office complex for MPs in Delhi? Why not create a cadre for staff and get government to fund it all? There is recognition among many politicos of the need for change. They are struggling to make a convincing case.

On Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, Every Indian is special. Every Indian is a VIP. On cue, many ministers dismantled the red beacons off their cars even though the order comes into effect only from May 1. Dismantling the red beacon is easy. The dismantling of the VIP cult though requires systemic change. The expectation to be treated differently and deferentially stems from inadequacies of capacity and response in governancein getting the most basic services from the government. This has led to the installation of the belief among the political class that they are benefactors and the constituents are beneficiaries of their munificence. The circumstance of scarce resources and scarcity of statesmanship has embedded a warped mindset.

Uninstalling this mindset calls for the installation of a real time citizens grievance redressal mechanismmuch more than tweet-service! It would be in the interest of the elected to promote this. After all, nearly a third of elected representatives are trounced at elections thanks to what is known as incumbency and is essentially dissatisfaction. Grievance redressal could operate at two levelstop down and bottom up. That is, systemic reforms complimented by local area services. MPs/MLAs could deploy a part of their constituency funds to create a real time serviceonline, app-based, backed by an 1800-helpline (http://bit.ly/VJlNOp).



The imperative is to make political intervention less relevant to render the benefactor-beneficiary equation irrelevant. Restoration of equivalence between the elected and the electors calls for a review of manufactured equations and reform governance.



shankkar.aiyar@gmail.com

It is an innocuous clauseSection 70 (f) in the Motor Vehicles Act 1939, and Rule 108 of the MV Act of 1988. It deals with the use of signalling appliances, lamps and reflectors. The origins of the ploy to deploy the clause on signaling appliances to signal privilege is rather fuzzy. What is clear is that politicians and bureaucrats employed their genius to leverage a clause to create class distinction. This week, the Modi government barred the use of red beacons on all official cars across India except by the President of India, the Vice President of India and the Chief Justice of India. Symbolically some very important persons were rendered less important and, arguably, allowed some Indians to feel more equal. True parity, however, demands follow-up for lasting effect. In any democracy, the elected are agents of the principal, of the people who are the sovereign. That is the theory. In practice, the political class, particularly the elected, have come to believe that victory in the first past the post system puts them ahead, entitles them to a more equal than others status. It is indisputable that elected representatives deserve regard and recognitionthey are faced with a tough task, to reconcile the grievances of the constituents and the gross failures of the system. Unfortunately, the political class tends to interpret the right to recognition as an entitlement for greater privileges. Those who profess to serve want to be served. And this expectation is nurtured by the fawn and genuflect culture inexplicable unexplained obsequiousness has preserved this new variety of feudalism. Politicians, elected or trounced, rarely carry their bagsthere is always someone doing the needful. In Delhis International Airport those that trudged up ladders while boarding expect the buggy at their beck to ferry them. This nurtured feudalism is what emboldens an MP to believe that he cannot complain to anyone lesser than the CMD of Air India and hurts the collective sense of manufactured superiority when the civil aviation minister says an MP is just another passenger. Mocked by the arrogance of the elected, public anger has fixated on the flashing red beacon. Unmindful of the anger, the politicos, in their quest for privileges, have shred propriety along the way. Whether they like it or not, propriety does define perceptions.vTake the issue of salaries and allowances. A committee of MPs had recommended that the basic salary of MPs be doubled from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 12 lakh a year and allowances hiked from Rs 45,000 to Rs 90,000 per month. Currently the salary of an MP is roughly six times the per capita income of Indiansfor reference the salary of British MPs is twice and that of a US Congressman is three times the per capita income of their countries. Whether a hike in salaries and allowances is justified is a secondary question. The primary question is whether MPs should be giving themselves a hike? Britain for instance has instituted a process whereby an Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority recommends changes in remuneration and allowances. In the US, since the mid-1970s, salaries are automatically adjusted with cost of living adjustments for federal workers. Why not follow suit? The MPs get housing, train and air tickets, allowances and perks. The discourse is less about the reality of need for it and more about the optics of seeming greed. Parliament of India specifies that MPs are entitled to 50,000 units of electricity per yearthat is 136 units per day (Indias average per capita consumption is 1075 kwhr/year). MPs are also entitled to 170,000 free callsthat is 465 calls per day. The average John Jani Janardhan sees this as freeloading and it acquires political undertones when over a crore households have given up LPG subsidies  incidentally it would be interesting to know how many MPs/MLAs have given up LPG subsidies. Prima facie MPs/MLAs do need resources to service their constituents. Fact is they have made a hash of their case. The need for a hike in the budget for operational expenses has been presented as a demand for higher personal allowances. Image repair will need rebooting the system. Atul Bhatkhalkar, BJP MLA from Mumbai, says the solution is in creating permanent institutional infrastructure for MPs/MLAs. How about creating permanent offices for MPs and MLAs in the constituency? Why not look at a constituency office complex for MPs in Delhi? Why not create a cadre for staff and get government to fund it all? There is recognition among many politicos of the need for change. They are struggling to make a convincing case. On Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, Every Indian is special. Every Indian is a VIP. On cue, many ministers dismantled the red beacons off their cars even though the order comes into effect only from May 1. Dismantling the red beacon is easy. The dismantling of the VIP cult though requires systemic change. The expectation to be treated differently and deferentially stems from inadequacies of capacity and response in governancein getting the most basic services from the government. This has led to the installation of the belief among the political class that they are benefactors and the constituents are beneficiaries of their munificence. The circumstance of scarce resources and scarcity of statesmanship has embedded a warped mindset. Uninstalling this mindset calls for the installation of a real time citizens grievance redressal mechanismmuch more than tweet-service! It would be in the interest of the elected to promote this. After all, nearly a third of elected representatives are trounced at elections thanks to what is known as incumbency and is essentially dissatisfaction. Grievance redressal could operate at two levelstop down and bottom up. That is, systemic reforms complimented by local area services. MPs/MLAs could deploy a part of their constituency funds to create a real time serviceonline, app-based, backed by an 1800-helpline (http://bit.ly/VJlNOp). The imperative is to make political intervention less relevant to render the benefactor-beneficiary equation irrelevant. Restoration of equivalence between the elected and the electors calls for a review of manufactured equations and reform governance. shankkar.aiyar@gmail.com
Prabhu Chawla By

For a while now, High Visibility with Low Acceptability sums up the incipient image of the Very Important Person (VIP) in India. Till a few decades ago, leaders and personalities with low visibility and high credibility were accepted as VIPs by society. But as the number of beacons (lal battis) on cars and pilot vehiclessignature symbols of todays VIPmultiplied, the pompous personages invited the wrath and disdain of the common man from whom they demand respect and submission. As ever intuitive to the pulse of the people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned beacons from official vehicles of all ministers, civil servants and leaders last week.

In the past, a few leaders, including a couple of chief ministers, had made half-hearted attempts to downgrade VIPs to VOPs (Very Ordinary Persons). However, Hurricane Modi has swept away red light culture from the corridors of power. Within minutes of his diktat, Union ministers were observed rushing home or to work sans the customary red lights flashing on their swanky cars.

The colour red was not the only sign of a VIP. The paraphernalia, part of the retinue of a self-proclaimed sultan on steroids was the old normala lethal combination of a beacon-crowned car protected by either gun-toting commandoes or officious cops insulating VIPs from VOPs. He hopes a leaner security detail will be the new normal.

The PMs resolve to curtail or contain the VIP syndrome stems from an aversion to the rising craze among leaders of all persuasionspolitical, social, spiritual, Bollywood and businessfor government branded security as opposed to the highly discreet private protection services available elsewhere in the world. Black Cat commandos, Greyhounds, security personnel from the CRPF, CISF and other special forces bestow a false sense of power and importance on the sub-ordinary and undeserving barnacles clinging to the keel of power. Normally, a protectees level of security is decided on the basis of the threat perception from unlawful elements or terrorists. But there are examples galore of individuals getting high security shield against threats emanating from their own rivals instead of genuine danger. Sometimes an uncivilised culture lies behind the sense of entitlement. Subsequently, VIPs are ridiculed as Very Insecure Persons.

According to unofficial estimates, India has one cop per 325 citizens. But over 20 security personnel guard one VIP. The number of VIPs basking under the high security umbrella has been zooming vertical at subsonic speed. As many as 500 people are listed as VIPs by the Central government and over 5,000 by the state governments. This laborious list includes lawmakers, bureaucrats, judges and important leaders of the civil society and corporate world. Even some media persons sport lal battis as a perk from obliging politicians who expect quid pro quo.

This ostentatious security culture began when some chief ministers, babus and senior police officials raised their own security level claiming perceived threat perception. For example, in states in the north and the east, over 1,000 lawmen are deputed to protect a chief minister. But the newly-elected Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singhs order to curtail the use of beacons and downgrade the security of numerous politicians came to naught. His predecessor Parkash Singh Badal had a security cover of 1,500, including NSG commandos.

Amarinder has reduced his to just a little over 1,000. Many former CMs such as Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati and Tarun Gogoi continue to enjoy NSG protection. Even yoga guru-turned-tycoon Baba Ramdev has been given excessive security by the central government. Since over 90 per cent of those with government protection are politicians with dubious reputations or the right connections, VIPs use their security ring to intimidate government officials and violate traffic rules. Many states have obliged their MPs and MLAs

with uniformed security even for travel outside their borders. Government agencies spend the taxpayers money on VIP peregrinations and their other expenses. In many states, leaders with criminal records and financial frauds delight in the glory of official security. In this context, our VIPs have acquired alternate definitions. Some of them are given below:

Very Irritating Person whose presence causes inconvenience to people who voted for him.

Very Insidious Person scheming against rivals and intimidating officialdom for illegal favours.

Very Intrusive Person who claims the exclusive right to enter any public or private place of his choosing using his security clout.

Very Irrelevant Person out to exploit his commandos to grab priority right of way or access to various events, making his presumptuous presence felt.

Very Irrational Person who invokes fraudulent authority over others with frivolous logic and arguments. They use their political links and gang associations as licence to demolish all niceties of civilised existence.

Over the years, the VIP cabal has emerged as a parallel centre of power. It is a coalition of individuals not forged by communalists or secularists; liberals or conservatives; nationalists or internationalists; reformers or protectionists. The VIP legion is glued together with a sense of individual insecurity and collective identity. Being members of the formal establishment ensures that their luminary status is not compromised. For now, Modi has switched off their red lights, but expect them to devise other ways and means to retain their VIP status soon. Bihar ministers have scoffed at Modis idea. Following the example of the Prime Minister and BJP chief ministers may cause a temporary dent in their unwanted and undeserving VIP status, but this cunning cabal is sure to adopt exclusive identities for trouble-free access to the centre of powerthe red beacon may be out, the red carpet remains.

The genus VIP was created in India during the early 50s to extend courtesiesofficial and otherwiseto people holding high constitutional positions known for their work rather than their worthpolitical or otherwise. They were marked top of the list for priority in seating arrangements at official functions. Few of them dashed around in official cars with red beacons. They were genuine VIPs because they were Very Inspiring Persons and Very Innovative Persons, though deliberately staying as Very Invisible Persons. Even after seven decades of Independence, the vulgar visibility of a VIP poses a threat to the survival of sanity in governance. Mighty Modi will have to do more than just toppling red beacons to minimise VIP might. Next move, ban sirens too?

Prabhu Chawla

prabhuchawla@ newindianexpress.com

Follow him on Twitter @PrabhuChawla

For a while now, High Visibility with Low Acceptability sums up the incipient image of the Very Important Person (VIP) in India. Till a few decades ago, leaders and personalities with low visibility and high credibility were accepted as VIPs by society. But as the number of beacons (lal battis) on cars and pilot vehiclessignature symbols of todays VIPmultiplied, the pompous personages invited the wrath and disdain of the common man from whom they demand respect and submission. As ever intuitive to the pulse of the people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned beacons from official vehicles of all ministers, civil servants and leaders last week. In the past, a few leaders, including a couple of chief ministers, had made half-hearted attempts to downgrade VIPs to VOPs (Very Ordinary Persons). However, Hurricane Modi has swept away red light culture from the corridors of power. Within minutes of his diktat, Union ministers were observed rushing home or to work sans the customary red lights flashing on their swanky cars. The colour red was not the only sign of a VIP. The paraphernalia, part of the retinue of a self-proclaimed sultan on steroids was the old normala lethal combination of a beacon-crowned car protected by either gun-toting commandoes or officious cops insulating VIPs from VOPs. He hopes a leaner security detail will be the new normal. The PMs resolve to curtail or contain the VIP syndrome stems from an aversion to the rising craze among leaders of all persuasionspolitical, social, spiritual, Bollywood and businessfor government branded security as opposed to the highly discreet private protection services available elsewhere in the world. Black Cat commandos, Greyhounds, security personnel from the CRPF, CISF and other special forces bestow a false sense of power and importance on the sub-ordinary and undeserving barnacles clinging to the keel of power. Normally, a protectees level of security is decided on the basis of the threat perception from unlawful elements or terrorists. But there are examples galore of individuals getting high security shield against threats emanating from their own rivals instead of genuine danger. Sometimes an uncivilised culture lies behind the sense of entitlement. Subsequently, VIPs are ridiculed as Very Insecure Persons. According to unofficial estimates, India has one cop per 325 citizens. But over 20 security personnel guard one VIP. The number of VIPs basking under the high security umbrella has been zooming vertical at subsonic speed. As many as 500 people are listed as VIPs by the Central government and over 5,000 by the state governments. This laborious list includes lawmakers, bureaucrats, judges and important leaders of the civil society and corporate world. Even some media persons sport lal battis as a perk from obliging politicians who expect quid pro quo. This ostentatious security culture began when some chief ministers, babus and senior police officials raised their own security level claiming perceived threat perception. For example, in states in the north and the east, over 1,000 lawmen are deputed to protect a chief minister. But the newly-elected Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singhs order to curtail the use of beacons and downgrade the security of numerous politicians came to naught. His predecessor Parkash Singh Badal had a security cover of 1,500, including NSG commandos. Amarinder has reduced his to just a little over 1,000. Many former CMs such as Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati and Tarun Gogoi continue to enjoy NSG protection. Even yoga guru-turned-tycoon Baba Ramdev has been given excessive security by the central government. Since over 90 per cent of those with government protection are politicians with dubious reputations or the right connections, VIPs use their security ring to intimidate government officials and violate traffic rules. Many states have obliged their MPs and MLAs with uniformed security even for travel outside their borders. Government agencies spend the taxpayers money on VIP peregrinations and their other expenses. In many states, leaders with criminal records and financial frauds delight in the glory of official security. In this context, our VIPs have acquired alternate definitions. Some of them are given below: Very Irritating Person whose presence causes inconvenience to people who voted for him. Very Insidious Person scheming against rivals and intimidating officialdom for illegal favours. Very Intrusive Person who claims the exclusive right to enter any public or private place of his choosing using his security clout. Very Irrelevant Person out to exploit his commandos to grab priority right of way or access to various events, making his presumptuous presence felt. Very Irrational Person who invokes fraudulent authority over others with frivolous logic and arguments. They use their political links and gang associations as licence to demolish all niceties of civilised existence. Over the years, the VIP cabal has emerged as a parallel centre of power. It is a coalition of individuals not forged by communalists or secularists; liberals or conservatives; nationalists or internationalists; reformers or protectionists. The VIP legion is glued together with a sense of individual insecurity and collective identity. Being members of the formal establishment ensures that their luminary status is not compromised. For now, Modi has switched off their red lights, but expect them to devise other ways and means to retain their VIP status soon. Bihar ministers have scoffed at Modis idea. Following the example of the Prime Minister and BJP chief ministers may cause a temporary dent in their unwanted and undeserving VIP status, but this cunning cabal is sure to adopt exclusive identities for trouble-free access to the centre of powerthe red beacon may be out, the red carpet remains. The genus VIP was created in India during the early 50s to extend courtesiesofficial and otherwiseto people holding high constitutional positions known for their work rather than their worthpolitical or otherwise. They were marked top of the list for priority in seating arrangements at official functions. Few of them dashed around in official cars with red beacons. They were genuine VIPs because they were Very Inspiring Persons and Very Innovative Persons, though deliberately staying as Very Invisible Persons. Even after seven decades of Independence, the vulgar visibility of a VIP poses a threat to the survival of sanity in governance. Mighty Modi will have to do more than just toppling red beacons to minimise VIP might. Next move, ban sirens too? Prabhu Chawla prabhuchawla@ newindianexpress.com Follow him on Twitter @PrabhuChawla
Pradip R Sagar By

NEW DELHI: Interpol has turned down New Delhis request to provide international assistance to trace fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, wanted in India for violations of the Official Secrets Act. It means that Bhandari can freely roam across the world without any restrictions, despite the arrest warrant issued against him in India. The latest jolt to Indian investigating agencies comes in the wake of a legal tussle with the UK authorities to expedite extradition of fugitive Vijay Mallya, leading to a huge embarrassment.

As per sources, the Interpol has refused to issue Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Bhandari on the request of the Delhi Police in January through CBI. The RCN is an arrest warrant circulated by Interpol on behalf of the government of a country.

Interpol has objected to the RCN sought by the Indian investigating agencies, citing weak legal case, a senior government official confirmed. Generally, RCN is issued by the Interpol within 2-3 days of request by any country. Bhandari was charged by the Delh Police under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act in October last year after the Income Tax sleuths recovered confidential defence documents during a search on his premises in April.

Investigating agencies suspected Bhandari reached London via Nepal, evading a look-out notice issued against him. earlier stopped from boarding a London-bound British Airways flight in June in Delhi. London, sources said, is becoming a safe and luxurious refuge for Indians fleeing the law enforcement agencies.

Bhandari would join at least 57 other tainted individuals, wholaw enforcement agencies suspectare living with ease in the UK.

A case was registered in October last year on a complaint by a senior defence ministry official that the documents and copies of classified papers recovered during the raid were violative of the Official Secrets Act.

Investigators claimed that they are examining Bhandaris alleged links with Thales group, a French multinational company, and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company that makes commercial and military aircraft, space systems and other defence products.

Bhandari, investigators suspect, is involved in Indian Air Forces basic trainer aircraft purchase for which a deal worth around `4,000 crore was signed during the previous UPA regime in 2012. During the April 27 I-T raids at Bhandaris south Delhi residence, investigators are believed to have found emails, linking Bhandari with Congress president Sonia Gandhis son-in-law Robert Vadra, which was later denied by Vadras lawyers.

NEW DELHI: Interpol has turned down New Delhis request to provide international assistance to trace fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, wanted in India for violations of the Official Secrets Act. It means that Bhandari can freely roam across the world without any restrictions, despite the arrest warrant issued against him in India. The latest jolt to Indian investigating agencies comes in the wake of a legal tussle with the UK authorities to expedite extradition of fugitive Vijay Mallya, leading to a huge embarrassment. As per sources, the Interpol has refused to issue Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Bhandari on the request of the Delhi Police in January through CBI. The RCN is an arrest warrant circulated by Interpol on behalf of the government of a country. Interpol has objected to the RCN sought by the Indian investigating agencies, citing weak legal case, a senior government official confirmed. Generally, RCN is issued by the Interpol within 2-3 days of request by any country. Bhandari was charged by the Delh Police under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act in October last year after the Income Tax sleuths recovered confidential defence documents during a search on his premises in April. Investigating agencies suspected Bhandari reached London via Nepal, evading a look-out notice issued against him. earlier stopped from boarding a London-bound British Airways flight in June in Delhi. London, sources said, is becoming a safe and luxurious refuge for Indians fleeing the law enforcement agencies. Bhandari would join at least 57 other tainted individuals, wholaw enforcement agencies suspectare living with ease in the UK. A case was registered in October last year on a complaint by a senior defence ministry official that the documents and copies of classified papers recovered during the raid were violative of the Official Secrets Act. Investigators claimed that they are examining Bhandaris alleged links with Thales group, a French multinational company, and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company that makes commercial and military aircraft, space systems and other defence products. Bhandari, investigators suspect, is involved in Indian Air Forces basic trainer aircraft purchase for which a deal worth around `4,000 crore was signed during the previous UPA regime in 2012. During the April 27 I-T raids at Bhandaris south Delhi residence, investigators are believed to have found emails, linking Bhandari with Congress president Sonia Gandhis son-in-law Robert Vadra, which was later denied by Vadras lawyers.
By IANS

WASHINGTON: An American Airlines flight attendant has been suspended for hitting a female passenger with a baby stroller onboard a domestic flight, the media reported on Saturday.



The woman had just boarded a flight on Friday afternoon from San Francisco to Dallas when the incident occurred, the New York Daily News reported.



A video posted by a Facebook user showed the aftermath.





"AA (American Airlines) flight attendant violently took a stroller from a lady with her baby on my flight, hitting her and just missing the baby," the user captioned the video.



Although, the footage does not catch the moment when the flight attendant allegedly struck the woman, but the atmosphere in the cabin gets tense as a man steps in to defend her.



"Hey bud, you do that to me and I'll knock you flat," the man says to the attendant as the distraught woman stands to the side clutching her baby.



"You stay out of this," the attendant responds, adding "Hit me, c'mon, bring it on!...C'mon, you don't know what the story is.".



The woman was eventually escorted off the flight, but the attendant was allowed back on, reports the New York Daily News.



The Facebook video quickly spread across social media, and had been shared more than 3,500 times as of early Saturday.



American Airlines condemned the attendant's behaviour and said it had launched a probe into the incident.



"What we see on this video does not reflect our values or how we care for our customers," the airline said in a statement.



"We are deeply sorry for the pain we have caused this passenger and her family and to any other customers affected by the incident."



The airline said the woman and her baby boarded another flight.



The attendant was removed from duty pending an investigation, it added.



The incident follows another high-profile clash on a United Airlines plane two weeks ago, when a passenger was violently removed from an overbooked flight.

WASHINGTON: An American Airlines flight attendant has been suspended for hitting a female passenger with a baby stroller onboard a domestic flight, the media reported on Saturday. The woman had just boarded a flight on Friday afternoon from San Francisco to Dallas when the incident occurred, the New York Daily News reported. A video posted by a Facebook user showed the aftermath. "AA (American Airlines) flight attendant violently took a stroller from a lady with her baby on my flight, hitting her and just missing the baby," the user captioned the video. Although, the footage does not catch the moment when the flight attendant allegedly struck the woman, but the atmosphere in the cabin gets tense as a man steps in to defend her. "Hey bud, you do that to me and I'll knock you flat," the man says to the attendant as the distraught woman stands to the side clutching her baby. "You stay out of this," the attendant responds, adding "Hit me, c'mon, bring it on!...C'mon, you don't know what the story is.". The woman was eventually escorted off the flight, but the attendant was allowed back on, reports the New York Daily News. The Facebook video quickly spread across social media, and had been shared more than 3,500 times as of early Saturday. American Airlines condemned the attendant's behaviour and said it had launched a probe into the incident. "What we see on this video does not reflect our values or how we care for our customers," the airline said in a statement. "We are deeply sorry for the pain we have caused this passenger and her family and to any other customers affected by the incident." The airline said the woman and her baby boarded another flight. The attendant was removed from duty pending an investigation, it added. The incident follows another high-profile clash on a United Airlines plane two weeks ago, when a passenger was violently removed from an overbooked flight.
By AFP

SEOUL: A US citizen has been arrested as he tried to fly out of North Korea, becoming the third American to be detained there, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Sunday.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the reported arrest, which would come at a tense time in relations between Pyongyang and Washington.

Yonhap quoted sources as saying the man, identified only by his surname Kim, was arrested last Friday at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

It said Kim, aged in his late 50s and a former professor at China's Yanbian University of Science and Technology, had been involved in aid programmes for the North.

He reportedly was in the North for about a month to discuss relief activities, Yonhap said. The reason for his arrest was unclear.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service and the unification and foreign ministries said they could not confirm the report.

But the director of a Seoul-based group called the World North Korea Research Center said his sources in Pyongyang had confirmed the arrest.

"The reason North Korea is not saying anything yet is because it is not done with the investigations," Ahn Chan-il, a former defector, told AFP.

"It is important for them to hold a US citizen hostage at this point to prevent Washington from carrying out a decapitation of Kim Jong-Un," Ahn said, referring to the North's fears that the US plans a secret military strike to topple its leader.

"It's also a resolve to point a double-action revolver against the US and China because he is a US citizen who worked in China."

US President Donald Trump has urged China to take stronger steps to press the North to curb its nuclear and missile programmes.

Trump's deputy Mike Pence, during a regional tour last week, warned that "all options are on the table" to curb the North's nuclear ambitions as fears grow it may be planning another atomic test.

Two other US citizens -- college student Otto Warmbier and Korean-American pastor Kim Dong-Chul -- are currently being held in the North after being sentenced to long prison terms.

Kim was sentenced last year to 10 years' hard labour for spying.

Also last year Warmbier was jailed for 15 years for stealing a propaganda sign and for "crimes against the state".

The North has arrested and jailed several US citizens in the past decade, often releasing them only after high-profile visits by current or former US officials.

SEOUL: A US citizen has been arrested as he tried to fly out of North Korea, becoming the third American to be detained there, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Sunday. There was no immediate official confirmation of the reported arrest, which would come at a tense time in relations between Pyongyang and Washington. Yonhap quoted sources as saying the man, identified only by his surname Kim, was arrested last Friday at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country. It said Kim, aged in his late 50s and a former professor at China's Yanbian University of Science and Technology, had been involved in aid programmes for the North. He reportedly was in the North for about a month to discuss relief activities, Yonhap said. The reason for his arrest was unclear. South Korea's National Intelligence Service and the unification and foreign ministries said they could not confirm the report. But the director of a Seoul-based group called the World North Korea Research Center said his sources in Pyongyang had confirmed the arrest. "The reason North Korea is not saying anything yet is because it is not done with the investigations," Ahn Chan-il, a former defector, told AFP. "It is important for them to hold a US citizen hostage at this point to prevent Washington from carrying out a decapitation of Kim Jong-Un," Ahn said, referring to the North's fears that the US plans a secret military strike to topple its leader. "It's also a resolve to point a double-action revolver against the US and China because he is a US citizen who worked in China." US President Donald Trump has urged China to take stronger steps to press the North to curb its nuclear and missile programmes. Trump's deputy Mike Pence, during a regional tour last week, warned that "all options are on the table" to curb the North's nuclear ambitions as fears grow it may be planning another atomic test. Two other US citizens -- college student Otto Warmbier and Korean-American pastor Kim Dong-Chul -- are currently being held in the North after being sentenced to long prison terms. Kim was sentenced last year to 10 years' hard labour for spying. Also last year Warmbier was jailed for 15 years for stealing a propaganda sign and for "crimes against the state". The North has arrested and jailed several US citizens in the past decade, often releasing them only after high-profile visits by current or former US officials.
By Express News Service

VISHAKAPATNAM: The 24 workers stranded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabias capital, are caught between the devil and the deep sea as it appears that the issuing of exit letters by their employer, Aamal Al Muqawil Contracting Company (AMCO), will be delayed.



The workers have been stranded there for the last 17 days. A representative of Voltech company from Chennai, which had processed their visas, is now holding parleys with the employer.

The company officials are persuading the workers to stay back, promising good working conditions.



With the workers refusing the proposal, the company told them to pay back 1,200 riyals each, which was spent on the visa processing, if they want the exit letters.



The Voltech official, after reaching Riyadh, held talks with the Indian embassy and the company officials to get the exit letters, a mandatory document needed to ensure their return to India.



The workers told the New Indian Express that the Voltech representative promised them food and accommodation till the problem is solved.



"Initially, he promised to take us back to India. After talking with the company officials, now he is trying to persuade us to rejoin the company, but we have refused," Srinivas, a stranded worker told the New Indian Express over the phone.



The company officials are now blaming the workers for fleeing before their two-year contract ended. "The company has lodged a complaint with the Indian embassy. Though the embassy asked the workers to rejoin, promising a written letter guaranteeing good facilities at the work sites from the company officials, they refused to stay back," said Dhava Selvan, regional manager (operations) of Voltech Saudi office.



"The issue is now between the embassy officials and the workers. If the embassy finds a valid reason, they will speak to the company to get the exit letters," Dhava Selvan told the New Indian Express.



But, it's not just a one-day affair. "Going by the process, the Ministry of Interior has to give an appointment to the workers who have white passports. Then, after verifying all the documents of the workers, the embassy will ask the company to issue the exit letters," Dhava Selvan explained.



Meanwhile, the Voltech representative told the workers that as they had refused the company's offer to rejoin, it was demanding the money spent on the visa processing.



"Before issuing the exit letters, the company wants us to pay 1,200 riyals each which it claims to have spent on our visa processing. But, we have paid around Rs 70,000 each to the job agents in India who had told us that the money was meant for making arrangements to process our visas.



We do not know whom to believe," said Srinivas, adding that the embassy officials have asked them to write a letter describing all the inconvenience they have faced in Riyadh.



"We have been running from pillar to post for the past 17 days but are yet to get any concrete assurance that we will be sent to India," Srinivas said.

VISHAKAPATNAM: The 24 workers stranded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabias capital, are caught between the devil and the deep sea as it appears that the issuing of exit letters by their employer, Aamal Al Muqawil Contracting Company (AMCO), will be delayed. The workers have been stranded there for the last 17 days. A representative of Voltech company from Chennai, which had processed their visas, is now holding parleys with the employer. The company officials are persuading the workers to stay back, promising good working conditions. With the workers refusing the proposal, the company told them to pay back 1,200 riyals each, which was spent on the visa processing, if they want the exit letters. The Voltech official, after reaching Riyadh, held talks with the Indian embassy and the company officials to get the exit letters, a mandatory document needed to ensure their return to India. The workers told the New Indian Express that the Voltech representative promised them food and accommodation till the problem is solved. "Initially, he promised to take us back to India. After talking with the company officials, now he is trying to persuade us to rejoin the company, but we have refused," Srinivas, a stranded worker told the New Indian Express over the phone. The company officials are now blaming the workers for fleeing before their two-year contract ended. "The company has lodged a complaint with the Indian embassy. Though the embassy asked the workers to rejoin, promising a written letter guaranteeing good facilities at the work sites from the company officials, they refused to stay back," said Dhava Selvan, regional manager (operations) of Voltech Saudi office. "The issue is now between the embassy officials and the workers. If the embassy finds a valid reason, they will speak to the company to get the exit letters," Dhava Selvan told the New Indian Express. But, it's not just a one-day affair. "Going by the process, the Ministry of Interior has to give an appointment to the workers who have white passports. Then, after verifying all the documents of the workers, the embassy will ask the company to issue the exit letters," Dhava Selvan explained. Meanwhile, the Voltech representative told the workers that as they had refused the company's offer to rejoin, it was demanding the money spent on the visa processing. "Before issuing the exit letters, the company wants us to pay 1,200 riyals each which it claims to have spent on our visa processing. But, we have paid around Rs 70,000 each to the job agents in India who had told us that the money was meant for making arrangements to process our visas. We do not know whom to believe," said Srinivas, adding that the embassy officials have asked them to write a letter describing all the inconvenience they have faced in Riyadh. "We have been running from pillar to post for the past 17 days but are yet to get any concrete assurance that we will be sent to India," Srinivas said.
By Associated Press

TEHRAN: An Iranian presidential candidate said Sunday the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers has failed to lift sanctions or improve the country's economy.

Mostafa Mirsalim, a conservative, told a news conference that President Hassan Rouhani's outreach to the West had failed, adding that "sanctions remained in place and were even intensified."

Under the nuclear deal, international sanctions were lifted in exchange for Iran curbing its uranium enrichment, but separate U.S. sanctions related to Iran's ballistic missile program have been tightened.

Mirsalim said that, if elected, he would abide by the nuclear deal. But he said U.S. President Donald Trump's administration had already undermined the agreement, without elaborating.

Last week, the State Department certified that Iran was complying with the nuclear deal, but Trump, a longtime critic of the agreement, said Tehran was violating the spirit of the accord and that the U.S. might withdraw from it.

Switching to French at one point during the press conference, the France-educated Mirsalim said he wanted to transform Iran into a "safe international hub" for "regional and international dialogue and constructive engagement."

Rouhani is the front-runner in next month's election, in which he will face off against five candidates.

Iran's hard-liners have criticized the nuclear deal, saying Rouhani gave too much away and that the economy remains weak despite the lifting of sanctions.

Former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his close ally Hamid Baghaei, both of whom were disqualified from running in the election, said in a joint statement that they will not support any of the candidates. If their supporters remain on the sidelines it could help Rouhani, who enjoys the support of moderates and reformists.

Meanwhile, Rouhani told supporters in the northern city of Qazvin that the election would be a selection between freedom and peace or their opposite, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

"The issue is if the society should be more open or closed," he was quoted as saying. "Whether we want confrontation with the world and to bring back the ill-omened shadow of war or we want to continue self-respecting engagement with the world."

TEHRAN: An Iranian presidential candidate said Sunday the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers has failed to lift sanctions or improve the country's economy. Mostafa Mirsalim, a conservative, told a news conference that President Hassan Rouhani's outreach to the West had failed, adding that "sanctions remained in place and were even intensified." Under the nuclear deal, international sanctions were lifted in exchange for Iran curbing its uranium enrichment, but separate U.S. sanctions related to Iran's ballistic missile program have been tightened. Mirsalim said that, if elected, he would abide by the nuclear deal. But he said U.S. President Donald Trump's administration had already undermined the agreement, without elaborating. Last week, the State Department certified that Iran was complying with the nuclear deal, but Trump, a longtime critic of the agreement, said Tehran was violating the spirit of the accord and that the U.S. might withdraw from it. Switching to French at one point during the press conference, the France-educated Mirsalim said he wanted to transform Iran into a "safe international hub" for "regional and international dialogue and constructive engagement." Rouhani is the front-runner in next month's election, in which he will face off against five candidates. Iran's hard-liners have criticized the nuclear deal, saying Rouhani gave too much away and that the economy remains weak despite the lifting of sanctions. Former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his close ally Hamid Baghaei, both of whom were disqualified from running in the election, said in a joint statement that they will not support any of the candidates. If their supporters remain on the sidelines it could help Rouhani, who enjoys the support of moderates and reformists. Meanwhile, Rouhani told supporters in the northern city of Qazvin that the election would be a selection between freedom and peace or their opposite, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported. "The issue is if the society should be more open or closed," he was quoted as saying. "Whether we want confrontation with the world and to bring back the ill-omened shadow of war or we want to continue self-respecting engagement with the world."
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Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich).
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Mumbai: Capital markets regulator Sebi will soon put in place stricter norms to check any flow of black money into stock market though controversy-ridden P-Notes and also initiate steps for allowing mutual fund investments through e-wallets.



Besides, Sebi will consider this week new norms for allowing options trading in commodity derivative market, while rules would be relaxed for registration of foreign investors and for common license to brokers to deal in equities and commodities, sources said.



The board of the regulatory authority will meet on Wednesday in Mumbai which would be its first meeting under chairmanship of Ajay Tyagi, who took charge as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Chairman on March 1. Among a slew of reform measures, the Sebi board will also consider making it easier for banks and financial institutions to get shares of the companies they have exposure to by way of conversion of loan into equity -- a move seen as a major boost to the steps for handling the bad loan menace.



The Sebi board will also take stock of long-pending investigations and cases, involving some big corporates, and will consider putting in place an internal guidance note for dealing with quasi-judicial matters.



Besides, it would also discuss the implementation of graded surveillance measures by the stock exchanges to check any manipulation of share price.



In the run up to his first meeting as Chairman, Tyagi has been meeting various groups of stakeholders in the capital markets and some of these interactions are scheduled even on Monday, through which he is looking to get a first-hand understanding of the issues faced in the marketplace and the expectations from the regulator.



In one of the major areas of importance, Sebi will consider new guidelines for dealing with offshore derivative instruments, commonly known as participatory notes (P-Notes), which have been long seen as being possibly misused for routing of black money from abroad.



While Sebi has tightened its norms repeatedly over the recent years to check any loophole, the government now wants the regulator to explicitly impose restrictions on resident Indians and NRIs from being 'beneficiary owners' of these instruments.



While Sebi has already put in place a mechanism for such restrictions, there was a view that the existing restriction are only in form of 'FAQs' of the norms and therefore the Finance Ministry has asked the regulator to impose this restriction through an amendment to the FPI (Foreign Portfolio Investment) Regulations in order to give greater legal sanctity.



Following Sebi's measures to check any misuse of P-Notes, the notional value of these instruments has declined over the years from 55.7 per cent of overall FPI investments in June 2007 to just 6.7 per cent in December 2016.



In recent months, the P-Note investments have fallenfurther, though there was a surprise uptick in the month of March -- presumably due to it being the last month for availing of certain tax benefits for investments coming through some major offshore investment gateways.



There are also fears that the P-Note investments may start coming from other jurisdictions like the US, France and the Netherlands after tightening of rules for inflows from countries like Mauritius, Singapore and Cyprus.
"My parents told me there was no need to stay and endanger your life. I may even return to the campus, but it will require a lot of convincing to get my parents' nod," he said.

This was the second instance in 48 hours when a Kashmiri student was reportedly intimidated in the BJP-led Rajasthan. Some locals, on Friday, clashed with a few Kashmiri students in a market outside the Mewar University. The group also allegedly called them names by referring to them as "stone pelters".

: A Kashmiri scholar in BITS Pilani was forced to abandon his course after some unknown miscreants scribbled threats on his shirts and the door of his hostel room.Hashim Sofi, 27, fled to his home in Bandipore, Kashmir, after reporting the incident to BITS authorities on Friday morning. Sofi, a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) in the Pharmacy, Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), used to stay at Maliya Bhavan Hostel. He told News 18 that on Friday morning, he was shocked to see the threats written on his shirt he had left to dry in the open, and the door."The abuses shocked me. I reported the matter to my warden and guide. They were very sad, they had been supporting me all along," he said.Sofi said they asked him to focus on his studies, but he could not reconcile with the issued threats."What did I do? I fail to understand," he said. Sofi had been in the institute for the past 20 days only, and had to cut short his studies after the episode on Thursday night.Sofi's parents suggested that his life is more important than the livelihood or career, and that he should work harder to get admission in a "safe" and preferably a foreign university.Admitting that such an incident had occurred on the campus, the BITS Pilani management put out a statement: "The institute has taken a very serious note of the news item and asked the standing committee on student affairs to further investigate the matter and report back swiftly."The incident comes at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh urged chief ministers across the states to reach out to Kashmiri students, thereby, also ensuring their security. The home ministry has also set up a 24/7 helpline.Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje had assured support and wrote on Twitter that "Kashmiri students are our children. Police have taken prompt action and apprehended the culprits".
Chennai: Five men who were awarded life term by a lower court in a 2010 murder case were acquitted by the Madras High Court, which held that any judgment based on communal and social background of the accused was "unconstitutional."



The court also observed that it has not come across such a "worst judgment" and that the case was a classic example of how a court of law should not pen down a judgment, PTI reported.



A division bench, comprising justices S Nagamuthu and N Seshasayee, in its recent order said, "Proof beyond reasonable doubt of the guilt of an accused should be reached on the basis of evidence on the record.... Any finding of guilt based on no evidence but on communal considerations is unconstitutional."



It then directed the registry to circulate the judgment copy to all principal sessions judges in the state as well as Puducherry, to impress upon them that in the years to come, there should be no judgment based on extraneous considerations like communal and social background, the report said.



Allowing the appeals by four accused, the bench said, "It is not understandable as to how a court could presume that people belonging to a particular community will traditionally indulge in the commission of a particular type of crime."



"It is ridiculous on the part of trial court to conclude that in the instant case, these accused had committed murder and robbery because they belonged to the said community."





According to the prosecution, the accused broke into the Ponniamman temple at Thirumangalam Kandigai village in Kancheepuram district,on January 2, 2010, and stole some cash by breaking open the hundi.



When a member of the temple staff tried to raise an alarm, the gang attacked him with a crowbar on the head, killing him instantaneously.



Subsequently, a case was registered against them.



When the matter came up for trial before a trial court in 2015, the District Sessions Judge convicted all five and awarded life imprisonment to all of them.



However, four of the accused moved the high court challenging the trial court order.



(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Chairing the third Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the consensus on Goods and Services Tax (GST) reflects the spirit of 'one nation, one aspiration, one determination'.



"The consensus on GST will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism. GST reflects the spirit of 'One nation, One aspiration, One determination'," an official statement quoted Modi as saying.



According to the statement, the Prime Minister also said GST shows the strength and resolve of the federal structure. Modi gave credit to all chief ministers for coming on one platform for GST, keeping aside ideological and political differences.



Modi also said the think-tank's long, medium and short term action plans would benefit all the states. "NITI Aayog is working on a 15-year long term vision, seven-year medium term strategy, and three-year action agenda," he told the meeting.



The Prime Minister further said the vision of 'New India' can only be realised through the combined efforts and cooperation of all the states. "Team India" has assembled here to discuss and reflect on ways to prepare the country for changing global trends, Modi said.



It is the collective responsibility of this gathering to envision the India of 2022  the 75th anniversary of Independence  and see how the nation can swiftly move forward to achieve these goals, he added.



Observing that NITI Aayog has been taking steps to transform India, the prime minister asked the government, private sector and civil society to work in sync to promote development.



The Aayog, he said, is a collaborative federal body whose strength is in its ideas, rather than in administrative or financial control.



The meeting was given a miss by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.



"West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal could not come to attend the Governing Council meeting today at Rashtrapati Bhavan," PTI quoted a source as saying. Kejriwal sent Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to represent Delhi, the source added.



The source further said a large number of chief ministers were attending the meeting because Prime Minister Narendra Modi had refused to allow their official representatives to participate in the deliberations.



The source said Modi had made it clear that only the chief minister or the deputy chief minister will represent their states and no other official will be allowed to participate in the meeting.



Among the Opposition-ruled states, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami attended the meeting.



Others who were present include Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik .



Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, Suresh Prabhu, Prakash Javadekar, Rao Inderjit Singh and Smriti Irani also attended the meet.



The council, which is the apex body of the Niti Aayog, is headed by the Prime Minister and includes all chief ministers and members.



The third meeting of the council began at Rashtrapati Bhawan with the main agenda of deliberating on the 15-year Vision Document to accelerate the country's economic development.



(With PTI inputs)
"We will try to cut down the unnecessary expenses and make arrangements...I will take up the farmer's demands to the Prime Minister...We urge the farmers to end their protest," Palaniswami said.

Earlier this month, the central government approved Rs 1,712 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for Tamil Nadu. But the state government has sought a relief package of Rs 40,000 crore.



Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Sunday met with protesting farmers from his state at the Jantar Mantar and assured help.The farmers have protested in New Delhi for the past 40 days and demands loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery management board to resolve their irrigation issues.Palaniswami, in a brief 20 minutes meeting, assured that he will take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for funds to waive off the loan and urged the farmers to end their protest.P. Ayyakannu, president of the National-South Indian Rivers Linking Farmers Association, who is also leading the protest, said the agitation will not end until their demands are met which also includes meeting the Prime Minister.In past 40 days, the protesting farmers have marched naked outside the Prime Minister's office, ate mice, shaved their heads, marked mock funerals and on Saturday even drank their urine to attract the central government and the Prime Minster's attention towards their cause and plight.Bold in their way of protesting, farmers demonstrate with the skulls of their kin and other farmers from Tamil Nadu who committed suicide.Tamil Nadu is facing a severe drought. In January, the state government declared Tamil Nadu drought-hit after over 100 farmers allegedly committed suicide.According to the farmersm nothing has grown over 29 lakh hectare in Cauvery delta since 2016 due to lack of water.
Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Modi had often mentioned that he used to sell tea during his childhood at the Vadnagar railway station along with his father. Vadnagar town is also the birthplace of Modi.

"The development of Vadnagar railway station is one of the components of the Rs 100 crore project to develop Vadnagar, Modhera and Patan as tourist destinations. As of now, the Ministry of Tourism has given Rs 8 crore to the state Tourism Department to develop the railway station," Kumar said.

Union Minister Manoj Sinha has said that the Vadnagar railway station in Gujarat where Prime Minister Narendra Modi used to sell tea during his childhood will get a makeover worth Rs 8 crore."Rs 8 crore has been sanctioned for the development of Vadnagar railway station in Mehsana district," the Minister of State for Railways told reporters on Saturday. He was in Sachana village in Gujarat to inaugurate the Inland Container Depot (ICD), built by the Continental Warehousing Corporation (Nhava Seva) Ltd, PTI reported.Giving further details about the project, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Ahmedabad division Dinesh Kumar told PTI said the entire project of developing Vadnagar and adjoining places in Mehsana district would cost over Rs 100 crore.He said the Railways has already undertaken a project to convert the meter gauge line on the Vadnagar-Mehasana route into the broad gauge line.(With PTI inputs)
"Why can't women live in peace in this country," the apex court said while reserving its verdict on the appeal.

According to the police, the girl's father had lodged an kidnapping and rape case against the man in which he was subsequently acquitted.

Hearing an appeal of a man convicted for eve-teasing and abetting the suicide of a 16-year-old girl, an exasperated Supreme Court asked why can't women live in peace in this country.A bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice M M Shantanagoudar made the observation while hearing an appeal filed by the man who was sentenced to seven years in jail by the Himachal Pradesh High Court.Maintaining that no one can force a woman to love someone as she has her own independent choice, the bench, said, "A woman has a choice to love or not to love a person. No one can force her to love somebody. There is a concept of love and man has to accept it."PTI reported that during the arguments, the counsel, appearing for the man, raised doubts over the girl's dying declaration, saying that as per the medical report, she was unable to speak or write after being hospitalised."The doctors said that she was 80 percent burnt and it was not possible for her to write dying declaration. She was unable to speak also. Her both hands were burnt. This dying declaration has to go. She was not in a position to say or write anything," the counsel said.To this, the bench told the man that as per her dying declaration, "you had created a situation which had compelled her to commit such act."The man was initially acquitted by the trial court in July 2010 after which the state had approached the high court.It had alleged that the accused used to threaten and eve-tease the girl and in July 2008, she set herself ablaze when her parents were not at home. She was taken to a hospital where she died during treatment.The high court, while convicting the man, had relied on the dying declaration as well as evidence placed before it and had said that the accused had abetted commission of suicide by consistently teasing the deceased.(With PTI inputs)
AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran reached the Crime Branch office for the second consecutive day over an alleged attempt to bribe an Election Commission official for retaining the two leaves party symbol. He was questioned for close to seven hours on Saturday.

Here are the highlights of the day:

Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here.
: A Swaraj India worker has lodged a complaint with the police that Tughlaqabad's Aam Aadmi Party legislator Sahi Ram Pahalwan's nephew and his accomplices assaulted him during the civic body poll on Sunday.Police said they were investigating the complaint pertaining to voluntarily causing hurt to a person.Complainant Abhay Kumar, 38, of Tehkhand said he was assaulted by Amit Bidhuri on a petty issue around 11.15 am, Deputy Commissioner of Police Romil Baaniya said.Abhay, who was canvassing for Swaraj India candidate Pooja Jha in Ward number 93 in Tehkhand area, was sent to AIIMS Trauma Centre for medical examination, which suggested a simple blunt injury, the police officer said.
Washington: For nearly 100 days, President Donald Trump has rattled Washington and been chastened by its institutions.



He's startled world leaders with his unpredictability and tough talk, but won their praise for a surprise strike on Syria.



He's endured the steady drip of investigations and a seemingly endless churn of public personnel drama. "It's a different kind of a presidency," Trump said in an Oval Office interview with The Associated Press, an hour-long conversation as he approached Saturdays key presidential benchmark.



Trump, who campaigned on a promise of instant disruption, indirectly acknowledged that change doesn't come quickly to Washington.



He showed signs that he feels the weight of the office, discussing the "heart" required to do the job. Although he retained his signature bravado and a salesman's confidence in his upward trajectory, he displayed an awareness that many of his own lofty expectations for his first 100 days in office have not been met. "It's an artificial barrier. It's not very meaningful," he said.



Trump waffled on whether he should be held accountable for the 100-day plan he outlined with great fanfare in his campaign's closing days, suggesting his "Contract with the American Voter" wasn't really his idea to begin with.



"Somebody put out the concept of a 100-day plan," he said. One hundred days are just a fraction of a president's tenure, and no president has quite matched the achievements of Franklin D Roosevelt, who set the standard by which all are now judged.



Still, modern presidents have tried to move swiftly to capitalise upon the potent, and often fleeting, mix of political capital and public goodwill that usually accompanies their arrival in Washington.



Trump has never really had either. A deeply divisive figure, he lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton and had one of the narrower Electoral College victories in history. Since taking office on Jan. 20, his approval rating has hovered around 40% in most polls.



Trump's early presidency has been dogged by FBI and congressional investigations into whether his campaign coordinated with Russians to tilt the race in his favour. It's a persistent distraction that Trump would not discuss on the record.



Furthermore, his three months-plus in office have amounted to a swift education in a world wholly unfamiliar to a 70-year-old who spent his career in real estate and reality television.



For his example, his two disputed travel ban executive orders are languishing, blocked by federal judges. On Capitol Hill, majority Republicans muscled through Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch, but had to blow up long-standing Senate rules to do so.



Then there was the legislative debacle when Trump's own party couldn't come together to fulfill its long-sought promise of repealing President Barack Obama's health care law. He promised a tax overhaul plan that would give Americans a tax cut bigger than "any tax cut ever."



A man accustomed to wealth and its trappings, Trump has embraced life in the Executive Mansion, often regaling guests with trivia about the historic decor. With the push of a red button placed on the Resolute Desk that presidents have used for decades, a White House butler soon arrived with a Coke for the president.



It's too soon to say whether the presidency has changed Trump in substantive ways. He's backpedaled on an array of issues in recent weeks, including his critiques of NATO and his threats to label China a currency manipulator. But his self-proclaimed flexibility means he could move back to where he started just as quickly.



Stylistically, Trump remains much the same as during the campaign. He fires off tweets at odd hours of the morning and night, sending Washington into a stir with just a few words. Trump still litigates the presidential campaign, mentioning multiple times during the interview how difficult it is for a Republican presidential nominee to win the Electoral College.
Breast Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates 252,710 women and 2,470 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and about 42,070 will die from it.

The rate of breast cancer in women has declined from its 1989 peak by 38 percent, mostly due to improvements in detection. For women at average risk of breast cancer, annual mammograms are optional between the ages 40 to 44. Starting at age 45, the annual screening is recommended and, at age 55, women can transition to biennial mammograms.

+ Signs and symptoms: A lump in the breast is the most common symptom, though others include breast thickening, swelling, distortion, tenderness, redness, nipple abnormalities, spontaneous nipple discharge.

+ Risk factors: Weight gain after the age of 18, being overweight or obese, postmenopausal hormone use, alcohol consumption, heavy smoking, shift work that disrupts sleep patterns, family history of the disease, BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, high density breast tissue, long menstrual history, recent use of oral contraceptives, never having children, having the first child after the age of 30.

+ Five-year survival rate: 90 percent.

Childhood Cancers

An estimated 10,270 new cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2017, and 1,190 children will die from the diseases.

The childhood cancer death rate has declined by more than two-thirds since 1969, due to improvements in treatment.

+ Signs and symptoms: Unusual mass, swelling, unexplained paleness or loss of energy, sudden increase in tendency to bruise or bleed, persistent pain or limping, prolonged unexplained illness or fever, frequent headaches, changes in vision, rapid weight loss.

+ Risk factors: There are few known risk factors for childhood cancers, though a small percentage may be related to an inherited genetic mutation or one that arises during fetal development.

+ Five-year survival rate: 83 percent, though it varies depending on type of cancer, and age of the patient among other factors.

Colon/Rectal Cancer

In 2017, the American Cancer Society estimates 95,520 new cases of colon cancer and 39,910 of rectal cancer will be diagnosed and an estimated 50,260 people will die from it.

Colorectal cancer rates have been declining for several decades. Beginning at age 50, men and women of average risk should begin colorectal cancer screenings.

+ Signs and symptoms: This cancer typically has no symptoms in its early stages, but later stage symptoms include rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, changes in bowel habits, lower abdominal cramping, decreased appetite, and weight loss.

+ Risk factors: Obesity, long-term smoking, high consumption of red or processed meat, low calcium intake, moderate to heavy alcohol consumption, low intake of fruits and vegetables.

+ Five-year survival rate: 65 percent.

Kidney/Renal Pelvis Cancers

The American Cancer Society estimates 63,990 new cases of kidney and renal cancers will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2017 and about 14,440 people will die from the disease.

Kidney cancer rates increased in the past several decades due to diagnosis during abdominal imaging for other issues but, since 2002, diagnoses have declined about 1 percent per year.

+ Signs and Symptoms: This cancer typically has no symptoms in the early stages but as the tumor progresses, there may be blood in the urine, pain or lump in the lower back or abdomen, weight loss or swelling in the legs or ankles.

+ Risk factors: Obesity; smoking; high blood pressure; chronic renal failure; occupational exposure to certain chemicals, such as trichloroethylene; and rare hereditary conditions.

+ Five-year survival rate: 74 percent.

Leukemia

An estimated 62,130 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed the U.S. in 2017 and about 24,500 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. The death rate from this cancer has steadily dropped 1 percent per year since 2005.

While there are no current recommended screenings for this cancer, it sometimes is detected due to abnormal blood tests results performed for other issues.

+ Signs and symptoms: Fatigue, paleness, repeated infections, fever, bleeding or bruising easily, bone or joint pain, swelling in the lymph nodes or abdomen

+ Risk factors: Exposure to ionizing radiation, including medical radiation used in cancer treatments; and cigarette smoking.

+ Five-year survival rate: Varies by subtype, from 27 percent to 83 percent.

Liver Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates 40,710 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2017 and about 28,920 people will die from the disease.

Diagnoses of this cancer have more than tripled since 1980. From 2004 to 2013, the rate steadily increased by about 4 percent per year.

Screening for liver cancer has not been shown to reduce the mortality rate, but some doctors test high-risk individuals with ultrasound or blood tests.

+ Signs and symptoms: Symptoms usually dont appear until the cancer is advanced, but include abdominal pain or swelling, weight loss, weakness, loss of appetite, jaundice and fever. An enlarged liver is the most common physical sign.

+ Risk factors: Chronic infection with hepatitis B or C, heavy alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes, tobacco smoking, and certain rare genetic disorders such as hemochromatosis.

+ Five-year survival rate: 18 percent.

Lung and Bronchus Cancers

Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. The American Cancer Society estimates 222,500 new cases will be diagnosed in 2017 and about 155,870 people will die from it this year.

The rate of lung cancer in the U.S. has been declining since the mid-1980s.

+ Signs and symptoms: Symptoms typically dont occur until the cancer is advance, but include a persistent cough, sputum streaked with blood, chest pain, voice changes, worsening shortness of breath and reoccurring pneumonia or bronchitis.

+ Risk factors: Cigarette smoking; exposure to radon gas; occupational or environmental exposure to secondhand smoke, asbestos, certain metals, radiation, or air pollution. Occupational exposures that increase risk include rubber manufacturing, paving, roofing, painting and chimney sweeping.

+ Five-year survival rate: 15 percent for men and 21 percent for women.

Oral Cancers

An estimated 49,670 new cases of oral and throat cancers will be diagnosed in 2017 and about 9,700 people will die from it.

From 2004 to 2013, the rate dropped by about 2 percent per year for blacks, but has increased 1 percent per year among whites, largely driven by a subset of cancers associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

+ Signs and symptoms: A lesion in the throat or mouth that bleeds easily and does not heal; a persistent red or white patch, lump, or thickening in the throat or mouth; ear pain; a neck mass; coughing up blood.

+ Risk factors: Tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, an HPV infection of the mouth and throat believed to be transmitted through sexual contact.

+ Early detection: Visual inspections by dentists and physicians can often detect premalignant abnormalities and cancer at an early stage.

+ Five-year survival rate: 66 percent for whites and 47 percent for blacks.

Pancreatic Cancer

An estimated 53,670 new cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed in 2017 and about 43,090 will die from the disease.

This type of cancer has been declining by about 1 percent per year in whites, but was stable for blacks since 2004.

+ Signs and symptoms: Symptoms usually dont appear until the disease has progressed, but include weight loss, abdominal discomfort, and occasionally the development of diabetes. Advance stages of the disease include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

+ Risk factors: Cigarette smoking, a family history of the disease, a personal history of chronic pancreatitis or diabetes and obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, Lynch syndrome and certain other genetic syndromes, including the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation.

+ Five-year survival rate: 8 percent.

Prostate Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates 161,360 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2017, and about 26,730 men will die from it.

Starting in the late 1980s, prostate cancer diagnoses spiked due to widespread screening with the prostate-specific antigen blood test but has been declining by about 8 percent per year since 2009.

The American Cancer Society recommends men of average risk of this type of cancer have a conversation with their doctor about the benefits and limitations of PSA testing.

+ Signs and symptoms: Early prostate cancer usually has no symptoms but as the disease progresses, men may experience weak or interrupted urine flow, difficulty starting or stopping urine flow, the need to urinate frequently, blood in the urine, pain or burning with urination.

+ Risk factors: Age, African ancestry, a family history of the disease and certain inherited genetic conditions.

+ Five-year survival rate: almost 100 percent.

Skin Cancer

An estimated 87,110 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2017, and about 9,730 people will die from it, according to the American Cancer Society.

Melanoma diagnoses have risen rapidly during the past 30 years, with a 2 to 3 percent increase per year since 2004 for those older than 50, but the rate has stabilized for those younger than 50.

The best prevention for this type of cancer is to use proper protection while in the sun  wear sunglasses that block UV rays, apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more, and wear protective clothing.

+ Signs and symptoms: Changes in the size, shape or color of a mole or other skin lesion; the appearance of new skin growth; or a sore that doesnt heal. Changes that progress over a month or more should be evaluated by a health care provider.

+ Risk factors: A personal or family history, the presence of atypical; large or numerous moles; high exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or indoor tanning; a history of excessive sun exposure including sunburns; diseases or treatments that suppress the immune system.

+ Five-year survival rate: 98 percent.

Thyroid Cancer

An estimated 56,870 new cases of thyroid cancer will be diagnosed in 2017, with three out of four cases occurring in younger women. About 2,010 people are expected to die from this cancer this year.

Thyroid cancer has been increasing worldwide during the past few decades. In the U.S., the rate has increased about 5 percent per year since 2004.

+ Signs and symptoms: A lump in the neck, a tight or full feeling in the neck, difficulty breathing or swallowing, hoarseness, swollen lymph nodes, and pain in the throat or neck that doesnt go away.

+ Risk factors: Being female, having a family history of goiter or thyroid nodules, a family history of thyroid cancer and radiation exposure early in life, and a mutation in the RET gene.

+ Five-year survival rate: 98 percent

Uterine Cervix Cancers

The American Cancer Society estimated 12,820 new cases will be diagnosed in 2017, and about 4,210 will die from it.

The cervical cancer rate has declined by more than half since 1975 due to a widespread uptick in screenings, but the declines recently have slowed.

The currently recommended screening for women ages 21 to 65 is a Pap test along with the human papillomavirus (HPV) test for women over the age of 30. Vaccines to protect against HPV are available for those ages 9 to 26.

+ Signs and symptoms: The most common symptom is abnormal vaginal bleedings, which may start and stop between regular menstrual periods or occur after sexual intercourse, douching or a pelvic exam. Menstrual bleeding may last longer and be heavier than usual. Bleeding after menopause and increased vaginal discharge also may be symptoms.

+ Risk factors: Most cervical cancers are caused by a persistent infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).

+ Five-year survival rate: 69 percent for white women and 57 percent for black women.

Uterine Corpus (Endometrial) Cancers

The American Cancer Society estimates 61,380 new cases will be diagnosed in 2017, and about 10,920 will die from it.

Diagnoses of this type of cancer have been increasing by about 1 percent per year among white women and three percent per year among black women since 2004. Theres no standard screening for women of average risk, but most cases are diagnosed at an early stage because of postmenopausal bleeding.

+ Signs and symptoms: Abnormal uterine bleeding or spotting and pain during urination, intercourse or in the pelvic area.

+ Risk factors: Obesity, use of postmenopausal estrogen, late menopause, never having children, a history of polycystic ovary syndrome.

+ Five-year survival rate: 84 percent for white women and 62 percent for black women. White women are more likely to be diagnosed at an early stage of the disease.

Urinary/Bladder Cancer

An estimated 79,030 new cases of urinary or bladder cancer will be diagnosed in 2017 and 16,870 will die from the disease.

The rate has decreased since 2009 by about 1 percent per year in whites, and increased about .5 percent for black men and was stable for black women.

+ Signs and symptoms: Blood in the urine, increased frequency or urgency of urination, pain during urination.

+ Risk factors: Smoking. Workers in the dye, rubber, leather, aluminum industries, painters and people in communities with high levels of arsenic in the drinking water are at increased risk.

+ Five-year survival rate: 79 percent for white men, 74 percent for white women, 69 percent for black men and 54 percent for black women.

Source: American Cancer Society
In 2014, Sheila Peters learned she had breast cancer  a diagnosis that one in eight women will receive.

When I heard the word cancer, I wasnt worried about dying; I really wasnt. I was overwhelmed with whats the next step, she said.

Peters found the answers and support she needed through the nurse navigator program at Centras Pearson Cancer Center. An oncology nurse navigator specializing in breast cancer was in touch soon after her diagnosis, walking Peters through choosing a surgeon, oncologist, radiologist and plastic surgeon.

The nurse navigator worked to find the best times and days for doctors appointments too numerous to count.

The day Peters breast was removed, her navigator was there, showing her how to wear a corset designed to reduce swelling and suggesting she keep it on around the clock for several weeks.

During chemotherapy treatments that lasted up to eight hours, Peters requested and received a private room, and the navigator was available to answer questions and get information from doctors when Peters or her husband had concerns.

She always got back to me by the end of the day with the information

I needed, Peters said. She also

called me sometimes just to check up on me.

An important lesson Peters learned early was to let her oncologist or nurse navigator know if she wasnt feeling well so she could get ahead of adverse side effects.

They certainly encourage you to ask questions and ask for whatever you need, she said.

Peters also made use of the image center, which helps women with wigs and scarves to cover hair loss from the treatments and makeup to deal with changes to her skin.

Bottom line, I cannot say enough about the program, Peters said. The support they give you is just so comforting. We really are fortunate to have the Cancer Center here in Lynchburg.

Amanda Bruffy, one of four full-time nurse navigators, said she feels fortunate to work at the center in a job she loves. Providing information to patients in a timely fashion is one of their most important services, as well as lending a sympathetic ear as needed.

We deal with a very difficult subject every day, she said, noting while many patients survive, some know they are terminal from the beginning.

Still, the nurses can have a positive effect. We focus on the patients quality of life, she said.

The navigators specialize in particular types of cancer. Bruffy, for example, works with patients with head, neck and lung cancers.

The nurse navigators see patients with widely varying levels of knowledge about the disease. Some need very little help, while others come in with no idea how to proceed or with misconceptions about treatment based on experiences of friends and relatives.

Bruffy said cancer treatment is continually advancing and the side effects of todays treatments are so much more minimal compared to previous years, she said.

The biggest thing is to help our patients be well-informed and their families as well. Were available to the whole family. ... We become part of the patients family.

An oncology team, or tumor board, meets to discuss the best procedure for each patient. In Peters case, for example, they prescribed chemotherapy first to shrink the tumor before performing the mastectomy.

Bruffy says each patients care is tailored to their specific needs in accordance with national guidelines. A small percentage of their patients prefer homeopathy or other alternative treatments, and the nurse navigators still can provide support.

Rehabilitation is crucial during and after treatment, Bruffy said, and she encourages patients to attend Centras RENEW program, which provides a variety of types of physical therapy.

The RENEW program is really great, Bruffy said, noting she is a cancer survivor who regained mobility through physical therapy.

The Pearson Cancer Center attracts patients from miles away, but for some, weekly and daily drives during parts of their treatment can be a financial hardship. Some patients qualify for help with gas.

The nurse navigators work Monday through Friday so they refer patients to other organizations with national help lines that are often staffed around the clock.

In addition to a help line, the American Cancer Society has a Road to Recovery program for people without transportation. Volunteers provide rides to doctors appointments and treatments, said William Harris, coordinator of the Lynchburg office. The local office also has advocates who can help with insurance and prescriptions.

The American Cancer Society also offers a Look Good, Feel Better program for people who have lost their hair during chemotherapy. The office provides free wigs, scarves, hats and turbans. A cosmologist offers a monthly program on how to style wigs and apply makeup.

We dont charge for any services, Harris said.

Some help lines include the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345, the Lung Cancer Alliance at 1-800-298-2436 and Susan G. Komen, which offers a breast care help line, at 1-877-465-6636.
A gap in health care coverage that long has left Medicaid recipients in addiction treatment programs vulnerable is being closed.

Motivated by the opioid epidemic, Virginia began reimbursing agencies for providing substance use disorder treatments like inpatient detoxification and medication-assisted opioid treatment to Medicaid recipients April 1.

In the past, Medicaid patients had community detox and then they would have to go into an outpatient program, and oftentimes, people with long-term addictions would not succeed in their recovery because they needed sort of a step-down, and they didnt have it, Damien Cabezas, CEO of Horizon Behavioral Health, said last month as Horizon prepared to double the number of beds in its downtown crisis stabilization and detox programs.

Those beds are the stepping stones individuals need as they fight addiction. More are being opened because of the reimbursements.

In other states, where those services were provided, you saw a higher rate of successful recovery, so were thrilled were able to offer this in Virginia. It will save a lot of lives, Cabezas said.

The money comes from the $16 million Virginia Medicaid Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services (ARTS) benefit allocation and marks the first time providers have been able to get reimbursed by Medicaid for a host of addiction services. It also increases reimbursement rates for some services.

According to Karen Kimsey, deputy director of complex care services at Virginias Department of Medical Assistance Services, which administers the benefits through Medicaid and the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS), the benefit was funded in the 2016 Appropriations Act because of the opioid epidemic and the number of Medicaid recipients without access to the services.

Theres a desperate need for these services to support individuals in our community, Kimsey said.

According to a January 2016 policy brief for the state Senate prepared by Virginia Commonwealth University, at least 40,000 adults in the commonwealths Medicaid program have a substance abuse disorder.

Eight million dollars now will be used from Virginias general fund annually to support the effort. For every 50 cents the state spends, the federal government will match it, Kimsey said.

We are very excited about it, Kimsey said, adding the state already has attracted robust provider participation.

Medicaid participants now have coverage for in-patient hospital detoxification for 15 days, community-based residential detoxification for another 15 days, residential substance abuse treatment for an average of 30 days, out-patient programs and more.

Horizon, one of about 40 community service boards in Virginia, provides mental health and developmental services to Lynchburg and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell. As one of the 14 agencies approved to participate in ARTS in the Lynchburg area, Horizon hopes to be the one locals turn to for care. Cabezas said the new reimbursement will cover the cost of services for the most part.

The Lynchburg Comprehensive Treatment Center, a private company that provides medication assisted treatment (MAT) to individuals trying to break their addiction to opioids, aims to begin accepting Medicaid patients by June 1.

David Cassise, clinic director of Lynchburg Comprehensive Treatment Center, said in an email last month while demand at his Lynchburg clinic has remained constant since its March 2015 opening, the biggest problem is not the need for MAT services but the fact that individuals needing those services are not aware of what is out there.

Medicaid will certainly help those that are already aware but cant afford it, Cassise said. The Lynchburg Comprehensive Treatment Center serves about 300 patients annually with methadone, Subutex, Vivitrol or Suboxone, which treat individuals with opioid use disorder.

After closing its Suboxone clinic in 2016 due to a lack of funding, Horizon reopened it in March to four clients as an outpatient service with a waivered physician specifically licensed to provide the treatment, according to a spokesperson. Horizon is in the process of getting a license from the state to offer MAT under ARTS.

Cabezas said Horizon hopes to be able to provide MAT to 20 clients in May and is looking for a full-time physician to support the expansion.

Another a medication-assisted treatment program in Lynchburg, Addiction Allies, LLC, will work with ARTS benefits to help Medicaid recipients overcome substance use disorders. It has formed a partnership with the Madeline Centre, LLC a behavioral health treatment provider in Lynchburg and Danville. According to its website, Addiction Allies prescribes medications such as Suboxone and Vivitrol for opiate addiction.

In an email, Dr. Christopher von Elten said Addiction Allies will offer physician assessment and medication treatment, individual and group counseling, case management and an Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP) program.

Outpatient treatment with medication increases success rates and is the most cost effective treatment available, von Elten said.

This massive increase in access is in response to the opioid epidemic, which claimed the lives of more than 1,000 Virginians in 2016, according to the Virginia Medical Examiners Office. Virginia saw just 515 fatal opioid overdoses in 2007.

After seeing the number of fatal drug overdoses in Virginia increase by 35 percent in the first half of 2016, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared opioid addiction a public health emergency.

This week, Jim Sikkema, chairman of Horizons board of directors, said, I think that given the real challenges that not just Virginia but the entire country is facing with a broad array of alcohol and drug abuse, with the opioid crisis in Virginia, this is what started waking people up; the problem has already been there.

The opioid crisis in Virginia is really what caused the current action, he said.

Over the past nine years, Southwest Virginia has been hit hardest.

The opioid overdose death rate from 2007 to 2016 in Russell and Tazewell counties now stands at 25 percent and is even higher in Wise and Dickenson counties, at 26 percent and 38 percent, respectively.

Cabezas said Northern Virginia and Richmond also have seen significant losses.

Here in Central Virginia, weve been fortunate, Cabezas said. We have not seen those alarming increases, but we are seeing increases in Bedford, Amherst, [and] Campbell with significant increases in Appomattox, [it is] not to the extent that we are seeing in other parts of the state but enough that [it] is concerning us, Cabezas said.

According to the state medical examiners office, in the past five years there have been six fatal opioid overdoses in Amherst County, six in Appomattox County, 23 in the town and county of Bedford, 19 in Campbell County, 22 in Lynchburg and seven in Nelson County.

All those numbers could climb, though, as 60 cases from 2016 remain open at the state medical examiners office awaiting additional reports to certify cause and manner of death.

Theres really [not] a family that hasnt been touched by this, Kimsey said.

Sikkema, a licensed clinical social worker, began his career helping those with substance abuse issues.

Funding and residential treatment are essential, he said.

Residential [treatment] is so critical because it provides the stabilization and the integration for whats essential [for clients] to maintain sobriety and stay clean, Sikkema said.

Because there previously was no money for these services, there now is a pent-up demand, he said.

He calls the funding heartening and said Horizon can expand based on demand.

Its finally happening in Virginia, he said.

Horizons crisis stabilization unit served 595 patients, and its detoxification unit served 470 patients from January 2016 to December 2016, according to Cabezas.

He said Horizon has seen a 10 percent increase in patients in each of those programs every year for the past three years.

In anticipation of more growth because of ARTS funds, Horizon separated its detox and crisis stabilization units onto separate floors at the Horizon Wellness Center at Court Street facility and expanded each. The detox unit now can accommodate 16 patients, up from six, and the crisis stabilization unit now has 16 beds, up from 10.

Horizon also is hiring 25 additional staff.

Theres a huge job creation in terms of this, Cabezas said.

Horizon also plans to open the doors of its six-person recovery residence for women with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues on Denver Avenue in Lynchburg on May 1. The residential treatment house, which will cost about $150,000 annually to operate, was supposed to open in December 2015 and be funded by the agencys nonprofit and state money. It never opened because of a lack of funding, according to Cabezas.

Previously, Medicaid didnt provide a reimbursement for recovery residences like the Denver Avenue house.

As providers and patients begin making use of the ARTS benefits, Kimsey said the state will be monitoring health outcomes closely to demonstrate the value of the benefits.

We anticipate seeing an improvement in their health outcomes, Kimsey said, explaining DMAS expects the funding to translate into better access to health care, fewer emergency department visits, fewer hospitalizations, reduction in overdoses, and coordinated health care for Medicaid recipients.

DMAS has a contract with VCU to evaluate access to care, outcomes, program expenditures and determine if the benefits help decrease patients overall health care costs. It will provide a report to the legislature once there are measureable results.

Which still leaves us the problem of the uninsured, Cabezas said.

According to the 2015 American Community Survey released in September of 2016, approximately 746,000 Virginians remain uninsured, down from 1 million in 2010.

Cabezas said about 300,000 uninsured Virginians have mental health or substance abuse issues.
President Trump took credit for a Democrats failure to win a special election outright in Georgias 6th Congressional District, forcing a run-off in June.

Glad to be of help! he tweeted Tuesday night.

But if you want a true gauge of presidential clout, watch Congress as it wrestles with the prospect of yet another government shutdown.

Americans have learned not to count on Congress to do much, but keeping the government open is a modest expectation. That goal, however, challenges Trumps and congressional spending priorities.

Democrats have said no to Trumps $1.4 billion request to build a border wall. Theyre also fighting his proposed $18 billion in cuts to domestic programs to offset huge increases in defense spending.

Conservative Republicans still want to cut funding to Planned Parenthood, but saving it is a Democratic priority.

All this matters because Republicans likely will have to work with Democrats to avoid another government shutdown. Trump should help make a deal, but, as we know, hes unpredictable.

Were here because Congress was unable to get its act together last December and passed a continuing resolution or temporary spending measure to avert a government shutdown. That spending authority expires Friday, the day before Trumps 100th day in office, which hed rather spend talking up his accomplishments than explaining why national parks are closed.

Congress went on a two-week spring break without dealing with the spending issue. The Senate returns to Washington Monday and the House on Tuesday, leaving a few days to negotiate.

The last government shutdown, in October 2013, dragged on for 16 full days, and the one before that lasted 21 full days before it ended in January 1996. Each cost taxpayers billions of dollars and caused major disruptions in services.

Theres not going to be a shutdown, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, assured reporters the other day. These are the same people who promised to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act on Day One.

Congress could punt again and pass another temporary extension for a week, pushing the crisis into May, Politico reported.

Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats are preemptively blaming each other.

Our Republican colleagues know that since they control the House, the Senate, and the White House that a shutdown would fall on their shoulders, and they dont want it, said Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-New York.

Republicans need eight Democratic votes to overcome a Senate filibuster, so Democrats are trying to use their leverage to stop Trumps agenda.

I think Chuck Schumer and the Democrats want a shutdown, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas and architect of the last shutdown, told constituents in Texas the other day, the Texas Tribune reported.

This is rich coming from Cruz, who kept the Senate floor for 21 hours in 2013 in a vain attempt to kill the Affordable Care Act, a stunt that led to a budget standoff and then to the last shutdown.

Cruzs antics demonstrated a truth about budget brinksmanship and government shutdowns: They dont work. An omnibus spending bill passed, the ACA still stands, and Congress approval rating is a dismal 20 percent.

The cost of paying furloughed federal workers for not working during the 2013 shutdown was $2 billion, according to the Office of Management and Budget, which also cited such additional indirect costs as uncollected fees, halted IRS enforcement measures and additional interest on payments that were late, due to the shutdown.

No matter how they spin it, Republicans would suffer political fallout of a shutdown. The stars havent misaligned to bring on a funding gap under single-party rule since the troubled presidency of Jimmy Carter.

Even if Congress manages to keep the government open this time, another crisis looms in the fall, when the debt ceiling is reached.

The potential shutdown is a test. Trump could demonstrate he cares more about governing than electioneering and support a compromise. Congressional Republicans could show they have more aptitude for governing than squabbling.

It shouldnt be a big ask to keep the governments lights on.

Mercer writes from Washington. Email her at marsha.mercer@yahoo.com. 2017 Marsha Mercer. All rights reserved.
Cargo will get to Tobago

Yesterday Works and Transport Minister, Rohan Sinanan took a tour of the barge and the cargo ship that would be temporarily replacing the Super Fast Galicia which returned to Gibraltar early yesterday morning.

On Friday, a legal letter was sent to the Galicias local agent, Inter-Continental Shipping Limited, from the law offices of Dr Claude Denbow SC on behalf of Sinanan and the Government.

It argued that the Galicia should remain in use until the current charter hire agreement expired on October 31.

Sinanan told members of the media that the companys lawyers replied to the letter, that the States attorney sent them a further letter and litigation matters would begin soon. We are adamant, based on the opinion of the senior counsel, that there was a contract in place. So I guess by tomorrow (Sunday), when is the next sailing day, and there is not a vessel here from Inter-Continental, then we consider that to be a breach. Also on Friday, there was some confusion at the Scarborough port when, after over a 12-hour delay at the Port-of-Spain port, truckers were told they could not take their trucks back to Trinidad.

President of the Truckers and Traders Association, Horace Amede, said, at the time, they were told the Galicia would not return to Trinidad but would sail straight to Gibralta. However, in the end, that was not the case.

Amede said he believed the provider panicked when he saw a Coast Guard vessel at the port, knowing litigation matters would arise from the loss of the Galicia.

However, Sinanan said the Coast Guard vessel was making a routine trip in Tobago and stressed that Government never intended to impound the Galicia. I called him (the provider) and gave him the assurance that the government was not considering impounding any vehicle and he immediately started to load the cargo and came back to Trinidad. Sinanan admitted the rates of US$14,000 per day for the ferry and US$8,000 a day for the barge was a bit higher because the contract was short term and monthto- month. However, he said Government had to do something in the short term to ensure there was no disruption in the transportation of cargo when Inter-Continental gave Government only 14 days notice.

The barge, which would be pulled by a tugboat, is expected to transport construction material and heavy equipment while the ferry could accommodate roll-on-roll-off, break bulk cargo, heavy lift cargo, and has outlets for refrigerated containers.

He noted some people in Tobago said they would refuse to use the barge but said the Port Authority board would soon go to Tobago to meet with stakeholders in an attempt to iron out these challenges. I think once they see what we are offering, and knowing its just an interim measure, I am hoping that they would come around to use the vessel. He stressed the vessels would be a short term measure, for two or three months, while the medium- term plan was for another vessel to be leased, and eventually the purchase of one vessel that could handle the cargo between the islands. Monday the tender for the medium term, which is the vessel to be leased for three years will be closed and opened by Tuesday. Then we have the longterm plan which is the purchase of the new vessel. Tobago business owners remained cautious about the reliability of the temporary boats, saying their operations were already affected by the recent delays.

We are all affected, directly and indirectly in Tobago when the boat doesnt sail on schedule and when we dont have a boat, Claude Almandoz, owner of Almandoz Hardware said yesterday.

He expressed concern about panic buying.

We didnt have the time frame to organise our business to get the volume of stock we need to supply for an extended period of time. Most people were able to pull a months stock, maybe two months if they were lucky, for us we do have stock but it will depend on whether persons start to panic buy in Tobago. Almandoz also had questions about the efficiency of the replacement boats, especially the barge.

Cargo is of a perishable nature, its not aggregate and sand, we talking about steel and hardware goods, am I going to put that on a barge to have sea water affect it? He raised the possibility of price increases prices given the added time to transport cargo to Tobago, the limited space for trucks on the new vessels and the demand for shipping.

Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce, Tobago chapter, Demi Cruickshank yesterday said the chamber will make a statement on the vessels by tomorrow. However, he said his business, D#1 Hardware is already out of hollow clay blocks.

And Amede, was again yesterday holding Government accountable for the transport troubles since it was brewing since last year.

The stories keep changing, we dont know who to believe, but we know the Government was aware that the chaos that happened at the Scarborough Port (on Friday) wouldnt occur if certain arrangements were made. He reiterated that even though a barge will be in use, the truckers will not transport goods to Tobago on it.

Tobago House of Assembly Minority Leader Watson Duke also criticised the choice of vessels, saying they were slower and would take too long to transport goods.

It is not a barge and a ship, its two barges. One is a barge that requires a tug; its an old barge. Anything that takes more than eight hours to reach between Trinidad and Tobago is a barge. He blamed Government for the impasse with Galicias owners.

I think the Galicia was well within their rights and the Government should be charged for obstruction. If they didnt re-fuel the Galicia, if they didnt give them the demobilization after a month to month contractThe Government is a bold-face government who wants to use the court, and certain PNM agents inside the court, to bully people.

Hence, they now trying to bully the Galicia and if they said they were leaving by a certain time, the Government knew. THA Secretary for Tourism, Culture and Transportation Nadine Stewart-Phillips, as Sinanan did, indicated discussions are continuing on the purchase of a fast ferry and cargo vessel. She reminded that Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles, last month, had assured to have one (cargo boat) that is custom built for the islands needs.
Dont pay for whats free

Delivering the feature address at the 12th edition of the ministrys National Clean-Up Campaign at the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation (SGRC), Hosein declared: There must be no corruption. You must not have to pay for a service that is given to you for free. You must not pay to get you building plan passed.

These are things that are given free by the various corporations. Hosein said since being appointed a Cabinet minister, last October, and even in his previous capacity as mayor of San Fernando, he had taken a personal decision to lead by example.

I have to answer for the wrong that I do, so I will not be corrupted and I will tolerate no corruption, none whatsoever. And I keep saying it, anybody found corrupted under me will be dealt with because I cannot see why a man has to charge somebody for something that is free.

Just talk to somebody nice, just help them. When I was the Mayor of San Fernando, I helped everybody. Everybody who come to see me I used to see them. Speaking to an audience which included chairmen, mayors, chief executive officers and staff at local government bodies, Hosein also indicated he will take a tough stand on discourteousness, poor service and an unwillingness to act on complaints from citizens.

This nonsense has to stop, he declared.

You know how much letters I get every week from every corporation, telling me about a drain, telling me about a wall, telling me about a road, telling me about various problems. You know what I decide to do now. I am going to write to each mayor and each chairman and I am going to copy the person who wrote me to let them know that the mayor and chairman is going to take care of your problem in your region, instead of it coming to me, because I have to go back to them. Hosein said substandard service at local government bodies was a very serious matter. I want to spread it to all the corporations, all mayors, all chairmen, that local government is a service ministry, he said.

People come to the corporations, whether is in Sangre Grande, San Fernando, Penal or Point Fortin, they come for service.

They want their building plans, they want services at the cemetery. They want services at the market. They want services picking up garbage. They want services.

And, I am appealing, and this is a very serious thing in my mind. I want all mayors and all chairmen and CEOs to ensure that the public, who are the taxpayers of this country get proper service when they come to these corporations.

A phone ringing in a corporation and ringing for an hour and ringing after lunch with nobody answering it. This nonsense has to stop. I give my phone number out to everybody so everybody could call me and talk to me.

There must be no corruption in no corporation, Hosein added.

Hosein, who has some 40 years experience in local government, said he was very well aware of the things that happen at regional corporations.

He said while there were many good and competent workers in regional and municipal bodies, there is corruption at all levels. I get feedback, people want plans draw. You have to come to the corporation to get the plans draw and if it cant be drawn by them, they getting trouble to get it passed. This must be a thing of the past.

I am sending a message to all corporations sand I want the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to know that they dont have to pay for that service of getting a plan drawn. You could draw your plan however you choose to draw your plan and come to the corporation to get it passed. If you have defects, they will correct the defects and make sure that you get assistance. Hosein gave the assurance that issues relating to corrupt practices and substandard service will be addressed in the Governments proposed local government reform package.

The proposal for local government reform is at the Ministry of the Attorney General and from there they will do the legislation and take it to Parliament, he said.

The government took a position that we are going to implement local government reform and I am them one who will ensure it happens. The power must be given to the corporations. Other speakers at the event were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development and local Government Desdra Bascombe; Toco/Sangre Grande MP Glenda Jennings-Smith; SGRC Chairman Martin Terry Rondon; Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Christine Newallo-Hosein and coordinator of the National Clean-Up campaign Gerard Ramarack.

The corporations theme for yesterdays exercise was Cleanliness is next to Godliness: Team Up and Clean Up.
81,000 seek help at Sando hospital

This was 19,000 more than the number of emergency cases at the hospital in 2015, South West Regional Authority (SWRHA) chief executive officer Anil Gosine disclosed yesterday.

Ap p r ox i m a t e l y 81,000 clients accessed services at San Fernando General Hospitals emergency department in 2016, which reflects an increase in emergency visits from 61,291 in 2015, Gosine said.

He was addressing an Emergency Medicine Conference billed, Emergency medicine and You, hosted by the TT Association of Emergency Physicians & Surgeons at San Fernando City Hall Auditorium, Harris Promenade.

The influx at the SFGH was even greater the patient visits at the Point Fortin Area Hospital, Couva, Princes Town and Siparia district health facilities which recorded respective estimates of 60,000, 55,000, 45,000 and 36,000 emergency visits.

The increase overall crossed 20,000.

In the last fiscal year, we recognised that there has been an increase in total emergency visits at the emergency departments by 26,000 persons, Gosine revealed.

I can assure you all that we are committed to improving the quality of our healthcare delivery services at our emergency departments, he said. We are working on reducing waiting times developing techniques to avoid overcrowding at busy periods and enhancing the injury surveillance system at the SFGH emergency department. SWRHA emergency department head Dr Robin Sinanan said the authority was looking at developing a hotline to help people seeking medical attention, as well as create a trauma registry to track cases such as injuries due to fireworks.

In his presentation on fireworks injuries, Dr Justin Sookram said the hospitals emergency department had a steady increase in these injuries which occurred during the Divali, Christmas and New Years holidays.

Using graphic photographs of fireworks-related injuries, Sookram said 11 serious cases were recorded at SFGH in 2015 with 19 cases last year, none of which was reported to the police.
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A voting station in eastern France has reopened after being evacuated because of a suspicious vehicle parked nearby. Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told the AP that the voting station in Besancon was evacuated while explosives experts examined the car, but they deemed there to be no risk. He said no other incidents have been reported in Sunday's first-round presidential election. Tens of thousands of security forces are guarding voting stations across France after an attack in Paris on Thursday revived security concerns. France remains under a state of emergency after deadly Islamic extremist attacks in recent years. The top two winners on Sunday will advance to a May 7 runoff. A look around the contentious election, the most unpredictable in generations:

Around six topless Femen demonstrators were detained when they staged a stunt against Marine Le Pen outside a polling station where the far-right presidential candidate was heading to vote. They jumped out of an SUV limo wearing masks of Le Pen and President Trump. Le Pen voted at the station shortly after without further disruption.

Centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron, one of the frontrunners in France's unpredictable election, has voted in the coastal town of Le Touquet in northern France alongside his wife Brigitte Macron.

President Francois Hollande has cast his vote in his political fiefdom of Tulle in Correze, southwestern France. The incumbent Socialist made the unusual move last year of pledging to not stand for re-election. The Socialist candidate is 49-year-old Benoit Hamon, who is not among the frontrunners.

The wife of conservative candidate and former PM Francois Fillon has cast her ballot near their country homeconspicuously not alongside her husband. Penelope Fillon, 61, was handed preliminary charges for her role in a fake jobs scandaldubbed "Penelopegate"that had threatened to derail her husband's campaign.

The vote "is really important, mainly because we really need a change in this country with all the difficulties we are facing and terrorism," said Paris resident Alain Richaud. "It's definitely risky, but I have faith in the result even if an extreme candidate qualifies for the second round," said Beatrice Schopflin.

(Read more France stories.)
For hundreds of years, an imposing white oak tree has watched over a New Jersey community and church, providing protection from the summer sun, serving as a scenic backdrop for thousands of photos andaccording to legendas a picnic site for George Washington. But the treebelieved to be among the nation's oldestis not long for its spot in the church graveyard, reports the AP. Crews are due Monday at the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Bernards to begin removing the 600-year-old tree. The two to three days of chopping will draw attention from residents of a bedroom community about 30 miles west of New York that has long celebrated its white oak. It's been the place to go for formal photos, a landmark for driving directions, and a remarkable piece of natural history. "I know it seems funny ... to mourn a tree, but I'm really going to miss seeing it," says a resident.

Arborists say the tree had stood for nearly 300 years before the church was built in 1717. It stands about 100 feet tall, has a trunk circumference of 18 feet and a branch spread of roughly 150 feet. The tree was declared dead after showing rot and weakness in the last few years, likely due to its age. Arborists determined it wouldn't be able to stand many more harsh winters or spring storms. Among notable visitors was Gen. George Washington, who town officials say picnicked at the tree with the Marquis de Lafayette. "It has been an integral part of the town, that's for sure," says a member of the church's council. "It has always been there, even before there was a town." Experts say fewer trees are replicating the old oak's 600-year lifespan due to several factorsincluding droughts, wildfires, and invasive insects. But the tree's legacy will go on, notes NJ.com: Another white oak, cultivated from the old tree's acorns, was recently planted on church property. It now stands about 20 feet tall. (Read more trees stories.)
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned Sunday that he could be "50 times" more brutal than Muslim militants who stage beheadings and said he could even "eat" the extremists if they're captured alive by troops. Duterte raised his shock rhetoric to a new level as president when he said in a speech what he would do to terrorists who have staged beheadings and other gruesome attacks, reports the AP. Duterte ordered troops to kill fleeing Muslim militants behind a foiled attack in the central resort province of Bohol and not bring them to him alive, calling the extremists "animals." "If you want me to be an animal, I'm also used to that. We're just the same," Duterte said. "I can dish out, go down what you can 50 times over." The foul-mouthed president said that if a terrorist was presented to him when he's in a foul mood, "give me salt and vinegar and I'll eat his liver."

The crowd broke into laughter, but Duterte cut in, "It's true, if you make me angry." Duterte, a longtime city mayor who built an image as a deadly crime-buster, won the presidency in May last year on a promise to battle illegal drugs, corruption and terrorism. Thousands have died under his anti-drug crackdown, which has alarmed Western governments and human rights groups. He has warned he may place the southern Philippines, scene of a decades-long Muslim separatist rebellion, under martial rule if terrorism threats spin out of control. He recently offered a reward for information leading to the capture of Abu Sayyaf and other militants behind a foiled attack in the central province of Bohol. Eight militants, three soldiers, a policeman, and two villagers have died in clashes in Bohol, which lies far from the southern jungle bases of the militants. (Read more Rodrigo Duterte stories.)
A federal judge is warning an ex-treasure hunter that he could face another contempt-of-court charge if he doesn't reveal the location of 500 missing gold coins. Ohio Judge Algenon Marbley on Friday ordered Tommy Thompson to cooperate by granting power of attorney to allow the government to figure out if a trust in Belize knows the coins' whereabouts, reports the AP. Marbley refused Thompson's request to appoint a civil attorney to help him review records in order to "jog his memory," about where the gold is, as the Columbus Dispatch puts it. "What stretches the courts credulity is why do you need a civil attorney to explain your own documents," Marbley said. "The court is not going to be complicit in spurious machinations."

Marbley has held the 64-year-old in contempt of court since December 2015that's 495 days as of this writingfor violating terms of a plea deal by refusing to respond to questions about the coins' locations. The coins, valued up to $4 million, were minted from gold taken from the SS Central America, which sank in an 1857 hurricane. Thompson went on the run in 2012 after investors who funded his search for the wreck of the SS Central America accused him of selling $50 million in gold and keeping the profits for himself. He said the coins were in Belize and agreed to reveal their location in a plea deal months after he was recaptured in 2015, but he later said he'd forgotten whom he'd given them to. (Read more treasure stories.)
According to a media report, the airport in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, will co-operate with internet firms, such as Alipay, to allow travellers to make cashless payments for services including accommodation, flights and car rentals, the Global Times reported.

Beijing : China's Hangzhou International Airport plans to become the world's first "cashless" airport by applying cutting-edge digital technologies to its services and will use artificial intelligence to make security checks faster, the media reported on Saturday.

cThe airport will also work with service providers to combine cloud computing and big data so it can offer passengers door-to-door services including ticket bookings, transportation, smart parking, shopping and catering as well as hotel bookings.

It will also introduce artificial intelligence and image recognition technologies into security checks so as to increase the safety and efficiency of the process as well as reduce passenger wait times, according to the report.

A Hangzhou resident told the Global Times on Friday that she welcomes the airport experimenting with big data and cashless services.

She said that with the spread of mobile payment, offering cashless services is unlikely to pose much of a challenge. She said that reducing wait times is likely to be the real test.

Online payment already has a particularly high level of penetration in Hangzhou, which is home to tech giant Alibaba Group Holding, which pioneered China's most popular online payment tool, Alipay.

Separately, Alibaba's financial affiliate Ant Financial announced plans to spend 3 billion yuan ($435 million) each year for the next two years to create a cashless society.
US President Donald Trump will be insistent on funding border wall: Official

Washington : A top US official said he believes that President Donald Trump "will be insistent" that lawmakers include funds for the Mexico border wall in a spending bill that his administration needs to pass to avoid a government shutdown, the media reported.

In a CNN interviews, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly on Saturday said he was confident that Trump will "do the right thing".

"I think it goes without saying that the President has been pretty straightforward about his desire and the need for a border wall...So I would suspect he'll do the right thing for sure."

Kelly said he thought Trump "will be insistent on the funding" for the wall, a lingering question ahead of the spending battle lawmakers face as they work this week to avoid the shutdown on April 28.

But a senior administration official told CNN on Saturday that the White House would not let the government shut down over the issue.

"The White House is not going to allow the government to shut down," the official said, adding "We've been clear about what our priorities are. Leadership in both chambers understands that."

Kelly also commented on the timing of the wall's construction."

"We hope to begin construction by the end of the summer," the official added.

During a tour of the border, Kelly and Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Thursday met with law enforcement personnel from several federal agencies in El Paso, Texas.

Kelly said he spoke with local and state lawmakers willing to share their views on the best way to build the wall.

Putting up a wall along the US-Mexico border was one of Trump's key campaign promises, and he issued an executive order in January directing that construction begin, reports CNN.

The Trump administration has already asked Congress for money to start building the wall, but Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and other top Democrats oppose the wall and say adding any money to the spending bill for it is a "non-starter".
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EnsoData, a Madison health IT company barely two years old, has won clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell its sleep-analysis software.

Its probably the biggest milestone for our company so far, said CEO and co-founder Chris Fernandez, 24. We can legally sell it ... all across the United States.

EnsoDatas software, EnsoSleep, automatically scores the findings of sleep studies by recording and analyzing conditions such as sleep apnea or respiratory-related sleep problems, and stores the results in the computer cloud.

That greatly speeds up processing of the data, Fernandez said. For a sleep clinic with 20 beds, with each patient wearing up to 20 sensors for six hours to eight hours, a massive amount of data is generated. Currently, most clinic employees review it manually, he said.

EnsoSleep slashes the data crunching time. Instead of 160 hours of unscored sleep data, all of the data has been analyzed and integrated, Fernandez said. Were looking to deliver time savings to clinicians, by performing really fast, really accurate scoring.

EnsoSleep has been tested at sleep clinics in San Francisco; Austin, Texas; Minneapolis; and Tampa, Florida.

The company also conducted a clinical study with a sample of 72 patients, across a variety of backgrounds.

Analyzed by experienced sleep technologists, it showed the software did recognize sleep stages, apnea and leg movements. Our software agreed with the experts 91 percent (of the time) on sleep stages, Fernandez said. He said thats the most difficult aspect to score because its based on a combination of brain waves, eye movements and chin movement.

Feedback, so far, has been really positive. Our software may be the first that fully automates the whole workflow, Fernandez said.

EnsoData, 111 N. Fairchild St., has four employees. Fernandez hopes to add another one or two this summer.

The company has pulled in $562,000 from investors so far. Of that, $550,000 was from a funding round led by HealthX Ventures, Madison, while $12,000 came from Y combinator, an accelerator program in California.

Fernandez said he wants to modify EnsoDatas technology so it can be used for other purposes, too, such as monitoring brain waves during surgery and home-monitoring of a congestive heart failure patient at home.

Our vision and our goal is to build a big company that will make a big and very lasting impact on health care, Fernandez said. If we are successful, well have more accurate diagnoses and more efficient clinical operations.

According to the American Institute of Sleep Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control, 50 million to 70 million people have a sleep disorder.

The companys technology began as a project at UW-Madison by Fernandez and EnsoData co-founders Sam Rusk and Nick Glattard.
New Delhi:

Auto major Tata Motors successfully completed the test drive of its first batch of electric buses under the Marcopolo brand in Shimla over the weekend.

"Last Friday we successfully piloted our first electric bus in Shimla. It was carried out jointly with the Himachal Road Transport Corporation and the state transport department.

"The 9-meter bus, with a seating capacity of 31 people, was piloted on the Parwanu-Kalka route with the round- trip distance of 160km with no charging en-route," A K Jindal, head of engineering, commercial vehicles, Tata Motors told PTI.

Since the first test was a success, the second level of commercial pilot will happen soon in Shimla city, he added.

Jindal said the vehicle is a successis clear from the fact that the Himachal state utility has decided to increase its order for these buses to 75 from the original order of 25.

Asked when will the commercial production begin, he said as soon as the firm orders are in they can start production. The manufacturing will happen at its Dharward plant for chassis and the body will be built at the Automobile Corporation of Goa facility, a joint venture between the Tatas and the Goa government.

The country's largest bus-maker has priced the 9-meter e-bus at around Rs 1.6 crore, while the 12-meter one will cost about Rs 2 crore. These are the rates that its nearest rival Ashok Leyland also charges.

Leyland had unveiled its e-buses, called the Circuit series, last October, becoming the first in the country to indigenously make such vehicles. The company reportedly piloted the bus in the Rohtang Pass area recently.

Asked about the battery, Jindal said they are Samsung cells sourced from China but the design is fully indigenous.

Whether the company is in talks with any other state, he said soon these buses will be tested in Delhi, the Manali- Rohtang Pass and also Shimla.

Meanwhile, Jindal said the company has won orders from the MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) for supplying 25 hybrid buses, the supply of which will begin soon. These are also made at Dharward and Goa, and are priced at Rs 2 crore.

Hydribd will also be tested in Delhi, Nagpur, and Chandigrah, he said, adding these are on Tata Starbus label, he said.

Leyland claims its e-bus runs 150km on a single charge. The company, at the time of its unveiling, said it plans to sell close to 50 e-buses in fiscal 2017 and around 200 units in fiscal 2018.

Of the Rs 500 crore capital expenditure lined up for the bus business, the Chennai-based company plans to spend 10 per cent of it on electric buses.

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New Delhi:

The finance ministry has initiated detailed discussions with select public banks to assess their growth blueprint over the next three years and seek turnaround plans to check if they need more growth capital.

The Department of Financial Services will be meeting representatives of 10 state-owned banks that received funds in March this year.

"The ministry officials have sought business plans for the next three years and also wanted detailed turnaround plans. Banks will also have to submit stressed asset resolution plans," a senior public sector banker told PTI.The officials will also be assessing capital needs of each bank for the next three years, a source added.

In the second tranche of capital infusion, the government had infused Rs 8,586 crore in 10 banks in March. For the full 2016-17, it had pumped in Rs 25,000 crore.

The recipients last fiscal were Bank of India (Rs 1,500 crore), Bank of Maharashtra (Rs 300 crore), IDBI Bank (Rs 1,900 crore), Indian Overseas Bank (Rs 1,100 crore), Central Bank of India (Rs 100 crore), Dena Bank (Rs 600 crore), UCO Bank (Rs 1,150 crore), Andhra Bank (Rs 1,100 crore), United Bank of India (Rs 418 crore) and Allahabad Bank (Rs 418 crore).

Talks are part of the Indradhanush plan which involved banks submitting detailed growth plans and indicating how they are going to deploy the funds to get additional money.

Some banks have already got calls from the ministry for the meeting and the bankers will be meeting individually.The government funding is linked to strict parameters. The first tranche of capital infusion for fiscal 2017 was announced in July 2016.

As per the road map announced in August 2015, the government will infuse Rs 70,000 crore into the banks over four years while they will have to raise an additional Rs 1.1 trillion from the markets to meet their capital requirements, in line with global risk norms Basel-III.

Public sector banks are to get Rs 25,000 crore in each fiscal of 2016 and 2017 and Rs 10,000 crore each in fiscal 2018 and 2019. The Budget has allocated Rs 10,000 crore in the current financial year.
New Delhi:

Sushant Singh Rajput has refuted the reports of dating co-star Kriti Sanon and said that the two are just good friends who like to spend time together. It was reported that Sushant and Kriti have been dating for a while and are going pretty strong with their relationship. In fact, the two stars are often seen hanging out together and their Instagram posts proves that well.



However, Sushant has cleared the air about his relationship with the Sanon and asserted that though he finds all the rumours interesting, they are not true. He told a wed portal, "I read about this thing between us, then there were stories about a fight and a break-up and then suddenly, probably because of the Maserati we were back together. They are all very interesting but untrue. We are good friends. Shes an engineer and I was studying to be one too before I dropped out. Were both from Delhi, big foodies and like spending time together. Period."

Also Read | 'Raabta': Kriti Sanon is sing praises for 'rumoured' beau Sushant, calls him 'amazing actor'

Interestingly, their relationship had once again bagged the spotlight after the couple was spotted going on a drive in Sushant's brand news Maserati. A lot was said about their relationship post Sushant and Kriti's picture from the car drive went viral on social media.

But Sushant maintainging his 'just friends' stance with Kriti, stated, "Its not like I bought the car and took Kriti for a ride. I had taken the car out for a spin alone the day it was delivered. Nobody clicked any pictures then."

Also Read | Amidst break-up rumors, Sushant Singh Rajput takes Kriti Sanon on a luxurious drive in Maserati (see pics)



On the work front, Kriti Sanon and Sushant Singh Rajput are gearing up for the release of their upcoming movie 'Raabta'.



Helemd by Dinesh Vijan, the movie is slated to release on June 9 this year.

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Los Angeles:

Actress Freida Pinto says that she never backs out speaking her mind though the habit gets her 'into trouble'.

"I'm not afraid to speak my mind, and that can get meinto trouble. For me (social and political activism) is the only thing that matters", Pinto says.

The 32-year-old, who stars in the Show time mini series 'Guerrilla', says she jumped at the opportunity to play the role of Jas, reported People magazine.

"As a female actor it is a lot harder to come acrossroles that explore every aspect of the character, not just her beauty. But Jas and I are similar in our passion", she says.

Pinto considers herself 'really blessed' to have a career in Hollywood but is also aware of the fickleness of it all andhow fleeting stardom can be.

And despite any ups and downs shehas had through her career, the actress says she would not go back and do anything differently.

"I'm just glad that I did everything I had to do in my 20s and got everything out of my system between 18 and 25. Now I know what I don?t want. I wouldn't change anything. If you don't make mistakes, you never learn", she says.

For all the Latest Entertainment News, Hollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Indore:

The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has issued blue corner notice against a Nigerian national in connection with duping of a city-based travel firm, the police said Saturday.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Harinarayanchari Mishra said in a press release that Interpol issued a blue corner notice against Sikheru Balogan, resident of Lagos, Nigeria, on March 15 on polices request.

Blue corner notice is issued if investigating authorities from another country need to locate, identify or obtain information about a person.

A 45-year-old Nigerian woman and her daughter had been arrested in this case in January. They were part of a gang which allegedly cheated a city-based travel firm of over Rs one crore by not paying for 82 air tickets.

Read More: Kim Jong-Nam Murder: Interpol issues arrest warrant against 4 North Koreans

Sikheru was suspected to be part of the same gang, police said today.

Moinat Adnik Balogan and her daughter Saidas Folake Balogan (20) were arrested in Delhi on January 24.

They had travelled from Lagos to Delhi, and were members of a gang which duped Indore-based Jose Travels of Rs 1.08 crore by booking 82 air tickets.

The gang members allegedly promised to pay a premium on tickets, but never paid.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Mumbai:

Maharashtra government on Saturday transferred several IAS officers. Nitin Gadre (IAS 1989 batch) who was Enquiry Officer at General Administration Department, was posted as Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, an official release said here.



Valsa Nair Singh, (IAS 1991 batch), Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture, was appointed the Principal Secretary, Enquiry Officer, GAD, Civil Aviation and Excise. S V R Srinivas, (IAS 1991 batch), Managing Director, SICOM, was appointed Officer On Special Duty, Dharavi Redevelopment Project.



Surendra Bagde (IAS 1993 batch), Secretary Social Welfare, was appointed General Manager, BEST. Mahesh Zagade (IAS 1993 batch), CEO, PMRDA, was posted as Divisional Commissioner of Nashik.



Dinesh Waghmare (IAS 1994 batch), Municipal Commissioner, Pimpri Chinchwad, was appointed Secretary, Social Welfare. K H Govindraj (IAS 1995 batch), Managing Director, MTDC was posted as MD, SICOM. C N Dalvi (IAS 1995 batch) Commissioner, Cooperation, was posted as Divisional Commissioner of Pune.

ALSO READ: UP govt transfers 41 IAS officers in major bureaucratic reshuffle



S Chokalingam (IAS 1996 batch) Divisional Commissioner, Pune was posted as Settlement Commissioner. Eknath Dawale (IAS 1997 batch), Divisional Commissioner, Nashik, was posted as Secretary, Water Conservation and EGS.



R R Jadhav (IAS 1998) Tribal Commissioner, was posted as Dairy Commissioner. S P Kadu-Patil (IAS 1998 batch), Settlement Commissioner, was posted as Commissioner, Sugar. J D Patil (IAS 1998 batch), General Manager, BEST, was posted as Commissioner, Cooperation.



R G Kulkarni (IAS 2000 batch) Dairy Commissioner, was posted as Tribal Commissioner. Nidhi Pandey (IAS 2001 batch) Aurangabad Collector, was posted as CEO, Rajiv Gandhi Arogya Yojana Society, Mumbai.



Rajaram Mane (IAS 2001) Commissioner, Sports, was posted as Director General, Maharashtra Energy Development Agency. S M Kendrekar (IAS 2002 batch) Joint Managing Director, CIDCO, was posted as Joint MD, MSEDCL, Aurangabad.



Vijay Zade (IAS 2002 batch) Buldhana Collector, was posted as the Commissioner, Sports. Vijay Waghmare (IAS 2004 batch) Commissioner Skill Development, was posted as MD, MTDC.



Suresh Kakani (IAS 2004), Nanded Collector, was posted as MD, Maharashtra Airport Development Company. Anil Kawde (IAS 2004) Ahmadnagar Collector, was posted as Inspector General of Registration, Pune. Pandurang Pole (IAS 2004 batch), Latur Collector, was posted as CEO, Slum Rehabilitation Authority, Pune.

ALSO READ: Shortage of over 1,400 IAS and 900 IPS officers in country, says Union Minister Jitendra Singh

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New Delhi:

Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarnas 86-year-old mother was allegedly assaulted by her maternal grandson in Delhis Greater Kailash area Saturday over a property dispute, police said.

The accused, Karan Dev Chopra (30), had been pressuring his grandmother Surjit Sarna for a greater share in property but when his demands were not met, he allegedly assaulted her, police said.

The elderly woman has suffered grievous injuries on her forehead, eyes, knees and other body parts and is currently undergoing treatment at Max Hospital, they added.

In her complaint, she alleged that he banged her head on the wall and tried to strangulated her to death while shouting that he will kill her, police said.

Indian envoy to US, Navtej Sarna meets President Donald Trump

The elderly woman also claimed that Karans wife also didnt stop him when he was assaulting her, they added.

Karan had been allegedly asking her to oust her paternal grandchildren from the property and write it in his name, police said.

The womans paternal grandchildren stay on two floors of the house while Karan and his wife stay with Surjit on one floor of the Greater Kailash house, they added.

Karan got married in January this year and wanted one more floor for himself and his wife, said a senior police officer.

Surjit didnt budge and he used to threaten her.

A case has been registered and the accused has been arrested.

Karan is the son of Surjit Sarnas daughter, who stays in Dehradun and is divorced.

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Chandigarh:

Smugglers from Pakistan are somehow trying new ways in order to smuggle heroin in the country. Like throwing small contraband packets and using cross-border irrigation network to push drugs into the Indian side in Punjab, have been practised by them.

"As it has become difficult to smuggle big packets of contraband of 1 kg and above, the smugglers are now trying to push heroin in small quantity like in 250 grams. They throw the packets from across the border during the night," BSF Inspector General (Punjab Frontier) Mukul Goel said. The contraband is then picked up by the local smugglers here, he said.

He said the Border Security Force (BSF) has seized 65.561 kg of heroin so far in this year near the Indo-Pak border. Zonal Director (Chandigarh Zone unit), Narcotics Control Bureau, Kaustubh Sharma said supplying contraband in smaller quantities means less loss for the smugglers if the substance is seized by the security agencies.

The BSF personnel also found smugglers using tube wells for supplying drugs into the Indian side at Daoke area along the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar.

The force this month seized 5 kg of heroin which was smuggled into Indian side through a water pipe. "The plastic pipe of a tube well was used to supply heroin in bottles as the field was located beyond the fence. A string was attached to the bottles to help local smugglers here to pull them out," Goel told PTI.

"The white-powdered heroin was packed in plastic bottles in such a way that it looked like 'lassi' (yoghurt based drink) apparently to hoodwink the BSF troops," an official said.

Also Read: Rajasthan: BSF launches search after suspected movement along Pakistan border

As the wheat harvesting season is on, the local associates sometimes try to hide narcotic substance in cavity of tractors, he said. The BSF is keeping a strict vigil near culverts and water channels to prevent the supply of drugs.

The force is also coordinating with the Punjab government as part of the latter's campaign to end drug menace from the state. "We are working with the Punjab police in this regard," hadformedGoel said.

After assuming office, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had formed a Special Task Force (STF) to end drug mafia in the state. The STF had claimed that it arrested more than 1,400 persons and registered 1,250 cases under the NDPS Act, while "choking" the trans-border and interstate-border drugs supply lines since March 16.

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired the meeting of NITI Aayog's Governing Council. He asked all the states in the country to work with his government and help identify goals for 2022.

The meeting was however skipped by Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, chief ministers of Delhi and West Bengal as both of them are his biggest critics.

The Niti Aayog is the countrys top-most policy making body, and the Prime Minister and all chief ministers of the country are part of its governing council.

Further, the meeting was called to discuss a 15-year vision document which would lay down the roadmap for Indias growth, economically and socially.

PM Modi said that the NITI Aayog is working on a 15-year-long-term vision, 7-year-medium-term strategy, and 3-year-action agenda. He said this effort need the support of States, and will eventually reflect in benefits to States.

Moreover, the council also discussed the progress made towards implementing the Goods and Services Tax or GST from July 1. The PM claimed that consensus on GST will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism. He further said, GST reflects the spirit of one nation, one aspiration, one determination.

Apart from praising the role of Chief Ministers in policy formation, PM Modi said the Chief Ministers had been asked to recommend the list of Centrally sponsored schemes and the sharing pattern. He also said that they had been given vital inputs on Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Swachh Bharat, skill development and digital payments.

ALSO READ: PM Modi holds meeting with BJP ruled states CMs and deputy CMs

The Prime Minister also claimed that a constructive discussions had begun on plans to hold Union and state elections simultaneously.

From opposition-ruled states, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami attended the meeting held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

NITI Aayog's Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya held a presentation on the government's 15-year vision document, which has broad targets for the economic, social sector and in internal security and defence.

Two other presentations were held -- one that outlined the government's strategy over the next seven years and a three-year action plan.

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday chair the third meeting of NITI Aayogs Governing Council which will deliberate on the 15-year Vision Document to accelerate the countrys economic development.

NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya will make a presentation on roadmap for rapid transformation of India by outlining key aspects of the document, comprising a 7-year strategy paper and a 3-year action plan, an official statement said.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will talk about the strategy for doubling farmers income.

The Council, which includes all Chief Ministers, NITI Aayogs members and special invitees, will also discuss the progress made towards the implementation towards Goods and Services Tax (GST) from July 1.

During the meeting, action taken on decisions of the earlier two meetings of the Governing Council held on February 8, 2015 and July 15, 2015 respectively will be discussed in detail, the statement said.

This time, the day long meeting of the Council will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Also read: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address party chief ministers on Sunday

At the Councils first meeting on February 8, 2015, the prime minister had laid down the key mandates of NITI Aayog such as fostering cooperative federalism by addressing national issues through mutual cooperation and monitoring of important schemes and programs.

It was also decided that the Aayog will act as the think tank of the government and work as a bridge between the centre and the states. Later, sub-groups of chief ministers and two task forces, one on elimination of Poverty in India and other on Agriculture Development were set up.

The second meeting of council on July 15, 2015 reviewed the progress made by the three sub-groups of chief ministers and the two task forces.

The policy-making body has been mandated to come up with a 15-year vision document for a period up to 2030, which will be co-terminus with sustainable development goals.

The NITI Aayog has also been working on a 7-year strategy for 2017-18 to 2023-24 to convert the vision document into implementable policy and action as part of the National Development Agenda.

It has also prepared a draft of the 3-year action plan for 2017-18 to 2019-20, which will be aligned with the 14th Finance Commission award period.

Also read: Have extra political will to carry out reforms, says PM Narendra Modi

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125 Years Ago

From 1892: Our neighbors at Needles are also striving for incorporation. Nothing benefits a town more than some good form of local government. This is only to be had by incorporation.

It is to be hoped that steps will be taken soon to inaugurate a water supply in Flagstaff.

P. J. Brannen is building an addition of three rooms to his handsome residence.

There will be a candy pulling at Hoxworths Hall on Wednesday night. Everybody is invited. The proceeds will go toward paying for the lots for the widow Bassett.

Improve your stock by purchasing Berkshires of the finest quality for breeding. H. Fulton, Flagstaff, Arizona.

It is said that ammonia in baking powder may cause discoloration of the nose. Possibly many abstemious citizens are being greatly misjudged by partaking of ammonia in their biscuits.

T. E. Mithoff has reopened his saloon in the new Daggs Building on Railroad Avenue.

Sam Black has sold his ranch 2 miles south of town to the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company.

Wanted: A position as a teacher for the summer months by a young lady with three years experience in the Phoenix Public Schools. Finest of references. Apply Box 6, Phoenix, Arizona.

The undersigned will take horses to herd at $1 per week. Will not be responsible but will use due care to prevent loss. E. S. Wlicox. Grand Canyon Stables. Flagstaff.

100 Years Ago

1917: All weather stations of private nature are ordered to cease operations. All public weather stations are now under the control of the Federal Government for the duration of the war.

During this past week travel between Flagstaff and Williams has been halted for some time and a number of autoists have been halted at Bellemont due to amount of snowfall.

The Board of Supervisors has appointed A. P. Gibson as Road Overseer in District 1, which embraces all of the town of Flagstaff north of the railroad tracks. A. W. Kinzie is appointed Overseer of District 4, which embraces the town on the south side of the tracks.

The Flagstaff Building Association is prepared to build houses on the installment plan. I. Chrisman, Agent. See at the Del Monte Hotel.

Mr. T. E. Pollack on the State Council for Defense is working to see that every acre of ground that can be cultivated will be used this year to aid in the War Effort. So far he has no plans for the dry farming areas.

The River de Flag has been cutting up some flooding capers due to the snowmelt following the storm. The flats by the Normal School are flooded and some sections of sidewalk have just floated off no matter how unlikely floating concrete may seem. Areas on the south side of the tracks where there are no dams are also flooded.

D. E. Collins, Cattleman, was up from the Verde country this week and says the range there is improving rapidly but that some of the stockmen lost a good many cattle by turning them back toward the mountains just in time to be caught by the snowstorm.

75 Years Ago

1942: The Forest Service has sent out approximately 200 postcards to area farmers asking that any scrap metal they have lying around be made available, with an approximate amount and location. The Forest Service will then gather it up to be sold at auction to the highest bidder of Southwest Dealers. All this metal is to be used in the manufacture of fighting equipment.

CCC trucks and men will be used to clean up all piles of junk on forest land as soon as the country opens up. The goal is to gather 1,000 pounds by June 1.

A. Wade from the Motor Vehicle Division will be here every Wednesday and Thursday at the Sheriffs Office to give exams for drivers and chauffeurs.

Duncan D. McRuer arrived here on Monday from Kingman. He will be on duty for the Los Angeles  Albuquerque Wire Service replacing Joe Radosevk, who left Wednesday for the Armed Service. He will bring his family here as soon as he can find housing.

Tune in to the Telephone Hour at 7 p.m. every Monday evening on the NBC Red Network Station. Mountain States Bell System.

Short snappy Patriotic Sayings are desired. A winner will be picked each week. The Coconino Sun will feature the best on the front page. The American Legion Auxiliary is running the contest.

Red seed pots available. Write Box 304, Winslow.

50 Years Ago

1967: Secretary Udall braved the sudden spring snow flurries and winds gusting to 30 mph and landed at Flagstaffs airport having switched from the expected helicopter to a prop aircraft. He was then swished to the Elks Club for his first formal appearance, where he expressed his desire for the Central Arizona Project to become reality and then moved on to the NAU Campus, where he spoke to faculty and students before meeting with the USGS Stream Commission and the Flagstaff press.

The fresh snow has boosted our water supply

The self-guiding trail to Walnut Canyon Cliff Dwellings is on hold until it can be reconstructed, widened and made safer. Other parts of the site will remain open with fees waived. The trail with be open on weekends when possible with a 50 cents fee in effect. Superintendent John F. Turney.

News of a huge Lake Powell water loss has been confirmed. 3 million acre feet have soaked into the porous sandstone banks. This is much larger loss than was expected. There is a 20 percent void in the sandstone so there will be more loss as the water backs further into the canyon. 2 million acre feet is now backed in at 380 feet up behind the dam, with another 180 feet to go.

The U. S. Department of Public Roads has approved the extension of 4th Street from East Flagstaff to Lake Mary Road as part of the secondary road system. City Engineer Ralph Barney said construction could begin as soon as this coming summer if the City and the County approve the funds. This would result in the net increase of 53.8 miles in the secondary road system in the Arizona State system.

25 Years Ago

1992: Flagstaff is at the top of the list for Orphan Sites  abandoned fuel tanks for which there is no one available to blame for the underground saturation with diesel and gasoline. There is a $75,000 grant from the EPA for petroleum test wells to determine the areas affecting drainage into the Ro de Flag. There are four downtown areas near the Nava-Hopi Tours where two 10,000 gallon tanks were removed in 1988 when Continental Bus Lines went bankrupt. There also remains oil in the soil at the Four Winds Trader Building Inc. at 118 West Santa Fe, where two large tanks remain under concrete.

The Kachina Restaurant, which was just about to reopen following major remodeling, was burned out Thursday night. Arson is suspected.

The Santa Fe is again trying to treat and get rid of the waste oil in the ground near Williams. They are attempting a Farming Process whereby the old bunker oil formally used by steam engines was dumped in the railroad yard there about 50 years ago. It is being mixed with organic microbes and spread over land, with the soil being turned every two years until the process of biodegradation has eliminated all of the oil. It is expected to take about 10 years.
New Delhi:

Afrin was always fond of the social media. For the 22-year-old Shahjahanpur resident, it was a form of refugean escape from a life torn apart by four years of a tumultuous marriage.



One chilly January evening this year, she was lost in a happy reverie, scrolling down her Facebook timeline, featuring mundane updates on love, life and poetry, punctuated with news, when a post hit her.



It was from her husband. Talaq, Talaq, Talaq, it said.



Afrin read the three words over and over again as her three-year-old daughter scattered toys all over the bed, some of which fell to the floor with a loud jangle.



It was merely the beginning of Afrins trial. A day later, her mobile beeped with an incoming message. It read, Talaq, Talaq, Talaq.



Her husband had expressed his determination loud and clear. As if the relentless torture with unending dowry demands was not enough, Afrin was now being booted out.



She was always happy as a child. But the incidents seem to have irreversibly changed her life, Afrins mother, Fareeda Begum, told PTI from Uttar Pradeshs Shahjahanpur.



Afrin has been taken to a relatives house, away from her maternal home, as the husbands family has been threatening to take her daughter away, her mother said.



Her husbands way to annul the marriage, which in Islam is a civil contract based on consent, has broken Afrins spirit. And it is this form of termination that is at the heart of a raging dispute on the practice of triple talaq.



The issue came to the fore in February last year when Shayara Bano, a triple talaq victim, petitioned the Supreme Court, seeking a ban on the divorce form, polygamy and nikah halala, a practice under which a divorced Muslim woman has to marry again, consummate the marriage and then break it if she wants to go back to her first husband.



Thousands of Muslim women across the country have since formed pressure groups and spearheaded signature campaigns demanding the abolition of the practice.

Read | Woman in Hyderabad accuses husband of giving her divorce through whatsapp message



Shayaras case has been clubbed with a clutch of similar petitions by the apex court, which will hear the matter from May 11. The Centre has already taken a stand against triple talaq.



The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) claims Shariat upholds the validity of triple talaq - under which a Muslim husband can divorce his wife by merely pronouncing the word talaq three times.



Talaq, or divorce, can be obtained in either of two ways. Under talaq-ul-sunnat, there has to be a three-month period, called iddat, between the pronouncement of talaq by a husband and a lawful separation.



But talaq-e-bidat authorises a man to do so in a single sitting.



However, over the years, a campaign against triple talaq, which experts say finds no mention in the Quranhas snowballed into a movement, riding on the woes of thousands of Muslim women whose husbands have walked off by just uttering these three words. Some took absurd routes, such as pronouncing talaq in text messages and, in recent times, on Facebook.

Read | Triple Talaq: Man divorces wife through newspaper advertisement



Like several others, Afrin has mustered the courage to approach the police against her husband who took advantage of the contentious provisions of the Muslim Personal Law.



As the debate on triple talaq, polygamy and nikal halala rages, these women from across the country are fighting a battle not just with the law board but within themselves as they find their lives weighed down by the stigma attached to divorces.



Take 24-year-old Rubina, who married an affluent man double her age, in 2015 to be able to financially support her family. But soon after marriage, he started threatening her with divorce.



Society has completely ostracised me and people molest me or behave inappropriately when I go for job interviews, Rubina, who has been living away from her husband, said. I have nowhere to go.



Some of these victims have knocked the door of the apex court seeking a stringent law against these oppressive practices, hoping to safeguard the future of other women and balance gender equations within the community.

Read | New York-based techie gives 'talaq' to wife in Hyderabad via WhatsApp, wife refuses to accept it



Among those seeking change is Rizwana, a 33-year-old Railways employee in Delhi. One of the petitioners in the SC against polygamy, she married Indian Air Force employee Mohammed Khalid in 2012. But Khalid, it turned out, had deceitfully married her by concealing his two previous marriages, which she discovered within a year of their marriage.



I found two dependant cards in my husbands bag issued by the Air Force which carried names and photographs of two women addressed as his spouse, she said.



When Rizwana sought a divorce, Khalid held that Islam allowed him to marry without divorcing his wives.



Being a government servant may have made Rizwana financially independent, but it took away from her the right to alimony or any kind of monetary relief from her estranged husband.



In our country, women with government jobs are not entitled to alimony. Men want to marry a woman who holds a government job, then torture her for dowry and easily divorce her without the fear of liability, she said.



Leading a similarly onerous and painful life is 37-year-old Farzana. The Kanpur-based single mother was tortured by her husband who demanded dowry and concealed his first marriage from her.



Some years into the marriage, I found out through neighbours that he had married earlier. It came as a shock to me but I could not do much and tried to work my marriage out for the sake of my children.



In 2009, she filed a domestic violence and maintenance case against her husband and in-laws.



But I have not got any relief yet. I applied for divorce also which is pending before a court in Kanpur, she said.



Shia scholars from across the country dispute the claim of orthodox Sunni clerics, saying that the Shariat, made up of writings in the Quran and Hadith, which are accounts of the Prophets words and actions, does not allow talaq at one go.



The controversy, in many ways, is reminiscent of the Shah Bano case of the Eighties, which was a landmark step in Muslim womens fight for social justice and equalitybut with a disappointing end.



In 1985, the SC had decisively ruled in favour of Bano, who had sought maintenance from her husband who had divorced her. But following a backlash from orthodox Muslim groups, the then Rajiv Gandhi government diluted the order through an Act.



The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, gave Muslim woman the right to maintenance only for the period of iddat (about three months) after a divorce. Her relatives or the Waqf Board are to take care of her after that.

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New Delhi:

Tamil Nadu farmers who were protesting at Jantar Mantar for past 40 days in Delhi, called off the protest on Sunday till 25th May after meeting with their state Chief minister K Palaniswami.

If our demands are not fulfilled we will start our protest again after 25th May. If we get train tickets, will leave today, said Ayyakanu, one of the farmers protesting at Jantar Mantar.

During the meeting, Tamil Nadu Chief minister K Palaniswami assured the farmers of his help and said that he will request Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the loan waiver.

Earlier on Sunday, expressing their solidarity with debt-ridden farmers, a group of youths from the state also staged a protest at India Gate.

The farmers have been on protest sit-in at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, seeking loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery Management Board to resolve their irrigation issues.

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Lucknow:

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Hriday Narayan Dixit favours longer sessions of the state legislature and mutual cooperation between the ruling party and the Opposition for smooth conduct of the House.



He is also open to the idea of live telecast of the proceedings of the House.



The elected MLAs of both the ruling party and Opposition are interested in running the House. I have full faith that the House will run for more than 90 days as per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the UP Legislative Assembly, 1958, 69-year-old Dixit told PTI in an interview.



Asserting that the elected MLAs of the 17th Uttar Pradesh Assemblyboth ruling and Oppositionare interested in smooth conduct of business, he exuded confidence that the House will run for more than 90 days a year.



The sessions have been usually been very brief in the past, irrespective of which party was in power, lasting somewhere between less than a week to little over a week, barring the budget sessions.



Asked as to how he was so confident of having a longer session, he said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has himself expressed his willingness to run the House for a longer time.



Previous governments did not show the same type of willingness, Dixit, a five-time MLA, said.



According to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the UP Legislative Assembly, 1958, every year, the Assembly shall ordinarily have three sessionsthe Budget session, the Monsoon session and the Winter session and sit for 90 days of which, as for as possible, a session for at least 10 working days shall be convened at the interval of two months.



On the idea of live telecast of proceedings of the Assembly, Dixit said, It is a good idea, and we are open to the idea.



He said that positivity exists within the UP Assembly and it must also be highlighted.



On whether the Opposition could be bulldozed, given the brute strength of the BJP and its allies, which have together bagged 325 of the 403 Assembly seats in the recent elections, Dixit said, The voice of the Opposition will be heard.



The Speaker admitted that from the point of view of numbers, the Opposition is weak.



But, the responsibility of the Opposition is to present alternative policies to the government and to oppose policies which it thinks are not in the interest of the people. In addition to this, the Opposition is supposed to give constructive suggestions to the government.



Invoking former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the importance of Opposition, Dixit said, Vajpayee had once said that democracy is not a game of 51-49. Democracy translates to mutual conversation, mutual partnership (paraspar samwaad, paraspar bhaagedaari). Jawaharlal Nehru had said that for a successful democracy, the Opposition should be as strong as the ruling party. There should be mutual cooperation, suggestions and sense of responsibility between the ruling party and the Opposition.



The Speaker also cited British political theorist, economist, author and lecturer Prof Harold Joseph Laski that the role of Opposition is to propose and to oppose.



Asked as to when the first session was likely to commence, he said the first-time MLAs will be called to the state capital for an orientation and training programme where they will be imparted all the relevant knowledge by veteran MLAs, parliamentarians and by Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training (BPST).



Recently I was in Delhi, where I met Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and requested her to come to Lucknow and impart training to the first-time MLAs, he said.



After a week-long training session, the House will meet, he said.On his election as the Speaker, Dixit said, During my election, MLAs of opposition parties extended their support to me out of affection and not out of formality. I enjoy good rapport with the ruling party and the Opposition as well.



Dixit, who has earlier been minister for panchayati raj and parliamentary affairs, was the leader of the BJP in the Legislative Council till recently. He is also a columnist and has a number of books to his credit.

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New Delhi:

The 47th Earth Day this year paved the way for a peculiar 'March for Science', which is the first step ever towards the global movement to defend the vital role science plays in our society.

The march is seen by international organisers as "a global effort to push back against a political climate that has become increasingly hostile toward sound, evidence-based science and its value to society."

The inaugural event took place in Washington DC at 9 a.m. on Saturday with scientists moving out of their labs and hitting the street to showcase their support for the march.





This march is being seen as the largest ever protest by advocates of science against US President Donald Trump as they fretted about the issue of science based policies being rejected by the politicians.

Climate change was the focal point of the March for Science, stimulated by dismissals of the issue by Trump and his top advisers. Supporters of march also expressed thier discontent over Trump's comment, calling climate change a 'haox'.

Joining the movement along with 600 cities across the world, India will too 'stand up for science'.

Read more: Earth Day 2017: Heal it, Protect it, Save it!

Two rallies in India are officially listed with the March for Science website, one at Coimbatore and the other at Hyderabad. Bhutan and Nepal have also signed up for the event.

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New York:

The French consulate in New York, where thousands of expatriates were registered to cast ballots in their presidential election, was briefly evacuated following a bomb threat, officials said.

A suspicious vehicle prompted police to clear the building on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park, Consul General Anne-Claire Legendre said Saturday.

After the Champs Elysees attack, the New York police department was told to be especially vigilant, she said.

Dozens of people who were inside the building at about 5 pm (2100 GMT) waited on the sidewalk while authorities checked the vehicle.

The situation returned to normal after about 50 minutes, consulate press officer Amelie Geoffroy said.

Read More: Donald Trump feels attack in Paris will 'probably help' Le Pen in France

Voting activities, which were scheduled to take place until 7 pm, also resumed, she added.

Some 28,500 French citizens living in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are registered to vote at the consulate.

Security measures were strengthened at French polling stations across the United States following a jihadists killing of a policeman on Paris famed Champs Elysees avenue this week.

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Puducherry/ Washington:

French nationals in Indias Puducherry and other regions coming under the jurisdiction of their consulate on Sunday vote for the first round of the presidential elections in their country.

The union territory of Puducherry and its outlying regions of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam were former French colonies.

An estimated 4,600 French voters (men and women) exercise their franchise at the poll Sunday simultaneously when France goes to the polls, sources said.

Puducherry would have two booths each in the precincts of the French Consulate and Lycee Francaise (an educational institution managed by French government), while Chennai and Karaikal will have one booth each.

Polling will began at 8 AM and go on till 7 PM Sunday. The sources said physically challenged and aged voters would have special facilities to reach the booths without the need to wait in queues.

Also Read: No real winner in French elections, presidential race ahead

Saturday, Thousands of French expatriates in US also cast their vote with some hoping to stop a global wave of right-wing nationalism from claiming their country.

A voter who came to cast his vote at a polling station at the French embassy said, "In the United States, you can see what happens when people don't vote, or vote badly.

"We don't want there to be a Trump in France," he added.

The top five candidates in 2017's French election are Francois Fillon (Les Republicains), Benoit Hamon (Socialists), Marine Le Pen (Front National) and Emmanuel Macron (Independent) and Jean-Luc Melenchon (Unbowed France).

While there is no clear winner at this stage  political scandals, distrust of polls, the shock Brexit result and Donald Trump's victory mean that sure bets off  there is a frontrunner.

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Houston:

A top college in the US state of Kansas named an Indian-American theoretical physicist with interests in soft matter and statistical physics, as its dean.

Amit Chakrabarti's appointment as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences by the Kansas State University was announced on April 14 after a national search, a statement by the university said.

Since February 2016, Chakrabarti, 57, has served as the interim dean of the university's largest college with 24 departments, and a broad array of majors, secondary majors and minors spanning many disciplines.

He succeeds Peter Dorhout, who is now vice president for research at the university. Prior to the interim position, Chakrabarti was the head of the department of physics and the William and Joan Porter chair in physics.

Read more: Indian origin US Surgeon General asked to step down by Trump admin

"I am excited to welcome Dr Chakrabarti as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences", said April Mason, provost and senior vice president. "He has shown remarkable leadership and valuable collaborative skills during his tenure at Kansas State University."

As dean, Chakrabarti will be the college's chief academic and administrative officer.

"With the college's talented faculty and amazing students, we can make more opportunities available to K-Staters in research and education in the arts and sciences", Chakrabarti said.

"I am honoured to serve in this role to continue the college's success in research, scholarship and diversity."

Chakrabarti became head of the physics department in 2011, where he led a 30-faculty member team. He was the recipient of the Presidential Award for Outstanding Department Head in 2016.

Read more: 'March for Science': Anti-Trump rally spreads to 600 cities worldwide

He has worked on diverse soft-matter systems, including liquid mixtures, polymers, liquid crystals, aerosols, colloids, nano-particles and most recently, self-assembly of proteins. His individual and collaborative research projects have received extra mural funding from agencies such as NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Chakrabarti has a doctorate in physics from the University of Minnesota, and master's and bachelor's degrees in physics from the University of Calcutta, India. He joined K-State in 1990 and was named a full professor in 2000.

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Washington:

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has expressed his concern and astrongly raiseda the H-1B visa issue with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, highlighting the important role played by highly skilled Indian professionals in America, officials said.

During the meetingathe first cabinet-level interaction between the two countries under the Trump administrationaRoss is believed to have said that US has started the process of reviewing H1B visas issues and no decision has been taken on it yet, sources said.

Taking up the case of Indian IT companies and professionals, Jaitley told Ross about the contribution of highly skilled Indians in the economic development of the United States and India and stressed that they should continue to do so, which is in the best interest of the two countries, an Indian official said.

Ross is understood to have said that whatever the outcome of the review process, the Trump administrationas objective is to have a merit-based immigration policy that gives preference to highly skilled professionals.

The executive order signed by Trump early this week calls for a review of H-1B visas by the departments of State, Labour, Homeland Security and Justice.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley holds a bilateral meeting with the US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in Washington DC pic.twitter.com/UKynqQw3Qs a ANI (@ANI_news) April 21, 2017

Jaitley, leading an Indian delegation, arrived in Washington DC yesterday morning to attend the annual Spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Over the next two days, the Finance Minister is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the US, Australia, France, Indonesia and Sweden. He is also likely to meet finance ministers from neighbouring Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Stressing that India-US relationship has bipartisan support in both the countries, the Finance Minister in his meeting with the commerce secretary said the two largest democratic countries of the world over the years have developed z strong strategic, economic and defence relationship.

The three phone conversations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump have had, along with the officials meeting, has shown that the two governments are going to build on this momentum in the years to come, the official said.

Briefing Ross on Indiaas growth story, Jaitley is believed to have given an him insight into a series of afar reaching reformsa being undertaken by the Modi government post-demonetisation including the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Jaitley said the two countries should be able to move towards achieving the goal of USD 500 billion per annum in bilateral trade in the next few years.

In addition to his meetings and presentations at the annual Spring meeting of the IMF and the World Bank, the Union minister is also scheduled to attend meetings of other multilateral forums including that of the G-20 finance ministers.

Before leaving Washington DC for New York on Sunday, he is expected to interact with think-tanks and eminent Indian-Americans.

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London:

Non Resident Indians (NRIs) Virendra Sharma, Labour MP from Easling and Surinder Arora, founder chairman of the Arora Hotels have won the Pride of Punjab Award 2017 for their contribution to Punjabi communities in the UK.

Britains Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid MP, presented the awards to them at the annual dinner of the Punjabi society of the British Isles on Thursday night.

The citation for Sharma lauded his outstanding services to the communities as MP for Ealing Southall for the last one decade and prior to that as local Councillor in the London Borough of Ealing from 1982-2010.

Born?in India in 1947 and educated at the London School of Economics on a trade union scholarship, Sharma started his career as a bus conductor, before working as a day services manager for people with learning disabilities in Hillingdon. He was Race Equalities Officer to the Labour Party nationally.

I am proud to receive the Pride of Punjab Award and will carry on serving not only the Punjabi community but the entire British community globally, Sharma said.

The citation for Arora spoke about his outstanding contribution to the society and his philanthropic work.

Read Also: Indian-American appointed as dean at a top college in Kansas

Surinder Arora came to Britain in 1972 and began his career working as a waiter in a hotel he subsequently bought. Today he is chair of the Arora Group which he founded in 1979.

The Arora group is one of the largest independent hotel chains in the country with 15 properties and 6,000 rooms.

Arora, born in Sultanpur near Jalandhar in Punjab in 1958, leads the group which counts some of the countrys iconic?hotels in its stable.

I owe this award to my late Mum, Arora said.

Indias Deputy High Commissioner to the UK Dr Dinesh Patnaik, who was the Guest of Honour, said, We have decided to celebrate Baisakhi on April 30 in all 13 Gurdwaras in the UK.

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Washington:

With a "BIG" rally in Pennsylvania, President Donald Trump says he'll mark his 100th day in office.

Trump hits 100 days on April 29 next Saturday.

He tweeted about the rally on Sunday, saying that next week "I will be holding a BIG rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it!" April 29 is also the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington.

Next Saturday night I will be holding a BIG rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2017

Most presidents attend the event. Trump previously announced that he is boycotting this year's dinner to protest what he says is unfavorable coverage by the news media. His staff is also boycotting in a show of "solidarity" with the president.

Trump's campaign later announced that the rally will beheld at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg.

Read more: Russia tries to influence Trumps presidential campaign: Report

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The charges against a Madison City Council member who was arrested in North Dakota last fall during protests over a controversial oil pipeline have been dropped.

Rebecca Kemble was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing, destruction of evidence, resisting arrest and engaging in riot after she was arrested in southern Morton County on Oct. 10. But those charges, along with 32 other misdemeanor cases relating to protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline, were dismissed in March, the Bismarck Tribune reported Friday.

Kemble said she was acting as a legal observer at a peaceful prayer ceremony when police showed up. Her attorney argues in a court brief Kemble was arrested while she tried to leave and turned off her camera, and was not deleting evidence, the Bismarck Tribune reported.

Many of the protest cases were thrown out after they did not meet the burden of proof to show that proper notice was given that the land was private or due to lack of evidence, according to the Bismarck Tribune.

The council member had traveled to Morton County to present the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe with a parchment copy of a recently passed City Council resolution that expressed solidarity with the protesters.
Washington:

Top Indian IT firms TCS and Infosys have been accused by the US of unfairly gaining the lions share of H-1B visas by putting extra tickets in the lottery system, which the Trump administration wants to replace with a more merit-based immigration policy. At a White House briefing last week, an official in the Trump administration said a small number of giant outsourcing firms flood the system with applications which naturally ups their chances of success in the lottery draw.

You may know their names well, but like the top recipients of the H-1B visa are companies like Tata, Infosys, Cognizantthey will apply for a very large number of visas, more than they get, by putting extra tickets in the lottery raffle, if you will, and then theyll get the lions share of visas, the senior official said, according to transcript of the briefing posted on White House website.

Responding to a follow up on why Indian companies were singled out for a mention, the White House response said Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys and Cognizant were the top three recipients of H-1B visas.

And those three companies are companies that have an average wage for H-1B visas between USD 60,000 and USD 65,000 (a year). By contrast, the median Silicon Valley software engineers wage is probably around USD 150,000, the official said. He said contracting firms that are not skills employers, who oftentimes use workers for entry-level positions, capture the lions share of H-1B visas.

And thats all public record. All the three Indian firms refused to comment on the US administration comment.The official said H-1B visas presently were awarded through random lottery with about 80 per cent of H-1B workers being paid less than the median wage in their fields.

ALSO READ: Foreign Secy Jaishankar to discuss H1B visa, safety of Indian nationals on a four-day visit to US

Only about 5 to 6 per cent, depending on the year, of H-1B workers command the highest wage tier recognised by the Department of Labour, there being four wage tiers. And the highest wage tier, for instance, in 2015, was only 5 per cent of H1B workers, he said.

He said workers are often brought in well below market rates to replace American workers, again, sort of violating the principle of the programme, which is supposed to be a means for bringing in skilled labour.

Instead youre bringing in a lot of times workers who are actually less skilled and lower paid than the workers that theyre replacing, he said.

So if the current system that awards visas randomly without regard for skill or wage is changed to a skills-based awarding, it would make it extremely difficult to use the visa to replace or undercut American workers, he said.

Because youre not bringing in workers at beneath the market wage. And so its a very elegant way of solving very systemic problems in the H-1B guest worker visa, he said.

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The Wisconsin education department is about to release a far-reaching school performance plan under increasing scrutiny from the Republican-controlled Legislature and threat of a lawsuit over how the plan is being created.

The first draft of the plan, which is required under federal law and affects every public school student in the state, is to be released Friday. It was written by the Department of Public Instruction following months of gathering comments from the public, policy makers and education leaders.

The education department isnt releasing details of whats in the plan until the draft is made public.

Every state must complete a plan by Sept. 18 to be in compliance with the Every Student Succeeds Act  the 2015 law going into effect this fall that replaces No Child Left Behind. The plan will set Wisconsin K-12 education policy for years and cover such things as how to measure the performance of schools, students and teachers and what to do about those not meeting the standards.

Because the stakes are so high, the education department is under intense scrutiny, especially from conservative supporters of school choice programs and those who have previously challenged the authority of Wisconsins elected state superintendent.

Tony Evers, who as state superintendent oversees the education department that wrote the plan, is highly critical of choice schools. Evers has been backed by Democrats and public school teachers unions and was just easily re-elected to a third term in the officially nonpartisan position.

Evers and leaders from his department have been keeping Republicans in the Legislature updated on the plans progress. Two Republican lawmakers, along with a couple Democrats, a representative of Gov. Scott Walkers office and education leaders from around the state, are also part of an advisory group thats been offering suggestions. But the final say on whats in, or out, of the plan rests with Evers and the education department. And that makes some Republicans nervous.

The cake is baked, Republican Rep. John Jagler, a member of the Assembly Education Committee, said during a Thursday hearing on the issue. They can ask our opinion, they can give us as many updates on the process as they want.

Evers defended the approach.

From the start, we have developed and followed a plan for implementing ESSA that puts kids first and advances equity for all schools  regardless of how they are organized, he said in a statement. We have engaged a robust group of stakeholders and their diverse viewpoints have allowed us to craft a better plan. We have followed state and federal law every step of the way.

The department intends to post the first draft of the state plan online on April 28, take public comment for two months and present the plan at public hearings before the Legislatures education committees, said Jennifer Kammerud, a Department of Public Instruction policy adviser.

The department has also provided weekly updates to the governors office and previously briefed both of the Legislatures education committees, said DPI spokesman Tom McCarthy.

But Republican Rep. Ron Tusler said the Legislature hasnt been involved enough.

I think its absurd that we dont have a role, Tusler said at the Thursday hearing on his proposal requiring the department to respond to concerns of lawmakers. We dont have a role and I think we should.
/ Contributed photo

BROOKFIELD - Retired Marine Lt. Col. Michael Zacchea will discuss his latest book at the Brookfield Museum and Historical Society on May 1.

Zacchea, a Brookfield resident, recently published The Ragged Edge: A U.S. Marines Account of Leading the Iraqi Army Fifth Battalion. Zacchea will lead a multimedia presentation on the book and provide insights into the current conditions and challenges facing the U.S. Military in the war against ISIS and other terrorist organizations in the Middle East.
To mark Earth Day (April 22), Desjardins was named one of Canada's Greenest Employers for the third year in a row.

LEVIS, QC, April 21, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - More than $1 billion has been invested to support renewable energy, thanks to financing from Desjardins Group's Capital Markets Division and equity investments from the Desjardins Group Pension Plan* (DGPP), with the contribution of two Desjardins insurance subsidiaries. Of this amount, nearly $550 million was invested in 31 wind farms, some $300 million in 14 solar energy projects and $155 million in 9 hydroelectric projects and a biomass power plant.

Together, these facilities can generate nearly 2,700 MW of energy. That's enough power to run 852,000 electric furnaces! This is the equivalent of the third largest Hydro-Quebec generating station in the Nord-du-Quebec region, after the Robert-Bourassa generating station (5,616 MW) and the La Grande-4 generating station (2,779 MW). It produces enough power to sustain all of the households in Montreal, 3.7 times the power needed for Quebec City and 1.5 times the amount needed for Ottawa-Gatineau.

"With a portfolio of $750 million in renewable and clean energy investments, the Desjardins Group Pension Plan was a pioneer in the wind, solar and hydroelectricity sectors," said Sylvain Gareau, Vice-President, Desjardins Group Pension Plan. "The assets make up half of our infrastructure portfolio. On Earth Day, we would like to recognize the Canadian investors who are building the economy of the 21st century."

According to Jean-Yves Bourgeois, Vice-President, Capital Markets at Desjardins, wind and solar energy are the fastest growing sources of energy across the globe, "Canada is rich in renewable energy sources and we can see this in our infrastructure financing portfolio. These energy sectors create high-value-added jobs and are drivers of growth for Desjardins. We're proud to finance this growing strategic sector and to contribute to the development of clean and renewable sources of energy for Canadians."

For examples of DGPP and the Capital Markets Division initiatives in terms clean technologies, and wind, solar and hydroelectric power, see the appendix at the end of the press release.

Capital regional et cooperatif Desjardins: More than $4.7 M invested in clean technologies in Quebec

Capital regional et cooperatif Desjardins (CRCD) and its partner funds have invested in 4 Quebec companies specializing in clean technologies. Laboratoire M2 and E2Metrix Inc. are 2 Sherbrooke-based companies that operate in the areas of biodegradable disinfectant products and industrial wastewater treatment by electrocoagulation, respectively. The Laval-based company, Airex Energy develops and distributes equipment to produce biocoal from biomass. Recupere Sol, which is based in Saint-Ambroise in Saguenay, treats soils contaminated with PCBs, hydrocarbon, etc. That way, the soil contamination problem is dealt with right away and the soil can be reused instead of being buried.

Our members also support clean technologies and environment projects

On June 14, Desjardins introduced 2 new sustainable development funds. The Desjardins SocieTerra Cleantech Fund is the first mutual fund in Canada to offer individual investors the ability to finance innovative technologies and solutions in the areas of energy efficiency and the environment. Impax, the fund manager, invests in companies from around the world whose income is drawn primarily from clean technology activities, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, water treatment, pollution control, waste management, environmental services and sustainable agriculture. As at March 31, 2017, Desjardins members had already invested $53 million in this cleantech fund.

The Desjardins SocieTerra Environmental Bond Fund is the first fund in Canada to invest in environmental bonds issued by governments and corporations from around the world. Investing in this type of debt security is a way to finance sustainable development initiatives or projects that offset climate change. And on top of making environmental criteria a part of security selection, Mirova, a fund manager that specializes in responsible investing, also looks at the social practices and governance of the companies it invests in to ensure the portfolio's risk is managed effectively. As at March 31, 2017, Desjardins members had already invested $119 million in this new fund, which mainly invests in Quebec and Ontario green bonds to support projects like public transportation.

Desjardins named one Canada's Greenest Employers in 2017

On Earth Day (April 22), Mediacorp Canada released the list of the top 70 greenest employers in Canada. Desjardins, the largest private employer in Quebec, made it to the list for the third year in a row. See the section about Desjardins in the Mediacorp Canada press release.

APPENDIX

The Desjardins Group Pension Plan and the Desjardins Capital Markets Division invest more than $1 billion in renewable energy and clean technology assets

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the sixth largest cooperative financial group in the world, with assets close to $260 billion. It has been rated one of the Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. Counted among the world's strongest banks according to The Banker magazine, Desjardins has one of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry.

About the Desjardins Group Pension Plan

Desjardins Group Pension Plan, acting through its Retirement Committee, provides a defined benefit pension plan to more than 60,000 beneficiaries. With over $11 billion in net assets under management, Desjardins ranks seventh among private pension plans in Canada.

SOURCE Desjardins Group

For further information: (media inquiries only): Richard Lacasse, Public Relations, 418-835-8444 or 1-866-835-8444, ext. 5563163, [email protected]

Related Links

https://www.desjardins.com/


KELOWNA, BC, April 22, 2017 /CNW/ - Marapharm Ventures Inc. ("Marapharm") (MDM),(MRPHF), (2M0.F) is pleased to announce that Marapharm has been invited by the CSE to attend the Planet Microcap Showcase 2017, in Las Vegas on April 26-28. Linda Sampson and Yari Nieken, directors, will represent Marapharm. As an emerging company Marapharm will participate in one-on-one meetings, networking and will do a presentation to financial professionals, industry leaders, investors and executives. "We are honored to have been invited to participate in this event, it will give us the opportunity to share the Marapharm story alongside other keynote speakers in this sector," Linda Sampson CEO.

Nevada update

All ground preparation and construction grading is complete at the site. We have altered the plans to accommodate our advanced vertical growing technology and as a result we have experienced some permitting delays. All permits are now ready to go, and construction will be expedited.

In the interim the Company has brought two modular buildings onsite which will be modified to meet Nevada State requirements for cultivation and processing. Upon Nevada State approval, the Company will be positioned to apply for recreational licensing, within the time frame of the new schedule as brought forward by the State of Nevada (July 2017). "We would like to thank the mayor of North Las Vegas, John Lee, and Nevada state officials for their assistance in helping us move our project forward. We invite shareholders to visit the construction site when in Las Vegas." Linda Sampson CEO.

ABOUT MARAPHARM VENTURES INC.

http://www.marapharm.com

Construction photos and videos can be accessed through the Marapharm website. Marapharms common shares are publicly traded in Canada, under the ticker symbol "MDM" on the Canadian Securities Exchange, and in the United States, under the ticker symbol "MRPHF" on the OTCQB, and in Europe, under the ticker symbol "2M0" on the FSE.

Marapharm has 300,000 square feet of medical marijuana licenses for its land and facilities in WA and NV. About two and a half years ago, Marapharm applied in Canada to Health Canada for a MMPR (production and sales) license and has passed the necessary security clearances. The application is currently in the in-depth screening process. In September 2016, Health Canada contacted Marapharm with a provision to amend its application to allow for the new regulations, ACMPR.

Additional information on the operations or financial results of Marapharm are included in reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the CSE website (http://www.thecse.com), the OTC website (http://www.otcmarkets.com), and the SEDAR website (http://www.sedar.com) under the profile for Marapharm Ventures Inc.

STOCK EXCHANGES:

Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQB has approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQB accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD - LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", 'may", "will", "project", "should", 'believe", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumption but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and the forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon.

SOURCE Marapharm Ventures Inc.

For further information: http://www.marapharm.com or Linda Sampson, CEO, 778-583-4476 email [email protected]
The Lifetime movie about Joyce Mitchell and the Dannemora prison escape will premiere Sunday at 8:00 p.m. on Lifetime. A special extended version of the movie will air at 8:00 p.m. on Monday and again at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

Clinton Correctional Facility

A documentary about the June 2015 escape from Clinton Correctional Facility will air at 10 p.m. Monday and 2:10 a.m. Tuesday, after showings of "'New York Prison Break: The Seduction of Joyce Mitchell."

"Biography Presents: Joyce Mitchell and the New York Prison Break" was produced by Cineflix Media of Montreal, Quebec.

Cineflix executive producer Jacqueline Bynon said her film crew visited the Dannemora area in February for the one-hour documentary -- about two weeks before Joyce Mitchell, who was convicted of helping David Sweat and Richard Matt escape, had her first parole hearing.

"It's been two years since it happened," Ms. Bynon said in a phone interview Wednesday. "The community had a chance to sort of reflect."Ms. Bynon said her film crew found a "tight-knit" prison community.

"When you go into that world, it was new for us," Ms. Bynon said. "We tried really hard to find out what people were actually thinking, two years in reflection. You go in as strangers. The people were leery, but really wanting to open up to us.

"The documentary uses audio clips from Ms. Mitchell and Sweat from their interviews with the State of New York Office of the Inspector General.

"He was quite candid about it," Ms. Bynon said of Sweat, who was captured June 28, 2015, two days after Matt was killed by police. "He was the brains behind it (the escape) and did all the work to get out. It's an amazing story of what he achieved.

"The documentary crew interviewed former Clinton Correctional Facility superintendent Steven Racette, who was in charge of the prison at the time of the escape."It was difficult for him," Ms. Bynon said. "I praise the guy. He had the courage to come forward.

"She said letters sent to Ms. Mitchell in prison were not returned to producers. Her husband, Lyle Mitchell, declined interview requests for the documentary.

Ms. Bynon said the documentary material was difficult to fit in one hour.

"It's a complicated story," she said. "We tried the best we could to tell the Joyce Mitchell story, and then we had to tell of the prison break. They're separate stories, but they're intricately involved.

"Ms. Bynon said that as documentary filmmakers, they naturally strived to be objective.

"We tried as best we could to tell the story and let viewers decide," she said. "Was (Ms. Mitchell) manipulated or did she know what she was doing? I'm going to let viewers decide, but I know that people in the area, they have their own view of it: She could have stopped it, but she chose not to."

--By Chris Brock, Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
Right-wing politician Marine Le Pen claimed victory alongside centrist Emmanuel Macron for the French presidential runoff, with the future of the European Union at stake.

Centrist Emmanuel Macron placed first and far-right leader Marine Le Pen placed second in initial exit polls in the first round of Frances presidential election, advancing them to a head-to-head showdown in the runoff on May 7.

Macron, who was economy minister until August, has never held elected office and has struggled to create as energetic or committed a base as Le Pens, even as he has led in many opinion polls.

Macron says he would have the EU do more to help weaker EU countries.

Le Pen would pull France from the EU.
Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke calls his Republican package of four bills to fight homelessness across the state a meaningful first step.

Hes right. The public should appreciate and support this effort.

Yet further steps must include more investment and follow through. Well be watching closely and urging a sustained commitment.

Steineke, R-Kaukauna, and other lawmakers recently unveiled legislation to restructure state efforts to reduce and end homelessness, adjust some current programs and test new ideas for success.

As the State Journal editorial board called for last fall  following the newspapers special report on the homeless challenge in Madison and across the state  Steineke and his colleagues are proposing a single entity to oversee joint state efforts to combat the festering problem.

This is most welcome.

Legislation would create an Interagency Council on Homelessness to be chaired by the governors designee. Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who has shown a serious interest in taking on the issue, would initially fill that post.

Shes an appropriate choice. The secretaries of eight state agencies and other officials also would serve

The State Journals four-part series last year, Homeless in Madison | A City Challenged, drew on nine months of reporting. It showed, among many good ideas for better addressing the harsh realities of homelessness, that more coordination of efforts at the state and local levels were needed to avoid duplication and broaden and sustain the impact of programming.

Three other state bills being proposed are similar to language in Gov. Scott Walkers state budget. One would prioritize chronically homeless people on a waiting list for federal housing vouchers. Another bill would emphasize transitional housing. A final proposal would strive to connect homeless people to jobs and workforce training.

Critics say the proposals arent nearly enough to get the job done, and fail to commit serious dollars to the cause.

Theyre right, too. The State Journals deep dive into homelessness last year showed Wisconsin is spending far less to help desperate people find and keep housing than many other states.

Yet the Republican approach of ensuring coordination of state efforts and effectiveness of programming before dropping lots of money on the effort is understandable. Tying new money to performance standards shows respect for taxpayers, too.

Homeless advocates from across the state last week voiced general support for the Republican package of bills, which drew some backing from Democrats.

Wed like to see more attention to helping homeless students and their families. Its hard to learn and grow when your life is so unstable and vulnerable.

But improving and approving these bills is still the best path to progress.
Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika

Nigerian aviation industry players have condemned President Muhammadu Buharis reconfirmation of Saleh Dunoma as Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Muhtar Usman as Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), attributing the duos confirmations to fraud and deception.Mr. Dunomas four-year tenure was slated to expire in February 2018, but with his new confirmation, allegedly stage-managed by Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika, his four-year term has just begun. It would be recalled that Mr. Dunoma was appointed to his post on February 4, 2014.Mr. Usman, who is tenured for five years according to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation (NCAR) Act of 2006, was nominated in 2014 and confirmed by the Senate about four months later. Like Mr. Dunoma, he was again confirmed by Mr. Buhari last week.Stakeholders in the sector insisted that the appointments of the duo did not require additional confirmation by the president, as they were never in acting capacities, and accused Mr. Sirika of arm-twisting Mr. Buhari for the approval.A management staffs source in FAAN alleged that Mr. Dunoma and Mr. Usman are foot soldiers for the aviation minister, claiming that the three have worked on several secret projects together.The source wondered why Mr. Dunoma, who was confirmed as Managing Director of the FAAN even before he assumed office by former President Goodluck Jonathan, was reconfirmed as the helmsman of the same agency when he is yet to run out his tenure.The source alleged that Mr. Buhari was deceived by Mr. Sirika to believe that the two helmsmen were in acting capacities, which was not true.When the federal government sacked all chief executive officers of aviation agencies this January, only Mr. Dunoma and Mr. Usman were retained by the government.The CEOs sacked in January were the acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Emma Anasi, Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Anthony Anuforom, Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Samuel Caulcrick, and Commissioner of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Felix Abali.Mr. Dunoma joined the FAAN in 1980, serving as Director of Projects under former aviation minister Stella Oduah during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.His department was responsible for most of the contracts awarded in the sector under Mrs. Oduah.Within the same period, Mr. Sirika, as a member of the Senate Committee on Aviation, was awarded the contract for upgrading the Katsina Airport by Mrs. Oduah, which still has some unanswered questions surrounding it. He worked closely with Mr. Dunoma during this period.An aviation source told our correspondent, The reconfirmation of Dunoma is a reward for him by the minister [Sirika]. Sirika has taken grip of FAAN and NCAA and hes the one dictating events in the two agencies.It is unheard of that an appointment, which is ongoing and has been confirmed by a government, is now being reconfirmed by another government when the tenure has not expired. Since he came on-board in 2014, he was never in acting capacity and his tenure is set to expire in February 2018.But with this deceptive confirmation now, it simply means his four-year term has just begun in FAAN while that of Usman is having his five-year term afresh. Buhari has been deceived, but I expect aviation stakeholders and professionals to speak up on this issue, rather than murmuring, he said.On his part, Mr. Usman, who has always been a civil servant, was moved from the AIB as its Commissioner to the NCAA as Director-General.He reached the mandatory age of 60 years for all civil servants last December, but still keeps his position, claiming that hes on appointment.It would be recalled that Mr. Buhari had last Thursday re-confirmed Mr. Dunoma, Mr. Usman and the Managing Director of NAMA, Fola Akinkuotu, in a statement.
President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the war against Boko Haram insurgency in the North East is not over until the remaining Chibok girls are found and returned to their parents.Buhari said this while inducting two newly purchased Russian Mi-35M attack helicopters, at the Nigerian Air Force 53rd Anniversary celebration in Makurdi, Benue State on Saturday.The President who was represented by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, explained that the attack helicopters would help in combating security challenges in the countrys troubled zones.I have always said that we cannot consider the war against insurgency to be won until the remaining Chibok girls are found and delivered to their parents.We must realise that the NAF has played some crucial roles in the counter-insurgency efforts in the northeast. I urge the airmen and officers to consolidate on their efforts and protect our national security.And the government is fully committed to fulfilling this objective as soon as possible. Accordingly, the two new Russian fighter helicopters, which are being inducted into the NAF inventory today (Saturday), is to enhance the search for these girls, and the other abductees of the insurgents.Since its establishment in 1964, the air force has lived up to the deployment of air power to defend the territorial sovereignty of the country, and we have been able to rescue most of the towns and villages, hitherto violated by the Boko Haram insurgents, he said.
The burial of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, which was earlier scheduled for 4:pm on Sunday, has been postponed.

Adeleke, a former civilian governor of Osun, died in the earlier hours of Sunday at Biket Hospital in Osogbo.Adelekes corpse, which was brought to his residence in Ede at 1:10 pm in preparation for the Islamic burial rites, was returned back to Ladoke Akintola Hospital in Osogbo for autopsy.The News Agency of Nigeria learnt that the younger brother of the late politician, Deji, ordered for autopsy to be carried out to ascertain the cause of death.Deji was also said to have directed that the burial ceremony be postponed till Monday.Friends and sympathisers, who were waiting for the burial ceremony, were told around 5:30 pm that the event had been postponed.A family source said the burial had been fixed for 10: am on Monday, pending the outcome of the autopsy.Giving a picture of the developments leading to the demise of the late flamboyant politician, one of the domestic staff said that Adeleke had attended a meeting till around 2: am on Sunday before he went to bed.The staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Adeleke also attended burial and wedding ceremonies in Guta and Iwo on Saturday.The source further explained that early in the morning on Sunday, Adeleke complained of leg pain and his private doctor was called in to attend to him.According to the staff, the doctor gave him an injection and he left, only to be called back after the senator complained of stomach ache. He was later rushed to Biket Hospital where he was finally confirmed dead, the source said.The news of the death had resulted in protests by youths in Ede, with many of them barricading the busy Osogbo-Ibadan road and setting bonfires which disrupted the free flow of traffic.NAN.
A member of the House of Representatives from Ondo State, Mike Omogbehin, has flayed the Federal Governments anti-corruption war, point...

A member of the House of Representatives from Ondo State, Mike Omogbehin, has flayed the Federal Governments anti-corruption war, pointing out that the war has been lost.Omogbehin, who represents Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, said Buhari allegedly used the anti-graft commissions, especially, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to persecute his perceived political enemies, rather than to tackle corruption.The lawmaker stated this after the presentation of bursary awards to students of the state.He also distributed empowerment items worth millions of naira to his constituency.On the recent N13bn recovered from an Ikoyi apartment in Lagos, Omogbehin knocked the EFCC for discovering the money without identifying the owner.Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State has appealed to the Visitor of the institution, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, to probe the management of the school.The union also urged the governor to set up a visitation panel to look into alleged corrupt practices going on in the state-owned university.In a statement issued on Saturday by the institutions ASUU Chairman, Dr. Sola Fayose, some of the issues the union wanted the governor to address were the use of ad hoc committee to replace Academic Programme Committee, tampering with the NUC-approved Academic Programme without recourse to the NUC BMAS, which is the template for any sound and valid academic programme in the Nigerian university.However, when contacted on the telephone, the Assistant Principal Registrar on Information, Sola Imoru, said the matter was an internal issue.
A former boss of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) may have some questions to answer from the Presidential...

A former boss of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) may have some questions to answer from the Presidential Investigative Panel on the $289 million allegedly withdrawn from the companys accounts ostensibly for national security.NAPIMS is a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).The investigative panel, headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, is currently probing the $43.4million haul made recently from the Orborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, and the N200m curious contract awarded by the Presidential Initiative on the North-East.The erstwhile NAPIMS boss, said to be a kinsman of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was in charge of the company when the huge withdrawal was made during the last political dispensation.The Ikoyi cash is believed to be part of the leftover of the NAPIMS funds.But he wont be the only to face the panel.The committee said yesterday that it will invite all relevant officials and private individuals who may be connected to both cases.For now, it is unlikely that Dr. Jonathan will be summoned by the committee, contrary to widespread speculations.Media reports had suggested that Jonathan gave the go ahead for the release of the $289 million to the NIA and other security agencies from the account of NAPIMS.It was also gathered yesterday that there will be no soft handling of anyone implicated in the $43.4million haul and the N200m contract award.Two top government officials  Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke  were sent home last Wednesday over their suspected involvement in the matters.President Muhammadu Buhari is understood to have told the investigative panel not to spare the rod or give soft landing to anyone found wanting.Buhari demanded a thorough job no matter whose ox is gored, sources told The Nation.The panel announced yesterday that its assignment will take place behind closed doors to avoid speculations and distractions.Sources told The Nation that Buharis instruction to the Osinbajo Committee is straight forward.The President directed that there should be no cover up for anybody no matter how highly placed. He said there will be no soft landing for the suspended officials or any official or anyone closer to him who is involved, a highly placed source said.And Buhari demonstrated this on Wednesday when the affected officials were suspended. Before the announcement was made, SGF Babachir Lawal earlier wanted to see him but he sent a message to him to go and see the Vice President.As a matter of fact, he had expected that one of the two suspended officials would have resigned given overwhelming public opprobrium on the allegations against him but he refused. The President then decided that he cannot be bearing the burden of anyone.So, this committee is not the Kangaroo type or a soft landing panel to save anybody.The committee yesterday shed light on its mode of operation.It said its sessions will be closed to the public to avoid speculations and distractions.The committee made the clarifications through a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President (Office of the Vice President), Mr. Laolu Akande.It said: The Presidential Committee ordered earlier this week by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe certain allegations against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Mr. Ayo Oke has commenced its work in earnest.President Buhari on Wednesday established the three-man panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, with Attorney-General & Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami and National Security Adviser, Rtd Major General Babagana Monguno as members, to investigate allegations of legal and due process violations made against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) in a residential apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.In the discharge of its work, the panel is expected to invite all relevant officials and private individuals who may be connected to both cases.It will also obtain and scrutinize documents that may throw some light on the issues raised in both cases. All its proceedings will however be in closed sessions to avoid speculations, allow for full disclosure and enhance the pace of proceedings.The panel which is expected to submit its report to the President at the expiration of the 14-day deadline, will conduct its work with utmost diligence and without fear or favour.Investigation confirmed last night that ex-President Jonathan might not be summoned by the Osinbajo Panel.On the alleged huge withdrawal of funds from the account of NAPIMS termed Special Intervention Funds for the NIA,the source said: Since Jonathans kinsman was in charge of NAPIMS, it was convenient for the former administration to withdraw some funds from the account of the agency.Apart from NIA, some security agencies and offices benefitted from the Special Intervention Funds.The Presidential Investigative Committee may interact with a former Group General Manager and some select officials of NAPIMS who disbursed the Special Intervention Funds.A separate source said:There are so many documents, EFCC investigative report, Senate Committee report and public officers involved in some of the projects or activities and funds being probed.The committee is unlikely to summon ex-President Jonathan. He is actually not on our radar. Let each public official carry his or her own cross.The three-man committee is expected to:enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds,how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA,and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.
Senator Dino Melaye, on Saturday, accused the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, of plotting to assassinate him for fighting for the sta...

Senator Dino Melaye, on Saturday, accused the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, of plotting to assassinate him for fighting for the states workers and pensioners.However, Bello, in a swift reaction, said he did not believe that Melaye would make such a sweeping statement on security matters.The governor, speaking through his Director -General, Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said he did not believe that was the position of the senator, adding that Melayes supporters, who he described as largely ignorant about security matters, might be the ones behind the allegations.Dino, while addressing women of Kogi West Senatorial District, who embarked on a peaceful protest at Aiyetoro-Gbede, noted that workers and pensioners in the state were suffering and dying, following the non-payment of 15-month salaries and pensions by the governor.The senator said, Yahaya Bello collected N20bn from the Federal Government as bailout fund. Still, he refused to settle workers. He also collected N11bn from the Paris Club fund. Still, he refused to pay workers and pensioners.Children can no longer go to school. Tenants can no longer pay their house rent. Enough is enough, the people of Kogi State are tired of this government.The advent of Yahaya Bello as governor and Taofiq Isa as local government administrator in the political history of Kogi State has brought this unfortunate socio-political paradigm shift.But Bello said, Senator Melaye understands the implications of making such weighty allegations and would not try it.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Oyo state command, said it arrested 51 suspected drug traffickers and addicts from January to date.A statement by the state commands Public Relations Officer, Mrs Mutiat Okuwobi, on Sunday in Ibadan, disclosed that 1,933.28 kg of drugs were also seized during the period.The PRO added that the agency also got the conviction of 17 drug traffickers with jail terms ranging from six months to five years in the period under review.She said interventions were also given to some drug dependants persons through counselling after which they were reintegrated into the society.The PRO said some drug users were still undergoing rehabilitation.She said that the command would continue to do its best to frustrate the activities of drug peddlers in the state.
A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has accused the suspended Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, A...

A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has accused the suspended Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ayo Oke, of covering up for the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.Fani-Kayode said this in a statement on Saturday.Amaechi had, however, denied owning the money, threatening to sue Fani-Kayode for defamation.Oke was on Wednesday suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari after coming forward to lay claim to about N13bn that was seized from an Ikoyi apartment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, had said the seized money was part of the proceeds from the sale of a gas turbine by the Rotimi Amaechi government but the money was allegedly stolen by Amaechi when he was governor between 2007 and 2015.Fani-Kayode supported Wikes claim, insisting that the NIA boss was only being clever.The ex-minister said, He took the fall for Amaechi and when he told me he was going to do it, I warned him they would use him to cover the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, and then mess him up.He knows the drill, that once he commits himself, thats all. We are in court soon. Wait and see what will happen. It is so easy for Nigerians to be fooled by their government. I have always known that. But for serious minded and well educated people to he fooled by this sort of cheap propaganda amazes me.Ask yourself why a panel from the Villa is investigating this matter and not the EFCC or the DSS. Ask yourself why the EFCC has not told you who owns the money. Ask yourself how much sense it makes for a security chief to keep $43m in a flat with no security for two years.Ask yourself all these questions. When you have the answers, come back. When we get to court, people like you will know why the Rivers State Government, Ekiti State Government, myself and others have said the money is Ameachis. It is just a matter of time. Till then, I will say no more on this.Fani-Kayode said if it had been anyone else that owned the money, every single person that has a flat in that building would have been in detention by now.Ask yourself why this is not the case. Now they are putting a spin on their cover up and bringing former President Goodluck Jonathan into it. It is shameful but I guess that is what Nigerians deserve. They are so gullible, he said.
A United States Federal court has convicted a Nigerian, Wiseman Oputa, who set up a number of bank accounts with bogus passports over a ...

A United States Federal court has convicted a Nigerian, Wiseman Oputa, who set up a number of bank accounts with bogus passports over a year, in which he managed to steal at least $500,000 through wire fraud and Internet scams.The court convicted Oputa of one count of wire fraud, the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of Texas announced.Wiseman Oputa, 25, pleaded guilty to opening bank accounts in the area surrounding Houston, using counterfeit passports.Once the accounts were created, Oputa and his associates conducted a number of Internet scams from romance schemes to hacking into company email accounts to make their phishing efforts appear more real.The victims sent at least a total of $500,000 to these bank accounts via checks and wire transfers, which Oputa and his associates controlled.He would then use the bogus passports to withdraw the money from the accounts.Oputa is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a potential maximum fine of $250,000.The statement by the US Attorneys Office, Southern District of Texas read in part, A 25-year-old Nigerian man who was residing in Houston has pleaded guilty to perpetuating a wire fraud scheme involving various Internet scams, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez.Wiseman Oputa pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, until Jan. 25, 2017, Oputa used counterfeit passports to open bank accounts in the greater Houston area. The passports contained photographs of Oputa but had different names and identification information. He then worked with others to lure victims into sending money into these bank accounts.These funds were obtained through a variety of internet scams, including business email compromise, romance schemes and unauthorised intrusions into company email accounts. Checks or wire transfers were then sent from the companys accounts payable to accounts Oputa or others controlled. Oputa would then use the counterfeit passports to retrieve the fraudulently obtained funds.U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the guilty plea and has set sentencing for July 6, 2017. At that time, Oputa faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.NAN.
Nigerian-born founder of Jesus Dominion International headquartered in Durban, South Africa, Pastor Tim Omotoso, may spend the next 12 d...

Nigerian-born founder of Jesus Dominion International headquartered in Durban, South Africa, Pastor Tim Omotoso, may spend the next 12 days behind bars, it has emerged. Omotoso was arrested on Thursday afternoon at the Port Elizabeth Airport shortly after arrival from Durban.He was denied bail by a court last Friday after arraignment over allegations of sexual assaults against at least 30 ladies in his church.The 58-year-old, according to The Herald, a South African newspaper, quickly disappeared to the toilet with an unidentified woman seconds after arrival.But police operatives traced him to the toilet where he was handcuffed and bundled away to massive cheers by onlookers.Within minutes of the first passengers disembarking, police rushed on to the tarmac. But Omotoso was seen walking into the toilets minutes earlier, accompanied by a woman, the paper reported.The paper said that about eight heavily-armed policemen were in the airport searching for the pastor.It said that the policemen went into the toilet, dragged out the unidentified woman before arresting Omotoso.Omotosos lawyer, Terry Price, who was present at the airport, had reportedly protested, You cannot arrest him here without a warrant!Price accused the South African police of maltreating Omotoso.They (the police) are worse than Mugabes thugs in Zimbabwe, the lawyer was quoted as saying.Since when do you arrest an unarmed pastor with eight armed men? He is not a danger.Robert Netshiunda, a spokesperson of the Tactical Response Team, TRT, the special police unit that arrested Omotoso later said: We cant say he wanted to run. We can say he sought refuge in the toilets.The police alleged that Omotoso over the years trafficked about 30 young women from various branches of his church to a house in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal where he allegedly exploited them sexually.Omotoso is not new to sexual allegations. The multi-talented preacher was founder of All Youth Crusade Ministry on Liberty road, Ibadan in the 90s.But the thriving church disintegrated over sexual charges against Omotoso, a former music director of Ebenezer ObeysDecross Band & Inter Reformers Band in the 80s.He was dogged by the same scandal in the UK from where he relocated to South Africa.But South Africas branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on authorities to follow due process in the handling of the case.CAN expressed fears thatOmotosos arrest might trigger more anti-Nigerian sentiment in South Africa.The founder of a 24-hour satellite TV station, Ancient of Days Broadcasting Network (ADBN) aired across the Caribbean, Africa, Mexico, Middle East, Europe and the United States, is married with three children.
North Korea has threatened a nuclear strike on Australia.The country turned its sights on Australia, after Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said North Korea would be subject to further sanctions.North Koreas state-run KCNA news agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman accusing the Australian foreign minister of spouting a string of rubbish against the DPRK over its entirely just steps for self-defence.If Australia persists in following the US moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK and remains a shock brigade of the US master, this will be a suicidal act of coming within the range of the nuclear strike of the strategic force of the DPRK.The present government of Australia is blindly and zealously toeing the US line.The Australian foreign minister had better think twice about the consequences to be entailed by her reckless tongue-lashing before flattering the US.North Korea said Australia was shielding a hostile US policy of nuclear threats and blackmail against North Korea which was the root cause of the current crisis on the Korean Peninsula and encouraged the US to opt for reckless and risky military actions.Australia opposition says the threat is of enormous concern.Labors defence spokesman Richard Marles however noted Pyongyang had made similar threats to other nations, even a veiled one at China.He believed the early signs coming out of China, an ally of North Korea, were positive, it saying if the problem is going to be dealt with it needs to be through China, America and the whole world.North Korea has now placed its army is on maximum alert, and threatened to launch merciless strikes on US.
Almost two years after President Muhammadu Buharis order to the Inspector-General of Police to reduce the number of cops attached to dig...

Almost two years after President Muhammadu Buharis order to the Inspector-General of Police to reduce the number of cops attached to dignitaries, the police authorities have not complied with the directive.Our investigations have shown that policemen are still attached to dignitaries, private individuals and other public office holders at the detriment of the general public.These police officers are permanently attached as escorts to these dignitaries, some serving as security details at offices, while other serve as guards at homes of the dignitaries.In August 19, 2015, Buhari ordered the Inspector-General Solomon Arase to withdraw cops attached to dignitaries and redeploy them to regular police duties.In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the president gave the directives at a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Police Service Commission at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.Weeks long observations by our reporters show that the police authorities still deploy their officers in protection duties to well-to-do individuals and head of government agencies.Some heads of federal agencies in Abuja are moving with an escort police car comprising of average of four armed police officers.During the six weeks closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the routing of all flights to Kaduna airport, NE observed that individuals were having police escorts.Checks at Maitama and Asokoro districts of Abuja revealed that policemen were seen providing security at residences of dignitaries not officially entitled to such privileges.Even at social gatherings, policemen were seen holding bags of spouses of dignitaries, thereby questioning the efficiency of the implementation of the directive.
Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, (rtd), former Military Governor of Kaduna State, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to order the release of ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) without further delay.This is contained in a statement he signed and issued on Sunday, titled Respect law courts decisions and release M.S. Dasuki on bail please.Umar said it was over one year since three law courts, including ECOWAS Court granted bail to Dasuki but that the Federal Government had refused to release him, citing the untenable excuse of the grievous nature of his offence.He noted that: Our extant constitution is quite clear on this issue. The Federal Government does not have the power to determine which offence is bailable or whether an accused person is deserving of bail.It should, therefore, obey courts decisions and release Col. Dasuki without any further delay. His unlawful detention, campaign of calumny and pretrial publicity make it impossible for him to receive a fair trial.The only explanation one can find for Col. Dasukis lengthy detention without trial is that he belongs to the wrong camp. He has also the misfortune of having served as National Security Adviser to the much vilified Nigerian President of Ijaw extraction.Colonel Dasukis fate is tied to that of his former principal President Goodluck Jonathan; an honourable and patriotic Nigerian who conceded defeat and congratulated the winner of the 2015 Presidential election Gen Muhammadu Buhari even before INEC declared the final results, when he could have held on tenaciously to power as is the norm in many Third World Countries.This rare act of statesmanship which pulled the country back from the precipice has been rewarded with utmost disrespect and derision by the APC Federal Government.President Jonathan is the most maligned Nigerian former Head of State. Col. Dasuki is paying dearly for his loyal service to this patriot. All well-meaning Nigerians must speak out against his unfair and unlawful treatment.We cannot afford to remain neutral in the face of this monumental injustice. When one Nigerian is unlawfully detained all of us must have the moral consciousness to feel psychologically incarcerated.Umar, however, commended the Federal Government for suspending the SGF Mr David Babachir Lawal and the DG NIA Mr Ayodele Oke while they are being investigated.It is also remarkable and commendable that the Government has decided not to detain the duo while they are being investigated.This is a welcome departure from the prevailing anti-democratic process by which accused persons, particularly from the opposition camp, are unlawfully detained pending the commencement of investigations, or refused bail granted by law courts.There is national unanimity in support of the war against corruption which is expected to be non-discriminatory and waged by a meticulous adherence to the rule of law.For the war to be meaningful and sustainable, it must be elevated beyond a President Buhari personal struggle to a national one.Most fair-minded Nigerians are no more impressed and are indeed sceptical with the conduct of this governments anti-corruption war which appears to be aimed at the neutralization and destruction of the opposition.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has adopted a new strategy of using children to protest against the secret trial of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.Children were used on the streets of Aba, Abia State to protest the release of the IPOB leader and to show displeasure over his planned secret trial.In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the pro-Biafra group stated that the new strategy of using children to protest would be carried to other parts of Igbo land.The group urged women all over the South East to get ready as the next set of protests would be by women of the region.The statement reads in part, We commend the organisers and the children who came out for the childrens rally and peaceful protest against the secret trial pronounced by President Muhammadu Buhari against our leader.Children in Aba protested against the secret trial and illegal detention of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and others who had been illegally detained since 14th October 2015 in Kuje prison Abuja.The childrens peaceful rally in Aba today is a lesson to the Nigeria Government and those who are sabotaging the struggle for the liberation of Gods people on earth which is Biafra.When our supreme leader and prophet of our time Mazi Nnamdi Kanu said it on radio Biafra, those who does not understand the language of heaven tagged it hate speech.The spirit of Biafra is now hovering everywhere around the world, arresting the good people for Biafra restoration and no man born of a woman can stop the liberation of good people of Biafra.The childrens peaceful rally today in Aba will soon go round the Biafraland in solidarity to our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and for the restoration of ancient nation of Biafra.Also women in Biafraland should prepare for the womens rally and peaceful protest against the sharia law and secret trial pronounced by Binta Nyako and for the restoration of Biafra.Recall that the Justice Binta Nyako-led Court had fixed April 25 to deliver ruling on whether to continue with its earlier ruling of Kanu being tried in secret or not.Kanu alongside Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi are currently standing trial on criminal charges before the Justice Nyako-led court.
Abdulmumuni Abiola, a son of the acclaimed of the 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola has declared that his father was betrayed by his own kinsmen.Abdulmumuni said Abiolas kinsmen literally killed his and shared his meat. Abiola is a native of Ogun State, south-west Nigeria.Speaking with journalists, Abdulmumuni said the family was not interested in the clamour in some quarters that the late business mogul should be posthumously conferred with the title of the former president.He said the title was of no use to the family and would not in any way bring back the late politician.Abdulmumuni said, Can you imagine? My father died in 1998 and were still discussing his death as if he died recently.I feel there was something my father was trying to do and the powers that be then didnt want him to do that. What could that possibly be? What did MKO do to deserve that death? We want to know.He wondered why some people decided to kill his father who was only trying to make the country better.These were people from his own ethnic group; they cut him (Abiola) into pieces and shared his meat.The decision (to kill him) that they made back then, are they enjoying it now? We cant go back in time but going into the future we can avoid making the same old mistake, which is the most important thing, he said.Asked if he was in support of the call that the late Abiola should be conferred with the title of the ex-president in his grave, the son said the country had other better things to attend to than giving the title to a man who was no longer alive.His words, That might just be a symbolic measure actually; my father has been long dead. Whats the point of giving him back his mandate when hes no longer alive to accept it? They should keep the mandate.The country has more pressing issues to deal with. The country will be a better place if our leaders can apply their heads as well as hearts to lifting the majority of the people out of poverty, injustice, hopelessness, insecurity and corruption. There is so much rot in the country.
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Danielle Sinclair, left, and Bruce A. Hanby are wanted by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office. (Photos provided by Cumberland County Sheriff's Office)

BRIDGETON -- The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in finding two of its most-wanted fugitives.

The two fugitives being sought, according to authorities, are:

* Danielle Sinclair, 33, on one Superior Court of New Jersey Family Court warrant for failure to appear, the Sheriff's Office says.

Sinclair is described as a black female, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 142 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. She has a tattoo on her left arm of a flower. Her last known address was West Landis Avenue in Vineland.

* Bruce A. Hanby, 36, on one Superior Court of New Jersey Family Court warrant for failing to pay $20,850 in child support payments, the Sheriff's Office says. Hanby also is being sought on two Superior Court of New Jersey Criminal Court warrants for failure to appear.

Hanby is described as a white male, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, 250 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. He has a tattoo on his right hand "BAH" and a tribal tattoo on his upper left, authorities say. His last known address was South 2nd Street in Millville.

Cumberland County Sheriff Robert A. Austino asks anyone who comes in contact with these individuals to call the police immediately. You should contact state or local police, or the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department TIP-LINE at 856-451-0625.

If you know the whereabouts of this individual, share this information anonymously by downloading the CCPOTIP App at the Android or iPhone Store and choosing Cumberland County Sheriff's Department, submitting an anonymous tip via text to 847411 with CCSONJ and your tip in the message line or going to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Facebook page and clicking "Submit a Tip" and submitting a tip to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department.

Citizens are reminded not to approach, confront, or attempt to detain these fugitives.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP -- A 22-year-old Bridgeton man was found shot to death early Saturday in Cumberland County, New Jersey State Police said.

Troopers responded to Stewart Avenue and Buckshutem Road in Fairfield Township shortly before 3 a.m. after witnesses found Vincent Horns lying in the roadway, according to a State Police statement.

Police discovered Horns was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Detectives with the State Police and Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office were investigating the slaying.

Anyone with information was urged to call State Police Bridgeton Station at 856-451-0101. Anonymous tips are accepted.

State Police said additional details were not available Saturday night.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
NEWARK -- At the city's main public library branch, residents sit huddled behind bundles of plastic bags, suitcases and tote bags.

Many have no place to go but seek shelter among the quiet open tables and rows of books.

Vickie Donaldson, the city's director of homeless services told the Newark City Council this month she counted more than 100 homeless people along three floors of the library on a recent Friday. Others congregate in Penn Station or along Railroad Avenue, she said.

"Newark has a large population that has nowhere to go," Donaldson told NJ Advance Media. "We have to have some kind of catch basin that says those people will not fall through the cracks into homelessness."

Donaldson, whose been at the helm for eight months, is proposing the city more forcefully tackle homelessness -- and set up its own central intake center and city-run shelter.

Newark receives about $6.6 million in federal grant money to provide homeless services in partnership with 34 community partners, Donaldson said. The city, however, has not run its own shelter in at least a decade.

Most major cities, like New York, operate their own shelters.

"There's so many people on the street, it is a community issue, it's not just an issue for social services people to solve. Community wellness includes a city's ability to house the most vulnerable people," Donaldson said. "There's a problem in that we do not provide critical services to a part of the population that is most vulnerable. Let's do something about it."

According to the state's annual homeless count, at least 8,941 were homeless in New Jersey last year -- 1,782 in Essex County. Final numbers for 2017 will be released in spring.

In 2015-16 there were 483 homeless students in Newark. That's slightly up from the year prior, when there were 416 homeless students, according to the 2017 Newark Kids Count report released last month

Part of Donaldson's pitch -- which has yet to get approval from the city council or the mayor -- also includes setting up standard policies and procedures for all shelters in the city.

That would establish a bill of rights for those staying in shelters, cleanliness standards and standards of operation. She also hopes to set up a 24-hour hotline to field calls and place people in shelters at all hours of the night.

"We are not in any way trying to replace these people," Donaldson said of the city's nonprofit partners. "We want to supplement what they do, and do it a little differently."

Donaldson said an ideal location could be an old school that has a gym, cafeteria to serve warm meals and bathrooms. A space has not been finalized. It's unclear how much the shelter could cost but it's likely the city will have to set aside dollars and find partners to invest.

"What we want to do is create a welcoming space for the folks on the street," she said.

"You cant be a homeless department without having somewhere to house them," added program manager Kym Gilchrist.

The space will be for those often turned away at other shelters, like LGBT residents unwelcome at home, teenagers aging out of foster care or the newly homeless that don't receive welfare yet, to qualify for some beds. The intake center will help direct homeless people to services that can help get them off the street.

"We want people to walk in at night and be able to get a bath, get a meal and prior to leaving the next morning have some opportunity to interact with social services," Donaldson said, adding that about 50-60 people a week walk into her office on William Street.

"We're not going to be able erase homelessness, but in our job today, if we could get two or three people off the street with case management ... that's what I'm charged with," Gilchrist added.

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.
NEWARK -- Newark police on Saturday said they charged two men with distributing synthetic marijuana in a downtown area of the city where 40 people were sickened by the drug over the past three days.

A joint effort by the city narcotics unit and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Task Force led to the arrests of Kevin L. McKenzie, 31, and Quadeer A. Nelson, 37, on Friday near Newark Penn Station, according to city Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.

McKenzie was caught with seven small Ziplock bags and one packet of synthetic marijuana, Ambrose added. Police found Nelson with four Ziplock bags of the substance, a packet of the drug and five empty synthetic marijuana packages.

Investigators were still working to track the source of the drug, called K2, that caused the spike in illnesses beginning Thursday night when police found about a dozen people showing similar symptoms near New Jersey Railroad Avenue, Ambrose added. Authorities could not confirm if the two recent arrests were tied to the rash of hospitalizations.

There have been no fatalities, according to police. Most of the drug users are from the city's homeless population. Officials warned using synthetic marijuana can cause seizures, hallucinations, vomiting and psychosis.

Members of the Newark police clergy unit were also working to discourage people from using the drug.

New Jersey outlawed K2 and similar substances called bath salts in 2012 after a surge in emergency room visits from the drugs.

Ambrose urged anyone with information to contact Newark's tip line at 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). Police said all anonymous tips would be kept confidential and could lead to a reward.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
MANTUA -- "Who wants to find a fossil?" asked Rowan University Paleontologist Dr. Paul Ullmann as he stood before 350 anxious guests.

The youngest, with plastic buckets and shovels in hand, soon descended into a quarry to search for a souvenir 65 million years old.

For the second year in a row, the Edelman Fossil Park of Rowan University hosted its "Be a Paleontologist" dig as part of the nine-day Philadelphia Science Festival.

Both children and their parents sloshed through water, digging for fossils, with little care that by the end of the two-hour dig they would be covered in mud.

"Most things are going to be small coined size," said Ullmann. "And almost everything is a tan-brown color and has a smooth surface to it."

According to Heather Simmonds, associate director of the Rowan University Fossil Park, the event, which sold out in 17 minutes, "Shows that these families with children who are into dinosaurs, into science really want an authentic experience."

To receive information about the events and activities at the park visit www.rowan.edu/fossils and fill out the contact form.

Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @photogthawk. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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Curry Webb, 51, appears in court in Jersey City Friday, April 21, 2017, on heroin related charges.

JERSEY CITY - Jersey City police arrested a 51-year-old city man on Friday who they said had 29 bags of suspected heroin marked with the logos "Black Friday" and "No Limit."

Curry Webb, of Bidwell Avenue near Garfield Avenue, is charged with possession, possession with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of Snyder High School, located at 239 Bergen Avenue, and within 500 feet of Audubon Park, the criminal complaint says.

Webb is also charged with trespassing in an apartment building at the corner of Bergen Avenue and Stegman Street, the complaint says.

Webb made his first appearance on the charges on Friday in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny.

At the hearing, the state moved to detain Webb through his prosecution and a detention hearing will be held on Wednesday before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale.
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Nicole A. Hammond, 26, of Ohio, appears in court in Jersey City on Thursday, April 20, 2017, on charges she and Jeremiah Conley, 37, brandished a gun during an argument with a man in Jersey City Wednesday.

(Michaelangelo Conte | The Jersey Journal)

JERSEY CITY - A Columbus, OH, man and woman were arrested after allegedly brandishing what appears to have been a BB gun during an argument with a man in Jersey City Wednesday.

Nicole A. Hammond, 26, and Jeremiah Conley, 37, have been charged with aggravated assault for allegedly pointing the gun at the man from inside a vehicle, the criminal complaint says.

Jeremiah Conley, 37, of Ohio, appears in court in Jersey City on Thursday, April 20, 2017, on charges he and Nicole A. Hammond, 26, brandished a gun at a man during an argument in Jersey City Wednesday.

They are also charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, the complaint says, adding that a BB gun was recovered by police after the alleged victim walked into the South District police station to report the incident.

The pair made their first appearance on the charges in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City on Thursday via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny. At the hearing, they were ordered releases on their own recognizance.

"That was a BB gun," Conley blurted out during the hearing but the judge quickly cautioned him to avail himself of his right to remain silent as the hearing was being recorded.

There next court appearance in the matter is set for June 15 before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City.
JERSEY CITY -- Hudson County, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, FEMA and other entities will conduct a response drill to a nuclear explosion in the New York/New Jersey area, authorities said today.

The aim of the exercise, dubbed Gotham Shield, is "to expand the ability at local and national levels to coordinate an effect a large-scale response and recovery to an event like this," FEMA spokeswoman Lauren Lefebvre said this morning.

Lefebvre said that, in general, Gotham Shield will not involve the actual deployment of emergency response equipment and personnel.

It is to be a "notional" exercise in which emergency responders respond theoretically to an unfolding nuclear event scenario in which all levels of government are in communication and playing a role.

The drill is not a response to the recent tensions between the United States and North Korea, or any international incident, since it has been in the planning stages for a year, Lefebvre said.

Gotham Shield is to begin tomorrow and run through the week. It is believed that "ground zero" for the theoretical nuclear explosion is West New York.

On Tuesday, McCabe Ambulance, of Bayonne, will set up a casualty response center at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. At the center, some thousand imaginary victims of a nuclear incident will be triaged, decontaminated, treated for injuries including burns and transported, Mickey McCabe said this morning.

Ambulance response teams from across the state will respond to the stadium, as will helicopters and ambulance buses having the capacity to transport a total of about 400 patients. The EMS response center will operate form about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and during that time, inter-agency communications will be used and tested, McCabe said.

North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue has been coordinating with Palisades Medical Center in preparation for the exercise and will be working closely with the hospital during the drill.

The fire department will set up virtual decontamination tents and use other virtual resources at its disposal during drill mimicking detonation of a nuclear device, NHRFR Chief Frank Montagne said this morning.

"It's important to see our capabilities and see how far our operations go," the chief said, adding that "We are hopeful that it will never happen, but we have to be prepared."
HOBOKEN -- The Propeller Fest, an inovation festival that drew 8,000 techies to Hoboken from around the world last year, is returning to the Mile Square City on May 18, with a new name and a big discount for residents, organizers and city officials say.

The renamed gathering, Propelify Innovation Festival 2017, will include more than 40 speakers on two stages along Hoboken's Hudson River waterfront, according to the festival website.

Featured speakers include: Divyank Turakhia, founder and CEO of Media.net; Bonin Bough, host of CNBC's Cleveland Hustles; Marcus Weldon, CTO of Nokia and president of Bell Labs; Albert Wenger, a partner at Union Square Ventures; and Jesse Hertzberg, CEO of Livestream.

As a sponsor and host city of the festival, Hoboken is offering city residents a 75% discount on the basic general admission price of $48, the city announced on Friday.

"The City of Hoboken is a great home to innovators, including Jet.com, eMazzanti, GovPilot, Flow.io, Stevens Institute of Technology, the NJ Tech Meetup, and more," Mayor Dawn Zimmer said in a statement. "We're excited to welcome back the Propelify community and bring this opportunity to our residents to learn more about tech companies and perhaps even find a new career."

The festival's founder, Aaron Price, lives in Hoboken.

"Our beautiful and convenient city is a perfect place to unite the tech, startup, and corporate innovation community," Price, who also founded the NJ Tech Meetup, said in joint statement. "We all know how hard it is to convince New Yorkers to cross the river in our direction. I'm thrilled that we welcomed thousands from NJ, NY, and even 41 other states and 10 countries to our hometown for the Innovation Festival last year."

Price has likened Propelify to an aspiring north-by-northeast version of Austin's South by Southwest festival, an 11-day technology, film and cultural gathering founded 30 years ago as a music festival in the Texas capital.

Propelify sums up its target constituency this way: "If you're in the innovation community in the northeast you belong here. Learn from amazing speakers, connect with startups and investors, hire and be hired. Plus virtual reality, drones, music, and a startup competition with Techstars and Samsung NEXT. And lots more."

Discussions will be divided into three subject areas. Those under "Future of," will include music, work, eCommerce, content, fintech, corporate education, virtual reality, and marketing.

Under "Startups," discussions will include fundraising, product, entrepreneurship, user acquisition, recruiting, imposter syndrome, and pitching.

And the "Corporate Innovation" category will include talks on strategic partners, think tanks, acting like a startup, and investing innovation.

Click here for tickets, a complete itinerary and other information.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
LEBANON -- One person is dead and another seriously injured after their SUV collided Sunday morning with a New Jersey State Police vehicle on Route 22.

The trooper sustained minor injuries and was taken to Hunterdon Medical Center, where he was treated and released, State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn said.

Flynn, who earlier said that two occupants of the GMC Envoy had been hurt, confirmed just after 2 p.m. that one had died.

The crash occurred at 7:57 a.m. by Cokesbury Road, on the westbound side of Route 22, Flynn said.

The trooper was on duty at the time, Flynn said.

Names of those involved were not immediately available.

Rob Jennings can be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
NEW YORK -- The Mets will continue their series against NL East foe Washington on Saturday. Can't find the channel? We've got you covered.

Here's what you need to know:

Who: Nationals (12-5, first place NL East) at Mets (8-10, third place NL East)

What: Game three of three

Where: Citi Field

When: Sunday, April 22, 2017

Time: 8:08 p.m., ET

TV: ESPN

Livestream: Watch ESPN App and ESPN.com

The Mets are trying to salvage the series after dropping the first two games. They've lost seven of their last eight following a six-game winning streak and are struggling to produce offensively. Manager Terry Collins said he'll probably shake up the lineup, but there's still a few key bats missing.

The Mets have been wrecked by injuries this week, losing Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring), Lucas Duda (elbow), Wilmer Flores (staph infection) and Travis d'Arnaud (wrist). Asdrubal Cabrera was forced to sit out the first game of the series with a sore hamstring and was favoring it at times during Saturday's 3-1 loss.

Duda and Flores are both on the 10-day disabled list and Cespedes has been ruled out for the rest of the series, with Collins citing Monday's off day as the reason. He underwent MRIs on his tight hamstring and while they revealed a strain, the Mets have not said how serious it is. However, Collins did say that the doctors suggested giving him a day or two off and, which is where the off day comes into play. The Mets are being conservative and hoping that four days off is enough to heal it.

"I keep telling these guys that I would rather sacrifice a day to save a month," Collins said.

Zack Wheeler (1-1, 5.52 ERA) will be on the mound facing Max Scherzer (2-1, 1.37 ERA).

Dan Shulman will be on the call with Aaron Boone and Jessica Mendoza providing color/commentary. Karl Ravech will host Sunday Night Countdown from Citi Field.

Abbey Mastracco may be reached at amastracco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @abbeymastracco. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
LAKEHURST -- Amid the rubble and the wreckage, the dogs were on the hunt.

Specially trained to charge into ground zero of the worst imaginable disasters, they leapt over concrete and mangled rebar, beckoning the two-legged first responders when they found what they were after.

"To them, they're playing hide and seek," said Alice Holmes, the K9 coordinator for New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, standing outside the dog tent on the scene of a massive, statewide disaster response drill. "They're tapping into their prey drive and their hunt drive."

First responders from across New Jersey gathered Friday at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst for "Operation Fallout," an exercise meant to prepare the state's urban search and rescue task force and others for responding to a major terror attack.

The rescue crew, known as New Jersey Task Force One, is overseen by the State Police but comprised of hundreds of volunteers including doctors and nurses, engineers and the owners and handlers who train a battalion of scent dogs to rout out victims at disaster scenes.

"We get (everything from) building collapses, explosions to Hurricane Katrina, to 9/11, to Hurricane Sandy," said Sarah Atlas, a K9 specialist from Millville whose German Shepherd, Buscar, is specially trained to find people in trapped environments.

On Friday, Atlas set Buscar loose at the giant rubble pile where authorities had set up the day's exercise, meant to replicate the aftermath of an improvised explosive device set off in an urban area.

Inside a concrete enclosure, an NJ Advance Media reporter was sealed off behind a heavy steel grate. Buscar bolted toward the enclosure, sniffing along the perimeter before leaping inside a porthole-shaped opening to rescue the helpless journalist.

Atlas, who makes her living teaching scent dogs to find dead bodies, live victims and even bedbugs, says disaster drills like the one in Lakehurst help keep first responders fresh for when disaster strikes.

But the work goes beyond annual exercises, she said, and keeping and training K9s is a "lifestyle."

"It's not like a saw you can put on a shelf," Atlas said. "You have to work with them every day."

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
By John DiMaio

Fifty days ago Gov. Chris Christie offered a clean slate to the Legislature to work with him on a new school funding formula. Democrats and Republicans agree that the current formula is broken, and fixing it is paramount to reducing nation-high property taxes in the state.

Other than affordable housing, which also receives no attention from the majority, solving education funding is the most important issue in the state. Yet, there has been no progress to fix it.

The issue with school funding is not a lack of overall spending, but how inequitably it is appropriated. It is evident that more funding does not provide a better education. Massachusetts and Maryland have school systems that are rated near the top with New Jersey.

The only difference is spending. New Jersey spent an average of $19,652 per student in 2015. If New Jersey spent the same as Massachusetts per student -- $15,066, the state would save $3.8 billion. If spending were the same as Maryland -- $14,004, savings would be $5.3 billion.

Our nation-high property taxes are a result of our nation-high education spending. It is no secret New Jersey has far and away the highest property taxes in the nation. In fact, 52 percent of all property taxes are spent on schools. Of the $28.35 billion raised from property taxes in 2016, $14.8 billion went to school districts. State aid for education in the upcoming budget is expected to be $13.8 billion, but only $9.2 will go directly to schools.

Essentially, $4.6 billion in state aid is going towards pensions, Social Security and post-retirement benefits for retired school staff. Amazingly, my friends across the aisle still complain that the school funding formula needs to be fully funded at an additional $1.2 billion cost.

For 15 years the majority has had control of the Legislature, and other than the one time they worked with Christie to pass the property tax cap, nothing has been done to help. Given the chance to seize an opportunity, they pass it up because this year their most important priority is the November elections. It isn't hard to understand that it is easier to posture to keep power instead of using it to make a difference.

Fortunately for the majority, my colleagues and I have a plan to fix school funding and lower property taxes at the same time: re-dedicating the income tax to school funding. With this simple amendment to the state Constitution, property taxes could be cut by 35 percent and school funding would increase by $600 million. Look at that, we just killed two birds with one stone.

Frankly, this common sense solution should have been done in the first place. When the income tax was passed it was because the state Supreme Court told the state our education system was underfunded. We have heard that story before. So to make people a little less angry, the legislature and Gov. Byrne dedicated the income tax to property tax relief. We know that didn't work.

The simple solution is right in front of us.

In fact, we could also cut income taxes for the middle-class because it is evident we need to reform how we spend our money. Pensions and health benefits are on the path to bankrupting the state in the next decade. In 2015, a bi-partisan commission, that even included the NJEA, published a report identifying billions in savings annually. In fact, just by changing teacher's health benefits to the equivalent of the private sector would save $2.5 billion.

Of course, this says nothing of how to fix the actual funding formula. It is still too expensive, too inequitable and still failing to provide a quality education to students in the poorer districts of the state. Let's take action and fix what we can and know how.

New Jersey is unaffordable and nothing has been done to fix that. Now we have that opportunity. It is the responsibility of the majority party to get the ball rolling. Because believe me, if I could I would.

John DiMaio (R-Warren) is a New Jersey assemblyman. He has served as the Republican appropriations officer since 2012. A resident of Hackettstown, he is also a former longtime Warren County freeholder and former mayor of Hackettstown. He is the owner of A. DiMaio and Son Inc., a general contracting business.

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As we approach the 100th day of Donald Trump's reign, this one was inevitable: He claims that he is off to the most successful start of any American president in history.

"No administration has accomplished more in the first 90 days," he boasted during a visit to Wisconsin on April 18.

He hasn't signed a single piece of significant legislation. His most important executive order, the ugly one targeting Muslims, was overturned in court. And of the 554 senior positions requiring Senate approval, he has left 473 vacant, without even offering a nomination. The White House is a ghost ship.

He is the most unpopular new president since the birth of opinion polls, by far. Unless he gains about 10 points, history tells us that Republicans will likely lose control of the House in 2018.

He has reversed himself over and over. NATO is no longer obsolete. China doesn't manipulate its currency. And when Syrian babies are murdered by a tyrant, it is indeed the business of an American president, after all.

He's been firm on some things, all of them wrongheaded. He won't release his tax returns. He won't punish Russia for helping him win the election. And worst of all, he won't face the reality of climate change.

Next up, he wants to cut taxes in the face of a big deficit, and his budget people want one that is heavily tilted towards the rich.

"Tax cuts are something he needs to deliver," says Prof. Julian Zelizer of Princeton University. "That's a big one. If he fails that, it will test the patience of a lot of Republicans."

So that is where we stand. He's been a miserable failure so far. Scandals are nipping at his heels already. And now, a new Tea Party of the left is emerging, holding mass demonstrations and forcing moderate Republicans in states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania to abandon Trump during the health care fight.

Why then, given all this, do I still feel so terrified? Why can't I shake the fear that Trump could stage a comeback, and maybe even win re-election in 2020?

It's not just my PTSD from last year's shocking election. It's a real possibility.

* * *

Let's look first at his biggest failure, the flop on Obamacare.

It was a model of incompetence. Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan did none of the political spade work that is needed to overhaul one-sixth of the national economy. When they dropped their plan, it landed with a thud, denounced by a chorus of doctors, nurses, hospitals, and insurers. Voters hated it, too, with just 17 percent approving.

Once the Congressional Budget Office concluded that 24 million Americans would lose coverage, it was over.

But do presidents need to score wins in Congress to win re-election? Not so fast, says Professor Richard Pious, a presidential historian at Barnard College.

"Look at Obama," he says. "He failed on his environmental agenda. And then he got Obamacare, and that hurt him.

"Look at George W. Bush. He didn't get his Social Security reform, he didn't get immigration reform, he failed on a lot. But he got a second term.

"Look at his father. He got through a fiscal reform that turned out to lead to the budget surpluses later on. And he was one-term president."

And that despite his clean win in the first Iraq War, for which he marshalled global support.

Voters, though, don't keep score the way that pundits and Washington insiders do. If they see a president fighting for their cause, they often back him, win or lose.

Trump's failure on health care might even turn out to be a hidden blessing politically. If 24 million working class voters lost coverage, the backlash could be ferocious.

"It would have been a disaster," Pious says. "Maybe this works out for him."

But what if he fails again, and again? Wouldn't he wind up paying a price?

"After 45 years of studying the presidency, I'll be goddamn if I know," Pious says.

* * *

What about the Russia scandal? There is no doubt that Russian spies intervened in the election to help Trump. American intelligence agencies all agree on that point.

If Trump's fingerprints are found on that effort, he could be impeached, and even tried for treason. But so far, no fingerprints have emerged.

And how hard will Republicans look? They have rejected calls for an independent investigation, and the House's own effort has already been discredited as partisan sham. That leaves the Senate Intelligence Committee, also under Republican leadership, as the only real hope.

"Many scandals fizzle," says Zelizer, at Princeton. "And in this case you're dealing with a very partisan era with Republican control of Congress. So it's going to take a lot for them, as we saw in the House, to take action."

Suppose the FBI finds that senior Trump aides, like Paul Manafort, his former campaign manager, conspired with the Russians. Even that might not implicate Trump personally.

Trump's conflict of interests could explode in his face, granted. He is hiding his tax returns, refusing to establish a blind trust, and his children are still making deals that will directly affect their wealth and his.

But voters knew most of that on Election Day, and gave the job to Trump anyway. It's not a priority.

"The public seems pretty tolerant of it, and it's been out there for a while," Zelizer says.

Trump's firewall is his remarkable support among Republicans, who give him an approval rating of 87 percent -- higher than even Reagan and Eisenhower had at this stage.

To blame our current predicament on Trump is to miss a larger point. Since 2010, when the Tea Party crashed the scene, the Republican Party has lost its bearings.

House Republicans, especially, seem to regard compromise as treason. They answer growing economic disparities with a consistent effort to cut taxes for the rich and cut benefits for the rest. They use tactics of spoiled children, like threatening to cause a national bankruptcy if they don't get policy concessions.

"It's gone from a conservative party to a radical party," says Norman Ornstein of the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute.

And it is that radical party that runs the show today, across the board. For Trump, that offers a haven.

"It says a lot about party loyalty in the United States," says Rutgers Prof. Ross Baker. "It's second only to religious affiliation in terms of the strength of people's affiliation."

* * *

Trump presents a stress test for our democracy. Can we survive a president who is wholly unqualified, temperamentally unsuited, and morally unfit for the office? Can we at least contain the damage?

My guess is that we can. Trump could stumble into a war with North Korea or Iran, but his most reassuring appointments so far have been his defense secretary, Gen. James Mattis, and his national security advisor, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster. They are sober and experienced men, and Trump listened to them on NATO.

He will slow the fight against climate change, and that is tragic. But he can't bring back coal, he can only slow the phase-out, given that natural gas is much cheaper. Investors pay attention to market realities, not campaign fictions. And so far, this insanity has not gone global. Our allies, and even China, get the science.

The heroes of this story are the grassroots groups that are challenging Trump, and that's where our best hope lies. Their pressure forced four of the five Republicans from New Jersey in Congress to vote against the Obamacare repeal, a grass roots push I haven't seen in New Jersey since the Florio tax hikes nearly three decades back.

Even U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th), who treated them with a royalist disdain, yielded after they showed up in force at his office, over and over.

The choice for moderate Republicans is clear: Abandon Trump, or risk losing your job. I can live with either outcome.

The presidency is a tough job, even for someone as smart and experienced as Franklin Roosevelt or Lyndon Johnson. Trump does not have the skill or the character to steer big legislation through Congress on issues like immigration and trade. And eventually, that has to come back and bite him, even if the scandals don't.

I worry, though. This is not a slam dunk. A national crisis could change everything on a dime. And after this election, I don't trust the country's judgment as much as I used to.

So I'll continue to feel terrified until the day we see him on the White House lawn, step into Marine One, and fly off to the horizon.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or call (973) 836-4909. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
New Jersey's new pretrial system has been the target of much criticism lately, for swiftly releasing defendants who are no longer required to post bail. The concerns are legitimate, but let's start by remembering why we did this overhaul in the first place.



Under the old system, your freedom was based on the contents of your wallet. Judges didn't have the option of detaining dangerous people without bail; the only factor they could legally consider was a defendant's risk of flight.



So menacing people routinely walked free, with no supervision, just because they had money - a man charged with murdering the mother of his 4-year-old was released on a bail bond; so were accused child kidnappers and molesters, and a police impersonator allegedly caught with hollow-point bullets.

A judge decided to release a sex offender. Don't blame bail reform | Editorial



One of the accused killers in the Short Hills mall murder was out on bail at the time, as was the main perpetrator of the Newark schoolyard shooting. A man who allegedly shot two people and left them to burn in a car owned by a "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star had posted bond three times - for $10,000, $20,000 and $100,000 bail. Drug kingpins could pay their bail, then intimidate witnesses against them.



Meanwhile, thousands of poor defendants accused of minor crimes languished behind bars, even if they didn't pose any risk. What sense did that make?



Now, under our new system that went into effect Jan. 1, a risk assessment is done based on the defendant's history. A judge can detain a gangbanger who might threaten witnesses, no matter how much money he has. Those who aren't detained are released with pretrial supervision.



Some of the anecdotes being used as criticism of the reform fall apart quickly under scrutiny. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop's makes no sense. He points to the murder of DaJour Riley, who was arrested with an illegal gun and then released under this reform.

Newark pastor: New bail reform policy is a clear success | Opinion



Riley didn't hurt anybody while he was out. He was shot to death by someone else. How is this the fault of bail reform? Are we supposed to hold people behind bars just to keep them safe?



Human error is possible, with or without this reform. In another case, a man with two felony priors reportedly had his hand on a loaded gun when the cops stopped him in Kearny. He was released pretrial, when he likely should have been detained. But for some reason, the prosecutor in that case never asked the judge for detention. That's on the prosecutor, not bail reform.



That said, the new system could be tweaked. Perhaps an illegal weapons charge should be given more weight in the risk assessment. Perhaps improvements could be made in how we rate the risk of repeat nonviolent offenders, like a thrice-arrested burglar. That's worth considering.



What we don't want, though, is a political mad dash to change this reform, based on anecdotes. Let's make sure we have solid evidence before making any changes. And let's not pretend this new system is putting us at any more at risk than the old one.



Bail reform is one of Gov. Chris Christie's most important achievements. And remember, the voters approved it, too. Let's fiddle with it only after careful review.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
Regarding state Sen. Jennifer Beck's guest column about payouts to retiring public employees for unused sick and vacation time, "Our property taxes depend on reforming sick-leave policies," which appeared April 14 in the South Jersey Times' print edition:

Beck (R-Monmouth) is correct in telling readers about the blockage by legislators against reforming the public employees' pension system. Such proposals do not even get fair hearings, simply because lawmakers in the Democrat majority get donations from teachers' and other public-employee unions.

Some of these same legislators are collecting state pensions or poised to do so. They do not want related policies changed, even though this hurts the pension system and the taxpayers.

We have a large group of corrupt legislators in Trenton. Neither major political party should support the re-election of these individuals. Extra expenses for taxpayers discourage businesses from coming to New Jersey, and they encourage businesses and homeowners to move themselves and their capital to other states.

Any potential 2017 candidate for governor who is backed by the unions will continue the same policies that now govern the Legislature , so we'd better watch out.

Luis M. Perez, Glassboro

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

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The following exchange between former New Jersey governors Brendan T. Byrne and Tom Kean took place via telephone last week.

Q: Do several recent disruptive train breakdowns tell us we need to make maintaining and upgrading our railroad infrastructure a priority?

GOV. BYRNE: Yes. And I think it also pinpoints the fact that we haven't given enough priority to our railroads, because they are fragile . We assume a railroad is a railroad and a broken railroad is a broken railroad, but we don't do anything other than assume.

GOV. KEAN: This is part of a much larger problem. Bridges, tunnels, underground pipes, etc, etc. Every year it gets worse, and every years it's going to get more expensive to fix. Trump campaigned on a massive infrastructure program. The Democrats say they want one, too. Let's get going.

Q: And speaking of infrastructure, are you concerned about the prospects for the long-discussed new Gateway tunnel?

BYRNE: Well, I'm willing to discuss the tunnel at any time because we have needed it for a long time. Ironically, the Gateway tunnel has had the same priority railroads have had in the last few years, and that's a mistake. I think the tunnel should have been done the last time, when we stopped work on it.

KEAN: This must be included in any infrastructure bill. It will be a test of our congressional delegations' clout, together with that of New York. Together, they should be able to get it done. On both sides of the aisle, we have congressmen whose seniority entitles them to positions of great influence. Now is the time to use that influence.

Q: Should the state move ahead with legislation that would end payment to public workers for unused sick days?

BYRNE: We have dealt incorrectly with unused sick days, and we've got to have a better formula. People who have unused sick days love them, but it's become a free ride for some people.

KEAN: There has been too much abuse and too much cost to the taxpaqyer. Reform is overdue, but it's going to be difficult with a Democratic legislature beholden to public sector unions.

Q: New Jersey's summer tourism grew in 2016 for the seventh straight year. Are we on the right course with that industry or is there more we need to do?

BYRNE: New Jersey is a great place for summer tourists. I don't think it needs extra help. The attractions are there and should be supported.

KEAN: Much more should be done. Philadelphia is doing a great job of marketing its history and bringing in lots of tourists. We should follow suit. There's no question that a dollar spent on tourism brings back three or four to the economy. We learned that way back in the '80s.

Q: Do you think we're making the right diplomatic moves to counter the potential wild card threat of North Korea?

BYRNE: I'm worried about this president of the United States. In everything. How he handles diplomatic moves and how he handles international problems. So I'm not at all sanguine on how this is going.

KEAN: Look, the last four presidents have failed in dealing with the North Korea threat. That's what led to the present crisis. Pres Trump is trying something new. I'm rooting for him. Like it or not, he's the driver of the bus, and we're sitting in the back as passengers. We need him to succeed.

Q: Was a U.S. missile strike against Syria an appropriate response after an apparent gas attack by the ruling Assad regime?

BYRNE: I don't know what an appropriate response is, and I don't know what a good response is. All I can say is I think the responses so far have been adequate and vigorous.

KEAN: Yes. The strike was professionally done. It sent the right message without the use of excessive force or the further involvement of American troops.

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STATEN ISLAND -- Can the former Linden police officer on trial for an alleged drunken fatal wrong-way crash win in court?

NJ Advance Media asked several lawyers with expertise in DUI cases to weigh in on whether Pedro Abad, 29, can beat the charges of aggravated vehicular manslaughter in his trial, which began this past Monday.

Abad faces a 27-count indictment after the March 20, 2015 crash, where he allegedly crashed head-on into a tractor-trailer while driving home drunk from a Staten Island strip club. Abad, according to testimony, had been drinking with three other men from Linden.

Two passengers in the car -- fellow Linden officer Frank Viggiano and Linden resident Joseph Rodriguez, both 28 -- were killed in the crash. A third Linden officer, Patrik Kudlac, then 23, was also in the car. Kudlac and Abad were both critically injured.

A BATTLE OVER EVIDENCE

Abad's blood alcohol level after the crash was reportedly .24 percent, or three times the legal limit, but Abad's lawyer, Mario Gallucci, has suggested the blood testing may have been done improperly. He has also said the prosecution must prove Abad was driving at the time of the crash.

"The defendant needs to attack the handling of the evidence, and, specifically, the validity of the blood-alcohol content reading," says criminal defense attorney Ernesto Cerimele of Krovatin Klingeman in Newark. "If the State can prove that he was driving and intoxicated, he will be convicted."

But invalidating the BAC may be difficult, says Joshua McMahon, a criminal trial lawyer of Schiller-McMahon in Westfield and a former assistant prosecutor in Union County.

"Arguments related to the methodology of testing Abad's blood are made before trial and determined by a judge," McMahon says. "Once the judge rules the evidence is admissible, these arguments lose much of their impact. If the blood was collected or tested improperly, the judge would not allow it to be put before the jury. The fact that it is out implicitly indicates the collection and testing were not improper."

Even if doubt is cast on the accuracy of Abad's BAC results, significant circumstantial evidence can convict him, says attorney Robert Bianchi, who served as the Morris County prosecutor from 2007 to 2013.

"Even if you throw out the blood, the jury can still infer he was impaired from the fact that he was driving the wrong-way on a highway and had just left a bar," Bianchi says.

Proving Abad was not driving at the time of the crash is another defense, though difficult given the evidence, he adds.

"But if you can cast some reasonable doubt to who the operator of the vehicle is, then the alcohol means nothing, as he has to be the driver to be convicted," Bianchi says. "And if you can get just one juror to believe he's not the driver, that's huge. That's a hung jury. That's a mistrial."

Several first-responders testified Abad was behind the wheel after the crash, and a fellow Linden officer testified that he received a Snapchat video 30 minutes before the crash that showed Abad driving.

The prosecution also has claimed that only Abad's blood was found on the driver's side airbag.

TAKE THE PLEA OR HEAD TO TRIAL?



Abad was offered a plea deal of seven to 21 years, but elected to go to trial, where he faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.

Should he have taken the deal?

"Only the defendant knows the answer," Cerimele says. "The plea offer, if accepted, would have resulted in substantial prison time, but a conviction after trial will be worse. Generally, you weigh the evidence against the likely prison time. Sometimes, there is no right answer."

And McMahon says no matter how strong a case the defense thinks can be made, a jury can be unpredictable.

"Dwight D. Eisenhower said, 'In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.' So, too, with trial work," McMahon says. "One can have a theory of the case, but that theory will often have to adapt because trials are human endeavors and, as we know, humans can be surprising."

Still, he says, the evidence in Abad's case may be insurmountable.

"Unlike war, trials have less surprises because the evidence is known to both sides before the case begins and a neutral judge is, essentially, refereeing the contest," he says. "Because the jury can convict for aggravated vehicular manslaughter with either a BAC over .18 or with the death of more than one person -- both of which have occurred -- the State has multiple routes to victory. The choice to go to trial, which rests solely with the client, may prove to have been a very unwise decision on Mr. Abad's part."

Bianchi says the possibility of a plea where Abad could have gotten seven years must be weighed against the probability of winning.

"I might say to my client, 'You're a young man, and in a few years you may be out, but if you go to trial and get convicted, you can face up to 25,'" Bianchi says. "'Do you want to risk that? Based upon all of this evidence, this seems like a pretty strong case for the State. If you took a plea and got the lower end of that range, you can see daylight not too long from now.'"

Where Abad's sentence would have landed in between the seven to 21 year range is difficult to determine in New York, says another defense attorney, Jonathan Bruno of Bruno & Ferraro in Rutherford.

"We don't have as much of an open ended range (in New Jersey), as opposed to New York," Bruno says. "You'd have a much better idea of how much time you would actually get. That could make a big difference in deciding whether to take a plea."

Still, Bruno says, Abad does have a chance to win.

"If there is a legitimate issue to how the blood samples were collected and you're able to make some good inroads as far as that defense is concerned, yeah, he has a shot at winning," Bruno says.

SYMPATHETIC WITNESSES & A CONSERVATIVE JURY

Jurors in the Abad trial already have heard testimony from first-responders to the crash, NYPD officers who investigated after the crash, drivers who said they had to swerve around Abad on the highway and employees from the strip club the men visited before the crash.

This week, the jury is expected to hear from the driver of the tractor-trailer in the crash and from Patrik Kudlac, the former officer who was critically injured but survived.

"Challenging a witness' credibility is an essential part of any trial," says Cerimele. "Here, the witnesses are sympathetic and are either victims or first-responders. It will be difficult to challenge their credibility. The defendant will be better off establishing that the evidence was mishandled in some way."

Another factor in the likelihood of conviction is the makeup of the jury, says Tom Mirigliano, also of Schiller-McMahon, who grew up in Staten Island and practices in both New Jersey and New York.

Mirigliano says lawyers trying cases in New York know that Staten Island juries have a higher conviction rate than juries in other boroughs.

"Juries in Staten Island tend to be much more conservative than the rest of New York City and that means they are more likely to convict in a criminal case," Mirigliano says. "The wrinkle in this case is that Staten Islanders are very supportive of law enforcement, and the defendant in this case is a law enforcement officer. However, at the same time, the victim, who I anticipate will testify against Mr. Abad, is also law enforcement."

Bruno agrees.

"People I know that do work in New York are always complaining that Staten Island is a tougher place to practice from a defense attorney standpoint," he says. "I could see a Staten Island jury being sympathetic on both sides - there are victims here, but I don't believe anybody thinks Abad set out to do this. It is tragic incident."

A SHOW FOR THE PRESS

Abad has been reciting Bible verses to awaiting press as he enters the courthouse each morning of the trial. He also told NJ Advance Media that he was pronounced dead after the crash and that God spoke to him.

Abad says he is reciting the verses to help people and spread God's word, and that he is "very religious" and attends church and Bible study groups.

Is it wise to let a client make such statements?

"A jury is directed not to read the paper or research the case so it will likely not have an impact on the trial," says Cerimele. "If the client is set on reading a biblical verse on his way into the courthouse, there isn't much an attorney can do about it."

Bianchi says he understands why a defendant would turn to religion.

"I happen to be a very faith-based person, and tragedy has an extraordinary capability to bring you to a place of spirituality or faith," says Bianchi. "I can see how someone believes the things of the world are gone and all that's left are things of the spirit world."

"But, as a lawyer," he says, "I'm telling the guy to shut up."

Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
WASHINGTON  Whatever a president or a congress does in the short term will have negligible impact on the cost of gasoline. But with only 16 days left before midterm congressional elections, politicians need to look like theyre trying.
CARTER LAKE  U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, voiced support for spending on infrastructure during a tour Thursday of Paxton & Vierling Steel.

Said Ernst: It will be difficult. But I do think there is a push for infrastructure from both sides of the aisle. Its how we pay for it (that) I think is going to be the big point of discussion.

President Donald Trump has called for spending $1 trillion to improve U.S. infrastructure.

Among Paxton & Vierlings products are structural steel, which can be used for bridges and nuclear power plants. Owen Industries, the parent company of PVS Structures and PVS Metals, employs more than 400, including 250 in Carter Lake.

Tyler Owen, president of Owen Industries, emphasized the importance of infrastructure projects to the company.

He outlined for Ernst the history of the family-owned company, founded in 1885 at 17th and Pacific streets in Omaha.

Its amazing how many of these jobs and how much of the success of this company is tied to the government, he told Iowas junior senator before the tour.

During the hard-hat tour, Owen showed Ernst structural steel work being done for nuclear power plants in South Carolina and Georgia, a bridge in Laredo, Texas, and other projects. She also met with a group of workers, asking their names and what they did for the company.

We want to keep all of you employed and very busy, she said. We want to make sure we are keeping those jobs here.
A native of Holstein in northwest Iowa, University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook traveled regularly to southwest Iowa and southeastern Nebraska to visit relatives.

Nooks parents grew up in Hamburg, he told The Daily Nonpareil in an interview while in town for this weeks Board of Regents meeting at Iowa School for the Deaf.

We used to come down for the Sidney Rodeo and things like that, Nook said.

The leader of UNI still is familiar with local highways and communities, with cousins living in the region.

Thats helpful knowledge, and not only to find ISD for the regents annual trek to southwest Iowa.

Pottawattamie County has more than 600 alumni of UNI in its ranks  in fact, the university in Cedar Falls boasts graduates in every one of Iowas 99 counties, including teachers in each of the states 333 school districts.

While the university might be thought of a regional player, its actively working in every county in the state on economic development  and it is connecting with southwest Iowa and, in particular, Pottawattamie County on a regular basis. Nook cited UNIs Institute for Decision Making, which promotes economic and community development across the state, as well as in eastern Nebraska.

Nook took over the leadershi p of UNI on Feb. 1, and he said that the community on campus reminds him of Holstein  a small town feeling in a larger university setting. He said UNI is in a good position as it moves forward.

This is an extremely healthy university, Nook said. There isnt a pivot coming.

While traditionally known for its College of Education, Nook said UNI has a thriving College of Business as well, with particularly well-regarded accounting and finance programs.

About nine-tenths of its students are from Iowa, and four-fifths of UNI graduates take their first job after graduation in Iowa and remain in the state.

We really are the school that educates Iowans for Iowa, Nook said.

Nook called himself an accidental administrator because he didnt set out to be a school leader when he entered academia.

He graduated with a bachelors degree in physics and mathematics from Southwest Minnesota State University in 1980, and he went on to earn a masters degree in astrophysics from Iowa State University in 1983. He earned his Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1990.

His career began at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, where he worked for 17 years. He worked his way up from being an associate professor to a full professor to a department chair to a dean. Nook said it began by being asked to sit on a deans committee early on in his career as a substitute for an unavailable faculty member.

It was one of those things that people asked me to do, he said of taking on leadership roles.

Nook was the provost of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point from 2007 to 2009, and he was named interim chancellor for the 2009-10 academic year. After another year as provost, he went on to become the senior vice president for academic and student affairs for the University of Wisconsin system from 2011 to 2014. He was chancellor of Montana State University in Billings from 2014 to 2016 before seeking the UNI position.

For high school students in southwest Iowa considering where  or whether  to continue their education, Nook said starting at a two-year school like Iowa Western Community College is a solid choice for a lot of disciplines.

UNI recently hosted all of the community college presidents in the state to discuss how it can work better to support transfer students, he said. For someone looking to transfer, Nook suggests talking to an adviser early to make sure courses taken at a community college will transfer.

Id like them, in most cases, to get their associates degree, Nook said, adding that those who finish their associates, especially with a high grade-point average, generally are more likely to go on and be successful in bachelors degree program.

Nook said students pursuing popular programs in education and business could finish their bachelors degree in two years if they come to campus with an associates degree.

Some fields, however, want students to spread their general education classes out across three or four years, and start working on major-specific classes earlier, so it may be better to transfer earlier into those programs or plan to take a fifth year of classes. Nook said the hard sciences, as well as engineering and nursing, need advising to complete within four years.

Other factors to consider are specific opportunities in community college versus a university campus. UNIs chemistry program, for example, requires faculty members to do research with undergraduates and seek publication in a national journal  a big advantage to a student interested in going on to pursue a career in academics.

Its a phenomenal professional development opportunity. Nook said. That kind of research goes on in all of our science programs.
Legislation signed by President Trump last week that takes aim at Planned Parenthood and other providers of abortion services is unlikely to have any near-term impacts in Arizona, according to the head of a nonprofit that provides reproductive healthcare across the state.

Thats because the state of Arizona doesnt actually touch the federal money dedicated to family planning and reproductive health services for low-income or uninsured individuals, called Title X funding. Instead, the money is distributed to states through a competitive grant process, and since 1983 it has been awarded to the nonprofit Arizona Family Health Partnership. That organization, in turn, oversees another competitive process to award Title X grants to local entities, said Bre Thomas, CEO of Arizona Family Health Partnership.

Even in a state with legislators and a governor who have repeatedly passed abortion restrictions, Thomas said she doesnt see the federal legislation having an effect on Arizona's Title X awardees.

Trump could do other things that may have an effect, but not this particular piece of legislation, Thomas said.

Planned Parenthood's Flagstaff clinic is the local recipient of a Title X grant, which allows it to provide certain services to low-income residents either for free or on a sliding fee scale. Those services include sexually transmitted disease treatment and testing, pregnancy testing and counseling, contraceptive methods and breast and cervical cancer screening.

SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS

Specifically, the new federal law used the Congressional Review Act to reverse a rule made late in the Obama administration that prevents state and local governments from withholding Title X funding for reasons other than the quality of care they provide. The money already cannot be used to fund abortions, but opponents are concerned the law leaves the door open for state and local governments to prevent providers who also offer abortions from receiving the federal funding at all.

If, somehow, state legislators in Arizona were able to cut off Title X funding to Planned Parenthood, it would certainly be a blow because the nonprofit sees 50 percent of the total volume of Title X patient visits in Arizona, said Tayler Tucker, communications specialist for Planned Parenthood Arizona.

While other organizations could step into Planned Parenthoods place to provide Title X family planning and reproductive health services, the worry is that the process of creating clinic space, training staff and acquiring materials takes time and would likely result in some patients slipping through the cracks or waiting longer for care, Tucker said.

Besides Planned Parenthoods Flagstaff clinic, which offers medication abortions, there are no other abortion providers in northern Arizona, Tucker said. Abortion services make up about 5 percent of services provided at the Flagstaff clinic, with the vast majority of services offered falling into the categories of preventive care and birth control, Tucker said.

Planned Parenthood sees its role as taking stress off local healthcare systems by providing specialized care, she said.

OTHER CARE PROVIDERS

From a public health perspective, it makes sense for Planned Parenthood to be the local recipient of the Title X grant, said Marie Peoples, chief health officer at the Coconino County Public Health Services District, which had the grant until 2015. The nonprofit was already providing many family planning and reproductive health services, so it makes sense for the county not to be duplicating them, she said.

If Planned Parenthood were ever to lose the Title X grant, Peoples said she anticipates the health district would again partner to assure such care is available to low-income individuals.

It is essential to remember that Title X Family Planning services include cervical cancer screenings, contraception counseling, and other preventive services to low-income, under-insured, and uninsured individuals that cannot otherwise access care. Greater access to these important services results in a healthier community, Peoples wrote in an email.

The health district still offers two sets of services related to sexual health  a teen health clinic, which Peoples said fills a gap in healthcare in the community, as well as STD testing, treatment, and counseling services, which are mandated by the state.

For its part, North Country Healthcare, which is a federally qualified health center, provides some of the same services as those that fall under the Title X grant, according to CEO Anne Newland. The health center's Well Women HealthCheck program helps low income, uninsured and underinsured women access breast and cervical cancer screening as well as diagnostic services like clinical breast exams and HPV tests, Newland wrote in an email.
More than 1,100 students from all areas of Nebraska gathered for the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America State Leadership Conference in Lincoln.

The conference took place at the Pinnacle Bank Arena and various hotels around the Haymarket area.

During the three-day conference, students were able to participate in large and small group sessions and workshops led by inspiring speakers on relevant youth issues

Topics included leadership development, time management, entrepreneurship, healthy relationships and Fuel Up to Play 60! Students also checked out the Opportunity Fair to connect with partners they can work with on local projects as well as visiting a variety of colleges and universities from the Midwest to discover postsecondary opportunities.

In addition to these great sessions, students had the opportunity to give back to the Lincoln community through FCCLA Serves opportunities. More than 140 students participated in service projects.

This year, over 500 students competed in STAR events at the State Leadership Conference. Student Taking Action with recognition events recognized members for proficiency and achievement in chapter and individual projects, leadership skills and career preparation. The top two in each event will compete at the National competition in Nashville, Tennessee in July.

The Maxwell chapter was very successful at the State Leadership Conference. Zoe Francescato was recognized as an ultimate leader finalist, and Jett Simpson and Megan Pendergast received honorable mention for ultimate leader. Kelsey Thomas, Hannah Zimlich, Bailey Manka, and Jaclynn Butler were recognized as being recipients of Power of One. The Maxwell chapter was awarded the Gold Star Chapter Award. Chance Donohoe, Kaycee Boltz and Harley Kuenning earned bronze medals. Jordan Miller, Natilee Mintle, Alex Cox, Jack Meyer, and Danika Cumming received silver medals. The following students will represent Nebraska FCCLA in STAR in July: Jett Simpson, Zoe Francescato, Zaylie Pelland. ShaeLeigh Fletcher received runner-up.

Megan Pendergast was awarded Runner Up with a gold medal. Grace Sommer, Janie Sommer, Tate Gurciullo, Grant Vedder, Jagger Baird, and Kenzie Vedder, were awarded State Champion, and Shea Frisbie and Myah Essman was awarded state champions with gold medals. Kelsey Thomas was elected vice president of public relations for the 2017-18 State Officer Team.
"The timing has been uncanny," says Margaret Atwood, marveling at how her 1985 novel, "The Handmaid's Tale," has not only been given renewed life as a TV series but has also gained disturbing urgency.

"Last Nov. 7, they thought they were making a fantasy fiction series," Atwood says. "On Nov. 9, they thought maybe they were making a documentary."

However you take it, "The Handmaid's Tale" premieres Wednesday on Hulu with three gripping episodes. The remaining seven will be released each Wednesday thereafter.

The cast includes Joseph Fiennes, Alexis Bledel and Samira Wiley, and stars Elisabeth Moss as Offred, who, as one of the few remaining fertile women in the cruel dystopia of Gilead, is among the caste of women forced into sexual servitude in a desperate attempt to repopulate a ravaged world.

Such is life in this totalitarian society, where human rights are trampled and women in particular are treated as property of the state.

Needless to say, Offred is a career stretch for Moss, who remains best known as proto-feminist copywriter Peggy Olson on the advertising drama "Mad Men," and who initially caught the audience's eye as First Daughter Zoey Bartlet on "The West Wing."

Now 34, Moss further expanded her horizons during the "Handmaid's Tale" shoot in Toronto: She took on the additional role of producer.

"I had no interest in it just being a title card," she says, "and I was extremely lucky. They listened to me and asked my advice on things in a way that I didn't expect. It's been an amazing opportunity for me to learn. And now I'm totally obsessed with it! I've got two different projects that I'm considering buying. I've got lists on my phone for actors I might like to cast!"

One thing she learned along the way: How to watch herself objectively on film.

"I was definitely one of those actors who did not enjoy watching myself," she confides. "I've gone without seeing films that I've done. I have only watched about 50 percent of 'Mad Men' episodes. But there came a point where I had to start watching the ('Handmaid's Tale') dailies, and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. You're not wearing the actor's hat, but the producer's hat. And it allowed me to let go of that preciousness about my own performance and view things based on what's best for the show."

The tone of "The Handmaid's Tale" is subdued, reflecting the oppressive conditions the women live under. And it posed an acting challenge for Moss, one that Atwood, 77, as the novelist who created her character, calls "pretty difficult."

Moss' problem, says Atwood, "is to show someone who is unable to speak out, because it's too dangerous, but who has to convey to the audience those emotions she is suppressing. We must be able to be inside her mind, while also being in the larger situation."

"I want Offred to be the wife, mother or friend that you can see yourself in," Moss says. "I want you to think, 'That's how I would react. That's how I would feel.'"

During a season hiatus for "Mad Men," Moss added to her roster of oddly relatable performances: She played an Australian police officer returning to her remote New Zealand hometown where she confronted the disappearance of a local 12-year-old girl in the acclaimed 2013 miniseries "Top of the Lake."

"That allowed me to prove to myself that I could do someone else other than Peggy Olson," says Moss. "I could have felt paralyzed after 'Mad Men,' but 'Top of the Lake' helped me understand there would be other great material out there post-'Mad Men.' It freed me up."

Now, along with several other projects in the works, Moss looks forward to a hoped-for second season of "The Handmaid's Tale" as unfolding real life seems to reinforce its power as a cautionary tale.

"Women who had taken for granted their rights as women are now really quite worried," says Atwood, noting the women's marches and other protests since Donald Trump became president. "I would say they're right to be concerned."
HAMMOND  A group of public relations students at Purdue University Northwest conducted a communication audit for the Griffith Police Department last fall as part of a course called Problems in Public Relations.

Three of those students also went on to present their research at three undergraduate conferences this spring.

A communication audit is an evaluation of an organization's ability to communicate effectively with its internal and external audiences. Every year, the Problems in Public Relations students must form and market their own consulting firm, find a client, then conduct a series of benchmarking reports, interviews, focus groups and surveys to uncover the strengths and weaknesses in their client's communication practices.

Griffith Police Chief Greg Mance said the results were interesting and they found the department still had some issues getting its message to the public.

The group of students included Stephanie Hamilton, Jessica Someson, Zach Bouchee, Cain Buchmeier, David Bork, Cassidy Framke, Michael Vela and Kalyn Jenkins. The students said they reached out to several local companies, and found success with the Griffith Police Department.

Hamilton, Someson and Bouchee also had a chance to travel to Minnesota on March 31 for the University of St. Thomass 26th Annual Undergraduate Communication Research Conference.

They also presented their work at Butler Universitys 29th Undergraduate Research Conference in Indianapolis on April 7 and at the Clement S. Stacy Memorial Undergraduate Research Conference in Hammond on April 8.

Ironically, the department also consented to do a communication audit 10 years ago. Mance, who has been with the department 18 years, said he thought it would interesting to compare the results from 2006 with those from 2016.

Bouchee said when they first walked into the class, they had no real idea what they were getting into, and "it seemed like an impossible task at first."

Hamilton and Someson said they conducted door-to-door interviews to talk with Griffith residents regarding their perception of the police department and its role in the community. They also talked to employees about how they communicated among themselves and the public.

"That gave us a better understanding of how they communicated internally and how they communicated with the public," she said.

Students: Stressful, fun, hard work

The students said the process was a lot of "stress, hard work and sleepless nights."

"But there was also a lot of fun," Hamilton said. "We all got really close, and I made some good friends. It was interesting doing it as a group and learning how to do a communication audit."

Someson said it was a lot of "hands-on" work, and the students had to figure out many things on their own.

At the conclusion, the students put together a nearly 500-page book that they published through 48-hour printing and binding. They made 25 copies.

The chief said he was impressed by the scope and depth of the professional student audit.

"I was happy to find the morale is in good shape," he said.

"The public has a good attitude toward the department and felt its in good shape and headed in the right direction. We learned there is still a lot of members of the public that aren't aware of the meetings and programs we have going on."

Mance said the students recommended public relations strategies it can use to get information out to the public. He said there are venues such as surveys they can use with the public, and there is a need to meet more frequently with smaller groups.

He said there are 33 officers, four full-time civilians staff members and 12 volunteers. The population in Griffith is just fewer than 17,000 people.

"We were happy to see that in some ways we had made some improvements in our internal communication but externally, we had some of the same issues as far as getting our message out to the public," Mance said.
CROWN POINT  For 20 years accusations of financial impropriety have dogged Richard E. Gearhart, a 66-year-old Lowell man charged in federal court with fraud on allegations he and a co-defendant bilked more than 25 residents of at least $3.5 million through a crooked investment scheme.

Gearhart previously was the target of a state investigation into a sprawling securities fraud scheme involving time share properties in Cancun, Mexico, according to state records.

The Indiana Department of Insurance attempted to revoke Gearhart's license to sell insurance in October 2007 after he was accused of selling leases and management agreements to Hoosiers on behalf of Resort Holdings International, a time share company that sold about $500 million in such agreements nationwide before the business collapsed in 2005.

Gearhart admitted he sold securities for the company, but claimed in court records he was unaware Resort Holdings International was operated as a ponzi scheme by the company's founder, Michael E. Kelly, a former resident of South Bend who pleaded guilty in 2012 to securities fraud for his role in the company's collapse, records state.

Before Resort Holdings International, Gearhart co-owned an investment firm called Agility Capital Advisors. That firm imploded in November 1996, losing almost $1.5 million in investments, according to bankruptcy filings.

Altogether almost 60 investors, many of them Northwest Indiana residents at the time, have accused Gearhart of losing $8.1 million entrusted to him or his companies in the past 20 years, according to an analysis of records obtained by The Times.

Gearhart did not respond to a request for comment. J. Michael Katz, his defense attorney, declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

Gearhart and co-defendant George R. McKown are scheduled to appear Tuesday in federal court for a status hearing.

'A sharp young man'

Gearhart first became a licensed insurance salesman in May 1973, according to state records.

Joe McGee, of Greenwood, said he recruited Gearhart for the insurance company Archer, Martin and Dunn straight out of Valparaiso University. He said Gearhart was a student athlete with an outgoing personality.

He was a sharp young man, and he wanted to succeed, McGee said.

And Gearhart did succeed, according to McGee. He said the young insurance agent met every challenge and posted sales numbers so high that after a few years he was able to join the Million Dollar Round Table, an elite trade association for insurance agents that requires its members to earn a high annual commission.

In 1990, McGee sold Gearhart his insurance business.

The two men agreed that Gearhart would pay for the company in installment payments, but McGee said Gearhart stopped making those payments after a year, leaving him on the hook for about $100,000.

McGee said he never took Gearhart to court over the issue, however.

I guess I felt sorry for him, McGee said. He was struggling financially, or I thought he was, and I was doing good in my business venture, so I let it go.

Several investors who later claimed fraud said they met Gearhart through his insurance business, Gearhart and Associates.

Day traders in the dark

Linda Rasmusen, of Elmhurst, Illinois, first met Gearhart in April 1994 to interview him as a potential financial adviser, according to bankruptcy records.

Rasmusen's father had just died, and she was responsible for managing his estate, valued at almost $500,000. Rasmusen also cared for her elderly mother, who suffered from a debilitating nerve disorder that left her mentally and physically enfeebled, records state.

Rasmusen, now 69, told The Times in an interview she spelled out for Gearhart exactly what she needed.

I must have said, a minimum of 20 to 50 times, I need a safe investment, she said. My mother has a serious neurological disorder that will take her life. I need to have money to take care of her as long as she lives. I want nothing risky.

Gearhart told Rasmusen she should entrust her money to Agility Capital Advisors, an investment firm he incorporated with Austin B. Tanner, of Illinois.

Tanner could not be reached for comment.

Documents from the company filed in later bankruptcy proceedings showed Gearhart and his partner guaranteed investors an 8 percent annual return on investments and access to funds within 72 hours.

Rasmusen said she liked Gearhart  he was well-groomed and well-mannered. The walls of his office were covered in award plaques, and he seemed to listen when she spoke.

Rasmusen said Gearhart also was recommended to her by Joseph E. Rurode, former president and CEO of Calumet Securities Corp.

Rurode, of Chesterton, confirmed in an interview he introduced Rasmusen to Gearhart, his then friend and financial adviser. Rurode said he also invested a large sum with Agility Capital Advisors, a company he described as a small day-trading operation.

I put some of my own money into it, some of my parent's business into it, he said. I thought it was a legitimate enterprise. I was excited about the prospects that I saw.

Rasmusen, Rurode and their family members would invest altogether almost $1.5 million with Gearhart, according to records.

Rasmusen said she spoke often with Gearhart, and she received regular statements from the company that suggested her investment was fine.

But Gearhart met with Rasmusen in November 1996 and told her the company had lost her entire investment.

Rasmusen said Gearhart reassured her he would pay her back, but in January 1997 he filed for bankruptcy, claiming $785,078 in assets and $1.82 million in debts, including money owed to the Rasmusens and Rurodes.

The families sued to block Gearhart from discharging his debts, claiming fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.

Rasmusen said she had to apply for public aid to keep her mother in a nursing home while the lawsuit was pending in court. Her mother died of pneumonia in January 1998, bankruptcy records state.

Both Rurode and Rasmusen said they eventually settled their lawsuits for a small fraction of their actual investment.

Rurode said he believed Capital Agility Advisors was a legitimate corporation that fell behind on its returns and then tried to catch up through risky investments.

From my understanding, the money was invested, but due to some very poor trades, they lost it, Rurode said. It was quick."

Rasmusen said she continues to work as a nurse, because she hasn't been able to save enough to retire.

My father worked for this money for 50 years, she said. And it was all gone.

'A tank going over a town'

The transnational corporation Resort Holdings International caused a financial crater when it collapsed in 2005, with thousands of investors across the nation left holding worthless leasing agreements for time share properties in Cancun, Mexico.

The lease gave the purchaser a right to use a furnished unit in hotels in Cancun, Mexico, but the purchaser also could rent the unit, either by their own effort or through purportedly independent leasing companies that promised investors guaranteed annual returns of up to 11 percent.

Investors almost universally chose to trust the leasing companies, but they were not informed the companies were owned by Michael E. Kelly, the founder of Resort Holdings International, and affiliated corporations.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges against Kelly in 2007 alleging the entire operation was a sham. Kelly and others never leased the time share properties, according to federal regulators, but instead used new investor funds to make illusory rental income payments to investors.

Though the scheme was created and largely perpetrated by Kelly, the investments were sold by a network of insurance brokers, who were paid commissions totaling more than $72 million, according to the SEC.

By his own admission, Gearhart was one such insurance broker, selling about $3.1 million in agreements to investors through Gearhart and Associates between 2002 and 2004, according to state records.

Pat Robinson, of Hebron, said she and her husband invested about $250,000 into time share properties after Gearhart reassured her it was a safe investment.

But after the company collapsed, Robinson and others had their life savings disappear overnight.

He's just like a tank going over a town, Robinson said.

Stanley Czapla said he and his wife also invested with Gearhart, a family friend for years. The couple invested almost $30,000 of their retirement money in the scheme, according to state records.

We are currently on a fixed income, Czapla, of Crown Point, said. That was supposed to hold us over.

Kelly was convicted in December 2012 of securities fraud, and the courts began the arduous process of liquidating his assets, which included hotels, businesses, homes, boats, automobiles and an airplane.

On March 22, a federal court judge approved the distribution of a final restitution amount for more than 7,000 victims  $17 million. The court previously had distributed $50 million in December 2012 to the same number of victims.

Victims have received in total less than 15 percent of their investments back in restitution, according to court records.

Czapla said he and his wife have received only a few thousand dollars in restitution  which Gearhart tried to convince the couple to reinvest with him.

Well, I told him where he could stick it, Czapla said.

Robinson said she was able to fully recover the $250,000 she invested through 13 months of arduous effort.

In October 2007, the Indiana Department of Insurance filed a statement of charges against Gearhart and his insurance company, seeking that his insurance license be revoked.

The department alleged in the complaint the insurance broker used his position of trust to persuade residents to invest in Resort Holdings International and affiliated corporations, which were known investment scams.

Gearhart argued he performed due diligence before selling the leases, and he believed it was a sound product, so much so he bought $158,000 in leases himself, according to state records.

Gearhart said he and several investors traveled to Cancun to attend presentations on the financial product, and he conferred with other insurance agents about it.

An administrative law judge heard arguments on the issue at hearings in late fall 2009 and spring 2010, and found in favor of Gearhart, according to state records.

Gearhart let his license become inactive in May 2014.

Feds indict for 'ponzi scheme'

Gearhart filed for bankruptcy again in March 1, 2013, and again investors tried to block the bankruptcy, this time claiming Gearhart had swindled them of money he invested on their behalf through a new company, Asset Preservation Specialists.

One couple claimed in bankruptcy records that Gearhart convinced them to invest $226,000 from their IRA and personal savings account with Asset Preservation Specialists in fall 2011.

The couple said Gearhart promised a 6 percent annual return, and the principal could be withdrawn at any point, according to records.

Another woman sad Gearhart convinced her to borrow $120,000 against a life insurance policy, which he then would invest on her behalf. The woman said Gearhart promised her an 8 percent annual return in a safe and liquid investment vehicle.

Altogether 13 former clients of Asset Preservation Specialists filed complaints in bankruptcy court alleging losses of more than $2 million.

Asset Preservation Specialists also filed for bankruptcy, and its court-appointed trustee sued Gearhart on allegations he made $6.7 million in unsecured loans to his friends and acquaintances on behalf of the company.

The trustee included a list of outstanding accounts for Asset Preservation Specialists that indicated Gearhart provided $822,257 to eApplied Data, of Highland.

In a 2008 filing with the SEC, Gearhart is listed as a member of the company's board of directors.

Gearhart also allegedly provided $1.2 million to McKown, a 65-year-old insurance broker from Indianapolis.

Federal prosecutors alleged in an indictment filed Dec. 22, 2016, that McKown was president of Asset Preservation Specialists and conspired with Gearhart to obtain investor funds through false and misleading claims.

The men then used the money to fund businesses in which Gearhart and McKown were officers, owners or members, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors allege the men received at least $6 million from more than 25 investors on behalf of Asset Preservation Specialists, of which $3.5 million has disappeared.

McKown and Gearhart are charged in U.S. District Court with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, four counts of securities fraud and two counts of wire fraud.

McKown's defense attorney, Richard S. Kling, declined to comment.

A status hearing is scheduled for the men Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Hammond.
MICHIGAN CITY  A man allegedly pointed a handgun Saturday at a Franciscan Health hospital security guard, prompting the officer to fire back several times, an Indiana State Police preliminary investigation has found.

Thomas J. Walsh III, 46, of Michigan City, was listed in critical condition Saturday night after being flown to Memorial Hospital in South Bend for treatment, according to a state police news release.

The shooting occurred at 3:54 p.m. in the hospital's parking lot. A preliminary investigation revealed two Michigan city off-duty police officers working security at Franciscan Health were called to the parking lot by a family member of Walsh. Walsh was reportedly refusing to leave his vehicle and seek medical assistance, state police said.

When the officers, fully uniformed, made contact with Walsh, he was sitting on the passenger side of his pickup truck, police said. At one point during the interaction, Walsh withdrew a handgun from within his truck, pointed the weapon at one of the officers standing by the driver's side door, state police said.

"The officer standing on the passenger side for fear of injury/death to the other officer, pulled his weapon, and shot Walsh several times," state police said.

Medical assistance was immediately given at the scene and Walsh was eventually airlifted to South Bend. Family has been notified, state police said.

Per protocol with police-involved shootings, the Indiana State Police is handling the investigation, Michigan City Police Chief Mark Swistek said. Swistek said the officer's name is also not being released at this time, he said.

This investigation may take several weeks to complete, state police said, and no further information will be released at this time.

Once complete, the investigative findings will be turned over to the LaPorte County Prosecutor's Office.
PORTAGE  A Portage man is dead following an officer-involved shooting early Saturday morning.

Roger Dunn said the sound of five or six gunshots jolted him awake early in the morning, so he peered outside to get a view of the dead-end street he calls home.

Dunn said he saw a blue Jeep in his neighbors driveway, the drivers side door ajar and a person lying on the ground, their face near the drivers side tire.

The Jeeps rear bumper was damaged and a Portage city police squad car  on the street perpendicular to the Jeep  also appeared to be damaged. Dunn said he saw a police officer on scene with his gun raised at a man.

That man was identified by police Saturday night as William D. Spates, 39, of Portage.

I didnt recognize the car," Dunn said. "The only people who come down this road are the people who live here."

In the early afternoon hours, Dunn and his wife watched as the blue Jeep Liberty  sealed off with orange crime-scene evidence stickers  was towed away with visible bullet holes in the front windshield, he said.

Saturday's Portage city police-involved shooting in the 5300 block of Royal Avenue is being investigated by the Porter County Sheriff's Department  with assistance from Indiana State Police.

The incident occurred in a quiet side-street subdivision with several homes in the vicinity. An active crime scene Saturday had more than 20 evidence markers scattered near the Jeep and the body, and Dunn said he observed two Taser probes on the ground.

Portage Police Chief Troy Williams confirmed in a news release that a police-involved shooting occurred at approximately 1:47 a.m. in the area. A Portage officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle prior to the shooting and actions by the suspect during the encounter led to the officer-involved shooting, Williams said in the release.

Few details were released by law enforcement in the hours after the shooting. It's not yet known if the suspect involved in the traffic stop was armed with a weapon, or why police initiated the traffic stop.

Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said he was called to the scene at 6:45 a.m. Saturday. Spates was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Harris said Saturday afternoon he had not yet determined an exact time of death.

Even after the coroner arrived, it was several hours before the body was removed from the scene, Dunn said. An autopsy and toxicology was slated to be performed early next week, Harris said.

Roger Dunns wife, Tricia Dunn, said she and her husband stayed up watching the investigation unfold from the couple's front porch. She said she noticed Porter County investigators appeared to require law enforcement officials to fill out a sign-in sheet whenever entering or exiting the crime scene, cordoned off with yellow police tape.

Tricia Dunn said an ambulance arrived on scene about five to 10 minutes after the shooting and medical personnel pulled out a stretcher for transport, she said. Shortly after that, the gurney was placed back into the ambulance, without a body, and police instead waited for the coroner to arrive, Dunn said.

Porter County sheriffs detectives, the Crime Scene Unit, as well as state police, continued investigating the matter into Saturday afternoon.

Williams stated Saturday night the officer involved in the shooting would be named Monday. He also said the officer was taken to Portage Hospital where he was checked out and released.

Valeria Thomas stood on her front porch Saturday afternoon talking with a close neighbor about what they had heard overnight. Thomas said she awoke to the sound of multiple gunshots.

"It sounded like a 'Pop, pop pop!'" she said.

During the overnight hours, at least a dozen police cars with flashing red and blue lights could be seen lined up and down Royal Avenue.

Thomas said she moved to the subdivision in March 2016.

"It's been quiet up until now," Thomas said.
CEDAR LAKE  A fire protection territory with Hanover Township has come a bit closer to reality now that the Town Council has approved a contract that will look at the financial side of such a move.

Cedar Lake and the township have been in talks to form a fire protective territory, which according to Indiana statute must involve at least two taxing units. Municipalities wishing to establish such a territory must start distributing identical ordinances that meet the requirements of state law. Before such votes can be taken, both units must hold a public hearing first.

The town and Hanover are not at the point of holding public hearings yet, but the agreement passed at a council meeting earlier this month engages the firm of LWG, of Indianapolis, to look at the financial impact such a territory would have on both partners. The agreement with LWG is not to exceed $6,000.

State law also requires one of the parties be designated as the provider unit, which would be responsible for providing all fire protection services in the territory.

That unit must establish a fund from which all expenses will be taken and prepare a budget with input from its partner. The property tax rate for the district would be based on the assessed value of the entire territory. The partners may also choose to establish an equipment replacement fund for the territory.
MERRILLVILLE  The new headquarters for the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce is expected to produce a number of benefits.

The chamber recently bought a vacant facility on 84th Drive near Merrillville Road in Merrillville for its new operations center.

Sue Reed, president and CEO of the chamber, said renovation of the building will begin in coming weeks. The organization is expected to move to the site by the middle or end of August, Reed said.

In addition to establishing an expanded work area for the chamber, the project sets out to provide more benefits to its members. Among them is the creation of a community room that could be used by nonprofit organizations and small businesses for meeting space.

Reed said the Crossroads' current facility on Taft Street near 93rd Avenue is a great space in a nice location, but it doesn't meet all of the chamber's operational needs.

The organization rents the Taft Street site, and chamber leadership decided to get into a situation in which it owned its headquarters.

Reed said that deepens its roots in the community. It also reduces operational costs because the chamber's mortgage payment is less than its rent, she said.

The property purchased by the chamber was a former credit union and had been vacant for about five years, Reed said. Merrillville officials are pleased to see building become occupied again.

Reed said the chamber has started a capital campaign to fund the renovation project. She said it has generated about $80,000 so far, and the town of Merrillville, the city of Crown Point and NIPSCO have been the largest contributors.

Merrillville is providing $20,000 from one of its tax increment financing districts to Crossroads for the initiative.

The Crossroads chamber is over 675 businesses strong, Merrillville Town Councilman Shawn Pettit said when the town approved its contribution, It's probably second largest in the state of Indiana.
CEDAR LAKE  An innovative approach to educating children with special needs has won kudos from the Hanover School Board.

Five Jane Ball elementary school staffers were recognized during the April board meeting for coming up with grant money and purchasing items that help students with sensory issues learn better.

The five served on a committee that oversaw the program, said Jane Ball principal Deborah Snedden. Regina Chancellor, Tracey Lakomek, Janet Neitzel, Diane Kossis and Leslie Klauk obtained grant money, including $4,310 from the Crown Point Community Foundation, that was used to purchase devices to help children with sensory needs focus on their schoolwork. The plan is help them focus not fidget, Snedden said.

The devices included everything from a roller board to a stretch band to a weighed vest. The initial results have been excellent, Snedden said, and the plan could be a new pilot program that could be extended elsewhere.
HOBART  Lake County Right to Life will host its 44th annual fundraising banquet on May 19 at the Avalon Manor. The event will be from 7 to 9 p.m.

The keynote speaker will be Andrew Mullally, M.D., of Credo Family Medicine in Fort Wayne. Mullally will address the topic of euthanasia, specifically physician-assisted suicide, and its impact on society.

I feel compelled to resist the push for physician-assisted suicide because it not only undermines the moral legitimacy and fundamental ethic of the practice of medicine, but also grossly marginalizes the vulnerable in our society, Mullally said. I firmly believe that as a physician it is my duty to fight against this for the good of my patients and our country.

Attendees will receive dinner, dessert and be invited to help support pro-life efforts in Northwest Indiana. The banquet is LCRTLs primary fundraising event, and serves to reach out to new donors and sponsors, as well as recognize outstanding achievements within the pro-life community.

Seats are available for both organizational sponsors and individual donors. Gifts are appreciated and can be made one time or monthly.

Ad space in the program book is available to sponsors and underwriters. Requests for ads must be received by May 10.

The registration deadline is May 12. To reserve a seat, call 219-838-1138 or via email to office@lakecortl.org
MERRILLVILLE  To some, the Merrillville Strack & Van Til location was more than a place to purchase groceries.

It also helped feed customers to the neighboring businesses in the plaza at 73rd Avenue and Taft Street.

With the space rented by Strack & Van Til currently empty, town officials and business owners have concerns about the plaza attracting less visitors and the future of that area.

Merrillville Town Council President Richard Hardaway said the site isn't in the main commercial area of town, but it's a vital part to what's going on in Merrillville.

Hardaway said there's a strong need to attract a new anchor to that site so other businesses there won't suffer.

Hopefully someone comes in with a viable business, Hardaway said.

Paul Groleau, owner of Merrillville Jewelers, has an established business that's been open in the plaza for more than 30 years.

Groleau expects to see his regular customers continue to visit Merrillville Jewelers, but he understands the closing of the grocery store will reduce foot traffic through the plaza.

Losing the Strack & Van Til also could result in some inconveniences for customers visiting the various establishments there. Groleau said it would be common for people to go to his business for service, stop in the grocery store while work was done on their jewelry and later pick up their jewelry after finishing up in Strack and Van Til.

It's likely other businesses there encountered similar situations.

Groleau, like many, are curious about what will happen next to the space that had been occupied by Strack & Van Til.

He said many of his customers enjoyed shopping at the location and would like to have another grocery store open there. A sign on the building indicates there will be an auction in May to sell the fixtures and equipment in the facility.

Frank Van Til, the owner of the plaza at 73rd and Taft, said the lease with Strack & Van Til runs through April 2018, and he has to honor that lease until it expires.

The parent company of Strack & Van Til recently announced it plans to sell off 22 of its stores and close nine Ultra Foods discount supermarkets.

It isn't certain if such a sale would affect the lease agreement. Van Til, whose business isn't affiliated with Strack & Van Til, didn't return calls for comment.

Town officials have made it clear they don't want the site to be vacant long.

Councilman Shawn Pettit on multiple occasions said he would be willing to discuss tax incentives to keep that building occupied.
LAPORTE  Memories of working at Allis Chalmers and operating its brand of farm tractors poured in when the doors of a museum dedicated to the company opened its doors Saturday for the first time.

The company had much to do with with LaPorte's existence, and attendees of the new facility were feeling it.

It all started with the Rumely Co. in the late 1800s. Then from a 1931 buyout, the plant became Allis Chalmers, and both brands of vintage farm machinery are celebrated at the Rumely-Allis Chalmers LaPorte Heritage Center at the fairgrounds on Indiana 2.

Coming through the doors for the steady stream of visitors was like stepping into a time machine  especially with the Allis Chalmers labeled smokestack depicted in a striking mural stretching from floor to ceiling.

''I just think of all the men and women of LaPorte that went to work every day producing this machinery. It's a great monument to a lot of people and to industry in LaPorte,'' said Ted Rita, owner of the Hesston Steam Museum in northern LaPorte County.

Paul Rymer, president of the Heritage Center board, said the facility cost about $200,000, all from private contributions.

The LaPorte County Commissioners donated the land.

All of the dozen or so tractors and farm implements on display, including a combine and manure spreader, are on loan from their respective owners.

Steve Gropp, a lifelong LaPorte resident, is a collector of Allis Chalmers tractors and memorabilia whose hobby stems from his grandfather working 42-years at the plant.

He was particularly fond of an old Allis Chalmers dealership sign hanging 12 feet above the floor.

Several more tractors of each brand in original condition were outside.

''It's very nice. It's very well done. It's a real benefit for the whole community,'' Gropp said.

Mostly black and white framed pictures of equipment and life at the plant hangs from walls. Memorabilia, including an Allis Chalmers book and jacket and a Rumely Co. sign, accent the museum.

Eugene Baughman, of Hudson Lake, recalled plowing 500 acres with Allis Chalmers equipment where he raised corn and soybeans and ran a dairy farm in his younger days.

He's now raising organic vegetables on just a two-acre parcel and still has an Allis Chalmers tractor from 1965.

For now, the heritage center will be open the first Saturday of each month, but at some point museum organizers hope to invite the public in a few times a month.

There is no admission fee, but donations are accepted.
Michigan Citys early history derives mainly from the tale of one family who lived in a 35,000-square-foot mansion at the corner of Washington and West Seventh streets.

The Barker Mansion, built in 1857 by John H. Barker, hosted a historical walking tour to tell that story Saturday.

Nearly 40 people walked the downtown streets with museum staff and volunteers and learned about the Barker family and how they shaped the early history of the city.

Let the name be the monument was the family motto, said Bruce Frankinburger, who led a tour group with his wife, Pat.

The Frankinburgers, retired teachers who volunteer at the mansion, said the motto explains why so many Michigan City features bear the family name.

Establishing himself as a general store owner after his arrival in 1836 at the age of 22, John Barker rose in prominence as a businessman and soon became a partner in Haskell & Barker Car Co., a leading manufacturer of railroad freight cars.

In its heyday in the 1880s and under the direction of John Barkers son, John H. Barker, the company produced 15,000 cars per year and employed 3,500 workers, making it the largest employer in Indiana, said Pat Frankinburger.

Some credit John H. Barker for the invention of the assembly line. Henry Ford came to Michigan City to study it, and took the idea back to Detroit, said the Frankinburgers.

Barker built shotgun homes for his foremen and employees in the shadow of the factory, which stood in the space now occupied by Lighthouse Premium Outlets.

Everything you see was the entire factory, said Bruce Frankinburger, pointing to the outlet mall.

The Golden Leaf, a cigar store at Washington and Fourth streets, is housed in only one of three shotgun homes still standing today. The homes were so named because the rooms were lined up vertically in a straight shot from the front to the back, said Bruce Frankinburger.

Pat Frankinburger said after Barker contracted pneumonia one year, he built a tunnel from his mansion to the factory.

Were probably standing on part of the tunnel that led to his office, said Pat Frankinburger. After going through that he decided he didnt want to be exposed to the weather on his way to work.

The Frankinburgers said Barker was an extremely generous man, and is responsible for helping to establish the citys first hospital, library, and YMCA, and he promoted cultural arts. Barker tried to elevate the city to the stature of Chicago, said Pat Frankinburger.

The first Barker Hall  a school  was built in 1886 by John H. Barker as a memorial to his first wife and their three children, all of whom died before the age of 5. When their deaths and the death of his first wife left him a widower, Barker met Katherine Fitzgerald, a teacher at the school, who became his second wife. The current Barker Hall at Franklin and Sixth streets was built by their only child, daughter Catherine, in 1929.

In 1905, the Barker Mansion grew to 38 rooms and contained 10 bathrooms and seven fireplaces, while Katherine Fitzgerald Barker furnished the home with fine European antiques.

If theres anything that Mrs. Barker knew how to do, it was to spend her husbands money, said Pat Frankinburger.

When she was only 14, Catherine Barker was left an orphan and one of the worlds wealthiest women when her mother and father died from sudden illnesses within months of each other. Catherine attended school in New York, where she finally made her home.

In 1922, Haskell & Barker Car Co. merged with Pullman Inc., to form Pullman Standard, which maintained a presence in the city until 1970.

Catherine Barker in 1924 established a fund to provide pensions for former Haskell & Barker employees.

In 1948, the Barker Mansion was given to Purdue University, which returned it to the Barker Welfare Foundation when its current campus in Westville was built in 1968.

The Frankinburgers, born and raised in Michigan City, said the legacy of the Barkers and Haskell & Barker Car Co. lives on.

There isnt anyone who grew up here who didnt know someone who worked there, said Pat Frankinburger.
Uzbekistan is a land-locked former Soviet Republic in Central Asia. The event is part of The VICs Fourth Friday series at the organizations headquarters, 309 E. Lincolnway. Sardor Yormukhamedov is the featured speaker this month. He will talk about the culture, history, food and traditions of his homeland. The Valparaiso International Center (The VIC) is an independent nonprofit organization that serves Northwest Indiana.
Marc Chase Editor Marc Chase is a veteran investigative reporter, columnist and editor of more than two decades. He currently leads The Times news staff as local news editor. He can be reached at 219-933-3327. Follow Marc Chase Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Building for tomorrow requires the good sense of laying a foundation on solid, proven ground.

It's why a move afoot in Congress to designate the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as a full national park is such a welcome concept to Northwest Indiana.

As America's National Park Week draws to a close, we all should be calling on our federal lawmakers to see this one through.

Our Region frequently bears witness to local government leaders or planners grasping for the next big economic development opportunity.

We're also accustomed to a clamoring for improvement or growth in our quality-of-life amenities.

And in the same chorus, some people lament a lack of marketable identity or uniqueness to a Region resting in the shadow of Chicago.

In the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, we have a proven answer to all of those coveted qualities requiring no snake-oil salesman to peddle it.

The National Park Service, which administers the National Lakeshore, recently released its 2016 visitor statistics, and the dunes continue to have the phrase "economic engine" scrawled throughout their sandy peaks and valleys.

In 2016, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore experienced 1.7 million recreational visits, including people from throughout the world.

Those visitors spent $73.8 million in the dunes' gateway communities, the park service reported. Gateway communities are those within 60 miles of a park service attraction, so all of Northwest Indiana benefited.

That's up by $4 million from last year's dunes-related visitor spending, which has been climbing steadily for the past three years.

The presence of the dunes also accounted for 1,000 jobs within the gateway communities, $39.4 million in labor income and a whopping $100.9 million in overall economic output into the communities, the park service's 2016 figures show.

Don't let their shifting sands fool you. Economically speaking, the dunes are a granite-strong foundation for future Region economic growth.

These already-promising figures have room to expand, and an important piece of that growth lies in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore becoming the Indiana Dunes National Park.

A bipartisan effort by U.S. House Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., and U.S. Sens. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., and Todd Young, R-Ind., seeks to accomplish this goal.

Full national park status would place the dunes on a marketing, mapping and tourism list next to the grand national parks of Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and many others.

And why not?

Though some often are down on our Region for perceived shortcomings, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has all of the breathtaking qualities of a full national park.

It boasts an incredibly diverse ecosystem, has one of the most beautiful stretches of freshwater beaches in the world and offers miles of recreational hiking trails.

Years ago, my then family of four enjoyed viewing wild cactus in and near Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

Last weekend, my now family of six were awestruck to learn that the same prickly pear cactus we admired in the Southwest grows wild and native in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Coyotes, deer, fox and a host of other wildlife thrive a literal stones throw from urban and industrial expanses.

Who can forget the wayfaring black bear to whom our dunes region played host when it ventured onto Northwest Indiana soil by way of Michigan?

For generations, Region and Chicago residents have known about the gem that is the dunes.

I grew up in the western suburbs but frequently camped with the Boy Scouts at the national lakeshore or Indiana Dunes State Park campgrounds, and a scoutmaster owned a beach house in Michigan City.

Placing the already thriving wonders of the dunes on a national park list would share its existence with a greater share of the world and potentially bring in more economically stimulating visitors.

We're fortunate our dunes already largely are under the auspices of the national park service, an important factor in protecting and preserving these wonders for current and future generations.

It's an economic no-brainer to evolve these 15,000-year-old natural wonders to the next level in our social, economic and recreational vernacular.
United Airlines wasnt prepared for this situation. Has anyone ever refused to get off of an airplane because they got bumped? If a child refuses to leave the classroom when instructed, teachers have been trained to remove all of the other students from the room as opposed to dragging the child out.

Administrators and counselors consult with the student privately. Why didnt any other passenger offer to give up their seat for the struggling, ousted man? One passenger could have demonstrated the same compassion expected of the airline by giving up their seat when the man showed signs of mental and emotional distress.

The only people on the plane who demonstrated respect for their fellow passengers were the three customers who got off of the plane at the captains request.

Carol Parker, Highland
Thousands of people took to the streets of Manhattan on this Earth Day for the March for Science, celebrating science and demanding its protection.

Demonstrators lined up at Columbus Circle on Saturday morning, and marched down Broadway to Times Square.

Demonstrators said they are concerned about climate change, and are demanding the Trump administration invest in environmental efforts like cleaner air and water, and not defund them.

They said potential cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency would be a step backwards.

"I'm looking forward to a future in which we can solve problems that we have using scientific means," one protestor said. "And if we don't support our scientific organizations with government funding, in particular with education, we're not going to get anywhere, we're going to end up in a bad place."

"The Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act  these are all things that came about after the very first Earth Day in 1970  which is also today, coincidentally," said Bill Ulfelder, the executive director of the Nature Conservancy. "These are things that need to remain in place."

The city police department estimates about 40,000 people took part in the march.

Demonstrators across the country and world are also voicing support for scientific freedom.

The main march was held on the National Mall in Washington. Bill Nye, the Science Guy, was one of the main organizers of the event, and stressed science serves everyone.

"Today, we have a great many lawmakers  not just here, but around the world  deliberately ignoring and actively suppressing science," Nye said to the crowd at the nation's capital. "Their inclination in misguided and in no one's best interest. Our lives are in every way improved by having clean water, reliable electricity, and access to electronic global information."

More than 500 other cities held similar rallies. Thousands hit the streets in Los Angeles for a peaceful demonstration there.

And in London, people marched by the city's research institutions to push for future science funding.
Police are investigating the death of a three-month-old baby in the Bronx on Saturday night.

Officers responded to a 911 call at an apartment on Ogden Ave. and West 167th St. in Highbridge around 11:27 p.m.

Police said they found Mark Ruane unconscious.

He was rushed to Bronx Lebanon Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

Neighbors, most of whom did not want to appear on camera, said they are familiar with the family, which recently moved into the building at 1133 Ogden Ave.

Police sources said the boy's mother is Alexondra Ambrocini. The identity of the child's father has not been released, and those NY1 spoke with in the building said they did not know his name.

"I recognize the guy," one neighbor said. "I've seen the guy before, but I've never seen him under distress. I've never seen him with a baby."

Neighbors on the floor said they did see police at the unit on a number of different occasions. They also said they heard a lot of noise coming from the apartment.

"There were some situations, like verbal situations," one neighbor said. "Everything calmed down for a while, but the police kept coming back for situations, and other agencies came and knocked on the door."

An official from the Administration for Children's Services said the agency is involved in the investigation along with the NYPD.
Synagogues across the city and around the world mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Gene Klein is a Holocaust Survivor and one of the last remaining survivors of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland.

He is also the subject of the book, "We Got the Water: Tracing My Family's Path Through Auschwitz."

Klein lost his father in the Holocaust, and says he hopes people will take a minute, either Sunday night or Monday, to just pause and reflect.

"Remember those who died, who were murdered, including my father. For 16 years, I thought my father was the best father in the world  you know, of course you do that," Klein said in an interview with NY1's Kristen Shaughnessy. "He was murdered and it's unbelievable, this huge amount."

Six million Jewish people were murdered during the Holocaust.
Omaha-area economic development leaders will tell you its been a long road to land Facebooks newest data center.

We swung and missed and swung and missed, said Randy Thelen, senior vice president for economic development for the Greater Omaha Chamber Economic Development Partnership. And hit the grand slam.

A grand slam, indeed. Lured at least in part by millions in state tax incentives, Facebook will pour at least $200 million, likely much more, into building a 970,000-square-foot data center campus south of Papillion. Thats comparable, square footage-wise, to the approximately 1 million-square-foot First National Bank Tower in downtown Omaha. The data center at Nebraska Highway 50 and Capehart Road will be the social media giants sixth in the United States and its ninth worldwide.

Its expected to create about 1,000 temporary construction jobs and at least 100 permanent jobs. Itll pave the way for future development along the Highway 50 corridor, including a possible expansion of its own across the highway. And its anticipated to provide a significant boost to property tax revenue.

But the project did not fall from the sky, Thelen said on a recent afternoon in a conference room at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerces building downtown. After six years of keeping their work off the publics radar, Thelen and some of the others involved in the project met with The World-Herald to talk about the puzzle pieces that needed to come together, at the right time, to make the Facebook data center a reality.

This was a long haul, Thelen said. This was a targeted effort.

Unbeknown to many, Facebook came knocking on the Omaha areas door two times before. Sealing the eventual deal required a multipronged approach, which was spearheaded by the Greater Omaha Partnership, a chamber-led collaboration among development organizations from eight counties. The projects scope was so far-reaching, it relied on teamwork from multiple entities and leaders around the state. And that called for patience  a lot of it.

Back in 2011, Facebook gave Nebraska its first shot. Site selectors visited some sites in Sarpy County, but werent impressed. The site was expensive and it wasnt ready to build on. There were too many unknowns.

They kind of gave us a pat on the head and said You guys are really nice,  said Andrew Rainbolt, executive director of the Sarpy County Economic Development Corp. The development corporation is a part of the Greater Omaha Partnership.

At the same time, Facebook was seriously considering a site in Kearney, Nebraska.

As rumors emerged that Kearney was a front-runner, state lawmakers scrambled to pass beefed-up tax incentives targeting large data centers. At that time, senators touted the project as potentially bringing more than $1 billion in investment.

During the 2012 spring legislative session, Legislative Bill 1118 passed with few roadblocks. The law added extra incentives for companies building data centers that invest at least $200 million in the state and hire at least 30 employees.

The incentives didnt sway Facebook: The social media giant ended up setting up shop in Altoona, Iowa, in 2013. But they were nonetheless an integral piece of the larger puzzle, organizers said.

That was key to making Nebraska much more competitive in the national market, said Mark Norman, senior director of client services at the Greater Omaha Partnership.

The Tier 2 Large Data Center component of the states incentive package offers a 10 percent credit on investments. That will translate to at least $20 million in state tax credits for Facebook. Most likely it will earn much more. While Facebook hasnt offered an estimate for its Papillion data center, its data centers elsewhere have price tags of more than $500 million.

In Forest City, North Carolina, Facebook invested more than $525 million statewide in the first few years of construction, said Lindsay Amos, a Facebook spokeswoman. In Prineville, Oregon, Facebook spent nearly $575 million during the first few years of construction, she said.

Other incentives based on employees salaries and property at the site will add to the total.

All of those incentives helped economic officials make a stronger case in 2014. That year, Facebook came knocking on Nebraskas door again. The Greater Omaha Partnership showed company leaders a 70-acre site at Highway 50 and Capehart Road. Site selectors gave it more consideration than in 2011 but still found issues. It wasnt big enough, they said. And how would the site get sewer service?

Well figure it out, development leaders assured them. But uncertainty is a major deterrent to a big company with a slew of other options to choose from. Facebook selected Fort Worth, Texas, for its next data center. It was another tough loss.

Greater Omaha Partnership leaders decided to use it as fuel.

Every time we didnt make it to the final round with the company, to that final site selection, we learned from that, Norman said. We adjusted what we needed to do.

The following year the Omaha Public Power District developed new energy rates to serve big electricity users seeking to power their operations with 100 percent renewable energy.

The Sewer Service Agreement among Omaha, Sarpy County and Gretna was amended to include the Highway 50 corridor. Now wastewater from the proposed Facebook site could be pumped north to the existing sewer.

A new two-year option was secured with Catholic Cemeteries, which owned the original 70-acre parcel of land. That gave the Sarpy County Economic Development Corp. control over all 134 acres on the northwest corner of Highway 50 and Capehart.

In November 2015, leaders decided to do their own door-knocking. Armed with a shiny new packet of information boasting the development partnerships progress, Rainbolt and OPPD economic development director Tim OBrien flew to Facebooks headquarters in Menlo Park, California. The site is ready, they told Facebooks site selectors. And its perfect for your next data center.

Facebook was intrigued enough to travel to Sarpy County in February 2016 to see the bigger site.

The energy rate, in particular, proved key. Paul Clements, data center energy manager at Facebook, praised the OPPD rate as very innovative and forward-thinking at a recent OPPD board meeting. Clements said even though his company will be the first to benefit, the new rate wont be exclusive to Facebook.

We feel like that (rate) will help continue economic development for OPPD and the State of Nebraska, Clements said.

Facebook offered a letter of intent in March 2016.

Still, nothing is a done deal in economic development until the dirt starts moving, Thelen said. And local officials did their best to keep the companys name secret as they ironed out details. The data center was referred to only by its code name, Project Raven.

Facebook representatives made several trips to visit Sarpy County in 2016. The Greater Omaha Partnership and OPPD also went back to Facebooks headquarters in September, this time with Gov. Pete Ricketts in tow. Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Courtney Dentlinger made the trip, too.

Then, during the fall of 2016, an ongoing legal battle between Springfield and Papillion threatened to derail the project.

Every project has a dark day when things are going south, said Sarpy County Board member Don Kelly. We had those days.

The two cities were fighting over a key boundary that determined whose zoning jurisdiction the data center would fall under. Without the boundary settled, the project was in peril.

Initially the data center site was in both Papillion and Sarpy Countys zoning. Papillion rushed to annex some land south of Nebraska Highway 370 that would extend its zoning to fully encompass the site. But the move threatened Springfields future growth.

Tensions had already been simmering between the two cities over a previous Papillion annexation. A year before, Springfield had filed a lawsuit against Papillion over zoning jurisdiction issues. Springfield filed a second in 2016. Economic development and local leaders were alarmed.

Eager to settle the dispute, Rainbolt and County Board members stepped in to help broker a development boundary agreement between Papillion and Springfield. After a long meeting and a lot of scribbling on maps, Springfield agreed to withdraw its lawsuits. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

There was a lot of compromising going on and a lot of decisions being made that are not only going to impact this data center, theyre going to impact everything in the future, Kelly said. It gave us a path forward that goes way beyond this project.

With issues resolved, the deal was sealed. On April 4, Facebook representatives flew to Nebraska to join Papillion, Sarpy County and state leaders for the big announcement at a packed Papillion City Hall.

The data center should bring a bump in Sarpy County property tax revenues, although no estimates are available yet.

Itll be significant property tax, said Mark Wayne, the countys administrator. But an exact number  we cant put our fingers on that yet.

The 183,000-square-foot Travelers data center nearby pays about $250,000 annually in property taxes, Wayne said. Facebooks data center will be about five times that size.

And Sarpy County documents indicate Facebooks initial plans could be followed by an expansion.

Facebooks plans involve a 134-acre, three-building campus on the northwest corner of Highway 50 and Capehart Road. However, plans submitted to Papillion indicate the data center will likely one day expand to 140 acres on the east side of the highway.

Thelen, Norman, Rainbolt and company arent resting on their laurels. They have more sites ready to shop around to companies. And they plan to see the Facebook project through.

Even though weve been saying this story goes back six years, Thelen said, its just starting.

World-Herald staff writer Cole Epley contributed to this report.
One of the images from Omaha Police Officer Brooks Rileys body camera shows 31-year-old Dillon R. Trejo running, his back to the officer. In the foreground is a shadow of the officers raised gun.

The next sequence of images, taken seconds later, shows Trejo turning around, lifting his shirt, reaching into his waistband and raising his hand as if he were holding a gun.

It turned out he wasnt armed last Monday when Riley shot him. Trejo was taken in critical condition to the hospital, but released on Saturday and booked into the county jail.

The Omaha Police Departments release of the images Tuesday evening represents the first time stills from body-camera footage have been released to the public so soon after an incident.

Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said the images show the public what the officer saw and why he responded as he did.

Though the full body-camera footage wasnt released in this case, Schmaderer said there will be times when the department determines its necessary to release the video.

There are occasions when officer-involved shootings take place and the information flow or what is circulating in the community  rumors, truths, what took place in that shooting  is swirling around, he said. Its important for the police department to control the information with just the facts.

Such decisions represent what Schmaderer sees as a tough balancing act when it comes to footage from officers body cameras: How does a police department weigh a suspects right to a fair trial against the publics right to know about what happened in an officer-involved shooting?

The issue will arise more often as the Omaha Police Department and other agencies more routinely equip officers with body cameras. The Omaha department began using 115 body cameras last spring and will distribute more to officers next year. The goal is to eventually equip all uniformed patrol officers and all gang unit officers with the cameras.

A Douglas County grand jury in March recommended that all law enforcement officers wear the cameras. The grand jury had decided not to issue any indictments in connection with seven Omaha-area deaths that occurred while people were in custody or in the presence of authorities.

According to the Omaha Police Departments body-camera policy, footage may be distributed only with written permission from the chief of police.

In last weeks case Schmaderer consulted with Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, and they determined that Riley thought he was responding to deadly force. The chief and Kleine said the officers actions were justified.

Schmaderer said he will consult with Kleine before future releases.

Before deciding to release body-camera footage, Schmaderer said, he considers that video footage is best understood in the context of a courtroom, not necessarily by members of the public who dont have the benefit of hearing expert witnesses explain what was caught on tape. Releasing such footage, he said, also should not endanger the integrity of an investigation or sway public opinion in a way that would taint a jury pool.

The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department treats body-camera footage of a police shooting as an investigative file, making no part of it public until the case is adjudicated.

In 2016 Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon signed a bill into law restricting access to video from police car dashboard and body cameras, holding footage until investigations are complete.

Des Moines Police Department policy acknowledges that Iowas open records law may require the release of body-camera video, but it outlines exceptions, including an ongoing investigation that could keep the footage confidential.

Deputy Omaha Police Chief Dave Baker said investigations involve several competing priorities, but the integrity of the investigation must be considered when making a decision about publicizing body-camera footage.

It is evidence like any other evidence we collect, Baker said.

Sam Walker, professor emeritus of criminal justice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, said the chief needs to be consistent and release images or footage even if the footage includes questionable behavior by the officer.

Building trust in the community depends on what they do in the future, Walker said. To release photos that exonerate an officer and then to later deny footage to someone involved in an incident, thats wrong. Thats biased.

Schmaderer said the Omaha Police Department will never cherry-pick how we are accountable.

If we are wrong, we are wrong, and we are going to show you how we are going to address it, the chief said. But if the officer acted appropriately, its also important that we show that accountability piece as well.

Because of legislation passed last year, Nebraskas grand jury death investigations are now public, meaning any body-camera footage of a fatal officer-involved shooting would be shown as evidence in the proceedings and eventually would be released.

Schmaderer spoke in favor of the bill last year. Now that it has passed, the release of body-camera footage in officer-involved shootings is no longer a matter of if but when.

Last weeks shooting in southeast Omaha ended a 5-hour incident. Earlier, police said, Trejo robbed the Buckys gas station at 2223 S. 24th St. and stole a Ford F-150 pickup truck at a house near 51st and Farnam Streets.

Schmaderer said the department generally will release still images of what happened in an officer-involved shooting. Videos, however, might not always be released before trial.

There is no one way in which you can uniformly say this is what will take place on every occasion, Schmaderer said. The one thing we can say will consistently take place on every occasion is transparency and accountability to the public.
WASHINGTON  Poverty issues may conjure images of blighted urban neighborhoods, but many residents of rural Nebraska and Iowa face the same challenges.

People often think of poverty only as they see it in cities, not realizing poverty today is more common than ever in suburban and rural areas, Rep. Adrian Smith said at a hearing earlier this year, his first as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committees Human Resources Subcommittee.

Its a key panel for grappling with policy responses to poverty, given its jurisdiction over the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, eligibility of welfare recipients for food stamps, low-income energy assistance and unemployment benefits.

The Nebraska Republican represents the states sprawling and largely rural 3rd District. The hearings theme  geography of poverty  aimed to highlight the shared challenges faced by Smiths constituents and those of the top Democrat on the panel, who represents an urban Chicago district.

While aspects of poverty in rural and urban areas can overlap, the solutions by their representatives often differ. Democrats are more likely to emphasize the need to preserve funding for federal programs and enroll more of those eligible for assistance. Smith has stressed ensuring that government programs offer the right incentives for people to move from welfare to work and measuring programs by results rather than dollars.

The depth of the problem was explored by the Center for Rural Affairs based in Lyons, Nebraska.

Rural communities in the Great Plains region had poverty rates chronically higher than the metropolitan rates, lower incomes and dwindling populations, center reports say.

When it comes to the federal nutrition assistance program commonly known as food stamps, one of the centers reports found that rural areas and small towns had about one in seven households  14 percent  receiving benefits. Thats 3 percentage points higher than the rate in metropolitan areas, says one report.

The centers executive director, Brian Depew, noted Smiths new committee assignment with interest.

This is an opportunity to see if we can find some common ground on what, in our view, is a major issue, Depew said.

The centers own proposals include tax credits for rural entrepreneurs, which he suggested could be included in the tax overhaul expected later this year  legislation that will start with the Ways and Means Committee.

As for the factors driving rural poverty, Depew pointed to the consolidation of agricultural operations and the decline of small manufacturing plants.

Federal policies, such as the lack of limits on crop insurance subsidies, encourage consolidation, he said. He suggested that some of that money would be better spent on grant programs for small producers.

Other policy experts cited the lack of public transportation, affordable housing, child care and access to health care in rural areas.

The flight of younger people to cities also means that many in rural areas are older people living on fixed incomes and struggling with health problems.

Barb Ostrum, a services coordinator with Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, has seen the challenges of rural poverty during her 25 years working in the area.

Based in McCook and covering several rural counties, Ostrum sees single parents struggling to make ends meet and older residents facing rising utility bills.

A medical issue, a death in the family or a layoff can throw people off track. Still, many hesitate to ask for help.

Pride is a huge issue in rural areas, Ostrum said.

The goal is to keep people in tough situations from spiraling further. Ostrum noted the recent case of a man who lost his job and the next one didnt pay enough to cover the bills. He was facing a move to the nearest homeless shelter 70 miles away.

Instead, the organization was able to keep him in his home with funding through the Nebraska Homeless Assistance Program, which includes federal and state grant money.

At the hearing, Smith talked about the need for local flexibility when it comes to anti-poverty programs, a move those on the front lines would welcome.

They said federal benefits are often strictly tied to income limits where making one more dollar can render someone ineligible. Or the money can be used only in very specific ways.

Ostrum described it as all black and white. We need a little gray money, she said.

Meredith Collins, Community Actions executive director, said paying for a day care provider, for example, or helping someone get his vehicle repaired can keep the challenges from snowballing.

United Way dollars are good for such purposes, but there are never enough, she said. And she worries about Trump administration proposals to pare back community service block grant money that does include that kind of flexibility.

Unfortunately thats on the chopping block with the new budget proposed by the White House, she said. It would completely devastate us as an agency if we lost that funding.

Asked whether he supports those proposed cuts, Smith did not directly answer. Instead, he noted that final budget decisions are up to Congress and said he will ensure those do not disproportionately impact rural areas.

Angela Wallick is the clinical director at Southwest Iowa Families in Clarinda, which provides social and mental health services for families.

Wallick suggested the key is integrating various support systems: job training, transportation, child care. She said shes seen clients land a job and perform well and still run into problems.

If they cant get there because of transportation or if theyre likely to get fired because they have a sick child or a child whos acting out in school, then theyre back to being unemployed, she said.

In an interview, Smith said a key take-away from the hearing was the importance of job training and finding ways to engage the jobless. People face hard times, Smith said, but policy should focus on moving them toward independence rather than instituting more government programs.

I dont think there are many Americans who would opt for unemployment and a life thats not as fulfilling or as engaging in the dignity of work and prosperity, Smith said.

Shortly after the hearing, Smith helped shepherd through legislation intended to empower states to drug test those receiving unemployment benefits.

Proponents argue its a way to identify and help people with substance abuse problems. Smith talked about the need to reassure employers that those on unemployment are prepared to re-enter the workforce.

James Goddard, director of Nebraska Appleseeds economic justice program, said helping people access treatment is positive. But if the idea is We need to drug test so we can kick them off of a supportive program, I dont see how thats ultimately helpful.

Smith said its important to empower states as well as to create more job opportunities, pointing to energy policy and infrastructure programs. Even though unemployment in Nebraska and Iowa is relatively low, more jobs could help raise what those jobs pay.

The best way to raise wages is when an applicant has two job offers, Smith said.

He said Congress and the Trump administration are working on policies such as cutting regulations that may keep a business from expanding and hiring people.

He also said that policies promoting cheaper food and energy particularly benefit low-income families.

If someone feels less burdened to have to have three jobs, thats economic freedom, too, Smith said.
Gold is chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Brown is president of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

Just as aviation simulation changed the aerospace industry, the University of Nebraska Medical Center is poised to use virtual reality and simulation to transform health care education.

Recently, Nebraskas education, government, health care and philanthropic communities joined with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and representatives of the global simulation industry to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Dr. Edwin & Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center for Advanced Interprofessional Learning.

The Davis Global Center will house UNMCs iEXCEL initiative, through which Nebraskas future generations of physicians, dentists, nurses and allied health professionals will use simulated learning technologies to master their skills before treating a single human patient.

This facility, and the transformational work that will occur within, will change Nebraskas educational and technological landscape. It will better prepare Nebraskas future health professionals, meeting critical workforce needs across our state and effectively positioning us to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing industry.

It will create hundreds of new high-paying jobs and grow Nebraskas economy. Most importantly, it will save lives.

And it is possible only because public and private dollars came together in yet another game-changing partnership for our state. Without this partnership, this transformational project and so many others would not have become a reality.

The Davis Global Center is the latest example of how public-private partnerships can help grow the university and grow Nebraska. We are grateful to State Sens. Robert Hilkemann and John Stinner, as well as Gov. Pete Ricketts and other legislators for supporting the state investment in iEXCEL. Likewise, we are grateful to the City of Omaha and to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for their generous support.

We are particularly grateful to the private benefactors whose visionary contributions continue to allow the community and the university to accomplish things that wouldnt otherwise be possible. Together, these public and private dollars constitute an investment in Nebraskas future that will yield tremendous and sustainable returns for our state  particularly at a time when the need to remain competitive is as great as it has ever been.

These kinds of collaborative efforts dont happen everywhere. They are happening here in Nebraska because the business sector, government leaders and citizens of this state have a rich tradition of coming together, rolling up our sleeves and getting things done.

One need only to look at UNMCs nursing college in Norfolk or the new nursing and allied health facility on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus to see the impact of such partnerships.

The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha, the largest public-private partnership in our states history, will provide thousands of new jobs and inject $537 million into our economy each year. It will substantially enhance Nebraskas role as a destination for cancer research, education and clinical care  just as the Davis Global Center, which will also house the National Center for Health Security and Biopreparedness, will do for health care education.

These partnerships happen because Nebraskas philanthropic community has a remarkable ability to envision not just what is, but what is possible.

They happen because our elected officials are committed to making this state an even better place to live, work and invest. And they happen because its the Nebraska way to make strategic decisions today that will position our state to succeed tomorrow.

Weve heard that in Nebraska, if you can dream it, you can do it. Weve seen time and again that this is true.

Public and private investments in the community and the university are investments that represent confidence in what can be accomplished on behalf of Nebraska citizens.

As with any investment, theres an expected return  in terms of new jobs, a more vibrant economy, more opportunities for students, enhanced health outcomes and a stronger state.

Were grateful for the confidence that public, private and philanthropic partners have shown in our university and state. Were ready to deliver even greater results in the future.
Man rapes 8-year-old to use her blood for removing obstacles to his marriage

1 person killed, 3 injured as Nor'wester sweeps West Bengal

India

oi-PTI

Kolkata, April 23: One person was killed and three others were injured as a Nor'wester hit the city on Saturday evening disrupting rail and road traffic.

The Police sources said that "one person was killed and three others were injured when a tree fell on a car near Airport Gate No 1, on Jessore Road, in the northern outskirts of the city. While the driver of the car was declared dead, the three other car occupants were taken to hospital."

The storm also disrupted vehicular traffic in various parts of city as uprooted trees fell on various roads. Work was continuing on war footing to clear stretches of Harish Mukherjee Road, Rasbehari Avenue, Judges Court Road and some other parts, the Police sources said.

However, the storm, locally known as Kalboisakhi, also brought much needed respite from the heat and humid conditions of past few days as the mercury dipped.

PTI

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Story first published: Sunday, April 23, 2017, 10:32 [IST]
Why Punjab farmers burn stubble at this scale when others do not

30 per cent down: How Haryana aced the decrease in stubble burning

Delhi: TN CM meets the protesting farmers at Jantar Mantar

India

ians-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, April 23: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Sunday met with protesting farmers from his state at the Jantar Mantar and assured help.

The farmers have protested here for the past 40 days and demands loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery management board to resolve their irrigation issues.

Palaniswami, in a brief 20 minutes meeting, assured that he will take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for funds to waive off the loan and urged the farmers to end their protest.

"We will try to cut down the unnecessary expenses and make arrangements...I will take up the farmer's demands to the Prime Minister...We urge the farmers to end their protest," Palaniswami said.

P. Ayyakannu, president of the National-South Indian Rivers Linking Farmers Association, who is also leading the protest, said the agitation will not end until their demands are met which also includes meeting the Prime Minister.

In past 40 days, the protesting farmers have marched naked outside the Prime Minister's office, ate mice, shaved their heads, marked mock funerals and on Saturday even drank their urine to attract the central government and the Prime Minster's attention towards their cause and plight.

Bold in their way of protesting, farmers demonstrate with the skulls of their kin and other farmers from Tamil Nadu who committed suicide. Earlier this month, the central government approved Rs 1,712 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund for Tamil Nadu.

But the state government has sought a relief package of Rs 40,000 crore. Tamil Nadu is facing a severe drought. In January, the state government declared Tamil Nadu drought-hit after over 100 farmers allegedly committed suicide.

According to the farmersm nothing has grown over 29 lakh hectare in Cauvery delta since 2016 due to lack of water.

IANS
Delhi: Woman fined Rs 50K for submitting forged documents for insurance claim

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, April 23: The apex consumer commission has imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on a woman for submitting forged documents for claiming insurance.

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, while upholding the decision of the state commission to dismiss the complaint, has asked Rajasthan resident Sumanbai Ramesh Gaikwad to deposit the amount at its consumer legal aid account.

"It is evident that the petitioner Sumanbai has tried to practice fraud by submitting a forged document. Therefore, penal cost of Rs 50,000 is imposed on the petitioner, who is directed to deposit the amount in consumer legal aid account- NCDRC," the bench headed by presiding member Justice Ajit Bharihoke said.

According to the complaint, Sumanbai's husband Ramesh Gaikwad had purchased two life insurance policies of Rs 5 lakh each from Life Insurance Corporation of India, LIC.

Sumanbai's husband Ramesh Gaikwad had purchased two life insurance policies of Rs 5 lakh each from Life Insurance Corporation of India.

It said that the man died of a heart attack on September 4, 2005 and the insurance claim filed by his wife was repudiated on the ground that he had obtained the policies by concealing material facts about his health.

The district forum had allowed her complaint and directed the insurance company to pay her Rs 10 lakh.

However, the state commission, allowed the appeal and set aside the district forum's order and dismissed the complaint after considering the letter of a doctor, who was treating Gaikwad, saying he was suffering from a heart disease from 2003.

The counsel said that while answering the questionnaire of LIC in 2005, after the death of Gaikwad, the doctor had written that the insured consulted him in 2008 and hence he was not reliable.

The NCDRC, however said that "it was obvious that a forged copy of the questionnaire was submitted by Sumanbai's counsel after converting the figure '3' to '8' and submitted a photocopy of the record."

"The petitioner with a view to practice fraud on the insurance company and also on the consumer fora has forged copy of the questionnaire dated December 2, 2005 by converting the figure '3' of July 2003 into '8' and filing the photocopy on the record," the NCDRC bench said.

PTI

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Story first published: Sunday, April 23, 2017, 12:19 [IST]
Is Chhattisgarh govt doing enough about Maoist menace?

The Magadh zone: Why naxals are desperate to revive it?

Maoist commander carrying cash reward of Rs 1 lakh arrested in Chhattisgarh

India

oi-PTI

Raipur, April 23: A Maoist commander, carrying a cash reward of Rs one lakh on his head, was arrested from Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh the police said on Sunday.

"Hadma Madkam 30, who was active as the janmilitia commander of Maoists, was apprehended on Saturday from a forest near Parcheli and Chikpal villages, Katekalyan Police Station House Officer SHO," Vijay Patel told PTI.

"A composite squad of the Central Reserve Police Force's 195th battalion and the district force was out on an operation when they received a tip-off about the rebel's location," he said.

"Madkam was allegedly involved in the IED blast triggered by Naxalson April 17 near Gudse village in which two STF jawans were injured," the SHO added.

He is also a part of the squad of Maoists who had allegedly set a passenger bus on fire after asking the occupants to alight near Gatam village in February this year, he said.

Madkam was wanted in connection with other offences also, including attacks on police parties, he added.

PTI

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Story first published: Sunday, April 23, 2017, 14:57 [IST]
IRCTC update: 136 trains cancelled on Nov 08; here is the complete list

Delhi enveloped in thick smog with 'very poor' air quality

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Delhi MCD Elections 2017 Live: Polling ends, 54 % voting recoded

India

oi-Madhuri

Voting started on Sunday morning for municipal elections in Delhi across 272 wards.

Over 2,500 candidates are in the fray for elections to North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 seats each) and East Delhi Municipal Congress (64 seats).

Over 1.32 crore eligible voters are likely to exercise their franchise at 13,022 polling booths across the city.

Leaders of various political parties including the Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress are expected to cast their ballot early in the day.

Over 56,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel are on guard at the polling booths, while an additional 20,000 home guards have been deployed to ensure law and order in the city on the election day. The counting of votes will take place on April 26.

Here are the live updates:

05:40: Polling time for Delhi Municipal polls ends

05:25: Delay in sending poll percentage by officials has irked SEC, a memo will be issued to officials.

03:55 pm: 31.13% voting recorded till 2 pm in 183 out of 270 wards voting today

03:52 pm: 16.71% voting percentage has been recorded till 12 noon. As per the Election Commission update, 2,237,056 votes were polled till 12 PM.

12:21 pm: Former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit after casting her vote in a polling booth in DAV School(Nizamuddin East)

11:26 am: Municipal elections to two wards in Delhi have been postponed due to the death of two candidates. The two wards are Maujpur in East Delhi and Sarai Pipal in North Delhi. Both candidates belonged to the Samajwadi Party.

10:49 am: 1.16 per cent voting in Delhi municipal polls till 10:30 am

10:44 am: Congress's Ajay Maken after casting vote at a polling booth in Rajouri Garden in Delhi

10:14 am: Parties appeal voters to come out and cast their vote

Vote for Congress. Vote for Governance. Vote for Delhi. pic.twitter.com/KyiWogthfj  INC India (@INCIndia) April 23, 2017

10:11 am: Rajouri Garden councillor Subhash Arya casts his ballot.

10:09 am: My switching to BJP wasn't an overnight decision, it was what the Congress did for last two years: Arvinder Singh Lovely

09:28 am: Minor spat reported at polling booths after a few people objected on wearing saffron colour.

09:24 am: If you want freedom from garbage and diseases, says Arvind Kejriwal, after casting vote in Road Transport Office in Civil Lines

09:06 am: If you go to the slums, you would see that the people living ion slums do not even have water to drink. This is what Arvind Kejriwal done in Delhi: Manoj Tiwari

09:05 am: Union Minister Dr.Harshvardhan after casting his vote in a polling booth in Krishna Nagar's Ratan Devi School

Union Minister Dr.Harshvardhan after casting his vote in a polling booth in Krishna Nagar's Ratan Devi School #MCDelections2017 pic.twitter.com/KpMhseOkeV  ANI (@ANI_news) April 23, 2017

08:42 am: Arvinder Singh Lovely who recently joined BJP returns from polling booth in East Azad Nagar after EVM was not working

Arvinder Singh Lovely who recently joined BJP returns from polling booth in East Azad Nagar after EVM was not working #MCDelections2017 pic.twitter.com/k9T8gAmw8o  ANI (@ANI_news) April 23, 2017

08:40 am: Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia arrives at Pandav Nagar, says if people want to see a clean Delhi and get rid of dengue they should vote for AAP.

08:32 am: Delhi Lt.Governor Anil Baijal after casting his vote in a polling station in Greater Kailash-3

Delhi Lt.Governor Anil Baijal after casting his vote in a polling station in Greater Kailash-3 #MCDelections2017 pic.twitter.com/9QyWVTmyHp  ANI (@ANI_news) April 23, 2017

08:00 am: Voting underway in Delhi's Pandav Nagar for MCD elections

OneIndia News
UK PM Liz Truss resigns after 45 days in office, successor to be elected next week

Iraq gets a new government after a year of deadlock

Modi to launch UDAN scheme on April 27

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Shimla, April 23: A grand reception awaits Prime Minister Narendra Modi's day-long visit to the 'Queen of Hills' as Shimla was fondly called by the British colonial rulers, this week to launch an air connectivity scheme and sound the poll bugle in the state, a BJP leader said on Sunday.

Modi will hold a massive roadshow, besides launching the Centre's subsidised air regional connectivity scheme UDAN, or 'Ude Desh ka Har Nagarik', building efficient regional air connectivity from Shimla on April 27.

Later, he will address a public meeting, which is likely to see participation of over one lakh party workers, at the historic Ridge,once the promenade for the British colonial rulers when this city was their summer capital.

"Prime Minister Modi will land at the Jubbarhatti airport near Shimla around 11 am and launch the UDAN scheme," former state Health Minister Rajeev Bindal, who is in charge of the Prime Minister's ally, told IANS.

Bindal said that "after inaugurating the maiden regional connectivity Shimla-Delhi flight from the airport, located 2,196 metres above sea-level, Modi will start his roadshow from Chaura Maidan to the Ridge, the rally venue, 3 km away."

The Shimla airport has been shut for scheduled flights since September 6, 2012, affecting tourists and business travellers to the state.

The Prime Minister will also flag off the regional connectivity Nanded-Mumbai-Hyderabad 'UDAN' flight in Maharashtra and Katappa-Hyderabad flight in Karnataka from Jubbarhatti through video-conferencing, Union Civil Aviation Secretary R.K. Choubey said.

IANS

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Story first published: Sunday, April 23, 2017, 13:51 [IST]
IRCTC update: 136 trains cancelled on Nov 08; here is the complete list

'Kejriwal ji, if my claims true, you'll resign and retire': Sukesh writes a new letter

NITI Aayog meet; No show by Mamata, Kejriwal

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, April 23: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were among those who skipped Niti Aayog's Governing Council meet in Delhi on Sunday.

The third meeting of the council began at Rashtrapati Bhawan with the main agenda of deliberating on the 15-year Vision Document to accelerate the country's economic development.

"West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal could not come to attend the Governing Council meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan," a source said.

However, the source said that "Kejriwal sent Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to represent Delhi. The source further said a large number of chief ministers are attending the meeting because Prime Minister Narendra Modi had refused to allow their official representatives to participate in the deliberations."

The source said that "Modi had made it clear that only the chief minister or the deputy chief minister will represent their states and no other official will be allowed to participate in the meeting."

Among the opposition ruled states, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy attended the meeting.

PTI

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Story first published: Sunday, April 23, 2017, 15:34 [IST]
Justice delayed is justice denied: How many Hindu leaders will be killed before justice prevails?

No foul play in Bajrang Dal activist's death: Police

India

pti-PTI

Mangaluru, Apr 23: Citing post-mortem findings, Police on Sunday ruled out any possible 'foul play' in the death of a Bajrang Dal activist near a beach here and said it appeared to be a case of "drowning by accident".

The body of 35-year old Jagadish Suvarna, Bengre unit Bajrang Dal Convenor and a boat co-pilot, was found close to an estuary at Alivebagilu near here on April 21. Police had initially stated that the body had injuries and it was suspected Survarna was killed by unknown persons.

However, police said the postmortem did not reveal any injury and there was no reason to suspect foul play. It appeared to be a case of drowning by accident. Mangaluru Police Commissioner M Chandra Sekhar told reporters that a case of unnatural death had been registered on a complaint by the victim's brother Shivananda.

He said there appeared to be no cause for suspicion as alleged by some people on social media. It was a "clear case of drowning by accident", but further investigation was underway, the Commissioner added.

Suvarna, who worked as co-pilot of a passenger boat, was an active member of Bajrang Dal and was appointed convenor of the Bengre unit two months ago, police said.

[Karnataka: Missing Bajrang Dal activist found dead on Mangaluru beach]

Assistant Commissioner of Police Udaya Nayak said Suvarna had attended a wedding the previous night and reportedly went for a few drinks with friends. He set out to report for his duty as boat co-pilot at 4.30 am. Police suspect Suvarna fell into the sea and drowned.

PTI
HYDERABAD: The ruling TRS utilised all the seven resolutions passed at its plenary held here on Friday to explain how it was fulfilling its poll promises gradually, besides hitting back at opposition parties for making false charges. For instance, moving a resolution on New policies and progressive steps, B.Vinod Kumar, MP, accused the opposition of belittling creation of smaller districts.



KCR is known for innovative thoughts and progressive ideas. During the Telangana movement, he not only envisioned a separate state but also division of the then big districts into smaller ones for administrative convenience, he said.

The MP claimed that smaller districts enabled the government to formulate tailor-made welfare schemes in each district in accordance with the socio-economic conditions in the district.



During a debate on the resolution relating to welfare schemes, party leaders tried to explain various welfare measures. An amount of `40,000 crore in the state budget is allocated for welfare programmes. Its a record in the country, Konda Surekha said.

The party plenary passed resolutions on subjects like welfare of BCs, SCs and STs, construction of 2BHK houses and governments flagship programmes such as Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya.
Places renamed by China have Dalai Lama, Tibet links: Expert

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, April 23: Most of the six places in Arunachal Pradesh that China renamed recently have some significance related to the Dalai Lama or Tibet, Srikanth Kondapalli, a professor of Chinese studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University said on Sunday.

China had earlier this week given a new name, Wo'gyainling, to Guling Gompa, located on the outskirts of Tawang. This is the place where the sixth Dalai Lama was born.

Daporijo town in Upper Subansiri district was named Mila Ri. It is located besides the river Subansiri, which is one of the principal rivers of Arunachal Pradesh and a major tributary of the Brahmaputra.

Prof. Kondapalli said that "this place has been used by people from Tibet to enter into India and was a corridor that has not seen military presence from either side for many years."

"Renaming of Mechuka as Mainquka was to challenge India's claim on the area as it is strategically located, with heavy military presence, he said. The Indian Air Force maintains an Advanced Landing Ground in China, which is located in West Siang district, he added.

Bumla, the place where the Dalai Lama made his first stopover during his April 4-13 visit to Arunachal Pradesh, has also been renamed by the Chinese as Bumola.

Prof. Kondapalli said that "this area was invaded in 1962 by the Chinese troops who were subsequently pushed back by the Indian Army."

Namaka Chu area has been renamed as Namkapub Ri, he said, adding the area has a huge potential for hydro-electricity. China renamed a sixth place as Qoidengarbo Ri area but it is not clear which place in Arunachal Pradesh it refers to.

According to Prof. Kondapalli, "these areas also have a huge potential for agriculture and fisheries besides hydro-electricity. All these places came into prominence in the 1980s when several Chinese strategic scholars started writing about them, saying these could solve problems of electricity and vegetation in Tibet," he said.

"These green areas, capable of producing vast quantities of food, were seen by Chinese scholars as the "apple of the eye" of the Tibet region, which is generally dry," Prof. Kondapalli said.

He said this was part of a trend started by China of giving names to their claims specifically the islands in South China Sea where it has conflicting claims with South-East Asian countries.

Prof. Kondapalli suggested that India can hit back at China by renaming Aksai Chin and Mansarovar areas, which are under Chinese occupation but claimed by India.

PTI

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Story first published: Sunday, April 23, 2017, 16:14 [IST]
Video: OMG! Woman cooks omelette on hot floor of her house in Telangana

Caught on Camera: Caretaker burns hands of children with hot spoon in Karimnagar

Speeding bike rams into tree, 4 killed in Telangana

India

oi-PTI

Karimnagar, April 23: Four persons were killed when their motorcycle rammed into a tree at a village in Jagtial district in Telangana the police said on Sunday.

"The victims were travelling on the speeding bike from Dharmapuri to Karimnagar when it hit a tree on a roadside at Rayapatnam village at around 9.30 pm on Saturday, the police added".

"All the four men died on the spot. The deceased were identified as Suramalla Harish, Kasturi Sai, Kampelli Mahesh and Vurumatla Madhukar, all hailing from Beersani village in Buggaram mandal," the police said.

The bodies were sent for postmortem to a government hospital in Jagtial, the police added.

PTI

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Story first published: Sunday, April 23, 2017, 11:17 [IST]
Swamy calls for recognising Balochistan as separate country

India

pti-PTI

Vadodara, Apr 23: India should recognise Balochistan as a separate country if Pakistan went ahead with the execution of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said on Sunday.

"Pakistan should be taught a lesson by recognising Balochistan if it executes Jadhav. Not only that, Pakistan should be divided into Balochistan, Pakhtunistan and Sindh to teach it a lesson for encouraging cross-border terrorism," he said.

Swamy was delivering a lecture on 'India and International Terrorism', organised by Bharat Vikas Parishad, an NGO, at the Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad Nagargruh in Akota locality in Vadodara.

"Merely declaring Pakistan as a state sponsoring terrorism will not serve any purpose. Only the disintegration of Pakistan will help tackle the issue of cross-border terrorism better," said the Rajya Sabha member.

He also said "attacks" should be carried out on the premises of the two most wanted terrorists -- Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim -- who have taken shelter in Pakistan. He suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should seek support from the US to fight against terrorism originating from the Pakistani soil.

"India should not worry about Pakistan's threat of using the atom bomb in case of a troubled situation on the border as the button of this bomb is in the hands of the US, which has full control over the affairs of the neighbouring country," said Swamy.

He also requested Modi to improve the ties with China and seek its cooperation in fighting terrorism as terrorists were using the Chinese territory to enter Kashmir. Referring to terrorism in Punjab in the past, Swamy said India had defeated the divisive designs of the Khalistanis and it could do so in Kashmir as well.

"The incidents of stonepelting have stopped in Kashmir after the Indian government started taking action," he claimed.

PTI
IRCTC update: 136 trains cancelled on Nov 08; here is the complete list

'Kejriwal ji, if my claims true, you'll resign and retire': Sukesh writes a new letter

TN farmers call-off protest after Palaniswami's assurance

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Tamil Nadu farmers, who have been protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for over 40 days, called off their agitation till May 25 after Chief Minister K. Palaniswami's assurance of help.

The TN farmers have been protesting in the national capital demanding loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery management board to resolve their irrigation issues.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami, who met them on Sunday, assured that he will take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for funds to waive off the loan and urged the farmers to end their protest.

In past 40 days, the protesting farmers have marched naked outside the Prime Minister's office, ate mice, shaved their heads, marked mock funerals and on Saturday even drank their urine to attract the central government and the Prime Minister's attention towards their cause and plight.

Bold in their way of protesting, farmers demonstrate with the skulls of their kin and other farmers from Tamil Nadu who committed suicide.

Earlier this month, the central government approved Rs 1,712 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund for Tamil Nadu. But the state government has sought a relief package of Rs 40,000 crore.

Tamil Nadu is facing a severe drought. In January, the state government declared Tamil Nadu drought-hit after over 100 farmers allegedly committed suicide. According to the farmersm nothing has grown over 29 lakh hectare in Cauvery delta since 2016 due to lack of water.

OneIndia New

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Story first published: Sunday, April 23, 2017, 18:52 [IST]
Two leaves' symbol row: TTV Dinakaran reaches Crime Branch, grilled over 'bribery'

India

oi-Madhuri

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ousted leader TTV Dinakaran on Sunday reached the Crime Branch office of Delhi Police where he will be questioned in connection with bribing of an Election Commission official to get the party's 'two-leaves' symbol.

Earlier on Saturday, Dhinakaran was questioned by the police for close to seven hours over an alleged attempt to bribe an Election Commission official for retaining the 'two leaves' party symbol and the related money trail.

It is learnt that an ACP ranked investigating officer quizzed Dinakaran, the nephew of jailed AIADMK chief Sasikala and his associates.

Dinakaran's lawyers were not allowed to accompany him during the questioning by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch which began after 3 PM at its Chanakyapuri Inter State Cell office and went on till 10.15 pm amid tight security.

His call logs, WhatsApp messages and SMSes were also examined, police said. Dhinakaran told police that he will appear for further questioning at 2 pm tomorrow.

Throughout the interrogation, Dinakaran didn't accept that he knows Sukesh, sources said.

Crime Branch officers carried out cross-examination of Sukesh and the leader. Dhinakaran's PA Janardhan was questioned about the leader's association with Sukesh and whether the leader had made any phone calls to clinch a deal, sources said.

His longtime friend Mallikarjuna was also quizzed to get more details about the case.

Dhinakaran has maintained he does not know Sukesh and has never met him. There was heavy security outside the office and mediapersons weren't allowed to enter the premises. Even local residents were asked to show identity cards before entering the area that houses the office.

Nobody saw Dhinakaran exiting from the premises as he was taken through a back gate. Earlier in the day, Dhinakaran was accosted by reporters at the Delhi airport when he arrived there. From the airport, he was accompanied by the police to a five-star hotel in Lutyens Delhi where he had lunch and consulted his lawyers.

When quizzed whether the case was part of a political conspiracy or whether his arrest is imminent, he told reporters, "I am here to attend the inquiry. I don't know." The controversial AIADMK leader had earlier been served summons by Delhi Police at his Chennai residence in the case.

Dhinakaran, who was appointed as Deputy General Secretary by Sasikala, has been isolated in his party amid moves to merge rival factions led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami and his predecessor O Panneerselvam.

A powerful section of the ruling AIADMK recently revolted against Sasikala-Dhinakaran leadership. The development came after Panneerselvam, who is leading the rival faction, demanded ouster of Sasikala and Dhinakaran as a condition for the merger. Dhinakaran later announced he would stay away from party affairs and that he could be removed only by Sasikala.

Sasikala is at present serving a four-year jail term in Bengaluru in a disproportionate assets case.

OneIndia News (with PTI inputs)
Trump skips WH Correspondents' dinner to hold big rally

International

ians-IANS

By Ians English

Washington, April 23: US President Donald Trump said that he will mark his 100th day in office on April 29 by "holding a big rally in Pennsylvania", the media reported.

"Next Saturday night I will be holding a big rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it," Trump tweeted on Saturday. The rally will take place on the same day as the annual White House correspondents' dinner, which the President has declined to attend, reports CNN.

The announcement comes just a day after Trump tweeted about the "ridiculous standard" of the 100-day construct for measuring the achievements of a new administration.

The 100 days measure is linked to President Franklin Roosevelt, who signed 15 major pieces of legislation early in his presidency; the time frame is when a president's power and influence with Congress is likely the greatest.

Trump himself talked repeatedly about his first 100 days when he was campaigning last year. It was part of his stump speech in the final week of the campaign -- he asked his crowds in Minnesota, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and elsewhere to "imagine what we can accomplish in the first 100 days of a Trump administration".

IANS
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By Alyssa Rosenberg

Yaa Gyasi's "Homegoing" won a PEN/ Hemingway Award and the National Book Critics Circle's John Leonard First Book Prize.

It's fortuitous that Yaa Gyasi's "Homegoing" (Knopf Doubleday, 320 pages, $26.95), an intergenerational family novel that traces a path from the slave trade in Ghana to the United States in the present day, arrived in bookstores shortly after the History Channel aired a remake of the famous miniseries based on Alex Haley's "Roots."

Sprawling even further -- if not more grandly -- than "Roots," "Homegoing" is an excellent companion piece to the miniseries, deepening the questions "Roots" raises about what it means to recover lost histories.

If "Roots" is the story of a single family lineage, "Homegoing" follows a family split in two by slavery. Effia the Beauty, who marries James, an English slave trader, represents one branch, which remains in Ghana, while her half sister Esi is sold into slavery and transplanted in the United States.

And while "Roots" suggests that there is power in reclaiming your own history and remembering your traditions, "Homegoing" implies that some things will remain unknowable. By the time the two lineages in Gyasi's novel re-converge, we know that the two young people who meet on Stanford's campus share a heritage, even though they never will.

"Homegoing" is, to Gyasi's credit, more interested in raising difficult questions than offering pat answers. Slavery marks her characters not merely because some of them are sold, whipped, stolen from freedom back into slavery, licensed as convicts, discriminated against in employment and housing and felled by drug addiction in America. They come from families that participated in the slave trade, and struggle with their own guilt and ambiguity over their participation in a business that leads families to scar their children so they will be harder to sell.

James, who descends from Effia's line of the family, falls in love with Akosua, who initially rejects him because of his family's involvement with the slave trade. "The Asante had power from capturing slaves," James thinks after their first meeting. "The Fante had protection from trading them. If the girl could not shake his hand, then surely she could never touch her own."

None of this absolves white people from their sins as slave traders, slave owners, colonial overseers and the beneficiary of generations of inequality in the United States. But it is an uneasy reminder that when you dig into the past, you don't always find heroism. Sometimes, you discover complicity.

And you don't always find easy solutions, either. Marcus, who is descended from Esi, finds himself overwhelmed by the way different parts of history connect to and implicate each other. Gyasi writes:

"Originally, he'd wanted to focus his work on the convict leasing system that had stolen years off of his great-grandpa H's life, but the deeper into the research he got, the bigger the project got. How could he talk about Great-Grandpa H's story without also talking about his grandma Willie and the millions of other black people who had migrated north, fleeing Jim Crow? And if he mentioned the Great Migration, he'd have to talk about the cities that took that flock in. He'd have to talk about Harlem. And how could he talk about Harlem without mentioning his father's heroin addiction - the stints in prison, the criminal record? And if he was going to talk about heroin in Harlem in the '60s, wouldn't he also have to talk about crack everywhere in the '80s? And if he wrote about crack, he'd inevitably be writing, too, about the "war on drugs." And if he started talking about the war on drugs, he'd be talking about how nearly half of the black men he grew up with were on their way either into or out of what had become the harshest prison system in the world. And if he talked about why friends from his hood were doing five-year bids for possession of marijuana when nearly all the white people he'd gone to college with smoked it openly every day, he'd get so angry that he'd slam the research book on the table of the beautiful but deadly silent Lane Reading Room of Green Library of Stanford University. And if he slammed the book down, then everyone in the room would stare and all they would see would be his skin and his anger, and they'd think they knew something about him, and it would be the same something that had justified putting his great-grandpa H in prison, only it would be different too, less obvious than it once was."

As Effia put it long ago in Ghana, "In her village, everything was everything. Everything bore the weight of everything else."

Marcus is what H once dreamed that the son of his friend could be, "a new kind of black man altogether, one who got to use his mind." But being allowed to work with his mind, rather than his body doesn't mean that Marcus alone can untangle the heavy burden of history, assigning blame and responsibility and figuring out how to move forward.

And in the end, it's a visceral, physical experience, the feel of ocean water on the coast of Ghana, and the weight of a pendant on his chest that lifts Marcus up, at least for a moment. The work will be waiting for him, and for the rest of us.

***

Yaa Gyasi

When: 4 p.m. Saturday, May 6

Where: Powell's City of Books, 1005 W. Burnside St.

Admission: Free
Public Safety Oregon

(The Oregonian/OregonLive)

(The Oregonian/File)

A man was assaulted in his Vancouver motel room, then tied up and robbed Saturday, Clark County sheriff's officials said. Deputies are searching for the suspect.

The victim told police he was assaulted in his room at the Value Motel at 708 NE 78th Street in Vancouver, WA. The suspect then tied up him and stole all his property, Clark County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Duncan Hoss said.

A blue 2002 Ford Ranger pickup truck was also reported stolen. It has the Washington license plate B35076K.

Police consider the suspect dangerous and ask that anyone who sees the vehicle call 911.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive
Just a typical day at the state capitol

Former Oregon Rep. Bruce Hanna argues that Gov. Kate Brown, House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate President Peter Courtney could help to bring down costs around public employee healthcare so the savings reach Oregon classrooms and improve graduation outcomes by passing House Bill 3428.

(Faith Cathcart)

Bruce Hanna

During my time in the Legislature, and particularly as co-Speaker of the Oregon House, Oregonians were clear about their priorities. They wanted us to increase access to healthcare, improve its delivery, and prioritize predictable education funding that would improve graduation rates while getting more money into the classroom.

During the 2011-12 legislative session, we worked to accomplish all of those things. Not only did we implement the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, but for the first time in anyone's memory we passed the education budget first so that school districts and educators had peace of mind to plan for the coming school years. In fact, we took our commitments to stabilize education and healthcare budgets a step further.

Legislators realized that if we expanded Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of new Oregonians, we were going to have to find a way to pay for it once the federal match rate decreased. We were also concerned about balancing the risk pool in Cover Oregon and the Exchange so that healthcare remained affordable for all. After a 2011 cost-savings measure to allow school districts to opt out of the Oregon Education Benefits Board (OEBB) failed, we settled on a different approach to free up money for schools while ensuring the success of the Exchange.

In 2012, as part of the business plan for Cover Oregon, we passed House Bill 4164. This bill would have allowed school districts the chance to buy insurance through the Exchange at a lesser cost than what they're currently paying through the OEBB. At the time, the difference in savings between a Gold Plan on the Exchange and the OEBB costs was conservatively a half-billion dollars per biennium. That's a significant amount of money our school districts could have used to shore up their budgets.

The very next year, the legislature made a huge mistake in rolling back House Bill 4164. The "budget hole" the state is currently facing can be attributed in part to that decision. School districts lost the opportunity to save money and protect classroom dollars. The day of the rollback vote, I reminded my colleagues of the massive amount of work we had done to keep our promise to Oregonians and warned of the consequences of a rollback. Sadly, with a party-line vote, Democrats sidelined the intent and spirit of the ACA and denied our school districts a cost-saving opportunity.

It doesn't give me joy to say "I told you so" when we're talking about the lives of hundreds of thousands of school children and lost classroom dollars, or low-income Oregonians who could lose their health coverage next year. We are now seeing the consequence of that decision in the news headlines. School district budgets are millions of dollars short. Districts are preparing to lay off teachers and administrators while cutting music and physical education classes. In direct opposition to a mandate from voters to fund career-tech and STEM education, the legislature is already working to gut Measure 98 funding. Oregon's universities are facing steep tuition increases. It didn't have to be this way.

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Gov. Kate Brown, House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate President Peter Courtney could help to bring down costs around public employee healthcare so the savings reach Oregon classrooms and improve graduation outcomes by passing House Bill 3428. This bill would trigger a 2011 statute to begin moving public employees into Coordinated Care Organizations. It is the right approach at a time, even with record revenue growth, when the state's budget can't afford increasing healthcare costs.

This time there can be no room for error, nor can we afford special deals for special interests. Our children and low-income Oregonians must come first.

Bruce Hanna is a former five-term lawmaker and Republican co-speaker of the Oregon House. He lives in Roseburg.
Moms pushing strollers and dads carrying newborns in slings marched down Aspen Avenue next to college students, grandparents and grade school students carrying signs proclaiming their support of science Saturday afternoon.

The crowd of about a thousand spread from curb to curb and stretched from Flagstaff City Hall back to the starting point at Thorpe Park waving signs that stated "I believe in science, Bob Thorpe doesn't. I vote.", "Got Polio? No? Thank science." and "There is no Planet B."

Science teacher Erin McCamish and her newborn son Shane Anderson were part of the crowd.

"I'm concerned abut where the world is going and what it will be like for my son," she said.

Her friend Karen Kanppenberger pointed out that it wasn't just scientists at the march.

"I'm an English and history teacher. This applies to all of us," she said, as a someone carrying a sign that read "English majors for science" walked by.

Other signs proclaimed, "Even dogs acknowledge science" and "This pagan feminist believes in science."

Addison Hughes attended with her mom.

"Science is important because it teaches us how to live our lives," she said.

"We have to send out a message, loud and clear. People are standing up and saying, 'We matter. We count.'" U.S. Rep. Tom O'Halleran told the crowd gathered on the Flagstaff City Hall lawn. He said he wanted people to look in the mirror each morning and identify what science has given them.

"The most important message is that science is not a partisan issue," said Wendy Palen, the board chair for the Canadian group Evidence for Democracy. "Facts are not partisan."

She urged marchers to write letters to their local newspapers and government representatives.

"Have you ever felt the need to march for science before?" asked Ed Grumbine, from the Grand Canyon Trust. He received a chorus of "no"s.

Also attending the march were Flagstaff City Councilmembers Eva Putzova and Celia Barotz who also expressed their support for science.
Revenue Outlook

Some small business owners, including the author, say they're worried about the effects of a potential gross receipts tax plan being pushed by Oregon Sen. Mark Hass.

(Brent Drinkut/AP Photo/Statesman-Journal)

Stayce Blume

Oregonians need to know about some lawmakers' plans to balance the state budget on the backs of small and homegrown Oregon businesses. State Sen. Mark Hass' latest plan to tax Oregon sales is even worse than Measure 97, and his homework appears to be "lazy" and "amateur" -- they very words he used to describe efforts to educate the public about this hidden sales tax proposal.

In recent comments in the Oregonian, Hass lamented the fact that big corporations are finding ways to dodge income taxes, so he wants to eliminate the corporate income tax all together and replace it with a tax on their sales in Oregon. The problem is, some national and international corporations could benefit from his proposal, while homegrown companies like ours would get stuck with the bill.

The vast majority of Oregon businesses like mine aren't big corporations and we pay business taxes through our personal income tax instead of the corporate income tax. Then we would get a new tax on our sales, whether or not we make a profit.

Under Hass' plan, our family business would now be double taxed -- once on our sales to Oregonians and again when we pay our personal income taxes. And we would pay all the increased costs from our suppliers who would also be taxed on their sales. Meanwhile, we would continue pay thousands each year in property taxes, payroll taxes, federal taxes, permits, fees, and dozens of government payments we make.

Here's how his latest proposal would directly impact our family business. We are facing a potential tax of at least an additional $7,000. While that might seem pretty straightforward, it isn't. In order for us to cover this additional tax liability, we would have to generate more than $28,000 in sales to cover it. This tax would eat the equivalent of 8 days of our small restaurant's revenue. This would be in addition to many other government-mandated cost increases.

We are worried about the next huge jump in minimum wage and the additional costs that will trickle down to us as a result of that (i.e. Our distributors/suppliers will raise their prices on the products we buy from them to run our business.) That is just one of the multiple financial hurdles we are looking at facing. We are a family business that employs 26 people in our local community, we purchase as locally as possible to keep our dollars with other family businesses, we host and participate in a variety of charity events, and try to be good stewards in East County. By strapping us down with additional taxes, in a business that doesn't have big margins to begin with, it makes it difficult for us to keep our prices at a point that are reasonable to our customers. Those costs would eventually be passed along to Oregon consumers in the form of higher prices -- just like a hidden sales tax.

Share your opinion

Submit your essay of 500 words or less to commentary@oregonlive.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification.

Our state government's $1.6 billion budget gap is not because we're lacking money. I've read that we have more than $1.5 billion more tax revenue this biennium. That's more than almost any other state, and the government is bringing in more tax money than any other time in state history. Just like our family and our business, Oregon government must live within its means.

Sen. Hass and other proponents of a tax on sales want to finance their out-of-control spending habits on the backs of Oregon small and medium-sized businesses. We must speak up and oppose this thinly veiled plan to make us all pay more. Increasing taxes on Oregonians and our local small businesses should always be the last option and never the first.

Stayce Blume is the president-elect of the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and Owner of the Skyland Pub in Troutdale.
SALEM -- With the legislative session at its halfway mark, leaders in Salem have a decision to make.

They could take a huge risk and try to emulate 2013's "grand bargain" between business and labor groups to raise taxes and cut costs. Or they could cobble together a package of temporary fixes that, like Band-Aids, would keep the state functioning without requiring complex surgery to address the underlying causes of the chronic budget pain.

Gov. Kate Brown has signaled that she favors the latter. During her inaugural address in January, she acknowledged that the hodgepodge of cuts and tax increases she had proposed was a "short-term solution."

But most lawmakers prefer a big fix now. With a strong economy, they say, there's never been a better time to change the way the state collects and spends its money. Wait much longer, they warn, and Oregon's boom times will fade, leaving the state with an even bigger budget problem.

Either way, the state's leaders must address the looming $1.6 billion budget shortfall for the upcoming two-year budget cycle. The state has a shortfall because its costs are rising faster than its revenues. Put another way, it's spending money faster than it's bringing it in.

Lawmakers are required by the state's constitution to balance the budget before calling an end to the legislative session. So far, Democrats and Republicans alike have agreed that they will balance the budget with a combination of spending cuts and new taxes  but they are far from agreeing on the particulars of either.

Last week marked the first flurry of budget activity at the state capitol: Democrats on Monday released a list of possible cuts they said could happen without new revenue. Republicans and Brown both unveiled plans for state hiring freezes later in the week.

On Friday, a bipartisan group of budget committee leaders put out a wide-ranging package of proposals to slow the state's spending over the next several years.

In response to the Friday's proposals, House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, said they were a necessary part of a big package that would right the state's ship.

"It's not enough to cobble together a budget that merely avoids the worst cuts for a couple of years," she said in a statement. "We need real cost-containment, real revenue reform, and real statesmanship to do right by the people who elected us to wrestle with these difficult issues."

Failed meetings

These moves come more than two months after Democrats first convened closed-door meetings between business and labor groups. Their hope was that the two sides could find some common ground after the bloody fight over the corporate tax proposal, Measure 97, left a wide rift between them.

But nothing of substance has come of the secret meetings, lawmakers say. Those familiar with the meetings said they have been attended by representatives of eight of the state's heavy-hitting groups  four from business, four from unions.

Until recently, the groups met about every two weeks, they said. Now, the meetings are held on an ad-hoc basis as the Legislature releases additional proposals, multiple people said.

The people declined to give specifics on the substance of the meetings, citing an agreement that whatever was discussed would remain secret.

The meetings weren't negotiations on what kinds of public pension system reforms one side would exchange for higher taxes on corporations, they said.

Instead, the meetings were meant for the two sides to get to know each other a little better. Multiple people in the meetings said it was encouraging that the two sides were meeting at all.

It's up to lawmakers to come up with the real solutions to the state's budget deficit, said Oregon Business Association President Ryan Deckert.

"We definitely think the decisions will be made by elected leaders at the Capitol on this," he said.

But Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, who helped convene the meetings with Kotek, said he was disappointed that nothing has come of them. Despite signals that they were ready to compromise, the two sides never intended to work together, he said.

"In truth I'm the one who called the meeting, and in hindsight now, I don't know if I ever would have done that, because I don't like to be made a fool out of," he said. "I don't like to be humiliated, and I really feel that way. That's my problem. I made the mistake of believing that people were operating in good faith. And now I really wonder about it."

Oregon House Minority Leader Mike McClane, left, R-Powell Butte, talks as House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, listens in Salem on Jan. 26, 2017.

Kotek said the lack of productivity was the fault of business groups, who she said weren't willing to compromise. But House Minority Leader Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, said the talks failed because Republicans weren't involved in setting them up.

If they had been involved, he said, they would have ensured that the group was more representative. The business groups in the meetings are heavy on Portland-based Democrats and independents, he said, and short on timber and manufacturing interests from elsewhere in the state.

"Is that how you build consensus?" he asked.

Since lawmakers are unlikely to have joint business-labor input as they craft their plans to raise taxes and slash spending, they'll have to create those plans and readjust once they gauge reaction, in their best attempt to hit an elusive sweet spot.

McLane says a comprehensive package is needed now, before the state's economy starts to slow. But they can't do this without leadership from the governor, he said. In 2013, former Gov. John Kitzhaber was unquestionably the key architect of the deal between business and labor.

"You have to be a governor who is saying 'I'm going to shepherd a negotiation that's going to result in a deal and I know it's not going to serve the interests of the people who paid for my campaigns,'" he said.

Chris Pair, a spokesman for Brown, said she has "met extensively" with business and labor leaders throughout the state since the legislative session started Feb. 1. Those meetings have showed her that curbing the state's spending is key to reaching an agreement on the budget, he said.

After the "grand bargain" was reached in 2013, the courts struck down some of its key elements, particularly cuts to the public employee pension system. That created many of the problems the state is dealing with now, Pair said, and Brown is hoping to avoid the mistakes that caused the deal to fail.

So far this month, Pair said, Brown and her staff have met with lawmakers, hospital and insurance executives and others on ways to fill the budget gap, such as funding Medicaid with taxes on hospitals.

Fix-it-all solutions

Legislators hoping to pass any sort of "grand bargain" this year have many hurdles ahead: Because any tax increase requires a three-fifths majority, Democrats will need at least some Republican support.

And even if they do pass a package that balances the state's budget with both spending reform and tax increases, the tax increase is almost guaranteed to be put before voters, said Jim Moore, political science professor at Pacific University.

Typically, he said, voters approve one out of every three taxes put on the ballot.

"Most taxes go to referendum, but the only one voters are likely to pass is a sin tax," he said.

The governor's budget proposal included several of these: She wants to raise taxes on tobacco products and liquor and increase alcohol licensing fees.

Another way to mitigate the public's dislike for taxes is to propose a temporary tax, Moore said, as lawmakers did in 2009 when they passed a bill temporarily raising personal income taxes on the state's top earners. Residents opposed to the bills put them on the ballot. But voters said "yes" to both Measure 66 and Measure 67, albeit by slim majorities.

As chair of the Senate Revenue Committee, Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, is working on a plan to reform corporate taxes by taxing businesses on their sales instead of their profits. According to Legislative Revenue Officer Paul Warner, the plan in its current form would bring in about $500 million a year. If his fellow lawmakers pass the plan, businesses will likely force it onto the ballot. Hass has said he's ready for that.

But if the Legislature's tax plan fails at the ballot, that could leave lawmakers with only half a package, and a big hole in the budget. In that case, lawmakers would have to hold a special session to make deep cuts, Moore said.

Taxes aren't the only part of a deal that can fall through. In the 2013 deal between business and labor groups brokered by Kitzhaber, lawmakers agreed to raise taxes and cut cost-of-living increases for state pensioners.

But two years later, the Oregon Supreme Court partially overturned the public pension reforms, ruling that lawmakers couldn't lower cost-of-living adjustments on retirement benefits that were earned before the reforms. That decision left the "grand bargain" lopsided, and now lawmakers are once again trying to tackle the pension system's ballooning costs.

Despite these risks and lessons from history, Moore said lawmakers have a sort of "eternal optimism" that pushes them toward grand, fix-it-all solutions.

The governor as a deal-maker

Both Moore and Oregon State University political science professor emeritus Bill Lunch agree that Kitzhaber was key in shepherding the 2013 negotiations. Despite its eventual partial failure in the courts, at the time, the bargain was a shining example of bipartisanship.

The 2013 bargain was more than the sum of its parts, Lunch explained. One of its biggest successes was what it didn't include, he said: Kitzhaber was able to head off a vicious fight between business and labor groups.

He got both groups together in his office and convinced them to lay down their weapons, Lunch said.

"Coming from a guy who was pretty popular, both business and labor groups retreated, and said, 'Okay, we won't go forward,'" Lunch said. "It didn't create any new public policy. It simply headed off what would have been a pretty ugly, nasty set of initiative campaigns in 2014."

At that point, in his third term, Kitzhaber was enjoying a set of circumstances that aren't yet available to Brown, Lunch said. He had experience and popularity and was also a moderate. Those things gave him political capital to spend, he said.

Brown, in her first elected term with her re-election bid just around the corner, doesn't hold the same sort of sway and has to be more careful, he explained.

"Suppose Brown gets re-elected," Lunch said. "If that were to happen, she'd be in a position to go to the business groups and say, 'Let's talk about bargains.'"

But for now, as a progressive Democrat, "she does not have the same reputation, the same political currency, with the business groups," he said.

-- Anna Marum

amarum@oregonian.com

503-294-5911

@annamarum

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(The Oregonian/OregonLive file photo)

Portland police are investigating reports of hateful graffiti found at the Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Northeast Portland, officials said in a news release Saturday.

Shortly before 8 a.m., officers found graffiti painted on the church and school property, which is located at 5520 N.E. Killingsworth Street.

Officials did not elaborate what the graffiti was.

Police ask anyone with information about the crime, including neighbors with surveillance video, email it to CrimeTips@portlandoregon.gov.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive
Sam Barlow High School students celebrated prom night Saturday at Left Bank Annex with a masquerade ball.

Students, staff and parents can add their photos to our mix, too. Use the hashtag #PDXprom on your Twitter and Instagram photos.

This is the fifth year The Oregonian has covered Portland-area proms, photographing all of the excitement and glamour the annual rite of passage brings. From April through May, our photographers will fan out across the metro area as students don evening gowns and tuxedos and step out for the special evening. Follow along all season at oregonlive.com/prom.

Barlow has been in on the fun for years now. Check out photos from proms past.

2016 Sam Barlow prom

2015 Sam Barlow prom

2014 Sam Barlow prom

2013 Sam Barlow prom

Thanks to Barlow for inviting us to the party. Look for more prom coverage next weekend, when Clackamas, Forest Grove, Roosevelt, Southridge and Wilson high schools celebrate.

-- Stephanie Yao Long
silicon-valley-hbo.jpg

Kumail Nanjiani, Thomas Middleditch, Martin Starr and Zach Woods in the new season of HBO's "Silicon Valley." photo: John P. Johnson

(John P. Johnson/HBO)

SUNDAY



"Silicon Valley": One of the best comedies on TV returns for Season 4, with Richard (Thomas Middleditch) still trying to find success in the high-tech world. (10 p.m. HBO)



"Mary Kills People": Caroline Dhavernas plays an ER doctor who secretly helps terminally ill patients die on their own terms. (10 p.m. Lifetime)



MONDAY



"Bates Motel": The cunning reimagining of the story told in "Psycho" airs the series finale. (10 p.m. A&E)



TUESDAY



"Genius": Johnny Flynn plays the young Albert Einstein and Geoffrey Rush takes over as the adult in this 10-part scripted series. (9 p.m. National Geographic Channel)

"Great News": A new comedy from executive producers Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, set at a cable TV news channel. A producer (Briga Heelan) contends with challenging coworkers, including her own mother (Andrea Martin), who decides to be an intern at her daughter's station. John Michael Higgins and Nicole Richie costar. (9 p.m. NBC/8)



WEDNESDAY



"Fargo": The best-laid plans can go awry. And so can really dumb plans, as several characters find out. (10 p.m. FX)

"The Handmaid's Tale": Elisabeth Moss stars in a superb new series adapted from Margaret Atwood's classic novel. Here's a link to my full review. (Hulu)





THURSDAY



"Oregon's Animation Magic: An Oregon Art Beat Special": A look at Oregon's history of stellar animation and such key figures as Will Vinton, Joan Gratz, Herold Howard, Rose Bond and Laika president and CEO Travis Knight. (8 p.m. OPB/10)



FRIDAY



"Dear White People": A new comedy series based on the movie, about African American students at an Ivy League college. (Netflix)



"Catastrophe": Co-creators, co-writers and costars Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan return for Season 3 of the unsentimental comedy. (Amazon Prime Video)



"Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992": Two-hour documentary from John Ridley pegged to the 25th anniversary of the riots that broke out in Los Angeles in the wake of the Rodney King case verdict.. (9 p.m. ABC/2)



SATURDAY



2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: This year's honorees include Joan Baez, Journey, Pearl Jam, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, and the late Tupac Shakur. (8 p.m. HBO)



-- Kristi Turnquist



kturnquist@oregonian.com

503-221-8227

@Kristiturnquist
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The teen who allegedly tried to hit a Washington County sheriff's deputy with a car was arrested Saturday, April 22, 2017.

(Washington County Sheriff's Office)

A 17-year-old who allegedly tried to run over a Washington County sheriff's deputy was arrested Saturday morning, authorities said.

The Portland teen is accused of trying to run over a deputy after a car chase in the Cedar Mill area Friday afternoon. After the suspect tried to hit him, the deputy fired his gun at him, a sheriff's spokesman said Friday. The suspect then drove away and the deputy lost sight of him, the sheriff's office said.

The Oregonian/OregonLive does not typically name juvenile suspects who are not charged with Measure 11 crimes.

At about 8 a.m. Saturday, a sheriff's deputy spotted on U.S. 26 a stolen Hyandai Elantra that matched the description of the car the suspect was last seen in, sheriff's officials said in a news release. The sheriff's deputy tried to stop the car. But the driver did not stop and a car chase ensued, officials said.

The chase ended when the driver crashed the car at the Helvetia Road overpass, officials said.

The suspect ran from the car and was arrested, officials said. Four others were in the car. They were detained but not arrested.

The suspect will be referred to the juvenile department and may be charged with crimes including attempt to elude, reckless driving and criminal mischief.

-- Samantha Matsumoto

smatsumoto@oregonian.com

503-294-4001; @SMatsumoto55
Before there were things like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, life was more predictable.

When angered by something or someone, you seethed, frothed, shook a fist, wrote out a nasty note  and then, just as your mother wisely suggested, you tore it up.

Or, you calmed down a bit and phoned the person.

Or, after a couple cocktails on Saturday night at the Elks, you might have walked up and offered a few choice words.

Or, at its most extreme, you wrote a letter-to-the-editor and it appeared in your local paper.

But now?

This is an age when everyone has a video camera (their phone) and every action can be recorded.

Today, in the history of a country hallmarked by Lincoln and his Gettysburg Address or FDR and his famed Dec. 8, 1941 declaration of war, we have leaders who can sit on the couch in their underwear at 11:15 at night and tweet the start of World War III over a plate of nachos.

Or you can have a situation like the one in Fairbury.

A proud town of 3,700 in Livingston County, it is a picture of calm, rural prosperity, with a fabulous new firehouse, a great library and a main drag so subtle and yet picturesque, it is a place where years ago you might have envisioned Americana artist Norman Rockwell setting up easel and painting next weeks cover of the Saturday Evening Post.

Like all other towns, it naturally has ripples, too.

Two years ago, for instance, a former records clerk for the towns police department became a whistle-blower and filed a lawsuit in federal court, accusing officials of firing her after she voiced concerns about some alleged back-room actions.

Among those specifically named was the mayor.

Thus, this winter when it was campaign time again, just like in Rockwell's America, she announced her candidacy for mayor.

God bless democracy. Let freedom ring.

And the election result?

After a spirited campaign that included four candidates, on April 4 the former clerk finished third, with 193 votes.

On Facebook, she thanked supporters.

The mayor named in her 2015 lawsuit had chosen not to run for mayor again.

Yes, in those days of old, that might have been an end of it.

But these days, a few days later, the ex-clerk went to her mailbox to find a greeting card, with a YOU ROCK on the cover and inside the printed words, WAY TO GO.

It was a nice card.

Except  just below that was a hand-written note: We knew there werent that many stupid people in town to get you voted mayor. Too bad.

And it was signed by the outgoing mayors wife.

In days of yore that's when the cards receiver would have thrown it down, uttered a few choice words and maybe even called the sender to mightily give her a chunk of her own mind.

But this is 2017.

In a montage of sorts, the ex-clerk instead posted it all on Facebook, along with a comment: I'd like to thank the mayor's wife  for reminding me of why I ran for mayor, with this lovely card she sent.

The post took off like a wildfire.

Within hours, it had hundreds of likes and more than 100 posted comments. Then it began being "shared"  by more than 500 the first day alone.

"Shared," for the unfamiliar, means that 500-plus others took the post and placed it on their own page, so that all of their friends across America could read it and then maybe share it as well.

It spread like April dandelions.

Within 48 hours, it had gone viral, seen by thousands  if not tens of thousands  including a New York City TV station that reportedly did one of those end-of-broadcast light news items, on what can happen during an election in a small town.

By day three, after a Champaign TV station announced it was doing a story, the card's sender posted her own message on Facebook:

I would like to publicly apologize in regard to the insensitive letter I sent. It was a lapse in judgment and I am deeply regretful. I would also like to apologize to the citizens of Fairbury and my husband, who had no prior knowledge of this action nor would he have condoned 

Yes, in days of yore, records would have shown that 955 people voted for mayor in Fairbury.

But in 2017, only days later, hundreds of thousands (only a rough estimate) of people all around the planet also saw it and one womans angry-moment personal message about it.

Therein also might be the lesson about these times, our angry inner-mood and the power of social media  for much more than just the citizens of the picturesque town of Fairbury.

As another area mayor, Steve Dean, of LeRoy, later so aptly put it: Scream at each other all you want. But never, ever, put it to paper. Especially not with camera phones and social media.

Yes, you read it here first.

Or  well, OK  maybe hundreds of thousands of views around the entire world later.
According to numbers compiled and published by Agri-Pulse, the Washington, D.C.-based ag news service, the top bosses at ag-centered commodity groups and federally chartered checkoff agencies had far better recent years than the farmers and ranchers they claim to serve.

For example, Agri-Pulses annual compensation report published last September noted that Steve Censky, chief executive officer of the American Soybean Association, received $341,663 in total compensation in 2015.

If that sounds like a lot of dough for a commodity organization to shell out for a hired hand, its peanuts compared to other soybean group CEOs. Jim Sutter, the chief of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, took home $435,944 in total compensation in 2014, the latest available numbers.

John Becherer, the CEO of the United Soybean Board, the operational arm of the mandatory, non-refundable soybean checkoff, did even better; he earned $464,208 in 2015.

The bean bosses, however, were pikers compared to the livestock boys. For instance, in 2014, Tom Gallagher, CEO of Dairy Management Inc., the operating structure over most of the dairy checkoff, was paid $618,910 in salary alone.

By contrast, Polly Ruhland, boss at the beef checkoffs Cattlemens Beef Promotion & Research Board, earned a skinny $287,500 in 2015.

Meanwhile, the former boss of the almost totally checkoff-dependent National Cattlemens Beef Association (NCBA), Forrest Roberts, took home nearly twice as much as Ruhland, $548,993, in total compensation in 2014, the year before he rode off into a comfortable sunset.

Also, Phil Seng, the longtime president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, which receives hefty funding from several livestock checkoffs, earned $461,630 in total pay that same year.

By contrast, Wayne Pacelle, the top dog at Humane Society of the U.S. that most livestock groups love to kick, earned but $425,283 in 2015.

The pork checkoffs National Pork Board paid Bill Even, its new CEO, $400,000 in total 2016 compensation last year even though, as Agri-Pulse reported, he worked but a partial year.

And, two years ago  again, the latest data available  Neil Dierks, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), received $304,384 in total compensation.

If all these commodity and checkoff organizations, titles, and salaries appear the same, its only because these groups structure, pay, and locations have grown to be oddly similar.

For example, it could be just an interesting coincidence that the National Pork Board (the checkoff) and porks most powerful lobbying group, the NPPC, are located just two miles  or six minutes by car  apart on the western edge of Des Moines.

It could be coincidence, right?

Then again, when you Google NPPC, you discover that the group is Based in Washington, D.C., not Iowa. Reinforcing that confusion, NPPCs Facebook and Twitter profiles list Washington, D.C. as its headquarters, not metro Des Moines.

The pork boys arent the only neighborly ag groups in America. The United Soybean Board (the checkoff) is located just one floor from one of its key contractors, the U.S. Soybean Export Council, in the same suburban St. Louis, Mo., office building.

The cowboys are only slightly different. The beef checkoffs office in Centennial, Colo., is separated from its largest contractor, the NCBA, by one street. Google maps estimates the walk between the two groups offices at a barnyard-ambling three minutes, or 175 yards  and thats if you take the long way, the sidewalks, and not the backyard-to-backyard lawn.

At one time, coincidences like these mattered. Now, however, todays cross-pollination of mandatory commodity checkoffs with voluntary commodity groups often works more to promote each others livelihood and six-figure staff salaries than your livelihood and declining salaries.

The proof is in the numbers. As CEO compensation continues to climb upward, noted the headline on the Agri-Pulse compensation report, U.S. net farm income continued to tumble  from $124 billion in 2013 to a forecasted $62 billion in 2017.
BLOOMINGTON  Alderman Kevin Lower's unsuccessful campaign for mayor may face fines for failing to report donations within a required time frame set by state election laws.

The Illinois State Board of Elections requires candidates to file an A-1 form for each donation of $1,000 or more within five business days, or within two business days if it is within 30 days of an election.

According to online state elections board documents, Lower's campaign committee failed to report four such donations during the quarter that ended March 31. Reported on April 4 were a Jan. 3 donation of $2,148 from Friends of Kevin Lower, a Feb. 27 in-kind donation of $3,600 in ads paid for by Checker Cab, a March 3 donation of $2,000 from the McLean County Republican Central Committee and a March 17 donation $1,000 from Main Street Association.

The amount of any fine Lower's campaign may have to pay remains under review, said Tom Newman, director of campaign disclosure at the state elections board.

"Notices for violations in the first quarter of this year won't go out (to the candidates) for at least another month," he said.

Fine assessments start at 50 percent of the amount of the contributions that are late, said Newman, but the elections board typically knocks the fine down to 10 percent for first-time violators, even if there are multiple violations in one quarter. For violations in more than one quarter or egregious infractions, the fine will increase, he added.

Campaigns also can appeal.

Lower paid $1,040 for campaign signs with his own money on Feb. 9, but that contribution was not reported by his campaign committee until April 14, according to the online documents.

Newman said that because there has been some misunderstanding over money candidates contribute to their own campaign committees, the board allows a one-time amnesty.

"If candidates give money to their own committees and do not file the appropriate A-1, rather than actually fining them we send them a letter  indicating they could have been fined for this, but for this one time we are not going to," Newman said. "If they were to do it again they would be assessed a penalty."

Mayor Tari Renner and challenger Ian Bayne, who lost to Renner and Lower in the Feb. 28 five-way primary, reported all of their A-1 reports on time.

The two other primary candidates, Ward 8 Alderman Diana Hauman and retired Bloomington firefighter Robert W. Fike, did not reach the $5,000 threshold to trigger the filing requirement.
Antics of four-year-old Marion and eight-month-old James, who famously invaded their father's important BBC interview, will continue as the viral family inspired a show of their own. An animated online show titled, "The Adventures of Mina & Jack," debuted its teaser this week.

Writer Lauren Martin collaborated with Hans House Productions for the show. Per Independent, the online show's creators hoped that "The Adventures of Mina & Jack" will attract interest from television networks.

The first-ever animated clip released for the show mainly featured the Kelly family, whose patriarch worked for United Nations, or as Mina would call the "un." It also featured their yoga teacher mom who liked yogurt, as described by her daughter.

The show's animation depicted the Kelly family very closely. Mina resembled the eyeglass-toting Marion while James was featured using his signature walker and binky-sucking lips. At one point, Prof. Robert Kelly's seemingly grouchy face was shown in the clip.

Mina and Jack's first adventure, as told in the video, revolved around his father trying to catch a gold thief in North Africa. In the end, the thief was nabbed, thanks to the kids' help. Mina even quipped that without her and Jack, his dad would be "helpless."

The Adventures of Mina and Jack - Prologue https://t.co/9u2LMjXSiG via @YouTube Funny take-off of our viral video. I look suitably dorky.  Robert E Kelly (@Robert_E_Kelly) April 18, 2017

The professor approved the show and commented that he looked "suitably dorky" in it. He posted the video link on Twitter account, serving as an icebreaker among his serious-toned insights posted on his account.

Last month, the family inadvertently rose to fame after Marion danced her way to her father's home office while on a live BBC interview. The father, who works as a political science professor at Pusan National University, talked about the impeachment of South Korean president, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The political analyst was then again asked for a CNN interview two weeks after the gaffe and even tweeted that he will make sure to lock the door, as per CNN producer's instructions. Business Insider reported that there were no appearances from his adorable children and lovely wife the second time around.
High schools in America recommended the banning of "13 Reasons Why" for teen viewing. Some school officials sent letters of warning to parents about the young adult series on Netflix. They told parents they don't recommend the show to a teen audience because of its dangerous theme.

The "13 Reasons Why" series presents a story of a teenage girl who kills herself after being bullied and raped. She leaves behind 13 different tapes for the people she believes are responsible for her depression and decision to take her life. The show is an adaptation of a 2007 best-selling book release of the same title from author Jay Asher.

Sanborn Regional High School in New Hampshire issued its parents' warning after school counselors evaluated "13 Reasons Why" on Netflix. They assessed the series "romanticizes suicide" and had "no healthy alternative to kids struggling with emotional problems," as per New England Cable News.

The Stephen Gaynor School in a posh New York neighborhood also issued a warning to parents. "We do not recommend that your teen watches the series, however, if your teen is going to watch the series, we encourage you to watch it together and to discuss your reactions," the school stated in its letter, as per New York Post.

The San Mateo-Foster City School District in the Bay Area also sent parents letters before the spring break warning about "13 Reasons Why." It cited parents should be aware of the show's content and oversee their children's viewing habits during the short vacation, as per NBC Bay Area.

Mental health professionals assessed the show as well and told The Washington Post that while it raised awareness on teen suicide, the series mishandled the message. The concern was the show could trigger copycat suicides from teens who are actual victims of bullying and rape.

"Young people are not that great at separating fiction from reality," Dan Reidenberg of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) said. "That gets even harder to do when you're struggling with thoughts."

Experts also advised parents and teens to seek help from proper channels if they need help. Aside from calling 911, teens struggling with issues can join SAVE's Grief Support system or reach out via the National Suicide Prevention hotline 1-800-273-8255.
Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's estranged wife Jashodaben arrived in Patna on Saturday on a three-day trip of Bihar during which she will take part in a number of events in Patna and Begusarai.

{gallery}newsimages2017/apr/042217{/gallery}Coming to Bihar for the first time in her life, Jashodaben was given a warm welcome at the Patna Airport by the members of the Bihar State Tailik Sahu Community. She was then taken to the Hotel Maurya where she had a chance to talk to the reporters and prominent members of the Sahu community.

Using broken Hindi, the wife of the Indian Prime Minister said she was very pleased to step her foot in Bihar that gave the world a number of peaceful religions. She also said the state had a very rich history and culture that was known all over the world.

"I want to wish well to the people of Bihar and Gujarat and the entire nation. I also want the girls of Bihar to reach for the stars and continue to move forward in the society and workplace," she said.

Ashok Bhai Modi, the brother of Jashodaben, said that his sister had no political aspiration or agenda and all she wants is for people to prosper and live happily.

Bihar Tailik Sahu Community Vice President Sunil Kumar said that a farewell party has been organized in Patna upon the return of the Prime Minister's wife from Begusarai on Monday.

Jashodaben then left for Begusarai where she will attend a function in honor of Bhama Shah, a legendary historical hero of the Teli community.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Narayan Prasad, Jashodaben's nephew Sandeep Modi, BJP leader from Patna Sushma Sahu, Bhupal Bharati, Naresh Sahu, and a number of other persons were also present on the occasion.

It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was married at the age of 18. The two barely spent time together and soon grew apart. He later left his wife and his home to travel India and visit various Ashrams before eventually joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Government has totally banned mining around water bodies in the country.



The move, according to government, is to protect the water bodies from being polluted by miners.



Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, who was speaking at a Town Hall Meeting organized by Joy FM in Accra recently said, We are banning mining around water bodies and making sure there is surveillance around those water bodies.



He further revealed that government had developed a five-year multilateral mining integrated policy to improve the management of small-scale mining to protect the environment.



Under the Multilateral Integrated Mining policy, we are going to have a sustainable way of dealing with galamsey in the country, the Vice President said.



He said government had identified particular areas for small-scale mining to prevent the miners from mining haphazardly.



While stopping illegal mining, we are also going to direct the youth to areas that will benefit them. We need to grow this economy and by doing that there will be alternative livelihood, Dr. Bawumia said.



Mining Licence Halted



The Vice President also revealed that government has taken a major step by halting the issuance of mining licenses to address the problem.



We have suspended the issuance of mining licenses so that we can restructure the sector, he said.



Govt Chases Illegal Miners



Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Minister, has stated that government will deploy law enforcement officers across the country to apprehend defiant galamsey operators.



According to him, illegal miners, who have defied governments directive to abandon their activities, are engaging in lawlessness and must be arrested.



The deployment of security personnel across the country forms part of several initiatives by the government to clamp down on the activities of illegal miners that are destroying the countrys water bodies.



Governments 21-day ultimatum to the galamsey operators to end their activities ended yesterday, Wednesday April 19, 2017.



So far about 200 excavators belonging to the illegal miners have been pulled out from galamsey sites nationwide.

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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Government has begun taking subscriptions for the countrys first US dollar-denominated bond.



This follows the recent institution of a domestic multi-currency bond programme by government.



A statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, which made this known, quoted the minimum subscription for investment at $10,000 with integral multiples of $1,000 above the minimum size.



It added that the exercise will end on October 13, 2016.



The bond is open to investors resident in Ghana and non-resident Ghanaian investors, who have USD balances in their Foreign Exchange Accounts (FEA) and Foreign Currency Accounts (FCA), it mentioned.



By the transaction, government said it was exploring alternative sources of funding for meeting its financing needs, as well as further developing and deepening the capital market in Ghana through the introduction of a new investment product.



Billed to be traded on the Ghana Fixed Income Market (GFIM) platform, the joint book-runners on the transaction include Barclays Bank Ghana Limited, Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited and Strategic African Securities Limited.



As at August, this year, Government borrowing had reached GH110 billion, 66 percent of which was borrowed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).



But government has announced that the Eurobond will become a yearly occurrence in Ghanas borrowing mix.



Ghanas fifth Eurobond of $750 million attracted a 9.25 percent yield.



Ghana, as part of the new debt management strategy, recently implemented a buy-back of $100 million of the Ghana 2017 bond, using the newly established sinking fund.



As a result, the balance on that bond has been reduced to $400 million which will be redeemed from the proceeds of the new issue.



This year alone, Ghana is expected to pay some GH10.5 billion in interest payments.



Meanwhile, Seth Terkper, Minister of Finance, is leading a government delegation to the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC from October 4 to 14, 2016.



The delegation comprises officials from the Bank of Ghana (BoG), including the Governor, Chairman of the Finance Committee in Parliament and officers from the Finance Ministry.

The delegation will participate in the African Caucus meeting with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and the African Caucus meeting with IMF Managing Director, Christian Lagarde.



They would also hold a side meeting with IMF Deputy Managing Director, Tao Zhang.



The delegation will also hold bilateral discussions with other partner countries, financial institutions and private sector investors and sign a loan agreement for the Expansion and Development of Existing High Schools Project with Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.

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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Mr Chris Addy Andoh, operator of the Kash Forex Bureau in Tema has called on government to control the activities of black marketers in the foreign exchange business. Mr Andoh in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said activities of the black marketers were collapsing operations of forex bureaux in the country.



He explained that such operators who are mobile and visible are able to lure customers with their slightly better rates while the forex bureau who were regulated by law and pay taxes to the government, struggle in their enclosures. He cautioned the public against buying foreign currency from the black market as that could expose them to risk of been given fake currencies and even robbed.



Mr Andoh advised them not to only consider the rate of exchange on offer when choosing a place to trade currencies but must also consider the risks involved. Meanwhile, an anonymous black market customer said she has been buying currency from them for over five years now and had no fears of falling victim to any risk.



She added that the black market was reliable and fast, as they operated 24-hours daily and offered better rates than the forex bureaux. According to her, customers also have the opportunity to bargain with the black market operators in addition to changing monies without having to show their identity cards.



Tema Community One business area has a lot of black marketers who openly operate and call on the public including policemen to do business with them while trading in other wares especially wrist watches.



They are mostly seen near the Tema Community One market branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), and the casino area which is about 100 meters away from the Community One Police station.







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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Canadian-based charity Comforting Queens has donated several prosthesis to The Peace and Love Hospital at a brief but impressive ceremony at Kumasi.



The two institutions share a common goal of creating awareness and educating women about breast cancer.



Head of Comforting Queens Afuah Anku, told the media in Kumasi she was motivated to join the fight against breast cancer after witnessing her mother go through diagnosis, treatment and cure.



She was of the conviction the disease could be contained provided public education was intensified and women heeded the call not to patronize products and services not medically certified for treatment of the disease.



Comforting Queens raises money for the acquisition of wigs, bras, and prostheses for breast cancer patients in a bid to enhance their physical look and feel.



The Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospitals, who doubles as the President of Breast Care International, BCI, Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, who received the items, commended Comforting Queens for the gesture and encouraged the public to help survivors live economically viable lives after treatment, saying the fight against breast cancer is a shared responsibility.



Dr. Wiafe, who in turn gave the items to the Peace and Love Survivors Association, (PALSA) directed that they should be given to survivors with low income backgrounds.



Dr. Wiafe said, a woman, by World Health Organization statistics, Dies somewhere around the globe every sixty-nine seconds from breast cancer. That woman, she continued, could be your mother, sister, niece, wife, daughter or even friend, she concluded.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Gold Coast, a subsidiary of Groupe Nduom has put a smile on the faces of the childrens department of the Accra Ridge Hospital and the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.



The preferred Best Fund Manager, 2016  Gold Coast, donated bags of locally produced rice, Edwumawura Rice, assorted drinks, gallons of oil, cartons of mineral and undisclosed cash amount to the two hospitals, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.



Donating the items the Chief Executive Officer of Gold Coast, Mr. Kwame Ofori Asomaning said that they were aware of the difficulties that the hospital, especially the childrens department were saddled with.



He said it was a culture of Groupe Nduom to assist such facilities, particularly those providing special services to people.



Mr. Asomaning promised the hospital that it would not be a one-off gesture, but rather a beginning of the companys continuous support. He noted that, GN Foundation, another company under the umbrella body  Groupe Nduom paid special attention to needy facilities, and that the Ridge Hospital would be one of the beneficiaries.



At the tour of the childrens department of the hospital, he expressed dismay about the conditions the children are subjected to, because of inadequate resources to give them best of services.



Receiving the items on behalf of the Unit, Dr. Nana Sereboe, who showed delight about the kind gesture, mentioned that its motivating to be assisted at this period, because a lot of people are at the comfort of their homes and families, but health workers have chosen to save lives during the same festivities.



She said the donation would be put to good use by using it to the optimum benefit of the children, contrary to perceptions that such items would be used by the health workers themselves.



Meanwhile, at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, the same items and cash were donated, but in addition with clothing for the inmates. Receiving the donation, the Deputy Director of Nursing Nurses, Dr. Emmanuel Pappoe revealed that the facility is distressed and called on philanthropists and other corporate bodies to support them regularly.



He said governments annual subvention was inadequate to cater for the inmates, whose needs are always unmet.



Dr. Pappoe also said, out of the current number of 420 inmates, only a handful of families visit their patients. He lamented that some people also gave them wrong telephone numbers and home addresses, so they were unable to get in touch anytime they needed them.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Government is preparing to inject more resources into the operational activities of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which it says it is on the verge to collapse.



The National Health Insurance Scheme is sitting on a dangerous time bomb and needs much financial attention from government and donor partners Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu revealed during the 2017 health performance summit in Kumasi.



At the stakeholders summit, the sector minister stated NHIS is in comatose and therefore requires finances to resuscitate it from such a condition.



Mr Agyeman-Manu stated that failure by government to pump enough resources into it activities could soon lead to total a collapse of the scheme in few months to come.



The minister also announced that despite challenges facing the ministry, government is committed to providing better healthcare delivery where there will be proper allocation of budget to the health sector.



It is therefore anticipated that monthly releases from the Finance Ministry will be forthcoming to enable the scheme operate without challenges, he assured.



He also said government will address the challenge of human resources in the sector with continuity of giving incentives to staff who accept postings to the three northern regions and other rural communities to ensure healthcare delivery is brought to the doorsteps of every Ghanaians.



The seminar held under the theme: Accountability in the Health Sector to Achieve the Health Related SDGs, the minister pointed out that Ghanaians are demanding health and financial accountabilities from health staff.



Government, developing partners, customers, patients, stakeholders, civil society are all demanding accountability and we therefore have no justification to deny them accountability.

Source: mynewsgh.com









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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stated that programmes designed to help the poor and vulnerable must have clear-cut exit strategies, and is, therefore, urging the citizenry not to be unduly reliant on long-term aid projects.



According to the President, such aid programmes and initiatives must be structured to enable beneficiaries strike out and be able to lead an independent life.



I remember when the LEAP programme was envisaged and introduced under President Kufuor, we were clear in our minds that, whereas we wanted it to cover all those who would qualify under the definition of the programme, it was meant to be a hand-up, not a hand-out, he said.



The President continued, If someone has to go on the LEAP programme, it should not be for the rest of that persons life. There should be a definite time limit to being a LEAP beneficiary, and the beneficiary should be able to stand on his or her own after the stated period.



President Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday, 21 April 2017, when he delivered the keynote address at the 4th Rotary International District 9102 Conference, held at the Accra International Conference Centre.



The President, himself a Paul Harris Fellow of The Rotary Club, Accra South, explained that after 60 years of independence, I want us, in Ghana, to break out from our aid dependent and charity driven economic outlook. I want programmes that would be dynamic in content and help us to think big and be dissatisfied with remaining poor.



Touching in the Six Areas of Focus of Rotary, President Akufo-Addo noted that members of the Rotary Club have always been well placed to influence events and policies in Ghana.



In the area of health, he stated the infection rates of poliomyelitis, one of the six childhood killer diseases, had been reduced from an annual worldwide infection rate of 350,000 cases in over 125 countries, to a mere 75 cases in only 3 countries. This feat, he noted, has been achieved thanks to the efforts of Rotary.



You have taken on the other great killer of our part of the world, malaria, and I wish to congratulate Rotary on your Roll Back Malaria project. It does look as though we are finally making headway in the fight against malaria. This is also the result of collaboration between government and non-governmental organizations.



Touching on the Water and Sanitation area of focus, President Akufo-Addo stated that I am pleased to learn that you have started the second phase of a US$6 million Rotary International/USAID Water Collaboration. We could not ask for a better partner than Rotary as we seek to implement our governments programme to provide potable water and good sanitation to all our people.



On Basic Education and Literacy, another area of focus of Rotary, the President stressed that education is the only way to give a good head start and provide equal opportunities for all our children. This government believes that a lot hangs on the success of our education programmes, and we welcome enthusiastically all the help that we can get from organizations such as Rotary in delivering quality education to our people.



President Akufo-Addo also charged Rotary to partner with the Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, in its Economic and Community Development area of focus, in the development of initiatives and projects which would help people in the rural areas, in particular those who are dependent on such initiatives.



He also urged Rotary to partner government in in the Planting for Food and Jobs programme, which was launched in Goaso, in the Brong Ahafo Region, on Wednesday, April 19, and also in the implementation of the 1-District-1-Factory programme.



It is a programme in which private sector participation is essential. Come and join us make a success of it. You have a lot of people with good business acumen and experience amongst your ranks. There are a lot of opportunities and I invite you to join us bring prosperity to our people, he added.



In concluding, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that we are determined to build a new Ghanaian and African civilisation, where the rule of law works, where individual liberties and human rights are respected, and where the principles of democratic accountability are the foundation of public policy. We are determined to forge a new Ghanaian and African, who is neither a victim nor a pawn of the world economic order, but who will be a dignified member of a successful, thriving, prosperous society.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Some of the military recruits who were dismissed for misbehavior and threat to national security are still appealing to authorities to address their concerns.



The 501 recruits were undergoing six-month recruitment training at the Army Recruits Training School (ARTS) at Shai Hills, Accra. They were to be absorbed into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) after training.



But they were sacked for joining an unauthorized assembly in 2015. They have also been barred from joining any other security agency as a result of their action.



Joining Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm today [Friday] April 22, 2017, seven of the recruits complained bitterly that, they are facing extreme difficulty two years after their dismissal. Preventing them from joining other security services they lamented, is also another blow for them.



They insisted that, they never engaged in an unauthorized assembly as suggested. We have no one speaking on our behalf. We have written petitions but we have not heard from anyone.



Things are extremely hard for us. We are therefore appealing to President Akufo-Addo intervene. We cannot even join a private security because of the situation.



We have no hope and so what we can only do is to appeal to the president to help us. Meanwhile, the Nkoranza North MP and Deputy Defence Minister, Major Derrick Oduro said, the mutiny staged by the recruits was a serious offence under military training.



He said, a board of enquiry was constituted and after investigations were conducted, the recruits were asked to go home. Some of them did not partake in the exercise however, they have also been affected, he said.



He revealed, the recruits have petitioned the Defence and Interior Committee but advised them to copy the Speaker so he will refer the case back to the committee for further action.



He said, the dismissed recruits cannot join any security service and that is a serious burden on them...I will however encourage them to copy the Speaker with their petition.

Source: rainbowradioonline









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The Deputy Defence Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkoranza North, Major (rtd) Derick Oduro has advised the 501 dismissed recruits to petition the Speaker of Parliament if they want their concerns addressed once and for all.



He revealed, some of the recruits petitioned the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament but has charged them to petition the Speaker who will then forward the case back to the committee for further action.



Speaking to Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm after some of the recruits, joined the host to lament over the difficulties they are going through after their dismissal, he said, the unauthorized assembly staged by some of the recruits was a serious offence under military rule but it was unfortunate that some other innocent persons got affected.



The recruits were said to be undergoing a six-month training to be absorbed into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) when they were sacked over what the military termed misbehaviour and threat to national security.



Colonel E. Aggrey-Quarshie, Director of Public Relations of the GAF, in a statement released in 2015 , explained that the recruits behaviour was far-reaching and inimical to the security of the state.



After investigating the matter, the board was said to have found the recruits guilty on grounds of misbehaviour and misconduct, which could pass for mutiny in military circles, but for their relatively short stay in the camp, they were spared any stringent discipline.



The statement further said, the sacked army recruits have been further barred from joining any of the countrys security agencies as a result of the action.









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The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu, has rung the changes again at the Ghana Police Service.



In a release intercepted by www.3news.com, senior officers are expected to assume their new roles with immediate effect.



Dated April 20, 2017, the release announced the transfer of the likes of the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ashanti Regional Police Command.



Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Yaw Nketiah-Yeboah has been moved from the Ashanti Region to Accra; precisely to the Ghana Police Hospital to assume a similar role.



His place has been given to ASP Juliana Obeng, who was PRO for Tema Police Command. She was formerly at the Police Hospital.



Joining ASP Obeng in the Ashanti Region from the national headquarters in Accra will be DSP Robert Freeman Tettey, who is a former Accra Regional Command PRO.

Source: 3news









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Illegal mining activities along the Pra River in the Western Region continue unabated despite the coming into force the ban on all forms of illegal small scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, in the country.



Galamsey activities have caused massive destruction to the countrys environment and particularly polluted water bodies, destroyed arable and farmlands as well as the forest covers.



A stepped-up campaign by government and some civil society groups to end all forms of illegal mining across the country has forced some of the miners to surrender their equipment as the government is set to move in on the recalcitrant ones.



Following the expiration of a three-week ultimatum issued to illegal miners by the government to leave their mining pits, some of the galamseyers have since Wednesday left their sites and surrendered their excavators.



But illegal alluvial gold miners operating on the Pra River appear unfazed by the ban as they are still mining for gold.



Some executive members of the Water Ladies Association have join in the fight against galamsey activities by calling on government not only to focus on seizure of excavators mostly used by surface miners but also evict those practicing alluvial gold mining in our water bodies such as the Pra River.



Alluvial gold miners are still operating on the Pra River despite the ban of illegal small scale mining activities in the country by government with their activities increasing the cost of water production by GWCL especially at the Daboase head works in the western region.



At the time the national executives of the Water Ladies Association visited the Daboase and Inchaban Water Headworks on Friday, some illegal alluvial gold miners were busily working in the middle of the Pra River despite the ban.



The miners were operating close to the intake points of the two water headworks, something that has seriously affected water supply in most parts of the Western Region due to the high level of pollution from their activities.



The water colour has turned brownish with oily substances visible on the surface of the River. Heaps of sand have been left right in the middle of the River, hampering smooth flow of raw water into the intake point.



The Daboase Headworks which was designed to produce six million gallons daily now produces only two million gallons, and Ghana Water Company have had to use 100 bags of aluminum sulphate instead of the previous 50 bags to treat water daily.



The water turbidity of the Pra River according to authorities had also gone up to 3,000 instead of the required 50.



The Ghana Water Company recently had to spent about GHC50, 000 to dredge deep-seated sands sitting in the mouth of the intake point as a result of galamsey activities.



Meanwhile, the executives of the Water Ladies Association have expressed surprise that despite the ban some illegal miners were still prospecting for gold on the Pra River.



National president of the Association, Juliana Amponsah-Asiamah expressed worry about the uncontrolled activities of galamseyers on the Pra River.



She further pledged their support to government in the fight against galamsey but suggested government should not lose sight of illegal alluvial miners who are still operating on the Pra River.



Western Regional chief manager of the Ghana Water Company Ing. Mark Tieko Cudjoe said galamsey activities have increased the cost of water production at their headworks and called on government to intensify the crusade against illegal mining in the country.

Source: 3news









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The leadership of the Konkomba community at Agbogbloshie has called on the Police Administration to take bold steps to ensure that persons who were arrested for possessing ammunition are dealt with in accordance with the law.



They have also called on the National Peace Council (NPC), the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), the Office of the Chief Imam and other well-meaning Ghanaians to condemn the pockets of atrocities that were still going on in the aftermath of the clashes.



At a press conference held at the Konkomba Yam Market at Agbogbloshie in Accra yesterday, the Chairman of the area, Mr Noah Kwame Upuin, said the continued locking up of rooms and stores by some persons was inimical to the peace-building process.



Concerns



Since the violent clashes occurred here about a week ago, we have embarked on peace campaigns to restrain our people from attacking any person. But it appears that it is not yielding much fruits because some persons within the Dagomba ethnic group are still locking up stores and ejecting our people from their rooms.



We do not want to respond in equal measure because of the need for peace. Therefore, we are calling on the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) and the Office of the National Chief Imam and other peace-loving Ghanaians to condemn this action and support to bring lasting peace to the area, Mr Upuin said.



Recall



A violent confrontation between some persons from the Dagomba and Konkomba ethnic groups in Agbogbloshie on April 11, this year led to the loss of one life and injury to scores of others.



The intervention by a combined team of police and military personnel prevented the violence, which was characterised by sporadic gunshots and brandishing of machetes, from escalating.



The police intensified its operations and patrols in the area leading to the arrest of some persons who were in possession of ammunition.



Touching on the arrests, Mr Upuin commended the police for their role in ensuring that relative peace returned to the area.



Even as we laud the efforts of the police for the good work they have done, we still count on them to apply the law to the fullest to ensure that justice is done, he noted.



Police assurance



Speaking to the Daily Graphic later after the press conference by the group, the Accra Regional Police Operations Officer, Chief Superintendent Kwesi Ofori, gave the assurance that the police would ensure that all persons who had been arrested in connection with the violence were taken through the due processes of the law.



The police is committed to the principle of justice no matter what the situation is, because the ultimate aim of law enforcement is to secure justice. So, those who have been arrested with arms and ammunition are before the courts and that is ample evidence of our commitment to the principles of justice.



We are not here to favour any of the groups involved in the clashes, but rather, we are here to do a professional job to bring lasting peace to the area, he said.



He further gave the assurance that the police would continue to be professional and tactful in providing security in the area.



The police is committed to the peace and security of Agbogbloshie and that is why we have deployed our personnel to protect the residents.







The police and the military have started unlocking some rooms and stores that had been locked for the owners to have access to them, Mr Upuin added.

Source: Daily Graphic









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S. Kwei, Winneba District Head Pastor of Apostolic Church Ghana, has urged Ghanaians to put their trust in the Lord for he has the power to transform lifes and rescue them from all calamities they are going through.



Pastor Kwei gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the 2017 Easter Convention Sunday Church service held in Winneba in the Central Region.



It was on the theme: Exceeding Christians of His Resurrection and Power.



According Pastor Kwei, Jesus died for the whole world, but for God to prove His power in saving salvation of Jesus Christ, He raised him from the dead that is why Easter is celebrated.



It means that if we will place our trust in Him, He will transform our lives, because He rose again and has the power to transform our lives. Behold the Lamp of God who takes away the sins of the world and as we celebrate Easter I pray that each and every one will actually live and lead in the mind and in blood of Jesus Christ, he said.



He call on politicians to keep-up to their promise and lead the Nation in the fear of the Lord.



Pastor Kwei led the congregation to pray for continues love, joy, tranquility and peace to prevail in the country.

Source: GNA









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The President of the Northern Ghana Union of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church has called for a national discourse on the exploitation of the vulnerable in the name of religion.



Pastor Kwame Kwanin Boakye advocates severe punishment for people whose activities breach the laws of the state to serve as a deterrent. He says the growing tendency for some pastors to hide behind the cassock to amass wealth and perpetrate sexual and other forms of abuse against the citizenry must stop.



According to Pastor Kwanin, the modern self-seeking minister of the gospel has instituted a system which lures and preys on church members into accepting deceit for prophecy.



Some pastors, he notes are even resorting to occultism to dupe their own congregation.



Pastor Kwanin Boakye spoke with Joynews on the sidelines of church leaders retreat and ordination at Ntonso in the Ashanti Region.



Though he is against state regulation of church, he wants ministers of the gospel who flout the law to be seriously dealt with.



According to him, reverend ministers should be held responsible for actions that run contrary to state laws.



 If as a pastor, I commit any crime, the state would have to deal with me according to the state laws but not coming to manage how I do my ministry.



Theres religious liberty fine; everybody will have the right and the opportunity to worship his God or her God but if any minister, any pastor commits crime against the state, then the state has the audacity to come and make some arrests, Pastor Kwanin Boakye stressed.



Pastor Kwanin Boakye says Ghanaians must be concerned about the present state of the church.



Im much worried about how people are abusing themselves in the ministry because of wealth; because of sex and because of power...Christ must be internalized in the minister.



"Pastors can go to the extent of taking water from even the mortuary for their congregation to grow.



Is that the gospel? he quizzed. He adds, in a way they [fake pastors] put systems in place such that they can lure you by telling you that I have a vision concerning you.

Source: myjoyonline









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The Volta Regional House of Chiefs has suspended indefinitely, the Paramount Chiefs and Queen Mothers of Nkonya and Alavanyo for their inability to maintain peace between the two traditional areas.



This follows renewed troubles which left two people dead and others in critical condition at Nkonya.



The President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Soglo Alloh, confirmed the suspension to Citi News after a closed-door meeting with the Volta Regional Minister on Thursday.



He explained that, the House of Chiefs took the decision because they were not happy with developments in those areas. We are saying that, as far as we are concerned, even though we are not blaming them for their direct involvement, we think they have a responsibility of bringing peace in their traditional areas.



Nana Alloh further explained that, the Nkonya and Alavanyo chiefs and queens have also been stripped off any privileges they enjoy including financial benefits until a peaceful solution is attained and the issue is resolved.



Nkonya killings will be treated as a criminal matter  Minister



Meanwhile, the Volta Regional Security Council has said it will handle the recent killing of the two persons at Nkonya Zongo on Wednesday evening as a criminal matter.



During a media briefing on Thursday, the Volta Regional Minister and Chairman of the Council, Dr. Archibald Letsa, sought to in the meantime, isolate the killings from the long-standing land dispute between the Alavanyo and Nkonya communities.

Source: Citifmonline.com









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The Afrimax Group, operators of BusyInternet in Ghana, has reiterated its focus to drive the education agenda across its African markets, in line with its strategy to empower the youth through its three-pronged approach, which consists of a graduate development program, a student brand ambassador program, and an online educational platform called JUMP.



A key pillar in our strategy is a tremendous focus on the youth segment. About 60-70 per cent of the population in this country is below 25 years of age, signalling an impressive pool of talent and immense capacity just waiting to be tapped into; and the current trend in the use of digital media among our growing young population fully underscores the vital importance of supporting this segment, Chief Executive Officer of Busy, Praveen Sadalage said at the launch of JUMP in Accra.



The ICT company, which has operations in Zambia, Cameroun, Uganda, and Ghana, has partnered with more than 40 universities and colleges across its markets resulting in a student ambassador programme with more than 1,500 students in order to prepare and equip undergraduates for life after university through internships, mentorship and special projects.



Through its graduate development program, the company has recruited some of the best and brightest recent graduates who account for 50 per cent of its staff compliment in its markets.



These ambitious young professionals, who yearn for recognition and career advancement, are at the forefront of some of our most disruptive and next generation digital products and services. Operating such a young organisation is vital to maintaining a competitive advantage as it offers us invaluable insight into the segment, Yemi Lawal, Regional Marketing Director, Youth Segment said.



Head of Marketing for BusyInternet, Linda Narh explained that, JUMP is a unique online content platform with categories in Education, Entrepreneurship, Self-improvement, and Lifestyle. Mrs Narh emphasised that the key focus is on providing free access to educational content through the creation of an e-library and creating an environment where young and upcoming entrepreneurs are supported through various initiatives.



As part of the education category we will launch the JUMP Academy which will provide students with a wide array of study notes and a series of video lectures from reputable local lecturers. She added.



Deputy Minister of Education-designate, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum who represented sector Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh said it is exciting for me that a significant 4G operator like BusyInternet is launching this youth programme in collaboration with Private and Public Universities in Ghana; a programme that gives both Undergraduate and Graduates and opportunity to gain valuable work experience.



Dr Adutwum added that an online portal with the potential of offering our young people with such a wide array of educational, life changing and credible alternatives is a very welcomed initiative and you will have the support of my Ministry in this project.



In an increasingly digitized Africa, astonishing opportunities emerge when young people connect. The 4G operator envisions that by 2020, there will be over five million users across all markets on the JUMP platform. The magnitude of that number exemplifies how powerful the platform can be for societys youth.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Minister of Communications, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has paid a working visit to the head office of Vodafone Ghana to familiarize herself with the operations of the company.



Madam Ursula during the visit commended Vodafone for creating a respected brand and transforming the company to become the largest telecommunications company operating in Ghana.



I am impressed with what they have done so far and the vision they have for the future. I am committed to do what I can as a minister to assist them to improve the profitability and grow the business to serve their customers she said



She was appreciative of the fact that Vodafones leadership team is led by a woman.



Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful also assured Vodafone that her office will to whatever it takes to assist them migrate to the 4G network  We will assist you and we are committed in doing that



CEO of Vodafone Ghana, Ms. Yolanda Cuba, expressed the companys appreciation for the ministers visit after personally giving her a tour of the Vodafone headquarters in order to provide a clear understanding of the companys operations.



Ms. Yolanda Cuba added that Vodafone has invested in infrastructure and capacity building as part of its commitment to improve the network quality and deliver an unmatched customer experience.



For us, ones Ghana become the digital hub of African, then we will have achieved our goals. We will not rest until we do that. We will continue to invest and even invest more in technology and people to work she noted





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Starbucks staff in the U.S. are currently being forced to dish out a pink nightmare drink called the Unicorn Frappuccino. While it actually seems to be a sneaky way for the company to get rid of excess mango syrup, America has gone nuts for the damn thing, and baristas are venting their horror stories about customers entering rage mode when learning that the drink is sold out.

If youre curious about the Unicorn Frappuccino but you dont live in America  or you just dont want to consume a drink loaded with 59 grams of sugar  then your boy Stephen Colbert has you covered. He got his hands on one of them over the weekend, and gave it a taste test on The Late Show.

The verdict: Wow, I wish I was dead! Enjoy:

Source: YouTube.

Photo: YouTube.
TV Fox O'Reilly

Posters of Fox News Channel personalities are displayed at the News Corp. headquarters in New York, Wednesday, April 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

(Mary Altaffer)

Earlier this year, when Rupert Murdoch and senior executives at Fox News' parent company signed Bill O'Reilly to a new multiyear contract, they knew something the rest of the world didn't: The star host had been accused of sexual and verbal harassment by women at Fox five times over the preceding 15 years.

They knew it because the company, 21st Century Fox, had paid money to settle two of the complaints. They also knew that the public was unlikely to know because attorneys for O'Reilly and the company had signed his accusers to agreements binding them to confidentiality. In exchange for their silence and a promise not to sue, the women received payments totaling $3 million from 21st Century Fox.

Those settlements came on top of some $10 million that O'Reilly himself had paid earlier to three other women who had complained about his behavior while working at Fox. They also came after a bruising sexual harassment scandal involving Fox News co-founder and chairman Roger Ailes last summer, one in which 21st Century paid some $35 million to settle a lawsuit by former Fox presenter Gretchen Carlson and allegations against Ailes by several unidentified women. This was in addition to $40 million paid to Ailes as severance.

In effect, Rupert Murdoch and his sons James and Lachlan, who run 21st Century, took a calculated risk. They re-signed O'Reilly - Fox News' most valuable asset - fully aware of his history but in the apparent hope that they could continue with business as usual, according to knowledgeable people at the company. Just to be safe, however, the company added an unusual feature to O'Reilly's new contract: a clause permitting 21st Century to terminate him, with up to a year's salary as severance, if new allegations arose.

A scathing investigation by the New York Times in early April about the allegations surrounding O'Reilly triggered an advertiser exodus from his top-rated program, "The O'Reilly Factor," and brought out at least three more complaints against the opinionated host. It ultimately led the Murdoch family to invoke the termination clause on Wednesday, ending O'Reilly's 21-year career at Fox. He has maintained that the complaints against him are unfounded.

The O'Reilly debacle raises questions about 21st Century's stated commitment to ensuring a hostility-free environment. In one of their few public statements about the problem in the scandal-scarred Fox News Channel workplace, James, 44, and Lachlan, 45, said after Ailes's ouster last summer, "We continue our commitment to maintaining a work environment based on trust and respect."

Yet after making that pledge, the company settled two more allegations against O'Reilly - one with former anchor Laurie Dhue, who left the network in 2008, and another with Juliet Huddy, a former network host.

According to the Times, the company also offered last year to settle, for $1 million, a lawsuit brought by Andrea Tantaros, who appeared regularly on Fox News. Tantaros' suit is against the network and Ailes, but she also claimed in her complaint that O'Reilly made unwelcome advances. Fox has denied her claims; her suit is in "confidential arbitration," according to Irena Briganti, Fox News' spokeswoman.

A spokesman for 21st Century declined to comment for this article.

Through all of this, 21st Century has taken steps to keep the allegations and settlements as quiet as possible.

In addition to binding Dhue, Huddy and other women who have settled to silence through nondisclosure agreements, most full-time employees at Fox have arbitration agreements that "force them into secret corporate courts," said Nancy Erika Smith, the attorney who represented Carlson. "Secrecy is what allows harassers to keep it up," she said.

As a corporate matter, 21st Century has made minimal public disclosures about the cost and extent of the problems. The company's entire official accounting of the Ailes drama is contained in a half-sentence buried in two quarterly 10Q reports, a financial disclosure document required by federal securities law.

"For the three months ended September 30, 2016," the disclosure reads, "the Company recorded ... approximately $35 million of costs related to settlements of pending and potential litigations following the July 2016 resignation of the Chairman and CEO of Fox News Channel after a public complaint was filed containing allegations of sexual harassment." (The complaint referred to is Carlson's lawsuit.)

The company has meanwhile kept its internal investigation of the Ailes and O'Reilly matters under wraps.

After Carlson filed suit, lawyers for the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison were hired to look into the complaint and Fox's workplace practices. 21st Century called on the same firm this month after Wendy Walsh, a former contributor to O'Reilly's program, formally complained about O'Reilly on a company hotline.

According to people at 21st Century, the law firm's findings weren't contained in a written report. Instead, the lawyers presented their conclusions to the Murdochs in a series of oral briefings, a step that would minimize leaks or unauthorized dissemination of a document.

Lisa Bloom, an attorney for Walsh and two other women who have alleged harassment by O'Reilly, said 21st Century's attorneys typically insist on some of the strictest nondisclosure terms in the business.

"Their strategy has been to duck and cover every time a woman complains of harassment in their workplace, and then to drive her out, pay her off and silence her," Bloom said.

Attorneys Smith and Bloom both note that almost none of the women publicly identified as accusers continue to be employed by Fox. They also note a seemingly opposite fact: Many of the senior executives who were employed at the time Ailes and O'Reilly were allegedly harassing women continue to run Fox.

Among them are Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy, who became co-presidents of Fox News after Ailes' departure.

In her lawsuit, Tantaros said Shine warned her to drop her harassment complaints about Ailes or face a campaign of retaliation.

A Fox contributor, Julie Roginsky, alleged in a lawsuit this month that Ailes repeatedly sexually harassed her and sabotaged her TV career after she refused his advances. She also named Shine in her suit, claiming that he retaliated against her when she refused to "malign" Carlson and join "Team Roger" after Carlson sued Ailes last year.

Attorneys for Huddy, who settled her allegations, alleged in an intent-to-sue letter last year that Abernethy had harassed Huddy and harmed her TV career while he was the head of the Fox TV station group.

In a statement, Briganti said the letter "contains substantial falsehoods, which (Abernethy has) vehemently denied." She added that Shine denied the allegations in the Tantaros and Roginsky lawsuits.

(c) 2017, The Washington Post. Paul Farhi wrote this story.
Mick Mulvaney

FILE - In this March 16, 2017, file photo, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney speaks at the White House, in Washington.

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, file)

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump and his top aides applied new pressure Sunday on lawmakers to include money for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border in a must-pass government funding bill, raising the possibility of a federal government shutdown this week.

In a pair of tweets, Trump attacked Democrats for opposing the wall and insisted that Mexico would pay for it "at a later date," despite his repeated campaign promises not including that qualifier. And top administration officials appeared on Sunday shows to press for money for the wall, including White House budget director Mick Mulvaney, who said Trump might refuse to sign a spending bill that does not include money for the wall.

Democrats said they vigorously oppose any money for the border wall in a new spending bill, setting the stage for a last-minute showdown as the White House and lawmakers scramble to pass a stopgap bill before funding expires at the end of Friday.

Trump's position could also put him at odds with Republican congressional leaders, some of whom have voiced skepticism about including wall funding in the most immediate spending bill. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., made clear to rank-and-file GOP lawmakers on Saturday that his top priority was to pass a bill to keep government open.

"The Democrats don't want money from budget going to border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs and very bad MS 13 gang members," Trump tweeted Sunday morning. In a subsequent tweet, he wrote: "Eventually, but at a later date so we can get started early, Mexico will be paying, in some form, for the badly needed border wall."

On "Fox News Sunday," host Chris Wallace asked Mulvaney, "Will he (Trump) sign a government funding bill that does not include funding for the border wall?"

"Yeah, and I think you saw his answer just in your little lead-in, which is: We don't know yet," Mulvaney said in the interview. He was referring to comments Trump recently made to the Associated Press.

In an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus appeared to take a slightly less rigid approach to getting money for the border wall, repeatedly talking more generally about the need for "border security." Still, he mentioned the wall in the context of the president's goals.

"I think that as long as the president's priorities are adequately reflected ... and there's enough as far as flexibility for the border wall and border security, I think we'll be okay with that," he said.

Democrats took a hard stance against the wall.

"The wall is, in my view, immoral, expensive, unwise, and when the president says, 'Well, I promised a wall during my campaign,' I don't think he said he was going to pass billions of dollars of cost of the wall on to the taxpayer," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said on "Meet the Press."

Trump campaigned heavily on the promise of building a wall, which he said would curb illegal immigration and the flow of drugs into the United States. Mexico's president has said his country will not pay for the wall.

"I don't think anybody is trying to get to a shutdown," Mulvaney said. "A shutdown is not a desired end. It's not a tool. It's not something we want to have. We want our priorities funded. And one of the biggest priorities during the campaign was border security - keeping Americans safe. And part of that was a border wall."

Asked recently by the Associated Press whether he would sign a bill without border funding, Trump replied: "I don't know yet. People want the border wall. My base definitely wants the border wall. My base really wants it."

Trump administration officials have steadily advocated for funding the wall in recent days.

"I think it goes without saying that the president has been pretty straightforward about his desire and the need for a border wall," Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly said in an interview with CNN's "State of the Union" that aired Sunday. "So I would suspect, he'll do the right thing for sure, but I would suspect he will be insistent on the funding."

Mulvaney has said that the administration is willing to negotiate with Democrats - funding insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in exchange for support for wall funding.

But Democratic leaders say they are not open to that.

"The White House gambit to hold hostage health care for millions of Americans, in order to force American taxpayers to foot the bill for a wall that the President said would be paid for by Mexico is a complete non-starter," Matt House, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement Friday. House said Sunday that statement still stands.

"ObamaCare is in serious trouble. The Dems need big money to keep it going - otherwise it dies far sooner than anyone would have thought," Trump tweeted Sunday. It was unclear whether his tweet was meant to bolster Mulvaney's negotiating position.

Republicans hold a 52-to-48 advantage over the Democratic caucus in the Senate. But Senate rules protecting the minority give Democrats some leverage. Senate Republicans must get 60 votes to pass legislation, meaning it is impossible to do so without some Democratic support.

The spending showdown comes as Congress prepares to return from a two-week recess with a busy to-do list. Trump and some other Republicans have been pressing to revive work on health-care legislation, which stalled last month because Republicans could not agree on a strategy for repealing and replacing the ACA.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration plans to release a very general sketch of its tax reform plan this week, Mulvaney said.

"I think what are you going to see Wednesday is some specific governing principles, some guidance," he said, explaining that the White House will not release specific legislative text. "Also some indications of what the rates are going to be."

Asked whether the plan will be revenue-neutral, Mulvaney replied, "I don't think we've decided that part yet."

(c) 2017, The Washington Post. Sean Sullivan wrote this story.
BLOSSBURG -- A Marcellus Shale natural gas field worker from Texas is being sought by Blossburg police in connection with a shooting inside a borough bar early Saturday.

James Wesley Lynch IV, 39, of Cleveland, Texas, is accused of wounding Derrick Ricco, 24, of Blossburg, in Bear A Bar in the 200 block of Main Street about 12:20 a.m.

Police said Lynch left the bar as directed by staff but returned and pointed a handgun at Ricco. The gun discharged when Ricco pushed the gun downward, they said.

Ricco was struck in the abdomen and was flown to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre. No information on his condition was available Sunday.

As Lynch left the bar he pointed his weapon at the head of a 36-year-old Blossburg man but did not fire, police said.

Charges filed against Lynch are attempted homicide, aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats, harassment, disorderly conduct, illegal possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm without a license.

Lynch, who is 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds with a shaved head, is driving a 1999 to 2004 black Dodge Dakota pickup truck with a temporary New York registration, police said.

It was spotted in the Williamsport area about 2:15 a.m. Saturday, they said. It is believed Lynch is heading south, possibly to Texas, police said.

Anyone with information on Lynch's whereabouts is asked to contact Blossburg police at 570-638-3134
The crash that was slowing traffic on Interstate 81 in Cumberland County has been cleared.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the crash occurred around 10:27 a.m. Sunday in the northbound lane of I-81 0.6 miles north of Exit 9 to PA Route 174 and King Street near Shippensburg.

It caused a lane restriction. There is no word yet on injuries.

For more traffic information, follow live traffic updates, accident reports and road closures below from PennDOT, Total Traffic Network and other Twitter sources.

Get a look at conditions on local roads -- via PennDOT traffic cameras -- anytime here on PennLive. For Pennsylvania Turnpike updates and possible travel delays visit the Turnpike website here.

Tweet us at @pennlive with any incidents you see on your commute or send a submission to submissions@pennlive.com.
Cumberland Conservation Collaborative

(Cumberland Conservation Collaborative Facebook page)

The Cumberland Conservation Collaborative (CCC) will host its first community forum at the Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department's Social Hall from 5:30 to 9 p.m. May 11. The forum, entitled "Preserving Cumberland County's Rural Landscape & Natural Resources," is just one part of the CCC's mission to protect the county's future by uniting various organizations who share goals.

Talking to Rick Rovegno, former Cumberland County commissioner, produces a good understanding as to why this forum is so important. "Cumberland County is the fastest growing county in the Pennsylvania area," he said recently. As the community develops, it's necessary to assess how it affects agriculture to promote stability.

The forum will be divided into two segments. From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., attendees can enjoy light refreshments while looking over displays set up by the CCC's member organizations. Groups like the Clean Air Board of Central Pennsylvania, the Yellow Breeches Watershed Association, the Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club and more will have table displays that explain who they are and what they do. If attendees are interested in learning more or volunteering, each table will also have a sign-up sheet.

The panel discussion, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will feature four panelists whose combined experience covers government, nonprofit and business interest in conservation and environmental issues. It will include the following panelists:

Troy Truax, an engineer with Michael Baker International Inc., is the planning officials development officer for the American Planning Association, Pennsylvania chapter, as well as chairman of South Middleton's planning commission.

Bill Chain is the former vice president of the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, a

Andy Williford is the vice president of human resources for Volvo Construction Equipment Operations Americas which, Rovegno says, has a big presence in the Cumberland County area. Williford has a degree in public management as well as certificates in human resources.

As the vice president of Susquehanna Heritage, Jonathan Pinkerton helps to preserve and promote the history and well being of the Susquehanna River. Pinkerton is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Finally, the forum will be moderated by Shippensburg professor, Dr. George Pomeroy who specializes in urban geography, environmental planning and has prior experience moderating panels.

The discussion will begin with a few prepared questions but then the floor will open up for the audience to share perspectives, ideas and concerns.

With all of these different voices, Rovegno's goal for the forum is to "initiate a conversation."

The CCC, he says, is the "table" to which "different pressures, viewpoints and organizations come together to reach some harmony and bring balance to the community."

For more information on the Cumberland Conservation Collaborative's community forum "Preserving Cumberland County's Rural Landscape & Natural Resources," visit their website at www.cumberlandconservationcollaborative.org.
President Donald Trump plans to mark his first 100th day in office on Saturday with the folks in Pennsylvania he credits with providing him with the critical electoral votes he needed to get elected.

Trump's visit to Harrisburg falls on the first day of a potential federal government shutdown. It also happens to be the same day as the White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington, D.C., that he and his staff are boycotting to protest what he considers unfavorable media coverage.

Given the focus on the symbolic 100-day standard for presidents, he also will be under much scrutiny as to whether he has delivered on his broad and sweeping vision that he laid out for his first 100 days during a campaign stop at the Eisenhower Hotel in Gettysburg last October.

"I will be holding a BIG rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it!" Trump tweeted on Saturday.

Next Saturday night I will be holding a BIG rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2017

What he intends to tell attendees to the event to be held in the New Holland Arena at the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center has yet to be announced. An attempt to get a comment about that from his campaign press office was unsuccessful.

For tickets to the event, visit Trump's campaign website.

CNN political analyst and Camp Hill native Jeffrey Lord said he sees Trump's second post-election visit to the central Pennsylvania as a homecoming of sorts.

"Politically speaking, he's coming home to his base," he said.

Lord expects Trump's remarks will focus on what he has accomplished in his first 100 days to fight the narrative the media presents and focus on what he has gotten done. The biggest highlight of the Trump presidency in Lord's eyes is the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.

"That was a big thing for him. He'll be there for a long time. This is a big deal. I certainly think that's one," Lord said. "He can go through the executive orders and that kind of thing, changing America's status in the world, changing the relationships, dealing with Syria and North Korea, signaling there's a new sheriff in town."

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., said he sees the visit as "the president's way of saying 'thank you' to the people of Pennsylvania" for helping him win last year's election and "showing that he's committed to our area."

Barletta, who is passing up the opportunity to welcome Trump to his congressional district on Saturday to attend his granddaughter's christening, said, "Throughout the campaign, I told him that he would win Pennsylvania and encouraged him to come to our state. We worked closely to make sure that he visited often and at key times. It's fitting that he will mark his first 100 days in office here."

The significance of this artificial milestone has lost its luster over time for some since the days of President Franklin D. Roosevelt who succeeded in getting 15 major New Deal laws enacted in the early days of his administration to bring an end to the Great Depression. Lord is among those skeptical of its significance.

"The media loves it and political people love it and even [Trump] he mentioned it when he was running for president so he's going to have to go through this," he said.

Like Barletta, Lord won't be in attendance at Saturday's event.

"I would love to have been in Harrisburg with the president," he said. "Unfortunately, I do have a prior commitment. I gave my word and I will be at the White House Correspondents dinner."

In the late stages of his campaign, Trump promised to introduce and fight for 10 specific pieces of legislation in his first 100 days.

They included bills to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, cut taxes, spur $1 trillion in infrastructure investments and expand school choice. To date, only one of those pieces of legislation have been introduced - the House health-care bill - and it remains a topic of discussion.

Donald Trump in Gettysburg Posted by PennLive.com on Saturday, October 22, 2016

When speaking to about 500 supporters in Gettysburg last fall about his vision for his first 100 days, he also mentioned building a border wall with Mexico, repealing what he called "unconstitutional" executive orders by President Obama; replacing the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia with a like-minded, conservative; and cancel funding for "sanctuary cities," where local officials refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Trump on Friday tried to dampen the significance surrounding the 100-day mark by tweeting, "No matter how much I accomplish during the ridiculous standard of the first 100 days, & it has been a lot (including S.C.), media will kill!"

No matter how much I accomplish during the ridiculous standard of the first 100 days, & it has been a lot (including S.C.), media will kill!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2017

Nonetheless, it is pretty clear he is feeling some pressure to deliver results.

In the coming week, Trump wants to revive a troubled health care measure from House Republicans. He plans to announce his tax reform plan on Wednesday although an aide said it will be short on details.

Trump hopes to use a $1 trillion catchall spending bill to salvage victories on his promised U.S.-Mexico border wall, a multibillion-dollar down payment on a Pentagon buildup, and perhaps a crackdown on cities that refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement by federal authorities.

Most pressing, though, is trying to avert a government shutdown by midnight Friday. Negotiations have hit a rough patch because of disputes over the border wall and health law subsidies to help low-income people afford health insurance.

With Republicans must negotiate with Democrats to gain the necessary votes, expectations are tempered expectations that the president will gain much in the way of bragging rights for any big wins to talk about next Saturday.

The midstate hasn't had this many visits by a president in decades, if ever. Along with one in Hershey in December and the upcoming one, Trump made four stops in southcentral Pennsylvania prior to his election.

Given the way Pennsylvania came through for him in the Republican primary and then again in November, Lord said it paid off.

"He did so well here in central Pennsylvania," Lord said. "Without question, it helped make him president."

From all appearances, his visit next Saturday on his 100th day in office indicates he remembers that.

* Associated Press contributed to this story.
Sweden Truck Crash

The rear of a truck, left, protrudes after it crashed into a department store injuring several people in central Stockholm, Sweden, Friday April 7, 2017. (Anders Wiklund , TT News Agency via AP)

(Anders Wiklund)

By Susan Stamper Brown

Ultra-liberal Sweden is becoming a shell of its former self because liberalism has turned this once peaceful country into a chaotic, multicultural cesspool of violence and unrest.

Susan Stamper Brown (Cagle Syndicate photo)

Swedes have always taken pride in their open-mindedness, believing their good intentions and big hearts would overcome a collision of cultures when it comes to immigration without assimilation.

Swayed by purely emotional thinking, they assumed their kindness and generosity would be reciprocated, believing their sophistication and universal outlook would elevate them above the consequences of what happens when Third World mindsets reside at First World addresses.



Now crime is on the rise and Swedish police officer Peter Springare has had enough. In a Facebook post that he openly admitted wasn't politically correct, Springare said his "suspected perpetrators" for crimes that week came from: "Iraq, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Somalia, Syria again, Somalia, unknown country, unknown country, Sweden."





Of course, Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven challenged Officer Springare's claims, which quickly went viral.



Apparently, Prime Minister Lofven had a change of heart after the April 7 terrorist attack when an immigrant expressed his appreciation for Sweden's generosity by hijacking a beer truck and mowing down a crowd on a bustling Stockholm shopping street. After the attack, reports emerged that police searching for clues in the Stockholm suburb of Tensta were "pelted with stones by hostile gangs" of immigrant youth.



Lofven now promises Sweden "will never go back to the [mass immigration] we had in autumn 2015, never." According to the UK Daily Mail, 80 percent of the asylum seekers admitted in 2015 did not have identification papers, making it "impossible to find out who they were or whether they had terror links." Another 40,000 were let in without seeking asylum and "simply disappeared and have not been traced by the authorities."





Sweden may never go back to 2015 levels, but what's done is done. They flushed their safety, security and national identity down the loo and will forevermore reap the consequences of their nonsensical choices.



Like former President Barack Obama and Germany's Angela Merkel, Lofven is a megalomaniacal leftwing globalist ideologue who proudly promotes policies normal people hate. They live in a world defined by childlike assumptions of multiculturalism, but multiculturalism has worked for the West about as well as socialism worked for Venezuela.



During a CNN interview with Brooke Baldwin, a Syrian man, Kassam Eid, praised and thanked President Trump for his recent Tomahawk missile response to the sarin attack in Syria. Eid told Baldwin he didn't see the media or all the people protesting Trump's travel ban "raising your voice against President Obama's inaction in Syria that made us refugees get kicked out of Syria."



"If you really care about refugees," Eid said, "if you really care about helping us, please help us stay in our country." His country. Not America. Not Germany. Not Sweden.



Leftwing globalists wrongly assume their open-mindedness, worldview, inclusiveness, and commitment to unity guarantees everyone a happily-ever-after ending. Frankly, their ideology might make them feel good, but it's killing the rest of us.



Susan Stamper Brown Susan is a regular contributor to Townhall, The Christian Post, Right Wing News and GOPUSA. Her work appears on Sundays on PennLive. Readers may email her at writestamper@gmail.com.
Lyle Gennett wins election for Charlevoix mayor

According to unofficial results from the city manager, the vote was 790 for Gennett and 525 for Halverson.
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With a White House administration that embraces wild conspiracy theories as the source of its policies at home and abroad, it is seemingly hypocritical to proffer what sounds like a conspiracy theory to warn Americans their government is being hijacked. This isnt about Vladimir Putin inserting himself in the White House, but it is every bit as dangerous as a hostile foreign power dismantling Americas government. Some Americans are skeptical when they hear there is a concerted effort to create a theocracy to replace the democratically-elected government and replace the Constitution with the Christian bible, but they are wrong to be skeptical; they should be absolutely terrified.

It has always been a mystery as to why the Attorney General of the United States said the Separation Clause in the U.S. Constitutions 1st Amendment is unconstitutional and unhistorical when his job is to know what the Constitution entails. After all, he has taken the oath of office swearing to uphold the Constitution. But a recent revelation makes his statement a tad easier to understand; not accept, just understand.

In a report in Raw Story citing Fusion.net about weekly prayer meetings and Bible study held to proselytize Trumps cabinet into evangelical fundamentalists worldview, it turns out that Jeff Sessions is a close and devoted friend to a fanatical Christian preacher responsible for the indoctrination. The man who was disavowed by his own congregation for being too bigoted and extreme is Pastor Ralph Drollinger. Drollinger runs the website Capitol Ministries whose stated purpose is making disciples of Christ in the Capitol and spreading Christian fundamentalism among the people leading the U.S. government.

For an idea of the nefarious plot behind the weekly Bible and prayer lessons for the Cabinet, Drollingers favorite politician is an evangelical fanatic, Michele Bachmann. In fact, Drollinger claims his dream is setting up a factory to pump out more right wing Christian politicians like Bachmann. Bachmann serves on Drollingers Capitol Ministries board because he admires her unerring instincts in applying her Christian faith to the law.

She thinks Biblically, She doesnt need a whole lot of time to figure out how to vote because she sees the world through a scriptural lens. We need more men and women like her in office.

To achieve that end, Drollinger convinced Trump or somebody in his administration that his Cabinet needs weekly prayer meetings and bible lessons. According to the Fusion.net article, preacher Drollinger holds three weekly prayer and Bible study groups each week. The meetings include one for Cabinet members, one for the Senate, and one for members of the House. The bible and prayer meetings are held at various locations including rotating Senators offices and the Capitol; the Trump Cabinet members religious indoctrination location is undisclosed.

Assisting Drollinger through Capitol Ministries sponsorships are powerful Trump acolytes CIA Director Mike Pompeo, Vice President Mike Pence, HUD Secretary Ben Carson, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, nominee for Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, HHS Secretary Tom Price, E.P.A. chief Scott Pruitt, and Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX). The ministrys website proclaims it plants and develops biblical ministries of evangelism and discipleship to public servants. It also boasts having birthed ongoing outposts for Christ in more than 60 capitals throughout the world  since 1996. Now Americas capital is infested with the Christian fundamentalists wielding unchecked power and a view towards installing an evangelical Christian theocracy.

Drollinger, besides being a loyal friend of A.G. Jeff Session said in January that it was his scriptural teachings that developed Sessions radical anti-immigrant views. Those views were evident during Sessions confirmation hearings leading Drollinger to boast:

Ive had the distinct honor of teaching him on this subject, and many others. Theres nothing more exciting, when youre a Bible teacher, to see one of the guys youre working with  to see him or her articulate something youve taught them when theyre under the gun.

Obviously, that teaching includes convincing Sessions that the Separation Clause is unconstitutional and that should concern every American; especially when this religious extremist is holding three weekly Bible and prayer lessons for Trumps cabinet as well as members of the House and Senate. Remember, Drollingers stated goal is spreading Christian fundamentalism to Americas leaders.

Although there have been, and still are, predictions that religion is declining around the world, including in America, nothing could be farther from the truth. It is true that the numbers of newly indoctrinated are not exploding and are instead declining, but declining numbers or not  evangelical fundamentalists now control the United States government. And yes, it is also true that not all Christians are maniacal Christofascists, but history proves that religious fervor is a very deadly, and extremely virulent thing that will rampage through a nation. The Jewish Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, the Crusades and even ISIS caught up what were probably decent human beings and transformed them into murderous monsters in the name of religion.

This is already happening in America with an Education Secretary intent on using public schools and taxpayer dollars to advance gods kingdom. The Supreme Court just heard arguments intended to tear down the barriers between church and state, and Trump is panting to give churches more political power by repealing the Johnson Amendment.

Any one of these abominations are frightening in and of themselves, and yet there is nothing anyone can do to stop them; the media is as guilty as the religious fanatics. But combined with a concerted effort, apparently with Trumps blessing, to spread Christian fundamentalism throughout the halls of power and Trumps Cabinet, Americans should be terrified, not skeptical because this is real and it is happening now.
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By Alexandria Sage and Noel Randewich

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters)  A massive power outage threw San Francisco into chaos for most of the work day on Friday, knocking out traffic signals, paralyzing businesses and halting the citys famed cable cars.

The power outage, which was triggered by a fire in a PG&E Corp. utility substation, disrupted San Franciscos normally bustling financial district, home to banks and technology companies.

The blackout started just after 9 a.m. (noon ET/1600 GMT) and at one point affected nearly 90,000 customers, according to PG&E. The cause of the fire was a circuit breaker failure at the substation, PG&E spokesman Paul Doherty said.

Office workers unable to access elevators or use their keycards spilled out onto the sidewalks, some wandering the streets in search of an open cafe or sunny spot to enjoy a rare warm San Francisco day.

Others simply went home, with long lines forming for ferries. For many, there was little to do but wait.

When I got here we had to shut down all the servers, all the work stations were off-line, said Bard Wood, an information technology worker in the financial district. Im sure weve lost millions of dollars already. Theres no business down here right now.

Some cable car operators snoozed after their cars stalled on the street rails.

Traffic was snarled and emergency workers responded to 20 elevator rescues, according to the citys fire department, but there were no reported deaths or major injuries. But many businesses, from coffee shops to major banks, took a hit.

Wells Fargo & Co closed 13 bank branches and four office buildings, while the New York Stock Exchange said its ARCA options trading floor in San Francisco was briefly unavailable. Employees in Goldman Sachs financial district office were sent home.

King Lip, chief investment officer at Baker Avenue Asset Management, said his firm was in the middle of a trade when all our systems went down. He said employees in another state had to complete the transaction.

Two office buildings and a local branch of First Republic Bank were shut down, a sign on the branchs doorway apologizing for the unexpected closure.

Fourteen neighborhoods were affected, including the main shopping district near Union Square, where stores turned signs to closed and major retailers such as Macys and Louis Vuitton shut their doors.

In a city proud of its technological prowess, the outage forced residents back to the dark ages. At the salad bar MIXT, cashiers took credit card payments using old-fashioned paper imprints.

Old school, commented patron Ben Fackler. I havent seen that in forever.

DARKENED BY ONE SUBSTATION

For more than two hours, trains barreled through the Montgomery Street station  one of the busiest stops that services the downtown and financial district  as the outage prevented them from stopping until backup generators came on line, Bay Area Rapid Transit spokesman Jim Allison said.

Power was finally restored to all customers by 6 pm local time, PG&E said.

Workers have entered the substation. Theyre assessing the damage and starting to make repairs, Doherty said.

San Francisco International Airport remained operational, and a U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said there was no evidence of terrorism. The spokesperson requested anonymity, citing department policy.

This had nothing to do with cyber, said Joe Weiss, an expert on control system cyber security who has testified to Congress about structural weaknesses in grid components.

The real question is how could one substation take out, effectively, San Francisco?

An FBI spokesman said the agency monitored the incident but is not investigating.

Twenty-one San Francisco schools lost power, but remained open nonetheless, according to a Department of Emergency spokesman. At least three hospitals had to rely on backup generators, canceling elective surgeries and redirecting emergency patients to other facilities.

Joanna Gadd, 55, was in the admitting room of the citys Saint Francis Memorial Hospital waiting for her daughter to undergo surgery when the lights went out.

The diagnostic surgery was canceled. She had forfeited a trip to the United Kingdom, including airfare, to accommodate the operation.

It is frustrating, Gadd said. Its quite nerve-racking going into surgery. She had been fasting, and fasting for someone with diabetes is definitely no picnic.

(Additional reporting by Jeffrey Dastin, David Ingram, Joe Menn, Robin Respaut, Peter Henderson and Liana Baker in San Francisco, Rodrigo Campos in New York, Tom James in Seattle and Nichola Groom in Los Angeles; Writing by Dan Whitcomb and Heather Somerville; Editing by Mary Milliken)
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By Lacey Ann Johnson

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  Thousands of scientists and people from other walks of life turned out in Washington and New York on Saturday for Earth Day events that organizers have framed a celebration of science to counter a growing disregard for evidence-based knowledge.

March for Science, which includes teach-ins on the National Mall and parades in midtown Manhattan and hundreds of other cities and towns, is billed as non-partisan, aimed at reaffirming the vital role science plays in our democracy, according to the marchs website.

Even so, the marches were effectively protests against steep cuts that President Donald Trump has proposed for federal science and research budgets and his administrations skepticism about climate change and the need to slow global warming.

Its important to show this administration that we care about facts, said Chris Taylor, 24, who was part of an early crowd of about 2,000 who gathered on the Mall for teach-ins on topics like climate change, water quality and sustainable food.

It just seems like theyre not really concerned about economic growth or creating new technologies, just catering to massive corporations, said Taylor, who is earning a PhD in robotics at George Mason University in Virginia.

March for Science is the latest in a series of national demonstrations that have been staged since Trumps inauguration nearly 100 days ago. Previous marches and protests have focused on a range of partisan issues, from abortion rights to immigration policy.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Saturdays marches. However, in the past, Trump has said climate change was a hoax that was stifling policies to foster economic growth.

His administration is considering withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, a global accord aimed at reducing global emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Last year the United States, under President Barack Obama, joined more than 190 other countries in signing the pact.

Trumps proposed 2018 budget calls for deep spending cuts by government science agencies, including a 31 percent reduction for the Environmental Protection Agency.

March organizers are also worried by what they see as growing skepticism from politicians and others on topics such as vaccinations, genetically modified organisms and evolution.

The direct involvement by the scientific community in a national policy debate has stirred some criticism about whether scientists should get involved in politics. But organizers have defended the march as crucial because of the threat posed by discrediting scientific consensus and restricting research.

As scientists, as human beings, our mandate is clear  its to stand up for what we know to be true, said Kellan Baker, a senior fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and one of the speakers on the National Mall.

That theme was echoed by many of those who showed up in Washington for teach-ins, which organizers said were a centerpiece of the initial Earth Day held in 1970 to call attention to the environment.

Science isnt respected and it needs to be, said Sarah Binkow, 22, a civil engineer who traveled from Pontiac, Michigan, to attend the Washington rally.

Being here definitely gives me hope that theres this overwhelming population that supports science and supports scientific theory, she said.

(Additional reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington and Frank McGurty in New York; Writing by Frank McGurty; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
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Donald Trump finally tweeted about Earth Day as well as issuing an official statement. Both expressed much the same message, that economic growth is more important than the environment, and that somehow, logic unexplained, economic growth enhances environmental protection.

His first tweet stressed environmental concerns:

Today on Earth Day, we celebrate our beautiful forests, lakes and land. We stand committed to preserving the natural beauty of our nation.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2017

A couple of hours later, he felt the need to amend his message with a tweet in favor of economic growth:

I am committed to keeping our air and water clean but always remember that economic growth enhances environmental protection. Jobs matter!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2017

His official Earth Day statement was much the same:

As empty slogans go, this one is pretty empty, and it is difficult to see how this is even possible. Especially when you consider that economic progress for Trump is to be found in his reduced economic burdens on corporations, which translates as relaxed environmental protections and an Environmental Protection Agency that rejects science and therefore the environment.

His claim of advancing scientific research smacks entirely of the standard totalitarian claim of having its own science, which is not science at all.

We saw this in the Soviet Unions communist science that starved millions, and in Nazi Germanys National Socialist science, which endorsed border sciences such as astrology.

Such a thing as Republican science is not possible. Science is science and the only science Trump wants to advance is something that will prove global warming is not, in fact, taking place, just like the science that proves tobacco doesnt cause lung cancer.

Trumps Earth Day message does not celebrate the Earth, but rather the economic exploitation of it. Unsurprising coming from a man who has bragged about sexually assaulting women, his message is an endorsement of the rape of our Earth.
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Former president Bill Clinton mocked Donald Trumps claims that Obama wiretapped him with one picture on Twitter.

Clinton tweeted:

BREAKING: We just learned that the @ClintonCenter has been bugged. pic.twitter.com/4Or6lrnRPN  Bill Clinton (@billclinton) April 23, 2017

While Donald Trump is spinning his wheels elsewhere on Twitter trying to explain how he needs money for a wall now that Mexico kind of maybe might help pay for later, a former president and his staff are reminding the rest of the country that yes, the guy currently in the White House is a buffoon that it is perfectly fine to poke and laugh at.

For the record, there is not a shred of evidence to back up Trumps claims that Obama wiretapped him, but dont think for a second that Democrats are going to let the president or his party forget the insulting the absurd claim that he made.
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There appears to be this alignment pushed by Moscow, doubled down on with Trump, to align all of these autocracies Which would create this entire axis of autocracies to a certain extent, Malcolm Nance said Sunday on MSNBCs AM Joy.

Nance is a retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer and expert in international terrorism and intelligence, so he knows of what he speaks.

Watch here via MSNBC:

Let me put it into a broader perspective of whats happening between Russia, the United States, France, and all of these nations. There appears to be this alignment pushed by Moscow, doubled down on with Trump, to align all of these autocracies, whether its the general the carried out the coup in Egypt and is now a strongman, Turkey with Erdogan, pushing for Le Pen in France which would create this entire axis of autocracies to a certain extent, that are all strongmen who want to upset and break the world order.

And France, if Le Pen wins in France in the second round of the elections you can see the break up of the European Union and France withdraw from NATO the way de Gaulle did for 43 years. It puts it into perspective why Trump would call Erdogan and congratulate him on essentially breaking democracy in that country.

Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Sanders discussed Trumps phone call with Turkeys President Erdogan in a gaggle with reporters on April 18th, who wondered if he might regret having congratulated him on his victory in that referendum.

Sanders replied that Trump did not regret it and claimed Trump was building relationships with our allies, according to a pool report sent to PoliticusUSA.

While Sanders tried to claim that Trump was building alliances as a part of an appreciation for NATO, NBC News pointed out, Accusations of voter fraud, alleged human rights abuses, and concerns about a slide toward authoritarianism  none of this stopped President Donald Trump congratulating Turkeys leader on his controversial referendum victory this week.

Trumps warm words were a stark contrast to the criticism from European leaders and independent election monitors, who are concerned the vote may have been unfair.

Sanders was called out on Trump basically congratulating an attack on democracy and supports the expansion of Erdogans powers in the gaggle:

Q Is the President concerned about the future of democracy in Turkey as a result of this vote?

MS. SANDERS: I mean, we want to encourage democracy. And again, the purpose of the Presidents call yesterday was not to discourage that but simply to talk about some of the things, like Syria, where they can work together.

Q But doesnt it send a message that he supports the fact that President Erdogan expanded his power with this very controversial vote?

MS. SANDERS: I dont think that  again, that wasnt the purpose of the call. And thats certainly not the position of the President, and of course supports democracy and would hope for that. But at the same time, the Presidents number-one priority is protecting Americans, keeping Americans safe, and sometimes were going to have to work with other countries and some of our NATO partners in order to do that.

Q Should that be viewed as an acceptance of the results? I mean, the opposition party is 

MS. SANDERS: Im sorry?

Q The opposition party is questioning the results, calling for a recount. Should President Trumps phone call be viewed as an acceptance that those are the official results of the referendum?

And on it went to nowhere, with Sanders citing Trumps support for democracy as the reason why he congratulated Erdogan on his attack on democracy.

Donald Trump might have his own reasons for supporting attacks on Democracy, but doing so follows Moscows act of war on the west and the concept of freedom that is the foundation of a democracy. Putins goal in working to get Donald Trump elected is to undermine democracy. Putin saw Trump as the best avenue to undermine western democracy, and this action of Trumps, especially when taken in context with all of his other actions and rhetoric, suggests that Putin was right.

In supporting acts of aggression against democracy, Trump signals to the world that he is supporting autocracy over democracy.

Thats a mighty bizarre and troubling stance for the president of the land of the free. This is like Bushs axis of evil, only this time the Republican is actually pushing for it instead of against it.

Image: Malcolm Nance, MSNBC AMJoy screen cap
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The media doesnt talk about how Hillary Clinton really lost, because it implicates their judgment.

Nate Silver pointed out that Hillary Clinton got a 3 point drop in her polls after the Comey letter about her non-existent email scandal and then she lost Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan by 1 point. The media has ignored this fact, he wrote, because it implicates their judgment.

Clinton experienced a sharp, 3-point drop in her polls after the Comey letter came out. Then on 11/8, she lost FL, WI, PA & MI by <=1 point," Nate Silver wrote on Twitter. Adding, "It's a fairly open-and-shut case. But the media's election post-mortems have mostly ignored it because it implicates the media's judgement."

Clinton experienced a sharp, 3-point drop in her polls after the Comey letter came out. Then on 11/8, she lost FL, WI, PA & MI by <=1 point.  Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) April 22, 2017

It's a fairly open-and-shut case. But the media's election post-mortems have mostly ignored it because it implicates the media's judgement. pic.twitter.com/cBLifP9WLu  Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) April 22, 2017

The media has responded fairly well, unexpectedly so, to Donald Trumps assaults on freedom, and they are operating under a constant threat of attack for being the Kremlin dubbed Trump favorite fake news now, so its not that I want to pile on.

But its vital that we all examine how we got here, and unfortunately, part of that is the medias willingness to carry water for fake email scandals regarding Hillary Clinton. I say fake because every Republican who has been in executive office has done the same thing and or worse  used a private server and in some cases destroying government property to make sure those emails could never be recovered. We didnt hear about those scandals like we did Hillary Clintons decision to use a private server, which makes the scandal a ginned up, bizarre issue.

Romney did the same thing and worse as Governor, but it wasnt an issue in 2012.

For decades now, Republicans have held the beltway mantle of the governing party, the party of grown ups, the party to be respected. They are the party of the media corporations. They are the party of alleged adults.

Perhaps this is why the media has been so willing to run with a Republican aides version of facts as a fact, or carry this email water for Republicans. Maybe they just wanted a story. Maybe they hated Hillary Clinton so much that they were blinded to the realities of the situation. There are a lot of possible reasons contributing to why this happened.

But happen it did, and the media must, as they stand up to accusations of fake news by Trump and his Kremlin friends, also do a fierce examination of what caused them to elevate the email scandal above so many of Donald Trumps obvious and more troubling issues.

This isnt to blame the media for Russias interference or even for greedily reporting what they knew were stolen emails that might very well be unreliable (given Kremlins habit of mixing in a few falsehoods into stolen/hacked material). That is for each news room to determine, and a case can be made that there is a duty to report because the information is out there.

But the ball was dropped here, and it caused this absolute assault on democracy and humanity. Hillary Clinton was damaged by the Comey letter and it cost her 3 points in an election she lost in three states by a combined 78,000 votes.

Yes, the media mattered in that outcome and yes, it bears  we all bear  responsibility for it. We could have, would have otherwise, had an experienced, competent leader in the White House.
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America is watching Trump have a real time meltdown as the President sounded unstable while demanding that Congress fund his collapsing Mexico wall plan.

Trump tweeted:

The Democrats don't want money from budget going to border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs and very bad MS 13 gang members.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2017

Eventually, but at a later date so we can get started early, Mexico will be paying, in some form, for the badly needed border wall.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2017

The unstable president is having a breakdown in 140 characters or less because Congress is refusing to fund his wall.

Contrary to what Trump tweeted, Republicans and Democrats oppose building his wall. The Wall Street Journal reported, Most lawmakers representing the regionboth Democrats and Republicanssaid they are opposed and many said they have unanswered questions. A few were noncommittal, but not a single member of the House or Senate representing the region expressed support for the funding request. That includes nine members of the House and eight senators across four states: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

The region that the WSJ was talking about was the Southern border region. Lawmakers dont want to give Trump anything for his wall. They are demanding that the president live up to his campaign promise, and make Mexico pay for the wall. Trumps tweet that we can get Mexico to pay something for the wall, maybe, kind of, later was the sad backtracking of a president whose delusions have been confronted by reality.

Mexico isnt paying for the wall, and neither is Congress.

Trumps wall lies are collapsing around him, and we are witnessing a president who is melting down.
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"It all comes back to the case. You need a compelling case for why your organization exists if you want to invite people to financially support it."

This was the central guidance of the two professors who taught the four-day course "Principles and Techniques in Fundraising" that I recently attended. The class was sponsored by Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. There were 30 students representing non-profit organizations from around the country.

By the end of the 32 hours of class time, I gained a lot of new insights into philanthropy and generosity. Before the class, I had a lot of stereotypes and misconceptions about fundraising; the course helped reframe my uninformed beliefs.

Personal financial choices are something many of us are hesitant to talk about with other people, but it doesn't need to be that way. There are a lot of taboo topics that I sincerely hope become conversational norms in the not-too-distant future. Religion, sex, death and money are part of life for everyone so it would be helpful if they weren't perpetually relegated to the "never discuss publicly" list. It's through open discussion that individuals learn and our collective awareness expands. This column is called "Holy Everything" because there's sacred splendor in all of life  even in sex, death and money.

There was a time in our nation's history when those who gave money to religious organizations and nonprofits did so primarily out of a sense of obligation and duty. "I give because it's the right thing to do" was the sort of sentiment you would hear from this group of givers. There are many people in our congregations and constituencies who continue to give out of this same sense of loyalty, and we give thanks for the factors and influences that shaped that generation. Yet this isn't the only approach to giving. With time researchers are learning more about each subsequent generation's giving patterns.

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For a variety of complex reasons, motivations for generosity are shifting. Obligation and duty are no longer the only motivators. There are now a huge host of reasons people give.

It may be tempting to believe people are no longer as generous as they used to be, but that's not true. According to the most recent edition of "Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy," Americans were more generous than ever before! More than $373 billion was donated to nonprofits in 2015. That includes people from every generation making monetary donations of every amount.

On the first day of the course, Dr. Sarah Nathan said to our class, "Our competition is not each other as fellow nonprofits. Our competition is consumerism." There is not a shortage of money out there to be donated to impactful, worthy causes. There is also not a shortage of people out there who are willing to give. The goal is to find ways to connect people with the causes and missions that are most important to them. We do this through getting clear about our "cases"  why we do the work we do.

If you're part of a congregation, faith community, or nonprofit organization that requires individual donations in order to operate, I encourage you to think about your case. Talk about it with your board president, pastor, or executive director. Develop a way to clearly and compellingly talk about why your organization exists and the difference your group makes in the world. Once you've got your case clarified, your group can come up with strategic and thoughtful ways to communicate it with the wider public.

I appreciated the course immensely. It was inspiring to meet classmates doing such important work in the world, and I feel more equipped than ever before to talk about money and giving. (I wish I would've taken the course when I first became a congregational pastor.)

Whether it's sharing our money, time, or abilities, we are our healthiest when we are connected to each other. Together, let's continue to build a community, country and world built on a foundation of bold generosity.
SHANGHAI  Since her father was elected president of the United States, global sales of Ivanka Trump merchandise have surged, and the company has applied for at least nine new trademarks in the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Canada and the U.S. The commercial engine of the first daughter's brand is stronger than ever even as she builds a new political career from her West Wing office.

Sales hit record levels in 2017, despite boycotts and several stores limiting her merchandise. U.S. imports, almost all from China, shot up an estimated 166 percent last year.

The brand, which Ivanka Trump no longer manages but still owns, says distribution is growing. It has launched new active wear and affordable jewelry lines and is working to expand its global intellectual property footprint. In addition to applying for the new trademarks, Ivanka Trump Marks LLC has won provisional approval from the Chinese government for four since the inauguration.

The commercial currents of President Donald Trump's White House are unprecedented in modern American politics, ethics lawyers say. They have created an unfamiliar landscape riven with ethical pitfalls and forced consumers and retailers to wrestle with the unlikely passions now inspired by Ivanka Trump's midmarket collection of ruffled blouses, shifts and wedges.

Using the prestige of government service to build a brand is not illegal. But criminal conflict-of-interest law prohibits federal officials, such as Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, from participating in government matters that could impact their own financial interest or that of their spouses. Some argue the more her business broadens its scope, the more it threatens to encroach on the ability of two trusted advisers to deliver credible counsel to the president on core issues such as trade, intellectual property and the value of Chinese currency.

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"Put the business on hold and stop trying to get trademarks while you're in government," advises Richard Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush.

In fact, on April 6, Ivanka Trump's company won provisional approval from the Chinese government for three new trademarks, giving it monopoly rights to sell Ivanka brand jewelry, bags and spa services in the world's second-largest economy. That night, the first daughter and her husband sat next to the president of China and his wife for a steak and Dover sole dinner at Mar-a-Lago. Ivanka Trump Marks LLC has 16 registered trademarks in China and 32 pending applications, along with a total of four marks granted preliminary approval since the inauguration, according to China's Trademark Office.

Globally, the company has more than 180 pending and registered trademarks in countries including Canada, India, Japan, Israel, Mexico, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, as well as the U.S. and Europe, public records show.

The scenario underscores how difficult it is for the president's daughter to separate business from politics in her new position at the White House.

In a statement Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Ivanka Trump brand said all 2017 Chinese filings were done defensively to prevent counterfeiters or squatters from using her name.

To address ethical concerns, Ivanka Trump has shifted the brand's assets to a family-run trust valued at more than $50 million and pledged to recuse herself from issues that present conflicts. She also is no longer running her design business and has given day-to-day responsibility to Abigail Klem, president of the brand. Meanwhile, her husband has taken steps to distance himself from his sprawling New York real estate business, divesting some of his business interests including his stake in a major Fifth Avenue skyscraper.

"Ivanka will not weigh in on business strategy, marketing issues or the commercial terms of agreements," her attorney, Jamie Gorelick, said in a statement. "She has retained authority to direct the trustees to terminate agreements that she determines create a conflict of interest or the appearance of one."

China, however, remains a nagging concern.

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"Ivanka has so many China ties and conflicts, yet she and Jared appear deeply involved in China contacts and policy. I would never have allowed it," said Norman Eisen, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under President Barack Obama. "For their own sake, and the country's, Ivanka and Jared should consider stepping away from China matters."

Instead, the first daughter and her husband have emerged as prominent interlocutors with China, where they both have had significant business ties. Last year, Kushner pursued hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate investments from Anbang Insurance Group, a financial conglomerate with close ties to the Chinese state. After media reports about the deal, talks were called off.

Publicly, Ivanka Trump has taken a gracious, charming approach toward Beijing. During the Mar-a-Lago meetings, her daughter, 5-year-old Arabella, stood in a gilded room and sang a traditional Chinese song, in Mandarin, for China's president, Xi Jinping. The video, which was lavishly praised by Chinese state media, played over 2.2 million times on China's popular news portal qq.com.

The week of the summit, 3.4 tons of Ivanka Trump handbags, wallets and blouses arrived in the U.S. from Hong Kong and Shanghai. U.S. imports of her merchandise grew an estimated 40 percent in the first quarter of this year, according to Panjiva Inc., which maintains and analyzes global shipping records.

Gorelick, Ivanka Trump's attorney, said she and her husband would steer clear of specific areas that could impact her business or be seen as conflicts of interest but are under no legal obligation to step back from huge swaths of policy, such as trade with China.

Under the rules, Trump would recuse herself from conversations about duties on clothing imported from China, Gorelick said, but not broad foreign policy.

"In between, you have to assess it case-by-case," she said.

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Ivanka: A timeline

Nov. 8, 2016: Donald Trump wins the election. Sales of Ivanka merchandise on Lyst.com, a large e-commerce platform, bump 46 percent higher for the month.

Nov. 13, 2016: Ivanka Trump appears on "60 Minutes" to discuss her father's electoral win. Her jewelry company emails a "style alert" to reporters noting she wore one of her "favorite" bangles, a $10,800 bracelet from her own collection, on the show. Ensuing criticism prompts the brand to apologize.

Dec. 4, 2016: The New York Times reports Ivanka Trump sat in on a meeting with her father and the prime minister of Japan, as her company negotiated a licensing deal with a firm the Japanese government owned a large stake in. The deal was put on hold, according to Abigail Klem, who now runs Ivanka Trump's brand.

Jan. 11, 2017: Ivanka Trump announces she will take a "formal leave of absence" from executive positions at the Trump Organization and her lifestyle brand.

Feb. 9, 2017: Speaking on the morning show "Fox and Friends," White House counselor Kellyanne Conway encourages viewers to "go buy Ivanka's stuff," boasting about giving the brand "a free commercial." It apparently worked, sparking a 771 percent surge in the brand's sales that month on Lyst.com over February 2016. The White House later "counseled" Conway for inappropriately promoting the brand.

Feb. 20, 2017: Ivanka Trump Marks LLC wins preliminary approval for a trademark covering branded leather handbags in China, where the company has 52 pending or registered trademarks listed in the government trademark database.

March 3, 2017: Ivanka Trump is photographed disembarking from Air Force One in a stripe asymmetrical skirt from her own collection, available on Lyst.com for $45.

March 29, 2017: Ivanka Trump joins her father's administration as an unpaid employee.

April 6, 2017: Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, sit next to Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at a state dinner at Mar-a-Lago. That same day, China grants her company preliminary approval for three trademarks that confer monopoly rights to sell Ivanka brand jewelry, bags and spa services in the world's second-largest economy.

 ERIKA KINETZ

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Retailers who still sell, no longer sell Ivanka Trump

NEW YORK  Retailers are doing a delicate dance when it comes to handling the Ivanka Trump brand. Here's a list of some of the retailers who offer the brand and those who have scaled back or dropped the label:

AMAZON: Carries a diverse assortment of products.

BUY BUY BABY: The baby accessories chain owned by Bed, Bath & Beyond says it will carry Ivanka Trump baby products in some stores where justified by demand. The products, including diaper bags, have disappeared from its online site.

BELK INC. Carries Ivanka Trump products in its stores but no longer online.

BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY: Quietly removed Ivanka Trump products on its website in February but still carries them in its stores.

DILLARD'S: Carries clothes and accessories.

LORD & TAYLOR: Carries clothes, shoes and other accessories.

MACY'S INC.:Both Macy's and Bloomingdale's carry clothes, shoes and other accessories.

NEIMAN MARCUS: No longer carries Ivanka Trump high-end jewelry collection because the brand has phased out the line in favor of a more affordable collection.

NORDSTROM INC.: Will no longer carry the brand's clothing and accessories after the spring selling period because it says sales had declined.

PERFUMANIA: Carries Ivanka Trump fragrances.

SAKS OFF FIFTH: Quietly eliminated its products online but still carries items in stores.

TJX COS.: Continues to offer Ivanka Trump merchandise at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls stores but has said it's mixing up the brand with other labels on the racks.

ZAPPOS.COM: Carries handbags, shoes and other accessories.

 Associated Press
Remembering her past experiences with church left Kate Lawrence with no peace of mind.

The 19-year-old Rochester woman recently attended an Easter sunrise service with her family at Quarry Hill. While she now found herself at ease with a place to worship and to practice her faith, it wasn't always like this.

A 2011 study from Barna Group, a private research company, revealed three out of five young Christians who attended church frequently as children would either disconnect themselves from their faith after they turn 15 or take an extended period of leave from the church.

This didn't come as a surprise to Lawrence. She said there were some experiences that resulted in her family leaving the church.

At her old church in Buffalo, Minn., it was difficult coming to grips with the idea that her congregation wasn't welcoming toward her and her family. There were times when fellow members of the church made a point of avoiding them entirely. There were times when she and her brother were excluded and bullied in youth group.

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What was supposed to be a place of sanctuary turned into hell. She and her sibling were bullied at school, but didn't expect to find it at church. "I wished people would stop picking on my brother and me," Lawrence said, "because our whole life we were picked on in school and everywhere we went."

Since then, Lawrence has struggled with her faith. At times, it felt like her relationship with God was at an all-time high. At other times, she questioned whether it was worth holding on to her beliefs.

Even after her family stopped going to church regularly, they returned for important services such as Christmas and Easter. But, what cemented their desire to leave was the apparent lack of caring from the congregation.

"Honestly, the church never noticed we left," Lawrence said. "They never said a thing."

'A significant life change'

Although statistics indicate many young adults leave the church, it's actually nothing new, according to religious leaders. It's dependent on each individual church to do outreach and to change to fit the needs of a generation.

The Rev. Paul Brushaber, of Christ Community Church, said he sees the millennials gap as a "natural break." After growing up being taught to go to church by their parents, eventually, the decision is left up to them to continue practicing their faith or not.

"It does take a while to land," Brushaber said. "I find that some young families -- they tend to get more serious about their faith when they have children of their own. They ask 'What do we believe in? What do we want them to believe in?' Sometimes, it takes a life-changing event to maybe get them to come back."

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He also pointed out some churches fare better than others at attracting young adults.

"It's more church to church, and some do a good job reaching millennials," Brushaber said. "I think those are the churches that are relevant  have been more modernized in their styles. Some churches you won't see anyone under 40, much less 30."

'I love it'

Lawrence said it's been hard to find time to attend church while juggling her job as a receptionist, and the conflict that it creates. But she still attempts to try to go to services when she can. After moving to Rochester a year ago, Lawrence ended up going to her grandmother's church in town.

Soon, she fell in love with the congregation and the opportunity to worship in a place where she felt accepted.

"I love it," she shared. "The church I attend now is my home."
Imprimis recently published a shortened version of Weekly Standard senior editor Christopher Caldwells lecture at Hillsdale College under the heading How to think about Vladimir Putin. Last week Hillsdale got around to posting the video of Caldwells lecture (below). I found both the condensed written version and full video of Caldwells lecture of interest. I thought some readers might as well.

Caldwell says early on in his lecture: [I]f we were to use traditional measures for understanding leaders, which involve the defense of borders and national flourishing, Putin would count as the pre-eminent statesman of our time. On the world stage, who can vie with him? Only perhaps Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.

The lecture runs about 34 minutes followed by questions and answers. Someone in the audience incorporates the the routinization of charisma into his question. Hillsdale lectures attract a bright crowd.

This past October I posted a video of David Satter discussing the September 1999 apartment bombings in Russia that left hundreds dead and led to Putins rise to power. I posted the video under the heading Understanding Putin and included a set of links relevant to Staters talk. Caldwells lecture makes a good companion, if not counterpoint, to Satters talk.

NOTE: Seeking to fill in the story since the publication of Caldwells Reflections on the Revolution in Europe in 2009, Mark Steyn recently interviewed Caldwell on Europe, immigration and Islam on Marks former online show. The video is also of interest and is posted here.
Minutes ago, the estimated voting results in the first round of the French presidential election were released. Emmanuel Macron (neither left nor right) leads with 23 percent, followed by ultra-nationalist Marine Le Pen with 21. Conservative Francois Fillon and Communist Jean-Luc Melenchon were both at 19.5. Hapless Socialist Benoit Hamon had around 7 percent of the vote.

Either the French broadcast that presented these results didnt say what, exactly, estimated vote means or else my French wasnt good enough to pick up the explanation. However, at Macron headquarters folks were celebrating as if the result is conclusive (at least for him).

A couple of quick thoughts, to which I will add later. First, the polls were pretty much spot on.

Second, Le Pens showing seems unimpressive. It think it foreshadows her defeat.

Early on, it was thought that Le Pen would finish first in the preliminary round. More recently, polls showed she might well finish second, but some thought the latest terrorist attack would give her a boost. It didnt.

I dont see how Le Pen gets from 21 percent in the first round to 50 percent (plus one) in the run-off. But I have enough trouble forecasting American presidential races without dabbling in French ones.

UPDATE: Fillon, who appears to have edged out the Communist for third place, has conceded and urged his supporters to vote for Macron. So has the defeated Socialist. The Communist is still holding out hope for a second place finish.

Its likely that Macron will be Frances next president. However, his ability to govern will depend to a significant degree on the parliamentary elections to be held in June.

James Gillespie, a Paris lawyer and close observer of the French political scene, observes:
That isnt quite how the New York Times puts it, of course. In fact, the words socialist and socialism never appear in its otherwise unsparing account. But Venezuela under Chavez and Maduro illustrates the inevitable arc of socialism, from parasitism to gangster rule.

The uniformed men who shot Mr. Moreno were not government security forces, witnesses say. Rather, they were members of armed bands who have become key enforcers for President Nicolas Maduro as he attempts to crush a growing protest movement against his rule. The groups, called collectives or colectivos in Spanish, originated as pro-government community organizations.

Led by community organizers, presumably.

 that have long been a part of the landscape of leftist Venezuelan politics. Civilians with police training, colectivo members are armed by the government, say experts who have studied them.

With Venezuelans starving and dying for lack of basic medicines, only armed gangs can keep the socialist government in power. Of course, the colectivos dont subscribe to the supposedly high ideals of socialism:

Colectivos control vast territory across Venezuela, financed in some cases by extortion, black-market food and parts of the drug trade as the government turns a blind eye in exchange for loyalty.

Of course, Chavez and Maduro were nothing but thieves, either.

Now they appear to be playing a key role in repressing dissent.

***

As rising foreign debt and falling world oil prices have depleted the Venezuelan governments coffers, it has increasingly turned to colectivos as enforcers. From labor disputes with unions to student demonstrations on university campuses, colectivos are appearing almost anywhere the government sees citizens getting out of line, Venezuelans say. Eladio Mata, a hospital union leader, says he was shot last year by colectivo members when negotiations deadlocked with the University Hospital of Caracas.

***

In this country, its prohibited to dissent, Mr. Mata said.

Of course it is! That is what happens when you elect socialists. Just ask the students at Middlebury, Berkeley, Claremont, etc. They cant wait until they take power and steal enough money to hire colectivos of their own. That is what socialismall power to government, none to the individualcomes down to.

Mr. Rojas, who works with opposition politicians, said he had become used to the attacks, which have long been a fixture of his activism. They attack your neighbors when they are in food lines and are identified as opposition members, they attack store owners by making them pay extortions, they attack bakers by taking away part of their production which they later sell on the black market, he said. They are not true collectives, or political actors  they are criminals.

Just like Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro, and socialists the world over.
Today marches for science were held in hundreds of cities. The one here in the Twin Cities reportedly drew 10,000 liberals. In reality, of course, these were marches against President Trump or, stated differently, in favor of the Democratic Party. There isnt anything surprising about that. When political factions are out of power because most people dont agree with them, they like to march.

To a remarkable degree, liberal media pretended, at least, to take seriously the marches for science. (As though the marchers political opponents were against science, whatever that might mean.) I spent most of the morning in the gym, and for an hour or so CNN featured visuals of the marches with a legend across the screen that said, Climate deniers persist despite evidence.

Probably no one at CNN knows anything about the global warming debate. Possibly people at CNN are so clueless that they seriously believe that climate deniers, or climate change deniers, exist. They obviously have no idea what the evidence about the Earths climate actually shows, i.e., that the alarmists models are wrong.

We have been writing on those topics for years. For the moment I just want to note, wistfully, that we cant even imagine what it would be like if the mass media were conservative. Can you imagine CNN, or anyone else (Fox is no exception), covering Tea Party demonstrations with a line across the bottom of the screen saying, Obamas defenders persist despite evidence? Or any media outlet covering a pro-gun demonstration with the tag line, Gun control advocates persist despite evidence? Or how about a Tax Day demonstration in favor of tax cuts, with a legend across CNNs screen that says, High tax advocates persist despite evidence.

Every one of those examples would be far more justified, if one actually has a nodding acquaintance with the facts, than CNNs stupid reference to climate deniers. But we cant even imagine a world in which commentary from a conservative perspective could routinely be inserted into supposedly objective news coverage.
Voting in the French presidential election occurred today for citizens living outside of France. My wife voted at the French embassy here in Washington. Citizens living in France will vote tomorrow.

The French government sent a package to potential voters containing brief pamphlets from each candidate. The front page featured a picture and a slogan.

Slogans can sometimes be revealing. Make America Great Again and Hope and Change were good summations of the campaign pitches of Donald Trump and Barack Obama. Hillary Clintons staff is rumored still to be working on a good summation of her message.

The slogan on Marine Le Pens pamphlet is: Remettre La France en ordre (Put France back in order). Unlike Trump, to whom she is sometimes compared, Le Pen is not calling for national greatness. She just wants France to be put back in order. Its a goal that will resonate with many. It may also be a pipedream.

The slogan of Emmanuel Macron is: La France doit etre une chance pour tous (France must be a chance for all). In a normal election, this slogan might seem vacuous.

However, in this race, Macrons message of inclusion draws a sharp distinction between his candidacy and Le Pens. At the same time it offers a nod in the direction of Le Pens natural constituency  disaffected voters who believe France does not provide them with a fair chance. Macron seems to be thinking ahead to a run-off against the ultra-nationalistic Le Pen.

The slogans of the next three candidates dont strike me as very interesting, but I will present them in case someone better versed in French politics and/or political messaging can find significance.

Francois Fillon, the conservative candidate, says: Une volonte pour La France (A will for France). This may induce a few chuckles, given that he put his British wife on the French government payroll although she seems to have performed little, if any, real work.

Communist Jean-Luc Melenchon says: La force du Peuple (The power of the people). A better translation might be The dictatorship of the proletariat.

Benoit Hamon, the hapless Socialist candidate, says Faire battre le coeur de la France (Make the heart of France beat). Its beating. Is the French Socialist Partys?

For an insight into the current French condition  one that helps explain why Le Pen and Melenchon are poised to do significantly better than four years ago and why the two mainstream party candidates (Fillon and Hamon) are poised to do significantly worse  I recommend this article by Christopher Caldwell in City Journal.
The Ardrey Auditorium stage was filled to capacity last Friday evening as the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestras players greeted conductor Elizabeth Schulze for her final performance with the orchestra. There was a notable air of anticipation and excitement in the house as she raised the baton for a rousing farewell performance rounding out nine years of dynamic and creative leadership and artistic direction of the 67-year old organization.

Maestra Schulze selected the repertoire for the evening so as to spotlight each section of the orchestra as well as individual first-chair players. The opening and closing pieces admirably achieved that goal with two works characterized by brilliance of instrumentation and exploitation of the assorted colors and musical images that are available to composers skilled in the art of orchestration. Between those two opening and closing anchor pieces, displaying many aspects in common, a superb performance of the popular Mendelssohn Violin Concerto featured spectacular playing and deeply satisfying interpretation by guest artist Elena Urioste.

Jennifer Higdons blue cathedral is scored for a large orchestra and is in the form of an expanding arch of instrumental color and sonic diversity. Developing gradually from an opening introspective mood (flute and clarinet over gently undulating chimes and bells), a brilliant central climax features dissonant and slashing string and brass figurations, and subsides to the peaceful and resolving character of the opening wind and percussion dialogue. A deeply personal statement reflecting loss of a loved one and the complex journey of life, this captivating piece is a fine introduction for those who may be unfamiliar with the musical output of this significant and very successful young American composer. This performance of blue cathedral was sponsored by the Womens Philharmonic Advocacy.

Ms. Uriostes brilliant reading of the Mendelssohn concerto, with its energetic and idiomatic passages for the soloist and soaring themes characteristic of that composer, was enhanced by the rich sonority and carrying power of the 1706 Alessandro Gagliano instrument, of which she is the beneficiary through a loan from the Stradivari Society of Chicago.

Ottorino Respighis Pines of Rome needs no introduction for devotees of symphonic music, and always elicits enthusiastic response to its brilliant orchestral effects and perfect delineation of the scenes that are a part of the composers Roman Trilogy. As in the opening Higdon work, the orchestra is offered free rein in the emphasis of coloristic instrumentation and pictorial description by each division of the large symphonic forces. In addition to exceptional ensemble playing by each section of the orchestra, there were notable solo passages offered by various first-chair players  Cindy Goulds haunting offstage trumpet in the first movement, the lyrical clarinet of Jon Eder in the moody second movement, Jane Halls English horn, and Rita Bordens piano interjections. With underscoring from the powerful Ardrey pipe organ, the concluding procession of Roman soldiers on the Appian Way predictably brought down the house, making for a spectacular conclusion to a grand finale event honoring both conductor and orchestra.

Three much-deserved accolades were bestowed upon Elizabeth Schulze prior to the second half of the concert. First-chair cellist Andrew Hamby spoke on behalf of the orchestra, offering a heartfelt and sincere expression of gratitude for her nine years of inspirational work with the Symphony. A certificate of appreciation from the City of Flagstaff was presented by City Council member Eva Putzova, and a large framed portrait of the entire Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra was displayed by the orchestras managing director Richard Lane. Elizabeth Schulze departs with many memories of a long and fruitful tenure with the organization. We now look ahead to an upcoming 68th FSO season under the leadership of newly appointed Conductor and Artistic Director Charles Latshaw.
There are indications that the burial of late Isiaka Adeleke may not take place on Sunday as earlier anticipated, as his body is held up at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo where an autopsy is expected to be conducted.

Mr. Adeleke, a senator, died in the early hours of Sunday, after holding series of political meetings in Ede, his home town, on Saturday.

His supporters are blaming his political opponents for the death, alleging that he was poisoned.

A source at the home of the deceased told PREMIUM TIMES that sympathisers were still waiting for the return of the body of the senator, even though there are signs that the process of an autopsy would be concluded before the end of the day.

There is no sign that he will be buried again today, according to the Islamic rites, the source said referring to the Islamic act of prompt burial of a deceased.

We are here, we are still waiting, but there are reasons to believe that the burial will be postponed.

After his death was confirmed earlier in the day, his body was transported in a Toyota Sienna from the hospital to his home in Ede.

But shortly after his body arrived his abode, he was suddenly removed and returned to the hospital after suspicion arose as to the cause of his death.

Mr. Adeleke, 62, who was the first civilian governor of Osun State, was said to be nursing the ambition to contest the 2018governorship election in the state.

His supporters are lighting bonfires across the town to register their anger at his death, raising fears of possible violence.

Condolences have been pouring in for the late lawmaker from public officials, politicians and other Nigerians.

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The Presidential committee to investigate corruption allegations against the two suspended officials of the Buhari administration says it will conduct its work in camera.

A statement by the Vice Presidents Spokesman, Laolu Akande, on Saturday in Abuja said the camera sitting of the committee would enable all parties in the matter to make full disclosures.

President Muhammadu Buhari had named Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to head the panel to investigate the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke.

Mr. Lawal was accused of violating due process in the award of contracts to companies handling the resettlement programmes in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the North-East.

Mr. Oke was also accused of transgressions in the discovery of large amounts in foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.

In the discharge of its work, the panel is expected to invite all relevant officials and private individuals who may be connected to both cases.

It will also obtain and scrutinize documents that may throw some light on the issues raised in both cases.

All its proceedings will, however, be in closed sessions to avoid speculations, allow for full disclosure and enhance the pace of proceedings, the statement said.

It said that the committee had begun its work in earnest to be able to meet the two weeks deadline given to it by Buhari.

According to the statement, the panel will conduct its work with utmost diligence and without fear or favour.

In the three-member committee with Mr. Osinbajo are the Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami and National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Munguno (retd). (NAN)

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Normalcy has returned to LEGICO Plaza in Victoria Island, Lagos, two weeks after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said it uncovered N448,850,000 suspected to be laundered money in a shop.

A visit by PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday showed Bureau de Change operators, who occupy most of the shops in the plaza, going about their normal businesses.

The plaza is located at the 055 Nigerian Air Force Camp, LEGICO Barracks.

On April 8, the EFCC acting on a tip-off raided two shops, LS64 and LS67, which were under lock and key within the plaza.

According to the Commission, no money was found in Shop LS67, but in Shop LS64, heaps of Ghana-Must-Go bags were found in the shop which contained bundles of naira notes totalling N448,850,000.

The shops had signages of Bureau de Change, Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC spokesperson said in a statement.

Inquiries about the owner of shop 64 indicated that he had not been seen for a long time, as they claimed the shop had not been opened for business for close to two years.

But PREMIUM TIMES checks showed that the owner of Shop 64 is well known to his colleagues, and is, in fact, a regular face at the plaza.

A shop owner and Bureau de Change operator who requested anonymity said the owner of Shop 64 is walking freely in this plaza and the government havent caught him yet.

People around here say that the said money belongs to a senator who siphoned his constituencys money and wanted to change it to dollars before the money was discovered.

Nobody in this plaza is clean and you will see that they wont want to talk to you about this issue.

The government needs to make an example of these people, because the monies that were discovered in Ikoyi, we dont know the outcome and now this money here, the man still walks freely and we still dont know what the EFCC will do with the money.

Until government makes an example of these people, nobody will make adjustments.

Most of the traders at the plaza did not only refuse to comment on the cash discovery, but were hostile towards our correspondent. Those who managed to respond to inquiries said they were not around on the day of the EFCC raid.

It was also observed that shop LS64 where the heaps of Ghana-Must-Go bags, in N500 and N1,000 denominations, were found was still under lock whereas shop LS67 was open for business.

Last Wednesday, a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court ordered an interim forfeiture of the money following a motion ex-parte filed by Rotimi Oyedepo, an EFCC prosecutor.

In his ruling, Justice Rilwan Aikawa 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 Nigerian government.

The judge adjourned to May 19.

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The senator representing Osun West, Isiaka Adeleke, is dead, family sources and one of his colleagues have confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr. Adeleke, aged 62, died Sunday morning at a hospital in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, hours after he engaged in a political meeting which terminated late Saturday.

Until his death, Mr. Adeleke chaired the Senate committee on capital market.

He was in the Senate for the second time, having first represented Osun West between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

He could not return to the Senate in 2011, after he was defeated by Mudashiru Hussein of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria.

But in 2014, after a failed governorship bid, he defected to the All Progressives Congress which sponsored him to contest the 2015 Osun West senatorial election which he won to earn a second time in the Senate.

Mr. Adeleke became the first elected Governor of Osun State in 1991 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party.

He sponsored a bill to protect whistleblowers and security informants.

Details of the cause of his death could not be ascertained immediately.

Mr. Adelekes colleague in the Senate, Shehu Sani, already expressed his condolence.

Senator Isiaka Adeleke; a calm, principled and responsible gentleman. He represented his people with maturity, dignity and distinction. Adieu, Mr. Sani said.

READ OUR EARLIER STORY BELOW

A Nigerian senator from Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke, is dead.

Mr. Adeleke, who represents Osun West Senatorial District died on Sunday morning at a hospital in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, family sources told PREMIUM TIMES.

Elected on the platform of the APC, Mr. Adeleke is also a former governor of Osun.

He was 62 years old.

Mr. Adelekes colleague in the Senate, Shehu Sani, already expressed his condolence.

Senator Isiaka Adeleke; a calm, principled and responsible gentleman. He represented his people with maturity, dignity and distinction. Adieu, Mr. Sani said.

EDITORS NOTE: THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT THE LATE SENATOR.

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The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has urged troops in the north-east to remain steadfast in prosecuting the counter insurgency as history would not forget them.

The army spokesperson, Sani Usman, said in a statement on Sunday that Mr. Buratai, a lieutenant general, stated this during a visit to troops at Pulka and Gwoza in Borno.

Mr. Usman said the visit was to assess troops in the ongoing Operation Deep Push to clear remnants of Boko Haram terrorists around Sambisa forest.

Mr. Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Administration (Army), ldris Alkali, said Nigeria was proud of their efforts in maintaining peace and order.

History will not forget you for all you have done to protect the territorial integrity of our country.

We will continue to provide you with all you need to end this war so that displaced persons of this region can return to their respective communities, Mr. Buratai said.

He commended the troops on the successes recorded so far in the ongoing campaign against insurgency in the region.

The army chief also called on the troops to hasten up their hunt for the leaders of Boko Haram terrorists.

Mr. Buratai assured the troops that the army would continue to support the families of those who had paid the supreme price in the course of the war.

(NAN)

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Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said that his greatest fear is not political battles or controversies, but not leaving a lasting legacy which will impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.

He made the revelation during an interview with NIGERIA NOW Magazine in Abuja.

When asked what he would consider his greatest challenge since he became Speaker, he stated that problems will always occur, and as leaders, such problems should always be dealt with.

I tell people that one of the things God has developed real well in me is to remove fear from me. I fear nothing.

He stated that the only thing that frightens him is if the House he leads is unable to leave landmark achievements.

The only thing that frightens me is if this Eighth Assembly which, by virtue of the grace of God, I have been called to lead, is unable to leave landmark achievements; that is what bothers me and prevents me from sleeping. At times, I begin to think about what it is that we have achieved, done wrong or could have done better? What is the next line of things we can do for the betterment of the lives and living conditions of our people? This is going to be 2 years, what can we really say we have done that has bettered the lot of Nigerians? What will be our place when the history of this country is written?

Those are the issues that prevent one from sleeping, really, as against political battles with individuals or thinking about next elections  those are not the issues at all.

I bother a lot about where we are leading this House to and what it is we can achieve in both parliament and in government, because we are running the same government. If Buhari fails; all of us have failed, because it is one government and we cannot extricate ourselves.

The Speaker, who also revealed that he occasionally writes advisory memos to the presidency, stressed the importance of working as one irrespective of party affiliations and positions occupied, in order to make the current administration succeed in its efforts to better the lot of Nigerians.

Sometimes I sit down, craft memos by myself and take it to the Executive; it is not my responsibility, the government has its own advisers, but I fear a lot about the place this government will occupy in history. All of us will be involved in that history, none of us will run away whether you just a member, a leader, a chairman of a committee, whoever you are it is our government, it doesnt even matter which political party you belong to, it is one government and we are all involved. So, the point is what is the legacy we are leaving behind? What are we achieving? Thats the thing that gives me nightmares sometimes.

The 8th House under Mr. Dogara has been hailed as being proactive  with interventions in areas including pensions, labour disputes and youth development, the introduction of sectoral debates, efforts towards economic diversification and tackling recession, the review of obsolete laws and a record number of over 100 bills passed in the first year of his tenure.

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The death of the first elected Governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke, who until his passing, represented Osun West in the Senate, has sparked wide lamentations from politicians, traditional rulers and public establishments.

Mr. Adeleke, aged 62, died Sunday morning at a hospital in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, hours after he engaged in a political meeting which terminated late Saturday.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, in a statement, commiserated with the people of Osun State and the family of the deceased whom he described as a leader in every right, a formidable colleague, patriotic statesman, courageous public servant and grassroots politician.

From his track record as a second time senator, it is clear that Adeleke was a man who his people trusted to carry out their mandate in the Senate, said Mr. Saraki. He was always passionate about his work in the legislature, and showed competence, dedication and an ability to work with everyone to bring about the greater good. He will be sorely missed.

In his reaction, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Yakubu Dogara, described Mr. Adelekes death as colossal loss.

On behalf of all members of the House of Representatives, I condole with the Adeleke family, the Senate, government and people of Osun State over this big loss, said Mr. Dogara.

His party, the All Progressives Congress condoled with the family of Mr. Adeleke and the Osun State government.

The history of Osun State would be incomplete without copious reference to late Adelekes contributions to the States social, political and economic development as its first elected Governor, said Bolaji Abdullahi, speaking for the ruling APC.

Mr. Adelekes passing is a nightmare, Osun State Government said through the spokesperson for Governor Rauf Aregebsola, Semiu Okanlawon.

The sad news of the death of the first civilian governor of our state, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, has struck us like a thunderbolt, the statement said.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who is far away in China on state assignment is still speechless and in mourning.

While the government awaits the reports of the autopsy which is being conducted, we can only calm our people to take this huge and incalculable loss with equanimity.

Mr. Adeleke, before his death, was eyeing a return to Osun government house through the state governorship election coming up next year.

Hes also mourned by Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi.

The royal father said it was saddening that while the Yoruba people were not yet out of the shock of the deaths of Dipo Famakinwa and Olumide Bakare, another big tree fell.

Our amiable Asiwaju of Ede kingdom, a Senator of the Federal Republic His Excellency Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke who had in the past meritoriously served us as the 1st executive Governor of the State of Osun, the monarch said.

Governors of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, and Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, also expressed shock at the demise of Mr. Adeleke.

Former deputy governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, described the death of Mr. Adeleke, as a great loss not only to the people of Osun State but also to Nigerias political class.

Many of us are still in shock over this sad development, he stated.

Some of his colleagues, including former Senate President David Mark, Shehu Sani and Rilwan Akanbi among others, have also lamented the loss of the senator.

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The Nigerian Army said on Sunday that it recovered a large cache of arms in Southern Kaduna during its ongoing operation to stem the crisis in the area.

Hundreds of people have been killed in Southern Kaduna in the past year in clashes minaly between migrating herdsmen and host farming communities.

The Army recently launched Operation Harbin Kunama and established two formations in the area to stem the violence.

The Nigerian Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, in a statement said the arms were recovered on Saturday during a search of Gwaska, Dangoma, Angwan Far and Bakin Kogi general area of Southern Kaduna State.

During the operation, the troops recovered 73 Dane Guns, 4 Locally Made Rifles, 1 Locally Made Machine Gun and 1 Locally Made Pistol, Mr. Usman, a brigadier general said.

Read Mr. Usmans full statement below.

The recently launched Operation HARBIN KUNAMA II by the Nigerian Army in Southern part of Kaduna State which will cover some forests in Bauchi, Kano and Plateau States has started to yield the desired result as troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army recover large cache of arms and ammunition in southern part of Kaduna State on Saturday 22nd April 2017. The discovery was made when troops embarked on cordon and search of Gwaska, Dangoma, Angwan Far and Bakin Kogi general area of Southern Kaduna State.

During the operation, the troops recovered 73 Dane Guns, 4 Locally Made Rifles, 1 Locally Made Machine Gun and 1 Locally Made Pistol. Others include 260 Cartridges, 14 rounds of 7.62mm Ammunition, 63 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 1 Locally made Small Machine Gun Magazine, a pair of worn out military boot and some quantities of assorted Improvised Ammunition and Pyrotechnics hidden in dug out pits.

While efforts are ongoing to track down the owners of the arms and ammunition, it is imperative to state the good people of the area have been very supportive and cooperate fully with the military which led to these unprecedented findings.

Similarly, in Sector 1 of the Operation which covers Kano State, troops in conjunction with other security agencies are carrying out operations in suspected armed bandits camps in Falgore forest. The operation is ongoing.

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Two armed men operating on motorcycle on Saturday shot dead a police inspector in Ogidi, near Onitsha in Anambra State, police authorities have confirmed.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ogidi Police Station, Hassan Musa, who confirmed the incident, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the hoodlums collected the AK47 rifle the deceased was carrying.

He said the incident occurred at about 2.45 p.m. at a police road block near Ugwunwasike Roundabout in Ogidi, where a police team was conducting stop and search.

A witness had told NAN that the armed men caught the policeman unawares as they rode straight and shot him at a close range while he was flagging down a vehicle for a search.

Other policemen who were with him took cover on hearing the gun shots while the armed men escaped, the source said.

NAN gathered that the incident, which happened within minutes, caused people in the vicinity, including motorists and commuters, to abandon their vehicle and scamper for safety.

The DPO said the remains of the late inspector had been deposited at Iyi-Enu Hospitals mortuary.

He said the police had already commenced investigation into the incident. (NAN)

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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has won the chairmanship seats of the 13 Local Government Areas of Ebonyi in the Saturday local council polls.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the party also won all the councillorship seats in the 171 wards of the state.

Jossy Eze, Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC, announced this on Sunday at the commissions headquarters in Abakaliki while declaring result of the polls.

According to him, seven political parties participated in the elections out of the 40 registered parties in the state including the PDP and the All Progressive Congress, APC.

The APC had earlier announced it was boycotting the elections.

The other parties that contested in the elections include: African Democratic Party (ADC), African Peoples Party (APA) Merger Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP) Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP).

The PDPs candidate in Abakaliki LGA, Emmanuel Nwangele won with 65, 036 votes, Ogbonnaya Oko-Enyim won in Afikpo LGA with 55, 808, Eni Uduma-Chima-Afikpo South 50, 894, Juliet NwaogbagaEbonyi, 54, 527 and Nora AlohEzza North, 58, 423 votes.

The PDP candidate in Ezza South LGA, Sunday Ogodo won with 50, 576 votes, John NnaboIkwo, 77, 132, Henry EzeIshiellu, 68, 263, Ude OgbonnayaIvo, 28, 787 Paul NwoghaIzzi, 84, 088, Clement OdaaOhaukwu,84, 088, Nkechi IyiokuOhaozara, 55, 698 and Felix IgbokeOnicha,59, 698 votes, he said.

Mr. Eze declared that the APC trailed in a distant second position with an accumulated 5, 900 votes while most of the other parties did not record a single vote in most LGAs.

He commended the electorate, party agents, security officials, observers, among other stakeholders, for ensuring a smooth and credible electoral process, noting that cases of electoral disturbances were very minimal.

We have been able to deliver a credible election to Ebonyi people despite inherent challenges as the state has the enviable record of conducting LGA elections in the country, every three years, he said.

Onyekachi Nwebonyi, state PDP Chairman, congratulated the party faithful for the victory and noted that it was an indication of what to expect in the state, in the 2019 general elections.

This resounding success has proved that PDP is the only party which viably exists in Ebonyi and we are not going to rest on our oars until such feat is repeated in 2019, he said.

Splendour Eze, state Chairman of the Advanced Congress for Democrats, ACD, hailed the smooth conduct of the election but regretted that his party did not participate in it.

Mr. Eze, who is the state Secretary of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), lamented that the current economic hardship in the country made most parties not to participate in the election.

The state governor was magnanimous to offset 50 per cent of the nomination fees of N500, 000 for chairmanship candidates and N100, 000 for councillorship positions, for registered parties in the state.

The balance despite the subsidy was still high as it was still not within the reach of most parties, he said.

Isabella Monye, an Election Observer from Anambra, however, disputed the high figures released by EBSIEC for the elections, noting that it did not reflect what observers witnessed in various polling units.

During our monitoring on Saturday we observed that the turnout for the election was poor so I wonder where EBSIEC got these high figures from, she said.

(NAN)

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Shabnam "Mausi" Bano is the first transgender Indian or Hijra to be elected to public office. She was an elected member of the Madhya Pradesh State Legislative Assembly from 1998 to 2003.The story of the eunuchs in India is very distressing. They are marginalized in the society. They are made to live in shame. They (hijras) are considered an embarrassment. Most of them are compelled to work in brothels as dancers.Some of them are also forced to beg. At the most, some manage to find a suitable job for themselves in the film or fashion industry.Well, here is the story of a eunuch who fought against all odds and became Indias first transgender to be elected as an MLA.Shabnam Mausi, a transgender from Madhya Pradesh, had been elected an MLA during Congress rule from Sohagpur constituency in 1998 and retained her constituency till 2003. Her story is an inspirational one.Shabnam Mausi Bano was born into a Brahmin family. Her father was a superintendent of Police. Her family handed her over to the transgender community right after birth.Shabnam Mausi as a child knew that she would have a tough life ahead. She knew she was different from most other people. But at that point of time she didnt comprehend the difference. As a child, she often wondered why her parents abandoned her.So rather than begging or taking up any odd job she decided to enter the film industry and fortunately she got bit roles in films like Amar Akbar Anthony, Kunwara Baap and Janata Ka Hawaldar. She is also a trained classical dancer.She is in Mumbai to shoot the badhai song with Akhilendra Mishra,Sharat Saxena,Viashnavi Macdona, Aayush Shrivastav and Mantra Patel.The film is produced by Suresh Sharma of Chitragrahi Films and written and directed by Santosh Kashyap and Dhiraj Verma. Music of film is composed by Lalit Mishra and songs are written by Santosh Kashyap,Dhiraj Verma,Suresh Sharma and Dheeraj Kumar. Arvind K is cameraman and Tejas Dattani is choreographer of the film.Bobby Rajput is Executive Producer where as Umakant Rai is Line Producer.
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Udaipur.Participants contributed importantly Action udaipur programe of District Administration, Udaipur, were honored in the ceremony held at Ayurveda CollegeSt. Marys Convent school udaipur. Was given frist prize of 21 thousand rupees cashBhupesh Sen &Group and Central Academy School received jointly three awards for the second prize of Rs 11-11 thousand and 51 hundred rupees for the third prize was jointly given to UPSSanskrit school Rampura, St. Anthony. l Sector-4 and State India Scouts.the collector Rohit Gupta appealed the citymen to cooperate with the administration to clean the public spots. The Collector announced a cash prize on uploading photo on action udaipur app of the falling sewerage nallah with correct information. Ioos of Action Udaipur App in the program Version also launched. This allows the download of this app free on any companys mobile.SP Rajendra Prasad Goyal said that complaints related to police on the Action Udaipur app will be disposed of soon. Mayor Chandrasinh Kothari urged the participants to use the app technology to make the city clean and beautiful. Earlier, Chief Planning Officer Sudhir Dave gave full information about the program through Power Point presentation. A total of 58 people and organizations participated in the competition. Among these, certificates were given to 1 thousand participants who participated in the first, second and third prizes.On this occasion, students of St. Anthony, the Scholar Arena presented colorful cultural events of dance drama and patriotism on environmental protection. Deputy Mayor Lokesh Trivedi, Municipal Commissioner, Siddharth Sihag, Manoj Gandharv, Aabha Sirisikar etc. were present in the program.
Washington, Apr 23 (IBNS): Union Minister of Finance, Defence and Corporate Affairs of India, Arun Jaitley participated in the Restricted Session of the International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMFC) and the Plenary Session of World Economic Leaders (IMFC Plenary) in Washington D.C. on Saturday.

The event was attended by the select Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.

The discussions centred on the global economic outlook, the resource base and governance framework of IMF and the importance of inclusiveness in terms of distribution of the benefits from global integration.

In the IMFC Plenary, Jaitley spoke about the Global Economy, Indian Economy and the role of IMF.

He stressed that the emerging risks to the global economy, calls for the enhanced surveillance by the IMF to address the rising vulnerabilities in the global monetary and financial systems.

Welcoming the emphasis on inclusiveness in the Global Policy Agenda (GPA) as a positive development, the Finance Minister said that India firmly believes that finding ways to simultaneously accelerate growth and make it more inclusive is the right note to strike.

However, as the voices against integration become louder across a range of countries, he said that it is critical that the multilateral institutions stand firm in their commitment to helping member countries consolidate on the gains from integration, while finding ways to achieve more equitable distributions of those gains.

He added that the process of 15th General Review of Quotas should remain on track and that the commitments made in the IMFC Communique to increase the quotas of dynamic emerging economies should be adhered to.

The Finance Minister said that it would indeed be ironic if an emphasis on inclusiveness on the policy front co-existed with a lack of it on the Governance front.

Jaitley is currently on an official tour to Washington D.C., USA to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank and other associated meetings.
ATLANTIC CITY  Nature rained on sciences parade Saturday, but it did not stop about 150 people from holding a March for Science on the Boardwalk.

Speakers used the beachfront to make the point that science is crucial to the future of the city.

If human-induced catastrophic climate change causes seas and oceans to rise even a few inches, Atlantic City loses everything, said Mico Lucide, of the Green Party of Atlantic County.

He also got in a few points about the state takeover and the proposed natural- gas pipeline through the Pinelands. He praised the wind turbines in the city and promoted more.

The event was linked to Earth Day and a national March for Science held in Washington, D.C.

Coordinator Maharshi Patel, a Stockton University student, said he was pleased with the turnout. He admitted he had worried the rain would discourage participants.

But people are all very committed, he said as behind him the crowd chanted, Hey hey, no no, we wont let our planet go.

Many participants carried homemade signs with both universal and personal messages.

Helen Duda, of Buena Vista Township, carried a sign, If not for science, I wouldnt be walking, a reference to her knee and hip replacements.

Ive become very active since the election, she said. Ive been speaking out and encouraging others to do the same.

The crowd included entire families. Sefi Schiller, of Mays Landing, brought her sons, Ethan, 3, and Lukas, 21 months, and hung a Love Your Mother poster with a photo of the Earth on their stroller.

I have kids, and I live on the Earth, she said. We need clean air and water.

Barbara Katz, of Ventnor, said she was at the first Earth Day celebration in Philadelphia in 1972 and realizes the fight is not over.

Speakers addressed a range of environmental, economic and political topics. Event sponsors included the Stockton Chemistry Society, Neuroscience Club and Economics Club as well as the Young Democrats of Atlantic County, Atlantic County and Ventnor Democrats, and the Green Party of Atlantic County.

We are advocating for science, because without science our future is at risk, Patel said. Science protects our planet, science protects our community, science protects our water, science improves our health.

Activist Cassandra Shober and Heather Warburton, chairwomen of the Atlantic County Green Party, praised science teachers for being the bedrock of science education.

On the lighter side, EJ and Bud Smith, of Upper Township, had a poster: No science, no beer.

We want people to look at how science affects every day life, Bud Smith said.

As drummer Chhitu Patel, of Atlantic City, led chants, the rally ended with a round of All we are saying, is give science a chance.

Science is not books and paper, Chhitu Patel said. Science is life.
When the Nazis ripped his family from their home in Poland, Ben Stern survived the ghettos and the concentration camps by never losing faith in human kindness.

So now, at the end of his life, the 95-year-old has found an almost perfect antidote to how he was treated by the Nazis: opening his home to one of their descendants.

His roommate, Lea Heitfeld, is a 31-year-old German graduate student at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Her grandparents were active and unrepentant members of the Nazi Party. Rather than shy away from her familys history, it has inspired her to learn about Jewish people and educate others about their religion and what they endured during the Holocaust. Shes even getting her masters degree in Jewish studies.

Welcoming Heitfeld, the kin of the very people who forced him from his childhood home, to live as his roommate while she finishes her degree feels like an act of justice, Stern said in an interview. It was the right thing to do. Im doing the opposite of what they did.

There is much about their living situation that defies norms: the sizable generation gap, the gender divide and, of course, the fact that theyre a Holocaust survivor and the granddaughter of Nazis. And yet theyve both found they have so much to give each other.

Heitfeld provides companionship to Stern, whose wife of more than 70 years recently went into a nursing home because of her worsening dementia. In the evenings, the unlikely pair watch TV together.

They have dinner together almost every night, and snack on herring salad and crackers before their meal  a mutual favorite. They have long conversations about history and current events. Last semester, Stern, who never went to high school or college, audited a graduate class with her, and they walked together to campus every Thursday night.

For Heitfeld, Sterns friendship is the rarest of gifts  an insight into human resiliency and compassion.

This act of his opening his home, I dont know how to describe it, how forgiving or how big your heart must be to do that, and what that teaches me to be in the presence of someone who has been through that and is able to have me there and to love me, she said. That he was able to open the door for someone who would remind him of all his pain.

* * *

Stern was a teenager when Nazis took over his small Polish town. He survived life in the Warsaw Ghetto, nine concentration camps, including Auschwitz, and the death march from Buchenwald. When Americans liberated them, he went searching for his family and found no one.

He met his wife, Helen, in a displaced prisoners camp after the war and the young couple made their way to America with nothing more than a dream for a new life. He had no education, no trade and no money, and he could not speak English. But he had his life.

I was reborn. I did not forget what happened to me, but I was determined to rebuild the family that I lost and speak out on the pain and losses that so many people gave their lives for no reason only because they were hated because of their particular religion, Stern said. We found a mixture of religions being accepted and that was opening the door for a free life, that was a gift that until today I am thankful for the opportunity to enjoy the freedom to build the beautiful family that I have.

His daughter, Charlene, has preserved her fathers story in a 28-minute documentary called Near Normal Man, which is what he calls himself. No one could spend a day in Auschwitz and call themselves normal, hed tell her. In the film, Stern recalls with moving detail what he endured and how it shaped his worldview afterward.

When the Nazis came, his only weapon was his insistence upon living and remaining human, Charlene Stern said. I asked him, How did you change? How did you change after the Holocaust? He said, Char, I became more compassionate. Thats the father I inherited.

Charlenes voice caught as she recalled showing the film to Heitfelds parents when they came to visit. After watching, Heitfelds father, whose parents were Nazis, asked whether he could help her get the movie shown in Germany. He said they would travel around the country together  the daughter of a Jewish Holocaust survivor and the son of a Nazi solider.

Charlene Stern and Lea Heitfeld are both, in a way, students of their past who feel compelled to use their family history to educate. Heitfeld grew up in a small town in northern Germany and, until she moved to the United States five years ago to work as an au pair, she had never met a Jewish person, she said. On her way to dropping off her charges at school, she passed a Jewish retirement home. With several hours in the morning to herself, she decided to volunteer there. It was one thing to be meeting Jewish people her own age, but she said she wanted to spend time with the generation directly affected by what her ancestors did.

Ive reflected so much about my own identity. If I want to identify with my country, its about confronting the things that hurt and put me in an uncomfortable position, she said. I feel responsibility for the memory of the Holocaust.

The rise of anti-Semitic-fueled acts in the United States  bomb threats at Jewish community centers and the desecration of Jewish cemeteries  has been weighing heavily on Stern and Heitfeld.

The vitriol directed at minority groups, not just Jews, is all too reminiscent. I walk with a fresh injection of pain and hurt, Stern said.

Heitfeld feels it, too. Ive been in more pain that Im living with a man who went through this and now has to be confronted with this on the news, she said.

But this is not the first time Stern has been faced with this painful reminder of his past. In 1977, he and his family lived in Skokie, a suburb of Chicago, which at that time was majority Jewish. A neo-Nazi group requested a permit to demonstrate in the streets in their town. It was a haunting proposition, the idea that a group bearing swastikas would once again converge on his town. Stern refused to sit idly by and let this happen, so he organized an effort to block them from coming. Because of First Amendment rights, Stern didnt succeed in banning them, so instead he encouraged other Jewish people to not hide away afraid, but instead to stage a counter-demonstration if the Nazis came.

Ira Glasser, the former director of the American Civil Liberties Union, which advocated for the neo-Nazis right to march, wrote in the Huffington Post that it was a brilliant response and a perfect remedy for a country with strong First Amendment rights.

Living with a millennial. Making the film. Its all in service to Sterns lifelong mission to ensure people are informed to stand up to hate once there are no more survivors left to tell their stories. For Stern, this is yet another moment that he cannot stay silent.

I feel like its important for the reason I survived to tell the world, to tell the next generation what to look out for to have a better, secure, free life, he said. Its important for them to learn how to behave with other people, with other nations, religions. Were different, but were all human and there is room for each and every one of us in this world. It should be in harmony instead of hatred, racism. . . . We are all born; were all going to go. While were here, we should try to improve the world.
The Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton University will honor victims of the Holocaust during its Yom HaShoah service Tuesday.

The Holocaust Remembrance Day service, called Unto Every Person There Is a Name  Remembering the 6 Million Jewish Victims of the Holocaust, will feature a keynote address by Margate resident Miriam Greenman.

Born in Poland, Greenman is a Holocaust survivor and plans to share her story of surviving the Lida Ghetto during the Holocaust.

Greenman published a memoir about herself and her Auschwitz survivor husband, George, through the Writing as Witness memoir project at the Holocaust Resource Center and with the aid of Maryann McLoughlin.

The memoir, Lives Interrupted: The Memoirs of George and Miriam Greenman, tells the story of Greenman, who was a budding concert pianist before the Nazis invaded her city, and her husband, who aspired to be a lawyer before he was sent to a concentration camp, according to the books summary.

Lives Interrupted details how Greenman saved her mother, Nina, from death during the liquidation of the ghetto in May 1943, how they joined the Bielski Otriad in the Naliboski Forrest, where she survived to the end of the war and met her husband.

The event is open to the public and will be held at Beth El Synagogue in Margate at 7 p.m.
Eager for a victory, the White House is expressing confidence that a southern New Jersey congressmans health care bill revision could emerge from the House soon.

U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-3rd, is the author of the amendment to the Republican health care bill that President Donald Trump touted last week as a great plan.

Trump said progress was being made for overhauling the nations health care system, although he provided no details.

We have a good chance of getting it soon, Trump said. Id like to say next week.

The White House optimism is driven largely by a deal brokered by leaders of the conservative Freedom Caucus and the moderate Tuesday Group aimed at giving states more flexibility to pull out of Obamacare provisions.

MacArthur, whos district includes Burlington County and parts of Ocean County, is a co-chair of the Tuesday Group and one of the lawmakers leading the charge to get health care reform back into the spotlight.

On Thursday, he introduced his proposed amendment to the American Health Care Act.

Throughout this negotiation process, Congressman MacArthur has been fighting to protect the most vulnerable Americans, a statement on MacArthurs Facebook page read. He has insisted during these discussions that any legislation must have protections for pre-existing conditions. This amendment will make coverage of pre-existing conditions sacrosanct for all Americans and ensures essential health benefits remains the federal standard.

MacArthur was one of the most vocal voices supporting the AHCA when lawmakers tried to pass the bill last month.

A senior White House official told the Associated Press that it was unclear how many votes Republicans had, but said House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has told the White House that a vote could come together quickly.

Yet Republican lawmakers and aides to party leaders, conservatives and moderates alike were skeptical the House would vote this week on the health legislation. They cited the higher priority of passing a spending bill within days to avert a government shutdown, uncertainty over details of the developing health agreement and a need to sell it to lawmakers.

Trump said he planned to get both a health care deal and a spending bill.

Many Republicans also expressed doubts the health care compromise would win over enough lawmakers to put the bill over the top, especially among moderates. The bill would repeal President Barack Obamas health care law and replace it with less generous subsidies and eased insurance requirements.

The amendment would deliver a win to moderates by changing the Republican bill to restore Obamas requirement that insurers cover specified services, such as maternity care. But in a bid for conservative support, states would be allowed to obtain federal waivers to abandon that obligation.

In addition, states could obtain waivers to an Obama prohibition against insurers charging sick customers higher premiums than consumers who are healthy  a change critics argue would make insurance unaffordable for many. To get those waivers, states would need to have high-risk pools  government-backed insurance for the most seriously ill people, a mechanism that has often failed for lack of sufficient financing.

U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, who publicly opposed the ACHA last month, said he is still firmly against the bill without seeing the actual text and an analysis of what effects it could have on South Jersey residents.

The Tuesday Group has about 50 members that include MacArthur and LoBiondo. They dont necessarily vote as a bloc, and it is unclear how many colleagues MacArthur would bring with him to such an agreement.

The White House is anxious to pass legislation quickly, partly because Trump will likely hit his 100th day in office without having signed a major piece of legislation.

In an interview Thursday, budget chief Mick Mulvaney said he was surprised at the toxicity levels that have divided the GOP over health care and hoped lawmakers two-week break would prove healing.

But House GOP leaders face the same problem thats plagued them for seven years of trying to concoct a plan for repealing Obamas 2010 law: The partys conservatives and moderates are at odds over how to do it. With Democrats solidly opposed, Republicans can lose no more than 21 House votes to prevail, and Ryan short-circuited a planned vote last month because more than that would have defected.

That was a major embarrassment to Ryan and Trump, and House leaders are loath to bring a revised health care bill to the House floor unless they are convinced it would pass.

Ryan sent a mixed message about the bills prospects in remarks Wednesday to reporters in London.

Its difficult to do. Were very close, he said, adding, Its just going to take us a little time.

Staff Writer John DeRosier and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Obama did blame Bush

Regarding the April 15 letter, Obama didnt blame Bush:

The writer of this letter should simply search on YouTube for Obama blames Bush. There he will find several instances where President Obama did indeed blame President Bush for things.

Sandy Gerber

Galloway Township

Improve mass transit

Regarding the April 13 editorial, Bike sharing should be part of Absecon Islands younger future:

This is a charming idea and I do hope it happens, not only on Absecon Island but in all of the more urban centers of New Jersey. But to maintain that millennials like cities that are transit hubs because they spend time in other cities and dont want the expense of owning a car. That means they could also use an inexpensive method for getting around town, without noting how truly pathetically mass transit serves southern N.J., is a gross disservice.

There is no train service from Atlantic City to New York. The train that runs between Atlantic City and Philadelphia is woeful, at best. It runs infrequently and the so-called stations are so run down as to be dangerous. The bus service is appreciated but it hardly represents modern mass transit.

If we want the young (or the old) to relocate to Atlantic City, we might start with providing substantial infrastructure improvements to mass transit that will allow people to travel conveniently between cities.

We all like bicycles; they do provide a way to get around a town more readily, but they are hardly a solution to the transportation issues that confront this part of the state. I dont know if the CRDA could have helped with this, but I do know that local representatives should be working on it.

Steve Wajda

Ocean City

Convicted rapist deported

Ive always thought that someone caught in a rape situation and convicted would go to jail for X amount of years.

Now Ive seen where illegal immigrants have committed rape and guess what  they dont go to jail. They are deported.

That was their sentence and then maybe in a matter of weeks, this person comes back into the U.S. and possibly does the same thing.

Is rape a crime or not?

Edward J. Bober

Hammonton

Opposes care proposal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a union-organizing history at work, so it takes a lot for me to compliment any Republicans. However, recent events in Washington, D.C., caused me to have a change of heart.

Specifically, I have to give credit to those House Republicans from New Jersey who were set to vote against the Trumpcare health bill. The bill was not a health-care bill, unless you consider taking away health care from millions as health care. The bill was really a tax break for rich investors and drug companies.

Of course, the Democrats also deserve credit for closing ranks and protecting the ordinary folks. Congress can make some changes in the Affordable Care Act, but dont throw it away.

Peter Savage

Little Egg Harbor Township
Washington, Apr 23 (IBNS): On the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley held a bilateral meeting with his US counterpart and the US Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin in Washington D.C. on Saturday.

During the discussions, Jaitley highlighted the notable progress made in the Indo-US relations over the last few years and Indias ambitious reform agenda which is creating new opportunities towards a deeper economic engagement between both the countries in the years ahead.

Critical economic issues like Indo-US Investment Initiative, Infrastructure Collaboration & NIIF, collaboration with USA for Smart Cities Development, etc. were deliberated upon during the meeting.

Jaitley raised the issue of H1B visas for skilled professionals from India and highlighted the contribution which Indian companies and professionals are making to US economy. Issues related to terror funding were also discussed and the US Treasury Secretary appreciated the role of India in this regard, including Indo-US cooperation in FATF.

Jaitley also held bilateral meetings with the Finance Ministers of Sweden, France and Bangladesh. The discussions covered a wide spectrum of bilateral collaboration to strengthen the cross-country relationships.

The Finance Minister also held a bilateral meeting with the President of the World Bank Group (WBG) Jim Yong Kim among others.

Jaitley is currently on an official tour to Washington D.C., USA to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank and other associated meetings.
Via the live-streaming cameras on dceaglecam.org, it became apparent to worldwide viewers that DC4 was in trouble and distressed, and that a human-coordinated rescue could significantly decrease the chance of serious injury to the eaglet's leg. The non-profit American Eagle Foundation (AEF) and the U.S. National Arboretum immediately cooperated with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Ex-Cel Tree Experts to plan the removal of the eaglet from the nest.

"Typically when something goes awry in a wild eagle nest, we don't even know about it and nature simply takes its course," says AEF President Al Cecere. "In this case, however, we could all clearly see how much the eaglet was struggling and how human intervention might make the difference between life and death. We had the power in our hands to help, so that's what we did."

After being retrieved and lowered from the tree by professional arborists Matt Morrison & Marty Levine, the eaglet was initially assessed on the ground by US Fish & Wildlife Service biologist Craig Koppie (also an experienced tree climber). It then received further examination by veterinarian Samantha Sander at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, who truly gave the eaglet the "presidential treatment!" A physical check-up and radiograph revealed no permanent damage to DC4's leg, with the only visible signs being a slight abrasion and swelling. Overall, the eaglet received an acceptable health report and was approved by the veterinarian to be placed back into its nest.

DC4 was successfully returned to its nest at the Arboretum on April 21st at around 5pm EDT. Mr. President, The First Lady, and DC5 welcomed DC4 back home, safe and sound!

The entire process of freeing the eaglet's lodged/stuck leg, getting it checked out/radiographed, and then returning it to the nest took less than 24 hours.

Sue Greeley with USNA helped facilitate the entire process at the Arboretum, while AEF President Al Cecere guided and monitored the effort virtually by phone and internet from Tennessee.

The nest cam footage of these events can be seen on the AEF's Facebook & Youtube pages.

"We are extremely grateful for all USFWS, AEF, USNA, Ex-Cel, & Maryland Zoo staff and volunteers who readily responded to this emergency situation and helped make this a quick, safe and successful rescue effort," says Cecere.

ABOUT THE D.C. EAGLE CAM PROJECT

In 2015, the American Eagle Foundation (AEF) staff traveled to D.C. to install state-of-the-art cameras, infrared lighting, and other related equipment in-and-around the nest tree with the help of volunteers and experienced tree arborists and climbers. This past year, the AEF added microphones near the nest to further enhance the viewing experience, and a team of arborists and eagle experts affixed natural tree limbs beneath the nest to provide added support. The USDA's U.S. National Arboretum ran a half-mile of fiber optic cable to the cameras' ground control station, which connects the cameras and microphones to the Internet. The entire system is powered by a large mobile solar array (containing several deep cycle batteries) that was designed and built by students and staff from Alfred State College, SUNY College of Technology and was partially funded by the Department of Energy and Environment. USNA has implemented a backup generator that will kick-on if prolonged inclement weather causes the solar array to provide insufficient power to the system. In 2016, APEX Electric Inc. (Kenmore, Washington) traveled to D.C. to assist the AEF in successfully installing audio equipment in and around the tree. The AEF uses Piksel to stream the video images to viewers around the world, and AEF volunteers are trained and coordinated to pan, tilt and zoom the cams, as well as educate the public via LIVE chats while viewers watch the eagles via the cams on the Internet.

SOURCE American Eagle Foundation

Related Links

http://www.eagles.org


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Paris, April 22 : France goes to the polls on Sunday with terrorist violence casting a long shadow over its fraught presidential election, after the shooting of a policeman on the Champs AlysAes deepened already bitter political divisions.

According to analysts, Thursday's attack could shake up the four-way contest between far-right leader Marine Le Pen, centrist Emmanuel Macron, conservative Francois Fillon and Communist-backed firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon.

Candidates will be pitted against each other twice -- the first round of the vote takes place on April 23. Then, the two top candidates will face each other in a second run-off on May 7, reported the Guardian.

Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the government had reviewed its extensive election security measures and was "fully mobilised" in the wake of the attack claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.

He said more than 50,000 police and gendarmes and 7,000 soldiers would be on duty for Sunday's first-round vote, and nothing could be allowed to "hamper this democratic moment".

Candidates with radically opposing visions for the country's future clashed openly over the response to the killing, claimed by the Islamic State (IS) less than 72 hours before polling stations open.

Macron accused his two closest rivals of using the killing of Xavier JugelA, 37, and the serious wounding of two other police officers on Thursday night to score political points before Sunday's first-round vote.

Macron said the far-right Front National (NF) leader Le Pen, with whom he is neck-and-neck in polling for the first-round vote, and Fillon -- currently in third place -- were engaging in one-upmanship in their response to the attack.

Hardline statements from Le Pen and Fillon spoke of a country "at war" with radical Islam, which they described as organised, expansionist, totalitarian and barbaric.

The gunman, identified by prosecutors on Friday as Karim Cheurfi, 39, had a long record of violence against police, including two attempted murders.

Shot dead as he attempted to flee the scene after firing on a police van with an automatic rifle, he was reportedly under surveillance by intelligence services but was not flagged as a potential jihadi threat.

At a televised news conference, Le Pen, 48, demanded the closure of all "Islamist" mosques in France, the expulsion of hate preachers and the reinstatement of French borders.

People on the French security services' watch list for radicalisation should also be expelled from France and have their French citizenship revoked, she said.

However, Cazeneuve accused her of trying to capitalise on the attack.

Fillon of The Republicans party said that if elected, his foreign policy priority would be the destruction of ISIS. He also called for the creation of 10,000 more police posts.

Cazeneuve, however, questioned Fillon's position on security, saying that when he previously served as Prime Minister he had cut thousands of security force jobs.

Macron, 39, of En Marche party appealed to voters not to succumb to fear.

"The choice that you have to make on Sunday must be a choice for the future."

Macron said he would hire an additional 10,000 police officers in the next five years and that he would create a task force under the French Presidency to fight ISIS.

Leftist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, 63, urged the French people to "remain cool-headed" and "to not subject ourselves to hate, vengeance and resentment".

Polls have suggested Le Pen and Macron are the most likely candidates to go through to the second-round runoff, but Fillon and MAlenchon are only two or three points behind, and up to 25 per cent of voters have yet to make up their minds, making the race impossible to call.
Agra, April 22 : Even as preparations for the annual three-day Urs of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan beginning on Sunday go on apace, the controversy relating to the entry of visitors with saffron-coloured scarves threatens to disturb the fragile communal peace here.

Officials however said on Saturday evening that the matter has been resolved.

A few days ago, women fashion models from 34 countries had visited the Taj Mahal. Some of them wore saffron scarves which were not allowed and had to be left at the gate.

This infuriated the saffron outfits in the city. For the past four days, members of the Shiv Sena, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Jagran Manch and Bajrang Dal have been protesting at the gates of the Taj Mahal.

Responding to Friday's call for 'Maha Gherao' of the Taj Mahal by Hindu outfits, a group demonstrated and entered the premises of the Taj Mahal, ignoring the Supreme Court orders against protests and marches within 500 metres of the World Heritage Monument.

Senior police officials and the Archaeological Survey of India local chief Bhuvan Vikram tried to persuade them to give up the protest as there was no ban in force. The officials later accepted their memorandum demanding action against some ASI and CISF officials.

The ASI chief in Agra told IANS that the protesters had been told that there was no ban on scarves and people were free to wear any colour scarves.

The silence of the tourism organisations in the city has baffled many. Some members said the controversy was harming tourism.

Meanwhile, ASI officials said entry to the Taj Mahal would be free during the three-day Urs. Tahiruddin Tahir, president of the celebrations committee, said a thousand-metre chadar would be offered on Tuesday and members of all communities would join the procession.

Heritage conservationists however expressed concern over the growing length of the chadar from a few feet some years ago to a thousand metres. "The communalisation of secular monuments, property of the ASI, is a matter of grave concern," said Shravan Kumar Singh of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society.
Washington, April 23 : International Monetary Fund member countries pledged to create a level playing field in global trade but withdrew a promise made in previous meetings to combat protectionism.

Even though as recently as an IMF meeting in October the members had promised to fight different forms of protectionism, that vow is absent from the final communique of the annual Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and IMF, which end on Sunday.

Mexican Central Bank chief Agustin Carstens, chairman of the IMF's policy advisory committee, said on Saturday the term protectionism had been removed from different sections of the communique because it is very ambiguous, Efe news reported.

He said the IMF countries focused on what they can achieve together and stressed the importance of free and fair trade, a point on which all members are in agreement.

Carstens did not say whether the decision to remove language about fighting protectionism was due to the new trade stance of the US.

US President Donald Trump formally withdrew his nation from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal after taking office and has vowed to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying it has destroyed American manufacturing jobs and led to trade deficits with Mexico that total $60 billion annually.

It has been apparent during the meetings in Washington -- attended by senior US officials -- that the US's protectionist turn has generated concern at the IMF and the World Bank, traditional stalwarts of a global economic order based on the drive toward further globalization and free trade.
Image: www.magic4walls.com

Chennai, Apr 23 (IBNS): In order to grab the attention of the Prime Minister towards their demands, protesting farmers drank urine, as the protest entered the 40th day, on Saturday, media reports.

The farmers acted according to their earlier warning that they would be compelled to drink their own urine, if their demands were not fulfilled.

They had been protesting for the last 40 days against the central government, over the demands of loan waive and better drought relief packages.

The protesting farmers were seen to perform several acts like keeping snake in the mouth and also stripped outside the resident of the Prime Minister in early April.
Washington, April 23 : Actress Erin Moran, best known for her kid sister role in the '70s sitcom "Happy Days", has died. She was 56.

Authorities in Indiana found her body on Saturday afternoon after getting a 911 call for "an unresponsive female", CNN quoted the Harrison county Sheriff's Department as saying.
Paris, April 23 : France is preparing to elect its new President on Sunday, amid high security after a series of terror attacks including a fatal assault on a Paris policeman three days ago.

Voting for the first round will begin at 8.00 a.m.

About 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers have been deployed around the country after Thursday's terror attack claimed by the Islamic State (IS) militant group, BBC reported.

Eleven aspirants are vying to be the country's next President, with leading candidates spanning the political spectrum from far-left to far-right.

The two with the most votes will go to run-off round in a fortnight's time.

Four candidates are currently seen as being within reach of the Elysee palace: the conservative Francois Fillon, the far-right leader Marine Le Pen, liberal centrist Emmanuel Macron and the far-left's Jean-Luc Melenchon.

The candidates have created plenty of debate in the country, all offering dramatically different visions of Europe, immigration, the economy and French identity.

National security had been one of the main talking points during the campaigns, but candidates have been accused of exploiting the Thursday attack for political gains.

The race between the leading contenders is considered too close to call.

However, none are expected to get the 50 per cent of votes required for an outright win.

A second round between the top two will be held on 7 May.

Fillon is the only one among the leading contenders from an established party of government.

Benoit Hamon, the socialist candidate from the same party as the current President, is seen as out of the running.

President Francois Hollande is not seeking a second term, and is the first French President in modern history not to do so.

As voters on Sunday walk into their bureau de vote, many will still be undecided, faced with paper slips for an unprecedented 11 nominees.

According to the Guardian, Benoit Hamon faces a crushing defeat in the first round, ending his leadership dreams and putting the future of the country's Socialist Party (PS) in question.

Since the French Revolution, the country has been governed by various manifestations of one of two camps: right or left.

The divide, known as the clivage gauche-droite, emerged from the turbulent summer of 1789, when the first national constituent assembly was formed.

An analyst believes this presidential election marks the end of "traditional" parties.

Pascal Perrineau, president of Sciences Po's respected political research institute, Cevipof, said: "The PS no longer has a structure, a goal or respect, and has become irreconcilable."
New Delhi, April 23 : He was the first Tibetan to be admitted a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons but could re-visit his beloved "mystic" homeland only in 2007, four years before he died aged 79, to find it had "withered away not so much from Communist Chinese genocide as from geno-dilution" -- or inward mass migration.

This is the pain that oozes through every page of Tsewang Yishey Pemba's posthumously published "White Crane, Lend Me Your Wings" (Niyogi Books/Rs 495-$15/868 pp) -- a tale of love and war that is also a poignant cry for Tibetan freedom.

"Mystic Tibet has withered away, not so much from Communist Chinese genocide as from geno-dilution by mass migrations of ethnic Han Chinese from the heart of the New China, the Great Motherland. This is obvious everywhere in the streets, offices, restaurants shops and mansions of Lhasa.

"At Lhasa airport, some distance from the city, announcements of Arrivals and Departures are made in Chinese, Tibetan and English. On Arrival, there are no Customs and Immigration formalities, for passports have already been inspected and stamped in Beijing or Chengdu or Xining or Xian (flying south of the legendary Yenan). There are frequent direct flights from Chengdu to Lhasa, flying over Lithang and Nyarong. Is it wildly, childishly, stupidly imaginative to conjecture that occasionally -- weather permitting -- such aircraft might encounter white cranes still flying from Lhasa towards Lithang (one of the locales in which the book is set)?" the author wonders.

The title, in fact, is a line from a poem by the Sixth Dalai Lama in which he consoles his followers banished from the Nyarong Valley by the Manchus in 1720.

Thus, it is little wonder that Pemba's son Riga remembers his father "enter into a deep trance" while boarding the train back from Lhasa to Beijing, renowned Tibetologist and poet Shelly Bhoil writes in the introduction.

"Dr Pemba became unusually quiet for months together after his return from Tibet. Thereafter, he dedicated himself to writing 'White Crane, Lend Me Your Wings'... Pemba died of liver cancer on November 26, 2011, (three-and-a-half years after returning from Tibet). The publication of this novel, which he wrote relentlessly despite being in physical pain, was his last wish," Bhoil says.

The novel is set in the first half of the 20th century and Pemba skilfully weaves a dazzling tapestry of individual lives and sweeping events, creating an epic vision of a country and people during a time of tremendous upheaval.

The book begins with a never-before-told story of a failed Christian mission in Tibet and takes the reader into the heartland of Eastern Tibet by capturing the zeitgeist of the fierce warrior tribe of Khampas ruled by chieftains.

The coming-of-age narrative is a riveting tale of vengeance, warfare and love unfolded through the story of two young boys and their families and friends.

The author's ability to separate emotions and view both sides of a national catastrophe objectively is applaudable. Ultimately, the novel delves into themes such as tradition versus modernity, individual choice and freedom, the nature of governance, the role of religion in people's lives, the inevitability of change, and the importance of human values such as loyalty and compassion.

Born at Gyantse in Tibet in 1932, Pemba was enrolled by his father, a Tibetan cadre officer in the British Trade agency, at age eight in the Victoria Boys School at Kurseong near Darjeeling.

He was the first Tibetan to become a doctor and surgeon in Western medical science from the University of London in 1955. He was awarded the prestigious Hallet Prize by the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, in 1966.

He also founded the first hospital in Bhutan in 1956 and was a member of the Bhutanese delegation to the WHO in Geneva in 1989.

In between, there was much pain he had to endure -- his parents had perished in the devastating Yarlung Tsangpo floods at Gyantse and Tibet was no longer a de facto independent country.

It would, thus, be only natural for Pemba to pen a masterpiece such as this.

(Vishnu Makhijani can be contacted at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
London, April 23 : The UK Independence Party (UKIP) has announced that it will include a pledge in its general election manifesto to ban the burqa or full-face veils worn by some Muslim women in public, the media reported on Sunday.

Party leader Paul Nuttall will launch what he calls an "integration agenda" on Monday ahead of the upcoming snap general election on June 8, reports the BBC.

He is also set to propose outlawing Sharia law -- the religious rules that form part of Islamic tradition.

The party's manifesto is expected to suggest that anyone with evidence of female genital mutilation will be bound by law to inform the police.

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage proposed a burqa ban in 2010.

But the party later dropped the policy, and it did not appear in its 2015 manifesto.

Full-face veils are already banned in public in some European countries, including France.
Hyderabad, April 23 : Rebel poet Gaddar, who plans to float a political party in Telangana, has expressed his willingness to work with Jana Sena party of popular Telugu actor Pawan Kalyan.

Describing Pawan as a long-time friend, Gaddar on Sunday said he would consider working with him, after floating the political party.

The balladeer said he would also work to bring together the like-minded parties. Talking to reporters, he acknowledged that a lot is being heard in political circles about Pawan Kalyan's party.

Pawan announced earlier this month that Jana Sena will contest the next elections in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

There is a buzz in political circles that Gaddar will play a key role in the actor's plans for Telangana. Pawan has also dropped hints at working with the Communist parties, which have a support base in some pockets of Telagana.

The former Maoist, who plans to build an alternative political force representing 'true aspirations' of Telangana people and has good rapport with the Left parties, is expected to bring the parties closer.

Gaddar remarked that political power can't be achieved overnight and that it needs sacrifices and struggle.

The poet, who had founded Jana Natya Mandali, the cultural wing of the erstwhile People's War Group, said he had been carrying on his battle for 70 years.

Gaddar, whose real name is Gummadi Vithal Rao, is a critic of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government and believes that Telangana of the dreams of the martyrs is yet to be achieved.

He earlier planned to launch the political party on April 6 to coincide with the attack on him 20 years ago.

The Maoist sympathiser was shot by five unknown people at his Venkatapuram residence in Secunderabad on April 6, 1997.

He had blamed police and then Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government for the assassination attempt.

Gaddar claims to have formally severed all links with the Maoists to enter mainstream electoral politics.
New Delhi, April 23 : Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ramvilas Paswan on Sunday ruled out a legislation to penalise hotels and restaurants in the country for levying service charge on customers.

Paswan said enough awareness on the issue and public demand were required before the government could enact a law on the contentious issue.

"We have issued guidelines to inform consumers about their rights that the service charge is voluntary. Hotels and restaurants cannot make it mandatory. It is up to a consumer if he/she wants to pay it or not. If I say something (on legislation) now, it will be said that the government is interfering," he told the media here.

Hotels and restaurants should not assume that they can levy service charge if the government has not brought in the (necessary) legislation, he added.

If restaurants say they pay a part of the service charge to their waiters, then it should be recorded and be accounted for in the tax return, Paswan said.

"A consumers can approach a consumer court if he or she is forced to pay service charge."

He said his ministry's intention to issue latest guidelines on the unfair trade practices with regard to service charge was to "awaken consumers about their rights".

Paswan said consumers had the right to know about food quantity and charges on food items as per the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

According to the guidelines, the bills should clearly indicate that the service charge is voluntary and the service charge column in the bill should be left bank for the customer to fill up before making payment.

Customer can also decide whether or not to pay the service charge or tip only after assessing the quality of service, and also how much.
New Delhi, April 23 : Farmers from Tamil Nadu who have been on protest sit-in here for the past 40 days, on Sunday announced suspension of their demonstration till May 25 after they met state Chief Minister K. Palaniswami.

During the meeting, Palaniswami assured the farmers of his help and said that he will request Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the loan waiver.

The farmers have been on protest sit-in at Jantar Mantar in the capital seeking loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery Management Board to resolve their irrigation issues.
New Delhi, April 23 : Braving scorching heat and disregarding failing health, senior citizens on Sunday turned out in large numbers for the Delhi civic polls, though most admitted that they do not have much expectations from candidates they voted for.

Having seen politicians over the years making tall pre-poll promises, only to turn their back on the public after victory, the senior voters said they were resigned to their fate but even that could not keep them away from exercising their franchise.

Septuagenarian Tarsem Singh of Gautam Nagar in south Delhi said: "Till now, no councillor has done anything. There are a lot of civic issues that need attention, but there is no proper planning on resolving the issues."

Pointing to potholed roads and choked drains, he said: "I know the conditions will remain the same; I don't have any expectations from them. But then, it is my duty to vote and I have done that."

Notwithstanding his frail health, 91-year-old O.P. Suri stood in a queue to vote.

"I have voted in almost all elections since Independence. I have seen things undergo drastic change. But some things have remained the same. The masses still have to struggle for their basic needs. Elections come and go but our condition remains unchanged," Suri lamented.

Retired government servant Bhola Nath, 76, complained that he has not seen any government that is concerned about the welfare of the masses.

"Everyone makes promises but no one delivers," the Lajpat Nagar resident said.

Nath said Delhi's municipal bodies had failed to maintain cleanliness in the national capital.

Shankar Lal, 83, echoed the view. "All are busy in making money and they forget the public after elections. The civic body must do something to check dust pollution but they do nothing. We face breathing problems due to pollution."

Sushila Sharma, 63, of Sadiq Nagar, said leaders from various political parties promise everything to woo voters before elections but can't be traced once they win.

"There are serious issues of proper water supply, road repair and sewerage, which are not new," Sharma said.

"I don't think there's going to be any major improvement. But it is my duty to vote and so I have done."

Rajinder Kumar, 69, of Maharani Bagh said: "Health facilities in MCD clinics ought to be improved; public parks should be kept clean; roads need repairs; steps to clean the environment and reduce pollution have to be taken; the MCDs need to focus on small issues on which they have failed miserably. Voting is important -- so I came for it."

A total of 2,537 candidates contested Sunday's polls for the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 seats each) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (64 seats).

The counting for all 272 seats in the three civic bodies will take place on April 26.

(Amiya Kumar Kushwaha can be contacted at amiya.k@ians.in and Somrita Ghosh can be contacted at somrita.g@ians.in)
New Delhi, April 23 : The internet has brought people closer to each other but also needed is an "innernet" to make us feel our inter-connectedness inwardly too, Tibetan spiritual leader, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, said on Sunday.

"The information age makes us highly aware of our interconnectedness and the internet allows us to see how much we depend on one another. But we also need to have an innernet -- not just a connection on a material or outer level. We need to be able to feel our connectedness inwardly," said the Karmapa at the release of his new book "Interconnected: Embracing Life in Our Global Society".

The book, which came out of a month-long dialogue with a group of students from the University of Redlands, California, who travelled to Dharamsala to learn from him, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, outlines his vision for a global society that truly reflects the interdependence that is now becoming widely recognised and shows a way forward to enacting that vision.

Former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, who was the chief guest at the launch, said: "His Holiness, the Karmapa, has rediscovered for us the modern meaning of Buddha's personality and the contemporary significance of his life and messages."

The Karmapa, the third-most important Tibetan religious head, is an influential voice in the new generation of thought leaders and spiritual head of one of the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, which has been working with the notion of interdependence for many centuries.

In the book, he argues that despite polarising forces that would seek to erect barriers and deny our connectedness, global economic integration and information technology are making our interdependence increasingly direct and undeniable.

Within this historical moment, "we must not retreat behind walls but join together in collective action to build a global society that acknowledges and draws on our fundamental connectedness", adding that the crucial next step is to move beyond theoretical understanding of our interconnectedness, to begin to actually feel connected in our hearts.
Guwahati, April 23 : Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for help to revive the Ashok, Nagaon and Cachar Paper Mills, saying their resumption will provide a boost to the state's rural economy.

In his address at the third Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog here, Sonowal requested Modi to assist the state government in reviving the Ashok Paper Mill and restart the functioning of two units of Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC). He also requested continuation of the existing North East Industrial Investment Promotion Policy 2007 (NEIIPP) till a new policy is put in place.

"NEIIPP 2007 has led to significant industrial investment in Assam to the tune of around Rs 5,000 crore before its expiry on March 31 this year. Till a new industrial policy is put in place, NEIIP may be allowed to continue," he said.

The Chief Minister also pleaded that the Union Finance Ministry and NITI Aayog be asked to evolve a mechanism for scheme-wise allocation of Central share well in advance to enable the states to prepare a realistic resource-based action plan. Non-availability of scheme-wise allocation of Central share before the presentation of a state budget creates difficulties in reflecting the correct allocation of funds against each scheme, he added.

"I believe that for a country like ours, we need a long horizon vision supported by appropriate strategy and practical action plans for realizing the avowed vision," he said.

The Chief Minister also said that a special session of the Assam Legislative Assembly will be held from May 8 next for consideration and enactment of the Assam Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.

Lauding the Central Government for considering the amount of revenue forgone due to industrial concession as a part of revenue for the purpose of calculating GST compensation, Sonowal said this will protect the interests of the northeastern States and Jammu & Kashmir and help in bringing them at par with other states in terms of industrialisation.

Reiterating his government's commitment to Modi's vision of Digital India, Sonowal urged the Telecom Ministry to put special emphasis on providing internet access in rural areas of the state. "For making digital payments a reality in rural areas, we need better banking infrastructure and good internet connectivity," he said.
Image: image3.mouthshut.com

New Delhi, Apr 23 (IBNS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Sunday met the Tamil Nadu farmers, who have been protesting at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar for the last 39 days.

He urged them to end their protests.

The state Chief Minister told the protesting farmers that he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

Palanisawmi assured them that he would submit a memorandum to the PM highlighting their plight.

In order to grab the attention of the Prime Minister towards their demands, protesting farmers drank urine, on Saturday, media reports.

The farmers acted according to their earlier warning that they would be compelled to drink their own urine, if their demands were not fulfilled.

They had been protesting for the last 39 days against the central government, over the demands of loan waive and better drought relief packages.

The protesting farmers were seen to perform several acts like keeping snake in the mouth and also stripped outside the resident of the Prime Minister in early April.
Kolkata, April 23 : Nobel laureate and social activist Kailash Satyarthi was on Sunday presented the P.C. Chandra Purashkar (award) for his global crusade against child slavery and exploitative child labour.

The 63-year-old Satyarthi was handed over a citation, a trophy and a cheque of Rs 10 lakh at an awards ceremony here.

Satyarthi, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 with Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan, urged everyone to work towards making India a "child-friendly country".

Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture Secretary Swami Suparnananda Maharaj and noted Bengali author Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay attended the function at Science City.
Kolkata, April 24 : A dejected Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli on Sunday admonished his batsmen after collapsing to a 82-run defeat against the Kolkata Knight Riders here, saying such performance from the famed batting line up was "unacceptable".

Calling it the RCB's "worst batting performance", Kohli said that "it really hurts".

The visitors were bundled out for 49, the lowest total in the Indian Premier League after the KKR, put in to bat first by Kohli, were all out for 131.

"After the kind of half that we had, we thought we could capitalise and chase it down. Reckless batting. I can't say anything at the moment. It was that bad. This is just not acceptable," said a visibly annoyed Kohli, who himself scored a golden duck.

The India captain, however, claimed he was distracted by a spectator.

"The sightscreen is very small here, one guy got up as the bowler was loading up, that distracted me. Still it wasn't a big deal. That was just one down," he said.

Kohli said the team needed to move on, leaving behind the poor show.

"We need to forget it and move forward. We're a much better team. We got 200 plus in the last game. I'm sure everyone realises what they've done wrong.

"You have to come out, show intent and back yourselves. I'm sure we won't bat like that again in the tournament.

"We're going back home for a couple of games. We've got back-to-back games, need to try and win those to get some momentum," he said.
H3.Group (HealthLeaders Media, HCPro and DecisionHealth) is pleased to announce that Scott Mace, former Senior Technology Editor of HealthLeaders, has assumed the newly formed role of Senior Custom Editor. With over 33 years of editorial experience in healthcare and technology, Scott Mace brings his deep industry knowledge and ability to produce thoughtful leadership content to H3.Groups clients.

Chris Driscoll, VP of Sales at H3.Group, explains, We all know that the information business has shifted. We not only produce branded leadership content for our readers, we develop content on behalf of our clients to reach various audiences in healthcare, based on their needs and objectives. As a strong healthcare industry editor, bringing Scott into this role to support our clients content creation needs was the next step in this evolution.

As a California resident, Mace has not strayed far from his hometown of Santa Clara Valley, CA. He started his career at the computing trade publication InfoWorld in 1981, just before IBM introduced its personal computer. In 2004, he focused on healthcare IT, freelancing for NurseWeek Magazine. In 2015, Scott was awarded a Jesse H. Neal Award for Best Technical Content and a year later he earned the National Silver Award, Regional Gold Award of Excellence, Feature Article, General Interest, More Than $3 Million Revenue, Southeast Category, by the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) for the April 2015 HealthLeaders cover story, The Reality of Virtual Care. You can learn more about Scott Mace by viewing his profile on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottamace/.

About H3.Group

The H3.Group empowers todays healthcare professionals with solution-focused information and intelligence to guide their healthcare organizations efforts to achieve compliance, financial performance, leadership, and organizational excellence. In addition, the H3 Group nurtures and provides access to productive C-suite relationships and engaged professional networks, deploys subject matter expertise deep into key functional areas, and enhances the utility of proprietary decision-support knowledge. To learn more about the newly formed H3.Group, please visit http://h3.group/.
Geoffrey Boyce- ATA Industry Partner Honoree 2017 Im humbled by this honor. Ive been involved with ATA for close to ten years and seen the organization and the telemedicine industry come into its own. Telehealth is at a tipping point." - G. Boyce

Geoffrey Boyce, Executive Director of InSight Telepsychiatry, is the recipient of the American Telemedicine Associations 2017 Industry Leader Award.

The Industry Leader Award is presented each year to an individual or company that has made significant contributions to the advancement of telemedicine a federal, state and international level.

Geoffrey has worked extensively in the promotion of telemedicine in a number of arenas, says Les Paschall, CEO of InSights sister company, CFG Health Network. This award recognizes his many accomplishments and tireless work to champion telemedicine and transform access to health care.

The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) is the largest telehealth-focused organization. The non-profit organization is the leading telehealth association helping to transform healthcare by improving the quality, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world.

InSight Telepsychiatry is the leading national telepsychiatry organization with a mission to increase access to quality behavioral health care through innovative applications of technology. InSight has been practicing telepsychiatry for the past 18 years and runs telepsychiatry programs in settings than span the continuum of care across 27 states.

As executive director of InSight, Boyce has been active in telemedicine advocacy, education and reform initiatives. At a federal level, Boyce is an active leader in advocating for telemedicine-friendly changes to the Ryan Haight Act. Hes met with the DEA about the issue, spoke on the issue at several events and helped lead an ATA committee that produced comments on the Act that would make it telemedicine-friendly.

At the state level, Boyce played a crucial role in drafting a proposed telemedicine bill in New Jersey, which introduced significant regulations for the efficient delivery of health care services through telemedicine. He was among experts to testify before the New Jersey state Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on the current and potential applications of telemedicine services and has continued to be a resource to the policy makers throughout the process.

Boyce also played a key role in advocating for New Jerseys change in commitment laws to allow for electronic signatures in 2012. The revision represented significant improvement to the logistical challenges faced when screening and placing individuals appropriately, particularly in the delivery of the psychiatrists screen certificate.

Boyce worked with the Delaware Telehealth Coalition and the Delaware Medical Society to draft legislation making telemedicine more accessible through Delawares House Bill 69. He also helped design several innovative telemedicine partnerships within the state, including a 2014 pilot with the DSCYF to bring child and adolescent psychiatry to southern Delaware.

Through his work at InSight, Boyce has developed and implemented a number of innovative telepsychiatry and telebehavioral health programs for hospitals, health systems, outpatient health facilities and various other healthcare organizations. He launched the Adult Mobile Crisis Program and Childrens Crisis Psychiatry Program, allowing trained crisis support specialists to bring laptops equipped to connect a telepsychiatrist to the homes of callers experiencing psychiatric crisis in Pennsylvania. He launched the first ACT program to utilize telepsychiatry in Delaware. He also played a key role in the design of Inpathy, one of the nations first direct-to-consumer telebehavioral health platforms, and is currently working to expand into new areas through partnerships with health plans and insurance companies.

Boyce is an active public speaker on telehealth through presentations, webinars and events. Boyce has spoken on the topic of telemedicine at over 25 events in the past 5 years including presentations on the topic of Telepsychiatry to the American Telemedicine Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the National Association of Rural Health Associations, The Center for Telehealth and e-Law and many others.

Boyce also serves on the board of the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center.

Im humbled by this honor. Ive been involved with ATA for close to ten years and seen the organization and the telemedicine industry come into its own," says Boyce. "We are no longer spending time convincing people that telemedicine isnt voodoo and are now seeing real change. Telehealth is at that tipping point."

Boyce will be presented with his award during the Industry Council Meeting at the 2017 International American Telemedicine Association Conference in Orlando, FL on Sunday, April 23.
Mr. Tom's is very happy to partner up with Madidus Distribution. This is a new milestone for List Distillery and we are honored to provide our product to the people of Maryland and Washington D.C. said Thomas List.

Madidus Imports and Wholesalers has entered into a distribution agreement with List Distillery, producer of Mr. Toms Spirits. The partnership will make Madidus Imports and Wholesales the sole distributor of Mr. Toms Spirits in Washington D.C. and Maryland.

Madidus Imports and Wholesalers goal is, to bring quality, hard to find, and unique wine, spirits, and beer to the U.S. market, and assist smaller producers in marketing their products.

The partnership with List Distillery and Madidus is therefore a win-win for both parties.

"We look forward to bringing the List Distillery and its unique and distinctive line of hand crafted products to the Washington, D.C. and Maryland markets. We do specialize in craft American liquor brands. Mr. Tom's Spirits are a fantastic product, that are focused on the consumer experience and we couldn't be more excited to bring them to market," said Rikin Patel, Partner and VP of Wines and Craft Spirits for Madidus Importers and Wholesalers.

List Distillery is owned and operated by Thomas and Renate List. The distillery was opened in 2015 and produced 24,000 bottles in its first year of production. It has been quite the adventure since 2015 when we began. Our goal was to bring hand crafted, one of a kind flavors to the market, and that is exactly what we have done. The partnership with Madidus has opened up endless possibilities of expansion, and we look forward to the coming advances in our business, said Thomas List, Owner and Operator of List Distillery.

Mr. Tom's is very happy to partner up with Madidus Distribution. This is a new milestone for List Distillery and we are honored to provide our product to the people of Maryland and Washington D.C., said Thomas List.

Mr. Toms Spirits includes one of a kind flavors including: Habanero Honey Whiskey, Raspberry Mint Gin, Key Lime Pie Rum, and Apple Pie Rum. All products are certified organic and gluten free, and most importantly are crafted from local South West Florida ingredients. List Distillery fully supports local farmers by exclusively purchasing from them, making them a true 100% American based company.

The Distillery is located at 3680 Evans Ave. Fort Myers, Fl 33901 and web address is: http://www.listdistillery.com. Tours are given daily by master distillers Thomas and Renate List. For more information on how you can sample, tour, and buy Mr. Toms Spirits please stop in or call 239-208-7214. Hours of operation are: Monday- Friday 11 AM- 5 PM, Saturday 11 AM  4 PM, Closed Sunday.

About List Distillery:

List Distillery is a boutique distillery in the heart of Fort Myers, Florida. The distillery produces Mr. Toms Spirits, a line of organic and gluten free spirits. Known for their one of a kind flavors, and exceptionally smooth finishes, these sprits are all hand crafted with locally grown products. List Distillery prides itself on its dedication to local farmers and supporting Fort Myers local businesses.
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) will host its annual DC Federal Legislative Initiative (DC FLI), April 29-30 at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, Virginia. This years DC FLI will urge congressional support for enforcement of the insurance nondiscrimination provision of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.  300gg5).

The provision is word for word from a pre-existing Medicare Advantage statute. It states that insurers shall not discriminate with respect to participation under the plan or coverage against any health care provider who is acting within the scope of that provider's license or certification under applicable State law.

The intent of the provision is to add qualified provider types to health plans, whether private health plans or self-funded ERISA plans. It does not require insurers to add any services not already covered by the given health plans, nor does it require all qualified providers within a provider type to be included in a plan.

If this nondiscrimination provision were to be fully implemented, health care competition would increase, driving down costs, stated Michael Traub, ND, chair of the AANPs Insurance Nondiscrimination Work Group. Patients would have additional incentive to keep themselves healthy through their choice of integrative health care providers who focus on prevention and wellness.

Even after publication of non-binding FAQ guidances by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), insurers are not clear on the statutes intent or how they should comply with it. The attendees of the DC FLI  upwards of 150 licensed Naturopathic Doctors and naturopathic medical students  will unite from all across the country to advocate, asking that their elected representatives send messages to the Secretary of the HHS.

Unambiguous enforcement guidance from HHS would provide Americans with a stronger incentive to take responsibility for their own health through licensed provider types that emphasize illness prevention. The result would undoubtedly be a considerable savings in health care expenditures, commented Dr. Traub.

Health care in the U.S. is almost entirely oriented to treating patients once they are ill  most often through costly prescription drugs, invasive surgeries, and hospitalization. The DC FLI will call to attention the need for NDs to have a greater role as primary care providers. The AANP, through the DC FLI, is working to educate members of Congress about the role licensed Naturopathic Doctors play in providing safe, effective, and affordable health care.

###

About the AANP:

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) is the professional association that represents licensed naturopathic physicians. The AANP strives to make naturopathic medicine available to every American, and to increase recognition of naturopathic physicians as the identified authorities on natural medicine. Learn more at http://www.naturopathic.org.
Event Horizon is a place where the laws of our physical universe begin to change. So is the process rendered in my Art and Music.

"An event Horizon is a place where the laws of our physical universe begin to change. So is the process rendered in my Art and Music. These are created as Metaphysical Transformations where music, which is the origin of my art materials, nature, light, and silence the boundary of mystery culminate to the ultimate singularity."

-- Karen Salicath Jamali

Karen will also preview her upcoming album of Meditative piano compositions, "Crown Leaf". Her seventh album features the compositions that inspired much of the artwork in "Event Horizon"

"Composing and playing piano has become a daily, meditative ritual for me, that influences my painting and sculpting," says Karen Salicath Jamali.

Torben Weirup, the distinguished Danish art critic contributing essays for a two hundred page monograph on Karen's artwork, will also be attending the opening. About her sculpture, Mr. Weirup has written, Humanity is the crux of the matter in the works of Karen Salicath Jamali. And its destiny, the basic sense of being. What is immediately striking is that shes not afraid of being out of fashion, of letting her works carry a sense of pathos. In them are a certain mood and an idiom not unlike that conveyed by memorial monuments. Anonymous in a way well-suited for universal messages.

In my sculpture I seek to evoke the universality of the human condition, in a language accessible to all regardless of races and culture, says Karen.

About Karen Salicath Jamali: Born and raised in Denmark, Karen achieved a master degree from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Art, School of Design in Copenhagen in 1991. She has been working as a painter, sculptor and photographer for 30 years, and is now also a composer and pianist. Karen has participated in over 100 solo and group exhibitions throughout the world, including the Louvre Museum in Paris, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Monreale, Italy, and solo on the Kume Museum in Tokyo. Her built works include several permanent public sculptures, and she is represented in more than 700 private collections.

In recognition of her outstanding artworks Ms. Jamali has received many international awards, including the Raffaello Sanzio award, the Beato Angelico the Nelson Mandela Prize, The International Human Rights Award 2016 from the Accademia Italia In Arte Nel Mondo Associatioen Culturale.. Other honors include the Golden Palm Award 2016, Academy Awards Oscar Award 2016 from Constanza Foundation World Directory of Artist in Italy, the Shakespeare Award, the Botticelli Prize, the Leonardo da Vinci Price 2016, and the Michelangelo International Prize, among many other.

Jamali Gallery in New York City. Located at 413 West Broadway

between Spring and Prince streets, it is open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM.

To learn more please visit kjamali.com or JamaliNYCGallery.com.

Contact Information Jamali Gallery (212)966-3335 ore (407)619 4077
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Kolkata, Apr 23 (IBNS): Based on credible source inputs, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Sunday recovered as many as 150 pieces of smuggled gold biscuits from M.G. Road metro station area in Kolkata and arrested two persons in connection with the case, reports said.

According to reports, two residents of Ranaghat in West Bengal's Nadia district, Asit Roy and Shyam Sardar, were detained with 16.7 kg gold biscuits soon after they reached M.G. Road from Dumdum metro station.

"Those Dubai-made gold biscuits, with a market value of Rs. 4.88 crore, have been trafficked into Kolkata via Bangladesh," a DRI official told IBNS.

However, these arrested persons have been handed over to the local police and the city police have started investigation into the matter.

The duo were produced in a city court on Sunday afternoon and were sent to police custody till May 3.

Earlier on Apr 14, DRI seized 70 pieces of gold biscuits worth Rs. 3.47 crore from Kolkata's Sealdah area and nabbed two traffickers.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Kyle Tilley, No. 14 driving for Cary Racing #1, looked as though he were off on a sunny Saturday drive during the first bit of the 60th annual Purdue Grand Prix. However, a lap 85 run-in with another car meant the race was on.

Tilley, a rookie, hit the back of a lapped car on lap 85 after cruising through the field. He took the lead on lap two when the first two cars, including last year's winning team, Delts Racing, took each other out.

"I had so many mixed emotions out there," he said. "First we got in an accident over there and I thought it was over after that. If you look down here my tie-rod is actually still bent and my steering column."

A quick trip to the pits to replace a tire put Tilley down the leader board. His car was just too fast, however, and he quickly started to climb again.

A mid-race red flag stopped all cars and forced a single file restart with the No. 23 car of Ross Rankine and Delta Upsilon Larry Miller Racing in the lead. Trouble for Rankine on lap 108 put Abby Willis, a freshman from IUPUI that started sixth on the grid, in the lead.

Despite having a fast car, Willis couldn't hold off a charging Tilley. He made a pass for the lead on lap 130 and never looked back.

"Luckily my pit crew did an amazing job replacing the tire and getting me back on the track," he said. "This was crazier than I could have ever imagined."

Willis went on to finish second, and James Schnabel, driving for Motorsports Club at IUPUI #1, finished third after starting eighth on the grid.

"I was shocked that I was in first and I was just trying to hold on to it," Willis said. "Tilley was just so fast."

Doug Boles, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, served as grand marshal for the event. Boles was named president of IMS in 2013. He is responsible for daily operations at the facility, including all four world-class racing events that range from the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil to the NASCAR Crown Royal 400 at the Brickyard. He is a Butler University graduate with a law degree from Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis. The Indiana native also was a founding partner in Panther Racing, one of the Verizon IndyCar Series' most successful teams.

The event, sponsored by the Grand Prix Foundation, exists to raise funds for annual student scholarships and is organized by a volunteer staff of 12 senior board directors, two advisers and a junior board staff.

Writer: Megan Huckaby, 765-496-1325, mhuckaby@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: B-roll from the Purdue Grand Prix will be available at https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxdPFMVWz-l2MUFhUElmNXo5Y3M
OAK BROOK, Ill. (AP)  Authorities say investigators are trying to determine what led up to a Florida truck driver being fatally shot while driving on a highway just outside Chicago.

Illinois State Police say 43-year-old Eduardo Munoz of Sunrise, Florida, was shot about 4 p.m. Friday on Interstate 88 in the western Chicago suburb of Oak Brook.

Police say someone in another vehicle shot at the truck, hitting Munoz. He was able to stop the semitrailer on the highway's shoulder and he was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Police said investigators didn't immediately know what prompted the shooting and no arrests were announced.
CHICAGO (AP)  Illinois is receiving more than $16 million in federal money to help fight a prescription drug addiction crisis.

Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grants. The money will go toward prevention, treatment and recovery services.

Duckworth says the money "will go a long way toward ending the opioid epidemic." Durbin says it's a crisis that impacts every community in Illinois, from urban to suburban and rural.

Nationwide, more than 33,000 deaths from opioid-related overdoses were reported in 2015. In Illinois more than 1,835 died in 2015. That's a 16 percent increase over 2013.

A U.S. surgeon general's report found only one in 10 people with a substance use disorder receives the care they need.
Mumbai, Apr 23 (IBNS): Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee turned 48 on Sunday.

Bollywood actors tried to make the day special for Manoj by wishing him on social media.

Actor Rajkummar Rao tweeted: "A very happy birthday to the daddy of acting @BajpayeeManoj You're a rockstar sir. Love you."

Actor Anupam Kher said: "Happy birthday to Talented Mr. @BajpayeeManoj. Love, Peace & Happiness Always.:)."

Actress Taapsee Pannu wished Manoj and posted: "Happy birthday to a man who is opposite to everything u remember seeing of him on screen! To the humorous and ever so lively @BajpayeeManoj."

Bajpayee made his feature film debut with the one-minute role in Drohkaal (1994), and a minor role of a dacoit in Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen (1994).

After few unnoticed roles, he played gangster Bhiku Mhatre in Ram Gopal Varma's 1998 crime drama Satya, which proved to be a breakthrough.

Bajpayee received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for the film.

He then acted in films like Kaun (1999), and Shool (1999). For the latter, he won his second Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.

Bajpayee further played the role of a prince with two wives in Zubeidaa (2001), a serial killer in Aks (2001) and a hitchhiker-turned-psychopath killer in Road (2002).

Bajpayee won the Special Jury National Award for Pinjar (2003).
DAVENPORT  The People's Climate Movement QC Rally is planned April 29 at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport as a sister march to the March on Climate Change planned in Washington, D.C.

The noon to 3 p.m. Quad Cities rally is a partnership among the Eagle View Group Sierra Club, Earth Keepers, the Progressive Action for the Common Good and Sage Sisters of Solidarity. Participation is free.

Organizer Emily Clever said the event is designed to help provide attendees with knowledge about the environment and to get people involved.

"We have been trying to find a way to get people more involved in our group," she said. "I reached out to other groups that were planning to do an event like this and we went from there."

The Eagle View Group Sierra Club website said the rally also is designed for people to work together on a sustainable planet and against the forces of human-caused climate change. The rally will feature music, speakers and information about the environment.

Scheduled performers include Lucia Dryanski, Dave Krupke, Justin Moulton and Thunder Medicine. Former Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert will discuss what city officials can do to protect and help the environment. Other scheduled speakers include Adriana McBride of the Quad Cities Waterkeepers, Rich Hendricks of the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities and Melisa Marroquin of the Sage Sisters of Solidarity.

Ms. Clever said she also Augustana College Sierra Club in Rock Island member Daniel Herrera will provide a student perspective.

"The speakers will probably incorporate some national stuff in their speeches," she said. "But they will be trying to focus more on actions people can take and feeling empowered."

Plans are not yet definite for what the groups will do after the march, Ms. Clever said, adding there "will be something as the movement goes along."

For more details, visit the Eagles View Group Sierra Club Facebook page or its website at sierraclub.org/illinois/eagle-view.
ROCK ISLAND -- Gail Summer will become Augustana Colleges next provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Selected from candidates from across the country, Dr. Summer will replace Pareena Lawrence, who will become the president of Hollins University in Roanoke, Va., later this year. Dr. Lawrence has served Augustana since 2011.

We look forward to having Dr. Summer join us as we continue to build on a strong student experience at Augustana, said Augustana President Steve Bahls. I am very impressed with Dr. Summer and am fully confident in her ability to lead our academic program.

Dr. Summer has been vice president for academic affairs at Ferrum College in Virginia since 2013. Prior to that, she served in various capacities at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C., ranging from professor of education to the dean of academic programs.

Augustana and Lenoir-Rhyne are two of 26 colleges and universities related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Among the important projects Dr. Summer will take on as provost are the conversion of the colleges academic calendar from trimesters to semesters and the continued implementation of the colleges strategic plan, Augustana 2020.

I really am excited about coming to Augustana," Dr. Summer said. "I wanted to be at a place where undergraduate education drove the institution and did so with a liberal-arts foundation still being central. The faculty are doing all the right things on behalf of the students.

Dr. Summer earned her bachelor's degree from Indiana University, Bloomington; her master's degree from University of South Carolina, Columbia; and her doctorate from University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

We were very impressed by the pool of candidates, said Kathy Jakielski, chair of the provost search committee, chair of Augustanas faculty council and a professor of communication sciences and disorders. I am confident that Dr. Summer will bring a great deal of knowledge and ability to Augustana.

Dr. Summer will begin her new role at Augustana in July.
CINCINNATI (AP)  A prematurely born hippo in Ohio has been providing regular doses of happiness for animal lovers, in a show of public affection that's also given an emotional lift to Cincinnati Zoo workers.

After months of backlash over the zoo's fatal shooting of Harambe, a gorilla who became a pop culture phenomenon in death, baby Fiona is the new center of attention there.

"She has brought everyone together," said Jenna Wingate, one of Fiona's caregivers. "It brings us to tears sometimes."

Blog and video updates such as Fiona taking a bottle, splashing in a pool or learning to run have drawn tens of millions of online views. Tens of thousands of people have bought Team Fiona T-shirts, and thousands more have eaten a Cincinnati bakery chain's Fiona-themed treats, with proceeds supporting the zoo's efforts. She gets so many cards and letters that she has her own mail bin.

On a recent sunny afternoon at the zoo, Gina Brockman, of Taylor Mill, Kentucky, got her children in place for a photo near the hippopotamus area and just before snapping it, said: "Say Fiona!"

"They can't wait to see her," Brockman said. "I think she has brought everybody lots of excitement."

Zoo officials say zoos are increasingly using newer media to interest the public, such as the recent livestream of April the giraffe giving birth in New York's Animal Adventure Park.

Zoos "are utilizing new ways to give the public a firsthand account of caring for the animals at their facilities," said Rob Vernon, spokesman for the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, based in Silver Spring, Maryland. "Fiona is a great example of using social and traditional media to tell her story."

Some animal rights activists are skeptical.

"Basically, it's a marketing tool," said Michael Budkie, who leads the Cincinnati-area group Stop Animal Exploitation Now! "They focus so much attention on baby animals because people like to see them. What happens to these animals when they're grown?"

Budkie, who said animals should be in natural habitats, not "gawked at by human beings," was among many who criticized the zoo after the May 28, 2016, shooting of Harambe by a zoo special response team to protect a 3-year-old boy who fell into the gorilla enclosure's moat. Harambe's death was mourned and satirized in a social media response that swept the globe.

The Cincinnati Zoo shut down its Twitter account for two months last year after hacks and waves of negative comments.

The strong positive response to Fiona has helped what the zoo's director has described as a healing process after Harambe.

"It's been a very welcome thing," Wingate said.

But there was no guarantee that Fiona's story would be a happy one. Born Jan. 24, six weeks early, the calf was 29 pounds (13.15 kilograms), well below the normal birth weight of 55 pounds (24.95 kilograms) to 120 pounds (54.43 kilograms). The first Nile hippo born there in 75 years was unable to stand or to nurse, so zookeepers, vets and volunteers began raising her with 24-hour attention.

"We weren't expecting this premature hippo to survive," said Wingate.

She got advice from the Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage in South Africa, which raises baby rhinos whose mothers are killed by poachers. Wingate said they advised keeping the baby hippo warm and moist, and getting her into the pool as much as possible.

Some of the early updates were about setbacks; one day she wasn't gaining weight, another she wouldn't take the bottle.

Zoo spokeswoman Michelle Curley said the policy is to be transparent, sharing bad news as well as good.

"You'd have these awesome days with her then you have a couple bad days," Wingate said. "You try to keep yourself guarded. But she's doing well now. Something could still happen, but we're not as stressed now."

The zoo workers have been increasing Fiona's contact with her parents, and they plan to slowly get her ready for in-person viewing by her fans. That likely will come in May, around the time of the one-year anniversary of Harambe's death.

"We've had the spotlight on us for almost a year," Curley said. "It's nice for it to be for positive reasons now."

___

Follow Dan Sewell at http://twitter.com/dansewell

For some of his other stories: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/dan-sewell
In the wake of the cruise missile attack on a Syrian air base and the possibility of military action against North Korea, I have been thinking about the traditional just war criteria and their applicability to these matters. Stripped to their essentials, they suggest that war is always evil but is sometimes the lesser of evils.

War is costly in terms of human life and costly in terms of the resources that are expended, resources which could be used for highway construction, scholarships for students from low-income families, and other worthy projects.

The replacement cost for the 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles which were fired at the Syrian air base is estimated to be somewhere around $60 million. Thats enough money to provide a bunch of scholarships for students from low-income families.

Yet, costly though military action is, it is sometimes the lesser of evils. Take, for example, theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971), who at one time was a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), a pacifist organization, but left the FOR when the threat posed by Hitler became undeniably apparent. In an essay entitled To Prevent the Triumph of an Intolerable Tyranny which he wrote a year before Pearl Harbor (a time when France had fallen and the Great Britain stood virtually alone in the face of the Nazi war machine) he advocated U.S. intervention in the war lest we deliver the last ramparts of civilization into the hands of the new barbarians.

By their very nature, however, just war theorists are reluctant warriors. They typically map out a number of criteria, all of which must be satisfied before going to war is morally justifiable. Among these are just cause, last resort, lawful authority, reasonable hope of success, and due proportionality (meaning that the good to be realized from going to war must be sufficient to offset the costs.)

There is broad consensus that being attacked is a just cause for military action against the aggressor. What is less clear is whether attacks on innocent people, as happened in Syria when poison gas was used against the civilian population, is a just cause for military action against the aggressor, even though we ourselves might not be in imminent danger. Though some might disagree, I believe that President Trump was right in viewing this as just cause for military action.

There are, however, other criteria which also come into play, among them last resort. When George W. Bush was president, I argued that his decision to invade Iraq, ostensibly because Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMD), was very premature because United Nations teams had not completed their search for WMD.

Was firing cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase a last resort? That is by no means apparent.

Lawful authority can be, and often is, a complicated matter. In the case of U.S. entry into World War II, lawful authority was not an issue because Congress declared war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and on Germany a few days later, after Germany had declared war on the United States.

Did President Trump have the authority to launch the attack on the Syrian air base? I am inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt on this matter.

Reasonable hope of success? That depends on how one defines success. If one defines success simply as hitting the target, then the cruise missile attack was successful. But if one defines success as solving the problem  in this case a brutal dictator who has slaughtered a substantial number of his own people  it is not a forgone conclusion that the cruise missile attack was successful. Indeed, the very next day President Assad thumbed his nose at us by launching Syrian planes from the base that we had hit.

Due proportionality? Firing a few missiles or dropping a few bombs to make a political point has little to recommend it. Whether the attack on the Syrian airbase ultimately accomplishes its objective remains to be seen. Unfortunately, presidents without military experience (and that includes three of the last four U.S. presidents  two of whom played the deferment game to avoid serving in the military) understand very little about military realities and what it takes to effect political change in the international arena.
By Press Trust of India: encounter sites: Official

Srinagar, Apr 23 (PTI) Nearly 300 Whatsapp groups were being used to mobilise stone-pelters in Kashmir to disrupt security forces operations at encounter sites, of which 90 per cent have been shut down, a police official said today.

Each of these 300 Whatsapp groups had around 250 members, the official said while explaining how determined attempts were being made to disrupt the operations of the security forces by mobilising stone-pelting mobs at the encounter sites.

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"We identified the groups and the group administrators, who were called in by police for counselling. We have had a good response to this initiative," he said on the condition of anonymity.

In the last three weeks, more than 90 per cent of these Whatsapp groups have been shut down, the official said.

He said the governments policy of suspending internet services appeared to be showing positive results in curbing stone-pelting during encounters and cited the case of yesterdays encounter in Budgam district.

Just a few youth gathered to hurl stones after two militants were gunned down in the encounter yesterday.

This was in sharp contrast to an encounter in Durbugh village in the same area on March 28, when a large number of stone-pelters had assembled and three of them were killed in firing by security forces.

"With no internet services, the mobilisation of mobs has almost become impossible. Earlier, we would see youth from as far as 10 kilometres from the encounter sites joining the protesters to pelt stones at security forces to disrupt the anti-militancy operations.

"That did not happen yesterday during or after the encounter in the absence of internet on mobiles," the official said.

He said some of the youth listed personal issues like alleged harassment by security forces as reasons for taking to stone-pelting.

"Most of them get carried away momentarily," he said, adding authorities are also looking at further sensitising the personnel on the need to adopt a humane approach while dealing with the youth.

"With the internet facility withdrawn, the activity on these social networking groups and other sites like Facebook has come down drastically," he added.

Stone-pelting on security forces near the encounter sites has been causing major operational problems for the law enforcing agencies over the past one year. More than half a dozen youth have been killed in such incidents in the first quarter of this year.

However, the common people especially those from the business community say they are facing hardships, because of the inability to stay connected online.

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"Today, the business depends on internet for communication. I am into stock markets and I have had no business since the mobile internet services were withdrawn on Monday," Mudasir Bhat said.

Bhat said most of the people had done away with landlines and broadband internet services as mobile internet facility gave them more freedom and were also cheaper.

Ishfaq Ahmad, a contractor by profession, said life, without internet, had come to a standstill.

"I had to submit a tender document two days after the internet facility was withdrawn. As the document was to be submitted online, we had to request the concerned department to extend the date till we make arrangements for e-filing," Ahmad said.

He said he has applied for landline connection but the service provider, BSNL, has informed him that it will take time.

"BSNL is the only landline services provider here in Kashmir. I hope the government takes steps to ensure that businesses do not suffer because of this internet ban," he added. PTI MIJ ADS AKK

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By Press Trust of India: Bhuj (Guj), Apr 22 (PTI) An abandoned Pakistani fishing boat was seized by the Border Security Force (BSF) today from the Arabian Sea off Gujarat coast.

"The BSF patrolling party... seized one Pakistani small sized wooden fishing boat fitted with single engine from Harami Nalla near BP number 1162/M inside the Indian territory," a release issued by the BSF said.

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It said that the boat was abandoned by the occupants who might have fled after hearing the sound of BSF patrolling boats.

"No apprehension... seems like on hearing sound of BSF boats, Pakistani fishermen ran away to Pakistan," the BSF said.

Search operation has been launched following the discovery, an official source said.

Before this, the BSF patrolling team had seized four such boats off Sir Creek area in early February. The occupants had managed to flee across the border following a chase. PTI KA PD RMT RT

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The Gujarat tourism department is planning to convert the erstwhile house of Modi's family into a museum, reports Sohini Das.

Soon, those interested will be able to visit a museum in Prime Minister Narendra Modis birthplace, Vadnagar, if things go according to plan.

A trip along the narrow bylanes of Vadnagar, the ancient capital of the Gujarat kingdom that the Puranas describe as a flourishing city, is set to become more interesting as tour operators work to create a Modi landmarks tour around the city.

The state tourism department, too, is also in the process to develop Vadnagar-Modhera-Patan as a heritage tourist circuit that involves a Rs 7.9 crore redevelopment of Vadnagar railway station (where once Modi sold tea as a boy).

Union tourism ministry has sanctioned Rs 99.81 crore for the circuit under the Swadesh Darshan Circuit, and the Gujarat Tourism is the nodal agency for executing the same. While this involves creating tourism infrastructure and preservation of these heritage sites together with promoting it for tourists, local travel operators are banking on Modi connection to sell the package.

The Gujarat Tourism Development Society that comprises several key tour operators in the state is planning to convert the erstwhile house of Modis family into a museum. Modis family had sold their modest house in Vadnagar where the PM had spent most part of his childhood when they moved to Gandhinagar, the state capital.

Manish Sharma, owner of Akshar Travels and also the chairman of GTDS, says that they are in talks with the current owners and in case they are willing to sell the property, it could be converted into a museum that would showcase the journey of Modi from this small town in north Gujarat to 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.

"As it is, many inquisitive tourists descend on Vadnagar and everyone who comes to this town makes it a point to visit Modijis house. The house is always thronged by many tourists and the current owners might just want to sell it off, says an optimistic Sharma who has already made an offer to buy the property.

His agency has been conducting a guided tour called A Rise from Modis Village since January 2015 and so far around 25,000 people have already taken the tour, including yoga-guru-turned-entrepreneur Baba Ramdev and Union Minister for Tourism, Mahesh Sharma.

The 7.00 am to 7.00 pm tour which costs Rs 700 per person starts from Vadnagar and covers Patan (famous for its 11th century step-well Rani Ki Vav, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Modhera (famous for its 11th century Sun Temple located on the Tropic of Cancer).

Sharma claims that they had recently showcased the Rise from Modis Village tour at ITB-Berlin, a leading international travel and tourism fair, in March this year, and received phenomenal response from tourists from Africa and West Asia.

We already have several hundred queries and expect around 50,000 tourists may visit the place in a year, he claims.

Vadnagar surely has an old world charm and has catapulted to the national fame post Modis ascent to Delhi.

S J Haider, principal secretary tourism, Gujarat government, who is the nodal officer for executing the tourism ministrys plan, says that there are plans to develop Modhera as a solar town keeping true to the sites century old connection with the SunTemple, an architectural marvel built by the Chalukya rulers.

As for Vadnagar, the tourism department is planning to develop the several lakes in the region, the most famous being the Sharmishtha lake (where a young Modi had once swam with crocodiles).

There is a plan to develop a theme park, boating jetty at Sharmishtha lake. This apart, there are plans to develop public utilities, pathways, landscaping of the area around the famous torans or gates at Vadnagar that have huge heritage value, Haider said.

At Tana-Riri close to Vadnagar, which is famous for its annual musical conference, plans are afoot to build an amphitheatre. The Vadnagar railway station, too, is in for a makeover as the tourism department would be developing a new facade apart from close circuit television and modern amenities.

As such the Western Railways is already converting the Mehsana-Tarange Hill metre gauge section into broad gauge, of which Vadnagar station is a part.

As for Patan, it already is famous for the step-well and its Patola sarees. Tourism department would be working on developing tourism infrastructure in the area and create tourist amenities.

IMAGE: PM Narendra Modi with his wax statue made for London's Madame Tussauds museum. Photograph: PTI Photo
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran appeared before the Crime Branch for the second day on Sunday for being questioned on the alleged case of bribing an Election Commission official for retaining the "two leaves" party symbol.

Dinakaran reached the Crime Branch Inter State Cell office in Chanakyapuri around 2 pm. There was heavy security outside the residential compound that houses the office of the Inter State Cell.

On Saturday, he was questioned for close to seven hours in the case.

An Assistant Commissioner of Police rank investigating officer had quizzed Dinakaran, the nephew of jailed AIADMK chief Sasikala.

A senior police official had said that Dinakaran was given a questionnaire concerning the money trail, his association with Sukesh Chandrasekar (the middleman who was arrested) and whether he had met any Election Commission official.

His call logs, WhatsApp messages and SMSes were also examined.

Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo
The national capital on Sunday recorded a turnout of around 54 per cent in the municipal polls amid complaints of faulty electronic voting machines, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal leading the charge.

IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal with his family after casting vote for MCD elections. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

Following a sluggish start at 8 am, voting gradually picked up and became fairly brisk as the heat waned towards the afternoon. The 2012 Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls had registered a 53.23 per cent turnout.

The polling passed off peacefully.

State Election Commissioner S K Srivastava told a press conference that North corporation's Bakhtawarpur ward recorded the highest turnout at over 68 per cent, while south Delhi's Lado Sarai registered the least turnout at 39 per cent.

IMAGE: Former Delhi CM and Congress leader Sheila Dikshit casts her vote. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo

He said 18 electronic voting machines were replaced owing to battery or button related issues.

"Out of 13,000 polling stations, EVMs were changed in only 18 polling stations. It shows our EVMs are unhackable, robust and no wrong can be done," Srivastava said.

IMAGE: Union sports minister Vijay Goel with his wife after casting their votes. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

However, Kejriwal alleged in a tweet, "Reports from all over Delhi of EVM malfunction, people wid voter slips not allowed to vote. What is SEC doing? (sic)."

Polling was held in 270 of the 272 wards of the three municipal corporations. The election to two wards has been postponed due to the death of candidates.

IMAGE: Battling scorching heat, voters come out and vote for the MCD elections. Photograph: PTI Photo

A total of 1,32,10,206 voters were entitled to exercise their franchise in electing councillors for the 270 wards falling under the three corporations -- North Delhi Municipal Corporation (103), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (63).

Two exit polls claimed that the Bharatiya Janat Party could be headed for a landslide victory in the polls and finish way ahead of the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress winning over 200 wards.

IMAGE: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia with his wife after they cast their vote. Photograph: ANI

Going by the projected figures, the AAP could well be staring at a rout on its home turf, barely two years into its rise to power bagging a staggering 67 of the 70 Assembly seats, while the Congress' attempt to regain ground may come a cropper.

The BJP has been ruling the MCD for past 10 years and is looking for third consecutive term.

IMAGE: Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal after casting his vote at a polling station in Greater Kailash 3. Photograph: ANI

Counting of votes will be held on April 26.
Tamil Nadu farmers protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi temporarily" called off their agitation on Sunday after over 40 days after Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami "promised" to meet their demands.

"The chief minister and the Union finance minister have the power to take a call on our demands. We have decided to call off the agitation for a period of one month based on the assurances given by our chief minister," farmers' leader Ayyakkannu told reporters.

"If the promises are not met, we would resume the protest in the national capital in a bigger way on May 25," he said.

Ayyakkannu said the decision was taken also based on the assurances given by Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly M K Stalin, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's Premalatha Vijayakanth, Tamil Manila Congress chief G K Vasan and the Bharatiya Janata Party's Pon Radhakrishnan.

The farmers, who have been staging a protest for the past 41 days demanding a Rs-40,000 crore drought relief package, farm loan waiver and setting up of the Cauvery Management Board by the Centre, had earlier refused to end their agitation despite requests by several Union and state ministers apart from leaders of various regional political parties.

"We will be leaving for home today or tomorrow and we will be taking part in a state-wide bandh on April 25 in Tamil Nadu," said Ayyakkannu.

Palaniswami, who took part in a Niti Aayog meeting in New Delhi on Sunday, said he had submitted a memorandum containing demands of the farmers to the prime minister.

"Among other issues, we also raised the farmers' issue in the meeting with the PM," Palaniswami told reporters in New Delhi.

Calling the agitation a "success", Ayyakkannu said the Centre had "undermined us and meted out step-motherly treatment".

"However, the agitation has become a success and has caught the attention of people across the world. We received support from youths and farmers across the country," he said.

During the course of the protest, the farmers have turned to increasingly desperate measures to direct attention to their issues.

They have shaved their heads and half their moustaches and kept mice and snakes in their mouths, conducted mock funerals, flogged themselves and even carried skulls which they claimed were of farmers who had committed suicide due to debt pressure.
It was 32 days before Kayla Muellers 26th birthday, on July 12, 2014, when her parents received a message from her Islamic State captors. By that time, the young humanitarian worker and Northern Arizona University graduate had been held by the extremist group for months after being kidnapped while leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo, Syria in August 2013.

In the email, the ISIS militants had an ultimatum: Either pay a 5 million Euro ransom or secure the release of Aafia Siddiqui, or Mueller would be killed in 30 days, said Rev. Kathleen Day, a close friend of the Muellers who leads the United Christian Ministry at NAU.

Suddenly, Muellers story became intertwined with that of Siddiqui, a woman whose name the Muellers had never heard before. Siddiqui, they soon learned, is an American-educated Pakistani neuroscientist and mother of three who in 2010 was convicted of attempted murder and assault of U.S. officers and sentenced to 86 years in federal prison. Frequently referred to as Lady al-Qaeda by western media because of her suspected ties to terrorism groups, she remains beloved by many in Pakistan. Her sentence sparked outrage in the country.

By mid-August 2014, however, neither the payment nor the exchange of Saddiqui for Mueller had been made. Six months later, in February 2015, Mueller was killed while still in the hands of ISIS militants.

Last week, more than two years after her death, the worlds of Mueller and Siddiqui again overlapped when Mauri Saalakhan, a strong advocate for Siddiqui and head of the Washington D.C.-based Aafia Foundation, visited Flagstaff and participated in several campus discussions with Day. They were also joined by Jihad Abdulmumit, chairperson of the National Jericho Movement, an organization that supports domestic political prisoners.

In front of an audience of about 20 on Thursday evening, Day and Saalakhan discussed how their lives became intertwined and what that experience has taught them about injustice and ending the cycle of violence.

Due to the controversial nature of Siddiquis case and safety concerns associated with it, the Muellers requested that the Daily Sun not publish a preview article of the conversation.

COMPELLED BY AN ULTIMATUM

Day was the one who first reached out to Saalakhan in August 2014. Just two days remained before the message said Mueller was to be killed and, after initially denying the request, the FBI, through the Muellers, gave the go-ahead for Day to call the Aafia Foundation, which had long been advocating for Siddiquis release.

When Day told Saalakhan the reason for her call, it was the first he had heard of ISISs proposed exchange. He said his first thoughts were that it was something he couldnt agree with and didnt believe it was something Siddiquis family would agree with.

I know that Aafia wouldnt have accepted that an innocent person could have been harmed because of her, he said.

Nearly immediately, Saalakhan reached out to Siddiquis family and soon got a letter from them, urging ISIS to release Mueller.

So, to those who have influence in the fate of Ms. Mueller, we ask that they opt for a path of mercy and demonstrate by their actions to those who hold Aafia that mercy yields greater success, Siddiquis family wrote in the letter. While we deeply appreciate the sincere feelings of those who, like us, wish to see the freedom of our beloved Aafia, we cannot agree with a by any means necessary approach to Aafia's freedom. Nor can we accept that someone else's daughter or sister suffer like Aafia is suffering.

Day believes the letter could have been a turning point for Muellers possible release, but, she said, the FBI never allowed the Muellers to send it to their daughters captors.

It was clearly a heartbreak for Day.

That night what I felt and I still feel is that our government was willing to let Kayla Mueller be killed versus any light shine on Aafia Siddiqui, she said on Thursday.

It ended up that ISIS did not follow through on their 30-day ultimatum. Mueller was held for another six months before she was killed. Her parents later learned she had been tortured, beaten, raped, her head shaved and her fingernails pulled out. ISIS claimed a Jordanian airstrike killed Mueller, though the Obama White House has denied that was the cause of her death.

AAFIAs STORY

Since that time, Day and Saalakhan have remained in touch. Meanwhile, Saalakhan has continued to press for Siddiquis release from federal prison.

The story he tells of her imprisonment, and five-year disappearance before that, differs from the official narrative of the U.S. government. In 2003, Saalakhan and Siddiqui herself have said she was captured by Pakistani intelligence officers and held in the U.S. detention facility at Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, which the U.S. government has denied in past media reports.

Saalakhan said Siddiqui maintains she was set up when she mysteriously showed up on the streets of Ghazni, Afghanistan, in 2008 with chemical substances and handwritten notes about a mass casualty attack.

As for the encounter between Siddiqui and Afghan and U.S. officers after she was arrested in Ghazni, Saalakhan said the officers invented a story that Siddiqui tried to shoot them in an attempt to cover up the fact that one of them accidentally shot her. There is no dispute that she was the only one who took a bullet during the encounter.

FIGHTING AGAINST INJUSTICE

As Day and Saalakhan recounted the stories of Mueller and Siddiqui, both expressed sharp criticisms of the U.S. governments handling of each womans case. For Day, it was the withholding of important information about Muellers location and condition as well as her view that federal officials didnt do enough to negotiate for Muellers release, being unwilling to budge on their policies against paying ransom.

For Saalakhan, he believes Siddiqui was sentenced on the basis of a false accusation.

My government lied the same way they lied about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which was used as justification to destroy a country, he said.

Saalakhan said the cases of both Siddiqui and Mueller show the borderless nature of injustice.

Day agreed that regardless of Siddiquis conviction, she has been unjustly denied basic human rights. Her family, for example, had been requesting that she receive an independent medical examination. Day questioned why the U.S. government couldnt have allowed that, then used it as leverage to request the same be allowed for Mueller.

The need for a policy shift goes beyond Muellers case, she said.

If we were serious about ending the cycle of violence and finding ways forward to stop the recruitment of people into these terrorist groups... I would think at minimum we would go the distance in terms of access, transparency and human rights, Day said. We should live by our own standards. We have standards of democracy, fairness and see ourselves as a leader in the world, so we should lead on this, she said.

Those human rights are the only thing that makes us a civil society, she said.

She believes it is wrong that nothing has been done to acknowledge the public letter written by Siddiquis family.

The very fact that nothing was done, Aafias family and people who support Aafia tried with great urgency to do something to help Kayla, and it was rebuffed, Day said. I feel that we do have an obligation to kind of repay (them), they tried to do something that had potential to be effective.

Saalakhan said he believes both women would, if in a different situation, have tried to help each other.

I really believe, and Kathleen has said, that if Kayla had not been in that predicament and she had learned about Aafia she would have wanted to reach out and assist Aafia and I believe likewise that if Aafia had not been in this situation and had learned about the plight of a young American woman like Kayla, she would have wanted to reach out to do whatever she could to help her, he said. These two women were kindred spirits.

This article has been edited from its original version.
Agra witnessed clashes between the Bajrang Dal activists and police yesterday. In one incident, Bajrang Dal activists attacked a police station to rescue five detained men.

Clashes took place between police and Bajrang Dal activists in Agra yesterday. (Photo: @ANI_news)

By India Today Web Desk: The Sadar Bazar police station in Fatehpur Sikri of Agra came under attack by Bajrang Dal activists yesterday as they attempted to rescue five of their 'co-workers'.

The attackers set a vehicle ablaze during the attack on the police station. One policeman was injured in the clashes with the agitators.

The detained persons were said to be Bajrang Dal activists, who were taken into custody following a clashes with police earlier in the day at Fatehpur Sikri police station.

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The agitators demanded that a case registered against the activists of the Bajrang Dal and VHP in an assault case be withdrawn. They also sought action against some policemen.

The protesters were led by BJP Fatehpur Sikri MLA Udaybhan Singh. However, police said that the attack by the Bajrang Dal activists took place after the legislator left the spot.

Fourteen persons associated with different right-wing outfits have been arrested in connection with violence.

"We have arrested 14 persons in connection with the violence yesterday," said DIG Mahesh Mishra.

HOW IT BEGAN

It all started on Saturday morning when nine men, reportedly belonging to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, were booked on the charges of beating up men from minority community.

The suspects were detained by police. But, as the news spread activists of Bajrang Dal and VHP reached the Fatehpur Sikri police station, where they, according to local reports, had a heated exchange with the Circle Officer Ravikant Parashar.

As tempers flew, VHP leader Jagmohan Chahar reportedly slapped the CO. The police responded with lathicharge causing minor stampede.

Later, a mob gheraoed the Fatehpur Sikri police station and pelted stones at it. Local reports say that police responded in the same kind. It went like this for about half-an-hour. People on both sides received injuries.

Some more people - five to six - were taken into custody. Five of the detained men were taken to Sadar Bazar police station, where the Bajrang Dal activists launched an attack late night.

Some vehicles were also damaged during the clashes between Bajrang Dal activists and police in Agra. (Photo: @ANI_news)

BUILD UP AT SADAR BAZAR POLICE STATION

After the detained persons were taken to Sadar Bazar police station, several local leaders including BJP MLA Udaybhan Singh reached there and staged protest demanding their release. The police did not agree to their demands leading to further clashes.

The agitators are said to have misbehaved with police officials at the Sadar Bazar police station. Meanwhile, supporters kept pouring in at the police station.

As the mob kept gathering at the Sadar Bazar police station, the police resorted to another round of lathicharge, which fueled the protest even further. The protesters turned violent at Sadar Bazar police station and pelted stones at the policemen.

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Reports said that a vehicle was set ablaze and service revolver of a policeman was also snatched. The vehicle and service revolver belonged to the same policeman, who is said to have received injuries.

EFFORTS TO PACIFY MOB FAILED

Several senior officials of Agra reached Sadar Bazar police station late night. They tried to bring normalcy but talks with the agitators did not yield results as they insisted on releasing the VHP and Bajrang Dal activists. Police rejected their demands.

Among the detained persons is VHP leaer Jagmohan Chahar, who had reportedly slapped a police officer during the day.

A police official was quoted as saying in some reports that the men, who attacked the Sadar Bazar police station, tried to break the lock-up, where detainees were kept.

ALSO READ |

Two blasts near Agra Cantonment Railway Station create panic in the city

ALSO WATCH: Agra: Bajrang Dal activists attack police station to rescue 5 co-workers from lock-up

--- ENDS ---
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Sunday urged the farmers from his state who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar to call off their strike and assured them of taking up their demands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Palaniswami made the remarks after visiting the farmers at Jantar Mantar, for the first time, on the 41st day of their protest in which they have been demanding a Rs 40,000 crore drought relief package, farm loan waiver and setting up of the Cauvery Management Board by the Centre.

"I will be taking up the issue of loan waiver among others with the prime minister while meeting him today," Palaniswami said.

The chief minister also talked about the steps the state government had taken to mitigate the hardship of farmers.

"We had even submitted a memorandum comprising various demands from the state during my previous meeting with the prime minister," he said. "Therefore, I request the protesting farmers to call off their strike."

How TN farmers are trying to get the Centre's attention for the past 24 days



Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, who also accompanied Palaniswami, said the Tamil Nadu government was working on the demands raised by the protestors.

Asked about the political situation in Tamil Nadu, the chief minister said he would like to comment only on the farmers' issues.

Palaniswami was in the national capital to take part in a NITI Aayog meeting along with chief ministers of other states.

Over the last 40 days, the farmers have turned to increasingly desperate measures to direct attention to their issues.

They have shaved their heads and half their moustaches and kept mice and snakes in their mouths, conducted mock funerals, flogged themselves and even carried skulls of other farmers who had committed suicide due to debt pressure.
The mob, led by Fatehpur Sikri MLA Ch. Udaybhan Singh, staged a sit-in at the Fatehpur Sikri police station demanding the release of some Hindu outfit members who had been arrested for assaulting a couple of Muslim grocers Muvin and Rizwan in Fatehpur Sikri.

By Siraj Qureshi: During the Akhilesh Yadav rule in UP, the BJP continuously harped about the alleged lack of law and order in the state claiming that electing the BJP was the only way the state could regain its sense of security.

However, barely a month after Yogi Adityanath government assumed power, UP has witnessed a bevy of crime against the police itself. A number of Police personnel have been gunned down in the state and police stations and residences of police officials have been attacked by members of Hindu outfits.

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Following on the heels of Saharanpur, where Hindu outfit members attacked Saharanpur SSP's residence, led by a BJP MP, a large mob attacked the Fatehpur Sikri and Sadar police stations of Agra, beating up a Deputy SP, a station house officer and looted away a sub inspector's pistol. Several vehicles were damaged and a motorcycle set on fire before the mob could be brought under control.

The mob, led by Fatehpur Sikri MLA Ch. Udaybhan Singh, had been staging a sit-in at the Fatehpur Sikri police station demanding the release of some Hindu outfit members who had been arrested for assaulting a couple of Muslim grocers Muvin and Rizwan in Fatehpur Sikri. The grocers had filed an FIR against the accused and six of them had been arrested and were sent to be kept in the lockup at the Sadar police station.

The BJP MLA Ch. Udaybhan Singh arrived at the police station with the local party leaders and started demanding their release. The party supporters accompanying the MLA tried to forcibly enter the police station and break open the lockup to get the arrested Hindu outfit members released. The police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the crowd, but the crowd retaliated with stone pelting and even attacked a sub inspector Santosh Kumar, snatching away his pistol. A motor cycle was also set on fire inside the police station. About 200-250 saffron-clad attackers surrounded the police station, creating panic in the area.

Around 10 pm, the MLA started a sit-in at the police station and his supporters attacked Station Officer Malpura's vehicle and attacked an Additional Superintendant of Police and a Deputy Superintendant of Police's vehicle was overturned. Only when the Senior Superintendant of Police Dr. Pritinder Singh arrived at the scene, did the situation come under control.

Talking to India Today about this outbreak of violence, Bajrang Dal's Jagmohan Chahar said that the police had arrested 9 Hindu activists without any inquiry which led to this violence. If the police had conducted a fair inquiry before the arrests, such an unfortunate turn of events could have been avoided.

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SSP Agra Dr. Pritinder Singh said that none of the accused in this violence will be spared by the police and strict action will be taken against them.

Mob harassed tourists at Taj Mahal

Earlier, a saffron-clad mob also harassed tourists around the Taj Mahal with shouting slogans and waving saffron flags demanding that the Taj Mahal security agencies apologize for making 35 international models remove their saffron dupatta before entering the monument. The security personnel inside the monument watched helplessly as the Hindu outfit members barged into it and waved saffron flags inside the premises.

Expressing serious concern over the incident, Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber secretary Vishal Sharma said that it was very unfortunate that the Hindu outfit members were staging these demonstrations at the monuments, thereby harassing the tourists. He also said that such incident reflects poorly on the image of Agra both nationally and internationally and political organizations should keep the monuments free from their petty politics.

Also read:

Saharanpur violence over Ambedkar rally: 2 FIRs lodged against BJP MP Raghav Lakhanpal

BJP leader Raja Balmiki shot dead by bike-borne assailants in Muzaffarnagar

--- ENDS ---
CCTV footage available with India Today clearly shows the altercation between the cinema hall staff and the men.

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: Several men created ruckus, thrashed the security staff, and vandalising property at a cinema hall in Beawar district of Rajasthan.

CCTV footage available with India Today clearly shows the altercation between the cinema hall staff and the men.

The incident happened on April 15 when some men, said to be having close links with a local BJP leader, entered into a fracas with the cinema hall staff over checking and frisking done by them.

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Ajay Phulwari, an advocate and president of BJP youth wing Aashapura Mata Committee had arrived at the cinema hall with a friend of his, Harish, and once there, he had an altercation with the security personnel who tried to frisk them.

Following the altercation, Phulwari allegedly summoned around 20 men, including Virendra Singh Rawat, Ajay Chandel and others, who reached the cinema hall and thrashed the security guard and vandalised the property.

When India Today spoke with the concerned security guard, Ajay Parcha, he mentioned, "They had beaten me up after I objected to the abuse they hurled at me. Even I tried to raise my hand. But later, 20 - 25 men came, they thrashed and caused ruckus."

Parcha claimed there was pressure on him to not register a case against the accused persons.

Watch Video: CCTV catches BJP youth wing leader vandalising cinema hall in Rajasthan

--- ENDS ---
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Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron will face far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the decisive second round of the French presidential election next month.

On April 24, results from a full count of ballots in the first round the previous day showed Macron with 23.75 percent of the vote and Le Pen at 21.53 percent, sending them into the May 7 runoff.

Conservative Francois Fillon, a former prime minister, finished third with 19.91 percent, while Jean-Luc Melenchon of the far left came fourth with 19.64 percent.

The latest polls show that Macron would win with 61 percent, over 39 percent for Le Pen, if the runoff were held today. If he wins, Macron, 39, will become France's youngest president ever.

Le Pen quickly launched a salvo against Fillon, accusing him on April 24 of being "weak" in the fight against "Islamist terrorism."

Campaigning at a farmers' market in the small northern town of Rouvroy, Le Pen -- who heads the anti-immigration, anti-Islam National Front -- told reporters that Macron "runs for presidential election while having no program" on counterterrorism issues.

"I'm on the ground to meet the French people to draw their attention to important subjects, including Islamist terrorism to which the least we can say Mr. Macron is weak on," she said.

The first round was held three days after a Paris police officer was killed and two others injured in a shooting attack for which the extremist group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility.

Le Pen, who has said she would take France out of the European Union if elected, called the runoff with Macron a referendum on "uncontrolled globalization."

As the candidates looked toward the May 7 showdown, leaders of other EU countries made clear they were pulling for Macron.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, welcomed Macron's success and wished him "all the best for the next two weeks."

"Good that Emmanuel Macron was successful with his course for a strong EU + social market economy," Seibert wrote on Twitter late on April 23.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said it is important for France and for Europe that Macron win the runoff.

Speaking in Amman, Jordan, Gabriel said a Macron victory would signal a "new beginning for Europe," while a win by Marine Le Pen would "push Europe deeper into crisis."

Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis also said Madrid hopes a victory for Macron would mark a break in the rise of extremist and populist parties in Europe.

European stock markets surged at the opening, as investors welcomed the result. Macron, a former investment banker who has served as economy minister, has vowed to deepen cooperation across the European Union.

France's CAC 40 index soared 3.9 percent while Germany's DAX rose 2.5 percent early on April 24.

The euro rose strongly on when it began trading on Asian markets overnight, gaining 2 percent against the dollar, but later eased back slightly to be 1.2 percent higher on the day, at $1.08.

Macron praised his supporters for a campaign that "changed the course of our country."

He said he wants to gather "the largest possible" support before the runoff.

He called for hope in Europe instead of fear, a reference to Le Pen's anti-European Union campaign.

"I want to be the president of patriots against the threat of nationalists," Macron told a cheering crowd of supporters late on April 23.

Fillon conceded defeat and urged voters to back Macron, saying Le Pen would bankrupt France if elected.

"There is no other choice but to vote against the far right, I will vote for Emmanuel Macron," Fillon told supporters.

In addition to the future of the EU, the election outcome could have a serious impact on the West's relations with Russia.

Of the top four candidates, Macron was seen as the only one who is a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin's government.

Observers have said a win for Le Pen or another candidate would be likely to undermine EU unity in keeping up pressure through sanctions and other means.

The April 23 vote was held under tight security following the deadly attack on police.

Authorities said the final turnout figure was expected to exceed 78 percent.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, and Le Monde
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.
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
Four Pakistani soldiers have been killed in a roadside bomb explosion in a southwestern town near the border with Iran, the army said.

The army said in a statement that another three troops were wounded in the blast on April 23.

Their vehicle was hit during a routine patrol in the town of Turbat in the restive province of Balochistan, officials said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Pakistan has been battling militancy for more than a decade.

The Balochistan region has seen some of the worst militant attacks this year in Pakistan.

Based on reporting by AP, DPA and AFP
Republican Paul Ryan, the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, has said U.S. support for NATO is "unequivocal, unambiguous" during a meeting with Estonian leaders in Tallinn.

Ryan, the most powerful person in the House and an ally of President Donald Trump, on April 22 said that "we feel very strong that the NATO alliance is extremely crucial and essential."

"Our strong support for NATO is unequivocal, unambiguous," he said after meeting with Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas.

During his presidential campaign and into his presidency, Trump often criticized the Western alliance, even calling it "obsolete" at one point.

But he has since said his view of NATO has shifted and that he no longer considers it obsolete.

NATO has about 4,000 soldiers stationed in Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

The deployment was made to reassure U.S. allies following Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Ratas expressed the importance of the U.S. presence in the region, saying the "commitment of the United States to European security and to NATO is crucial."

Ryan also spoke on the congressional investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

He said one reason for the probe is to "prevent the same kind of thing happening" to its fellow NATO members and other allies.

One thing we know for certain is that Russia meddled in our election," Ryan said. "This is a foreign country trying to meddle within the internal activities of a sovereign country or a democracy."

He added that the United States has a responsibility to share the results of the investigation with Estonia and its Baltic neighbors, which have been the targets of Russian disinformation campaigns in recent years.

The Baltic states, all former Soviet republics, are now members of NATO and U.S. allies.

Ryan is heading a delegation of U.S. Congress members on a trip to Britain, Norway, Poland, and Estonia.

With reporting by AP and dpa
American Airlines has apologized to a woman passenger after a video showing an onboard clash over a baby stroller went viral. The company has also suspended one of its employees.

By Reuters: American Airlines on Saturday apologized to a female passenger and suspended an employee after a video showing an onboard clash over a baby stroller went viral, in the latest embarrassment for a U.S. carrier over how it treated a customer.

The clip, posted on Facebook on Friday by a bystander aboard the flight, shows a woman in tears with a young child in her arms, and a man emerging from his seat to confront a male flight attendant who apparently wrested the stroller from the woman.

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Facebook user Surain Adyanthaya, who posted the video, wrote that the flight attendant had forcefully taken the stroller, hitting the woman with it and just missing her child. That sequence of events did not appear on the clip. What it shows is the unidentified man standing up and yelling at the flight attendant: "You do that to me and I'll knock you flat."

The crew member then points his finger angrily and challenges the passenger to hit him. The video shows the man eventually returning to his seat.

American Airlines said in a statement it was investigating the incident, which took place before the plane took off on a flight from San Francisco to Dallas.

"We are deeply sorry for the pain we have caused this passenger and her family and to any other customers affected by the incident," the airline said in a statement released early on Saturday.

The woman elected to take another flight and was upgraded to first class, said American.

UNITED AIRLINES CONTROVERSY

The treatment of passengers by the airline industry returned as a national issue after a video appeared online two weeks ago showing a 69-year-old passenger being dragged off a United Airlines flight to make room for a crew member. The fracas sparked international outrage and policy changes by the airline.

A passenger who posted a description of the latest incident on the website Reddit wrote that the flight attendant early on called for security to intervene in his dispute with the woman.

Bob Ross, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants union, which represents American Airlines workers, said in a statement that tight schedules, overcrowded planes, shrinking seats and limited overhead bin space have made it difficult for flight attendants to board passengers.

"All of these factors are related to corporate decisions beyond the control of passengers and flight attendants," Ross said.

ALSO READ | US pilot kicks out Muslim and Sikh passengers just because their presence made him uneasy

ALSO READ | US: United Airlines passenger dragged off overbooked flight, video of incident sparks uproar

ALSO WATCH | Video of police dragging passenger off United Airlines aircraft goes viral

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--- ENDS ---
The U.S. State Department has said it was "shocked" over the death of a U.S. citizen serving as an international monitor in the conflict zone in Ukraine and called on Russia to use its influence to allow a full investigation.

The comments came on April 23 after the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said a member of its monitoring staff was killed and two more were injured after their vehicle hit a mine in eastern Ukraine in an area controlled by Russia-backed separatists.

The OSCE said the two injured members were sent to the hospital for treatment.

A Ukrainian Foreign Ministry official confirmed the fatality to RFE/RL and said the person killed in the blast was an American paramedic.

In its statement released late on April 23, the State Department said it was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the death of the American citizen "when his vehicle struck an explosive in separatist-controlled territory."

"This death underscores the increasingly dangerous conditions under which these courageous monitors work, including access restrictions, threats, and harassment," the statement said. "The United States urges Russia to use its influence with the separatists to allow the OSCE to conduct a full, transparent, and timely investigation."

It did not identify the U.S. citizen.

It was the first reported death among OSCE staff members, who were first deployed to the region in 2014 to monitor the cease-fires between the Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces in a conflict that has killed at least 9,940 people.

EU foreign-affairs chief Federica Mogherini said the incident was a "reminder of the urgent need for progress on a peaceful resolution of the conflict."



A spokesman for Austria's Foreign Ministry said one of the injured was a German woman. The other injured person is a Czech citizen, the OSCE said in a press conference held hours after the incident.

An OSCE official told RFE/RL that the names of those involved would be released after their families had been notified.

The OSCE members were on patrol in the separatist-held village of Pryshyb in the Luhansk region when the vehicle is believed to have struck a mine and exploded, the official told RFE/RL.

The Ukrainian military said the incident took place at 10:17 a.m. local time (0717 UTC/GMT).

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, who holds the rotating chairmanship of the OSCE, called for an investigation into the incident and, in a tweet, said he had spoken to the mission's ambassador, Ertugrul Apakan.

"Need thorough investigation; those responsible will be held accountable," he said on Twitter.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a similar call.

"The federal government expects that the parties to the conflict immediately do everything possible to ascertain how we reached this tragic point and who holds responsibility for it," she said.

She also noted it was time for all sides to start honoring a long-promised cease-fire, but noted that the Russia-backed rebels bore the greater responsibility to make sure that happened.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel expressed concern about the killing. "Someone who just wanted to help create peace and put an end to the fighting has lost his life today," he said.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko instructed Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin to keep the OSCE informed of Kyiv's investigation into the blast.

"This crime must be investigated and those responsible must be punished," Poroshenko wrote on Facebook.

"Ukraine condemns all forms of constant resistance by the rebels to the OSCE SMM's work," he added.

A statement issued by the Russia-backed separatists in Luhansk on their website claimed that the OSCE team had veered off the main road and was traveling along an unsafe route.

"We know that this patrol team deviated from the main route and was moving along secondary roads, which is prohibited by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission mandate," the separatist statement said.

Eduard Basurin, a senior separatist figure, said the OSCE vehicle "deviated from its main route and moved onto back roads" when it struck what he said was an antitank mine.

The separatists' claim could not be confirmed.

The unarmed, civilian OSCE mission, with more than 700 international observers, seeks to reduce tensions and report on the situation on the ground in Ukraine.

In March, the 57 member states of the OSCE, which include Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, decided by consensus to extend the mandate of the mission for another year, its third extension since it was first deployed in Ukraine in 2014.

Western countries have imposed sanctions on Moscow for its illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula and its support for the separatists in eastern Ukraine.

With reporting by Christopher Miller, AFP, and Reuters
McLEAN  Randall Royer grew up in the Midwest, a suburban St. Louis kid. By the time he was 21, he had converted to Islam and changed his name to Ismail Royer, fighting in Bosnia alongside fellow Muslims against Serbian ethnic cleansing.

By the time he was 31, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping friends who wanted to join the Taliban after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Now age 44 and out of prison, he remembers Bosnia as both a highlight of his life and the place that launched him on a disastrous path.

There was so much meaning and purpose in what I was doing, he said of the Bosnian War. I spent so much time trying to recapture that feeling of Bosnia. It never came back.

He remembers with pride the gratitude expressed by the Bosnian families whose homes he defended and says the war is one of those rare conflicts where there was a clear good guy and bad guy.

Royers search for the next Bosnia led him to Pakistan, where he joined the fight over Kashmir  a conflict that he said he viewed with ambivalence. Eventually, he came back to the U.S. and served as a spokesman for some of the nations most prominent Muslim civil rights groups.

Royer was one of about a dozen young Muslims from the D.C. area who played paintball in the Northern Virginia woods as a means of preparing for holy war. After the Sept. 11 attacks, a few members of the group traveled to Pakistan and, with Royers help, got in touch with the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Royers friends ultimate goal was to join the Taliban and help fight U.S. soldiers.

Royer pleaded guilty in 2004 to aiding and abetting use of a firearm in a crime of violence and aiding and abetting the carrying of an explosive.

He was never convicted of a terrorism-related charge  a distinction that is significant to Royer.

When I look back at myself, I dont see myself as an extremist, he said. I see myself as being naive, romantic, a Don Quixote kind of guy.

He points out that he has a long history of speaking out against al-Qaida, and he is equally critical of the Islamic State, which is now responsible for motivating and recruiting most of the lone-wolf terrorists who have popped up in the U.S.

Michael Jensen, a researcher with the University of Marylands National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, said he also sees a difference between Royer and the more modern iteration of Islamic extremists. He said Royer was drawn to localized conflicts like Bosnia and Kashmir, as opposed to the global jihadist vision espoused by al-Qaida or the Islamic State.

Royer said what drew him to Islam in the first place was his view that it could be a vehicle for social justice. In the Muslim world, though, he said a quest for social justice gets twisted into a sense of victimization and even a persecution complex.

If youre constantly blaming other people, youll never change, he said.

Tariq Nelson, a friend of Royers for more than 20 years, said Royers desire to right wrongs on a global scale ultimately led him down the wrong path.

He was an idealist who got caught  they all got in over their heads, Nelson said. To an outsider it sounds strange. Nobody wanted to be a terrorist. In fact, they were anti-terrorist.

When the Sept. 11 attacks occurred, Royer said his Muslim identity led him to struggle with the question of whether being an American and Muslim were compatible.

An Islamic scholar from Northern Virginia, Ali Al-Timimi, advised the paintball group in the days after Sept. 11 that an apocalyptic clash of Muslim and Western civilizations was approaching, and that Muslim men should go be with the mujahedeen. It helped prompt Royer to return to Bosnia, and it prompted others in the group to seek Royers help in joining Lashkar.

In hindsight, Royer said, it was colossally bad advice. Al-Timimi was convicted of soliciting treason and sentenced to life in prison.

While Royer was behind bars, he continued to do what he had always done. He debated philosophy and theology, and often found himself as the advocate for moderation and tolerance.

He said he carried on debates with some of the most notorious criminals, including al-Qaida shoe bomber Richard Reid, passing notes from cell to cell because prisoners in his unit were kept in isolation.

He plans to publish his correspondence with Reid, and wants to be a voice against Islamic extremism. He is learning social media and this week spoke to students at the University of Southern California about pathways to extremism.

He figures that if he can get through to hardened criminals, he can get through to others.
Republican gubernatorial front-runner Ed Gillespie on Saturday stood by his decision to criticize President Donald Trump last fall after the revelation of an old Access Hollywood video in which Trump bragged about making aggressive sexual advances toward women.

During the final major debate of the GOP primary schedule Saturday at Goochland High School, Corey Stewart, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors chairman, who was fired last year as chairman of Trumps Virginia campaign, accused Gillespie of failing to support Trump when the chips are down.

He didnt show up at a single Trump rally. Not one, Stewart said. In the aftermath of the Access Hollywood scandal, Ed was one of the first Republicans in the country to kick him when he was down, to condemn him.

Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman, said of Trumps remarks in the 2005 recording, which became public Oct. 7, I still dont think they were appropriate comments to make. To his credit, he said the same thing. Coreys the only one who thinks they were great comments and is standing by them.

Gillespies response drew both applause and raucous boos from the crowd of conservative activists gathered for the debate sponsored by the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation, highlighting the difficulties Trump poses for a mainstream Republican who, if he becomes his partys nominee, will need to win over diehard Trump voters and moderates to win in a purple state.

Gillespie went on to reference his wife and two daughters, saying he found Trumps comments about grabbing women offensive and still does.

In an interview after the debate, Stewart, who was fired Oct. 10 as Trumps Virginia chairman for participating in an unauthorized protest outside the RNC headquarters in Washington, said he too didnt like Trumps comments.

But you dont go and condemn the Republican nominee for president one month out from Election Day, Stewart said.

The back-and-forth provided last-minute fireworks at the end of what was the final event on the debate schedule agreed to by Gillespie, who has wide leads over both Stewart and state Sen. Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, in polling, fundraising and endorsements.

Gillespie won a straw poll conducted at the event, drawing 125 votes to Stewarts 79 and Wagners 20.

In the November general election, the Republican nominee will face either Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam or former congressman Tom Perriello, who are vying in a tightly contested Democratic primary. Both parties will choose their nominees in primaries June 13.

In the debate, Stewart and Wagner sought to paint Gillespie, a former political consultant, as an insincere Washington insider. Gillespie pitched himself as the candidate most capable of unifying the party for the November general election, pointing to his narrow 2014 loss against U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., as evidence of his ability to run a strong statewide race.

Wagner, running as the only candidate with state government experience, again criticized Gillespies plan for a modest cut to the states personal income tax rate, accusing Gillespie of using exaggerated numbers to mislead voters about how much money theyd stand to gain from the proposal. Gillespie criticized Wagners call to increase the states gas tax to pay for transportation infrastructure. Gillespie noted that the vast majority of Wagners Republican colleagues in the General Assembly are Gillespie supporters.

Ed went around to my colleagues before I ever announced. And theyve all, most of them, come up to me, and said Frank, we didnt know you were running, Wagner said. And thats fine. I dont expect anybody to change their word.

Unlike last weeks debate at Liberty University, Stewart referenced his campaigns embrace of Confederate statues and symbols, saying hed continue to defend Southern heritage even if some in his party dont like it.

Thats tough, Stewart said. Because I am not running to represent Ed Gillespie and all the other establishment, weak-kneed, weak-chinned, weak-jawed Republicans out there.

In a sign that Stewarts Confederate strategy may be backfiring, Gillespie announced onstage that Prince William Sheriff Glendell Hill had pulled his Stewart endorsement and joined the Gillespie camp.

I have support all across the commonwealth, including the places where these two gentlemen serve, Gillespie said.

In a statement released by the Gillespie campaign, Hill called Stewart a friend but said his campaign has become more focused on division, rather than the unifying values and the history of the Republican Party.

Asked after the debate why Prince William officials, including four of his Republican colleagues on the county board, are backing Gillespie, Stewart said they view him as somewhat intimidating.
The students' union claimed that Romal Chakma died due to army repression, but the army denied the claim and said that he was handed over to the police after his arrest.

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: The Bangladesh army has been accused of being involved in the death of a student leader in Rangamati district, and left wing students' organisations have called for a judicial enquiry into the matter.

On Sunday, students gathered at the campus of Dhaka University said that Romal Chakma, a student of Higher Secondary School of Nanayachar Upazila Government College and a general secretary of hills student parishad, was detained by army personnel on April 5 and later died at Chittagong Medical College Hospital under police custody.

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The students' union claimed that Chakma died due to army repression, but the army denied the claim and said that he was handed over to the police after his arrest.

The left-wing student organization gathered after the procession at the Dhaka University campus over the unexpected death. Student Union, Socialist Student Front, Student Oikkay Parishad and Biplabi Chatra Maiti took part in the demonstration.

Romal Chakma was allegedly detained by Bangladesh Army and later handed to the police. Photo: Sahidul Hasan Khokon

"Bangladesh Army had a glorious history after the liberation war. But how can we take pride in them now. The present army is led by the ideals of Pakistan that oppresses Bangladeshis. At present the army is repressing the minority population here," said student union leader GM Jilani Shuvo.

The student organisations demanded exemplary punishment of the criminals including their termination from army job. The student leaders also demanded the full implementation of Hill Peace Accord.

In the protest meet, student parishad general secretary Shulav Chakma said, "Romal Chakma was picked up by army personnel from Nannyachar upazila Bazar who beat him mercilessly. Later army tried to hand over Romal Chakma to the police, who denied they have him under their custody. Later he was handed over to Romal's family members to take him to Chittagong Medical College Hospital where he succumbed his injury."

--- ENDS ---
ALEXANDRIA  Rolf Marshall was killed during a drunken dispute over a dog bite.

My husband gave me a gun, Paula Thompson Marshall would tell a 911 dispatcher just after shooting her husband Oct. 5. I didnt know it was loaded. He was being stupid about the dog, and now Ive shot him accidentally.

That morning, Thompson Marshall had been bitten on the hand by their aging Akita, and prosecutors and defense attorneys agree that led to a bitter fight in the couples Alexandria home. Thompson Marshall had for months argued that it was time to put the dog down, but her husband had resisted.

She told police that Marshall tossed her a .38-caliber revolver and told her, Heres a loaded gun. If you want to shoot it, go ahead. She fired, once, hitting her husbands side as he sat across from her in his favorite armchair.

After a three-day trial in Alexandria Circuit Court, a jury Thursday found Thompson Marshall guilty of murder in the second degree and use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and returned a sentence of 14 years on the charges.

A judge will set a sentencing hearing and can impose the jurys sentence, suspend or reduce it, but not increase it.

The slaying was one of seven in Alexandria in 2016.

Rolf Marshall was a longtime Navy captain and maritime lawyer. He and Thompson Marshall, an aesthetician who worked in area beauty salons, had married about 12 years before his death.

In court, before the jury was to begin deliberating a sentence, Alex and Eric Marshall told jurors their father was a brilliant man who loved his family and the sea. After he married Thompson Marshall, however, he withdrew from family and friends, they said.

For the last 10 years, everything has been different, Eric Marshall testified. Now that hes gone . . . that withdrawal is final.

The dog was one stressor in a marriage that had several, testimony showed.

Marshall, 76, was suffering from prostate cancer. In a video played at trial, his wife, 47, berated him for not taking better care of himself.

Youre going to die at 79, and Im counting the f---ing hours and minutes, she said.

Neighbors testified that months before the shooting, Thompson Marshall had complained about her husbands health. In another video played at trial, she told her husband she had met someone else and wanted a divorce.

Financial problems also created strains. Records show their Old Town Alexandria homeowners association sued them for failing to pay dues. They also were behind on their mortgage and in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service.

Both drank too much, both sides conceded, and they were drinking the morning of the shooting. One neighbor, Dani Lane, testified that the constant fighting was so bad that she couldnt sit on her patio: It was like watching a Hitchcock movie, she said.

Commonwealths Attorney Bryan Porter argued that the killing could not have been accidental. Its clear when a revolver is loaded, he said, because the bullets are visible. And to fire a revolver, you must either cock the hammer or give a relatively long, heavy pull on the trigger, a state expert testified.

When you get into an alcohol-fueled argument with your husband, when you pick up a loaded gun and point it at your husband, when you do that and pull the trigger, thats really the end of the rope, Porter said. Were not saying shes a psychotic killer or public enemy No. 1, but that this murder was the result of 12 to 18 months of a deteriorating marriage marked by verbal abuse and financial difficulties.

Defense attorney Marina Medvin pointed to Thompson Marshalls panic and despair after the shooting as evidence that she had no intention of killing her husband. In her call to 911, she repeatedly shouts his name. When she got into a police cruiser, she was crying hysterically. At the police station, a crime scene investigator testified, Thompson Marshall curled in the fetal position and continued to cry.

Paula was not the nicest in how she talked in the past, Medvin conceded in her closing arguments. But she emphasized that there was no evidence of physical violence in the marriage. To the neighbors, she said, Thompson Marshall was too blunt, too truthful  and was equally honest in labeling her husbands death an accident.

After the verdict, Medvin told jurors that the Marshall marriage was troubled, but based in love. Its hard to put into words how deeply my client misses her husband, she said. Whenever she is released from prison, Medvin promised, she will not be returning to alcohol.
All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

 Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Apparently, the Navy doesnt need to worry about Pyongyang calling its bluff when The New York Times will do it for the dictatorship.

On April 8, as North Koreas threats of war grew more belligerent, the Department of Defense announced that the USS Carl Vinson was headed to the Korean Peninsula. Many South Koreans and others cheered the decision, calling the move a powerful symbol of U.S. strength and resolve.

This past Tuesday, however, The New York Times breathlessly broke the news that the USS Carl Vinson wasnt actually where the Department of Defense said it was. In fact, at the time, the carrier had been sailing in the opposite direction toward Australia. (It will be in the Western Pacific this week.) The Grey Lady was shocked that the Trump administration would give out false information regarding a ships movement and location.

Navy officials have declined to discuss the specific timing of operations because of security concerns.

Its a good thing The New York Times didnt know about the big military lie called Operation Fortitude. The 1944 operation was a massive deception by Allied Forces to convince the Germans that the long-expected invasion of Europe would take place at Pas-de-Calais, France or in Norway. Fortitude was implemented by intentionally letting the enemy obtain false classified information and by staging fake radio traffic, troop movements, and military equipment. The bluff worked.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Chef Ashwani Kumar Singh proves there is more to Bengali cuisine than just rice and fish.

By Mail Today: The food choices in a typical Bengali household often change with changing seasons. The only thing that doesn't change is their love for food. Contradictory to popular belief, Bengali cuisine is much more than just fish and rice. It incorporates a vast variety of starters. Starting their meal with a 'bitter' experience, Bengalis choose dishes such as neem begun and shukto (comes from the word shukuta for dried leaves) as their first course.

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This is followed by bhaja, dal and tarkari (vegetables). Macch (fish) and mangsho (mutton) are then eaten with rice, following which misti is served as dessert.

Bengalis do not believe in mixing different types of food for consumption. Traditions such as these are passed down from generation to generation and manifest over a period of time. An antique paandaan and betel cutter are peculiar to each Bengali home and are carefully placed on the dining table to be relished after a hearty meal.

Travelling through the busy lanes of Kolkata and learning about the intricate techniques that are used in the cooking of Bengali food, I brought back a whole new perspective towards the mouth-watering dishes. To create a mini-Kolkata here in the midst of the busy city we created an ambience at our outdoor patio with a buffet that consisted of a live cooking station. The guests could pick and choose from delicacies like bhaja, chop, kabiraji cutlet and fish fry. The name kabiraji lies in the pronunciation of covered up half-fried cutlet coated with egg white and shallow fried. Jhal muri and khomcha of puchka are also an important part of the cuisine.

The main buffet of the recently concluded Kolkata Food Festival at the Leela Ambience Convention Hotel was divided into two parts, just like Bengali cuisine. The Bengali Hindu spread comprises of starters such as aunno (rice), maccch, tarkari, mangsho, Murgi and dim. Then, there is the Bengali Dastarkhwan which includes rizala, kalia handi, Kolkata biryani and phirni.

The desserts section presents a vast variety of sumptuous dishes to choose from. Gulab jamun, malpua, payesh, pantua, sondesh, nolen gurer rosogolla and rosogolla are a few highlights from the dessert section.

The use of panchphoran in Bengali cuisine helps provide a unique taste to the curry. Panch is five spices and phoran means tempering. An authentic Bengali jhol and jhal is incomplete without the tempering of panchphoran.

Jhol (gravy) and jhal (spicy) is a stew made in mustard oil seasoned with phoran cooked with ground chillies for red appearance and ground mustard for yellow appearance.

Govindo bhog rice, radhuni, dal bori, banana flowers, uchchhe, pumpkin leaves, jute leaves all are directly imported to Delhi from Kolkata through local suppliers. Fish like Pabda, Katla, Lotte, Chingri, Rui, Bata, Hilsa, and Bhetki are available in CR Park.

- Ashwani Kumar Singh is the chef de cuisine at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel

--- ENDS ---

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David Todd used to think he would own and operate a restaurant for a living. But after meeting the woman who would become his wife, he decided restaurant operating hours were not for him.

He had always been handy at fixing things, so in 2002 he began installing ramps part-time for EZ-Access, a company based in Washington State that manufactures mobile ramps that are placed at the entrances of buildings.

Now Todds ramp construction has evolved into a rapidly growing small business with 18 employees. More than half of the business consists of constructing EZ-Access ramps, but it has also expanded to include other mobility products, such as platform lifts, stair lifts, scooters and other safety equipment for people with mobility needs.

Last year, Todd said his Roanoke County company, EZ Rampz/Mobility Solutions, saw more than $1.6 million in sales, up from $1 million in 2015. The growth led him to move the company from its 3,500-square-foot facility on Peters Creek Road to a 13,000-square-foot warehouse on Hollins Road this winter.

The new building not only has more storage space, but it allowed the company to open an interactive showroom where customers can test out mobility equipment. Thats something many customers want, Todd said, especially as more seniors choose to live at home as long as they can.

When he began installing ramps in 2002, it was just a side gig. But Todd knew he wanted to own his own business. He said he began to see a real purpose behind his work after seeing reactions from the ramps users. The first ramp he installed was at the home of an elderly woman in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He had trouble keeping her off the ramp while he was constructing it. You dont understand, he recalls her telling him. I havent been able to leave my house in years.

Todd, now 48, was hooked. The reactions he got from customers were overwhelming. One woman cried with joy, telling him she could finally retrieve her mail without waiting for her daughter to come and do it every day.

You dont really realize what this does for people until you see it, Todd said.

Respect is key

In 2008, Todd decided to do the work full time and formed EZ Rampz/Mobility Solutions. At first, he worked out of his garage. By 2011, he realized he needed to rent a space and hire some help. The first four people hired are still employed there.

The company works with people with long- and short-term mobility issues. A large part of its customer base has come from Todds long relationship with the Veterans Administration. He estimates that he evaluates about 150 properties a month for veterans to have ramps installed.

The company has installed about 1,200 ramps since the business began.

EZ-Access, the ramp manufacturer EZ Rampz still uses, took note of the companys work.

Skip Davis, an EZ-Access national sales manager, said the most important part of the business is to be respectful of the customer, something she said EZ Rampz has done very well. Installing an access ramp can require difficult conversations, so its important to be thoughtful and respectful, she said.

This was very important to 83-year-old Correnia Summers. After hip surgery last year, she knew she would have trouble getting up and down the stairs in her Roanoke home. So she called EZ Rampz to buy a stair lift.

Im sure I tried his patience, but he didnt show it, Summers said of Todds first visit. Without the chair, she would have to crawl up the stairs, she said.

Davis at EZ-Access also said EZ Rampz is extremely expedient. The company often installs ramps on a strict timeline, she said, likely as a result of its experience. EZ Rampz is now one of the largest contractors of EZ-Access ramps in the Southeast.

The companys efficiency led to it being recommended for a contract with the New York City Board of Elections last year. The board owns a number of EZ-Access ramps but needed crews to install them at polling places under a tight timeline  usually just several hours  and then quickly uninstall them.

Polling places are required to be accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and New York City, which is known for its walkability, needs ramps to bridge street curbs at polling sites. Todd said the company handled more than 30 installations at polling sites in April 2016 for the states Democratic primary. He also handled sites for elections in June, September and November. He said he expects to oversee about 79 sites for the upcoming November election.

Todd had to increase his part-time manpower for the New York contract and said doing a lot of polling place ramps in other cities might not be feasible, nor would other cities need the sort of ramps a place like New York needs. But the exposure and experience have help boost the company and allowed it to expand into its new space and showroom, he said.

Staying at home

Installing ramps is about 70 percent of EZ Rampzs business. The rest is made up of mobility equipment sales. Todd expects this to grow to 50 percent of the business soon, especially as the senior population grows  and as more seniors opt to live at home as long as possible. The U.S. Census shows the number of Americans older than 65 is expected to double by the year 2050. A study conducted in 2013 by the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission says the elderly population in the region will increase by 30 percent by 2020.

Todd said he has seen an increase in the number of seniors who want to stay home rather than move into assisted living facilities. Multiple reports from the AARP have found that the vast majority of people older than 50 want to age in place. Technology is often where many seniors turn first.

Its changed the life of Emilie Broome, 77, in Christiansburg. Walking up the steps in her home was getting the better of her legs, and she said she required shots in her legs just to function. After she bought a lift to take her up her stairs, she no longer needed the shots and she was able to take better care of herself, she said. More importantly, it allowed her to care for her husband in the last months of his life.

We were able to enjoy our home, Broome said. He was able to stay in his home. I was able to take care of his needs.

The chair looked like something from outer space she said, but it allowed them to stay in the house with each other and not require assistance.

Todd said this growing demographic also led him to start renting some of the companys products. Most wheelchair ramps rent for less than $300 a month and have no monthly minimum payments. The initial cost to purchase a ramp is $2,000 to $8,000, but in many cases the cost is covered by insurance, grants and state agencies. The company doesnt accept Medicare payments.

Roanoker Jesse Shelor, 59, said he looked all over for a place to rent a ramp. Most places he found offered permanent wooden ramps, which require more construction and permitting. He needed a ramp in 2015 for about a year and half while he dealt with a troublesome foot. He called EZ Rampz again a few weeks ago to install a temporary ramp while he is in a wheelchair. Without the temporary ramps, he wouldve had to install a permanent one or, worse, he would be stuck inside, he said.
BRISTOL  Deep in conservative Southwest Virginia, gubernatorial candidates Ralph Northam and Tom Perriello tackled rural issues at the first in a series of primary forums and debates across the commonwealth.

The two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for governor answered questions on coal, Medicaid expansion and how they could sway voters in a region which overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump in the presidential election.

Perriello and Northam spoke to the crowd of about 50 people separately, but answered identical questions at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

Both reassured their liberal friends that winning votes in Southwest Virginia is possible, as long as candidates show up and listen to the regions voters.

They agreed Southwest Virginia cant rely on coal jobs to survive and grow.

To sit here and say coal jobs are coming back, I think is misleading, Northam said. We cant do that.

Northam, the states lieutenant governor, said Southwest Virginia can shift away from the coal industry by supporting the University of Virginia at Wise, bringing in industries and businesses and ramping up tourism.

One way to do that could be extending Amtrak rail passenger service to Bristol from the Roanoke stop thats scheduled to begin later this year, he said. Trumps proposed budget would axe some rural Amtrak routes.

The candidates both denounced Trump and said, so far, the president is not following through with the assurances he made on the campaign trail.

What President Trump was offering was false promises, Perriello said.

Perriello, who represented Virginias 5th Congressional District for one term, said there is likely no simple fix to return jobs and economic growth to Southwest Virginia, but the region cant rely on coal.

He suggested focusing on small businesses growth and offering two free years of community college, trade school or apprenticeships so students can train and diversify .

Democrats have a once-in-a-generation chance to resist the Trump administration and retake rural areas like Southwest Virginia, Perriello said. His plan is a two-step process, half of which is already complete.

Voting for Trump here was actually a rejection of the Republican Party, Perriello said. I think you saw 12 other establishment Republicans, one-by-one rejected by people across Southwest Virginia and by Republicans across the country.

Step two is for those voters to realize its the Democratic Party that is fighting for the regions most vulnerable people, he said. That happens, in part, when the party stands up against Trumps hurtful plans and budget cuts, he said.

As Trump has proposed cutting community block grants, the Appalachian Regional Commission and repealing the Affordable Care Act, rural voters may start to realize the people theyre electing arent helping them, Northam said. Now is Democrats time to capitalize on the voter remorse rural Virginians feel after Trumps election, he said.

He [Trump] lies like a rug, Northam said.

If elected, both candidates said they will work for Virginia to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, a move Republicans in the General Assembly have consistently blocked.

Perriello and Northam also promised to fight gerrymandering by approving nonpartisan maps for General Assembly election districts when they are redrawn in 2021. Both also agreed solving the opioid epidemic is a major priority.

The candidates noted their ties to rural Virginia. Northam grew up on a farm on the Eastern Shore, still possesses a slight country drawl, and is quick to toss out folksy sayings in conversation.

Perriello, who is from Charlottesville, said he has participated in 25 events in rural areas so far this year and has campaigned west of Roanoke five times during the same time period. His expansive former congressional district stretched from Northern Virginia through Charlottesville and down to Danville and Martinsville in Southside Virginia.

Most of the attendees at the Saturdays state Democratic Rural Caucus seemed to have already decided who they will support in the June primary and wore stickers proclaiming their choice.

The candidates next joint regional appearance will be at a May 4 debate at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke.
By Chelyen Davis

Davis, a native of Bluefield, Va., currently lives in Richmond. She writes about Appalachian issues on The Homesick Appalachian website.

Since last Novembers election, Ive seen news stories asking how voters in Appalachia could vote against their own interests.

Their premise is that Appalachians who voted for Donald Trump believed his promise to revive coal industry jobs, and that valuing that over Hillary Clintons positions on health care, coalfield diversification, or the environment was foolish.

When I hear that, I wonder who is defining the interests. It certainly isnt the voter. The questioner suggests they know whats best for Appalachians. It hints that Appalachians must be too stupid to decide whats best for themselves.

National news stories depicting coal mining as Appalachias only representative industry ignore the fact that the coalfields are but one region of Appalachia. Also, many other industries employ more people, although communities arent reliant on those single industries as they are on coal. There are also people in Appalachia actively working on economic transition and environmental issues  something rarely mentioned in op-eds about coal country voting against its own interests.

Ive also seen stories about how betrayed Appalachians will feel once they realize they were lied to about a resurgence of coal  as if people in the coalfields cant simultaneously understand coal isnt coming back like it was, and still value the cultural identity around it.

A story about Appalachias economic diversification on the website FastCo.Exist called coal a foundational part of the cultural identity in coalfields Appalachia, and said growing up there means internalizing that narrative.

Thats what I mean when I tell people coal is complicated, simultaneously destructive and familiar.

Im from Southwest Virginias coalfields. My grandfather mined and hauled coal. His father, brothers, sons, and grandsons mined coal. Coal permeated the atmosphere, from the stove smoke to the conversation.

It became part of my identity, solidified in my internal narrative when I learned about the West Virginia mine wars over unionization. I was infuriated at the injustice, the sense of my people having been wronged.

I hate to see the decimation of mountaintops, ruination of streams, scarring of lungs. I also hate to see people out of work, communities withering. Its a struggle, to dislike what coal does yet still see myself as a product of the culture and history and conflict around it.

I dont like what coal does, but I dont like my people being talked down to and told they cant decide their own interests, either. You dont get to decide whats important to somebody else, nor is that invalid because you disagree with it.

While Appalachian voters had interests besides coal, much of what I heard people in Southwest Virginia discuss during the 2016 election was indeed the economy of the coalfields, and the need for jobs.

Everyone had heard Clintons partially-quoted comment about putting coal miners out of a job. When my hometown newspaper endorsed Clinton, there was fury  how, people said, could the paper endorse a candidate who would finish digging the grave of the regions lifeblood? They felt voting for her was voting against their self-interests.

They knew a President Clinton wouldnt seek a coal comeback. For her supporters, that was a plus. But for many, the future she promised was at best uncertain. Whether or not they believed Trump could revive coal, they couldnt support someone who would put the stake in its heart, with no guarantee of something in its place. In his promises, people heard sympathy for the struggle of miners and coalfield communities, acknowledgment that their work, for which they had given lives and lungs, mattered and had value.

Holding on to that old allegiance to coal is partly an identity choice. As the FastCo.Exist article says: To say goodbye to coalis a profound spiritual and emotional decision for a people who have watched their family members work, suffer, and die underground, who have loved and taken deep pride in the community coal created.

That love and pride in community is a fundamental part of this sense of my people. Coal isnt just what people do, it is who  individually for some, communally for others  they are.

Until economic transition efforts can fill the hole coal has left in the regions economy, it will be difficult for some people to look forward. Hopefully diversification can save coalfield communities. The question still will be how to fill the hole left in the regions cultural identity. Accusing people who still value that identity of voting against their own interests does nothing to help them figure out who they will be when coal is gone.
UPDATE 6:55 AM, 4/24: More rain today, and continued chilly in the 40s. The closed upper low to the south continues to circulate deep moisture over our region. It will only slowly move off to the east this evening and Tuesday, with the steady rain gradually becoming more showery. But there could be another 1/2 to 2 inches in many locations across Southwest Virginia, locally more, before that happens. Most locations west and southwest of Roanoke are under either a flood warning or flood advisory, with a flood watch still active over most of the region through tonight. ... Once we get on the backside of the rain, it will turn warmer and dry Wednesday through Friday, with upper 70s-lower 80s highs. END UPDATE

UPDATE 8:20 PM, 4/23: Nothing really new to report. We are in the middle of a prolonged rain event. The rain generally isn't torrential, but there are some heavy bands interspersed in a large area of light to moderate rain. For the most part, this is a beneficial rain for a region that has been dry, but sheer persistence and some heavy banding may cause some creeks, streams and perhaps even rivers to overflow their banks as another 1-3 inches, locally more, especially south of Roanoke, will fall through early Tuesday. The low-pressure system is going to take its sweet time dawdling off to the east or southeast, and so may affect us with showers even into Tuesday. It's also pretty cold outside, with many temperatures in the 40s. This setup might have yielded snow in the higher elevations a few weeks ago, and could have been an areawide wintry mix a couple of months ago. But ... it's mid-April.

----

We've only just begun with the weekend rainstorm.

Looking at radar on this Saturday evening, it might seem a pretty straightforward proposition -- one more wave of rainfall, pushing out of Kentucky and Tennessee, sweeping over and through our region overnight and early Sunday. But the complexities of the atmosphere are not going to let it be that simple.

The atmospheric energy is going to dive southward with such intensity that it will wrap back in a circle. A "closed low" will form, and rather than a less energetic feature that might float on out to sea on upper-level winds like a soap bubble, this system will become an atmospheric whirlpool in no hurry to go anywhere.

So it will gradually move from eastern Tennessee or northern Georgia into the Carolinas on Sunday and Monday, circulating a continuous flow of rich moisture northward. That moisture will be overtopping what is now becoming a quite cool surface air mass -- a cold front on Saturday moved southward a bit slower than expected, allowing some severe thunderstorms to crop up in Southside Virginia in fairly muggy air, but that front is now south of us in the Roanoke/New River valleys with temperatures falling on northeast winds. It may well be in the upper 40s by Sunday morning.

The low will wobble and dawdle generally eastward or southeastward at first, then more northeastward. The result is that we could still be in its backside flow much of Monday, and maybe even on the fringes of it with some showers into early Tuesday. That is why the flood watch continues as late as Monday evening.

Many locations are likely to see 2-4 inches of rain, total, through Monday, and some will get more than 4 inches. Locations along the Blue Ridge south of Roanoke and along the North Carolina line appear likely to be in line for the most.

While we are not coming into this super-saturated, that much rain may be enough to cause some streams to leave their banks and collect water in low-lying areas that easily flood. Some rivers could even go above flood stage by Monday. Much depends on where the heaviest rain bands set up after we've already had a considerable amount of rain (many locations south and southeast of Roanoke already got 1-2 inches today).

It is quite possible that this round of rain will cleanse almost all the yellow and beige off of Virginia on the U.S. Drought Monitor map. But will it be a little too much rain too fast?
Business News The Land Alcoa Dammed | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Presumably, current shareholders will receive a share in the spinoff equal to their ownership in Alcoa as a percentage of the total business ... the good news is that we could be on the verge ... Read More This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. SHARE THIS POST Alcoa NewsMORE Related Stocks Find News News Indices Commodities ... Read More PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa Corporation (NYSE: AA) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share of the Companys common stock ... Read More Alcoa Corp. (AA) on Wednesday reported a third-quarter loss of $746 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier. On a per-share basis, the Pittsburgh-based company said it ... Read More Two seats on the Alcoa Board of Education are up for election this year, and the are only two candidates, both incumbents. Brandy Bledsoe Affiliation: Republican NOTE: Did not participate. Read More The high, industrywide aluminum prices that have driven Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Corp.s income over the past several quarters have fallen. And as such, the manufacturing company reported a net ... Read More Alcoa  Shares dropped 6.9% after the aluminum ... compared with expectations of $2.96 billion. Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you. Sign up for free newsletters and get ... Read More PITTSBURGH (AP) _ Alcoa Corp. (AA) on Wednesday reported a third-quarter loss of $746 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier. On a per-share basis, the Pittsburgh ... Read More
The Uttar Pradesh BJP wants to felicitate Shah on May 2 after the party's thumping win in the Assembly elections, but the BJP chief will be busy imparting a 'victory mantra' for the 2019 polls at a two-day executive meeting, top sources said.

By Siddhartha Rai: Amit Shah has largely been accepted as the undisputed architect of BJP's spectacular success in UP, the recent assembly polls that the party swept being a re-run of the 2014 Parliamentary polls.

On May 2, the party president, who is fast assuming a legendary status among workers will be felicitated by the state executive.

But, as always, Shah will not be in Lucknow for gathering accolades for his achievement. Top sources said the national president would be attending the valedictory session of the two-day state executive meeting for imparting yet another 'victory mantra', this time for the 2019 general elections.

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RUMOURS OF 'GRAND ALLIANCE' AGAINST BJP

The party is aware of the grim side of the stupendous electoral runs that it had all across the country in 2014, especially in UP where the final count of 73 out of 80 stunned even the blind supporters of the saffron outfit. With rumours of a possible 'Mahagathbandhan' or 'Grand Alliance' on the lines of Bihar polls which the BJP had lost despite being billed as the favourite running riot of late, the party wants to consolidate its hold. With Mulayam and Mayawati joining forces, things could turn real hot for the party in power.

"Party president Amit Shah will be in UP for the first time on an official trip. We shall be felicitating him for leading the charge from the front in UP and strategising to dislodge the SP government," said UP BJP spokesperson Chandra Mohan.

"Training camps will be held in six regions by state functionaries, including heads of kshetriya samitis, districts heads and MLAs. We have to carry the message of Yogi-Modi to people. Cadre needs to be trained for coping up with the changed role (of BJP)," Mohan said.

While Mohan said the core-ideology and working-ideology would be taught to the cadre - 'Riti-Niti', the indoctrinating exercise is expected to have such issues as the Ayodhya Ram Temple at the centre. The politically active region of Awadh, that also has a huge Muslim population, would be having its training exercise in Ayodhya.

ALSO READ | Revealed! Amit Shah's Gujarat Assembly election strategy to win 150 seats

ALSO READ | With Gujarat on BJP's radar, Amit Shah appoints Bhupender Yadav as party's in charge of state

ALSO WATCH | India Today Conclave 2017: Full video of BJP President Amit Shah's keynote address

--- ENDS ---
Business News Georgia S Char Broil Opens New Headquarters Slideshow | RobinsPost News & Noticias

I can't tell you how shocked I was at the experience I received with Char Broil. When I went to make a return the shipping amount is more than the item's worth (trough box). I called to ask Char ... Read More when it announced plans to house an inner Toys R Us shop in every brick-and-mortar Macys by mid-October. According to Fox Business, each new Toys R Us shop will feature playful ... Read More One of the new ... business remains strong and a key component of our growth strategy, we love interacting with our consumers in-store. Were excited to open 14 new locations and bring Forever ... Read More ATLANTA  The Georgia Secretary of States Office is taking extra ... with Channel 2 Action News investigative reporter Mark Winne to explain the new Poll Worker First Response System. Read More Global finance and technology company FIS opened the doors to its new ... FIS headquarters is a riverfront high-rise located at 323 Riverside Ave. and a welcome presence to Jacksonvilles ... Read More Several abortion and reproductive health service providers suing state of Georgia on grounds new law violates state constitutional rights to privacy, liberty and equal protections. State's defense ... Read More Despite struggling against Missouri on Saturday night, the No. 2 ranked Georgia ... managed to open as a 27.5-point home favorite on Saturday afternoon against Auburn. It's a beyond compelling ... Read More Turnout from Georgia's first day of early voting set a new state record for a midterm election, state election officials said. More than 131,000 Georgia voters cast ballots since early voting ... Read More With a third-party candidate also running, it's possibleneither Warnock nor ... weeks after the general election. However, a new bill the Georgia legislature passed in 2021 shortened that ... Read More First-year Georgia coach Mike White knows he's facing the difficult task of helping his new team learn how to win ... RETURN TO GAINESVILLE Georgia opens its season at home on Nov. 7 against ... Read More Abortion rights advocates argue the law violates Georgia's constitution ... The governor's office did not immediately return ABC News' request for comment. Read More Georgia's defense showed up in a big way against Auburn as they stifled the Tiger's offense and helped lead the Bulldogs to a 42-10 victory and helping them earn their sixth straight win against ... Read More
Health News Abortions In Massachusetts Down Nearly 11 Percent Since 2010 | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The numbers detail how many abortions were performed here in 2021 and break down information about the women who ended their pregnancies. GBH News spoke with abortion ... patients already had ties to ... Read More Massachusetts has emerged as a safe haven for reproductive health care ... area thats home to nearly 1 million people and numerous hospitals and medical centers. Abortion providers are even ... Read More The right to abortion is protected in Massachusetts ... an executive order to protect access to reproductive health care services in the Commonwealth. Today is a dark day in our history. For nearly 50 ... Read More Abortion was on the ballot in several states Tuesday, months after the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to abortion in a decision that led to near-total bans in a dozen states ... Read More Five states have abortion-related questions on their ballots, the most ever, and gubernatorial and legislative races in six others will determine if abortion will be legal in those states. Read More Since the late June ruling, at least 12 states have ended nearly all ... they received an abortion in that state where the telemedicine appointment happened," she told ABC News. Read More Ninety percent ... mothers health is seriously endangered by the pregnancy. Reflecting the surveys findings, more Republican-led states that have instituted abortion bans since Roe was ... Read More Kamala Harris discusses abortion ... since the court's ruling. "It is more important than ever to make sure the women in our state have the right to make their own decisions about their health ... Read More In California, a ballot question on protecting abortion rights drives debate over what fetal "viability" really means. Other reproductive health news is ... Black women are nearly three times ... Read More Jackson Womens Health Organization. That ruling overturned the courts 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and leaves states to set their own abortion policies. Since ... make up nearly 56% of patients ... Read More Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to abortion this summer, lawmakers in a dozen states have passed near-total bans and the issue has been thrust to the center of races aroun ... Read More Several Mississippi state websites were intermittently inaccessible Tuesday afternoon after a Russian hacker group named the state as a target to knock offline. Read More
Politics News The Lawyer Who Will Oversee The Russia Inquiry For Justice Dept Has Experience Investigating The White House | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The first accused Michael Sussmann, a cybersecurity lawyer with ties to Democrats ... in his three and a half years of investigating the Trump-Russia inquiry stood in contrast to what had been ... Read More Last year, a former FBI lawyer ... justice system, but politics has always been at the heart of Durham's inquiry: an examination of law enforcement's conduct during its investigation into ... Read More By Alan Feuer and Luke Broadwater The Justice Department has ... White House counsel, to provide additional testimony.Credit...Erin Schaff/The New York Times The closed-door battle over how ... Read More Over 108 pages, the lawsuit railed against many of Trumps political opponents and highlighted the grievances that he has ... Russia, and well-connected Democrats took some of their findings to ... Read More The White House said Tuesday ... to sell weapons to Russia. Watch the briefing in the player above. The remarks by press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre come as Russia has stepped up the use of ... Read More Justice Dept. Asks Court to Deny Trump Plea Over FBI Search By MARK SHERMAN and ... The Justice Department said in a 32-page filing that Trump's claim has no merit, noting the case involves ... Read More The White House said Tuesday that President Biden believes Saudi Arabia has effectively sided with Russia ... Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues ... Read More The Justice Department is asking a federal judge to force the top two lawyers from Donald Trumps White House ... as the law demands, leaving Trumps team to handle the fight over certain ... Read More Justice Dept. Seeks End to Arbiter's Review of ... review of the seized records or to claim privilege over them. Plaintiff has no plausible claim of executive privilege as to any of the seized ... Read More (Reuters) -Former Russian state TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, accused of spreading "fake news" about the war in Ukraine, has fled the country after escaping from house arrest, her lawyer said ... Read More Watch: Ex-journalist accused of pushing 'fake news' about Ukraine war has fled Russia, her lawyer says By Filipp Lebedev and ... The 44-year-old was given two months' house arrest in August over a ... Read More Gavin Newsom has ... over 35 years, and has also served many times as a judge pro tem, mediator, and arbitrator. It is important to keep in mind that this column presents a summary of the law ... Read More
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Science News Here S Why You Should Pay More Attention To The Japan Prize | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Well, I have some news that might ... Research shows that if you just ask for help, people are much more willing to lend a hand than maybe you would think. And usually, you both walk away feeling ... Read More Many or all of the products here are from our ... or personal loan, you sign up to pay interest. In some cases, the amount of interest you're charged will be more moderate. Personal loans, for ... Read More And if you're about to jet off east, why not add the remote island of Iriomote to your itinerary? The island was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021 and here's what it has to offer. Read More More from Personal Finance: Why a new $40,000 electric vehicle tax ... but [a quarterly earnings report] isn't something that should push you to suddenly change your philosophy or approach ... Read More Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. If you have always ... Read More A well balanced vegetarian diet can be very healthy, but if you want to reap all the benefits, you may need to pay more attention to ... veganism vs vegetarianism should answer all of your questions. Read More Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET ... look at it under different lighting. Unless you've been keeping on top of cleaning, it's probably foul. Here's mine, and it's only been a few weeks since ... Read More Read on to learn more about how coffee grounds fertilize and why you should consider using them on your lawn. According to NC State Extension, fertilizer provides nutrients that some soil may ... Read More This update brings a ton of features that supposedly shouldve been made ... without requiring an Apple Watch. You can learn more about iOS 16.1 update here. Alongside iOS 16.1 RC, Apple is ... Read More This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this ... Read More you have more money in your HSA than you anticipate needing for healthcare expenses. At that point, you can take a withdrawal to pay for a trip, a home update, or a new car -- the choice is yours. Read More Rate increases, improved retention and new opportunities in the inland marine space should benefit marine products ... Free Report Reveals How You Could Profit from the Growing Electric Vehicle ... Read More
Science News Here S Why Scientists Are Marching This Saturday | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The cluster is hiding in plain sight behind the massive visual bulk of the Milky Way. To see through the visual noise, scientists triangulate multiple observation sources. Scientists from Argentinas ... Read More 2 takeaways from our meeting: We like health care and staples, Club stock news Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to ... Read More Researchers conducted wide-ranging experiments at Alaska's HAARP facility, known for atmospheric research and conspiracy theories ... Read More Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address ... Read More Nov. 3, 2022  A new method to treat sewage can efficiently convert leftover sludge to biogas, an advance that could help communities lower their waste treatment costs while helping the .. Read More THATS ACCORDING TO THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. DESPITE HOW COMMON THEY ARE, THERES STILL A LOT SCIENTISTS DONT ... COMBINATION OF IMPACTS FOR US HERE. ON THE SURFACE. MIKE ALLEN SAYS ... Read More If you have always suspected that you might just be a mosquito magnet, scientists now have evidence ... sought to identify why certain people seem to draw more mosquitoes than others. Read More You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ulta Beautys current financial-year sales suggests growth of 13.7% from the year-ago ... Read More Heres why theyre doing it ... Experience Chace MacMullan about the strategy behind Schnucks Now. Supermarket News: Why now? And how long had this been in the works? Read More ULTA has an expected EPS growth rate of 11.9% for three to five years. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ulta Beautys current ... Read More
Technology News A Robot Delivery Startup Helped Write State Laws That Are Locking Out Competition | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Several companies are fighting to be the one that tricks you into thinking a real person has written you a thank-you letter. Read More GrubHub has launched a new robot delivery ... start. Want to stay ahead of who & what is next? Sent twice-a-week, the Beat is your definitive look at Chicagos innovation economy, offering news ... Read More FedEx is stopping development of its last-mile delivery robot, Roxo. The news was first reported by ... our understanding and use of robotic technology. Roxo had been trialled in various ... Read More The company first started work on the sensor-filled 450 pound package robot in 2019 with help from New ... off Postamtes robot delivery project into its own separate startup as part of a ... Read More "The robot is doing the job. I'm like  I'm cool!" Rodriguez told CBS News. Adamson said this is a way that "we can create jobs with higher wages and with higher skill development." Adamson said ... Read More (TNS)  As Indiana State University graduate student Allison Lehman walked across campus Thursday, she did a double take when seeing a small, moving robot accompanied by two people. She immediat ... Read More the package delivery giants Chief Transformation Officer, reportedly broke the news to staff of Roxos shattering last week as part of a broader internal organizational program called DRIVE, ... Read More A Starship food delivery ... after the start of a pilot program at UIC, the robots, each weighing about 70 pounds, have become a part of everyday life on campus. Only visitors long out of college ... Read More Researchers have designed a state-of ... extreme and human technology has a short lifespan. Extravehicular activities (activities done by an astronaut outside a spacecraft), robotics, and ... Read More Getir, the Istanbul-based delivery startup, is in advanced talks to buy rival Gorillas Technologies GmbH, people familiar with the matter said. The proposed deal would be a mix of cash and ... Read More These delivery ... startup Rosversity was founded in 2019. The initial investment was realised through bootstrapping, he said. NUE is the first robot of the team which plans to bring out ... Read More Franchised dealers who have invested in a new venture capital fund want to support early-stage technology startups that ... how things play out in the next five years to help dealers navigate. Read More
By Press Trust of India: From Nisha Sharma

Nicosia, Apr 23 (PTI) Cyprus sees a role for India in its reunification process, President Nicos Anastasiades has said ahead of his visit to the country.

"Those who are close to Turkey can be helpful," he said when asked whether he would seek Indias help to reunify Cyprus, whose about 37 per cent area is under Turkish occupation since 1974.

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"Of course we shall ask Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi if any kind of possibility to intervene on the Cyprus question," he said, but insisted that Cyprus wont do things that may make friends uneasy.

"If they are not able to intervene, we will not ask them. We are not going to ask something that may harm Indias interest," he told visiting Indian journalists.

Now, the talks have restarted and he is hopeful of finding a solution.

Anastasiades is visiting India from April 25-28 with a 60-member delegation and will meet President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi. He will also visit Mumbai.

The talks between the two sides to reunify the island stumbled over the years on the issue of territory and security.

The Turkic-speaking community want a significant say in the decision-making process and want Turkish forces on the ground even after the reunification, which are the main sticking points in the talks.

His remarks assume significance as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit India soon after him.

The aim of the visit is to reaffirm Cyprus ties with India, which has supported the countrys unification efforts.

On a question about Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Anastasiades said Cyprus - as a member of the bloc - supports Indias bid.

He also reaffirmed Cyprus support for Indias permanent membership of the UN Security Council. "India is not a threat to any of its neighbours. Its a stabilising factor," he said.

During his visit, the president will promote Cyprus as a gateway for Indian companies wanting to enter the European markets. As the double taxation avoidance treaty is in place, authorities here feel that it would give level-playing field to all.

Cyprus also wants Indias help in developing a Silicon Valley-type technological park. It also seeks to cooperate with India in the shipping sector. PTI NSA ABH

--- ENDS ---
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Us News Uc Berkeley Students Threaten To Sue Over Ann Coulter Visit | RobinsPost News & Noticias

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Delhi Police data says over 400 police personnel have quit their jobs and taken voluntary retirement in the last three years. What's more, the number of personnel quitting their jobs in the security unit has been on the rise.

By Chayyanika Nigam: Is it the work pressure or long work schedule that is forcing Delhi Police personnel to quit their jobs or take voluntary retirement for a better future or to join any other force?

In last three years, more than 400 cops have quit their jobs and taken voluntary retirement, said Delhi Police data. In an RTI filed by Aniket Gaurav, it has been learned that as many as 106 personnel posted in the security unit have quit their jobs since 2014.

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It is more shocking to know that the number of personnel quitting job in the security unit has been increasing. About 25 per cent of Delhi Police's strength is earmarked for VVIP security.

RTI REVELATIONS

The RTI in possession with MAIL TODAY reveals that in 2014, as many as 21 cops, including, nine constables, five head constables, four sub-inspector and one inspector, have resigned.

A total of 29 cops, including 13 constables and 13 sub-inspectors, have quit in 2015. In 2016, 45 police personnel, including 17 subinspectors, 15 constables, seven assistant sub-inspectors, two ACPs, have left their job. Till March this year, 11 cops, including four sub-inspectors, have left the job of Delhi Police.

Despite the number of cops quitting their jobs is high, the department has not conducted any study to ascertain the reasons. However, when the concerned official of the security unit was contacted, he remained unaware of such a huge number.

Whereas, Sunil Garg, JCP (security) told MAIL TODAY that the large number is mainly because of the factor that this unit has one of the largest number of police strength as compared to any other district police unit. "We have strength of around 8,000 police personnel in security unit and similar strength is shared by police control room unit. The third largest strength is of the traffic unit," said Garg.

According to the RTI and the Delhi Police data, since 2014, of the strength of 8,000 cops, as many as 106 have quit their jobs in the traffic unit, whereas the traffic unit that has around 5,500 personnel witness only 17 personnel leaving till March 2017.

SO, WHY DID THE COPS QUIT?

When MAIL TODAY tried to unearth the reason behind quitting of Delhi Police job in such a large scale in the security unit, it was learnt that most of them have resigned to join UP Police. "I have prepared for the exam while doing my duties and I got shortlisted and cleared the medical test along with physical test. I joined UP Police," said a policeman requesting anonymity.

Like him, some other cops said they had to be on an alert mode all the time and the duty time often extended to more than 12 hours in Delhi Police. Also, the non-availability of basic facilities like washrooms, food and water makes the duty tough for the men deployed in the security unit.

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On an average, 450 policemen are deployed along a VVIP route, which essentially requires many hours of stationed duty with continuous attention but lack of basic facilities make their work harder. Senior cops said the security unit facilitates their men to do shifthour duty.

A few months ago, Delhi Police had submitted proposals for sanction of additional strength of 52,886 police personnel to MHA.

ALSO READ | AIADMK symbol row: Delhi Police grills TTV Dinakaran over bribery allegations

ALSO READ | Ahead of MCD polls, police recovers 50 semi-automatic pistols over two days

ALSO WATCH | AIADMK twin-leaf symbol row: Delhi Police grills TTV Dinakaran over money trail

--- ENDS ---
World News Turkey S Opposition Down But Not Out | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Turkeys political ... opposition would have to do was wait for the elections, and Turks would vote Erdogan out of power. Since the inception of this mirage, the alliance members have not ... Read More (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) ANKARA, Turkey ... News podcast Sidebar tackles the stories you need to know from the legal world. Join our hosts as they take you in and out of courtrooms in the U.S. and ... Read More ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's main opposition group said on Friday it would ask the top court to throw out new media legislation ... It is a regulation that takes us down to the level of ... Read More Turkey's main opposition party leader, a likely candidate for president in next year's election, on Thursday became the first person to be charged ... Read More ANKARA: Turkey ... take down contentious posts. Erdogan began to argue at around the same time that Turkey's highly-polarised society was particularly vulnerable to fake and misleading news. Read More We do not see ... fake news law cracking down on independent news outlets amid the war in Ukraine. Analysts say Erdogan is trying to exert more control over Turkey's internet and media ... Read More ANKARA, Turkey ... down contentious posts. Erdogan began to argue at around the same time that Turkey's highly-polarised society was particularly vulnerable to fake and misleading news. Read More Turkey's main opposition group said on Friday it would ask the top court to throw out new media legislation that would jail people for spreading "misinformation", calling the measures ... Read More ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkeys main opposition party ... stated aim of combating fake news. Critics fear that the measure will be used to further crack down on social media and independent ... Read More Turkey's parliament on Thursday approved a tough pre-election law that could see reporters and social media users jailed for up to three years for spreading "fake news". The new rules cement the ... Read More
World News Afghanistan In Mourning After Deadly Taliban Assault On Afghan Army Base | RobinsPost News & Noticias

A young gay man from Afghanistan's capital was abducted and executed by the Taliban ... The news comes as at least 19 students were killed, with many reportedly female, after a suicide bomber ... Read More Photos paint a stark picture of Afghanistan ... since the Taliban seized control of the country in August 2021. The US-backed Afghan government collapsed in a matter of days, and after 20 years ... Read More The investigation by Afghan Witness ... rose out of the last remnants of Afghanistans shattered security forces. It has vowed to resist the Taliban after they overran the country and seized ... Read More The baby was traveling from Ramstein Air Base ... the Taliban paraded hardware left behind by both Afghan and US forces after the withdrawal of the last American troops left Afghanistan in ... Read More The Afghan affiliate ... Islamic State Khorasan, after an old name of the region, are enemies of the Taliban. Fighters loyal to Islamic State first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in 2014, and ... Read More According to the Taliban, the killed militants were behind the deadly attack ... the northeastern Afghan province of Takhar, media reports said citing a Taliban-controlled news agency. Read More The United States is now in a challenging position in that it can neither abandon nor recognize the Taliban leadership. Read More Afghan women protesters calling for their basic right to education and work faced violence from the Taliban on Monday.In recent days female-led demonstrations have escalated in the country following a ... Read More Before the Taliban drove her family from their home in Afghanistan ... news journalist in Kabul, reporting on the countrys top stories. She is our brilliant and best talented Afghan female ... Read More The Taliban said Wednesday there is enough security across Afghanistan to restart major economic projects that stopped due to decades of war, despite a slew of attacks rocking the country since ... Read More ISLAMABAD (AP)  A 5.1 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday jolted the Afghan city ... province, a Taliban official said. Abdul Wahid Rayan, the director of the Taliban news agency Bakhtar, said ... Read More Pakistan witnessed a record 51 per cent increase in terrorist attacks in one year after the Afghan-Taliban got power in Afghanistan in ... victory after the world superpower failed to subdue ... Read More
World News Land Mine Blast Kills Osce Observer In Ukraine | RobinsPost News & Noticias

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine ... explosion is likely to increase friction in Russian logistics for some time but not cripple Russias ability to equip its troops in Ukraine. In other news ... Read More ANKARA, Turkey  An explosion inside a coal mine in northern Turkey killed at least 25 people, local officials announced, while rescuers working through the night were trying to bring dozens of ... Read More The accident was the countrys worst mine disaster in ... had been trapped after the explosion spent the night near the site, wrapped in blankets and waiting for news of their loved ones. Read More The blast on Friday at the Amasra coal mine owned by state-run ... article with image November 6, 2022 World Iran says it shipped drones to Russia before Ukraine war, article with video November ... Read More The family and friends of the missing could also be seen at the mine, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. The explosion is believed to have occurred at around 300m deep. Some 49 people were ... Read More BARTIN, Turkey: The death toll from a methane blast in a coal mine in northwestern ... a term referring to methane in coal mines. In 2014, 301 workers were killed in Turkeys worst-ever mining ... Read More An explosion inside a coal mine in northern Turkey killed at least 25 people, local officials announced, while rescuers working through the night were trying to bring dozens of others trapped to ... Read More The count following a blast at a coal mine in northern Turkey rose to at least 40 killed, Interior Minister ... the entrance to the pit in search of news of their friends and loved ones. Read More The family and friends of the missing could also be seen at the mine, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. Forty people are now thought to have died following an explosion in a coal mine ... Read More ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey's main opposition party and an engineering industry body questioned safety protocols on Monday after an explosion at a state-run mine killed 41 workers, stirring ... Read More The blast on Friday at the Amasra coal mine owned by state-run Turkish Hard Coal Institution (TTK) was the deadliest since a fire at a mine in Soma, western Turkey, in 2014 killed 301 miners and ... Read More
World News Author And Conservationist Kuki Gallmann Shot In Kenya | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Since she moved to Kenya, shes lost her husband and son. Now shes been shot by tribesmen determined to take her land. But Kuki ... Gallmann, a celebrated conservationist and author, spent ... Read More I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist today, as per police he was shot in Kenya, Sharif's wife ... saddened by the shocking news of Sharif's tragic death. Read More A top Pakistani news anchor was shot dead in Kenya, his wife said today, just months after he fled his home country to avoid arrest over sedition charges. Arshad Sharif was a frequent critic of ... Read More A top Pakistani news anchor was shot dead in Kenya, his wife said Monday, just months after he fled his home country to avoid arrest over sedition charges. Arshad Sharif was a frequent critic of ... Read More Sharif's wife Javeria Siddique took to Twitter on Monday to confirm the news of his death. "I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist today, as per police he was shot in Kenya," she said ... Read More Arshad Sharif, one of Pakistan's top news anchors, was shot dead in Kenya, his wife said on Monday ... Pakistan is ranked 157 out of 180 countries in the world in a press freedom index compiled ... Read More news agency AP reported. Sharif, 50, had been living in hiding in Kenya after leaving Pakistan to avoid arrest over criticising Pakistan's powerful military. Sharif, the police said, was shot in ... Read More Islamabad [Pakistan], October 24 (ANI): Senior Pakistan journalist Arshad Sharif died in Kenya reportedly after being shot, his wife said on Monday. "I lost friend, husband and my favourite ... Read More Since she moved to Kenya, shes lost her husband and son. Now shes been shot by tribesmen determined to take her land. But Kuki ... Gallmann, a celebrated conservationist and author, spent ... Read More A top Pakistani news anchor was shot dead by police in Kenya after he fled his home country to avoid sedition charges, investigators said Monday, prompting calls for a full probe into what one ... Read More
World News How Could Taliban Breach Heavily Guarded Afghan Army Base | RobinsPost News & Noticias

CNN could not ... with the US and the world, said Mujahid, who appeared beside heavily armed fighters from the Talibans special forces brigade. We hope that Afghanistan is never occupied ... Read More View Comments () Members of Afghanistans elite National Army Commando Corps, who were abandoned by the United States and Western allies when the country fell to the Taliban last year ... Read More During his 20 years of fighting with the Afghan army ... with the Taliban texted that his limited mobility left him unable to leave his home to get help. "Bezos and Gates could give me some ... Read More Bowe Bergdahl, who was held prisoner by the Taliban for years after leaving his base in Afghanistan in 2009. A top Army ... World War II. Bergdahl's defense team has protested that he could ... Read More A SO-CALLED time traveller claiming to be from the future has shared more 'proof' on TikTok that he lives in a post-apocalyptic world ... video of an deserted army base. The social media ... Read More An Army base in Washington state spent part of the ... weapons go missing from arms rooms across the force in the 2010s. Could a missing receiver from JBLM end up on the street in a crime? Read More 3 On October 9, 2012, Taliban militants shot her as she boarded a school bus, injuring her and two classmates. In this photo, soldiers shift the injured Yousafzai from a helicopter at an army hospital ... Read More Ten Soldiers Killed, 50 Wounded in Attack on Burkina Faso Army Base OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) -At least ten soldiers were killed and about 50 wounded in a militant attack early Monday on an army base ... Read More The FBI says a person was taken into custody following what authorities described as a barricade situation at a U.S. Army base outside ... 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events ... Read More FORT BELVOIR, Va. (AP)  A person was taken into custody following what authorities described as a barricade situation at a U.S. Army base outside the nation's capital, the FBI said in a ... Read More
With his exact words, President Duterte said give me salt and vinegar and Ill eat his liver () Its true, if you make me angry. Referring to the prolonged decades-long Muslim separatist rebellion in the country, Duterte has warned he may place the southern Philippines under martial rule if terrorism threats spin out of control. After recently ordering troops to kill fleeing Muslim militants behind a foiled attack in the central resort province of Bohol and not bring them to him alive, calling the extremists animals, he offered a reward for information leading to the capture of Abu Sayyaf and other militants behind. What is known, thousands have died under his anti-drug commitment and possibly his answer to the terrorism will be one of the strongest of the world. Philippine Presidentss popularity remains high.
The drive-by shooting happened in Punta Pacifica, one of Panamas most exclusive areas. After analyzing the short car, Police forces found evidence of at least 11 bullets fired toward him. He was hit only three times and was brought to a nearby hospital in critical condition. During his hospital stay the assassination attempt victim lied about his identity in an effort to evade Police. He allegedly ripped off thousands of investors in a so-called boiler room scam and was wanted for fraud in Spain. One of the scam he was most known for involved him offering shares in a fake Nevada oil prospecting company. This cost British investors alone hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Burton was caught with the lie after his fingerprints matched Interpol records. As soon as he was out of danger from his injuries, the fraudster was jailed and after all formalities are finished he will be extradited to Spain on allegations of fraud against justice administrations and money laundering. Police explained that the attack targeting Burton was most likely done by hired hitmen.
By Adila Matra: The new address for Oriental dining is Feng Shuii in the Green Park Market. Well, there are no fountains or many green plants to create harmony. But their terrace is airy, spacious and the couches would look very inviting, especially during the monsoon season when you can see the rain fall on the glass roof. But let us get to the food. I would recommend skipping the soups and salads and starting off with dim sums.

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The Garlic Chili Shrimp dim sum that I was really looking forward to turned out to be a tad disappointing with its clumped shrimps that appeared totally detached from the pastry. The Lamb Hargow which is a signature dish at Feng Shuii was good but what unexpectedly did really well was the mushroom and cheese dim sum. The creaminess of the mushrooms and the cheese blended well with the pastry and this is a must try. The juicy chicken dim sums are also up to the mark. For starters, we went with another signature dish - Chicken Satay.

Well, Amen for lemon grass because not only did it complement the kafir lime, but the flavour in itself was pleasant and not overwhelming. The Chili Fish Bassa seemed a bit too bland to me, but the fish was soft and melted in my mouth. The trick is to dip it generously in the schezwan sauce. The Lamb Loin Chop, albeit a bit undercooked, wins points for the perfect marination. The paste of herbs and spices, including lemon grass, parsley and garlic make us want to lick our plates dry.

For the main course, definitely go for the Balinese Fish Curry. The Indonesian preparation with coconut milk is red, thick and spicy. It goes well with steamed rice. Another option is the signature dish, Lamb Rendang which is also spicy. The Malaysian style gravy cooked with traditional herbs and spices also go well with steamed rice. The lamb is succulent and excellently stewed in the gravy. Teetotallers will find the Pina Colada (Pineapple, fresh coconut, milk, mint and ginger) refreshing. Others can try the Woo Woo-Peach Schnapps, vodka and cranberry.

If you are looking for a rum based drink, go for Daiquiri or a simple Mojito. I would recommend you not to ask for dessert because the brownie with ice cream wasn't tantalizing enough.

- Feng Shuii is at S-27, 2nd/3rd Floor, Green Park main market. Cost for two is Rs 1,500 plus taxes

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Afghanistan observed a day of mourning Sunday after a Taliban attack on the army's northern headquarters Friday left at least 170 people dead, in the militant group's deadliest assault since it was ousted from power in 2001.

The president's office said Mr. Ghani traveled to the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, where the base is located, on Saturday.

The president's office noted that, following their atrocious and barbarous crimes, terrorists once again committed a major crime by attacking worshippers in a mosque who were performing Friday prayers, martyring and wounding a number of soldiers of 209 Shaheen Military Corps in Balkh province.

The President also directed the officials to urgently attend to the wounded and families of the martyrs.

Strongly condemning the terrorist assault, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani offers his deep condolences to families of the victims and the entire nation, wishing eternal peace to the martyrs and speedy recovery to the wounded.

The President also reiterated that the Government is committed to annihilating all terrorist outfits and that a comprehensive probe will be conducted into this terrorist assault.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Malaysia has reached an agreement to pay Abu Dhabi $2.5 billion as partial debt settlement for embattled government fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd., according to reports citing people familiar with the matter.

Under a deal that's expected to be announced Monday on the London Stock Exchange, Malaysia will pay Abu Dhabi $1.2 billion before the end of this year, the reports said. Malaysia will also assume the coupon obligations for two dollar bonds issued by 1MDB and co-guaranteed by Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund International Petroleum Investment Co., the report said.

1MDB and the Malaysian finance ministry will pay the $2.5 billion through proceeds raised from the sale of units Brazen Sky Ltd. and 1MDB Global Investment Ltd. The two countries also agreed not to pursue legal action before December 2020 as they negotiate the dispute over $3.5 billion linked to the two bonds, the reports said.

1MDB and IPIC were locked in a tussle that spilled over to repayments on two sets of bonds issued by the Malaysian state fund that led to a default in April 2016. The agreement removes a key hurdle amid investigations from the U.S. to Singapore, Hong Kong and Switzerland into money laundering and embezzlement linked to 1MDB.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
In its letter sent to the CMDs of ECIL and BEL on Friday, the Commission communicated its intent for purchasing 8,07,500 VVPATs from each PSU by September 2018.

The VVPATs will be purchased at an estimated cost of Rs 3,173.47 crore.

By Manjeet Negi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a letter of intent for purchase of 16,15,000 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,173.47 crore during 2017-18 and 2018-19 from two public service undertakings- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL).

In its letter sent to the chairman and managing directors (CMDs) of ECIL and BEL on Friday, the Commission communicated its intent for purchasing 8,07,500 VVPATs from each PSU by September 2018.

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These VVPATs shall be manufactured by both PSUs only as per the design approved by the Commission based on the recommendation of the technical experts committee on EVMs constituted by the Commission and comprising of eminent technical professors from IITs. The Commission shall closely monitor the production of VVPATs for timely delivery before the 2019 general elections.

Highlighting the importance of the step, Chief Election Commissioner Dr Nasim Zaidi said, "This will enhance transparency and uphold the voters' right to know which party he or she has voted, thereby increasing their confidence in the free and fair electoral process."

On April 19, in compliance of the order of Hon'ble Supreme Court and as per the recommendation of the Election Commission of India, government approved Rs 3,173.47 crore for the procurement of 16,15,000 VVPATs to be used in ensuing elections and 2019 general elections.

ALSO READ | Cabinet clears Rs 3,173 crore for Election Commission to buy new EVMs with paper trail

ALSO READ | 16 lakh new EVMs with paper trail for 2019 Lok Sabha election, says Election Commission

ALSO WATCH | Centre clears Rs 3173 crores for 16 lakh VVPAT machines

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The outcome will be anxiously monitored around the world as a sign of whether the populist tide that saw Britain vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump's election in the US is still rising, or starting to ebb.

People line up to vote in the first round of 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Vaulx-en-Velin near Lyon, France on Sunday. (Photo: Reuters)

By Reuters: Voting began in France today in the first round of a bitterly fought presidential election that is crucial to the future of Europe and a closely-watched test of voters' anger with the political establishment.

Nearly 47 million voters will decide, under tight security, whether to back a pro-EU centrist newcomer, a scandal-ridden veteran conservative who wants to slash public spending, a far-left eurosceptic admirer of Fidel Castro or appoint France's first woman president who would shut borders and ditch the euro.

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The outcome will be anxiously monitored around the world as a sign of whether the populist tide that saw Britain vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump's election in the United States is still rising, or starting to ebb.

Emmanuel Macron, 39, a centrist ex-banker who set up his party just a year ago, is the opinion polls' favourite to win the first round and beat far-right National Front chief Marine Le Pen in the two-person run-off on May 7.

For them to win the top two qualifying positions on Sunday would represent a seismic shift in the political landscape, as the second round would feature neither of the mainstream parties that have governed France for decades.

"It wouldn't be the classic left vs right divide but two views of the world clashing," said Ifop pollsters' Jerome Fourquet. "Macron bills himself as the progressist versus conservatives, Le Pen as the patriot versus the globalists."

But conservative Francois Fillon is making a bit of a comeback after being plagued for months by a fake jobs scandal, and leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon's ratings have surged in recent weeks. Any two of the four is seen as having a chance to qualify for the run-off.

The seven other candidates, including the ruling Socialist party's Benoit Hamon, two Trotskyists, three fringe nationalists and a former shepherd-turned-centrist lawmaker are lagging very far behind in opinion polls.

Months of campaigning has been dominated by scandals which have left many voters agonising over their choice. Some 20-30 percent might not vote and about 30 percent of those who plan to show up at the polling stations are unsure whom to vote for.

Adding uncertainty to France's most unpredictable election in decades, pollsters say they might not be able to give precise estimates of the outcome at 8 pm (1800 GMT) as usual, because small and medium-sized polling stations will be open one hour longer than in past elections.

"CHEERING MADLY"?

Bankers and brokers in Paris and far beyond are expected to be glued to their screens all evening. The possibility of a Le Pen-Melenchon run-off is not the most likely scenario but is one which alarms them.

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While Macron wants to further beef up the euro zone, Le Pen has told supporters "the EU will die." She wants to return to the Franc, re-denominate the country's debt stock, tax imports and reject international treaties.

Melenchon also wants to radically overhaul the European Union and hold a referendum on whether to leave the bloc.

Le Pen or Melenchon would struggle, in parliamentary elections in June, to win a majority to carry out such radical moves, but their growing popularity worries both investors and France's EU partners.

"It is no secret that we will not be cheering madly should Sunday's result produce a second round between Le Pen and Melenchon," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said, adding that the election posed a risk to the global economy.

Both US President Donald Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama have shown interest in the vote.

Obama spoke with Macron over the phone on Thursday, and Trump said the following day he expected the killing of a policeman by a suspected Islamist in Paris to boost Le Pen's chances.

Previous militant attacks, such as the November 2015 killings in Paris ahead of regional polls, did not appear to boost the votes of those espousing tougher national security.

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If either Macron or Fillon were victorious, each would face challenges.

For Macron, a big question would be whether he could win a majority in parliament in June. Fillon, though likely to struggle less to get a majority, would likely be dogged by an embezzlement scandal, in which he denies wrongdoing.

Some 67,000 polling stations will be monitored by more than 50,000 police officers.

ALSO READ | France votes in presidential election today; New York French consulate evacuated over bomb threat

ALSO READ | 'Europe must prepare itself for difficult times ahead'

ALSO WATCH | UK PM Theresa May encounters first parliamentary defeat over Brexit talks

--- ENDS ---
Jerry Moran wins another term in Washington over Democrat Mark Holland

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran sailed past Democrat Mark Holland, cementing his status as one of the most broadly popular politicians in Kansas.
Centrist Emmanuel Macron today won the first round of voting in the French presidential election. He will face off against far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the second and final round on May 7. New opinion polls on Sunday had Macron easily winning the final clash.

By Reuters: Centrist Emmanuel Macron took a big step towards the French presidency on Sunday by winning the first round of voting and qualifying for a May 7 runoff alongside far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Though Macron, 39, is a comparative political novice who has never held elected office, new opinion polls on Sunday had him easily winning the final clash against the 48-year-old Le Pen.

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Sunday's outcome is a huge defeat for the two centre-right and centre-left groupings that have dominated French politics for 60 years, and also reduces the prospect of an anti-establishment shock on the scale of Britain's vote last June to quit the European Union and the election of Donald Trump as US president.

In a victory speech, Macron told supporters of his fledgling En Marche! (Onwards!) movement: "In one year, we have changed the face of French politics." He went on to say he would bring in new faces and talent to transform a stale political system if elected.

RIVALS URGE FOLLOWERS TO BACK MACRON

Conceding defeat even before figures from the count came in, rival conservative and Socialist candidates urged their supporters now to put their energies into backing Macron and stopping any chance of a second-round victory by Le Pen, whose anti-immigration and anti-Europe policies they said spelled disaster for France.

A Harris survey taken on Sunday saw Macron winning the runoff by 64 percent to 36, and an Ipsos/Sopra Steria poll gave a similar result.

As investors breathed a collective sigh of relief at what the market regarded as the best of several possible outcomes, the euro soared 2 percent to $1.09395 when markets opened in Asia before slipping back to around $1.0886.

It was the euro's highest level since Nov. 10, the day after the results of the U.S. presidential election.

In a race that was too close to call up to the last minute, Macron, a pro-EU ex-banker and former economy minister who founded his own party only a year ago, had 23.9 percent of the votes against 21.4 percent for Le Pen, according to figures from the Interior Ministry with 96 percent of votes counted.

Seconds after the first projections came through, Macron supporters at a Paris conference centre burst into the national anthem, the Marseillaise. Many were under 25, reflecting some of the appeal of a man aiming to become France's youngest head of state since Napoleon.

'PRESIDENT OF PATRIOTS'

With an eye to Le Pen's avowedly France-first policies, Macron told the crowd: "I want to be the president of patriots in the face of a threat from nationalists."

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If he wins, Macron's biggest challenges will lie ahead, as he first tries to secure a working parliamentary majority for his young party in June, and then seeks broad popular support for labour reforms that are sure to meet resistance.

Addressing the battle ahead, he declared he would seek to break with a system that "has been incapable of responding to the problems of our country for more than 30 years".

"From today I want to build a majority for a government and for a new transformation. It will be made up of new faces and new talent in which every man and woman can have a place," he said.

Le Pen, who is herself bidding to make history as France's first female president, follows in the footsteps of her father, who founded the National Front and reached the second round of the presidential election in 2002.

Jean-Marie Le Pen was ultimately crushed when voters from right and left rallied around the conservative Jacques Chirac in order to keep out a party whose far-right, anti-immigrant views they considered unpalatably xenophobic.

His daughter has done much to soften her party's image, and found widespread support among young voters by pitching herself as an anti-establishment defender of French workers and French interests against global corporations and an economically constricting EU.

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"The great issue in this election is the rampant globalisation that is putting our civilisation at risk," she declared in her first word after results came through.

She went on to launch an attack on the policies of Macron, whom she again described as "the money king" in a disparaging swipe at his investment banker background.

His deregulation policies, she said, would lead to unjust international competition against France's business interests, mass immigration and free movement of terrorists.

Nevertheless, with several defeated candidates calling on supporters to stop her, Le Pen she seems destined to suffer a similar fate to her father when she goes up against Macron in two weeks' time.

Defeated Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon, Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and defeated right-wing candidate Francois Fillon all urged voters to rally behind Macron in the second round.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman hailed Macron's success, tweeting: "Good that @EmmanuelMacron succeeded with his policy for a strong EU and social market economy. Wishing him all the best for the next two weeks."

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European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed similar good wishes for the second round, his spokesman said in Brussels.

BITTER DEFEAT

It was a bitter night for Fillon, seen as a shoo-in for the Elysee until he was hit in January by allegations that his wife had been paid from the public purse for work she did not do.

Fillon scored 19.9 percent in the first round and far-left contender Jean-Luc Melenchon 19.5 percent.

"This defeat is mine and it is for me and me alone to bear it," Fillon, a 63-year-old former conservative prime minister, told a news conference, adding that he would now vote for Macron.

The two politicians left in the race offer radically contrasting economic visions for a country whose economy lags that of its neighbours and where a quarter of young people are unemployed.

Macron's gradual deregulation measures are likely to be welcomed by global financial markets, as are cuts in state expenditure and the civil service. Le Pen wants to print money to finance expanded welfare payments and tax cuts, ditch the euro currency and possibly pull out of the EU.

"Markets will be reassured that the dreaded Le Pen versus Melenchon run-off has been avoided," said Diego Iscaro, an economist from IHS Markit.

"As a result, we expect some recovery in French bond prices, while the euro is also likely to benefit," he said. "However, a lot can happen in two weeks and French assets are likely under some pressure until the second round is out of the way."

Timothy Ash, an economist at Bluebay asset management, said Trump's victory last November marked a turning point for electorates playing the protest card.

"Despite all the hype about the rise of populism, 60 percent of voters went for mainstream candidates ... In an uncertain world, they rather go for what they know best and want to take fewer risks," he said.

ALSO READ | France begins voting in first round of presidential election, seen crucial to Europe's future

ALSO READ | Europe must prepare itself for difficult times ahead: Nicolas Sarkozy

ALSO WATCH | Bengaluru court sets ex-French diplomat Pascal Mazurier, accused of raping daughter, free

--- ENDS ---
The Ministry of Police has executed a search warrant on the Samoa Observer premises at Vaitele.

It was part of their investigation to track down the person who has been making what they claim as defamatory statements against a woman who claims to be carrying the marks of Jesus Christs suffering and her family.

The search warrant was served on the Editor of the Samoa Observer, Mataafa Keni Lesa, at the companys Vaitele headquarters on Thursday.

Two Police officers arrived with the warrant and met with the Editor. Dated 18 April 2017, the warrant is signed by a Registrar of the District Court and Police Constable Kurisi Kurisi.

Police are currently investigating a Harassment utilizing means of electronic communication case against the Samoa Observer, Vaitele, the warrant reads.

We request for informations of the Article named 'Stop this madness' which was published on Wednesday 29:03:2017.

The warrant demanded that the name of the author and contacts be handed over.

The article in question was published in the Letters to the Editor section of the Samoa Observer.

It was an online comment penned by a person with the initials M.R in response to a front page story titled "Church stigmata row deepens published on 26 March 2017.

A reference in the letter about D.N.A in connection to the stigmata was later retracted by the Samoa Observer.

According to the Police, a former Reverend of the E.F.K.S, Opapo Soanai Oeti, has lodged a complaint against the Samoa Observer, in relation to the letter.

The warrant comes at a time when Mr. Oeti had also lodged a separate complaint, which has triggered a Police hunt for an online blogger known as Ole Palemia.

The woman who claims to be carrying Jesus Christs suffering, Toa Patrick, is Mr. Oetis daughter.
A woman who was wrongfully arrested by the Police and detained for five days over the manhunt for Ole Palemia has broken her silence about the ordeal.

Speaking to the Sunday Samoan, the woman who prefers to be known only as Stoira strongly denied that she is the face behind Samoas most wanted blogger.

She expressed disappointment that the Police should have done their investigation properly.

She said she was locked up while her elderly father, a brother with special needs and her 7-year-old child were by themselves at home with no one there to take care for them.

According to Stoira, the Deputy Registrar at the Court told her she was being charged under the Crimes Act 2013 for Harassment utilising means of electronic communication.

The charge could land a person in jail for a term not exceeding five years.

The Registrar told me on Thursday that Ive been charged with that one, she said.

The fact is - I did not know who is O LE PALEMIA both on facebook and the blog and to my understanding even though Im charged with this, but this is all related to trying to find out who is O LE PALEMIA.

The O LE PALEMIA facebook is one of the new pages on social media network Facebook, while the blog O LE PALEMIA dates back two to three years ago.

I have no idea whos the person behind the blog, and Im not O LE PALEMIA.

Storia said that she was told the charge stems from her sharing a post of O LE PALEMIA on her Facebook Page.

The article is about what Sua (Police Spokesperson) said about the case of Opapo and his daughter and the investigation on the O LE PALEMIA blog.

The thing is I just shared it on my page...I mean I didnt swear or say anything that might harm anyone on Facebook.

Others made comments on what I shared, I did comment as well but as Ive mentioned before I didnt call anyone bad names, (or said any) bad words.

The truth is they assumed that I am O LE PALEMIA, she said.

She dubbed the Polices actions as sad.

The police arrested me from my home on Wednesday afternoon...like one oclock in the afternoon, she said.

Then we came, when we got to the Police Station they told me to wait for the Registrar. Past one...two...three...nearly four oclock then thats when they questioned me.

She claims she was then told to remain in custody following the questioning because the Registrar had left.

On Thursday at eleven oclock in the morning I was called by Faatasi (the Registrar) that Ill be released with conditions to sign in every Friday and my case will be called on the 9th May.

When I was collecting my stuff at the front desk, one police officer called me that the Registrar wanted to see me.

Faatasi the Registrar told me that police requested to further remand me in custody because they hadnt completed their investigations.

Im like, what (more) investigations they need, I didnt do anything wrong, did I kill someone or threaten someone on Facebook? The answer is no!

Stoira said that it was really hard to deal with the realization that she didnt do anything wrong.

I was really sad, confused especially I have an elderly father at home, a handicap brother and a seven year old son at home  they all need me, to feed, to look after...

I was also trying to reach for a lawyer to help me out on Thursday but it was too late...sadly, I was taken to Tafaigata on that Thursday.

You know the end of the story, yes, I was held in custody from Wednesday until Monday this week.

In my head, why are they treating me like this? Why should I be remanded in custody for this long holiday...while they still investigate the matter?

They shouldnt have held me in prison while they carried out their investigations whatever charges they wanted to charge me for?

The ministry is questioning people but what about those police officers that swear and threaten people on Facebook and other social media. This is really sick.

Stoira said the incident was traumatic.

As a mother, I am very disappointed and sad at the same time. Why didnt they investigate first before they held me under custody, I mean, a long holiday for every family to stay together.

But I was in prison, I was wasting my time in there, with something I didnt do and totally wrong to my understanding.

I didnt commit any crime, I didnt kill someone, its like they held me for a serious reason.

When asked whether she will take legal action against the Polices, she said: For now, Im still trying to catch my breath, and focus on whats next.
AT THE LAUNCH OF THE BOOK 'TO WALK UNDER PALM TREES; GERMANS IN SAMOA': His Highness, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Her Highness Filifilia Tamasese with Tony Brunt, the Author of To walk under Palm trees; Germans in Samoa. (Photo: Samoa Observer)

AT THE LAUNCH OF THE BOOK 'TO WALK UNDER PALM TREES; GERMANS IN SAMOA': His Highness, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Her Highness Filifilia Tamasese with Tony Brunt, the Author of To walk under Palm trees; Germans in Samoa. (Photo: Samoa Observer)

A book about the history of Germans in Samoa before independence was launched at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum on Friday night.

Authored by Tony Brunt, the book 250-page book titled To walk under Palm trees; Germans in Samoa is a comprehensive piece on the German colonial period which posed significant changes on Samoan society and culture.

More than 200 guests attended the launch.

The Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, delivered the keynote address.

History-making is both deliberate and accidental, he said. But making history books, such as the one we are launching has to be more deliberate than accidental."

Once the decision is made to make a book such as this, a book that speaks directly to a countrys or to a peoples past, deliberate thought has to go into making decisions about what to put in, how to frame it, what audience to target and so on and so forth.

The Head of State offered his thoughts about the potential impact of this book on Samoan ideas, especially about history making, family and legacy.

The 19th and early 20th century was a time where Samoa was besieged with foreign interest. A lot of which are captured by photographs in the book.

Western historians have argued that the German period in Samoa was the most settled period during European imperial colonial history.

His Highness Tui Atua said much of this has been attributed to the skill and paternalism of Governor Wilhelm Solf.

The Germans that came to Samoa were highly talented and well educated. The book makes this point loud and clear, His Highness said.

German written and photographic records offer historical evidence of what happened during their time, what they built, and of what they are interested in, in Samoa.

He said that the legacies of what they did especially of what Governor Solf and his successor Dr, Erich Schultz-Erwerth and Dr. Augustine Kramer did, lives on today. The significance of their contribution to understanding modern Samoa cannot be understated.

He said the pictures of German Samoa recorded in the book are very real, many of which have not been publicly displayed before.

This picture album therefore offers a record of German Samoa that is ripe for further historical and sociological analysis, he said.

It is a book that came together through love and nostalgia of German Samoan families for their families, many of which were born and raised in Samoa.

He further noted that allowing the pictures to take center stage in the telling of the story of this big, the impact will be as the saying goes, worth a thousand words.

It is a great legacy and will contribute to the task of remembers Samoa in all her fullness and color.

The Author commended many people who assisted.

It would have not been possible without the suffering families who've had to open their photo collections and their family heirlooms, Mr. Brunt said.

The venue for the launch was deliberate.

There is no other historic house than the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, its dripped with memories, and stories.

During the compilation of the book, Mr. Brunt said he has come to have such deep respect and strong affection for people hes been researching and the people he presents in the book.

When working with photographs the people have shared, you are digitally restoring these paragraphs, youre looking at the people photos and theyre looking at you and its different from historical documents. There is a certain dimension to it and its certainly a human dimension to it.

Mr. Brunt said he reached out to his cousin in Auckland, Agnes Sasse Heene. Her father came to Samoa and worked here and went on to marry Louisa.

I asked Agnes, if I could scan those photos, which included the fantastic dancing, it was one of the photos that came out of Samoa in the German colonial period, and that was when he started on his journey."

Gradually, collections were tracked down, initially in Auckland. Families proved to be wonderfully generous and public spirited in sharing their precious photographic heirlooms."

Almost immediately it became clear that there were some albums and collections of major archival and historical significance not just to the South Pacific but to Germany as well.
When it comes to the cocoa industry, the owners of Savaii Koko, Tupai Saleimoa and his wife Rosie Vaai have big plans.

From humble beginnings in Savaii, they are expanding their operations to Upolu in a bid to get more farmers interested in developing the crop.

Speaking to the Sunday Samoan, Tupai said their goal is to remind Samoa that cocoa is a revenueearning crop and when it is developed well, it is potentially a very lucrative market. A market that should be consolidated.

Tupai and Rosie know how successful it can be. Their company has struck a deal with world famous brands so that their cocoa is now used to manufacture top selling chocolates like Whittakers.

We have the partnership with Whittakers and for three years now we have been exporting cocoa to New Zealand to Whittakers to produce the chocolate, he said.

For three years weve been dealing solely out of Savaii and we have a lot of projects going on in Savaii but we starting to expand as the market is starting to consolidate a little.

What we are trying to do is to conduct more awareness for the cocoas because for a lot of families, the standard of the cocoa is not good.

Ever since weve expanded out we just realize theres a lot of cocoa here in Samoa and so we want to make them feel that they have a source of income with cocoa.

At the moment the people only turn to the plant when its fruiting and because we have a big farm and so we came to Apia and looked around and I saw that many of the farms are being neglected.

Tupai went on to say that cocoa and coconut is the traditional cash drop of Samoa.

I can see that the cocoa is not fruiting to the level its suppose to be and simply because the people are not looking after it properly, he said.

So weve expanded out in Savaii instead of just our district and so its good in Savaii and now we have expanded to Apia.

We are starting to get a little bit of traction but because theres a big demand of the local market therefore we are trying to convince the people to think ahead, but not just for now but look to the future.

The plant is not an easy plant to grow as it takes a lot of time and so what we are trying to do is to reintroduce the mindset of people towards cocoa as a source of income.

Having come to Apia weve seen a lot even though its not the same uptake like Savaii but we are now using a different method.

In the old days people just comes in with their dry cocoa and we measure it and thats it but now we are also bringing in the pod as well and at the moment we are relatively buying it at a smaller margin for the time being.

But we are trying to re-introduce to people that there is a source of income that they can get from this and as we can see the limited job opportunities we need to get back to the land.

We are trying to get more exposure in Upolu and we started from Leulumoega, Fasitoo, Faleasiu, Leauvaa, Tuanai and Afega as well as the other side like Salani Falealili and so forth.

However, we are still looking for partners here in Apia the likeminded people who not only need financial help but also want to make their farm even better and up to the standard that its suppose to be.

Moreover, Tupai said one of the biggest challenges is that most of the people have a small farm but they try to get more money.

The biggest challenges that we face is because many of the people have 4 to 5 plants of cocoa and they try to get as much money as they can, Tupai said.

But they dont try to plant more and make their plantation bigger so they can get more money instead of trying to get more money with the little plants they have so what we are trying to do is to teach our farmers to look at the long term.

At the moment we are buying with the pods and at a different prices but it depends on the size of the pods and from the district of Asau its predominantly cocoa Samoa but when we came to Apia we see a mixture of all cocoas.

He carried on saying that the reason why they now buy it with the pods its because they are trying to maintain the quality of the cocoa.

There is a certain method that is demanded by the chocolate factory that the cocoa should be for instance it has to be fermented for 7 days, and then sundry it and it usually takes up to 10 days, said Tupai.

We have to have that exact and so when people bring in the cocoa it was either fermented for 3 days and the rest they dont and some people want quick money and then they dont go through the process that we have already told them and we have ways and methods to tested it to know if these cocoas were done the right way.

Thats why we decided to bring it with the pods so that we can do it ourselves and we can meet the standards of the cocoa that is demanded by the chocolate factory.

Right now we are still looking for more supplies and at the moment we advertised through the television as well as our facebook page and any way we can.

We need more suppliers and our operation here in Upolu have just started about three weeks to a month now so we are still in need of more suppliers as I have to meet 6 containers this year hence why we are desperate of more suppliers.

We are out and about and if anyone who has a cocoa farm please contact us and we will pick up from you. Contact Rosie Vaai on 760-9090 or 58140 in Savaii.
Dane Mulinuu Fabricius (D.M.F) needs no introduction.

In the fashion industry or on the dance floor, D.M.F. standouts out from the crowd always sporting an intricately interesting outfit.

Emerging as a recognisable fashion figure in Samoa; D.M.F. is ready to take Samoan fashion to the world, again.

Mr. Fabricius has been personally invited to showcase at the 10th Gold Anniversary, Fiji Fashion Week in May.

When I got the invitation from Fiji Fashion Week to represent Samoa for their 10th year Golden Anniversary, I was stoked and overall excited, he said.

I didnt know what to say but YES! When I got the news, I couldnt hold it in and shared it with my family and friends.

This is the first time he has been invited to showcase in Fiji and has very high expectations.

I have high expectations for every opportunity, he said.

My personal expectations is, I hope Fiji will love my work but also to make my people proud. I hope this brings more opportunities and invitations to bigger fashion shows and world buyers who are interested to invest and believe in my product.

Reaching this huge milestone has altered his viewpoint; he is no longer representing himself but is now uplifting the name of Samoa everywhere he goes.

I thought to myself, Man Im not just representing myself anymore, he said.

Im representing Samoa and all my brothers and sisters that have made my dream reality and nothing should hold anybody back from their dreams. This opens and introduces more opportunities for the future of fashion in and outside of Samoa.

Showing in Fiji allows D.M.F. not only to grow both in knowledge of the fashion world but opening doors to our Pacific nations that our art and craft is just as good as the European and Western World and that the world is ready to wear and own an piece carefully designed with a touch of Samoa.

Of course, turning a dream into reality comes at a cost.

For D.M.F. finances are a hurdle but nothing he cant get handle.

First thing that came to my mind was attending fashion shows is not cheap, he said.

However, Mr. Fabricius was not going to let that stand in the way and has reached out to the community through hosting fundraisers to help him get to Fiji.

But this was not going to stop me. With the support of my family and friends having them believe in my product made me in my product even more excited to stand up and represent my community and my Samoa.

Ive started fundraisers asking the community of their support. Looking good is not easy, so Ive started with Zumba trying to incorporate fashion with healthy living.

Look out for D.M.F.s fundraisers on social media. All proceeds will go toward D.M.Fs trip to Fiji Fashion Week.
SYDNEY (AP)  U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Australia's prime minister swept aside any lingering tensions Saturday over an Obama era agreement on the resettlement of refugees, joining forces to urge China to take a greater role in pressuring North Korea to scuttle its nuclear weapons and missile program.

Pence and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull repeatedly praised the decades-long American-Australian alliance following a meeting in Sydney, with the vice president passing along President Donald Trump's "very best regards" and thanking Turnbull for calling on Beijing to be more assertive in the international effort to de-escalate Pyongyang's nuclear threat.

Meeting at the governor-general's residence with sweeping views of Sydney Harbour and the city's famed opera house, the two leaders appeared at pains to present a united front following an unusual period of strain between the longtime allies. The anxieties were sparked by a spat between Turnbull and Trump over a refugee resettlement deal struck by former President Barack Obama.

Pence said Saturday that the U.S. would honor the agreement even if the administration didn't agree with it. Under the deal, the U.S. would take up to 1,250 refugees housed by Australia in detention camps on the Pacific island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

Trump's anger over the agreement led to a tense phone call with Turnbull in January and an angry tweet in which the president called the deal "dumb."

"President Trump has made it clear that we'll honor the agreement  that doesn't mean we admire the agreement," Pence said during a joint news conference with Turnbull.

The prime minister, for his part, said that "whatever the reservations of the president are," the decision "speaks volumes for the commitment, the integrity of President Trump, and your administration, sir, to honor that commitment."

The fallout over the deal has strained the typically cozy alliance between the U.S. and Australia. A majority of Australians view Trump unfavorably, and some critics of him have urged Australia to distance itself from the U.S. in favor of stronger ties with China. Turnbull has resisted pressure to choose between the two countries, both of which are considered vital allies; the U.S. is Australia's most important security partner, while China is its most important trading partner.

Pence's visit Down Under, part of his 10-day, four-country trip to the Pacific Rim, was widely viewed as an effort to smooth over relations with Australia. Indeed, the vice president seemed determined to reassure Australia of its importance to the U.S., noting as he stood next to Turnbull on the shores of Sydney Harbour: "It's always heartening to stand beside a friend, and I do so today."

Both leaders also repeatedly cited the nations' long history of military cooperation. Australia has fought alongside the U.S. in every major conflict since World War I, and is one of the largest contributors to the U.S.-led military campaign in Iraq and Syria.

Pence said his trip to Australia during the administration's first three months in office and Trump's plans to travel to Asia next fall represented "a strong sign of our enduring commitment to the historic alliance between the people of the United States of America and the people of Australia."

Pence and Turnbull said they were aligned in their opinion that China should use its leverage with North Korea to de-escalate the nuclear threat from Pyongyang. Pence said the U.S. believes that it will be possible to achieve its objective of ending North Korea's nuclear program peacefully, largely with the help of China.

Turnbull echoed the sentiments, saying: "The eyes of the world are on Beijing."

Pence said that while the Trump administration had pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, it still considered its bilateral trade deal with Australia to be a "model" and a "win-win" for both countries.

The alliance was front-and-center for Pence in his meetings with top Australian officials, who repeatedly noted their military partnership for nearly a century. Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, seated with Pence, said the relationship between the countries is as strong as it was since "the first time we saw each other on the battlefield in 1919."

Pence was using the visit to make a number of cultural stops, joining with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop at the Australian Museum, observing exhibits on crocodiles and snakes and listening as one of the museum's managers offered a traditional Highlands welcome of Papua New Guinea.

On Sunday, Pence and his family were to tour Sydney's iconic Opera House, take a boat ride in the harbor and visit the city's Taronga Zoo.
Dear Editor

Re: Tourism is our hope

That is the whole idea and action that some sons and daughters of Samoa are working hard behind the scene with their developer partners and leaders of Samoa for Samoa. They know better the kind of products Samoa has in order for Samoa to make the real income.

Thats why all those hotels, big and small are bringing their standards up which is one of the requirements of the tourism industry goals, the International Airport, the Wharves, the refurbishing of the capital of Apia, the sightseeing areas and beaches, the historic sides of Samoan history and events that happened in history, the culture and tradition of Samoa, the Samoan food and much, much more.

The tourism industry is a huge industry in the world quite frankly. If Samoa government is 100% fully developing the Tourism Industry of Samoa, Samoa is one of the best destinations. Why? Exotic destination that most people would like to visit other countries like Samoa.

Time has come for Samoa government to 100% fully support the private sector of Samoa and the blessings will come to them tenfold. Work hard and use the available money at hand and it will lead Samoa to a much, much better financial place for Samoa now and in the future.

Savaii is one of the most important goals for tourism industry development in Samoa. Why? Lots of historic events were held in Savaii and that brought Samoa to where it is today, let alone lots of beautiful sightseeing areas in Savaii and lots of beautiful beaches as well, forest adventures and sea adventures to name a few. Keep going and use that money wisely. We also know the Tourism Industry is a huge money-making sector for Samoa.

Moaga Nuusa
Samoas Police Commissioner Fuiavailiili Egon Keil admits that it is fair to say that Samoa is one of the gateways for the smuggling of drugs to bigger countries.

But its not just Samoa, its the same for Tahiti where a yacht was recently caught with a large quantity of cocaine with a street value in millions of dollars, he said in response to Samoa Observer questions during an interview at his office.

The Commissioner was elaborating on the importance of having the Pacific Transnational Crime Network (P.T.C.N.), in all the Pacific islands.

Currently, there are 16 countries which are members of the P.T.C.N. with the newest member, being American Samoa where their Transnational Crime Unit was officially opened last month.

He emphasized the importance of P.T.C.N. which provides an inter-connected, proactive transnational criminal intelligence and investigative capability for the Pacific. The network is a multi-agency law enforcement approach, primarily consisting of police, customs and immigration officers with close links to various other agencies.

According to the Commissioner, Samoa is not immune as the bad guys target the small island nations to get through to the bigger countries which have the money to buy and sell these types of drugs.

When there are drugs, there are guns and when those two mix up, its always deadly and thats why the TCU in the Pacific works day and night to stop these types of transactions, said Fuiavailiili.

In Radio New Zealand reports, the cocaine seized in the Tuamotus last week was destined for New Caledonia or possibly Australia.

Authorities found 237 kilogrammes [522 lbs] of cocaine on a burnt-out yacht on Faaite after its two sailors had been detained by the police.

The prosecutor, Herve Leroy said the two Spanish men, in their forties, deny any knowledge of the cargo. The yacht had run aground and was on fire when the two men were rescued and given medical care. When locals tried to clean up the debris of the burnt yacht, they found the cocaine amid signs that a huge quantity had already been burnt.

In January, 1.4 tonnes of cocaine was seized in the region on two other yachts.

Samoas Police Commissioner further told Samoa Observer that currently they are keen to get their law enforcement officers to undergo training and workshops to upskill their methods of tackling these issues.

Its (drug trafficking) happening in the Pacific and it will happen in Samoa if we are not watchful about securing our borders and thats why its relatively important to work with Customs and the Attorney Generals Office to tackle these difficult issues.

Chief Executive Officer of the Prime Ministers Office, Agafili Shem Leo, shares the same concerns as the Police Commissioner.

Last month, during the Pacific Immigration Directors Conference (P.I.D.C.) press conference, Agafili said criminals are using Samoa as a gateway to New Zealand and Australia.

He said aside from dugs smuggling, there is also human trafficking or people smuggling that is becoming more common and this is because of the Samoas proximity to New Zealand and Australia.

He further stated the increase of organised crime is increasing due to the availability of technology and these crimes are happening all over the world and Samoa is no exception from being affected indirectly from these crimes.

Agafili at the time of the press conference stated that having the Samoa Transnational Crime Unit in Samoa alongside other law enforcement agencies will assist in border protection for Samoa.
Almost 47 million Frenchmen and women will decide today whom to back in the first round of a crucial two-stage presidential election. Meanwhile, the French consulate in New York was evacuated - but only temporarily - following a bomb threat which turned out to be a false alarm.

A person submits a vote in the French election at the Consulate General of France in Manhattan, New York (Reuters Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: France goes to the polls on Sunday for the first round of a bitterly fought presidential election, crucial to the future of Europe and a closely-watched test of voters' anger with the political establishment.

Nearly 47 million voters will decide, under tight security, whether to back a pro-EU centrist newcomer, a scandal-ridden veteran conservative who wants to slash public spending, a far-left eurosceptic admirer of Fidel Castro or appoint France's first woman president, to shut borders and ditch the euro.

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The outcome will be anxiously monitored around the world as a sign of whether the populist tide that saw Britain vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump's election in the United States is still rising, or starting to ebb.

Meannwhile, the French Consulate in New York was evacuated - albeit briefly - following a bomb threat which turned out to be a false alarm, New York Daily News reported today.

SEISMIC POLITICAL SHIFT POSSIBLE

Emmanuel Macron, 39, a centrist ex-banker who set up his party just a year ago, is the opinion polls' favourite to win the first round and beat far-right National Front chief Marine Le Pen in the two-person run-off on May 7.

For them to win the top two qualifying positions on Sunday would represent a seismic shift in the political landscape, as the second round would feature neither of the mainstream parties that have governed France for decades.

"It wouldn't be the classic left vs right divide but two views of the world clashing," said Ifop pollsters' Jerome Fourquet. "Macron bills himself as the progressist versus conservatives, Le Pen as the patriot versus the globalists."

But conservative Francois Fillon is making a bit of a comeback after being plagued for months by a fake jobs scandal, and leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon's ratings have surged in recent weeks. Any two of the four is seen as having a chance to qualify for the run-off.

The seven other candidates, including the ruling Socialist party's Benoit Hamon, two Trotskyists, three fringe nationalists and a former shepherd-turned-centrist lawmaker are lagging very far behind in opinion polls.

Months of campaigning has been dominated by scandals which have left many voters agonising over their choice. Some 20-30 percent might not vote and about 30 percent of those who plan to show up at the polling stations are unsure whom to vote for.

Adding uncertainty to France's most unpredictable election in decades, pollsters say they might not be able to give precise estimates of the outcome at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) as usual, because small and medium-sized polling stations will be open one hour longer than in past elections.

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"CHEERING MADLY"?

Bankers and brokers in Paris and far beyond are expected to be glued to their screens all evening. The possibility of a Le Pen-Melenchon run-off is not the most likely scenario but is one which alarms them.

While Macron wants to further beef up the euro zone, Le Pen has told supporters "the EU will die." She wants to return to the Franc, re-denominate the country's debt stock, tax imports and reject international treaties.

Melenchon also wants to radically overhaul the European Union and hold a referendum on whether to leave the bloc.

Le Pen or Melenchon would struggle, in parliamentary elections in June, to win a majority to carry out such radical moves, but their growing popularity worries both investors and France's EU partners.

"It is no secret that we will not be cheering madly should Sunday's result produce a second round between Le Pen and Melenchon," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said, adding that the election posed a risk to the global economy.

Both U.S. President Donald Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama have shown interest in the vote.

Obama spoke with Macron over the phone on Thursday, and Trump said the following day he expected the killing of a policeman by a suspected Islamist in Paris to boost Le Pen's chances.

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Previous militant attacks, such as the November 2015 killings in Paris ahead of regional polls, did not appear to boost the votes of those espousing tougher national security.

If either Macron or Fillon were victorious, each would face challenges.

For Macron, a big question would be whether he could win a majority in parliament in June. Fillon, though likely to struggle less to get a majority, would likely be dogged by an embezzlement scandal, in which he denies wrongdoing.

Some 67,000 polling stations will open at 8 a.m., monitored by more than 50,000 police officers.

(Inputs from Reuters)

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--- ENDS ---
Despite their undying love for their former Reverend Opapo Oeti, the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa (C.C.C.S) in Falelatai is moving on.

They will be looking for a replacement church minister over the next six months.

This is according to an official of the church, Faalavaau Leaia Molesi who said that it hasn't been easy losing their Reverend who has been with them for 23 years.

There there is nothing we can do as the decision has been made, he said.

Opapo was stripped of his pastoral title last month; a decision taken by the Elders of C.C.C.S.

The Reverend is the father of Toaipuapuaga Toa Patrick who claims to be carrying the marks or stigmata of Jesus.

Faalavaau told the Samoa Observer minutes after the service, that they are not rushing into looking for another Reverend, but its something that will be discussed within the church in the next six months.

He made it clear that the church members are heartbroken with the loss of their Reverend, nonetheless they will honour the decision by the Elders.

He confirmed that not many members of the church attended yesterdays service as they were busy cooking lunch for their last meal with Opapo and his family.

He dismissed suggestions that the church has split since the stigmata in their Church.

During the last service at the Church in which Opapo served for 23 years, he was in tears as he gave his final sermon where he spoke about the importance of faith and not giving up during troubling times.

It was an emotional service for those who attended including members of other churches in the village, such as the Catholic church and the Church of the Latter Day Saints.

Opapo also reminded the congregation that he would be taking with him, the statute of Jesus and Mary to his residence as they were gifts.

Mrs Oeti was given the opportunity to speak and on behalf of her family she thanked the church members for their unwavering support and undying love for them in the past 23 years.

She acknowledged how difficult its been, but the obstacles did not take away their focus on God who is the pillar of their lives.

Following the service, an official of the church reminded Opapo that while his services had been terminated, the vow he made with the church cannot be broken.

According to Faalavaau they will meet again with Opapo and his family on Tuesday at their farewell meeting.

He also pointed out that Opapo met with the Village Council on Saturday and they have sorted their differences and he said its good that this feud has been settled prior to Opapo leaving the church and village.

The village has forgiven Opapo and he has forgiven the Village Council, so all is well within the village and with our Reverend, he said.
Many parishes of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa are now ready to make a call at the Fonotele this year.

The call, is for the mother church to pay former General Secretary, Dr. Afereti Uili from the time he was stripped of all his roles in the church over an allegation of a sexual nature made by a woman identified as Angeline Lesa.

This was confirmed by one church member who spoke to Samoa Observer on condition of anonymity.

That is - to pay Dr. Afereti from the time he stepped down from his roles until justice was served at last, the source said.

Yes, he was on leave without pay from the whole time he stepped down from his role as General Secretary of the church.

This is normal in our church. There are always opportunities for church members to raise whatever matter that they want to present at the fono every year.

What Ive heard is that there are lot of parishes in Samoa and overseas that are now ready to present this to the fono this year.

But this has to go first to the Fonotele for formal approval before further action.

The Supreme Courts decision to give consent by judgment as a result of mediation between the two parties ended the longstanding fight by Rev. Afereti to clear his name.

In January this year, the Elders Committee of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S) reinstated Reverend Dr. Afereti Uili as a Pastor of the church.

The decision was made and relayed to the sacked former Secretary General of the Church during a meeting.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer at the time, Rev. Afereti acknowledged the decision by the Elders Committee.

Firstly, I want to thank the church for their decision, he said.

Whats very important to me is the fact that they reviewed their decision and made it right.

Rev. Afereti said he had only been reinstated as a Pastor but he had not been allocated a church to look after. There were other roles he held within the church which had not been returned to him.

The most important thing is that they have reinstated my position as a Reverend. Im very happy with that, he said.

As you recall, the last time we spoke I expressed how hurt I was because of the decision they made."

Today I dont want talk about how deep that pain was because of what happened but Im just grateful and happy that they have reinstated me.

With the allegation resolved and the reinstatement by the Elders Committee he was asked if he was considering suing the church for his sacking.

He said: To be honest Ive never thought of that."

It doesnt mean that the possibility is not been there but I never thought about that at all. Who knows what tomorrow and the future holds for us? We never know.

Rev. Afereti also continued to stand by his plea of innocence."

Even though I pleaded with the Elders of the church at that time that I didnt do anything wrong, they stood by their decision.

He also admitted had been the toughest time of his life and that of his wife and children and expressed gratitude to everyone for their support and continuous prayers.

Rev. Afereti said they too were innocent victims of the circumstances.
Three water tanks worth $500 each have gone to three lucky families.

Their stories in the Village Voice feature of the Samoa Observer, described their need for help which has been generously answered.

This was confirmed by the Rotomould Samoa LTD managing director, Fred Yazdani.

These three small water tanks were paid off by a palagi woman who did not wish to be named, he said.

It was some time ago when this Good Samaritan came over to pay for these tanks.

So therefore we have three families who will be given these water tanks.

In response to a Village Voice story which featured Sefau Evi of Leauvaa one of the water tanks was offered.

When Village Voice reporters visited the family, the father said they could handle most things, but living without water was not something they could continue to do.

The family he said, relied heavily on fetching water from their neighbor to survive.

Weve lived here for years now and this has been a huge problem.

We reported the problem to the Water Authority, and they told us to wait because theres a lot of work to be done.

So we humbly asked if anyone could help us with this matter.

The second family which received another water tank was the family of Fatulau Faamasino of Luatuanuu.

Fatulaus plight was also featured in the Village Voice section of Samoa Observer.

We have more than 10 people in our family, and it is a struggle for us to survive, he had told Village Voice.

No one else in our family works.

Our main source of income is from our sons fishing.

Fatulaus family also struggled with water and other basic necessities, but their big problem, was that their water source had no filter.

The family needed a water tank to store their water and water filters to make sure the water was clean to drink.

And last but not least, the family of Magea Letoga was also featured in Village Voice.

With no water pipes connected to the house, Magea said they simply did not have the money to get access.

The three families were contacted to pick their water tanks and they all expressed their sincere thanks to whoever donated such a wonderful gifts.
PARIS (AP)  Whatever the result of France's presidential election, the choice will resonate far beyond France's borders, from Syrian battlefields to Hong Kong trading floors and the halls of the U.N. Security Council.

The future of Europe is at stake as this country chooses a president in an election unlike any other, one that may reshape France's post-war identity and indicate whether global populism is ascendant or on the decline.

As untested centrist Emmanuel Macron and nationalist Marine Le Pen head into a May 7 runoff after dominating Sunday's first-round vote, here are a few reasons why this race matters:

RISK OF A FREXIT

Le Pen hopes to pull France out of the European Union and its shared euro currency  a blow that would be far worse than Britain's exit and could spell death for the EU, the euro and the whole idea of European unity borne from the blood of World War II. France is a founding member of the EU, and its main driver along with former rival Germany.

Most of the 11 candidates in the first round campaigned against the EU, blamed for myriad economic and security woes, and Le Pen will carry their banner proudly into the runoff.

Financial markets expressed relief at Macron's lead in the first round, but they've been jittery over a possible Frexit, fearing controls on money transfers, capital flight, a plague of defaults and lawsuits on bonds and contracts. Le Pen's team downplays apocalyptic scenarios, arguing that the euro is headed for a breakup eventually anyway.

Le Pen also blames free trade pacts for killing French jobs and wants to renegotiate them, which would cause a financial tangle for the rest of the EU and France's trade partners.

___

TRUMP AND POPULISM

If Le Pen wins, that would be a resounding victory for the populist wave reflected by the votes for President Donald Trump and Brexit. Many French workers who have lost out because of globalization are similarly fed up with establishment parties and especially attracted by promises of ditching the status quo.

Polls currently suggest Le Pen will have a difficult time convincing enough voters to join her in the second round. But she could pull in support from supporters of far left Jean-Luc Melenchon who share her anger at the global financial system and the global elite.

Macron called for hope in Europe in his victory speech, and mainstream conservative and Socialist parties that threw their weight behind him are committed to European unity. Macron has framed himself as a bulwark against Trump's protectionism.

___

ASSAD'S SYRIA AND PUTIN'S RUSSIA

A nuclear power with a seat on the U.N. Security Council and tens of thousands of troops around the world, France is a key U.S. ally in the campaign against the Islamic State group and a major diplomatic player.

If elected, Macron would likely keep up the French operations against extremists in Iraq and Syria and Africa's Sahel region  and keep up pressure on Russia over Ukraine and its actions to bolster Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Le Pen, on the other hand, firmly backs Assad and distanced herself from Trump over recent U.S. airstrikes targeting Assad's regime.

Le Pen also met recently with Russian President Vladimir Putin and would push for lifting sanctions against Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine.
San Diegos homeless crisis is rapidly getting worse.

Of course, regular visitors to downtown or practically any beach area knew this already. Sections of Americas Finest City are turning into Calcutta, as officials leave severely disabled people to fend for themselves.

Meanwhile, well-housed taxpayers wonder which politician, judge or police chief thinks its a good idea to allow open drug use, public defecation and pugnacious panhandling in our communities.

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Last week we got hard data as officials released estimates from a federally mandated count conducted on a single night in January.

The numbers were a significant setback, said Thomas Theisen, a retired patent lawyer and longtime volunteer who recently completed service as board president of the San Diego County Regional Task Force on the Homeless.

In a single year, the population of unsheltered chronically homeless surged by 61 percent across the region, to 1,750 people from 1,087 in 2016. Under the federal definition, they were disabled and typically lived outdoors for a year or more  the sickest, neediest, most vulnerable people.

Addressing homelessness in San Diego just got much more difficult, Theisen said. We cannot afford to keep losing ground while other communities are solving the problem.

Theisen was referring to major cities such as Houston, which over the decade to 2016 reduced its chronic population by 86 percent. Like other successful cities, Houston embraced a strategy called Housing First, which puts disabled people directly into apartments and then offers medical and social services, instead of leaving them in shelters or the streets until they complete a program to qualify for permanent housing.

During the same decade, San Diegos chronic population soared by 54 percent  now 148 percent higher than 2007 when you include the 2017 increase (Houston hasnt reported its latest count, and U.S. figures arent due until June).

Experts focus on the chronically homeless for good reasons, both moral and practical. Not only do they suffer the most, but they also cost taxpayers and donors the most, between shelters, jails and emergency rooms. One national study found that just 10 percent of the homeless population consumed 50 percent of the resources spent on homelessness.

This years dramatic surge in chronics explains most of the increase in the overall unsheltered population in San Diego County, which rose 14 percent to 5,621, while the number of homeless in shelters or other subsidized housing fell 6 percent to 3,495.

The decline in the sheltered total was apparently caused, for the most part, by cuts to transitional housing programs that help people with serious problems rejoin society.

Yet before we go much further into the litany of unwise policy, some context is useful. For openers, San Diego has been here before.

In the aftermath of the Great Recessions job loss and foreclosures, the regions unsheltered homeless population peaked in 2012 at 5,642 before declining sharply until 2014, when it started growing again, according to federal data.

That 2012 peak was nearly identical to this Januarys overall total of 5,621. And the chronic population, at 2,460 in 2012, was even higher than the 1,750 this year. One caveat: Changing federal definitions of chronic may explain the difference.

Speaking of recessions, San Diegos politicians missed a once-a-century chance to leverage the real estate panic into thousands of permanent, Housing First apartments for the homeless  and shore up the depressed construction industry in the bargain. Instead, they hunkered down with winter tents and other temporary measures, and hoped the crisis would pass.

If recession and feeble leadership were the culprits last time, now it seems that economic recovery and languid leadership is pushing people onto the sidewalks.

In particular, city officials over the last six years have allowed 10,000 low-cost apartment units to disappear in San Diego, converted into boutique hotel rooms or demolished for new luxury apartments and condominiums. Thats bully for their owners and good for the economy, but the city violated its own ordinance that requires a one-for-one replacement.

And theres more to come. About 2,400 homes are poised to lose subsidized status over the next five years as owners opt against renewing federal contracts, a recent study reported.

However, in our determined quest for a bright side, lets not forget that it takes time for policy shifts in the right direction to show up in the homeless data.

The best example is San Diegos Housing Our Heroes program, an idea hatched at the citys housing commission that since March 2016 has lifted about 600 veterans out of homelessness and into apartments using rent vouchers and landlord incentives. Other veterans were becoming homeless all year, so the total number of homeless vets fell by just 9 percent in the January count, although its down 29 percent over five years.

Other encouraging signs are there if you look hard enough. In February, the housing commission agreed to subsidize three apartment projects dedicated to the homeless, with a fourth designed mostly for low-income families.

This was a big deal, because it reversed the commissions pattern of favoring two- and three-bedroom affordable projects for low-income families.

Still, such progress has been swamped by failure in other categories. Put simply, the overall response of city officials is in slow motion.

Weve seen no emergency declaration by San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. City councilmembers have proposed no bold initiative to free up city land, waive development fees or otherwise speed delivery and cut costs of homeless apartments.

Sure, the mayors hired a senior adviser and proposed a modest hike in hotel taxes to fund programs for the homeless. Measurable results will take years.

In February, Faulconer proposed to spend $12.5 million in federal funds to build a central assessment center  an idea advocates have been pushing since 2005. But then his staff discouraged use of city-owned land and tossed the project into the maw of city bureaucracy, practically guaranteeing nothing will get built before 2020.

In contrast, the private sector accounts for the strongest response to San Diegos homeless crisis so far.

Last week, the nonprofit Alpha Project unveiled a plan to build 700 permanent apartments for the homeless, along with social services and 500 emergency beds, on city-owned land. And last month, Father Joes Villages announced a plan to build or buy 2,000 units for the homeless  on private land owned by the nonprofit  throughout the city over five years. Both plans left room for an assessment center.

Less publicly, a group of business owners are working on options for emergency beds and, longer term, on measuring services for quality and efficiency.

Its all well and good. Yet its not nearly enough.

By San Diego standards, the night of Jan. 27 was bitterly cold as hundreds of volunteers walked the county trying to count its homeless. The low temperature at Lindbergh was 44 degrees, with wind gusts measured at 29 miles per hour.

Surely such weather would send people inside, somehow. I even predicted that the politicians might catch a statistical break. This years count may show flat growth, or even a downward blip.

But I was dead wrong. Our disgraceful tide of suffering shows no sign of turning.

To the extent we have outsourced our compassion to government, local government has failed us.

Previous columns in this series:

Street population soars after SD ups homeless spending (Aug. 21, 2016)

Back story: San Diegos homeless problem soars (Aug. 21, 2016)

Great weather cant explain away San Diego homeless crisis (Sept. 4, 2016)

Leniency has been hard on homeless (Sept. 18, 2016)

In failing the homeless, San Diego stands apart (Oct. 31, 2016)

In the agony of childbirth, a homeless woman finds help (Nov. 27, 2016)

Homeless for the holiday, yet joy flickers (Dec. 25, 2016)

Homeless crisis is solvable, but wont yield to political timidity (Jan. 29, 2017)

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dan.mcswain@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1280 Twitter: @McSwainUT
CITY COUNCILS

CARLSBAD

The Carlsbad City Council met in closed session Tuesday to discuss contracts for the city manager and city attorney. The contract amendments will be discussed further in an open meeting. In open session, the council discussed follow-ups of its 2017 goals: prioritizing city projects; updating its growth management plan and municipal code; environmental sustainability; and the Village and Barrio development moratoriums. The council also voted to oppose Assembly Bill 805, which would require a majority of the weighted vote of board members for the board to act on any item, rather than one vote per agency.

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DEL MAR

The Del Mar City Council met Monday for hearings on whether Tasting Room Del Mar can use shared parking at 1401 Camino Del Mar; and to consider permits for the temporary Barn at the Beach Breeders Cup event tent by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Both proposals were approved. The council also held a hearing on the issue of whether short-term rentals are allowed in residential areas. After several hours of testimony and public input, the council agreed that STRs are not allowed in residential areas except for areas zoned residential/commercial. It decided to extend its moratorium on the rentals, but not to enforce it while working to craft a new ordinance. The council also agreed to create a Citizen Oversight Committee to help oversee spending of the 1 percent Measure Q sales tax, and approved a Del Mar monument sign in the roundabout planned at Jimmy Durante Boulevard and San Dieguito Drive.

ENCINITAS

The Encinitas City Council met in special session Wednesday to discuss whether to sell or lease property at 750 Leucadia Blvd. to Habitat for Humanity. Staff was directed to return with a report on lease possibilities. The council also held a public hearing on on- and off-sale alcohol establishments (selling liquor to be consumed on and off site, and liquor to be consumed off site only). Staff was directed to start drafting a Deemed Approved Ordinance, which allows cities to regulate grandfathered establishments. The ordinance would be modeled after the one used in the city of Ventura, but modified to fit Encinitas, including defining overconcentration in regard to alcohol-selling establishments, possibly raising citation/penalty fees, distinguishing coastal establishments from those in other areas of the city, and developing an ordinance on party buses and noise. The council also discussed a proposed checklist on the vacation of property that evaluates possible needs for trails, bike paths, sidewalks and any links to them.

OCEANSIDE

The Oceanside City Council met in closed session Wednesday to discuss labor and real estate negotiations. In open session, the council adopted an ordinance amending city code to ban non-medical commercial cannabis businesses pending the consideration of additional municipal regulations. Appointments to the Citizen Investment Oversight Committee were discussed. The council amended the lease with Helgrens Oceanside Sportfishing by extending the term through Nov. 30, 2017. The council also approved requests by council members to amend zoning for part of the downtown district allowing multifamily uses; to require council member items to have the written concurrence of at least one other council member; and to create a committee to explore medical marijuana regulations for the city. A request to set a workshop on district elections, campaign contributions and term limits was continued to the May 3 meeting.

POWAY

The Poway City Council met in special closed session Tuesday to discuss labor negotiations and litigation. In open session, the council approved raising the Regional Transportation Congestion Improvement Program Traffic Mitigation Fee by 2 percent, from $2,357 to $2,404.14 per residential unit. The council heard a report on the Espola Road Safety Improvements Project, and urged that staff redouble efforts to have homeowners sign off on easements. The council also held a workshop on the Cafagna Community Center, receiving public comment. Staff was directed to look at a smaller footprint if a new center is built, to determine a budget, and look for ways to save money, including re-evaluating office and shared space, and possibly a smaller kitchen.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

CARLSBAD

The Carlsbad Unified School District board met in closed session Wednesday and afterward appointed Christopher Wright as assistant superintendent for business services and Kimberly Fuentes as principal of Calavera Hills Elementary, both effective July 1. The board also received reports on the Facilities Master Plan, an update to the 2017-18 Goals and Success Indicator part of its Local Control and Accountability Plan, and a draft Actions and Services plan based on the update.

ENCINITAS

The Encinitas Union School District board met in closed session Tuesday to discuss litigation. In open session, the board heard an update on the enrichment program at Capri Elementary, and an update on the summer 2017 English Learner program; approved various purchases and contracts, and approved purchase of English Language Arts and English Language Development materials. An item on adoption of the governance handbook was held for discussion at a future meeting.

ESCONDIDO

The Escondido Union High School District board met in closed session Tuesday to discuss labor negotiations and litigation. In open session, the board approved new course proposals and materials for courses including biology, chemistry and AP computer science principles, and reviewed new course proposals and materials for courses including certified nurse assistant, veterinary science and AP Statistics. The board approved a tentative bargaining agreement with the California School Employees Association, Chapter 219, and received an initial proposal from the Escondido Secondary Teachers Association.

OCEANSIDE

The Oceanside Unified School District board met in closed session Tuesday to discuss litigation, labor negotiations and personnel. In open session at 6 p.m., the board awarded a contract to Doherty Concrete for a stormwater biofiltration system at Ivey Ranch Elementary School. The board also approved initial contract proposals to negotiate with the Oceanside Teachers Association, and with the California School Employees Association, Chapter 370, for 2017-2018.

RAMONA

The Ramona Unified School District board met in closed session Thursday to discuss labor negotiations and personnel. In open session, the board heard reports on the California Accountability Dashboard and on a pilot program for English language arts materials; and approved new course materials for Advanced Placement Spanish and Advanced Placement Environmental Science.

SAN MARCOS

The San Marcos Unified School District board met in closed session Wednesday to discuss labor negotiations and personnel. In regular session, the board heard a report from the Citizens Oversight Committee about its Prop K bonds; held a hearing and approved initial collective bargaining proposals of the district and the California School Employees Association, San Marcos Chapter 413; and approved bids and contracts for various services.

VISTA

The Vista Unified School District board met in closed session Thursday and afterward announced that Dr. Matt Doyle, assistant superintendent of innovation, will serve as interim superintendent after the departure of Superintendent Dr. Devin Vodicka on April 28. In open session, the board heard a report from the District English Learner Advisory Committee; approved its College Readiness Block Grant plan; and denied a petition to establish a Vista Springs Charter School.

laura.groch@sduniontribune.com
The eyes of the princesses got big when they saw the room.

The room was full of tulle. Chiffon. Taffeta. Sequin-encrusted bodices. Belle-of-the-ball skirts.

The 200-dress inventory in the Princess Project room at the South Chula Vista Library branch would be the envy of many department stores.

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But the beautiful thing  especially to a 17- or 18-year-old girl without much to spare  was that everything was free.

The Princess Project is a 16-year-old charity effort headquartered in San Francisco. Gown giveaways now happen in five metropolitan areas in California.

Since the beginning, the charity group has distributed 35,000 dresses worthy of a prom. Its motto is promoting self-confidence one dress at a time.

In San Diego, giveaway events took place in downtown San Diego, El Cajon and Vista, in addition to the Chula Vista site. The events followed weeks of donation drives to gather new or gently used gowns. Many of the dresses would cost hundreds of dollars each in a store.

1 / 10 Daniela Acosta looks at the selection of prom gowns being given away to high school girls that might not otherwise be able to afford them by the Princess Project San Diego at the South Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 10 Stephanie Padilla, a San Ysidro High School 12th grader looks at herself in the mirror to see how she looks in one of the prom gowns she tried on during the giveaway of gowns by the Princess Project San Diego at the South Chula Vista Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 10 Robylene Seapno and fellow student Aldchelle Alonzo look at the selection of prom gowns being given away to high school girls that may not otherwise be able to afford them by the Princess Project San Diego at the South Chula Vista Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 10 More than 100-prom gowns and accessories were anticipated to be given away to high school girls that may not otherwise afford them by the Princess Project San Diego at the South Chula Vista Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 10 More than 100-prom gowns and accessories were anticipated to be given away to high school girls that may not otherwise afford them by the Princess Project San Diego at the South Chula Vista Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 10 Joanna Gonzalez, a Liberty Charter High School 12th grader looks at the selection of prom gowns being given away to high school girls that may not otherwise be able to afford them by the Princess Project San Diego at the South Chula Vista Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 10 Antonio Krizan, a volunteer carries prom gowns back to the selection area after they had been tried on and not selected during the Princess Project San Diego gown giveaway at the South Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 10 Darlene Trujillo-Lopez, the coordinator of Princess Project San Diego at the South Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library where more than 100-prom gowns and accessories were anticipated to be given away to high school girls that otherwise could not afford them. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 10 Kelly Coffman carrying the prom gowns her daughter, Mikail Thomas tried on during the Princess Project San Diego giveaway at the South Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 10 More than 100-prom gowns and accessories were anticipated to be given away to high school girls that may not otherwise be able to afford them by the Princess Project San Diego at the South Chula Vista Branch of the Chula Vista Public Library. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Trang Huynh was all giggles as she went to model a long, sleek, strapless black gown to her male friend waiting in the foyer.

She will attend that friends prom at Crawford High School. It will be Huynhs first, after not attending her own the prior year.

It was, you know, too hard, the 19-year-old said stoically. When her friend asked, she wasnt sure she could swing this either  until she found out about the Princess Project.

It was like, what am I supposed to do? Its so expensive to buy a dress, she said. It was hard to decide whether or not I should go.

In the end, Huynh chose the black gown  the favorite of her friend.

Its very exciting for me, she said, with more giggles.

Women in pink aprons flitted in amongst the teens. These were the volunteer stylists who schlepped the heavy dresses to and from the makeshift dressing rooms for girls.

It was a labor of love.

DeLayne Herring was one of those pink-apron ladies, shadowed by her 7-year-old granddaughter, Alesandra.

Its improving their self-image, Herring said about why she volunteered, along with other women from her Eastlake bible study group.

They can look in the mirror and go, Wow, I look good. And that helps them do whatever they want to do in life.

Library branch manager Debbie Taylor was supervising the whole show, which included volunteer makeup and hair artists to help the girls imagine how to finish off their looks.

Most of them bring a mom or a friend with them, Taylor said. But for the few who dont, we become the de facto mom for the day.

By the end of Saturday, Taylor expected to send about 50 girls home with a gown and new confidence for prom season.

All of the apron wearers oohed and aahed when Lilian Diaz came out in a two-piece black, strapless number.

The dress was on a different page from the 17-year-old girls black Converse high-tops and green-streaked hair  but that was a project for another day.

Diaz chose that dress, which got wrapped up and deposited in a paper shopping bag. From an accessories table, she chose a necklace to go with it.

I know a lot of girls at our school who cant afford a prom dress  they want to go, but they think they are too expensive, the Castle Park High senior said.

What would she have done without the free dress from the Princess Project?

I really dont know, the girl said.

For information on future events, go to princessprojectsd.org.

Military Videos  On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France  at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now In Ramona, an airplane and an aviator provide living lessons on World War II 1:43 On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal

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Anxiety disorders are Americas most common psychiatric problem. But thats not why La Jolla filmmaker Susan Polis Schutz made a new documentary about them.

It was personal for her. It always is.

My films start with something that I want to learn about, something that I am experiencing in my own life, Schutz said.

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Shes made six documentaries now, intimate looks at people grappling with ageism, with what happens when a child comes out as gay, with depression. All have aired on public broadcasting television stations nationwide, viewed by millions.

The new one, Its Just Anxiety, premieres Tuesday at 9 p.m. on KPBS in San Diego.

Schutz, 72, said shes had mild anxiety her whole life. When she was younger, it was the kind of normal fight-or-flight arousal that helped propel her to success with Blue Mountain Arts, a greeting card and poster company she started with her husband, Steve.

But as I got older, the what-ifs and the worries started to increase, she said. So I started to research it.

When she learned that about 40 million adults in the country suffer from debilitating but treatable anxiety disorders, she knew she had her next film.

She spent five years finding and interviewing people willing and articulate enough to share their struggles. Several of them are from San Diego. In the documentary, they talk about how their fears took over their lives, made it hard to get out of bed or leave the house.

One woman is so obsessed with germs she washes her hands in painfully hot water, lathers on anti-bacterial lotion and wears gloves. If she accidentally touches something after washing, she starts over. She spends most of her time in one chair in the living room.

A magazine editor and author is so worried about vomiting he carries plastic bags with him everywhere. One young woman is so certain suicide will be her only escape she saves $15,000 to pay for her funeral.

What Susan is able to do is have people open up to her with their own experiences in a way that is very honest and personal, said John Decker, director of programming at KPBS. You watch the anxiety film, and even if you dont suffer from it, you really get a sense of what its like. You understand what they are going through.

And by the end of the hour-long film, Decker said, theres something else, another Schutz trademark: Hope.

Silk-screen start

Before she was a respected filmmaker with blue hair, Schutz was a starry-eyed hippie with blonde hair.

She and Steve grew up on the East Coast and went to college there. She was a social worker and teacher. He was a theoretical physicist. They got married in 1969 and moved to Boulder, Colo., full of the flower-power, make-love-not-war idealism that characterized much of their generation.

They made a couple of silk-screen posters  her words, his drawings  and persuaded a store to display them for sale. Unwilling to go back and risk seeing their work still hanging there, they avoided the store. When the owner saw them walking by one day, he rushed out to tell them the posters had sold. And he wanted more.

Blue Mountain Arts was born. Traveling around the country, the Schutzes sold posters out of the back of their truck to gift stores and head shops, phoning in orders to employees back in Boulder. They branched out into greeting cards, calendars and books. Not everyone loved what they were doing  one critic called the products so syrupy youd think Aunt Jemima was the CEO  but a lot of people did.

Their success caught the eye of Hallmark, which came out with a line of cards in the mid-1980s that looked suspiciously like what Blue Mountain Arts was producing. The Schutzes sued and won an injunction.

By then, they were splitting their time between Colorado and San Diego, where Susans mother lived. Their three children went to La Jolla Country Day School.

Steve and their oldest son, Jared Polis, steered the company into electronic greeting cards, catching the internet wave as it crested in the mid-1990s. In 1999, they sold that part of the business for $780 million. (It sold again in 2001, after the dot-com bubble burst, for $35 million.)

The Schutzes continued to produce paper cards, books, calendars and other items that featured Susans poems and Steves artwork. One of the titles, To My Daughter With Love on the Important Things in Life, published in 1986, has sold more than 1.6 million copies. A similarly themed calendar, To My Daughter, I Love You, does well every year.

One World, One Heart, written in response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, was given away for free  more than 7 million copies.

Ten years ago, Susan decided she wanted to make a documentary about what happens in families when a child discloses his or her homosexuality. Shed never made a film before, had no idea what to do with it when it was finished. Ill do the best I can, she told herself, and if somebody likes it, thats fabulous, and if they dont, they dont.

She wanted to show that any family could have a gay child and that theres nothing to be ashamed of. She found and interviewed all kinds of people. Jewish, Mormon, Hindu, Catholic. Asian, black, Latino, white. Lawyer, teacher, factory worker, cowboy.

Congressman.

Polis, their son, a congressman from Colorado now in his fifth term, is gay. Which is why she wanted to do the film in the first place.

Honest reactions

Schutz gave Anyone and Everyone to KPBS. The programming director at the time, Keith York, knew that Schutz was a financial donor to the station so he agreed to take a look. He wasnt expecting much.

After viewing it, he said, In the long history of documentaries on gay and lesbian issues, its really rare for a filmmaker to capture the honest reactions of parents and kids. Susan did that.

KPBS aired it, and then dozens of stations across the country did, too. It was shown in film festivals around the world and used as a conversation-starter at churches.

My mom is at heart a storyteller, someone whose poems have helped millions of people express their feelings, Polis said. Now shes using the medium of documentaries to tell stories that need to be told.

In 2009, Schutz made her second documentary, Following Dreams, about people who dont listen to naysayers; they listen to themselves. A real estate developer turned conservationist. A ski champion with one leg. A lawyer who abandoned his career to make organic cheese.

The next film, a year later, was about depression. Schutz had a withering bout of it for three years, before therapy, medication, and the support of family and friends helped her recover. When she came out of it, she dyed her hair blue. Its now got some red in it, too.

I was just feeling different than I ever had felt before, she said. I wanted to do something that showed that.

The new documentary was her most problematic because of a series of technical issues. Once, for no apparent reason, the whole editing screen filled with computer cursors. My husband saved me from just burning it, she said. It took five years for her to finish, longer than usual.

It was apparently worth the wait to public broadcasters. When American Public Television, a distributor, held a teleconference last fall to gauge whether stations would air various upcoming programs, about 90 percent expressed interest in Its Just Anxiety, according to Decker at KPBS.

Susans work speaks for itself, he said.

In a recent interview, Schutz was asked how she hopes to be remembered. I dont want to be remembered, she said. I want to stay around.

Which brings to mind one of her documentaries, Over 90 and Loving It. The film profiles people in their 90s and 100s who are getting college degrees, running for public office, competing in senior Olympics. When it was suggested to Schutz that she might still be making films into her 90s, she nodded.

I would love that, she said.

Shes already at work on the next one, about a homeless choir in San Diego.

john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com
The fatal collision of two Navy F/A-18 fighters jets in September has been ruled an accident, according to a Navy investigation released to U-T San Diego this week.

On Sept. 12, two Hornet jets took off from the San Diego aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, which was in the vicinity of the Marshall Islands for international exercises.

The jets launched within a minute of each other. Upon takeoff, they both ascended and turned to the west.

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Then the plane piloted by Lt. Nathan Poloski, a 26-year-old native of Lake Arrowhead, came up under the bottom left rear of the other jet, causing a collision, according to the report.

The pilot of the other jet didnt realize hed been hit. He ejected after his plane caught fire and become uncontrollable.

Both crashed into the ocean. The other pilot -- who was not named in the report -- was recovered safely but with injuries.

Poloskis body was never found. Searchers did retrieve his cracked and battered helmet.

Both he and the other pilot were considered competent aviators with the proper qualifications in their records.
Back-to-back efforts to smuggle marijuana into San Diego aboard Baja pleasure boats were thwarted by federal authorities, resulting in the seizure of more than 2,700 pounds of the drug, according to search warrant affidavits filed this past week in San Diego federal court.

The drugs were found March 18 and 19, and while the court records dont link the two incidents, the smuggling methods appear strikingly similar. The search warrants were requesting permission to look through the suspects cellphones, which were seized after their arrests.

In the first incident, the Coast Guard observed a Baja boat cross from Mexican waters into the United States and then pull up to a boat ramp in Pepper Park Marina in San Diego Bay about noon, according to an affidavit.

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A marine interdiction agent with Customs and Border Protection Marine went to the park and saw two men put the boat onto a trailer attached to a Dodge 2500 pickup, the court document said.

The agent asked the men about the make and model of the boat, and neither could answer the question, the affidavit said. The men said they had been fishing for sculpin around the Coronado Islands off the Mexico coast, although the fishing gear on the boat did not appear appropriate for such a venture, the agent noted. The agent also noticed that the boats floor appeared to have been recently fixed and painted.

The agent left the two but, with help from other agents, discreetly followed them north onto Interstate 5. When the boat and truck passed the San Clemente Border Patrol checkpoint, a Border Patrol agent pulled behind them in a marked vehicle. The driver apparently saw the vehicle and acted nervous, so the agent pulled over the pickup, the affidavit said.

A drug dog detected the odor of narcotics and the boat was taken for X-ray to the San Clemente Border Patrol station. In the floor was 495 bundles of marijuana, weighing about 1,313 pounds.

A records check showed the Dodge was a rental and had crossed into Mexico two days prior, the document said.

One of the men told agents that he and his father were each offered about $4,000 to transport the drugs from Ensenada to Los Angeles, according to the affidavit.

The following day, Coast Guard officers were conducting checks at Dana Landing in Mission Beach about 10:30 a.m. when they noticed a white Baja boat motor toward the ramp. A white Dodge pickup was reversing toward the boat to tow it out of the water onto a trailer.

Once the boat was out of the water, the officers boarded for a routine inspection.

The boats captain acted nervous when answering questions, and officers said his story about returning from a fishing trip wasnt matching up, according to the affidavit. The fishing rods didnt appear to have been used and the fish appeared old and from a store, the affidavit added.

The officers found a black backpack with several changes of clothing, and the boats only crewmember told officers that he tends to get wet when fishing and wanted dry clothes. But, the officers pointed out, he was wearing rain pants and a weatherproof jacket. Is having that many clothes illegal? the crewmember responded.

A records check showed the crewmember has a prior arrest on drug-smuggling charges, which increased suspicion.

A drug-dog and search of the boat revealed 284 packages of marijuana hidden under the center console of the boat, according to the court document. The load weighed about 1,474 pounds.

Both incidents ended in arrests. All four men have pleaded not guilty.

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @kristinadavis
A video of an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer being thrashed by mob went viral on twitter. Delhi Police arrested three suspects in lieu of the assault.

By India Today Web Desk: Delhi Police have arrested three people in respect to a video going viral on social media in which an Air Force Officer can be seen getting thrashed in full public view.

The officer was allegedly assaulted and robbed by a group of men after his motorcycle brushed past their car in southeast Delhi's Sangam Vihar area, police said today. The officer was accosted and thrashed in the middle of the road, blocking the traffic.

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Sujay Kr Sikandar, a corporal posted at Tughlakabad told police that on April 20, his motorcycle had brushed past a Swift car. After that the vehicle overtook and stopped him on the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road near Batra Hospital.

Two persons came out of the car and started beating him and his colleague, he told police. He added that in the meantime, another car also pulled up and its driver got into a argument over the road getting blocked. The three of them then dragged him and robbed his ID card as well as the registration certificate of his motorcycle, police said.

One of the accused works as a milk supplier in Malviya Nagar. The others work as a storekeeper at a hotel in Mehrauli and as a bouncer at a club in Vasant Vihar. The robbed items have been recovered and the two cars have been seized.

Several Twitter users posted the video, tagged the IAF's official account, and called for strict action. One man even tweeted the clip to the accounts run by the offices of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar on Friday tweeted the video to Delhi's Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik, and asked him to bring the culprits to book. He requested to ensure that the matter is investigated and the guys are booked. He even requested the general public to come forward and help with any details possible.

The Air Force hasn't yet commented on the video, which has surfaced just days after CRPF jawans returning from a polling station in Srinagar's Budgam were assaulted by civilians. That attack, which failed to provoke the jawans, sparked outrage across the nation.

PTI Inputs

Here is the video of the incident:

ALSO READ:

Jawans assaulted in Kashmir: CRPF set to lodge FIR against locals who attacked men

--- ENDS ---
San Diego Unified School District officials expect a big crowd at their Tuesday night meeting with people upset, and in some cases misinformed, about a recently launched anti-bully campaign aimed at protecting Muslim students.

District spokesman Andrew Sharp said San Diego Unified has heard from many people concerned that the effort would be a violation of the separation of church and state rules, plus other issues.

Several readers of The San Diego Union-Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, which published the same article about the school board action earlier this month, raised many of the same concerns and questioned whether the district was giving special treatment to Muslim students.

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The issue has received national attention, including from the conservative web site Breitbart, which published a story on the district Sunday.

The initiative was explained at the April 4 school board meeting as part of a broader district effort to create a safe environment for all students. Its roots were in a 2015 study by the Council for American-Islamic Relations that found 55 percent of American Muslim students surveyed in California said they were bullied because of their religion, which was twice as high as the national statistic of students reporting being bullied at school.

Stan Anjan, executive director of Family and Community Engagement at the district, said the district could begin rolling out steps to address the issue by the end of the school year. Those steps could include social studies lessons on Islam so students would better understand the religion. Another suggestion was including Islamic holidays on calendars so teachers who had Muslim students would be more sensitive about scheduling after-school meetings with parents.

Some people expressed concern that including the history of Islam in social studies classes would result in teaching Islam and violate church and station restrictions, while others thought including Muslim holidays on calendars meant schools would be celebrating those holidays.

The issue became further muddled when the website Angry Patriot reported the story with a headline that read, Islamic takeover confirmed  American school surrenders to Sharia law.

Anjan said the districts plan does not include favoritism of Muslim students or violate church and state restrictions.

San Diego Unified does not favor any religion over another, he wrote in an e-mail. We welcome all students from all faiths within our school community.

At the April 4 board meeting when he explained the initiative, Anjan said lessons about Islam would help non-Muslims have a better understanding about the religion. He never suggested Islam should be taught to students as a religion to be followed.

Responding to questions about why the district is focusing on Muslim students and not others who also might be bullied, Anjan wrote that the district had already taken steps to protect students from being bullied because of their sexuality, and the effort might be expanded to protect more groups later.

Our LGBTQIA (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender-Questioning-Intersex-Asexual) work is simply a model for the Islamophobia work, and there will obviously be unique situations to address in each community, he wrote.

Responding to questions about why the district would put Muslim holidays on the calendar, Anjan other holidays may be added.

Our plan is to add major holidays for all faiths to help principals and individual school communities plan events at times that are least disruptive to the populations they serve, he wrote. It is a resource to assist schools  not a mandate.

Addressing concerns about cost, Anjan said its too early to tell because nobody has been assigned to establish details of the policy.

At the board meeting earlier this month, Anjan had said schools might establish safe spaces for Muslim students. He explained that the district would be giving equal, not preferential, treatment to Muslim students.

We believe all our schools should be safe places for all our students, he wrote. Schools with large Muslim communities may choose to make areas available for prayer, if that is requested by their parents and students. However, this is no more or less than we would do to accommodate Christians who want to pray at school, or members of other faiths.

Anjan was more to the the point when asked if the district was implementing Sharia law.

No, he said.

gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

760-529-4939
With fractures in San Diegos organized labor community and next years election approaching, the local Democratic Party is trying to patch holes in a once-reliable source of support.

The party recently formed the San Diego Labor Democratic Club to rejuvenate the partys rapport with working-class families  one of about three dozen clubs the party has to engage its members and develop policies.

The Democratic Party, traditionally, has used labor unions as boots on the ground, and more as an ATM machine as opposed to really understanding our issues and our values, and absorbing it into the Democratic platform, said Nate Fairman, the clubs president.

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The new club was formed after voters from union households across the country supported Democrat Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump by 8 percentage points nationally, down from the 18-point lead Barack Obama had over Mitt Romney four years earlier. That drop potentially altered the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

In California, about 16 percent of voters come from union households, and exit polls show 31 percent of those supported Trump. Trump received 31.8 percent of all votes statewide.

While union households in California overwhelmingly favored Clinton last year, the clubs members can share effective methods from San Diego with their national unions in order to have an impact in other places where labor did not support Democratic candidates as strongly, Fairman said.

Were doing pretty well in California, but on the national level, Donald Trump is our president, he said. Fairman is the business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 465, a union with 2,600 members.

The club is also trying to make sure that the wave people who became politically active after the election embrace the labor movements values.

Not all newly engaged people, and newly engaged Democrats have experience with the labor movement, said David Lagstein, the political director of Service Employees International, Local 221, a union that represents about 10,000 county employees. So I think its very important that people have an understanding that we share these critical values.

The cause of union members and all working people are more clearly in the same boat now than ever before, he added.

Next years election, like others before it, could have crucial impacts on labor unions, particularly ones that represent employees in local government.

Due to term limits, county Supervisors Ron Roberts and Bill Horn, both Republicans, will be forced out of office. Unions that represent the countys 17,000 employees, including the largest, Service Employees International Union, Local 221, want the county to provide more public services that would be delivered by unionized employees. The expanded services would be paid, in part, with money from a $2 billion reserve.

Four of the five current Board of Supervisors members, including Horn and Roberts, were in office when the county was on the brink of financial insolvency in the late 1990s. But after rebounding and achieving sterling credit ratings from financial institutions by outsourcing some services, paying off debts and paying for capital projects with cash rather than bonds, supervisors are reluctant to spend from the countys well-appointed reserves.

Labor hopes that board members that enter office in early 2019 wont be as tightfisted with the countys finances and will appropriate more funds to services, particularly ones that assist the neediest San Diegans.

Fairman said the new club is not a response to an ongoing feud within the local Democratic Party. At the center of that split are lawsuits against Mickey Kasparian, the influential president of United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 135, who is also the head of San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council.

This is really separate, Fairman said. I do support unions and the Labor Council, but this has nothing to do with the internal drama right now.

Kasparian denies all wrongdoing, but in two lawsuits he is accused of sexually harassing one subordinate and firing another as an act of political retaliation. His intervention in political races can include instructions on how thousands of working families should vote as well as campaign support and contributions.

The Democratic club is in its early stages and has met one time since it was charted in late March. So far it has developed its goals and mission.

The club is planning a road show to visit all of the countys Democratic clubs, making the case that unions are still important and relevant in the current workforce and political landscape. The club hopes to explain to other Democrats some of the issues workers face, including legislative efforts to do away with or block project labor agreements (a provision in contracts where an employer promises to hire union workers), right-to-work policies that allow employees to work but not join a labor union, and other issues.

While its members include union officials like Lagstein and Fairman, politicians have also been involved as well. They include Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher and her husband former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher; National City Council members Mona Rios and Alejandra Sotelo-Solis; and Lemon Grove Councilman David Arambula.

Twitter: @jptstewart

joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1841
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis this past week publicly acknowledged shes considering a run for county supervisor, and she quickly got a taste of the harsh campaign ahead if she follows through.

Corruption scandal, special prosecutor, backroom politics and insider dealing.

Those were some of the terms tossed around in a news release Thursday by Jessica Hayes, chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party, as she called for an independent county investigation of the district attorney.

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That was the day Dumanis, who already announced she was not running for re-election next year, said she was stepping down July 7. She also stated what she had been discussing privately: that she might run for the central San Diego County supervisor district held by Ron Roberts, who is termed out next year.

Its become a heavily Democratic district that Roberts, a Republican, has served for more than two decades. Many believe only a high-profile Republican who also has cross-over appeal  a description that fits Dumanis  can keep the seat in the GOP column.

She would seem a formidable candidate even in a district Democrats should own next year. Theres a big ... but, however.

Dumanis star has been dimmed, perhaps tainted, by her connection to Jose Susumo Azano Matsura, the wealthy Mexican businessman who was convicted last year on some three dozen federal counts relating to political corruption.

Among his sweeping transgressions was trying to funnel more than $100,000 into Dumanis mayoral bid in 2012. Its illegal for foreign nationals like Azano to do that.

Its also illegal for a candidate to coordinate with an independent expenditure effort, which is what Azano was doing.

Dumanis said she wasnt really familiar with Azano and was unaware of his effort to boost her candidacy. Turns out she was pretty familiar with both. Despite news reports and evidence in the trial detailing a much deeper connection, she has never admitted that her initial public characterization of her knowledge of Azano and what he was doing was simply not true.

She hasnt been charged in connection with Azanos dealings, but one of his attorneys recently said she was a subject of the investigation. That came amid court filings that showed Dumanis had backdoor communications about the case with then-U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy, who had recused herself from the proceedings.

Legal experts didnt seem to think that was a big deal but said the contact between Duffy and Dumanis shouldnt have taken place.

Whatever all of that may or may not mean to Dumanis legally, we may find out how it affects her politically. If she runs, attack mailers and TV ads may make the statement from Democratic leader Hayes seem quaint.

The scandal also may complicate, though probably not stop, Dumanis push to get her hand-picked successor, Summer Stephan, appointed to the vacancy and elected district attorney next year.

Its hard to tell how much the revelations about Dumanis and Azano resonated beyond legal and political circles. But she hasnt had to run for election since most of this surfaced, and she wont be an incumbent this time.

So far, Democrat Omar Passons, a civic figure and attorney, has entered the race. Hes expected to be joined by former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, also a Democrat, and perhaps San Diego City Councilwoman Lori Zapf, a Republican.

While Dumanis will focus on her decades of public service, it might be tough to change the subject from this Azano business.

As I said once before, shell likely face the time-honored political scandal question of, what did she know, and when did she know it?

But that may be a better alternative than a recent familiar political line some Democrats no doubt are champing at the bit to chant: Lock her up!

SeaWorld south

The writer of a Politico piece was geographically challenged when making a reference to the existing fence along the San Diego-Mexico border.

The article, How California Gave Us Trumpism, included a passage that noted former Rep. Duncan Hunter, father of the current congressman, was one of the driving forces behind getting the wall put up. This line caught the attention of Liam Dillon, erstwhile San Diegan now in the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau:

Construction of a prototype of the wall that Trump has called for could soon begin in Otay Mesa, a San Diego neighborhood near Sea World.

Otay Mesa, of course, seems a world away from Mission Bay, SeaWorlds home.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher suggested the mistake by writer Scott Lucas might not be as bad as it seemed. Or at least she had a possible explanation how he could have made such a goof.

She said on Twitter that maybe they meant Seaworlds waterpark Aquatica... which is in nearby Chula Vista.

Locals rule.

Tweets of the Week

Go to Joshua Stewart (@jptstewart), Union-Tribune politics writer, and Rachel Laing (@RachelLaing), communications consultant.

Stewart: The @SanDiegoCounty Supes will appoint @BonnieDumaniss successor. Will accept applications from May 3-31. Next Regular mtg is June 20.

Laing: WHOEVER WILL IT BE I CANT STAND THE SUSPENSE

Stewart: to (lift) a line from Napoleon Dynamite ... if you vote for me, it will be summer all year round
The past six months brought both tragedy and triumph to Chicano Park, so Saturdays anniversary of its founding  usually a daylong celebration  also had a touch of sadness.

Sprinkled among the usual fare of boisterous music, costumed dancers and spicy food were tearful memories of Ramon Chunky Sanchez, a community leader, musician and educator who died in October, just shy of turning 65. Saturdays 47th annual Chicano Park Day in Barrio Logan was dedicated to him.

I miss him so much, but I know hes here today in spirit, said Tommie Camarillo, chairperson of the Chicano Park Steering Committee. She smiled while imagining him looking down on the proceedings, twirling one end of his handlebar mustache.

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Samuel Constancio, who met Sanchez at San Diego State University and played in a band with him, said, I think about him all the time. He was a mentor, someone you could call and he would be there for you. Constancio had on a black T-shirt Saturday that hed worn to the funeral. It has a picture of Sanchez on the front.

I came to this place on this day because Chunky was here in the beginning, Constancio said.

1 / 7 Crowds enjoy the 47th annual Chicano Park Day celebration. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 7 Crowds enjoy the cars. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 7 Crowds enjoy the cars. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 7 Crowds enjoy a Danza Azteca performance. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 7 Crowds enjoy the 47th Annual Chicano Park Day. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 7 Crowds enjoy the 47th annual Chicano Park Day celebration. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 7 Members of the band Mariachi Familiar perform. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune)

The beginning was April of 1970. When community members learned about plans to turn land under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge into a substation and parking lot for the California Highway Patrol, protesters went there, locked arms to form a human chain, and didnt leave for 12 days. They wanted a park instead, and they got one.

Sanchez went on to be best known for his music, which was steeped in Mexican folk traditions. In 2013, he received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, an honor previously given to the likes of B.B. King and Bill Monroe.

Ramon Chunky Sanchez (Eduardo Contreras/U-T)

Chicano Park went on to be best known for the colorful murals that decorate the concrete pillars holding up the bridge. They depict Aztec deities, Mexican revolutionaries, Mayan ruins  a swirling mix of poetry and pride, of struggle and self-determination. Our history must be told, reads the writing on one mural.

In January, the park became a National Historic Landmark, a triumph that also was in the air at Saturdays festival.

It means that all this will still be here long after were gone, Camarillo said. Our grandchildren, their grandchildren  theyll get to come here and see this.

Thousands of people streamed through the park Saturday, which was filled with vendor booths selling clothes, hats, food and various crafts. There was also a shrine with flowers and burning candles for the four people killed in October when a pickup truck veered off the bridge and crashed onto a crowd listening to music in the park.

Many of the attendees were drawn to a car show featuring hundreds of customized, gleaming lowriders lined up along Logan Avenue, which was closed to traffic between Evans Street and Cesar Chavez Parkway. Several car clubs were represented  Amigos, Viejitos, Pachuco, Klique, Bomb, Majestics  and members brought in vehicles from all over California, as well as Arizona, Nevada and Texas.

Robert Lopez was there from Ventura. The 27-year-old city parks worker brought his 1948 Chevy Fleetline, which he bought seven years ago and has gradually been transforming back to its stock condition, with all original parts. That means scouring junk yards and getting tips from friends of friends to find the increasingly scarce components.

This was his fourth year at the show, he said. I just like the vibes here, really laid-back, he said. And theres a lot of history.

Rob Bird Rice, a Majestics club member, had his 1961 Impala on display, fully restored from the basket case state he found it in when he bought it in Tijuana 10 years ago. His current project is a 55 Bel Air. He said hes getting to the point where he no longer has a car, he has a collection.

Which made him a perfect potential customer for a T-shirt sold by one of the many vendors at Saturdays festival.

Low ride, the shirts lettering reads, or no ride.

john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com
Trump exacerbating Middle East troubles

In The great reversal (April 14), Charles Krauthammer writes about President Trump making America great again through his use of force against Syria for that countrys use of the chemical weapon sarin gas.

But could it not have been the Trump administrations own dramatic reversal of an existing U.S. foreign policy that called for the removal of Bashar Assad as Syrias president that encouraged Assad again to use chemical weapons?

Ironically, in 2013, when then President Barack Obama ultimately decided not to attack Syria for using sarin gas against its people and chose instead to take Russian President Vladimir Putins offer to broker inspection and removal of Syrias stockpile of chemical weapons, it was citizen Donald Trump who tweeted 13 times, urging the president not to attack Syria.

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Hilliard Harper

Scripps Ranch

Letters and commentary policy

The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below.

Trumps election has stimulated activism

Perhaps Donald Trumps most significant contribution to making America great again is waking up large numbers of politically apathetic Americans to passionately embrace our legacy of social activism: womens suffrage, anti-war movements and civil rights to name only a few that have shaped our laws and social order.

As Edmund Burke observed, All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. Hed be pleased at the current outpouring of American voices.

Since the November election, Americans have been marching  in large numbers, and not just in Washington, D.C. This month, across the nation, and in San Diego, people are taking to the streets  carrying signs, waving flags, chanting and singing  to express concern on a variety of issues: Tax Day Rally, April 15, March for Science, April 22, and Peoples Climate March on April 29.

This is what democracy looks like.

Richard Hicks

Cardiff

Trump needs some help understanding reality

President Trump is in a late-life crisis and needs an urgent intervention.

Trump apparently is not able to differentiate between reality and his wild imagination. His outrageous accusations such as Barack Obama was born in Kenya and that he wiretapped the Trump Tower phones are not just silly but ludicrous.

Trump is a polarizing figure. He boasts about groping women, saying When youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. This man holds the key to Armageddon.

He pledges humongous tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and largest corporations, then throws a paltry 2 percent cut to the middle class and nothing to the lowest-income families and Social Security recipients.

Donald Trump surely needs intensive therapy for his sanity. And for ours.

Peter W. Quercia

Ramona

Want to see more letters that appear only online? Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook.
Should an old story, or photo, be removed from online if a person requests it be taken down?

Last week, the Readers Representative addressed the topic, with the opinion that a story be considered for removal only under specific circumstances, such as the article has severe factual problems or a persons life is endangered. But I also thought that reporters and editors need to consider the permanence and ease of finding stories in the digital world of today, and consider not publishing a name from the start.

I think the greatest area of concern is identifying a person arrested in a crime. One of the most common reasons I will receive in a request to remove a story is that the persons case was dismissed or that the person was acquitted. Theyll say a record of the arrest in a news story is harming their lives  affecting their ability to get a job, for instance.Other reasons for asking that a story be taken down vary, if stated at all. Here are some recent examples.

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A standard short obituary from 2005. The person said they are worried about online privacy and ID theft. The item was not removed.

A news photo from 2006 of a teenager volunteering at a polling place on Election Day. The person gave no reason why she wanted it removed. The picture was of a public news event taken in a public place. It was not removed.

A engagement notice from 2004. No reason given. It remains online.

A reference to a mans health condition was asked to be removed from an article from 2013. The story was based on an event a school held to recognize an accomplishment by the man. His condition was an integral part of the article. He claimed he didnt have the condition, and he never knew a story was going to be published, although he posed for a photograph taken by the reporter. The reference was not removed.

Almost all stories should remain online, I believe, as a record of the times  that includes articles that name a person in an arrest. I think it is proper to update the story with the outcome of the case, however.

But better yet, I dont think a name should be used unless the media will follow up with the cases resolution. Union-Tribune Editor and Publisher Jeff Light disagrees with that opinion.

Our job is to present information that is accurate, specific and relevant, Light said. News is the real story of real people. I see little virtue in obscuring the facts today so we can fail to follow up tomorrow.

Our purpose is to discover and publish news, he said. We are dedicated to the pursuit of public information, and believe in the vigorous, open discussion of true facts. We are not, in general, in the business of removing, redacting or obscuring the public record. That said, there are occasions on which we would consider removing previously published material.

If we published an item based on some egregious and damaging case of mistaken identity, for example, the best way of correcting the record might be to remove it altogether. I see little value in preserving information that is simply wrong, Light said.

On the other hand, if we have coverage of someone who was arrested, tried and found not guilty, I consider that a piece of our local history. The defendant might wish it had never happened, but that does not mean it should be erased.

Light fully supports, though, that the article be updated with the cases resolution.

I also asked readers last week for their thoughts on the subject. Here is what two said:

I vehemently believe that all media should do follow-up stories, period, said Mike Loflen of Clairemont. So disingenuous for anyone to say they will follow up. This is especially true of TV, from local to national/international sources.

It does make sense that if a person charged with a crime and named in an article who subsequently is not charged or the charge is resolved, would have problems, said Jodi Keleher of Santee. That said, I think, at least in my view, it would depend on the seriousness of the charges against someone.

There is one thing I have always had a problem with and that is the publishing of a police officers name after a police shooting. I am entirely AGAINST publishing an officers name before an investigation by the police agency and the district attorney has been completed, and even then, only if the officer is charged for an unlawful shooting. Generally, most people dont realize what a law enforcement officer, and his/her family, go through after a shooting!

I do not need or want to know the name of an officer, UNLESS or UNTIL that officer is charged with an unlawful, unjustified shooting.

If you have any thoughts on removing or updating online stories, Id like to hear them  email adrian.vore@sduniontribune.com or readers.rep@sduniontribune.com
When news broke that a Carlsbad woman awaiting retrial in her husbands 2012 shooting death was pregnant, it came as a surprise. But jaw-dropping was the revelation that Julie Harper said the pregnancy was the result of in vitro fertilization  and that the procedure took place shortly before her first trial began.

The pregnancy raises questions both ethical and legal: Should a doctor have refused to perform the medical procedure, given that Harper is facing the possibility of life in prison? And can authorities try to take the infant since, according to court documents, Harper has already lost custody of her three older children?

The answers are complicated, especially since the particulars of Harpers case  including why her parental rights were terminated and what she discussed with her fertility doctor  are protected by federal privacy laws or sealed by the family court system.

Harper, 42, reportedly sought in vitro fertilization last summer, while out on $2 million bail. She was in the early stages of her pregnancy when her first trial began in September.

Harper testified in court that she shot her husband, Jason, 39, in self-defense in their bedroom on Aug. 7, 2012. Prosecutors argued the shooting was premeditated and that Harper hid the gun afterward and tried to conceal her crime.

After deliberating for two days, a Vista jury acquitted Harper of first-degree murder changes, but deadlocked on lesser counts, voting 9-3 in favor of acquittal on second-degree murder and 7-5 in favor of a manslaughter conviction.

She was slated for retrial on the lesser charges this month, until her attorney Paul Pfingst informed the court that Harper was pregnant and due to deliver the baby on May 12. The second trial has now been rescheduled until September.

Pfingst declined to answer questions this week about Harpers pregnancy or whether she might have already delivered the baby. If convicted of second-degree murder, she faces 40 years to life in prison.

Some medical ethicists say asking a doctor to decide whether a patient should have a baby  or would even be able to care for a baby  is a slippery slope.

Barbara Collura, president and chief executive officer of Resolve: The National Infertility Association, said Thursday that it may not be in the best interests of the doctor to look into backgrounds and decide who can become a parent.

There are plenty of people who are pregnant (by traditional methods) that other people think should not be a parent, Collura said. If you are infertile, should you have to have a background check?

She also noted that a fertility doctor is not handing over a baby, but rather performing a medical procedure that may  may  result in a live birth.

Others argue that the well-being of a child should be a consideration in fertility treatments.

Should background checks be required for in vitro fertilization? No 34% (119) Yes 66% (231) 350 total votes.

In July 2013, the ethics committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine issued an opinion stating that fertility programs should be able to withhold services if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the patient will not provide adequate care for a prospective child.

The well-being of offspring is an overriding ethical concern when determining whether to provide infertility services, the committee said. But such decisions should come only after investigation shows there is a substantial basis for such judgments.

The Harpers had three children who were ages 8, 6, and 18 months at the time of the fatal shooting, court records show. The children were adopted by Jasons mother and father after Harpers parental rights were terminated.

For a parent whose children have been taken away by the court, a new baby could become the subject of a new investigation  but thats not automatic, and it doesnt necessarily mean the parent would be found unfit again, authorities said.

San Diego Countys department of Child Welfare Services doesnt comment about specific cases because of child-privacy concerns, but program manager Connie Cain said it takes a specific complaint  anonymous or otherwise  to start an investigation.

There has to be a referral, Cain said. We cant just go knock on peoples doors without a referral.

She said that, if a case is closed, the agency doesnt have the right to check on a parent simply because he or she has had another child.

Ryan McGlinn  a San Diego attorney who has handled several juvenile dependency cases  said he believes its not unusual for a parent who has had children removed from their custody once to become the target of a new investigation.

McGlinn said he could not comment on Harper or her situation, but in general social workers look at the core issues of health, welfare and safety when conducting an investigation.

Even then, an investigation is a long way from a court action that could result in the removal of a child, he said.

Though the former custody case involving Harper is sealed, prosecutors in her criminal case have tried to paint her as a woman unhinged and possibly addicted to prescription drugs.

During last years trial, Deputy District Attorney Keith Watanabe repeatedly spoke of Harpers deterioration, saying she shifted from being an attentive mother to her first born child to becoming a recluse living in a hoarders room and relegating the care of the children entirely to her husband.

In court documents, Watanabe also stated that one of the couples young children was surprised to learn that mothers can change diapers because she thought only daddies change diapers.

He is arguing that information would counter Harpers claims in the first trial that she was a nurturing mother who tried to protect her children from a husband she said was abusive.

In the upcoming retrial, court documents show that Watanabe also wants the jury to hear about the number of narcotic prescription pills  more than 4,000  issued to Harper in the 12 months leading up to the fatal shooting. More than 3,400 of the pills were opioids  medications designed to relieve pain. (Harper testified she suffers from debilitating arthritis.) The remainder were sleeping pills.

Harper testified in court that her husband screamed at her, berated her, ridiculed her weight, called her names and eventually cut off her access to their joint checking account. She also said he had repeatedly raped her during their marriage.
GlaxoSmithKline, the worlds second-largest pharmaceutical company by revenue, on Wednesday reported a loss of 304 million pounds ($464 million) for the second quarter as the company absorbed a hit of 1.57 billion pounds ($2.4 billion) for settling lawsuits.

The loss for the three months ending June 30 compares to profit of 1.34 billion pounds in the first quarter.

Revenue of 7.025 billion pounds was 4 percent higher than a year earlier.

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Excluding major restructuring costs, the company said it reported a profit of 130 million pounds compared to 1.57 billion pounds a year earlier.

We believe the market will see through this quarter and, with the base business improving, Tom Kemp, analyst at Panmure Gordon & Co., said Wednesday before results were released.

GSK shares were up 0.3 percent at 1,177.5 pence on the London Stock Exchange following the announcement.

GlaxoSmithKline announced last week that it was taking a charge against second-quarter earnings for the costs of settling court cases over the antidepressant Paxil and diabetes drug Avandia, and other provisions for long-standing legal cases which also include an investigation of its facility in Cidra, Puerto Rico.

Glaxo said it had settled the vast majority of product liability cases involving Paxil, which has been linked to birth defects, and a substantial majority of liability cases involving Avandia, which has been associated with a higher risk of heart disease. GSK also said it had settled antitrust litigation involving Canadian drug maker Apotex Inc.

For the quarter, GSK sales were impacted by several individual factors and adverse prior year comparisons. For example, we saw an acceleration of generic competition to Valtrex (treatment for genital herpes) in the U.S.A. and temporary suspension of Rotarix (for gastroenteritis) in the quarter, said Chief Executive Andrew Whitty.

GSK said pharmaceutical sales of 5.8 billion pounds were essentially flat, as a 13 percent drop in U.S. sales were offset by 17 percent in emerging markets and 9 percent in Asia Pacific.

European sales were up 1 percent, and Whitty said there will be continuing downward pressure on sales prices in that market, perhaps trimming 3 percent from prices over the next 18 months.

In a conference call with journalists, Whitty declined to give any further details of the companys exposure to legal cases beyond what it disclosed last week.
Pirates have seized a German-owned ship in the pirate-infested waters between Somalia and Yemen, a U.S. Navy spokesman said Saturday.

Pirates captured the Maltese-flagged MV Patriot early on Saturday in the Gulf of Aden about 150 nautical miles (280 kilometers) southeast of the coastal Yemeni city of Muqalla, said U.S. Navy 5th Fleet spokesman Lt. Nathan Christensen.

An official from the German Foreign Ministry could not immediately confirm the ships capture on Saturday.

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Andrew Mwangura of the Mombasa, Kenya-based East African Seafarers Assistance Program, a group that monitors pirate activity off the African coast, said the ship has 17 crew members but could not name their nationalities. He said the large cargo vessel is designed to carry grain, but said he did not know what cargo it contained when it was captured.

According to the companys Web site, the Patriot is part of the fleet of Hamburg-based Johann M.K. Blumenthal, one of Germanys oldest shipping companies. A man who answered the phone at the companys switchboard declined to give his name or details of the situation, saying: For the time being we will not give further information to the press.

Many of the ships crossing the Gulf of Aden, one of the worlds most busy shipping lanes, are carrying food to eastern African nations, as was the case for the MV Maersk Alabama, a U.S.-flagged vessel that was hijacked by pirates earlier this month leading to a five-day standoff with the U.S. Navy.

Also in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday, naval vessels from the U.S., Germany and China came to the aid of a Philippine chemical tanker stranded without fuel in waters near Somalia days after it was freed by pirates.

Maria Elena Bautista, administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority, said a U.S. Navy ship provided five days worth of diesel fuel for the MT Stolt Strength, which was drifting some 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of the Somali coast. The pirates seized the ship in November as it sailed through the Gulf of Aden with a cargo of phosphoric acid.

Pirates have attacked more than 100 ships off the Somali coast over the last year, reaping an estimated $1 million in ransom for each successful hijacking, according to analysts and country experts.

Somalia, which was plunged into anarchy in 1991 after its dictator was overthrown, has become the pirates de facto base, a war-wracked country with an economy in tatters where pirates are often viewed as heroes, using ransom money to build lavish villas for their families.



Associated Press Writers Rukmini Callimachi in Nairobi, Kenya and Jason Keyser in Cairo contributed to this report.
By Press Trust of India: (Eds: Updating with fresh inputs)

From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Apr 23 (PTI) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has raised the issue of tightening of the H-1B visa regime with his US counterpart Steven Mnuchin during their first meeting and highlighted the contribution of Indian companies and professionals to the American economy.

This was the second time Jaitley raised the H-1B visa issue with the American side during his visit here to attend the annual Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He had also raised the issue with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross earlier.

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During their meeting yesterday, Jaitley and Mnuchin discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, in addition to the international cooperation against terror financing.

Jaitley highlighted the notable progress made in the Indo-US relations over the last few years and Indias ambitious reform agenda which was creating new opportunities towards a deeper economic engagement between the two countries, a Finance Ministry statement said.

"Critical economic issues like Indo-US investment initiative, infrastructure collaboration and NIIF (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund), collaboration with the US for Smart Cities Development were deliberated upon during the meeting," it said.

Jaitley raised the issue of H-1B visas for skilled professionals from India and highlighted the contribution which Indian companies and professionals are making to the US economy, the statement said.

President Donald Trump last week signed an executive order for tightening the rules of the H-1B visa programme to stop its "abuse" and ensure that the visas are given to the "most-skilled or highest paid" petitioners, a decision that would impact Indias USD 150 billion IT industry.

The Indian IT industry expressed serious concerns over this as these visas were mainly used by domestic IT professionals for short-term work in America.

The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. Indian technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year for their US operations.

The US market accounts for about 60 per cent of the revenue of the Indian IT industry.

Reforming the H-1B visa system was one of the major election promises of Trump. As per several US reports, a majority of the H-1B visas every year are grabbed by Indian IT professionals.

India accounts for the highest pool of qualified IT professionals, whose services go a long way in making American companies globally competitive.

Last month, NASSCOM president R Chandrashekhar had said that the Indian IT industry actually contributes immensely to the US economy in terms of jobs that are created in America, both directly and indirectly.

"Close to half a million jobs have been supported in the US as of 2015. The number of jobs have also been growing at 10 per cent per year as against a two per cent growth in the rest of the job market," he had said.

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Issues related to terror funding were also discussed during Jaitleys meeting with the US Treasury Secretary, who appreciated Indias role, including the Indo-US cooperation in Financial Action Task Force.

Jaitley also held bilateral meetings with the finance ministers of Sweden, France and Bangladesh. The discussions covered a wide spectrum of bilateral collaboration to strengthen the cross-country relationships.

He also held a bilateral meeting with World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim among others.

Meanwhile, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das held bilateral meetings with New Development Bank (NDB) President K V Kamath and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President Gilbert F Houngbo separately.

Various policy issues regarding NDB and IFAD were discussed during the meeting.

Jaitley, currently on a US trip, is accompanied by RBI Governor Urjit Patel, Das and Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian among other officials. PTI LKJ/RR CS MKJ ASK ASK

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A car chase last week that ended with a high-speed collision in Rancho San Diego is spurring questions about the growing law enforcement muscle among San Diego County tribes.

There were no major injuries in the four-vehicle crash in the suburb south of El Cajon, but the fact the pursuit was led by the Sycuan police on non-Indian land caught witnesses by surprise.

Why were they so far into the city? How could they be allowed to come that far into town? said Martha Ball, whose sedan was among those struck by a vehicle that was fleeing tribal officers.

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The March 6 chase began on the Sycuan Indian Reservation, nine miles from the collision site, after two federal parole violators and an associate refused to give themselves up to tribal police.

Sycuan officials say the trio sped west in a Honda Accord, through the rural community of Dehesa and into Rancho San Diego, at speeds of up to 90 mph.

Assistant Tribal Manager Adam Day said the collision was unfortunate, but emphasized that the pursuit grew out of a desire to protect public safety and uphold federal law.

This is an example of how its supposed to work and why were proud of our police department, he said.

Authorities say the three people in the Honda fled the crash scene on foot and were later apprehended and placed in custody. The driver, Melinda Olivia Montalvo, 27, of El Cajon, was charged with felony hit and run in connection with the incident, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Day said tribal officers spotted the trio tossing a gun out of the speeding car during the pursuit, which began about 4 p.m., and that the vehicle was later found to contain a large amount of methamphetamine.

Experts say the incident illustrates the growing profile of tribal security forces, some of which have taken on added powers since the emergence of the Indian casino industry.

In recent years, the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs has granted Sycuan and a handful of other California tribes, including those on the Los Coyotes and La Jolla reservations, the right to investigate and enforce numerous federal laws.

They have red and blue lights on their cars like everybody else, and they do have limited federal authority, said John Madigan, tribal liaison for the San Diego County Sheriffs Department.

He said, however, that this new breed of police agency does pose complications.

He said the Sheriffs Department tries to work closely with them, along with other reservation security teams across the region, to make sure there are clear lines of authority and communication.

He said, for example, the department is looking at tying Sycuan police into the sheriffs radio network. During last weeks chase, Sycuan notified sheriffs dispatchers and the CHP by land line.

While off-reservation chases are rare, Madigan said, authorities need to make sure there is no confusion over jurisdiction as more tribes look to beef up their police agencies.

Its an all-new, evolving area of the law, Madigan said.

Last weeks pursuit began when Sycuan police spotted the federal parole violators at the reservation casino, after the U.S. Marshals Service asked the tribe to be on the lookout. One of the convicts was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer, according to Day.

When officers tried to arrest the pair outside the casino, they fled with an associate.

Day said once the Honda left the reservation, Sycuan alerted the Sheriffs Department and the CHP and requested assistance  standard procedure when a criminal pursuit crosses jurisdictions.

Before either agency could join the chase, the Honda barreled through a red light at Willow Glen Drive and Jamacha Road, striking Balls Mercedes-Benz sedan and two other vehicles.

CHP and sheriffs patrol cars pulled up after the crash, authorities said.

Cheryl Schmit, director of the Indian gaming watchdog group Stand Up for California, said the presence of federally sanctioned tribal police  like those at Sycuan  raises serious enforcement and liability issues when crimes cross jurisdictions.

A growing number of tribes, she said, are trying to assert their authority beyond the reservation.

Day disagreed. He said the recent pursuit was only the second off-reservation chase since Sycuan police gained federal powers in 2006.

Pat Riggs, with the Dehesa Valley Community Council, said residents in her area have in the past spotted Sycuan police responding to traffic accidents on Dehesa Road, off the reservation.

She said that has stopped within the past year.

The tribe has 11 sworn, professionally trained officers that each has a special federal commission. The lead officer in last weeks chase is a 30-year law enforcement veteran and a former San Diego police officer.

Schmit praised law enforcement and tribal leaders in San Diego County, saying they are ahead of other regions in the state in addressing issues between Indian and non-Indian agencies.

This is what needs to be done, she said. We need to find ways to live together.

Most of the 17 tribes in the region do not have full-blown police agencies like Sycuan. Madigan said many employ security teams that lack arrest powers. They frequently turn over suspects to the Sheriffs Department.

He said its not unusual for sheriffs deputies to engage in pursuits onto and through local reservations.

steve.schmidt@uniontrib.com (619) 293-1380 Twitter @steveschmidt1
More than 100 people who say theyve unfairly been denied membership in the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians are planning a protest Sunday on the Valley Center reservation, challenging the tribes enrollment policies.

The group will be joined by some San Pasqual members who support their claim and are pushing back against the tribes chairman, Allen Lawson, claiming hes not a true San Pasqual descendant.

Membership holds deep significance in Native American communities and, in some tribes, comes with huge financial perks. Members of the San Pasqual band receive nearly $10,000 a month in stipends from the tribes gaming revenues.

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San Pasqual  which has roughly 280 members  owns and operates the Valley View Casino & Hotel, one of the largest gaming centers in San Diego County.

Huumaay Quisquis, a tribal member helping organize Sundays protest, said the enrollment fight isnt about money but about identity.

When youre here in Indian Country, knowing who you are is all that your ancestors left you, Quisquis said.

Still, many of the protestors are working people, barely making enough money to get by, said Alexandra McIntosh, an attorney hired by the group two years ago. Having access to tribal benefits would make a big difference in their lives, she said.

Many in the group plan to gather about 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Canal Road and North Lake Wohlford Road for a short march to the tribal hall, where they will protest outside during the tribal councils quarterly meeting.

McIntosh represents most of the 150 people seeking enrollment in the tribe. Known as lineals, they were born to San Pasqual members but have been prevented from enrolling because of questions about their blood lines or because of a moratorium enacted in 2009 on new membership and disenrollment proceedings.

Some of the lineals have been pursuing membership for years but had little access to records tracing their ancestral lines, Quiquis said. Many of them were briefly enrolled in 2005, but their membership was quickly rescinded when the tribes enrollment committee was disbanded and replaced by new committee members, Quisquis said.

Under San Pasqual rules, people must prove that they have at least one-eighth San Pasqual Indian blood to be enrolled. The lineals say that errors in the records have caused their blood status to be calculated incorrectly.

Joe Villalobos, 55, a San Pasqual descendant, said he has lived on the reservation most of his life, believing he didnt qualify to be a member, even though his father was one. He has been trying to enroll for 16 years  about three years before the casino opened  after learning there was an error in calculating his bloodline.

We believed that we werent supposed to be enrolled, Villalobos said. And it feels really degrading to have no say (in tribal affairs) and to be told, youre just lucky to be here, you are guest on the reservation.

McIntosh said the lineals share a common ancestor  Modesta Martinez Contreras  who was mistakenly listed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as having a lower San Pasqual blood quantum when she was actually a full blooded member of the tribe.

In Villalobos case, his grandmother was listed as being three-eighths San Pasqual when she should have been listed as half, McIntosh said. That means Villalobos is one-eighth San Pasqual, she said.

Meanwhile, Quisquis  the tribal member backing the lineals  has raised questions about the tribes chairman, Lawson and members of his family, claiming they dont belong in the tribe. Quisquis said the chairman does not have San Pasqual ancestry.

Three years ago, Quiquis filed an enrollment challenge alleging that Lawson is the descendant of Frank Trask, a white man who was hired to be a caretaker of the San Pasqual reservation in 1910, and his wife, Leonora LaChappa, an Indian woman from the Mesa Grande tribe. The Bureau of Indian Affairs declined to take action on the challenge citing the tribes moratorium, Quisquis said.

Reached by phone on Wednesday, Lawson declined to comment.

Enrollment disputes have become common in California tribes and Indian communities across the country, said Laura L. Wass, central California director of the American Indian Movement, an American Indian civil rights organization.

Among local tribes, large groups of people have been expelled from the Pechanga, Pala and San Pasqual tribes after those tribes started building casinos about 15 years ago.

Wass said she blames federal government policies, which over time attempted to disband American Indian tribes and then tried to reinstate them, for the enrollment problems. She said Congress and the federal government need to address them.

They are not taking any role in these matters, Wass said. The Congress will not take responsibility for its actions.
A day after murder charges were dropped in the racially charged dragging death of a black man in east Texas, both a former suspect and the victims mother expressed outrage, for very different reasons.

Shannon Finley said Friday that he resents months of being portrayed as a racist responsible for killing Brandon McClelland, a close friend for more than a decade. Jacquline McClelland said the dropped charges show that the justice system treats blacks and whites in Paris unequally.

I said from the start they were going to sweep this under the rug, she said. And nine months later, thats exactly what happened.

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Finley and Charles Crostley, who are white, were freed Thursday after a prosecutor dropped the murder charges against them, citing a lack of evidence.

They had been charged with fatally striking 24-year-old Brandon McClelland with a pickup truck in September following a late-night beer run the three men made to Oklahoma. His mangled body, which authorities estimate was dragged beneath a vehicle for at least 70 feet, was found on a country road outside Paris, about 90 miles northeast of Dallas.

In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, Finley, 28, reiterated his innocence and blamed authorities for what he called a rush to judgment.

You look at the picture they painted, Finley said of law enforcement officials. It was of two racist killers. It was a real bad horror story and they put us as the main characters in it.

The racial implications of the case reminded some of the murder of James Byrd Jr., who was chained by the ankles to a pickup and dragged to death in 1998 in the east Texas town of Jasper.

The McClelland case last year attracted about 200 protesters, many of them from the Nation of Islam and the New Black Panther Party. Activists are promising another rally on Monday.

Finleys small Dodge Dakota pickup was tested in a lab three times, but no biological evidence was found, his attorney Ben Massar said. It also sustained no damage or dents, despite being the vehicle authorities allege struck the nearly 300-pound McClelland.

Jacquline McClelland, however, said Finley and Crostley visited her the day of her sons death, and that there was a dent on the hood of Finleys truck.

"(Finley) had his head down and was shaking it and said, `Things just got out of hand, she said of the visit. I am hurt. I am angry. Justice aint on my side.

Last month, a gravel truck driver gave a sworn statement acknowledging he might have accidentally run over Brandon McClelland. Special prosecutor Toby Shook said it was unlikely the trucker would face charges, but that the investigation would continue.

The truckers attorney, Mike Mosher, said his client was given immunity regarding his sworn statement and didnt know he hit anyone. He said the trucker does not know any of three men.

McClellands mother said she believes Finley and Crostley are guilty. Brenda Cherry, a Paris resident and president of Concerned Citizens for Racial Equality, said authorities should prosecute the truck driver.

If the trucker did it, so be it, she said. But he has to be prosecuted.

Finley  sitting Friday with his father, his attorney and the attorneys investigator  provided a detailed account of his last day and night with McClelland.

He said the trio had been drinking heavily for much of the night, and had mixed alcohol with marijuana and prescription drugs. After leaving their dry Texas county and buying beer across the Oklahoma line, they argued about whether Finley was too drunk and high to drive.

Finley said he was unwilling to let anyone else drive his truck. After a heated argument, McClelland got out of the truck several miles from town and declared he would walk home.

Finley and Crostley left him on the side of the road, returning once to attempt to persuade him to get back in. McClelland refused, so they continued home, Finley said.

Later that morning, Finley said he and Crostley learned of McClellands death.

Ive known Brandon since I was 15 and he was about 12 or 13, Finley said. We have been best friends every day pretty much since. We didnt hang out one day a week. We hung out four or five days a week.

After McClelland died, Finley left town for Kansas. He was arrested there and eventually extradited to Texas, circumstances that led to accusations that he had fled the state.

Finley said he gave a voluntary statement to authorities, told them he was traveling to Kansas and gave them his cell phone number. He said he was there to clear my head after his best friends death and that he feared for his safety.

Defense investigator Ray Ball said Finley left town after a group of McClellands friends cornered him and Crostley and threatened to kill them.

This is not the first time Finley was linked to a friends death. He was charged with murder in 2003 and eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to four years.

In that case, McClelland pleaded guilty to perjury for providing a false alibi for Finley. He was sentenced to five years probation but served some jail time when he violated its terms.

Paris, which is about 73 percent white and 22 percent black, has recently been the scene of other incidents in which race was alleged to have been a factor.

In 2007, a black girl was sentenced to up to seven years in a juvenile prison for shoving a teachers aide at school, while a white girl was sentenced by the same judge to probation for burning down her parents house. This year, two black workers at a pipe fabrication facility in Paris alleged widespread racism and said supervisors failed to respond to complaints about racist graffiti, nooses and slurs.

(This version CORRECTS Corrects to James Boyd Jr.)
Chief Minister Raghubar Das has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh for each of bereaved families and Rs 20,000 to those injured.

By India Today Web Desk: Eight passengers including four children were killed and 56 persons were injured after a bus overturned on the Pithoria-Patratu road in Ranchi.

"Eight passengers including, four children were killed on the spot and 56 others injured when a bus overturned at a sharp bend near a valley on the Pithoria-Patratu road," said Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldip Dwivedi.

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The injured were rushed to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi, said Diwedi. Police said that investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident is underway.

Other senior police officers too rushed to the spot following the incident.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das expressed grief at the loss. Das has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh for each of bereaved families and Rs 20,000 to those injured.

Also read:

20 killed after Tirupati-bound lorry ploughs into crowded market in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor

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An Australian National University-led team of researchers has found that Homo floresiensis  a dwarfed human species that lived until about 50,000 years ago on a remote Indonesian island  most likely evolved from a very primitive ancestor on the African continent, and not from the rather modern Homo erectus as has been widely believed. Details of the research are published in the Journal of Human Evolution.

The skeletal remains of Homo floresiensis were found in 2003 in Liang Bua Cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia.

Since the discovery, a wide range of potential explanations for the evolution of this hominin has been explored.

One view is that Homo floresiensis is a distinct species, derived from Asian Homo erectus that arrived on Flores and subsequently evolved a smaller body size, perhaps to survive the constrained resources they faced in a new island environment, the study authors said.

Fossil remains of Homo erectus, well known from the Indonesian mainland of Java, have not yet been discovered on Flores, they noted.

The second idea is that Homo floresiensis is directly descended from an early Homo lineage with roots in Africa.

The third is that Homo floresiensis is not a valid species, but is instead a pathological population of anatomically modern humans that had genetic or metabolic disorders.

The new data and analyses support the second hypothesis  the idea that Homo floresiensis is an early Homo lineage, likely a sister species of Homo habilis, one of the earliest known species of human found in Africa 1.75 million years ago.

When we did the analyses there was really clear support for the relationship with Homo habilis. Homo floresiensis occupied a very primitive position on the human evolutionary tree, said co-author Professor Mike Lee, from Flinders University and the South Australian Museum.

We can be 99% sure its not related to Homo erectus and nearly 100% chance it isnt a malformed Homo sapiens.

The analyses show that on the family tree, Homo floresiensis was likely a sister species of Homo habilis. It means these two shared a common ancestor, added lead author Dr. Debbie Argue, a researcher at the Australian National Universitys School of Archaeology & Anthropology.

Its possible that Homo floresiensis evolved in Africa and migrated, or the common ancestor moved from Africa then evolved into Homo floresiensis somewhere.

Where previous research had focused mostly on the skull and lower jaw, this work used 133 data points ranging across the skull, jaws, teeth, arms, legs and shoulders.

None of the data supported the theory that Homo floresiensis evolved from Homo erectus, Dr. Argue said.

We looked at whether Homo floresiensis could be descended from Homo erectus. We found that if you try and link them on the family tree, you get a very unsupported result. All the tests say it doesnt fit  its just not a viable theory.

This was supported by the fact that in many features, such as the structure of the jaw, Homo floresiensis was more primitive than Homo erectus.

The analyses could also support the theory that Homo floresiensis could have branched off earlier in the timeline, more than 1.75 million years ago, she said.

If this was the case Homo floresiensis would have evolved before the earliest Homo habilis, which would make it very archaic indeed.

_____

Debbie Argue et al. The affinities of Homo floresiensis based on phylogenetic analyses of cranial, dental, and postcranial characters. Journal of Human Evolution, published online April 21, 2017; doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.02.006
Hashim Sofi, a Kashmiri researcher at BITS Pilani took to his Facebook account to narrate the harassment that he faced at the institute.

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: A Kashmiri project fellow at BITS Pilani in Rajasthan has left the institute after allegedly facing harassment.

Hashim Sofi, a 27-year-old scholar who was at BITS as a research project staff, has left for his hometown, Bandipora in Kashmir. Sofi had posted about the harassment incident on his Facebook post.

Sofi had on April 20 reported to the chief warden of his hostel that someone had written objectionable comments on the door of his hostel room. Sofi had also said that objectionable comments were written on two of his t-shirts that were kept in the balcony outside to dry. As per Sofi, this incident happened on the intervening night of April 20 and 21.

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As per a release issued by BITS, Pilani, which was accessed by India Today, "The Chief Warden met and assured all assistance and help to the concerned project fellow. He made arrangements to shift him from the hostel to residential quarters. The Chief Warden got in touch with the Associate Dean, Students' Welfare and they inquired the matter from the hostel Superintendent and the Warden, got in touch with the Chief Security Officer and called a meeting of all the people. They didn't find any other such incident from any other research scholar or student from Jammu and Kashmir. Exactly what has happened is yet to be ascertained. The enquiry report of the Chief Warden was submitted to the Associate Dean, SWD."

Sofi has left the hostel after the alleged harassment.

The institute's release further added, "Meanwhile today on 23 April we have learnt that Mr. Sofi is not available in his allotted quarters and has left without informing his Project Investigator and other authorities of the institute. He is also not available on phone."

Earlier on April 19, some Kashmiri students studying in Mewar University in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh district, were allegedly beaten up. Thereafter, Kashmiri students at the university had demanded security for them. Even Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had expressed concern over the issue of security of Kashmiri students across the country and had appealed all te state governments to take action to ensure safety of students.

Watch the video here

Also read: Kashmiris equal citizens of India, ensure their safety: Rajnath to states after 6 attacked in Rajasthan

Also read: Leave now or face dire consequences: Hindu outfit to Kashmiris in UP

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By Press Trust of India: Colombo, Apr 23 (PTI) Workerss of Sri Lankas state-runpetroleum firm are set to launch an indefinite strike fromtomorrow against the governments proposed deal with India to jointly operate an oil storage facility at the strategic eastern port town of Trincomalee.

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Trade Union Collective workers have threatened to cripple entire transportation sector in the country.

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Lanka and India are expected to sign an agreement to jointly invest and develop the Trincomalee Port and establish a petroleum refinery and other industries there.

The workers have three demands which include getting the government to stop granting outright ownership of some 14 World War II oil storage tanks in the eastern port district of Trincomalee.

The Petroleum Joint Union Alliance says it opposes the proposal to transfer operations rights to oil tanks to India since the agreement would benefit the Lanka IOC, Indian Oils subsidiary, allowing it to expand further and the CPC, which is already in debt, will incur further financial losses.

They also asked the government to shelve plans to build a new oil refinery with Chinese assistance in the southern port of Hambantota and to immediately begin repairing the existing refinery near Colombo.

"We will be striking from tomorrow and stop all fuel distribution in the country," Bandula Saman Kumara a spokesman for the trade unions told reporters today.

He said by mid-week the Colombo international airport would face the danger of becoming non-operational due to fuel sector strike.

At least 73 of the 99 storage tanks in Trincomalee is to be managed under a new equity arrangement between the two countries, Lankan Petroleum Minister Chandima Weerakkody had said earlier.

The union has taken the decision to strike after President Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly turned down a request for a meeting to discuss the issue.

Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who will visit India on April 25, had said yesterday the development of eastern port district of Trincomalee will be discussed during his visit. PTI CORR KJ ASK KJ TRK

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By Press Trust of India: From Sajjad Hussein

Islamabad, Apr 21 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs media savvy daughter Maryam Sharifs name has been virtually cleared by the Supreme Court in the high-profile Panama case, according to a media report.

The Panama Papers leaks alleged that 43-year-old Maryam was the beneficial owner of the London properties owned jointly by her brothers.

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The petitions claimed that since Maryam was a dependant of Sharif, she should have declared the Mayfair properties in her wealth statement.

The verdict, however, was of the view that Maryam "has received cash gifts from her father in substantial amounts on various occasions? receipt of gifts from the father does not necessarily make Respondent No 6 (Maryam Nawaz) his (Nawaz Sharif) dependent in the legal sense of the word", Dawn reported.

The bench said in the verdict that "we also notice that she owns substantial agricultural property, receives income from the same, holds shares in limited companies worth more than Rs 200 million and her husband also receives a fair amount of money by way of pension as a retired military officer".

In response to the arguments that Maryam lives in the Sharifs family house, the verdict said: "The mere fact that she has chosen to live in a compound owned by her grandmother does not ipso facto make her a dependent of Respondent No 1 (Nawaz Sharif) either".

The verdict further noted that Maryam "contributes a substantial sum of money towards her share in the joint expenses incurred by her grandmother on behalf of other members of the Sharif family residing in the compound".

Subsequently, the bench declared, "in this context, whether or not Respondent No 6 is the beneficial owner of the Mayfair Properties becomes irrelevant at this stage, seen from the point of view of seeking disqualification of Respondent No 1 on the ground that he has failed to disclose the assets of a dependent".

Even otherwise, the issue of dependency is a question of fact to be determined on a case-to-case basis after recording evidence.

The bench concluded that in these proceedings sufficient material was not available on the record to establish that Maryam Nawaz was a dependant of Nawaz Sharif, in a legal sense.

"We do not feel the necessity to discuss this aspect of the case any further, lest it should prejudice the case of either party before a competent forum if and when this issue is agitated," it said.

In the operating part of the judgement, the bench constituted a joint investigation team comprising representatives of the Federal Investigation Agency, National Accountability Bureau, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, State Bank of Pakistan, Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence.

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The court asked the proposed JIT to investigate allegations levelled against Sharif and his sons Hassan and Hussain by the petitioners.

A senior lawyer and former deputy attorney general Tariq Jahangiri says that Maryam has been cleared for the time being, but in case the JIT finds some tangible evidence against her she may face the proceedings as well. PTI SH UZM

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Press Release

April 22, 2017 ANGARA CALLS FOR CREATION OF 'DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING' THE recent unauthorized occupation of shelter units constructed by the government for soldiers and policemen in Pandi, Bulacan by an urban poor group gives yet another compelling reason for the creation of a housing "super body." This was stressed by Senator Sonny Angara as he renewed his call to fast-track the approval of a bill he filed establishing a housing department that will take care of the government's overall housing program. "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD), sought to be created under Senate Bill No. 952, will not be an added layer to the bureaucracy, but a consolidation under one roof of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board," the senator pointed out. Angara said the main objective of creating the DHUD, which shall operationalize the constitutional mandate of implementing a continuing urban land reform and housing program in cooperation with the private sector, is to deliver an affordable, decent housing for Filipinos. When the lawmaker filed the proposed measure late last year, the housing backlog stood at 3.9 million, and the country's housing need was approximated to hit more than 6 million by 2030. "It is proper that an integrated approach is executed by all key shelter agencies of the government (led by the DHUD) to effectively create and to seamlessly implement a national housing program, considering that the total need for new houses is 6.2 million by 2030, with 345,941 housing units needed to be constructed every year," said Angara, vice chair of the Senate finance committee. He said the DHUD shall be the primary body of the national government responsible for the management of housing and urban development. "It shall be the sole and main planning and policy-making, regulatory, program coordination, and performance monitoring entity for all housing and urban development concerns, primarily focusing on the access to and affordability of basic human needs," Angara said, quoting a portion of section 4 of the bill. However, the senator emphasized, the department will not be a "do-it-all" agency as it shall formulate policies for national housing and urban development in coordination and consultation with local government units and other stakeholders, and in consisten t with the Philippine Development Plan.
Press Release

April 22, 2017 STATEMENT OF SEN. LEILA M. DE LIMA ON REUTERS' SPECIAL REPORT ON THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION'S WAR ON DRUGS CUSTODIAL CENTER, Camp Crame, QC- Senator Leila M. de Lima released the following statement today on Reuters' special report "Police describe kill rewards, staged crimes scenes in Duterte's drug war" published last April 18: "The secrecy that shrouds the nationwide operations of the Davao Death Squad (DDS), now transformed into the Presidential Death Squad of President Duterte, will not last for long. Already, brave and honorable men of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are breaking their silence to tell the world the truth behind the assassins and killers spawned in Davao's underbelly. "That the DDS is now embedded in the national police force as the vigilante death squad of the President is only the logical action coming out of Duterte's policy of summary executions in Davao, and how this can be transplanted to the national stage once he has adopted said policy at the national level when he became President. "I salute the brave and honorable men and women of the PNP for giving testimonial proof that the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) are indeed state-sponsored and carried out upon direct orders of the President. With DDS insider testimonies coming from former DDS members Arturo Lascanas and Edgar Matobato, as well as confirmation coming from PNP officials, there ought to be no longer any doubt that there exists an international criminal case for crimes against humanity against the President, his PNP Chief and commanders, and high ranking cabinet officials and congressional allies. "It is just a matter of time before all of the truth comes out in all its horrifying detail, of how a President took hold of a nation's consciousness to promote social cleansing as a final solution to the nation's problems, the same way Hitler hypnotized the German people. As the truth gradually comes out, let us learn from history and know that final solutions that consist of state-sponsored murders in massive scale, even if not in Holocaust proportions, can only lead to the destruction of a nation's social, moral, and cultural fabric. Now that evidence of this continues to surface, we must ask ourselves if we want to go on supporting the carnage. "Human rights is universal. It is not a fashion statement. Sooner or later, the judgment of history of how we treated our fellow human beings, whether we fought for them or cheered on their slaughterers, will catch up with us. When that time comes, we must make sure we are standing on the side of justice."
When I first moved to Arizona in 2001 and landed in Page, I spent long and adventurous weekends exploring the canyons, bluffs and trails of southern Utah. The rugged red rocks scraped against the blue sky turned into a soul-altering tableau for my East Coast eyes.

Around that time, Kanab was the town I passed through coming and going  a sleepy place of around 5,000 people. A handful of motor lodges and dive restaurants catered to the passing visitors and occasional tour busses.

Now, Kanab has emerged as something more, as it recently launched into marketing and promoting itself as a true gateway town to Zion National Park, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Bryce  an hour from the former and an hour-and-a-half from the other two.

The town has adopted a slogan, Abra Kanabra!  wordplay that might prompt magician puns and Steve Miller Band references. It refers to the so-called surprises of the Grand Circle, the roundup of national parks and monuments that span southern Utah and northern Arizona.

This move to cement itself as a destination pairs with a spike in hotel construction, new restaurants and shops to cater to the tourism.

As a three-and-a-half-hour drive and two possible routes to get there, it makes Kanab an attractive weekend destination for Flagstaffians. It can serve as a jumping-off point for Zion National Park, the North Rim or a base camp to get up to Bryce Canyon.

And anyone who wants to skip the park entrance fees and crowds can pick up a nearby trail, visit a local state park or tour one of the largest animal sanctuaries in the country.

Offerings abound

During a recent spring break family trip, the changes to Kanab became apparent along the main avenue where U.S. 89 out of Page and U.S. 89A out of Fredonia merge. Holiday Inn Express and the Hampton Inn mark two of the new larger hotels. The other accommodations, such as the historic Parry Lodge, bring around 20 different hotels with many levels of offerings and price points.

Kanab also has added a boutique extended-stay option with Flagstone Studios, a number of bed and breakfasts and a long roster of airbnb possibilities, with around 100 listings on the site.

Joined with this is a few restaurant additions. Peekaboo Canyon Kitchen is a new wood-fired pizzeria attached to the Flagstone Studios. Sego Restaurant offers higher end New American cuisine, while mainstay Rockin V Cafe helps keep the foodie offerings on the up and up.

A Kanab classic, though, is Escobars Mexican Restaurant on the right side on the way in from Page. Its a locals favorite that offers honest Mexican food at a fair price. Travelers can lounge on the patio with a signature burrito and Tecate after a long day of canyoneering.

Another new addition, Kanab Creek Bakery, offers some added breakfast ideas, which can be joined by great coffee at Willow Canyon Outdoor. Willow Canyon also is a hotspot for outdoor gear and a Southwest-themed selection of books.

Nearby explorations

Over the last decade or two, Kanab has built out a trail system right near the edge of town that climbs, skirts and meanders around the pink cliffs just to the north of the city limits. A half-dozen different hiking trails, with around 10 miles of options, head out from the municipality. One of the favored routes is Squaw Trail, which climbs 800 feet to overlook the town and even passes by a rock arch.

A comprehensive roundup of the trails and usages is at www.trailskanab.com. The town-connected trails give a chance to wake up early and catch the sunrise  or cooler time of day  on paths that usually are much quieter than their counterparts in the nearby national parks and monuments.

The website also lists two prominent regional hikes with Snake Gulch (includes world-class rock art) and the Barracks  a hike that heads into the East Virgin River Canyon complex.

Along with those trail options and avenues, a family favorite for exploring nearby has become Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Its about a half-hour drive to the north and its famous for its towering dunes of, well, pink sand  though its more on the burnt orange side.

Our children have come to love the opportunity to climb the dunes and then roll down them or run down them to the point of exhaustion. The state park also rents sand sleds that offer a chance to careen down the steep slopes.

One recommendation for hiker-explorers and families looking for sand-play is to get there early and to shoot for weekdays if possible, when the off-road vehicle traffic is limited. Weekends and holidays bring an increase in ATV and dirt bike traffic.

The sand dunes have another competitor in the kid favorite category: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Also located north of Kanab  only about 10 minutes up U.S. 89  the sanctuary is open to the public.

Anyone is welcome to peruse the visitor center or take a sanctuary tour. Reservations are suggested for this complimentary spin through the facility. Learn more at www.bestfriends.org.

Great beyond

Of course, a trip to Kanab offers that great jumping-off point to explore some of the best canyon country has to offer. While this time of year bring a sharp uptick in visitation to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon  with the North Rims mid-May opening on its way  there are still chances to get into the backcountry on any number of hiking or canyoneering adventures.

The main canyon of Zion, with its towering cliffs of red and white sandstone and gushing springs that feed into the cool cascades of the Virgin River, has reached a point where it seldom is not busy with hikers, swimmers and outdoor revelers. And use of the shuttle system is required for all but the winter months now.

However, trails outside of the canyon, such as the Watchman Trail and the East Rim Trail (where it starts at the far-east entrance) offer some chances at relative quietude. Learn more at www.nps.gov/zion.

Along with all of the geologic and scenic bounty, drives to and from Kanab offer another collection of exploring possibilities. Head the Page route and catch Horseshoe Bend and the Pedestal Rimrocks (the trailhead is about a half-mile east of where 89 crosses the Paria River, on the right). Drive the North Rim/Jacob Lake way and take a stroll on the Arizona Trail or wander around Lees Ferry.

Before the summer scorches and the visitor season builds to a crescendo, Kanab can become a great two- or three-day getaway that serves as a reminder of what makes the Southwest so stunning. Grab a few other ideas, itineraries and maps at www.visitsouthernutah.com.
The voting concluded at 5:30 pm in 270 wards of the three municipal corporations in Delhi.

By India Today Web Desk: An average of 53.58 per cent voting was recorded on Sunday in the elections to the three municipal corporations of Delhi.

In the election to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, 56.08 per cent voting was recorded. For the North and South Delhi corporations, the numbers were 54.08 per cent and 51.59 per cent, respectively.

The crucial election for the BJP, the Congress and the AAP saw low voting in many areas.

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Polling was held in 270 wards of the three municipal corporations.

Final voting numbers

According to the EC, the elections were largely peaceful with voters and political parties reporting numerous cases of malfunctioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

While the voting was on, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said reports of EVM malfunctioning came from all over the capital. By 3 pm, the AAP War Room reported 250 calls from voters complaining about non-functional EVMs. The complaints came from several areas including Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's constituency Patparganj.

Voting was postponed in two wards - Maujpur in East Delhi and Sarai Pipal Thala in North Delhi - where a candidate each of the Samajwadi Party died.Among others who contested the election are the Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal-United and Swaraj India of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan who were earlier Kejriwal's colleagues in the AAP.

The three civic bodies cover 68 of the 70 assembly constituencies in Delhi. The two smaller civic bodies are the Delhi Cantonment Board as well as the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

A total of 2,537 candidates were in the fray. For the first time, the None Of The Above (NOTA) option was made available in the MCD polls.

A total of 1,32,10,206 voters, including over 1.1 lakh first-time voters, were eligible to exercise their franchise to elect the councillors for the 270 wards under the three civic bodies - North Delhi Municipal Corporation (103 wards), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (63).

Also read: MCD election 2017: Kejrwal targets EC over faulty EVMs, 43% voting till 4pm

Also read: MCD 2017 exit poll results: India Today-Axis My India predicts BJP sweep

Watch Video: MCD 2017 exit poll: BJP in the lead, predicts India Today-Axis My India

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Gary Thomas went to work one hot August day in 1970 as just another prosecutor in Marin County, and by the end of the day he was a hero  but one who never let that title define the rest of his life.

By the time the San Rafael man died this month of natural causes at 79, he was known to his family and friends as the Judge, who for decades dispensed tough but fair rulings from the Marin County Superior Court bench, as well as an avid fisherman with a photographic memory for everything from legal precedents to passages from science fiction novels.

My father liked to read, he liked to be outdoors, and he liked the law  especially family law, said Judge Thomas son Christopher Thomas. He was a family man.

But back on the morning of Aug. 7, 1970, he was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney who showed up at the Marin County Courthouse to handle the prosecution in a fairly routine trial of a prison inmate accused of knifing a prison guard. By late morning his life, and the lives of many others, had been changed forever by a spasm of violence that became one of the most notorious kidnapping-murders in California history.

The jury had just reconvened in Superior Court Judge Harold Haleys courtroom when Jonathan Jackson, brother of the imprisoned black power leader George Jackson, stood up and produced a cache of weapons for him, the defendant and two convicts who were there to testify. The intent was to take then-prosecutor Thomas, the judge and three jurors hostage and to bargain them for George Jacksons freedom  but the plot was thwarted by Gary Thomas.

The kidnappers had hustled their hostages into a van and were preparing to leave when one of them shot out a window. Another pulled the trigger on a shotgun taped to Haleys head, killing the judge instantly. Thats when the prosecutor grabbed a .357-caliber pistol from one of the convicts and began firing.

By the time he was done, he had fatally shot three of the four convicts and had taken a bullet to the spine. He was paralyzed from the waist down. But he and the three jurors survived.

He later testified at the 1972 trial of Angela Davis, who was acquitted of charges of buying guns used in the shootout and helping plan it.

Gary saved my life and the lives of the other jurors, juror Maria Graham, who was shot in the arm, told The Chronicle before she died in 2009. He was an incredibly brave man. I have no idea how he managed to do what he did in those few moments, but we are all eternally grateful.

For his heroism, Judge Thomas was named 1970 Peace Officer of the Year by the Marin County Peace Officers Association.

Judge Thomas seldom spoke of that day as he continued his career in law, going back to work in a wheelchair after only four weeks off and then being appointed in 1972 by then-Gov. Ronald Reagan as a Marin County Municipal Court judge at the age of 34. But along with his renowned sense of right and wrong, one quote his friends and family often point to may explain a bit of why he did what he did.

He always told people he was from Montana, where the men are men and damned proud of it, said his wife of 57 years, Maureen Thomas, whose uncle was Haley.

After the shooting he never complained about anything, she said. Most people could be depressed after something like that, but not him. He was amazing. He just carried on.

Judge Thomas was born in Great Falls, Mont. When he was 9, the family moved to San Francisco, but he returned most summers to Montana throughout his childhood to work on his uncles cattle ranch. He graduated from Riordan High School, earned his law degree from the University of San Francisco, and served in the Air Force Reserves from 1962 to 1968.

Judge Thomas was elected to the Marin County Superior Court in 1986 and served on the bench until retiring in 1999. His judicial decisions included rulings that kept porn king Jim Mitchell in jail while he awaited trial for killing his brother, and preserved land in Marin for environmental use.

Judge Thomas, who died April 3, is survived by his wife; sons, Christopher of Norway and Matthew Thomas of Dixon; sister, Elaine Jordan of San Ramon; and four grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was said April 12 at St. Raphael Church in San Rafael.

Kevin Fagan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KevinChron
A 21-year-old Hayward man was shot and killed Saturday night near College Heights Park, police said.

Officers responded to 27020 Fielding Drive after getting reports of shots fired in the area around 8:10 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived, they found the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, police said.

The man was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later, police said.

No arrests have been made, and no information on the shooter is available, police said.

The slaying is the citys second this year.

The Alameda County Coroners Bureau has not released the victims name.

Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @obioannoukenobi
Jacom Stephens/Getty Images

Officers are investigating a possible assault with a deadly weapon alleged to have occurred last week at a Pacifica shopping center, police said Saturday.

Police were called to the Longboard Margarita Bar inside the Eureka Square Shopping Center on Ocean Boulevard and Eureka Drive around 1 a.m. Thursday when an assault was reported, according to the Pacifica Police Department.
Santa Rosa Police Department

A woman was arrested after doing drugs while talking to police officers in the parking lot of a Santa Rosa hospital Saturday, police said.

Police were summoned to Memorial Hospital around noon when a caller said there was a woman with a gun sitting in a car in the parking lot.
Stalin lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for betraying the sentiments of non Hindi residents. He warned that DMK has the history of fighting anti-Hindi battles and laying down their lives for the language.

By India Today Web Desk: Even as the power tussle between O Paneerselvam and Edappadi Palaniswami continues, DMK has taken up anti-Hindi agitation once again. With the state reeling under a political crisis, DMK's working president MK Stalin has called people of Tamil Nadu to fight for the state language Tamil.

In a video released, Stalin said, "By forcing Hindi onto its citizens from primary school students to Parliament, the BJP government is betraying all non-Hindi speaking residents of the county including future generations."

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Stalin pointed to the attempts by the DMK to make ministers address in Hindi in Parliament and to have Hindi signboards in the milestones. Stalin lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for betraying the sentiments of non Hindi residents. He warned that DMK has the history of fighting anti-Hindi battles and laying down their lives for the language. Stalin warned the central government not to pave way for another anti-Hindi agitation.

The language war has always played an important role in vote bank politics in Tamil Nadu. DMK's active role in anti-Hindi agitation in 1965 had led the party to win elections in the state. The ongoing OPS versus EPS saga has probably made the DMK take an issue that's close to the heart of people, opine some political analysts.

Though Stalin has launched direct attack on the central government, AIADMK feels this is nothing but a political move to whip up the passion of people in Tamil Nadu which only recently saw the agitations for jallikattu.

KC Palanisamy of the OPS faction of AIADMK said, "From the time of MGR, it was MGR versus Karunanidhi then Amma versus Karunanidhi. Now there is a leadership vacuum in the state. So DMK wants to create a situation that it is DMK versus BJP. Even BJP is trying to use the situation. But AIADMK will soon unite."

However, DMK has rubbished this. DMK spokesperson Saravanan said "DMK need not regain ground in the state of Tamil Nadu because we are the only party people are looking at. But imposition of Hindi is close to our heart. We are guarding the cultural identity with our lives."

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Bill Hutchinson / The Chronicle

Police continued to search Sunday for three men suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in East Oakland.

The attack occurred around 11 p.m. Friday on the 3200 block of Fruitvale Avenue, about a block from the MacArthur Freeway, according to the Oakland Police Department.
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A 139-year-old tradition on San Franciscos cable cars is on the verge of becoming history, as Muni is thinking seriously about having conductors no longer collect cash fares.

You can pretty much do anything without cash in this day and age, and it is something we are looking at, said Munis director of transit, John Haley.

Muni has discussed the idea in the past, but it gained new urgency after a conductor was arrested last week on felony embezzlement charges for allegedly pocketing cash he collected from riders.

Hall of Justice sources tell us a small number of other cable car operators are also under investigation.

Since the cable car system was launched in the 1870s, riders have been allowed to pay with cash. For many years, tokens were used as well.

With 50 or so cable car workers handling cash on any given day, Muni has long been concerned about the possibility of embezzlement.

In 2006, then-Mayor Gavin Newsom caused a stir when he said he had seen conductors skimming fares from cash-paying riders on three occasions as he rode the cable cars.

Newsom said he had personally handed over a $5 cash fare but never received the required receipt. He called on Muni to change the way it collected cash, but nothing happened.

The cable car system is steeped in tradition, Haley said, and obviously people come from all over the world to ride it.

But with fares having shot up from 15 cents in the 1960s to $7 now, the cable cars have become a $30 million-a-year cash cow for Muni.

Most transit agencies are turning to scanning systems and other technology that avoids having to deal with dollars and cents. Muni may finally follow suit on the cable cars.

We will go through the analysis very soon about how best to do that and still provide convenience to tourists, Haley said.

Paul Chinn/The Chronicle

Neither Muni nor law enforcement officials would say just how much money 61-year-old cable-car conductor Albert Williams, who was arraigned Thursday, might have pocketed.

According to a police affidavit, a preliminary audit of daily cash fares for December and January showed that some conductors consistently turned in low amounts of cash.

The discrepancies led to a sting in which investigators posing as patrons paid Williams with marked bills  some of which never made it to the collections office, the affidavit says.

On one day in March, Williams turned in $91, compared with an average of $405 for his fellow workers, according to the affidavit.

Hall of Justice sources say investigators are now auditing five years worth of pay collected by Williams and others to better determine the scope of the problem.

Haley said the first step in eliminating the cable car cash transactions would probably be to expand the hours at booths where riders can prepay. Fare machines along the lines may follow, along with allowing vendors at tourist locations to sell tickets.

Given the allegations of embezzlement, Haley said he didnt think hed have trouble selling the idea to Munis unionized cable car crews because no jobs would be eliminated. They are ambassadors to our city, he said. And I think they recognize (what happened) can be a catalyst for change.

Transport Workers Union Local 250 officials representing the cable car conductors did not return calls. But one conductor at the Powell Street cable car turnaround, who volunteered only his badge number, said Friday: Its fine with me  one less thing to do.

Lovin it: Time is running out, but the push is still on to find a sponsor for a 50th anniversary Summer of Love free concert in Golden Gate Park.

The challenge: The event would draw tens of thousands of people, and that would require security, scores of portable toilets and lots of cleanup effort afterward.

All told, the bill could be north of $1 million for a city government that isnt rolling in money just now.

Costs were one big reason the Recreation and Park Commission rejected promoter Boots Hughstons bid to put on a free concert at the Polo Field in June. He simply didnt seem to have the scratch.

But Rec and Park Department officials havent given up on the idea just yet.

Agency spokeswoman Connie Chan said Rec and Park has been approached by a few would-be organizers, and we are definitely actively in conversation with them.

Other City Hall sources tell us officials are shaking the trees for big-time donors from the music industry or elsewhere.

The most logical scenario could involve tagging a free event onto the Outside Lands festival in Golden Gate Park that runs Aug. 11-13. Another Planet stages the annual show and charges $355 to $700-plus for three-day passes.

Another Planet promoter Gregg Perloff didnt return a call seeking comment. But our sources tell us that even if he were willing to help stage an event, hes not prepared to underwrite the costs.

Were told that other folks affiliated with Hardly Strictly Bluegrass  the free park extravaganza that runs Oct. 6-8  might be interested in sponsoring a concert in the late summer, but only if they have full control. Organizers did not return our call seeking comment.

The sentimental value (for an anniversary show) is strong, Chan said  and if the concert doesnt happen, its not for a lack of trying.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
As to the unmasking, unemploying and paying off of Fox News Casanova Bill OReilly, the Caller Who Never Leaves His Name suggests that lover boys first name  Bill Cosby, Bill OReilly, Billy Bush, Bill Clinton  means trouble.

Nonetheless, OReilly may have a future. At least he could still be president of the United States, observes Andy Gold. And Steve Rozzi suggests Maybe the Donald can give him a job at the White House ... in charge of frisking the females when they enter.

Which reminds me: Journalist William Cohan writes in the latest Vanity Fair about Metropolitan Museum Director Thomas Campbell, who will step down at the end of June after having made a mess of things at that institution. After alleging mismanagement difficulties, Cohan writes:

Another problem was Campbells friskiness with certain women on the staff. He had been warned about it early in his tenure but still carried on. More recently a legal action was brought against him and the Met, but it was settled. Friskiness? Is sexual harassment naughty, or is it taboo?

Perhaps it would be useful  in separating the frisky from the criminal  to create a 1-to-10 Frisky Scale for co-workers conversational forays:

(1) Theres no more paper in the printer (non-problematic, unless office manager is a dominatrix);

(2) Nice shoes (metrosexual);

(3) You got weekend plans? (friendly or perhaps daring);

(4) Nice skirt (borderline frisky, depending on how long the glance lingers);

(5) Nice eyes (same as skirt comment, but often an attempt to fake interest in emotion rather than sex);

(6) You, too? (faux naive, as though the thought has never entered the speakers mind);

(7) I dont care what HR says, I cant help myself (if it wasnt in my job description, it should have been);

(8) They told me I should do more social media; this is the social (#everybodylovesme);

(9) It was a great vacation. We took the family to New York, and I earned 20 Marriott points (Im paying for the room, you bring the sandwich);

(10) Not here! (the microwave is watching, and now youve ruined my earbud and its company property).

P.S. Ellen Pao, who lost her gender discrimination suit against Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Anita Hill , whose testimony against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas didnt keep him off the Supreme Court, were in conversation sponsored by the Kapor Center for Social Impact on Thursday, April 20. Interviewer Michele Norris asked audience members to raise their hands if they knew someone whod been sexually harassed, and it looked like 100 percent raised a hand, said a woman who was there.

P.P.S. Meanwhile, a full-page ad placed in the April 13 Hollywood Reporter by Bell and Co., personal financial managers, read: We applaud our friend and client Bill OReilly, in recognition of his long career filled with integrity in reporting, talking points, pithy comments and a lifetime of generosity, kindness, loyalty & support for his many friends and loved ones.

Photo by Daniela Hichak/With permission to The Chronicle

There used to be a romance about the newsroom, when a man wearing a visor rushed out of the wire room with loosely coiled rolls of paper jitteringly printed and noisily emitted by the AP and UPI wire machines, while transmitted photographs rolled forth from adjacent machines. This was roughly the system that fed the newspapers maw in 1983, when photographers Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel and Managing Editor Constance Lewallen created the first Newsroom, an installation at the UC Berkeley Art Museum. As Charles Desmarais wrote, Jason Fulford, Jim Goldberg and Dru Donovans modern version of that installation, Fake Newsroom, is at the Minnesota Street Project until Saturday, April 29.

Its about a different aspect of newsroom romance: the assembling of images that serve as storytellers. I saw it while Goldberg was serving as editor. Photos and photo fragments were piled around the room; a few assistants (students from the California College of the Arts and the San Francisco Art Institute, in a perhaps first-ever collaboration) peered at computer screens, and a meeting was in progress, as they often are. My own vision of newsroom paradise includes doughnuts, but there was no pink box in sight.

Editor Goldberg said hed bring chickens in the next day to decide on the newspapers content. I checked the site http://fakenewsroom.org/adwoeir and saw a drawing of a chicken.

Leah Garchik is open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @leahgarchik

Public Eavesdropping

I would like

to know more black people, but who has time?

Woman in NoPa,

overheard by Amanda Houston-Hamilton
Not long after the state issued a new law requiring all students be vaccinated before starting kindergarten, the Lagunitas School District held a meeting with parents to talk over the mandate.

Superintendent John Carroll was braced for a fierce backlash. For years, hundreds of parents in the Marin County districts two schools had been using a state-sanctioned loophole to opt out of vaccinating their kids. With that loophole now closed, Carroll worried that parents would be scared or angry. He wondered if they would pull their kids out of his schools.

But at that meeting, in the summer of 2015, he was surprised to find that most parents were willing to start vaccinating their children  right away, and with no complaints. The handful of parents who remained strongly opposed, he learned, were finding ways around the legislation. No one was leaving the district.

The result: Vaccination rates shot up. Three years ago, fewer than half of students starting kindergarten in the Lagunitas district were fully vaccinated. At the start of the 2015-16 school year  before the state law even took effect  more than 90 percent were.

I think we navigated that pretty well, Carroll said last week, a smile in his voice. What we all recognized about each other is we all want whats best for our kids. We all want them to be safe and healthy.

Lagunitas is emblematic of a trend taking shape all over California in the wake of a massive public policy push to improve the states childhood vaccination rates. Even in Marin County, long a sanctuary for parents hesitant about or dead-set against vaccinating their children, immunization rates are soaring.

Over just a few years, California has reversed a trend of falling vaccination rates that had been causing stark fear among public health and infectious disease experts, who warned that parts of the state were becoming vulnerable to diseases like measles and whooping cough.

After a January 2015 measles outbreak that seemed to confirm their worst concerns, new laws and focused efforts by counties and school districts to increase vaccinations had an almost immediate impact. In 2016, the state vaccination rate rose to 95.6 percent, the highest level in more than 16 years, according to a public health report released earlier this month.

In Marin County, the rate climbed to 93.2 percent  a 9-point increase in two years, and 15 points above the low just five years ago.

Weve been vulnerable to outbreaks of preventable diseases in Marin County for more than a decade. Weve had some of the lowest vaccination rates in the state, said Dr. Matt Willis, the Marin County public health officer. This is obviously great news.

But amid the overall improved numbers, pockets of stubbornly antivaccination sentiment remain. In sleepy Modoc County, tucked into the border of Oregon and Nevada, only 79 percent of kindergartners were fully vaccinated in 2016. Seven other counties have rates under 90 percent, too low to offer the so-called herd immunity that prevents infectious diseases from getting a toehold in a community.

In Marin County, though the overall vaccination rate has climbed dramatically, clusters of parents are still finding ways to opt out of immunizing their children. Medical exemptions increased almost ninefold in 2016.

Before the new state law took effect, parents could apply for a personal belief exemption, which allowed them to not vaccinate their children for any reason. The law removed that exemption. But it kept in place medical exemptions, which typically are for severely immune-compromised children  often, those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy  who cannot safely be vaccinated.

In Marin County, eight incoming kindergarten students had medical exemptions in 2015. The next year, 68 did. Theres no way, public health experts said, that pediatric cancers or other immune-weakening conditions climbed that much in one year.

Indeed, at his meeting with Lagunitas families, Carroll said some parents firmly opposed to vaccinating asked about medical exemptions. A doctor stood up, Carroll recalled, and volunteered to write exemptions for anyone who wanted them, no questions asked.

He said very clearly that hed write medical exemptions for anybody. He said, Ill be writing them hand over fist, Carroll said. He couldnt remember the name of the doctor.

Thats not how the law is supposed to work, said public health officials. Later this year, the state will release vaccination data for specific schools, which should show where parents are relying heavily on medical exemptions to keep their children in school. When those reports come out, some public health officials said theyll likely be following up with schools, parents and doctors.

At several Bay Area schools that have had exceptionally high rates of children with personal belief exemptions, officials refused to comment or did not return phone calls in reference to how parents were coping under the new law.

But public health officials said those parents are a small minority now. In fact, what school and public health authorities realized in the aftermath of the measles outbreak and the resulting legislation was that most parents who hadnt been getting their kids immunized werent necessarily strongly antivaccination.

Instead, they were more vaccine-hesitant, said Dr. Oded Herbsman, vice chair of pediatrics at San Franciscos California Pacific Medical Center. Parents were confused and concerned, he said.

Theyd heard about an association between vaccines and autism  a connection long ago debunked  and maybe read other unsubstantiated reports online about the so-called dangers of childhood immunizations. Weighing the threat of a disease like measles, which theyd never seen or experienced, against the fear that vaccines could cause autism, they chose to not vaccinate. And the state made it easy.

There was so much doubt out there and so much wrong information, said Herbsman. Im a parent too, and if I saw something and all I remembered was that my child could get autism, yes, I see how that happens. Its hard to unsee certain things. But they were playing Russian roulette.

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.

Then the measles epidemic hit. It started at Disneyland and ultimately infected more than 130 people in California, most of them not vaccinated. A long-simmering debate around vaccinations became loud and heated.

And for many parents who had been vaccine-shy, the balance of perceived threat shifted. Parents who thought they were erring on the side of caution by not getting their kids vaccinated reconsidered.

It was a mental switch for a lot of people, in a very good way, Herbsman said.

Few places were more directly affected by that change of heart than Reed Elementary School, a pretty campus of pastel-colored buildings tucked into a Tiburon hillside overlooking San Francisco Bay.

At the start of the 2013 school year, 15 percent of kindergartners there were not fully vaccinated. Ten of those 27 children werent vaccinated because their parents chose not to. One child, Rhett Krawitt, was unable to get vaccinated because hed had leukemia and his immune system wasnt strong enough.

When the measles epidemic hit, Rhetts parents were told that their son might have to stay home if measles was discovered in the community. He was too vulnerable to illness, school officials said. Rhetts family fought back  why should he have to miss school when his peers were the ones putting him at risk by not being vaccinated?

Over the next few months his family spoke out publicly at school board and county supervisor meetings, in the media, and eventually in Sacramento, blasting families for choosing not to vaccinate. When state Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, proposed the legislation banning personal belief exemptions, the Krawitts happily made Rhett a poster child.

They faced some criticism from parents strongly opposed to vaccination, said Carl Krawitt, Rhetts father. But mostly, other parents supported them.

At Reed Elementary, suddenly a focal point for what had become a state dialogue around vaccinations, immunization rates improved almost immediately. Less than a year after the measles outbreak, the number of children not vaccinated was cut by more than half.

There was this outpouring of support, Carl Krawitt said. The measles outbreak was a wake-up call for most people. It wasnt just about taking care of yourself and your family. It was about taking care of the community.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday
San Francisco is fortunate to have two opposing lawmen who are equally dedicated and principled in their pursuit of justice  District Attorney George Gascon and Public Defender Jeff Adachi. I find myself siding with Adachi in most cases, but I find Gascon honorable and thoughtful even when I think hes wrong. Both men are reform-minded activists and both have shown courage in defying powerful entrenched interests.

Both also have an expansionist view of their mandates, lobbying successfully to get additional funding from City Hall in recent months to extend their respective turf. In Gascons case, he won $1.5 million in September to establish his own investigative unit to probe fatal police shootings. And last month Mayor Ed Lee authorized an additional $200,000 to be spent by Adachis office on new staff to help defend detained immigrants  a figure that the public defender has made clear he wants to grow in the future.

Many families in the city (including my own) have personally witnessed the passionate commitment that Adachi and his staff bring to their jobs, defending black, brown and poor clients who normally experience only the ugly underside of the law. This devotion to the battered but hallowed concept of equal justice before the law is spotlighted in a new documentary titled Defender that premiered last weekend at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

The documentary about Adachi and his team was co-produced by Adachi himself  and yes, like Gascon, the public defender is not above ambitious self-promotion. But the cases that the film focuses on are genuinely inspiring, including Adachis recent defense of Michael Smith, a 22-year-old African American who was thrown to the ground and manhandled by BART police officers at the Embarcadero Station after they received a false report that he was carrying a gun. Smiths girlfriend, Andrea Appleton, who was pregnant at the time, was also forced to the ground on her stomach and she later miscarried.

Despite the brutal treatment he received, it was the slightly built Smith who was criminally charged by Gascons office with multiple counts of resisting arrest and battery. Videos of the incident later went viral, showing Smith thrashing on the ground and screaming that his girlfriend was pregnant, while BART officers struggled to pin him down. In a widely circulated clip, one of the BART officers pressing Smith to the ground hits him in the face, to the outraged cries of witnesses on the train platform, after the young man spits at him.

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In Defender, Adachi is shown driving to Oakland on a still-dark and chilly early morning to pick up Smith and take him to court in San Francisco. A half-awake and dispirited Smith talks in the car about how its kind of tiresome to be constantly treated with disrespect by the police. The soft-spoken remark is painful in its resigned understatement. Its just a fact of life for black Americans. After falling into the hands of the police, the normal drill for someone like him, says Smith, is to be given a lame public defender and to be forced to take the deal  leaving him with a criminal record that mars the rest of his life.

But not this time. This time Adachi was the public defender. And he urged Smith not to settle for a deal with the prosecutors office, insisting that the case cried out for a court trial.

Adachi was right. In December, a jury acquitted Smith of most charges, and the rest were soon dropped by Gascons office. During the trial, Judge Anne-Christine Massullo had infuriated Adachi by forbidding him from saying anything to prospective jurors about the Black Lives Matter movement and notorious police brutality cases. But the racially charged overtones of the trial were not lost on the jury. After delivering their verdict, one white juror interviewed for the documentary says, We dont know what its like to walk through life as a black man. Its terrifying.

The public defenders aggressive style has won wide admiration, including from former Mayor Willie Brown, who hosted the post-screening discussion at the Castro Theatre last weekend. I like to introduce him as my potential lawyer, Brown said jokingly to the audience, even though he could certainly afford a high-priced attorney should circumstances demand. Public defenders dont get respect unless theyre like Jeff Adachi  aggressive and in your face. (Brown is a Chronicle columnist.)

Adachi clearly gets under the skin of Gascon and his staff at the Hall of Justice. The word grandstanding is thrown around. Jeff wanted to make this a media case, said one of the D.A.s aides, referring to the Smith trial.

Gascon himself is more restrained when talking about the Smith case. We never second-guess juries. We respected their decision, the D.A. told me last week. But we felt that we had evidence beyond a reasonable doubt in that case. There was plenty of video that showed Smith was resisting arrest and assaulting officers.

Assaulting is something of an exaggeration. Should a law-abiding citizen who suddenly finds himself face-planted on the ground by a squad of pumped-up cops have the right to exert himself in opposition to their excessive force, particularly if he feels a loved one carrying his child is being jeopardized? Adachi, who called Smiths actions a legitimate act of self-defense, emphatically believes that. But Gascon disagrees. The place to question officers behavior is not the street, he told me. There is no right of self-defense when youre given a lawful order to comply.

Gascon is no knee-jerk law-and-order district attorney. He wants the reforms he has championed to be acknowledged  such as prison diversion programs that seek to redress the injustice of mass incarceration and independent investigations of police shootings and misconduct. Very few prosecutors in the country wouldve taken the steps Ive taken against misconduct in the police force, like the blue ribbon commission I formed to investigate the racist text messages being sent back and forth. Ive proven that I have zero tolerance for racist police behavior.

The district attorney knows from his personal experience as a young Cuban immigrant growing up in a predominantly Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles County what its like to be the target of police prejudice. When we started driving as teenagers, wed get stopped by the police pretty regularly, and looking back, it was for really questionable reasons. I wasnt into drugs, I wasnt the kind of kid who was getting in trouble. And yet we got jacked up by the police, and the vehicle searched. In those days the backseats were easy to remove, and the backseat of the car would end up on the sidewalk, and of course theyd find no drugs, and theyd just leave you standing there, with your car dismantled.

The end result of getting constantly stopped and being subjected to searches has a very demoralizing impact on individuals and communities and how they view the world around them.

These days, however, residents of neighborhoods where police-community relations are strained often wonder whether George Gascon has forgotten the lessons of his youth.

In my Tuesday column, Ill focus on the hottest flash point that separates Gascon from Adachi, and from many in the community. Thats the burning issue of police shootings.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist David Talbot appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Email: dtalbot@sfchronicle.com
In a distant city, a memorial called Fortress of the Swallows sits on a hill. The monument, an eternal flame covered by 12 stone slabs, has a spire that pierces the sky. Every April 24, on the Armenians day of mourning, thousands, cradling flowers, visit the memorial in Yerevan, Armenia. Since the memorials opening in 1967, its become the focus of national grieving.

I am an Armenian, and theres a weight every Armenian carries that intensifies in late April. Weve carried it for 102 years.

Even before I had a name to attach it to, I felt the genocide. I was aware of a distant disaster that had deeply affected everyone I knew. Then came knowing the name, Mets Yeghern. With the name came the fight to give it meaning, to argue its relevance. To try to illustrate the importance of the Yeghern, Ive had to reduce the deaths of more than 1.5 million people to the basest terms.

Entire lives  all the component joys and sorrows, discoveries, hardships and triumphs  reduced to a few words. Lives like that of my grandmothers uncle, Tigran.

Before the genocide began, Tigrans grandfather was a member of the fedayis, a group of Armenian freedom fighters who organized to protect their people from racial violence. When Ottoman officials heard of the grandfather, they dispatched agents to his village. Gathering Tigrans family in their home, the agents tortured the grandfather. They ripped his chest open, filled it with explosives, and blew him up in front of his family on their dining room table. The family was then slaughtered, with only the child Tigran spared. On April 24, 1915, the genocide began. A few weeks later, as Tigran turned 5, a wave of Armenian refugees swept through his village. The orphan joined them. Moving east in the hope of eluding Ottoman soldiers and roving groups of Kurd bandits, many refugees never made it. Tigran wound up in a refugee camp in Cyprus without a name, family or future.

Time and time again, stories such as this are trivialized in an attempt to make people care. There are countless horrific tales out there: Most wont ever be known. Which is why every April, the indignity of trying to prove the importance of my peoples suffering to an apathetic world haunts every Armenian alive.

Some of my friends often lampoon the genocide when it comes up. They correct me by informing me that it was an alleged genocide, unlike the very real Holocaust. This commentary, however, is not solely a passionate appeal for recognition of the Armenian genocide.

There are many groups who are suffering or have suffered greatly in the past and have to contend with a world that doesnt care. The Assyrians and Greeks also saw forgotten atrocities committed against them by the Ottomans in 1915. The 1994 Rwandan genocide has likewise been forgotten. The same goes for what happened in Bangladesh in 1971, in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, in Guatemala from 1960 to 1996, and in Bosnia in 1995. And it wasnt until it became politically convenient that the atrocities taking place in Syria and Iraq suddenly were cared about.

Societal outrage is selective. Day in and day out people are slaughtered in the Middle East, and the media doesnt report it. A handful of people die in an attack in Europe, however, and the First World is up in arms. This is not to belittle anyones death  all human life is sacred. The outrage must be proportional, however, and oftentimes isn't.

The fear of rural, Third World terrorism or barbarism is alien and abstract to us. Our first-world definition of an atrocity is different  we see the Twin Towers collapsing and subways exploding. Our media reinforces these fears. In superhero movies, the final battle doesnt happen in the depths of Africa haunted by extremists or child soldiers. Final battles happen in New York or London. Were sold a First World view by our leaders and news and movies, making it easy for us to care when Europeans become victims. As a result, caring when the people of the Second and Third Worlds face unspeakable horrors is difficult.

Our care-when-its-convenient mentality has to end. The apathy that goes hand-in-hand with this approach allows groups like the Islamic State to form. In the moral vacuum where good people become indifferent, the poisonous seeds of evil take root. Caring selectively is why presidents can suddenly allow themselves to consider the suffering of Syrian children because they need to distract from their approval ratings. Caring selectively is why announcing your undying support for a group of French far-left provocateurs youd hate any other day constitutes meaningful humanitarianism. Caring selectively is why the atrocities of yesterday  all the genocides of the 20th century, starting with the Armenian genocide  repeat themselves over and over and over again.

Maybe the Fortress of the Swallows will one day stand as a monument to endurance and the human spirit, not sorrow. I pray that other peoples see their symbols of hardship transformed, as well. But until then we have to battle against apathy and indifference and ridicule. A battle for the importance of history and the sanctity of human life.

Kahren Eloyan is a junior at Acalanes High School in Lafayette.
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Here are eight major Trump executive actions on the environment:

Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines: Jan. 24

Signs orders to approve the two oil pipelines over the objections of environmentalists who say the projects will damage the area and encourage use of fossil fuels.

Expedite approvals for infrastructure: Jan. 24

Signs order directing the White House Council on Environmental Quality to speed approvals of infrastructure projects around the country using all necessary and appropriate means. Critics fear the order will lead to construction without proper environmental review.

Border wall: Jan. 25

Calls for expansion of a wall along the southern border with Mexico. Environmentalists say the wall would fragment ecosystems and create barriers to the movement of species. It would also intersect Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Big Bend National Park. Funding faces bipartisan resistance in Congress.

Two-for-one regulatory repeal: Jan. 30

Orders federal agencies to repeal two rules for every new one and orders all new regulatory costs this year to equal zero. Public Citizen, Natural Resources Defense Council and Communications Workers of America sued, saying the order could require the government to lift bans on lead or asbestos to protect against new chemicals.

Waters of the United States: Feb. 24

Orders review of an Obama-era rule that expanded protection of smaller bodies of water, tributaries and wetlands. The action could make it easier to develop on wetlands and near streams.

Enforcing the regulatory

reform agenda: Feb. 24

Orders federal agencies to root out rules that inhibit job creation, are outdated, unnecessary, or ineffective, or impose costs that exceed benefits.

Fuel economy: March 15

Orders review of fuel-economy standards that limit greenhouse gas pollution from cars and light trucks for model years 2022 to 2025. Vehicles are the biggest source of U.S. carbon pollution.

Promoting energy independence:

March 28

Orders review of Clean Power Plan limiting carbon emissions from coal plants, a linchpin of federal climate policy along with vehicle standards. Ends consideration of climate change in agency reviews, ends calculation of social cost of carbon, making it harder to write new rules to limit emissions. Halts federal actions to prepare for climate change. Lifts moratorium on new coal leases on federal land.

Online resources: Read more at http://bit.ly/2pHNJW4
President Trump proposes a $54 billion increase in military spending, offset by slashing domestic programs. The Environmental Protection Agency would take the biggest hit, a 31 percent cut that would eliminate a quarter of the staff and save $2.6 billion, returning the agencys budget to 1970s-era levels. Congress dictates spending, however, and some cuts face bipartisan pushback. The agency has begun offering buyouts to workers.

Here is a sample of programs that would be eliminated:
By Press Trust of India: Bhopal, Apr 23 (PTI) The Madhya Pradesh government would soon provide nearly 18,500 solar-powered water pumps to farmers in the state at subsidised rates.

"We are going to make available solar borewell and surface pumps fitted with remote monitoring system to the farmers under the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Solar Pump Scheme shortly," New and Renewable Energy Department Principal Secretary Manu Srivastava told PTI.

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"The rates of solar pumps already arrived at after the bidding are the lowest in the country. The performance of each pump can be monitored on a real-time basis from anywhere in the world," he said. MP Urja Vikas Nigam (MPUVN) would be the nodal agency to make available the solar pumps to the farmers, he said. "We have already picked up the firms (through bidding) which are going to supply solar power to the state. The rates are much below the benchmark prices of Government of India," Srivastava, who is also the managing director of MPUVN, said.

"The rates of the direct current pumps are the lowest in the country. These pumps will have a five-year maintenance provided under a contract," he said.

"There is also a provision of comprehensive insurance of the complete pump system for five years," he said. "It is for the first time that any state government has embarked on such a huge programme of supply of solar pumps to farmers," Srivastava claimed.

He said that earlier Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan governments had provided 11,000 and 10,000 solar pumps respectively to farmers at subsidised rates.

"The sale of green energy pumps in such a huge number is going to save crores of rupees of the MP government annually," said Rajendra Kothari, the former director of PHD Chamber of Industries and Commerce (MP and Chhattisgarh).

A senior official of the state energy department said in the last fiscal, the MP government provided power subsidy of Rs 70 billion (Rs 7,000 crore) to farmers for use of the water pumps. The sale of solar pumps is going to rev up the agricultural productivity of the state, he said.

MP has the highest agricultural growth rate of over 20 per cent since last couple of years, the official said.

The use of solar pumps will increase the cultivable land area, reduce dependence on diesel pumps and make multi-cropping possible, he said.

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This would also help in doubling the income of farmers and provide sustainable livelihood on a long-term basis, he said.

"The use of solar pumps is bound to reduce carbon foot-print. These pumps, driven by green energy, are bound to come as a boon for the marginalised farmers of tribal dominated districts like Mandla, Dindori, Chhindwara, Seoni, Balaghat, Alirajpur, Jhabua," he said. The sale of these pumps is likely to reduce the distribution losses of the cash-strapped MP Power Management Company (MPPMC) Limited and power distribution companies (discoms), a senior power official said. The revenue losses of the discoms are high due to non-payment of electricity dues in Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Shivpuri and Gwalior districts, he added. PTI LAL MAS GK SDM

--- ENDS ---
The Congressional Review Act, created in 1996 to allow Congress to eliminate rules with a simple majority vote, had been used just once before this year. But since Jan. 20, when President Trump took office, the Republican-led Congress has applied it vigorously to do away with environmental protection rules.

The act accounts for a large share of the legislation Trump has signed since he entered the White House. Because of the simple-majority threshold, the Republican majority in Congress has been able to use it to roll back environmental protection rules finalized during the last six months of the Obama administration.
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Here are quotes about President Trump's administration and the environment:

Gary Griggs, distinguished professor of earth and planetary sciences and director, Institute of Marine Sciences, UC Santa Cruz:

We're not running out of fossil fuels. Were running out of atmosphere.

With the Pacific plastic gyres, the sense was, wow, an area the size of Texas is covered with plastic bottles and bags, so let's just go clean it up. It turns out its scattered over huge areas. Its in little tiny pieces that are broken down, and it goes down hundreds of feet. You don't clean it up. Youd be sucking up all the animals out of the ocean and the impact from using fossil fuels to get ships out there, its just not feasible. The scale of the problems we need to counteract is so huge that a four to eight year hiatus could be all it takes to set something over the edge.

President Trump on signing the executive order to roll back restrictions on carbon emissions from power plants:

That is what this is all about: bringing back our jobs, bringing back our dreams  and making America wealthy again.

Sam Adams, former mayor of Portland, Ore., director, World Resources Institute:

Ramping up state efforts, local efforts, business efforts around tackling climate change was important before. Now its absolutely, positively essential. The big population states of California, especially, and New York, have the opportunity to be a bulwark against this onslaught.

Brett Hartl, legislative director, Center for Biological Diversity

Whats new and different is that these folks at top levels of the federal government are deeply hostile to federal governance. They are going to do as much damage as they can with the mechanisms available to them under the law.

Alan Robock, distinguished professor of geophysics, Rutgers University:

The faster we stop the emissions, the less warming well get. The impacts of what you do today arent realized until decades from now. Its not like turning off a dirty smokestack and the next day the air is clean.

It doesn't make any sense to me that they would not want to do research. The problems don't go away if you stop looking at them.

Doug Holtz-Eakin, Republican economist and founder of the American Action Forum:

The Trump administration has an obligation under the Clean Air Act to do something on carbon, and they haven't said what theyll do. That's a missing piece of the puzzle and makes it hard to plan going forward.

James Eckman, director, California Sea Grant Program, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego:

Ive heard coastal managers from Carolina and Florida, the people who have to deal with, My roads are flooding, how do I stop that from happening? My shoreline is being eroded. Whether theyre Republican or Democrat, they all say, Of course this is happening. We see it every month. Weve got to deal with this.

Shannon Eddy, executive director, Large-Scale Solar Association:

China announced last year that they were going to be getting rid of 100 gigawatts of coal facilities. This means existing plants. This means plants that were on the drawing boards. They even talked about getting rid of plants that were under construction.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt:

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.

What better way to launch EPAs Back-to-Basics agenda than visiting the hard-working coal miners who help power America. The coal industry was nearly devastated by years of regulatory overreach, but with new direction from President Trump, we are helping to turn things around for these miners and for many other hard working Americans.

Katherine Hayhoe, director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University, co-author for two National Climate Assessments:

If you look way back in the paleoclimatic history of the earth, there has never been a period of time when this much carbon has been put into the atmosphere this fast. So we don't really even have any analogue to understand how quickly and how massively the climate system could respond to what were doing.

Its as if Henry Ford had already built the assembly line and was rolling out Model Ts and people were buying them left right and center, and a new government came in and said, Were really concerned about the horse farmers. We have to invest in horses. More and more and more horses.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield:

Regulatory reform wont just improve our economy, it will restore our constitutional structure of government and scale back an overgrown bureaucracy that has threatened the rights and freedoms of the American people.

Elizabeth Hadly, global change scientist, Stanford University:

Life is resilient, but its resilient over time scales that we can barely comprehend. Extinction comes down to an individual. One species can be wiped out in a heartbeat, but one species takes millions of years to evolve.

Weve dominated more than half the planet for own food supplies and our living area. Weve influenced the vast majority of terrestrial lands and you can even argue the vast majority of the oceans as well.

The only species not being subdivided into tiny islands are those that are really good at dealing with humans. The weedy species, we call them. The rats, the mice, the thistles, the dandelions, the sparrows, the house wrens.
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Earth Day may have been Saturday, but that didnt stop volunteers from showing up at Ocean Beach on Sunday morning to participate in the Surfrider Foundations annual Earth Day beach cleanup.

Three stations along Ocean Beach  at Stairwell 17, Noriega Street and Sloat Boulevard  welcomed a total of about 250 volunteers on Sunday morning. The Outer Sunset day was bright, sunny and brutally windy. Surfrider, a nonprofit group devoted to coastal defense, provided gloves, trash pickers and buckets, and volunteers set out to collect as much debris as they could find on the shores. Afterward, Surfrider hosted a block party on 45th Avenue with live music, barbecue and beers poured by local breweries Woods and Calicraft.

Each year, Earth Day helps Surfrider shout its message a little louder, but organizing beach cleanups is business as usual for the organization, which holds three cleanup days every month.

Though many San Franciscans may not realize it, pollution and waste throughout the entire city have big impacts on the water quality of the coastline. For example, trash thrown into the bay on the citys eastern side gets flushed by currents through the Golden Gate, where eddies throw the debris into the ocean. Every time we have a cleanup, we collect at least 40 to 50 pounds of trash, said Max Ernst, chairman of Surfriders San Francisco chapter.

Surfrider was founded in 1984 in Malibu, when a group of surfers formed a coalition to protest development plans along the beach where they surfed. The foundation now counts 80 chapters nationwide, focusing on grassroots organizing; the San Francisco chapter has about 50 active volunteers, and a larger network of 2,500 in the city.

Its easy in San Francisco to be disconnected from the beach, because we dont usually get that Lets go hang out at the beach all day weather, Ernst said. Many of Surfriders programs here are dedicated to preempting the cycle of waste that leads to beach pollution: campaigns against single-use plastic, for example, and efforts to put cigarette ash cans around the city, so that those materials later dont end up in the ocean.

The goal is to educate, Ernst said, which hopefully mitigates the problem on the front end. In addition to pollution, another big focus for Surfrider is coastal erosion, and it is trying to push local government to implement a managed retreat solution.

Many volunteers Sunday morning had dogs in tow; even more had their children. At the Stairwell 17 station, across from the Beach Chalet restaurant, corporate and school groups came in droves. Last week, LinkedIn and Salesforce both sponsored employee-led cleanups through Surfrider.

As volunteers returned to the stations, their buckets teeming with garbage, some seemed surprised at the scale of waste theyd encountered. Theyd found cardboard boxes, pillows and blankets, six-packs of beer, huge slabs of wood.

Its hard to see the pollution at Ocean Beach all the time, because the water moves so much here, Ernst said.

And most beachgoers dont realize that Ocean Beach is a national park, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, just like Muir Woods and Lands End. If everyone knew they were entering a national park, Ernst said, they might treat it differently.

Surfrider hopes its efforts help make that status more visible. When people see you coming by to pick up trash, maybe they think twice about leaving it on the beach, said David Martinez, one of Surfriders active year-round volunteers.

Ocean pollution affects all of San Francisco in myriad ways  by contaminating the fish that we eat, for instance  but, of course, the surfers who flock to Ocean Beachs swelling waters experience it up close and personal every day. That intimate relationship with the ocean is at the heart of why Surfrider volunteers do what they do. You dont have to be a surfer to be involved, Ernst said. But it just so happens that surfers usually share the sense of responsibility. By being on the ground, youre able to see what issues affect the local community.

Esther Mobley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob
The meeting is called by the Niti Ayog wherein Modi is likely to ask them to focus on the agenda of good governance and development.

PM Modi is likely to ask leaders to focus on the agenda of good governance. (Photo: Reuters)

By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet chief ministers of 13 BJP-ruled states and members of the party's parliamentary board today. The meeting is called by the Niti Ayog wherein Modi is likely to ask them to focus on the agenda of good governance and development.

BJP president Amit Shah will also speak to the leaders, who include five deputy chief ministers, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu apart from the 13 CMs.

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According to party sources, Modi's pitch will include the need for them to focus on his development agenda with an emphasis on the poor sections of the society.

"I look forward to hearing from the state Chief Ministers on their unique developmental efforts to transform India. States have carried out reforms in many areas and the meeting is an opportunity to learn best practices from each other," Prime Minister Modi said in a series of tweet.

This exercise is taken up keeping in mind the next set of Assembly elections due later this year. In fact, Modi and Shah have already been toning up the organisational machinery for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls to ensure that their governance agenda continue to be part of the public discourse.

A similar exercise was held in last August.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has already reached Delhi to take part in the meeting.

With PTI inputs

ALSO READ | PM Narendra Modi to shun red beacon in government's big crackdown on VVIP culture

ALSO WATCH | PM Modi urges bureaucrats to change their mindset on Civil Services Day

--- ENDS ---
By Press Trust of India: Nagpur, Apr 23, (PTI) The National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in animation, visual effects, gaming and comics will come up in Mumbai in 2018-19, which will be the biggest in Asia, the IIMC Director General KG Suresh said here today.

The NCOE will come up on the 20-acre land in the Film City in the countrys financial capital on the PPP (public private partnership) model, the director general of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) told a press conference.

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"Maharashtra government has already given the 20-acre land for the purpose. NCOE will be the joint venture between the IIMC and FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry)," Suresh said.

Observing that the animation sector is growing fast in the country, he said animation and gaming are new emerging technologies in media.

"According to a study by the FICCI and KPMG, other than the conventional media, new job opportunities will open up in these sectors for media persons. Keeping this in view, the NCOE is planned in Mumbai," Suresh said.

Deputy Registrar of IIMC, Delhi, PV Krishna Raja told PTI that a fund of Rs 167.5 crore has been alloted for the project and the NBCC, a PSU, will construct the project building.

"The NCOE was announced by Prime minister Narendra Modi during his budget meeting," said Raja.

Meanwhile, Suresh said the IIMC is in the process of becoming a deemed university.

"The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has given its clearance. Under the plan, all the media institutions under the I&B ministry will come under the IIMC deemed university including FTII (Film and Television Institute of India), Pune," he said.

Suresh said IIMC will launch the firstever post-graduate diploma in Marathi journalism from its western regional campus located in Amravati.

"The introduction of the dedicated course in Marathi language is expected to give a boost to Marathi journalism. It is aimed at providing the skilled manpower to the burgeoning regional language media in the state.

"IIMC also imparts Odia language journalism from its campus in Dhenkanal. From the coming academic session, its Kottayam campus in Kerala will be offering a Malayalam journalism course," the DG said. PTI CLS NSK

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By Press Trust of India: Berlin, Apr 23 (PTI) In a first, scientists have developed a way to 3D print objects using glass, an advance that could be used to make very small optical components for complex computers.

Researchers from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany developed a process using glass for additive manufacturing techniques, commonly known as 3D printing.

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They mixed nanoparticles of high-purity quartz glass and a small quantity of liquid polymer and allowed the mixture to be cured by light at specific points - by means of stereolithography.

Stereolithography is a form of 3D printing technology used for creating models, prototypes, patterns and production parts in a layer by layer fashion using photopolymerisation, a process by which light causes chains of molecules to link, forming polymers.

The material, which remained liquid, was washed out in a solvent bath, leaving only the desired cured structure.

The polymer still mixed in this glass structure was subsequently removed by heating.

"The shape initially resembles that of a pound cake, it is still unstable, and therefore the glass is sintered in a final step - heated so that the glass particles are fused," said Bastian E Rapp of KIT.

The variety of 3D-printing techniques available so far have been used on polymers or metals, but never on glass.

Where glass was processed into structures, for instance by melting and application by means of a nozzle, the surface turned out to be very rough, the material was porous and contained voids, researchers said.

"We present a new method, an innovation in materials processing, in which the material of the piece manufactured is high-purity quartz glass with the respective chemical and physical properties," Rapp said.

The glass structures show resolutions in the range of a few micrometres - one micrometre corresponding to one thousandth of a millimetre.

However, the structures may have dimensions in the range of a few centimetres, researchers said.

The 3D-formed glass can be used, for instance, in data technology.

"The next plus one generation of computers will use light, which requires complicated processor structures, 3D- technology could be used, for instance, to make small, complex structures out of a large number of very small optical components of different orientations," researchers said.

The study was published in the journal Nature. PTI APA MHN MHN

--- ENDS ---
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped today's meeting of the governing council of the NITI Aayog, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about his vision of New India.

By Brijesh Pandey: Speaking at the third meeting of the governing council of the NITI Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today pitched for New India vision, which he thinks can propel country's economy on a fast-paced track.

The meeting was attended Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of states, officials, members of NITI Aayog and special invitees.

Interestingly, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped the meeting of the NITI Aayog governing council. Both these leaders have been engaged in an intense political rivalry with the BJP and PM Narendra Modi.

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The Niti Aayog meeting came on MCD election voting day.

Delivering the opening remarks at the meeting of the governing council of NITI Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that having been a Chief Minister in the past, he was convinced that "the vision of New India can only be realised through the combined effort and cooperation of all States and Chief Ministers."

WHAT ELSE PM MODI SAID: THINGS TO KNOW Terming the gathering of the policy makers of the country at one platform as 'Team India', PM Modi said, "It is the collective responsibility of this gathering to envision the India of 2022 - the 75th anniversary of independence - and see how we can swiftly move forward to achieve these goals." Narendra Modi said, NITI Aayog is a collaborative federal body whose strength is in its ideas, rather than in administrative or financial control. The Chief Ministers do not have to come to NITI for approval of budgets or plans. PM Modi said that sub-groups of Chief Ministers had given vital inputs on subjects such as centrally-sponsored schemes like Swachh Bharat, Skill Development and Digital payments. NITI Aayog governing council meet in New Delhi. (Photo: @PMOIndia) It was the first time that Chief Ministers had been asked to recommend the list of centrally sponsored schemes and the sharing pattern, Narendra Modi said, before adding that despite funding constraints, the recommendations were accepted immediately. Narendra Modi further said that the Goods and Services Tax legislation shows the strength and resolve of the federal structure. Modi said, "The consensus on GST will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism," adding that the GST reflects the spirit of "One nation, One aspiration, One determination." PM Narendra Modi called for a similar debate and discussion on holding simultaneous elections for Parliament, Assemblies and local bodies across the country. "The NITI Aayog is working on a 15-year long term vision, 7-year medium term strategy, and 3-year action agenda. This effort needs support of states, and will eventually reflect in benefits to states," Narendra Modi said.

ALSO READ |

PM Modi to meet CMs of 13 BJP-ruled states, with eye on Lok Sabha 2019

ALSO WATCH |

PM Modi urges bureaucrats to change their mindset on Civil Services Day

--- ENDS ---
He further said that to revamp the rural economy govt is focusing on reviving the traditional activities such as, sheep rearing, fisheries dairy, etc.

By Ashish Pandey: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today said that his government is taking several steps to address the agrarian distress and to revive the farm sector in the state.

He further said that to revamp the rural economy govt is focusing on reviving the traditional activities such as, sheep rearing, fisheries dairy, etc.

Speaking at 3rd Governing Council Meeting of the NITI Aayog, Rao said outstanding agricultural loan of Rs 17,000 crore was already waived in four instalments, thereby benefitting more than 35 lakh farmers in the state.

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He further said, "In addition to this, we have recently announced an innovative scheme to provide investment assistance of Rs 4000/- per acre, in both the crop seasons, towards purchase of inputs such as, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, labour costs, which will benefit 55 lakh farmers cultivating over 1.50 crore acres in the state during the Kharif and Rabi seasons. This will go a long way to revive the agriculture sector and help farmers to come out of the vicious cycle of debt trap. Government of India should support such initiatives by the state governments to address the present agrarian distress."

Following concrete steps need to be taken to achieve the objective of doubling farmers' income in five years: Entire country needs to be divided into crop colonies for specific crops, based on agro-climatic regions, so that the Minimum Support Price facility can be effectively ensured to benefit the farmers by preventing avoidable glut of certain commodities in the market. While agriculture production has increased in the country, productivity has not increased for most of the crops. For this purpose, continuous Research & Development is required and Government of India should support research through institutions located in different States. Vulnerability of the farm sector has to be minimised by taking the following steps: (a) Expeditious completion of all ongoing irrigation projects by providing required support to the State Governments. (b) Supply of adequate and quality power to the farm sector at affordable rates. (c) Reforming the existing insurance schemes by removing the present operational difficulties. A thorough review is needed on imports of food-grains, oil seeds, oil products, textile, etc. so as to ensure that the produce of the country does not have to face undue extraneous competition or market manipulation. Agro-based industries must be encouraged pro-actively to facilitate value addition and enhancement of farmers' income. Activities supporting agriculture which are in the allied sector, such as dairy, sheep rearing, fisheries, poultry, farm forestry, etc. should be exempted from the purview of income-tax, as these play a significant role in providing supplemental income to the farming community. Government of India has enacted the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 and notified the same as Central Act No. 38 of 2016 on 3rd August, 2016. It is understood that the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change is in the process of framing of rules and accounting procedures for effective utilization of CAMPA Funds. The process of consultation and drafting of rules is taking unduly long time, leading to inordinate delay in release and utilization of funds. There is a hue and cry among the farmers due to the scarcity of labour force in agricultural operations. In order to make MGNREGA more useful and productive to the agricultural operations, there is an urgent need to dovetail MGNREGA to agricultural operations, by including it under the permitted activities under MGNREGA. It is suggested that 50% of the unskilled wages may be paid under MGNREGA and 50% by the farmers concerned. It will not only help farmers in timely agricultural operations, but also help ensure employment to the weaker sections of the society. This may be extended to those States who opt to avail this.

Also read: At NITI Aayog meet, PM Narendra Modi presents New India vision, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee not interested

--- ENDS ---
Twenty-Seven chief ministers marked their presence at the meet, however, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were absent.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Keeping a positive tone for the third governing council meeting of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the chief ministers of states. He said that vision of New India could only be realised through combined efforts and cooperation of all states and chief ministers.

Twenty-Seven chief ministers marked their presence at the meet, however, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were absent. Sources said that there were representatives from both the CM's office.

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NITI Vice Chairman Arvind Pangariya confirmed that Manish Sisodia the Deputy Chief Minister filled in for Kejriwal but only for the first half on Sunday when the capital witnessed a bitter fight between AAP and BJP in the MCD polls for 270 wards.

Even Captain Amrinder Singh, the new Chief Minister of Punjab was absent owing to ill health, sources said. "It is the collective responsibility of this gathering to envision the India of 2022 -- the 75th anniversary of Independence -- and see how the nation can swiftly move forward to achieve these goals," said PM Modi while addressing the meet.

CM'S SHARE THEIR VIEWS

Several chief ministers spoke their mind and presented their perspectives. The CM of trouble torn state of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti made a strong appeal to other CMS asking them to visit her state. She also appealed to ensure that students of valley were not harassed. "These children should be seen as ambassadors to other states," she said while addressing concern about mistreatment of students from valley.

The Prime Minister who spoke immediately after Mufti, further appealed to the states to appoint an officer to ensure safety of children from the state and to engage with them. This comes close on heels of Hashim Sofi a PhD scholar in BITS Pilani who returned to his home town Bandipora in Kashmir after an alleged harassment at the hostel.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the other hand raised issue of regional imbalance. To which the Prime Minister concurred saying that while some states progressed, some were on the periphery. PM added that the states which had attained development and better resources should not shy away from helping other states who were lagging behind.

LOAN WAIVER FOR FARMERS

While Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami did not specifically raise issue of farmer debts, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked for loan waiver for farmers. The Tamil Nadu CM met protesting farmers in the morning but failed to raise state specific demand of loan waiver. However, sources said that the demand of loan waiver has been communicated to the Centre by the state.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Chief Minister Shivraj Chauhan gave a presentation and outlined plans to double farmers' income through irrigation, policy and market reforms. A broad roadmap for the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna was also revealed with emphasis on early completion of ongoing irrigation projects and ways to produce more yield per unit of water to farmers per drop more crop.

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While there was no discord in the meeting, only Chandrababu Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh CM congratulated PM for demonitisation and the steps taken to curb black money, sources said.

The organisers called it a path breaking meet across all sectors that outlined "300 action points" as part of the government's action agenda which included 15-year long-term vision accompanied by a 7-year strategy and a 3-year action agenda.

50 OLYMPIC MEDALS

The government's apex planning body listed goals such as winning 50 Olympic medals, development of North-Eastern states and land reforms, health and education goals. The day-long meeting covered key initiatives in 15 sectors including agriculture, poverty elimination, health, education, digital payments, disinvestment and island development. The body also reviewed the performance of the 12th Five Year Plan.

The NITI Aayog also came out with a list of 100 districts which were least developed in terms of health and education for which the PM asked for a push to develop these districts on war footing.

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The Prime Minister according to NITI Aayog officials asked CM's to give push to basic services and infrastructure, in districts and regions which require specific attention under centrally sponsored schemes like Swachh Bharat, skill development and poverty elevation.

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia made a presentation on GST urging the states to expedite the enactment of State GST Acts. Legislative arrangements at state-level for GST should be put in place without delay, PM in his closing remarks at NITI meet.

The NITI Aayog officials later said that they have envisaged a growth of 8 per cent for year 2031-32, while China is ahead, India will be a close second. But the growth remains under double digit figure.

Also read:

At NITI Aayog meet, PM Narendra Modi presents New India vision, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee not interested

WATCH VIDEO | Prime Minister Narendra Modi to chair NITI Aayog's Governing Council meet

--- ENDS ---
North Korea has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression.

Missiles are driven past the stand with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other high ranking officials during a military parade marking the 105th birth anniversary of North Korea's founding father, Kim Il Sung, in Pyongyang, April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Sue-

By Reuters: North Korea said on Sunday it was ready to sink a US aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, as two Japanese navy ships joined a US carrier group for exercises in the western Pacific.

US President Donald Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over the North's nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its Asian allies.

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The United States has not specified where the carrier strike group is as it approaches the area.

US Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive 'within days' but gave no other details.

NORTH KOREA REMAINED DEFIANT

"Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a US nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in a commentary.

The paper likened the aircraft carrier to a 'gross animal' and said a strike on it would be 'an actual example to show our military's force'.

The commentary was carried on page three of the newspaper, after a two-page feature about leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a pig farm.

NUCLEAR TESTS

North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army on Tuesday.

It has in the past marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.

It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump.

He has vowed to prevent the North from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.

WORRY IN JAPAN

North Korea says its nuclear programme is for self-defence and has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression. It has also threatened to lay waste to South Korea and Japan.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday North Korea's recent statements were provocative but had proven to be hollow in the past and should not be trusted.

"We've all come to hear their words repeatedly, their word has not proven honest," Mattis told a news conference in Tel Aviv, before the latest threat to the aircraft carrier.

Japan's show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads.

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Some Japanese ruling party lawmakers are urging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to acquire strike weapons that could hit North Korean missile forces before any imminent attack.

Japan's navy, which is mostly a destroyer fleet, is the second largest in Asia after China's.

The two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson and will 'practice a variety of tactics' with the US strike group, the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force said in a statement.

The Japanese force did not specify where the exercises were taking place but by Sunday the destroyers could have reached an area 2,500 km (1,500 miles) south of Japan, which would be waters east of the Philippines.

From there, it could take three days to reach waters off the Korean peninsula. Japan's ships would accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan said.

WORRY IN SOUTH KOREA

US and South Korean officials have been saying for weeks that the North could soon stage another nuclear test, something the United States, China and others have warned against.

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South Korea has put is forces on heightened alert.

China, North Korea's sole major ally which nevertheless opposes Pyongyang's weapons programmes and belligerence, has appealed for calm. The United States has called on China to do more to help defuse the tension.

Last Thursday, Trump praised chinese efforts to rein in 'the menace of North Korea', after North Korean state media warned the United States of a 'super-mighty preemptive strike'.

Also Read:

North Korea displays 'new' missiles as US carrier group approaches

US more vicious, aggressive under Donald Trump; ready for war if they choose: North Korea

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Mother of All Bombs dropped to deny operative space to ISIS: US

--- ENDS ---
You could be forgiven for assuming that when it comes to nightlife, Petaluma is a little sleepy. The Sonoma County city that straddles the Petaluma River has, after all, stood in as Charming Generic Small Town in movies ranging from American Graffiti (1973) to Pleasantville (1998) to Cheaper by the Dozen (2003). Its biggest community happening all year is the Butter and Egg Days Parade, this year scheduled for Saturday, April 29, which pays homage to Petalumas rich agricultural history. And plenty of people know Petaluma only as a place they pass through as they drive to the Wine Country and the Sonoma Coast.

But when it comes to live music, Petaluma punches way above its weight, offering a wide range of music choices by local and national acts, seven nights a week. And the Petaluma music scene is characterized by a level of community support that truly sets it apart.

In his role as executive director of the Petaluma Music Festival, Cliff Eveland both exemplifies and benefits from that supportive Petaluma spirit. We started the festival in 2008 as a fundraiser for music in Petaluma schools, explains Eveland, Petaluma High Schools instrumental director for more than 16 years. After a couple of years during which, Eveland concedes with a laugh, It was more of a fund-loser than a fundraiser, the one-day festival found its footing with Americana-leaning programming that mixes local and national acts. Tickets for the Petaluma Music Festival now sell out regularly, and in 2016 the event netted $60,000 that was distributed to area schools to support music programs.

Vivian Johnson / Special to the Chronicle

A big reason that the family-friendly festival succeeds, says Eveland, is volunteer support; last year, more than 300 volunteers contributed their time. People choose to live here because its a tight-knit community, Eveland says, and they demonstrate that by showing up to support one another, whether as volunteers at the music festival or at open mike night at a local coffeehouse or bar.

Petaluma does seem to boast an unusually high concentration of talented musicians from which to draw, both for the music festival and to fill its stages. Charles Cowles, owner of Tall Toad Music, which has operated in the heart of Petalumas historical downtown since 1988, points out that Petaluma is a place where musicians can have a reasonable standard of living. Theres a lot of demand for musicians from the wineries, and to play weddings and parties, in Wine Country, Cowles says, and commuting to San Francisco for a gig isnt unthinkable. Tall Toad employee Chris Miano, a jazz guitarist who plays around town, says, You cant throw a stick without hitting a good musician up here. A lot of them are midlifers whove made a career in music already, and theyve come up to Sonoma County to relax.

Tall Toad plays its part in creating that pool of local talent. Some of the funds raised by the Petaluma Music Festival are used by schools to purchase instruments there; on a recent visit, an order of 60 ukuleles was being prepared for an elementary school. The store also has a busy schedule of classes for up-and-coming musicians interested in guitar, bass, ukulele and more. Cowles says, Weve taught at least a thousand kids and adults over the years.

Petaluma has a few other quirks underpinning its vibrant music scene. Theres a strong jazz presence, which many attribute to the excellence of the jazz program at nearby Sonoma State. Cowles says, A lot of the faculty live in the area, so you can always hear outstanding jazz at places like the Big Easy, an intimate downtown jazz and dinner club.

Theres also the fact that Petaluma is well situated for touring bands who have booked performances in San Francisco or Oakland. The Mystic Theater, a 475-seat concert hall built as a vaudeville venue in 1911, regularly draws big-name acts like Robert Cray and Matisyahu, saving Sonoma County residents a trip to the city.

Henry Rennar moved to the area in 2016 to be the Mystics manager. He has worked in major metropolitan markets as a talent booker, and says there is something special about Petaluma. Theres a tight sense of community, Rennar says. Ive yet to encounter anyone with a bad attitude. He cites his ability to call Tom Gaffey, his counterpart at the Phoenix, the all-ages punk/metal/rap club around the corner, for advice or questions. I can ask Tom anything, and hell always give it to me straight, says Rennar. Its different than the more cutthroat markets. Rennar also credits DJs at local radio stations KRCB and KRSH for consistent support of Petaluma bands.

When asked the secret of Petalumas music-mindedness, Tall Toads Cowles, who took up jazz bass three years ago at age 70 and practices two or three hours every day, says, Maybe its because were all looking for happiness. And playing and listening to music is a direct way to get there.

Nancy Davis Kho is a freelance writer. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com

Catch live music in Petaluma

Mystic Theatre: Historic auditorium features national and local acts almost every night, ranging from Americana to blues to reggae and more. Its adjacent to McNears Saloon and Dining House, making it easy to grab dinner and a show. Get there early so you can peruse band posters and theater announcements that date back to the 1920s.

23 Petaluma Blvd N.; (707) 775-6048. www.mystictheatre.com

Big Easy: Tucked into an alley, the Big Easy exudes an underground jazz vibe, with bands playing six nights a week. Owner Roger Tschann spent years as a recording engineer, so the space is built for good acoustics, and the Speakeasy Bistro thats kitty-corner across the cobblestones offers a full dinner menu that can be delivered to the booths and tables at its sister establishment. Best of all? Its open late, perfect for musicians who want to wind down after a show and hear more good music.

128 American Alley; (707) 776-4631. www.bigeasypetaluma.com

Jamisons Roaring Donkey: Located amid the funky fashion and housewares boutiques of Kentucky Street, the Roaring Donkey promises Friendly folks, mean drinks. Along with a regular Wednesday night open mike drawing Petalumas talented musical residents, the roomy bar hosts an eclectic list of performers, like hard-rocking Flanelhed, Americana act the Flyover States and experimental instrumentalists Oddjob Ensemble.

146 Kentucky St.; (707) 772-5478.

Lagunitas Brewery: Not only is Lagunitas a generous longtime sponsor of the Petaluma Music Festival, but it also runs the popular Live at Lagunitas free music series in the amphitheater of its Petaluma tap room all summer. People line up for hours to get the tickets for their free shows, because they book some pretty big names, says festival director Cliff Eveland. Last years schedule included Deer Tick, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and local favorites the Brothers Comatose. Take in the performance while sampling freshly brewed Lagunitas brews and order from a bar menu thats a cut above.

1280 N. McDowell Blvd.; (707) 778-8776. https://lagunitas.com/music

The Phoenix: An all-ages club that offers youth programs, activities and services including a health clinic and art program. It offers indoor skate ramps instead of alcohol, and the grungy bathrooms arent for the easily cowed, but the Phoenix is widely respected for creating a space for teens and twentysomethings to be themselves and hear the music they love. Punk, metal and rap reign supreme on the show calendar.

201 Washington St.; (707) 762-3565. www.thephoenixtheater.com

Aqus Cafe: A cozy coffeehouse that describes itself as a community living room, Aqus Cafe offers music most nights of the week, from klezmer to folk to 70s rock to jazz to bluegrass. Open mikes and open jam sessions invite patrons up off the benches and chairs.

189 H St. (at Second Street); (707) 778-6060. https://aqus.com/pages/aquscafe

Petaluma Music Festival: One-day music festival at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds that raises money to keep music in schools. This years festival, scheduled for Aug. 5, will feature Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Moonalice and Oaklands T Sisters, among other acts. www.petalumamusicfestival.org

Tall Toad Music: Not a venue per se, but as the only musical instrument store in town, its ground zero for local musicians and those passing through to play at the Mystic or the Phoenix. Pro tip: Sound checks for bands playing the Mystic, just a few doors down the street, start at 5 p.m., so you may see acts killing time with the guitars, basses, ukuleles and electric guitars at Tall Toad while they wait to go on.

43 Petaluma Blvd. N.; (707) 765-6807. www.talltoadmusic.com

 Nancy Davis Kho
BERLIN  Germanys nationalist party Alternative for Germany on Sunday elected two new top candidates for the September general election after the partys best-known politician, Frauke Petry, withdrew last week.

Members of the far-right party, known by its acronym AfD, elected Alexander Gauland and Alice Weidel at their convention in Cologne.

Divisions erupted among the factions of the German nationalists as delegates from the AfD rejected an appeal Saturday by Petry to seek a more pragmatic political path. The defeat was a significant blow for AfD co-leader Petry, whose position in the party is now significantly weakened.

Gauland, 76, is one of the partys most prominent members and one of Petrys main rivals. We want to keep our home country, keep our identity, and we are proud to be German, he said in his acceptance speech.

Weidel, 38, is a consultant who has not stood in the spotlight of the four-year-old party so far. If we now stick together and fight together, then finally a true opposition party will be getting into German Parliament, Weidel told cheering delegates.

The delegates also voted for an election manifesto that is harsh on immigration and Muslims and reiterates calls for leaving the European Unions euro currency.

The head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany condemned the AfDs further move to the far right, saying the party is trying to make a chauvinist-nationalist way of thinking socially acceptable in Germany again.

Joseph Schuster warned that the party is threatening Jewish and Muslim life in Germany.

AfDs poll ratings soared amid the influx of migrants to Germany in late 2015 and early 2016. But they have sagged in recent months as the issue faded from headlines and the party became increasingly mired in infighting.

Kirsten Grieshaber is an Associated Press writer.
PYONGYANG, North Korea  North Korea has detained a U.S. citizen, officials said Sunday, bringing to three the number of Americans now being held.

Tony Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk, was detained Saturday, according to Park Chan-mo, the chancellor of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology.

Park said Kim, 58, taught accounting at the university for about a month. He said Kim was detained by officials as he was trying to leave the country from Pyongyangs airport. A university spokesman said he was trying to leave with his wife on a flight to China.

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of a Korean American citizen being detained recently, but could not comment further. The embassy looks after consular affairs for the United States in North Korea because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

The State Department said it was aware of the report about a U.S. citizen being detained, but declined further comment due to privacy considerations.

Park said Kim had taught at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China before coming to Pyongyang. He said he was informed that the detention had nothing to do with Kims work at the university but did not know further details.

As of Sunday night, North Koreas official media had not reported on the detention.

The Pyongyang University of Science and Technology is the only privately funded university in North Korea. It held its first classes in 2010. It is unique in the North for its large number of foreign staff.

Though no details on why Kim was detained have been released, the detention comes at a time of unusually heightened tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. Both countries have recently traded threats of war.

Last year, Otto Warmbier, then a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.

Kim Dong Chul, who was born in South Korea but is also believed to have U.S. citizenship, is serving a sentence of 10 years for espionage.

Another foreigner, a Canadian pastor, is also being detained in North Korea.

Eric Talmadge is an Associated Press writer.
ROME  An investigation of humanitarian groups operating refugee rescue ships in the Mediterranean has turned up evidence of contacts between some of the organizations and Libyan human smugglers, a prosecutor based in Sicily said in comments published Sunday.

Antirefugee politicians immediately demanded to know who finances rescue ships run by nongovernmental organizations.

Catania Chief Prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro was quoted as saying in an interview with La Stampa newspaper that his offices probe has revealed evidence that there are direct contacts between some NGOs and human traffickers in Libya.

Several NGOs have operated rescue boats in the Mediterranean just outside Libyas territorial waters. Humanitarian advocates say that if it werent for them, countless more migrants would perish at sea.

Now and for some time already, the NGOs are saving lives in the sea, Amnesty International official Gianni Rufini told Italian news agency ANSA. He challenged those suspecting deals between NGOs and smugglers to produce proof.

Populist politicians raised an outcry about what critics have dubbed NGO taxi services for migrants.

NGOs are suspected of being in cahoots with human traffickers, said Luigi Di Maio, a top leader of the populist 5-Star Movement. We want light shed on this, to know who finances the NGOs.

Under maritime rules involving distressed boats, Italys coast guard, which coordinates operations in the search-and-rescue zone between Sicily and Libyas territorial waters, frequently calls on private vessels near foundering dinghies or fishing boats crowded with migrants. In the past, nearby cargo ships were called to help. But increasingly an expanding number of NGO vessels are plucking migrants to safety.

Zuccaro didnt specify how the evidence was obtained.

We dont know if and how to utilize this information in the judicial process, but were certain enough of what were saying: (there are) telephone calls from Libya to some NGOs and other evidence, the prosecutor was quoted as saying.

Compared to the same period in 2016, the number of migrants rescued at sea and brought to Italy so far this year has jumped about 44 percent, to about 36,000.

Zuccaro predicted as many as 250,000 migrants might be rescued at sea this year and taken to Italian ports, if the pace continues.

Frances DEmilio is an Associated Press writer.
The New Zealand dollar declined against the euro after French centrist politician Emmanuel Macron and the far-right Marine Le Pen made it through the first round of the presidential election, with optimism Macron will garner enough support to prevail.

The kiwi slipped to 64.45 euro cents as at 8am in Wellington from 65.53 cents in New York on Friday. It rose to 70.35 US cents from 70.19 cents.

Early results put Macron at 23.7 percent support and Le Pen on 21.7 percent while Conservative leader Francois Fillon on 19.5 percent conceded defeat and urged supporters to back Macron. There had been some speculation Front National's Le Pen could stage a late surge in support after the shooting of a policeman in Paris. Macron, who set up his En Marche party just a year ago, has campaigned on establishing a more business-friendly economy. The two front-runners will face each other in a second vote on May 7.

"This morning French voters delivered the result the markets were hoping for," said traders at HiFX, in a note. "The result has seen the EUR gap 2 percent higher from Fridays close as many now believe that supporters for Republican candidate and third place contender, Francois Fillon, will support Macron."

Global events will continue to drive the kiwi dollar this week, with little local economic news scheduled. Among events likely to be the focus of traders, US President Donald Trump has reportedly said the White House will unveil a "massive tax cut" but didn't give more details.

The kiwi was trading at 92.85 Australian cents from 93.20 cents on Friday and traded at 54.72 British pence from 54.87 pence. It rose to 77.71 yen from 76.69 yen. The trade-weighted index was at 76.48 from 76.34 last week.

(BusinessDesk)

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Lets start at the beginning. In 2014, Aya Hegazi and her husband, Mohamed Hassanein, launched Beladi Foundation, an NGO that worked with street children.

The police raided Beladi after a complaint was filed against the foundation for sex trafficking and child abuse; that is in addition to running an unlicensed organization and inciting street children to join pro-Muslim Brotherhood demonstrations.

Hegazi, her husband, and six others were detained in pretrial detention for over the two years, the maximum pre-trial detention allowed; then the case went before the Criminal Court. All in all, Hegazi and the others were incarcerated for three years.

The last time Hegazi appeared in the courtroom she was wearing the white robe and headdress worn by female inmates while reading a book, totally oblivious of her surroundings as though she didnt see any good coming out of the hearing and had lost hope.

Many, locally and internationally, fought for Aya Hegazis freedom. At face value, I agree; Hegazi seems a righteous person who couldnt possibly have pulled off many of the bizarre accusations that were hurled at her. In addition, the judge delayed the proceedings several times, extending the incarceration of the defendants even further.

Then in a sudden, unexpected development, the Criminal Court acquitted the defendants citing lack of evidence.

After the acquittal, Hegazi and Hassanein, who isnt an American citizen, boarded a military aircraft that headed to the US and landed in a military facility near Washington, DC. Soon afterwards, Hegazi was ushered into the Oval Office to meet President Trump; Ivanka, his daughter; and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law.

"We are very happy to have Aya back home," President Trump said during the meeting. "It's a great honour to have her in the Oval Office with her brother."

Ivanka Trump later tweeted, Welcome home, Aya, and posted a photo of them both walking outside the White House.

Earlier this month, while in the States, President El Sisi had said that Aya Hegazis case was, " in the hands of the courts and the executive authority cannot interfere." He also said, "I would like to reassure those who are interested in this case, and by the way the charge against her is using children in demonstrations, that it is now being looked into by the courts."

As soon as the courts issue a verdict, we will have the opportunity, based on my authority as president, to act in a suitable way, he added, implying he would pardon Hegazi after the verdict is announced. The Trump administration concurred this and said that it had received assurances from Sisis government that whatever the verdict was, Egypt would use presidential authority to send her [Hegazi] home.

The accusations and the dawdling that extended the case for months versus the rapid and sudden decision that brought the case to a close is atypical and worth analysis, so here are my two cents.

First, no one should be detained for two years in pre-trial detention. This is unfair. As a side note, the Egyptian parliament is currently drafting a bill to amend the country's criminal code that allows a two-year pretrial detention. The proposed bill would limit pretrial detention to a maximum six-month duration.

Second, an American, like any other person, can commit an offence. Aya Hegazis guilt or innocence has absolutely nothing to do with her passport. Her nationality is besides the point. And yet, the case received that much attention because Aya Hegazi is a dual citizen.

Im not in a position to judge whether Hegazi and her affiliates erred or not. Just about everyone was on her side and believed her innocent. However, Hegazis advocates did not explain to us why authorities would go after an innocent aid worker helping and guiding street children.

From one perspective the accusations were extreme, leading us to believe that they are farfetched. But if Beladi did not err, what irked authorities into incarcerating Hegazi and the rest for three years? What acts did the owners of Beladi commit that deserved such retribution? We may never know.

Then the attention the US gave to her return to the US, and the meeting that took place in the White House leaves one baffled. Her release may be considered a successful PR move on President Trump's part when Obamas administration failed to set her free. Still, no acquitted prisoner had been flown back to the US and hastily taken to meet the president and his immediate family before.

Western media is not implying but stating emphatically that President Trump secured the release of Hegazi while President El Sisi was in Washington. A senior administration official told the Washington Post that behind the scenes, President Trump told top aides, "I want her to come home.' More importantly, the official said there was "no quid pro quo offered for her release," i.e., it was not a trade off.

However, Antony Blinken, the former deputy Secretary of State under President Obama, said that "while hes pleased Hijazi has been released, hes skeptical that Sisi received nothing in return for her freedom."

If so, then the trade off should be worth Egypts while because intervening in judicial cases goes against President Sisis approach, which is to let the judiciary system deal with cases without any encroachment from the executive authority. Mohamed Fahmys case, or what is known as the Marriot Cell, is a case in point; Fahmy was pardoned only after the verdict was announced.

Now that Hegazi has been acquitted, in essence a very joyous moment for Hegazi, the other defendants, and their families, it is important to look at the closure of the case pragmatically, at least from Egypt's perspective.

Could it have been a chivalrous act on President Sisis part? President Trump asks and President Sisi complies. I beg to differ; President Sisi does not abide to niceties even if Mr Trump had told his Egyptian counterpart that he would have a great friend and ally in the United States.

Im going to go out on a limb here. While negotiating her acquittal, President Sisi may have been given fundamental and valuable assurances that Egypt needs today, assurances worth his intervening in such a case, something he has not done before.

Maybe the USs support in Libya was worth a deal; maybe an honest look at the role of the Muslim Brotherhood in the area was negotiated; or maybe standing by Egypt in the face of terrorism was deliberated. Hypothetical speculations? Yes, but they deserve our consideration.

Id have preferred to see Hegazi's acquittal happen faster and linked to no deals. However, if Aya Hegazi was acquitted because the US demanded her release, I truly hope the good deed was offset by a magnanimous pay back.
Maharathy made the shocking statement when asked about Tamil Nadu farmers and also questioned the local media for not debating their plight.

By India Today Web Desk: Odisha's Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy has again landed in a controversy stating that state farmers commit suicides only when the Assembly is in session.

Maharathy made the shocking statement when asked about Tamil Nadu farmers and also questioned the local media for not debating their plight.

Tamil Nadu farmers, who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi for past 41 days demanding drought relief package, today called off their strike till May 25 after assurance from Chief Minister E Palaniswamy.

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This is not the first time that the minister is in news for his insensitive remarks about farmer suicides.

On March 4, Maharathy had made a statement in the state Assembly about a farmer who committed suicide in Bargarh district. He, then, said that the farmer had consumed poision after a quarrel with his wife and the cause of his death was not crop loss or debt burden.

Later, the deceased farmer Hadu Bagarti's wife Kalabati had rejected the minister's statement and claimed she did not have any quarrel with her husband.

The opposition BJP had slammed the statement and demanded his dismissal for "misleading" the Assembly with his statement on the death of a farmer in Bargarh district.

Also read:

Farmer suicide case rocks Odisha Assembly for 5th Day

Odisha to insure life of all farmers, Oppn walks out in Assembly

--- ENDS ---
A model has accused Parth Samthaan of molestation and registered a complaint at the Bangar Nagar Police Station.

By Shivangi Thakur: TV actor Parth Samthaan was on Sunday booked under Section 8 and 12 of POSCO Act in Bangur Nagar on molestation complaint filed by a model last month. The model had accused Samthaan of molestation and registered a complaint at the Bangar Nagar Police Station.

The victim said she was 16 when she was molested by the actor. Samthaan has moved an anticipatory bail application in Dindoshi court, which is likely to be heard tomorrow.

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Samthaan was earlier in news after he accused former friend and TV producer Vikas Gupta of molestation.

Also read: Nagpur: Lecturer booked for molestation, Shiv Sena workers blackens face

Also read: TVF molestation case: Arunabh Kumar gets anticipatory bail

--- ENDS ---
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Experts from garages, commercial kitchens and the semi-pro circuit poured the latest beer trends Saturday at Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Livingston.

Brew for Autism, a collaboration between Pour Standards Homebrew Club and the Richmond County Beer Club, raised nearly $20,000 for organizations around Staten Island, including Autism Speaks, an advocacy group raising awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Featured beers at the fourth-annual fundraiser included a "Breakfast Stout" brewed with coffee and cocoa nibs by Alex Kalaf, alongside an English IPA crafted with his own homegrown hops.

Eric Blaine added extras to his Saison: Citrus zest, coriander and "Grains of Paradise," a spice (depending on the palate) lending a peppery, lemony punch.

Home-brewer Paul Cammarca presented his "Tart Cherry Bomb Cider," a cherry bomb indeed, registering 7.8 percent alcohol by volume (ABV.)

With sample glassware underwritten by Flagship Brewing Co., revelers partook in the the Tompkinsville brewery's "Local Supercluster," a very limited edition of beer steeped in a Chardonnay wine cask and resulting from a collaboration with Pour Standards brew club.

"Five members contributed five gallons of unfermented wort to merge with Flagship's starter and then get barrel aged," said Laura Gardner, a member of Pour Standards and the Richmond Co. Beer Club. "It's a super labor of love that turned out to be awesome."

"Death-At-Sea Baltic," also offered in collaboration with Flagship, had an equally interesting history starting from a barrel and ending with an ABV of 9.0 percent.

"Shaolin" IPA flowed from fellow local brewmasters at Staten Island Beer Company.

Meanwhile, "Fraoch Me," a Scottish Heather Ale, came with a warning to "strap on your kilt." On the other side of Snug's Great Hall, a "Cheap Bitter Date" was announced as an English Bitter made with Date Molasses at a 3.9 percent ABV.

John Cocozza, formerly of West Brighton, and Tom Smolka of Port Richmond touted their new brewery, Ross Brewing Company, opening later this year in Red Bank, N.J.

"Specializing in beers utilizing farm-fresh New Jersey ingredients, we are looking forward to selling their beers in our hometown Staten Island," said Smolka.

"Custom Cakes by KRDG was once again honored to be apart of such an amazing event," said Lisa Gorman of her Huguenot company. Each year she specially designs a multi-tiered cake, this year a chocolate and vanilla version four tiers high.

Tickets for event went on sale earlier in the year for $55 and latecomers paid $65 at the door.

"When it debuted in 2014, the event raised over $9,000. Each year it's continued to grow, raising $14,000 in 2015 and more than $17,000 in 2016," wrote Terrence O'Brien in a press release.

Raffles included gift baskets of rare beers, local artwork and instructional classes on homebrewing.
This will be Narendra Modi's second visit to Himachal Pradesh since he became the prime minister in May 2014.

By Indo-Asian News Service: A grand reception awaits Prime Minister Narendra Modi's day-long visit to the "Queen of Hills"--as Shimla was fondly called by the British colonial rulers, this week to launch an air connectivity scheme and sound the poll bugle in the state, a BJP leader said on Sunday.

This will be PM Modi's second visit to Himachal Pradesh since he became the Prime Minister in May 2014. Himachal Pradesh is scheduled to go to the polls in November.

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Modi will hold a massive roadshow, besides launching the Centre's subsidised air regional connectivity scheme UDAN, or "Ude Desh ka Har Nagarik", building efficient regional air connectivity, from here on April 27.

Later, he will address a public meeting, which is likely to see participation of over one lakh party workers, at the historic Ridge -- once the promenade for the British colonial rulers when this city was their summer capital.

"Prime Minister Modi will land at the Jubbarhatti airport near Shimla around 11 am and launch the UDAN scheme," former state Health Minister Rajeev Bindal, who is in charge of the Prime Minister's ally, told IANS.

MODI TO INAUGURATE MAIDEN REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY FLIGHT

Bindal said after inaugurating the maiden regional connectivity Shimla-Delhi flight from the airport, located 2,196 metres above sea-level, Modi will start his roadshow from Chaura Maidan to the Ridge, the rally venue, 3 km away.

The Shimla airport has been shut for scheduled flights since September 6, 2012, affecting tourists and business travellers to the state.

The Prime Minister will also flag off the regional connectivity Nanded-Mumbai-Hyderabad 'UDAN' flight in Maharashtra and Katappa-Hyderabad flight in Karnataka from Jubbarhatti through video-conferencing, Union Civil Aviation Secretary R.K. Choubey said.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda, who is reaching here on Monday to oversee the preparations for the rally, and two-time former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal would accompany Modi.

State Bharatiya Janata Party media in-charge Karan Nanda told IANS that from the airport, Modi will reach Chaura Maidan by a helicopter.

BJP leaders are planning that Modi will take a short stroll on the Mall from the General Post Office to the rally venue as this is vehicle-free zone.

Marking Modi's ambitious "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan", the state BJP on Sunday launched a 'Clean up Shimla' campaign.

SHIMLA-DELHI FLIGHT

State Commissioner of Tourism and Civil Aviation Dinesh Malhotra said tickets for the inaugural flight would cost Rs 1,920.

He said a regular flight, which will operate five days in a week from Wednesday, will depart at 6.10 AM. from Delhi and will arrive here at 7.25 AM.

On the same day, it will depart at 7.45 AM from Shimla and will return to Delhi at 8.45 AM.

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ALSO READ:

At NITI Aayog meet, PM Narendra Modi presents New India vision, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee not interested

Civil Services Day: PM Narendra Modi urges bureaucrats to change mindset, style of working ALSO WATCH:Prime Minister Narendra Modi to chair NITI Aayog's Governing Council meet

--- ENDS ---
By Karishma Kuenzang: While the first few pages of Prayaag Akbar's debut novel Leila (Simon and Schuster; Rs 599) might strike as a tad confusing, it's intriguing enough to keep you hooked till the last page. Not because the strong political undercurrent is completely relatable to any Indian today, but because of the many surprises the book comes up with.

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In conversation, the author, a journalist who quit his job to focus on writing his first novel, says, "I've wanted to write a novel since I was a child. I started Leila by wanting to write about how huge political changes can go above our heads and have a devastating impact on people's lives. I wanted to capture that in an interesting and readable way. I mean, it's easier to talk about political change, but how do you humanise the impact?"

The story unfolds in Shalini's voice, as she tries to find her daughter, Leila, who has been taken away due to the political scenario in India. The novel goes back and forth in time, getting us a little nostalgic about Amitav Ghosh's The Shadow Lines, and is set in an India where caste in the garb of 'community' and a strict 'purity' division is being enforced by the 'Council' (equivalent of a tyranny of sorts).

Speaking about how humans seem to draw some comfort or safety in living in community ghettos, the basis of the division in the novel, the Mumbai resident says, "It's horrifying to see how Mumbai is sub-divided into all these small communities, and the rental norms that come with it make it difficult for someone to find a place. I'm a Muslim and they expect me to live in a Muslim building, but I don't want to live a in a Muslim building where I can't eat pork or drink beer at home, or whatever norms are there. Those are rules I don't follow, so I don't get why I have to follow them because of some identity being passed down to me. You even see this in Delhi."

Explaining about why the book often goes back and forth in time, Akbar says, "I love books that play with time. It's an opportunity that fiction offers - you can transport someone in time with just one sentence. In a movie you have to explain the whole scene but in books, you just need two sentences and you can jump. Fiction offers amazing possibilities to storytellers."

The author, whose father MJ Akbar is known for his non-fiction books, says that he might dabble in non-fiction in the future. But right now his focus is on writing Prayaag Akbar a happier fiction novel.

--- ENDS ---

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The potato growers in Punjab have appealed to the state government to take up the matter with the Union government to save them from losses.

By Manjeet Sehgal: The ban imposed by the Pakistan government on the import of perishable goods from India in November 2016 has hit Punjab's potato growers, who are not able to sell their produce in Afghanistan and Middle East countries.

The potato growers and traders have appealed to the state government to take up the matter with the Union government to save them from losses.

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After cotton and rice crop failure, the Punjab farmers are now bracing for the potato glut which has resulted in a sharp fall in the tuber wholesale prices. Despite the bumper crop, state's potato growers are spending sleepless nights due to the ban imposed by the neighbouring country.

The potato growers are being compelled to sell their bumper crop at dirt cheap prices. Keeping in view the assurances given by the previous government that it will buy the crop at Rs 5 per kg, the state farmers had sown more crop but the prices fell as the buyers are missing.

DIPPING PRICES

An estimated 2.2 million tonnes of potato crop is expected to be produced this year. Chandigarh's vegetable market is packed with potato bags lying unsold from last fortnight. The commission agents have now refused to buy the crop from the farmers as the wholesale prices dipped as low as Rs 1.

"The farmers are facing a loss following a glut. Nobody is buying potatoes. We are selling quality potatoes at Rs 2 to 2.5 per kg. Last year, the price per kg was more than double," says Pawan Kumar, a sector 26-based retailer.

Another retailer Desh Raj says the potato crop is rotting up in the market as there are no buyers.

The farmers spend whole day with trucks or tractors with potatoes in the market and then return with a heavy heart to their homes.

"There are no buyers. Despite a bumper crop, the buyers are missing. The growers are not even getting the investments," Raj adds.

A potato farmer from Dera Bassi area, Ramandeep Singh said the growers are facing a loss of Rs 20,000 per acre as the prices fell beyond imagination. "I am being offered Rs 1.25 to Rs 1.50 per kg. I invested Rs 35,000 per acre and will be getting around Rs 15,000. I am incurring a loss of Rs 20,000 per acre. Nobody is there to help us. The previous government had promised a market price of Rs 5 per kg but the new government has yet to bail us out," Singh says.

The potato growers have now appealed the state government to help them export their crop as Punjab potatoes are in big demand in Russia and the Middle East.

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Watch the video here

Also read: Why PM Narendra Modi did not meet protesting Tamil Nadu farmers

Also read: Odisha Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy mocks farmer suicides, says they die only when Assembly is in session

--- ENDS ---
Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Fortunately, health funding has its hurdles, but that is not how hospitals are funded. Which is why when federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham had the chutzpah to claim that some private schools were overfunded in September, he was right. A six-storey redevelopment at a Sydney school. So distorted has the model become that some have banked surpluses of $8 million and ploughed them into next year's facilities.

Private schools will tell you that public money is never spent on infrastructure. But any economist worth their pay would tell you a saving in one part of the book is a bonus in another. Hello school orchestra pits, and swimming pools with Olympic timers. Education Minister Simon Birmingha. Credit:Louise Kennerley Defending taxpayer dollars flowing to schools that already have more than 250 per cent of the standard funding per student AND demanding an extra public injection is absurd. And yet in an era where school empire building is taken on with the gusto of an arms race, we are now in a situation where Labor, the party of public education, spent months undecided over the fate of overfunded private schools because of one of the most short-sighted promises Julia Gillard ever made: "that no school would be worse off". I bet the old boys were thanking their lucky ties.

A multimillion-dollar pool development at a Sydney school. Terrified of how aspiring private school parents might vote, the Labor Party politicked itself into paralysis after Birmingham suggested some schools might be getting more than they were entitled to last year. It didn't even make political sense. Almost every one of the most overfunded private schools is in a safe Liberal seat, and the few that aren't are in safe Labor hands. Melbourne Grammar is in the seat of Higgins, held by the Liberals since 1975. It stands to lose $2 million if its overfunding was taken away from it, but would still get more than $5 million in taxpayer dollars a year.

Loreto Kirribilli and Monte in North Sydney would lose $5 million a year, but the seat's not going to switch to Labor on a margin of 15 per cent. The list goes on and on. It is a no-loss game for Labor to explicitly back taking funding away from the schools at the top of the list in the name of levelling the playing field. It won't lose any votes it wasn't already going to. Better still for the sake of improved policy, the Coalition isn't likely to lose those seats which it has held for most of the last century.

Bi-partisan win, win, right? Not as Labor sees it. Shadow education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek has dismissed the concerns "about a very small number of schools" and a "drop in the bucket of the extra money required," compared to the $30 billion she claims is missing from the education budget. She's right, but the symbolism would at least push the funding equality debate forward. This month, she said she would be happy to "to slow the growth of funding to overfunded schools," meaning many would still remain overfunded. Adding to the uncertainty, Birmingham has yet to clarify if schools would be hit with a cut or a funding slowdown, while thousands of students are losing out on a more equitable piece of the pie.

"The sheer scale of the avarice is something to behold," says Save our Schools campaigner and former Productivity Commission economist Trevor Cobbold. Based on his analysis, a full needs-based redistribution from the current funding levels would move $5.6 billion a year. Now that really would take some political courage. Defending taxpayer dollars flowing to schools that already have more than 250 per cent of the standard funding per student AND demanding an extra public injection is absurd. It would be even if there was a bigger pie to distribute. It's not what Gonski wanted and it's not what Labor's really wants when they talk about a true needs-based funding system.
Australian company OceanaGold has appealed directly to Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte against the suspension of its gold and copper mine on Luzon island that employs 1800 workers, most of them Filipinos.

Philippine Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina Lopez, an ally of Mr Duterte, this week expressed frustration that a controversial order she made in February to suspend or close more than half of the country's mines has not been carried out, including OceanaGold's Didipio mine, 270 kilometres north of Manila.

Ms Lopez issued the order as part of a government campaign to fight environmental degradation without giving 23 mining companies the opportunity to oppose the decision, business analysts say.

The mines are the world's top nickel exporter.
Retail landlords will be focused on the arrival of internet giant Amazon to Australia, which property observers say will impact on under-performing malls.

Stockland, one of the country's larger retail landlords, has said it will "definitely" talk to Amazon, particularly if the global retail "disrupter" leases bricks and mortar stores.

Amazon Go promises to revolutionise grocery shopping.

Stockland's chief executive commercial, John Schroder, said he "hopes over time we can do business with Amazon".

"Amazon is phenomenal in its incredible and insatiable focus on the customer," Mr Schroder said.
Woolworths' chief grocer Brad Banducci will follow in big and glamorous footsteps when he fronts as the speaker to launch the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal for 2017 on Thursday, May 4.

No doubt it will be a relief for Banducci to get away for an hour or so from thinking about the arrival of internet heavyweight Amazon.

Brad Banducci

Last year, Lucy Turnbull, the country's first lady, was the keynote speaker and she was preceded by the other "tin rattlers" entrepreneur Dick Smith, actor Cate Blanchett and businessman David Gonski.

The Salvos have sent invitations to the business community and other luminaries for the event which has been well supported since its inception in the mid-1980s. For the past few years it has seen more than 500 people pack out the ballroom at the Westin Hotel in Sydney.
By Press Trust of India: From Kishor Dwivedi

New Delhi/Dakar, Apr 23 (PTI) The abduction of 276 Chibok girls by Boko Haram in Nigeria three years ago marked a defining feature in the conflict in the Lake Chad region which has since witnessed an increasing use of children in so-called suicide attacks, says a UNICEF report.

Since January 2014, 117 children ? more than 80 per cent of them girls ? have been used in suicide attacks in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon (the four together forming the Lake Chad basin/region), said the report Silent Shame: Bringing out the voices of children caught in the Lake Chad crisis, released on the third anniversary of the abduction of girls.

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"A defining feature of this conflict has been the increasing use of children in so-called suicide attacks," the report said.

The increase reflects an alarming tactic by Boko Haram.

So far, four children in 2014, 56 in 2015, 30 in 2016 and 27 only in the first three months of 2017 have been used to carry out bomb attacks in public places across Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon, the report said, adding that girls have been used in the vast majority of these attacks.

The Islamic State-linked militant group Boko Haram had kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Nigerias northeastern town of Chibok in April, 2014. While some girls managed to escape, 21 were released last year after negotiations with the militant group.

However, as many as 195 girls still remain missing even as the Nigerian Defence Minister General Manir Dan Ali was recently quoted as saying that it may take "years" to find all the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by the militant group.

Talking to PTI about the situation, UNICEF regional officer Patrick Rose said the children in the lake Chad basin face a range of challenges.

"More than 1.3 million have been displaced, many have lost loved ones and witnessed extreme violence. Theyre struggling to get back to school, back to normal life. Several thousand children have been abducted by Boko Haram and need additional support to help the return to their families and find a sense of hope," Rose said.

On the relief works going on in the affected countries both at the government and at the non-governmental level, he said humanitarian response is reaching millions of people with health care, water, food and education.

He, however, said that despite a collection of global experts, security concerns make progress slower than whats needed.

"The increased use of children in attacks adds a horrific layer to the problem thats inhibiting the humanitarian response," he added.

When asked about the efforts to rescue the Chibok girls, Rose highlighted the challenges faced by the security forces that have thus far rendered their attempts unsuccessful in Borno state in north east of Nigeria, a hub of the insurgents.

"Borno state is roughly the size of Belgium. Boko Haram, while weakened, still controls large parts of the areas outside urban centers. Finding a group of children who are likely moving constantly in a heavily defended forest is a significant challenge that the security forces are dealing with. Our focus remains the needs of the thousands of children in equally desperate need of support," he told PTI.

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Rose is the Crisis Communications Specialist for West and Central Africa, UNICEF and based out of Dakar in Senegal.

He said that in Lake Chad region, at present, the UNICEF is coordinating a multi-sectoral response helping children access health care, clean water, malnutrition treatment and education.

"Our work with the children whove been abducted is leading a series of community discussions about reintegration of the children and starting the healing process," he added.

However, UNICEF, which works across 190 countries and territories on issues of child rights, notes that the response to this crisis remains severely underfunded.

Last year, UNICEFs USD 154 million appeal for the Lake Chad Basin was only 40 per cent funded, it said.

With the conflict now in its eighth year, families have gone through years of violence, loss and hardship in camps or host communities, and they have watched their children languish out of school and suffer from illness and malnutrition, the UNICEF report said.

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"This crisis is marked by massive violations of childrens rights ? evident in the use of children on both sides of the insurgency. Boko Haram, in particular, has been leading a systematic campaign of abduction that has forced thousands of girls and boys into their ranks. Local militias, formed to protect their communities, have played a key role in stemming the tide of Boko Haram violence, but they too have used children in their operations," it said. PTI KIS UZM ZH

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Byron Shire Council has upped the pressure on Westpac over any potential funding of the Adani mine by voting to withdraw the $1 million it has with the bank.

Furthermore, the council, at last Thursday's meeting, said it will exclude Westpac from getting any of the $70 million-plus term deposits held by the council, that mature this year.



"We will also divest $1 million currently invested with Westpac at the earliest opportunity that will not lead to financial harm for rate payers," the motion said.

Bob Brown returned to Parliament House in Canberra with Geoff Cousins and environmental groups to protest against the Adani coal mine. Credit:Andrew Meares

In response, the head of media communications at Westpac, David Lording, said the bank has "not been approached for funding by Adani".

"But if we are approached we would look at it in the same way we look at all such funding proposals, in regard to any economic, governance and social impact," Mr Lording said.
You might think that disqualification season is over. The High Court has heard and decided the cases of Rodney Culleton and Bob Day, barring both from taking up their seats in the Senate. The court has also refused an attempt by the Labor Party to disqualify Day's replacement, South Australia's new Family First senator Lucy Gichuhi.

Although this is not likely to be the end of these matters. This is due to the recent decision of the High Court in the Day case. In striking out the Senator, it also greatly widened the grounds upon which other members may be removed from Parliament.

Labor is challenging Assistant Health Minister David Gillespie's eligibility to sit in Parliament Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The case dealt with section 44(v) of the Constitution, which provides that a person is ineligible to sit in Parliament if they have a "direct or indirect pecuniary interest" in an agreement with the Commonwealth. Such an interest is permitted only when it is through a company with more than 25 shareholders.

In 1975, Chief Justice Sir Garfield Barwick gave section 44(v) a very restricted operation. Just as his interpretation of tax laws enabled tax avoidance, his approach to section 44(v) created opportunities for parliamentarians to enter profitable relationships with the Commonwealth. In the years since, MPs and senators have taken advantage of this to their financial benefit, without losing their seat.
The Turnbull government has abandoned plans to slash millions of dollars in funding from community legal centres after coming under intense pressure from lawyers, Labor and the states.

The government was due to effectively take $35 million from the sector, which gives free legal help to disadvantaged and vulnerable people in 190 centres across Australia, under new funding arrangements due to start on July 1.

Legal centres warned the 30 per cent shortfall would have plunged them into crisis, forcing them to sack staff and turn away thousands more desperate people who could not afford their own legal advice.

But Attorney-General George Brandis is now promising $55.7 million in extra funding to be confirmed in the May 9 budget, which will prioritise victims of domestic violence and Indigenous people.
The Turnbull government's plan to scrap the 457 skilled migration visa faces new hurdles in the Senate with the Greens set to refer it to a committee to examine if it could harm the economy, hobble individual businesses or put at risk Australia's multicultural fabric.

Trade spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young will move on Monday to secure crossbench and opposition support for an inquiry into the replacement of the 457 class with a pared down system with fewer eligible occupations and shorter visa periods, and which is separated from subsequent citizenship eligibility.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will seek support for an inquiry into 457 visa changes. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

She is confident of obtaining a majority in the Senate to establish the inquiry on the first day of the Budget session because Labor has argued the government's approach is not properly thought through.

However, a successful referral to the Senate Standing Committee on Education and Employment would need the support of four more crossbench senators.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has delivered a blistering rebuke to the North Korean regime, suggesting it should spend money on the welfare of its citizens, not weapons of mass destruction.

Ms Bishop's comments come after the North Korean foreign ministry personally criticised her and warned Australia was "coming within the range of the nuclear strike".

The Foreign Minister hit back at the hermit kingdom on Sunday after its bellicose threats against Australia and its allies in the region.

"North Korea's threats of nuclear strikes against other nations further underlines the need for the regime to abandon its illegal nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs," she said.



"These present a grave threat to its neighbours and if left unchecked, to the broader region including Australia."



"The North Korean government should invest in the welfare of its long-suffering citizens, rather than weapons of mass destruction."
Australia doesn't usually need much encouragement to partner with the US in whatever righteous military conflict it deems just. We've done so in every major conflict since WWI.

Obviously some have been more justified than others.

But the idiosyncratic nuclear-armed regime of Kim Jong-un has just provided the most comprehensive justification possible for a US-led pre-emptive assault: a clearly stated threat of nuclear strike on Australia.

No government can ignore that. The question immediately becomes one of how best to forestall such a calamity. Until now, that's been a mix of diplomacy, sanctions, and implied consequences. But "strategic patience" has run its course.
This is a scenario we know all too well; the frequent attempts to humanise men who abuse or kill their partners or children as "a great guy" or "a committed family man" are a well-worn media trope. In the context of a film ostensibly about the female victim, though, this is galling  especially because Colossal has a very shaky idea of where normal interpersonal behaviour ends and abuse begins. Hint: it's not the moment a man punches a woman.

When Oscar starts to use Gloria's kaiju-connection as a standover tactic, orders her around at work, or belittles her in front of their friends, I didn't see a classic cinematic showdown between a villain and a hero, I saw a man systematically isolating and controlling a woman.

For women who've endured emotional abuse, Oscar's scolding tantrums would be chilling reminders of past experience. Watching him lavishing gifts of homewares and furniture on Gloria would recall the sweeping romantic gestures that quickly give way to controlling behaviours. I know because I've been there, and the memories that Colossal dredged up  from public dressing downs about grocery shopping to bitter silent rages that left me almost hysterical, driven mad by neglect  shook me to my core.

The salt rubbed in the wound of those upsetting memories, then, for me and I'm sure many other viewers, is the efforts of Colossal to explore Oscar's point of view while offering scant character development for Gloria.

We don't know much about her life other than some loosely sketched details about being fired from her job, and her resulting hard-partying lifestyle. We hear a lot, on the other hand, about Oscar's disappointments in life, his failed relationship, his broken family. He even gets a big, sad speech in his big, sad house. By the time a flashback unfurls the mystery of Gloria and Oscar's intertwined lives and makes it clear what she's dealing with, it's too little, too late.
Public servants' retirement savings could take hits worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from new government superannuation rules coming into force later this year.

The changes could leave mid-ranking public servants up to $260,000 worse-off over 20 years, according to financial modelling.

"Complex" rules put public servants in danger of getting burned: Canberra financial advisor Dan Blackman.

From July 1, public servants still paying into the PSS and CSS schemes could be hit with tax rates of up to 47 per cent on salary-sacrifice contributions, a popular choice in the public sector, after decades of enjoying generous tax concessions on the payments.

Members of the Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan, which include much of the present-day rank-and-file, would be hit less hard under the new rules, but could still find themselves up to $115,000 worse-off over 20 years of contributions.
A 12-year-old boy has been stopped by police after he attempted to drive across Australia on his own, getting almost a third of the way there.

The boy was pulled over at Broken Hill in far western NSW on Saturday morning, about 1300 kilometres into his journey.

The boy was stopped by Highway Patrol on Saturday, police said. Credit:Brendan Esposito

He had seemingly driven across the entire state of New South Wales, after setting off from Kendall near Port Macquarie on the east coast.

In a statement on Sunday, a NSW Police spokesperson said the boy was on his way to Perth.
Land co-owned by accused murderer Ron Medich has served as an illegal dumping ground for 65,000 tonnes of waste, some contaminated with asbestos.

Tenants of the once-wealthy property developer and his brother Roy added repeatedly to the dump at Badgerys Creek in Sydney's west since it was discovered in 2015, the Environmental Protection Authority found.

Deadlines to introduce safety precautions and clear the site have been missed. When Fairfax Media accepted an invitation to visit on Sunday, a large mound bore a sign saying "Asbestos Keep Away" but the protective plastic sheeting had blown off.

Estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars if rezoned, the land has split the brothers in an ongoing court case about the right to sell it. The 344-hectare block has also previously featured in corruption inquiries and as part of an alleged blackmail attempt on Mr Medich by the murdered businessman Michael McGurk.
A Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-Bharatiya Janata Party-Uttar Pradesh government coordination meeting will take place in Lucknow today. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will attend the meet.

By Anindya Banerjee: A Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - Uttar Pradesh government coordination meeting will take place in Lucknow today.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma, the RSS's Sahkaryavah Dattatreya Hosebole, the BJP's Uttar Pradesh in-charge Om Mathur and Sunil Bansal will attend the meeting.

The meeting with deal with better synergy, and with contentious issues - like the roles right-wing organisations will play from here on.

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Another crucial topic of discussion will be the law-and-order situation in UP.

It didn't go down well either with the party or the Sangh, that at a time when a new DGP has just taken over, an incident like the one that took place in in Agra yesterday occurred.

Close on the heels of Saharanpur, where Hindu outfit members attacked Saharanpur SSP's residence, led by a BJP MP, a large mob on Sunday attacked Agra's Fatehpur Sikri and Sadar police stations, beating up a Deputy SP, a station house officer and looted away a sub inspector's pistol. Several vehicles were damaged and a motorcycle set on fire before the mob could be brought under control.

The mob, led by Fatehpur Sikri MLA Ch. Udaybhan Singh, had been staging a sit-in at the Fatehpur Sikri police station demanding the release of some Hindu outfit members who had been arrested for assaulting a couple of Muslim grocers Muvin and Rizwan in Fatehpur Sikri. The grocers had filed an FIR against the accused and six of them had been arrested and were sent to be kept in the lockup at the Sadar police station.

(With inputs from Siraj Qureshi)

ALSO READ | Saharanpur violence over Ambedkar rally: 2 FIRs lodged against BJP MP Raghav Lakhanpal

ALSO READ | BJP leader Raja Balmiki shot dead by bike-borne assailants in Muzaffarnagar

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A Supreme Court judge has blasted Sydney law firm Brydens Lawyers for its "entirely cynical" behaviour in a court case brought against it by a former client with limited English skills.

Brydens, which specialises in personal injury claims among other practice areas, was taken to court by a former client who wanted the firm to hand over an itemised bill for work it did for him in a District Court case.

Lee Hagipantelis, the principal of Brydens Lawyers. Credit:Peter Rae

The firm had provided Tan Thanh Le, a native Vietnamese speaker, with a lump sum bill for $304,688 but he wanted a breakdown to give to a costs assessor to determine the fairness and reasonableness of the fees.

Brydens had refused to provide an itemised bill on the basis Mr Le had asked for it after a 12-month time limit had expired. The firm also said it had lost his files, which was accepted by the Supreme Court.
A man has been charged with attempting to sexually assault a 12-year-old boy in the toilets of a shopping centre in Sydney's west at the weekend.

The 46-year-old man was arrested at Bankstown Police Station on Sunday night after police released CCTV images of a man wanted over the attack on the young boy at Bass Hill Plaza about 8.15pm on Saturday.

A man was arrested after police released a CCTV image from the shopping centre. Credit:NSW Police

A NSW Police spokeswoman said the boy told police he walked into the public toilets inside the shopping centre and noticed a man in a cubicle with the door open.
The fairness of a proposed Commonwealth government loan of nearly $1 billion to fund a rail link to the giant Adani coal mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin has been called into question by economic modelling showing it may cost NSW hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Adani's Carmichael mine will increase the global supply of coal by about 6 per cent, putting downward pressure on prices received by NSW coal exporters and slashing mining royalties paid to the state government, the report by the Australia Institute says.

NSW coal royalties will be reduced by nearly $50 million year and possibly by as much as $70 million once the Adani mine is fully operational, the analysis shows.

Some NSW coal mines "would likely close" while others would be forced to reduce costs in response to the additional supply, the report said. The coal-rich Hunter Valley region would be especially vulnerable.
Emotions are still raw months after the callous murder of Brisbane bus driver Manmeet Sharma.

On Sunday hundreds of people gathered at Moorooka for a ceremony to honour Mr Sharma and unveil the plans for a memorial to the man who served Brisbane in many ways.

Brisbane bus driver Manmeet Sharma was killed while on duty in October, 2016.

Tears were shed as the community reflected on the tragically cut-short life of the 29-year-old.

Just metres away from the ceremony buses ran along Beaudesert Road, including route 125  the service Mr Sharma was driving the day he was burnt to death in an unprovoked attack.
Public holiday guide: What's open, what's closed

People attending Anzac Day services in Melbourne are advised to take umbrellas and waterproof coats, with the weather bureau forecasting a strong chance of morning rain on Tuesday.

Police and security guards have vowed to be on alert following an apparent terrorist attack in Paris last week in which a gunman killed a policeman and wounded two others on the Champs-Elysees.

The gunman was shot dead and Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
A man was lucky to escape alive after fire destroyed a home in Melbourne's north on Saturday evening. Fire crews were called to a single storey house at Dacelo Avenue in Broadmeadows at about 9.15pm after reports the house was engulfed by flames. Witnesses told firefighters a man was trapped inside the house so they raced into the burning property to search. Firefighters rescued a man, 39, inside a bedroom.

Credit:Paul Jeffers / Fairfax Media He was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said he was taken to the Alfred Hospital. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade said there was no report of a working smoke alarm. The fire appears to have started in the lounge area where it is believed the man regularly smokes.
Police are hunting for a gunman who is on the loose after a shooting at a house in Melbourne's north on Saturday night.

Police said a 39-year-old man was shot by an unknown person at a house in Ninda Court in Westmeadows at about 6pm.

The male officer has been stood aside. Credit:Rohan Thompson

The gunman fled the scene after the shooting.
She told France, shocked by Thursday's shooting of a policeman on Paris' Champs-Elysees, that she would stop "mass immigration and the free movement of terrorists". Far-right leader and candidate for the 2017 French presidential election Marine Le Pen exits a polling booth. Credit:AP She intends to renegotiate France's relationship with the European Union, and hold a referendum on reintroducing the French franc. Macron said the vote had "changed the face of this country [and] opened the door to optimism, a new path for hope for Europe and for the world". The Le Pen convoy arrives to vote. Credit:Nick Miller

"We heard the doubt, the anger, the fear of the people of France - they wanted change so badly. That's why tonight the two major parties who have governed France for three decade have been discarded." After Thursday's shooting, he had begged voters: "Do not surrender to fear." Far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon waves after voting in the first round of the French presidential election. Credit:AP An Ipsos poll on Sunday evening predicted Macron would beat Le Pen in the second round by 62 per cent to 38 per cent. Both the Socialist and the Republican candidates have asked their followers to vote for Macron in the run-off vote in two weeks' time.

Paris is on high alert following last week's attack on the Champs-Elysees, with security increased. Credit:Getty Images Fillon warned Le Pen would lead the country into bankruptcy, chaos, violence, extremism and division. "Reflect on your conscience," he said. The result is a new high-water mark for Le Pen's National Front. French centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron poses with employees at a fast-food restaurant. Credit:AP The last time the National Front made the second round, in 2002, Le Pen's father, Jean-Marie, won just under 17 per cent of the first round vote.

He was crushed in the second round by Jacques Chirac, but his daughter is expected to do significantly better. At the last election, in 2012, Marine Le Pen won 18 per cent of the first round vote, and did not make the second round. Macron set up his En Marche! (Forward!) political movement just a year ago, while the youngest minister of the economy in the nation's history. He framed himself as a centrist who wanted the economy more business friendly, in a liberal society. His rivals attacked his centrist policies as vague crowd-pleasers, and tried to pin him down as the successor to Francois Hollande, France's most unpopular president in living memory.

Satirists portrayed him as the "unaccompanied child" of the campaign. Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon won just 6 per cent of the vote. The vote was conducted under unprecedented security measures, following Thursday's attack, which was claimed by Islamic State although the gunman's link to IS remains uncertain. More than 50,000 police officers and 7000 soldiers were deployed to polling stations across the country. Nice, the site of a horrific terror attack last year, deployed its own security agents as back-up for police at its 252 voting stations. France's faltering economy, its future in the European Union, security against terrorism and the level of immigration were the dominant issues in the campaign.

Both Le Pen and Melenchon campaigned against the EU, while both Le Pen and Fillon were vocal on the need for tighter immigration controls and a security crackdown. Le Pen voted at the Jean-Jacques Rousseau school in Henin-Beaumont, a town in north-west France and the heartland of northern National Front support. The town is ringed by huge black pyramids of barren industrial slag - imposing symbols of its lost industrial heritage as a coal mining centre. "I voted for Marine Le Pen, for change," said local Reynald, emerging from a Henin-Beaumont polling station. "There needs to be change in the economy, on immigration, all together. I am sick of the old politics of the left and right.

"I don't agree with all her ideas, but we have to have change." But Le Pen posters were defaced across the town, with big strips torn off them in an attempt to hide their message. Even at the centre of her support base, she still arouses strong opposition - sentiments that Macron is expected to harness in the coming fortnight. Fillon tweeted that the fight against Islamist terrorism must be the priority of the next president, saying "we are at war, there's no alternative, it's us or them". And Le Pen published a slew of tweets advocating her policies on restricting asylum for refugees and citizenship for immigrants. She also demanded the immediate expulsion of all foreigners on the terrorism watch list.
Washington: US President Donald Trump will speak on Sunday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, with North Korea expected to be discussed.

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Tensions have risen sharply with North Korea over its advancing nuclear and missile programs. Pyongyang said on Sunday it was ready to sink a US aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might and detained a US citizen on Saturday as he attempted to leave the country.

Reuters
Punjab Leader of Opposition, H S Phoolka on Sunday said Punjab Power Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh is founder of a power company Rana Sugar Limited which sells power to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) which is a clear case of conflict of interests.

By Manjeet Sehgal: After the Minister of local government, tourism, cultural affairs, archives and museums Navjot Singh Sidhu, now another Punjab Cabinet minister has come under direct attack from Opposition which citing the conflict of interests charges has demanded his removal.

Punjab Leader of Opposition, H S Phoolka on Sunday said Punjab Power Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh is founder of a power company Rana Sugar Limited which sells power to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) which is a clear case of conflict of interests.

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"We demand Captain Amarinder Singh to change the portfolio of Rana Gurjeet Singh who owns Rana Sugar Limited which is selling power to the state government. Being a power minister Rana is controlling Punjab State Power Corporation Limited which buys power from his company," H S Phoolka said.

Rana Sugar Limited generates 34 MW of power out of which 20 MW is sold to PSPCL. Phoolka claimed hat Rana and his wife are the major stake holders in the power firm.

"If the state's plan to sell power to Pakistan becomes a reality, state's private power companies, including Rana Sugar Limited will directly benefit from the export," Phoolka said.

Navjot Singh Sidhu's portfolio has also been challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court by city lawyer H C Arora on similar grounds.

Also read:

Respect CM Amarinder Singh but won't quit TV, insists Navjot Singh Sidhu

Navjot Singh Sidhu wants to continue TV work, will seek AG's opinion: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh to India Today

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Kabul: They looked like Afghan army soldiers returning from the front lines, carrying the bodies of wounded comrades as part of the ruse.

Dressed in military uniforms, a squad of 10 Taliban militants drove in two army Ford Ranger trucks past seven checkpoints. They arrived inside northern Afghanistan's largest military installation just as hundreds, perhaps thousands, of unarmed soldiers were emerging from Friday prayers and preparing for lunch.

Men carry the coffin of one of the victims of Friday's attack at a military compound in Mazar-i-Sharif, northern Afghanistan. Credit:AP

For the next five hours, the militants went on a rampage, killing at least 140 soldiers and officers in what is emerging as the single deadliest known attack on an Afghan military base in the country's 16-year war. Some assailants blew themselves up among the soldiers fleeing for their lives, according to survivors, witnesses and officials.

"Today, there was even a shortage of coffins," said Ibrahim Khairandish, a member of the provincial council in Balkh province, where the attack took place. Other officials feared that the death toll could exceed 200.
GREAT BAY (DCOMM):---- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), over the past weeks has been meeting with various stakeholders as it relates to preparatory multi-agency response, and has stepped up surveillance for yellow fever in the wake of an increase in yellow fever reports emanating from several Latin American countries.

CPSs surveillance mechanism was placed on alert for any potential yellow fever cases in January.

Sint Maarten does not have any yellow fever cases, but due to the current situation of yellow fever being detected in areas in countries where no cases have been detected in several years, this has increased the countrys alert level.

The department is requesting for all to be on the alert and be proactive if you experience any symptoms after having traveled to an endemic Yellow Fever area. You are requested to consult your physician.

Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease that is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Latin America. Transmission is primarily between monkeys, and from monkeys to humans.

According to the most recent Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) epidemiological update, suspected and confirmed yellow fever cases have been reported in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Suriname.

Reports of disease spreading among animals are currently under investigation in states bordering Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela, represent a risk of spread of the virus to the bordering countries, especially in areas within similar ecosystems.

In Brazil, since the beginning of the outbreak in December 2016 up to 12, April 2017, there were 2,422 cases of yellow fever reported, including 326 deaths. The case fatality rate is 34 percent among confirmed cases.

PAHO adds that given the current yellow fever situation in Brazil and the emergence of cases in areas where no cases have been detected in several years, Member States are urged to continue efforts to timely detect, confirm, and adequately treat cases of yellow fever in a timely manner. To this end, health care workers should be kept up-to-date and trained to detect and treat cases especially in areas of known virus circulation.

PAHO and the World Health Organization encourage the Member States to take the necessary actions to keep travelers, heading to areas where yellow fever vaccination is mandatory, informed and vaccinated.

The virus is transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti, the same mosquito that can transmit the dengue, chikungunya and zika viruses. Mosquitoes acquire the virus by feeding on infected primates (human or non-human) and then transmit the virus to other primates (human or non-human).

In urban areas e.g. within the communities of Sint Maarten, risk can be reduced by eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites and reducing your exposure to mosquito bites.

There is one sure way of mitigating mosquito borne diseases, and that is removing mosquito breeding sites from within and surrounding your premises, and apply mosquito repellent to stop mosquitoes from feeding.

Symptoms of yellow fever according to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) usually appear three to six days after the bite of an infected mosquito. In the initial phase, they include fever, muscle pain, headache, shivers, loss of appetite, and nausea or vomiting.

For most patients, these symptoms disappear after three to four days. Some patients enter a second, more toxic phase within 24 hours of the initial remission.

High fever returns, and several body systems are affected, including the kidneys. Half of patients who enter this toxic phase die within 10 to 14 days, while the rest recover without significant organ damage.

Vaccination is the most important preventive measure against yellow fever.

The vaccine is safe, affordable and highly effective, providing effective immunity within 30 days for 99% of those vaccinated.

A single dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to confer sustained immunity and life-long protection, with no need for a booster. The yellow fever vaccine must be administered at least 10 days prior to travel. Persons that travel to endemic countries where yellow fever is confirmed should get the vaccine.

Travelers with contraindications for yellow fever vaccine (e.g. children below 9 months, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with severe hypersensitivity to egg antigens, and severe immunodeficiency or over 60 years of age) should consult their health professional for further advice about the yellow fever vaccine.

For more information call CPS at 542-2078, 542-3003 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TSA says Ofcr Noelle= Grant passed through the checkpoint with a firearm, because of lack of procedures

An 8 year SMPD veteran faces 5 years in a Taiwan jail, when she "simply forgot" that she had a Luger pistol and 6 bullets in her carry on handbag. Taiwanese customs came upon the weapon, which somehow was not detected at LAX, and that's potentially the greater story. It means that TSA policies failed to detect a pistol.

Noell Grant's odyssey began when she arrived at Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei. Authorities detected the weapon in her bag. She told airport police in Taiwan that she accidentally left her pistol and six bullets in her handbag, according to the Reuters news agency.

If convicted of the weapons charges, Grant, 42, faces up to two years in prison, according to the Taiwan media. Her husband could not be reached for comment.

Taiwan courts ordered Grant not to leave the country on April 13, after she entered Taiwan with the pistol and ammunition. She's free on bail.

The Transportation Security Administration "has determined standard procedures were not followed and a police officer did in fact pass through the checkpoint with a firearm," TSA Public Affairs Manager Nico Melendez said in a statement Wednesday.

When asked if anyone would be disciplined, he said, "we'll hold those responsible appropriately accountable."

The Santa Monica Police Department was notified last week that Grant had been detained at an airport in Taiwan during a layover to Thailand, Santa Monica police confirmed Wednesday. Grant was on vacation with family at the time, said Lt. Saul Rodriguez, the department's public information officer.

"We know that she left out of here - out of LAX - arrived in Taiwan, at which point she notified officials in Taiwan that she inadvertently left a weapon in her bag, being the gun that was found," Rodriguez said.

TSA's Melendez said the off-duty police officer went through regular screening procedures rather than expedited security.

According to the SMPD's Rodriguez, Grant was carrying a "personal, off-duty" weapon, not a service weapon. He could not say whether Grant, who has been in contact with one of her department supervisors, has been booked or charged with any crime in Taiwan. She's dealing with potential legal proceedings in that country, he said.

"My understanding is she's able to move about, (but) she cannot leave the country until the matter is resolved," Rodriguez explained.

Asked whether the incident could affect Grant's status as a police officer, Rodriguez said it was not yet clear.

"At some point, we will be doing an administrative review of what happened," he said. "Hopefully she gets back safely, and we'll take care of the administrative portion of it when she returns."

Ali Abbas, professor of public policy and engineering at USC, said the incident was "definitely a surprise," particularly because regular screening is "pretty intense."

"A security chain is as strong as its weakest link, and it shows us that we are still vulnerable," Abbas said.

Taiwan Airport Security Taiwan Police released this photo of the Luger pistol that SMPD's Noell Grant carried in her purse and through security at LAX.

If standard procedures were not followed, the question is why, he said. Did the officer know people at the airport, for example, and not go through the whole standard procedure as a result?

"If there was a personal relationship that led to a violation of standard procedure ... this should be investigated immediately," he said. Abbas is researching TSA programs alongside a former TSA chief risk officer, Kenneth Fletcher, with an eye toward increasing their efficiency.

If the oversight was made due to negligence of a security officer, that's also a concern and raises the question of whether TSA should increase the number of security officers at the airport, he said.

"I think it's human factor that led to this," Abbas said. "Whether it's personal relationships or negligence or lack of training, screening at airports should be capable of detecting a gun."
Understanding the Political Crisis in South Africa

Toronto  20 April 2017.

Since 1994, the political leaders of South Africa have attempted to solve the national question through the de-racialization of the economy and society. How to remake the state without addressing the benefits and misfortunes of capitalism and racism in South Africa? The ANC-led governments linked the struggle against racism to the national task of creating and strengthening a black capitalist class. This was an integral part of their attempt at de-racialization within the class and property relations of capitalism. But the misfortunes of capitalism and racism in South Africa continue to take the form of mass poverty for the majority of its people. And in post-apartheid South Africa the wealth and privileges of the beneficiaries of apartheid have been protected even with apartheids end. Only a tiny minority of blacks have entered into the capitalist class, often through connections to the state and the governing group.

The current government of President Jacob Zuma is witness to major brawls between rival elite factions, amidst growing corruption scandals. The historical alliance between the ANC, the SACP and COSATU is fracturing. Protests and demonstrations calling for Zuma to resign are growing. Out of this ruin, a new South African working class movement may yet emerge. See Sehlare Makgetlanengs The benefits and misfortunes of capitalism and racism.

Eli Kodisang has been involved in South African left politics and struggle for almost thirty years. He was a local and national organizer and educator in various COSATU unions, and then moved to Khanya College, a left NGO that provides support and political education for community and informal worker movements. He is currently organizing informal waste pickers and completing a Masters in Education and Work.
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Glastonbury councillors had to sign confidentiality agreements before discussing the eviction of travellers from the Morlands Site with Mendip District Council.

At the annual town meeting in Glastonbury, John Keery, councillor for St. Johns Ward, said he had to sign a confidentiality agreement in a meeting with the district council.

Mayor Jon Cousins and Councillor Keery were made to sign the agreement before discussing anything related to the travellers site.

What public body makes a town mayor sign a confidentiality agreement before discussing a problem which affects the people? he asked during the public meeting.

Its time they told the town what they want.

Jon Cousins mentioned the solicitors of Mendip District Council said they did not have to comply with the Freedom of Information request from the town council, asking to see odour surveys relating to the Morlands site.

That is the type of district council we have, I am sorry to say, said the Mayor.

What is the odour problem?

Mendip District Council served the travellers with an eviction notice on March 23. Since then, research has identified the Morlands site as a good site for the travellers to stay, but the council claims it cannot become a permanent site because an assessment by Wessex Water showed the odour issues in the area.

They told Somerset Live : A full planning constraints assessment was carried out as part of a planning application proposal for a housing development received last year for a site adjoining the area where the travellers are located.

"This assessment sets out the potential hazards and acceptable thresholds of locating a residential development near to a sewage treatment works and the same principles would apply to a residential proposal on the council owned land at Morlands which is even closer to the hazard.

Wessex Water however have confirmed there has not been an assessment since 2014.

A spokesman told Somerset Live: "Our last odour modelling test was carried out in 2014. Glastonbury sewage treatment works has an odour management plan and the odour control units are regularly tested."
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These pictures show just how much Crewkerne has changed over the past two centuries.

An exhibition of Shops Now and Then at Crewkerne Museum has encouraged more than 30 shops and businesses in the town to take part.

The black and white photographic Trip Down Memory Lane of how shop frontages and other buildings looked in Crewkerne from the late 1800s to around the mid-1900s can be seen in shop and office windows.

Many of the photographs were taken by Frederick George Christopher, who was born in Upwey in 1851. He is first recorded as a citizen of Crewkerne in the town census of 1891, when he is lodging at the Temperance Hotel in South Street.

Ten years later in the 1901 census, Mr Christopher has established a photographic studio at his home in Abbey Street. The exact location of his home and business is where A J Wakely and Sons Funeral Directors run their business today.

Crewkerne Museum has more than 500 photographs in its archives.

The current exhibition in the Hugh and Mary Clark Room, now referred to as the Exhibition Room, following its recent redecoration and refurbishment, kindly funded by Sylvia Andrew in memory of her late husband Simon, has many photos on display, alongside posters, bills and other memorabilia from yesteryear, spanning more than 200 years of trading history in the town.

Photographs of the Town Hall and the informative text accompanying the display, go back even further than the 1800s to the early 16th century, following the changes in its architectural design and its occupancy by local traders through the ages.

In 1511, the historic building in Market Square was known as the Shambles, with some 37 butchers stalls selling their meats. It was rebuilt in 1742 and in 1787 housed a silk factory.

In later years it became a Court House, the Palace Cinema, museum, reading room and library. Today it is home to Crewkerne Town Council and the Local Information Centre downstairs and Victoria Hall upstairs.

Victoria Hall was visited by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on May 2, 2012, as part of Her Majestys Diamond Jubilee celebrations and Royal Tour of the United Kingdom.

On June 22, 1897, the townsfolk had cause to celebrate another royal occasion, the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, which is understood to have been captured on camera, at the time and is one of the many photographs on display at the museum.

Visitors to the exhibition are having fun discussing where the different types of businesses that once traded in Crewkerne were situated and how many moved throughout the course of time, from small retail shops to larger premises in the town.

A common practice in ye olde days was for more than one business to carry out its trade from the same premises. This becomes much clearer when you view photographs of Market Street, particularly the top end near the junction with South Street.

James Hardware shop can be seen as Kentish Stationers, Cornelius toy shop and the Co-operative Dairy cafe in its adjoining retail unit now home to Carousel.

A few doors away at where Stitch Solutions now resides, was Clark Gold and Silversmiths and Wrights Newsagents, which later became Cummins Newsagents.

Walking along the same stretch of pavement takes you to the Black Swan dental practice which was where Fone and Stagg conducted their tailors and mens outfitters department store.

Across the road the Brainwave Charity shop was Co-operative Furnishings, Dekorative Collective housed Chards shoe shop and the Crewkerne Antiques was home to Kloer and Son, Home Furnishers.

Every town needed a good quality bakery and where Homefayre is situated today, formerly the Woolworths store, was Pollards high-class bakery.

The main form of transport for the ordinary townsfolk would have been by horse and cart, making it essential to have a saddlery in Crewkerne. This service was provided by the Clarke family, who ran a saddlers shop in South Street, now home to the Window Man.

Crewkerne has seen many family businesses over the years disappear from its main streets, but the historic value of the buildings which still remain with their Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian architectural features, and the current showcase of black and white photographs of ye olde days and exhibition at the Museum, which runs until June 10, is keeping certain traditions and memories alive for todays generation and for future generations to come.
2022 Indiana election results: See the latest updates from St. Joseph County

Vote totals are preliminary until all are counted and certified by the St. Joseph County Election Board.
By Press Trust of India: Washington, Apr 23 (PTI) A quick walk up and down a flight of stairs packs a more powerful and restorative buzz than a midday jolt of caffeine, new research suggests.

Researchers from the University of Georgia (UGA) in the US found that 10 minutes of walking up and down stairs at a regular pace was more likely to make participants feel energised than ingesting 50 milligrammes of caffeine - equivalent to the amount in a can of soda.

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"We found, in both the caffeine and the placebo conditions, that there was not much change in how they felt," said Patrick J OConnor, professor at UGAs department of kinesiology.

"But with exercise they did feel more energetic and vigorous. It was a temporary feeling, felt immediately after the exercise, but with the 50 milligrammes of caffeine, we did not get as big an effect," said J OConnor.

The study aimed to simulate the hurdles faced in a typical office setting, where workers spend hours sitting and staring at computer screens and do not have time for a longer bout of exercise during the day.

For the study, participants on separate days either ingested capsules containing caffeine or a placebo, or spent 10 minutes walking up and down stairs - about 30 floors total - at a low-intensity pace.

"Office workers can go outside and walk, but weather can be less than ideal. It has never rained on me while walking the stairs," said OConnor.

"And a lot of people working in office buildings have access to stairs, so it is an option to keep some fitness while taking a short break from work," he said.

Study participants were female college students who described themselves as chronically sleep deprived - getting less than six and a half hours per night of shut eye.

To test the effects of caffeine versus the exercise, each group took some verbal and computer-based tests to gauge how they felt and how well they performed certain cognitive tasks.

Neither caffeine nor exercise caused large improvements in attention or memory, but stair walking was associated with a small increase in motivation for work.

The study was published in the journal Physiology and Behaviour. PTI SAR MHN

--- ENDS ---
Time Magazine has honored three scientists who played key roles in the discovery of potentially habitable planets outside Earth's solar system.

With a mounting number of planets being discovered outside Earth's solar system, expanding humanity's understanding of the geography of the universe, three leaders in the field of exoplanet science have been named to Time magazines annual list of the 100 most influential people.

Planet-hunters Natalie Batalha, Michael Gillon and Guillem Anglada-Escude were recognized by Time magazine for notable contributions to NASAs planet-seeking Kepler mission and the discovery of potentially Earth-like worlds in the TRAPPIST-1 system and around Proxima Centauri, the sun's nearest stellar neighbor, according to a statement from NASA.

"It is truly exciting to see these planet-hunters among the other movers and the shakers of the world," Paul Hertz, director of NASA's astrophysics division, said in the statement. "These scientists have transformed the worlds understanding of our place in the universe, and NASA congratulates them for their well-deserved recognition." [The Strangest Alien Planets (Gallery)]

Batalha is the current lead scientist for NASA's Kepler Space Telescope and the first woman at NASA to receive the Time 100 designation, according to the statement. The Kepler mission is dedicated to finding Earth-like worlds beyond our solar system that orbit within the "habitable zone" of their parent star, or the region where liquid water could potentially exist on the planet's surface. Since its launch in 2009, Kepler has found more than 2,500 confirmed exoplanets, according to the statement.

Gillon, a scientist from the University of Liege in Belgium, led the research team that detected seven Earth-size planets around TRAPPIST-1  an ultra-cool dwarf star approximately 40 light-years away from Earth.

The seven exoplanets are most likely rocky worlds the size of Earth or smaller, and "some of the best targets for NASAs upcoming James Webb Space Telescope to look for signs of habitability," according to the NASA statement.

Last year, Anglada-Escude of Queen Mary University of London discovered Proxima b, a potentially Earth-like world orbiting Proxima Centauri  Earths closest neighboring star located just over four light-years from the sun. Proxima b also orbits within the habitable zone of its star, meaning it could have the right surface temperature to allow for the presence of liquid water and, in turn, possibly support life, scientists say.

"I'm honored to be part of the Time 100 and feel strongly that recognition belongs to the entire team of scientists and engineers who opened our eyes to the large number of potentially habitable worlds that populate the galaxy," Batalha said in a statement from NASA. "Searching for potentially habitable worlds makes one appreciate just how precious living worlds are. I hope that the discoveries from the Kepler spacecraft inspire people to learn more about other planets, and, in turn, make us love this one all the more."

Follow Samantha Mathewson @Sam_Ashley13. Follow us @Spacedotcom,Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Mix the City, a project by the British Council, invites musicians to come together and record their sound against the backdrop of an iconic monument of the city.

By Srijani Ganguly/Mail Today: There are two ways of operating 'Mix the City', a project launched by the British Council in Delhi. The first, the boring way, is to go the project's website, select a city and then just play the video. Sure, this acts as a good introduction to the project but the better way to experience 'Mix the City' would be to opt for the more adventurous option wherein you yourself can layer the music by clicking and pausing pre-recorded music.

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"Mix the City is a massive project," says Alan Gemmell, director of British Council in India. "For Delhi, 12 musicians came together and recorded their sound against the backdrop of an iconic monument or site in the city. India is the first country for which we've recorded multiple 'Mix the City' projects - we are planning to launch it in four cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata) in total. Indian music has a uniquely rich and diverse array of styles, instruments and sounds, and we could only do justice to this wide variety by exploring Mix the City much more deeply than we ever have before."

Band Curtain Blue is also a part of Mix the City. Picture courtesy: Mail Today

Gemmell adds, "It's a global branding initiative to mix the culture of music around the world. The essence of 'Mix the City' is to capture the feel of a city and a country through music, and put that into users' hands. The platform will be used as a tool to promote cross cultural diversity of music and appreciation of contemporary UK in India, and vice versa. There is smart coding and technology by UK-based digital companies Flying Object and Roll Studio that links these music and video pieces so that you can easily create your own track."

'Mix the City' is only the beginning of what the British Council has planned in India as part of the UK-India Year of Partnership this year. "The year 2017," says Gemmell, "marks the culmination of four years of 'Re-Imagine', a programme in the Arts designed to build creative connections in new ways between the people and institutions of the UK and India."

Musician Sharat Chandra Srivastava. Picture courtesy: Mail Today

He continues, "The purpose of UK-India Year of Culture is to give greater focus, depth and relevance to the longstanding relationship between the two countries. This will be done through events and projects, both face-to-face and digital in 2017, with a wider aim to reach out to newer audiences, not restricted to the metropolitan cities alone."

Check out www.mixthecity.com to hear sounds from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities.

--- ENDS ---
"Make America think again!" "We need data!" "Nerd power!" "Fund science, not the wall!" These were just some of the chants heard during the March for Science today (April 22) in Washington, D.C., and across the globe.

Scientists and science enthusiasts (along with their curious kids) turned out in droves to make their voices heard. Though their signs were diverse  from "I'm with Her [mother Earth]" to "Grab 'em by the hypothesis"  the central message seemed to be the idea that science is important to everyone and must inform decision-making at the highest levels of government.

"I spoke with scientists that do research on astronomy, biology, chemistry, health, physics, all with one voice for the importance of science for society," said Cristian Samper, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society who marched in Washington, D.C. [In Photos: The Best Signs from the 2017 March for Science]

The March for Science, which grew out of a Reddit thread back in January and took inspiration from the historic Women's March, spanned cities across the globe. In Washington, pre-march rallies saw the likes of musician Questlove and YouTube star Derek Mueller (of Veritasium) take to the stage in front of the Washington Monument, along with celeb science communicator Bill Nye and more than 50 other speakers. An appearance by Thomas Dolby performing his appropriately named "She Blinded Me with Science" had science marchers jumping around and dancing.

In New York City, the march took place in Manhattan, beginning near Columbus Circle at 71st Street and ending in Times Square, with plenty of signage and chants in support of science. Seventh-grader Talia Levine, 12, who lives just outside New York City, said she was marching "because I really believe in what we're saying here, and I hope Trump can hear us." Levine, who was there with her dad, added, "If I could say one thing to Trump, I would say, 'Think what you're doing, because it's going to affect you eventually.'"

Preliminary estimates indicate some 40,000 people marched in New York City. (As more estimates come in, Live Science will update this article.)

Here are some of the voices from the marches:

"What an inspiring experience," Collette Adkins, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, who marched in D.C., told Live Science. "I loved seeing my children's excitement about the crowds of scientists and their creative signs. Science should be the basis for important policy decisions, and I'm glad to see that so many took the streets with that message."

Excitement is part of what science is about, said one marcher in D.C. "I want to remind people that science is fun," said George Goldberg, a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Denver, Colorado, who was at a March for Science rally in D.C. "People tend to forget the fun part."

Marni Majorelle of Brooklyn, New York, came out to march in Manhattan because she believes in "the power of facts," Majorelle, a landscape designer and owner of Alive Structures, told Live Science. "Because I care about what scientists have to say and what they have to share with the rest of the world. I think the scientists should be well funded. It's an important part of our society. It's an important part of our exploration of outer space. It's an important part of our exploration of the ocean, of medicine, of geology and for our future."

Majorelle added, "It's part of who we are. It's one of the best things that humans have created  it's science."

"I was so impressed by how people stuck with it in spite of the weather," Eric Davidson, president of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) told Live Science. "These scientists are truly dedicated to the pursuit of science for the benefit of humanity. One of the cutest chants I heard was 'we're here, we're wet, and we're upset.' Scientists are finding their voice," said Davidson, who marched in D.C. [6 Politicians Who Got the Science Wrong]

Samper of the WCS agreed. "It was great to see so many people with diverse interests and backgrounds coming together for science," Samper told Live Science. It was a cold and rainy afternoon in D.C., but this did not dampen the enthusiasm of thousands of people that came together."

Some thought the tone was a little more serious than the Women's March.

"In comparison to the Women's March, this one was more serious and somewhat incredulous that this was even an issue," said John Robinson, Chief Conservation Officer for the Wildlife Conservation Society who marched in New York City. "Contrary to some of the news chatter that all scientists worry about is their research money, the dominant sentiment was that science is serious, and that policy should be evidence based not opinion based."

Live Science reporters Laura Geggel and Denise Chow contributed to this report.

Original article on Live Science.
Galileo Marches for Science

Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images

Scientists and science allies are gathering today (April 22) in Washington, D.C., and in hundreds of cities around the world, for the 2017 March for Science. Check out some of the best space signs and more from the demonstrations.

This Photo: A science supporter dressed as Galileo (complete with telescope) is seen near the Washington Monument during the March for Science in Washington D.C. on April 22, 2017.

Bill Nye Joins March for Science

Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images

Bill Nye the Science Guy arrives to lead scientists and supporters down Constitution Avenue during the March for Science on April 22, 2017 in Washington, DC. The event is being described as a call to support and safeguard the scientific community.

Bill Nye Opens the March for Science

Jeanna Bryner/Live Science

Bill Nye the Science Guy, CEO of the Planetary Society, speaks during a rally on the National Mall ahead of the March for Science in Washington D.C. on April 22, 2017.

March for Science Hummer in Los Angeles

Calla Cofield/Space.com

One of two electric-powered Hummers led the March for Science Los Angeles.

Garrett Reisman Ready for March for Science

Calla Cofield/Space.com

Former NASA astronaut Garret Reisman drove an electric-powered Hummer to lead the March for Science Los Angeles on April 22, 2017.

Build Spaceships Not Walls

Tariq Malik/Space.com

Paige Campbell (left), 20, a meteorology and astrophysics student at Pennsylvania State University and Madison Littin (right), 20, a meteorology student, both took one of three buses from State College, Pennsylvania, to Washington, D.C. to take part in the March for Science.

Female Scientists in Puppet Form

Tariq Malik/Space.com

Giant puppets of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, Mae Jemison and other prominent women in science were on display during the March for Science in Washington D.C. on April 22, 2017.

Saturn V Made in America

Tariq Malik/Space.com

NASA's Saturn V moon rocket was indeed made in America as this sign proclaims during the March for Science in Washington D.C. on April 22, 2017.

Made In America: Friendship & Science

Tariq Malik/Space.com

Mechanical engineer Adam Yeager (left) of Lancaster, Pennsylvaniaand childhood friend Brad Ochock, an ecologist in Houston, live in different states but met up in Washington D.C. to show their support for the March for Science on April 22, 2017.

Astronaut Puppets on Washington

Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images

Science supporters hold up cardboard puppets honoring scientists and astronauts during the March for Science in Washington, D.C. on April 22, 2017.

Supporting Space Science

Hanneke Weitering/Space.com

March for Science participants in New York City dress as astronauts to support science.
Bill Nye the Science Guy arrives to lead scientists and supporters down Constitution Avenue during the March for Science on April 22, 2017 in Washington, DC.

WASHINGTON  Thousands of scientists and science enthusiasts of all ages flooded the streets of Washington despite a drizzling rain Saturday (April 22) in a March for Science to show their support for the scientific work that has made modern life possible.

Throngs of demonstrators, many decked out in white lab coats, packed the National Mall ahead of the march for a rally kicked off by Bill Nye the Science Guy, a co-chair for the march and CEO of the Planetary Society that promotes space exploration.

"We are marching today to remind people everywhere, our lawmakers especially, of the significance of science for our health and prosperity," Nye told the crowd here. In fact, the need to support science and the arts is even referred to in the U.S. Constitution, in Article 1, Section 8, he said. [March for Science in Photos: The Best Space Signs]

"Yet today we have a great many lawmakers not just here, but around the world  deliberately ignoring and actively suppressing science," Nye added. Their inclination is misguided, and in no one's best interest."

While Nye did not mention President Donald Trump, handmade signs and chants from the demonstrators (some called for the ouster of Scott Pruitt, the Trump-appointed head of the Environmental Protection Agency) showed their displeasure with the administration's policies on the environment and climate change.

"Our lawmakers must know and accept that science serves every one of us. Every citizen of every nation in society. Science must shape policy. Science is universal. Science brings out the best in us." Nye said. "With an informed, optimistic view of the future, we can  dare I say it  save the world!"

The March for Science in Washington on Earth Day was the flagship of hundreds of similar marches in cities across the United States and around the world. In Washington, demonstrators touted signs emblazoned with "Make America Think Again" and "Build Spaceships, Not Walls," while others broke out in chants like "Fund science, not the wall!" [More Photos: The Marches for Science Across the U.S.]

The White House released a statement for Earth Day, in which Trump said "My administration is committed to advancing scientific research that leads to a better understanding of our environment and of environmental risks," according to the New York Times, which added that the statement did not mention the march in Washington or its satellite marches.

Here's a few more glimpses from the March for Science in Washington:

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NASA astronaut Leland Melvin spoke to the crowd on the National Mall ahead of the march. Melvin, a veteran of two space shuttle missions who also served as NASA's associate administrator for education, retired from NASA in 2014. He talked about how he thought about the impact of science, particularly while looking down at Earth from space.

"Let's work together as one team on this spaceship we call Earth," Melvin said.

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Nancy Grace Roman, the first female executive at NASA, also appeared with Nye at the March for Science. Roman had a prominent role in planning the Hubble Space Telescope, earning her the nickname "Mother Hubble," Live Science reports.

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Anousheh Ansari, the Iranian-American engineer and entrepreneur who became the first female space tourist when she bought a ticket to the International Space Station in 2004 addressed the Washington crowd with a theme of unity.

"The language of science knows no race, no gender, no religion. It doesn't discriminate based on where you live or based on whether you're poor or wealthy," said Ansari according to Live Science, Space.com's sister publication. "The apple falls from the tree under the same laws, and in the same way no matter where you are in the world."

Kat Fanning of Jersey City, New Jersey caught our eye early with her sign "Keep the Earth Clean, It's Not Uranus." The sign was made by a cousin, Fanning said. She was with a whole group attending the March for Science that also attended the Women's March in January. Fanning, a librarian at the Pratt Institute in New York and an American Museum of Natural History fellow, said she was there "because it's important to show up for things. If you don't show up, you don't get your voice heard."

Paige Campbell and Madison Littin, both 20, are juniors at Pennsylvania State University and were part of a 150-person group that took three buses to Washington from State College, Pennsylvania to join the March for Science. It was Campbell, an astrophysics and meteorology student, who wrote the "Build Spaceships, Not Walls" sign. Littin is studying meteorology and emergency management.

"I'm here because I'm a big advocate for science and climate change," Campbell told Space.com. "But I'm also a big advocate for space exploration because I am in astrophysics and I love space. And I think that some of the most important discoveries and inventions that we have have come from space exploration."

"I think it's really important to get out here because right now policies are being created that are shutting down climate data, access to important research," Littin added. "And we need that research to make policies, good policies, and we need to protect the Earth that we have."

Linda Montaquilo, 55, inked a double-sided sign that read "Make America Smart Again" on one side and "Make America Think Again" on the other. She and her husband Ron traveled from Jupiter, Florida to participate in the March for Science.

"As a young child, I learned that we did not inherit this planet from our parents," Montaquilo said. "We are borrowing it from our children, and I am marching here today to make sure my children and my children's children have an Earth. To protect it."

Susan Gunn of Lanham, Maryland brought her three daughters  Lillian, 16; Colleen, 14; and Mary, 11  to the March for Science as part of a larger group carrying giant puppets of prominent scientists, including prominent women like astronauts Sally Ride and Mae Jemison, as well as Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie. (Gunn's puppet was Rosalind Franklin.) "I'm here because life is precious and there is no Planet B," Gunn told Space.com, adding that continuing climate change research is one of her biggest concerns.

Gunn's oldest daughter Lillian carried the puppet of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. She attends high school in Greenbelt, Maryland near NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and is active in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs. Ride, Lillian said, was an inspiration not just because she was a pioneering astronaut, but also because she did so much to encourage STEM for students.

Other members of Gunn's group carried puppets of famed astronomer Carl Sagan, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson.

Earlier in the week, Tyson released a video to support science.

Keeping jobs in the United States is a big issue for the Trump administration, and mechanical engineer Adam Yeager of Lancaster, Pennsylvania wanted to remind President Trump that NASA's rockets are truly made in America. Yeager, 32, penned one sign showing a Saturn V moon rocket labeled as "Made in America" on one side. A Miss Frizzle 2020 candidate sign covered the other side (Frizzle is the teacher from the animated science television show "The Magic School Bus.") A second sign read: "Funding Science Is Patriotic."

Yeager made the signs for himself and childhood friend Brad Ochock, an ecologist based in Houston (it was Ochock who carred the "Made in America" sign). Despite living in different states, the two men reconnected in Washington D.C. for the March for Science. "We really wanted to show up and give our support" for science, Ochock said.

Yeager said he wanted his signs to remind people that the United States has achieved mighty scientific feats when the government funded big engineering projects.

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Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
LOS ANGELES  Former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman drove a battery-powered Hummer at the front of the March for Science satellite rally in Los Angeles yesterday (April 22), and discussed his concern for how well humans are taking care of spaceship Earth.

Driving the massive vehicle, Reisman was trailed by a stream of demonstrators holding signs announcing general support for scientific research, science funding and the use of scientific evidence when crafting political policy. The march organizers told Space.com that about 50,000 people registered to attend the march.

"I'm here because I'm a former astronaut, I'm a former scientist and I'm an engineer, but most importantly I'm a dad," Reisman told Space.com. "I really want to make sure that my 6-year-old son has fresh air, that he has clean water to drink and  that we leave him a legacy of a livable planet. And I want him to grow up and be able to see coral reefs and glaciers, and all the things I was fortunate enough to do in my lifetime. And I'm afraid that we're messing that up." [March for Science in Photos: The Best Space Signs]

Former NASA astronaut Garret Reisman drove an electric-powered Hummer to lead the March for Science Los Angeles on April 22, 2017. (Image credit: Calla Cofield/Space.com)

Climate change is one primary way that humans are currently altering the Earth. During the march, speakers discussed concerns about political leaders who deny that climate change is caused by humans (or deny that it is occurring at all) or are not taking sufficient steps to mitigate its effects. Many of the signs that supporters held during the rally also referenced concerns over climate change and climate change policies.

Reisman joined NASA in 1998 and made two trips to space, once aboard the space shuttle Endeavor and once aboard the space shuttle Atlantis. During his first trip in 2008, Reisman lived on the International Space Station for more than 3 months. (Reisman left NASA in 2011 to join the private spaceflight company SpaceX, but said he was attending the march as a private individual and not as a representative of the company.)

The main March for Science rally took place on the same day in Washington D.C. The Los Angeles event was one of over 400 satellite marches in the U.S. registered on the main March for Science website as of April 22. Over 200 satellite marches were registered in other countries. [More March for Science Photos from Live Science]

A crowd of science supporters marched through downtown Los Angeles on April 22, 2017 for the March for Science Los Angeles. (Image credit: Calla Cofield/Space.com)

The Los Angeles March for Science began with a morning program of speakers at Pershing Square in the city's downtown neighborhood, followed by the march itself, which ended in front of City Hall a little less than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) away.

The Hummer that Reisman drove was converted into an electric vehicle for a project called Zero South, led by the production company Drive Around the World. The vehicles can run on 100 percent battery power and are intended for use by scientists doing research in Antarctica and other icy locales, a representative of the company told Space.com. The two vehicles leading the parade (nicknamed "Tuesday" and "Buddy,") were equipped with continuous tracks that would be used on snow or ice, rather than wheels.

Two electric-powered Hummers, created by the production company Drive Around the World, led the March for Science Los Angeles on April 22, 2017. (Image credit: Calla Cofield/Space.com)

Reisman said he hopes the March for Science will raise awareness among elected officials that "there's a real thirst and a demand [from the public] that [political] decisions be based on evidence and logic and data, and not just based on fear and emotion. That we have to do the right thing. We have a responsibility to not just serve short term profits for our corporations, we have a responsibility to lead this country and lead this planet. And its a serious thing." [2017 March for Science: Live Updates]

The fragility of the Earth is something Reisman said he came to understand after visiting space.

"On my first mission, I looked out at the horizon and what I was really astounded by  what really left a much bigger impression on me than anything else I saw  was how thin the atmosphere was," he told Space.com. "When you look at that with your own eyes and you see this tiny, tiny, thin blue line which is all the air we have to breath  I mean it looks incredibly fragile. It looks like a gust of wind could come by and strip it away. It looks so incredibly tenuous. And it was terrifying [to see that]."

"We think of the planet as this big, enormous thing but it's really mostly a big, dead rock," he said. "The part that sustains us is really much smaller than we believe. And  when you see it with your own eyes, you understand that we can mess it up. It's certainly within our capacity to harm it badly. And in fact we have been doing that for a while, and we have to stop that. This is our spaceship. Thats our life support system. We're the crew, and we really, really, really need to take care of our spaceship. Because if we just trash it, we're all in a lot of trouble."

A crowd of demonstrators, gathered for the March for Science Los Angeles rally, listened to speakers in front of City Hall on April 22, 2017. (Image credit: Calla Cofield/Space.com)

Reisman wasn't the only NASA representative at the march. Farisa Morales, an astrophysicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, spoke during the morning program about the way that science helps to fulfill the idea of the "American dream," both by providing people with the opportunity to pursue their passions, and by producing concrete spinoff technologies that improve people's lives.

"As the daughter of unprivileged Mexican immigrants, I never imagined I would get involved with exploration beyond our atmosphere," Morales said. "But here I am, pioneering discoveries of planets beyond our solar system."

Morales completed her science undergraduate degree while raising two young children and running a business with her husband. She accepted an internship at JPL and eventually earned her PhD in astrophysics.

"As an active astrophysicist, I am here to tell you that the sky is not the limit," she continued. "When something is important, we need to raise our hand [and] say, 'Yes, I am here! I want scientific research to continue. I want to learn truths about nature, and my environment, in a self-correcting scientific way, because that is the American way.' Let science be in service of humankind."

Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield.Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Can we see a singularity, the most extreme object in the universe?







Mumbai, India (SPX) Apr 21, 2017





A team of scientists at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, India, have found new ways to detect a bare or naked singularity, the most extreme object in the universe. When the fuel of a very massive star is spent, it collapses due to its own gravitational pull and eventually becomes a very small region of arbitrarily high matter density, that is a`Singularity', where the usual laws of physics may breakdown. If this singularity is hidden within an event horizon, which i ... read more
The complainant also alleged that one of the crew members switched off the music system in the middle of the anthem and later switched it on again.

By India Today Web Desk: The cabin crew of a SpiceJet flight flying from Tirupati to Hyderabad on April 18 played the national anthem minutes before landing. However, the passengers, abiding by the flight rules, remained strapped to their seats. This compelled a passenger on board to file a complaint with the airline.

"The passengers and cabin crew were not in a position to stand up and accord it due respect. We were surprised when the national anthem was played and the passengers were forced to abide by the pilot's directions to keep the seat belt on," said Puneet Tiwari, the complainant, to Times of India.

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Puneet, a bank manager, also alleged that one of the crew members switched off the music system in the middle of the anthem and later switched it on again.

A SpiceJet spokesman told TOI, "On this flight, inadvertently, our crew selected the wrong number on the playlist and the National Anthem started playing. Immediately, the same was stopped. We regret any inconvenience caused to our esteemed customers."

ALSO READ | Rabbit on Ahmedabad airport runway almost makes IndiGo, SpiceJet planes collide

ALSO READ | No need to stand up for national anthem if it is part of a film: Supreme Court

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Chief Minister Palaniswamy met the farmers, who had been protesting at Jantar Mantar for past 41 days, on Sunday. He urged the farmers to call of their protest urging that their demands would be met.

By India Today Web Desk: Tamil Nadu farmers today called off their strike over drought relief package in Delhi till May 25 after assurance from chief minister E Palaniswamy.

Chief Minister Palaniswamy met the farmers, who had been protesting at Jantar Mantar for past 41 days, on Sunday. He urged the farmers to call of their protest urging that their demands would be met.

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Tamil Nadu chief minister after the NITI Aayog governing council meet said that he had forwarded the farmers' demands to Prime Minister Narendra Modi

"If our demands are not fulfilled we will start our protest again after May 25. If we get train tickets, will leave today," Ayyakanu, the farmer who has been leading the protest said.

"We have protested in different ways. We have been reduced to beggars and have been demanding profit price, linking of rivers, Cauvery water management board. Today our CM came at 7:30 am and sat with us for an hour. He also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on our behalf," he added.

FARMERS' DEMANDS

Over the past 41 days, the farmers grabbed the media attention for their shocking form of protests. They have carried skulls of other farmers who committed suicide, flogged themselves, conducted mock funerals, held mouse and snakes in their mouth and shaved their heads. On Saturday, they said they would drink urine but were stopped by the Delhi Police.

The protesting farmers have been demanding a drought-relief package of Rs 40,000 crore, farm loan waiver and setting up of the Cauvery Management Board by the centre.

REASON FOR PROTEST

Tamil Nadu farmers depend on winter monsoon for their livelihood and prosperity. But by the first week of January, more than one-third of the paddy fields were reported to have gone unsowed.

Last year northeast monsoon had the worst spell in the last 140 years. Against the average of 438.2 mm rain, the October-December season recorded a mere 168.4 mm rain.Even cyclone Vardah did not help much despite bringing heavy rain for five days in Tamil Nadu besides causing huge loss.

The average shortfall of rain was 62 per cent but it was more than 80 per cent in several agricultural pockets. The previous worst was recorded in 1876 when October-December period received only 163.5 cm rain.

The Tamil Nadu government officially declared a drought in the state on January 10 this year. But by then more than 140 farmers had reportedly ended their lives since October. A NHRC report sent to Tamil Nadu government on January 5 mentioned about 106 farmers committing suicide in one month.

Also read

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After skull protest and naked marches, Tamil Nadu farmers now drink urine as agitation enters 40th day

Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami urges his state's farmers to end Delhi protest, says will submit memorandum to PM Modi

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STAMFORD  A tip led officers to a man wanted on domestic violence charges and in possession of a stolen gun, police said.

Sebastian Guerrero, 29, of Lone Tree, Colo., was also charged by warrant with second-degree strangulation and disorderly conduct in connection with a domestic dispute on Feb. 14 in Stamford, Capt. Richard Conklin said.

Detectives from the departments Narcotics and Organized Crime Division received a tip Friday that Guerrero was expected to come to the Frederick Street and Cove Road area in a white Chevy Malibu with a handgun, Conklin said. The officers had been investigating previous reports of Guerrero visiting Stamford and New York with a gun, Conklin said.

Police pulled over a white Malibu with Guerrero driving as it left a Frederick Street residence about 4 p.m. Friday, Conklin said.

Police found two bags of marijuana in the left jacket pocket of Ashana Ricalls, a 25-year-old woman from Las Vegas who was in the vehicle, and a loaded 32-caliber semi-automatic FEG Budapest gun reported stolen in December from Richmond, Colo., Conklin said.

Police determined Ricalls was carrying the weapon for Guerrero, Conklin said.

Guerrero and Ricalls were each charged with possession of a stolen firearm and possession of weapons in a motor vehicle. Guerrero was additionally charged with possession of a pistol without a permit, and Ricalls with criminal possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana..

Guerrero was held on $150,000 bond and was scheduled to appear Monday in state Superior Court in Stamford on the domestic charges.

Ricalls was held on $100,000 and is scheduled to appear in court on May 5.
Connecticuts U.S. senators are objecting to President Donald Trumps decision last week to suddenly fire U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

Dr. Vivek Murthy is a supremely qualified doctor, whose public health expertise and steady leadership will be sorely missed, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

As Surgeon General, Dr. Murthy took on Big Tobacco, the opioid crisis, and the gun violence epidemic, Blumenthal said. His dismissal is a significant loss, and yet another destabilizing action by the President that will undermine our nation's health care system.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, also objected to the dismissal.

Dr. Murthy is another in a long list of political targets by the Trump administration, Murphy said.

U.S. Surgeons General are not supposed to be fired mid-term. They have served administrations of both political parties because keeping Americans safe and healthy isnt a partisan issue, said Murphy.

The senator praised Murthys work to steer the country through the frightening Ebola and Zika outbreaks, and rightfully focused on the devastation of addiction. He didnt shy away from speaking the truth about gun violence as a public health crisis. By firing Dr. Murthy, President Trump is politicizing the position of Surgeon General and risking the credibility of our nation's top public health official.

Murthy, who was confirmed under President Obama in December 2014, was expected to serve until 2018.
A second man has been arrested as part of an investigation in London by counter-terrorism officers.

The Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command detained the 40-year-old man in south-east London on Saturday.

He was held on suspicion of "being concerned in funding arrangements for the purposes of terrorism", Scotland Yard said, and is being questioned under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

It comes after police arrested a 30-year-old man on Wednesday on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

He was detained under the Terrorism Act 2000 and is being held at a south London police station.

Inquiries are ongoing, the Met said, and searches at a residential address in north London have concluded.
T he boyfriend of TOWIE star Ferne McCann has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after an alleged acid attack at a south east London nightclub.

Arthur Collins, 25, was hunted by police this week in connection with the attack at the Mangle club in Hackney on Bank Holiday Monday, which left two people blind.

He was found and arrested by armed police in Rusden in Northamptonshire on Saturday night and is set to be taken to a London police station, a Met spoksesman said.

Mr Collins celebrity girlfriend Ms McCann made an impassioned appeal for him to hand himself in this week, claiming to have been told by officers he may have fled to Spain.

A Met spokesman said: "Arthur Collins, 25, was arrested at an address in Rushden, Northants on Saturday night, 22 April by officers from the Met's Specialist Crime & Operations and Hackney Borough, with the assistance of armed officers from the East Midlands Operational Support Service and Northamptonshire Police.

"Collins has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He will be taken into custody at a London police station in due course."

One man has been charged in connection with the alleged attack.

Andre Phoenix, 21, has been charged with seven counts of grievous bodily harm, having been arrested on Friday.

A second man, 24, was also arrested on Friday and has since been released from custody.

A 22-year-old woman was left blind in one eye in the attack in Sidworth Street on Monday, April 17, while detectives revealed on Friday a second victim has also been blinded.

Twenty people were hurt after the noxious substance was sprayed into a crowd of revellers at the night club.
L ondon schoolchildren are increasingly using acid as a weapon instead of knives, it is claimed.

The attacks, known as dosing, have seen a sharp increase in recent years, with youths smuggling acid or ammonia into school hidden inside drinks bottles.

One teenager told the Sunday Times many children were using a bottle of cheap household cleaner as a weapon.

The 18-year-old, who claimed to have carried acid since he was 12, said: You can get that for, like, 5 and f*** someones whole life up.

Or you can just buy ammonia. That's 3. Just keep it in a drinks bottle."

He added: A lot of people aint got the heart to stab people.

Its just easier to squirt someone.

Burns: A picture of Wayne Ingold who was the victim of an acid attack in 2014 (Picture: PA) / PA

Data released last month showed a sharp rise in such attacks in the capital.

The figures, released by the Metropolitan Police, showed the number of reported attacks in London rose from 261 in 2015 to 454 in 2016, a rise of 74 per cent.

A shocking series of alleged acid attacks have been reported in the capital over the past few weeks, including one at Sydney Russell School in Dagenham which saw three children arrested.

Other incident away from school included an alleged attack at Dalston nightclub Mangle where two people were left blind in one eye and a further 18 were injured.

Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, of the Met Polices East Area Basic Command Unit appealed for parents help in tackling the problem.

He said: "We are aware of a growing trend in the use of noxious substances in assaults.

Assaults involving corrosive liquids such as acids are horrific and the impact on victims can be devastating.

We have schools and youth engagement officers who work closely with young people in their communities. We are working to understand why more people appear to want to use a noxious substance as a weapon. 

He said: "Our officers are proactive around preventing and detecting these type of incidents. Anyone caught carrying noxious substances will be arrested and face being prosecuted for possession of an offensive weapon.

Those who are arrested and prosecuted for using noxious substances against others will be dealt with through the courts.

We would ask for parents, teachers and our communities to support us. If you know of a child or a pupil storing and carrying a noxious substance, then we must challenge them and ask them why.

If your child knows of anyone in possession of a noxious substance then we encourage them to make contact with us or speak to their teachers. This may prevent someone from being very seriously injured.
A man has died after being knocked down by a car in an alleged east London hit-and-run, police say.

The 53-year-old was struck by a vehicle while walking along Lower Mardyke Avenue in Rainham on Saturday night.

Emergency services were called to the scene at 8.45pm and paramedics rushed him to hospital.

However, despite the efforts of medics, he died the following day.

Detectives say the car did not stop at the scene but has since been found.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said on Sunday: A man, aged in his 30s, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop after attending an east London police station.

He remains in custody.

A car - believed to have been involved in the collision - has been recovered.

Detectives from the Mets Serious Collision Investigation Unit are urging anyone who saw what happened to contact police.

If you have information, contact police on 020 8597 4874, tweet @MetCC or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A rogue landlord who repeatedly rented out an overcrowded and illegally-converted house in east London has been fined more than 10,000.

Petko Borisov, who lives in Lewisham, was brought to court after council officers found him renting his Dagenham property out without the correct licence  despite being fined for it two years previously.

In November 2015 Borisov was ordered to pay over 6,500 after the address on Manor Road was raided as one of several suspected overcrowded homes.

He was found guilty of illegally subletting to 11 tenants, with no fire alarm system, no gas or electrical certificates and the shed converted into a bedroom.

After a series of follow-up visits from council officers and an ignored notice, Borisov was brought before Barkingside Magistrates Court once again.

He began by pleading not guilty in February but then failed to turn up for the trial which proceeded without him on April 7.

The landlord was found guilty of "failing to comply with the requirements of an enforcement notice" and "having control of a property without there being in force an appropriate licence".

Councillor Laila Butt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement, said: Borisovs blatant contempt for the law has been breath taking. But this great result shows our relentless pursuit of rogue landlords has paid off.

I can assure tenants, residents and law abiding landlords we will not give up in our mission to stand up for decent housing standards in Barking and Dagenham.

Borisov was fined 5,000 on each count with a victim surcharge of 1,000, while he was also ordered to pay 1,650 in costs to Barking and Dagenham Council.
DMK chief MK Stalin slammed AIADMK over the farmer protests in Jantar Mantar, saying the ruling party in Tamil Nadu is responsible for the crisis.

By Pramod Madhav: Blaming AIADMK for the death of 200 farmers, DMK Working President MK Stalin alleged that both OPS and EPS have pawned the state of Tamil Nadu to Modi.

"When OPS became chief minister after the death of Jayalalitha, we brought in a special motion to discuss about the farmer suicide issue. We claimed that 200 farmers have committed suicide and sought compensation for their lives. He refuted it and said that only 17 farmers have committed suicide. But have their families been compensated yet!" exclaimed Stalin.

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Stalin complained that nothing has changed even after EPS became the CM. "This government is only busy with cheering BJP and has now become a benami of Modi," he said.

The opposition leader bashed the factions of AIADMK stating that they have no time to discuss about the issues of the people as they are busy to save themselves from the corruption they have committed.

"Such is the progress with the resolution passed against NEET exams? We asked for 39,565 crore rupees but Center has only allotted 2,016 crore rupees. This is the State of Tamil Nadu," he lamented.

Stalin again took a jibe at CM EPS stating though he was not concerned about the farmer suicide issue, EPS was the first to remove the red beacon from his vehicle as per Modi's order. " When you can remove the red beacon immediately as Modi ordered to do so, are you not man enough to demand the drought relief package?" he said.

Concluding his speech, MK Stalin blames BJP to bring in religious politics into Tamil Nadu.

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P olice have launched an investigation after a body was discovered by train tracks in south London.

British Transport Police were called to tracks close to Brixton station just after 8am on Sunday.

Officers, alongside those from the Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service, rushed to the scene.

The person, whose age and gender is not yet known, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A BTP spokesman said: A file will be prepared for the coroner.

Enquiries are ongoing.

The discovery comes just minutes after a man died after being hit by a Northern line train at Tooting Broadway Station around 7.55am.
F rench citizens living in London are being forced to wait hours to vote in todays presidential election, with people blasting organisers for discouraging voters.

Voters take to the polls today for the first round of the countrys presidential election, with residents in London visiting the French Embassy in South Kensington to cast their vote.

But numerous people have taken to social media to complain of bad organisation at the polling station, with some claiming the wait is as long as three hours.

Alexandra Marquez, 24, who lives in Clapham, said: I got to the French Embassy at 11am and Ive been asked to join the end of the queue three blocks away.

Some people said they were told the queue was three hours long / Alexandra Marquez

I've been told the waiting time was three hours. I'm glad to see that there is such a big turn up for these elections, but its bad organisation.

Why isn't there more places open we can go to vote to? It makes it really discouraging and annoying.

Nine candidates will be eliminated in todays vote in the highly-charged election, which some pollsters and political commentators calling the contest wide-open.

Francois Fillon, Benoit Hamon, Marine Le Pen, Emmanuel Macron and Jean-Luc Melenchon are considered the frontrunners for the presidency, with candidates from across the political spectrum.

Bruno Girin posted on Twitter: Queue for voting in French election in London goes round the block, I should have brought a picnic.

Danny West said: Accompanying my other half to Wembley to vote later, preparing for huge waits. Why so few polling stations for 500k+ French in London?

About 50,000 police officers and 7,000 soldiers are being deployed at polling stations in France after a police officer was shot and killed on Paris Champs Elysees on Thursday.

A spokeswoman for the French Embassy said: "Forty-two polling stations were opened in two different locations in London for 93,500 voters. The average waiting time is 1 to 2 hours. Some had to wait longer than others but we also have been getting positive feedback throughout the day from happy voters."
T heresa May has been accused of political opportunism by the European Parliaments Brexit negotiator who denied the election would strengthen her hand in negotiations.

Guy Verhofstadt said there was no guarantee additional Conservative MPs at Westminster would give the Prime Minister more room for manoeuvre in the talks, as some observers have argued.

Writing in The Observer, the former Belgian prime minister said Mrs May's decision to call a snap poll on June 8 - having previously said she would not go to the country before the scheduled end of the parliament in 2020 - appeared to have been driven by "political opportunism".

His comments are likely to irritate Mrs May, who has argued that an increased Commons majority would strengthen her hand in the Brexit talks, making it more difficult for the opposition parties at home to obstruct her plans.

In his article, Mr Verhofstadt wrote: "The theory espoused by some, that Theresa May is calling a general election on Brexit in order to secure a better deal with the EU, is nonsensical.

"Will the election of more Tory MPs give Theresa May a greater chance of securing a better Brexit deal? For those sitting around the table in Brussels, this is an irrelevance.

"Many in Brussels remain concerned that the chances of a deal are being eroded by the British Prime Minister's tough negotiating red lines and her lack of political room for manoeuvre domestically.

Yet there is no guarantee that a sprinkling of additional Conservative MPs on the backbenches of the House of Commons will provide this.

"Indeed, it appears this election is being driven by the political opportunism of the party in government, rather than by the people they represent."
T he campaign to leave the European Union was funded largely by five of the UKs richest businessmen, including the co-owner of Crystal Palace, according to a study.

The quintet together gave almost 15m to Brexiteers, with a total of 24.1m in donations and loans given to leave campaign groups in the five months leading to the referendum.

A study of finances by The Sunday Times Rich List found that business leaders accounted for 71 per cent of finances for both sides of the Brexit battle.

Crystal Place co-owner Jeremy Hosking paid 1.69m to leave campaigners.

The figure is eclipsed by the campaign's biggest donor Arron Banks, who gave an enormous 8.1m to Brexit campaigners.

Last week it emerged the Leave.EU campaign, which he co-founded, faces an investigation by the Electoral Commission over potentially impermissible donations.

The other three donors are investment billionaire Peter Hargreves, motor entrepreneur Lord Edmiston and hedge fund manager Crispin Odey.

Lord Salisbury of Turville was the remain campaigns biggest donor, giving 4.2m to pro-Eu groups, according to the study.
N orth Korea is suspected of using a house in a leafy area of south-east London to help fund the countrys nuclear weapons programme.

According to the Sunday Times, the property in Blackheath has been registered as the UK branch of Korea National Insurance Corporation  the regimes state controlled insurance firm.

The organisation was placed under EU sanctions last year, the newspaper reported.

The EU sanctions listing, which discloses the address, says the KNIC is "generating substantial foreign exchange revenue which could contribute to [the country's] nuclear-related, ballistic missile-related or other weapons of mass destructionrelated programmes".

North Korea broadcasts video showing destruction of USA by missile strike

It also references insurance company Office 39 which has been linked to funding leader Kim Jong-Uns lifestyle, The Times reported.

KNIC's UK assets, including the Blackheath house, have been frozen by the Treasury and cannot be sold without the government's permission.

The North Korean embassy in London told The Times that the allegations were "groundless".
V oters in France have taken to the polls for the presidential election amid heightened security in the wake of the deadly terror attack on a police officer.

Some 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers are deployed at polling stations across the country, with eleven candidates fighting for the presidency.

Nine candidates will be eliminated in todays vote in the highly-charged election, with Francois Fillon, Benoit Hamon, Marine Le Pen, Emmanuel Macron and Jean-Luc Melenchon considered the frontrunners.

National security has proved a key topic in the campaign, with far-right and left wing candidates standing.

The extra security measures are in place following the killing of a police officer by convicted criminal Karim Cheurfi, on the Champs Elysees in Paris on Thursday.

Two candidates will go through to the May 7 run-off, except in the unlikely event of a candidate winning the first round outright with 50 per cent plus one of the votes.

Polls suggest centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and the far-right's Marine Le Pen are the two most likely to advance, but Gaullist candidate Francois Fillon is still in close contention despite the "fake jobs" scandal that has dogged his campaign.

People vote in the first round / REUTERS

Leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon has surged in the closing days of the campaign.

Current president Francois Hollande's five-year term has been scarred by terror attacks that killed hundreds in Paris and Nice, and he decided last year not to seek a second term.

It is the first time an incumbent has chosen not to defend his presidency at the ballot box since the creation of France's Fifth Republic constitution in 1958.

Ms Le Pen's strong security and anti-immigrant message has seen her make gains after the terror attacks, but she cannot be sure of a place in round two.

Following the terror attack in Paris Ms Le Pen took to Twitter to offer her sympathy for law enforcement officers "once again targeted".

The 11 candidates were appearing on a television programme ahead of the first round of voting when the attacker opened fire.

Police arrested two men on Tuesday in what they described as a thwarted terror attack.
The man was unhappy with the girl making new friends on Facebook and avoiding him for the past few months.

The incident came to light on Saturday morning when passers-by saw the body on the shore.

By Pramod Madhav: A girl was crushed to death by her lover using a stone at Poompuhar in Nagapattinam district on April 21. The accused Madhanraj, a fisherman from Naagai district, surrendered before the Mayiladuthurai police and confessed to the murder.

Madhanraj was working in the fishing industry in Jegathapattinam. He was in love with Durga (victim), who resided in the same locality.

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According to police, the girl had recently moved to Gummidipoondi is Thiruvallur district for higher studies after which, she started avoiding Madhanraj.

Clueless about Durga's change in behaviour, Madhanraj started stalking her activities on Facebook. He found out that Durga made many new friends, with whom she constantly had conversations over Facebook. He was then under the impression that Durga was avoiding her due to her new found friends.

Disappointed with the information he had gathered, Madhanraj decided to meet Durga and discuss about the matter. When she was returning home for holidays on Friday, Durga asked Madhanraj to meet her near Mayiladuthurai. He picked her up from there and both left for Poompuhar shore.

As they were speaking, an argument broke out about how she has time to chat with so many Facebook friends but has no time for Madhanraj. In a fit of rage, Madhanraj picked up a stone and smashed Durga's head with it. She died on the spot but the incident came to light on Saturday morning when passers-by saw the body on the shore and informed the police.

ALSO READ | Madhya Pradesh: Woman bobbitises lover after he plans to marry someone else

ALSO READ | Jilted lover sets girl ablaze in Delhi's Mukundpur area

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Simplification and clarification were two suggestions area ag produces made during a public meeting with Congressman Adrian Smith Monday afternoon.

Simplifying the intricacies of the commodity program, and the current system used by the USDA to classify cattle in feedlots, as well as a more substantial livestock insurance progam for livestock producers, were suggested by members of the audience.

Jessica Groskopf, University of Nebraska Extension educator-agricultural economics at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, delved into the problems commodity producers face when dealing with the two options for enrollment: Price Loss Coverage (PLC), and Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC, at county or individual levels). She said the options were supposed to help farmers, but have proven difficult to understand, and to determine individual outcomes.

There has been a lot of frustration in dealing with these programs, by the producers, she said.

Mike Norby, a livestock producer in the Lyman area, said the cattle industry needs protection, the same as commodity producers.

We need something for cattlemen, Norby said. Were very vulnerable for anything, from foot and mouth disease from South America, to fire and drought.

Were at the full mercy of the world market, rattlesnakes, lightning and hail.

This valley has a lot riding on the livestock industry. We need to protect the cattlemen.

Local financial institutions contributed to the discussion through Galen Larsen, ag lender at Platte Valley Bank, who cited issues producers face with fluctuating land values and depressed comodity prices.

On the topic of the SNAP program being included in the Farm Bill, Smith said it is the safest place for it. The close ties make it possible to more readily educate the nutrition program managers and particpants regarding the importance of agriclulture to their programs.

Other suggestions called for the inclusion of agriculture in any governement infrastructure investments, namely old and decaying irrigation systems. Smith was reminded that in many cases, the smaller irrigation districts lack funds to make improvements, whether large or small.

Smith acknowledged the concerns and, comparing the U.S. House and Senate to the differences between eastern and western Nebraska agriculture, he said, Developing policy can be very challenging.

He explained efforts being made to establish bilateral trade agreements, noting that the United States cant sit idle while other countries are developing agreements.

Smith also said progress is being made in bringing around GMO opponents, emphasizing the importance of the research component.

Accompanying Smith on his trip west was Greg Ibach, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. He also answered questions and explained the states role in promoting a successful Farm Bill.

According to Ibach, Nebraskas voice can be heard on the national level through the legislation.

Its important that we get as much input as possible, he explained.

A veteran of several trips to foreign countries to promote Nebraska ag products, Ibach said U.S. ag products are recognized around the world for their quality and safety.

Smith and Ibach agree that the United States, and Nebraska, must continue to promote Nebraska products around the world.
It was all good news from the Wyoming Bureau of Reclamation staff Wednesday morning. There will be plenty of water. There probably will not be a spill at Pathfinder Dam, and the gate repairs at Guernsey Dam were completed on time.

Earlier predictions of high snowmelt runoff above Seminoe Reservoir called for as much as 975,000 acre-feet of infow. By March 1, inflows at Seminoe were above the 30-year average, as well as that in 2014. However, by mid-March runoff levels dropped dramatically from the forecast 975,000 a-f, back to the 30-year average, and as of April 17, was hovering just below the 30-year average, resulting in a forecast of 775,000 a-f. The April 1 runoff forecast for Seminoe Reservoir is 775,000 a-f, with 160,000 a-f from the Sweetwater River, and 130,000 a-f from Alcova to Glendo.

Total April through July runoff in the North Platte Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 1,065,000 a-f. This includes 775,000 a-f into Seminoe Reservoir, 160,000 a-f into Pathfinder Reservoir from the Sweetwater River, and 130,000 a-f from the basin between Pathfinder Reservoir and Glendo Reservoir. The total is 118 percent of the 30-year average of 904,800 a-f.

As of March 31, total storage in the North Platte Reservoir system is 2,336,713 a-f, which is 141 percent of the 30-year average of 1,653,500 a-f. Total conservation storage capacity in the system is approximately 2,815,800 a-f.

While the concern over heavy runoff has receded, Mahonri Williams, chief, resource management division, said Wednesday morning that the bureau is prepared for a spill, but does not expect one.

He further explained that the spills are a plant operation to control flows, not an act of nature.

We anticipate releases through the outlet, he explained, noting that conditions will be revisited in May.

For the summer, Williams said the bureau is prepared for whatever nature gives us. Less runoff or heavy rain downstream can always change operation plans.

He explained that close monitoring is necessary this spring. If too much water is held in Glendo Reservoir, the U.S. Corps of Engineers takes control of operations.

Williams said the bureau strives to remain below the bottom of the flood pool, which is an elevation of 4,635.0 feet. Earlier this month, the reservoir level climbed to 4,633.5 feet.

To avoid this control transfer, regulated releases are initiated.

Some of the pressure was alleviated when the Guernsey gate project was completed, and on April 13, water was released to begin filling Guernsey Reservoir, which had been drained in order to repair the Guernsey Dam north spillway gate. The project, with an estimated cost of $5.5 million, began in the fall of 2016, with a completion date of April 15, 2017.

According to Ronca, a walk through was done April 7, and a remote testing was done April 14. The project was declared complete by the final date of April 15, in time to begin the 2017 irrigation season. This also means the road across the dam is now open to the public.

The cost is shared by the bureau, the irrigation districts and the power company.

She said the project had a lot of components, and it went over budget to take care of some problems discovered when work started. However, the decision to make the repairs now was a good one, giving the gate another 50 years of use.

Guernsey Dam and Reservoir was completed in 1927, with a capacity of 45,612 acre-feet. It is the second oldest on the North Platte system, behind only Pathfinder, which was completed in 1909.

In addition to updates on construction, the Bureau has announced earlier than normal releases from Guernsey Reservoir.

The releases began April 17, about two to three weeks earlier than normal, with 3,000 cubic feet per second reached on April 18. This level will be maintained through April. The releases are the result of preparations for high runoff.

Steps are being taken to make room for the snowmelt runoff that is expected to come into the North Platte Reservoirs over the next few weeks, Ronca said. Moving water downstream below Guernsey Reservoir now will reduce the peak of downstream flows that would be experienced otherwise. Reclamation is coordinating with other federal, state and local officials regarding reservoir levels and river flows.
Senthil Balaji claimed that Thambidurai and MR Vijayabhaskar were trying to block the construction of a government medical college in Vaangal, Aravakurichi constituency.

By Pramod Madhav: Former Transport Minister and MLA from Aravakurichi, Senthil Balaji has raised a rebellious voice against Thambidurai and Kadambur Raju. Balaji claimed that both Thambidurai as MP and MR Vijayabhaskar were trying to block the construction of a government medical college in Vaangal, Aravakurichi constituency.

Balaji alleged that former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa had initiated the project to construct the college and questioned as to why Thambidurai was trying to postpone it.

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Interestingly, Balaji, who was a prominent minister in Jayalalithaa's 2011-2016 Cabinet got into her bad books when information about her plans to introduce alcohol prohibition in the state was allegedly leaked. Irked Jayalalithaa immediately removed him from the Cabinet.

Balaji faced more bad time when the Election Commission had to rescind elections in his constituency along with Thanjavur, saying that it could not control the huge amount of money being distributed among voters to buy their votes.

Also, Balaji was one of the few MLAs who didn't take any side during the past week's high drama when the Cabinet ministers ousted TTV Dinakaran from the AIADMK. Few AIADMK leaders claim that Thambidurai, from whom Dinakaran had much hopes, sided with EPS which was close to betrayal and Balaji is now being used to pull at least a few MLAs to hold stake in the party in place of Dinakaran.

However, Balaji for now claims that he'll fast on April 28 and is ready to sacrifice his life, if needed to get the government medical college.

Also read: AIADMK symbol row: Dinakaran reaches Delhi crime branch, to be questioned by ACP

Also read: Fail: Tamil Nadu minister tries to cover dam with thermocol to prevent water evaporation

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LINCOLN  Nebraska corn farmers will plant 9.6 million acres of corn in 2017 according to the latest Prospective Plantings report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is down 3 percent from last years total planted corn acres.

If these planting estimates hold up, Nebraska corn farmers will invest nearly $2.5 billion into the states economy over a two-month period. This amount is a result of inputs, such as seed, fuel and fertilizer, but does not include land costs, labor or equipment. Despite the seemingly high investments now, the full economic impact will be realized over time.

$2.5 billion is a significant investment made by Nebraskas corn farmers. However, that investment is made at a critical time, as planting sets the foundation for the entire corn growing season, said Boone McAfee, director of research at the Nebraska Corn Board. Planting is just the first step in the corn value-added supply chain. As corn is converted into meat, bioplastics, ethanol, and other products, the full economic impact of Nebraskas corn industry far exceeds the initial investment.

Farmers historically begin to plant their corn crops in mid-April and try to finish by mid-May. However, weather often dictates when farmers can plant. This years moderately dry winter caused concern over available soil moisture during planting time. The latest Nebraska Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA (for the week ending April 16, 2017), indicated topsoil moisture supplies in Nebraska rated 5 percent very short, 18 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.

Each year, farmers strive to produce a high quality corn crop using less resources and by managing inputs efficiently, said David Merrell, farmer from St. Edward and chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board. Nebraska has long been the third largest producer of corn in the United States, which has greatly enhanced our states rural and urban economies.

Even though the corn industry is an economic booster for Nebraska, farmers face challenges in the months ahead.

Continued low prices coupled with higher input costs continue to make margins slim for the producer. Its important for us to always seek out and invest in new market opportunities to enhance the value and demand for corn, said Merrell. Global trade is also vital to our industry.

Nationally, farmers are estimated to plant nearly 90 million acres of corn in 2017, which is down 4 percent from last year. If realized, this will be the lowest planted acreage since 2015, when U.S. farmers planted 88 million acres of corn.

As of the USDAs latest crop progress report (released April 17, 2017), the U.S. has planted 6 percent of its corn crop. Nebraska is 3 percent complete.
Too many times, as sexual assault stories draw headlines, victims can be re-victimized on social media sites and in other areas of the community, being called names and having other ugly accusations cast their way. Tabitha McCloud, client advocate and sexual assault specialist at DOVES, says victim-blaming attitudes can make it more difficult for victims, and future victims, to step forward.

So many times, we see through different sources that victims are blamed, from social media to other sources, for sexual assault. People see that and in some cases, other victims who have not come forward or are later assaulted, remember those posts and it affects them wanting to come forward.

Often times, victims already struggle with their own guilt, naturally questioning themselves if they could have prevented an assault in some way, McCloud said. Further blame placed on victims from family members, friends or others in the community can exacerbate that guilt and the trauma suffered after an assault.

Its why DOVES has adopted a #BelieveDontBlame social media campaign during the month of April, set aside to raise awareness of sexual assault. Similar campaigns have circulated nationwide.

Our message through the month is Believe, dont blame. We want people to believe victims when they say they have been sexually assaulted. Dont blame the victim. It (believing a victim) makes it easier for them to reach out, McCloud said.

People are encouraged to participate in the social media campaign, taking photos of themselves holding signs with the #BelieveDontBlame slogan and sharing them on their profiles and the DOVES Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TheDOVESProgram. DOVES is encouraging people to challenge four friends to do the activity as well, spreading the #BelieveDontBlame message.

This is not just the problem of the person who sexual assault happens to, but the whole community, McCloud said. That is the message. As a community, we need to take on this issue (of sexual assault and victim blaming) and make change. Instead of blaming the victim, we want to see sexual offenders held accountable.

DOVES and its student peer group, Take One, has also been visiting area schools and other locations, encouraging people to sign Believe, Dont Blame, pledges. The Take One group does skits about domestic violence and for the month of April, it has put forth a challenge, encouraging students to make their own Believe, Dont Blame skits. The winning group will be awarded a trophy.

People can take the Believe, Dont Blame pledge at a Glow Run to be held in Sidney, April 28, at Legion Park. The run will start at 7 p.m., with check in at 6:30 p.m. Other activities will be held, with a DJ and bounce houses available.

Other opportunities to take the pledge will be at Western Nebraska Community College on April 24, 9 to 11:30 a.m., and at Arbys in Scottsbuff on April 26, 5 to 8 p.m. Proceeds from sales at Arbys on the evening of April 26 will also benefit DOVES.

We want to show victims in the community that there are people in the community who support you and believe you, McCloud said.

Other efforts underway by DOVES this month and in the coming weeks:

 DOVES has launched a new chat line when people can chat with an advocate live, available on its website at www.dovesprogram.com. Currently, the chat line is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. DOVES hopes to eventually expand the chat line to 24/7. People can remain anonymous, though they are asked for a name for the advocate to address them with.

McCloud said, We know that especially with sexual assault or domestic abuse that people do not want to always come forward by coming to our building. It may be a barrier for them, so we wanted to find a way to reach out to clients experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault.

After hours, people can reach the DOVES program via email on the site. DOVES also offers 24-hour helplines: 308-436-HELP (4357), 866-95-DOVES (36837) or 877-214-0167 (Spanish).

 An art exhibit at the West Nebraska Arts Center in May will feature the art of area sexual assault victims. The show is called Seeing our Voices: Healing Through Art.

McCloud said that DOVES and the West Nebraska Arts Center started working together last May, putting together a class for survivors of sexual assault. Each Wednesday, participants could gather and work on art. Program Manager Lena Soto hosted a class once a month, teaching different art mediums, techniques and skills to attendees. Charlotte Ingram, a therapist who also does art and is on the WNAC board, also volunteered her time. A DOVES advocate was also on hand.

Some felt empowered by the art class, McCloud said.

"We had one lady who expressed that she has not been able to tell anyone her whole life about her sexual assault. Now, she is ready to tell people. She has put together a very powerful display and has written out her story.

Artists from the group, and people from the community who are sexual assault survivors, can submit their art for a show that will be displayed May 4 - June 25 in the Bronson gallery at the arts center. Artists can submit their entries starting April 25 through April 30. There is no cost to enter and WNAC and The DOVES Program will provide frames and hanging materials if needed.

For the shows opening reception, Miss Old West Balloon Fest Tristan Wecker, who has shared her story of sexual assault and has made sexual assault awareness her Miss Nebraska platform, will speak.

The reception is May 7, 2 to 4 p.m. food and refreshments. Wecker will speak at 2:30 p.m. Food and refreshments will be served.

The show is sponsored by DOVES, WNAC, Soroptimist International of Scotts Bluff County and the C.A. Story Foundation.

For more information about the show, contact the West Nebraska Arts Center, www.thewnac.com, 308-632-2226, email Soto at lena@thewnac.com.
The Scotts Bluff County Democrats announced its speaker line-up for the fourth Annual Kerrey-Nelson Legacy Dinner being held on Saturday, April 29 at the Scottsbluff Country Club. Native American and Democratic Party activist Frank LaMere and former Deputy and Acting Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Congressional Relations John Berge will headline the dinner.

The Scotts Bluff County Democratic Party is honored to have two amazing speakers for this years dinner, said Democratic County Party Chair Stan Kontogiannis. Both Frank and John have long, distinguished careers in public service.

Frank LaMere is currently the First Associate Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party. LaMere is most recently noted for his work opposing liquor sales in Whiteclay. LaMere, who is Winnebago, was a member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in the 1970s. LaMere has previous served as Executive Director of the Nebraska Inter-Tribal Development Corporation, is a past member of the Nebraska Indian Commission and a past Chair of the DNC Native American Caucus

John Berge held various positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including Deputy and Acting Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Congressional Relations and White House Liaison to USDA. In 2008, Berge served as Nebraska State Director for the Obama for America campaign. Berge previously served as Executive Director of the WNCC Foundation and had worked for former Nebraska U.S. Senators Ben Nelson, Bob Kerrey and Jim Exon.

Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased online at www.scottsbluffdems.com or by purchasing tickets in person at 1906 Broadway in Scottsbluff. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Social hour begins at 5:30 pm with the dinner to begin at 6:30 pm. Call 308-339-0195 for more information.
We are now about 100 days into the Trump presidency. I think it is safe to say about half the country is happy with who won the election and the other half is not. I think it is also safe to say that this country remains divided, thanks to the overwhelming force of the two major political parties and the incomprehensible nature in which way we the people have succumbed to that force.

What do I mean by that? Parties by their very existence are dividers. At the top level, they try to grow their party by berating the other, trying with all their power and money to get us to fall into one warring camp or the other, pitting one group against the other. They do this so they can march into the camp every two or four years and claim their spoils, which are, of course, votes, ensuring themselves another term in office; wonderful for them, does little for the people, let alone for the country.

The win at all costs go far beyond the insane money involved. They try even more dividing tactics, pitting the rich against the poor, men against women, race against race, young against old. You think this is not so? You only have to look at the coverage of each election, spending millions of dollars on polling data. This candidate leads with women, this one leads with minorities, this one leads with young voters and so on and so on, and by the time the election is over, not only have we not come together as a nation, we have been divided to the point of hatred. How can this possibly be healthy for a nation that basically wants the same things, but our elected officials have cornered themselves into such a tiny little partisan box, they are unable to work with the other side.

Isnt this what we have seen for nearly 20 years? The Democrats doing whatever they could to regain the White House under the Bush administration, and the Republicans doing whatever they could to regain it during the Obama terms. Nether party willing to work together to solve the major issues of our time. Now, after the first 100 days of the Trump administration, we see the exact same battle lines being drawn. It looks like the next four years will be filled with party politics and the American people will again be in the back seat of the theater watching this horror film go on and on. It wasnt Bushs fault, not Obamas nor Trumps. The fault is squarely on the shoulders of Congress. They play party games instead of working together to move our country forward. It is clear the Halls of Congress are soundproof as the screaming-loud message of this election has fallen on deaf ears.

Then, we have Nebraska. What a unique and successful way to govern. We have the nations only one-house state legislature. Candidates for state senator run without a party affiliation. We have term limits to reduce cronyism and a referendum system that allows enough like-minded citizens to get constitutional issues on our ballots. This non-partisan-one-house legislature was the result of the tenacity of Sen. George Norris, who after serving several terms in the United States Senate as a Republican, left the party in 1936 and ran, and won as an Independent.

You see, George believed in the people more than the party. He knew we could govern ourselves, even saying, To get good government and to retain it, it is necessary that a liberty-loving, educated, intelligent people should be ever watchful, to carefully guard and protect their rights and liberties.

Norris was right then, and his words still hold meaning today. We must all take an active part in being the watchdog of our elected officials.

But if George Norris could see what is going on in Lincoln these days, he would roll over in his grave. Once again there is a bill that would force Nebraskas electoral college votes for president to cast all votes for winner-take-all. Currently, there only two states who have it right when casting their electoral college votes, Maine and Nebraska, which allows the votes to be split more in line with the way we actually voted. The other 48 states have it wrong. LB 25, introduced by Sen. Murante, wants Nebraska to further enhance the power of the political parties, and nullify thousands of Nebraskans presidential vote by going to the winner-take-all model. This is bad for the voters and good for the parties, exactly the opposite of what good Nebraska political values remain.

Folks, it doesnt end there. LB 644, introduced by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee, which Murante is a member of, want to change the nominating committees for our open judge seats. They want to add language to existing law that says, All citizen members shall be affiliated with the political party with which the Governor is affiliated. And they want to delete language that says the governor shall appoint two alternate citizen members not of the same political party. In other words, put party above wisdom and experience in determining who our judges will be.

Folks, is it safe to say that we want basically the same things from our governments? We want security, we want good education, fair and equitable taxes, affordable access to health care, good roads, and the list could go on. And in addition we want those we elected to go to work for us, not their party, not lobbyists, not the campaign donors, not the next election cycle, but to go to work for us! And what that means is working across political and idealogical lines, finding the common ground to responsibly take care of the peoples business, not the party business.

How do we get that message to them? The message that George Norris knew worked so well. Put people above party. I dont know why, other than selfish gain, this wont resonate with our elected state and federal politicians. Do you? I would like to hear your take.
By Press Trust of India: From Aditi Khanna

London, Apr 22 (PTI) Donald Trumps proposed state visit to the UK later this year is being planned to avoid the US President having to climb any staircases after reports of his phobia of steps and slopes, according to a media report.

Planners want to stage events on the ground floor of buildings, and design routes for Trump that minimise his use of staircases, The Sunday Times? reported.

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The President is due to visit Britain in October, where he will be honoured with a state dinner at Buckingham Palace and a trip to Queen Elizabeth IIs Scottish retreat ? Balmoral Castle.

But a senior government figure said he had attended meetings where Trumps dislike of stairs was raised after the President had controversially grasped Theresa Mays hand on a ramp during the British Prime Ministers visit to the White House in January.

The official said: "I have heard this discussed in meetings about the state visit. People want everything to go smoothly. Trump wont be able to avoid the stairs at the palace but they can plan things to minimise it".

Trump is a self-confessed "germaphobe" who, aides say, does not like using handrails or shaking hands.

The Washington Post has also reported he avoids stairs. PTI AK UZM

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ST. LOUIS  Some marched to bring attention to climate change. Others wanted to draw attention to the value of publicly funded research. Their signs and chants told their stories.

What do we want?

Evidence-based science!

When do we want it?

After peer review!

Many of the participants in Saturdays March for Science in downtown St. Louis came from the academic community, with large groups of faculty and students from Washington University, St. Louis University, the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Southern University of Illinois Edwardsville.

But there were scores of people from science-related industries, too, as well as supporters. All told, a few thousand people showed up for the march, which was one of nine science-themed rallies in Missouri and more than 400 nationwide.

Some signs held by children in the march here posed creative ways to point out the value of vaccinations. Many poked at President Donald Trump and his staff, such as: Science trumps alternative facts.

Concerns about comments made by Trump motivated St. Louisan Lea Koesterer to march. She is a freelance artist, and a supporter of science.

Science is all about truth  empirical data, she said.

For Andrew Godbey, the march was about federally funded research amid concerns about budget cuts affecting organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, one of the biggest research granting agencies.

Godbey drove to the city with his wife, Janet ONeal, from Cape Girardeau, Mo., where hes a neurology specialist.

ONeal, a former senior scientist with Pfizer, called the march a good learning opportunity for their children. This teaches them what it means to be an American, and how to participate, she said. The children made signs and the parents wore white lab coats  an identifier many researchers and doctors took advantage of Saturday.

The march started at Union Station and progressed down Market Street to Luther Ely Smith Square in front of the Gateway Arch. There participants heard from organizers and other speakers, including Wes Browning, recently retired chief of the National Weather Service office in Weldon Spring; Washington University associate professor Jason Purnell; and Emma Young, a doctoral candidate at UMSL, among others.

The great and unique thing for St. Louis and this region is that this (march) is about raising public awareness around whats going on in science, technology, engineering, art and math, said Cynthia Lloyd, one of the march organizers. Thats everything from education to workforce, making sure people understand the assets we have here.

Another organizer, SIUE senior and Marine Corps veteran Brian Carthans, said the event sought to show how science is helping the region, despite how overlooked and underappreciated it is.

Its a celebration, highlight what science can do for St. Louis, he said. We dont want this to be a one-time event. We want to keep the momentum going.
At a White House briefing last week, an official in the Trump administration said a small number of giant outsourcing firms flood the system with applications which naturally ups their chances of success in the lottery draw.

By Press Trust of India: The US has accused top Indian IT firms TCS and Infosys of unfairly cornering the lion's share of H-1B visas by putting extra tickets in the lottery system, which the Trump administration wants to replace with a more merit-based immigration policy.

At a White House briefing last week, an official in the Trump administration said a small number of giant outsourcing firms flood the system with applications which naturally ups their chances of success in the lottery draw.

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"You may know their names well, but like the top recipients of the H-1B visa are companies like Tata, Infosys, Cognizant -- they will apply for a very large number of visas, more than they get, by putting extra tickets in the lottery raffle, if you will, and then they will get the lions share of visas," the senior official said, according to transcript of the briefing posted on White House website.

ONLY INDIAN COMPANIES MENTIONED FOR VIOLATING VISA NORMS

Responding to a follow up on why Indian companies were singled out for a mention, the White House response said Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys and Cognizant were the top three recipients of H-1B visas.

"And those three companies are companies that have an average wage for H-1B visas between USD 60,000 and USD 65,000 (a year). By contrast, the median Silicon Valley software engineers wage is probably around USD 150,000," the official said.

He said contracting firms that are not skills employers, who oftentimes use workers for entry-level positions, capture the lions share of H-1B visas. "And that's all public record."

INDIAN FIRMS REFUSED TO COMMENT

All the three Indian firms refused to comment on the US administration comment.

The official said H-1B visas presently were awarded through random lottery with about 80 per cent of H-1B workers being paid less than the median wage in their fields.

"Only about 5 to 6 per cent, depending on the year, of H-1B workers command the highest wage tier recognised by the Department of Labour, there being four wage tiers. And the highest wage tier, for instance, in 2015, was only 5 per cent of H1B workers," he said.

He said workers are often brought in well below market rates to replace American workers, again, sort of violating the principle of the programme, which is supposed to be a means for bringing in skilled labour.

"Instead you are bringing in a lot of times workers who are actually less skilled and lower paid than the workers that they are replacing," he said.

So if the current system that awards visas randomly without regard for skill or wage is changed to a skills-based awarding, it would make it extremely difficult to use the visa to replace or undercut American workers, he said.

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"Because you are not bringing in workers at beneath the market wage. And so its a very elegant way of solving very systemic problems in the H-1B guest worker visa," he said.

Also read:

India calls H-1B visa trade and services issue, will take up matter with Trump government

After US and Australia, now New Zealand toughens visa norms for skilled immigrants

WATCH THE VIDEO:

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What has happened to our powers of discernment and our ability to see these people for what they are, which is that they care nothing for us?
The Uttar Pradesh Navnirmaan Sena put up hoardings with the message: "Social boycott of Kashmir youth who pelt stones at the Indian Army. Leave UP or else." These hoardings were installed in five locations.

By Rajat Rai: A notorious Hindu outfit has issued a warning to the natives of Kashmir and who are living in UP to face dire consequences if they do not leave UP immediately.

The incident was reported on Friday evening when Uttar Pradesh Navnirmaan Sena (UPNS) put up large hoardings at around five prominent places in the western UP.

The hoarding read "Bhatriya sena par pathar maarne waale Kashmiriyon ka bahishkar..Kashmiriyon UP chhodo varna" (social boycott of Kashmir youth who pelt stones at the Indian Army..Leave UP or else..).

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The hoardings were put on the two main crossings the Meerut University and the Subharti Medial College and three other localities.

It is to be mentioned that over 100 Kashmir youths (boys and girls) study in the Subharti Medical College - a renowned private medical college.

HOARDINGS REMOVED

However, taking swift action, the district police on Saturday removed all the hoardings.

"An FIR has also been registered against Amit Jani, the self-styled head of the outfit. We are conducting raids to nab him," Senior Superintendent of Police (Meerut) J Ravindra Gaur told mediapersons.

Jani is the same person who vandalised the statues of former UP chief minister Mayawati and Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshiram in Lucknow a few years ago.

Although the newly appointed chief minister at that time Akhilesh Yadav was quick enough to replace the statues in the next couple of hours, Jani stayed underground for over three months before being finally arrested in Meerut.

POLICE MEETING WITH STUDENTS

Meanwhile, the police also held a meeting with the Kashmir students on Saturday afternoon and have assured them of all kind of assistance and proper security.

"We have also deputed a few cops outside the college and given our mobile numbers to the students. They need not to worry, and can call us any time if they have the minutest of problem related to these hooligans," said Gaur. Meanwhile, the Hindu Yuva Vahini (an outfit associated with BJP) has seconded the stand of UPNS.

"They (Kashmir youth) are criminals and they can disturb the harmony of any place in India. It is better that they remain in Kashmir and the army should be given a free hand to deal with them," said Rahul Yadav, district president of HYV, Meerut.

SIX KASHMIRI STUDENTS ALLEGEDLY THRASHED IN CHITTORGARH

The hoarding incident comes to light a day after of another assault in Rajasthan this week. Six Kashmiri students enrolled at the Mewar University in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan were allegedly thrashed by locals on Wednesday.

A Kashmir student at the Mewar University was quoted as saying, "At least, nine fellow students were beaten up with sticks and bats around 6 pm on Wednesday near Gangrar town after locals got to know that we are from Kashmir. At least, 6 of them were injured."

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ALSO READ | Kashmir unrest: Government to rope in oil-rich Middle East nations to stop funding of separatists

ALSO READ | Gau rakshaks attack nomad family, including 9-year-old girl, in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi, say reports

ALSO WATCH | I'm not even a stone-pelter, says Kashmiri man tied to jeep

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Sir Antony Sher receives the Pragnell Award from Professor Michael Dobson. Photo: Mark Williamson

Receiving the Pragnell Award from Professor Michael Dobbs on Saturday, Sir Antony Sher went on to give the following speech. . .

"I cant tell you how honoured I feel to be receiving this prize and to be joining that amazing roll call of people who have received it before me. So my thanks.

"Then I have very profound thanks to the RSC for basically giving me a career in classical theatre. I feel very lucky, having been brought up in South Africa where there was very little Shakespeare that I then ended up at the RSC at a time when I was able to be taught and directed by some of the great Shakespeareans working within British theatre  Cicely Berry, John Barton, Terry Hands, Adrian Noble and I have no hesitation in adding my partner Greg Doran to that list since Im not the only one who thinks hes quite good at Shakespeare!

"I would just like to share with you two short stories from my 35 years of working with the RSC. The first begins in 1984 when I played Richard III. Now any actor who plays that part is going to get correspondence from the Richard III Society who will hold you personally responsible for perpetrating the lies that they believe Shakespeare wrote about Richard III. So I received this correspondence and it was hostile but we all moved on.

"A few years later I was about to play Disraeli in the film Mrs Brown, which starred Judi Dench as Queen Victoria, and the day before I was due to fly up to Scotland to start filming, Greg said, if you havent been to his house, Hughenden Manor in Buckinghamshire, why dont we just jump in the car and go and see it.

"So we drove up there and its a National Trust property  so it was closed! So Greg said  Weve got nothing to lose. Lets just knock on doors and throw ourselves at their mercy. So we knocked on doors and one was opened by a lady who turned out to be the manager of the property. I said look, you wont know who I am. Im an actor and Im about to play Disraeli. And she stopped me and she said: I know exactly who you are and you should know that I am a member of the Richard III Society!

Well, clearly all was lost. Then she said I am going to show more charity to you than Shakespeare showed to Richard III, so please come in and Ill give you a private tour of the house.

"I can tell you that my estimation of the Richard III Society has gone up considerably since then!

"The second story is more recent and concerns Falstaff. For several years Greg had been planning to do the Henry IV plays. And I guess if youre going to do those youve got to start by casting Falstaff because, I suppose, its the trickiest part to cast.

"So for literally for a couple of years he would use me as a sounding block and would say what about so and so for Falstaff? and Id go yeah, yeah, that sounds good.

"And then a few months later hed say what about him to play Falstaff? and Id say yeah, yeah, thats good.

"There is no subtext to this because I had never dreamed of playing the part and Greg had never dreamed of me playing it.

"Then eventually he had a meeting with Ian McKellen to ask him whether he would come back to the company and he said to Ian what about you playing Falstaff?

And Ian said no, he couldnt see himself in the role. And then he said  Why are you looking for Falstaff when you live with him? I should make it clear that Ian was not suggesting that I have Falstaffian appetites at home. He was making reference to a performance of mine hed seen at the National Theatre in which Id played a very forceful larger than life character.

"So Greg came home from the meeting and told me and I laughed and then Greg said that maybe Ian is right. Why dont you re-read the plays again and why dont we have a conversation.

"Well I did end up playing the part and it was one of the most thrilling experiences of my career, one that I would not have missed for the world.

"So I guess the point of the story is that Ian McKellen is not only a very great actor but a very great casting director!"

"My 35 years with the RSC has been an amazing experience. I cant find a better way of describing it than what the late great RSC actor Alan Howard said. He said: To work on one of the major Shakespeare roles is like standing under a waterfall. So thank you RSC for giving me so many waterfalls to stand under.

"And finally to conclude I would like to ask you all to raise your glasses to this great art form that we are part of  the theatre."

The Herald spoke exclusively to Tony Sher before the luncheon. Read some of that interview here. But full interview in Thursday's Herald.
While expressing his opinion over Panamagate verdict and recent statements made by Abid Sher Ali, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Maula Bakhsh Chandio gave Abid and federal government a piece of his mind.

He let it be known that those who are distributing sweets over Panamagate verdict should be ashamed of themselves.

Chandio let it be known that a liar used to call others as thieves while at the same time calling himself righteous.

"You have been called liar and thief by the court," expresses Chandio.

He expressed that all those people who havent revealed facts in the past, JIT has been formed against them.

PPP leader professed that what kind of message will spread throughout the world after the premier will face JIT.

He also revealed that PPP has never made a deal silently and that Asif Zardari is a brave leader who has never ask for forgiveness.

Maula Bakhsh Chandio also declared Abid Sher Ali a "political lunatic" at the occasion.
Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N)  Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) will stage rallies in Karachi on Sunday.

The three political powers will flex its political muscles in six main districts of the provincial capital.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will stage a No Nawaz No rally from Lyari to Regal.

MQM will stage a political rally from Liaquatabad to M.A. Jinnah Road.

Meanwhile, supporters of Pakistan Muslim League  Nawaz will celebrate Thanksgiving Day by taking out a rally at Hassan Square.

N-Leagues rally is being organized following Supreme Courts verdict of the Panama Case.

Security plan has been finaliezed for PPP and PML-Ns rallies in Karachi. 150 police officers will be deployed in South Zone to ensure no untoward incident takes place during the rally.

A Superintendent Police (SP) and six Station House Officers (SHOs) will monitor the two rallies.

Two hundred police officers will provide security to MQMs rally.

Traffic will be diverted to alternative routes as the rally kicks off.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari have both been looting Pakistan for the last 30 years, and both are equally responsible for destruction of the country.

PTI chairman expressed his views on Sunday while talking to media in Dadu and said Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif should have resigned on moral grounds after the verdict of Supreme Court (SC).

Imran Khan told that the judges of SC rejected all the evidences presented by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) including the Qatari letter and remarked that Nawaz Sharif is dishonest.

Khan also said that the two judges who asked to disqualify the prime minister are future chief justices of Pakistan.

Imran invited all the people to the rally that PTI is going to hold in Islamabad on April 28, and announced to conduct a big public gathering in Sindh as well.

Awami Muslim League (AML) Head Sheikh Rasheed also talked to media and said the case is not over yet, it is difficult to understand that why PML-N is distributing sweets. He said that people of Sindh are also against corruption and want to get rid of this dishonest leadership.

Sheikh Rasheed also claimed that Liaquat Jatois procession was the biggest ever that he witnessed in the history of interior Sindh.
Amid Pakistan Peoples Party protests across Sindh against the federal government after Panama case verdict, the party has come up with demand seeking prime ministers resignation, saying its in the PMs best interest that will ultimately save him from embarrassment.

PPP information secretary Maula Bux Chandio on Sunday said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has no moral reason to stay on the position and should instead resign rather than face further embarrassment.

He wondered why the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) was celebrating and distributing sweetmeats, and advised to instead read the Panama case verdict clearly as it has not absolved the prime minister.

He said that the verdict states that PM Sharif has lied to the nation, and two honourable judges had called for him to resign, while three others had called for further investigation.

He reiterated that sooner or later the prime minister will have to step down. The prime minister should feel ashamed and step down himself, he reiterated.

The PML-N has been the weapon of choice of every dictator, he said calling on the premier to set an example and cement his name in the history of the country.

Chandio turned towards Interior Minister Chauhry Nisar and asked why the minister didnt say that the Prime Minister has been completely absolved of all wrong doing.

Their faith is only aroused on the mention of Ayaan Ali, he said repeating his demand for resignation or running the institutions of the nation.

Even the Qatari prince might be disappointed as his letter was invain, he said referring to the letter which was declared as bogus and unnecessary in the Panama case verdict.

He strongly condemned the load-shedding in Sindh which was imposed by the federal government, and said a viceroy was sent to head the Hyderabad Electric Supply Corporation (HESCO).

He also criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and said that change does not come with the raising of a finger, and that they were more concerned about Punjab.

I advice my friends in the PTI to teach Imran Khan the basic tenants of politics, he said accusing the PTI of secretly colluding with the PML-N.
As new weapon against its competitors in Pakistan, Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan Limited launched the much awaited all-new Honda BR-V, a 7 seater SUV.

The launching ceremony was held at Falettis Hotel Lahore and attended by Mr. Shinji Aoyoma, Chief Operating Officer, Regional Operations (Asia & Oceania) of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and President & CEO of Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Mr. Toichi Ishiyama, President & CEO of Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Ltd.

BR-V is the first locally produced mid-size SUV, powered by a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine.

Mr. Shinji Aoyoma said: In the last financial year ended March 31, 2017, Honda Atlas Cars achieved the highest record sales with over 35,000 units sold. I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to our Pakistani customers who have supported Honda with this great achievement. Honda will continue to maintain this momentum by offering attractive models with superb quality, which will help enrich the quality of life of our customers, and we will work hard to exceed our customers expectations.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Toichi Ishiyama said: Pakistan is a key market for Honda and as part of our business expansion, we are focusing on increasing our customer base by introducing new models. The launch of BR-V creates another first by introducing first ever locally produced 7 seater SUV in Pakistan. Customers can experience the outstanding appearance of an SUV and benefit from the versatility and comfort of its spacious 3 row interior. We are confident that BR-V will strongly appeal to the Urban/Rural customers and accelerate our growth while strengthening our brand presence in the country.

Equipped with a new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) developed under Hondas Earth Dreams Technology, BR-V comes with a tough and sturdy exterior design. High ground clearance makes it a stylish SUV. The SUV is available in two grades: 1.5 i-VTEC, and 1.5 i-VTEC S. Projector headlights with LED position lamps, LED tail lights in C-character design and sporty roof rails are standard equipment in all variants.

The All-New BR-V exudes a remarkable masculine design through a host of exterior garnishes inspired by the Active-Solid Motion exterior design concept. The interior design is outstanding with a spacious, comfortable cabin. The 3-row Seating Configuration of BR-V can comfortably accommodate 7 passengers, which is perfect for getaway trips with friends and family. Seats can also be adjusted for various hauling and cargo needs.

With 88 Kilowatts at 6,600 rpm and 145 N-m of torque at 4,600 rpm, the 1.5 Liter i-VTEC Engine is extremely powerful. Earth Dreams Technology and CVT ensure a smooth, exhilarating, and fuel-efficient drive. The i-VTEC S variant also offers Alloy wheels for a sportier driving experience.

The All-New BR-V has advanced features like Audio steering switches and Digital Air-conditioning Controls. The 1.5 i-VTEC S grade adds a 7-inch Touch Screen Display Audio with Built-in Navigation and reverse camera. Both variants offer Rear Air-conditioning System with Independent Controls located between the first and second row seats to expand air flow.

Safety comes first at Honda to ensure passenger safety. The vehicle is built with Hondas G-force Control (G-CON) collision safety body engineering that dissipates G-forces of a crash and disperses it away from the vehicles occupants on impact. Driver side SRS Airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Speed Sensing Auto Door Lock are standard features for both variants.

The all-new Honda BR-V is available in six colors which includes the Pakistani customers favorite Taffeta White, Modern Steel Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Brilliant sporty blue and Urban Titanium. The all-new BR-V will be displayed and sold at 24 Honda authorized dealers nationwide from today. Deliveries will start from 26th April, 2017.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has promised to give the Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, land for a new campus in Lucknow. The decision was taken in a meeting with the univeristy's chancellor a few days ago.

By Rajat Rai: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has promised to provide land for a new campus to the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Hyderabad, in Lucknow.

The decision was taken in a closed-door meeting with chancellor of MANUU Zafar Sareshwala in Lucknow a few days ago. It is to be mentioned that the BJP in its poll agenda in the recently concluded Vidhan Sabha elections has promised many reformatory schemes to upgrade the 48,000 odd madarssas in the state and the Urdu education overall.

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"At present, we have 11 campuses across the country but not a single in UP. Yogiji has given a positive response and we hope things will be materialised soon," said Sareshwala.

LONE BMW DEALER IN GUJARAT

It is to be mentioned that Sareshwala is in the goods books of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also the lone BMW dealer in Gujarat.

The central university was established in 1998 and Sareshwala was made its chancellor in 2015. Ever since becoming the CM, Yogi has made several announcements to please the community. However, some of his decisions like anti-Romeo squad and ban on illegal slaughterhouses were widely condemned, but things slowly settled down.

Yogi, during a meeting with triple talaq victims also assured that the state government was ready to put its opinion on the issue in the Supreme Court if at all needed. Yogi is also slated to attend the Taleem-o-Tarbiat organised by Sareshwala across the country in third week of May.

"He has agreed to be the keynote speaker and we are desperately waiting to hear him," said Sareshwala.

ALSO READ | UP CM Yogi Adityanath transfers 20 IAS officers in major bureaucratic reshuffle

ALSO READ | Yogi government to go in for major revamp of healthcare system in Uttar Pradesh

ALSO WATCH | Yogi Adityanath launches new ambulance service with life-saving technology

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Twenty-six kidnapped men, including members of Qatars royal family, were freed on Friday after being held for 16 months in Iraq, Iraqs interior ministry said.

The men had been handed over to a Qatari delegation and left for Doha, a ministry spokesman said in a statement. It gave no details.

In December 2015 about 100 armed men seized a hunting party, including Qataris and other nationals, from a desert camp in southern Iraq. A Qatari royal and a Pakistani man were later freed.

The release of the remaining hostages comes days after a deal was announced for the evacuation of civilians and fighters from four besieged Syrian towns. Britains Guardian newspaper said Qatar had helped mediate the deal in exchange for the freeing of the hunters.

No one has claimed responsibility for the abduction of the hunters. They were seized in a largely desolate expanse of territory close to the Saudi border which is dominated by militias who work closely with neighbouring Iran and have accused Doha of meddling in Iraqs affairs.
At least 12 people have been killed in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, bringing to 20 the number of those killed in three weeks of political turmoil in the Latin American state.

The latest fatalities occurred in various parts of the Venezuelan capital of Caracas on Friday, with the government prosecutors office saying that 11 of the victims were from the southwestern district of El Valle and one from the eastern neighborhood of Petare.

Eight of the victims were reportedly electrocuted while trying to loot a bakery and the rest had been shot.

The Fridays clashes came shortly after the government of President Nicolas Maduro accused the opposition of hiring armed gangs to attack a maternity hospital with 54 children in El Valle a day earlier. The opposition rejected the allegation.

The move fueled anger among anti-Maduro protesters, leading to mass rallies held in and around Caracas despite heavy security presence.

Reports said police had used tear gas to disperse protesters in the densely-populated southwestern district.

It was like a war, said a 33-year-old resident of El Valle. The police were firing tear gas, armed civilians were shooting guns at buildings. My family and I threw ourselves to the floor. It was horrible.

Anti-government demonstrations intensified in Venezuela on April 1, after the Supreme Court decided to strip Congress of its powers.

The court later withdrew the move but protesters pushed ahead with calls on Maduro to leave office.

The embattled president is blamed for Venezuelas economic woes, while the opposition also censures the 54-year-old leader for what it calls his lack of tolerance for dissent.

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 worlds largest oil reserves.

Maduro says the Western-backed opposition has hugely capitalized on the global slump in oil prices to try to remove him from office.

Last year, the opposition launched an abortive attempt to force Maduro out of office by seeking to hold a recall referendum.
Japan and Russia are developing 20 joint projects in several areas, including energy and medicine, which will see agreements on further implementation made during the upcoming visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Moscow in end-April, Japans Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper wrote Saturday.

The issue is about a final agreement on sale of 10-20% of shares of the Russian pharmaceutical company R-Pharm to Japans Mitsui, the newspaper said, adding that the latter plans not to only to supply Japanese drugs to the Russian Federation, but also to expand cooperation in the production field.

As reported earlier Mitsui & Co agreed to buy 10% in R-Pharm with potential extension of the share to 20%.

Mitsui plans to spend 15-20 mln yen ($130-174 mln) on acquisition of a 10% stake in R-Pharm, Japans top business daily Nikkei reported earlier.

Another point on the agenda of Abes visit is to confirm the expected participation of Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) in the joint development of oil and gas fields in Russias Irkutsk.

Japans Prime Minister put forward an eight-point cooperation plan to develop the relations with Russia during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on May 6, 2016. The plan includes efforts to foster relations between Japan and Russia in the energy sector, small and medium-sized businesses, the promotion of industrialization of the Far East, expansion of the export base, as well as the proposal to strengthen cooperation in the cutting-edge technologies, including nuclear energy, and the sphere of humanitarian exchanges. Later 30 priority projects for cooperation were defined.

Following the Russian Presidents visit to Japan on December 15-16, 2016 and his meetings with Japanese PM a joint statement was adopted, which said that the beginning of consultations on joint economic activities on the South Kuril Islands would be an important step towards signing a peace treaty by the two neighbors.
By India Today Web Desk: That chef Vikas Khanna has spread his charm far and wide is no secret. He has served food to the Obamas. He has gifted his book to the queen. He is also the only chef in the world to have penned the most expensive book in the world--Utsav was auctioned for Rs 30 lakh, and the proceeds from the auction went to an NGO Vikas is associated with.

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Now, a new feather has been added to Vikas' hat--he's been named in the list of Top 10 Chefs In The World by Gazette Review. The list features some of the culinary greats from around the world. Vikas Khanna features on the sixth spot on the list.

Vikas Khanna's descrption in the Gazette Review said: " Most famous Chefs are American or French, but Vikas Khanna is one of the first Indian Chefs to receive international acclaim. Since 2011, his main restaurant Junoon in New York City has received a Michelin star. Khanna has also collaborated with many other famous chefs."

"Vikas Khanna is known for creating the most expensive cookbook in the world. The book was created over a span of 12 years and details the rich history of Indian cuisine. The book costs $13,000, and only 12 have ever been made. Khanna has personally gifted it to famous people including Queen Elizabeth."

Vikas took to his social-media handles to express his gratitude for the honour, and said he felt humbled to be a part of the list:

Here's the full list of Top 10 Chefs In The World:

1. Gordon Ramsay

2. Jamie Oliver

3. Wolfgang Puck

4. Heston Blumenthal

5. Marco Pierre White

6. Vikas Khanna

7. Emeril Lagasse

8. Alain Ducasse

9. Paul Bocuse

10. Anthony Bourdain

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The Uttar Pradesh government has reduced or withdrawn the security cover extended to over 100 VIPs in the state. The Z+ security cover to former Chief Ministers Akhilesh Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati has been left untouched.

By India Today Web Desk: In a sudden move, Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh has cut down or totally withdrawn the security cover of more than 100 leaders in the state.

But the Z+ security cover of former Chief Ministers Akhilesh Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati has been kept as it was.

The decision was taken by the Yogi Adityanath government after a late evening meeting with the top bureaucrats of Uttar Pradesh. The matter was, reportedly, discussed with UP Principal Secretary (Home), ADG Intelligence, ADG Security and DGP Sulkhan Singh.

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The decision was enforced with immediate effect. This decision of the Yogi Adityanath government is being linked with the BJP's 'resolve' to end the VIP culture.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had recently said, "Those, who are enjoying security cover for the sake of status symbol, should be prepared to part with them."

WHO LOST WHAT

Those who find them with less security cover include Samajwadi Party leaders Shivpal Yadav, Azam Khan, Dimple Yadav, Ram Gopal Yadav.

The security cover of Shivpal Yadav, Azam Khan and Ram Gopal Yadav has been degraded to Y-category.

The commando security cover extended to Ashu Malik, Rakesh Yadav and Atul Pradhan of the Samajwadi Party has been withdrawn. Some of the leaders, however, have been provided with the security cover of the district police.

BSP general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Satish Chandra Mishra's security cover has been completely withdrawn. Similarly, the security cover extended to frmer UP Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan's security cover has been taken away.

There were 151 VIPs in Uttar Pradesh who were availing security cover from the state. The Yogi Adityanath government has reduced that number to 46 withdrawing security cover of 105 leaders in Uttar Pradesh.

Interestingly, BJP leader Vinay Katiyar has been provided Z-category security cover. CM Yogi Adityanath's security cover has also been increased following terror threat to his life.

ALSO READ:

Yogi Adityanath government completes 30 days: How foreign media reported the month

Yogi Adityanath compares triple talaq to Draupadi's cheer-haran, calls for common civil code

ALSO WATCH:

Yogi Adityanath launches new ambulance service with life-saving technology

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Last week The Weekend Sun met Doug Attrill  a 93-year-old with a war story  and discovered how his ship got bombed, and how a skirmish with a Japanese submarine contributed to the downfall of the notorious commander of the Japanese fleet, the man who masterminded Pearl Harbour.

Dougs story continues with an aerial attack on the HMNZS Moa, the corvette he served on.

A week later they got us. The history books tell us it was a force of Japanese Aichi D3A dive bombers from an aircraft carrier. Doug, the man who was there, says: No. I saw it, it was one low-flying bomber.

He also distinctly remembers seeing the 550lb bomb tumble from the sky, plough through the captains cabin and detonate in the bowels of the ship. It was a helluva noise, enough to frighten the tripe out of you.

The explosion broke the Moas back, it listed sharply and sank by the bow within four minutes. Doug was out of there, but not on a fast camel. It wasnt his time. We were connected by hoses to an American oil barge  the Erskine M. Phelps at Tulago Harbour in the Solomons  and if that went up we would be lucky to get out of it.

Doug went overboard and swam for it. Any swim felt like a long way to me.

Five ratings, five mates of Doug, died that day. What will be will be  I have told you this before.

Theres that prickliness again. Or its a cover for some deep lingering sadness.

I knew those blokes well  we lived, laughed and fought together.

And if Dougs war was hotting up, the heat was on, on the homefront too.

I was disgusted, says wife Audrey. Dougs navy stamps, the brotherhood branding, the tattoos on his arms. Plymouth, England, he says. We all got them. Audrey harrumphs. Theres the dagger and the snake, and the kiwi. Blue smudges that have lost definition with the years, but not the sentiment. In loving memory of my dear Mum is tattooed somewhere else.

Theres another one on his leg and while out of sight, its not out of mind.

Its the ugliest tattoo you have ever seen, says Audrey.

Its a picture of a girl and she didnt have her dress on that day, explains Doug. A wee bit of the devil lurks in this man.

Doug Attrill, the upstanding bank officer, fighter of fascism and tyranny, defender of freedom and rights, tattooed with what we presume is a naked lady. Who would have thought? Audrey hated the tats but loved the man. They were married at Ohakune.

That was May 1, 1944, and 70 years later accounts for the congratulatory note from the Pope on their living room wall. prayers for the happiness of a Christian life together it says.

Its more conclusive proof I am tolerable, says Doug.

After dodging the worst Hitler and Hirohito could throw at him, Doug got on. And he also got around. Taranaki Education Board in charge of bus services, assistant town clerk Te Awamutu, town clerk Woodville  the youngest in New Zealand at the time  secretary/treasurer of the King Country Electric Power Board and secretary/treasurer of Waikato Valley Authority. Eight years here, 10 years there, 18 years somewhere else.

In fact the longest time hes spent at one thing is the 30 years hes been in retirement. Thirty years, he says, nodding his head in disbelief.

Must have something to do with the petrol he runs on  the vegetable juice he keeps in the fridge.

I keep all of the water from the vegetables we cook and I drink a glass of it every day. He shrugs. Who knows? He says he forgets things but gushes dates, places, names. And his hair. Theres follicle envy going on here. Ninety-three, just about 94 and a full head of wavy brown hair. No, not one grey one.

So the day the fast camel does arrive, Doug Attrills locks will be flowing in the wind. And he will take what comes.

This Anzac Day, April 25, The Last Post will sound out across the land as the country stops and remembers. Lest we forget. And one of those memorial services will happen around the flag pole at the Carmel Country Estate Retirement Village mid-morning. More than 100 residents, family and friends will gather.
Z Energy and ChargeNet NZ are installing three more rapid-charge electric vehicle charging stations by the end of April to help extend the countrys EV charging network.

The new charging stations, supplied by ChargeNet NZ, will shortly join the other 6 rapid-charge stations Z has already installed for public use in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

The locations of the new charging stations in Warkworth, Turangi and Taupo at Z Tauhara, have been selected to help plug gaps in New Zealands network of electric highways.

Z sustainability manager Jonathan Hill says the charging stations will provide more charging options outside the main centres.

Z is committed to supporting the adoption of technology and alternative fuels that help the shift away from fossil fuels to more environmentally friendly options.

Having more charging stations will make an electric vehicle a more appealing option for people, by stopping them worrying theyll get stuck without power.

A 25 minute charge will fill up an entry level electric vehicle like a Leaf and allow customers to travel about 120 kilometres.

Last year people charging up at Z saved an estimated 20 tonnes of CO2  the equivalent of a medium sized petrol car taking more than 130 trips from Auckland to Wellington.

ChargeNet chief executive Steve West says Zs new strategically-placed charging stations will help in his mission to make it possible to drive an EV from Auckland to Wellington by the end of next year without any range anxiety.

At this rate we will soon have charging stations every 40-80kms on the main highway and Z is helping make this possible.

Installing EV charging stations is just one of Zs investments in the environment along with building the countrys first commercial scale biodiesel plant and smaller steps including using more LED lighting, switching to compostable coffee cups at Z Espress service stations and adding environmental groups to Good in the Hood this year.
The Bethlehem College Performing Arts Centre was nearly packed on Saturday night for the Tabernacle of Worship.

The inspiring performance by the Jubilee Dancers was led by Gaynor Schiff and involved dancers from Whakatane and Tauranga.

The evening of celebration and praise through music and dance was a journey through early biblical Israels expressions of worship.

Starting with Mosess wilderness Tabernacle, and leading on to the Temple built later in Jerusalem in King Solomons time, the Messianic message culminates with the arrival of Christ.

The creative dance journey incorporates the historical Israelite artefacts of worship which include a bronze laver, golden lamp stand and altar of incense.

These led early Israelite worshippers through the courts closer in to where the presence of God was experienced.

These artefacts of worship have become powerful symbols for early New Testament Jewish and Gentile Christians and studied around the world in Christian communities. Each scene of the musical journey that leads into the deeper courts of the Tabernacle is resplendent with colourful costumes, flags and large pieces of silken fabric that floats over the dancers.

Thanks to Gaynor Schiff and her team of designers and seamsters, the colour and costumes are at times quite breathtaking. The audience broke into delighted spontaneous applause when the two golden cherubim emerged from the top of the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies scene.

Gaynor started the Jubilee Dance Ministries International in 1987 after a trip to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles.

"We ministered in South Africa from then and formed six more Jubilee teams in various cities there," says Gaynor. The groups are still dancing."

"We staged the first Tabernacle of Worship production in 1995 and performed it in the Cape area in South Africa. My husband Brian and I immigrated to New Zealand in 2010 and the seventh Jubilee team was formed shortly afterwards in Tauranga."

A former Miss Rhodesia, Gaynor is now dancing into her mid-70s.

"In 2015 I was overwhelmed by the abundant blessing in the Bay of Plenty of blossoms and fruit everywhere and had the vision to do a Feast of Tabernacles, which is a harvest thanksgiving festival. I phoned Graham Preston out of the blue as I did not know him and told him of my vision and immediately he caught the vision and has been behind the Jubilee team in every possible way, through the Christian Education Trust - CET- which is the foundation of Bethlehem College."

The Minorah in the Colleges badge is a symbol of the foundation of the school built on an understanding of the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith.

"The Jubilee Dance Ministry has also always had a Hebraic foundation and supports Israel wholeheartedly," says Gaynor. "Our aim is to bring the word of God to life and to touch peoples hearts through music, drama and dance."

Gaynors daughter Kerry danced with her from the start at the age of 13 and is responsible for most of the choreography. She and her husband Peter and children travelled from Wellington to take part in Saturday nights production, opening the evening as a family dancing to O Israel.

"I have had amazing and overwhelming support from Graham Preston, the CET, Bethlehem College, the Jubilee team here in Tauranga, from my own fellowship, Ha Derech - The Way," says Gaynor, "and many wonderful talented people coming alongside me giving of their talents, time, energy and resources unstintingly and freely. I could not have done it without every single one."

The Jubilee Dancers are a Tauranga based Christian praise and worship dance group. They see themselves more as worshippers rather than dancers.
Those who looked up at the night sky in the weekend were treated to a rare sight, with the Aurora Australis dancing in the sky on two consecutive nights.

The Southern Lights were spotted from Auckland, Canterbury and the Otago Peninsula on Saturday.

It was spotted again on Sunday when it made an appearance in Wellington and Canterbury.

Joe Murdie managed to catch an image of the Aurora Australis before the sky clouded over in the Queenstown-Lakes District.

Did you see the Aurora Australis?
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Officers discovered drugs and a loaded revolver Friday when they had a car towed during a traffic stop, Syracuse police said.

At 4:08 p.m. Officer Matthew Tynan and Officer Andrew Murphy spotted a Chevrolet Malibu going east in the 400 block of Cortland Avenue.

Anne Schwartz and Jabari Robinson.

They saw an object hanging from the rear view mirror that obstructed the driver's view, police said. A DMV check showed the vehicle was not registered. The officers pulled the car over in the 300 block of Cortland Avenue.

There were three people in the car. The driver was identified as Anne Schwartz. The back seat passenger was identified as Jabari Robinson.

Since the car had no registration, the officers had it towed. While doing an inventory of the car, Officer Jordan Barber found a hypodermic needle containing heroin in a door panel, police said.

When they searched the vehicle further, Murphy found a RGI-PG31 .38-caliber special revolver in the back seat, police said. The revolver was loaded with five rounds.

Police said Robinson admitted the revolver was his and that Schwartz admitted the needle belonged to her. Officers found a small amount of marijuana on Robinson when they searched him.

Police said Robinson did not have a permit for the revolver. They have not learned yet if the gun is stolen.

Schwartz, 27, of 2231 Mott Road, Baldwinsville, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a hypodermic needle. She was also issued traffic tickets. Robinson, 20, of 103 Blaine St., Syracuse, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of marijuana.

The front seat passenger in the car was not arrested.
The most likely places to find alien life outside the solar system are worlds that are dominated by water. Findings of a new study have revealed that the most habitable planets are likely waterworlds with oceans that span 90 percent of their surface area.

Most Likely Composition Of A Habitable Planet

In a new study published in The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Fergus Simpson, from the Institute of Cosmos Science at the University of Barcelona, and colleagues used a statistical model that can predict the most likely composition of a habitable world.

The model, which used Bayesian probability, predicted that the exoplanets that astronomers will likely find habitable to alien life are made up of oceans spanning more than 90 percent of an extraterrestrial world's surface area.

Researchers reached this conclusion because Earth itself is close to being called a waterworld, where all of the planet's land is immersed in one wide ocean.

"This scenario, in which the Earth has a much greater land area than most habitable planets, is consistent with results from numerical simulations and could help explain the apparently low-mass transition in the mass-radius relation," researchers wrote in their study.

Unique Land-Water Balance On Earth

The model hints that the unique balance of land and water on Earth is particularly unique, albeit scientists are not yet sure how or why our home planet got such a perfect balance - a balance that the model suggests is not likely to be found anywhere else.

The model takes into account the role of erosion and deposition systems as well as the deep water cycle in producing the unique balance of land and water on Earth. The work likewise suggests that planets with smaller oceans are likely to become dominated by deserts.

Simpson suggests that the reason life evolved on planet Earth and not on one of other potentially habitable worlds out there is linked to a selection effect that involves a balance of water and land.

"Our understanding of the development of life may be far from complete, but it is not so dire that we must adhere to the conventional approximation that all habitable planets have an equal chance of hosting intelligent life," Simpson said.

Hunt For Extraterrestrial Life

Finding signs of life in other worlds is among the most common goals of space missions. NASA currently gathers data from planet Mars to find signs of life. The U.S. space agency likewise has plans to send missions to ocean worlds such as Jupiter's icy moon Europa.

The presence of water in extraterrestrial worlds is often seen as a potential hint of habitability because water is considered a critical ingredient for life. Evidence suggesting the presence of water in Europa, Ceres, and Mars has made astronomers optimistic about finding life beyond our planet.

Other factors such as temperature play as well. Earlier this week, astronomers reported of a massive Earth-like planet that they think could be possibly habitable. The exoplanet named LHS 1140b is a relatively chilly world but is considered temperate enough to support life.

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The Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ handsets are available in the U.S. from April 21 onwards. Many people have already preordered the device and some have been lucky enough to get the handset before the promised release date.

However, cautious buyers are waiting for the early reviews and impressions before committing to the new flagships from the South Korean company. The Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ are expensive devices and consumers like to weigh the pros and cons before making the purchase.

Here are the top five reasons why consumers may want to refrain from picking up either of the handsets just yet.

Galaxy Note 7 Debacle

Samsung's reputation arguably took a huge hit after the release of the Galaxy Note 7. The smartphone was deemed to be highly dangerous because of the exploding battery. Samsung went on to recall the product twice before completely taking the phablet off the market.

The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are the first major smartphones from the company since it released the Galaxy Note 7. Even though Samsung assures that it has put the latest flagships through rigorous testing with its new eight-point battery safety check, people may be reluctant to accept the company's claims.

If any possible issues exist in the Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy S8's battery, it will likely come to light soon after the device's global release. Therefore, it may be best to wait a tad longer before making the purchase.

Curved Glass Display Prone To Breaking

The new handsets from Samsung possess a dual-curved edge Infinity display. While this aspect makes the design and look of the phones quite modern and fashionable, it also highlights an issue. The dual-curved edge glass screen may be prone to cracking. People who are in the habit of dropping their phones frequently, may want to reconsider buying the Galaxy S8 or the Galaxy S8+.

Drop tests performed on the handsets have revealed the susceptibility of the rear glass panel. Those who plan to purchase either of the smartphones would do well to invest in some protective cases for the handsets.

Fingerprint Sensor Next To Primary Camera

Samsung decided to ditch the home button in the Galaxy S8 smartphones so that it could make the device nearly bezel-less, as well as increase the display's size. This move necessitated the change in position of the fingerprint sensor from the front to the back of the handset.

However, Samsung decided to house the sensor just beside the rear-facing camera. Not only has this placement shift made the security feature difficult to reach, it also causes one to mistakenly tap on camera's lens instead of the fingerprint scanner.

Incomplete Bixby Functionalities

One of the USPs of the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ was the integration of Samsung's own AI assistant Bixby. However, just around a week prior to its release, the company revealed that the smartphones will be not be shipped with all the features of assistant.

What this means is that the Bixby assistant will be shipped with the Home, Vision, and Reminders functionalities, but the voice feature would be introduced at a later juncture. Therefore, the smartphones may be much better once the update for Bixby is pushed out, which suggests that users should refrain from buying the handsets.

Modified Android OS

It is a fact that the Android devices which Samsung releases offer slightly modified operating systems. This change sometimes causes delays in receiving system updates on the phones. The delay may throw off some fans looking to make the purchase.

However, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are tremendously powerful and top-notch features. Potential buyers who are not deterred by these drawbacks and do not wish to wait for early reviews, can go to Samsung's website and buy either the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The open call for the exit of United States from the Paris climate deal by none other than the head of the Environmental Protection Agency has shocked environmentalists.

This is the first time a high-ranking Trump administration official such as EPA Chief Scott Pruitt has gone public with a call to scrap the historic agreement, which has been endorsed by more than 200 countries.

Paris deal aims to mitigate climate change by curbing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses with a concrete roadmap.

The climate deal envisages limiting global warming below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and then further curbing that increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Speaking at the Fox & Friends, Scott Pruitt made a scathing attack on the Paris climate deal and said the commitments loaded on the United States have been disproportionate compared to other polluters such as China, Europe, and India.

"Paris is something that we need to really look at closely. It's something we need to exit in my opinion," the EPA chief said.

Costs Front-Loaded On America

Calling Paris pact a "bad deal for America" Pruitt portrayed it as injurious to the U.S. interests.

"China and India had no obligations under the agreement until 2030. We front-loaded all of our costs," the EPA chief lamented.

The Paris deal mandates the United States to achieve emission reduction by 26 to 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025. Pruitt's defiance against the climate deal was evident when he said Clean Power Plan pushed by the Obama administration will be withdrawn. It was a flagship program of the previous regime in meeting the U.S. commitments on Paris agreement.

Pruitt made it clear that there is no question of risking the U.S. jobs in the name of complying with the Paris agreement.

US Claims And Facts On Emissions Data

Pruitt criticized the Paris Agreement for making the U.S. economy shrink to "serve and satisfy" Europe, China, and India, which, according to the EPA boss, are bigger polluters than the United States.

"We're at pre-1994 levels with respect to our CO2 emissions," the EPA boss claimed.

However, the tracking data released by the World Resources Institute speaks otherwise. It said in 2015 the per capita carbon dioxide emissions in the United States have been twice the volume of China. Compared to India, the U.S. per capita emissions were was more than eight times.

More Deregulation And Job Creation In Fossil Fuels

However, exiting the Paris agreement will not be easy, even if the Trump administration decides to push the case. The agreement withdrawal will be possible only after three years, and there will be a one-year waiting period.

In addition to the rollback plan of Clean Energy Act, Pruitt also announced some environmental deregulation measures.

According to Pruitt, the EPA will pursue a new "back to basics" agenda with oversight of clean air and water handed over to individual states and strengthen job creation in fossil fuel industries.

Controversial Comments On Carbon Dioxide

For Pruitt, controversy has been a companion in emission-related issues.

In early March, Pruitt triggered a hornet's nest while speaking on CNBC's morning news that he does not believe carbon dioxide is the main polluter in climate change.

"I think that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do, and there's tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact, so no, I would not agree that it's a primary contributor to the global warming that we see," the EPA chief said.

The comments attracted angry outbursts, and the flood of phone calls forced EPA to set up an impromptu call center to handle the protesters.

The critics slammed Pruitt for taking a stand that is unbecoming of the stature as the chief of the environmental agency and rebutting reliable scientific evidence.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has called for coordinated international action to ensure sustainable future of space and spaceflights to tackle the worsening problem of space debris to mitigate the risk faced by functional satellites.

Noting that more than 750,000 pieces of dangerous debris are currently orbiting the Earth, the ESA made a clarion call for global cooperation at the concluding day of the Europe's largest-ever conference on space debris.

On the occasion, ESA Director General Jan Woerner called up all space stakeholders to join hands for cleaning up Earth's orbital environment at the earliest.

The European Conference on Space Debris was held at ESA's mission control center in Germany.

The ESA has already kick started a project called ESA Space Situational Awareness (SSA) at the last ministerial council meeting in 2016 seeking innovative services and space cooperation for economically viable spaceflights.

"We must sustain the dream of future exploration," Woerner said.

Areas Of Threat From Space Debris

The conference on space debris identified multiple threats from space debris including faulty disposal of defunct satellites and rocket stages plus the challenges posed by satellite mega-constellations now getting ready. They include the one planned by Space X owned by Elon Musk.

"Only about 60 percent of the satellites that should be disposed of at the end of their missions under current guidelines are, in fact, properly managed," noted Holger Krag, head of ESA's debris office.

At the conference, researchers called for an urgent removal of all defunct satellites from Earth's orbit before more junk comes from their disintegration.

According to Krag, the conference has demonstrated that it has the technology to mitigate the debris problem.

"However, implementation of these countermeasures is still a challenge, and this has the utmost importance in view of plans to deploy constellations of hundreds of satellites in space," added Krag.

Growing Danger And Some Inconvenient Truths

The statistics show that there had been more than 5,250 satellite launches since 1957 and the confirmed number comes to 23,000 at the orbit in which only 1,200 are working while the rest are junk.

Compounding the problem is the disintegration of derelict craft broken into some 750,000 pieces larger than 1 cm and another 166 million pieces bigger than 1 mm. These fragments are moving in high relative velocities with speeds exceeding bullets and can destroy space infrastructure of satellites working in the domain of telecom, weather, navigation, broadcast, and climate-monitoring.

The scientists at the conference expressed the view that any delay in clearing the space junk will entail a huge cost and heighten collision risk in the orbit as more satellites are being launched.

Safety Of International Space Station

Meanwhile, a short film produced by ESA and screened at the conference effectively conveyed the severity of the space junk problem.

The Space Debris: A Journey to Earth in the 3-D version duly projected the gravity of the issue and explained ESA is clamoring for fixing the space debris problem.

Meanwhile, space debris problem has also sparked concerns over the safety of the International Space Station which is in the low-Earth orbit.

According to NASA flight controller Robert Frost, space debris can cannibalize the ISS only if the space lab and debris start traveling in opposite directions.

ISS is well shielded by Whipple bumpers at the front with layers of spaces in between. At the space debris conference, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet also spoke about the safety of the ISS and said it is well guarded for objects up to 1 cm across.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Authorities from Allegan County informed health officials that a surgeon may have endangered patients as well as the public by performing liposuctions in a pole barn, which served as a center for cosmetic surgery. According to health officials, the county sheriff's investigators noted that the procedures were carried out in the building along 114th Avenue in Glenn.

Glenn residents declared that Dr. Bradley Bastow is the man who allegedly performed liposuction in an unlicensed facility. Bastow's name is also listed on a permit in the pole barn window.

Liposuctions Performed In Pole Barn

The website for Body Laser Sculpting lists different locations in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and South Haven. However, the main business address is at the South Haven facility, listed as the location of the pole barn. The barn's exact location is between South Haven and Saugatuck.

"At Body Laser Sculpting (BLS), your positive patient experience is our main priority. That is why we are excited to offer you a new technology that allows us to precisely remove unwanted fat from your thighs, hips, abdomen, love handles, knees, back, arms, neck and chin," noted the website.

According to BLS, Bastow performs numerous kinds of aesthetic procedures, such as breast augmentations and facelifts. The health department, however, has only expressed concern for the liposuctions so far.

Liposuction is the removal of fat deposits underneath the skin. Most often, the procedure employs a hollow stainless steel tube through a powerful vacuum.

Angelique Joynes, the Allegan County Health Officer, warned people to immediately seek medical care in the off chance that they'd had cosmetic surgery at that site, especially if they showed signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, and fever.

"If you have had surgery at this site and have any signs of infection such as fever, redness, and swelling, seek immediate medical care," she nsaid.

The health department received a police report that there's a possibility that the necessary Biohazard Standards were not followed at the location of Body Laser Sculpting. The health department confirmed that the building lacks any certificate of occupancy and that it's not listed for any business activities.

Bastow And Health Standards Violations

This is not the first time that Bastow fails to meet the national regulations concerning health standards.

Back in 2013, when he was a cardiologist at the 950 Blue Star Highway, Bastow was fined $1,000 by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for safety violations involving the use of radioactive material.

The contraventions were identified during a special inspection conducted by the NRC in 2012 when it was discovered that Bastow was using unlicensed radioactive materials for diagnostic medical tests.

"Even though these violations did not result in harm to medical staff or patients, our action underscores the expectation that NRC license holders will adhere to NRC requirements to make sure nuclear material is used safely," noted Cynthia D. Pederson, NRC Region III Administrator.

The NCR also sent a letter to Bastow in April 2013, when they raised significant concerns about the facility and suggested that the staff didn't file any complaints about the violations because they were afraid of losing their jobs.

In a response to the letter, Bastow had agreed to modify whatever is needed to meet the regulations.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Two of the biggest chipmakers are in for a potential high-stakes battle. With rumors about AMD's Radeon RX Vega GPU making the rounds, a flurry of reports about Nvidia's counterattack has also surfaced: a new GeForce GTX 20-series based on Volta Architecture.

AMD Radeon RX Vega GPUs

The Radeon RX Vega leaked recently via a teaser, offering the first look at the GPUs in addition to the limited-edition models AMD will sell. As leaks suggest, the high-end GPU variant will come in a unique packaging, complete with specialized LEDs that glow beneath the "R," signifying the Radeon brand.

Beyond that, however, the video had precious little else. But previously leaked details paint a better picture of the Radeon RX Vega's specs as well as the final design.

The AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics card, which uses the Vega 10 GPU, will come with an AIO liquid cooler. The card will have a heatsink that leverages liquid cooling to output better thermal performance.

In terms of internals, here's what we know so far: The Vega 10 GPU will utilize with the latest 14-nanometer GFX9 core architecture. It will feature 4,096 stream processors and 64 compute units. AMD has plans to increase throughput via increased clock speeds.

The cards will feature two HBM2 stacks of up to 16 GB in total. However, AMD has said that it will allow partners to ship the card in various memory configurations. As such, the consumer variant will only have 8 GB of HBM2 VRAM. This would pave the way for authorized board partners to alter the Vega GPU's memory die stacks or the total number of stacks.

The chip's server part is expected to come with 225 W TDP with around 1,526 MHz in terms of clock speeds, although consumer variants may feature higher speeds. In terms of memory, the Vega 10 GPU will mimic the Radeon R9 Fury's four layers per stack configuration with 256 MB per layer, but it's expected that these layers will feature higher densities.

The high-end Vega 10 GPU is expected to launch in the first half 2017.

What We Know So Far About Nvidia's Volta Architecture

Now, let's look at Nvidia. Recent rumors say that Nvidia is gearing up to release chips based on the successor to its Pascal architecture. This is known as Volta, as The Motley Fool reports.

Based on the company's traditional upgrade cycle, Nvidia is bound to release new cards by the end of the year or early 2018, especially with the GTX 10-series lineup nearing the end of its life. The release, however, has been pushed to Q3 2017, earlier than expected.

The reason behind this, according to the report, is poor market conditions. Nvidia's Q1 2017 results gave "very meager" profits due to a number of reasons. With the new Volta chips, Nvidia's goal is to boost prices and attempt to raise profits.

The primary lineup will be divided into four main GPUs: GV100, GV104, GV102, and GV110. They will be marketed as Nvidia GeForce GTX 20-series cards. Rumors say these cards will also finally feature HMB2 for its RAM interface like the Vega is expected to.

Core count and frequencies are metrics we're completely left in the dark with, but expect those specs to surface soon as the launch becomes more imminent. These cards are also expected to improve memory speeds on the GDDR5X platform.

Why Nvidia Volta May Threaten AMD Radeon RX Vega

Because Nvidia's Volta cards are expected to launch a little later than AMD's Radeon RX Vega cards, the GeForce GTX 20-series stands to enjoy a more significant market capture because it can potentially take away from Vega sales.

If AMD launches Vega GPUs in June, and if Nvidia launches Volta GPUs around July to September, the hype around Vega would have already died down. Nvidia then would have the perfect opportunity to launch Volta with the proper fanfare.

There's also the potential of Volta being quite a significant improvement over Pascal. If true, then it's easy to imagine that all eyes would be on Volta. But until specific metrics become available, such as core count and performance, then it's all guesswork for now. One thing is clear, however: Expect a GPU shootout from the two biggest chipmakers this year.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tech Times reported on Feb. 25 that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report revealing that mortality rates due to drug overdose have more than doubled since 1999. The death toll caused by opioids definitely affects not only patients who involuntarily become addicted to prescription drugs but curious children who are exposed to them as well.

The Cherokee Nation, however, has had enough of the opioid that crisis plaguing the United States and tearing families apart. In response to what it considers negligence on the part of pharmaceutical companies, the sovereign Indian nation filed a lawsuit against five companies in tribal court.

Cherokee Nation Lawsuit

The lawsuit was filed on April 20 at the District Court of the Cherokee Nation and accuses Mckesson Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc., Amerisourcebergen, CVS Health, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

The Cherokee Nation believes that the abovementioned pharmaceutical companies failed to properly monitor opioid prescriptions and turned a blind eye on the issue for the sake of profit.

According to the lawsuit [PDF], the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) estimated that 845 million milligrams of opioids were distributed in the 14 countries that compose the Cherokee Nation in 2015. On the same year, Mayo Clinic computed that the defendants distributed approximately 7,200 milligrams of opioids, which roughly translate to 360 to 720 pills per prescription drug user.

"As we fight this epidemic in our hospitals, our schools and our Cherokee homes, we will also use our legal system to make sure the companies, who put profits over people while our society is crippled by this epidemic, are held responsible for their actions," Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker said.

Governments Versus Pharmaceutical Companies

The Cherokee Nation is not the first government to strike against pharmaceutical companies. In February, Erie County in New York sued four other pharmaceutical companies for costing the county millions of dollars annually just to fight the crisis.

West Virginia also filed lawsuits to several pharmacy chains and distributors.

Pharmaceutical Companies Respond

In a statement, CVS Health said that it enforces strict policies to avoid what the company is being accused of.

"[CVS Health has] stringent policies, procedures, and tools to ensure that our pharmacists properly exercise their corresponding responsibility to determine whether a controlled substance prescription was issued for a legitimate medical purpose before filling it," the company says.

Gabriel Weissman, spokesperson for AmerisourceBergen, released a statement saying the company immediately stops the shipment of orders that seem suspicious.

Cardinal Health, on the other hand, said that the company will defend itself against the accusation, adding that the lawsuit would not help improve the current situation.

McKesson and Wal-Mart have not commented on the lawsuit and while Walgreens declined to comment.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati received the 2022 Adepi Award

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the World Intellectual Property Review's "Influential Women in IP" of 2020.

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2018.

* IPKat founder and Blogmeister Emeritus Jeremy Phillips listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

* Recommended by the European Patent Office as reading material for candidates for the European Qualifying Examinations, 2013.

* Listed as "Top Legal Blog" in The Times Online, March 2011.

2010 ABA Journal 100. * One of the only two non-US blogs listed in the Blawg100.

* Court Reporter Top Copyright Blog award winner, November 2010.

* Number 1 in the 2010 Top Copyright Blog list compiled by the Copyright Litigation Blog, July 2010.

* Selected by the United States Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to Legal Blawgs as of 2010.

* Top Patent Blog poll 2009: 3rd out of 50 in the "Favourite Patent Blog" poll and 2nd out of 50 in the "Most-read" poll.

Blog of the Year, 20 August 2008. * ComputerWeekly IT Law and Governance, 20 August 2008.
The world's largest forest must be protected through a coordinated, efficient, and active process, President Nicolas Maduro stressed. | Read More
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson later said that he agreed with this remark and said the deal was a failure.

Before these remarks, the department said: The U.S. Department of State certified to U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan today that Iran is compliant through April 18th with its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

However, this is not a contradiction or mixed message from within the Trump administration. Iran is carrying out numerous violations of human rights on a daily basis and is the biggest exporter of terror. It is meddling in the internal affairs of other countries in the region and is fuelling wars in several countries, including Syria.

Experts also say that the Iranian regime is carrying out clandestine work on a nuclear weapon  something that started before the nuclear deal was signed and is still continuing to this day. Although there is nothing to specifically ban this in the nuclear deal, it clearly goes against the spirit of the deal.

Political commentator, Charles Krauthammer, pointed out that there are three things needed in order for a nuclear weapon to become usable. Firstly, fissile material, then a way in which it can be made into a weapon, and thirdly, ballistic missiles.

He said: The problem is that the Obama administration looked only at the fissile element. But what the Iranians are doing  and this is so obvious a child could see it  is while the program on the fissile material is frozen, theyre working rapidly on the weaponization  and of course on the ballistic missiles, which we can see.

He too agreed that it was clear Iran is violating the spirit of the agreement by continuing to develop a nuclear weapon. He said: Yes, they are developing a nuclear weapon. Its a violation of the spirit of agreement, because the way they look at it, in half a decade, theyll be able to resume the fissile material  the enriching uranium  they will have weaponized, and they will have the missiles.

Iran has also recently revived a request to import 950 tons of natural uranium. During the final few weeks of his presidency, Obama had agreed, but it was blocked by the United Kingdom. There are calls for President Trump to deny the request. Several White House officials have already expressed their opposition to the request.
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Roughly 400,000 of Louisianas flood insurance policyholders could see cheaper prices and better coverage if Congress makes it easier later this year for insurers to sell private flood coverage, industry experts say.

Such a move also could mean skyrocketing rates for 100,000 other policyholders in coastal areas of the state left behind in the National Flood Insurance Program, unless Congress takes steps to provide relief. Suggested fixes include providing those policyholders with subsidies, making private insurers share the risk or mandating that every federally-backed mortgage has flood protection, even on homes outside risk zones. The last two suggestions would spread the risk to make the insurance affordable, proponents say.

"If a private market emerges, I anticipate that 400,000 of those 500,000 (policyholders in Louisiana) will get better coverage at cheaper rates than offered by the National Flood Insurance Program," Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said. "The other 100,000, mostly in coastal areas, will not."

Congress will take up reauthorizing the financially strapped National Flood Insurance Program later this year.

Louisiana traditionally is a major beneficiary of the program, which expires Sept. 30. In 2016, the NFIP had 59,932 claims and made $3.7 billion in payments. Louisiana, with the catastrophic August flood and another one last March, accounted for close to half of those claims and $2.4 billion in payments.

Congress has been wrestling with reforming the NFIP for years. The program is $25 billion in debt, with $17 billion of that from hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

Donelon and others are confident the renewal legislation will include a fix enabling banks to accept private flood insurance as an alternative to NFIP policies for federally backed mortgages. Lenders require homebuyers in high-risk zones to buy flood insurance, and nearly all of that coverage now comes from the NFIP.

An influx of private insurers would allow the federal program to shed the risk on properties in low-risk areas, properties that typically account for 25 percent of the programs annual losses, Donelon said.

Having low-risk properties in the program help spread the risk and lower the overall cost of flood insurance, so removing the less-risky policies may trigger higher rates in Louisiana's coastal parishes.

"But from my perspective, and most if not all of my colleagues', the benefit that the great majority would receive  outweighs the risk to our more vulnerable folks in coastal, low-lying parts of our state," Donelon said. "It is a tricky path to navigate, but I think we can manage it."

The NFIP renewal would have to include a provision to provide coverage at affordable rates for the 100,000 coastal policyholders, Donelon said. He believes Congress is willing to subsidize those policies.

U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, likes the idea of private insurers increasing competition and lowering the cost of flood insurance. But private insurers' entry should be managed, he said.

"If you just flat out allow private insurers to come in and cherry pick the market, you're going to have the high-risk pool largely comprised of folks in south Louisiana," Graves said.

One way to avoid that is requiring private insurers to take on a certain percentage of higher-risk properties. Another possibility is to let private insurers come in with no conditions, but require the federal government to subsidize premiums in the areas where federal government activities have increased the likelihood of flooding.

Some may argue that residents of high-risk areas should pay more for flood insurance, Graves said. The problem with that argument is that the federal government is responsible for that vulnerability.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the mismanagement of the Mississippi River system largely created the coastal erosion that's made south Louisiana so vulnerable to flooding, he said. Those same federal actions are also the reason so many Louisiana property owners pay disproportionately high rates for coverage.

"This whole issue of the federal government making us more flood-prone and then trying to make us pay for it is bogus," Graves said.

Property owners should pay for coverage, but they should only bear the costs for the risk they caused, he said. There is growing support for this idea.

Others are less concerned about the impact of private flood insurance on the NFIP. Joe Pigg, senior vice president of mortgage financing at the American Bankers Association, said the industry group doesn't believe private insurers will take over the flood business.

"We think the NFIP will be the default (coverage) as it has been, but private policies will be available to drive competition and lead to better prices," Pigg said.

The bankers want the NFIP to remain in place, he said. However, the group is hoping reauthorization will address some of the program's challenges, including implementing rates that cover costs while remaining affordable.

Five years ago, when the flood insurance program came up for renewal, Congress enacted reforms to make flood insurance premiums cover costs. Enormous rate increases resulted. Louisiana homeowners reported premiums 10, 20 and even 50 times higher. Property owners howled, and in 2014 Congress reversed course to limit rate increases.

But many, Donelon among them, expect Congress will again push the NFIP to become self-sufficient.

Making that happen while keeping flood insurance affordable will be difficult at best.

Donelon believes he has the solution, one he has suggested for at least a decade: require flood and earthquake coverage for every federally backed mortgage, not just those in high-risk zones.

Only about 14 percent of U.S. homeowners currently buy flood insurance. Compare that to the United Kingdom, where 95 percent of homeowners do. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners says that's because flood insurance is bundled with homeowners coverage. UK consumers arent given the choice of buying flood insurance separately.

Another reason for the low U.S. participation is that flood insurance isn't required for homebuyers in low-risk areas, Donelon said. That sends a strong message to the property owner that flood coverage is a waste of money.

Mandating flood and earthquake coverage would spread the risk across enough households to sharply reduce the cost per policy, he said. Unfortunately, the idea has failed to gain traction, as quake-prone California and its voters oppose the idea.

Company protests flood recovery contract award, says state picked more expensive company A losing firm that bid on the state's lucrative flood recovery contract filed a protest Thur

Some form of mandatory flood coverage is one of the more common suggestions for the NFIP. Mandatory coverage was one of two dozen recommendations the National Association of Insurance Commissioners suggested lawmakers consider in a 128-page study, Flood Risk and Insurance, released earlier this month.

The Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance, a group led by Greater New Orleans Inc. CEO Michael Hecht, has offered a similar number of proposals, including considering mandatory flood insurance for properties that have flooded in the past and received federal assistance for repairs.

The coalition also recommends increasing Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding, which helps communities pay for projects to prevent future floods.

Graves, who is working with the coalition, said the current NFIP contains some "amazing flaws." One of the biggest is that flood and hurricane protection and coastal restoration projects aren't focused on the areas where the NFIP's greatest liabilities lie.

There's about $10 billion a year available through a variety of programs for that work, Graves said.

Graves said he is optimistic that he can explain the proposals and why they make good policy, but it's going to be challenging to get enough support to include them in the NFIP renewal.
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James Gill: Judge's alchoholism is sad, but will turn ugly if she won't resign for treatment
The directors of one of the most popular coffee shops in Canberra's central business district, Cafe Garema, are facing legal action over allegations of serious breaches of record-keeping laws and staff underpayment. The Fair Work Ombudsman has filed suit against Yang Brothers Investment Pty Ltd and its directors, twin brother Yong "Johnny" Yan and Zhi "Jackie" Yang, who run the Civic cafe. Cafe Garema in Civic. The Fair Work Ombudsman has taken the cafe's directors to court over alleged record-keeping failures and underpaid wages. Credit:Rohan Thomson It centres on FWO allegations the company and its directors failed to make or keep appropriate workplace records, by failing to record employees' names, starting dates, hours worked, pay rates, payments made, leave accrued or taken, superannuation payments or issue pay slips. Ombudsman Natalie James said the failures to keep the records were so "sub-standard" it prevented inspectors from determining "just how much the workers had been underpaid".

The FWO has alleged as many as 12 cafe employees were underpaid, with just two weeks of records showing workers were paid flat rates of $14 and $20 an hour, and those affected were underpaid $1353 in total over that fortnight, only one of whom has been back-paid their entitlements. But inspectors were unable to find any other employment records for the business during a regional compliance audit. It was the second time the cafe had come to the Ombudsman's attention, after an employee complained about the directors in 2012, after which the FWO sent "educational material" about workplace laws and record-keeping. Ms James said "another concerning fact" was that many of the employees were young workers, the youngest being just 17 years of age at the time. The company faces penalties of up to $27,000 for each alleged record-keeping and pay slip contravention while both directors each face penalties up to $5400 for each breach.
If Daniel Andrews wasn't worried about the Liberals' prospects at the next Victorian election, he probably should be.

This month's "two strikes and you're in" law-and-order pitch marked something of a turning point for Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, not because of its policy substance, but because it resonated with voters and presented the first major sign of an alternative government willing to come up with bold ideas early in the political cycle.

Matthew Guy: predictably wants to get tough on crime. Credit:Ken Irwin

Guy's plan to introduce tough new mandatory minimum sentences for violent criminals who reoffend on 11 serious crimes might indeed be as its critics describe: a simplistic solution to a complex problem.

But the trouble for Andrews is the Liberals are successfully tapping into legitimate fears about community safety on an issue the Premier has struggled to address. Against the backdrop of a rising tide of violent offences and youth justice riots, could it ultimately sway votes? You bet.
"So the Vice-President's family is in town. There has to be a joke about fourpence found in Sydney. I can't think of one and probably only older people will understand." Thanks anyway Paul Stevens, North Epping.

I feel for Graham Lum (C8) as I also receive several scam/nuisance calls each day, says Ralph Davis C8PhD, Wahroonga. "BT in the UK has a great (and free) solution. Their Call Protect system identifies rogue numbers and blacklists them. Surely we can implement this in Australia?"

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen, right, offer leaves to a kangaroo during a visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney. Credit:AP

"I got sick of scammers pretending to be 'Support' staff ringing to try and get remote access to my computer to fix non-existent viruses, so I decided to have a bit of fun at their expense. For the next scammer, I decided to: 1.Take everything he said the wrong way. 2. Take everything he said personally. 3. After that, sing Katy Perry songs. I filmed the whole encounter and posted it on YouTube called 'How to drive a computer support scammer absolutely mental', if you're interested." Lisa Phillips, Castaways Beach (Qld).

I am a Telstra customer with a Telstra Bigpond email address, reports Irene Swil, North Bondi. "I received in the post a flyer offering rewards. Printed on it was: "We've mailed this offer to you because the email version sent to your nominated email address couldn't be delivered." Not only could Telstra not email its own material successfully to its own customers, but it anticipated many such occurrences that this message was 'pre-printed'."
Anzac Day, like Christmas and Easter, is a time of myths and legends. A persistent myth hangs off these words attributed to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, an Ottoman officer at Gallipoli and the founder of modern Turkey:

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side in this country of ours. You, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land, they have become our sons as well.

A rainbow marks the Anzac Day national ceremony in Canberra in 2015. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

British historian Jenny Macleod says these are the most frequently quoted words about Gallipoli. They are lovely words, whether in English translation or Turkish. Yet there is no strong evidence Ataturk ever said or wrote them. Their invention and promotion says far more about politics and diplomacy than it does about remembrance.

There have been many guesses about dates in the 1930s when the words might first have appeared. The official Turkish version is that Ataturk wrote them for his interior minister, Sukru Kaya, to use in a speech at Canakkale on March 18, 1934. (Kaya's other claims to fame include probable involvement in the Armenian genocide of 1915-18 and ethnic cleansing of Kurds in the 1930s.)
The politics of housing affordability is shifting rapidly underneath the Turnbull government. If it doesn't find an adequate position within the increasingly narrow parameters it has set itself before the budget is announced on May 9 the issue risks getting away from it altogether.

The Prime Minister's response on Friday was not encouraging. After months of senior government figures raising expectations that housing affordability would be a centrepiece of the budget, Malcolm Turnbull downplayed the likelihood of it being a major focus.

Hitting the heartland: The overall effect of the latest round of home loan interest rate rejigs will be to improve bank earnings. Credit:Michele Mossop

This may have just been an attempt to manage hopes, given there is only so much the federal government can do to slow the extraordinary surge in property prices in Melbourne and Sydney given what it has already ruled out.

But that it came on the same day Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar stressed there would be something to help first-home buyers raise a deposit  though almost certainly not the proposal floated by some Coalition MPs to allow young Australians to raid their superannuation to get into the housing market  added to confusion about the government's plans less than three weeks from budget day.
As military tensions on the Korean Peninsula escalated further on Sunday, defence experts said Pyongyang could have the ability to strike Australia with an inter-continental ballistic missile [ICBM] within three years  but it cannot hit the mainland yet.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop delivered a blistering rebuke to the hermit kingdom after it threatened a nuclear strike against Australia for "blindly and zealously toeing the US line", arguing the regime should spend money on its citizens, not on weapons.

And the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the ruling North Korean Workers' Party, suggested the North's "revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a US nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike". It would be "an actual example to show our military's force" according to the newspaper, but such a strike would also likely lead to war on the peninsula.

Two Japanese navy ships, the Samidare and Ashigara, were en route on Sunday to join the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group for exercises off the Korean peninsula.
Carrie Bickmore

Like a good pinot, this gown by South Australian couturier (try saying that after a few glasses) Paolo Sebastian just gets better the more times you look at it. Statement earrings, a hint of midriff and the dramatic overskirt make this her best red carpet yet.

(Ox) blood on the red carpet ... The Project's Carrie Bickmore. Credit:Getty Images

Olympia Valance

Someone please tell Peter FitzSimons we have found his wayward headscarf. Going the full Spanish goddess, the Neighbours star promised something big, and she delivered, with more than a bit of help from CON ILIO.
Five months after graduating from university as a language teacher, Anna Du Plessis was asked to teach geography.

Since then, she has spent about 15 of her 26 years as a teacher working in subjects she isn't qualified to teach, ranging from high school maths to primary school music.

"I don't know anything about geography and I can't read a note of music," she said.

"I had to get people to tutor me so I could deliver a decent lesson, it was a really difficult time."
A sign inside a Queensland retailer's store has led to a flood of online complaints and calls to boycott the store.

Cold Steel Piercing in Cairns North is understood to have turned a customer away purely because they were Israeli.

Mohr Wenger alleges she was told by Cold Steel Piercing staff she would not be served because she was Israeli. Credit:Facebook

This allegation comes from comments posted by Mohr Wenger on her Facebook page, including an image of the alleged sign.

"The guy looked kind off (sic) confused and asked us where do we come from? Israel," Ms Wenger's post said.
WHITE sorghum could be the answer for the gluten-free market, but a lack of education about how to use the ancient grain is curbing demand, while the lack of premiums for farmers is curbing supply.

White sorghum makes up less than five per cent of Australia's total sorghum crop, but has shown promise in poultry and pig nutrition, with better weight gain over red sorghum.

Manufacturers and distributors of white sorghum products are witnessing a steady increase in demand for white sorghum products. Credit:Glenn Hunt

It's also filling the gap for coeliac or gluten-intolerant consumers who need an alternative to wheat-based products.

But there's a big stretch from research proving its higher level of nutrition to premiums paid by either the stockfeed or human consumption markets, which is needed for growers to make the switch from red to white sorghum.
Big companies will be offered major financial incentives to set up in Victoria under a $90 million budget push to boost jobs and investment.

After a string of spending announcements over the past year, next week's state budget is expected to be "leaner" than usual, partly to shore up the government's financial position ahead of next year's election.

Credit:Jessica Shapiro

While the Opposition has been fighting hard to make law-and-order a key theme to capitalise on alarm about Melbourne's crime problems, the Andrews government is desperate to turn the focus back towards the economy and employment, areas which it regards as a strength.

It will announce an extra $90 million over four years for a fund designed to boost employment in "priority" industries, including manufacturing and aviation.
Prosecutors and the Purana taskforce have moved to confiscate a $10 million property portfolio allegedly controlled by convicted underworld boss Rocco Arico, which includes his luxury home, a development site, a coastal property and a bathing box on the Mornington Peninsula.

The Moonee Ponds mansion bought by Arico's wife in 2015 is nicknamed the "ice castle" by law enforcement authorities because it was allegedly bought and extensively renovated with the proceeds of his vast drug-dealing empire.

Rocco Arico was arrested in 2015 and convicted of drug trafficking, extortion and weapons offences in 2016 and 2017. Credit:Pat Scala

Arico, who is considered one of the most powerful crime figures in Victoria, was sentenced earlier this year to 14 years' jail for drug trafficking, extortion, and weapons offences.

Supreme Court judge Cameron Macaulay agreed to issue restraining orders over five properties on March 31 after receiving sworn evidence from police that Arico had "engaged in serious criminal activity" under proceeds of crime legislation.
Every day, 50,000 cars thunder up and down the Western Freeway between Melton and Caroline Springs. In one stretch where thousands of new homes are being built, dirt roads are the only way in or out.

It is a region projected to grow to more than 400,000 people  the size of Canberra.

Which is why on Sunday, Melton City Council and, perhaps a little unexpectedly, Victorian senator Derryn Hinch, went to lobby the state and federal governments for a $78 million road upgrade.

The council has asked the Andrews and Turnbull governments in budget submissions to improve the freeway  for better road safety, and so future residents of the under-construction Thornhill Park estate can get around.
Vicki Howard bears the scars of life in a street overrun by heroin addicts.

A needle-thin scar that follows the line of her jaw was given to her by an addict who was shooting up in the gravel laneway that runs behind her house.

Vicki Howard (pictured with her daughter Gail Mann) was attacked by an addict. Credit:Justin McManus

"We told him to move on, but he started arguing the point, and I started arguing back, of course. Next minute he attacked my daughter, he grabbed a pole and came back and started hitting both of us."

Little Charles Street, Abbotsford, where Ms Howard lives, is ground zero for the heroin crisis that has exploded in Melbourne in the past two years.
Paris: The final hours of many electoral campaigns are frantic affairs, dominated by last-minute pitches, late-breaking polls and massive social media campaigns aimed at drumming up turnout.

Not so in France.

Police on the Champs Elysees after the attack on police on April 20. Credit:AP

Rules dating back more than half a century impose a 44-hour timeout ahead of the polls' closure on Sunday, meaning that politicians, journalists - and even ordinary citizens - are supposed to refrain from broadcasting any form of "electoral propaganda".

For at least the last three French elections, voters in the town of Louviers, about 100 kilometres north-west of Paris, have cast ballots for the candidate who ultimately won the presidency. So who are they voting for Sunday, in the country's closest race in memory?
Bill Ford Returns To Familys Ancestral Home Town To Mark Centenary Of Ford In Ireland

 William Clay Ford Jr, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company, celebrates 100 years of Ford in Ireland by unveiling plaque in Ford familys ancestral home town of Ballinascarthy

 Great-grandson of Ford Motor Company founder, Henry Ford, to participate in civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Cork City, attended by 300 current and former Ford employees

 Ford factory founded in Cork, Ireland, was established in April 1917  the first purpose-built Ford Motor Company factory outside of North America

CORK, Ireland - April 22, 2017: William Clay Ford, Jr., Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company and great-grandson of the companys founder, Henry Ford, today unveiled a plaque and bench in Ballinascarthy, Ireland, to commemorate 100 years of Ford in the country.

The unveiling took place in the center of Ballinascarthy, a small village 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Cork city, Ireland, from where Henry Fords father, William Ford, and his family emigrated to the U.S. in 1847. The family settled in Michigan, where Henry Ford was born in 1863.

I am excited and honored to be coming home to Cork to celebrate 100 years of Ford in Ireland, said Bill Ford. Ford has deep roots in Cork, not only through my familys historical connection, but also through the impact that the Ford factory has had as an engine for prosperity for the area over many decades.

During his visit Bill Ford will also participate in a civic reception at Cork City Hall, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Cork City, at which the contribution of employees of Henry Ford & Son Limited during the past 100 years will be recognised. The event will be attended by 300 current and former employees.

Henry Ford remained conscious of his familys heritage throughout his lifetime, choosing his ancestral home city of Cork as the site for the first purpose-built Ford Motor Company factory outside of North America. The Ford factory in Cork was established in April 1917.

As Henry Ford said in his own words: My ancestors came from Cork, and that city, with its wonderful harbour, had an abundance of fine industrial sites. There was, it is true, some sentiment in it (the decision to establish the factory in Cork).

The company that Henry Ford legally established in 1917 was entitled Henry Ford & Son Ltd., and that continues to be the legal name of Ford in Ireland to this day  the only Ford entity in the world to include the full name of the companys founder in its title.

The Fordson tractor was initially the main product of the Cork plant, which by 1929 had become the largest tractor factory in the world. The factory also produced passenger cars including the iconic Model T. The last Model T ever produced by Ford anywhere in the world rolled off the Cork factory production line in December 1928.

The Model A, Model BF, Model Y, Prefect, Anglia, Escort, Cortina and Sierra models also were manufactured in Cork until the plants closure in 1984.

Ford today has the widest network of dealers of any automotive manufacturer in Ireland, with 52 dealerships providing direct and indirect employment to 1,000 people across the country.
if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
In the intervening year since Prince passed away, a lot about the world has changedfrom Donald Trumps election to the United Kingdoms earth-shattering Brexit movebut one thing remains certain: the loss of The Purple One has left a gaping hole in the heart of music.

Trying to cope with that loss, acclaimed author and Prince mega-fan Ben Greenman set out to write a book that is part memoir of a generation, part biography of the late musicianexploring the importance of a single man on how the world sees race, ideology, and identity.

The book, Dig If You Will the Picture: Funk, Sex, God and Genius in the Music of Prince, was previously excerpted here at The Daily Beast. And in a brief conversation on the one-year anniversary of Princes death, Greenman elaborated a bit on where the late legends legacy is headed.

Has anything changed about his legacy a year after hes gone?

Time is a strange thing, because his death seems as though it happened both a century ago and yesterday. Has his legacy changed? Probably not, in some waysor rather, it changed immediately following his death, swollen by grief, and then settled back down. What we're left with now is the question of how posthumous music will shift our sense of his achievement. Each time there's a new release, either an unauthorized one like Deliverance this week or authorized ones like the projected Purple Rain reissue, there will be a little site of inflammation in his legacy. That album or that period will get increased attention for a while. In the end, the larger questions about his legacy aren't questions that I felt I can answer until much later. How will his music and his style fit into the America of 2030 or 2040? Those are great questions, but slow questions.

Youve mentioned how much you previously avoided talking with other Prince obsessives, but his death changed that?

His death didn't really change my relationship to the rest of the Prince community, except insofar as I reminded myself how much I appreciate all the different ways that people love his work. Some people are outspoken on online forums, and proud of it. Others are more private. Others still are just discovering his work, and they come at it from the perspective as a student. I'm still (despite having written a book about it) pretty private about my fandom, and my relationship to Prince's music.

What about his death inspired you to write a book that is also something of a cathartic release of your own private feelings on Prince?

I have spent the last five years working with musicians on their memoirs, from Questlove to George Clinton to Brian Wilson, and I have spent lots of time thinking about the link between emotional memories and artwork. In this case, I didn't want to write a straightforward biography (some already exist, and they are good ones) or a straightforward critical assessment (same). I wanted to also build in the experience of being a Prince fan, of experiencing his songs, albums, and shows over the years, partly in the hopes that readers will find points of contact. Every Prince fan has their experience with and their memories of his work. These are mine, but maybe it will harmonize profitably with the experiences and memories of others.

Did the election and the tensions therein at all shape how you approached writing about Prince?

Yes, definitely. Prince died in April, and I started writing, and pretty soon I was in the thick of both the book and the election season. The election depressed me for many reasons, and not only in the outcome. The tone was so strident, and the camps so separate, and the way that facts were marshaled was so punitive, and the effect of technology on media (both in how it gave people social-media platforms and in the way it kept the news cycle churning) was so toxic. The whole situation frequently felt out of control. So I wrote between those two clouds, the cloud of Prince's death and the cloud of the election, and the work was, sometimes, a ray of light.

Have you visited Paisley Park since his death?

No. I have such strange, mixed feelings about Paisley Park. I have some friends who are Elvis obsessives, and some of them love visiting Graceland, and some of them won't go near it. I am in the latter camp. I think it's a strange thing to do anyway, to make a pilgrimage to a site associated with a deceased artist, and Paisley Park as a site is still too raw: it's the place where he died, and it now has an urn with his ashes that is a tiny replica of the place. Again, this is all chalked up to personal choice, and I'm by no means maligning people who trek to Chanhassen, but the way I visit this particular artist is by revisiting the work.

What do you make of the endless fascination with how he died and who is to blame? Is it the crass public obsession with celebrity or is there also an element of the mystery that constantly surrounds Prince?

There's definitely an element of Prince's mystery woven into his death, as it was woven into his life. It's also a legitimate and timely legal matter: how people get opioids and who over-prescribes and how people (not just celebrities) game the system are all issues that have real relevance in today's America. Even so, the part of it that verges on death-cult is uncomfortable. Perhaps it's understandable: we had it with Cobain, and with Elvis, and with Hendrix, and with Jim Morrison. It's one of the ways that our society deals with this kind of trauma. We obsessively scrutinize it.

Which current artists do you see as carrying onward his legacy of shattering identities and ideologies?

I think Prince was a hard artist to imitate, but easy to be inspired by, in the sense that there aren't too many other music stars in any genre who are quintuple threats: write songs, play songs, sing songs, produce songs, perform songs. Plenty of people do some of those things well, but almost no one does all of them well. So I think his influence is more felt, as you say, in the idea of conceptual bravery, going after ideas hard without much concern for which conventions you shatter. Recently, Beyonce has done a great job of moving past the earlier, chart-topping version of herself into a much more personal space that helps her investigate questions that are both personal (identity, loyalty, jealousy) and political (social justice, feminism, racism). Any time there are artists who bend categories, or who take existing categories and make them wobble by the force of their personality, whether Blood Orange or Chance the Rapper or Frank Ocean or Anohni or Solange, I think of Prince. They don't have to sound like him. They don't even have to think like him. They just have to push like him.
One hundred years ago this month, a train pulled by locomotive No. 293 arrived at the Finland Station in Petrograd (St. Petersburg). Though it was late at night, a large crowd waited waving red flags and flowers. Within a sealed railcar was a passenger who would soon become dictator of the worlds first Marxist state: Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Lenin.

Returning from a decade in exile, he was jubilantly greeted by socialist comrades, old and new, who a month earlier had deposed Nicholas II. The Russian Revolution achieved by you, Lenin declared at the station, has opened a new epoch. A new epoch, to be sure, but certainly not a better one for the more than 100 million people who, over the course of the next century, would be tortured, persecuted, and murdered in the name of communism.

Tragically, these facts are controversial to someand even unknown by manyin 2017. In particular, a large swath of the millennial generation is unaware of and indifferent to the horrors and deceits of communism as well as those of its fellow-traveling collectivist ideology, socialism.

A recent study conducted by YouGov found only 33 percent of millennials are familiar with Lenin. Of those who are familiar, 25 percent view him favorably. The study also revealed, among other disturbing insights, that 32 percent of millennials believe more people were killed by the administration of George W. Bush than the regime of Joseph Stalin, which was responsible for no fewer than 15 million deaths.

Influenced by educational and cultural systems hostile to free-market economics and willing to whitewash the human toll of Marxism, young Americans are increasingly turning to socialism and other forms of extremist ideology. In a 2016 poll by Harvard University, 33 percent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 said they supported socialism while 51 percent said they opposed capitalism. Alarming also are the findings that only 25 percent of millennials now believe that living in a democracy is essential, down from 75 percent for their grandparents generation.

At the same time, polls suggest that young people value equality more than democracy. From these data we can infer that many millennials care deeply about the state taking care of them, even if it undermines democratic processes. In a word, collectivism.

In fact, our foundation has tracked the growth of dozens of neo-Marxist organizations active on college campuses and in urban protest movements. Their membership is growing and may now be as high as several hundred thousand. Not surprisingly, these groups are revisionist on U.S. history and spread 21st-century propaganda on American social mediamessages crafted or borrowed from those transmitted in Havana, Beijing, and even Pyongyang.

Senator Bernie Sanders and other leaders of a newly emergent left deploy the phrase democratic socialism as their new ideal. Yet one word, a mere rhetorical modifier connoting noble intent and good governance, should not suffice when it remains unclear how their vision differs from the bloody and economically disastrous socialism experienced by nearly 40 nations in the last hundred years.

But the problem of historical distortion and misperception runs deeper. Last month, the university press of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology  ranked the seventh-best university in the country by U.S. News & World Report  released Communism for Kids. By Bini Adamczak, a Berlin-based social theorist and artist, the book presents political theory in the simple terms of a childrens story, accompanied by illustrations of lovable little revolutionaries experiencing their political awakening. The lovable little revolutionaries, beginning with Lenin, continuing through Che Guevara and Mao Zedong, and remaining with us today from Pyongyang to Caracas, have inflicted misery on the lives of hundreds of millions.

The soil of ignorance and envy bears not fruit but thorns.

Today, hammer and sickle flags once again flutter above the Crimean Peninsula. In socialist Venezuela, workers are now forcibly relocated to collective farms in coercive efforts to remedy the man-made famine now emaciating the once-prosperous country. In Hong Kong, for the first time in history, Mao is portrayed in textbooks as a socialist heronot a mass murderer. It was this Beijing-mandated revised history curriculum that sparked the 2014 student protests known as the Umbrella Movement.

In 1919, two years after Lenins return to Russia, Lincoln Steffens, eminent muckraker and co-founder of The American Magazine, spent three weeks touring the then newly-established Soviet Union. Enthralled by what he had witnessed, he boasted back home, I have seen the future, and it works. The it, of course, was communism.

Before long, the Russian experiment devolved into tyranny of unprecedented scale marked by famines, forced labor, show trials, and the brutal repression of opposition. Although Steffens himself jettisoned communism by the early 1930s, he would forever serve as a punching bag for his botched prophecy.

Yet he wasnt entirely wrong. While communism clearly failed to bring utopia, Steffens had in fact, tragically, previewed the future. The Soviet Union lasted another seven decades and today, one-fifth of the worlds population still lives under single-party communist regimes in China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam. The century of Communism began 100 years ago. The ideology responsible for more deaths than any ideology or religion in human history continues to exact a tragic human toll.

In perverted distortion of Lincolns aspiration for America, these regimes work every day to ensure that governments of the party, by the party, for the party shall not perish from the earth.

More Americans must stand up to defend the truth about what has happened and what is happening when it comes to the failed ideas of collectivism, both socialism and communism. We must fight for justice where feasible, for those who were killed for ideological reasons and their families who continue to suffer. And we must fight to cultivate accurate memory about this difficult history, without which neither truth nor justice is possible. Nor, it would seem, is American democracy.
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said he doesnt understand Democratic opposition to funding the border wall because top Democrats voted for it just over 10 years ago.

During a April 23 segment on Fox News Sunday, Mulvaney talked down concerns about a government shutdown, but scolded Democrats for obstructing action on Trumps border wall. Mulvaney pointed to the voting record of top Democrats in 2006 to explain his confusion.

"We want our priorities funded and one of the biggest priorities during the campaign was border security, keeping Americans safe, and part of that was a border wall, he said.

We still dont understand why the Democrats are so wholeheartedly against it. They voted for it in 2006. Then-Sen. Obama voted for it. Sen. Schumer voted for it. Sen. Clinton voted for it. So we dont understand why Democrats are now playing politics just because Donald Trump is in office.

Mulvaney is referencing their votes on an act that authorized a fence, but as weve noted several times in the past, the 2006 fence was less ambitious than the wall Trump is proposing. His statement that Democrats supported a similar proposal is partially accurate but leaves out important context. It rates Half True.

The Secure Fence Act of 2006

The Secure Fence Act of 2006, which was passed by a Republican Congress and signed by President George W. Bush, authorized about 700 miles of fencing along certain stretches of land between the border of the United States and Mexico. The act also authorized the use of more vehicle barriers, checkpoints and lighting to curb illegal immigration, and the use of advanced technology such as satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles.

At the time the act was being considered, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer were all members of the Senate. (Schumer of New York is now the Senate minority leader.)

Obama, Clinton, Schumer and 23 other Democratic senators voted in favor of the act when it passed in the Senate by a vote of 80 to 19.

Originally, the act called on the Department of Homeland Security to install at least two layers of reinforced fencing along some stretches of the border. That was amended later, however, through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, which got rid of the double-layer requirement.

Currently, 702 miles of fencing separates the United States from Mexico, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

So how does that compare to Trumps wall?

Trump plans for the wall are vague, but heres what we know.

He said the wall doesnt need to run the nearly 2,000 miles of the border, but about 1,000 miles because of natural barriers. He said it could cost between $8 billion and $12 billion, be made of precast concrete, and rise 35 to 40 feet, or 50 feet, or higher.

Experts have repeatedly told PolitiFact that the differences in semantics between a wall and a fence are not too significant because both block people.

Still, there are obvious differences between the fence and Trumps wall proposal.

A 2016 Associated Press report from the border described rust-colored thick bars that form teeth-like slats 18 feet high. There are miles of gaps between segments and openings in the fence itself, the report said.

Trump criticized the 2006 fence as too modest during the 2016 campaign.

Now we got lucky because it was such a little wall, it was such a nothing wall, no, they couldn't get their environmentalprobably a snake was in the way or a toad, Trump said. (Actually, the project didnt face environmental hurdles; we rated that part of the claim Mostly False.)

Its also worth noting that the political context surrounding the 2006 vote was different, too.

Democrats normally in favor of looser immigration laws saw the Secure Fence Act of 2006 as the lesser of two evils, according to a Boston Globe report that detailed the legislative process. Around that same time, the House passed legislation that would make any undocumented immigrant a felon.

It didnt have anywhere near the gravity of harm, Angela Kelley told the Boston Globe, who in 2006 was the legislative director for the National Immigration Forum. It was hard to vote against it because who is going to vote against a secure fence? And it was benign compared with what was out there.

Democrats have described Trumps wall proposal as overkill and too expensive. Recently, Democrats penned a letter to Senate GOP saying border funding should not be included in the latest budget agreement to keep the government open.
HALLE, GermanyLeave it alone, she was warned, you will only harm yourself. Sixteen-year-old Elke Bauer, as well call her, wasnt supposed to ask too many questions: not about her sexual assault, not about her mysterious injections, not about the vaginal probing that amounted to torture, not about her virtual imprisonment.

It was springtime in 1968, and Elke had gotten pregnant after a Russian soldier raped her in a forest near her home town of Halle, a city that back then had the bad luck to be in the Soviet-backed East German surveillance state, otherwise known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

One year later, she had dropped out of school and was working around the clock in a department store to support herself and her new-born son. Bauer repeatedly tried to appeal for child support from her attacker, who, she says, was a big guy in the occupying forces. But she would never see or hear from him again.
Before he allegedly kidnapped a 15-year-old student, former Tennessee teacher Tad Cummins was under police investigation for his relationship with the girl, a new criminal complaint reveals.

Cummins, 50, was arrested Thursday in Siskiyou County, California, nearly 2,500 miles from the Tennessee town where he allegedly kidnapped 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas on March 13. Cummins had been Thomass high school teacher until he was suspended for inappropriate relations with her several weeks before the pairs disappearance. And the new federal warrant released after Cumminss arrest suggests that the former teacher planned the kidnapping for weeks.

Police became aware of Cumminss suspicious behavior on Jan. 30, when the schools resource officer told them that, a week earlier, a student had seen Cummins kissing Thomas. It was not a father-daughter type kiss, the student told the school resource officer. The unnamed student also said that they and a classmate confronted Cummins over the inappropriate behavior they witnessed. But Cummins allegedly gave the students a meandering explanation, at one point appearing to blame Thomass history.

The student related that Cummins rambled on and on about how much he loved his wife, but indicated that [Thomas] sometimes went to church with him and his wife and that [Thomas] had a troubled past, the warrant reads.

Two days after meeting with the safety officer, police went to the school to interview Cummins, who denied kissing Thomas, and told police that he acted as her father figure at school. School officials ordered Cummins to stay away from Thomas. But two days after the police interview, a school safety officer informed police that Cummins had been alone in a classroom with Thomas against school orders. Cummins was suspended from his teaching position on Feb. 6.

During Cumminss suspension, the school launched an investigation into his communications, the arrest warrant reveals. Officials seized two school-issued electronic devices: a computer and an iPad. Cummins reportedly became upset over the iPad device, advising that he had personal information on the device, including information about purchases he had made, and was reluctant to give up the device, the warrant reads.

But while Cummins was suspended, he began plotting his disappearance with Thomas, the warrant suggests. The week before the kidnapping, Cummins took out a $4,500 loan, his wife told investigators. A police investigation revealed that Cummins had falsified information on the loan application. Cummins also stocked up on Cialis, an erectile dysfunction pill, three days before fleeing town, police discovered.

The morning of his March 13 disappearance, Cummins allegedly borrowed his wifes Nissan Rogue and left home with a bogus alibi, telling his wife he was going to a medical center for a job interview. Before becoming a teacher, Cummins had worked as a respiratory therapist. But a police investigation revealed that Cummins had not scheduled an interview at the medical center. Instead, he drove to the restaurant where Thomas worked. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station showed him filling his tank before turning toward the restaurant, where Thomas was last seen.

Cummins had previously visited Thomas at the restaurant, and her coworkers had reason to be suspicious of him. Thomass familys lawyer previously told WKRN that when Cummins had visited the restaurant in the past, Thomas had hidden in the bathroom and begged a coworker to tell Cummins she wasnt working that day. The morning of her disappearance, Thomas allegedly appeared worried about going to work. "She woke up her older sister and said 'Hey I'm leaving, but if I'm not back by 6:00 come looking for me,'" her sister-in-law told WHNT .

The evening of March 13, neither Cummins nor Thomas returned home. Thomass father called the police, telling them his daughter had gone missing, and that he feared she might be with Cummins. Cumminss wife, meanwhile, returned home to find a note from her husband. In the note, Cummins explained that he was travelling to Virginia Beach or the D.C. area to clear his head. He said he would be back and urged his wife not to call the police. Cummins denied doing anything wrong and asked his wife to forgive him, the arrest warrant reads.

But when Cummins had not returned by 7:30 the following morning, his wife called police against his orders. She told investigators that Cummins had disappeared with the $4,500 loan he had taken out, along with two handguns, clothes, and toiletry items. With his cash, the guns, and the full tank of gas, Cummins fled west with Thomas.

In the two days after the alleged kidnapping, Cummins drove his wifes Nissan Rogue at least 650 miles to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. There, on March 15, a Walmart surveillance camera captured Cummins and Thomas walking through the front of the store. Their hair was dyed darker, in an apparent effort to conceal their identities. Surveillance footage from a Tennessee Walmart had showed Cummins purchasing womens hair dye before the kidnapping. But the Oklahoma City Walmart footage would not be discovered for another two weeks, when an employee at an Oklahoma City motel checked customers logs and discovered that Cummins had used his own name and drivers license to book a one-bed motel room the nights of March 15 and 16. Cummins had asked a motel employee for directions to Walmart.

The following night, Cummins checked into a different motel in western Oklahoma, over 250 miles away from Oklahoma City. There, he also allegedly shopped at a Walmart, this time purchasing lubricant frequently used for sex. Then his trail went cold. Neither he nor his victim were sighted again until April 19, when the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation received a call from northern California. The tipster, who called from a rural area inside a national forest, told investigators that Cummins and Thomas had moved into a cabin approximately a week and a half earlier.

Local police spotted the Nissan Rogue that Cummins had borrowed from his wife six weeks earlier. The cars plates had been removed. As dawn broke on the wooded area, local police took Cummins into custody, investigators announced during a Thursday press conference .

Cummins was charged with a federal count of transporting a minor across state lines with the intent of engaging in sexual activity, in addition to his earlier charges of aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor.

Thomas, meanwhile, was recovered safely, and reunited with her family.

All we know is that shes apparently healthy and unharmed. Knowing that, our main concern is how she is emotionally and mentally, Maury County district attorney Brett Cooper said during the Thursday afternoon press conference. Whatever help we can offer, we will make sure that it is provided for her.
PARISTwo days after Donald Trump declared that anti-immigrant, anti-European Union, anti-NATO, pro-Russian, anti-American, pro-Steve-Bannon Marine Le Pen was the strongest on borders, and shes the strongest on whats been going on in France, she has made it through the first round of the countrys presidential elections and into the sudden-death runoff that will take place on May 7.

If she manages to win, her election will have stunning consequences domestically and internationally, multiplying the shocks that have followed on the Brexit vote and Trumps ascent in the United States.

A Le Pen victory would also be welcomed by Russias Vladimir Putin, who recently received her at the Kremlin as if she already were a head of state.

Right now, however, it looks like Le Pen doesnt have much of a prayer, and France may well position itself as a new bulwark against Trump-style xenophobia and populism.

Her second-round rival is 39-year-old former banker and economy minister Emmanuel Macron, who is pretty much in favor of everything that Le Pen opposes. He was the only one of the four leading candidates who did not speak warmly of Putin. He embraces globalism; he has even waved the European Union flag at his election rallies. And while Trump rooted for Le Pen, former President Barack Obama called Macron to give him encouragement.

Macron, whose youthful good looks remind many people of Canadas Justin Trudeau, has had a meteoric rise. Only a year ago, Macron had just left the Socialist government of the wildly unpopular President Francois Hollande to form a movement he called En Marche!, claiming he would draw support from voters who previously backed the traditional parties of left and right. He cast himself as the voice of optimism in a political landscape dominated by fears, whether of economic stagnation, immigrants, or terrorism. And if his solutions were often vague, and sometimes wonkish, the mood of his campaign was relentlessly positive.

The potential success of that gamble was evident within minutes of the first vote tallies based on samples of ballots from around the country. Neither of the two parties that have traded power back and forth since the 1980s, the Socialists and the Gaullists (currently known as Les Republicains), managed to make it into the runoff. But the losing candidates from both parties instantly told their supporters to vote against Le Pen.

Francois Fillon, the former prime minister running for Les Republicains, warned that Le Pens National Front is an extremist party, known for its violence and intolerance, that would bring chaos and bankruptcy not only to France but to Europe. And he warned his disgruntled supporters that voting a blank ballot, or not voting at all, would not be acceptable.

Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve called on the French to vote for Macron, and so did Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon.

As Sundays vote approached, fears had grown that another wild-card challenger, the far-left Jean-Luc Melenchon, supported by the French Communist Party and various fringe groups, might actually make it into the second round and leave French voters with a choice of two extremes. Melenchon, a strong debater and skilled user of social media, had developed enormous momentum, and in the end came close to Fillons score, but not to the two leaders, Macron and Le Pen. He did not concede, as others did, based on preliminary results, and did not call to unite against Le Pen.

Despite Macrons many advantages at this point, his election as president is not yet a done deal. There will be a one-on-one debate, and Macrons performances on stage with other candidates have not been strong, while Le Pen has a flair for rhetoric that many French find appealing, even when they dont like her policies. She may also gather support from several right-wing fringe parties.

We wont know definitively until two weeks from now whether France has turned back the populist tide, or succumbed to it.
Pity King Kigeli V, the last king of Rwanda, who died, aged 80, last year in Washington.

The former monarch had been living in greatly reduced circumstances after the market for honorary Rwandan knighthoodshis primary source of income since being deposed in 1961dried up.

King Kigeli had traded the ancestral fortresses of his youth for a subsidized townhouse and subsisted largely on food stamps, but he was also, according to his obituary in the New York Times, supported by occasional stipends from a British organization known as the International Monarchist League (IML), of which the chancellor (and why should a Monarchist League have anything as democratically plebeian as a president?) is the celebrated British-born historian and writer of noble Russian heritage, Count Nikolai Tolstoy.

Count Nikolai, a distant cousin of the great author of War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy, has been chancellor of the IML since 1985, when he took over the job following the death of one of the Leagues many colorful characters in its history, Victor Hervey, the Sixth Marquess of Bristol, a celebrated upper-class rogue (and brilliant businessman).

When I spoke to the Counthe has asked me to call him on his library telephone for the interviewI asked him how he got to know King Kigeli in the the first place.

Well, I cant say I knew him well, Tolstoy airily replied, but I think he came to one of our dinners, and I sat next to him.

Are the rumors that the Monarchist League supplied him with financial support true?

Well, it wouldnt be normal because [the League] is not completely rolling in money, but its just a sort of thing that we like to get up to if we possibly can, said Tolstoy, artfully ignoring my queries about how much the former king actually received.

Later he informed me via email, when I bluntly asked if it was closer to hundreds or thousands, that the King could not conceivably have received anything remotely approaching thousands of pounds.

Another longtime member of the league, Henry von Blumenthal, also declined to put a figure on the assistance rendered to the former King, but recalled that the first practical support the League provided to the King was to buy him a new suitat a not inconsiderable cost because Kigeli stood a truly regal 7 feet 2 inches in his socks.

Of course, in the best traditions of all societies from the Famous Five to the Skull and Bones, there is a voluminous history of internal dissent in the league.

Indeed, even the subject of the occasional gifts to King Kigeli are contentious: one member, Don Foreman, who was secretary-general of the League from 1991 to 2001, told me confidently that nothing was done officially by the league for King Kegali, although he speculates that an American clergyman who was a member may have provided him with some financial help, but is careful to add, The money didnt come out of our account.

Another life member, Gregory Lauder-Frost, a British author and well-known right-wing voice in the U.K., who was publications editor and secretary-general for the group for several years until 1993, was surprised when he heard of the alleged gifts to King Kigeli, and told me he would disapprove of the handing out of cash to tribal chiefs on the basis that, when it came to deposed Kings, the society should remain focused on the established European familiesthe Habsburgs in Austria and the deposed Kings of Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania, for example.

Foreman (Lauder-Frosts successor as secretary-general) disagreed and argued that the strong tradition of monarchy in Africa was a powerful force for unity on the continent.

The League was founded long before the issue of whether or not to buy a suit for a deposed Rwandan monarch could have conceivably become a bone of contention.

It was established by a Church of England vicar, The Rev. John Edward Bazille-Corbin in 1943, primarily, according to Foreman, in the belief that preserving the monarchies of Eastern Europe and the Balkans would act as a bulwark against Communism.

The League followed the path pressure groups have trodden since the dawn of the media age; they wrote to newspapers espousing the royal cause and made themselves available to journalists writing on royal matters. They were moderately influential, especially when you consider, as Foreman noted, that they were essentially a bunch of guys in a pub.

But the League fell into abeyance in the 60s and became virtually dormant, until being revitalized by Victor Hervey, the 6th Marquess of Bristol, a millionaire tax exile who had spent time in jail in his youth for his part in the Mayfair Boys jewel heist, and allegedly ran guns to Franco during the Spanish civil war.

Victor was a sound as a bell, said Lauder-Frost. Everything written about him in the media was rubbish because the media is full of left-wingers. He ran guns to Franco and helped Franco defeat the communists, which is good enough for me.

Hervey became chancellor of the League in 1975, and pumped money into its ailing structure.

As a hereditary peer, Hervey had access to an enviable list of establishment figures and was also entitled to book rooms in the House of Lords, where he organized lavish dinners to which he would invite a stellar collection of (mostly deposed) European royals: King Michael of Romania, Otto von Habsburg (the rightful heir to the Austrian throne), and King Simeon of Bulgaria were among the invited guests.

They were very convivial occasions, said Lauder Frost. Formal diners, white tie and we used to get a lot of publicity. We enjoyed it and there was also a sense that we were fighting for a cause.

They were certainly high times for the League.

Herveys last appointment to the Grand Council (what less regal organizations would call a committee) before his death in 1985 was the aforementioned Henry von Blumenthal.

Basically, Victor paid for the League, said von Blumenthal. He financed the whole thing, and that sounds like a good thing, but actually it wasnt really, because it meant that the League didnt concentrate so much on expanding its members, getting in subscriptions and all those sorts of things. And so when he died, it wasnt financially stable. I then became the treasurer and I was the treasurer for about ten years and I had always held the view that the League was barking up the wrong tree.

It had tended to be a sort of society of royalty watchers. And I was interested in the ideology of it. And I thought that if you want to do royalty watching, you can buy a copy of Hello! I thought that the Leagues purpose, was not just to watch what royalties are doing, but to say why monarchy is a good system and should be supported.

And so, I started to compile materials which were, if you like, of a more ideological nature. I wrote articles about why monarchy should be supported.

Parties were part of the groups DNA.

You cant run a pressure group without organizing events, said von Blumenthal, but while Hervey favored expensive banquets attended by members of royal families, Blumenthal shifted the focus.

I remember there being a drinks party in the House of Commons, [events] more along those sorts of lines. Fashionable, affordable events rather than what had happened in Bristols day. We tried to make the thing a bit more, I dont know if the word is populist, but a bit more accessible to young and not necessarily rich people.

Tolstoy took over as Chancellor when Hervey died. Lord Bristol was delightfully eccentric, Tolstoy recalled. His heart was in the right place but I didnt think the League was getting very far.

Was Hervey as roguish as is made out? He kept the Monarchist League going but he wasnt the best advert, said Tolstoy. I liked him because he was, as you say, a real rogue.

The League still cleaves to a certain grandeur, however. Tolstoy described a recent dinner in the Orangery at Kensington Palace as very enjoyable and says that his most practical work for the League these days involves representing the pro-monarchy side at University debates such as the Oxford Union.

The League is clearly a collection of eccentric and outspoken individuals, but on the central issuethat constitutional monarchy is a superior structure for a state than a republic with an elected head of statethey all agree.

Tolstoy witheringly dismisses the many achievements of the much-respected and praised Irish President Mary Robinson. Everybody said she a latter-day saint. It seemed to me she was just a sort of pious non-entity that you get at the top of a republic.

Foreman argues that the key thing about a Monarch is, not the power that they have, its the power they deny others.

Lauder-Frost says that Monarchs who claim hundreds or thousands of years of history have a significance that presidents who are for the most part nobodies can never claim.

On this there appears unityeven if on the question of the advisability of buying King Kigeli a new suit, it seems, the International Monarchist League will remain forever divided.
If you think there are too many letters in the ever-expanding LGBTQIA acronym, wait until you see how many pages there are in the LGBT encyclopedia.

When I received a press release about the three-volume SAGE Encyclopedia of LGBTQ Studies receiving some sort of reference title accolade from Library Journal, I asked the representative to send me the entire damn encyclopedia instead.

After a couple daysit didnt seem like a lot of other journalists had made this requesthe was finally able to grant me access to a digital copy. And then I spent three days digging through the 1500-page encyclopedia, trying to find topics I hadnt already covered during my time as an LGBT reporter.

I learned two things: We know so much already about the LGBT community. But theres even more that we dont know. And with LGBT-related questions being left out of the 2020 censusand the Trump administration axing similar questions from a federal survey for the elderlyits going to be challenging to fill in those gaps.

The good news is that, even after almost a decade of studying and writing about LGBT issues, I was surprised by what I found in the Encyclopedia of LGBTQ Studies.

Did you know that theres a term for gaydar in Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Portuguese, Hebrew, Russian, and Korean? I didnt. And apparently research in the behavioral sciences has confirmed that gaydar exists, working with above-chance accuracy even when test subjects are shown only small portions of [peoples] faces.

Other entries conclusively bust old myths that still circulate today. For example, the idea that some transgender women are just straight men with a sexual fetish for the thought of being womenwhich emerged in the nineties but is still popular in the conservative press todayis summarily dismissed with the note that subsequent research has found little empirical basis for such a classification.

Ditto the myth of the older gay man in the 1970s as lonely, single, and desperately seeking sexual encounters with younger men in bars or bathhouses, which the encyclopedia notes has been dispelled in a series of research studies showing that older gay men tend to have sex with men close to their own age and form long-term relationships.

But most of the new facts I learned were much less gratifying to read. I discovered, for instance, that the Dont Ask, Dont Tell policyno longer in effect in the military as of 2011is still de facto in effect for adoption agencies that make international placements.

Because the United States and South Africa are the only two sending countries in the world with adoption laws or policies that support the placement of children with nonheterosexual people, adoption agencies face the significant ethical dilemma of wanting to make international placements in good homes without violating the birth countries laws.

This forces lesbian, gay, and bisexual people looking to adopt internationally to return to the closet for the duration of the process.

And then I stumbled across something I had never even considered before: the potential effects of dementia on transgender elders. Because it wipes away memories, dementia, and its latent forgetting, has the potential to undermine the transition process and obfuscate the persons true identity. In other words, some transgender elders might not remember their transition, which can be jarring for service providers who have always known them as their authentic selves.

By the end of three days with the volumemy eyeballs sore from scanning the digital pagesit was clear that I have only scratched the surface of the LGBT community.

As encyclopedia editor and Clark University psychology professor Abbie Goldberg noted, the set is a testament to both scholarly and public interest in the filed of [LGBTQ] studies, as well as to the vast array of research being conducted on LGBTQ lives, relationships, and communities. But vast as it may be, it is not nearly vast enough.

The problems facing LGBT elderslike social isolation, depression, and a lack of acceptance in senior care facilitiesare dire, especially as more Baby Boomers reach retirement age. For instance, as the encyclopedia notes, Options for low-cost, LGBTQ-friendly, public elder housing are virtually nonexistent. But at the same time, LGBTQ older adults are rarely considered in aging or health research. And without that crucial data, it can be harder to make the case for programs and initiatives designed to help aging LGBT people.

In a boon to researchers, the Department of Health and Human Services added LGBT-related questions to the National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants in 2014 but, as NBC Out reported in March, they were missing from a newly-released draft of that survey. The LGBT elders organization SAGE subsequently accused the Trump administration of erasing LGBT elders.

And as The Daily Beast has previously reported, researchers still have to make informed guesses about the size of the LGBT population. The Williams Institute at the University of California has produced estimatesand Gallup has chimed in with an estimate of 10 million Americans, or four percent of the populationbut adding LGBT-related questions to the census would give us a much clearer picture. Unfortunately, they will not appear on the 2020 census. And as it stands, researchers have to use strange workarounds to collect data from federal surveys.

For example, one encyclopedia entry on the size of the LGBT population notes, the U.S. Census data on same-sex unmarried partners are derived as a byproduct of a variable that was developed to measure cohabitation.

So many other entries expose the unfortunate limits of our knowledge about LGBT people. Transgender military service has sparked heated debate. How many transgender people are in the military? The prevalence of transgender persons serving in the military is currently unknown. Bisexual people have been estimated to constitute a slight majority of the overall LGBT community. What happens to them as they age? [T]here is hardly any empirical research looking specifically at the experiences of older bisexual people.

More often than I would have liked, I ran up against these roadblocks as I tried to sate my curiosity. I counted about 40 instances alone of the phrase little research.

Filling in these gaps could have powerful consequences. We have seen the impact of LGBT research before. As Goldberg notes in the introduction to the encyclopedia, Researchers from numerous disciplines have turned to, or intensified their focus on, LGBTQ issues; this research, in turn, has been used to inform key political and legislative decisions, such as the recent U.S. marriage equality decision.

Research on LGBT people ends up being cited in Supreme Court decisions and amicus briefs, in legislation and floor debates, in grant proposals and board room meetings. And its not that there arent scholars and scientists eagerly awaiting the opportunity to create new and necessary knowledge about LGBT people.

Securing funding for studies can be a major hurdle. As a 2014 University of Pittsburgh study found, one half of one percent of National Institute of Health-funded studies between 1989 and 2011 looked at LGBT health issues. That is dramatically out of proportion with Gallups estimate that four percent of Americans are LGBT.

It might seem strange to say that I came away from a 1,500-page LGBT encyclopedia wanting to know more. But 1,500 pages is not nearly enough.
Last month, Christians around the world celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. An integral part of this, the foundational moment in Christian history, is that three days earlier Jesus was hung on a wooden cross in a humiliating and agonizing death. By the Middle Ages the True Cross (as the cross of Jesus is known) would become the most significant relic in the Christian world. To this day, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem claims to possess pieces of it. But they arent the only ones. Fragments of the True Cross are said to reside in churches and basilicas all over Europe. Is it possible that any of them are the real deal? Whatever happened to the scaffolding for the most important event in Christianity?

At first blush it seems unlikely that any given European relic of the cross would be authentic. In the first place there are just so many. By the end of the medieval period, every royal, high ranking noble, and semi-large was claiming to house important relics of one kind or another. In a satirical piece on pilgrimage, the world-renowned sixteenth century humanist Erasmus wrote, So they say of the cross of Our Lord, which is shown publicly and privately in so many places, that, if all the fragments were collected together, they would appear to form a fair cargo for a merchant ship. Clearly not every one could be authentic.

As it turns out, Erasmus was being hyperbolic. A survey of extant pieces of the cross, published in 1870 by de Fleury, concluded that actually the volume of fragments in circulation was not even enough to reconstruct a cross, much less build a boat. So far, so good, but are they real?
At 3:15 p.m., on April 29, 1992, I was standing in the newsroom of The Outlook newspaper in Santa Monica, California.

Along with a dozen other reporters, watching a grainy television hung from the ceiling, the verdicts in the trial of four white LAPD officers charged with beating black motorist Rodney King were read.

Even for the most cynical journalists who said Rodney King had done himself no favors by leading police on a 100 mph chase across northern Los Angeles, the famous videotape of him being beaten by up to 20 LAPD officers was too much to take.

We all believed they would be convicted of something.

We thought following the verdicts we would head to shopping malls, churches, government offices, police stations and into the city streets to get peoples reactions to at least some of the officers being convicted.

Not guilty not guilty not guilty. And it kept coming.

With those words, we all knew something terrible was about to happen.

And it did. The city went up in flames. More than 60 people were killed. The veneer that all was right with the world in the land of endless summer was laid bare for the world to see. Klieg lights were replaced by the blinding beams of police helicopters.

Its been 25 years since Los Angeles ripped itself apart. This week, our documentary The Lost Tapes: LA Riots is appearing on the Smithsonian Channel. Unlike most documentaries, ours has no narration and no interviews. Instead, we use the media from the time to tell the story. We feel it is the best way for viewers to experience what happened in real time.

There are currently six documentary films about the riots on television networks. People have asked me, Why now? Why so many films on the 25th anniversary? Some have suggested that the tragic events should be allowed to fade into history. I disagree.

The riots were a watershed moment in modern American history. The nations second-largest city lost control. Law enforcement was overwhelmed. Businesses were destroyed. Lives were tragically cut short. It is a moment that deserves to be examined with the advantage of time passed, in an effort to try and understand what happened and why.

But unlike past anniversaries, remembering how Los Angeles nearly destroyed itself is needed now more than ever. The nation is divided in ways that we have not seen in decades; racial divisions in some places are as strong as 92. In retelling the story of the riots from all points of view, we hold a mirror up to ourselves and ask: How much have we changed?

Or have we changed at all?

The person who filmed the beating of Rodney King is named George Holliday. He happened to be living at the wrong place at the right time, and had a cameraone that recorded what can be argued is one of the worlds first viral videos. Today, in a society where just about everyone has a cell phone with a camera, we are all George Holliday.

Recordings of police brutality have become common on the internet. These images outrage us. They show that what happened in Los Angeles in 1992 is not a fading memory, but still very much a tragic part of Americas cultural fabric. Riots have occurred in places like Ferguson, Missouri, lit by the same kind of fuse that exploded into violence in 1992.

By not trying to understand what happened in Los Angeles, the videos that now travel around the world in an instant live in the vacuum of the moment.

At a recent screening of our film, former Los Angeles City Council members Nate Holden and Michael Wooboth key political figures during the riotssaid that only by making the effort to understand the differences between races and cultures can we move forward. That is the legacy of the LA riots. The city made changes. The LAPD is different today than it was then. Its far from perfect, but the effort was made. From the council chambers in City Hall, to police precincts, to gatherings of neighborhood groups, people stood together said, enough.

Our film details what happens when those caught up in the heat of the moment forget that those who are different have the same hopes and fears as anyone else. That is what we learn from the past. It cannot be legislated into existence. Its a desire to change that comes from within.

Without making that effort, cell phone cameras will continue to capture images like the King beating. And we will be left to wonder, Why does this keep happening? instead of asking ourselves where have we come from, where are we going and what can we do to make sure it never happens again.
Controversial right-wing Congressman Steve King made headlines in March when he tweeted his support for anti-Muslin Dutch politician Geert Wilders saying, Wilders understands that culture and demographics are our destiny. We cant restore our civilization with somebody elses babies. One can only imagine, then, the level of dismay Wilders, King, and others must feel from the latest Pew Research report which drops the bombshell that Babies born to Muslims will begin to outnumber Christian births by 2035.

While this is good news for Islam, it poses unique challenges for Christianity, which is a faith that has long emphasized family and the great commission (a command to spread Jesus message globally).

For Christianity, the problem begins with an aging population: Christians have had a disproportionately large share of the worlds deaths (37 percent), according to the study. The global Christian population continues to grow, but more modestly. According to the study, Christian deaths are outpacing births, especially in Europe.

For Islam, the story is significantly different. In fact, between 2010 and 2015, births to Muslims made up an estimated 31 percent of all babies born around the world  far exceeding the Muslim share of people of all ages in 2015 (24 percent).

For some Christian traditions, whose emphasis is on families and reproduction, this news may bring mixed feelings.

From a Catholic perspective, says Colleen Gerke, president of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministersan organization, that seeks to strengthen the Churchs commitment to familiesthe report underscores the direction the Catholic Church must take.

The Pew report is in line with the urgency that Catholic faith leaders have already articulated. This urgency concerns not just our theology, but the need of using new methods to evangelize, reaching not only those who identify themselves as Catholic, but also our non-Catholic brothers and sisters, she said.

She is convinced that an essential part of the Catholic Churchs growth is first through the family. Many might first put the focus on big families, but she says the cornerstone of a strong society begins with strong marriages.

The Catholic Church has long professed the importance of strong marriages building strong families. These strong families then become the building blocks of strong communities and strengthen society, she adds.

She points to the marriage initiative from U.S. Bishops, which provides marriage advice and education to U.S. Catholics, as an example of the Churchs theology in action.

It is out of our Catholic understanding of marriage that we choose to become parents committed to raising Christian children, who live and bring the Good News of the love of God and salvation through Jesus Christ to the world.

God has given us this gift of Christian marriage and family, she adds, and embracing this gift as intended with love and joy will provide us the momentum neededto grow as a Catholic Church.

It isnt news to say that not all Christians hold to what is sometimes called traditional families. Christianity has its share of diversity on procreation, contraception, gender, and familyrunning the conservative to liberal spectrumbut there are smaller segments of Protestant Christianity that have even rarer perspectives on what makes a large Christian family necessary.

They believe in transforming society by out-reproducing other worldviews, and this Pew study speaks volumes to that core commitment of their faith.

For example, the largely Protestant Quiverfull movementwith movement reflecting their shared theology, as they are not actually an organized grouppromotes a religious form of natalism (childbearing for the sake of cultural growth). The idea was introduced to pop-culture by the once widely watched show 19 Kids and Counting, which followed the lives of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their nineteen children.

Quiverfull comes from Psalm 127:3-5, which says that children are a blessing and like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons of ones youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them

A prominent voice advocating Quiverfull theology is Nancy Campbell, publisher of Above Rubies, a magazine in its 40th year which seeks to strengthen marriages and families. Campbell emphasizes that (in her eyes) Quiverfull isnt a movement, but it is a sovereign move of God.

There was a time when people accepted that children were a blessing and an average family would have six to ten children, she tells The Daily Beast. However, as feminism and humanism increasingly became the culture of our society, couples were brainwashed to believe that it was more important for wives to get out in their careers than to stay home with children.

Campbell agrees with Pews findings. She believes that some Christians are turning to Quiverfull ideals, but that Pew exposes continued Christian disobedience to Gods first command in Genesis 1:28. In that passage, God says, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, commanding Adam and Eve to have dominion over the earth.

(This is sometimes called the culture mandate or creation mandate of Genesis.)

The proof that the Bible is correct [is] when it says that the people who are fruitful and multiply will take dominion, says Campbell. The more people born, the more the vote goes the way of the majority of people. If there are more Muslims, they will vote for their religion. If there are more Christians, there will be more votes for Christianity. This is a serious threat to [the] USA, which was founded as a Christian/Judaea nation and on the truths of the Bible.

Children reveal Gods glory, she adds. God created His world to be inhabited and it has not yet been fully inhabited.

Other theologians who are not part of the Quiverfull world, but are theologically adjacent on some points, also see Genesis 1:28 as providing a cultural mandate to take dominion, and procreation plays an important part.

The divine logic for bearing children seems to be that the earth is a large place, and it will take more than two people to oversee it, that is to say, to create culture, says P. Andrew Sandlin, founder and president of the Center for Cultural Leadership, and an ordained minister in the Fellowship of Mere Christianity.

Sandlin says he has no real first-hand knowledge of Quiverfull, but he does see children as an essential part of fulfilling the command of Genesis 1:28. Human families, he says, are Gods way of growing his family.

I must add, says Sandlin, that the Gospel of John, chapter 17, indicates that one reason God created humanity was to share in the loving communion of the Trinity. In short, God wants man and woman to bear children because he himself wants children. Of course, they are not identical to his Son Jesus, who is deity, yet nonetheless, as creatures, they are meant to be his children whom [he] can love and with whom he can commune.

The Pew report, according to Sandlin, belies the need for Christians to make procreation a priority.

A Reformed evangelical Protestant, Sandlin holds to a postmillennial theology, which sees the progress of history as moving upward and the lions share of the worlds population as one-day embracing the Christian faith. The churchs job, according to Sandlin, is to transform culture.

If one is postmillennial and also believes in the cultural mandate, he will likely see Christian children and succeeding generations as the divinely appointed human means of advancing the kingdom of God, says Sandlin. The problem, from his point of view, is when Protestants and Catholics see families as optional.

The increasing disposition of both Protestants and even Roman Catholics to look on childbearing as secondary or non-essential is in direct contradiction with the biblical creation mandate.

Christians arent the only ones getting bad news from the Pew report; the religiously unaffiliated are not expected to inherit the earth either.

Although also not a movement or a cohesive group, the religiously unaffiliated do have some shared characteristics. They tend to reject institutionalized religion, either through rejecting theism or by the embrace of individualized spirituality. They are also increasingly becoming secular in worldview.

In the United States, studies show that the nones have risen from 16 percent in 2007 to 23 percent in 2014. Globally, however, the trend is in reverse. While religiously unaffiliated people currently make up 16 percent of the global population, notes Pews report, only an estimated 10 percent of the worlds newborns between 2010 and 2015 were born to religiously unaffiliated mothers.

While birth to a nonreligious family is not the only way to become a none, as many join this demographic by leaving a faith, Pew says that switching is overshadowed by the impact of differences in fertility and mortality globally.

For many, this is not surprising.

All else being equal, religious traditions that are more pronatalist are more likely to spreadits simple math, says Professor Ara Norenzayan, author of Big Gods: How Religion Transformed Cooperation and Conflict and director of the Centre for Human Evolution, Cognition, and Culture at The University of British Columbia.

People often forget that the much higher fertility rates in religious populations is a powerful countervailing force against secularizing trends, so the worlds population as a whole is not becoming more secular, at least not for the time being.

Some believe, however, that the future for those who are religiously unaffiliated or secular isnt yet written.

I think well just have to see, says Paul Fidalgo, Communications Director for the Center for Inquiry, which seeks to foster a secular society based on science, reason, and humanist values. Reproduction isnt the only means by which a society becomes more secular.

Fidalgo sees the possibility of the de-conversion of children from religious families as gaining momentum from an ever-increasing access to information. The rise of secularization, he says, is strongly connected to the exposure of ideas made possible through the Internet and emerging technologies.

The enabling technologies are only going to improve in the coming years, he adds, making it easier and easier to be exposed to new ideas. Filter bubbles aside, of course.

Fidalgo doesnt believe in ignoring the signs that point to the rise of Islam and diminishing numbers of the religiously unaffiliated, however. It only reinforces the need for those of us who believe in the importance of secularism, skepticism, and humanist values to remain active and steadfast.

He notes that human beings are complex and religious faith changes.

I expect that regardless of their parents beliefs or their theological identifications, coming generations willbe more inclined to embrace science and reason in other areas of life, not less. Thats been the historical trend, and I dont see why that should necessarily change or reverse.

And there are reasons to see the Pew report as not being the final word.

Its conclusions are based largely on the faith of a childs mother, with the assumption that children will adopt the faith of their mother until at least adulthood. While this is a strong signal of a childs faith, it only takes into consideration half the parental equation in which partners or society may have an entirely different influence.

Additionally, a recent study by psychologists Will Gervais and Maxine Najle from the University of Kentucky suggests thatat least in Americathe number of atheists figured by polling firms may be wrong. A Gallup poll from 2016 indicates that possibly up to 10 percent of Americans do not believe in God. Gervais and Najle believe that negative stereotypes of atheists might lead to under-reporting in surveys, and that the numbers might actually be double whats showing up in polls.

Fidalgo believes personal identities are complicated. Many he adds, dont wave the atheist banner, rather, they just dont believe.

There are a lot more people questioning religion and dogma than is often assumed, he adds, and thats a good thing.

Its highly unlikely, however, that Steve King would find that reassuring.
CHARLESTON -- An Eastern Illinois University student was shot early Saturday and later died of his injuries, according to Charleston police, and the shooter remains at-large.

After responding to a report of gunshots about 2:28 a.m. Saturday, Charleston Police Department personnel found Byron Edingburg, 23, and another gunshot victim in the yard of the residence at 1061 Seventh St.

Edingburg, who had both a Chicago address and one in Charleston, was airlifted to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, where he died of his injuries, according to authorities. The other victim survived his injuries and was released from the hospital, Charleston police reported.

Charleston Lt. John Bennett said the incident was not a "random act of violence" but was the result of a fight, based on the initial investigation.

A suspect, who has not been named, was still at-large as of Sunday evening.

The Eastern Illinois University community is deeply saddened to learn of this mornings tragic incident that resulted in the loss of life of one of our students, a Saturday statement from EIU President David Glassman read. Our thoughts and prayers remain with his family and friends.

Another report of shots being fired took place a later, at 3:07 a.m. Saturday, however there were no reported victims at the address of that incident. No further information was given on this incident or its relation, if any, to the first shooting.

According to the police, investigations of the incidents are underway and additional information will be released when possible. Police urge those with information related to these events to contact Charleston police at 217-345-8402 or the Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-866-345-8488 or text and leads to 274637.
How could more than 900 people line up and drink a poisoned punch knowing they would die?

In The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple (Simon & Schuster, $28 hardcover), Fort Worth author Jeff Guinn takes an in-depth look at the people and events leading up to the mass suicide, or massacre, in the South American jungle village of Jonestown, Guyana, in November 1978.

Not everyone who drank the punch did it willingly, Guinn points out. About 300 of the victims were children and another 300 or so were elderly. A few escaped the compound before and during the mass poisoning, which was recorded on audio tape.

At one point, Jones could be heard trying to convince his screaming wife, Marceline, to drink the poison.

After the poisonings, Jones either shot himself or had someone do it.

The Jonestown story revolves around James Warren "Jim" Jones and the Peoples Temple church that he founded and led, first in Indiana, then California, and finally Guyana.

"Jim Jones was undeniably a man of great gifts," Guinn writes, "and one who, for much of his life and ministry, achieved admirable results on behalf of the downtrodden.

"Yet he was also a demagogue who ultimately betrayed his followers whether he always intended to or not."

Guinn shows how Jones built his church into a cult and gained political influence by fighting racism, injustice and inequality.

An avowed socialist and Marxist, Jones grew increasingly paranoid in his long, ranting sermons, warning his parishioners of looming concentration camps, nuclear holocaust and other envisioned disasters.

In Guyana, he promised them, they would build an idealistic agricultural ministry that would help feed hungry people throughout South America.

Instead, Guinn notes, the members who followed him there found themselves living in an overcrowded jungle village where they were overworked, underfed and subjected to nightly "sermons" that would go on for hours, predicting "imminent slaughter by U.S. government agents, Guyanese soldiers and mercenaries."

As the jungle experiment floundered, Jones tried unsuccessfully to get permission from Russia to move his cult there.

The fatal ending came on Saturday, Nov. 18, 1978. Congressman Leo Ryan had been to Jonestown to investigate whether cult members were being held against their will. As he and his entourage were boarding a plane to leave at a nearby airstrip, Jones's henchmen gunned down Ryan and four others and wounded three more.

In the compound, Jones told his followers, "We are not committing suicide. It's a revolutionary act. We can't go back. They won't leave us alone. They're now going back to tell more lies, which means more congressmen. And there's no way, no way we can survive."

Jeff Guinn, author of 20 books ranging from a biography of Charles Manson to a fictional autobiography of Santa Claus, has been named the A.C. Greene Award winner for 2017. He will be honored at the West Texas Book Festival in September.

Glenn Dromgoole writes about Texas books and authors. Contact him at g.dromgoole@suddenlink.net.
The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is set to host a discussion with the authors of Horses to Ride, Cattle to Cut: The San Antonio Viejo Ranch of Texas next month.

Writer Henry Chappell and photographer Wyman Meinzer will be in the library and museum's orientation theater at 7 p.m. May 16 to share their insights into the topic of their book, the San Antonio Viejo Ranch in South Texas.

Officials said the book features "beautiful panoramas and still moments of cowboys in the midst of their work" and "serves as a moving tribute to one of the most storied ranches in the state of Texas."

Copies of the book will be available for purchase during the reception following the event.

While the event is free to attend, officials say seating is limited and reservations are recommended. For more information, visit bush41.org.
According to College Station police, a man was riding a lawn mower in College Station around 3 p.m. on April 1 when he felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder. He asked someone to look at it, and the person found the landscaper had been hit by a pellet from a BB gun and was bleeding. The landscaper called officers and said he saw a man wearing a "safari hat" and carrying a pellet gun drive off in a pickup moments after the incident occurred.
About 3,000 guests gathered at the Messina Hof vineyard on Saturday to celebrate art, food and, of course, wine.

The 33rd Annual Wine and Roses Festival featured dancing, snacking, wine tasting, a grape stomp, shopping and fellowship.

Bryan resident Jim Ridgway has been a VIP customer with Messina Hof for six years. He said while he has sampled and loved wines from many wineries across the state, nothing beats the special atmosphere and company found at the local vineyard.

"I like the camaraderie," Ridgway said. "I like the people I meet here, the other VIPs -- it's like a family. We have a good time together when we get together and socialize. You can't complain when you've got good wine and good company."

According to Messina Hof spokeswoman Savannah Gaines, the Wine and Roses Festival grows in popularity each year.

"We sold out of our vendor slots so quickly," Gaines said, noting that many vendors this year were new to the festival. "A lot of people who wanted to come couldn't make it."

Several new wines premiered at the festival, most notably the 40th anniversary version of the special red Heritage Blend.

On top of enjoying wine and snacks, visitors could participate in several activities, such as painting, a grape stomp and education via a special wine and chocolate pairing event. Hosted by one of the winery owners, Karen Bonarrigo, participants in the pairing class were given a number of chocolate truffles and portions of different wines. Bonarrigo would explain methods of merging bitter dark chocolates and sweet, creamy chocolates with both dry and sweet wine. She shared how elements of truffles such as spices, nuts and fruits could change the ideal pairing scenario.

"Wine is about celebration," she told her students. "Chocolate is about luxury and elegance. So, we're going to pair them together."

Another element of the festival had little to do with consumption, but rather expression and appreciation. Every year, Messina Hof donates a portion of their proceeds from the festival to the Brazos Valley Arts Council, who in turn host an art competition as part of the event.

Months before the festival, artists across the Brazos Valley were invited to submit their drawings, paintings and photographs for the contest. Finalists' works were displayed indoors at the festival, where attendees voted for their favorite work. The winner of the contest will have their artwork featured on a bottle of wine sold in stores next year.

"We started calling for entries online back in the fall," said council spokesperson Holly Kozlowski. "The contest closed earlier this year. You can enter as many pieces as you want. We had over 30 entries this year from artists all across Texas."

The theme for artworks this year was "Celebration," referencing the winery's 40th anniversary. Finalists' works mostly depicted bright, rainbow colors, many with images of happy people who were enjoying love, family and friendship.

"This year it's challenging to choose," Kozlowski said. "All the entries have been so beautiful, and they really did capture the theme. For me, personally, I haven't decided on my top few, because there are so many that are great for different reasons."

The 40th anniversary of Messina Hof is something special for customers, but perhaps most of all to the winery owners. Merrill Bonarrigo,founded the winery with her husband 40 years ago in their first year of marriage. All Messina Hof anniversaries coincide with the couple's wedding anniversary, adding an extra element of joy.

"This is a special Roses and Wine festival," Merrill Bonarrigo said. "It's a milestone... I like that this is a celebration of new beginnings; of family and community. It's because of the community we're able to be successful here. I see everyone coming out here to grape stomp, making new friends and it's what makes it all worthwhile to me."
Sixteen Texas A&M. students have been named Distinguished Graduate Students for 2017.

Recipients are being recognized for their accomplishments in one of three categories: Research doctoral, research master's and teaching. The students will be honored with a framed certificate and custom gold watch from The Association at a ceremony Monday.

"Graduate students contribute to our research and teaching missions while advancing scholarship in their fields of study," said Karen Butler-Purry, associate provost for professional and graduate studies. "Thanks to The Association of Former Students' support for these awards, we are able to recognize 16 of our most exemplary graduate students this year."

The awards program will be part of Texas A&M's Distinguished Day activities, which also includes the Distinguished Achievement Awards program that celebrates accomplishment and academic excellence of outstanding faculty, students and staff. An induction ceremony and reception Wednesday will honor the university's distinguished professors.

Those honored include:

For research doctoral: Ying-Pin Chen, department of materials science and engineering, College of Engineering; Rachel Curtis-Robles, department of veterinary integrative biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Robert Schaefer Hinck, department of communication, College of Liberal Arts; Landon D. Nash, department of biomedical engineering, College of Engineering; Christopher Schalk, department of wildlife and fisheries sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Zachary Schultzhaus, department of plant pathology and microbiology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and Robin Michele Woollands, department of aerospace engineering, College of Engineering.

For research master's: Nima Antonio Jalili and Rachael L. Muschalek, both of the department of biomedical engineering, College of Engineering.

For teaching: Forrest J. Bowlick, department of geography, College of Geosciences; Inchul Cho, department of psychology, College of Liberal Arts; Crystal Dozier, department of anthropology, College of Liberal Arts; Guillermo Garcia Urena, department of Hispanic studies, College of Liberal Arts; John Michael Kainer, department of sociology, College of Liberal Arts; Corrine E. Metzger, department of health and kinesiology, College of Education and Human Development; and Elizabeth Seto, department of psychology, College of Liberal Arts.
Beginning this fall, Texas A&M students who wish to take their interest in winemaking to the next level can add a certification to their degrees with a new program.

The enology certificate program will include 15 hours of concentrated study in viticulture, pre- and post-fermentation, wine etiquette and sensory evaluation, according to Andreea Botezatu, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service enologist in College Station.

"The wine industry is growing exponentially in Texas," Botezatu said. "With 400 wineries now and an increasing number of new starts, the state's industry faces specific challenges such as the climate and the geographical particularities of the state."

Botezatu, who will teach the enology class for the certificate, started her career as a winemaker in August 2000. A native of Romania, she began making wine in Islad and Barlad before moving on to Grismby and Jordan, Ontario.

During her time at the Ontario winery, Botezatu decided to further her education into winemaking while sorting through ladybug-infested grapes. The ladybug's attraction to wine can taint the whole product -- all it takes are just a few bugs, according to Botezatu.

As a result, she decided to obtain her doctorate in wine science from Brock University in St. Catherine's, Ontario, which allowed her to focus her research on the issue of ladybug taint and other problems facing the wine industry. Additionally, she has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine in Iasi, Romania.

Botezatu joined Texas A&M's department of horticultural sciences earlier this year as an assistant professor, as well as taking on a role with AgriLife Extension.

"My goal is to serve the winemaking industry through applied research, as well as through developing educational opportunities for current and prospective winemakers," Botezatu said. "The new enology certificate program is an exciting additional opportunity for training future wine specialists."

The certificate will be offered through the horticulture science department at A&M but is open to students with any major.

Botezatu said winemaking "isn't as romantic as it seems," because of such things as long hours during the grape harvest and cleaning the winery, but she said making your own wine is worth it.

"Yeah, it's a lot of hard work, but it's also a lot of fun," Botezatu said. "As a winemaker, you can put your own fingerprints on things, put your own touch. So there isn't a universal recipe. The guidelines are the same, but there's a lot of personalization that you can do as a winemaker. So, I think that's what attracts people to this field."

The classes offered are "Understanding Wine: From Vines to Wines and Beyond," "Concepts of Wine Production," "Enology (from small- to mid-scale commercial)," "Viticulture and Small Fruit Culture" and "Fruit and Nut Production."

Students also will take "Elements of Organic and Biological Chemistry" and "Sensory Evaluation of Foods."
Investigators have been working the case of Virginia Freeman's death since the day she was killed. Below is a list of key dates collected from archived Eagle stories and provided by the Brazos County Sheriff's Office. It is not a comprehensive list, as many details cannot be shared since the investigation is ongoing.

Dec. 1, 1981: Virginia "Ginger" Freeman is killed on Greens Prairie Road.

Dec. 2, 1981: Travis Bryan III, then-Brazos County district attorney, travels to San Antonio to observe Freeman's autopsy.

Dec. 3, 1981: Local real estate agents collectively offer $10,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Freeman's killer.

December 1981: Newly formed Brazos County Crime Stoppers offers $1,000 reward for information leading to arrest of Freeman's killer. Clothing worn by Freeman on the day of her death is sent to Washington, D.C., to be "scanned by a new device that uses laser beams to detect fingerprints," as reported in a story in The Eagle's archives.

Dec. 4, 1981: More than 900 friends, relatives and colleagues attend Freeman's funeral.

Dec. 9, 1981: Authorities question a possible witness to Freeman's slaying under three-hour hypnosis.

February 1982: Ginger Freeman Memorial Fund established for Discovery Program, which provides money for international families to better adjust to living in the B-CS community. Memphis, Tennessee, police hold a person of interest who obtained money from a real estate woman under false pretenses.

May 2, 1982: Ginger Freeman Primitive Area at Girl Scout Camp Howdy established to honor Freeman's memory.

Aug. 18, 1982: Police question Coral Eugene Watts,a 28-year-old bus mechanic who killed 11 women in the Houston-Galveston area.

Aug. 19, 1982: Police rule out Watts as a suspect after he can't remember being in College Station.

July 1983: Authorities rule out Henry Lee Lucas, who claimed to have killed more than 100 women in 17 states over the previous eight years, as a suspect in Freeman's death.

Sept. 14, 1984: Brazos County Sheriff's Office and Beaumont police discuss similarities between Freeman's death and the slaying of 40-year-old Pui Suen Tschang. Authorities later ruled out a connection between the killings.

October 1984: Police rule out a man arrested in connection with the killing of Tschang.

March 1987: Brazos County Sheriff's Department sends information to Galveston Police, who were investigating the killing of Betty Jo Hudson; Brazos County Sheriff Ronnie Miller said there were few similarities between the slayings except that both were real estate agents

December 1988: Brazos County Sheriff Ronnie Miller tries to contact officers in Birmingham, Alabama, and Richmond County, Georgia, to question a man suspected of killing Billie Dean Hamilton, a 38-year-old real estate agent who died of knife wounds.

Feb. 5, 1993: Brazos County Sheriff's Office Investigator Kenny Elliott and Texas Ranger Bob Connell interview an inmate at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility.

June 23, 1994: Investigator Elliot and Ranger Connell present the case to the Sheriff's Association of Texas Cold Case Review Team

June 27, 1994: Investigator Elliot submits the case to the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime bulletin

April 29, 1997: Investigator Elliot resubmits key evidence from the crime scene to the Texas DPS Lab for additional DNA analysis

Nov. 1, 2001: Investigator Elliot and two Texas Rangers interview and take a DNA swab from a suspect in Waco.

Dec. 3, 2001: Investigator Elliot collects a DNA swab for analysis and comparison in Round Rock.

February 2002: Authorities meet with an informant about a possible suspect in the case. They also meet with a witness and obtain subpoenas in College Station and San Angelo.

Feb. 27-28, 2002: Authorities meet with then-Sheriff Bobby Yeager and then-Bexar County Medical Examiner DiMaio.

March 11, 2002: Investigator Elliot resubmits key evidence to the DPS Crime Lab for additional DNA analysis.

March 19, 2002: Investigator Elliot and a Texas Ranger meet with detectives with Kingsville PD and the Kleberg County Sheriff's Office.

March 20, 2002: Authorities serve a subpoena in Corpus Christi.

March 28, 2002: Authorities meet with a witness in Austin.

April 25, 2002: Investigator Elliot and a Texas Ranger meet with a witness, who is put under hypnosis.

May 6, 2002: Investigator Elliot submits two DNA swabs from suspects in Bryan to the DPS Crime Lab

Aug. 12, 2002: Investigator Elliot and a Texas Ranger obtain DNA evidence from a suspect.

June 5, 2007: Investigator Elliot and a Texas Ranger interview a witness from Colorado.

June 12, 2007: Investigators begin an investigation in Clearwater, Florida.

April 8, 2008: Investigators serve a search warrant for a DNA swab in Pinellas County, Florida.

Oct. 18, 2016: Investigator Elliot and a Texas Ranger begin an investigation in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

Dec. 8, 2016: Investigator Elliot obtains a DNA swab from a suspect in Temple

March 2017: Snapshot reveals DNA-based sketches of the suspected killer. Investigator Elliot has submitted DNA swabs from approximately 16 individuals to the Texas DPS Crime Lab for DNA analysis.
MATTOON -- A Chicago woman died as a result of a vehicle crash with a semi truck at 12:10 p.m. Saturday at milepost 191.25 on Interstate 57.

Shakira Smith, 25, died in the two-vehicle accident. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision at 12:18 p.m., Coles County Chief Deputy Coroner Michael Bennett said.

According to Illinois State Police, Smith was northbound in the left lane on the interstate, driving a black 2007 Nissan Versa. Witness reports state that Smith's vehicle swerved from the left lane into the right lane and then off the roadway, striking the east side guardrail, ISP report.

She then redirected and crossed both northbound lanes and the center median, then up into the southbound lanes, where she came into the path of a semi truck driven by Christopher Caughron, 45, of Galesburg in the right lane going southbound, ISP reported.

According to state police, Caughron slowed down, however, he was unable to avoid colliding with Smith's auto, which ended up directly in front of his vehicle.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts and Smith's airbags did deploy.

After emergency personnel arrived, Caughron was transported to the hospital for observation with no reported injuries. A commercial motor vehicle officer completed a Level 1 inspection of the truck and Caughron and found no violations, state police stated.

The crash is still under investigation by state police, and Bennett said further information regarding Smith's death is still being sought.

Smith and Caughron were the only people involved in the accident. No charges have been brought against Caughron, according to state police.

Mattoon police and Lake Land College police assisted with rerouting traffic on the interstate. I-57 was blocked off near the scene until about 4:45 p.m. that day.
Thirty-five years later, Travis Bryan III remains haunted by her eyes.

He had been Brazos County's top prosecutor for just over three years when Virginia Freeman -- a mother of two, real estate agent and community volunteer -- was killed. And though it was far from his first crime scene, what he saw Dec. 1, 1981, in the back yard of a home up for sale is impossible to forget.

"The main thing I remember was the stark look of terror in her eyes. [They] were wide open," Bryan said, using his hands to stretch his own eyes to illustrate what he saw.

"I'll never forget the look," he said during a recent interview in his office at the Brazos County Courthouse, where he serves as a district judge. Bryan had traveled with Freeman's body to San Antonio, where he witnessed a medical examiner perform her autopsy.

Freeman had been stabbed in the neck 11 times, suffered a broken neck resulting from strangulation and was hit in the head with a 4.5-pound piece of concrete. Her body had been left outside, behind the locked house she was showing to a new client. Scratch marks dug into the dirt on the ground told detectives that the 40-year-old put up a mighty fight.

Investigators have followed leads extensively in the 35 years, four months and three weeks that have passed, but the killer has never been found.

The mystery was tethered to former Texas Ranger Bob Connell, who tried to track down the man responsible for more than a decade before he retired in 1992.

"We ran out of every lead we had," he said.

The retired Ranger said he never talked to a possible suspect who, after he questioned them, he thought was a good match for the slaying.

Connell, now in his 80s, continues to be tormented by the death of this stranger. All this time, he coincidently has lived a block and a half from the home where Freeman died.

"I think about it every day," he said.

The unsolved case still rattles around the mind of Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk, too. It was the first major crime scene he worked for the sheriff's office after joining the department in 1980. Kirk said seeing the body and the "big struggle" at the crime scene was traumatic and "had a profound effect" on him in the early stages of his career.

Kirk said the impact the case has had on him makes his search for the killer "definitely personal." Despite hard work over the years to try and find the killer, Kirk said, "we never found the suspect to put all this together."

"It gnaws on you," Bryan said.

Authorities have questioned many potential suspects since 1981. They've put potential witnesses under hypnosis and questioned them about suspicious people they saw on the day of the slaying. They've sent investigators across state lines and throughout Texas. They've asked for help from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers and the Sheriffs' Association of Texas. According to stories in The Eagle's archives, they've analyzed Freeman's clothes for fingerprints. They've compared DNA to the CODIS database, which contains a registry of DNA from known offenders who committed violent crimes, but there was no match, meaning it's possible her killer was never convicted of a crime.

Kirk said this may not be the only unsolved killing in the county -- off the top of his head, he can remember five -- but it is the one for which his office has the most DNA evidence. Despite having no way of knowing future scientific advances -- DNA analysis was still several years away -- authorities in 1981 collected evidence after the murder and properly preserved it until technological developments could advance the case through DNA analysis. During the autopsy, Freeman's fingernails were cut, and years later they were determined to contain an unknown person's DNA.

Last-minute call

Virginia Freeman was supposed to go on a dinner date with her husband and two of their friends on the evening of Dec. 1, 1981, but first she had to try to sell a house.

Known to her friends as "Ginger," Freeman was a real estate agent in Bryan. When she wasn't volunteering for the Girl Scouts, the American Red Cross or at First Baptist Church's Discovery program, she usually was spending time with her family or selling homes for the Real Estate Mart in Bryan.

On the way to show the house, Freeman stopped at home to tell her children, Brad, then 11, and Betsy, 14, that she'd be back soon to get ready for dinner. An unknown man with a "country-sounding accent" had called the Real Estate Mart at 3 p.m. that Tuesday saying he had $73,000 in cash to pay for a home on Greens Prairie Road -- a rural and secluded part of College Station at the time -- that he'd wanted to see before buying. Freeman couldn't let a cash-in-hand opportunity pass by, so she told her children she'd see them later.

Ginger Freeman would never see her children again. A half-hour after the call, an autopsy would later reveal, Freeman was dead.

The DNA on Freeman's fingernails has recently given Kirk hope for a break in the case. Earlier this week, the sheriff released two composite sketches of the possible killer. Using the latest in DNA analysis, Kirk, with the help of National Geographic Explorer, enlisted the use of cutting-edge technology to produce facial composites of the possible killer through the use of Parabon Snapshot DNA Phenotyping. The snapshot results revealed a picture of a man at 25 and 70 years old, showing his age at two different times in his life, though it is unknown how old he was at the time of Freeman's death.

More than three decades have passed, and investigators acknowledge the killer could be dead.

Even if the sketches don't give Kirk the "great pleasure" of putting "handcuffs on the [killer]," as he said at a press conference last week, he will do all he can to solve the crime.

"It's worth every bit of time and effort to try and solve this case," Bryan said. "This is the worst unsolved crime in the history of Brazos County."

Sparkling eyes

Freeman's co-workers and friends still talk about the impact her death had on their lives. By happenstance, on the same day the sheriff released the facial composites, Bo Ward, Susan Livingston and Linda Parker -- all former employees of the Real Estate Mart -- already were scheduled to meet for lunch at a College Station Mexican restaurant.

DNA-based sketch to be released in 1981 College Station killing Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk will release new information next week on a 35-year-old cold case involving the murder of a real estate agent

Livingston said Freeman's death "was a real wake-up call" for real estate agents and women in Brazos County.

Eventually, Parker and Livingston left real estate -- not because of Freeman's death -- but Ward is still in the industry. She said she warns young agents not to show homes when they're alone, and especially if they don't know the prospective buyers. Freeman's death still affects her personally.

"I've never been able to sell anything [in the subdivision where Freeman was killed]," she said.

To this day, Ward still remembers the same eyes as Bryan, but she remembers them with awe, not horror.

"When she would talk about real estate, her eyes would sparkle," she said.

Freeman was the kind of mother who would buy evergreens to plant in her backyard so her children would see Christmas trees year-round. She would leave the office so early that some employees incorrectly thought she was working part-time, friends said.

"She tried very hard to work her schedule around the time her children would get off school," Livingston said of the "model mother and housewife."

She lived an active lifestyle, camping and backpacking with her family in their free time. She put those outdoor activities to use in her volunteer work for the Girl Scouts.

"She always had lots of good ideas," said Kathy Kothmann, who served as a co-leader with Freeman for several years.

Less than a year after her death, community members pooled money together, wanting to donate in Freeman's memory.

"Everyone wanted to do something," said Paula Van Domelen, a 51-year Girl Scout veteran.

Following the wishes of her husband, the Girl Scouts dedicated a plot of land in Ginger's name, installing a plaque in a secluded part of Bryan's Camp Howdy and deeming it "The Ginger Freeman Primitive Area." Since 1982, the space has been where young campers learn how to backpack and set up their own camping grounds.

When a brutal and violent crime goes unsolved, it stains a community's collective consciousness, leaving, in Judge Bryan's words, "a void."

To the judge, sheriff and Ranger, the unresolved case represents a lack of closure, a sort of haunting injustice that, after 35 years, many now living in Brazos County have never heard about. But to her friends and the young campers who hike to her camping spot, Freeman's memory is more than unresolved trauma; her legacy to Brazos County youth is inspiration, education, and independence.

Kothmann said that from the time the campers come to Camp Howdy, "they know the Ginger Freeman area."

"Even if they haven't been there," she said, "they know that it's a special place."
Conservative commentator and author Ann Coulter can be abrasive and controversial. That is part of the persona she cultivates and projects. She also often displays only a fleeting embrace of the truth, which can be so boring.

But she has her followers, millions of them who delight in every word she says. In a country such as America, that's wonderful. She has her followers and Rachel Maddow has hers. Many people like one but not the other. Some don't care for either. That is perfectly fine.

What isn't fine is the people at the University of California, Berkeley who don't want conservatives of any strip to speak on "their" campus. We can't have our precious young people exposed to a wide array of viewpoints. Why, they might have to learn to think for themselves. Oh the horror!

Coulter was invited -- hired as it were -- to speak on the notoriously liberal campus next Thursday. Universities should be a place of many points of view, and speech should flourish on campus across the country like nowhere else. The topic of her talk -- immigration -- is important in California and a wide array of views should be encouraged. We address issues by addressing them.

But campus officials became fearful. Appearances by other conservative speakers in recent months have turned violent, and officials believed -- probably rightly -- that more violence would greet Coulter.

Instead of promising to ensure her safety on campus, those cowardly officials did what too many university officials often do: They cancelled Coulter's appearance.

The next day, however, Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks offered to reschedule the appearance on a different day, May 2. Coulter said she had other commitments that day could keep to her original schedule of speaking on Thursday. Even campus Republicans who invited her -- boy they must be as lonely as student Democrats at Texas A&M -- fear violence if Coulter appears.

Shame on students and faculty who foment violence at such appearances. We suspect that a good many of the protestors who in the past have employed violence to stop speech they don't like really are not students or faculty at all.

In those earlier clashes, protestors on both sides have used a number of weapons, from clubs to Molotov cocktails, from brass knuckles to soda and beer cans filled with concrete. What have we become when some of us think such tools are acceptable?

You don't want to listen to Ann Coulter? Then don't go. You want to protest her appearance? Great, but do so politely, respectfully and, absolutely, without violence.

The situation reminds us of the appearance of racist hate-monger Richard Spencer's Dec. 6 appearance at Texas A&M. Spencer's racist diatribe would be laughable if her and his followers weren't so serious. Many people tried to get Spencer's visit canceled, university officials upheld his right to appear on the publicly owned campus. They made sure that chances for violence were minimized as much as possible -- and successfully we might point out.

In a stroke of brilliance, A&M President Michael K. Young announced Aggie United, an alternative to Spencer's white supremacist talk held at Kyle Field,

We understand people cling to their beliefs and want everyone else to accept them, also. But that isn't realistic. With 316 million Americans, there are bound to be a plethora of different points of view. As a country, we should be willing to speak to each other and truly listen to each other.

We just might find we have a lot on common.
AP: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds wins reelection to second full term

Reynolds secured her second full term in office in a race where she held large leads in polling and fundraising from the outset.
MATTOON -- The public is invited to attend an interfaith discussion panel that a Lake Land College honors student has organized Tuesday afternoon on campus.

The panel, organized by Ashlee Burton of Charleston, will bring together representatives from the Hindu, Jewish, Islamic, and Mormon faiths to talk about their beliefs and practices. This event is scheduled for 1-2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Luther Student Center Theater.

Burton, 32, a sophomore English major, said she got the idea for the panel after giving a presentation on her Mormon faith as part of a speech communications class earlier this semester. She said the goal of this presentation was to share information about her faith and clear up misconceptions about it.

The honors student said this speech topic was on her mind because she thinks that religious intolerance is increasing in the United States and overseas. She said misunderstandings that are left unaddressed, particularly regarding faith, can lead to fear, which can then lead to hatred and violence.

I just worry that we are going to repeat history if we dont learn to talk to each other and learn to get past our differences, Burton said. I just hope that we dont repeat the mistakes of the past and that we can move forward.

With these concerns on her mind, Burton said she talked to her speech communication instructor, Eva Ritchey, about holding an interfaith discussion panel on campus to help expand understanding about faiths that are minority religions in this area.

I have always been passionate about religious freedom and religious tolerance, Burton said.

This passion recently led to Burton representing her Latter-day Saints faith during an interfaith panel discussion at the University of Illinois Womens Resources Center. Burton said she felt uplifted to hear the panelists talk about their faith and to learn that she and these other women have a lot in common.

Burton said she hopes that the panel discussion at Lake Land will help bring students, faculty and other community members together for the opportunity learn about other faiths and to meet the people who hold these beliefs.

I hope they will see a real person and think, Wow, they are a lot like me, Burton said. She added that the panel will include time for audience members to ask questions.

The scheduled panelists are Dr. Koeli Moitra Goel, executive committee vice chair and board member, Hindu Temple & Cultural Society of Central Illinois; Dr. Marjorie Hanft, lay worship leader, Mattoon Jewish Community; Ousmane Sawadogo, imam, Central Illinois Mosque & Islamic Center; and Dr. Jeffrey Stowell, stake president, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Burton, who is originally from Orem, Utah, said she has enjoyed getting to know various religious leaders in the area as part of her efforts to organize the panel, including visiting the Hindu Temple Cultural Center in Champaign. Burton said she has found all of these leaders to be gracious and willing to help her understand their faiths.

In addition, Burton said she has found Lake Land to be supportive of her idea for holding a panel discussion on campus.

Speech communication instructor Ritchey said Burton, a married mother with four children, has worked hard to organize the panel in the space of about a month.

Ritchey said she, English instructor Matthew Landrus and Information Services Librarian Sarah Hill, have provided some assistance, but Burton has handled the majority of the preparations for this event.

I am so proud of Ashlee for taking the initiative and bringing up such an important topic, Ritchey said. She has put a lot of time and effort into this.

For more information about the interfaith panel discussion, contact Ritchey at 217-234-5318 or eritchey@lakelandcoll ege.edu.
You'll often hear others complain about how much money they make -- how their income is not enough to pay for their expenses.

Most of the time, they are not wrong. That is why many people work multiple jobs to try to make ends meet. Worse still, the number of people looking for jobs -- some of them with really good skill sets -- far outnumber the number of job positions available.

However, this does not mean that anyone with a skill set is a good fit for your business. As a business owner, you want to hire the right people -- employees with industry-compatible skill sets who can help your team advance and adapt. The long-term success of your company will be decided by the potential of the people you hire.

Getting the right people cannot always be solved by searching out people on job boards (not that this is bad) and offering them too much money to refuse. I have outlined a few unconventional ways of searching out the right talent for your business that go beyond posting an opening online and hoping for the best.

Related: 22 Qualities That Make a Great Leader

1. Realize that all your employees constitute a human resources (HR) team

You should already have a dedicated HR team, but to increase the reach and effectiveness of your hiring project, you should consider incentivizing all your current employees to pitch in on the search for new hires. You could give them a bonus for recommending a good prospect who gets hired and lasts for a given amount of time -- say six months to a year.

Make sure to let them have creative freedom over their hiring strategy: It doesn't matter whether your employees use word-of-mouth promotion or social media. The important thing is that you have an avalanche of people with a vested interest in bringing in some real, meaningful talent..

If you are feeling adventurous and more creative than usual, you could also bring your customers in on the act and extend the same referral incentive to them. However, you should only trust your most loyal customers with this -- those who know how your business works and appreciates their alliance with your company.

2. Invest in a paid internship program

This is a powerful way to preview the best talent before they are even out of school. Create a paid internship program that focuses on some of the brightest and most intelligent seniors or grad students looking for jobs within your industry.

To create the best paid internship program, you have to study why these people look for jobs while in school. Once you can understand what makes them tick, you can create something that fits their work persona. Then, when they graduate, you can pluck the most talented of those interns right off the stage, diploma still in hand.

Related: How to Start a Business With (Almost) No Money

3. Increase hiring search specificity via relevant local chapters and associations

The more industry-focused your search for talent is, the likelier you'll be to find just the right person. Almost every industry has its own unions, chapters and organizations. These bodies usually have a fixed annual meeting schedule that they keep to rather religiously.

Sniff out the relevant ones that apply an accreditation or certification process. This tells you that they are a professional body and therefore a good hunting ground for potential employees who have the requisite skills for the job.

4. Look within your company

I am sure that we have all heard, in some form or another, the mantra: "Your answer lies within yourself." Well, in a business context, the answer sometimes lies within your company. This is why it is necessary to be consistent in carrying out occasional employee performance appraisals.

You will sometimes find that the talent you have been looking to hire has been in your company the whole time.

Related: 11 Habits of Truly Happy People

5. Target your competitors employees

You already know that your competitors' best employees have the talent, industry knowledge and experience, work ethic and aptitude you need in an employee. That is what makes them such prime candidates to target.

However, you have to be patient when going this route, since they are passive candidates. Seek them out on LinkedIn, via email or phone, but be polite and respectful. If they turn you down, do not force it. Let them be, but remain visible and ready to pounce if they choose to leave their current employer.

Related:



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NORWALK  Erin Aymerich was originally unsure about attending NECA, Norwalks Early College Academy.

Though she admits she was somewhat interested in engineering  the programs area of focus  Aymerich said it was her mother who encouraged her to take the plunge.

That was nearly three years ago, when she entered the program as a freshman in its inaugural class.

Today, Aymerich, now a junior in the program, said while she has not found a passion for engineering, she has found something perhaps even more important: a passion for challenging herself and a supportive community.

My experience in NECA, she said, has been unforgettable.

Receiving a college degree at the same time as her high school diploma would simply be an added plus.

Aymerich currently stands as one of roughly a dozen Norwalk Public Schools students who are on track to receive both a high school diploma and an associate degree when they walk across the stage for graduation next year.

The ability for the students to do so is part of NECA, a school within a school at Norwalk High that was developed through a collaboration between Norwalk Public Schools, Norwalk Community College and IBM in the 2014-15 school year as Connecticuts first P-TECH 9-14 school.

Through NECA, up to 100 students each year have had the opportunity to work to earn an associate of applied science degree, in either software engineering or mobile programming, by the time they graduate high school, with the option to work at a slower pace and finish up the degree after high school graduation.

The program is set to see its first graduates next year, with roughly 20 percent set to obtain their associate degree at that time.

For the upcoming school year, with the help of additional magnet funding from the school district and the city, Karen Amaker, the programs director, said NECA will be able to accept a greater number of students for the upcoming school year, with an increase in enrollment from 100 to 175 students.

The ability for a public school to offer such a program, Amaker said, is important.

Creating pathways is something that can be transformative for a public school district, she said. It affords families an opportunity to stay in a district and not choose private school.

Students interested in attending NECA start the process in eighth grade. While its an open enrollment program for Norwalk residents, students must be in good academic standing, have no chronic absenteeism or tardiness, an interest in computer programming or engineering and agree to participate in IBM-related events and site visits, Amaker said.

Once accepted, students begin with a three-week orientation into the program the summer prior to their freshman year. They will then, during their freshman year, enroll in a mix of traditional core courses taught at Norwalk High School and take two program-specific courses  exploring computer science and workplace learning, Amaker said.

The workplace learning course  taken through the students junior year  teaches students how to survive and thrive in the workplace environment, Amaker said. Students are taught everything from workplace ethics to how to build a resume to what to wear to a job interview.

After their freshman year, students are eligible to take two summer classes for each summer break through their senior year.

During their sophomore and junior years, students can take a mix of traditional Norwalk High School classes, college classes taught by Norwalk Community College professors at Norwalk High or travel to Norwalk Community College to take college classes there, Amaker said.

During their senior year, NECA students can travel to Norwalk Community College to take classes there for the entire day.

Throughout their high school experience, students will work with mentors provided by IBM and partake in related events. They will also have the option to apply for paid, six-to-eight-week internships at one of IBMs locations during their junior year, Amaker said.

Though they are taking college-level courses, all NECA students are still registered Norwalk High students and are eligible to participate in sports, music programs, electives, as well as clubs and activities, Amaker added.

Students are able to partake in the program essentially cost-free. The school district covers the cost of students transportation, books, materials and teacher salaries while Norwalk Community College covers the costs of the college courses and degrees, Amaker said.

As far as the actual student-experience goes, many recognized the large workload and time commitment they take on as a part of the program, but most noted its been well worth it.

Katrell Clay, a 16-year-old junior, said in one school day  besides classes  he had an internship interview to set up, history and physics tests to study for and a track meet.

Its overwhelming sometimes, but when you push through and realize the end goal of two degrees in four years, to picture myself walking down the stage at graduation, that pushes me forward, Clay said.

But, when it comes to NECA, its really more the relationships that you build than the classes that you take, said 16-year-old junior Aasim Vhora. Weve become so close that we help each other, but here is also this sense of competition that helps us push through our classes.

And though to many the programs focus on software engineering and mobile programming served as a confirmation that it's not the field the students would like to go into, that, in addition to simply having a degree, has proven useful in itself.

I may not want to go into software engineering, but I may want to go into engineering, said 17-year-old junior Afreen Vahora. It is there as a guide to help us get where we want to go.

I dont know what I want to do with my life, added 16-year-old junior Tanyia Bynum, but at least I have something to fall back on.

KSchultz@thehour.com; 203-354-1049; @kevinedschultz
Ive been known to skip a few meals, dump four shots of espresso into one cup and even drink a few of those five-hour energy bottles. I thrive on these adrenaline rushes, but no one can live like that for long periods of time.

Related: 10 Rules for Beating Stress

So, every so often I retreat to my home in South Dakota for a respite from the fast pace of business (or New York City). If youre like me and thrive on adrenaline, Ill be the first to tell you its okay to hit the pause button: It doesnt matter whether youre a small business owner, an entrepreneur or a c-suite executive.

Life is just simply going to be stressful. The competition, the long work hours, the slashed budgets, deadlines and expectations for employees, customers and shareholders: These things, plus the high-risk decisions associated with them, take a toll.

This is hardly news, of course: According to a report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 40 percent of workers surveyed reported that their jobs were very or extremely stressful; 25 percent viewed their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives.

But what people should stay attuned to are the ways in which stress can manifest itself -- mentally, physically and emotionally, -- and the negative pesults, like edginess, impatience, anxiety and moodiness. The main sources for the problem? As measured by the American Institute of Stress, they're : workload (46 percent), people issues (28 percent), the demands of juggling personal and professional life (20 percent) and lack of job security (6 percent).

For inspiration on managing all this stress, we can turn to the business greats -- people who run multi-billion dollar corporations. If they can manage their stress levels, the rest of us can, too. Here are five lessons these icons have to teach:

1. Keep it simple.

When you have a couple of hundred emails in your inbox, a day full of meetings and calls and everyone asking you for your opinion, keeping it simple seems like the most complicated goal -- or the last thing on your mind. But its something that must be done, to gain a little perspective on whats most important at that moment.

Related: 7 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Relieve Stress

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has said, The ability to boil things down, to just work on things that really count, to think through the basics . . . Its a special form of genius. At this point, we can all agree that the method to Gatess madness has worked.

One of my own mottos that I try to impart to my team is, Work smarter, not harder. By working smarter, I keep things simple. I dont need to be copied in every single email chain, or be a part of every conversation or decision; thats why I have a team -- to take care of the process. My team feels empowered to make decisions in my absence, so I can focus on what matters most -- growing the business.

2. Focus on what matters.

One of the easiest things to do is become overwhelmed by all that needs to be done or isn't getting done. When were overwhelmed, our tempers flare, and we take things out on those closest to us; things spiral downward.

But ask yourself, Whats really important? I have 20 things on my "to-do" list, but what will happen if, instead of taking care of all 20, I take care of only the top five? Will the world stop spinning?

No, Nothing will happen. Those worries are all in your head.

Richard Branson is synonymous with the Virgin brand, but he is someone who has his priorities straight. Said Branson: If I lose the whole Virgin empire tomorrow, then Id just go and live somewhere, like Bali. Now, if there was a problem with my family, healthwise . . . thats a problem.

It sounds trite sometimes, but prioritizing things that really matter can reduce stress levels considerably. If the big things are taken care of, or are going well, the business side of things will be okay, too. Ive bought and sold over 250 businesses over the years, Ive had my fair share of failures (one of them involved a failed pheasant farm).

But these failures are nothing compared to my family's welfare.

3. Take control.

When we have looming deadlines, meetings with clients or investors, lists a mile long: Our brains can short-circuit. Being overwhelmed breeds inaction and confusion. How can we break the cycle? By taking control of the situation.

If youre stressing about the million things that need to be done, the only number you need to focus on is the number "1." Whats first on your list? Tackle that specific task, and only that task -- forget the others. Being that laser-focused allows you to take control of the situation, which propels you into the next task and gives you a sense of accomplishment, thereby, lowering stress.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said, Stress primarily comes from not taking action over something that you can have control over . . . I find that as soon as I identify it and make the first phone call, or send off the first email . . . it dramatically reduces any stress that might come from it.

4. Take a break.

This sounds like an oxymoron at times, especially when you feel that the fate of the world is resting on your shoulders. But, if youre saying, Cant take a break right now, stop! After all, Im saying it, and I'm the guy who flew from New York to Hawaii for a business meeting. I was in Hawaii for less than 48 hours.

Some entrepreneurs and executives have a higher tolerance for adrenaline rushes and a reputation for being workaholics -- that comes with the territory. But what good are you to your family or your team if you burn out? Working nonstop leads to burnout and slows productivity. Recognizing the signs can save you and your business headaches. In fact, 90 percent of leaders in a survey by the Center for Creative Leadership reported that they managed stress by temporarily removing themselves, physically and mentally, from their source of stress.

YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki believes in stopping and smelling the roses. Wojcicki said, I think its really important to take time off, and Ive also found that sometimes you get really good insights by taking time off. I agree; I find not just inspiration, but perspective, when Im home at the ranch or going on vacation to Italy with my wife.

5. Plan ahead.

We all know what were doing every single day of the week, so planning ahead is key in managing stress levels. Every Sunday night, I look at my calendar for the week and prioritize meetings, phone calls, events and the duties around those tasks. Then, I print my daily calendar, streamlining my workload even more to stay on track at a granular level.

Organizing, planning and streamlining tasks are effective management strategies; having a good system in place helps things run smoothly, reducing everyones stress levels.

Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter, said, The more you can set a cadence around what you do, and the more ritual and the more consistency you can build into your schedule, the less stress youre going to have.

Related: When You Understand Stress You Can Manage It

So, its not just grit, hard work and determination that separate the successful from the unsuccessful: It's also how people manage their stress levels as they run their operations. Were all stressed, after all; its a natural side effect of pushing to achieve our dreams. But how we manage it sets us apart. Dont let stress be your downfall.

Related:

Stress Kills! 5 Ways to Keep Your Stress Levels Low.

5 Things Every First Time Founder Needs to Know

My Surprising Takeaway After Visiting a Gorgeous Meditation Studio in New York City



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WESTPORTWhen Mark Mathias took his kids to a Maker Faire in New York City he was astounded by both the excitement the event brought but also how much they benefited intellectually from it.

"My kids had so much fun that they didn't even know they were learning," Mathias said.
A Scout troop is being developed for boys with special needs  and men with special needs  in Grand Island and vicinity. It is believed to be the first such group in Nebraska.

An informational meeting is planned for May 8 for anyone who might be interested  as a troop member, as a parent of a possible member or as a possible leader  in the Mosaic facility on Old Fair Road.

Mosaic is the charter organization, said David Plond, scout executive for the Overland Trails Council, referring to one of the organizations serving intellectually and developmentally disabled people in Central Nebraska.

As with Mosaic, Goodwill and other such organizations, the new scout troop will not have an upper age limit for participation. As with regular scout troops, 12 will be the lower age limit.

In serving this population  the developmentally disabled  you can stay in scouting until youre in your 80s or 90s and still be a part and still earn the badges and meet the requirements, Plond said.

Weve tried to reach out to all the organizations that serve that base of individuals to organize this group. Mosaic is the charter organization, the sponsor, and we as the scouts are working with them, Plond added. We think its an excellent opportunity.

Other agencies that serve this population of individuals are a positive network, said Jackie Whipple, community relations manager for Mosaic in Central Nebraska. Its really a community effort, so were including Grand Island Public Schools and other agencies such as Goodwill and Mid-Nebraska Individual Services to make sure that were including everybody.

We talked about having two meetings a month, in the evenings, for the group, Plond said. Meetings are expected to be at the Mosaic facility.

Where did the idea for a scout group for boys with special needs in Central Nebraska come from?

Last October, Grand Island developer Ray OConnor read a story in the Omaha World-Herald about such a group that is active in Seattle. Its one of fewer than a dozen in the nation, the Seattle Times article said.

OConnor has helped support Mosaic, and hes heavily involved with the Boy Scouts as well, so when he saw this article, the two came together and he approached us, Whipple said.

My thought process was, If they can do it, why cant we? OConnor said.

As the idea was discussed privately in different groups, strong support was expressed.

The special education teachers in the Grand Island Public Schools have been really supportive of this, Plond said.

Plond and Whipple emphasized that the new troop will not be segregated from other, existing troops.

We want to be inclusive of other scout groups and have them come together, Whipple said. Its important for youth to be exposed to all people and get that experience.

Plond pointed to summer events at Camp Augustine as an example of activities where members of this troop and traditional troops will come together.

Especially for older youths who would be members of regular troops, the door will be open for them to participate in this new group as well, especially in a different capacity, Whipple said.

We want to be inclusive, not exclusive, she added.

Requests for further information may be directed either to Plond at (308) 382-3717 or to Whipple at (402) 992-4471.

If you go

What: Informational meeting for new Boy Scout troop for special-needs boys

When: 7 p.m. Monday, May 8

Where: Mosaic, 2846 Old Fair Road
Red meat production in the United States was at a record high in 2016, and Nebraska led the way in commercial beef slaughter, according to the USDAs National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Nebraska slaughter plants last year produced 8.007 billion pounds of commercial red, compared to 7.475 billion pounds in 2015. Iowa was second in the nation at 7.005 billion pounds.

Total red meat production for the United States totaled 50.5 billion pounds in 2016, 4 percent higher than the previous year. Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, and lamb and mutton.

Red meat production in commercial plants was 50.4 billion pounds, according to a report released last week by the USDAs National Agricultural Statistics Service. On-farm slaughter totaled 93.2 million pounds.

Nationally, beef production totaled 25.3 billion pounds, up 6 percent from the previous year, the report said. Veal production totaled 81.0 million pounds, down 8 percent. Pork production was 25 billion pounds, 2 percent above the previous year. Lamb and mutton production totaled 155.4 million pounds, down slightly from 2015.

According to the USDA, Nebraska retained its No. 1 position as the nations leading cattle slaughtering state. Last year the USDA reported that Nebraska slaughterhouses killed 7.237 million head of cattle, compared to 6.580 million head in 2015. The 7.237 million head equaled 10.265 billion pounds, compared to 9.394 billion pounds in 2015. The average slaughter weight was 1,420n pounds.

Nationwide, commercial cattle slaughter in 2016 totaled 30.6 million head, up 6 percent from 2015. The average live weight was 1,363 pounds, up 3 pounds from a year ago.

Steers comprised 54.8 percent of the total federally inspected cattle slaughter, heifers 25.6 percent, dairy cows 9.6 percent, other cows 8.4 percent, and bulls 1.6 percent.

Commercial calf slaughter totaled 487,700 head, 8 percent higher than a year ago. The average live weight was 266 pounds, down 44 pounds from a year earlier.

Nebraska was sixth in the nation in hog slaughter in 2016. State plants killed 7.987 million head, compared to 7.933 million head in 2015. Iowa was the nations leading hog slaughtering state with 32.240 million head killed.

In Nebraska, those 7.987 million head produced 2.234 billion pounds of pork, with an average live slaughter weight of 280 pounds.

Commercial hog slaughter totaled 118.2 million head, 2 percent higher than 2015. The average live weight was down 1 pound from last year, at 282 pounds. Barrows and gilts comprised 97.3 percent of the total federally inspected hog slaughter.

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter, at 2.24 million head, was up 1 percent from the previous year. The average live weight was down 2 pounds from 2015 at 134 pounds. Lambs and yearlings comprised 94.6 percent of the total federally inspected sheep slaughter.

There were 814 plants slaughtering under federal inspection on Jan. 1, 2017, compared with 808 last year. Of these, the 13 largest plants slaughtering 58 percent of the total cattle killed.

Hogs were slaughtered at 621 plants, with the 13 largest plants accounting for 60 percent of the total.

For calves, three of the 200 plants accounted for 46 percent of the total and three of the 531 plants that slaughtered sheep or lambs in 2016 comprised 54 percent of the total head.

Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Texas accounted for 49 percent of the U.S. commercial red meat production in 2016, unchanged from 2015.
LINCOLN  Many more Nebraska schools will be eligible to serve more students free meals for the 2017-18 school year, according to data released last week by the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE).

Thanks to improved methods to identify students eligible for free meals, more than 200 Nebraska schools may be able to offer all students meals free of charge through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). CEP allows schools in high-poverty areas to receive federal funds to serve meals to all students, ensuring that children whose families are struggling to put food on the table will be able to get healthy meals at school.

Making sure all students in our Nebraska schools are getting the food they need to learn and grow is a huge priority, and CEP has been proven successful in the U.S. to fight classroom hunger said Sharon Davis, NDE director of nutrition services. Research shows that when children are getting the nutrition they need, they are better able to learn and perform in school, and that has a lifelong impact.

This years total of 220 eligible schools is a 215 percent increase over last year, when 102 Nebraska schools were eligible to use CEP. The large increase is due to the addition of Medicaid data to other assistance programs as an improved method to directly certify students for free school meals that was implemented by NDE for school year 2017.

There are several tiers of eligibility that determine how much reimbursement a school will receive to feed students. According to NDE, 45 schools will qualify to be fully reimbursed for free meals served to all students in 2017-18. Advocates are hopeful this increase in eligibility will help boost Nebraskas participation in CEP, which has been available nationwide since 2012.

Nebraska schools have been slow to implement the new option, ranking second to last in using CEP for the 2015-16 school year, NDE noted. Just 15 of the 102 eligible (15 percent) schools participated in CEP during the 2016-17 school year.

Taking up community eligibility is one of the easiest ways a school can fight classroom hunger, said Eric Savaiano, Nebraska Appleseed Economic Justice Program Director. When children dont go into the classroom on an empty stomach, they become better students. They retain their lessons and are much less likely to have behavior problems.

Community eligibility began rolling out a few states at a time in 2011 and became available to eligible schools nationwide in 2012. The program is available to schools where 40 percent or more of the students are directly certified for free meals without an application because they have been identified as eligible by another program  like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, or Medicaid.

Eligible Nebraska schools have until Aug. 31 to decide whether they will participate in community eligibility for the 2017-18 school year. For more information about how to apply for CEP, contact Eric Savaiano at (402) 438-8853, ext. 126, or send an email to esavaiano@neappleseed.org.
Rodeway Inn wins Platinum Hospitality Award

The Rodeway Inn hotel of Grand Island was recently honored with a 2017 Platinum Hospitality Award from Choice Hotels International Inc., franchisor of the Rodeway Inn brand.

The Rodeway Inn hotels commitment to excellence and outstanding guest service has earned it this elite recognition as one of the best hotels among the Rodeway Inn brand, said Steve Joyce, chief executive officer for Choice Hotels.

Under General Manager Nathan DeLaet, the Grand Island Rodeway Inn has won four platinum and five gold awards since the inception of this awards process.

Our fantastic staff does an outstanding job keeping our hotel clean, comfortable and friendly, DeLaet said.

Criteria for the award include guest satisfaction and dedication to providing superior service.

Eakes Office Solutions acquires Janitor Depot

Eakes Office Solutions has acquired Janitor Depot of South Sioux City.

Janitor Depot has been locally owned and operated for the past 15 years, offering janitorial equipment, supplies, paper products and food service items. The entire Janitor Depot team will continue service, sales and support from its current location.

Brad Figge and the team at Janitor Depot have a wealth of knowledge in the janitorial industry, said Mark Miller, president of Eakes. We are excited to utilize that knowledge to achieve the next level of satisfaction for all of our customers with janitorial needs.

As part of Eakes Office Solutions continued growth, the acquisition of Janitor Depot will broaden Eakes services in northeastern Nebraska and Iowa. The South Sioux City office is Eakes 13th location, including its Grand Island store.

DQ Grill & Chill Restaurant opens in Broken Bow

BROKEN BOW  The newest DQ Grill & Chill restaurant has opened in Broken Bow.

The 2,600-square-foot restaurant seats 47 inside and 40 outside in a covered patio. It also offers a drive-thru window.

The restaurant created 65 new jobs, contributing to Broken Bows employment growth.

DQ Grill & Chill is located at 2716 Thomas Road.

KOA event to raise funds for childrens camps

The Grand Island KOA Journey campground, 904 South B Road in Doniphan, is offering campers a special Saturday of camping for just $10 to benefit KOA Care Camps for children with cancer.

The Care Camps Big Weekend event is scheduled for May 12 and 13.

Campers who stay as paying guests on May 12 will receive another night of camping on May 13 for just $10 and that fee will be given to KOA Care Camps, a network of 112 independent oncology summer camps for children battling cancer.

KOA Care Camps provide a true summer camp experience for children with cancer and their siblings. Last year, the Care Camps Trust donated more than $1.4 million to the 112 camps, allowing hundreds of children to attend at no charge.

The kids who benefit from these Care Camps depend on the generosity of campers throughout North America, said Wade Elliott, chairman of the Care Camps Trust. The funds raised all year long by campers have really become an essential part of the cure for these young cancer victims.
WASHINGTON  Youd think with 24/7 exposure to everything Donald Trump, wed know all about him. But here are a few fun facts you may have missed.

During the presidents six business bankruptcies, investors lost $1.5 billion. He had to reduce his personal expenses to $450,000 a month. Ultimately, the government bailed him out from his many bankers, who didnt know about the others loans to Trump.

When Trump had money troubles, he asked an employee to put the arm on a friend who worked for a bank. She said she couldnt do it. Trump was furious. He said: She turned on me after I had done so much to help her. ... She ended up losing her home. Her husband ... walked out on her and I was glad. ... And now I go out of my way to make her life miserable.

Trump didnt always love the military. During the Vietnam War, he got four student deferments and one medical deferment, apparently for a bone spur, although he cant remember which foot had been affected.

Trump would have been ineligible to own the casinos he bought in Atlantic City if the previous federal criminal investigations of him and his associations with mob figures had been revealed in the background checks. Somehow, the required investigation was never done.

Although Trump has spent almost two years urging Republicans to vote, he did not vote in any Republican primary for 27 years until he voted for himself.

The nearly nude photo of Melania Trump for GQ magazine was arranged by Trump, then her boyfriend, who watched the photo shoot. GQ says Melania was featured in our naked profile shoot on his customized Boeing 727 wearing handcuffs, wielding diamonds and holding a chrome pistol.

After Trumps father died, the young Trump sought out as his dads mentor, Roy Cohn, the chief lawyer for Sen. Joe McCarthy, the infamous conductor of witch hunts for non-existent communists.

Trump said that he was amazed Cohn told him he had spent more than two-thirds of his adult life under indictment for various charges. Cohn went on to unsuccessfully defend Trump on federal charges he engaged in racial discrimination in his housing projects despite getting federal money. Trump settled. Cohn was also Trumps fixer on construction projects.

Trump has been involved in more than 3,500 lawsuits, either as plaintiff or defendant.

Trumps grandfather was kicked out of Germany for draft dodging. He set up a bordello and a bar in Seattle and later prospered as a barbershop owner in New York, although it isnt clear how. Trumps father partnered with a known organized crime figure, cheaply built 27,000 subsidized apartments and row houses and was accused of gaming the Federal Housing Administration.

Life father, like son. Trump, too, associated with known gangsters. And he loves manufactured news, as did his father. The elder Trump once hired beautiful women wearing hard hats and bikinis to start knocking down a beloved ride on Coney Island that stood where Trumps father planned to build an apartment building.

Trumps older brother had a grandson born very sick and in need of constant medical attention to live. According to Trump biographer David Cay Johnston, when Trumps father died, all but disinheriting the older brothers family, Trump made certain that the sick boys health insurance was no longer paid.

When Trump tore down the famed Bonwit Teller department store to build Trump Tower in New York, he used undocumented Polish laborers working off the books, without hard hats or face masks despite handling asbestos. They did have sledgehammers.

A federal court concluded they were paid $4 or $5 an hour for 84-hour weeks. No Social Security was paid. Workers slept on site on concrete floors and went hungry when their paychecks bounced while Trump threatened deportation. Sued, Trump settled out of court 10 years later.

To save money, Trump destroyed the art deco sculpture above Bonwits door that hed promised to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (By weird numbering, Trump Tower, billed as having 68 stories, has only 58.)

Trump uses tape to hold down the edge of one end of his tie so the front hangs below his belt, dyes his hair, wears padded suits, paid no income tax for years and personally has donated little to charity. But, hey, you know all of that.
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Linkedin Ati Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, April 23, 2017 09:15 2026 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea67a1e 2 Opinion #commentary Free

Were back in the month of Kartini, when the nation celebrates the heroine for womens rights on April 21. But many overlook what men can do and what it takes to get males to contribute to a more prosperous society.

Actually you hunks can really help boost the economy; if you handle the kids and more house chores, millions more women could join the workforce and earn income, inside or outside the home.

From year to year, the statistics keep fretting surveyors: Women in Indonesias workforce have remained stuck at about 50 percent in the last 25 years despite better access to education. The last United Nations Development Program survey said Indonesian male participation in the labor force was almost 84 percent compared to 50.9 percent for women.

If guys helped more at home, we would also have much happier families with fewer women with hair standing up from worry and workload from morning to night. Men will say theyre flat-out tired after work  but women slog it out at the workplace and also at home, as surveys show.

So what does it take to urge men to share our unpaid chores, so more women can get paid work? It takes brave men and also brave women.

Valiant men are the real hunks protecting spouses against exhaustion, by feeding Baby and cleaning the house, among other things. (Besides, the extended family system, warns the SMERU research institute, will not last forever!)

It also takes steadfast women to compromise their standards of when and how to do the chores. Baby can look a bit grubby as long as he doesnt fall off the stairs. Women must neither rush to take over when she thinks hubby looks like a sissy as he patches clothes  a self-reminder!

Such men and women would brave the teasing when the men do womens work  like my dad when my neighbor laughed at the sight of him washing the dishes.

Indeed, we need better policies like a changed Marriage Law, as women could be theoretically sued for neglecting their main responsibility for the household, daycare centers near workplaces of both men and women and other supportive policies.

Yet in South Korea, where men get 53 weeks of paternity leave, not many signed up, The Economist reported last year. They would, they said, if fathers handling infants were socially acceptable; the men said they believed their bosses who joked that their desks would disappear if they took the leave.

So even if suddenly Indonesia had such an enlightened policy encouraging males to share more household responsibility, many of us would still need to redefine machismo and kodrat wanita (womens destiny).

Thankfully, it seems more men are confidently nursing children. So be brave like my son-in-law: Despite his wifes occasional criticism he persistently takes care of Baby  and gets a slobbery kiss in return.

And ladies, dont be like my sister: I asked her why she didnt encourage her husband to help more around the house and she said, He cant even hang the towels straight!

The world will not change if we stick to rigid standards, even if the towel does hang awkwardly.

Encouraging men to help around the house makes perfect sense, but few want to rock national stability and get men off the couch. Few women want to keep nagging them either, so they juggle everything as best as possible and bark at the maid instead. For those of us staying home, many say they want better care for the kids; but children need both parents and many women would like to do something else, too.

Unsurprisingly, the International Labor Organization recently found most Indonesian women want paid work. Huh? Of course, we need our own money. Less access to cash also means less power in the family; many women get abused even as theyre exalted as the thankless ratu rumah tangga (queen of the household). Researchers have found Indonesian women are much less inhibited from seeking income than their sisters in other countries, although they claim theyre only helping spouses.

One small-scale entrepreneur I know introduced herself as wife of Wawan, the former security guard, mother of Mirza (if I recall the names correctly). So whats your name? I said. She finally replied, somewhat proudly, Kholifah  the getuk [cassava cake] seller.

It was this identity  Kholifah tukang getuk  that appeared at the bottom of the most unique invitation Ive received, to the reception for her sons circumcision.

Kholifah had said she was just helping her husband as she had idle time and she might be listed as underemployed with her low income; each getuk cost just Rp 1,000 (8 US cents), despite undoubtedly considerable preparation.

Nevertheless she is luckier than my cousin, whose husband forbade her to seek work even when he was laid off.

Our outdated Marriage Law indeed says the man is the head of the family and breadwinner, as understood by religious conservatives, while women must take care of the household. But remember our share of the Asian financial crisis of 1998 and 1999?

As many lost jobs, it was a scramble to get all hands on deck and we stopped hearing calls for women to return home, to return to their kodrat and thus preserve male dignity.

Funnily, when living in countries with no cheap domestic help, men more willingly chip in. Even without a crisis, like when the maids leave, men are much more lovable and appealing when they help at home. Just ask your spouse.
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Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, April 23, 2017 08:52 2026 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea6542d 2 Editorial #Editorial,editorial Free

The meeting between Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and his presumptive successor Anies Baswedan on Thursday seemed to settle the dust after their fierce battle the previous day. More than that, however, the encounter will pave the way for a smooth transition until Anies takes office in October.

For one, the reconciliatory gesture of the two Jakarta election contenders set a good precedent for democratic practice in local politics, particularly in Jakarta, where animosity between supporters of candidates was visible over the past four months. Through the dialogue, both Ahok and Anies will not only help Jakarta heal its wounds but also ascertain how the change of guard will keep public services running undisturbed.

There is no legislation or regulation governing a transition from an outgoing to incoming regional head, especially if the power is transferred to a rival politician. If Jakarta is to raise its democratic standard, which is a necessity due to its strategic role as the epicenter of national politics, consultation between a current leader and the successor, either formal or informal, should be considered.

At the national level, then president-elect Joko Jokowi Widodo and his predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who came from two rival camps in the 2014 presidential election, set an example, albeit not yet ideal, of how government should be transferred. Anies happened to be part of Jokowis transition team, while Ahok would fill the shoes of Jokowi as Jakarta governor back then.

First and foremost, as an outgoing governor, Ahoks job, in his final six months in office, is to complete the programs he started, but refrain from making strategic policies, such as a reshuffle of key government officials, which could undermine his successors realization of his campaign platform.

Anies and Ahok discussed the city budget during their initial meeting on Thursday as the former requires fiscal space between October and December to materialize some of his campaign promises. There should be a chance for the new governor to revise the city budget to allow him to start his own programs.

On the other hand, the transition period will give Anies enough time to learn the nuts and bolts of Jakarta bureaucracy and how it works, if necessary from Ahok himself. A regime change does not necessarily prompt a new leader to start from scratch just to appear different from the preceding government.

One of Ahoks legacies that many have acknowledged is transparency that unfortunately eludes many local governments. Electronic tender for goods and service procurement, which the Jakarta government has initiated, has curbed corrupt practices and boosted efficiency.

A system based on merit is another trademark of the Ahok administration, in which government posts are filled through fair selection. Professional bureaucracy will not only accelerate and improve public services but also avoid wasting the city budget.

The public expects the leadership change will mark a transition from good to better governance.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, April 23, 2017 12:02 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea6e11c 1 Lifestyle MasterCard,fingerprint,credit-card,#fingerprint Free

Mastercard has announced that it is working on a credit card that comes with a built-in fingerprint scanner.

As reported by The Verge, the fingerprint scanner would allow customers to simply touch the card to "authorize their payments. This would mean no more PIN numbers or signatures.

Currently on trial in South Africa and coming soon in Europe and the Asia Pacific, the card will also work with "all existing chip-and-PIN readers.

Read also: Why fingers make handy, if not foolproof, digital keys

It would offer "additional convenience and security" as a fingerprint is "not something that can be taken or replicated, Mastercard security chief Ajay Bhalla said in a press release.

The new cards are slated to fully roll out later this year. Customers eager to get one would need to register at their banks and have their fingerprint "converted into an encrypted digital template that is stored on the card.

When making payments, they can simply insert the card into the retailer's terminal while placing their finger on the sensor for authentication, which means the card will never leave their hands. (kes)
A photobook titled Panji Kromo: The Last Breath of the Prince offers an interesting documentation of the Topeng Panji mask dance, a dance that depicts stories from Cerita Panji (Panji Stories).

Cerita Panji itself is a collection of the heroic stories about Raden Inu Kertapati and Dewi Sekartaji during the Khadiri Kingdom in the 11th century. The stories have been translated into traditional art in Indonesia, such as Wayang Beber and Kethek Ogleng from Pacitan, and Penthul Tembem from Madiun.

The photobook focuses on the Topeng Panji mask dance, which is not only rare but threatened in its very existence in the villages around Yogyakarta. The photos of the dancers are displayed in the Dutch East Indies' photography style using monochrome-like color saturation and unique lighting and posing styles. The works are said to be inspired by old photo collections from the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV), as well as photographers in the Dutch East Indies' era, like Walter B. Woodbury and Kassian Cephas.

Featuring works by Spanish photographer Diego Zapatero, who collaborated with Belgian anthropologist Patrick Vanhoebrouck, the visual anthropology project started in 2011 by documenting Topeng Panji dancers in Bobung, Semanu and Karang Duwet in Gunungkidul regency and Sentolo in Kulonprogo regency.

Read also: Looking at the other side of batik

Vanhoebrouck has lived in Indonesia for 15 years to learn about Javanese culture and spirituality. He was inspired to discover Javanese culture, especially Topeng Panji dance, after he met Ben Anderson at Cornell University in New York. It was Anderson who introduced him to Javanese mask collections from the Mangkunegaran palace in the form of hundreds of positive image files. Vanhoebrouck later explored more about the masks during his internship at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, where he catalogued Javanese mask collections by type, history and character.

In 2010, Vanhoebrouck became acquainted with Zapatero, a young photographer who was studying at the Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI) in Yogyakarta on a scholarship and is particularly passionate about documenting culture. In addition to the Panji Kromo project, Zapatero has also created photo documentations on Dayak tribe tattoos, the daily life of the Tengger tribe at Mount Bromo, and the Semana Santa ceremony, among others.

The Topeng Panji project was particularly interesting for both men, since they had the opportunity to meet, discuss and enter the life of the dancers, gaining much insight not found in any literature. They were amazed by the spirit and enthusiasm of the dance teachers, who devise the dance's choreography and poses. They learned that the dance is much more than just a surviving element of heritage; it presents the stories of Javanese wisdom and philosophy.

For Western anthropologists, Cerita Panji is a very valuable work of oral literature. As Indonesia's original literature heritage, it has been spread to Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia, highlighting the wisdom of a timeless universal and relevant life.

Read also: Dutch heritage red church in Probolinggo

"The most important philosophy in Cerita Panji is about leadership; how is the learning process to become a true leader, a leader that brings peace and prosperity, which in the story was illustrated through the journey of Raden Inu Kertapati and his partner, Dewi Sekartaji," said Vanhoebrouck.

Following the books publication, the duo still maintains a good relationship with the dancers. They always present during Topeng Panji dance performances across the region. Vanhoebrouck has been invited as an expert speaker in seminars on Javanese culture, especially about Cerita Panji.

The two said they were very happy to hear that Prof. Wardiman Djojonegoro had made efforts to have Cerita Panji recognized as a Memory of the World by UNESCO, alongside five other countries, namely Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, the UK and the Netherlands.

But they seek more than just recognition; they want the documentation to motivate the Topeng Panji dancers to keep creating and inspiring Indonesian youth to enliven Cerita Panji in their works, such as photography, film, theater, choreography, music, painting, literature and comic books. (kes)
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Linkedin Masajeng Rahmiasri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, April 23, 2017 13:21 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea70dbc 1 Lifestyle Big-Bad-Wolf,book-sale,books,#books,#booksale,#BigBadWolf Free

The Big Bad Wolf (BBW) book sale officially returned to the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in BSD, South Tangerang, on Friday. As previously reported, event organizer PT Jaya Ritel Indonesia has increased the number of cashiers from last years 32 to 60 to avoid long queues.

However, bulk buyers, also known to Indonesian netizens as jastip  short for jasa titip (buying service), dominated the supposedly invitation-only presale on Thursday and reportedly caused long lines at the cashiers. Customers had to wait for as long as four hours to finally take their purchases home.

Read also: Should you bring your kids to the Big Bad Wolf book sale?

Cut Putri Putri Kencana Wungu, a buying service provider said, The buying service can make it easier for people from outside Jakarta to enjoy [the books]. Putri said that aside from helping people from the other regions, she also helped people from Jakarta to buy books, with the example of workers and parents who couldn't come to the event themselves. Up until Friday, some 500 people from throughout Indonesia had used her service to buy books at the BBW sale.

Putri attended the BBW presales on Thursday and spent approximately Rp 80 million to buy about 1,000 children books for her customers. She uploaded several pictures of the books to her Instagram account prior to buying the books, allowing customers to choose items and contact her. These books were sold with an additional service fee of Rp 25,000 each, excluding delivery fees.

Read also: Beware of Big Bad Wolf: 10 fun facts about the book sale

A post shared by Jasatitipbelipertama All brand (@honey_bee_babyshop) on Apr 20, 2017 at 8:17pm PDT

Siti Diyah Mardiyah, another buying service provider who frequents events like the BBW, purchased 200 children books and spent approximately Rp 50 million at the presale. The Bandung resident had no plans to return to the BBW after the official opening. "Actually, I only came [to look for books] for myself. I just wanted to see what the BBW was like. [I] did not come merely for profit. I was just offering services while I was at the event. Diyahs services start at Rp.10.000 per book.

Read also: Shortlist for inaugural Asian Children's Book Award is out

A post shared by Official Big Bad Wolf ID (@bbwbooks_id) on Apr 21, 2017 at 4:57am PDT

On Friday, the BBW organizer sent out an apology through social media: "With a humble heart, we apologize for the very long queues, for our overwhelmed staff, for every inconvenience caused."

PT Jaya Ritel Indonesia president director Uli Silalahi told The Jakarta Post that the situation was unpredicted. Uli said that although she had predicted an increase in transactions this year, she didn't expect it to be that much during the presale. Who would have thought that a person would want to spend hundreds of millions [on books]? she asked.

Uli did not comment on the buying services. Instead, she stressed that the organizer would take measures in response to "things that make other customers uncomfortable."

She also stated that the organizer was still discussing strategies to improve the service. Maybe there will be an express checkout counter and a counter for bulk buying."

Positive comments have started to appear on BBW's Instagram post's comment section. Customers stated that conditions "had gotten a lot better," as there were fewer people and shorter queues than on the presale day.

The Big Bad Wolf book sale event runs until May 2 and is open 24 hours every day until the closing day. (asw)
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Linkedin Justin Juozapavicius (Associated Press) Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States  Sun, April 23, 2017 14:33 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea72844 2 Science & Tech NASA,first-lunar-Bibles,Oklahoma,space,#space,#NASA,Texas Free

Ten microfilm Bibles once launched hundreds of thousands of miles into space sit landlocked today inside an Oklahoma courthouse while a legal battle rages in two states over who is the rightful owner of the celestial keepsakes.

Eight of the 10 tiny holy books in dispute landed on the surface of the moon during NASA's 1971 Apollo 14 mission, carried in a pouch by astronaut Edgar Mitchell. Each isn't much larger than a postage stamp and contains all 1,245 pages of the King James Bible. Etched onto each strip of film at such a small size, its words must be viewed through a microscope, save for two: "HOLY BIBLE" at the very top of the slide.

Shooting the scriptures into the heavens was the brainchild of the Apollo Prayer League, formed in the late 1960s to pray for the success of the space program. A novel idea at the time, flying a Bible into space led to the trend of sending other souvenirs spaceward: pocket change, LEGO figurines, and even a lightsaber wielded by the "Star Wars" movies' Luke Skywalker.

Read also: SpaceX says it will fly 2 people to moon next year

An ongoing slog in Texas and Oklahoma courts encapsulates the complexity of what to do with space relics: Connecting with the cosmos seems cool, but figuring out what to do with them can get costly and contentious back on Earth.

Co-founded by the late NASA chaplain John M. Stout, the prayer league took its mission statement from Mark 16:15 literally: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." After the Apollo 14 mission, Stout gave many of his valuable artifacts away to family or friends, squirreling away the rest in his tiny Texas apartment.

Now, these "first lunar Bibles" are stored at the Tulsa County courthouse, awaiting a May 3 hearing over who owns them  Texas or Tulsa author and businesswoman Carol Mersch, who befriended Stout in 2009 while working on a book about attempts to land a Bible on the moon. Mersch claims the late chaplain gave her the Bibles while she wrote the book, and she keeps a certificate of authenticity signed by Stout and Mitchell as proof.

But that hasn't been good enough for Texas, whose attorneys argue that Stout and his wife became wards of the state in their twilight years after their son, Jonathan, raised concerns about his parents' deteriorating mental and physical well-being. She died in 2014; he passed away in December.

In the view of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, as represented by the state attorney general, that means the Jonathan Stout should inherit the Bibles. Estate-related legal wrangling has locked Texas and Mersch in the six-year fight.

Read also: Silicon Valley's $400 juicer may be feeling the squeeze

Jonathan Stout didn't reply to numerous messages and emails seeking comment on the case. Spokeswomen for the Texas disability services agency and the attorney general's office declined to comment, citing the pending lawsuit.

Texas' attorneys have accused Mersch of cheating Stout out of the Bibles. Mersch, who estimates she's racked up $500,000 in legal fees so far, said in a recent interview that the thought she would "steal an elderly couple's priceless artifacts for personal gain is unconscionable."

Mersch recently spoke to The Associated Press in the study of her home, surrounded by walls lined with framed pictures of astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong. Other pictures are autographed by Mitchell, who took the miniature Bibles to space, and Eugene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon. Mersch said if she wins, she'll donate some of the Bibles to museums or seminaries around the world, per the chaplain's wishes. She wants the Tulsa Air and Space Museum to get one.

"The idea of America taking the Bibles to the moon, it was an incredible adventure," said Mersch, a NASA buff who sold her internet and technology companies for millions before writing "The Apostles of Apollo," published in 2013. "It's a little-known story that needs to be told, and putting them in museums is a way to preserve their legacy."

Read also: Another nearby planet found that may be just right for life

The author isn't the only one who believes the Bibles are valuable.

Since the Apollo missions, some have found their way to noted auction houses. Hobby Lobby president Steve Green paid more than $56,000 for one at Sotheby's in 2012 for his family's traveling Bible collection, according to published reports. Others  some with dubious provenance  have fetched from $20,000 to $75,000 or more at auction. A copy from the Apollo 14 mission was recently advertised on Ebay for $10,000.

Bobby Livingston, the executive vice president at Boston-based RR Auction, which has sold $20 million in NASA-related merchandise since 2011, said collectors clamor for such memorabilia because the feats of the early space program "captured the imagination" of a generation.

"That's why we collect these things and why these things are memorable; you and I will never know what it's like to stand on that lunar surface and look back," Livingston said. "It's like the greatest achievement of mankind in the second half of the 20th Century."
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Linkedin Matthew Brown (Associated Press) Beijing  Sun, April 23, 2017 15:05 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea73a71 2 Health depression,health,mental-health,China,mental-health-problems,#depression,#China Free

Kerry Yang speaks openly to foreigners about the bouts of depression that have haunted her for a decade  her emotional meltdowns in college, the bruises she inflicted upon her body as a coping mechanism, her initial unsuccessful attempts at treatment.

Yet despite such candor, the 30-year-old public relations consultant from Beijing often can't bring herself to discuss her problems with her fellow Chinese, including members of her own family.

"There's a saying in China that if you display your emotions, you display weakness," Yang said.

Depression as an illness went widely unacknowledged for decades in China, even as the brutalities of the Cultural Revolution and, more recently, frenetic economic growth left emotional scars. Public attitudes have shifted in recent years, propelled in part by the adoption of the nation's first mental health law five years ago.

Read also: Dealing with depression and mental health: Let's talk

Yet Yang's case underscores that change is coming slowly within a society that traditionally viewed symptoms such as anxiety, sleeplessness or loss of appetite as isolated physical problems, not signs of mental disorder.

Families in China have been known to lock mentally ill relatives in cages or keep them in shackles for years because they were unable or unwilling to seek help. A rash of high-profile stabbings by perpetrators who were reportedly mentally ill over the past decade further highlighted the dearth of mental health services.

"Number one, it's probably not recognized and number two, if you have these problems it's personal, so 'take care of it on your own,'" said Michael Phillips, a professor of psychiatry at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and at Emory University in the United States.

More than 50 million people in the world's most populous country suffer from depression, according to the World Health Organization, which has made depression its signature issue for 2017. Apart from the toll on the afflicted, depression results in an estimated $8 billion in annual losses to productivity from missed work days, medical expenses and other costs, said WHO China representative Bernhard Schwartlander.

China's 2012 mental health law, almost three decades in the making, marked a major breakthrough. It gave political support to what was conceded to be a growing problem, invited collaboration from outside experts and restricted involuntary confinement of the mentally ill except in extreme circumstances a provision critics say still is sometimes ignored in the case of dissidents.

Read also: Men get depressed, too, let's talk about it

Previously, more than 90 percent of those with mental disorders had never sought any kind of professional help, according to a 2009 study by Phillips and several colleagues.

The new law placed schizophrenia and other psychological conditions out in the open, by expanding available treatments beyond psychiatric hospitals to include community-based services and encouraging scientific research. There's also been growing realization that mental illness can be just as burdensome to society as other chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension, said Phillips.

At the end of last year, 5.4 million people had been registered by China's government as having serious mental problems, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, which said the quality of treatment had been "gradually improving."

For years starting in college, Yang said she coped privately with periods of uncontrollable crying, anxiety and days when she didn't want to get out of bed. She excelled in her studies, yet still came up short of the perfection she'd been taught to demand of herself. Problems in romantic relationships added to the stress.

She recalled banging her fist repeatedly during arguments and pounding her chest until her body was bruised. Rather than disturb her, she found the bruises to be a soothing outlet for her emotional pain, an act known to therapists as self-harming.

Yang finally sought help five years ago, visiting two public hospitals, where she found the care impersonal and unhelpful, and then a private counselor.

Read also: Instagram may actually help with depression, study suggests

"I actually have trouble talking to a Chinese therapist because I'm uncomfortable speaking about this in my native tongue," she said.

Yang's parents were supportive but somewhat baffled. She said her mother didn't know depression existed, while her father wanted to "fix" her, but didn't know how.

Only after leaving China for a master's degree program in Australia did Yang find help. She returned to Beijing three years ago and began seeing a Chinese-Australian psychotherapist, Sami Wong, after her depression returned last fall. They speak primarily in English.

Despite the progress in recent years, mental health resources remain stretched thin even in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Nationwide, there are 27,733 psychiatrists or about two for every 100,000 people, according to the health commission. Russia and the United States have more than five times as many per capita, Schwartlander said.

The shortage of trained caregivers is most acute outside urban areas, said Zhang Yunshu, a psychiatrist who deals with rural patients in eastern China's Hebei Province. To fill that gap, the government has encouraged more students to enter the field and brought psychiatrists from the city out to the countryside to train general medicine doctors on the basics of psychiatric care.

Besides the cultural forces at play, Wong, Yang's therapist, said she sees a generational divide among her clients. That's particularly true of people like Wong's mother, who lived through the Cultural Revolution, a decade of political violence and chaos unleashed by Mao Zedong in which an estimated 1 million Chinese died from persecution, execution or suicide.

"Compared to that hardship, the feeling of depression is perceived as quite light," Wong said. "Compared to fear, depression is nothing."

WHO representative Schwartlander said China's contemporary rulers have accepted the need to address depression and mental illness. And just as the country has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty in the recent past, he believes with enough political will it can address its mental health needs.

Yang said it will take more than the WHO depression awareness campaign motto of "Feeling down? Let's talk" to ease the stigma associated with the disorder. She said China also must expand services so those with depression will have someone to listen.

"Otherwise it just opens a wound," she said. "It's just slicing people open, and then they could become desperate."
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Linkedin Desy Nurhayati (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar  Sat, April 22 2017

Bali has set a new continental record, becoming the first Asian destination to be declared the worlds best tourist destination by TripAdvisor, the worlds largest travel site.

The planning and booking travel website honored Bali as the winner of its 2017 TravelersChoice awards for destinations across the world at a ceremony held in Seminyak, Bali, on Thursday night. The resort island leads among 418 outstanding destinations across the globe.

According to the list, the top 10 Travelers Choice Destinations in the world are: Bali, Indonesia; London, United Kingdom; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; New York City, United States; Crete, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Siem Reap, Cambodia; Prague, Czech Republic; and Phuket, Thailand.

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Linkedin Nury Vittachi (The Jakarta Post) Bangkok  Sat, April 22 2017

An atheist friend got in my car the other day and I snapped him into prayer mode with single line: Put on your seat belt, I want to try something. Heh heh heh.

Religion is on my mind after seeing a news report from China.

Recently, communist party officials were shocked to hear that one of their members had failed to be sufficiently disrespectful during a meeting with a group of religious citizens.

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Linkedin Wahyoe Boediwardhana (The Jakarta Post) Sidoarjo, East Java  Sat, April 22 2017

Once a popular politician and presidential hopeful, Dahlan Iskan is now a corruption convict.

On Friday, the former state-owned enterprises minister was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay Rp 100 million (US$7,500) in fines.

The fines can be substituted for an additional two months imprisonment, presiding judge Tahsin said at the Surabaya Corruption Court in East Java.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 22 2017

The mayor of West Javas provincial capital of Bandung, Ridwan Kamil, has said that the construction of the high-speed railway connecting Bandung and Jakarta is set to be completed in 2020, a year later than initially planned.

I have met [President Joko Jokowi Widodo], who indicated that the railway would be operational in 2020, he said on Thursday.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the railway, which is being constructed in cooperation with the Chinese government, was held in January 2016, but the US$5.9 billion project got off to a slow start. Construction was initially to start in late August.

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Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 22 2017

United States diversified giant General Electric (GE) hopes to tap opportunities from Indonesias huge appetite for infrastructure development by offering digitized machines that can help boost performance efficiency.

With the digital industrial technology, GE combines its sophisticated machines with big-data analysis features to connect the firm and its customers so that the latter can check their assets conditions in real time.

The real-time connection will help optimize the performance and efficiency of the assets.

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Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) Cambridge  Sun, April 23, 2017 08:00 2026 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea63985 2 World Harvard-University,#Harvard Free

A Harvard University museum is marking its 150th anniversary with a new exhibit showcasing its role developing the study of anthropology.

The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology on Saturday is opening "All the World is Here," a renovated exhibition gallery featuring more than 600 objects from Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Many of the items are being displayed for the first time.

The exhibit is meant to tell the story of the museum's earliest collections and the role its second director, Frederic Putnam, played in developing the academic discipline. The museum is one of the world's oldest museums dedicated to anthropology.

Among the items being featured are the dog sledge of Arctic explorer Robert Peary, the collections of 18th-century Boston ship traders and art from Ohio's ancient burial mounds.
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 22 2017

Indonesian heroine Raden Ajeng Kartini, popularly known as Kartini, has become an icon of the womens emancipation movement in the country. A Javanese woman, whose progressive ideas were beyond her time, Kartini, who lived more than a century ago, has inspired generations of women to reach beyond the demands of society.

Even though the story of Kartini, whose birthday is celebrated on Kartini Day every April 21, is still very much disputed and scrutinized, it has nonetheless given countless Indonesian women the courage to fight for what they believe in. Like the band of female farmers from Kendeng mountain in Central Java who, 138 years after Kartini was born, are standing up against the construction of a cement plant in their area.

Dubbed the Kartini of Kendeng, the women farmers left their families to fight a three-year-long battle to achieve a greater purpose: to save their villages and livelihoods from environmental damage feared to be caused by the cement factorys operation. Hailing from several areas surrounding Kendeng including Rembang, Pati, Blora and Grobogan, the farmers protest has garnered nationwide attention.

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Linkedin Hanifah Ahmad (The Jakarta Post) Oxford, UK  Sat, April 22 2017

Recent global events have given us a glimpse of a world where diversity is frowned upon. Britain has passed a referendum to separate from the European Union and the 45th United States president, Donald Trump, has repeatedly referred to minority groups with foul words.

This is a significant defeat for proclaimed liberals around the world, as for them diversity is a must-have. But even among them, diversity is still grossly misunderstood and utilized for partisan interests.

Indonesia is a melting pot of diversity. Many have dubbed the nation a success story combining Islam and democracy.

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Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) Bethesda  Sun, April 23, 2017 09:00 2026 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea675dc 2 World trump,#DonaldTrump Free

President Donald Trump plans to visit wounded service members at a military hospital outside Washington.

It will be Trump's first visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Trump tweeted Saturday that he was looking forward to "seeing our bravest and greatest Americans."

First lady Melania Trump was expected to join the president.

Trump planned to meet with about a dozen service members who are receiving care at the hospital. He's also expected to award at least one Purple Heart, the U.S. military's decoration given to those wounded or killed in action.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Megamendung, West Java  Sun, April 23, 2017 11:43 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea6aa30 1 City #accident,accident Free

After questioning numerous witnesses, Bogor Police have detained and named Bambang Hernowo, 51, a suspect in a deadly collision involving multiple vehicles on Jl. Raya Puncak in Bogor on Saturday.

Bambang is the driver of the HS Transport bus, which hit several cars and motorcycles in the accident that caused the death of at least four people, reportedly due to malfunctioning brake system.

Bambang allegedly does not possess a driving license or vehicle registration document (STNK) for the bus.

We have named the bus driver a suspect, and we are currently carrying out further investigation. He will be detained at Bogor Police headquarters, Bogor Police traffic division head Adj. Comr. Hasby Ristama told reporters on Saturday evening.

(Read also: Chronology of deadly road accident in Puncak)

He added that the bus had been heading back to Jakarta after bringing a group of employees of PT Inkonsido to Wisata Matahari Park in Puncak for a vacation.

It took three hours to evacuate and clear the area, Hasby said. (fac/dan)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Megamendung, West Java  Sun, April 23, 2017 11:09 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea6960b 1 City #accident,accident Free

A malfunctioning brake system has been identified as the cause of a multiple-vehicle collision involving a bus, a mini bus, six cars and five motorcycles on Saturday evening on Jl. Raya Puncak in Bogor regency, West Java.

West Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said the incident, which had so far killed four people and injured dozens of others, was caused when a bus operated by HS Transport hit other vehicles after the driver lost control due failing brakes on the Selarong downhill road.

The bus was on the right-hand lane of the road and hit a Grand Livina car. It went on and hit a Honda Vario motorcycle, a Daihatsu Ayla and a Yamaha Vixion, consecutively, he told reporters on Saturday evening.

(Read also: One more death reported in multiple-vehicle collision in Puncak)



The bus shifted back to the left side of the road and stroke a white Toyota Avanza, three motorcycles, a Toyota Rush and a black Avanza, he added.



The bus then came to a halt in the middle of the road, he said.

As a popular recreation area near Jakarta, Puncak is often packed with vehicles, especially on weekends. (fac/dan)
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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, April 23, 2017 16:58 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea7afc0 1 Business cargo-terminal,exports,tanjung-priok,container,Pelindo Free

Indonesia's main shipping gateway, Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta, launched the first ever route connecting Jakarta and Los Angeles in the United States to boost its strategic standing as an international seaport.

The weekly route, which includes stops in Laem Chabang, Thailand, and Cai Cep, Vietnam, before ultimately arriving in the United States for stops in both Los Angeles and Oakland in the San Francisco Bay Area, saw higher volume shipments during its first trial operations on Apr. 9 and Apr. 16, state port operator Pelindo II stated on Sunday.



Total loading and unloading volume in the past three weeks saw a continuous increase with an average of 2,100 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

(Read also: Tanjung Priok toll road open to traffic)

Pelindo II president director Elvyn G. Masassya said the route takes a maximum 23 days' voyage, faster than normal route times, which often exceed 30 days. He added it would also save 10 to 20 percent in costs compared to shipping via Singapore.

The freight rate was set at around US$1,700 per 40-foot equivalent unit while the container handling cost and transhipment cost was set at $83 per TEU and $56 per TEU, respectively.

The route, served by French shipping line CMA CGM, will deploy 17 container ships at a maximum window time of 24 hours.

Port workers are seen near French shipping vessel CMA CGM Otello at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta on Sunday.(The Jakarta Post/Stefani Ribka)

CMA CGM Otello, with a capacity of 8,238 TEU, arrived at Tanjung Priok Port on Sunday, making it the biggest container ship to have docked in Indonesia.

"The arrival of this ship will hopefully encourage other lines and ships to stop at this competitive transhipment port in Asia," Elvyn said. (bbs)
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Linkedin Arif Gunawan Sulistiyono (The Jakarta Post) Washington  Sun, April 23, 2017 11:53 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea6b2c3 1 Business IMF,protectionism,Spring-Meetings,Trade,currency,China Free

Members of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Saturday pledged joint efforts to reduce global imbalances, but did not repeat their past pledge to resist all forms of protectionismwhich has been growing among many advanced and emerging economies.

The International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), the steering body of the fund, however, repeated its past stance on currency exchange rates. China has been accused in the past  especially by the US  of devaluing the yuan.

We will refrain from competitive devaluations and will not target our exchange rates for competitive purposes. We will also work together to reduce excessive global imbalances by pursuing appropriate policies. We are working to strengthen the contribution of trade to our economies, the IMFC said in a statement on Saturday.

(Read also: Global finance leaders grapple with globalization fears)

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati's hopes to see protectionism specifically addressed  expressed in Jakarta before she headed to Washington  had been dashed, as the word protectionism was not even mentioned once in the 1,886-word communique, which concluded the IMFs 35th Spring Meetings.

During the press conference in Washington on Saturday, Bank of Mexico governor Agustin Carstens, who heads the IMFs steering committee, said protectionism was a relative term and ambiguous as, according to him, there is no country that does not have any provisions on trade.

The IMFC statement also said that while the global economic recovery was gaining momentum, growth was still modest, and it warned of heightened political and policy uncertainties.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, April 23, 2017 15:16 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea74f8b 1 National caliphate,MUI,Maruf-Amin,HTI,Hizbut-Tahrir-Indonesia,viral Free

Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma'ruf Amin stated on Saturday that a caliphate, a system of Islamic rule under a leader considered a successor to Prophet Muhammad, was not suitable for Indonesia, since the country had adopted the system of a republic.

"A republic as the foundation of the nation has been agreed. We don't need to talk about a caliphate anymore, [the debate about it] is already over," he said after the opening of an economic congress in Jakarta, as quoted by kompas.com.

(Read also: Banser takes down banners promoting Islamic country in Central Java)

Ma'ruf said Indonesia's founding fathers of different backgrounds had approved the democratic republican system. He added that the proposal of a caliphate would trigger turmoil.

"It has become noisy again since the emergence of groups wanting a new system," he said, referring to the planned International Khilafah Forum to be held in Jakarta on Sunday, organized by hard-line group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI).

Reports of the event have triggered a social media frenzy, with hash tag #KhilafahSolusinya (a caliphate is the solution) going viral.

Dakwah adalah realitas, islam dg Quran dan Sunnah adalah jalan utamanya.



Mewujudkan Islam sbg jalan hidup. #KhilafahSolusinya.  Islam Agamaku (@Islaamidiina) April 23, 2017

Some claimed to have made social media posts from the event at Balai Sudirman in South Jakarta.

But the idea immediately triggered rejection from netizens, making the hash tag one of the nationally trending topics on Sunday.

Not just on 4/20, you'll watch people get stoned everyday. #khilafahsolusinya   (@kucing) April 23, 2017

Members of Banser, the youth wing of the Nahdlatul Ulama, hold a rally against Islamic radicalism and for religious pluralism in Kediri, East Java, in February 2017. (Antara/Prasetia Fauzani)

Previously, Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said Saturday that the police had not issued a permit for the forum by HTI after evaluating the potential risks of the event. (rdi/bbs)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, April 23, 2017 17:49 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea7e09d 1 National Jokowi,CabinetReshuffle,#CabinetReshuffle Free

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo following the Jakarta gubernatorial election discussed the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle as a consolidation test for his administration, a researcher said on Sunday.

During the Economic Congregation Congress in Jakarta on Saturday, Jokowi reportedly said that a Cabinet reshuffle was a potential solution to dealing with ministers who were unable to fulfill their targets during his administration.

"It [Cabinet reshuffle] concerns efforts in improving the governments performance while also maintaining electoral chances in 2019," Founding Fathers House (FFH) researcher Dian Permata said in response to Jokowi's statement about the potential Cabinet reshuffle, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

(Read also: Palace warns of another Cabinet reshuffle next year)

She further said that if the Cabinet reshuffle happened, it would probably be the last reshuffle under Jokowi, who is in his third year in office.

"If the reshuffle happens in the fourth year, it would be ineffective because it is a political year and close to the election," she said. (rdi/dan)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Wajo, South Sulawesi  Sun, April 23, 2017 12:19 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea6fc48 1 National South-Sulawesi,crime,Hotel,police Free

Residents of Sengkang in Wajo regency, South Sulawesi, were shocked after a man was found dead inside a hotel room.

The body was discovered by a room clerk at a budget hotel on Jl. Andi Macca Amirullah in Tempe district at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

The dead man was naked and wore a condom.

The hotel's CCTV footage showed that the man had visited the hotel with a woman at 11.45 a.m. on Saturday. They went straight to the room.

(Read also: Mother, toddler held at knifepoint inside angkot minivan in East Jakarta)

Police are still investigating the case and searching for the woman. "We did not find any identity [document] on him," Tempe Police chief Adj. Comr. Ilyas Dohan said, as quoted by kompas.com.

Police confiscated two opened condom packages and a motorcycle from the crime scene as potential evidence and sent the body to the Lamaddukelleng Regional Hospital for an autopsy.

"We are still waiting for the report from laboratory to find out the reason of his death," Wajo Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Noviana Tursanurrohmad said. (rdi/bbs)
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PHILADELPHIA  Alongside a display of the Declaration of Independence at the Museum of the American Revolution, a separate tableau tells the story of Mumbet, an enslaved black woman in Massachusetts who, upon hearing the document read aloud, announced that its proclamation that "all men are created equal" should also include her.

In response, her master hit her with a frying pan. Mumbet sued him, won her freedom in court, changed her name to Elizabeth Freeman and became a nurse. Her case set a precedent prohibiting slavery in the state.

The story is a reminder that during the struggle for our nation's liberty, the 400,000 African Americans who lived in slavery in 1776 also longed to be free.

Such stories are found throughout the museum, which opens Wednesday in Philadelphia  coinciding with the 242nd anniversary of the battle at Lexington and Concord, the "shot heard 'round the world" that began the Revolutionary War in 1775. The more inclusive, clear-eyed view of the country's turning points is an intentional departure from the whitewashed story America has often told itself and the world.

Instead, the museum seeks to show visitors that the Revolution was a set of aspirational ideas founded on equality, individual rights and freedom that remain relevant today, said president Michael Quinn.

"These ideas rallied people from all walks of life, and they took those ideas to heart," Quinn said "What unifies us as a people is our shared, common commitment to these ideas."

At several points throughout the museum, visitors are forced to confront the contradictions of the high-minded ideals of the framers of the Constitution and the realities of their time, including slavery and the second-class status of women. Slavery, for example, would expand for nearly another century after the Revolutionary War ended, and despite arguing for their liberty at the start of America, women in the United States would fight for suffrage into the early 20th century.

The message: The ideals of the American Revolution belong not only to the founding fathers long revered by our country, but also to the founding generation of Americans who first heard them, and the generations that have come since.

"For over two centuries, if you said the words 'founders of this country,' the image that would pop to most people's minds would be a white man," said Scott Stephenson, vice president of collections, exhibitions and programming. "Increasingly, we at museums have realized we have got to tell a broader story."

One exhibit features the story of the Oneida Indians, one of the first allies to support the nascent America, who fought and died alongside the colonist soldiers. Also on display is the active role of African-Americans, enslaved and free, in the war, fighting with both the Continental and British armies, showed that blacks were patriots also fighting for their own freedom.

Historical interpretations conjured from diaries and letters of the lives of five men and women who took various routes to freedom during the war are presented in an interactive digital installation. In paintings, dioramas and exhibits, the stories of figures including poet Phillis Wheatley and William Lee, valet to Gen. George Washington, challenge the idea of who could claim the title of "revolutionary."

Visitors are asked to consider the question, "Freedom for whom?" said Adrienne Whaley, the museum's manager for school programs.

"The struggle to become free predates the Revolution, and it continues after the war is over," she said. "The promise of America is defined by the ways in which we treat these people."
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Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) Pyongyang, North Korea  Sun, April 23, 2017 15:15 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea74b49 2 World Korea,North-Korea,#NorthKorea,US Free

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP)  North Korea recently detained a U.S. citizen, officials said Sunday, in the latest case of an American being held in the country.

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of a Korean-American citizen being detained recently, but could not comment further. The embassy looks after consular affairs for the United States in North Korea because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, citing unnamed sources, reported that a Korean-American man was arrested Friday at Pyongyang's international airport while trying to leave North Korea. It said the man, in his late 50s and identified by his surname, Kim, has been involved in aid and relief programs to North Korea and was a former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China.

South Korea's Unification Ministry and its intelligence agency both said they were unable to confirm the report.

At least two other Americans are currently detained in North Korea. Last year, Otto Warmbier, then a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner. Kim Dong Chul, who was born in South Korea but is also believed to have U.S. citizenship, is serving a sentence of 10 years for espionage.

At least one other foreigner, a Canadian pastor, is also being detained in North Korea. Hyeon Soo Lim, a South Korean-born Canadian citizen in his 60s, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2015 on charges of trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system and helping U.S. and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens.
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Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) Tel Aviv  Sun, April 23, 2017 17:00 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea7c9cb 2 World Israel,Palestine,#IsraeliSettlements Free

A report released by Israeli researchers says violent attacks on Jews dropped for a second straight year in 2016, while other forms of anti-Semitism are on the rise worldwide, particularly on U.S. campuses.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University said Sunday that assaults specifically targeting Jews, vandalism and other violent incidents fell 12 percent last year. They recorded 361 cases compared to 410 in 2015, which had already been the lowest number in a decade.

The report attributed much of the drop to increased security measures in European countries.

The numbers on violence were not mirrored by a decrease in cases of general anti-Semitism. On U.S. university campuses, there was a 45 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents, mostly insults and harassment of Jewish students, the report says.
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Linkedin Abdullah Al-Shihri and Aya Batrawy (Associated Press) Riyadh  Sun, April 23, 2017 20:05 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea80bbd 2 World Saudi-Arabia,#SaudiArabia,US Free

Saudi Arabia's King Salman issued a decree late Saturday naming one of his sons, an air force pilot who has taken part in coalition strikes against the Islamic State group, as the kingdom's new ambassador to the U.S.

The appointment of Prince Khaled bin Salman to Washington signals the kingdom's eagerness to strengthen bilateral ties under President Donald Trump. As the king's son, the prince has a direct line to the Saudi monarch.

Saudi Arabia is the world's third largest defense spender. Prince Khaled's appointment positions him as an influential broker in deals with U.S. manufacturers.

Saudi-U.S. relations had cooled under the Obama administration after Washington pursued a nuclear accord with Shiite-ruled Iran that the Sunni-ruled kingdom strongly opposed. Saudi Arabia and Iran are regional rivals, and back opposing sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen.

Relations with the Riyadh have improved since Trump took office. King Salman dispatched his most powerful son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also defense minister, to meet Trump at the White House last month. Saudi Arabia was quick to praise Trump's missile strike on a Syrian military base in response to an apparent chemical weapons attack on civilians.

Prince Khaled is a former F-15 pilot who graduated military-aviation training from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi in 2009 and took part in anti-IS strikes in 2014 as part of the U.S.-led coalition. He also participated in flight missions over Yemen, where the kingdom has been bombing a Yemeni faction aligned with Iran for more than two years.

The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news website says the prince studied briefly at Harvard University and Georgetown University. The news website says he trained at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, but that a back injury forced him to stop flying.

He has been an adviser at the Saudi Embassy in Washington since late last year.

U.S. officials say the Trump administration is considering ways to boost military support for the Saudi-led fight against Iran-backed rebels in Yemen. The U.S. already is helping the Saudis with intelligence and logistical support for the bombing campaign in Yemen, and could assist with greater intelligence support to counter Iranian influence there.

Prince Khaled will be replacing Prince Abdullah Al Saud, who served in the post for just 18 months. Though a member of the royal family, Prince Abdullah was not seen as part of the inner Al Saud circle and is not a direct grandson of Saudi Arabia's founder, King Abdulaziz.

Days before being relieved of his post in Washington, Prince Abdullah published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal calling for continued U.S. resolve to end the conflict in Syria.

He said Saudi Royal Air Force jets operating out of a base in southern Turkey have conducted more than 340 strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria since February.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, April 23, 2017 12:14 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea6f0eb 1 News music-festival,bali,bali-blues-festival,Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia Free

Great news for blues fans: Bali Blues Festival returns for the third time from May 26 to 27.

The two-day music festival will be held on Peninsula Island, Nusa Dua, with performances by Gugun Blues Shelter feat. Indra Lesmana, The Six Strings, Krakatau Reunion and Gilang Ramadhan, to name a few.

Read also: Four Indonesian indie musicians you should listen to

Last year, the event attracted 3,000  5,000 visitors, mostly overseas tourists.

Bali was named the global winner of the 2017 Travelers' Choice Awards in March by Travel planning and booking website TripAdvisor. (asw)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, April 23, 2017 13:12 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea708d6 1 News foreign-investors,foreign-investment,morotai,Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia Free

PT. Jababeka chairman Darmono has signed a memorandum of understanding with one of Chanas biggest travel and tourism players for investment on the island of Morotai in the Halmahera group of eastern Indonesia's Maluku Islands.

They are committed to build 300 hotel rooms in a span of one year and 100 villas on 100 hectares of land, Darmono said at the Calendar of Event Wonderful Morotai Island Festival (CoE WMIF) 2017 event on Friday.

Read also: Tourism Ministry discusses competitiveness index of 10 'New Bali'

The first stage of investment is valued at around 100 million dollars, equal to 1.3 trillion rupiah. The investor, a company said to have 60 hotels in China, has made a deal to gradually increase the investment to one billion dollars.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Ministry promises to renovate the airports runway to accommodate 130-passenger planes.

As one of ten prioritized tourism destinations, we are targeting 11,000 tourists to visit Morotai this year, and were hoping for an increase to 500,000 by 2019, said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya. (asw)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, April 23, 2017 16:22 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea796b3 1 News Southeast-Sulawesi,Kendari,festival,Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia Free

To commemorate its 53rd anniversary, the province of Southeast Sulawesi is hosting the Halo Sultra 2017 event in the provincial capital of Kendari from April 23  27.

Halo Sultra was first held in 2008, back then called Kemilau Sulawesi Tenggara. Southeast Sulawesi Governor H. Nur Alam decided to make the provincial anniversary celebration a tourism event.

In 2009, the name was officially changed to Halo Sultra, said the governor.

Read also: Wakatobi attempting to lure tourists with 15 events throughout 2017

The word Halo is taken from Haluoleo, one of the kings that ruled the Konawe kingdom in the 17th century, while Sultra is a common Indonesian abbreviation of the provinces name.

Last year, Sultra tourism grew by 19.5% to 22,380 visitors, consisting of 15,668 local tourists and 6,712 foreigners, said the Tourism Ministry's Esthy Reko Astuti, who oversees national tourism marketing.

For this years Halo Sultra, the provincial government will have tourism and art exhibitions from April 23  27, the Sutra Weaving Carnival on April 24 and a food festival on April 27. Southeast Sulawesis tourism ambassador will also be inaugurated on the same day. 6,747 people are taking part in staging this five-day event, with the number of visitors targeted to reach 100,000. (asw)
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Linkedin Yuka Matsumoto (The Japan News/Asia News Network) Japan  Sun, April 23, 2017 17:00 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea7bdfd 2 News Tohoku,Japan,travel,traveling,tourism,#traveling,#tourism Free

On a day in early February that saw a dusting of snow, about 70 people from 11 countries visited Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture. The visitors  from countries including France, Spain and Italy  were participating in a tour organized by Tokyo-based travel agency Miki Tourist Co.

The tour took in Tsurugajo castle, an old samurai residence and sake brewery, as well as an Aizu lacquerware workshop. The participants also got to peek into the kitchen of a hot-spring inn and visit a bus company in Koriyama in the prefecture.

Miki Tourist created the tour as a model project for the Reconstruction Agency because Aizu is full of sightseeing spots. The company specializes in European tours for Japanese tourists, and asked European firms in the tourism industry to participate. Miki Tourist emphasized that the area is safe, citing a decline in radiation levels.

The company started offering a seven-day, five-night tour at 1,980 (about 250,000) per person, including air fare. The tour, which included an overnight stay in Tokyo, proved popular.

Read also: Anime theme park to open on Awajishima island

A woman from Portugal experienced a Japanese-style inn and hot spring for the first time, saying she was satisfied to see the real Japan  or one that is different from Tokyo.

The company is planning a new Tohoku tour for fiscal 2017.

Six years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Although the increasing number of foreign visitors to Japan has been highly publicized, the reconstruction of tourism in Fukushima and the five other Tohoku prefectures, as they seek to promote their charms domestically and abroad, is still under way. The government is gearing up to support municipalities and private entities that have tried to attract foreign visitors.

Nationwide, there were 64 million overnight stays made by foreigners at lodging facilities with over 10 employees in 2016  up 2.5-fold from 2010. However, the six Tohoku prefectures only saw a 1.3-fold increase, or 640,000, which accounted for only 1 percent of the nationwide figure. Visitor numbers in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures have recovered to predisaster levels, but Fukushima Prefecture is struggling.

Read also: Illuminating Buddhism in a high-tech light

Given the situation, the government assigned 2016 as the inaugural year of Tohoku tourism reconstruction and allocated 5 billion for the fiscal 2016 budget for reconstruction related to tourism, a 10-fold increase from the previous fiscal year. It also set a goal to annually have 1.5 million overnight stays by international visitors in Tohoku in 2020.

Since last fiscal year, the Tourism Agency has been working harder to extend subsidies to projects led by local governments. Examples include Miyagi Prefectures initiative to launch wireless LAN (local area network) services and Akita Prefectures promotional drive using Akita dogs. It has also focused on overseas promotion in tandem with the Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization and other bodies.

In May last year, the Reconstruction Agency chose 13 out of about 70 initiatives as model projects with the aim of helping private sector entities develop new travel products and services. Other projects have also been carried out besides that of Miki Tourist. They include a tour taking in the frost-covered trees of Zao, Yamagata Prefecture, and other locations; an initiative to launch a reservation system for South Korean tourists; and the introduction of a rental bicycle scheme.

The 13 projects, which have brought about 10,000 overnight stays by international visitors in the region, are continuing this fiscal year.

A Reconstruction Agency official said: The atmosphere in the region and the market reactions have changed. We hope to establish a distribution system in the tourism industry that leads to an influx of tourists.

Read also: Japan opens 2nd robot-manned hotel

Local mascot for reconstruction

Tohoku Zunko, a character created in 2011 to support reconstruction, has also been used to promote tourism in the region. A stamp-collecting event currently being held in a shopping district in Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture, and other places is a case in point. The event will last through April 23.

Tohoku Zunko was named after zunda, a sweet paste made of edamame and broad beans that is a specialty of the southern Tohoku region. The commercial use of the character is allowed mainly for companies in the six Tohoku prefectures. Zunda Horizon, a 30-minute anime starring Zunko, was produced this year using subsidies from Animetamago, a Cultural Affairs Agency project to nurture young animators.

The stamp-collecting event is the eighth of its kind. Stamps of Zunko have been placed at 15 locations in Shiroishi and Sendai. People who collect nine of them can receive some Haruiro Onmen noodles, a Shiroishi specialty, featuring Zunko on the package.

Monthly travel magazine Ryoko Yomiuri featured Zunko in its May issue, released March 28. Some copies of the issue sold at convenience stores came with a plastic file case featuring the character.

Zunda Horizon and three other films created using Animetamago subsidies will be shown at Theatre Shinjuku in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, from April 22 to April 28.

Topics :

This article appeared on The Japan News newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
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Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, April 23, 2017 11:10 2025 a291276806121264c0bd211cdea6a0da 1 News wake-up-indonesia,ppi-london,ppi-warwick,career-oriented-event,student,#students,career,Youth,#youth,Education,#education Free

Indonesian students in the United Kingdom are invited to a career event at Kings College London on April 29.

Wake Up Indonesia! is said to be the first Indonesian career event in the country. It aims to connect Indonesian graduates of UK universities with large Indonesian companies.

The one-day event will feature different programs for undergraduate and post-graduate students and PhD candidates, including two career panel discussions titled Going Global with your UK degree where participants can learn how to utilize their skills abroad, and Alternative Careers: Exploring the World of Start-Ups. The panel discussions will be followed by company presentations, career consulting, workshops and the Indonesian Forum.

Celebrated figures slated to attend the event are Accenture's Brexit strategist and executive director of the Young Indonesian Professionals Association (YIPA) Steven Marcelino, World Health Organization project manager Awandha Mamahit, Piksel Indonesia CEO and co-founder Nancy Margried, the director of the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) in London, Nurul Ichwan, and award-winning designer Chitra Subyakto.

Read also: Street Punk! Banda Aceh film screening attracts UK film-goers

Satria Wilis, the vice president of co-organizer Warwick Indonesian Student Association (PPI-Warwick), told The Jakarta Post that there had always been a gap between the students and the companies.

Ive heard many cases from my colleagues of postgraduate students who come back home and fail to find work. They find themselves overqualified and out-of-the-loop in the Indonesian job marketplace, said Satria. Without any prior connections, network or even information about companies, graduates find themselves lost and starting over from a beginner position, though vastly overqualified.

The event is also set to launch a joint campaign between Indonesian Student Associations in the UK and YIPA. Dubbed #GoGlobal, it aims to raise employability awareness.

Wake Up Indonesia! is a merger of two annual events, Life After Uni (Career Talk) and the Indonesian Forum, which are initiated by PPI-London and PPI-Warwick, respectively.

This is the first time were joining forces in the hope of extending our reach and maximizing our influence on Indonesian students studying in the UK, said Satria, adding that they aimed to host more career events and workshops in the coming years.

Those wishing to join the event can visit its Facebook account for further information. (kes)
More often than not, income investors focus on a stock's current yield and choose to let that payout be the deciding factor when picking between two income options. Using that logic, U.S. gas pipeline company Williams Partners (NYSE: WPZ) and its current 5.9% yield would beat Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) and its 3.9% payout hands down. However, by digging a little deeper, we see that Enbridge is not only the far superior company, but it also offers investors the potential to earn higher total returns. Here's why those factors matter, making it the better buy between the two.
Hollywood star Chris Pratt has admitted his career was boosted because he was objectified.

The US actor, who shed 60lb for his role in 2014 film Guardians Of The Galaxy, said turning his body into an object had meant he was now paid a lot of money.

But the 37-year-old said the objectification of women in the film industry had to be viewed differently because it had a horrifying past.

At a press conference promoting Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2, Chris said: I can say objectification is good for me because when I turned my body into an object that people liked I got paid a lot of money.

Chris and Anna Faris share a smooch on the red carpet (Jordan Strauss/PA)

Now my grandkids are going to go to a great college because of the object.

But you have to be a little sensitive about that because there are a lot more great roles classically written for men than there have been for women.

Chris, who was heavier at the time of his breakthrough TV role in Parks And Recreation, said actors could be described as props.

As a man I can say that, he added.

But I have to be careful because for millennia women have been objectified in a way where theres a pretty horrifying past around it.

Being an object can send my kids to college, says Chris (Matt Crossick/PA)

Its a little bit different. I dont know if you would call it a double standard.

But you have to deal with them separately because theres a history of objectification that is a sensitive issue.

After his starring role in 2014 blockbuster Guardians Of The Galaxy, Chris went on to play Velociraptor expert Owen Grady in Jurassic World and will appear in the sequel in 2018.

He returns as Star-Lord in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2, which is released in UK cinemas on April 28.
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As tensions within Nebraska's prison system threaten to boil over, a group of former inmates gathered at the state Capitol on Saturday to protest prison conditions.

Members Among Society Serving Individuals Validating Each other, a support group of former inmates helping each other reintegrate into society and give back to the community, protested outside of the Capitol. The group aims to promote better treatment and increased safety measures for inmates and staff inside Nebraska's correctional facilities.

Michael Dicken, the director of the nonprofit organization, said the group is not against corrections, but believes conditions need to be improved.

Most of the guys incarcerated will be coming back to our communities," he said. "How do we ensure that when they come in, they will come out safe? How do we ensure that the employees, when they go to work, they come out safe?

Dicken said he believes more education and training could help conditions.

We deserve, as a community, to feel good about our loved ones being there and being able to come back without being killed or injured, Dickens said.

On April 10, ACLU of Nebraska demanded that the state make immediate changes in the prisons or face a lawsuit.

Nebraskas Department of Correctional Services has seen numerous altercations among inmates and staff in recent months.

On April 7, three staff members at the state Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln were assaulted and a fire was started in a housing unit. On April 19, an inmate in the Tecumseh state prison attacked two guards and bit a caseworker. Two days later, a Tecumseh inmate was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly strangling his cellmate the week before.

Dicken said appropriate housing for inmates could improve conditions.

They need to house people accordingly, he said. If you have a murderer and somebody who sells drugs, I wouldnt put them in the same cell.

Dicken said taking the yard off lockdown could also ease some of the unrest at the prison, along with certain policy changes related to punishment.

Ron Dean, M.A.S.S.I.V.E.s outreach communications coordinator, said the current policy is to punish all inmates when something goes wrong.

Its always been the policy that the hammer is the only tool to solve problems, he said.

Dean said policy changes could potentially make the prisons safer for both inmates and staff.

We have to do something different," he said. "This is not working.
About a dozen people each year come into the crosshairs of a Lincoln city ordinance that bans people convicted of certain crimes from owning guns.

What puts them there fuels a debate over public safety, proactive policing, basic rights, due process and government overreach.

In 2006, Lincoln's City Council enacted an ordinance that prevents people from openly carrying guns into city or county buildings. It also added crimes, including some misdemeanors, to a list spelling out who cant own firearms in the city.

These so-called "enhanced prohibitors" total about 30 in Lincoln and include convictions for crimes like stalking, violating a protection order and misdemeanor assault, as well as indecent exposure and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A legislative bill (LB68), sponsored by Lincoln Sen. Mike Hilgers, aims to erase the authority of individual communities to enact gun regulations stricter than the state. The bill makes an exception for Omaha because of its gang problems.

Under state and federal laws, felons and those convicted of domestic violence are barred from owning guns.

Lincoln law enforcement officials say the bill strips them of the ability to keep guns out of the wrong hands.

"There is a certain chance that one of those people would have done something more serious," Lincoln Public Safety Director Tom Casady said.

But gun rights supporters and the bill's backers counter these ordinances strip gun owners of their constitutional right and due process while contributing to a confusing patchwork of gun laws.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled government can place some restrictions on a citizen's Second Amendment right to own firearms, said Lincoln defense attorney Korey Reiman. But the Lincoln ordinance, which bars someone from having a gun if they've been convicted of certain offenses in the last 10 years, takes that to another level, he said.

Thats not a restriction on someone's right," Reiman said. "Thats a flat-out prohibition.

Law different in Lincoln

Between 2006 and 2016, 155 people were ticketed with unlawfully possessing a firearm in Lincoln, according to a Journal Star analysis of Lincoln Police Department data.

About 70 percent of those cases were prosecuted, the analysis found.

Defendants were convicted in 73 percent of those cases; in others the charge was dismissed.

All of the 10 people ticketed in 2016 were Lincoln residents.

One man ticketed by Lincoln police in 2016 was arrested for assaulting a woman and found to have a gun, despite having been convicted of violating a protection order in the last 10 years.

He was fined $250, and the judge had his gun destroyed.

In another case, city prosecutors dismissed a case against a man who the ordinance prohibited from owning a gun because he'd previously been convicted of obstructing a police officer.

Hilgers said Lincolns rules may preclude someone from exercising their constitutional right to own a gun. And hes concerned someone may be convicted of an offense in a town where the conviction doesn't affect their ability to legally own a gun and then move to Lincoln, where they're breaking the law and dont know it.

Lincoln City Attorney Jeff Kirkpatrick said his staff examines the criminal histories and other available information when it decides whether to charge someone under the citys ordinance.

But "we dont want to treat somebody different because of their age, or racial background or whether theyre from Scottsbluff or Belmont," Kirkpatrick said.

In the 51 cases filed between 2010 and 2016, 48 defendants were from Lincoln. One was from Martell, another had no listed address and a third man hailed from Orlando, Florida.

"These are people who have been convicted of grave misdemeanors," Casady said. "And again weve got this false dichotomy for is it serious or not serious?"

Hilgers said the bill's intent isn't an endorsement for stalkers, abusers or other criminals to have guns.

But it aims to ensure people aren't unknowingly giving up their rights to own a gun in Lincoln when they agree to plead guilty and pay a fine for crimes like carrying a concealed weapon and other prohibiting offenses, Hilgers said.

It's not the job of a city prosecutor or county judge in Lincoln or elsewhere in the state to instruct them their pleas may affect their ability to own a gun within Lincoln, Kirkpatrick said.

Seeking uniformity

Hilgers and Lincoln firearms safety instructor Craig Schneider believe that if an offense is serious enough to ban someone from owning guns in Lincoln it should ban any Nebraskan for the sake of uniformity.

But Casady, a former Lincoln police chief and Lancaster County Sheriff, said he's tried working on that, and state lawmaking is an arduous process.

What's more, Lincoln's top cops say, cities like Lincoln have different law enforcement needs compared to their neighboring communities.

"The expectations of those that live and work in Lincoln are different than those that reside in Lancaster County, where I had over 20 years worth of experience," said Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister, who worked for the sheriffs department before becoming police chief in 2016.

Lincoln law officers are concerned because the bill, which passed first-round consideration this month, would allow people to openly carry guns into city and county-owned venues like Pinnacle Bank Arena, Pinewood Bowl, the Hall of Justice and even the Lancaster County jail.

Hilgers said that wasn't his intent and he is working on an amendment when the bill comes up for second-round debate.

To help reduce rampant gang violence in Omaha, the bill already allows Omaha to keep its ban against residents openly carrying a firearm.

Bliemeister said his gang investigators recently told him the population of known gang members and affiliates hit 1,200 in Lincoln.

That some Lincoln residents don't believe gangs are a problem might be in part because the police department doesn't publicize gang crimes in an effort to deny them advertising and legitimacy, the chief said.

Bliemeister said he recognizes Lincoln doesn't have the gang violence of Omaha, but the carve-out for the states largest city points to a problematic perception.

"I think it amplifies the lack of recognition of gang-related crime that occurs in Lincoln," the chief said.

Hilgers said gun controls arent the only way to reduce gang violence. And Lincoln and smaller cities can still control their police force size, training and other measures to reduce violent crime.

Defense attorney Reiman doesn't believe police should be using the ordinance because someone might commit a crime, he said.

Laws should be enforced uniformly, he said.

"I do not trust discretion, said Reiman.

City could revisit prohibitors

In one of the first cases after Lincolns ordinance passed in 2006, police ticketed a 23-year-old man for illegally having two shotguns and a handgun after catching a burglar inside his home trying to steal two of the guns.

The reason? City ordinance banned him from having guns because he'd been convicted of drunk driving twice in the last 10 years and also convicted of minor marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession charges.

He protested the ordinances in letters to city officials, but ultimately pleaded no contest.

The judge fined him $1 and ordered him to pay court costs of $44.

Casady, who was police chief when the city beefed up its gun ordinance, admits the crimes prohibiting gun ownership in Lincoln may be outdated and he believes city officials and the City Council could revisit whether they are all necessary. Kirkpatrick said he also believes the council would be open to revisiting the list.

But they dont want state lawmakers to take away local control.

"The citizens of Lincoln are safer having that local control and having the ability to have some influence over the number of firearms that are owned in the city of Lincoln and who owns them," Kirkpatrick said.
Margaret Reist Local government reporter Margaret Reist is a recovering education reporter now writing about local and county government and the people who live in the city where she was born and raised. Follow Margaret Reist Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

In a large room on the third floor of Lincoln High School one evening last week, a group of students stood shoulder to shoulder in a single line.

They were part of an exercise on race and identity, a way to start a conversation -- or continue one.

They called it The Privilege Walk.

Lincoln High junior Maia Ramsay, president of the youth chapter of the local NAACP, read a series of statements and the others did as she directed.

If most of your teachers are your race, Ramsay read, step forward.

If your immediate family has ever needed government assistance, step backward.

If you have never lied about your ethnicity as self-defense, step forward.

If you typically feel nervous around police officers in spite of having done nothing wrong, step backward.

Consider your identity, she told her peers, not just by race but by sexual orientation, gender, disability and socio-economic status.

The questions continued and the students stepped forward and back, and when Ramsay was finished one line had become two, separated largely by race.

White students on one side of the room, those of color on the other.

There were a few people in the void, questions about poverty and violence among those that crossed race and depended on which identity the participants applied to a statement.

Then the adults in the room participated in the same exercise. Like the younger group, their single line divided into two.

The discussion that followed touched on perceptions and experience, white privilege and how to move the needle on social injustice.

One student, who knew most of the students in the room, said she was struck by the visual representation of an outcome shed expected.

It turned out how I thought it would turn out but it was still a shock to see it, she said.

The meeting was part of a series of events planned by the YWCA, whose new director Karen Bell-Dancy got a grant to promote one of the missions of her organizations: eliminating racism.

The grant will allow the YWCA to focus on a broad array of social justice issues in the community, and one of those is bringing young people together to talk about race. The YWCA is working with the NAACPs youth chapter to make that happen.

We want to reach out to other high school students and form some action items in their communities to impact race relations, Bell-Dancy said.

Last weeks meeting was the second one. The first one was on the heels of the last presidential election, providing students a safe place to talk about their fear and the outward displays of racism toward them in the days following the election.

The YWCA also plans to hold a pitch contest for students to come up with plans to address social injustice  with prizes to help the winners put their ideas into action, Bell-Dancy said.

The activities coincide with a national YWCA campaign called Stand Against Racism.

On Thursday, the Lincoln YWCA will hold an event and invite public officials and local agency heads  and anyone else thats interested  to take a pledge against racism. The event will be from 4-6 p.m. at the YWCA office at 1701 S. 17th St.

Many of the students who attended last week's meeting wore Stand Against Racism buttons and when the two Privilege Walk lines dissolved, the conversation began.

Some said they were surprised to see essentially the same divide with the group of students and adults.

Its a little sad to see, said one participant. Society hasnt done anything to make the gap less.

One student, who is white, said because shes a gay woman, shed always thought of herself as a minority but at end of The Privilege Walk, she stood with the other white participants.

I feel like part of a minority, but really Im not, she said.

That drew this observation: that it's important to realize your privilege.

One young man, who is white, he used to think racism didn't really exist anymore. That's changed now, he said.

There are times racism has happened right in front of me and I havent recognized it, he said.

Sometimes people recognize it, said others, but dont speak out because of their own fear.

And then the discussion turned, ideas to take outside room 300 and to the rest of the school, the community, the dinner table.

Use social media to change peoples minds, and educate them.

Join the NAACP.

Dont be afraid to engage in discussions of people with viewpoints opposite of yours.

Focus on educating people, not reacting in anger.

Use your privilege to support minorities.

Call out ignorance.

Speak up.
With no Democratic challenger, Johnson secures third term in House

Republican U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson won reelection for his third term representing South Dakotas only U.S. House district.
This autobiography by Rehman Sobhan covers the years from pre- 1935, when he was born, to 1971, when Bangladesh emerged as an independent sovereign country. Accordingly, it has to be considered the first of more parts of the Sobhan story.

Autobiographies are written by those well-known enough to presume that their lives are of interest to others or by those who have lived through momentous times, to which their first-hand accounts add value to what is already known. In other words, those that are born famous, and those who have fame thrust upon them. Sobhan is in the second category; he will be recognised by prospective readers as a leading public intellectual, a firm believer in South Asian identity and unity, an economist with expertise in development economics and political economy, and an author of more than 20 books.

Less well known will be his role in the intellectual content of the movement towards Bangladeshs independence, first through his contributions to the documents that formed the basis for the eventually fruitless negotiations by the Awami League under Mujibur Rahman with the Pakistanis, and later to the proclamations that heralded the actual dawn of independence. Because he was dispatched to Europe and USA by Tajuddin, acting as Prime Minister-in-exile in the absence of Mujib, then in detention, Sobhans profile in India as a lobbyist for Bangladesh was inevitably overshadowed by his peers in Mujibnagar/Calcutta during the axial year of 1971.

This is not the first memoir that deals with the human tragedy that led to Bangladeshs independence, and no viewpoint is identical to others. This work may be the last eye-witness account of that period 46 years ago but it will not be the final word since future records may yet reveal additional information. But Sobhans book will remain valuable, being by someone who was present in the struggle from the creation, so to speak. And throughout those years, his passion, energy and sincerity are characteristic of his ebullient personality.

The book can be considered in three parts; chapters one to six cover Sobhans education, with Cambridge comprising the longest one in the book; seven to 11 deal with his excursion into the leather business and university lectureship; and 12 to 17, his connection with the AL and the break from Pakistan. Each segment will appeal most to a different readership but the entire text is easily accessible for the generalist.

Sobhan was born with many silver spoons in his mouth, being related by blood or marriage to the Whos Who of the sub-continental Muslim community, ranging from the Nawab of Dhaka to the crown prince of Jordan. That he spent one summer holiday in the house of the Governor-General of Pakistan and another with the Prime Minister speaks for itself. The books first segment will appeal to the declining numbers who recall the golden days of Calcutta society, public schools and elite British universities with delighted nostalgia, while others might find tedious the lengthy lists of names, places and procedures. It comes as a surprise that he departed for London from Pakistan in a second class four-berth cabin below deck.

Sobhans entry to Cambridge after the start of term was not quite as fortuitous as BK Nehrus, whose memoir records his admission being facilitated by the lodge porter at Balliol. At university, Sobhanspolitical perspectives were given shape  my move to the left had already begun, though he remembers his college without much nostalgia and is not sure what Cambridge itself did for my intellectual development. He claims as improbable his deliberate choice to base his home and career after 1956 in East Pakistan, an area he had only visited once before for one month, and did not speak Bengali. But this was hardly unique in the 20th century; many in India and Pakistan heard the same siren song to return from abroad and assumed leadership positions.

In the second segment, as leading shareholder of Dhaka Tanneries, Sobhan endeavoured to learn the craft, but the kow-towing of business circles to mediocre Pakistani bureaucrats planted his commitment to a self-governed East Pakistan. Of 22 families that dominated the private sector, there was only one Bangali; at liberation, only three per cent of industrial assets were owned by Bangalis. The relationship between West and East Pakistan was patently unequal and unjust, and the disparity of the two economies became a focus of Sobhans attention. He joined Dhaka University and it was there that I forged a political identity that continues  even today.

Again, the reader is given much detail of the personnel and development of the Economics Department, even to the layout of rooms.But Bangladeshi faculty and students, then as now, were a potent factor in shaping political events, and were given exposure that exceeded their years and experience. Sobhans political mentors were HS Suhrawardy, Mujib and Tajuddin. Under pressure from Pakistans local administration, Sobhan found refuge at the London School of Economics from 1966 to 1969. Leftinclined economists of that time seemingly constituted a formidable mutualhelp cohort and Bangladeshis of that tribe who needed a break, whether voluntary or imposed, found ready congenial employment in the West or international organisations.

The two economies theme motivated Sobhan in drafting ALs negotiating positions urging maximum autonomy, including raising taxes and control over export earnings. He also assisted in preparing the election manifesto of 1970, the first direct franchise poll held in Pakistan, the independence proclamation and the eventual Constitution. Sobhans narrative is an insiders account of the predictable Greek tragedy of failed negotiations between AL and West Pakistan, when global sympathy was gained at a heavy cost in Bangali lives. His escape from the Pakistan army to Tripura is gripping, and contacts with the Delhi government revealed a remarkable lack of information by the latter, which says much to the detriment of Indian intelligence, which apparently failed even to peruse the Dhaka press.

Mandated from April 1971 as envoy extraordinary (probably by coincidence the exact use of this technical term), Sobhan was dispatched to Europe and USA to lobby against aid to Pakistan by the principal donors, an assignment in which he displayed boundless energy, combined with zest for music, academics, sports, cinema, and culture both demotic and refined, as well as with networking skills aided by accurate powers of recollection  my multidimensional role as media star, journalist, diplomat, academic and political rabble-rouser came quite easily to me. He never lacked in self-confidence; even on leaving school, he notes his own intelligence and academic achievements. He mentions his position in the UN delegation but does not clarify what credentials this delegation possessed. Since Bangladesh was not then a UN member, presumably he was attached to the Indian delegation. The book is marred by repetitions, lamentable copy-editing and the poor binding commonplace with Indian publishers, and a wholly unsatisfactory index, a grave defect in this genre of history. For example Kaiser Morshed, Haroun er-Rashid and Khondkar Mushtaq Ahmed are altogether missing, and Mujibur Rahman himself is bestowed one page as reference. The disposition to use shorthand is irritating; Mujibur Rahman is Bangabandhu; then we have Boss, Sir, MAC, which require backtracking through the pages.

With these reservations, Sobhans book is a delightful read, leavened with gentle humour, often of a self-deprecating nature; Amartya Sens initial anonymity at Cambridge was due to shyness, which may (now) appear rather unimaginable. He justly praises the unfailingly support of then wife Salma. He has the ability to retain names, places, dates, times, and people, even the lowly individual who received him at Waterloo in 1953. He retained his London account of expenditure and notes from Cambridge lectures, but implausibly cannot recall if he used the coloured or whites-only toilet in Southern USA. The narrative concludes when he returned to Dhaka at the still-young age of 36. He hints broadly at dissatisfaction with the contemporary political scene, but for details, we have to await, expectantly, the remaining part or parts of Sobhans memoir.

The reviewer is Indias former foreign secretary.
Universities and higher education institutions across the country may soon implement a common Hindi teaching scheme with recommendations of a parliamentary panel in this regard getting the president's nod.

Also, universities without Hindi department may be asked to establish one. All educational institutions shall also be asked to fix a minimum level of Hindi education.

Besides, students in varsities and institutions in non- Hindi states, where they are not given the option of appearing in exams or interviews in Hindi, must be allowed the option of writing answers in their mother language.

The move may invite criticism and opposition from several state universities with various groups of students already petitioning President Pranab Mukherjee against forceful Hindi imposition.

To give autonomy in the field of higher studies some laws have been framed by the Central government and state governments under which in some universities and higher educational institutions, English is the only medium of instruction, the presidential order said.

A uniform policy should be followed in all parts of the country in this regard, it added.

The HRD Ministry should work out an action plan for implementing Hindi teaching scheme in all universities/higher educational institutes and initiate the process of implementing a common law and table it before both the Houses of Parliament, it added.

The HRD ministry has also been asked to take note of such universities and higher educational institutes where there are no Hindi departments.

It should encourage them to establish Hindi Departments so that they can extend help in imparting education through Hindi medium, the order said, adding, minimum level of Hindi education must also be fixed in all educational institutions.

The panel has also noted that the financial aid given to the voluntary Hindi institutes is only for name sake and the HRD ministry should take effective steps to increase this grant.
Aiming to raise happiness levels among students, IIT-Kharagpur has devised a set of outreach programmes to promote positive attitude in them and encourage them to interact with counsellors.

The counselling centre at IIT-KGP has formulated programmes on gratitude, kindness, environment friendliness to promote positive attitude among students and help them before they reach any point of desperation or depression, Prof Sangeeta Das Bhattacharya, faculty in-charge of Counselling Centre at IIT-KGP, said on Sunday.

The programmes at the centre are being developed by clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, psychological counsellors and spearheaded by Prof Bhattacharya.

Some of these programmes are part of the course curriculum at the Rekhi Centre for Science of Happiness at IIT-KGP which treats happiness from a scientific point of view.

The programme being held in April is 'Life under Canopy' which encourages students to locate specific trees around the campus thus helping them to connect to nature, be attentive to one's surroundings and taking out time to pursue something beyond regular routine or hobby.

Plants are the biggest example of resilience and this programme is aimed at motivating students to be resilient which is a critical factor in countering depression, anxiety and other mental health issues, Bhattacharya said.

Spending time in nature is good for the brain. It reduces stress. The Japanese have a word for this Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing). This forest bathing programme is already being practised in Japan as part of its National Health Programme, Bhattacharya said.

'31 days of Gratitude' programme was conducted in January, while in February it was '28 Things of Random Act of Kindness' and for March it was 'What are you proud of'.

Bhattacharya said while incidents of depression among students are being reported by the media and institutional administration questioned, in society there is lacuna in identifying and accepting abnormalities in mental health as just another disease.

On an average, the counsellors handle 3,000 appointments by students in a year and till now have been able to help over 400 cases of extreme psychological disorders, she said.

The centre has also launched a Facebook page wherein students' requests for assistance are responded to in less than 24 hours.

We have appointed a social worker as well to keep tab on the students visiting us and follow it up with their health status and well-being. We also involve parents and peers in the counselling process, she said.
Moving from western Nebraska to Lincoln for college was a big change for Chadron native Cortland Goffena.

"College, for many people, is the first time that you're on your own," Goffena, 22, said. "It has a huge impact on you."

In his new environment, Goffena struggled with depression and anxiety. Suicidal thoughts crept into his mind.

Goffena eventually found help through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Counseling and Psychological Services, and now he is trying to end the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Hundreds of walkers, including Goffena, circled around the UNL campus Sunday to raise funds for suicide prevention and mental health awareness as a part of the "Out of the Darkness" walk.

The walk was coordinated by UNL's Out of the Darkness club in association with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Donations received at the walk and online go to fund the foundation.

The nearly three-mile march started on the north side of the Nebraska Union at 2 p.m. Walkers looped east of Memorial Stadium and eventually along the Antelope Creek trail through Trago Park.

This is the second year that students have hosted the walk. In 2016, 650 participants raised nearly $25,000. Donations help fund suicide awareness programs in the community, advocacy groups and educational programs.

Coordinator Shelby Williby said last year's success compelled the club to host the walk for a second year in hopes of drawing more awareness for mental illness and the services offered at UNL. She expects the walk to raise around $15,000.

"There's a stigma around getting help," she said. "For UNL specifically, we don't have a lot of visibility for mental health and we're trying to make that a goal of our walk."

UNL offers counseling through the University Health Center and the Women's Center. Mental health services are also available for members of the LGBTQA community.

According to the AFSP, suicide accounts for over 200 deaths in Nebraska. It also is the second leading cause of death for people ages 15-34 in the state.

Walk volunteer Chris Morton believes the strains of college life makes students especially vulnerable.

"I think that it (mental illness) affects everyone but particularly as it pertains to college students," he said. "The stresses of college life can put a lot of people in that direction."

Sunday's walk was one of hundreds of events that the AFSP hosts in the U.S. each year in its attempt to raise funds and reduce the annual suicide rate by 20 percent by 2025.

Additional donations can be made at afsp.donordrive.com.

Williby said ending the stigma around suicide and mental illness all starts with a conversation.

"We're trying to facilitate some discussions and inform people how much a problem mental illness is," she said. "But we never talk about it."
State-owned Air India is hiring over 80 junior pilots for its wide-body Boeing B777 and B787 aircraft to meet the shortage of cockpit crew.

The process to induct these first officers or co-pilots is in the final stage and they are expected to join Air India by next month, an airline source said here.

Air India currently has about 170 co-pilots to steer its 15 B777 and 23 B787 planes as against a requirement of over 370, the source said.

It is scheduled to take delivery of four more Boeing 787 as well as three B777 between July this year and March next year.

The airline operates these planes majorly on its long and ultra long haul routes.

As many as 95 candidates were selected for the simulator test after they cleared the written examination. Of these, 85 could clear the simulator test and they are now in the process of joining Air India, the source said.

These candidates are already type rated on narrow body Boeing 737 and conversion as pilots for the wide-body B737 can be done easily, he said.

Conversion from a narrow body Boeing pilot to a wide-body Boeing aircraft pilot is easier than from Airbus to Boeing or vice versa as the training period then gets reduced from eight sessions to about four sessions, the source said.

This, in turn, reduces the type rating cost as well, he said.

Of the 85 co-pilots who are expected to join the airline in May, 45 are likely to be deployed on B777s and the remaining 40 on B787s, he said.

Type rating is a regulating agencies' certification given to a pilot to fly a certain aircraft type that requires additional training, which involves huge cost, beyond the scope of the initial license and aircraft class training.

According to the source, a B777 requires a set (each set has two pilots) of 13 pilots (26 pilots) and a set of eight pilots (16 pilots) is needed for operating a Boeing 787.

There are nearly 90 co-pilots currently on the B777 fleet and 80 first officers on B787s.

Going by the standard requirement, the airline needs at least 195 co-pilots for 15 B777s and 184 for 23 B787s. Moreover, seven more such planes are going to be added to the fleet in the next one year. So even after inducting 85 more pilots, the shortage will remain, the source added.
The goods and services tax (GST) can boost India's GDP growth by up to 4.2 per cent-double the previous estimate  as lower taxes on manufactured goods will bump up output and make products cheaper, a US Federal Reserve paper said.

GST, it said, could reduce inefficiencies in the production process while eliminating the current compounding effect of different central and state levies.

Dubbed as the biggest tax reform since Independence, GST will unify at least 10 indirect taxes into one to be collected at state and central levels.

In the International Finance Discussion Paper (IFDP), the US Fed researchers said GST is an 'inclusive policy' that is also expected to bring down overall domestic and international trade barriers.

GST is expected to raise overall Indian welfare and is projected to be an inclusive policy in that it would be welfare improving for all Indian states, the paper dated March 24 said.

The Fed research note stated that assuming the aggregate weighted GST rate is 16 per cent, there would be positive impact on real GDP of 4.2 per cent.

The model suggests that GST would lead to real GDP gains of 4.2 per cent under the baseline assumptions, driven by a surge in manufacturing outputGST would raise overall welfare by 5.3 per cent in India, it said.

Under the existing structure, at each point of sale, additional taxes are applied to the after-tax value of each goods and services.

The main purpose for GST is to eliminate this compounding effect by fixing the final tax rate, where goods will fall into one of the four rate categories of 5, 12, 18, and 28 per cent.

The unified structure is currently expected to be rolled out in July.

GST's impact on GDP growth as estimated by Fed economists is much higher than the 1-2 per cent as expected by the Indian government.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had earlier this year said GST could help raise India's medium-term GDP growth to over 8 per cent and create a single national market for enhancing efficiency of movement of goods and services.

Even the World Bank has said a smooth implementation of GST could prove to be a significant push to economic activity as growth could pick up to 7.2 per cent in 2017-18 and further to 7.5 per cent in 2018-19.

The Fed note also said GST is expected to reduce overall domestic and international trade barriers, which in turn boosts welfare because consumers have access to cheaper products. GST will raise welfare for all states and is thus estimated to be an inclusive policy.

However, the note cautioned that if the aggregate GST rate is assumed at 20 per cent, then there will be lesser positive impact of 3.1 per cent on GDP.

At 20 per cent, the GDP effect will be relatively equally distributed across states although port states will be slightly better-off.

This is so because non-port states benefit proportionally less from an international trade liberalisation as they still face domestic trade barriers to transport goods to and from the port.

However, the authors to the note  Eva Van Leemput and Ellen A Wiencek  have given certain caveats in the analysis, saying the impact of GST should be interpreted as a long-run effect. Also, if the tax rate on services is higher than the current tax level, it could dampen the overall effect.

By simplifying the current complex tax system, GST is expected to broaden the overall tax base through increased transparency and compliance.

In addition, the increased rate on services might generate extra revenues, the note said.

The current system encourages production chains within state, which could be sub-optimal, it added.
Indian IT companies, which conquered the world with their software skills, don't steal jobs anywhere in the world but create them, asserted Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on April 22.

"Indian IT companies do not steal jobs but create jobs, be it in the US or any other country. We are proud of their contribution in America and the world over," he said at an interactive meet with leaders of the IT and Electronics System Design Manufacturing industries here.

On the recent executive order US President Donald Trump signed to reform the H-1B visas, Prasad said the concerns of the Indian IT firms have been conveyed to the US administration.

"Our Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is currently in Washington, has conveyed your (IT firms) concerns on the H-1B visa reform move to US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and the key role of Indian professionals in the US economy," he said.

Noting that Indian IT firms had paid $22 billion in taxes and generated about 4 lakh jobs in the US over the last five years, the Minister said the Indian software firms had also created value and competitive edge for two-thirds of Fortune 500 firms the world over, including the US.

"The Indian IT eco-system is based on reciprocity. India's human resources contribute to the US economy and many American firms benefit in Bengaluru and other parts of the country where they have set up development centres to use our unique talent in creating products for their global markets," he pointed out.

Acknowledging that the $150 billion Indian IT industry was under stress due to what is happening in the US and global headwinds, Prasad asked the IT honchos to suggest measures to de-stress them.

"What is your suggestion to me as IT Minister to de-stress your industry. We held your hands when you conquered the world with tax incentives and other benefits," he asked the gathering.

He also told them to after having "conquered the world with your software expertise", it was the time they looked inside India to "explore the vast market of 'Digital India' opened by our government to improve the quality of services and life of people".

In a tweet later, Prasad said opportunities in emerging areas of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data presented a huge market for Indian IT firms.
The Trump administration is pursuing over 3 per cent economic growth with the support of tax reforms and regulatory relief, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said.

"The US economy is well positioned," Xinhua news agency quoted Mnuchin as saying on April 22 during a conversation with Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He called the IMF's forecast for US growth "a little conservative", saying that the country's economy could grow by 3 per cent or higher with the support of tax reforms and regulatory relief.

The IMF forecast the US economy to grow by 2.3 per cent this year and 2.5 per cent next year.

Mnuchin reiterated that President Donald Trump administration was planning to bring the high corporate tax rates down and simplify tax codes for individuals.

Trump on April 21 said the administration was going to release its tax plan next week.

Mnuchin suggested that the tax plan would not be revenue-neutral. "We're looking for reforms that will pay for themselves with growth."

He skipped questions about whether regulatory relief could affect financial stability, saying that the administration is trying to reduce conflicting regulations that hurt economic growth.
With Indians reporting high rate of urinary tract infections, the world's top cranberry producer Ocean Spray is eying the huge Indian market for its products.

An egg-shaped dark red fruit native to North America, cranberry is a natural remedy or antibiotic for urinary tract infections and stomach ulcers.

With annual sales of over $2.5 billon last year, Ocean Spray  which is the marketing cooperative of cranberry farmers in the US and Canada  operates in over 90 countries where it sells over 1,000 products that include fresh and dried fruits, juices, snacks, cocktails and sauces.

The move by Ocean Spray to enter India now assumes significance after a recent World Health Organization report that increasing resistance to antibiotics could become a major threat to people's health.

Indo-Canadian Peter Povitar Dhillon, the Ocean Spray chairman who recently visited India as part of a seven-member delegation, said: "We went India to explore opportunities of doing business there."

"As a global company, we recognise the huge potential of the Indian marketplace. India has the fastest growing middle class and it is the world's youngest country in terms of the age of its people."

During their 72-hour trip, Dhillon and his team met Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur, the CEO of Invest India, the chairman of Tata Global Beverages and many senior government and business leaders.

According to Dhillon, considering that young people and pregnant women in India report higher incidents of urinary tract infections, cranberry products can be the best natural remedy to prevent bladder problems.

"We went there to understand the marketplace because the culture of doing business in India is very different. It was a very positive trip. Now we are thinking about the best ways to educate Indians about the unique benefits of cranberry," he said.

"India's growing middle class is very affluent and they are becoming very health conscious."

Citing the WHO report about growing resistance of the human body to antibiotics, Dhillon said: "But cranberry is the nature's way to give you natural antibiotics and prevent infections."

Dhillon, who also is the biggest cranberry farmer in Canada, said he has personal reasons to see Ocean Spray enter India as early as possible.

"My parents came to Canada from Punjab and they started growing cranberry here. Now I have the unique opportunity to take this fruit to India. So in a way, things are coming full circle."

As a follow-up to his team's visit to India, Dhillon said: "We have some people from Ocean Spray going to India next month. It is a marketplace that we must understand first before we take steps to enter it."
Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena chief Amit Jani has been arrested in connection with the anti- Kashmiri hoardings that were put up in the city.

Partapur police station in-charge Dinesh Sharma said Jani was arrested from the Delhi-Doon highway near Partapur bypass when he was on his way to Dehradun from the capital last night.

Banners calling for boycott of Kashmiris and asking them to leave Uttar Pradesh had been put up by the organisation on NH-58 outside the colleges where students from the Valley study.

The outfit had said it was only the first step and it would launch a halla bol campaign from April 30 to banish the Kashmiris who do not leave the state on their own.

A case had been lodged against Jani following which he had gone missing.

On April 22, through his advocate, the organisation's chief submitted a surrender application before the special CJM court.

Upon being questioned, he told police that he had got the hoardings put up because soldiers were being martyred in Kashmir.

Jani had first shot into the limelight in 2012 when he damaged a statue of former chief minister Mayawati. Last year, he had been arrested for threatening to kill JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid.
The BJP will make a clean sweep in Sunday's municipal elections in Delhi while the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress will lag far behind, said an exit poll.

The Exit Poll by ABP News-C Voter claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has ruled the three MCDs for 10 years, will get a landslide victory in all three municipal corporations with 218 of the total 270 seats for which polls were held on Sunday.

The AAP and the Congress will get 25 seats each, the exit poll said.

In East Delhi Municipal Corporation, the poll said, the BJP is expected to get 48 of the 63 seats while the AAP and the Congress may not even reach double-digit mark with seven and eight seats, respectively.

The exit poll said that in North Delhi Municipal Corporation, the BJP is expected to get 87 of the 103 seats while the Congress is expected to get seven and the AAP eight seats.

In South Delhi Municipal Corporation, the exit poll put the tally at 83 of the total 104 seats. The AAP and the Congress were expected to get 10 seats each.

The exit poll said that in all three municipal corporations, the BJP got the support of around 50 per cent voters while the Congress and the AAP share was only 19.1 per cent and 18.6 per cent, respectively.

The exit poll was conducted among 14,503 respondents in all 270 wards of the three civic bodies that went to the polls on Sunday
Three prisoners of the Nagpur Central Jail  two of them serving life sentences and the third a death row convict  have completed BA and MA degrees from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

Narayan Chaudhary (35), the death row convict, had enrolledwith the IGNOU for MA (sociology) in 2012.

Similarly, Vijay Mahakalkar (30) and Shyamrao Waghmare (45), serving life sentences, had registered themselves with the varsity for BA and MA sociology courses, respectively.

All three inmates have completed their degrees, a senior official of the university said.

However, the inmates could not attend the IGNOU convocation held this month, where degrees were awarded to successful candidates, due to protocol and prison rules.

But they will be handed over their degrees at a function to be held in the jail premises soon, said Nagpur- based Regional Director of IGNOU P Sivaswaroop.

As many as 745 prisoners from Nagpur and Amravati jails have applied for IGNOU courses since July 2010, he said, adding most of them opted for social science disciplines.

Prisoners are provided study material by the university like other students, he said.

DIG (Prisons), Eastern Region, Yogesh Desai, said jail authorities have launched initiatives to impart different skills to the inmates.

They are trained in traditional skills like fabrication and carpentry, among others. Besides, a facility has been set up in the jail premises by a company called Sai Minda to manufacture wiring harnesses, he told PTI.

Similarly, the IGNOU, in collaboration with Hero Motors Corp, will be starting a two-month course in auto mechanics, Desai said.

He said the inmates take a lot of interest in skill development courses as these will help them to get jobs or start their own business once they are released.
High Court has sought the government's reply on a plea seeking capping of airfares across the country so that flyers are not fleeced by airlines.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu Malhotra issued notice to the Civil Aviation Ministry and sought their response after it was informed that the government has failed to comply with its earlier direction asking them to decide the issue.

The court fixed the matter for further consideration on September 15.

The counsel for the central government submitted before the court that airfares was beyond the control of the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The court had on July 20 last year disposed the plea with direction to the ministry to consider the issues raised before it and pass an appropriate order in accordance with law within eight weeks.

The PIL filed through advocate Amit Sahni has urged the court to direct the authorities to frame guidelines so as to put a cap on airfares and prevent the private airlines from charging arbitrarily, irrationally and exorbitantly for air flights.

The advocate has stated that he had filed an RTI application seeking information regarding airfares and the ministry had replied that these were not controlled by the government.

Citing the Jat agitation in Haryana last year, the plea has said if there would have been a cap, the airlines could not have charged huge amounts.

The private airlines companies have fleeced people even in emergent situations and the government has stood as a mute spectator, the plea has said, adding there was an urgent need to regulate the upper limit of airfares so that the private airlines cannot fleece their customers as per their own wish.

Capping of airfares in the backdrop of passengers' complaints of arbitrary tariff hikes was recently ruled out by the government which had said competition among airlines would take care of the problem.

The ministry had said restricting the airfares will not make good business sense as it could also jeopardise the government's regional connectivity plan, as such a move may discourage airlines from flying on non-profitable routes.

In his plea, the counsel said it is totally unfair on the part of respondents (Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Director General of Civil Aviation) to state that they cannot regulate the airfare, thereby leaving the entire decision upon private companies to decide airfare as per their on wish.
Delhi went to polls on Sunday for municipal elections across 272 wards with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other public figures casting their ballots soon after voting began at 8.00 am.

Over 2,500 candidates are in the fray for elections to North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 seats each) and East Delhi Municipal Congress (64 seats).

Over 56,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel are on guard at the polling booths, while an additional 20,000 home guards have been deployed to ensure law and order in the city.

Kejriwal cast his vote along with his parents and daughter at Underhill Road Transport Office polling station in Civil Lines.

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and his wife voted at a polling station in Greater Kailash 2.

Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra cast his franchise at M.C. Primary School in Yamuna Vihar and Rural Development Minister Gopal Rai voted at M.C. Primary School in Baburpur.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia stood in the queue and waited for his turn to vote at a polling station in Pandav Nagar.

He appealed to the people to come and vote for his party and "help the national capital fight corruption".

There were a good number of people outside polling stations in most of the areas including Pandav Nagar, Kondli, Patparganj, Sant Nagar and Burari.

In many areas, people had gathered outside the stations before the polling even began.

They chose to come early to beat the heat but many had a bad experience as the booths had been moved about 100 to 200 metres away which led to a lot of confusion.

Elaborate security arrangements were made across the national capital but the security personnel did not come forward to help the confused people.

"Voter slips have not been given to many people here and it has created a lot of confusion. I and my wife didn't get any voter slips. Also, the party stalls have been shifted 200 metres away," Amit Basu from Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi told IANS.

He said the police were misleading people.

"We couldn't find a way till the time some Aam Aadmi Party worker came and informed that it has been pushed 200 metres. Police in our area were unhelpful," Basu said.

"A woman on a wheeled chair was constantly asking about the slips and party stalls but the policemen in our area were not helping," he added.

Over 1.32 crore eligible voters are likely to exercise their franchise at 13,022 polling booths across Delhi.


In a school of over 1,800 students and faculty, it's hard to a put a name to every face.

But former Lincoln High school principal Sanford "Sam" Nelson did nearly that.

"He would walk through the halls and call everybody by name," said Marilyn Moore, former associate superintendent of instruction for Lincoln Public Schools. "In a school that big, that's just phenomenal."

If a student looked stressed, Nelson was there to have a conversation, said Moore. If a teacher needed help, Nelson would be there, too.

"He had such a big heart," said Moore. "He loved Lincoln High School and that community ... and he did it with a personal touch and a sense of humor."

Nelson, who served as Lincoln High principal from 1976 until his retirement in 1993, died on April 17 at age 84.

Friends, family and colleagues remember Nelson as a man who served both the community and students during a time when the school became increasingly diverse.

One of Nelson's sons, Scott Nelson, principal of Lakeview Elementary School, said his father was the "right guy at the right time" as Lincoln High continued to grow with an influx of refugee students from Vietnam and other nations.

"Community was very important to him," Nelson said. "He had so many connections and he would help people connect with others, finding clothes, getting food or extra money."

Deborah McGinn was a student teacher when she met Sam Nelson.

"He sort of took me under his wing," said McGinn, who has taught English at Lincoln High for 33 years after Nelson hired her. "He was a perfect cross between an administrator, a boss, a businessman and a father."

Nelson, who graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1955, was involved in various organizations, including the Malone Community Center and Women in Community Service. He was also a retired captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

After he retired, Nelson supervised future teachers studying at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

McGinn remembers Nelson's "open-arm policy" for students wanting advice or just someone to talk to.

"Those kids didn't look at Mr. Nelson as being someone to fear," she said. "He had to maintain a certain level of discipline but he didn't do so with an iron fist. The students really flocked to him and the staff, too."

Nelson, who attended Lincoln High School as well, was just one of many Nelsons to roam its halls since its 1871 inception.

Scott Nelson said his father's appreciation of public schools and educators convinced him at a young age to pursue the same path as his father.

"He loved knowing he was making a difference in the classroom but he knew he could make a bigger impact in a leadership role," said Nelson, whose wife, Terri Nelson, is the principal of Kahoa Elementary School.

"Educators do make a big difference in kids' lives, and dad had that impact."

Nelson is also survived by his son Steve; his wife of 64 years, Norma; and several family members, including grandchildren.
Amid the revival in industry sentiment in Punjab, Hero Cycles on April 22 expressed interest in setting up a Rs.400 crore 'cycle valley', on the lines of the Silicon Valley, near the state's Sahnewal town.

This was conveyed by Hero Cycles' Pankaj Munjal at a meeting with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister asked Munjal to share a detailed proposal for the project, which would include technical and research and development centres, among other critical industry facilities, according to a spokesperson in the Chief Minister's office.

Munjal informed the Chief Minister the project would require about 100 acres of land and would lead to a doubling, from the current 4.5 lakh, of the people involved directly or indirectly in the cycle industry.
Millions of men and women on Sunday voted amid EVM glitches to pick three new municipal bodies in an election crucial for all three main contenders  the BJP, Congress and the AAP.

At least 42 per cent of the 1.32 crore electorate had exercised their franchise when 9.5 hours of polling ended at 5.30 pm, the turnout hit by intense midday heat.

Residents reported "low" voting in many areas but in many others there were long queues of men and women keen to pick three wings of a municipal corporation that covers almost the whole of Delhi.

The balloting was peaceful but both voters and political parties reported numerous cases of malfunctioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which themselves have come under a cloud.

The Aam Aadmi Party, which rules Delhi, and the Congress want to end the 10-year reign of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the civic body, citing poor upkeep of the city's cleanliness.

The BJP used Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to reclaim the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 seats), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 seats) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (64 seats).

Polling did not take place in two wards  Maujpur in East Delhi and Sarai Pipal Thala in North Delhi  where a candidate each of the Samajwadi Party died.

Even as the polling was on, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said reports of EVM malfunctioning came from all over the capital. He also tweeted that many people with voter slips were not allowed to vote.

BJP leader Arvinder Singh Lovely, who recently quit the Congress, could not vote because the EVM in his polling station  there were 13,022 in all  broke down.

By 3 p.m., the AAP "War Room" reported 250 calls from voters complaining about non-functional EVMs. The complaints came from several areas including Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's constituency Patparganj.

A Maharashtra Congress leader, Shehzad Poonawala, tweeted about the EVMs in Delhi: "Better we call them (E)xtremely (V)ulnerable (M)achines."

A total of 2,537 candidates were in the fray.

Among others who contested the election are the Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal-United and Swaraj India of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan who were earlier Kejriwal's colleagues in the AAP.

The three civic bodies cover 68 of the 70 assembly constituencies in Delhi. The two smaller civic bodies are the Delhi Cantonment Board as well as the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Kejriwal, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken and Delhi BJP leaders were among the early voters.

"I urge the people of Delhi to vote for a filth-free Delhi, a dengue- and chikungunya-free Delhi," said Kejriwal after voting along with his family.

Asked if the election was a referendum on his government's two-year performance, he replied: "We will see when the results come (on Wednesday)."

Maken rooted for the Congress.

"The BJP has done enough damage for 10 years. The only thing it has done is engaging in verbal duels with the AAP. People want sensible governance. Going by Congress' track record, they will vote for us," he said.

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi blamed the Kejriwal government for the capital mess and said she was confident her party would again control the civic body.

Some voters complained of poor organisation.

"Voter slips have not been given to many. This has created a lot of confusion. My wife and I didn't get any voter slips," Amit Basu, a voter from Chittaranjan Park in south Delhi, told IANS.

Through the day, EVMs which broke down were either quickly repaired or replaced by functional ones.
Nearly half of all the natural World Heritage sites on the planet are being ravaged by poachers who are driving some endangered animals towards extinction, according to a new report. The illegal wildlife trade was estimated to be worth some 15billion, making it the fourth largest international criminal trade after drugs, guns and human trafficking, according to the Not For Sale report.

Illicit logging and fishing are also occurring on an epic scale. The illegal felling of trees  a trade valued at between $30 billion and $100 billion (about 24bn- 80bn) a year  was estimated to account for up to 90 per cent of deforestation in major tropical countries.

Fish piracy, blamed by some in countries like Somalia for pushing people into actual piracy, was found to occur in 18 out of 39 marine heritage sites with protected species of sharks and rays among those being caught.

The report, commissioned by conservation group WWF, warned that species listed on the landmark Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, adopted in 1975, were being killed in supposedly protected World Heritage sites. Between 1970 and 2012, global wildlife populations declined by almost 60 per cent on average, and illegal harvesting of species was one of the main drivers for this decline, the authors wrote.

World Heritage sites now function as the last bastion for many critically endangered species, and unless protected within World Heritage sites, these species will go extinct. The current international approach to preventing illegal harvesting of Cites-listed species in World Heritage sites is not working, and stakeholders must redouble their efforts and address all parts of the wildlife trafficking value chain.

According to a leaked copy of a speech by a senior Foreign Office official, some of the Governments work on the illegal wildlife trade will be scaled down as trade and economic growth are given priority after the UK leaves the European Union.

But the WWF report said that unless governments, the United Nations and others took additional, immediate measures to address widespread poaching some species might face local extinction and some World Heritage sites could lose their outstanding universal value  the definition of why they are considered special.

It said threatened species, such as elephants, rhinos and tigers, were being illegally harvested in 45 per cent of World Heritage sites, the pinnacle of the worlds protected areas.

Elephant poaching occurs in over 60 per cent of the World Heritage sites containing African and Asian elephants, the report said. Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania has lost almost 90 per cent of its elephants since its inscription in 1982 and now has only 15,217 elephants left.

The Okavango Delta, a World Heritage site in Botswana, where poachers have been active, was described as a crucial habitat for the elephants in northern Botswana, which make up nearly a third of all the remaining African elephants. About a third of all the worlds remaining 3,890 wild tigers now live in World Heritage sites.

Trying to stop poachers is difficult and dangerous with many prepared to use lethal force. Wildlife trafficking has also often endangered peoples lives, and between 2009 and 2016 at least 595 rangers were killed in the line of duty, many of whom were protecting World Heritage sites, the report said.

Chris Gee, the head of campaigns at WWF-UK, said poaching was jeopardising the future heritage of these precious places and the people whose livelihoods depend on them.

Next year London will host the Fourth Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference, the UK Government must bolster efforts to support the end of this devastating trade, he said. Now is not the time to drop the ball on this issue. These findings show that for the future of many of our most endangered species its a matter of life and death.

And John Scanlon, the secretary general of Cites, said it was essential that the convention was fully implemented and that these irreplaceable sites are fully protected.In doing so, we will benefit our heritage and our wildlife, provide security to people and places, and support national economies and the rural communities that depend on these sites for their livelihoods, he said.

Among some positive signs that the world is trying to deal with the problem, the report highlighted Chinas decision to ban all trade in ivory by the end of this year as a breakthrough that could provide forceful momentum for other countries to follow. But it said more funding was needed with Cites core budget running at about $6m a year in stark contrast to the billions being made by the poachers.

Inger Andersen, the director general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said, This report is a sobering reminder of just how far this type of organised crime can reach, extending even into the supposed safety of World Heritage sites. This is a global challenge that can only be tackled through collective, international action.

The Independent
Steven Spielbergs untitled Pentagon Papers drama, which is rumored to star Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, will open in limited release on December 22.

It will expand nationwide on January 12, 2018, a week after the Golden Globes broadcast, reports variety.com.

Hanks is said to play Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee, with Streep handling the role of publisher Katharine Graham.

The Washington Post pair made the decision to publish a classified history of the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War over the objections of the Nixon administration.

The opening slot puts the Spielberg film in the hunt for Academy Awards gold along with the likes of Alexander Payne's Downsizing, The Current War with Benedict Cumberbatch, and The Greatest Showman with Hugh Jackman.

Twentieth Century Fox is distributing the film.

The studio also announced that Red Sparrow, a spy thriller that reunites actress Jennifer Lawrence with her Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence, will open on March 2, 2018.

It was originally slated to debut on November 10.
Actor Vin Diesel, the voice of Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy and baby Groot in its sequel, says that he had a secret script where he was told what the talking tree was trying to say.

"Groot is always challenging to play. As an audience what you hear is, I am Groot', but he is expressing himself and you have to try and convey what he intends to say and his emotions in those three words," Diesel told dailystar.co.uk.

"I actually had a secret script where I was told what Groot was trying to say. That made him a lot of fun to voice."

He had to say the line again in 16 different languages for international versions of the movie.

"Korean was interesting. It was cool though because in some countries people have only heard my characters with voice actors. It was good to know people would finally hear me," he said.

Since he became dead wood at the end of Marvel's 2014 movie, he has been reborn as a squeaky sapling with a taste for mischief.

"Groot in the first movie was a college-level Groot. He might have had some growing up to do, but essentially he had the mind of a man. After he sacrificed himself, he has to start again. Baby Groot is naive. He has to learn everything again."


The vexed issue of the Trump administration mulling curbs in H-1B visas has been taken up with by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with the American authorities during his ongoing visit, an Indian official said on Sunday.

The issue was raised by Jaitley during his meeting with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin here on Saturday, an Indian Finance Ministry statement said.

"Finance Minister Arun Jaitley raised the issue of H-1B visas for skilled professionals from India and highlighted the contribution which Indian companies and professionals are making to US economy," it said.

The issue stems from recent executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump which indicate a possible tightening of the H-1B visas.

"Issues related to terror funding were also discussed and the US Treasury Secretary appreciated the role of India in this regard, including Indo-US cooperation in FATF (Financial Action Task Force)," the statement said.

"Critical economic issues like Indo-US Investment Initiative, infrastructure collaboration, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, collaboration with USA for smart cities development, etcetera, were deliberated upon during the meeting," it added.

Jaitley is on a five-day visit to the US to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

According to the Finance Ministry, Jaitley also held bilateral meetings with the Finance Ministers of Sweden, France and Bangladesh, as well as with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.

Meanwhile, the US, in turn, has alleged that Indian IT companies were unfairly cornering the major share of H-1B visas by putting extra tickets in the lottery system, which the current US administration wants to replace with a more merit-linked immigration policy.

"The top recipients of the H-1B visa are companies like Tata, Infosys, Cognizant  they will apply for a very large number of visas, more than they get, by putting extra tickets in the lottery raffle, if you will, and then they'll get the lion's share of visas," a senior US official said at a White House briefing last week, according to transcripts posted on the White House website.

"And those three companies are companies that have an average wage for H-1B visas between $60,000 and $65,000. By contrast, the median Silicon Valley (US) software engineer's wage is probably around $150,000," the official said.


The government order to block child sexual abuse content by using resources of a UK-based organisation, will create monopoly and make it an expensive affair for companies, Internet service providers have said.

The Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) also demanded that the government should share the responsibility with industry as companies will pass on extra cost burden to consumers which would not be in the interest of 'Digital India' movement.

The order issued by Meity (Ministry of Electronics and IT), to block child sexual abuse material (CSAM), is creating monopoly of an organisation where membership varies between 1,000 British pound and about GBP 78,000 (Rs.84,000- Rs.64 lakh). Government should also share responsibility with industry, ISPAI President Rajesh Chharia told PTI.

The government on April 18 directed Internet service providers (ISP) to block distribution and transmission of child sexual abuse content by July 31.

Service providers are required to adopt and implement UK-based Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) resources to prevent distribution and transmission of offensive content.

Chharia said that the solution to block CSAM should be developed in the country, and the order is different from what the government had discussed with the industry.

We were under impression that any one body in India will subscribe to the IWF and share it with other players as per rule till we do not develop an indigenous solution and the government will also provide support to the industry.

The order, however, says that every Internet company with ILD permit will have to approach individually to IWF. The IWF will charge fees based on the subscriber base of a company which will make it expensive for individual companies, Chharia said.

The order was issued after the recommendation of an inter-ministerial committee that was constituted to suggest solutions to address the issue of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) following a Supreme Court order.

The panel noted that most of the CSAM is being hosted outside India and the websites or web links to access such unlawful content are dynamic in nature and frequently changing which makes it difficult to block such content.

The panel noted that no centralised mechanism exists in India to monitor online CSAM.

When asked about the obligation of Internet firms to check transmission of CSAM, Chharia said that Internet companies cannot get into 'deep packet inspection' on what is being transmitted on to networks.

Deep packet inspection will lead to violation of privacy and also is in violation to government's policy. We are committed to block CSAM but the responsibility should be shared by all, including government. ISPs will pass on extra cost burden to consumers which is not in the interest and spirit of Digital India movement, Chharia said.

The government has asked all the ISPs to continue to observe the existing due diligence requirements prescribed by the central government under the Information Technology Act 2000 and rules and regulations.

The publication or transmission of material depicting children in the sexually explicit act or conduct in electronic form is a heinous crime, specifically prohibited by section 67B of the IT Act 2000.
The government plans to put in place a fast-track resolution process for startups and small companies under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

Looking to provide a faster exit mechanism for certain class of entities, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has come out with draft norms in this regard.

The proposal is to fast-track the insolvency resolution process for three classes of entities  startups, small companies and companies or Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs).

Comments have been sought from the public till May 8 on the draft IBBI (Fast Track Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2017.

IBBI comes under the corporate affairs ministry. The draft regulations were prepared by a working group that was constituted by the ministry.

Small companies will be those fulfilling the criteria as laid down in the Companies Act, 2013, while startups are defined by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).

As per the draft norms, a company or LLP which has not borrowed more than Rs 2 crore in any manner will be eligible for the process fast-track.

While the draft norms do not spell out the timeframe for a fast-track process under the Code, it is expected to be 90 days.

"Fast-track is a process which has to close in 90 days and these are likely to be applied to cases with less complications The example could be startups," IBBI Chairperson M S Sahoo told PTI earlier this month.

The Code provides for completing insolvency resolution process within 180 days and the timeframe starts from the insolvency commencement date.

It seeks to consolidate and amend laws relating to reorganisation as well as insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in a time-bound manner.
The government wants ministries, departments and also private agencies to adopt '60 years' as the uniform age criterion to define senior citizens as to address anomalies in extending benefits to the elderly.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is contemplating to bring in an amendment in the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007, to implement this change.

The MWPSC Act defines senior citizens as any person who is a citizen of India and has attained the age of '60 years and above'.

The phrase ' and above' is being manipulated by several agencies to deny benefits under senior-citizen clauses by adopting different age limits, a government official said.

It came to our notice that several government departments have adopted different age criteria for extending the benefits and the concessions meant for the elderly. Similarly, some private insurance companies have set different age limits, the official said.

The eligibility criteria for extending travel concessions to senior citizens by Air India was until recently 63 years. Last week, the national carrier lowered it to 60 years.

According to the official, the Air India issue was taken up by former social justice minister Kumari Selja during the previous UPA government but had remained unresolved.

The Social Justice Ministry again took it up recently with Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, following which the age limit was revised.

In the Indian Railways, the eligibility for availing of concessions in the basic fares for women is '58 years and above' while for men it is '60 years and above'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the consensus on Goods and Services Tax (GST) reflects the spirit of 'one nation, one aspiration, one determination'.

The consensus on GST will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism. GST reflects the spirit of 'One nation, One aspiration, One determination', an official statement quoted Modi as saying.

The Prime Minister was delivering his opening remarks at the third meeting of the Governing Council of Niti Aayog.

According to the statement, the Prime Minister also said GST shows the strength and resolve of the federal structure.

Modi gave credit to all chief ministers for coming on one platform for GST, keeping aside ideological and political differences.

President Pranab Mukherjee on April 13 gave assent to four key legislations on GST. The government plans to roll out the new indirect tax regime from July 1.

GST, the biggest taxation reform since Independence, will subsume central excise, service tax, Value Added Tax (VAT) and other local levies to create a uniform market.
SAN DIEGO -- I thought liberals were against bullying. So why are they taking such joy in piling on Bill O'Reilly?

It should be obvious. The left is a sore loser. Consider the 2016 election, whose outcome Hillary Clinton recently attributed to several factors, none of them named "Hillary Clinton."

And, for 16 years, the political left and the liberal media lost out to O'Reilly, the undisputed king of the highly competitive sandbox of cable television news/talk. He decisively beat his competitors in the ratings no matter who they put up against him.

His show -- "The O'Reilly Factor" -- brought in an estimated $100 million or more in annual revenue. Under a new contract, he was earning an annual salary of $25 million.

Such success often creates jealousy and resentment, especially among hypercompetitive television commentators for whom ratings are everything.

I don't need to make a disclosure, because I'm not a Fox News contributor. I have appeared on the network a couple dozen times over the last 15 years to offer analysis and commentary, as I have on other networks. I was a guest on O'Reilly's show more than a dozen times, and he was always kind and respectful to me. I liked him. I was a fan.

O'Reilly consistently hit the ball out of the park because he was a natural on television who understood both the medium and his audience. He was highly watchable but didn't take himself too seriously -- at least off camera. Once, before an interview segment, he told me: "OK, I'll set up the topic, and offer my normal ridiculous comment, and then toss it to you."

Unlike some sanctimonious colleagues on other cable networks, what the host "got" was that it was not his job to do social work and make the 3 million to 4 million members of his audience into better human beings. His task was to explain to them in simple but compelling language a crazy and complicated world.

O'Reilly is often called a conservative. He frequently hammered President Obama and considers Donald Trump a longtime friend. The former is what media figures are supposed to do with people in power, and the latter is probably attributable, at least in part, to geography; O'Reilly lives on Long Island and, before moving to the White House, Trump lived in Manhattan.

Actually, the host is more of a libertarian. I once saw him delight an audience in Dallas during a speech by recalling the time that he-- as a death-penalty opponent -- stunned then-Gov. George W. Bush by asking him: "Governor, you say that Jesus Christ saved your life. How do you think Jesus would feel about the fact that you've executed so many people in Texas?"

You've probably also heard -- from the political lefties and the liberal media who ignored Obama's anti-immigrant crackdown -- that O'Reilly is anti-immigrant.

Not so fast. In June 2013, O'Reilly earned the ire of the right wing by publicly supporting the idea of giving the undocumented a path to legal status. And in August 2015, O'Reilly took apart Trump when the presidential candidate suggested changing the popular interpretation of the 14th Amendment to deny birthright citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants. The takedown was so brutal that nativist columnist Ann Coulter wrote a snarky column defending Trump and attacking O'Reilly. But the host was right, and Trump and Coulter were wrong.

Of course, O'Reilly could also be wrong, as he was when he would argue with me over so-called sanctuary cities. He honestly thinks that there are safe havens where illegal immigrants can evade arrest, and it's just not so.

I'm sure that O'Reilly also has personal failings. There are rules about how decent people treat one another in the workplace, and he's been accused of breaking them. Fox News has paid out more than $13 million in settlements to multiple women who claimed O'Reilly harassed them.

Although, I am liking this new look for liberals, who are suddenly all broken up at the thought of lecherous men degrading women. Where was this moral outrage during the 1990s when another "Bill" was accused of breaking the rules? Win or lose, the left is so blinded by perpetual anger that it can't see its own hypocrisy.

Like his namesake, O'Reilly will be just fine. Some news outlets reported that his contract had recently been extended through the 2020 presidential election and that it's possible the host could collect on the full value of the agreement: $100 million.

And that will only make his angry critics even angrier.
The Gujarat Traders Federation on April 22 asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene for easing the rules and structure of the upcoming Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The federation reached out to Prime Minister Modi through a letter which pointed out various hindrances towards ease of doing business that will occur once the GST is implemented.

In the letter, they said what they learnt from the structure of the GST rules adopted by GST Council which are being published now and in public domain, "it seems that it defeats and violates the very concept of Ease of Doing Business".

"We on behalf of honest small traders, small medium enterprises (SME) of India request you to kindly intervene into the matter and use your kind office to make the provisions and rules vide GST more simple and implementable."

According to the traders' body, GST should enable "ease of doing business", "smooth movement of material across India" and "one India, one market, one tax".

"Instead of promised removal of check posts at state borders, the government is starting mobile check post at every corner in the city, state and country.

"This is directly giving powers to inspectors and harassment and increasing tax terrorism," they wrote.

The federation mentioned the common practice of loaning goods for a short period of time which are replaced shortly will no longer be hassle-free under the GST.

"Although it is not sale, it is supply. Creating e-way bills for such transactions will result in cross verification issues," the letter added.

"Many shops have their warehouses situated away from their selling premises. Movement of goods from warehouse to shop will also require e-waybill. It will be absurd to do so."
The government has taken away some civil infrastructure works from the Indian Army-controlled Border Roads Organisation (BRO) as it has failed to meet deadlines for key roads in strategically-important locations, resulting not only in delays but also huge cost over-runs.

Many of these projects are now being transferred to a fledgling state-owned company, the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) that was set up in 2014 and went on to achieve "Mini Ratna" status in quick time last year.

A cabinet document circulated to central ministries and seen by IANS notes that the BRO is overstretched and has been given work beyond its capacity and mandate.

"The BRO has started taking work beyond (its) size. Initially only for strategically important works, (it) later took the civil work as well," reads the cabinet note.

The document notes that the main object of the proposal was to expedite the implementation of road infrastructure projects in the country that would increase connectivity to far-off areas and further augment economic activities there.

The cabinet note has also suggested that the BRO adopt new technologies and also urgently resize its strength in terms of work force and avoid cost-escalation of projects.

Some of the delayed projects include the 220-km-long National Highway (NH)-53 in Manipur. The delay has escalated the cost to a whopping Rs 1,600 crore ($247 million) from Rs 1,100 crore, the document noted.

"Due to very slow progress, the road is proposed to be transferred from the BRO," reads the cabinet note.

Another project is the 126-km NH-39 between Imphal and Kohima, which has been pending since 2011.

Other delayed projects are the Ukhrul-Toloi-Tadubi section of NH-102A in Manipur and improvement of the Aizwal-Tuipang section in Mizoram.

In response to the cabinet note, many ministries and their departments have accorded the green signal to the proposal that these projects be transferred to the NHIDCL.

The Home Ministry has supported the move because "the object of the proposed company (NHIDCL) is broad enough to undertake the work of construction of border roads".

The Economic Affairs and the Expenditure Department of the Finance Ministry, in response to the note, said that the "focus on the northeast region may also help in reducing the multiplicity of agencies".

"Some activities of the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) and the BRO can be taken over by the NHIDCL."

The Ministry of Law has also supported the proposal as "no legal issues have been raised".

The BRO's parent, the Defence Ministry, has suggested that projects may be transferred to "the new entity NHIDCL on a case-to-case basis".

As such, the roads offloaded from the BRO and transferred to NHIDCL include several projects in Arunachal Pradesh that connect key areas in the border state.

Commenting on the issue, a senior bureaucrat at the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) familiar with the developments said that NHIDCL would continue working with the BRO that needed to focus more on defence roads and infrastructure.

"The BRO should focus only on defence security road issues. Both NHIDCL and BRO are the two arms of the government and are building synergies to build the nation in the best possible ways," the official, unwilling to be named, told IANS.

Records from the NHIDCL reveal that several projects under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious Bharatmala initiative have been transfered to the NHIDCL from the BRO.

NHIDCL  initially set up to improve roads in the northeast  has already been assigned several strategic projects connecting India to Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency for funding under the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) initiative.
Nobel laureate and social activist Kailash Satyarthi was on Sunday presented the P C Chandra Purashkar (award) for his global crusade against child slavery and exploitative child labour.

The 63-year-old Satyarthi was handed over a citation, a trophy and a cheque of Rs.10 lakh at an awards ceremony here.

Satyarthi, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 with Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan, urged everyone to work towards making India a "child-friendly country".

Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture Secretary Swami Suparnananda Maharaj and noted Bengali author Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay attended the function at Science City.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called upon states to speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation to spur economic growth.

Addressing the third meeting of the Governing Council of Niti Aayog, Modi also said the think-tank's long, medium and short term action plans would benefit all the states.

Niti Aayog is working on a 15-year long term vision, seven-year medium term strategy, and three-year action agenda, he told the meeting, which was attended by chief ministers, union ministers and senior officials.

The prime minister further said the vision of 'New India' can only be realised through the combined efforts and cooperation of all the states.

Team India has assembled here to discuss and reflect on ways to prepare the country for changing global trends, Modi said.

It is the collective responsibility of this gathering to envision the India of 2022  the 75th anniversary of Independence  and see how the nation can swiftly move forward to achieve these goals, he added.

Observing that Niti Aayog has been taking steps to transform India, the prime minister asked the government, private sector and civil society to work in sync to promote development.

The Aayog, he said, is a collaborative federal body whose strength is in its ideas, rather than in administrative or financial control.

Noting that the chief ministers need not come to Niti for approval of budgets or plans, he said the body had gone beyond relying on government inputs and taken on board a number of outside specialists, experts and young professionals.

The states too can contribute to policy formulation, he added.

Modi noted that while there has been a 40 per cent increase in overall fund allocation to states between 2014-15 and 2016-17, the percentage of funds tied to Central schemes has declined from 40 per cent to 25 per cent.

States need to speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation, he said.

Stating that poor infrastructure in the country is hampering economic development, Modi said more expenditure on basic infrastructure such as roads, ports, power and rail would help in accelerating the pace of growth.

Referring to the change in budget presentation date, the prime minister said the move enables timely availability of funds at the beginning of the financial year.

Earlier, budgeted scheme funds were generally not approved by Parliament till May, after which they would be communicated to states and ministries. By that time, the monsoon arrived. Hence, the best working season for schemes was typically lost, he added.

He said the decision to end the distinction between plan and non-plan expenditure was based on the recommendation of the Rangarajan Committee in 2011.

Now the emphasis would be on distinguishing between development and welfare expenditure on one hand, and administrative overheads on the other, Modi said.

Talking about the Goods and Services Tax (GST), he said the consensus on the new indirect tax regime will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism.

GST reflects the spirit of 'One nation, One aspiration, One determination', he added.

He also called for carrying forward the debate and discussion on simultaneous Central and state elections.

The meeting at the Rashtrapati Bhavan is being attended by several chief ministers, including from non-BJP ruled states like Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Bihar's Nitish Kumar, Tripura's Manik Sarkar and Karnataka's Siddaramaiah.

The council, which is the apex body of the Niti Aayog, is headed by the Prime Minister and includes all chief ministers and the think-tank's members.
Union Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh on Sunday accused opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir for allowing foreigners to settle in Jammu.

Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's state executive committee meeting in Doda district, he asked party workers to go to the people and highlight the developmental works and projects brought in by the Narendra Modi Government in Jammu and Kashmir to give a comparison of what hadn't happened in the last 60 years and what all had been made possible in just three years.

He accused the opposition leaders for being hand in glove in settling foreign Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Jammu for electoral considerations.

"It is an irony that Jammu-based leaders, who have been for years dancing to the tune of their Kashmir-centric masters, are now suddenly questioning the contribution of BJP when they have been thrown out of power.

"What has been their contribution to the development of Jammu when they were in power, both in the state as well as centre for decades," he asked.

Enumerating the Modi government's long list of projects in Jammu in just three years, Singh referred to IIT, AIIMS and IIM for Jammu, approval of the engineering college for Kathua and medical colleges for Kathua and Doda, the inter-state Keediyan-Gadyal bridge in Lakhanpur, North India's first Bio-tech park at Gati near Kathua, a passport centre at Udhampur and approval for Katra-Delhi expressway and the Basholi-Doda Chandragalla tunnel.

To those who accuse BJP of having promoted "polarisation" in name of religion, he said his party has brought polarisation in name of development wherein people from all religions and castes voted for it in all the recently-held elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address all 13 BJP chief ministers on Sunday evening and he is likely to ask them to focus on the agenda of good governance and development.

The exercise, which will be attended by party chief Amit Shah and top Union ministers, is being seen as part of his drive to ensure that his governance agenda dominates public discourse and trumps opposition parties' attack on his government over a host of issues.

Besides the 13 chief ministers, the most the saffron party has ever had, five deputy chief ministers and Union ministers like Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj and M Venkaiah Naidu will be among those present, a party statement has said.

Modi's pitch will include the need for them to focus on his development agenda with an emphasis on the poor sections of the society, party sources said.

BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav said this would be the second meeting of all party chief ministers with Modi since he came to power in 2014.

A similar exercise was held in last August.

With the next set of assembly elections due later this year and Modi and Shah already toning up the organisational machinery for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, they are keen to ensure that their development agenda is not overshadowed by other factors.

Only recently in his address to party leaders in the BJP national executive meet, Modi had spoken about the need for India to take a long jump to make rapid progress, while Shah had asserted that the saffron party was yet to reach its peak.

All the BJP chief ministers along with their counterparts from other states will be in the national capital on Sunday to take part in the Niti Aayog meeting.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged all chief ministers to take care of students from Jammu and Kashmir in their respective states, a remark that assumes significance in view of some recent untoward incidents against them.

Modi's advice at a meeting with chief ministers here came after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti raised the issue.

At the meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council, Modi "seconded" Mehbooba's suggestion that states should take interest in the students from Jammu and Kashmir who are studying in other states.

The Prime Minister "urged states to reach out to these students (of J-K) from time to time", said a statement by the PMO quoting Modi's concluding remarks.

This comes days after six Kashmiri students of Mewar University in Rajasthan were thrashed by some locals there.

Two local youths were arrested later in connection the incident. The accused were not students.

Following the arrest, state Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had tweeted, "Kashmiri students are our children. The Police have taken prompt action and apprehended the culprits."

Also, in Meerut last week, a hoarding had been put up by a right wing activist, asking Kashmiris to leave Uttar Pradesh. He too has been arrested.

The Prime Minister also took note of the invitation extended by Mehbooba to various state governments to organise events in her state.

"The Prime Minister suggested that states could organize events there," the statement said.

Later tonight, Modi tweeted, "Appreciable gesture by J&K CM @MehboobaMufti to invite other states to organise events there. Urged CMs to accept this invite from J&K CM.
Three men transporting buffaloes in a truck were allegedly roughed up by members of an animal rights group in south east Delhi's Kalkaji area, following which cross-complaints have been registered.

The FIR mentions that the accused are the members of PFA but the animal rights body has denied any association with the incident.

According to the police, they received a PCR call last night from one Gaurav Gupta, an animal activist and office bearer of PFA (People for Animals), claiming that buffaloes were being transported illegally.

The occupants of the truck claimed that they had been roughed up by a group of animal rights activists led by Gupta.

However, the PFA denied any association with the incident. Union minister Maneka Gandhi is one of the founding members of People For Animals and is also its chairperson.

"We have no PFA unit in Delhi. We have 10,000 volunteers across the country. Whoever acted did so in his individual capacity," Gandhi's office said.

Sources said that the minister spoke to the DCP of the area about the incident.

Medical examination of the injuredRizwan, Ashu and Kaamilwas carried out and the truck carrying buffaloes was seized by the police.

A case has been registered against the three men on a complaint by the PFA members while the driver of the truck, that was going Ghazipur Mandi, made a complaint against the activists, police said.

A case of voluntarily causing hurt and wrongful restraint has been registered against the PFA members, they added.

Further investigation is underway.

Police said they are verifying whether the people who intercepted the truck are members of the PFA and after reaching a conclusion they'll decide the future course of action.
Why can't women live in peace in this country, a Supreme Court bench, apparently exasperated over growing crimes against women, has observed.

The observation came when a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra was hearing an appeal filed by a man who was sentenced to seven years in jail by the Himachal Pradesh High Court for allegedly teasing and compelling a 16-year-old girl to take the extreme step of committing suicide.

"Why can't women live in peace in this country," the apex court said while reserving its verdict on the appeal.

Maintaining that no one can force a woman to love someone as she has her own independent choice, the bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar, said "a woman has a choice to love or not to love a person. No one can force her to love somebody. There is a concept of love and man has to accept it."

During the arguments, the counsel, appearing for the man, raised doubts over the girl's dying declaration, saying that as per the medical report, she was unable to speak or write after being hospitalised.

"The doctors said that she was 80 per cent burnt and it was not possible for her to write dying declaration. She was unable to speak also. Her both hands were burnt. This dying declaration has to go. She was not in a position to say or write anything," the counsel said.

To this, the bench told the man that as per her dying declaration, "you had created a situation which had compelled her to commit such act."

The man was initially acquitted by the trial court in July 2010 after which the state had approached the high court.

According to the police, the girl's father had lodged an alleged kidnapping and rape case against the man in which he was subsequently acquitted.

It had alleged that the accused used to threaten and eve-tease the girl and in July 2008, she set herself ablaze when her parents were not at home. She was taken to a hospital where she died during treatment.

The high court, while convicting the man, had relied on the dying declaration as well as evidence placed before it and had said that the accused had abetted commission of suicide by consistently teasing the deceased.
Riding a brand new scooty, the stranger pulled up in one corner, comparatively quiet, about a hundred yards away from the main entrance. It remained wide open after the bell had gone for the lunch break. A bunch of curious onlookers watched the outsider scan the south front and the playing field, now boisterous, chaotic, confusing and disorienting like when a team wins a match.

At first glance, the gender of the stranger, wrapped in sky-blue windcheater, a pair of Ruffle Hem trousers and a helmet with a plastic safety visor, was not conspicuous but as the person started taking a few steady steps, the female form was unmistakable.

She intercepted a boy lagging behind his mates and enquired something of him. There you go, he almost shouted, his finger pointing at the physics teacher Abhik Sarkar and rushed after his pals breathlessly.

Abhik babu was talking to someone on his mobile on the outer part of the building and basking in the warm winter sunshine, his right leg on the trunk of a palm tree. As she walked on in that direction without removing the helmet or without fixing her gaze on anything or anybody, she stamped on the legs of a sleeping dog sparking moans and groans. Unfazed by the cur barking awfully at her, she moved forward with confident steps, as if shed got what she wanted.

Abhik babus glance fell on the stranger wending her way across the ground towards him and when she was face to face with him, he abruptly terminated the conversation saying, More in the evening, OK?; He disconnected the line and turned an inquiring eye on her. A slight frown creased his brow as she stopped before him.

She saw before him a tall, bespectacled man in his early 50s, with a beaky nose and thick lips, which gave him a very harsh look. She chanced upon his photograph only recently but learnt that it was taken 22 years ago. 22 years! Long enough to wrinkle his face and whiten his hair. The person whose photograph she was carrying now looked quite different. Its natural, she muttered, Who can escape the ravages of age? She unstrapped her helmet, took it off her head and fixed him with a straight no-nonsense look.

Abhik babu glanced sidelong at the girl, about five feet five inches tall, her facial expressions as innocent and angelic as those of a baby and her eyes as dreamy as stars.

Although her complexion was not very bright, it was healthy and glowing.

Youre Abhik Sarkar? she asked, You live in Kirnahar?

Yes But who are you? I dont know you. Nor have I ever seen you, he muttered under his breath.

Im a woman, she snapped, looking inscrutable.

I can see that, what of it? he raked his fingers through his hair.

So some women dont matter to you? she felt a blind rage of indignation flaring up within.

Its not your business to judge that, he retorted. The young womans brusque and abrasive manner made his hackles rise.

It is. The person who gave birth to you is a woman. The person you first married was a woman. The person you married for the second time is a woman. You didnt abandon your ma, youre living happily with your second wife but you ditched your first wife, didnt you? Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths.

I dont understand how my personal life should concern or affect you, he snapped.

There are many things you dont understand or never will, she stared at him with a feline glare, you will never understand that your second wife is infertile because of the tears shed by the mother of a new-born baby girl. You will never understand that your cousins have remained childless because they provoked you to abandon your first wife and onemonth old daughter. Its called divine retribution. You will never understand how a young woman, divorced by her husband, could sacrifice all the pleasures of life in the face of temptations of marriage proposals from a good number of guys. She paused a little to take a breath, to collect herself and then asked, Do you know why she didnt want to remarry?

How would I know?

Yes, yes, its impossible for a person like you to know it. Well, she feared shed not be able to give her daughter the time or attention she needed.

Really? he mocked in sheer disbelief.

Oh, yes. But shes only one regret, she appeared enigmatic.

Whats that Ms Omniscient? he tried to make fun of her.

She forgot to slap you in full public view for your insensitivity and medieval mindset before returning to her parental home permanently. But Ill do what she couldnt do. And before he could duck or spring to his defence in any other way, she landed him a hard slap on the face.

You deserved it long back, she panted.

How dare you slap me publicly? Im of your fathers age, he uttered a yelp while rubbing his hand across his cheeks.

Father! Dont you dare to utter that sacred word, she fumed.

Who the hell are you? he asked, Are you . . . please tell me, are you . . .?

Bye!

She put on her headgear again and began to walk back to the spot  as defiantly as before  where she had parked her vehicle. She turned on the ignition key. The vehicle bounced along the main road and soon went out of sight.

Is she . . .? he racked his brain, recalled a face from a plethora of images and faces but couldnt find any resemblance. How could he? The face had almost faded from his mind long ago.

Groups of students were still outside the school premises. After tasting delicacies like dahibara, phuchka, chanachur or mixtures of different ingredients, they were trooping in, painfully aware that the much-relished lunch hour was almost over. Fortunately, they didnt witness his discomfiture.

The few who witnessed the scene rushed towards him in a body. She left the place like a storm, leaving everyone stunned. Had the person been a man, they would have run after him and overpowered him.

Sir, whats the matter?

Oh, its nothing. Dont worry, Abhik babu tried to downplay the attack on him.

Why did the woman slap you then?

A case of mistaken identity.

Mistaken identity?

Yes, the cheeky girl is daft as a brush. Still, she mistook me for the husband of a relative of hers who has been humiliated by him, he took a moment to spin the story.

Why didnt you return the slap and teach her a lesson?

She seemed to be distraught. Moreover, she lost no time to ask forgiveness when she realised her mistake, he cooked up a plausible explanation.

Still, you should have judged whether she was lying or not, they found it very hard to buy his argument, and thought it was just an attempt at face-saving.

Well, what can I do? Suppose a daughter of yours made the same mistake; wouldnt we forget and forgive?

Just then the school bell rang to Abhik babus rescue. He waved the crowd off and went in. He entered a classroom in the last period to teach his scheduled class but instead of being attentive to the lessons delivered, a section of learners whispered to each other and smirked with devious smile. He felt hed been stripped of all his dignity.

Being slapped by his own daughter was an experience that would haunt him for the rest of his life. For the first time he felt he had got his just deserts.

***

At the beginning, the gathering for the felicitation ceremony was small but soon it turned sizable. The podium of a spacious classroom was beautifully decorated. What was a departmental affair became a matter of celebration for other departments as well. Words spread that a girl student from the department of applied psychology had qualified as an IPS officer while studying in her final year. Soon students from other departments came in their droves to attend the ceremony, which was chaired by no less a dignitary than the vice-chancellor himself.

Once the felicitations were over, Shalini was told to say something on her goal in life. She seemed to be the epitome of feminine elegance with a svelte figure and a confident yet pleasing personality.

In our country, girl children grow up in a cocoon. They are brainwashed into believing they belong to the weaker sex. Often men who dont get the women they fancy throw acid on their faces or stab them to death. How many victims get justice? Justice in such cases is often delayed and denied. Most attackers get away with a light punishment. Imagine a situation when the survivor throws acid on her attacker or stabs him to give him a taste of his own weapon. No, no, no, dont do that. Youre a woman, for heavens sake, you cant do what men do, most of our parents would be the first to dissuade us. They are scared that even prisons arent safe for women, gang rape being a strong possibility. I think both this mentality and scenario should change. Girls need to be as tough as guys to cope with difficult times. The only way to counter male chauvinism, sexual innuendoes and macho posturing is to take on the offenders head-on. . .

Theres been much debate about women empowerment. Most women like to be engaged in jobs that do not involve risks. They want to be receptionists, clerks, air hostesses, teachers, engineers et al. Job reservation is a definite step forward towards that goal. Why not reserve 50 per cent jobs in IPS, state police and judicial services to contain incidents of domestic violence? When a couple with a new-born baby is divorced or separated, the wife often brings up the baby. The husband merrily marries another woman thinking that hes done a great service to the woman by being a sperm donor and helping her to become a mother, she paused as tears shimmered in her eyes although she had been able to fulfill her mothers unfulfilled desire.

My father left my mother for giving birth to a girl child. She didnt even think of avenging this huge insult to her womanhood and returned to her parental home anticipating harm to her baby. When I was three months old, she had to rejoin her job with a private concern. She would see me twice a week; for the rest of the week I was left in the care of my grandparents, who, despite their age and frail health, took utmost care to give me everything a baby needs. They taught me to bring out the best in me. As a student, I had only one New Year resolution  Id become an IPS officer and see to it that victims like my mother get justice, she concluded her speech to a thunderous applause and standing ovation.

The department had arranged a car to drop her home  the vehicle was almost bursting with the boxes of gifts, souvenirs and bouquets she had received. As the driver cranked the engine outside the university gate, Abhik Sarkar appeared from nowhere like a genie.

CU is my alma mater. I come here often. Today I was walking through the corridor to see a student of mine who teaches mathematics here but stopped in front of the classroom where you were being felicitated. I even listened to your speech. All the best!

As he waved goodbye to her and melted into the crowd, the car roared to life.

Shalini leaned her head against the cushioned backrest. She felt the real loser was Abhik Sarkar and not her mother.
RACINE  A local company is set to offer residents a new way to bar-hop through Downtown Racine.

Mount Pleasant-based Black Tie Carriage Service has been providing horse-drawn carriage service during First Fridays since 2013. It will now offer a bar-hopping tour for private parties throughout Downtown Racine.

We have a few bookings already, said co-owner Samantha Lauf, who started the business with her mother, Tammi, in 2013. We provide carriage tours in Downtown Racine during First Fridays, but offering tours separately is new to us.

Although the company typically provides services for weddings, Disney-style princess parties and quinceaneras, it will now offer a unique horse-drawn tour for those wishing to bar-hop in a less traditional way.

The tours will last about 2 hours, 15 minutes. They will begin and end at the Christmas House Bed and Breakfast, 116 10th St. The carriages can accommodate 12 riders.

Tours are $50 per person. A minimum of eight riders must book a tour in order for a tour to run.

While the company is licensed for carriage service in the City of Racine, participants may not drink while on the carriage. The first tour is scheduled for Saturday, June 3, with tentative stops at McAuliffes on the Square, 213 Sixth St., and the Benjamin Beer Company, 507 Sixth St.

We kind of wanted to bring something new to Downtown to highlight all the great places we have and we wanted to make it unique, said Anne Yust of the Christmas House Bed and Breakfast. This was a collaboration between the two of us. We started thinking about the idea for the Christmas tour and Samantha suggested it, so we jumped on the wagon  literally.

Carriage rides will travel up Lake Avenue, down Main Street, up Sixth Street and loop back to the Christmas House.

Its a great idea and its something new to the Downtown area, said Lois Braun, marketing director with the Downtown Racine Corp. I believe the tours are going to fill up really quickly.

To book a tour, call Black Tie Carriage Service at 262-939-9382 or go to www.facebook.com/blktiecarriage.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is trying to increase its capacity to deliver by scaling up the frequency of launches to 12 per year from the seven at present by building more satellites and lowering the cost of access to space.

Earlier, we were doing 2-3 (launches) per year, then we increased it to 4-5, last few years we have been doing seven launches, space agency Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told PTI.

Now, we are trying to go up to 8-9 PSLV per year, two GSLV-Mk II and one GSLV-Mk III. Total about 12 per year, he said.

ISRO is trying to increase its capacity to deliver by scaling up the frequency of launches by building more satellites, lowering the cost of access to space and also to do heavier satellite launches, the Chairman said.

The space agency is in the process of constructing a second vehicle assembly building to improve the turnaround time and throughput for the PSLV so that with the same launch pad ISRO can do more launches, he said.

Kiran Kumar said approval for a proposal to build a space station was yet to come.

ISRO plans to undertake the Chandrayaan-2 mission in the first quarter of the next calendar year, he said.

It (Chandrayaan-2) is a fully Indian affair. There is no Russian participation in that, Kiran Kumar said.

All the developments required for that, all the variable thrust engines, lander, rover.all that work is going on and we are getting ready for this launch, he said.

Another Mars mission, Venus mission or Asteroids missionall these possibilities we are working on; study teams are looking at it, and then we will finalise at some point of time and start getting approvals for them, he said.

On reusable launch vehicle, he said ISRO has identified its next steps in terms of air-breathing propulsion system.

We are now trying to do an experiment where it will demonstrate that the thrust generated is more than the friction so that you have a net positive thrust.

What we have (already) demonstrated is combustion happening with oxygen and hydrogen. The next step is the thrust whatever is generated should be more than the friction that's going to come up because of the surfaces involved, Kiran Kumar explained.

Once that is done, then it's a big capability. So we are working towards that now and in terms of reusable launch vehicle I think landing gear system to that and conducting some experiments that is the next step and beyond that we are looking to scale up the model and do the next set of activities, he said.
Researchers have found that 10 minutes of walking up and down stairs at a regular pace is more likely to make you feel energised than ingesting 50 milligrams of caffeine-about the equivalent to the amount in a can of soda.

"We found, in both the caffeine and the placebo conditions, that there was not much change in how they felt," said study co-author Patrick J O'Connor, Professor at University of Georgia in the US.

"But with exercise they did feel more energetic and vigorous. It was a temporary feeling, felt immediately after the exercise, but with the 50 milligrams of caffeine, we didn't get as big an effect," O'Connor said.

The study, published in the journal Physiology and Behavior, aimed to simulate the hurdles faced in a typical office setting, where workers spend hours sitting and staring at computer screens and do not have time for a longer bout of exercise during the day.

For the study, participants on separate days either ingested capsules containing caffeine or a placebo, or spent 10 minutes walking up and down stairs-about 30 floors total-at a low-intensity pace.

O'Connor wanted to compare an exercise that could be achieved by people in an office setting, where they have access to stairs and a little time to be active, but not enough time to change into workout gear, shower and change back into work clothes.

"And a lot of people working in office buildings have access to stairs, so it's an option to keep some fitness while taking a short break from work," O'Connor said.

Study participants were female college students who described themselves as chronically sleep deprived  getting less than 6 and half hours per night.

To test the effects of caffeine versus the exercise, each group took some verbal and computer-based tests to gauge how they felt and how well they performed certain cognitive tasks.

Neither caffeine nor exercise caused large improvements in attention or memory, but stair walking was associated with a small increase in motivation for work.


Mahatma Gandhi went to Kausani in 1929 for attending a political campaign. It is said that the mountain ranges mesmerised him so much that he absolved himself from his daily activities and took to meditation. He originally went for two or three days but ended up staying there at the government Dak Bungalow for 12 days! Gandhi ji put off his hectic schedule and started writing on Anasakti Yoga, which is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita. He said Kausani is the Switzerland of India. After that, the government Dak Bungalow was converted into Anasakti Ashram, popularly known as the Gandhi Ashram of Kausani in Uttarakhand.

In the morning, when I set out for Kausani from Almora, white clouds wafted over the deep valley and the warm sunshine brightened the serpentine road ahead, which went past coniferous forests. Each bend gave way to pleasing sights and the snowcapped mountain ranges played hide and seek with us. After a two-and-half-hour ride, I halted before the old Someshwar Temple, which was a treat to the eyes after a tiresome journey. Leaving behind a small market to the left, the car winded up another 1,000 ft to reach the Anasakti Ashram.

I rushed, with excitement, to the view point in front of the CCCCCCCPrayer Hall. It seemed as if the vast blue sky was well within our reach! On the other side valleys, cut into steps for cultivation descended deep down. One was left spellbound by the serenity of the place surrounded by tall pine trees. I felt enthralled to live in the century-old heritage building where once Gandhi and other stalwarts had set foot and the walls of the Prayer Hall exhibit rare photographs on the life of Mahatma Gandhi.

After a delicious lunch and a stroll in the nearby market, I started for Baijnath, which is 19 km away from Kausani. The road was hemmed in by thick oak, fir and pine trees. Paddy fields were down below and the driver informed that the Basmati rice grown here is exported to foreign countries. The road to the temple goes over the Gomti River. Once there, one was witness to the magnificent twelve stone temples complex of Ek rekha deula or single-shrine structures, dedicated to Lord Baijanath or Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Brahma and Chandika, by the Gomti. They were built by the Katyuri rulers around the 13th century but subsequent invasions by Tamerlane, followed by Nadir Shah, left its architectural glory devastated. It was saddening to see such heritage temples left neglected without proper maintenance.

On the way back, I made a beeline for the workshops where the famous Kausani shawls are manufactured. It is said that Kausani was discovered in the early 20th century by the Troupe brothers who tried their hands at tea cultivation on the slopes of Kausani and also erected a bungalow there, which is now a coveted rest stop for mountaineers and expedition teams heading towards Manas Sarovar.

Next morning, a huge crowd had gathered to see the sun bathe the Himalayas in all its resplendent glory. One was elated to spot the different snow-clad peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet, Trisul, Chaukhamba, Hati-Ghori, Nilkantha and Panchachuli among others, standing like walls as high as 22,000ft and stretching over 300km. The beaming sunshine behind the ranges made it look like a divine halo and the peaks seemed to vie with each other to be the first one to bathe in the sun rays. Within a matter of seconds, I witnessed a magical sight as the white peaks turned fiery red.

The last destination on the tour was Ranikhet where one was greeted with the white ranges almost touching the sky. As I said goodbye, memories of staying in the same place as the Father of the Nation with the Himalayas in the background filled the mind.
Wildlife expert Subaraj Rajathurai holds up the skin of a snake. He knows that it belongs to a black spitting cobra and that it was sloughed off about an hour ago as it is still soft and moist.

Retrieving the 1.5 metre-long skin from the undergrowth seems par for the course for 53-year-old Subaraj, who later washes his hands in a stream along the trail through the forested areas of Venus Loop near Upper Thomson Road in Singapore. The tour guide licensed by the Singapore Tourism Board has been conducting nature walks like this one since 1990. He is a self-taught naturalist who has been studying wildlife for about 35 years and his experience shows.

During our walk, which takes more than two hours, Subaraj points out a female Malayan colugo or flying lemur gripping the top half of a tree trunk. He knows that the deep croaking that fills the air is the call of a four-ridged toad. He gestures towards a towering species of wild pandan, a giant compared with the fragrant pandan used in cooking.

Wearing a purple bandana from his 100-piece collection to protect his head from sunburn and sporting hair past his shoulders, Subaraj rocks an avuncular, easy-going vibe. Whitebearded and burly, he looks a little like Santa Claus, one bearing gifts of knowledge of the wild.

Our trail is so close to houses in the Upper Thomson area that the smell of cooking wafts into the green space at one point  a microcosm of the relationship between Singapores wilderness and built-up areas. People live cheek by jowl with nature in landscarce Singapore and he is aware that conservation has to fight for its place in the sun. There is a need for other aspects in Singapore like housing and recreation. Its all about balance, he says. Animal encounters in urban spaces, for instance, have sparked calls for culls in recent years. Subaraj is rooting for nature  and has been doing so for a long time. The director and founder of Strix Wildlife Consultancy was one of the first few tour guides in Singapore who chose to focus on nature. Now, there are at least 18 other such licensed tour guides, as well as a plethora of groups involved in conservation issues.

A decade ago, he founded his consultancy, which does research, wildlife surveys, educational outreach, eco-tours and other work in conservation. A member of the Nature Society (Singapore) since the 1980s, he helped to work on a proposal to save bird haven Sungei Buloh, which had been slated for redevelopment. The proposal was submitted to the government in 1987.

Although Subaraj says he was born with an interest in nature, it bloomed only in his teens. As a child, he liked to make scrapbooks with animal pictures and was familiar with conservation icons. He read books by Gerald Durrell and watched documentaries by Jacques Cousteau and David Attenborough. He, his older brother and a younger sister were raised in a conservative household with little interest in nature apart from occasional excursions to the zoo. The broad expectation was that he would eventually be a doctor, lawyer or engineer, he says.

Subaraj recalls a kind of restlessness in his childhood. He did well in primary school, but never quite found his way in secondary school. He managed to get his O-level certificate, but dropped out after a year at college, a private institution for qualification to university. This put paid to his fledgling ambition of becoming a zoologist. But he was soon to discover his lifes purpose.

At the age of 18, Subaraj trekked with schoolmates up Bukit Timah Hill, where he had an epiphany. Once I got there, it was like coming home. I was in a place where I belonged and I never looked back, he says. I realised then that I wanted to work in nature, but I didnt know how. He had to do his national service, but he started educating himself in earnest after that.

For about four years in his early 20s, Subaraj spent his days wandering in the wild areas of Singapore such as the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Pulau Ubin, learning about flora and fauna. In the afternoons, he was at the library doing research. He went on regional field trips to places like Endau-Rompin National Park in Johor, learning from mentors such as reputed Malaysian naturalist Dennis Yong, and joined the Nature Society (Singapore) in 1985. But family members who wanted him to get a job during those years gave him a hard time, even though his parents supported him emotionally and financially, he says. I followed the family tradition and became a teacher outdoors without having to do any marking, Subaraj says. His wife, 51-yearold Shamla Jeyarajah, who works with him at his consultancy, explains his single-mindedness, He is independent and solitary in some ways and he knew what he wanted and didnt let go. Before they got married in 1994, he told her his priorities were God first, followed by nature, her, then their family. Im No 3! I accepted it immediately because Im a very easygoing person, she says.

Their two sons, who have been out on nature walks with their father since they were infants, are named after birds. Saker, who is named after a falcon, is a 16-year-old junior college student. Serin, named after a finch, is 21 and doing his national service.

Influenced and guided by his father, Serin already regards himself as having a career in nature, having joined his father on surveys and research programmes in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Borneo. He plans to pursue a university degree in life sciences and is the co-founder of the Herpetological Society of Singapore, which focuses on the conservation of reptiles and amphibians.

Subaraj is concerned that, while there has been an increasing awareness of conservation in recent times, some Singaporeans are loving nature to death (by) flocking to nature reserves in large numbers. Animals are being disturbed. A lot of Singaporeans dont realise the fragility and sensitivity of these habitats, he says. As a nature warden with the National Parks Board for about 20 years, he has seen people jogging in vulnerable areas of nature reserves, potentially impacting the eco-systems there, even though they can use the more than 300 parks here to exercise instead. Subaraj is reflective about the times when the authorities chose development over conservation. You pick your battles. In Singapore, you dont lobby  thats for other countries. If you start getting rowdy and protesting, in the end, nature is the loser, he says.

Emotions dont work. You have to use facts. Dialogue is better for finding solutions. You have to keep working at it.

The Straits Times/ANN
The French consulate in New York, where thousands of expatriates were registered to cast ballots in their presidential election, was briefly evacuated following a bomb threat, officials said.

A suspicious vehicle prompted police to clear the building on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park, Consul General Anne-Claire Legendre said on Saturday.

After the Champs Elysees attack, the New York police department was told to be especially vigilant, she said.

Dozens of people who were inside the building at about 5 pm (2100 GMT) waited on the sidewalk while authorities checked the vehicle.

The situation returned to normal after about 50 minutes, consulate press officer Amelie Geoffroy said.

Voting activities, which were scheduled to take place until 7 pm, also resumed, she added.

Some 28,500 French citizens living in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are registered to vote at the consulate.

Security measures were strengthened at French polling stations across the United States following a jihadist's killing of a policeman on Paris' famed Champs Elysees avenue this week.
Vivek Murthy, the first Indian-American appointed by the Obama regime as the US Surgeon General, has been dismissed by the Trump administration to bring new leadership to the vital public health sector.

Murthy, 39, has been replaced by his deputy, Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, one of the first nurses to serve as surgeon general.

Murthy, the leader of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, was asked to resign from his duties as surgeon general after assisting in a smooth transition into the new Trump administration, the US Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement yesterday.

Murthy has been relieved of his duties as Surgeon General and will continue to serve as a member of the Commissioned Corps, the statement said. Murthy was confirmed as US Surgeon General in December 2014.

It was not immediately clear why Murthy was relieved from duty. Employees at the Department of Health and Human Services privately expressed surprise at his sudden departure.

Murthy, the 19th Surgeon General and the first Indian American to hold this post said in a Facebook post that it was an honour and privilege to work in the prestigious position.

For the grandson of a poor farmer from India to be asked by the President to look out for the health of an entire nation was a humbling and uniquely American story. I will always be grateful to our country for welcoming my immigrant family nearly 40 years ago, he stated.

(Health and Human Services) Secretary (Tom) Price thanks him for his dedicated service to the nation. Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, who is the current deputy surgeon general, will serve as the acting surgeon general and assume leadership of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the official statement said.

Interestingly, Murthy is the second Indian-American to be fired by the Trump administration from a senior position. The first one was the US Attorney from New York Preet Bharara who was sacked after he refused to resign.

As my colleague Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams takes over as Acting Surgeon General, know that our nation is in capable and compassionate hands. Thank you, America, for the privilege of a lifetime. I have been truly humbled and honoured to serve as your Surgeon General, Murthy wrote on his Facebook post.
North Korean authorities have detained a US citizen of South Korean origin, bringing the number of Americans held by Pyongyang to three, sources in Seoul said on Sunday.

The latest detainee, a man in his late 50s identified only by his surname Kim, was arrested on Friday at the international airport in Pyongyang as he was about to leave the country, the sources told Yonhap news agency.

Kim, a former professor at China's Yanbian University of Science and Technology, was in North Korea to discuss relief activities.

The reason for his arrest was not immediately clear, according to the sources.

The director of the World North Korea Research Centre in Seoul, Ahn Chan-il, told Yonhap that Pyongyang could "use professor Kim as leverage in negotiations" with Washington amid the current escalation in tensions between the two countries.

Two other US citizens currently imprisoned by the North Korean regime are Kim Dong-chul, a sexagenarian of South Korean origin captured near the border with China, and Otto Frederick Warmbier, a student who allegedly tried to steal a propaganda poster while visiting as a tourist, Efe news reports.

Both were sentenced this year to 10 and 15 years of forced labuor respectively.
The Philippines' authorities on Sunday heightened security measures for the upcoming summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Manila, with some 41,000 personnel set to be deployed.

Members of the police, army and maritime units secured the area around the Philippine International Convention Centre, where the 30th edition of the summit will be held from April 26 to 29, Efe news reported.

The deployment of security personnel comes after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte denounced the foiled plot of the Abu Sayyaf terror group to allegedly target Asean trade meetings in the city of Bohol, which precede the main summit.

Duterte announced an award of one million pesos (more than $20,000) for anyone who could provide information on alleged plotters that would lead to their arrest.
Southern California-based social media company Snap Inc., which highly publicised IPO in March with value at $24 billion, faced backfire as CEO Evan Spiegel was accused of claiming that Snapchat was an app "only for rich people".

Snapchat, which was labeled by business analysts as the strongest rival to Facebook, had to start damage control urgently, saying Spiegel never made such remarks and "these words were written by a disgruntled former employee", Xinhua n ews agency reported on Sunday.

The quote, which Snapchat called "ridiculous", came from a recently unredacted court complaint by Anthony Pompliano, who was hired away by Snapchat from Facebook then served as the company's growth lead for a few weeks in 2015.

Pompliano's lawsuit filed in redacted form in Los Angeles Superior Court in January. Snap Inc. dropped its efforts to keep the unredacted complaint under seal and released it in a public filing last week.

In the complaint, Pompliano recounted an exchange he said he had with Spiegel in a September 2015 meeting about the app's international growth plans. He said he presented methods to address the issue, but Spiegel abruptly cut him off.

"This app is only for rich people," Spiegel said, according to Pompliano. "I don't want to expand into poor countries like India and Spain."

These words sparked outrages from all around world, especially in India.

Hundreds of thousands users voiced their disapproval via social-media posts and one-star reviews in Google and Apple's app stores.

"Mr. CEO of Snapchat, we may be poor but we have bigger hearts than you," a user named K.P. Naik said in a recent one-star review in Play store.

Another tweet posted by Shreyas Singh on April 15 said: "I am very poor so uninstalled #snapchat but thanks for entertaining for this many days. @evanspiegel @Snapchat don't mess with India."

"This is ridiculous," as statement released by Snap argued, saying those words were written by "a disgruntled former employee".

"We are grateful for our Snapchat community in India and around the world," the statement said.

However, Snapchat would face huge challenge in this lawsuit more than PR works as Pompliano also claimed that he learned the company had exaggerated its user data and that top executives were "completely misinformed" about key metrics.

According to report of Variety, in the lawsuit, Pompliano said that on his second day of the job he met with two data analysts, who confided to him that Snapchat had "an institutional aversion to looking at user data", and its efforts in that area were marked by "utter incompetence."

Pompliano said he found Snapchat's daily active users (DAUs) was much less than the company's boasted number, 100 million DAUs at the time, moreover, the user base increased only one to four per cent per quarter, far less than the double-digit month-over-month growth the company was claiming.

Pompliano also claimed that he was fired because Spiegel determined that he "presented a risk to Snapchat's IPO".
A US Navy Fireman has been buried near his home in Joliet, Illinois more than 75 years after he was killed in a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that sunk his ship USS Oklahoma on December 7, 1941, a media report said.

Fireman First Class Michael Galajdik was finally buried with full military honours, which included a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps by sailors from the Great Lakes Naval Station yesterday, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Galajdik was only 25 years old when Japan attacked the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, killing more than 2,400 Americans and destroying a number of ships.

I feel relieved and emotional, said George Sternisha, Galajdik's nephew. It's been a long journey.

Galajdik had previously been interred at the Hawaiian naval base along with hundreds of other sailors. But thanks to DNA testing officials were able to identify which remains belonged to Galajdik, the paper said.

The process started in 2009 as new technology became available, Sternisha said.

He regrets his mother, Galajdik's sister, was unable to see it before she died in 1993. Sternisha said his mother, Anna, helped raise Galajdik when she was just a teenager.

Galajdik's funeral procession which traveled about a mile was lined with hundreds of supporters carrying American flags.

The procession of about 70 vehicles were led by a firetruck, several police vehicles and about two dozen motorcycle riders from various veterans organisations.

Both of my grandfathers served in World War II, said Michael Winbun, of Joliet, waving a flag as the procession passed. He said he wanted to show his support when he heard the Joliet veteran was coming home.

Groups dotted the route from the church to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, where Galajdik was finally buried.

We're all here to support veterans, said Lee Young, of the Illinois Patriot Guard, which led the pack. It's very touching, very happy and very sad at the same timeIt's amazing they could finally do this.

Robert Mcleod, representing the state department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said it's up to families to keep pushing for officials to bring their loved ones home.

Some government officials have been working diligently the past several years to return those killed in the battlefield.
RACINE COUNTY  Local business leaders are calling for the state Legislature to keep Interstate 94 construction on track, saying it is critical for the countys economic development.

Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce said completing the I-94 north-south project, which extends from the Illinois state line to General Mitchell International Airport, is long overdue. The group joins a chorus of other local leaders who have pressed for continuing the project after Gov. Scott Walker left it out of his proposed state budget.

Walker has shown few signs he will agree to reinstating the project in the budget. He didnt answer directly when asked last week about doing so, though he appeared to leave the door open if more money is added for transportation.

For us, we want it to keep moving forward. If we can put more resources in this budget, that would certainly be a priority for us, as well as ... maintaining local support at similar levels to what we proposed, Walker said after a bill signing in Burlington at Veterans Terrace, 589 Milwaukee Ave. County officials will tell you its real important, not only I-94, but its important to have dollars to fix county and municipal roads and bridges here and across the state.

I-94 north-south is obviously an important corridor, he added. We see it with the recent job announcements weve seen in Kenosha, Racine and southern Milwaukee counties, and wed like to see that grow.

RAMAC said companies looking at places for new facilities consistently rank highway access a top priority. Thats particularly true for businesses considering the DeBack Farms Business Park, under development on Highway K near I-94, the group said.

We have watched the number of new businesses relocating to Kenosha, where the Interstate has been rebuilt and expanded, and we believe Racine is poised to undergo the same kind of economic boom, said Matt Montemurro, RAMAC president and chief executive officer.

Its time to finish the job.

Alternative plan in works

Walkers budget is in the hands of the state Legislature. The state budget committee has dropped the governors transportation plan from the budget, with committee co-chair Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, telling reporters Friday that everything is on the table for transportation funding, according to media reports.

RAMAC leaders said increased traffic congestion, safety issues, pavement and design deficiencies and three prior resurfacings necessitate expansion and full reconstruction of the I-94 north-south corridor.

The group noted work began in 2009 in Milwaukee and Kenosha counties continued until delays in 2011. In Racine County, the Highway 20 interchange reconstruction was completed in 2015, but reconstruction of interchanges at Highway 11, Highway K and 7 Mile Road remain.

Finishing the I-94 north-south project is directly linked to the success and growth of my company and the broader Racine business community, Dave Eberle, owner of Norco Manufacturing, said in a RAMAC release. Completion of the project enables me to reliably move products, and plan for future growth. It is time for the state to set a completion date for the reconstruction of the north-south project.

Norco Manufacturing is the first company to build in the developing DeBack Farms Business Park.


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U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop pose for a photo during a visit to the Australian Museum in Sydney Saturday. AP)
But the tribe has a long way to go
The Delhi BJP unit on Saturday filed a police complaint against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his Facebook post, which urged the voters not to vote for them (BJP) if they want to get rid of dengue and chikungunya-like diseases.

In the complaint, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also alleged that Kejriwal had violated model code of conduct by posting "offending election material" on Facebook and also "campaigned beyond the prescribed time through his social media handles".

A team of lawyers led by some BJP leaders filed the complaint at the North Avenue Police Station on the direction of Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwari.



The BJP also requested the Delhi Police to block Kejriwal's Facebook account.



The Delhi chief minister was also accused of impinging on the right of voters by threatening them via the video in which he said if the people of Delhi voted for the BJP, their children would fall prey to diseases like dengue and chikungunya.



Member of the BJP's legal team, Neeraj, who submitted the complaint on behalf of the party, said he felt apprehension after watching the video.



"Kejriwal is the chief minister of Delhi and if he threatens the voters with dire consequences (dengue and chikungunya) for voting for the BJP, it clearly creates an apprehension in the mind of the voter," Neeraj said.



On Thursday, Kejriwal had said the people of Delhi would risk their children's lives if they voted for the BJP in the civic polls, during a Facebook Live event.



"If you vote for the BJP and if your child falls prey to chikungunya or dengue, you are responsible for it. I can offer free treatment to your child in (the Delhi government) hospitals, but why should children suffer at all?"




"I fell at their feet, pleaded with them, but they were in a frenzy, busy lighting matchsticks," says Renuka Veerabhatini, eldest daughter of the Sudhakaran and Rajeswari. "There was nothing I could do. They assaulted me and my younger brother Srinivas," she says.

That fateful evening, 25 to 30 people surrounded Renuka's parents. There was nothing she could have been done. Kadeverugu Sudhakar, 56, and his wife Rajeshwari, 51, were tied to an electric pole and burnt alive, after rumours spread through the village that the couple practised black magic.

Sudhakar's brothers Mallesham and Srinivas, living in the village, sparked the whisper campaign. "My father's mother Anasuya might not have lit the matchstick, but she was there and did not stop her sons and daughters-in-law from committing this heinous act," says Renuka.

"After a while, the rope, with which my parents were tied, snapped. They fell to the ground, but there was nothing to quell the fire with," she says, her voice breaking, but not a single tear in her eyes. "After witnessing what I did, there are no tears left," she says.

Renuka was dragged away like a dog, but no one showed any sympathy. The villagers had been asked not to come out of their homes, so there was no outside help. The perpetrators had kept petrol and kerosene cans in handy.

Before the incident, Sudhakar had planned to move his family to another place, unable to handle the suspicious glances and the sly comments that he used 'mantralus'. He had earlier complained of harassment to the police. He was not in an enviable positionif a baby fell ill in the village, Sudhakar was blamed for it. People started shunning him because they considered him a bad omen. The village quack Hakim Baba, who cured anything from fever to psychological disorders, added fuel to the fire by saying that there was a presence of black magic in the village. All fingers pointed at Sudhakar.

Meanwhile, the police remained unaware of the incident, till they were informed by Renuka's husband Satyanarayana. The police reached at 5:35pm. By then, the duo had already suffered 80 per cent burns.

Rajeswari and Sudhakar made dying declarations, naming everyone involved in the incident. "But I do not think me or my brother will be allowed to live," says Renuka. "They will definitely kill us because we were witness to the whole scene."

It is believed that the incident was the result of a family dispute over 600 sq yards of land. Ironically, no one is willing to buy the land now.

Dr Gora Vijayam, secretary of atheist centre, said, Witchcraft and sorcery are only cultural beliefs perpetuated by vested interests. Majority of the so-called victims are illiterate, ignorant and oppressed. Having said that, even the literate are steeped in superstitions and blind beliefs. Vested interests exploit the situation. The scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and poor women are subjugated in the name of banamati (black magic), which is a hoax. It is only a socio-cultural belief and once people know the truth, the fear in witchcraft and sorcery will disappear."

"In the name of witchcraft and sorcery, nine million people were murdered in Europe. That is why it became known as the Dark Ages. In India, rumours of banamati spread in certain parts of the country because the people were poor and ignorant."

Being summer, the hamlet of Chinugudda of Kerameri mandal, in Komaram Bheem district, looks arid and muddy, though it is surrounded by small hillocks and trees. With barely 10 to 12 households, this hamlet belongs to the Kollam tribal community and their main occupation is agriculturecrops like cotton and pigeon pea.

Kudimeta Poshiga, 45 years old, lived with his wife Ayu Bai and three children. He owned five acres of land and laboured on it. After a string of negative incidents, his hamlet was led to believe that Poshiga was involved in black magic.

Since he could not handle the insults and the suspicion, Poshiga built a small hut in his farmland and started living there.

One day, the villagers saw him burying a dead snake and a chicken that it killed. The suspicious group attacked him with rocks and stones, killing him. The incident occurred on June 7, 2016. Ten were arrested and sent to jail. Seven are out on bail. The ITDA (Integrated Tribal Development Agency) decided to look after the family. The wife and three children were sent to the Ashram High School in Kerameri.

In Nizamabad district, an old beggar woman was tortured for a week before she was killeda group of people suspected that she was the cause of all their problems. Since the woman could not be identified, the police did not follow up on the case.

When such incidents mushroomed, the district administration wrote a letter to atheist centre, inviting them to investigate the problem of witchcraft and sorcery. A ten-member team visited Medak district. If medical education spreads in villages, the belief in witchcraft will disappear. In Telangana and some parts of the erstwhile Hyderabad state, in Bidar and Gulbarga districts of Karnataka and Parbhani in Maharashtra, the belief in banamati is widespread, says Dr Gora Vijayam, executive director of the atheist centre.

Education and awareness is the only way to come out of the fear from witchcraft and sorcery. Outside help is very much needed to alleviate the suffering of the illiterate and ignorant. Political parties are also to be blamed for perpetuating witchcraft and sorcery in return for votes and getting people to obey their commands, adds Dr Vijayam.

In fact, according to the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB), Telangana is among the top three states in India when it comes to killings in the name of sorcery and witchcraft. According to their data, the state has witnessed 39 such cases in the last three years.

In 2015, according to statistics compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau, 135 people were killed.

Of these, 14 were in Telangana. According to the same report, between 2000 and 2012, over 350 people were killed in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, on suspicion that the victims were involved in witchcraft.

During the same period, witchcraft was reportedly the motive for nearly 2,000 murders across the country.
Voters in a few municipal wards faced problems as Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at some polling booths did not work properly in the city.

Former Delhi minister and BJP leader Arvind Singh Lovely also could not cast his vote early morning as there were some problems in the EVMs at the polling booth in East Azad Nagar area.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal cried foul, saying that people with voter slips not allowed to vote. "Reports from all over Delhi of EVM malfunction, people wid voter slips not allowed to vote. What is SEC doing?" he tweeted.

Reports from all over Delhi of EVM malfunction, people wid voter slips not allowed to vote. What is SEC doing?  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 23, 2017

"I reached the polling station at 8 AM. However, I could not vote as the EVM was not working so I had to leave due to some urgent work. I will go later to cast my vote," Lovely said.

There were also complaints of faulty EVMs in North Delhi Burari area and South West Delhi's Kapashera due to which voting had to be stopped for a few minutes.

"There were few complaints of the functioning of EVMs at Burari and Kapashera which has been rectified," an official source said.

Apart from this, at GTB ward, voters had to face problems as some EVMs were not functioning properly.

Some people could not vote because their names were missing from the voters list.

Voting for choosing municipal councillors is being held at 13,000 polling stations across the national capital.

Polling began at 8 AM amid ample security arrangement across the city.

Out of the 13,022 polling stations, police authorities have declared 3,284 as sensitive and 1,464 as hyper-sensitive.

Over 1.1 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise for the first time. Also, for the first time in MCD elections, None Of The Above (NOTA) option has been made available.

There are a total of 1,32,10,206 voters entitled to exercise their franchise in electing councillors for the wards falling under the three corporations--NDMC (103), SDMC (104) and EDMC (63).

Voting will be held till 5 pm. Counting of votes will be held on April 26.
Three men, who were transporting buffaloes in a truck, were beaten up by gau rakshaks near the Kalkaji metro station in south Delhi last night.

As per the police, the victims are being treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ramil Baniya while talking to the media here assured a thorough investigation into the matter and also promised legal action against the perpetrators.

In the Police Control Room of Kalkaji area, a call was received in night, where the caller gave information about the incident. He further said that cattles are being taken in a truck in a cruel manner, he said.

The three men were transporting 14 buffaloes in a truck to east Delhis Ghazipur mandi when they were stopped by members of the non-governmental organisation.

The victims have been identified as Rizwan (25), Ashu (28) and Kamil (25).

Currently, a case has been registered against them under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Further investigation is underway.
Farmers from Tamil Nadu, holding a protest at the Jantar Mantar here from the last 41 days to draw attention to their plight, on Sunday suspended their protests till May 25 after state Chief Minister K. Palaniswami assured them that he will take up their demands including that of loan waiver with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

However, the agitation would be resumed if promises are not fulfilled, said P. Ayyakannu, president of the National-South Indian Rivers Linking Farmers Association, who was leading the protest.

These farmers had held a rally from the India Gate to the Jantar Mantar before the announcement.

"We have been holding protests here from 41 days, during which we met the President, (Union) Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister, and Minister of State for Transport. They all assured us that our case will be considered. However, we have not received any help so far. Today, Chief Minister said he will write off our loans, taken from both nationalised and cooperative banks. So we have decided to suspend our agitations till May 25," Ayyakannu told media.

He also said that DMK Working President M.K. Stalin had asked these farmers to return to the state.

The farmers were on protest sit-in seeking loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery Management Board to resolve their irrigation issues.

Ayyakannu threatened to restart the agitations from May 25 if their demands are not met with by then.

"We will review the situation after a month. If the government fails to fulfill its promises, we will agitate again," he said, adding that farmers from several states, including Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, Assam, and Odisha have extended their support to their agitation.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas visited these farmers and assured them of all support. He said that Prime Minister Modi was sensitive to such issues so he "will react" to it.

On Friday, these farmers had collected their urine in plastic bottles and threatened to consume it if the Union government fails to respond to their demands, including a loan waiver, drought relief package and formation of a Cauvery river management board.

From wearing human skulls to conducting mock funerals and even stripping at Raisina Hill here, the farmers have been grabbing eyeballs for the last 40 days with their startling ways of protest.
Voting started on Sunday morning for municipal elections in Delhi across 272 wards.



Over 2,500 candidates are in the fray for elections to North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104 seats each) and East Delhi Municipal Congress (64 seats).



Over 1.32 crore eligible voters are likely to exercise their franchise at 13,022 polling booths across the city.



Leaders of various political parties including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are expected to cast their ballot early in the day.



Over 56,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel are on guard at the polling booths, while an additional 20,000 home guards have been deployed to ensure law and order in the city on the election day.



The counting of votes will take place on April 26.


RACINE COUNTY  Two employees of a group home run by Love of Caring LLC in the 100 block of Howland Avenue, Racine, are facing misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct charges after a physical fight on Jan. 5 at the home between the employees over work schedules.

The court commissioner in the case ordered the two employees, Tierre Crawford, 40, and Tonya Larry, 40, to stay away from the group home or its residents.

At the time of the incident, Larry told The Journal Times she was working for Crawford, who didnt show up for work to care for two mentally challenged residents.

I was on the job, Larry said.

Larry said Crawford showed up three hours later with a family member.

They slapped me and slapped the phone out of my hand and pulled my hair. What was I supposed to do? I called the police, Larry said. I was defending myself.

Larry said she lost her job over the incident, even though she had five good years without incident with the company.

Love of Caring LLC officials could not be reached for comment. Larry said she feels victimized by a co-worker whom she said has a criminal record.

She never should have been hired, Larry said. She shouldnt be working in this industry.

According to court records, Crawford has a 2013 guilty plea in a misdemeanor disorderly conduct case for a previous parking-lot fight in which she assaulted a man. Crawford also pleaded guilty to obstructing an officer and bail jumping in 2003 and a hit-and-run charge in 2001. Crawford could not be reached for comment.

Both Larry and Crawford, if convicted of the new charges, could still potentially be allowed to work in another group home, according to Wisconsin state statutes that list seven acceptable felonies convictions for employment: battery to an unborn child, battery with special circumstances, reckless endangerment, harassment, invasion of privacy, disorderly conduct and misdemeanor battery.

Larry said she wants the state to make changes to eliminate the exceptions even if it means shes barred from employment over the incident.

People put their family in the group home and never visit them, Larry said. I liked taking care of them. They connect with you and depend on you and they dont feel lonely.

Larry said she misses the residents she cared for every day and hopes they are well taken care of.

Background checks

Elizabeth Goodsitt, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, which regulates group homes, confirmed the seven non-serious convictions do not prohibit employment but do require the employer to obtain more information to see if they still want to make the hire.

The criminal complaint and judgment of conviction provide the employer with more information regarding the actual circumstances of the conviction, Goodsitt said. Under Fair Employment Law, an employer may refuse to hire someone if the person has been convicted of an offense that is not on the offenses list but is, in the estimation of the entity, substantially related to the duties or circumstances of the job or residency.

Larry said shes trying to get a job at another group home, and that that group home is delaying hiring her until her charges are resolved.

DHS conducts a criminal background check on everyone who does anything for the home, including the licensee. They do so when a new group home is licensed, then every three years after that. If something happens in between, the employee is required to self-report a criminal allegation, especially if it involves his or her job.

The department is looking for convictions and pending criminal charges which substantially relates to the care of dependent resident or the funds or property of the resident in the group home, according to DHS policy 88. DHS is allowed to drop in for an assessment of a home at anytime, generally every two years, and can order drug and mental evaluations for workers if necessary.

The DHS Bureau of Assisted Living  which oversees facilities including group homes  reports seeing increases in complaints last year associated with residents wandering away, medical issues and challenging behaviors, as well as other issues, including a lack of qualified staff, low staffing levels and properly trained staff.

I think we have had some good group homes, and some not-so-good ones, said Luann Simpson, who works for the Racine chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness. There are not enough people to do that kind of work. We pay more to take care of our cars than people.

The Madison-based Personal Care Association has reported a worker in a group home makes on average $10.75 an hour.

Misconduct Registry

DHS does maintain a list of names of nurse aides with a substantiated finding of caregiver misconduct, including misappropriated funds or property of the resident and neglect or abuse of a resident. Called the Wisconsin Caregiver Misconduct Registry, it shows the first name, last name and date of birth of the individual so employers can use this to determine if a potential employee is eligible to work, according to DHS. Neither Larry nor Crawford are on that list.

Burlington resident Becky Borucki has a finding on the registry and is no longer eligible to work with the mentally disabled, or the elderly in group homes or other state facilities.

Borucki pleaded guilty in 2012 of stealing from the patients under her care and was sentenced to three years in prison and to pay $15,000 in restitution to the victims. Burlington Police discovered Borucki was stealing from three residents  reportedly about $24,383  after they were contacted by the legal guardian of one of the men who noticed discrepancies in bank records.

All residents in her care were relocated. Due to Borucki being in jail, DHS suspended the license and revoked it after Boruckis sentencing.

According to DHS documents obtained by The Journal Times, the facility Borucki operated in her home was closed due to DHS revocation on Nov. 30, 2012. Subsequently, the facility is no longer listed on the DHS website and its history is only available via public information request.

Last year, the state had 36 inspectors to oversee 4,166 assisted living facilities statewide; the largest type was group homes, according to DHS.

Simpson concerned

Simpson said the state needs to do a better job protecting those who cant help themselves.

The thing is, the majority of people who have mental health issues, who are living in a group home, they dont have a lot of choice, she said. If they are in there under commitment, the county decides where theyre going to go.
An 18-year-old man living in Israel left scores of messages graphically describing childrens deaths in calls to Jewish community centers and schools across the United States, using an online calling service to disguise his voice as a woman and hide his identity, according to a federal indictment filed Friday in Florida.

A month after his arrest in Israel, Michael Ron David Kadar was charged with 28 counts of making threatening calls and conveying false information to police, according to the indictment filed Friday in federal court in Orlando.

Separately, he was charged with three more counts of making threatening calls, conveying false information and cyberstalking in an indictment filed in federal court in Athens, Georgia.

Kadar has duel Israeli and U.S. citizenship. The calls to the Jewish community centers and schools stoked fears of rising anti-Semitism and led to campus evacuations.

Online federal court records in Florida showed no attorney listed for Kadar.

At the time of his arrest last month, his lawyer in Israel said Kadar had a very serious medical condition that might have affected his behavior. She said the condition had prevented him from attending elementary school, high school or enlisting in the army, which is compulsory for most Jewish men.

The JCC Association of North America said in a statement that it welcomes the charges against Kadar and that it is enormously proud of the extraordinary commitment to safety and security at the community centers.

The Florida indictment said that Kadar made 245 threatening calls, most of them to Jewish community centers and schools, from January to March, using an online calling service that disguised his voice and allowed him to hide his identity. He recorded each of the calls himself and kept them in organized files at his home in Ashkelon, Israel, along with news articles describing the police responses to the threats, the indictment said.

He also paid for the online calls using the semi-anonymous currency Bitcoin. A large antenna at his apartment building allowed him to make long-distance, outdoor wireless connections, the indictment said.

The Florida indictment said recordings of the calls stripped of the software-enabled disguise revealed a speech impediment in the callers voice that matched Kadars.

The Georgia indictment connects Kadar to several incidents of swatting in which authorities are called to respond to an emergency that ends up being fake. The indictment alleges that in January the University of Georgia Police Department received a phone call about a home invasion that ended up being untrue.

(AP)
Al-Jazeera is reporting that Israel has struck a Syrian military base on the outskirts of Quneitra. Al-Miyadin reports three killed and two other persons being wounded in the strike. Israel remains silent as is always the case amid such reports of an Israel Air Force Strike.

There have been similar reports of IAF attacks against Syrian targets in recent months, all unconfirmed by Israeli officials.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times

It is a tradition among many Jewish people that the child at a Bris Milah develops, in personality, to be like the Sandek that held him at a Bris Milah. This is perhaps another motivation as to the reason why an attempt is made to obtain a great Tzaddik to serve as the childs Sandek. But from where did this idea originate? And what should someone do who has irreligious parents or grandparents and wishes to honor them with being Sandek?

The Ramah (YD 264:1) writes that a person should get a Mohel and a Baal Bris (i.e. a Sandek) who is yoser tov (very good) and a Tzaddik, a righteous person. It is unclear to this author whether the term very good as it applies to a Sandek is in terms of capability or in terms of moral character.

THE LEVUSH

The issue, however, is clearer elsewhere. Rabbi Mordechai Yoffe (1530-1612), author of the Levush, (Yore Deah 264:1) writes: A person should take measures to find a Mohel and Baal Bris (i.e. a Sandek) who is a good and righteous in order that they have the highest and loftiest of intentions in their kavana and it will cause that the child will be like them. We see then that good means that it affects the child.

The original source of the Ramah is the Ohr Zaruah (Hilchos Milah 107). The Ohr Zaruah was written by Rav Yitzchok Ben Moshe of Vienna (1200?-1270?). Rav Yitzchok was a member of the Chassidei Ashkenaz and had studied under the Raavyah, Rabbi Yehudah HaChasid, the Sar miKutzi and Rav Elazar Rokeach. He was also one of the Rebbeim of the Maharam MRothenburg.

A DIFFERENT REASON

In the Ohr Zaruah, the need for a good Sandek is for a different reason. It is so that they merit that Elijah the prophet will come. In other words, according to the Or Zaruah, it seems that it is not that the child will emulate the Sandek and or mohel  but that the greatness of the Sandek will effect the presence or absence of Eliyahu HaNavi!

The Maharil as well indicates that the issue is not one where the child will be influenced by the Mohel and the Sandek, but rather in terms of the health of child in his being additionally cured by the presence of Eliyahu HaNavi.

There is also the issue the Sandek is considered as one who has offered the Ktores. Indeed, in terms of receiving an Aliyah, the Sandek comes before the Mohel, if there are not enough Aliyos to give to both of them.

THE STRINGENT VIEW

Rav Moshe Shternbuch, in his Teshuvos vhanhagos (Vol. I #603) is of the opinion that the irreligious person should not be offered Sandek, and that it could affect the child. He writes that the Mitzvah of honoring his father does not allow him to endanger his own son.

The Sefer Milah Khilchasa questions this position on many grounds. At the end of the day, and although it is discussed in Shulchan Aruch, it is only a Segulah  not an actual halacha. He also does not see how a mere Segulah should set aside the Mitzvah of Kivud Av vaim  honoring ones parents. Also, even in the Levushs own words we do not see that it affects the child negatively  we only see that a great person can affect the child positively.

THE OBLIGATION TO HONOR PARENTS

The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 240:18, see also 241:4) discusses the obligation to honor parents  even where they might be evil-doers. Although the Remah does cite a dissenting view, that the obligation only exists after they have done Teshuvah, it is a debate. Many Poskim have stated that even according to the Ramah, when the parents have grown up in a situation where they may be considered a Tinok shenishbah, like a child that was kidnapped and does not know better in terms of Jewish law  the qualification of the Remah  does not apply. [Regarding all of these issues, one should, of course, consult a Posaik.]

It is also well-known that the Chazon Ish (see Maaseh Ish Vol. II page 93) allowed a Shabbos violator an aliyah to the Torah. Rav Elyashiv zatzal ruled that a child who was raised in a manner where he did not know better and he does not observe Shabbos is considered as a tinok shenishba, kidnapped child, and may be counted in a minyan if he was not exposed to Torah. Thus, according to Rav Elyashiv, a yeshiva dropout may not be included in a minyan if he no longer observes Shabbos. But a Russian Jew, for example, who was not exposed to a yeshiva education can be counted (Peninei Tefillah citing Rav Elyashiv, page 127).

RAV ZILBERSTEINS VIEW

Finally, it is interesting to note that Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, in his Chashuchei Chemed on Yuma (9b), suggests that one can honor an irreligious relative with being Sandek if he elicits a commitment from him to keep one Shabbos after the bris. The merit of observing the Shabbos, according to Rav Zilberstein, will more than make up for any possible drawback.

There is yet another indication that the approach of allowing it is perhaps preferable. Many Chassidic masters have recommended being a Sandek as a tikkun for certain Aveiros. If this is the case, then when there is a Mitzvah of honoring a parent or grandparent at hand, one should certainly do so. As in all matters of halacha, one should consult with ones own Rav or Posaik.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

The authors newest Sefer on Bris Milah is available at amazon.com

The authors other Seforim can also be purchased at amazon.com
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu last week attended a Shin Bet event ahead of Independence Day.

Prime Minister Netanyahu:

The Shin Bet is a solid foundation of our natural strength, of the revived strength of the people of Israel. It deals with the abject hatred of us which is manifesting itself in new ways. Over the past 18 months we have been subjected to a new assault by an old hatred, via Facebook and information networks in order to cause hatred and spur people to stab, run over and murder.

On behalf of the people of Israel, I would like to take my hat off to you because you play a great part in repelling these attacks, in saving lives. I must tell you that the entire world is impressed because this problem has already spread to many countries. You ask, How is it possible to deal with lone attackers who are incited by the same forces? And you tell them, Come to Israel. We know that it is not hermetic and that it could happen at any moment. We know, I know and, to a certain degree, the public knows your contribution in lowering the attack curve, in providing security, and in giving and saving life. This is only a small part of what you do, which entails considerable innovation.

I would like to express my appreciation and that of the citizens of Israel, not all of whom know everything about what you do in order to ensure the strength, security and future of the State of Israel, the state of the Jewish People. I thank you with all my heart. I wish you all a happy Independence Day. Thank you very much.

Shin Bet Director Nadav Argaman:

The campaign that we oversee plays out daily, in complex arenas, under myriad threats that recur without respite. This requires us to be constantly prepared to fight in secret, anytime and anywhere necessary. The service is charged with this effort and there is no option but to win this war every day.

We, the personnel of the Shin Bet, have a very significant responsibility in defending the State of Israel and its inhabitants, in thwarting and blocking terrorist threats and in upholding democracy. We will continue to do this our way  with courage, wisdom, determination, innovation, dedication and relevancy.

We will continue to act in cooperation with our comrades in arms  Shin Bet personnel throughout their generations and our colleagues in the intelligence community, from the country and from around the world. Together we will aspire to impressive achievements in the face of the challenges and we will lead counter-terrorism and counter-espionage on behalf of the State of Israel and its inhabitants with professionalism, determination, pride and a humble awareness. Happy Independence Day.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Kobi Gideon, GPO)
President Reuven Rivlin on Thursday, 24 ?Nissan 5777, at his residence was presented with a new publication in Hebrew of Vatican papers entitled In our Time (from the Latin Nostra Aetate). The work, led by Professor Dina Porat of the Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University, included documents and research in Hebrew relating to the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people, and the Holocaust, dating back to 1965  the year of the Vatican declaration, Nostra Ateta, also known as the Jewish Document, which removed the accusation of deicide from the Jewish people.

The meeting was addressed by President Rivlin as well as Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, renowned expert on Jewish-Christian relations and International Director of Interreligious Affairs of AJC, Rabbi David Rosen, and Professor Porat. Also attending was Italian Ambassador to Israel, the Papal Nuncio, Israels Ambassador to the Vatican, and other leading Rabbis and members of the clergy.

President Rivlin congratulated Professor Porat and all those involved in the research and translation of the publication. The President spoke of a meeting in 1904 that had taken place between leader of the Zionist movement, Theodore Herzl, and then Pope Pius X. In the meeting, the Pope had refused to support the Jews return to the Land of Israel, and said, The Jews did not accept Jesus and therefore we cannot accept the Jewish people. The President noted, We have come a long way since the meeting of Pope Pius and Herzl, and added, The Nostra Aetate dealt with the relations between the Catholic Church and people of other faiths. But as for the relationship with the Jewish people, it was a revolutionary statement. Unfortunately, 50 years later this revolution is still silent; most of the Jews in Israel and around the world know very little about this deep change regarding the Jewish faith, the Jewish people, and the Jewish state. And being honest, I am not sure how many Christians around the world know about this important process. I hope this book will help more than a little, by ensuring Hebrew readers know more and understand better the Catholic Church and its followers.

He concluded, The Catholic Churchs revolutionary change can bring understanding, compassion and a deep sense of brotherhood which is needed at any time, and maybe today more than ever. Faith can bring people together.

Professor Dina Porat thanked the President and all the participants, and said, This document was a theological earthquake. It was the beginning of a new era in which since 1965 until today, until the last declaration by the present Pope in 2015, documents in this period are imbued with a wish for rapprochement, for a dialogue, with the Jewish people. And this wish has not been known in Israel until now. The public at large does no know about these developments, about this process.

She noted of the publication, So that the picture would be as full as possible, we also included speeches by the Pope and his two predecessors; speeches given in the Great Synagogue in Rome, the notes they placed in the Western Wall, and conversely speeches in Yad Vashem, and in Auschwitz  we also translated them all. They are all written in a warm and respectful language toward the Jewish people.

Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, thanked President Rivlin for hosting the meeting, and expressed his appreciation for his visit just a day earlier to the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalems Old City. He noted, All these circumstances for sharing within our society are a concrete sign of the numerous initiatives of vitality and care concerning our common lives. In 27 years of life in Israel, I am personal witness of the big positive change in Israeli society toward the Christian world, locally and internationally. He added, The initiative of Pr. Dina Porat is one of many examples.

He went on to note, The historical relations between Christians  and in this case Catholics  and Jews have been very problematic and painful. But it is also known that in the last decades the Catholic Church changed completely its attitudes towards the Jewish people and the Jewish faith. These changes of course are still to be made better known in our Catholic societies, not only in Europe, but in other continents where most Catholics live, and yes, here in the Middle East.

The Archbishop stressed, This new attitude toward of the Catholic Church towards the Jewish people is irreversible. The fight today against any form of anti-Semitism  ancient and modern  is not anymore the solitary fight of yours, but a common attitude in which you can consider us, the Catholic Church, your friends. We know that there are still problems in this regard, but our determination to continue in this direction is total and irreversible.

Of the importance of the publication of these papers in Hebrew, the Archbishop said, It is important to keep informing the Catholic world about this not so new approach towards the Jewish people, but it is also important to let the Jewish people, and in this case Israeli society, know about the long journey the Catholic Church has made in this regard.

Rabbi Rosen commented on the importance of the publication and said, This translation is historically unique because I believe it is fair and correct to say that there is nothing comparable in human history, and added, of course there have been attitudes that have changed in the course of human history, but nothing quite that can describe the Catholic Church  which represented the prevailing view within Christendom that the Jews had been condemned, rejected by God, destined to wander forever. He noted, To have gone from such a negative view of the nature of the Jews, to a situation of today where Popes have described the Jewish people as the dearly beloved elder brother of the Church, of the original covenant never broken and never to be broken in the words of Pope Jean Paul II. There is nothing comparable in human history to such a degree, and this is what this book celebrates.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day, which is observed in Israel on Tuesday, 29 Nissan, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with the six torch-lighters to hear a bit about each of their stories.

Observance this year of this day as well as Memorial Day next week are pushed off a day to avoid Memorial Day being observed next motzei Shabbos, which would lead to widespread Chilul Shabbos.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
As the nations top party school prepares for its annual spring bash, with no campus-sanctioned alternative event this year, there are signs that heavy drinking among UW-Madison students may be declining.

Thirty-six percent of freshmen said last fall they were binge drinkers, down from 42 percent in 2013. The university had 984 alcohol misconduct incidents last fall, down from 1,513 four years earlier.

Id be cautious in saying that weve seen a huge shift in high-risk drinking, said Jenny Rabas, who coordinates efforts to reduce alcohol and other drug abuse for University Health Services. I think weve seen some things to be optimistic about and to keep monitoring.

Wisconsin remains the top binge drinking state among adults and young adults, but heavy drinking among teens is down, according to the latest state-by-state figures from 2013-14.

We might be experiencing a bit of a cultural shift, said Dr. Richard Brown, a substance abuse expert at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. But binge drinking remains very much a cultural norm in Wisconsin.

Binge drinking  five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women, in about two hours  can lead to injuries, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies, chronic diseases and other problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On Saturday, many of the 43,000 students at UW-Madison, named the No. 1 party school last year by the Princeton Review, are expected to attend the raucous Mifflin Street Block Party.

The event, which started in 1969, is known today for daylong keggers on the 400 and 500 blocks of West Mifflin Street. It is held prior to the last week of classes.

Revelry, an alternative event that started in 2013 and was more controlled, wont take place this year. A Wisconsin Union committee ended the event after turnout plummeted last year, when the administration cut off funding.

But other efforts at the university to address binge drinking appear to be having an effect.

AlcoholEdu, a required online education program for first-year students, started in 2013. It aims to help students make well-informed decisions about alcohol, link drinking choices to academic and personal success and cope with drinking by peers.

In 2014, the university started Badgers Step Up!, a two-hour program that focuses on norms of alcohol use and intervening when people drink too much. Fraternity and sorority members, second-year varsity athletes and a member from every registered student organization must participate.

Badgers Step Up!

At a recent Badgers Step Up! session, student facilitators Kyra Stone and Megan Zanillo discussed the alcohol content of various drinks, alcohols positive and negative effects and ways to distract people who are drunk from drinking more.

Take them to Ians Pizza, one student said.

Yes, food is a huge one; everyone likes to eat, Stone said.

The facilitators presented scenarios, including one in which someone is seen on Snapshot drinking and yelling while wearing a T-shirt with a student organization logo.

Stone said organization leaders, when handing out T-shirts, should tell members to be careful about their behavior when they wear the shirts.

Im definitely going to implement that T-shirt rule, said Thanh Phuong Nguyen, an 18-year-old freshman from Fort Atkinson, who attended the session as a member of Game Design and Development, a video game club.

Mike Smale, a 20-year-old sophomore from West Bend, was at the session because he started the Wisconsin Exploration Club. He said he didnt think Wisconsins drinking culture was unusual until he visited Minnesota, where students seemed to drink less.

Maybe we do have a little difference with drinking and how people go out, Smale said.

Carter Kofman, a 22-year-old senior from Glencoe, Illinois, is chairman of Live Free, an organization for students in recovery from substance abuse.

Kofman left UW-Madison as a sophomore to get treatment for alcohol addiction. When he returned in 2015, he found the campus to be an abstinence-hostile environment, he said.

The drinking culture is just pervasive, Kofman said. Students should realize that there are people around them who cant moderate, he said.

Wisconsins

drinking culture

Brown said heavy drinking in the state is entrenched. Binge drinking has been so ingrained into the white mainstream culture for so long, he said. As people get to drinking age, its just natural to emulate slightly older people.

The state could curb binge drinking by raising the price of alcohol, letting local police screen motorists for drunken driving and encouraging more health care providers to ask patients about high-risk drinking, he said.

Among 17 states and the District of Columbia, which were measured by the percentage of doctors who ask patients about high-risk drinking and advise heavy drinkers to reduce their consumption, Wisconsin was third to last, the CDC said last month.

Providers may have lower concern about binge drinking as a reflection of our drinking culture, Brown said.

More than 32 percent of Wisconsin adults said they were binge drinkers in 2013-14, the highest of any state, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Only the District of Columbia was higher.

More than 50 percent of Wisconsin residents ages 18 to 25 said they were binge drinkers, the highest among all states and D.C.

Among residents ages 12 to 17, Wisconsin ranked sixth, with 7 percent saying they were binge drinkers. A related survey of youth drinking put Wisconsin on top from 2001 to 2007  but by 2013, the state was below the national average for current drinking, binge drinking and initiation of drinking before age 13.

Linda Seemeyer, secretary of the state Department of Health Services, highlighted the teen trend in a statement this month.

This data shows we have reason to be optimistic that we are making progress in our efforts to curb Wisconsins drinking culture, beginning with our young people, Seemeyer said.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the description of the first block party in 1969.
The Shin Bet working with police have arrested six suspects, residents of Beersheva, believed to have assaulted Arabs. Among the suspects in custody are two IDF soldiers and a minor.

The investigation began in December 2016 following a number of attacks against Arabs in the city. The most serious attack investigated was a stabbing on February 21, 2017 during the evening hours. In the other attacks batons and metallic rods were used as were other blunt objects.

During their interrogation, police have linked some of the suspects to additional attacks, which are being viewed as hate crimes as they were acting to prevent assimilation between Jewish women and Arabs in the southern city.

Authorities also report the suspects viewed a Lehava video which addresses extricating Jewish women married to Arab men and one of the suspects has admitted to being an activist in the organization.

Indictments have been filed against them in the Beersheva District Court in line with laws against act of terror.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Yossi Deutsch was attack by zealots in Meah Shearim on Shabbos as he was heading to a tisch at Slonim. This is the second time he was attacked in as many months as was the case with Deputy Education Minister Meir Porush.

This latest attack occurred on Friday night when a number of extremists noticed him making his way through Meah Shearim. When attacked he was walking with a son as shouts of Chardak were directed at him as some people began running towards him to see what they thought was a religious soldier walking in the area. Attackers picked up and threw what they could at him and his son. Police are investigating.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
About 1,100 terrorists imprisoned in Israel announced their participation in a hunger strike begun a week ago, demanding improved conditions. While organizers of the effort hoped to enlist thousands of the 6,000 imprisoned terrorists, this did not occur and it now appears that many of those taking part are not as committed as they thought would be the case.

About a hundred quit the strike in recent days, joining over 85 who have quit over the weekend. What was hoped to be a major effort to improve conditions and increase international pressure against Israel seems to be waning quicker than anticipated.

Imprisoned Fatah terrorist Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for his heinous acts, organized the strike. He was optimistic after learning of widespread international media coverage including a NY Times Op-Ed, but now, it appears the effort will not be long-lived.

When the strike began Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan was quick to release a statement, that it was politically motivated. He added there are no plans to enter into negotiations with terrorists.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

A Monsey teen suffered serious injuries after the vehicle he was involved in a serious crash.

Sources tell YWN that the accident happened around 4:15AM in front of 174 Buena Vista Road in New City, NY (Rockland County).

Clarkstown PD arrived on scene and requested Paramedics forthwith after finding the driver unconscious and entrapped in the vehicle. He was the only person in the SUV at the time of the collision.

It took approximately 30 minutes until the victim was removed from the vehicle.

He was rushed to a local hospital unconscious and suffering from serious injuries.

He is listed in serious but stable condition.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.

A Tehillim name was not available.

(Charles Gross  YWN)
A Frum person was just robbed at gunpoint in the heart of the Baltimore Jewish Community.

Sources tell YWN that the mugging happened at around at around 10:30AM (Sunday morning, at 3100 block Bancroft Road near Clarks Lane  near the Cross-Country Apartments.

The perpetrators are described as 3 African American males wearing hoodies.

The victim was forced at gunpoint to give over his wallet, phone and car Keys. They three thugs fled the scene in the victims 2012 Honda accord.

Baltimore Police as well as Baltimore Shomrim are canvassing the area looking for security camera footage as well as the stolen vehicle.

This is the second armed robbery on this street in the past month.

If you have any information which can assist authorities, please call 911 immediately, and then call Shomrim at 410-358-9999.

(Dov Gefen  YWN)
As Frances polls closed in the first round of presidential voting on Sunday, Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron were projected by multiple news agencies to advance to a May 7 runoff.

The projections, based on vote totals in certain constituencies that were then extrapolated nationwide, were reported by The Associated Press, Reuters and AFP.

The likely Le Pen-Macron matchup was announced almost immediately after polls closed at 8 p.m. local time. But even before the first results were announced, Le Pens fans were so sure of her victory they began singing La Marseillaise at one of her headquarters.

The May 7 runoff now places the controversial, right-wing nationalist Le Pen against the centrist, Pro-European Union Macron. Le Pens entry into the second round of voting was being watched closely around the globe and is seen as another victory for a populist movement that has recently claimed wins in Britains so-called Brexit referendum and the election of President Trump in the United States.

Multiple politicians immediately endorsed Macron in the second round of voting, including embattled conservative candidate Francois Fillon, who conceded shortly after polls closed. Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve also called for the country to mobilize around Macron and beat Le Pen.

Security around the more than 60,000 polling stations was tightened up in wake of the deadly shooting on the Champs-Elysses on Thursday, which left one police officer and a gunman dead. The government mobilized more than 50,000 police and gendarmes to protect the polling places and an additional 7,000 soldiers were on patrol.

It is the first time in recent memory that a presidential election, in which 47 million people are eligible to vote, taking place during a state of emergency, which was put in place after the Paris attacks of November 2015.

Frances Interior Ministry said voter turnout by late afternoon was 69.4 percent  slightly lower than in 2012, when turnout was high. There was a marked surge in turnout in the Paris region.

Frances 10 percent unemployment, its lackluster economy and security issues topped concerns for the 47 million eligible voters.

(AP)
The following is via Breaking911.com:

A fire destroyed a two-story home in Queens on Sunday, killing five people, firefighters said.

FDNY members were on the scene of a large blaze in Queens Sunday afternoon.

The 3-alarm fire broke out in a two-story home on 48 Avenue in the Jamaica section of Queens.

As many as five people were killed and others were seriously hurt, sources said. At least one of the injured is a child with serious burns reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

(Source: Breaking911.com)
Last week, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi became the latest well-known Wisconsin Democrat to announce he would not be challenging Gov. Scott Walker for the governor's seat in 2018.

This week, local political talk shows had to ask: Are Democrats afraid to run because they dont think Walker can be beat?

After all, Wisconsin is enjoying low unemployment, Gov. Scott Walker is beloved by state Republicans and he should have no trouble collecting millions in campaign funds, guests on UpFront with Mike Gousha and Capital City Sunday" said.

Scott Walker at this point is about as close to bulletproof as you can get, Chris Lato, a GOP campaign consultant, said on a segment of Capital City Sunday.

But Parisi and Democrats said theres still hope for liberals: its still early in the race, and a positive populist message fueled by substantial campaign funds and an impatience with President Trump could take Walker down.

Parisi followed former state Sen. Tim Cullen, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele and state Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling in announcing his decision not to run for governor in 2018.

Nobody seems to want to run for this office, said Greg Neumann, host of Capital City Sunday.

Parisi appeared on a segment of Capital City Sunday, and said it wasnt a matter of not being able to win, saying he thought he would have been a competitive candidate.

But as Parisi told the Capital Times earlier this week, he felt he could make more of a difference as county executive, specifically citing issues like mental health coverage for children, lake cleanup and climate change.

When I look at the nuts and bolts work that we do on ground in local government and county government, and frankly when I look at the dysfunction of state government  I can get a lot more done and make a lot more difference in peoples lives as the county executive, Parisi said.

Both shows listed remaining potential Democratic candidates, including Rep. Dana Wachs of Eau Claire, Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ, Democratic businessman Andy Gronik, state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout and state Rep. Gordon Hintz.

These are all relative unknowns, guests said, but thats not necessarily a deal breaker. Several pointed to Sen. Ron Johnsons, a virtual unknown who was able to defeat Russ Feingold for the senate race in 2010 and hold onto the seat last fall.

But Johnson also had personal wealth to invest in the campaign, Jeff Mayers, president of Wispolitics.com, said on Upfront with Mike Gousha, and whoever challenges Walker will be going up against a massive amount of money. Gov. Scott Walkers campaign spent $36 million in 2014.

Host Mike Gousha asked Mayers whether Walkers funds are scaring off potential Democratic challengers.

Absolutely. You have to be willing to spend hours every day raising money and if youre wealthy, invest a good portion of your own wealth, Mayers said.

When announcing his decision not to run, Cullen cited the demeaning practice of intense fundraising.

On top of his money, Walkers favorable ratings are on the rise, and Wisconsin Republicans love Walker and will support him to the bitter end, Lato said.

When asked to explain his lack of challengers, Walker said it was because the states headed into a really optimistic direction. He said Wisconsin is in the top ten states in percentage of employment, high school graduation, ACT scores and healthcare systems.

But Parisi doesnt think Walkers untouchable.

I think he is strong, theres no doubt it would be a difficult race for anyone who runs, Parisi said. This is someone who can raise literally tens of millions of dollars and has very strong turnkey operation, but stronger people have been taken down.

As far as the money, if you have the right person, the right message, thatll follow.

That message he said, would be a meat and potatoes message, a populist argument looking out for real people and blue collar workers struggling to take care of their families.

Too many people are getting up and going to work everyday and theyre not earning enough to get by. I talked to many people who are working two jobs, still having a hard time making the rent, Parisi said.

Plus, a Democratic candidate could be significantly helped by unpopular Trump policies, said Scot Ross, the executive director of One Wisconsin Now, on a segment of Capital City Sunday.

I think were seeing a Republican Party thats in peril because of whats going on in Washington, D.C., Ross said. Thats where I think Scott Walkers going to have a real challenge  Democrats clearly have the momentum.

Lato argued that because Walker has been able to differentiate himself from Trumps agenda, the national political climate may not have a significant detrimental effect on his campaign.

Where Trump wavers and says one thing and does another. .. with Scott Walker youve seen real consistency in what he says and then in what he does, Lato said.

A candidate who merely criticizes Trump isnt going to be enough, Lato said.

The level of anger and bitterness that continues to show up  is not going to win (Republicans) any election, Lato said. They need to come up with a populist message. One that resonates more clearly than, Were angry.

Ross agreed that a Democrats need a positive message.

Democrats are not going to win by proving that Scott Walker will make Wisconsin worse. They will win by proving that they will make Wisconsin better, he said.
Since October, Wisconsin has approved requests from businesses for a billion gallons per month in new groundwater withdrawals from locations where the states own experts warned that higher pumping levels could be expected to harm vulnerable lakes, streams and drinking water supplies.

The increase was added by revising dozens of permits for high-capacity wells after regulations were relaxed in June at the urging of business groups and Republicans who control state government.

The revised pumping limits and the potential environmental damages they pose are detailed in hundreds of pages of documents obtained through the state open records law by the conservation group Clean Wisconsin and shared with the Wisconsin State Journal.

The records show the state Department of Natural Resources granted 38 of 41 requests for revisions to high-capacity well permits, including 34 that now authorize wells to operate at full pumping capacity and three that are still being reviewed. The DNR removed expiration dates from four permits without changing pumping.

Almost all of the wells are used by farms to water crops during summer months.

The department said 437 other high-capacity well owners are also eligible for removal of limits the DNR imposed before June 2016 because hydrological studies projected that higher pumping rates would harm surrounding waters. Wells that can pump at least 70 gallons per minute require high-capacity permits.

The revised well permits were originally written between 2011 and last June when DNR policy changed. Each included an upper limit for the amount of water that could be pumped in any 30-day period. The total for the permits had been 1.3 billion gallons. Their 30-day limits now total 2.4 billion gallons.

Three-quarters of the wells are owned by farms in the Central Sands region where heavy pumping has been closely linked to dwindling  and in some cases dried up  surface water.

The documents list dozens of lakes, streams, wetlands and drinking-water wells DNR scientists said would be affected at the higher pumping levels that now have been approved.

The single biggest increase boosted the 30-day rate at a Central Sands farm to 121 million gallons. The original 2013 permit capped the rate at 72 million gallons because analysis of groundwater flow indicated that extracting more would harm a nearby Class I trout stream, a lake already suffering from fish die-offs and drinking-water wells.

At a farm 20 miles to the south, the DNR doubled pumping despite a 2014 finding that such withdrawals would further degrade a Class II trout stream where reduced water flows in one section had already led to the disappearance of trophy brook trout.

In another case, the DNR granted a 34 million gallon permit to a farm in western Wisconsin that had been unable to win permission for a high-capacity well just a year earlier because three existing wells were already depleting a nearby coldwater trout stream.

Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association executive director Tamas Houlihan said the DNR wouldnt allow pumping that could harm the environment, and referred other questions to the DNR.

Pumping

to ramp up this summer

Loosened regulations last year also led to approval of 190 backlogged applications for new high-capacity wells between June and September. Many were stalled because applicants werent ready to accept proposed pumping limits. Department spokesman Jim Dick said last week that 2016 pumping figures werent compiled.

Asked if the DNR has plans for responding if problems projected by DNR staff occur after pumping ramps up for the growing season, Dick said the agency cant speculate about what may happen.

Such incidents would be addressed on a case-by-case basis, Dick said. We are not going to make a broad, general, speculative comment on a what if question.

The DNR changed its standards for reviewing applications for high-capacity well permits in June.

The change was based on a reinterpretation of a 2011 law  Act 21  the Legislature passed to sharply reduce state employees authority to write administrative rules that spell out how laws are put into action.

The DNR had been imposing pumping limits based on its reading of state law and court rulings that included a 2011 case in which the state Supreme Court said the agency must consider the cumulative impact of high-capacity wells on water, which the state is constitutionally bound to protect for the benefit of the public.

Industry groups chafed at pumping limits, and said the DNR was overstepping its authority. But independent scientific studies linked high-capacity wells to dwindling water levels that were alarming waterfront homeowners, vacationers and fishing enthusiasts. The GOPs majority in the Legislature failed several times to pass legislation removing regulations.

Now permits are decided based on the affect of wells on the well owners property, without regard to how much is being withdrawn by surrounding wells.

The Legislature and the attorney general have relegated the DNR to a rubber stamp for high-capacity wells, said Clean Wisconsins Amber Meyer Smith.

Smith said lawmakers and Gov. Scott Walker should take the advice of DNR secretary Cathy Stepp, a Walker appointee and former Republican lawmaker, and enact a law authorizing the DNR to use its scientific tools to take cumulative impact into account when permitting wells, Smith said.

The science is showing us there are huge impacts, she said.

Elected officials contacted by the State Journal chose not to comment.

These are legislative policy decisions and the AG has no comment, said Schimels spokesman Johnny Koremenos.

Walker, Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, didnt respond to requests for comment for this article.

The Assembly is set to vote in the next two weeks on a bill co-authored by Fitzgerald that would eliminate even limited impact reviews when wells are replaced, sold or transferred to new owners. Unlike other environmental permits that must be renewed periodically, high-capacity well permits are permanent.

Three permits

Documents filed with the revised permits describe how DNR hydrologists and fisheries biologists evaluated permit requests, using computer models, stream flow data and information on fish populations.

These examples illustrate considerations that went into setting pumping limits the DNR set, and then removed last year:

The largest increase was granted to Gordondale Farms in Portage County to increase its

30-day

pumping limit for three wells to 121 million gallons, a

68 percent

increase over the 72 million gallons approved three years earlier.

The lower limit was set in 2013 to protect nearby drinking water wells, two large spring-fed ponds, a wetlands and a spring-fed tributary that flows to the Tomorrow River, which is a Class I trout stream classified as an outstanding water resource.

If Gordondale was allowed to pump at the higher level for 60 days, the tributary could be diminished and the river flow could decrease by up to 11 percent, hydrologist Rachel Greve wrote after examining groundwater data and other information.

Meyers Lake, 4,000 feet to the south, was expected to drop up to 4.8 inches. The 19-acre lake was already suffering winter die-offs of fish in part because it was relatively shallow.

Under the original permit limits, it was possible that nearby drinking-water wells could be drawn down close to five feet, but the well users would still have an adequate supply at the level, Greve said.

In October, the DNR removed the limit placed in 2014 on high-capacity wells owned by another Portage County farmer, Lorn Dykes.

The permit limit was imposed to protect a Class II trout stream, the South Branch of Tenmile Creek.

Two DNR fisheries biologists warned the permit writer, Greve, that some creek sections were already stressed by low water in late summer.

What was once a trophy brook trout fishery has been relegated to a fishery comprised of mud minnows, sticklebacks and white sucker, aquatic biologist Scott Provost wrote in an email that is part of the permit file.

As a lifelong resident and trout enthusiast, this is not the norm. The generation before me will tell you the same, Provost said.

After studying groundwater flows, Greve set a 21.0 million gallon limit to prevent significant impact from this well. Last year the agency revised the permit to allow 43.2 million gallons.

The Brion Dairy near Durand in Pepin County owns one of seven permits the DNR revised for farms outside of the Central Sands.

Brion withdrew its application at the DNRs suggestion after agency scientists said it would likely not be granted.

The department projected that the well, along with others already operating in the area, would cause a 30 percent drawdown of Fall Creek, a Class II trout stream that had already been hit hard by pumping.

That area isnt as porous as the Central Sands, but shale bedrock doesnt consistently separate the aquifer from surface water, so heavy pumping from the aquifer was likely to reduce water levels in the creek.

Last year, three days after the DNR announced the policy change, a drilling company representing Brion farm asked the DNR to approve its original application for 34.6 million gallons. The DNR approved it in October.


Sir,



I write this article knowing very well the consequences of my belief.

I have said I dont know how many times in my articles that our beloved King is under siege from faceless cabals who surround him and pretend that they love him and yet they have selfish agendas.



I refer to the bogus government which pretended to be the reps from the country and by extension the King. I wonder where they got the guts to pose as Cabinet? Be it a senior prince or funior prince who led them is not an issue for now. It is well known that the name of the King has been brought into disrepute many times even on issues he is not aware of. You ask yourself if this bogus Cabinet had the guts to pose as such, are they not equally capable of going to the United Nations to tell them that the King of Swaziland has resigned from his kingship.



The answer is clear to all yes they are equally capable of doing that how safe is our lovely King from these people who surround Him? Of paramount importance is the fact that these people wont even face the wrath of the law.

PM said heads will roll and I can only tell everyone that NOTHING WILL BE DONEPhela this is not a new issue at all, why was there nothing done immediately it surfaced? For how many times will the King have to tolerate such? People taking advantage of his good heart.



Well it is known that here in Swaziland if you mess up with misappropriation of State funds and unjust enrichment its not an issue.

I beg that our ever slow justice system must expedite this case and I really want to visit these culprits in Matsapha Maximum Prison. It is authentic that crime is punishable by promotion in our country.



Needless to say the person who recommends people to the appointing authorities is a political delinquent himself. The King is fed lies and more lies for that matter. Why is our King made a laughing stock? We love our King but those next to Him really are sawing the seat He is sitting on. Why is that? These overnight millionaires are no more a surprise to us.



True the crocks have come home to roost. People no longer have a conscious and do not care what harm their action bring to the King and country. We the few honest are always bad mouthed and mud smeared. As we all know that nothing will be done to these people, is this the way people must make money by false pretences?

I can only pray that ThandaMngwengwe does something as a matter of urgency. I know there is no sense of urgency in Swaziland but this is a very sensitive and hot issue.



As a royalist and loyalist myself,I will always pledge my 100 per cent support for the system but will never condone corruption and a smear campaign against my King and country by such people. They must just rot in jail.



We dont need such people, we are all trying hard with the little we earn to make ends meet not this short cuts. I wonder how one can enjoy millions in his account knowing very well that he defrauded someone,what is this world coming to? Salubuya nkhosi Jesu utosilandza  to all these culprits may I say that you dont deserve to be Swazis, you can do well in Nigeria where people of your ilk are in abundance.



Live our country and King alone because we love them. May I also tell you to prepare to meet your God very soon because if you dont repent now definitely you will spend eternity in hell. I rest my case.



By: KHOKHUMNCADVO DLAMINI
MANZINI  National Commissioner of Police Isaac Magagula says the Asians utterances to the effect that police dont have the expertise to deal with crime poses a threat to the State.



He said such utterances are uncalled for and are meant to send a wrong message to the whole world. By saying the country has incompetent cops and who dont have the expertise is a real threat to the countrys security. Such a message could be interpreted as an invite to thugs to come and commit crime in the country knowing that the countrys police force is weak, he said.



The national commisioner said this after a group of about 25 businessmen of Asian origin had a highly secretive meeting in Matsapha on Thursday where they raised a sum of E1 million as a reward to anyone with expertise to solve kidnapping incidents in the country.

It was reported that the businessmen said they had lost faith in the local police and further questioned their expertise to deal with kidnappings.



This all came after the kidnapping of businessman Almor Oliveira on Sunday in Matsapha and no lead had been found even after the police had put up E150 000 as a reward to anyone with information that could lead to his rescue and arrest of the kidnappers.

In an interview yesterday afternoon, the police chief said they believe that they, together with the nation, were bounded by one common goal of recovering the kidnapped businessman alive and bring the culprits in to face the wrath of the law.



So people should be careful to what they say because it might give courage to the culprits to carry on with their crimes, especially when one will issue a statement reckoning that there were no police in the country or put their expertise in a questionable state, Magagula said.
MBABANE  A E120 billion power investment that will bring about 35 000 jobs in the country has been stalled by two crucial signatures.



This is an investment that was initiated by Canham Mining International which promised to inject about E120 billion into the countrys economy through the construction of a 5 000 megawatt thermal plant at Mpaka, Lubombo region.



Peter Canham, the Director of Canham Mining International, said they were still waiting for negotiations between the two countries to be finalised before they could start working.



Canham said they could have already started but they have not because they needed to have a cross-border permit to export the electricity to the neighbouring country.



That is what seems to be stalling us at the moment otherwise operations would have already started, said Canham.

Canham revealed that they were waiting for the two countries to agree that the electricity would be exported from this country. He said that they could not do anything without the agreement.



Canham also revealed that they had engaged government about the issue. He said they were working well with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy on the matter. He said the ministry had updated them that it had already been in contact with the director general of the Department of Energy in the neighbouring country.



We once went to enquire about the project in South Africa and we were told that there was nothing we could do without the two ministers signing an agreement, said Canham.
DVOKOLWAKO  Just a stones throw from the under construction Philani Maswati Old Age Home at Dvokolwako, one could see a vast dagga field.



However, this is not to suggest that the dagga field belongs to or is part of the Philani Maswati Old Age Home.

The old age home is situated at Mantjonga in Dvokolwako and former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Gideon Dlamini is the Member of Parliament (MP) of the area.



A member of the organisation confirmed knowledge of the said fields. However, he was quick to strongly state that the dagga and the dagga fields were not part of the under construction old age home spearheaded by Philani Maswati.

Philani Maswati Charity Organisation is the brainchild of Her Majesty the Queen Mother registered as a non-profit making organisation to aid the elderly and destitute children.



We were here at Mantjonga only to develop the Philani Charity Old Age Home for the benefit of the community. Dagga and the dagga fields are not part of the royal project. However, we did notify the police about this matter when we made the discovery, hence I think the police and the dagga field owners are better placed to comment. Having said that, we thank the police for their prompt and positive action, said MP Dlamini.



Lindo Zulu, a resident of the area, said he knew that there was a dagga field by the old age home and further said it was just common practice by most of the community members to engage in such an activity. I am aware of the matter, but I am not linked to it in any way.
MBABANE  Chief Mgwagwas royal kraal is benefitting thousands of emalangeni through a project funded by government that is worth over E200 million.



This is the Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project (LUSIP), which was financed through government funds and loans from international financiers.



Information established by this newspaper is that when this project started, the Swaziland Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (SWADE) paid an establishment fee to the contractor to build some of the houses to house its staff during the construction of the project. SWADE is a government company established by the Government of Swaziland in 1999 to facilitate the planning and implementation of the Komati Downstream development Project (KDDP) and LUSIP, and any other large water and agricultural development project that Government may assign.



Information reaching the Times SUNDAY is to the effect that after the completion of the project, the company then sold some of the houses to SWADE while some were inherited by the Madlenya Umphakatsi.



SWADE bought the houses to accommodate its staff. It has also been unearthed that after the nine houses were given to the Madlenya Royal Kraal, it then decided to lease them out to employed people around Siphofaneni. Three years ago, each house was rented for E1 000 but from June this year, the rent will hike to E1 200, after the royal kraal sanctioned a 20 per cent increase.



Over the three-year period, the royal kraal has pocketed over E300 000

Some of the houses which are now also occupied by SWADE staff will also be taken by the royal kraal incase the former decides to permanently leave the chiefdom.






MBABANE  Its enough!!! After investigations, the Times SUNDAY uncovered names of prominent businessmen who were rounded up by the police for questioning following the kidnapping of businessman Almor Oliveira.



The latter was kidnapped last Sunday morning by unknown men after he had gone to one of his business premises to check on some construction work, which he had been excited about for the past couple of weeks.

He leases out most of the properties and warehouses at the Matsapha industrial site to other businesspeople. He also owns Matsapha Scrap Yard to mention a few.



The businessmen taken for questioning say they are tired of constantly being linked to criminal cases yet at the end, there is no apology or whatsoever when their innocence is proven. One of the businessmen vowed to shoot to kill in the future once such trend shows its ugly head again.



They also say it is very disturbing and embarrassing towards their families to undergo the whole search process particularly because sometimes the police flooded their homesteads in a fleet of police cars carrying rifles.



The businessmen also claim that their children now saw them as thugs while at the same time their business partners also saw them as untrustworthy partners, which end up compromising their credibility as businesspeople. They say such is so disturbing in a way that there is a possibility that there can be future consequences which might be in the form of serious crimes.



One of them, who has businesses in the Lubombo region, said his home was visited by the police while he was outside the country and they raided the whole compound in the presence of his wife and young children as well as his neighbours.



Police came to my home and searched my house without my consent or rather without a search warrant. After that I was told to report to the police station which I did, hence it becomes difficult to understand as to why they have to search my home without my permission when I am cooperating with them.



This must stop or else there will be bad consequences in the future as we will revenge because in the long run it is ourselves that suffer. One day I will shoot and kill an officer entering my premises so to have a genuine case than these false accusations, said the suspect.

He said agreeing to grant the Times SUNDAY the interview was because he was not scared of anything because he was innocent but was only worried about the continuous defamation he is subjected to because of the police.



In Swaziland I am now a big thug, each and every criminal act is linked to me and that had crippled my businesses and will continue to cripple it. I have contracts with big and respected companies in the country. Which company would want to deal with a kidnapper? This is affecting my children and family because sometimes the police officers come armed. My wife can also attest to that because she has been a victim of this.



The businessman argued that if he was part of the kidnapping why would he be still in the country because he should be with the rest of the team so not to miss out on any financial transactions that might take place. He also pointed out that the situation was so bad such that in some instances, the police jumped over wall fences just to raid suspects homes.



Another businessman who was also questioned said he had no problem that he was taken in by the police because the reasons given to him were genuine. He said he had a very ironic coincidence that attracted the long arm of the law.

I really cannot blame the police for questioning me. I was seated in some food outlet with my wife and Oliveira arrived and sat next to us.
France voted Sunday under heavy security in the first round of the most unpredictable presidential election in decades, with the outcome seen as vital for the future of the beleaguered European Union.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron are the favourites to progress to a run-off on May 7 but the result is too close to call in a deeply divided country.

Le Pen, the 48-year-old leader of the National Front (FN), hopes to capitalise on security fears that were catapulted to the fore of the campaign after the fatal shooting of a policeman on Paris\s Champs Elysees avenue claimed by the Islamic State group.

Aiming to ride a wave of populism that led Donald Trump to the White House and Britain to vote for Brexit, Le Pen wants France to abandon the euro and intends to call a referendum on withdrawing from the EU as well.

Her ambitions have led observers to predict that a Le Pen victory could be a fatal blow for the EU, already weakened by Britain\s vote to leave.

Macron, 39, is seeking to become France\s youngest ever president and has campaigned on a strongly pro-EU and pro-business platform.

Seeking to benefit from a worldwide move away from established political parties, the former banker and economy minister formed his own movement, "En Marche" ("On the Move"), that he says is "neither to the left nor to the right."

But polls show scandal-tainted conservative candidate Francois Fillon, a former prime minister, and hard-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon are also in with a fighting chance of finishing among the top two candidates and reaching the all-important second round.

Le Pen cast her ballot in Henin-Beaumont, a former coal mining town in northern France that has an FN mayor.

Macron voted in the chic Normandy seaside resort of Le Touquet with wife Brigitte, his former high school teacher who is 25 years his senior.

Nearly 47 million people are eligible to vote and most polling stations will close at 1700 GMT with those in major cities shutting an hour later. First projected results are expected shortly afterwards.

In the wake of the policeman\s killing on Thursday, 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers have been deployed around France to protect voters.

The terror attack was the latest in a bloody series have cost more than 230 lives since 2015.

Guy Belkechout, a 79-year-old pensioner who was voting in the working-class Parisian suburb of Trappes, said he was concerned.

"Security issues have influenced me after the attacks. Candidates who want fewer security measures, who want to reduce the police\s powers, have not got my vote," he told AFP.

But Yanis Olive, a 35-year-old photographer voting in Paris, said security was not "a major issue"  unemployment and the economy were more important.

"Emmanuel Macron\s youth and positive demeanour is attractive," he said. "I really don\t want Fillon or Le Pen so I\ve chosen Macron because I think he is going to be in the second round."

Analysts believe the attack so late in the campaign could hand an advantage to candidates seen as taking a hard line on security issues.

"If it were to benefit someone, that would clearly be Marine Le Pen who has dominated this issue throughout the campaign, or Francois Fillon," said Adelaide Zulfikarpasic of the BVA polling institute.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Le Pen called for France to "immediately" take back control of its borders from the EU and deport all foreigners on a terror watchlist.

US President Trump tweeted that the shooting "will have a big effect" on the election.

Closely watched around the world, the French campaign has been full of unpredictable twists and turns.

A race that began with the surprise nomination of Fillon as right-wing candidate in November shifted into a higher gear in December when unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande decided not to seek re-election.

Hollande\s five years in office have been dogged by a sluggish economy and the constant terror threat.

Fillon was the early frontrunner until his support waned after he was charged following accusations he gave his British-born wife a fictional job as his parliamentary assistant for which she was paid nearly 700,000 euros ($750,000) of public money.

Though there are four main contenders in the election, a total of 11 candidates are taking part.

The candidate for the governing Socialists, Benoit Hamon, was a distant fifth going into the final weekend.

In such a close-fought race, the quarter of French voters still undecided on the eve of voting could play a crucial role.

SOURCE: AFP
Pushing carts loaded with bags, babies and the elderly, hundreds of people fled Mosul on Saturday after Iraqi forces retook two more districts in the west of the city from Islamic State.

After walking for miles, families were taken by bus from a government checkpoint in the south of the city to camps housing more than 410,000 people displaced since the offensive to retake Mosul began in October.

"We left with no water, food or electricity," said 63-year-old Abu Qahtan, the elder of a group of 41 people from five families. "We left with the clothes on our backs."

Iraqi forces have taken much of Mosul from the militants who overran the city in June 2014. The military now controls the eastern districts and are making advances in the west.

Islamic State fighters, holding out in the Old City, are surrounded in the northwest and are using booby traps, sniper and mortar fire to defend themselves.

On Saturday, artillery and gun fire could be heard as families arrived from Hay al-Tanak district which they said was still half controlled by the militants.

Troops, backed by helicopters, were moving towards the al-Nuri mosque where, nearly three years ago, Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi announced his self-declared caliphate spanning parts of Iraq and Syria.

A Reuters reporter, standing within sight of the mosque, saw heavy smoke in that area after an air strike.

The U.S.-trained Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) has retaken the nearby al-Thaura and al-Saha districts, statements said.

CTS commander Major General Maan Saadi said his troops were linking up with Iraq\s Federal Police moving in on the Old City from a different position.

"We are completing the encirclement of the terrorists in the Old City," he told Reuters.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians are still trapped in western Mosul, where Iraqi forces are making slow progress against Islamic State in what is a labyrinth of narrow streets.

As of April 20, some 503,000 people have been displaced from Mosul, of which 91,000 have returned, a spokeswoman for the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said, citing government figures.

Mosul, Iraq\s second-largest city, is the militants\ last urban stronghold in the country.

SOURCE: REUTERS
Schenectady

Vebra Moore has little recollection of the night she was knocked unconscious in a holding cell by two Schenectady police officers.

Moore, who weighs 100 pounds and was handcuffed behind her back, was struck repeatedly with fists and knees. Blood from her split-open head pooled on the floor and streaked a wall where the officers shackled her limp body to a bench and walked away.

"I don't think I ever felt so helpless," Moore said.

Law enforcement officials said the officers, brothers Ryan and Matthew Thorne, acted appropriately and used justifiable force. They alleged Moore initiated the attack because she bit one of the officer's fingers and wouldn't let go. They charged her with felony assault, although a jury later cleared her of the charge.

At her trial last fall, Moore's attorney, James C. Knox, argued that his client could not recall biting the officer. But if she did, he said, it was an act of self defense against a brutal attack.

The incident is one of several recent cases involving allegations of excessive force by a department still haunted by a sweeping federal investigation more than a decade ago into widespread corruption. In 2013, the department was declared reformed after 10 years of federal monitoring that began in 2003 amid investigations by the FBI and U.S. Justice Department into allegations of systemic civil rights violations, excessive force and criminal conduct, including incidents that led to federal prosecutions of officers.

Interviews with people involved in violent encounters with Schenectady police, and a review of videos and court records, raise questions about whether the department began slipping back to its old ways in recent years.

Earlier this month, the city agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to settle a federal lawsuit with three family members who were beaten in January 2014 by multiple police officers in an allegedly unprovoked attack, according to court records. The victims, siblings Joseph and Dodie Toomer, and Dodie's son, Manuel Toomer, said they were kicked and punched by a group of officers during a raid of their house that was not based on a crime or authorized by a search warrant. The situation turned violent when Joseph Toomer, who was standing on his porch, asked an officer involved in an unrelated search in the neighborhood to stop shining a light in his face.

"Get your f---ing black ass over here because I am going to f--- you up," the officer allegedly said, according to the lawsuit.

According to video footage and details of the incident in the federal lawsuit, police officers violently forced their way into the family's home and allegedly knocked Joseph Toomer unconscious after he tried to use a camera to record what was happening. Toomer was dragged outside where officers kicked and punched him as he lay curled up on the ground, his attorney said. A police K9 dog bit Joseph Toomer repeatedly on his legs and buttocks, leaving bruises and lacerations. Manuel Toomer was also kicked and punched repeatedly, suffering a broken nose and disfiguring injuries to his face. He was Tasered three times after being dragged off the porch.

The Toomers' attorney, Elmer Robert Keach III, declined to comment on the lawsuit because of the pending settlement. But he acknowledged being troubled in general by what he discovered about the Schenectady Police Department's internal review process and, he said, its failure to turn over damning video evidence that he later obtained with a subpoena during the Toomers' criminal trial. He also said the department should require its officers to wear body cameras and strengthen its civilian review board.

"There's no supervision in that department. There's no meaningful internal affairs mechanism that I'm aware of and no effective civilian review panel," Keach said. "When you have these kinds of problems, you have no accountability."

In March, the Times Union reported that a Schenectady lieutenant was suspended last year for his role in an incident in which a woman's head was split open when she was picked up and slammed onto a station bench by two officers. She was then charged with a crime that portrayed her as the aggressor. The 39-year-old woman, Nicola A. Cottone, was handcuffed behind her back at the time. She filed a claim against the city after the Schenectady County district attorney's office asked a judge to dismiss Cottone's criminal charges "in the interest of justice."

Police Chief Eric Clifford, who was sworn in last September, said the swift action the department took in Cottone's case underscores his effort to streamline internal affairs investigations and hold officers accountable for misconduct more quickly.

"I don't want things to linger around for a couple years before people get disciplined," he said.

Clifford confirmed there was an internal investigation into the actions of officers on the night the Toomers were beaten. He said "some discipline" was meted out but declined to provide specifics except to acknowledge no officers were fired.

Clifford began his police career in Schenectady 14 years ago and said he considers himself a "disciplinarian" with little tolerance for misconduct. He acknowledged that his desire to hand out discipline in line with what was done in earlier misconduct cases leaves him feeling constrained. "I kind of still have to stay consistent," he said. "What I have control over is how thoroughly I mete it out."

On Friday, when it was brought to his attention by the Times Union, Clifford said he was troubled by a page on LinkedIn, a social networking site for professionals, that's attributed to Ryan Thorne in which his occupation is listed as a "garbage man" whose job for the city of Schenectady is to "remove garbage from home." The page says Thorne has worked for the city since July 2010, which was the month Ryan Thorne was sworn in as a police officer.

"I have no idea what he is implying," the chief said. "Clearly if it is what it appears, I have a problem with it."

Ryan Thorne declined comment and referred questions to the department's public information officer.

The ordeal for Moore began on a Saturday night in October 2015 when she was at a Schenectady bar where a stabbing took place outside. Police began clearing the area but Moore lingered near the crime scene because, she said, she lost her car keys in the bar and had no way to get home. Police say that, after Moore directed offensive language at officers, she was handcuffed and charged with disorderly conduct, obstruction and resisting arrest.

Moore said her knee buckled as officers tackled her to the ground. She says a ligament in her right knee was then torn completely when an officer punched her lower leg as she struggled to get into the back of a police car while handcuffed.

Surveillance video at the station shows the Thorne brothers leading Moore out of a police car and into a hallway that  under departmental policy  is not normally used to escort someone under arrest. Moore acknowledges screaming for help and yelling at the officer that she believed had punched her leg.

Inside the station, video cameras recorded Moore barely able to stand as the officers at times dragged her by the handcuffs  stretching her arms upward behind her so hard that her wrists were as high as the back of her head. Moore said she had trouble standing and walking because of her knee injury.

Professor Gregory G. Gilbertson, a former police officer and SWAT team member who is considered an expert on police policies, including use of force, said Moore was subjected to what's called a "pain-compliance hold" that should have been used only briefly to get to her to walk forward. It's not supposed to be used to carry someone for a distance, he said, and not when other officers are nearby who could help move the person.

"It's very, very painful," he said. "You're supposed to stop doing it ... it's used to get somebody to walk."

Gilbertson, who teaches at Centralia College in Washington state, reviewed video footage from police cameras of Moore's case and said what he saw was very troubling.

"The blood spatter on the wall is shocking," Gilbertson said. "These two police officers are clearly striking a handcuffed woman, which is prima facie evidence of criminal assault and excessive force. Clearly, this young woman was terribly abused by these officers."

Richard J. Brzeczek, a former Chicago police chief and attorney who testifies regularly in trials regarding police training and policies, also reviewed the police station video at the request of the Times Union. He said it's unsettling that Moore was left alone -after she was knocked unconscious and still bleeding from a head wound.

"You don't do that. If somebody has an open wound you take them to the hospital, it's that simple," Brzeczek said. "If she was left unconscious I think that's outrageous."

Moore said she's uncertain how long she remained in the cell before she was eventually transported to Ellis Hospital. But she said the hospital did not close her head wounds. When she was taken to Schenectady County jail from the hospital, she said, they documented her head wounds and made her sign a form confirming the injuries happened before she arrived. Then a nurse used glue to close the wounds, she said.

"I suffer headaches," Moore said, adding they began after the incident. "I get them every day and sometimes it will be so unbearable it's like I'm being stabbed in my head. ... I just had knee surgery to repair my torn ACL."

Multiple people who watched the video at the request of the Times Union said they could not see Moore biting the officer, although records indicate he was treated for a minor bite wound on his index finger. At one point in the video, after Moore was knocked unconscious, it appears that Matthew Thorne, who was wearing black leather gloves, looks briefly at his left hand.

Schenectady County Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Hughes, who prosecuted Moore's case last fall, said she believes the officers used the appropriate level of force.

"I truly believe when you watch that video, if you watch it frame-by-frame ... that she was biting down hard on his finger like a vise and would not let go," Hughes said. "They did the best they could to get her to release; they certainly didn't intend to harm her."

The jury deliberated for several days and convicted Moore on the minor charges that led to her arrest, including disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. They acquitted her of the felony assault charge that could have sent her to state prison.

blyons@timesunion.com  518-454-5547  @brendan_lyonstu
5 pilgrims die, 30 injured in Mustang bus accident

Five pilgrims died and 30 others were injured in a bus accident near Kagbeni at Bahragaun Muktikshetra Village Council-4 in Mustang district on Saturday.
COBLESKILL  A SUNY Cobleskill student was killed and several other students injured in a crash on I-88 early Saturday morning, according to the college.

An announcement on the school's website said Douglas Alvarez, a first-year business administration student died as a results of the crash injuries.
Washington

The world saw brain power take a different form Saturday.

From the Washington Monument to Germany's Brandenburg Gate and even to Greenland, scientists, students and research advocates rallied on an often soggy Earth Day, conveying a global message about scientific freedom without political interference, the need for adequate spending for future breakthroughs and just the general value of scientific pursuits.

They came in numbers that were mammoth if not quite astronomical.

"We didn't choose to be in this battle, but it has come to the point where we have to fight because the stakes are too great," said Pennsylvania State University climate scientist Michael Mann, who regularly clashes with politicians.

President Donald Trump, in an Earth Day statement hours after the marches kicked off, said that "rigorous science depends not on ideology, but on a spirit of honest inquiry and robust debate."

Denis Hayes, who co-organized the first Earth Day 47 years ago, said the crowd he saw from the speaker's platform down the street from the White House was energized and "magical" in a rare way, similar to what he saw in the first Earth Day.

"For this kind of weather, this is an amazing crowd. You're not out there today unless you really care. This is not a walk in the park event," Hayes said of the event in the park.

Mann said that like other scientists, he would rather be in his lab, the field or teaching students. But driving his advocacy are officials who deny his research that shows rising global temperatures.

In Los Angeles, Danny Leserman, the 26-year-old director of digital media for the county's Democratic party, said "We used to look up to intelligence and aspire to learn more and do more with that intellectual curiosity. And we've gone from there to a society where ... our officials and representatives belittle science and they belittle intelligence. And we really need a culture change."
You won't see a face like Kaysie's in public service announcements about hepatitis C.

She's not a baby boomer, the high-risk group that TV and magazine ads urge to get tested for the potentially life-threatening liver disease. She's a 34-year-old single mother from Cohoes who works two jobs and takes care of an 8-month-old baby.

But while her smooth skin and long, light-brown hair may not fit the image of a "typical" hepatitis C patient, it should. She's one of a new and growing group, young adults age 20-40, whose rates of hep C have outpaced those of people in their mid-50s to early 70s. And while among baby boomers statewide hepatitis C rates are twice as high for men as for women, the gender gap is much narrower for adults in Kaysie's age group.

More young adults infected, more women infected. And there's also an increase in hepatitis C in suburban and rural areas, according to the state Health Department.

If it sounds familiar, it's because hepatitis C rates are rising among the same groups that have seen spikes in drug overdoses during the last decade, amid an epidemic of heroin and opioid abuse. Like many others, including a whole bunch of boomers with hep C, Kaysie contracted the illness by sharing a needle to inject drugs.

Due to their sheer numbers, there are still more boomers with hepatitis C than young adults. But the higher rates of illness among the younger group is creating a second wave of contagion three years after the state took aim at infection among baby boomers by requiring doctors to ask anyone born between 1945 and 1965 if they wanted a test to check for the virus.

Statewide, excluding New York City, cases of hepatitis C rose to 16,169 in 2014, from 13,424 the year before, after eight years of declines. (The Health Department attributes some of the increase to finding more people through mandated screening.) New York City used to be the epicenter of hepatitis C cases, but more than half of newly reported chronic cases in 2014 were elsewhere in the state. National data show deaths related to hepatitis C are on the rise, too, reaching an all-time high of nearly 20,000 in 2014.

More than 100 treatment and advocacy groups, including VOCAL-NY, the Alliance for Positive Health and Catholic Charities Care Coordination Services, presented the state with a consensus statement in February, urging officials to take on the illness in the way it has approached AIDS with the "End the Epidemic" campaign that aims to bring the number of new cases of HIV to 750 per year by 2020.

"We have a test. We just need to ensure everyone takes it. We have a cure. Everyone should be given it. We know how to stop new infections, driven mostly from injecting drug use," said Jeremy Saunders, co-director of VOCAL-NY. "We have all the tools to end hepatitis C, we just need the resources and political will to do it."

At a state conference that month, New York health officials committed to make the illness rare.

There are reasons to believe that aim can be achieved: In recent years, new, easy treatments are curing more than 90 percent of patients, a far cry from the best options of the past, which were only effective for about half of patients, had to be given by injection and came with dreadful side effects. And New York health officials have established a solid track record in how to reduce infection among the highest-risk patients  injection drug users  in the battle against HIV and AIDS.

But there are also big challenges: Perhaps half of the estimated 200,000 infected New Yorkers don't know they have hep C and those that do don't always seek treatment due to complicated lives or lack of confidence in the cures. The virus lives longer outside the body than HIV, so its spread is tougher to curb. The medications are costly  ranging from about $56,000-$90,000 for a full treatment, according to health providers. And the drugs only work if you take them correctly, something that can be an issue for patients struggling with drug addiction or in the early stages of recovery.

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that can cause chronic infection of the liver and, in the worst cases, liver failure.

It spreads from one person to another through blood, putting IV drug users who share needles or other supplies in the highest risk group for contracting the virus. Men who have sex with men are another high-risk group, but not close to injection drug users. Anyone who received a blood transfusion before 1992, when hep C tests became available, is also at risk.

But any blood-to-blood transmission will do, and up to 40 percent of patients have no obvious risk factors, said Dr. Chris Murphy of Ellis Family Health Center in Schenectady. John Thompson, a 62-year-old from Cobleskill, believes he got the virus from sharing straws to snort cocaine years ago. A 64-year-old retired nurse who lived in Albany until recently, and asked that her name be withheld, isn't sure whether she got it from a needle-stick injury or from a man she was married to decades before either of them had a diagnosis.

The virus starts out in an acute stage, and 20 to 25 percent of patients clear it on their own, local experts said. When the body's own immune system does not get rid of acute hep C, the illness becomes chronic, often progressing at a snail's pace. Patients may live without symptoms for years, or the symptoms may develop so slowly that people don't realize that their feeling worn out or confused is the result of a creeping infection, said Dr. Peter Ells of Albany Medical Center.

"You kind of get used to the fatigue, it's just part of life," said Ells' patient, David Steele, 67, of Malta.

A hemophiliac, Steele contracted the infection from blood he received before 1992. But over time, it wreaked havoc on his liver, causing cirrhosis and then cancer. He is now on a list awaiting a liver transplant.

Until recently, the standard treatment for hepatitis C, interferon, was both difficult to endure and often ineffective. Side effects included flu-like symptoms  fever, chills, aches, poor appetite. And after all that, interferon worked for only about half the people who took it.

So lots of patients like Steele just watched the damage accumulate over time.

But the outlook for patients changed radically in 2013 and 2014, when two new drugs, Sovaldi and Harvoni, hit the market. They were pills with manageable side effects that cured more than 90 percent of the people who took them. Patients and advocates initially cheered their arrival, but then revolted when Medicaid and private insurers would not cover the drugs' price  $100,000 for a complete treatment  until patients were in advanced stages of liver disease.

Last year, with a big push from advocates and the state attorney general's office, Medicaid and private insurers changed those rules. Now, most patients get coverage if doctors recommend them for treatment, local experts said.

As of June, more than 16,000 New Yorkers on Medicaid had received the treatments, about 28 percent of the Medicaid enrollees with a hepatitis C diagnosis. It's unclear what that cost state taxpayers. The drugs' cost on average $88,000 per patient, but the state also receives rebates that are proprietary and undisclosed.

One common reason formerly given for denying coverage was that a hepatitis C patient had only recently stopped using drugs or was still using them. Randy Viele of the Alliance for Positive Health in Albany, which provides supportive services to people with chronic illness, said some doctors still won't recommend medication for active drug users. They reason that the medicine is pricey and those patients are at risk for reinfection, Viele said. Some are also concerned that the new drugs won't work as well if a patient needs a second treatment. So with the disease's slow progression, they sometimes choose to postpone treatment.

Dr. Murphy does not think active drug use should automatically disqualify a hepatitis C patient for treatment. Some IV drug users can comply with taking a pill every day and know not to share needles or other paraphernalia. What's tougher to assess is whether someone will maintain insurance coverage for three months of treatment. Or whether a patient has bigger concerns than early-stage hepatitis C, like homelessness, he said.

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Samara Gabree, the clinical director of Project Safe Point, an Albany-based syringe exchange program, argued that treating active drug users can curb the spread of illness. She cited one study that showed curing one in 100 drug users of hepatitis C reduced the transmission of the virus in the community by 30 percent.

Her program is working to educate young drug users, especially, that hepatitis C is different from HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The 20-to-40-year-olds who are getting sick have heard the HIV-prevention messages and know they shouldn't share needles, Gabree said. But the hepatitis C virus can live on any part of what's called "the works" used to prep drugs for injection  cookers, cotton pads, bands to tie around the arm. So those can't be shared either.

Experts throughout the region said it can be difficult to convince people to get tested, and then to urge them to seek treatment. Complicated lives are one reason. Whitney Young Health runs a program through a $250,000-a-year state grant that seeks to help people in its addiction treatment program and throughout the community to stay on their hep C medication and also stabilize the rest of their lives, with life skills and nutrition training.

Another obstacle, experts said, is mistrust, based on past experience: Infected people don't believe that the medicines are easy to take, won't cause toxic side effects and will actually work.

Angel Marquez, a 58-year-old Schenectady resident, has had a long journey with both drug addiction and hepatitis C infection. A native of Puerto Rico, he was first offered interferon treatment in Albany in 1994, but was actively using heroin and didn't comply. He later got interferon injections while in prison, but left without knowing whether they were effective. Eight years ago, Marquez again tested positive for hep C at an addiction treatment program, but didn't stay there.

Meanwhile, the hepatitis C tired him out and an inflamed liver caused severe abdominal pain. He dulled the pain, and everything else, with heroin.

In 2015, he got clean with help from the Camino Nuevo addiction treatment center in Albany. A year later, after attending a hep C conference with staff and other clients, he felt motivated to try treatment. Medicaid denied him coverage, and his doctors helped him appeal. Eventually, he took Harvoni and was cured.

Proud of being free of both heroin and hepatitis C, Marquez walked into group therapy one day and announced, "Estoy curado!" ("I'm cured.") Fellow clients knew he was off drugs, but did not believe the hep C treatment worked. Camino Nuevo Director Micky Jimenez said they questioned him: You're completely cured? Insurance paid? It didn't make you sick? Three of them got into treatment afterward, she said.

Younger adults may not face those same psychological blocks. They don't have experience with the old medication.

Carrie, a 39-year-old Glens Falls resident who recently finished Harvoni treatments, was indignant, much like Kaysie, when she was initially denied coverage for Harvoni. Diagnosed with hepatitis C 14 years ago, she wasn't sick but worried that she would become ill and could in the meantime spread the illness.

She recently got through a full treatment and is cured.

"It's a miracle, a godsend," said Carrie of being cured after more than a decade of knowing she carried a potentially lethal illness. "It's so hard to come to terms with knowing you have a chronic disease, and then one day it's mentioned that you'll be cured. It brought tears to my eyes."

chughes@timesunion.com  518-454-5417  @hughesclaire
What you need to know about Powerball's $1.6 billion lottery jackpot
A social syndrome

I am not a mother and I do not write this article from personal experience; however, the way a womans lives and choices are shaped by their work-life balance after childbirth makes me uncomfortable.
By Trend





By Kamila Aliyeva

Energy-rich Turkmenistan intends to export electricity to the Caucasus countries through the Iranian territory, Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported.

To increase electricity export volumes, the Central Asian country plans to construct high-voltage transmission lines Mary-Sarakhs-Mashhad (Iran) and Balkanabat-Gonbad (Iran).

The commissioning of these lines will enable to increase the export of electricity to Iran, as well as to transmit it through the Iranian energy system to Turkey and other countries of the Caucasus region, according to the article.

There are also plans to build a power line along the route of the transnational Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, also known as Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline, which has been building since December 2015.

In future, supplies to Tajikistan and Pakistan and expansion of exports to Afghanistan are envisaged.

The electricity production in Turkmenistan by 2020 will amount to more than 26 billion kwh, while its export will reach almost 6.1 billion kwh, and investments in the development of the industry will exceed $5 billion, the article says.

Currently, the power system of Turkmenistan includes 13 power plants with a total installed capacity of 5,432 megawatts, on which 14 steam turbine and 32 gas turbine units operate, as well as 3 hydroturbines at the Hindukush hydroelectric power station.

All thermal power plants operate on natural gas from the nearest gas fields of the country, and fuel oil and diesel fuel of oil refineries are used as reserve fuels.

By the end of 2016, Turkmenistan produced more than 24 billion kwh of electricity, which is 5 percent higher than in 2015.

Turkmenistan is investing into electric power industry as this may allow the country to increase its export potential. This is also a part of the countrys general policy of diversifying its energy export routes in the region.

The concept of development of power industry of Turkmenistan for 2013-2020 envisages the construction of 14 gas turbine power plants, power transmission systems, and distribution stations.

Currently, Turkmenistan supplies electricity to Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan that has been buying it at a reduced price for the past twenty years.
Arun displaced urge government for relief

At least 10 families have been displaced after the debris from a landslide deposited by a tributary dammed Arun River at Syaksila Gola in Sankhuwasabha district on Thursday.
Record Store Day is a beautiful thing. It gives music lovers fresh new tunes and exciting reissues to collect, it brings attention to the beloved local record store, and most importantly, it brings people together. Such is the case of The Smiths who, despite millions of dollars being thrown at them to reunite, came together to denounce Donald Trump by way of their Record Store Day release.

For this years Record Store Day, the legendary Manchester group decided to reissue their seminal 1985 single The Boy With The Thorn In His Side, featuring a demo of both the title track, and its original b-side, Rubber Ring. Back in 1985 when the single was released, the runout groove of the vinyl featured some some etchings, which were quite typical of the group. The 1985 editions featured the words Arty bloody farty, and Is that clever.. JM, but this time, the 2017 edition features the ominous warning Trump will kill America. Take a look for yourself below.

The artwork and etchings for this release were presumably handled by frontman Morrissey. After all, he is known as the more vocal member of the group, plus the records artwork is credited to Esteban, which is the Spanish equivalent of Steven, Morrisseys first name.

Undoubtedly, a limited release like this that features such a highly political message will go down as one of the more famous Record Store Day releases, so if youre keen on grabbing a piece of musical history, youd best make your way to eBay pretty soon.
Bishop James V. Johnston: "As a member of the board of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), but more importantly as your shepherd and as a proud Brother Knight, I have personally sent letters to each Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from our diocese  Reps. Vicki Hartzler (4th Dist.), Emanuel Cleaver (5th Dist.) and Sam Graves (6th Dist.). In addition to thanking each for his or her own vital service to families within our local communities, especially to our most vulnerable, I asked all of them to also join me and Carl Anderson in supporting the passage of H.R. 390 - Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act of 2017".





"In a show of solidarity with fellow Catholics in our diocese, with the Knights of Columbus who work so tirelessly on behalf of all of us to defend the life and dignity of the most vulnerable, and most importantly with those suffering violence and persecution in the Middle East, I humbly and prayerfully ask you to do the same."

This week the Bishop urged Catholics to join the fight againstthat has been overlook by mainstream media and most American human rights activists.Here's the recent call to action that seems to follow increased outcry against. . .The most important passage citing Catholic advocacy . . .The Bishop encourages the faith faithful and all of those who would support this plight to visit the Human Rights Office website atDeveloping . . .
THE LATEST LOCAL MURDER PUSHES THE KCMO HOMICIDE COUNT TO ANOTHER 20% INCREASE OVER THIS TIME LAST YEAR!!!









It's only April and already the level of Kansas City killing is breaking news ground.Accordingly . . .Remember that last year was also exceptionally violent.So far, Citizens Task Force recommendations show no signs of stopping the slaughter. Here's the link rounndup:Anyone with information is asked to call the police or theThe newspaper is downplaying so much local murder and over the weekend, KCMO.Gov homicide stats site has crashed butdemonstrates the violence focused in urban core Kansas City and spreading throughout the metro.Developing . . .
When a number of moderate Republicans joined the Kansas Legislature after the 2016 election, many were talking about a possible coalition with the Democrats. As the 2017 legislative session starts to near its end, we explore whether that coalition ever became a reality.
Greeces contribution to western civilization is the introduction of dialog as a foundation of democracy, Culture Minister Lydia Koniordou said on Sunday evening, opening a two-day academic conference in Athens with Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Amanatidis.

The conference, which includes academics from Greece, China, Egypt, Bolivia, India, Italy, Iran, Iraq, Mexico and Peru, is part of the Ancient Civilizations Forum which will kick off on Monday, with the participation of the foreign ministers of the ten aforementioned countries.

A great contribution of Greeks to the western civilizations is the introduction of dialog as a foundation of democracy, as the core of its institutions, she told the conference.

The borders on the map may have changed, the distribution of power, the name of the powerful, but cultures have always remained stable as an endless pool of knowledge and memory. Through these cultures we can be inspired to respond to the problems of our time, fanaticism and intolerance; the crisis and the impasses, she said.

The two-day conference is focusing on the role of culture in the modern era and the opening event is titled The timeless significance and resonance of Ancient Civilizations, their influence and their relationship with modern times. On Monday, discussions will focus on the role of culture as a tool for soft and smart power and as a factor of economic growth.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
The importance of cooperation between Greece and China as two of the oldest civilizations and the opportunities opening for deeper relations were discussed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a meeting in Maximos Mansion on Sunday.

Wang is in Athens to participate in Mondays Ancient Civilizations Forum, organized by the foreign ministry.

We have the pleasure of establishing this forum of great ancient civilizations, an idea of the two foreign ministers [Greek and Chinese], as Greece and China have marked the worlds cultural heritage with their ancient civilizations, Tsipras said, noting the forum will allow the 10 participating countries to form a meaningful cooperation that could produce initiatives for the future.

We are at a stage of very meaningful cooperation. Greece is located at a particular corner of the globe, with particular commercial and geostrategic interest and China is a very important partner for us, he said.

On his side, Wang Yi said Tsipras visit to China last year left a great impression and was very successful, noting that China appreciates and supports the Ancient Civilizations Forum initiative which he believes will attract the interest of the international community. He also said the opening of the forum coincides with a period of uncertainty and instability and dialog between pioneering ancient civilizations will be of particular importance, especially in addressing the various problems facing the world today.

Greece, historically, is a very ancient and rich civilization and has contributed significantly in humanitys progress and the forum held tomorrow will play a significant role in the international platform, on the backdrop of the 21st century, Wang said.

He told Tsipras that the Chinese president is inviting him to Beijing to participate in the Silk Road Belt forum, which will be held next month. We believe that your participation in this forum and the close cooperation of the two sides in preparing this event will further intensify our bilateral relations and promote more results for the Silk Road initiative, he said.

Tsipras will meet at 20:00 with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and on Monday afternoon with the foreign Minister of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry. The foreign dignitaries are in Athens to participate in Mondays Forum.

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
DPM Nidhi takes part in Cabinet meet after Deuba's direction

Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, who skipped previous Cabinet meetings over seniority row, attended the meeting on Sunday.
In 2010 there were 1,694,684 taxpayers with revenues from real estate amounting to 8.87 billion euros

Greeces real estate market has been dealt a double blow in recent years: From 2010 to 2015 incomes from properties declined by 2.8 billion euros, while taxes have reached an annual average level of 3.18 billion.

In 2010 there were 1,694,684 taxpayers with revenues from real estate amounting to 8.87 billion euros. Five years later they numbered 1,496,301, i.e. almost 200,000 fewer, and the revenues declared came to just 6.05 billion.

The constant contraction of revenues from properties explains the large stock of apartments in the market and the reduction in property prices, whether these concern sales or rentals.

Overtaxation, however, has been the biggest factor in the demolition of one of the most robust pillars of the Greek economy in the past. Properties, which were a sound investment in the 2000-2008 period, are now a burden to owners who have to pay huge taxes every year just for having them in their possession. From 2010 to 2015, property taxation skyrocketed 613 percent.

This situation is expected deteriorate further this year. The tax rate for revenues from properties up to 12,000 euros per year has increased from 11 to 15 percent, meaning a tax hike of 36.36 percent. Therefore, a taxpayer with rental revenues of 10,000 per year paid 1,100 euros in tax up to last year and will now pay 1,500 euros.

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
Bahrain-based Bin Faqeeh Real Estate Investment Company, a major group focusing on real-estate-related investments, has joined The Luxury Network (TLN), a private membership club, in Qatar.



TLN network has been established in luxury capitals or countries around the world, within which premium companies work closely together at senior director level for mutual business and client development.



The members of TLN receive a comprehensive program of new pre-planned professional business development activities and events to maximize their relationships with other luxury brands.



Bin Faqeeh has experienced significant growth since it was established in February 2008. Last April 15, 2017, Bin Faqeeh Company officially joined the next generation of marketing for luxury brands, The Luxury Network, as a prestigious member.



The Bin Faqeeh Company is located at the Business Bay Tower in Manama, Bahrain, and at the Tornado Tower, West Bay, Doha, Qatar.



TLN will contribute as an upgrade to their business and marketing team and they will connect Bin Faqeeh to its HNW contacts to gain more prospects, said the company in a statement.



Faisal Faqeeh, the chairman of Bin Faqeeh Real Estate Investment Company, said: "We are pleased to partner with the Luxury Network, the worlds leading luxury affinity marketing group. This international body provides us with a great opportunity to be closer to investors and potential clients coming from across the region."



"We are targeting those high net worth private clients by marketing some of our luxury real estate projects showcasing their unique designs, features, strategic location and the facilities they offer which make them a perfect destination and investment opportunity," stated Faqeeh.



One of Bin Faqeeh's goal is to set the benchmark for generating innovative investment opportunities to the parties that trust them such as their shareholders, employees, and the communities they serve without falter, he added.



Their main objective is the preservation of capital with above market risk adjusted returns and with an investment philosophy to create value in quality properties that will maintain superior residual values over many years and to provide a foundation for mutually beneficial relationships with their lenders and strategic business partners.



TLN Global CEO Fares Ghattas said that as a supporter of investment in the growing real estate industry, the network graciously welcomes Bin Faqeeh Real Estate Investment Company as a key member.



According to him, real estate has always been recognized as one of the most sustainable assets worldwide.

"Therefore, this will always be an interest to us and our associates. The Bin Faqeeh Company is welcome to attend some of the events we are holding, globally, and TLN looks forward to having a very prosperous partnership with their firm," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Oman Wanfang, a Chinese-owned company behind the development of the China-Oman Industrial Park in Duqm, plans to line up further investors having recently received commitments of $3 billion for projects in the park.



The company is eager to leverage Omans geographical proximity to markets in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, said a report.



Last week Oman Wanfang  which has a deal with the Duqm SEZ Authority (Sezad) to develop and manage a sprawling 1,172-hectare site at the zone  inked sub-usufruct agreements with 10 Chinese firms that have together pledged $3.062 billion in industrial, petrochemical, utility-based, manufacturing, hospitality, fabrication and other investments, added the Oman Daily Observer report.



This represents the first phase of investor commitments, said Ali Shah, CEO of Oman Wanfang.



He added that the company hopes to have more such signings on a continual basis, although it may not do it on the scale. Going forward, the company aims to have agreement signings with individual investors.



Speaking to the Observer, Shah said last weeks agreement signings will signal the start of work on the infrastructure development of the industrial park.



He said: These 10 projects, which include a number of mega ventures, will require basic infrastructure before they can get started with their construction.



Once the infrastructure is in place, they will come here directly to start work on their individual projects. In the meanwhile, they will undertake the pre-construction planning, design and other groundwork. They will also work on registering their companies in Oman, he added.



Meawhile, Chinas Mingyuan Holdings Group Co Ltd that has made a proposal to set up a $2.3-billion-greenfield methanol project at the park, said the project completely depended on the sultanates commitment to supply natural gas as feedstock.



The Chinese petrochemical giant plans to produce 10 million tonnes of methanol, added the Times of Oman report.



Shupeng Ma, deputy general manager and senior economist of Mingyuan Holdings Group Co, said: The natural gas is not finalised and the plan is still not concrete as such. Now, we are waiting for the government to give us a direction.



Moreover, Mingyuan Holdings Group has to conduct an in-depth feasibility study to find the market demand, which is expected to take more than six months, added the report.
Two Chinese power companies are set to study the environmental impact of a proposed coal-fired power project in Omans Duqm free zone in a bid to obtain environment clearance from the Sultanate, a report said.



State-owned Hebei Electric Power Design and Research and Ningxia Electric Power Design Institute are subsidiaries of the Power Construction Corporation of China, added the Times of Oman report.



After getting the clearances, the company plans to start work on the power project within six months, Lee Chee Khian, chief executive officer of Special Economic Zone Authority, Duqm, told the newspaper.



The power firms last week signed a land lease agreement with Oman Wanfang, which is managing 1,172 hectares of land for developing a major China-Oman industrial zone in Duqm.



The capital expenditure of the 300-MW project, which will have two power trains each with 150 megawatt capacity, is estimated at $406 million, added Khian.



He said that the power would be supplied to the industries coming up within the China Oman Industrial Zone in Duqm.



Khian said that the finance for the project will be arranged by Hebei Electric Power Design and Research and Ningxia Electric Power Design Institute  which are specialised in design and construction of power plants.
The Malaysian Minister of Tourism and Culture Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz will be leading a delegation of 142 Malaysian sellers from 71 organizations to participate in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), scheduled from April 24 to 27, 2017 in Dubai.



The Malaysian delegation will comprise a concoction of different hotels, resorts, travel agents, tourism product owners, and Malaysian states tourism offices representatives. During the four-day event, they will be highlighting their respective tourism products and services that are tailored carefully to cater for the Middle Eastern market.



Malaysias tourism industry has recovered fast in 2016 from the decline in number of arrivals in the previous year, as the number of tourist arrivals to Malaysia in 2016 increased by 4.0 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2015. Malaysia received 26.8 million tourists in 2016 as opposed to 25.7 million tourists in 2015, and the target for the year 2017 is 31.8 million arrivals, and hopes to increase until it reaches the set goal of 36 million tourist arrivals for the year 2020, generating MYR168 billion ($38.1 billion).



Aziz will officially launch the Malaysia Pavilion on April 24 at the ATM, followed by the launching of an online travel portal titled Salam Standard Premium incepted by the Malaysian Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC), he will then have meetings and interviews with members of the media at a press conference scheduled after the official launching.



The Malaysian participation in (ATM) aligns with Tourism Malaysias tremendous efforts to boost arrivals from this market by highlighting the countrys latest attractions, shopping destinations, family fun, eco adventure and tourism, honeymooners products, and luxury holidays.



It is noteworthy that Dnata government & corporate travel; one of the biggest travel services provider corporations in the UAE that has strong global presence in 84 countries have intentions to bolster the status of tourism in Malaysia through increasing awareness of the beauty of the country and its variety of world-class tourism attractions.



Dnata government and corporate travel will have a pro-active attitude towards promoting tourism in Malaysia and to collaborate with Tourism Malaysia towards enticing more tourists from the region to visit Malaysia.

Dnata government and corporate travel stated that Malaysia is considered a unique and must-visit destination as it possesses an amazing blend of nature, culture, and most importantly people, where the various beaches, landscapes, mountains amongst many other tourist attractions testifies to the countrys potential, making it a sought-after destination for tourists from different spectrums, whether for eco-tourism, adventures, diving, or sight-seeing.



Dnata government and corporate travel is world-renowned for their works, where they consider Malaysia a great destination for a tailored dream holiday package, showcasing the strengths of the Malaysian tourism infrastructure that appeals to individual and group leisure travelers alike.



The ATM 2017 marks the 24th anniversary of Malaysias participation in this prestigious event, which testifies to the countrys constant interest and intrigue in the West Asian market and its commitment to attract more tourists from this region.



The Malaysian Pavilion is located in Hall 3, booth no. AS2220, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. - TradeArabia News Service


U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS OFFERING TRAVELERS $400 AND FOURTH NIGHT FREE WITH CENTENNIAL PLUS

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (April 23, 2017) - The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism has launched "Centennial PLUS", an enhanced summer and fall travel promotion to coincide with the destination's 100th anniversary as a U.S. territory.

The new, expanded package, which can be booked through participating tour operators, offers $400 in VI Spending Credits as well as the fourth night free for a minimum four-night stay. The credits can be easily redeemed across the Territory at restaurants, retail stores, attractions and activities.

"Centennial PLUS", which builds on the success of the popular $300 consumer incentive, must be booked through participating tour operator partners through June 1, 2017 for travel between June 1 and October 31, 2017.

"Given the success of our Centennial promotion, we wanted to sweeten our offer so travelers can get an authentic taste of our islands during this historic year in our Territory," Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty noted, explaining that the package also provides an added incentive for visitors to travel during the traditionally slower seasons.

The promotion, which began as a small consumer-based initiative and then expanded to tour operators, has generated strong international coverage for the destination, which commemorated its Centennial on March 31.

The Territory-wide commemoration features events and activities, ranging from parades, concerts and lectures to cultural exhibits and food festivals throughout 2017.

To receive the $400 in spending credits and the fourth night free, a minimum four-night stay at participating hotels is required.

Participating tour operators include American Airlines Vacations, Apple Vacations, CheapCaribbean.com, Costco Travel, Delta Vacations (MLT), Expedia Inc., Flight Center Travel Group (Libgo), JetBlue Vacations, Pleasant Holidays, Travel Impressions and Tourico Holidays.

St. Croix hotel partners include Arawak Bay: The Inn at Salt River, Caravelle Hotel & Casino, Club Comanche Hotel St. Croix, Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino, Holger Danske Hotel, Hotel on the Cay, Mount Victory Camp, Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort & Spa, The Buccaneer Hotel, The Palms at Pelican Cove, Sand Castle on the Beach and Sugar Beach Condo Resort.

On St. John, participating hotels include Coconut Coast Villas, Concordia Eco-Resort, Gallows Point Resort, The Westin St. John Resort Villas, and Vacation VI/SirenUSA.

Participating hotels on St. Thomas include Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Emerald Beach Resort, Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, Galleon House, Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, Windward Passage Hotel and Virgin Islands Campgrounds.


Search News Archive : Fast Travel News Promotion Via Search, Social Media + Email Follow Us On : HMH  HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT HOLDING GEARS UP FOR A STRONG PRESENCE AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2017 Industry: Travel PR

Mr Ferghal Purcell, COO of HMH, said, We have a number of strategic announcements lined up for ATM this year that is the MENA region's largest B2B travel and tourism show.



(TRAVPR.COM) UAE - April 23rd, 2017 - HMH - Hospitality Management Holding is all set for a strong presence at Arabian Travel Market 2017 (ATM).



Mr Ferghal Purcell, COO of HMH, said, We have a number of strategic announcements lined up for ATM this year that is the MENA region's largest B2B travel and tourism show. It gives us the perfect opportunity to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business with the global travel trade. Twenty-three years in the running, ATM 2017 promises to be bigger and better bringing together travel professionals from 86 countries and regions to Dubai, and we are proud to be part of it again - for the 14th year in a row.



Experiential Travel, encompassing the adventure, culture, heritage, wellness & spa and cruise tourism segments, which is currently trending globally, has been adopted as the official show theme of ATM. Mr Purcell, said, HMH is well placed to offer its guests unique experiences. At HMH we understand the needs of our various travelers and their category requirements, and thereby provide them with international standards combined with local flavor across different market segments.



Elaborating on the location of HMH stand Mr Purcell stated, This year we have got an outstanding stand location is in the center of the aisle with an equally stunning design that is being customized to meet the unique needs of our various hotels namely - The Ajman Palace Hotel, Coral Beach Resort Sharjah, Coral Dubai Deira Hotel, Coral Beirut Al Hamra Hotel, Coral Muscat Hotel & Apartments, Corp Amman Hotel, Coral Al Ahsa Hotel, Coral Jubail Hotel, Coral Khartoum Hotel, Coral Port Sudan Hotel and EWA Khartoum Hotel & Apartments. We want our stand to be an experiential destination for our business partners and associates where they can get a true feel of our brands as well as our fabulous portfolio of existing and upcoming hotels.



Visit HMH stand HC0530 during the Arabian Travel Market from 24-27 April, 2017, in Sheikh Saeed Arena at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.



About HMH

Founded in 2003 in Dubai, HMH  Hospitality Management Holdings is a fully integrated hotel management company that prides itself for being one of the pioneers among local groups that are specialized in the dry segment. Being the largest operator in the sector within the region, HMH provides hotel owners and developers a broad spectrum of world-class management solutions with five distinct, yet complementary, hotel brands catering to varied market segments from luxury to budget. These include The Ajman Palace Hotel, Coral Hotels & Resorts, Corp Hotels, EWA Hotel Apartments and ECOS Hotels.



HMHs strategic expansion in the Middle East and North Africa has been successful in unlocking a world of opportunities while creating value for its stakeholders, associates, staff members and customers. The existing portfolio is located in some of the most desirable destinations across the MENA region, with a pipeline of hotels under development to grow HMHs regional footprint even further.



For more information about HMH please visit http://www.hmhhotelgroup.com

or https://www.hmhhotelgroup.com/subscribenow



For media contact:

Hina Bakht

Vice President

MPJ (Marketing Pro-Junction)

Mob: +971 50 697 5146

Email: h.bakht@mpj-pr.com

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Post-quake Reconstruction: Donors commit to extend 75pc of funds

Nepal may not receive all the funds pledged two years ago by donor agencies for post-earthquake reconstruction, as only 12 development partners have entered into agreements with the government till date to release 75 percent of the pledged amount.
Foreigner held for using drone camera

A Greek national, who was arrested in Manang district for operating a drone camera, was released after he paid Rs 5,000 fine.
Ginger farmers switch to sutho to offset price drop

With the monsoon season coming soon, ginger farmers of Nawalparasi are in rush to prepare sutho (dried ginger).
Jagdeep S. Chhokar

IT is not often that a newspaper writes both editorials on the same issue. The Tribune did that on April 11. (Low turnout in Srinagar, and Vote buying). Why would this happen?

Take a look at the following headlines: "Eight killed in Kashmir bypoll violence, Srinagar registers poor voter turnout of 7.14 per cent"; "EC cancels RK Nagar bypoll, cites voter bribery, corruption"; "After 7 per cent and 8 deaths, Anantnag bypoll is deferred". All these headlines pertain to elections and have appeared in major English dailies over the last couple of days.

There are more headlines in the same mode: "Sixteen parties urge EC to use paper ballots", citing "too deep and pervasivetrust deficit." And: "Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad attacks Air India staffer with slippers;" and "Government pressure forced Air India to withdraw Ravindra Gaikwad's flying ban." "BJP MLA threatens to behead those who try to stop Ram mandir construction." Finally, "Behead Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, get Rs 11-lakh: BJP youth leader."

To top it all, "Circumventing the Rajya Sabha" which, inter alia, said, "The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Vice President Hamid Ansari and the Deputy Chairman, P.J. Kurien, reportedly expressed their concern recently on attempts being made to whittle away the legislative powers of the Rajya Sabha and make it a redundant legislative House."

What does all of the above say about the state of democracy in India? If we rephrase the above, all of it can be summarised as the following:

The electoral process, the bedrock of democracy, is becoming more and more fragile.

Parliament and its functioning are under a cloud, there seems to be a view that there is a deliberate attempt to undermine it.

Lawlessness seems to be on the increase, as evidenced by open and direct threats of violence. "Rule of law" never too strong, seems to be becoming weaker by the day.

There is, of course, a contrasting view which says that things are getting better, the country is on its way to fulfilling the ever-rising aspirations of people, and becoming great again. It is, however, hard to believe this alternate narrative when one is told that "anonymity" and "transparency" are mutually reinforcing concepts! On attaining Independence from colonial rule, India was designed to be a constitutional democracy. It may not be out of place to remember what the man who is sometimes referred to as the primary author of the Indian Constitution, B.R. Ambedkar, and whose birth anniversary the nation celebrated with great fanfare, going by the big advertisements in all newspaper, on April 14, felt like telling the nation 68 years ago. After making a substantial part of his speech, he said, Here I could have ended. But my mind is so full of the future of our country that I feel I ought to take this occasion to give expression to some of my reflections thereon. And then he went on to say some words of caution which today sound prophetic. This was the day the Constitution was adopted, November 25, 1949. Some of what he said is reproduced below:

I feel, however good a Constitution may be, it is sure to turn out bad because those who are called to work it, happen to be a bad lot. However bad a Constitution may be, it may turn out to be good if those who are called to work it, happen to be a good lot. The working of a Constitution does not depend wholly upon the nature of the Constitution. The Constitution can provide only the organs of State such as the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. The factors on which the working of those organs of the State depend are the people and the political parties they will set up as their instruments to carry out their wishes and their politics. (Italics added).

"On January 26, 1950, India will be an independent country. What would happen to her independence? Will she maintain her independence or will she lose it again? This is the first thought that comes to my mind. It is not that India was never an independent country. The point is that she once lost the independence she had. Will she lose it a second time? It is this thought which makes me most anxious for the future. What perturbs me greatly is the fact that not only India has once before lost her independence, but she lost it by the infidelity and treachery of some of her own people.

Will history repeat itself? It is this thought which fills me with anxiety. This anxiety is deepened by the realisation of the fact that in addition to our old enemies in the form of castes and creeds we are going to have many political parties with diverse and opposing political creeds. Will Indians place the country above their creed or will they place creed above country? I do not know. But this much is certain that if the parties place creed above country, our independence will be put in jeopardy a second time and probably be lost for ever. This eventuality we must all resolutely guard against. We must be determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood.

It is not that India did not know what is democracy. There was a time when India was studded with republics, and even where there were monarchies, they were either elected or limited. They were never absolute.

"The second thing we must do is to observe the caution which John Stuart Mill has given to all who are interested in the maintenance of democracy, namely, not to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man, or to trust him with power which enables him to subvert their institutions. There is nothing wrong in being grateful to great men who have rendered life-long services to the country. There are limits to gratefulness. As has been said by the Irish Patriot Daniel O'Connel, no man can be grateful at the cost of his honour, no woman can be grateful at the cost of her chastity and no nation can be grateful at the cost of its liberty. This caution is far more necessary in the case of India than in the case of any other country. For in India, Bhakti or what may be called the path of devotion or hero-worship, plays a part in its politics unequalled in magnitude by the part it plays in the politics of any other country in the world. Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship.

Ambedkar's prescience is either uncanny and scary, or it reflects a very deep understanding of the Indian mind-set. But whatever it is, the state of democracy in India is perilous. Yes, the final responsibility does rest with the people, and "We, the People", have allowed political parties to place creed above country and thus put our independence  in jeopardy a second time (making the possibility of losing it) for ever very real. Are we willing to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood? It is for each one of us to answer.

The writer is a former Professor, Dean & Director in charge of the IIM, Ahmedabad.
AS Dulat

FORMER Union Home Minister PC Chidambaram, who has repeatedly warned of Kashmir slipping away and sliding into disaster, again recently said: Kashmir has had good times and bad but the present seems to be the worst of times. And sadly no one seems to care.

Kashmir has been on fire since the killing of Burhan Wani during last Ramzan, and Ramzan is again around the corner. No effort has been made all this while to try and retrieve the situation. Winter provided the ideal situation when the Kashmiri hibernates with his phiran and kangri. It is also the time when Kashmiris visit Delhi. The darbar too is in Jammu. But neither was there any motivation from Delhi nor any initiative from the Kashmiri leadership.

Kashmir is not in rebellion against the idea of India. Kashmiris have over the years mingled and even inter-married beyond the Banihal they were once averse to crossing. Kashmiri business flourishes in Mumbai,Goa, Kerala, etc. There is no love lost for Pakistan. At best, Kashmir would have been another Bangladesh in Pakistan. So, Kashmir is not going anywhere; the Kashmiri has nowhere to go. But what are we doing in Kashmir? Treating it as a purely law and order problem; trying to quell the uprising of the last 10 months with muscular force without understanding the psychological complexities and problems of Kashmir. In the Kashmiri perception what is basically wrong is our 'approach' to Kashmir. Consequently, the Kashmiri feels alienated; under siege. His ultimate fear is that he could be reduced to a minority in his own land.

Neither has there been such blatant polarisation in the past. Jammu may be more secular, as some claim, but it has nothing common left with Kashmir which perceives Delhi as being partial to Jammu and resents Hindu dominance. Kashmiriyat is almost dead and radicalism grows apace owing to perpetual conflict. Little wonder that Geelani, once referred to by Gen Musharraf as a 'nuisance', now calls the shots. Whether we realise and acknowledge it or not, extremism has grown both in Jammu and Kashmir.

The scariest part is not the alienation or the violence on the street that we have dealt with in the past but that today's generation, both boys and girls, are no longer afraid to die. That is why Dr Farooq Abdullah, who has uncharacteristically been pleading for a dialogue between India and Pakistan to salvage the situation, said: 'The policy of bullet for bullet was not going to work at this stage.' The problem is, the moment any Kashmiri leader mentions Pakistan, he is looked upon as anti-national. If Farooq is anti-national, we won't find a nationalist in Kashmir.

Distrust permeates the landscape of Kashmir even as the generational gap grows. Youth in the age group of 15-25 is growing increasingly impatient. There are more boys and girls on the street than in schools and colleges. A father may still follow the old Sufi tradition whereas his son could be on Facebook with a gun in his hand. Radicalism is growing rapidly, encouraged both by Islamabad and Delhi.

Kashmiriyat is disappearing along with Mufti Mohd. Sayeed's healing touch. Two pillars of Kashmir Islam  Sheikh Nurrudin Wali, fondly referred to as Nund Rishi, whose songs dedicated to Lal Ded are at the very heart of Kashmir's composite culture, and Mir Syed Ali Hamdani have been forgotten. Last year, the 700th anniversary of Hamdani was celebrated in a big way in Tajikistan but not in Kashmir.

The Kashmiri suffers from a deep disempowerment complex. But for Sheikh Abdullah's term as Prime Minister or Farooq Abdullah's first term as Chief Minister, the Kashmiri has never felt a part of the government. Nor does he think that democracy in the rest of the country applies to Kashmir and that Kashmiri sub- nationalism is unnecessarily looked upon with suspicion, as are the separatists as agents of Pakistan. Even autonomy, the most legitimate and reasonable of Kashmiri demands, are now regarded as pampering, if not anti-national.

There is also the problem of void of leadership in Kashmir. The state government barely exists. The J&K Police is hardly in control. The postponement of the Anantnag byelection was a surrender to stone pelters. Relief to Kashmir, when it comes, should be through engagement not blackmail.

The Chief Minister appears in a trance. Her brother, Tassaduq Mufti, the reluctant candidate for the suspended Anantnag byelection, has also expressed concern at the complete erosion of the partys core political base and the lack of concern in Delhi over the credibility of the state government. He has gone to the extent of saying that the mainstream would not survive in isolation without interaction with other parties. Pretty much similar to what Farooq Abdullah has said at least twice, that all parties including the separatists need to get together to engage with Delhi.But there has been no response from the Hurriyat which continues to act at the behest of Pakistan while ignoring Kashmirs interests.

Pakistan had lost out in Kashmir. But the turmoil in the Valley since last summer has brought it back in a big way. Ironically, it would appear that Pakistani and Indian interests coincide to the extent that the chaos in Kashmir seems to suit both.

Kashmir cannot be retrieved by force. As the former Army Commander, Gen DS Hooda, said recently: 'People have to be on our side; the population has to be the centre of gravity.' Earlier while serving in Kashmir, he had pleaded for a dialogue with all stakeholders, to which the Mirwaiz had responded that if the Army could find a solution to Kashmir the separatists were prepared to talk to the Army. There was still no response from Delhi.

There is no way out of Kashmir but to talk, both to Srinagar and Islamabad. Not talking makes no sense. Our former Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha, who has shown a keen interest of late in Kashmir, was recently quoted as having said: 'For God's sake, Modiji, talk to the Kashmiris.'

Kashmiri poet Ghulam Hassan Ghamgean writes: Saath-e-Hassan, Saath aasen wenkenen/te Saath-e-Hassan/ Ye Maango te banen Khuda bozen. (A moment of divine approval in which what we wish and pray for happens.)

For Kashmir, it is a consummation devoutly to be wished. Indian interests are too deeply entrenched to let go of Kashmir. Kashmir cements the idea of India.

AS Dulat is the author of Kashmir  The Vajpayee Years
THERE are reports of gangster shootouts every other week in Punjab. It has been a baptism by fire for the Congress government on the law and order front, and it cannot be said that it has met the challenge with the gumption required. Putting a stop to drugs within a month was another promise to which the government is being held by the Opposition. To be fair, the Punjab Police have had some successes with the arrest of a few notorious gangsters and jail escapees. But when the crooks brazenly carry out executions, it does no good to public confidence. The arrests in the drug trade have been unimpressive. It defies reason that only petty street peddlers and some of the constabulary were involved, but they are the only ones the police seem to be going after.

Another, and perhaps even more worrisome, aspect is the spectre of Congress workers or known supporters being involved in attacks on SAD and BJP leaders and associates. A few have been murdered too. Most of the violence has been in attempts to take over control of truck unions or of village-level politics from the ousted ruling alliance. But it is indicative of the confidence Congress leaders have felt in taking the law in their hands. Some MLAs have even gone to the extent of directly threatening the police against harming their interests. It may well be said the present state of law and order is a legacy the government has received from the SAD-BJP dispensation. But it must ponder what calculations and interests produced that situation. The Congress in its euphoria over a sweeping majority runs a serious risk of going down the same path.

Capt Amarinder Singh has made much of his ability to take bold decisions in the interest of the state. He would establish his credentials if he could ensure the police are able to reach the root of every tentacle of lawlessness. If that means making an example of certain fat but bad apples in his own party, the police or the bureaucracy, so be it.
Health Ministry seeks clarification from Manipal Hospital

The Ministry of Health has asked for a clarification with Pokhara-based Manipal Teaching Hospital for failing to provide medical treatment to the injured of Muktinath-accident.
Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, April 23

Three children, including a four-month old, were burnt to death and three others sustained serious burn injuries after a hut caught fire in Jind city in early hours today.

The police said the cause of fire was yet to be ascertained.

The incident took place near the BSNL telephone exchange on the Hansi road in Jind city. Sanu Khan, a native of Muzzafarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, had taken an orchard on lease in Jind city and was living there with his family and brother-in-law Nisar Khan.

Sanu told the police that they noticed the fire and tried to evacuate their family members. Though Sanu was able to rescue his two-year-old daughter Zoya and niece Fakku, his three children were burnt alive.

Nar Singh, SHO, City police station, said Sanus wife Shakira reportedly suffered 70 per cent burns. The injured have been admitted to the PGIMER, Rohtak, he added. Nisar and Sanu were present on the spot.

Sanus children Afsha (6), Zishan (4) and four-month-old Jiya died in the fire. Prima facie it looks the fire could have been caused due to a short circuit in a pedestal fan in the hut, he said. There was also a possibility of the fire spreading from the mud stove spark at the hut.
Tribune News Service

Karnal, April 23

State Congress president Ashok Tanwar today extended support to protesting Dalit community members of Patrehri village in Ambala district, who are camping at Karan Park here for the last two days, and demanded a fair inquiry to resolve the matter.

The community members are demanding release of four youths, who were arrested in connection with the murder of a 70-year-old man in the village on March 13. Besides, they are demanding an inquiry by some other agency in the case.

Tanwar, along with other party leaders, joined the protest of the community members who marched towards the Chief Ministers camp office. The protesters tried to gherao the office but were stopped by the police. They staged a dharna outside the camp office and later returned to Karan Park and continued with their protest there.

Earlier, Tanwar, accompanied by state Congress secretary Pankaj Punia and others, accused the state government of not paying heed to the grievances of Dalits. He said his motive was not to spread tension in society but instead he wanted to create the feeling of brotherhood.

He said residents of Patrheri village were camping in Karnal but nobody listened to their grievances.

Krishan Kumar, a protester, said the Ambala police had arrested only Dalit youths but let go those belonging to upper castes who were also booked but not arrested. He demanded a fair investigation in the matter.
Tribune News Service

Mandi, April 23

Politics began over death of fishes on such a large scale in Rewalsar Lake.

The Congress held the district administration responsible for the grim situation of the lake by saying that it was because of the apathy of district administration which paid no heed to address the issue in time. Himachal Congress Committee secretary Sanjiv Gularia said that if preventive measures were not taken in time to conserve the lake, the Congress will stage a protest against the district administration.

BJP MP Ramswaroop Sharma targeted the state government saying that due to its apathy, historical religious places and pious lakes in Himachal Pradesh were on the verge of extinction because no steps were being taken to preserve these.

He said a thorough investigation should be conducted in the lapse and action should be taken against the guilty. The state government should prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for approval of funds for the conservation of this lake and I shall take up the matter in the Centre, he added. The dying process of fish in the lake was continuing since April 18 and the district administration was struggling to take out the dead fish for safe disposal to avoid any health hazard to the inhabitants.
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 22

The Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, has been transformed into the assembly of the United Nations, with its most-awaited event Apeejay Stya Model United Nations 2017.

The mega event is being organised from April 22 to 24 in collaboration with the United Nations Informations Centre for India and Bhutan and the Indira Gandhi National Organisation.

Eminent personalities like Mani Shankar Aiyer, former Union Cabinet minister, Sandeep Dikshit, former Member of Parliament, Rana KP Singh, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Lt-General (retd) TS Shergill, Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab with rank of Cabinet Minister of Punjab and Adtiya Berlia, co-founder and pro-chancellor of the Apeejay Stya University enlightened the gathering as the keynote speakers.

MS Aiyer opined that the root of all wars in the world was the lust for dominance and feeling of otherness. He said the United Nations Organisation (UNO) was formed to unite the diverse countries and spread the message of peace as the world had faced World War I and World War II in which millions of innocent people lost their lives. But even after the establishment of the UNO, the world has seen more than 150 wars like India-Pakistan conflict, wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria etc. which were the result of mans lust for power. Sandeep Dikshit said a major threat to the world peace was intolerance and discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, complexion, gender, religion etc and only the power of educated youth could bring in the transformation.

Rana KP Singh said the problems of poverty and hunger were increasing by leaps and bounds around the globe and only a unified world could eliminate many crises. TS Shergill put forth the view that education was the only tool that could bring sophistication and tolerance in our civilisation.

Aditya Paul Berlia was upbeat to see the successful beginning of ASMUN and said the world had seen a major change in the past two decades and ASMUN was the right way to observe the depth of worlds changing scenario.

Principal Dr Sucharita expressed her gratitude to all dignitaries for sharing their valuable experience with students. In the three-day enterprise, students will throw light on the social issues related to international human rights based on discrimination of sexual orientation, illicit use of medicinal drugs, after-effects of demonetisation, politicalisation of educational institutes like the JNU and DU.

In this venture, 500 students from various institutions of the nation will participate as delegates. These include the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Delhi, Amity IP, Delhi, JIIT Noida, DPS, Bangaluru, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, Jindal School of International Affairs, Sonipat, St Stephens Delhi and many more. In the inaugural ceremony, students of the college mesmerised the audience with their impressive cultural musical performance.

Punjab Literary Festivala crowd-puller

The Punjab Literary Festival (PLF) showcased an unprecedented lineup of outstanding writers, artists, poets, academics and performers from all over India on its second day.

The day started with lamp lighting done by dignitaries, chief guest Sheetal Vij  chairman Dainik Savera, Gursaran Singh Sihra- chancellor of GNA University, Gurdeep Singh Sihra- Pro-Chancellor, Dr Prem Kumar - Vice Chancellor, Panchhi  guest of honour and keynote speaker and Dr Disha Khanna- secretary of the Punjab Literary Festival.

Dr Prem Kumar welcomed all dignitaries and guests and shared the vision and mission of the festival. He said the festival was a step to revive the literature and culture of Punjab. Panchhi, the guest of honour and an eminent poet and author, appreciated the efforts of the university to promote literature.

Dr Ankur Sharma shared his happiness to be part of this event and gave a productive session on Craze of theatre amongst youngsters and its nitty gritties. Pali Bhupinder Singh interacted one-on-one with the audience delivering on his named The Page to Stage Process of Leading Punjabi Theatre.

A cultural presentation, a Bhutanese dance by students of GNA University and a play named Jhanah De Paani directed by Vinod was also presented on the occasion. Another play was presented by Swami Sarabjeet on the theme of corruption.

On the second day also, literary talks were held. A talk on What does it take to be a woman? was hosted by Dr Tejinder Kaur, Manjit Indra and Mandeep Kaur Sidhu. Another talk on Transformation of a bibliophile into an orator was done between Brig RPS Sandhu and Guneet Paul.

Short stories from the real world on the topic How to spin a yarn in todays world? were narrated by Dr Varinder Singh Gogna, Dr Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke, Shantanu and chef Arjun Pratap Singh. In the poetry session, poets and writers Ezhilvendan, Narinder Kaur, Jatinder Sharma, Dr P Thareja, chef Varinder Singh Rana, Dr Amit Sharma, chef Arjun Pratap Singh, among others, participated in the event.
Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 23

Amid serious differences with its coalition partner  PDP  over dealing with stone-throwers in the Kashmir valley, the BJP today endorsed methods being adopted by the Army and security forces to restore normalcy in violence-hit areas.

By approving the approach of the security forces, the BJP has taken a stand against the PDP which had expressed its reservation over it, especially after the human shield video had gone viral on social media. The video showed a Budgam youth tied to an Army jeep and being used as a human shield against stone-throwers.

Highly placed sources said unfazed by the criticism of the PDP, the BJP today passed a resolution on the concluding day of its working committee meeting at Doda. In the resolution, which is likely to be made public on Monday, the BJP has appreciated methods being adopted by the security forces and the Army in dealing with stone-throwers.

BJPs endorsement of security forces methods is likely to further deepen fissures between the coalition partners as the PDP has already taken a serious note of BJP general secretary Ram Madhavs justification of the human shield episode by stating all is fair in love and war.

The sources said the resolution on security situation was passed to give a clear message to the coalition partner that the party was not going to compromise on the issue.

The sources said taking a serious note of the heckling and humiliation of some security personnel by stone-throwers on April 9, the party observed that despite such acts the security personnel had maintained utmost restraint to avoid civil casuality.

Meanwhile, according to an official handout issued by the party, BJP state general secretary Ashok Koul shared the details related to the two-day visit of party president Amit Shah. He announced that the next working committee meeting would be held in Rajouri on July 30.
Our Correspondent

Jaipur, April 23

A research scholar from Kashmir has left his hostel at BITS, Pilani, after he allegedly faced harassment and abusive words were written on his t-shirts by unidentified persons during the intervening night of April 20 and 21.

A JRF in pharmacy department, Hashim Sofi (27) was shocked to see his T-shirts inked with threats and abuses  You are such a shame...Anti-National Kashmiri...etc" on April 21 morning.

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Objectionable comments were also allegedly written on his room's door at Malviya Bhavan hostel.

A Kashmiri friend of Sofi told The Tribune that Hashim had left the campus and returned to his home in Bandipora district of Kashmir after reporting the matter to the warden.

When contacted, Pilani SHO Bajrang Lal Meena said they have not received any report of something of this sort happening to any student of BITS. He said the police will look into the matter.

An official statement from BITS Pilani said, Sofi is a research project staff, a JRF in the pharmacy department (and not yet a registered student of the institute). A hostel room was made available to him on a temporary basis on April 10, 2017.

Mr Sofi had reported to the chief warden on Thursday, April 20, that someone had written some objectionable comments on the door of his hostel room and on two t-shirts that he had hung in the balcony to dry, BITS said.

Sofi maintained that this has happened during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. Mr Sofi had informed the hostel superintendent of Malviya Bhawan and the latter got the comments immediately cleaned from the door of the hostel room, the statement added.

After the incident came to light, the chief warden met and assured all assistance and help to the project fellow. He made arrangements to shift Sofi from the hostel to residential quarters. The chief warden got in touch with the Associate Dean, Students Welfare, and they enquired the matter from the hostel superintendent. The warden got in touch with the chief security officer and called a meeting of all concerned, the institute said in the statement.

It added that what has happened exactly is yet to be ascertained even as the inquiry report of the chief warden was submitted to the Associate Dean, SWD.

Today, it was learnt that Sofi is not available in his allotted quarters and has left without informing his project investigator and other authorities of the institute.

He is also not available on phone. However, the institute has taken a serious note of the happening and has asked the standing committee on student affairs to investigate the matter and report back swiftly, the statement said.
Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

Prime Minister Narednra Modi, while summing up the third meeting of NITI Aayogs Governing Council today, urged upon the Chief Ministers present there to take special care in reaching out to students from the Kashmir valley studying in their respective states.

The Prime Ministers remarks relating to the Valley students came after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti raised the point at the meeting, asking her counterparts to make them (Kashmiri students) their ambassadors in J&K.

Modis advice assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of thrashing of some Kashmiri students at Chittorgarh in Rajasthan and a hoarding in Meerut asking Kashmiris to leave Uttar Pradesh. A PMO statement, quoting the Prime Minister, said that in his closing remarks, he urged states to reach out to these students (of J&K) from time to time.

Modi also took note of the invitation extended by Mehbooba to various state governments to organise events in her state. The Prime Minister suggested that states could organise events there, the statement added.
Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 22

With the talk of a point of no-return between alliance partners PDP and BJP gaining ground, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is in Delhi for a crucial conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that could decide the future of the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir.

She is also scheduled to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

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As Kashmir suffers from convulsions of violence, anger and frustration, Mehboobas visit has assumed huge importance with the alliance partners speaking in contradictory terms in dealing with the worsening situation.

At stake is not only her governments credibility, but also that of her Peoples Democratic Party  with its image of being a champion of the healing touch approach taking a beating ever since she took over as Chief Minister a little over a year ago.

The party feedback is that the excessive militaristic approach has resulted in PDP being nicknamed the peeling party. Her appeals for restraint and the tying of a Kashmiri youth to an Army jeep as a human shield have made her look politically and administratively weak. The remarks by a section of BJP leaders have only made matters worse for her.

Mehbooba expects the PM to intervene and put a stop to the anti-Kashmiri utterances, sources said, for Kashmir is not witnessing any war and the common Kashmiris are not combatants.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav justifying the Army action as all is fair in love and war has made rivals like Farooq Abdullah demand her immediate removal and imposition of Governors rule.

Sources said she wants clarity from the Centre on how it wants to save Kashmir. The straight talk could determine how the Modi government wants to change the narrative at play in the Valley.
Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 23

Amid apprehensions of permanent social media ban in Kashmir, youth are looking for other options to stay connected with friends and family.

Mobile apps like Telegram and Snapchat, which allow chatting and transfer of data in encrypted form along with other security features, are witnessing record downloads and gaining currency in the Valley.

Besides these, many free messaging apps provide more features, encrypted messaging and full privacy options.

The mobile Internet services in the Valley were blocked by the authorities last week as a precautionary measure in view of massive student protests across Kashmir against the use of disproportionate force by government forces on students of Government Degree College, Pulwama.

Amid Internet blockade and curbs on social media in Kashmir, several WhatsApp users and groups, who could still able to operate it, circulated messages, urging the Kashmiri community to support Snapchat by downloading the application on each and every smartphone in Kashmir.

Sensing the forthcoming curbs and not wanting to lose the race, a popular WhatsApp newsgroup in north Kashmir on Saturday circulated a message among the group members that the newsgroup would also be available on Telegram. If anybody is interested, please send a reply on my Telegram account, the administrator wrote, while preparing to switchover to Telegram.

Though broadband Internet services, offered by the state-owned BSNL, are functional in Kashmir, the 3G and 4G Internet services on mobiles have been blocked with an aim to prevent uploading of more videos on social networking sites.

The security agencies have strongly recommended permanently blocking the social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.

There is a strong recommendation from the security agencies to curb social media which aggravates the overall situation, said a police officer.

Experts, however, suggest that blocking Facebook and WhatsApp will not prove effective as youths have ways and means available to deal with it. To make the ban effective, the experts say that the complete Internet ban is the only alternative.

Youth, who are addicted to social media, have technology available to them to access these sites. They can hook onto these sites through VPN (virtual private network), said Faisal H Bhat, a Delhi-based technology and camera expert.
Intl support for Local polls: PM Dahal

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the international community would support the upcoming local polls.
London, April 23

Britains immigration officials have detained 38 Indians, including nine women, for overstaying their visas or working illegally after conducting raids in two clothing factories in the city of Leicester.

The UK Home Office Immigration Enforcement team raided MK Clothing Ltd and Fashion Times UK Ltd in the city in the East Midlands region of England last week and held 38 Indians and one Afghan man.

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Of those detained, 31 had outstayed their visas, seven had entered the country illegally and one was working in breach of their visa conditions, Leicester Mercury reported. The officials took 19 people into detention pending their removal from the UK while remaining 20 were ordered to report regularly to the Home Office while their cases are dealt with.

Using illegal labour is not victimless. It cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest businesses and denies legitimate job seekers of employment opportunities, said assistant director Alison Spowage, from East Midlands Immigration Enforcement.

The penalties for businesses that do not play by the rules are rightly severe. This operation, one of the largest- scale my team has conducted, sends a clear message that we have the resources to tackle immigration abuse.  PTI
New Delhi, April 23

A raft of mega defence deals, including procurement of an air defence system for the Indian Navy, are likely to be sealed during Prime Minister Narendra Modis forthcoming visit to Israel which will be the first by an Indian PM to the Jewish nation.

Ahead of the visit, which is likely to take place in July, Israeli envoy Daniel Carmon said it would be a big visit, reflecting the depth of cooperation between the two countries in a range of key areas.

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The much-awaited deal for Barak-8 air defence missile systems for the Navy and procurement of Spike anti-tank missiles for the Army are expected to be firmed up during Modis visit.

India, Israel relations are big enough. The visit, when it takes place, will be a very very important visit. It will be one of the most important visits that Israel has witnessed in many many years, Israeli Ambassador Daniel Carmon said in an interview.

Modis visit coincides with the establishment of 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

A number of other defence deals are also likely to be discussed. The envoy said the two countries were now focussing on joint research and development.  PTI
Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

With the Army looking at its biggest-ever addition of helicopters and new generation surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has listed aviation and air defence as high priority for modernisation.

He was speaking at the end of five-day biannual Army Commanders Conference in New Delhi last evening.

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The Army requires 259 light utility helicopters to replace Cheetah/Chetak fleet of helicopters. The Cheetah/Chetak helicopters are based on the 1950s designed Alouette Aerospatiale 315B Lama of France. It also needs 114 light-combat helicopters. HAL has produced one such helicopter on which weapons are being tested. Production is expected to start this year.

The air-defence mechanism will have a three-pronged approach. The Army is in the process of inducting indigenously built Akash SAM that can hit the target at 25 km. It is also looking at Israeli spyder air defence missile system, which is militarily classified as low-level, quick reaction missile to neutralise hostile incoming targets up to 15 km away and at height between 20 and 9,000 m. The third are the air defence guns. Around 428 such pieces are needed to take on aerial targets in the immediate vicinity of 4 km. These will replace the Armys obsolete air-defence assets dating back to the 1970s.

During deliberations, Army commanders discussed issues having HR policy ramifications and measures to enhance transparency and inclusiveness. The Army Chief also highlighted the need for a more participative form of policy formulation.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba also addressed the conference emphasising on evolving a joint operational philosophy.
Puducherry, April 23

French nationals from Puducherry and regions coming under the jurisdiction of that nations consulate cast their votes in the first round of the French presidential elections here today.

A 92-year-old woman, Marie Antoinette, who was among the early voters, said she had been exercising her franchise in every presidential poll without fail. Infirm and aged voters were helped by the staff on duty to reach the booths without waiting in the queue.

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Puducherry had two booths, one each on the premises of the French Consul General office and Lycee, an educational institution. Chennai and Karaikal had a booth each. The polling which began at 8 am continued till 7 pm.  PTI
Puducherry, April 23

French nationals from Puducherry and regions coming under the jurisdiction of that nation's consulate, cast their votes in the first round of French Presidential elections, here on Sunday.

A 92-year-old woman Marie Antoinette, who was among the early voters, told PTI that she has been exercising her franchise in every presidential poll without fail.

Voters, who were infirm and aged were helped by the staff on duty to reach the booths without waiting in the queue.

Puducherry had two booths each on the premises of the French Consul General office and Lycee, an educational institution.

Chennai and Karaikal had one booth each to enable the voters there to cast their votes, sources said. The polling was held from 8 am to 7 pm.  PTI
New Delhi, April 23

An Indian Air Force corporal was allegedly assaulted and robbed by a group of men after his motorcycle brushed past their car in southeast Delhis Sangam Vihar area, the police said on Sunday.

A case has been registered on his complaint and three men have been arrested, they added.

A video has also surfaced online showing the IAF man being roughed up.

Sujay Kr Sikandar, a corporal posted at Tughlakabad, told the police that on April 20, his motorcycle had brushed past a Swift car.

After that the vehicle overtook and stopped him on the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road near Batra Hospital.

Two persons came out of the car and started beating him and his colleague, he told police.

He added that in the meantime, another car also pulled up and its driver got into a argument over the road getting blocked.

The three of them then dragged him and robbed his ID card as well as the registration certificate of his motorcycle, the police said.

One of the accused works as a milk supplier in Malviya Nagar. The others work as a storekeeper at a hotel in Mehrauli and as a bouncer at a club in Vasant Vihar.

The robbed items have been recovered and the two cars have been seized.  PTI
Washington, April 23

The US state of Indiana has passed a resolution recognising Sikhs significant contributions to America.

The Indiana Senate recognises and acknowledges the significant contributions that American Sikhs have made across the US and to the State of Indiana on the great occasion of Vaisakhi as National Sikh Day, said the resolution.

Passed unanimously by the Indiana Senate on Friday, the resolution was introduced by Indiana Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch.

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Eminent community leader and chairman of Sikhs political affairs committee Gurinder Singh Khalsa started the senate session with a Sikh prayer. US Vice-President Mike Pence sent his support for the resolution, a media release said today.

Also for the first time, National Sikhs and Vaisakhi Day will be celebrated on May 15 in the Indiana State House with Governor Eric Holcomb.

Passage of the resolution is an important milestone in the history of Sikhs in the US, said Khalsa who was instrumental for the move. This is the start of something special and significant for Sikhs all across America, he said. Khalsa hoped his efforts would expand Sikh culture of selfless service to community and be a beacon of hope in spreading Sikh values of humanity, diversity, interfaith dialogue and economic empowerment.  PTI
Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

Noting that he also served as the Chief Minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog on Sunday, stressed that the vision of New India can be realised only through the combined efforts of all states and their Mukhiyas.

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The Prime Minister also lauded all the attending Chief Ministers for their efforts to bring about consensus over GST, which will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism.

The Prime Minister, while mentioning the fact that GST reflects the spirit of one nation, one aspiration, urged the chief ministers to carry forward the debate and discussion on simultaneous central and state elections.

Reminding the audience that Team India has once again assembled here today to discuss and reflect on ways to prepare the country for changing global trends, Modi said, This is an opportunity for exchanging views on policies and implementation. It is the collective responsibility of this gathering to envision the India of 2022  the 75th anniversary of independence  and see how we can swiftly move forward to achieve these goals.

Read: NITI Aayog identifies 300 action points for overall development

Recalling the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of the centenary of the Champaran Satyagraha, the Prime Minister said NITI Aayog has been taking steps to transform India, with fresh vigour. He said, The Government, private sector and civil society, all need to work together. NITI is a collaborative federal body whose strength was is in its ideas, rather than in administrative or financial control.

The Prime Minister noted that sub-groups of the chief ministers had given vital inputs on subjects such as Centrally-Sponsored Schemes (CSS), Swachh Bharat, Skill Development and Digital payments.

Stressing the importance given to the views of chief ministers, Modi also pointed out that it was the first time they had been asked to recommend the list of CSSs and the sharing pattern and despite funding constraints, the recommendations were accepted immediately.

Modi said the NITI Aayog is working on a 15-year long-term vision, 7-year medium-term strategy, and 3-year action agenda. He said this effort needs support of states and will eventually reflect in benefits to States.

Mamata, Kejriwal skip meet

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were among those who skipped the Governing Council meet.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal could not come to attend the Governing Council meeting today at Rashtrapati Bhavan, a source said.

However, the source said that Kejriwal sent Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to represent Delhi.

The source said Modi had made it clear that only the Chief Minister or the Deputy Chief Minister will represent their states and no other official will be allowed to participate in the meeting.

Among the Opposition-ruled states, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami attended the meeting.

Others who were present include Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, Suresh Prabhu, Prakash Javadekar, Rao Inderjit Singh and Smriti Irani also attended the meet.

The council, which is the apex body of Niti Aayog, is headed by the Prime Minister and includes all chief ministers and the think tanks members. With PTI inputs
Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

Quality of judgments written by high courts is troubling the Supreme Court. Days after it set aside a Himachal Pradesh High Court verdict for poor and incomprehensible English, the top court has remanded back a case to the Rajasthan High Court after it found that the verdict under challenge neither set out facts nor did it give any reasons for the conclusions reached.

A bench headed by Justice RK Agrawal was surprised to see that the high courts judgment didnt even record the submissions of the parties or examined the issues involved in the context of relevant legal provisions.

The bench was surprised to see that both the single bench and division bench of the Rajasthan High Court had dismissed the petition at the threshold without proper hearing.

We cannot concur with the conclusions arrived at by the two courts below, the top court said remanding the case back to the single bench for fresh adjudication on merits in accordance with law.

In our considered view, in order to appreciate the factual and legal controversy involved in the lis (litigation), the least which is expected of is that the order which decides the lis between the parties should contain the brief facts involved in the case, the grounds on which the action is impugned, the stand of the parties defending the action, the submissions of the parties in support of their stand, legal provisions, if any, applicable to the controversy involved in the lis, and lastly, the brief reasons as to why the case of one party deserves acceptance or rejection, as the case may be, the bench said.

The case arose out of a petition filed by Municipal Board, Sumerpur, in 2004 against one Kundanmal challenging an order dated September 30, 2003 passed by the Collector of Pali.

The single bench dismissed the petition with the following order: Heard learned counsel for the parties. The order impugned, Annex.8 has been passed in compliance of the order passed by Division Bench of this Court dated 15.1.2001 passed inter-parties being Annex.7. It is not shown, as to how the order, Annex.8 is not in accordance with the directions contained in Annex.7. In that view of the matter, I do not find any ground to interfere. The writ petition is, therefore, dismissed summarily.

On an appeal filed against the single judges order, the division bench too passed a similar order without setting out facts or assigning any reasons for the conclusions reached. Have a look at the division bench order below.

Having heard learned counsel for the appellant, we are of the opinion that no interference is called for in this appeal in the judgment of learned Single Judge who has rightly exercised his discretion in not interfering with the order passed by the Collector as the learned counsel has not been able to show how the impugned order is contrary to direction of Division Bench. In essence, the learned counsel for the appellant tried to urge that the decision rendered in Hotechads case in the light of which the Division Bench in his earlier decision has directed to decide his representation, was erroneous. That is not permissible.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh said, If you appoint poor quality judges, it is bound to reflect in the judgments they deliver. This also highlights the fact that the collegium is not doing its homework while recommending names for appointment as judges of high courts.
New Delhi, April 23

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Sunday urged his states farmers protesting at Jantar Mantar to call off their strike and assured them of taking up their demands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Palaniswami made the remarks after visiting the farmers at Jantar Mantar, for the first time, on the 41st day of their protest in which they have been demanding a Rs 40,000 crore drought relief package, farm loan waiver and setting up of the Cauvery Management Board by the Centre.

"I will be taking up the issue of loan waiver among others with the prime minister while meeting him today," Palaniswami said.

The chief minister also talked about the steps the state government had taken to mitigate the hardship of farmers.

"We had even submitted a memorandum comprising various demands from the state during my previous meeting with the prime minister," he said. "Therefore, I request the protesting farmers to call off their strike."

Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, who also accompanied Palaniswami, said the Tamil Nadu government was working on the demands raised by the protestors.

Asked about the political situation in Tamil Nadu, the chief minister said he would like to comment only on the farmers' issues.

Palaniswami is in the national capital to take part in a NITI Aayog meeting along with chief ministers of other states.

Over the last 40 days, the farmers have turned to increasingly desperate measures to direct attention to their issues.

They have shaved their heads and half their moustaches and kept mice and snakes in their mouths, conducted mock funerals, flogged themselves and even carried skulls of other farmers who had committed suicide due to debt pressure.  PTI
Right-of-way Conundrum: Lack of policies delays construction of transmission lines

Construction of over half a dozen transmission line projects of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been delayed, as absence of appropriate policies has prevented the state-owned power utility from securing rights-of-way (ROWs) from private landowners.
New Delhi, April 23

Tamil Nadu farmers protesting at Jantar Mantar here temporarily called off their agitation on Sunday after over 40 days with Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami "promising" to meet their demands.

"The chief minister and the Union finance minister have the power to take a call on our demands. We have decided to call off the agitation for a period of one month based on the assurances given by our chief minister," farmers' leader Ayyakkannu told reporters.

"If the promises are not met, we would resume the protest in the national capital in a bigger way on May 25," he said.

Ayyakkannu said the decision was taken also based on the assurances given by Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly M K Stalin, MDMK's Premalatha Vijayakanth, Tamil Manila Congress chief G K Vasan and the BJP's Pon Radhakrishnan.

The farmers, who have been staging a protest for the past 41 days demanding a Rs-40,000 crore drought relief package, farm loan waiver and setting up of the Cauvery Management Board by the Centre, had earlier refused to end their agitation despite requests by several Union and state ministers apart from leaders of various regional political parties.

"We will be leaving for home today or tomorrow and we will be taking part in a statewide bandh on April 25 in Tamil Nadu," said Ayyakkannu.

Palaniswami, who took part in a Niti Aayog meeting here today, said he had submitted a memorandum containing demands of the farmers to the Prime Minister.

"Among other issues, we also raised the farmers' issue in the meeting with the PM," Palaniswami told reporters here.

Calling the agitation a "success", Ayyakkannu said the Centre had "undermined us and meted out step-motherly treatment".

"However, the agitation has become a success and has caught the attention of people across the world. We received support from youths and farmers across the country," he said.

During the course of the protest, the farmers have turned to increasingly desperate measures to direct attention to their issues.

They have shaved their heads and half their moustaches and kept mice and snakes in their mouths, conducted mock funerals, flogged themselves and even carried skulls which they claimed were of farmers who had committed suicide due to debt pressure.  PTI
New Delhi, April 23

The national capital on Sunday recorded a turnout of around 54 per cent in the municipal polls amid complaints of faulty EVMs, with AAP convener and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal leading the charge.

AAP spokesperson Richa Pandey Mishra claimed people had to go back from many polling stations as "several" electronic voting machines (EVM) turned out faulty.

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"Many machines were faulty so people had to go back. The areas where faults were reported include Mangolpuri, Patparganj and many areas of south Delhi. In some machines, one could not hear any beep after pressing the AAP button," she said.

Pandey said the ensuing delay was avoidable as the officials took time to repair the machines.

Following a sluggish start at 8 am, voting gradually picked up and became fairly brisk as the heat waned towards the afternoon. The 2012 MCD polls had registered a 53.23 per cent turnout.

Read: Exit polls predict sweep for BJP in Delhi, AAP staring at rout

The polling passed off peacefully.

State Election Commissioner S K Srivastava told a press conference that North corporation's Bakhtawarpur ward recorded the highest turnout at over 68 per cent, while south Delhi's Lado Sarai registered the least turnout at 39 per cent.

He said 18 electronic voting machines (EVMs) were replaced owing to battery or button related issues.

Out of 13,000 polling stations, EVMs were changed in only 18 polling stations. It shows our EVMs are unhackable, robust and no wrong can be done," Srivastava said.

However, Kejriwal alleged in a tweet, "Reports from all over Delhi of EVM malfunction, people wid voter slips not allowed to vote. What is SEC doing? (sic)."

Arvind Kejriwal had earlier demanded that the election be postponed till arrangements for voter-verified paper audit trail or VVPAT-equipped electronic voting machines (EVMs) were made.

Reports from all over Delhi of EVM malfunction, people wid voter slips not allowed to vote. What is SEC doing?  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 23, 2017

Polling was held in 270 of the 272 wards of the three municipal corporations. The election to two wards has been postponed due to the death of candidates.

A total of 1,32,10,206 voters were entitled to exercise their franchise in electing councillors for the 270 wards falling under the three corporations - NDMC (103), SDMC (104) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (63).

Meanwhile, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh was asked to leave a booth in Janakpuri by a polling official when he was talking to reporters inside the booth premises.

"You are done with voting so leave now," the official was seen telling Singh in a video that was shared by hundreds on social media. Queries to Singh did not elicit any response.  PTI
Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Gidderbaha, April 23

Refuting the allegations levelled by former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Giani Gurmukh Singh, former CM Parkash Singh Badal today claimed that it was wrong to say that any decision regarding the grant of pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief was taken at his residence.

He said he had no role in the removal of Giani Gurmukh Singh, who alleged that the SGPC acted at the behest of its political bosses.

It is up to the SGPC to remove or appoint Jathedars. I never intervened in its working, said Badal, who today visited the family of a vendor, Manish Kumar, who had set himself ablaze alleging harassment by aides of Congress MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.

Badal spoke to Deputy Commissioner Sumeet Jarangal over the phone after the victims kin alleged that the administration was working under pressure and had given a clean chit to the accused.

Talking to the media, Badal criticised the Congress government, saying: They used to target us on various issues. Now all problems have increased. Be it farmer suicides or law and order issues. The Congress leaders are indulging in vendetta politics. They have snatched some businesses like cleaning of solar power plants and wrested control on truck operators unions. Their vindictive policy will not last longer. I assure everyone that the SAD will take stand on every genuine issue.

The former CM also met the family of a father-son duo who died at a sewage disposal plant on Wednesday and visited a local journalist, Shivraj Raju, who was allegedly assaulted by some Congressmen. He also condoled the death of party leader Gurmeet Manns father.

Ex-Jathedar relieved as head granthi

Amritsar: The SGPC on Sunday relieved Giani Gurmukh Singh as head granthi of the Akal Takht and withdrew his personal secretary and 'sewadar'. Sources in the SGPC stated that he has been given three days to join Gurdwara Nauwin Patshahi Dhamtan Sahib in Jind, Haryana. Bhai Gurmukh Singh said he had not yet received a communique in this regard and would consider shifting to Haryana after getting it. Responding to a query on his joining the Jind gurdwara as head granthi, he said, "The entire SGPC and all gurdwaras are my family and I am ready to go anywhere". TNS

Sikh organisations take on SGPC

Amritsar: Various Sikh religious organisations, including Panthic Sangharsh Committee on Sunday criticised the SGPC for not issuing prior notice and offering chance to former Takht Damdama Jathedar Giani Gurmukh Singh to present his view before sacking him. TNS
Amritsar, April 23

Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday visited Othian village here, where wheat crop spread over 300 acres was destroyed in a fire, and announced a compensation of Rs 24 lakh from his own pocket to the affected farmers.

The fire occurred after a high-tension wire snapped during a storm, leading to a short circuit.

Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, Kamaldeep Singh Sanga said, The crop spread over 300 acres was damaged after a high tension wire fell in a field due to a storm.

The MLA from Amritsar East said the farmers will be compensated at a rate of Rs 8,000 per acre.

It adds up to Rs 24 lakh and I will pay from my personal funds. I do not want to put burden on the state exchequer, he said.  PTI
SMA KAZMI

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 23

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat is likely to get directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as both the leaders are scheduled to meet in New Delhi on Sunday. The Prime Minister has convened a meeting of the Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled states to discuss the implementation of the Centrally sponsored schemes with the aim of refurbishing the image of the BJP-led Central Government in the run-up to the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

According to BJP sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet Chief Minister Rawat individually and the proposed meeting has generated a lot of interest among the Uttarakhand ministers and party leaders.

Interestingly, since the day Trivendra Singh Rawat has taken over as the Chief Minister of the hill state, he is being compared to his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath, both hailing from Pauri Garhwal district of the state. While Yogi Adityanath has hogged the limelight by his proactive stance on governance, the performance of Trivendra Singh Rawat-led government has been lacklustre.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has failed to refurbish the image of his government and seems to have dithered on several issues in one month of his rule. Although he claimed to have adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption and recommended a CBI probe into the national highway land compensation scam, there has not been changed much on the ground since the days of the previous Congress government, led by Harish Rawat, which the BJP charged with large-scale corruption.

The Chief Minister has even failed to effect any major bureaucratic change or take action against any alleged corrupt official. The general governance has remained sluggish with the two common problems of power and water supply getting worse in the summer months. Unlike Yogi, who has taken steps to improve power availability throughout the state, the situation in Uttarakhand has not improved a bit.
BEIRUT, April 23

An Israeli attack against a military base for the Syrian pro-government National Defence Forces in southern Syria killed three NDF members on Sunday, the NDF militia and a monitoring group said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war-monitoring group, said it remained unclear if the source of the bombardment in Quneitra province was an air strike or shelling.

Israel has carried out air strikes or fired mortar rounds during the six-year war in Syria, often in response to the occasional spillover, including stray shells from fighting among Syrian factions.

The Israeli military declined to comment on the reports. The Syrian army could not immediately be reached for comment.

The NDF said the attack struck its military camp in the countryside of Quneitra, which sits near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, territory that Israel captured from Syria in a 1967 war.

Rebel groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad's government in the Syrian conflict hold swathes of Quneitra, while the army and pro-government forces control another part of the province.  Reuters
Riyadh, April 23

Saudi Arabias King Salman issued a decree naming one of his sons, an air force pilot who has taken part in coalition strikes against the Islamic State group, as the kingdoms new ambassador to the US.

The appointment of Prince Khaled bin Salman to Washington signals the kingdoms eagerness to strengthen bilateral ties under President Donald Trump. As the kings son, the prince has a direct line to the Saudi monarch.

Saudi Arabia is the worlds third largest defence spender. Prince Khaleds appointment positions him as an influential broker in deals with US manufacturers.

Saudi-US relations had cooled under the Obama administration after Washington pursued a nuclear accord with Shiite-ruled Iran that the Sunni-ruled kingdom strongly opposed. Saudi Arabia and Iran are regional rivals, and back opposing sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen.

Relations with the Riyadh have improved since Trump took office. King Salman dispatched his most powerful son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also defence minister, to meet Trump at the White House last month.

Saudi Arabia was quick to praise Trumps missile strike on a Syrian military base in response to an apparent chemical weapons attack on civilians.

Prince Khaled is a former F-15 pilot who graduated military-aviation training from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi in 2009 and took part in anti-IS strikes in 2014 as part of the US-led coalition.

He also participated in flight missions over Yemen, where the kingdom has been bombing a Yemeni faction aligned with Iran for more than two years.

The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news website says the prince studied briefly at Harvard University and Georgetown University. The news website says he trained at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, but that a back injury forced him to stop flying.

He has been an adviser at the Saudi Embassy in Washington since late last year.

US officials say the Trump administration is considering ways to boost military support for the Saudi-led fight against Iran-backed rebels in Yemen. The US already is helping the Saudis with intelligence and logistical support for the bombing campaign in Yemen, and could assist with greater intelligence support to counter Iranian influence there.

Prince Khaled will be replacing Prince Abdullah Al Saud, who served in the post for just 18 months. Though a member of the royal family, Prince Abdullah was not seen as part of the inner Al Saud circle and is not a direct grandson of Saudi Arabias founder, King Abdulaziz.

Days before being relieved of his post in Washington, Prince Abdullah published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal calling for continued US resolve to end the conflict in Syria.

He said Saudi Royal Air Force jets operating out of a base in southern Turkey have conducted more than 340 strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria since February.  AP
Mazar-e Sharif attack: Afghanistan mourns deadly Taliban assault

Afghanistan is holding a day of national mourning after the Taliban attacked an army base, killing or wounding more than 100 soldiers.
Riyadh: Saudi Arabias King Salman issued a decree naming one of his sons, an air force pilot who has taken part in coalition strikes against the Islamic State group, as the kingdoms new ambassador to the US. The appointment of Prince Khaled bin Salman to Washington signals the kingdoms eagerness to strengthen bilateral ties under President Donald Trump. As the kings son, the prince has a direct line to the Saudi monarch. Saudi Arabia is the worlds third largest defence spender. ap
No promising leads in recent shooting cases

Police have found no promising leads so far in the shooting incidents that took place six days apart in Kathmandu and Lalitpur early this month.
Dots and Dashes: Insurance Commissioner John Doak issued a statement defending Senate Bill 478, which would allow Doak to negotiate the sale of health insurance policies across state lines. Doak said the measure will not circumvent Oklahoma coverage mandates, and in some cases could result in better coverages than now offered. ... Williams Cos. was among the steel and pipeline companies to lodge protests during the public comment period for President Donald Trumps executive order that would require all pipelines in the U.S. be built with American-made steel, according to DeSmogblog. ... Gov. Mary Fallin appointed Jane McDermott of Alva a regent of the Regional University System of Oklahoma. ... State Rep. Brian Renegar, D-McAlester, received a commendation from Fallin for saving a choking man at an Oklahoma City banquet on Feb. 28.
WAGONER  A man suspected of shooting another man and leaving the scene with the victim in Wagoner Friday is now in police custody.

Wagoner Police Chief Bob Haley said Saturday evening Joshua Daniel Blaylock was apprehended in Turley, about 10 miles north of Tulsa, just after 8 p.m.

Daniel Potts, who is believed to have been shot in the back of the head or neck by Blaylock, was not with Blaylock at the time of his capture.

Blaylock has been on the run since 3 p.m. Friday after breaking into a residence in Wagoner and shooting Potts inside the home after an altercation, police said. A witness said after the shot was fired, Blaylock dragged Potts to his truck, put him inside and fled the scene.

"I do not know the status of Potts right now," Haley said. "We are still looking for him."

Wagoner Police found Blaylocks truck several hours before he was apprehended Saturday close to where the truck had been found.

Haley said the truck was taken back to Wagoner for a search warrant to be executed.

Several agencies assisted Wagoner police in the arrest, Haley said, including U.S. marshals, agents with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and officers from Tulsa, Wagoner County Sheriffs Office, Mayes County and Cherokee County sheriffs offices and Tahlequah Police.

This story is ongoing. Check back for updates.
A woman was shot while delivering the Tulsa World newspapers in north Tulsa early Saturday.

Officers responding to a report of a shooting about 4:30 a.m. found a woman with two gunshot wounds to the chest sitting in her car in the 700 block of East 43rd Street North, according to a press release from the Tulsa Police Department. She was alert when officers arrived and was stable when she was taken by ambulance to St. John Medical Center.

The woman told officers she was in her car delivering newspapers near 51st Street North and Rockford Avenue when she was hit by gunshots.

Officers searched that area and found shell casings on Rockford between 51st Place North and 51st Street North.

Officers found nine bullet holes in the womans car and 59 shell casings in the area where she said the shooting occurred.

The woman said she had seen three males standing in the roadway but could not provide descriptions.

Police did not identify the shooting victim.

Tulsa World Publisher Bill Masterson Jr. released the following statement:

Saturday was a sad day for the Tulsa World as a woman who was helping one of our independent carriers was shot while delivering papers Saturday morning.

Our carriers work seven days a week, 365 days a year. This is a second job for many carriers, who are all very hard-working people. Our thoughts and prayers go out to this woman and her family members from the entire Tulsa World team.

Anyone who has information about the shooting is urged to contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 918-596-COPS (2677), online at p3tips.com/918 or through the Tulsa Tips app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or iTunes stores.
After 17 years of north Tulsa youth entertaining crowds in Pocket Full of Hope productions, one alumnus has reached the heights of a Broadway cast.

Two months after Willie Hill graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a musical theater degree, he landed a spot in the touring company of Beautiful  The Carole King Musical on Tour.

Hill, 23, has a swing role as one of The Drifters, meaning he is responsible for singing each of the four tracks on songs, including Some Kind of Wonderful and Up on the Roof.

He has been on stages in New York City; Austin, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Syracuse, New York; Omaha, Nebraska; and Schenectady, New York. The Beautiful tour is on its North American leg and will go to Canada next month.

Its an amazing experience, and Im so grateful, Hill said in a telephone interview. In one way, I cant believe Im here, but at the same time, I can. I worked hard to get here. I know this is tangible  for me and for other kids.

Getting focus: Hill joined the nonprofit A Pocket Full of Hope when he was about 10 years old.

His family moved around a bit in his early childhood but settled in Tulsa by his older elementary years. He went to Academy Central Elementary, Wilson Middle School and Booker T. Washington High School, where he became drum major of the schools popular marching band and graduated in 2012.

Hill describes his family, including his parents Tarina and Jesse Foster, as artistic and creative. His uncle, Lester Shaw, is the founder of A Pocket Full of Hope and encouraged his participation.

Music was just a part of my life growing up, Hill said. My family was very musical, and I could sing. I saw Pocket Full of Hope as a way to help me focus. I love performing and singing, but I needed to focus.

Shaw remembers Hill being a bit of a novice as a youngster.

He didnt know how to dance, Shaw said with a chuckle. But he finally learned the dance to Thriller, and it all changed for him.

Hill recalls vividly the moves to that Michael Jackson hit.

That was a big accomplishment, he said. When I learned it, it was my pocket number and Id go to rehearsals with it.

Through the years, Hill stuck with the program.

I learned time management and technical skills, he said. We had a video room for film and learned how to design things. Once, we had a knitting class. Everything you could think of, we did.

This flexibility came in handy during college when he was in the musical comedy No, No Nanette.

Id never tapped a day in my life, and I had to tap, Hill said. So I learned to tap while doing the show. Pocket Full of Hope helped me learn to catch on to new things quickly. So, even without formal dance training, I was able to work it out.

Hill originally majored in political science, but his call to perform couldnt be ignored, so he changed his major and graduated in December. He had planned to be a performer on a cruise line, but before that happened his agent called with the Beautiful audition in New York City. He became part of the cast March 13.

The tour is great, he said. Everybody in the company is very nice and very supportive. I like living out of hotels and seeing different places.

He credits the north Tulsa nonprofit for inspiring this career direction.

That was the only thing around like that with all the different areas  music, theater, dance and film, Hill said. A Pocket Full of Hope wasnt just about dancing. I got to learn a lot of different things, build up a lot of different skills and form the basis of the craft.

Building a relationship: Pocket Full of Hope was founded in 2000 by Shaw to give fine arts opportunities for youth in north Tulsa.

A Tulsa native with a masters degree in counseling and an educational doctorate, Shaw designed the program to add in life lessons of responsibility and leadership. It also has a reading program, academic supports and field trips. Pocket Full of Hope has a 100 percent high school graduation rate.

We let them know how to learn and give them strategies to learn, Shaw said. Our goal is to have a relationship with each child. When kids know you love and respect them, they will work their butt off for you.

Although Hill is the first program alum to perform on a Broadway stage, Shaw said the entire group of students has talent.

I see it in all of them, Shaw said. Its having a balance of having your issues and having talent. We allow kids room for their issues, and thats been one of the things thats helped us all.

One parent recently said I spoil these kids. I view it as building a relationship. Ive been there and remember people who put their arm around me and encouraged me.

In 2008, the nonprofit purchased the Big 10 Ballroom at 1624 E. Apache Ave. to renovate and use as its own theater and community program.

It was built in 1948 in the art deco streamline style by Lonnie Williams, the second black officer on the Tulsa police force. It became a stop on the Chitlin Circuit, which included venues in the South, Midwest and East considered safe for African-American performers. It closed in the mid-60s and fell into disrepair.

Its been a lot slower to raise money than expected. Shaw said about $415,000 is needed to finish the heating and air installation, electrical work and the cosmetic remodel.

For years, the nonprofit has been performing wherever it can find an affordable stage  be it school, church, library or club. The nonprofit has a core group of students of about 37, but a production could swell the number to 150.

Hill returns when he can to visit Pocket Full of Hope and meet with its students.

Its such a great program. People fail to realize what they have and what you could build from it, Hill said. Its all about networking and making relationships. When I come back and teach kids, I want to inspire them about what they can do in the arts. I want them to know that wherever they go, they need to be present in the moment.
Infra Sharing Regulation: NTA includes controversial provision

The telecom sector regulator has incorporated a vague provision in the draft of a regulation, which, if approved, could be manipulated by authorities to stifle free competition in the telecom infrastructure services market.
This weekends torrential rainfall has resulted in the release of floodwater from Lake Hudson and Grand Lake, according to the Grand River Dam Authority.

At the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 11 spillway gates have been opened at Pensacola Dam, discharging 50,080 cubic feet per second of water from Grand Lake, a news release states. The lakes elevation as of Sunday afternoon was 747 feet, five feet higher than the target elevation.

Meanwhile, three floodgates opened at Robert S. Kerr Dam, discharging 40,557 cubic feet per second of water from Lake Hudson, according to the release.

The lakes elevation Sunday was 626 feet, seven feet higher than the target elevation.

GRDA is restricting access to the spillway areas below the dams during the process and issued a reminder that entering floodwater discharge is illegal.

Much of northeast Oklahoma received 2.5 to 4.5 inches or more of rain between Thursday and Sunday, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet.
This week on Insight Jenny Brockie asks, How do you break free from a cycle of crime, violence or disadvantage?

From the high ranks of bikie gangs to serious drug felonies on the streets of Cabramatta, how do you turn your life around when violence and crime are the norm?

Do circumstances dictate our path in life or can effort and freewill change it?

Physically abused as a child, Brent was 12 years old when he ended up living on the streets and getting involved with crime. As the seriousness of his crimes escalated, he joined a bikie gang, finding comfort in its camaraderie. While spending time in a maximum security prison, a warning from his son would make him take a hard look at his life.

Born in Australia to refugee parents who didnt speak any English, Tony had trouble communicating with them and lacked direction in life. At 14 and already a member of a drug gang, Tony was hooked on heroin, selling drugs and had a number of offences on his record. It would take him a near death experience to lead him to his faith and ultimately, help him turn his life around.

Zak was very young when his father, El Sayyid Nosair, was sent to prison for his involvement in the assassination of Meir Kahane, an ultra-Orthodox Rabbi who had founded Jewish Defence League. Three years later, Zak was shaken to his core when he found out his father also helped plot the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing from his prison cell.

Zak had to reassess his belief system passed on from his father and make a conscious effort to change his worldview. Today he speaks out as someone raised by an extremist but who chose the path of nonviolence.

This week, Insight hears inspiring stories of people who have broken free from a cycle of disadvantage, violence, crime.

8:30pm Tuesday on SBS.
One mans mission to resettle entire quake-ravaged village

Two years after the devastating Gorkha earthquake that claimed the lives of over 8,000 people and demolished over half a million homes, Dinesh Tamang of Lapa-1 Kapur in Dhading district, against all odds, has completed the resettlement of his fellow villagers.
Microsoft Azure is about to get another big boost this week. The company has just announced an expansion of its Azure cloud services, adding a new cloud-based enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to the mix.

The Redmond-based software company that it planning a new software as a service (SaaS) offering that will help companies simplify their IoT (Internet of Things) implementations without having to build the entire IoT technology within their Azure cloud environment. The Microsoft IoT Central, which will be made available in the coming months, will help streamline the process of building and managing IoT deployments for Microsoft Azure customers and technology partners, the Geekwire reported.

In a more recent company's blog post, Azure IoT director Sam George said that the newly introduced Microsoft IoT Central is a fully managed SaaS offerings for Azure customers and Microsoft's technology partners that enable powerful IoT scenarios without requiring any technical expertise. Gorge also added that the new offering has been designed to simplify the development process, enabling customer and partners to start on their IoT deployment.

Additionally, Microsoft also announced two new data analytics tools, called Microsoft Azure Time Series Insights and Microsoft Azure Stream Analytics. Azure Time Series Insights is basically a managed service that allows companies and organizations to analyze the billions of events generated by an IoT system and perform root-cause analysis and find anomalies in near real time.

The Azure Stream Analytics on Edge Devices is a cloud feature that will help companies and organizations get better data from connected devices (IoT-enabled devices) out of the edge of a network where cloud connectivity is limited or unpredictable. Both new features are available as a preview.

In addition to the Microsoft IoT Central, Microsoft is also preparing a big event, where the software company plans to debut the Azure IoT Suite: Connected Factory. That big event will take place at the Hannover Messe in Germany.

According to Microsoft, Azure IoT Suite: Connected Factory is a preconfigured solution that connects industrial equipment to Microsoft Azure cloud platform. This new preconfigured solution will enable businesses to browse and configure equipment and gather insights into the operational efficiency of their industrial facilities.

In another Microsoft Azure-related news, the company's Azure cloud service is now in good position to close the gap with the market leader Amazon web Services (AWS), as companies call for more business alignment and cloud features. A recently conducted survey, which also shows Microsoft Azure closing the gap with AWS, shows that cloud service providers need to step up their cloud strategy when it comes to aligning IT and business requirements for their cloud customers, the Channel Life reported.

AWS is still reputed to be the current cloud leader with 26 percent of the IaaS and PaaS market compared to Microsoft Azure's 12 percent market share. However, the market research shows that Azure is rapidly closing the gap with AWS, making a hyperscale cloud growth in triple figures.

Another cloud-related survey from Cowen & Co. shows the real story behind the cloud battle between AWS and Azure. When respondents have been asked about which public/hybrid cloud provider they preferred to use in the next 12 to 18 months, the survey showed that around 71 percent of the respondents picked Microsoft Azure, while AWS get only 24 percent of the respondents.

The survey clearly shows Microsoft Azure's growing popularity in today's business world. Microsoft's strength in enterprise IT along with strong cloud computing commitment, global reach, and the world-class customer makes Microsoft Azure the top choice for today's corporate business.
SLMM cadres disrupt election programme

The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) activists disrupted an election education programme at a school in Rajbiraj, Saptari, on Saturday.
Government to sell stakes in 137 state-owned enterprises by 2020

Vietnams State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) is planning to divest its entire capital in 137 state-owned enterprises (SOE) by 2020. Changes in foreign ownership limits, a growing economy, and a strong performing stock market have attracted considerable interest from foreign investors for earlier SOEs divestments. However, a lack of transparency and the slow progress of divestments are affecting investor sentiment.

Read More

RELATED: Pre-Investment Advisory Services from Dezan Shira & Associates

Vietnams GDP forecast to grow at 6.5 percent in 2017

Vietnams GDP is forecast to grow by 6.5 percent in 2017 and at 6.7 percent in 2018, according to the 2017 Asian Development Bank (ADB)s Outlook report. While the results remain largely upbeat, Vietnams first quarter growth, which came in slightly below prevailing estimates in March, has led to a more conservative outlook from the ADB. From the perspective of investors, however, aggregate GDP figures are likely to play a less significant role than the performance of key industries within the Vietnamese economy such as agriculture and manufacturing.

Read more

Government rejects airfare price floor proposal

Vietnams Ministry of Transport has rejected a bid to set price floors on air tickets as proposed by the countrys national carrier, Vietnam Airlines, as well as its subsidiary, Jetstar Pacific. Under the proposals, Vietnam Airlines advocated for a floor price for domestic travel between US$68 (VND 1.5 million) and US$185 (VND 4.2 million), while Jetstar Pacific proposed rates between US$26 (VND 600,000) and US$53 (VND 1.2 million).

Read more

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 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.



Managing Contracts and Severance in Vietnam

In this issue of Vietnam Briefing, we discuss the prevailing state of labor pools in Vietnam and outline key considerations for those seeking to staff and retain workers in the country. We highlight the increasing demand for skilled labor, provide in depth coverage of existing contract options, and showcase severance liabilities that may arise if workers or employers choose to terminate their contracts.
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The shells of Ncell

TeliaSoneras tax evasion took place despite the integrity pact for ethical business practices signed between Transparency Internationals local chapter and Ncell.
Vietnam is planning to divest 406 state-owned enterprises (SOE) by 2020, with 135 scheduled for 2017 alone. Changes in foreign ownership limits, a growing economy, and a strong performing stock market have attracted considerable interest from foreign investors for earlier SOEs divestments. However, a lack of transparency and the slow progress of divestments have been hampering investor sentiment.

Some of the big-ticket divestments include Vietnam Engine and Agricultural Machinery Corporation (VEAM), Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), Vietnam Airlines, PVOil, and PVTex. Since its inception in 2006, SCIC has divested in over 900 enterprises. In 2016, SCIC divested from 60 businesses and in turn, achieved an impressive 2.58x return.

Major divestments

2017 divestments

Vietnam Engine and Agricultural Machinery Corporation (VEAM), a company under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is the only major SOE undergoing divestment this year. The minimum divestment target has been set at 52.47 percent with another 36 percent divestment by 2020. Other divestments in 2017 include 92.98 percent in Vietnam Sugar Corporation, 91 percent in Quang Ninh Clean Water JSC, and 95.59 percent in Son Tay Water Supply company.

The Ministry of Construction and Ministry of Transport has the highest number of companies being divested, at six each in 2017. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Health each have only one company being divested in 2017.

The State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC), a state-owned holding company will divest in four SOEs, which includes Licogi Corporation (40.71 percent), Dien Bien Construction Investment and Consulting JSC (64.5 per cent), Tuyen Quang Minerals JSC (51 per cent), and Tuyen Quang Mechanical JSC (39.24 percent).

2018 and onwards

Major divestments planned for 2018 include 24.86 percent in Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex), 46.88 percent in Vietnam Pharmaceutical Corporation JSC (VinaPharm), 20.62 percent in Viglacera Corporation, 81.71 percent in Hanoi Plastics JSC, and 46.9 percent in Thong Nhat Electromechanical JSC.

Others include, 53.48 percent in Vinatex, 57.92 percent in Vietnam Steel Corporation, 64.65 percent in Vietnam Plastics Corporation, and 20 percent in Vietnam Medical Equipment Company.

In the aviation sector, Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) will be divesting 30.4 percent in 2 phases, 20 percent in 2018, and 10.4 percent in 2020, while Vietnam Airlines will divest a minimum of 35.16 percent in 2019.

Future potential divestments

Most companies in the agriculture and forestry sector have not been earmarked for divestment as of now, but are under consideration. Other enterprises under consideration include ones under the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, the Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, and SCIC, as well as Habeco, Sabeco, Giao Thong Hospital, Vietnam Satellite Digital Television Co., Ltd., and Vietnam Television Tower Company.

Transfer of ownership issues

Prior to divesting its stakes in SOEs, the Vietnamese state first transfers ownership of key enterprises from the ministerial or provincial peoples committee level of governance to the SCIC, which then handles the sale of shares to private investors.

Over the years, the process of transferring ownership from various ministries and committees has been a slow process. In most cases, ministries hold on to the SOEs, arguing that the enterprises are necessary for the local economy, while sometimes, ministries only prefer transferring failing enterprises.

In a few instances, the SCIC has hesitated to acquire ownerships of struggling enterprises. Since 2013, 173 enterprises out of 234 SOEs transferred to the SCIC have failed to complete the transfer due to delays.

To reduce the delays, the government has asked peoples committees in each city and province to report prior to the 25th of the last month of each quarter as well as on December 25 each year to the Steering Committee for Enterprise Innovation and Development, MoF, and MoIT for progress.

Foreign investment

For the past few years, foreign investors have shown considerable interest in Vietnamese assets, driven by a growing economy and a surging middle-class. On top of this, the lifting of foreign ownership limits in previously restricted sectors and lack of big-ticket domestic investors have opened up opportunities for foreign investment. With the recent announcement of 406 divestments, investors will have further clarity in making investment decisions and will increase the investment efficiency.

In spite of this, foreign parties have been quick to point to the slow pace of divestments, lack of financial transparency concerning the listed SOEs, and unrealistic SOE valuations as significant dampers on the opportunity. Because of these concerns, strategic investors are increasingly wary of acquiring smaller equity stakes, as it does not offer management control and allows the state to be the controlling stakeholder.

Going forward, SCIC has to offer larger stakes during divestments of its larger and profitable enterprises to attract considerable investment and increase corporate governance transparency.

Changes going forward

Moving ahead, the government needs to speed up the divestment process, increase transparency, and provide a higher share for investors to attract foreign investment. Future divestments will provide the country the much-needed capital to address its expanding budget deficit, which has been increasing due to falling oil prices, rising expenditures, and high public debt.

Despite all the challenges and issues, investors ought to look out for big-ticket divestments in sectors driven by the growing domestic demand and rising urban income, such as consumer goods, energy, airlines, and telecom.

Editors note: This article was originally published in April 2017 and has been updated to include the latest developments.
As a result of the transaction, Aviva Vietnam is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviva with a key focus on growing the business across all key distribution channels. This move also simplifies Avivas operating structure in the region. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals.

Chris Wei, Chairman Aviva Asia and global chairman of Aviva Digital said that With Avivas insurance and digital expertise and a strong partnership with a leading bank, we are optimistic about our growth prospects in Vietnam. We have developed a deep and successful relationship with VietinBank and will continue to build on our strong foundations.

While on the announcement, Randy Lianggara, regional CEO for China, Indonesia and Vietnam said: We are thankful to VietinBank for the excellent support it has offered us, and the high-quality partnership we have built together.

He added: We will continue to meet the changing needs of the Vietnamese people by introducing relevant products that are targeted to their unique life stages. We will also expand our distribution and digital capabilities and enhance the service quality we provide to our customers.

Aviva Vietnam was founded in 2011 and has since built a strong presence in the market, becoming a Top-ten life insurer by premium. Vietnam is an attractive insurance market with double digit life premium growth in the past three years and one of the worlds lowest life insurance penetration levels, at less than 1 per cent of GDP. The insurance industry is expected to benefit from the countrys projected GDP growth of more than 6 per cent annually over the next three years.
Singaporean investors note that the high-end real estate market in Vietnam has outstanding advantages in terms of development potential, as well as attractive prices compared to neighbouring countries. The seaside real estate segment possesses many of the resort features and high profitability that investors look for in emerging markets.



Luxury Apartment is a high-end coastal project with resort features and high profitability

We have been contacted by many investors interested in Luxury Apartment Danang since we opened and they all tend to ask the same questions. Through this exhibition, we want to clear some of these questions up and create more opportunities to bring the benefits of our project to international investors. Singaporean investors are well-versed in emerging markets and they are on the lookout for the next property hotspot, commented Jacobus Hemels, Alphanam Real Estate representative.

Singaporeans are seeking new opportunities to diversify their investment portfolio, often after having invested in previous emerging markets like Thailand or Bali. After the law of housing and real estate was changed for foreigners in Vietnam in July 2015, real estate ownership for foreigners has become much more transparent.



All apartments at Luxury Apartment have wide windows boasting fresh air and superb views on My Khe Beach

and Danangs CBD

Leong Boon Hoe, CEO of CBRE Singapore, stated that owning property in Vietnam is a new trend in the city-state. In the ASEAN region, Vietnam is one of the more active countries in attracting foreign investment into the property market.

The decision to invest in Alphanams Luxury Apartment is the best property investment I have made in Vietnam. The five-star project creates a luxury lifestyle for residents while providing high rental income for investors. The combination of architecture, stylish interior, and its strategic location allows for a higher capital gain from the investment too, said Qitai Ooi, a Malaysian investor who attended the exhibition.

Troy Griffiths, deputy general director of Savills Vietnam, noted that the domestic serviced apartments sector has seen an 83 per cent average occupancy rate in 2016. With this number, Alphanam (the developer) offers a contract which commits a 45 per cent return on investment in five years to investors. From the sixth year, upon signing a second contract, investors receive 85 per cent of net rental profits.

Currently, Alphanam is offering an attractive discount policy up to 7.5 per cent on the total value of each unit. With immediate and guaranteed returns payable twice a year in July and December, Luxury Apartment is now among the best-selling high-end resort apartment projects in Danang.

Derek Seth Goldberg, one of the Singaporean clients of the project, commented: This is my first property investment in Vietnam. The fact that this project is owned by Alphanam gives me a stronger belief in its quality as well as the legality of the promised rate of return on investment.



Luxury Apartment meets the needs of customers through a plethora of high-end amenities, including a rooftop pool,

all day dining restaurant, and a modern gym

Luxury Apartment is currently the only high-end apartment project on My Khe Beach, with the first apartments for residents being handed over at end of the second quarter of 2017. Its premium location allows for residents to easily travel to the city centre, the international airport as well as famous tourist attractions.

Along with having its own amenities for apartment guests, the project shares the building with high-end hotel Four Points by Sheraton, providing guests access not only to a rooftop pool, gym, and all-day-dining restaurant on the apartment side, but 5-star housekeeping, dry-cleaning/laundry, and in-room services, such as in-room dining. The apartment side is separated from the hotel for total privacy, including the lobby, yet it shares the luxury perks of a five-star hotel.

With the advantages of being designed and constructed in conjunction with an international hotel, Luxury Apartment is a quality investment product that were introduced by Alphanam at the Emerging Markets Property Show in Singapore on April 22 and 23. Luxury Apartment wishes to bring the opportunities of Vietnams high-end real estate products to more international investors and aims to make the investment process simpler and more transparent.

Project information:

Location: Vo Nguyen Giap - Tran Huu Tuoc Intersection, Son Tra, Danang

Developer: Alphanam Real Estate Joint Stock Company

Sales agency: Century 21

Hotline: +84 916 20 7979 | +65 9450 3907

Website: luxuryapartment.com.vn

Scheduled hand-over: Q2/2017
The Dangerous Side-Effects of Plastics, and How to Minimize Their Toxic Impact

Plastics are not only an environmental disaster; these man-made conveniences introduced a century ago are also harming our physical and mental health. Phthalates  chemical compounds used to make plastic more flexible and durable  are found in more products than you might imagine, and have become the human bodys
Afghanistan observed a national day of mourning Sunday after a Taliban suicide assault killed scores of soldiers in the deadliest insurgent raid on an military base in 16 years.

Fridays coordinated attack on the regional headquarters of the Afghan National Army in Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of the northern Balkh province, has reportedly left at least 140 soldiers dead and many more wounded.

But the Afghan government has not yet officially released the number of casualties as it investigates the incident.

"Afghan president has ordered a full and technical investigation with regards to the attack on the military base. In order that the result of the investigation must be acceptable to the president and the people of Afghanistan, Shah Hussain Murtazawi told a news conference in Kabul.

Death toll

Unnamed security officials and politicians in Balkh have told local reporters the death toll could be as high as at least 180 and that Afghan special forces were also among the victims.

Afghan lawmakers, during heated debates in parliament, harshly criticized authorities for withholding the official death toll. They also demanded top security officials be summoned to parliament to explain their failure to prevent the attack.

Ten heavily armed Taliban suicide bombers disguised as soldiers and riding Afghan military vehicles stormed the 209th Shaheen Corps headquarters and made their way into the center of the heavily fortified facility.

One group of assailants sprayed Afghan soldiers with bullets as they were leaving a mosque following afternoon prayers, while another group stormed a dining facility at the military compound before Afghan commandos surrounded and engaged them in fierce gun-battles, according to witnesses.

At least four attackers had been serving at the base as soldiers and played a key role in executing the deadly raid, the Taliban asserted while claiming responsibility for the violence.

Survivors also told reporters they believed without inside help it would not have been possible for Taliban insurgents to make their way deep into the heavily fortified military base.

US Embassy's statement

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul, in a statement Sunday, strongly condemned the attack as a despicable act and extended its heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and co-workers of the victims.

This vicious attack only strengthens Americas resolve to stand by our brave and courageous Afghan allies. The U.S. commitment is as strong as the hardest steel, and the barbarism of the enemy only hardens our resolve, it said.

Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid released details of the attack on Saturday along with a picture of the purported bombers. He claimed the siege lasted for ten hours and up to 500 enemy soldiers were killed and wounded, including key officers.

Mujahid said the deadly raid was a retaliation for the recent killings of Taliban shadow governors for the neighboring Kunduz and Baghlan provinces along with a number of colleagues by U.S. backed Afghan forces.

He warned that Fridays attack on the army base is a message for all the enemy soldiers, police, intelligence operatives and relevant [Afghan] institutions that this years [Taliban] operations will be more brutal and painful for them.

Afghan security forces have suffered massive casualties since U.S.-led foreign combat troops left Afghanistan in 2014. In the first eight months of 2016, insurgent attacks killed close to 7,000 Afghan security forces, according to figures local officials shared with the U.S. military.
On Friday early in the afternoon, two Afghan Army Ford Ranger vehicles with 10 soldiers on board stopped before the first security check point of the main entrance to 209 Shaheen Corps, in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province.

The soldiers on board were Taliban militants, disguised in Afghan National Army (ANA) uniforms with fake identification cards.



Inside the first vehicle, there was a wounded soldier who was pleading for urgent care.



The soldier was covered in blood, and when the guard at the first checkpoint communicated with his superiors in the second checkpoint, he was told to let them in, an Afghan soldier from the military base told VOA on condition of anonymity.



They were allowed to cross the second checkpoint as well, and when they were stopped and asked for their guns in the third checkpoint, they started firing at the guards, the Afghan soldier added.



According to the soldier, the security guard at the main gate was convinced that the assailants were returning from a mission from northern Faryab province and that the wounded soldier would die if not taken care of immediately.



As soon as they gunned down the security guards in the third checkpoint, they spread inside the base, and two of the assailants rushed towards the cafeteria and the mosque detonating their suicide vests, the source added.

The attack reportedly left at least 140 soldiers dead and many more wounded. The death toll may rise as some soldiers are said to be in critical condition.



General Mohammad Radmanesh, spokesperson of the Afghan Ministry of Defense, confirmed that the attackers faked a wounded soldier scenario to get inside the base.





We are soldiers and we have emotions towards our fellow comrades. The soldier was covered in blood, Radmanesh said, referring to how the wounded soldier scenario has led to the loosening of security protocol.



Two of the assailants were suicide bombers, and the remaining eight others were armed with guns and went on a rampage to kill unarmed soldiers before they were gunned down by Afghan commandos inside the base, Radmanesh added.



Survivors accounts



Zabiullah, a wounded officer from eastern Nangarhar province, told Afghan media that they were confused about who was fighting whom inside the military base as the assailants were all in Army uniform.



As we came out of the mosque, we heard gun shots and we saw a Ranger coming towards us at a very fast speed. There were four people in it - two in the front and two in the back seat. The two in the front seat were armed and the other two had suicide vests. Zabiullah told Ariana News, a local TV station in Afghanistan.



One of my colleagues said they were Afghan army soldiers as they were dressed in military uniforms. But as we were trying to figure out who they were and what to do, they started firing at us, he added.



Zabiullah said it is impossible to get inside the military base without proper identification.



Even soldiers are not allowed in without presenting their identification cards. How were they [assailants] able to get in? Zabiullah asked.





Noorullah, another wounded soldier, accused the senior leadership at the base of mismanagement and corruption.



All our seniors at the Corps are corrupt. They sell us off and they never stay in the base, he said while talking to Tolo News, a local TV Channel. When a poor soldier wants to visit his ailing mother during a weekend, he is not allowed to do so, but senior officials regularly use government vehicles for personal business.



Those who helped them and gave them our guns must be hanged in public. They are using our guns against us, Mohammad Zabih, another wounded soldier from Nangarhar told Radio Liberty.



Radmanesh told VOA an investigation is underway.



We have sent a high level investigation team to the base and they will investigate every aspect of the attack, Radmanesh said. This sophisticated attack has been planned and executed with help of intelligence agencies of regional countries.



Some security analysts, however, charge that militant groups, whether they are the Taliban or Islamic State, have previously engaged in similar attacks and security forces have failed to adapt to them.



The Taliban used the same tactics they used for attacking the military hospital in Kabul last month, Abdul Wahed Taqat, a retired Afghan general said. As was the case in the attack on the hospital, the militants had deployed infiltrators inside the base in Mazar as well. They had 5-6 infiltrators in the base.



Last months attack on the military hospital in Kabul was claimed by Islamic State, but Taqat believes IS and the Taliban have the same foreign support.



Taqat warned that the militants have infiltrated every sector of the Afghan security structure.



It must be thoroughly probed. The enemy has infiltrators in almost all security departments including army corps, national security, and they are used when needed, he added.



Wahid Muzhda, a Kabul-based Taliban expert echoes some of Taqats concerns.



The militants plan such attacks with a high degree of sophistication. They use information they receive from infiltrators in planning their attacks, said Muzhda. "The timing of the attack on the army base was based on the information provided by four of the attackers who had previously worked inside the base and had a good knowledge of how the base operated. They knew that the Friday prayer would be concluded around 1:30 p.m. and the soldiers would not be carrying guns."

But spokesperson Radmanesh downplayed the allegations of infiltration and charged that the attack happened because militants faked a wounded soldier scenario.



VOA Afghan Services Mirwais Bezhan contributed to this report from Mazar-i-Sharif
Truck collision leaves one dead, six injured

A person was killed and six other injured in a collision between two trucks this morning at Fishling area of Icha Kamana along the Prithvi highway.
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has visited Djibouti, the tiny east African nation that is home to the United States only military base on the continent, in his sweeping tour of the Middle East and Horn of Africa.

Mattis called Djibouti, located on the Bab el-Maned strait, an important geographic crossroads. Dozens of commercial and military ships travel through the strategic strip of water every day, and the deep Djiboutian port on the strait is used by the U.S. and French navies and about 10 other nations, according to a U.S. official.

In addition to speaking with French and U.S. troops at Camp Lemonnier on Sunday, Mattis met with the Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Minister of Defense Ali Hasan Bahdon.

The base is critical for U.S. exercises and operations on the continent, and U.S. special forces use the facility to conduct counter-terror operations against al-Shabab in neighboring Somalia, according to officials.

Broader powers

Mattis visit to Djibouti comes less than a month after the White House approved a Pentagon proposal to allow the head of Africa Command to launch offensive attacks against al-Shabab militants in Somalia in support of partner forces.

In a briefing with Mattis Sunday, U.S. Africa Command chief General Thomas Waldhauser said he had not exercised those new authorities, but looked forward to using those at the appropriate time.

We continue to develop intelligence and develop targets, and when we have the opportunity, we will use those, Waldhauser said.

The general said the United States maintains a high bar for certainty on strikes, stressing the importance of gaining a better sense of the battlefield as large numbers of people are moving around in Somalia as a result of a devastating drought and famine.

The new directive clears the way for an enhanced U.S. presence and more leeway for U.S. strikes against the militant group. Before, U.S. forces were targeting al-Shabab in what they called self-defense operations, which the military said protected U.S. advisers operating on the ground with Somali and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces.

Officials say the new mandate is representative of the presidents and the defense secretarys desire to empower combatant commanders with more flexibility.

Its just that now Washington doesnt have to approve every strike there, one official said.

Chinese presence

The United States will soon see another military neighbor in Djibouti, when China completes construction of its first overseas military base.

General Waldhauser recently said it will be the closest facility that a peer competitor has ever had to a U.S. base, which he said raises some security concerns.

Another U.S. official told reporters the U.S. concerns include the standard counter-intelligence kind that come anytime you have forces operating within close proximity.

Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Rudy DeLeon told VOA the Chinese base is a bid to increase Beijing's heavy presence in the Horn of Africa due to its clear interest in the resources there.

While many of the people in the region are poor, the lands and coastal sea floors are rich with minerals, petroleum, gold and natural gas.

DeLeon said Chinese interest in developing some of the poorest areas in the region could be constructive, especially as the areas are battling a destructive drought.

Mattis, without calling out China by name, urged countries new to the region abide by the rule of law in international waters.

International law is critical to keeping the waterways open, and its very important that we maintain the same degree of cooperation in that regard in the future as other countries come in, Mattis said.

Piracy

The Chinese have said the new base will help them play a greater role in maritime security in the area.

After nearly five years without piracy problems in the region, the waters off the coast of Somalia have seen about a half-dozen piracy incidents in the past two months.

Waldhauser told reporters the new incidents appear to be a result of the famine and drought in Somalia.
French expatriates in South America, Canada and the United States kicked off the voting Saturday in France's presidential election, on the heels of several terror attacks that could affect the outcome.

Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and a former economy minister, independent centrist Emmanuel Macron, are the top contenders, followed by conservative former Prime Minister Francois Fillon and far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.

The candidates are vying to replace incumbent Francois Hollande, who announced earlier this year that he would not run for another term.

Campaigning ended earlier than expected Thursday when a French policeman was killed by a gunman on the Champs-Elysee, one of Paris' most popular streets for shopping and tourism. Analysts have long said a last-minute event could swing the election outcome.

In November 2015, Paris terror attacks, in which 130 people were killed, happened just weeks before France held regional elections. The attacks are thought to have given a boost to Le Pen's National Front party, which lost in the second round of voting and failed to win control of any region.

Some French critics of LePen told reporters they feared this week's attack and others like it could push her campaign to a win, perhaps endangering France's future in the European Union.

But national security is not the only issue that matters in this year's election. France's unemployment rate is about 10 percent, more than twice as high as that of its neighbor Germany, and the state of the economy is a constant worry.

The bulk of the first-round voting in France itself will come Sunday. Early results are expected around 9 p.m. Paris time.
Seventy-three-year-old Ron Gruenhagen is the descendant of German immigrants who came to Iowa in the mid-19th century. Muscatine and surrounding counties in Iowa and Illinois constituted much of the world they knew back then and much of what they produced was consumed nearby. Today, however, some operations are controlled by rules made in Washington, and the crops major consumers are half a world away, in China.

We are very dependent on our foreign markets, he said. If we didnt have them we would be flooded with grain and soybeans and maybe we wouldnt know what to do with it.

Trade war worries

President Donald Trump has promised to renegotiate existing trade agreements that he describes as bad deals for the United States and has pulled out of the Trans Pacific Partnership talks that were aimed at increasing trade between the United States and 10 other nations.

Many area farmers and business leaders worry about a trade war disrupting commerce with China, Mexico and other nations that have become close trading partners. But Gruenhagen sees Trumps tough talk as part of his bargaining strategy.

It concerns me, but it is all part of the negotiations, he said. Everything we do is negotiated, whether you are buying a loaf of bread in the store or buying a new tractor, it is all negotiated.

Long ties with China

Muscatine County, Iowa, has special ties with China because Chinese President Xi Jinping stayed with a local family here in 1985 when he was a provincial official interested in learning more about American agriculture. When he came back for a visit as vice president in 2012, many of the people whom he had met came out to greet him.

The welcoming committee, formed of local business leaders, later transformed into the still active Muscatine China Initiative, which promotes business ties and investment between the county and Chinese companies.

Recently the city of Muscatine threw a celebration for Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, whom President Trump has chosen to be U.S. Ambassador to China. The event included a traditional Chinese orchestra provided by the Chinese consulate in Chicago.

Gruenhagen thinks it is beneficial to have a Chinese leader who knows Iowa and rural America from firsthand experience.

He certainly understands agriculture here and thats half the battle in negotiations  understanding the people on the other side of the table, he said.

He doubts there will be any trade disruption, despite Trumps tough stand.

Since we have become dependent on each other, they on our food and we on the products they provide us, we are interdependent and that is pretty important, perhaps, for a peaceful world, he said.

Gruenhagen believes Trump will reverse what he views as a decline in the countrys global standing.

We lost the status we had as a great superpower, he said. Maybe we could still be called a superpower, but we were no longer called great. I think we will be elevated to a higher position and gain more respect than we have had in the past.

Reducing regulations

He also hopes the Trump administration, backed by a Republican Congress will relieve the regulation burden on business, industry and farming, with the Environmental Protection Agency, he argues, being the worst offender. The administration appears set on gutting the agency.

We are regulated to death, he said. It consumes a lot of our time just to comply with their rules.

Although he favors farming methods that protect the environment and conserve soil, Gruenhagen does not believe the federal government should be telling farmers in Iowa what to do.

I think it is better for the individual farmer to decide what is best on his farm, how to control that soil and how to make it better rather than have a bureaucrat from Washington, D.C., indicate to us what is better, he said.

Yet environmentalists are less optimistic, arguing major international agribusiness, whose decision-makers live elsewhere, are often more concerned with profit than the land.

Gruenhagens son and grandson help him run the farm, and he is happy to be able to carry on the family name when they inherit the land, buildings and around $1 million in equipment.

It is a lot of work, he said, but it is a pleasure because we are able to feed a lot of people and, yes, we feed the world.
Two Japanese destroyers have joined an American aircraft carrier headed toward the Korean peninsula.

The Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan Friday to join the Carl Vinson. The vessels of the two countries began joint exercises Sunday in the Western Pacific.

The USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group, which includes a guided-missile cruiser and a guided missile destroyer, was diverted from its trip to Australia by U.S. President Donald Trump, as tensions rise in the Korean peninsula over North Koreas ballistic missile and nuclear tests.

It was not immediately clear how long the Japanese destroyers would sail alongside the U.S. carrier group.

The U.S. Navy says the joint exercises are routine, designed to improve combined maritime response and defense capabilities, as well as joint maneuvering proficiency.

Japans show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike Japan with nuclear or chemical warheads.

Meanwhile on Sunday, North Korea said it was ready to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, as two Japanese navy ships joined a U.S. carrier group for exercises in the western Pacific.

Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike, the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the Norths ruling Workers Party, said in a commentary.

North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean Peoples Army on Tuesday. In the past, it has marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear weapons tests, two of them last year, and has carried out a stream of ballistic missile tests, in defiance of U.N. sanctions.

North Koreas tests have been carried out despite United Nations sanctions against them.

Trump has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the U.S. with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has apologized for the cancellation of election primaries on Friday, the result of a much higher voter turnout than had been expected.

Kenyatta said Saturday that his Jubilee Party would hold new voting on Monday and Tuesday.

The president said in a statement that primary elections do not usually inspire the level of turnout seen Friday. Complications included insufficient materials, flawed ballots and general confusion. As a result, primaries were canceled in 15 of 21 counties.

The primaries are being held in advance of a national election in August that will include the contest for the presidency.

Kenya's most recent election in 2013 was peaceful, but a decade ago, about 1,000 people died in postelection violence.

The Jubilee Party formed last year in a merger of 12 parties and was designed to consolidate support for the president. Friday's confusion was a big embarrassment for the new group.
An American monitor with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) died and several other monitors were injured Sunday when their car hit a mine near Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.

Austria's foreign ministry confirmed the incident near the small village of Pryshyb.Austria currently holds the OSCEs rotating presidency.

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz demanded a thorough investigation, adding that those responsible would be held accountable.

A German and a Czech national were also injured but have been treated at a local hospital.

According to reports, the vehicle drove over a mine in territory controlled by the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic.

The chief of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), Ertugrul Apakan, said he is travelling to Luhansk Monday to extend his support to the monitors and to better understand the situation.

In a statement, Apakan said the OSCE remains committed to fulfilling its mandate and contributing to bring peace to the people of Ukraine.

A rebel statement said the OSCE team was traveling along an unsafe road."We know that the mentioned crew deviated from the main route and moved along side roads, which is prohibited by the mandate of the OSCE SMM," local media reported.

The incident marks the first loss of life for the OSCE's Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.

The OSCE has 600 members in eastern Ukraine, and is the only independent monitoring mission in the destroyed industrial war zone.It provides daily reports on the war and has angered insurgents for accusing them of being responsible for most truce agreement violations.

During the past three years tensions between Ukraine and separatists in the Russian-held eastern part of the country have continued to increase.A 2015 cease-fire agreement is repeatedly violated.

At least 9,750 people have been killed in the war in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.More than 40 died during the first two months of this year, when hostilities suddenly surged.


Activists monitoring Syria's long-running civil war said Saturday that airstrikes had seriously damaged an underground medical center in Idlib province, just kilometers from the site of a deadly chemical attack that sparked international outrage and a U.S. cruise missile retaliation earlier this month.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said airstrikes targeted a cave that housed the rebel-controlled Abdin medical facility, killing at least one person and wounding more than a dozen others. Another opposition website, Aleppo Today, said three medical staffers were presumed killed.

Witnesses said it was unclear whether Syrian warplanes or those from ally Russia had targeted the facility.

The medical charity Physicians for Human Rights said more than 400 airstrikes tied to Russian or Syrian government warplanes bombed more than 300 separate medical facilities between 2011 and the end of last year. Nearly 800 medical workers were killed.

The Abdin facility is just north of Khan Sheikhoun, the town hit in a chemical attack that killed about 100 civilians in a suspected government-ordered strike on April 4. U.S. President Donald Trump responded by ordering a cruise missile attack on an air base in western Syria.

Separately Saturday, monitors said warplanes thought to belong to the U.S.-led international coalition battling Islamic State extremists struck targets on the Euphrates River 40 kilometers upstream from IS's de facto capital, Raqqa.

An observatory statement said the strikes near al-Tabqa city had killed at least five people and wounded an untold number of others.

U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters have been pushing northward toward Raqqa for weeks, cutting IS supply lines and capturing an air base near the Tabqa dam.

Those units advanced toward Raqqa as a largely Syrian Arab militia closed in on the extremist-held city from the west, north and east, ahead of an expected assault on the stronghold later this year.
Morocco has summoned Algeria's ambassador to express concern after 54 Syrians attempted to "illegally enter" the country from Algeria, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Sunday.



It said 54 Syrians attempted to enter Morocco through the border town of Figuig, an area surrounded by mountains, between April 17 and 19. It accused Algeria of forcing them to cross into Morocco.



"Algeria must assume political responsibility and morality concerning this situation," the ministry statement on MAP state news agency said.



"It is immoral and unethical to manipulate the moral and physical distress of these people, [and] to sow trouble in the Morocco-Algerian border."



There was no immediate response from Algeria on state news agency APS.



Some 5,000 Syrians have gone through a migration regulatory process in Morocco, with several hundred receiving refugee status, according to Morocco's ministry of foreign affairs.



Morocco and Algeria share a 1,500 km (970 mile) land border that runs from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sahara Desert which has been shut since 1994.



The North African neighbors have had a contentious relationship since independence from France. Border disputes triggered an armed conflict in the 1960s known as the "Sand War."



One of their biggest disputes has been over Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, most of which Morocco annexed in 1975.



Algeria supports and hosts the Western Saharan independence movement Polisario, a stance which angers Morocco.
North Korea has detained another U.S. citizen, a university accounting professor in his 50s in the country to teach and discuss relief activities.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Tony Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk, was arrested Friday at Pyongyang International Airport.

Kim taught accounting at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology for about a month, according to the school's chancellor, Park Chan-mo. Kim had taught at Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China before teaching in North Korea.

The U.S. State Department said "protection of U.S. citizens is one of [its] highest priorities." But the United States has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, and works with the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang to try to free detained Americans.

"Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment," the State Department said.

Park said he was told Kim's detention had "nothing to do" with his teaching in North Korea, but did not know further details of his detention.

North Korea did not immediately comment on the arrest.

Kim is the third American held by the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a time of tense relations with the United States.

US warning



U.S. President Donald Trump has dispatched a naval strike group to the waters off the Korean peninsula as a warning against Pyongyang's continued nuclear weapons development program. The North Korean government, in violation of U.N. decrees, has conducted numerous missile tests and five nuclear tests, with a sixth possible soon.

On Sunday, North Korea said it was ready to sink an aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, which is the lead ship in the U.S. naval strike group, to demonstrate its military might. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday the naval ships would arrive off the Korean peninsula "within days."

North Korea has in the past detained U.S. citizens to use as bargaining chips in its negotiations with Washington.

Last year, Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia student, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.

Kim Dong Chul, born a South Korean but believed to have U.S. citizenship, is serving 10 years of hard labor for subversion.
Dick Becker is optimistic about his hometown, Lancaster, in southwestern Wisconsins Grant County, and the nation as a whole as President Donald Trump works to stamp his political brand on Washington.

They need to give him a chance! he said, speaking of the president.

Becker says that a majority of voters here had favored Trump, a Republican, in Novembers election because they wanted change. He adds that many who had previously sought change by voting for President Barack Obama had been disappointed in what he delivered.

People I talk to did not like the way things were going, he said. People were fed up with politics as usual and they wanted a change.

As for Trump? I just hope people get behind him because if he does well, everybody does well, Becker replied.

Vote not borne of distress

The voters choice was not motivated by any distress in their community, Becker said, because things are going well in Grant County.

When he looks out the large window of Walkers Clothing and Shoes, where he works as a sales associate, Becker sees the massive red brick courthouse that towers over Lancasters main square. On the streets, he sees people out and about, spending time and money in his store, at a popular local jewelry store, the drug store, gift shops and restaurants.

Many people in small rural communities prefer to drive an hour or more to a larger city to shop.

But Becker said Lancaster, population 3,868, has reversed that trend somewhat, drawing people from as far away as Wisconsins capital, Madison, to buy what he calls top- quality merchandise at Walkers and other stores that also offer the charm and friendliness of a small-town shop, something not always found in large urban stores.

Always the salesman, Becker said, You cant get the customer service and the quality you have here.

Lancasters gain has, to some extent, come at the expense of smaller towns in the area, where only a few retail stores hang on.

What has helped Grant Countys overall prosperity, Becker said, is the economic development, spurred initially by federal and state funds, that drew some light manufacturing and food-processing plants to the area, creating hundreds of jobs and adding to the local customer base.

Political polarization

But he said Grant County experiences the same political polarization seen in the country as a whole, and adds there are many vocal critics of Trump.



People can be intolerant of other peoples opinion, he said. Some of the people whose candidate lost are doing everything they can to vilify this guy.

Some other people in Lancaster confirmed Beckers description of the political divide, with some defending Trump as a businessman who speaks plainly and others condemning him for crude rhetoric and an agenda that could undermine social services that benefit local citizens who are not prospering.

Becker said he, too, had some problems with some of Trumps brash talk, but he concentrates on the positive.

I agree with what he says; I want to see businesses come back to this country, Becker said. That also applies to energy policy, a subject of great importance in a rural area where farm operations require fuel and natural gas-derived nitrogen for fertilizer and everyone needs to drive long distances for essential services.

He wants to tap into more of our energy reserves, Becker said of the president. I like that because I dont want to give our money to other countries. Why should we buy oil from Iran or Venezuela when we have our own?

But Becker, like most other people in this region, said he prefers not to dwell too much on politics with neighbors and friends; he'd rather avoid arguments and have a sense of community harmony.
Tryst with mighty Mekong

A recent trip to Cambodia was fun and enriching in many ways
Voters across France went to the polls in an election that is one of the closest watched in decades, with 11 candidates, ranging from the extreme right to the extreme left, vying for the French presidency.

Tight security was in place after a terrorist attack in Paris on Thursday, just days before the voting.

About 50,000 police officers backed by 7,000 soldiers, including special forces, were deployed to the streets for security amid tensions following the attack claimed by the Islamic State terrorist group. The shooting along the iconic Champs-Elysees in the heart of Paris left one police officer dead and several other people injured.

State of emergency, tight security

This is the first election to be held under a state of emergency called after the 2015 Paris attacks, and observers say last weeks shooting could bring out many voters who had otherwise planned to abstain.

In a tweet a day after the Champs Elysees shooting, U.S. President Donald Trump said, The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!

Despite predictions of low voter turnout, witnesses said lines formed at voting stations in Paris 15th arrondissement before opening hours and turnout was reported to be heavy at various polling stations across the country. Government officials said turnout in the afternoon was (69 percent) a percentage point lower that it was in the first round of the 2012 elections.

Pre-election polls show tight race

Leading in pre-election polls has been Emmanuel Macron, a center-left former economy minister who is pro-Europe and pro-business with close ties to unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande. His appeal lies mainly in Frances prosperous urban areas where globalism has benefited many.

A close second has been Marine Le Pen, who wants to end most immigration to France, especially from Muslim countries. She also wants France to leave the European Union. Her strongholds are largely in formerly industrial areas of France where unemployment is high and so is disillusionment with the modern economic and social order.

Another top contender is former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, a center-right social conservative who favors cuts in public spending and pushing for deep reforms in the European Union.

Last-minute decisions

Analysts and voters interviewed see this as the most unpredictable election since World War II. One-third of voters were undecided days before the balloting.

In the last few weeks before the vote, far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon surged in the polls and so did discussion of the previously obscure candidate in social media.

Among the ways his campaign lured young voters was through the release of a video game in which a player pretending to be Melenchon walks the streets and takes money from men in suits. The player is shown in a battle against the rich and powerful.

Anger at the establishment is the sentiment driving voters in an election in which security, Frances lagging economy, its 10-percent unemployment rate, and Islamist extremism are issues on the minds of those on the left and on the right.

That, analysts say, is what is driving large numbers of people, including some of the middle and upper class residents of Paris, to vote for candidates of the extreme, like Le Pen and Melenchon.

Some of them for the thrill of it. Its the principle, you know. Like playing Russian roulette, but politically.Some others it would be because they despise the elite of this country, said Thomas Guenole, a political analyst in Paris, told VOA.

In France, the prevailing candidate in a presidential race needs an absolute majority. If no one wins a majority, the top vote-getters in Sundays poll will face off in a second round on May 7.

Polls closed at 1800 UTC.
Saudi Arabias King Salman issued a royal decree Saturday restoring financial allowances for civil servants and military personnel that had been cut under austerity measures.

The royal order returns all allowances, financial benefits, and bonuses to civil servants and military staff, said the decree, broadcast on state-run Ekhbariya TV.

In September Saudi Arabia cut ministers salaries by 20 percent and scaled back financial perks for public sector employees in one of the energy-rich kingdoms most drastic measures to save money at a time of low oil prices.

The measures were the first pay cuts for government employees, who make up about two-thirds of working Saudis.

The decree canceled those orders, saying they had come as a response to the sharp drop in the price of oil, the main source of state revenues.

It said the measures had helped put the kingdom on a path to achieve the objectives set out in its economic reform program, Vision 2030, which include improving state revenues and curbing the budget deficit.

Following the decree, economic officials highlighted figures pointing to economic recovery. The central bank governor said the kingdoms trade deficit was expected to drop in 2017, possibly moving into a surplus.

The deputy economy minister said the kingdom had reduced its deficit in the first quarter of the year by more than half, in part because of prudent public spending.



Other decrees issued at the same time appointed one of Salmans sons, Prince Khaled bin Salman, ambassador in Washington and another, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, state minister for energy affairs.

Further decrees replaced the kingdoms information and civil service ministers and set up a committee to investigate allegations of abuse of the civil service office.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman (right) meets with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, in Riyadh, April 19, 2017. Salman restored financial perks for Saudi Arabia's military and civil servants, who make up two-thirds of working Saudis.


Nine Somali sliders were killed and five others were injured after a massive roadside explosion targeted their vehicle in Galgala, officials said.

The explosion occurred mid-morning Sunday during a routine operation by the Puntland security forces in the Galgala Mountains.

Spokesman for Puntland police in Galgala, Major Abdirahman Farah Gurhan, told VOA Somali that the vehicle was transporting 17 soldiers when it was hit by the improvised explosive device. The site of the blast is about 57 kilometers southwest of Bosaso port town.

Nine soldiers died, five others are injured, they were riding a military vehicle when it exploded, Gurhan said.

He said the victims include members of the security forces from police, military and maritime forces. He said only driver and two officers survived.

The al-Shabab militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Galgala is a chain of mountains in Puntland where al-Shabab has been battling regional forces for nearly 10 years.

The area the group controls is strategic and close to the Red Sea. Experts believe al-Shabab's grip on this area is key to maintaining their connections to Yemen militants.

The United States has offered $3 million bounty for the leader of the al-Shabab branch in Puntland, Yasin Osman Khalid Kilwe.


Former U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday makes his first major appearance since leaving office, having chosen Chicago, the city where his political career started, to emerge from a three-month hiatus from the public eye.

Obama will meet youth leaders and promote community organizing near the same South Side neighborhoods where his own activism blossomed and propelled him to two terms in the White House that ended with Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who served as Obama's first White House chief of staff, said that he was proud that Obama picked Chicago to make his last speech as president and the first in his post-presidency.

I think it reflects his emotional, as well as his intellectual, commitment to this city and seeing this city as his home, he said.

Obama's continued connection to Chicago is important to the city, which has global aspirations as well as a palpable insecurity about its place in the world.

During the last year of Obama's second term, Chicago laid claim to its share of his legacy by beating out Hawaii and New York as the site of his presidential library.

Obama, who still owns a home in Chicago, was raised in Hawaii. The former president and his wife Michelle are expected to move from Washington to New York once their younger daughter, Sasha, graduates from high school.

David Axelrod, a former top political adviser to Obama, said the decision to house the library in Chicago should have eased any concerns that its residents may have had about the former Democratic president's commitment to the city.

But Monday's event, he said, is another important sign of the former president's strong links to Chicago.

He's going to be more visible moving forward, he said. I think this is clearly a coming-out.

Reverend Michael Pfleger, a social justice activist who heads a large South Side Roman Catholic church, said a prominent Obama presence could help the nation's third-largest city confront some of the thorny problems it faces.

Chief among them is a spike in gun violence, an issue that Trump has highlighted as a sign of lawlessness and the failure of the Democratic politicians who have long run Chicago.

"It's his life, and he's not in elected office right now, so he can do what he wants," Pfleger said. "But I'd love to see him engage in his home of Chicago. He could make a huge difference."

Civil Rights activist Jesse Jackson said Obama could use his powerful platform to address stark inequalities in Chicago schools, housing and employment, and to advocate for reinvestment in blighted neighborhoods.

Monday's event takes place on the South Side campus of the University of Chicago, where Obama once taught constitutional law. It is intended "to encourage and support the next generation of leaders driven by strengthening communities," according to a statement.

Since leaving office, Obama has kept a relatively low public profile, taking vacations in Palm Springs, California and the British Virgin Islands, where he indulged in the sport of kite-boarding while vacationing with British billionaire Sir Richard Branson.

Together with his wife, who grew up on Chicago's South Side, the former president recently struck a two-book, $65 million memoir deal. He is expected to travel to Berlin to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel next month.
A fungus that causes vomitoxin has been found in some U.S. corn harvested last year, forcing poultry and pork farmers to test their grain, and giving headaches to grain growers wrestling with massive supplies and low prices.

The plant toxin sickens livestock and can also make humans and pets ill.

The appearance of vomitoxin and other toxins produced by fungi is affecting ethanol markets and prompting grain processors to seek alternative sources of feed supplies.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture first isolated the toxin in 1973 after an unusually wet winter in the Midwest. The compound was given what researchers described as the trivial name vomitoxin because pigs refused to eat the infected corn or vomited after consuming it. The U.S. Corn Belt had earlier outbreaks of infection from the toxin in 1966 and 1928.

The spread of vomitoxin is concentrated in Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, and parts of Iowa and Michigan, and its full impact is not yet known, according to state officials and data gathered by food testing firm Neogen Corp.

In Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana, a considerable share of corn crops tested since last falls harvest have had vomitoxin levels high enough to be considered too toxic for humans, pets, hogs, chickens and dairy cattle, according to public and private data compiled by Neogen. The company did not state what percent of each states corn crop was tested.

Toxin levels

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows vomitoxin levels of up to 1 part per million (ppm) in human and pet foods and recommends levels under 5 ppm in grain for hogs, 10 ppm for chickens and dairy cattle. Beef cattle can withstand toxin levels up to 30 ppm.

Alltech Inc, a Kentucky-based feed supplement company, said 73 percent of feed samples it has tested this year have vomitoxin. The company analyzed samples sent by farmers whose animals have fallen ill.

We know there is lots of bad corn out there, because corn byproducts keep getting worse, said Max Hawkins, a nutritionist with Alltech.

Neogen, which sells grain testing supplies, reported a 29 percent jump in global sales for toxin tests, with strong demand for vomitoxin tests, in their fiscal third quarter, ending Feb. 28.

Were polling our customers and continually talking to them about the levels theyre seeing. Those levels are not going down, said Pat Frasco, director of sales for Neogens milling, grain and pet food business.

The problem, stemming from heavy rain before and during the 2016 harvest, prompted farmers to store wet grain, said farmers, ethanol makers and grain inspectors.

The issue was compounded by farmers and grain elevators storing corn on the ground and other improvised spaces, sometimes covering the grain piles with plastic tarps. Grain buyers say they will have a clearer picture of the problem later this spring, as more farm-stored grain is moved to market.

Iowa State University grain quality expert Charles Hurburgh said the sheer size of the harvest in 2016  the largest in U.S. history  complicates the job of managing toxins in grain, especially in the core Midwest.

Mycotoxins are very hard to handle in high volume, he said. You cant test every truckload, or if you do, you are only going to unload 20 trucks in a day. By comparison, corn processors in Iowa unload 400 or more trucks a day.

Biofuel impact

Ethanol makers are feeling the impact. Turning corn into ethanol creates a byproduct called distillers dried grains (DDGs), which is sold as animal feed. With fuel prices low, the DDGs can boost profitability.

But the refining process triples the concentration of mycotoxins, making the feed byproduct less attractive. DDG prices in Indiana fell to $92.50 per ton in February, the lowest since 2009, and now are selling for $97.50 per ton, according to USDA.

Many ethanol plants are testing nearly every load of corn they receive for the presence of vomitoxin, said Indiana grain inspector Doug Titus, whose company has labs at The Andersons Inc., a grain handler, and energy company Valero Energy sites.

The Andersons in a February call with analysts said vomitoxin has hurt results at three of its refineries in the eastern U.S.

That will be with us for some time, Andersons chief executive Pat Bowe said.

Mixing with clean grain

Missouri grain farmer Doug Roth, who put grain into storage after last years wet harvest, has seen a few loads of corn rejected by clients who make pet food after the grain tested positive for low levels of fumonisin, a type of mycotoxin.

Roth said he paid to reroute the grain to livestock producers in Arkansas, who planned to blend it with unaffected grain in order to mitigate the effect of the toxins.

U.S. farmers with clean corn are reaping a price bump. A Cardinal Ethanol plant in Union City, Indiana, is offering grain sellers a 10-cent per bushel premium for corn with less than one-part-per-million or less of vomitoxin in it, according to the companys website.
The White House said Monday it feels "very confident" that the U.S. government will not shut down later this week in a funding dispute, even as it echoed President Donald Trump's call for inclusion of money for construction of a wall along the Mexican border that opposition Democrats say they are against.

The current spending plan for U.S. government operations runs out at midnight Friday, leaving Trump and congressional negotiators just days to reach an accord on funding priorities through the end of September.

Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said the president has two priorities in the budget talks: an increase in defense spending, as well as more money for border security and the wall to thwart illegal immigration. Trump vowed during his run for the White House to build a 3,100-kilometer barrier along the U.S. southern border and make Mexico pay for it, something Mexican leaders say will not happen.

"In order to get the ball rolling on border security and the wall," Spicer said, Trump is " going to have to use the current appropriations process so that he would make sure that promise is kept. Initially we need to get the funding going."

Since Trump took office three months ago, border crossings have diminished, but Spicer said that the wall still "absolutely" needs to be built.

"Just because you have a couple good months, a year, you want to take prudent long-term steps.  It's a promise he made to the American people," the spokesman said. "This is a permanent step that will extend beyond his presidency. Eight years from now [assuming Trump is re-elected in 2020], the next president will have that wall in place to make sure that [illegal immigration] doesn't continue."

Trump, in a Twitter comment, said the "the Wall is a very important tool in stopping drugs from pouring into our country and poisoning our youth (and many others)! If the wall is not built, which it will be, the drug situation will NEVER be fixed the way it should be!"

Congress' top two Democrats said budget negotiators could reach an agreement on U.S. spending for the next five-plus months if Trump abandons his call for border wall funding.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said Trump is risking a federal shutdown "by shoving this wall down Congress' and the American people's throats."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Trump's campaign promise to build the wall did not call for U.S. taxpayers to foot the bill.
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Charlottesville, a small city about 190 kilometers south of Washington D.C., is known to welcome refugees. More than 3,000 refugees, including Yasha Ismailov, have re-started their lives here, where Ismailov has built a reputation as the ultimate fixer of cars.
Polls are open across France in an election that is one of the closest watched in decades, with 11 candidates, ranging from the extreme right to the extreme left, vying for the French presidency.

Tight security is in place after a terrorist attack in Paris on Thursday, just days before the voting.

About 50,000 police officers backed by 7,000 soldiers, including special forces, were deployed to the streets for security amid tensions following the attack claimed by the Islamic State terrorist group. The shooting along the iconic Champs-Elysees in the heart of Paris left one police officer dead and several other people injured.

State of emergency, tight security

This is the first election to be held under a state of emergency called after the 2015 Paris attacks, and observers say last weeks shooting could bring out many voters who had otherwise planned to abstain.

In a tweet a day after the Champs Elysees shooting, U.S. President Donald Trump said, The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!

Despite predictions of low voter turnout, witnesses said lines formed at voting stations in Paris 15th arrondissement before opening hours and turnout was reported to be heavy at various polling stations across the country. Government officials said turnout at midday was slightly above what it was in the 2012 elections, a poll that at the end of the day drew 80 percent of registered voters.

Pre-election polls show tight race

Leading in pre-election polls has been Emmanuel Macron, a center-left former economy minister who is pro-Europe and pro-business with close ties to unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande. His appeal lies mainly in Frances prosperous urban areas where globalism has benefited many.

A close second has been Marine Le Pen, who wants to end most immigration to France, especially from Muslim countries. She also wants France to leave the European Union. Her strongholds are largely in formerly industrial areas of France where unemployment is high and so is disillusionment with the modern economic and social order.

Another top contender is former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, a center-right social conservative who favors cuts in public spending and pushing for deep reforms in the European Union.

Last-minute decisions

Analysts and voters interviewed see this as the most unpredictable election since World War II. One-third of voters were undecided days before the balloting.

In the last few weeks before the vote, far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon surged in the polls and so did discussion of the previously obscure candidate in social media.

Among the ways his campaign lured young voters was through the release of a video game in which a player pretending to be Melenchon walks the streets and takes money from men in suits. The player is shown in a battle against the rich and powerful.

Anger at the establishment is the sentiment driving voters in an election in which security, Frances lagging economy, its 10-percent unemployment rate, and Islamist extremism are issues on the minds of those on the left and on the right.

That, analysts say, is what is driving large numbers of people, including some of the middle and upper class residents of Paris, to vote for candidates of the extreme, like Le Pen and Melenchon.

Some of them for the thrill of it. Its the principle, you know. Like playing Russian roulette, but politically.Some others it would be because they despise the elite of this country, said Thomas Guenole, a political analyst in Paris, told VOA.

In France, the prevailing candidate in a presidential race needs an absolute majority. If no one wins a majority, the top vote getters in Sundays poll will face off in a final round on May 7.

Polls close at 1800 UTC.
In some of the world's remotest corners, health workers armed with smartphones, digital maps and medication are making steady progress in eliminating trachoma, the world's leading infectious cause of blindness, a leading expert said.

Better living conditions have wiped out trachoma in many countries but some 200 million people are still at risk of contracting the disease, according to the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI).

Trachoma is categorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), one of a group of 18 debilitating and sometimes fatal illnesses that affect 1.5 billion people, mainly in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Efforts to treat trachoma include improving access to clean water and decreasing the number of infected people by treating them with antibiotics.

ITI Director Paul Emerson said antibiotics donation programs, increased government spending, a global mapping project identifying hotspots and the use of smartphones to collect data had been gamechangers in fighting trachoma.

"We know where the disease is, we know what to do about it and where do it," Emerson told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"That may sound simple but we can only reach our goal of eliminating trachoma through a combination of joined-up efforts."

Trachoma can be prevented in childhood by having facilities for children to wash their faces and if caught soon enough the disease is easily treatable with repeated doses of antibiotics.

Those suffering with an advance stage of the disease, in which the eyelashes turn inward and scrape the cornea, can be treated with simple surgery.

This week, governments and private donors pledged more than $800 million at a meeting in Geneva to accelerate the fight against NTDs.

The Geneva gathering came five years after a meeting in London brought a commitment by the public and private sectors to achieve WHO goals for the control and elimination of NTDs.

Fight Gathers Steam

In 2015, nearly one billion people received treatments donated by pharmaceutical companies for at least one NTD, a 36 percent increase since 2011, the WHO said this week.

The fight against trachoma has also gathered momentum as the number of people at risk dropped by 50 percent in the last six years, while those requiring treatment now stands at 182 million, down from 325 million, according to the ITI.

Emerson said thanks to the Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP), an effort to document where the disease is endemic, health workers can now say for sure where treatment is needed.

Ethiopia is one of the countries that has made significant strides in fighting trachoma, said Emerson.

The government has included fighting trachoma as a target in its national health plan, provided significant domestic funding, participated in the mapping project and is training doctors to conduct surgeries to correct the effects of trachoma.

Health workers in Ethiopia use smart phones to collect data in the field that are then streamed to an analyst who can call the field team to correct errors in real time, he said.

But despite progress in fighting trachoma and other NTDs, experts agree that drug companies need to step up donations of medicines.

"The challenge now is in reaching the most neglected populations, communities in conflict and in closing the funding gaps," said Emerson.
The global flow of remittances declined in 2016 for the second year in a row, potentially reducing access to health care, education and food for millions of families in developing nations.

Friday's report from World Bank experts says migrants sent $429 billion from wealthy nations back to their home countries during the year. That is a drop of 2.4 percent from the previous year.

Falling oil prices in commodity exporting nations and weak economic growth in Europe took a toll on the flow of money.

India is the world's largest receiver of remittances and saw money sent home by its overseas workers fall by nearly $63 billion, a drop of nearly 9 percent. Steep declines were also reported in Bangladesh, Nigeria and Egypt.

The report says it costs about $15 on average to send a $200 remittance home, with even higher costs for destinations in sub-Saharan Africa. World Bank officials would like to cut that fee by more than half, but the effort is complicated by new rules intended to make it harder to launder money and commit other illegal acts.

The report in the Migration and Development Brief also says the number of refugees headed for Europe increased by 273,000 to a total of 1.6 million. Globally, refugee flows rose by 1.4 million to a total of 16.5 million.

The lead author of the brief says migration will "almost certainly" increase due to large income gaps, widespread youth unemployment, climate change, fragility and conflict. Dilip Ratha of the World Bank says migration is also being driven by aging populations in wealthy nations. As developed nations lose workers to retirement, new employees may be needed to fill those gaps.
Vietnamese villagers free police hostages

Residents of a village in Vietnam have freed the remaining 19 hostages they were holding in a week-long stand-off over land rights.
Going into Smile, I was leery about two things: Emojibots and Frank Cottrell-Boyces writing credit. The former because, well, Im a writer, and like many other writers I cringe at them instinctively. The latter because Cottrell-Boyces only other contribution to Doctor Who was season eights ambitious failure In the Forest of the Night, arguably the weakest offering of that year. Turns out the bots werent as annoying as actual emoji and Cottrell-Boyces script is an improvement on his previous offering  and yet Smile still feels like a mild letdown after all the promise of last weeks season opener.

Bill Potts: You cant reach the controls from the seats. Whats the point in that? Or do you have stretchy arms like Mr. Fantastic?

The opening TARDIS sequence is loaded with the sort of priceless banter that The Pilot laid the groundwork for. Bills grilling of the Doctor over the seats is especially amusing to anyone whos been watching this show for the past decade: Why are the seats so far away from the console? (Why are there seats there at all? Nobody ever seems to use them.)

Enter Nardole, whom the Doctor refers to under his breath as Mum  not nice Mum, but stern Ive got my eye on you Mum. The irritation on the Doctors face signals a more antagonistic relationship between the pair than previously seen. It now feels like the Doctor and Nardole have been cooped up together at the college for a very long time, and that their friendship has lost its luster. Again, the promise of guarding the vault is mentioned  an oath, as Nardole calls it. Its mentioned again later, and again in only the vaguest of terms. By the close of Smile, were no wiser to whats in that vault.

Nardole: Why is she here?

The Doctor: Because she isnt anywhere else.

With Nardole out of the way, the Doctor gives Bill the classic first TARDIS trip choice: the past or the future? Bill chooses the future because she wants to see if its happy. The action shifts to that future in the middle of an expansive golden wheat field with two full suns (a la Tatooine) bearing down on it, the sort of field that one might see in an Andrew Wyeth painting, which is a curious artistic decision because nobody ever looks at Wyeth and sees the future. On the horizon is a mammoth, bleached white sci-fi structure  a brilliant city of the future. Its contrast to the wheat field only heightens its beauty. While Smile is far from perfect, its visuals do not disappoint, and the episode is well worth watching for the look of it alone. In the real world, that wheat field can be found in Gileston, Wales, and most of the city is a real place called the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain. Give a big round of applause to the production team for traveling there, because in so many ways the structure is the star of the episode.

The Doctor: Between here and my office, before the kettle boils, is everything that ever happened or ever will.

Kezzia (Kiran L. Dadlani) wanders through the field. Her panicked sister Goodthing (Mina Anwar) warns her via a communications device not to come back to the city. But Kezzias having none of it as she strolls through her utopia, with an Emojibot following behind her and millions of microbots called Vardies swarming above. She ignores the warning and returns to a visibly frightened Goodthing insisting that Kezzia keep smiling. She proceeds to tell her their mother is dead, along with a list of others. Discs on the womens backs change their emoji status to correspond with their shifting moods. The Vardies attack Kezzia, reducing her to a pile of bones and dust. Goodthing is next. Its a shocking series of events and the rest of the episode never exhibits quite the same kind of danger.

Classic Who fans might flash back to Sylvester McCoys 1988 story, The Happiness Patrol, which was set on a planet in which it was illegal to be unhappy and death was frequently the punishment. (Speaking of that story, Bill channels Ace at one point with an enthusiastic Wicked!) Smile is similarly nightmarish, but whereas The Happiness Patrol was a dark satire, Smile feels like more of a cautionary tale about our dependence on technology. The remainder of the first act sees the Doctor and Bill entering the deserted city, which the Doctor assumes has been built for humans from Earth who are currently en route. The duo encounters the Emojibot and Vardy tech, and, mildly baffling for the Doctor, allow the mood-sensing Emojidiscs to attach to their backs and communication tech to attach itself to their ears.

The Doctor: Emojis, wearable communications. Were in the utopia of vacuous teens.

This being Bills first real time-and-space rodeo, shes enthralled. Her enthusiasm is infectious, but never played for naivete. The Doctor, however, is skeptical and suspicious. After a grim discovery in the nursery  a collection of bones turned into fertilizer  the Doctor realizes the score and how they must smile to escape the Emojiibot and Vardy threats. They run from the city to the TARDIS, grinning all the way, only for the Doctor to turn around and head back. He plans to destroy the city. (Theres a giant smiley abattoir over there, and Im having this really childish impulse to blow it up!) Bill follows, even after the Doctor gives her the option of the safety of the TARDIS.

Bill: Why are you Scottish?

The Doctor: Im not Scottish. Im just cross.

Bill: Is there a Scotland in space?

The Doctor: Theyre all over the place, demanding independence from every planet that they land on.

The second act is a frenetic mission to blow up the city, and the com devices grafted into their ears become a necessity so the Doctor can attempt destruction while Bill can discover a reason not to, all while staying in contact with each other. All this time the Doctor has assumed colonists are on their way to the city, though why a massive spaceship buried in the bowels of the city doesnt tip him off to the truth is questionable. Its Bill who begins to find out the truth. First, she finds the body of an elderly woman  the deceased mother from the beginning of the story. More disturbing is the video diary chronicling the end of the human race on earth. Pearl Mackies horrified reaction to what she sees is one of the high points of Smile.

The Doctor: Earth was evacuated. But there were a number of ships. Ive bumped into a few of them over the years.

Everything changes when Bill turns a corner and sees a young boy, Praiseworthy (Kaisar Akhtar), who asks two questions that turns everything around: Are we there yet? and Where is everybody? If Smile echoed The Happiness Patrol before, now it shifts into a loose sequel to 1975s The Ark in Space. The colonists are already there, in hibernation, and theyre starting to awaken. Once they realize so many of their loved ones have been killed, they too will fall victim to the tech gone awry. Suddenly, the plan to blow up the city and the ship must be abandoned, and instead the Doctor must find a way to save everyone and everything. While it would certainly be tragic to lose all of these good people, the threat of it being the end of the human race feels hollow, especially since the Doctor has already admitted to running into other colony ships.

The Doctor: You know why I always win at chess? Because I have a secret move: I kick over the board.

Peter Capaldi is such a compelling actor, he can take material teetering on the edge of ridiculous and sell it like a mad carnival barker. Lines like grief as a plague and grief tsunami come out of his mouth wrapped in amazement. Later, the Doctor declares that the tech is alive and psychotic and the colonists attack the Emojibots and Vardies with guns in a battle that shouldve quickly ended in a massacre. Its a shame when the episode climaxes with a gag that once fueled an entire sitcom (The IT Crowd): Did you try turning it off and on again? While a reprogram would have been less flashy, I mightve bought it. But a reboot? With the sonic screwdriver, no less?? If it were that easy, why didnt he do it at the start of the episode? Did he want to blow up the city to impress Bill? Its a real cop out to set up such a thoroughly elaborate scenario only to solve every issue at once by flicking a switch.

I didnt at all buy Cottrell-Boyces construct in Forest, but, in spite of my grievances, Smile still makes more sense within this universe hes created. He certainly likes to infuse his Doctor Who with ample doses of spectacle, and there is nothing wrong with that. As an excuse for Bill to learn more about the Doctors universe and for the Doctor and Bill to learn more about one another, Smile succeeds. Its also a fun collection of ideas, especially the notion that emoji could be the form of written communication that outlasts all the others, which given its universal appeal isnt unreasonable conjecture.

Odds and Ends

 For those still arguing about the Doctors age after the events of Hell Bent, he categorically states hes over 2,000 years old, not four-and-a-half billion. Bill also learns that he has two hearts.

 Will the Doctor and Bill have those com devices implanted in their heads going forward?

 In the final moments, the story immediately bleeds into the next episode  a very classic Who thing to do, particularly in the early years of the show.

 Naff bits: In the opening scene between the two sisters, there are numerous other people in the background of several frames, seemingly calmly chatting up one another (why isnt there mass panic?); the clumsy name of the ship, EREHWON, is nowhere spelled backwards.

 Props to new-to-the-fold director Lawrence Gough for his work this week and last. From a directorial standpoint, he did a fine job with both episodes.

 In case you hadnt heard, theres a new streaming service available called Britbox. Its loaded with BBC content including the bulk of the classic series, and both The Ark in Space and The Happiness Patrol.
Only a damn fool would cheat on a woman as lovely as Salma Hayek, so its with a heavy heart we must inform you that Hayeks husband, the French billionaire businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, was engaging in some pretty shady behavior with a woman named Elena last week, and her text-message communique was caught by Hayek herself. Im Mexican, you know it doesnt go well, she explained. I was so furious, and I said, Well, obviously shes desperate. But alls well that ends well  Elena was actually Elsa, whos actually the popular English-language learning app ELSA. He just wanted to learn how to enunciate his vowels better! Aw.


Thomsen ~ Tiihonen

Karen Schleicher and Lasse Tiihonen joyfully announce the marriage of their son, Kalle Schleicher Tiihonen, to Kristine Bjrn Thomsen on April 9, 2017. The couple exchanged vows before family at the home of the groom in Seattle, Washington, with family members in Denmark participating by video. The groom's uncle, Kristofer Schleicher, officiated.

The bride is the daughter of Tina Stigsen and Michael Bjrn Thomsen of Orehoved, Denmark, and granddaughter of the late Margit and Knud Stigsen and of Ingeborg Bjrn Thomsen of Nrre Alslev, Denmark, and the late Kjeld Bjrn Thomsen.

The groom is the grandson of Dorothy Cherry Schleicher of Waco and the late Arthur Richard Schleicher III and of the late Hilja and Aati Tiihonen.
Waco City Council has only one contested race May 6, with one hot-button issue looming over it.

Incumbent Jim Holmes and challenger Deanna Leach are vying to represent District 5, a sprawling district that encompasses West Waco, China Spring and the booming Highway 84 corridor.

The hot-button issue is the proposed new regional landfill and whether it should be built next to the existing landfill off Highway 84. Hundreds of residents in the nearby suburban neighborhoods have flooded public meetings and signed petitions in opposition and will likely be a large voting bloc in the election.

Those voters wont find a big difference in the official positions of Holmes and Leach on the landfill location. In fact, the candidates have nothing negative to say about each other or areas of disagreement.

Holmes, an investment banker whom the council appointed last summer to fill a District 5 vacancy left by new Mayor Kyle Deaver, has become an outspoken opponent of the landfill plan. He has persuaded the council to pay a consultant to study alternative sites.

The first layer of discussion on that is proximity to residential neighborhoods, Holmes said. No one should have one in their backyard. . . . Id have the same issue if this was South Waco or East Waco. I dont think it should be closer to any of those neighborhoods.

Leach agreed, adding that the city led residents in the area to believe that it would not expand the landfill and should seek another site.

Jim and I are basically on the same side, that going back on what the city told people a while back is not a good idea, she said.

She said that wherever the landfill goes, it should operate with new technology that minimizes its footprint and extracts energy from waste. She also favors a pay-as-you-throw pricing structure that would incentivize residential garbage customers to recycle most of their waste.

Leach, a craniosacral therapist, grew up in Texas but moved to California as a young adult, returning 20 years later. She came to Waco in 2000 after living a while in Laguna Park.

Leach said she was inspired to run for office while attending the Womens March on Washington in January.

She became involved with the Centex Action Network, a new local progressive group, and then she saw the District 5 seat was coming open.

My friends said, We really need another woman on the city council,  she said. I almost talked myself out of it.

She said she is concerned about the effects of national political policies on Waco. For example, she wants to find ways to help immigrant families who are affected by or afraid of stepped-up immigration enforcement, while monitoring threats to healthcare coverage.

Leach said she sees serving on the city council as a form of community service, not liberal vs. conservative politics.

The Waco City Council has never been partisan, and theres no reason for it to be, she said. I dont think Waco is headed in a bad direction. Id just like to be a part of it.

She said she has been listening to concerns around her district, including China Spring residents concerned about traffic, parks and airport plans, and some residents in West Waco concerned about drainage and aging infrastructure. She said she also wants the city to respond to public demands for cleaning up the city.

The main thing is that Im a very good listener, a trained listener, and I like to hear what people have to say, Leach said.

She said she would be available to constituents and would hold regular check-in sessions to take the pulse of the district.

Holmes, 60, said he has worked hard at communicating with his constituents, assembling an informal advisory board of about 100 people from a wide variety of political persuasions.

Holmes said a year on the council has given him focus on the communitys needs.

He said his first priority is having best in class basic services, such as police and fire, and high-quality streets, bridges and utilities.

We have quite a bit of deferred maintenance on our roads and bridges, he said. Were just trying to get caught up with an increasing population.

Holmes said downtown revitalization is another high priority, as is making sure that the flood of visitors to Waco benefits the city as a whole.

Were so lucky to have Mr. and Mrs. Gaines and their commitment to the city, but it creates challenges, he said. They brought all these people to Waco. Our responsibility as the city and the chamber is to keep them here and keep them happy.

Early voting for the May 6 city council election starts Monday and ends May 2. Polling places will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 1 and May 2.

Voting locations

All District 5 voters can cast a ballot at any of the 5 early-voting centers:

McLennan County Elections administration office in the Records Building, 214 N. Fourth St., suite 300

Robinson Community Center, 106 W. Lyndale Drive

Waco Multi-Purpose Community Center, 1020 Elm Ave.

First Assembly of God Church, 6701 Bosque Blvd.

Hewitt Public Safety Facility, 100 Patriot Court
Although the Twin Peaks biker trials have been put on hold until after a federal case against Bandidos leaders concludes, McLennan County continues to rack up expenses related to one of the most complex legal proceedings in its history.

The two-year anniversary of the May 17, 2015, Twin Peaks shootout is approaching, yet none of the 155 bikers indicted in the melee has gone to trial.

Since the shootout, top national leaders of the Bandidos motorcycle group were indicted in federal court in San Antonio, which has further complicated matters in McLennan County. Federal prosecutors have informed McLennan County officials that they obtained evidence pertaining to the Twin Peaks incident during the federal Bandidos investigation, but they intend to keep it to themselves until after the six Bandidos go to trial, set now for Aug. 7.

McLennan County judges have concluded that the trials of Twin Peaks cases should not begin without allowing prosecutors and defense attorneys a chance to view the federal evidence that pertains to Twin Peaks.

In the meantime, McLennan County prosecutors continue to turn over voluminous amounts of evidence to defense attorneys while waiting for other evidence, including DNA samples, to be tested and analyzed.

According to records obtained from the McLennan County auditors office, McLennan County has paid out $208,239 in Twin Peaks-related expenses, including fees to court-appointed attorneys and lawyers hired to represent two elected county officials in federal civil lawsuits and grievances.

State grants

Other costs have been offset by a state grant from the governors office designed to reimburse counties for expenses related to major offenses. So far, the state has awarded the county $268,527 for Twin Peaks related expenditures. The largest part of that was $190,010 that went to cover housing at the Jack Harwell Detention Center for some of the 177 bikers arrested on the day of the shootout, which left nine dead and dozens injured.

Also, the county was reimbursed $24,500 for costs of the nine autopsies and transportation of the bodies.

The city of Waco received a $248,941 grant from the Justice Department, which primarily went to cover overtime costs for officers involved at Twin Peaks.

But as the cases drag on, county officials will be meeting as budget time approaches to try to predict the unpredictable costs associated with one of the most unusual, complex cases that has come around.

McLennan County Judge Scott Felton said he got a call from Gov. Greg Abbott the day after the shootout. Abbott told him the matter was not just a Waco problem, but also a statewide issue, and promised resources from the state to help the county defray costs.

It is, of course, a very unusual, fluid situation that we have to deal with, Felton said.

With trial delays and multiple defendants, the costs can be spread out over several budget years, he said.

We have to be gathering information to see what impact it will be having on the budget and the next budget through 2018, Felton said. I will be meeting with the district judges and the district attorney to try to get a handle on all of that. But, of course, we know there will be unexpected expenses. There always is.

Judge Matt Johnson said he spoke to Felton a few weeks ago after a pretrial hearing involving one of the bikers in 54th State District Court.

Attorney Millie Thompson, of Austin, was telling the judge about the terrific burden it is for defense attorneys to review the avalanche of documents, photos, cellphone records, social media records and video and audio tapes turned over to them by prosecutors in eight or nine rounds of discovery.

Its staggering, Thompson said.

She said she had received at least 872,865 pages of documents so far.

So, if that is the last one, that would be the number of pages to date, Thompson said. And I think I did the math, that if you took 30 seconds to a minute to go through each page, that could take 300 days.

Court officials say the attorneys are duty-bound to review all the information they have received, especially if some of it contains information favorable to their clients.

Attorney fees

There are about 70 court-appointed attorneys on the case, which means the county picks up the bill for the legal expenses. The other bikers have retained attorneys to represent them.

Court-appointed attorneys are paid $75 an hour for out-of-court time and $80 an hour for in-court time. They also are paid $50 an hour for travel time, plus mileage, and with the number of defendants in this case, there are a lot of out-of-town attorneys.

I consulted with Judge Felton about potentially larger than normal attorneys fees because of the volume of information being turned over by the district attorneys office to court-appointed attorneys, Johnson said.

Some attorneys also have mentioned the possible need for county-paid investigators and expert witnesses, including crime scene reconstruction experts, DNA experts and other consultants who dont normally come cheap.

And if attorneys win a change of venue after the first or second trial is held in Waco, the costs for those proceedings can double the normal rate, officials said.

Budgeting for cases like these is a challenge, County Auditor Stan Chambers said. We try to anticipate in advance all the expenses we may have, but in these kind of cases, there are a lot of unknowns that come up: changes of venue, investigators, expert witnesses, so many variables. It is similar to the capital murder cases a few years ago. There was a change of venue to Williamson County, and we tried to estimate what that was going to cost us. It reminds me of that.
When Stan Brubaker became a pilot, he could have picked practically any plane he wanted. He chose the KC-135 Stratotanker.

The Stratotanker is a refueling tanker developed in the 1950s. The first aircraft flew in August 1956 and the initial jet model was delivered to Castle Air Force Base, California, in June 1957. During the Vietnam War, published reports note that KC-135s made approximately 813,000 refuelings of fighting aircraft.

Brubaker, 76, flew his fair share of those missions.

Joining the military wasnt planned. Brubaker, born in Buffalo, New York, and raised in Larchmont, attended high school and went to Pennsylvania State University to study agriculture economics.

Penn State had a mandatory ROTC program, in which students had to serve at least two years. By the time Brubaker was a sophomore, his career path was clear. It became evident . . . that the starting salary of a lieutenant in the Air Force was about $5,000 a year, whereas in my specialty it would be about $3,500, he said.

On to the wild blue yonder

Thus, he continued his advanced ROTC training, earning his commission as second lieutenant in 1962. He was assigned to active duty at Moody AFB in Georgia, where he completed his pilot training in August 1963.

It was a very, very strenuous 13 months, Brubaker said. We flew half the day and did academic work half a day. They were long days, many times six days a week.

Because he graduated in the top third of the class, he could pick nearly any plane. He chose the KC-135, a military version of the commercial Boeing 747. His plan was to put in five years with the Air Force and become a commercial airline pilot. The KC-135 was the perfect choice to gain the experience he would require.

Brubaker was assigned to Westover AFB in Springfield, Massachussets, as a co-pilot monitoring systems and flying when needed. Serving with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, he was on alert seven days, followed by seven days off, with actual flying done between alerts. During this time, he would deploy for two to three weeks in Europe, the Middle East, Spain  anywhere that airborne B-52s needed to be refueled.

But by 1966, the war in Vietnam had escalated and Brubakers unit was deployed to Southeast Asia.

During the Vietnam War, the Air Force noted that U.S. fighter and bomber operations hinged upon the KC-135.While typically confined to operating outside of North Vietnam, KC-135s often flew into hostile territory to save fighters short on fuel, without which they might not have returned to base.

According to Brubaker, the plane could carry 200,000 pounds of fuel and, when fully loaded, it was so heavy it needed nearly two miles of runway to get off the ground. Deployed for six months at a time, followed by six months at home, Brubaker made four deployments.

He flew all over the map. While stationed in Okinawa and Taiwan, he refueled B-52s conducting bombing missions in Vietnam out of Guam. He flew during the typhoon and monsoon seasons. Refueling in the air is tricky, Brubaker said, because pilots had to be so precise.

Though they carried no armament, on numerous occasions, we were chased by North Vietnamese MIG aircraft, he said. Fortunately, he was never hurt.

Retirement as colonel in '88

Brubaker would go on to serve until he retired as a colonel in 1988. During the last years, he had ever-increasing responsibility and was involved in numerous campaigns, including Operation Lightning in Vietnam and the USS Pueblo crisis off the shore of North Korea. During the Iranian hostage crisis, he refueled planes at night, without the aid of electronics.

The rescue attempt resulted in disaster, but that portion of the mission went flawlessly, he said.

Over the years, as his job grew, so did his titles. Near the end, he served as wing deputy commander for operations, overseeing 70 air crews. He met many dignitaries, including Prince Charles and Lady Diana.

In 1983, Brubaker married Lori Mund. Between them, they have seven children. They moved to Woodway, and Brubaker worked at several companies, including L-3 and Baylor University, where he was the assistant chair of the Aviation Sciences Department. He became an independent aviation consultant before retiring in 2003.

Today, Brubaker remains close to many people he met while in the military. He especially enjoys reunions. He keeps busy, and he and Lori travel extensively.

I would not have done anything different, Brubaker said. I was proud to serve my country.
J Logan Fagner

February 5, 1926 - April 14, 2017

LTC J Logan Fagner USAF Ret. passed away peacefully in his home Friday, April 14, 2017, at the age of 91. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 27, 2017, at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church located at 1300 Columbus Avenue in Waco, Texas.

Memorials may be made to the Geology Field Course Fund through the McLennan Community College Foundation by calling 254-299-8606 or to the Columbus Avenue Baptist Church.

J enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1945 during World War II. While stationed at James Connally Air Force Base in Waco, Texas, he met Peggy Shepard and they married on August 18, 1950, at Westover AFB, Massachusetts. J was a pilot and helicopter rescue pilot in the USAAF and the USAF. He served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. During his service, J was highly decorated, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross among many other military distinctions. Before taking a command in Vietnam, Lt. Col. Fagner also served as the attache for the Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon. In 1975, Lt. Col. Fagner retired after serving our country for over 30 years.

J was a dedicated and loving father of three sons including Rob, Gary, and Scott. J enjoyed six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was a vibrant yet gentle, caring, loving, and selfless man. J loved traveling with his family, was an avid astronomer, and, was an active member of the USAF Helicopter Pilot Association. J and Peggy hosted numerous international Baylor University students who are now considered family. J was a dedicated member of the Columbus Avenue Baptist Church and volunteered as a mentor in the Kid's Hope program.

Special thanks to Providence Hospice team including the staff, nurses, and nurse's aids who provided exceptional care for J's final days.
Leta Louise Threadgill

August 18, 1928 - April 21, 2017

Leta Louise Braden Threadgill saw the face of Jesus April 21, 2017. Louise, as she was known to family and friends, was born in Hillsboro, Texas, August 18, 1928, the third child of Lonnie and Lois Meador Braden. Their growing family later moved to Waco, Texas, during the Second World War. Louise graduated from Waco High School in 1946. While she was still 17, she met her future husband, Carl B. Threadgill, a U. S. military veteran having returned from service in Europe. They were married August 2, 1947. Following the birth of their first child, Carleta, it was in 1949 that Louise began working for the Veterans Administration Regional Office at 8th and Franklin in Waco until the birth of their second child, Susan, in 1954. When their youngest, Philip, was born in 1959, Louise resumed her work life outside the home, working first at James Connally Air Force Base, then the 12th Air Force Headquarters, followed by a time at Word Records. She then returned to the VA Regional Office, from which she retired in 1986.

The order of her devotion was to Jesus Christ, her husband and family, her church, and to her community. That devotion was shown in many ways. One example is that Louise was a life- long member of the Church of the Nazarene. In her service to her church and its missions program, Louise was awarded their prestigious Distinguished Service Award. In her service to her family, she became an excellent seamstress, making clothes for all her family, her children (even a wedding dress for daughter, Susan), and grandchildren over many years. She took up the quilting craft, and became quite good at it. The recipients of her quilts even included her great-grandchildren. Their house was always stocked with a huge supply of canned goods, and her pie-making ability is still remembered. Following a bout with breast cancer, Louise became involved with the American Cancer Society. At her passing she was a 26 year cancer survivor. Along the way Louise was awarded for 20 years of service in the Reach to Recovery Program of the American Cancer Society.

Louise was preceded in death by her husband, Carl; her brother, Windol Braden; and sisters, Helen Jo Scoggins, Catherine Santhuff, Patricia Dobias, and Nettie Jackson. She is survived by her daughters, Carleta and husband, Rick Reichert, of Waco, Susan and husband, Sam Shreffler, of Robinson; and her son, Philip Threadgill and wife, Terri, of Plano. Grandchildren include David Reichert, Jen Brown and husband, BJ, Steven Shreffler and wife, Melissa, Cameron Threadgill, and Ryan Threadgill and wife, Julia. Louise is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Michael Lee, Keith Charles, Julia Grace, Maaike Faith, and Vala Joy Shreffler.

Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, April 28, at the Pecan Grove Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 29, at the Pecan Grove Chapel, the Rev. Sam Shreffler officiating. Burial will follow at the Robinson Cemetery. The family suggests that any memorials be made to benefit the American Cancer Society.

As we reflect on this life well-lived, some links are emphasized to us. Louise met the love of her life at age 17, got married at 18, had a baby at 19, and at age 20 lost every worldly good she had in a house fire. And still, as we look back at all that transpired in this life, we are impressed to say that Louise and Carl were representative of all that's meant by describing theirs as the Greatest Generation.

Online guestbook www.pecangrovefuneral.com.
We often hear the phrases Theres no such thing as a free lunch and If something sounds too good to be true . . . it probably isnt to describe ideas that may look good on paper but arent that good in reality. Such is likely true for the proposed $34 million Extraco Events Center expansion in McLennan County and new taxes to pay for it. Voters will decide the fate of these taxes on May 6.

As someone who has seen these types of projects in other parts of the country, I have some advice: Buyer, beware.

The Extraco Events Center seems like an exciting project that will breathe life into McLennan County. And it may well be. However, the developers of this project dont seem to be so bullish on it. Otherwise, why the need for public tax dollars to help build it? If this is going to be such a slam-dunk success, why are taxpayers being asked to foot the bill?

Were told by our county leaders to have no fear, that only tourists and visitors to the county will be paying for this through new hotel and car-rental taxes. Not local residents. So in their minds there is a free lunch: McLennan County will get its events center and outsiders will pay for it. What could possibly go wrong?

A healthy portion of the proposed 5-percent tax on car-rental and car-sharing consumers will indeed be paid by McLennan County residents. There are at least four car-rental locations away from Waco Regional Airport. Who rents from these locations? McLennan County residents do.

One area car-rental company estimates that about 70 percent of its customers are local residents. Many of these consumers simply cant afford to own a vehicle so they rent one on the weekends to get their errands done. Others have been in car accidents and need replacement vehicles. Many need newer vehicles to take that vacation theyve been saving for.

In other words, many county residents of modest means rent cars every day, every week, every year . . . and theyre being asked to help build an events center that many will never go to. What sense does that make? So do not buy into the profoundly misleading statement by Extraco Events Center president and CEO Wes Allison who states: The neat thing about this for me is this does not cost the citizens of McLennan County a penny. Its something that will fund itself. He clearly doesnt know the county very well.

Recent tax studies show that  despite publicity about car-rental taxes being a pure tourist tax on wealthy travelers  about half of all rental customers (both car-rental and car-sharing) are here in the local community. And many of these are of very modest means. Fifty percent of car-rental consumers earn less than $100,000 per year. Nineteen percent make less than $50,000 per year. The new 5-percent tax is on top of the existing 10-percent state car-rental tax. Thats a total of 15 percent. What other product or service is taxed this high?

The mission of the National Consumers League is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers. Thats why we, along with other consumer and taxpayer advocates, have joined a diverse coalition  Curb Automobile Rental Taxes  to stand up for middle-class consumers continually singled out and targeted for higher taxes such as that proposed in McLennan County.

Residents of McLennan County should vote against this tax proposal (Proposition No. 1) on May 6 and require Mr. Allison to buy his own lunch because it wont be free.
On Wednesday night, I put the kids to bed, poured myself a glass of wine and took The Red Pill.

That is to say, I watched the men's rights movie that has been chased out of cinemas in Australia. The title of the film  taken from The Matrix, in which Keanu Reeves is offered the choice of a red pill (which delivers lacerating truth and self knowledge) or a blue pill (blissful ignorance)  is portentous. Viewers are invited to infer that revelations  perhaps shocking ones  will almost certainly be forthcoming. Protests! Cancellation of screenings! This must be some heavy stuff. I paid my $6.95 to rent the title, and sat back, prepared for outrage.

Cassie Jaye's film The Red Pill is journalistically weak. Credit:YouTube

Now I'm a feminist. A feature shared  I discover, as the film opens  with director and narrator Cassie Jaye, a friendly Oklahoman who seems always to be having a good hair day. She explains that her feminism derives from having moved to Hollywood when she was 18 to pursue an acting career, and finding herself only ever cast as one of the scantily-clad teen cuties butchered in the early scenes of budget horror flicks. (This being a dot-the-Is, cross-the-Ts type documentary, we are shown some brief sequences of a younger Cassie being murdered by a giant lizard. Her story checks out.)

Cassie explains she soon opted out of acting, in favour of directing, and went on to be a documentary film-maker, on a range of irreproachable subjects including women's health (cue images of sad-looking women), teen celibacy (girls in confirmation dresses) and gay marriage (two neat T-shirted men holding hands in a field).
Peter Dutton is standing by his claims about what sparked a rampage on Manus Island, dismissing alternative accounts as "the Twitter version".

In a fiery interview on ABC television on Sunday, the Immigration Minister declared "there are facts that I have that you don't" as he refused to resile from his assertions that appeared to blame asylum seekers for last week's violent outburst.

Mr Dutton last week said the Good Friday confrontation came after asylum seekers were spotted leading a five-year-old Papua New Guinean boy into the Australian-run detention centre. The incident caused "a lot of angst" and the mood escalated quickly, he said. PNG police and soldiers fired up to 100 gunshots during the subsequent brawl.

But Mr Dutton's account has been disputed by authorities on the ground, including the Manus Province police commander David Yapu, who said the incident with the child actually occurred a week earlier and had nothing to do with the violence.
Most avid cyclists would recommend donning a bright accessory or two before hitting the road, but for 66-year-old New Yorker Tziporah Salamon, a reflector strip just wasn't going to cut it. "The thing I love about biking is that the whole city sees my outfit," says Tziporah, who has been showcasing vivid ensembles on her Bianchi Milano bicycle since the 1980s.

"The garbage collectors honk their horns, and I even met a dear friend when I was stopped at a light and she shouted, 'I want to be you when I grow up!' "

I want to be you when I grow up! Thats what someone shouted to social-media icon Tziporah Salamon on the streets of New York. Credit:The Art of Dressing by Tziporah Salamon

Tziporah may have always been a traffic stopper, but in more recent years she's become something of a street-style star, too, attracting more than 25,000 followers on Instagram.

She's modelled in a 2012 advertising campaign for Lanvin, starred in the 2014 documentary Advanced Style, and has recorded her unique approach to getting ready in a new book, The Art of Dressing: Ageless, Timeless, Original Style, in which she also interviews 10 other women over 50 whom she admires.
Doctors and the medical community need to take vaccination hesitancy seriously, or risk seeing immunisation rates fall, researchers have found.

While nationally, the immunisation rate has remained largely stable, sitting between 91 and 93 per cent, it is not uniform, with some regions, including northern New South Wales and inner city Melbourne and Sydney dipping into the 80s.

That's partially because of concerns about vaccinations; A research paper recently published by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners found more than half of parents who did immunise their children reported some unease.

Senior Research Fellow and general paediatrician at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Margie Danchin, who co-authored the paper, said doctors needed resources and support in addressing concerns.
She was set on sending her children to expensive private schools. There was just one problem  she and her former husband could not afford the $50,000 in annual fees.

The parents, given the court-ordered pseudonyms Mr and Ms Stewart, could not agree on where their primary school-aged son and daughter should go to high school.

The court found the parents could not afford $50,000 in annual fees to send their children to private schools. Credit:Louie Douvis

Ms Stewart sought a court order that the children be enrolled in specific single-sex private schools, with the son attending the father and grandfather's alma mater.

As the Federal Circuit Court heard last year, if both children attended private schools the tuition fees alone would be $50,000 a year. Even without taking account of the extra costs of a private education and probable fee increases, it would cost up to $300,000 to put the children through school.
WA surfers are set to paddle out in memory of shark attack victim Laeticia Brouwer on Sunday afternoon.

The young surfer will be remembered at her local church's Sunday service, and paddle-outs in Mandurah and Esperance from 5pm.

Laeticia Brouwer (left) is the latest victim who was fatally attacked by a shark on a WA beach.

A candlelight vigil is planned for Singleton Beach after the paddle-out, and attendees will also be able to release flowers into the ocean.

Esperance organiser Ross Tamlin said anyone who wanted to pay their respects was invited to come along.
A demonstrator holds a sign during the March for Science in New York. Credit:New York Times Their resolve deepened, they said, when the president appointed cabinet members who seemed hostile to the sciences. He also proposed a budget with severe cuts for agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - which would lose 18 per cent of its funding in his blueprint - and the Environmental Protection Agency, which faces a 31 per cent budget cut and the elimination of a quarter of the agency's 15,000 employees. While traveling by motorcade to Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre on Saturday, Trump passed dozens of demonstrators from the march holding signs, including one that said, "Stop denying the Earth is dying", according to a pool report. Demonstrators participate in the March for Science in San Francisco. Credit:New York Times Later, the White House released a statement from Trump for Earth Day that did not mention the March for Science by name, but appeared directed at its participants. Calling science critical to economic growth and environmental protection, he said: "My administration is committed to advancing scientific research that leads to a better understanding of our environment and of environmental risks.

"As we do so, we should remember that rigorous science depends not on ideology, but on a spirit of honest inquiry and robust debate," he added. Anti-Donald Trump cut-outs at the March for Science in Philadelphia. Credit:New York Times Organisers said they hoped the day's demonstrations result in sustained, coordinated action aimed at persuading elected officials to adopt policies consistent with the scientific consensus on climate change, vaccines and other issues. "This has been a living laboratory as scientists and science institutions are willing to take a step outside their comfort zone, outside of the labs and into the public spheres," said Beka Economopoulos, co-founder of the pop-up Natural History Museum and an organiser of the march. Demonstrators attend the March for Science in Chicago. Credit:New York Times

Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician who helped expose lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan, and who spoke in Washington, called the protest the beginning of a movement to ensure that governments do not dismiss or deny science. "If we want to prevent future Flints, we need to embrace what we've learned and how far we've come in terms of science and technology," Hanna-Attisha said. Badges for sale outside of the Washington Monument before the March for Science. Credit:New York Times Fearing that Trump may undermine public support for the sciences, many scientists at the marches said they believed now was the appropriate moment to express themselves politically. "I can't think of a time where scientists felt the enterprise of science was being threatened in the way scientists feel now," Naomi Oreskes, a professor of the history of science at Harvard University, said in an interview this week.

Demonstrators at the Washington Monument before the March for Science. Credit:New York Times Oreskes said the closest parallel to Saturday's protests were the demonstrations for nuclear disarmament in the 1950s and '60s. But scientists were then marching against the use of science to build weapons of mass destruction. In a city and state where many work in hospitals and biomedical firms, Trump's proposals to cut the NIH budget were on the minds of many marchers there. Demonstrators pass a policeman in the March for Science in New York last week. Credit:New York Times George Daley, the dean of Harvard Medical School, said in a speech that the proposed cuts would have a "cataclysmic effect" on the economy in Massachusetts.

"This is a shortsighted decision that will set the biomedical enterprise on a path toward devastation," Daley said. Demonstrators in the March for Science in Philadelphia. Credit:New York Times In New York, demonstrators stretched for 10 blocks along Central Park West, wedged between the park and a line of buildings on a grey and dreary day. Underlining the connection in the minds of many marchers between the science march, Earth Day and global warming, one participant, Christine Negra, 49, a chemist who works as a consultant on climate change issues, said she would attend next week's People's Climate March, too. Members of the Oklahoma Nature Conservancy carry an inflatable globe during the March For Science in Oklahoma City. Credit:New York Times

"In the US, we're lagging in our recognition about how important climate change is," she said. "These public events are meant to shake people out of their daily lives so that people see how urgent the problem really is." For many marchers, especially those in the sciences who were demonstrating for the first time in their lives, political settings can be a source of discomfort. And critics of the march who are in the sciences expressed concern that such displays could be damaging to the field. "I worry the march would drive the wedge deeper," said Robert Young, a coastal geologist at Western Carolina University who wrote a New York Times op-ed article in January expressing misgivings about the march. Although Young planned to support friends at a satellite demonstration, he said it would be easy for conservatives to say the march was really about supporting liberal policies. "Going to a march is easy," he said. "Spending the next couple of years reinventing how we communicate with red-state America, that's hard."

In energy-rich Oklahoma, the home state of Scott Pruitt, the EPA chief who repeatedly sued the agency when he was state attorney-general, a crowd estimated at more than 2000 by law enforcement officials chanted "science is real". The demonstrators marched on a route that took them around a park that includes two restored oil derricks that once pumped oil from a source beneath the Capitol. Lisa Pitts, a teacher, said she was marching because of concerns about the state's education budget and to support science education. "We are not a poor state," she said. "We should not be 50th in everything." "I don't want to go back to having dirty air and water," said Rene Roy, who formerly worked for the state's environmental regulator and was concerned about Pruitt's plans for the EPA.
Seoul: North Korea detained a US citizen on Friday as he attempted to leave the country, bringing the total number of Americans held by the isolated country to three.

Korean-American Tony Kim had spent a month teaching an accounting course at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), the university's chancellor, Chan-Mo Park, told Reuters on Sunday.

Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk and is aged in his fifties, was detained by North Korean officials at Pyongyang International Airport as he attempted to leave the country, Park said.

"The cause of his arrest is not known but some officials at PUST told me his arrest was not related to his work at PUST. He had been involved with some other activities outside PUST such as helping an orphanage," Park said.
Horse Manure in the streets of New York

by Dwight R. Lee

This article was originally published on FEE.org. Read the original article.

The internal-combustion engine is widely believed to have been an environmental disaster. It has been accused of harming our health by reducing air quality and contributing to what is currently claimed to be the most threatening of all environmental problems, global warming. But long before carbon dioxide was declared a major pollutant, a car was smashed with sledgehammers by students in Seattle during the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Al Gore called for eliminating the internal-combustion engine within 25 years in his 1992 book Earth in the Balance (only ten years left). Others, not worried about offending voters in Detroit, are less restrained in the criticism. Someone named Royce Carlson states in an Internet posting that because of one hundred years of gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines . . . our air is polluted, . . . and we are destroying the environment. A 2006 article in the Vancouver Sun reported that more than half of British Columbia drivers believe that cars are destroying the environment.

In fact, everyone concerned with a clean and healthy environmentand that includes far more people than those vocally claiming to be environmentalistsshould be enthusiastic fans of the internal-combustion engine because of the important contributions it has made to environmental quality. The environmental benefits we realize from the engine have long been clear to anyone who bothered to notice. And these benefits have become more obvious because of an article in The Independent, a respected British newspaper (http://tinyurl. com/ys5srd). The article was based on a study by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (Livestocks Long ShadowEnvironmental Issues and Options), which found, quoting the newspaper, that livestock are responsible for 18 percent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together. The problem begins in the digestive systems of livestock and ends up as flatulence.

The internal-combustion engine began improving the environment, however, long before global warming became a concern. Consider the fact that in 1900 a large percentage of the available horsepower really was horse power, or mule power, or ox power. As the power of the internal-combustion engine began to be substituted for animal power in the early 1900s, we began to substitute the emissions coming out of the tailpipes of cars and trucks for those coming out of the tailpipes of animals. The result was that the environment started becoming far cleaner and healthier.

Consider horse manures effect on the environment and health of New Yorkers in 1900. Robert Fogel, a Nobel Prize-winning economic historian, writes:

We complain a lot about air pollution today, but there were 200,000 horses in New York City, at the beginning of the 20th century defecating everywhere. And when you walked around in New York City, you were breathing pulverized horse manurea much worse pollutant, than the exhausts of automobiles. Indeed in the United States, the automobile was considered the solution to the horse problem because pulverized horse manure carried a lot of deadly pathogens.

No serious person denies that photochemical smog from gas-powered vehicles is a health risk. It would be silly to do so. It would be even sillier, however, to deny Fogels observation that the air and water pollution from horse manure was a far greater health risk than the pollution from cars and trucks. Diseases such as cholera, typhoid, typhus, yellow fever, and diphtheria were responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans in the early twentieth century. As cars and trucks began replacing horses and other beasts of burden, these deaths began to decline dramatically. Medical improvements get some of the credit, but most of the credit during the early decades of the twentieth century goes to the reduced filth in the environment from animal waste.

The environmental benefits from the internal-combustion engine have not been confined to towns and cities. Before the power of internal combustion was harnessed, beasts of burden were adding greatly to the pollution generated by meat-producing animals, such as cows, pigs, and chickens in agricultural communities. By eliminating the need for horses, mules, and oxen on farms, tractors, trucks and other types of gas-powered farm machinery limited the problem of animal waste from agriculture almost entirely to feed lots that environmentalists, with justification, still complain about. It would be nice to hear them acknowledge that they would have even more to complain about without the internal-combustion engine.

Another environmental benefit that internal combustion seldom receives credit for is that it eliminated the need to grow food for millions of farm animals. It has been estimated that in 1910 about 25 percent of U.S. acreage devoted to growing crops was being used to grow food for the farm animals that were soon replaced by motorized farm equipment. Much of that land is now forestland, with the number of trees absorbing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide much greater than it would have been without the internal combustion engine.

Based on the animal waste and the diseases that have been eliminated by the internal-combustion engine, plus the additional forestland it has made possible, environmentalists should be celebrating motorized vehicles on Earth Day instead of destroying them with sledgehammers. And the reason for celebrating internal combustion is even stronger now that we have evidence that by eliminating all those barnyard animals, the engine has also eliminated vast amounts of methane from animal flatulencea gas with far more greenhouse potency than the carbon dioxide produced by gasoline engines.

No Credit Given

Yet with respect to the UN report, the mainline environmentalists are not giving the internal-combustion engine any credit for reducing greenhouse gases. Instead, they are pointing their fingers at meat eaters, with some recommending vegetarianism as the best way to combat global warming. From a report written for EarthSave International, we read, Arguably the best way to reduce global warming in our lifetimes is to reduce or eliminate our consumption of animal products (quoted in the February 20, 2007, Christian Science Monitor, http://tinyurl.com/3997wc). What is not mentioned is that if the vegetarian solution were taken seriously, it would increase the environmental benefits provided by the internal-combustion engine. Imagine the extra animal manure and methane that would be discharged if we had to grow all those additional vegetables without motorized farm equipment.

The internal-combustion engine is certainly not pollution freeas is always the case, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Before criticizing anything for being costly, however, one should always ask the questioncompared to what? When this question is taken seriously, the environmental record of the internal-combustion engine is impressive by virtue of its being far less polluting than the animals it replaced. Furthermore, gasoline-powered engines are less polluting today than they were a few years ago, and they will be less polluting in a few years than they are today. And the less intrusive government is with yet more commands and controls in response to every problem, real or imagined, the sooner an even-less-polluting power technology will replace internal combustion. Until then, lets give the internal-combustion engine the respect it deserves for its contribution to a cleaner and healthier environment.

Download a pdf of the article from 2007 here...

Dwight R. Lee is the ONeil Professor of Global Markets and Freedom in the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Mar. 28, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 28, 2017 | 01:41 PM | PADUCAH, KY

Lourdes Hospice is offering a day camp that provides support and counseling to children affected by the loss of a loved one or friend. This years camp will be on Saturday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Heartland Worship Center. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m.



Camp Robin consists of therapeutic activities in a fun, safe environment to help children ages 4-17 deal with grief. The camp is offered free to children and their parents or guardians living in Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois. Campers will enjoy Animal Tales, Pet Therapy with LOAL dogs and Cassidys Cause horses, a free lunch, arts and crafts, story and letter writing time and a memorial ceremony with a balloon send-off at 1:45 p.m. to end the day. Sessions available for parents or guardians that will be offered include How to Help Yourself and Helping Children Grieve.



We continually work to improve our camp and the techniques that will most benefit those who attend, said Shannah D. Poindexter, Community Relationship Manager. Our teen program, like the other age grouped sessions, focuses on specific needs that teens face. Just being around others your same age who have experienced loss enables an open atmosphere and the understanding that I am not alone. This year we have a group of teen volunteers who will help and further enhance the idea of kids helping kids.



Camp Robin was named to honor a Lourdes Hospice patient who passed away in the fall of 2005 at the age of thirteen.



For registration information or volunteer opportunities, contact Shannah Poindexter at (270) 415-3636 or spoindexter@mercy.com or stop by Lourdes Hospice at 911 Joe Clifton Drive. You can also register online at http://www.elourdes.com/camprobin.asp.
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Tatum's 39 points help Celtics hold on to beat Grizzlies 109-106
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Apr. 23, 2017 | MAYFIELD, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 23, 2017 | 10:59 AM | MAYFIELD, KY

The Graves County High School Class of 2017 will be the schools first to recognize outstanding academics with three levels of cum laude honors, rather than the traditional valedictorian, salutatorian, and honor graduates.



Principal Matthew Madding cited the proliferation of courses that award dual credit for high school and college and the weighted grade point scale as key factors in the decision. That decision actually was made in the fall of 2013 in anticipation of that years freshmen completing their high school courses this spring.



According to a press release from Graves County Schools, dual credit course options have increased across America in recent years. Students throughout the Jackson Purchase and beyond take advantage of the opportunity the courses provide to fulfill requirements for both high school and college at Murray State University and West Kentucky Community and Technical College.



Graves Highs own Advanced Placement courses also offer dual credit. Theyre designed to be more challenging than traditional high school courses in the same subjects. Teachers assignments are comparable to those in college courses as well.



"So the race to valedictorian and salutatorian forced students to take pretty much all of our AP classes," Madding said. "We tried to adjust it where we had a requirement that students had to take some AP classes or a dual credit equivalent of that class. We really wanted to open the door for kids to be able to take college classes not only on our campus through the AP (program), but also on the college campus.



When the high school changed its honors graduation policy in 2013, students who took AP classes were scored on a five-point, weighted GPA scale instead of a four-point scale. Therefore, the school established a policy to grandfather in Graves High students already enrolled at that time so those already on track for valedictorian and salutatorian honors could complete the track on which theyd started high school. Madding said although some students preferred the traditional valedictorian and salutatorian tracks, most students have been receptive to the change. The number of valedictorians over the years had ranged from one to five per year.



Now the school will honor graduates with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher as "Graduates of Distinction." Within that designation will be summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude. With one month to go before graduation, Madding estimates 70 students among approximately 300 graduates will earn the title of Graduates of Distinction.



In order to earn "Graduates of Distinction" honors, students must take a minimum of four AP or dual credit classes. Those classes must include at least one in language arts or social studies and one in math or science. The minimum math requirement stipulates that the student must complete pre-calculus or AP statistics. The student also must earn the status of college or career ready.



To earn Summa cum laude status, the student must meet those requirements and earn a 4.0 GPA with no grade below a B. Magna cum laude status comes from meeting those same requirements except a minimum 3.75 GPA with no grade below a C. To earn Cum laude status, the student must meet those standard requirements, a minimum 3.5 GPA with no grade below a C.



This years commencement begins in the Eagles Nest Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Friday, May 19.
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This article was published 22/04/2017 (2026 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The lawyer representing Court of Queens Bench Judge Vic Toews has challenged the conclusions of a federal ethics commissioner, saying they were contrary to the facts presented to her.

Robert Tapper also accuses commissioner Mary Dawson of acting unethically herself because she directed witnesses not to speak to Toews or his legal counsel.

In an interview Saturday, Tapper further argued that Dawsons office had absolutely no jurisdiction over Justice Toews, since he was no longer a Parliamentarian when she conducted her probe.

ADRIAN WYLD / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Vic Toews' lawyer said the evidence presented to Dawson shows his client did no wrong.

On Friday, Dawson released an explosive report that found Toews, a former senior federal cabinet minister, had violated the Conflict of Interest Act in providing consulting services to two Manitoba First Nations after he stepped down from federal politics in July 2013. The damning report has led some to conclude that Toews could face professional sanctions from a tribunal that oversees the conduct of senior judges.

However, Toews lawyer said the evidence presented to Dawson, in fact, shows that his client did no wrong.

The problem is that her conclusions are diametrically opposed to the information that was given to her, Tapper said.

Reading from evidence provided to Dawson (although not contained in her report), Tapper said that Norway House Cree Nation Chief Ron Evans testified that Toews had explained to him what he could or could not do for him under federal rules.

Tapper said Evans told Dawsons staff that Toews had defined the limitations as files the former cabinet minister had been working on with the First Nation in the past.

Said Evans to Dawson (according to Tapper): We understood at the time, but we werent asking him to do anything other than just give us some advice on how we could move forward. Basically, thats all it was.

Dawson also ruled that Toews had violated federal legislation in advising Peguis First Nation, through its lawyer Jeffrey Rath, about its interest in the former Kapyong Barracks property. Toews had been Manitobas senior federal cabinet minister during much of the time that several First Nations, including Peguis, challenged federal plans to transfer a portion of the Canadian Forces Base to the Canada Lands Co.

Dawson interviewed Rath about Toews involvement. Again, Tapper claimed, her conclusion did not fit with the evidence.

In an email to Toews, which Tapper forwarded to the commissioner before she filed her report, Rath said: This will confirm that while you (Toews) were engaged in providing strategic advice to our office on various matters, at no time were you requested to contact the government of Canada, nor did you contact the government of Canada on behalf of our office or any of our clients.

Rath added: at no time were you (Toews) requested to provide any assistance with any federal aspect of any work we were conducting.

Tapper said according to Raths evidence there were no personal dealings with Toews on Kapyong. And even though he was senior cabinet minister in Manitoba during the Kapyong debate, that doesnt make him involved in those things.

She (Dawson) didnt have a single person tell her that he (Toews) was involved in Kapyong. The only evidence she had was that he was not, Tapper said.

He said Toews advised Peguis about its development plans, in partnership with the Manitoba Jockey Club, at Assiniboia Downs.

Tapper said Dawson admitted to him during the investigation that she directed witnesses not to speak to himself or Toews.

You cant hide a witness and tell them not to speak to an opposing counsel. Thats a grotesque violation of legal ethics, he said.

Meanwhile, Tapper said he does not believe that Toews will face any sanctions by the Canadian Judicial Council.

He said there were no allegations against Toews at the time he applied to become a judge.

Things that gave rise to this investigation by Mary Dawson erupted while he was a judge, Tapper said.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/04/2017 (2026 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Scientists believe the evidence is clear: they need to get out of the lab more and start taking their message to the people.

Were a fairly reserved lot, said Andrew Park, associate professor of biology at the University of Winnipeg. And we have not been all that good at public communication. I think we realize that and are getting better at it, but we have a long way to go.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS U of W Science students hold signs on the steps of the Manitoba Legislature during the March for Science Saturday.

Park was already addressing the matter, literally, as one of the five speakers at the March for Science rally held on the steps of the Manitoba Legislative Building on Saturday. All of the speakers were either science researchers, students or professors.

Around 200 protesters and activists attended the rally on a blustery, cold late April afternoon. It was one of some 500 similar protests held around the world Saturday, including 18 in Canada.

The events were intentionally held in conjunction with Earth Day. The goal was to advocate for evidence-based policies, such as climate change and vaccinations, and push back against government funding cut to scientific research.

Theres been a creeping erosion for knowledge and facts, especially from experts, Park added, noting some of the backlash has resulted from segments of the population left behind by economic progress.

If you dont have access to good health care, you might ask what has science done for you lately, said Park.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS U of W Associate Professor of Biology Andrew Park speaks at the rally.

Were constantly faced with a challenging economic environment, said Mark Belmonte, professor of plant biology at the University of Manitoba. We have to have a strong voice in prioritizing and ensuring that science and science research is continually funded.

To that end, Belmonte said scientists in all fields have to make data and research more understandable to the general public.

I think thats what will change the public perception, he said. Its challenging stuff that we have to work with. How do you make it understandable for everyone? And weve got to start early.

Michael Paterson, a senior research scientist with IISD Experimental Lakes Area, said the days when scientific research was widely accepted based on data are on the wane.

Sadly, when you look at what is going on in the world, thats not the case, Paterson said. Support for science is diminishing everywhere. If we dont speak out, leaders forget.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Supporters for the March for Science rally listen to the speeches.

If we dont have evidence, were left with intuition, and that can be a very poor guide. When people thought the world was flat, that was intuition.

The ultimate goal is long-term survival, he added, and quality of life.

Nathan Zahn, the director of Science First, a not-for-profit advocacy group for evidence-based policy, agreed scientists have to raise their voices, noting the facts dont always speak for themselves anymore.

Its already happening, said Zahn, who organized the rally. Thats why were here today. It doesnt have to be political. (The facts) just have to be communicated to the public.

Its crazy we have to do this, he added. Youd think science would be more supported. Theres a cult of ignorance right now in some places, cognitive dissonance. They wont listen to the facts even if its right in front of them.

Its not so much about the money and the cuts, its about how we make decisions. Evidence-based policy. Whether its vaccines or climate change, the science should help us decide.

The rallies were to support their American counterparts, who say theyre facing mounting attacks against science, which include cuts to the Environmental Agency under the new administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Grace Mollot (from left), Alice Mollot and Gabby Cooperhold hold signs during for the rally.

Signs in the crowd included Defiance for Science and Didnt Die of an Infection? Thank a Scientist.

Ruby Pommer and her daughter Sage, 13, sat at the foot of the legislature steps and handed out their homemade Periodic Table cookies.

Pommer said the anti-scientific/anti-elite message of Trump will affect us in the long-term.

Just his (Trumps) whole public statement that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, Pommer added. I find that very irritating. I wish everybody would get out and yell about that. Its such a crock.

Gene Degen and Barb Degen said the issue is bigger than just Trump policies. And its bigger than any one country.

Its very short-sighted decisions that politicians make, said Barb Degen. That just has to change. Come on, guys.

randy.turner@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @randyturner15

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Sage Pommer and her mother, Ruby show off cookies they baked, decorated with the letters of the periodic table.
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This article was published 23/04/2017 (2025 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Free for all

To celebrate Earth Day, FortWhyte Alive is hosting a plethora of activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, and its all free. A sample of whats going on includes comedy from Manitoba Theatre for Young People performers, geocaching, games, crafts and a bannock roast. For the full schedule, visit fortwhyte.org/earthday.

Stroll and snap photos

There will be a Downtown Photo Walk at 1 p.m. today starting at Dons Photo on Portage Avenue. The walk around downtown and The Forks is free to join, just bring your own camera or camera-capable cellphone. Dons staff will be available during the walk for technical assistance.

A reel good time

The Radical Reels Tour will be at the Gas Station Arts Centre on Wednesday, screening film selections from the Banff Mountain Film Festival. The touring film fest will be showing action-packed films about activities such as climbing, paddling and BASE jumping, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $17 and available online at http://wfp.to/EbG.

Dance duets

On Thursday, the Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers are premiering two new works at the Rachel Browne Theatre, with shows running until Saturday. Anything but Absolute Zero includes two duets from Canadian choreographers featuring local dancers. Shows are nightly starting at 8 p.m., and adult tickets are $25.

Fun and games

McNally Robinson is having a day of gaming at the bookstore from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday for International Tabletop Day 2017. There will be tables and chairs set up with demo game sets provided, or you can buy or bring your own. There is no registration required. Gaming is free and open to all ages and group sizes.

Marvellous market

The Kings Head Pub is hosting the Half Moon Market from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Browse works from 24 local artisans selling honey, jewelry, art and vintage ware, among other products. Admission is free, and all ages are welcome.

Hot sounds in the city

The Millennium Library will be home to Folk Fest in the City from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Brent Parkin, Chris Carmichael and Sol James will be collaborating and performing in the workshop Canned Heat: Acoustic Roots and Blues. Its free to attend.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/04/2017 (2025 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Asked whether he could slay a woolly mammoth with an atlatl  a spear-throwing weapon of early North Americans  Arjun Khera couldnt say for sure.

According to the 10-year-old Khera, who was giving the atlatl a good workout at Fort Whyte Alive, you feel like youre throwing all your anger away.

Who in his small sphere of relations could he possibly be angry with, he was asked, before he sailed a spear way past the target and almost into the ditch. His little sister, he responded. Whoa!

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Arjun Khera, 10, tries out an Atl Atl during the FortWhyte Alive annual Earth Day celebration on Sunday.

Earth Day came in all shapes and sizes at Fort Whyte Alive on Sunday. Its the nature centres biggest day of the year, attracting close to 4,000 people annually. Admission to Fort Whyte is free on Earth Day.

Judging by the crowds, and the kilometre-long line of parked cars on McCreary Road outside the parking lot, cool temperatures, a brisk breeze and a struggling sun didnt discourage people.

The atlatl, which works like an arm extension to accelerates the projectile, was a hit with kids and grown-ups alike.

Grace Kammerlock-Butcher, 6, felt it was her dedication to gymnastics, and not the atlatl, that helped propel her spear almost halfway to the target. It felt like I was a hunter, she said, perhaps hunting for very low-crawling animals.

When people werent keeping warm kinetically, there was always the wood stove inside the sod hut. This particular sod hut, explained volunteer Deanne Coombs, dressed in period costume, was like the show home of sod huts. Only the well-to-do sod hut dwellers would have four glass windows instead of stretched animal membrane to look out of, and a wooden floor instead of mud.

But early Slavic settlers didnt live for long in the sod huts. They were only a temporary stop, Coombs said, and never lasted more than five years. The sod hut is staffed year round on Sunday afternoons by volunteer soddies, as they call themselves.

Earth Day was started Apr. 22, 1970, and is now observed in close to 200 countries. Its purpose is to celebrate environmental protection.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Volunteer Deanne Coombs, in period clothing, talks about the sod hut at FortWhyte Alive on Sunday.

Some events at Fort Whyte on Sunday included a mini farmers market, hiking with instruction on edible wild plants, the teepee encampment, guided bison hikes, birding hikes, a bannock roast and dip-netting.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca
On Monday, May 1, the Winona Human Rights Commission will recommend to the Winona City Council that the city divest itself from Wells Fargo Bank. We make this recommendation in line with our statutory role to advise the city council on human relations and civil rights problems (22.22(d)(4)).

We believe that Wells Fargos funding of the Dakota Access Pipeline Project (DAPL) violates the letter and spirit of the Covenant of Friendship the city and, more importantly, the people of Winona share with the Dakota Nations, Tribes, and Communities of the Oceti Sakowin. This covenant is a solemn commitment to the perpetual peace, friendship and compassion between the Dakota people and the people of the city of Winona; and to the mutual recognition of equal rights and respect for the Dakota language, culture and natural law. This solemn commitment was reconfirmed last year in the cty councils affirmation of support for the Standing Rock Water Protectors.

One of the most powerful and humbling aspects of our annual Great Dakota Gathering is the Truth Circle. It is in this circle of truth and reconciliation that Winonans of all backgrounds have the opportunity to come with an open heart and hear what the Dakota have experienced and continue to experience because of American campaigns of genocide, of forced removals, and of the knowing and intentional destruction of native families, culture, language, and religion.

All this happened here while non-native people of good will sat passively by, accepting the justifying platitudes and moral equivocations offered by the institutions of government, religion, and commerce.

Now, even as the Dakota Access Pipeline Project is moving forward over the brave and unambiguous objections of our Dakota friends, the opportunity to affirm our support for the Dakota and other native communities is still alive. As a community, we can still speak out.

While banking is a business, our collective relationship with a bank does say something about our own character as a community. Quite apart from their involvement in the pipeline project, recent headlines tell us that the corporate leaders of Wells Fargo are not particularly moral people, even by the standards of the banking industry. As we have seen, these leaders have committed repeated illegal acts, including the opening of two million fraudulent accounts and actively discriminating against people of color in a host of ways documented by regulators for decades. In these actions, Wells Fargo has shown little concern for their customers, their employees, and our faith in the lawfulness and stability of the banking system.

We can surely find a better banking partner than this.

The commission recognizes the difficult task it is recommending. The city and Wells Fargo have multiple ties that will be hard to cut.

But our position remains that, to be true to our values as a city, a city that prides itself on its relationship with the Dakota people, a city that takes its very name from the Dakota word for eldest born daughterwho in Dakota family structure protects her peoples culture and ways, we need to divest from Wells Fargo.

If you feel as we do, that this is a necessary moral action, please contact your city council members and express your views. I hope our local and regional banks view this moment as an opportunity to show the city of Winona what services they could offer and how they could be more responsible and responsive partners.
Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated insurance holding company in the United States. The company develops, markets, and underwrites insurance products for personal residential insurance, such as homeowners, renters/tenants, condo unit owners, and dwelling/fire; and offers allied lines, coverage for other structures, and personal property, liability, and personal articles coverages. It also advises on actuarial issues, oversees distribution, administers claims payments, performs policy administration and underwriting, and assists with reinsurance negotiations; places and manages reinsurance programs for the insurance entities; and operates Clovered.com, an online platform in which consumers receive side-by-side quotes from various carriers across multiple states, as well as educational materials about homeowners' insurance policies. It offers its products through a network of independent agents, as well as Universal Direct, a direct-to-consumer online platform, which enables homeowners to directly purchase, pay for, and bind homeowners' policies. The company was formerly known as Universal Heights, Inc. and changed its name to Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. in January 2001. Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The following companies are subsidiares of BorgWarner: Akasol AG, B80 Italia S.r.l., BERU AG, BW El Salto S.A. De C.V., BWA Receivables Corporation, BWA Turbo Systems Holding LLC, Borg Warner Europe Holdings (PDS) B. V., BorgWarner (China) Investment Co. Ltd., BorgWarner (Reman) Holdings L.L.C., BorgWarner (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner Aftermarket Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Alternators Inc., BorgWarner Arden LLC, BorgWarner Arnstadt RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Asia Inc., BorgWarner Automotive Asia Limited, BorgWarner Automotive Components (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Wuhan) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Brasil Ltda., BorgWarner Chungju Co. LLC, BorgWarner Comercial e Distribuidora de Pecas para Veiculos Automotores Ltda., BorgWarner Comercializadora PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Componentes PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Cooling Systems (India) Private Limited, BorgWarner Cooling Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Diversified Transmission Products Services Inc., BorgWarner Drivetrain Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Drivetrain Management Services de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Drivetrain de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Electric Motors L.L.C., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems Holding LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Emissions Systems LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Portugal Unipessoal LDA, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Spain S.L.U., BorgWarner Emissions Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Emissions Talegaon Private Limited, BorgWarner Engineering Ketsch RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Engineering Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Esslingen GmbH, BorgWarner Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Europe Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Gateshead Limited, BorgWarner Germany Holding GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Holding Services GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REH GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REM GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, BorgWarner Global Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Heidelberg I RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg II RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg REH GmbH, BorgWarner Heidelberg REM GmbH, BorgWarner Holding Inc., BorgWarner Holdings Limited, BorgWarner Hungary Kft., BorgWarner IT Services Europe GmbH, BorgWarner India Holdings Inc., BorgWarner Investment Holding Inc., BorgWarner Ithaca LLC, BorgWarner Ketsch Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Ketsch REH GmbH, BorgWarner Ketsch REM GmbH, BorgWarner Kft., BorgWarner Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Korea Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Korea Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Korea LLC, BorgWarner Limited, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf REH GmbH, BorgWarner Markdorf REM GmbH, BorgWarner Massachusetts Inc., BorgWarner Mauritius Holdings Ltd., BorgWarner Mexico Holding BV, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings II LLC, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Morse Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Morse Systems Italy S.r.l., BorgWarner Morse Systems Japan K.K., BorgWarner Morse Systems Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Muggendorf RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner NW Inc., BorgWarner Netherlands Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Oroszlany Kft., BorgWarner PDS (Anderson) L.L.C., BorgWarner PDS (Changnyeong) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Indiana) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Livonia) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Ochang) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner PDS (USA) Inc., BorgWarner PDS Brasil Produtos Automotivos Ltda., BorgWarner PDS Irapuato S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Technologies L.L.C., BorgWarner Poland Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Pyongtaek LLC, BorgWarner Romeo Power LLC, BorgWarner Rzeszow Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Shenglong (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner South Asia LLC, BorgWarner Southborough Inc., BorgWarner Spain Holding S.L.U, BorgWarner Sweden AB, BorgWarner Systems Lugo S.r.l., BorgWarner Thermal Systems Inc., BorgWarner Thermal Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems Beijing Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Tralee Ltd., BorgWarner Transmission Products LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Arnstadt GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Korea LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Tulle S.A.S., BorgWarner Trustees Limited, BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems France S.A.S., BorgWarner Turbo Systems Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems LLC, BorgWarner Turbo Systems Worldwide Headquarters GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Turbo and Emissions Systems de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner UK Financing Ltd., BorgWarner UK Holding and Services Ltd., BorgWarner US Holding LLC, BorgWarner USA Industries L.L.C., BorgWarner United Transmission Systems Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Waterloo Inc., BorgWarner Wrexham Limited, Cascadia Motion LLC, Creon Insurance Agency Limited, Delphi Technologies, Dytech ENSA, Gustav Wahler GmbH u. Co. KG, Haldex, Kuhlman LLC, Kysor Europe Limited, M. & M. Knopf Auto Parts L.L.C., NSK-Warner (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., NSK-Warner K.K., NSK-Warner Mexico S.A. de C.V, NSK-Warner U.S.A. Inc., New PDS Corp., Old Remco Holdings L.L.C., Old Remco International Holdings L.L.C., Remy International, SeohanWarner Turbo Systems LLC, Sevcon, Sevcon New Energy Technology (Hubei) Company Limited, and Transmission Systems AutoForm LLC.

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The following companies are subsidiares of CVS Health: ACS ACQCO CORP., ADMINCO Inc., AE Fourteen Incorporated, AHP Holdings Inc., AMC - Tennessee LLC, APS Acquisition LLC, ASCO HealthCare LLC, ASI Wings LLC, AUSHC Holdings Inc., Accendo Insurance Company, Accordant Health Services L.L.C., Active Health Management Inc., Administrative Enterprises Inc., AdvancePCS SpecialtyRx LLC, AdvanceRx.com L.L.C., Advanced Care Scripts Inc., Aetna, Aetna (Beijing) Enterprise Management Services Co. Ltd., Aetna (Shanghai) Enterprise Services Co. Ltd., Aetna ACO Holdings Inc., Aetna Asset Advisors LLC, Aetna Behavioral Health LLC, Aetna Better Health Inc., Aetna Better Health Inc., Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI Inc., Aetna Better Health of California Inc., Aetna Better Health of Florida Inc., Aetna Better Health of Illinois Inc., Aetna Better Health of Indiana Inc., Aetna Better Health of Kansas Inc., Aetna Better Health of Missouri LLC, Aetna Better Health of Nevada Inc., Aetna Better Health of North Carolina Inc., Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma Inc., Aetna Better Health of Tennessee Inc., Aetna Better Health of Texas Inc., Aetna Better Health of Washington Inc., Aetna Capital Management LLC, Aetna Card Solutions LLC, Aetna Corporate Services LLC, Aetna Dental Inc., Aetna Dental of California Inc., Aetna Financial Holdings LLC, Aetna Florida Inc., Aetna Global Benefits (Asia Pacific) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Bermuda) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Europe) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Middle East) LLC, Aetna Global Benefits (Singapore) PTE. LTD., Aetna Health Holdings LLC, Aetna Health Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Aetna Health Insurance Company, Aetna Health Insurance Company of Europe DAC, Aetna Health Insurance Company of New York, Aetna Health Management LLC, Aetna Health and Life Insurance Company, Aetna Health of California Inc., Aetna Health of Iowa Inc., Aetna Health of Michigan Inc., Aetna Health of Ohio Inc., Aetna Health of Utah Inc., Aetna HealthAssurance Pennsylvania Inc., Aetna Holdco (UK) Limited, Aetna Holdings (Thailand) Limited, Aetna Inc., Aetna Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Aetna Insurance Company Limited, Aetna Insurance Company of Connecticut, Aetna Integrated Informatics Inc., Aetna International Ex Pat LLC, Aetna International LLC, Aetna Ireland Inc., Aetna Life & Casualty (Bermuda) Ltd., Aetna Life Assignment Company, Aetna Life Insurance Company, Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC, Aetna Network Services LLC, Aetna Partners Diversified Fund LLC, Aetna Pharmacy Management Services LLC, Aetna Resources LLC, Aetna Risk Assurance Company of Connecticut Inc., Aetna Rx Home Delivery LLC, Aetna Services (Thailand) Limited, Aetna Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Aetna Student Health Agency Inc., Aetna Ventures LLC, Aetna Workers Comp Access LLC, Alabama CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Alaska CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Allina Health and Aetna Health Plan Inc., Allina Health and Aetna Insurance Company, Allina Health and Aetna Insurance Holding Company LLC, American Drug Stores Delaware L.L.C., Arbor Drugs, Arizona CVS Stores L.L.C., Arkansas CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Badger Acquisition LLC, Badger Acquisition of Kentucky LLC, Badger Acquisition of Minnesota LLC, Badger Acquisition of Ohio LLC, Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Company, Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Holding Company LLC, Banner Health and Aetna Health Plan Inc., Beauty Holdings L.L.C., Best Care LTC Acquisition Company LLC, Busse CVS L.L.C., CCI Foreign S.a R.L., CCRx Holdings LLC, CCRx of North Carolina LLC, CHP Acquisition LLC, CP Acquisition LLC, CVS 2948 Henderson L.L.C., CVS 3268 Gilbert L.L.C., CVS 3745 Peoria L.L.C., CVS AL Distribution L.L.C., CVS AOC Corporation, CVS AOC Services L.L.C., CVS Albany L.L.C., CVS Bellmore Avenue L.L.C., CVS Cabot Holdings Inc., CVS Cabot Holdings Inc.  Coram Clinical Trials Inc. 99.72%/Aetna Inc. .28%, CVS Care Concierge LLC, CVS Caremark Advanced Technology Pharmacy L.L.C., CVS Caremark Indemnity Ltd., CVS Caremark Part D Services L.L.C., CVS Caremark TN SUTA LLC, CVS Foreign Inc., CVS Gilbert 3272 L.L.C., CVS Health Applications LLC, CVS Health Solutions LLC, CVS Health Ventures Fund GP LLC, CVS Health Ventures Fund LP, CVS Health Ventures Management LLC, CVS Indiana L.L.C., CVS International L.L.C., CVS Kidney Care Advanced Technologies LLC, CVS Kidney Care Health Services LLC, CVS Kidney Care Home Dialysis LLC, CVS Kidney Care LLC, CVS Management Support LLC, CVS Manchester NH L.L.C., CVS Media Exchange LLC, CVS Michigan L.L.C., CVS Orlando FL Distribution L.L.C., CVS PA Distribution L.L.C., CVS PR Center Inc., CVS Pharmacy Inc., CVS Pharmacy Overseas Online LLC, CVS RS Arizona L.L.C., CVS Rx Services Inc., CVS SC Distribution L.L.C., CVS Shaw Holdings Inc., CVS Shaw Holdings Inc.  Coram Clinical Trials Inc. 99.72%/Aetna Inc. .28%, CVS State Capital L.L.C., CVS TN Distribution L.L.C., CVS Transportation L.L.C., CVS Vero FL Distribution L.L.C., CVS-SHC Kidney Care Home Dialysis of Austin LLC, CVS-SHC Kidney Care Home Dialysis of Los Angeles LLC, CVS-SHC Kidney Care Home Dialysis of Philadelphia LLC, CVS-SHC Renal Holdings LLC, Campos Medical Pharmacy LLC, Canal Place LLC, Care Pharmaceutical Services LP, CareCenter Pharmacy L.L.C., Carefree Insurance Services Inc., Caremark Arizona Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Arizona Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark California Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Florida Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Florida Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Hawaii Mail Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Hawaii Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark IPA L.L.C., Caremark Illinois Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Illinois Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Irving Resource Center LLC, Caremark Kansas Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark L.L.C., Caremark Logistics LLC, Caremark Louisiana Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Maryland Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Massachusetts Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Michigan Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Minnesota Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark New Jersey Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark North Carolina Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Ohio Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Pennsylvania Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark PhC L.L.C., Caremark Puerto Rico L.L.C., Caremark Puerto Rico Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Redlands Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Repack LLC, Caremark Rx L.L.C., Caremark Tennessee Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Texas Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Texas Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Ulysses Holding Corp., Caremark Washington Specialty Pharmacy LLC, CaremarkPCS Alabama Mail Pharmacy LLC, CaremarkPCS Health L.L.C., CaremarkPCS L.L.C., Central Rx Services LLC, Cofinity Inc., Compscript LLC, Connecticut CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Continental Life Insurance Company of Brentwood Tennessee, Continuing Care Rx LLC, Coram Alternate Site Services Inc., Coram Clinical Trials Inc., Coram Clinical Trials Inc.  CVS Pharmacy Inc. 75%/Aetna Life Insurance Company 25%, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Alabama, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Florida, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Greater D.C., Coram Healthcare Corporation of Greater New York, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Indiana, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Massachusetts, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Mississippi, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Nevada, Coram Healthcare Corporation of North Texas, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Northern California, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Southern California, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Southern Florida, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Utah, Coram LLC, Coram Rx LLC, Coram Specialty Infusion, Coram Specialty Infusion Services L.L.C., Coventry Consumer Advantage Inc., Coventry Health Care National Accounts Inc., Coventry Health Care National Network Inc., Coventry Health Care of Illinois Inc., Coventry Health Care of Kansas Inc., Coventry Health Care of Missouri Inc., Coventry Health Care of Nebraska Inc., Coventry Health Care of Virginia Inc., Coventry Health Care of West Virginia Inc., Coventry Health Plan of Florida Inc., Coventry Health and Life Insurance Company, Coventry HealthCare Management Corporation, Coventry Prescription Management Services Inc., Coventry Transplant Network Inc., Credentials Inc., D & R Pharmaceutical Services LLC, D.A.W. LLC, Delaware CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Delaware Physicians Care Incorporated, District of Columbia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., E.T.B. INC., Echo Merger Sub Inc., Eckerd Corporation of Florida Inc., Employee Assistance Services LLC, Enloe Drugs LLC, Enterprise Patient Safety Organization LLC, EntrustRX, Evergreen Pharmaceutical LLC, Evergreen Pharmaceutical of California LLC, Express Pharmacy Services of PA L.L.C., First Choice of the Midwest LLC, First Health Group Corp., First Health Life & Health Insurance Company, Florida Health Plan Administrators LLC, Garfield Beach CVS L.L.C., Generation Health L.L.C., Geneva Woods Health Services LLC, Geneva Woods LTC Pharmacy LLC, Geneva Woods Management LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Alaska LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Washington LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Wyoming LLC, Geneva Woods Retail Pharmacy LLC, Georgia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., German Dobson CVS L.L.C., Goodhealth Worldwide (Asia) Limited, Goodhealth Worldwide (Global) Limited, Goodyear CVS L.L.C., Grand St. Paul CVS L.L.C., Grandview Pharmacy LLC, Group Dental Service Inc., Health Care Management Co. Ltd., Health Data & Management Solutions Inc., Health Re Inc., Health and Human Resource Center Inc., HealthAssurance Pennsylvania Inc., Highland Park CVS L.L.C., Holiday CVS L.L.C., Home Care Pharmacy LLC, Home Pharmacy Services LLC, Hook-SupeRx L.L.C., Horizon Behavioral Services LLC, Idaho CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., IlliniCare Health, Indian Health Organisation Private Limited, Innovation Health Holdings LLC, Innovation Health Insurance Company, Innovation Health Plan Inc., Interlock Pharmacy Systems LLC, Iowa CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., JHC Acquisition LLC, Kansas CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Kentucky CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., LCPS Acquisition LLC, Langsam Health Services LLC, Lo-Med Prescription Services LLC, Lobos Acquisition LLC, Longs Drug Stores, Longs Drug Stores California L.L.C., Louisiana CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., MHHP Acquisition Company LLC, MHNet Specialty Services LLC, MHNet of Florida Inc., Main Street Pharmacy L.L.C., Managed Care Coordinators Inc., Managed Healthcare LLC, Martin Health Services LLC, Maryland CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Med World Acquisition Corp., Medical Arts Health Care LLC, Medical Examinations of New York P.C., Melville Realty Company Inc., MemberHealth LLC, Mental Health Associates Inc., Mental Health Network of New York IPA Inc., Meritain Health Inc., Merwin Long Term Care LLC, Minor Health Enterprise Co Ltd., MinuteClinic, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Alabama L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Arizona LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Arkansas LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Colorado LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Florida LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Georgia LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Hawaii L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Illinois LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Kentucky L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Louisiana L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Maine L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Maryland LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Massachusetts LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Nebraska L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of New Hampshire L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of New Mexico L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Ohio LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Oklahoma LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Oregon LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Pennsylvania LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Rhode Island LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of South Carolina L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Texas LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Utah L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Virginia LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Washington LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Wisconsin L.L.C., MinuteClinic L.L.C., MinuteClinic Online Diagnostic Services LLC, MinuteClinic Physician Practice of Texas, MinuteClinic Telehealth Services LLC, MinuteClinic Telehealth Services of Texas Association, Mississippi CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Missouri CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Montana CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., NCS Healthcare of Illinois LLC, NCS Healthcare of Iowa LLC, NCS Healthcare of Kansas LLC, NCS Healthcare of Kentucky LLC, NCS Healthcare of Montana LLC, NCS Healthcare of New Mexico LLC, NCS Healthcare of Ohio LLC, NCS Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, NCS Healthcare of Tennessee LLC, NCS Healthcare of Wisconsin LLC, NIV Acquisition LLC, Navarro Discount Pharmacy, Nebraska CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., NeighborCare Pharmacy Services LLC, NeighborCare of Indiana LLC, NeighborCare of Virginia LLC, New Jersey CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Niagara Re Inc., North Carolina CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., North Shore Pharmacy Services LLC, NovoLogix LLC, OCR Services LLC, Ocean Acquisition Sub L.L.C., Ohio CVS Stores L.L.C., Oklahoma CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Omnicare, Omnicare Indiana Partnership Holding Company LLC, Omnicare LLC, Omnicare LLC  Aetna Inc 0.28%/CVS Cabot Holdings Inc. 49.86%/CVS Shaw Holdings Inc. 49.86%, Omnicare Pharmacies of Pennsylvania West LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of the Great Plains Holding LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy and Supply Services LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy of Tennessee LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy of the Midwest LLC, Omnicare Property Management LLC, Omnicare of Nebraska LLC, Omnicare of Nevada LLC, Omnicare of New York LLC, Oregon CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., PE Holdings LLC, PHPSNE Parent Corporation, PP Acquisition Company LLC, PRN Pharmaceutical Services LP, PT Aetna Management Consulting, Pamplona Saude e Beleza LTDA, Part D Holding Company L.L.C., PayFlex Systems USA Inc., Pennsylvania CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Performax Inc., Pharmacy Associates of Glenn Falls LLC, Pharmacy Consultants LLC, Phoenix Data Solutions LLC, Precision Benefit Services Inc., Prime Net Inc., ProCare Pharmacy Direct L.L.C., ProCare Pharmacy L.L.C., Prodigy Health Group Inc., Professional Risk Management Inc., Puerto Rico CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Red Oak Sourcing LLC, Resources for Living LLC, Rhode Island CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Roeschens Healthcare LLC, RxAmerica, Schaller Anderson Medical Administrators Incorporated, Scrip World LLC, Sheffield Avenue CVS L.L.C., Shore Pharmaceutical Providers LLC, Silverscript Insurance Company, Soma Intimates, South Carolina CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., South Wabash CVS L.L.C., Specialized Pharmacy Services LLC, Stadtlander Drug Company, Stadtlander Pharmacy, Sterling Healthcare Services LLC, Superior Care Pharmacy LLC, Sutter Health and Aetna Administrative Services LLC, Sutter Health and Aetna Insurance Company, Sutter Health and Aetna Insurance Holding Company LLC, T2 Medical Inc., TCPI Acquisition LLC, TargetPharmacy, Tennessee CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Company, Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Holding Company LLC, Texas Health + Aetna Health Plan Inc., The Vasquez Group Inc., Thomas Phoenix CVS L.L.C., Three Forks Apothecary LLC, U.S Healthcare Holdings LLC, U.S. Healthcare Properties Inc., UAC Holding Inc., UC Acquisition LLC, UNI-Care Health Services of Maine LLC, Universal American - Medicare Part D Business, Utah CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., VAPS Acquisition Company LLC, Value Health Care Services LLC, Vermont CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Virginia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Virtual Home Healthcare LLC, Warm Springs Road CVS L.L.C., Washington CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Washington Lamb CVS L.L.C., Weber Medical Systems LLC, Wellpartner LLC, West Virginia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Westhaven Services Co LLC, Williamson Drug Company LLC, Wisconsin CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Woodward Detroit CVS L.L.C., Work and Family Benefits Inc., ZS Acquisition Company LLC, Zinc Health Services LLC, Zinc Health Ventures LLC, bSwift LLC, and iTriage LLC.

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AmerisourceBergen Corporation sources and distributes pharmaceutical products in the United States and internationally. Its Pharmaceutical Distribution segment distributes brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to various healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and alternate site pharmacies, and other customers. It also provides pharmacy management, staffing, and other consulting services; supply management software to retail and institutional healthcare providers; and packaging solutions to various institutional and retail healthcare providers. In addition, this segment distributes plasma and other blood products, injectable pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and other specialty products; provides other services primarily to physicians who specialize in various disease states, primarily oncology, as well as to other healthcare providers, including hospitals and dialysis clinics; and offers data analytics, outcomes research, and additional services for biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturers. The company's Other segment provides integrated manufacturer services, such as clinical trial support, product post-approval, and commercialization support; specialty transportation and logistics services for the biopharmaceutical industry; and sells pharmaceuticals, vaccines, parasiticides, diagnostics, micro feed ingredients, and various other products to customers in the companion animal and production animal markets, as well as demand-creating sales force services to manufacturers. AmerisourceBergen Corporation was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
The following companies are subsidiares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft: ABFS I Incorporated, ABS MB Ltd., Alex. Brown Financial Services Incorporated, Alex. Brown Investments Incorporated, Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft mbH, Ambidexter GmbH i.L., Argent Incorporated, BHW - Gesellschaft fur Wohnungswirtschaft mbH, BHW Bausparkasse Aktiengesellschaft, BHW Holding GmbH, BT Globenet Nominees Limited, Bainpro Nominees Pty Ltd, Baldur Mortgages Limited, Bankers Trust Investments Limited, Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc., Berkshire Mortgage Finance, Betriebs-Center fur Banken AG, Better Financial Services GmbH, Better Payment Germany GmbH, Borfield Sociedad Anonima, Breaking Wave DB Limited, Cardales UK Limited, Cardea Real Estate S.r.l., Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Asset Management Company Limited, Cathay Capital Company (No 2) Limited, Cedar (Luxembourg) S.a. r.l., Chapel Funding, China Recovery Fund LLC, Consumo Srl in Liquidazione, D B Investments (GB) Limited, D&M Turnaround Partners Godo Kaisha, DB (Barbados) SRL, DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Asing) Sdn. Bhd., DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Tempatan) Sendirian Berhad, DB Alex. Brown Holdings Incorporated, DB Aotearoa Investments Limited, DB Beteiligungs-Holding GmbH, DB Boracay LLC, DB Capital Markets (Deutschland) GmbH, DB Cartera de lnmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Chestnut Holdings Limited, DB Corporate Advisory (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., DB Delaware Holdings (Europe) Limited, DB Direkt GmbH, DB Elara LLC, DB Energy Trading LLC, DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equity Limited, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology SRL, DB Group Services (UK) Limited, DB HR Solutions GmbH, DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB IROC Leasing Corp., DB Impact Investment Fund I. LP., DB Industrial Holdings Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DB Industrial Holdings GmbH, DB Intermezzo LLC, DB International (Asia) Limited, DB International Investments Limited, DB International Trust (Singapore) Limited, DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Partners Limited, DB Investment Resources (US) Corporation, DB Investment Resources Holdings Corp., DB Investment Services GmbH, DB London (Investor Services) Nominees Limited, DB Management Support GmbH, DB Nominees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB Nominees (Jersey) Limited, DB Nominees (Singapore) Pte Ltd, DB Omega BTV S.C.S., DB Omega Holdings LLC, DB Omega Ltd., DB Omega S.C.S., DB Operaciones y Servicios lnteractivos Agrupacicm de lnteres Econemico, DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Holdings Limited, DB Print GmbH, DB Private Clients Corp., DB Private Wealth Mortgage Ltd., DB Re S.A., DB Service Centre Limited, DB Service Uruguay S.A., DB Services (Jersey) Limited, DB Services Americas. Inc., DB Servizi Amministrativi S.r.l., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Products Inc., DB Trustee Services Limited, DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB UK Bank Limited, DB UK Holdings Limited, DB UK PCAM Holdings Limited, DB US Financial Markets Holding Corporation, DB USA Core Corporation, DB USA Corporation, DB Valoren S.a. r.l., DB Value S.a.r.l., DB VersicherungsManager GmbH, DB Vita SA., DB lmmobilienfonds 5 Wieland KG i.L., DB lo LP, DBAH Capital. LLC, DBCIBZ1, DBFIC Inc., DBNZ Overseas Investments (No.1) Limited, DBOI Global Services (UK) Limited, DBR Investments Co. Limited, DBRE Global Real Estate Management 18 Ltd., DBRMS4, DBRMSGP1, DBUK PCAM Limited, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ2 S.a. r.l., DBX Advisers LLC, DEBEKO lmmobilien GmbH & Co Grundbesitz OHG, DEE Deutsche Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, DEUKONA Versicherungs-Vermittlungs-GmbH, DEUTSCHE BANK AS., DI Deutsche lmmobilien Treuhandgesellschaft mbH, DISCA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DWS Alternatives France, DWS Alternatives Global Limited, DWS Alternatives GmbH, DWS Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, DWS Beteiligungs GmbH, DWS CH AG, DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Far Eastern Investments Limited, DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA, DWS Group Services UK Limited, DWS Grundbesitz GmbH, DWS International GmbH, DWS Investment GmbH, DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment S.A., DWS Investments Australia Limited, DWS Investments Hong Kong Limited, DWS Investments Japan Limited, DWS Investments Shanghai Limited, DWS Investments Singapore Limited, DWS Investments UK Limited, DWS Management GmbH, DWS Real Estate GmbH, DWS Service Company, DWS Shanghai Private Equity Fund Management Limited, DWS Trust Company, DWS USA Corporation, Deposit Solutions, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Capital Holdings New Zealand, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Foreign Investments New Zealand, Deutsche (New Munster) Holdings New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Access Investments Limited, Deutsche Aeolia Power Production Societe Anonyme, Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (UK) Limited, Deutsche Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd, Deutsche Asset Management (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Australia Limited, Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Limited, Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Deutsche Bank (Suisse) SA, Deutsche Bank (Uruguay) Sociedad Anenima lnstitucien Financiera Externa, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Americas Holding Corp., Deutsche Bank Europe GmbH, Deutsche Bank Financial Company, Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., Deutsche Bank Mutui S.p.A., Deutsche Bank Mexico. S.A., Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Deutsche Bank Polska Spelka Akcyjna, Deutsche Bank Representative Office Nigeria Limited, Deutsche Bank S.A, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Limited, Deutsche Bank Societe per Azioni, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Delaware, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Corporation, Deutsche Bank. Sociedad Anenima Espanola, Deutsche CIB Centre Private Limited, Deutsche Capital Finance (2000) Limited, Deutsche Capital Hong Kong Limited, Deutsche Capital Markets Australia Limited, Deutsche Capital Partners China Limited, Deutsche Cayman Ltd., Deutsche Custody N.V., Deutsche Domus New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Equities India Private Limited, Deutsche Finance No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Foras New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur lmmobilien-Leasing mit beschrenkter Haftung, Deutsche Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Group Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Deutsche Group Services Pty Limited, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Deutsche Grundbesitz-Anlagegesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Holdings (BTI) Limited, Deutsche Holdings (Grand Duchy), Deutsche Holdings (Luxembourg) S.El r.l., Deutsche Holdings Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 3 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 4 Limited, Deutsche India Holdings Private Limited, Deutsche India Private Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services (Ireland) Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services Limited, Deutsche International Custodial Services Limited, Deutsche Investments (Netherlands) N.V., Deutsche Investments India Private Limited, Deutsche Investor Services Private Limited, Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte. Ltd., Deutsche Leasing New York Corp., Deutsche Mexico Holdings S.a. r.|., Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Limited, Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, Deutsche Nederland N.V., Deutsche New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Nominees Limited, Deutsche Oppenheim Family Office AG, Deutsche Overseas Issuance New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Postbank, Deutsche Postbank Finance Center Objekt GmbH, Deutsche Private Asset Management Limited, Deutsche Securities (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Securities (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities Asia Limited, Deutsche Securities Australia Limited, Deutsche Securities Inc., Deutsche Securities Israel Ltd., Deutsche Securities Korea Co., Deutsche Securities Mauritius Limited, Deutsche Securities SA. de C.V.. Casla de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia, Deutsche Services (Cl) Limited, Deutsche Services Polska Sp. z o.o., Deutsche StiftungsTrust GmbH, Deutsche Strategic Investment Holdings Yugen Kaisha, Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, Deutsche Trustee Services (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Trustees Malaysia Berhad, Deutsche Wealth Management S.G.I.I.C. SA., Deutsche lmmobilien Leasing GmbH, Deutsches lnstitut fur Altersvorsorge GmbH, Durian (Luxembourg) S.a. r.l., EC EUROPA IMMOBILIEN FONDS NR. 3 GmbH & CO. KG i.l., Elizabethan Holdings Limited, Elizabethan Management Limited, European Value Added I (Alternate GP.) LLP, Fiduciaria Sant Andrea S.r.l., Finanzberatungsgesellschaft mbH der Deutschen Bank, Funfte SAB Treuhand und Verwaltung GmbH & Co. Suhl "Rimbachzentrum" KG, G Finance Holding Corp., German American Capital Corporation, Grundstucksgesellschaft Frankfurt Bockenheimer LandstraBe GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Miesbaden LuisenstraBe/Kirchgasse GbR, Hollandsche Bank-Unie, ISTRON Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs-GmbH, IVAF l Manager S.a.r.l., Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben I GbR, J R Nominees (Pty) Ltd, Joint Stock Company Deutsche Bank DBU, Jyogashima Godo Kaisha, KEBA Gesellschaft fur interne Services mbH, Kidson Pte Ltd, Konsul lnkasso GmbH, LA Water Holdings Limited, LAWL Pte. Ltd., Leasing Verwaltungsgesellschaft Waltersdorf mbH, Leonardo lll Initial GP Limited, MEF I Manager. S. a r.|., MIT Holdings Inc., Maher Terminals Holdings (Toronto) Limited, Morgan Grenfell & Company, MortgageIT, MortgagelT Inc., MortgagelT Securities Corp., OOO "Deutsche Bank TechCentIe", OOO "Deutsche Bank", OPB Verwaltungs- und Treuhand GmbH, OPB-Oktava GmbH, OPB-Quarta GmbH, OPPENHEIM Capital Advisory GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Manager GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, PADUS Grundstcks-VermietungsgeseIlschaft mbH, PB Factoring GmbH, PB Spezial-lnvestmentaktiengesellschatt mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, PCC Services GmbH der Deutschen Bank, PT Deutsche Sekuritas Indonesia, Pan Australian Nominees Pty Ltd, Plantation Bay. Inc., Postbank Akademie und Service GmbH, Postbank Beteiligungen GmbH, Postbank Direkt GmbH, Postbank Filialvertrieb AG, Postbank Finanzberatung AG, Postbank Leasing GmbH, Postbank lmmobilien GmbH, Quantiguous, R.B.M. Nominees Pty Ltd, RREEF, RREEF America LLC., RREEF China REIT Management Limited, RREEF European Value Added I (G.P.) Limited, RREEF Fund Holding Co., RREEF India Advisers Private Limited, RREEF Management LLC., RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., Route 28 Receivables. LLC, SAB Real Estate Verwaltungs GmbH, SAGITA Grundstucks-Vermielungsgesellschaft mbH, SAPIO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, Sal. Oppenheim, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Beteiligungs GmbH, Sharps SP l LLC, Stelvio lmmobiliare S.r.l., Suddeutsche Vermeigensvewvaitung Gesellschaft mit beschrenkter Haftung, TELO Beleiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Tempurrite Leasing Limited, Thai Asset Enforcement and Recovery Asset Management Company Limited, Treuinvest Service GmbH, Triplereason Umited, VOB-ZVD Processing GmbH, WEPLA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Wealthspur Investment Ltd., World Trading (Delaware) Inc., lmmobilienfonds BuroCenter Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben II GbR, lmmobilienfonds Wohn- und Gescheftshaus Koln-Blumenberg V GbR, and norisbank GmbH.

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ALLETE, Inc. operates as an energy company. The company operates through Regulated Operations, ALLETE Clean Energy, and Corporate and Other segments. It generates electricity from coal-fired, biomass co-fired / natural gas, hydroelectric, wind, and solar. The company provides regulated utility electric services in northwestern Wisconsin to approximately 15,000 electric customers, 13,000 natural gas customers, and 10,000 water customers, as well as regulated utility electric services in northeastern Minnesota to approximately 145,000 retail customers and 15 non-affiliated municipal customers. It also owns and maintains electric transmission assets in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois. In addition, the company focuses on developing, acquiring, and operating clean and renewable energy projects; and owns and operates approximately 1,000 megawatts of wind energy generation facility. Further, it is involved in the coal mining operations in North Dakota; and real estate investment activities in Florida. The company owns and operates 158 substations with a total capacity of 10,066 megavolt amperes. It serves taconite mining, paper, pulp and secondary wood products, pipeline, and other industries. The company was formerly known as Minnesota Power, Inc. and changed its name to ALLETE, Inc. in May 2001. ALLETE, Inc. was incorporated in 1906 and is headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota.




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Officer Noell Grant

By: Tanya Clark WorldWideWeirdNews.com

(Scroll down for video) A police officer from the United States, was detained in Taiwan, and is being banned from leaving the country.

The officer from California, was off duty when she boarded a flight at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) while her loaded gun was in her carry-on bag.

42-year-old Noell Grant with her family were traveling to Thailand, for a vacation. She allegedly did not know that her gun was with her.

During the flight, she realized that her personal handgun was inside her carry-on bag. When they arrived for layover at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, she told airport officials that she accidentally left her pistol and six bullets in her bag.

The gun she was carrying was a personal one, not the department issued weapon.

Grant was detained and the gun was confiscated. She was eventually released, but she was banned from leaving the country until the security matter is resolved, according to Santa Monica Lt Saul Rodriguez.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials said in a statement that astandard procedures were not followeda at LAX, and it was human error that allowed Grant to pass through the checkpoint with her firearm.
A young man wanted to make a point about racism in the United States, but his plan backfired when he was exposed for a liar by police. 20-year-old Khalil Cavil of Texas was working at the Saltgrass Steak House in Odessa when he claimed he was discriminated against because of his Muslim name. Cavil took
Skills Competition Success for Wrexham Film Students

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Apr 23rd, 2017

Two students from Coleg Cambria have won gold medals in the video moving image final of a national skills competition.

Backed by the Welsh Government through the European Social Fund, Skills Competition Wales is a series of events held in colleges across the country, designed to celebrate vocational skills and create highly skilled, award winning employees for the Welsh workforce.

Morgan Powell and Morgan Davies, who are both studying a level 3 BTEC in media, competed against 29 other students from across Wales to create the best short film. Each competing group had been tasked with writing, filming, directing and editing a five minute film about a topic of their choice, ready to be presented to the judges on the day of the competition.

Morgan Powell, from Marford, said she couldnt believe it when the judges announced the duo as the winners.

She added: Presenting our work to the judges was nerve-wracking, especially as we knew we couldnt change anything by that point. Our film was a public service announcement about mental health, helping people struggling with conditions such as anxiety and depression.

I think its such a topical subject at the moment, for young people in particular, and the judges were impressed wed managed to effectively tackle such a sensitive issue in less than five minutes.

Creating the film for the competition gave us both a range of different experiences. Instead of focussing on one aspect, we worked together from the start, developing our concept, writing a script, organising actors and locations, directing and editing.

We both cant wait for the next challenge, which will hopefully take us through to the UK finals, and were excited to get started on shooting our next film.

More than 35 competitions are taking place this year, across a wide range of different vocations from plumbing and beauty therapy to aeronautical engineering and accountancy.

The successful Welsh competitors may go on to challenge youngsters from across the UK at the WorldSkills UK national finals, held at The Skills Show in Birminghams NEC this November.

Competitors who excel at The Skills Show may then be shortlisted to compete against the worlds most talented young people at the international WorldSkills competition in Kazan, Russia in 2019.

Minister for Skills and Science, Julie James said: At the Skills Show last year, the Welsh team topped the leader board of UK regions winning a total of 45 medals, which demonstrates that were producing some of the most highly skilled young people across the nation.

In a year when Wales is celebrating legends of the past, competitions like these showcase the talent across the country and provide a platform for emerging Welsh legends of the future.

Along with their hard work and determination the support from their college is an important factor in their success, and I would like to extend a special thank you to all the local businesses, schools and colleges across Wales who support these talented individuals.

I would like to congratulate both of them on their fantastic achievement and wish them the best of luck in the next stage of the competition and their future career.
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) - A Florida Panhandle man has been arrested after authorities say he broke into a woman's home and car to leave underwear he wanted her to wear.

The victim told Bay County Sheriff's officials she found the underwear along with hand written notes. She said the underwear had been stolen from her home.

Last week, the victim's boyfriend heard someone enter the home and, according to an arrest report, saw her neighbor, 58-year-old Isitro Sanches, in the kitchen.

Authorities said they searched Sanches' room and found items belonging to the victim and a large quantity of underwear.

The Panama City News Herald (https://tinyurl.com/mja8gb9) reports Sanches was charged Wednesday with stalking, three counts of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and burglary of an occupied dwelling.
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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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Erik David is the first to officially enter the 2018 race for Tallahassee mayor.

According to David's campaign site, he lived in Tallahassee for 24 years before he enlisted into the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Afghanistan in January 2010 and completed his term of service in 2011.

Since returning to the Capitol City, David has been attending college and has been working as an instructor at Tiger Rock Martial Arts of Tallahassee.

Calling himself a "social democrat", some of the most pressing issues to David are combating climate change, protecting and expanding Social Security, passing a Medicare for All single-payer system, making public colleges and universities tuition-free, and increasing the minimum wage to $15/hour.

"I have no interest whatsoever in funding my campaign through donations from large corporations or Super PACs," David says on his campaign page. "As an elected official, I would represent my constituents and place their needs first."

To read more about David's platform or donate to his campaign, click here.
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- Some shouted for physics. Others spoke for chemistry. There were chants for biology. And those who spoke for geology.
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Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit reported that settlers hurled stones at IDF forces in the area, injuring an IDF officer.

Security forces also arrested 10 wanted Palestinians in the West Bank who were suspected of involvement in popular unrest and violent disturbances. The suspects were taken for questioning.
Jewish settlers attacked IDF and Border Police forces with stones Saturday after security forces arrived in Huwara to quell a confrontation between Jews and Arabs in the area.

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The IDF confirmed the incident in a statement released by the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, saying, "Several extremists attacked IDF forces with stones, resulting in an IDF officer being wounded in the hand."

The soldiers who were attacked belong to the Golani Brigade, which is currently stationed in the region.

Settlers attacking soldiers (Photo: Zacharia Sadeh)

The incident is just one in a series of violent confrontations between settlers and Palestinians and left-wing activists over the weekend.

Responding to the troubles over the weekend, the IDF described the how the latest incident took place.

"Over the weekend, clashes between settlers and Palestinians developed in the area of Huwara. About 50 settlers arrived," the statement read. "Following the confrontations, IDF and Border Police forces were deployed to the location in order to disperse the crowd. Extremists threw stones at Palestinians, and a Palestinian woman was injured and evacuated to receive medical treatment.

"The IDF views attempts to harm security forces extremely seriously and will work in cooperation with the legal authorities against these attempts."

The attack comes after some 15 masked men attacked representatives of the left-wing Ta-ayush organization with clubs and stones Friday, while it was accompanying Palestinian shepherds in the Binyamin region.

(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)
Tomorrow Israel will mark the Holocaust Remembrance Day to commemorate the memory of the genocide of the Jewish people, in which most of my parents' family members were murdered. My mother, may her memory be a blessing, had to bury her father in the snow, quietly, so the Nazis don't find them. She was five years old at the time. My mother may have survived this hell in body, but she never recovered in spirit. The doctors said her passing at a young age was due to cancer, but I know it were the scars of the horrors that have been etched in her heart, and her attempts to stop these memories from leaking to us, her children, and ensure these memories don't lay waste to our lives too. It were those memories, and her continued silence, that killed her.

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I cannot ask my departed relativesincluding the seven brothers and sisters of my grandfather, Yaakov Bergman, who were murdered in the gas chambers of Auschwitz-Birkenaufor their opinion on the following words. But knowing my family, I can safely assume they would have agreed with me and would have been just as angry as I am.





Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

Because even though it has been over two weeks, I still don't understand what went through Prime Minister Netanyahu's head when he decided not to comment on the blatant disrespect (if not more than that) of the memory of the Holocaust's six million Jewish victims.

The entire world was quick to denounce the remarks of Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, who stated that Hitler didnt even sink to using chemical weapons  he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing and then made a bizarre reference to Holocaust Centers. The media, world leaders (led by German Chancellor Merkel), religious figures, public officials and many, many others joined the chorus of condemnation. Some primarily attribute Spicers words to stupidity and ignorance, like that which led the White House to omit any reference to Jews in the White House's statement on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Perhaps, but it is still something that demands a response, especially from the most important Jewish leader in the world: the leader of the Jewish state.

White House spokesperson Sean Spicer: 'Hitler didn't even sink to using chemical weapons'

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But he, Netanyahu, maintains his thunderous silence. On Thursday April 13, I sent the following question to the prime ministers spokesman, Boaz Stambler, an intelligent and sensitive person: Will you now, following the many reactions in the world, issue a response regarding the comments made by the White House spokesperson about Hitler not using chemical weapons? Isnt it the duty of the prime minister of Israel to respond on such an important subject? Stambler, who usually is quick to respond, saw the message (WhatsApp marked it as read), but remained silent. My conclusion: He showed the question to Netanyahu and the latter told him to keep mum.

And its not that Netanyahu doesnt know how to respond, and quickly, when it suits him. When Yossi Klein wrote in Haaretz that Jewish settlers are more dangerous than Hezbollah, the prime minister quickly posted a scathing response on his Facebook page, calling the article shameful and bizarre and declaring: Theyve (Haaretz) totally lost it.

Klein is a journalist who expressed his own private opinion and does not hold office. Netanyahu believes not only that he is guilty, but the newspaper who gave him a home is also culpable, despite the fact Haaretz contains a variety of different opinions. But let us assume that Netanyahu is right. According to this worldview, is Spicer not just as "shameful and bizarre," and hasn't the president who continues to employ him as his spokesperson "totally lost it"?

Diplomats involved in this matter say in Netanyahus defense that Spicer repeatedly apologized and that Netanyahu feared that drawing further attention to this issue might remind people of his infuriating and completely erroneous assertion that the Final Solution was the idea of the Palestinian mufti, Haj Amin al-Husseini. But these excuses dont change a thing: Spicer did not apologize immediately and until he did so, the entire world made it clear that statements denying/belittling/disparaging/concealing the memory of the Holocaust must not be tolerated.

But Netanyahu of all people, someone who has turned the Holocaust into a tool for drumming up international support and for stirring local fears that yield electoral gain, should have responded. The leader of the State of Israel cannot let such statements, when they come from such a senior official, go unanswered.

He still needs to respond.

The eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day is a very fitting time to do so.
Al-Jazeera network reported Sunday that Israel attacked a military base belonging to the Syrian regime on the outskirts of Quneitra, according to pro-Assad militia forces.

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The Al-Miyadin network reported that three were killed and two wounded in the bombing on the Naba Fawar base.

According to the report, Israeli military aircraft launched a strike on the base at around 6am. A pro-Assad radio station reported that at 5am, explosions were heard in the camp.

Scene of the alleged attack in Syria

It was later established that an ammunitions cache exploded, causing the death of three soldiers and leading to confusion about whether the boom was indeed caused by Israel.

Syrian soldiers (Photo: Ido Erez)

While the IDF refused to comment on the reports, the alleged attack comes on the heels of three main changes which have been recorded in the area over recent months.

Assad recently expanded the strength of his forces in the center and the northern sector of the Golan Heights in an effort to repel rebels from the area. In addition, the arrival of Hezbollah terrorists in the area adjacent to Israels northern border with Syria has caused further concern in the Israeli political and defense establishment.

One of the people killed, according to the militia.

The third significant development came with the redeployment of United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) inspectors, at Israels request, in the buffer zone between the Syrian side and the Israeli side of the Golan Heights (east of the security fence) for the first time since they left the area for fear of their lives three years ago.

Syrian soldiers (Photo: Ido Erez)

In February, the Israel Air Force allegedly attacked Syrian army outposts in al-Katif in the suburbs of Damascus, according to reports in Lebanon.

Last month, the IDF reported that it has shot down one of numerous anti-aircraft missiles launched by Syria at Israeli F-15 fighter jets that had hit designated targets within Syria
Former Minister of Defense MK Amir Peretz (Zionist Union) said during an interview Saturday that he was offered a bribe of NIS 1 million to reevaluate tenders for the development of the Iron Dome project.

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"One day a friend of mine entered my office and told me 'there is a million shekels waiting for you in the bank. I only ask one thing: announce that you are ready to hold a new hearing on the Iron Dome project and hear from other companies'," said Peretz.

Former Minister of Defense, MK Amir Peretz (Zionist Union) (Photo: Yoav Davidkovich)

Peretz also noted that the same bribe was made to his friend in the hopes that he would be able to influence Peretz to reconsider hearing more tenders from other companies on the development of the project.

"He even told me 'you don't have to commit to a change in decision. Just hold a new hearing,'" Peretz added. "I told him, 'do you see the door? Go through it as quickly as possible before you leave here in handcuffs.'"

Only after he made this threat, Peretz claimed, did the individual cease to offer the bribe to him and his friend.

"I was never directly approached (by any company) with an offer like that. Apparently these companies know who they're dealing with," said Peretz.

The Iron Dome (Photo: EPA)

While Peretz does not know exactly which company made the illicit offer, he believes it was made by a central bidder in the tender process for development of the Iron Dome.

"When you're talking about a NIS 5 billion project, they spare no means. Even citizens of Sderot filed a petition against me in the High Court saying the Iron Dome didn't protect them and they wanted the laser batteries instead."

Peretz added that in addition to the petition at the High Court, others in the security establishment were also not supportive of the system.

"When I promoted the Iron Dome project, none of the IDF commanders supported the decision. Neither Chief of Staff Dan Halutz nor Chief of Staff Ashkenazi, even though I appointed him. It was a principled objection.

"All the defense companies opposed to the project hired the biggest advertising agencies in Israel to explain that the defense minister 'does not understand anything'. There were even brief articles describing me as a child from the periphery who is frustrated that he didn't have toys to play with and therefore is now seeking to promote Iron Dome."

(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)
MK Rachel Azaria (Kulanu) was surprised to recently discover that her great-grandmother, Frieda, was in possession of a handwritten letter signed by Adolf Hitler.

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The letter was originally penned to then-President of Germany, former Field Marshall Paul von Hindenburg in 1933, just as Hitler was rising to power.

MK Azaria and a copy of the letter

In it, an incredulous Frieda Friedman expressed her concerns about incitement against Jews in Germany, asking, "Is incitement against Jews a sign of courage or cowardice, while Jews are only one percent of the German people?"

Friedman went on to detail the sacrifices her and her family had made for Germany in the First World War. "I was engaged in 1914 and my fiance was killed on the battlefield," she said. "My brothers Max and Julius Cohen were killed in 1916 and in 1918. My only brother who survived, Willie, returned blind from the warall three received the Iron Cross for service to their country.

Frieda and her brothers who were killed in WWI

"But now things have gone so far that in the streets of our country leaflets are distributed saying 'Jews out!' And there are open calls for pogroms and acts of violence against Jews."

Hindenburg responded to Friedman two days later saying he was opposed to violence and even included a handwritten response from Hitler on the letter, who claimed, "The claims of this woman are ridiculous lies. There was never any call for pogroms."

The Friedman family ultimately left Germany in the months prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.

The letter

"This letter is spine-tingling for me. For years we didn't even know it existed and reading it is almost impossible to comprehend," MK Azaria said.

"I think about Frieda, my great-grandmother, who wrote to the President of Germany and hoped and expected that someone would help her. After her two brothers were killed in the First World War as soldiers in the German Army, she didn't believe or imagine that Germany would desert her like that," she continued.

"Her letter and Hitler's shocking reaction clearly explain what my grandparents had taught me since I was born. The fact that we have been privileged to live in the State of Israel is an inconceivable miracle. And therefore we have a tremendous responsibility to act day by day for the benefit of the state," Azaria concluded.

(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)
NAIROBI -- Gunmen shot and wounded Italian-born conservationist Kuki Gallmann at her conservation park in northern Kenya on Sunday, a source close to her family said.

The 73-year-old author of the memoir I Dreamed of Africa was shot in the stomach after the vehicle she was driving in was ambushed by a group of gunmen, the source said.

Gallmann was flown by helicopter to Nanyuki Hospital where she is undergoing treatment.
Momentum in a mass hunger strike launched by Palestinian security prisoners last week suffered a blow on Saturday when all of the 84 prisoners in the Hamas wing at Gilboa Prison, and two prisoners in Megiddo Prison, ceased to strike.

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The break is the second to have taken place since the hunger strike got underway last week, with 100 prisoners reporting that they were dropping out just 24 hours after it began.

The latest sign of cracks forming in the unified protest, which is being led by Marwan Barghoutia convicted terroristcomes just days after 1,187 Palestinian security prisoners announced that they had begun the hunger strike.

Marwan Barghouti (Photo: AP)

Most of the prisoners who joined the strike hailed predominantly from Fatah and the Popular Front, with only a handful being members of Hamas.

The security prisoners resolved to stage the hunger strike after a series of demands submitted to the Israel Prison Service were rejected

The demands included a provision that the Prisons Service install public telephone wings, similar to those installed for criminal prisoners.

The second demand laid out by the prisoners was that Israel restore the procedure of two visits per month by prisoners' families.

Nine months ago, the Red Cross, which finances the transportation of family members on buses from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to prisons, reduced the number of family visits from twice a month to once. ostensibly due to financial problems.

The prisoners also demanded that visits be extended from 45 minutes to 90 minutes and that Israel not prevent immediate and extended family members with security-related offenses from visiting. Additionally, prisoners are also demanding that they be allowed to be photographed with their families once every three months.

The Israel Prison Service prepared for the hunger strike in advance as its leader Barghouti threatened its execution. Dozens of striking prisoners were transferred between wings and prisons in order to maintain order. Barghouti himself was moved from Hadarim Detention Center to the Kishon Detention Center.

With the signs that determination to go the distance with the hunger strike may be wavering, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the latest development, reiterating Israels determination to deal with the matter in accordance with international conventions.

Protests in the street amid threatened hunger strike (Photo: AFP)

We are leading determined and responsible policies in line with international norms and not in accordance with terrorist dictations, Netanyahu said in a statement.

Echoing the words he made during a recent interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News , he also repeated his calls to the Palestinian Authority to cease its funding to terrorists in prison and their families, as well as to family members of terrorists who have attempted to carry out attacks, or been killed in the process.

That is the simplest test for the Palestinians and their desire for peace. You cannot be for peace with Israel and at the same time glorify and fund murderers of Israelis and of other innocent people.
Six Jewish residents of Be'er Sheva were charged on Sunday with attacking Arabs out of nationalistic motivations.

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The Southern District of the State Attorney's Office filed indicted against the six, charging them with "acts of terrorism" as defined by the Anti-Terrorism Law.

Police at the scene of a stabbing attack

According to the Shin Bet, several acts of violence against minorities were carried out throughout the city of Be'er Sheva beginning in December 2016, the most serious of which was a stabbing attack on the night of February 21, 2017. Dangerous weapons were used in these incidents, including knives, clubs, iron rods and other blunt objects.

Among the six suspects, all of whom are between the ages of 17-20, are two IDF soldiers and a minor.

The suspects were also allegedly involved in several other criminal acts. During questioning, suspects also admitted to "violently assaulting minorities on five other occasions and destroying a vehicle."

The indictments filed against the main suspects of the caseRaz Amizur (a Yeshiva student), Koren Elkayam and Tamir Bartalcharge the three with involvement in several attacks against minorities and involvement in terrorist activities.

According to the indictment, the attacks were carried out with a nationalist-racist motive "in order to prevent the assimilation of Jewish women and Arab men in Be'er Sheva."

Three of the suspects in court on Sunday (Photo: Herzel Yosef)

The indictment filed against Amizur ties him to six different crimes, the most severe of which is an aggravated assault and possession of a knife.

According to the indictment, Amizur stabbed an Arab Citizen in February who he saw sitting in a car in the Turner Stadium parking lot with a Jewish woman beside him.

"I knew that they did that to me just because I'm Arab," the victim testified. "They asked me for a lighter. I gave them one and they noticed my accent and that my (femaleed) was sitting next to me. A little while later they returned (and it happeneded).

"I didn't say anything that was out of place. When they started hitting me they said 'kill him. It's a stinking Arab.' They stabbed me. Hit me over the head. One of them told the other to kill me so I won't testify against them."

All six were also indicted for assaulting a civilian belonging to a civilian belonging to an ethnic minority in a park in Be'er Sheva in March.

The other indictments filed against Amizur, Elkayam and Bartal accuse them with assembling for the purpose of harming ethnic minorities on several different occasions, and charge them with several counts of aggravated assault and battery, which are considered to be terror attacks.

The other suspects are Sharon Dazanashvili, one adult and one minor, who are charged with one count of assault against a civilian belonging to an ethnic minority (alongside the three main suspects) in March.







Attorneys representing the suspects criticized the investigation and the interrogation of the suspects, saying, "This is an investigation that has trampled human rights, including the illegal use of force, undemocratic directives and more. It seems that the basic rights of detainees are blocked by the iron doors of the Shin Bet's holding cells. My client's interrogation was done in violation of any basic right granted to him by the law, while I was prevented from meeting and talking to him."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret on Sunday for the heated exchange between Likud MKs David Bitan and Miki Zohar and bereaved family members of fallen soldiers during a Knesset discussion on Operation Protective Edge last week.

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"As Prime Minister and the son of a bereaved family, I heard what was said last week in the Knesset in the heat of debate. I regret that these remarks were made," said Netanyahu, who was present at the discussion but chose not to comment at the time.

"An immediate apology was necessary and it is good that this was done," he added.

Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

He stressed to the bereaved families that "the people of Israel are united around you, who have lost what is dearest to you, for the security of Israel. We know, I know, that the independence of Israel entails an unbearably heavy price and we are all with you in your immense pain."

"On the eve of the days of remembrance and independence, we must again remember that national unity is the most important thing. This is the source of our strength and also the foundation of our future," the prime minister added.

The Knesset State Control Committee discussion on the state comptroller's recent report on the 2014 war in Gaza quickly dissolved into a shouting match between members of the prime minister's Likud party and bereaved family members, as well as between coalition and opposition MKs.

Addressing one of the central contentions of Shapiras report that the cabinet was not sufficiently updated on the tunnel threat, committee Chairwoman MK Karin Elharar (Yesh Atid) began the discussion by asking Netanyahu about the extent to which the cabinet was involved in the decision-making process during the 2014 Gaza incursion.

Much to the outrage of Likud MKs Yoav Kisch and Zohar, who immediately jumped to the prime ministers defense, insisting that the prevalence of leaks compelled Netanyahu to conceal paramount information from the porous cabinet.

If there were no leaks, things would have been shared with the cabinet, the two shouted, setting the tone for much of the discussion that then ensued, as Illan Sagi, a bereaved father, told them to respect us and sit quietly.

Illans son, Staff Sergeant Erez Sagi, was killed in a battle in Nahal Oz after Hamas terrorists penetrated an IDF outpost via its tunnel network.

But tensions quickly mounted as Illan Sagis appeals to restore some semblance of order to the discussions escalated into a bitter diatribe as he vented his frustration at his sons death.

Sagi (L) and Bitan (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

I paid the price of my son. Where were you all during the war when my son was killed in a tunnel? he yelled.

Shortly after, Sagi recalled an incident in which he said he stood outside the prime minister's office holding a sign when Coalition Chairman David Bitan approached him and said "It won't help you," a charge which gave rise to a heated exchange between the two.

"You liar. I never spoke to you," Bitan retorted.

Later in the discussion, Dr. Leah Goldin, whose son Lt. Hadar Goldin had been killed in action and his body had been captured by Hamas, laid into the government, saying that My son has gone from being a heroic fighter to a debt of a body (that the state needs to pay). Shame on you all.

Leah Goldin (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

Tensions mounted when she accused the prime minister of turning "us into an enemy of the people, prompting Likud MK Miki Zohar to intervene. "It's not ok what you are saying and it is an exaggeration."

Turning to Zohar, Mrs. Goldin said: "You don't answer. Don't answer! I wasn't asking you. I don't even know your name. You insolent man. Be quiet! she shouted as she threw a cup of water at him.
Its time to recover from the Holocaust. First, we had Zionism, before my family came here. When Palestine was only favored by crazy young people from Europe. People stricken by dreams and ideals, stricken by stories about socialism, agriculture and an exemplary society.

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Few people had formed a national perspective before the Holocaust. The masses developed a herd mentality: The free people pursued the idea of integrating into their surroundings. Be a Jew in your home. And outside? Act like the gentiles. The religious pursued the belief that charity and prayer could make the evil go away. Any evil, any tyrant, any danger. Zionism was a minority, the Zionists were a handful, but both they and it were created before the Holocaust, when anti-Semitism and pogroms were still a bearable pricethough an incomprehensible onefor most Jews.

And then the Jewish state was established. The United Nations made a decision under the shadow of the Holocaust, the masses arrived under the shadow of the Holocaust, and the war of survival against the Arabs was waged under the shadow of history in general with the Holocaust as part of it.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at Yad Vashem, last month. A future-seeking state should change its visitors must-see site (Photo: Reuters)

At first, the new Israelis ignored it: The Sabra built homes and gave birth to a new type of Jews, from the sea and from the land. The horrors of the Holocaust were concealed. The history of the Diaspora disappeared, and Israel connected to the days of the Maccabees and Bar Kokhba, to Jewish force. Reparations from Germany were a bone of contention. Survivors were something to be ashamed of. The Holocaust was preserved for avengers who killed Nazis, for the Eichmann capturers from the Mossad and for people who came from there without saying where there is.

And suddenly, the Holocaust burst forth and was everywherein books, films, research, childrens nightmares and kindergarten curricula. The Holocaust became Iran in the prime ministers speeches , although Israel is a strong and sovereign state. The Palestinians became Nazis although we are a country with a strong army and they, fortunately, are Arabs with deep hatred and limited abilities. A country with an army that is capable of defeating Hamas in Gaza, if only it receives an accurate order rather than a vague one. Every European doormat who organized a Facebook page calling for Israels boycott became the Holocaust. Every left-wing provocateur used the word Nazism to describe the government or the state, and immediately rubbed his hands in glee at the sound of the astonished reactions. There were Nazis everywhere, in every national closet. Who knows, it may be part of a psychological phenomenon of a second-generation state that eats everything on its plate and is overly dramatic by default.

Seven decades later, its time to heal. Thats what crosses my mind when I drive up to Jerusalem through Ein Kerem on the winding road reaching the height of israeliness. Mount Herzl, named after the pre-Holocaust Zionist visionary. The man of diplomacy and dreams. The mountain where the Holocaust museum and the cemetery of the nations great leaders are located. The Diaspora versus the nation state. Israel has turned Yad Vashem into an obligatory site for foreign visitors, the site which explains us, the site which binds us. Thats the biggest mistake of the products of Zionism. The Holocaust is a part of history, but it's not the most essential part of it.

If a future-seeking country is looking for a must-see site for a visiting foreign minister, it must alter its memory. Israels heritage is the City of David. A must-see site for a foreign leader could be found at the museum of the history of Zionism yet to be established in Degania, Bar Giora or Kfar Etzion (way before a museum for the six million murdered Jews). The stories of Nitzana and the convoy of 35 Hagannah fighters. Homa UMigdal (the Tower and Stockade settlement method in mandatory Palestine), Burma Road and Gei Oni (Valley of Strength). The State of Israel, which was known as the orange nation before becoming the high-tech nation. The hundreds of thousands of dunams of orchards planted in the country in only one decade of Zionism. The source of income of the Jewish and Arab pioneers who lived here before becoming Palestinians. The Weizmann Institute and Hebrew University, the high-tech and technological developments. The Holocaust is but a huge shadow.

And when that happens and we recover from the Holocaust, we will finally be able to treat Jewish sovereignty as a done deal. To remove the Diaspora from the Jews, years after the Jews left the Diaspora. To impose law and orderfor everyone, without communities and sectors. To care for the elderlythose who grew up in Morocco and in Yemen and who need help, as well as those who were Holocaust survivors as children. To define the Jewish peoples nation state in a constitution and not just through what was done to us in the Holocaust.

One of the strongest experiences in my life was visiting the camps in Poland in uniform as part of a reservists company commanders course after the Second Lebanon War. It turns your stomach. Comparing my familys life then to my family today creates a solid foundation of faith in Zionism. Every Israeli should visit that place to be able to appreciate what we have here. Visit, fly, see, smell, weep and returnrather than keep living here throuigh what had happened there.
Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman strongly condemned attacks committed by settlers against IDF and Border Police forces over the weekend, in which an IDF officer was injured by a stone-throwing agitator.

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In a Facebook post, Lieberman wrote, "Zero tolerance for violence against IDF soldiers and security forces! Law enforcement must swiftly and decisively bring justice to the thugs who attacked IDF soldiers and Border Policemen."

Settlers attacking soldiers (Photo: Zacharia Sadeh)

In addition to Lieberman, other public officials are also voicing their outrage at the incident, including Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan.

"Hate crimes are among the more serious crimes which we must fight, whether they are against Jews or Arabs. There is no room for racist hatred or violence and this phenomenon needs to be dealt with a strong hand by law enforcement officials, who will take all necessary actions to bring the attackers to justice," wrote Erdan on his Twitter account.

The outcry by public officials comes on the heels of a weekend marred by settler attacks on left-wing organizations, Palestinians and security forces.
An 18-year-old Palestinian from Nablus in the West Bank stabbed and lightly wounded three men and a woman in Tel Aviv on Sunday afternoon in a terror attack near the Herods Hotel on Hayarkon Street, along the city's seaside promenade.

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Shlomi Sagi, the commander of the Tel Aviv Police's Yarkon District, said the terrorist was overpowered by hotel staff and police.

"Since we were already deployed in the area, he was arrested within seconds," he said.

Security footage of the attack

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Shortly after his arrest, the attacker was handed over to the Shin Bet and after a preliminary investigation, security officials concluded that the rampage was nationalistically motivated.

The terrorist being neutralized

Magen David Adom paramedics provided emergency treatment to the victims before evacuating them to the Ichilov Hospital at the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv.

The wounded individuals included two men, a 50-year-old woman and a 70-year-old man.

Photo: Dana Kopel

Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai has frozen all daily permits to enter Israel after investigators found that the terrorist had a similar permit.

All permits will remain frozen and no new permits will be given until further notice.

Scene of the stabbing (Photo: MDA)

Jacqueline was one of the wounded in the attack. "I was with my husband and a customer," she recounted. "Then someone came in and gave me this look. I asked him what he wanted and a second later he hit me in the ear with something and ran away. My husband chased after him and caught him outside, holding him until police came and arrested him. The terrorist cut me with a sharp instrument."

Jacqueline, who was wounded in the attack (Photo: Ichilov Spokesperson)

"This is another painful reminder to the difficult reality we're living in, particularly on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day," said Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai.

"We thank everyone involved in the quick response, which prevented losses. We will not surrender to terrorism. I wish all wounded a quick recovery," he added.
ATHENS -- China's foreign minister says China insists on the elimination of nuclear weapons in the Korean peninsula and will continue to pursue the resumption of talks among the involved parties.

Wang Yi, who is visiting Greece to take part in an international forum on ancient civilizations, made the comments when asked about North Korea's nuclear arsenal.

He said: "We need voices of peace and reason. China will not be swayed by words and will continue to play its role."
Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Sunday said that though Germany considers its ties with Israel to be deep and "unbreakable," it will continue to press for a two-state solution.

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"With respect to the Middle East conflict, our solidarity with Israel also means working to ensure that Israel and Palestine can live side by side in dignity and peace," Gabriel said in a statement released as he departed for the region. "Only a two-state solution will be sustainable."

Gabriel (Photo: EPA)

Gabriel's visit, his first since becoming foreign minister in January, comes as German concerns about Israeli settlement building have dragged ties to their lowest point in years.

German governments have made strong relations with Israel a top priority ever since World War Two, going to great lengths to make amends for the killing of six million Jews by the Nazis.

Gabriel will visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial on Monday and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel and Palestinian government officials, his spokesman Martin Schaefer told reporters on Friday.

"We do not believe that the current situation is sustainable," Schaefer said. "We think it's necessary to make another attempt to revive talks and negotiations in the framework of the Middle East process."

"We remain interested in seeing the two parties ... make serious efforts to find common ground and a solution based on the two-state solution," he said.

Lack of progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict poses a long-term threat to Israel, Norbert Roettgen, head of Germany's parliamentary foreign affairs committee, told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk on Sunday.

He said relations between the two countries remained deep and important, but also cited "grave differences of opinion."

"All those who care deeply about Israel ... are sad, even depressed, about how entrenched everything is, and how much Israel is relying on its military-police superiority and is not developing any perspectives for the situation," he said.

Roettgen said Israel was profiting from tensions elsewhere in the region, which had shifted the focus away from the Israeli-Palestinian issue, as well as from in-fighting among Palestinians.

He added that though this situation held some short-term security advantages, the underlying situation was growing worse and more negative, and that "This is aa real threat for Israel in the longer term."

Netanyahu and Merkel (Photo: amos Ben Gershom/GPO)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel in March canceled a summit with Netanyahu that was due to occur in Jerusalem in May, and said she was worried that Israel's building of settlements in the occupied West Bank was undermining progress towards a two-state solution.

German officials said privately that the main reason for the cancelation was anger over Netanyahu's plans to accelerate settlement building in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, and to legalize thousands of homes built on privately-held Palestinian land.

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been frozen since 2014 and settlements are one of the most heated issues. Palestinians want the West Bank and east Jerusalem for their own state, along with the Gaza Strip.

Ceremonies took place across Germany over the weekend to mark Holocaust-related events, including the liberation of the women's concentration center in Ravensbrueck.

A new report issued on anti-Semitism worldwide by the European Jewish Congress said many members of Jewish communities in Germany still perceived anti-Semitism as a major threat, despite a drop in such incidents in official statistics.

An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 Jews live in Germany. Though attitudes toward Jews have reportedly improved dramatically since the 1990s, the new report said growing extreme right-wing and populist movements were fueling open anti-Semitism.
Fourteen polling stations in six cities across Israel were open on Sunday to enable Israelis with French citizenship to vote in the first round of the French presidential election.

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The polls were erected in Tel Aviv, Netanya, Ashdod, Beer Sheva, Eilat and Haifa.

In Netanya, about 7,000 people have the right to vote. Eliyahu Shimoni was one, and he spoke with Ynet whilst waiting in line for the ballot box. He was planning on voting for Francois Fillon.

Waiting to vote in Tel Aviv (Photo: Amit Cotler)

(Photo: Amit Cotler)

Shimoni explained that his preferred candidate was right-wing, the only person who can help us. Hes the most suitable for us. He even sent a message yesterday that he supports Israel, (and) is for peace and for two states. Thats what I think is best.

(Photo: Amit Cotler)

Shimoni believes that the other three leading candidates would not be poor choices. Theres the extreme right, Marine Le Pen, who is definitely not good for us. Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day, and that is important; we must not forget.

Voters in Netanya (Photo: Shahar Chai)

On the other side, theres (Emmanuel) Macron who is one of the candidates after Fillon, and there is the extreme left, (Jean-Luc) Melenchon. Hes even worse than Le Pen.

At the ballot box in Netanya (Photo:Hagai Dekel)

(Photo: Hagai Dekel)

Claude Grundman Brightman also hopes Le Pen will not progress to the run-off election in a fortnight. But she said, Macron will have a hard time governing. Hes currently alone, and the people who join him politically are so against each other. He was also the economy minister in the Hollande government, and hes responsible for a lot of what happened economically.

Despite her reservations, Grundman Brightman still intended to cast her vote for the politician who has never held elected office. I hosted him three years ago, and I felt that I was dealing with an experienced, decent person.

Frances ambassador to Israel, Helene Le Gal, commented, The four candidates are offering very different programs, so its hard because its different from other elections. I cant say whom Ill vote for, but I will certainly vote.

(Translated and edited by J. Herzog)
The European Union Delegation to the State of Israel commemorated Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Day on Sunday evening by releasing a statement together with the 27 EU embassies present in the Jewish state. Luxembourg does not maintain a mission in Israel.

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The statement in full reads, Today, on Yom HaShoah, the EU Delegation to the State of Israel, together with all Embassies of EU Member States in Israel, remember with heavy hearts, the six million Jews, men, women and children, who were murdered in the Holocaust by the Nazis.

On this day, we reflect on the atrocities that took place during one of the darkest chapters of European history but also draw strength from the survivors who are still among us and from the humanity of those who risked their lives while saving others.

We join the people of Israel and the Jewish communities across the EU in their commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust and are with them in their prayers. As Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel reminded us, 'Memory has become a sacred duty of all people of goodwill. The European Union reaffirms its duty and responsibility, now and for the sake of future generations, never to forget.

In the current reality of rising anti-Semitism, fanaticism and violence worldwide, the European Union is determined to prevent and fight anti-Semitism in all its forms and to make sure that Jews feel totally safe in Europe. We stand together in our efforts to resist this present tide of hatred and evil.

"The values of democracy and human dignity on which the European Union was founded continue to guide us in these challenging times as we seek to maintain our vision of peace and tolerance for all citizens of the European Union.

The American Embassy in Tel Aviv also issued a statement, commenting, On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the US Embassy in Tel Aviv stands with the Israeli people in commemorating the victims of Nazi persecution. We honor both those who were murdered and those who survived to teach us the lessons of the past.
Israeli Minister of Education Naftali Bennett arrived Sunday morning in Poland in commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Tomorrow the minister will lead the 29th March of the Living, and will participate in a historic meeting between 12 European education ministers, who will also participate in the march, to discuss how to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive after all its survivors have passed.
An Israeli woman was surprised to discover that the sheets she purchased from a local vendor were decorated in part with Nazi imagery and an image of Adolph Hitler. The seller is refusing to let her return them.

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Before Passover, Miri Grank of Migdal HaEmek allegedly purchased the sheet set for NIS 60 at a stall in a market at an outdoor market.

What I saw was colored sheets with prints of the Eiffel Tower and umbrellas, she told Ynet. Even when I spread them on the bed, I didnt notice anything unusual, but only my daughter, who looked more closely, noticed the symbols and said to me, Mom, theres a picture of Hitler here.

Grank with the offending bedding

Indeed, in the upper part of the sheets, as well as on top of the blanket, is a print of a Nazi stamp with a picture of the genocidal leader. Next to it is a period airmail stamp with the symbol of Nazi Germany.

Grank returned to the vendor, who, she said, was unsympathetic to her situation.

In a conversation with Ynet, the shop owner said that since the problem was not a product defect, but rather a print-only problem, he did not intend to accept the goods back from the customer, who said he was supposed to check the print before the purchase.

The importer of the linens, Arigad, said in response to Ynet, Upon examination, it became clear that the picture received from the supplier (in China) was different from the product that was supplied to the stores.

As soon as we were notified, we informed all the stores that we would remove the product from the shelves and collect them, and we invite everyone who bought the product to come to our office and replace the product with another model, with the addition of a gift from our company. We are sorry that that the timing of the publication of the article is nothing more than a cynical exploitation of a mistake in good faith.

(Translated and edited by J. Herzog)
Eldad Eyal was always excited to hear tales of his uncle, Moritz Rothenstein, who lived in Brazil. His uncle was always described as introverted, someone who tends to raise more questions about him than most.

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Eyal took every opportunity to ask his family about his uncle Moritz, but always felt that a piece of the puzzle was missing. A few years ago, he finally found it; uncle Moritz, a scion of a respected and well-educated Romanian family, was a Nazi intelligence agent.

Eldad Eyal (Photo: Gil Nechushtan)

During the Second World War, Rothenstein aided with the extermination of Romania's Jews, and later escaped prosecution by traveling across the ocean and going into hiding.

For years Eyal, now 72, a longtime Journalist and editor, pieced together testimonies and evidence on his mysterious uncle, the result of which is a book called "The Other Aspect," which was published a day before the Holocaust Memorial Day and reveals in full detail this unique story for the first time.

"The main reason to why I didn't publish the book until now was that some of the characters in it were still alive," said Eyal. "After they passed, I realized that a fascinating story such as this must not be allowed to be forgotten.

"I feel like I did the right thing, for future generations. People need to know that a thing such as thisa Jewish spy for the Nazisis actually possible."

Moritz Rothenstein was born and raised in the city of Galati in Eastern Romania. In the 1930s he was sent by his wealthy father to study law at the University of Paris, which he finished with excellence. With his return to Romania he moved to Bucharest, where he started working as a translator in the German embassy.

"He got the job after noticing a seemingly innocent as in the paper, he was accepted and received a lot of appreciation," said Eyal. Rothenstein's intense desire to advance in his new work place made him a perfect candidate for the Nazi regime. The fact that he was Jewish was just the cherry on top.

"For the Nazis, he was perfect. Who would think that a son to a respected Jewish family will be a Nazi spy?" At some point, Rothenstein was asked to work at the Nazi intelligence agency. What would happen should he refuse is not needed to be explained.

The Jewish youth knew that not only his life was in danger, but also the lives of his family.

Rothenstein was sent to Germany, went through an espionage course, and then sent right back to Bucharest. He then spent months within the Jewish communities in his country, usually presenting himself as a Journalist, and would gather information about key figures, amount of members, central institutions and so on.

This information was then used by the Nazis, aiding them in exterminating about 300 thousand Jews in Romanian communities. After the war, Rothenstein was smuggled in a German plane to Brazil, where he spent the rest of his life.

Eyal used his training as an IDF intelligence soldier to tell the story of his uncle's recruitment, training and mobilization. The gaps of information Eyal filled in with his logic and imagination, which makes the novel read like a thriller.

When asked about how he now lives with what he knows about his uncle, or whether he thinks the book serves as some kind of atonement for him, Eyal answered that "he was caught in that situation, he didn't chose it. He was agonized by it all, and was never even fully aware of the full extent of the harm he did.

"I can't atone what he did, and I have no interest to. Atoning is something judgmental, and I'm not going to put myself in a position to pass judgment. I can't know how I would have acted if I was in the same situation. I'm not even sure someone would have been able to act differently."



(Translated & edited by Lior Mor)
Mark Schackler and his friend Jordono Basso visited Holocaust survivor Danny Karol Regenstreif as part of the Connected project when they were still students at the Givat Ram College in Jerusalem. Today they are both soldiers, but they havent given up the tradition of visiting Danny at every opportunity they have, and they received the Jerusalem Municipality Prize for their volunteer work.

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The Connected project is a joint venture of ORT Israel and the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims in Israel. It aims to help survivors cope with loneliness by connecting them with student volunteers, who teach them computer skills and help them access the internet.

Playing checkers with Regenstreif (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum)

Schackler and Basso received the Jerusalem Municipality Prize last year. From the first moment I was exposed to the project, I understood that it was for me, that this was my way of helping, Schackler said. When we came to Karol, our joint journey began.

Regenstreif with Basso and Schackler (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum)

The main goal was to teach him how to use the computer so that he could adapt to the technological world. To our surprise, we ended up in a situation where at every meeting, we would talk and do different things and work with the computer less. In my opinion, this is the indirect goal: put a person in contact with other people. In a word, we connected.

(Photo: Eli Mendelbaum)

The message I want to convey is that theres no such thing as I dont have time to volunteer. There is such a thing as I dont want to. You can always find time, and there are many ways to do it. After all, the most significant contribution is (received by) the volunteer himself. When Im asked what volunterring gives me, I answer that I received a family member. I got a warm and loving grandfather.

Regenstreif told the young men, At the age of over 70, I can see the world through the computer I received as a present. I was placed in the modern world. I never dreamt that I would have such a thing. Unfortunately, my financial and health situations are too poor for me to have reached the dream that you realized for me. Dear Mark and dear Jordan, you are really my family.

(Translated and edited by J. Herzog)
The Israeli arrested in March on suspicion of making hundreds of bomb threats to Jewish community centers around the world and even causing a forced emergency landing in JFK airport, is now also suspected of threatening and extorting a Republican member of the US senate, going so far as to send drugs to his home in order to incriminate him.

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After the story broke but before the 18-year-old resident of Ashkelon was arrested, the senator made strong comments against the perpetrators of the threats.

The hacker (Photo: Dana Kopel)

The youth then allegedly called the senator, telling him to take back his comments or else he will fine him using Bitcoin every 72 hours. He then added that if he won't pay the fine, he will incriminate him using his own methods.

After the politician did not accede to his demands, the hacker allegedly purchased drugs over the darknet and sent to the senator's home in envelopes.

The police intend to add this count to the charges against the hacker, which will be filed on Monday.

Shira Nir, the suspect's lawyer, stated that "the indictments against my client will present tomorrow my client's mental health. It seems that every count against him serves as further proof for his unfitness to stand trial due to his brain tumor and mental state.

Shira Nir, presenting the hacker's brain tumor (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

"It is unthinkable that a young man who is right in his mind with these mental skills will think consider doing a fraction of what my client is charged with, and if found to be guilty of the allegations against him it is our duty as a society to above all provide him with the treatment he needs.

"In the hearing tomorrow I will ask the court for a sanction in lieu of jail time, as with every day that passes my client's mental state deteriorates further."

(Translated & edited by Lior Mor)
Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri has called on Syrian Sunni jihadists to wage guerrilla war against enemies ranging from Syrian President Bashar al Assad and his Iranian-backed allies to Western powers.

In an audio recording posted online on Sunday, Zawahri called for the rebels to be patient, saying they should be prepared for a long battle with the Western-led coalition in Iraq and Syria and Iranian-backed Shi'ites fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al Assad's government.

"Our people in Sham (Syria) prepare yourselves for a long battle with the Crusaders and their allies the Shi'ites and Alawites," the successor to Osama bin Laden said.

Muslim Sunni militants consider Shi'ites and Alawites heretics.

Zawahri said jihadists were targeted by their enemies because they sought to impose Islamic rule in Syria, adding that the West and its allies were doing everything they could to prevent an "Islamic" wave that was sweeping the region.
This has been a long time in the making, but in our continuing pursuit to bring only the best of firearms, 2nd Amendment and defence related news to our readers, we are very excited to announce the next step in our evolution as a company.

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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" does exists.
New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday urged the Centre to allow continuation of the existing North East Industrial Investment Promotion Policy till a new initiative is put in place.

"The North East Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) 2007 has led to significant industrial investment in Assam to the tune of around Rs 5,000 crore before its expiry on March 31 this year," he said, participating the governing council meeting of the Niti Aayog here.

Sonowal requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow continuation of the NEIIPP till a new industrial policy is put in place for the Northeast.

The chief minister urged the prime minister for instructing the ministry of finance and NITI Aayog to evolve a mechanism for scheme-wise allocation of central share well in advance to enable the states to prepare a realistic resource based action plan as 'non-availability of scheme-wise allocation of central share before the presentation of a state budget creates difficulties in reflecting the correct allocation of funds against each scheme'.

On the 15-year vision, 7-year strategy and 3-year action plan, Sonowal requested the apex planning institution for inclusion of state specific concerns to achieve faster and more holistic growth. Sonowal also complimented the prime minister and NITI Aayog for adopting a slew of initiatives to make paradigm shift in development planning into reality.

"I believe that for a country like ours, we need a long horizon vision supported by appropriate strategy and practical action plans for realizing the avowed vision," he said.

As the country is on the cusp of introducing GST from July 1 this year, the chief minister said, it will give a big fillip to the prime minister's 'Make in India' initiative.

In this context, he pointed out that Assam has had the enviable distinction of being the first state in the country to ratify the GST Constitution Amendment Bill.

The chief minister said a special session of the Assam legislative assembly will be held from May 8 for consideration and enactment of the Assam Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.

Lauding the central government for considering the amount of revenue forgone due to industrial concession as a part of revenue for the purpose of calculating GST compensation, Sonowal said this will protect the interests of Northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir and help in bringing them at par with other states of the country in terms of industrialisation.
New Delhi: Over a year into the exercise, German auto major Volkswagen has been able to rectify only 30 percent of the 3.4 lakh recalled diesel vehicles it had equipped with defeat device that helped cheat emission tests in India.

Volkswagen Group India said the process has been delayed as it involves different brands, engines and models.

The company's headquarter has so far given approval for engine updates that cover almost 70 per cent of the vehicles which have been recalled in India.

Overall, by the end of last month, 30 per cent of the entire lot of vehicles that is eligible for the update has been covered, a Volkswagen Group India Spokesperson told PTI.

In December 2015, the group had announced recall of 3.4 lakh vehicles in India across its different brands, including Audi, Volkswagen and Skoda, sold from 2008 till end of November 2015.

A government-ordered probe had found the automaker's EA 189 diesel engines were equipped with a defeat device that helped it cheat on emission tests.

The company last year announced plans to update the engines of the recalled vehicles.

On the slow progress of update, the spokesperson said several brands, various markets and models, different engine variants and gearboxes and various model years had to be considered while developing the updates.

The technical measures were being defined and developed by Volkswagen Group at the headquarters in Germany.

"Once they were approved by the authorities in Germany, these updates were tested by the Indian authorities. All of this has been a lengthy process and that caused a delay," the spokesperson added.

The updates are tested by ARAI and only after their approval are they rolled out to customers.

Final two approvals for updates are currently in the pipeline and are expected to be received in the next few days. These would correspond to the remaining 30 per cent of the volume of cars, the spokesperson said.

For models produced and sold in India after December 2015, the updates have been implemented during production as soon as they were approved by ARAI.

"The models between December 2015 and till the updates were approved by ARAI and are a part of the voluntary recall process," the spokesperson added.

Volkswagen has admitted use of defeat device in over 11 million diesel engine cars sold in the US, Europe and other global markets that allowed manipulation of emission tests by changing performance of vehicles to improve results.

As per latest reports, a federal judge in Detroit has ordered the German car maker to pay USD 2.8 billion criminal penalty negotiated as part of a settlement with the US Justice Department last January.

With this, the company is likely to shell out a total of around USD 30 billion, which also includes price of buying back almost 5 lakh vehicles sold in the US.
Tarun Basu/IANS

At Khan el Khalili, Cairo`s main souk in the crowded Islamic district, shopowners seek out Indian tourists with friendly hails of "Amitabh Bachchan! Shah Rukh Khan! Welcome!!" These two actors are by far the most popular Indians in Egypt, a testament to the enormous soft power of Bollywood.



When Bachchan came to Cairo in April 2015 for the Indian Culture Festival, he was mobbed like a rockstar wherever he went. And when he met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, he reportedly remarked in jest that he was so overwhelmed by his fan following in the country he might even think of contesting a presidential election -- and perhaps win it!



With so much goodwill in Egypt for Indians one often wonders why the two countries are not closer partners and why friendship with Egypt is not talked about in India in the same vein as other countries with which New Delhi shares close political, economic and cultural ties.



With the ascent in both countries of two strong leaders, Narendra Modi and Sisi, came a change in the strategic calculus through a series of quick meetings between them -- in New York and New Delhi.



The New York meeting, where something evidently clicked between Modi and Sisi, acknowledged historical bonds, found common ground in counter-terrorism cooperation and investment opportunities, and set the ground for future meetings. It was quickly followed by a visit by Sisi to New Delhi for the India Africa Forum Summit and then, within a year, with a state visit where the two leaders talked of working towards "robust security cooperation" following a "major convergence" of views on regional and global issues.



India and Egypt shared strong chemistry in the 1950s and 1960s, with close personal and political ties between their independence leaders Jawaharlal Nehru and Gamal Abdel Nasser, founders of the Non-Aligned Movement. But after their deaths, ties slumped with President Hosni Mubarak, who ruled for 40 years, not having the same comfort level with the Indian leadership. Although Mubarak did make a visit to New Delhi in his later years, the turning point in perceptions in many ways came during the short-lived rule of the democratically-elected Muslim Brotherhood and the visit to New Delhi in May 2013 by President Mohammed Morsi.



Although Morsi was ousted -- and arrested -- within a month of his return to Cairo, and the visit was criticised by many as ill-timed with New Delhi seen as being a little out of touch with the region`s political realities, the growing importance of India for Egypt was beginning to be realised by its policymakers.



With the Middle East in upheaval and relations with the US looking uncertain, Cairo, that was used to putting all its strategic and economic eggs in the Western and Arab baskets, is looking, like other regional powers, at Asia and, more particularly, China and India. While China is a source of expanding investment in the region, India`s salience as a major economic and geopolitical power has increased in Egyptian eyes after the recent high-level visits and close strategic ties forged by New Delhi with key powers like the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia.



India has been holding a major multi-city cultural exposition in Egypt, called imaginatively `India by the Nile`, bringing in musicians, dancers, artists, street performers, not to mention Bollywood stars, that enhanced significantly the image of India in the Egyptian consciousness.



Indian companies have found Egypt a good destination for business. Over 50 Indian companies are present in Egypt with an investment of $3 billion, providing employment to about 35,000 Egyptians. And Egypt`s recent discovery of gas, its upward looking economy following a currency float and growing foreign investment have added impetus to growing ties.



Companies like Kirloskar with their water pumps and Dabur and Monginis with their personal care and confectionery products are household names in Egypt, and many firms recognise the Suez Canal area as a potential hub of future expansion because of the country`s economic arrangements in the Arab world, Africa and the European Union. Even though there are only three Egyptian companies in India, bilateral trade has grown 60 percent over the last five years to touch almost $5 billion.



The current thinking in New Delhi is that if Cairo plays its cards right, a stronger Egypt could play a more moderating role and help in restoring regional stability and security. India is therefore investing a lot more in Egypt not only to shore up its profile but also to use the goodwill it builds up in projecting a larger role for itself in North Africa and the Arab world.



"With a political foundation of friendship from the sixties India has the ability to tap into popular sentiment and cultural affinity, an advantage that few countries enjoy in Egypt," remarks Sanjay Bhattacharyya, India`s Ambassador in Cairo.



"And the `India by the Nile` show is by far the largest such exposition in Egypt by any country here in recent times."



Despite recent terror attacks, India is demonstrating a major vote of confidence in the Egyptian government`s ability to deal with Islamist extremism by not cancelling music and dance shows as part of the festival in Alexandria, one of the two cities where minority Coptic Christian churches were targets last week.



The future of bilateral ties look promising and there is much expectation in Prime Minister Modi, who has shown personal interest in shoring up ties, making a visit there later this year.
Mayank Chhaya/IANS

In the midst of heightened posturing by North Korea over a potential thermonuclear war Saturday April 21 is the 113th birth anniversary of Julius Robert Oppenheimer, a father of the first atomic bomb in 1945.



While an actual thermonuclear war may not come to be, Oppenheimer`s remarkable clarity over the bomb`s creation and justifiability of its use followed by philosophical ambiguity can all be traced to his passionate lifelong fascination for the Bhagwat Gita.



On his birth anniversary, perhaps the most quoted expression of his would be what he took from Krishna as telling Arjuna in the Gita: "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."



According to many scholars, Oppenheimer had internalized the core message of the Gita, a thumbed copy of which he famously kept handy by his work desk. He was known to gift its English translation to his friends and others. Oppenheimer learned Sanskrit in 1933 and first read the Gita in the original language.



James A. Hijiya, Professor of History, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, in his remarkable work `The Gita of J. Robert Oppenheimer` likens him to the great warrior of the Mahabharata, Arjuna. "For an uncertain soldier like Oppenheimer, nervously fashioning his own atomic `arrow`, Arjuna sets a good example. Arjuna is fighting to install his eldest brother, Yudhishthira, as ruler of the kingdom and emperor of the known world, and to thwart the pretensions of their cousin Duryodhana. Yudhishthira is a better man and ruler than Duryodhana, who is motivated by ferocious envy and has resorted to fraud and attempted murder of his cousins to gain the throne," Hijita writes.



"Krishna`s message to Arjuna is clear: you must fight. To Oppenheimer the message would have seemed equally clear. If it was proper for Arjuna to kill his own friends and relatives in a squabble over the inheritance of a kingdom, then how could it be wrong for Oppenheimer to build a weapon to kill Germans and Japanese whose governments were trying to conquer the world," he asks.



Oppenheimer`s engagement with the Gita was active during the conception and execution of the Manhattan Project from 1941 onward that created the world`s first atomic bomb tested on July 16, 1945 at Trinity near Alamogordo in New Mexico. According to Hijiya, in April, 1945 during a memorial service for President Franklin Roosevelt, Oppenheimer quoted this from the book: "Man is a creature whose substance is faith. What his faith is, he is."



The Sanskrit verse in question that captured Oppenheimer`s imagination in the aftermath of the successful test was "Kalo`smi loka-ksaya-krt pravrddho", which has been variously translated. While "Kal" has generally been interpreted as Time and therefore Time being the great destroyer of worlds, there is a fairly widespread interpretation in the Western scholarship about Kal being Death by its very implication. Hence the most popular transliteration as used by Oppenheimer, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." Among the Indian scholars the more acceptable translation has been, "I am terrible time, the destroyer of all beings in all worlds."



Oppenheimer credited two other books, apart from the Gita, as having influenced him. They were Shakespeare`s "Hamlet" and Eliot`s "Waste Land". However, by some consensus the Gita appeared to have impacted him at both rational/practical level as well as at much deeper philosophical level.



It has been argued by scholars such as Hijiya that Oppenheimer`s approach to the atomic bomb was that of doing his duty as part of his dharma as prescribed in the Gita. Professor Hijiya describes it thus: "Just as Arjuna and Yudhishthira honored their elders by submitting to their decisions, even when those decisions were wrong, so did Oppenheimer yield to those he recognised as his political and military superiors. He was a scientist, so it was his duty to make judgments on scientific matters, like how to build the bomb. But when it came to politics and war, he refused to oppose decisions made by people seemingly more qualified than himself. He would not venture outside his dharma."



Oppenheimer`s dispassionate, almost coldly detached acquiescence to the broader politics of the atomic bomb has been interpreted as a direct result of the way he digested the Gita. He saw it purely in terms of his duty as a scientist and perhaps nothing more.



Much has been written about whether Oppenheimer came to regret having pioneered the atomic bomb. There appears to be considerable agreement that he did not feel remorse in any manifest sort of way. Even during the first successful test in 1945 he was said to have thought of this line from the Gita: "If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst into the sky that would be like the splendor of the Mighty One." This was notwithstanding his full understanding of the potential for death and destruction that the enormous power could and would unleash.



It was clear to those involved in the Manhattan project, particularly someone at its helm like Oppenheimer, that the eventual purpose of the bomb was to be deployed as a weapon very soon. It was in that context that the physicist`s dependence on the Gita as his guide ought to be viewed.
New Delhi: The polling for the 270 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) ended on Sunday.

Around 54 percent voter turnout was recorded in the three corporations in Delhi.

State Election Commissioner SK Srivastava said 18 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were replaced due to faulty battery or non-functional button issues.



"Five machines were replaced in north MCD, eight machines in south MCD and 5 machines in east MCD," he added.



Srivastava also listed higher and lower voter turnout recorded in the three zones.



"In North MCD Bhaktavarpur recorded highest at around 68. 7 percent whereas peeragarhi recorded lowest at 46 percent.



"In south MCD, Madipur recorded highest at 61.51 percent max whereas Lado Sarai only 39.14 percent was recorded.



"In east MCD Sundar Nagar recorded highest at 63.92 percent, while Shakarpur recorded lowest turnout at 48.78 percent," he said.



The State Election Commissioner (SEC) also casted aside doubts raised on the efficiency of the EVMs.



"EVM has proved that it`s un-hackable. It is a robust machine. We have ensured a smooth and fair election.



"So I Don`t think there should be any question related to EVMs. its performance has been good," he added.



Earlier, Chief Minister Arvind Kejrwial questioned the Sate Election Commission over its preparedness after reports of malfunctioned EVMs emerged.



"Reports from all over Delhi of EVM malfunction, people wid voter slips not allowed to vote. What is SEC doing?," he tweeted.



Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remained hopeful of sweeping the polls.



"In the three and half years of Prime Minister Narnedra Modi`s government, everyone knew about the pro-people decisions taken by the BJP whereas in the last two and a half years of Kejrwial government, people remember it as the scandal and corruption ridden government," BJP`s Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari told ANI.



Congress' Shakeel Ahmed said the results would be known on April 26 and so it would be unwise to jump to conclusions.



The polling was conducted for 272 wards where over 2,500 candidates were in the fray.



Municipal elections in Maujpur in East Delhi and Sarai Pipal in North Delhi wards were postponed due to the death of two candidates.



Both candidates belonged to the Samajwadi Party.



The polling in Maujpur will now be held on May 14 while in Sarai Pipal it will take place on May 21.



Delhi Election Commission set up over 13 thousand polling booths out of which over three thousand were identified as sensitive while around 15 hundred booths were hypersensitive.



Around 57,000 police personnel were deployed to ensure free and fair polls in the national capital.



The result for the 2017 MCD polls would be declared on April 26.
New Delhi: Predicting a thumping majority for the saffron party in the civic polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national vice-president Shyam Jaju on Sunday said Delhi has already rejected the Congress, adding the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stands exposed courtesy its work in the last two and half years.

"People of Delhi are fed up of Arvind Kejriwal and his party. I am absolutely confident the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win. This is a litmus test for the AAP, as these polls will decide that how the national capital has accepted Arvind Kejriwal," said Jaju.

"The people of Delhi have already rejected the Congress and in the past two years the real face of AAP has also been exposed, which is why I am confident that people will vote for the BJP," he added.

The polling for the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi began at 8 am today and will end at 5:30 p.m. Over 2,500 candidates are in the fray.

Over 1.3 crore people are eligible to exercise their voting rights and of them more than 1.1 lakh are first-time voters. More than 2,500 candidates are in the fray.

The civic polls will witness a triangular contest involving three major parties - the AAP, BJP and the Congress. Interestingly, None of the Above (NOTA) option has been made available for the first time in MCD elections.
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party leader (BJP) Vijender Gupta and his party members, who came to cast their votes for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Sunday, asserted that with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ruling the nation, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will find it hard to rule the national capital again.

"I have done my best to win people's hearts; it's like a challenge for me to contest in the MCD polls. With Modi ruling the nation, it is going to be difficult for Arvind Kejriwal to rule in the state again," Gupta told ANI.

Singh further stated that all concerned matters relating the city will be looked into and worked on soon.

"As we have promised to look into all concerned matters relating the city and states, we will work on them soon," said Gupta.

The polling is being conducted for 272 wards of three MCD civic bodies and over 2,500 candidates are in the fray.

After losing in this month's assembly by-polls and the February elections in Punjab and Goa, the municipal polls will be an acid test for Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government in Delhi.

Kejriwal's former party colleague Yogendra Yadav, who now leads the Swaraj India, wrote an open letter to the Chief Minister and challenged him to win at least 50 percent seats in the civic polls or step down.

Even as the Swaraj India and the Janata Dal (United) look to expand base beyond Bihar and Jharkhand, the BJP, the AAP and the Congress have roped in top leaders and done whatever they could to woo the voters.

For the BJP, it's a matter of prestige. The Congress, buoyed by the Captian Amarinder Singh-led victory in Punjab, is looking for a revival in Delhi politics.

For the first time in the MCD elections, the None Of The Above (NOTA) option is available and the elections are being held after the latest delimitation exercise that has restructured the civic wards.

The Delhi Election Commission has set up over 13,000 polling booths, out of which over 3,000 have been identified as sensitive while around 1,500 as hypersensitive.

Nearly 57, 000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls in the national capital.

To avoid any untoward incident during the elections, the Delhi Government has ordered dry day to be observed in the national capital on the polling day.
New Delhi: Three men, who were transporting buffaloes in a truck, were beaten up by 'gau rakshaks' near the Kalkaji metro station in south Delhi last night.

As per the police, the victims are being treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre here.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ramil Baniya while talking to the media here assured a thorough investigation into the matter and also promised legal action against the perpetrators.

"In the Police Control Room of Kalkaji area, a call was received in night, where the caller gave information about the incident. He further said that cattle's are being taken in a truck in a cruel manner," he said.

The three men were transporting 14 buffaloes in a truck to east Delhi's Ghazipur mandi when they were stopped by members of the non-governmental organisation.

The victims have been identified as Rizwan (25), Ashu (28) and Kamil (25).

Currently, a case has been registered against them under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Further investigation is underway.
New Delhi: In a yet another veiled attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday appealed the people to come out in large numbers and vote for a "Dengue and Chikungunya free" Delhi.

After casting his vote at a polling booth in Road Transport Office in Civil Lines for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, Kejriwal said, "I would appeal to the people of Delhi to vote in large numbers in order to make Delhi free from dengue and chikungunya."

On Friday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi convener Dilip Pandey said people of the national capital have an opportunity to vote for "garbage free and Malaria, Chikungunya and Dengue free" Delhi.

Pandey said that the BJP has converted the MCDs into "Most Corrupt Departments" in the world. He also challenged the saffron party to point out a single achievement of the MCDs during last 10 years.

Taking potshots at Kejriwal for his 'dengue-chikunguniya' remark, the BJP on Saturday said the former's statement reflects his frustration, adding that the AAP chief had no right to opine on other political parties.

"Kejriwal's statement reflects his frustration and disappointment. It seems like he has accepted his failure. Public has been giving vote to the BJP for last ten years. Be it MCD by-elections, Goa, Punjab, Varanasi, Lok Sabha elections, Kejriwal government has lost all the elections.

They do politics of tussle and abuse and I don't think this will bring development. He thinks people of Delhi are fool," BJP leader Vijay Goel told ANI.

Upping the ante on Kejriwal's assertion, BJP leader Shaina NC said the former should first get rid of the dengue and chikunguniya that he has caused in Delhi and then opine on the BJP government.

"If he has no ideology and conviction to live up to his political manifesto, then I think he has no right to comment on other political parties," she told ANI.

Kejriwal yesterday trained guns at the saffron party, while saying that the people should hold themselves responsible for dengue and chikungunya outbreaks if they vote for the BJP in the MCD elections.

"If your children get dengue or chikungunya, then you yourself will be responsible for it, because you voted for a party (BJP) that spreads mosquitoes that breed dengue or chikungunya," Kejriwal had said.

Meanwhile, the polling for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has begun.

The polling is being conducted for 272 wards of three MCD civic bodies and over 2,500 candidates are in the fray.

Over 1.3 crore people are eligible to exercise their voting rights and of them more than 1.1 lakh are first-time voters.

The civic polls will witness a triangular contest involving three major parties- the AAP, BJP and the Congress. Interestingly, None of the Above (NOTA) option has been made available for the first time in MCD elections.

The Delhi Election Commission has set up over 13,000 polling booths, out of which over 3,000 have been identified as sensitive while around 1,500 as hypersensitive.

Nearly 57, 000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls in the national capital.

To avoid any untoward incident during the elections, the Delhi Government has ordered dry day to be observed in the national capital on the polling day.
Washington: The vexed issue of the Trump administration mulling curbs in H-1B visas has been taken up with by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with the American authorities during his ongoing visit, an Indian official said on Sunday.

The issue was raised by Jaitley during his meeting with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin here on Saturday, an Indian Finance Ministry statement said.



"Finance Minister Arun Jaitley raised the issue of H-1B visas for skilled professionals from India and highlighted the contribution which Indian companies and professionals are making to US economy," it said.



The issue stems from recent executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump which indicate a possible tightening of the H-1B visas.



"Issues related to terror funding were also discussed and the US Treasury Secretary appreciated the role of India in this regard, including Indo-US cooperation in FATF (Financial Action Task Force)," the statement said.



"Critical economic issues like Indo-US Investment Initiative, infrastructure collaboration, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, collaboration with USA for smart cities development, etcetera, were deliberated upon during the meeting," it added.



Jaitley is on a five-day visit to the US to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.



According to the Finance Ministry, Jaitley also held bilateral meetings with the Finance Ministers of Sweden, France and Bangladesh, as well as with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.



Meanwhile, the US, in turn, has alleged that Indian IT companies were unfairly cornering the major share of H-1B visas by putting extra tickets in the lottery system, which the current US administration wants to replace with a more merit-linked immigration policy.



"The top recipients of the H-1B visa are companies like Tata, Infosys, Cognizant -- they will apply for a very large number of visas, more than they get, by putting extra tickets in the lottery raffle, if you will, and then they`ll get the lion`s share of visas," a senior US official said at a White House briefing last week, according to transcripts posted on the White House website.



"And those three companies are companies that have an average wage for H-1B visas between $60,000 and $65,000. By contrast, the median Silicon Valley (US) software engineer`s wage is probably around $150,000," the official said.




London: Britain's immigration officials have detained 38 Indians, including nine women, for overstaying their visas or working illegally after conducting raids in two clothing factories in the city of Leicester.

The UK Home Office Immigration Enforcement team raided MK Clothing Ltd and Fashion Times UK Ltd in the city in the East Midlands region of England last week and held 38 Indians and one Afghan man.

Of those detained, 31 had outstayed their visas, seven had entered the country illegally and one was working in breach of their visa conditions, Leicester Mercury reported.

The officials took 19 people into detention pending their removal from the UK while remaining 20 were ordered to report regularly to the Home Office while their cases are dealt with.

"Using illegal labour is not victimless. It cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest businesses and denies legitimate job seekers of employment opportunities,? said?assistant director Alison Spowage, from East Midlands Immigration Enforcement.

"The penalties for businesses that do not play by the rules are rightly severe. This operation, one of the largest- scale my team has conducted, sends a clear message that we have the resources to tackle immigration abuse.

All of our operations are intelligence-led and I would encourage people with detailed and specific information about illegal immigration to contact us,? she said.

Immigration officials were accompanied by Leicestershire Police and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers during the raids.

The two firms could face fines of up to 20,000 pounds for each illegal worker if it is proven they did not take steps to establish their employees' legal status.

This translates up to 240,000 pounds for MK Clothing Ltd and 180,000 pounds for Fashion Times UK Ltd.

The two factories are yet to comment on the raids.

Under UK immigration rules, employers are required to carry out details right to work checks on the employees they hire and are liable for hefty fines if they are found to have hired workers who do not have the legal right to work in Britain.
New Delhi: Chief Ministers of 13 BJP-ruled states on Sunday gave presentations on the work done by their governments, especially in the implementation of social welfare schemes, during a meeting attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah.

They also gave a detailed presentation on models applied by their governments to get feedback from people on the efficacy of their schemes, including the centrally sponsored schemes.

The chief ministers also spoke about their government's use of traditional and social media to inform people about its initiatives.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said they were using the media to publicise welfare schemes of the central and state governments.

Thereafter, the prime minister and the BJP president briefed the meeting.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das said the meeting discussed the goal of empowering the last man in the queue and the method to be adopted to reach the poorest of the poor.

"We will all together make a new India in which the lives of poor, deprived, backward, farmers will be prosperous and happy (sic)," he tweeted.

With the next set of assembly elections due later this year and Modi and Shah already toning up the organisational machinery for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, they are keen to ensure that their development agenda is not overshadowed by other factors.

In his address to party leaders at the BJP national executive meet recently, Modi had spoken about the need for India to take a "long jump" to make rapid progress, while Shah had asserted that the saffron party was yet to reach its peak.
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a letter of intent to purchase 16,15,000 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,173.47 crore during 2017-18 and 2018-19 from central PSUs BEL and ECIL, an official statement said on Sunday.



According to the letter sent to the Chairmen and Managing Directors of the Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) on April 21, the poll panel has indicated its willingness to purchase 8,07,500 VVPATS from each of the PSUs by September 18.



"These VVPATs shall be manufactured by both PSUs only as per the design approved by the Commission based on recommendation of the Technical Experts Committee on Electronic Voting Machines constituted by the Commission and comprising of eminent technical professors from Indian Institute of Technology (IITs)," said the statement, adding that the ECI will closely monitor production of VVPATs for timely delivery well before General Elections 2019.



"This will enhance transparency and uphold the voters' right to know which party he or she has voted, thereby increasing voters' confidence in the free and fair electoral process," said the statement quoting Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi.



On April 19, the Union Cabinet approved an outlay of Rs 3,173.47 crore for procuring 16,15,000 VVPATS, to be used in the General Elections 2019.



The decision came in the wake of allegations of EVM-tampering by various opposition parties, including the Congress, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Aam Admi Party.


Vadodara: India should recognise Balochistan as a separate country if Pakistan went ahead with the execution of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said today.

"Pakistan should be taught a lesson by recognising Balochistan if it executes Jadhav. Not only that, Pakistan should be divided into Balochistan, Pakhtunistan and Sindh to teach it a lesson for encouraging cross-border terrorism," he said.

Swamy was delivering a lecture on 'India and International Terrorism', organised by Bharat Vikas Parishad, an NGO, at the Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad Nagargruh in Akota locality here.

"Merely declaring Pakistan as a state sponsoring terrorism will not serve any purpose. Only the disintegration of Pakistan will help tackle the issue of cross-border terrorism better," said the Rajya Sabha member.

He also said "attacks" should be carried out on the premises of the two most wanted terrorists -- Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim -- who have taken shelter in Pakistan.

He suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should seek support from the US to fight against terrorism originating from the Pakistani soil.

"India should not worry about Pakistan's threat of using the atom bomb in case of a troubled situation on the border as the button of this bomb is in the hands of the US, which has full control over the affairs of the neighbouring country," said Swamy.

He also requested Modi to improve the ties with China and seek its cooperation in fighting terrorism as terrorists were using the Chinese territory to enter Kashmir.

Referring to terrorism in Punjab in the past, Swamy said India had defeated the divisive designs of the Khalistanis and it could do so in Kashmir as well.

"The incidents of stonepelting have stopped in Kashmir after the Indian government started taking action," he claimed.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for carrying forward the debate and discussion on simultaneous elections.

PM Modi made the observations at the third meeting of the Governing Council of Niti Aayog.

At the same time, he also said that consensus on Goods and Services Tax (GST) reflected the spirit of 'one nation, one aspiration, one determination'.

"The consensus on GST will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism. GST reflects the spirit of 'One nation, One aspiration, One determination'," an official statement quoted PM Modi as saying.

According to the statement, the Prime Minister also said GST shows the strength and resolve of the federal structure.

PM Modi gave credit to all CMs for coming on one platform for GST, keeping aside ideological and political differences.

President Pranab Mukherjee on April 13 gave assent to four key legislations on GST. The government plans to roll out the new indirect tax regime from July 1.

GST, the biggest taxation reform since Independence, will subsume central excise, service tax, Value Added Tax (VAT) and other local levies to create a uniform market.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged all state governments to reach out to the students of Jammu and Kashmir in their respective states.

Modi's advice, which came after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti raised the point at a meeting of Chief Ministers here, assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of thrashing of some Kashmiri students in Mewar in Rajasthan and a hoarding in Meerut asking Kashmiris to leave Uttar Pradesh.

At the meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council, Modi "seconded" Mehbooba's suggestion that states should take interest in the students from Jammu and Kashmir who are studying in other states.

The Prime Minister "urged states to reach out to these students (of J&K) from time to time", said a statement by the PMO quoting Modi's concluding remarks.

Six Kashmiri students of Mewar University in Rajasthan were recently thrashed by some locals there.

Also, in Meerut, a hoarding had been put up, asking Kashmiris to leave Uttar Pradesh.

Modi also took note of the invitation extended by Mehbooba to various state governments to organise events in her state.

"The Prime Minister suggested that states could organize events there," the statement said.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked all Chief Ministers to stay in touch with the Kashmiri youth in their states and take care of their interests.



He made the appeal during his closing remarks at the 3rd Meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog.



"The Prime Minister told all Chief Ministers to contact Kashmiri youth in their state. He told Chief Ministers to take care of interest of Kashmiri students," Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya said at a press conference after the meet.



The appeal came days after hoardings appeared in Uttar Pradesh`s Meerut city asking Kashmiris to leave the state.



An official statement said that the Prime Minister, noting the invitation given by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, suggested that various states could organise events there.



"He also seconded the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister`s suggestion that states should take interest in the students from her state who are studying in other states. He urged states to reach out to these students from time to time," the statement said.
Delhi: Prime Minister Modi on Sunday wrote to President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani and reaffirmed India's support in fighting all forms of terrorism.

"PM Modi condoles with Afghan President in a letter the barbaric terrorist attack of 21/4 at Mazar-e-Sharif," MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted.

In another post he wrote, "PM Modi reaffirms India's steadfast support in fighting all forms of terrorism."

PM @narendramodi condoles w Afghan President @ashrafghani in a letter d barbaric terrorist attack of 21/4 at Mazar-e-Sharif.  Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) April 23, 2017

.@narendramodi @ashrafghani PM @narendramodi strongly condemns d attack. States India stands in solidarity w govt & p'pl of, offer all psbl assistance to d injured  Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) April 23, 2017

.@narendramodi @ashrafghani PM @narendramodi reaffirms India's steadfast support to in fighting all forms of terrorism  Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) April 23, 2017

.@narendramodi @ashrafghani PM @narendramodi xprses faith tht Afghan p'pl n security forcs wil ovrcom all forcs agnst unity, peace, security, stblty & prsperty of  Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) April 23, 2017

Earlier on April 21 also, PM Modi had condemned the terror attack on a military base in northern Afghanistan and had said, "Strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Mazar-i- sharif. Our prayers and condolences to the families who lost loved ones.

Strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack in Mazar-i-sharif. Our prayers and condolences to the familes who lost loved ones.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2017

Meanwhile, Afghanistan today observed a national day of mourning after at least 100 soldiers were killed or wounded in the terror.

The exact toll from Friday's assault in the northern province of Balkh remains unclear, with some local officials putting the number of dead as high as 130, as per AFP.

Flags flew at half-mast throughout the country and special prayers were said for the dead.

Ten gunmen dressed in soldiers' uniforms and armed with suicide vests entered the base in Army trucks and opened fire at unarmed troops at close range in the base's mosque and dining hall.

Afghan troops and police, beset by killings and desertions, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

Afghan security force casualties soared by 35 percent in 2016, with 6,800 soldiers and police killed, according to US watchdog SIGAR.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Sunday met with protesting farmers from his state at the Jantar Mantar and assured help.



The farmers have protested here for the past 40 days and demands loan waivers, drought relief packages and formation of a Cauvery management board to resolve their irrigation issues.



Palaniswami, in a brief 20 minutes meeting, assured that he will take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for funds to waive off the loan and urged the farmers to end their protest.



"We will try to cut down the unnecessary expenses and make arrangements...I will take up the farmer's demands to the Prime Minister...We urge the farmers to end their protest," Palaniswami said.



P. Ayyakannu, president of the National-South Indian Rivers Linking Farmers Association, who is also leading the protest, said the agitation will not end until their demands are met which also includes meeting the Prime Minister.



In past 40 days, the protesting farmers have marched naked outside the Prime Minister's office, ate mice, shaved their heads, marked mock funerals and on Saturday even drank their urine to attract the central government and the Prime Minster's attention towards their cause and plight.



Bold in their way of protesting, farmers demonstrate with the skulls of their kin and other farmers from Tamil Nadu who committed suicide.



Earlier this month, the central government approved Rs 1,712 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for Tamil Nadu.



But the state government has sought a relief package of Rs 40,000 crore.



Tamil Nadu is facing a severe drought. In January, the state government declared Tamil Nadu drought-hit after over 100 farmers allegedly committed suicide.



According to the farmersm nothing has grown over 29 lakh hectare in Cauvery delta since 2016 due to lack of water.


Belgaum: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team are at the spot in Athani taluk of Belagavi district where a six-year-old girl fell into an open borewell on Saturday night.

The girl has been identified as Kaveri Ajit Madar who fell into the 400-feet borewell while she was playing.

The girl is stuck at a depth of around 20 feet.

Rescue operations are underway.
Belagavi: A six-year-old girl slipped into an open borewell in a village in Karnataka's Belagavi district on Saturday, said a police official.

"The girl, Kaveri slipped into the open borewell and is stuck at about 30 feet depth," Belagavi Superintendent of Police Ravikanthe Gowda told reporters.

The incident at Jhunjarawadi village in Athani taluk of the district occurred late in the evening when Kaveri was playing with her friends near the dry borewell.

"Oxygen is being supplied to keep the girl alive, as she was heard crying and efforts are being made to rescue her by all means," said Gowda, who was at the spot.

The district authority has summoned a team of National Disaster Response Force from Pune to rescue the hapless victim.

"We are waiting for the NDRF team to reach here by midnight and launch rescue operation as it has the expertise," added Gowda.
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Power Minister MM Mani has drawn ire for calling an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer "mad", authorities said on Sunday.



Mani made the remark late on Saturday against junior IAS officer Sreeram Venkitaraman because of his strong position on restoring the usurped land in the minister's home district of Idukki.



"In Idukki, most of the religious establishments are located on lands that do not have a clear title deed. He (Venkitaraman) is a mad man and he should be sent to Oolampara (mental hospital in Thiruvananthapuram)," the minister said.



Idukki, especially the picturesque hill station of Munnar, has been in the news for the past one week after Venkitaraman took to recovering usurped lands.



Former state Congress President A.V.M. Sudheeran slammed Mani's remarks against the young administrative officer.



"Mani's statement against the young IAS officer leaves literate Kerala in shambles and he has now become a liability and shame for the state," said Sudheeran on Sunday.



Communist Party of India (CPI) Assistant Secretary Prakash Babu said that all what he can say about Mani is what Jesus Christ said: "Forgive them, for they know not what they are doing".



Babu added that he wished people who occupy important offices do not spoil their sanctity.



He went on to add that revenue officials like Venkitaraman only did what was expected of them and used the statutory powers vested with them.



Meanwhile, state Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan refused to comment on the situation.



State Youth Congress President Dean Kuriakose said Mani should be put in chains for his acts.



With the Kerala assembly scheduled to have its new session beginning this week, the Congress-led opposition is all set to unleash a strong attack against Chief Minister Pinnarai Vijayan's government for its acts against honest officials.


Mumbai: The finance ministry has initiated detailed discussions with select public banks to assess their growth blueprint over the next three years and seek turnaround plans to check if they need more growth capital.

The Department of Financial Services will be meeting representatives of 10 state-owned banks that received funds in March this year.

"The ministry officials have sought business plans for the next three years and also wanted detailed turnaround plans. Banks will also have to submit stressed asset resolution plans," a senior public sector banker told PTI.

The officials will also be assessing capital needs of each bank for the next three years, a source added.

In the second tranche of capital infusion, the government had infused Rs 8,586 crore in 10 banks in March. For the full 2016-17, it had pumped in Rs 25,000 crore.

The recipients last fiscal were Bank of India (Rs 1,500 crore), Bank of Maharashtra (Rs 300 crore), IDBI Bank (Rs 1,900 crore), Indian Overseas Bank (Rs 1,100 crore), Central Bank of India (Rs 100 crore), Dena Bank (Rs 600 crore), UCO Bank (Rs 1,150 crore), Andhra Bank (Rs 1,100 crore), United Bank of India (Rs 418 crore) and Allahabad Bank (Rs 418 crore).

Talks are part of the Indradhanush plan which involved banks submitting detailed growth plans and indicating how they are going to deploy the funds to get additional money.

Some banks have already got calls from the ministry for the meeting and the bankers will be meeting individually.

The government funding is linked to strict parameters. The first tranche of capital infusion for fiscal 2017 was announced in July 2016.

As per the road map announced in August 2015, the government will infuse Rs 70,000 crore into the banks over four years while they will have to raise an additional Rs 1.1 trillion from the markets to meet their capital requirements, in line with global risk norms Basel-III.

Public sector banks are to get Rs 25,000 crore in each fiscal of 2016 and 2017 and Rs 10,000 crore each in fiscal 2018 and 2019. The Budget has allocated Rs 10,000 crore in the current financial year.
Dharmanagar: The BJP on Sunday vowed to oust the Left from power in Tripura in the 2018 Assembly elections "to script history".

Addressing the BJP state executive meeting here, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Madhav said, "We will surely win the 2018 elections, ending the 24 years of uninterrupted rule of Left parties in Tripura."

He said top leaders of the BJP, including many Chief Ministers, were keen to campaign in Tripura to vote out the Left Front led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist.

"We will throw out the Left Front from Tripura to script history."

Ram Madhav, the BJP in-charge of northeastern states and Jammu and Kashimir, said Tripura was very important for his party.

"In view of this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and (BJP President) Amit Shah will soon join the campaign in the state.

"To win assembly polls in Tripura and to oust the corrupt Left Front government is a vital political objective of the BJP.

"The Left has been in power for 24 year and it is high time the Left was thrown out of power democratically," he said.

Ram Madhav accused the Left government of cheating people and keeping them in poverty and backwardness despite being in power for several decades.

Since there was no alternative to them earlier, they continued to be in power, he said.

"Now that the BJP has emerged as a real alternative, we should try our best collectively to ensure the ouster of the anti-people Left Front government."

BJP Tripura President Biplab Kumar Deb and party leader Sunil Deodhar also spoke at the two-day meeting that ended on Sunday.


New Delhi: US President Donald Trump's proposal of administering cutbacks in the budget for scientific research did not go down well with scientists, which caused them to join hands and hit the streets of Washington in protest.

On Earth Day, April 22, scientists from around the US, most of them wearing lab coats and bearing protest signs gathered at the Washington Monument to express their objections.

The protest on Saturday, dubbed the March for Science and coinciding with Earth Day, is being held in more than 500 cities around the world, but all eyes are on Washington, where the organisers hoped to attract as many as 75,000 people, Efe news reported.

While hundreds of people were lining up to join the march, dozens of volunteers were handing out signs with the official slogan of the protest: "Science, not Silence".

The organisers had insisted that the march should not be an anti-Trump event but rather a reminder of the important role science should play in society and in the political debate so that those in power can take sensible decisions based on "facts" and not "alternative facts".

Marchers held signs with slogans that read  "Science should be shared not censored", "Rise up before the waters do", "Dinosaurs didn't believe in climate change either", "stop the war on facts", "Denial is not a policy", and "we're not just resistors, we are transformers", etc.

Other US cities like New York and Chicago also rolled out events in support of the March for Science.

The protest was held to push back against a political climate that has become increasingly hostile toward sound, evidence-based science and its value to society.

Check out some of the photographs of the protest shared by people on Twitter below:

We may live in the age of "fake news" and "alternative facts".

But today, truth fought back.#MarchForScience pic.twitter.com/RcqBPUe4Aq  Mike Gibbs (@Mikeggibbs) April 22, 2017

A group of scientists partipate in the #marchforscience at Wake Atoll under water! pic.twitter.com/taz7oJw3Rc  Science March Hawaii (@ScienceMarchHI) April 22, 2017

(With IANS inputs)
New Delhi: The search for extraterrestrial life has been going on for years and those involved in alien hunting or UFO hunting have on many occasions, come close enough to provide evidence justifying their presence.

The Martian terrain has always been the center of attention for UFO hunters for possible alien sightings.

Since scientists are monitoring the planet's surface fervently with the help of rovers, which will aid them in deep space exploration missions, the images sent in by NASA's Curiosity rover are thoroughly scrutinized by these UFO hunters, who claim to have unearthed several evidences of alien presence on the Red Planet.

So, it was no surprise when reports of alien hunters claiming to have discovered photographic evidence that Mars may have had green vegetation at some point of time, surfaced.

As per the Daily Mail, the Curiosity rover on Sol 164 snapped an image which showcases what looks like an ancient tree stump, about 3-feet high on Mars. First published in a video by YouTube user Paranormal Crucible, NASA later released the image recently.

As per what NASA described, the image was captured by Mastcam onboard NASAs Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 1647 in March this year. Many believe it might be many of the rocks discovered on the planet, however; others feel that it could prove that life was present at some point of time, the Deccan Chronicle reported.

The original image is below:
New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu farmers who had been protesting over drought relief funds and waiver of farmers` loans on Sunday suspended their protest till May 25 after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswamy`s assurance.

"If our demands are not fulfilled we will start our protest again after 25th May. If we get train tickets, we will leave today," said Ayyakanu, an agitating farmer.

Palaniswamy earlier in the day said he discussed the farmers` issue in the NITI Aayog`s Governing Council meeting and forwarded their demands to the Prime Minister.

"Also asked the Prime Minister to discuss fishermen boats issue during his Sri Lanka visit," he added.

The farmers have been grabbing headlines for their unique and sometimes bizarre methods of protest since they arrived in Delhi over 38 days ago.

Adorned with human skulls around their necks, the farmers attempted to grab the attention of authorities towards their condition and demands for drought relief package.

The farmers have so far performed `Angapradakshinam` - rolling prostrate on the street at Jantar Mantar - staged suicides, conducted mock funerals, shaved off half their moustaches and beards, stripped in front of the Prime Minister`s office, eaten dal and rice off the road, stood with mice in their mouths and have hung skulls around their necks, which they claim belong to farmers in their state who committed suicide because of mounting debt.

The farmers have been demanding Centre`s intervention to write off their loans from nationalised banks, a revised drought relief package and resolve the alleged drying up of the Tamil Nadu leg of the Kaveri river.The state government and the Madras High Court have already waived their loans from co-operative banks.
Lucknow: To ensure all government employees reach work on time, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed that a biometric attendance system be put in place in offices upto the block level.

Adityanath's instructions came during a meeting with officials of the rural development department late on Saturday night.

"Efforts should be made to ensure that a biometric system of attendance is installed upto the block level. Apart from this, a board be put up at every village panchayat, which will have information about contact details of the village pradhan and details of the ongoing works," Adityanath said as per an official statement.

The chief minister said that the targets of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana should be achieved.

All the works pertaining to registration, uploading of photographs and approval of housing units for 5.73 lakh families eligible under this scheme must be completed at the earliest.

"The Centre will be requested to incorporate eligible families, which have been left out," he said.

Emphasising on transparency in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (MNREGS), Adityanath said that active workers should be linked with Aadhaar-based payment system.

The Chief Minister also sought information about the National Rural Drinking Water Programme, World Bank-aided 'Neer Nirmal' and Rajya Grameen Payjal Yojana among other schemes.

"Apart from Bundelkhand, piped water supply schemes should be implemented in other parts of the state. To address the problems of drinking water scarcity in Bundelkhand, repair works pertaining to hand-pumps along with re-boring should be done," Adityanath said.

He also said that 160 piped water supply schemes in 31 districts should be completed to ensure water supply.

"Installation of new hand-pumps and re-boring of existing hand-pumps under the quota of MLAs and MLCs should be completed

after taking their consent," he said.

He also directed that Samagra Gram Vikas Department be merged with Rural Development department.
Kolkata: Seasonal thunderstorm swept across various parts of the city and suburban areas disrupting train services and blocking major roads by uprooting trees on Saturday evening, officials said.

"Train services in the city's circular railway has completely disrupted after the storm. There was also a temporary disruption in Baraipur-Lakhikantapur line under the Sealdah south section as some trees fell on the over-head lines.

However the services resumed after an hour," Ravi Mahapatra, Chief Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Railways told IANS.

"Our technicians are working to remove the obstacles from the tracks and overhead lines as soon as possible. The services at Sealdah North section is not affected," he said.

At Howrah, the other major railway station under South Eastern railways, a number of trains were delayed due to the storm.

"The sudden thunderstorm caused minor disruptions at Howrah as some trains in the Howrah-Kharagpur line were delayed. However no express trains got cancelled today," said S. Ghosh, Chief Public Relation Officer of South Eastern Railways.

Vehicle movement was affected in the city as the storm -- known as Norwester which is common in this part of India during this time -- felled trees on important arterial roads like Jessore Road, Harish Mukherjee Road, Lenin Sarani, Rashbehari Avenue and Judges Court Road.

There were long queues of vehicles on many roads even late into the night.
Athens: China's foreign minister called today for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula amid rising tension over North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes.

"China is firmly supporting the denuclearisation of the area in the name of stability and peace", Wang Yi told reporters in Athens after meeting Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias.

"China may not have the key to this solution ... But we are happy that more sides are accepting our point of view", he added.

US President Donald Trump has urged China to take stronger steps to press the North to curb its nuclear and missile programmes.

During a regional tour last week, Vice-President Mike Pence warned that "all options are on the table" to curb the North's nuclear ambitions, as fears grow it may be planning another atomic test.

Pyongyang has ramped up its rhetoric in recent weeks, threatening to hit back against any provocation.

It has also renewed threats against regional US allies, including Japan and South Korea, which both host large American military contingents.

Even Australia has received a warning from Pyongyang.

"If Australia persists in following the US's moves to isolate and stifle North Korea... This will be a suicidal act," a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called the nation a "serious threat".

Today, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that a US citizen had been arrested as he tried to fly out of North Korea, becoming the third American to be detained there.

"It is important for them to hold a US citizen hostage at this point to prevent Washington from carrying out a decapitation of Kim Jong-Un," Ahn Chan-il, a former defector, told AFP, referring to the North's fears that the US plans a secret military strike to topple its leader.

"It's also a resolve to point a double-action revolver against the US and China because he is a US citizen who worked in China."
Beijing: Analysts have warned of the increasing security threat to Beijing as Chinese jihadis are on the rise in Syria, thereby forcing the country to rethink its Middle East strategy.

According to a report appearing in the South China Morning Post, China has long limited its participation in the region's affairs but has recently been concerned with the national security threat posed by the Islamist fighters in Syria who hailed from Xinjiang and returned to China.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, estimated there were about 5,000 Chinese fighters in Syria, most of whom were fighting with the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) in northern Syria.

According to Middle East expert Yin Gang, the Chinese fighters are mostly Uygurs, not all 5,000 of them are with the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (or Turkistan Islamic Party), which considers Xinjiang to be East Turkestan.

"These people not only fight alongside international terrorist forces in Syria, but also they will possibly return to China posing a threat to China's national security," said Li Wei, a terrorism expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

The role of the Chinese jihadis in Syria was a topic that President Bashar al-Assad spoke about last month in an interview with Chinese Phoenix TV, saying "they know your country more than the others, so they can do more harm in your country than others".

Unlike other rebel groups, the Turkistan Islamic Party is a very secretive organisation and they live among themselves, according to activists in northern Syria. They are active in parts of Idlib and in the strategic town of Jisr al-Shughour, as well as the Kurdish Mountains in the western province of Latakia.

Unlike other fighters who have come to Syria, the Chinese have not merged into local communities and the language has been a major barrier.
Damascus: An Israeli attack on a Syrian training camp near the Golan Heights killed three members of a pro-government militia on Sunday, an official from the forces said.

The Al-Fawwar camp in Syria`s southwestern Quneitra province is used by the National Defence Forces (NDF), which command some 90,000 fighters across Syria.

The NDF official told AFP that two fighters were also wounded in the Israeli attack, but said it was unclear whether the damage was inflicted by an air strike or shelling.

Another Syrian source inside the training camp told AFP that around 6:00 am local time (0300 GMT), "security guards at the camp saw what looked like three fireballs coming towards the camp."

"Then there were several consecutive blasts because of the explosion of ammunition warehouses" that firefighters worked hard to extinguish, the source said.

The source also said that they were "Israeli rockets" but could not specify what kind of missiles may have been used.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said the attack had targeted a "weapons warehouse" in the camp.

Israel`s army declined to comment Sunday on the attack.

On Friday, the Israeli army said it targeted positions inside Syria in retaliation for mortar fire that hit the northern part of the Golan Heights.

At the time, Syria`s official news agency SANA said Israel had struck a Syrian army position in the province of Quneitra on the Golan plateau, "causing damage".

The Syrian government labels rebel groups and jihadists fighting the regime as "terrorists" and accuses Israel of backing them.

Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres (460 square miles) of the Golan from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.

Around 510 square kilometres of the Golan are under Syrian control.

The two countries are still technically at war, although the border remained largely quiet for decades until 2011, when the Syrian conflict broke out.

The Israeli side is hit sporadically by what are usually deemed to be stray rounds, and Israel has recently taken to opening fire in retaliation.
Kathmandu: The ruling alliance and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) have agreed to go for the local polls in two phases and fast track passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill.

Leaders during the meeting, which lasted for around six hours yesterday, decided to go for the polls if the government passes the Amendment Bill through fast track, thereby paving the way for the long time agitating parties to go for polls.

"After they ( ruling alliance) endorse the Amendment Bill in the Parliament and complete dialogue with the Election Commission, we will decide over it by calling the meeting along with the Federal Alliance," said UDMF member Rajendra Shrestha.

It was agreed upon in yesterday's meeting that the issue of delineation would be solved through a Commission, which will submit a report highlighting ways to help solve the hustle.

The two sides also agreed to accept the languages referred by the language commission to be used in the government offices.

The meeting also decided to give absolute right to the Federal Parliament to report their objection and report regarding the issue of delineation within 30 days to the center for solution.

"Until and unless the election for Provincial Parliament isn't held the present constitutional assembly will see all the task of regarding delineation, language and other things as per the constitutional provision stated in article 296- A," Shrestha briefed the media here.

Meanwhile, the member party of alliance led by Upendra Yadav demanded for unilateral polls and rejected the proposal of holding the election in two phases.

Later, they made an oral agreement to go for the polls in two phases but it is yet to be decided with consultations with the Federal Alliance.

"The government was ready to seal agreement with the UDMF and the three point agreement paper was ready by 3 p.m. but the objection from Upendra Yadav halted it," sources said.

Though the meeting decided to go for multi lateral polls, they are awaiting the decision from the Election Commission of Nepal.

"The government also was in consultation with the members of Election Commission on Saturday too and the proposal to hold multi lateral poll was with consensus from the Commission," source added.

The government has proposed to hold the elections in Province number 3, 4 and 6 on May 14 and in 1, 2, 5 and 7 a month after.
Seoul: North Korea said on Sunday it was ready to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, as two Japanese navy ships joined a U.S. carrier group for exercises in the western Pacific.

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over the North`s nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its Asian allies.

The United States has not specified where the carrier strike group is as it approaches the area. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive "within days" but gave no other details.

North Korea remained defiant.

"Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North`s ruling Workers` Party, said in a commentary.

The paper likened the aircraft carrier to a "gross animal" and said a strike on it would be "an actual example to show our military`s force".

The commentary was carried on page three of the newspaper, after a two-page feature about leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a pig farm.

North Korea detained a Korean-American man in his fifties on Friday, South Korea`s Yonhap news agency reported, bringing the total number of U.S. citizens held by Pyongyang to three.

The man, identified only by his surname Kim, had been in North Korea for a month to discuss relief activities, Yonhap said. He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People`s Army on Tuesday.

It has in the past marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.

It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

North Korea`s growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump.

He has vowed to prevent the North from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.

WORRY IN JAPAN

North Korea says its nuclear programme is for self-defence and has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression. It has also threatened to lay waste to South Korea and Japan.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday North Korea`s recent statements were provocative but had proven to be hollow in the past and should not be trusted.

"We`ve all come to hear their words repeatedly; their word has not proven honest," Mattis told a news conference in Tel Aviv, before the latest threat to the aircraft carrier.

Japan`s show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads.

Some Japanese ruling party lawmakers are urging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to acquire strike weapons that could hit North Korean missile forces before any imminent attack.

Japan`s navy, which is mostly a destroyer fleet, is the second largest in Asia after China`s.

The two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson and will "practice a variety of tactics" with the U.S. strike group, the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force said in a statement.

The Japanese force did not specify where the exercises were taking place, but by Sunday the destroyers could have reached an area 2,500 km (1,500 miles) south of Japan, which would be east of the Philippines.

From there, it could take three days to reach waters off the Korean peninsula. Japan`s ships would accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan said.

U.S. and South Korean officials have been saying for weeks that the North could soon stage another nuclear test, something the United States, China and others have warned against.

South Korea has put its forces on heightened alert.

China, North Korea`s sole major ally, opposes Pyongyang`s weapons programmes and has appealed for calm. The United States has called on China to do more to help defuse the tension.

Last Thursday, Trump praised Chinese efforts to rein in "the menace of North Korea", after North Korean state media warned the United States of a "super-mighty pre-emptive strike".
Washington: Attorney General Jeff Sessions today defended the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigrants, pointing out that authorities were likely to first target "criminal elements" who have entered the US unlawfully.

"I believe that everyone that enters the country unlawfully is subject to being deported; however, we don't have the ability to round up everybody and there's no plans to do that," Sessions told ABC News.

"But we're going to focus first, as the president has directed us, on the criminal element. We have got to get that under control," he said. "(But) there's no doubt the president has sympathy for young people who were brought here at early ages."

Sessions said the recent executive order of Trump, which has been successfully challenged in courts, is lawful.

"He knows the threats to this country. He is responsible for protecting America. This order is lawful," he said.

"It's within his authority constitutionally and explicit statutory authority. We're going to defend that order all the way up," Sessions said.

Sessions said his comment is not reckless.

"It's nothing reckless, it's nothing extreme about saying if someone comes through our country unlawfully and commits a crime, another crime in the country, that they should be deported. That's what the law says," he said.

"There is nothing extreme or unreasonable about that. I urge our mayors and our politicians to listen to their law officers. Let's work together, let's cooperate between the federal and state authorities, let's remove dangerous criminals from America. It only makes common sense," he said.

Sessions remarks on deportation was slammed by opposition Democratic party. "Jeff Sessions just verified Trump's radical and extreme plan to target 11 million undocumented immigrants for mass deportation," said Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez.

"Trump and Sessions' cruel proposal to target millions of immigrants will rip apart families, deport integral members of our communities, create chaos across our country, and will take critical resources away from law enforcement. This is not who we are as a country," Perez said.
YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenias PM Karen Karapetyan visited the ministry of economic development and investments where a number of issued were discussed, specifically the development process in various branches of the economy, documented economic indicators, attraction of investments, improvement of the business environment etc.

The PM was briefed that encouraging economic indicators were recorded in the first quarter of 2017 in the country. The growth of economic activity totaled 6,6%, industrial output 16,1%, exports 16,5%, tourism visits 18,2% and others.

It was mentioned that a potential exists for significantly increasing exports, which will be the main moving force for ensuring economic growth.

The main branches of exports growth are the fields of metals and concentrates, beverages, tobacco, jewelry, light industry and pharmaceuticals.

The goal is to achieve a positive balance of commercial account during the upcoming five years.

Ministry officials said providing 200 million dollars growth in exports is realistic, while in 2018 the growth will amount to 450 million dollars compared to 2017.

In terms of logistic services, companies began to display great activeness also. Their number has reached 4.

At the same time it was mentioned that the main markets for Armenia in terms of increasing exports volumes are the EEU countries, followed by European Union countries, the UAE, Iran, Turkmenistan, China and others.

Namely it is expected that during the upcoming three years exports to the EEU market will be increased by 400 million dollars, while to the EU market by 100 million dollars.

You are saying exports must exceed imports by 2022, you are making a very good claim. Will we be able to achieve that? Do you know what production you will increase for exports, what you will decrease from imports?, the PM asked. Ministry officials responded positively.

They mentioned the yearly exports growth must amount not less than 20%, while in 2017-2018 it is expected that 15 thousand new jobs will be created in the abovementioned branches, mostly in the light industry sector.

Our main goal is for citizens of Armenia to be satisfied with their freedoms, security, protection, social and household conditions. For this, jobs must be created, laws, etc. Exports have the biggest impact on jobs, but when we say employment, jobs, we must understand the entire volume, we must classify what impact the export will have, and what impact the substitution of imports will have, the PM said.

Ministry officials said specific expectations and relevant timelines are already set in terms of investments and new enterprises in the light industry branch.

It is expected that exports in 2018 in the light industry branch will exceed 56 million dollars, while for example in 2016 only 12 million exports were expected.

Programs and actions for improving the business environment were also presented to the PM.

Ministry officials mentioned Armenia is ranked 38th among 190 countries in the Doing Business 2017 report of the World Bank. Armenia is ranked 3rd among CIS states and 2nd in the region. 43 different programs are planned for 2017 under the government action plan.

224 potential investors have already applied to the ministry in the first quarter of 2017.
YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. The man who is suspected in killing Dimtry Yalpayev, the Russian serviceman of the 102nd military base of Gyumri, suffers from mental disorders, the investigative committee told ARMENPRESS.

A call was received on April 22 that a man has been found dead outside the Argo store on 4 Dudko Street in Gyumri.

Detectives and officers were immediately dispatched to the scene, where they discovered the body of 21-year-old Dmitry Yalpayev, a contract serviceman of the 102nd Russian military base of Gyumri. The body had stabbing wounds.

Law enforcement agencies revealed the identity of the perpetrator. The suspect has been apprehended.

Necessary investigative operations are currently underway.

Criminal proceedings were launched on the case under Article 104 of the Criminal Code.

Initial investigation revealed the suspect has mental disorders. Specifically, during his time of military service in November of 2016, the suspect intentionally inflicted bodily injuries to himself in an apparent self-harm incident. Afterwards he was transferred to the psychiatric unit of the Yerevan military hospital, where complex assessments and expertise were carried out.

On March 9, 2017, military authorities received the conclusion of the evaluation, under which the suspect was declared to have limited sanity, is mentally unstable, and unfit for military service in peacetime. He was demobilized in March under the defense ministers order.

Investigation continues. Additional information will be provided, the Investigative Committee said in a statement.

Notice  Suspect is innocent until proven guilty by the Court of Law.
"It's so beautiful," U.S. astronaut Jack Fischer described today's trip to the ISS to his wife. The experience, he said, was "a burrito of awesomeness smothered in awesome sauce."

A two-man U.S./Russian crew floated into the International Space Station today, hours after they blasted from earth to space from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. A NASA TV broadcast showed the Russian Soyuz capsule carrying U.S. astronaut Jack Fischer, 43, and Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, 58, lifting off at 1:13 p.m. local time/3:13 a.m. EDT (0713 GMT), "with a rare empty third seat."

Snip from Reuters:

Russia is scaling back space station staffing until its long-delayed science laboratory is flown to the orbiting outpost next year. Fischer and Yurchikhin reached the $100 billion space station, which orbits about 250 miles (400 km) above Earth on schedule at 9:18 a.m. EDT (1318 GMT). About two hours later, hatches between the Soyuz capsule and station opened. Fischer, on his first space voyage, and Yurchikhin floated into the waiting arms of station commander Peggy Whitson and her crew. Their first order of business was a congratulatory phone call from family and friends at the Russian mission control center outside of Moscow. "It's so beautiful," Fischer told his wife, describing the experience as "a burrito of awesomeness smothered in awesome sauce." Fischer also had some comforting words for his mother. "Mom, it's like me being in Texas, depending on where we are going around the Earth, I'll be just as close," he said. "I can still call you. So no need to miss me."

Here's footage of the moment the two new crew members arrived:
By Shihar Aneez (Reuters) - A prominent Maldivian blogger, who was critical of Islamist extremism and government corruption, was stabbed to death on Sunday, police said, and the main opposition party demanded an international probe into the killing. Social media activist Yameen Rasheed was stabbed 14 times in the chest and once each in the neck and face, local media reported. "He was stabbed to death early in the morning and we are investigating the matter," police spokesman Ahmed Shifan said. The government in a statement condemned the killing and said President Abdulla Yameen had instructed state agencies to bring the perpetrators of "this heinous act to justice". Significant numbers of radicalized Maldives youths have enlisted to fight for Islamic State in the Middle East. Three Western diplomats told Reuters that moderate Islamists have been threatened via social media for their "anti-Islamic" views. Rasheed had received death threats, mainly after he posted criticism of radical Islam, his close friends told Reuters. The 29-year-old blogger worked as a computer programmer and software developer at the Maldives Stock Exchange and identified himself as "disobedient writer" in social media. He ran a website called The Daily Panic. The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), in a statement, called for an international investigation into Rasheed's death as the incident followed a "spate of similar stabbings of prominent politicians and political commentators". "The MDP strongly believes that the Maldivian police service does not possess the capacity, credibility or political impartiality to conduct such a high-profile investigation on its own." (Reporting by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Dale Hudson)
Artur Segarra

Artur Segarra found guilty of murdering and dismembering David Bernat in bid to access his savings





A Spanish national was on Friday given the death sentence after being found guilty by a Thai court of murdering fellow countryman David Bernat in Bangkok.





The victim had traveled to the Asian country in January 2016 for a vacation. Hours after arriving, he met with Segarra to have drinks, and after midnight, the pair went to the condemned man's apartment.

There he was held captive for 6 days, until he was killed and dismembered by Segarra, according to the police investigation into the case.





Segarra will have 2 chances to appeal the sentence, at the Thai Appeal Court and the country's Supreme Court. If the appeals process fails to overturn the death penalty, he can apply to the Royal Family for a pardon, which could see a lesser punishment applied.





According to the investigators assigned to the case, Segarra extorted his victim in order to gain access to the bank account Bernat held in Singapore and which contained his savings.





The forensic police believe that he was killed around January 26. According to the investigation, that same night Segarra headed out on a motorcycle to the river that runs through Bangkok, carrying with him a large package, which the police believe contained the victim's body. He is thought to have returned in the early hours of the next morning without the object.





The authorities found the first remains of Bernat days later in the Chao Phraya river, and later recovered another 6 pieces of the body from the water.





Segarra was identified as the main suspect on February 5, the night that he tried to flee to Cambodia after being recognized in a restaurant in Surin province.





The prosecutor in the trial called nearly 40 people to the stand, none of whom were direct witnesses to the crime, and also produced evidence including DNA samples and fingerprints collected in the apartment he had rented, as well as security camera recordings and bank records.





Thailand carried out its last executions in 2009: these involved 2 convicts who had been sentenced to death on drug-trafficking charges. Since then an indefinite stay has been placed on the application of the death penalty. The last execution in a murder case dates back to 2003, the year that the country switched from firing squad to lethal injection as its method for the death penalty.





According to data from Amnesty International, at the end of last year there were 427 prisoners on death row in Thailand, 24 of whom were foreigners. An Australian was sentenced to death on February 7 in a murder case, which bears similarity to that of Segarra given that the victim was dismembered and an attempt was made to dispose of the evidence.





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Source: elpais.com , April 22, 2017
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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 ...
The SABCs offices in parliament have been broken into and five computers used by staff stolen.

According to a report by the City Press, journalists computers were targeted  which has raised concerns as to the motive of the robbery.

There were also no signs of forced entry, which has raised eyebrows, stated the report.

Sections of parliament are national key points and all entry points are guarded by police, stated the report, which makes the robbery an unusual case.

SABC journalists who spoke to the City Press said only laptop PCs were taken, while other electronic equipment was left untouched.

The news comes after recent reports that the SABC was in chaos and its finances were in a terrible state.
Global South needs $2 trillion year to fight climate crisis

U.S. officials secretly ask major banks to continue doing business with some Russian firms

19fortyfive: Is America tired of the war in Ukraine?

EU replaces pipeline Russian gas with imported Russian LNG

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
At PEDESTRIAN.TV we consider it a moral imperative to bring you the most relevant, timely and interesting news  algorithmically determined to be of immense interest to you. As such: here is a story about a big ol vintage vibrator which is being auctioned in Ireland.

Yessir. Over the weekend, Matthews auctioneers in County Meath, Ireland are selling what is described  in wonderfully sterile terms  as an antique carved ivory ladies companion in scarlet lined leather upholstered carry box with inset bevelled glass panel.

Ladies companion? Perhaps. Let me be clear: this is a huge dildo, and it is for sale. I choose to believe the image is not a trick of perspective, and it really is the length of a grown mans arm.

Auctioneer Damien Matthews described the item to the Irish Times, artfully dodging any kind of description of what it actually is (a huge dildo):

It is a beautiful piece, which comes from one of the well-known Anglo-Irish families. A family member found it in a drawer, and he put it in the auction for fun really. We believe the ivory dates back to the 1840s. This fellow, the original owner, was in India in the 1840s, where he shot himself an elephant, and brought the tusk home.

He went deeper  no pun intended  describing the design of the device in great detail. He believes that the actual object was specially carved in China, most likely between 1899  1901.

This was a very enlightened family, and this would have been a very loving gift from a husband to wife. You can see that because the level of detail is incredible, down to the folds of the skin. Theres a heart carved at the base of it, where her finger would have been, and a receptacle in which she could keep a lock of his hair.

The sexual liberation movements of the 20th century have given us many wonderful things, but it did not make it acceptable to put some of your partners hair inside your sex toy before going to town on it. Perhaps we should reflect on that.

Apparently, theres an incredible amount of interest in the piece, so youd better get over there quick with a stack of euros if youre keen to add it to your collection. Estimates suggest itll go for between 500  800.

Source: The Guardian.

Photo: Matthews.
An image reconstructed from CT scans showing how the penis of the common bottlenose dolphin (red) fits within the intricate folds and turns of a bottlenose dolphin vagina. Credit: Dara Orbach, Dalhousie University

Earth's creatures outwardly display an astonishing diversity of genitalia and mating behavior, but the intricate details of how genitalia interact during copulation has remained largely mysterious. In a new study, researchers deploy inventive new techniques to decipher the internal dynamics of copulation. They demonstrate the approach in multiple species of marine mammals, which are animals known to have unusually shaped genitalia.

Dara Orbach, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at Dalhousie University and research associate at Mount Holyoke College, will present the work at the American Association of Anatomists annual meeting during the Experimental Biology 2017 meeting, to be held April 22-26 in Chicago.

"While it may seem intuitive that the penis fits well into the vagina during copulation, the biomechanics and details of the anatomical fit can be quite complex and have seldom been explored," said Orbach. "Whales, dolphins and porpoises have unusual vaginal folds, spirals and recesses that the penis and sperm must navigate through to successfully fertilize the egg."

After obtaining reproductive tracts from dolphins, porpoises and seals that died naturally, Orbach and her colleagues developed a system to inflate the penises to full erection and simulate copulation with vaginal tissue samples. They then used computed tomography (CT) scans to visualize how deeply the penis penetrates the vagina and which anatomical landmarks are in contact. They also created silicone models of the interior of the dolphin vagina to explore how its shape might have coevolved with the shape of the male penis.

"Most previous research on genitalia has focused on the penis," Orbach said. Studying the genital diversity of both sexes togetherincluding how they interact during copulationis crucial to understand evolutionary driving forces. Marine mammals offer an especially interesting case study in the evolution of copulation because these animals must contend with some unique constraints, such as the challenge of mating while swimming in 3-D space and the need to prevent seawater from entering the uterus.

Orbach said studying animal copulation also has practical benefits, particularly in the context of conservation.

"The techniques we have developed can be applied to other species and help advance captive breeding programs," said Orbach. "For example, we demonstrate that particular anatomical landmarks are in contact during copulation and suggest that physical stimulation of these landmarks during artificial insemination may improve the probability of conception. Our research can also help predict which natural copulations will lead to fertilization, as males must sexually approach females at specific angles to optimize their genital alignment and penetration."

More information: Experimental Biology 2017 meeting, app.core-apps.com/eb2017/abstr  e96fd9b31960991c8993

Provided by Experimental Biology 2017
Croatia honoured on Sunday the victims of its most brutal World War II death camp, an event again snubbed by ethnic Serbs, Jews and anti-fascists who accuse authorities of tolerating a pro-Nazi ideology. Conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, several ministers and foreign diplomats attended a commemoration ceremony at the site of the Jasenovac camp which was dismantled 72 years ago. Letters by survivors of the camp known as "Croatia's Auschwitz" -- a reference to the German World War II death camp in Poland -- were read during a ceremony that concluded with a multi-denominational service and laying of wreaths. The camp, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) southeast of Zagreb, was run by the country's Nazi-allied Ustasha regime which persecuted and killed hundreds of thousands of ethnic Serbs, Jews, Roma and anti-fascist Croatians. But for a second straight year, representatives of those groups boycotted the official commemoration, denouncing what they see as a resurgence of pro-Ustasha sympathies and instead organised their own separate events. On Saturday, several thousand people including survivors of the camp, victims' relatives and foreign diplomats attended a ceremony organised by anti-fascists and ethnic Serbs. "We cannot and will not accept the reluctance of authorities regarding ... the Ustasha regime's character and (the) policy of non-reaction to its symbols," the head of an anti-fascist association Franjo Habulin said. Anti-fascists, ethnic Serbs and Jews in particular are incensed by a plaque with the Ustasha slogan "For the Homeland Ready" unveiled at Jasenovac in November. It was created as a memorial by former paramilitaries to honour fellow fighters killed in the region at the start of Croatia's independence war in the 1990s. Jews in Croatia are to hold their separate commemoration on Monday. Plenkovic, who took power after snap elections in October, has pledged to move away from the climate of intolerance seen under his centre-right predecessors. But critics say his administration has not done enough to tamp down extremism and expressions of nostalgia for the country's pro-Nazi past. During Sunday's ceremony at Jasenovac, a group of anti-fascist activists displayed a large banner that read "Remove the Ustasha Salute". Meanwhile, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic paid respect to the camp's victims in neighbouring Bosnia where part of the Jasenovac complex was located. "The killings were official and welcomed, it was a state crime," Vucic told a gathering that included other Serbian and Bosnian Serb officials, Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Irinej and camp survivors. "We are witnessing attempts to resurrect the Ustasha ideology," Vucic said. Jasenovac was the largest and most notoriously brutal of Croatia's death camps, where many inmates were killed by hammers, knives and stones. The total number of people killed there remains disputed. It varies from tens of thousands to 700,000, according to Serbian figures.
Taiwan, Taiwan, what is there not to love about this country?

Merely five hours away, it presents itself to be a vibrant landscape of scenic wonders, city sights, and gourmet delights at a paupers budget. As with every tourists psyche to cap off the holiday spirit with tangible mementoes, whether to hoard in the drawer or to soften the simmering withdrawal with close relatives and friends, lets talk about the underrated offerings of Taiwans bustling beauty scene.

Why Taiwan?

Since our last visit with Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the influence of Taiwans beauty scene is definitely picking up in the Asian beauty sector. It comes as no surprise that a countrys beauty industry forms, in itself, a formidable endorsement for tourism. Look at the benchmark set by South Korea: the market for its cosmetic products alone generated about $9 billion euros in revenue in 2015.

With the Taiwan Beauty Alliance in place, the multitude of local Taiwanese products can be distilled into 11 leading brands and their subsidiary lines. Before delving into recommendations, I feel that it is fair to address some of the concerns and provide a few disclaimers as a revision of our earlier article on this field. Beauty will always be subjective because each experience will be different and therefore tailored to the individuals skin type and needs.

Each countrys beauty products generally cater to their people, so the functions and properties of these products will be inherently different. The effects will also be different. Previously, I drew a comparison with Korean products and Taiwanese products, but that is not to say that one is better than the other. Both beauty industries have their respective strengths and weaknesses: South Korean products are cheap but limited in their results, while Taiwanese products are medically formulated but also on the pricier end of things. Identifying the key differences in their qualities and objectives will provide a clearer picture of the spectrum that Asian beauty products base themselves upon.

Story continues

On Korean Beauty Products

One of such difference is the target appeal. A majority of Korean products come out fast and adorable. The brands usually position themselves with popular or quirky ingredients that target specific conditions, like wine for anti-aging, green tea for oily skin or even the recently rising popularity of yuzu, creating a consistent industry pattern where certain waves of beauty and/or skincare contenders come into the spotlight for awhile.

These products are usually highly affordable, making them super attractive (in terms of their promised results versus the price point), and mass-marketed. When it comes to the varying brackets of skincare and beauty, South Koreas beauty industry is perfect because it offers such a huge variety of choices, brands, prices, and products. The industrys proponents are those adventurous enough to tackle the huge selection and invest their time exploring affordable skincare routines without breaking the bank.

On the other hand, the wide selection allows a gap to form in terms of specific product-oriented effectiveness. They are cute, cheap and fast, but at the end of the day, do they really work? Most of these products lead by their brand names, celebrity spokesperson, and word of mouth, and the occasional negligible review. Again, as a huge fan of South Korean products, Im not saying that these products lie about their results or appear to be superficial promises. There are certain products that really deliver. Instead, I am aware that the final goal for these products does not always necessarily depend on their effectiveness, but rather their attractiveness.

If $10 gets me 10 sheet masks that do minimal to nothing for my skin, but offers me a moment of tactile luxury, itself like a hedonistic dip into immediate gratification, would I still purchase the masks? Probably.

On Taiwan Beauty Products

From my experience with Taiwan beauty products, it is a slightly different story. Most brands, especially the ones involved with the Taiwan Beauty Alliance, prefer to align themselves with renowned skin dermatologists and aesthetics clinics, some even establishing their own specific clinic area for customers. The focus is on skin statistics, result specifications and really, really niche areas of product objectives.

I spoke to a Taiwanese beauty guru previously and what I understood was that Taiwanese citizens are really concerned with investing their money with products that work because these products are not cheap. Some Taiwanese friends even revealed that they rarely purchase beauty products, preferring to just rely on water. Rather than indulge in a huge collection, the countrys consumers pinpoint the problems and work towards solving specific skin issues, in light of the cost involved. Skin care is not just for consumer gratification or general style, but a harmonious mix of personal well-being and aesthetics.

For certain groups of beauty junkies who are wholly serious about their skincare routines, this hits a sweet spot. Although the products are pricey, they deliver and they have statistics to prove it. Compared to larger skincare brands that hail from the United States or France, these dermatological solutions are still underrated enough to reside in drugstores at friendlier price points. In Taiwan, there will be flagship stores and beauty outlets, but most of them can also be found in the local Sasa or Watsons.

The Best Taiwan Beauty Souvenirs

So when it comes to purchasing Taiwan beauty souvenirs, how can you be sure that youre getting the best products for your buck? It might be a bit daunting for first-timers approaching this market, so Ive broken down the list to (hopefully) give a comprehensive pairing of the brand to the types of Singaporean personalities that are best suited to the products:

For the: Glamorous Fashionista. Influencer. Sephora Junkie.

Maskingdom Popspoken Taiwan Beauty

Photo credit: MyFatPocket

MaskingDom, affectionally dubbed as the queen of sheet masks, will be a winner with them for a myriad of reasons, starting with their dedication to design. Having clinched the first-ever Taiwanese Corporate Award  Innovation Prize and A Design Award for their Taiwanese Aboriginal Masks Skin Care series, the products are beautifully packaged and feature an intricate combination of local Taiwanese elements, culture and ingredients. Look out for their premium gift sets, which opens up to be a spoonbill bird gift box, almost like an origami-inspired packaging. It acts as a national tribute to the endangered species, the Black-Faced Spoonbill.

Look out for their premium gift sets, which opens up to be a spoonbill bird gift box, almost like an origami-inspired packaging. It acts as a national tribute to the endangered species, the Black-Faced Spoonbill.

True to their heritage, the ingredients also rely on a diverse regional influence, such as Taiwanese Guava & Black Tea, Bitter Melon & Pidgeon Pea, or Ginkgo & Fungus. The masks are made of either Japanese silk mask material or bamboo fibre facial masks, which not only helps to retain the moisture better but also contours to the face shape, provides better access to the pores and allows the serum to quickly permeate the skin.

For the: Mature Adult. Office Favourite. Stressed.

Photo credit: Yvonne And Her Playground

Photo credit: Yvonne And Her Playground

One of the reasons why Ill recommend Neogence for this category is because of its all-in-one brand positioning. Most of its products offer the equivalent of clinical treatments packaged into 3 step products, and they even have their own rendition of the popular (but expensive) Clarisonic brush: the MiLLi. For those looking to do a quick and effective chemical peel, which involves the removal of the faces damaged outer layers, their 7-day Chemical Facial Peel, or 2-1-2-2 Youth Regeneration set is a good DIY introduction.

Another recommendation: their Pore Purifying series, which features the cleansing gel, cleansing mask, which is actually a spreadable clay and charcoal combination that draws out excess oil and removes deep impurities on troublesome areas, and finally the serum. The last contains Hydrophilic Glycacid, which helps to dissolve pesky whiteheads and remove stubborn blackheads.

Finish this with a cult favourite, their Mandelic Acid Refining Mask, which provides an instant glow at the end of 20 minutes. This series is especially fitting for those who wear makeup frequently and bounce between air-conditioning and the prevalent humidity.

For the: Problematic or Sensitive Skin. Specific Conditions. Intolerant.

Photo credit: iSwii

Photo credit: iSwii

Dr. Wu fans will be familiar with their Daily Renewal Serum with Mandelic Acid 6%, or their Intensive Whitening Serum with Vitamin C+. Known for their high-quality ingredients with little to no fillers, these serums deliver seriously potent results so it would be best to test before buying for just anyone. However, they work incredibly for troublesome skin types that are looking to combat those areas.

For those looking to just improve the skin overall, Ill recommend the Hyalucomplex Hydrating series. I actually had the serums efficiency tested at the clinic itself: a drop of it raised the moisture level of my skin from 33% to 97%!

What I also like is their First Aid series, especially for intolerant and sensitive skin. Help Me is a deep moisture butter mask that repairs, hydrates, and protects the skin around the body and face, while Cool Me is a quick soothing cream-gel mask. The brand is not only medically formulated, but also both PABA-free and fragrance-free.

Looking for more Taiwanese beauty dupes and review? Weve got you covered here.

Feature photo credit: Kaiting Hearts

==

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This article Hey, Korean Beauty Product Addicts: Heres Why You Should Look To Taiwan appeared first on Popspoken.
An American monitor with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe died after a mission patrol vehicle hit a landmine in the Russian-backed separatist east, eliciting sharp words towards Moscow from US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday. It marked the first loss for the security body's Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) since Europe's only current war broke out more than three years ago. The OSCE's announcement about the US monitor's death saw Kiev and the insurgents quickly trade blame over who was at fault for one of the most diplomatically sensitive episodes in a conflict that has claimed more than 10,000 lives. The deputy head of the OSCE monitoring mission said the patrol consisted of six members who were travelling in two armoured vehicles near the village of Pryshyb in a rebel-run region of the separatist fiefdom of Lugansk. "The explosion resulted in the death of an OSCE patrol member, a citizen of the United States," Alexander Hug told reporters in Kiev. He also said two others -- a German and a Czech national -- were wounded and "undergoing further evaluation" in a Lugasnk hospital. The OSCE said it would not release the names of the casualties until their families had been notified. "We are determined to continue to implement our mandate," Hug stressed. - 'Obstacle' to better ties - Tillerson in a phone conversation Sunday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Moscow's actions in eastern Ukraine remain an obstacle to improved US-Russian ties, the State Department said. "Secretary Tillerson phoned Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko today to discuss his recent trip to Moscow and his message to the Russian leadership that, although the United States is interested in improving relations with Russia, Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine remain an obstacle," said acting spokesman Mark Toner. The statement said Tillerson accepted Poroshenko's "condolences" for the death of the American. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted his reaction to the incident. "A thorough investigation is needed of the tragic @OSCE_SMM incident in E #Ukraine. Safety & freedom of movement must be maintained," he tweeted. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the blast underscored the need for the warring sides to "finally respect" a long-ignored ceasefire agreement negotiated by Moscow and Kiev with the help of Paris and Berlin in February 2015. "The separatists supported by Russia who illegally occupy part of Ukrainian territory by violence have a special responsibility here," Merkel said in a strongly-worded statement. EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said the incident was a "reminder of the urgent need for progress on a peaceful resolution of the conflict". Both Kiev and the West accuse Moscow of plotting and backing the fighting in reprisal for the February 2014 ouster of Ukraine's Kremlin-backed leadership. Russia denies this and in turn accuses the US State Department of fomenting the 2013-14 street protests that ended up allying ex-Soviet Ukraine with the West. The OSCE team's 600 members in eastern Ukraine are the only independent monitoring mission in the devastated industrial war zone. They provide daily reports on the fighting and have drawn the insurgents' ire for accusing them of being responsible for most violations of the truce deal. - 'Anti-tank mine' - Lugansk rebel police force spokesman Alexander Mazeikin told AFP that the OSCE vehicle "hit an anti-tank mine". The separatists also accused the monitors of veering off the main road and travelling along an unsafe route not agreed with Russian and Ukrainian representatives. "We know that this patrol team deviated from the main route and was moving along secondary roads, which is prohibited," the Lugansk rebels said on their news site. Ukraine's foreign ministry branded the incident an attempt by "Moscow and its puppets to scare off OSCE monitors and to nullify efforts by Ukraine and the SMM to stabilise the situation along the front." The Russian foreign ministry responded that it was "deeply outraged" by what it called a bid by undisclosed forces to undermine efforts to bring peace to its western neighbour. The low-level hostilities in the European Union's backyard have been accompanied by regular casualties among civilians and fighters either stepping or driving on mines. Ukraine's defence ministry said Thursday it had defused 150,000 explosive devices since the war began. But it added that only 3,000 of the 700,000 hectares (7,400 of the 1.7 million acres) along which the war is being waged had been cleared of the various types of landmines. It warned that it may take another 10 to 15 years to make the region completely safe from explosive devices.
Police in Nicaragua blocked thousands of farmers and rural residents from holding a march against a government plan to build a canal across the country, potentially carving up their land. "They are closing off all the roads. It's pitiful what's happening in Nicaragua," said one of the leaders of the demonstration, Francisca Ramirez. Police preventing buses and trucks carrying protesters from converging in the town of Juigalpa, east of the capital Managua, said the demonstration was illegal. A police statement said officers faced down "groups of people behaving with hostility, armed with clubs, machetes, rocks and firearms." A lawyer for the protesters, Monica Lopez, said 20 of them were temporarily detained, but police did not confirm that. The farmers are angry that President Daniel Ortega in 2013 organized for a Chinese consortium, HKND, to build the $50 billion canal in return for a concession to run it for at least 50 years. "Ortega: thief, traitor, selling our country," yelled the protesters. "I'm afraid they will take my land away," said one of them, Adolfo Jarquin, 56, who owns more than 100 hectares (245 acres). Many of them have found it impossible to obtain bank loans, and municipal works along the canal's path have come to a standstill, Ramirez said. An opposition politician at the protest, Henry Ruiz, told AFP the canal was an "unconditional handover" of Nicaraguan land. The plan calls for between 30,000 and 120,000 rural inhabitants along its 276-kilometer (171-mile) length to be displaced and land to be expropriated. The canal is meant to rival the century-old Panama Canal. Thus far there has been no excavation, however, despite HKND saying it was meant to start at the end of last year. Foreign observers in the country are skeptical about whether it will go ahead. Iran, which has good relations with Nicaragua, has said it wants to participate in the project.
Youve never been constantly bombarded with footage of Rory Milanes, but when you do get to see something, it goes without saying that its always notable.

As is always the Palace Skateboards way, Endless Bummer dropped without any prior warning back in September 2014. Comprised of footage from Palace trips to Paris and LA, along with clips gathered on their UK summer tour, the video included masses of fresh eye-fodder from Rory, along with Chewy Cannon, Lucien Clarke, Karim Bakhtaoui, Olly Todd, Charlie Young, Danny Brady and the rest of the squad.

Remind yourself of Rorys primo opening section now, then revisit the full Endless Bummer video here.
Content marketing is helping small businesses generate website traffic, online visibility and ultimately, sales leads. And a business blog is key to content marketing. But if youre like many in a small business, you may find yourself wondering, What do I blog about today? If you have trouble coming up with blog ideas for posts, read on.

Weve collected 16 of our favorite tools that help us here at Small Business Trends generate ideas for blog posts. Try out some of these tools the next time you find yourself staring at a blank screen.

Tools to Generate Blog Ideas for Posts

The free keyword tool from Google AdWords is great for finding out what people are actually searching for on Google on a daily basis. You can use the tool even if youre not advertising through Google.

Hint: look for keywords that get a significant number of searches (say, 50,000 monthly searches), but have low or medium competition. Take note of local monthly searches if you specifically want to target readers in your region or area. You can also change location to determine how keywords are performing in different regions.

Netvibes lets you create a personalized dashboard so you can monitor RSS feeds, social media accounts and even analytics for your blog and website  all in one place. Add RSS feeds for your favorite blogs and news sites, and check it daily.

You can add as many feeds as you like to get wide coverage of topics. Then simply scan the headlines for something in the news that triggers a blogging idea or serves as a launching point for your own commentary.

Alltop is a collection of the best blogs under hundreds of topics. You can easily come up with blog ideas by browsing through the current post titles that are shown under each topic. For example, if you write on technology, there are plenty of technology posts you can learn from. You can also search for related topics for each heading.

A good blog post often answers a burning question people have. Quora is a great place to identify the kinds of questions that business people want answers to. Quora is particularly good for B2B (business-to-business) topics.

Questions are grouped under topics. Look especially for questions with a lot of interactivity and comments. Thats often a signal that the topic will be engaging.

Topsy

Topsy allows you to search across various social channels. You can use Topsy to get real-time insights into a wide variety of business questions: You can filter your results into just links and tweets, videos, posts or even photos. Take advantage of the filter tool to explore details of the search results. Topsy gives you the option to create an email or RSS alert to send you regular updates for different topics.

Twitter Search, Trends, List

Twitter has over 400 million users. Theres a high likelihood that someone on Twitter is talking about topics that will appeal to your readers. First, make use of Twitter Search. Type in a word or even a hashtag phrase (example: #smallbiz) and watch tweets unfold on your chosen topic. Twitter is particularly good for finding up-to-the-minute topics.

You can also take note of topics that are trending on Twitter at any given moment. Trending topics appear on the left side of your screen once you are logged in (more here). You can change to a different location to know what topics are trending in other geographic areas.

You can also use Twitter Lists to follow industry leaders in your niche. Find and follow Twitter experts whose posts and articles are the most popular within your industry. (More on Lists.)

See Also: 8 Tools to Generate Website Content Ideas

Google News offers great content on virtually any topic you are interested in following. You can create your own news results based on your keywords. Ask yourself which keywords or topics you tend to write on or that your readers would be interested in. Use targeted keywords to create news feeds you can track daily for news as it breaks.

To get to Google News, hit the link above. Or go to Google.com, search for a topic, and then click the News link across the top of the page.

The TweakYourBiz Title Generator specifically generates blog post titles for you to either print or download. Plug in a word or phrase, and it will generate hundreds of titles grouped by approaches: how-to posts, lists, questions, contrarian headlines, and so on.

Not only does it generate potential titles, but the titles give you clues for how to structure your blog posts and captivate interest. Theres also a synonym generator, to look for related words and phrases. The Title Generator is sure to get your creative juices flowing.

StumbleUpon Trends

StumbleUpon now provides users with news or content on trending news. Trends are grouped into topics or headings: Explore each topic for more ideas in your industry. Trending posts on StumbleUpon show the kind of content users are interested in at the moment, and the type of topics they click on or share. Take advantage of the StumbleUpon lists to create your own lists to follow.

Scoop.it lets you curate engaging social news based on a topic of your choice. You can easily enhance your blogging productivity by adding a feed to your website that includes topics of interest to you and your readers. You can also discover topics curated by others. Scoop.it is one of a number of curation tools that help you collect references to other content  see 55 curation tools. For more on the benefits of curating content, read about reasons to pick up the curator habit.

BizSugar, a sister site to Small Business Trends, is an online community where members can submit, comment on and vote for their favorite small business posts, videos and news. Anyone can share content, and the site has over 1 million registered users.

The community then votes on its favorite posts. The site makes it easy to track the top posts overall, or by category such as marketing, finance, management, technology and startups. By seeing what others find popular, it may trigger blog ideas for posts that appeal to your readers. BizSugar is especially good for identifying ideas for blog posts that appeal to a small business audience.

When creating a great blog post, start with the headline. Headlines are a small but important part of your blog post. They attract readers attention and make them decide whether to read further. They establish what to expect when reading the post.

Headline writing is an art, but it can be learned and Brian Clark of Copyblogger has created a guide. Read this collection of posts discussing how to write magnetic headlines. It will trigger blogging ideas and subtly guide you in how to frame topics to be more popular with readers.

Storify

Storify helps you find and collect information from a variety of sources around a particular story  such as a breaking news story  that may trigger ideas for blog posts. For example, you can collect news reports, blog posts, tweets, Instagram photos, YouTube videos, Facebook posts, and more all organized around a topic. And of course, you can search stories created by others. The site bills itself as helping you sort through the noise online for the voices and topics you want to focus on.

You can also search for topics to blog about in a very different way  visually. Pinterest is a popular site where users post images they like. Searching the boards of other Pinterest users can give you ideas for post topics because you see what they find interesting enough to pin to their own boards.

This content can serve as inspiration for new blogging ideas. It can also be research and source material for blogs you are already writing on a particular topic. Pinterest is especially good for identifying infographics, beautiful products, and other visually-striking information.

Another resource for coming up with blog post ideas around a particular topic is the Keyword Suggestion Tool at SEO Book. This tool takes an in-depth approach to examining keywords related to a topic you might be considering. This tool is particularly good if you start with a broad topic in mind, but need to narrow it down  especially if you want to optimize your posts for search engines. SEO Book offers both free and premium tools for you to consider.

And last, but certainly not least, heres a nifty little tool to help you narrow the focus your blogging ideas. The Yoast WordPress SEO Plugin does a lot of things to optimize your posts for search engines (and human readers, too). But one of the best features in our opinion, is that it forces you to focus your post on a single idea.

The Yoast plugin goes to work after you have started writing your post. Lets say youve started a post but it lacks focus. Youre not sure where youre going with the article. (It happens to us a lot.) This free plugin for WordPress has a keyword suggestion tool built in. After you choose a keyword phrase, it actually scores your draft post to tell you how well it focuses on that phrase. In other words, it keeps you on track to one specific topic.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Remember to give credit to the source if you are quoting or paraphrasing someone elses thoughts, or curating content from other sources. Drawing inspiration is one thing. Trying to pass off someone elses work as your own is something different.

If you would like a bit more inspiration when creating that next blog post, check out 7 Steps to Writing a Great Blog Post and 100 SMB Blogging Ideas.
If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

Have you heard the latest buzzword, Disruption? Its the offspring of buzzwords like Growth Hacking and Pivot. And, its in the spotlight because disruption is a key component of new ways of thinking about things and creating new products and services.

This weeks book list is a collection of marketing books dedicated to the idea of disruption, disruptive innovation and disruptive entrepreneurship.

This list will take you on a journey via some of the most popular and defining books about disruptive innovation, entrepreneurship and marketing.

Dont let the list or the topic scare you, rather use it as your own journey toward pushing your business into a safe harbor for growth.

Before you jump into the disruptive entrepreneurship topic, its a really good idea to get your feet wet. The following books will help you understand the history of disruption.

Books About Business Disruption

Blue Ocean Strategy

by W. Chan Kim Renee A. Mauborgne

One of the first books to make a splash in the disruptive marketing space has to be Blue Ocean Strategy. This has been a bestseller since its initial publication more than 15 years ago and it continues to be the touchstone book when folks talk about the idea of turning industries and markets on their ear  and how to do it.

The idea is straightforward. As long as youre comparing yourself to companies in your industry and against the same attributes that define success in a category, you are creating bloody red oceans. The way to truly succeed is to transform your industry or category be transforming the attributes that define it. In other words, create clean blue oceans where there is no competition.

Even if youve read the book before, youll want to grab an updated copy because its filled with new stories, new companies and new Blue Ocean Strategies.

Instead of just talking about case studies and how companies found and staked their claims to new market space, Blue Ocean Strategy give the tools to do it for yourself. Their website, blueoceanstrategy.com has dozens of downloadable worksheets to help you find areas in your industry that are ripe for disruption.



The Innovators Dilemma

by Clayton Christensen

If you like Blue Ocean Strategy, youll want to meet Clay Christiansen. When you Google Disruptive Innovation, disruptive marketing, disruptive entrepreneurship, his books and his name will often come up first.

Check out his book, The Innovators Dilemma.

Christiansen says that most companies will miss out on new innovation opportunities regardless of what industry they are in because they do NOT do the two most basic things that we are taught in business school.

Listen to the customer and place your time and money in those areas that have the highest return.

He illustrates this point by focusing on failure. Christensen takes a look back into historically successful companies that arent quite so successful today and then he digs a little deeper to see what happened  or what didnt happen.

This book is ideal for people who love exploring business history, strategy and learning from it.

Innovation and Its Enemies

by Calestous Juma

Have you been hearing a lot of buzz around artificial intelligence? If not, expect to in 2017.

See Also: Centiment Introduces Marketing Research for Your Business

What makes Innovation and Its Enemies different from other books about the artificial intelligence trend is that it attacks whats really underneath our reluctance to embrace new technologies; the fear that only a certain small percentage of the population will benefit from this technological advancement.

Juma is unafraid about exposing the extent to which modern technological controversies grow out of distrust in public and private institutions.

Youll find a number of detailed case studies that include coffee, the printing press, margarine, farm mechanization, electricity, mechanical refrigeration, recorded music, transgenic crops, and transgenic animals.

Juma shows how new technologies emerge, take root, and create new institutional ecologies that favor their establishment in the marketplace.

Reinventing the Egg

by Roger Cusa

If youve been struggling in setting your brand apart from the competition, then Reinventing the Egg is the book for you.

When your customers have access to virtually perfect information and the ability to compare you against your competition and even have conversations with customers with experience with you and your competition, being average is just not an option.

In this book, Cusa shows marketing managers, business owners and entrepreneurs how to create new growth in business through innovation. It is not about incremental ideas or doing something slightly better.

Mapping Innovation

by Greg Satell

Mapping Innovation by Greg Satell wont publish until the Spring of 2017, but its important enough to have you put it on your radar. Satell wrote this book for business owners and managers who are constantly being called on to innovate but given little to know instruction on exactly how to innovate or what to do to get innovative results.

In this book, youll get a simple-to-use framework for identifying the optimal innovation strategy that is most likely lead to a successful outcome, Insights into how the worlds top innovators implement their innovation strategies and A step-by-step guide to creating your own innovation playbook to win markets and run circles around your competition!

Disrupt Yourself

by Whitney Johnson

Whether you are an employee or an entrepreneur, theres no reason why you cant put the principles of disruption to work in your own life and career. In Disrupt Yourself by Whitney Johnson youll learn how to take the right risks, play to your strengths, embrace the constraints in your life, watch out for the entitlement mindset, learn how to go sideways and take on the stand of always being curious.

The crux of the book lies in understanding the S-curve model of how ideas are adopted. The biggest lesson here is to be patient as ideas often need time to take off. Typically the process is inelegant riddled with failures, but if you understand that this is part of the process, you can easily take on new ideas that lead to innovation.



Disruptive Marketing

by Geoffrey Colon

The digital revolution hasnt just changed how marketing messages are delivered, its changed how consumers behave. With 75% of our screen time now dedicated to our devices, weve become even more savvy consumers of information. In Disruptive Marketing, Geoffrey Colon throws a wrench into old-style MBA thinking and challenges the reader to open your mind to obstacles, ubplug from your devices and work on the fly.

You already know that command-and-control marketing and message control have gone the way of the buggy whip. But whats next? Whats a marketer to do when the consumer is in control? The real answers arent in an MBA classroom. The answers lie in the digital version of guerilla marketing that is owned by the growth hackers, data punks and hybrid thinkers.

If youre fascinated by the exponential growth some brands are able to achieve without doing fancy market plans or PowerPoint decks, then this book is for you. While you may not be a growth hacker at heart, youll be exposed to a new way of thinking and implementing successful marketing strategies  no MBA required.

Crossing the Chasm

by Geoffrey A. Moore

Crossing the Chasm Geoffrey Moore wrote the original of this book in 1991. This is the third edition of this classic that has retained the original premise; how to close the gap between early adopters of a new technology and the laggards, while updating examples of successes, failures and approaches in the digital marketing age.

This book is ideal for high-tech marketers and B2B marketers. Although the principles can absolutely be applied to B2C situations. In the past, this gap between the early adopters of a product or technology and the mainstream adoption has been ignored. But today, with so many social media platforms coming and going, this gap has become more visible.

Crossing the Chasm has also moved into the mainstream of business and marketing books as its classic tech marketing principles can be applied to more and more small businesses.

Disruptive Selling

by Patrick Maes

If you havent noticed, the sales process has been turned on its ear. Much of the educational component of selling has been outsourced to online content and to referrals and recommendations from friends, family and colleagues. Whether youre a seasoned salesperson with decades of experience or a newbie, Disruptive Selling by Patrick Maes is going to be a welcome addition to your bookshelf or digital reader.

The author leads startups, managers, sales and marketing people through a clear process of how to use todays technology to connect with and convert customers. Another benefit of this book is that the author, Patrick Maes brings a global perspective to the selling process. This is invaluable as the world gets flatter and flatter.

A Managers Guide to Disruptive Innovation

by Philippe Silberzahn

Many of the books on this list are written for the disruptor. A Managers Guide to Disruptive Innovation by Philippe Silberzahn is actually written for the disrupted.

There are two sides to the disruption coin and this book shows you the good, the bad and the ugly of how industries and their leaders have dealt with disruption. Silberzahn heavily references and analyzes the work of Clay Christiansen (referenced earlier in this list with Innovators Dilemma) and then digs even deeper into the topic. If you are an established company that holds a significant amount of market share in your space  this is the book for you. It will help you overcome the catch-22 that grips incumbent companies; to embrace the disruption and lost your competitive advantage or to ignore the disruption and lose your business.

There is only one answer and that is to prepare for disruption and create your own disruption. This book will show you how.

Disruption is the New Normal

To disrupt means to interrupt. The assumption is that things are moving along steadily and then something happens to interrupt that motion. Disruption is seen as something that is a surprise, that is unexpected and that doesnt happen very often. Perhaps this used to be true, these days you can count on disruption as much as you can count on change.

The books listed here will get you familiar with disruption in such a way that you will see it coming, you will embrace it and perhaps even create it for yourself. Happy Reading.Reading.

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Expected arrival to Slovakia is the end of April.

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Based on data from satellite transmitters, ornithologists know that migration begun at the end of the March and currently, red-footed falcons are preparing for a difficult flight over the Sahara Desert.

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Three red-footed falcons and four Amur falcons have currently active satellite transmitters. They overwintered at the borders of Angola, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.

Based on data from the tracking devices, we know that both species overwinter in Africa together, Roman Slobodnik from organization Raptor protection of Slovakia explained, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Within month, raptors have to fly more than 8,000 kilometres.

Thanks to data from satellite transmitters, ornithologists can protect species more effectively.

If the signal doesnt change for several days, raptors could be injured and saved in rehabilitation stations. We also know where they overwinter, in case a protective zone needs to be announced near nests, stated Slobodnik, as quoted by the TASR newswire.

During April, millions of birds flew across Slovakia, summed up the ornithologist.
RABAT/ALGIERS (Reuters) - Morocco and Algeria summoned each other's ambassadors and traded accusations on Sunday after Rabat charged Algerian authorities had allowed 54 Syrians to "illegally enter" Morocco to stir tensions on their mutual border. The North African neighbours often exchange diplomatic barbs and share a 1,500-km (970-mile) land frontier - shut since 1994 after disputes over security - that runs from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sahara Desert. Morocco said the Syrians attempted to enter Morocco through the border town of Figuig, an area surrounded by mountains, between April 17 and 19. It accused Algeria of forcing them to cross into Morocco. "Algeria must assume political responsibility and morality concerning this situation," a government statement on MAP state news agency said. "It is immoral and unethical to manipulate the moral and physical distress of these people, (and) to sow trouble in the Morocco-Algerian border." But Algeria's foreign ministry called in the Moroccan envoy to Algiers later to reject the accusations, saying Moroccan officials had tried to dispatch a group of Syrians over the border from Morocco into Algeria. "He was given a categorical denial of the false allegations, and it was shown they were totally unfounded and aimed at harming Algeria," the statement on APS state news agency said. Some 5,000 Syrians have gone through a migration regulatory process in Morocco, with several hundred receiving refugee status, according to Morocco's ministry of foreign affairs. Morocco and Algeria have had a contentious relationship since independence from France. Border disputes triggered an armed conflict in the 1960s known as the "Sand War". One of their biggest disputes has been over Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, most of which Morocco annexed in 1975. Algeria supports and hosts the Western Saharan independence movement Polisario, a stance that angers Morocco. (Reporting by Samia Errazzkoui and Patrick Markey; Editing by Dale Hudson)
Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A federal judge in New York temporarily suspended many parts of the state's new gun restrictions on Monday to allow members of a gun-owners' rights group to continue their lawsuit challenging the new law as unconstitutional. Judge Glenn Suddaby of the U.S. District Court in Syracuse agreed to issue the order at the request of six New York residents who are members of Gun Owners of America, which competes with the National Rifle Association in political influence. New York's old gun license regime was thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark June ruling that established an individual right to carry weapons in public for self-defense, making it harder for lawmakers nationwide to regulate guns in a country where mass shootings are commonplace.
DEAR ABBY: My wife of 43 years died nine months ago after losing her four-year battle with cancer. I met a woman who had also experienced tragedy in her life, and we started seeing each other casually. When my wifes three sisters found out, I became the outcast. Why do people think there is a set time to grieve? Life is too short to sit and pine. Memories will always be there.

This woman has brought me out of my depression and sorrow. I cant understand how people I thought cared for me could be so mean. I was told by the pastor and hospice counselor that grieving takes time, but what is enough time? I was also told to look at the marriages of these women. When I did, I realized that they were unhappy in their unions and probably dont want anyone else to be happy. So what do I do now? 

OUTCAST IN PENNSYLVANIA

DEAR OUTCAST: You have had more than four years to grieve your late wifes illness and death. Now go on with your life and dont look back.

Theres a story in the book of Genesis about a man named Lot, whose wife looked back during the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and was turned into a pillar of salt. What I take from the story is that sometimes it isnt healthy for people to spend a lot of time looking backward, because if you do, you too can become frozen and unable to move forward with your life.

DEAR ABBY: One of my co-workers, Bob, has the same bad habit as I do  smoking. (I know smoking isnt good for me and I have tried to quit several times. One day I will, but not just yet.)

Bob has been bumming cigarettes from me two to three times a day, five days a week, since I started here over a year ago. Hes always asking me or another co-worker. He never buys his own. Strike that! He has bought two cartons about eight months apart to thank me for giving him cigarettes, but in the end, I smoked only one pack total out of both cartons. Its like he gave them to me so I could ration them to him.

My problem is, Bob is the vice president of the company, and Im the receptionist. Theres a huge salary gap between our positions. How can I respectfully tell him I can no longer afford his habit and mine, and that he should support his own habit?

I have tried to think of different ways to say it, but our cultures are different as well, and I dont want to come across as disrespectful and end up not getting promoted  or worse, lose my job.  TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IN SUGAR LAND, TEXAS

DEAR TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF: Sometimes what we regard as a problem is actually an opportunity. Because you feel that refusing to be your boss supplier could jeopardize your job, the safest way to handle this would be for you to quit smoking NOW.

Talk to your doctor (who will be thrilled, Im sure) about a nicotine withdrawal system to help ease you through the withdrawal. Then, when Mr. VP asks to bum his next cigarette, give him a smile along with the good news that youre kicking your addiction and suggest he join you.

Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
The city of Albuquerque was built on breath.

The tuberculosis epidemic brought some of New Mexicos brightest luminaries to the state: U.S. Sen. Clinton Anderson, William Randolph Lovelace (founder of the medical center) and architect John Gaw Meem.

Billy the Kid first arrived in New Mexico when his mother sought treatment in Silver City.

Waves of desperate victims accelerated both Albuquerques and New Mexicos growth through sanatoriums, boarding houses, grocery stores, banks, hospitals and, unfortunately, mortuaries and cemeteries.

Starting this weekend, the Albuquerque Museum is showing Chasing the Cure, an exploration of the social, political and economic impact that came with the TB scourge in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The exhibit chronicles the period with the help of vintage photographs, documents, patient artwork, pop culture and artifacts.

In 1901, there were seven grocery stores in Albuquerque. In 1935, there were 198. In 1901, there were seven hotels; by 1935, there were 21.

By the early 1900s, between 40 and 60 percent of the population of Albuquerque were health seekers, guest curator Katherine Pomonis said.

By 1910, Albuquerques TB death rate was seven times the national average.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by a slow-growing, rod-shaped bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This airborne pathogen passes from infected persons when they cough, sneeze or spit, invading the pulmonary system as well as other parts of the body. Today it kills an estimated 2 million people a year worldwide.

At first, the disease was misunderstood, even romanticized. It penetrated opera (La boheme), literature (Crime and Punishment) and art; in 1896 the expressionist Edvard Munch painted his sister dying of TB.

From the 1700s to the early 1900s the gaunt, fragile look of tuberculars was fashionable. Observers thought the dying patient possessed a romantic spirit led by creative gifts. This misguided assumption was especially true of artists and intellectuals, who watched as creative giants like Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Frederic Chopin, Robert Louis Stevenson, Anton Chekhov and Emily Bronte succumbed to the disease.

After the 1826 opening of the Santa Fe Trail, TB patients started heading to the Southwestern Plateau because they heard it described as an Eden of the West, Pomonis said. The opening of the Santa Fe Railroad in 1880 expedited the hordes of people seeking a cure. Doctors believed the dry climate and high elevation were therapeutic. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, officials thought the disease was transmitted by the poor in urban populations. Also known as consumption or the white plague, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in America in the 1800s and early 1900s.

At the height of the sanatorium movement (1902-1937), Albuquerque boasted 17 sanatoriums; the state housed 52. Doctors seeking cures for themselves raised the standard for what was essentially no medical care across the region.

There was no cure until the discovery of the antibiotic streptomycin in 1940.

There was no health care per se at the beginning, Pomonis said. The people who came came because they could afford to. Those who could not lived in tents and shanties on the West Mesa.

Santa Fes St. Vincent, opened in 1878 by the Sisters of Charity, was the first sanatorium in the state. In 1902, the same order opened St. Joseph in Albuquerque.

Doctors and nurses cared for their patients under a rigid schedule dictating when they awoke, ate and visited others. Many were given what became known as the Pisos cure, essentially a cough syrup containing chloroform and cannabis.

Some patients recovered; most didnt. As fears of contagion spread, patients were told to stay home.

I was basically raised in Santa Fe, Pomonus said. My dad had a restaurant on the Plaza. The artists would come in for a cup of coffee.

We all knew they came because of TB, she continued, and TB had a stigma. Parents would say, Dont do that; you might get TB There was a stigma that if you lived an open life.  it was like AIDS.

TB patients

 Artist and Zozobra founder Will Shuster

 Painter Gerald Cassidy

 Grace Thompson Edminster, founder of the Albuquerque Civic Symphony

 Kathryn Kennedy OConnor, Broadway actress and founder of the Albuquerque Little Theatre

 Ward Hicks, co-founder New Mexico magazine

 Carrie Tingley, wife of Clyde Tingley, Albuquerque mayor and New Mexico governor

If you go

WHAT: Chasing the Cure

WHEN: Saturday, April 22 to Nov. 29

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday

WHERE: Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Road NW

HOW MUCH: $1-$4. Call 243-7255 or visit albuquerque museum.org.
Andrew Lloyd Webber is the most popular musical composer in history, and although I am not a huge fan generally, his Jesus Christ Superstar is my favorite musical (although technically its a rock opera).

Musical Theatre Southwest is currently producing one of his many popular musicals, Evita, about the wildly popular Eva Peron, first lady of Argentina from 1946 until she died of cancer at age 33 in 1952.

Webber collaborated with Jesus Christ Superstar lyricist Tim Rice again in Evita.

As usual, MTS does a stellar job, although the musical left me cold. I was not moved by the story or the music and have to put the blame on Webber and Rice, because the acting, production values and singing were of a very high caliber.

Evita charts the political career of actress Eva Peron, who after a wild life of sleeping around and partying marries Juan Peron, an Argentine military officer with political ambition. Soon after their marriage, he was elected president of Argentina.

Her husband nationalized industries, including the railways and the Central Bank. This made the couple very unpopular with the wealthier classes but deliriously popular with the lower classes, which benefited from higher wages and better working conditions.

Rice and Webber paint the two as demagogues who use the lower classes to bolster their power. In one number, And the Money Kept Rolling In, we see Eva passing out money to the poor while periodically stuffing wads of cash into her own trunk. Throughout the play, we get commentary from the revolutionary Che Guevara, which makes very little sense, except as a means to disparage the Perons radical credentials. Che stands as the solitary voice of reason, one man against the deluded masses in love with Eva.

The three leads are terrific in their roles and possess beautiful singing voices as well. As Che, Kelvin Krupiak looks the part and is appropriately intense as the disgruntled revolutionary. As Juan Peron, Leon Eldridge has the gravitas of a military dictator. He also has a gorgeous singing voice. Jessica Wachs demonstrates incredible vocal talent as the popular first lady. She doesnt look like Eva Peron, but I cant imagine finding a better vocalist, and that takes precedence in a show like this, where she has numerous solos, duets, and indeed a singing part in virtually every song.

In a show about demagoguery and the cult of personality, the ensemble plays a very important role, and the members of the large cast acquit themselves very well as the besotted masses.

Director Art Tedesco skillfully manages the ensemble, creating many beautiful stage pictures. Choreographer Larry Aguilar has his hands full with so many dance numbers and with so many bodies to manage in the small space. But he brings it off gracefully enough. Musical director Aaron Howe and his orchestra play Webbers music with aplomb.

Evita is playing at Musical Theatre Southwest, 6320 Domingo NE, through April 30. For reservations, go to musicaltheatresw.com or call 265-9119.
Roughly 4,000 science supporters gathered Saturday at Civic Plaza to fight for federal research funding and scientific freedom  joining an international movement that staged events in more than 600 cities.

Albuquerques March for Science was held before the citys Earth Day celebration and included environment- and science-focused exhibits, and food trucks. Scientists from the University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Nature Conservancy spoke out on their own behalf against a perceived war on science waged by President Donald Trump, who has questioned climate change and vaccine safety.

You may have heard that my field of science is rather politicized these days, said David Guztler, a UNM climate scientist. One political party in our country has adopted a policy of simply rejecting scientific evidence on this issue if it does not conform to its political doctrine.

Theresa Cardenas, Union of Concerned Scientists climate change and energy outreach consultant, joked that she had gone past concerned to pissed off.

She decried the threat to federal protections that safeguard air and water quality.

Were going to stand up for science, Cardenas said. Were going to fight for common-sense enforcement of rules and laws that prevent children from lead poisoning, that protect Americans from increased levels of mercury, pesticides or unsafe food, drugs or medical devices.

The large crowd frequently broke out in cheers or chants.

Many people carried signs with colorful pro-science messages: Grab Em By the Data, Ignorance Is Not Bliss, Time to Evolve, No Science No Beer.

Neuropsychologist Caroline Parsey attended with her shepherd dog, Rowan, who was decked out in a sign that jabbed the Trump administration: Cat (Alternative Fact).

Im in the health field, and treatments dont get better without science, she said.

Her friend, chemist Daniel Cuthbertson, worried that the United States will fall behind other countries that have more funding for scientific research.

The U.S. may have a strong scientific community now, but that could change, he said.

Its hard to build and very easy to lose, Cuthbertson said. I hate to see where were going  science is a public service.

In March, Trumps first budget proposed a $6 billion cut for the National Institutes of Health and $900 million for the Department of Energy. The plan generated an outcry across the country.

The March for Science movement gained a following on social media and quickly spread to six continents.

In New Mexico, events were held in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Socorro, Las Cruces, Silver City and Clovis.

Karen Wilkirson wanted to take part because she believes Trumps stance smacks of an all-out war on science.

I am seriously alarmed, she said.

Wilkirson, a math teacher at the juvenile detention center, attended the Albuquerque March for Science in an Albert Einstein costume and brought a sign with one of his most famous quotes: We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them.

While Wilkirson said she thinks the Trump administrations policies are frightening, she was encouraged by the strong backlash around the world.

Albuquerque March for Science organizer Laura Steele echoed that view.

It was really, really positive to be part of this community today, she said. It was very inspiring. It gives me a lot of hope.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

Nearly every official document that indicates Inez Navarrettes identity bears a different spelling of her first name.

Theres Hinez on her birth certificate. Maria Inez on her baptism certificate. Ynez on her marriage certificate and Social Security card. Ynes on her drivers license.

The S, the Z, the Y, the H on her birth certificate, her daughter, Rebecca Navarrette, said. Nothing is matching.

And that was never a problem until the 78-year-old attempted to get a new Real ID compliant drivers license.

The spelling complications meant that was impossible. She learned that she would have to petition the courts to have her name legally changed before she could start standardizing the spelling on her documents.

She has been working to correct the problem for nearly two stress- and bureaucracy-filled months. Her eyes welled with tears as she called the ordeal offensive before her court hearing on Thursday, where she would officially change her name to Inez.

I was born here, she said. Ive been a good citizen, and look at me, here.

With the name formalized, she can start the process to standardize the names on all of the documents shell need to get a new license.

Name change cases like Navarrettes in District Court have nearly tripled from last year, and Real ID appears to be the driving force.

The federal Real ID act set strict rules to issue a license and ID cards that can be used for federal purposes. It requires four documents: one proof of ID number (like a Social Security card, W-2 or 1099 tax form); a proof of identity (for example a birth certificate or passport); and two documents showing proof of residency (like insurance forms, pay stubs, mortgage statement or rental documents). And if the names dont match, the linking document  like a marriage certificate, divorce decree or name change order  is also necessary.

The caseload increase caused by the need for matching Real ID documents hit an understaffed District Court at a time when budgets are stretched thin. Accommodating the extra requests for name change hearings has required a bit of adjustment, but Court Executive Officer Jim Noel said staff is taking steps to handle the increase.

The process requires a $132 filing fee and the cost to publish the name change in a newspaper for two weeks  most people subjected to the process estimated their costs will top $200.

Finally, theres a court hearing, at which the person asking for the new name has to promise that they are not doing so in order to avoid criminal prosecution, debt or child support payments.

Often the problem stems from typos or spelling errors  one application showed a man trying to add a second F to Jeff. Other times, theres an inverted first and middle name. Still others reveal completely different names.

Im known as Bernadette, but I had to get it changed because my birth name is Dolores, Bernadette Salas-Montano said after her hearing on Thursday.

She says her parents named her Dolores, but at her baptism a month later, recorded her name as Bernadette, and that stuck  thats the name on her Social Security card.

She has already missed two and a half days of work trying to get the mismatch corrected, and now she has to wait for new documents before she can finally head to MVD. New Mexico Tax and Revenue Department spokesman Ben Cloutier confirmed that all documents offered to MVD must match the name listed on the court order.

It was a process, Salas-Montano said of changing her name to Bernadette, the name shes always used. When we came (to the courthouse) I saw, like, five different people filling out this paperwork. I filled it out five times before we got it right.

Adjusting to the increase has been a process for District Court, too.

Projections show the courthouse may see nearly 1,900 cases by the end of this year, compared with 593 in 2016 and just 492 in 2015.

Were already understaffed, Noel said. But were maintaining and getting them processed as quickly as we can.

Online court records indicate that a hearing usually takes place four to six weeks after a petition is filed.

Although each filing comes with the $132 fee, Noel said that any assumption that the caseload increase might provide a needed revenue bump for the courts is a misconception.

Were not enhancing or improving our budget situation through the collection of fees, Noel said.

The money is partially redirected to the state general fund and partially sent to restricted use funds, Noel said. And he noted that fee waivers are available to those who qualify.

Meanwhile, clerks at the courthouse are seeing more paperwork come through their offices and more citizens asking what they need to do.

And judges are working to find time to hold all of the name change hearings.

The largest impact is on the judges, Noel said, who are seeing an increased number of matters that have to actually appear before them.

He said clustering the hearings together has proved more efficient, so judges often carve out larger blocks of time to accommodate several people at once, something thats never been necessary for name changes.

Historically, they may have had a handful over a month, he said, and now they have three times that.

Name change cases filed by year

2015 492

2016 593

2017 469

(through April 12)

2017 1,876

(projected)
CARLSBAD  Sixteen-year-old Payson Norton said he wasnt nervous when he flew his Piper Comanche PA24 aircraft solo for the first time.

It was a really cool feeling, the feeling of freedom, Norton said. The only thing that was going through my mind was he (instructor Jim Ballard) wasnt in the left seat and I needed to get it up and get it down without breaking it.

It wasnt just Nortons age (the minimum for a student pilot to fly solo) that astonished Ballard.

The Piper was equipped with 260 horsepower, which Ballard said is unusual for a first-time student pilot, since the planes are more complicated to operate.

The aircraft that he soloed in is whats considered to be a complex airplane and high performance, which is very unusual for any student pilot to solo in, said Ballard, who has been an instructor for 30 years.

Ballard, a Federal Aviation Administration-certified instructor of JB Flight Services in Carlsbad, said students typically start out flying an aircraft between 125 to 180 horsepower.

Ballard said the aircraft is also equipped with retractable landing gear, which increases the speed of the plane, and a constant speed propeller.

Norton, who has been training with Ballard for the last two years, said he wasnt intimidated by the horsepower of the aircraft, which is owned by his parents.

Jim always taught me that no matter what airplane youre in, theyre all the same, no matter if theyre bigger, smaller, more horsepower, less horsepower. You just fly your airplane, Norton said.

Ballard said Norton is the third student he has trained who has flown solo at age of 16. The teenager lifted off from and landed back at Carlsbads Cavern City Air Terminal.

Two other students who flew solo at that age became pilots for national airlines, Ballard said.

Its always an accomplishment to solo any pilot because youve basically trained them up from nothing, not knowing anything about aviation or an airplane and turn them loose to where they can fly by themselves, Ballard said. When you get in an airplane, all of this stuff is brand new. So to take all of that and learn it and then be able to take off and do it on your own is a huge responsibility.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, students are required to obtain their student pilot and medical certificates before they can fly solo. Norton received both certificates earlier this year.

Student pilots are also required to take a written test and become familiar with FAA rules and the flight characteristics and operational limits of the aircraft in order to fly solo.

Ballard said that, in addition to controlling a plane, pilots have to study weather conditions, aerodynamics and airport locations when operating a plane. He said weather conditions are most challenging, because they may change.

Norton said studying the fundamentals of flying is more challenging than flying itself.

It takes a little bit to grasp it, he said. Its a challenge sometimes.

Norton said the next step is to become endorsed to fly cross-country. He plans to obtain his private pilot license, which he will be eligible for once he is 17, and pursue a career in aviation.

As long as I get to fly, he said. Its a lot of fun, but be ready to work.

And soon he will not be the only family member flying an aircraft. His brother, Lane Norton, 27, is training with Ballard. Payson Norton said his brother is also planning to use to same aircraft to fly solo.

Their 9-year-old sister, Allie, also hopes to fly in the future.
Correction: The headline of this story has been changed for accuracy. The headline now reflects the accusations against the teen.

Police on Saturday arrested the 15-year-old accused of wielding a machete in a Northeast Heights grocery store  the call an Albuquerque police officer was racing to when he slammed into a car carrying a family, killing a 6-year-old boy.

Officer Simon Drobik said the incident involving Keisean Anderson, 15, was the epicenter of the whole chain of events.

Police said last week that employees saw Anderson in the alcohol section of the Albertsons near Eubank and Candelaria and approached him to ask for his ID. Anderson, according to a criminal complaint, pulled out a machete when employees confronted him. An employee who was on the phone with 911 dispatchers followed Anderson as he left the store, and Anderson turned and charged and began punching the employee in the face, loosening his teeth.

Officer Johnathan McDonnell was responding to the 911 call about the machete-wielding teen and was on Eubank with his emergency lights on when he collided with Antoinette Suinas car as she turned left onto Indian School. She and her children, Ariana Suina, 9, and Joel Suina, 6, were critically injured in the wreck. Joel was taken off life support Thursday night.

McDonnells femur and ankle were both broken. Drobik declined to give an update on his condition and said McDonnell asked us to give him some time.

Both vehicles appear to have had green lights at the time of the collision.

Police released video footage of the incident asking for tips on Friday. Tips that poured in led them to Anderson, who was on juvenile probation for property crime charges, Drobik said.

Weeks before the machete incident, Drobik said, Anderson was one of a group four teen boys who broke into an Albuquerque Police Department marked vehicle parked outside an officers home near Eubank and Comanche.

Two boys were caught later, and one had the officers Emergency Response Team equipment, according to a criminal complaint. Later, a confidential source said Anderson was also present during the break-in but managed to flee before officers arrived.

Anderson was arrested Saturday on warrants connected to both incidents.
YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS. The Republican Partys candidates for the upcoming Yerevan City Council election met with the residents of the capitals Arabkir district on April 22.

The incumbent Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan, who runs for another term in office, delivered a speech at the event, emphasizing their project includes all issues which were raised by Yerevan citizens during the past 4 years.

Four years ago we began our campaign from this neighborhood, we presented the Better Yerevan program with our team, today we can say we have a comparably better Yerevan, but this doesnt mean that there is nothing to be done in the city. There is a lot to do, and during these years our team has recorded all those issues by communicating with the residents, and today this experienced team presents the development program for the city. We have the answers for many issues and questions in this program, which the residents of Yerevan awaited for dozens of years, Margaryan said.

He emphasized the issue of administration of condominiums is a priority in the program.

Today, during a meeting in the neighborhood of apartment blocks we have a very important issue, which is also included in the program. Today this is a priority issue for our residents, and we have specific actions to take in terms of reforms and administration. We will be consistent in both legislative changes and the operations of condominiums.

Wherever the citizen is dissatisfied, wherever the administration is insufficient, we will make revisions. We must jointly give solutions to the problems. I reassure you, this program, which the RPA team is presenting, is our tomorrows Yerevan, the Mayor said.

The Yerevan City Council election will be held on May 14.
You already knew this is you follow us, and you may have noticed a story regarding Porsches GT Boss, and some of you were surprised to learn that he "did not care" about Nurburgring lap times.In just a few words, Andreas Preuninger, the official of the brand, told journalists at the New York Auto Show that the "perfect setup" on the Ring can be a dog on the street. According to this interview with Auto Guide , the man even made a bet with his colleagues.Mr. Preuninger thinks that about 30% of the buyers of the 911 GT3 will buy the version with a manual gearbox. He has not disclosed if money is involved in that wager, or if it is just a friendly gamble without financial stakes.Apparently, the real reason why the new 911 GT3 has a manual gearbox in its offer was that the previous car did not have a development budget high enough to support two transmission options.At the time, the factory also wanted to focus on its racing program, which featured a PDK gearbox, and it was presumed that the faster option was more desirable for customers.Fortunately for those who are wealthy and like to shift gears with the third pedal in a 911 GT3, the engineering team took the time and finances to develop a proper manual gearbox for it.Mr. Preuninger explained that the range now satisfies the customers looking for speed, and the ones interested in old-school, mechanical-operated, drivers cars.As you can imagine, introducing a new transmission in the range costs money, and Porsche will pull the plug on the arrangement in the future if sales figures do not justify the existence of these gearboxes in the future. Ferrari and Lamborghini have already shown that it can be done, and they have not gone bankrupt.It all depends on the take rate for those cars, and those who crave the feeling of a manual in a 911 GT3 should better place an order for one if they meant what they said.
More on this:

1 Storing Thousands of Volkswagens At A Stadium Is Illegal, Now What?

2 Volkswagen Gets EPA Approval To Sell Repaired Dieselgate-Affected Cars

3 Magazine Tests Volkswagen Cars Before And After Dieselgate Fix, Figures May Vary

4 Dieselgate: Volkswagen Pleads Guilty In U.S. Lawsuit, Sentence Arrives In April
Wait, so youre said Dodge lied when it announced that zero to sixty comes in 2.3 clicks ? Nope, thats exactly what the automaker said and the figure it stands by. But according to Tim Kuniskis, with rollout it's 2.1, and that's important because that's the fastest 0-60 mph of any production car.The head of passenger cars at FCA North America made this clarification to Motor Authority , which points out that even with rollout, the Tesla Model S P100D is slower than the Demon at 2.28 seconds. From a standstill, that would be 2.58 seconds, which is still hugely impressive by all accounts.Compared to other made-to-drag-race machines, the Demon isnt going to kick one in the teeth and run away with the money. As per Kuniskis, pricing for the big bad Challenger will be below the six-figure mark , with estimates ranging from $70,000 to $85,000 tops. Bearing in mind what sort of performance and track cred you get for the money, its good value too.On a slight tangent, those customers who arent too excited about the 808-hp and 717-lb.ft. brute can always resort to the aftermarket. Hennessey Performance Engineering is the first tuner that announced mods for the Demon. A number of power packages are in store from the Texan outfit, with the most extreme packing 1,500 ponies and an NHRA-certified roll cage In total, Dodge and the SRT skunkworks plan on manufacturing only 3,300 examples of the damn thing. 3,000 will be available in the United States, with the remaining 300 units spoken for by Canada. The Demon has the makings of an instant classic, and its value is expected to go north from here on in.Considering how mind-bogglingly magnificent the Demon is, can you imagine what sort of monster its successor will be, if there will ever be one?
Per the New York Times:

Google controls 88 percent of search advertising

Facebook, which also owns Instragram, WhatsApp and Messenger, controls 77 percent of social traffic

Amazon controls 74 percent of e-book market

What to watch for: we are seeing more chatter than ever that these companies are getting too big too fast. Americans retain a romantic view of big tech firms but concerns about fake news, privacy and consumer choice are rising.
With their first-round vote today, the French set up a decisive repudiation of the populist wave that has shaken the seven-decade-old political and economic order. After the stunning victories of Brexit in the U.K. and Donald Trump in the U.S., French polls suggest that centrist Emmanuel Macron will be elected president by a commanding margin over anti-European populist Marine Le Pen in the second round of voting on May 7.

Winners: if Macron does win the second round, as seems likely, winners will include the European Union, the Euro, NATO and the U.S.-led liberal world order.

Losers: President Trump, pro-Brexit Britons, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Simon Nixon, the Wall Street Journal's chief European commentator, remarked in a tweet: "An astonishing achievement for Macron, who not only had the courage to stand but to campaign while literally draped in the EU flag."

The French election has attracted rapt attention around the world as the first serious indicator of global political trends following Trump's election in November. Macron won about 23.7% of the first-round vote, to around 21.8% for Le Pen. In head-to-head polls, Macron leads Le Pen by at least 20 percentage points. But if Macron had faltered, it would have been a third domino in the collapse of the U.S.-led order of free trade and open borders. It also would have signaled a collapse of Europe's steadfast rejection of Russia's destabilization of Ukraine since the 2014 invasion of Crimea, since Le Pen and the other two leading candidates are strongly pro-Putin.It will matter what supporters of the other two leading candidates do  whom they get behind, or whether many stay home out of disgust or indifference. But the result today led Charles Lichfield, an analyst with the Eurasia Group, to raise his forecast of a Macron victory in the second round to 65%, from 60% previously. Le Pen's only hope, Lichfield told me in a phone interview from Paris, is an extremely low turnout for the second round along with a surge to her by the followers of Republican Francois Fillon and far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon. He found neither probable. "It will be very hard for her to win," he said.Voters notably were not swayed by a terrorist attack in Paris three days ago in which one policeman was killed and another seriously wounded. Trump suggested that the attack would mobilize voters behind Le Pen.In the larger picture, the result still reflects profound French unease with what the existing system delivers for ordinary people. Jeff Rathke, an analyst with the Center for International and Strategic Studies, noted that  including the vote for firebrands Le Pen and Melenchon  some 40% of France's voters supported a radical shakeup of French policy, including withdrawal from the Euro. "Perhaps the wave has crested," he told me. "But no one should heave a sign of relief that we can get back to normal politics now."
Official vote estimates from Sunday's election indicate that Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen will advance to a runoff for the French presidency on 7 May. The latest numbers:

Macron: 23.7%, Le Pen: 21.9%, Fillon: 19.7%, Melanchon: 19.2%

Macron is not affiliated with any political party, and he is now the only candidate standing between Le Pen's populist anti-Europe, anti-immigration platform and the presidency. He is favored in head-to-head polls by upwards of 20 percent.

The American connection: Macron used a conversation with Barack Obama as a campaign ad, and Le Pen's campaign points to Donald Trump as evidence she can win.

Emmanuel Macron: the 39-year-old former investment banker resigned as economic minister under Socialist Francois Hollande to form his own centrist political movement, En Marche. He quickly went from long-shot to favorite, with Barack Obama showing his tacit support with a phone call earlier this week.

Marine Le Pen: Le Pen has worked to make what was a fringe party under her father Jean-Marie electable, but anti-immigration and anti-Europe policies still form the basis of the National Front platform. Steve Bannon is a fan, but Reince Priebus says Trump's tweets should not be taken as a sign he supports Le Pen.

Francois Fillon: The conservative candidate beat former president Nicolas Sarkozy in the primary and appeared on course for victory, but his campaign was hit by scandal and he slipped outside the top two.

Jean-Luc Melenchon: The far-left candidate is skeptical of both NATO and the EU and surged in the polls late on, campaigning via hologram and coming within striking distance of the runoff.

Other updates

Le Pen called the results "historical," saying the very survival of France was at stake and adding, "I am the candidate of the people." She derided Macron as "Hollande's heir" and said "it's time to free French people from arrogant elites."

Macron congratulated all of the candidates who did not advance by name, taking the first step toward consolidating their support. He said the second round presented "an opportunity for hope" for France and Europe, in contrast with "the threat of nationalism."

Fillon called the National Front an "extremist party" that would lead France to bankruptcy and Europe into chaos, saying he would vote for Macron.

Benoit Hamon, representing President Hollande's Socialist Party, had a stunningly poor result with about 6%. He has called on Socialist voters to back Macron, calling Le Pen "an enemy of the republic."

Melanchon did not concede, saying he'd wait for the final results.

Hollande took in the results:
On the campaign trail, the call and response was a feature of every rally: "Who's going to pay for the wall?"

"Mexico!"

President Trump is standing by that, but his tweet Sunday morning shows that it has become a bit more complicated now that he's in office...

The context: Trump wants funds to start the wall included in a spending bill that must pass this week to avoid a government shutdown. The obvious question from his critics is, "didn't you say Mexico was paying?"
Jesuit Priests call for action concerning refugees after Pope's visit to Lesbos

Following Pope Francis' visit to Lesbos, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has written four proposals to aid refugees stranded in Greece.

The JRS, who were present when Pope Francis visited Lesbos and the Moria refugee camp, have called for the acceleration of the resettlement and for family reunification in all European countries for the 55,000 refugees in 40 camps across Greece.

They drew attention to the fact that refugees are currently in limbo, living in fear of deportation to Turkey, and subsequently called for a revision of the Turkey-European Union accord of March 18.

This is a suggestion that has been also made by a number of NGOs and UN bodies.

In connection with this, the JRS asked what will happen to those who are deported from Greece to Turkey.

A statement from the group said that it hoped "That the large question mark which remains over those persons returned to the camps in Turkey is addressed. There is no information and no possibility of follow-up, even by the UN. It is essential to guarantee that their fundamental rights are respected and to ensure their access to proper legal protection."

The JRS also called for better collaboration between Greek authorities, the UNHCR and NGOs, "so that all essential services may be provided, but also in order to ensure the protection and education of children".

Pope Francis visited Lesbos earlier this month "to shed light on the major humanitarian problem" presented by the refugee crisis.

While there, he greeted hundreds of refugees. "I want to tell you that you are not alone," he told them.

"In these weeks and months, you have endured much suffering in your search for a better life. Many of you felt forced to flee situations of conflict and persecution for the sake, above all, of your children, your little ones."
Pope condemns those who fail to act in refugee crisis

Pope Francis has condemned those who are refusing to take responsibility for tackling the refugee crisis.

The Pope, departing from the prepared text for his Palm Sunday Mass homily in St Peter's Square, Rome, blamed the poor response on indifference.

Pope Francis, preaching to many thousands of Christians in St Peter's Square at the Palm Sunday Mass, spoke of how Jesus had suffered after being abandoned to his fate by indifferent crowds in the days before the Crucifixion.

He then made it clear that he views the plight of refugees as comparable suffering.

"I am thinking of so many other people, so many marginalised people, so many asylum seekers, so many refugees. There are so many who don't want to take responsibility for their destiny."

More than 1.1 million migrants fled from war and upheavals into Europe last year. Some countries have responded by sealing borders, leaving thousands stranded in Greece. Macedonia has also deported at least 1,500 in trucks back to Greece. Under a new deal, any refugees who cross to Greece illegally will be shipped back to Turkey.

Pope Francis, leading the congregation in waving olive and palm branches, said it was Jesus alone who saves people from "the snares of sin, death, fear and sadness".

He said Jesus "humbled himself" to the condition of a servant. "The abyss of his humiliation, as Holy Week shows us, seems to be bottomless."

He was humilated by mockery, insults and spitting and suffered blows, scourging and a crown of thorns, the Pope said. "He also experiences shame and disgraceful condemnation by religious and political authorities."

The Pope continud: "Even as every form of justice is denied to him, Jesus also experiences in his own flesh indifference, since no one wishes to take responsibility for his fate."

Later this week, on Maundy Thursday, the Pope will wash and kiss the feet of 12 people. He will preside at two services on Good Friday, including a candlelight procession around the Colosseum.
Pope Francis asks refugees' forgiveness for West's 'indifference'

Pope Francis has apologised to refugees for the lack of welcome shown them in the societies where they have sought refuge.

The Pope sent a video message to Rome's Astalli Centre, part of the Jesuit Refugee Service founded in 1981, for its 35th anniversary celebrations.

In his message to the refugees, volunteers and employees at the centre, he said that those who had been forced to flee their homes were brothers and sisters with whom we "share bread, homes and life".

"You are witnesses of how our clement and merciful God can transform the evil and injustice you have suffered into a good for all."

Francis said that every refugee "who knocks on our doors bears the face of God, the flesh of Christ. Your experience of pain and of hope reminds us that we are all foreigners and pilgrims on this earth, welcomed by someone with generosity and without reward."

He said: "Too many times you have not been welcomed! Forgive the closure and indifference of our societies that fear the change in lifestyle and mentality that requires your presence. You are treated like a burden, a problem, a cost, but are, instead, a gift."

He urged the Astalli Centre to continue its work with refugees, saying: "Continue walking alongside them in their journey. Accompany them and be guided by them: refugees know the ways that lead to peace, because they know the acrid odour of war."

Francis drew worldwide attention to the plight of refugees who had crossed the Mediterranean on dangerous small boats from Turkey when he visited a camp on the Greek island of Lesbos last Saturday. He brought 12 refugees back to the Vatican with him to be cared for by the Catholic community of Sant'Egidio.

It was a symbolic gesture to indicate Francis' solidarity with those suffering as a result of fleeing war and persecution in countries like Syria, Iraq and Eritrea. "All refugees are children of God," he said on the flight back to Rome, adding that the decision to bring the refugees with him was "an inspiration of the Holy Spirit".
Pope Francis promises to shelter two refugee families at the Vatican: 'The gospel calls us to those who have been abandoned'

The Vatican will take in two Syrian refugee families as part of the effort to help those fleeing crisis in the Middle East, Pope Francis has announced.

Speaking in St Peter's Square in Rome on Sunday, the pontiff called on people across Europe to respond practically to the growing need.

"May every parish, every religious community, every monastery, every sanctuary in Europe host a family  starting with my diocese of Rome," Francis said.

"Before the tragedy of tens of thousands of refugees fleeing death in conflict and hunger and are on a journey of hope, the gospel calls us to be close to the smallest and to those who have been abandoned."

The Pope said offering to house a refugee family would be a "concrete act of preparation" for the upcoming Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Vatican spokesperson Federico Lombardi later confirmed the Pope's announcement, noting that Francis hopes his appeal will be heard throughout the "whole of Europe", and that both parishes within the Vatican  the Parish of Santa Anna and St Peter's Basilica  will be responding to his call.

Pope Francis has been outspoken in his response to the refugee crisis, urging for quick action from the international community. After 700 people died when their boat capsized in the Mediterranean in April, he said: "They are men and women like us, our brothers seeking a better life, starving, persecuted, wounded, exploited, victims of war.

"They were looking for a better life, they were looking for happiness."

He has also previously called for church buildings to be used to help those in need of shelter. "Dear men and women religious, your empty convents are not useful to the Church if they are turned into hotels and earn money," he said in September 2013.

"The empty convents do not belong to you, they are for the flesh of Christ which is what refugees are. The Lord calls us to live with greater courage and generosity, and to accept them in communities, houses and empty convents. This of course is not something simple; it requires a criterion and responsibility, but also courage.

"We do a great deal, but perhaps we are called to do more, firmly accepting and sharing with those whom Providence has given us to serve".
Pope says 'never again' to tragedies like Armenian genocide

A sombre Pope Francis, "with pain in my heart," paid tribute on Saturday to the 1.5 million Armenians massacred in 1915, an event which he has labelled a genocide, risking Turkey's ire.

Francis, on the second day of his trip to Armenia, made an early morning stop at the Tzitzernakaberd, the "Genocide Memorial and Museum," a towering granite needle flanked by an eternal flame on a hillside overlooking the Armenian capital.

There, visibly moved, he took part in a prayer service along with President Serzh Sarksyan and leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

"Here I pray, with pain in my heart, so that never again will there be tragedies like this, so that humanity does not forget and knows how to overcome evil with good," he wrote in the guest book in Italian.

On Friday night in a speech to the president, the government and diplomats, Francis departed from his prepared text to use the word "genocide," a description that infuriated Turkey when he said it a year ago.

As of Saturday morning there was no official reaction from Turkey, which last year recalled its ambassador to the Vatican after the pope used the 'genocide' term. The envoy was kept away for 10 months.

Turkey accepts many Christian Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire were killed in clashes with Ottoman forces during World War One, but contests the figures and denies the killings were systematically orchestrated and constitute a genocide. It also says many Muslim Turks perished at that time.

"There is no reason not to use this word in this case," Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told reporters on Friday night. "The reality is clear and we never denied what the reality is."

At the Saturday morning ceremony, Francis chatted with descendants of Armenian orphans who were sheltered at the papal summer residence south of Rome at the start of the 20th century.

"May God grant the beloved Armenian people and the entire world peace and consolation. May God protect the memory of the Armenian people. Memory should not be diluted or forgotten. Memory is a source of peace and the future," he wrote in the guest book.

After the memorial service the pope flew to say a Mass in the provincial city of Gyumri, near the border with Turkey and within sight of Mount Ararat, where the Bible says Noah's Ark landed after the Great Flood.
'Star Wars Rebels' season 4 plot news: Hera Syndulla becomes a general

The trailer for "Star Wars Rebels" premiered during the "Star Wars Celebration" in Orlando, Florida. The cast also formed a panel to answer some questions about the fourth season of the animated series.

According to Slashfilm, Hera Syndulla will be promoted to General of the Rebel Alliance in season 4, which, incidentally, was already her designation in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." According to Vanessa Marshall, the character's voice actress, she will have sharper focus this season 4, and her motivation may very well be the losses that the team encountered in season 3. It is interesting to note that despite her promotion, she seems to be wielding a smaller aircraft than what she previously piloted.

Another plot point that season 4 will explore is Sabine Wren's Mandalorian family. The trailer also portrayed her handling a light saber. The Star Wars website teased that this could mean that she is learning to master the weapon, maybe using this more over the double blasters, which she was known for using in the past.

Meanwhile, Kanan seems to have adjusted to his blindness. In fact, he was described by his voice actor, Freddie Prinze Jr., to see more than he did before. He said, "He knows what path these Rebels need to be on. It takes some time to figure it out, but once he figures it out, he has the certainty that you've seen in other Jedi before."

Saw Guerrera, Bo-Katan, and Mon Mothma from "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" both make an appearance in the trailer, although it is still unclear what their roles will be in the series. However, Saw has been described as an extremist since the events of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," which will have an impact on how the Rebel Alliance will deal with him.

"Star Wars Rebels" will end after its fourth season. Showrunner Dave Filoni thanked fans during the event, saying, "I really appreciate that love from you guys. I think I can make this story as meaningful as can be."
Turkey needs to admit the Armenian Genocide before it joins the EU

Germany is set to vote on branding as genocide the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians by the Turks a century ago.

It's a diplomatic nightmare for Germany, and for Europe. Turkey has agreed to stop the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean from its territory and take back from Greece any who succeed in crossing. There are questions over whether it will work and whether it's even legal, but it's exacted a high price for doing so, including visa-free travel for its citizens. It can do so because it holds all the cards: the migration crisis has shaken Europe to its foundations.

But Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, unpredictable and authoritarian, is quite capable of taking the huff about this. One of his recurring complaints about Europe is that it's a Christian club, profoundly lukewarm about Turkey's application to join it. A resolution in Germany pinning guilt for the genocide firmly on Turkey might just be the last straw.

And just to be clear: Turkey did commit genocide.

Article Two of the UN Convention on Genocide of December 1948 describes genocide as carrying out acts intended "to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group".

In 1915-16, hundreds of thousands of Armenians were murdered in their homes or in camps in circumstances of extreme brutality. Women were gang-raped, set on fire and thrown over cliffs. Men had horseshoes nailed to their feet. They were sent on death marches across the desert where they starved or died of thirst or were beaten to death when they fell behind.

Armenians claim 1.5 million people died, while the International Association of Genocide Scholars says it was "more than a milion". Turkey says it was only 300,000. It has consistently denied, in the face of all the evidence, that there was a systematic programme of extermination. It has, subtly and not-so subtly, sought to eradicate all traces of the Armenians from the places they once lived.

Questioning the official account of the genocide in Turkey is risky. Turkey's most internationally famous novelist, Orhan Pamuk, made an off-the-cuff remark to a Swiss interviewer in 2005. Discussing freedom of expression in Turkey, he said that "a million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds were killed in this country and I'm the only one who dares to talk about it". The backlash was instantaneous, even though he didn't use the banned word 'genocide'. The press attacked him fiercely, he received death threats and had to go into hiding. Pamuk was threatened with prosecution, though the charges were dropped.

Journalist Hrant Dink, who also wrote about the genocide, was shot dead in January 2007 by teenage ultra-nationalist, Ogun Samast, who was jailed for 23 years in July 2011 for the crime.

Even Pope Francis has to walk on diplomatic eggshells. Last year he referred to the killings as "the first genocide of the 20th century", resulting in the recall of Turkey's ambassador to the Vatican, and his visit to Armenia next month will be another flashpoint.

Britain has declined to describe the events as genocide as it regards good relations with Turkey as more important.

But here's the thing. If Germany had refused to recognise its responsibility for the Holocaust, no government would accept that it had a right to a place at the European table. It would still be an international pariah. In fact, it has unshrinkingly and painfully acknowledged what it did in a way that Turkey never has.

Turkey's guilt is unquestionable. It owes it to the few survivors still living and to the descendents of those who escaped to acknowledge it. It owes it to history, too; and it owes If it does not, it can never be fully accepted into the community of Europe, whether it joins the EU or not.

In spite of the refugee crisis, in spite of the horrors unfolding on the other side of its border with Syria, in spite of the authoritarian crackdown on dissent and a renewed offensive against Turkish minority  all factors that would lead many diplomats to say that the less this boat is rocked the better  Germany's parliament is doing a good thing. Whether it will sway Erdogan himself, or Turkish public opinion, is a different question. But the truth must be told.
Donald Trump vigorously defended law enforcement during his presidential campaign. He pledged to restore order to the nations citieswhere violent crime is surgingand to reinvigorate the rule of law. His appointment of conservative Republican senator Jeff Sessions as attorney general was a strong signal that Trumps words were more than campaign rhetoric. Now that the Trump administration and the Sessions-led Justice Department are up and running, where should they focus their efforts?

The most immediate goal of the Trump administration should be to change the elite-driven narrative about the criminal-justice system. That narrative, which holds that policing is lethally racist, has dominated public discourse since the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014. In response, officers are backing off of proactive policing, and violent crime is rising fast: 2015 saw the largest one-year spike in homicides nationwide in nearly 50 years. That violent-crime increase has continued unabated through 2016 and into the early months of 2017. A Trump administration officialperhaps Attorney General Sessions, or the president himselfshould publicly address the question of what we expect from police officers: Do we want them to be proactive and to try to stop crime before it happens? Or do we want them to be purely reactive, responding to crime only after someone has been victimized? The administration should explain that data-driven, proactive policing made possible the countrys 20-year, 50 percent violent-crime decline that began in the mid-1990s.

In February, Sessions made a good start in turning around the false narrative about policing, addressing the National Association of Attorneys General. Sessions warned that the nations violent-crime decline is now at risk, while acknowledging that the crime increase is not happening in every neighborhood. Yet we are diminished as a nation, he said, when citizens fear for their life when they leave their home. (To be blunt, the violent-crime increase has hit almost exclusively in black neighborhoods. Nine hundred additional black males were murdered in 2015 compared with 2014, bringing total black homicide deaths that year to more than 7,000. It is a marker of the perversity of elite rhetoric about race that both Trump and Sessions have been fiercely attacked as racist for pledging to save black lives.)

Sessions noted that officers have become reluctant to get out of their cars to conduct discretionary stops and other up-close preventive policing. The administration should go further: it should convey the charged, hostile atmosphere in which officers in many urban areas now operate, thanks to the hatred spread by the Black Lives Matter movement. Gun murders of officers increased more than 50 percent in 2016, led by the targeted assassinations of cops.

A frontal assault on the dominant narrative about a racist criminal-justice system will require laying out the stark racial disparities in criminal offending and victimization. The public has been kept in the dark for decades about how vast those disparities are: blacks commit homicide at eight times the rate of whites and Hispanics combined, for example, and die of homicide at six times the rate of whites and Hispanics combined. Lifting that veil of ignorance is necessary to explain why officers operate more actively in minority neighborhoodsin order to save lives. The public must also understand that it is law-abiding members of high-crime communities themselves who beg the police to maintain order, and that such public-order policing was central to the now-jeopardized 20-year crime decline.

The federal government will be vigilant against abusive policing, the administration should say, but it will not deem police departments and police officers biased for proactively fighting crime.

The federal governments practice of slapping years-long consent decrees on police departments calls out for reform. There is zero chance that civil rights attorneys in the federal government know more than police departments do about how to fight crime constitutionally and successfully. Yet the Obama administration opened 25 pattern-or-practice civil rights investigations, based on the false notions that police bias is widespread and that federal lawyers are qualified to recommend effective police practices. The Department of Justice is currently enforcing 14 consent decrees with local departments, which grew out of such investigations. At a minimum, the Trump administration should publish data on how much the Obama-era investigations and consent decrees have cost those departments.

At the end of March 2017, Sessions announced a review of existing and pending consent decrees. The immediate target of this review was a consent decree for the Baltimore Police Department, hastily signed in the waning days of the Obama administration and at that point still awaiting final approval from a federal judge. Sessionss reevaluation was fully justified. As is typical, the Obama-era DOJ report that preceded the Baltimore decree failed to put numbers behind its charge that the Baltimore PD engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing. The Obama report blasts the Baltimore cops for clearing the corners of miscreants and loiterers, but the police engage in such corner-clearing at the behest of the community. Since the report came out in summer 2016, Baltimore neighborhoods have been overrun by drug dealers, who now believe that they can operate with impunity. Residents have begged the department to return to corner-clearing and other public-order enforcement.

There is zero chance that federal attorneys know more than the police do about how to fight crime constitutionally.

The proposed Baltimore consent decree discourages all such self-initiated police activities. It requires officers to contact a supervisor before making an arrest for minor offenses like disorderly conduct. It prohibits officers from stopping and questioning trespassers and loiterers, unless the officer has received a call for service regarding those individuals. The spurious philosophy beneath these rules is that policing should focus on serious offenses, not minor infractions. But the best way to prevent serious offenses is to maintain public order in high-crime areas. Proponents argue that the deemphasis on low-level enforcement will save money; in fact, it will only lead to more high-level crime.

Violent street crime in Baltimore has remained at alarming levels in 2017; shootings were up 78 percent through February 25, compared with the same period in 2016; homicides were up 38 percent through early March. These increases come on top of the highest per-capita homicide rate in the citys history in 2015 and close to that record rate in 2016. Complying with the consent decree will cost financially struggling Baltimore millions of dollarsmoney that could be better spent hiring new officers and giving them rigorous tactical training. Officers will be pulled from the streets to compile reports for the overpaid federal monitor, covering matters includingas reported in the Power Line blogwhether beat cops respect an individuals chosen gender identity in addressing him (or zim). In March 2017, seven plainclothes Baltimore officers were indicted for extortion and fraud. The consent decree is irrelevant to this egregious failure of supervision, focusing as it does on the usual policing-is-racist narrative. Five of the seven indicted officers were black.

The Sessions Justice Department requested a 90-day pause before District Court Judge James Bredar made the Baltimore decree irrevocable. This request triggered strenuous protest, not just from activists and Democratic politicians but also, bizarrely, from Baltimore police commissioner Kevin Davis himself. Davis in essence was declaring his inability to manage his own police department without federal oversight. Judge Bredar rejected the DOJ request for a 90-day extension and approved the decree on April 7, consigning Baltimore and Maryland taxpayers to a depleted and demoralized police force and to tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars of unnecessary costs and fees.

The next target of the Sessions consent decree review is an as-yet unfinalized consent decree in Chicago. Since no agreement between the Justice Department and Chicago officials has been signed, the Justice Department should drop negotiations and pull out. The Obama-era report that triggered the pending consent decree suffers from the same flaws as the Baltimore report: it provides no quantified evidence for its claim that the Chicago Police Department engages in systemic civil rights abuses. The mayhem in Chicago in February and March 2017 alone included the slaying of a two-year-old boy and two other children in separate drive-by shootings over four days, and the spread of rape, robberies, carjackings, and kidnappings into downtown and other previously safe neighborhoods. Quelling that violence will not be made easier by diverting police resources into the care and feeding of a federal monitor.

The 2012 police consent decree in New Orleans, for example, is projected to cost $55 million over five years; the actual cost will be much higher. A recent news story trumpeted the fact that sexual-assault complaints rose 83 percent in 2015 (allegedly suggesting greater gender sensitivity in the New Orleans Police Department). What should be of greater concern is the fact that New Orleans is also in the midst of an ongoing violent-crime spike. Shootings and homicides more than doubled in January 2017 over January 2016, notwithstanding that 2015 and 2016 had already seen a significant rise in murder and shootings.

Sessionss announced review of pending consent decrees brought forth the same claims of impotence on the part of Chicago officials as it did in Baltimore. The attorney general should ignore these professions of dependency on the federal government and do the right thing for the law-abiding residents of Chicagos gang-terrorized neighborhoods by tearing up the proposed decree.

The Department of Justices Civil Rights Division should formulate and publish the criteria that it will use to open pattern-or-practice civil rights investigations of police departments. It should quantify the constitutional violations that it uncovers during pattern-or-practice investigations and explain how it concludes that these infractions rise to the level of a pattern or practice of civil rights abuses.

The federal government should analyze police actions against a benchmark of crime rates, not population data. If 55 percent of police stops in a jurisdiction have black subjects, for example, the relevant starting point for analysis is the percentage of violent crime committed by blacks, not the black percentage of the resident population.

The specious population benchmark for finding police discrimination is typical of the disparate-impact analysis that drove most criminal-justice policy under the Obama administration. Such analysis should be extirpated in its entirety. There is not a single colorblind law-enforcement practice that does not have a disparate impact on blacks and Hispanics, given their higher rates of crime. The only way to avoid a disparate impact in law enforcement is to stop enforcing the law.

Before the election, the FBI announced a worthy initiative to collect and publish data on all officer uses of force. Such reporting must be accompanied, however, by information on local crime rates, since police use of force will occur most frequently where cops encounter armed and resisting suspects.

Crime-fighting remains overwhelmingly a local matter. But federal agentsfrom the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Servicecan provide vital assistance. Federal law enforcement reoriented itself toward counterterrorism and cybercrime following the 9/11 Islamist terror attacks. With violence skyrocketing in many urban areas, it is time for a rebalancing. Embattled police departments are calling for more federal agents to work on joint gun and drug task forces. Trumps proposed budget for the Justice Department has recognized that demand by allocating an additional $175 million to address violent crime.

U.S. gun and drug prosecutions fell significantly during the Obama years, discouraged by the administrations belief that mandatory-minimum federal sentences, especially for drug trafficking, have resulted in the mass incarceration of minorities. In fact, drug enforcement plays no role in disproportionate black incarceration rates. If all drug prisoners were removed from the nations prisons, the share of black prisoners would drop from 37.4 percent to 37.2 percent. Libertarians might welcome the five-year, 18 percent drop in federal drug prosecutions, but neighborhoods riven by drug violence do not. In Baltimore, when the local police stopped making drug arrests following the anti-cop riots of April 2015, shootings spiked. Attorney General Sessions must encourage U.S. attorneys in high-crime areas to increase their gun and drug cases, including RICO prosecutions. While modest changes in the federal sentencing guidelines for drug trafficking are acceptable, they should not be undertaken in the name of racial justice.

All federal law-enforcement agencies should adopt a CompStat system for information-sharing and analysis. CompStat, first developed in the New York Police Department under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, holds commanders ruthlessly accountable for measurable results. A White House allegedly informed by business acumen should welcome such a proven system for bottom-line accountability.

Obamas first attorney general, Eric Holder, called on local U.S. attorneys to involve themselves in prisoner reentry and rehabilitation activities. The Trump administration should determine if that initiative is producing enough crime reduction to justify the diversion of scarce prosecutorial resources; arguably, reentry activities are most efficiently carried out by U.S. probation officers. Federal prisons, on the other hand, can serve as a model for prison work policies and prisoner education. The Bureau of Prisons should partner with private business for job-skills development, as recommended in the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015.

Sanctuary cities, counties, and states must be severely penalized. These scofflaw jurisdictions, numbering about 300, refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts to deport convicted illegal-alien criminals. When ICE requests that a jail in a sanctuary jurisdiction briefly hold a criminal who has finished serving his sentence so that ICE can pick him up for deportation, the jail will deliberately release him before ICE can arrive, unless his crime was particularly heinous. Over just one week in late January 2017, ICE found 206 criminal aliens who had been released back to the streets in defiance of a detention request. Their convictions included aggravated assault with a weapon, robbery, rape, aggravated assault against a family member, domestic violence, life-threatening arson against a residence, burglaries of homes and businesses, battery, carrying a prohibited weapon, resisting an officer, driving under the influence, forgery, and indecent exposure. Pending charges against those released aliens included homicide, aggravated assault against an officer with a weapon, and indecent exposure to a minor.

Such disobedience of lawful federal requests undermines the constitutional system. It is also a betrayal of a fundamental truth that big-city police chiefs purport to believe: that all violations of public order, including so-called low-level offenses, threaten community cohesion and safety. There is no public benefit to sending an illegal-alien criminal back into the community if grounds exist for removing him. Congress should impose liability on local law-enforcement officials if someone is victimized by an illegal-alien criminal released in defiance of ICE.

Passage of the Mandatory Minimums for Illegal Reentry Act of 2015, which establishes a compulsory five-year sentence for illegal reentry, would encourage U.S. attorneys to prosecute illegal aliens who have reentered the country following deportation. Trumps proposed 2018 budget rightly funds 75 additional immigration-judge teams and 20 additional attorneys and support staff for immigration litigation in order to speed up removal proceedings.

Local police departments are shaking the cup for more federal funding, but the Trump administration should resist. Federal grants are not new money; they are merely the same taxpayers dollars that localities rely on, minus the huge administrative costs of being routed through Washington. Though many departments desperately need more officers and more tactical training, the better way to provide those resources is to lower federal spending mandates and the federal tax burden so that localities can pay for their own policing needs. Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel is taking the lead in demanding more federal money for social programs and summer jobs. But if government welfare programs were the solution to crime, we would have had crime-free inner cities decades ago.

Only initiatives that are truly national in scope should be federally funded. Research on what works in crime-fighting is a proper federal function, since local police departments lack the money to conduct their own studies. Topics to be explored include: the effectiveness of public-order and hot-spot policing; the relationship between criminal history and recidivism; and the success rate of electronic monitoring. The federal Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety, announced in February, will explore how to improve data collection in order to fight crime more effectively; a crash course in CompStat data analysis would help detect unmet data needs.

The Obama DOJ spent a lot of time talking about police legitimacy; by contrast, the Trump DOJ should advocate for more hands-on, scenario-based tactical training that helps officers avoid the need to use deadly force. Officers should be taught how to cope with stress. When cops use foul language, threats, and unjustified force, they are usually overreacting to stress. The current fad for de-escalation training is appropriate, so long as the proposed principles do not jeopardize officer safety.

From dash-cam videos to body cameras on officers, technology plays an increasingly vital role in policing and in public perceptions of policing. Several areas need to be addressed. The cost of storing video from police body cameras has become a huge problem. The federal government could help determine if a federal cloud for storage or a state consortium is the best solution. Washington should encourage departments to adopt lawful surveillance technology such as aerial cameras and family genetic matching to target criminals surgically.

National legislation is needed on encryption. Law-enforcement agencies now fear going dark during the surveillance of criminals and terrorists, thanks to encryption. The feds could also help with technology to improve communications (interoperability) between the nations 18,000 police departments. Anti-cop activists and anarchists are breaking into law-enforcement communications. Police WiFi was hacked during the November 2014 anti-cop riots in Ferguson, Missouri; the previous month, a radio operator tried to interfere with police movements and air-support operations in the area. Masked Black Bloc anarchists and Black Lives Matter activists will join forces in the Trump era to attack law and order, as happened in the Berkeley, California, riot in early February 2017. Federal and local law enforcement need to up their game in countering such lawlessness; the wearing of masks to facilitate crime must be severely penalized.

The previous Justice Departments concern with phantom police bias extended to personnel practices. 

The Obama Justice Department ordered more than 28,000 federal law-enforcement officers and prosecutors into implicit-bias traininga form of sensitivity reeducation aimed at teaching police how to combat their own (alleged) subliminal prejudices. Attorney General Sessions should cancel this initiative and lift the pressure on local police departments to put their own officers through this wasteful exercise. The claim that policing, especially police shootings, is riven with implicit bias is untruein 2016 alone, four academic studies showed that if there is a bias in police shootings, it works in favor of blacks and against whites. The Office of Community Oriented Policing (COPS) has partnered with the Office of Violence Against Women to combat gender bias. This is another waste of money and should be ended. There is no significant gender bias in American society, and it is not a criminal-justice issue.

The previous Justice Departments concern with phantom police bias extended to personnel practices. An October 2016 report called for law-enforcement agencies to boost their minority hiring. The report recommended that departments weaken or eliminate their requirements of a clean criminal record in order to make more minorities eligible. This report and the message behind it should be withdrawn. There is no evidence that minority officers are fairer in their policing. The Justice Department itself found in 2015 that black and Hispanic officers in Philadelphia were more likely than white officers to shoot an unarmed black suspect based on the misperception that he was armed. Lowering hiring standards, particularly criminal-background standards, is a sure recipe for corruption and incompetence on a police force.

Obamas Task Force on 21st Century Policing recommended that police departments mandatorily report to the DOJ their race and gender composition. This recommendation should be axed. And any mandated reporting on police activity that includes the race of suspects stopped or arrested should be accompanied by data on racial crime rates in the police agencys juridiction. Ideally, the word diversity would be excised from all federal communications when it refers to race, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Those traits have no bearing on federal programs or on qualifications for federal employment.

Trump is under pressure from conservatives to fire FBI director James Comey for his actions regarding presidential candidate Hillary Clintons e-mail server, his refusal to corroborate Trumps wiretap allegations against Obama, and the FBIs investigation of ties between Trump associates and Russia. Trump should resist the pressure to fire him. Comey was virtually the only voice in the Obama administration to call attention to the urban crime increase. He also correctly identified its cause because he understands the power of policing. He will be a valuable asset in quelling the crime spike.

Finally, while police officers have an indefeasible obligation to treat everyone they meet with courtesy and respect and within the confines of the law, community members have a reciprocal obligation to obey police commands and not resist arrest. The Trump administration could start a national campaign: Comply now, complain later. Such a campaign would publicize the fact that the vast majority of questionable police shootings over the last several years, as well as the justified police shootings, were triggered by the noncompliance of the victims.

Photo: Crime is exploding in cities like Baltimore, where shootings rose 78 percent through the first two months of 2017. (BRANDEN EASTWOOD/REDUX)
Understanding the relationship between what students eat at lunch and physical activity during recess could inform policies that promote healthy behaviors

Chicago (April 23, 2017) - A new study finds that the duration and timing of lunch and recess is related to food choices and physical activity of school children. These findings could help schools make policies that promote healthier school lunches and increased physical activity during recess.

Gabriella McLoughlin, a doctoral student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, will present the new research at the American Society for Nutrition Scientific Sessions and annual meeting during the Experimental Biology 2017 meeting, to be held April 22-26 in Chicago.

"Most research has focused solely on nutritional intake or physical activity during recess," said Naiman Khan, PhD, assistant professor and leader of the research team. "This is the first study to objectively measure food intake at lunch in conjunction with physical activity and consider the influence of duration and timing."

For the study, the researchers assessed the lunch intake and physical activity of 151 fourth and fifth grade students from two low-income schools. Each school scheduled lunch either just before or immediately after recess.

The researchers found that:

Although less food was wasted when recess was held before lunch, children consumed a greater proportion of vegetables when lunch was offered before recess.

When children had a longer time for a combined lunch and recess period, children were proportionally more physically active when lunch was offered before recess.

When the lunch-recess period was shorter, children were more active when recess was offered before lunch.

"Overall, our findings suggest that recess and lunch behaviors are interrelated," said McLoughlin. "However, the specific food choices and activity levels children engage in may be subject to the timing and duration of lunch and recess." The relationships between food intake at lunch and physical activity were independent of factors previously shown to contribute to recess activity such as a child's weight status and gender.

The current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend scheduling recess before lunch to reduce overall food waste. Although the new study also showed reduced food waste when recess is before lunch, the findings suggest that current recommendations may have unintended consequences for the types of foods consumed and could affect physical activity during recess, depending on the duration of the recess-lunch period.

"We plan to communicate our findings to school teachers, administrators and policymakers to facilitate the implementation of evidence-based policies that support children's ability to meet their daily physical activity and nutritional recommendations," said Khan.

Now that the researchers have extensive data on children's physical activity patterns and lunch choices, the investigators are seeking federal funding to create feasible and sustainable school interventions based on their findings. They would also like to study whether policies regarding lunch and recess affect risk for obesity, success in academics and other markers of cognitive development in children.

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Gabriella McLoughlin will present this research during the Developing Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Behaviors Through Education, Extension, or Technology Session at 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 23, in Room S103BC, McCormick Place Convention Center (abstract). Contact the media team for more information or to obtain a free press pass to attend the meeting.

Image available.

About Experimental Biology 2017

Experimental Biology is an annual meeting comprised of more than 14,000 scientists and exhibitors from six host societies and multiple guest societies. With a mission to share the newest scientific concepts and research findings shaping clinical advances, the meeting offers an unparalleled opportunity for exchange among scientists from across the United States and the world who represent dozens of scientific areas, from laboratory to translational to clinical research. http://www.experimentalbiology.org #expbio

About the American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

ASN is the preeminent professional organization for nutrition research scientists and clinicians around the world. Founded in 1928, the society brings together the top nutrition researchers, medical practitioners, policy makers and industry leaders to advance our knowledge and application of nutrition. ASN publishes three peer-reviewed journals and provides education and professional development opportunities to advance nutrition research, practice and education. http://www.nutrition.org

Find more news briefs and tipsheets at: https://www.eurekalert.org/meetings/eb/2017/newsroom.
A quarter-century of research on the star-nosed mole has unearthed startling insights into the evolution of animal behavior and the limits of physiology. Kenneth Catania of Vanderbilt University will present a new synthesis of remarkable anatomical findings about the star-nosed mole at the American Association of Anatomists annual meeting during the Experimental Biology 2017 meeting, to be held April 22-26 in Chicago.

"Star-nosed moles are truly amazing animals," said Catania, a neuroscientist who's interest in the creature was first piqued while working as an undergraduate research assistant at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. "Obviously they are among the weirdest looking creatures on the planet. But when I began trying to understand the star, the mole's brain organization, and its behavior--that's when things got really surprising."

Here are some highlights:

They eat faster than any other mammal on Earth.

Star-nosed moles can identify and eat food (bugs, mostly) in less than two-tenths of a second, taking a mere 8 milliseconds to decide whether an item is edible or not. They perform this feat in part due to the extremely efficient operation of their nervous systems, which convey information from the environment to the animal's brain at speeds approaching the physiological limit of neurons. It also helps that...

...Their star is the most sensitive known touch organ in any mammal.

The distinctive star organ on the mole's snout contains more than 100,000 nerve fibers--five times the number of "touch" fibers in the human hand, all packed into a space smaller than your fingertip. "The star skin is so sensitive that we have not been able to determine the lowest threshold for activating neurons," said Catania, adding that studying the star could provide insights that improve our understanding of the human sense of touch.

From a neurological perspective, their sense of touch mirrors our sense of sight.

At the center of the star organ is a small area called the touch fovea that the mole uses for all of its most detailed explorations. Although the mole's actual eyes are essentially useless, the touch fovea is neurologically organized in a way that is strikingly similar to the organization of a highly developed visual system. As the mole moves through its environment, it constantly shifts the star to reposition the fovea on areas of interest, just as we shift our eyes while reading the words printed on a page, for example. "These parallels suggest there are common strategies by which evolution 'builds' high-resolution sensory systems, whether they are based on sight or on touch," Catania said.

If you use the right dye, you can literally see which parts of their brains map to which body parts.

Scientists create maps of the brains of humans and other animals using a painstaking process of trial and error to determine which areas of the brain control (and receive stimuli from) various parts of the body. In star-nosed moles, you can actually see the brain maps with the right kinds of cellular stains. "You can basically see a 'star' in the mole's neocortex," said Catania. "That allows us to make all kinds of detailed measurements and neural recordings that are very difficult in other species."

Also, they can smell underwater. And their front legs are shovels.

Star-nosed moles are like a poster child for extreme evolutionary adaptations. Using their shovel-like front limbs to tunnel through soggy, marsh-like areas, the moles often dive and swim for food. Star-nosed moles have been shown to blow bubbles into the water and then re-inhale them through the nose in order to sniff for prey, making them the first mammal known to smell underwater.

Star-nosed moles are not uncommon, just uncommonly seen, said Catania. The species' range stretches along the Eastern portions of the U.S. and Canada. So keep an eye out--what you find just might surprise you.

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Kenneth Catania will present this research during the EXTREME Anatomy: Living Beyond the Edge session at 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Sunday, April 23, in Room 175AB, McCormick Place Convention Center (abstract). Contact the media team for more information or to obtain a free press pass to attend the meeting.

Image available.

About Experimental Biology 2017

Experimental Biology is an annual meeting comprised of more than 14,000 scientists and exhibitors from six host societies and multiple guest societies. With a mission to share the newest scientific concepts and research findings shaping clinical advances, the meeting offers an unparalleled opportunity for exchange among scientists from across the U.S. and the world who represent dozens of scientific areas, from laboratory to translational to clinical research. http://www.experimentalbiology.org #expbio

About the American Association of Anatomists (AAA)

AAA is the professional home for an international community of biomedical researchers and educators focusing on anatomical form and function. Founded in 1888, the society advances the three-dimensional understanding of structure as it relates to development and function, from molecule to organism. http://www.anatomy.org

Find more news briefs and tipsheets at: https://www.eurekalert.org/meetings/eb/2017/newsroom.
A new study has made a major new discovery towards finding the cause of multiple sclerosis, potentially paving the way for research to investigate new treatments

A new study has made a major new discovery towards finding the cause of multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially paving the way for research to investigate new treatments.

Ahead of MS Awareness Week, which starts today (Monday April 24), an international team involving the University of Exeter Medical School and the University of Alberta has discovered a new cellular mechanism-- an underlying defect in brain cells -- that may cause the disease, and a potential hallmark that may be a target for future treatment of the autoimmune disorder.

The study was recently published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation and part funded by the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust.

Professor Paul Eggleton, of the University of Exeter Medical School, said: "Multiple sclerosis can have a devastating impact on people's lives, affecting mobility, speech, mental ability and more. So far, all medicine can offer is treatment and therapy for the symptoms - as we do not yet know the precise causes, research has been limited. Our exciting new findings have uncovered a new avenue for researchers to explore. It is a critical step, and in time, we hope it might lead to effective new treatments for MS."

Multiple sclerosis affects around 2.5 million people around the world. Typically, people are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s, and it is more common in women than men.

Although the cause has so far been a mystery, the disease causes the body's own immune system to attack myelin - the fatty "sheaths" that protect nerves in the brain and spinal cord. This leads to brain damage, a reduction in blood supply and oxygen and the formation of lesions in the body. Symptoms can be wide-ranging, and can include muscle spasms, mobility problems, pain, fatigue, and problems with speech.

Scientists have long suspected that mitochondria, the energy-creating "powerhouse" of the cell, plays a link in causing multiple sclerosis.

The joint Exeter-Alberta research team was the first to combine clinical and laboratory experiments to explain how mitochondria becomes defective in people with MS. Using human brain tissue samples , they found that a protein called Rab32 is present in large quantities in the brains of people with MS, but is virtually absent in healthy brain cells.

Where Rab32 is present, the team discovered that a part of the cell that stores calcium (endoplasmic reticulum or ER) gets too close to the mitochondria. The resulting miscommunication with the calcium supply triggers the mitochondria to misbehave, ultimately causing toxicity for brain cells people with MS.

Researchers do not yet know what causes an unwelcome influx of Rab32 but they believe the defect could originate at the base of the ER organelle.

The finding will enable scientists to search for effective treatments that target Rab32 and embark on determining whether there are other proteins that may pay a role in triggering MS.

Dr David Schley, Research Communications Manager at the MS Society, said:

"No one knows for sure why people develop MS and we welcome any research that increases our understanding of how to stop it. There are currently no treatments available for many of the more than 100,000 people in the UK who live with this challenging and unpredictable condition. We want people with MS to have a range of treatments to choose from, and be able to get the right treatment at the right time."

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The paper, 'Rab32 connects ER stress to mitochondrial defects in multiple sclerosis', is published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation. Authors are Yohannes Haile, Xiaodan Deng, Carolina Ortiz-Sandoval, Nasser Tahbaz, Aleksandra Janowicz, Jian-Qiang Lu, Bradley J. Kerr, Nicholas J. Gutowski, Janet E. Holley, Paul Eggleton, Fabrizio Giuliani and Thomas Simmen
The Artisan Cheese Fair is the UKs largest cheese fair with over 70 artisan cheesemakers from Britain and Ireland and around 300 cheeses to try and buy.



Other food & drink on sale; wine, cakes, beer, pies, hot street food, etc is complemented by a range of other stands.



This is a particularly difficult time for cheesemakers, you can support them buy buying their cheese directly from them or through your local cheesemonger, deli, farmshop and specialist food store.

FarmingUK assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this page.

The information contained in this site is provided on an "as is" basis, and should be independently verified before travel.
The Prime Minister has been urged to take farming into account more when dealing with Brexit, with fears mounting that the sector is being left behind.

Farming groups are being left out in the cold when it comes to meeting with Trade Ministers who are shaping the future of the UK.

The Department for International Trade has held 234 meetings after the day of Brexit and not one has been with a UK farming body.

Instead, the Government is favouring sectors such as finance and defence.

Plaid Cymru has urged PM Theresa May to ensure the UK government departments dealing with Brexit are as "accessible and engaged" as possible to all bodies and sectors impacted by the UK's departure from the EU.

Plaid Cymru has insisted that UK Ministers had "a duty" to engage fully with all organisations set to be impacted by Brexit, and that failure to do so would make a mockery of the Prime Minister's pledge that the devolved nations would have "a direct line" to Brexit departments.

'Set to lose'

Leanne Wood said it is vital that UK government departments are open and accessible to all bodies and sectors impacted by Brexit.

Ms Wood said: "This includes Wales's farming sector which is set to lose a great deal from leaving the EU unless key organisations' concerns and representations are listened to.

"The Prime Minister and her Brexit ministers cannot be allowed to build a wall around Whitehall which gives them immunity from transparency and proper scrutiny. Uncertainty is crippling for business and industry and the farming sector as much as any other deserves answers.

"By refusing to meet with key bodies in Wales and beyond for at least nine months after the referendum, UK government ministers are making a mockery of the pledge made by the Prime Minister last year that all devolved nations would have "a direct line" to Brexit departments.

"Wales's key industries and sectors deserve better than to be treated with such disregard by the Westminster government."
English growers will be showing off the country's finest produce in Europe as part of a delegation to promote English asparagus.

Asparagus growers, and fans of the iconic vegetable, are on a mission to Brussels next week to promote the "green stuff" to their continental neighbours.

West Midlands Conservative MEP Anthea McIntyre will host a visit to the European Parliament by growers and aficionados from the Vale of Evesham in Worcestershire - the area considered by many to produce the finest asparagus in the world.

She said: "If you love fresh asparagus this is some of the most delicious you can get. This is our chance to shout about it to Europe and the world."

Accompanied by mascot Gus the Asparagus Man as well as St George, the delegation will deliver a big bundle of freshly-cut local "gras" to the heart of the European Union to highlight its unbeatable quality, colour and flavour.

The trip will celebrate and say "thank you" for the granting of EU Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status to Vale of Evesham Asparagus earlier this year.

A 'green' delegation

The team will be greeted outside the Parliament on Tuesday April 25 by Miss McIntyre, who will then take them inside to lunch with MEPs.

The delegation - all dressed in green - will set out from Bretforton in a mini bus the day before, with a send-off at the Fleece Inn, home of the renowned asparagus auction which is a focal point of the annual British Asparagus Festival.

Among the delegation will be Nigel Smith, landlord of the Fleece and festival chairman; Matt Foster, managing director of West Growers, of Defford near Pershore; festival director Tash Daley; Angela Tidmarsh, tourism officer for Wychavon District Council and co-founder of the festival; grower and farm shop-owner Darren Hedges; and Wychavon marketing and events officer Steve Knight. Plus St George and Gus, of course.

The British Asparagus Festival has gained traction over the years and is considered a key driver pushing consumer trends towards the vegetable.

PGI status

Miss McIntyre continued: "It took four years of hard work to win PGI status but it is so worthwhile. Now nobody can attempt to pass off an inferior product as Vale of Evesham - and the protection puts our product on a par with Champagne or Parma ham.

"I am looking forward to welcoming them all to Brussels and spreading the word that you haven't really lived until you'v e enjoyed Vale of Evesham asparagus."

Organiser of the British Asparagus Festival, Angela Tidmarsh said: Having PGI status really helps us to sell the crop and creates a lot of interest and it certainly helps the growers. Weve been hosting our asparagus festival for nearly ten years now and thats helped enormously with the tourism industry and the recognition of the Vale of Evesham region specialising in asparagus.

Forecasts for this season look solid with good quality and production volumes. Harvesting has already started but the official season kicks off t today (April 23), St Georges Day, and lasts until July.




Haiti - FLASH : Rebound in the case of Guy Philippe





While the trial in the United States of elected Senator Guy Philippe is scheduled for 1 May and he had decided to plead not guilty on 13 January 2017 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19796-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-pleads-not-guilty.html , his lawyers, following an agreement with the prosecutor decided to change their plea and plead guilty. The plea change hearing will take place on Monday, April 24, at the Miami Federal Court, front of the judge Cecilia Altonaga.



Let us recall that Guy Philippe in charged with : drug trafficking; Money laundering and financial transaction from the importation of illegal substances into the United States, risked life imprisonment for all three counts.



By pleading guilty in an agreement with the prosecutor in exchange for his collaboration, Guy Phlippe will receive a less severe penalty in case of conviction. However, it is not known on which of the 3 counts he will plead guilty, nor to what level Guy Phlippe is willing to collaborate with the US Justice. The only thing certain is that Guy Philippe holds sufficiently serious information for the American authorities accept this agreement.



To be continued...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20457-haiti-flash-trial-of-guy-philippe-postponed.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20400-haiti-flash-minister-edouard-speaks-on-the-case-guy-philippe.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20155-haiti-flash-extradition-of-guy-philippe-is-illegal-according-to-mirlande-manigat.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20036-haiti-flash-trial-of-guy-philippe-in-the-united-states.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19799-haiti-politics-demonstration-of-support-to-guy-philippe-front-us-embassy.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19796-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-pleads-not-guilty.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19790-haiti-security-all-closed-schools-in-the-department-of-grande-anse.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19774-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-was-extradited-on-what-legal-basis.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19767-haiti-flash-americans-attacked-houses-burned-down.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19757-haiti-flash-violent-reprisals-of-guy-philippe-s-supporters.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19731-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-the-charges-are-known-appearing-on-january-13-2017.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19730-haiti-justice-guy-philippe-appeared-the-minister-of-justice-convened.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19721-haiti-flash-senator-guy-philippe-extradited-to-the-usa.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19720-haiti-flash-arrest-of-senator-guy-philippe.html



SL/ HaitiLibre


















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TeleSur |  

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visited the base on Saturday, and in a statement condemned the attack as cowardly and the work of infidels.

At least 140 Afghan soldiers were killed by Taliban attackers apparently disguised in military uniforms, officials said on Saturday, in what would be the deadliest attack ever on an Afghan military base.

One official in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, where the attack occurred, said on Saturday at least 140 soldiers were killed and many others wounded. Other officials said the toll was likely to be even higher.

They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the government has yet to release exact casualty figures.

The defense ministry said more than 100 soldiers were killed or wounded.

The attack starkly highlighted the struggle by the Afghan government and its international backers to defeat a Taliban insurgency that has gripped Afghanistan for more than a decade.

As many as 10 Taliban fighters, dressed in Afghan army uniforms and driving military vehicles, made their way into the base and opened fire on mostly unarmed soldiers eating and leaving a mosque after Friday prayers, according to officials.

They used rocket-propelled grenades and rifles, and several detonated suicide vests packed with explosive, officials said.

Via TeleSur



Related video added by Juan Cole:

Al Jazeera: Afghanistan mourns after deadly Taliban attack on base
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By Fatima Khemilat | (The Conversation) |  

On April 8, the well-known French television show Salut les terriens turned sour when guests discussed the very sensitive topic of the so-called French Muslim vote.

One panelist, journalist Sonia Mabrouk, argued that Muslims in France are constantly used by opportunists, from politicians to intellectuals, as a constituency to serve their own purposes.

The incident recalled the final televised debate of Frances 2012 presidential election, when then-candidate Francois Hollande sparred with incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy over the Muslim vote.

Hollande was in favour of extending the right to vote in local elections to non-EU citizens living in France, while Sarkozy argued against it. The president claimed that such a move would lead to identity-based voting practices and divisive sectarian demands.

Women, its worth remembering, were once suspected of voting with their sex.

As the French go to the polls on April 23 and May 7 to elect their new president, the question reemerges: is it reasonable to assume that Muslims voting behaviour is based on their religion and on the Quran?

The impact of religion on votes

Some 93% of French Muslims cast their ballots for Francois Hollande in the second round of the 2012 presidential election, according to a poll by OpinionWay. Thats 41% above than the national average, since Hollande was ultimately elected with 52% of votes.

Several attempts have been made to explain why French Muslims voted almost unanimously for the left.

In their 2012 book Francais comme les autres? (As French as everyone else?), political scientists Sylvain Brouard and Vincent Tiberj concluded that the impact of religion on the voting practices of believers should not be overestimated.

Catholics in France and in the United States, for example, vote in ways diametrically opposed to each other. In France, people who identify as Catholic are today markedly in favour of the conservative Republicains, particularly since the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2013.

In the US, on the other hand, they tend to vote for the Democrats, a more socially progressive party.

How can this difference be explained? According to Brouard and Tiberj, Catholics in the US vote Democratic for precisely the same reasons that Muslims in France went for Hollandes Socialist Party: they cast their ballots for candidates who support minority rights.

Both groups are often found among racial and religious minorities  American citizens of Latin American origin and people of Maghrebian or African background in France  who have faced economic and social marginalisation in their respective countries.

In France, on the other hand, Catholicism is the main religious faith. Hence the difference in voting orientations (though a bastion of left-wing Catholic voters has also historically existed in France).

In other words, religion is not the be-all, end-all of a believers political choices.

Identifying as Muslims

Though the impact of faith must be taken with a grain of salt, it is not entirely irrelevant in the context of elections. Qualitative research I conducted in 2012 and 2013 found that the vote of French Muslim citizens I interviewed was indeed influenced by their religious identity.

Being a Muslim did not predetermine their answer to the question, Who should I vote for? But it did lead people to ask, Who shouldnt I vote for? The impact was negative, helping them eliminate candidates deemed Islamophobic, rather than positive ([I] choose a candidate who defends my values, including religious values).

French Muslims took into account laws banning the headscarf or niqab, a veil that covers the face, as well as public comments against Islam, for instance, when weighing different candidates and their platforms. Candidates positions on foreign policy were also considered, with military interventions in Muslim-majority countries particularly frowned upon.

This is similar to how French citizens who identify as Jewish tend to be especially sensitive to antisemitism and to the position of candidates regarding Israel.

According to my study, being a Muslim can have three different effects on a persons vote: it can consolidate a choice previously made, based on factors unrelated to religion; it can help select among a few candidates on the basis of the Islamophobia criterion; and when a candidates attitude towards Muslims is negatively perceived, it can destabilise and change a persons political orientation.

Take, for example, Youssouf, a self-made man who in 2007 voted for Nicolas Sarkozy, the Republican party candidate. But in 2012, after what he called the unashamed Islamophobic discourses and public policies targeting Islam made by him and his governement, Youssouf decided to vote for the left-wing Francois Hollande. Even though Youssouf didnt at all like Hollandes stance on economic and social issues.

Because of their lower socioeconomic status and the marginalisation they face, many French Muslims, especially those living in Frances banlieues (suburbs), might simply choose not to vote.

Some of them justify their abstention with religious explanations, claiming that voting is not halal, since France is not a Muslim country.

Calls for abstention in 2017

Generally, this position is only held by a minority of highly orthodox Tabligh or Salafist Muslims. But today, several public Muslim intellectuals, including leaders who are not necessarily from those sects are calling for an active abstention by Muslims of the 2017 presidential election. The intent is to escape the constant trap of voting for the lesser of two evils.

Nizarr Bourchada, leader of the Francais et Musulmans (French and Muslim) party, advocates a similar approach. His is one of the first French political parties to claim a strong attachment to both Islamic and French Republican values.

This echoes French author Michel Houellebecqs prescient 2015 novel Soumission (Submission). Set in 2022, the book imagines the rise to power in France of a Muslim political party that imposes polygamy and prohibits women from wearing clothes that make them desirable.

Within a few weeks of publication, Soumission had become a bestseller in France, Italy and Germany. It bolsters the idea that a collective vote of French Muslims, or at least their federation into a political party, would be a threat for French society.

The reality is quite different. But whatever the outcome of this election season, it seems that the fantasy of a Muslim vote will continue to haunt Europes imagination for years to come.

Fatima Khemilat, PhD Student, Sciences Po Aix

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

-

Related video added by Juan Cole:

France 24: Betrayed by the ruling class, French Muslims tempted not to vote
The White House said Friday it is well aware that Korea has been "independent for thousands of years," after President Donald Trump quoted Chinese President Xi Jinping as claiming, falsely, that Korea used to be part of China.



"We generally do not comment on the details of what is said between the President and other leaders. We know well that Korea has been independent for thousands of years," Michael Anton, deputy assistant to the president for strategic communications, told Yonhap News Agency.



In an interview with the Wall Street Journal earlier this month, Trump talked about his discussions with Xi during their first summit meetings in Florida that Trump hoped to use to get China to exercise more of its influence over North Korea to rein in the provocative regime.



Trump said that after he urged Xi to rein in the North, Xi "went into the history of China and Korea."



"And you know, you're talking about thousands of years ... and many wars. And Korea actually used to be a part of China. And after listening for 10 minutes, I realized that it's not so easy," Trump said during the interview.



Even if Trump was simply relying what Xi told him, the comment still sparked concern and outrage among South Koreans not only because they not only saw Xi's claim as an attempt to undermine Korean sovereignty but also because Trump could be misunderstanding history.



Friday's White House comment was seen as an effort to calm such concern. (Yonhap)




New York, NY Key Energy Services California has agreed to a $3 million settlement on a class action for Key Energy Services California has agreed to a $3 million settlement on a class action for California labor law violations.

The class action consolidated two lawsuits originally filed nearly four years ago by former Key Energy employees.Paul Grillo, a non-exempt "floor hand" on a Key Energy onshore oil rig, filed a lawsuit in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Nov. 2013, alleging overtime violations against Texas-based Key Energy. Manuel Zaragoza, who also worked as a floor hand at various onshore oil rigs, filed a separate lawsuit against Key Energy in June 2013 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.The plaintiffs claimed that the company violated California Labor Law, failed to provide meal breaks to employees and refused to pay employees for required work that went over their allotted hours.In 2016, the plaintiffs won class certification for a class covering California-based Key Energy workers for a period going back to 2009. The current motion for preliminary approval of the class action settlement, filed April 18, 2017, also asks for approval of a modified class with eight subclasses.The parties reached the settlement agreement through mediation, according to court documents.The class action plaintiffs and their counsel "maintained a strong belief in the underlying merits of the claims," according to the proposed settlement. "They also acknowledge the significant challenges posed by continued litigation through trial. Accordingly, when balanced against the risk and expense of continued litigation, the settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable," wrote the plaintiff attorneys.The proposed settlement directs Key Energy to pay $3 million, allocating $1.79 million to the employees after fees and other costs. The projected class includes 1,815 employees with each worker receiving around $985.Payment would be based on the number of pay periods an employee worked between June 2009 and February 2017.Grillo and Zaragoza would each be awarded $10,000 in incentive payments for filing the lawsuit.A hearing on the motion for preliminary approval of the settlement is scheduled for May 22, 2017.
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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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AGCO Corporation manufactures and distributes agricultural equipment and related replacement parts worldwide. It offers horsepower tractors for row crop production, soil cultivation, planting, land leveling, seeding, and commercial hay operations; utility tractors for small- and medium-sized farms, as well as for dairy, livestock, orchards, and vineyards; and compact tractors for small farms, specialty agricultural industries, landscaping, equestrian, and residential uses. The company also provides grain storage bins and related drying and handling equipment systems; seed-processing systems; swine and poultry feed storage and delivery; ventilation and watering systems; and egg production systems and broiler production equipment. In addition, it offers round and rectangular balers, loader wagons, self-propelled windrowers, forage harvesters, disc mowers, spreaders, rakes, tedders, and mower conditioners for harvesting and packaging vegetative feeds used in the beef cattle, dairy, horse, and renewable fuel industries. Further, the company provides implements, including disc harrows leveling seed beds and mixing chemicals with the soils; heavy tillage to break up soil and mix crop residue into topsoil; field cultivators that prepare smooth seed bed and destroy weeds; drills for small grain seeding; planters and other planting equipment; and loaders. Additionally, it offers combines for harvesting grain crops, such as corn, wheat, soybeans, and rice; and application equipment, such as self-propelled, three- and four-wheeled vehicles, and related equipment for liquid and dry fertilizers and crop protection chemicals, and for after crops emerge from the ground, as well as produces diesel engines, gears, and generating sets. The company markets its products under the Challenger, Fendt, GSI, Massey Ferguson, and Valtra brands through a network of independent dealers and distributors. AGCO Corporation was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia.
The following companies are subsidiares of Caterpillar: Advanced Tri-Gen Power Systems LLC, Anchor Coupling Inc., Asia Power Systems (Tianjin) Ltd., AsiaTrak (Tianjin) Ltd., Banco Caterpillar S.A., Berg Propulsion International Pte Ltd., Bucyrus, Bucyrus Australia Surface Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Holdings Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Limited, Bucyrus International (Chile) Limitada, Bucyrus International (Peru) S.A., Bucyrus Mining Australia Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Mining China LLC, Bucyrus UK Limited, Cat Rental Kyushu LLC, Caterpillar (Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar (China) Financial Leasing Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Machinery Components Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (HK) Limited, Caterpillar (Huainan) Machinery Service Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Langfang) Mining Equipment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Luxembourg) Investment Co. S.a r.l., Caterpillar (NI) Limited, Caterpillar (Newberry) LLC, Caterpillar (Qingzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Logistics Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar (U.K.) Limited, Caterpillar (Wujiang) Ltd., Caterpillar (Xuzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Zhengzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar Acquisition Holding Corp., Caterpillar Americas C.V., Caterpillar Americas Co., Caterpillar Americas Funding Inc., Caterpillar Americas Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Asia Limited, Caterpillar Asia Pacific L.P., Caterpillar Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Asset Intelligence LLC, Caterpillar Belgium S.A., Caterpillar Brasil Comercio de Maquinas e Pecas Ltda., Caterpillar Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Brazil LLC, Caterpillar Castings Kiel GmbH, Caterpillar Centro de Formacion S.L., Caterpillar China Limited, Caterpillar Commercial Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Commercial LLC, Caterpillar Commercial Northern Europe Limited, Caterpillar Commercial S.A., Caterpillar Commercial S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Commercial Services S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Communications LLC, Caterpillar Corporativo Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Cote DIvoire, Caterpillar Credito S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., Caterpillar DC Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Digital Services & Solutions SARL, Caterpillar Distribution International LLC, Caterpillar Distribution Services Europe B.V.B.A., Caterpillar East Real Estate Holding Ltd., Caterpillar Emissions Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH, Caterpillar Energy Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions S.A., Caterpillar Energy System Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Engine Systems Inc., Caterpillar Equipos Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Eurasia LLC, Caterpillar FS (QFC) LLC, Caterpillar Finance France S.A., Caterpillar Finance Kabushiki Kaisha, Caterpillar Financial Acquisition Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Aftermarket Solutions Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Australia Leasing Pty Limited, Caterpillar Financial Australia Limited, Caterpillar Financial Commercial Account Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Corporacion Financiera S.A. E.F.C., Caterpillar Financial Dealer Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Funding Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Caterpillar Financial Leasing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial New Zealand Limited, Caterpillar Financial Nordic Services AB, Caterpillar Financial Nova Scotia Corporation, Caterpillar Financial OOO, Caterpillar Financial Receivables Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Renting S.A., Caterpillar Financial SARL, Caterpillar Financial Services (Dubai) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services (Ireland) plc, Caterpillar Financial Services (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Argentina S.A., Caterpillar Financial Services Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Financial Services CR s.r.o., Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Services GmbH, Caterpillar Financial Services India Private Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Leasing ULC, Caterpillar Financial Services Limited Les Services Financiers Caterpillar Limitee, Caterpillar Financial Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Caterpillar Financial Services Netherlands B.V., Caterpillar Financial Services Norway AS, Caterpillar Financial Services Philippines Inc., Caterpillar Financial Services Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, Caterpillar Financial UK Acquisition Funding Partners, Caterpillar Financial Ukraine LLC, Caterpillar Fluid Systems S.r.l., Caterpillar Fomento Comercial Ltda., Caterpillar Forest Products Inc., Caterpillar France S.A.S., Caterpillar GB L.L.C., Caterpillar Global Investments S.a r.l., Caterpillar Global Mining America LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Equipamentos De Mineracao do Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Expanded Products Pty Ltd, Caterpillar Global Mining Germany Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining HMS GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong AFC Manufacturing Holding Co. Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Global Mining SARL, Caterpillar Global Mining U.S. Parts LLC, Caterpillar Global Services LLC, Caterpillar Group Services S.A., Caterpillar Holding (France) S.A.S., Caterpillar Holding Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Holdings Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Hungary Components Manufacturing Ltd., Caterpillar Hydraulics Italia S.r.l., Caterpillar IPX LLC, Caterpillar IRB LLC, Caterpillar Impact Products Limited, Caterpillar India Private Limited, Caterpillar Industrial Inc., Caterpillar Industrias Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Industries (Pty) Ltd, Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Insurance Company, Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc., Caterpillar Insurance Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Finance Designated Activity Company, Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg I S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg II S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Product SARL, Caterpillar International Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Services del Peru S.A., Caterpillar Investment Limited, Caterpillar Investment One SARL, Caterpillar Investment Two SARL, Caterpillar Investments, Caterpillar Japan LLC, Caterpillar Latin America Services S.R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Panama S. de R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Servicios de Chile Limitada, Caterpillar Latin America Support Services S. DE R.L., Caterpillar Leasing (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar Leasing Chile S.A., Caterpillar Leasing GmbH (Leipzig), Caterpillar Leasing Operativo Limitada, Caterpillar Life Insurance Company, Caterpillar Logistics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Logistics (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Logistics Inc., Caterpillar Logistics ML Services France S.A.S., Caterpillar Logistics Services China Limited, Caterpillar Luxembourg Group S.ar.l., Caterpillar Luxembourg LLC, Caterpillar Luxembourg S.a r.l., Caterpillar Machinery Nantong Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asset Intelligence, Caterpillar Marine Power UK Limited, Caterpillar Marine Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Maroc SARL, Caterpillar Materiels Routiers SAS, Caterpillar Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Mexico S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Mining Canada ULC, Caterpillar Mining Chile Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Motoren (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, Caterpillar Motoren Henstedt-Ulzburg GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Rostock GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Verwaltungs-GmbH, Caterpillar Netherlands Holding B.V., Caterpillar North America C.V., Caterpillar Operator Training Ltd., Caterpillar Overseas Credit Corporation SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Investment Holding SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Limited, Caterpillar Overseas SARL, Caterpillar Panama Services S.A., Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Paving Products Xuzhou Ltd., Caterpillar Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Power Generation Systems (Bangladesh) Limited, Caterpillar Power Generation Systems L.L.C., Caterpillar Power Systems Inc., Caterpillar Power Ventures International Ltd., Caterpillar Precision Seals Korea, Caterpillar Prodotti Stradali S.r.l., Caterpillar Product Services Corporation, Caterpillar Propulsion AB, Caterpillar Propulsion International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Italy S.R.L., Caterpillar Propulsion Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar Propulsion Production AB, Caterpillar Propulsion Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Singapore Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar R&D Center (China) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe LLC, Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe Servicios S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Reman Powertrain Indiana LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Drivetrain LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Renting France S.A.S., Caterpillar Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar SARL, Caterpillar Services Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Servizi Italia Srl, Caterpillar Shrewsbury Limited, Caterpillar Skinningrove Limited, Caterpillar Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd., Caterpillar Special Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Switchgear Americas LLC, Caterpillar Switchgear Holding Inc., Caterpillar Tianjin Ltd., Caterpillar Torreon S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Tosno L.L.C., Caterpillar Transmissions France S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Tunneling Canada Holdings Ltd., Caterpillar Tunnelling Canada Corporation, Caterpillar Tunnelling Europe Limited, Caterpillar UK Employee Trust Limited, Caterpillar UK Engines Company Limited, Caterpillar UK Group Limited, Caterpillar UK Holdings Limited, Caterpillar Undercarriage (Xuzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Used Equipment Services Inc., Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., Caterpillar Work Tools B.V., Caterpillar Work Tools Inc., Caterpillar World Trading Corporation, Caterpillar Xuzhou, Caterpillar of Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar of Canada Corporation, Caterpillar of Delaware Inc., Centre de Distribution de Wallonie SPRL, CleanAir Systems, Downer Freight Rail, ECM Railway Evolution Romania s.r.l., ECM S.p.A., EDC European Excavator Design Center GmbH, EMC Holding Corp., EMD International Holdings Inc., ERA Information & Entertainment (BVI) Limited, ERA Mining Machinery Limited, Electro-Motive Diesel Limited, Electro-Motive Locomotive Technologies LLC, Electro-Motive Technical Consulting Co. (Beijing) Ltd., Energy Services International Limited, Equipos de Acuna S.A. de C.V., Eurenov S.A.S., F. G. Wilson (Proprietary) Limited, F. Perkins Limited, FG Wilson (Engineering) Limited, GB Holdco (China) Inc., GFCM Comercial Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., GFCM Servicios S.A. de C.V., Gremada Industries - Assets, Hong Kong Siwei Holdings Limited, Inmobiliaria Conek S.A. de C.V., JCS Co., Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp., Leo Inc., Locomotive Demand Power Pty Ltd., Locomotoras Progress Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Lovat, M2M Data Corporation, MGE Equipamentos & Servicos Ferroviarios, MWM, MWM Austria GmbH, MWM Benelux B.V., MWM Energy Australia Pty Ltd, MWM France S.A.S, MWM Real Estate GmbH, MaK Americas Inc., MaK Americas Inc. (Canada), Magnum Power Products LLC, Marble, Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH, Mec-Track S.r.l., Metalmark Financial Services Limited, Motoren Steffens GmbH, Nippon Caterpillar LLC, P. T. Solar Services Indonesia, PT Caterpillar Finance Indonesia, PT. Bucyrus Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia Batam, PT. Caterpillar Remanufacturing Indonesia, Perkins Engines, Perkins Engines (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, Perkins Engines Group Limited, Perkins Engines Inc., Perkins Group Limited, Perkins Holdings Limited LLC, Perkins India Private Limited, Perkins International Inc., Perkins Japan LLC, Perkins Limited, Perkins Machinery (Changshu) Co. Ltd., Perkins Motores do Brasil Ltda., Perkins Power Systems Technology (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines LLC, Perkins Small Engines Limited, Perkins Technology Inc., Progress Metal Reclamation Company, Progress Rail Arabia Limited Company, Progress Rail Australia Pty Ltd, Progress Rail Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Equipamentos e Servicos Ferroviarios do Brasil Ltda., Progress Rail Equipment Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Holdings Inc., Progress Rail Innovations Private Limited, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems GmbH, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems S.r.l., Progress Rail International Corp., Progress Rail Leasing Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Progress Rail Locomotivas (do Brasil) Ltda., Progress Rail Locomotive Canada Co., Progress Rail Locomotive Chile SpA, Progress Rail Locomotive Inc., Progress Rail Maintenance de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Progress Rail Manufacturing Corporation, Progress Rail Raceland Corporation, Progress Rail Rocklin Corporation, Progress Rail SA Proprietary Limited, Progress Rail Services Corporation, Progress Rail Services Holdings Corp., Progress Rail Services LLC, Progress Rail Services UK Limited, Progress Rail Switching Services LLC, Progress Rail Transcanada Corporation, Progress Rail Welding Corporation, Progress Rail Wildwood LLC, Progress Rail de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pyroban Group, Pyroban Group, Pyrrha Investments B.V., Pyrrha Investments Limited, S&L Railroad LLC, SCM Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., SPL Software Alliance LLC, Sabre Engines, Servicios de Turbinas Solar S. de R.L. de C.V., Shandong SEM Machinery Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines (Beijing) Trading Services Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines (Thailand) Ltd., Solar Turbines CIS Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Canada Ltd./Ltee., Solar Turbines Central Asia Limited Liability Partnership, Solar Turbines EAME s.r.o., Solar Turbines Egypt Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Europe S.A., Solar Turbines India Private Limited, Solar Turbines International Company, Solar Turbines Italy S.R.L., Solar Turbines Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Solar Turbines Middle East Limited, Solar Turbines New Zealand Limited, Solar Turbines Saudi Arabia Limited, Solar Turbines Services Company, Solar Turbines Services Nigeria Limited, Solar Turbines Services of Argentina S.R.L., Solar Turbines Switzerland Sagl, Solar Turbines Trinidad & Tobago Limited, Solar Turbines West-Africa SARL, Tangshan DBT Machinery Co. Ltd., Tecnologia Modificada S.A. de C.V., Towmotor Corporation, Traction & Mining Motor Repairs Pty Ltd, Turbinas Solar S.A. de C.V., Turbinas Solar de Colombia S.A., Turbinas Solar de Venezuela C.A., Turbo Tecnologia de Reparaciones S.A. de C.V., Turbomach, Turbomach Endustriyel Gaz Turbinleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited, Turbomach France SARL, Turbomach GmbH, Turbomach Netherlands B.V., Turbomach Pakistan (Private) Limited, Turbomach S.A. Unipersonal, Turbomach Sp. Z o.o., Turner Powertrain Systems Limited, UK Hose Assembly Limited, Underground Imaging Technologies Inc, United Industries LLC, VALA Inc., Vasky Energy Ltd., Wealdstone Engineering, Weir - Oil & Gas Division, West Virginia Auto Shredding Inc., Western Gear Machinery LLC, Wetland Sustainability Fund I LLC, Williams Technologies, Yard Club, Zhengzhou Siwei Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Sales Co. Ltd., and okyo Rental Ltd..

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EMCOR Group, Inc. provides electrical and mechanical construction, and facilities services primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. It offers design, integration, installation, starts-up, operation, and maintenance services related to electrical power transmission, distribution, and generation systems; energy solutions; premises electrical and lighting systems; process instrumentation in the refining, chemical processing, and food processing industries; low-voltage systems, such as fire alarm, security, and process control systems; voice and data communications systems; roadway and transit lighting, signaling, and fiber optic lines; heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and geothermal solutions; clean-room process ventilation systems; fire protection and suppression systems; plumbing, process, and high-purity piping systems; controls and filtration systems; water and wastewater treatment systems; central plant heating and cooling systems; crane and rigging services; millwright services; and steel fabrication, erection, and welding services. The company also provides building services that cover commercial and government site-based operations and maintenance; facility management, maintenance, and services; outage services to utilities and industrial plants; military base operations support services; mobile mechanical maintenance and services; services for indoor air quality; floor care and janitorial services; landscaping, lot sweeping, and snow removal services; vendor management and call center services; installation and support for building systems; program development, management, and maintenance for energy systems; technical consulting and diagnostic services; infrastructure and building projects; small modification and retrofit projects; and other building services. It offers industrial services to oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. EMCOR Group, Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Enbridge Inc. operates as an energy infrastructure company. The company operates through five segments: Liquids Pipelines, Gas Transmission and Midstream, Gas Distribution and Storage, Renewable Power Generation, and Energy Services. The Liquids Pipelines segment operates pipelines and related terminals to transport various grades of crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons in Canada and the United States. The Gas Transmission and Midstream segment invests in natural gas pipelines, and gathering and processing facilities in Canada and the United States. The Gas Distribution and Storage segment is involved in natural gas utility operations serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Ontario, as well as natural gas distribution and energy transportation activities in Quebec. The Renewable Power Generation segment operates power generating assets, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and waste heat recovery facilities; and transmission assets in North America and Europe. The Energy Services segment provides energy marketing services to refiners, producers, and other customers; and physical commodity marketing and logistical services in Canada and the United States. The company was formerly known as IPL Energy Inc. and changed its name to Enbridge Inc. in October 1998. Enbridge Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
Targa Resources Corp., together with its subsidiary, Targa Resources Partners LP, owns, operates, acquires, and develops a portfolio of midstream energy assets in North America. The company operates in two segments, Gathering and Processing, and Logistics and Transportation. It engages in gathering, compressing, treating, processing, transporting, and selling natural gas; storing, fractionating, treating, transporting, and selling natural gas liquids (NGL) and NGL products, including services to liquefied petroleum gas exporters; and gathering, storing, terminaling, purchasing, and selling crude oil. The company is also involved in the purchase and resale of NGL products; and wholesale of propane, as well as provision of related logistics services to multi-state retailers, independent retailers, and other end-users. In addition, it offers NGL balancing services; and transportation services to refineries and petrochemical companies in the Gulf Coast area, as well as purchases, markets, and resells natural gas. The company operates approximately 28,400 miles of natural gas pipelines, including 42 owned and operated processing plants; and owns or operates a total of 34 storage wells with a gross storage capacity of approximately 76 million barrels. As of December 31, 2021, it leased and managed approximately 648 railcars; 119 transport tractors; and two company-owned pressurized NGL barges. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
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Williams-Sonoma, Inc. operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand. The company also provides home decor products under the West Elm brand; kids accessories under the Pottery Barn Kids brand; and an organic bedding to multi-purpose furniture under the Pottery Barn Teen brand. In addition, it offers made-to-order lighting, hardware, furniture, and home decors inspired by history under the Rejuvenation brand; and women's and men's accessories, travel, entertaining and bar, home decor, and seasonal items under the Mark and Graham brand, as well as operates a 3-D imaging and augmented reality platform for the home furnishings and decor industry. The company markets its products through e-commerce websites, direct-mail catalogs, and retail stores. It operates 544 stores comprising 502 stores in 41states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico; 20 stores in Canada; 19 stores in Australia; 3 stores in the United Kingdom; and 139 franchised stores, as well as e-commerce websites in various countries in the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico, South Korea, and India. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
The Institute of Africa Media Monitoring Intelligence and Advocacy (IAMMIA), a non-governmental media research organization is embarking on a media monitoring research exercise to track and analyze contents to ascertain the level of commitment of the media and the various stakeholders in the fight against the galamsey menace in the country.

The research exercise is focusing on the space and airtime allotted to the discussion and publication of issues of galamsey, barley a month after the Media Coalition Against Galamsey launched its campaign to fight the menace.

The Media Coalition Against Galamsey (MCAG) launched its campaign dubbed Lets Stop Galamsey last week as part of efforts to sensitize the public to the menace and also seek support to flush out the illegal miners.

The coalitions included the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, GBC, Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the Private Newspaper Publishers Association (PRINPAG). The intervention was as a result of the extent at which Ghanas major water bodies and forest reserves have been completely destroyed as a result of illegal mining activities across all the regions.

The campaign is therefore meant to be a wake-up call to the harm being done to water bodies and the vegetation by the illegal miners. The Institute of Africa Media Monitoring Intelligence and Advocacy (IAMMIA) which is a key partner of the intervention is therefore scientifically researching on how the media have committed themselves in the fight against the menace. IAMMIA started the monitoring exercise a day after the launch of the media coalition campaign and is expected to publish findings of the research next month.

The Executive Director of IAMMIA, Dr. Messan Mawugbe, is of the view that, findings of the research exercise will re-ignite media outlets that were not active or did not show much commitment in the fight against the menace a month after the launch of the campaign. He said as a partner of the media coalition intervention, IAMMIA will continuously carry out the exercise to ensure that, the objective of the coalition is met. IAMMIA is an alliance of the Center for Media Analysis (CMA), Ghana`s leading media research agency.

Dr. Messan Mawugbe who has vast experience in strategic media monitoring and research and seek to scientifically track and measure media contents to promote peace, democracy, development and strategic business communication in Africa.
President of policy think tank, Franklin Cudjoe has ridiculed the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) supposed achievements announced by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the government's first 100 days in office.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia last Monday explained that they have so far made 103 achievements since they took over the administration of the state on January 7, 2017.

But Franklin Cudjoe while contributing to discussions on The Big Issue on Saturday mocked the supposed 103 achievements and said it should have been consolidated to only 25.

There is one that said they cut sod for the National Cathedral. You guys kept telling the NDC that cutting sod was not an achievement. To be fair, this should have been reduced to 25. It should have been 25 consolidated. It should have been consolidated around the economy because in 100 days really, you couldn't have done that much. The 100 things could have been consolidated to 25.

He however commended government for its handling of the economy saying I think that they are on track economically.

We did not make any promises for 100 days

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia while speaking at a town hall encounter organised by Accra-based Joy FM, said they have delivered beyond expectation , even though they did not tie any promises to their first hundred days in office.

We did not make any promises for 100 days; we made promises for what we wanted to deliver to Ghana during our term in office. Notwithstanding that, the government, under the leadership of what I can say is our workaholic President, can point to some significant achievements in these last 100 days.

Akufo-Addo's 100 days performance satisfactory

Franklin Cudjoe had earlier described as satisfactory President Akufo-Addo's performance over the last 100 days.

Speaking to Citi News after screening a documentary produced by the think tank Franklin Cudjoe explained that what we did was to essentially look at the highlights of some of the important issues economy, health, energy education, and some other sectors as well.

So for us, it was more or less setting the pace to understand the policy design that would encourage the government to realize its visions and promises. We've moved away from trying to grade the performance even though it's very easy to do. If you ask me, I would have said that it's satisfactory, he added.



By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
Owners of Coconut Grove Regency Hotel have explained that the inferno that engulfed the facility was sparked by fire from an air-conditioning facility at Amansan Television (ATV) which shares a compound with the hotel.

The hotel, owned by businessman and the 2016 flagbearer of the Progressive People's Party, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom was gutted by fire on Saturday evening.

Somewhere between 5.00 and 5.30pmstaff of Amansan Television (ATV) noticed fire burning apparently from the direction of an air conditioning unit in their studio. When alarm, was raised, everyone ran to safety and an urgent call was made to the Ghana Fire Service to come and help put out the fire, a statement signed by Richmond Keelson from the Corporate Affairs department of Groupe Nduom stated.

The statement added that two fire tenders were quickly deployed to the place by the Fire Service while additional three followed suit.

The statement noted that the fire spread to other offices on the same block on which ATV was, adding that the ATV studio and four commercial offices of Groupe Nduom are on the same block.

Guest rooms, restaurant at Coconut grove intact

After hours of battling the inferno, the Fire Service personnel were able to put the fire under control.

Meanwhile, the statement assured that the restaurant, conference facilities and guest rooms were not affected by the fire.

It is important to note that the Regency Hotel and its restaurant, guest rooms and conference facilities are intact and were not touched by the fire.

12 tenders deployed

The Deputy Public Relations Officer for the Ghana National Fire Service, Prince Billy Anaglatey told the media that no casualties were recorded.

He noted that a total of 12 fire tenders were deployed to the place to contain the fire. Mr. Anaglatey also disputed claims that the tenders were without water.

Interior Minister arrives at hotel

The Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery who was also at the place told the media that the President has been briefed on the matter.

Mr. Dery said he expects a full scale investigation and a report to provide guidance on how to effectively tackle such fires in the future.



By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
N'DJAMENA, Chad, 22 April 2017,-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- UN agencies, high level government officials, immunization partners and community leaders, with the support of the Organization of African First Ladies against AIDS (OAFLA) are launching today the African Vaccination Week (AVW), urging all people to protect their health by getting vaccinated.

AVW aims to strengthen immunization programmes in the African Region by keeping immunization high on national agendas, and increasing awareness of the importance of every person's need and right to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. All 47 countries of the WHO's African Region will commemorate AVW 2017 with the theme "Vaccines protect everyone, get vaccinated!" to promote the critical importance of full immunization for everyone regardless of their background. This year's celebration kicks-off as countries begin to implement the Addis Declaration on Immunization (ADI), a landmark commitment supporting and prioritising immunisation in Africa.

Her Excellency, Madam Hinda Deby Itno, the First Lady of Republic of Chad, is hosting this year's event as part of OAFLA members' commitment as First Ladies and Leaders, to include immunization among their priority actions in 2017. The First Ladies will actively promote access and investments to life-saving vaccines, and remind governments, communities, families and individuals that everyone should get vaccinated.

H.E. Madam Deby underscored the importance of implementing the ten (10) ADI commitments agreed on in 2016 at the first-ever Ministerial Conference on Immunization in Africa in Addis Ababa. She said: ""It is part of our role as leaders to ensure that we reach every child with live saving vaccines".

Immunization is recognized as one of the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions in the world, estimated to prevent between two and three million deaths each year. "It is one of the best investments that countries can make in the health of their people and their future," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's Regional Director for Africa. "Vaccines provide benefits beyond health outcomes, such as preventing medical costs and reduced time caring for sick children. These savings can lead to improvements in education, economic growth and poverty reduction," she added.

The WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Mahmoud Fikri in his message on the occasion of the Immunization Week in the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2017, urged Member States to invest in immunization programmes, as one dollar spent on immunization brings more than 16 times the return in economic benefit. "Thanks to the efforts of governments, partners and the international community, vaccines are being made available to more people at affordable prices. However, we need to move rapidly to bridge the gaps in immunization coverage and use the available vaccines for the benefit of all," he stressed.

The GAVI Alliance has played a critical role in bringing together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children living in Africa.

"So far we have helped protect 240 million children in Africa with life-saving vaccines," said Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Board Chair of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. "Gavi stands ready to help African countries maintain strong immunisation coverage and respond to outbreaks such as Ebola or Yellow Fever; diseases that can destabilize entire economies if not tackled from the onset. Together we stand stronger to make vaccines work for our communities and create a more prosperous future for all children across our continent."

The campaign places emphasis on the fact that immunized communities are free of most communicable diseases, and thus a step closer to creating healthy and productive nations.

"Governments, civil society, media and communities all need to continue to work together to make sure that every child is reached with the full complement of this life-saving intervention," said UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Leila Pakkala. "The African Vaccination Week is an important opportunity to advocate for concrete actions to support vaccination, so that no child is left behind."

Referring to the Agenda 2063 goals, H. E. Amira Elfadil, African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs said: "We cannot achieve the bold and ambitious aspirations that we have set in Agenda 2063 if we do not immunize our children. The African Union is committed to support ongoing efforts by countries and partners to provide affordable and accessible lifesaving vaccines for all children in our determination to implement the Addis Declaration on Immunization."
23.04.2017 LISTEN

It has been a while since we have been in this social prison called Cameroon. I allow myself to borrow from Prof Nche Zama of Harvard cardiology department. When we spoke on a bugged line towards the end of March 2017 Zama described Cameroon as a SOCIAL PRISON where one part of the country was forced into medieval times.

The Anglophone part of Cameroon, made up of the North West and South West regions had been wiped out of the Cameroon map with internet and the state of law collapsing completely. I ventured to rejoice that truly Biya had confirmed his 1984 secession from the United Republic of Cameroon by suspending basic social services to the Bamenda and South West peoples.

One must congratulate the fortitude, orderliness of these peoples once loosely called enemies in the house and les Bamendas. For half a year, these people suffered so much privations and excess human rights abuses in the hands of their supposed Francophone brothers.

For the first time in the history of mankind, without any visible leadership, a group of people peacefully held to their opinions and waited for their oppressor to back down. The reestablishment of the internet in this part of the world by the dictatorial regime in Yaounde is not because of any dialogue, but because of the victory of a people, the triumph of good over evil.

I hear the people saying even with the internet back they will continue their peaceful revolution or COFFIN revolution till they obtain independence.

They quickly conclude that the oppressor must realize he could not ride against a divine tide and remain standing up. The divine tide blowing from Bimbia to Bamenda, Kumba to Kumbo has gathered strength such that anyone standing in its way would be sucked into a cosmic vortex.

At the beginning of the movement towards the affirmation of Anglophone autonomy, many leaders came to the scene. Collective leadership was bestowed in the Consortium and associations of lawyers and teachers. I surmised in late November 2016 that these collectives would soon become irrelevant as they were articulating basically the aspirations of their professional corps not what the people wanted.

My friend Gideon F. For-mukwai was so disappointed with my conclusion. He insisted to know why I arrived that conclusion and my inspiration. The knowingness or godliness in us makes us to grasp material beyond the sensual. Calmly and dispassionately analyzing material gives us a prophetic perspective to issues. Our ability to stand only for the truth makes us to say only what would be.

Today, with all the gags and censorship, may the oppressor realize that even without firing a single bullet the oppressed Bamenda people would achieve freedom, and if forced would do it the way most nations in the world have done. Freedom is not free. Freedom is not negotiated. Freedom is seized.

In the category of leaders, I was patient to meet a cross section of politicians in January 2017 to know how their heartbeats ticked in the prevailing unrest in West Cameroon. I met Ni John Fru Ndi who then stood for a unitary system, Ni Ben Muna standing for Federalism and Hon. Joseph Wirba standing for firm federalism bordering on quasi independence.

I met Ni John Fru Ndi one day after he appointed a Francophone Bamileke as the Secretary General of the Social Democratic Front (SDF). A comrade of the chairman resident in London called him in my presence and described Fru Ndi as a traitor. After pouring lots of insults on the sympathizer in London, chairman Fru Ndi turned and said, "When the teachers come to me I receive and support them. When the lawyers come to me I also receive and advice them. I am with the Anglophones, but they must realize it would not be an easy march to freedom. When I launched the SDF more than 25 years ago, I never guessed it was going to last this long without me sending Biya away. The Anglophones do not know how long they would be fighting for independence. I wish to provide them a bridge to their Bamilike brothers who might suspend their financial support to me branding me as a secessionist. If I made that error, Maurice Kamto would recuperate all my support from the Bamilike business magnates. After all, most of these people gave me the victory in the 1992 presidential elections." Fru Ndi concluded.

The same evening I went to the residence of Hon. Joseph Wirba in Nkwen. Understandably, he was edgy receiving us. That was the first time he was meeting us and we were escorted to him by somebody he had known only by phone. Hon. Wirba was just in from Kumbo where a mammoth crowd came out to receive him and cheer him up with his resist movement. He was preparing to be in Kumba over the weekend when Cameroon government decided to ban all his meetings.

Wirba told us he was not talking about outright independence or secession because the many Western diplomats supporting him were not comfortable being branded as supporters of secessionist organizations. Wirba said he was for a sort of federalism with watertight laws which was some form of quasi independence. He challenged my friends and myself to put money on the table to galvanize him to deliver victory to the Anglophones.

In all my campaigns to stop Herakles Farms from grabbing Southern Cameroons lands in Mundemba, Toko and Nguti, I never chided the natives to put money on the table for me to send away Herakles Farms. Not even in Banja did I receive money from the Mbororo to safeguard them on their land.

Wirba sounded to me like lacking in modesty. " I am annoyed with all those who live abroad and want to tell us how to do things in Cameroon. My grandfather said 'do not stand on a hill and point to a land saying that is my land. Go and till the land and everybody would know that is your land.' I am here in Cameroon tilling and people want to give me orders from abroad." Said Wirba.

Wirba refused to give us a spot in his Kumba Resist Rally only insisting he needed our financial support.

Ni Ben Muna said as a Pan Africanist he believed in a strong federal system. He opposed independence totally.

Now that the government of Cameroun republic refuses to discuss the federal aspirations of a few, where do these leaders stand. According to Wirba, he sensed that the people would rise up in March and prevent the so-called West Cameroon parliamentarians from going back to Yaounde. At such a zero point, the Cameroun republic would turn around and ask him to propose his type of Federalism.Then he would tell them power now belonged to the people who would all be clamouring for independence.

I do not know whether to think of Wirba as being naive or too optimistic about the gentle-manliness of a people who have raped the Anglophone repeatedly for 56 years and are bent on going on if we do not break their backs. Wirba also believed he was untouchable with his parliamentary immunity. Cameroun is a curious country where no laws are respected. Federalism depends on laws, and a country which treats the supreme law of the land as a blemish on toilet tissue could not be trusted to live in a federal arrangement.

The way the ghost towns and orders have been respected across West Cameroon for many months without anybody policing the streets clearly portray the Anglophone as law abiding and a people ready to obey orders. These are a people ripe to have their own nation as they have a common aspiration, that to see a law abiding prosperous West Cameroon.

From the comfort of Wirba's exile in the Western hemisphere, would he watch us plow our vineyard in West Cameroon without protesting at some of our actions? Hopefully he would gather enough money to put on the table for us to continue clearing this vineyard. It would be edifying for Wirba to realize Cameroon is an unpredictable jungle.

Fru Ndi has been very angry with Hon. Wirba who was so sure of himself and despised party discipline to make personal declarations. Was Fru Ndi right in disowning his own Wirba in a Press statement? Politicians are like dogs which could eat one another. From exile, Wirba reacted to Fru Ndi's disavowal. Wirba's tone presented him as a calm person and not the rabble rouser we saw and heard at the national assembly of the Cameroun Republic. In his response, Wirba sounded presidential and forced Fru Ndi to be reeling from his wrong statement.

It is difficult to recapture everything after so much stress and movement to ensure the release of West Cameroonians kidnapped from across the country and taken to Yaounde.

Njousi David Njousi Abang , a calm voice of the peaceful revolution was picked up on the streets of Buea and taken to Yaounde. After two months there he was brought back to Buea under the cover of darkness and detained at the Buea prison without a charge. Many have died and some are still unaccounted for.

Did the government of the Cameroun Republic need to treat a sister nation like enemies? Charges of terrorism, secession and so on simply fall flat on the face because in more than 4 months no evidence was brought up to support these charges. A simple problem which should be solved in timely manner with an executive order is allowed to fester creating ten more problems. Of all the claims of the Anglophones, none is so outrageous that an executive order would not solve. See where we are today. Nothing would ever be the same again in Cameroon.

An examination of the actions taken by government to resolve the Anglophone problem would be next. Hoping that the frightened autocrats and sycophants would not come for a pound of my flesh, we shall be proposing genuine solutions in subsequent submissions.

Fon Christopher Achobang

Social Commentator, Human rights activist

The Cameroons
It has been brought to my attention by those commenting on my publications implicating the Minister for National Security, Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa, on how and why I have been associating him with the Kumawu chieftaincy dispute. They have been querying my rationale behind such an association since the case started about ten years ago but Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa has been in power barely three months ago. What has it got to do with him, they question?

To answer my critics, I shall fall on my God-gifted overflowing fountain of wisdom by citing a self-explanatory analogy in case that would be sufficient to kill their curiosity. Is there not a saying in our Akan parlance that goes as, Paul a waama ntem, oseni adikanfo? This is literally translated into, Apostle Paul was the later disciple yet, he performed wonderfully much better than his predecessors. Similarly, Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa has barely been in power as Minister for National Security but he has collusively criminally involved himself in the Kumawu chieftaincy dispute more or worse than the actions of many of his predecessors put together.

I shall advise interested and the doubting-Thomases to approach him to find out if Kumawuhemaa Nana Abenaa Serwaah Amponsah did not approach him in Accra with a request for his assistance in relation to the ongoing Kumawu chieftaincy dispute? After their consultation, what did he Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa do? I do not want to say it but let him tell Ghanaians what he did; being honest to himself, to Ghanaians and to God?

It was what he said and did that resulted in the police and soldiers storming Kumawu Bodomase on Thursday, 16 February 2017, to assault innocent mourners attending the late Kumawu Akyempemhene Nana Okyere Krapa IIs funeral. It was following what he did and said that the Ashanti Effiduase Divisional Police Commander issued that bold but completely stupid order to shoot and kill Barima Tweneboa Kodua V, claiming his order to kill him to be an order from above. Who then was the order from above? Was it Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa?

At the appropriate time, I shall tell exactly what Mr Dapaa did. However, his expectations have failed and will continue to fail.

Kumawuhemaa went to America and confided in her friends that she had been to all known and unknown powerful fetishes, fetish shrines etc. but she has not been able to use spiritual means to eliminate Barima Tweneboa Kodua V hence she was going to use the police. Yes, Kan Dapaa helped her use the police on 16 February 2017 but they both failed to achieve their criminal objective. Who knows if they will resort to a further plot to have him physically exterminated but this time around without using the government security agents?

Whatever method they employ, it will not materialise because the hand of God is upon Barima Tweneboa Kodua V and his purpose for him will come to pass regardless of the evil machinations by whomever.

The Asante Overlord has been visiting some Supreme Court judges and the Chief Justice assiduously begging them to come to his aid by helping twist justice in his favour when the Kumawu chieftaincy dispute does escalate to the Supreme Court. However, as long as the battle is the Lords with God Himself in the drivers seat taking control of the situation, he Asantehene will fail miserably same as all his accomplices with him and before him.

He had better give back the huge sum of money he has taken from the Norwegians for the fraudulent sale of some hundreds of thousands of hectares of Kumawu Afram Plains stool lands to them. He deceitfully took the money from them; claiming the lands to be his bona-fide property from God for being the Ashanti Overlord.

The fear of the Norwegians discovering that he is not the owner of the land, with the possibility of reclaiming their money from him if things turned otherwise is the main motivating factor compelling Asantehene to impose, and to back Dr Yaw Sarfo, a Yes Sir, Master puppet, to the hilt as Kumawuhene who will be ever ready to do the Asantehenes bidding any day and time.

The Norwegians are already in the know about the lands not belonging to Asantehene when the late Mr Osei Kofi of blessed memory took them and the Kumawu Traditional Council to court at which time there was nobody either genuinely or dubiously enthroned as Kumawuhene on demise of the late Barima Asumadu Sakyi II, the Kumawuhene.

For how long will Asantehene and Kumawuhemaa use the organs of government to perpetuate their criminal objectives to the detriment of the innocent Kumawuman subjects? Let them keep on trying; God will finally teach them the lesson they will never forget for the rest of their days on earth for continually undermining or defying him.

I shall advise Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa to go back and read about both the Ashanti and Kumawu history in relation to the selection and election of a candidate to become a chief-elect. He has to read that history in conjunction with all the relevant conventions and documented regulatory laws of which I have talked extensively about in my previously published articles.

If this publication does not satisfy the curiosity of those questioning about why Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa has become a target for chastisement in my recent publications, then I do not know what else shall quench their thirst for an answer.

I believe in justice for all, whether one is poor or rich but not the situation where the rich will always have the laws bent in their favour as Asantehene and his accomplices are shamefully doing.

Rockson Adofo

(Written on Sunday, 23 April 2017)
A contingent of military personnel has been dispatched to Nkonya and Alavanyo in the Volta Region to maintain peace.

The soldiers who come from the Southern Command will ensure there is no escalation of hostilities between the two communities.

Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery told Joy News the move is to avert further outbreak of violence and to ensure the protection of lives and properties.

Residents of Nkonya and Alavanyo are disputing over a land covering an area of 6,459.82 acres that experts say is fertile for agrarian purposes, rich in timber and alleged to have deposits of gold, clay and mercury.

Two residents were shot dead, with two others sustaining gun shot wounds at Nkonya in the renewed violence between the two communities Wednesday.

The attack happened minutes after the Interior Ministry reviewed the curfew imposed in the area.

The Police in the Region have begun investigations into the matter.

Government has said it is considering a forceful acquisition of the disputed land to bring a lasting solution to the 100-year hostilities between the two communities.

Dr Letsa has said the two factions have indicated their preparedness to release the land for use by the state.

This suggestion has been supported by the National Peace Council who is recommending government use it for developmental purpose that will benefit residents.

Council's chairman, Professor Emmanuel Asante told JOYNEWS that is the surest way to end the conflict which has claimed many lives in the two communities.

But Mr Dery warns, anyone found culpable in the recent disturbances would not be spared.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
Djibouti (AFP) - US Defense Secretary James Mattis arrived Sunday for a short visit to Djibouti, a strategically important country on the Horn of Africa which hosts the United States' only permanent military base on the African continent.

Camp Lemonnier, home to some 4,000 US soldiers and contractors, is vital to US military operations in Somalia against militant groups like Al-Shabaab, and also provides support for US operations in Yemen, where special forces regularly carry out drone strikes against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

China is also in the process of establishing its first overseas military base in the small port country just a few miles from the US camp, which has raised concern in Washington.

Mattis is scheduled to meet with Djibouti's president, Ismael Omar Guelleh, during his trip as well as with General Thomas Waldhauser, commander of US troops in Africa.

"For (the defense department) Camp Lemonnier and Chabelley are critical in terms of logistics. They support multiple US combat command", a senior defense official said, referring to an airfield close to the camp, from which the US military operates drones.

Another senior defense official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, also played down any concerns about China's base construction.

"At this point I don't see why we should not be able to comfortably coexist with the Chinese presence, the way we do with the Japanese, the French..." the official told reporters last week.

However, Waldhauser assured the US Senate's armed forces committee in March that he had spoken to Guelleh "and expressed our concerns about some of the things that are important to us about what the Chinese may or may not do".

With a population of 875,000 people, Djibouti lies on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a gateway to the Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest shipping routes.

The former French colony has launched major infrastructure projects aimed at turning it into a regional hub for trade and services, using money largely borrowed from China.

China has said it wants the base to support its UN peacekeepers in Africa, allow it to evacuate its nationals in a crisis, and to support its anti-piracy activities off Somalia.
The Finance Minister has assured government will be able to implement all the required reforms to help complete the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program as scheduled.

Ken Ofori-Attas assurance follows concerns that government might have to embark on a crush program to help meet the April 2018 deadline for complementing the FUND program.

Speaking to JOYBUSINESS on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank spring meetings in Washington DC, he said these tough measures and reforms would have been implemented anyway if the country was not under a fund program, therefore the program should not be seen as putting any undue pressure on government.

We confident that we will meet the targets that we have set this year, and remember the fund will be with us, as we work through the 2018 budget, and we are truly committed to ending the program in April 2018," he said.

The Minister noted that completing the program in April 2018 will not necessarily result in Ghana doing away with the IMF because the fund will still be with us post program completion, under its technical assistant program for Ghana.

Rushing out of an IMF program because of borrowing restrictions

Mr Ofori-Atta also rejected suggestions that he is pushing hard to complete the program in April 2018 because of borrowing restrictions and fiscal prudence.

I think we are getting issues completing wrong, the issue we need to contend with as Ghanaians are whether the fund was there or not with a 70 percent debt-to-GDP ratio and with all the fiscal indiscipline, which we would have to do it ourselves and that is really the fundamental thing, he said.

Investor responds to going non-deal road show

The Finance said the country would soon start reaping the benefits of its on-going engagement with international investors.

Last week government began a non-deal road show, which has taken the team already to London, Washington DC. The team is expected to engage other institutional investors in New York, Boston next week.

Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawuma has already disclosed to JOYBUSINESS that there are no plans to issue Eurobond this year despite embarking on this activity.

But Mr. Ofori-Atta said discussion has so far been good based on governments commitment to implement some policies to stabilize the economy and improve the business environment.

Clearly we came to this meeting having already executed a $2.25 billion domestic financing, so clearing investor responds is already there, but we just want to use this meeting to have that face to face with them.

He added that the challenge for government now is how to sustain the interest.

Decision not to issue a Eurobond, despite carrying out non-deal road show

The Finance Minister believes that if we have been able to raise $2.25 billion domestic deal, then there might not be the need to rush to the international market to issue a Eurobond.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | George Wiafe | Joy Business |Washington DC
Rome (AFP) - Charity boats rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean are colluding with traffickers in Libya, an Italian prosecutor was quoted as saying Sunday, stirring up a simmering row over aid groups' role in Europe's migrant crisis.

In an interview with Italian daily La Stampa, Sicily-based prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro made his most specific claims yet over NGO activities off Libya, which the EU border agency Frontex recently described as tantamount to providing a "taxi" service to Europe.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active in the rescue effort include long-established groups such as Doctors without Borders and Save the Children, and smaller, newer operations such as the Malta-based MOAS.

They have all dismissed suggestions of de facto collusion with smugglers as a baseless slur on volunteer crews whose only mission is to save lives in the absence of EU governments acting effectively to do so.

Over 1,000 migrants are feared to have died in waters between Libya and Italy so far this year, according to the UN refugee agency. Nearly 37,000 have been rescued and brought to Italy.

"We have evidence that there are direct contacts between certain NGOs and people traffickers in Libya," Zuccaro was quoted as saying by La Stampa.

"We do not yet know if and how we could use this evidence in court, but we are quite certain about what we say; telephone calls from Libya to certain NGOs, lamps that illuminate the route to these organisations' boats, boats that suddenly turn off their (locating) transponders, are ascertained facts."

Libya deal in doubt

Zuccaro is the head of a five-strong pool of prosecutors investigating criminal aspects of the migrant crisis, from trafficking to illegal exploitation of migrants on Italian farms and via prostitution to rackets in the provision of reception facilities.

La Stampa reported that prosecutors were looking into whether some of the newly-established NGOs may be financed by the traffickers as a way of making it easier to guarantee their human cargoes get to Italy.

A member of the Italian Red Cross helps a rescued migrant disembark

The organisations involved have all dismissed the charges against them. They fear they are being targeted by a smear campaign designed to get them out of the way.

One group, SOS Mediterranee, told AFP last week it had "never, not once" been put in touch with a migrant boat via smugglers.

Under an EU-backed strategy, Italy is currently trying to beef up Libya's coastguard in the hope more boats can be prevented from getting out of Libyan territorial waters and the migrants returned to holding camps in the troubled country.

The strategy has been described by rights groups as a breach of Europe's obligations under international refugee conventions.

And it has so far made little headway towards closing down the Libya-Italy migrant route.

Rome said Friday it would be providing Libya with ten new coastguard boats but a cooperation deal covering holding camps and repatriations is in limbo after it was suspended by Libya's Court of Appeal.

Food ban lifted

The number of people leaving Libya in the hope of starting a new life in Europe is up nearly 50 percent this year compared with the opening months of 2016.

With most departures coming in the warm summer months, the trend points to around 250,000 people arriving over the course of 2017 - a forecast Zuccaro described as "an under-estimate".

Some 500,000 migrants were registered in Italy in the three years spanning 2014-16.

And pressure on the country's reception facilities has increased in the last year as a result of neighbouring countries tightening border controls, making it harder for migrants to move further north.

Tensions at bottleneck border points were underlined when Ventimiglia, a town on the Riviera border with France, issued an order banning locals from distributing food to migrants.

The order, similar to one issued in Calais in northern France, was withdrawn on Sunday in a move welcomed by aid groups who hope it will have a bearing on a court case against French activist Felix Croft.

Prosecutors have asked for a prison term and 50,000 euros fine for Croft, 28, for trying to help a Sudanese family from Darfur to cross the border into France in July 2016.

"This is excellent news. You cannot use the law to persecute solidarity, however it is expressed," said Patrizio Gonnella, president of Antigone, a civil rights group. Croft is due to learn his fate on Thursday.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government will not issue any Eurobond and add unto the country's debt burden.

According to him, the government has resolved not to embark on any such move at least within this year.

Speaking in an interview with the Head of Citi Business News desk on the sidelines of the ongoing spring meeting in Washington DC, Dr. Bawumia stressed that the government is rather committed to reducing the country's debt burden.

We've made a strategic decision this year not to issue a EurobondWe do not want to issue a Eurobond we want to bring down the debt and manage them better.

The Vice President and Head of government's economic management team's comment comes on the back of concerns by some industry watchers that a recent roadshow is an attempt to issue a Eurobond.

But Dr. Bawumia insists the roadshow is to attract investments to Ghana.

What we want is investments in the Ghanaian economy. The roadshow is to encourage more investments into Ghana, he stated.

A team of Senior Government officials led by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo, and Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, have embarked on a Non-Deal Roadshow.

The team visited London, Washington, New York, Boston, among others to interact with Ghana's bond holders, potential investors, US government officials and other key stakeholders.

We want our investors to know that Ghana is open to business and that we have the policies to make sure that their investments are safe, Dr. Bawumia added.

Already the 2.25 billion dollars bond recently issued by the government has been met with a lot of criticism especially from the Minority in Parliament.

But the government has mounted a strong defense insisting that the move is to help it re-profile the country's debt which has currently around 74% of GDP.

The past NDC government in September last year issued the fifth Eurobond of 750 million dollars at a yield of 9.25 percent a few points lower than the previous one which was at 10.75 percent.

The bond has a maturity period of 5 years.

At the time some Economists attributed the relatively shorter period of maturity to the low investor confidence in the economy.



By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
Regina Benneh, GNA

Abesim (B/A), April 23, GNA - Superintendent Nana kwaku Duah, Brong Ahafo Regional Crime Officer has entreated personnel of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to be more professional in ensure that criminals were prosecuted.

He observed that a lot of suspects had found themselves at the prisons although they were not criminals and called for thorough investigations with established evidence before trials and conviction.

Superintendent Duah made this call at the close of a 10-day Basic Drug Trafficking Investigation training workshop for 25 personnel from the Regional CID at Abesim near Sunyani.

The workshop, which was jointly organised by the Ghana Government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was aimed at building the capacity of law enforcement agencies to counter drug trafficking and organised crime in the country.

He said it was regrettable that ignorant citizens had to suffer in jail for lack of evidence, whilst the real criminals were walking freely.

Superintendent Duah stated that the Brong Ahafo Region over the years had been on the world record of leading in Marijuana and urged participants to put in more effort to prove to the international world that the situation was no more the same.

He asked the officers to apply all the knowledge acquired in their training to help fight drug abuse in the region adding that personnel would from time to time be updated on the emergence of new drugs in the region and the nation in general.

'But for now you are to concentrate on combating marijuana in the region'

Mr Laurent Guillaume, workshop facilitator asked the participants to be innovative in their investigations and not to remain static on their job by practising same and old methods all the time.

He urged participants to make good use of the narcotic control unit that would be established and resourced in the region to ensure enforcement of the drugs law in tackling illicit drug trafficking and other related organised crime.

GNA
Groupe Nduom, is counting its losses after the offices four of its subsidiary companies, GN Bank, Gold Coast Securities, Amansan TV and Business Television Africa were ravaged by fire on Saturday evening.

The Head of corporate affairs of Groupe Nduom , Richard Keelson in an interaction with the press a day after the incident said the arrangements have been made the customers of GN Bank and Gold Coast Securities concerning their deposits.

This morning we came here to take stock of what has happened, damage caused, we have to assess every other related issue. There are some contingency measures that we have put in place to make sure that the media aspect of the facility come up very quickly.

There is also other elements of insurance. Insurers are here taking inventory of our damaged items and facilities. All that we will tell our customers is that they should not panic, it has happened through no fault of anyone. There is a contingency for them for their deposits as the case may be for GN Bank and also Gold Coast Securities. If there is any liability it falls within the ambits of Groupe Nduom so nobody should be worried about it. Everything is under control, he said.

It took the combined efforts of personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service and the Fire Department of the Ghana Air Force more than three hours to contain the fire which started around 4.30pm.

Although the cause of the fire is yet to be known, the company said initial information it gathered indicates a spark of fire from an air-conditioning unit led to the unfortunate incident.

But Mr Richard Keelson said it is collaborating with the Ghana National Fire Service for a full-scale investigation to be conducted, adding that, the company will also conduct its internal investigations.

The fire service is conducting its investigations. We will also do our own internal investigations. It is a process. It may take some days for us to do that.

Affected facilities

He indicated that the guest rooms and conference facilities of the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel were not affected.

No facility within Coconut Grove was affected. Everything is intact as far as the Hotel is concerned. Yesterday we evacuated all guests to Coconut Grove  Sakumono, and so they are doing fine. Very soon they will come back so we are very much in operation.

He, however, said ATV, BTA, Corporate Affairs office, GN Legal, GM's office, North Ridge branch of GN bank, and Gold Coast Securities were affected by the fire outbreak.

Meanwhile, Citi News Philip Nii Lartey reports that some personnel of the Fire Service and officials from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) were at the premises of the hotel on Sunday morning to assess the situation to facilitate their investigations.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
An illegal miner was caught red-handed in the Western region following the expiration of an ultimatum to illegal mining operators to vacate their unauthorised mining sites.

The middle-aged man, Nana Agyapong, was caught in the act of mining in a water body at Hiawa in the Western region

Chanced upon by the Minister and media entourage, Nana Agyapong pleaded with the Minister, explaining he was driven by poverty to destroy the environment in search of gold.

The Minister after threats and warnings asked the man to 'go and sin no more'.

The generator the illegal miner use to power the water pumping machine for his mining was seized, but the forgiven miner pushed his luck begging the minister to return the generator.

He explained to the Minister and his entourage he rented the generator. His pleas were ignored and the media entourage continued with its first-hand examination of the destructive effects in galamsey-plagued areas in the Western Region.

The team visited Daboase where a water treatment plant had been shut down due to destructive mining activities. Other areas include Prestea, Dominase, Dwira Takunta and Hiawa.

Photo: Peter Amewu in red cap surveys the level of destruction of a water source

A renewed crack-down on galamsey is underway following a national hue and cry over the debilitating effects of unregulated mining.

Government through the ministry issued a 3-week ultimatum for illegal miners to pack out of the lands. The deadline expired last Wednesday with the government claiming to have seized 500 excavators.

On his tour Sunday, the Minister has directed that all seized excavators be moved to Accra within 30 days.

Mr Peter Amewu said his outfit will consider putting boots in areas identified as safe havens of the illegality to end galamsey.

Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com
Djibouti (AFP) - Drought and famine seem to be fuelling a resurgence of piracy off the coast of Somalia, the United States' top military chief in Africa said Sunday.

Half a dozen pirate attacks have been reported in the region over the last month, after falling to zero in recent years, said US general Thomas Waldhauser.

"Some of the reasons we see for that have to do with the drought and famine," because some of the vessels seized have been carrying food and oil, he said.

The targeted boats have been small and "very lucrative targets for pirates," he told a press conference with US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in Djibouti.

The US military is advising shipping companies and ensuring they stick to security guidelines and do not lower their guard, he said.

"The bottom line is that there have been half a dozen or so" attacks but "we are not ready to say that there is a trend," he added.

Mattis travelled on Sunday to Djibouti, a tiny strategic state in the Horn of Africa which hosts the only permanent US military base on the African continent, Camp Lemonnier.

Somali pirates began staging attacks in 2005, seriously disrupting a major international shipping route and costing the global economy billions of dollars.

At the peak of the piracy crisis in January 2011, 736 hostages and 32 boats were held.

Though anti-piracy measures ended attacks on commercial vessels, fishing boats have continued to face attacks sporadically.
- Two Generals were almost killed by IEDs plantred by Boko Haram on Pilka Road

- The Generals were on their way from Bama to Gwoza when the incident occurred

- Chief of Army Staff-Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has charged troops to remain gallant and disciplined

Major General IM Alkali, tthe Chief of Administration (Army), and the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General VO Ezugwu's convoy encountered and cleared 4 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) buried by suspected elements of Boko Haram terrorists along their way from Bama to Gwoza at about 10.00am on Saturday April 22.

They encountered the 4 clustered IEDs buried at a crossing point along Banki Junction and Pulka road, about 6 kilometres to Firgi in Borno State.

The Explosive Ordinance Device team however, were able to quickly detect the deadly IEDs and safely extracted and detonated them.

BREAKING: 2 Army Generals escape death, even as COAS charge troops to patriotism (Photos)

The two senior officers were on operational visit to troops of 26 Task Force Brigade deployed for Operation LAFIYA DOLE currently engaged in Operation DEEP PUNCH.

According to information gathered by Legit.ng from Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman (Director Army Public Relations), the team among other places visited 121 Task Force Battalion Pulka.

BREAKING: 2 Army Generals escape death, even as COAS charge troops to patriotism (Photos)

READ ALSO: Herdsmen: See what army recovered after a raid in Southern Kaduna (Photos)

BREAKING: 2 Army Generals escape death, even as COAS charge troops to patriotism (Photos)

Similarly, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE have been charged to remain discipline, dedicated and vigilant while discharging their military duties. Soldiers were urged to be patient, calm, continue with their good work and sustain the standard of discipline all ready set.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai gave the charge during his routine operational visit to troops of deployed at Pulka and Gwoza in Borno State.

The COAS who is on an assessment visit to see troops in the ongoing operation DEEP PUSH to clear the remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists around Sambisa forest was represented by the Chief of Administration (Army), Major General M Alkali.

He commended the troops on the successes recorded in the ongoing campaign against insurgency in the North East.

The Army chief urged them to hasten up in the hunt for the leaders of Boko Haram while assuring them of Army Headquarters support on the fight against insurgency.

He further stated that the dependants of fallen heroes will be promptly paid all entitlements due for the deceased to their next of kin.

Nigerian Army appreciate your sacrifices to Nigeria nation. History will not forget you for all you have done to protect the territorial integrity of our country. We will continue to provide you with all you need to end this war so that displaced persons of this region can return to their respective communities. As for our troops who paid the supreme price, we will continue to provide support to the families they left behind he assured.

The COAS was accompanied on the visit by the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu and some staff officers of the Division.

The Commander, 26 Task Force Brigade in Gwoza, Brigadier General Adeyinka Laguda received the COAS on arrival and briefed him at the Brigade Headquarters.

Source: Legit.ng
The word nosh means light meal or snack.

Its also the name of a new restaurant thats offering fresh build-your-own food options in the Valley View Mall food court.

Seckin Gungordu, a native of Turkey, and two friends opened nosh (there are no capital letters in the name) April 15 in the former Flamers Grill location. It offers several kinds of sandwiches, three kinds of salad (Greek, chefs and Mediterranean) and by June will offer gyros sandwiches, bowl options and four kinds of soup (chicken noodle, chili, broccoli cheddar and lentil). Ice cream will be available in the summer.

Gungordu said nosh offers roast beef, turkey, Italian, chicken, Philly steak, tuna salad, chicken salad, grilled chicken, vegan and vegetarian sandwiches. Several kinds of hot and cold beverages are available, such as coffee drinks, hot chocolate, tea, soda pop and lemonade.

Gungordu, who has cooked in restaurants since 2012 and managed a coffee shop and bakery from 2013 to 2015, said nosh will use locally produced ingredients as much as possible. It soon will have a website and Facebook page.

Borton Construction will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday for a professional office building its constructing at 814 Main St. in Holmen.

The La Crosse company is both general contractor and developer for the building, which will have just more than 11,500 square feet of space and five spaces. So far three are spoken for  Optical Fashions Eye Care Clinics second office and the relocations of Premier Spine Health & Injury, and Lowman Family Dental, from other Holmen locations.

Construction is expected to be completed in early November, said Paul Borsheim, president of Borton Construction.

The buildings name will be 814 Main St. It will be a condo-style complex, with the businesses owning their own space.

Doctor of chiropractic Katie Flaherty opened Precision Chiropractic on April 10 at 525 McHugh Road in Holmen.

The Galesville native received a bachelors degree in exercise science from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2011 and graduated from the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, in 2015 with summa cum laude honors. She then practiced in Des Moines, Iowa, before deciding to move closer to home.

My job as a chiropractor is to correct anything that gets in the way of a properly functioning nervous system  whether it is whats being consumed, how the body and spine are moving, or what a persons day-to-day thought process is, Flaherty said.

She said she uses the Gonstead System of analysis to pinpoint problems and resolve them with gentle and specific adjustments. Some of her family chiropractic facilitys focuses include children, prenatal care and athletes health.

Hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 2 to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday and Friday. For an appointment, call 608-526-2854. For more information, visit www.precisionchirowi.com or Precisions Facebook page.

Revolution coffee shop and wine bar opened April 1 at 38 Main St. in downtown Black River Falls.

Owner Carrie Timp has been pleasantly surprised by the number of customers. Its been absolutely great, we couldnt have asked for more, she said.

Revolutions big draw is its coffee beverages, but it also has teas and wine. And it has healthy options for lunch and a casual atmosphere.

Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday; 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 715-670-0707 or visit www.revbrf.com or Revolutions Facebook page.
ANTWERP, BELGIUM  For architects, or at least for Zaha Hadid, there is an afterlife. On Sept. 22, nearly six months after this British architects sudden death at 65, one of her boldest buildings, Port House, opened in a ceremony on the newly christened Zaha Hadid Square in Antwerp. Under the soaring prow of a dynamically angled glass-and-steel structure drifting like an airship over a palatial brick firehouse, a chorus and orchestra performed the Ode to Joy from Beethovens Ninth Symphony. The score and backdrop amounted to a curtain rising on the second act of Ms. Hadids career, as operatic as any since Frank Lloyd Wrights.

Ms. Hadids high-C moment signaled, with the recent opening of another building in Italy, the start of a posthumous career that promises to deliver nearly 50 more structures  as many buildings as were created in her lifetime. Ms. Hadids professional journey started late but gathered momentum, culminating with 36 projects under construction or in final drawings, and others in the pipeline. Her business partner, Patrik Schumacher, now principal of the firm, estimates it will roll out in 26 countries over the next decade. Zaha Hadid Architects will retain its name even as it evolves under his direction, but always with Zahas DNA, he said.

At the opening ceremony, Marc Van Peel, president of the Port of Antwerp, called the faceted structure, its facade erupting in a stormy field of reflective triangles, a diamond ship, referring both to the citys famous diamond trade and to the buildings site overlooking the sprawling port. Even taxi drivers had strong opinions: I like it because its by a woman and because I like science fiction, one said. Its magic.
Albert Freedman, a television producer who became a central figure in the quiz-show scandals of the 1950s for giving questions in advance to contestants  notably Charles Van Doren, an English instructor at Columbia University  died on April 11 in Greenbrae, Calif. He was 95.

His stepson Todd Dworman, who confirmed the death on Friday, said the cause was heart failure.

With televisions popularity soaring in the 1950s, quiz shows captivated viewers with the simple concept of watching ordinary people answer questions for cash and other prizes. On CBS, The $64,000 Question became an immediate hit in 1955. And the next year, on NBC, Jack Barry and Dan Enright started Twenty-One.

Mr. Freedman was happily producing Tic-Tac-Dough, another Barry-Enright production, when he was asked to take over Twenty-One early in its run in 1956. He reluctantly agreed and took on an immediate mission: find someone to defeat the shows champion, Herbert Stempel, a brainy, bespectacled young man from New York with an eidetic memory.

As Mr. Stempel kept winning, Geritol, the sponsor of Twenty-One, watched his appeal  and the shows ratings  falter. It wanted new blood.
There was a time, five to 10 years ago, when it seemed that Dance Theater of Harlem might not survive. The company, founded in 1969 to prove that African-Americans could master ballet, had fallen into massive debt and gone into a temporary hiatus that stretched troublingly into nearly a decade.

In 2013, though, the troupe had a rebirth, a bit rough yet promising. In the years since, it hasnt been just the companys shrunken size (down from 55 dancers to 16 or 17) that has made it seem like a newborn. There have also been wobbles of technique and confidence, lurches and stumbles of taste. But at City Center on Friday and Saturday, as the troupe presented its fifth New York season since the reboot, there were many encouraging signs that this beloved company has found its footing.

Of the two New York premieres, Brahms Variations, by the groups under-recognized resident choreographer, Robert Garland, looked backward. Very much in a mode of George Balanchine, who was a godfather to this troupe, and his vision of the symmetries and hierarchies of French-Russian classicism, Brahms Variations is exceedingly polite, but such decorum and taste are rare enough to astonish. Moreover, what Mr. Garland has characterized as Harlem Swag comes across in his subtle musicality, which seems attached to the underpinnings of the score, with movement and music syncing at just the right moments.

Thats not any old Harlem swag. Thats Dance Theater of Harlem swag  what the company used to be known for  and its wonderful to see. Not everyone in Friday nights cast seemed fully assured in this classical mode  a nagging problem since the rebirth  but watching the leads especially (Chyrstyn Fentroy and DaVon Doane), you could believe in this company pulling the past into the present.
When a Sothebys official appraised a painting by Pieter Bruegel the Younger in 2005, he set its value at $500,000. But when the owner of the 17th-century work, St. Georges Kermis With the Dance Around the Maypole, sold it at a Sothebys auction in 2009, it drew more than four times that amount, or $2.1 million.

What explains the wide gap between the estimated and actual value of the work?

The expert from Sothebys would later say that, after the appraisal, there had been a spike in prices created by a large influx of Russian buyers eager to obtain old masters and that the painting had been cleaned before being sold.

But the United States Tax Court took issue with that account in a recent decision.

In February, Judge Joseph H. Gale ruled instead that the expert had most likely placed a lowball estimate on that painting and a second work so as to curry favor with the owner, an estate facing a potentially large tax bill, and thus win the business of selling the works at auction.

His ruling came in a case where the estate challenged a determination by the Internal Revenue Service that the paintings had been valued too low.
I found Derek Walcotts Omeros in the stacks of the Montclair Book Center in New Jersey: a frail blue paperback with a seahorse on the cover and the previous owners phone number across the flyleafs edge. It was literary flotsam, a poem I hadnt heard of and couldnt place in time or tradition. Here were the names of Homer  Hector, Helen, Philoctete, Achille  but also Voodoo deities and lines from Buffalo Soldier, ghosts of Troy but also camera-wielding tourists and fishermen revving chain saws as they prepared to fell the ancient trees (those last silent gods of a pre-Columbian past) on a forested volcanic slope. The stanzas moved to Dantes terza rima, but the poem began in patois: This is how, one sunrise, we cut down them canoes.

The book followed me everywhere. A chronicle of modern St. Lucia, it was also an epic of the New World, weaving from its characters encounters with history a deeper, vaster story on a sunken loom. On walks down the Lenape Trail near my childhood home in New Jersey, I listened for the lost Indian languages Walcott heard in the woodcutters pyre: a resinous bonfire that turned the leaves brown/ with curling tongues, then ash, and their language was lost. When the fisherman Hector battled a hurricane in his canoe, I read along in the rain under a bus shelter in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, surrounded by Caribbean storefronts  a diaspora shipwrecked in the same storms of history that Walcotts epic traced.

A year later, my reading of Omeros took me to Benin, Togo and Senegal, where I researched the remembrance of slavery in the old ports of the Atlantic trade. In Dakar, standing on a cliffside near the corniche, I watched the ocean traversed by my ancestors, Walcotts verse a blessing on their trials: But they crossed, they survived./ There is the epical splendor.  the grace born from subtraction as the holds iron door/ rolled over their eyes. I walked so close to the edge that a student on his lunch break tapped my shoulder and said, You better not fall in.

But I already had, not only into Atlantic history but also into Caribbean literature, and poetry from the Negritude movement to W. H. Auden and T. S. Eliot. Because of Walcott I read Jean Rhyss Wide Sargasso Sea and Aime Cesaires Notebook of a Return to the Native Land, Alejo Carpentiers The Kingdom of This World and Patrick Chamoiseaus Texaco. I reread The Tempest and lyrics from two Bobs (Marley and Lowell), then landed back in the novels, and later the classroom, of Jamaica Kincaid.
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I have terrible news, she told her children, after flying home from Mexico. Daddy died. The intimacy of detail that fills the book is unsettling; there were times I felt that I had come across someones secret knowledge, that I shouldnt have been in possession of something that seemed so deeply private. But the candor and simplicity with which she shares all of it  including her childrens falling to the ground, unable to walk to the grave when they arrive at the cemetery  is a kind of gift. She was shielded from the financial disaster that often accompanies sudden widowhood, but in every other way she was unprotected from great pain.

As she did in the memorable Facebook post composed a month after the death, she reports turning in her misery to the psychologist Adam Grant, a friend who had flown to California to attend the funeral and is an expert in the field of human resilience. She told him that her greatest fear was that her children would never be happy again. He walked me through the data, she writes, and what she learns offers comfort. Getting walked through the data, is as modern a response to grief as the notion that resilience is some kind of science. The book includes several illustrative stories that seem to come from Grants research, but they are not memorable. It is Sandberg whose story commands our riveted attention, and it is her natural and untutored responses to the horror that are most moving. This is the second worst moment of our lives, she tells her sobbing children at the cemetery. We lived through the first and we will live through this. It can only get better from here. That is grief: Somehow, you find a language; somehow you get through it. No research could have helped her in that moment. She is the one who knew what to do and what to say. They were her children, and she knew how to comfort them.

Death humbles each of us in different ways. Suddenly a single mother, Sandberg realized how hollow her Lean In chapter about the importance of fully involved husbands (partners) must have been to unmarried women. If only she had known how little time she would have with her husband, she thinks, she would have spent more of it with him. But thats not the way life works; Dave Goldberg fell in love with a woman who wanted to lead, not one who wanted to wait for him to come home from the office. The unbearable clarity that follows a death blessedly fades with time. We couldnt live with it every day.

Sheryl Sandberg followed the oldest data set in the world, the one that says: The children are young, and you must keep going. Slowly the fog began to lift. She found she had something useful to offer at a meeting; she got the children through their first birthdays without their father; she began to have one O.K. day and then another. She made it through a year, all of the milestone days had passed and something began to revive within her. Grief is the final act of love, and recovery from it is the necessary betrayal on which the future depends. There is only this one life, and we are the ones who are here to live it.
 Tensions over North Korea threatened to rise yet higher. The North said it was ready to sink an American aircraft carrier and, according to officials, has detained a U.S. citizen.

Satellite images of a North Korean nuclear site suggest that workers have stopped playing volleyball, possibly to resume preparations for a test. A national anniversary on Tuesday could furnish the occasion.

Our review of Chinese news media shows a subdued tone that suggests efforts to calm North Korea and the U.S.  and ward off public panic. Above, a recent celebration in Pyongyang.

_____
The occasion of my recent visit to his downtown Manhattan office was the publication of his new book, The Soul of the First Amendment, which he called really a story of American exceptionalism. It argues that the United States protections for free speech are the best in the world, at least as of now. (The book comes out on Tuesday.)

Mr. Abrams has a way of angering people all along the political spectrum. For all the points he has scored with liberals over the years, he helped argue the conservative side of the Citizens United case, which allowed corporations and unions to spend more freely in elections.

He is not forlorn about the prospects for free speech under the new administration. But he isnt sanguine, either, especially after the news about a potential WikiLeaks prosecution. In his book, Mr. Abrams harshly criticizes WikiLeaks as irresponsible, but he said criminal charges against the group would be a perilous step in terms of First Amendment protection.

In other words: Be afraid, at least a little afraid.

With Rachmaninoffs Piano Concerto No. 3 playing softly in the background, Mr. Abrams, a hearty 80 years old, walked me through what he worries about and what he doesnt.

If you want to start out by looking on the bright side, things have been much worse. There were days when censorship was rampant and real reporting could land you in prison, right here in the United States. For instance, as Mr. Abramss book notes, it was not all that atypical when, in 1901, a Chicago court sentenced the managing editor and a reporter at The Chicago American to jail for an article that was critical of one of its decisions.
Despite collecting the information, by law, for more than 40 years, public schools continue to struggle to report accurate and comparable civil rights data to the Department of Education.

The issue is whether different districts are providing the same type of data and working on the same definition, said outgoing Sparta Superintendent John Hendricks, when asked about comparing his districts attendance data with other districts.

He said it was only valid to compare Sparta attendance figures among district schools, not across district lines.

The U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights has been collecting data on the nations public school districts since 1968 when Congress passed the first laws mandating the reporting. The office collects information broken down by race and gender on such topics as advanced placement enrollment, student and teacher absenteeism, disciplinary action and bullying, producing almost 2,000 variables in the process.

The data is used by the Education Department, national education organizations, state agencies and local school districts to monitor trends and identify areas that need improvement. But the data is only as accurate as the numbers schools and districts provide.

Several area school districts have disputed numbers in the 2013-14 Civil Rights Data Collection, even though the districts themselves are responsible for providing the numbers and verifying their accuracy. Officials at a few school districts went so far as to say people shouldnt compare numbers between different districts and across state lines.

Data collection has begun for the 2015-16 dataset, and local education leaders and national policy experts have stressed the importance collecting accurate data for the survey. Despite the challenges, many experts say the data will only improve in quality as district leaders and states become more familiar with the definitions and requirements.

(The Department of Education) must encourage teachers and schools to take accurate data, said Hedy Chang, the executive director of national nonprofit Attendance Works. States have to make sure data is comparable and that they are using the same definitions.

Powerful statistics

Federal civil rights data is used in many ways. When the data was first collected nearly 40 years ago, the primary reason was to help the education department enforce the nations civil rights laws  a use that remains important today.

As the amount of and types of data collected for the CRDC have increased, the department has also used the statistics to develop policy agendas. National organizations use the data to track trends in sexual harassment, chronic student absenteeism and student participation advanced placement and other honors classes.

When it first released the data last summer, the CRDC highlighted chronic student absenteeism  students missing 15 or more days of school per year. The department also focused on school discipline, which continues to show racial disparities, and the struggles of some schools and districts to provide teacher and staffing equity.

This was the first year Education Department collected data that helped Attendance Works with its mission. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., Chang said her organization focuses on student absenteeism as a strong indicator of achievement and as a problem teacher and district interventions can solve to contribute to higher student performance.

The federal CRDC data on absences is valuable to her organization because it allows analysis of trends and provides a way to compare schools and states.

Before the data was collected, we had guesses from a few states, Chang said. This is the very first time we have had good data.

The data is also important to schools, which use the numbers to augment other data collected on student achievement. The state of Wisconsin doesnt collect standardized data on student bullying, for example, so the CRDC allows districts to compare their numbers with peers in the state and around the nation.

The data is very important, Holmens interim director of pupil services, Jill Mason said, as it allows the district to judge its progress. It allows staff members to see where resources are needed and new systems can be put into place.

Do we have an issue? Are we doing well? she said. If we have an issue, do we have to put some new systems in place?

At the La Crosse School District, Superintendent Randy Nelson said the CRDC data provides a powerful tool for the district to see how it measures up. The idea of continuous improvement is important for many school districts, and having access to this kind of data is a big part of the process.

We want to get out in front of our data as quickly as we can, Nelson said. It helps us find out how different practices can provide more equity.

Errors in the data

Errors in the local data first came to light in the aftermath of a summer 2016 Associated Press investigation into chronic student absenteeism numbers. Reporters with the AP organized the data, inviting media outlets to localize the numbers for their readers.

After the state of Florida later retracted all of the numbers schools submitted to the Department of Education, the AP pulled the data, saying it could no longer verify the accuracy of the numbers. But Florida isnt the only state with problematic data.

When asked, officials at the La Crosse School District, which showed chronic absenteeism rates as high as 90 percent at some schools, said the numbers they had submitted were not accurate. They provided corrected numbers, which had lower absenteeism rates, and said they submitted those corrections to the Education Department but are still awaiting confirmation.

According to the Education Department, a chronically absent student is a student who is absent for any reason for more than half a day on 15 or more school days during the year. The La Crosse district used the wrong definition for absences and counted absences for such things as taking school-sponsored field trips.

Other districts also used their own definitions, resulting in such outliers as Prairie du Chien High School, which reported a 92 percent chronic absenteeism rate. Sparta High School, where students are marked absent for the day if they miss even only one period, reported a chronic absenteeism rate north of 70 percent.

Data on teacher absenteeism was reported in similarly inconsistent fashion. While La Crosse officials verified the accuracy of the numbers in its data set, administrators at Onalaska disputed the numbers but declined to share updated data, saying such an undertaking would require time and resources the district didnt have.

According to data on more than 20 schools in western Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota, about 20 percent of teachers miss more than 10 days of class during the school year. The Onalaska district showed more than 32 percent of teachers missing 10 or more days, and Holmens Viking Elementary reported a rate higher than 46 percent.

Data on bullying and harassment also seems to show discrepancies. Several school districts, including Holmen and Onalaska, report much lower incidence rates than the La Crosse School District. La Crosse numbers had their peculiarities: Data La Crosse reported to the Department of Education included identical numbers for each of the three types of bullying considered.

The American Association of University Women has also decried the data, especially the fact that more than two-thirds of school districts in the nation reported no cases of bullying or harassment during the 2013-14 school year.

Officials at the Department of Education declined multiple requests for interviews about the data. Despite a few outliers, a spokesman for the education department said his organization stands behind the accuracy of the CRDC, which costs the department $2.8 million every two years.

OCR believes that it is extremely important that school districts report accurate data and has implemented numerous steps to promote accuracy in reporting, the education department spokesman said. Ultimately, the quality of the CRDC data depends on accurate collection and reporting by the participating districts.

Improving accuracy

Many organizations that use and monitor the CRDC data argue for improving the data collection process rather than scrapping the CRDC. The topics the department of education collects information on are important, they said.

Because the CRDC is so robust and comprehensive, a lot of organizations such as ours use the data to fulfill our mission, National Council on Teacher Quality state policy managing director Elizabeth Ross said.

As more people become aware of data such as the CRDC, accuracies and errors are highlighted, said Paige Kowalski, the executive vice president for the Data Quality Campaign, a national organization that monitors quality in state and federal education data and advocates improvement. Districts and states become more aware of their obligations and the quality naturally improves as educators become more comfortable and skilled at reporting it.

Some districts, including Winona and La Crescent in Minnesota, stood by their numbers. They also said they could understand how problems crop up.

Many districts pull data from digital management systems such as Infinite Campus or Skyward. Those systems might be set up to track district-specific data or data that aligns with state reporting requirements, which might not line up exactly with federal definitions.

The CRDC requirements, which district administrators said can take several people and a total of more than 100 hours to report each year, is just one of many data reporting demands districts face. Different reports may have competing requirements, adding to reporting complexity.

There is just so much more collected now, said Regina Siegel, La Crosse director of pupil services and learning supports, holding up a 2-inch-thick binder containing all of the definitions and requirements of the 2015-16 CRDC. This is our manual now.

Both Mason and Siegel said when errors in the data are identified, their districts are quick to note them. Both districts have dedicated more time and resources to making sure federal definitions are being followed and numbers are accurate.

I dont think anyone is afraid to be accountable to the data, Nelson said. If you cant be fully certain the data is comparable it makes things difficult.
Erin Pettigrew and Matthew Fong were married April 21 at Wagner Cove in Central Park. Alan D. Marrus, a retired justice of the State Supreme Court in Brooklyn, officiated.

The bride, 34, is a media and technology consultant in Manhattan, where she advises start-ups and technology companies. She was previously the chief strategy officer and vice president for business development at Gawker Media. She graduated from Yale.

She is the daughter of Dr. Anjana Pettigrew and Dr. L. Creed Pettigrew of Lexington, Ky. The brides father is a professor of neurology at the University of Kentucky Medical Center and chief of the neurology service at the Lexington V.A. Medical Center, both in Lexington. The brides mother retired as a pediatrician and medical geneticist at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, where she was an associate professor and the director of the cytogenetics lab.

The groom, also 34, is a portfolio manager at Soros Fund Management in Manhattan, where he directs a global macrostrategy. He also graduated from Yale.
Dr. Kirsty Simone Hillier and Dr. Nikhil Amman Agrawal were married April 22 at the Sarasota Yacht Club in Sarasota, Fla. Judge Michael Sage of the Butler County Court of Common Pleas in Hamilton, Ohio, and a friend of the brides family, officiated.

The bride, 28, is a third-year pediatric resident in Houston at Texas Childrens Hospital. She graduated from Ohio State University, from which she also received a medical degree.

She is a daughter of Susanne J. Hillier and Andrew Hillier of Edgewater, N.J.

The groom, 29, is a plastic surgery resident in Houston at Baylor College of Medicine. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and received a medical degree from Ohio State.

He is a son of Neetu Verma and Ajay Agrawal of Atlanta.

The couple met in 2005 at Dublin Jerome High School in Dublin, Ohio, and reconnected in 2010 during their first day of medical school.
Mallory Lauren Weinshall and Jonathan Louis Glusband were married April 22 at Hotel Van Zandt in Austin, Tex. Rabbi Dennis Wald officiated.

Mrs. Glusband, 30, is a real estate investment associate for the University of Texas Investment Management Company in Austin, which oversees the investment of the endowments for the University of Texas and Texas A&M. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis.

She is a daughter of Dr. Michael Weinshall of Miami., and the late Wendy C. Weinshall. The brides father retired as a otolaryngologist in Miami Beach. The brides mother was a physical therapist in Miami.

The groom, 30, is a lawyer for the Austin law firm Noelke Maples St. Leger Bryant. He graduated from Hamilton College and received a law degree from George Washington University.
Jennifer Garcia

Assistant federal defender in Phoenix who witnessed one execution

He was my client. His name was Richard Stokley, and he was executed in December 2012.

Often for our clients, they didnt have people they could depend on, or who fought for them. Once we get on a case, we will stay on it, usually, until the end.

The reason why we witnessed was, he asked us to. If he needed reassurance, hed be able to see one of us smile at him.

By the time we got in there and walked into the witness room, I was just so tired, and I was so emotional, and I knew I had to hold it together for him, and I had to make sure he was O.K. through the process.

The execution itself was surreal. I cannot even tell you how unbelievable it was to see people deliberately get ready to kill your client. With Mr. Stokley, they couldnt find a vein. We just sat there for a long time while they started with his hands and worked their way around the body, trying to get a vein. I was trying to maintain my composure because I didnt want him to look at me and seeing me upset or crying. But it was so hard to watch somebody do that to your client and be powerless.

When they pronounced him dead, I think I felt happy that he was no longer being hurt as part of the process. The fact that I knew it was over and there was nothing else worse that was going to happen as part of the execution, that part was a relief. But over all, you feel shellshocked.
WASHINGTON  Two members of President Trumps cabinet appeared to retreat on Sunday from one of Mr. Trumps signature campaign promises: to immediately terminate an Obama administration executive order meant to protect the legal status of children of undocumented immigrants.

Were not targeting them, the homeland security secretary, John F. Kelly, said of such children in an interview on CNNs State of the Union.

In a separate interview, on ABCs This Week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions affirmed that the federal government did not have the ability to round up everybody.

Mr. Kelly said on CNN that these people are caught between the law, adding that the president obviously is sympathetic.
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti  Commercial ships must once again shore up their defenses against forced boardings at sea, United States Defense Department officials said on Sunday, warning that Somali pirates are returning to waters off East Africa after five years of calm.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said that while he was not calling for a response yet from the United States Navy, a half-dozen pirate attacks on commercial ships off the coast of Somalia in the past eight weeks meant that civilian mariners and shipping companies must again be on high alert.

American military commanders at the Pentagons sole semipermanent base in Africa, Camp Lemonnier in neighboring Djibouti, have been monitoring the attacks.

Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, the head of the United States Africa Command, said drought and famine in Somalia are probably behind the recent spike in attacks, in which pirates have boarded commercial ships and seized food and oil.
A deal that took a surprisingly long time to cut  considering how practical it is to slash red tape and improve health care in rural and underserved areas  finally is in effect, giving Coulee Region doctors a faster, cheaper track to practice across state lines.

The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact was launched April 7, after five years of lobbying, negotiations and rules drafting among health systems and states, as well as passing muster to become law in 18 states so far. Proposed laws also are moving through legislatures in eight other states.

Also referred to as license portability, the pact allows doctors who have navigated the time-consuming and costly process of obtaining a license in one state to get one in another state through the compact without having to repeat the same drill.

Individual states licensing processes can take anywhere from four to 12 months, while the pact will reduce the steps and the cost of multi-state licensing.

Doctors then not only will have a faster track to practice in other states in the pact, but also can work with patients and other doctors via telemedicine hookups across state lines.

The license compact is a more efficient way of licensing for doctors in multi-state systems and to license more and more providers, said Brian Vamstad, government relations manager at Gundersen Health System, one of the earliest advocates of the change because of the fact that it operates in three states  Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

Before the compact was activated, a Gundersen doctor licensed in Wisconsin could not practice in Minnesota or Iowa without following the duplicative process to gain it in the Gopher or Hawkeye states.

We really spearheaded the effort, asking what can we do to remove the duplications, Vamstad said.

Vamstad expressed confidence that the network will expand, although he hesitated to predict that all 50 states would sign on to the pact.

Similarly benefiting from the national pact is Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare, by virtue of its alignment with the Mayo Clinic network of hospitals and clinics, headquartered in Rochester, Minn.

Weve been strong advocates of this, said Dr. David Rushlow, a family practice physician and chief medical officer at Mayo-Franciscan. This dramatically simplifies and speeds up credentialing for our physicians.

Rushlow also welcomed the fact that the pact reflects increasing confidence and cooperative attitudes among state medical boards and other agencies involved.

The compact had been snagged for several years in part because of states turf wars and wide variations in licensing requirements and costs.

Minnesotas law to join the pact took effect on May 20, 2015, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed the Badger States measure into law on Dec. 14 that year at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare in Sparta.

This is a major win for patient safety and an achievement that will lessen the burden being felt nationwide as a result of our countrys physician shortage, said Dr. Humayun Chaudhry, president and CEO of the Federation of State Medical Boards in Washington, D.C.

As is the case with most health care cost trimming, the savings will not be apparent to consumers initially because of cost shifting to other programs, but could be later after their cumulative effects have taken hold, health officials say.

Other states besides Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota that are members of the pact are Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Oddly enough, legislators in Florida, where the Mayo Clinic has a major hospital, have not introduced a measure calling for the Sunshine State to become part of the compact.
Gangs of young herders have been stirred by local politicians to invade other peoples land. Several politicians have recently been arrested. But given that official corruption is a crippling problem in Kenya, most analysts do not hold out much hope that any of the ringleaders will be seriously punished.

The Kenyan security services have deployed hundreds of officers to combat the problem, including some who are based on Mrs. Gallmanns ranch, and recently a Humvee was parked in her front yard. Even so, herders occupy large parts of her land, making it dangerous to venture out. And the Kenyan government is increasingly distracted by national elections scheduled for August.

This past week, violence broke out across Kenya during primary balloting  a worrying sign for many Kenyans, who already dread elections because they often bring out the worst in the country, raising ethnic tensions and leading to bloodshed. Analysts say the violence between herders and landowners is worse in Laikipia this year because of the elections and because of the severe drought that has desiccated much of eastern Africa.

During several long conversations this month, Mrs. Gallmann spoke of her fears with a steely determination.

There is absolutely no question that I want to stay in this place, die in this place, which could be any minute, she said.

My husband and my son are buried in my garden, she said. This may not mean much to an American, but it means a lot to Africans, and it means a lot to me.

Mrs. Gallmann, who said she was a pampered little girl when growing up in Italy, has led both a blessed and a cursed life. Her wealth has allowed her to own one of the biggest and most beautiful ranches in Kenya, with about 100,000 acres of lush green land. But tragedy always seems to be lurking.
MANILA  Four Abu Sayyaf militants were killed on Saturday in a gunfight with the police and troops in the central Philippines, more than a week after the group surprised the authorities by venturing north of its traditional stronghold and engaging in deadly clashes, the military said Sunday.

A spokesman for the military said security forces were hunting several other members of the terrorist group on the tourist island of Bohol, in the central Visayas region. They recovered at least three high-powered firearms from the group.

The violent confrontation occurred after an Abu Sayyaf member gave away the groups location when he went to town to buy bread, the authorities said.

The hunt continues for the remaining two or three terrorists who were part of the band that attempted to establish a foothold in Bohol but failed, said Col. Edgard Arevalo, the military spokesman. We have reports indicating that they were also wounded and running out of supplies.
MUMBAI, India  Generations of Indians have admired the United States for almost everything. But many are infuriated and unnerved by what they see as a wave of racist violence under President Trump, souring Americas allure.

The reaction is not just anger and anxiety. Now, young Indians who have aspired to study, live and work in the United States are looking elsewhere.

We dont know what might happen to us while walking on the street there, said Kanika Arora, a 20-year-old student in Mumbai who is reconsidering her plan to study in the United States. They might just think that were terrorists.

Recent attacks on people of Indian descent in the United States are explosive news in India. A country once viewed as the promised land now seems for many to be dangerously inhospitable.
SEOUL, South Korea  North Korea has detained a United States citizen, the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang and a university chancellor said Sunday, raising the number of Americans thought to be held by the secretive nation to three.

The arrest, if confirmed, would further complicate Washingtons relations with the country at a particularly tense moment.

The man, Tony Kim, who also goes by his Korean name, Kim Sang-duk, was detained on Saturday, Park Chan-mo, the chancellor of Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, told The Associated Press.

Mr. Park said Mr. Kim had taught accounting at the university for about a month, and had taught at Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China before coming to Pyongyang. He said Mr. Kim had been detained by officials at Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang as he was trying to leave North Korea.
MALE, Maldives  A liberal blogger who wrote satirical critiques of the Maldivian government and the spread of radical Islam died Sunday after being stabbed in the stairway of his apartment building.

The blogger, Yameen Rasheed, 29, had complained repeatedly to the police about receiving death threats, he said in an interview with The New York Times this year, adding that the police often failed to return his calls or dropped his complaints without investigation.

In my case, I get multiple kinds of death threats from different people, because I write and do the campaign, he said. Mr. Rasheed was a coordinator of a campaign to find his friend Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, a journalist for The Maldives Independent who was abducted in 2014.

The police said that Mr. Rasheed was found with multiple stab wounds in his apartment building in the capital, Male, shortly before 3 a.m. He was rushed to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and died soon after.
PARIS  In Frances most consequential election in recent history, voters on Sunday chose Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen to go to a runoff to determine the next president, official returns showed. One is a political novice, the other a far-right firebrand  both outsiders, but with starkly different visions for the country.

The result was a full-throated rebuke of Frances traditional mainstream parties, setting the country on an uncertain path in an election that could also decide the future of the European Union.

It is the first time in the nearly 59-year history of Frances Fifth Republic that both of the final candidates are from outside the traditional left-right party structure. Together, they drew less than half the total votes cast in a highly fractured election.

Even before the official tallies were announced, the political establishment was rallying behind Mr. Macron, warning of the dangers of a victory by Ms. Le Pens far-right National Front, though few analysts give her much of a chance of winning the May 7 runoff.
The Latest: Emmanuel Macron, a centrist, pro-European Union candidate, and Marine Le Pen of the far right appeared headed toward a runoff vote on May 7 in the French presidential race.

 Mr. Macron, an independent former investment banker, and Ms. Le Pen, the leader of the National Front party, received the most votes of 11 candidates in the first round, based on early returns and projections.

 The result was a full-throated rebuke of Frances traditional mainstream parties, The New York Timess Paris bureau chief, Alissa J. Rubin, reports. The runoff sets the country on an uncertain path that could also decide the future of the European Union.

 Times correspondents in Paris and elsewhere in Europe followed the vote live.

Heres what we know:

Final Results and Tallies Are Still to Come

With 96 percent of the vote counted, the Interior Ministry reports that Mr. Macron holds a narrow lead with 23.9 percent of the vote, compared with 21.4 percent for Ms. Le Pen. Even with some votes still to be counted, the consensus is that these two candidates will advance to the May 7 runoff.
On Wednesday, the anniversary of the uprising and the founding of the kibbutz, senior Israeli Army officers and a group of Jewish and Arab educators attended seminars and toured the museums exhibits, some of which are based on documents and objects that the founders brought with them from Europe.

The museum does not shy away from dealing with Israels own inner conflicts. Its Center for Humanistic Education, founded in 1995 by Raya Kalisman after she spent a year at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, runs a six-month program for Jewish, Arab and Druze high school students, mostly from northern Israel. The program encourages the students to confront the complexity of their identities as citizens of the country.

Reflecting that complexity, Kibbutz Lohamei Hagetaot was established in the vicinity of Al-Sumeiriya, a Palestinian village that Zionist forces occupied and destroyed in the 1948 war over Israels independence, turning its inhabitants into refugees.

Most Arabs here perceive themselves as victims of the Jews, said Yariv Lapid, the director of the center, adding that any student searching online for information about the Holocaust in Arabic is likely to encounter a lot of denial. Over time, he said, the program challenges them to examine their own communities, which are often conservative and may be intolerant, for instance, of homosexuals.

Ms. Sternberg, who was born Devora Zissel Bram, grew up in a religious household in Czestochowa and was 15 when World War II broke out. She said she lost her faith in God after her parents, younger sister and brother were taken to the Treblinka death camp and killed. She was taken with other girls for forced labor in a Nazi arms factory. She fled to Warsaw as the Soviets approached, to avoid being taken to Germany.
UNITED NATIONS  President Trump, who recently had Ted Nugent, Sarah Palin and Kid Rock over for a White House dinner, is planning to host 14 diplomats from around the world for lunch on Monday.

The diplomats are members of the powerful United Nations Security Council, an eclectic mix of Americas friends and rivals, and plenty of skeptics. Their guide to the White House is Mr. Trumps outspoken envoy, Nikki R. Haley.

Halibut is on the menu, and a cheese souffle, which one Council diplomat hoped would not be the most substantial part of the White House visit. As of Sunday, it was unclear who else the Council members would see, and whether Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson would meet them.

The White House meeting follows a series of slights by the Trump administration toward the United Nations  and toward the idea of international cooperation in general. They include the administrations antipathy to the climate agreement and the nuclear deal with Iran, its funding cuts to the United Nations population agency, and the broader funding cuts it has proposed for the world body.
A La Crosse womans play focusing on sexual abuse of military service men and women by their superiors and peers not only has earned a life-changing label but also will be featured on a national stage.

Rachel Carters play, Speaking Out: Why I Stand, will be featured July 21-23 at the Womens Museum of California in San Diego. The sponsoring organization is the American History Theater in San Diego, which also has contracted her to lead workshops for survivors of military sexual trauma that weekend.

Carter, who was raped in 2004 by a fellow soldier who was never punished, pulled the play together in 2013 from stories of assaults she and others endured to give voice to MST survivors.

I spent over six years drowning in silence because I thought I was the only one, Carter said in an interview last week.

'Invisible War' awareness

Carter said she realized that there are legions of MST survivors when she saw The Invisible War, a highly acclaimed documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012 and piled up awards.

The Invisible War unveiled the depth of a sexual assault scandal in the military that had been cloaked in secrecy in a system that was more prone to punish and banish victims than seek justice for them. Meanwhile, it left predators free to continue their abusive behavior in the military, as well as in civilian life, Carter said.

I realized that I wasnt alone and that I needed to stand up and speak out, Carter said. This theater project was a way for survivors and loved ones to share their stories and poems anonymously or with their first names.

It gave them an outlet and helped them feel a part of this movement toward awareness and justice  even if they are not in a place to put their face in front of it, she said.

MST victims stories and poems about their experiences are the bones of the play, while actors read each entry to provide the flesh. In her own case, after she filed a charge, she was interrogated for several days and, ultimately, her commander forced her to drop the charge, she said.

Carter was written up for fraternization, which was banned, but her assailant was not written up. Seeing him repeatedly in a subsequent assignment exacerbated her post-traumatic stress.

The Army ultimately gave her an honorable discharge, based on its allegation that she had a personality disorder. She said she considers herself fortunate in receiving an honorable discharge, which is uncommon for MST victims.

Thousands of cases reported, unreported

The American History Theaters decision to stage Speaking Out is gratifying to Carter because it will help raise awareness of the extent of MST, she said. Although Congress and the military have promoted efforts to end the problem, it persists, with thousands of cases reported every year  and even more unreported ones, according to U.S. Defense Department statistics.

Many victims dont report assaults because they are afraid nobody will believe them or they will face retaliation instead of receiving help.

The other important part of getting the play out there and into a theater like the American History Theater is that not only are these stories being heard across the country but also, hopefully, more survivors will hear them and realize they are not alone, she said.

Ive had a lot of positive feedback from the survivors because it has helped them feel like their story  what happened to them  matters and that people are finally listening to what they have to say.

This project is about helping victims become survivors just as much as it is about helping raise public awareness to the epidemic of military sexual trauma, Carter said.

Its not just a military issue. Its a public issue, she said, adding that the play includes stories of survivors who were assaulted as far back as the 1960s and 70s. This has been going on for generations.

Speaking Out: Why I Stand, which lasts 45 minutes to an hour and has its own Facebook page, premiered with a cast of 15 area actors in April 2014 at The Muse Theater in La Crosse.

Among the actors was Dawn Noling of La Crosse, whose role was reading Rachels story and who describes the play as emotional and timely.

Noling found one of the stories, written by Marine Corps veteran named Gary, particularly moving. He told of the return home of his daughter, Carri, after her military discharge in 2009.

Gary didnt know the details of why his 20-year-old daughter received a bad conduct discharge  until five days after she came home and drank herself to death, Noling said.

Her father then discovered, after finding and reading her diaries, that she had been raped and was suffering from MST and PTS.

These stories need to be heard, Noling said. So many young people have had to carry this burden of being sexually assaulted, but nobody believed them. They think their life is over. Thats what happened to Carri.

After the play, Noling and Gary, who lived in Ohio, became Facebook friends, communicating increasingly through May and June 2014. They became engaged on July 12, 2014, and were married on Aug. 8, 2015, when she took his surname: Noling.

That tragedy became something beautiful for us, she said. The play is very personal for me.

These days, Gary has his times. Its hard to lose a child, especially in such a tragic, tragic way, Dawn said. He had no idea she had been raped, until he found her diaries.

Survivor to advocate to lawyer

Another Why I Stand story is that of Brian Lewis, who was in the Navy when a higher-ranking shipmate raped him in 2000. He also is in The Invisible War.

Told by a senior officer not to cooperate with the Navy, Lewis said during an interview that he grappled with the trauma for a year before evolving into a survivor. He then became an advocate, including becoming the first male survivor of military sexual trauma to testify before Congress. The Twin Cities resident is within days of becoming a lawyer in Minnesota, where he can ramp up his advocacy.

Rachels work is very valuable  it is life-changing  because it shows an actual persons face you might see on the street, he said.

His rationale for submitting his story for the play: I hoped that it would put more light and more awareness to a topic that has fallen by the wayside and needs to be brought back.

The American History Theater opted to showcase Carters play because it meshes with the theaters two missions, said co-founder and President Hal Berry, a 74-year-old retired history and theater professor.

The first is to re-create national history on stage, warts and all, and the second, to help men and women in the military, as well as those no longer active, said Berry, who taught at a community college near St. Louis before retiring and moving to San Diego.

Berry chose San Diego because of fond memories from his days in the Navy there right out of high school in 1960. Resistance to retirement prompted him to get a part-time gig teaching at Palomar College in San Diego. There, he met Amber Robinson, a student who would become the theaters co-founder in 2014 after she graduated.

Amber is an incredible human being who served in the Army for 10 years, including three tours in Afghanistan and received the Bronze Star for Valor, Berry said.

She is so talented, and her heart is so (attuned to) helping veterans who have had sexual trauma, he said.

A keynoter at one of the theaters workshops told Berry and Robinson about Carters play, said Berry, who handles the theatrical side of the history organization, while Robinson coordinates events and workshops.

You need to connect with her, Berry recalled the woman saying. This lady has a play, and we decided it would be a great thing.

There is a lot of interest because San Diego is such a military town, and military people like history, Berry said. We have a huge VA here, and with the issues veterans face, its a ready topic.

Females in Army see MST all the time

Robinson, who is vice president and communications director for the nonprofit organization, said, As a female in the Army for 10 years, you see MST all the time.

After their referral to Carter, the cards fell together, and we partner with the womens museum for the venue, she said.

As for Carter herself, she seems different today from she was during an interview four years ago, when her demeanor was subdued, cautious and somewhat closed in  even as she continued her struggle to overcome the trauma. Now, her voice is animated, more buoyant and hopeful.

Carter attributed that change to the confidence she has gained from the therapeutic value of creating the play, her involvement with contributors and hearing from people who have found the play valuable to their recoveries.

Noling echoed those impressions, saying, While reading for the play, I got to know Rachel and where she is coming from and her emotional connection.

She is in a happy relationship (being remarried last fall) and has a lot of support from her family, Noling said. She is more secure because she has so much to look forward to.
People's Action is a new organization of more than a million people in 32 states working to end structural racism and sexism, democratize the economy and to ensure that everyone has a voice in our political system. They are hosting the "Rise Up: From Protest to Power" convention for activists in Washington DC, from April 23-25. It is the founding convention of the organization.

People's Action was formed last summer in a rare merger of five national organizations, each with decades of organizing and activism history, creating one of the largest grassroots people-powered networks in the country. People's Action unites a million people across 29 states from 50 organizations, from Maine to Arizona and Washington state to Virginia. Other partner organizations include the Native Organizers Alliance, Main Street Alliance and Student Action. -People's Action

On April 24th, at 2:20 p.m. ET they will livestream on Facebook, unveiling "a people-powered agenda for the 2018 elections...Dozens of candidates from around the country who have pledged to run on that agenda will be joined by Sen. Bernie Sanders, whose bold vision and 2016 presidential campaign have electrified millions of everyday people."

Like their Facebook page (where you can also sign up for a reminder) in order to see the video on Monday.

The conference press release from People's Action:

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS IS FEATURED SPEAKER AT PEOPLE'S ACTION "FROM PROTEST TO POWER" CONVENTION Audience to include grassroots activists who have pledged to run for office. WASHINGTON -- Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will speak to a thousand activists on Monday, including at least 50 who are pledging to run for office on a bold "protest to power" political platform, as part of the People's Action "Rise Up: From Protest to Power" convention. The "Movement Politics: Protest to Power" session with Sanders is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. Monday (April 24) in the Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. "The resistance is alive and well, beating back attacks on health care and more. Now we are electorializing the resistance -- taking the energy of marches and town hall takeovers to the ballot box to elect truly progressive candidates and ideas," said George Goehl, co-director of People's Action. People's Action will also launch a series of "Protest to Power" assemblies this summer and fall to train people for the next phase of the resistance, recruit and develop candidates to run for office, and to build mass door-knocking operations for upcoming elections. One of these assemblies will take place in Iowa on July 15 and will include Senator Sanders and other progressive leaders. People's Action has been one of the organizations at the heart of the resistance, organizing 330 actions to block repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Seventy percent of those events were held in Republican congressional districts. The organization has been central to the #ResistTrumpTuesday effort, and regular Sunday evening conference calls with MoveOn.org and others that have attracted anywhere from 25,000 to 60,000 people.

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Reprinted from www.truthdig.com by Unknown

By Henry A. Giroux

A protest outside Trump International Hotel in Chicago. (Rob Walsh / CC 2.0)

Editor's note: A shorter version of this piece appeared in CounterPunch.

Editor's note: A shorter version of this piece appeared in CounterPunch.

It is impossible to imagine the damage Trump and his white nationalists, economic fundamentalists, and white supremacists friends will do to civil liberties, the social contract, the planet, and life itself in the next few years.

Rather than address climate change, the threat of nuclear war, galloping inequality, the elimination of public goods, Trump and his vicious acolytes have accelerated the threats faced by these growing dangers. Moreover, the authoritarian steam roller just keeps bulldozing through every social protection and policy put in place, however insufficient, in the last few years in order to benefit the poor, vulnerable, and the environment.

A neo-fascist politics of emotional brutality, militant bigotry, and social abandonment has reached new heights in the United States. Think about the Republican Party call to eliminate essential health benefits such as mental health coverage, guaranteed health insurance for people with pre-existing conditions, and the elimination of Meals on Wheels program that benefit the poor and elderly.

As the Trump regime continues to hollow out the welfare state, it builds on Obama's efforts to expand the surveillance state but with a new and deadly twist. This is particularly clear given the Congressional Republicans' decision to advance a bill that would overturn privacy protections for Internet users, allow corporations to monitor, sell, and use everything that users put on the Internet, including their browsing history, app usage and financial and medical information.

This is the Orwellian side of Trump's administration, which not only makes it easier for the surveillance state to access information, but also sells out the American public to corporate demagogues who view everything in terms of markets and the accumulation of capital.

On the other side of the authoritarian coin is the merging of the punishing society and permanent warfare state with a culture of fear and cruelty. Under these circumstances, everyone is viewed as either a potential terrorist or narcissistic consumer making it easier for the Trump machine to elevate the use of force to the most venerable national ideal while opening up lucrative markets for defense and security industries and the growing private prison behemoth.

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By Hamma Mirwaisi

Turkish President Erdogan wants to be remembered among Islamic Sunni extremist as an equivalent to the Ayatollah Khomeini as the founder of the Islamic Shi'a extremist of Iran.

Ayatollah Sayyid Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini as the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran was known as an anti the US policies in the Islamic world. Ayatollah Khomeini's anti the US policies give him and his followers' power among Shi'a extremist to rule Iran since 1979 of Islamic revolution, the revolution that overthrow the Shah of Iran successfully.

Today Turkish President Erdogan's narrow win in the Turkish referendum to establish Islamic caliphate (Kingdom) similar to the Islamic Sunni Ottoman Empire need an anti the US policies for his final goal to establishment Islamic caliphate. Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the ISIS Islamic Sunni Arab terrorist failed to establish such kingdom for Islamic Sunni extremist similar to the Islamic Shi'a Republic of Iran.

The dream of the Turkish President Erdogan cannot be fulfilled because PKK forces are strong enough to defeat him militarily in time. Turkish President Erdogan is trying to use Russian and the US against one another is not successful. Both the US and Russian is aware that Turkish President Erdogan is not reliable friend in the Middle East.

Turkish President Erdogan's war against the Kurdish people will lead to his defeat by his opponent within Turkish establishment. President Erdogan is seeking help from the US, Russia and Iran to defeat Kurdish people forces under the leadership of PKK organization will be defeated because those powers are aware of his plan.

President Erdogan's success can lead to the exclusion of the US and Russia from the Middle East. And his success is directly against the Islamic Shi'a of Iran interest in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

Israel is helping President Erdogan and Barzani Kurdish tribal leader Massoud Barzani to control oil and water of Kurdistan. Also, the US is hopeless toward Israeli polices in the Middle East, because most of the US politicians are under the control of American Jewish leaders. The US policy makers are working for interest of Israel than the interest of American people in that part of the World. It is simple, to win election in the US, you must work for American Jewish leaders. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is aware that Erdogan of Turkey is working under the guidance of Israel. And Israel is against the interest of Russia in the Middle East.

PKK leadership under the guidance of Abdullah Ocalan philosophies are going to win the war imposed on them by the President Erdogan of Turkey because majority of the Kurds are supporting PKK forces.

PKK forces defeated the Islamic Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the ISIS Islamic Sunni Arab terrorist in Syria and Iraq. The same force will fight President Erdogan and Barzani Kurdish tribal leader in Turkey and Iraq. PKK forces are believer for Kurdish causes. They are giving their life to defend Kurdish people right to live in peace and freedom in Kurdistan.

References

Post-referendum Turkey: Renewed conflicts, new allies

The 'Yes' campaign secured a narrow win in referendum, but what will this mean for Turkey's foreign policy?

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/04/post-referendum-turkey-renewed-conflicts-allies-170419064152452.html
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Rob Kall is tapping in, exploring, assessing, and clarifying this important new way of thinking that has been influenced by the civil rights movement; women's movement; and new, more effective ways of doing business. This will be an important book that can make changes in our world."



Dr. Linda Seger, author of twelve books, including the best-selling Making a Good Script Great, Spiritual Steps on the Road to Success and The Better Way to Win.
The Irish writer is Eimear McBride. The scholar is a fellow named Chas Freeman. They did not actually walk into a bar together. Most likely they have never met. But they are soul-mates.

Chas and Eimear have each recently offered readers a deeper look into the evils of Israel's occupation. The old "walk into a bar" line is merely a device to entice you to read what they want to share.

Eimear McBride speaks first. She is back from her first visit to Palestine. She is angry. She has brought many pictures with her. She slams one of them on a table.

In the picture, a Palestinian boy stands on the tiled floor of what had been his bathroom. The roof and the walls are gone.

The house was not bombed. It was destroyed, one might say to the boy, by some bad people who didn't want him to live there.

After she returned to Ireland, Eimear McBride wrote an essay which appeared April 15, in The Irish Times, under the headline : "Eimear McBride in the West Bank: 'All that is human in me recoils from this'."

In the essay she gives the background of the picture of the boy:

As I took a photo of a man's goats grazing in the rubble of what had been his house, he said: "Hey take a picture of my son". But when I did, he said: "No, where his kitchen should be, where his toilet was." When he put the child down, his baby shoes soaked up the wet from the tile fragments surrounding the skeletal remains of a squat loo and the thin line of debris dividing it from where a kitchen must have been. I took the photo and looked at the little sodden feet. I couldn't imagine how they would ever get dry in that tiny tin shack where this little boy, along with his whole family, now lived, and hoped would not be torn down again soon. From where I stood I could easily see into the warm, well-built homes of the settlers beside, who were obliging their close neighbours to live in this foulness, who must've looked out every day through the well-fitted glass of their comfortable kitchens on to this shameful site.

Eimear McBride's essay will appear in early June in the anthology, Kingdom of Olives and Ash, edited by Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman. McBride's visit to the West Bank came after an invitation from Breaking the Silence, an organisation of Israeli army combat veterans against the occupation.

McBride's novel, A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing, won the inaugural Goldsmiths Prize in 2013 and the 2014 Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction. She is 41 years old.

Her opening words in the Irish Times essay begin:

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GREEN BAY  Marsha Loritz is still heartbroken over the sudden and unexplained disappearance of her mother, Victoria Prokopovitz, four years ago.

But beyond the grief, Loritz remains committed to finding out what happened to her mother, who went missing on April 25, 2013. Prokopovitz was living in the Brown County community of Pittsfield when she vanished.

You cant ever give up hope, said Loritz of Green Bay. There are answers out there, and we cant stop searching.

As part of her search effort, Loritz is again coordinating a billboard campaign in April that features information on missing persons  including her mother  throughout the state.

The billboards also feature several Fox Valley cases, including Laurie Depies, who disappeared in 1992 from a Town of Menasha (now known as Fox Crossing) apartment complex; Andy Lathrop of the Fox Crossing, who vanished in August 2015 while teaching English in Hakodate, Japan; and John Lee, an Appleton man who went missing on June 21, 2015.

Seven billboards  one in Appleton, three in Green Bay, one in Door County and two in Milwaukee  began featuring information on 176 missing people on April 1 and will continue until the end of the month. This is the second year of the program, and Lamar Advertising is donating the use of the billboards.

The hope is that someone will see something familiar on the billboards and report details to authorities.

Even though the billboards may not result in the discovery of a missing person, Loritz says the effort is worthwhile. She added that a Missing Persons Awareness Event will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 22 at the Brown County Sheriffs Office.

Even if this doesnt bring us answers, its a reminder that this many people are missing, she said. Im devastated that we dont have answers about my mom. The pain doesnt get any easier. If I didnt do this, I would be sulking.

The billboard project has strong support from Jason Weber, community liaison officer with the Fox Crossing Police Department.

I think the billboards are an excellent tool to keep these cases alive, he said. These electronic billboards have such a great potential to reach so many people. There is no doubt that someone  somewhere  has info on any one of these cases that may very well solve them.

Any way we can keep those messages out there, hopefully that leads someone to come forward.
Here at the "Meals for Syrian Refugee Children, Lebanon" (MSRCL) our volunteers work tirelessly to help feed the hungry refugee children from war-torn Syria. We are always overwhelmed by the need, always short on funds and always amazed by the resourcefulness, resilience and even playfulness of these children that have literally been through hell. The fortunate ones were able to flee Syria with their parents and family.

Many children only have a single parent or relative, and a large number of the children are orphans. But we do not ask the children many personal questions about their family and war experience. The children have all been emotionally traumatized, suffer from anxiety, depression and nightmares; despite the outward playful appearance. Food is in short supply, the children know the meaning of hunger and we cannot feed them all. But as we say at MSRCL: "We cannot help everybody, but everybody can help somebody."

This Easter Morning I reflected back on my childhood and Easter at 2516 SE Lake Road, Milwaukie, Oregon. My sainted Bavarian Mother, Helen Barbara Osterhammar Lamb always prepared for her flock a large glazed roasted ham with all the trimmings. There were candied sweet potatoes at the base of the ham, pineapple rings tooth picked to its sides and a vast menu of other delicious entrees.



Easter Ham with pineapple and cherries.

(Image by AlishaV) Details DMCA



To top it off we had the "Lamb family's special Easter Cake" with thick glazed white German frosting and jelly beans. Every chance I got while Mom was not looking I would take a swipe of the frosting on the side of the large five or six layered cake. Of course she could not help but see my fingerprints all over the cake, but she just smiled and pretended not to notice.

Then after a quick trip to Beirut for an important meeting I was thinking of the words of Dr. Swee Chai Ang , the heroine of Palestine for her inimitable work, loyalty, devotion and unmatched commitment to justice for Palestine:

May the Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace".

Dr. Ang and her brave staff saved countless lives at Shatila's Palestinian refugee camp. They had endured the bombing during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, and risked their own lives to save others during the four days of slaughter in September 1982 at Sabra-Shatila Palestinian camp.

After Easter Service at St. George Cathedral I decided to take a break and just sit by the sea and reflect. I took a short-cut on my scooter through some alleys near UNESCO, not far from Shatila camp and I came upon some Syrian refugee street children picking through garbage (photo above). It is not unusual. These little ones happen to be Christians from Aleppo. Like many Syrian refugee children in Lebanon they are sometimes condemned to living on the street and sometimes they sleep outside of certain apartment buildings, huddling under the outside stairs to buildings to escape the rainy season.

The little boy to the left in the photo below, his name is Yahya (John), is holding up a prize of blue smelly trousers. His sisters Mariana and Rana told me he can wear them to help keep him warm.

Of course the children were hungry. So with two riding with me on the scooter and the rest piled in a taxi, I took the lovely gaggle for an impromptu Easter feast. Their unanimous choice was McDonald's ! While not personally a huge fan of McDonald's I somewhat reluctantly acceded to their entreaties. The children were just so excited and happy that I could not disappoint them. So dipping into my own pocket away we went to a McDonald's.

Except for rare exceptions, MSRCL seeks to provide hot highly nutritional meals, like the ones in the photos below, for Syrian Refugee Children. But sometimes events, conditions, or urgencies occur. What could be more urgent than an Easter "feast" for these street kids who have been through such horrors. My only regret was that I could not offer them a real feast like the spread my Bavarian Mother always prepared.

So McDonald's is what I served these street children for an "Easter Feast"! (See Picture below). The fruit was donated by Beirut Wholesale Vegetable Market. Sorry but under the circumstances it is all I could do and it brought a little happiness to a few children. They ate everything on their plate! No picky eaters, these malnourished angels.

Unfortunately MSRCL cannot help every child in Syria, nor can we take them all to McDonald's, but we do what we can with what we have. Everybody can help somebody!

The little lad shown above is four year old Basil from Aleppo. He has known nothing since his birth but the death of his family, starvation, bombs and massive destruction of his neighborhood, which until 12/23/2017 was occupied by Jihadist militia. Now he loves to come to Aleppo Park in Beirut.

We at MSRCL are not in the habit of asking Syrian refugee children personal questions about what they experienced or about what became of their mothers and fathers. They have been through enough without our questions but often children want to tell us some things and once in a while we feel ok about asking" "hi al'umm muafq?" (Is Mommy ok?).

Mariam is from a neighborhood in East Aleppo. It never ceases to amaze me how only a short time after fleeing Syria with basically only the clothes on their backs parents achieve much toward 'normalizing' the lives of their children. The father in the photo above even found an Easter Sunday dress for the "Princes", who proudly wore it at Aleppo Park on Easter Sunday as she picked flowers.

A warm Sunday Easter at Beirut's Aleppo Park in the photo above.

In the above photo children are climbing a fence to get to the beach. The fence was erected by the five star beachfront Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort abutting Aleppo Park. The fence is patently illegal, but when challenged by MSRCL two days later they did produce a "permission license" from the Beirut Municipality. The cost of the 'license' is anyone's guess and surely the bribe went into somebody's pocket. But the good news is that the smart refugee kids are already burrowing under and climbing over the illegal fence after which they slide down the hill and enjoy the sea at what should be a public beach (photo below).

The photo below is the eastern boundary of Aleppo Park and opposite the Kempinski Resort. MSRCL plans to teach swimming lessons for Syrian refugee children.

Being Easter Sunday the Lebanese army were absent from their watchtower monitoring the Syrian refugees enjoying Aleppo Park (photo below).

But they have increased the razor wire on the eastern side of Aleppo Park (photo below).

But again resourceful Syrian refugee youngsters who have endured hell in their own country tend to become skilled at picking and maneuvering a path through or over the razor wire.

Considering everything, it was an enjoyable Easter Sunday for Christians and others from Aleppo and other areas of Syria this war-torn holiday season.


Taxes

(Image by John-Morgan) Details DMCA



An anonymous announcement of a forthcoming public announcement: On April 26, an anonymous White House source says, the Trump administration "will outline our broad principles and priorities .... We are moving forward on comprehensive tax reform that cuts tax rates for individuals, simplifies our overly-complicated system and creates jobs by making American businesses competitive."

That sounds very nice. But given the administration's previously revealed "principles and priorities," it's reasonable to expect a heaping helping of economically dumb protectionist tinkering floating atop a billowing cloud of hot air.

If Trump, his administration, and congressional Republicans were serious about real tax reform (they aren't, but if they were), I'd expect to see two major initial proposals: A measure increasing the "personal exemption" to the federal income tax once a year, every year, automatically, and a "FICA floor" that likewise increases each year.

The personal exemption is part of the amount an individual can earn each year before being taxed on income at all (the other part is either taking the "standard deduction" or itemizing and adding up specific spending that's deductible). For income earned in 2016, the personal exemption is $4,050 (with a "phaseout" starting at $150k; that "phaseout" should be eliminated as well).

Automatically increasing the personal exemption each year and eliminating the phaseout would have two effects: It would cut taxes for everyone who pays them, and it would take the lowest income Americans off the income tax rolls altogether.

Since the Reagan era, tax cut proposals have been aimed at cutting top rates on the basis of a "supply side" theory -- that rich entrepreneurs who get tax cuts will invest their retained wealth in new businesses that create jobs. But there are two sides to an economy, supply and demand. Cutting taxes for everyone, starting at the bottom with increased personal exemptions, would spur economic demand. That demand would be just as good for those entrepreneurs, and better for everyone else, than "supply side" cuts.

FICA taxes are used to finance Social Security and Medicare. They are regressive taxes which, due to collection ceilings and life expectancy differentials, force lower-income black males to subsidize retirement and healthcare for higher-income white females.

Yes, retirement income and post-retirement healthcare expenses are important. But so is making a living. A FICA floor -- a "personal exemption" income amount below which FICA taxes aren't collected -- would let low-income Americans keep and use more of their money now instead of hoping to live long enough to claw some of it back later.

As a libertarian, I would prefer to see the income and FICA taxes eliminated altogether. Failing that, we should at least do what we can to get the government spending monkey off the backs of the poorest among us.

Yes, there is a grass roots organization pushing these two common-sense tax reforms. Disclosure: I am a member of that organization and sit on its steering committee. It's called the Mobilization for Incremental Tax Exemption (catchy acronym: The MITE). You can find it on the web at TheMite.org.
Reprinted from popularresistance.org By Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeese

Today is Earth Day and thousands are marching "for science" across the country and around the world. The demands are to promote evidence-based science and defend public support for scientific research. There are specific concerns about the Trump administration's rejection of climate science while the climate crisis is advancing rapidly, and also its roll back of regulations and programs that protect the health and safety of communities.

Victoria Herrmann of the Arctic Institute describes on The Real News how scientific research is being removed from government websites and necessary government climate programs are losing their funding at the same time polar air and water temperatures are rising at twice the normal rate. Fortunately, climate scientists and activists archived much of this research earlier this year so that it is still available.

The March for Science connects numerous issues. Hundreds of Indigenous scientists urge the inclusion of Indigenous science and the voices of Indigenous communities as we move towards positive solutions to the climate crisis because they have centuries of experience in caring for the Earth. Drug policy advocates are marching to call for greater attention to and investment into research on drugs and evidence-based drug policies rather than criminalization and incarceration. And perhaps the most ambitious protest was led by the Autonomous Space Agency Network, a global collective that held its action in space.

"Storm the Heavens"

In the face of multiple crises and kleptocratic governments that refuse to take appropriate actions, movements are rising in the United States and around the world. This is reminiscent of the uprising in the 1960s and 1970s when social movements were active on a number of fronts of struggle from civil rights to women's rights to war to the environment, poverty and more.

Dahr Jamail recently interviewed members of the Weather Underground about the similarities between then and now and asked what people should do today. Bill Ayers recommended:

"The challenge is to dive in where you are, whatever your issue, location, or talent, and then to reframe every issue, and connect the issues to one another," he said. "War and warming, work and Black lives, human rights and environment. When the upheaval is upon us we must be prepared to find one another, link up, and storm the heavens."

George Lakey of Waging Nonviolence urges activists to be bold and understand that our task is to shift the political culture so that our belief in justice and peace becomes the dominant narrative. This fits in with tasks of the movement as defined by Bill Moyer's Movement Action Map, which he started writing in the 1970s, to develop national consensus on issues and to mobilize around them.

A Plan For Social Transformation

We are in a critical juncture of history and it is important to understand how we got here. The movements of the 60s and 70s, which built on decades of work that came before them, scared the power elites because they were successfully changing the political culture and economic system. The elites responded with a clear plan, outlined in the Powell Memo in 1971, that was put into action and is responsible in large part for the crises and insecurity that we experience today. The memo, "Attack On American Free Enterprise System," was written by Lewis Powell an attorney whom Richard Nixon nominated to the Supreme Court later in 1971.

Ralph Nader, who was specifically targeted in the memo says:

"Basically, his memorandum laid out a strategy to attack democracy in America. And he basically said to the business community, you've got to hire a lot more lobbyists swarming over Congress, you've got to pour a lot more money into their campaigns, both parties', Republican and Democrat. You've got to get out on the campuses and get right-wing speakers to combat progressive speakers."

Nader credits the Powell Memorandum with leading "to the massive corruption of the Democratic Party."

Journalist Bill Moyers writes about what happened after the Powell Memo was circulated:

Next Page 1 | 2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
This air-sprung prosthetic leg was designed and used by Mike Schultz, who rides for Fox's motocross team. After developing the leg for himself, Schultz went on to found BioDapt in order to help other amputees participate in action sports.

Fox's X2 and DPS shocks both received updates for 2018. The DPS gets a new air can designed to increase the negative spring volume and increase small bump sensitivity, while the X2's damping tune was revised. Both shocks are now available in imperial and metric sizes.

For riders who want the performance of Fox's Factory series but would rather forgo the Kashima coating, the Perfomance Elite series uses the same internals, but has black stanchions.

"Giro's Empire shoes and Chronicle helmet" = the title of a painting Picasso never did.

It may look like a fairly basic rain shell, but Gore's 1985 Shakedry jacket is constructed with the lightest Gore Tex fabric available, and weighs a scant 116 grams for a size large. It's currently aimed mainly at road cyclists, but a more durable version designed to withstand the rigors of mountain biking is in the works.

NitroShox have been teasing us with their oleo damper since 2015, but they're getting closer to bringing the unit to the market. There's supposed to be one heading our way for testing very, very soon - it'll be very interesting to see if a shock with only one adjustment - preload - can match the performance of today's ultra-adjustable options.

The only external adjustment on the NitroShox damper is preload, which is altered by turning this oversized knob on the piggyback reservoir.

DHarCo, the Australian mountain bike apparel company whose focus is on comfortable, more casually styled clothing, made their first appearance at Sea Otter. Beginning in May, when riders in the US order from their site, those items will be sent out from a warehouse in the United States, greatly reducing the shipping time.

Praxis had their new Lyft HD cranks on display. Available in a 170mm length, they're a beefed up version of the standard Lyft cranks, with a thicker spindle and a carbon layup that's designed for aggressive riders. Weight is claimed to be 548 grams, including a 32-tooth chainring.

The styling of Bern's FL-1 XC may not be for everyone, but at $119 for a lightweight, MIPS equipped helmet the price is reasonable.

Ohlins had a partially disassembled version of their RXF 34 fork on display. We're currently testing the new coil sprung version of their RXF 36 - keep an eye out for a review in the next few months.

Ohlins said the highest demand for their shocks seems to be from Santa Cruz and Yeti owners, and this Hightower served to prove that point.

Version 2.0 of Kona's Wah Wah pedal is on the way, with a wide polycarbonate platform and seven pins on each side. The final price hasn't been determined, but it's expected to be less than $65. There's also an alloy version in the works, but its release is a little further down the line.

Specialized had their new, ultralight Epic hardtail on display in a paint scheme inspired by Ned Overend's 1991 S-Works M2. Ultralight isn't an exaggeration, either - the frame weighs only 900 grams.

Along with their new $1200 carbon wheelset, Bontrager also released an alloy version that uses the same quick-engaging hubs, but, at $600, costs half as much.

Whistler Performance Lubes made the trek down from British Columbia with their line of chain lubes and fork oils.

Bike park season is right around the corner - Ergon's super comfy GD1 grips are a good choice for warding off the claw hand that results from long days of plowing through braking bumps.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-04-23 09:53:22

Press Information

Melbourne Paraplanning Services Pty Ltd trading as International Businesses For Sale

Melbourne Paraplanning Services Pty Ltd



Attn: Mark McIlroy



1/254 Waterview Boulevard



Craigieburn 3064



Melbourne



Australia



Mark McIlroy

Director

+614 32 427 738

email

http://www.intbusinessesforsale.net





# 456 Words

Melbourne Paraplanning Services Pty LtdAttn: Mark McIlroy1/254 Waterview BoulevardCraigieburn 3064MelbourneAustraliaDirector+614 32 427 738

Website International Business For Sale has launched as a new website for listing businesses for sale.The site is based in Victoria, Australia but will target listings in all countries globally.The site is currently completely free to use and will remain so for the medium term.Costs of operating the site are met through the modest use of Google advertising on the site.Site features include the ability to upload photos of the business, send messages through the site to the vendor and list multiple businesses on a single account.There is also a comprehensive function for searching the business listings.The site is commencing without existing listings and will use a range of promotional activities to build up the listing base.Business for sale are often purchased by overseas buyers and this site allows a prospective buyer to search for listings in multiple countries.Searching can also target a price range for the purchase, an industry, suburb, city, country or region.Any combination of these parameters can be used, so for example a purchaser could search in one industry across multiple countries.The site is extremely easy to use due to the use of menus and command buttons.Operation of the site is also extremely fast due to the high quality web hosting, limited use of graphics and careful site optimisation.Being an international site the website pages are available in a wide range of languages, through the selection of a simple 'select language' dropdown list.The language translation includes the website text and also translations of text that members of the site have entered.Along side any number of photos, a listing of a business for sale can include the sale price, currency, turnover, net profit, and a complete description of the business.Also included are data fields for the industry, suburb, city, region and country that the business is located in.A sale price must be entered for searching purposes. However, the vendor has the option of keeping the sale price confidential and not displaying it on the site pages.International Businesses for Sale is hosted on a secure commercial hosting service based in the USA.The site was developed as a new venture by the owner, Mark McIlroy in 2017.Site administration is based in Melbourne, Australia and is a venture of Mark Laurence McIlroy.Mark McIlroy is based in Melbourne, Australia and currently works in the Financial Planning industry.He has a background in the corporate Financial Services sector in Australia. His early career was based in Information Technology roles, and included Financial Services roles such as Portfolio Manager (Quantitative), managing Australian Equity share portfolios for a major bank.The site address of International Businesses For Sale is www.intbusinessesforsale.net
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.




Nikolai Andrushchenko, a cantankerous septuagenarian journalist with a turbulent past, rarely kept editors abreast of his investigations.



"As a rule, [he] kept his articles tightly under wraps. Hardly anyone in the office knew exactly what he was working on," said Denis Usov, editor in chief of Novy Peterburg, a small St. Petersburg newspaper that bubbles with Stalinist and anti-Jewish screeds.

So it was not unusual that Andrushchenko, a former city lawmaker who had written extensively about alleged local corruption, was tight-lipped about his work in his final conversation with Usov at around 5 p.m. on March 9 at the newspaper's office in the city center.

Like his work, precisely what happened next to Andrushchenko remains -- for now, at least -- shrouded in mystery.



Later that night, after the office closed, passersby discovered the journalist splayed unconscious on the street with severe head trauma, Usov said. He added that Andrushchenko's colleagues learned only a few days later that he had been hospitalized.

"He led a very private life. He lived alone. He didn't have any relatives in St. Petersburg at the time," Usov said.

Any hopes that Andrushchenko, an early and outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, could shed light on the circumstances of his injuries vanished this week. He died in the hospital on April 19 at the age of 73, having never regained consciousness.

Usov told RFE/RL that it's possible Andrushchenko died as the result of an accident. The Kremlin-loyal website Life.ru, widely seen as having ties to Russian security services, cited an unidentified police source as saying the journalist had simply fallen down drunk and hit his head.



But just weeks prior to suffering his ultimately fatal injuries, Andrushchenko publicly complained that he had twice been attacked over the previous two months by unidentified assailants demanding documents related to an investigation he had been working on -- documents that he did not have.



"So unfortunately, it's not possible to exclude the possible criminal nature of this incident," Usov said.



'Extremely Difficult Person'



Andrushchenko's death, which his lawyer described as the result of an "attack," triggered widespread speculation among Russian political observers and international press freedom watchdogs that he had become the latest journalist in the country to be killed for his work.



The Committee To Protect Journalists described it as a "brutal murder" and called on authorities to "carry out a thorough and independent investigation."



Andrushchenko did not have the national name recognition of higher-profile journalists -- such as Anna Politkovskaya of Novaya Gazeta -- who have been killed in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.



And while he had carved out a reputation as a local rabble-rouser, his recent work was also far from influential in St. Petersburg, according to current and local media players.



"Andrushchenko has certainly not played any role in the political or journalistic life [of the city] for many years, which is not to diminish his possible strong points," Aleksandr Gorshkov, editor in chief of the prominent St. Petersburg website Fontanka.ru, told RFE/RL.

Nikolai Andrushchenko: 'Money Was At The Center Of Putin's Politics'

Andrushchenko did make enemies in the city -- in part with his investigations on human rights issues, police brutality, and organized crime, and in part thanks to his personality.



"He was an extremely difficult person," Usov told RFE/RL. "You wouldn't call him a sweetheart."



Usov, who said Andrushchenko claimed to have been a West German agent with the code name "Stepan Razin," acknowledged that the two men found little common ground beyond their approach to journalism.



A physicist by training, Andrushchenko served as a city lawmaker in the early 1990s, when he co-founded Novy Peterburg amid the raucous Russian media scene that emerged in the final years of the Soviet Union.



"The newspaper where he worked was in part very good and conducted deep human rights work and investigations," Dmitry Zapolsky, a journalist and former St. Petersburg television personality who served together with Andrushchenko on the city council, told RFE/RL.



Zapolsky added, however, that Novy Peterburg was a very "murky project." He noted longstanding rumors that it was funded by Yury Shutov, a former St. Petersburg politician and reputed gangster who died in prison in 2014 while serving a life sentence after being convicted of ordering the murders of businessmen.



Novy Peterburgs editors previously denied financing by Shutov, who also published articles in the newspaper. Andrushchenko made no secret of his association with Shutov, however.



Law-enforcement officials suggested the two conspired against them. A senior St. Petersburg police official in 2007 suggested that Shutov and Andrushchenko were behind alleged machinations aimed at fomenting discord between federal and local authorities, Fontanka.ru reported at the time.



Aleksandr Skobov, a Soviet-era dissident and Russian opposition activist, told RFE/RL that while Andrushchenko was his "ideological and political opponent," he respected his criticism of authorities.

"He tried to root out their crimes, and for that reason he gave authorities reasons not to like him," Skobov said, adding that he believes Andrushchenko was attacked in connection with his journalism and his public activism.



'Maybe I Went Overboard A Bit'



Throughout the 2000s, Andrushchenko continued to publish in the newspaper, which suffered financial difficulties and was temporarily shut down by authorities in 2007 after it received two official warnings for articles allegedly containing extremist content.



One of those warnings was for a 2007 article written by Andrushchenko about why he was attending an opposition protest. Around the same time he was arrested and charged with libel and pressuring officers of the court with his tendentious articles.





That incident made him a minor cause celebre in opposition circles at the time, triggering at least one protest reportedly attended by around 100 people.



Andrushchenko, who peppered his often hyperbolic prose with exclamation marks and words in all-caps, played very loose with his facts, Zapolsky told RFE/RL, adding that he did not believe the journalist intended any harm with his approach to reporting.

"I would never say that he lied or that he wasn't an honest person. He was an honest person, and he really believed that he was a human rights defender and an investigator," Zapolsky said. "But from the standpoint of journalism and commitment to the truth, the quality of his work was rather low."



He was fined and released in 2009 after being found guilty of publicly insulting two prosecutors and stoking social discord. Prosecutors dropped the extremism and libel charges, and he was released from criminal liability because the statute of limitations had expired.



The original charges were based on Andrushchenkovs articles about opposition protests, and about the trial of four men ultimately convicted of murdering a Congolese student. He passionately defended the accused, saying that "we will smite all of those who are killing justice, killing souls, killing faith."



In his final statement to the court, Fontanka.ru reported, Andrushchenko said: "Maybe I went overboard a bit with the sharp words in a polemical fervor, but I was acting in the interests of all citizens."



Andrushchenko claimed he was tortured while in custody, and Usov told RFE/RL that his time in jail took a significant toll on his health and his work. The prominent human rights group Memorial deemed him a political prisoner.



In the years before his death, Andrushchenko gave several interviews in which he offered his recollections of Putin in the 1990s, when he was a city lawmaker and Putin was working for Mayor Anatoly Sobchak.



Speaking to Current Time TV in 2015, he said that the future Russian president could be "frank" while speaking in private. Shortly after the 1991 failed putsch by hard-liners against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Andrushchenko claims Putin told him that now it's time "to make money."



"Money was at the center of his politics right from the start," he told the Russian-language network, run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.

No Confidence In Investigation



Usov, the editor in chief of Novy Peterburg, told RFE/RL that he has no confidence authorities will get to the bottom of Andrushchenko's death.



"He was hated [by the authorities], so it's completely pointless to say that someone there might be interested in some kind of investigation," he said.



He added that the newspaper had not been contacted by authorities.



"They should probably talk to someone from our office if they want to get a full picture of what happened. And they haven't done this," Usov said.



Sergei Kapitonov, a spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee's main branch in St. Petersburg, told RFE/RL that the agency is conducting a probe in connection with Andrushchenko's death. He declined to comment further.



Andrushchenko is survived by a wife, a daughter, and a son, Usov said. He added that the journalist's wife and daughter did not live in St. Petersburg and that Andrushchenko "didn't have much contact" with them.

His wife traveled to St. Petersburg after Andrushchenko was hospitalized, Usov said.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service
Final votes are being cast as French voters have been going to the polls under heavy security in the first round of a crucial presidential election that could have far-reaching implications for the geopolitical status quo, including the future of the European Union and the West's relations with Russia.

Over 60,000 polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time on April 23. A total of 69.4 per cent of registered voters in mainland France had cast their ballots in the presidential election by 5 p.m., the Interior Ministry said. It is only slightly down from the 70.6 per cent turnout at the same time during the last presidential election in 2012.

The election -- one of the most unpredictable French presidential polls in decades -- comes just days after the killing of a Paris police officer that was claimed by the extremist Islamic State (IS) group, thrusting the issues of terrorism and security to the fore in the final stretch of the 11-candidate race.

France is deploying some 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers on election day to protect voters across the country, where a state of emergency remains in place in the wake of a series of attacks that have killed more than 230 people since 2015.

Opinion polls show centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right firebrand Marine Le Pen as the first-round front-runners, though conservative candidate Francois Fillon and Jean-Luc Melenchon of the far-left are also seen as having a chance of reaching the two-candidate May 7 runoff.

RFE/RL correspondent Gregory Zhygalov in Paris said the vote has generated a lot of interest among French citizens.

"When we were speaking to people here in France, in Paris, a lot of people [were] discussing this election just in the street, in a pub, in a restaurant, in ordinary conversations."

Topless Demonstrators

In what has been a highly charged election, around six topless demonstrators from the Femen group of feminist activists were detained in the morning on April 23 outside a polling station in Paris where Le Pen was heading to vote.

They jumped out of an SUV limo wearing masks of Marine Le Pen and U.S. President Donald Trump but were quickly forced into police vans by security forces. Le Pen voted at the station shortly after.

Macron voted in the coastal town of Le Touquet in northern France alongside his wife Brigitte.

WATCH: Front-Runners Vote In French Presidential Election

Undecided voters are estimated to constitute nearly a quarter of the electorate, and political observers say the April 20 shooting death of the police officer on the Champs-Elysees could give an advantage to candidates seen as tough on security and terrorism.

Following the attack, Le Pen moved to portray herself as the lone candidate capable of protecting the country against Islamist extremists. The 48-year-old National Front leader drew criticism from critics who accused her of exploiting the attack for political gain.

A victory for Le Pen and her fierce anti-immigration and anti-EU stances would mark the continuation of a surge in isolationist sentiment across the Western world that helped propel U.S. President Donald Trump into office and the Brexit referendum vote approving Britains departure from the EU.

France is a key member of NATO and has been a key pillar of EU unity in the bloc's response -- including sanctions -- to Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its backing of armed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Russia Denies Interference Claims

Like Trump, Le Pen has spoken admiringly of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past and has backed lifting sanctions against Moscow over its interference in Ukraine. Following a visit with the Russian leader in Moscow last month, she criticized what she called the EUs "hawkish vision."

Most opinion polls put Le Pen in second place behind Macron in the first round, though she is seen as unlikely to secure a victory over the pro-EU former economy minister in a runoff.

Macron has taken the hardest line on Russia among the four front-runners, backing EU sanctions against Russia and accusing the Kremlin of being involved in cyberattacks targeting his campaign. Russia has repeatedly denied reports that it is trying to influence the French election.

Fillon, a conservative former prime minister who has called for improving ties with Russia, saw his campaign jolted by allegations of corruption and nepotism. But polls indicate that both he and Melenchon, who advocates tearing up trade deals and leaving NATO, were gaining ground in the race.

The campaign officially came to an end on April 22, the same day that first-round voting began in French overseas territories and among French expatriates in the United States and Canada. The results of the mainland voting are expected on April 23 at around 8 p.m. local time.

With reporting by AFP, AP, dpa, and Reuters
MINNEAPOLIS  When Osman Mohamed Ali returned to Somalia in 2009, he noticed few cultural artifacts remained.

Most relics had been destroyed in the countrys 1991 civil war, Ali said, and there were no museums left in Somalia to preserve remaining items, the Minnesota Daily reported.

Worried the last artifacts would be destroyed, Ali began collecting those he could find and brought them to the U.S. In 2011, Ali founded the Somali Museum of Minnesota, which now holds hundreds of artifacts from the country.

Now, the museum is looking to expand. A bill sponsored by Rep. Ilhan Omar, DFL-Minneapolis, would grant $200,000 to the museum over the next two years to expand programs and exhibits. The museum has several cultural programs but lacks adequate room to operate at its current location  tucked into a commercial basement on East Lake Street.

The museum aims to connect Somali youth born in the U.S. to their heritage while educating non-Somali Minnesotans to foster understanding.

The museum represents culture and heritage for our community, Omar said.

People of all ages and backgrounds visit the museum, including students on field trips and government employees, said Ali, who serves as the executive director of the museum.

When they take a tour, they learn something about this culture, he said.

But space constraints have caused the museum to keep much of its more than 700-artifact collection in storage. Theres also no room for the museums dance troupe and weaving classes to use, Ali said.

The bills funding would let them lease separate spaces specifically for these programs, he said. This moneys going to help us to do more activities and ... more exhibits and display more artifacts, he said.

The museum sidesteps some of its layout issues by conducting outreach away from its physical location. The Somali Museums dance troupe travels and performs traditional dance across greater Minnesota and in other states, Said Salah Ahmed, who teaches for the museum, said.He gives monthly presentations on Somali culture at Minnesota schools  where he incorporates museum artifacts to enhance storytelling.

The awareness-raising in between cultures and communities is such an important factor that the museum does, said Ahmed, whos also a Somali language teaching specialist at the University of Minnesota.

This outreach helps bridge cultural gaps between the Somali community and other Minnesotans, Omar said.

I think were sort of looked at as a community that just appeared out of nowhere, Omar said. For our neighbors, its really important for them to understand the vibrant culture that we belong to so that they are able to find ways to connect with us through song and dance and poetry.

While the bills funding would improve museum operations, Ali said hes looking at more long-term solutions.

Ali is working to raise money within the community so the museum can eventually have a larger, central location  which could house all the artifacts and programs. Their fundraising goal is $300,000, he said.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Ilhan Omar, DFL-Minneapolis, would grant $200,000 to the museum over the next two years to expand programs and exhibits.
GYUMRI, Armenia -- A Russian soldier was stabbed to death in the northern city of Gyumri, where Moscow maintains a garrison and which was the site of a grisly mass slaying by a Russian serviceman in 2015 that triggered widespread outrage in the ex-Soviet republic.



Law enforcement officials said the body of the soldier, identified by prosecutors as 21-year-old Dmitry Yalpayev, was discovered with stab wounds to the neck on April 22 near a shop in Gyumri, Armenia's second-largest city.



Russia's state-owned TASS news agency cited the Russian Defense Ministry's Southern Military District as confirming that a contract soldier serving at the 102nd Military Base, where some 3,000 Russian servicemen are stationed, was stabbed to death at around 4 p.m. local time.



The Armenian Prosecutor-General's Office said a 20-year-old man had been detained as a suspect in the slaying and that a murder investigation was under way.



Authorities did not release the suspect's name.

Armenia's federal Investigative Committee said in a statement later on April 22, however, that "a preliminary investigation has established that the suspect has certain problems with mental health."



The statement said the suspect was discharged from the military last month due to "certain mental disorders" and that he had undergone psychiatric evaluation during his service due to several incidents of self-mutilation.



"Necessary investigative actions are being conducted with his participation," the Investigative Committee said.



Russias Southern Military District said in its statement that it was working together with local law enforcement agencies in the investigation.



It added that preliminary indications suggest the killing stemmed from an argument involving the two men.



Gyumri was the site of the horrific slaying of a family of seven, including a 6-month-old boy, by a Russian soldier in January 2015.



The case led to mass protests in Gyumri and Yerevan against Russia's military presence in the country and to calls for the trial to be heard by Armenian judges instead of Russian military judges.



The Russian judges sentenced Valery Permyakov to 10 years in a maximum-security prison in that criminal case. He was then transferred into the custody of Armenia, where he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

With reporting by Interfax and TASS
Just over two years ago, on April 9, 2015, Ukraine's parliament adopted a historic law on opening up the country's Soviet-era secret-police archives. In the new law's first full year in effect, requests for information and access boomed by 138 percent.



"It is very important for us that everyone has the chance to look at the complex history of the 20th century through the prism of their own family," says Andriy Kohut, director of the historical archives of Ukraine's SBU security service. "It is one thing when they speak of enormous historical events without any connection to real people. It is something else entirely when you see how these historical events are connected to you."



The new rules of archive access could hardly be simpler, Kohut said.



"The law contains the formula 'everything open to everyone,'" he explained in an online interview with RFE/RL's Russian Service. "It doesn't matter if you are a citizen of Ukraine or not, if you are a relative or have some other relationship to those mentioned in the documents. Everyone has an equal right to access."



Under the law, the archive is not even allowed to charge for providing copies of its documents. Eventually, the entire archive will be transferred from the SBU to the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory.



There are no exemptions for privacy or other such considerations. The law prioritizes "the right of society to know what happened under the totalitarian regime," Kohut says. Access to documents also cannot be restricted based on Soviet secrecy classifications.



The new system has been welcomed by researchers.



"It is simply a pleasure to work in the Ukrainian archives," says Czech historian Stepan Cernousek. "While in Russia everything is 'top secret,' in Ukraine, everything is freely available."



Cernousek is researching the fate of a Czechoslovak citizen named Albert Bloch, who escaped from a Nazi concentration camp only to be arrested by Stalin's secret police and sent to the gulag.

"There are thousands of cases like his," Cernousek says.

Kohut warns, however, that the Ukrainian archives are not complete.



"Documents weren't always saved in their entirety through World War II [when Ukraine was occupied by Nazi Germany]," Kohut says. "Moreover, after the democratic opposition captured the Stasi archives [in East Germany], the KGB in 1990 ordered a purging of some records."



Although it is not known exactly what was destroyed at that time, Kohut says the deeper back the records go, the more intact they seem to be.

"The cases of the Great Terror period [of the mid-1930s] seem to be fairly well preserved," he says.



The new openness law also covers all denunciations written by ordinary citizens and preserved in the KGB's files. It particularly states that privacy laws do not apply to anyone who participated in political repressions in any way.



"This is not very pleasant news for those who wrote denunciations," Kohut says. "But if we don't open these closets with skeletons in them, if we do not speak about the complex history of Ukraine in the 20th century, then it will speak for us. As our current situation shows, it won't just speak for us, it will manipulate us."



He warns that such documents, however, can be the most problematic, as denunciations as a rule contain a mixture of truth, half-truths, and lies.



The archives also contain a wealth of records relating to the Holodomor, the 1932-33 famine in Ukraine that killed millions. These documents, Kohut said, can be upsetting to read.



"There are many cases related to charges of cannibalism," he says. "Of course, these documents are shocking.



"These are the archives of the communist special services," he adds. "Very often, what they did does not make very pleasant reading."



In addition to responding to research requests from citizens, Kohut's archive also responds to inquiries from state agencies pertaining to a 2014 lustration law that bars former KGB employees from working in state institutions. The archive carries out background checks and reports on perspective employees.



"We've even had cases when individuals wrote to us to ask us if we have any information on whether they were a KGB employee because they want to apply for some state position," he notes.



Kohut's archive has no contact with similar archives in Russia, which remain strictly closed.



"The development of our region  Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic states  shows that we are moving in the direction of acknowledging the communist regime for what it really was  a criminal regime," Kohut says. "It acted in a criminal manner and it was fundamentally criminal. I hope Russia will come to this awareness as well."

RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson contributed to this report
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Level: Intermediate Length: 12 mi (19.3 km) Surface: Other Configuration: Loop Elevation: - Total: 1 riders

Mountain Biking Gabriels Gully Loop

#232 of 387 mountain bike trails in New Zealand #11,689 in the world

Gripped by gold fever, thousands of desperados from all over the globe were lured to Gabriels Gully in 1861 - New Zealand's first gold rush. By the 1920s, about 400 million dollars worth of the precious metal had been extracted from the immediate area (at today's spot price of $1285 per troy ounce!). Nowadays little evidence remains of the hectic activity of those times but the local village of Lawrence retains an old world charm and a feeling for the history of the area.

There is a pleasant bike ride that loops through the gully. It includes some nice singletrack, some back road, some quiet sealed road and a few kilometres of the famous Clutha Gold Trail.

Here is a blow by blow account....

From the carpark at the start of Gabriels Road head back towards Lawrence, cross the bridge and immediately turn right. Follow that back road out to the main highway where you'll find the start of the Clutha Gold Trail after about 100 metres. Follow the Clutha Gold Trail to the Evans Flat bridge on Highway 8. You've ridden 6.3km. The trail goes under the bridge but you don't! Cross the bridge on the highway and immediately turn left into Munro Road. That's a country road which you follow for 3.6km where you turn right into Blue Spur Road. Follow that road for about 100 metres and you'll see a grassy track on your left and a sign saying "Track to the Great Extended Mine". Follow that trail past the mine entrance (blocked off), over the hill and down into Gabriels Gully. It's a good walking track with a very short section of steps where you'll have to push your bike.

Down in the gully there are interpretive panels to help you understand the heritage of the area along with some excellent walking tracks. When you've had a look around, ride down the sealed road towards Lawrence where you'll complete your loop. Once there you should take a ride around Lawrence which positively oozes with history, heritage, interesting old buildings including a phalanx of monumental churches, boutique shops and cafes. The museum is interesting too...

Before you go

Drinking water: unknown

Lift service: unknown

Night riding: unknown

Pump track: unknown

Restrooms: unknown

Fat bike grooming: unknown

E-bikes allowed: unknown

Fee required: unknown

This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.

Getting there

There is a car park just across the bridge at the start of Gabriels Gully Road which sets out from the middle of Lawrence's main street.
In early April South Korea conducted a successful test of a locally made ballistic missile with a range of 800 kilometers. The new missiles carries a half ton warhead and has no official name yet. This enables South Korea to hit targets anywhere in North Korea with weapons (ballistic missiles) that North Korea is not equipped to stop. A similar test in 2015 involved a ballistic missiles with a range of 500 kilometers what came to be known as the Hyunmoo 2C. That test ended decades of restrictions (at the behest of the United States) on South Korean ballistic missile development. South Korea has never released much information on how many of its ballistic or cruise missiles it has but has at times indicated that they are aimed at North Korean targets. These South Korea missiles can be launched from anywhere in South Korea and hit any area in North Korea. Apparently North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his various underground headquarters are prime targets. Unlike North Korea, which has chemical weapons and, eventually, nuclear bombs for its warheads, South Korea is resctricted to conventional explosives. But even with this such missiles can do considerable damage to underground facilities and major above ground facilities.

Until 2012 South Korea and the United States had an agreement that limited South Korean made ballistic missiles to 300 kilometers range. In return the United States pledged prompt and substantial military support in the event of an attack by North Korea. In 2012 that treaty was modified because of growing aggression by North Korea and a rapidly growing North Korean arsenal of ballistic missiles. The 2012 amendments allow for South Korean missiles with a max range of 800 kilometers. The original restrictions were a gesture to North Korea in an effort to halt a ballistic missile arms race. By 2012 it was clear that the north wanted nothing to do with any restrictions. Meanwhile South Korea already had over two decades experience developing satellite launchers and ballistic missiles. South Korea is better equipped (with tech and manufacturing capability) than North Korea to develop and build ballistic missiles and satellite launchers. So the 2012 amendments to the ballistic missile agreement were expected to show quick results and that is what happened.

Back in 2012 the South Korean military also called for over $2 billion to be spent on missiles during the next five years and this plan was largely approved. This was part of an effort to develop the capability to quickly weaken the North Korean artillery and missile forces in any future war. The South Korean plan included the purchase of over a thousand new ballistic and cruise missiles. These are aimed at specific North Korean missile launchers and artillery positions. In the event of a war, the South Korean missiles can be quickly launched and most North Korean missile and artillery weapons destroyed. That would mean less destruction in South Korean territory. The North Korea plan had always been to start any future war with an enormous bombardment of South Korea using shells, rockets, and missiles. Most would be aimed at the South Korean capital, and largest city, Seoul.

Nearly all the $2 billion was spent on missiles made in South Korea. At the same time the government also revealed the existence of some of these locally developed missiles that had been kept secret. This included a new cruise missile and ballistic missile that were ready for service. South Korea is usually secretive about its battlefield missiles although some details do leak. In 2009 South Korean media reported that a new cruise missile, with a range of 1,000 kilometers, had secretly entered production in 2008. The missile, called Hyunmoo 3, has since been superseded by the Hyunmoo 3C missile, which has a range of 1,500 kilometers and is being deployed along the North Korean border, aimed at ballistic missiles, nuclear weapons, and other strategic targets to the north. The longer range of the Hyunmoo 3C enables it to hit any target in North Korea and is apparently intended to knock out transportation and supply targets deep inside North Korea. With a range of 1,500 kilometers the missile could also hit targets in China and Russia.

Since the 1980s the United States has been discouraging South Korea from developing long range ballistic and cruise missiles. Despite the U.S. refusal to approve or cooperate South Korea developed a 180 kilometer range ballistic missile (Hyunmoo 1) and a 300 kilometer one (Hyunmoo 2) in the 1980s. Both are about 13 meters (40 feet) long and weigh 4-5 tons. By 2001 South Korea accepted the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and thus agreed not to build ballistic missiles with a range of more than 300 kilometers. Hyunmoo 1 and 2 used a design based on that of the U.S. Nike-Hercules anti-aircraft missile, which South Korea used for many years and mastered the manufacturing technology for.

Cruise missiles are simpler technology, and apparently the Hyunmoo 3 is made entirely with South Korean developed components. Like the original American Tomahawk, Hyunmoo 3 appears to be about 6 meters (19 feet) long, weighs 1.5 tons, has a half ton warhead, and is launched from hidden (in the hills facing North Korea), and probably fortified, containers. North Korea has about 600 ballistic missiles aimed at South Korea but many of them are so old that their reliability in action is questionable.

In addition to locally made ballistic missiles in 2011 South Korea moved some of its American made ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) guided missiles close to the North Korean border. ATACMS is a 610mm rocket that fits in the same size container that normally holds six 227mm MLRS rockets. The ATACMS version in South Korean service has a range of 165 kilometers. That makes it capable of reaching many targets in North Korea but not the capital (Pyongyang, which is 220 kilometers north of the DMZ). There is a version of ATACMS with a range of 300 kilometers but South Korea did not have any. ATACMS is fired from the American MLRS rocket launcher. South Korea only has 220 ATACMS missiles. All of them have cluster bomb warheads. Half of them are unguided and have a range of 128 kilometers. The others have smaller warheads, GPS guidance, and a range of 165 kilometers. This is apparently the version moved close to the border, in order to make the North Koreans nervous. South Korea originally bought ATACMS in 1998, to have a weapon that could go after distant North Korean artillery and large concentrations of tanks.

Despite American opposition South Korea began developing, but not mass-producing, ballistic missiles in the 1970s. South Korea certainly has the technical expertise and manufacturing capability to produce a more modern ballistic missile with a range of 300 kilometers. At this point the United States is no longer trying to restrict South Korean missile development or production. The South Koreans tried for over a decade to develop warmer relations with North Korea and all efforts failed. The 2010 North Korea attacks (using artillery and a torpedo than sank a warship) on South Korea changed a lot of attitudes in South Korea, and the United States. North Korea is still a big problem but now South Korea is free to try whatever it thinks will work.

One negative side-effect of this missile program is that it puts parts of Russia and China at risk as well. Both nations are considered traditional threats to Korea and Russians and Chinese leaders are well aware of this. They also realize that South Korea is capable of developing and manufacturing nuclear weapons, and doing so quickly.
Life has never been easy for Donald J. Weber. He struggled to graduate from high school and joined the U.S. Marines Corps within days, spending more than a year in Vietnam as a rifleman. His decorated return from service led to nothing more than odd jobs  as well as some tough times living on the streets  before he discovered his true talent.

Don Weber likes to start and build companies.

He wasnt very good at it at first, even losing his familys home after one failure. However, he learned from his mistakes and launched Logistics Health Inc. in 1999 out of his zeal to address the medical readiness needs of military personnel  from physical exams to dental work and more.

Today, Logistics Health designs, launches and manages health and wellness programs for the Department of Defense and other clients through a national network of about 27,000 providers. It grew from scratch to 2,056 employees today and has anchored the renaissance of downtown La Crosse.

Weber told his compelling story of struggle, failure and success Wednesday in one of the three sparkling buildings that make up the Logistics Health riverfront campus. His audience: Military veterans, like himself, who want to become entrepreneurs.

His advice was simple enough: Follow your passion, work hard, dont give up and dont be afraid to fail.

I learned far more from my failures than my successes, said Weber, who has started 10 companies over time.

Weber also urged the veterans to fall back on what they learned during their time in service, such as teamwork, discipline and staying true to their mission.

His remarks came at the first in a series of Muster Across Wisconsin events produced by Bunker Labs Wisconsin in concert with the University of Wisconsin Small Business Development Centers and the Wisconsin Technology Council. In addition to Webers talk, the La Crosse event featured seminars on the basics of building a business, finding the right resources and attracting capital. Future Muster Across Wisconsin events will follow similar outlines.

Bunker Labs Wisconsin was recently awarded a grant from the state Department of Veterans Affairs to provide programming, mentoring and networking for veterans who want to start businesses. Its part of a national Bunker Labs effort to work with veterans through chapters in 15 cities, including Madison.

For many veterans, its a program that comes at the right time.

The Greatest Generation that won World War II wasnt just great because of what they did while in uniform. When they returned from military service, they also sparked a peacetime economic boom that still echoes today.

Nearly half of World War II veterans who came home in the 1940s started their own businesses. Today, veterans returning from the Middle East and other deployments in a still-dangerous world are aiming for a startup boom of their own.

About 25 percent of post 9/11 vets would like to start their own business, based on national surveys, but only a quarter of them have the resources to do so. With tens of thousands of military veterans set to re-enter the workforce, making their own job is an option for many.

Nearly 90 percent of the veterans who responded to a Bunker Labs survey said they would like to use their G.I. Bill benefit to start a small business. Nearly 95 percent said they would complete an entrepreneurial training program to do so.

Its a natural fit for many. Most veterans are disciplined, accustomed to hard work and long hours, trained to perform under pressure and equipped with specific skills that usually translate well to the private sector.

Perhaps that is why veterans own 9 percent of businesses in America, according to U.S. Census Bureau and Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation figures. Veteran-owned businesses also generate $1.2 trillion in receipts and employ 5.8 million workers.

Not every returning veteran will be the next Don Weber, but many have earned the chance to try. At a time when Wisconsin needs as many startups and talented workers as it can find, returning veterans will provide part of the solution.
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.As the flow of asylum-seekers crossing into Canada continues, residents in towns along the Canada-U.S. border are quietly mobilizing to help the travellers who pass through in search of better lives.

Janet McFetridge, a resident of Champlain, N.Y., said she started seeing taxis passing by her house in November, around the time Donald Trump was elected president.

Its just unusual because you dont usually see cabs out here, so its very noticeable she said.

Most of the taxis were heading to Roxham Road, a popular illegal crossing spot where people hop a small ditch into Canada in order to file asylum claims from within the country.

McFetridge said she and others in the area wanted to know how they could help.

At first we were concerned about (winter) clothes, but then were also concerned now about the larger picture of if theyre sent back from Canada, are they going to be able to go somewhere? she said in an interview.

The greater Plattsburgh area is looking for some system where people will be able to house them and get them on their way safely.

What has emerged, she says, is a coalition of churches, citizens and social organizations.

The group, which calls itself Plattsburgh Cares, is considering ways to offer food, shelter, transportation or legal advice to people who are heading to Canada or who are turned back.

People who cross the border illegally and file their refugee claims in Canada are generally allowed to remain pending their hearing dates.

But McFetridge worries some people could still end up in the area while in transit, or if they are turned back at an official border checkpoint due to the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, which states refugees must file their claims in whichever of the two countries they reach first.

As the last sizable American town between New York City and the Canadian border, Plattsburgh has also seen a rise in the number of asylum-seekers passing through, said Mayor Colin Read.

At first we thought it was maybe just a blip, a post-November thing, but it hasnt been slowing down, he said in a recent interview.

Read, who advises the Plattsburgh Cares group, says the city wants to make sure the asylum-seekers arent taken advantage of.

That means ensuring city police are sensitive to issues of profiling, and trying to prevent taxi drivers from gouging clients going to the border, which he admits can be difficult because they operate outside city limits.

At a nondescript gas station just outside the town, taxi drivers line up for the arrival of the 3:20 p.m. bus from New York City.

One of the drivers, who declined to give his name, said he takes passengers to the border on a regular basis.

His company charges $100 for the trip, he said, adding that other companies charge more than double that amount.

Read, who says he has heard of drivers charging $300 for a ride, said groups like Plattsburgh Cares could help by offering food, a couple of days lodging and some advice to families who are split up or who are considering a run to the border.

Were trying to figure out how develop a network so whatever they do, they do so with full information, said Read.

Read, who said the city is consulting with the Attorney Generals office to ensure everything is done legally, said he doesnt see the groups actions as a way to help people avoid immigration policy.

I dont think this is an issue of immigration policy, its an issue of making sure people arent exploited, he said, adding most of the people who transited through had valid visas to be in the United States.

On the Canadian side of the border, a group of citizens in Hemmingford, Que., also recently held an event to see how they could support the border jumpers.

That event included writing letters to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen to ask them to suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement, so refugee claimants could present themselves at the border instead of crossing illegally, group members said.

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Just over two years ago, video surfaced of two TTC transit enforcement officers engaged in a full-on brawl with a father and son at Union Station after a Leafs game. The images were kind of shocking: while the son was being restrained by another TTC employee, one officer repeatedly landed punches to his face; while the father was kneeling face-down on the ground, the other officer punches him. It wasnt exactly clear how it started, or how it might be justified, if it was. But, as TTC Chair Josh Colle said at the time, I find it hard to fathom what context could make that acceptable.

And beyond the incident itself, the episode raised other questions: why, I asked at the time, did the video have to surface before the TTC opened an investigation into the punch-up? Why did the officers not seem to be de-escalating the situation despite TTC CEO Andy Byfords emphasis that de-escalation was the focus of their training? Exactly what kind of training did they get?

Two years later, it isnt a heck of a lot clearer whos to blame for what happened. A police investigation cleared the TTC officers and charged the father and son. Then those charges were dropped before going to court. Then the father and son filed a $4 million lawsuit, which still hasnt been resolved. As far as who was justified, we still pretty much have the evidence of our own eyes on the video as our only significant piece of information.

But thanks to a report this week from city of Toronto Ombudsman Susan Opler, we do have answers to many of those other questions  and some reassurance, perhaps, that such an incident may be less likely to occur in the future.

It turns out, she reported, that the Transit Enforcement Units use of force policy does not address the use of de-escalation as an alternative to the use of force. Which doesnt sound good. Training materials do not clearly outline how (officers) are taught and evaluated on de-escalation skills, and their training on dealing with people with mental illness or in emotional distress is limited. That doesnt sound good either.

As the people charged with both enforcing TTC fare rules and keeping some order on the transit system, these officers will regularly have to deal with drunk people, people suffering mental health crises, people who are distressed  and in all of those cases, talking and otherwise de-escalating will tend to be more useful than punching or using weapons.

The section on the lack of de-escalation training is particularly interesting reading given the emphasis on it that Byford, as well as TTC Chair Josh Colle and other senior executives, stressed at the time of the incident. Opler notes this disconnect, and says that in talks with such executives and with enforcement unit members they stressed that de-escalation is always the first option when responding to an incident. But when she investigated the actual training units, she found it was barely mentioned as part of the use-of-force model, and that while officers were trained, tested and graded specifically on various hand-to-hand combat techniques, there was no similar testing of de-escalation and communication techniques.

It may sound soft and fuzzy, or it may sound obvious, but if youve worked in a bar or overseen children, youll know that you cannot emphasize enough the value of being able to talk someone down, communicate with them to avoid violence, take the pressure off them to let the situation evolve peacefully. Its not enough to talk about it while practicing only your butt-kicking skills.

Further, Oplers investigation found there was no system at the TTC to track use of force incidents and no way to open an investigation into officers conduct unless someone made a complaint. Which seems outrageous when were talking about people entrusted with using force on our behalf.

Now, since that time, the TTC seems to have somewhat softened its enforcement units approach in general. Fare inspectors no longer carry batons or handcuffs, for instance, and wear a more customer friendly uniform.

And the good news is that Byford has accepted the ombudsmans conclusions unreservedly. In a letter included in the report itself, Byford says that all her recommendations have been or are being implemented by the end of the year.

Thats as it should be. A lot has changed in two years. Leafs fans, for one, might be more inclined to hug people than wrestle them after games these days. The TTC has changed the tone of its fare enforcement. We havent seen any more videos emerge that look more like MMA fights than commuting scenes. Oplers report, and Byfords response to it, make it all the more likely that will remain the case.

Edward Keenan writes on city issues ekeenan@thestar.ca . Follow: @thekeenanwire

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Dont drink and drive.

Dont text and drive, either.

Buckle up, and dont forget, speed kills.

If youre a driver in southern Ontario, you should be accustomed to seeing those messages on some of the electronic signs placed over the provinces highways, but you may have recently noticed a new addition: DONT DRIVE HIGH.

Launched this month by the Ministry of Transportation, the new message features a perky, bright-green, crossed-out marijuana leaf with a set of keys surrounded on either side with the slogans dont drive high and a slightly more casual French equivalent, ne pas conduire defonce.

In an email, MTO spokesperson Astrid Poei said the message is part of an ongoing awareness campaign about penalties for drug-impaired driving the provincial government introduced last year. Theres a more timely reason for the messages introduction as well  besides the infamous 4/20 holiday, the federal government also unveiled its proposed marijuana legalization bill in Ottawa on April 13.

Given the impending federal legalization of cannabis, the ministry also wanted to reinforce the message that driving under the influence of a drug (including cannabis) is still illegal and dangerous, Poei wrote, adding that the ministry regularly considers new messages for its signs based on traffic safety and operational efficiency and rotates message themes monthly.

OPP Highway Safety Division Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told the Star the dont drive high theme is a welcome reminder about the dangers of impaired driving, a message that some drivers still arent getting.

We are certainly seeing more and more people driving under the influence of drugs and more people being charged, Schmidt said, noting that part of reason for that increase may be because officers are receiving more training on detecting drug impairment.

Schmidt couldnt immediately provide numbers on how many drivers the OPP has arrested for being high behind the wheel, but said that over a 24-hour period last week, 28 people were arrested for impaired driving overall.

An impaired driver is an impaired driver. It doesnt matter if youre impaired by alcohol, drugs  marijuana or any other drugs  if youre impaired, youre impaired, and you cant make decisions, you cant process the information thats coming in at you so quickly he said.

And its maybe just a misconception that people think that they can drive better while high  well, thats a blatant myth, he added. We see it all over, where people are crashing their cars and getting into trouble and getting into collisions because of their impairment.

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A slew of seasoned decision-makers tasked with hearing refugee and immigration appeals have either left or will depart from their job in what some call the Liberals housecleaning of Conservative appointees.

In light of what some critics call inadequate funding and a growing backlog stemming from the recent spike in asylum-seekers crossing into Canada via the United States, the loss of the adjudicators on the immigration and refugee appeals tribunals is expected to toss the system into disarray.

Our concern is the government is continuing to have a governor-in-council appointment process that is political and discretionary instead of going for a transparent process to appoint the most suitable candidates who are competent, judicious, fair-minded and efficient, said Raoul Boulakia of the Refugee Lawyers Association of Ontario.

The efficiency and quality of the decisions could be compromised if the people who are brought in do not have the expertise and are not judicious.

The Immigration and Refugee Board, which oversees both appeals tribunals, said 14 appointees have left their job since last August and another 39 will have their appointments expire by the end of this year. The board confirmed a total of 42 people applied for reappointments to the tribunals, but would not say how many have been successful.

Currently, 23 of the 58 positions at the refugee appeals tribunal are unfilled while the immigration appeals division has six vacancies out of the full complement of 44 appointments.

Like the court system, the refugee and immigration appeals tribunals require adjudicators to have stronger knowledge and experience with the administration of the law in order to review decisions by lower-level refugee judges or immigration officials, who are civil servants.

While failed refugee claimants  and sometimes the immigration minister  can appeal to the refugee tribunal any questionable decisions made by asylum judges, rejected immigration applicants in sponsorships or those facing removal orders can take their cases to the immigration appeals tribunal.

As of the end of December, the immigration appeals tribunal had a backlog of 10,206 cases and a processing time of 20.4 months (compared to 17 months in 2013), while the refugee appeals division had 1,938 cases in the inventory with the average processing time at 124 days (compared to 65 days in 2013), said the refugee board.

Under the old system by the former Conservative government, existing adjudicators seeking reappointment to the tribunals would have all their previous decisions evaluated in terms of quality and quantity before being recommended by the board chair based on their track records.

However, last summer, the Liberal government, which ran an election campaign on transparency and bipartisanship, rolled out a new process for those already sitting on the tribunals by requiring them to reapply for their appointment and pass an online test.

They are then interviewed by a hiring committee made up of the refugee board chair and one representative each from the Prime Ministers Office, Privy Council Office and the Immigration Department. The composition of the committee opens the door for partisan selection, Boulakia said.

The Privy Council said the governments new approach to governor-in-council appointments supports open, transparent and merit-based appointments.

All candidates seeking appointment to a GIC position with the Immigration and Refugee Board, be they incumbents or new candidates, are subject to a rigorous selection process developed for the position, which includes inputs and insights from the independent bodies, including the chair of the refugee board, said Mistu Mukherjee, a spokesperson for the PCO.

The results of these assessments, made against public and merit-based criteria, are provided to the minister. The minister makes appointment recommendation from this list of highly-qualified candidates.

Adjudicators who took the test said the questions had nothing to do with immigration and refugee laws and complained they had no way to review the exam or find out why they might have failed.

The process is partisan and not based on merits. They are cleaning out anyone who was appointed by the previous government, whether they are really affiliated with the Conservatives or not, complained one adjudicator, who underwent the process and asked not to be identified for fear of repercussion.

This is complex, technical work. It takes a long time for new members to learn the stuff. This purge means peoples (immigration) status is going to be uncertain for longer. It is going to further affect peoples ability to bring their family members to Canada. This is going to have a huge impact in peoples lives.

Although it is a common practice for a new government to fill board and tribunal appointments with their party supporters, another affected adjudicator said the test is flawed and the process is rigged.

What happens is you feel you are shackled to a political party with your job security resting on the whim of that party. But you are not supposed to get involved in any politics. It is just so wrong when you are not assessed by your performance and good judgment but by who you know, said the source, whose appointment was not renewed.

Our political leader has said to refugees, Come to Canada and we will welcome you. Its like an open invitation, but some people who come here are not really who they say they are. With more refugees coming, everybody will be appealing and rushing to the appeals tribunals when they are turned down. This is all about cleaning house.

Refugee board spokesperson Anna Pape said it is not a requirement for appointees to have experience in refugee and immigration matters and (complete) training is provided to all new decision-makers, regardless of their education or experience.

The training usually takes about six months before new appointees will be assigned cases, initially on a three-person panel with easier cases and reduced workload.

Competencies are tested, not immigration knowledge, on the basis that positions are open to all Canadians who possess the required competencies and skills, not just those with a specific knowledge of immigration and refugee matters, said Pape.

Specifically candidates are assessed for written and oral communications, conceptual thinking, decision making, judgment and analytical thinking, information seeking, self-control, organizational skills, results orientation and cultural sensitivity.

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WASHINGTONThe cartoon on the cover of this weeks Der Spiegel, the German newsmagazine, captures the prevailing public mood. It depicts Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un as shouting babies in diapers, teetering on an atomic bomb.

The mercurial new president of the United States and the belligerent leader of North Korea are engaged in a war of words. These exchanges, and their respective personalities, have stoked international fears of an imminent shooting war.

Yet three U.S. experts on North Korea say not much has changed between the Obama era and the Trump era. The widespread perception that there is a dramatically elevated possibility of imminent conflict, they said, is not supported by the facts.

Wildly overblown, said William Brown, a Georgetown University adjunct professor who worked on Korean issues for the CIA, the National Intelligence Council and the Commerce Department. Theres an incredible amount of hype here.

This particular crisis is just like  an outbreak of madness. Theres no reason for it, said Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. As the scope of North Koreas nuclear ambitions start to come into focus for people, I think theres a kind of panic setting in.

Last week was just a perfect storm of mindless speculation and people trying to get ahead of a story that just wasnt there, said Michael Madden, a visiting scholar at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University. None of this stuff is new. Nothing from the U.S. and nothing from North Korea.

North Korea last week threatened a super-mighty pre-emptive strike that would reduce the U.S. to ashes. But it has issued nearly identical threats for years, said Nicholas Eberstadt, a North Korea scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. And the vitriol directed at Trump in North Korean state media is at a lower level, Eberstadt said, than that levelled at Obama.

So thats the good news. The bad news is that the situation was bad even while fewer people were freaking out about it.

I think were always about a heartbeat away from the resumption of war on the Korean peninsula. So whether the public pays attention or not, its an extremely tense, hair-trigger sort of situation there, Eberstadt said. But the peace has been maintained for over 60 years.

More at thestar.com

Its time to end the Korean War: Walkom

War clouds gather over Koreas  but Pyongyang residents barely notice

The elevated public alarm was not prompted by hype alone. At an annual parade last week, North Korea showcased a greater variety of missiles than it had before. North Korea has conducted four missile launches so far this year alone, an acceleration. Trump has deployed an aircraft carrier to the area  after first falsely claiming it was on its way, angering South Korea.

Fears of war intensified with an NBC report last week that Trump was prepared to launch a pre-emptive strike if North Korea carried out its sixth nuclear test. But senior U.S. defence officials immediately told Fox News that the report was wildly wrong.

Indeed, the U.S. experts said there is no indication that Trump has made significant adjustments to the Obama strategy that is widely thought to have failed. The only big difference, they said, is his forceful rhetoric.

Instead of talking about negotiations as the first talking point, they say something about a military option as the first talking point. Thats the only difference, as far as I can tell, Madden said.

Of course, there are risks to tough talk  perhaps especially tough talk coming from an unschooled president with a penchant for tweeting before thinking. There is some possibility, analysts say, that stray Trump remarks could spiral into conflict.

I dont think hes brave enough to start a war with the North Koreans. But hes dumb enough to talk like he might. And the fear I have is hell say something that the North Koreans will interpret as a sign that an attack is coming, and theyll overreact, Lewis said.

Public apprehension about Trumps bellicosity is premised in part on the belief, promoted in popular culture, that the president is poking an unstable madman, a loose cannon willing to use nuclear weapons today even though it would mean the likely demise of his reign.

Among Korea experts, though, there is a broad consensus that Kim and his associates are indeed rational. They say the surprise acts that have alarmed the world, like the murder of Kims half-brother Kim Jong Nam, are more ruthless than unreasonable.

To argue that somethings actually going to happen, you have to kind of argue that the North Koreans are nuts. The regime is actually quite smart, Brown said.

Theres a difference between evil and crazy. Which is sometimes not parsed well in public discourse or public analysis, Eberstadt said. What we may be seeing is a leadership that acts very rationally with an appalling set of preferences.

Kims preferences include self-preservation, but not only that. His regime seeks the end of South Korea and the reunification of Korean people under its own leadership. And it believes it cannot achieve that goal without a nuclear arsenal.

The regime has suffered a curious string of missile-test failures that may or may not have been caused in part by U.S. sabotage. But the failures may be productive, Lewis said, teaching the North Koreans important lessons that will eventually allow them to perfect their technology.

Setbacks aside, North Korea made rapid progress in its nuclear program under Obama. The regime, Lewis said, is now clearly going to find a way to achieve the outcome the U.S. has scrambled to prevent: a thermonuclear weapon on an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the American mainland.

And thats the moment at which their ability to threaten their neighbours will become really secure, Lewis said.

As of today, North Korea has the ability to do immense damage in its own region.

U.S. military options are limited by the presence of North Korean artillery within range of more than 20 million South Koreans in and around Seoul. North Korea also has a stockpile of chemical weapons.

And U.S. diplomatic options are limited by Kims intense apprehension about becoming the next Moammar Gadhafi or Saddam Hussein. The North Koreans, Madden said, frequently note that the Libyan and Iraqi dictators were toppled after agreeing to give up weapons of mass destruction.

Its a perfectly rational argument from their perspective, Madden said.

Various experts have various ideas on what the U.S. could do differently, militarily and diplomatically. To some extent, though, the U.S. is probably going to have to rely on Kims continued rationality.

Theres a whole bunch of different ways the North Koreans could nuke somebody if they wanted to, Madden said. But as I said, I wouldnt worry about it.

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PARISDo voters judge a book by its cover? Frances presidential candidates certainly think they do, and more than ever are trying to get their political message across through their wardrobes.

With unemployment and economic woes topping voter concerns ahead of Frances two-round presidential vote, taking place Sunday and May 7, candidates have vied for the most on-message branding.

Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron wears suits that cost about 350 ($500) from a small Parisian retailer. Whether political calculation or lucky coincidence, the move nicely contrasts with scandal-hit conservative candidate Francois Fillon, accused of elitism for exorbitantly-priced suits paid for by donors, including $18,000 for two recent suits.

Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen favours sombre suits as she evokes threats against France and takes a hard line on security and immigration.

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On the other end of the political spectrum, far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon cultivates a tie-free image in an election shaped by anti-establishment sentiment  and jackets that evoke communist leaders.

And car factory worker Philippe Poutou, a far-left candidate who took just five weeks off work to run for president, stole the show at the last presidential debate with his messy hair, baggy sweater and sharp tongue that made him look like an average Joe speaking truth to power.

Striking the right visual tone is especially crucial in France, capital of the cosmetic and fashion industries, and whose Parisian salons have set global style trends for centuries. Twitter, Instagram and other social media make a good presidential image more important than ever.

Fillon, 63, took a major blow in the polls over accusations of corruption. The accusations were aggravated by a report that he allegedly accepted gifts of designer suits worth more than $69,500. That fuelled perceptions he was out of touch with ordinary French voters, many of whom are struggling. The website of Paris suit maker Berluti  formerly known as Arnys  calls those who wear its bespoke tailoring an exclusive club of insiders.

Fillon denies the corruption charges but his image has suffered anyway.

Fillons problems can be all summed up by his suits. He built a campaign around honesty and keeping scandals out of politics ... he became exactly the image of the thing he was fighting, said political image consultant Frank Tapiro.

Style consultant Emery Dolige agreed, calling the impact of Fillons extravagant suits catastrophic in the countryside and poorer areas.

Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon has also suffered image problems. The 49-year-old provoked online jabs for saying he often misplaces his spectacles, then appeared to forget to remove his reading glasses after reading a text during the first presidential debate. His glasses have spawned their own Twitter account.

Commentators speculated that Hamon utilized his glasses to project a down-to-earth image like an endearing, absent-minded teacher  but it backfired.

Hes always forgetting his glasses on his face. Its subliminal, but people read this as meaning hes not prepared to be president. You get the impression hes lost, Tapiro said. We invented style in France. If you dont have a look of a president, you cant be president.

The telegenic Macron  at 39 the youngest of the candidates  has made much of his presentational style. Jean-Claude Touboul, co-owner of Jonas et Cie tailors, said the centrist front-runner has been a client for three years and regularly buys suits from the store in a dusty, multicultural area of Paris.

Were not (luxury-lined) Avenue Montaigne. Our suits cost between 340 to 380 ($490-$450). Is it a political calculation? I dont know, Touboul said. Macron appreciates our cuts, which are a little fitted but not excessively and emphasize his youth.

Le Pen has dramatically softened her partys image since taking over from her hard-line father in 2011. But for this race, in which she is the only female candidate among the 11 running, she cut her blond hair and donned dark menswear-style suits. That contrasts with the only other woman to be a top presidential contender in France, Segolene Royal, who wore bright feminine colours in her 2007 campaign.

Le Pen has a conservative, masculine style to align with the attributes of authority and firmness, said image consultant Valeria Doustaly.

Le Pen favours navy blue, which is called bleu marine in French  the name of her political movement, a wordplay on her first name and the colour long associated with conservatives in France.

Far-leftist Melenchon, 65, is especially crafty with branding.

The jacket he wears in all media opportunities is a workers jacket that he bought from a shop that sells professional uniforms, said Dolige, referring to Melenchons jacket with large collar, big buttons and pockets on the outside. The outfit has drawn comparisons to Communist leaders Josef Stalin and Mao Zedong.

Melenchon recently rallied against inequality in the southern city of Marseille against the backdrop of the glistening Mediterranean Sea on the same that day Fillon, hundreds of miles away in Paris, sweated uncomfortably during his indoor political rally at a convention centre.

Melenchon, the oldest candidate, is also famously adept at tweeting and plans to use holograms to project a political rally across six French cities simultaneously. One commentator has branded him Melen-show.

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RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIASaudi Arabias King Salman issued a decree late Saturday naming one of his sons, an air force pilot who has taken part in coalition strikes against Daesh, also known as the Islamic State group, as the kingdoms new ambassador to the U.S.

The appointment of Prince Khaled bin Salman to Washington signals the kingdoms eagerness to strengthen bilateral ties under President Donald Trump. As the kings son, the prince has a direct line to the Saudi monarch.

Saudi Arabia is the worlds third largest defence spender. Prince Khaleds appointment positions him as an influential broker in deals with U.S. manufacturers.

Saudi-U.S. relations had cooled under the Obama administration after Washington pursued a nuclear accord with Shiite-ruled Iran that the Sunni-ruled kingdom strongly opposed. Saudi Arabia and Iran are regional rivals, and back opposing sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen.

Relations with the Riyadh have improved since Trump took office. King Salman dispatched his most powerful son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also defence minister, to meet Trump at the White House last month. Saudi Arabia was quick to praise Trumps missile strike on a Syrian military base in response to an apparent chemical weapons attack on civilians.

Prince Khaled is a former F-15 pilot who graduated military-aviation training from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi in 2009 and took part in anti-IS strikes in 2014 as part of the U.S.-led coalition. He also participated in flight missions over Yemen, where the kingdom has been bombing a Yemeni faction aligned with Iran for more than two years.

The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news website says the prince studied briefly at Harvard University and Georgetown University. The news website says he trained at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, but that a back injury forced him to stop flying.

He has been an adviser at the Saudi Embassy in Washington since late last year.

U.S. officials say the Trump administration is considering ways to boost military support for the Saudi-led fight against Iran-backed rebels in Yemen. The U.S. already is helping the Saudis with intelligence and logistical support for the bombing campaign in Yemen, and could assist with greater intelligence support to counter Iranian influence there.

Prince Khaled will be replacing Prince Abdullah Al Saud, who served in the post for just 18 months. Though a member of the royal family, Prince Abdullah was not seen as part of the inner Al Saud circle and is not a direct grandson of Saudi Arabias founder, King Abdulaziz.

Days before being relieved of his post in Washington, Prince Abdullah published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal calling for continued U.S. resolve to end the conflict in Syria.

He said Saudi Royal Air Force jets operating out of a base in southern Turkey have conducted more than 340 strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria since February.

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TOKYOAn American aircraft carrier heading toward the Korean Peninsula began joint exercises Sunday with Japanese naval ships in the Philippine Sea.

Two Japanese destroyers joined the USS Carl Vinson and two other U.S. warships as they continued their journey north in the western Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Navy said in a statement.

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The Vinson had cancelled a scheduled visit to Australia to divert toward North Korea in a show of force, though it still conducted a curtailed training exercise with Australia before doing so. Tensions are elevated on the Korean Peninsula, with the Trump administration saying that all options are on the table, and indications that North Korea may be preparing to test a nuclear weapon or long-range missile.

Two Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyers left Sasebo port in southern Japan on Friday to join the Vinson strike group. The U.S. group also includes a guided-missile cruiser and a guided-missile destroyer.

The Navy called the exercise routine and said it is designed to improve combined maritime response and defence capabilities, as well as joint manoeuvring proficiency.

The Vinson group has conducted three previous bilateral exercises with the Japanese navy since leaving San Diego on Jan. 5 for a western Pacific deployment. The most recent one was in March.

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Libor is just a number, a small number. Then you notice the blood spatters and realize that little Libor is actually a crime scene. You and I were the victims but we will never know how badly we were hurt. The scandal unfolds.

The basics: banks borrow money from each other at a lending rate based, not on collateral but on creditworthiness, on self-perceived health. In 1984, British bankers decide to report the rate  essentially a summary of hundreds of banks credit ratings  that banks would pay each other. Theyd remove the highest and lowest rates and come up with a nice useful average  the London Interbank Offered Rate, called Libor (pronounced Lie-bore)  that soon became the most crucial number in finance.

When the financial world became globalized, manic and huge, with a crush of things being turned into financial vehicles that were bet on from every angle of possibility, Libor was the linchpin. By 2013, $360 trillion US in deals were based on it. Wee Libor was it.

The process: each bank had a submitter, a man  its an all-male scandal  in a back room idly phoning in his approximation of the banks rate that day.

After deregulation, financial institutions overexpanded, turning into prestige casinos and hiring broker-gamblers who were great at math, creating new ways of packaging debt for resale, shaving tiny profits off each dollar of billion-dollar deals, placing blood-curdling bets, and winning massive sums for their employers.

In 2006, some bankers  a fancy name for untrained hustlers with a talent for deal making  realized they could game the system by fiddling with Libor, varying it by a basis point or two to favour their own deals. All they had to do was make nice with the bored, lonely submitters, give them a nudge and pay them off.

Libor manipulation wasnt illegal. It was so clearly morally wrong that it was not thought necessary to specify that.

The British broker who became the public face of the Libor scandal was Tom Hayes, a grubby man who dressed in tattered pants and sweaters with holes, and had terrible dandruff. Socially clueless, he was good at one thing: creating massively complicated computer models for derivatives, which are financial products derived from something else, e.g., gold bar futures rather than gold bars themselves.

David Enrich is the ironically named author of the latest book on the Libor scandal, The Spider Network: The Wild Story of a Math Genius, a Gang of Backstabbing Bankers, and One of the Greatest Scams in Financial History. (The subtitle is styled for simpletons.)

The Spider Network, about Hayes and his gang of thieves, is great stuff, although written in tight co-operation with Hayes himself, now serving an 11-year jail sentence. The only scammer jailed after Libor, he feels he is a scapegoat. He is not. He is guilty; it is irrelevant that other juries were too mystified by high finance to convict.

Hayes worked at various institutions  all these men move around a lot  including Royal Bank of Canada early on (he appalled them), the Swiss bank UBS, and Citigroup. He did his nastiest work at UBS in Tokyo, persuading co-workers to skew Libor, and then doing the same with traders at competing banks, which was very Carlos Danger, shall we say.

As a result, the Libor rate was falsified and international finance was poisoned. Pension plans overpaid, university endowments lost value, people lost homes, all because Libor birthed small corruptions for the personal profit of a few heartless brokers.

The reader becomes Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, meeting Meyer Wolfsheim, the man behind the fixing of the 1919 World Series. It never occurred to me that one man could start to play with the faith of fifty million people  with the single-mindedness of a burglar blowing a safe. But thats what Hayes did nearly a century later, so he could have grand houses and five cars.

Hayes, eternally crying out No fair! It wasnt just me, is now crowdfunding an appeal because he says his Aspergers syndrome made him incapable of understanding right and wrong. There are interesting aspects to Hayes autism. Its true that Hayes was working with nasty people and easily led. But its also true that the math talent that autism gave him was his poisoned chalice.

Very few people are jailed for white-collar financial crime. Perhaps this is why there is so much of it. In the Trump years, it will explode.

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Celebrity power, like political power, is a responsibility, not a right. Abuse of that power can result in severe consequences, both to individuals and to institutions, as evident in the spectacular fall from grace of Bill OReilly, the long-time Conservative host of The OReilly Factor on Fox News,

Late night talk show hosts and comedians savaged OReilly in monologues and jokes following the statement by 21st Century Fox (the parent company of Fox News Channel), that OReilly would not be returning to the show after a thorough and careful review of allegations. The New York Times had previously reported that either OReilly or Fox News had given $13 million to five women in exchange for their silence about his behaviour. Stephen Colbert deadpanned that Bill OReilly always had your back, and if you were a woman, he might have a go at your front too. Ouch.

But the discussion delved deeper than jokes. An unusually frank exchange on CNN, between Margaret Hoover and Alisyn Camerota, both former Fox news journalists, demonstrated the insidious effect of harassment in a news room.

While neither Hoover nor Camerota (who is now a co-host on CNNs Morning Show) were sexually harassed, Hoover had to navigate a mine field to make sure she was never in a vulnerable situation with OReilly.

Cameroto had experienced more than one issue with Roger Ailes, the former chairman and CEO of Fox News, who resigned in July 2016 following more allegations of sexual harassment. She noted that the real harassment was emotional, caused by bullying, which in turn, created a chilling effect.

While the OReilly scenario was typical  men in positions of power and prestige belittle, bully and sometimes sexually assault individuals who are not in a position to fight back  the result was surprisingly atypical. Third parties, in the form of advertisers, proved to be valuable power brokers as many pulled their commercials from the show.

Nothing focuses the corporate mind or rattles the C-suite like the loss of revenue. Even the powerful Murdoch-owned network recognized the damage. Not only were they bleeding money, but their takeover bid for Sky news in the U.K. could be impaired. Riley was jettisoned, albeit with a rumoured pay out of $25 million, an amount that will cause further angst for the network.

However, the clout of the marketplace will not help any political staffers who allege harassment on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Except for those who work for NDP members, this particular cohort is not unionized  they are answerable only to the MP for whom they work. Most MP/staff relationships have strong bonds of trust and respect, but that bond does not negate the need for protection in the event of abuse of power.

A policy on preventing and addressing harassment, issued in 2014 by the Board of Internal Economy, is a smart beginning but nevertheless, gaps remain. For example, the reporting mechanism is internal (i.e. report to your MP first, which is not helpful if the MP is abusive), rather than to an external, anonymous process (i.e. a 1-800 number). Nor does the code address the delicate issue of harassment between MPs themselves.

A three-piece series in the Hill Times, an independent paper covering Parliament Hill, notes that few staffers report sexual harassment fearing job loss and reputational damage. The impetus for the series, which will next focus on the Parliamentary Press Gallery, came from the allegations concerning Senator Don Meredith. And just recently, new allegations of workplace harassment have surfaced regarding another senator, Dan Lang. (See Correction below)

Abuse of power can cause not only trauma and depression, but it can negatively impact productivity. Surely, Fox News did not want an advertising exodus. Surely, the senators on the Senate Ethics Committee who are considering Senator Merediths future, have other issues they would prefer to pursue. And surely, any staffer or journalist who experiences harassment would find it difficult to do her job properly.

There is no question that harassment charges require fairness and professionalism. Allegations cannot be frivolous because reputational damage can equally affect a person in a position of power who is falsely accused.

Nevertheless, tough as it may be, the exercise of power requires vigilance to keep it in check. Our Parliamentarians must keep at this issue. We dont need a Bill OReilly on Parliament Hill.

Correction  April 24, 2017: Following submission of this opinion article, new information regarding Senator Daniel Lang were made public by the CBC News. According to the CBC, Lang contacted CBC with a statement stating, My office is not subject to a harassment probe by the Senate. Neither I nor anyone in my office is in breach of Senate policy related to workplace harassment or any other Senate policy.

Penny Collenette is an adjunct professor of law at the University of Ottawa and was a senior director of the Prime Ministers Office for Jean Chretien.

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Like a master juggler, a successful Canadian premier or prime minister needs to be able to balance half a dozen spinning plates on their head, hands and feet on the national stage. Have one knocked off its perch, or miscalculating and having two collide and the political costs can be high.

First, you must be able to juggle the needs and expectations of your supporters against the necessary compromises of federalism. Then, you need to ensure that your allies among the provinces or in Ottawa do not find it expedient to drop you on a major issue. Finally, you need to be able to adjust quickly when an old ally falls and a new insurgent appears.

Justin Trudeau has had a relatively easy first 18 months as a federal juggler. The big four provinces have all been led by allies, three Liberal and Rachel Notleys New Democrats. The year ahead raises a gloomier prospect as he heads into his own pre-election year.

If Christy Clark is replaced by John Horgan and the NDP in B.C. that would be a serious blow on several fronts, starting with their hard-won consensus on the Trans Mountain Pipeline. If Kathleen Wynne is defeated the following June that would be even more serious. PC Patrick Brown would be no friend of Ottawa. An NDP Andrea Horwath government would be even more challenging.

Even if Clark and Wynne are merely badly wounded, a shaky minority government in Ontario, and a likely Liberal leadership contest in B.C. would not be helpful. The Trudeau team could not have taken as many seats from the NDP and the Tories in their 2015 campaign without the 100 per cent commitment of their provincial machines. Either in defeat or the gloom of a near-death campaign, neither is likely to make a similar commitment in 2019.

Although all sides have done a good job in keeping the tensions off the front page, the love triangle between Wynne, Clark and Trudeau has been under increasing strain in recent months. Wynne was furious at being sabotaged on larger health funding from Ottawa. Clark remains unhappy about Ottawas thin political support on a number of issues, despite the pipeline deal. Ottawa is grumpy at Ontario for its bait-and-switch on toll roads in Toronto, and its preening over new political fundraising limits, something the Trudeau team is determined to resist.

Canadas complex federalism being what it is, neither tribal nor regional bonds are any guarantee of help in the perpetual juggling act of alliance building. The Rachel Notley NDP government, ironically, has probably done more to help Ottawa on pipelines than any other. Its support has been reciprocated on funding issues important to Albertas NDPs.

Further complicating federal Liberal pre-election planning is the imminent arrival of two new opposition leaders. Stephen Harper was clearly well past his sell-by date in 2015, and suffered the consequence of merely rerunning his previous campaign. Thomas Mulcair got successfully niqabbed and was otherwise disappointing to his own base, and more importantly, to those voters looking for a guaranteed Harper killer.

If each opposition partys voters are wise enough to make good choices in leadership selection  a big if, admittedly  2019 will be very different. Painfully for Trudeau, he has begun to demonstrate the truth of that old New Democrat axiom that Liberals always break progressive hearts. Running away from electoral reform is only the most galling of a lengthening list of broken campaign promises.

Again, in the ironies of Canadian federalism, it will serve the Trudeau Liberals far better if Notley is re-elected in May 2019, only a few months before all Canadians return to the polls in October of that year. A strong new mandate for Jason Kenney, a ferociously partisan and effective campaigner, would have implications beyond Alberta.

Equally ironic, the federal Liberals would be better served by a weak Tory minority government in Ontario, than by a Wynne government surviving on fumes and detested by Ontario progressives, thus making them biddable for a return to the NDP.

But what makes national politics so much fun for junkies, in the worlds most successful if always complex federal state, is that only one thing is certain: some plates will collide, some will smash on the ground  which ones and when is completely unpredictable. Justin Trudeau may well be celebrating another Caribbean Christmas having just won a big second majority, only two and a bit years from now.

Robin V. Sears, a principal at Earnscliffe Strategy Group and a Broadbent Institute leadership fellow, was an NDP strategist for 20 years.

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The Harper governments overhaul of the process for obtaining a criminal pardon was typical of the Tories perversely punitive approach to crime policy. The Conservatives imposed an absolute ban on pardons for some offenders, doubled the waiting period to apply and quadrupled the cost, from $150 to $631. They even changed the name pardon, with its connotation of forgiveness, to the more qualified record suspension.

This has had predictable results. During a recent federal consultation, 80 per cent of participants said the new rules constitute a significant barrier to reintegration. The fee hike in particular creates a Catch 22 for those who cant find a job because of their criminal records and cant afford a pardon because they cant find a job. The findings, obtained by the Canadian Press last week through an access-to-information request, are deeply troubling.

The fees are impossible for a limited income person, one respondent wrote in a typical testimonial. I have completed my assigned punishments long ago but no one  will hire me.

The data suggest hes not alone. Over the last four years, the number of pardon applications is down by more than half, from 29,849 applicants in 2011-12 to 12,384 last year. This was the desired effect of the Harper policy, but it is cause for real concern.

As with so many elements of the Tories approach to justice, the pardon policy has created an unjust cycle of disadvantage without yielding any apparent benefits. Released offenders often require a pardon before they can travel, get a job or find housing. By denying the rehabilitated their earned right to re-enter society, the new pardon rules inevitably increase the burden on the welfare system, not to mention the likelihood of recidivism.

And for what? If given the chance, the vast majority of pardoned Canadians will contribute to their community. Ninety-seven per cent never reoffend, according to the parole board. They are less likely to commit a crime than the average citizen.

The policy makes no sense  and both the government and the public seem to know it. Before introducing the changes in 2012, the Conservatives held a public consultation. Ninety-eight per cent of respondents opposed the new rules. Shortly after taking office, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale called the current process punitive and questioned both the high fees and the long wait times. But, as is the Trudeau governments wont, rather than change the policy, it launched its own public consultation, which seems largely to have confirmed the results of the previous one.

The government has a clear mandate to change a policy it claims to oppose. So whats the hold-up? If it fears looking soft on crime, it can rest assured that preserving the status quo looks far worse. It looks cruel and senseless. Its time Ottawa restored fairness to the system and gave those who have paid their debts the second chance theyve earned.

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KeyCorp operates as the holding company for KeyBank National Association that provides various retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer Bank and Commercial Bank. The company offers various deposits, investment products and services; and personal finance and financial wellness, student loan refinancing, mortgage and home equity, lending, credit card, treasury, business advisory, wealth management, asset management, investment, cash management, portfolio management, and trust and related services to individuals and small and medium-sized businesses. It also provides a suite of banking and capital market products, such as syndicated finance, debt and equity capital market products, commercial payments, equipment finance, commercial mortgage banking, derivatives, foreign exchange, financial advisory, and public finance, as well as commercial mortgage loans comprising consumer, energy, healthcare, industrial, public sector, real estate, and technology loans for middle market clients. In addition, the company offers community development financing, securities underwriting, brokerage, and investment banking services. As of December 31, 2021, it operated through a network of approximately 999 branches and 1,317 ATMs in 15 states, as well as additional offices, online and mobile banking capabilities, and a telephone banking call center. KeyCorp was founded in 1849 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
Citigroup Inc. is one of the worlds largest financial institutions. It is the 13th largest bank globally by assets and 8th by market cap with operations in consumer and institutional banking. In the US, Citigroup is the 3rd largest bank by assets and one of the Big Four deemed systemically important and too big to fail.

Citigroup Inc. was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York. The bank was run by Samuel Osgood who led the company with success for many years, even throughout the War of 1812. The bank was later renamed the National City Bank of New York in 1865 and by 1895 is the largest bank in the US. In 1913 it was the first contributor to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a few years later it began to expand into overseas territories.

The bank became the First National City Bank of New York after another merger in 1955 and then later, the New York part was dropped off as part of the 150th-anniversary celebration. By 1974 the company is known as Citicorp which is still the operational branch of the business and a global banking powerhouse. A merger with Travelers insurance group in 1998 resulted in the name Citigroup but the joint venture did not last. By 2002 Travelers was publicly traded once again but Citigroup retained the new name.

Today, the company is headquartered in New York, New York but boasts more than 200 million customer accounts in 160 countries worldwide. As of mid-2022, it operated 2,649 branches in the United States, Mexico, and Asia. The company reports nearly 725 branches in the US and 1499 in Mexico with the rest scattered throughout its territory. Total annual revenue topped $75 billion in 2022.

Citigroup is a diversified financial services holding company that owns Citicorp among other assets. The companys mission is to serve as a trusted partner providing responsible financial solutions to its clients. Citigroup provides financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions. The company operates in two segments, Global Consumer Banking (GCB) and Institutional Clients Group (ICG).

The GCB segment offers traditional banking services including deposit and saving accounts, credit cards, personal loans, home loans, and investment services. This segment operates through local branches and digital means. The ICG segment offers wholesale banking products and services to corporate, institutional, public sector, and high-net-worth clients.
Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol. It produces conventional, premium, and reformulated gasolines; gasoline meeting the specifications of the California Air Resources Board (CARB); diesel fuels, and low-sulfur and ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuels; CARB diesel; other distillates; jet fuels; blendstocks; and asphalts, petrochemicals, lubricants, and other refined petroleum products, as well as sells lube oils and natural gas liquids. As of December 31, 2021, the company owned 15 petroleum refineries with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels per day; and 12 ethanol plants with a combined ethanol production capacity of approximately 1.6 billion gallons per year. It sells its refined products through wholesale rack and bulk markets; and through approximately 7,000 outlets under the Valero, Beacon, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar, and Texaco brands. The company also produces and sells ethanol, dry distiller grains, syrup, and inedible corn oil primarily to animal feed customers. In addition, it owns and operates crude oil and refined petroleum products pipelines, terminals, tanks, marine docks, truck rack bays, and other logistics assets; and owns and operates a plant that processes animal fats, used cooking oils, and inedible distillers corn oils into renewable diesel. The company was formerly known as Valero Refining and Marketing Company and changed its name to Valero Energy Corporation in August 1997. Valero Energy Corporation was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.
The late environmental activist Chut Wutty was prepared for his own death  any time.

Wutty lived with threats from interests threatened by his activism, according to Sam Chanthy, his wife. He was threatened with verbal warnings and live rounds. His children, he was told, would be kidnapped.

On April 26, 2012, Chanthys brother-in-law called at 2 p.m. to say, Brother Wutty was shot dead in Koh Kong. He was 46.

Chut Wutty was shot once, fatally, while in the drivers seat of his red Jeep. He was deep in the forests of Koh Kong province, tracking reports of illegal logging and land grabs. With him were two reporters from The Cambodia Daily who survived.

Some loggers even warned him that  they would not just kill him easily, Chanthy said. They swore to nail him to a cross, and cut his body into pieces until he died.

According to official accounts cited in the verdict issued six months after his death, Wuttys car was stopped by military police and security guards hired by Timbergreen Company, the concessionaire receiving a state-granted permit to sweep the forest at Veal Bei, making way for the construction of Russey Chrum mega hydropower dam.

Wutty later quarreled with In Ratana of the military police and Rann Borath, the companys guard, over requests from Ratana and Borath that Wutty and the reporters surrender memory cards containing photos from the Timbergreen-operated site.

Ratana fired a round from his AK-47 killing Wutty, according to the verdict. Ratana died by the same rifle that Rann Borath grabbed in an attempt to stop him from further shooting.

Borath received a suspended sentence of 18 months and was released soon after the verdict.

A very brave man

He was a serious man who didn't like to talk much, but he took very good care of his family, said Chanthy, his wife. The couple had one son and two daughters.

He teaches his kids with soft and peaceful approaches. He never took even a single hit on his kids  even if he was angry. He always talked in sweet words to his children.

Born in a rural village in Kandal Province as Cambodia was collapsing into decades of devastation, Wutty went to Russia for military studies, then returned to serve in the Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense as military trainer.

He quit that job in the early 2000s to serve as the country deputy director for the global transparency watchdog, Global Witness, before the government closed its Cambodia office. Wutty then founded the National Resources Protection Group and campaigned against the illegal logging nationwide until the day he died.

He was a very brave man, Patrick Alley, co-founder of the Global Witness, told VOA.

Legacies and inspiration

Wutty was the prime architect of grassroots community-centered campaigns that still patrol the endangered Prey Lang densely forested area, one of Southeast Asia's largest rainforests.

He helped found the Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN) in 2007, when many Cambodians didn't even know of the existence of Prey Lang, a forest in north-central Cambodia that spans four provinces and many traditional villages.

From the period we worked with him, he was a committed and can-do person, said Seng Sok Heng, spokesman of the award-winning PLCN.

What he loved the most was to work with people at the communities, sharing experiences, knowledge and senses of mobilization and advocacy with them, Sok Heng told VOA.

He was an important man to Prey Lang. Without him, we cannot imagine if this forested area could exist until today.

Danger continues

In a 2014 speech, President Barack Obama took the stage to honor slain civil society workers around the world  including Wutty.

Those threats persist. Even though the Cambodian government has given more powers to the Environment Ministry and formed a national ad hoc task force led by the country's top military commander, large-scale illegal logging continues.

Two Environment Ministry-employed rangers were shot dead while they were tracking illegal logging in the northern Preah Vihear province.

In March 2016, Phorn Sopheak, a 22-year-old PLCN member, was attacked with machete in an unsuccessful murder attempt as she patrolled forests.

We continue to be threatened by timber traders and the colluded officials, so we are still facing dangers even though there has been a move from the national-level for state-community cooperation to protect the environment, Sok Heng of the PLCN told VOA. We still find it difficult to work.

In Koh Kong province where Wutty died, environmental activists have been targeted by legal cases filed because of their opposition to state-permitted mineral schemes.

They [environment activists] can still be facing legal suits against them for their actions, said In Kongchit, Koh Kong provincial human rights coordinator for the local rights group Licadho.

But Wuttys activism and heroism continue to inspire, according to Kongchit, and youth-driven movements are spreading awareness of the need to participate to protect the environment.

Elusive justice

Wuttys family and members of Cambodias civil society movement remain unconvinced by the Koh Kong provincial court claims that it based its verdict on a reliable investigation.

In Kongchit, who participated in the autopsies of Wutty's and In Rattana's bodies at the Koh Kong Hospital the day they died, called the court's conclusion elusive justice for Wutty.

Ive never thought the evidence and the courts findings were real. Theyre made-up and artificial, said Chut Wuttys eldest son Cheuy Oudom Reaksmey, 25, who recently took over the former position of his father as director of the Natural Resource Protection Group (NRPG).

What I want to find the most is who ordered the killing of my father. He had been followed for so long, so I think there was someone ordered to kill him, Reaksmey said.

We want to see the mastermind and the real killer to get prosecuted. Im still hopeful, he added, because there is no secret in this world.
An Israeli attack against a military base for the Syrian pro-government National Defense Forces in southern Syria killed three NDF members on Sunday, the NDF militia and a monitoring group said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitoring group, said it remained unclear if the source of the bombardment in Quneitra province was an airstrike or shelling. Israel has carried out airstrikes or fired mortar rounds during the six-year war in Syria, often in response to the occasional spillover, including stray shells from fighting among Syrian factions.

The Israeli military declined to comment on the reports. The Syrian army could not immediately be reached for comment.

The NDF said the attack struck its military camp in the countryside of Quneitra, which sits near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, territory that Israel captured from Syria in a 1967 war.

Rebel groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad's government in the Syrian conflict hold swathes of Quneitra, while the army and pro-government forces control another part of the province.
The gigantic black and white portraits of children started appearing on walls around a suburban neighborhood of Havana two years ago, the work of Cuban artist Maisel Lopez.

The sober, finely painted portraits contrast with Cuba's dilapidated buildings and pot-holed streets, colorful vintage cars and peeling pink, apricot and turquoise paint on eclectic architecture.

With nearly 30 murals completed, Lopez said he is only getting started on his "Colossi" series, a striking endeavor in the Communist-run country where street art is rare.

"I want to keep expanding further afield," said Lopez, 31, who started painting the walls of homes and shops in his home district of Playa and is now completing his first mural in neighboring Marianao.

A chubby girl with wispy blond hair wistfully rests her chin on her hands, while a black boy with angular features peers at passersby with a slight air of defiance.

The murals are unusual in a country where public spaces are tightly controlled and posters and murals mainly have political themes or depict figures like Ernesto "Che" Guevara.

Only one other artist in Havana, Yulier Rodriguez, has an equally recognizable assortment of street art. His figures are alien, the murals colorful. Lopez's subjects are realistic and monochrome.

Lopez said in an interview last week that political art led him to paint murals. He helped with several celebrating the Bolivarian revolution during a cultural mission in 2009 to Cuba's socialist ally Venezuela.

"A mural is constantly in interaction with the public," said Lopez, whose work is inspired by Cuban independence hero Jose Marti, who said "children are the hope of the world."

"That's why I paint the children big, to mark their importance," he said.

Unlike many street artists, including Rodriguez, Lopez seeks permits to paint on walls. While initially hard to get, he gained trust as he developed the series, he said.

Each colossus is several meters tall and takes Lopez four days to a week to paint. Each depicts a child living in the vicinity. He does not charge to paint them.

Instead, he earns a living teaching art classes and selling canvas portraits that can fetch up to $1,500.

Locals have declared themselves fans and guardians of his work, looking after it as people stop to take photographs.

"It's really striking and gives life to the street," said Vivian Herrera, 47, who runs a bakery next to one of the murals.

"It's like the girl is really there, with her big, open eyes."
Saudi Arabia's King Salman issued a decree late Saturday naming one of his sons, an air force pilot who has taken part in coalition strikes against the Islamic State group, as the kingdom's new ambassador to the U.S.



The appointment of Prince Khaled bin Salman to Washington signals the kingdom's eagerness to strengthen bilateral ties under President Donald Trump. As the king's son, the prince has a direct line to the Saudi monarch.



Saudi Arabia is the world's third largest defense spender. Prince Khaled's appointment positions him as an influential broker in deals with U.S. manufacturers.



Saudi-U.S. relations had cooled under the Obama administration after Washington pursued a nuclear accord with Shiite-ruled Iran that the Sunni-ruled kingdom strongly opposed. Saudi Arabia and Iran are regional rivals, and back opposing sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen.



Relations with the Riyadh have improved since Trump took office. King Salman dispatched his most powerful son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also defense minister, to meet Trump at the White House last month. Saudi Arabia was quick to praise Trump's missile strike on a Syrian military base in response to an apparent chemical weapons attack on civilians.



Prince Khaled is a former F-15 pilot who graduated military-aviation training from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi in 2009 and took part in anti-IS strikes in 2014 as part of the U.S.-led coalition. He also participated in flight missions over Yemen, where the kingdom has been bombing a Yemeni faction aligned with Iran for more than two years.



The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news website says the prince studied briefly at Harvard University and Georgetown University. The news website says he trained at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, but that a back injury forced him to stop flying.



He has been an adviser at the Saudi Embassy in Washington since late last year.



U.S. officials say the Trump administration is considering ways to boost military support for the Saudi-led fight against Iran-backed rebels in Yemen. The U.S. already is helping the Saudis with intelligence and logistical support for the bombing campaign in Yemen, and could assist with greater intelligence support to counter Iranian influence there.



Prince Khaled will be replacing Prince Abdullah Al Saud, who served in the post for just 18 months. Though a member of the royal family, Prince Abdullah was not seen as part of the inner Al Saud circle and is not a direct grandson of Saudi Arabia's founder, King Abdulaziz.



Days before being relieved of his post in Washington, Prince Abdullah published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal calling for continued U.S. resolve to end the conflict in Syria.



He said Saudi Royal Air Force jets operating out of a base in southern Turkey have conducted more than 340 strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria since February.
Ukraine has urged the West to back its efforts at reform despite accusations that the government has failed to tackle corruption three years after the revolution that toppled the regime of President Viktor Yanukovich. Campaigners say billions of dollars were embezzled from Ukrainian state coffers, much of it held in secret offshore accounts. As Henry Ridgwell reports from London, one case highlights the barriers prosecutors face in trying to recover Ukraine's stolen assets.
Deborah Riley, co-director of Dance Place and a longtime D.C. dance leader who is retiring, is retiring this summer. (Kate Patterson for The Washington Post)

What a week, Deborah Riley says in a soothing voice to her dance students, about two dozen women and men, as they lie on their backs on the floor. A few are professional dancers; most are devoted amateurs. Almost a hundred days of  

Wry chuckles escape from the federal workers and politically minded around her.

  a lot, Riley finishes, with characteristic understatement. Tall, thin, with an airy bearing, she beams as she walks around this modern-dance class on a recent Saturday morning at Dance Place, in Northeasts Brookland.

So lets let go of that. Come into your inner architecture and your breathing. Feel the ease of your body, Riley urges. Youre coming home.

A rustling sound rises from the corner, where percussionist Sam Turner is stirring chimes and a rattle made from goat hoofs. Its improbably ethereal, the music, Rileys voice, the mood. In this relaxed, recumbent atmosphere, preparing to dance looks more like meditation.

Deborah Riley, co-director of Dance Place. (Kate Patterson)

This is my therapy, Judy Lieberman, 57, says after the class. The acting special assistant at the Environmental Protection Agency has been taking Rileys dance class for about 20 years. Its where I reboot, she says.



You wouldnt guess that Riley, 67, and Dance Place are undergoing the greatest upheaval of their existence. For the past 18 years, Riley has been co-director of the blackbox theater and studio space, with Carla Perlo, 65, who founded Dance Place in 1980. A year ago, both women announced that they will be stepping down on Aug. 31. In July, they expect to name the first new person to run the institution in 37 years.

Each director will be honored with a farewell performance. Rileys is first: Celebrate Deborah, on April 29, will feature local dancers in Rileys choreography  including works she created for Deborah Riley Dance Projects, the company she led for 23 years  and guest artists such as Douglas Dunn, a former Merce Cunningham dancer in whose troupe Riley performed for nearly a decade in the late 1970s and 80s.

The gala send-offs (Perlos is on June 24) offer a chance to savor in an otherwise hectic season. The search for a new director, Perlo confides, has been really stressful for everybody. Preparing to hand over the dance haven that she built and that Riley has helped nurture in various roles, shifting responsibilities to the staff, planning next season without knowing who will oversee it: Complicated jobs have become even more so.

But Riley, true to her nature, seems at peace with her upcoming departure from Dance Place.

Its been my family, she acknowledges. But she wont miss the constant worries that go along with managing morning-to-night classes for adults and children, after-school programs, summer camps, visiting artists and performances nearly every weekend  and always, always, the funding concerns. It doesnt stop, she says.

Over tea at Busboys and Poets near her home in Silver Spring, Md., Riley reflects on the path that led her to Dance Place, and where shell go next. With her sleek blond bob, she looks elegant and chic, wearing a cream-colored sweater and a necklace of blue beads.

Raised in Cleveland, Riley grew up listening to her parents Broadway albums and making dances in front of a mirror. She took tap and ballet lessons, was a majorette in high school, and finally dove into dance with a passion at Ohio University. She abandoned plans to be a schoolteacher and joined the first graduating class of dance majors.



After earning a masters in dance, she landed in New York, and eventually toured with Dunns company. But as a somewhat shy Midwesterner, Riley often felt out of place in the competitive downtown-Manhattan dance scene, and when by chance she was invited to perform at Dance Places original location, in a cramped Adams Morgan walk-up, she decided to stay. She taught and created works on local dancers, and in 1986, when Perlos rent spiked and she moved Dance Place to its current address at 3225 8th St. NE, in a former welding workshop, Riley moved with her.

It felt like home, she says. A safe space to become a choreographer, a teacher, a leader: My own personal growth has unfolded and unfolded.



She founded her company, handled marketing and other jobs, and in 1999 Perlo made her co-director. Three years ago, Riley and Perlo oversaw a $4 million renovation of what had been a simple concrete bunker. They added a second floor with another dance studio and expanded their office space, installed showers and upholstered theater seats to replace the folding chairs, and built a park outside.

Last year, Riley received the Pola Nirenska Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in Dance, named for the highly respected Washington dance teacher and choreographer who died in 1992.

Riley says shes cheered by the fact that more dancers have made their homes in the Washington area, and that new dance spaces are opening, such as Dance Loft on 14, on 14th Street NW. But she worries about the precarious funding situation for dance, and President Trumps proposed elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts.

I cant even say how dangerous that is, she laments. Dance Place, which has a $1.8 million budget, receives $40,000 to $60,000 a year in NEA funding, she says.



Over the years, Riley has stood apart on the dance landscape for her reserve and her patience, her fine craftsmanship as an artist and her careful thinking as a director.



Were so different, Perlo says. She likes a detailed plan. I do not. I just bulldoze ahead. But Deborah really helps me. Ill say, Lets do this, and shell say, Dont you want to think about this? . . . She causes me to slow down and think about it and strategize.

Keira Hart Mendoza, 36, says: We artists can have big personalities, and shes such a calm, grounded person. As the artistic director of UpRooted Dance Company, based in Bethesda, Hart Mendoza has turned to Riley for guidance and mentoring for the past decade. Because shes so grounded, she can ask you those hard questions, like: What do you want to get out of this career? What is success? She asks you to look within yourself.

This summer, Riley will start teaching movement to actors in the Studio Theatres Acting Conservatory, and also to seniors with dementia and other older adults through Arts for the Aging. Working with seniors is her passion, Riley says; she currently teaches a small group at Edgewood Commons apartments.

I cant wait to jump into my next steps, she says.



I believe in the power of movement and dance as a transformative experience. I believe that so deeply, she adds with a hearty laugh. I think its my religion. Its profound, how movement affords an opportunity to explore oneself in so many ways, at a body level, at an emotional level. And everybody can have that experience. Even an elder in a chair, whos being expressive with her hands and eyes, expressing the rainfall. Riley strokes the air, her hands describing a downpour.

You can have a little dance with your pinky finger, she says with a bright smile, circling her little finger with delightful agility.



She takes a sip of tea. We have so much up here that edits, she says, tapping her forehead. To take that leap of faith and just feel yourself moving in space  thats beautiful to see.



You could say its the philosophy behind her teaching: be, feel, surprise yourself. Near the end of her Saturday morning class, Riley coaxes her students into freewheeling, improvisational duets as the drumbeats roll. Allow something to happen that comes from listening to your partner, she calls out to them. Two by two, the dancers sweep across the floor, now spinning away, now whirling back together. Their teacher tosses out another thought, another thread that makes up her gentle approach to dance, and to life.

What happens, Riley asks them, raising her hands and fluttering her fingers like fronds in a breeze, if you allow the space for something to become?


This "2017 Remix" edition of one of Stillwater's staple beers is dry-hopped with Nelson Sauvin and Simcoe hops. The bright, fun can is new, too. (Fritz Hahn/The Washington Post)

A beer, like pop music, is never really a finished product, even after it has been released to and enjoyed by the masses. If a brewer decides to tweak the hop bill or use a different malt, he or she can toy with these elements while still keeping the essence of the beer, the same way that a producer or DJ can release remixes of a the latest chart-topper.

Brian Strumke, the man behind Stillwater Artisanal Ales, is open to taking a fresh look at his most established brands: He has made Amazonian Remixes of Cellar Door and Stateside saisons, adding tropical Brazilian fruits; Lower Dens, a saison inspired by the music of the Baltimore band Lower Dens, also was released in a Remastered version with brettanomyces added.

This spring, Strumke is taking aim at Stateside Saison, one of his first beers, with a new 2017 Remastered edition. Its dry-hopped with Nelson Sauvin and Simcoe, and has an attractive new retro can design to boot.

[Dank and resinous, this is the 4/20 beer youve been searching for]

This is still one of the better saisons around, shot through with lemon grass, floral notes, citrus and a touch of honey. Theres a noticeably earthy, grassy funk and bitterness to the finish that I dont remember from the previous version, with extra tartness and sweet fruit.

The can looks like it was designed for summer cookouts, but Stateside isnt quite a beach beer  while delicious and refreshing, its a little heavy, and at 6.8 percent alcohol by volume, a bit stronger than most beers designed to be crushed in the sun.

Stillwater Stateside Saison. stillwater-artisanal.com. About $10 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans.

If you like this, try another hoppy saison:

3 Stars Citra Lemon Saison . Slightly tart and loaded with lemon, this D.C. saison finishes with a dry bitterness.

Boulevard Tank 7 . Boulevards flagship saison is full of spice and bright citrus, with a crisp, earthy hoppy character.

Prairie Standard . A light, easy-drinking farmhouse ale from Oklahoma. Like Stateside, its dry-hopped with New Zealand hops  in this case, Motueka.
Jim Hall calls the lynching of Shedrick Thompson an open wound in Fauquier County, Va.

It could heal, the former newspaper reporter believes, but only if residents would open up to what happened in 1932 about 20 miles north of Warrenton, the county seat.

In his book, The Last Lynching in Northern Virginia, he explored the hanging and subsequent burning of the black man  and his attack on a white couple that preceded it.

But Hall, who worked for the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star for 26 years, says that getting the book sold or publicly discussed in Fauquier has been a seven-month struggle.

Ive been really disappointed and surprised, Hall said of a response that seemed to say, Why would you revive such an awful incident?

Former newspaper reporter Jim Halls book tells about a lynching in Fauquier County, Va. (Suzanne Carr Rossi)

The book was published in September by South Carolina-based History Press. Soon after, he began to get the discouraging drift.

A sales rep said shopkeepers didnt want to carry it. A Warrenton museum  the logical place to find it  decided not to stock it, after a divided board vote. And while Hall was making the rounds of other Virginia towns for author talks, no church or civic group stepped forward to host him in Fauquier.

We couldnt penetrate the area, said History Presss Megan Petrie. It was just too sensitive a topic. Robert Marquart, the sales rep who made the rounds of pharmacies and shops last fall, described the reaction: They just werent keen to carry it.

Yet local people did show interest when the slim volume was made available.

The Fauquier libraries had one copy in each branch, and theres never not been a waiting list, Hall said. And when a Warrenton hardware store took a chance and stocked it, Hall said, the proprietor held his breath about the possible reaction  and the book sold out.

To be sure, the history excavated in the book is disturbing in many ways. The story begins with the abduction and rape of a white woman, Mamie Baxley, who was asleep when 39-year-old Thompson attacked her and her husband, Henry. Their toddler son slept in the next room.

Thompson, a World War I veteran, knew the family well: He lived next door in a tenant house; he worked for them as a farmhand and his wife as a cook. His motive remains a mystery.

After the attack, Thompson fled, and a manhunt went on for weeks, involving hundreds of volunteers, many of them armed.

They found nothing. But two months after the assault, a farmhand found Thompsons body hanging from an apple tree.

Halls book tells what happened next, as a crowd gathered: Despite the presence of a deputy sheriff, members of the mob set fire to the body, destroying everything but the skull. They also removed Thompsons teeth as souvenirs.

The county coroner ruled that his death was a suicide  Thompson, he said, had climbed onto the tree, attached a rope to his neck and jumped. A county grand jury confirmed it, but soon, civil rights groups and local newspapers saw it for what it was: a lynching followed by a coverup. Former governor Harry F. Byrd came down on the side of suicide.

With no trial and no public explanation, the official verdict stood, Hall wrote. His conclusion: Thompson did not commit suicide. . . . He was captured and killed by a posse of his neighbors, the victim of Virginias last lynching.

Karen Hughes White, the co-founder of the Afro-American Historical Association of Fauquier County, understands the resistance that such a story may engender.

Sometimes people are in denial. They want to think none of this ever happened here, she told me. But shes also found openness: Ive heard people say they never thought about these issues. Were trying to allow people to think and to allow conversation.

Her museum has stocked 25 copies of Halls book and will host a presentation on May 13. And a related documentary film by Tom Davenport, The Other Side of Eden, will be screened that evening at a Warrenton arts center.

This kind of interest and possible acceptance has been a long time coming, Hall said.

I have spoken in Richmond, Culpeper, Manassas, Stafford and Fredericksburg about the book and about lynching in Virginia, but never before in Fauquier County, the scene of the crimes.

Hall said he is heartened that the Old Jail Museum in Warrenton, which voted last year not to allow the books sale, has begun carrying it  seven months after publication.

In a foreword, University of Mary Washington history professor Claudine Ferrell writes that Thompsons murder was one of many like it  lynchings peaked in the 1890s at about 200 a year. Over the years, murders by mobs in Mississippi alone took more than 500 black lives.

She sees Halls book as a valuable part of clarifying the history of race, justice and community in American history.

Halls honest accounting  and the painful discussions it is sure to provoke  may help heal the wound.

For more by Margaret Sullivan, visit wapo.st/sullivan.
Earlier this year, when Rupert Murdoch and senior executives at Fox Newss parent company signed Bill OReilly to a new multiyear contract, they knew something the rest of the world didnt: The star host had been accused of sexual and verbal harassment by women at Fox five times over the preceding 15 years.

They knew it because the company, 21st Century Fox, had paid money to settle two of the complaints. They also knew that the public was unlikely to find out because attorneys for OReilly and the company had signed his accusers to agreements binding them to confidentiality. In exchange for their silence and a promise not to sue, the women received payments totaling $3 million from 21st Century Fox.

Those settlements came on top of some $10 million that OReilly himself had paid earlier to three other women who had complained about his behavior while working at Fox. They also came after a bruising sexual harassment scandal involving Fox News co-founder and chairman Roger Ailes last summer, one in which 21st Century Fox paid some $35 million to settle a lawsuit by former Fox presenter Gretchen Carlson and allegations against Ailes by several unidentified women. This was in addition to $40 million paid to Ailes as severance.

[The mission was to bring down Bill OReilly: The final days of a Fox News superstar]

In effect, Rupert Murdoch and his sons James and Lachlan, who run 21st Century Fox, took a calculated risk. They re-signed OReilly  Fox Newss most valuable asset  fully aware of his history but in the apparent hope that they could continue with business as usual, according to knowledgeable people at the company. Just to be safe, however, the company added an unusual feature to OReillys new contract: A clause permitting 21st Century Fox to terminate him, with up to a years salary as severance, if new allegations arose.

(Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

In the end, the Murdochs bet on their guaranteed moneymaker didnt pay off.

A scathing investigation by the New York Times in early April about the allegations surrounding OReilly triggered an advertiser exodus from his top-rated program, The OReilly Factor, and brought out at least three more complaints against the opinionated host. It ultimately led the Murdoch family to invoke the termination clause on Wednesday, ending OReillys 21-year career at Fox. He has maintained that the complaints against him are unfounded, and plans to return to the air Monday with his No Spin News podcast.

The OReilly debacle raises questions about 21st Century Foxs stated commitment to ensuring a hostility-free environment. In one of their few public statements about the problem in the scandal-scarred Fox News Channel workplace, James, 44, and Lachlan, 45, said after Ailess ouster last summer, We continue our commitment to maintaining a work environment based on trust and respect.

Yet after making that pledge, the company settled two more allegations against OReilly  one with former anchor Laurie Dhue, who left the network in 2008, and another with Juliet Huddy, a former network host.

According to the Times, the company also offered last year to settle, for $1 million, a lawsuit brought by Andrea Tantaros, who appeared regularly on Fox News. Tantaross suit is against the network and Ailes, but she also claimed in her complaint that OReilly made unwelcome advances. Fox has denied her claims; her suit is in confidential arbitration, according to Irena Briganti, Fox Newss spokeswoman.

A spokesman for 21st Century Fox declined to comment for this article.

Through all of this, 21st Century Fox has taken steps to keep the allegations and settlements as quiet as possible.

In addition to binding Dhue, Huddy and other women who have settled to silence through nondisclosure agreements, most full-time employees at Fox have arbitration agreements that force them into secret corporate courts, said Nancy Erika Smith, the attorney who represented Carlson. Secrecy is what allows harassers to keep it up, she said.

As a corporate matter, 21st Century Fox has made minimal public disclosures about the cost and extent of the problems. The companys entire official accounting of the Ailes drama is contained in a half-sentence buried in two quarterly 10Q reports, a financial disclosure document required by federal securities law.

For the three months ended September 30, 2016, the disclosure reads, the Company recorded . . . approximately $35 million of costs related to settlements of pending and potential litigations following the July 2016 resignation of the Chairman and CEO of Fox News Channel after a public complaint was filed containing allegations of sexual harassment. (The complaint referred to is Carlsons lawsuit.)

The company has meanwhile kept its internal investigation of the Ailes and OReilly matters under wraps.

After Carlson filed suit, lawyers for the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison were hired to look into the complaint and Foxs workplace practices. 21st Century Fox called on the same firm this month after Wendy Walsh, a former contributor to OReillys program, formally complained about OReilly on a company hotline.

According to people at 21st Century Fox, the law firms findings werent contained in a written report. Instead, the lawyers presented their conclusions to the Murdochs in oral briefings, a step that would minimize leaks or unauthorized dissemination of a document.

Lisa Bloom, an attorney for Walsh and two other women who have alleged harassment by OReilly, said 21st Century Foxs attorneys typically insist on some of the strictest nondisclosure terms in the business.

Their strategy has been to duck and cover every time a woman complains of harassment in their workplace, and then to drive her out, pay her off and silence her, Bloom said.

Attorneys Smith and Bloom both note that almost none of the women publicly identified as accusers continue to be employed by Fox. They also note a seemingly opposite fact: Many of the senior executives who were employed at the time Ailes and OReilly were allegedly harassing women continue to run Fox.

Among them are Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy, who became co-presidents of Fox News after Ailess departure.

In her lawsuit, Tantaros said Shine warned her to drop her harassment complaints about Ailes or face a campaign of retaliation.

[Now the hard work really starts for Fox News]

A Fox contributor, Julie Roginsky, alleged in a lawsuit this month that Ailes repeatedly sexually harassed her and sabotaged her TV career after she refused his advances. She also named Shine in her suit, claiming that he retaliated against her when she refused to malign Carlson and join Team Roger after Carlson sued Ailes last year.

Attorneys for Huddy, who settled her allegations, alleged in an intent-to-sue letter last year that Abernethy had harassed Huddy and harmed her TV career while he was the head of the Fox TV station group.

In a statement, Briganti said the letter contains substantial falsehoods, which [Abernethy has] vehemently denied. She added that Shine denied the allegations in the Tantaros and Roginsky lawsuits.

The pattern of allegations, settlements and secrecy at 21st Century Fox suggests a kind of organizational deviance in which multiple actors play a role, said Mark Feldstein, a University of Maryland journalism professor who is writing a book about media scandals, including the ones involving Ailes and OReilly.

Essentially, the Murdochs made a business calculation as to how much and how long they could get away with all this before the price they had to pay was too great to bear, he said. Its not how [the parent company of] a news organization to supposed to behave. Its not how any company is supposed to act.
The National Museum of Women in the Arts was the place to be Friday night. The marble floors at the museums 30th anniversary gala were packed with Washingtons power brokers, politicians, socialites and patrons of the arts. Where else could you two-step next to Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., lobbyist Tony Podesta, Fox Newss Bret Baier, CNNs Dana Bash and CBSs Norah ODonnell, who were all living it up on the dance floor until midnight? Other VIPs included D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, British Ambassador Kim Darroch, United Arab Emirates Ambassador Yousef al Otaiba, and D.C. Council member Jack Evans.
The term "microaggression" was coined in 1970 by Harvard professor Chester Pierce, who declared thatHis phrase lay dormant until 2007, when a number of professors began watering it, fertilizing it, and giving it a perfect environment to grow in-the academic world. So successful were their efforts that in 2015, "microaggression" was the Word of the Year according to the Global Language Monitor It has become extremely popular on college campuses. Students have leveled complaints against faculty members for their insensitive microaggressions against them, such as correcting their grammar . And college officials have eagerly embraced the concept, instituting workshops and seminars for faculty on how they must avoid microaggressions.Some schools have created lists of words or phrases deemed to be microaggressions since they might conceivably cause offense to someone in a protected group. For example, it is a microaggression to say "America is a land of opportunity" because a member of some group might take issue with that idea.The microaggression concept has been used by progressive student groups to demand changes they want, such as including items on student end-of-term evaluations of professors relating to their use of microaggressions-and that faculty members who use them be punished.But what is the basis for this beehive of activity? The proponents claim that there is evidence to show that microaggression is a real concept and that members of minority groups suffer mental health problems as a result of them. Now, some scholars are taking a critical look at all of this and concluding that there is little or no basis for the microaggression furor.One scholar who thinks that the microaggression concept is much ado about nothing is Althea Nagai, a research fellow at the Center for Equal Opportunity. She specializes in statistical analysis and has written a sharply critical article for the journal Academic Questions entitled " The Pseudo-Science of Microaggressions ."Nagai writes that a "tsunami" of microaggressions has swamped American higher education and now even targets liberal and progressive faculty and administrators. The problem is that the scholarly foundation of research into microaggression is feeble. Scholars working in this field openly declare that they reject what they call "Eurocentric epistemologies" and objectivity. What that means, Nagai observes, "is that they reject the methodology and standards of modern science." (Italics in original.)The scientific method calls for sufficient sample sizes, unbiased questions, replicability of results, and modern statistical analysis. The research done to prove the validity of the microaggression concept and its policy implications, on the other hand, is rooted in subjective storytelling thatTake the basic question of whether members of minority groups perceive and are damaged by the microaggressions that supposedly swirl around them. The researchers claim that this has been established, but has it? Nagai looks at the research here and immediately notes that the way it has been conducted relies on the use of biased questions. For instance, a small group of people might be asked, "In what ways have others made you feel 'put down' because of your cultural values or communication style?"Nagai explains the problem with that approach. "After such prompting by the interviewer, respondents would be more likely to find what the research is looking for." This isn't the way to find truth, but it is a way to "prove" what you've decided you want others to believe.Another defect in this research is that it relies on small focus groups where peer pressure dynamics and a desire to please the interviewer can lead to very unreliable results.Nagai writes.Making matters still worse is the fact that microaggression "research" is mostly done on college campuses with people from the academic community. That fact, Nagai argues, further contaminates the studies: "At minimum," she writes, "any student, faculty member, or employee could be turned in and face administrative inquiry, or worse, should they give an 'unapproved' answer." It's bad enough that the people whose responses provide the data for microaggression research are led to give certain answers, but worse still that some of the people may fear to register any contrary responses.Summing up, Nagai thinks the science behind the microaggression project is very weak. Nevertheless it suffices for the interests of the researchers and activists who count on compliant college officials to fund more research, add more "diversity" staff, and hire more consultants and trainers in their quixotic campaign against microaggressions.In the same vein as Nagai's article, Emory University psychology professor Scott Lilienfeld has recently published a paper in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science entitled " Microaggressions: Strong Claims, Inadequate Evidence. " (The paper at this time is only freely available to researchers.)Lilienfeld points out that while overt racial prejudice apparently has to a great extent died out in the U.S., microaggression proponents claim that it has not really declined, but merely "manifests in subtler forms than it did decades ago." The fight against "color-blind racism" must therefore continue the work of the work of the original civil rights movement.According to Lilienfeld, the Microaggression Research Program (MRP) rests on five core premises: microaggressions can be subjected to rigorous scientific investigation, are interpreted negatively by most or all minority group members, reflect implicitly prejudicial and aggressive motives by the speakers, can be validly assessed only from the subjective reports of the supposedly targeted minority group members, and exert a negative impact on the mental health of minority group members.After careful analysis, Lilienfeld finds "negligible support" for all of those suppositions.One of his many criticisms of the MRP matches Nagai's point that the research foundation is biased. Lilienfeld writes, "The focus groups used to generate candidate microaggression items...have consistently been self-selected to include group leaders and participants who are strongly predisposed to believe in microaggressions...." The research program, he argues, is badly undermined by its "mono-source" bias.Another problem he sees is the claim that microaggressions cause adverse mental health consequences-e.g., that those who suffer the cumulative effects of microaggressions will have shorter life expectancies. What the research neglects, Lilienfeld observes, is the impact of "negative emotionality" (which is the "pervasive temperamental disposition to experience adversive emotions including...hostility, irritability, and perceived victimization") in the people studied.Lilienfeld writes,Summing up these two scholarly critiques, there is no justification for the frenzy to prevent microaggressions on campus.But could it perhaps be true that the frenzy itself leads to bad outcomes?In this 2016 Wall Street Journal article , psychologists Jonathan Haidt and Lee Jussim argued that the constant emphasis on race and group identity found on many campuses, including microaggressions, was harmful. Programs to increase "diversity" are likely, they wrote,Specifically regarding programs and policies meant to eliminate microaggressions, they write that they will "backfire and increase racial tensions." How so? "The term itself," they write, "encourages moralistic responses to actions that are often unintentional and sometimes even well-meaning. Once something is labeled as an act of aggression, it activates an oppressor-victim narrative, which calls out to members of the aggrieved group to rally around the victim."The frenzy over microaggressions seems to be another instance of the damaging trend Professor Clay Routledge recently wrote about -harping on tiny things that may divide us rather than on the common humanity that should bring us together.
hey, isnt that . . . ?

Former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, are back from an extended vacation and were spotted dining at upscale steak and seafood joint Ocean Prime Friday night.

Following an exotic sojourn to French Polynesia (which included yachting with Oprah, Tom Hanks and Bruce Springsteen, as you do), it seems the Obamas are looking to settle into real life, whatever that means for a sought-after former POTUS and FLOTUS with massive book deals. The couple were joined by a large party at the restaurant, a spy says, and it seemed that steaks were on the menu for the couple, but a private dining room and tight security meant no gawking.

On Saturday night, President Trump and first lady Melania Trump dined out at the Trump International Hotel just a short ride down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, according to the Hill. Since taking office, Trump has been spotted noshing at his hotel three times.
VIRGINIA

Pilot safe after crash

in experimental plane

A Washington-state man flying a one-seat experimental plane from Virginia to Georgia crashed landed his aircraft on Saturday in a field near the Leesburg Executive Airport, according to authorities.

Joseph R. Bryant, 53, of Goldendale, Wash., the pilot, was not injured in the incident. He had taken off from Leesburg in the morning, but bad weather forced him to turn his Sonex aircraft back north toward Loudoun County an hour into the flight. Then he had engine trouble, which forced him to crash land in a field in the 19000 block of Sycolin Road, near the airport, at about 9:20 a.m.

Virginia State Police, the Loudoun County Sheriffs Department and Virginia Transportation Department assisted on the scene.

 Ian Shapira

Arlington board approves new school

The Arlington County Board voted unanimously Saturday to approve the building of a new 752-seat elementary school next to Thomas Jefferson Middle School, more than two years after it rejected the same project for a lack of community consultation.

The four-story, Y-shaped school will house students from the existing Patrick Henry Elementary. Its campus will then become home to other programs. That will make room for more students at Drew Model Elementary School.

The two-year construction is expected to cost about $59 million and will deliver an energy-efficient structure with the possible addition of rooftop solar panels. Most of its parking will be underground. Earlier plans to put play space on the roof were shelved.

The boards permission was needed because the school is being built on county-owned land rather than on school property. The schools and county are working out parking for users of Jeffersons theater, which may require the relocation of some performance groups for the next two years.

 Patricia Sullivan

Suspect in shooting incident surrenders

A 27-year-old man was shot in the upper body at a home in Manassas on Friday night, allegedly by a relative, Prince William County police said.

He was flown to a hospital for treatment. Additional information about the victims condition was not available on Saturday.

Authorities initially sent a tactical team to the house in the 11100 block of Privates Court because they believed the suspect was still inside. They later determined that the suspect had fled in his vehicle.

On Saturday, the suspected gunman, Ronald Aaron Ausberry II, 24, of Manassas, surrendered to police without incident. It was not clear how Ausberry and the victim were connected.

Ausberry was charged with aggravated malicious wounding and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is being held without bond.

 Ian Shapira

Man crashes truck into apartments

Police said that a truck crashed into an apartment complex in northern Virginia after the driver lost control of the vehicle.

Virginia State Police said that the flatbed truck was driving in Sterling on Friday when the driver lost control. Police said that the truck hit the curb, went across a median and crashed into a residence in the Parc Dulles Apartment Homes. No one in the building was injured.

Police identified the driver as 41-year-old Joshua H. Ritter of Glen Burnie, Md. He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Police said that Ritter has been charged with reckless driving.
An Alexandria man died Saturday from injuries suffered when his moped crashed into a traffic sign in Arlington County, police said Sunday.

Virgiliro Lopez, 45, was traveling south on Glebe Road when he lost control of the moped and crashed at about 5:40 p.m., Arlington County police said in a statement. Lopez struck a sign in the median near the 2400 block of S. Glebe Road, authorities said. He was taken to a hospital where he later died.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the crash to email Detective T. Parsons at tparsons@arlingtonva.us or call 1-866-411-TIPS.
A Sunday morning fire displaced about 30 residents from an apartment complex in Prince Georges County, including a woman in her 80s who was hospitalized after jumping from her balcony, fire officials said.

The fire began on the top floor of a three-story apartment building about 8:30 a.m. and quickly spread to the roof, Prince Georges Fire Department spokesman Mark Brady said. The complex is in the 2500 block of Corning Avenue in Fort Washington, just south of the Capital Beltway.

Brady called it a significant fire and said numerous residents needed help getting down from their balconies. One woman on a middle floor handed her baby down to others on the ground level before climbing down herself, Brady said.

In all, five people were evaluated for injuries and two were hospitalized: the woman in her 80s, who jumped down and landed on a grassy patch, and her daughter, who was in her 60s, and who was brought down by ladder. The three others included a firefighter who fell ill fighting the blaze, but eventually returned to duty, officials said. No injuries were immediately reported.

The fire appeared to be accidental, Brady said, and damage was estimated to be in the range of $150,000. He said about 50 firefighters and paramedics responded, and the blaze was extinguished within about 20 minutes. The fire left all 11 of the buildings apartments uninhabitable, however.

The Red Cross was on scene assisting residents, Brady said.
A man was arrested Thursday and charged in seven incidents of sexual abuse or attempted abuse, robbery or voyeurism, D.C. police said. They said one case involved a knife and another a gun.

Six of the incidents occurred in Northeast Washington, and one in Northwest Washington, police said.

Two were on Benning Road NE, about three blocks apart.

Three incidents happened last weekend, the police said. On April 16, a woman was robbed at gunpoint in the 3600 block of Benning Road NE and then was sexually assaulted, police said.

Earlier that day, police said, a woman was sexually assaulted in the 4800 block of Seventh Street NW.

The day before, police said, a man showed a knife and tried to sexually assault a woman in the 200 block of 34th Street NE.

Police said the suspect was arrested Thursday on a warrant in connection with an incident that occurred about 10 a.m. on April 6 in the 100 block of Kenilworth Avenue NE.

Police said the victim said she was walking in that block when a man approached from behind and aggressively grabbed her buttocks.

She kept walking and was trying to call 911, police said, when the man again approached and tried to grope her.

In addition to that incident, police said, the man, whom they identified as Donell Jamison, 25, of no fixed address, was also charged in last weekends three incidents and three others.

The first of the seven incidents happened on March 28, and the others in April, police said.

It was not immediately clear what led police to Jamison.
A Northwest Washington man was arrested Saturday in connection with the attempted sexual assault of a woman in Georgetown, D.C. police said Sunday.

Tejeda Hernandez-Chrispin, 22, has been charged with assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse, police said.

A woman was walking in the 3300 block of N St., NW shortly before 3 a.m. when a man approached her, punched her and then attempted to sexually assault her, according to a statement from police.

The woman fled the scene and authorities later arrested Hernandez-Chrispin, police said.
Dylann Roof enters the court room to enter his guilty plea on murder charges in Charleston, S.C. (Grace Beahm/AP)

INDIANA

Church shooter moved to federal death row

South Carolina church shooter Dylann Roof is now on federal death row in Indiana.

Charleston County jail records showed that Roof left custody there Friday. Federal records showed Saturday that Roof is being held at the U.S. penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind. The facility houses federal inmates sentenced to death.

On June 17, 2015, Roof killed nine black worshipers during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. A jury convicted Roof on federal hate crime charges in December and sentenced him to death.

Associated Press

SPACE STATION

Capsule named for Glenn arrives

A supply ship named for late astronaut John Glenn arrived at the International Space Station on Saturday.

Astronauts used the stations big robot arm to grab the capsule 250 miles above Germany.

NASAs commercial shipper, Orbital ATK, named the spacecraft the S.S. John Glenn in honor of the first American to orbit Earth. Glenn died in December at age 95.

The capsule rocketed from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Tuesday with nearly 7,700 pounds of food, experiments and other goods. It will remain at the orbiting outpost until July, when it is let go to burn up in the atmosphere.

Associated Press

Declaration of Independence copy found: Harvard University researchers said that they have found a second parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence, the Boston Globe reported Friday. Emily Sneff and Danielle Allen found the copy in a records office in southern England. The document dates to the 1780s and is believed to have belonged to a duke who supported colonists in the Revolutionary War. The only other parchment copy is at the U.S. National Archives.

Presley home damaged in fire: A home bought by Elvis Presley in 1956 was damaged by fire Saturday, authorities said. The Commercial Appeal reported that the unoccupied Memphis home was under renovation. Memphis Fire Lt. Wayne Cooke said that the electrical fire started in a wall. Firefighters responded just after 7:30 a.m., and the fire was under control 20 minutes later, he said. Cooke did not have an estimate for the damage. Presley lived there for about a year.
Hundreds of police agencies in small towns, suburbs and rural areas are checking in on seniors who live alone by placing an automated call to them every day. (Dave Collins/Associated Press)

Living alone can be tough for seniors. Some dont have family nearby to check on them, and they worry that if they fall or suffer a medical emergency and cant get to the phone to seek help, no one will know.

Thats why hundreds of police agencies in small towns, suburbs and rural areas are checking in on seniors who live alone by placing an automated call to them every day.

Police officials say the calling systems, which are fairly inexpensive and easy to use, provide an important service to a senior population that is expected to grow to 65 million nationwide by 2025. Already, nearly half of women age 75 and older live alone.

Advocates for older people say telephone check-in programs can help seniors remain independent in their homes and give them  and their family members  peace of mind.

It helps ensure for the elderly person or their family that a phone call is being made every morning, that everything is okay. Weve gotten incredible feedback on this program, said Cmdr. Jack Vaccaro of the Lighthouse Point Police Department in Florida, which has nine seniors in its automated daily-call program.

[Your elderly parent is home from the hospital. What happens next?]

Such automated systems began nearly three decades ago. They now are used by police departments from California to Massachusetts. Some police agencies take a more personal approach, using volunteers or dispatchers to place the calls.

Police departments are becoming more sensitive to the needs of older adults, said Sandy Markwood, chief executive of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. For instance, she said, her organization is training officers in how to handle seniors with dementia. Telephone check-in programs are one way of doing that.

I think were seeing a trend with these types of programs, particularly in rural and smaller communities, she said. Its a wise use of government dollars for first responders.

Minimal costs

Seniors who sign up for telephone reassurance programs decide when they want to be called. They also are typically required to give police the name and phone number of an emergency contact.

Participants get a computer-generated phone call every day  sometimes recorded by the police chief or sheriff  that asks them to press a certain number if they are okay. If they dont answer the phone, theyll get another computer-generated call, and sometimes additional ones.

If they still dont answer, police usually will try to get in touch with their emergency contact before dispatching an officer to the home to check on them.

Seniors who know theyre going to be out when the phone rings at the specified time are supposed to notify police in advance. But sometimes they forget, and dispatchers end up sending out a unit on a false call. While that does happen, police officials say its not a frequent occurrence, so the personnel costs are minimal.

Some agencies, such as the police department in Winter Park, Fla., also require participants to put a house key in a secured box  similar to boxes used by real estate agents  somewhere outside the house. Emergency responders know the code and can open the box and enter the house if necessary.

The price tag for telephone reassurance systems varies.

RUOK, the nations largest source, is used by hundreds of police agencies, according to Bruce Johnson, owner of the Minnesota company that developed and sells the software. It costs about $1,000 to buy and set up, and it has no maintenance fees.

Database Systems, a Phoenix-based data management company that has sold its system to dozens of police departments, charges nearly $11,000 for purchase, installation and the first year of maintenance, company vice president Jerry Pizet said. After that, most agencies do their own maintenance.

Winter Park Police Officer Randall Morrissey said his agency uses RUOK software that runs on an old laptop and was paid for with forfeiture funds. Running the program doesnt cost the department anything, he said, other than the expense of sending out an officer on a false call, which isnt often.

A lot of the seniors who sign up are concerned that they could pass and not be discovered for days, Morrissey said. With this program, its comforting for them to know they could be found.

That was the reason the Belton Police Department in Texas launched its telephone check-in program in 2013, according to Detective Sgt. Kim Hamilton. The impetus: an incident in which officers found an elderly woman who been had been dead on the floor of her home for at least two months.

That alone spoke volumes to us, Hamilton said. We knew there was a need to check on our senior residents.

Economy of scale

The check-in programs are less common in big cities, where large numbers of people might sign up, potentially straining budgets because more officers would be needed to check on seniors who dont answer their phones.

But in small cities and towns, suburbs and rural areas, the programs can be more manageable.

Its economy of scale, said Capt. Larry Murphy, of the Biloxi, Miss., Police Department. If youre in a really large city, youd have to add more and more resources.

In Biloxi, a city of about 44,000, only 14 seniors are registered. While many police departments want to sign up as many seniors as possible, Murphy said his tries to limit its program to people who really need it rather than those who just want it.

Murphy said the system has experienced some outages in the past few years because of lightning damage to the dispatch center. That means dispatchers sometimes have to call each senior, which is resource-intensive but manageable with a limited number of participants.

Some police agencies that once used automated check-in systems, such as those in Brentwood, Mo., and Amherst, Mass., have stopped using them. Agencies that choose to give up the systems usually do so because participants move away or die and not enough seniors sign up to replace them.

Police officials agree that for telephone reassurance programs to succeed in the long term, they need to be continuously marketed. Some departments do that by publicizing them on websites, at senior centers and in apartment complexes and churches.

The human touch

Some police agencies go beyond automated check-ins and use staff or volunteers to dial up seniors and talk to them one-on-one.

Every weekday morning, a staffer at the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office in South Carolina makes 50 to 60 calls to see whether seniors in the reassurance program are okay.

In Belton, 130 seniors get an automated call every weekday except Wednesday, when they get a live call from one of dozens of volunteers, according to Hamilton. Sometimes thats the only person the senior talks to that week, she said.

A part-time coordinator oversees the volunteers and is paid through a grant from the Area Agency on Aging of Central Texas. This years grant was for $21,000.

Considering what the police have to deal with every day, this is totally the opposite end of the spectrum, said Pam Patterson, an area agency contract manager. It gives them an opportunity to really help seniors.

And in Belton, as in some other parts of the country, police say the program has saved lives.

Belton police have had four saves so far, Hamilton said, including a man who fell to the floor in his house and stayed there from Friday, after his last check-in, until Monday, when his next call came.

The personal touch

In San Diego County, Calif., one of the bigger areas to run a call reassurance service, the sheriffs departments program goes far beyond automated calls. As part of its You Are Not Alone effort, 452 senior volunteer patrol members call 334 older adults at least five times a week and visit them at least weekly.

We think the personal touch is a little bit better, in the event something else is going on, said Sgt. Monica Sanchez. Our senior volunteers are trained to see if there is food in the fridge or if there are signs of neglect. An automated program would not work for us. We like to observe and report.

Sanchez said the volunteers have helped save peoples lives, such as when they visited the home of an 86-year-old woman last year, got no response and noticed her mail had been piling up. They contacted deputies, who climbed through a window and found the woman on the floor, severely dehydrated.

They were just in time to save her life, Sanchez said.

[House calls are coming back. That may mean better care for the elderly.]

[Four stories of the heart]

[When should I start thinking about hospice care for myself or a loved one]
MENOMONIE  The Minneapolis man accused in the beating death of a UW-Stout student from Saudi Arabia has been bound over for trial.

Cullen M. Osburn, 27, faces charges of felony murder and aggravated battery in an altercation involving Hussain Saeed Alnahdi that took place outside a pizza restaurant in downtown Menomonie in the early morning hours of Oct. 30, 2016. Alnahdi died in an Eau Claire hospital as a result of traumatic brain injuries the following day.

On Thursday, Dunn County Judge Rod Smeltzer found probable cause that Osburn committed the felonies. After the preliminary hearing, however, Osburns attorney, Christopher Zipko, claimed it was a matter of self defense and said, Theres no possible way that my client assaulted Mr. Alnahdi. ... From everything that weve looked at, I dont even think there was an assault.

Menomonie Police Department Kelly Pollock testified Alnahdis blood was drawn at the hospital, showing a 0.284 percent blood alcohol content.

Pollock said that a female witness heading eastbound on Main Street passed between Alnahdi and an unknown white male on sidewalk in front of Toppers Pizza around 2 a.m. on Oct. 30. She stopped and turned around when she heard yelling behind her.

Pollock said the woman told her she saw Alnahdi put his hands up in the air in a gesture that indicated he did not want to have any problems, then saw the unknown man hit Alnahdi once and believed he tried to hit Alnahdi a second time.

She saw him [Alnahdi] fall backwards, Pollock said. She saw his head strike the side of the building.

Describing the other man, Pollock said the woman saw him running westbound down Main Street.

Pollock also attended the autopsy of Alnahdis body at UW-Madison at which Dr. Michael Steier, forensic pathologist, found that Alnahdi sustained a skull fracture on the right side of the back of his head and determined the cause of death to be from a traumatic brain injury.

He said it required a great deal of force similar to an automobile accident or a fall from a higher story building, Pollock said.

Deonte L. Hughes, Osburns brother, testified he was inside Toppers Pizza with his sister, Mariah Hughes, and friends Joshua Sims and William Hall. As they waited for their pizza order, Hughes wondered where Osburn was, and, looking through the window, saw him outside being grabbed by the collar by Alnahdi and the two men in an altercation.

Hughes said he saw that his brothers necklace had been ripped off, but did not remember witnessing Osburn make contact with Alnahdi, but said he saw his brothers arm swing and saw Alnahdi on the ground as he was pulling Osburn away.

Sims also testified that he, too, saw Alnahdi grab Osburns collar, but did not see Osburn hit Alnahdi from inside the restaurant.

I came out when the dude was falling, Sims said.

An arraignment has been scheduled for Thursday, April 27. Osburn remains in custody in the Dunn County Jail on a $75,000 bond.
Renzo Viscardi, center, here with parents Anthony Viscardi and Cheryl Dougan, relies on round-the-clock care from home health aides. (COURTESY OF CHERYL DOUGAN/Courtesy of Cheryl Dougan)

Acute shortages of home health aides and nursing assistants are cropping up across the country, threatening care for people with serious disabilities and vulnerable older adults.

In Wisconsin, nursing homes have denied admission to thousands of patients over the past year because they lack essential staff, according to associations of facilities that provide long-term care.

In New York, patients in rural areas have been injured, soiled themselves and gone without meals because paid caregivers arent available, according to testimony provided to state legislators in February.

In Illinois, the independence of people with severe developmental disabilities is being compromised as agencies experience severe staff shortages, according to a court monitor overseeing a federal consent decree.

The emerging crisis is driven by low wages  around $10 an hour, mostly funded by state Medicaid programs  and a shrinking pool of workers willing to perform this physically and emotionally demanding work: helping people get into and out of bed, go to the bathroom, shower, eat and participate in routine activities, often while dealing with challenging behaviors.

[New rules give nursing home residents more power]

Experts warn that this labor problem portends even worse difficulties as Americas senior population swells to 88 million people in 2050, up from 48 million today, and requires more assistance with chronic health conditions and disabilities.

If we dont turn this around, things are only going to get worse, said David Gifford, senior vice president of quality and regulatory affairs for the American Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes.

For me as a parent, the instability of this system is terrifying, said Cheryl Dougan of Bethlehem, Pa., whose profoundly disabled son, Renzo, suffered cardiac arrest nearly 19 years ago at age 14 and receives round-the-clock care from paid caregivers.

Weve gone through hundreds of . . . workers, and there have been times Ive found Renzo sitting in a recliner, soaking wet, because his diapers hadnt been changed. And at times I wasnt sure if he was being fed well or treated well, Dougan continued. Its exhausting, mentally and physically. You live with a constant sense of crisis.

Rising demand

For years, experts have predicted that a rapidly aging populations demand for services would outstrip the capacity of what is called the direct care workforce: personal care aides, home health aides and nursing assistants.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that an additional 1.1 million workers of this kind will be needed by 2024  a 26 percent increase over 2014. Yet the population of people who tend to fill these jobs, overwhelmingly women age 25 to 64, will increase at a much slower rate.

After the recession of 2008-2009, positions in Medicaid-funded home health agencies, nursing homes and community service agencies were relatively easy to fill for several years. But the improving economy has led workers to pursue higher-paying alternatives  in retail services, for example  and turnover rates have soared.

At the same time, wages for nursing assistants, home health aides and personal care aides have stagnated, making recruitment difficult. The average hourly rate nationally is $10.11  a few cents lower than a decade ago, according to PHI, an organization that studies the direct-care workforce. There is a push on now in a handful of states to raise the minimum to $15 an hour.

For-profit franchises that offer services to seniors who pay out of pocket are also having problems with staffing.

All the experienced workers are already placed with families. Theyre off the market, said Carrie Bianco, owner of Always Best Care Senior Services of Torrance, Calif., part of a national chain with franchises in 30 states.

Finding new employees was so difficult that Bianco started her own 14-week training program for caregivers nine months ago. To attract recruits, she ran ads targeting women who had left the workforce or had been close to their grandparents. In exchange for free tuition, graduates must agree to start working for her agency.

Theres much more competition now  a lot of franchises have opened and people will approach our workers outside our building or in the lobby and ask if they want to come work for them, said Karen Kulp, president of Home Care Associates of Philadelphia.

Hardest to cover in Kulps area are people with disabilities and older adults who live at some distance from the city center and need only one to two hours of help a day. These people are not necessarily getting service, she said, because workers prefer longer shifts and less time traveling between clients, so they gravitate to other opportunities.

Its unclear how common these problems are. Neither states nor the federal government routinely collect information about staff vacancy rates, turnover rates and people going without services offered by home care agencies and nursing homes.

If we really want to understand whats needed to address workforce shortages, we need better data, said Robert Espinoza, vice president of policy at PHI.

Some of the best data comes from Wisconsin, where long-term-care facilities and agencies serving seniors and people with disabilities have surveyed their members over the past year.

Hard times in Wisconsin

The findings are startling. One of seven caregiving positions in Wisconsin nursing homes and group homes were unfilled, one survey discovered; 70 percent of administrators reported a lack of qualified job applicants. As a result, 18 percent of long-term-care facilities had to limit admissions, declining care to more than 5,300 vulnerable people. (Altogether, more than 87,000 people live in 4,102 nursing homes and residential care facilities in the state.)

The words unprecedented and desperate come to mind, said John Sauer, president and chief executive of LeadingAge Wisconsin, which represents not-for-profit long-term-care institutions. In my 28 years in the business, this is the most challenging workforce situation Ive seen.

Sauer and others blame inadequate payments from Medicaid  which funds about two-thirds of nursing homes business  for the bind. In rural areas, especially, operators are at the breaking point.

We are very seriously considering closing our nursing facility so it doesnt drive the whole corporation out of business, said Greg Loeser, chief executive of Iola Living Assistance, which offers skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living services in a rural area about 70 miles west of Green Bay.

Like other short-staffed operators, he has had to ask employees to work overtime and use staff from temporary agencies, increasing labor costs substantially. A nearby state veterans home, the largest in Wisconsin, pays higher wages, making it hard for him to find employees. Last year, Iolas losses on Medicaid-funded residents skyrocketed to $631,000  an unsustainable amount, Loeser said.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has proposed a 2 percent Medicaid rate increase forlong-term-care facilities and personal care agencies for each of the next two years, but that wont be enough to make a substantial difference, Loeser and other experts say.

The situation is equally grim for Wisconsin agencies that send personal care workers into peoples homes. According to a separate survey in 2016, 85 percent of agencies said they didnt have enough staff to cover all shifts, and 43 percent reported not filling shifts at least seven times a month.

Barbara Vedder, 67, of Madison, has witnessed the impact firsthand. Paralyzed from her chest down since a spinal cord injury in 1981, she qualifies for 8.75 hours of help a day, while her husband tends to her in the evening.

Its getting much, much, much more difficult to find willing, capable people to help me, she said. Its a revolving door: People come for a couple of months, maybe, then they find a better job or they get pregnant or they move out of state. Its an endless state of not knowing whats going to happen next  will somebody be around to help me tomorrow? Next month?

When caregivers dont show up or shifts are cut back or canceled, I dont get proper cleaning around my catheter or in my groin area, Vedder continued. Ill skip a meal or wait several hours to take a pill. I wont get my range-of-motion exercises, or my wheelchair cushion might slip out of place and Ill start getting sore. Basically, I start losing my health.

Debra Ramacher and her husband have been unable to find paid caregivers since June 2015 for their daughter Maya, 20, and their son Michael, 19, both of whom have cerebral palsy, epilepsy and other significant disabilities. The family lives in New Richmond, about 45 minutes from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

At least three agencies told me theyve stopped trying to hire personal care aides. They cant find anybody, and it costs them money to advertise, said Ramacher, executive director of Wisconsin Family Ties, an organization for families with children with emotional, behavioral and mental disorders.

Its incredibly stressful on all of us, living with this kind of uncertainty, she said.

Every few months, Ramacher tries to find caregivers on her own by putting ads up on Craigslist, in local newspapers and on job boards.

We get a few bites, she said. Most recently, two people came and interviewed. One never got back to us; the other got a better job that paid more.

In the meantime, she and her husband are being paid by Medicaid to look after Maya and Michael.

We dont want to be the caregivers; we want to have our own life, Ramacher said. But we dont have any option.

 Kaiser Health News

Kaiser Health News is a national health policy news service that is part of the nonpartisan Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

[Read more]

[This Star Trek-inspired home health gizmo could win its inventors millions]

[I put my father in a nursing home at age 98. Then I brought him home.]

[House calls are coming back]
In January 2003, Suzanne Gonzales wrote to an online messaging group: I cry for no reason, and I cant help but feel that Im bothering others with my whining. Im sorry to everyone. It would just be best if I would go away.

She had been suffering from depression and, in the following months, she often went to this website to talk about suicide. It was a place where suicide was normal, or even encouraged. Anonymous users told her it was okay to kill herself, lending her detailed advice on how to do it.

In March, Gonzales checked in to a hotel room and drank a cup of poison, according to news accounts. She was 19 years old when she died.

The death of Gonzales is a frightening tale about dark corners of the Internet and the role it can play in the lure of suicide. While suicide has long been a public health issue in the United States, leading to more than 40,000 deaths each year, mental health experts are just coming to grips with how the Internet influences suicide risk and prevention.

[Can exercise cure depression and anxiety?]

Suicide-related information is readily accessible online. Using the Internet to read about suicide can provide a beacon of hope, as much of the available content promotes prevention or resources for those in distress. Yet a number of studies have raised concerns about websites that may encourage suicide and self-harm. One site, for instance, advertises itself as a place where people who are interested in suicide methods come together and discuss about suicide methods.

In a study published in 2008, researchers put phrases related to suicide (e.g., How to kill yourself) into search engines and examined the first 10 sites from each search. The authors found that about 1 in 5 of these top hits were sites encouraging suicide or describing suicide methods. A more recent study compared the top suicide-related search results from 2007 to 2014, and found the proportion of sites providing factual information about suicide methods had tripled.

Research suggests these websites draw people, particularly youths, who are in distress. In a survey of 1,500 young people living in the United States, browsers who visited pro-suicide sites were 11 times as likely to report thinking about self-harm and seven times as likely to report having suicidal thoughts as were young people who hadnt visited the sites. A 2015 study found that 20 percent of young adults with a history of suicidal self-harm had visited sites containing information on how to kill or hurt oneself, compared with just 3 percent of young adults more broadly.

Whats less clear is the motivation behind these websites: Why would someone encourage others to kill themselves, often providing detailed instructions on how to do so? The relative anonymity of the Internet makes this question challenging to study. Some academics have speculated that pro-suicide sites may serve as forums for commiseration, community or even rebellion, but there arent much data to make firm conclusions.

After Suzanne Gonzales died, her parents, Mike and Mary Gonzales, decided to take a stand against people who promote suicide online. Working with them, Walter Herger, then a Republican congressman from California, introduced a bill that would criminalize using the Internet to promote suicide. The bill was named the Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act of 2007, or Suzys Law.

Plenty of state laws make it illegal to knowingly assist in suicide, particularly as it applies to physician-patient situations. But the legal implications of using the Internet to encourage suicide are murky.

For starters, websites and users may be based in different states or overseas. Also, it could be hard to prove that online posts directly led to another persons self-harm.

Our aversion to cracking down on free speech online also comes into play. The United States ranks among the top countries for Internet freedom, and American courts have tended to side with protecting freedom of expression online.

But regulating content and activity that promote suicide online isnt impossible. In 2011, William Melchert-Dinkel was convicted in Minnesota of assisting suicide via the Internet. A nurse, he had encouraged people he met online to kill themselves and offered detailed methods; two of them, a Canadian man and a British woman, eventually died by suicide. The case has stirred multiple legal battles, at one point finding its way to the Minnesota Supreme Court, but Melchert-Dinkel eventually served jail time for assisting suicide.

In 2006, Australia became one of the first countries to criminalize pro-suicide sites. After dozens of people in Japan killed themselves in 2008 using a gas method described online, national police asked Internet providers to take down online content spreading the information. South Korea and Russia have taken similar steps.

Suicide remains difficult to predict, and were just beginning to understand the role of the Internet in mental-health outcomes. Still, the rise of pro-suicide activity online poses tough questions about the boundaries of free speech and what constitutes acceptable online use. In particular, do we want the Internet to be a place where people can learn about  and even be drawn into  killing themselves?

A decade has passed since Suzys Law was first introduced, but it has yet to gain traction in Washington. The Gonzales family has tried to keep the bill alive by getting it reintroduced every few years, including in 2009 and 2011.

Mike Gonzales recently told me that he felt the country had made important strides in talking about mental health, but he hopes that more will be done to stop pro-suicide activity online.

Im all for free speech, he told an interviewer shortly after his daughters death, but once you start telling young impressionable kids how to kill themselves, thats crossing the line. Someones got to be held accountable. He said he still believes that.

If you are in crisis or you know of someone who is, you may want to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Morris is a resident physician in psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

[Read more:]

[I live in fear that my daughter will inherit my depression]

[Man streamed murder on Facebook]

[13 Reasons Why depicts a graphic suicide. Experts say theres a problem with that.]
MEXICO

Gun battles leave

gang leaders dead

Two top drug traffickers were reportedly killed in pre-dawn shootouts Saturday with federal forces in the northern Mexico border state of Tamaulipas.

Julian Loisa Salinas, better known as Comandante Toro, was killed in a clash with marines in Reynosa, a city across the border from McAllen, Tex.

Loisa Salinas reportedly was the Gulf cartels local leader in Reynosa. Authorities had tried to capture him many times, leading to gun battles with his gang. In early April, two U.S. citizens were reported wounded in one such gunfight.

On Saturday, photos showed burned-out cars, trucks and buses littering streets in Reynosa. State authorities said his supporters had set fires and tried to block roads in an unsuccessful effort to help him escape. Nine businesses were reportedly burned, and 18 vacant lots were set on fire.

Also Saturday, the local leader for the rival Zetas cartel in Tamaulipas capital, Ciudad Victoria, was killed in a similar shootout farther south. He was tentatively identified as Francisco Pancho Carreon.

The two were thought to be behind much of the recent violence in Tamaulipas.

 Associated Press

VATICAN CITY

Pope: Migrants are in

concentration camps

Pope Francis is urging governments to get migrants and refugees out of holding centers, saying many had become concentration camps.

During a visit to a Rome basilica, where he met migrants, Francis told of his visit to a camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, where he met a Muslim refugee.

I dont know if he managed to leave that concentration camp, because refugee camps, many of them, are of concentration (type) because of the great number of people left there inside them, the pope said.

Francis praised countries helping refugees and thanked them for bearing this extra burden, because it seems that international accords are more important than human rights.

 Reuters

Filipino troops kill Muslim militants, including ringleader: After a massive manhunt, Philippine forces killed at least four suspected Muslim militants, including their ringleader, in a central resort province where troops had foiled possible attacks by extremists earlier this month, officials said. Joselito Melloria, a convert to Islam and a Bohol province resident, had guided Abu Sayyaf militants from their jungle encampments in the countrys south to his Bohol village to carry out possible ransom kidnappings and bombings. Troops, however, detected the militants and killed four of them in April 11 fighting that also left three soldiers, a police officer and two villagers dead. Melloria fled with at least seven other militants.

Poll shows Conservatives with lead in Britain: Prime Minister Theresa Mays Conservative Party holds a 19-point lead over its main rival, Labour, helped by a slide in support for the main opposition party and the anti-E.U. group UKIP ahead of a June election. According to the online poll of 2,003 voters carried out by research group Opinium on April 19 and 20, about 45 percent of voters said they would vote for the ruling Conservatives, up seven points from last week and since May called a national election for June 8. Support for Labour stood at 26 percent, down three percentage points, while UKIP, a key force in steering Britain to vote to leave the European Union, was down five percentage points at 9 percent.

Missiles hit medical center in rebel-held Syria: Missiles struck a medical center in Abdin village, in Syrias northern rebel-held province of Idlib. The airstrike put the facility out of service and killed some staff members, opposition activists said. Rescue workers found survivors, lifting out nine medical workers as a search continued.

Protesters target Hungarian prime minister: Thousands of Hungarians joined a rally in Budapest mocking Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in the latest protest against what they call his attacks on democracy and human rights. Demonstrations have been mounted in the past three weeks against a new law that targets the Central European University, founded by the Hungarian-born American billionaire and philanthropist George Soros.

Anti-fascists assemble at WWII death camp site: Croatian anti-fascists and Serb minority groups held a commemoration ceremony at the site of a World War II death camp, boycotting the official event over alleged government inaction in curbing the surge of neo-Nazi sentiment in the Balkan country. The ceremony was held a day before the Croatian government is to mark the attempted escape in 1945 of 1,073 prisoners from the Jasenovac camp, when hundreds were killed. Tens of thousands of Jews, Serbs and Gypsies died in death camps run by Croatias pro-Nazi puppet state in World War II.

 From news services
UKRAINE

U.S. monitor killed, 2 injured in mine blast

An American member of the OSCEs monitoring mission in eastern Ukraine died Sunday and two others were wounded when a mine blew up their vehicle in the separatist Luhansk region.

The missions deputy head, Alexander Hug, said the member killed was from the United States and the two wounded are from Germany and the Czech Republic.

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, who holds the rotating chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, called for an investigation into the blast and said on Twitter that those responsible will be held accountable.

The self-proclaimed security ministry for the Russia-backed rebels in Luhansk said the mine had been laid by Ukrainian forces. The rebels and the Ukrainian government have been fighting in eastern Ukraine since 2014 in a war that has killed more than 9,900 people.

The monitoring mission assesses compliance with a two-year-old peace deal that was to bring a cease-fire and heavy weapons pullback to the region. It also conducts work on human rights and civil society issues as well as mine-awareness programs.

 Associated Press

SAUDI ARABIA

King names son as ambassador to U.S.

Saudi Arabias King Salman issued a decree this weekend naming one of his sons, an air force pilot who has taken part in coalition strikes against the Islamic State militant group, as the kingdoms new ambassador to the United States.

The appointment of Prince Khaled bin Salman to Washington signals the kingdoms eagerness to strengthen bilateral ties under President Trump. As the kings son, the prince has a direct line to the Saudi monarch.

Saudi Arabia is the worlds third-largest defense spender. Khaleds appointment positions him as an influential broker in deals with U.S. manufacturers.

Saudi-U.S. relations had cooled under the Obama administration after Washington pursued a nuclear accord with Shiite-ruled Iran that the Sunni-ruled kingdom strongly opposed. Saudi Arabia and Iran are regional rivals and back opposing sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen.

Ties with Riyadh have improved since Trump took office.

Khaled is a former F-15 pilot who participated in strikes against the Islamic State militant group in 2014 as part of the U.S.-led coalition. He also participated in flight missions over Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has been bombing a Yemeni faction aligned with Iran for more than two years.

 Associated Press

Monarch restores public-sector perks

Saudi Arabias King Salman has issued a decree reinstating public-sector perks after a drop in oil prices forced the kingdom to curb big-ticket spending and implement sensitive austerity measures.

The decree, issued over the weekend, states that Salman is keen to provide comfort to Saudi citizens and has reinstated all allowances, privileges and financial premiums given to civil and military officials. He also authorized security personnel involved in the kingdoms Yemen war to receive an additional two months salary.

Just seven months ago, the Saudi monarch had slashed the salaries of ministers and suspended public-sector bonuses. The move sparked criticism by Saudis frustrated with what they see as already low wages.

Nearly half of the governments spending in 2015 went to wages, salaries and allowances.

 Associated Press

Blast in Somalia kills 8 soldiers, police say: A police official said a roadside bomb in Somalias semiautonomous state of Puntland has killed eight soldiers and injured three people. Ahmed Mohamed said the blast targeted a military convoy in Galgala. Security forces have been battling fighters linked to the Islamic State in the region. Militants affiliated with the group are a relatively new threat in Somalia, where al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab has been entrenched for years.

Human rights advocate fatally stabbed in Maldives: Police in Maldives are investigating the stabbing death of a prominent blogger and human rights advocate. Police said Yameen Rasheed was found with stab wounds in a house in the capital, Male. He died at a hospital. The motive for his killing was not known. Rasheed was an advocate of human rights and freedom of speech. He discussed politics and social issues on the Internet, including health, migrant-labor rights and policing.

Palestinian wounds 4 in Tel Aviv stabbing: A Palestinian stabbed and slightly wounded four people along Tel Avivs beachfront and was arrested, police said, describing the attack as related to terrorism. The suspect was identified as an 18-year-old Palestinian man from the West Bank. Israel has accused the Palestinian leadership of inciting such attacks. The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, denies the accusation.

 From news services
MYRIAD FORCES pull girls from school across poor swaths of the globe. One is menstruation, long a taboo subject that causes fear and shame, and as a practical matter forces girls to miss school for lack of basics such as sanitary pads or toilets. Stella Nyanzi, a firebrand activist in Uganda, spoke up about this, criticizing the wife of Ugandas president, and is now in jail because of it.

Ms. Nyanzi, a mother of three and an academic, is a controversial figure who champions LGBT rights in a land where homosexual acts are outlawed. She often shocks people to get attention, such as the time she undressed on television, and frequently uses vulgar language while lighting up social media to prod the powerful. Her latest campaign involved a broken promise by Ugandas autocratic President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power for three decades and was reelected in February 2016 amid reports of voting irregularities, ballot-box stuffing and intimidation of opposition candidates.

In the campaign, the president and his wife Janet, who is also education minister, promised to fund free sanitary pads for girls in Uganda. But earlier this year, Ms. Museveni told parliament that the promise wouldnt materialize because there wasnt enough money. This appears to have infuriated Ms. Nyanzi, who supported the opposition candidate Kizza Besigye, and she began to attack the president and his wife. She also started a campaign to raise the money for the promised sanitary pads.

Ms. Nyanzis anger appeared in her Facebook posts. On January 27, she denounced Mr. Museveni as a pair of buttocks and said that Ugandans should be shocked that we allowed these buttocks to continue leading our country. On Feb. 15, she declared she would not call the presidents wife Mama Janet as others do, asking: What sort of mother allows her daughters to keep away from school because they are too poor to afford padding materials that would adequately protect them from the shame and ridicule that comes by staining their uniforms with menstrual blood?

Mr. Museveni has never hesitated to muzzle his critics, and he swung into action against Ms. Nyanzi. First her home was raided and threats issued; then Ms. Nyanzi was arrested. Her crime, according to the charge sheet, was cyber harassment for the first posting on Facebook, where she willfully and repeatedly used electronic communication to . . . disturb the peace, quiet, or right of privacy of his excellency the president of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni with no purpose of legitimate communication. She is now being held in a maximum-security prison in Kampala.

Mr. Museveni has enjoyed close ties with the United States, and truckloads of aid. This should not give him the sense that he can ignore criticism of his actions. By putting Ms. Nyanzi in prison he is not only violating her right to speak up, but also locking up the hopes of girls in Uganda for a simple measure to keep them in school.
REMEMBER HOW President Trump was going to construct a wall along the border between the United States and Mexico  paid for by Mexico? Theres been a change of plans. Now Mr. Trump wants the Democrats to put up the cash.

All right; thats a slight exaggeration. Whats actually happening is that the governments current spending authority runs out April 29. Without a new bill, the country could face a partial shutdown of federal agencies. No one, Mr. Trump included, wants that, and the two parties are negotiating a deal to avoid it. However, his budget director, Mick Mulvaney, threw a wrench into the talks Thursday by declaring that the final deal should include money for Mr. Trumps wall. Yes, Mr. Mulvaney said, Democrats dont like the wall, but they lost the election. And the president should, I think, at least have the opportunity to fund one of his highest priorities in the first funding bill under his administration. A down payment on the wall might be the White Houses price for agreeing to the Democrats own priority: a key health-care subsidy for low-income consumers.

Republicans do not have the necessary 60 votes for passage of any spending deal in the Senate, which gives the Democrats leverage despite their minority status in both houses. They would be crazy to capitulate, and not only because the politics of the issue favor them. (Sixty-two percent of the public opposes building a wall along the entire border, according to a Pew Research poll.) As a policy matter, the wall is a foolish and wasteful enterprise, one whose legitimate purposes  stopping unauthorized immigration and drug smuggling  could be achieved at far lower cost through other means. In the unlikely event that this pharaonic enterprise ever did get completed, it would stand as a monument to the xenophobia Mr. Trump tapped to get elected. The sooner he can be forced to abandon it, the better.

Democrats are in the right on the health-care issue as well. At issue are billions of dollars to help lower-income health insurance exchange customers afford out-of-pocket expenses, money that the Obama administration provided but that the Republicans insist was not properly appropriated; they have a lawsuit pending on that point. Ideally, the Republicans would be abandoning that fight and engaging the Democrats in a genuinely constructive update of Obamacare, not the repeal-and-replace exercise they have been pursuing, without success, due to their own internal divisions. Intra-GOP talks are ongoing, with Mr. Trump suggesting that a compromise might be ready for a vote in the House next week. The plan gets better and better and better, Mr. Trump said, which is the opposite of the truth: Leaked versions of the bill would, under certain circumstances, allow states to let insurance companies sell policies that people with preexisting conditions could not afford.

April 29 also marks the 100th day of Mr. Trumps presidency; he may be trying to conjure some sort of legislative victory before then, or at least put up a convincing show of trying. What hes mainly demonstrating, though, are the reasons his accomplishments so far have been so paltry: His vaunted negotiating skills have delivered little, and his priorities have been misguided.
Roosevelt Dume, 37, left, sits in a hospital in Port-a-Piment, Haiti, after hiking out of the town of Randel with his 3-year-old son, Roodley, right foreground, who was suffering from cholera in October. (Joshua Partlow/The Washington Post)

POVERTY IN Haiti, by far the most destitute country in the Americas, is so extreme that it defies most Americans imaginations. Nearly 60 percent of Haitians live on less than $2.42 per day; a quarter of Haitians scratch out a living on half that amount. That the United States would intentionally inflict a sudden, massive and unsustainable hardship on such a country  one already reeling from a series of natural and man-made disasters  defies common sense, morality and American principles. Yet that is exactly what Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly is now considering.

Incredibly, an agency under Mr. Kellys purview has recommended that some 50,000 Haitians now living legally in the United States be expelled en masse next January. If Mr. Kelly approves the expulsion, it would be a travesty. It would, at a stroke, compound the humanitarian suffering in a nation of 10.4 million already reeling from a huge earthquake in 2010, an ongoing cholera epidemic that is the worlds worst and a devastating hurricane that swept the island only last fall.

The recommendation from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, involves Haitians who have lived in the United States since the 2010 earthquake and have been allowed to remain legally since then on humanitarian grounds, under a series of 18-month renewals.

Now, the agency proposes to revoke the temporary protected status, or TPS, under which those Haitians live and work in the United States, a move that would trigger an exodus into a country ill-equipped to absorb them. It would also sever a major source of income on which several hundred thousand Haitians depend  namely, cash sent back to the island by their relatives working in the United States.

In December, the same immigration agency now urging expulsion issued a report saying that the horrendous conditions that prompted the TPS designation in 2010 persist, including a housing shortage, the cholera epidemic, scanty medical care, food insecurity and economic wreckage.

Haitis fundamental economic situation is unchanged since that report. The effects of Hurricane Matthew, a Category 4 storm when it hit Haiti last October, were particularly devastating, leading to catastrophic losses to agriculture, livestock, fishing and hospitals in rural areas, plus nearly 4,000 schools damaged or destroyed, according to the World Bank. The value of those losses is estimated at $1.9 billion, more than a fifth of Haitis gross domestic product; the storm left more than a million Haitians in need of humanitarian aid.

In addition to Haitians, citizens of a dozen other war-torn, poverty-stricken and disaster-struck countries living in the United States have been granted temporary protective status, including El Salvador and Nicaragua, both of which are richer than Haiti. For the United States, the hemispheres richest country, to saddle Haiti, the poorest, with what would amount to a staggering new burden would be cruel and gratuitous. It may also be self-defeating. Its hardly unthinkable that a sudden infusion of 50,000 jobless people could trigger instability in a nation with a long history of upheavals that often washed up on U.S. shores. Food for thought, Mr. Kelly.
President Trump nears the 100-day mark of his administration as the least popular chief executive in modern times, a president whose voters remain largely satisfied with his performance, but one whose base of support has not expanded since he took the oath of office, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Trumps first months in office have produced some tangible successes. Beyond the continued enthusiasm of his most loyal supporters, a small majority of Americans see him as a strong leader. A bigger majority approves of his efforts to pressure U.S. companies to keep jobs in this country. Those who say the economy is getting better outnumber those who say its getting worse by the biggest margin in 15 years in Post-ABC polling.

But the presidents balance sheet overall tilts toward the negative. Majorities of Americans say Trump has not accomplished much during his first months as president. Meanwhile, he shows little improvement on his temperament and honesty, and while hes gained ground on empathy, over 6 in 10 still say he does not understand the problems of people like them.

[Read full poll results | How the poll was conducted]

With a week remaining before his 100th day in office, Trump has yet to achieve a major legislative accomplishment, having been dealt a major setback when Republicans in Congress decided not to proceed with a vote on a health-care bill supported by the White House. His clearest achievement is the successful nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to the Supreme Court seat previously held by conservative Justice Antonin Scalia.

Executive actions on trade, immigration, climate and government organization have pointed the direction he wants to take the country, though his controversial proposed travel ban that affects a number of Muslim-majority nations remains blocked by the courts. Trump and others in his administration have attacked the courts, accusing them of overreach, but nearly 6 in 10 people see their actions as a legitimate role for the judicial branch.

Overseas, he has demonstrated his willingness to use military force, with targeted strikes in Syria and the use of one of the biggest non-nuclear devices in the U.S. arsenal in Afghanistan. But tensions with North Korea remain high and the administrations policy in the Middle East remains cloudy.

The 100-day marker is in part an artificial measuring post for any president, but by comparison, Trump has reached this point in his presidency faring worse to much worse than other recent presidents. An electorate that was deeply divided throughout the 2016 campaign remains so today, with opposition seemingly hardened and unyielding on most questions regarding his presidency.

The presidents approval rating stands at 42 percent, the lowest recorded at this stage of a presidency dating to Dwight Eisenhower. Trumps 53 percent disapproval rating is 14 percentage points higher than Bill Clintons 39 percent disapproval in April 1993, the worst before Trump. Eight years ago, then-president Barack Obamas approval was 69 percent, his disapproval 26 percent.

The Post-ABC poll finds 43 percent of Americans said they strongly disapprove of Trumps performance. Thats also the worst by far of any president since George H.W. Bush by more than double. In the spring of 1993, 21 percent said they strongly disapproved of Clintons performance.

Americans split at 35 percent apiece on whether Trump is doing a better or worse job than expected, with the rest saying hes neither above nor below their expectations.

There are no signs of major slippage in support among those who voted for Trump. His approval rating among those who cast ballots for him stands at 94 percent. Among Republicans, it is 84 percent. Asked of those who voted for him whether they regret doing so, 2 percent say they do, while 96 percent say supporting Trump was the right thing to do.When asked if they would vote for him again, 96 percent say they would, which is higher than the 85 percent of Hillary Clinton voters who say they would support her again.

(Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

Trump is also satisfying the substantial share of the electorate that voted for him with some reservation. Among Trump voters who say they were somewhat enthusiastic or less excited about supporting him, 88 percent approve of his current performance and 79 percent say he understands the problems of people like them.

Bill Clinton also had a rocky start to his presidency, which colored public judgments of his presidency by the 100-day mark. Although just 42 percent say Trump has accomplished either a great deal or a good amount so far, that is slightly higher than the 37 percent who said the same about Clinton in 1993.

Similarly, judgments on whether campaign promises have been kept put Trump on about equal footing with Bill Clinton  44 percent and 42 percent respectively. Also, Trumps 53 percent positive rating on strong leadership is almost identical to that of George W. Bushs at this point in his presidency, but much lower than Obamas 77 percent rating.

Of those who say Trump has not accomplished much, 47 percent pin the blame on him while about a quarter blame congressional Republicans. Only 7 percent say Democrats are to blame.

One of Trumps biggest deficiencies compared with other presidents is whether he is honest and trustworthy. Fewer than 4 in 10 (38 percent) say he is. At this point in their presidencies, 74 percent said Obama was honest, 62 percent said George W. Bush was honest and a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll showed 61 percent said Clinton was honest.

Another gap is on the question of whether Trump can be trusted in a crisis. The poll finds that 43 percent  about the same as Trumps approval rating  say he can be trusted; 73 percent said so for Obama and 65 percent for George W. Bush at this point in their presidencies.

On the specific question of how Trump has dealt with North Korea, 46 percent say he has been about right in his posture, 37 percent say he is too aggressive and just 7 percent say he is too cautious.

On most questions about his performance or characteristics, Trump receives more negative than positive ratings. The most notable exception is his effort to pressure U.S. companies on the issues of keeping jobs at home, where 73 percent of Americans approve, including 54 percent of Democrats.

Another issue where the public sides with Trump rather than his critics is whether it is a conflict of interest for Trump to spend time at his own properties. A 54 percent majority say he has the right to travel where he wants to go. But on another question, about 6 in 10 Americans say they disapprove of the major White House roles Trump has given to his daughter, Ivanka, and her husband Jared Kushner.

Trump has net negative ratings on such questions as temperament  just as he did during the campaign  as well as on judgment to serve as president, and on whether he operates from a consistent set of principles. He has said he likes to be unpredictable.

Half disapprove of the major changes he has proposed for government spending, while nearly 6 in 10 say he is out of touch with the concerns of most people. But on this question, the public is even harsher in judging the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.

Democrats have lost considerable ground on this front. The 28 percent who say the party is in touch with concerns of most Americans is down from 48 percent in 2014 and the biggest drop is among self-identified Democrats, from 83 percent saying they are in touch to just 52 percent today. That is a reminder that whatever challenges Trump is having, Democrats, for all the energy apparent at the grass roots, have their own problems.

The Post-ABC survey reveals a persistent gender gap, with women generally more negative toward the president than men, including double-digit gaps on Trumps attributes such as honesty and temperament. Just over one-third of women (35 percent) approve of the way he is handling the job of president compared with 48 percent of men. Even fewer women, 29 percent,say they approve of the changes he is proposing for government spending compared with 45 percent of men.

Despite the publics skepticism of Trumps first 100 days, the survey finds little evidence voters would render a different verdict from last November, when Trump won key states needed to secure victory in the electoral college despite Clinton winning more votes nationwide.

The new survey finds 46 percent saying they voted for Clinton and 43 percent for Trump, similar to her two-point national vote margin. Asked how they would vote if the election were held today, 43 say they would support Trump and 40 percent say Clinton.

The Post-ABC poll was conducted April 17-20 among a random national sample of 1,004 adults interviewed on cellular and landline phones. Overall results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Emily Guskin contributed to this report.
Artwork of students from kindergarten to 12th grade will be showcased at the Tomah Area School District K-12 Art Show.

Its positive event, said Melissa Mulvaney, Lemonweir Elementary School and Tomah Area Montessori School art teacher.

I think its a great event for the district to have because it gets people into our school and looking into what were doing in the art room, she said.

The show will be held Friday, April 28 from 5-8 p.m. in the Tomah High School commons and cafeteria.

Tomah High School art teacher Margi Genrich, who helped create the art show about 35 years ago, said the event is all about bringing people together over art.

You get to see kindergarten through 12th grade art  you see the whole thing, she said. The little kids come and look at the big kids work, and they go, Oh! I cant wait to be a big kid. And the big kids come and look at the little kids works and they go, Remember this? Remember when we did that? So its a real connective, a conduit.

She said the show is a great opportunity to gather the schools entire art community in one place.

Getting all those art people together, getting all the art teachers together and showing the community how awesome our students are  its great for the kids because they have something to look forward to, Genrich said.

The reactions of the students to seeing their art work displayed is THS art teacher Lisa Winchels favorite part of the show.

My favorite part is when the kids bring their families, and theyre so proud of their artwork, and the families come and take a picture of the child standing in front of the artwork with this big smile on their face, she said. It doesnt matter if theyre in kindergarten or if theyre in 12th grade, same smile, proud of what they created.

The show is extensive in the amount of work that will be on display, Genrich said.

Our goal is to have one (piece) per student, she said. So some students will enter more than one and some students wont enter any. There are seven teachers, so if each teacher puts in 150, youre looking at over 1,000 pieces of artwork.

For 2D work, Winchel said some of her students might have as many as 10 pieces in the show.

Some of my AP kids are going to put out their whole concentration, which would be a series of 12, she said. (That) would be fun if they do that because then you can really see a body of work of their art ideas and what theyre working toward.

The art show is also held in conjunction with the high school play, which this year is Little Shop of Horrors. It should make for a fun night, Genrich said.

Its an art night, so that people can come to the musical and see the art, so thats really cool too, she said. You can make a whole art night of it.

New this year is a Peoples Choice award, Mulvaney said.

We want ... when families come in, to see not only their childs art but to take in the full scope of (the show), she said. This year we have little ballots for them in three divisions  elementary, middle and high school, to kind of vote for the piece they like the best. We just want to get the people coming more engaged through the whole thing, so to not just look at elementary or high school ... but to look at what we do through K-12.

You get to see kindergarten through 12th grade art  you see the whole thing.Tomah High School art teacher Margi Genrich
North Korea has detained another U.S. citizen, a Korean American professor, bringing to three the number of Americans being held in Pyongyang.

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, which represents U.S. interests there because the United States does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, confirmed to The Washington Post that a U.S. national had been detained. In Washington, the State Department said it was aware of the report.

Media in South Korea identified the man as Kim Sang-duk, a former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology (YUST) in the northeastern Chinese city of Yanji, near the border with North Korea.

Kim was arrested at Pyongyangs international airport Friday as he was waiting to board a flight, South Koreas Yonhap News Agency reported.

Kim had been teaching a class in international finance and management at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, a sister institution, for a month and was leaving the country with his wife when he was arrested, the specialist website NK News quoted the chancellor of PUST, Park Chan-mo, as saying.

[What its like to be an American held in North Korea]

North Korea has taken a slew of Americans hostage in recent years and used them as bargaining chips in negotiations with the United States.

It is holding two other Americans.

Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia student who went on a tour in North Korea while on his way to a study-abroad program in Hong Kong, was detained for allegedly trying to steal a propaganda sign from a Pyongyang hotel on New Years Day last year.

He was convicted of subversion in March after a court found that he had committed a crime pursuant to the U.S. governments hostile policy toward North Korea and was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor.

[North Korea sentences college student to 15 years of hard labor]

He has not been seen since March 2016, when he was convicted, and when Swedish diplomats were last allowed to meet with him.

Another American, former Virginia man Kim Dong-chul, was charged with spying last April and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Kim, who is in his early 60s, was born in South Korea but became a U.S. citizen in 1987, although he is thought to have been living in northeastern China in recent years.

Previous American detainees have been released after a few months following visits from high-profile Americans, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

But so far, the North Korean regime has not used Warmbier and Kim as leverage.

Read more:

North Korea sentences former Va. man to 10 years of hard labor

North Korea sentences U-Va. student to 15 years of hard labor in prison

U-Va. student held in North Korea confesses to severe crime

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
The crusading French politician Marine Le Pen hates being called a far-right leader. She says if most French voters endorse her harsh anti-immigration plans, that means she is a centrist.

After her breakthrough result Sunday in the first round of Frances presidential elections, Le Pen will put that view to the test. The leader of a once-fringe party shadowed by its defense of World War II-era Nazi collaboration is just one round of ballots away from a backflip into the center of her nations political life.

[Frances National Front co-founder Jean-Marie Le Pen says the battle is already won]

If Le Pen captures the Elysee Palace on May 7, it will be a dramatic turnabout for a fiery leader whose bid for Frances leadership was unimaginable a few years ago. But after a wave of bloody terrorist attacks, a surge of refugees and the aching sense that Frances identity is slipping away, many voters appear ready to imagine the woman with the cigarette-tanned voice as their president.

We cannot afford to lose this war. But for the past 10 years, left-wing and right-wing governments have done everything they can for us to lose it, Le Pen said days before the election, after a French citizen killed a police officer and wounded two more on the landmark Champs-Elysees boulevard in an attack for which the Islamic State asserted responsibility. We need a presidency that acts and protects us, she said.

(Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

The violence played perfectly into the warnings of a woman who has been sounding the alarm for years that Frances identity was slipping away to Muslims  even before a recent spate of terrorist attacks sent France into an official state of emergency. Even Socialist President Francois Hollande briefly toyed with stripping dual citizens of their French nationality if they were convicted of terrorism charges, a signature Le Pen idea that critics said would relegate many French Muslims to second-class citizenship.

[Marion Marechal-Le Pen: Weve won the battle of ideas]

Born into a political family, the 48-year-old Le Pen was for decades among her fathers closest confidantes as Jean-Marie Le Pen led his National Front party as an eccentric gathering of extremist politicians who thought that the Holocaust was just a detail of World War II. Over the decades, he became the living emblem of Europes far-right politicians: cranky, offensive, tinged with the odor of being a Nazi sympathizer, but always far from power.

The daughters political awakening came when she was 8, she has said, after the familys modest apartment was bombed and officials appeared to do little to find the culprit. The front of the building was blown off. No one died, but a baby survived only because a tree slowed its fall.

We were not treated the same as others, she wrote in her 2006 autobiography, blaming official indifference on her fathers political views.

But if her father was willing to give up ballot-box success in the name of ideological purity, Le Pen has proven a far more adept politician. When Jean-Marie Le Pen slipped into the second round of the presidential election in 2002, there was little question that voters on both sides of the political spectrum would band together to defeat him. He captured less than 18 percent of the vote, a crushing disappointment for a daughter who trained as a lawyer but spent the bulk of her career working inside the party.

[Marine Le Pen wants to be Frances future. But can she escape the past?]

This time, there is little expectation that voters will reject Le Pen simply because of the partys past association with Nazism.

After the 2002 loss, the younger Le Pen vowed to transform the movement into a force that could actually win elections.

She took over the party in 2011 and quickly moved to distance it from its roots. She said she was the best ally of Frances Jews  because she would protect them against Muslim immigrants. She made a bid for left-behind union members, the core of Frances old left-wing alliance, by saying that she would protect their cherished social benefits by turning back the forces of globalization.

And in a father-daughter drama worthy of Shakespeare, she expelled her father from the party after his views about the Holocaust became a distraction on the campaign trail. They say they no longer talk  although the elder Le Pen is still financing his daughters bid.

Now she is a sizzling sparkplug on the campaign trail, firing up crowds who say none of the other contenders has anything fresh to say.

Before the first round, the mood at her rallies was in sharp contrast to her now-vanquished opponents, who sometimes seemed to struggle to indicate to crowds when they were supposed to cheer.

She has gathered supporters from across Frances hard-hit north, where once-proud factories have been shuttered as jobs moved to Poland and China.

My project is to give France its liberty back, to let it out of jail, to give you France back and to give France back to the world, Le Pen said to wild applause at her final Paris rally last week. It is high time to set France free.

[Charles de Gaulle would roll over in his grave over what has become of French politics]

But if she wins, the France she would create could look radically different from the multicultural, plugged-into-Europe nation it is today.

Le Pen has vowed to erect border barriers and bar immigration both from inside and outside Europe. She says she would rebuild French manufacturing, which has struggled under competition from cheaper foreign goods, by seeking to bring back the French franc. And she has listed a host of tactics she would use to make France less hospitable to its Muslim population, including the serving of pork in schools and the expulsion of any noncitizen who had been flagged for extra monitoring under Frances anti-terror regime.

Critics say her tactics would range from unconstitutional to inhumane, and they warn that the financial panic unleashed by any attempt to leave the European Union would knock down her already-struggling supporters.

She says that the tide of history is on her side, pointing to the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom and the election of President Trump as signs that voters around the world are rejecting globalization and immigration.

Trumps main failing so far, Le Pen said this month, is that he is turning into a conventional politician, and not upholding his more extreme campaign promises.

He is in contradiction with the commitments he made, she told France Info radio. I am coherent. I dont change my mind in a few days.

Read more

Marine Le Pen: France not responsible for deporting Jews during Holocaust

What to watch for in the first round of the French presidential election

A youth revolt in France boosts the far right

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
French voters on Sunday rejected the two political parties that dominated Frances post-World War II political life, pitting an anti-immigrant firebrand against an unconventional centrist in a presidential election that could determine the future of the European Union and Frances place in the world.

By picking the pro-E.U. former economy minister Emmanuel Macron and National Front leader Marine Le Pen to advance to the decisive May 7 runoff, French citizens set up a stark choice. Now there will be a battle between a contender who wants to seal France tight against the tides of globalization and another who seeks to strip away even more barriers with the rest of the world.

The victor could determine whether the international alliances that formed the backbone of the West after World War II will strengthen or be shattered by the force of nationalism. Le Pen has said she will seek to pull France out of the European Union, a move many leaders on the continent think would doom the 28-nation bloc; she also said she would rekindle relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin after years of strife between Russia and the West. Macron has called for a more muscular European Union in which Europes richest nations would do more to prop up their poorer neighbors.

[WorldViews: What you need to know about the French election]

If Le Pen wins, she will continue a global string of ballot-box revolutions that began last year with the British decision to leave the European Union and continued with the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president. With her fierce anti-immigration agenda and her vow to keep France for the French, she could be a Gallic counterpart to President Trump. But if Macron triumphs  and polls suggest he will, by a 24 percentage point margin  it would be a further barrier to transatlantic disruptions, at least for now, after Dutch voters rejected a far-right leader in March elections.

(Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

At the jubilant Macron rally in Paris, the centrist candidate who was Socialist President Francois Hollandes economy minister told his supporters France would prosper in a revitalized European Union.

Ive heard the anger, the fears of the French people, their fear of change, the 39-year-old Macron said, winking at his cheering audience. I want to be the president of all patriots against the nationalist threat.

[A youth revolt in France boosts the far right]

At Le Pens rally in Henin-Beaumont, a northern French town hit hard by factory closures, the modest assortment of soft drinks and snacks gave it more the feeling of a country fair than the celebration of an ascendant presidential campaign  exactly the everyman image Le Pen has sought to project.

What is at stake in this election is a referendum for or against lawless globalization, Le Pen told the cheering crowd. Either you choose in favor of a total lack of rules, without borders, with unlawful competition, the free circulation of terrorists, or you make the choice of a France that protects.

This is truly what is at stake. It is the survival of France, she said.

The vote came after a turbulent campaign in which longtime pillars of Frances political establishment were either rejected by voters or discredited by scandal. Hollande, the most unpopular of all postwar French presidents, said he would not seek reelection. His most prominent Socialist successor lost to a primary challenger. So did the former center-right president, Nicolas Sarkozy. The early front-runner in the race, Francois Fillon, a right-wing challenger who sought a Margaret Thatcher-style overhaul of Frances economy, fell prey to a nepotism scandal.

1 of 25 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  See photos of French citizens voting for their new president View Photos Centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen qualify to move on to the second round on May 7th. Caption In a primary round of voting, French voters selected centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen to move to the elections final stage on May 7. The results could shape the future of the European Union. A woman walks past electoral campaign posters on her way to a polling station in Villefranche-de-Lauragais near Toulouse during the first round of the French presidential election. Eric Cabanis/AFP via Getty Images Wait 1 second to continue.

With 97 percent of the vote counted, Macron led the field with 23.9 percent of the vote. Le Pen followed with 21.5 percent.

Many voters said they were opting for the least bad of an unpalatable slate of options.

I want nobody, and its very complicated. I just dont want to see the extremes, said Emma Lacour, 42, who voted Sunday in the upscale Saint-Cloud suburb of Paris, where conservatives usually dominate. I decided two minutes ago, and Im not very happy, said Lacour, who was too dispirited to say whom she picked as she walked out of the ornate 19th-century city hall that held the voting station.

Thursdays attack on police officers patrolling Pariss glittering Champs-Elysees boulevard was the final, bloody exclamation point in a campaign that often revolved around fears of terrorism and immigrants. One officer died and two were wounded by a gunman who pledged loyalty to the Islamic State.

[Frances terrorism problem divided the country. The election could make it worse.]

Filled with fresh worries about security, voters may have been drawn by Le Pens growling message about refugees and terror suspects. Macron, a newcomer who is far more conversant with boardrooms than he is with situation rooms, has sought to boost his security bona fides.

A former investment banker and a product of Frances elite educational institutions, he has described himself as a candidate of neither the left nor the right, and he has never held an elected office. His agenda marries social liberalism with proposals that would dilute Frances traditionally robust protections for workers. And  despite prevailing winds that make pro-E.U. sentiment an unlikely campaign strategy  he has embraced the union and said he wants to make it stronger.

Im hoping for the renewal of the French political scene, said Catherine Grevelink, 56, who oversees legal issues at a bank and voted for Macron in Saint-Cloud. Hes very intelligent. Now we have to see how this comes out as he governs, if he is president.

Either of the winning candidates would face questions about governing, since neither has a party structure in Frances Parliament. Macrons movement is too new to have any lawmakers, and Le Pen would face steep challenges in capturing a majority of the National Assembly in elections scheduled for June 11.

That could potentially be a brake to her more ambitious plans, such as taking France out of the European Union. E.U. membership is enshrined in the constitution, and any change would require approval in both houses of Parliament.

Sundays result is a vindication of Le Pens years-long strategy to destigmatize her party after decades in which it lurked on Frances far-right fringe. Her father notoriously described the Nazi gas chambers as a detail of World War II. But Le Pen, 48, sought to make inroads among Frances large Jewish community and also depicted herself as the single true defender of French workers.

The laws are there already, but no one applies them, as the attack in Paris showed, said Martine Le Roy, 62, a retired insurance worker from Henin-Beaumont. She said she was supporting the anti-immigrant, hard-line Le Pen because she was worried about security.

Even as Macron and Le Pen advanced to the next round, the sheer uncertainty in the lead-up to Sundays vote was a measure of the unmooring of French political life.

Weve had two consecutive presidents, Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande, very different orientations, very different policies, but still we have the same economic problems, said Bruno Cautres, who studies voting behavior at the Center for Political Research at Sciences Po in Paris. It has been one of the best arguments of Marine Le Pen: Why not me? 

Although most opinion polls suggest that Macron would win at least 60 percent of a head-to-head vote against Le Pen, an unforeseeable event  such as a large-scale terrorist attack  could shift votes in Le Pens direction. And the far-left candidate, Jean-Luc Melenchon, who electrified crowds of young voters with his soak-the-rich message, notably held back Sunday from asking his supporters to vote for Macron in the runoff, raising the prospect that some of his boosters  19.6 percent of Sundays voters  could stay home or even vote for Le Pen. Backers of other candidates could also swing to Le Pen.

If Le Pen ultimately falls to Macron, she will still have taken the far-right further than any prior candidate in one of Europes pillar nations. If her rival is elected but fails to live up to expectations, she could seize the presidency in the next election in five years, analysts said.

If she does well, she could be even stronger in 2022, said Jean-Yves Camus, an expert on the French far right at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs.

McAuley reported from Henin-Beaumont. Rick Noack and Virgile Demoustier contributed to this report.

Read more

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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(Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

Nachum Schwartz cautiously eyed the rugged landscape where he hopes to build his new home.

You see here, where there are thorns? That means no one ever lived or worked here and there is nothing written down about any ownership, he said.

The point is especially potent to Schwartz, who two months ago was forced out of his home of 20 years in the West Bank outpost of Amona. The settlement was bulldozed in February after it came to light that it was built on land owned by Palestinian farmers living nearby.

The government has proposed resettling the families on a site just outside the Jewish settlement of Shvut Rachel, to what would be the first new Jewish settlement in 20 years.

But it remains unclear when, or even if, the new settlement will be built. A multitude of obstacles stands in the way, such as bureaucratic complications, Palestinian claims to the land and international pressure.

Schwartz said the families, most of whom are now living in crowded school dormitories in the nearby settlement of Ofra, need an immediate solution.

[Israel set to approve first new settlement in 20 years]

We need somewhere to live now, and we want to stay together as a community, he said. And the location must have ideological meaning.

Shiloh is the cradle of the nation of Israel. This is where our roots are, Schwartz said, adding that he still dreams of returning to the hilltop where Amona stood.

That location, about a 20-minute drive south of here, was deemed by Israels Supreme Court to belong to farmers from the Palestinian village of Silwad. After a decade-long battle with the court and the government, the residents were forced to move, their homes and farms demolished.



Children of Israels Amona settlers play in a common area of a hostel in Ofra in the West Bank on April 9. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

Schwartz was one of the founders of Amona 20 years ago. He met his wife there, he had his seven children there and raised a herd of sheep on the land there.

The sheep are totally messed up by the lack of a routine, he said. Its all very strange for us. But life goes on, and we are going to build something new.

The Israeli governments approval on March 30 to build a new settlement was widely condemned by much of the international community and viewed by the Palestinians as another Israeli attempt to take over their land.

The Obama administration had considered the settlements an obstacle to peace. President Trump has refrained from directly criticizing the new settlement. But after Israels announcement, an official speaking on the condition of anonymity told The Washington Post that while the existence of settlements is not in itself an impediment to peace, further unrestrained settlement activity does not help advance peace.

In a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in February, Trump said Israel should hold back on settlements. Since then, the president has indicated his intentions to restart the stalled peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.

But Palestinian opposition to the very existence of settlements, let alone a new one, could make kick-starting a peace process that much harder.

Israel continues to destroy the prospects of peace in our region and to severely affect our lives by the theft of land and natural resources, and by the further fragmentation of our country, said Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Erekat said that the settlements violate international law and that Palestinians are not going to accept any formula that aims at legitimizing the presence of Israeli colonies on occupied Palestinian land.



An Israeli man and children who had settled in Amona are now staying at a hostel in Ofra in the West Bank. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

After approving the new settlement, Netanyahu tweeted that it was his way of keeping a vow he made to the evicted Amona settlers, who say God promised the land to the Jews. Netanyahu relies heavily on support from the roughly 400,000 Jewish settlers living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, not including East Jerusalem, which is also considered occupied under international law.

What Netanyahu did not mention is that the new settlement is slated for an area far from the blocks of West Bank Jewish communities that would most likely remain part of Israel under any peace agreement. If a Palestinian state is created, the new settlement and others around it would have to be removed.

Its not just the land. The real question is how many more settlers are going to be living there, Frank Lowenstein, a former special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, said after the announcement. How many more settlers will they have to figure out how to remove or compensate in the context of a peace deal? Creating a new settlement just makes the problem significantly worse.

But the former residents of Amona say the situation could not get much worse.

Tamar Nizri, her husband and seven of her eight children have been living in two cramped rooms on the second floor of the Ofra youth hostel since Feb. 2.

The paper-thin walls do little to keep out the noise of her neighbors, who are also from Amona. The only place to sit is on her bed, and the children  ages 5 to 17  sleep in the next room on three sets of bunk beds.

Its very stressful here, she said as her children came in and out of the room. But if we leave, then the government and everyone else will forget about us.



Israeli settler Tamar Nizri, 38, with her 5-year-old daughter, Noa. Nizri, her husband and seven of her eight children have been living in two cramped rooms on the second floor of the Ofra youth hostel since Feb. 2 after they were moved from the Amona settlement. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

Nizri moved to Amona at 19. Married and with her first child, she said the issue of legal vs. illegal never occurred to her. There were shrubs, rocks and not much more, she said.

The government gave us electricity, and we thought it would all be all right. We had been raised on stories of other settlements where they built and got the permits later, she said. Her husband planted grapevines and opened a winery where he produces wines named after each of their children.

Even after the court ruling two years ago, it still did not hit us that all we had built would be destroyed, she said.

On demolition day, Nizri allowed dozens of the hundreds of Israeli youths who had turned out to protest the evictions to sleep in her home. When police and soldiers arrived the next day to remove the residents, the youths chained themselves to one another and to the house.

My house became a symbol of people of Israel. Their presence gave me strength, and I did not want them to leave, Nizri said.

I have a connection to the land, just like the Palestinians, she said. This land was promised to our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We were forced out 2,000 years ago, and now we are back.

Nizri said she goes back to visit the place where her old home once stood.

For us, it was more than a house, it was a home, she said. In 20 minutes, 20 years of our life was just destroyed.

Read more:

The little NGO that managed to move an Israeli settlement

Israel passes bill to seize private Palestinian land for Jewish settlements

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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The waters of Wisconsin belong to the people of Wisconsin. This provision is enshrined in our state constitution as a Public Trust. Wisconsins Republican-controlled State Senate recently passed a bill, Senate Bill 76, privatizing Wisconsin waters for the benefit of high-capacity well owners. SB76 gives high capacity well owners permanent rights to withdraw water regardless of the impact on other water users.

In spite of court decisions that require the DNR to manage the waters of Wisconsin for the mutual benefit of all users in accordance with the state constitution, DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp chooses not to do so. Instead she relies on a non-binding opinion by Republican Attorney General Schimel rather than following the constitution, the courts, and the broad statutory authority granted her department by the state legislature.

I am baffled and hugely disappointed that current Republicans who control state government would so openly fail their oath to uphold the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin. Their failure now completely seals the deal to give high-capacity well owners priority over all other users including shoreline property owners, anglers, boaters, tourist businesses, small farmers and rural households, all of whom are entitled to reasonable use of Wisconsins water..OUR water. These other users now face the certain prospect of lower lake levels, reduced stream flows, and dry or contaminated wells with passage of SB76.

A high-capacity well permit is issued to wells that can withdraw more than 100,000 gallons per day. It is the only environmental individual permit that is issued in perpetuity. These permits are FOREVER! With passage of SB76 there can never be any reconsideration of whether the withdrawal meets constitutional requirements to assure reasonable use for all.

Passage of SB 76 means that once again citizens will have to go to court to affirm and regain their constitutional right to their reasonable use of the waters of the state. They have had to do this before. Every time the courts have upheld that right. Republicans ignore it. Instead, they give preference to high-capacity well owners, over all others, to use public water for private profit.

The people should not have to sue their government in order to protect their water rights. They should expect their elected representatives to honor their oath to uphold the state constitution. Some potato and vegetable growers in the Central Sands region where water use is most contentious recognize that their use is unsustainable and hurting their neighbors. They are a minority, but they could be the start of a responsible discussion on water management policies that assures sustainable use for all. Any such discussion has to acknowledge that high-capacity well permits must be for a fixed duration like every other environmental permit. Ten years is a reasonable standard.

As of this writing, the state Assembly has not taken up SB76. If they adopt the bill and it is signed by the governor, high capacity wells will be permanent without any opportunity for review. Citizen outrage last session stopped a similar bill. Citizen outrage may still be able to stop SB76 in spite of the bills strong support by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and the Dairy Business Association. Hopefully the people will prevail again.
Prince Harry and Prince William are once again reflecting on their late mother, Princess Diana. Joined by Kate Middleton, the royals talked with each other on behalf of Heads Together  their campaign that aims to eliminate the stigma of mental health.

In a six-minute video posted by Kensington Palaces Twitter account, Prince William said, You know, Harry and I, over the years, have not talked enough about our mother.

William went on to say they were uniquely bonded by the traumatic event. Harry chimed in, telling his brother, Both of us have always been open to each other, saying weve never really talked about it, about losing a mum at such a young age.

Watch The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry in conversation on mental health for @heads_together #oktosay pic.twitter.com/417gqyqzk0  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 21, 2017

Prince Harry recently admitted to seeking therapy years after his mothers traumatic death. Now hes hoping that his story will prevent others from waiting so long.

He said, I always thought to myself, Whats the point of bringing up the past? Whats the point of bringing up something thats only going to make you sad? It aint going to change it. It aint going to bring her back.'

Harry went on to say that William was helpful in teaching him to confront those painful memories. And for her part, Kate talked about the unexpected emotional changes she experienced in becoming a mother.

On a much lighter note, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited BBC Radio 1 this morning and tried out their best DJ voices.

Chris Pratt talked politics (but wisely avoided naming names):

Read more from Yahoo Celebrity:

 Sarah Jessica Parker Takes In a Broadway Show With BFF Andy Cohen and Hubby Matthew Broderick

 Vanessa Hudgens Is the Mom of Coachella

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Let this fact sink in: We're not even half of the way through 2017.

Hasn't it kind of felt like we've been in 2017 for a million years now? There has been so much breaking (and disturbing) news so far this year that surely it will all be over soon. Right?

Wrong. We still have a long way to go. And yet already 2017 has made its indelible mark on us and our everyday habits, even if we haven't recognized it in ourselves.

SEE ALSO: You're definitely not the only person googling 'World War III'

The political landscape has changed, causing the world to change too. As a direct result, we have also changed to better cope and navigate our new reality.

Here is a deeper look at some of the things that 2017 has already made us do.

1. Either join Twitter or check it regularly.

Remember when you thought Twitter was the place where annoying people go to document every boring moment in their boring lives? Stuff like: "Hi, I'm getting dressed now" or "Hi, I'm going to the bathroom."

Well, even if you never thought that and have been an active Twitter user for a while, Twitter has made a fierce resurgence in importance to the point where people who didn't like or want to like Twitter are now joining the platform.

The reason is simple if not distasteful: Donald Trump. First of all, it's been well documented that our current president loves to share full-on rants via Twitter. Even if you don't want to follow him on Twitter, for many it's been worth it just to catch a Trump tirade as it happens. It's like watching the "Scott's Tots" episode of The Office. You feel horrified but you also have to see it at least one.

Thanks to Trump's actions so far in office, Twitter has also become a breeding ground for resistance and conversation. Not only have there been legendary clapbacks from the likes of Hillary Clinton and J.K. Rowling, but entire Twitter accounts have been started to protest Trump's agenda.

Story continues

Most notably, an entire slew of alt-government accounts were created by America's national parks to bring attention to the harm being done to our natural landmarks by the voluntarily blindfolded eyes of the administration to the effects of climate change.

With all this drama happening on Twitter, we can't not refresh it like crazy.

2. Actually call or write a congressman.

How many times were we told when we were younger that if you are unhappy with something you should write your congressman? That's how we learned civics worked.

In fact, how many times as an adult were we badgered with requests from all sorts of activist groups to call or write congresspeople on their behalf?

Answer: too many times. However, it wasn't until just this year that most of us actually did call or write.

What a weird but satisfying feeling. It felt strange to contact this stranger who was making high-level decisions that would affect the entire country, and for some there may have been an underlying nervousness. What if they just don't care about what I have to say? Does my voice actually not matter?

Despite these doubts, the urgency of 2017 has made reaching out to lawmakers a necessity. And the fact that you participated should be celebrated. Here's at least one small thing to celebrate in this mess of a year.

3. Think deeply about the art of sign-making.





TOPSHOT - Demonstrators protest outside Downing Street against US President Donald Trump in central London on January 30, 2017. President Trump signed an executive order on January 27, 2016 restricting immigration from seven Muslim countries. / AFP / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

Image: AFP/BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images Images

When you have a lot to say, when you have a lot of feelings, and you want to share it with your entire nation, you spend time perfecting the delivery of your message.

Ever since Trump took office, protests have become more frequent and visible than they have in a good while. With protests come signs, and with signs comes a certain level of planning. After all, you want your sign to be more or less aesthetically pleasing while containing a powerful but wittily conveyed message.

And you are not alone. Art supply sales went up after Trump was inaugurated, which means sign-making became a newly discovered hobby for much of the nation in 2017. And while it has given us a chance to get in touch with the more artistic side of ourselves, it's also been kind of a depressing experience. You can't help thinking while uncapping your Sharpie, "Are we still at a point in time where we need to put these basic tenets of being a good human being on a sign? People still don't know this stuff?"

4. Watch award shows not for the celebrities, but for the political statements they might make.

We used to watch award shows to judge celebrities on their fashion choices or because we're genuinely interested to see who will be honored for their work in the arts.

We're still interested in that stuff, but the real reason we are now tuning in is to soak up all the juicy speeches that turn political.

Actors and artists have always used the award show stage as a moment to say something poignant, should they so choose. But ever since Meryl Streep engaged in the biggest mic drop in award show history, 2017's award shows have become all about the political statement.

And as it becomes more common, stars have to start approaching their statement in new and unique ways. Because no one wants to just be a copy cat of someone else's political statement.

As statements become more and more outlandish, so we care less and less about "hot red carpet looks." How idyllic those days seem now, when that's all we cared about.

5. Watch The West Wing on repeat.

We're not saying President Bartlet was the best president. We're not even saying he's the best TV president.

But basically anyone is better than the actual president, and people are unabashedly escaping to that. Motherboard recently reported that data from Google Trends show searches for The West Wing spiked when Donald Trump was elected and then again when he was sworn in. Essentially, you were not alone in immediately turning to Netflix in the wake of these depressing events.

And this makes complete sense to us. If our political reality is terrible now, why not immerse ourselves in a fictional political reality in between protests? And if Bartlet doesn't cut it for us, we have so many other presidential options, running the gauntlet from MVP to completely ineffectual.

All are preferable to real life.

6. Watch C-SPAN.

This is how you really know the world has changed.

We watch C-SPAN now. We tune in like it's the next hit show we can't miss an episode of because otherwise we will have no talking points with our friends tomorrow.

We also now watch White House press conferences with similar fervor. The things coming out of Sean Spicer's mouth are terrible but we can't look away because at any moment that man could single-handedly create the next meme. We can't stop.

Is this how we the people become more informed? Or is this just how we the people become so solidly cynical that we seize any joking opportunity that we can get?

We don't know yet definitively, but it could be both.

7. Resort to witchcraft.

Yup. We went there.

In what feels a little like a last resort attempt at thwarting our president, some self-proclaimed witches planned to mass-cast a "binding" spell on Trump. They even had a celebrity spokesperson.

While part of us wants to scream, "WHAT IS HAPPENING?" the other part of us knows exactly what is happening. And why.

It's 2017.

8. Be afraid to check my phone.

There was a time when we couldn't wait to look at our phone when we woke up in the morning. Any new texts? Any new Snapchats? Any new Instagram likes?

Today, we wake up and get notifications from CNN like, "President Trump institutes travel ban" and "President Trump accuses Barack Obama of wiretapping." It's enough to make you want to throw your phone away completely.

Anyone have the same anxiety, when you're about to check your phone & you're afraid @WhiteHouse did something real fucked...while sleeping.  Esteban (@estgalan) March 21, 2017

9. Aspire to be a child.

More specifically, aspire to be this child.

Look at the way she struts. Look at the confidence she clearly has. This girl is unafraid and unaware of what's currently going on in the wider world. She's just here to crash the shot and live her life.

The same carefree attitude is pretty much nonexistent for us adults. We have all the things to worry about that comes with simply trying to live life. And now we have to deal with all of the things listed above. Sometimes, it's just too much. Sometimes, we'd just like to be given the opportunity of busting into a BBC interview.

10. Be woke. (And also, adopt the word "woke" into my vocabulary.)

As much as we would like to be a child again, we can't and we're not. And this means we need to do the things children cannot do yet, which is stay up to date on the things that effect us both negatively and positively, and always stand on the side of what's right.

Now more than ever, we need to do our due diligence. We need to distinguish the facts from the lies, call out the people that deserve it, and use our collective voice  usually though the internet  to hold others accountable. We need to "stay woke." It's become a hip new phrase but the meaning behind the words is anything but a trend.

WATCH: NASA has discovered a water world in our solar system capable of sustaining life
As the March for Science nears, questions about whether scientists can and should advocate for public policy become more important. On one hand, scientists have relevant expertise to contribute to conversations about public policy. And in the abstract, the American public supports the idea that scientists should be involved in political debate. On the other hand, scientists who advocate may risk losing the trust of the public. Maintaining that trust is imperative for scientists, both to be able to communicate public risks appropriately and to preserve public funding for research.

Little existing research had tested how audiences react when confronted with concrete examples of scientific advocacy. Led by my colleague John Kotcher, my colleagues and I at the George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication devised an experiment to test these questions in the summer of 2014. Our results suggest there is at least some tolerance for advocacy by scientists among the American public.

Testing a scientists perceived credibility

We asked over 1,200 American adults to read the biography and a single Facebook post of a (fictional) climate scientist named Dr. Dave Wilson. In this post, Dr. Wilson promotes his recent interview regarding his work on climate change. We varied the message of this statement to include a range of advocacy messages  from no advocacy (discussing recent evidence about climate change) to clear advocacy for specific policies to address climate change.

We found that perceptions of Dr. Wilsons credibility  and of the scientific community more broadly  did not noticeably decline when he engaged in most types of advocacy.

When Dr. Wilson championed taking action on climate change, without specifying what action, he was considered equally credible as when he described new evidence on climate change or discussed the risks and benefits of a range of policies. In fact, perceptions of Dr. Wilsons credibility were maintained even when he argued in favor of reducing carbon emissions at coal-fired power plants.

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Only when Dr. Wilson advocated for building more nuclear power plants did his credibility suffer.

Advocacy received differently than partisanship

Our study suggests that the American public may not see scientists who advocate for general action on scientific issues as lacking in credibility, nor will they punish the scientific community for one scientists advocacy. Yet this study represented only one case of scientific advocacy; other forms of advocacy may not be as accepted by the public. For example, more caution is required when scientists promote specific (unpopular) policies.

Most notably, our study did not test overtly partisan statements from Dr. Wilson. Our research participants saw it that way too; they rated all of Dr. Wilsons statements as more scientific than political.

The March for Science, however, does risk being seen as motivated by partisan beliefs. In that case, scientists may not escape being criticized for their actions. This is especially true if the march is seen as a protest against President Trump or Republicans in general. In our study, conservatives saw Dr. Wilson as less credible whether he engaged in advocacy or not. If conservatives see the march as a protest against their values, they may dismiss the message of the march  and the messengers  without considering its merits.

This risk is exacerbated when media coverage of the March for Science is considered. In our study, people saw Dr. Wilson promoting his interview in his Facebook post, but were not exposed to the actual interview in which Dr. Wilson made his case for a given policy. Nor were his actions disruptive; a single post on social media is relatively easy to skip or ignore, and Dr. Wilson could frame his interview in the way he liked.

The March for Science will be the opposite. If successful, the march will garner attention from news outlets, who may reframe the purpose of the march.

Balancing the advocacy message

So what can be done to limit accusations of partisan bias surrounding the march?

One way marchers can minimize this possibility is by crafting an inclusive message that resonates with many people, stressing the ways science improves our society and protects future generations. However, the marchs similarity to other explicitly anti-Trump marches may make it hard to avoid a partisan connotation.

Moreover, in our research Dr. Wilson was portrayed as an older white male, matching cultural stereotypes about scientists; he may have had more freedom to engage in advocacy than would female or nonwhite scientists. An inclusive and diverse March for Science may challenge these traditional portrayals of scientists. While many (the authors included) would see that as a desirable objective in itself, it may complicate successful advocacy.

A goal of the March for Science is to demonstrate that science is a nonpartisan issue. It represents a unique opportunity for scientists to highlight the ways in which science improves our society. Scientists participating in the march should emphasize shared values with those who might otherwise disagree  such as the desire to create a better world for our children and grandchildren.

If the event remains a March for Science, rather than a march against a party or group, the chances increase that it will effectively focus attention on the importance of scientific research.

Emily Vraga, Assistant Professor in Political Communication, George Mason University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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A 4-year-old boy who died from an overdose marks the seventh child, under the age of 5, to die from drugs in the past 19 months in one Wisconsin county, according to reports.

Tyranne Beckless was found unresponsive in his Milwaukee home last Saturday.

Read: Mom Accused of Giving Toddler Son Deadly Dose of Benadryl Napped During Police Interview

Milwaukee police told InsideEdition.com that two people have been arrested in relation to the case but have yet to be charged.

Police would not release the names of the pair.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office is reportedly still awaiting toxicology results, but said Tyranne likely died from an overdose of prescription pain medication or heroin.

Three people have been charged this year in the overdose deaths of two children in Milwaukee County.

Darrell Rayshawn Woodson, 35, and Margarita Balderas, 34, were charged in February with the death of their 3-year-old daughter, London Woodson.

Police said the couple's other children told them that Woodson and Balderas gave them all "chill pills" and that they put oxycodone in London's bottle.

In January, Martis Dickerson was charged with the death of her 2-year-old son, James Vessell Jr.

James swallowed pills he had found in Dickerson's purse, according to police.

Read: Mom Killed Her 17-Month-Old Daughter By Giving Her Methadone to Help Her Sleep

Sara J. Schreiber, who oversees the toxicology lab at the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office, told EMS1.com that in most cases the opioid deaths of young children are preventable.

"In the case of a toddler, especially if they're mobile, they've got access to a lot of things in the home as long as they're within their reach," Schreiber said. "So the risk is there and the danger is there inherently just by having those drugs available in the home."

Watch: 13-Year-Old Boy Dies After Accidently Shooting Himself On Instagram Live

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WASHINGTON  Perhaps it was fitting that it poured rain on the March for Science here.

The rallies and marches Saturday  with hundreds of thousands of people attending events around the world  served as a turning point for scientists, when many of them left the sterility of their labs and entered the muck that is politics.

The overwhelming sentiment was that science is under attack, and they could no longer afford to try to float above it all. Scientists had to engage and take their demands to political leaders and policymakers, so they stood for hours on a sodden National Mall here and then marched through puddles to Capitol Hill.

Here are STATs seven takeaways from the march, with views from reporters from around the country.

Can a science march be nonpartisan? Well, no.

Organizers had tried to frame the march as a political, yet nonpartisan, event. That turned out to be wishful thinking. Perhaps it was inevitable, given that it was inspired largely by President Trumps election, and that marchers were pushing back against an administration that has denied climate change, questioned the benefits of vaccines, and proposed cutting funding for scientific research. But critics of the march who worried that it could turn scientists into an interest group to be isolated and ignored will likely feel their concerns validated after the event.

Read more: WATCH: She went from drug courier to inmate to researcher marching for science

At the rally in Washington, even people who were holding explicitly anti-Trump signs argued that it was Republicans who had politicized science with their positions, and they were only responding in turn. But as the event went on, many of the official speakers attacked the administration and congressional Republicans (although typically without naming names), building up boos from the crowd, and inciting an us-against-them feeling. Whether that will backfire on the scientific community remains an open question.

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Trump the threat

Trump loomed over the event. While the president  who was in Washington this weekend  did not make mention of the march in his Earth Day statement, many speakers at the rally here pointed to the White House and warned of what they view as anti-science policies, particularly in relation to climate change and the environment. Many signs targeted the president, some humorously (including at least one pointing out that science has helped Trump keep his hair) and others with more vitriol (calls for impeachment, use of profanity, etc.).

All of that amounted to a message of resistance  the need for enduring defiance in the face of what participants see as an anti-science administration. There was little sense, at least from the speakers, that they see grounds for compromise or cooperation with the administration. To them, science is on the ropes, and they needed to fight back.

Diversity: well, they tried

The organizers had to fend off questions about inclusivity in the months leading up to the event, but they clearly made an effort with the speaker lineup. There were scientists and science advocates who were immigrants, trans, gay, Native American, black, Latino, young, and old. Many of them highlighted their identities  a mother, a woman, and a scientist, for example  each time drawing cheers from the audience.

But that audience itself was largely white. That speaks to the challenge for the field of science generally: How can it feel more welcoming to people of all races and walks of life? Some minority scientists at the event said that the lack of diversity in the field motivated them to attend to the march, to show others  and future generations  that they had a place here.

The Los Angeles crowd appeared to be more diverse, with many Latinos and Asian Americans in addition to whites. But still, there were still very few black faces in the crowd.

The no-shows: biotech and pharma

Biotech and pharma companies have been tiptoeing around the Trump administration, worried about proposals to regulate drug prices. But companies that are now marketing their bold work in scientific discovery and developing new treatments largely lacked an official presence at the marches. There was some action in the Boston area, and Google spinoff Verily Life Sciences donated some funding to the San Francisco march. Its also likely that many company scientists were marching as private citizens and not flagging their corporate affiliations. Still, their absence felt all the more notable when one speaker in Washington started attacking pharma companies for drug prices, portraying them as enemies of the broader scientific community.

Read more: Former Mythbusters host: If science has an enemy, that enemy is bias

Come on, a March for Science? Seriously?

Every so often, a march attendee would turn to a friend and ask, essentially, Are we seriously having to demonstrate for this? It did, in a way, seem unusual to have to rally in support of policymaking based on rigorous study and data, not beliefs and impulses. And yet there they were, the thousands who felt like that seemingly rational notion is being disregarded.

Scientists should let their hair down

For all the handwringing about the politicization of the march, it turned out to be a jubilant  and unprecedented  appreciation of science, how research has made our lives what they are, and the simple joy of discovery. And people seemed to be having a lot of fun. There were lots of kids, dogs, and people dressed as dinosaurs. From blistering-hot Los Angeles to rainy Washington, hundreds of thousands of people reveled with jokes about nerd pride, signs with witty science puns, and plenty of off-rhythm dancing to funk bands. Maybe scientists should get out more.

Speakers reiterated that point, urging scientists to think beyond their labs and speak up in their communities about the importance of science. Cut the jargon and demonstrate the value that their work provides, the speakers pleaded. Only then will regular citizens  and then hopefully policymakers appreciate science in the way it was appreciated at the rallies.

One of the most moving moments of the Washington event came when Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician who helped expose the lead crisis in Flint, Mich., took to the stage. She said she was attacked when she started to speak out about the crisis, but that it was the right thing to do because a policy based on money and not scientific evidence wound up hurting the community. It was an urgent entreaty to other experts to speak up.

Hanna-Attisha then brought out 9-year-old Mari Copeny, known as Little Miss Flint. Copeny described how governments in Michigan had rejected science, and that in turn hurt kids like her. Leaders needed to embrace science to protect kids. As she put it simply: I believe in science.

What happens next

This is the big issue: Will the march make a difference? Or will it end up as a historical footnote.

Organizers are already trying to figure out how to capitalize on their momentum. They held meetings Sunday and were set for a week of action to keep the ball rolling.

The march accomplished this really big and important thing that we havent seen in my lifetime  in half a century, at least, said Rush Holt, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a lead sponsor of the event. So now we go, OK, what are we going to do with this energy?

At the rallies and marches, there was general advice given: call your representatives, dont forget to get involved on the local level, maybe even run for office yourself. But can that spirit endure? Or will scientists simply float back into the daily grind of their labs?

Lev Facher and Kate Sheridan contributed reporting from Washington, Usha Lee McFarling from Los Angeles, and Charles Piller from San Francisco.
(KABUL, Afghanistan) - Authorities on Saturday raised the casualty toll to 100 in an attack on a military compound in northern Afghanistan a day earlier by gunmen and suicide bombers wearing army uniforms.

Gen. Daulat Waziri, spokesman for the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense, said the attack Friday on a compound of the 209th Corps of the Afghan National Army left dozens of soldiers and other personnel dead or wounded.

Reports conflicted on the death toll, but at least two sources within the army corps and a provincial security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media, confirmed that more than 130 people were killed and at least 80 others were wounded.

The defense ministry had said Friday night that eight soldiers were killed and 11 others were wounded in its initial reports.

Gen. Mohammad Radmanish, deputy spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said the militants entered the base in Balkh province using two military vehicles and attacked army personnel inside the compounds mosque.

Two suicide bombers detonated their vests full of explosive inside the mosque of the army corps while everyone was busy with Friday prayers, he said.

Waziri said there were 10 attackers, including the two who carried out the suicide attacks. Eight others were killed in a gun battle with soldiers.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the assault in an email sent to media.

President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday traveled to the base and strongly condemned the attack, according to a tweet from the official Twitter account of the presidential palace.

The attackers are infidels, Ghani was quoted as saying in the tweet.

Ghani announced that Sunday would be a day of national mourning, with memorial services across the countrys mosques and the Afghan flag flying at half-mast, in a statement issued by the Presidential Palace.

Afzel Hadid, head of provincial council in Balkh told The Associated Press that more than 100 people, both army personnel and others present at the time inside the army crops, were killed in the attack.

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The exact number is still not verified, but for sure we know more than 100 were killed in the attack, said Hadid.

One of the attack survivors, an Afghan army soldier, Mohammad Hussain who was wounded and transported to a hospital in Mazar-e-Sharif said Three people in an Afghan National Army vehicle started shooting at us when we finished Friday prayers, they are the enemies of the country.

I dont know maybe they had someone inside to help them to bring the vehicle inside. There are seven to eight checkpoints from the main gate and without inside help this vehicle cannot enter the compound and get to the mosque.

In the Talibans detailed statement on the attack posted on its official website, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that four of the 10 attackers were disguised as soldiers at the time of the attack.

The Taliban statement said the attack was retaliation for the killing of the Taliban governor of Kunduz province, Mullah Abdul Salam Akhund, and threatened more violence against the army and police, saying this years operations will be painful.

Local TV footage showed hundreds of people gathered outside the army crops waiting to find out if their relatives had been killed or wounded.

In March, an attack on a military hospital in the capital Kabul killed 50 people. Responsibility for that attack was claimed by the Islamic State group. According to officials, five attackers were involved, including one suicide bomber who detonated an explosives belt and four gunmen who stormed the building.

The 209th corps is located in the Dihdadi district of Balkh. It is one of seven corps of the countrys Ministry of Defense, which is responsible for providing security for Afghanistans northern and northeastern provinces.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
By Josh Smith and Hamid Shalizi KABUL (Reuters) - Eight days after the U.S. military dropped its largest ever conventional bomb on suspected Islamic State fighters in eastern Afghanistan, Taliban militants breached an army base in the north of the country and killed scores of local soldiers. To Afghan and other critics of President Donald Trump's apparent indecision over how to win a seemingly intractable war, Friday's assault - the worse of its kind since the Taliban were ousted in 2001 - was evidence he was getting it wrong. "The biggest threat to the security and stability of this country is the Taliban insurgents, not Daesh forces," said Mirwais Yasini, an influential Afghan member of parliament from Nangarhar province, using an Arabic term for Islamic State. "You drop your biggest bomb on Daesh, but what about the Taliban who kill dozens of our people every day?" The American military command in Kabul did not respond to a request for comment, but in the wake of the base attack the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, promised to "continue to stand" with Afghan security forces. Nearly 9,000 U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan, some 7,000 of them to train and assist local forces that Washington has spent billions of dollars to build virtually from scratch in the hope of one day handing over control completely. While the advisers are seldom involved in direct combat with the Taliban or other militants, a smaller counter-terrorism unit of about 1,500 soldiers does engage insurgents, but its main targets are pockets of al Qaeda and Islamic State fighters. They are estimated to number in their hundreds, while the Taliban number thousands or tens of thousands and have gained swathes of territory in the last few years. Islamic State has claimed several deadly bombings in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, but many experts believe the Taliban are the fundamental threat to the U.S.-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani. Leaders in Washington and Kabul often had "almost diametrically" opposed views of the threat, said Christopher Kolenda, a former U.S. Army officer who served in Afghanistan and worked on American strategies for the conflict. U.S. officials tended to focus on international groups like Islamic State and al Qaeda, while Afghan officials see Pakistan, and the Taliban as an extension of that, as the major threat, he added. "With those differences, you can't possibly have a coherent strategy." In the final years of former U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, American troops in Afghanistan were discouraged from directly targeting the Taliban, amid hopes the group could be brought to the negotiating table for peace talks. "The Obama administration was very much existing in a parallel universe where if you don't call the Taliban terrorists then there's a chance you can reconcile with them," said Ioannis Koskinas, senior fellow with think-tank New America. UNCERTAIN STRATEGY Despite a surge of tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers that ended in 2012, some Afghan officials became impatient with what they saw as an American fixation on withdrawal, and since then, a lack of focus on ending the war. They say the lack of attention has continued in the first months of the new Trump administration, which has yet to appoint an ambassador to Kabul and some of the supporting officials at the State Department. "It's very hard to have a coordinated policy and strategy when you don't have positions filled," Kolenda said. "From the Trump administration standpoint, Afghanistan is pretty far down the list of priorities." In Kabul, some Afghan leaders are angry at what they see as a failure by the Americans to act as strongly as possible against the Taliban, as well as Pakistan, which they accuse of harboring and supporting insurgents as a hedge against Indian influence in the region. Pakistan denies this and instead says it is itself a victim of terrorism, including from groups operating from within Afghanistan. "The Taliban are the single biggest challenge in the country, but unfortunately since the regime's collapse, the United States and the Afghan government have not had a clear strategy to eliminate them or push them to negotiation," said Mohammad Farhad Sediqi, a member of parliament from Kabul. "As you dropped the 'Mother of All Bombs' on Daesh, there should be one dropped on the Taliban sanctuaries and training grounds on the other side of the border in Pakistan." Some statements by incoming U.S. officials have hinted they may take a harder line on Pakistan, but the Trump administration has yet to outline clearly new strategies for the region. LOST TERRITORY Analysts say the recent U.S.-endorsed strategy of focusing on protecting major cities and other population centers in Afghanistan while consolidating forces will not be enough to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. With Afghan army units pulling back, and in some cases forced to abandon more scattered and rural bases, the government could only claim to control or influence 57 percent of the country, according to U.S. military estimates late last year. Resurgent Taliban forces, meanwhile, control or contest 43 percent of the country, a 15 percent increase over the year before. "In what universe does that not matter?" Koskinas said. "Territory means resources for them. You're giving away all the smuggling routes and opium and all the things that are enriching the Taliban and fueling the insurgency." Retaking territory lost to the Taliban will be key to turning the tide, Koskinas said. "At this point we almost don't need to talk about safe havens in Pakistan, because they have safe havens in Afghanistan." (Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Johannesburg (AFP) - South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa called Sunday for an independent probe into suspected corruption in the upper echelons of power.

"We must be honest and brave enough to confront state capture," he said, using a term referring to allegations of corruption by President Jacob Zuma and his associates.

Tens of thousands of South Africans have staged protests in recent weeks demanding Zuma stand down, and opposition parties, religious groups and civil society activists last week joined forces in a new alliance against him.

"Unless the ANC addresses these challenges, we can be certain that our electoral support will continue to slide," Ramaphosa warned.

"I support that there should be a judicial commission of inquiry. And we must be prepared to talk about these things openly and honestly, as our forebears did," he said in a speech paying tribute to anti-apartheid icon Chris Hani who was assassinated in 1993.

Zuma's sacking of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan last month fanned public anger over government graft scandals, record unemployment and slowing economic growth.

In his speech, Ramaphosa referred to recommendations by the former head of South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog Thuli Madonsela, who last year issued a damning report calling for a judicial inquiry into Zuma's relationship with a wealthy business family.

Zuma has been accused of being in the sway of the Gupta family, allegedly granting them influence over government appointments, contracts and state-owned businesses.

The Constitutional Court also last year found Zuma guilty of violating the constitution after he refused to repay taxpayers' money used to refurbish his private rural house.

The African National Congress (ANC) has been in power since the end of apartheid in 1994 but has lost popularity in recent years and won only 54 percent of the vote in 2016 local elections, its worst ever performance.

Zuma, who came to office in 2009, is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as national president ahead of the 2019 general election.

Ramaphosa, who was highly critical of the sacking of Gordhan, is one of the favourites to become party leader along with Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the ex-wife of the current president and the former head of the African Union Commission.
Valley Stewardship Network and Crawford Stewardship Project will host two free training events for volunteer water quality monitoring. The first event is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 29 at Nature Nooks Retreat, S4878 County S, Viroqua. The second event is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 6 at Mother Earth Green Center, 48193 County E, Steuben. Volunteers only need to attend one session. They will learn methods of the statewide Water Action Volunteers Stream Monitoring Program that is run through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and University of Wisconsin Extension.
Stellenbosch (South Africa) (AFP) - Looking out at his 50-hectare (124-acre) estate in a valley nestled below the Helderberg mountains, winemaker Ken Forrester beams with pride in his achievements over 20 years in the business.

"We never had a bad year, it's been a consistent grow," said Forrester, who is based in Stellenbosch -- the wine region just north of Cape Town.

But like many South African vineyard owners, he is nervous about what the future holds for the industry, facing price pressure and for many an unsustainable return on investment.

"Look at this moisture, it's perfect, this one is ready to be picked," Forrester told AFP as he caressed a handful of chenin blanc grapes.

"It's very important to pick the grapes at the right time. If not, the blend that you're creating is an average one, and with an average one you achieve nothing because anyone else can do it."

In 2016 "Mr Chenin" as he is known to his friends made 500,000 bottles of his trademark versatile, zesty white.

But increasing quantity will not be enough to keep his business viable, Forrester warned.

"There's a critical price problem for the South African wines. It's very difficult to get the right prices," he said.

Cape Town's Vinpro winemakers association says 40 percent of its 3,200 members are loss-making and 900 have thrown in the towel in the past decade even as national production rose around 50 percent between 2005 and 2015 to 9.68 million hectolitres with 4.12 million exported.

Last year production fell back 19 percent, according to the Paris-based International Organisation of Vine and Wine.

"South African wine producers have an average two percent return on investments for their wine production and that is too low to be sustainable," said Edo Heyns, Vinpro's communications chief.

- 'Image and branding' -

Despite the industry's challenges, wine production remains vital to South Africa's economy: it employs 300,000 people and in 2015 contributed $2.77 billion (2.6 billion euros) to South Africa's gross domestic product.

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"We need to get better prices for our wine," says Heyns. "South African brands are often viewed as value for money only. That needs to shift for quality, image and branding."

Forrester agrees, lamenting exports of mainly cheap wines, calling it "a bad mistake because this positioned us incorrectly in the market place."

Former Springboks flanker Jan "Bolen" Coetzee wore the national side's jersey six times before following his forebears and buying a vineyard in Stellenbosch in 1980.

Coetzee, now 72, is critical of the recent quantitative rather than qualitative approach, even though South Africa is now the world's eighth largest wine producer.

"When the market opened up to exports in 1994, everybody was curious about South African. But instead of selling our better wines, we were selling bulk wines by millions of litres. The only kind of brand we had was price, and the price was cheap," he said.

Although South African wines have begun to break onto the international stage and win critical recognition, they are still saddled with their humble viticultural origins.

Those origins go back three centuries, but the industry took a hit notably in the 1980s amid international sanctions imposed over apartheid.

After those sanctions were lifted, producers moved to offload stocks, with little heed for price.

"I was shocked in Europe the other day because guys are willing to spend more for a bottle of water from Norway... than for a bottle of South African wine," said Coetzee.

In a bid to increase the market value of the country's output, industry organisation Wines of South Africa (WOSA) has sought to reshape the perceptions of overseas buyers.

- 'Save the industry' -

"We have 500 odd wine brands but we don't have one that stands out and is recognised worldwide. That's one of our challenges," said WOSA chief executive Siobhan Thompson.

Forced to do battle with new world wines from Australia and Chile, the South African wine industry is struggling in traditional markets like Germany and Britain while expanding into China and elsewhere in Africa.

"We don't have the consumer demand that can drive up the prices to the level that one wants. The SA market is relatively small," said Nick Vink, a lecturer at Stellenbosch University's Department of Agricultural Economics.

Experts warn the industry is facing an uphill struggle when it comes to growing the domestic market and attracting newly affluent drinkers from among the black majority.

"If you're sort of cutting more than half of your market off and say we're not going to sell to them -- or we can't sell to them -- you're cutting yourself off from a large proportion of what you need to sort of save the industry," Vink added.

For Coetzee, the veteran winemaker and rugby star, the future is in the hands of young winemakers.

"Only the producers can turn around the image of South African wines," he said. "Our new generation is very talented, they can make it happen."
AMMAN (Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri has called on Syrian Sunni jihadists to wage guerrilla war against enemies ranging from Syrian President Bashar al Assad and his Iranian-backed allies to Western powers. In an audio recording posted online on Sunday, Zawahri called for the rebels to be patient, saying they should be prepared for a long battle with the Western-led coalition in Iraq and Syria and Iranian-backed Shi'ites fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al Assad's government. "Our people in Sham (Syria) prepare yourselves for a long battle with the Crusaders and their allies the Shi'ites and Alawites," the successor to Osama bin Laden said. Muslim Sunni militants consider Shi'ites and Alawites heretics. Zawahri said jihadists were targeted by their enemies because they sought to impose Islamic rule in Syria, adding that the West and its allies were doing everything they could to prevent an "Islamic" wave that was sweeping the region. It was not clear when the recording, in which the militant leader also said holy war (jihad) in Syria was not just the prerogative of Syrians but all Muslims, was made. He also warned insurgents not to turn the conflict into an purely internal Syrian one. Syria's former al Qaeda branch Nusra Front now spearheads an alliance of Islamist brigades known as Hayat Tahrir al Sham which is leading battles against Syrian government forces and their Russian and Iranian backed allies on most of the main fronts in the country. This alliance plays a key role in the control of most of Idlib province, although U.S. led coalition strikes have killed dozens of its leaders in recent months. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Ahmed Tolba in Cairo)
Luanda (AFP) - Seven Angolan opposition activists have been sentenced to 45 days in jail over a protest calling for transparency in August elections when veteran President Jose Eduardo dos Santos is due to stand down.

The election is set to mark a new chapter for Angola as Dos Santos hands over power after ruling the oil-rich country since 1979.

"The court condemns the accused to 45 days of imprisonment and a fine of 65,000 kwanzas ($390) for the offences of rebellion and association with criminals," said the judge in Cacuaco, a district of the Angolan capital Luanda.

Among those convicted late Wednesday was rapper Adao Bunga, nicknamed "McLife", a prominent critic of Dos Santos.

About 50 protesters attended the unauthorised demonstration in Luanda on Monday calling for fair elections, with police arresting seven people.

Dos Santos, who has dominated the Angolan government and the ruling MPLA party for decades, has been regularly accused of crushing dissent.

The MPLA has ruled since independence from Portugal in 1975.

Joao Lourenco, the current defence minister, has emerged as Dos Santos's chosen successor.

After constitutional changes in 2010, Angola does not directly elect a president, but the leader of the winning party automatically becomes head of state.
Paris (AFP) - Police clashed with leftwingdemonstrators in Paris on Sunday shortly after early projections from the France's presidential elections showed far-right leader Marine Le Pen had made it to a runoff vote.

Police moved in on the demonstrators, some of whom threw bottles and firecrackers, an AFP journalist saw. Three people were arrested, according to police.

Several hundred young people rallied in the Bastille square -- the historic site where the 1789 French Revolution began -- after projections suggested Le Pen would contest the second round against Emmanuel Macron, a centrist and former banker.

A protest leader called on the public through a loudspeaker to rally "against Marine and against Macron." "We have come here to protest against the pantomime of this election," a demonstrator told AFP.

Another "anti-fascist demonstration" also took place late Sunday in the western coastal city of Nantes.

Le Pen's father, Jean-Marie, scored the first breakthrough in the French presidential elections by the National Front, winning a slot in the runoff in the 2002 ballot.

He was routed in a head-to-head contest by the centre-right incumbent, Jacques Chirac.
Jasenovac (Croatia) (AFP) - Croatia honoured on Sunday the victims of its most brutal World War II death camp, an event again snubbed by ethnic Serbs, Jews and anti-fascists who accuse authorities of tolerating a pro-Nazi ideology.

Conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, several ministers and foreign diplomats attended a commemoration ceremony at the site of the Jasenovac camp which was dismantled 72 years ago.

Letters by survivors of the camp known as "Croatia's Auschwitz" -- a reference to the German World War II death camp in Poland -- were read during a ceremony that concluded with a multi-denominational service and laying of wreaths.

The camp, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) southeast of Zagreb, was run by the country's Nazi-allied Ustasha regime which persecuted and killed hundreds of thousands of ethnic Serbs, Jews, Roma and anti-fascist Croatians.

But for a second straight year, representatives of those groups boycotted the official commemoration, denouncing what they see as a resurgence of pro-Ustasha sympathies and instead organised their own separate events.

On Saturday, several thousand people including survivors of the camp, victims' relatives and foreign diplomats attended a ceremony organised by anti-fascists and ethnic Serbs.

"We cannot and will not accept the reluctance of authorities regarding ... the Ustasha regime's character and (the) policy of non-reaction to its symbols," the head of an anti-fascist association Franjo Habulin said.

Anti-fascists, ethnic Serbs and Jews in particular are incensed by a plaque with the Ustasha slogan "For the Homeland Ready" unveiled at Jasenovac in November.

It was created as a memorial by former paramilitaries to honour fellow fighters killed in the region at the start of Croatia's independence war in the 1990s.

Jews in Croatia are to hold their separate commemoration on Monday.

Plenkovic, who took power after snap elections in October, has pledged to move away from the climate of intolerance seen under his centre-right predecessors.

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But critics say his administration has not done enough to tamp down extremism and expressions of nostalgia for the country's pro-Nazi past.

During Sunday's ceremony at Jasenovac, a group of anti-fascist activists displayed a large banner that read "Remove the Ustasha Salute".

Meanwhile, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic paid respect to the camp's victims in neighbouring Bosnia where part of the Jasenovac complex was located.

"The killings were official and welcomed, it was a state crime," Vucic told a gathering that included other Serbian and Bosnian Serb officials, Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Irinej and camp survivors.

"We are witnessing attempts to resurrect the Ustasha ideology," Vucic said.

Jasenovac was the largest and most notoriously brutal of Croatia's death camps, where many inmates were killed by hammers, knives and stones.

The total number of people killed there remains disputed. It varies from tens of thousands to 700,000, according to Serbian figures.
Australia and New Zealand stiffened their rhetoric against North Korea Sunday after the isolated state threatened Canberra with a nuclear strike, urging it to think twice before "blindly and zealously toeing the US line".

The move comes as US Vice President Mike Pence wraps up an Asia tour, which has included visits to South Korea, Japan and Australia partly to reassure allies amid fears that Pyongyang may be readying for a sixth nuclear test.

"If Australia persists in following the US' moves to isolate and stifle North Korea... this will be a suicidal act," a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called the hermit state a "serious threat".

The spokesman, speaking to the North's official KCNA news agency, warned Bishop to "think twice about the consequences".

Australia's close ally New Zealand has since accused North Korea of having "evil intent".

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Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee told Television New Zealand Sunday people knew little about Kim Jong-Un's regime but "you would assume that underneath him there is a very big machinery of people who have equally evil intent".

"It's North Korea that is sending the missiles into the Sea of Japan and making the various outrageous threats including the threats overnight to Australia," he added.

Australia's Bishop added on Sunday that the North Korean government "should invest in the welfare of its long-suffering citizens, rather than weapons of mass destruction".

The reclusive state has long been seeking 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.

Pence vowed Wednesday that the US would counter any attack with an "overwhelming and effective" response after a senior North Korean official pledged weekly missile tests and "all-out war" if the US took any action against it.

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In Sydney, Pence maintained calls for Pyongyang's sole ally China to do more to rein in its neighbour.

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also urged China to use its leverage over the hermit state, describing the North Korean regime as "reckless and dangerous".

He added that Australia and the US were "absolutely united" in their determination to achieve a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.

Supercarrier Carl Vinson is due to start joint exercises with Japan's navy on Sunday, Tokyo's defence ministry said, with the drills expected to last several days and involve two Japanese warships.
The recent arrest of Vijay Mallya highlighted the problem of bad loans in India, but analysts say the tycoon's unpaid debts are just the tip of an iceberg that is already holding back the country's economic growth.

The multimillionaire owner of a Formula One team and founder of the Kingfisher beer brand was arrested on Tuesday in Britain, where he fled a year ago after allegedly defaulting on loans from Indian state banks worth more than $1 billion.

From the mid-2000s onwards, Mallya and much of corporate India went on a shopping spree, picking up assets both at home and overseas even as a financial crisis hit the global economy.

As a result, Indian banks are now saddled with some of the highest levels of bad debts in the emerging markets according to the International Monetary Fund.

"Banks are so stretched that they're not even lending to healthy companies, holding back growth," Rajeswari Sengupta, an economist in Mumbai, told AFP.

"That's a very big collateral damage... The biggest fall-out is the lack of private sector investment -- banks are stressed, private sectors are stressed, lending to corporates by banks has totally stalled."

Banks coughed up cash for projects even when the business plans made no sense -- such as a Formula One track on the outskirts of the Indian capital that was practically abandoned after three races.

Regulators, eager to spur growth, allowed many industries to restructure loans rather than write them off, and also agreed to a moratorium on interest payments.

The excesses of the period remained hidden as banks sought to keep companies afloat by giving them enough capital to service their loans -- a practice known as ever-greening -- to disguise their own bad debts.

By 2015, the share of companies it monitored that could not even service the interest on their loans had reached nearly 40 percent, Credit Suisse said in a February report.

That has led to a situation where both banks and their clients are financially stretched.

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India remains the world's fastest-growing major economy, with GDP expanding by seven percent in the last three months of 2016 -- the last quarter for which data is available.

But economists say that growth is fragile because it is being driven by consumer spending rather than investment.

- 'Rotten system' -

India's government is seeking to extradite Mallya and try him for fraud.

He has said there is a "witch hunt" against him, arguing that there were much bigger defaulters.

By September 2016, about 16.6 percent of loans to corporates -- or about 8.4 percent of GDP -- had been declared non-performing, according to Credit Suisse.

"Eight percent of the GDP is a very big number," Sengupta told AFP.

"When the size of NPAs (non-performing assets) hits five percent of the GDP, that is considered a crisis, and we have gone way past that."

Banks were finally forced to confront the problem in September 2015 when the central bank set them a deadline of March 2017 to clean up their balance sheets.

But more than a year into the forced clean-up, "corporate NPL formation still hasn't abated at both (state-owned) and private corporate lenders," according to the Credit Suisse report.

By its count, some 12 trillion rupees ($185 billion) have soured, the bulk of it at public-sector banks.

The 10 largest corporates in the country -- including the owner of that abandoned F1 track - are also the most burdened with debt and owe a collective 7.5 trillion rupees.

"There is still no sign that the affected companies are regaining their health, or even that the bad debt problem is being contained," said Ashish Gupta, Credit Suisse's head of equity research.

"To the contrary, the stress on corporates and banks is continuing to intensify, and this in turn is taking a measurable toll on investment and credit."

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is looking for solutions.

One idea his ministry mooted was to create a single "bad bank" which would take over all bad loans and leave the existing lenders in healthier shape.

Another was to create asset management companies to tackle the problems.

But not everyone is convinced that there is a way out.

"We've been sitting on this ticking time bomb for so long that I don't even know what are the solutions," Sengupta said.

"It's a completely rotten system and it's been like this for so long that there's no good solution any more."
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian and Swiss media carried reports on Sunday saying that unidentified pollsters believed Emmanuel Macron would reach the French presidential runoff but that it was unclear who his opponent would be. France's official polling watchdog told Reuters last week that the country's nine main pollsters had committed to refrain from carrying out exit polls and said anything purporting to reflect results before the last polling stations close at 8 PM in France (2.00 p.m. ET) could only be a rumor at best. Pollsters also said they would not do exit polls from Sunday's first round of voting. All the Belgian media stressed that the findings, whose sources they did not disclose, were provisional and subject to change. An hour before polls close, at which time French polling agencies will be allowed under national law to release forecasts of the first-round result, Belgium's French-speaking public broadcaster RTBF forecast independent centrist Macron would secure first place, ahead of far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen. The country's two other leading French-language newspapers, Le Soir and La Libre Belgique, carried similar reports online, as did the Swiss newspaper Le Temps in Geneva. However, all four media said Le Pen's lead over conservative Francois Fillon and leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon was too close to call. The top two candidates will run off for the French presidency on May 7. (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Andrew Callus)
Bernie Sanders may have lost the Democratic presidential primary last year, but his commitment to changing the party hasnt wavered. The Vermont senator has been outspoken about many of President Donald Trumps policies and now, hes attempting to fire up his fan base to spark real change in the Democratic Party.

Sanders, 75, kicked off a cross-country tour last week in an attempt to spur a movement among his young supporters. The senator was set to visit eight states with other leaders in the party.

Read: What Is Barack Obama Doing Now?

We need to transform the Democratic Party, Sanders said during a Tuesday rally in Kentucky. We need to open the doors of the Democratic Party to working people and to young people.

Sanders also threw his support behind young leaders in the party, like 30-year-old Jon Ossoff, a filmmaker who ran for Congress in Georgia.

I applaud the energy and activism in @ossoffs campaign. His victory would be an important step in fighting back against Trumps agenda, Sanders tweeted Friday.

During his speech in Kentucky, Sanders harkened back to many of the key points of his own campaign for president.

Our job is to take on the moneyed interests, he said. And the only way I know as to how we do that is by bringing millions of people into the political process, with a newborn understanding that we have got to get involved.

Sanders has repeated many of his core stances in speeches and on social media since Trump took office, calling for a higher minimum wage and a renewed commitment to battling climate change. Hes spoken out against some of the presidents recent moves like increasing military spending while cutting other budgets.

Our job now is to involve millions of people into the political process who previously were not involved, he tweeted Thursday.

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Photo: Reuters

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Thousands of scientists and science lovers flocked to the U.S. capital, braving the cold rainy weather, to march in support of science and evidence-based research. Anti-Trump sentiments resonated in the protests across the U.S. as President Donald Trump has threatened of budget cuts to agencies funding scientists' work.

Participants had gathered at Washington's National Mall to hear speakers give speeches appreciating the importance of science and railing against policymakers who seem oblivious to climate change theories, reports said. "Today we have a great many lawmakers -- not just here but around the world -- deliberately ignoring and actively suppressing science," one of the event's speakers, TV host and scientist Bill Nye, told the crowd.

Read: What Is The March For Science?

Similar marches took place in cities such as London, Sydney and Berlin, with more than 600 marches planned across the US, Europe, South America and Australia. Demonstrators in the U.S. had hand-painted placards and signs lambasting Trump's decisions such as possibility of withdrawing from the Paris Climate Treaty, his promise to to cut $900 million from the Department of Energys Office of Science or his executive orders deregulating coal waste dumping.

Placards with signs such as: "Not a paid protester. Believe men, I'd rather be in lab!" which was held by one bearded young scientist, "Science is NOT a liberal conspiracy," "This isn't about politics. It's about facts," were there. One protester, a computer scientist who are known for being geeks rather than braving the outdoors held a sign board: "You know it's bad when the PROGRAMMERS march!"

Here are some of the interesting signs that were seen across the U.S. at the march.

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March for Science

Photo: Getty Images

March for Science

Photo: Getty Images

March for Science

Photo: Getty Images

March for Science

Photo: Getty Images

March for Science

Photo: Getty Images

March for science

Photo: Getty Images

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BERLIN (Reuters) - Support for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives has risen to its highest level in two years in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, albeit on a par with its main opposition, a poll showed on Sunday. The Infratest dimap poll, conducted for broadcaster WDR, showed the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) adding four percentage points to reach 34 percent, while the Social Democrats (SPD) dropped three percentage points, also to 34 percent. That was the best result for the CDU since December 2015. It was the first time that the two parties stood neck-and-neck in the polls since October, when they both had 31 percent support. The state is currently governed by a SPD-Green coalition. Voters in the state go to the polls on May 14 in what could be a bellwether for national elections in September. A strong showing for the CDU in the state could bode well for Merkel's bid to secure a fourth term. The latest poll showed a one-percentage point drop for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is poised to head further to the right after a controversial party congress in Cologne, in the heart of the state. The pro-business Free Democrats (EDP) gained one percentage point to 10 percent, while the pro-environment Greens remained unchanged at 6 percent and the Left party was at 5 percent, with just enough votes to win seats in the state parliament. If the election were held now, the ruling SDP-Green coalition would not have enough votes to rule, and even a "red-red-green" coalition including the Left party would not be possible. Infratest dimap surveyed 1,000 eligible voters April 18-20. The poll raised further doubts about the "Schulz effect," a sharp rise in the polls for the center-left SPD after the party nominated former European Parliament president Martin Schulz to challenge Merkel in the Sept. 24 national election. The SPD party also lost support in a vote in the Saar state in March, compared with its results in 2012. Norbert Roettgen, a member of the CDU and head of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk that Schulz's gains were "turning out more and more to be a flash in the pan" rather than a substantive shift in the German electorate. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal Editing by Jeremy Gaunt.)
CNN just learned what its like to be on the wrong side of Bill Nye.

Appearing on Saturdays edition of New Day to promote Earth Day and pro-science marches happening throughout the country (including Philadelphia), Nye didnt appreciate that CNN booked him alongside Princeton physics professor William Happer, a science adviser to President Donald Trump and a climate change skeptic.

"I will say, much as I love CNN, youre doing a disservice by having one climate change skeptic, and not 97 or 98 scientists or engineers concerned about climate change, Nye said.

Nye is referring to the scientific consensus surrounding the fact that not only is Earths overall climate warming, its likely being caused by human activity. Heres what NASA says on the subject, citing multiple peer-reviewed studies:

"Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals show that 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree: Climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities. In addition, most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position."

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NASA

Temperature data from four international science institutions. All show rapid warming in the past few decades and that the last decade has been the warmest on record.

Harper is one of the 2-3 percent who dont necessarily disagree that the Earth is warming, but are skeptical human activity is the leading cause of the change in climate. In fact, Harper has said in the past that the warming of the planet is actually a good thing, claiming that crops like wheat, rice, soybeans and cotton are handicapped because there too little carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

A dispassionate analysis of the science indicates that more carbon dioxide will bring benefits, not harm to the world, Harper said during his testimony to the Senate in 2015.

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During the segment, Harper once again attempted to make the case that the Earth is actually getting greener due to higher levels of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere.

Theres this myth thats developed around carbon dioxide that its a pollutant. But you and I both exhale carbon dioxide with every breath, Harper said. Its something that plants love. They grow better with more carbon dioxide, and you can see the greening of the Earth already from the additional carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Harper also drew Nyes ire when he called climate change supporters alarmists, claiming the actual rise in temperate is less than what models predicted.

Thats completely wrong, Nye pointed out, noting that Harper was cherry-picking a certain model and that the consensus view of climate change isnt controversial in mainstream science.

Multiple peer-reviewed studies complied over the past few years confirm that climate models are accurately predicting ocean and global warming. One study notes that since 1992, models have been within 3 percent of the actual measurements.

Nye compared the consensus around climate change to that of gravity, a fundamental bedrock of modern scientific thought.

Sir, with some respect, I encourage you to cut this out so that we can all move forward and make the United States a world leader in technology, a testy Nye said to Harper.

Harper wasnt done. The Princeton professor surprised CNN host Victor Blackwell when he made and odd comparison between the 2016 Paris Agreement on climate change and Neville Chamberlains appeasement to Adolph Hitler.

How is that an appropriate comparison? a visibly confounded Blackwell explained?

It is an appropriate comparison because it was a treaty that was not going to do any good, Happer responded as an obviously annoyed Nye shook his head. It will not make any difference and yet it will cause enormous harm to many people.

Watch the full segment:

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Athens (AFP) - China's foreign minister called Sunday for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula amid rising tension over North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes.

"China is firmly supporting the denuclearisation of the area in the name of stability and peace", Wang Yi told reporters in Athens after meeting Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias.

"China may not have the key to this solution ... but we are happy that more sides are accepting our point of view", he added.

US President Donald Trump has urged China to take stronger steps to press the North to curb its nuclear and missile programmes.

During a regional tour last week, Vice-President Mike Pence warned that "all options are on the table" to curb the North's nuclear ambitions, as fears grow it may be planning another atomic test.

Pyongyang has ramped up its rhetoric in recent weeks, threatening to hit back against any provocation.

It has also renewed threats against regional US allies, including Japan and South Korea, which both host large American military contingents.

Even Australia has received a warning from Pyongyang.

"If Australia persists in following the US's moves to isolate and stifle North Korea... this will be a suicidal act," a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called the nation a "serious threat".

On Sunday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that a US citizen had been arrested as he tried to fly out of North Korea, becoming the third American to be detained there.

"It is important for them to hold a US citizen hostage at this point to prevent Washington from carrying out a decapitation of Kim Jong-Un," Ahn Chan-il, a former defector, told AFP, referring to the North's fears that the US plans a secret military strike to topple its leader.

"It's also a resolve to point a double-action revolver against the US and China because he is a US citizen who worked in China."
Iceland's mother tongue has a major tech problem.

Many new computer devices do not understand Icelandic, a unique descendant of the Old Norse language filled with ultra-descriptive words such as Hundslappadrifa, or "heavy snowfall with large flakes occurring in calm wind."

This omission is compounding a bigger issue on the North Atlantic island of about 340,000 people.

SEE ALSO: Companies will have to prove equal pay in Iceland now, and it's pretty great

Icelandic, seen by residents as a source of identity and pride, is losing ground as English becomes the lingua franca of mass tourism and voice-activated devices, the Associated Press reported.

Linguistic experts have warned the language is at risk of dying out in the modern world, particularly as tourism booms and foreign workers find more jobs on the rugged island. Unless the government, educators, families, and tech developers make a concerted effort to preserve Icelandic, it could easily be relegated to history books.

"The less useful Icelandic becomes in people's daily life, the closer we as a nation get to the threshold of giving up its use," Eirikur Rognvaldsson, a language professor at the University of Iceland, told the AP.

When it comes to digital technology, Icelandic is among Europe's least-supported languages, according to a report by the Multilingual Europe Technology Alliance. Other tongues at the bottom of the digital heap include Irish Gaelic, Latvian, Maltese, and Lithuanian.

Vehicle GPS units stumble over Icelandic names for streets and highways. So-called digital assistants like Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa don't understand the language  though Amazon is apparently looking to hire a linguist who can help develop speech recognition software for Icelandic.

Without these tools, Icelanders will likely resort to speaking English, diminishing the role of Icelandic in their day-to-day speech.

"Not being able to speak Icelandic to voice-activated fridges, interactive robots, and similar devices would be yet another lost field," Asgeir Jonsson, an economics professor at the University of Iceland, told the AP.

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Iceland's Ministry of Education estimated it would cost about 1 billion Icelandic krona, or $8.8 million, to create an open-access database that allows tech developers to adapt Icelandic as a language option.

Without such an effort, "Icelandic will end in the Latin bin," former President Vigdis Finnbogadotti told the news agency.

WATCH: Watch as this cute device translate any language it hears
By Tim Cocks DAKAR (Reuters) - A Congolese rights group has written to the attorney general to demand a criminal investigation into a Reuters report that most of the money from fees for printing new passports goes overseas. Documents reviewed by Reuters of a 2015 deal between Congo's government and a Belgian company called Semlex to produce biometric passports show that most of the $185 price for a new passport goes to Semlex and a small company called LRPS in the United Arab Emirates. The Congolese Association for Access to Justice (ACAJ) wrote to Attorney General Flory Kabange Numbi on Wednesday to demand he investigate the passports deal, "which has brought about enormous losses to the public treasury", the letter seen by Reuters said. Numbi did not immediately reply to a request for comment on whether he had seen the letter and how he planned to respond. "We have written to the attorney general asking him to open an inquiry," ACAJ President Georges Kapiamba told Reuters by telephone on Sunday. "They need to produce an explanation. How do they explain to the Congolese what has happened to this money?" Last Thursday Brussels prosecutors said they were investigating the deal with Semlex. Opposition leaders have also called on Congolese authorities to investigate. In its article on Semlex published on April 13, Reuters reported that the UAE-listed firm LRPS - which receives $60 for every passport issued - is owned by Makie Makolo Wangoi, believed to be a close relative of President Joseph Kabila. Neither the Congolese presidency nor Wangoi or Semlex responded to requests for comment on the Reuters story. "It is very important that they identify this third person who has received the sum," Kapiamba told Reuters. "And if it is established clearly that this is corruption, they need to reimburse the Congolese state." The vast, resource-rich Central African state has been plagued by corruption almost since independence from Belgium in 1960. Kabila's counselor on graft and money laundering said in 2015 that the country loses up to $15 billion a year to fraud, or roughly three times the annual fiscal budget. Kabila also faces calls from the opposition to leave power this year after he did not step down at the end of his constitutional mandate in December. His supporters say delays to an election for his successor meant he had to stay on. (Additional reporting by William Clowes in Kinshasa; editing by Susan Thomas)
The ties between Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church were tested twice this week by coincidence, on the same day, April 20 and with two very different outcomes.

In an astounding victory for the Orthodox Church, Russias highest court ordered the liquidation of the local branch of the Jehovahs Witnesses, whose missionary work the government had deemed extremist, in no small part because it posed a challenge to the teachings of the Orthodox clergy.

As that ruling came down, a separate scandal was unfolding in the Russian parliament over another of the Churchs demands this one far more consequential for the Orthodox faith than any competition it might face from the Jehovahs Witnesses. A group of lawmakers, including members of Putins party, had proposed a bill calling for the burial of Vladimir Lenin, the Russian revolutionary and founder of the Soviet Union, whose body has been on display in Red Square since his death in 1924.

Waxen from embalming fluid and protected by a box of bulletproof glass, the corpse has long been a pilgrimage site for communists and an eerie attraction for tourists. Its also an outrage to Orthodox believers across the Russian-speaking world, for whom the granite tomb just outside the Kremlin stinks of idolatry. It violates Christian burial customs, and it casts a shadow on one of the most iconic temples of the Orthodox faith, St. Basils Cathedral, which sits on the same square. More to the point, the tomb honors a communist who didnt merely persecute Christians he ordered the murder of Tsar Nicolas II, who has since been canonized as an Orthodox Saint.

For most Russians, the Churchs objections to Lenins mausoleum seem perfectly reasonable. Russia isnt ancient Egypt, one of the authors of the bill calling for Lenins burial, Ivan Sukharev of the Liberal Democratic Party, told a local newspaper this week. And it isnt right that weve got a mummy in the center of our capital. (To be strictly accurate, Lenins body is embalmed and not mummified - though the design of his tomb does borrow elements from the step pyramids of ancient Egypt.)

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Sergei Karpukhin-APVladimir Lenin, founder of the Soviet Union, lays embalmed in his tomb on Moscow's Red Square in 1997.

In the last few years, surveys taken across the country have consistently found that a majority of Russians and especially the roughly 40% of them who identify as Orthodox Christians would like Lenins body to be buried. The most recent survey, published on Friday by one of the Kremlins polling agencies, found only a third of respondents want the corpse to stay put, roughly in line with the level of support that the Russian Communist Party still enjoys in many regions of the country. The same poll found that 63% of Russians want Lenin to be interned.

Yet Putin has made no move to comply with the wishes of the majority. Quite the opposite, in fact - his political party, United Russia, angrily disavowed any connection with the bill that demanded Lenins burial this week. This legislation had no chance, said one of the party bosses, Evgeny Revenko, in announcing that his colleagues would withdraw their support for the measure. In our initiatives, we need to be extremely careful not to divide people, he wrote on his Facebook page. We need decisions that unite us.

Its just the latest ideological contortion Putin has made in attempting to reconcile Russias communist past with its Orthodox traditions, but its far from the most bizarre. In one of his rare remarks on the issue of Lenins tomb in 2012, Putin argued that the Soviet Union had actually borrowed from Orthodox customs when it decided to embalm its founder and put him on display.

Addressing a meeting of his supporters that December, Putin said that many Orthodox shrines also have the remains of holy people. And in this sense the communists latched on to that tradition. They did it competently. They did it in line with the demands of their era.

It was an astonishing pronouncement, appearing to equate Lenins corpse with the bones of Russian saints, and it horrified a lot of Orthodox believers. But it shouldnt have surprised them; though he often puts on displays of piety and makes pilgrimages to holy places, the former colonel of the KGB is still a product of the Soviet system, and he still reveres its symbols. During the same meeting with his supporters in 2012, he said with a tone of regret in his voice that, After the collapse of the Soviet Union and its ruling ideology, nothing appeared in its place.

That still holds true today. The closest thing to an ideology that Putin has devised during his 17 years in power is this strange mash-up of incompatible idols, the Soviet and the Orthodox, jostling for position at the Kremlin walls. In order to appease one of them, his government is happy to ban a small foreign sect like the Jehovahs Witnesses. But Putin cannot take sides definitively with either the Christians or communists. The Janus-faced President has to be both.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
By Luciana Lopez NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump reassured manufacturers gathered in the White House Roosevelt room on March 31 that a massive infrastructure program was coming soon. Were going to make it happen this year, he said, according to Drew Greenblatt, the president of Marlin Steel in Baltimore, who was present. That was actually the first thing that he talked about behind closed doors with us, Greenblatt added. But putting a trillion-dollar infrastructure program to work could be easier said than done, as some of the projects suggested to the administration underscore. Project lists submitted by the North America's Building Trades Unions and by an outside developer who helped with the transition both contain projects that infrastructure builders call shovel ready. But, for a range of reasons, shovel ready does not always mean ready for shovels to break ground. That means any effort to jump-start projects, put people to work and inject economic stimulus could drag on Trumps promise for a 10-year, $1 trillion infrastructure project After North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) president Sean McGarvey met with Trump on January 23, the group submitted a total of 26 bridge, pipeline and water projects. A second list of 51 projects was assembled by Ohio developer Dan Slane, who assisted with the transition, including everything from inland waterways to ports to a new FBI headquarters. While details on Trumps plans are scant, a senior administration official said theyre looking for ways to shorten the lengthy permitting process. The current system has just lost its way, he said. Nine projects have garnered the support of both Slane and the NABTU, appearing on both lists; of those, seven have yet to start construction, and one has only done preliminary construction, highlighting how hard it is to launch infrastructure projects as quickly as Trump wants to do. The shovel ready moniker that they put on projects, its just rarely applicable, said Bill Miller, president and chief executive of two companies that overlap the two lists. The Power Company of Wyoming LLC is building the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project, and TransWest Express LLC is developing the TransWest Express Transmission Project, crossing Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. The Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind project, which is being built in part on federal land, took eight years and tens of millions of dollars before it could recently start construction. The TransWest Express transmission project is still waiting for several state-level permits, Miller said. To be shovel ready is incredibly expensive and time consuming, Miller added. The administration says it wants to get ground broken fast. But some of that just might be out of the presidents hands, such as state-level permitting. A significant part of the presidents infrastructure plan will focus on streamlining regulating and permitting so that it is easier for all viable projects to move forward in a timely manner. These reforms might not be driven by the hurdles facing a single project, but rather will create more certainty in the process overall, a White House spokesperson told Reuters. SEAWATER TO DRINKING WATER PLANT HITS THE ROCKS The delays that have beset a desalination plant proposed by Poseidon Water, a developer of water-related infrastructure, in Huntington Beach, California illustrate how clashing interests and regulations can hold up projects. Poseidon first proposed the idea of a plant to turn salt water into drinking water for Orange County in the late 1990s and started permitting in the early 2000s, said Scott Maloni, a vice president at Poseidon and the Huntington Beach project manager. The city of Huntington Beach originally approved the project in February 2006. But Poseidon still needed to secure 24 permits from state agencies, such as approval from the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board for the plants national pollutant discharge elimination system, which is required by the Environmental Protection Agency. After the city issued the necessary local approvals in 2006, project builder Poseidon was able to apply to the California Coastal Commission. That application was amended several times over the years as the project evolved. For example, the plant had to alter its design after the state began phasing out power plants that use seawater for cooling purposes. Poseidon had planned to desalinate that wastewater, and changed its design to instead take in water directly from the ocean instead. In 2013, Poseidon shelved the permit application after the state's coastal commission directed the company to look into concerns about the effects of the operation on fish larva in the area. The application was resubmitted in 2015, and then withdrawn yet again in September 2016, because the commission wanted proof the plans complied with new, 2015-passed rules from the State Water Board on desalination plants. That compelled Poseidon to redesign the plant's seawater intake and discharge technologies. The project still needs three more approvals, from the State Lands Commission, the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board and the California Coastal Commission. Poseidon says they're confident theyll secure the last approvals soon. But even then, construction might not start until the second quarter of 2018, Maloni said. And the objections from environmentalists haven't stopped. The plant is far from a done deal, said Mandy Sackett, the California policy coordinator for the Surfrider Foundation. The foundation argues that the plant is unnecessary, expensive and energy-intensive, putting marine life at risk. Sackett said the foundation will continue to fight the project. Theres still several opportunities for public input and important regulatory review that is yet to be completed, she said. (Editing by Joe White and Edward Tobin)
When Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was asked to give this years commencement address at Harvard, he asked for advice from Bill Gates.

Zuckerberg said, They know we didnt actually graduate, right?

To which Gates replied, Oh, that is the best part! They actually give you a degree!

This recent exchange between two famous Harvard dropouts might lead you to think college doesnt matter. Numerous media stories and even famous billionaires are glamorizing dropouts or encouraging kids to skip college entirely.

While its true there are successful college dropouts, statistically speaking, they are not the norm. As researchers in education and talent, we found that the vast majority of the countrys success stories are college graduates, such as Sheryl Sandberg (Harvard), Jeff Bezos (Princeton) and Marissa Mayer (Stanford).

The myth of the mega-successful college dropout

In a recent study, we investigated how many of the wealthiest and most influential people graduated college. We studied 11,745 U.S. leaders, including CEOs, federal judges, politicians, multi-millionaires and billionaires, business leaders and the most globally powerful men and women.

We also examined how many people graduated from an elite school. (Our definition included the eight Ivy League schools, plus many of the top national universities and liberal arts colleges consistently high in the U.S. News rankings for both undergraduate and graduate education.)

We found about 94 percent of these U.S. leaders attended college, and about 50 percent attended an elite school. Though almost everyone went to college, elite school attendance varied widely. For instance, only 20.6 percent of House members and 33.8 percent of 30-millionaires attended an elite school, but over 80 percent of Forbes most powerful people did. For whatever reason, about twice as many senators  41 percent  as House members went to elite schools.

For comparison, based on census and college data, we estimate that only about 2 to 5 percent of all U.S. undergraduates went to one of the elite schools in our study. The people from our study attended elite schools at rates well above typical expectations.

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Do elite schools matter?

This year, elite schools saw an increase in applications and selectivity. Research suggests there is no difference in adult income between students who attended highly selective schools and students with similar SAT scores who attended less selective schools. At least for long-term earnings, where you go may not be critical, as long as you attend and graduate.

Yet, our data show that for students with talent and motivation to make it to the top of U.S. society, an elite college might just help you get there  whether its the networks you acquire or the brand on your resume.

While looking at over 11,000 successful leaders, we rarely encountered people who came from extremely poor or disadvantaged backgrounds. Helping disadvantaged talented students enter elite schools could promote diversity among future leaders.

College matters

Admittedly, the educational path of the cream of the crop may not apply to most people. So, going to college may not be the right or even the best path for everyone. However, if youre a student thinking about not going to college or considering dropping out, remember that even Gates and Zuckerberg got into college. Even if youre not aiming for mega success, doing the work to get into and graduate from college today may open important doors.

Perhaps in the future, college may not be as important to employers. But for now, college dropouts who rule the world are rare exceptions  not the rule.

Jonathan Wai, Research Scientist, Duke University and Heiner Rindermann, Professor of Educational and Developmental Psychology, Chemnitz University of Technology

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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The scientific journal Nature has endorsed the March for Science, scheduled to take place on April 22 in support of the importance of science in policy-making.

In a rare show of support for a political protest, the editorial board of the most highly cited research journal signed on to endorse the March for Science, urging readers to put aside their criticisms of the internal divisions of the March and join the protest to defend the scientific community against proposed budget cuts and increasing public skepticism of science.

The March for Science is scheduled to take place on April 22 in Washington, D.C., and at least 514 other cities around the world. The March aims to demonstrate public support for the scientific community, reject research budget cuts, and advocate for science as a democratic virtue.

We encourage readers to get involved, to show solidarity and to speak out about the importance of research and evidence - not just next weekend, but more often and more forcefully, the editors of Nature wrote. These worldwide protests give scientists an opportunity to think hard about what they value about science, to recognize the commonalities in the goals they share with others and to reaffirm the scientific process as the best way of informing policy - even if it wont always get the final say.

The March is off to a controversial start, with internal divisions about scientific diversity (many are reportedly concerned that the March could end up very white and male, just like the scientific community) clashing with concerns about politicizing science. But the editors of Nature, which was founded in 1869, urged their readers to show up anyway.

Yes, there is a risk, as critics claim, that the march and the wider protest it hopes to symbolize could be diluted or even sidetracked by any number of special interests. Yet there is a straightforward solution for scientists who are concerned about this: turn up and shout louder about what you think matters more, they wrote. Despite internal wrinkles, the positive message that crowds of pro-science people on the streets present to the broader world will surely show through.

There are several other major demonstrations against Trump in April, including the Tax March on April 15 and the Peoples Climate March on April 29.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
By Ahmed Sultan

ACHIN DISTRICT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - The remote site in eastern Afghanistan where the U.S. military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat earlier this month bears signs of the weapon's power, but little evidence of how much material and human damage it inflicted.

Reuters photos and video footage - some of the first images from journalists allowed to get close to the site - reveal a scarred mountainside, burned trees and some ruined mud-brick structures.

They did not offer any clues as to the number of casualties or their identities.

Since the GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb was dropped on a fortified tunnel complex used by suspected Islamic State fighters in Nangarhar province, access to the site has been controlled by U.S. forces who are battling the militant group alongside Afghan troops.

The U.S. military has said that ongoing fighting had prevented media or independent investigators from visiting the site, and Afghan soldiers said special forces from both countries were still engaging the enemy in the area.

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

A Reuters witness viewed the site from several hundred yards (meters) away, because of what troops he was accompanying said were continued threats in the area.

While the 21,600-pound (9,797-kg) GBU-43 is billed as the U.S. military's most powerful non-nuclear bomb, its 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.

They had blasts equivalent to between 15,000 and 20,000 tonnes of TNT.

Within a few hundred feet of the apparent blast site, leaves remained intact on trees, belying initial expectations that the explosion may have sent a destructive blast wave for up to a mile.

Afghan officials have said nearly 100 militants and no civilians were killed, but the remoteness of the area, the presence of Islamic State fighters, and, more recently, American security forces, has left those claims unverified.

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U.S. commanders said the bomb was used to target a tunnel complex and destroy landmines and other booby traps laid by Islamic State militants holed up in the mountains.

No obvious crater or bodies were visible at the scene, according to the Reuters witness.

TUNNELS INTACT NEARBY

Several hundred yards from the strike, Afghan soldiers explored a large tunnel dug beneath a home.

The entrance within the home descended into tunnels large enough for a person to stand in upright, strung with electric cables and light bulbs and strewn with rugs, cushions, and men's clothes and shoes.

One cave was said to have once held prisoners, but was unused at the time of the strike, according to soldiers at the scene.

U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis told reporters on Thursday that U.S. troops would not be digging into the site to determine how many people may have been killed.

"Frankly digging into tunnels to count dead bodies is probably not a good use of our troops' time when they are chasing down the enemy that is still capable," he said.

The strike came as President Donald Trump declared a focus on Islamic State, and was part of a larger operation to clear Islamic State militants from their strongholds in the mountains along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In March, U.S. forces conducted 79 "counter-terror 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.

Taliban militants, meanwhile, remain the dominant insurgent group in Afghanistan.

A Taliban attack on a large Afghan army headquarters in the north of the country on Friday killed more than 140 soldiers, in what is believed to be the deadliest single attack on Afghan forces since the Taliban were ousted in 2001.

(Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Los Angeles (AFP) - Late in the afternoon of April 29, 1992, the looting began in south Los Angeles, quickly escalating as motorists were dragged from their cars and vehicles set alight.

In the downtown area a few miles away, an angry crowd began to build at the city police headquarters and, as day turned to night, protesters attacked uniformed officers and blocked traffic.

The fuse had been lit by the acquittal earlier in the day of four white police officers filmed beating black motorist Rodney King with wooden batons.

For six days, America's second city was engulfed in a fireball of rage in front of the world's news cameras as decades of pent-up anger exploded into some of the worst riots in US history. More than 50 people died and 2,000 were wounded.

The not-guilty verdict for use of excessive force was a breaking point in relations between the city's African American communities and the Los Angeles Police Department, opening fissures which for many have never healed.

As LA was ripped apart by crowds who looted businesses, destroyed hundreds of buildings, causing around $1 billion damage, and attacked one another, King made a personal plea for peace.

"People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along? Can we get along?" he asked on the third day of rioting.

- Police brutality -

A documentary, "Let It Fall," which opened theatrically in Los Angeles and New York on Friday, is among a number of films timed to mark the 25th anniversary of the riots.

Written and directed by John Ridley, who won an Oscar for his screenplay of "12 Years a Slave" (2013), it offers first-hand testimony from black, white, Asian, and Hispanic Angelinos of all classes caught up in the violence.

If a suspect resisted, "you beat him," retired detective Robert Simpach tells Ridley, remembering the interrogation techniques used by the LAPD in the early 1990s.

"If he doesn't do what you told him, then incapacitate him by breaking a bone or a joint," he adds.

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Simpach, who was present as King was beaten but was not one of the four officers involved, says his colleagues' behavior was "100 percent LAPD policy."

Ridley, who moved to LA a year before the riots, shows the violence as the almost inevitable culmination of a decade of heightening racial tensions, gang wars, drug crime and police brutality.

"With a white man, their attitude is enforcing the law. With a black man, it's about control: 'Put your hands on the steering wheel, don't move until I tell you,'" retired fireman Donald Jones says in the two-hour film, due to air on ABC on April 28.

Other documentaries looking at the LA riots include "L.A. Burning," co-produced for the A&E channel with "Boyz n the Hood" director John Singleton.

- 'Still victimized' -

On the narrative front, "Kings," a romance starring Daniel Craig and Halle Berry which is due for release later in the year, is set amid the civil unrest while "Gook," by Justin Chon, focuses on tensions between African Americans and Korean traders.

After several lawsuits, King ended up with $3.8 million in damages from the Los Angeles authorities. But he was dogged by depression and nightmares, and in 2012 was found dead in a swimming pool after taking a cocktail of alcohol and drugs. He was 47.

"Twenty-five years ago footage like the Rodney King beating was very rare. Now unfortunately people see these incidents happen with regularity," says Ridley.

One of the main reasons is the ubiquity of cellphones with video cameras, which didn't exist then, rather than the situation worsening. Indeed, Ridley acknowledges that there have been "positive changes" in the LAPD since the riots.

But these films serve as a reminder that, a quarter century after the riots, relations between law enforcement officers and ethnic minorities, the militarization of police and the use of force remain hugely divisive issues across the United States.

"L.A. Burning" ends on images of the 2014-2015 Ferguson riots which followed the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager killed by white policemen, and unrest in Baltimore after the 2015 death in police custody of 25-year-old Freddie Gray.

"There are still issues. They're complicated, they're beyond race," Ridley told AFP.

"You look at Baltimore. You see people of color represented in uniform and still people being victimized. These are complicated issues."
The New York Times

Olivia Dunne is a gymnast on Louisiana States womens team. She was an All-American in her freshman year and made the Southeastern Conferences honor roll as a sophomore majoring in interdisciplinary studies. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Before the start of her junior season, Dunne is also at the leading edge of a movement shaking the old foundations of college sports: a female student athlete raking in cash thanks to the passage in 2021 of new rules allowing colle
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(4) Feb 09 (3) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (4) Feb 06 (7) Feb 05 (7) Feb 04 (7) Feb 03 (9) Feb 02 (7) Feb 01 (9) Jan 31 (5) Jan 30 (6) Jan 29 (5) Jan 28 (6) Jan 27 (6) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (6) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (6) Jan 21 (6) Jan 20 (8) Jan 19 (4) Jan 18 (9) Jan 17 (5) Jan 16 (5) Jan 15 (6) Jan 14 (7) Jan 13 (7) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (7) Jan 10 (8) Jan 09 (7) Jan 08 (8) Jan 07 (11) Jan 06 (9) Jan 05 (5) Jan 04 (7) Jan 03 (6) Jan 02 (8) Jan 01 (8) Dec 31 (6) Dec 30 (6) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (7) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (5) Dec 25 (5) Dec 24 (5) Dec 23 (7) Dec 22 (5) Dec 21 (5) Dec 20 (5) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (6) Dec 17 (6) Dec 16 (4) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (5) Dec 13 (4) Dec 12 (5) Dec 11 (4) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (5) Dec 08 (6) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (5) Dec 04 (5) Dec 03 (6) Dec 02 (4) Dec 01 (5) Nov 30 (4) Nov 29 (6) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (4) Nov 26 (4) Nov 25 (4) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (5) Nov 22 (7) Nov 21 (5) Nov 20 (6) Nov 19 (4) Nov 18 (3) Nov 17 (5) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (4) Nov 14 (5) Nov 13 (6) Nov 12 (6) Nov 11 (6) Nov 10 (8) Nov 09 (8) Nov 08 (7) Nov 07 (5) Nov 06 (5) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (6) Nov 03 (5) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (5) Oct 31 (4) Oct 30 (3) Oct 29 (5) Oct 28 (5) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (6) Oct 24 (2) Oct 23 (3) Oct 22 (5) Oct 21 (4) Oct 20 (6) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (4) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (5) Oct 15 (2) Oct 14 (5) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (3) Oct 11 (7) Oct 10 (3) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (2) Oct 07 (7) Oct 06 (2) Oct 05 (6) Oct 04 (5) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (8) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (6) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (6) Sep 27 (4) Sep 26 (4) Sep 25 (4) Sep 24 (1) Sep 23 (5) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (2) Sep 20 (5) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (5) Sep 16 (3) Sep 15 (4) Sep 14 (4) Sep 13 (4) Sep 12 (3) Sep 11 (3) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (4) Sep 07 (4) Sep 06 (4) Sep 05 (5) Sep 04 (2) Sep 03 (4) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (3) Aug 29 (2) Aug 28 (4) Aug 27 (4) Aug 26 (4) Aug 25 (3) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (2) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (4) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (4) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (5) Aug 12 (5) Aug 11 (3) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (3) Aug 08 (4) Aug 07 (3) Aug 06 (3) Aug 05 (3) Aug 04 (4) Aug 03 (4) Aug 02 (4) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (4) Jul 30 (5) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (3) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (4) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (3) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (5) Jul 19 (4) Jul 18 (4) Jul 17 (3) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (3) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (3) Jul 11 (3) Jul 10 (3) Jul 09 (4) Jul 08 (4) Jul 07 (4) Jul 06 (3) Jul 05 (5) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (4) Jul 01 (4) Jun 30 (3) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (3) Jun 26 (3) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (5) Jun 23 (5) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (3) Jun 18 (3) Jun 17 (4) Jun 16 (4) Jun 15 (4) Jun 14 (4) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (6) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (4) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (5) Jun 07 (3) Jun 06 (3) Jun 05 (5) Jun 04 (5) Jun 03 (3) Jun 02 (5) Jun 01 (6) May 31 (3) May 30 (5) May 29 (3) May 28 (4) May 27 (5) May 26 (7) May 25 (4) May 24 (4) May 23 (4) May 22 (6) May 21 (4) May 20 (3) May 19 (5) May 18 (4) May 17 (4) May 16 (5) May 15 (4) May 14 (4) May 13 (5) May 12 (4) May 11 (5) May 10 (6) May 09 (7) May 08 (3) May 07 (6) May 06 (4) May 05 (6) May 04 (6) May 03 (4) May 02 (4) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (3) Apr 28 (4) Apr 27 (4) Apr 26 (3) Apr 25 (6) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (5) Apr 22 (5) Apr 21 (7) Apr 20 (6) Apr 19 (5) Apr 18 (5) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (6) Apr 14 (5) Apr 13 (5) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (4) Apr 10 (6) Apr 09 (7) Apr 08 (7) Apr 07 (4) Apr 06 (7) Apr 05 (6) Apr 04 (5) Apr 03 (6) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (6) Mar 31 (4) Mar 30 (5) Mar 29 (5) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (6) Mar 26 (6) Mar 25 (7) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (4) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (5) Mar 20 (5) Mar 19 (4) Mar 18 (4) Mar 17 (4) Mar 16 (3) Mar 15 (4) Mar 14 (5) Mar 13 (5) Mar 12 (5) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (5) Mar 09 (5) Mar 08 (4) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (5) Mar 05 (6) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (5) Mar 02 (4) Mar 01 (3) Feb 29 (4) Feb 28 (4) Feb 27 (5) Feb 26 (5) Feb 25 (4) Feb 24 (5) Feb 23 (4) Feb 22 (5) Feb 21 (3) Feb 20 (4) Feb 19 (2) Feb 18 (5) Feb 17 (4) Feb 16 (4) Feb 15 (4) Feb 14 (4) Feb 13 (6) Feb 12 (5) Feb 11 (3) Feb 10 (5) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (5) Feb 06 (5) Feb 05 (5) Feb 04 (4) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (3) Feb 01 (2) Jan 31 (5) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (5) Jan 27 (6) Jan 26 (4) Jan 25 (3) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (3) Jan 21 (3) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (4) Jan 18 (3) Jan 17 (3) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (3) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (3) Jan 09 (4) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (5) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (5) Jan 04 (3) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (1) Jan 01 (3) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (5) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (4) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (3) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (3) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (4) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (4) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (5) Dec 15 (5) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (4) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (3) Dec 06 (5) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (3) Dec 03 (3) Dec 02 (4) Dec 01 (5) Nov 30 (3) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (5) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (5) Nov 24 (3) Nov 23 (3) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (3) Nov 17 (4) Nov 16 (3) Nov 15 (4) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (5) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (5) Nov 10 (2) Nov 09 (3) Nov 08 (3) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (1) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (3) Nov 03 (3) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (3) Oct 30 (3) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (3) Oct 25 (3) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (3) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (3) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (4) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (3) Oct 13 (4) Oct 12 (4) Oct 11 (4) Oct 10 (3) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (4) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (3) Oct 04 (4) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (3) Oct 01 (4) Sep 30 (3) Sep 29 (4) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (4) Sep 26 (3) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (3) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (5) Sep 20 (3) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (5) Sep 09 (4) Sep 08 (3) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (3) Sep 05 (5) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (4) Sep 02 (3) Sep 01 (4) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (4) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (4) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (4) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (3) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (4) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (3) Aug 12 (4) Aug 11 (3) Aug 10 (3) Aug 09 (3) Aug 08 (4) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (3) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (3) Aug 03 (4) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (4) Jul 30 (3) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (3) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (4) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (3) Jul 20 (3) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (3) Jul 17 (3) Jul 16 (3) Jul 15 (4) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (3) Jul 12 (3) Jul 11 (3) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (3) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (4) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (3) Jul 01 (5) Jun 30 (4) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (1) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (5) Jun 24 (4) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (5) Jun 19 (3) Jun 18 (3) Jun 17 (3) Jun 16 (3) Jun 15 (3) Jun 14 (3) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (4) Jun 10 (3) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (3) Jun 06 (4) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (4) Jun 03 (4) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (3) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (4) May 27 (6) May 26 (3) May 25 (3) May 24 (3) May 23 (3) May 22 (5) May 21 (3) May 20 (3) May 19 (3) May 18 (4) May 17 (3) May 16 (3) May 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(6) Feb 24 (2) Feb 23 (3) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (6) Feb 20 (2) Feb 19 (6) Feb 18 (4) Feb 17 (2) Feb 16 (3) Feb 15 (6) Feb 14 (6) Feb 13 (6) Feb 12 (9) Feb 11 (5) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (7) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (4) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (3) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (2) Jan 27 (2) Jan 26 (3) Jan 25 (4) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (2) Jan 22 (2) Jan 21 (5) Jan 20 (4) Jan 19 (5) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (4) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (3) Jan 12 (3) Jan 11 (2) Jan 10 (8) Jan 09 (6) Jan 08 (2) Jan 07 (2) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (2) Jan 04 (2) Jan 03 (2) Jan 02 (2) Jan 01 (2) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (2) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (2) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (2) Dec 21 (2) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (2) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (2) Dec 16 (2) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (2) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (5) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (2) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (5) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (4) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (2) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (2) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (2) Nov 23 (2) Nov 22 (2) Nov 21 (2) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (2) Nov 17 (2) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (4) Nov 13 (2) Nov 12 (2) Nov 11 (2) Nov 10 (2) Nov 09 (2) Nov 08 (2) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (6) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (5) Nov 03 (5) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (5) Oct 31 (7) Oct 30 (5) Oct 29 (4) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (2) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (4) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (2) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (2) Oct 18 (2) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (5) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (2) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (4) Oct 11 (5) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (2) Oct 05 (5) Oct 04 (5) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (5) Sep 30 (2) Sep 29 (2) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (6) Sep 26 (2) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (2) Sep 22 (2) Sep 21 (2) Sep 20 (2) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (2) Sep 15 (4) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (6) Sep 10 (2) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (5) Sep 06 (4) Sep 05 (4) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (3) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (2) Aug 30 (2) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (2) Aug 25 (2) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (2) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (5) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (3) Aug 18 (2) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (5) Aug 13 (2) Aug 12 (2) Aug 11 (2) Aug 10 (2) Aug 09 (2) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (5) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (2) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (2) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (2) Jul 31 (4) Jul 30 (2) Jul 29 (2) Jul 28 (2) Jul 27 (2) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (2) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (2) Jul 21 (3) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (2) Jul 18 (3) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (2) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (2) Jul 12 (3) Jul 11 (2) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (2) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (2) Jul 03 (2) Jul 02 (2) Jul 01 (3) Jun 30 (3) Jun 29 (7) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (2) Jun 26 (3) Jun 25 (1) Jun 24 (2) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (2) Jun 19 (2) Jun 18 (2) Jun 17 (2) Jun 16 (2) Jun 15 (2) Jun 14 (2) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (4) Jun 08 (2) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (5) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (2) Jun 02 (2) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (2) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (2) May 26 (2) May 25 (2) May 24 (2) May 23 (2) May 22 (3) May 21 (3) May 20 (2) May 19 (2) May 18 (4) May 17 (7) May 16 (2) May 15 (2) May 14 (4) May 13 (3) May 12 (4) May 11 (4) May 10 (4) May 09 (3) May 08 (2) May 07 (2) May 06 (2) May 05 (1) May 04 (2) May 03 (4) May 02 (3) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (1) Apr 29 (3) Apr 28 (2) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (2) Apr 25 (2) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (2) Apr 22 (2) Apr 21 (2) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (5) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (2) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (1) Apr 03 (1) Apr 02 (1) Apr 01 (2) Mar 31 (2) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (2) Mar 28 (3) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (3) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (2) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (3) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (2) Mar 19 (3) Mar 18 (1) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (2) Mar 15 (1) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (1) Mar 12 (2) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (2) Mar 08 (1) Mar 07 (1) Mar 04 (2) Mar 02 (2) Feb 28 (1) Feb 24 (1) Dec 31 (4) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (5) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (4) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (3) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (3) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (3) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (3) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (3) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (3) Nov 23 (3) Nov 22 (3) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (3) Nov 17 (3) Nov 16 (2) Nov 15 (3) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (3) Nov 10 (4) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (4) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (3) Nov 05 (5) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (3) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (4) Oct 30 (3) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (2) Oct 27 (4) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (3) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (4) Oct 20 (4) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (4) Oct 17 (4) Oct 16 (3) Oct 15 (3) Oct 14 (3) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (3) Oct 11 (3) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (4) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (5) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (4) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (4) Sep 26 (3) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (3) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (3) Sep 20 (3) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (3) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (4) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (4) Sep 08 (4) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (3) Sep 05 (3) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (3) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (4) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (4) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (5) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (3) Aug 20 (3) Aug 19 (3) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (3) Aug 12 (3) Aug 11 (4) Aug 10 (5) Aug 09 (3) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (5) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (3) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (3) Jul 30 (4) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (5) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (3) Jul 23 (4) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (3) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (4) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (3) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (5) Jul 11 (4) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (3) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (3) Jul 01 (6) Jun 30 (4) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (4) Jun 25 (5) Jun 24 (4) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (4) Jun 18 (5) Jun 17 (4) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (3) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (5) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (4) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (5) Jun 05 (4) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (4) Jun 02 (5) Jun 01 (3) May 31 (4) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (3) May 26 (4) May 25 (4) May 24 (4) May 23 (4) May 22 (3) May 21 (3) May 20 (4) May 19 (3) May 18 (3) May 17 (4) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (3) May 13 (4) May 12 (1) May 11 (3) May 10 (3) May 09 (3) May 08 (3) May 07 (4) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (4) May 03 (3) May 02 (3) May 01 (6) Apr 30 (3) Apr 29 (3) Apr 28 (3) Apr 27 (5) Apr 26 (3) Apr 25 (3) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (3) Apr 22 (3) Apr 21 (3) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (3) Apr 17 (4) Apr 16 (3) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (3) Apr 09 (3) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (3) Apr 03 (3) Apr 02 (3) Apr 01 (3) Mar 31 (3) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (3) Mar 28 (4) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (3) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (3) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (3) Mar 21 (3) Mar 20 (3) Mar 19 (3) Mar 18 (3) Mar 17 (3) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (3) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (3) Mar 12 (4) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (4) Mar 08 (3) Mar 07 (3) Mar 06 (4) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (3) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (3) Mar 01 (3) Feb 28 (3) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (3) Feb 25 (3) Feb 24 (2) Feb 23 (3) Feb 22 (3) Feb 21 (3) Feb 20 (3) Feb 19 (3) Feb 18 (3) Feb 17 (3) Feb 16 (3) Feb 15 (3) Feb 14 (3) Feb 13 (3) Feb 12 (3) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (3) Feb 08 (3) Feb 07 (4) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (3) Feb 04 (4) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (3) Jan 30 (3) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (5) Jan 27 (4) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (3) Jan 21 (4) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (5) Jan 18 (5) Jan 17 (4) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (5) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (4) Jan 09 (3) Jan 08 (3) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (4) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 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(Reuters) - Florida officials on Sunday lifted evacuation orders for about 2,000 homes threatened by wildfires in drought-stricken central and southwestern parts of the state, after rainfall helped firefighters battle the blazes. As of Sunday morning, a 5,500-acre wildfire in Collier County in southwest Florida that has destroyed nine homes was 50 percent contained, according to officials. In Polk County in central Florida, a wildfire that charred 700 acres was 75 percent contained. A spokesman for the sheriff's office on Saturday had said that fire was being investigated as suspicious. Governor Rick Scott, who declared a state of emergency on April 11, said in a statement on Sunday that the rain had been a blessing. "While we are hopeful that the weather will continue to provide relief, we know these fires can change at a moments notice due to wind and rain, and it is important that we remain alert and prepared," he said. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by David Gregorio)
By Sybille de La Hamaide and Matthias Blamont PARIS/HENIN-BEAUMONT, France (Reuters) - Centrist Emmanuel Macron took a big step towards the French presidency on Sunday by winning the first round of voting and qualifying for a May 7 runoff alongside far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Though Macron, 39, is a comparative political novice who has never held elected office, new opinion polls on Sunday had him easily winning the final clash against the 48-year-old Le Pen. Sunday's outcome is a huge defeat for the two center-right and center-left groupings that have dominated French politics for 60 years, and also reduces the prospect of an anti-establishment shock on the scale of Britain's vote last June to quit the European Union and the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president. In a victory speech, Macron told supporters of his fledgling En Marche! (Onwards!) movement: "In one year, we have changed the face of French politics." He went on to say he would bring in new faces and talent to transform a stale political system if elected. Conceding defeat even before figures from the count came in, rival conservative and Socialist candidates urged their supporters now to put their energies into backing Macron and stopping any chance of a second-round victory by Le Pen, whose anti-immigration and anti-Europe policies they said spelled disaster for France. As investors breathed a collective sigh of relief at what the market regarded as the best of several possible outcomes, the euro soared 2 percent to $1.09395 when markets opened in Asia before slipping back to around $1.0886. It was the euro's highest level since Nov. 10, the day after the results of the U.S. presidential election. In a race that was too close to call up to the last minute, Macron, a pro-EU ex-banker and former economy minister who founded his own party only a year ago, had 23.54 percent of the votes against 22.33 percent for Le Pen, according to partial figures from the Interior Ministry with the bulk of votes counted. Seconds after the first projections came through, Macron supporters at a Paris conference center burst into the national anthem, the Marseillaise. Many were under 25, reflecting some of the appeal of a man aiming to become France's youngest head of state since Napoleon. "PRESIDENT OF PATRIOTS" With an eye to Le Pen's avowedly France-first policies, Macron told the crowd: "I want to be the president of patriots in the face of a threat from nationalists." If he wins, Macron's biggest challenges will lie ahead, as he first tries to secure a working parliamentary majority for his young party in June, and then seeks broad popular support for labor reforms that are sure to meet resistance. Addressing the battle ahead, he declared he would seek to break with a system that "has been incapable of responding to the problems of our country for more than 30 years". "From today I want to build a majority for a government and for a new transformation. It will be made up of new faces and new talent in which every man and woman can have a place," he said. Le Pen, who is herself bidding to make history as France's first female president, follows in the footsteps of her father, who founded the National Front and reached the second round of the presidential election in 2002. Jean-Marie Le Pen was ultimately crushed when voters from right and left rallied around the conservative Jacques Chirac in order to keep out a party whose far-right, anti-immigrant views they considered unpalatably xenophobic. His daughter has done much to soften her party's image, and found widespread support among young voters by pitching herself as an anti-establishment defender of French workers and French interests against global corporations and an economically constricting EU. "The great issue in this election is the rampant globalization that is putting our civilization at risk," she declared in her first word after results came through. She went on to launch an attack on the policies of Macron, whom she again described as "the money king" in a disparaging swipe at his investment banker background. His deregulation policies, she said, would lead to unjust international competition against France's business interests, mass immigration and free movement of terrorists. Nevertheless, with several defeated candidates calling on supporters to stop her, Le Pen she seems destined to suffer a similar fate to her father when she goes up against Macron in two weeks' time. Defeated Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon, Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and defeated right-wing candidate Francois Fillon all urged voters to rally behind Macron in the second round. A new Harris survey saw Macron winning the runoff by 64 percent to 36, and an Ipsos/Sopra Steria poll gave a similar result. In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman hailed Macron's success, tweeting: "Good that @EmmanuelMacron succeeded with his policy for a strong EU and social market economy. Wishing him all the best for the next two weeks." European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed similar good wishes for the second round, his spokesman said in Brussels. BITTER DEFEAT It was a bitter night for Fillon, seen as a shoo-in for the Elysee until he was hit in January by allegations that his wife had been paid from the public purse for work she did not do. Ifop give him 20.0 percent in the first round and far-left contender Jean-Luc Melenchon 19.5 percent. "This defeat is mine and it is for me and me alone to bear it," Fillon, a 63-year-old former conservative prime minister, told a news conference, adding that he would now vote for Macron. The two politicians left in the race offer radically contrasting economic visions for a country whose economy lags that of its neighbors and where a quarter of young people are unemployed. Macron's gradual deregulation measures are likely to be welcomed by global financial markets, as are cuts in state expenditure and the civil service. Le Pen wants to print money to finance expanded welfare payments and tax cuts, ditch the euro currency and possibly pull out of the EU. "Markets will be reassured that the dreaded Le Pen versus Melenchon run-off has been avoided," said Diego Iscaro, an economist from IHS Markit. "As a result, we expect some recovery in French bond prices, while the euro is also likely to benefit," he said. "However, a lot can happen in two weeks and French assets are likely under some pressure until the second round is out of the way." Timothy Ash, an economist at Bluebay asset management, said Trump's victory last November marked a turning point for electorates playing the protest card. "Despite all the hype about the rise of populism, 60 percent of voters went for mainstream candidates ... In an uncertain world, they rather go for what they know best and want to take fewer risks," he said. (Additional reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Bate Felix, Michaela Cabrera, Michel Rose, Geert De Clercq, Mathieu Rosemain, John Irish, Andrew Callus, Sarah White, Ingrid Melander and Leigh Thomas in Paris, and Ilze Filks in Henin-Beaumont; Writing by Richard Balmforth; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
PARIS (Reuters) - Presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron called on all "patriots" to rally behind him against the threat of what he called "nationalists," after qualifying on Sunday for the French election's runoff against far-right leader Marine Le Pen. "I want to be the president of patriots against the threat of nationalists," the 39-year old centrist told a cheering crowd of supporters. Macron, whose "En Marche!" party is only one year old and has never taken part in any parliamentary election, also said he would as soon as Monday work on building a parliament majority to be able to govern after legislative elections in June. "In one year, we have changed the face of French politics," Macron said. (Reporting by Michel Rose and Mathieu Rosemain; Editing by Ingrid Melander)
Paris (AFP) - Centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen have emerged as winners of the first round presidential vote in France.

The result clears the way for a straight two-way fight between the pair in a run-off on May 7, with opinion polls flagging Macron as favourite.

Here are some of the international reactions to Sunday's vote:

- European Union -

European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated the pro-EU Macron and wished him "good luck" in the run-off, Juncker's spokesman tweeted.

"To see the flags of #France and the EU greet the result of @emmanuelmacron, it's the hope and future of our generation," tweeted EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

Michel Barnier, the European Commission's chief negotiator on Britain's withdrawal from the EU, hinted at concerns Le Pen could lead France away from the bloc.

"Patriot and European, I will put my trust in Emmanuel Macron on May 7. France must remain European," the Frenchman tweeted.

- Russia -

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia "respects" the result, and is "in favour of building good and mutually beneficial relations".

Russia has appeared as a keen backer of Le Pen, who met President Vladimir Putin in a surprise visit to Moscow ahead of the vote.

- Germany -

Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman wished Macron "all the best for the next two weeks".

"It's good that Emmanuel Macron was successful with his course for a strong EU and social market economy," Steffen Seibert said in a tweet.

Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel expressed confidence that the 39-year-old would be France's next president.

"I'm sure he will sweep away the far-right, rightwing populism and the anti-Europeans in the second round," Social Democrat Gabriel said in a video posted on Twitter during a trip to Amman.

Writing on Twitter, he added: "I'm glad that @EmmanuelMacron is leading the field. He was the only truly pro-European candidate."

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- Austria -

The head of the Austrian far-right FPOe, Heinz-Christian Strache, congratulated Le Pen on her "historic success".

"Europe's patriotic spring can celebrate another success and step forward... The old established parties and their discredited representatives will gradually disappear into insignificance all across Europe. They have been ruining Europe for years!" he said on Facebook.

Strache said that because "established French parties" were backing Macron, it would be a "wonder" if Le Pen won the second round.

"But the system, like in Austria, is on the brink. It is just a question of time. More and more citizens have had enough of the system politicians responsible for the current disaster."

- Britain -

Former Conservative finance minister George Osborne, recently appointed editor of London's Evening Standard newspaper, hailed a good result for the centre.

"Congratulations to my friend . Proof you can win from the centre. At last, the chance for the leadership that France needs," he tweeted.

- Denmark -

Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed cautious optimism that former banker Macron would emerge victorious over Le Pen.

"Congratulations . We should await the final election, but Europe needs an openminded and reform oriented France => Good luck!"

- Norway -

Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende, whose country is not a member of the European Union, tweeted: "We need more not less cooperation in #Europe."

- The Netherlands -

Geert Wilders, Dutch MP and leader of the anti-Islam anti-immigrant Freedom Party, swung behind Le Pen, welcoming the result as a "bright day for patriots in France and elsewhere who want more national sovereignty and less EU and immigration.

"I have just sent her my sincere congratulations. Now on the way to a vigorous second round, I am hoping for a President Le Pen."

burs-wdb/hmw
New York (AFP) - The French consulate in New York, where thousands of expatriates were registered to cast ballots in their presidential election on Saturday, was briefly evacuated following a bomb threat, officials said.

A suspicious vehicle prompted police to clear the building on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park, Consul General Anne-Claire Legendre said.

"After the Champs Elysees attack, the New York police department was told to be especially vigilant," she said.

Dozens of people who were inside the building at about 5 pm (2100 GMT) waited on the sidewalk while authorities checked the vehicle.

The situation returned to normal after about 50 minutes, consulate press officer Amelie Geoffroy said.

Voting activities, which were scheduled to take place until 7 pm, also resumed, she added.

Some 28,500 French citizens living in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are registered to vote at the consulate.

Security measures were strengthened at French polling stations across the United States following a jihadist's killing of a policeman on Paris' famed Champs Elysees avenue this week.
London (AFP) - From London to Berlin, Washington to Tel Aviv, French voters lined up at polling stations abroad at the weekend to cast ballots for one of the closest presidential elections in years back home.

Around 1.3 million French people abroad are registered to vote -- representing around two percent of the total electorate.

In London -- often called the sixth biggest French city -- hundreds of people queued up outside the two polling stations well before they opened on Sunday, with some waiting up to two hours to vote.

"In London, we're expecting perhaps 50,000 voters, so it's going to be a busy day," said Edouard De Guitaut, in charge of a polling station at a French school in London's upmarket South Kensington.

Sunday's first round presidential election is being closely watched after Donald Trump's victory in the US election and Britain's shock vote to leave the EU.

But the result of the race between the four front-runners -- centrist Emmanuel Macron, far-right leader Marine Le Pen, conservative Francois Fillon and Communist backed Jean-Luc Melenchon -- is too close to call.

"I have dual nationality, so I voted against Brexit. I think it's really important to vote everywhere, because I'm affected everywhere," said student Elise Lauriot Prevost.

The face of one candidate was absent from posters displayed outside the voting booths abroad -- Le Pen's National Front (FN) did not deliver them in time, according to the French foreign ministry.

- 'Not another Trump' -

In Berlin, people braved rain and hail in in queues extending for up to 200 metres (yards) outside the French embassy in the shadow of Brandenburg Gate.

As they waited, voters chatted amongst each other, some debating what a victory for Le Pen or Melenchon could mean for France and Europe.

Residents in French overseas territories such as Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean had begun voting on Saturday, along with expatriates in the United States, Canada and Latin America.

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Adrien Gontier, voting in the rainy US capital Washington on Saturday, said he was fulfilling his duty as a citizen.

"In the United States, you can see what happens when people don't vote, or vote badly," he said. "We don't want there to be a Trump in France."

- Security strengthened -

Security measures were strengthened at the 69 polling stations across the United States following a jihadist's killing of a policeman in Paris on Thursday night that put the country on edge after a string of bloody terror attacks.

The French consulate in New York was briefly evacuated late Saturday after a suspicious vehicle raised fears of a bomb threat.

"After the Champs Elysees attack, the New York police department was told to be especially vigilant," Consul General Anne-Claire Legendre said.

Analysts said the policeman's killing could shift opinions, possibly handing an advantage to candidates seen as taking a hard line on security, such as Le Pen.

In the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, voters cast their ballots Saturday in the French embassy, housed in the grandiose Ortiz Basualdo Palace.

Retired doctor Pierre Aguerre, 78, said he was taking part "against the extreme right".

"This is an important moment in the history of France," he said.

"A lot of people have come to vote," said his wife Noemie Nabel, 75. "I think the attacks have mobilised people."

Caroline Rostain, 41, said she was surprised by a campaign that included corruption allegations and fluctuating polls.

"I was disappointed by so much lack of transparency and ethics during the campaign," she said. "I think we're lagging behind our European neighbours."

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BERLIN (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble is not worried by the prospect of cuts to corporate tax rates in the United States he told German magazine Wirtschaftswoche on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday promised a big announcement about tax reform shortly and ordered a review of Obama-era tax rules written to discourage U.S. companies from relocating overseas to cut their tax bills.

"U.S. corporate tax rates are among the highest in the world," the magazine quoted Schaeuble as saying. "If the United States lowers its corporate taxes to European or international levels that won't bother me a bit. Just the opposite."

At the same time, Schaeuble said he opposed plans for a systemic change to taxation of companies based on their country of origin and a protectionist border tax favored by U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, the magazine reported.

The Trump administration has criticized Germany for its large trade surpluses with the United States, while Germany has said its companies make quality products that customers want to buy.

During the 2016 election campaign, Trump initially issued a plan that included proposals for cuts in tax rates for individuals and corporations, a repeal of the estate tax, an offshore profits repatriation tax holiday for multinationals and a cap on the deductibility of business interest.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal. Editing by Jane Merriman)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Narrowing the gap between rich and poor is key to avoiding a destructive rise in populism, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Saturday as he laid out a plan to boost private investment in Africa. "If we do nothing to change this, we can expect a rise in populist parties and demagogues, and a rise in instability around the world, with all its negative effects for sustainable growth", he said in a speech in Washington. "We are seeing it already in some parts of the world," he said during the Global Infrastructure Forum at the Inter-American Development Bank. Schaeuble is among the officials attending the IMF and World Bank spring meetings this week. He said Germany, which holds the presidency of the G20 group of nations, is pushing a plan to have African nations partner with certain G20 countries and international lenders, such as the World Bank, to attract outside investors to the continent. The first stage of the proposal, dubbed "Compact with Africa," would focus on Rwanda, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and Ivory Coast. "If we want to ensure long-term stability and security, we have to continue to reduce the gap in wealth between the rich countries and the poor countries of this world, especially on the African continent", Schaeuble said. (Reporting by Gernot Heller; Editing by Paul Simao)
Cologne (Germany) (AFP) - Germany's anti-immigration AfD wrapped up a fractious party congress Sunday by choosing a new team to lead it into a September general election, after dramatically sidelining its most prominent personality.

Capping two days of often bitter debate on its platform and personnel, the Alternative for Germany appointed two chief candidates: 76-year-old Alexander Gauland, a hardline defector from Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU, and Alice Weidel, 38, an openly lesbian former investment banker.

The party's telegenic co-leader Frauke Petry had already announced last week she would not join the campaign squad, following weeks of bitter infighting between populists and more radical, hard-right forces.

Weidel told cheering delegates that the AfD was the only party that could protect Germany's borders and ensure public security.

Referring to an attack on a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives committed by a failed asylum seeker, she called it a "scandal" that "in our country, Christian holidays have to be protected by police with machine guns and barriers for trucks".

"As a woman I should be able to take the last train home in safety," she added.

Earlier the party, now represented in 11 of Germany's 16 states, signed off on a programme that it hopes will pave the way for it to enter the national parliament for the first time in its four-year history.

It included calls to stop family unification of refugees already in Germany, strip immigrants convicted of "significant crimes" of their German passports, and declare Islam incompatible with German culture.

The AfD has seen its support plummet as the refugee influx to Germany has slowed in recent months, after Merkel let in more than one million asylum seekers since 2015.

- 'Difficult day' -

Petry, a 41-year-old former chemist pregnant with her fifth child, was handed a stinging setback Saturday at the gathering in the western city of Cologne, which drew several thousand protesters and required a security detail of 4,000 police officers.

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The around 600 delegates rejected Petry's call to adopt a more moderate-sounding "Realpolitik" programme intended to shut down the party's more extremist voices, including those who have attacked Germany's Holocaust remembrance culture.

The International Auschwitz Committee representing survivors of the Nazi death camp condemned the incendiary speeches in Cologne, which it said were aimed at "inciting panic, denouncing all other political forces and rejecting the cultural values that hold the culture of the republic together."

Top-selling daily Bild called delegates' decision to not even debate her motion a "crushing blow" for Petry, who expressed bitterness on the sidelines of the meeting.

"I will step aside during the campaign, as that's what the party congress apparently wants," Petry said, while pledging to remain party co-chairwoman "for now".

"As long as the party is not willing to say in what direction it wants to go, a team will have to lead the campaign that can deal with this indecision better than I can."

Acknowledging the damaging inner turmoil, Gauland expressed regret that Petry, who is very popular with the party's base, will not be front-and-centre on the campaign trail.

"It was a difficult party congress. Frauke Petry, I know it was a difficult day for you but we need you in the party," he said to loud applause and chants of "Merkel must go".

"From now on we are going to focus our attention on our political opponents."

- 'Heading for a showdown' -

Commentators said the party's unresolved power struggle further undermined its bid to surf the momentum of France's far-right presidential frontrunner Marine Le Pen, Donald Trump in the United States and the Brexit movement in Britain to electoral success in the September 24 vote.

Spiegel Online journalist Severin Weiland said it was now even "doubtful" whether the AfD would clear the five-percent hurdle to representation in the national parliament.

The daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung said that the rifts were less about the political goals of the party -- the most successful right-wing populist outfit in Germany's post-war history -- than personal ambition.

"The AfD is heading for a showdown that could end up breaking it apart," it said.
Endless emails, map requests, web searches, and everything else we do online requires the use of energy-hungry, water-guzzling data centers.

For Google, that enormous thirst for water is causing controversy near Charleston, South Carolina, where the tech giant hosts a sprawling data center complex.

Google wants to draw 1.5 million gallons per day from an aquifer to help cool the servers at its facility in Berkeley County. The data center already uses about 4 million gallons of surface water per day, the Post and Courier newspaper reported.

SEE ALSO: This tech giant just hit two impressive clean energy milestones

Some residents, conservationists, and local water utility leaders say South Carolina officials should hold off on granting Google's groundwater request.

The region's aquifers  which contain water that seeps from the surface over decades and centuries  are already strained due to the recent residential and commercial boom.

New industries, corporate farms, and an influx of residents are apparently pumping out water faster than the aquifers can replenish, spurring "water wars" in South Carolina, the newspaper reported.

State and federal scientists are still trying to figure out how much water can be drawn without exhausting the region's groundwater supplies. If that happens, large swaths of the Southeast United States could lose reserve tanks of freshwater, making it harder to endure the region's on-again, off-again droughts.

Google isn't the only tech company to grapple with water issues.

Facebook's data center in Prineville, Oregon competes for freshwater with farmers and a growing local population. In Utah, which just kicked a six-year-long drought, eBay's facility in Salt Lake City uses increasing amounts of water.

The industry's high demand for water has worried some tech investors, particularly in states like California where natural water resources are becoming ever more scarce, Bloomberg previously reported.

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Across the country, data centers consumed roughly 626 billion liters of water, or 165 billion gallons, to cool their whirring servers and power their facilities in 2014, according to the Energy Department's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. By 2020, annual water use could rise to about 660 billion liters, or 174 billion gallons.

Direct vs. Indirect U.S. Data Center Water Consumption

Image: lawrence berkeley national laboratory

Still, companies have made significant strides in recent years to reduce the environmental impact of their ever-expanding facilities.

Google said its data centers and offices worldwide will get 100 percent of their electricity from wind and solar power plants.

The California tech giant said it also regularly updates and redesigns cooling technologies at its data centers. To cut down on freshwater, some of its facilities use seawater, industrial canal water, recycled "gray" water from sinks and showers, captured stormwater, or harvested rainwater. Other centers don't use water at all and instead rely on outside air cooling.

At its South Carolina data center, a $1.2 billion facility, Google is experimenting with a rainwater retention pond as a source of water to cool its systems.

A rainwater retention pond outside Google's data center in Berkeley County, South Carolina.

Image: google

Google said it had studied other water-cooling alternatives for the facility and decided that pumping groundwater was the most readily available solution, according to the company's permit application to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

The Post and Courier said Google has been "tight-lipped" about its operations in Berkeley County, as it has at other centers. Google has a non-disclosure agreement with the county's water and sanitation department, which does not release data about how much water Google uses or how much it pays.

The health department is expected to decide on Google's groundwater permit in May.

Opponents want state officials to wait until the U.S. Geological Survey completes its study on the region's groundwater capacity. That study, due sometime in 2019, could help end what critics have called a "free-for-all" on the state's underground water resources.

WATCH: Scientists have created edible water orbs that can help replace plastic bottles
By Katharine Houreld NAIROBI (Reuters) - Gunmen wounded Italian-born conservationist Kuki Gallmann at her conservation park on Sunday in the latest of a string of attacks during land invasions in drought-stricken northern Kenya, which residents say are intensifying as August polls approach. The 73-year-old author of the memoir "I Dreamed of Africa" was shot in the stomach after the vehicle she was driving in was ambushed by a group of gunmen, a family friend said. Gallmann, who was played by Kim Basinger in the 2000 film of her book, was going to inspect fresh damage to her property after invaders burned down a retreat there on Saturday. A luxury hotel there had already been burnt down last month. She was ambushed when she was forced to stop by a tree laid across the track, the friend said. The gunmen shot her, but Gallmann was saved when rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Service intervened and fought off the attackers. Gallmann was first flown to a hospital in the nearby town of Nanyuki to be stabilized. British military medics accompanied her on another helicopter to receive surgery at a hospital in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, the friend said. Her daughter -- who herself was shot at in an incident in March -- said that her mother was able to speak, the friend said. The Gallmann family own the 100,000-acre (400 square km) Laikipia Nature Conservancy and employ 250 Kenyans on the luxury lodges, ranch, and other businesses on the land. They also run the Gallmann Africa Conservancy and Gallmann Memorial Foundation, conservation groups focusing on bringing people and wildlife together sustainably. A wave of violence has hit Kenya's drought-stricken Laikipia region in recent months as armed cattle-herders searching for scarce grazing land have driven tens of thousands of cattle onto private farms and ranches from poor quality communal land. Many residents of the area accuse local politicians of inciting the violence ahead of the August elections. They say the men are trying to drive out voters who might oppose them and win votes by promising supporters access to private land. National police spokesman George Kinoti said a local politician was already facing court charges for inciting violence and arson in the area. "We also wish to caution certain politicians to refrain from making statements that amount to encouraging ranch invasion," he said in a statement. At least 14 civilians have been killed, including local resident Duncan Murimi, who was shot in the stomach by militias and who died three days ago on a neighboring property. Another Kenyan, Ethaju Eloto, was killed 10 days ago in the same area. Last month, Tristan Voorspuy, a British military veteran who ran a safari company in Kenya, was shot dead at a private ranch in Laikipia after he went to inspect the remains of a friend's home that had been burnt down. Laikipia county police commander Ezekial Chepkwony said four policeman had also been killed in a week in the area. Martin Evans, head of the Laikipia Farmers' Association, condemned the attack on Gallmann and said "dozens of people have been killed or wounded and subjected to robbery and vandalism of their property. Kuki is a world famous author and conservationist -- but the LFA urges sympathy for all." Raila Odinga, the country's veteran opposition leader, also condemned the attack and said "we have watched in bewilderment as hooligans take advantage of the drought to subject these ranchers to unwarranted attacks ... the government is clearly unable or unwilling to bring these attacks to a stop." (Additional reporting by Noor Ali in Isiolo and Humphrey Malalo in Nairobi; editing by Elias Biryabarema/; Jeremy Gaunt)
The premiere of a virtual reality short by Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow was already a high-profile event at the Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday night. And then Hillary Clinton walked onstage.

Clinton was an unannounced panelist, there to discuss the scourge of elephant poaching - the subject of Bigelows eight-minute film The Protectors: Walk in the Rangers Shoes, about park rangers trying to save elephants in Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

She spoke about her work to save elephants from poachers slaughtering them for their ivory tusks, both as secretary of state in the Obama administration, and later with her family foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative.

Weve got to bust this market so it cant come back, she said of the illegal ivory market.

Before Clinton and the three other panelists were interviewed by Bigelow, the audience donned virtual reality headsets at their seats and experienced - in 360 degrees - what its like to be one of the 200 rangers fighting well-armed poachers in the park the size of Delaware. The film gives the viewer both the experience of being in the grass and searching for poachers, and up in the air looking down. A wrenching scene shows the rangers arriving at the carcass of a slaughtered elephant.

I realized that there was an intersection between poaching and terrorism, which led me to this project, Bigelow said. The director of The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty directed the short along with Imraan Ismail, a virtual-reality veteran, who also was on Saturdays panel. Theyre outmanned and outgunned and theyre putting themselves in the line of fire, Ismail said of the rangers.

Clinton told the audience that she first became focused on what she called the horrific slaughter of elephants when she was secretary of state.

It became clear to everyone that this was not just a terrible crisis when it came to the elephant population, it was a trade, a trafficking that was funding a lot of bad folks, a lot of bad actors, she said. It was being used to take ivory and sell it in order to buy more weapons, and support the kind of terroristic activity that these and other groups were engaged in.

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Clinton noted that while China was the biggest market for illegal ivory, the United States was the second-biggest. So China is going to be a key player but we are, too, she said.

The former Democratic presidential candidate noted that Saturday was Earth Day, and we are marching on behalf of science, referring to marches throughout the U.S. on Saturday.

And part of science is understanding the intricate relationships that we share with all those on this planet and particularly large mammals like elephants, who have a role to play both in reality and in our imaginations, she said.

Clinton told Bigelow that her virtual reality film was so critical, because it is a portal - a portal that people can go into and think about, Here we are in New York, what can I do? And there is a lot that can be done - stop the killing, stop the trafficking, and stop the demand. And part of that is protecting these rangers, who are up against some of the most ruthless killers anywhere on the planet right now, and doing the very best they can.

The Tribeca appearance was one of a series Clinton has made lately in New York, including turning up at several Broadway shows, speaking at a recent womens conference, and accepting an award this week from an LGBT community group. Audiences have greeted her with loud cheers and ovations, as they did on Saturday night.

National Geographic will release Bigelows short on May 1 on the virtual reality app Within, and on YouTube and Facebook360 the following week. The film is a co-production of the virtual reality company Here Be Dragons and the film production company Annapurna Pictures.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
By Elizabeth Piper LONDON (Reuters) - More holidays, a burka ban and an end to hard Brexit - just some of the policies Britain's opposition parties hope will prevent an overwhelming election victory by Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May in June. With some polls giving May a more than 20 point lead before the June 8 vote, the main opposition Labour Party pledged on Sunday to introduce four new public holidays to try to unite a country left deeply divided by the Brexit vote. The Liberal Democrats, who were a distant fourth in the last election, reiterated their message that they were the only "decent opposition" to a government it says is pursuing a 'hard Brexit', while the eurosceptic UK Independence Party said it would ban full veils worn by some Muslim women. The early election, which stunned British politicians, could redraw the political landscape after Brexit exposed deep faultlines in Britain, with Scotland and northern Ireland voting to remain in the EU while England and Wales supported an exit. Some commentators see a dominant Conservative Party crushing left-leaning Labour - an all but 'coronation' of May, who was appointed prime minister shortly after Britain voted to leave the EU in June last year, giving her a free hand in the talks. "The four nations that make up our great country have rarely been more divided due to the damaging and divisive policies of this Conservative government," Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said, announcing his plan to add new national holidays for the four patron saints of the British Isles. His pitch was overshadowed by his comments on suspending air strikes on Syria, and offered the Conservatives another chance to air its election catchphrase - that May is the only chance for "strong and stable" leadership. The Liberal Democrats, the only party to criticize Britain's departure from the EU, said they would offer a second referendum on any Brexit deal, while UKIP denied it had tacked to the right with its proposal to ban face veils. Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said voters would get a chance "to reflect on whether they like the (Brexit) deal" and to change the country's direction. Britain can expect to hear more promises in the weeks before the election, but with May way out ahead in the polls, it is unclear what impact they will have. The Conservatives were also seen making inroads in Scotland, with pollster Survation saying they had opened up a 10 percentage point lead over the Scottish Labour Party. (Editing by Alexander Smith)
By Ahmed Aboulenein MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - Heavy two-way traffic of carts carrying children, clothes, and the elderly crowded the main Baghdad-Mosul road on Sunday as hundreds of Iraqis fled heavy fighting or made their way back to areas seized back from Islamic State. Families paid no heed to the sound of heavy mortar, artillery and machine gun fire raging in the background as U.S.-trained Iraqi forces battled Islamic State some two km.(about a mile) away. Some had walked miles to a government checkpoint where the men were placed in army trucks and sent for security screening to ensure no militant sleeper cells get out of the city. Women and children were put on busses and sent to camps housing hundreds of thousands, some displaced since the offensive to retake the Islamic State stronghold began in October. "We left because of darkness, hunger, and death. There are bullets and air strikes. We were injured, our children were injured," said Younnes Ahmed, who was fleeing al-Thaura district with his family, their clothes all piled on a cart. There was a deep bullet wound on his hand. A group of young men further inside the city sat on the street as soldiers gave them back identification cards they had taken to conduct background checks before letting them go. Most houses were reduced to rubble, either because of air strikes or Islamic State bombs. Cars were hollowed out. "Islamic State blew up my house with TNT to shield against air strikes," said Hossam Saleh who now lives in rubble because he has nowhere to escape to. Others were walking back into the city, eager to reclaim their homes after their neighborhoods had been retaken from Islamic State by U.S.-backed security forces. "We left because of the air strikes but have now returned. But we want the government to restore services like electricity and water and to allow us to drive instead of using carts," said Mosaab Mohamed who was walking back into Mosul with his family. Iraqi forces have taken much of Mosul from the militants who overran the city in June 2014. The military now controls the eastern districts and are making advances in the west. Islamic State fighters, holding out in the Old City, are surrounded in the northwest and are using booby traps, sniper and mortar fire to defend themselves. Three policemen were killed in a suicide attack south of Mosul. A group of about 10 assailants, including four suicide bombers, had tried to infiltrate a Federal Police helicopter base in Al-Areej, a police captain told Reuters. WATER Those who have returned say the government has been slow to restore services even to western districts that had been retaken a while ago. "We are besieged in the Resala area. There are stray bullets from other areas where there is fighting; three children have died," said Mohamed Sobhi. "Water and aid cannot reach us. I call on the government to redistribute the people in areas like ours into other safer areas in Mosul." Hundreds of thousands of civilians are still trapped in western Mosul, where Iraqi forces are making slow progress against Islamic State in what is a labyrinth of narrow streets. As of April 20, some 503,000 people have been displaced from Mosul, of whom 91,000 have returned, according to the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR. The U.N. migration agency, the IOM, puts the displaced figure at 334,518 people as of April 23. Still, there were signs of a slow return to commerce on Sunday, with one man setting up a cigarette stand and a family selling candy bars and water on the Mosul-Baghdad road, and residents were eager to rebuild. "We do not want anything from the government, we just want to be allowed to help ourselves. If we can have letters allowing us to go other places we will get our own water, and transport it back," said Omar Khaled as he carried his infant son back into the city. (Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; editing by Ralph Boulton)
Painkillers you can get without a prescriptionlike acetaminophen, as well as ibuprofen, naproxen, and other so-called non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)are generally pretty safe. Thats why they are available over the counter to relieve mild-to-moderate pain from headaches, sore muscles and achy joints. But if theyre used more frequently, or over long periods of time, they may pose dangers to the heart, kidneys, bone and even hearing.

More studies are documenting harms from the consistent use of NSAIDs, especially before or after workouts to ease sore muscles and reduce joint pain. Doctors are learning that regular reliance on the painkillers may contribute to serious and surprising health issues.

The most concerning of these involves the heart. Studies have found that high doses of NSAIDs increased risk for heart attack and other heart problems by one third; ibuprofen, in particular, more than doubled the risk of a major heart event. Another recent study involving 10 million people found that those currently taking an NSAID had a 19% higher risk of being hospitalized for heart failure compared to those who had used the drugs in the past. (NSAID users are also more likely to have intestinal bleeding, a side effect of the drugs.) Research like this was compelling enough to move the Food and Drug Administration in 2015 to include stronger warnings about heart risks on the labels of the drugs.

The heart isnt the only thing at risk. When researchers studied more than 55,000 women in the Nurses Health Study, they found that people who regularly used NSAIDs over six years had a 10% higher risk of developing hearing loss compared to people who didnt use the drugs or took them less often.

People need to be more aware of the potential downsides of long-term analgesic use, says Dr. Gary Curhan at Brigham and Womens Hospital, who led the hearing loss study.

MORE: If You Take Ibuprofen Often, Read This

Because NSAIDs are available without a prescription, its easy to assume that they dont pose a health risk. The drugs over-the-counter status has led to complacency about their potential adverse effects.

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That seems to be especially true for people who pop NSAIDs before or after exercise. Some people take the medications before long runs or gym sessions to try to prevent sore muscles, while others take them immediately after a workout to reduce inflammation in joints. But in a study published in 2016, scientists found that doing so may actually promote bone breaks. Saija Kontulainen, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan, in Canada, and her colleagues studied a group of 90 older people who were randomly assigned to either resistance training or a stretching regimen and who took either ibuprofen or a placebo immediately after they exercised. When they studied scans and other measurements of the bone and muscle, they found that people who took NSAIDs just before they did resistance training experienced more bone loss than those who did not use the drugs.

MORE: Just How Unsafe Are Painkillers?

Kontulainen says the drugs work by reducing inflammation, and that helps keep bone from breaking down. But pain relievers like ibuprofen also affect a group of chemicals called prostaglandins, which help to build bone.

Weight training exercise can boost prostaglandin production, and while it cant build more bone, it can prevent loss of bone that can lead to osteoporosis. NSAIDs, on the other hand, inhibit the release of prostaglandins, so taking an NSAID just after weight training may cancel out any beneficial effect on the bone. NSAIDs shut down the favorable mechanism of prostaglandin synthesis thats needed for bone formation, she says. You lose that benefit to the bone, so the bone is pretty much the same as if you did no weight training.

The best way to take ibuprofen to relieve exercise pain, she says, is to space the drug and the exercise session at least several hours apart. It takes about two hours to clear about half of the consumed dose of medications like NSAIDs, so she says taking the drugs in the evening before a morning workout, or in the morning before an afternoon session, makes the most sense.

If you need to take an over-the-counter- pain reliever for any reason, its worth remembering that even if they dont require a prescription, theyre still drugsand all drugs have side effects.
U.S. had witnessed the highest number of death rates due to drug overdose in the past two decades. Around 52,404 lethal drug overdoses were reported in 2015 with 20,101 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers, and 12,990 overdose deaths related to heroin in 2015, and the number is just increasing, according to American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

Opioids are the main driver of drug overdose deaths and 33,091 deaths in 2015 were due to opioid overdoses, which have quadrupled since 1999. Heroin-related overdose deaths have more than quadrupled since 2010, according to ASAM. It is not unknown that the country has always been combating the rise in number. While the numbers are worrisome and has been rapidly increasing, have you ever wondered where does all the drug in the U.S. come from?

Read: Are The Doctors Stealing Drugs From Veterans?

While, the booming deaths have been a major cause of concern for officials since years, they are also trying to catch those persons who smuggle in these drugs to the U.S.

Recently, Department of Homeland Security Secretary, John Kelly, said at George Washington University Center for Cyber and Homeland Security that transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) are responsible for smuggling major portion of drugs to the U.S. From marijuana and hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin, counterfeit opiates, fentanyl, and meth amphetamines, TCOs smuggle across the U.S. borders to feed both the recreational and addictive drug demand in the nation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ICEs Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Coast Guard all bear witness to the massive quantity of drugs TCOs are bringing to our homeland every daywith devastating consequences, Kelly said, in the press release of the Department of Homeland Security.

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Kelly said that the Coast Guard has been combating to curb the inflow of cocaine in the country and has already seized about 243,000 pounds. Kelly also pointed out to the rising seizures of heroin and methamphetamine this year is an issue of concern, given the fact that its only halfway through the fiscal year. CBP had seized an average of four tons of drugs every day last year and that number is only rising, which indicates the seriousness of the drug problem in U.S.

According to a report published by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) in August last year, which is the nonpartisan agency that provides with policy and legal analysis, Mexican TCOs are the major suppliers and key producers of most illegal drugs smuggled into the United States. They have been increasing their share of the U.S. drug market  particularly with respect to heroin. The U.S. still receives a large portion of heroin from South America (primarily Columbia) and, to a much lesser extent, Southwest Asia.

The report also said the bulk of heroin smuggled into the U.S. transits across the Southwest border. Heroin seizures in this area between 2010 and 2015 increased from 1,016 kg to 2,524 kg.

Among the recent cases of drug seizure, on April 11, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 35 pounds of meth, heroin and cocaine worth more than $201,000, during an inspection of a truck driven by an unidentified 22-year-old Mexican man. Also on the same day, more than a pound of heroin was seized from a teenager who was trying to walk across the border from Nogales, Arizona. The officers spoke of similar cases where people were held for possessing drugs, according to reports.

The drugs movement into the U.S. works through cartel system.

In 2015, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) assessed six Mexican TCOs that had the greatest drug trafficking impact on the U.S. They were - the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Juarez Cartel, Gulf Cartel, Los Zetas Cartel, and Beltran Leyva Cartel. These cartels have distribution cells in designated cities across the U.S. that report to TCO leaders in Mexico or communicate through intermediaries.

Asian TCOs are also a major threat to the U.S. According to a 2016 National Drug Threat Assessment by Drug Enforcement Administration, Asian TCOs will remain a drug trafficking threat of concern in the U.S., particularly in East Coast and West Coast drug markets in the near term.

The cartels also use technology to smuggle drugs into the U.S. Rear Admiral Christopher Tomney, director of Joint Interagency Task Force for the U.S. Coast Guard had told BBC in December 2015: The cartels are very innovative. Due to their large profits, they have a lot of money they can throw at technology In the early days of this task force - and we've been around for 26 years - we saw much higher movement using non-commercial aircraft to fly the drugs northwards. He added:  We've seen growing use of self-propelled semi-submersibles (SPSSs) - low-profile vessels made out of marine-grade plywood [and] fibreglass with commercial engines. The smugglers spend up to a $1m to build one of these SPSSs for what is often just a one-way voyage. 

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To anyone who hasn't spent time on certain corners of Instagram, Starbucks' latest creation and the viral hype surrounding it might be a bit confusing.

The neon "Unicorn Frappuccino" clashes hard with the coffee chain's affected faux-Italian branding. It's not the sort of drink that one imagines ordering with words like "Venti" or sipping amidst light jazz.

SEE ALSO: Starbucks unicorn frappuccinos to grace Earth for a limited time

By most accounts, the blue-and-pink concoction, which transitions from sweet to sour, doesn't even taste especially good.

None of that really matters to Starbucks, though. The limited-time item isn't meant to blend with the company's coffeehouse chic but rather its customers' social media feeds.

It's more of a meme than a drink, capitalizing on an online craze for all things unicorn-related  and, specifically, a trend in which Instagram users share rainbow-dyed "unicorn food."

"The look of the beverage was an important part of its creation," a Starbucks spokesperson said of its conception in an email. "Our inspiration came from the fun, spirited and colorful unicorn-themed food and drinks that have been trending on social media."

"Unicorn hot chocolate." So-called "unicorn food" has become a big trend on Instagram.

Image: instagram

The week-long promotion is the latest in a long line of outlandish menu items from food and beverage chains that seem to be geared more toward online sharing than actual consumption.

The impulse of customers to broadcast photos of meals on Instagram or other social media has broadly changed the way restaurant and fast food chains think about their visual presentation.

It's also pushed them to roll out increasingly outrageous offerings just for the sake of online reactions  a type of product known to people in the industry as "stunt food."

"It's affecting not just the menu and the plating and the packaging but what items they're actually creating," says restaurant industry consultant Aaron Allen.

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"It's increasingly becoming part of the vernacular...of the marketing departments at major chain restaurants."

Take Taco Bell's endless parade of decadent Franken-foods like the Dorito Locos tacos and Cap'n Crunch donut holes. Or Buffalo Wild Wings' Mountain Dew-flavored chicken sauce. Jack in the Box once stirred up a bacon milkshake.

These foods might taste fine, and some even sell well and outlive their temporary run, but their real value is usually in the free advertising they bring the chains through viral buzz.

That goes doubly so if a brand is able to tap into an existing under-the-radar internet fad like Starbucks did.

"It's along the lines of the notion of a secret menu. People like being 'in' on it  this sort of insider view makes people want to share it so much more," Allen said.

Many big chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell understand that appeal, according to Allen. They sometimes dedicate employees or entire teams to monitoring and analyzing each individual social platform, he says.

From there, menu items can sometimes take months or even years to develop.

"[The products] are designed to not look like there's that much thought and energy and effort that's going into it because the nature of these platforms is about looking like you've got less of a corporate, conglomerate, kind of big machine that's doing it," Allen said. "But a lot goes on behind the scenes."

Stunt food itself is nothing new. Restaurants have always tried to lure customers with zany novelties that get people talking.

But the internet has more recently pushed it to new heights. The genesis of the trend's modern incarnation is widely seen as KFC's infamous "Double Down" of 2009  a sandwich consisting of two fried chicken patties separated by layers of bacon and cheese.

A disgusted New York Times writer called the unholy combination a "new low" in stunt food marketing, a pronouncement that now seems trite after years of greasy bacon- and snack chip-piled monstrosities.

KFC's infamous Double Down.

Image: KFC

The viral power of such items has since led some dining chains to attack junk food with the eye of a mad scientist, constantly pushing creations into wackier territory.

As a result, devising attention-grabbing new concoctions is now a constant struggle in an atmosphere where bizarre mash-ups and hedonistic extravagance are the norm.

Chains put a lot of stake in being the first to hit a new concept.

"We certainly are always doing social listening to see what kinds of trends and other things people are talking about and what seems to be up-and-coming," said Brad Haley, chief marketing officer of Carl's Jr. parent CKE Restaurants. "We have always prided ourselves on being the fast food chain that brings ideas to fast food for the first time."

Long before the Double Down, as a fascination with all things bacon was beginning to take root online and Supersize Me-related scares had fast food companies reining in the calories, Carl's Jr. made waves with its unabashedly fatty "pastrami burger" in 2006.

"We pioneered what Jay Leno jokingly referred to as 'meat as a condiment,'" Haley said.

A more accurate description might be "meat as a spectacle." Leno's punchline was meant as a diss, but Carl's Jr. happily touted the quote on its marketing materials in the years after as it honed its buzzy meat-overload formula to the tune of growing sales. Rivals like Arby's and Wendy's have since replicated it as well.

Haley insists that each of the brand's burgers  even those piled high with potato chips and hot dogs  are always made with good taste in mind; viral reach is secondary.

But there's no question social media shares play a role in the creative process. As part of a recent brand overhaul, Carl's Jr.'s ad agency took pains to ensure the paper that lined its trays provided a photogenic backdrop for customer meals, Haley said.

Not everyone agrees on the actual market power of stunt food. Social media impressions are tough to gauge in terms of real cash returns, and buzzy items take a lot of work for what's usually a fleeting limited run.

Still, as the value of traditional advertising becomes more uncertain, cheap buzz is all the more valuable.

Starbucks, for its part, seems to be basking in its success.

"Weve been thrilled with our customers enthusiastic reaction and advocacy for the Unicorn Frappuccino," a spokesperson said. "Its fandom has exceeded everyones expectations."

Don't expect brands to stop their weirder food experiments anytime soon.

WATCH: Woman uses Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino to spread some magical news to her husband
By Jemima Kelly LONDON (Reuters) - The euro surged in early trading in Asia on Sunday, while French bond yields were expected to fall and French stocks to rally on Monday morning, on relief that France had not been left with a choice between two radical, anti-EU presidential candidates. Multiple projections showed centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen set to face each other in a May 7 runoff for the French presidency, after coming first and second in Sunday's first round of voting. Investors' greatest worry had been that the far-left, eurosceptic Jean-Luc Melenchon, who had surged in the polls in recent weeks, could jump ahead of Macron and make it into the final run-off against Le Pen, giving voters the choice between two radical candidates who would threaten the future of the EU. That this worse-case scenario looked likely to have been averted, therefore, was seen as positive for risk sentiment. While Sunday's results looked broadly in line with polls, failures to predict the outcome of the Brexit referendum and U.S. elections had shaken investors' trust in them. And while the anti-EU Le Pen looked likely to have made it through to the second round, polls have consistently shown Macron will beat her in the runoff. "The assumption now is that centrist voters will rally around Macron, denying Le Pen the presidency and hence this will effectively be a pro-establishment, pro-European result which will be positive for risk appetite on Monday morning," said Rabobank's head of rates strategy in London, Richard McGuire. "We are likely to see a notable tightening of European sovereign spreads and this would also be positive for the euro and stocks," he said, although he added that the exit polls must be viewed with a degree of caution. The spread between French 10-year government bond yields and their German equivalents has been a key gauge of investor sentiment around the French election in recent months. That gap was widely expected to narrow on Monday as investors buy back into French debt, and as safe-haven German Bunds are sold off on higher risk appetite. FREXIT FEARS FADE The euro jumped as much as 2 percent to $1.09395 , its highest level since Nov. 10, the day after the results of the U.S. presidential election, as some markets opened in Asia. Against the yen, which investors tend to flock to when they perceive high levels of risk, the euro jumped as much as 3 percent to trade at a five-week high of 120.905 yen . "I think people will be fairly confident that Macron will win in the second round, and the market will be relieved by that," said Insight fund manager and head of currency investment in London, Paul Lambert. "The euro will benefit from the perceived decline in the break-up risk in the euro area," he added, though he said the single currency's moves would be limited by the fact that this outcome had been expected. French and European equities were expected to rally when they begin trading on Monday morning, while peripheral bond yields were expected to fall as investors regained their risk appetite. The projected result will mean a face-off between politicians with radically contrasting economic visions. Macron favors deregulation measures that will be welcomed by financial markets, while Le Pen wants to ditch the euro currency and possibly pull out of the EU - markets' biggest fear. Even if Le Pen springs a surprise on May 7, her "Freitas" ambitions will require constitutional change which experts say will be difficult, especially as her National Front party only has a handful of federal lawmakers and is seen as highly unlikely to win anything like a majority in June's parliamentary elections. June's legislative elections also pose a challenge for Macron, who wants to win a parliamentary majority with his brand-new party "En Marches!" ("Forward!") "We can now conclude that (Freitas) is off the table, assuming that most people will now regard Mr. Macron as the likely winner of round two," said Marie Owens Thomson, head of economic research at Indorse Wealth Management in London. "But, the open question is still the June parliamentary election, what the future president's government will look like and whether or not he will have a majority." (Reporting by Jemima Kelly; Additional reporting by Maya Nikolaeva in Paris, Dhara Ranasinghe, Helen Reid and Nigel Stephenson in London, and Jonathan Spicer in Washington, DC; editing by Susan Thomas)
New York (AFP) - Dozens of major US companies are facing shareholder votes this spring that seek to require more disclosure about political lobbying, as activists demand greater corporate transparency.

Votes are set to take place at more than 40 annual meetings, including those for Boeing, Wells Fargo, Ford, General Electric and Facebook.

The proposals have in many cases been offered before and predate the searing national political debates that have dominated America with the rise and election of President Donald Trump.

But whether or not they have anything to do with broader political dynamics, early tallies in the 2017 season show more investors want to know about corporate spending on lobbying.

About 37 percent of Disney's shareholders voted in favor of a measure on this issue, up five percent from last year's outcome, while Monsanto's vote came in at about 28 percent, up 7.5 percent from a year ago.

There were also modest increases at Emerson Electric and Tyson Foods.

While still a minority of shareholders, these counts are high enough to force management to take notice, corporate governance experts say.

"There's a general discomfort with the notion of corporate funds for political purposes," said Charles Elson, corporate governance chair at the University of Delaware Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics.

"If it's explained and it's legitimate, there's nothing wrong with it. The question is the transparency."

- Trade groups in focus -

Companies are already required to account for annual lobbying expenditures in reports to Congress that detail the targeted issues and the amounts spent.

However, proponents of the stepped-up measures say there are no requirements for reporting other aspects of lobbying, such as activities at the grassroots level or donations to trade organizations that lobby.

Activists point to companies like GE and Disney that favor climate change policies and their links to groups like the Chamber of Commerce which have opposed key climate policies.

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They argue the companies should disclose their trade group memberships and the amount of money given to those groups that is then used for lobbying.

"Transparency is good for investors and good for companies and it kind of goes to the principle of what gets disclosed gets managed," said John Keenan, corporate governance analyst at public employees union AFSCME, which has been in a leader in pushing for the measures.

In response, companies argue that the additional sunshining is unnecessary and misstates the nature of a company's relationship with a trade group.

"The associations and coalitions to which GE belongs perform many valuable functions," GE said in urging a "no" vote. "Lobbying is not the primary focus of these entities."

"GE may not agree with every position or lobbying action taken by such associations," the company added.

Disney said the proposal would exceed legal disclosure requirements and would "be misleadingly suggestive of the control we exercise over" trade groups.

Some companies have revised their policies following talks with shareholders. Keenan said Wal-Mart Stores agreed to provide lobbying spending by state, while defense company Raytheon increased its disclosures, including providing a list of its trade association dues.

A Wal-Mart spokesman declined to comment on the specifics about negotiations on lobbying disclosures, but said shareholders regularly decide to withdraw proposals following talks with the company.

Raytheon declined comment.

This year, Pfizer strengthened its oversight of lobbying by amending the corporate charter to place the responsibility with the Corporate Governance committee.

- Business strikes back -

As they battle this year's shareholder proposals, large companies through the Business Roundtable, a trade group, are pushing to limit future battles involving activists.

In a letter to National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, the Business Roundtable urged officials to "tighten eligibility" to restrict investors "with insignificant stakes" from making proposals "that pursue social or political agendas unrelated to the interests of shareholders as a whole."

The Business Roundtable argues the current $2,000 minimum requirement is "no longer a reasonable standard" to get on the ballot and should be raised to at least 0.15 percent at large companies.

But corporate governance expert Elson rejected that argument.

"Sometimes terrific ideas come from small investors," he said. "It's also become an important signaling mechanism that boards need to be aware of."
Jerusalem (AFP) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday threatened to destroy those who call for the destruction of Israel, in a speech to mark the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day.

"Iran and the Islamic state want to destroy us, and a hatred for Jews is being directed towards the Jewish state today," he said at a ceremony in Jerusalem's Yad Vashem memorial.

"Those who threaten to destroy us risk being destroyed themselves," Netanyahu warned.

"From being defenceless people, we have become a state with a defensive capacity that is among the strongest in the world," he said.

Six Holocaust survivors lit torches in memory of the six million Jews killed by the Nazis during the 1939-1945 World War II.

Israel will also come to a standstill for two minutes at 10 am local time (0700 GMT) on Thursday as sirens wail in remembrance of the Jewish victims of Nazism.

Radio stations and television channels on Sunday were broadcasting programmes about the genocide.

More than 213,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel today, many of them below the poverty line, according to survivors' groups.

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By James Pearson and Ju-min Park

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea said on Sunday it was ready to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might, as two Japanese navy ships joined a U.S. carrier group for exercises in the western Pacific.

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to sail to waters off the Korean peninsula in response to rising tension over the North's nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its Asian allies.

The United States has not specified where the carrier strike group is as it approaches the area. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive "within days" but gave no other details.

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North Korea remained defiant.

"Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in a commentary.

The paper likened the aircraft carrier to a "gross animal" and said a strike on it would be "an actual example to show our military's force".

The commentary was carried on page three of the newspaper, after a two-page feature about leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a pig farm.

Speaking during a visit to Greece, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there were already enough shows of force and confrontation at present and appealed for calm.

"We need to issue peaceful and rational sounds," Wang said, according to a statement issued by China's Foreign Ministry.

Adding to the tensions, North Korea detained a Korean-American man in his fifties on Friday, bringing the total number of U.S. citizens held by Pyongyang to three.

The man, Tony Kim, had been in North Korea for a month teaching accounting at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), the institution's chancellor Chan-Mo Park told Reuters. He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

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North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army on Tuesday.

It has in the past marked important anniversaries with tests of its weapons.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, two of them last year, and is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.

It has also carried out a series of ballistic missile tests in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting Trump.

He has vowed to prevent the North from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.

WORRY IN JAPAN

North Korea says its nuclear program is for self-defense and has warned the United States of a nuclear attack in response to any aggression. It has also threatened to lay waste to South Korea and Japan.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday North Korea's recent statements were provocative but had proven to be hollow in the past and should not be trusted.

"We've all come to hear their words repeatedly; their word has not proven honest," Mattis told a news conference in Tel Aviv, before the latest threat to the aircraft carrier.

Japan's show of naval force reflects growing concern that North Korea could strike it with nuclear or chemical warheads.

Some Japanese ruling party lawmakers are urging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to acquire strike weapons that could hit North Korean missile forces before any imminent attack.

Japan's navy, which is mostly a destroyer fleet, is the second largest in Asia after China's.

The two Japanese warships, the Samidare and Ashigara, left western Japan on Friday to join the Carl Vinson and will "practice a variety of tactics" with the U.S. strike group, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force said in a statement.

The Japanese force did not specify where the exercises were taking place, but by Sunday the destroyers could have reached an area 2,500 km (1,500 miles) south of Japan, which would be east of the Philippines.

From there, it could take three days to reach waters off the Korean peninsula. Japan's ships would accompany the Carl Vinson north at least into the East China Sea, a source with knowledge of the plan said.

U.S. and South Korean officials have been saying for weeks that the North could soon stage another nuclear test, something the United States, China and others have warned against.

South Korea has put its forces on heightened alert.

China, North Korea's sole major ally, opposes Pyongyang's weapons programs and has appealed for calm. The United States has called on China to do more to help defuse the tension.

Last Thursday, Trump praised Chinese efforts to rein in "the menace of North Korea", after North Korean state media warned the United States of a "super-mighty pre-emptive strike".

(Additional reporting by Tim Kelly in TOKYO and Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; editing by Ralph Boulton and Jason Neely)
New York (AFP) - Kendrick Lamar has pulled off the biggest US album debut this year with "DAMN.," an introspective work of hip-hop storytelling that features Rihanna and U2.

"DAMN." sold 603,000 copies or the equivalent in streaming and downloads in the week since its April 14 release, tracking service Nielsen Music said late Saturday.

Entering at number one on the benchmark Billboard chart, "DAMN." sold more in a single week than any other album so far this year.

"DAMN." follows Lamar's 2015 album "To Pimp a Butterfly," which has quickly been hailed as a hip-hop classic with its innovative infusion of jazz and its lyricism that explored the state of black America.

While "DAMN." has similarly won wide praise, it brings a more classic rap style, even with a pop-oriented collaboration with Rihanna and a guitar rock fusion with U2.

"DAMN." is a highly personal work and culminates with a track in which Lamar recalls his father being shot while working at a Kentucky Fried Chicken branch in the Los Angeles area.

While "DAMN." also has political references, Lamar said in an interview aired Friday that he did not want to focus too much on President Donald Trump.

"I wanted more self-evaluation and discipline because of what's going on now," he told Apple Music's Beats 1 radio.

"We're not focusing on him," he said of Trump. "What's going on now -- we're focusing on self."

Lamar's track "Alright" from "To Pimp a Butterfly" became an unofficial anthem of the Black Lives Matter movement. The rapper's admirers include then president Barack Obama, who invited Lamar to the White House.

Lamar topped the "More Life" collection by Drake -- the Toronto rapper known more for crowd-pulling dance tracks than social commentary -- which had earlier held the crown for biggest US album release of 2017.

But "DAMN." remains well below Drake's last full-fledged album "Views," which sold more than one million copies in its first week after its release a year ago.

The comparative sales figures are sure to be scrutinized as Lamar and Drake have made a series of critical, if indirect, comments about each other.
A rollercoaster of emotions filled the Alberta Bair Theater Saturday night at the Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorales debut of The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.

It was a big night in many ways.

Chorale director Steven Hart was honored for finishing up his 10th season with the organization and developing what BSO Board President John Stewart called the most outstanding chorale in the region.

The concert, the final one of the 2016-17 regular season, kicks off a week-long celebration of peace and love in Billings, which is a collaborative effort between the ABT, BSO&C, Master Lube, Rocky Mountain College and Montana State University Billings. It includes a concert April 29 at the ABT, featuring cellist Jozef Luptik and lectures at both colleges.

But the biggest moment of all Saturday night was when principal cellist David Heinzen used his expressive touch to perform the tenderest of melodies on the Benedictus, with the chorale sweetly blending their voices into the sentimental melody as they sang the familiar words, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

This is mass like you've never experienced it with explosive percussion, striking horns, and the rousing beauty of 60 voices with perfect tone and timing. No wonder, some members of the audience were gushing on their way out the door Saturday night, "Wow, what a concert." The orchestra and chorale, directed by Anne Harrigan, earned a much-deserved sustained ovation.

The anti-war theme of the piece is driven home through dramatic instrumentation and stirring vocals reciting powerful words written by poets and holy men from all over the world. Some of the most powerful phrases were voiced in "Angry Flames," which were written by poet Toge Sankichi, who lived through the horrors of the atom bomb attack on Hiroshima only to die in 1953 of leukemia brought on by his exposure to radiation.

Welsh composer Karl Jenikins included a Muslim Call to Prayer, "Adhaan," which was performed by a guest vocalist who speaks Arabic.

At times, the chorales voices sounded like a thousand people wailing. But by the end of the 13 movements, their voices rise up with power and spirit to affirm that change is possible as they sing the affirmation from Revelations, "sorrow, pain and death can be overcome."
Paris (AFP) - Far-right leader Marine Le Pen wept for joy when her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, the bogeyman of French politics, made it to the final of the 2002 presidential election.

But while Le Pen senior ultimately failed to win the top job, 15 years later his charismatic daughter believes she can become France's first woman president, and the first from the far-right National Front (FN).

In Sunday's first round vote, the fiercely anti-EU, anti-immigration Le Pen secured a spot in the May 7 run-off, just behind centrist Emmanuel Macron, according to several polling institutes.

But even her supporters admit she faces a tough challenge, with her younger rival tipped to appeal to a broader spectrum of voters.

Her backers would clearly have preferred her to have come first Sunday -- or at least to be facing someone other than Macron in the run-off. "Macron is more complicated," one Le Pen supporter said.

She also goes into the runoff with several investigations hanging over the FN and her entourage for alleged funding scandals, while she is also being probed after tweeting pictures of Islamic State atrocities.

- 'Party of patriots' -

Over the past six years, Le Pen's rebranded "party of patriots" has gone from strength to strength, propelled by the kind of anti-globalisation, anti-establishment fury that drove Britain's vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump's election in the United States.

Le Pen has predicted the EU "will die" and has vowed to take France out of the euro and hold a referendum on membership of the union.

The proposal has caused alarm, with most polls showing the French against a "Frexit" or a return of the franc, fearing economic chaos.

Le Pen has downplayed the risks, accusing sceptical rivals and economists of scaremongering.

But she never strayed far from the FN's stock themes of immigration and Islamic fundamentalism -- hot-button issues after a string of jihadist attacks that have killed 239 people since 2015, including a policeman shot dead on Paris's Champs Elysees three days before the election.

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"With me there would never have been the migrant terrorists of the Bataclan," she told supporters in the final days of the campaign, referring to the Paris concert hall where dozens were killed in the November 2015 attacks.

Le Pen launched a drive to detoxify the FN's image on taking over the leadership in 2011 -- propelling the party to victory in European elections in 2014.

In the last presidential election in 2012 Le Pen finished third with just under 18 percent.

On the campaign trail this year, she returned to the party's fundamentals, saying France bore no responsibility for an infamous round-up of 13,000 Jews in Paris during World War II by police acting on orders from the collaborationist Vichy regime.

Her remarks drew comparisons with the revisionism of her father, whom she kicked out of the party in 2015 for describing the Holocaust as "a detail of history".

A wounded Jean-Marie refused to go quietly, dragging the FN before the courts.

- Family drama -

The split marked a turning point in the career of Marine Le Pen, who developed a tough shell after a tumultuous childhood.

When she was eight, a bomb ripped through the Paris apartment building where the family lived, slightly injuring six people but sparing the Le Pens.

Eight years later, her mother Pierrette walked out on her husband and three daughters, sensationally resurfacing shortly afterwards posing nude in Playboy magazine.

"It was a huge shock," Le Pen, who did not see her mother for 15 years, told a French television interviewer last year.

Now herself a twice-divorced mother-of-three, she keeps her private life out of the spotlight, appearing rarely as a couple with her partner, FN vice-president Louis Aliot.

The politician with the gravelly voice and flair for sharp putdowns started out as a lawyer defending illegal immigrants facing deportation as a state-appointed attorney.

Despite that experience she blames migration -- and the European Union -- for France's economic woes.

- French first -

The FN has come a long way since it was launched in 1972 as a refuge for paramilitaries who opposed France granting independence to Algeria.

It also drew apologists for the wartime Vichy regime's collaboration with Nazi Germany and ultra-conservative Catholics.

Under Marine Le Pen, the party has sought to show a more progressive face, promoting openly gay politicians and showing unmasked racists the door.

Critics, however, point to the role of several Le Pen aides who were once part of violent nationalist student groups -- and the recurring chant of "This is our land" at FN rallies -- as evidence that it still attracts hardliners.

Like Trump, Le Pen is proposing to pull up the drawbridge and restore French glory with a policy of "economic patriotism".

Besides leaving the euro she wants to pull out of Europe's Schengen border-free area, adopt a French-first policy on jobs and public housing and tax products from French companies that offshore factory jobs by 35 percent.
Paris (AFP) - Marine Le Pen's far-right National Front (FN) did not deliver posters in time for them to appear outside voting booths abroad, the French foreign ministry said on Sunday.

"The posters are printed by the candidates themselves and it is up to them to hand them in to the electoral commission before the deadline" of April 10, the ministry said.

It said "only 10" of the 11 candidates did this in time -- meaning their posters appear at polling stations abroad.

"The posters for the candidate Marine Le Pen were not provided so the corresponding poster board is empty," the ministry added.

Large metal boards are erected outside polling stations in France, with campaign posters for the 11 candidates.

Around 1.3 million French people abroad are registered to vote -- representing around two percent of the total electorate.

France is going to the polls on Sunday under high security for a vote that is seen as crucial for the future of the country and the European Union.

Far-right Le Pen is seen as one of the frontrunners but opinion polls suggest an extremely close race and any two of the four top candidates have a fighting chance to make it to the all-important run-off on May 7.
By Brenda Goh, Michael Martina and Christian Shepherd SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) - Global security companies and their smaller Chinese rivals are jostling for business along Beijing's modern-day "Silk Road", the grandiose plan for land and sea routes connecting the world's second largest economy with the rest of Asia and beyond. Representing investments of hundreds of billions of dollars, the pet project of Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen boosting economic growth at home, and as positive for everything from steel prices to cement makers. Security firms also expect to tap the rush, offering to protect thousands of Chinese workers - and the pipelines, roads, railways and power plants they build - as they fan out across the world under the "One Belt, One Road" (OBOR) initiative. It won't be easy, however, with executives warning that state-owned enterprises running or planning projects from Africa to Vietnam sometimes prefer to deal with fellow Chinese, treat safety as an afterthought and try to keep costs to a minimum. "OBOR is a lifetime (of work) for us," said John Jiang, managing director of Chinese Overseas Security Group (COSG). The small consortium of security providers was set up early last year and operates in six countries: Pakistan, Turkey, Mozambique, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand. "In eight years' time, we want to run a business that can cover 50-60 countries, which fits with the One Belt One Road coverage," Jiang told Reuters. Chinese personnel are essentially barred under Chinese law, and that of many host nations they work in, from carrying or using weapons. Instead, COSG and its rivals usually work with and train local staff and focus on logistics and planning. In Pakistan, for example, where attacks by militants and separatist insurgents are considered a serious threat, COSG has a joint venture with a local security firm with links to Pakistan's navy. The Pakistani army also plans to provide 14-15,000 armed personnel dedicated to guarding Chinese projects, according to local media reports. The $57 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the largest single project under the OBOR banner, envisages roads, railways, pipelines and power lines that link China's western reaches with the Arabian Sea via Pakistan. CHINESE VERSUS INTERNATIONAL Major international security operators hope their scale and experience can convince China's price-conscious state-owned giants to pay for foreign expertise. Firms like Control Risks and G4S offer staff with military backgrounds and decades of experience in risky regions around the world. G4S said it had seen an acceleration of interest in its services since OBOR began gaining traction. Michael Humphreys, a Shanghai-based partner at Control Risks, said around a third of the security consultancy's work in China was related to OBOR. Hong Kong-based logistics firm Frontier Services Group <0500.HK>, co-founded by Erik Prince who created the U.S. military security services business Blackwater, announced in December it was shifting strategy to capitalize on OBOR. It plans to set up an office in the southwestern province of Yunnan, which adjoins Southeast Asia, and another base in Xinjiang in China's west, the starting point for the CPEC project crossing Pakistan. Smaller Chinese firms like COSG, Shanghai-based Weldon Security and Dewei Security, meanwhile, see their advantage over multinationals in state-owned enterprises' preference for hiring Chinese to handle sensitive projects. Only a handful of the estimated 5,800 Chinese security companies operate overseas, with the vast majority focusing on the domestic market. "For Chinese firms, especially with security work, they (state companies) want to speak with another Chinese person. We can also one hundred percent reflect their thinking when we work," said Dewei general manager Hao Gang. NO EASY SELL Security risks facing Chinese workers abroad are varied and often unpredictable. Yu Xuezhao, a former soldier working in Kenya for Dewei, is helping to train hundreds of local guards to protect Chinese contractors operating there, including oil giant Sinopec <600028.SS> and China Road and Bridge. Africa, where China invested long before OBOR was formally created, is considered a part of the initiative. "The most common incidents we encounter are thefts and strikes," 27-year-old Yu said, speaking from a training compound in the Kenyan capital Nairobi he has managed since 2015. "We train security guards to inspect cars and do ground patrols." Events can quickly escalate. In 2015, for example, an attack on a hotel in Mali killed three workers at a Chinese state firm, leading to calls by Beijing for beefed up security. Officials revealed then that 350 security incidents had occurred between 2010-2015 involving Chinese firms abroad. Such concerns do not easily translate into lucrative contracts, however. In some cases, security companies are called in to deal with an emergency rather than to coordinate a long-term strategy. "For a lot of companies, they come to us when they've (already) got a problem," said Humphreys of Control Risks. "They've started the project and they can't move it forward because they have a labor dispute or someone is throwing petrol bombs at their trucks." Hao and other Chinese security executives added that most state-owned enterprises were building their overseas security capabilities from a low base. "A lot of the larger state-owned enterprises have only just started to go out in the last few years. As such, overseas security work remains a blank space for those firms who had not gone out before," he said.Some Chinese experts said companies operating abroad were beginning to think more about the importance of safety. "This is something Chinese companies need to study more," said Lu Guiqing, general manager of private builder Zhongnan Group and former chief economist at China State Construction Engineering Corporation. "When you 'go out' safety is the most important. What's the point if you end up losing people?" (Additional reporting by Joseph Campbell in BEIJING and George Ng'ang'a in NAIROBI; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Paris (AFP) - Emmanuel Macron is a centrist pro-European whose sensational political career, unorthodox marriage and promises to modernise France have made him a favourite for the presidency.

If he wins, the 39-year-old former banker would be the youngest French leader in modern history, upending tradition that has usually seen voters favour experience in their powerful presidents.

Running in his first ever election, Macron was projected to win about 24 percent in the first round of the presidential poll on Sunday, guaranteeing him a place in the second round on May 7 against far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen.

"We're turning a page in French political history," a jubilant Macron told AFP after the estimates were released.

Latest opinion polls out Sunday found that Macron would win about two-thirds of the vote if the run-off was held today.

His projected first round victory is a vindication of his decision to quit the government of unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande in August to concentrate on building up his own centrist political movement "En Marche" ("On the Move").

"We can't respond with the same men and the same ideas," Macron said as he launched his presidential bid in November at a jobs training centre in a gritty Parisian suburb.

Since then, he has rarely been out of the headlines, building up his movement to more than 250,000 members and confounding critics who said he would only appeal to a narrow band of young, urban professionals.

"In your name, I will be... the voice of hope for our country and for Europe," he told cheering supporters Sunday.

"I want to be the president of the patriots against the threat of nationalists."

With frustration at France's political class running high, Macron has tapped into a desire for wholesale change that also propelled far-right candidate Le Pen into the second round.

"I'm here because he's young, he's dynamic. It's like a breath of fresh air," 23-year-old shop worker Marine Gonidou told AFP at a rally in Brittany in January.

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Although positioned as an outsider, the brilliant student followed a well-worn path through elite French universities including ENA, which has groomed many French leaders.

After going into investment banking, where he earned several million euros at Rothschild, Macron became an economic advisor to Hollande in 2012 and then economy minister two years later.

Despite the efforts of his opponents, "he seems to have escaped his association with the government," said Dominique Reynie, head of the Foundation for Political Innovation think-tank in Paris.

Throughout the campaign he insisted that France was "contrarian" -- ready to elect a pro-EU, pro-globalisation liberal at a time when rightwing nationalists are making gains across the world.

- Against the grain -

As well as wanting to improve the business environment, Macron stresses the need to boost education in deprived areas and has spoken out against stigmatising Muslims with France's strict rules on secularism.

His championing of tech firms and the "Uber-isation" of the economy, in which people increasingly work as independents rather than as employees, has helped burnish his image as a moderniser.

"I want us to be able to start a business more easily, to innovate more easily" is one of his mantras, explained in depth in his pre-election book "Revolution".

Opponents still dismiss him as deliberately vague, with Le Pen landing a blow during a televised debate in March when she attacked him for waffling.

"Mr Macron you have an amazing talent, you've spoken for seven minutes and I'm unable to resume your thinking. You've said nothing!" she said.

- Childhood romance -

In politics as well as his personal life, Macron has also broken traditions.

The theatre lover from a middle-class family in northeast France fell in love with his secondary school drama teacher, Brigitte Trogneux, in a story that captivated the French media.

Trogneux, a mother of three children 25 years older than him, went on to divorce her husband and marry the young prodigy in 2007.

"At the age of 17, Emmanuel said to me: 'Whatever you do, I will marry you!'," Trogneux told Paris Match magazine last April.

Some have found the relationship difficult to believe despite numerous appearances together in glossy magazines, forcing Macron to repeatedly laugh off rumours he is gay.

While at ease among ordinary voters and charismatic, Macron has been accused of being condescending in the past, whether referring to "illiterate" abattoir workers, "alcoholic" laid-off workers or the "poor people" who travel on buses.

In an infamous exchange, when confronted by a protester in a T-shirt in May last year, he lost his cool, saying: "The best way to buy yourself a suit is to work."
A liberal blogger, Yameen Rasheed, was stabbed to death in the politically restive Maldivian capital Male, his family members and colleagues said Sunday. He was 29.

Rasheed was found in the stairwell of his apartment with multiple stab wounds to his neck and chest early Sunday and died shortly after being taken to hospital, family members said.

His blog, The Daily Panic, had a considerable following and was known for poking fun at politicians in the nation of some 340,000 Sunni Muslims.

"With The Daily Panic, I hope to cover and comment upon the news, satirise the frequently unsatirisable politics of Maldives," he wrote on his blog.

Rasheed is the third media personality to be targeted in the Maldives in the past five years. Blogger Ismail Rasheed, also known as Hilath, was stabbed and wounded by an unidentified attacker in 2012.

A journalist with the independent Minivan News, Ahmed Rilwan, was likely abducted in August 2014 and has been missing ever since.

Exiled opposition leader and former president Mohamed Nasheed on Sunday demanded action on the latest killing of an independent journalist.

"President Nasheed is demanding an inquiry with international participation so it can't be swept under the carpet as usual," a spokesman for Nasheed told AFP.

Political tension has mounted in the Maldives after a failed bid by the opposition to impeach the country's parliamentary speaker late last month.

The regime of President Abdulla Yameen has arrested the last Maldives opposition leader not to be in jail or in exile as part of a major government crackdown on rival politicians, who narrowly failed to seize control of parliament.

Qasim Ibrahim, who ran for president in 2013 and currently heads the Jumhooree Party (JP), was one of four signatories of an opposition unity deal aimed at toppling Yameen.

Ibrahim was briefly detained and released earlier this month only to be re-arrested over the weekend.

A coalition of opposition parties, led by exiled leader Nasheed, is trying to undermine Yameen before elections next year.

It faces an uphill struggle, with all opposition leaders now in exile or in jail after a years-long crackdown on dissent under Yameen's leadership.

The clampdown has raised fears over the country's stability and dented its image as a tourist paradise.
By Lacey Johnson and Lisa Fernandez WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people turned out in cities across the United States and beyond on Saturday for Earth Day events billed as a "celebration of science" to counter what organizers say is a growing disregard for evidence-based knowledge in Washington. In hundreds of "March for Science" events from Boston to Sydney, Australia, engineers, researchers and teachers took a break from the lab to apply their ingenuity to colorful protest placards. Demonstrators carried signs like "There Is No Planet B," "No One Is Above Peer Review," "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Make Science Great Again," a play on U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign promise to "Make America Great Again." Other signs featured mathematical formulas in a display of geek humor. While the events were non-partisan according to organizers, many marchers were in effect protesting Trump's proposal to sharply cut federal science and research budgets and his administration's skepticism about climate change and the need to slow global warming. The marches put a new twist on the traditional Earth Day activities, the aim of which was to reaffirm "the vital role science plays in our democracy," according to the march's website. Festivities at one of the largest events on Washington's National Mall included scientific "teach-ins" and musical performances. "It's important to show this administration that we care about facts," said Chris Taylor, 24, who was part of an early crowd of about 15,000 who gathered on Washington's Mall for teach-ins on topics like climate change, water quality and sustainable food. "It just seems like they're not really concerned about economic growth or creating new technologies, just catering to massive corporations," said Taylor, who is earning a PhD in robotics at George Mason University in Virginia. In Los Angeles, at least 12,000 people joined the March for Science, police said. Some demonstrators walked in lab coats while others shaded themselves under umbrellas and signs as temperatures neared 90 Fahrenheit (32 Celsius). TRUMP SUPPORTS 'RIGOROUS SCIENCE' A fervent but good-natured anti-Trump tone was evident on San Francisco's waterfront, where thousands gathered near The Exploratorium science museum ahead of a march to city hall. Many carried signs emblazoned with slogans such as "Pruitt Plus Trump Equals Bad Chemistry," a reference to Scott Pruitt, the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency, who has questioned the scientific consensus on global warming. March for Science is the latest in a series of national demonstrations staged since Trump's inauguration nearly 100 days ago. Previous marches and protests have focused on a range of partisan issues, from abortion rights to immigration policy. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday's marches, but Trump released a statement on his approach to environmental issues. "My administration is reducing unnecessary burdens on American workers and American companies, while being mindful that our actions must also protect the environment," Trump said. "Rigorous science is critical to my administration's efforts to achieve the twin goals of economic growth and environmental protection," said the president, who passed dozens of protesters as his motorcade made its way to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington. TUSSLE OVER CLIMATE CHANGE In the past, Trump has said climate change was a hoax that was stifling policies to foster economic growth. His administration is considering withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, a global accord aimed at reducing global emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Last year the United States, under President Barack Obama, joined more than 190 other countries in signing the pact. Trump's proposed 2018 budget calls for deep spending cuts by government science agencies, including a 31 percent reduction for the Environmental Protection Agency. The scientific community's direct involvement in a national policy debate has stirred some criticism about whether scientists should get involved in politics. But organizers have defended the march as crucial because of the threat posed by discrediting scientific consensus and restricting research. "As scientists, as human beings, our mandate is clear - it's to stand up for what we know to be true," said Kellan Baker, a senior fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and one of the speakers on the National Mall. That theme was echoed by many who showed up in Washington for teach-ins, which organizers said were a centerpiece of the initial Earth Day held in 1970 to call attention to the environment. "Science isn't respected and it needs to be," said Sarah Binkow, 22, a civil engineer who traveled from Michigan to attend the Washington rally. "Being here definitely gives me hope that there's this overwhelming population that supports science and supports scientific theory," she said. In Washington, speakers included Bill Nye, an educator and television personality known as "the Science Guy," and Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician and public health advocate who first called attention to the high levels of lead in the drinking water of Flint, Michigan. "Flint is what happens when we dismiss science," she said, referring to the 2014 crisis. (Additional reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington, Frank McGurty in New York, Brian Snyder in Boston and Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Writing by Frank McGurty; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Mary Milliken)
Washington has seen a seemingly endless march of protestors since President Donald Trump's inauguration Jan. 20. Women and those who support them flooded the city the day after Jan. 21. That was followed by demonstrations on immigration policy, health care policy, public education  you name it and people show up for the cause.

Read: NASA Earth Day 2017 Events: Adopt Part Of The Planet

This weekend, on Earth Day, people from near and far will descend on the nation's capital in support of science. The march and rally are planned for Saturday to urge politicians to create policy backed by science. And while people are marching in the District of Columbia, there will be 609 satellite marches across the world. If you want to get involved you can look up a march near you. There are also posters on the March for Science website created specifically for the events available for download and printing.

Washington March for Science Schedule:

Participants in D.C. are getting an early start on Saturday. They'll begin meeting up at 8 a.m. just north of the Washington Monument. Entrances with security checks will be at the intersection of Constitution Avenue NW and 17th Street NW, and 15th Street NW and Madison Drive, according to the March for Science website.

Teach-ins, like the ones that kicked off the first ever Earth Day in 1970, will begin at 9 a.m. in designated teach-in tents. The main programming, including speakers, will begin at 10 a.m.

Who Is Going To The March For Science?:

Millions of people will turn out for the marches across the world. The D.C. march has an impressive lineup of celebrities, activists, scientists, educators and more. A few of the speakers in attendance will include co-host Questlove, Bill Nye (the Science Guy), Mari Copeny (Little Miss Flint), Dan Abrams (global director of Earth Day) and world-renowned scientists and researchers. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., the only member of Congress with a doctorate in physics, will be attending and marching as well. He says he'll be marching as a member of the scientific community, not a member of Congress, the Hill reported. A full list of the speakers attending the Washington march is available here.

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March for Science D.C. route:

After the speakers on the main stage conclude the program, the crowd will march up Constitution Avenue toward the Capitol reflecting pool, ending up and dispersing in front of the Capitol on 3rd Street NW.

March for Science DC route

Photo: Google Maps

Should I go to the March for Science?

The march is billed as a nonpartisan event on the March for Science site. The description of the event says: "We unite as a diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science that upholds the common good and for political leaders and policy makers to enact evidence-based policies in the public interest."

Science has been brought into the political conversation on multiple occasions as subjective fact and experts are getting tired of it. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt denied the role of human activity in climate change last month. Trump called climate change a hoax and supported the idea that vaccines are unsafe.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson uploaded a video to Facebook on Wednesday, urging citizens to believe in science and hold their elected officials accountable for acting on that science. Belief in science that has been studied, tested and proven has become political on certain fronts. The march is to support that idea that science is fact and should be treated as such in politics.

Upcoming marches:

The Washington Park Service had received 197 requests for protest permits as of Wednesday, the Washington Post reported, up by 49 requests compared with this time last year. That statistic doesn't include the smaller pop-up protests D.C. has seen since January. There have been several large protests this year, including the Tax March, the Women's March and this weekend's March for Science. Next weekend D.C. will be overrun with attendees of the People's Climate March. There are more large protests planned for topics like immigration and LGBTQ pride.

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Paris (AFP) - Jean-Luc Melenchon, who crashed out of France's unpredictable presidential election Sunday, is a fiery Communist-backed eurosceptic who had vowed to return "power to the people".

Melenchon had enjoyed a late surge ahead of the first-round vote in an election marked by widespread disillusionment with the political class.

But initial projections put the head of La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) trailing in fourth place behind far-right leader Marine Le Pen, centrist Emmanuel Macron and conservative Francois Fillon.

Despite his reputation as a firebrand, the left-winger admitted during the campaign he had mellowed after years spent lambasting the establishment.

"I'm less of a hothead," the bespectacled 65-year-old said in a recent interview. "I'm becoming a reassuring figure."

Observers said strong debate performances showcasing a more temperate but still quick-witted Melenchon had helped propel him into serious contention.

Melenchon "invented political stand-up. He's become a showman," said former Socialist Party colleague Julien Dray.

The candidate showed a blend of calm and defiance Friday by going ahead with a campaign event while rivals cancelled theirs in the wake of the jihadist shooting of a police officer on Paris's Champs Elysees.

The oldest of the main candidates had made the most intensive use of the internet, boasting more than a million followers on Twitter and his own YouTube channel -- a way to circumvent the traditional media, which he accused of bias.

- Rhetoric and social media savvy -

And he turned heads with simultaneous appearances at campaign rallies using holograms, a technological first for a French presidential campaign.

With the ruling Socialist Party split between leftist and reformist camps, its candidate Benoit Hamon languished in a distant fifth place in the polls.

After emphatically refusing to ally himself with Hamon, Melenchon emerged for many as the main voice on the left.

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Often appearing at rallies wearing a Chairman Mao-style jacket, Melenchon spoke without notes as he railed against the "neo-liberal" European Union and pushed his tax-and-spend agenda.

But while he shared far-right leader Marine Le Pen's animosity toward the EU -- they are both currently MEPs -- Melenchon was her polar opposite when it came to immigration.

"Today as yesterday, I am delighted that France is a mix of races and all the children are our children," he had said.

An admirer of late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez as well as Bolivian leader Evo Morales, he advocated a policy of non-alignment and wanted to withdraw from NATO.

While supporters saw him as a defender of the people against moneyed interests, to his detractors Melenchon, who wanted to legalise cannabis, was a dangerous populist -- Hollande called him a "peril" while the right-leaning Figaro daily called him the "French Chavez".

Born in Morocco, Melenchon, who studied philosophy, was a Trotskyist student activist before joining the Socialists at 25 and becoming the youngest member of the Senate in 1986.

- 'Our country needs another voice' -

He served as vocational education minister under Socialist premier Lionel Jospin from 2000 to 2002.

But in 2008, Melenchon fell out with party leader Hollande and quit the Socialists, saying "our country needs another voice on the left".

With his virulent attacks against bosses and austerity policies, he won 11 percent when he ran for president in 2012 as head of the Parti de Gauche (Left Party).

This time he emerged as a hard-left alternative to Le Pen and the other "outsider", the pro-business Emmanuel Macron, vowing to scrap France's "monarchical presidency" and give far more power to parliament.

Despite a softer image, Melenchon insisted he still had fire in his belly.

"You can't propose what I am proposing with the look of a choirboy," he said. "Sometimes there's no choice, you have to kick the doors open."
RABAT (Reuters) - Morocco has summoned Algeria's ambassador to express concern after 54 Syrians attempted to "illegally enter" the country from Algeria, the ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement on Sunday. It said 54 Syrians attempted to enter Morocco through the border town of Figuig, an area surrounded by mountains, between April 17 and 19. It accused Algeria of forcing them to cross into Morocco. "Algeria must assume political responsibility and morality concerning this situation," the ministry statement on MAP state news agency said. "It is immoral and unethical to manipulate the moral and physical distress of these people, (and) to sow trouble in the Morocco-Algerian border." There was no immediate response from Algeria on state news agency APS. Some 5,000 Syrians have gone through a migration regulatory process in Morocco, with several hundred receiving refugee status, according to Morocco's ministry of foreign affairs. Morocco and Algeria share a 1,500 km (970 mile) land border that runs from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sahara Desert which has been shut since 1994. The North African neighbours have had a contentious relationship since independence from France. Border disputes triggered an armed conflict in the 1960s known as the "Sand War". One of their biggest disputes has been over Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, most of which Morocco annexed in 1975. Algeria supports and hosts the Western Saharan independence movement Polisario, a stance which angers Morocco. (Reporting by Samia Errazzkoui; editing by Patrick Markey and Jason Neely)
With a new law barring work e-mail after hours, the French have honored a truth long recognized by economists: working longer hours doesnt necessarily result in increased productivity. Mexicothe least productive of the 38 countries listed in 2015 data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)has the worlds longest average work week at 41.2 hours (including full-time and part-time workers). At the other end of the spectrum, Luxembourg, the most productive country, has an average workweek of just 29 hours.

The United States ranks fifth, according to the OECD, contributing $68.30 to the countrys GDP per hour worked, countering claims that Americans are the most productive workers in the world. America put in more hours33.6 per week on averagethan all four of the European countries with higher productivity rankings.

Methodology

Productivity is calculated by dividing each countrys GDP by the average number of hours worked annually by all employed citizens. Hours worked include full-time and part-time workers, excluding holidays and vacation time.
A US citizen has reportedly been arrested as he tried to fly out of North Korea, becoming the third American to be detained there, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Sunday.

The US State Department said it was aware of the reports, but there was no official confirmation of the arrest, which would come at a tense time in relations between Pyongyang and Washington.

Yonhap quoted sources as saying the man, identified only by his surname Kim, was arrested on Friday at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

It said Kim, aged in his late 50s and a former professor at China's Yanbian University of Science and Technology, had been involved in aid programmes for the North.

He reportedly was in North Korea for about a month to discuss relief activities, Yonhap said. The reason for his arrest was unclear.

"We are aware of reports that a US citizen was detained in North Korea," a State Department official said in Washington.

Due to the lack of diplomatic relations, "In cases where US citizens are reported to be detained in North Korea, we work with the Swedish embassy, which serves as the United States' Protecting Power in North Korea. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment," the official said.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service as well as the unification and foreign ministries said they could not confirm the report.

- Two other US citizens held -

But the director of a Seoul-based group called the World North Korea Research Center said his sources in Pyongyang had confirmed the arrest.

"The reason North Korea is not saying anything yet is because it is not done with the investigations," Ahn Chan-il, a former defector, told AFP.

"It is important for them to hold a US citizen hostage at this point to prevent Washington from carrying out a decapitation of Kim Jong-Un," Ahn said, referring to the North's fears that the US plans a secret military strike to topple its leader.

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"It's also a resolve to point a double-action revolver against the US and China because he is a US citizen who worked in China."

US President Donald Trump has urged China to take stronger steps to press the North to curb its nuclear and missile programmes.

Vice President Mike Pence, during a regional tour last week, warned that "all options are on the table" to curb the North's nuclear ambitions as fears grow it may be planning another atomic test.

Two other US citizens -- college student Otto Warmbier and Korean-American pastor Kim Dong-Chul -- are currently being held in the North after being sentenced to long prison terms.

The pastor Kim was sentenced last year to 10 years of hard labour for spying.

Also last year Warmbier was jailed for 15 years for stealing a propaganda sign and for "crimes against the state".

North Korea has arrested and jailed several US citizens in the past decade, often releasing them only after high-profile visits by current or former US officials.
MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal claimed a record-extending 10th Monte Carlo Masters title as he geared up for his beloved French Open with a 6-1 6-3 victory against fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos on Sunday. The fourth seed, who is also targeting a 10th Roland Garros trophy this year, was always in command as he claimed his first ATP title since triumphing in Barcelona a year ago. The 14-times grand slam champion had won his two previous encounters against Ramos and the 15th seed failed to snap that run on Sunday. "It has been an amazing week on one of the most important events on the tour. I played well here, which helps me a lot to start the claycourt season with confidence," said Nadal. Nadal wasted three break points in the second game as Ramos levelled for 1-1, only for the claycourt king to win the next five games to bag the opening set. With Nadal's topspin working with devastating effect, Ramos struggled to stay close to his baseline. The Mallorcan broke for 3-2 in the second set when Ramos sent a backhand long and from then on Nadal was unstoppable. Ramos ended his first Masters final with a double fault that handed Nadal his 70th ATP title on the third match point. (Writing by Julien Pretot, editing by Pritha Sarkar; Editing by XXXX)
MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal stayed on course for a record-extending 10th Monte Carlo Masters title when the Spaniard beat David Goffin 6-3 6-1 in the semi-finals after the Belgian was denied a key point in controversial fashion on Saturday. The 10th-seeded Goffin was 3-2 up and on game point when chair umpire Cedric Mourier ruled a Nadal shot was in but the Hawkeye system, which is not being used by officials on clay, showed the ball was long. The point was replayed and fourth seed Nadal went on to break back before winning 10 of the remaining 11 games to set up a meeting with fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos in Sunday's final after the 15th seed beat France's Lucas Pouille 6-3 5-7 6-1. The Monte Carlo Country Club crowd booed Mourier and a dejected Goffin did not shake the umpire's hand at the end of the match. "I imagine the ball was out but I was on the other side, I could not see the mark," said Nadal, who will play his 11th Monte Carlo final on Sunday. Goffin made a brilliant start, playing aggressively and breaking in the third game as nine-times French Open champion Nadal looked clumsy. The fourth-seeded Spaniard returned long on game point in the sixth game and the line umpire called the ball out but he was over-ruled by Mourier, who got off his chair to show Goffin a mark -- the wrong one. "It's wrong, it's wrong," said Goffin, who eventually lost the 17-minute game after wasting other game points. The Belgian never recovered and Nadal blazed through the rest of the match, which he won in less than an hour. Earlier, claycourt specialist Ramos, who beat world number one Andy Murray and fifth seed Marin Cilic en route to the semi-finals, survived the loss of the second set to down the 11th-seeded Pouille. "I'm really happy, as you can imagine. On Monday I was not expecting such a week, I don't know why it's happening now," said Ramos, who has only one ATP title to his name. "We were both nervous at the start but in the second set it was a good match. Then he seemed tired and I was feeling fresh, physically and mentally, maybe that's why I won." Pouille was treated by the physiotherapist for lower back pain during the changeover at 3-0 in the decider. Ramos, the 15th seed, won four games in a row to take the first set as Pouille struggled to find his stride. The Frenchman, however, played tighter in the second set, which he won after breaking decisively in the 11th game. Pouille double-faulted to give Ramos a 2-0 advantage in the third set before fading away, bothered by back pains midway through the set. (Writing by Julien Pretot; Editing by Clare Fallon)
The day after Nepal was struck by a devastating earthquake, Samrat Basnet opened his doors to the wounded as hospitals overwhelmed with thousands of victims had to send away those without life-threatening injuries.

Two years on Basnet is still caring for a handful of the 22,000 Nepalis injured in the disaster, many left with preventable disabilities after slipping through the cracks of a woeful healthcare system.

With just seven health workers for every 10,000 people, Nepal was grossly ill-equipped when the massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck on April 25, 2015, levelling whole villages and killing 9,000.

Small, impromptu clinics like Basnet's picked up the slack. As patients were discharged from hospitals to clear beds, Basnet tended to their injuries on mattresses in his cramped office in Kathmandu.

But the hospital engineer never imagined he would still be their carer two years on.

"There are hundreds of times I thought I could have stopped this, I could have gone back to my normal life," he said.

"But when I see these patients, I cannot do that."

After the earthquake, a seemingly endless stream of injured poured into Kathmandu needing treatment.

Once patched up, the hospitals sent the injured away. Many had nowhere to go or were sent back to damaged homes where they could not receive necessary follow up care.

"In the districts, there was not any rehabilitation or surgery facilities, so the people who required rehabilitation didn't get it," said Sunil Pokhrel, a physiotherapist with the charity Handicap International.

"That's why they have developed the stiffness of the joint, infections in the wounds."

There is a lack of data on the number of people who have been left permanently disabled by the earthquake, but some estimates say it could be as high as 3,000.

A report released last year by the United Nations Development Programme said a significant proportion of disabilities in Nepal were preventable, caused by avoidable complications and a lack of follow-up care like physiotherapy.

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Krishna Hari Pudasani, 28, used to work as a trekking guide but today is paralysed, bedridden by tetanus from a small cut to his ankle.

"I am feeling very bad, because he used to work hard and earn and now he is in this condition," said Pudasani's father Lilanath, as he fed his son via a feeding tube.

- No rehabilitation -

Basnet's first patient was a woman he found in an alleyway with severe head injuries.

She had been patched up at a hospital then discharged but needed ongoing care, so Basnet brought her home where he had medical equipment on hand.

Soon overwhelmed doctors and nurses were on the phone, asking if he could take a few more. Within a few days, every room in Basnet's office was full as he tended to around 25 patients.

Today he still cares for six people injured in the earthquake, most of whom have required repeated follow up surgeries.

Basnet ferries them to the hospitals for appointments and his team of five nurses and one physiotherapist provide the post-surgical care they otherwise would not receive.

"They (the hospitals) have to discharge them as soon as possible, as soon as they are operated on, within two, three days. This is the problem of our healthcare system," Basnet said.

The World Health Organization recommends a minimum of 34.5 skilled healthcare professionals per 10,000 people -- nearly five times the number available in impoverished Nepal.

The shortage almost robbed Sarita Tamang of her ability to walk and care for herself after her right hip was crushed in the earthquake.

She lay trapped for hours under the rubble of a collapsed wall that killed her husband and for months relied on crutches to walk and her son-in-law to help her use the toilet.

Tamang's mother, as she watched her daughter struggle to walk, wondered if she would have been better off meeting her husband's fate.

But after months of physiotherapy in a tented clinic run by Handicap International in Chautara, a town 107 kilometres (66 miles) east of the earthquake's epicentre, Tamang now walks unaided with a barely detectable limp.

The 32-year-old still needs one final surgery to remove a metal rod in her leg before she can put the disaster behind her for good.

"Then it will be better, like it was before," she said.
Sunday, April 23, 2017

Haiti after 2008 hurricane

America's Voice lays out the negative response to the possibility that the Trump administration will eliminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. The threat has provoked many responses, including from the editorial board of the Washington Post.

According to USA Today, USCIS acting director James McCament said in a letter last week that conditions have improved enough in Haiti after a series of natural disasters that TPS can be ended for Haitians living in America. The ending of TPS would mean the ending of their legal status here (for those who are here under TPS), opening them up to arrest, detention, and deportation. It would also mean family separation for those who have given birth to US-citizen children here over the last seven years, who would have to choose between taking their children to a dangerous country, or not being together at all.

Haitian TPS started in 2010, after a devastating earthquake in Haiti which displaced hundreds of thousands. TPS has been extended several times, after the country was struck by Hurricane Matthew, which killed 1,000 people. Cholera has also killed 9,000 people and continues to plague the country. The latest renewal of TPS for Haitians is set to expire July 22, and the final decision on whether to renew it rests with DHS Secretary John Kelly.

McCament has said that TPS should not be extended  which is a sharp departure from USCIS report from just four months ago, when Obama was still in office. That report said that:

Many of the conditions prompting the original January 2010  designation persist, including a housing shortage, a cholera epidemic and limited access to medical care, damage to the economy  political instability, security risks, food insecurity, and environmental risks (as exemplified by the impact of Hurricane Matthew in October 2016).

Haitian TPS has broad bipartisan support, with members of Congress from Marco Rubio to Chuck Schumer supporting it. As Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) said this week:

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and right now its unable to support the roughly 50,000 Haitians that are currently receiving protected status here in the U.S. The U.S. should be focused on helping Haiti recover, not sending people back to a country that cant support them.

In agreement was Esther Olavarria, a senior counselor at DHS under the Obama Administration, who said that letting TPS expire, and forcibly deporting Haitians back now would be a travesty.

Benjamin Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association noted:

"The provision of a safe haven to those who would face dire conditions if forced to return to their home countries is fundamental to U.S. humanitarian policy. The bottom line is that conditions in Haiti have not improved to an extent that would remotely justify the end of TPS. The elimination of TPS for Haiti will not only create immense hardships for close to 47,000 Haitian individuals who have lived in the United States under the protection of this program for more than 7 years, it will also impact their children, many of whom are U.S. citizens, and their families back home, who rely on remittances for their basic needs. There is bipartisan support for extending Haiti TPS and it is not too late for DHS to act. Extending TPS for Haiti is simply the right thing to do."

The Sun-Sentinel this week also published an editorial saying that it would be simple to let Haitian TPS holders stay.

Finally, the Immigration Legal Resource Center has pointed out that TPS for more than 180,000 Salvadorans and 70,000 Hondurans is also set to expire within the next year and a half. A new report from them says that deporting all Haitians, Salvadorans, and Hondurans with TPS would cost taxpayers $3.1 billion and lead to a $45.2 billion reduction in GDP over a decade.

KJ

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2017/04/advocates-ask-trump-administration-to-extend-haitian-tps.html
Kana Rugbana (Nigeria) (AFP) - Nigerian commander Remi Fadairo points to the roiling plume of black smoke blotting the morning horizon in the Niger Delta - the unmistakable sign of an illicit oil refinery.

"Let's see if we can go eat them for breakfast," he says with an ominous chuckle.

The 44-year-old colonel, a man with broad shoulders wearing his fatigues tucked into gumboots, is standing in the middle of a destroyed illicit refinery in Kana Rugbana, an area in the swamplands some 20 nautical miles from Port Harcourt.

Fadairo is part of the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe, a coalition of Nigerian security forces tasked with protecting the country's oil and gas infrastructure.

Last year, militant attacks cut oil production to 1.4 million barrels per day in August, triggering Nigeria's worst economic slump in 25 years.

Following talks with the government, the militants have suspended their sabotage. But Nigerian troops on the ground say the battle isn't over, it's just changed.

Today, the military says one of its priorities is to crack down on the illicit refineries that they claim fund the operations of the militants.

"The two are interwoven, if they aren't doing militancy, they are doing this," Fadairo tells AFP as he wades through crude-soaked muck.

Despite the site looking like a scrap yard, Fadairo says it actually is being rehabilitated, showing new silver pipes welded to a rusted metal container.

On the ground between iridescent oil puddles lay little sachets of gin, empty packets of instant noodles and cigarette butts left by the bush distillers.

"We just destroyed all this but they are back," says Fadairo. "They are trying to revive it."

- Mangrove skeletons -

The illicit refineries are just one component of oil theft in Nigeria, a mammoth industry estimated to be worth as much as $8 billion a year, according to a 2013 report by Chatham House, a London think-tank.

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"The principal security concerns are endemic corruption, which creates economic discontent, breakdown of the rule of law, which allows for criminality to be normalised, and the funding of militancy," said Ian Ralby, founder of the I.R. Consilium, a security advisory firm.

In the past month, Fadairo's troops have destroyed more than 10 illicit refineries, which process oil stolen from the pipelines of multinational companies, including Shell and Eni, by heating it in car-sized metal containers.

The waste is dumped into the surrounding swamplands, turning what should be a wetland paradise into a monochrome nightmare dominated by the white skeletons of dead mangrove trees.

These artisanal refineries, as they are sometimes called, employ upwards of 50 men each, who work through the night to avoid detection.

They offer a rare job opportunity to thousands of unemployed men in the Niger Delta suffering from extreme poverty.

For militants like the Niger Delta Avengers, who say crude is their birthright, refining represents something bigger  a chance to take back oil profits from corporations and the Nigerian government.

Perhaps recognising that fighting illicit refineries is an exercise in futility, as part of the government's Niger Delta outreach program Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has proposed legalising the "modular refineries".

"There is a way out of violent agitation, but it is by creating opportunities and the environment where the people in the communities can benefit," Osinbajo said in early April.

- 'Wild waters' -

As an olive-branch to the Niger Delta, Osinbajo's plan has been welcomed by community leaders. Making it a reality is more complicated.

Too many people, ranging from the refiners to militants to corrupt officials, have got used to enjoying the untaxed spoils of the land.

Any disturbance to the delicate balance in the region may result in violence and, in the worst-case scenario for cash-strapped Nigeria, further disruptions to oil production.

Going into presidential polls in 2019, analysts say the likelihood of more unrest is high, especially once electioneering begins in earnest.

"Rival theft networks can lapse into turf wars and the proceeds from stolen oil could continue to be used to finance election bids," explains Gillian Parker, a Nigerian analyst at the Control Risks consultancy.

Until then, Nigerian forces will continue playing the cat-and-mouse game in the creeks.

For Fadairo and his team by mid-morning they have arrived in gunboats at the site of another illicit refinery.

Landing on a sandy shore gently lapped by oily waves, the troops spot a group of men fleeing from the bush and disappearing into the creeks in a speed boat.

"Sometimes they can out-manoeuvre us," says an officer, squinting his eyes as the men make their getaway. "The water is very wild."
By James Pearson SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea detained a U.S. citizen on Saturday as he attempted to leave the country, bringing the total number of Americans held by the isolated country to three. Korean-American Tony Kim had spent a month teaching an accounting course at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), the university's chancellor, Chan-Mo Park, told Reuters on Sunday. The arrest took place on Saturday morning local time, a statement by the university said, and was "related to an investigation into matters that are not connected in any way to PUST". Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk and is in his fifties, was detained by North Korean officials at Pyongyang International Airport as he attempted to leave the country, Park said. "The cause of his arrest is not known but some officials at PUST told me his arrest was not related to his work at PUST. He had been involved with some other activities outside PUST such as helping an orphanage," Park said. "I sincerely hope and pray that he will be released soon". An official at South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it was not aware of the reported arrest. In Washington, the State Department said it was aware of reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea but had no further comment because of privacy considerations. Kim is listed as an accounting professor on the website of PUST's sister institution in neighboring China, the Yanbian University of Science and Technology (YUST). Calls to YUST were not answered. PUST was founded by evangelical Christians and opened in 2010, with students generally the children of the country's elite. Its volunteer faculty, many of whom are evangelical Christians, has a curriculum that includes subjects once considered taboo in North Korea, such as capitalism. North Korea, which has been criticized for its human rights record, has in the past used detained Americans to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations. North Korea was already holding two Americans. Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old student, was detained in January last year and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor by a North Korean court for attempting to steal a propaganda banner. In March 2016, Kim Dong Chul, a 62-year-old Korean-American missionary, was sentenced to 10 years hard labor for subversion. There have been no public appearances of either man since. The reclusive state is also holding Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim. He was charged with subversion and given a hard labor life sentence in 2015. Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to 15 years hard labor for crimes against the state. He was released two years later. (Additional reporting by Ju-min Park in Seoul, Yawen Chen in Beijing, Doina Chiacu in Washington; editing by Jason Neely/Grant McCool/Alexander Smith)
Kiev (AFP) - An American monitor with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe died after a mission patrol vehicle hit a landmine in the Russian-backed separatist east, eliciting sharp words towards Moscow from US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday.

It marked the first loss for the security body's Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) since Europe's only current war broke out more than three years ago.

The OSCE's announcement about the US monitor's death saw Kiev and the insurgents quickly trade blame over who was at fault for one of the most diplomatically sensitive episodes in a conflict that has claimed more than 10,000 lives.

The deputy head of the OSCE monitoring mission said the patrol consisted of six members who were travelling in two armoured vehicles near the village of Pryshyb in a rebel-run region of the separatist fiefdom of Lugansk.

"The explosion resulted in the death of an OSCE patrol member, a citizen of the United States," Alexander Hug told reporters in Kiev.

He also said two others -- a German and a Czech national -- were wounded and "undergoing further evaluation" in a Lugasnk hospital.

The OSCE said it would not release the names of the casualties until their families had been notified.

"We are determined to continue to implement our mandate," Hug stressed.

- 'Obstacle' to better ties -

Tillerson in a phone conversation Sunday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Moscow's actions in eastern Ukraine remain an obstacle to improved US-Russian ties, the State Department said.

"Secretary Tillerson phoned Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko today to discuss his recent trip to Moscow and his message to the Russian leadership that, although the United States is interested in improving relations with Russia, Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine remain an obstacle," said acting spokesman Mark Toner.

The statement said Tillerson accepted Poroshenko's "condolences" for the death of the American.

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted his reaction to the incident.

"A thorough investigation is needed of the tragic @OSCE_SMM incident in E #Ukraine. Safety & freedom of movement must be maintained," he tweeted.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the blast underscored the need for the warring sides to "finally respect" a long-ignored ceasefire agreement negotiated by Moscow and Kiev with the help of Paris and Berlin in February 2015.

"The separatists supported by Russia who illegally occupy part of Ukrainian territory by violence have a special responsibility here," Merkel said in a strongly-worded statement.

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said the incident was a "reminder of the urgent need for progress on a peaceful resolution of the conflict".

Both Kiev and the West accuse Moscow of plotting and backing the fighting in reprisal for the February 2014 ouster of Ukraine's Kremlin-backed leadership.

Russia denies this and in turn accuses the US State Department of fomenting the 2013-14 street protests that ended up allying ex-Soviet Ukraine with the West.

The OSCE team's 600 members in eastern Ukraine are the only independent monitoring mission in the devastated industrial war zone.

They provide daily reports on the fighting and have drawn the insurgents' ire for accusing them of being responsible for most violations of the truce deal.

- 'Anti-tank mine' -

Lugansk rebel police force spokesman Alexander Mazeikin told AFP that the OSCE vehicle "hit an anti-tank mine".

The separatists also accused the monitors of veering off the main road and travelling along an unsafe route not agreed with Russian and Ukrainian representatives.

"We know that this patrol team deviated from the main route and was moving along secondary roads, which is prohibited," the Lugansk rebels said on their news site.

Ukraine's foreign ministry branded the incident an attempt by "Moscow and its puppets to scare off OSCE monitors and to nullify efforts by Ukraine and the SMM to stabilise the situation along the front."

The Russian foreign ministry responded that it was "deeply outraged" by what it called a bid by undisclosed forces to undermine efforts to bring peace to its western neighbour.

The low-level hostilities in the European Union's backyard have been accompanied by regular casualties among civilians and fighters either stepping or driving on mines.

Ukraine's defence ministry said Thursday it had defused 150,000 explosive devices since the war began.

But it added that only 3,000 of the 700,000 hectares (7,400 of the 1.7 million acres) along which the war is being waged had been cleared of the various types of landmines.

It warned that it may take another 10 to 15 years to make the region completely safe from explosive devices.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Palestinian stabbed and slightly wounded four people along Tel Aviv's beachfront on Sunday and was arrested, police said, describing the attack as terrorism-related. A wave of street attacks by Palestinians in Israel and the occupied West Bank since October 2015 has previously killed 37 Israelis, two American tourists and a British student. 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. The incident in Tel Aviv occurred along its popular seaside promenade. The Magen David Adom ambulance service said four people, three in their 50s and one aged 70, were slightly wounded and taken to hospital. Security camera footage showed the assailant accosting several people in a hotel lobby. The owner of an art gallery in the area told reporters he also entered her establishment, punching her in the ear and stabbing her before fleeing. "It is a terror-related incident," a police spokesman said. The suspect was identified as an 18-year-old Palestinian man from the West Bank. Israel has accused the Palestinian leadership of inciting anti-Israeli attacks. 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. (Reporting by Jeffrey Heller; editing by Clelia Oziel)
Philadelphia police conducted a raid of a marijuana meet-up in a Frankford warehouse Saturday night around 9 p.m., according to sources and media reports.

The event, which took place in a warehouse on the 4500 block of Worth Street, was publicly organized on Instagram by Philly Smoke Session, which was charging $50 per person to attend the event.

Sources who were at the party say that about 75 people were detained by police, and that as many as 11 were arrested, including libertarian candidate for mayor and pot activist N.A. Poe, whose real name is Rich Tamaccio. A number of vendors who were selling marijuana-infused products were also arrested, though the exact number is currently unknown.

Sources also say that several attendees had chronic medical conditions, but were unable to obtain medical marijuana elsewhere.

As of early Sunday morning, police havent released any information about the raid, including the number of people detained and arrested.

Among those detained by police was Philly.com columnist Chris Goldstein, who tweeted about the raid as it was happening.

PPD Narcotics (name covered) said "we are doing this because marijuana is still illegal"  Chris Goldstein (@freedomisgreen) April 23, 2017

Mike Whiter @PHLstoner was detained/released said many were underground medical marijuana patients  Chris Goldstein (@freedomisgreen) April 23, 2017

I was put in metal handcuffs, searched twice w hands down front of my pants, detained, asked about magazines then released.  Chris Goldstein (@freedomisgreen) April 23, 2017

Philadelphia Magazine reporter Victor Fiorillo was also at the meet-up, though he says he left 30 minutes before police arrived. In a column posted overnight, Poe told Fiorillo that he sold about 300 tickets to the event, and that vendor tables were going for $400 each.

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I was invited by Poe to check out the party, and I was planning on writing about it at some point, Fiorillo wrote. Just not like this.

This is a breaking news report. Check back for updates. Staff Writer Sam Wood contributed to this report.

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Juigalpa (Nicaragua) (AFP) - Police in Nicaragua blocked thousands of farmers and rural residents from holding a march against a government plan to build a canal across the country, potentially carving up their land.

"They are closing off all the roads. It's pitiful what's happening in Nicaragua," said one of the leaders of the demonstration, Francisca Ramirez.

Police preventing buses and trucks carrying protesters from converging in the town of Juigalpa, east of the capital Managua, said the demonstration was illegal.

A police statement said officers faced down "groups of people behaving with hostility, armed with clubs, machetes, rocks and firearms."

A lawyer for the protesters, Monica Lopez, said 20 of them were temporarily detained, but police did not confirm that.

The farmers are angry that President Daniel Ortega in 2013 organized for a Chinese consortium, HKND, to build the $50 billion canal in return for a concession to run it for at least 50 years.

"Ortega: thief, traitor, selling our country," yelled the protesters.

"I'm afraid they will take my land away," said one of them, Adolfo Jarquin, 56, who owns more than 100 hectares (245 acres).

Many of them have found it impossible to obtain bank loans, and municipal works along the canal's path have come to a standstill, Ramirez said.

An opposition politician at the protest, Henry Ruiz, told AFP the canal was an "unconditional handover" of Nicaraguan land.

The plan calls for between 30,000 and 120,000 rural inhabitants along its 276-kilometer (171-mile) length to be displaced and land to be expropriated.

The canal is meant to rival the century-old Panama Canal. Thus far there has been no excavation, however, despite HKND saying it was meant to start at the end of last year.

Foreign observers in the country are skeptical about whether it will go ahead.

Iran, which has good relations with Nicaragua, has said it wants to participate in the project.
Philadelphia police busted a "smokeasy" marijuana party in a Frankford warehouse Saturday night and concurrently raided the South Philadelphia house of the marijuana activist who organized the meet-up, according to authorities and friends of the party host who attended the event.

In a statement, police said 22 people  19 men and three women  were taken into custody following an investigation of "large-scale marijuana sales." About 175 people were released without charges, police said.

Confiscated in the 7:45 p.m. raid was about 50 pounds of marijuana, $50,000 in cash, four handguns, and about 100 pounds of THC-infused edibles, according to police. Partygoers said those edibles included THC-laced gummy bears.

The event, which took place in a warehouse on the 4500 block of Worth Street, was publicized on Instagram by Philly Smoke Session, which was charging $50 per person to attend. Comedian and pot activist N.A. Poe, whose real name is Rich Tamaccio, was identified as the event organizer.

Poe and Chris Goldstein, a Philly.com columnist who was previously on the board of Philly NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), were the marijuana activists who successfully lobbied Mayor Kenney when he was a councilman to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Since October 2014, those arrested for possessing an ounce of marijuana or less in Philadelphia or those who smoke it in public are given citations and fines instead of being arrested.

G0ldstein and Mike Whiter, a Marine Corps veteran and marijuana activist who uses pot to treat his post-traumatic stress disorder, both said they attended Saturday night's event. While the venue was new, the meet-up  which is called Philly Smoke Session  has been held in other locations across the city for two years without a problem, they said.

"They basically just did a speakeasy raid  a smokeasy raid," Goldstein said. "Here we are, back in the heyday of Prohibition."

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Both men estimated that at least 100 police officers  including many from Narcotics and SWAT  participated in the raid.

"They told us 'We're not here for the customers, we're here for the vendors and organizers,'" said Whiter. "This thing was planned and orchestrated, well prior to that day."

Goldstein agreed.

"It was a serious operation. It was well-planned," he said. "The narcotics officers were openly talking about months and months of planning."

Whiter and Goldstein said they both believe that the raid was specifically to target Poe. They said his South Philadelphia house was also searched at the same time the party raid occurred. Police also raided a third location, though the connection of that location to the warehouse or Poe was not immediately clear. Authorities said "additional contraband" was recovered at both properties, but they did not specify what was confiscated.

According to Goldstein and Whiter, many underground medical marijuana patients attend these events, where vendors have marijuana in all its various forms like edibles, buds, and oils.

"There was everything you would see in a dispensary," Goldstein said. "Not everybody is selling or buying, a lot of people are giving it away or trading or sharing. That's the nature of the medical marijuana patient community."

Both men said they were unaware of anyone with a gun at the party.

Goldstein said he was outside the building, smoking a tobacco cigarette with two hired security guards for the party when six men wearing neck badges came up and put them all against the wall. He said they did not immediately identify themselves as police officers.

"They said 'We have badges, who the f--- do you think we are?'" Goldstein recalled. "They handled me pretty rough."

Goldstein said he was handcuffed behind his back and twice searched by two different officers, both of whom put their hands down the front of his pants, he said.

"He (one of the officers) volunteered that he was doing this because marijuana is still illegal and that's why they were there," Goldstein said.

Meanwhile, Whiter was upstairs enjoying the party, which was attended by a couple hundred people throughout the night, he said.

"It was same as it always is, nice and chill," he said. "People are medicating and networking and getting to know each other."

Whiter was chatting with someone at the party when he saw a bunch of people rush through the doors.

"Immediately, I knew what was happening," he said. "The SWAT team came busting in and told everybody to 'get their f---ing hands on the wall' until they realized there was not enough wall space, so they had us sit down and put our hands on our head."

Whiter said he believes six undercover officers attended the party that night, four men and two women. He said he saw at least one of them at many previous Smoke Sessions.

"I was a little suspicious of him. Stoners don't always have well-manicured beards. This guy was really clean-cut and his beard was perfectly manicured," Whiter said. "I was like 'Dude, you don't fit in.' He went out of his way to say 'Hi' to me three times."

Whiter said he and others at the party watched for about an hour as police conducted their investigations around them. They took photos and confiscated cannabis, money, and other items, he said. He also watched as his friends, including Poe, were taken into custody.

"He was mad, he was yelling," Whiter said of Poe, as he was led out by authorities.

According to Whiter, police lined up everyone they did not arrest at the door and went with a bag, person by person, offering amnesty as long as people threw their marijuana and related items away. Individuals were then searched before they were allowed to leave.

According to Whiter and Goldstein, Poe and others remain in custody. Police did not state what charges, if any, have been filed against Poe or the other 21 people taken into custody. A state website that lists criminal charges filed against individuals was down for maintenance on Sunday.

Whiter said "as stupid as it sounds" the raid hurt his feelings because of the amount of work he, Goldstein, and Poe have done for decriminalization of marijuana in Philadelphia.

"Last night was a good example of a big waste of police resources. Just the fact that they have gone to the depths they have when there are people dying every day from heroin overdoses in Kensington," Whiter said. "It's an easy bust. That's what it was for them, easy."

Staff writer Rob Tornoe contributed to this report.

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By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis urged governments on Saturday to get migrants and refugees out of holding centers, saying many had become "concentration camps". During a visit to a Rome basilica, where he met migrants, Francis told of his trip to a camp on the Greek island of Lesbos last year. He met a Muslim refugee from the Middle East there who told him how "terrorists came to our country". Islamists had slit the throat of the man's Christian wife because she refused to throw her crucifix on the ground. "I don't know if he managed to leave that concentration camp, because refugee camps, many of them, are of concentration (type) because of the great number of people left there inside them," the pope said. The American Jewish Committee (AJC) later urged the pope "to reconsider his regrettable choice of words" for using the term concentration camp. "The conditions in which migrants are currently living in some European countries may well be difficult, and deserve still greater international attention, but concentration camps they certainly are not," the AJC's head, David Harris, said in a statement. "The Nazis and their allies erected and used concentration camps for slave labor and the extermination of millions of people during World War II. There is no comparison to the magnitude of that tragedy," he said. Francis praised countries helping refugees and thanked them for "bearing this extra burden, because it seems that international accords are more important than human rights". He did not elaborate but appeared to be referring to agreements that keep migrants from crossing borders, such as deals between the European Union (EU) and Libya and the EU and Turkey. Humanitarian groups have criticized both deals. The pope urged people in northern Italy, home to an anti-immigrant party, to take more migrants, hoping that the generosity of southern Italy could "infect the north a bit". Noting that Italy had one of the world's lowest birth rates, he said: "If we also close the door to migrants, this is called suicide." The basilica of St Bartholomew is a shine to Christians killed for their faith in the 20th and 21st centuries. It contains a prayer book used by Father Jacques Hamel, the 85-year-old French priest killed by Islamist militants who stormed into a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray last year, forced Hamel to his knees, and slit his throat while they chanted in Arabic. His sister Roselyne attended the service. (Editing by Andrew Roche and Paul Tait)
Sunday, April 23, 2017

The Florida Supreme Court disbarred an attorney convicted on child pornography charges.

Bruce Charles Fehr, P.O. Box 1031, Coleman, disbarred effective immediately, following a Jan. 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1995) Fehr pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia to one count of child pornography. He was sentenced to three years in federal prison. (Case No. SC16-1173)

George Conger had this story from April 2016 from Anglican Ink

A Diocese of Georgia rector has been sentenced to three years imprisonment and ten years probation for possession of child pornography. On 30 March 2016 an Effingham County Court passed sentence on the Rev. Bruce Fehr, former rector of St Francis of the Islands Episcopal Church on Wilmington Island near Savannah. Acting upon a search warrant, on 23 April 2015 the Southeast Georgia Child Exploitation Task Force raided Behrs home and seized his computer. Fehr and his wife, the Rev. Lori Fehr -- the assistant rector at St Francis -- are 2013 graduates of the School of Theology of the University of the South and were ordained to the priesthood in October 2013. Fehr and his wife are former attorneys, he practiced in the field of insurance litigation and she most recently served as an attorney for the Florida Department of Children and Families. Following sentencing the Bishop of Georgia, the Rt. Rev. Scott Benhase released a statement saying: I am greatly saddened and angered by his crime. All children deserve the right to be free of such exploitation and we all should work to end such horrific practices. The Diocese will now begin our own process addressing the Reverend Fehrs conduct. Following the conclusion of the criminal proceedings, the diocese will initiate a Title IV disciplinary investigation and is likely to depose Fehr from the ministry.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2017/04/the-florida-supreme-court-disbarred-an-attorney-convicted-on-child-pornography-charges-a-diocese-of-georgia-rector-has-been.html
BROOKLYNIn what has the makings of a classic bout, two elite welterweights will battle at Barclays Center when Shawn Porter (26-2-1, 24 KOs ) takes on Andre Berto (31-4, 24 KOs) on Saturday night. Both Porter and Berto have something to prove and both are seeking the WBC welterweight title with the winner the mandatory challenger to champion Keith Thurman.

"The only thing on my mind right now is the WBC title," said Porter, who weighed in at 147 pounds. The Akron, Ohio, native lost to Thurman at Barclays in a tightly fought decision in June 2015.

Berto has been away from the ring for roughly a year, after defeating Victor Ortiz in Los Angeles after his loss to Floyd Mayweather in September 2015. The Florida native has not fought in New York City since 2007, when he defeated Norberto Bravo at the Hammerstein Ballroom.

"I love being back in New York," said Berto. "My team has been putting in work in the gym. I'm already dialed-in and focused. I've had the WBC belt before and I'm itching to get it back."

Porter, 29, enters the fight as the favorite at -600, compared to the 33-year-old Berto at +400. Neither Porter nor Berto has great knockout power but both have excellent chins and are measured boxers.

Porter is four years younger than Berto and is a very balanced boxer. He has victories over Adrien Broner, Paulie Malignaggi and Devon Alexander. He hasn't won by knockout since he defeated Erick Bone in March 2015. Berto's biggest victories were against Ortiz and Steve Forbes.

TV Channel: Showtime

Live Stream: Showtime Anytime

Prediction: When two boxers are this evenly matched, and they are both hungry for a big payday, the chances for a brawl can be high. Berto is an accomplished boxer who can surprise Porter with a few good punches, but Porter is the more active fighter, and that will mean a lot when the bout goes to the scorecards, which appears likely.

Expect Porter to come out on top with a unanimous decision.
(BETHESDA, Md.) - President Donald Trump on Saturday awarded a Purple Heart to an Army sergeant recently wounded in Afghanistan.

When I heard about this and I wanted to do it myself, Trump said during a brief ceremony at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, outside Washington. He awarded the medal to Sgt. 1st Class Alvaro Barrientos, who was wounded in Afghanistan on March 17. The White House did not release Barrientos hometown.

It was Trumps first visit as president to the military hospital. He was joined by his wife, first lady Melania Trump.

Barrientos, whose right leg below the knee had been amputated, was wheeled into a hospital atrium in a wheelchair, accompanied by his wife, Tammy.

Trump, who is also commander of the U.S. military, kissed Barrientos wife before pinning the medal on the sergeants left shirt collar. The Purple Heart is awarded to service members who are wounded or killed in action.

Besides Barrientos, Trump was expected to meet privately with about a dozen service members who are receiving care at the medical center.

Before leaving the White House, the president tweeted that he looked forward to seeing our bravest and greatest Americans.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
In another break with precedent, President Trump is not only declining to attend the White House Correspondents Dinner, he wont even be in the nations capitol while its taking place.

Trump announced Saturday he will be holding a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to mark the first 100 days of his presidency on April 29. Next Saturday night I will be holding a BIG rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it! Trump tweeted.

Next Saturday night I will be holding a BIG rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it! - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2017

The night of April 29 also happens to be the White House Correspondents Dinner, an annual night of comedy that brings together the White House staff and the press that typically includes a satirical speech from the president. Since it was founded in 1921, the WHCD has hosted every President at least once. The last sitting president not to attend the dinner was Ronald Reagan, who phoned in after he was shot in 1981, according to NPR.

READ MORE: The 2017 White House Correspondents Dinner Will Feature Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein

Trump announced back in February that he wouldnt attend the dinner, but, until Saturdays tweet, it was unclear what his alternative plans would be.

Jeff Mason, the President of the White House Correspondents Association and a reporter at Reuters, said this years dinner will be a celebration of the First Amendment regardless of Trumps attendance. We will be celebrating the First Amendment at the White House Correspondents Dinner next week, and we look forward to doing just that, Mason said after Trumps tweet, the New York Times reports.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
Istanbul (AFP) - Hundreds of supporters of the 'No' campaign and Turkey's main opposition party protested in Istanbul on Sunday against the narrow victory in last week's vote on expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers.

The 'Yes' camp won 51.41 percent in last Sunday's referendum in a tighter-than-expected win, but opponents claim the result would have been reversed in a fair poll.

Nearly 1,000 people made up of supporters from the Republican People's Party (CHP) demonstrated in Taksim square on the western side of Istanbul against the result and to mark a public holiday, an AFP correspondent said.

The protest took place on the 97th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish parliament, known as National Sovereignty and Children's Day.

Across the Bosphorus, in the district of Kadikoy, hundreds more protested carrying placards saying: "The 'No' hasn't finished, it's only just begun" and "No, we won".

Some held a large banner saying "Cancel the referendum" while others held gold balloon letters spelling out "Hayir" meaning "No" in Turkish, an AFP photographer said.

The tight result has been disputed by the opposition after the top election authority known as the Supreme Election Board (YSK) made a last-minute decision on Sunday to accept ballot documents in envelopes without an official stamp.

But the CHP had its bid with two other parties to annul the referendum rejected by the YSK last week.

The party also launched a legal challenge in the country's top administrative court on Friday in a bid to cancel the YSK decision on the ballots which opponents argue opened the way for fraud.

On Sunday, parliament held a special session for the holiday which resulted in heated debates between CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.

Yildirim defended the changes, saying it would "further strengthen the parliament" and had been prepared by people's representatives who then took it to the people to decide, NTV broadcaster reported.
Farida Kachwala is vacating her family's cramped home of eighty years, one of thousands receiving modern apartments through a project that hopes to transform Mumbai's historic Bhendi Bazaar from a dilapidated ghetto into a slick Singapore-like enclave.

Six hundred million dollars is being spent to demolish hundreds of rundown low-rise buildings in the dirty colonial-era market and replace them with shiny skyscrapers that will house 20,000 Dawoodi Bohras, a sect of Shia Muslims, who have made the area their home for decades.

"We have many problems here. It's smelly because there's sewage and garbage everywhere and the wooden stairs are really steep and dangerous. I'm so happy that we're moving," says Kachwala.

The rehousing project aims to replace the decrepit structures and maze-like narrow streets, where hawkers sell everything from sunglasses to sweets as goats meander docilely, with gleaming towers and polished shopping arcades.

It is also hoped the scheme will help cleanse the neighbourhood of its underworld image. Dawood Ibrahim, who carried out the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts, lived in Bhendi Bazaar during the 1980s and Bollywood films often portray the area as a gangster hangout.

In India it is common for tenants to stall development projects by refusing to move, or for homeowners to hold out for more cash, but this project is unique in that it is being driven by residents' faith as much as their desire for 21st century amenities.

Bohras, whose women wear colourful ridas akin to hijabs while men sport gold and white caps, are a Shia Islamic sect who follow a religious leader they call his holiness. They originally arrived in western India from Yemen in the 11th century.

Bohras often seek guidance from his holiness on many matters ranging from marriage to naming a child. The redevelopment was the brainchild of late leader Syedna Burhanuddin, who died aged 101 in 2014, a key reason why residents support it.

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- Spiritual leader -

"Our families took his holiness Syedna's advice and supported the project so we hope it will be good for everyone involved," says Juzer Morbiwala at a transit home where he is being housed until his new apartment is ready.

Some 250 decrepit three and four-storey buildings known as chawls -- originally built for single male labourers in the 1800s and where residents often share toilets -- are being razed and replaced with 17 high-rise towers across 16.5 acres.

Three thousand two hundred families will receive new homes free of charge. Each will be a minimum of 350 square feet in size with private bathrooms and separate sleeping and living spaces.

It will be a significant improvement on the tiny, dark one-room home Kachwala shares with her husband, daughter and father-in-law, who moved in as a ten-year-old in the 1930s.

"I'm attached to this place because I've lived here almost my whole life but our children will have a better environment to live and grow in the new home," says Kachwala, 45.

The demolition and construction is taking place in nine phases. The first started around three years ago and the entire project is expected to be completed by 2025. The only buildings not being torn down are the area's mosques.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is taking a keen interest, hoping that the cluster redevelopment method can become a model for urban renewal across India.

It is budgeted to cost 40 billion rupees ($600 million) and a trust attached to the Bohra community's governing body is providing the funding through donations. Money will also be raised by selling off four of the new towers that could stretch 60 storeys into the sky.

- Conservationists' lament -

Abbas Master, Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust CEO, says the trust had acquired almost 90 percent of properties but that a small fraction of residents were refusing to negotiate.

"To uproot people and to bring them back is a challenge. It happens in places like China but in a democratic world I think this is the first example," he told AFP.

Some 1,250 businesses will move from ramshackle shops and stalls down dingy lanes into shopping arcades above street level which will be connected by pedestrian bridges.

Rapid development has altered Mumbai's skyline over the past two decades and conservation architects lament the loss of another historic district and the personality attached to it.

"The entire fabric is going to get erased, the history, the artefacts. It's going to have an impact on the social character," architect Vikram Pawar told AFP, adding that the skyscrapers will be out of keeping with neighbouring areas.

But that doesn't seem to concern the majority of residents, including Shirin Electricwala.

"It will change the way we live. We'll have more space, hygiene and comfort," she told AFP.
Bosasso (Reuters) - A military vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Somalia's semi autonomous Puntland region on Sunday, killing at least six soldiers and injuring another eight, a military official told Reuters. The al Qaeda linked Islamist group al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, which happened on the outskirts of the region's port city of Bosasso. Al Shabaab is fighting to topple the Horn of Africa country's western backed government and wants to rule the country according to its strict version of Islamic sharia law. It also wants to drive out of Somalia Africa Union peace keeping force AMISOM that helps defend the country's central government. Mohamed Ibrahim, a major in Puntland's military, told Reuters the vehicle, a pickup truck, was from Galgala hills, about 40 kilometers southwest of Bosasso. "Our military pickup hit a roadside bomb today, six soldiers died, eight others were injured," Ibrahim said, adding two of the injured were in a serious condition. Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaabs military operations spokesman, told Reuters the group had carried out the attack and that some troops had died while others were injured. "We are behind the attack," he said. Al Shabaab once controlled much of Somalia but in 2011 it was driven out of the capital Mogadishu and has since lost most other former strongholds. But its fighters remain a formidable threat and constantly carry out bombings against both military and civilian targets in Mogadishu and elsewhere. Officially called the Puntland State of Somalia, the region in northeastern Somalia declared autonomy 1998. However it does not seek independence. (Reporting by Abdiqani Hassan and Feisal Omar; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; editing by Clelia Oziel)
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - A Gazan firm has found a way to add style to weddings in the Palestinian enclave despite being unable to import a limousine: make one with parts from five cars.

Wedding planner Salama al-Odi sought to import a limousine as part of the various offerings to young Gazans by the firm he heads, Farha, but said he was unable to.

The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade for 10 years, with the entry and exit of goods and people tightly controlled by Israel.

Its sole crossing with Egypt has also remained largely closed in recent years.

Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, run by Islamist movement Hamas, have fought three wars since 2008.

Israeli officials say the blockade is necessary to prevent the importation of weapons and materials that could be used to make them, but UN officials have called for it to be lifted, citing deteriorating conditions in the enclave of two million people.

With poverty widespread and unemployment at nearly 45 percent, Gazans have had to show creativity -- and Odi has responded to the challenge.

In his small mechanic shop, a group of men were busy taking parts from five different cars and adding them to a white Mercedes.

Some 30 people weighed in on the design and drew up plans for the improvised limousine.

"It took us three months and $21,000 (19,500 euros)" to build the vehicle, whose interior with curtains was "completely conceived in Gaza," Odi said.

The result looks something like a cross between a car and a spaceship, with a rounded roof extending upward from what would have been the original top.

Hand-painted designs adorn the sides of the vehicle.

Final touches are being put on the "limo" and the first bride and groom should be able to climb aboard as soon as Thursday.

Odi says he will offer it at an affordable rate for young people in Gaza, where marriages have been delayed due to a lack of financial resources.

For him, seeing the homemade vehicle roll through the streets of the Gaza Strip will also be a message to Gazans to "not give in to the restrictions" imposed by Israel.

"You have to answer by inventing and embarking on an adventure," he said.
Stockholm (AFP) - Russia became the world's third largest military spender in 2016 despite low oil prices and economic sanctions, as the global expenditure rose for a second consecutive year, a study said on Monday.

Russia's military spending was $69.2 billion (around 64 billion euros) in 2016, a 5.9 percent rise over 2015, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in a report, adding this was the highest proportion of its GDP since it became an independent state.

"This increased spending and heavy burden on the economy comes at a time when the Russian economy is in serious trouble due to low oil and gas prices and the economic sanctions imposed since 2014," (by the West over the Ukraine conflict), SIPRI said.

Saudi Arabia was the third largest spender in 2015 but dropped to fourth place in 2016 as its expenditure fell by 30 percent to $63.7 billion, "despite its continued involvement in regional wars", it added.

"Falling oil revenue and associated economic problems attached to the oil-price shock has forced many oil-exporting countries to reduce military spending," SIPRI researcher Nan Tian said, adding Saudi Arabia had the largest drop in spending between 2015 and 2016.

The US remained the top spender as its expenditure grew by 1.7 percent between 2015 and 2016 to $611 billion while China boosted its expenditure by 5.4 percent to $215 billion, a lower rate than in previous years.

SIPRI said the rise in US military spending in 2016 "may signal the end of a trend of decreases in spending" caused by the 2008 economic crisis and the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.

On April 13 the US dropped its largest ever non-nuclear bomb, hitting Islamic State group positions in a remote area of eastern Nangarhar province in Afghanistan.

"Future spending patterns remain uncertain due to the changing political situation in the USA," Aude Fleurant, Director of the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure (AMEX) programme, said in a statement.

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Hit by a series of terror attacks since 2015, Western Europe raised its military expenditure for the second consecutive year, up by 2.6 percent in 2016.

Overall military spending in Central Europe jumped by 2.4 percent in 2016.

"The growth in spending by many countries in Central Europe can be partly attributed to the perception of Russia posing a greater threat," said senior SIPRI researcher Siemon Wezeman in the statement.

"This is despite the fact that Russia's spending in 2016 was only 27 per cent of the combined total of European NATO members," he added.
The son of a prominent Russian lawmaker, Roman Seleznev, has been jailed for 27 years by a U.S. court Friday after being convicted of hacking into more than 500 U.S. businesses and stealing millions of credit card numbers and then selling the data online. It allegedly caused more than $169 million in fraud losses.

This investigation, conviction and sentence demonstrates that the United States will bring the full force of the American justice system upon cybercriminals like Seleznev who victimize U.S. citizens and companies from afar, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco. And we will not tolerate the existence of safe havens for these crimes  we will identify cybercriminals from the dark corners of the Internet and bring them to justice," according to U.S. Department of Justice.

Read: Did Apple's Servers Get Hacked?

Seleznev's imprisonment is the longest sentence handed down for hacking-related charges in the U.S. He ran the illegal businesses from his homes in Bali, Indonesia, and Vladivostok, Russia. Among his victims were not just millions of individual credit-card holders but also more than 3,700 financial institutions and 500 businesses around the world. The business included restaurants and pizza parlors in Western Washington, including Broadway Grill in Seattle all of which were forced into bankruptcy following the cyber theft. Testimony at trial revealed that Seleznevs scheme caused more than $169 million in losses, according to the Justice Department.

Prior to his sentencing, Seleznev even asked U.S. district judge Richard Jones for leniency. He requested the judge to consider his medical problems  the result of being wounded in a bombing in Morocco in 2011  while deciding his prison term. However, his plea was not considered and Jones told Seleznev that the bombing "was an invitation to right your wrongs and recognize you were given a second chance in life." After sentencing, Seleznev's lawyer Igor Litvak read out a hand-written statement from his client that said the long sentence was a political move due to U.S.-Russia strained relations, reports said.

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Seleznev is the son of Valery Seleznev, who belongs to Liberal Democratic Party of Russia. He said the sentence was "passed by man-eaters" and that his son was "abducted". "My son was tortured because being in jail in a foreign country after abduction is torture in itself. He is innocent," he told RIA Novosti news agency.

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The thing about scandals is they tend to beget other scandals.

Take the various probes into Russian interference in the election, and whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow on those efforts. So far, those investigations are in their early stages and have not produced any definitive information. But in firing FBI Director James Comey, who was overseeing one of the investigations, on May 9, President Trump has created an entirely new scandal.

Trump initially cited a recommendation from the deputy attorney general to justify removing Comey. But that recommendation said that Comey had been out of line in speaking publicly about the investigation into Hillary Clintons email, and should not have criticized her. Trump, however, had said Comey dealt too leniently with Clinton, reprising that complaint as recently as May 2. This made the official explanation implausible.

Recommended: The Terrible Cost of Trump's Disclosures to the Russians

Almost immediately, news reports suggested Trump had been moved by outrage about the FBIs investigation into Russia. The White House denied that, and even Vice President Pence said otherwise. Then, on May 11, Trump said in an interview that he had made his choice before the deputy attorney generals recommendation, and he said that the Russia probe had been a factor in his decision. Hed made a liar of his vice president and his spokeswoman, as well as contradicting the reasons he gave to Congress for firing Comey.

The result is perhaps the gravest political crisis of Trumps presidencyno small feat in a presidency consumed by a series of political crises. Immediately upon the dismissal, Democrats and Republicans both voiced concern that Trump was tampering with an investigation into his own administration. Then the president confirmed that he was, in fact, tampering with an investigation into his own administration.

Things have gotten even stranger. After a report that Trump asked Comey to pledge his loyalty at a January 27 dinner, Comey associated disputed that. Trump then tweeted that Comey better hope there were not tapes (quotation marks his) of their conversations. The remark was either a weird attempt to intimidate a potential opponent or else an admission of a surreptitious taping system, a la Nixon, that would constitute a public record.

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Meanwhile, in an attempt to answer concerns about business ties with Russia, Trump released a letter from his tax lawyers that says he had $100 million in income from Russia over the last 10 years or so. Yet even with that huge sumwhat the lawyers call exceptionstax experts say that the letter does little to prove anything about Trumps ties to Russia.

Recommended: What Did Donald Trump Tell the Russians?

These increasingly erratic moves have shaken even some Republicans inclined to stand by Trump, and they have amplified calls for a special counsel or an independent commission to take over the Russia probes. Meanwhile, Democrats allege that Attorney General Jeff Sessionss involvement in choosing a new FBI director constitutes a violation of his pledge to recuse himself from Russia investigations.

If Trump hoped to stifle Russia questions, as he himself suggested, it has not worked, at least not in the immediate term. The questions have only grown louder. As Trumps erstwhile pal Bill Clinton can tell him, once investigators start poking at an administration, scandals have a tendency to snowball.

Donald Trump entered the White House as one of the most scandal-tarred presidents in American historywhat his imbroglios may have lacked in depth, they made up in variety, encompassing legal, ethical, and sexual controversies. (In a twist, one of Trumps few competitors for the crown was his rival, Hillary Clinton.) They ranged from race discrimination to mafia connections, from petty hypocrisies to multimillion-dollar alleged frauds.

Related Story

The Many Scandals of Donald Trump: A Cheat Sheet

Now that Trump is president, some of those controversies have continued to shadow him. But the presidency has also occasioned a whole new set of disputes. Looming largest is the question of whether his campaign colluded with Russian agents to interfere in the election, a question being investigated by the FBI as well as panels in both houses of Congress. They also include ethical and legal questions surrounding members of his cabinet, his allegation that Barack Obama spied on him before the election, and various conflicts of interest.

In the spirit of our logs of Clinton and Trump scandals during the presidential campaign, this article will track those controversies, sorting out the legal, ethical, and moral questions and separating the facts from the fury. The list will be updated regularly as there are new developments.

Recommended: Republicans Display a Mix of Defense and Alarm on Trump Allegations

Mike Segar / Reuters

The Firing of Michael Flynn

Who: Flynn, a retired three-star general and Trumps first national security adviser

The dirt: Flynn cut a controversial figure on the campaign trail as an outspoken Trump surrogate. On November 17, shortly after Trump was elected, Flynn was named his national security adviser. Problems soon emerged. His son had to be fired for spreading bizarre, baseless conspiracy theories. There were also reports that Flynn had spoken with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak prior to Trumps inauguration about sanctions on Moscow, which Flynn denied. On April 25, the leaders of the House Oversight Committee said they believed Flynn had failed to seek permission (as he had been warned to do) to receive money from the Russian and Turkish governments in 2015 and 2016, and omitted some of them from required disclosures.

The upshot: Flynn was fired on February 13, after it became clear he had lied to Vice President Pence about his conversations with Kislyak. However, Trump reportedly knew about those lies as early as January 26, raising questions about why Flynns firing took so long. More questions have emerged since, especially with Flynns disclosure that he lobbied for the Turkish government without declaring it prior to his White House appointment. If Flynn failed to seek permission for payments from Russia and Turkey, and to disclose it, he would have committed a crime. More details about Flynn are expected: Through a lawyer, Flynnwho in 2016 said that someone who asks for immunity has probably committed a crimehas reportedly reached out to various investigative bodies to offer immunity in exchange for testimony. So far, no one is known to have granted it.

Read more: The Atlantic, (2), (3)

Carlo Allegri / Reuters

Russian Interference in the 2016 Election

Who: Paul Manafort, former Trump campaign chair; Michael Flynn, former national security adviser; Carter Page, former Trump adviser; unknown others

The dirt: The fact of Russian interference in the election to hurt Hillary Clinton and aid Trump is the subject of consensus in the U.S. government, but whether there were connections between the Trump campaign and those efforts remains unknown. The most explosive allegations were laid out in the infamous unconfirmed dossier a former British intelligence officer prepared. FBI Director James Comey said on March 20 that his agency is investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government, and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russias efforts. The Senate and House intelligence committees are also both investigating. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was forced to recuse himself from any investigations after admitting he had not disclosed to Congress meetings with the Russian ambassador. Democrats have argued that Sessions lied under oath by doing so. On April 11, The Washington Post revealed that the FBI sought and received a warrant to Carter Page on suspicion of being a foreign agents. Paul Manafort is also the subject of several inquiries, and reports have pointed to mysterious millions flowing his way; he may register retroactively as a foreign agent under federal law. The Justice Department is reportedly seeking Manaforts bank records. The Senate Intelligence Committee is seeking communications with Russia from several former Trump aides.

The upshot: Who knows? If Trump aides conspired with a foreign power to influence the election, it would be the biggest political scandal since Watergate. If Trump himself were involved or compromised, as the darkest liberal observers suggest, it would be a scandal without precedent in American history. Adam Schiff, the Democratic ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, says he has seen more than circumstantial evidence of collusion, while Representative Joaquin Castro says he thinks people will go to jail. At the moment, however, theres minimal public evidence to go on, so the whole thing might very well turn out to be mere innuendo. In firing of James Comey, the FBI director overseeing an investigation into Russian interference, and citing the probe, Trump appears to be tampering with the investigation.

Read more: The Atlantic, (2), (3), The New York Times, Associated Press, The New York Times

Jim Lo Scalzo / Gary Cameron / Reuters

The Firing of James Comey

Who: Trump; former FBI Director James Comey; Attorney General Jeff Sessions; Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein; White House communications staff

The dirt: On May 9, President Trump abruptly fired FBI Director James Comey. Trump cited a recommendation from Rosenstein, who criticized Comey for breaking Justice Department guidelines by being too harsh on Hillary Clinton during an investigation of her emails. Advisers, including Vice President Pence, cited the recommendation. That explanation plainly made no sense, since Trump had previously attacked Comey, as recently as May 2, for being too lenient with Clinton. But then Trump gave an interview on May 11 saying hed decided to fire Comey long before the recommendation, and said that the FBIs probe into Russian interference in the election was a factor in his decision. That not only contradicts his stated rationale and the statements of his vice president and press secretary, its at odds with what Trump told leaders in Congress. Trump also bizarrely implied he might have secret recordings of conversations with Comey.

The upshot: Although Trump has repeatedly insisted the Russia probe is a taxpayer-funded charade and that it will find no collusion between his campaign and Moscow, his decision to suddenly fire the FBI head investigating it has instead encouraged speculation about ties to Russia. The White House did itself no favors with three separate accounts of the timing and reasoning of the firing. Members of Congress in both parties expressed concern about the firing, and the Senate Intelligence Committee hopes to interview Comey. If there are White House tapes, they could be subject to subpoena. Meanwhile, the appearance of political tampering with the investigation has bolstered calls for a special commission or special counsel to investigate Russia-Trump links. Democrats also argue that by participating in the process to replace Comey, Sessions is violating his pledge to recuse himself from involvement in Russia probes.

Read more: The Atlantic

Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

The Obama Wiretap

Who: Donald Trump; former President Barack Obama; Fox News analyst Andrew Napolitano; conservative pundit Mark Levin; Breitbart author Joel Pollak

The dirt: On March 4, Trump tweeted that Obama had my wires tapped in Trump Tower just before the victory, calling it McCarthyism and Nixon/Watergate. There is no evidence to support Trumps claim, and FBI Director James Comey said under oath that it was not true. It appears that Trump made his claim based on speculation from Andrew Napolitano on Fox News, Mark Levins radio show, and a Breitbart piece by Pollak based on the Levin segment. Despite demanding a congressional investigation, the White House has still not produced any evidence. Trump has tried to change the nature of his claim, first saying he merely meant surveillance broadly. Later, after the White House claimed (again, with no clear evidence) that Obama National Security Adviser Susan Rice had improperly asked that the names of Trump aides be listed in intelligence reports, Trump claimed, falsely, that hed been referring to this unmasking.

The upshot: The debate over Trumps apparently entirely fictitious claim has now spread out over weeks, sucking in congressional investigations and the FBI. Trumps refusal to back off his claim has produced a range of peculiar outcomes. Devin Nunes, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, has been forced to recuse himself from an investigation. The Trump administration set off a brief feud with GCHQ, the British intelligence agency, for claiming the U.K. did the bugging for the Obama administration. The president also made a bizarre, awkward joke about prior surveillance of Angela Merkel during a press conference with the German chancellor. If President Obama did engage in politically motivated spying, it would be Nixonian, but at the moment theres simply no evidence for that at all, while Trumps phantom allegations suck up oxygen.

Read more: The Atlantic, (2), (3)

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Devin Nunes and Allegations of Improper Unmasking

Who: Devin Nunes, chair of the House Intelligence Committee and a Trump transition team member; Ezra Cohen-Watnick and Michael Ellis, White House staffers; Susan Rice, Obama national security adviser

The dirt: On March 22, Nunes, a California Republican, announced he had received mysterious report suggesting vague, inappropriate conduct by Obama administration officialsthat Trump transition-team members had been incidentally collected, or swept up in surveillance of intelligence targets. When Americans who are not the targets of surveillance are collected this way, their names are redacted, but can be revealed, or unmasked, to some top officials at their request. Though Nunes said the surveillance was lawful, he alleged that the Trump officials names had been improperly unmasked. Nunes would not say how he obtained the information, did not share it with members of his committee, and rushed to brief the president. A later report from Bloomberg View had Trump officials claiming Susan Rice had requested questionable unmasking.

The upshot: Nuness refusal to share his information resulted in acrimony with his Democratic counterpart. Meanwhile, the congressmans account developed a series of inconsistencies and holes, both in substance and in process. Although he insisted he had not received his information from the Trump administration, it became clear that his source was within the White House. Nunes was eventually forced to recuse himself from the House investigation into Russian interference in the election. Rice has denied wrongdoing, and no further evidence that she improperly unmasked anyone has emergedin fact, some reports suggest just the opposite.

Read more: The Atlantic, (2), (3); Eli Lake; CNN

Mike Theiler / Reuters

Conflicts of Interest and Ethics Violations

Who: Donald Trump; Ivanka Trump; Donald Trump Jr.; Eric Trump; Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president

The dirt: Donald Trump has still not offered an adequate plan for addressing conflicts of interest between his business and his office. The president said that he would step away from the Trump Organization, as would his daughter Ivanka, while his sons Donald and Eric ran the business. His faux-blind trust was criticized by ethics observers across the political spectrum, and Eric has suggested in interviews that the division is even more porous than it initially appeared. Ethicists say Trump is in violation of the Constitutions Emoluments Clause, because foreign leaders can funnel money to the president by staying in his hotels. Separately, Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway broke ethics rules by encouraging people to purchase Ivanka Trump merchandise after Nordstrom announced it would drop her line of clothing. (Despite President Trumps promise that Ivanka was not joining the White House, she has since taken a job in the West Wing.) Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner also appears to have failed to disclose at least $1 billion in loans and stakes in multiple companies.

The upshot: The General Services Administration ruled that Trump was not violating the lease on a hotel in D.C., despite a clause saying no government official can be party to the contract. At least one pending lawsuit seeks to have Trump ruled in violation of the Emoluments Cause. The Office of Government Ethics ruled that Conway had broken rules on endorsements and recommended that she be fired, but the White House rejected the recommendation, and OGE has no authority to levy its own punishment. After public outcry, the State Department deleted a blog post promoting Mar-A-Lago, Trumps Florida estate.

Read more: The Atlantic, (2); Jeremy Venooks full accounting of conflicts of interest; Fortune; The Wall Street Journal

Aaron Bernstein / Reuters

The Revolving Door

Who: Marcus Peacock, former budget adviser; Scott Gottlieb, nominee for FDA commissioner; Michael Catanzaro, energy adviser; Chad Wolf, TSA official; Geoff Burr, Labor Department official

The dirt: During the campaign, Trump promised to drain the swamp, proposing a range of rules to limit the revolving door between government and business. Trumps actions since taking office have been a mixed bag, strengthening some rules and weakening others. (This is not unprecedentedBarack Obama also ended up loosening his own rules.) There are already several worrying case of people moving between the government and major lobbies in both directions.

Marcus Peacock worked briefly in the Office of Management and Budget, but has left for the Business Roundtable, a major lobby. Peacock would have been banned from lobbying for five years, but he was granted a waiver from Trumps rules.

Scott Gottlieb, Trumps nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, has received millions of dollars from drug companies covered by the FDA over the years. Gottlieb plans to recuse himself from decisions involving multiple drugmakers, including giants Bristol-Myers Squibb and GlaxoSmithKline.

Chad Wolf is the chief of staff for the Transportation Safety Administration, but until he took that job was a lobbyist for a company seeking to have its baggage-scanning device approved by TSA, a deal that could be worth $500 million. When The New York Times contacted Wolf (he declined an interview request), his Twitter account still identified him as a lobbyist.

Michael Catanzaro is Trumps top energy adviser, in which capacity he is working to roll back Obama-era emissions rules that he previously lobbied against on behalf of energy companies.

Geoff Burr has been hired as a special assistant at the Labor Department. He was previously a lobbyist for a construction-industry trade group, lobbying the department where he now works for things like looser safety regulations and wage rules.

The upshot: Because the Office of Government Ethics has no independent authority to punish violations, most of the onus is on the White House to enforce its own rules. In several of these cases, it appears that Trump administration officials may be in violation of the presidents rules or other existing rules, but its very difficult to know for sure. The administration could grant waivers to officials to circumvent rules, but unlike the Obama administration, the Trump administration is not making those waivers public. Of course, the presence of waivers raises its own questions about the efficacy and spirit of the White Houses ethics rules.

Read more: The Wall Street Journal; The New York Times; ProPublica; Bloomberg

Joshua Roberts / Reuters

Tom Prices Dubious Stock Trading

Who: Tom Price, secretary of health and human services

The dirt: Price, a doctor by profession, was previously a U.S. representative from Georgia. In 2012, after a series of revelations about members of Congress profiting by trading stocks with inside information about regulation and legislation, the STOCK Act barred trading on non-public information. Price traded more than $300,000 worth of stock in health companies affected by bills he sponsored or argued for. The largest was an investment of $50,000 to $100,000 in an Australian company called Innate Immunotherapeutics, whose largest shareholder is Representative Chris Collins of New York, a close Trump ally. The stock later doubled in price. During confirmation hearings, Price claimed to have received no special information, but The Wall Street Journal found that Price had actually received a privileged offer to buy. ProPublica also reported that Price also bought $90,000 in drug companies the same day he intervened to kill a rule that would have cut into their profits.

The upshot: The allegations against Price, if proven, could be very serious, as he could have violated federal law. Democrats have asked that the Securities and Exchange Commission investigate Price. When Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for Manhattan was unexpectedly fired in March, he had been conducting an investigation into Prices trades, ProPublica reported. Price denies wrongdoing and says trades were made by his broker without his knowledge.

Read more: The Wall Street Journal, (2); ProPublica, (2)

Trump speaks at a rally in Louisville, Kentucky, in March 2016. (Chris Bergin / Reuters)

Inciting Violence

Who: Donald Trump

The dirt: The president faces a lawsuit from three people who allege they were roughed up at a campaign rally in Louisville, Kentucky, in March 2016. They blame Trump for inciting violence by saying, Get em out of here. He has also been sued in Alabama in a similar case.

The upshot: Trump has offered two defenses in Kentucky. First, he says he was not instructing the crowd, though another defendant, accused of conducting an assault, says he was acting because of the candidates statement. (A white nationalist leader has actually sued Trump, saying he assaulted a woman at the candidates behest.) Second, Trump says that as president he is immune to civil suits. Trump has also claimed that he has presidential immunity from a sexual-harassment case filed by a former Apprentice contestant.

Read more: Politico, (2); The Atlantic

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
One March for Science protester has a message for President Donald Trump: Scientists invented your spray tan!

Thousands of scientists gathered in Washington, D.C., and around the world to celebrate science in light of Trump Administration policies targeting their work - including proposed budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency and National Institutes of Health.

And the scientists certainly did not disappoint with their posters. One read Shrodingers cat grabs back, alluding to both the thought experiment described as a paradox and the slogan used by Womens March protesters in January.

Another cleverly combined the symbols of the periodic table elements Tungsten, Thorium and Fluorine - W Th F - to create the element of outraged disbelief.

And one protesters sign gave a new definition for White House adviser Kellyanne Conways alternative facts: the square root of negative 1 - or, imaginary.

Check out some of the nerdiest signs from the March for Science in Washington, D.C., in the photos below.

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This article was originally published on TIME.com
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's public enterprises minister has blocked power utility Eskom from giving its former chief executive a 30 million rand ($2.3 million) pension payout, the government said on Sunday. Brian Molefe, who is largely credited with stabilising electricity supply following months of rolling blackouts, resigned last year after he was implicated in a report by the anti-graft watchdog on alleged influence-peddling. Molefe has denied any wrongdoing. "I have considered the Eskom board's reasoning in formulating the proposed pension payout and cannot support it," public enterprises minister Lynne Brown said in a statement. Brown said the payout could not be seen as a performance reward, as Molefe had already received a bonus for his role in turning Eskom around. "Nor is the proposed pension payout justifiable in light of the current financial challenges faced not only by state-owned companies, but by the country as a whole," she said. Credit ratings agencies S&P Global and Fitch downgraded South Africa to sub-investment grade this month after President Jacob Zuma removed respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan. Eskom's credit rating was downgraded afterwards, a blow to the utility as it is yet to complete work on two coal-fired power stations, years behind schedule and over budget, and as it plans to build nuclear reactors. Brown ordered Eskom's board to meet with Molefe and present her with an "appropriate pension proposal" within seven days. Molefe, now a member of parliament for the ruling African National Congress, took the reins at Eskom in 2015 as Africa's most industrialised economy endured daily power cuts, but soon implemented new maintenance policies to get more out of the nation's fleet of ageing coal-fired power stations. ($1 = 13.1238 rand) (Reporting by TJ Strydom; Editing by Dale Hudson)
Madrid (AFP) - Spanish coast guard crews worked Sunday to clean up a three-kilometre (1.9-mile) long diesel slick off the holiday island of Gran Canaria after a passenger ferry slammed into a pier.

The ferry carrying 140 passengers smashed into a breakwater late Friday in the port of Las Palmas, the capital of Spain's Canary islands off the northwest coast of Africa.

Thirteen people were injured and the crash damaged underwater fuel pipes, the regional government said in a statement. Video footage on Spanish television showed chunks of concrete falling onto the port.

Emergency crews managed on Saturday to collect half of the roughly 60,000 litres (16,000 gallons) of diesel that spilled into the ocean, the regional government said.

Three coast guard boats were on Sunday working to break up the slick -- which is three kilometres long and half a kilometre wide -- to help the diesel evaporate, it added.

"Work on the spill is continuing and we hope that it will have evaporated before Monday. Experts do not believe there is risk to the environment," Fernando Clavijo, the president of the regional government, said in a tweet.

Beaches around Las Palmas and Telde, the two main towns on Gran Canaria, would be closed on Sunday as a precaution, the regional government said.

Repairing the pier will cost around two million euros ($2.1 million) and take six months, it added.

Ferry operator Naviera Armas said the accident was caused by a technical fault that sparked a power cut on the boat.
House Speaker Paul Ryan had a not-so-subtle message for the White House on Saturday: Dont rush Congress to repeal Obamacare just because President Donald Trump wants a win before he hits his 100-day-in-power mark on Friday.

The Wisconsin Republican told fellow lawmakers on a weekend conference call that the GOP still plans to scrap President Barack Obamas signature health care law. But the Speaker, still stung by the failed bid earlier this year, is not going to try again until he is certain there are sufficient votes for the entire deal-especially with a government shutdown looming at the end of the week.

The brush-off is a sign that Ryan may have tired of the antics from Trumps team. With the current Congress seated for another 20 months, lawmakers can push back against Trumps agenda if he tries to bully them into action before theyre ready. After all, separation of powers is more than an answer on a civics test.

The tension could come to a head during a critical week when Congress faces the difficult challenge of passing a funding measure to keep the government open. Some White House advisers believe the high-stakes deadline would give the repeal push a sense of urgency that the previous attempt lacked. A photo-finish bill signing late Friday, followed by a Saturday evening victory rally in Pennsylvania with the President, would make for good television-at the same hour the White House Correspondents Association has its annual black-tie dinner. Trump would love to steal the spotlight.

Yet Ryan, a steady Midwesterner, is not eager to have his chambers agenda scripted by a former reality television star. Lawmakers have just four days in Washington before government funding expires, bringing the vast federal bureaucracy to a screeching halt. And Ryan is aware that there remain serious questions whether the Republican Party-which controls the House, the Senate and the White House-can govern half as well as it obstructed during Obamas term. A shutdown would tank Republicans image with voters, just as a 2013 partial shutdown did.

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Ryan told colleagues that he expects defections from Republican ranks, meaning Democratic votes will be needed to pass the funding measure. That more or less ends dreams of using the bill as a vehicle for reductions in social spending, tax cuts that add to the deficit or federal dollars for a border wall with Mexico. The Speaker also knows any spending legislation the House sends to the Senate will require at least eight Democratic votes, and there is little appetite among the Democratic minority to sacrifice.

In a sign Ryan wasnt looking to turn the unusual Saturday conference call into a strategizing session or debate, he did not open the call to questions from rank-and-file lawmakers. Wherever we land will be a product the President can and will support, Ryan told colleagues, according one top Republican staffer who listened to the call.

Its not clear if top White House advisers understand these dynamics, or if the people who do have the Presidents ear. At times last week, it seemed clear the President was calling the shots without input from his legislative staffers, who would have advised him against trying to cram so many heavy lifts into a week that already has Wall Street skittish.

Last week, senior administration officials told reporters that Congress would deal with health care on Wednesday, efforts on tax reform would follow later that day and then the massive spending bill would clear his desk. As part of his typical Saturday morning raft of tweets, Trump promised: Big TAX REFORM AND TAX REDUCTION will be announced next Wednesday.

Trumps team seemed unsure how to respond. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told CNN for an interview that will air on Sundays State of the Union that Trump wanted to see border wall funding included. I would suspect he will be insistent on the funding, Kelly told Jake Tapper.

That matches the message from White House budget czar Mick Mulvaney, who said the administration needed to win federal dollars to fund the wall. You cannot expect a president who just won election to give up very easily on his highest priority, Mulvaney told Bloomberg on Friday.

Senior Republican aides were incredulous about those plans. But they were simultaneously waiting to see if Ryan would try to heed Trumps wishes, as he did on round one of the health care repeal. During that prior push, Trump insisted on scheduling a vote, only to postpone it twice when it faced uncertain odds of passing. Ryan seems to have stood up to the White House for now. And for his part, Trump has subsequently backed off that demand.

Yet it remains to be seen if Trump will turn to Twitter-and his millions of active supporters-to attack Congress this week for its sluggish pace. The President was elected on the promise to upend Washington. A government shutdown inside the first 100 days would be one way to deliver.

This article was originally published on TIME.com
By Chris Kenning

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday makes his first major appearance since leaving office, having chosen Chicago, the city where his political career started, to emerge from a three-month hiatus from the public eye.

Obama will meet youth leaders and promote community organizing near the same South Side neighborhoods where his own activism blossomed and propelled him to two terms in the White House that ended with Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who served as Obamas first White House chief of staff, said that he was proud that Obama picked Chicago to make his last speech as president and the first in his post-presidency.

I think it reflects his emotional, as well as his intellectual, commitment to this city and seeing this city as his home, he said.

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Obama's continued connection to Chicago is important to the city, which has global aspirations as well as a palpable insecurity about its place in the world.

During the last year of Obamas second term, Chicago laid claim to its share of his legacy by beating out Hawaii and New York as the site of his presidential library.

Obama, who still owns a home in Chicago, was raised in Hawaii. The former president and his wife Michelle are expected to move from Washington to New York once their younger daughter, Sasha, graduates from high school.

David Axelrod, a former top political adviser to Obama, said the decision to house the library in Chicago should have eased any concerns that its residents may have had about the former Democratic president's commitment to the city.

But Monday's event, he said, is another important sign of the former president's strong links to Chicago.

Hes going to be more visible moving forward, he said. I think this is clearly a coming-out.

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Reverend Michael Pfleger, a social justice activist who heads a large South Side Roman Catholic church, said a prominent Obama presence could help the nations third-largest city confront some of the thorny problems it faces.

Chief among them is a spike in gun violence, an issue that Trump has highlighted as a sign of lawlessness and the failure of the Democratic politicians who have long run Chicago.

Its his life, and hes not in elected office right now, so he can do what he wants, Pfleger said. But Id love to see him engage in his home of Chicago. He could make a huge difference.

Civil Rights activist Jesse Jackson said Obama could use his powerful platform to address stark inequalities in Chicago schools, housing and employment, and to advocate for reinvestment in blighted neighborhoods.

Monday's event takes place on the South Side campus of the University of Chicago, where Obama once taught constitutional law. It is intended to encourage and support the next generation of leaders driven by strengthening communities, according to a statement.

Since leaving office, Obama has kept a relatively low public profile, taking vacations in Palm Springs, California and the British Virgin Islands, where he indulged in the sport of kite-boarding while vacationing with British billionaire Sir Richard Branson.

Together with his wife, who grew up on Chicagos South Side, the former president recently struck a two-book, $65 million memoir deal. He is expected to travel to Berlin to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel next month.

(Reporting by Chris Kenning; Editing by Mary Milliken)


Officials in northwestern China are reported to have banned baby names with strong religious meanings.

American-based broadcaster Radio Free Asia reports that the officials work in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Uyghurs are a mostly Muslim ethnic minority in China.

Mecca, Saddam, Hajj, Islam and Medina are among the names that parents are not permitted to give their children.

The ban is part of the Chinese Communist Partys Naming Rules for Ethnic Minorities, an official said Thursday.

A naming ban reportedly took effect in the southern part of Xinjiang in 2015. Now, Radio Free Asia (RFA) says, Chinese officials are enforcing the ban throughout the area.

RFA and VOA are each part of the U.S. government-supported Broadcasting Board of Governors.

A worker who answered the telephone at a police station in Xinjiangs capital, Urumqi, said that overly religious names are banned. The worker said that any babies registered with such names would be barred from the government system that gives the child rights to education and health care.

Traditional names

Another person told RFA that the safest names for Uyghurs to name their children are those that sound more "mainstream."

"I have been talking with friends in Xinjiang about this, and they all say that any with potentially extremist overtones will be banned, the person said. But names like Memet ... that you see everywhere, are considered more mainstream by the Chinese Communist Party.

Strike-hard campaigns

The Chinese government aims to limit what it calls religious extremism in Xinjiang. Officials often carry out what have been called strike hard campaigns. These include police raids of Uyghur homes and restrictions on Islamic customs, as well as placing limits on the culture and language of the Uyghur people.

Last month, Xinjiang officials reportedly dismissed a Uyghur official for holding her marriage ceremony at home  following Islamic traditions -- instead of at a government-approved area.

Local people claimed that the woman was removed from her job for taking her marriage declarations  known as nikah in Muslim culture  in her own home.

Xin Lin reported on this story for RFA's Mandarin Service. Luisetta Mudie translated and edited the story. It was adapted for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

mainstream - n. the thoughts, beliefs, and choices that are accepted by the largest number of people

overtones - n. an idea or quality that is suggested without being said directly
Paris (AFP) - Emmanuel Macron's youthful supporters wept tears of joy and shouted themselves hoarse on Sunday as projections from France's presidential election suggested their champion was well on track for power.

Similar jubilation played out at the headquarters of the far-right National Front (FN), whose leader Marine Le Pen brought the party to the presidential runoff for just the second time in its history.

For supporters of the conservative Republicans and far-left France Insoumise (France Unbowed), there was bitterness at a dream left unfulfilled.

But for Socialists, the evening was a nightmare, bringing the curtain down on the party's grip on the paramount seat of power.

A wave of noise and emotion swept though a giant conference centre on the southwest outskirts of Paris hosted by Macron's fledgling party, "En Marche" ("On the Move"), after projections showed the 39-year-old pro-Europe former minister led the pack for France's top job.

- Tricolores galore -

Thousands of supporters waving French flags shouted in ecstasy as Macron and his spouse, Brigitte Trogneux -- his former teacher who is 25 years his senior -- took to the stage.

To chants of "Macron president!" and "We're going to win," Macron began his speech by paying tribute to his opponents, and praised his supporters for his lightning rise.

"In just one year we have changed the French political landscape," he said. "You gave up your days (for the cause) and when that was not enough, you gave up your nights."

Macron supporters interviewed by AFP said they had been drawn to the candidate because, in their view, he broke with France's polarised politics and backed the European Union.

"We are at a turning point, with a candidate who is moving away from the two-party mould and who is going to renew politics, and it's good news for Europe," said Quentin, a 27-year-old who had travelled from central France.

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At the FN's electoral headquarters at Henin-Beaumont in northern France's rundown industrial belt, Le Pen supporters erupted with joy and sang the Marseillaise, the French national anthem, as the first-round projections were announced.

Le Pen, 48, wants France to quit the eurozone, restore border controls and stage a referendum on leaving the EU.

"The first step... has been taken. This result is historic," she said, declaring it "time to liberate the French people".

Le Pen's critics accuse her of sanitising the image of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and racism associated with her firebrand father.

But Eve Froger, a 20-year-old law student, said Le Pen was the only candidate to combat globalisation.

"She's not just charismatic -- Marine's programme will catalyse France and in particular will help the cause of women, as she's the only one who wants to fight Islamic fundamentalism, which is crushing women in France today."

- Wrecked dreams -

At the Republicans' HQ in Paris, the word "disappointment" was on many lips after former prime minister Francois Fillon -- who just over four months ago had been riding high in the opinion polls -- failed to make the cut.

Many seemed to blame the media for sinking Fillon's chances over allegations that he hired members of his family for fake jobs paid from the public purse.

"For months, the media, all the media, and the CAC40 (stock exchange index) have been campaigning for Macron," law professor Anne-Marie Lepourhiet said bitterly.

For Melenchon supporters gathered in a bar in central Paris, disappointment too was the dominant mood, mingled with pride that his movement -- helped by crowd-pleading appearances by hologram -- had been able to vie for third place after just months of operation.

"I am disgusted," said a supporter who gave only his first name Romain. "But we have achieved something crazy with this spontaneous movement that we have created... the fight will continue."

Among the Socialists, many supporters were ashen-faced that their hope, Benoit Hamon, had been predicted to do badly but was now credited with as little as six percent of the vote.

Hamon himself soberly admitted the party had suffered a "historic drubbing".

In 2012, Francois Hollande won the presidency and went on to command a majority in legislative elections.

Damien, a local civil servant, grimly blamed tactical voting for the crushing defeat -- "the flawed presidential election system which allows voters to carry out power plays".
MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - Three policemen were killed on Sunday in a suicide attack south of Mosul, the northern Iraqi city where Islamic State is fighting off a U.S.-backed offensive, security sources said. A group of about 10 assailants, including four suicide bombers, had tried to infiltrate a Federal Police helicopter base in Al-Areej, a police captain told Reuters. Three policemen and three of the assailants were killed in the attack, he said. Police gave chase but the assailants managed to escape, he said. Islamic State's Amaq news agency said the attack was carried out by two members who detonated their explosive vests after running out of ammunition. It is the first major attack targeting government forces in this area since those forces took it back in February, four months after launching an offensive on Mosul. Several camps for people displaced from Mosul are located in a nearby town, Hammam al-Alil, which is also a center of operations for international aid organizations. Islamic State is now besieged in the northwestern part of Mosul, an area that includes the Old City. Its Grand al-Nuri Mosque is where the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared a "caliphate" over parts of Iraq and Syria in mid-2014. (Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein in Mosul and Isabel Coles in Istanbul; writing by Maher Chmaytelli; editing by Jason Neely)
France holds its first round of presidential elections in what will be another test for the spread of populist nationalism sweeping Europe.

North Korea threatened to a missile strike on a U.S. Navy vessel, and it detains a U.S. citizen who was teaching at university in Pyongyang.

American Airlines apologized and suspended an employee who got in an argument with a mother about her baby stroller.

Were tracking the news stories of the day below. All updates are in Eastern Daylight Time (GMT -4).

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
By Julia Edwards Ainsley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said anti-Semitism should be defeated and called the Holocaust the "darkest chapter of human history" in a video address on Sunday, following two missteps by his administration regarding statements about genocide during World War Two.

"The mind cannot fathom the pain, the horror and the loss. Six million Jews, two-thirds of the Jews in Europe, murdered by the Nazi genocide. They were murdered by an evil that words cannot describe, and that the human heart cannot bear," Trump said in a speech to the World Jewish Congress Plenary Assembly in New York on Yom HaShoah, Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day.

"On Yom HaShoah, we look back at the darkest chapter of human history," Trump added. "We mourn, we remember, we pray, and we pledge: 'Never again.'"

In January, on international Holocaust Remembrance Day, a Trump administration statement failed to mention Jews, the overwhelming majority of those who were killed in concentration camps under Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

Earlier this month, White House spokesman Sean Spicer triggered an uproar when he said Hitler did not sink to the level of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by using chemical weapons.

Spicer later apologized after his comments aroused criticism on social media and elsewhere for overlooking the fact that millions of Jews were killed in Nazi gas chambers.

Trump's four-minute message included somber references to Jewish suffering in the Holocaust, a commitment to support Israel and a rebuke of prejudice and anti-Semitism.

"We must stamp out prejudice and anti-Semitism everywhere it is found. We must defeat terrorism, and we must not ignore the threats of a regime that talks openly of Israels destruction," Trump said in an apparent reference to Iran.

(Reporting by Julia Edwards Ainsley; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Washington (AFP) - Donald Trump pressed for the funding of a Mexico border wall Sunday as a looming spending showdown in Congress threatens to shut down the US government on the president's 100th day in office.

Building the wall was Trump's signature campaign promise, and the White House appeared determined to get Congress to approve a down payment as part of a bigger bill to keep the US government funded.

Trump weighed in on Twitter, insisting Mexico will pay for the wall "but at a later date so we can get started early."

"The Democrats don't want money from budget going to border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs and very bad MS 13 gang members," he wrote.

White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney said the administration is prepared to make concessions to Democrats on health care reform in order to get the wall money.

But if the wall isn't funded, will the president veto the larger spending bill, risking a government shutdown on Saturday -- coincidentally Trump's 100th day in office?

"Don't know yet," Mulvaney said on Fox News Sunday. "We are asking for our priorities and importantly we are offering to give Democrats some of their priorities as well."

The specter of a government shutdown has often loomed over US budget negotiations. The threat has most often been averted -- but has come to pass several times, most recently for 16 days in 2013 amid a dispute over funding for Barack Obama's signature health care reforms.

- Record low approval -

The fight this time comes as the White House is eager to show off Trump's accomplishments at the 100-day mark.

The president is planning a speech to the nation and an "America First" rally on Saturday to highlight his successes, accompanied by an outpouring of digital content.

Trump surprised his own aides this week by promising a big announcement on tax reform on Wednesday even though lawmakers have yet to conclude negotiations on health reform, a major variable in government spending.

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Mulvaney said it would be a statement of principles rather than legislation, "with some indication what the rates are going to be."

"I don't think anybody expects us to roll bill language on Wednesday," he added.

Although he has slashed government regulations and used his executive powers more frequently than any of his recent predecessors, Trump has had no major legislative achievements to speak of so far.

His attempt to repeal and replace his predecessor's health care reforms was rejected in the Republican-controlled Congress, and his executive order imposing a travel ban targeting citizens of several mainly Muslim countries as well as refugees has been blocked by the courts.

A new Washington Post/ABC News poll showed his approval ratings to be at a record low for a modern US president at a point in office when most have still enjoyed a honeymoon.

It found that 42 percent of Americans approved of his performance and 53 percent disapproved.

Trump nevertheless found a silver lining in the poll numbers.

"New polls out today are very good considering that much of the media is FAKE and almost always negative," he tweeted.

"Would still beat Hillary in popular vote," he said, referring to Democrat Hillary Clinton, whom he vanquished in last November's presidential election.

"ABC News/Washington Post Poll (wrong big on election) said almost all stand by their vote on me & 53% said strong leader," Trump gloated about the survey's findings.

- Spending compromise? -

Democrats, meanwhile, have shown little interest in compromise, particularly on the border wall project.

"I hope the president will back off," said Senator Dick Durbin, the number-two Democrat in the Senate, on CNN's "State of the Union."

"To think that he would consider shutting down the government of the United States of America over this outlandish proposal of a border wall, which we can't even pay for at this point, and is opposed by Democrats and Republicans all along the border, that would be the height of irresponsibility," he said.

However, Mulvaney insisted that "shutdown is not desired and it's not a tool, it's not something we want to have.

"We want our priorities funded and one of the biggest priorities during the campaign was border security, keeping Americans safe and part of that was a border wall."

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly made similar pitches on other television talk shows.

"I think it's certainly worth hard negotiation over," Kelly said on CBS's "Face the Nation."

"We have tremendous threats, whether it's drugs, people, potential terrorists, coming up from the south."

Sessions said Trump would decide whether the wall money was worth the risk of a government shutdown.

"But I know one thing, we need that wall," he said on ABC's "This Week." "It will help us complete the promise that the president has made to the American people. That's what they want."
Trump near the U.S. southern border, outside Laredo, Texas, last year. (Photo: Rick Wilking/Reuters)

President Trump says he may not approve a government funding bill this week if it does not include funding for a badly needed border wall that he claims Mexico, in some form, will eventually pay for.

In a pair of tweets Sunday, the president accused Democrats of withholding money from the federal budget to start building the wall he wants constructed along the U.S. southern border with Mexico.

The Democrats dont want money from budget going to border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs and very bad MS 13 gang members, Trump tweeted.

He added: Eventually, but at a later date so we can get started early, Mexico will be paying, in some form, for the badly needed border wall.

The Democrats don't want money from budget going to border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs and very bad MS 13 gang members.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2017

Eventually, but at a later date so we can get started early, Mexico will be paying, in some form, for the badly needed border wall.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2017

Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump vowed that Mexico would pay for his planned wall, despite public refusals by Mexican officials. In January, Trump announced a proposal to impose a 20 percent tax on all imported goods from Mexico to pay for the border wall, saying that the wall would initially be funded by U.S. taxpayers for the sake of speed, and that the country would be reimbursed by Mexico at a later date.

Last month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was asked whether he believed Mexico would, in fact, pay for it.

Uh, no, the Kentucky Republican said.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed their doubts.

The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that not a single member of the House or Senate representing territory on the southwest border where the wall would be built supports Trumps funding request.

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Yet the Trump administration is keying it on the Democrats, who say they will vigorously oppose money for the border wall in a new spending bill, which lawmakers must pass Friday to avoid a government shutdown.

On ABCs This Week With George Stephanopoulos, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions suggested Democrats would be to blame if the government is shut down over the wall.

I cant imagine the Democrats would shut down the government over an objection to building a down payment on a wall that can end the lawlessness, Sessions said.

So the president wont sign the bill if it doesnt include funding for the wall? Stephanopoulos asked.

Well, hell make those decisions, Sessions replied. Im not engaged in the budget negotiations. But I know one thing: We need that wall. It will help us complete the promise that the president has made to the American people.

On NBCs Meet the Press Sunday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the wall immoral, expensive and unwise.

When the president says, Well, I promised a wall during my campaign, I dont think he said he was going to pass billions of dollars of cost of the wall on to the taxpayer, Pelosi said.

In an interview with the Associated Press Friday, Trump was asked whether he would sign a government funding bill that does not include funding for the wall.

I dont know yet, Trump said. People want the border wall. My base definitely wants the border wall, my base really wants it  youve been to many of the rallies.  The thing they want more than anything is the wall.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will speak on Sunday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, with North Korea expected to be discussed. Tensions have risen sharply with North Korea over its advancing nuclear and missile programs. Pyongyang said on Sunday it was ready to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might and detained a U.S. citizen on Saturday as he attempted to leave the country. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Peter Cooney)
By Roberta Rampton SYDNEY (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence crouched down in the shade of a eucalyptus tree on Sunday at Sydney's Taronga Zoo where Penny, a red kangaroo, dozed in the midday heat, scratching her behind the ears before she lazily rolled onto her back. "That's my usual position on a Sunday afternoon," Pence said as a bank of cameras clicked, capturing yet another picture-perfect moment for his family in Australia. Pence, his wife Karen, and their two adult daughters, Charlotte and Audrey, saw some of the sights of Sydney, investing time in soft diplomacy on the last leg of a 10-day Asia tour that has been rich with symbolism about shoring up American economic ties and security cooperation. Karen Pence - who earlier charmed a meet-and-greet with embassy families with her pronunciation of "G'day" - held out a handful of chicory to Widji, an emu who boldly pecked at the bunch. "OK, OK," she said as Widji's beak came closer to her fingers. The emu declined to indulge Audrey Pence, 22, who wanted to take a selfie - but Penny the kangaroo obliged. Pence is the first senior member of President Donald Trump's administration to travel to Australia. The visit took on new emphasis after an acrimonious phone call early in Trump's term with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about refugees. Pence sought to put any sense of lingering tension to rest during his visit, which included meetings with Turnbull and other government officials at Admiralty House, an official residence with spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House. At the zoo, Pence took photos of his daughters on a bluff in front of a panoramic view of the Sydney Harbour. They posed with Bai'yali, a fluffy eared koala with beady red eyes - but did not cuddle the bear - and also got a close look at an owl. But the owl seemed more interested in the clicking cameras than the Pences. "He's not really sure about the press," Pence quipped. (This version of the story has been refiled to correct name of zoo to Taronga in first paragraph) (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Robert Birsel)


Scientists have traveled to the mountains of Oman to find a way to remove carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere.

The geologists hope to find an effective and low-cost way to capture the gas which is blamed for worldwide climate change.

The Middle Eastern country of Oman is one of the few places in the world where the Earth's mantle is easy to reach. This part of the Arabian Peninsula is where an unusual rock formation pulls carbon out of the air.

Geologists are taking rock samples from the al-Hajjar Mountains. They want to discover how a natural process changed carbon dioxide into minerals such as limestone and marble millions of years ago.

Peter Kelemen is a geochemist at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. He has been exploring Oman's hills for almost 30 years.

"You can walk down these beautiful canyons and basically descend 20 kilometers into the earth's interior," he said.

This area in Oman has the largest exposed parts of the Earth's mantle, a part of the Earth that is usually far below the surface. It was brought to the surface by the forces of plate tectonics millions of years ago.

The mantle contains rocks called peridotite. The rocks react with carbon in the air and water to form marble and limestone.

Kelemen explained that magnesium atoms combined with carbon dioxide to form limestone, quartz and magnesium carbonate. He said one of the mountains nearby holds about a billion tons of CO2, or carbon dioxide.

In Omans mountain caves, rain and ground water form pools. The rain and water pull carbon from the exposed mantle to make mineral formations called stalactites and stalagmites. The surface of these natural pools of water develops a layer of white carbonatea kind of mineral that contains carbon.

Keleman said if you take off this thin white film, it will grow back in a day. He says that is very fast for a geological process.

Kelemen and a team of 40 scientists have formed the Oman Drilling Project to study how the process works. They want to find out how the rocks managed to capture so much carbon over time. They want to know if the process could be used to clean carbon from the earth's atmosphere.

Keleman's team recently spent four months in Oman collecting many rock samples. They hope to use these samples to develop a geological history of the process that turns carbon dioxide into carbonate.

The team plans to send 13 tons of samples from four different areas to a research ship off the coast of Japan. Kelemen and other geologists will study the rocks there.

They want to find out how the rocks captured so much carbon over 90 million years. And they want to know if there is a way to make that process happen faster.

Kelemen thinks a drilling operation be used to move carbon-rich water into the new seabed on underwater mountains. The submerged rock would chemically take in carbon from the water. The water could then move back to the surface to absorb more carbon from the atmosphere. Then the process would repeat itself.

Fighting carbon dioxide

The scientists hope their research will provide a way of dealing with carbon dioxide and other carbon-based greenhouse gases linked to climate change.

Climate change is a global change in weather patterns. Scientists say it is caused by an increase in levels of carbon dioxide and other gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. The use of fossil fuels is considered a major source of carbon dioxide.

Until now, most efforts to combat climate change have centered on reducing emissions from cars and power plants. But researchers are testing ways to remove or recycle carbon already in the seas and sky.

In Iceland, they inject carbon into volcanic rock at the Hellisheidi geothermal plant. In China, carbon is filtered and reused at the Sinopec fertilizer plant.

"Any one technique is not guaranteed to succeed," said Stuart Haszeldine. He is a geology professor at the University of Edinburgh. He also serves on a U.N. climate group that studies how to reduce atmospheric carbon.

Keleman said the Oman Drilling Project would need more years of testing. He hopes the energy industry will take an interest and help the project. So far, it has only received support from science organizations including the U.S. space agency NASA.

I'm Jonathan Evans.

Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English based on the Associated Press reports. Hai Do was the editor.

How do you think climate change can be fixed? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

geologist n. a scientist who studies rocks, layers of soil, etc., in order to learn about the history of the Earth and its life

mantle n. the middle layer of the Earth that is between the top crust and the inner core

plate tectonics n. a theory explaining the structure of the earth's crust and many associated phenomena as resulting from the interaction of rigid plates that move slowly over the underlying mantle.

layer  n. an amount of something that is spread over an area

fossil fuel n. a fuel (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) that is formed in the earth from dead plants or animals

greenhouse gas n. a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, e.g., carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons.

patterns - n. a repeated form or design especially that is used to decorate something

See how well you understand the story by taking this reading quiz.
Djibouti (AFP) - US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis on Sunday urged France to continue its African anti-terror operations under its new presidency, as he visited strategic Djibouti on the day of France's first-round election.

"I have no doubt that the French will continue to make their own decisions in their own best interest and that the terrorists will not enjoy these decisions," Mattis told reporters in the Horn of Africa nation, which hosts Washington's only permanent military base on the continent.

"They have always proven that they will stand up when it is time to stand against something like this."

The US backs France's Operation Barkhane, under which its military is fighting Islamists in five countries across the Sahel region -- Mauritania, Mali, Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso -- alongside African allies.

"We look for our partners in that part of the continent to really carry the fight there," General Thomas Waldhauser, commander of US forces in Africa, told a press conference with Mattis.

The Americans have notably been providing air refuelling for French planes and exchanging intelligence with the French forces.

Projections showed Sunday that centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen are set to go through to France's presidential run-off on May 7.
Tokyo (AFP) - The US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and other warships started joint exercises with Japan on Sunday, the American navy said, as regional tensions rise over North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes.

The exercises -- also involving a US guided-missile cruiser and guided-missile destroyer -- are being held in the Philippine Sea, the navy said, as the naval strike group "continued its northern transit in the Western Pacific".

Confusion has clouded the carrier group's whereabouts in recent days after President Donald Trump suggested the "armada" was steaming towards North Korea when in fact it was sent towards Australia.

On Saturday US Vice President Mike Pence said in Sydney the strike group would arrive in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) "in a matter of days".

Pence has vowed an "overwhelming and effective" response to any North Korean attack as fears grow it may be preparing for another nuclear test.

Pyongyang reacted defiantly.

State newspaper Minju Joson quoted what it called military sources as saying Washington plans to station "several nuclear carrier task forces" off the Korean peninsula this week.

"The army of the DPRK (North Korea) already declared it will deal merciless destructive blows at the enemies so that they would not come back to life again should they make reckless provocation," the paper said.

The Carl Vinson carrier strike group and the Japanese navy "commenced an at-sea bilateral exercise in the Philippine Sea" on Sunday, the US Navy posted on its Facebook page.

The joint drill is designed to "ensure maritime forces remain ready to defend the region when called upon", it said.

"Seeing the threats we are facing now, it is no surprise that Japan and the United States conduct joint exercises," Toshimitsu Motegi, a senior ruling party lawmaker, told Japan's NHK public broadcaster, adding the exercises would send a "strong message".

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The Carl Vinson drills, expected to last several days, involve two Japanese warships, Japan's defence ministry said.

Pence, during a regional tour last week that ended in Australia, and other US officials have warned that "all options are on the table" to curb the North's nuclear ambitions.

Pence and Trump have also renewed calls for China to use its influence to bring Pyongyang to heel.

The North has ramped up its rhetoric in recent weeks, threatening to hit back against any provocation.

It has also renewed threats against regional US allies, including Japan and South Korea, which both host large American military contingents.

Even Australia has been cautioned.

"If Australia persists in following the US's moves to isolate and stifle North Korea... this will be a suicidal act," a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called the nation a "serious threat".

Bishop responded Sunday that the North "should invest in the welfare of its long-suffering citizens, rather than weapons of mass destruction".

Washington is sending a senior envoy on the nuclear standoff with North Korea to Tokyo this week for talks with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts.
WASHINGTON  Im marching because science, in a way, saved my life, said Adriana Landeros.

The 26-year-old joined thousands of others at the March for Science in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, marching for opportunities for other minorities in science.

Born to undocumented parents in California, Landeross life has been marked by poverty, hardship, and a brief stint in jail.

The fact that she was able to rise above those setbacks to become well on her way to becoming a physician scientist Landeros attributes to federally funded science programs  many of which are poised for deep cuts under President Trumps proposed budget.

Stresses and mistakes

Growing up, Landeross parents barely made ends meet. Despite that, she excelled in school, eventually finishing high school in three years.

But in 2012, a pair of stresses hit: Her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer just as Landeros was in the midst of transferring from community college to the University of California-Santa Cruz.

Accompanying her mom to chemotherapy meant Landeros missed a lot of classes, and her grades suffered. A year later, the school forced her to take a break and barred her from enrolling for a quarter.

To cope with the stress, she turned to drugs and drinking. And then, to help her mom with her medical bills, she took a more serious risk: In March 2014, she agreed to a job transporting marijuana cross-country.

She was supposed to drive from California to Illinois, but got pulled over in Nebraska for too closely following a semi-truck. The cop searched her car and found a suitcase full of drugs.

The seven months of jail time Landeros ended up changing her life for the better: She realized that she missed going to school and doing research.

After she got out, Landeros reapplied to UCSC and joined a research team studying biofuels. She also became co-president of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, leading workshops and becoming a mentor to students who want to pursue research.

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Marching for a more hopeful future

Now, with the looming threat of budget cuts to the National Institutes of Health, Landeros is worried that budding scientists with disadvantaged backgrounds will not have the same opportunities she did.

President Trumps draft budget released last month calls for a $6 billion cut to the NIH  about one-fifth of its budget.

The Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program at Johns Hopkins University  where Landeros studies the bacterium responsible for Legionnaires disease  is funded by the NIH, with the goal of preparing students from underrepresented minorities for PhD or MD-PhD studies.

Likewise, as an undergraduate, Landeros benefited from NIH-funded research programs for underrepresented minorities.

Thanks to that assistance, Landeros says, shes found science to be a very welcoming community.

For me, its important to reach out, especially to underserved communities, and let them know that there [are] no borders in science, she said.

And its a community Landeros hopes to spend a very long time in. Shes hoping to be accepted into an MD-PhD program next year  and after she graduates, shed like to go back to her hometown in Monterey County, Calif., and serve her community.
Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin became the first federal lawmaker to call for Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman to recuse himself from helping to shape Trump administration policy that affects Schwarzmans private equity firm. Another influential Democrat joined in  and the White House, under fire Friday, began to distance itself from the billionaire adviser, just a day after Schwarzman touted the Trump administration's regulatory efforts to Blackstone's investors.

The Donald Trump administration now argues that even though Schwarzman chairs the White House Strategic and Policy Council  the members of that panel are appointed by Trump  the Blackstone CEO is not working for the White House in any official capacity, and is merely operating his own outside group.

The criticism, call for recusal and abrupt moves by the White House followed an International Business Times report that detailed how Schwarzmans White House panel is overseeing regulatory, energy and infrastructure policies that could enrich Blackstone.

Read: This Billionaire Has A Dream  And A Friend In The White House

In December, Trumps transition team announced the creation of the Strategic and Policy Forum, whose members will be called upon to meet with the President frequently to share their specific experience and knowledge and to provide direct input to the President on policy matters. Trump himself appointed the members of the panel and named Schwarzman as chair. The group has convened meetings at the White House; Cabinet officials have presented policies to the group for review. Trump and Schwarzman led a session of the Strategic and Policy Forum at the White House earlier this month.

Facing mounting questions about the intersection between Trump administration policies and Blackstone's business, White House officials Friday asserted to IBT that the Strategic and Policy Forum is not a White House or Trump-linked organization. Instead, a White House spokeswoman asserted that the forum operates unofficially, as merely an informal, Schwarzman-organized group  one of a number of outside groups the White House routinely meets with.

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The President's Strategic and Policy Forum is not a council that exists nor was initiated by the White House; the Schwarzman group is an independent group whose members will periodically meet with the President and the Office of American Innovation, White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters told IBT.

The new designation allows the White House to argue that Schwarzman is not subject to federal ethics laws. Those statutes in general aim to bar government officials from working on issues in which they have a financial interest. Under the White Houses new interpretation, the administration argues that Schwarzman can continue working on Trump administration policies that affect Blackstone, and that Schwarzman is not required to recuse himself on any issues.

Baldwin had told IBT that Schwarzman should be prevented from working on matters that could involve his firm.

President Trump said he would drain the swamp, yet time and time again he breaks that promise, granting wealthy Wall Street insiders more access, power and influence in Washington, said Baldwin in a statement to IBT. Mr. Schwarzman should submit to federal ethics laws and recuse himself from influencing public policy that enriches his own bank account. The last thing we need in Washington is more billionaires making a rigged game worse.

Her criticism was echoed by the senior Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, which oversees many of the economic issues Schwarzman has been working on with the Trump administration. Ohio Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was on Hillary Clintons vice presidential short list and has been rumored as a possible challenger to Donald Trump in 2020, also had harsh words for Schwarzman.

Private individuals have every right to make their views known on public policy issues, Brown said in a statement to IBT. But it is flat wrong to give anyone special access and influence to advance their own financial interests rather than the public interest.

Schwarzman declined to answer IBTs questions.

The controversy over Schwarzmans overlapping business and political maneuverings emerged a day after the Blackstone CEO touted the Trump administration and his governmental meetings to Blackstone investors. According to a transcript of the companys earnings call, Schwarzman said that on regulatory affairs, things are proceeding with a lot of enthusiasm. As his company seeks to expand its infrastructure business, he said of federal policy that there is a lot of very productive work being done in infrastructure or in terms of how to debottleneck the system which now has great difficulty building things. He noted that he is speaking with governmental officials across the globe  though it is not clear if those are in his capacity as CEO or as the chair of the White House Strategic and Policy Council.

I've had meetings in the last two days with sort of 30 senior regulators from around world, he said. Theyre always saying that they think U.S. is tight, that we've overregulated.

He said officials had told him that regulation is slowing down growth in the United States and its starting to affect their countries as well because some of the kind of regulatory enforcement and Justice Department impact has scared people around the world ... I think there is a sense that weve tightened this thing up awfully tight and that were consistent with what the new administration is talking about. They just want to know how loose youre going to make it, but youre sort of in the right direction.

For her part, Baldwin has repeatedly expressed concern over Wall Streets influence in the Trump White House. In February, Baldwin and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., sent Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein a letter requesting he disclose any involvement Goldman employees had in drafting two of Trumps early executive orders.

The senators also asked Blankfein to disclose relevant lobbying efforts and to estimate profits Goldman expected to gain from the orders, which would begin to roll back Dodd-Frank regulations and review the implementation of the fiduciary rule, a Labor Department rule requiring financial advisers act in the best interests of their clients.

Goldman Sachs would be a major beneficiary of these efforts to deregulate the financial industry; the companys stock rose by almost 5 percent, increasing your company's market capitalization by $4.1 billion the day of President Trumps announcement, the senators wrote.

After taking office, Trump appointed Goldman president Gary Cohn as director of the National Economic Council and picked former Goldman executive Steven Mnuchin to serve as Treasury secretary.

Baldwin also targeted the financial industry in 2015 when she introduced a bill in the Senate that would close the carried interest loophole that allows the government to tax profits given to hedge fund and private equity managers at the 20 percent capital gains rate. Critics say those profits should be taxed as income, which would subject those profits to income tax rates that top out at 39.6 percent. The bill has yet to make it out of committee, much to the relief of Blackstone. The company said in a February SEC filing that the elimination of the loophole would impair our ability to recruit, retain and motivate our current and future professionals.

Trump promised to close the carried interest tax loophole on the campaign trail, but has not addressed the issue since moving into the White House. The loophole is just one of the issues that would directly affect Schwarzmans bottom line. Halting the implementation of the fiduciary rule would also allow money managers to funnel client money to hedge funds like Schwarzmans. And Schwarzman has been an outspoken critic of Dodd-Frank financial regulations, which Trump has indicated he is committed to dismantling.

Update 4/21, 6:10 p.m.: This story has been updated to include Schwarzman's comments to Blackstone investors during the company's April 20th earnings call.

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For decades, being a coal miner has come with a deal: Work in dangerous, unpleasant conditions for years, and in exchange, get lifelong health-care benefits and a decent pension. Now, though, part of that deal is jeopardy, as the funds that provide those benefits have dwindled.

When Congress returns next week, legislators will be under intense pressure to fund health-care benefits and pension plans for coal miners that are otherwise set to expire at the end of April. The United Mine Workers Association is urging Congress to pass the Miners Protection Act, which would use money from a fund dedicated to cleaning up abandoned mines to instead shore up former mine workers health care and pension plans, which have been decimated as coal companies have filed for bankruptcy and stopped contributing to health-care and pension funds. America has a moral commitment to the nations retired miners, UMWA president Cecil E. Roberts wrote in a statement last month.

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But does it really? The miners argue that Congress has an obligation to step in because of a deal signed between the federal government and the United Mine Workers in 1946 to end a nationwide strike. The federal government had taken control of the mines, and in order to get the miners to return to work, United Mine Workers president John King and Interior Secretary Julius Krug signed a deal that required coal companies to pay into a pension fund and a health insurance fund for miners. Today, the United Mine Workers of America refers to that deal as The Promise, and says that it means that the government (since Secretary Krug was one of the signees) committed to providing miners with health care and pensions for life.

But Congress is in a tight spot. If it bails out the miners, why stop there? Why not bail out all of the other pension funds, private and public, that are on the brink of insolvency? Miners are not the only group that is in danger of losing health care and pensions as their employers go bankrupt. One of the biggest private pension funds in the country, the Central States Pension Fund, which provides benefits for truck drivers, is also almost out of money and is proposing cutting benefits for current and future retirees. The miners and truckers funds are examples of defined-benefit multi-employer pension plans, meaning they provide a certain amount of money every month to covered workers from a number of companies. According to the Congressional Budget Office, such plans have $850 billion worth of benefit obligations, but have assets of only $400 billion. According to the Pension Research Council at the University of Pennsylvania, there are 1,300 such multi-employer pension plans, covering millions of workers.

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If you open the door here to the United Mine Workers, then you have 1,300 other plans waiting there to say, Where's my bailout? Why is it fair that you preserved 100 percent of coal miners benefits? argues Rachel Greszler, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

There is, however, a federal backstop for failing private pension plans (though not for failing health-care plans). When the automaker Studebaker went out of business in 1963, it terminated its pension plan and more than 4,000 workers lost most or all of their promised pension benefits. That eventually motivated Congress to pass the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, which set up the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, which pays out reduced pensions in the event that a private pension fund becomes insolvent. (The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation itself is running out of money, which is another problem.)

The miners are no different than other employees who have had to turn to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation when their pension funds failed, argues Greszler. This would be entirely unprecedented to say that the government is going to step in and bail out a pension fund and not even allow it to go to PBGC, she told me.

Congress has, however, stepped in to bail out the miners health fund before. In 1992, Congress passed the Coal Act, which provided funding for health-care benefits of so-called orphaned retirees whose employers had gone bankrupt. It is the only time that Congress had intervened to provide retiree health benefits that had been promised by a private party. Congress intervened again in 2006 after a series of bankruptcies in the coal industry.

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That Congress has taken such actions raises another question: Why do miners get special treatment from Congress? The miners emphasize The Promise and say that because the federal government promised them health and welfare benefits in 1946, it still owes them such benefits now. They say that the government essentially prevented the miners from striking for better benefits and conditions at the mines, because coal was necessary for the nation to keep functioning. As a result, they argue that the governments promise to ensure decent working conditions for miners and retirees needs to be upheld. The fact of the matter is that theres a moral responsibility here, and the government has always lived up to it, Phil Smith, the spokesman for the United Mine Workers, told me. This was also the position of then-Secretary Elizabeth Dole in 1989, when she convened a commission to look into coal miners benefits. Retired miners have legitimate expectations of health care benefits for life; that was the promise they received during their working lives, and that is how they planned their retirement years. That commitment should be honored, the Coal Commission concluded.

Patrick McGinley, a professor of law at the West Virginia University College of Law, says that coal has long earned a special position with American lawmakers because of coals one-time essential role in powering the nation. It was coal that helped power factories through the wars, and that helped sustain the nations post-war boom. Historically, the reason for congressional support for coal miners has been a recognition that they have contributed so much to the prosperity of American economy. Through the World Wars, through Vietnam, they have powered American industry, he said. Smith, of the United Mine Workers, says Congress has also recognized that coal-mining jobs were dangerous. It was because miners were putting their lives and limbs and health on the line to provide the energy to fuel the nation that caused the benefits to be set up in the first place, he said.

Some in Congress also recognize that if the health benefits were to lapse, there could be huge ripple effects in local economies across the country. People who no longer have health insurance will show up at emergency rooms, those whose pensions are reduced will depend more on services like food banks, and local government will have to step in. About half of the 22,000 miners set to lose health insurance will be eligible for Medicare, according to Smith.

Greszler has a different argument. She says coal is special to Congress because mine workers are good at lobbying. The Senate Finance Committee passed the Miners Protection Act last year with a significant number of Republicans voting for it, which is unusual for a bill supported by a union. Coal has a very prominent influence on the hill and among certain legislators, she said.

That influence might not be powerful enough to get Congress to act on both healthcare and pensions. The most likely course, Smith said, is that Congress will step in to shore up the miners health care funds, but not the pension funds. The miners pension funds, then, will be left to the same fate as thousands of other flailing pension funds across the countryit will have to eventually depend on the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation. And the PBGC does not have enough money to guarantee those pensions in the long run.

About 90,000 mineworkers are currently receiving a pension, and if the PBGC has to step in and pay for those pensions, it could very well bankrupt the agency. PBGC was hard hit by the financial crisis of 2008, and went from running a surplus to funding shortages, according to the Pension Research Council. As various companies in dying industries go bankrupt and stop paying pensions, PBGC is under more and more financial pressure to step in and save multi-employer plans.

Congress will eventually have to figure out a way to save the PBGC, says Barry Slevin, a principal at the law firm Slevin & Hart and an expert on employee benefits. If it doesnt, the government agency will go bankrupt. But Congress currently has little incentive to spend taxpayer money to shore up an insolvent government agency. We know from the Social Security debate, from the Medicare debate, that Congress does not deal with issue like this early in the problem. They tend to react to emergencies, he said.

Congress isnt bound to take the long view, then. Even if it does step in to help the coal miners, Congress is eventually going to have to face all the other pensioners who were also promised benefits for life. If Congress could learn anything from the experience of the mineworkers, it would be that the problems of private pensions in America are just starting to emerge.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
For centuries, the British royal family has been watched, respected and revered from afar. The monarchy remained fiercely tight-lipped on all matters personal and private, and royal announcements were reserved for print newspapers.

But the digital realm now breaks down the barriers that have long stood between the royal family and the people. Through their social sharing, the younger royals are coming across as relatable, relevant and human to a millennial audience.

SEE ALSO: William and Harry tell Kate what it was really like after they lost their mum

Over the past decade, the royal family has gradually stepped up its online presence, establishing large followings on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

But it's Prince William's and Prince Harry's use of social media to talk candidly about their lives that's appealing to younger audiences.

Prince Harry and Prince William have grabbed headlines in the past week for their powerful online Heads Together campaign to end mental health stigma. This online campaign has seen Prince Harry, Prince William, and the Duchess of Cambridge reveal deeply personal details about the pressures and struggles they've faced, including the princes' grief following their mum's death and Kate and William's learning curve as parents.

More so than ever before, the portrait of the royal family is being painted as one of human beings who grapple with the very same issues as the public they serve.

The relationship between the royal family and the press has long been fraught. Princess Diana's brother said she was "the most hunted person of the modern age" after she died in a car crash while fleeing paparazzi. Press guidelines became stricter, and the royal household gradually realised it needed to work with the press to safely achieve its aims.

And in these days, that means reaching audiences on social media. On Monday, Prince Harry spoke candidly in a podcast about being near "complete breakdown" whilst dealing with the grief of losing his mother, Princess Diana. Harry told podcast host Bryony Gordon that he sought counselling after going through two years of "total chaos" in his 20s. The prince's candour garnered praise on social media for talking about his personal struggle with grief; a topic that many people can relate to.

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So happy Prince Harry has spoken so openly about his mental health. Reminds you that it is not something you face alone. Many can relate.  Jasmin (@jasbooni) April 17, 2017

Good on Prince Harry for this, loss like this is huge and people have a hard time talking about it https://t.co/R8e4EbIbgI  Oliver Willis (@owillis) April 17, 2017

Gordon told Mashable she was aware that "a traditional print interview" wasn't going to be the best way to get people to engage with the royals. She said the royals are "great at using social to get their message across" about mental health and the medium of the podcast helped in this instance because it is just so "close and personal."

"It puts them at the same level as everyone else, which is *so* important when talking about mental health issues," says Gordon.

This week has also seen the royal family release a video in which Lady Gaga FaceTimes Prince William to talk about the importance of speaking openly about mental health. And, on Friday a film showing Harry and William telling Kate about the impact of their mother's death on their lives was streamed via Facebook Live.

"Love you guys for being honest about mental health, doing a really good job in helping others and relating to how they feel. You are down to earth and just amazing what you do to help people xx," wrote one commenter on the film, which gained nearly 500K views in five hours.

"I am excited about the path the younger royals are taking. In touch, can relate to normal people and this will make a huge difference," said another commenter.

Image: getty images

But this isn't the first time the royals have gotten personal on social media. In July 2016, Prince Harry took a HIV test live on Facebook to promote the importance of getting tested for the virus, and to show how easy it is to get tested. HIV charity the Terrence Higgins Trust later revealed that this live HIV test  which gained over 2 million views  prompted a surge in self-testing.

This live HIV test happened to be the British Royal Family's first ever Facebook Live broadcast, and its impact on HIV testing suggests it was a resounding success.

Royal expert Victoria Howard  editor of The Crown Chronicles  says people often expect that the monarchy is only of interest to older generations, but the younger royals' use of social media is creating a relationship with a younger audience.

"By using social media instead of a newspaper article, younger audiences are being reached and they are paying attention to their work," says Howard.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry spearheada new campaign called Heads Together.

Image: Nicky J Sims/Getty Images for Royal Foundation

She says that the way in which the princes were brought up likely played a role in this. "The princes were brought up in a middle-class manner: not attending boarding school, being taken to McDonalds and Disney World, and along to see charity work with the homeless to understand their privilege," says Howard. She believes this is partly why the public finds them more "accessible and relatable" than their father Prince Charles.

The princes' use of social media is proving to be a useful tool in showing a side of the Royal Family that's not been shown before. The princes are doing what many of us do every day on social media by sharing deeply personal details about their lives and their struggles.

By bringing themselves to the same level as other social media sharers, they position themselves as one of us. Prince Harry and Prince William are without a doubt the most relatable generation of royals to date.

WATCH: Lady Gaga FaceTimed with Prince William to discuss a very important issue
Aden (AFP) - A local photographer who works with AFP was seriously wounded in a missile strike on Sunday in southwest Yemen, his colleagues said.

Saleh al-Obeidi was in an armoured car with a pro-government officer when their vehicle was struck by a heat-guided missile near the government-held Red Sea town of Mokha, a journalist said.

The two wounded men were evacuated by helicopter for medical treatment, he added.

Another journalist said Obeidi suffered severe burns to his face and hands.

It was not immediately possible to identify the source of the missile.

Yemen's war has pitted pro-government forces against Iran-backed Huthi rebels and their allies, renegade troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

A Saudi-led coalition including the United Arab Emirates intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to help the government retake the capital Sanaa and swathes of the country's north and west from rebel forces.

Clashes have raged around Mokha in recent weeks as pro-government forces push a major offensive to drive rebels from the lengthy Red Sea coastline.

The United Nations says fighting in Yemen has killed more than 7,700 people over the past two years.

At least eight journalists were killed there in 2016, according to the International Federation of Journalists.


Myanmar is launching a long-term plan to improve its education system after years of neglect under its former military leaders.

The National Education Strategic Plan (NESP) aims to improve teaching and learning for all education levels, from kindergarten to universities. The plan runs through 2021.

The plan seeks to extend basic education by two years to a total of 13 years. Other changes include new curriculums, child-centered learning and interactive classrooms.

Many have praised the plan as an important start for developing a modern education system. But education experts note that there will be issues, including high costs.

Some experts have criticized the plan for failing to include educators, civic organizations and ethnic minorities in the decision-making.

The plan took more than three years to develop and has received financial assistance from international donors and education advisors.

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi presented the plan in February. She said the changes will be extremely important to Myanmar's social and economic development. And she asked everyone to think about what is needed to help the plan succeed.

Bertrand Bainvel is the Myanmar representative for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, or UNICEF. He said the launch was "a historic moment" for the country's education system.

Costly improvements

Myanmar's education system was one of Asia's best until the military took power in 1962. The military government sharply reduced spending. It also made rote learning the main learning style. And, it made huge cuts to higher education to avoid the possibility of student political movements.

It will be costly for the Myanmar government to launch the new education plan. It will cost more than $2.1 billion a year for just 80 percent of the proposed plan. Last year, the Myanmar government spent $1.13 billion on education.

Mael Raynaud is an expert from the Enlightened Myanmar Research Foundation. He said finding the financial support and professionals needed to start the plan will be a long-term challenge.

Raynaud explained that it took 20 years for Indonesia, for example, to provide money for education comparable to East Asian and Western countries. Myanmar will also need time to train teachers, professors, and educational employees, he said.

Many educators not included

Raynaud said another major issue will be inclusion.

In Myanmar, many Buddhist schools and civil and ethnic organizations offer education to poor students and children in rural ethnic areas. And rebel groups, like the Kachin, Karen and Mon, teach their own languages and culture in areas under their control.

Thein Lwin is a former member of the democratic government and an education expert with the National Network for Education Reform (NNER).

According to Lwin, the government provides very few ethnic language teaching programs and curriculums.

"The difficulties are that ethnic languages are taught only in evening class, not in the school hours; Myanmar reader texts are translated into ethnic languages for teaching; and [there is a] lack of teachers for ethnic languages," he wrote.

Lwin said teaching ethnic languages greatly reduces the problem of students dropping out  a big problem in Myanmar's ethnic regions.

Kim Jolliffe is a political researcher who studied laws on social services for ethnic groups.

Jolliffe said the new education plan's "clear strengths" are its move to child-centered learning and learning that centers on results. He said this could help all civic and ethnic education programs.

I'm Alice Bryant.

Paul Vrieze wrote this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

__________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

inclusion - n. to make someone or something a part of something

curriculum - n. the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc.

interactive - adj. requiring people to talk with each other or do things together

rote learning - n. the process of learning something by repeating it many times without thinking about it or fully understanding it

text - n. the words that make up the main part of a book, magazine, newspaper, Web site, etc.

drop out - v. to stop going to a school, college or university before finishing
A married Ghanaian doctor is being accused of convincing a patient to have sex with him by saying it would help relieve her multiple sclerosis.

Get all the latest news from Ghana here

Dr Kwame Somuah-Boateng, 43, allegedly told the woman intercourse would stimulate the muscles in her legs, saying: Trust me, Im a doctor.

READ ALSO: I haven't dated a poor man before - Amanda Acquah

The doctor and his patient had an affair that lasted 6 months, in which he promised her marriage and a son although married with a family in Ghana.

Describing how sex would benefit her, Somuah-Boateng is accused of claiming that intercourse would help her pelvic floor muscles because they were weak.

He told me sex was good for my condition numerous times. Initially I thought it was going to help me get my feelings back  I just wanted to be normal again, the patient said.

Somuah-Boetang, of Mitcham, South London, denies he initiated contact with Patient A, insisting she got in touch with him and asked him for the sexual relationship. He also denies separate charges of supplying her with prescription medication.

READ ALSO: Mahama sympathises with Nduom after fire outbreak at Coconut Groove

In 2015 he stood trial at Croydon Crown Court for attempted rape and sexual assault against the same woman, but was cleared. He is now facing the General Medical Council.

Source: YEN.com.gh
- A final year student of University of Ghana reportedly drowned in the school's swimming pool

- Dennis Akoto, the deceased, was a student reading Economics and Information Studies

- Get more news about the current issues trending in Ghana here

The main campus of the University of Ghana (UG) has been thrown into a state of shock after a student drown in the school's swimming pool.

The student, identified as Dennis Akoto, who was a Level 400 student was pronounced dead on Saturday.

READ ALSO: Ghanaian architect, David Adjaye makes history; named part of 100 Most Influential

Dennis Akoto / Facebook

According to reports, the student who celebrated his 22nd birthday last Monday was reading Economics and Information Studies.

He was rushed to the University Hospital after lifeguards and a doctor on duty conducted CPIs on him, however, he gave up the ghost despite all attempts by medical officials to resuscitate him.

Kofi Odoom, a floormate of the deceased, spoke with the Accra-based Citi FM and revealed how surprised they were at the student's dead.

Happier times, Dennis swimming with friends

Odoom, who was with Dennis in the swimming pool described his death as strange as Dennis is a very good swimmer and very cautious.

READ ALSO: Stop using taxes for lavish parties - NDC to Akufo Addo

His body has since been deposited at the morgue for autopsy.

Source: YEN.com.gh
UP

Child protection. At long last, Montana will start taking a closer look at the causes and prevention of serious and fatal injuries suffered by abused children. House Bill 303, sponsored by Rep. Kathy Kelker, D-Billings, received final approval Thursday on a 78-22 House vote. The child fatality review commission the bill would establish was recommended by the Department of Justice and Gov. Steve Bullocks Protect Montana Kids Commission. Yellowstone County lawmakers supporting the bill were: Virginia Court, Geraldine Custer, Don Jones, Jessica Karjala, Kelker, Dennis Lenz, Jimmy Patelis, Vince Ricci, Sharon Stewart-Peregoy, Barry Usher, Sue Vinton and Peggy Webb.

UP

Better choice. President Donald Trump signed into law a bill that Sen. Jon Tester helped draft to fix programs that are supposed to help U.S. veterans get timely health care in their community. Veterans Choice initially required all services to be arranged through a private contractor, but the system didnt work and the wait for medical appointments lengthened. The changes will cut out the private contractor and are aimed at expediting veterans appointments with community providers when VA care isnt available quickly and nearby.

DOWN

Railroad reduction. Burlington Northern Santa Fe cut 55 jobs last week from its diesel shop in Glendive. Ross Lane, a BNSF spokesman, said the railroad is working with affected employees to offer positions at vacancies in other areas.

UP

New trustee. The Billings school board gained a longtime public education advocate with the appointment of Bruce MacIntyre to fill the seat that became vacant with the resignation of Rob Rogers. MacIntyre is well known in the business community and at the Legislature as a Chamber of Commerce representative. Those connections will help him tell our schools' story well in Billings and Helena.

UP

Cultural commencement. Starting with the class of 2017, Montana high school graduates will be allowed to wear beaded mortar boards and other traditional Native American regalia at their commencement ceremony. Gov. Steve Bullock signed a bill sponsored by Sen. Jen Gross, D-Billings, and supported by the Native American Caucus.
Janet Tsiguloff and Kenny Johnson plan to spend May 28 at MetraPark, attending all three Billings Public Schools commencement ceremonies. Theyve been working with 40 students from Skyview, Senior and West. None would graduate with their class if not for an innovative program based at the Career Center.

We sit through all three graduations, said Johnson, the teacher for HiSET (High School Equivalency Test). Its worth all those hugs.

Counselors and other faculty at the home high schools identify candidates for HiSet, but no one is forced to enroll. Tsiguloff, HiSET coordinator, explains the program to students and parents before anyone is enrolled.

The student has to volunteer, she said. They have to want to go into the program.

Since HiSET Options was introduced in 2014, it has demonstrated remarkable success in getting seniors who are a year (or more) behind on credits to complete their education by their class graduation day.

HiSet had 15 graduates in 2014, 36 in 2015 and 38 in 2016. This year the program could see as many as 40 graduates.

The class size is limited to 30 at a time  15 in the morning, 15 in the afternoon. They work at their own pace to pass competency tests in five subject areas. The students spend the other half-day in their home high school or taking other classes at the Career Center. That may include Jobs for Montana Graduates, house construction, web design and other courses that give them a taste of career options.

More than a quarter of HiSET students are planning on two-year or four-year college degrees, and several aim for military service. Earlier this spring, one student was studying to retake the ACT college entrance exam that all Montana students take as juniors. Other HiSET grads have applied to nursing programs at City College.

More than half of Tsiguloffs students arent living with a parent, so she and Johnson help with issues outside the classroom, too.

Life happens to these students, Tsiguloff said. I have students who come who may not have eaten because they slept on somebodys couch last night. The Career Center student pantry provides food. Sue Runkle, the districts homeless student liaison, helps with other needs.

Johnson says trust and relationship building are integral to his job.

This is an intervention for a small number of students," he said. "They want to graduate; thats the intrinsic motivation for signing up.

In the span of one academic year, Johnson sees growth in his students who struggled in their first three years of high school: They mature. Its rewarding.

This great opportunity for students to get on track by working hard must continue. But HiSets funding is in doubt. As the state government pares resources to balance a tight budget, youth service agencies cant continue their HiSET support. This is where Billings community members can help. The high school operating levy on the ballots voters received in the mail last week will fund HiSET.

We encourage voters to support the levy. The cost of HiSET and other dropout prevention programs is small compared to the cost of dropping out. HiSET gives students a second chance at getting a diploma and a good job. Dropouts are at much higher risk for a host of problems. Their lifetime earnings will be less, they are more likely to become teen parents, more likely to get public assistance, more likely to spend time in jail.

Please weigh the modest cost and the tremendous benefit of supporting our students now  so they can support our community throughout their lives. Vote for the high school and elementary levies by May 2.
JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post Part of the series on the History of Anticipation

Oops!

The wonderfully-named Thomas ap Catesby Jones (the ap evidently a Welsh patronymic indicating Thomas, son of Catesby) was a Commodore in the U.S. Navy in 1842 when a Short Series of Unfortunate Events occurred. Jones (1790-1858), a War of 1812 veteran, commanded a group of three naval vessels (including his frigate the USS United States and two sloops of war) from Lima Peru to upper California after understanding that the U.S. Was at war with Mexico and that there was a fear that the Brits were on their way to take over the middle-western coastline. So off he went, arriving at Monterey1 in October 1842, about four years ahead of the war. He settled off the cost and demanded the surrender of the Mexican gallery there, which consisted of about 60 soldiers in an old fort. The Mexicans, outnumbered and no doubt confused, surrendered the port the next day. The day after that, Jones received word that he had jumped the gun, somewhat, and withdrew from Monterey, with his apologies. From there, he went off to chase the British away from Hawaii, and somewhere in this course of events transports the deserter Herman Melville back to the U.S.

I cannot leave this without mentioning that Jones' nephew was named Catesby ap Roger Jones (1821-1877).

Notes:

1. A good source of information on this action: Taking Possession of Monterey. Message from the President of the United States in rely to the resolution of the House of representatives...calling for information in relation to the taking possession of Monterey by Commodore Thomas Ap Catesby Jones. February 22, 1843. House of representatives Executive Document Number 166, 27thCongress, 3rd session. 9X6, 117pp. Howes M 740aa. Cowan 317
Utah authorities trying to ID people involved

in shooting

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  Utah authorities are trying to locate two people who were in a vehicle involved in a shooting that investigators say stemmed from road rage.

The state Department of Public Safety says somebody in a mid-sized dark-colored sedan or SUV shot and struck another vehicle that was westbound on Interstate 80 near the Interstate 215 northbound on ramp in the vicinity of the Salt Lake City International Airport at about 5 p.m. Thursday.

The people in the car or SUV are described as a Polynesian or African American male driver and a Caucasian female passenger.

Trooper Jared Cornia says nobody was injured in the shooting.

No additional information was released.

Idaho

Man pleads not guilty to running over neighbor

NAMPA (AP)  A southwest Idaho man authorities say ran over and seriously injured a neighbor who helped get his vehicle out of the snow has pleaded not guilty to leaving the scene of an accident.

The Idaho Press-Tribune reports that 50-year-old Roger Faull denied the felony charge in 3rd District Court on Friday.

Authorities say Faull last winter ran over 33-year-old Benjamin Felty, crushing his diaphragm and damaging internal organs.

Felty underwent three surgeries.

Police say that after getting Faulls vehicle out of the snow, Felty went to remove a tow strap from the front of Faulls vehicle and was run over by Faull.

Second man charged in missing mans death case

COEUR DALENE (AP)  Newly unsealed court documents show a man in federal custody has been charged in the fatal shooting of a man after a road-rage incident.

The Spokesman-Review reports Justin Booth has been charged with murder, kidnapping, robbery, arson and unlawful possession of a firearm in the death of William Bo Kirk.

Court documents indicate that Booth and David Hutto followed Kirk home October 22 and kidnapped him after they became angry about Kirks driving.

Investigators believe the men shot Kirk, burned his truck and then withdrew money from his bank account at an ATM. Hutto was recently sentenced to life in prison for Kirks murder.

Kirk, 41, disappeared after he left his job as an X-ray technician at a Post Falls hospital. His body was found several days later.

Booth was arrested in October on federal firearms charges. Booth was moved to Kootenai County Jail Thursday.

Boise jet-boat maker agrees to plead guilty to fraud

BOISE (AP)  A jet-boat maker prosecutors say took millions of dollars from customers but never delivered their boats has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud and bank fraud.

The Idaho Statesman reports that the plea agreement filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Boise came just weeks before Christopher Bohnenkamps trial was set to begin.

Authorities say the charges stem from Bohnenkamps Whitewater Customs and Treasure Valley Marine. Bohnenkamp closed the shop in Boise before moving to Youngstown, New York, in 2015.

Bohnenkamp in October 2016 denied 21 counts of wire fraud totaling about $1.7 million and six counts of bank fraud totaling more than $1 million.

Prosecutors say he used the money for a lavish lifestyle and gambling trips.

Bohnenkamp is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
Q: I was the checking the laws and noticed that Idaho Code 49-709 reads that people are not allowed to solicit rides or money. Why is this law not enforced? I see people asking for money all the time. -Pete

A: The loophole here is that the code only refers to state or federal roads. If the city or county does not have an ordinance then it is legal to solicit money or even rides as long as it is not on federal or state roads.

I have seen solicitors usually at the entrances to stores. The owners of that property can request that these people leave the property or be charged with trespassing. I have been told that if customers are not complaining about solicitors most times they are just left alone.

I would add that you could cite anybody yourself if you see them on a state or federal highway violating Idaho Code 49-709.

Q: I am a math tutor and often drive around a lot to students homes. I keep a bottle of mouthwash in my car so I dont have stinky breath when I meet with them, but it dawned on me the other day that this could be construed as an open bottle of alcohol or cause me to test as D.U.I. I dont drink alcohol (ever), and I dont have any criminal / D.U.I. history. If I was to be pulled over, could I be charged with anything even D.U.I.? Do I need to switch to breath mints, or am I probably ok keeping the mouthwash? -Brian

A: First off let me start with saying that I have met with you and the mouthwash isnt working so you probably would be ok with not bringing it. Secondly for those who just got mad at me, Im kidding about meeting Brian but couldnt resist the opportunity to leave another stinky joke for the readers.

If you were not drinking the mouthwash you should be ok, unless that mouthwash had a tax seal on the lid. Usually mouthwash dissipates from your mouth minutes after using it. If you were to be breath-tested you would be required to wait fifteen minutes so that anything like mouthwash would dissipate. If you were to put it in your mouth and immediately be tested you would probably show a high enough level to make the machine believe you were suffering from alcohol poisoning.

As far as open container you would be fine, as mouthwash does not have enough alcohol content to be considered an alcoholic beverage. This of course does not open the door to carry mouthwash for the purposes of intoxication as that could still get you arrested for driving under the influence if you were to test high enough (.08 for adults).

Officer down:

Please put these officers, killed in the line of duty, and their families in your prayers. They fought the good fight, now may they rest in peace. God bless these heroes.

Deputy Sheriff Levi Pettway, Lowndes County Sheriff, Alabama

Trooper Anthony Borostowski, Wisconsin State Patrol

Master Police Officer Jason Harris, Spartanburg Police, South Carolina

Have a question for Policemandan? Email your question(s) to policemandan@yahoo.com or look for Ask Policemandan on Facebook and click the like button. Mail to: Box 147, Heyburn, Idaho 83336
Readers were well served by your April 16 news story on the U.S Postal Service, which highlighted USPS importance while raising issues related to delivery times.

As your reporter noted, postal customers  whether residents or mail-dependent businesses like small newspapers  need high-quality and reliable service. Thats true throughout the country; its especially imperative in large, rural states like Montana, the nations fourth-biggest state.

You also accurately characterized the active role of Montanas representatives in Washington D.C. in working on postal reform that will address the issues.

Id like to take this opportunity to provide some additional information about the value of the Postal Service, factors that have led to the current situation, and the path forward.

First, some background.

The Postal Service delivers to 155 million homes and businesses six and increasingly seven days a week. It is based in the Constitution and serves as the center of civic life in thousands of small towns and rural communities while helping unite this vast nation  as the Founders intended.

Its consistently rated the publics most-trusted federal agency, and is the countrys largest employer of military veterans.

USPS provides Americans and their businesses with the industrial worlds most affordable delivery network  and does so without a dime of taxpayer money. By law, the Postal Service earns its revenue, through the sale of stamps and other products and services.

USPS also is the centerpiece of the $1.3 trillion national mailing industry that employs 7 million Americans in the private sector, including 26,879 Montanans.

So the Postal Service is a driving engine of our national economy, as much today as ever.

USPS and letter carriers also play a key role in improving the quality of life in communities everywhere. Next month, as they do the second Saturday of every May, letter carriers will conduct the nations largest single-day food drive to help replenish food banks, pantries and shelters.

May 13 food drive

With the generosity of residents in Montana and beyond, letter carriers last year collected a record 80 million pounds of food. We hope the 25th annual food drive, set for May 13, will be just as successful.

Every day as they deliver mail on their routes, letter carriers help save the elderly or other residents who have fallen or experienced medical problems, put out fires, locate missing children or help stop crimes in progress.

Despite what you may have heard, the Postal Service operates in the black  $3.7 billion since 2013. Operating profit for Fiscal Year 2017s first quarter alone was $522 million.

As the economy improves from the worst recession in 80 years, letter revenue is stabilizing. And as the Internet drives online shopping in Billings and elsewhere, package revenue is rising sharply  up 16 percent in 2016. As a result, revenue earned from delivering the mail more than pays all normal costs of delivering the mail.

Political red ink

There is red ink but it stems not from the mail but rather from congressional politics. In 2006, a lame-duck Congress mandated that the Postal Service pre-fund retiree health benefits decades into the future. No other government agency or private company has to do this. That $5.8 billion annual charge not only is the red ink  it disguises the actual profits USPS is making.

This political mandate has created an artificial financial crisis at USPS that has led to the closing of postal processing facilities and the reduction of hours in some post offices, the slowing of mail and the resulting frustration among businesses and residents discussed in your article.

The Postal Service, postal unions, key lawmakers and industry groups have coalesced around core legislative proposals that would address pre-funding while preserving and strengthening the invaluable postal networks.

If Montanas elected representatives in Washington continue to play an active role on postal issues and lend their support to such reform legislation, USPS can provide Americans and their businesses with the quality service they rely on. Folks in Billings, Butte, Missoula, Helena and throughout your beautiful state deserve that  and its what letter carriers are committed to delivering.
Annual Robotics EXPO and Family STEM night

University of Idaho Extension, in partnership with Harrison Elementary21st Century Community Learning Center is hosting the 3rd Annual Robotics EXPO and Family STEM night. Join us at Harrison Elementary tonight from 5:30-8 p.m. This free event offers multiple activities for families to explore throughout the evening.

FLL Jr Teams (youth 6-10) will share their season experience learning about animals that live within the same habitat as a honey bee through LEGO model and Show Me posters.

Robotics Clubs/Teams will participate in a friendly competition with their robots using the Animal Allies field.

Families can engage together in creative, complex tasks using engineering manipulatives to construct a variety of structures with STEM Bins.

If you have any questions, please contact Suzann Dolecheck (208)734-9590 or sdolecheck@uidaho.edu or Jenny Reese at reeseje@tfsd.org.

Minidoka Fairboard seeking artwork

The Minidoka County Fair will be July 31- August 5, 2017.

The Fairboard is seeking artwork for the 2017 Fair Book cover. The theme is country pride...county wide This contest is open to every one of all ages.

Rules:

Artwork must be done on white paper with black ink. Any design not done in black ink will NOT BE JUDGED. Computer designs will be accepted, but must show originality.

Design MUST be done portrait or vertical.

Whole design cannot measure more than 7 wide and 9  lengthwise.

Design must include Minidoka County Fair, fair date (July 31- August 5, 2017), theme COUNTRY PRIDECOUNTY WIDE and should be neatly signed at the bottom in very small letters.

On a separate piece of paper list your name, address, phone#, and age.

Deadline May 2.

The grand prize will be $25 and the artwork will be printed on the front cover of the Fair Book. There will be two $10 prizes for the two runner-ups.

Bring entries to either the Minidoka County Extension Office or the Fair Board Office both located at 85 East Baseline or mail to the Fairboard at PO Box 151, Rupert, Idaho 83350.

American Legion Post 77 to host gathering

PAUL  The American Legion Post 77 would like to thank the men and women who have served our country with courage, honor, and commitment, and is inviting all veterans to coffee and doughnuts at no charge.

Join post members from 8 to 11 a.m. April 29, at the Wilbur C. Hall American Legion Post 77, located at 132 Wayne St.

You dont have to be a member of any post or veterans organization to attend.

For more information, contact Commander Wyatt Saunders at 208-679-1215 or Adjutant Damian D. Rodriguez at 208-679-2550.

Shoshone School District Pre-School screening





SHOSHONE  Shoshone School District Pre-School eligibility screening for all Shoshone resident 3-5 year old children 3-5 will be held at Shoshone Elementary, 61 East Highway 24, Shoshone, Idaho on Thursday, May 28, 5:30-8:00 p.m. Please call the elementary at 886-2381 ext. 138 to set up an appointment. To be eligible for screening child must turn 3 before May 18, 2017. Screening will take approximately 45 minutes.

Nominations Now Open for Teacher

of the Year

Burley  Teacher of the Year nominations are now being accepted by Young Dodge Fiat of Burley. The winner will win a 1-year lease of a new Fiat 500c. Nominations for any K-12 teacher in Cassia or Minidoka County can be submitted by parents, students, or other faculty members in person at Young Dodge Fiat at 259 Overland Avenue in Burley, Idaho, and are due by May 13, by 5 p.m. Nominations should include: teachers name, school, subject, and the reason the teacher stands out amongst his or her peers in 1000 words or less. Eight finalists will be selected by a community committee on May 15. The winner will be randomly selected from the finalists, and announced on Saturday, May 20 at 11 a.m. on the Young Automotive of Burley Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/youngautoidaho/

Shoshone School District Registration

SHOSHONE  Shoshone School District Kindergarten Registration for 2017-2018 school year will be held at Shoshone Elementary, 61 East Highway 24, Shoshone, Idaho on Thursday, May 18, 5:30-8:00 p.m. Parents, please bring your child to registration along with their official state birth certificate and current immunization records. Registration will take approximately 45 minutes.

Arbor Day Celebration

The Twin Falls County Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor an Arbor Day Celebration Thursday, May 4, from 11 to 1 at the Twin Falls County Historical Society Museum. Twin Falls County Commissioners, Tree Board Members, Parks and Recreation Employees, Master Gardner program members, home school students and parents will be attending and the public is invited. The museum is located near Curry Crossing and hot dogs and other refreshments are provided. Best of all, everything is free!

Youth conservation camp to be held





CASCADE  If you have a child 10 to 12 years old who wants to learn outdoor skills, become certified in hunter and bowhunter education, and experience a wide variety of other fun outdoor activities, register them for the Youth Conservation Camp, August 7-11, at Trinity Pines Camp and Conference Center in Cascade.

Campers participate in hands-on learning activities in firearm safety and shooting, wildlife conservation and identification, fishing techniques, archery fundamentals, introduction to trapping, and much more in a scenic outdoor setting. The camp also includes a float down the Payette River.

Idahos Youth Conservation Camp is sponsored and directed by the Idaho Conservation Officers Association and Idaho Fish and Gamethe same people who manage Idahos fish and wildlife.

Registration is first come first served to the first 45 youth. Cost per camper is $275.00; which includes food, lodging and equipment for the week.

To learn more or to register, visit the Idaho Conservation Officer Associations Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/idahoconservationofficersassociation/, or contact your nearest Fish and Game office.

Twin Falls Senior Center plans

5K Fun Run

TWIN FALLS  The Twin Falls Senior Centers second annual 5K Fun Run will start at 9 a.m. May 6 at the Rock Creek Canyon Parkway trailhead near the Twin Falls City Parks and Recreation office, 136 Maxwell St.

Pre-registration is $20 a person or $50 for a family of four or more. Race-day registration is $25 a person or $65 per family of four. All proceeds will benefit the senior center.

To pre-register or for information, call 208-734-5084 or email Jeanette Roe at info@tfseniorcenter.com.

Kimberly kindergarten registration May 1

KIMBERLY  The Kimberly Elementary School will hold kindergarten registration for the 2017-18 school year.

Registration will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 1 in the elementary school cafeteria. Enter through the west doors of the primary building facing Oak Street.

To register, children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1. Registration will not be completed without proof of residency, the childs birth certificate and up-to-date immunization record.

All steps of registration must be completed before your child will be put on a class list. There will be an immunization clinic at the school that evening to assist in bringing your child up to date. Charges may apply.

A current and state-required immunization record includes five doses for DTAP, four for polio, two for MMR, two for Hepatitis A, three for Hepatitis B and two for varicella.

For information call 208-423-4170, ext. 6.
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RUPERT  The only candidate to file for the Minidoka County School Board was appointed April 24.

Mary Anderson was selected and will serve for the next four years. Anderson replaces Trustee Jason Gibbons who recently moved out of his zone in Rupert. Because she was the only candidate for the position there was no election. Andersen is employed as the Rupert parks and recreation director, where she has worked for nine years.

I am looking forward to working with Mary, Bonnie Heins, board chairwoman, said in a statement. She will be a valuable asset to our board. She has a strong commitment to our schools and children. We welcome her to our board.

Trustee Jeff Gibson, who was also up for re-election this year, was also the only candidate to apply for his board seat. Both Gibson and Andersen will be sworn in again in July for their full terms.

The school board also agreed during the meeting to sell the old District Service Center on Fremont Street to the city for its use.
BURLEY  Unemployment in the Magic Valley dropped back down to 3 percent in March, the Idaho Department of Labor reported.

Preliminary estimates show the statewide unemployment rate decreased slightly from February to 3.5 percent. And while Idaho has been a leader for job creation in past months, job growth slowed in March to 2.7 percent.

Five of the eight south-central Idaho counties reported unemployment rates decline between February and March. And a smaller regional labor force isnt helping employers that are still trying to fill jobs.

I think everyone in the state is having a labor force shortage, Burley Economic Development Director Doug Manning said. Talent attraction right now is a major emphasis with any economic development organization in the state.

Cassia County now has the lowest unemployment in the Magic Valley at 2.7 percent. It is just behind Blaine and Gooding counties at 2.8 percent and Minidoka County at 2.9 percent.

Manning and Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kyla Sawyer believe Minidoka and Cassia counties low unemployment is largely a result of ongoing job creation. And theres more to come, as existing businesses prepare to announce their own expansions.

But surprisingly, there were fewer job postings in these counties than a year ago. According to March data from Help Wanted Online, Mini-Cassias online job postings dropped 25 percent over the year. Department of Labor Regional Economist Jan Roeser said this could be traced either to a lack of work force, or as a harbinger of a slowdown  but its too early to say.

Once employers start to encounter issues getting people to apply for jobs, they start adjusting, Roeser said.

But Mini-Cassia employers are getting more competitive in their hiring. Wages are on the way up, and there are more incentives being implemented, slowly but surely, Manning said.

And businesses are also looking at company culture as a way to retain employees, Sawyer said.

Theyre looking harder at These are our people. These are our employees. How do we take care of them? she said.

The Idaho Department of Labor in Burley is developing programs to train a future work force at the high school and college level, Work Force Consultant Chet Jeppesen said. And right now is a prime opportunity for those who are underemployed to take more classes and improve their skills to land a better paying job.

Despite the small reduction in work force, Manning has high hopes for the future of the Magic Valley.

I honestly believe in the next three to four years in the Magic Valley, well see significant population increase, he said. I think people will move to where the jobs are. Theyre more flexible than they used to be.
October 19, 1934  April 14, 2017

WENDELL  Claire M. Smith, 82, of Wendell went to be with her Heavenly Father on Good Friday, April 14, 2017.

Born October 19, 1934 in Scranton, Pennsylvania Claire is preceded in death by her parents, four siblings, one daughter and two granddaughters.

She is survived by her husband of sixty-four years, Leonard Smith, two sons, two daughters and their spouses, thirteen grandchildren and twenty-two and a half great grandchildren.

A private family graveside service was performed by Paul Swenson of Farnsworth Mortuary at the Wendell Cemetery with all of Claires relatives that were available attending. Lunch was served at the Wendell Housing Center for family and friends.

Claire will be greatly missed by family and all who knew her. Rest in Peace Sweetie, until we meet again.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Claires memorial webpage at www.farnsworthmortuary.com.
August 23, 1954  April 9, 2017

TWIN FALLS  Marvin Dwight Chamberlain, age 62, of Twin Falls passed away Sunday April 9, 2017 in the Twin Falls Care Center following a bout with cancer. He was born August 23, 1954 in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington to Paulene E. Peterson and Lyman R. Chamberlain. Marvin was born with physical deformity of his hands which required several surgeries as a small child. Despite the many surgeries his attitude toward life was positive. When he was young the family moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho where he began his education.

While in Idaho Falls, Idaho the family bought land and built a cabin in Island Park. Marvin had many fond memories of summers spent working with family members on the cabin and enjoying the natural beauty and wildlife of the area. He was especially fond of recounting the time he and an aunt discovered a totem floating in the river by Coffee Pot Rapids. They fished the totem out and took it to the cabin, hence the name Totem cabin, and the naming of the road on which the cabin stood.

Marvin attended schools in Idaho Falls, graduating from Idaho Falls Senior High where he had been active in Band and the German Club. Marvin then enrolled at Idaho State University where he eventually graduated and began his business career. At ISU Marvin was a resident of Colonial Hall. At Colonial Hall he made many lifelong friendships. He earned the nickname, Mama Marvin because of his care and watching out for fellow residents. While at ISU Marvin participated in the band, student council support, and worked in the campus post office until his graduation. From the time of his graduation he was a loyal supporter of the ISU Alumni Association.

Following graduation from ISU Marvin took a position with an accounting firm in Montana. While with this firm he continued to master his skills and gain experience to eventually allow him to earn his recognition as a Certified Public Accountant, a title for which Marvin was proud.

Having attained his CPA Marvin took an opportunity to become a partner in a CPA firm in Twin Falls, Idaho. Within a few years Marvin took over the firm as sole owner of Marvin D. Chamber Ian CPA, a position he held until his death.

Marvin was independent and committed to serving his community. In his private times Marvin was an avid coin and stamp collector.

Marvins concern for his community could be seen in his involvement, most often as treasurer, for many groups and organizations. Most notable are the American Red Cross, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Boy Scouts of America, Camp Malibu, Kiwanis, and the Airport Road Free Will Baptist Church.

From his service to the American Red Cross Marvin recounted stories of his transporting blood to be delivered in a timely manner to help possibly save a life. Several appreciations and recognitions were given him for his service to the Red Cross.

As a member of the Elks Marvin took on many roles and positions including that of Exhalted Ruler. He was honored for his service to the Elks by being named the Elk of the Year for the local lodge and at the state level, the Hall of Honor award. In addition to his local Elks Lodge he served on the Elks Hospital Board. He was also involved with the Elks Scholarship program and several youth support activities includeing the Boy Scout program. He supported the Elks Rehab Hospital and participated in the annual food drive to provide additional resources to the hospital. Many lifelong friendships were forged from his Elk involvement, both locally and nationally.

Marvin had been a Boy Scout and soon found himself serving the Boy Scouts. He served as a WEBELO Den Leader and Cub Pack Master, committee member and then became Scoutmaster, another of those positions that he held until his death. He became active in the Snake River Council serving as Council Treasurer as well as a trainer and merit badge counselor. He and his troop attended Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico, a highlight of his Scouting experience. As a youth Marvin had been a Boy Scout with an Elks sponsored troop in Idaho Falls. Marvin reached the rank of Second Class Scout, but he went no further. Later as a Scoutmaster he would recount to numerous Scouts how he wished he had gone forward to attain his Eagle Scout. He would use this to encourage them to continue toward that goal. Marvin enjoyed cooking and seemed to thrive in teaching the Cooking Merit Badge to Scouts. He has survived many meals cooked by young Scouts and encouraged them to become better cooks. For his service to Boy Scouts, Marvin was awarded the District Award of Merit, the Silver Beaver, and most recently the highest volunteer award the council offers, the Sentinel Award. When asked which of his volunteer roles made him proudest he thought for a moment and stated being a Scout leader because of the influence on the young men he had been able to play.

Marvin accepted Jesus as his personal savior in the Airport Road Free Will Baptist Church. His commitment was followed by his profession of faith with his baptism. Soon he became treasurer of the church as well as the Idaho Free Will Baptist Youth Camp. He also personally contributed to the camp with scholarships allowing kids to go to camp.

Through his church and family association Marvin became a volunteer with Camp Malibu, a Young Life camp in Canada. Teens from his church had attended the camp. He and family members, especially his father, would travel to Canada twice a year to open and then close the camp for the camping season.

Another of the groups Marvin valued was the Kiwanis. As with other organizations Marvin was a part of, he soon became the Treasurer of not only the local club, but several activities of the Kiwanis. He was a Key Club Advisor for Twin Falls High School. His interest in German from high school may have influenced his commitment to the Kiwanis annual Oktoberfest event. Marvin has served as club president and other offices on both the local and state levels. He was awarded the Juneau Shinn Community Service Award by the Kiwanis in recognition of his volunteer service.

Marvin has earned numerous awards, certificates, and recognitions in honor of his service to his community and nation. Many certificates and plaques line his home and office walls showing the appreciation for his tireless service. His wry sense of humor and willingness to volunteer set him apart from many.

Marvin is survived by his father, Lyman Chamberlain of Idaho Falls, ID, and his brother David Chamberlain of Sedro-Wolley, WA, and his family which include Davids wife Trina and their three children Danni, (her daughter Emory), Tracy and Jeffrey. He is also survived by several cousins in Washington and Idaho. Marvin often recounted a special memory with his brother David, from a Tiger Cruise aboard the USS Carl Vinson while David served in the U.S. Navy. This gave Marvin an opportunity to both see his brother in his chosen profession and sail from Hawaii to California aboard an aircraft carrier.

A Memorial Service for Marvin Chamberlain will be held at 11 am on Saturday April 29, 2017 at the Snake River Elks Lodge, 412 E. 200 S in Jerome, Idaho. There will be a reception following the Memorial Service. Rev. Jim ODonnell will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Reynolds Funeral Chapel. Marvin requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be given to either the Idaho Free Will Baptist Youth Camp or Snake River Council Boy Scouts of America. Gifts may be sent to his office, P.O. Box 25 Twin Falls, ID 83303 for disbursement.

Marvin expressed his appreciation for the many friends he has made through his involvement in activities which have enriched his life and in turn the lives of others with his church, Red Cross, Kiwanis, Boy Scouts, and Elks. Three words that sum up his life view of volunteering and working with others would be, Ill do it.
TWIN FALLS  This afternoon, Tina Bakers quiet time was an hour of running errands.

She and her husband, Jon, have six children living under their roof. And on Feb. 24, the entire crowd was home because it was Jons day off work and snowfall cancelled school.

Tina returned home with full WinCo and Old Navy plastic bags, set them on the kitchen island, greeted Jon and picked up adopted 3-year-old son Josiah.

Soon, the Bakers 5-year-old foster son came into the house crying because his feet were wet with snow. He wiped his runny nose on his shirtsleeve.

Mom, can I have a snack? adopted 4-year-old daughter Chloe asked, and Tina passed out small packages of Dole fruit snacks.

Since gaining their foster parent license in 2011, the Bakers have seen 45 children come through their home.

We get calls quite often to take more, Tina said.

Her original thought was theyd take in foster teenagers and their babies, but that never happened. God had a different plan for us.

Always wanted

a big family

The six at home now are Jons biological teenage daughter, two foster children and three former foster children the Bakers adopted.

I always wanted a big family too, so here we go, Tina said.

Shes not sure exactly when she and Jon decided to adopt multiple children. It just happened over time. And they continue to foster.

Their 6-month-old foster girl has a rare heart condition called tetralogy of fallot  a combination of four heart defects present at birth  and had open heart surgery at 3 months old. On the afternoon of Feb. 17, Jon rested her on the kitchen counter and lifted up her fuzzy shirt to reveal a large, red incision on her chest.

The 5-year-old foster boy was at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Magic Valley that afternoon. He loves it there. Hed recently missed a week of school while sick; his fever climbed to 103.8 degrees.

It seems that the kids we get have immune systems that are no good, said Tina, whos a nurse.

Minor illnesses such as colds seem practically constant, she said. Everybodys got snotty noses all the time.

Because shes a nurse, Tina and Jon are often asked to take in foster children with complex medical issues.

Theres no such thing as a normal foster kid, Tina said.

Or a normal kid, Jon chimed in.

Tina had her first son at age 14 and her second at 18, and she married their father when her oldest boy was 8 months old. They divorced after 18 years.

Tinas sons from that marriage, now 21 and 26, live in the Magic Valley and stop by often. They both hang out, she said. We usually just have a revolving door.

Jon also has two biological children: 13-year-old Abigayle and her 19-year-old brother.

Together, Jon and Tina adopted Taren five years ago, then last year Josiah and Chloe.

I was the first one to get adopted, chimed in Taren, now 9.

Poop and puke

On the afternoon of Feb. 24, with the children home for a snow day and Jon off work, Tina received a call saying she didnt need to come to the Sawtooth Surgery Center, where she works on Fridays. So the whole family was home.

The television in the living room displayed a video and lyrics to the song Itsy Bitsy Spider. Josiah and Chloe played on the living room floor.

Jon held Josiah, who stood up dancing to the song. Blah, said Josiah, who suffers from permanent brain damage and developmental delays.

One of the familys three dogs, Roscoe, was inside, his feet skittering across the kitchen floor. The two other dogs peered into the house from the other side of the sliding glass door.

Outside, Abigayle and Taren shoveled snow together in the front yard, but they started fighting. So Jon sent Taren to work in the backyard instead.

After finishing the driveway, Abigayle ate chips and played phone games on a bar stool at the kitchen island. Tina unloaded items from plastic bags onto the counter. She pulled a green Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt  she found it on clearance  out of an Old Navy bag and took it to the living room.

Josiah, look at what Mom found you, she said, holding it up.

The three other youngsters, after dancing in the living room, headed to a playroom downstairs to play dress-up. Soon, Taren emerged wearing a dark red costume dress.

The 6-month-old was asleep in another room. Shes teething and is pooping frequently, Tina said. Now shes got a sore bum.

As she unloaded baby food from the WinCo bag, she said the baby also has acid reflux, but solid food helps. It means theres less puke.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Saturday that he believes President Donald Trump "will be insistent" that lawmakers include money for a US-Mexico border wall in a spending bill that they need to pass by Friday to avoid a government shutdown.

In a pre-taped interview with CNN's Dana Bash on "The State of the Union," which will air in full on Sunday, Kelly said he's confident Trump will "do the right thing."

"I think it goes without saying that the President has been pretty straightforward about his desire and the need for a border wall," he told Bash. "So I would suspect he'll do the right thing for sure."

Kelly said he thought Trump "will be insistent on the funding" for the wall, a lingering question ahead of the spending battle lawmakers face as they work this week to keep the government's lights on past Friday.

But a senior administration official told CNN on Saturday that the White House would not let the government shut down over the issue.

"The White House is not going to allow the government to shut down," the official said. "We've been clear about what our priorities are. Leadership in both chambers understands that."

Kelly also commented on the timing of the wall's construction Friday.

"We hope to begin construction by the end of the summer," he told CNN's Kate Bolduan on "At This Hour." "Clearly, we're not going to build a wall in an afternoon."

During a tour of the border last week, Kelly and Attorney General Jeff Sessions met Thursday with law enforcement personnel from several federal agencies at a federal building in El Paso, Texas, which includes immigration courts and is blocks away from a detention facility.

Kelly said he spoke with local and state lawmakers willing to share their views on the best way to build the wall.

Putting up a wall along the US-Mexico border was one of Trump's key campaign promises, and he issued an executive order in January directing that construction begin.

The Trump administration has already asked Congress for money to start building the wall, but Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and other top Democrats oppose the wall and say adding any money to the spending bill for it is a nonstarter.

Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney has said he believes the Trump administration and Republican leaders in Congress will be able to avert a government shutdown.

"We have our list of priorities," Mulvaney said Thursday at an event hosted by the Institute of International Finance, according to The Washington Post. "We want more money for defense. We want to build a border wall. We want more money for immigration enforcement, law enforcement."

Mulvaney told reporters Friday, "I do not think the government is going to shut down."

CNN's Eugene Scott, Jim Acosta and Athena Jones contributed to this report
For centuries, the Medicine Wheel in the Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming has been used for prayer and vision quests by the Crow Tribe and other Native people.

Visitors come from all over the world to hike up Medicine Mountain to the wheel, a National Historical Site managed by the Bighorn National Forest with guidance from the Medicine Wheel Alliance.

On the Summer Solstice, June 20, many people are expected to arrive early to view the sun as it lines up with one of the seven cairns at the wheel.

Who made it?

The Medicine Wheel's origins are uncertain.

Many believe it was built by the Sheepeaters, a Shoshone band whose name is derived from their expertise at hunting mountain sheep.

The most common Crow story is about how Burnt Face, a handsome young Crow, fell into the fire while entering his mothers tepee. Embarrassed of his severely burned face, he left his people to live in the mountains, where he built the Medicine Wheel based on instructions he received in a vision from the Sun.

Red Plume, a Crow chief during the time of Lewis and Clark, found great spiritual power at the Medicine Wheel.

At 9,462 feet elevation, on a clear day the Medicine Wheel provides a view of the Teton Mountains more than 100 miles away. It sits halfway between Lovell and Sheridan, Wyoming, just a dozen miles from the Montana border.

The Crow people believe morning is the most powerful time, Crow tribal member Patrick Hill said. That's why so many travel to see the sun rise at the Medicine Wheel.

"They smoke and face the sun and thank the creator for the day and what it brings," Hill said.

Scott Bear Dont Walk, a member of the Crow Tribe who grew up in Billings, said his father took the family on pilgrimages to the wheel.

The Medicine Wheel is a powerful place. We would ask my father, Who made this? He would say, The ancient ones, Bear Dont Walk said.

"Ancient ones" in the Crow language translates to ancestors.

Some visitors leave trinkets, locks of hair, tobacco, hand-written prayers or cloth prayer flags, but the Crow way is to leave only prayers, said Timothy McCleary, a historian at Little Big Horn College.

Because the Medicine Wheel is on public land, anyone can view it, but only tribal members are allowed to hold ceremonies inside the rope fence. Dave McKee, archaeologist for Bighorn National Forest, said he receives 35 to 90 requests for ceremonies at the wheel every year.

"Some people can elect for a temporary closure so their ceremony can be private," McKee said, adding the ceremonies can run anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

Crow tribal member Charles Yarlott worked as an interpretive ranger at the Medicine wheel from 2012 to 2014. Budget cuts eliminated his paid position, but Yarlott said he was proud to represent his tribe during his time there.

"Knowing my ancestors went up there to pray and fast makes it a special place for me," Yarlott said.

'Whole world is free to come'

Linwood Tall Bull, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, is president of the Medicine Wheel Alliance. He said Crow elders have instructed him to leave prayer offerings at the wheel for four days and then bury them.

"The whole world is free to come to it," Tall Bull said.

His father, William Tall Bull, spent his life fighting for the preservation of the Medicine Wheel so that it could be a spiritual place for all people. William's name and the names of other tribal members who helped preserve the wheel are on the four benches that visitors pass on the one-mile walk from the parking lot to the wheel.

Linwood encourages visitors to stop at each of the benches during the one-mile hike from the parking lot to the wheel as a way of honoring tribal elders.

Even though the Medicine Wheel is open just a few months a year because of snow  June 20 through Labor Day in September  it receives 11,000 visitors a year.

This summer, as the caretakers of Medicine Mountain dismantle the fraying rope fence around the wheel, they will look to the members of the Native Alliance for guidance on properly disposing of the prayer offerings and other items.

'Sacred landscape'

McKee said caretakers work with tribal members to keep inappropriate objects including metal and plastic away from the wheel.

The landscape is sacred, but the religious uses and meaning are personal, tied through generations through clans, McKee said.

Bear Dont Walk points out that every time he visits the Medicine Wheel, he meets international visitors. He said he is grateful that people appreciate the significance of this spiritual place, and he likes to see them be respectful of it.

Sometimes it takes the French tourist or the British tourist to say, This is important stuff,  Bear Dont Walk said.

McCleary said research suggests the center cairn of the wheel is at least 800 years old, but that the outside spokes were made around 1760. The stones that make up the 80-foot wheel and its 28 spokes were gathered from the area and are mostly bread loaf-sized limestone.

One theory why the wheel has 28 spokes is because that is the number of ribs a bison has. McCleary said 28 is the number of rafters on the Hidatsa's Sacred Lodge. It also represents the number of days in a lunar cycle.

"The stars and constellations used to judge the passage of time rise every 28 days," McCleary said. "That is one way the Crow used it  to tell the passage of time. The foundations of the Crow philosophy were based on the stars and constellations. We are now so disconnected from nature."

The original cairn at the site was likely made by the Shoshone Tribe as a sacred site marker, McCleary said. When the Crow came into the area, they took over the Shoshone sacred sites. Burnt Face went to the site to fast and because he was instructed on how to construct a sacred lodge, he made the wheel in the same pattern.

If you look at the wheel, it is not a circle," McCleary said. "There is a flat side on the southwest, and there is a cairn outside the wheel on the flat side. That is where you have to sit to see the sunrise on solstice. It was the floor plan of a Hidatsa sacred lodge. You could tell what time of year it was at the Medicine Wheel.

McCleary suggests that Burnt Face had been trained as a sacred priest of the Sacred Lodge in North Dakota and there is evidence that Burnt Face also built two other smaller medicine wheels on Crow tribal land in Montana.

The first written description of the wheel was in 1902 when anthropologist Charles Simms wrote about it for the Field Museum in Chicago, showing the fasting beds, which had wooden covers on them.

There are five fasting beds at the Medicine Wheel, all of them large enough for a man to lie down in. Fasts would last for four days when men would not take food or water. They fasted to have a vision.

There are more than 100 known medicine wheels in the Northwest, and the Bighorn Medicine Wheel is the most accessible among them. It has been promoted for decades by the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce.

Visitors get nervous driving up the narrow gravel road with steep dropoffs, but witnessing the symbolism and spiritual power behind the Medicine Wheel make it worth the effort.
I often wonder what my final thoughts will be when I finally kick the bucket.

No, Im serious. Perhaps I have an unhealthy death obsession, but I really do wonder. Of course those thoughts may be situationally affected. If Im in a horrific car accident, the thought process is probably different than if I get stepped on by a cow, stampeded by angry Berkeley students, succumb to a months-long battle with cancer, or if I get dragged off a United Airlines flight too forcefully. But assuming theres adequate time between knowing Im going to die and actually dying, I hope to manage being in a comfortable bed surrounded by the people I love most  and that I dont botch what I say and think and share with others.

Because of my macabre fascination, I was intrigued by a widely-reported story this week of an elderly Oregon man who died in early April. According to his obituary in the Oregonian, he slipped away believing that Donald Trump had been impeached. That lie was the one told to him by his ex-wife, over the phone, as he sucked in his last breaths. According to the obit, he seemed happy about it and passed peacefully.

Its hard to address this particular story without setting up an unfathomable I can die better than that guy contest. But I am absolutely going to die better than that guy. No politician, right or left, is important enough to be occupying my head when I die. Not even Ronald Reagan or Trey Gowdy. In fact, theres probably no greater compliment to anyone than to be the center of ones dying sentiments. I dont have an ex-wife, but if I did and she wanted to talk politics in my final moments (over the phone!), it would be clear why she had become an ex-wife.

While its impossible to miss the comedic angle on the story and the punchline that even dying people are happy at Trumps demise, this story is as sad as it is funny. That is, if the obituary is accurate. I cant quite discern between comedic embellishment and an attempted tender tribute awash in Trump-hatred. In normal times, my instincts would bet on the former. But we live in a world now when people who hate President Trump are dressing up like vaginas and equating him with Kim Jong Un. Its not that far-fetched to believe theyd sacrifice the most poignant moments of their concluding lives to the same level of irrationality.

So this story is one either of a man who had an empty life, or an incredibly insensitive ex-wife. Maybe its both. What do I know? But I find it interesting that I feel no need whatsoever to defend Trump from a dying mans satisfaction in vengeance. Instead, I feel a lot of pity for lives so empty they use either dying moments or obituaries to score a cheap political punchline.

Perhaps what I realized most in my reaction to this story, is that politics isnt as important to me as I thought. Sure, in some ways its my life in that I make a living talking and writing about politics. But if my suspicion is right  that our final moments are manifestations of our deepest values and passions  I will spend that precious time expressing love for my dear wife, my amazing children, important friends and acquaintances, and Taco Bells new Cheesy Frito Burrito. (Just kidding about the acquaintances.)

And finally, if my most despised political foes are indicted, impeached, or incarcerated, for Heavens sake tell me early enough so that we can celebrate together.
This appeared in Saturdays Washington Post.

--

Many things may have changed about the nations politics, but one remains constant: Radical pro-gun forces such as the National Rifle Association wield tremendous influence, and the result is the continual worsening of the nations firearm laws. The new posterchild for irresponsibility is the Iowa legislature, which passed a comprehensive bill loosening a variety of restrictions. Instead of vetoing it, Gov. Terry Branstad (R) hopped on the bandwagon, signing the legislation into law this month. Iowans will be less safe for it. Now the question is whether other states can resist the pressure to exercise similarly poor judgment.

The list of bad ideas is long, but it starts with the laws provision permitting gun owners to bring concealed weapons into the State Capitol. Though permits will be checked at the door, those inside would surely be safer if there were no guns on the premises that could go off accidentally, fall into the wrong hands or be drawn in a fit of rage.

If state lawmakers want to uselessly endanger their lives, that is one thing. But the law also empowers people to sue local governments if they feel adversely affected by municipal or county gun restrictions, particularly legal no-gun zones. This has led a variety of critics to wonder if people will be able to sue into oblivion gun restrictions at local courthouses and city halls. The bills sponsors claim that it would be hard for people to win a lawsuit claiming that gun bans at courthouses are an undue restriction on firearm rights. Yet the fact that there is any ambiguity is a problem.

The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa has already had a taste of what may be in store: In 2014, a man disgruntled about a property-tax increase fired a small gun at a county assessor at a meeting in a local courthouse. The assessor lived, but local officials and judges may not be as lucky the next time.

Iowa is not the only state in the process of regressing. Backers of the states new law say that it merely brings Iowas gun laws closer to its neighbors, as though that were a justification. Meanwhile, a raft of bad gun legislation is working its way through state legislatures elsewhere. Pennsylvania lawmakers, for example, are considering a bill that also would challenge the ability of local governments to secure their communities. Reasonable state leaders would look for ways to head off gun violence, not encourage it.
He proposed a religious test on immigration, promised to open up U.S. libel laws and revoked press credentials of critical reporters. He called for killing family members of terrorists, said he would do a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding terrorism suspects and suggested that a U.S.-born federal judge of Mexican heritage couldnt be neutral because of his ethnicity. He whipped up animosity against Muslims and immigrants from Mexico, branding the latter as rapists.

When protesters interrupted his rallies, he cheered violence against them. He told a political opponent that if he won, he would get a special prosecutor to look into your situation, adding youd be in jail. He threatened not to respect election results if he didnt win and, in Idi Amin fashion, made the claims of a strongman: I alone can fix it. He publicly expressed admiration for authoritarian Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Cherished notions of religious freedom, a free press, an independent judiciary and the rights of minorities took a beating from him. The prospect of mob violence in his defense and imprisoning of political opponents found favor.

With all that, Donald Trump became the nations 45th president in an election marred by stealth interference from a foreign adversary, Russia, and with the support of millions of voters who survey data show were influenced by the toxicity of racism.

How did a pluralistic nation that propounds democratic values and practices come to this?

This not being the authoritarian in the White House who dismisses basic constitutional principles as if they were annoying gnats, but thisan electorate that looks past the disrespect shown toward democratic ideals.

That haunting question has occupied the minds of Richard Kahlenberg and Clifford Janey, two education scholars and writers who began to take a hard look at this fundamental domestic challenge long before Novembers results came in.

Janey, former superintendent of schools in our nations capital, as well as Newark, New Jersey, and Rochester, New York, and now senior research scholar at the Boston University School of Education, traces the problem close to home: public schooling. So, too, does Kahlenberg, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, author of six books and editor of 10 foundation volumes.

I sat down with both this week to discuss what they regard as an American democracy under severe strain. Kahlenberg observed that public education that ought to help prepare students for citizenship in a democracy is coming up short. He cited a recent survey in which two-thirds of Americans could not name all three branches of the federal government; only a third could identify Joe Biden, who at the time was the vice president, or name a single Supreme Court justice.

Janey observed that U.S. schoolchildren educated in what are essentially apartheid schools divided by class and race get a mixed message about equal political rights and American values.

Together, they spelled out the scope of the challenge in their joint Century Foundation report released in November, Putting Democracy Back into Public Education. The report was boiled down in an article in the Atlantic, Is Trumps Victory the Jump-Start Civics Education Needed? published at the same time.

Simply put, Janey and Kahlenberg argue that our schools are failing at what the nations founders saw as educations most basic purpose: preparing young people to be reflective citizens who would value liberty and democracy and resist the appeals of demagogues.

They said todays schools turn themselves inside out trying to prepare college-and-career ready students who can contend with economic globalization and economic competition and find a niche with private skills in the marketplace.

As for preparing them for American democracy? Raising civics literacy levels? Cultivating knowledge of democratic practices and beliefs with rigorous courses in history, literature and how democratic means have been used to improve the country? Not so much or maybe not at all, they suggest.

The authors point out that in 2013, the governing board of the National Assessment for Educational Progress dropped fourth- and 12th-grade civics and American history as a tested subject in order to save money.

Its okay to test kids crazy in math and reading. Civic education? Fuhgeddaboutit.

Watch as jaws drop at these findings from a 2011 World Values Survey, which Kahlenberg and Janey noted in the Atlantic: When asked whether democracy is a good or bad way to run a country, 17 percent said bad or very bad, up from 9 percent in the mid-1990s. Among those ages 16 to 24, about a quarter said democracy was bad or very bad, an increase of one-third from a decade and a half earlier.

Skills for the private workplace? Essential. So, too, the skills for workplace democracy.

But the declining civic portion of public education, maintain Kahlenberg and Janey, is a threat to our democratic values. It must be addressed, and now. Only a demagogue would argue with that.
As the local manager of a locally owned Idaho building-supply store with a 40-plus year history in Burley, Im writing to voice my opposition to the taking of private property to build what is essentially a driveway for a multinational retail chain, Walmart.

A recent article in the Times-News makes it sound like this is a done deal, something which myself and neighboring residents are not convinced. The City Council would do well to consider Idaho values, community safety, and local economic impact before they forge ahead with their plan.

In Idaho, private property rights are sacred. Eminent domain is meant to be used rarely and only when strict criteria is met. The taking of private property by the government is almost always a bad deal for the people on the other side. In our case, our lumber yard will suffer a severe negative impact if this project is allowed to move forward. Theres no compensation that could possibly cover that.

Franklin Building Supply supports 22 jobs in Burley, all of which pay above the states minimum wage. We are a strong believer in giving back to our community, and our employees volunteer their time to various community organizations and contribute their time, talent, and resources to a host of community causes and charities.

Over the years, Franklin Building Supply has been a good neighbor, and we ask the City Council to do the same for us. We support the residents adjacent to our store in their concern for community safety. We live in Burley because of its rural nature and that its a safe place to let our kids roam around on foot or by bike. The City Councils proposed taking would change all that. Many residents voiced their opposition at last weeks City Council meeting, and I expect our local elected leaders will be hearing more from them.

I hope youll join me in urging the City Council and City Manager Mark Mitton to reverse course and protect private property rights and keep Burley a safe place to live. Call them at 208-878-2224.
Earlier this month, Boy Scout Troop 4 and I presented a proposal for the City Council to draft and pass a welcoming resolution. This resolution would be similar to the one Boise unanimously approved in January, and would be a powerful statement of support for our refugee center.

To be sure, immigration and refugee policies can be complex. Some questions are outright vexing. For example, what should our policy be with Dreamers illegal immigrants brought to our country decades ago as children who are now productive members of our society and otherwise good law abiding citizens. Or sort of citizens. I face tough questions as a cardiologist. For example, if I have a patient with aortic stenosis who is symptomatic, has a peak velocity of 3.7 m/s and a valve area of 0.98 cm2, should I refer for open heart surgery and aortic valve replacement, or wait six months and repeat the echocardiogram? Better think twice on that one, Doctor.

The question of whether to pass a welcome resolution for me though is a no-brainer, and was to the Boise City Council as well. It is a question whose answer is so obvious it doesnt take much brainpower.

First, passing a welcome resolution would do much to improve our tarnished image we have faced over the past year. It would send a powerful message to the media exactly who we are as a city and what we value.

Second, this will show support for the CSI refugee center. Under the Trump administration, our country has reduced our refugee quota by over half. No refugees = no funding = no refugee center. To lose this 30-year-old institution that has done so much good in our community would be a huge loss, and I am proud to live in one of the two cities in Idaho that resettles refugees.

Finally, passing a welcoming resolution is the correct choice on moral grounds. With the worst refugee crisis since WWII it would be wrong to sit back and do nothing. Out of duty to help others we should pass this resolution. In our city it should not matter if you are Mormon or Muslim, white or brown skinned, a first generation refugee from Syria or a seventh-generation descendant of English immigrants. If you are in doubt about this, ask any one of the Boy Scouts who presented the proposal to the city council. They may be young, and most are still working on their orienteering merit badge, but their own internal moral compasses actually work quite well.

Our city is a safe place, but we would be even safer if we had more Boy Scouts like the ones who came to the meeting. We would be safer if we support youth programs that teach moral values. Restricting refugees will not make us safe, just callous, and history will judge us for our inaction.
GREAT FALLS  A 41-year-old Montana woman has been sentenced for sending sexually explicit messages to a 15-year-old boy in 2015.

The Great Falls Tribune reports Kathi Pederson of Great Falls was sentenced Friday to 25 years with the Department of Corrections with 20 suspended.

She pleaded guilty in December to attempted sexual assault in a plea agreement in which prosecutors had recommended a 10-year suspended sentence. District Judge John Kutzman designed Pederson a Tier 1 sex offender and required her to undergo sex offender treatment.

Kutzman rejected an earlier agreement that would have allowed Pederson to avoid admitting guilt but acknowledge that prosecutors had enough evidence to gain a conviction. Kutzman said the community would have demanded different action if the gender roles were reversed.
CHEYENNE, Wyo.  The Little Free Pantry at St. Mark's Episcopal Church proves how easy it is to both help others and receive help.

The pantry is roughly a 3-foot by 2-foot white wooden box mounted to a post outside the church located in Cheyenne.

Typically, several bottles of water, along with snack crackers, a box of cereal and a tube of foot medicine are stocked on its shelves.

The door on the box is unlocked so people can take what they need at any time  and donate what they can at any time too.

"It is based on a balance of people giving and taking," said Rev. Rick Veit, rector at St. Mark's. "So far, we've had multiple people doing both."

The idea is a simple one of neighbors helping neighbors. There are no forms to fill out, no red tape to untangle and no questions asked.

Since the St. Mark's pantry was installed about a month ago, people have donated everything from toilet paper to canned goods.

The Little Free Pantry exists not only to help the area's homeless, but anyone in need. The packaged food there might help a college student who needs to eat this week or someone who can't make ends meet right now, Veit said.

People need such a service here, he added.

"I can't tell you how many people come by our church and say, 'My paycheck doesn't come for another week,' and ask for a sack lunch for the family," he said.

"We provide that at the church, but this is a beautiful way where people don't need to see a priest or a secretary, but they can remain completely anonymous, both those who give and those who receive."

St. Mark's members learned about the Little Free Pantry online. Websites are filled with stories of such pantries popping up across the country.

Veit also talked about the idea in one of his recent sermons. The church women's group, called Girlfriends Unlimited, decided to move ahead with the idea at St. Mark's.

Pam Snell, a church member and one of the pantry coordinators, said St. Mark's applied to the Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming for help. St. Mark's received a $5,000 grant to build pantries in Laramie County.

St. Mark's member Greg Sneesby donated his time to build three pantries, Snell said. One was for St. Mark's, and the others went to Ascension and St. Paul's Lutheran churches in Cheyenne.

Materials to build each pantry cost about $225.

Kent Porter is a member of Ascension Lutheran. He said the pantry has been installed at his church in a temporary spot until the ground thaws.

"The whole council was all for it," Porter said, referring to the high level of support.

The pantry arrived at St. Paul's in April, member Brad Carroll said. Its purpose is to provide something  like socks or snacks  that might tide somebody over, he said. But Carroll stressed the pantry is not meant for donations of food like homemade brownies.

Area residents are encouraged to contact St. Mark's to get grant money to build their own pantries. Anyone can build them, from church members to members of civic groups to people who want them in their front yards.

Veit hopes to see pantries all over.

"It's a nice, easy way to reach out to people in need," Snell said.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its Dialogue Partners including the Summit of Leaders will hold their meeting on April 28. Hosted by Manila which is at the cynosure of attention because it is at the forefront of challenges in the simmering South Sea territorial dispute, the Asean gathering of leaders presents a window of opportunity for the Philippines to present its case before an international forum.

But will it seize the moment with President Rodrigo Duterte coyzing up to China? Asean in previous years has put a lid on the South China Sea issue. With Beijing exerting maximum pressure on Cambodia, Laos,and Myanmar, the 10-nation grouping failed to come up with a meaningful joint communique stating its stand against Chinas aggressive claim on nearly the entire South China Sea. Will the the issue of the South China remain the elephant in the room Asean and Summit leaders continue to ignore.?

But it might be different this time. The stakes are getting higher and the SCS situation is now more incendiary since China has started building military installations on man-made islands from the reefs and shoals on disputed territorial waters. The United States, with President Donald Trump attending, has been in particular concerned about the militarization of the region and its effect on the freedom of navigation on international waters.

It has been a week of a show of strength by the US in Syria, Afghanistan and more recently against North Korea nuclear arms threat. The USS Carl Vinzons aircraft carrier was on its way to the Korean Peninsula reportedly for a preemptive military strike against Pyongyang. Fortunately for Kim Jung-Un, his launch of long-range range missiles exploded on take-off. Otherwise he and his cabal of military top brass would have been blown to smithereens by firepower from the USS Carl Vinzons and the warplanes ready to unleash the same Mother of All Bombs. MOAB, a nonnuclear bomb designed as a bunker buster, was dropped on known ISIS lairs like caves in Afghanistan.

Bombs would have rained on Pyongyangs parade as the North Korean leadership chose the celebration of the anniversary of Kim dynasty as the day to launch its long-range ballistic missiles.

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China is feeling the heat of world opinion with the Group of 7 industrialized nations the latest to issue a statement urging Beijing to obey the ruling of the Permanent Arbitration Court in The Hague rejecting the Chinese claim of nearly the entire SCS. The G-7 is composed of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Britain, the US and Japan. The July 12, 2016 Hague court decision upheld Manilas case against Beijing which has encroached on the West Philippine Sea.

While appearing open to reconciliation with Manila, Chinese coast guards patrolling the area near Panatag and Pag-asa islands drove away Filipino fishermen who had returned to the area. China also warned the Philippines not to fly over Chinese air space after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces chief Eduardo Ano took a surveillance flight to see the latest Chinese military activity in the Spratly islands.

So now we are told to stay away from our own air space? The Duterte administration should not wait for the Chinese to be already at our doorstep before it makes a move. So much for an independent Philippine foreign policy when China uses it and bilateral relations to advance its interest in the region while it violates Philippine sovereignty. The Philippines should not be lulled into a false sense of security with gifts from China like loans, grants and financial development assistance.

The expression used to be beware the Greeks bearing gifts, an allusion to the large wooden Trojan horse which contained the enemy soldiers that opened the gates and led to the siege and downfall of the ancient city of Troy. There is always a lesson to be learned from history. The country should now beware the Chinese bearing gifts. A Trojan horse can come in many forms.

We congratulate President Duterte for being named TIME magazines Most Influential Person. He should lived up to the title and stand up to Chinas aggression in our territorial waters. If Digong does this, he will find himself fully supported by the Filipino people. It does not mean waging war or issuing stern statements, all Duterte has to do is say no to someone whos already groping him.

Meanwhile, whats this we hear Environment Secretary-designate Gina Lopez wants to work with the New Peoples Army for a better implementation of responsible mining?

In case Gina does realize it, what she said is practically treason. The NPA, as everyone else knows, is extorting revolutionary tax from mining companies.

What Gina should do is focus on getting herself confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. Although reappointed by President Duterte after having been bypassed by the CA, she might get rejected next time she faces the bicameral committee.

This after she snapped at a BusinessWorld reporter who tried to interview her. Gina has since apologized for calling the reporter a mere employee who should not f*ck with her, Gina has since apologized. But the incident has left a lasting impression on the CA members who already have doubts about her fitness to be DENR secretary.

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Is that not what the Democrat Party has created right here in America, transforming a once prosperous, strong, united, and safe nation into a debt-laden, militarily weak, socially divided, and increasingly dangerous society? Here are some of the Bizarro policies and beliefs inflicted on us by the neo-socialist, globalist, anti-American Democrat Party over the past few decades  PAUL E. SCATS


By Caitlin Randle and Alex Harris

Mad scientists descended on downtown Miami on Earth Day.

Instead of beakers and death rays, more than a thousand scientists and science fans carried protest signs reading A planet is a terrible thing to waste, Scientists resist with evidence and What do we want? Evidence-based science. When do we want it? After peer review.

The Saturday afternoon rally was one of hundreds worldwide, from Texas to Greenland. The main event, the March for Science in Washington, D.C., drew thousands of people.

The goal of the march was to show nonpartisan support for science-based policy, but plenty of the marchers arrived with politics in mind. President Donald Trumps administration has faced criticism over the validity of information it releases and plans for sweeping cuts to federal science budgets, including a 20 percent slice of the National Institutes of Health.

Terry Mitchell, who said she was there Saturday because her 14-year-old daughter planned to be a scientist one day, said shes worried about Trumps policies.

Theyre going to harm us in every single way, she said. If he were really a business guy, he would be looking at alternative energy.

More here.

Photo credit: Pedro Portal, Miami Herald staff
For picture posts from 2010 and earlier, see the Earlier Picture Posts Page
Books provided

Kathy Tokach, with the North Dakota CattleWomen, presented books about the beef cattle industry with photographs about ranch life to two Bismarck elementary schools.

Library media specialists Stacy Olson, of Prairie Rose, and Charlotte Sather, of Jeannette Myhre, accepted the books for their school libraries.

The CattleWomens Beefin It Up; Fuel for the Finish fun run has provided funds to purchase approximately 2,500 books distributed across the state.

Taylor recognized

Dakota College at Bottineau has selected Ryan Taylor, a Towner rancher and past state director for USDA Rural Development, as the 2017 recipient of its DCB Conservation Award.

The award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated leadership and has made notable contributions to the conservation, preservation and enhancement of natural resources.

At Rural Development, Taylor spearheaded the first Green Economics: Agreeing on Efficiency conference, convening diverse statewide interests from energy to environment, utilities to consumers, on the topic of energy and money.

In the arena of conservation, he has been a steward and defender of the land as a fourth-generation family rancher, as a state senator and statewide candidate for office and as a speaker and columnist

On the ranch, Taylor has used numerous innovative grazing and management practices in cooperation with the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Werle among 'fellows'

Misti Werle, library media director for Bismarck Public Schools, has been chosen as one of 22 school district library leaders to participate in the 2017-18 Lilead Fellows Program.

The 18-month professional development program focuses on developing leadership skills in integrating information literacy instruction, technology use and advocacy for library programs.

Russo recognized

Dr. Kyle Russo, a radiation oncology with the Bismarck Cancer Center, has received the UND-Southwest Campus Preceptor of the Year Award.

Fourth-year medical students nominate a preceptor and then medical students vote for who they feel was their best preceptor during the third and fourth year of medical school. Students select the preceptor they believe impacted their life and contributed to their education the most.

Russo joined the Bismarck Cancer Center in 2014.

Safety achievement

The North Dakota Safety Council recognized 73 companies and individuals for exemplary safety performance throughout 2016 during the councils Safety & Health Awards Ceremony on April 12 in Bismarck.

The companies and individuals represent multiple industries, including transportation, manufacturing, mining, and oil and gas.

Area recipients include the following:

 Advanced Safety Certificate (individuals who fulfilled all requirements for the Advanced Safety Certificate program )  Justin Clock, Whiting Oil & Gas, New Town; Troy Karlberg, Minnkota Power Cooperative Inc., Center; Will Namyniuk, Miller Insulation, Bismarck; Chad Schoch, Whiting Oil & Gas, New England; and Scott Zimmerman, Whiting Oil & Gas, Bismarck.

 Commendation For Safety (member companies that reached significant safety levels in 2016)  Bilfinger Westcon Inc., Bismarck; KLJ, Bismarck; and North Dakota Association of Counties, County Employer Group,Bismarck.

 Community Outreach Award (individuals or member organizations making new, innovative or significant contributions in 2016 that led to a safer community and environment outside their usual course of employment)  Victoria Krege, Williston.

 Mine Safety Merit Award (member companies with incidence rate equal to or less than the national average for their Mine Type NFDL Incident Rate)  Northern Improvement Co., McKenzie Wash Plant, Bismarck; and The Coteau Properties Co., Freedom Mine, Beulah.

 Occupational Safety Merit Award (member companies with incidence rate equal to or less than the national average in their North American Industrial Classification System code)  Baranko Brothers, Dickinson; Barr Engineering Co., Bismarck office; Bilfinger Westcon Inc., Bismarck; Corval Group, Beulah; Farstad Oil Inc., Minot; Hess Corp., Minot; Home On The Range, Sentinel Butte; J&M Printing Inc., Gwinner; KLJ, Bismarck; Medora Corp., Dickinson; Otter Tail Power Co., Coyote Station, Beulah; Savage Services, Trenton EMI Pipeshop, Trenton Pipe Yard and Trenton Railport, Trenton; Savage Services, Williston Transportation; Steffes LLC, Dickinson; Superpumper Inc., Minot; and Triangle Electric Inc., Williston.

 Outstanding Safety Instructor (instructors or organizations who have taught at least 10 courses or 150 students for the NDSC)  Jeff Balentine, Minot; Ernie Barnhard, Miller Insulation, Bismarck; Cheri Bonebrake, Federal Railroad Administration, Minot; Benjamin Dahl, CP Police Service, Minot; Todd Fjeldahl, Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, Minot; Justin Jodie Hill, Bismarck; Kelly Leben, Bismarck; Darrell Michalenko, Minot; Aaron Moss, city of Minot; James Murray, Williston; Christa Sommer, North Dakota Highway Patrol, Washburn; and Robin Stephens, North Dakota Department of Transportation, State Fleet, Bismarck.

 Safety Achievement Award (member companies with a 50 percent decrease in their OSHA incidence rate from the previous year)  Home On The Range, Sentinel Butte; J&M Printing Inc., Gwinner; Steffes LLC, Dickinson; and Triangle Electric Inc., Williston.

 Star Driver Division 2 (over-the-road driver with a minimum of 10 years driving professionally and 1 million miles incident-free)  Doug Dockter, Rick Dolechek, Dante Habiger and Steve Pena, Baker Boy, Dickinson.

Equipment donated

Four Bismarck State College technical programs will share in a donation of equipment and tools from Great River Energy.

The materials, valued at $26,423, come from the Stanton Station, which is scheduled to close May 1. The equipment will benefit BSCs power plant, mechanical maintenance, automotive technology and instrumentation and control programs.

Nonprofit gets award

North Dakota Adult & Teen Challenge, Mandan, was named recipient of the Jim Holdman Mission in Motion award from the Impact Foundation during the 2017 Giving Hearts Day Celebration.

This year, 360 nonprofit organizations in North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota participated in the 24-hour online giving event.
Our country strongly supports our solders and sailors on active duty and in the Reserve. All of these men and women will become American service veterans after their service.

Montana has the second-highest per capita veterans in the U.S. In World War II, Montana had the highest casualties per capita of any state in the country. The driving distance for many veterans, especially in eastern Montana, to Veterans Administration Medical Centers is over 40 miles. As of Sept. 30, 2015, there were 99,000 veterans in Montana. There are two inpatient care sites, 18 outpatient care sites and four vet centers. There are 50,178 enrollees in the VA Health Care System.

Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives Rob Quist listened to a roundtable discussion that focused on veterans and veterans access to mental and physical health care. Quist asked informational questions and suggested we need to strengthen the Veterans Choice Act to better serve rural veterans, keep rural hospitals open, expand access to health care and enhance mental health service, make it easier for veterans to access the benefits they earned and strengthen the American Health Care Act and its component for veterans.

When shown a VA Identification Card, a young vet back from deployment asked, where do you get that? Answer: go to your closest vet center and enroll.

One of the roundtable members discussed the benefits of VA long term preventive care. He explained his Helena Inpatient Care Center that saved his life and the surgical procedure at the site.

What is being proposed in Congress would hurt veterans rather than what we have under the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act is an important component for family members who are not enrolled in a VA health care program. They may get lower costs on monthly premiums or out-of-pocket costs. Family members could be eligible for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a wide variety of programs and services. Many veterans use VA education programs, obtain VA-guaranteed home loans, and receive VA disability payments. The VA is undergoing a radical transformation in relating to veterans through the MyVA initiative. The VA has made ending veteran homelessness a top priority, undertaking a campaign to dramatically increase awareness of VA services available for homeless veterans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless. The VA provides a large health network of hospitals, outpatient clinics, Vet Centers, nursing homes, residential rehabilitation treatment programs, and comprehensive home care programs. The VA also manages a network of national cemeteries, soldiers lots, and monument sites, and provides headstones and markers.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester says he needs a partner in Congress. Rob Quist in the U.S. House of Representative will be that partner to make the many improvements in VA care that are needed.
House candidate Greg Gianforte is being punished unfairly for being successful.

Montana wages are among the lowest in the nation. What are we doing to attract investment and wealth to our state? Wealthy citizens pay a lot of taxes that create jobs, support local businesses, fund schools and roads and elevate wages. The campaign of Rob Quist punishes wealth and demonizes success.

I support Greg Gianforte because he made his wealth here in Montana and gives back to Montana communities. He recently gave funds from his foundation for the drug court in Polson.

Greg Gianforte will support job creation that will make Montana a more desirable place to live and retire. Quist wants to tax wealthy individuals and retirees.

Overtaxing will not create jobs and will discourage business investment. Look at the poverty in some Montana communities.

As a Montanan, my grandparents brought their wealth to Polson. I grew up in the 1960s when Polson was a thriving community. Now, businesses struggle, roads need repairing and aging schools need fixing.

Lets put Greg Gianforte in office who has proven he can create jobs; Quist has not created even one job.

Linda E. Reksten,

Polson
Max Richtman, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, a national nonpartisan and nonprofit organization, traveled to Missoula to endorse Quist. This group sent questionnaires to both Quist and Greg Gianforte. Quist responded that he is resolute in his determination to protect Social Security and Medicare. Gianforte did not bother to respond. Perhaps he thought that he made his position clear during his campaign for governor, when he said that Noah built the ark at the age of 600 years and, He wasnt like, cashing Social Security checks, he wasnt hanging out, he was working. So, I think we have an obligation to work.
HELENA  A down-to-the-wire legislative showdown will begin playing out Monday as lawmakers plunge back into a debate over a bonding bill that would raise tens of millions of dollars to pay for a slate of building projects and other infrastructure programs.

Pressure is building on lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, as well as Gov. Steve Bullock, to put together a deal before the Legislature adjourns next week. Having already sent a $10.3 billion state budget to Bullock for consideration, the bonding bill remains the most contentious matter left on the Capitol agenda.

A $98 million Senate bonding bill is before the House Appropriations Committee, but the panel's chairwoman said she has no plans to bring the proposal up for a vote. The more likely scenario is to resurrect a $78 million House version and make it more palatable to fiscal conservatives. That could mean scaling back projects to reduce the amount that would be financed by bonds. It would also likely involve negotiations on other policy matters unrelated to infrastructure, as Republicans and Democrats barter votes and bills to broker a last-minute deal.

"It's always a huge lift," said Republican Rep. Greg Hertz of Polson, the second-highest ranking member of the Republican-led House, who acknowledged the ongoing behind-the-scenes political bartering.

"Everything's on the table. There are some policy bills we would like to see the governor sign," Hertz said.

Although he declined to identify specific bills under negotiations, he said Republican leaders are exploring legislation dealing with social issues, tax policy and economic development.

"There are a number of them we're discussing with the governor to see if he can support some of those. And if he does, he could possibly pick up a number of Republican legislators who might support bonding," Hertz said.

It will take 67 votes in the 100-member chamber to pass a bonding bill and advance it to the 50-member Senate for concurrence, where it would also need a two-thirds majority to send it to the governor for consideration.

While the Legislature has already authorized about $1.1 billion this session in infrastructure spending, it remains uncertain whether lawmakers can muster the political will to approve a bonding measure.

One bill that advanced to the governor's desk on Saturday, despite opposition from anti-tax legislators, was a proposal to raise the fuel tax for the first time in a quarter-century. The measure would gradually increase gas taxes by 6 cents a gallon over the next six years and raise about $31 million annually to help pay for road and bridge projects.

In recent days, the Legislature worked feverishly to clear their decks of other legislation in anticipation of another political battle over bonding, which fiscal conservatives oppose because of philosophical opposition to borrowing money to pay for projects.

"We need to get down to business now, and there's no more time for people to make up their minds. There's been discussions back and forth, and potential negotiations with the governor's office," said Democratic Rep. Jenny Eck of Helena, the House minority leader. "At this point, people just need to look at the bill and decide if it matters to them."

She said some of the onus lies with the governor. "At the end of the day, he's the guy who gets to decide what gets across the finish line and what doesn't," Eck said.

In 2013, Bullock vetoed an infrastructure bill that landed on his desk after the Legislature adjourned. Two years later, lawmakers failed by one vote to send him another bill.

"Montanans expect the Legislature to pass a major infrastructure bill to put people to work for our state, and Gov. Bullock shares those expectations," said the governor's spokeswoman, Ronja Abel. "He remains optimistic that Republicans and Democrats will work together to get a bill to his desk for signature."
KALISPELL  Mary Reckin has noticed a change in the Flathead Valley.

It started after last falls election, when Republican Donald J. Trump won the presidential race in Montana by 20 percentage points and Democrats went from holding all but one statewide office to a lone one retained, the governors seat.

But after the Democrats took such a drubbing, Reckin said people began showing up. So many came to meetings of the Flathead County Democratic Women the room was too crowded to hold them all.

That really energized people. Its the start of something really wonderful, she said. We've more than doubled attendance.

Then came rallies for Rob Quist, a Democrat who until January was best known as a member of the legendary Mission Mountain Wood Band. Quist, from Creston, is running to fill Montanas empty seat in Congress against Republican Greg Gianforte, a Bozeman businessman who lost the governors race last fall to incumbent Democrat Steve Bullock in a vote close enough nobody knew the winner when they went to bed on election night.

Here in a town that voted up and down the ballot for Republicans by wide margins last fall, a couple hundred came to hear Quist speak at Depot Park.

Ive never seen anything like it, Reckin said Friday, hours before Donald Trump Jr. landed in Kalispell to stump for Gianforte. People are more involved now than theyve ever been before. These people want to know what's going on and participate.

National groups notice the momentum too. Encouraged by stronger-than-expected  though not victorious  showings for Democratic candidates in special elections in Kansas and Georgia, they are pointing money and resources West toward a rural Republican state.

Before Thursday, some complained Montana had been overlooked. "Why won't the national party pay attention?" asked a headline in the Huffington Post earlier this month.

But late last week the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee told that publication it was committing six figures to the race. Other groups, including one of the countrys largest political action committees, mobilized the same day, connecting Quist with a small-donor network that raised more than $825,000 in the Georgia election. In that state, Democrat Jon Ossoff is heading to a June runoff after getting 48.1 percent of the vote against 11 Republican candidates.

Gianfortes support nationally could be considered more normal or expected, though neither of those words are quite right for this election. Montana hasnt had to replace a congressman since 1969. This time around, the state needs a new representative after Ryan Zinke was picked by Trump to be Secretary of the Interior.

While a search for Quists name on the DCCC website still turns up a goose egg, Gianforte is plastered all over the website for the other partys equivalent organization, the National Republican Campaign Committee. Big-time Republican super PACs as well as the NRA have made major ad buys in the state as well.

On the Wednesday before the DCCC dropped money into the race, Quist dismissed narratives that national groups had overlooked his election.

Right after he became the nominee in January after going four rounds with eight other hopefuls, Democratic heavyweights MoveOn.org, a political action committee that works to advance progressive politics, and Daily Kos, a political blog, sent out emails encouraging their followers to support Quist.

One-third of our contributions are coming from out of state, he said.

The race hasnt been ignored by the national media, Quist pointed out. CBS came out and traveled with us, and they even got me to play my banjo. And CNN has been here, and of course Rolling Stones coming out. It may not be as much as Georgia, but I really feel like were getting a lot of national press on this.

The DCCC did not return calls or emails asking questions about its timing, but Tiffany Muller, executive director of End Citizens United, the third-largest federal PAC in the 2016 election, said success in Georgia and Kansas spurred their jump into the race.

I do think that in elections across the country youre seeing a really engaged electorate, she said Friday. Youre seeing voters turn out whether its in Kansas or Georgia or being involved in the Montana special election right now.

Muller said that even though Quist wants a seat thats been in Republican hands for two decades, theres a good enough chance hell win that the PAC is mobilizing its 3 million members across the country and 350,000 donors  the same ones who infused $850,000 into the Georgia race.

Our first and foremost priority is connecting our grassroots members with the Quist campaign to help make sure he has all the support he needs.

Muller said Montana is also a place she thinks End Citizens United can connect with voters because of the states history with money playing an out-sized role in politics, dating back to the days of the Copper Kings.

Montana has a long history of trying to get money out of politics and making sure that politicians are seeking for hard-working families, she said. Our goal is to work hard hand-in-hand with the campaigns in Montana like Rob Quist  to make sure we are fighting things on a federal level.

Gene Reckin, Marys son, said Quist is popular here because hes not the type of candidate the Democratic party has been putting up lately. Quists campaign suffered some early setbacks, including stories about his 16-year debt trail of tax liens and a lawsuit after not paying back a loan. His campaign has tried to play off the issue, saying medical emergencies almost bankrupted Quist and it shows he understands the financial situations many Montanans face.

Quist is a real guy. He seems more of a traditional Montanan than maybe some of the other Democratic candidates have been. I dont see him as a wild-eyed liberal. He has more universal Montana values, Gene Reckin said.

Those with deep roots in Montana politics say while the attention and money are nice, they won't be a deciding factor.

Since I ran in 2000, there has been very little money that has come in, because this is retail politics out here and we know it, said Nancy Keenan, chair of the Montana Democratic Party, who lost a race for the seat Quist is seeking 17 years ago. We have to win these races ourselves, so its like, No, we do it ourselves anyway.

In a room where a poster from a statewide candidate who lost in last falls election is used to block sunlight from coming in the upper part of a window, Keenan didn't pull any punches. Look, we had a tough 2016.

But she points to new enthusiasm, personified by Democratic county central committees either back from long-cold ashes or planning to incorporate this spring.

Six county committees  Mineral, Madison, Glacier, Sweet Grass, Valley, and Roosevelt  reactivated ahead of the nominating convention this spring, many in places Quist visited. Seven more have expressed interest.

In perhaps the biggest display of that enthusiasm, an estimated 10,000 people attended the Womens March in Helena, filling the streets around the Capitol with a sea of signs expressing their feelings about Trump, which ranged from distaste to disgust.

Still, Gianforte is doing everything he can to show hes in lockstep with the president, trusting that Montanans still support the man who won the state in a landslide.

When Trump became the nominee last June, the most support Gianforte could muster up was an I support my partys nominee shortly after the primary.

When we were talking before, I was running in a state race on state issues. This is a federal race related to federal issues, and thats the difference, Gianforte said of his change.

On Friday, more than 450 people came to a rally at Glacier Park International Airport outside Kalsipell to hear Donald Trump Jr. speak on behalf of Gianforte. The event was one of four stops that all drew similar-sized crowds.

Attendees dismissed the thought that Democrats were more fired up than Republicans for this election, stomping their feet and cheering loudly any time they heard something they liked.

I think what you see from the Democrats is not momentum but desperation, said Anita Newlin, who lives in Kalispell. Gianforte is a great candidate. Trump has done really well with what he has to go up against, and Gianforte will be another ally.

The presidents son, who took plenty of shots at Quist while extolling Gianforte, focused a large part of his speech on voter turnout.

We cant sit back on our laurels, we cant sit back on our past victories, Trump Jr. said. We have to get out there, and we have to tell our friends to get out and vote, to know the date. Early votings coming up.

Momentum might turn out to matter more than money in this race, said Carroll College political science professor Jeremy Johnson.

The election is set for May 25, the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend. On top of that, polling places in some counties will be different because the usual spots are tied up with band concerts or other events.

Shane Scanlon, with Gianfortes campaign, said a strong get-out-the-vote effort is part of the plan for the month leading up to election day. Field staff are on the ground in the states major cities and will be moving into smaller places as well.

Were making sure we're reaching voters and increasing that awareness to make sure people do get out and vote. I think every day that passes by, you see that support and momentum continue to grow. To have this amount of people come out for President Trumps son has just been fantastic.

Democrats are also planning a big rally with Quist and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent who ran as a Democrat and won Montanas primary, beating eventual nominee Hillary Clinton by 5 percentage points.

I think its smart for both candidates to bring in a surrogate whos popular with the base, Johnson said. Donald Trump Jr. will track (with) Republicans, and Sanders will track with much of the base with Democrats.

The Montana Democratic Party runs a strong get-out-the-vote effort, Johnson said, but there could be problem areas. The colleges in Bozeman and Missoula would be out for the summer, and most of those young voters who wont be on campus lean Democratic.

Montana is probably a better takeover chance than Kansas but less than Georgia, but it certainly makes sense for Democrats to try to make a play for Montana, because the environment does seem to be favorable for Democrats right now, Johnson said.
DEER LODGE  An unaccounted for inmate  serving time for rape and kidnapping  forced Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge to sound its siren alarm Saturday about 4:30 p.m.

Staff immediately searched the facility, and Harry Robert Lamar was found within the fenced area of the Industries Compound, according to a prison news release. Details of the apprehension were not made available.

Lamar was taken into custody without incident, with no injury to staff or Lamar.

The prison will be on lock down until the investigation is complete, the release said. However, visitation is planned to occur as scheduled on Sunday.

Lamar was sentenced to out of Missoula County in 2007 for sexual intercourse without consent, aggravated kidnapping, and burglary. Inmate Lamar was sentenced to 150 years; he is not eligible for parole.

A newspaper report in the Missoulian in 2007 said Lamar, of Oregon, kidnapped a woman at knifepoint and raped her in a wooded area near Seeley Lake.

Missoula County authorities arrested Lamar the evening of July 20, 2006, after combing a densely forested area near Seeley Lake all day.

When a deputy eventually caught up to the man, Lamar refused to comply with officer's orders to surrender and instead brandished a stick that had been whittled into the shape of a handgun. Lamar refused to drop the stick, so the officer shot him with a TASER gun and arrested the man.

According to court records, Lamar entered the victim's home while she was sleeping early that morning, grabbed a knife from the kitchen and held the woman at knifepoint, threatening to kill her if she screamed. Lamar then bound and gagged the woman, forced her into the back seat of her own car and drove around Seeley Lane and onto Owl Creek Loop Road.

When Lamar stopped the car, he told the woman they were going for a walk. However, once they had entered a wooded area, Lamar told the woman to undress and lie down on the ground, then raped her.

Afterward, the woman asked Lamar if he intended to release her, and he said he would not let her go. Later, he told the woman that he would only let her go after he had sex with her again. However, Lamar eventually released the woman without raping her a second time, and allowed her to take the car.

When Hanson arrested Lamar, the deputy did not immediately find the knife, but Lamar explained that he had stashed the weapon in a nearby barn, where he had apparently been hiding.

Lt. Rich Maricelli, of the sheriff's office, said the woman recognized Lamar because he had been working an odd job clearing junk metal from an adjacent property for several weeks. Lamar had been living temporarily in a nearby trailer, but the victim did not know the man personally.
Barbara shared her love of stories throughout her life, both as a high school literature teacher and by telling stories about her life and her family, which she liked to exaggerate for dramatic effect. For nearly forty years, she brought laughter and passion to her classroom and to those who knew her.

Barbara Gary Price was born Aug. 3, 1948, and passed on April, 21, 2017 surrounded by family and friends. Barbara dedicated herself to making people laugh and caring for her students and her son, Gary, and spending time with her husband, Darrell.

Barbara was born to William and Suzanne Gary in Seattle, where she attended Bothell High School. She earned her bachelor's and teaching certification from the University of Washington and taught in Seattle. After several years, she moved to Billings, Montana, to teach at Senior High School. She completed a Master of Education at MSU Billings. Barbara taught English and Sociology at Montana Tech for several years.

Barbara enjoyed reading, spoiling her pet schnauzers, decorating her home, shopping, and going to the theatre with her son. She traveled to Europe, Mexico, Bahamas, as well as many places in the US including Hawaii, Alaska, and yearly trips to the Washington coast to be near the ocean.

Barbara will always be remembered by her surviving relatives Darrell Price; Gary Warchola; siblings Patty (Rod) Ceis, Steve (Roxann) Gary, and Karen Foreman; stepsons Patrick (DeAnna) Price and Seth (Erin) Price; and her nieces, nephews, and grandchildren Kristian, Aiden, Liam, and Avery Price and mother-in-law Patricia Price. The family would like to thank Rae Ann Sanders for her dedication and the adventures that she shared with Barbara. The family would also like to thank Mariposa Memory Care and Big Sky Senior Living.

The family will hold a celebration of life ceremony for friends and family at Duggan Dolan Wednesday, April 26, at 11 a.m. with visitation starting at 10. In lieu of flowers, please honor Barbaras memory by contributing to Friends of Hospice or the Bluefield Project to cure frontotemporal degeneration.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive office building, that enormous mansard-roofed pile just west of the West Wing of the White House, has quite a history. It was built in the 1870s and 1880s to house the Departments of State, Navy and War  its 556 rooms each have a doorknob cast with the seal of either the Army, the Navy or the State Department, depending on which department originally used it.

For many years it was the largest office building in the country, and its nearly two miles of halls have been walked by many of the countrys greatest leaders, either before or during their presidencies. Richard Nixon kept a private office there, complete with secret taping setup.

Among other departments of the Executive Branch, President Obama kept something there he considered very important  the council of advisers that reported to him on matters of science and technology. The council  a nonpartisan body originally chartered in its current form by George H.W. Bush  was kept very busy. More than 150 experts in various scientific disciplines worked there, advising the President and his staff on a huge range of scientific issues  including climate change, science and mathematics education, cybersecurity, biomedical research, resistance to antibiotics, weapons technology, and many, many more.

Worked, as in past tense.

All of those experts are gone now. Its unknown whether there will even be a council of scientific advisers in the Trump Administration, which apparently feels it knows all it needs to know about science, thank you. Three months into his term, the President has not even named a chief science adviser  a key position that dates back to the Franklin Roosevelt Administration.

Smaller government good? Perhaps. More ignorant government? Not so good.

In Butte and Anaconda, we have a lot riding on the governments scientific knowledge and its application thereof. Its beyond worrisome that this administration wishes to reduce EPA to tidbits of its former self, as candidate Donald Trump promised. But other government agencies, too, have scientific business here.

One of them is the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a division of the Centers for Disease Control.

Thanks to a waste in place philosophy and a cleanup that is glacial in its forward progress, we have plenty of toxic substances in this part of southwest Montana. Just the fact that a remediation done almost two decades ago in Anaconda turns out to have been deficient in terms of dealing with widespread lead contamination from the Washoe Smelters 80 years of operation  and now needs to be expanded to deal with lead  is an indication that this place desperately needs the federal government and all of its scientific expertise to make sure whats being done here protects human health.

Thats why The Montana Standard wrote to ATSDR Director Dr. Patrick Breysse this week, asking the agency to look again at the potential exposure to toxins in southwest Montana, and at whether the incidence of autoimmune and neurological diseases, which have been found to be clustered around metals plants and smelters elsewhere, needs to be evaluated here.

Thats the sort of thing the federal government can and should do. But the ATSDRs current budget leaves in question many of its core obligations.

When scientific knowledge is expanding as rapidly as it is today, we can ill afford four or more years of science denial. Instead of grand pronouncements about cleaning up the Berkeley Pit, we need to make sure our congressional delegation does all it can in this anti-science environment to make sure Butte and Anaconda get the realistic and vital federal scientific work that they deserve.
A sneak attack on another nation's military base? Sound familiar? When the Japanese did it they were trying to gain time and fully expected the U.S. to declare war and eventually retaliate. Trump wasn't dumb enough to attack a country that could fight back. His prime objective to distract the public from his many failings  as were his fallacious claims of Obama wiretapping and those regarding Susan Rice, the former U.S. National Security Advisor.

That bombing cost to the U.S. was in the range of $100 million, was largely ineffective and did absolutely nothing for victims of the alleged gas attack. Is this why he wants to increase the military's budget? So he can mount more of these distractions? Or is this just the stage magicians trick  he gets you watch one hand while his other is scamming you?
LETTS, Iowa  Jay Kemp isnt a farmer, but in a few days, he will have more than 100 acres of grass rhizomes on his property.

He wont have to weed or spray his fields and in a years time, when the grass grows tall enough to be harvested, Kemp wont harvest it.

The University of Iowa will.

The university has been burning the grass, known as Miscanthus, in its power plant to reduce its reliance on coal. At first glance, Miscanthus does not look like much. It begins as ginger-like rhizomes. As a grown plant, it is reminiscent of sugar cane, with a tough dry stalks that sway in the wind.

But burning one acre of Miscanthus can offset four tons of coal in the power plant. And a field of Miscanthus can grow for a decade or more without replanting. Miscanthus also is ideal for Iowa: It can tolerate the harsh Iowa winters, but it cant produce seeds, so it wont invade neighboring fields.

Erin Hazen, renewable energy business development manager at the University of Iowa, said replacing coal with Miscanthus makes environmental sense.

For the university to stop using coal in its plant has benefits to all of eastern Iowa, she said. Coal is not great for the environment. Coal has problematic emissions that Miscanthus and other biofuels (dont have).

Since 2015, she said, the university has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 17 percent.

It also makes economic sense. The universitys power plant has a $14 million budget for fuel, some of which is used for coal.

The money that we spend on coal, right now, that is money thats all going out of state, but really we want to divert that so we spend the money in state, so its income for growers, Hazen said.

The university wants to generate 10 percent of its energy from Miscanthus, using other biomass fuels for the other 90 percent, with the goal of reducing and eventually eliminating its dependence on coal by 2025.

So far, the venture  the Biomass Fuel Project  has recruited about 15 growers and more than 800 acres of Miscanthus across eastern Iowa.

For Kemp, who lives in Letts, the decision to rent his fields to the University of Iowa was one of convenience.

Im getting just as much out of this as if I were to rent it to a farmer, he said. I dont have to fertilize it or do anything at all.

He had heard about the Miscanthus venture from another grower in the area and signed up about a month ago.

On Saturday afternoon, he opened his home to curious locals for a Miscanthus planting demonstration. Officials from the University of Iowa and some of its partners came by to answer questions. Some of these partners include Iowa State University and agricultural service firm Aggrow Tech, who planted the Miscanthus on Kemps property. The planting demonstrations, Hazen said, help the university attract other growers who may be interested in growing Miscanthus in their fields.
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 []
Senate Bill 2298, introduced by Sen. Dwight Cook, R-Mandan, was promoted by business groups as a way to balance the scales between brick-and-mortar stores and online retailers.

The bill wont become effective until the the U.S. Supreme Court confirms a state may impose a sales or use tax on an out-of-state seller or overturns its 1992 decision in Quill v. North Dakota. In that case, the court said North Dakota couldnt make the mail-order catalog business collect sales tax because the existing system was too complicated, but state tax officials have said updated software has removed that burden.
LOS ANGELES  Thousands of people in cities across California took to the streets Saturday as part of the nationwide March for Science, decrying President Donald Trumps policies and urging him and the rest of the U.S. to put faith in evidence-based science.

Led by two electric massive electric Hummers, several thousand people marched in downtown Los Angeles. They chanted Money for science and education, not for wars and climate alteration and carried signs that read: There is no Planet B and The Earth does not belong to man.

Weve gone through a time where we used to look up to intelligence and aspire to learn more and do more with that and intellectual curiosity ... And now weve got a government that is saying that climate change is a Chinese hoax, said Danny Leserman, 26, who was carrying a sign showing a sad polar bear wishing for more ice.

It needs to be known throughout the world that America isnt just those people at the top saying climate change isnt real, that vaccines are going to cause autism, said Leserman, director of digital media at the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. We need officials that are more representative of the fact that people are really for science.

At the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, hundreds of professors, researchers, engineers and ordinary citizens gathered on a lawn before marching across the city to a park.

Many carried homemade signs that included, The oceans are rising and so are we and A womans place is in the lab!!

Before they set out under a glaring morning sun, they cheered recitations of scientific achievements and booed mentions of two Trump administration appointees who are climate change skeptics.

Michael Roukes, a physics and biological engineering professor at Caltech, spoke of immigration and travel by foreigners to the United States, citing the contributions of such exceptional international minds as Albert Einstein and mathematician/aerospace engineer Theodore Von Karman, among others.

The ascension of the United States, a relatively young nation, to its stature as the major worldwide scientific force is due in no small part to the crucial contributions of these valued visitors and immigrants, he said.

Roukes spoke of fear in the U.S. in the 1957 when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into space. Many worried about being scientifically dominated by a foreign power, he said.

This ushered in an era here in the U.S where science was revered and, of special note, trusted by the U.S. public at large, Roukes said. But in the intervening decades this trust has profoundly decayed.

Roukes cited political turmoil, government missteps and corporate overreach based on greed.

In San Francisco, demonstrators, some in lab coats and others wearing pink hats, peacefully marched along Market Street to Civic Center, where a science fair was held.

Retired attorney Kate Watts said she marched because she worries that more money is being spent on the military while funding to the Environmental Protection Agency is being cut.

The EPA is what protects the water and the air so future people can live in this planet, and they need to understand that, Watts said.

Marches were also underway in Berkeley, San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento, San Diego and Palm Springs. More than 500 such marches are happening across the country, anchored in Washington.
Napa City Fire responded to reports of a fire at Galpao Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse on Trower Avenue in Napa on Saturday evening.

Reports of a fire at the restaurant, which opened in 2016, came in shortly after 6 p.m. Fire suppression systems were activated and diners and restaurant staff were evacuated from the building.
Early in his career, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a remark that sums up the tragedy of modern Turkey. "Democracy is like a train," the then-Istanbul mayor said. "You get off once you have reached your destination."

Erdogan's train seems to have arrived. In last Sunday's referendum, a razor-thin majority granted him massive new powers in a vote rife with irregularities. As Erdogan cements his rule in his 1,150-room palace, he's dashed the dream that he'd create the first modern democracy in a mainly Muslim country. (This vote, which could keep him in office until 2034, also kills any minuscule hope that Turkey might enter the European Union in my lifetime.)

President Donald Trump quickly called to congratulate Erdogan on his questionable win and may soon invite him to the White House. Yet Turkey's reliability as a NATO ally is under severe question and Ankara has become a liability in fighting the Islamic State in Syria. Washington has leverage to use on Erdogan in these matters, but only if someone finally manages to fully brief Trump.

The hopes that Erdogan's AK Party would morph into a Muslim version of Europe's conservative Christian Democratic parties was always unrealistic. His early prime ministerial achievements were impressive, however, boosting the economy and starting peace talks with Kurdish rebels. Turkey now has a 95 percent literacy rate, the highest in the Muslim world.

But, having moved from prime minister to president -- until now, a largely symbolic post -- Erdogan's megalomania took over. He set out to emulate Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, whose authoritarian rule built a secular state from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire.

"Erdogan is following the Ataturk model, using state power to shape country and society in his own image," says Soner Cagaptay, author of "The New Sultan: Erdogan and the Crisis of Modern Turkey." "He doesn't share Ataturk's (secular) values, just his methods. He wants to use state power and education to make the country religious, conservative and Middle Eastern."

But the country is far more complex than that: It is a mix of seculars, moderate and pious Muslims, Kurds, Alavis (a Shiite sect), Christians, and Europe-oriented businessmen. That's why he only won 51 percent of the ballots.

All the major cities voted no on the referendum, which created a powerful presidency with broad control over the judiciary and the ability to make laws by decree.

"Half the country loves him and half loathes him," Cagaptay said at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in Washington. "He exacerbates the divide."

And that divide was growing long before the election. In recent years, the Turkish president had been cracking down on peaceful demonstrators and jailing journalists. But, with an eye on the votes of nationalist Turks, he restarted a brutal war with Kurdish rebels (who also made big errors).

He also used a mysterious coup attempt last year to conduct massive purges at home, not just of the alleged plotters, but of civil society and the peaceful HDP Kurdish opposition party. (He blames the coup on Fetullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric living in exile in Pennsylvania, whose extradition he demands.)

As many as 71,000 people have reportedly been detained and 41,000 formally arrested, while tens of thousands of academics, judges, and police have been fired and many universities, schools, and media outlets shuttered. With 81 journalists jailed as of December, Turkey's record is worse than China's or Iran's.

Experts debate whether Erdogan is an authoritarian or an Islamist. Cagaptay told me he's both. "Of course he will try to Islamicize politics and society," the author said. But, he adds, moving in that direction would require Erdogan to keep repressing Turkey's democracy, which would undermine its stability and economy. An advanced economy requires an open society with ethnic and religious tolerance, says the author.

In Turkey, Cagaptay says, that means "freedom for religion for the religious half -- and freedom from religion for the secular half." But Erdogan seems wholly oriented toward his pious followers.

However, the news is not all bad. The fact that nearly half of Turkey's voters rejected the referendum, despite severe repression, shows that the country's civil society remains vibrant. This puts some restraints on Erdogan.

Moreover, he has created huge problems with his neighbors. His help to Sunni Islamists fighting the Syrian regime has boomeranged, creating a terrorist problem at home and annoying Moscow. Cagaptay says Erdogan needs help from NATO to offset pressures from Russia, which is still an enemy despite surface reconciliation.

So, rather than flatter the Turkish sultan (or bow to demands for Gulen's swift extradition), Trump should insist that the Turkish leader stop undermining the Syrian Kurds, who are America's best allies against the Islamic State. He should also urge Erdogan to restart peace talks with Turkey's Kurds and avoid civil war with his political opposition.

"The time for the Ataturk model has passed," says Cagaptay. "It won't work."

That may be too much to discuss over chocolate cake at Mar-a-Lago, but Trump's affinity for dictators should be put on hold if he invites Erdogan to his home.
A Cause for Claws Thrift Store (701-751-5828)  Seeks volunteers to sort, test, repair and set up store displays. All profits support a low-cost spay and neuter clinic.

Abused Adult Resource Center (701-222-8370)  Volunteers advocates needed to help answer the crisis calls in the evenings and on weekends. An advocates role is to listen, offer support and give options. Free training provided.

AID Inc. (701-663-2122 or 701-663-1274)  Adults to sort clothing, sort other donations, pricing, cashiering, cleaning, organizing, hanging clothes, sorting, testing and repairing electrical items and other various tasks.

American Cancer Society (701-433-7582)  Volunteer drivers for Road to Recovery Program.

American Red Cross (701-223-6700)  Disaster and Health and Safety Services to teach CPR/first aid courses, aid in disaster response locally and nationwide, training provided. Adults and youth 16 and older.

Arc of Bismarck (701-222-1854)  Work in the thrift store.

Baptist Health Care Center (701-223-3040)  Assist residents with clinic appointments, activities, meals, chapel on Sunday and bingo.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (701-222-0797)  Be a mentor for youth.

Bismarck-Mandan Chapter of SCORE (701-328-5861)  Volunteer management counselors to provide free and confidential mentoring and counseling for those who wish to start a small business. Call or stop by the office at the Bank of North Dakota building on Memorial Highway.

Buckstop Junction/Missouri Valley Historical Society (701-250-8575)  Conduct tours of historic buildings, help with The Shoppe, building or grounds maintenance, general office work, Corn Feed/Old Settlers Day, publicity or adopt a building.

Burleigh County Senior Adult Program (701-255-4648)  Deliver meals to homebound elderly individuals and assist as nutrition servers, gift shop attendants, Wii bowling scorekeeper and answering phones.

Central Dakota Humane Society (701-667-2020)  Provide companionship, exercise and socialization to the dogs and cats; assist with basic animal care; assist with special events.

Charles Hall Youth Services (701-255-2773, ext. 303)  Volunteer mentors needed to commit to supporting, guiding and mentoring at-risk youth. Mentors serve as positive role models, teaching youth healthy and safe ways to have fun and to meet positive academic, career and personal goals. Mentors must be minimum of 21 years of age. Training provided.

CHI St. Alexius Health (701-530-7159)  Deliver mail and flowers, escort patients, help with the gift shop.

CHI St. Alexius Home Health & Hospice (701-530-4500)  Share your time, energy and compassion while enriching your own life and lives of others. Help with a variety of activities such as companionship, errands, respite care, administrative and bereavement support. Volunteers who are a veteran, can play an instrument for music therapy and/or perform pet therapy are particularly needed.

Community Action (701-258-2240)  Help in the donation center and the food pantry.

Cystic Fibrosis Association (701-222-3998)  Help with mailings and fundraising events.

Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch (701-223-7979)  Help in thrift store and perform janitorial duties.

Dakota Zoo (701-223-7543)  Accepting applications for adult volunteers to provide animal conservation programs and animal handling for educational programs. Training provided. Also looking for general volunteers for light building and repair projects. Carpentry, mechanical and fencing skills are a plus but not needed.

Foster Grandparent Program (701-258-5436)  Provide one-on-one assistance to children in schools, Head Start and child care centers. Listen to children read, assist with homework, etc.

Good Samaritan Society (701-323-3274)  Volunteers needed.

Lutheran Social Services Senior Companions (701-838-7800)  Seniors 55 and older who are healthy, active and interested in helping their older neighbors.

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McLean Family Resource Center (701-462-8643)  Assist with crisis line.

Mental Health America of North Dakota (701-255-3692)  Help with data entry, various office duties.

Neighbors Network Program (701-323-4277)  Volunteers with pickups to help move donated furniture items to clients homes.

New Song Church (701-258-5683)  Janitorial and light maintenance work. For details, email erickson.e.michael@gmail.com.

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Public Health Emergency Volunteer Reserve Corps/Medical Reserve Corps (701-328-1334)  Accepting registration of volunteers to assist with public health emergencies. Medical and non-medical volunteers needed. Choose to help only in own county, in the surrounding counties, statewide or anywhere in the U.S. Register at www.ndhealth.gov/EPR/volunteer.

Ruth Meiers House (701-222-2108)  Sorting donations, stocking food pantry shelves, dining room servers, childrens learning center aides, baby boutique program assistants and special event help. More information: www.ruthmeiers.org.

St. Vincents Care Center (701-323-1974)  Entertainers for background music for Sunday social events.

Salvation Army (701-223-1889)  Assist with meals, activities and tutoring in the youth program; stock food pantry shelves; light maintenance work.

Sanford Health (701-323-6011)  Greet and assist visitors in the surgical waiting room, deliver flowers, help in the gift shop and Coffee Corner and assist with special projects.

Sanford Health Hospice (701-323-8400)  Volunteers needed to assist terminally ill patients. Assistance commonly includes visiting, reading and taking walks; child care assistance; bereavement support; and administrative/clerical work. Orientation, training and support provided.

Seeds of Hope store (701-222-8370)  Greeters, price clothes, stock and straighten shelves, Diggers Delight and more. Creative people needed for designing gift baskets and store displays.

Tracys Sanctuary House (701-258-5889)  Perform daily housekeeping tasks, answer phones, stock kitchen and food pantry.

Volunteer Care Givers for the Elderly (701-223-9290)  Assist with transportation, yardwork, light housekeeping, respite care, errands and shopping and other companionship activities with the elderly.
"The reason I have registered an FIR that these perverts think they can get away. They will be prosecuted under the Information Technology (IT) Act," Shaina told ANI.

The police have registered a case against the accused under section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for outraging the modesty of a woman and relevant sections of the IT Act.

Last month, Shaina had alleged that she was being stalked and that she had registered an FIR with the Mumbai Police in the same.

"I have been receiving lewd messages for a while now. For any woman who values her self respect and dignity, she would do exactly what I did. So, I took a courageous decision to register an FIR with the cyber crime and I must say that the police and commissioner of police have been supportive," Shaina NC told ANI. (ANI)
He was the first Tibetan to be admitted a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons but could re-visit his beloved "mystic" homeland only in 2007, four years before he died aged 79, to find it had "withered away not so much from Communist Chinese genocide as from geno-dilution" -- or inward mass migration. This is the pain that oozes through every page of Tsewang Yishey Pemba's posthumously published "White Crane, Lend Me Your Wings" (Niyogi Books/Rs 495-$15/868 pp) -- a tale of love and war that is also a poignant cry for Tibetan freedom. "Mystic Tibet has withered away, not so much from Communist Chinese genocide as from geno-dilution by mass migrations of ethnic Han Chinese from the heart of the New China, the Great Motherland. This is obvious everywhere in the streets, offices, restaurants shops and mansions of Lhasa. "At Lhasa airport, some distance from the city, announcements of Arrivals and Departures are made in Chinese, Tibetan and English. On Arrival, there are no Customs and Immigration formalities, for passports have already been inspected and stamped in Beijing or Chengdu or Xining or Xian (flying south of the legendary Yenan). There are frequent direct flights from Chengdu to Lhasa, flying over Lithang and Nyarong. Is it wildly, childishly, stupidly imaginative to conjecture that occasionally -- weather permitting -- such aircraft might encounter white cranes still flying from Lhasa towards Lithang (one of the locales in which the book is set)?" the author wonders. The title, in fact, is a line from a poem by the Sixth Dalai Lama in which he consoles his followers banished from the Nyarong Valley by the Manchus in 1720. Thus, it is little wonder that Pemba's son Riga remembers his father "enter into a deep trance" while boarding the train back from Lhasa to Beijing, renowned Tibetologist and poet Shelly Bhoil writes in the introduction. "Dr Pemba became unusually quiet for months together after his return from Tibet. Thereafter, he dedicated himself to writing 'White Crane, Lend Me Your Wings'... Pemba died of liver cancer on November 26, 2011, (three-and-a-half years after returning from Tibet). The publication of this novel, which he wrote relentlessly despite being in physical pain, was his last wish," Bhoil says. The novel is set in the first half of the 20th century and Pemba skilfully weaves a dazzling tapestry of individual lives and sweeping events, creating an epic vision of a country and people during a time of tremendous upheaval. The book begins with a never-before-told story of a failed Christian mission in Tibet and takes the reader into the heartland of Eastern Tibet by capturing the zeitgeist of the fierce warrior tribe of Khampas ruled by chieftains. The coming-of-age narrative is a riveting tale of vengeance, warfare and love unfolded through the story of two young boys and their families and friends. The author's ability to separate emotions and view both sides of a national catastrophe objectively is applaudable. Ultimately, the novel delves into themes such as tradition versus modernity, individual choice and freedom, the nature of governance, the role of religion in people's lives, the inevitability of change, and the importance of human values such as loyalty and compassion. Born at Gyantse in Tibet in 1932, Pemba was enrolled by his father, a Tibetan cadre officer in the British Trade agency, at age eight in the Victoria Boys School at Kurseong near Darjeeling. He was the first Tibetan to become a doctor and surgeon in Western medical science from the University of London in 1955. He was awarded the prestigious Hallet Prize by the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, in 1966. He also founded the first hospital in Bhutan in 1956 and was a member of the Bhutanese delegation to the WHO in Geneva in 1989. In between, there was much pain he had to endure -- his parents had perished in the devastating Yarlung Tsangpo floods at Gyantse and Tibet was no longer a de facto independent country. It would, thus, be only natural for Pemba to pen a masterpiece such as this. (Vishnu Makhijani can be contacted at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in) --IANS vm/dg ( 696 Words) 2017-04-23-10:32:08 (IANS)
As per the police, the victims are being treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre here.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ramil Baniya while talking to the media here assured a thorough investigation into the matter and also promised legal action against the perpetrators.

"In the Police Control Room of Kalkaji area, a call was received in night, where the caller gave information about the incident. He further said that cattle's are being taken in a truck in a cruel manner," he said.

The three men were transporting 14 buffaloes in a truck to east Delhi's Ghazipur mandi when they were stopped by members of the non-governmental organisation.

The victims have been identified as Rizwan (25), Ashu (28) and Kamil (25).

Currently, a case has been registered against them under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
The Delhi Police today assured a thorough investigation into the matter and also promised legal action against the perpetrators.

"A call was made by Gaurav Gupta, an animal activist and office bearer of the People for Animals (PFA) under Union Minister Maneka Gandhi who chairs the animal rights group. A team of officers from the Kalkaji police station was sent to the area opposite the Kalkaji Mandir ring road where the police found a truck carrying buffaloes," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ramil Baniya told ANI.

The top cop also made it clear that the attackers were not 'gau rakshaks'.

"The three men were transporting the buffaloes for legal slaughter and they ended up in a scuffle with members of the People for Animals (PFA), an animal rights group that has denied involvement in the incident," said Baaniya.

As per the police, the victims are being treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre here.

The three men were transporting 14 buffaloes in a truck to east Delhi's Ghazipur mandi when they were stopped.

The victims have been identified as Rizwan (25), Ashu (28) and Kamil (25).

Currently, a case has been registered against them under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the consensus on Goods and Services Tax (GST) will go down in history as a great illustration of cooperative federalism, adding the landmark legislation reflects spirit of "one nation, one aspiration, one determination". Addressing the third meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog here, the Prime Minister said the GST shows the strength and resolve of the federal structure. Thanking all the Chief Ministers for coming on one platform for this cause while keeping aside their ideological and political differences, Prime Minister Modi said the vision of "New India" can only be realised through the combined effort and cooperation of all states and Chief Ministers. Prime Minister Modi said that "Team India" has once again assembled today to discuss and reflect on ways to prepare India for changing global trends. He said the meeting today would be an opportunity to exchange views on policies and implementation. "It is the collective responsibility of this gathering to envision the India of 2022 - the 75th anniversary of independence - and see how we can swiftly move forward to achieve these goals," Prime Minister Modi said. Recalling the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of the centenary of the Champaran Satyagraha, the Prime Minister said NITI Aayog has been taking steps to transform India with fresh vigour, adding the government, private sector and civil society need to work in sync. He noted that NITI was a collaborative federal body whose strength was is in its ideas rather than in administrative or financial control. He pointed out that the Chief Ministers did not have to come to NITI for approval of budgets or plans. "NITI Aayog had gone beyond relying on government inputs and taken on board a number of outside specialists, subject experts and young professionals; and states can also contribute to policy formulation," he added. Giving the example of e-NAM, where experiences of states played a key role in the final policy, Prime Minister Modi noted that sub-groups of state Chief Ministers had given vital inputs on subjects such as Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Swachh Bharat, Skill Development and Digital payments. Stressing the importance given to the views of Chief Ministers, Prime Minister Modi noted that it was the first time that the former had been asked to recommend the list of Centrally sponsored schemes and the sharing pattern; despite funding constraints, the recommendations were accepted immediately. The Prime Minister also mentioned that while there has been a 40 percent increase in overall fund allocation to states between 2014-15 and 2016-17, the percentage of funds tied to central schemes has declined from 40 percent of the earlier total to 25 percent of the enhanced total with a corresponding increase in the untied share. The Prime Minister urged the states to speed up capital expenditure and infrastructure creation. Speaking of the historic change in budget presentation date, the Prime Minister said this would enable timely availability of funds at the beginning of the financial year. "Earlier, budgeted scheme funds were generally not approved by Parliament till May, after which they would be communicated to states and ministries. By that time, the monsoon arrived. Hence the best working season for schemes was typically lost," he added. Mentioning the ending of the distinction between plan and non-plan expenditure based on the recommendation of the Rangarajan Committee in 2011, which had found the distinction to be counter-productive, Prime Minister Modi said, "Several important items of expenditure were included as 'non-plan' and hence neglected. Hereafter the emphasis would be on distinguishing between development and welfare expenditure on one hand, and administrative overheads on the other." The Prime Minister called for carrying forward the debate and discussion on simultaneous elections. Prime Minister Modi said the NITI Aayog is working on a 15-year long term vision, seven-year medium term strategy and three- year action agenda, adding this effort needs the support of states and will eventually reflect in benefits to them. (ANI)
Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has filed an FIR against an unknown person for creating a fake Twitter account on his name, a police official said today. The unknown had also tweeted : "If I win elections, I will legalise #WEED (Marijuana) in Shillong #Congress# No Corruption# Meghalaya" from fake Twitter account. Superintendent of Police in-charge East Khasi Hills Davies Marak said that the Chief Minister had recently lodged an FIR in the Sadar police station on the fake Twitter account. Mr Marak said that the state police have written to the Twitter seeking details about the user who created the fake account in the name of the Chief Minister and posted unparliamentarily messages. Meanwhile, police have registered a case under various sections of the Information Technology, Act and Indian Penal Code. UNI RRK AKM 1611 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-865482.Xml
Tinee and Trendee baby boutique is moving from its space on South Washington Street to 231 W. Broadway Ave. in downtown Bismarck.

Owner Miranda Bodvig said she wanted to move her store into the former Parallax Computers and Games location, next door to Feist Electronics, because she likes the downtown atmosphere.

The store will have a soft opening Wednesday followed by regular hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. A grand opening and third business anniversary will be held May 2-6.

Bodvig said the store will reopen with a renewed focus on clothing and gifts. She does a one-stop baby registry service, where mothers-to-be can place their must-have items in a crib for baby shower guests to come in and choose from.

Clothing will come in sizes from premature and newborn to size 8, with a lot of items made by local vendors. Bodvig said a few of the lines are geared for baby pictures  first birthday outfits, newborn tutus  and there will be graphic T-shirts for mothers and other family members.

Bodvig also offers an organic and all natural product line for pregnant mothers. And with the nearby Elks Aquatic Center, the store will sell swimsuits, goggles and sunscreen this summer.

Rue 21 closing

Rue 21 teen clothing store is the latest retailer to announce brick-and-mortar store closings in favor of online sales.

According to its website, the retailer will close both of its Bismarck shops  one in Kirkwood Mall and another recently opened at Hay Creek Shops in north Bismarck.

The chain announced plans to close as many as 400 stores, out of 1,218 locations in 48 states, releasing the following statement to a number of news outlets: As part of our ongoing business transformation into a more cost-efficient operator, we are closing unprofitable stores across our fleet in order to focus on our many hundreds of highly profitable locations. The exact number and timing of these closings will be determined in the coming weeks.

Herbergers selling local products

Herbergers has begun selling specialty products from local artisans at its Kirkwood Mall location.

The opening of the Close to Home shop is part of a major regional expansion of the program, which launched last fall. The program is in 133 stores across 14 states. By the end of 2017, the company plans to have Close to Home shops in about 175 stores, two-thirds of its total locations.

We take great pride in showcasing products made right here by businesses in our local communities, around North Dakota and in our regional area, store manager Mike Lund said in a statement.

Regional featured businesses include:

 Hello Lucy of Fargo, owned by Cindy Freschette, which sells coasters, embellished sewn item,s such as aprons and headbands, and decorative wall art.

 HomeSpun Chick of Buchanan, owned by Karey Hochhalter, which sells goat milk soap and lotions made from her sons 4-H recipe and using milk from the familys herd of goats.

 NoDak Clothing of Prior Lake, Minn., a collaboration between Scott Spehar and former Miss North Dakota Tessie Jones Schwanke, which sells a clothing line celebrating the windy prairie of her home state.

The Close to Home shops also have other North Dakota-inspired and themed products such as T-shirts, accessories, home decor and wall art. As the program continues to grow, the store will add to its selection. The retailer plans to hold future Online Sourcing Fairs to find new local artisans.
SCPCR chairperson, Meena Kharkongor lodged the FIR against Vishwajit Jha, who teaches PGT Physics at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya School in Nongstoin, the district headquarters of West Khasi Hills, after delay in filing a complaint against the accused for more than a week.

On Friday, Ms Kharkongor visited Nongstoin and lodged the complaint with the police there seeking action against the accused who is absconding.

Jha was terminated from his service after he was found to be guilty of sexual harassment after the school girl students were courageous enough to come forward to report the matter to the Executive Magistrates during routine inspection on March 23.

However, there was criticism over the delay in filing FIR against the teacher. UNI RRK AKM 1615

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-865486.Xml
Attempting to justify his "those opposing Jai Sri Ram will be relegated to history" remark, West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Dilip Ghosh on Sunday said the TMC-ruled state's situation is worrisome as the people are not allowed to perform rituals rather slogans in support of Pakistan can be heard aloud. "This is not a controversy. The situation in Bengal is worrisome. Chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' is not allowed anymore and on the eve of Ram Navami the processions are being stopped. So, now in India you cannot say 'Jai Shri Ram' but say 'Pakistan Zindabad' aloud. Therefore, in this regard I made that statement," Ghosh told ANI. He further said the Congress will witness the same fate as that of the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), who have become history in Indian politics. "I said those who will not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Jai Shri Ram', they will become history or such parties will become history. During the festivals, permissions are not being granted to follow the rituals and cases are being filed against those who continue to do so," Ghosh added. Meanwhile, West Bengal Power Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay said mocked Ghosh's assertion and said this exposes the frustration in the BJP, which is desperate to establish its political foothold in the entire nation. "Ram Chandra is our God and Bharat Mata is the mother of India. The party couldn't not come into power (in West Bengal) for a long time and, therefore, I think they have this thing on their mind that they will dominate India, but I understand our nation is not like that," he added. Chattopadhyay further said the BJP is using religion to gain political mileage. "We all consider Bharat Mata as our mother land, but such comments are utter nonsense. We cannot use any God as a political weapon, that's a crime," he added. Echoing similar sentiments, Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill told ANI in New Delhi that Ghosh should keep one thing in mind that the BJP will be relegated to history if he keeps on using religion as a political tool at this pace and misusing the name of Lord Ram. Ghosh earlier stoked a controversy with his assertion that those opposing the chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and "Jai Sri Ram" in the country will become history. "A leader like Narendra Modi has the capacity to take such decisions in this platform. If anyone restricts he will be thrown out from here. From Gujarat to Guwahati and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari everyone has to utter Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shri Ram and the one who would oppose this has to be a part of history," Ghosh told a public meeting in North 24 Parganas district. "The BJP is present all over the nation. I request you not to compel us. The BJP is very good but if you compel then the party would be the worst of all," he added. The BJP later came out in defence of Ghosh with party national secretary Rahul Sinha stating that all Indians should praise the country they live in. (ANI)
He was booked on molestation complaint filed by a model last month.

A 20-year-old model has accused Samthaan of molestation and has registered a complaint at the Bangar Nagar Police Station.

An FIR was filed against the actor under section 354 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Earlier, Samthaan had accused former friend and TV producer Vikas Gupta of molestation. (ANI)
The Balasore police have unearthed an inter state racket involved in siphoning crude oil from the Paradip-Haldia pipeline and arrested two persons. The police seized an oil tanker fully loaded with oil and two sharp edged knives from their possession. The arrested persons have been identified as Raju Ali (34) of Panskura under Midnapore district and Md. Jabir Ansari (24) of Manikchak of Malda district of West Bengal. The accused were booked under various section of ,379,427,279,307,34 of IPC and 25,27 of arms act along with P&MP act /3PDPP act and later forwarded to the court.. Police said the accused duo, part of a crime syndicate were involved in stealing crude oil from the supply pipeline clandestinely from different points. In Balasore they had committed such offences, in two places under Basta police station, one each under Jaleswar and in Rupsa area, Balasore Superintendent of police Niti Sekhar said. He said, efforts are on to nab the other accused persons also involved in the racket. There has been repeated incidents of oil theft from the supply pipelines, the racket had posed a serious menace for the police as well as IOCL. On April 9, an oil tanker was found burning in a paddy field, about one km from NH-60 under Rupsa police station limits under mysterious circumstances. The SP said the accused had brought the tanker and tried to fill it by siphoning the crude oil from the Paradip-Haldia pipeline after making an aperture on it. Once they could not succeed to take the loaded tanker and so set it on fire before fleeing from the scene. The seized tanker, sources said, contained oil worth about Rs 10 lakh. The accused were trying to ferry the oil to West Bengal when the police intercepted the tanker near Rupsa. During interrogation, the police came to know that the accused used to sale the stolen oil to some industries. UNI XC-DP AKM 1737 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-865635.Xml
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today demanded that Odisha having a high percentage of population below poverty line, deserved the same sharing pattern at par with the North Eastern and Himalayan states. The demand, Mr Patnaik said should be in line with the Punchhi Commission recommendations for higher Central transfers to backward States for improving their physical and social infrastructure. Addressing the third governing council of NITI Aayog meeting at New Delhi, Mr Patnaik hoped that the NITI Aayog will address the concerns of the States in general and of Odisha in particular in the true spirit of co-operative federalism and treat all States as equal partners in the furtherance of National Development Agenda. He underlined that the decision of the GST Council to use the proceeds of Clean Environment Cess for GST Compensation Fund, meant for all States, is disadvantageous to coal bearing States like Odisha which have to bear the burden of environmental degradation and the cost of rehabilitation. The Chief Minister urged upon the Governing Council to earmark 60 per cent of the Cess for coal bearing States. He stated that the benefit of the effect of increased devolution of Central Taxes from 32 per cent to 42 per cent has been largely offset by several policy decisions of the Union Government. This included the delinking of eight Centrally Sponsored Schemes from Central support, discontinuance of Special Plan for KBK and Central Assistance for IAP districts and a steep increase in State's share of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes. Stating that Odisha faces natural disasters every alternate year causing huge damage to the State's resources, Mr Patnaik demanded Odisha should be considered in the process of allocation of resources to Odisha so that disaster mitigation is adequately addressed. Mr Patnaik urged upon the Governing Council to address the deficiencies of the state to realise the goal of Digital India. There is a need to set up a National Task Force to ensure mobile and broadband connectivity to deficit areas in Odisha. He said the State is committed to provide 'Power to All' by March, 2019 and urged upon the Governing Council to advise Ministry of Power to adopt SECC-2011 data as has been done for other Central schemes to enable the State to provide free electricity connection to eligible BPL households expeditiously. The Chief Minister urged the centre to consider and approve the increase in the minimum support price of paddy for farmers in the State. UNI DP AKM 2047 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-865961.Xml
Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president D D Lapang today lambasted Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's verbal attacks on Chief Minister Mukul Sangma. The BJP leader had rated the performance of the Mukul Sangma-led government at "Zero and blamed the incumbent chief minister for the under development in Meghalaya." " This empty rhetoric of Mr Sarma are emotional outbursts in the political wilderness, clamoring for attention and devoid of substance and meaning," Mr Lapang said while questioning Mr Sarma's "shallow, immature and provocative" statements. However, the former chief minister said the Congress party complemented with "pride" the state government under the dynamic leadership of chief minister Sangma, which has ushered in progress, peace and stability through the many innovative schemes and programmes and has raised all developmental indices to a national scale. "It is therefore but necessary to counter some of these remarks so that certain groups are reminded and enlightened upon," he said. Highlighting the Mukul Sangma-led government's achievement, Mr Lapang said the Integrated Basin Development Livelihood Project featured as a good practice in 2015 by the UNDP and also bagged the SKOCH Award and the SKOCH order of merit for qualifying as India's best in smart governance in 2015. He said Meghalaya was also awarded the most improved state in education and the best in environment from among the small States category in 2016. The Megha Health Insurance Scheme, funding from the Asian Development Bank for supporting human capital development in Meghalaya, the Social Assistance programme, the Aquaculture Mission, the Apiculture Mission, Mission Organic, Mission Green are some of the innovative programmes which have brought about revolutionary changes in the State. Congratulating Dr Sangma's farsightedness and vision, the former chief minister said, "An enabling environment for growth has therefore been strategically created through the years, so that the people of the State achieve their full potentials in their respective fields." Moreover, he said, the Party was not amused at the sudden interest in the affairs of Meghalaya by individuals and Parties who are clamoring so hard fora semblance of political and social relevance that their own local leaders have been pushed to the sidelines. " They should not worry about what we are doing, but rather worry about why they are so worried, about what we are doing. The people of Meghalaya are the best judge when it comes to making informed, rational and right choices in the elections," he said. Further, he said, the Congress is confident that the electorate, in the light of present circumstances and happenings in the country, will continue to extend their support, faith and confidence in the Congress Party. UNI RRK KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-866010.Xml
The local and international media were still waiting for the National Unity Government (NUG) and the Ministry of Defence to release details on the exact casualty toll of Friday afternoon's deadly attack on the Afghan National Army's 209 Shaheen Corps Headquarters in Balkh province even more than 24 hours after the incident. Leaked numbers indicated the toll was between 135 and 180, while some even said the number of soldiers killed could be in the hundreds, TOLO News reports. Shortly after the siege on the military base ended, government said eight soldiers were dead and then raised this figure to 11. On Saturday morning, the Ministry of Defence issued a statement that said at least 100 dead and wounded, without any specifics. The lack of real details caused a barrage of posts on social media, especially among the journalist community in Afghanistan, with many taking to Twitter and Facebook and slamming government for its silence. One Twitter user refused to mince his words and said: "CONFIRMED: Afghan Army lying about its losses in the latest Taliban attack. Real number of losses suffered by Afghan Army likely over 100." Another journalist called it a massacre and stated simply government "has refused to confirm the death toll." (ANI)
As officials fear that the death toll of Friday's Taliban attack at the Afghan security forces in Balkh Province may increase, Ibrahim Khairandish, a member of the provincial council of the province, describing the horror stated that there was even a "shortage of coffins". The militants were able to penetrate inside northern Afghanistan's largest military installation dressed like the Afghan Army soldiers returning from the front lines, carrying the bodies of wounded comrades. Dressed in military uniforms, a squad of 10 Taliban militants drove in two army Ford Ranger trucks past seven checkpoints and launched a coordinated attack as hundreds, perhaps thousands, of unarmed soldiers were emerging from Friday prayers and preparing for lunch, reports the New York Times. For the next five hours, the militants went on a rampage, killing at least 140 soldiers and officers in what is emerging as the single deadliest known attack on an Afghan military base in the country's 16-year war. Over the last two years, Taliban fighters have gained more territory in the countryside and now threaten several cities. Afghanistan's forces, suffering enormous casualties and grappling with a leadership marred by indecision and corruption, have struggled to put up a defense. More than 6,700 members of the Afghan security forces lost their lives in 2016, a record high. Especially remarkable about the Friday attack was its location. The assailants struck on the outskirts of Mazar-i-Sharif, one of the safer cities in Afghanistan. How such a small number of assailants could inflict such staggering carnage - and in such a highly secure area - only compounded the trauma and anxiety over what could come. (ANI)
Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) informed the security officials that thousands of migrants had identified themselves as former Taliban insurgents during the asylum application process, Der Spiegel magazine reported on Saturday.

It stated that at least 70 Afghan men were being investigated by Germany's over-stretched chief federal prosecutor, though it was not clear whether all of them were suspected of being active Taliban militants.

The German government has recently come under fire for allowing the migrant influx, especially after several militant attacks were linked to the migrants last year.

Germany has, however, been deporting groups of rejected Afghan asylum seekers in the recent months. (ANI)
GRAND FORKS  The Edgewood Management Group, based in Grand Forks, plans to build an assisted living and memory care facility on 11th Avenue South, west of Altru Hospital.

The 56,000-square-foot facility will include about 70 units, to be split roughly equally between assisted living and memory care, CEO Phil Gisi said.

Work on the facility could begin late this year, but more likely will begin in 2018, he said.

We still have planning to do to come up with the right mix of product, he said, referring to the number of beds for each type of care.

Architectural plans for the building are not yet completed, he said.

The Edgewood Management Group, which has about 2,600 employees, owns and operates 55 senior living facilities in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, the Dakotas, Wyoming and Nebraska, Gisi said.

More than 2,500 residents live in these facilities, according to the companys website.

The company usually acquires a couple of properties a year, but mostly we build facilities, Gisi said. Each year, we build about two facilities from the ground up.

The two most current, a 70-unit assisted living and memory care facility in Helena, Mont., and a 54-bed, assisted living facility in Mitchell, S.D., are set to open this fall, he said.

The company also will embark on a six-month project to remodel a 36-bed, assisted living facility it already owns in Mitchell and convert it to memory care.

A facility similar to Helenas will be started in Lincoln, Neb., next year, he said.

To help determine where and when to launch a building project, as well as what type of services are needed, the company analyzes demographic information.

We update feasibility studies in the communities (where we build facilities), said Gisi, who started the company in Minot in 1993.

The demographic study tells us the age groups in the community and what specific services are needed, he said. This helps us determine how many assisted living beds and memory care beds are needed.

Memory care is emerging as the more prevalent need in caring for the elderly, he said, and has prompted his company to design for flexibility for the future, for example, to expand memory care services.

At the facility we built in Brainerd (Minn.) in 04 or 05, weve expanded memory care twice, he said. Its kind of a dynamic industry.

Gisi sees an increasing need for the care and housing for people with dementia and Alzheimers disease.

Unfortunately, so many people have that trouble, especially in that 80- to 85-year age group, he said. The demand will continue to grow.

And, as more people want to reside longer in their own homes, Gisi also sees more opportunity for Edgewood to respond to the needs of the elderly beyond what is provided in residential facilities.

We recognize that we also can provide more services in the area of home health, he said.
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday met Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) Chairman K.P. Sharma Oli and discussed the issue of holding the local polls in two phases. The two leaders also discussed about revising the Constitution amendment proposal to address the demands of Madhesi parties. Earlier, the ruling alliance of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre) and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) agreed to go for the local polls in two phases and fast track passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill. The leaders during the meeting, which lasted for around six hours yesterday, decided to go for the polls if the government passes the Amendment Bill through fast track, thereby paving the way for the long time agitating parties to go for polls. "After they (ruling alliance) endorsed the Amendment Bill in the Parliament and completed the dialogue with the Election Commission, we will decide over it by calling the meeting along with the Federal Alliance," said UDMF member Rajendra Shrestha. It was agreed upon in yesterday's meeting that the issue of delineation would be solved through a Commission, which will submit a report highlighting ways to help solve the hustle. The two sides also agreed to accept the languages referred by the language commission to be used in the government offices. The meeting also decided to give absolute right to the Federal Parliament to report their objection and report regarding the issue of delineation within 30 days to the Center for solution. "Until and unless the election for Provincial Parliament isn't held the present constitutional assembly, we will see all the task of regarding delineation, language and other things as per the constitutional provision stated in article 296- A," Shrestha said. Meanwhile, the member party of alliance led by Upendra Yadav demanded for unilateral polls and rejected the proposal of holding the election in two phases. Later, they made an oral agreement to go for the polls in two phases but it is yet to be decided with consultations with the Federal Alliance. Though the meeting decided to go for multi lateral polls, they are awaiting the decision from the Election Commission of Nepal. The government has proposed to hold the elections in Province number 3, 4 and 6 on May 14 and in 1, 2, 5 and 7 a month after. (ANI)
"Prince Abdullah bin Faysal bin Turki removed as ambassador to the US. Prince Khaled bin Salman bin Abdulaziz appointed ambassador", the official Saudi Press Agency reported, citing a royal order.

Prince Salman replaces Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki, who served in the post for just over a year.

He is former F-15 pilot who graduated from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi.

Prince Salman had earlier in 2014, participated as an air force pilot in Saudi Arabia's contribution to the anti-Daesh coalition to combat ISIS.

Among the other major decisions announced through a series of royal decrees on state television was the removal of Information and Cultural Minister Adel Al-Toraifi, local media reports said.

In an interesting development, all regional governors will have deputies. A number of new deputies were announced.

"The royal order returns all allowances, financial benefits, and bonuses to civil servants and military staff," said the decree.

Saudi Arabia is looking forward to have a strong and friendly relations with the U.S. following the recent visit of Saudi Deputy Crown Prince bin Salman with President Trump at the White House. (ANI)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-22 00:23:05|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Egypt strongly condemned Paris' Champs Elysees attack that took place on Thursday leaving a policeman dead, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The statement stressed Egypt's stance to combat terrorist organizations firmly, and to put an end to the heinous operations that terrorize civilians, spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid said.

Claimed by IS, the attack came three days before the first round of France's presidential election on Sunday.

A suspect has turned himself in to Belgian police, France's interior ministry said Friday.

Meanwhile, the most prestigious Sunni institution Al-Azhar condemned the attack on Friday, describing it as "sinful" and "un-Islamic."

"Al-Azhar affirms its categorical rejection of such terrorist acts that contradict Islamic teachings," it added in a statement. Enditem
DAR ES SALAAM, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-eight Tanzanians working as employees or interns at Chinese companies on Saturday praised the firms for helping them acquire more knowledge and skills.

Speaking at a Labor Skill Contest for local staff working with Chinese companies and award ceremony for college internship programs at the University of Dar es Salaam, the 18 workers and 10 interns said working with the Chinese firms has tremendously improved their work efficiency.

During the contest, 36 workers from Chinese companies in Tanzania competed in six different professions, and 18 of them won awards.

Malegesi Anthony Deogratias, a civil engineering major at the University of Dar es Salaam, had a one-month internship with Jiangsu Jiangdu Construction Group, which is constructing a library at his university.

"I have gained both technological and social knowledge," the second-year student said, adding that he has also been exposed to Chinese hard-working culture.

"The Chinese people work very hard and collaborate with each other," said Deogratias.

Victor Clemence Mushi, said he gained new knowledge and experience during his seven-month internship at Huawei Technologies Tanzania as an IP network engineer.

"Working at Huawei has been interesting, fun, surprising, insightful, inspiring and impactful," said Mushi, a computer science major at the University of Dar es Salaam.

Lu Youqing, China's ambassador to Tanzania, said China will build a center for vocational training in Tanzania, the second largest economy in the region.

"The center will be tailored to provide more skills for the locals that will enable them to improve efficiency at work," Lu said.

"China as a developing country understands the desire for Tanzania, our friends, to reduce poverty," he said. "We want to help the country with our whole heart to improve your ability to develop independently."
A girl waves a flag during a campaign rally of presidential candidate Francois Fillon at the Trocadero square in Paris, France, on March 5, 2017. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

PARIS, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Eleven contenders are vying for the Elysee Palace this year. They will run in the election's first round on Sunday. The two candidates who collect the most votes will qualify for the run-off scheduled for May 7.

The following is a list of the main four contenders:

-- Emmanuel Macon, 39, On the Move (En Marche)

Macron was an advisor to current President Francois Hollande during his election campaign and later became his economy minister in 2014 to replace ousted economy minister Arnaud Montebourg.

He was one of main figures that forged the law on growth and activity and responsibility pact, flagship pieces of the Socialist government's roadmap to revive sluggish growth and lower unemployment in France.

Two years later, he quit his post to focus on his political career after creating his own political movement "En Marche" (On the Move), a movement he described "neither in the left nor in the right."

Launching his own bid, Macron, a former investment banker, has been portraying himself as a "candidate for jobs," and proposing "progressive" measures to "pull France into the 21st century."

He pledged to further reduce French high employment charges and increase workers' minimum wages by 500 euros (535.9 U.S. dollars) per year by cutting taxes on wages. He also wants to raise taxes on consumption and wealthy pensioners.

Furthermore, he promised to cut public expenditure by 60 billion euros in order to stick to France's commitments to bring down budget deficit to the eurozone threshold of 3 percent.

He would also reduce corporate tax to 25 percent from the current 33.3 percent and to slash public sector headcount by 120,000 over the next term.

In addition, he proposed a public investment scheme worth 50 billion euros aimed to improve training, financing energy transition and modernizing the country's administrative services.

Macron promised to boost the defense budget, hire 10,000 police officers and raise funding for schools.

For months, opinion pollsters showed Macon maintaining the lead in first round' voting and to beat Marine Le Pen, leader of far-right National Front party in May run-off.

-- Marine Le Pen, 48, National Front (Front National)

Heading the National Front party, the 48-year-old lawyer portrayed herself as "the candidate of people" and a credible voice to secure secularism and French identity by toughening citizenship requirements, shutting borders and forbidding foreigners from access to any social aid.

She said to put to voters via a referendum a proposal to reserve certain rights, including free education, now available to all residents, to French citizens only.

If elected, Le Pen pledged to impose an extra tax on companies who hire foreigners and make harder for illegal migrants to legalize their situation.

Le Pen targets a GDP growth at 2.5 percent per year by the end of 2022 and a budget deficit at 1.3 percent, down from an expected rate of 4.5 percent in 2018.

She promised to cut charges on small enterprises and on households, in addition to lower retirement age to 60 from 62.

The French lawyer was the youngest daughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the National Front (FN).

Marine Le Pen joined the National Front in 1986 at the age of 18. She joined its Political Bureau in 2000 and became the party's vice president in 2003.

In 2011, she succeeded his father to head the National Front party created in 1972.

Le Pen was the only FN candidate to pass the first round of 2007 legislative elections and garnered 42 percent of votes in the second round.

In 2012, Le Pen came third in presidency election first round with an unexpected high vote of 17.9 percent.

In 2014, the party reported big gains in the EU ballots after collecting 24.85 percent of the vote and snatched 24 seats in the European Parliament.

-- Francois Fillon, 63, The Republicans (Les Republicans)

Fillon, won the conservative primary runoff after beating former foreign minister Alain Juppe in November 2016 to represent the biggest opposition party in the 2017 French presidential race.

He had been the polls' favorite until a fraud affair emerged on January 25.

Fillon had been put under formal investigation on allegations he paid hefty salaries for his wife for job she may not did it. Despite the affair which had rocked his presidential bid, he clung on.

Advocating for pro-market reforms, Fillon presented "more radical project," based on a slash of 500,000 public sector jobs, lower corporate taxes.

He also wanted people to work more by increasing the working week to 39 hours from 35 currently to clinch public spending by 100 billion euros over five years.

Fillon wants to increase retirement age to 65 from 62 now and eyed a zero deficit by 2022.

As to security, he proposed to hire additional 10,000 police and gendarmes. He would also strip all French people who fight abroad for extremist groups of their French citizenship and ban them from returning to France.

He pledged to impose migration quotas to counter rampant migrant flows which may pose risk to domestic security and heavyweight economic burdens.

Studying law at university, he served as prime minister from 2007-2012, under the leadership of Nicolas Sarkozy. He also also managed several portfolios, including higher education, telecommunication, social affairs and ecology for the 1993-2005 period.

-- Jean-Luc Melenchon, 65, Left Party (Parti de Gauche)

The veteran contender was an outsider on a hard-left platform "Unbowed France" before an appearance on two televised debates that helped him to surge in polls and narrow gap with other candidates.

Melenchon pledged a 100 billion-euro-investment plan to stimulate the French economy and to be partly financed by government borrowing,

He also said to raise public spending and for 2017-2022 period, 173 billion will be devoted to wage rises and job creation in a bid to slash unemployment rate to 6 percent.

In addition, he wants to increase minimum wage, reduce working week to 32 hours.

Melenchon said, if elected, he will work to withdraw France from NATO and to renegotiate European treaties to push through pro-growth policies. If talks would fail, he would put France's exit from the European Union to a referendum vote.

Born in 1951, Melenchon has a degree in philosophy and was a teacher. He joined the Socialist Party in 1976.

From 2000 to 2002, he was education minister under the Socialist government of Lionel Jospin.

In 2008, he quit the Socialists and found his Party of the Left.

In 2012 presidential election, he ranked fourth with 11.1 percent of the vote.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 06:57:08|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

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by Huang Heng

LOS ANGELES, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Southern California-based social media company Snap Inc., which highly publicized IPO in March with value at 24 billion U.S. dollars, faced backfire from global social media users as CEO Evan Spiegel was accused of claiming that its product, Snapchat, was an app "only for rich people."

Snapchat, which was labeled by business analysts as the strongest rival to Facebook, had to start damage control urgently, saying Spiegel never made such remarks and "these words were written by a disgruntled former employee," Inc.com reported Saturday.

The quote, which Snap called "ridiculous," came from a recently unredacted court complaint by Anthony Pompliano, who was hired away by Snap from Facebook then served as the company's growth lead for a few weeks in 2015.

Pompliano's lawsuit, filed in redacted form in Los Angeles Superior Court in January. Snap Inc. dropped its efforts to keep the unredacted complaint under seal and released it in a public filing last week.

In the complaint, Pompliano recounted an exchange he said he had with Spiegel in a September 2015 meeting about the app's international growth plans. He said he presented methods to address the issue, but Spiegel abruptly cut him off.

"This app is only for rich people," Spiegel said, according to Pompliano. "I don't want to expand into poor countries like India and Spain."

These words sparked outrages from all around world, especially in India. Hundreds of thousands users voiced their disapproval via social-media posts and one-star reviews in Google and Apple's app stores.

"Mr. CEO of Snapchat, we may be poor but we have bigger hearts than you, "a user named Kp nalk said in a recent one-star review in Google Play store.

Another tweet posted by Shreyas Singh on April 15 said: "I am very poor so uninstalled #snapchat but thanks for entertaining for this many days. @evanspiegel @Snapchat don't mess with India."

"This is ridiculous," as statement released by Snap argued, saying that those words were written by "a disgruntled former employee."

"We are grateful for our Snapchat community in India and around the world," the statement said.

However, Snap would face huge challenge in this lawsuit more than PR works as Pompliano also claimed that he learned that the company had exaggerated its user data and that top executives were "completely misinformed" about key metrics.

According to report of Variety, in the lawsuit, Pompliano said that on his second day on the job he met with two data analysts, who confided to him that Snapchat had "an institutional aversion to looking at user data," and its efforts in that area were marked by "utter incompetence."

Pompliano said he found Snapchat's daily active users (DAUs) was much less than the company's boasted number, 100 million DAUs at the time, moreover, the user base increased only 1 to 4 percent per quarter, far less than the double-digit month-over-month growth that the company was claiming.

Pompliano also claimed that he was fired because Spiegel determined that he "presented a risk to Snapchat's IPO."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 08:57:28|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

People attend the March for Science in Manhattan of New York City, theUnited States, on April 22, 2017. Tens of thousands of people, mostly scientists, students and research advocates, took to the streets in New York and Chicago, Saturday to promote the understanding of science and defend it from being compromised by proposed federal budget cuts. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of scientists and their supporters took to the streets in Washington, D.C. and around the world on Saturday to protest against what organizers described as an "alarming" anti-science trend.

The main March for Science event was held in Washington, D.C., where thousands, mainly scientists, engineers, teachers, students, parents and children, defied pouring rain to gather at the National Mall to hear high-profile speakers who declared science under attack and asked politicians to respect facts.

"We are marching today to remind people everywhere our lawmakers especially of the significance of science for our health and prosperity," Bill Nye, a popular U.S. science educator and CEO of the Planetary Society who served as honorary co-chair of the event, told the crowd at the rally that lasted about four hours followed by a march to the U.S. Capitol.

"Today, we have a great many lawmakers, not just here but around the world, deliberately ignoring and actively suppressing science," Nye asserted. "Their inclination is misguided and in no one's best interest."

Out in the crowd, worries were expressed straightforwardly in the signs and banners held by the participants that read: "Science, not silence," "Oceans are rising, and so are we," "Fund Science = Fun Future," "Policy without science is a Biohazard," "Science is not a partisan issue, it is the foundation of our society," "Science is NOT an opinion."

"I'm here because I want to make sure climate change is a major focus of policy in the near history of our government," Emily Wiggans, a middle-aged woman who came with her family, told Xinhua. "I think we really need to focus on a present danger as a national security threat and do more with climate scientists and put more funding into climate scientists and science."

Another woman, Ray Whittle, was outraged about President Donald Trump's proposed budget, which would slash funding for the U.S. medical research funder, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a federal agency her son was working for.

"His budget is a disaster. I'm terrified he is going to cut NIH funding. There is lots of scientific work being done out there right now. I think that we have to put our money where our people are lost," Whittle told Xinhua.

Besides the Washington march, organizers said there are 609 "satellite" marches across the United States and across the world in a protest timed to coincide with Earth Day.

An estimated number of more than 30,000 people, mostly scientists, students and research advocates, filled up at least a dozen blocks north of the Trump International Hotel in Manhattan, New York, on Saturday to march for science.

Marchers held signs with slogans such as, "Science should be shared not censored," "Rise up before the waters do," "Dinosaurs didn't believe in climate change either" "stop the war on facts," "Denial is not a policy," and "we're not just resistors, we are transformers."

Organizers portrayed the march as political but not partisan, promoting the understanding of science as well as defending it from various attacks. They cited President Donald Trump administration' proposed 5.8 billion U.S. dollars cut to the National Institutes of Health, and also its proposed 2.6 billion dollars cut to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Scientists involved in the march also said they were anxious about political and public rejection of established science such as climate change and the safety of vaccine immunizations.

Jill Dvornik, a senior stem cell researcher at Mount Sinai Hospital and march co-organizer, said important initiatives are being threatened by federal budget cuts. Advances in everything from biomedical studies to technological devices could be affected.

Peter Haugen, a psychologist from New Jersey, said the proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health would imperil health and the fight against diseases and chronic illnesses.

There were quite a few Trump supporters in the crowd though. "I am a Trump voter. Ask me anything," reads a sign held by a grinning young man.

Jim MacDonald, 67, from Flushing, Queens, stood near the protestors, holding a "THANK GOD FOR TRUMP" sign above his head.

Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement honoring Earth Day, and noting the challenges facing the environment.

"From combating climate change and reducing carbon emissions to safeguarding our coastal communities and strengthening resiliency in the face of extreme weather - New York must continue to lead the way forward," Cuomo said.

In an earlier statement, Trump insisted that his administration is committed to protecting the environment "without harming America's working families."

"That is why my Administration is reducing unnecessary burdens on American workers and American companies," he said. "Rigorous science is critical to my Administration's efforts to achieve the twin goals of economic growth and environmental protection...(but) we should remember that rigorous science depends not on ideology, but on a spirit of honest inquiry and robust debate."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 09:22:31|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

People attend the March for Science in Manhattan of New York City, theUnited States, on April 22, 2017. Tens of thousands of people, mostly scientists, students and research advocates, took to the streets in New York and Chicago, Saturday to promote the understanding of science and defend it from being compromised by proposed federal budget cuts. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of scientists and their supporters took to the streets in Washington, D.C. and around the world on Saturday to protest against what organizers described as an "alarming" anti-science trend.

The main March for Science event was held in Washington, D.C., where thousands, mainly scientists, engineers, teachers, students, parents and children, defied pouring rain to gather at the National Mall to hear high-profile speakers who declared science under attack and asked politicians to respect facts.

"We are marching today to remind people everywhere our lawmakers especially of the significance of science for our health and prosperity," Bill Nye, a popular U.S. science educator and CEO of the Planetary Society who served as honorary co-chair of the event, told the crowd at the rally that lasted about four hours followed by a march to the U.S. Capitol.

"Today, we have a great many lawmakers, not just here but around the world, deliberately ignoring and actively suppressing science," Nye asserted. "Their inclination is misguided and in no one's best interest."

Out in the crowd, worries were expressed in the signs and banners held by the participants that read: "Science, not silence," "Oceans are rising, and so are we," "Fund Science = Fun Future," "Policy without science is a Biohazard," "Science is not a partisan issue, it is the foundation of our society," "Science is NOT an opinion."

"I'm here because I want to make sure climate change is a major focus of policy in the near history of our government," Emily Wiggans, a middle-aged woman who came with her family, told Xinhua. "I think we really need to focus on a present danger as a national security threat and do more with climate scientists and put more funding into climate scientists and science."

Another woman, Ray Whittle, was outraged about President Donald Trump's proposed budget, which would slash funding for the U.S. medical research funder, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a federal agency her son was working for.

"His budget is a disaster. I'm terrified he is going to cut NIH funding. There is lots of scientific work being done out there right now," Whittle told Xinhua.

In an earlier statement, Trump insisted that his administration is committed to protecting the environment "without harming America's working families."

"That is why my Administration is reducing unnecessary burdens on American workers and American companies," he said. "Rigorous science is critical to my administration's efforts to achieve the twin goals of economic growth and environmental protection...(but) we should remember that rigorous science depends not on ideology, but on a spirit of honest inquiry and robust debate."

Besides the Washington march, organizers said there are 609 "satellite" marches across the United States and across the world in a protest timed to coincide with Earth Day.

An estimated number of more than 30,000 people, mostly scientists, students and research advocates, filled up at least a dozen blocks north of the Trump International Hotel in Manhattan, New York, on Saturday to march for science.

Marchers held signs with slogans: "Science should be shared not censored," "Rise up before the waters do," "Dinosaurs didn't believe in climate change either" "stop the war on facts," "Denial is not a policy," and "we're not just resistors, we are transformers."

Organizers portrayed the march as political but not partisan, promoting the understanding of science as well as defending it from various attacks. They cited President Trump administration' proposed 5.8 billion U.S. dollars cut to the National Institutes of Health, and also its proposed 2.6 billion dollars cut to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Scientists involved in the march also said they were anxious about political and public rejection of established science such as climate change and the safety of vaccine immunizations.

Jill Dvornik, a senior stem cell researcher at Mount Sinai Hospital and march co-organizer, said important initiatives are being threatened by federal budget cuts. Advances in everything from biomedical studies to technological devices could be affected.

Peter Haugen, a psychologist from New Jersey, said the proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health would imperil health and the fight against diseases and chronic illnesses.

There were quite a few Trump supporters in the crowd though. "I am a Trump voter. Ask me anything," reads a sign held by a grinning young man.

Jim MacDonald, 67, from Flushing, Queens, stood near the protestors, holding a "THANK GOD FOR TRUMP" sign above his head.

Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement honoring Earth Day, and noting the challenges facing the environment.

"From combating climate change and reducing carbon emissions to safeguarding our coastal communities and strengthening resiliency in the face of extreme weather - New York must continue to lead the way forward," Cuomo said.

In California, marches occur in more than 40 places. Thousands of people rallied, marched and celebrated Saturday in downtown San Francisco to mark the Earth Day.

While Earth Day, which falls on April 22, is an annual event, this year's new theme, March for Science, mobilized arguably the biggest crowd for at least a decade in the Northern California city on the U.S. West Coast.

A retired office worker, who preferred not to be named, was with her daughter at Civic Center Plaza, in front of the historic City Hall, and admitted it was her first time to be an Earth Day event. actually any event of the kind, especially with a tone against the current U.S. administration's environmental and science policies.

Her daughter, who also preferred to be anonymous, said she was at the Women's March in January 21 this year.

It was a different crowd, with some members wearing lab coats or T-shirts identifiable with their institutional affiliations, such as universities in the San Francisco Bay Area. They did not chant a lot, and sing a lot, but they had a lot home-made posters such as "There is No Planet B," meaning there is no option other than keeping planet Earth clean, sound and safe.

They started with a rally at Justin Herman Plaza near the San Francisco's historic waterfront, continued with a march along the city major thoroughfare Market Street, and ended with more traditional Earth Day celebration at Civic Center Plaza.

In the Los Angeles area, a variety of speeches, community education events and musical performances are planned. More than 10,000 of scientists and science lovers took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles for the March for Science.

The crowds holding signs including "SCIENCE NOT ALTERNATIVE FACTS," "CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL" and "FUND SCIENCE DEFUND MAR-A-LAGO," chanted "science is not silent."

Many prominent science groups have endorsed the march, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Chemical Society and the American Geophysical Union. The leading scientific journal Nature also recently published a supportive editorial.

"The March for Science is a unique opportunity to communicate the importance, value, and beauty of science, showcasing efforts to increase public support for science and highlighting the conditions necessary for science to thrive," Rush Holt, AAAS chief executive officer, said in a statement. "We encourage AAAS members and affiliated organizations to 'be a force for science' by participating in the March for Science and making it positive, non-partisan, inclusive, and diverse."

"We have a few goals, but one of the most important thing is to stand up for evidence-based policy," Alexander Odysseus Bradley, one of the organizers of Saturday's event, told Xinhua. "Science is not opinion," he said.

More than ten thousand people took to streets in Chicago on Saturday to join the worldwide event of "March for Science."

People held placards and banners reading "Don't have a planet B," "Climate change is real," "Science, not silence," "We love science," "Science, our future," "Fund research," "Planet Earth is all we have, save it," "Without science, it's just fiction," "Evidence over ignorance.

A lot of people joining the march are university students and teachers, or work at research institutions, some of them are even in their lab robes, or wear a shirt with arithmetic formula.

A five-year-old boy won praise for the placard he held, which read "Fund science, fund my future." Enditem

(Reporting by Lin Xiaochun, Yang Shilong, Xu Yong, Xu Jing and Guo Shuang)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 09:32:31|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 22 (Xinhua) -- American Airlines, Inc. has suspended an employee caught on a video clip in a confrontation with a passenger due to what happened to a woman and her kid.

The airline said in a statement it was investigating the confrontation that began shortly after noon on Friday when the woman's baby stroller was removed from a jetliner during boarding at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Posted same day on Facebook social media network by passenger Surain Adyanthaya, the video shows a female passenger crying at the front of the plane as she holds her baby. Adyanthaya said in the caption that a flight attendant "violently took a stroller from a lady with her baby ... hitting her and just missing the baby."

A male passenger is seen in the clip getting up and demanding the name of the flight attendant who removed the stroller.

"You stay out of this!" the attendant appears and responds, pointing at the male passenger just before the two men confront each other in the aisle.

By Friday night, the airline said "we are deeply sorry for the pain we have caused this passenger and her family and to any other customers affected by the incident" and it was investigating the matter,

The plane was scheduled to fly from SFO to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas at 1 p.m. local time.
TOKYO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyers are to begin a joint drill with the U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson Strike Group in the western Pacific Ocean from Sunday, Japan's defense ministry said.

The two Japanese destroyers, "Samidare" and "Ashigara," which departed from Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture on Friday, will join the U.S. carrier strike group for trainings on tactics and communications, according to the defense ministry.

The Carl Vinson Strike Group, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, will head to waters off the Korean Peninsula after the joint drill which is to last for several days, according to local reports.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said in Australia on Saturday that the strike group will arrive in the Sea of Japan by the end of this month.
GRAND FORKS  I truly believed I had moved on from the flood and fire of 1997. But at my desk recently, as I reflected on the date, I realized there are things I must say, people and organizations I must thank, and a pride in my community that I need to acknowledge for personal closure.

In 1997, I had the pleasure of working closely with Fire Chief Richard Aulich as his deputy chief during those trying times, including the flood fight and fire downtown. There are just too many people who deserve recognition for me to list them all, so I will refrain from mentioning other names in this column.

But I do want to thank the many men and women who worked tirelessly to protect our beloved city.

For historys sake, let me share my experience. On April 19, 1997, at about 4:15 p.m., a firefighter who was in a boat and patrolling downtown was the first to notice the smoke from the now-famous Security Building. That firefighter called the fire into Central Dispatch.

At first, those of us at the fire station thought the fire was located across the river, and we sympathized with our East Grand Forks compatriots plight. But we very quickly found out we were wrong and were dispatched to fight the fire of our careers.

As our engines responded, they encountered deep waters, and their low air-intakes rendered them useless and forced the vehicles to retreat. For the next few hours, firefighters -- along with support from the National Guard, Xcel Energy and others -- fought the fire using whatever extinguishing means were available, as the pressure within the city water system had failed.

Countless roof fires across the downtown were extinguished by firefighters, while fire brands the size of dinner plates hailed down. Many people were evacuated by those same responders from the buildings that soon would be turned to rubble.

Using the contacts of a fire battalion chief, a chemical retardant drop from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources was ordered; and for the first time in U.S. history, an airplane dropped retardant on a city block. It only added to the surreal feeling as I watched the drop unfold before my eyes.

Other drops were planned but canceled, due to media helicopters in the airspace and the risk of a mid-air collision.

With no way to effectively fight the fire, the Fire Department retreated and regrouped to plan new strategies. Luckily, near dark, the Grand Forks Airport Fire Department sent a crash truck that was able to traverse the waters and put the first significant water on the uncontrolled inferno that was destroying our city.

And thankfully, a fire mechanic from Fargo called with the ingenious idea of placing our fire trucks on flatbeds. The National Guard was able to supply lowboys, along with the trucks that could pull them into the deep water.

By nightfall, firefighters had put two city fire engines on those lowboys and started to fight the fire in earnest, drafting water from the swollen Red River and directing it with water cannons. In addition, the Air Force Base and the Grand Forks airport sent in large crash trucks capable of drafting water.

With those resources, a full frontal attack was launched in the middle of the night to control the fire that no one ever imagined would accompany a 500-year flood.

There is no way I can express the pride I felt in the many firefighters, Guard personnel, police officers and others for their heroic work that night to control what many believed to be uncontrollable.

By sunup on April 20, the fire was under control, and the Sky Crane from Bismarck and forestry helicopters were using infrared cameras to identify hotspots and hidden fires.

Many days passed before the smoke dissipated from the downtown. The fire, which could have been so much worse, was over.

What many people do not know is that soon after the downtown blaze, several house fires occurred in neighborhoods across the city. Those, too, were extinguished by overworked firefighters and other response personnel.

Working that flood event -- side by side with men and women who showed no quit, and under the excellent leadership of Chief Aulich -- will forever be engrained in my memory.

Thank you, Grand Forks, for coming back so strong. Now, 20 years later, I have my closure.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 10:27:44|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (R) and Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), attend a conversation on the U.S. economy, in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, April 22, 2017. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reiterated on Saturday that the Trump administration is pursuing over 3percent economic growth with the support of tax reforms and regulatory relief. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan)

WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reiterated on Saturday that the Trump administration is pursuing over 3percent economic growth with the support of tax reforms and regulatory relief.

"The U.S. economy is well positioned," Mnuchin said during a conversation with Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He called the IMF's forecast for U.S. growth "a little conservative," saying that the U.S. economy could grow by 3 percent or higher with the support of tax reforms and regulatory relief.

The IMF forecast the U.S. economy to grow by 2.3 percent this year and 2.5 percent next year.

Mnuchin reiterated that the Trump administration is planning to bring the high corporate tax rates down and simplify tax codes for individuals.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the administration is going to release its tax plan next week.

Mnuchin suggested that the tax plan would not be revenue-neutral. "We' re looking for reforms that will pay for themselves with growth," Mnuchin said.

He skipped questions about whether regulatory relief could affect financial stability, saying that the administration is trying to reduce conflicting regulations that hurt economic growth.
YANGON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar government is planning to relax restrictions and rules to create opportunities for providing loan for private sector development, an official report said Sunday.

Citing the fishery industry, Vice President U Myint Swe, who is chairman of the Private Sector Development Committee, said the sector stands one of the businesses which requires loan to turn to a modern farming method from the traditional one.

As part of efforts for providing favorable investment environment to local and foreign investment, the government has enacted laws and issued necessary rules and notifications, forming institutions to carry out the tasks, he told a coordination meeting of the committee in Nay Pyi Taw.

In wake of erratic weather which adversely affects fishery production and fish resources, he stressed the priorities and concerted efforts by all stakeholders in the farming sector to boost the export.

EI Nino hit the country in summer in 2016, causing drop of fishery exports in the year and missing the government's annual targets for export earnings.

According to statistics, foreign direct investment in the country's livestock and fisheries sector amounted to 557.763 million U.S. dollars as of March this year since late 1988.
by Alessandra Cardone

ROME, April 22 (Xinhua) -- France's upcoming presidential election will be a key test for anti-European sentiments and may affect the political equilibrium within the European Union (EU), Italian analysts said.

Italian media have closely analyzed the major candidates and their respective programs over the past weeks, highlighting their crucial strong points and potential weaknesses.

They also analyzed -- as did many other media outlets in Europe -- the reason for the emergence of the top four contenders -- two Euro-skeptics and two who are committed to European integration.

The latest poll shows that centrist Emmanuel Macron, far-right Marine Le Pen, conservative Francois Fillon and far-left Jean-Luc Melenchon are the four frontrunners.

EU-RELATED ISSUE DECISIVE

Besides the terror threat, which was heightened after an attack on police on central Paris' Champs-Elysee Avenue some 60 hours before the voting, the dividing attitude toward EU-related issues was seen as a decisive factor that could determine the final outcome.

"French (people) have to be convinced (by) immigration and Europe," Roberto D' Alimonte, political analyst with Italy's leading business daily Il Sole 24 Ore, wrote on Friday.

Once, it was the left-right dimension that governs the French citizens' attitude towards political parties and their vote, he said.

"Now it is different: immigration on the one hand, and Europe on the other hand, are the two issues that have changed the political space in France, and not only there," the expert said.

A total of 11 candidates will compete for the presidency in a first round of voting on Sunday. In case no candidate passes the 50 percent threshold, the top two will face each other in a run-off slated for May 7.

The top four candidates are all separated by just a handful of percentage points from each other, which means all of them would have a chance of reaching the run-off.

IMPACT BEYOND FRANCE

Yet, the French presidency is not the only thing at stake in the race, since the impact of its outcome is likely to reach beyond French borders, said Edoardo Novelli, sociologist and professor of political communication at University of Rome III.

"Two key aspects have marked this French campaign," he told Xinhua. "Firstly, it is being watched in Italy and elsewhere as a sort of a key test for the recent wave of anti-European sentiments, and for the rise of far-right movements in Europe."

"Secondly, the French vote comes within a long row of elections (worldwide), many of which had surprising results, beginning with the British referendum to leave the EU, followed by the election of U.S. President Donald Trump," Novelli said.

Austria and the Netherlands also finished their government reshuffles in December 2016 and March 2017, respectively. And the French election will be followed by Britain's snap election in June, German federal election in September and Italian general election in the spring of 2018.

"The French vote is very likely to impact directly the political mood in other EU countries, Italy included ... We have seen it happen already," Novelli said.

"For example, if Brexit had not prevailed in Britain, and Hillary Clinton had become the U.S. president, European right-wing populist parties would have seen their political project diluted," the scholar explained

"On the contrary, they now enjoy a favorable wind," he added.

Furthermore, predominant issues in the French presidential campaign are all "supranational": economy and employment, security, immigration, and the euro, among others, Novelli pointed out.

"These are not specifically domestic issues anymore, and I expect they would dominate the next Italian electoral campaign as well," he said.
Photo taken on Oct. 28, 2012 shows the character in the movie of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" at the Wellington International Airport in Wellington, capital of New Zealand. (Xinhua file/Huang Xingwei)

CANBERRA, April 21 (Xinhua) -- An archaeological study led by an Australian National University (ANU) researcher shows that Homo floresiensis, a species of tiny human discovered in Indonesia in 2003, most likely evolved from an ancestor in Africa, the ANU reported on Friday.

Homo floresiensis, dubbed the "hobbits" due to their small stature, were discovered on the Indonesian island of Flores in 2003.

The study lead by Dr. Debbie Argue from the ANU School of Archaeology & Anthropology found that Homo floresiensis were most likely a sister species of Homo habilis, one of the earliest known species of human found in Africa 1.75 million years ago.

Previously, a popular theory argues that Homo floresiensis evolved from the much larger Homo erectus, the only other early hominid known to have lived in the region with fossils discovered on the Indonesian mainland of Java.

Data from the study concluded there was no evidence for that theory despite its popularity.

Argue said none of the data supported the theory that Homo floresiensis evolved from Homo erectus. Rather, the analyses show that on the family tree, Homo floresiensis was likely a sister species of Homo habilis.

"It means these two shared a common ancestor," Argue said.

"It's possible that Homo floresiensis evolved in Africa and migrated, or the common ancestor moved from Africa then evolved into Homo floresiensis somewhere."

Homo floresiensis is known to have lived on Flores island until as recently as 54,000 years ago.

Where previous research had focused mostly on the skull and lower jaw, this study used 133 data points ranging across the skull, jaws, teeth, arms, legs and shoulders.

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2012 shows the Hobbit movie's filming location at Hobbiton on the Alexander family farm near New Zealand's north island town of Matamata. (Xinhua file/Liu Jieqiu)

Argue said the research team looked at whether Homo floresiensis could be descended from Homo erectus and found that "if you try and link them on the family tree, you get a very unsupported result."

"All the tests say it doesn't fit - it's just not a viable theory."

Argue said this was supported by the fact that in many features, such as the structure of the jaw, Homo floresiensis was more primitive than Homo erectus.

"Logically, it would be hard to understand how you could have that regression - why would the jaw of Homo erectus evolve back to the primitive condition we see in Homo floresiensis?"

Argue said the analyses could also support the theory that Homo floresiensis could have branched off earlier in the timeline, more than 1.75 million years ago.

"If this was the case Homo floresiensis would have evolved before the earliest Homo habilis, which would make it very archaic indeed," she said.

Prof. Mike Lee of Flinders University and the South Australian Museum, used statistical modeling to analyze the data.

"When we did the analysis there was really clear support for the relationship with Homo habilis. Homo floresiensis occupied a very primitive position on the human evolutionary tree," Prof. Lee said.

"We can be 99 percent sure it's not related to Homo erectus and (there is a) nearly 100 percent chance it isn't a malformed Homo sapiens," Lee said.

Dr. Argue undertook the study along with ANU Professor Colin Groves, and Professor William Jungers from Stony Brook University, USA. The findings have been released in the Journal of Human Evolution.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 11:42:56|Editor: xuxin

Image taken on March 2, 2017 shows a doctor applying a natural and traditional Chinese medicine treatment on a patient at the Gastroenterology Institute in Havana, Cuba. Over the last 20 years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been gaining ground in Cuba as a new way of easing ailments and treating chronic pains and diseases. Cubans have since the 1990s benefited from TCM, whose ancient roots have deepened in the island's awareness without the need to conduct publicity campaigns. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez)

HAVANA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Over the last 20 years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been gaining ground in Cuba as a new way of easing ailments and treating chronic pains and diseases.

Cubans have since the 1990s benefited from TCM, whose ancient roots have deepened in the island's awareness without the need to conduct publicity campaigns.

GOOD TREATMENT EFFECTS ARE WALKING ADVERTISEMENTS

"I saw the effects in other patients. Therefore I went to a local clinic for treatment and the results have been very favorable," Marta Gonzalez told Xinhua.

At 77 years of age and diagnosed with osteoarthritis, Marta said that after a few courses of treatment using suction cups and moxibustion -- a therapy which involves burning dried mugwort on the body's particular points, her pains almost disappeared.

Just like her, Rigoberto Villalza came to Havana's Camilo Cienfuegos primary care center in search of a better quality of life free from years of sufferings from two herniated discs in his spinal cord.

"They treated me with ozone and acupuncture and I've noticed considerable relief. Also with these treatments, I am avoiding surgery, which is very traumatic," he noted.

In addition to targeting ailments associated with joint pains, Cuba applies traditional and natural medicine to other health conditions.

Diana Guillen has treated thousands of patients over the years and was one of the first TCM specialists on the Caribbean island.

"This rehab center is always full because favorable results have been obtained over time. We always make an initial diagnosis through an exhaustive questionnaire and a physical examination to determine the best treatment for each case," she said.

Although most of her patients are elderly, Guillen is also very satisfied with treating other conditions such as chronic asthma, gastric ulcer or high blood pressure with TCM.

"What we do is to raise the quality of life of the population and we start each treatment with that expectation. What fulfills us most as doctors is that results can be seen in a short time," she said.

In Cuba, family doctors are able to provide such treatments while polyclinics are mostly better equipped. A number of hospitals and research institutes have both TCM and specialized doctors to treat specific disorders with a range of therapies.

This is the case with the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Institute of Gastroenterology, both based in the capital Havana.

Working with the Institute of Gastroenterology, Mirna Quintero is a pioneer in treating digestive disorders with TCM.

"At the beginning, I was alone and started doing acupuncture and its related techniques, then years later others were introduced. Recently we have incorporated laser therapy and drug puncture," she said.

Currently, said Quintero, the institute's research protocols include treatments which have shown positive results and great acceptance by patients who are interested in such techniques previously unknown but praised today by many.

TCM HISTORY IN CUBA

Cuban doctors first learned TCM from Chinese professionals through a program that began in 1995, when this discipline was included in the national curriculum of medical studies.

International cooperation has since been a key factor in developing this medical program over the years.

"In the 1990s, we had an exchange with Chinese, Vietnamese and North Korean advisers to fully implement the program. Many of the doctors trained in those years received classes directly from Chinese professors," Johann Perdomo, head of the department of natural and traditional medicine of the Cuban Ministry of Health (MINSAP), told Xinhua.

Later on, he added, there has been cooperation with different Asian nations to bring to Cuba herbs and plants for traditional medicine treatments.

The development of traditional and natural medicine is also part of a comprehensive program involving MINSAP, as well as other government agencies.

According to Perdomo, such medical treatments began as a necessity due to the deep economic crisis the island faced after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

"It was a good and cheap way to solve some of the most important health issues of our population at the time while maintaining a universal and free healthcare system," he said.

However, realities have changed dramatically with natural and traditional medicine now being firmly integrated into the Cuban health system after more than 20 years of sustained application.

By 2016, more than 200 Cuban doctors had graduated as specialists in traditional and natural medicine, allowing the island to open more healthcare centers.

The service is also complemented by the use of 144 natural medicine products, most of which are made at local centers while others by pharmaceutical factories.

"Some have been registered and patented in different countries while we currently export others. One example is Vidatox, whose principal ingredient is obtained from the venom of the blue scorpion to treat cancer patients," said Perdomo.

Other examples include Abexol, an extract drawn from beeswax, and Policosanol (PPG), a mixture of aliphatic alcohols isolated from sugarcane for reducing cholesterol and treating osteoporosis.

The practice of TCM is so successful in Cuba that the government has integrated it into a plan to promote health tourism, seeking to attract foreign visitors for chronic diseases and ailments treatment here.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 13:13:22|Editor: Zhou Xin

A farewell ceremony of a Chinese naval fleet is held in Shanghai, east China, April 23, 2017. A fleet of three Chinese naval ships left Shanghai Sunday morning for public relations visits to more than 20 countries. (Xinhua/Chen Fei)

SHANGHAI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A fleet of three Chinese naval ships left Shanghai Sunday morning for public relations visits to more than 20 countries.

The fleet, composed of missile destroyer Changchun, missile frigate Jingzhou and supply ship Chaohu, will tour Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania for nearly 180 days.

The visits will convey friendship, deepen military communication and cooperation and show a good image of the Chinese navy, according to Miao Hua, Political Commissar of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, who saw the fleet off.

All the three ships were domestically made. It is the maiden voyage of the Jingzhou, commissioned in 2016. The other two ships have conducted many escort, drill and patrol missions.

Sunday marks the 68th anniversary of the establishment of the PLA Navy.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 14:08:30|Editor: Zhang Dongmiao

Photo taken on April 23, 2017 shows a polling station in Henin-Beaumont, France. Voters on France's European mainland began casting their ballots Sunday in the first round of the French presidential election. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

PARIS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Voters on France's European mainland began casting their ballots Sunday in the first round of a presidential election that will weigh on the future of Europe.

The voting will winnow down a list of 11 candidates to two finalists for the decisive runoff on May 7.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 14:28:33|Editor: Liangyu

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PYONGYANG, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), stressed self-reliance in farm production for the army when inspecting an army farm on Saturday, official media reported Sunday.

The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim visited a pig farm owned by the airforce of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in northwestern DPRK's Thaechon County to inspect food supply for pilots.

He praised the farm for showing patriotism by applying domestically made equipment and adopting modern scientific methods in production, saying: "We can be well off by doing our own way."

Calling the farm "an icon stockbreeding base of the country," Kim said the KPA is leading the way in implementing the Korean Workers' Party's policy on realizing domestic production.

The DPRK is under the United Nations (UN) economic sanctions imposed after the country carried out successive nuclear and missile tests in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 15:13:38|Editor: Zhou Xin

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By Luan Xiang

BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 34 Chinese cities with a combined population of nearly 300 million took part in an unprecedented simultaneous pet adoption day on Earth Day weekend, promoting the adoption of rescued stray animals.

The live streaming of China Pet Adoption Day events in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shanghai, Tianjin and Xi'an was watched by 562,000 people.

From Urumqi in the far northwest to the subtropical Fuzhou on the southeastern coast, people gathered to raise awareness of animal welfare and to help strays find loving, permanent homes.

SHARING OUR HOME

Taking advantage the country's online population, Pet Adoption Day events was also an online event with people watching on their cellphones and computers.

"I have never heard of a similar event being held on such massive scale", commented Mariya, Russian animal welfare expert in an interview with Xinhua.

"I think it's evidence that Chinese society is more aware and more open to accept pets as family members," she said. "And it's not only happening in first tier cities but also smaller ones.

"Also it's a sign that there are more people who care about pets and do rescue work in a more structured and professional way."

Sun Quanhui, campaign manager and senior veterinary adviser with World Animal Protection said, "Planet Earth is not only home to humanity but also a home that we share with other animals. It is mankind's duty and important in a civilized society to treat animals kindly."

As China's population becomes more prosperous, pet ownership has increased dramatically, with problems, such as pet abandonment and cruelty, also growing.

"International experience has proven that promotion of pet adoption can reduce the stray population and improve the sense of responsibility of both pet owners and society as a whole," said Sun.

"In recent years, more and more adoption events have taken place all over the country, which indicates an awakening of the Chinese public consciousness to animal protection. Adopting a pet instead of purchasing one has been gaining a wider acceptance," he noted.

"It is a good thing that China promotes adoption of animals", commented dog lover and animal welfare activist Fantasia Chen with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, who praised the campaign as "really amazing" and expressed her admiration for the volunteers who made the event possible.

Surprised by the number who watched the live streaming, Chen said, "I think I'll advise HKDR(Hong Kong Dog Rescue) to do something similar for their shelter, so that more people will know that the dogs really need a better home."

"It surely sounds super sweet and I have no doubt that it must have been the result of great efforts", said American designer Edward Dumpe III, who has been working on designs for stray animal shelters in Beijing's hutongs.

"I think it is a good step in the right direction, and should be taken as evidence that Chinese society is becoming more aware of stray animals who deserve to be taken care of and treated with respect", he said.

In the U.S. City of San Francisco, a law was passed earlier this year to prohibit pet shops from selling dogs or cats unless they came from animal rescue organizations or animal shelters.

"But even in the States, a nationwide adoption event involving 30 million people is unheard of," said Dumpe. "More needs to be done to encourage people to think of pets as family members rather than toys."

IT MUST BE A RECORD

More than one million people follow the humorous daily updates of blogger "Rabbit-eating Carrot" about her two cats, "Not Three" and "Not Four," who have inspired memes all over China's social network.

"The most important thing is spreading the word about pet adoption," she told Xinhua. "People don't adopt companion animals in China, not because they don't want to, but because they don't know about the possibility."

In real life, "Rabbit-eating Carrot" is a fashion designer who has created garments embroidered with slogans like "Please adopt a pet" and the images of her celebrity cats. All profits from the line were donated to Qiming Small Animal Protection Center in Sichuan Province.

Her colleague, American designer Jeon underlined the importance of "a system to educate people on how to raise pets and the responsibility that comes with them," as well as checking the suitability of people to be pet owners.

"I didn't know that there were events like this in China. This is fantastic. Impressive," commented George Philippe, French resident of Beijing and father of two, at the event in the capital, where his young daughter Queenie stroked a dog for the first time in her life.

"I have been wanting to find an animal buddy for my daughters so it can keep them company when we parents have to go to work", he said. "I would love to look more into the information provided by the adoption day charity. Hopefully I can find the perfect pet for my family there".

"You mean 34 Chinese cities are having this kind of activity at the same time? Wow, it must be a world record" he exclaimed.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 15:53:44|Editor: ying

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YANGON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- One person died and 25 others were injured when two passenger express buses collided on Yangon-Mandalay highway, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Sunday.

The collision took place on Saturday at about 01:30 a.m. local time.

Among 45 passengers on board one of the buses, one was killed on the spot with four injured. On the other vehicle which was carrying 60 people, 21 passengers were injured.

The injured have been brought to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment. Reckless driving was blamed for the accident.
Voters enter a polling station in Henin-Beaumont, France, on April 23, 2017. Voters on France's European mainland began casting their ballots Sunday in the first round of the French presidential election. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

PARIS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- French voters began casting their ballots Sunday morning in the first round of a historic presidential election that will weigh on the future of Europe.

The voting will winnow down a list of 11 candidates to two finalists for a runoff vote scheduled for May 7, if no one wins by at least 50 percent in the first round.

Out of the 11 candidates, four remain frontrunners in previous polls, namely the centrist former Minister of economy Emmanuel Macron, the far-rightist Marine Le Pen, the right-wing conservative Francois Fillon and the far-leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon.

Polling stations at France's European continent opened at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) and will run for a maximum of 12 hours. Those in the largest cities will close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT). In France's overseas territories, the voting was held on Saturday.

Around 47 million French voters are registered to cast their votes at some 69,000 polling stations.

Security measures have been tightened after a number of incidents occurred in the week running up to the voting day, including Thursday's shooting in the Champs-Elysee avenue which left one police officer killed and two others injured.

Police officers and gendarmes were seen carrying out identification and security checks at the entrances of some polling stations.

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has pledged to mobilize "all right means" to safeguard the election, including the deployment of 50,000 police officers and gendarmes.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 17:18:56|Editor: An

Merchant Vessel (M.V.) COSCO Netherlands berths at Singapore's Pasir Panjang terminal, on April 23, 2017. Merchant Vessel (M.V.) COSCO Netherlands arrived at port of Singapore on Sunday morning after sailing more than 3,800 km from east China in a voyage aimed at cementing a traditional friendship between China and Southeast Asian countries. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)

by Yan Liang, Lim Wen Xin

SINGAPORE, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Merchant Vessel (M.V.) COSCO Netherlands arrived at port of Singapore on Sunday morning after sailing more than 3,800 km from east China in a voyage aimed at cementing a traditional friendship between China and Southeast Asian countries.

After departing from Ningbo in east China's Zhejiang Province on Tuesday afternoon, M.V. COSCO Netherlands had been sailing non-stop at a speed of about 35 km per hour, for four days and five nights.

With flocks of seabirds flying over the deck on the South China Sea, M.V. COSCO Netherlands is travelling on a route that can date back to China's Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), the time when ancient Chinese and peoples of Southeast Asian countries began trading with each other, along with progress in ship-building and navigation technologies.

Hence, litoral regions in ancient China including Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province, Quanzhou in southeast China's Fujian Province and Ningbo built a harmonious relationship with Southeast Asian countries. An ancient maritime Silk Road thus witnessed numerous mutually beneficial tradings and people-to-people exchanges.

Nowadays, inter-connectivity between China and Southeast Asian countries is still improving, with facilitation by voyages of oceangoing container vessels like M.V. COSCO Netherlands of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company, and with promotion by the Belt and Road Initiative China proposed in 2013.

The Belt and Road Initiative consisting of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes.

During its stay of less than 12 hours in Singapore, M.V. COSCO Netherlands will take additional cargo bound for Europe after discharging goods for Singapore, with a load to total 11,763 TEU (20 feet equivalent unit), before continuing the voyage that will last 40 days, said Li Hongbing, chief officer of M.V. COSCO Netherlands.

"At present, COSCO Shipping owns 56 affiliated companies in 12 countries across the Southeast Asian and South Asian regions, with a total of more than 2,200 employees, but of which only 100 are Chinese. It contributes much to the local labor market and economic development," Gu Jinsong, president of Singapore-based COSCO Shipping (Southeast Asia) Corporation Limited, told Xinhua.

With its outstanding logistic and transportation infrastructure and performance, the city state of Singapore is perhaps one of the most important links for China's 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, said Lim Tai Wei, senior lecturer with Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Singapore's experiences in the shipping industry, its common law system and strong corporate governance and practices, among others, are all attractive points of Singaporean companies for Chinese companies to make them partners in reaching out to the rest of Southeast Asia and beyond, Lim said.

"China's contribution to Southeast Asian countries is not only increasing inter-connectivity in the maritime areas, but also internally within countries, to connect different regions and provinces," Lim said.

"In other words, the Belt and Road Initiative may actually be able to unite both maritime and overland Southeast Asia. This can increase logistic and transportation efficiency, particularly since the region has economic community aspirations," Lim explained.

From China to Southeast Asia, the ever-extending maritime Silk Road is also believed to help promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges, in addition to bringing business and trade opportunities and facilitation to countries and peoples.
File photo shows Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) wait to be airlifted to the South Sudanese Northern State of Eastern Nile, in Juba, capital of South Sudan, Janl. 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Gale Julius)

JUBA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan has hailed China's support for the youngest nation embroiled in more than three years of violent conflict, expressing hope that the two countries continue their cordial relations.

Deputy Minister of Information Paul Akol Kordit on Friday commended China for being a historical friend of Africa and particularly South Sudan.

"We have very strong ties with China. It has been supporting us in terms of development and diplomatically on the international arena. They have stood with the people of South Sudan and we hope the cordial relations continue," Akol said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mawien Makol said China has been helping the war-torn country since it won independence in 2011 from northern neighbor Sudan after decades of civil war.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013, as political disputes between President Kiir and his former deputy Machar caused fighting to spread along ethnic lines.

The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced 3.5 millions from their homes, according to the UN.

And 7.5 million people are currently in dire need of humanitarian assistance amid famine having been declared in some parts of the country especially in the Mayendit and Leer Counties of the northern Unity state where 100,000 people are starving and a further one million on the brink.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 18:24:07|Editor: ying

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XI'AN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A coalition was established Sunday in northwest China's Shaanxi Province to promote innovation and cooperation on space exploration under the the Belt and Road Initiative.

The coalition, set up in the provincial capital of Xi'an, encompasses 48 universities, research institutes and academic organizations at home and abroad. It was initiated by the Chinese Society of Astronautics and Xi'an-based Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Tian Yulong, secretary-general of China National Space Administration, said the alliance will boost exchanges on space innovation between its members and help joint training of high-caliber professionals.

China designated April 24 as Space Day last year to mark the anniversary of the country's first satellite launch Dongfanghong-1 in 1970.

Xi'an, home to more than 200 aerospace research centers and enterprises, will hold major celebrations on Monday.
Photo shows Tanzanian masonry workers during a labour skill contest for local staff working with Chinese companies held on the campus of the University of Dar es Salaam on April 22, 2017. (Xinhua/Anthony Siame)

DAR ES SALAAM, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-eight Tanzanians working as employees or interns at Chinese companies have praised the firms for helping them acquire more knowledge and skills.

Speaking at a Labor Skill Contest Saturday for local staff working with Chinese companies and award ceremony for college internship programs at the University of Dar es Salaam, the 18 workers and 10 interns said working with the Chinese firms has tremendously improved their work efficiency.

During the contest, 36 workers from Chinese companies in Tanzania competed in six different professions, and 18 of them won awards.

Malegesi Anthony Deogratias, a civil engineering major at the University of Dar es Salaam, had a one-month internship with Jiangsu Jiangdu Construction Group, which is constructing a library at his university.

"I have gained both technological and social knowledge," the second-year student said, adding that he has also been exposed to Chinese hard-working culture.

"The Chinese people work very hard and collaborate with each other," said Deogratias.

Victor Clemence Mushi, said he gained new knowledge and experience during his seven-month internship at Huawei Technologies Tanzania as an IP network engineer.

"Working at Huawei has been interesting, fun, surprising, insightful, inspiring and impactful," said Mushi, a computer science major at the University of Dar es Salaam.

Lu Youqing, China's ambassador to Tanzania, said China will build a center for vocational training in Tanzania, the second largest economy in the region.

"The center will be tailored to provide more skills for the locals that will enable them to improve efficiency at work," Lu said.

"China as a developing country understands the desire for Tanzania, our friends, to reduce poverty," he said. "We want to help the country with our whole heart to improve your ability to develop independently."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 18:59:15|Editor: ying

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LONDON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The anniversary of the birthday of playwright William Shakespeare was celebrated on Sunday with a performance of his sonnets in Westminster Abbey and new season of plays at Shakespeare's Globe in London.

The Globe Theater on the South Bank of the Thames is a modern-day replica of Shakespeare's Globe playhouse, complete with thatched roof and open-air seating for many of the audience.

The theater has timed its summer season to launch on the 401st anniversary of the birth of Shakespeare, which includes the playwright's romance tragedy "Romeo and Juliet", and his comedies "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Twelfth Night".

In Stratford Upon Avon in the English Midlands, where the author was born in 1564, a ceremonial procession was held on Saturday through the town, finishing at Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare's tomb is.

Westminster Abbey on Saturday also hosted a performance of Shakespeare's sonnets, given by classical actor Mark Rylance and a team of 25 actors. The Abbey has a memorial to the playwright.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 19:04:17|Editor: Zhou Xin

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MACAO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Macao has simplified and improved some of its regulations for trade and investment promotion, the special administrative region's investment promotion body said on Sunday.

Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (MTIPI) said it has updated the regulations for companies attending promotional events, especially cut short the list of documents that should be provided for companies to hold or participate in promotional activities such as exhibitions or forums.

Instead, such information will be provided by other government departments such as Financial Services Bureau, the institute said.

According to MTIPI, companies now don't need to hand registration copy for business opening or modification, commerce registration copy, business tax form copy, occupational tax form copy, and certificate copy for no outstanding tax.

The regulation updates also said the exhibition information should be issued to public every month, which will help companies and interested visitors know the promotional activities as soon as possible.

Such information was publicized every June and December per year, according to old regulations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 19:14:18|Editor: ying

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PARIS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- French police on Sunday evacuated a polling station in Besancon, east France, after a suspicious vehicle was abandoned with the engine running, according to local media.

At 09:30 local time (0730 GMT), security forces evacuated the polling station, and bomb disposal experts were deployed to examine a reportedly stolen vehicle with fake number plates which was abandoned with the engine running in front of the city hall.

The evacuation came about one and half hour after the first round of the country's presidential election started.

Besancon's mayor Jean-Louis Fousseret was quoted by local media as saying that "the car arrived at very low speed, with two people on board, before stopping, then the two people fled."

According to Benoit Desferet, regional director of public security in Doubs, the incident "is not a terrorist but a matter of common offenses."

An ongoing police operation is searching the two perpetrators, according to the reports.

Sunday's voting kicked off under high security after security fears came back to the fore in last days of presidency campaign.

More than 50,000 police and elite security units have been mobilized across the country for two-round election.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 19:34:23|Editor: Tian Shaohui

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JERUSALEM, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Six Israeli Jews from the southern city of Be'er Sheva, including two soldiers, were charged Sunday with carrying out a series of "acts of terror" against Arabs in the city.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement that the suspects are residents of Be'er Sheva, a mixed Jewish-Arab city, and include two conscripted soldiers and a minor.

They were indicted by the Southern District Attorney's Office in the Southern District Court for perpetrating "acts of terror," including five incidents of stabbing or beating attacks and several cases of vandalizing Arabs' cars.

"In these events, dangerous assault devices were used, including knives, clubs, iron rods, and other blunt objects," Samri said.

Before attacking, the suspects used to make sure their victims are Arabs, Samri said.

According to Samri, the investigation revealed that the attacks were motivated by a racist-nationalist motive, "to prevent the assimilation of Jewish women with Arabs from Be'er Sheva."

Avihai Hajabi, an attorney from Honenu, a legal group that represents far-right activists, said that the suspects' rights were violated by the security authorities that had prevented him from meeting one of the suspects.

Israel's Arab minority makes up about a fifth of the Israeli population. Arab citizens of Israel are Palestinians who stayed during Israel's 1948 Independence War.

The indictments were served amidst heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. A wave of violence has claimed the lives of at least 241 Palestinians, 41 Israelis, two U.S. nationals, a British tourist, and two African asylum seekers since September 2015.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 19:44:25|Editor: ying

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JERUSALEM, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the Palestinian National Authority should prove they want peace by stop funding Palestinian prisoners convicted of assaulting Israelis.

"The Palestinian Authority should stop funding terrorists who are in prison and stop funding families of terrorists killed during the course of their crimes," he told the weekly cabinet meeting.

"It is impossible to be in favor of peace with Israel, and at the same time to glorify and finance murderers of Israelis," he added.

Netanyahu said the financial assistance to prisoners "is a simple and sharp test of the Palestinians' desire for peace."

The PNA extends financial help to many Palestinians in Israeli jail, including to prisoners convicted of involvement in attacks against Israelis.

Netanyahu's remark was made ahead of the trip of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Washington. Abbas is scheduled to meet United States President Donald Trump in the White House on May 3.

A White House announcement said the two leaders will discuss ways to revive the stalled peace process, which reached an impasse in April 2014.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 19:49:27|Editor: ying

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NEW DELHI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Two people were charred to death Sunday in a fire that broke out inside a car showroom in India's western state of Maharashtra, officials said.

The fire broke out at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai.

"Two people were burnt to death after a devastating fire broke out at a Maruti Suzuki showroom in Navi Mumbai today," a police official told Xinhua. "The charred bodies were recovered by firefighters."

Officials suspect the victims were employees -- apparently a mechanic and a security guard of the car showroom.

A short circuit was suspected to be behind the fire, according to the police.

Authorities rushed half a dozen fire tenders to the spot to douse flames and prevent fire from spreading.

On Wednesday, six people were killed and several others suffered burn injuries in a similar fire inside an electronics factory in New Delhi.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 19:49:28|Editor: ying

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Two militants were killed in a fierce gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, military officials said Sunday.

The gunfight broke out Saturday evening at Hayatpora village of Budgam district, about 23 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Two militants were killed in a gunfight at Budgam," said an Indian military official. "The gunfight broke out after militants attacked a patrolling party of army in the area."

Police said the two militants belonged to Lashker-e-Toiba, with one being a local cadre and another identified as a foreign national.

Indian army has not suffered any casualty or damage in the standoff.

"We have recovered two assault rifles and a pistol from the gunfight site," Indian military spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said. "Our troopers have not suffered any damage in the firefight."

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 19:49:28|Editor: ying

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by Robert Manyara

LAIKIPIA, Kenya, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Armed cattle herders shot and wounded renowned Italian-born conservationist and author Kuki Gallman in the drought-stricken Laikipia region of northwest Kenya on Saturday evening.

Divisional police commander Ezekiel Chepkwony confirmed the attack on Sunday, saying that Gallman, who owns Laikipia Nature Conservancy, was shot in the stomach by armed Pokot raiders.

Chepkwony said the conservationist, who was shot while patrolling the ranch, was airlifted to Nairobi for treatment.

The latest incident came despite the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces soldiers to flush out bandits and seize illegal guns used in raids.

Gallmann is best known internationally for her memoir, I Dreamed of Africa.

Her ranch is home to the largest concentrations of wildlife in the Laikipia ecosystem. The ranch is one of the biggest in the county.

Reports say the Laikipia area is increasingly becoming a conflict zone as people and wildlife are killed with impunity, livestock stolen, houses razed and property looted.

Armed herders from the Pokot, Maasai and Samburu communities have in the past reportedly attacked some of the white-owned ranches in Laikipia, threatening not just farming but the future of wildlife conservation in Kenya.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 20:39:40|Editor: ying

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NEW DELHI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The chief minister of southern India state of Tamil Nadu on Sunday visited protesting farmers in New Delhi and urged them to end their protest.

Edappadi Palaniswami along with top officials reached Jantar Mantar in Indian capital city, where drought-hit farmers from his state are on indefinite protest, demanding relief package from the federal government.

"The chief minister assured the farmers that he will take up their demands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi," a senior official of local Tamil Nadu government told Xinhua.

Palaniswami has already met senior ministers in New Delhi over the issue of farmers and now is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Farmers in Tamil Nadu are reeling under severe stress due to two successive years of drought.

For the past 40 days, they are camping at Jantar Mantar, demanding loan waivers and a relief package of 61 billion U.S. dollars to compensate their losses.

The frustrated farmers have been resorting to bizarre protests to draw federal government's attention toward their plight.

On Saturday the farmers drank their urine in protest.

"The Indian government is not giving us water. So we have no other way but to consume urine," P Ayyakkannu, the man heading the protesting farmers said. "In order to wake up the government here we will eat our faeces. We have nothing to eat back home as we are severely hit by drought."

From wearing human skulls to eating grass, mice and pieces of snakes the farmers have been staging mock funerals, tonsuring heads, slashing hands and even stripping naked at Raisina Hill, in a bid to make their voices heard.

Raisina hill is an important location in New Delhi housing India's most important government buildings, including the residence of the president of India and prime minister's office besides several other important ministries.

In January this year the local government in Tamil Nadu declared all districts of the state drought-hit following a deficit in the northeast monsoon in 2016.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 20:44:42|Editor: MJ

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Representatives from China and Iran sign the first commercial contract to redesign Iran's Arak heavy water reactor in Vienna, Austria, on April 23, 2017. Redesigning the Arak heavy water reactor is a core aspect of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear program. (Xinhua/Wang Tengfei)

VIENNA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China and Iran signed the first commercial contract to redesign Iran's Arak heavy water reactor in Vienna on Sunday.

The commercial contract signed between the two sides is seen as an important step towards modification of the Arak heavy water reactor.

Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to redesign the reactor to minimize its plutonium production and avoid production of weapons-grade plutonium.

Redesigning the Arak heavy water reactor is a core aspect of the JCPOA on Iran's nuclear program.

The JCPOA was reached in Vienna in July 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 group, namely Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany.

The P5+1 countries have created a working group led by China and the United States to work with Iran to redesign the reactor.

Iranian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reza Najafi told Xinhua the signing of the contract is important and Iran has very good cooperation with China. He said it's the example cooperation which the other sides should learn from.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 20:54:44|Editor: Xiang Bo

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by Mahmoud Fouly

HEFEI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The high-tech development zones and the advanced technology research centers in east China's Anhui Province provide a variety of innovative technologies that can represent leaps in the fields of medicine, education, agriculture, communication and others.

The development of those innovative technologies make a real difference in the life of the Chinese people and even the rest of the world in general.

INNOVATIVE HIGH-TECHNOLOGY ON DISPLAY

Located in the provincial capital city of Hefei, the exhibition hall of the Institute of Advanced Technology of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) displays significant medical technologies, such as immunity improvement tablets for HIV patients, anti-diabetes pills to replace injections for diabetics, a medical scanner that can be used by dentists to scan jaws and screen display 3D pictures of the patient's teeth, an alternative for eye cornea that would put an end to cornea donations and many others.

"Instead of injection that hurts, diabetics can take the new pills that equally work. It's in the fifth clinical trial in the United States right now and I think it may be available in the market next year. For HIV tablets, we used to costly import them from Western countries. Now they are produced in China," said Miao Miao, administrative director of the Institute of Advanced Technology of the USTC.

The hall features some other advanced technologies that are based on the institute's research and carried out by related Chinese companies, such as a hotel service robot, which can be sent by receptionists to a guest's room carrying inside what the guest asks for, and a cell phone chip engraving device that used to be costly imported from Western countries.

The hall also showcases an agricultural machine that can refine harvested rice from straws, a super big high-definition screen of about 110 inches, the largest in China, and an electronic Mandarin-written book attached with a pen that pronounces the words it points to in Tibetan language. The hall also has two average-sized, well-shaped electronic cars with rechargeable batteries.

"We call the smaller one a 'small ant.' It's all made of aluminum to be very light. It can be charged for 10 hours per drive of 250 kilometers. The bigger one here that costs 20,000 U.S. dollars and goes 300 kilometers each drive has been available in the market since 2016," Miao said.

In a room on the second floor, Jia Jia, a robot that looks like a pretty Chinese young woman in traditional outfit, could communicate with visitors and answer their questions with a sense of humor.

HIGH-TECH ZONE DRIVES SMART SYSTEMS

Established in 1991 and ranking as one of the Top Ten high-tech zones in China, Hefei National New and High Technology Industrial Development Zone now covers an area of 128 square kilometers and hosts over 18,000 companies, 400 of which are foreign-invested businesses with more than 20 branches listed in stock markets abroad.

Fast-growing iFLYTEK Co. Ltd, a Chinese high-tech company, is among those cooperating with the Institute of Advanced Technology and contributing to high-tech innovation in China and worldwide.

Referring to itself as a pioneer in China's intelligent speech and artificial intelligence industry, the company provides new, highly-advanced, smart text-to-speech editing software based on voice recognition, free online applications for instant voice translation between Chinese and other languages, household control systems, car control appliances, smart educational systems and many others.

"Take for example our smart education systems. We provide them for free to rural areas that are short of teachers, like Tibet and Inner Mongolia, so that the students can study, learn and exercise (on) their own," Vivian Chen, iFLYTEK sales manager, told Xinhua.

Founded in 1999 and listed on Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2008, iFLYTEK's core innovative technological products are based on speech synthesis, speech recognition, image recognition, multilingual speech processing, machine translation, education evaluation, knowledge service, telecommunication service, smart automotive service and intelligent customer service.

"This is our smart medical system, a 3D CT scan of lungs that can detect cancer in its early stages," Vivian explained at the company's exhibition hall, noting that the device is still under development. Its data collection is also ongoing from hospitals in Beijing and other regions.

She added that the company's education systems have been exported to Hong Kong and Singapore, while the smart in-car systems that control vehicle appliances via speech and voice recognition are used by European car brands like Audi, Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz for their imported vehicles into China. "The same applies to Japanese cars like Nissan and Toyota. They are using our systems in China as well."

Wu Xiao, deputy director of Anhui's Information Office, said that the GDP of Hefei National New and High Technology Industrial Development Zone in 2016 amounted to 56.2 billion yuan (over 8 billion U.S. dollars), up 11 percent. He noted that the GDP of Anhui Province in 2016 reached 2.4 trillion yuan (about 348.5 billion U.S. dollars), adding that the 128-square-kilometer high-tech zone accommodates 200,000 out of Anhui's over 70 million people.

"Relying on innovation, Anhui Province is exerting great efforts to be a leader in the country regarding scientific innovation. Anhui now has five such zones and the one in Hefei is the largest. As for nationwide ranking, based on our research, Hefei National New and High Technology Industrial Development Zone ranked 7th in 2016," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 21:23:14|Editor: ying

A worker arranges rice at a warehouse in Yangon, Myanmar, April 23, 2017. Myanmar exports its rice mainly to China and Africa with China accounting for almost half of the total, according to latest figures released by the Myanmar Rice Federation. (Xinhua/U Aung)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 21:14:47|Editor: Xiang Bo

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QINGDAO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A Singaporean warship arrived Sunday at Chinese city Qingdao for a four-day visit and joint drill.

The North Sea Fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy held a ceremony to welcome missile frigate RSS Intrepid, which is accompanied by Chinese ship Yancheng. Altogether 141 Singaporean naval staff were onboard the frigate.

The two navies will visit each other's ships and hold exchange activities.

After the visit, the RSS Intrepid and Yancheng will conduct a joint drill practising the Code for Unalerted Encounters at Sea, focusing on simple subjects such as communication and formation maneuvers.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 21:44:50|Editor: ying

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JERUSALEM, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli police said on Sunday that a Palestinian youth stabbed and injured at least four people near the shore in Tel Aviv, Israel's business capital.

The incident took place in Hayarkon Street, across from the sea, where many of Tel Aviv's large hotels are located.

Local media reported that the assailant, who apparently works in the area, first attacked a man near the Harrod's Hotel and then fled to the Leonardo Hotel, continuing his attack.

Israel's MDA emergency medical service said that three men and a woman, who are all Israeli citizens, sustained light injuries. They were taken to the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.

The police initially announced that the background for the incident was unclear, but a later statement said the "investigation revealed that the attack was carried out for nationalistic motives."

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri identified the suspect as an 18-year-old resident of Nablus, a city in the central West Bank, a territory that Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East war.

She added that the suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

The incident was the latest in a wave of violence that has claimed the lives of at least 241 Palestinians, 41 Israelis, two U.S. nationals, a British tourist, and two African asylum seekers since September 2015.

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)

MOGADISHU, April 23 (Xinhua) -- At least nine Puntland soldiers were killed and three others injured in a landmine explosion on Sunday in Galgala town in Bari region of northern Somalia.

Abdirahman Farah Gurhan, Police Commander in Galgala said the explosion targeted the soldiers who were fighting Al-Shabaab and pro-Islamic State militants in the region.

"I can confirm the landmine in Galgala region which caused casualties on Pultland army. Nine soldiers were killed and three others wounded, the target was our forces who are fighting with the terrorist militants," Farah said.

Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the latest attack against Puntland soldiers in Galgala town in Bari region.

Puntland State Administration has stepped up its fight against Al-Shabaab, pro-IS militants and piracy activities in the region.
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.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 21:49:52|Editor: ying

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CAPE TOWN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- South African Presidency on Sunday denied reports that the Department of Public Works plans to renovate President Jacob Zuma's private home.

This was in response to a report by the Sunday Times newspaper that the Department of Public Works plans to renovate certain aspects of the president's private residence in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

The report said the government is gearing up to lavish more taxpayer funds on Zuma's controversial Nkandla homestead, which has already been upgraded at a cost to the country of 246 million rand (about 18 million U.S. dollars).

The news comes just before 10 public works officials are to face disciplinary hearings this week, arising from reported irregularities when the homestead was first upgraded in a blaze of negative publicity more than two years ago.

"The Presidency has noted with concern a report in the Sunday Times newspaper about alleged plans by the Department of Public Works to renovate certain aspects of the President's Nkandla residence," presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said.

The Presidency wishes to confirm and emphasize that there are no renovations of the private houses at Zuma's private residence at Nkandla currently and no government department has indicated any proposal for renovations, Ngqulunga said.

"We also wish to underscore that no government department, including the Department of Public Works, will be permitted to renovate any of the President's private houses in Nkandla," he said.

But the Sunday Times alleged that the Department of Public Works this week confirmed a new round of work was in the offing.

The report quoted the department as saying processes were under way to refurbish the property -- in some cases significantly -- to repair shoddy workmanship and, once again, to address security concerns.

This shows that the government is undeterred by the public outcry and a finding by the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) that Zuma had failed to uphold the constitution when it came to the money spent on his private home, the paper said.

The ConCourt ruled in March 2016 that Zuma flouted the Constitution for allowing the abuse of public funds in security upgrades at his private home.

The court also ordered that Zuma must repay for the upgrades.

A report release in March 2014 by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela claims that Zuma's family unduly benefited from the Nkandla project. But Zuma has denied the allegations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 21:59:54|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rain will hit parts of China's southern regions from Monday to Wednesday, said the country's national observatory Sunday.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecast heavy rain in most parts of south China, with parts of Sichuan, Jiangxi, Guangdong and Hunan expecting rainstorms in the next three days.

These regions will see rainstorms with precipitation of up to 200millimeters, said the NMC.

The center warned local authorities and residents to take precautions against flooding and geological disasters.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 22:09:56|Editor: ying

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MANILA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Abu Sayyaf militants had beheaded a Filipino soldier who was abducted Thursday, a military general said Sunday.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said in a statement that troops found the body of Army Sergeant Anni Siraji in a remote village around 3 p.m. on Sunday.

The decomposed state of the body of the victim suggested that he had been beheaded for at least three days and his body was found some 2.5 km from where he was abducted, the general said, adding the severed head was found some 50 meters away from the decomposed body.

"They attempted to bring the head but they eventually left it behind. You can see that the beheading was hastily done maybe because they were running away from us."

Siraji is a member of the Tausug tribe, an ethnic group in southern Philippines. He was kidnapped on Thursday morning at the height of the military operations against the bandit group Abu Sayyaf in Patikul town in Sulu.

Siraji was a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). He, along with several other MNLF fighters, was integrated into the military as part of the 1996 peace agreement the MNLF signed with the government.

The military said Patikul town is one of the main targets of the military offensives since January as it is reported to be a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf.

Some of the Abu Sayyaf members are also Tausug, according to the military.

The Abu Sayyaf bandits are most probably frustrated that they were forced to kill a member of their own tribe, Sobejana said.

"We condemn this barbaric act of killing their fellow Tausug."

The military has been fighting the Abu Sayyaf rebels since 2000.

Abu Sayyaf, one of the smallest and most violent groups operating in southern Philippines, is notorious for kidnappings, bombings and attacking civilians and the army.

The group, numbering about 500, has been sowing terror in southern Philippine since the early 1990s. The military said they are still keeping more than two dozens of hostages.

Responding to the barbaric act by Abu Sayyaf, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to crush the Abu Sayyaf militants.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 22:30:01|Editor: yan

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KIEV, April 23 (Xinhua) -- An employee of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was killed on Sunday when a vehicle of the OSCE special monitoring mission in Ukraine hit a landmine in eastern Lugansk region, local media reported.

Three other people were wounded in the incident, which occurred on a rural road in the area controlled by pro-independence insurgents, said the rebel-run Lugansk Information Center.

According to the information agency, the OSCE car has deviated from the regular route.

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz also said earlier on his twitter that an OSCE monitor died when his vehicle drove on a mine in Ukraine.

Currently, around 700 OSCE observers are deployed in Ukraine, with the majority of them monitoring the cease-fire between government troops and pro-independence insurgents.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 22:45:03|Editor: Liangyu

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ATHENS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Sunday urged all sides to make voices of peace and reason on the Korean Peninsula issue, and reiterated China's consistent and definite stand on denuclearizing the Peninsula.

Wang made the statement when asked about the situation of the Korean Peninsula at a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias.

Wang said that there were already enough shows of force and confrontation at present and that "we need to make peaceful and rational voices."

China's stand on the issue of the Korean Peninsula is constant and definite, and will not change, which means adherence to realizing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and adherence to maintaining peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, peaceful means must be applied to solve the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, Wang noted.

Though China is not the focus of the current contradiction, and though the key to solving the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula is not in its hands, China, adopting an attitude of assuming responsibility for peace of the Korean Peninsula and regional stability, has always been exerting efforts for resuming peace talks, according to Wang.

Recently, China has put forward a legitimate and reasonable proposal on the issue, which is winning understanding and support from more and more countries, the Chinese minister said, adding that China welcomes solutions proposed by other sides concerned if they also hold sincerity for peace.

"China will not be swayed by the various statements concerned, and will not renounce its due responsibility," Wang said, "China will continue maintaining dialogue and consultation with all sides and continue playing a constructive role in solving the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula."

Wang is visiting Greece to take part in an international forum on ancient civilizations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 22:55:05|Editor: yan

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PARIS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- "This is the presidential election after all," a worker in his 50s told Xinhua at a polling station in Paris, in a polite and serious manner, while busy checking on some final details of the voting facilities.

Around 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT), workers arrived at the polling station No. 17 in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, for preparing for the first round of the the presidential election, the "most unpredictable" one in the history of the French Fifth Republic.

Everything needed to be done in accordance with the country's election law before the polls opened at 8 a.m., from the ballots, booths, the name lists, to the waiting lines on the floor.

Four armed military patrols passed by the polling station for a security check around 7:50 a.m., then swiftly moved on to the next. Police and gendarmes were dispatched at the entrances of some major polling stations.

The French interior ministry has announced a deployment of around 50,000 police officers and 7,000 soldiers across the country to safeguard the election, which has been in the shadow of security threats in the final run-up.

For the 47 million registered voters in France, the decision seems particularly difficult to make this year.

"None of the candidates have a satisfactory proposal to me. My mind kept changing for the past few days. It really bothered me," said Charlotte, a bank employee in her 20s, admitting that her struggle only ended the moment she stepped into the polling station.

"This election is definitely different from the previous ones. My mum even told me that she's going to cast an empty ballot," she added.

Like Charlotte and her family, one third of the eligible voters were "undecided" before the vote, according to recent surveys.

"We choose a president to defend the interests of all inside and outside the country. Unfortunately, I noted that for years the French interests have not been taken into account. So, for me, abstention is the solution," said Laurent, a worker at Charles De Gaulle airport.

Media predicted a lower turnout for Sunday's vote, but figures from the French interior ministry showed that the turnout reached 28.54 percent till noon, slightly higher than the previous election in 2012.

In Strasbourg, the seat of the European Parliament in northeastern France, citizens were seen queuing up in front of the city center in the morning.

At the polling stations No. 107 and No. 108, workers stood by the entrances advising people to come back later to avoid waiting of up to 20 minutes.

"I've never seen so many people, much more than in 2012," said Gilles, a 50-year-old lobbyist. "It is reassuring because it represents the democratic health of our country."

Previous polls indicated that centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-rightist Marine Le Pen will be in lead in the first round and face off in a runoff on May 7.

The other two candidates that come on their heels in polls are conservative Francois Fillon and far-leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon.

But all scenarios are still possible, as the margins among the four remain really tight, according to analysts.

Nicolas, a teacher who voted for socialist candidate Benoit Hamon told Xinhua that he argued with his friends over their choices of candidates. "I feel deeply European, and I refuse to be influenced by the opinions polls."

Polling stations at France's European continent will run for a maximum of 12 hours. Those in the largest cities will close at 8 p.m. In France's oversea territories, the voting was held on Saturday.

"The proposals by the candidates all seem wonderful but I expect whoever wins to keep their promises to ensure the country's security and boost growth," said Alexandre, who voted in Henin-Beaumont, north France.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 23:00:06|Editor: yan

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JUBA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A UN human rights official said Sunday lack of accountability for crimes perpetrated during the violence in Wau town in South Sudan's northwest region remains one of the country's "biggest challenges."

Eugene Nindorera, Human Rights Director of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said no arrest or detention has been made in connection with the recent killings in the country's second largest town of Wau.

"I can confirm that, as of Sunday, nobody is being detained in connection with this attack against civilians," said Nindorera in a statement.

"I talked to victims and witnesses and was shaken to hear their testimonies of how they had to flee their houses after being attacked. It's more important than ever before that people are held accountable for the crimes they have committed," he added.

Nindorera was speaking at the end of five-day visit to Wau, where violence earlier in April led to the death of 19 government SPLA soldiers and at least 28 civilians.

The killing of civilians in Wau town followed the ambush and killing of the SPLA soldiers by suspected SPLA-In Opposition fighters.

The Human Rights Division of UNMISS has interviewed 43 individuals, including eight women and two children, from April 11, to collect information about alleged human rights violations perpetrated by government forces and aligned armed groups in Wau town on April 10.

Wau State authorities have established a committee to produce a comprehensive report to determine the motive for the attacks and identify the perpetrators in order to hold them accountable.

Indications are that the civilian population is also fleeing, though the number of people displaced has been unable to be verified due to the highly fluid situation.

But UNMISS has confirmed that by Thursday the protection of civilians site adjacent to the UNMISS base in Wau had registered some 17,000 new arrivals, mainly women and children, while around 5,000 people had sought sanctuary inside the compound of the Wau Catholic Church.

The influx of newly displaced people has led to over-crowding and pressure on humanitarian services, the UN said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-23 23:20:12|Editor: yan

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ATHENS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China and Greece will deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative to inject fresh impetus to their comprehensive strategic partnership, foreign ministers of the two countries said here on Sunday.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias held talks with his visiting Chinese counterpart Wang Yi here on Sunday.

During the talks, Wang described Greece as one of the most reliable partners of China in the European Union (EU), and said the continued exchanges between the top leaders of the two countries have injected fresh impetus to the bilateral ties.

Citing the Piraeus port project, the Chinese foreign minister said the success of the project not only added new impetus to Greece's economic recovery, but also became a good example for bilateral cooperation of mutual benefits.

Talking about the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled for mid-May in Beijing, Wang said China welcomed the presence of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and expected Greece to contribute to the initiative.

He said China is willing to boost political mutual trust, explore potential of pragmatic cooperation, expand trade and deepen people-to-people exchange, together with Greece.

He also noted the first Ministerial Conference of the Ancient Civilizations Forum, which will open here on Monday, saying China is willing to boost communications and dialogues between different civilizations.

The forum is a Greek initiative with China as co-organizer and will be attended by 10 countries that represent major ancient civilizations: Greece, China, Bolivia, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Mexico and Peru.

On his part, Kotzias said Greece responded positively to the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Greece wants to discuss with China the pragmatic cooperation in fields like economy, tourism, culture, renewable energy and shipbuilding.

He said Greece will enhance communications and collaboration with China in multilateral and regional issues, and will continue the mutual support on major issues concerning each other's core interests.

The two sides also exchange the views on issues of common concern, including China-Europe relations and the Syrian issue.
Staff members examine a China-Europe container train at Suzhou West Railway Station in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 8, 2016. (Xinhua/Sun Can)

ATHENS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China and Greece will deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative to inject fresh impetus to their comprehensive strategic partnership, foreign ministers of the two countries said here on Sunday.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias held talks with his visiting Chinese counterpart Wang Yi here on Sunday.

During the talks, Wang described Greece as one of the most reliable partners of China in the European Union (EU), and said the continued exchanges between the top leaders of the two countries have injected fresh impetus to the bilateral ties.

Citing the Piraeus port project, the Chinese foreign minister said the success of the project not only added new impetus to Greece's economic recovery, but also became a good example for bilateral cooperation of mutual benefits.

Talking about the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled for mid-May in Beijing, Wang said China welcomed the presence of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and expected Greece to contribute to the initiative.

He said China is willing to boost political mutual trust, explore potential of pragmatic cooperation, expand trade and deepen people-to-people exchange, together with Greece.

He also noted the first Ministerial Conference of the Ancient Civilizations Forum, which will open here on Monday, saying China is willing to boost communications and dialogues between different civilizations.

The forum is a Greek initiative with China as co-organizer and will be attended by 10 countries that represent major ancient civilizations: Greece, China, Bolivia, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Mexico and Peru.

On his part, Kotzias said Greece responded positively to the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Greece wants to discuss with China the pragmatic cooperation in fields like economy, tourism, culture, renewable energy and shipbuilding.

He said Greece will enhance communications and collaboration with China in multilateral and regional issues, and will continue the mutual support on major issues concerning each other's core interests.

The two sides also exchange the views on issues of common concern, including China-Europe relations and the Syrian issue.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 00:30:24|Editor: yan

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By Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Just three months into his presidency, U.S. President Donald Trump is flexing his muscles in Asia and the Middle East, displaying a tougher U.S. foreign policy than his predecessor Barack Obama.

Trump recently ordered a surprising missile strike against Syria to retaliate for a reported chemical attack by the Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad.

He also ordered the military to drop a "mother of bombs," which is the most powerful non-nuclear bomb, in Afghanistan to kill scores of terrorists. At the same time, he has rattled sabres at the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its nuclear and missile programs, by re-directing a U.S. carrier strike group to the waters near the Korean Peninsula.

Experts are divided on assessing Trump's foreign policy only three months into his presidency. While some have made a big deal out of those moves, others contend those strikes, at least so far, may not make a much difference.

"Trump definitely has a tougher foreign policy than Obama," Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua.

Trump is more willing to deploy military forces and to bomb adversaries, while Obama preferred to rely on diplomacy to solve problems and used military responses only as a last resort, he reasoned.

"Trump sometimes bypasses the diplomacy option and goes straight to military action. That has put foreign leaders on notice that his approach is more muscular and more impulsive," West said.

Trump "is likely to be impatient with traditional diplomacy and more prone to quick military action designed to achieve specific objectives," he said.

The DPRK is "a good example of this," West said, adding that Trump already has put North Korea on notice that he will not tolerate continued missiles and nuclear testings.

"He sees that as a threat to the United States and American allies. But if diplomacy does not produce the desired results, Trump has said that all options, including military ones, are on the table," West said.

Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of Congress and the Presidency, told Xinhua that Trump's foreign policy reflects a greater willingness to use U.S. military force when the circumstances require it.

Trump's top aides like Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster have served in recent conflicts, and understand that military force is one tool of many in the U.S. foreign policy toolbox, Mahaffee said.

"I think Obama was more skeptical of the efficacy of U.S. military force, especially when applied to the Syria conflict, as well as concerns about escalation with Russia and Iran, especially as the nuclear deal with Iran was a significant foreign policy goal for the administration," he said.

Trump wants to demonstrate that the U.S. is not shy about using force to achieve its policy aims, and that the Trump Administration is more willing to consider military action than the Obama Administration, Mahaffee said.

But Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua that it is too early to draw conclusion that Trump has a tougher foreign policy.

Trump dropped one big bomb in Afghanistan, the explosive yield of which is similar to what the U.S. drops every day, cumulatively, in these wars, if not less than the daily average, O'Hanlon said.

"There is no perceptible effect yet of any of his uses of force on the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan or the crisis in Korea, beyond trends that were already underway during the Obama years," O'Hanlon said.

He noted that Obama killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and used drone strikes to an unprecedented degree in killing terrorists around the world.

Trump is hoping that world leaders perceive "a sense of muscularity and unpredictability," but "we shall see," O'Hanlon said.

Many are worried about further escalation of the tensions on the Korean Peninsula, as Trump has sent an aircraft carrier strike group to the region.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, speaking Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan, warned again that "all options are on the table" in order to "achieve our shared goal of a nuclear free Korean peninsula," though dialogue is still the best way to go forward.
FARGO  In early October, a couple of days after Minnesota environmental regulators denied a permit for a dam that will be part of the Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it would build one anyway.

Then, last week, three months after the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources joined a lawsuit opposing the diversion project, the agency broke ground on a part of the dam in North Dakota knowing theyd have to eventually build the dam into Minnesota.

What makes the corps so confident in the outcome of the lawsuit?

We get sued all the time, said Aaron Snyder, the corps project manager overseeing the $2.2 billion diversion project. Once in awhile, we probably lose, but once Congress tells us to do something we do it. Thats the bottom line.

The diversion project, he noted is authorized and funded by Congress.

Asked how often the corps has a project crossing state lines thats opposed by at least one of the states, he said it happened most recently in a project to deepen a ship channel in the Delaware River. The corps proceeded pretty much the exact same way we proceeded in this case, he said.

The port of Philadelphia wanted it but two states along the river, Delaware and New Jersey, sued on environmental grounds to block the dredging. The corps invoked a rarely used federal rule to override state regulations and emerged victorious in a 2012 appeals court opinion.

In March, the corps invoked the same rule for the diversion project.

Section 404(r)

A search of federal court records for suits involving the corps turned up some 2,200 civil suits going back more than four decades. There are likely more, as online records are incomplete. Many cases involved environmental groups that opposed its projects or state agencies that opposed its regulations.

The Fargo-Moorhead diversion lawsuit and the Delaware ship-channel lawsuit are among just a handful involving the corps where a state uses its regulatory authority to try to shut down a project that another state or local government wants.

According to court records, the corps determined in 1992 after decades of study that the best way to improve shipping on the Delaware River was to deepen by five feet the existing ship channel from Philadelphia to the sea, allowing bigger ships to reach the port. The economic benefits were huge while, it said, environmental harm very small. Congress authorized the project and provided funding.

At first, the states of Delaware and New Jersey concurred with the project. But during a decade-and-half project delay caused, in part, by disagreement among local sponsors, the states decided the harm was actually greater than once thought.

When they tried to use their environmental regulations to block the project, the corps invoked two federal rules to override them.

One was Section 404(r) of the Clean Water Act, which allows the corps to discharge dredge and fill material without regard to state regulations if the project had an environmental review at the time Congress authorizes it.

The purpose of Section 404(r) is for Congress to receive sufficient information in order to make an informed judgment about whether to authorize a federal project, the the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit said in 2012. That did happen with the ship-channel project, it said.

Federal supremacy

Like the ship-channel project, the diversion project once had the support of all states involved and not just the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Authority, which represents metro-area local governments threatened with flooding.

Under Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the state of Minnesota supported the diversion so long as it was built in North Dakota and not in Minnesota, as the corps wanted. Gov. Mark Dayton, who was elected after the corps agreed to a North Dakota alignment, opposes the project because he believes it violates state laws and floods more land in Minnesota than it protects.

The challenge his DNR poses to the diversion includes a variety of permits. Among the most critical are the dam permit, which it has already denied, and the water-quality certification, which corps officials believe it would likely deny.

In the lawsuit filed in 2013, the group representing local governments upstream of the dam, the Richland-Wilkin Joint Powers Authority, argued the project must follow all state laws, as required by federal laws and the corps own rules. The DNR has argued much the same.

U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim, the judge presiding over the suit, is now considering a request for an injunction halting all work on the diversion on the grounds that the project isnt authorized by the DNR.

The corps has asserted that it is immune to DNR regulations as a federal agency working on a project authorized by Congress. When it invoked Section 404(r) in a March letter to Congress, it overrode Minnesotas requirement for a water-quality certification, Snyder said. He also noted that while the Diversion Authority applied for the dam permit in the spirit of cooperation with the DNR, the corps has never applied because it doesnt have to.

In its court filings, the DNR argues that, while the corps might build the dam, the Diversion Authority will be the owner. The authority, which includes Minnesota local governments, is not immune from state laws, and the DNR wont allow it to operate the dam.

Snyder asserted that the dam would still be a federal project.

Its entirely normal for the corps turn projects over to local sponsors to operate because of laws Congress passed in 1986 to reduce federal spending, he said. The corps, however, maintains ultimate control because local sponsors must operate projects exactly as the corps directs, he said.

If they dont follow that theyll be in breach of our agreements with them and then the corps will have the rights and ability to step in and take control, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 00:45:26|Editor: yan

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KATHMANDU, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Madhes-based ethnic parties on Sunday called off their planned agitation programs to disrupt upcoming local body elections scheduled for May 14 and June 14, leaders said.

The disgruntled Mades-based parties' decision came a day after they sealed a crucial deal with the ruling alliance, agreeing to join the local body elections.

A meeting of six Madhes-based fringe parties held in Kathmandu decided to postpone all planned agitation programs, hoping that the revised constitutional amendment tabled by the government in the Parliament will address their demands.

Rajendra Shrestha, a key leader of the Rashtriya Janata Party, warned that they would be forced to launch a fresh stir against the government if their demands were not met through constitutional amendments before the local body elections.

The Madhes-based parties, which represent Nepal's southern Terai, announced their unification and the launch of a new group called Rashtriya Janata Party on Thursday.

Government spokesman Surendra Kumar Karki told media that the government will register a revised constitution amendment bill at the parliament on Monday to address the demands of the Madhes-based parties.

The bill states that changes in federal boundaries, a key demand of the Madhes-based parties, will be determined by a federal restructuring commission to be formed by the government in future, according to the government spokesman.

The Madhes-based parties also demand more political representation at the provincial and upper house and re-demarcation of provincial boundaries.

The Madhes-centric parties have been launching protests since Nepal promulgated the new constitution in September 2015.

Over 55 people have been killed in the violent clashes between the protesters and the police during unrest in the Southern Terai region of Nepal bordering India.
An OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) observer talks on the phone near a car damaged by shelling in Elenovka village of eastern Ukraine, on April 27, 2016. (Xinhua/Ermochenko)

KIEV, April 23 (Xinhua) -- An employee of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was killed on Sunday when a vehicle of the OSCE special monitoring mission in Ukraine hit a landmine in eastern Lugansk region, local media reported.

Three other people were wounded in the incident, which occurred on a rural road in the area controlled by pro-independence insurgents, said the rebel-run Lugansk Information Center.

According to the information agency, the OSCE car has deviated from the regular route.

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz also said earlier on his twitter that an OSCE monitor died when his vehicle drove on a mine in Ukraine.

Currently, around 700 OSCE observers are deployed in Ukraine, with the majority of them monitoring the cease-fire between government troops and pro-independence insurgents.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 01:10:31|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Selam Fantahun, an Ethiopian high school dropout, feels that her life's prospects have brightened up since she landed a job at a Chinese shoe factory in Addis Ababa four months ago.

"I wouldn't say I've learned 100 percent of what I aspired to but I'm getting there, learning new skills everyday," says the perky girl.

Fantahun attaches soles of slipper shoes at the new partially finished plant of Huajian, a major Chinese shoe manufacturer. Encouraged by the salary increases and skills training of the company, she plans to stay a bit longer before planning to start her own business.

Fantahun is among the latest crop of Ethiopians learning skills in Huajian's second plant located on southern outskirt of the capital. Huajian has already established a shoe factory for six years in Dukem Industrial Zone 37 kms southeast of Addis Ababa.

The spacious plant named Huajian International Light Industry City covers 138 hectares, and is expected to be totally completed by 2020.

The new park expects to earn two billion U.S. dollars in annual export revenue and employ up to 50,000 Ethiopians.

That may seem ambitious, but perfectly attainable in the eyes of Zemdeneh Negatu, former managing partner of the consulting firm Ernest and Young (Ethiopia).

"Ethiopia has 100 million people, adds 2.5 million people annually. It has a young, dynamic, educated and affordable labor force only matched in Africa by Nigeria," says Negatu.

He also cites Ethiopia's cheap electricity rates at four U.S. dollar cents per kilowatt hour and the country's 4,200 megawatts of installed electricity capacity, second only to South Africa.

Arkebe Oqubay, board chairperson of Industrial Park Development Corporation, sees the benefit of firms like Huajian not just in terms of export revenues and employment opportunities.

"With china rebalancing its economy, its firms are eyeing Ethiopia's young labor force of 45 million, while also being attracted by the relative affordability of wage in Ethiopia," he says.

According to him, with the annual manufacturing growth standing at 25 percent in the coming 10 years the government hopes the share of manufacturing in exports will increase to 50 percent.

"In 10 years time, Ethiopia will be among the top ten populous nations in the world, with manufacturing creating two indirect jobs for every one direct jobs," says Oqubay, highlighting another rationale for the country's strong focus on manufacturing.

Already the country has inaugurated three industrial parks. The Hawassa Industrial Park (HIP) with a capacity to employ 60,000 people was built in a record nine months by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

Oqubay says nine more industrial park projects are planned or currently under construction by the Ethiopian government with an ability to employ more than 200,000 people when finished.

The industrialization plan is also part of the government's grand strategy to achieve middle income status for the nation by 2025.

With Ethiopian economy still dominated by agricultural commodities subjected to international price volatility and an ever increasing urban population standing at around 18 percent, the government counts on these projects to help create enough jobs and improve people's livelihoods.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 02:10:42|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) signed a memorandum of understanding here on Sunday to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions.

Under the MOU, both sides agreed to cooperate on areas, including development financing, staff exchanges, and analytical and sector work.

"It paves the way for the two institutions to further enhance coordination at the regional and country levels," said the World Bank in a statement on Sunday.

The two institutions have already signed a co-financing framework agreement last April. Since then, they have co-financed five projects, namely supporting power generation in Pakistan, a natural gas pipeline in Azerbaijan, and slum upgrading, dam safety, and regional infrastructure development in Indonesia.

World Bank and AIIB are discussing more projects to be co-financed in 2017 and 2018, said the statement.

"Signing this memorandum of understanding fits into our vision of a new kind of internationalism," said Jin Liqun, President of AIIB. "We place a high value on our partnerships because by working together, we greatly increase our potential for positive outcomes in Asia," the statement quoted Jin as said.

"Collaboration between development institutions is essential to make the best use of scarce resources, crow in the private sector, and meet the rising aspirations of the people we serve," said Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank.

Top multilateral development banks (MDBs), including World Bank, AIIB, New Development Bank, recently have agreed to deepen collaboration to encourage private sector investment in infrastructure to support sustainable and inclusive economic growth throughout the world.

These MDBs pledged not only to leverage their resources by joining forces to co-finance projects, but also help generate interest among private sector investors in public-private partnerships and the development of infrastructure.
File photo taken on Feb. 4, 2017 shows French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron addressing a campaign rally in Lyon, France. (Xinhua/Han Bing)

PARIS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Centrist candidate and former minister of economy Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen on Sunday came out on top in the first round of the French presidential election, according to projections by several pollsters.

An estimation by Elabe for local broadcaster BFMTV indicates that Macron leads with 23.7 percent of votes, and Le Pen 22 percent.

Another estimation by Ipsos says that Macron leads with 23.7 percent, and Le Pen 21.7 percent.

File photo taken on March 2, 2017 shows far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, delivering a speech during a campaign rally in Paris, France. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 04:00:59|Editor: Liangyu

BUDAPEST, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The 2017 Chinese Film Festival started here on Sunday with presence of world famous film star Jackie Chan and five movies, one of which is Jackie Chan's latest production, Kung Fu Yoga.

"We, Chinese and Hungarians and Europeans have a common language, and that language is no other than the language of culture, which we would like to speak more often and better," Hungarian Minister of Human Resources, Zoltan Balog said, after meeting with Jackie Chan.

Listing the numerous cultural ties between Hungary and China, Zoltan Balog recalled a Bela Bartok concert last year in Shanghai, as well as an exhibition in Budapest presenting the art of ancient China.

He also mentioned that Hungary opened its Culture Center in Beijing in 2013. "We would very much like, and we would very much support the opening of a Chinese Culture Centre here in Budapest," he underlined.

Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Duan Jielong said the present period was "the best in the relations between China and Hungary", and also stressed that the "art of the films helps the two people to better understand each other".

Duan also reminded that millions of people played with the Hungarian Rubik's cube, whereas many followers in Hungary practiced Kung Fu.

"Chinese cinema has a rich history of more than 110 years, and went through major reforms and development over the last ten years," said Zhang Hongsen, head of the film bureau at China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.

"Today, China is an international powerhouse in film productions and became the biggest market for films with the greatest number of film screens in the world," he added.

The festival that will last until April 29, will have screenings in the lavishly decorated Urania National Film Theatre of the Hungarian capital.

Besides Kung Fu Yoga, the festival will show "Xuan Zang", a biographical movie based on Xuanzang's journey to India during the Tang dynasty, "The book of love", a romantic comedy, as well as "Operation Mekong", which is an action film and finally "Mountains may depart", a romance motion picture.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 04:21:03|Editor: yan

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CAPE TOWN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry into alleged state capture by the Indian Gupta family.

Allegations that there are individuals who exercise undue influence over state appointments and procurement decisions should be a matter of great concern, Ramaphosa said while addressing a Chris Hani memorial lecture in Uitenhage, Port Elizabeth.

Hani, former leader of the South African Communist Party, was murdered in 1993 for opposing the apartheid regime.

Ramaphosa said the alleged state capture could destroy the ruling African National Congress (ANC) if such a practice is not stopped.

"They threaten the integrity of the state, undermine our economic progress and diminish our ability to change the lives of our people," Ramaphosa said.

The ANC, he said, should address the challenges it is facing, otherwise it would continue to lose support among its members, and potentially lose control of the country in upcoming elections.

The wealthy Guptas, which reportedly keeps close ties with President Jacob Zuma and his family, allegedy exercised undue influence on Zuma in the appointments of cabinet ministers and CEOs of state-owned enterprises.

Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela released a state capture report last year, calling for establishing a judicial commission of inquiry into the matter.

Ramaphosa said he supports the idea of setting up a commission of inquiry. If there was any wrongdoing it should be exposed, he said.

He urged the ANC to support the establishment of an effective, credible mechanism to investigate the claims.

"We know there is an elephant in the room, but we don't want to talk about it," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 04:26:03|Editor: yan

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COPENHAGEN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia has been accused of having hacked the Danish Ministry of Defense and gained access to its employees' emails in 2015 and 2016, local media reported on Sunday.

Defense Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen was quoted by Danish news agency Ritzau as saying that the group behind the hacking is linked to the Russian intelligence services.

"It is linked to the intelligence services or core elements of the Russian government, and it is an eternal struggle to keep them away," Frederiksen said.

According to a report by the Center for Cyber Security in the Military Intelligence Service, the hackers have gained access to so-called "non-classified information", but the attack can still harm Danish security.

The report explained that the information can be used to hire agents in the Danish military.

The group behind the attack was hacker group APT28, also called Fancy Bear, according to local newspaper Berlingske.
OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) observers conduct an investigation near a frontier inspection station in Ukraine on April 27, 2016. (XINHUA/SPUTNIK)

MOSCOW, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia is infuriated by the explosion of an OSCE special monitoring mission car in eastern Ukraine which could harm the peace process in the country, Russian Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

An employee of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was killed on Sunday when a vehicle of the OSCE special monitoring mission in Ukraine hit a landmine in eastern Lugansk region, local media reported.

"Deeply outraged by this cynical action...We call for a thorough and impartial investigation and bringing the perpetrators to justice," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its website, underlining the urgent need to ensure the security of OSCE monitors in the future.

Currently around 700 OSCE observers are deployed in Ukraine, with the majority of them monitoring the cease-fire between government troops and pro-independence insurgents.

The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that the peace process in the country might be at risk, noting that the circumstances of the incident indicates a high probability of "provocation aimed at undermining the settlement process of the conflict" in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

"It is obvious that such incidents and overall escalation of tension are beneficial to those who are not interested in implementing political, economic and humanitarian provisions of the Minsk package of measures," the statement read.

Two ceasefire agreements were reached in September 2014 and February 2015 respectively, aiming at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has been underway since April 2014, claiming some 10,000 lives.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 04:51:08|Editor: xuxin

File photo taken on Feb. 4, 2017 shows French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron addressing a campaign rally in Lyon, France . Centrist candidate and former minister of economy Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen on Sunday came out on top in the first round of the French presidential election, according to projections by several pollsters. (Xinhua/Han Bing)

PARIS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Centrist candidate and former minister of economy Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen on Sunday came out on top in the first round of the French presidential election, according to projections by polling agencies and official partial results.

An updated estimation by research firm Elabe for local broadcaster BFMTV indicates that Macron leads with 24 percent of votes, and Le Pen 21.8 percent.

A total of 11 candidates participated in this year's race towards French presidency, and the two leading candidates are set to face off in the runoff on May 7.

At a gathering after the vote, Le Pen hailed the results as "historic," and expressed "profound gratitude" to her supporters.

She called on voters to join her to create "national unity," promising to bring "great alternative" to the country.

Macron later also greeted a cheerful crowd of supporters, saying that "in one year, we have changed the face of French political life."

The centrist candidate, holding a prominent pro-European Union (EU) position throughout his campaign, urged unity in France and Europe, and pledged to revive the European project.

"I will be a president who transforms, protects and helps those have little," he said, promising to embrace "all the French people."

Outgoing French President Francois Hollande congratulated Macron on the phone for advancing into the second round, according to French media reports.

European Commission chief spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said on social media that Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the commission, also congratulated Macron on the results and "wished him good luck for the future."

Right-wing conservative candidate and former prime minister Francois Fillon conceded defeat Sunday night, and vowed to vote for Macron in the runoff on May 7.

"The defeat is mine. Do not scatter, stay united," Fillon told his supporters in a gathering after the vote.

Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon, in the fifth place, also announced that he would endorse Macron for the runoff vote.

According to the updated estimation, Fillon ends up in the third place with 19.9 percent of votes, while far-leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon ranks fourth with 19.3 percent.

"Once the official results are known, we will respect it," said Melenchen, who has not yet conceded defeat.
The weather was bad May 25, 1945, off the coast of Japan, with rain squalls reducing visibility to a mile.

And to U.S. Navy Gunners Mate third class Gerald Stork Nordquist, the Japanese fighter pilots seemed to swarm like mosquitoes.

From his post at his two-barrel 40 millimeter port-side gun on the USS Stormes, Nordquist saw a kamikaze pilot heading straight for him, and, with no time to think, he and the other men fired off rounds as fast as they could.

I can still see his teeth, Nordquist, who is now 91, said of the Japanese pilot.

At the last minute, the pilot pulled up slightly, missing Nordquist but careening into the ships stern, directly into the aft torpedo mount. A 500-pound bomb still on the plane exploded, incinerating one of the ships five-inch gun mounts that housed six or seven men. The ship was on fire.

When he reached the rear of the ship, Nordquist saw a friend of his, Robert Lewis, lying face down on the deck. When Nordquist reached to turn his friend over he realized the man had been split in half by the blast. He would be one of 21 men killed that day, along with 15 others who were injured.

Nordquist, who was born in Underwood and now lives in Washburn, volunteered for the military in 1943 but asked to be allowed to finish high school before starting duty. They had already lost half of the boys in the senior class who dropped out to join the war effort.

In June 1944, he was picked up by a 12-passenger bus taking other McLean County soldiers to the train station, where they caught the train to Minneapolis. After bootcamp, Nordquist was sent to Naval Station Treasure Island off the coast of San Francisco.

Nordquist and his good friend, Oswald, had been in submarine training when they were told: We dont need subs; we need destroyers. So they headed to Seattle, where they would board the USS Stormes with about 290 other crew members.

Admiral Holmer Wallin, a Washburn native, was in charge of the shipyard and commissioned the ship saying: This is going to be a good ship, a real good ship. When some yelled out, Why? he answered there were two North Dakotans on board, Nordquist being one of them.

Nordquist sailed first to Hawaii then to Guam to load up on ammunition before going to Japan, where the USS Stormes crew would help patrol the outer perimeter of a naval convoy, protecting the aircraft carriers and battleships from attack.

For defenses, Nordquist said they had bombs they called ash cans that could be dumped over the edge of the ship on top of submarines below. The USS Stormes crew had at least four good hits destroying enemy submarines, he said. They also had four torpedoes and five-inch guns, in addition to the 40-millimeter guns that Nordquist helped man.

We had fire power, he said.

But the kamikaze attack would take the USS Stormes out of the war for a long series of repairs.

When the ship was back in service, it was sent east. Nordquist would sail through the Panama Canal then spent three weeks training gunners at Guantanamo Bay before joining what was known as Operation Frostbite.

Nordquist said the U.S. was worried about threats from Russia, so he and his shipmates were sent for test operations off the coast of Iceland. Donning cold weather gear, they spent hours chipping ice off the sides of the ship. He said there were times the waves were high enough they couldnt see the other ships over the crest of the next wave.

Nordquist would be discharged in mid-1946, returning to Washburn to join his brother, a fellow veteran who served in the Marines during the Great Depression, at the local Oliver tractor implement dealership. The brothers would also begin selling Ford cars, and Nordquist would spend a 56-year career there.

His parents ran a cafe and hotel in town, where the hotel doubled as a bus stop.

Nordquist was reading the paper at the hotel one day when a woman stepped off the bus and approached him. She was to be a new teacher at the school.

He only dropped the paper long enough to say hi, but lucky for him, she forgave his curt manner. Nordquist and Mildred married in 1949. They had two sons and two daughters and now have seven grandchildren and soon-to-be eight great-grandchildren.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 04:51:09|Editor: yan

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JOHANNESBURG, April 23 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's ruling party, African National Congress (ANC), has proposed various organizational changes aimed at making the party operate efficiently.

At a media briefing in Johannesburg on Sunday, Fikile Mbalula, chairperson of ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) Subcommittee on Organizational Development said, the ANC would like to elect capable leadership who are disciplined and are well-groomed to serve the organization and the masses.

According to the chairperson, the party proposed a program of political education training, and they have been sending some of its senior cadres to political education schools in China. The party also proposes to reduce the number of the NEC members to a manageable size. The ANC currently have 86 NEC members.

"We want to do like the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee who have no more than 25 politburo members. The CPC politburo members are not parachuted to these positions, they have undergone rigorous developments and understand the party. We want to reduce the size of the NEC and balance it with women and children selected on the strength of ideological development," said Mbalula.

The party also proposes the establishment of party structures in different sectors of society. These will include in the corporate, universities, state enterprises and other sectors.

A Revolutionary Council was also proposed, which will vet party officials who had been selected for party positions like the NEC. Mbalula said, "We need leaders with impeccable credentials. The Revolutionary Council will scrutinize and interrogate nominees and ensure we do not elect what we call 'factory faults.' The Revolutionary Council members should be party veterans who have no interest to lead but implement the ANC constitution."

The ANC will have the National Policy Conference from June 30 to July 5, where the proposals will be discussed and finally become resolutions.

The first two days will be dedicated to the discussion to address the weaknesses of the organization. Some senior party members have been of late publicly expressing different views on policy issues. Mbalula said they would also want to improve the party discipline which they have identified.

"We want the ANC to be self-oriented or renew without losing traditional outlook. We want the party to be responsive to be inclusive and respond to the current conjecture. We want the party to adapt with time and reexamine itself. If we do not do that the organization will die," he said.

"We want senior members to exercise maximum discipline. NEC members must think before they speak. NEC and Cabinet members must lead and provide direction. Their rights are limited. They have to explain policy issues," he added.

The decisions taken at the ANC Policy Conference will be approved by the Elective Conference in December 2017.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 05:01:12|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian and U.S. navies launched on Sunday a joint exercise in the waters of the Red Sea, Egypt's army said in a press release.

According to the release, the drills, dubbed "Eagle Salute 2017," come as part of an Egyptian army's plan for joint exercises with friendly countries to improve mutual military capabilities on the use of latest technologies.

Italy, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Pakistan are participating in the exercise as monitors.

The exercise includes a wide range of activities such as planning and organizing joint combat operations, both day and night, in coordination with air force elements.

The combat scenarios involve securing maritime areas against various threats.

Other activities include search-and-rescue training and inspecting and raiding suspect ships, with the participation of naval and special units from both sides.

The bilateral relations between Egypt and the United States deteriorated after the Egyptian military ousted former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, which led Trump's predecessor Barack Obama to cancel the joint Egyptian-U.S. military exercise of Bright Star.

The ties, however, have improved under the new U.S. administration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to support the key ally with 1.3 billion U.S. dollars annually in military aid.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 05:16:43|Editor: yan

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By Xinhua Writer Xia Lin

MEXICO CITY, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Some just came, and others have ploughed for years. No matter how long they have been present in Latin America, Chinese manufacturers, constructors and service providers are binding into a beneficial force for the continent, nourishing its people.

Business may be profit-oriented, but those from China elevate themselves with a willingness to help empower regional economies, thus harvesting heartfelt acceptance and appraisal, as Xinhua has found through interviews with seven Chinese enterprises operating in six Latin American countries.

COMPUTERS, CARS AND FLIGHTS, ALL ARE MUCH NEEDED PRODUCTIVITY

In the outskirts of Havana, China's international brand of IT facilities Haier has helped Cuba establish its first ever computer-assembling factory.

Since its inauguration in December 2016, over 3,500 laptops and 4,000 tablets have been made and sold to state companies and government agencies.

Its annual production capacity is designed at 12,000 units, a potential impetus to the country's digital endeavor to improve its lowest internet connectivity rate among the world.

"This project will give the country, young people, schools, doctors and other professionals an option of important work tool with good quality, services and properties at an affordable price," local employee Jose Antonio Sanchez told Xinhua in a recent interview.

On March 28, with the sponsorship of the world's fourth richest man, Mexico's magnate Carlos Slim, Chinese automaker JAC Motors unveiled two compact SUVs in Mexico City, which were assembled at its plant in the municipality of Tepeapulco in central state Hidalgo.

With an investment of 230 million U.S. dollars, 10,000 vehicles in five years, 1,000 direct jobs and 4,000 indirect ones are foreseeable in its blueprint.

"We have done a lot of tests in the market for acclimation. Based in Mexico, we strive for size and brand building. With the Mexican base, we are supposed to expand to Central America and the Caribbean," David Zhang, deputy general manager of JAC International, told Xinhua.

On April 11, China Southern Airlines inaugurated a flight connecting China's Guangzhou City with Mexico City, the company's first such flight to Latin America, which Mexico hopes to help boost tourism from China.

"China is an important tourist emitter. In 2016, Mexico received 74,300 (Chinese) visitors, a 33.5 percent rise over 2015, making (China) the second most important Asian market," Salvador Sanchez, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Mexico, told the inauguration ceremony.

TRAINS AND AIR CONDITIONERS, ALL COMFORT COMMON LIVES

CRRC, China's state-owned rolling stock manufacturer, has been providing comprehensive service to Argentina's railway renovation project for the past five years.

Dilapidated railroad system once hampered the third largest economy in Latin America from further development, and even triggered off accidents. This is how CRRC has been accepted as a strategic partner to revive the transportation lifeline, with its advanced equipment, technology and human resource.

In Brazil, Gree, China's largest air conditioner producer, has pulled ahead of its competitors in the market, with energy-efficient technology, updated products and omnipresent service.

As one of the earliest Chinese home appliance producers going overseas, Gree has been in Brazil for 16 years, present in 24 states with over 300 dealers and 500-strong service providers.

Apart from its split systems with inverter design, Gree is famous for energy and environment conservation, winning appraisal from the Brazilian government.

"The job fulfills me," said Andreza Rocha, a local employee of Gree Brazil. "I fit the cultural atmosphere of this enterprise. The senior managers from China are excellent, from whom I have learned a lot."

APARTMENTS AND RESCUE CENTERS, ALL HELP GOVERNMENT MANAGE COUNTRIES

In Peru, Yanjian Group from eastern China's Shandong province has gained strong foothold through eight years of hard work, with new contracts rolling in. Under one contract, Yanjian will build a national emergency response center in Lima.

"With 65-year-long construction experience and consideration of the local demands, we pay much attention to the details of design and building to meet as many requirements as possible," Wang Shuwei, general manager of Yanjian Peru, told Xinhua.

In Ecuador, a lot of people got their lives saved by dialing 911, when the 7.8 magnitude earthquake jolted its north coast on April 16, 2016, killing 673 civilians.

The hot line is handled by the ECU 911 service, which was developed by the China National Electronics Import & Export Corp. (CEIEC), integrating the country's emergency response and rescue services into a single platform.

The project started in 2011 and now there are 16 ECU 911 centers across Ecuador, including two national ones in the capital city of Quito and Guayaquil, its most populous city.

Thanks to CEIEC, "we have great technological contingent, great capacity of our servers, and support and contingency at the electrical and telecommunications levels," Andres Sandoval, national director of ECU 911, told Xinhua on the quake's anniversary.

DIFFICULTIES LIE AHEAD

Though very much determined, the Chinese entities never see Latin America as an easy target.

"There are higher standards in Mexico. Chinese vehicles are late comers to Mexico, later than they entered other markets of Latin America," said David Zhang.

China's IT technology and equipment providers in Cuba needs more support from the Chinese government, just like the U.S. administration helps their providers here, according to Haier.

Upgrading the railway system demands ample financial backing from the Argentine government, which is still fighting a consistent recession, said Fabian Malvillini.

Many Chinese enterprises in Latin America believe there are still great challenges for them to do business in the continent, due to long distance, disparate standards, absent policy backup and financial constraints. But the big market and the local people will keep them staying on, no matter how hard it will be.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 05:21:44|Editor: MJ

Cruise liner "Empress of the Seas" arrives in Havana April 23, 2017, the second vessel of the U.S. company Royal Caribbean to visit Cuba. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez)

HAVANA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The cruise liner "Empress of the Seas" arrived in Havana for the first time on Sunday, becoming the second vessel from the U.S. company Royal Caribbean to arrive on the island.

The ship, belonging to one of the world's largest cruise operators, arrived with around 1,500 passengers on board.

Measuring over 200 meters long, the "Empress of the Sea" was received with a ceremony headed by the vice-president of Royal Caribbean, Mark Tamis, and the general manager of Cuba's state-owned Aries Transportes, Angel Diaz.

Addressing the ceremony, Diaz said cruise ship visits were broadening the opportunities for Americans to visit Cuba and get to know its reality.

Royal Caribbean offers cruises from Miami with stops in Havana, which began on March 31. It is the fourth American cruise company to have added Havana to its destinations.

The arrival of Americans in Cuba has progressively risen ever since the two countries restored diplomatic ties in 2015. In the first quarter of 2017, the arrival of American tourists was up 118 percent year-on-year, according to official Cuban data.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 05:21:45|Editor: xuxin

File photo taken on Feb. 4, 2017 shows French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron addressing a campaign rally in Lyon, France . Centrist candidate and former minister of economy Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen on Sunday came out on top in the first round of the French presidential election, according to projections by several pollsters. (Xinhua/Han Bing)

PARIS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Centrist candidate and former minister of economy Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen on Sunday came out on top in the first round of the French presidential election, are scheduled to compete in a runoff vote on May 7, according to projections based on initial vote counts by polling agencies and official partial results.

Following are major facts about the two contenders:

-- Emmanuel Macon, 39, On the Move (En Marche)

Macron was an advisor to current President Francois Hollande during his election campaign and later became his economy minister in 2014 to replace ousted economy minister Arnaud Montebourg.

He was one of main figures that forged the law on growth and activity and responsibility pact, flagship pieces of the Socialist government's roadmap to revive sluggish growth and lower unemployment in France.

Two years later, he quit his post to focus on his political career after creating his own political movement "On the Move," which he described "neither in the left nor in the right."

Launching his own bid, Macron, a former investment banker, has been portraying himself as a "candidate for jobs," and proposing "progressive" measures to "pull France into the 21st century."

He pledged to further reduce French high employment charges and increase workers' minimum wages by 500 euros (535.9 U.S. dollars) per year by cutting taxes on wages. He also wants to raise taxes on consumption and wealthy pensioners.

Furthermore, he promised to cut public expenditure by 60 billion euros in order to stick to France's commitments to bring down budget deficit to the eurozone threshold of 3 percent.

He would also reduce corporate tax to 25 percent from the current 33.3 percent and to slash public sector headcount by 120,000 over the next term.

In addition, he proposed a public investment scheme worth 50 billion euros aimed to improve training, financing energy transition and modernizing the country's administrative services.

Macron promised to boost the defense budget, hire 10,000 police officers and raise funding for schools.

Following projections indicating he would advance to the second round, Macron greeted a cheerful crowd of supporters Sunday night, saying that "in one year, we have changed the face of French political life."

The centrist candidate, holding a prominent pro-European Union (EU) position throughout his campaign, urged unity in France and Europe, and pledged to revive European projects.

"I will be a president who transforms, protects and helps those have little," he said, promising to embrace "all the French people."

-- Marine Le Pen, 48, National Front (Front National)

Heading the National Front party, the 48-year-old lawyer portrayed herself as "the candidate of people" and a credible voice to secure secularism and French identity by toughening citizenship requirements, shutting borders and forbidding foreigners from access to any social aid.

She said to put to voters via a referendum a proposal to reserve certain rights, including free education, now available to all residents, to French citizens only.

If elected, Le Pen pledged to impose an extra tax on companies who hire foreigners and make harder for illegal migrants to legalize their situation.

Le Pen targets a GDP growth at 2.5 percent per year by the end of 2022 and a budget deficit at 1.3 percent, down from an expected rate of 4.5 percent in 2018.

She promised to cut charges on small enterprises and on households, in addition to lower retirement age to 60 from 62.

The French lawyer was the youngest daughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the National Front (FN).

Le Pen joined the National Front in 1986 at the age of 18. She joined its Political Bureau in 2000 and became the party's vice president in 2003.

In 2011, she succeeded his father to head the National Front party created in 1972.

Le Pen was the only FN candidate to pass the first round of 2007 legislative elections and garnered 42 percent of votes in the second round.

In 2012, Le Pen came third in presidency election first round with an unexpected high vote of 17.9 percent.

In 2014, the party reported big gains in the EU ballots after collecting 24.85 percent of the vote and snatched 24 seats in the European Parliament.

At a gathering after Sunday's vote, Le Pen hailed the results as "historic," and expressed "profound gratitude" to her supporters.

She called on voters to join her to create "national unity," promising to bring "great alternative" to the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 05:51:49|Editor: yan

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CARACAS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday accused opposition lawmakers of being responsible for "crimes against the people" after violence soared during protests in recent days.

During his weekly address in the National Assembly, Maduro accused opposition legislators Jose Guerra and Tomas Guanipa of being the main actors of several violent actions in Caracas, the capital of the country.

According to Maduro, Guerra hired 15-20 "thugs" to attack the Materno Infantil Hospital in Caracas on the night of April 20 and called for an investigation over the attack.

Violent protests have been staged in the streets of Caracas since early April against the government and clashes between the police and protesters have claimed at least 15 lives.
China's special envoy to Syria, Xie Xiaoyan, says that the only way out for Syrians is through political settlement with peace negotiations. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

CAIRO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China's special envoy to Syria, Xie Xiaoyan, said on Sunday that the only way out for Syrians is through political settlement with peace negotiations.

Speaking to Chinese and Egyptian media representatives in Cairo, the Chinese official said he does not see a quick fix to the Syrian issue, stressing that the military option is not a solution.

Xie Xiaoyan is on an official visit to Cairo where he met with officials from the Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs to discuss the solutions possible to the Syrian crisis.

"Egypt is a major player in the Syrian issue and a strategic partner for China as it plays a very enthusiastic constructive role," he said.

Xie added that it is important for China and Egypt to keep in touch to exchange information and views, and also talk about the measures that are needed to be taken so as to make steps forward.

Speaking about the situation in Syria, he said the situation remains tense and precarious, most notably after the alleged chemical attack that killed many people in Syria.

"The basic position of China is this: we are firmly against and strongly condemn any use of chemical weapons by any country, any organization or any individual under any circumstances in any place at any time," the Chinese official said.

Second, he added, China calls for "an independent, impartial, professional and thorough investigation into the case to find out the perpetrators, catch them, condemn them and punish them according to international law and conventions."

"It is important to start the investigation, but the formation of the investigation team should be just, independent and balanced so as to provide credibility and authority, and the findings must be accompanied with hard reliable evidence and actual facts," he stressed.

The envoy also said that the Syrian parties should not divert from the correct path as political settlement through negotiations, adding that they should also show political will to engage in dialogue for understanding of each other, to "make sacrifices when sacrifices are required."

"I see some positive developments...there is ceasefire in place and basically the ceasefire agreement is holding," the Chinese official said, adding that the most important thing at the moment is that the parties should avoid any escalation of tension and fully implement the ceasefire agreement.

The official also said that another positive development is a stronger realization and commitment to fight against terrorism which does block any incentives for peace negotiations.

The Syrian crisis started on March 15, 2011, and evolved into a full-fledged war that involved outside powers.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, More than 310,000 people have been killed during Syria's six-year war.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 06:16:57|Editor: yan

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BUDAPEST, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The worldwide celebrity Jackie Chan, who was the guest star of the opening ceremony of the 2017 Chinese Film Festival here on Sunday, told reporters he would be considering making a film in Hungary.

"Hungary is a place where I have always wanted to come, the scenery here is really beautiful, and most importantly it is cheap, and that counts nowadays when making movies around the world becomes more and more expensive," the martial arts master said shortly before the beginning of the ceremony.

The 2017 Chinese Film Festival kicked off here Sunday with five movies, one of witch is Jackie Chan's latest production, Kung Fu Yoga.

"Hungary has a very good filming environment. Today, I arrived at five o'clock, but I immediately went to see the city's scenery: it is really very beautiful, and also very clean, the air and the weather are also very good, I consider making a film here," he added.

He also recalled that his film "Shanghai noon 2" was set to be shot in Hungary, but finally went to Prague, because of tax issues.

Chan is not only an actor, but also a well-known producer. According to him, he made close to 250 films.

He explained that he was thinking of retirement, when the U.S. market suddenly opened up to him, and later, "when the U.S. market shrank, the Chinese market started to grow, and is getting bigger and bigger," he explained.

"I do not know when to retire. I believe in work transformation, later, and then a few years later I will mainly act in feature films, art films, and less action films," he told Xinhua.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-04-24 06:37:00|Editor: yan

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ALGIERS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Foreign Ministry summoned Morocco's ambassador here on Sunday in protest of Morocco's accusations that Algeria expelled Syrian refugees into Morocco.

"Following serious accusations by Moroccan authorities that blame Algeria for forcing Syrian refugees to illegally enter Moroccan territories from the two countries' shared border, Algeria has expressed to the Ambassador of Morocco its categorical rejection for these false allegations," a ministry statement said.

"These completely groundless accusations are only intended to harm Algeria's ethics and well-established tradition of hospitality," the statement added.

Earlier on Sunday, Moroccan media reported that 55 Syrian refugees from Algeria were left helpless near the country's borders with Algeria, noting that Moroccan authorities prevented them from entering the country and accused its western neighbor of forcing them into Morocco.

Algiers and Rabat have been in tense relations with their border closed since 1994, the year Rabat started to impose visa entry on Algerian nationals as Morocco suspected Algerian security services of being behind a bomb attack in Marrakesh.
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Spoken word poets face off

Sylvester observed this years competition has been really stiff, admiring the work of new and older poets.

The competition is stiffer and the poets better.

It is just a testament of how spoken word is growing in Trinidad and Tobago. Sylvester, in an interview on Friday, said the poets were more professional in terms of their topics and approach.

You can see local poets really growing and improving their craft all around. He predicted the show will be impactful as the issues to be addressed are one which many people can relate to.

You do not want to miss this show. The Grand Slam, part of the 2017 NGC Bocas Lit Fest, is being held at Lord Kitchener Auditorium, National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port-of- Spain.

Jean-Claude Cournand, managing director/ founder of the 2 Cents Movement which organises the event, explained the competition evolved out of the Verses Poetry Slam at the University of the Southern Caribbean in 2012.

The following year, they teamed with Bocas Lit Fest and the competition became Verses Bocas. It remained Verses Bocas up to 2015, and when in 2016 First Citizens came on board as lead sponsor the competition was renamed the First Citizens National Poetry Slam. The finalists include 2014 Verses Bocas Slam winner Idrees Saleem and 2016 Courts Bocas Secondary Schools Spoken Word Intercol champion Shineque Saunders.

Cournand said this year, the sixth edition of the original slam, looks exciting. He reported the poets have been practising and working together, discussing ideas and concepts for poems.

However, he believes the art of spoken word still has a long way to go to establish itself.

The competition is young and still vulnerable.

Every year is a fight and we cannot take for granted that it will carry itself. Cournand said there are some people who do not like the idea of a competition or a poetry slam, or feel poets are just competing for the money. But in every artist in the finals, you can see the level of work, focus and dedication they put into their craft.

Thirty-four poems were produced for the semifinals which were narrowed down to tonights 13. Cournand said these pieces become part of artists repertoire and what they perform regularly.

Because of the competition, the poets push themselves in ways they did not even know they could and are rewarded justly. Some poets have been able to earn enough money to continue their art and work.

He pointed out that after Sylvester won last year, he was able to perform at a number of places.

Cournand gave the analogy of the Soca Monarch competition pointing out that many soca artistes would not have achieved prominence without that structure in place. He explained the slam is a strategic and important developmental tool, though not the only one.

He said there are other tools such as open mike sessions, performing in schools and paid gigs.

Cournand stressed that competition is not the highest mode of existence but it allows artists to ask themselves how can they better their craft and how do people perceive their work.

The $50,000 prize, more than double of last years $20,000, is the largest in the Caribbean and Latin America, and one of the largest in the world. He reported he has not found a slam with a larger prize; he found a poetry slam in Australia with a cash prize of US$5000 or more than TT $30,000.

The prize was appropriate for what spoken word means in this country especially with a rich oral tradition and heritage. TT , he noted, has a high number of spoken word artists per capita while in the United States it is still an underground, niche art.

In Trinidad and Tobago it is beginning to carry a certain respect, he added.

Cournand said the competition should be a premiere international event. On the growth of the competition, he said the show was of a high standard which attracted First Citizens to invest in it.

People who come are impressed. We carving out a market out of almost nothing. He said people could be part of the bandwagon later on or be a part now when spoken word is budding and emerging.

Cournand predicted spoken word would become mainstream, but it was fun to be part of the early stages, similar to being a part of calypso when it was still growing.

Part of a moment of history in art, he added.

The show starts at 5.15 pm and will include a tassa band, riddim section, DJ, a tribute to late Nobel Laureate Sir Derek Walcott and guest artistes.
The art of art therapy

But art therapist and psychotherapist, Sian MacLean, assures it is beneficial to all, especially those who have difficulty with verbal communication, or for people who suffer from trauma.

Art brings a third element into the therapy room - the therapist, the client, and the art. It can bridge communication.

It is utilised in a way to help tell a story, to help expression, when people just dont have the words to say how they feel because sometimes there just arent any words to express an incredible pain. But if youre able to draw it, paint it or sculpt it, the therapist can really get an idea of whats going on, explains MacLean.

As a psychotherapist, MacLean treats clients with mental or emotional disorders by talking about problems rather than using medication. She says art therapy is beneficial to anyone willing to engage in the process. While some people are willing to dive head first into art, many adults tend to be reserved.

Therefore, she uses a variety of techniques including lifelines, which help clients chronicle their lives, or body drawings which she describes as an external representation of their internal world, where illustrate how they feel.

MacLean explains that someone who experiences trauma at a very young age, or who has chronic trauma, may not be able to remember exactly what happened or the sequence of events. She adds that trauma responses, such as fight or flight, can stay in the body if a person does not process it, so something simple could trigger a reaction. Art can help a person figure things out.

To do that, MacLean uses a variety of media including paint, pastels, crayons, colour pencils, poetry, clay, and three-dimensional materials such as tin foil and papier mache.

With any trauma there is the sensory memory of what happened, then there is the narrative. Thats in two different parts of the brain. When you do art that comes from sensory memory and they can actually help give you the words.

It can actually help fill in the missing pieces, so if there are gaps in the narrative or you are totally confused about what happened first or when it happened, the art can help piece things together.

Trauma manifests itself in physical and emotional symptoms--- hyper-arousal, pains, panic, flashbacks, nightmares.

There is also a sense of powerlessness because something happened that is beyond their control. Different exercises can help empower. It can help stabilise. For example if someone is completely overwhelmed, they can do things to help them regulate and calm down. The main point, she says, is to allow the client to tell their story, and to give them hope.

However, a therapist should not just decide to add art to their sessions and call it art therapy, MacLean notes. While the therapist does not have to be an artist, some knowledge and experience with art and art materials is necessary because different materials, textures and colours could trigger different emotions, she explains.

In TT there are five trained art therapists who have formed The Art Therapy Association of Trinidad and Tobago. Their hope is to bring awareness of art therapy into the community.

A 15-year-old client of MacLean told Sunday Newsday she started art therapy two years ago, when her parents discovered that she self-harmed. She said her parents thought she needed therapy and sent her to a child psychiatrist (medical doctor specialising in childrens mental health) who recommended she also work with MacLean.

When my parents told me they thought therapy could help me, I didnt exactly agree with them because I thought what I was going through was normal and I was fine. When it was explained how it works, how it would help me, I started taking art therapy seriously and with an open mind.

But mostly, I took it seriously when I stopped believing that I couldnt recover, and started thinking that getting better was something that was happening and something I wanted. The teenager says she always liked art and practised at school and at home. Plus, she found it was easier to express herself through art because talking about her issues is sometimes difficult.

In therapy, she draws and paints but also likes to work with clay. Clay is good because of the texture. Its good for venting and stuff. Even when I do want to talk, having done the art it makes it easier to explain myself or certain aspects of how I feel. She has also learned techniques to calm herself and says art therapy helps her understand herself and her trauma more.

I have grown a lot since I started. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. Its not just for people who are inclined to art. You dont even have to be particularly good at drawing or painting. Its all about expression. Its especially good if you have problems with words or talking about certain things. It helps you to process things easier
Crafting old news

This craft has really energised me, she says of her latest artistic endeavour.

It offers a lot of different avenues to do all manner of things. Chappin has mastered the art of newspaper craft, so much so that she teaches a class at the public library, opposite to her home and business place on Brierley Street, Sangre Grande.

I have to pass on my knowledge, she said in a Sunday Newsday interview.

It is not just about doing this and keeping it to myself. This is something for future generations. With her slogan, Taking Nothing And Making It Into Something, Chappin has turned her knack for newspaper craft into a thriving business with customers from all over the country.

The mother of six said her clients are fascinated by the unusual and often inexpensive items she produces at her home.

She could not say, though, if hers is a unique talent.

I really cant say if anybody else is doing it but people from all over come here and I feel proud. In fact, Chappin said several of her past students also have taken the art to other parts of the world, including Nigeria and South Africa.

One of my students went to Canada about one month ago and she is going to start a class of her own, doing the same newspaper work. Chappin said the class, which began just two years ago, currently has an enrolment of about 25 women.

But interest is growing. People are still coming because they want to join in time for Christmas to make their house beautiful.

So, then I would have to incorporate drapes and cushion covers into the class, she joked.

Chappin said the classes are generally conducted twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 1-3 pm. Sometimes, it can run until late evening depending on the assignment, she said.

The artisan, however, noted that some people join the class but leave prematurely believing they have perfected the craft after just a few lessons.

What I have recognised is that some of them will be interested, start the class, and feel they know but they do not because you can take one pattern and make so many things out of one pattern. But is how to make it. You must have the technique. Chappin said she hosted a hugely successful exhibition last year, and another was being planned for some time in the upcoming months.

Once a member of the ancillary staff at the nearby Cunapo (St Francis RC) School, which she also attended in her youth, Chappin has always enjoyed art and craft.

There, she earned the title, flowers lady, in keeping with her penchant for using mostly flowers alongside other items in her creations.

Chappin also has used Bristol board, plastic and cardboard to create beautiful ornamental pieces, over the years.

But rather than utilise the ready-made craft merchandise available in stores, Chappin uses old, inexpensive and discarded items in her pieces.

So, if I or any of my students have to make a chair cushion, it must not cost over $5. I dont want the idea for people to start buying things, she said.

You could take paper and you could make flowers. I sold some gazette paper flowers that you would not believe is gazette paper flowers. I sold the plant pots and made curtains out of gazette paper and people cant believe it.

I believe that craft is not about going out and buying things to do it. I believe that you can take nothing and make it into a beautiful something. She said far too often people discard things which they feel have no value. But when I used to walk from school, I would see things all over the place. Chappin recalled taking a cover from a soft drink bottle, one day, and creating what she felt was a beautiful piece of art. I said to myself, If you take that and put it on a cardboard and tile it, that will look good. My thoughts just started to go wild. The soft drink bottle, she felt, could also have been turned into a vase.

You start imagining all sorts of things that could come out from nothing. Her introduction to newspaper art came quite by accident.

Chappin recalled that two years ago she had received a call from workers at the library, who told her that the children wanted assistance to build a Christmas tree.

She quickly agreed but requested help in acquiring the material.

We eventually made the Christmas tree out of cardboard. Days later, while walking through the main street in Sangre Grande, Chappin observed a visually-impaired man twisting some straw.

I said to myself that I could do that but instead of using straw, I decided to use newspaper to make a Christmas tree and it was at that point that the class started. Chappin has since made vases, cups, dishes and a host of accent pieces, both for her home and commercial purposes.

Dolls, bicycle wheels, canes and garbage disposal bins are also among the objects Chappin has fashioned with her skilful hands.

She did not perfect the art overnight but has laboured painstakingly to get the desired results.

I learnt by trial and error. Her first order of business, she said, is usually to get the raw sheets of newspaper print, which is then rolled and glued into a long, pointy stick, referred to as a pipe.

You use the glue to form a pipe and bending it (newspaper) to start to plait (in the form of the desired object). So, all you have to do at the end of the day is to buy glue. Chappin recommends wood glue for newspaper craft, mainly for economical reasons.

If I use the standard glue they sell, it costs too much. So, I buy a gallon of glue for students, it might last two months. She said the glue should be dried to the point where it loses its softness, after which varnish or poster paint must be applied, depending on the finish required.

You then have something to last a lifetime. It is a beautiful craft. With the downturn in the economy, Chappin said newspaper craft can be an avenue through which young, unemployed people, craft lovers and others can earn a decent living. Young people now feel they cant survive but you could. All you have to do is use your imagination. With this class, someone could be self-employed because when you make things, it sells. Remember, this is something that many people dont know about. People are still amazed when they hear the word newspaper. I have sold vases for as much as $500. So, people could make a profit out of it.

But what I want them to understand is that the theme is taking nothing and making something. Chappin makes a point of creating one-of-a-kind items for her clients.

God bless my hands. Whatever I get, I will use to the best of my ability. When I make something for somebody, they are guaranteed that no other person will have that because I have put my stamp on it, she said with a laugh.
The lunch hour debate

It is about helping children to overcome the violence they see around them in their homes and communities, particularly those in crime hot-spots, Homer Andrews (not his real name), a teacher at a primary school in west Trinidad.

Andrews does not agree with a proposal by the National Primary Schools Principals Association to reduce the lunch hour, mainly to limit fights, which in some cases lead to injuries, among students.

The suggestion is to be discussed with stakeholders Education Minister Anthony Garcia said last week, and, for now, is not a policy.

Andrews also disagrees with the views of TT Unified Teachers Association president Lynsley Doodhai that the lunch break is teachers time, that a period for them to recharge.

Lunch time is the childrens time, which Andrews says they need especially at the all boys school where he is one of four men on a teaching staff of 18.

This gender imbalance among teachers adds a special challenge to maintain discipline, said Andrews.

Supervision of the boys, which is required, at lunch time fall on the men, as the women do not go into the school yard and play with them.

Even for physical education, which on the timetable, it is the men who either carry out the exercises or assist the women who find it difficult to get the boys to listen to them.

When he was at the teachers training college, Andrews was one of 10 men from a batch of 60.

Most teachers coming out of the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the University of the West Indies today, he said, are women and many of them cannot discipline children whose role models are gang members and gang leaders.

This is the scenario for Andrews school which is in a depressed community where gang wars, even among schools, are common. As a result, the boys do not know how to play and socialise in school because they do not have men they can look up to and learn from where they live.

If there is no police presence in the area, he said, the male teachers have to walk to certain street corners to ensure some children do not get into fights with children from other schools.

Female and male teachers in schools in communities like mine, he said, have to be tough. Teachers, too, he said, have to be careful because they are unaware of gang affiliations.

Andrews however sees lunch time as an opportunity to help children relate with each other, but schools need either more teachers or volunteers to supervise and play with them on their break.

On the notion that lunch time is teachers time Andrew said, that may apply at some schools but not where I teach because teachers are required to supervise children during the break, and that role tends to fall mainly on the male teachers. Most times, when there is a problem, the male teachers are called on to talk to or to discipline the student.

Disciplinary measures was a big problem since corporal punishment is banned and suspension is seen as a holiday by the children.

To curb indiscipline, Andrews said, his school instituted measures such as internal suspension which makes students do community service in the school.

Like Andrews, some teachers from public and private schools, as well as parents Sunday Newsday interviewed, support leaving the one-hour lunch break because they felt it allowed children to release pent up energy and to socialise. And it was also seen as necessary for teachers to reboot and focus on the afternoon classes.

It had been suggested that 30-minute lunch worked well in some private schools. However, Oneika Bushell, whose two children attend a private school, told Sunday Newsday the proposal is a retrograde step. Last year, her sons school suggested to parents that the lunch break be reduced to half hour but the parent teachers association opposed it mainly because members felt it will rob children of play time.

Private schools, she said, should ensure supervision of students during their breaks. Parents have a role too, she said, to teach children to respect each other.

Suggesting that retirees and grand-parents could be employed part-time to monitor and supervise children during lunch breaks, Bushell said, You dont want strangers around your children. Marcel De Freitas, whose children go to a public school, took issue with the view the teachers felt the lunch break was their time adding he was unaware that they were not required to supervise children at that time.

TTUTA is on dotishness and that is why there is so much indiscipline in schools, he said adding that teachers get more holidays than other professionals.

Private school teacher Maria Alexander works with a 30-minute break but is not in favour of it. She said the younger children need their break as they become restless after lunch.

Teachers at her school, she said, are rostered to monitor the children during the breaks as part of their job description. They work from 8 am to 4 pm unlike teachers who work shorter hours in the public system.
Give art a space in PoS

A number of artists gathered to support Agostini yesterday at Queens Park Savannah at the site where his wood furniture and sculptures had been for almost two years. Two weeks ago, 15 of his pieces were dumped by the police after they reportedly received complaints. On Friday, Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez met with Agostini and apologised, telling the media he did not know how the situation had been dealt with.

He said that art is culture and development and artists should be entitled to a space though he did not know what the process is.

Martinez, in a telephone interview yesterday, said he has publicly asked the police to look at such issues from a more humane perspective but for repeat violations from vendors police will exercise a different duty. Yesterday Agostini reported the mayor invited him to call on him to discuss the issue further.

He was able to recover four furniture pieces out of the 15 that were dumped which broke his heart.

He reported receiving tremendous support from strangers and from his friends in the local art community. He said he has received a number of offers, two business people in St James who have offered their stores as store fronts, and an art gallery in Tunapuna and Maraval interested in carrying in pieces.

He said if he was doing something wrong the police could have let him know and he would have removed his work in 10 minutes.

He reported a law firm said they will work on his behalf at no cost to him to pursue any legal action because they really think I have been treated unjust(ly). He expressed hope that he can work out something with the mayor for a space for every artist to benefit just as market vendors have a space.

Where the artists can come and show their stuff and sell their wares without being paranoid of getting your stuff confiscated. He believes that it is a blessing in disguise.

I leave it in Gods hands, said my prayers and hope for the best. Among those showing support for Agostini yesterday was filmmaker Carver Bacchus who said they were discussing a space for artists in Port-of-Spain and engaging artists to bring art into the city in a more meaningful way.

This incident is an expression as far I concerned...(of) something resembling contempt for art in the society. It is not seen as important, it is not seen as something that can uplift a people when we all know that is not the case. Visual artist Andy Venture said art is part of the solution to the countrys problems and youths can be involved in this.

The reason a lot of crap happening in the country is because we real single minded and myopic. He said that in progressive societies art all over the place.

Bacchus said the creative sector is one that successive administrations said they want to expand upon but we are yet to see any realisation of these ideas.

What happened with Damian is an example of how unimportant it is viewed within the context of this system. Its garbage as far as these people concerned. He said there are several organisations that represent artists and artisans and hoped this will be a catalyst for these groups to come together and rally around this issue.

Visual artist Samantha Rochard said there are no public places for artists to go and create and sell their work. She also said there is also a lack of respect and understanding for artwork.

It comes from our whole countrys approach to art or the governing administration, it dont matter which one, but the approach to art is always something as a sideline that is just there when it is something that could solve most of the problems that you all complaining about.

Take some of the funding out of crime and throw it in art. She said the State wants to diversify the economy but art is thrown one side and pointed out many artists leave the country and do very well.

Activist and one of Agostinis clients, Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, said she was appalled when she heard his work had been thrown away. She described it as a star attraction and tourists on buses would stop and take photographs.

She said with all the violence and economic difficulties when we get a bright spot like this that makes people happy and somebody wants to destroy it? Mahabir-Wyatt said, like weekends at Hyde Park in London, local painters would be encouraged to come and paint and have their work for sale by the mayors office.
Boy, 8, drowns in Tobago

Relatives of OShea Charles, eight, said when he was pulled from the water he had a faint pulse although he was unconscious.

They said two nurses tried to help the boy and was doing a good job but when two lifeguards arrived, they stopped the women saying the women were not known to them.

Charles was taken to Scarborough General Hospital were further attempts to resuscitate him were futile. He was pronounced dead on arrival. Relatives claimed that at the beach the emergency medical technicians strolled onto the scene with no urgency, and believed if both the life guards and emergency personnel had been more professional, Charles would have survived.
Call for local govt volunteers

Addressing the 12th National Clean-Up Campaign at the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, Hosein said each corporation must form what he called a Volunteer Network to assist with initiatives in communities..

Each corporation must have a volunteer network because it works, he said.

Hosein recalled that when he was mayor of San Fernando, he got a homeless centre built free by volunteers.

I did a clean up campaign in San Fernando by volunteers. I built a fountain in front of City Hall in San Fernando by volunteers.

I had a day of care for all of the homeless people in San Fernando with doctors and nurses with volunteers, he said.

We had legal people, attorneys, senior counsels coming out and giving free services and legal advice to all the people of San Fernando. This is going to take place at your level in the corporation. Hosein also urged residents to give back to their respective communities.

Give back. Dont sit down and get blood pressure and diabetes and heart ailments. Get active and this volunteer network will work. It worked for me in San Fernando and it will work for each corporation. Hosein also urged mayors and chairmen of local government bodies work for the people.

Political office is very temporary, one day your are here and one day you gone, he said.

Live your life. Live with your people, answer your phones.

Consult with your constituents and live with them with love.
Moroccos Foreign Ministry summoned Algerias ambassador in Rabat and denounced the expulsion of 54 Syrian migrants by Algerian authorities to the Moroccan border town of Figuig as an inhumane behavior.

During the meeting, the Foreign Ministry expressed concern at the expulsion by Algeria of Syrians undergoing vulnerable conditions. It is immoral and unethical to manipulate the moral and physical distress of these people, (and) to sow trouble in the Morocco-Algeria border, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said in a statement relayed by MAP news agency.

Algeria must assume political responsibility and morality concerning this situation, the statement added.

Some 5,000 Syrians have gone through a migration regulatory process in Morocco, with several hundred receiving refugee status, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the same vein, the Interior Ministry issued a statement decrying Algerias ill-treatment of the Syrians who were forced by Algerian authorities to cross the border area.

The Interior Ministry said that the Syrian migrants were forced to cross and were abandoned in a desert border zone in searing heat.

The statement deplored the inhumane treatment of the Algerian authorities vis-a-vis this group of Syrian migrants, which includes women and children.

The Interior Ministry stressed that Algerias cruel behavior goes against neighborliness and amounts to an attempt to use the suffering of migrants in order to exert blackmailing on Morocco, adding that migrant expulsion by Algeria to the Moroccan borders has unfortunately become common practice.

Morocco has also denounced the atrocities and war crimes committed by the Assad regime in Syria and has called for a political settlement that preserves the territorial integrity of Syria.

As part of its humanitarian commitment, Morocco set up a field hospital in the Zaatari camp to treat Syrian refugees in the governorate of Al Mafraq, northern Jordan.
Northwest Reverb - Reflections by James Bash and others about classical music in the Pacific Northwest and beyond
Supporters of centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron celebrate his victory in the first round of Frances presidential elections on Sunday. Photo: Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images

Centrist independent Emmanuel Macron and far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen will face off in a runoff election for the French presidency, following the first round of nationwide voting on Sunday. Macron, a 39-year-old political novice, appears to have won the majority of the vote, with around 24 percent, while the populist Le Pen came in second, with at least 21 percent, according to preliminary projections based on exit polls. They defeated a crowded field of nine other candidates to advance to the next and final round of voting on May 7. The two outsiders victories also signal a stark rejection of the two main political parties that have traditionally led France, the center-right Republicains and the mainstream-left Socialist Party, and the upcoming runoff will be the first time that no major party is represented in a French presidential election.

In her victory speech, the 48-year-old Le Pen hailed the historic result and declared herself the peoples candidate in the upcoming election. It is time to liberate the French nation from arrogant elites who want to dictate how it must behave, she added. A win for Le Pen, who favors closed borders and wants France to leave the European Union and reestablish its own currency, could have dramatic implications for the future of Europe.

Macron, a former investment banker who favors closer integration with the EU, did not challenge Le Pen directly in his victory speech but tried to present a more optimistic message. The challenge from tonight is not to go vote against anyone, he told supporters. The challenge is to decide to completely break with the system that has been unable to address the problems of our country for more than 30 years. Macron also spoke of French unity, but added that he wanted to become the president of patriots, to face the threat of nationalists.

Francois Fillon, the scandal-plagued former front-runner in the race, conceded defeat after seeing the exit poll numbers. The Republicain and former prime minister then immediately called on his supporters to back Macron against the anti-immigrant Le Pen and her far-right National Front party, warning that the extremist party represents violence and intolerance and, if put in power, would lead our country to bankruptcy and Europe into chaos.

Fillon and far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon each won less than 20 percent of the vote, according to exit polls. The Socialist Party candidate, Benoit Hamon, came in a distant fifth with just over 6 percent of the vote. He also urged his supporters to back Macron in the runoff. French prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve, also of the Socialist Party, offered his endorsement for Macron on Sunday as well, asking voters to block the National Fronts funereal project of regression for France and of division of the French.

Polls have indicated that Macron is likely to easily defeat Le Pen in the runoff. Regardless of who wins on May 7, however, parliamentary elections in June will ultimately decide how much power Frances next president  who will undoubtedly need to form a coalition government  will actually have.

This post has been updated throughout to reflect new details in a breaking news story.
Steve Bannon. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Now that Steve Bannon has been temporarily or permanently sidelined by President Donald Trump, his nationalist allies  people who formerly identified as alt-right, but now reject that label as it has become synonymous with white supremacy  are debating what their man in the White House did wrong and what he might do to salvage the situation. One of the key questions up for debate is whether Bannon should have made better use of ideologically sympathetic media outlets  when he ran Breitbart News, he described it as the platform for the alt-right  to get out his side of the story.

He really doesnt talk to all of us outside who would be inclined to help him, said Charles Johnson, who asked to be identified as a Bannon ally and entrepreneur. The editor-in-chief of GotNews.com, the flame-haired media flame-thrower may be better known for getting kicked off of Twitter and for his lawsuit against the now-defunct Gawker.

The chief strategist to the president might have done better job of holding onto power, the thinking goes, if he were talking to those who want what he wants and have the benefit of seeing things the way they appear outside of the bubble of his war room, the name Bannons given his West Wing office.

He has a lot of friends out on the internet who love him, but we are all still waiting for him to unleash the beast, Johnson said. He added that Bannon had never been in touch with him and his cohorts, and that he should mobilize us but he is playing too nice.

A source close to the White House agreed with Johnson that Bannon needs to change if he wants to survive. Hes not achieving anything! Whats he achieving? Hes a zero. Hes incompetent! the source said. He doesnt get back to the people at the Daily Caller. He doesnt get back to the people at Infowars, the source said, I dont care what you think of their politics, they reach millions of people. Why would you not respond to them?

Paul Joseph Watson, Infowars editor-at-large, told me hed never been in touch with Bannon but disagreed that it was a problem, saying he should concentrate on running the country. Of course, the president himself has been in contact with Infowars founder, Alex Jones, appearing on his radio program via Skype during the campaign and speaking to him privately thereafter. (Jones, who is in the midst of a theatrical custody battle in court, didnt respond to a text message seeking comment.)

Now, as with all matters that require talking to the people both populating the current administration and propping it up, there is the risk that this particular argument is more diversionary than literal  that accusing Bannon of ignoring controversial, far-right nationalists is in fact a means of protecting him.

If we were lying, how would you know, right? Mike Cernovich said, addressing that question directly.

A social-media agitator known for spreading conspiracy theories about Pizzagate and Hillary Clintons health during the election who now says hes new-right or American nationalist, Cernovich also claims that Bannon doesnt talk to anybody. He said proof of Bannons lack of communication with nationalists was Breitbarts coverage of the administration, which has been both sporadically critical and seemingly out of the loop. Thats why Breitbart missed the Susan Rice thing, he said, that kind of says it all. But Cernovich didnt miss the Susan Rice thing  in fact, he broke the story that, during her stint as a national-security adviser to Barack Obama, Rice had requested from classified intelligence reports the names of officials associated with the Trump campaign  implying that he, at least, has some highly placed sources. (Asked to disclose where he obtained the scoop, he didnt respond.)

Still, Cernovich doesnt accept the prescription of his ideological confrere Johnson  he sees too much downside for Bannon in talking to alt-right journalists. Its gonna create drama, he said. Bannon should definitely not talk to anybody.

Keep in mind though that Cernovich claims he didnt even know who Bannon was until, like, nine months ago. He says he learned of him through Joshua Greens Bloomberg profile  which came out in October of 2015, or 18 months ago. (Cernovich remembers his first impression: Wow, this guys a G.)

In some ways, the question of whether Bannon should be cultivating more allies in the press is part of a larger debate over his operating style in the White House  which is to operate in isolation. Im not doing this to have friends, he told me. I dont socialize a lot, I dont bring people into my life. This is like being in the Navy, this is like a duty. I dont enjoy this every day. This is not living; this is a kind of existence.



Though he brought into the White House some of his own staff  Julia Hahn from Breitbart; Andrew Surabian from the Tea Party Express and Alexandra Preate, his personal flack  he has spent little political capital fighting for high-level strategists with whom he could align in ideological disputes.

He has also, according to a source close to the president, not weighed in on behalf of nationalist appointments or principles. The source added, I dont care what he says: He never objected to the bombing in Syria  never. Tells people he did, but thats a fucking lie. My source is as high as you can go. Bannon did not respond to a text about Syria, and when I ran into him in the West Wing on Friday afternoon, he darted off before I could ask a question.
Trumps first big report card is in. Photo: Ron Sachs/Pool/Getty Images

Ninety-six percent of Americans who voted to elect President Trump would make the same decision again today, but only 42 percent of Americans approve of his handling of the job so far, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll published on Sunday. In the results of another new poll from NBC News and The Wall Street Journal, 45 percent of Americans say that Trump is off to a poor start, while only 40 percent of that polls respondents approve of Trumps overall job performance (compared with 54 percent who disapprove). Either way, after nearly 100 days in office, Trump has earned the lowest approval rating of any U.S. president in the history of polls measuring early-term public opinion, and dissatisfaction with the president is increasing in a number of ways.

As a more recent example, looking at the performances of the last three presidents in the NBC/WSJ poll, Trumps 42 percent approval rating lags significantly behind Obama (61 percent), George W. Bush (56 percent), and Bill Clinton (52 percent). In the ABC/WaPo poll history, Trumps 40 percent is way behind the 69 percent average approval rating that past presidents had earned near their 100-day mark.

But again, when just looking at Trump voters, only 2 percent of respondents in the ABC/WaPo poll feel regret over their decision, so the president is clearly still getting their benefit of their doubt. Unsurprisingly, almost all opinions about Trump continue to be sharply divided along partisan lines, but disapproval of Trump among independent Americans continues to rise: The gap between the majority of independents who disapprove of Trumps performance vs approve of it is now 24 points in the NBC/WSJ poll, vs 9 points in February.

Another interesting takeaway from the NBC/WSJ poll which doesnt bode well for Trump or the Republican Party is that 57 percent of Americans now believe that government should do more to solve problems and help meet peoples needs  the highest number to say so since the poll first posed the question in 1995.

More bad news for Trump:

 Fifty-six percent of Americans think Trump has accomplished not much or nothing so far in his presidency. (ABC/WaPo)

 Six-in-ten Americans doubt Trumps honesty and trustworthiness, think hes out of touch, and dont think he understands their problems (ABC/WaPo). Trumps out-of-touch numbers get worse based on how young the respondent is, and his trustworthiness numbers are also low in the NBC/WSJ poll.

 Fifty-two percent of Americans say that Trumps leadership and plans make them feel more doubtful about the countrys future, compared with 46 percent who feel more hopeful. At this same point in Obamas presidency, 64 percent thought his leadership and plans made them more hopeful. (NBC/WSJ)

 The percentages of Americans who think Trump is being firm in his decision-making, changing business as usual in D.C., or getting things done, are all dropping. (NBC/WSJ)

 Sixty-one percent of Americans disapprove of Trumps installation of his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner into major positions in his administration. Thirty-four percent approve of the job placements, including 69 percent of Republicans. (ABC/WaPo)

 Fifty percent of voters disapprove of Trumps proposed federal spending cuts in the ABC/WaPo poll (37 percent approve).

 Fifty-eight percent of voters believe that the federal courts have been acting rightly as a check on the presidents powers with regards to Trumps travel-ban executive orders. (ABC/WaPo)

What can pass as good news for Trump:

 A majority of Republicans still support him and approve of his performance in both polls, and as previously mentioned, his supporters dont have any regrets about voting for him, according to one poll.

 While only 40 percent of Americans give a thumbs-up to Trumps overall foreign-policy performance (NBC/WSJ), some of his individual decisions have been more well-received. Sixty-two percent of Americans (including 88 percent of Republicans and 58 percent of independents) said they supported Trumps recent Syria strike in the NBC/WSJ poll, compared with 51 percent in the ABC/WaPo poll. The NBC/WSJ poll says that 50 percent of Americans approve of Trumps overall handling of Syria, while ABC/WaPo poll says that 46 percent approve of Trumps handling of North Korea, so far.

 The public is mostly split on whether or not Trump is keeping his campaign promises (ABC/WaPo), and whether he is doing a good job handling the economy. (NBC/WSJ)

 Only 44 percent of respondents to the NBC/WSJ poll say Trump has been less effective than his predecessors at this point in their respective presidencies. (Twenty-two percent say its been the same, and 32 percent say hes been more effective.)

 Fifty-four percent of Americans dont have a problem with Trumps frequent, expensive trips to his own properties like the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, saying its not a conflict of interest because the president should be allowed to go wherever he wants. (ABC/WaPo)

 Sixty-five percent of white men without a college education still approve of Trump, and he maintains a 54 percent approval rating from white Americans overall. (ABC/WaPo)

The Democratic Party isnt faring so well either:

 Sixty-seven percent of Americans believe the Democratic Party is out of touch with their concerns, vs. 62 percent who feel the same way about the GOP. Three years ago, only 48 percent of Americans thought the Democratic Party was out of touch. (ABC/WaPo)

 Only 85 percent of Americans who voted for Hillary Clinton say they would vote for her if the election were held again today, with the defectors more likely to vote for a third party candidate or not at all. (ABC/WaPo)
Man I thought his career would be so different.



I mean I understand making bank, and kitting off to wherever the fuck you want, when you want. for life. I just really thought he'd build indie cred and do small, weird movies, and the occasional blockbuster, from his interviews way back in the day. idk, my teenage self still has the thirst, somewhere. lol

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i think he's doing ok tbh

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If I was him, I would do tv series

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Agreed. TV is where it's at these days.

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he was on one episode of Netflix's Easy -- but he was pretty mediocre.

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yeah, if I were an actor I would def want to do tv

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with what acting talent?

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omg i thought exactly the same thing. he was like my first big crush lol

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My worst break up was when this guy I was seeing revealed he was love with someone else for the entire year we were together.

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yuck, I'm sorry.

My ex cheated on me with his ex fiancee, his ex girlfriend, and probably a few other gals over at least 5 months of the end of our relationship. Then he said he needed to be poly, so I grabbed my shit and got out of there. Never spoke to him again other than asking him to unfollow me on instagram.

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The same thing happened to my friend. Except she was the one who was in love with her current boyfriend while she was dating someone else. Her current boyfriend was in love with her while she was dating the other guy. When she and her current boyfriend got together they showed up to a gathering at which her ex-boyfriend was also in attendance. Everyone was like, "What?! When did this happen?" And her current boyfriend announced to everyone in the room, "We've been in love with each other for three years, and now we're together." Her ex-boyfriend texted her later that night like "You were in love with him while you were with me? WTF?" It was messy. She didn't think her ex would care at all since they'd both moved on, but evidently it stung him.

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Lol your friend sounds like a moron tbh. Why wouldn't someone care she was wasting his time she should have dumped he awhile before she did. If she was in love with the other guy and he felt the same why did she not?

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I've talked about it before, but my worst was when my fiancee, he told me he had cancer. he "went to" chemo. but didn't want me to go with. which ok. I mean hell, my mom didn't want me to go with her, she was like just let me do this shit and come home and sleep.



and so for a few months he "fought cancer!" and was then told he'd reached his first clear moment, with of course the whole nobody is considered truly clear until the 5 year mark. yadda yaddda yadda. The one day he calls me up, sobbing, that the cancer was back. that he was going to die. We were planning a goddamn wedding. and i was absolutely in the mode of I will be there until the end, life has no promises for good things. i was gonna take care of him. so he drops on me that he moved out of town in the middle of the night. "Because i just couldn't put you through this. I just couldn't." he cut all calls on his cell, never answered texts or emails. he was gone. he'd picked a beautiful place to go die.



I was destroyed. and yeah i'm giving the short version. but i fell apart so hard I landed in the hospital with dehydration and exhaustion. When I got out, it was like this little voice said, you know him so damn well, and know enough computer shit I bet you could hack his email account. So I did. Motherfucker hadn't pulled this on just me, but half a dozen women. Not for money either fwiw. He was married and his wife was deployed overseas. She was coming home, and her post was going to be idk, fucking Virginia I think, it's been a lot of years. I was so angry, that I forbid everyone from even mentioning his name for years. I treated the entire thing as though it didn't exist. Then one day I realized it was ok to take some good from the relationship because for me, it had been real. i'd loved. I'd grown. I worked through some stuff. But that one, was hands down the worst lol

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also, your dude was a straight up dick.

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aw man, that sucks. :/ i went through something similar, although he sat me down and admitted he cheated but wants to work things out. and when i broke things off almost instantly, he gave me this speech about how he was honest with me so we should stay together. bitch pls.

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"First love" breakup took me the longest to get over, leaving the guy who sexually assaulted me was easy (the experience still affects me in little ways, and it's been nearly a decade), but the one that takes the cake was breaking off my engagement. He had a temper and used a lot of things in our relationship against me. (Things I hadn't asked him to do that he insisted on doing, like pay for flights or buy me gifts.)

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I was dumped during sex. Turned out he had another girlfriend, mmmkay, and he felt really bad about cheating on her mmmkay. (yeah so many revelations that day.)

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I felt a punch in my stomach just reading what you wrote girl



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We were high school sweethearts. Dumped me to hook up and room with his college teacher. Came back twice the second I started going out with my two

next boyfriends. When I told him I wanted to make it work between us he moved to another country. Was "devastated" when I got married.



I was at fault too tbf



He messed me up so bad, I am still dealing with the fallout



Edited at 2017-04-23 02:21 pm (UTC)

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I mean, probably a better example to not introduce your kids to randoms just a few weeks after you meet too but whatevs



eta: I know they were together for like a year but homegirl was going on trips with Orlando and the kid like two weeks after they met.



Edited at 2017-04-23 12:27 am (UTC)

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what is that weird wooden plaque!?

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it looks like it'd be a prop from The Hills Have Eyes or something lol. It's a sweet gift tho.

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i clicked thru to his instagram and it's super cute n cheesy it kind of makes me like him

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his instagram is delightful.

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His instagram is way cuter than I thought it would be.

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It isn't bad

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i respect miranda kerr's pussy game. get that fame and $ bitch

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I not only forgot they had a kid together but completely forgot they were together at all

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i never knew that the only relevant thing about orlando bloom in 2017 would be his love life. i don't even remember the last movie he was in except for POTC and LOTR.

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I don't think I've ever actually seen him in anything lol

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Oh never mind I've seen ny ilu and I remember his segment for Christina, forgot that was even him tbh

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you've never seen lotr???? :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

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I will forever always think of how she had sex with Justin Bieber when he was 18 or 19. Wtf.

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I still cant picture Miranda Kerr hooking up with Justin

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Is that real????

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He has no talent and should disappear

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I've still got a soft spot for him. I like checking out his IG

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i remembered this video like two days ago and ive been watching non stop

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Mel B is having a bad year. Damn.

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oh lord, this is a mess. yiiiikes

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the getting pregnant part is a weird addition lol i thought she was going to say it was mel b's husband who impregnated her but it was actually some random and mel b fronted her the money for an abortion which was chill of her? anyways, wow

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Well Mel is alleging that it was her husband's baby that's why the nanny is saying that it wasn't him but a random guy at a bar.

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hey i read the post, don't expect me to read the source too! (jk thx that clears it up)

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It's because Mel B's legal filing claims that Stephan had a years long affair with the nanny, got her pregnant and then used Mel's money to pay her out for the abortion. Mel also claims he originally wanted the three of them to live as some kind of three-way partnership and Mel shut that shit down, hence him taking her money to pay for the abortion.

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I'm going to have to add some salt.

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Wow what a mess

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Was the nanny having the sex with Mel or her husband? I'm lost

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According to Mel, the husband and the nanny had an affair for years. Lived on her dime, were super blatant about it, took her money and lots of other mess. It's horrible. She also claims that her abusive husband would threaten and manipulate her into engaging in threesomes with other women. He would then secretly record these sessions, along with their private sexual escapades and would use it against her saying if she ever left him or cut him off, he would expose everything, ruin her rep and she would never work again.



Her shitty husband is denying this happened and now that nanny is making it seem like Mel seduced her and that there was some kind of 3-way sexual relationship between her, Mel and the husband, contradicting Mel's story.

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both, according to the nanny



Edited at 2017-04-23 04:04 pm (UTC)

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I feel so bad for Mel and the children involved in all this mess. The husband and the nanny are awful.

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Or the nanny is also a victim in this? It's not that unbelievable that she was taken advantage of given the situation.

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IA

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Agreed. She was 18. These were two grown adults with issues who both seemed to be fucking with her and fucking her. Gross shit considering the age and power differences.

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Sounds like it to me

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Idk Mel B has been getting this shit beaten out of her by this horrible man for a long time. She even went on live tv with a black eye a few years back. She seems like a victim in this, too.

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I feel bad for her if her story is true. But if she was fucking her 18-year-old nanny who was a foreign exchange student, then she's gross. Especially if she then made her out to be the bad guy in all of this.

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Hmm...I don't really know who or what to believe here, but Mel B has some complicated relationships, to say the least

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What a fucking mess.

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 said Mel b portrayed her as a "homewrecker, prostitute and extortionist".



Oh god, I'm hungover and ended up reading that as "homewrecker, prostitute, and exorcist". I had a brief moment where I thought I was going to have to get ONTD to explain Mel B's occult practices because I had never heard of them before.



Anyway, this is a mess and it's a shame it's been so public since they've got kids and everything.





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lol why would mel b give her $300,000 to get an abortion by some random guy? or any money at all? pretty sure her salary could pay for her own abortion? come on now sis

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mel b's ex-husband and the nanny were having an affair, and i think the baby was his and he was actually the one to give her the money?

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yes that's what mel b alleged but now the nanny is countersuing saying mel b lied and only payed for her abortion by a random guy

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So, the nanny is in cahoots with the ex-husband.

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Its all over the news: ExxonMobil has applied for a waiver from the economic sanctions against Russiaand specifically Rosneftin order to resume its joint operations with the Russian state giant and advance a Black Sea drilling project.

Although Exxons former chief executive and now Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has recused himself from anything that has to do with Exxon and Russia for the next two years, the news has sparked a lot of interest.

This is actually the second application for a waiver from Exxon. The last one was submitted to the Department of Treasury in 2015, but was rejected by the Obama administration. Now, some believe the second application comes at the worst possible moment, with the election hacking scandal still hot and the FBI investigating Russian involvement in the U.S. elections, not to mention the fact that the State Department is one of the agencies that will oversee the application waiver.

But it could also be the best time for Exxon to get more objective treatment from the relevant authorities. The oil company has nothing to do with the hacking scandal. It has a partnership agreement with Rosneft, sealed back in 2011, under which the two will develop the Tuapse offshore oil and gas block in the Russia Black Sea shelf.

Tillerson, for his part, has made it painfully clear that he will not touch anything that has Exxon and Russia in the same sentence with a ten-foot pole. Whatever critics might say, it would be sheer madness for him to get involved in the waiver in any way.

Leaving speculation aside, the question is, why Exxon is so eager to get a sanction waiver for Black Sea drilling? Aside, of course, from Tillersons own argument that economic sanctions cause too much collateral damage by way of lost income for the foreign companies that are forced to suffer their consequences. Related: What Does The Future Hold For Canadas Oil Sands?

Exxon has already lost over $1 billion from the sanctions, and it is very likely that the companys management has decided to put an end to the bleeding. Whats more, the company recently had to write off a substantial part of its proved oil reserves: 3.3 billion barrels, or 19 percent of its total.

The Tuapse field in the Black Sea, where it has partnered with Rosneft, has reserves ranging between 2.2 billion and 7.2 billion and Exxon has a 33.3-percent interest in it. Thats not too shabby, but according to an unnamed source close to the matter, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal, Exxon is worrying that Italys Eni will take its place in Black Sea exploration in Russia.

For Italian companies, its business as usual in Russia, despite EU sanctions, thanks to waivers granted by the government. Eni is one of them, and like Exxon, it is a valuable major partner of Rosneft. So, Exxons worry seems legitimate. It stands to make substantial gains if it rejoins Rosneft in the Black Sea continental shelf, and elsewhere as well. What remains to be seen is whether the Treasury Department will agree.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump seemed to advocate industrial policy to bolster global competitiveness of American business. But the idea that the government should choose winners and losers disturbs political conservatives who believe that the market should make the choices.

Whether that faith in markets is appropriately placed or not, that belief is at the core of our present day neo-liberal political consensus. It is more than a little ironic that our President, in many campaign address-es, focused attention on the need to resuscitate declining nineteenth century industries, like coal, with government support of one sort or another. We're sure that apostle of free markets, F.A Hayek, would've given Trump's plan the raspberry. The same goes for legendary management guru, Peter Drucker, we sus-pect.

But an industrial policy has not materialized. Instead, what has emerged is standard Republican deregula-tion policy. The government has begun to dismantle rules aimed at reducing power plant CO2 and methane emissions, protecting streams, improving automobile mileage and a requiring that financial firms act in a fiduciary manner towards their customers. The administration claims the rules increase costs, hinder busi-nesses unfairly and inhibit job formation.

To make room for higher defense spending, the President's proposed 2018 budget slashes research and development (R&D) spending at many federal agencies. It eliminates ARPA-E (the energy venture capital fund), and cuts R&D spending by 52 percent at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administra-tion (NOAA), by 20 percent at the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), by 17 percent at the Na-tional Institutes of Health (NIH), by 10 percent at both the Department of Energy (DOE), and the U.S. Geo-logical Survey (USGS) and by 6 percent at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). No word yet from National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (DOA).

In the utility and energy sectors, the public will benefit if deregulation lifts burdens on business that do not produce commensurate benefits to the public. The resulting savings, if any, can be passed on to consumers in the form of lower prices. On the other hand, these new savings can be used to expand the business and hire more employees. Thats the theory anyway. Related: Bullish Oil Price Predictions Should Be Treated With Caution

We believe that the new regime in Washington will have a minor impact on the domestic energy and utility sectors. Utilities could extend the lives of aging coal fired power generating facilities, especially those where environmental retrofits would be uneconomic or impractical. Nevertheless, we do not expect a rush to construct new coal plants. The economics simply aren't there. Domestic natural gas is too cheap, as is wind power throughout much of the Midwest, from the Dakotas down to Texas. And lifting environmental restrictions on the U.S. natural gas industry will keep production costs low--making the competitive ad-vantage over coal even greater. The new rules, however, could protect the already thin margins of power producers insofar as they could avoid near term, environmental control costs.

Killing off tax subsidies to renewables might slow their installations but renewable costs have come down so far that many projects could compete with or without subsidies. The real problem is that electric de-mand growth is so anemic that few new power plants are needed, except to cut emissions and replace old plant.

We doubt that investors will put up new coal stations unless they could meet environmental restrictions that future administrations might impose. Putting domestic coal back in the electric power generation pic-ture, then, will requires processes that either can "scrub" coal of its objectionable polluting emissions or sequester them. All this has to occur against the backdrop of plentiful gas and relatively cheap wind power. Perhaps the coal industry, while requesting relief of all environmental obligations, should request increased governmental help for R&D expenditures to help it produce a competitive product.

The international market for environmental and electrical equipment exceeds that of the U.S. alone. Most of our major trading partners not only have an industrial policy for the energy sector but often own the companies within them. American firms have to compete with those companies. China has a Made in Chi-na policy  thats what they call it  for science and technology products, the main battlefields of the economy, according to Chinese president Xi Jinping. The government targets a sector for expansion, di-rects billions of dollars to its development, keeps foreigners out of the domestic market so the local firms can achieve scale and then launches the expansion overseas. Thats the competition. We can proclaim "free markets, free markets" all we want. But in the international energy business outside of the U.S., vir-tually all of the competitors are government owned and controlled. That's the playing field--whether level or not. Related: Oil Prices Fall Further As U.S. Rig Count Inches Higher

Renewables are the fastest growing sector in the energy market. The two largest coal -dependent coun-tries, China and India, which did their best to sink the Copenhagen climate talks, have set their sights on replacing coal with renewables. India, where the government also owns the coal company, plans to triple renewable capacity by 2022. At a power contract auction held earlier this year, the solar power bidder won against a new coal plant. As it is, old coal facilities are operating at a low level of capacity and experts doubt that many of the coal-fired plants listed for construction will get built.

In China, the grid has been building ultra-high voltage DC lines to carry renewables from the distant prov-inces to urban load centers. This transmission technology is a new product to sell to the world. In both countries, the growth of electricity demand has slackened, following the pattern in more developed na-tions, thereby making a transition to lower carbon electricity easier.

The major industrial nations apart from the U.S. have accepted the notion of human induced climate change. Their energy suppliers and manufacturers, no doubt sensing opportunity, have decided to tackle climate mitigation as a business, often with government help.

In the United States, however, the Trump administrations skepticism about climate change, and the R&D cuts that follow, are likely to relegate U.S. firms to the low tech, slow growth, commodity end of the en-ergy sector. But maybe not.



Analogously, conservative Republicans in the U.S. Congress (the Freedom Caucus of yesteryear) have fought tooth and nail to abolish the Export-Import Bank. and they hoped that the Trump administration would finally kill the beast. They viewed its activities as corporate welfare for big business. Perhaps they were right.

But other countries provide the same guarantees and subsidies to their exporters and the deals dont get done without them. Getting rid of our subsidies or other forms of government support or ownership for ideological reasons while other countries retain theirs can be likened to unilateral economic disarmament. The Trump administration now supports the need for an Export-Import Bank. Perhaps we will come full circle on climate too and the Pentagon will covertly fund climate related research. If the seas continue to rise as predicted, all those coastal naval installations around the globe will have to be moved somewhere.

By Leonard Hyman and Bill Tilles for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As...
It doesnt take courage. All it takes is standing up for what you believe in.

 Jesse Lopez de la Cruz

There are many who believe that within every woman there lies an inner knowing, an innate passion, a wild woman waiting for the right time to step forth. And for centuries, despite the odds, women have fought against oppression and injustice.

Consider Joan of Arc, who saved France only to be burned at the stake for her beliefs while still a teen. Harriet Tubman, who at only 13 refused to beat a fugitive slave on the order of her overseer and was viciously beaten herself. Or Benazir Bhutto, the first woman to serve as prime minister in an Islamic country who was assassinated when she tried to fight corruption in Pakistan.

Even closer to home, there was Washington County teacher Susan B. Anthony, who believed that freedom for women began with women being able to vote. And 45 years before women got to vote in New York, Anthony, along with her sisters and a handful of other women, convinced voting officials in Rochester to register them to vote in 1872.

Nonetheless, after Anthony voted that November, she was arrested and, following her trial, fined $100 plus court costs.

Yes, your honor, I have many things to say; for in your ordered verdict of guilty, you have trampled underfoot every vital principle of our government, Anthony said to the judge at sentencing. My natural rights, my civil rights, my political rights, my judicial rights, are all alike ignored.

Anthony told the judge she would never pay her fine, and she didnt.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes, author of Women Who Run with the Wolves, calls this inner force in women the El rio debajo del rio, the river that runs beneath the river.

Over the course of history, women like Rosa Parks  who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus to a white man  have changed conditions for the better.

And because of the efforts of so many, women have made strides in work and education, with more women than men now likely to graduate from college.

Pressing on

Still, despite the path set forth by Anthony, Parks and others, there remains a long and turbulent road for women seeking equality. Women are still fighting for equal pay and leadership positions. Today, according to a Russell Sage Foundation study, women are paid about 20 percent less than men for the same work and its still difficult to achieve the highest-ranking leadership roles.

In 2016, Hillary Rodham Clinton was the anticipated winner of the U.S. presidential election, but in a surprise turn of events, despite winning 48 percent of the popular vote, Donald Trump was elected president by the Electoral College with only 46 percent of the popular vote.

Outraged by President Trumps recorded comments about women and his previous sexual exploits, women and men reacted, with hundreds of thousands protesting around the world the day after the president took office.

Misogyny thrives under Trump, said Rebecca Krefting, a Skidmore College associate professor and gender studies scholar. He is introducing acceptance of overt misogyny  right now I am afraid for women in my life and in our country. To me, with Trump taking office, so many things are in peril, like reproductive rights.

In Glens Falls, a Womens March in January drew nearly 1,500 women and men carrying signs that called for respect, continued access to reproductive services and denouncing the presidents earlier remarks.

In Washington, D.C., the park service estimated that the crowd was triple that of the previous days inauguration.

It was really exciting, said Skidmore College student Louise Sullivan, who went to the march in New York City. All the energy. I thought, This is so cool. So many have done this before us. 

So what is a disorderly woman?

Its a really complex term; often the connotation is that it is a bad thing, said Skidmore College Senior Zia ONeill. It can just be a woman going about every day and she happens to be making more of a splash and she thinks independently from the status quo.

ONeill continued.

It depends on if she is a woman of color, Muslim, from a poor family  every womans experience is vastly different, she said. We have made a lot of progress, but we have so much further to go.

The way ONeill and fellow student Sullivan see it, a disorderly woman can make changes or express herself in small ways or by being an activist her whole life.

As part of an American Studies course at the Saratoga Springs college called Disorderly Women, the students had an opportunity to explore the lives of women who changed the world in some way and to explore how they viewed themselves as women in the world.

By looking at womens lives and actions from the mid-1800s to the present  Ida B. Wells, an African American journalist who led anti-lynching campaigns in the late 1800s and early 1900s; Angela Davis, a feminist and civil rights activist who in the 1970s spent 18 months in a womens detention center before being acquitted of all charges; Malala Yousafzai, who at the age of 11 was shot in the head after writing a blog about the Taliban regimes view on a girls education; and Jesse Lopez de la Cruz, a Chicano-American who was the first woman to organize farm workers for the United Farm Workers  the students began to understand the many faces of being disorderly.

And their time working together showed them that standing up for what you believe in often comes with big consequences, both good and bad, they said, adding that some women paid a heavy price for stepping out from the norm.

Take Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the face for standing up to the Taliban and saying she believed girls needed an education. Yousafzai survived her assault and founded a school in Lebanon for Syrian refugee girls. She is the youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize.

Theres still a lot to be done. And we have to remember what people have been doing for a long time, especially in the womens movement, said Sullivan. (In the course) we looked at what we each did well and taking that into account. It was very empowering to say, I am good at this. 

The students cautioned about defining a disorderly woman, because that definition then attempts to fit the woman into a predefined role. A disorderly woman could be someone who chooses to stay home and have children or a woman who chooses to risk imprisonment for her beliefs.

Women are always subject to being defined, said Krefting, the Skidmore professor who has been teaching the course for the past three years. Which aspect do you claim for yourself?

Both students marched in the post-Trump inauguration marches. ONeill was in Washington, D.C., while Sullivan was in New York City.

What I noticed was that there was a strongly white element, that all the people had the privilege and funds for housing and travel, said ONeill. After the course, I was very attuned to that.

Making changes

As part of the course, Krefting said that she wants there to be a service-learning component so the students go beyond the classroom walls and apply what they learned.

In a previous class, students created a film that asked, What can we thank our bodies for?

Instead of focusing on beauty, they focused on how their bodies are used, Krefting said, explaining that women are often defined by their bodies.

In the film, women expressed their feelings.

Im thankful for my wrists because they help me bake bread, which is practice for when I become a chef.

I am thankful for my mouth and voice so that I can sing and express myself the best way I know how and so that I can bring joy to others with music.

I am thankful for my eyes because I can see colors.

I am thankful for my hands because I am an artist and I love creating.

The same year, those students wrote grants for a womens reproductive health project in Texas called Janes Due Process for underage girls.

According to Krefting, they secured $7,500 to support the nonprofit.

Its amazing to see what they did and how it has a real impact on the world and on young womens lives, she said. You cant put a price on that.
They are the custodians, typists, clerks and groundskeepers, and the people who supervise them, who help keep things running smoothly so teachers can focus on teaching and students on learning.

These are support staff and administrative positions, which is the non-instructional side of the budget.

The function that they provide us is absolutely essential  from custodians to clerical to transportation  all of those areas, including administrative, said Queensbury Superintendent of Schools Douglas Huntley.

Without that non-instructional (staff), we would not operate, Huntley added.

The median amount spent on non-instructional compensation in this area is about $3,900 per pupil, according to an analysis of 2015-16 compensation data for 28 school districts, which was obtained by The Post-Star through a Freedom of Information Law request. The median refers to the midpoint at which half of the data will be above that amount and half below. The 2015 enrollment figures were used to calculate the cost per student.

Queensburys estimated cost based on the data was $2,463 per pupil.

Huntley said non-instructional costs are still relatively low compared to the instructional part of the budget.

School officials looked at this area as part of the budget process and found that the per-pupil expenditures were very similar to what they were years ago. They evaluate positions as they come open and determine whether they need to be filled.

Special education costs are one area of the budget that can lead to an increase in these non-instructional costs, according to Scott Whittemore, assistant superintendent for business.

Huntley said some special education services are provided out of district, and that results in higher transportation costs, in addition to teacher aides and services for those special education students who are educated within Queensbury.

Also, Huntley said there has been an increase in the number of homeless students. By federal law, if a child has been displaced by a family emergency and is living in another community, the district is required by law to educate that child.

A homeless child living within 50 miles of the district is required to be transported by the home district, he said.

South Glens Falls Superintendent Michael Patton agreed that special education plays a major role in its non-instructional staffing. Some positions may be directly tied to a students program.

He said the clerical staff levels and other support staff have remained relatively consistent throughout the years.

Those assignments can obviously change over the course of the school year, he said.

South Glens Falls saw an estimated $2,229 per pupil spent on support staff and administrative compensation in the 2015-16 school year.

Greenwich was also among the districts with lower per-pupil non-instructional costs. School officials made some changes in the 2017-18 budget that will reduce some of these costs even further.

The district is looking to shift to having fewer teacher aides and adding more teaching assistants, which require a certificate and a higher level of education. They also have cut other areas of the budget. A secretary in the business office is not going to be replaced.

We had some custodian positions that were open and weve been struggling to fill them. Were going to try to go the year without one of them, Superintendent Mark Fish said.

Like in Queensbury, Fish said whenever a position comes open, they evaluate whether the district can do without it.

We try to be fiscally responsible for the taxpayers of Greenwich, he said.

The districts that have the higher per-pupil support and administrative costs are the ones with lower enrollment. Buildings still have to be cleaned and managed, even if there are fewer students in them. These include Newcomb, Indian Lake, Long Lake, Bolton and Putnam.

Other districts that were above the median included Lake George, Cambridge, Argyle and Fort Ann.

Argyle Business Manager Ron Black said the reason why the districts support staff costs are higher than most in the area is the Board of Education, back around 2000 when health care costs were escalating astronomically, chose to offer the non-teaching staff, most of whom live in the district, a total compensation package that would help them pay for health care.

This would allow those that needed health insurance to purchase it out of the total package and therefore have their take-home be lower or, if they were able to purchase health insurance through a spouse, they could keep more pay for themselves, thus spurring on the local economy instead of sending money to an insurance company, he said.

The Affordable Care Act changed the ability to compensate in that fashion, but employees hired before that are grandfathered in. Black said newer hires are paid in line with area rates.

Non-instructional costs are still a smaller piece of school budgets. Instructional costs including teacher salary and benefits make up about roughly three-quarters of the total spending in school districts.

The New York State Association of School Business Officials suggested in a 2015 paper that the state should examine how costs such as pupil transportation are funded and develop a more effective method of providing support. That would free up resources, so Foundation Aid is spent only on instruction.

Non-instructional budget expenses include critical parts of a functioning and efficient school system, such as transportation, debt service and district administration, said association spokesman David Albert in an email. Those components are important so that educators can focus as much time and resources as possible on the classroom.
Genres : Documentary

Starring : Serge Roetheli, Nicole Roetheli

Director : John Davies

Plot Synopsis

THE 25,000 MILE LOVE STORY chronicles the amazing 5 year journey of Swiss endurance athlete Serge Roetheli as he endeavored to run a distance equal to the earths circumference to raise money and awareness for the worlds impoverished children. Accompanied by his equally adventurous wife Nicole, who rode a motorcycle alongside Serge with their supplies and pup tent in tow, the Roethelis were confronted with challenges that threatened to push them beyond their physical and emotional limits as they crossed 6 continents and 35 countries while battling against unforgiving landscapes, extreme weather, horrific poverty, civil unrest, and near-death illnesses. Remarkably, they survived it all. The heart of this tale is an inspirational love story  a relationship of two people who were willing pay the price to achieve their almost impossible dream. Serge and Nicole Roetheli journeyed in search of love, life, nature and adventure  and while finding all of those things, found themselves too.
POULTNEY, VT.  The three Green Mountain College students went on and on and on about their environmental activism.

Their passion, their commitment, their ability to find the time for the work was impressive.

Finally, one of them summed it all up this way: Were trying to save the world.

The event was the North Country Climate Reality conference, sponsored jointly by SUNY Plattsburgh at Queensbury and Green Mountain College, to address climate change realities and what can be done locally.

Earlier in the program, keynote speaker, Pamela Boyce Simms, spoke in more apocalyptic terms. She spoke of building communities for the future that were more self-reliant, because it might be the only way to survive. The need to not only grow your own food, but make your own goods in communities where we would depend on each other.

She pointed out that most communities have about three days worth of food on hand at any given time.

That level of vulnerability is unacceptable, she said. And considering the way bread and milk fly off the supermarket shelves before a winter storm, she may be right.

Yesterday was Earth Day, a day when service groups pick up litter and talk about how important it is to take care of our environment.

That should resonate with us more than ever this year. The Earth continues to warm and the seas continue to rise, but more importantly is the affect it has on the world producing enough food.

You probably arent aware that famine conditions exist in Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen and South Sudan.

For most of us, it goes by without much notice, or as Boyce Simms said, We are in a bubble in this country.

What is even more frightening is that our government is now going in the wrong direction.

Making America great again will eventually lead to making the world extinct.

National Geographic has been tracking moves by the Trump administration since it took over in January.

Cumulatively, it should scare the hell out of you.

Consider the following:

Jan. 25The Trump administration removes all references to climate change from the White House website.

Feb. 16President Trump revokes the Department of Interiors Stream Protection Rule, allowing coal mines to dump mining waste into surrounding waterways.

Feb. 17Former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is confirmed as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. In his time as Oklahoma attorney general, Pruitt had a cozy relationship with oil and gas companies and frequently sued the EPA over its environmental regulations.

March 2The new Secretary of the Interior spends his first day on job rescinding the prohibition of lead ammunition on federal lands and waters. Earlier this month, The Post-Star reported that two local eagles had died of lead poisoning.

March 2The EPA withdraws a request for more detailed information from oil and gas facilities that would have forced them to better track their methane and volatile organic compounds emissions.

March 7The EPAs Office of Science and Technology removed the world science from its mission statement.

March 9Scott Pruitt says in an interview that the role of carbon dioxide in the earths changing climate remains unclear despite a 2014 review from the National Academy of Sciences (the preeminent scientific advisory body in the U.S.) that the earths warming is the direct result of increased carbon dioxide emissions.

March 13The Trump administrations preliminary federal budget outlines deep cuts to science and environmental agencies, specifically the EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

March 15Scott Pruitt and Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announce the EPA will reconsider vehicle emissions standards set to go into affect from 2022-2025.

March 21The rusty patched bumblebee official becomes listed as an endangered species, the first bumblebee and the eighth U.S. bee species to receive federal protection.

March 28President Trump signs an executive order to dismantle much of the work on climate change enacted during the Obama administration, most notably it begins the process of rescinding the EPAs Clean Power Plan which could have a direct impact on the Adirondacks with the return of acid rain.

March 29Scott Pruitt, against the advice of EPAs chemical safety experts, rejects a ban on the pesticide chlorpyrifos that is still used on some 40,000 farms. Research suggests the pesticide may be associated with brain damage in children and farm workers, even at low exposure. Dow Chemical, which donated $1 million to help fund President Trumps inaugural festivities, says it is safe.

March 31The Sierra Club asks the EPAs Office of Inspector General to review a Scott Pruitt interview in which he downplayed carbon emissions central role in driving earthss changing climate. EPA spokespeople said it was within Pruitts rights to have a differing opinion.

April 7Several staff members at EPAs headquarters who specialized in climate change adaptation, are reassigned.

April 13Scott Pruitt announces a back to basics agenda for the EPA by engaging with state, local and tribal partners to create sensible regulations to enhance economic growth. The agenda includes a review of the Clean Power Plan.

April 14Scott Pruitt says he is a personally opposed to the Paris Climate Agreement. He calls is a bad deal for America.

April 18Key Trump advisors in the White House abruptly cancel a meeting over whether the United States should exit the Paris Climate Agreement. Multiple news sources say Trumps inner circle is split on the issue.

And earlier this week, it was learned that Dow Chemical is pushing the Trump administration to scrap regulations preventing the use of a family of pesticides that has been proven to be harmful to some 1,800 critically endangered species.

Over the past four years, federal scientists have compiled an official record running more than 10,000 pages indicating the three pesticides pose a risk to nearly every endangered species they studied.

Considering the direction we are going, that will eventually include the human race as well.
War is bloody expensive.

Estimates by the Congressional Budget Office and various universities have pegged the cost of our countrys wars in Iraq and Afghanistan at anywhere from $3 trillion to $6 trillion.

One of the big costs of those wars is caring for the tens of thousands of wounded U.S. soldiers. Some have needed short-term care for wounds, some long-term care for mental and emotional suffering.

Some, like Eddie Ryan of Lake George, have needed both immediate care to stop the bleeding and save his life and long-term care to work on rehabilitation and keep him alive.

How long should this care continue? What is our obligation to people like Eddie Ryan who risked their lives and compromised their own health in service to the country?

Eddie Ryan, a sergeant in the Marines, should receive as much care as he needs, for as long as he needs it, and it should be the best care possible. Our obligation to him and to all wounded soldiers is not limited by time or expense, just as their willingness to sacrifice was not constrained by the danger of injury or death.

Ryan was hit in the head by two bullets from a machine gun in 2005 in Iraq. Since then, his family and friends have been working to help him live and get better. The U.S. government has helped in that effort, too, but in typical government fashion, has refused to work in partnership with the Ryans.

Eddie Ryan needs 24-hour care, and at first, that is what he got from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which contracted with home health care agencies. But over the years, the Ryans had recurring problems with the caregivers sent by the agencies. Finally, wanting the best for Eddie, they decided to hire their own caregivers, and they were able to find good, qualified people at about half the cost the VA was paying the agencies.

You would think the VA would be grateful. Instead, it has refused to reimburse the Ryans: They either let the VA work through the agencies, or they cover the cost themselves. So last year, Eddies parents spent $53,000 on home health care for him. This inflexibility is typical of government bureaucracy, which has no tolerance for people who go outside established procedures to try to make things better.

Friends have rallied to Eddies cause, and so have many people who didnt know him but want to help. Here and across the country, organizations have sprung up to help veterans families pay the cost of their care, and all of that is wonderful, but none of it should be necessary.

What is needed is a commitment from Congress to come up with the money needed to care for wounded veterans, whatever the price tag, and in a fashion that accommodates the familys needs and desires.

In war after war, soldiers returning home have had to fight to get the government even to acknowledge their injuries. Vietnam veterans fought to have Agent Orange afflictions recognized, and even now, Blue Water Navy Veterans who served on ships in the waters around Vietnam have been left out of coverage.

Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have fought to have their exposure to toxic chemicals and depleted uranium recognized, and thousands suffering from post-traumatic stress and brain injuries have struggled to get help.

Too often, the response from Congress is partial, trying to address the problem on the cheap, or as with the Ryans, it is so bound up in bureaucracy, the help that is offered is of questionable value. We need to admit the immensity of our debt to veterans and the open-ended nature of our obligation.

Perhaps if, going in, the government accepted its responsibility to provide veterans a full measure of care, it would make our leaders more cautious about heading into misguided conflicts like the war in Iraq. That could be a benefit of doing what we ought to do anyway  provide the best care we can for our veterans for as long as they need it.
Specs :New 2K restoration of the uncensored 1958 version (Sternberg's preferred cut of the film), with restored audio

The complete 1953 version of Anatahan

Special Features :Visual essay by Tag Gallagher, Interview with Nicholas von Sternberg, U.S. Navy footage of the actual survivors of Anatahan, immediately after their surrender , Original theatrical trailer
Genres : Drama

Starring : Geoffrey Rush, Nicholas Hope, Sam Neill

Director : Simone Stone

Plot Synopsis

After a fifteen-year absence, Christian (Paul Schneider) returns home to rural New South Wales for the marriage of his father, Henry (Geoffrey Rush), the wealthy owner of the local mill that's been the economic bedrock of the community for generations. Christian gets reacquainted with his old friend Oliver (Ewen Leslie) and finds himself drawn to Oliver's family, which includes wife Charlotte (Miranda Otto), daughter Hedvig (Odessa Young), and father-in-law Walter (Sam Neill). Unexpectedly, Christian discovers a secret that could tear Oliver s family apart; and when Henry announces the imminent closure of the mill, it sends a quake through the community. As Christian tries to right the wrongs of the past, his actions threaten to shatter the lives of those he left behind years before.
Genres : Classic, Noir

Starring : William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Lloyd Gough

Director : Billy Wilder

Plot Synopsis

Noir-comic classic about death and decay in Hollywood. Joe Gillis, a handsome but bankrupt screenwriter, is hired by washed-up silent screen star Norma Desmond to pen her a comeback star vehicle. Gillis has had his latest screenplay rejected by the studios, and, desperate, takes up Desmond's offer to write Salome for her. She demands that he stay with her while he writes, and soon he becomes a virtual prisoner of the actress and her gloomy house.
Family of Ahmed Hassan(NEW YORK) -- The family of a 17-year-old New Jersey boy who has been imprisoned in Egypt since December are calling on U.S. authorities to do more to secure his release.



Ahmed Hassan was arrested on Dec. 1, 2016 while staying with his extended family at their home in Zagazig, a city in the Egyptian Nile Delta, his family said. According to Ahmed's lawyers and father, the teen was taken into custody when the police came to arrest his uncle on a minor building code violation.



Family members present at the time got involved in a dispute with the authorities, which resulted in the arrest of seven of them, including Hassan. The family members were sentenced to a year in prison for resisting authorities, according to Hassan's father, Mohamed Mostafa.



The family had been anxiously awaiting a court hearing that would reconsider Hassan's imprisonment, Mostafa told ABC news. The hearing was scheduled for April 19 but was postponed until July 16 because the police were not available to secure his transportation to court, Mostafa said.



"I went with the lawyer to see the judge overseeing Ahmeds case and begged him to set an earlier date to look into his reconsideration, but he refused, Mostafa said.



While he awaits the July court date, Hassan is living in a cell packed with other people, his father said, adding that he said he must pay the other prisoners in order to get a small amount of space to be able to sleep on.



In March, Hassan sent a letter to President Donald Trump begging him to intercede with the Egyptian authorities on his behalf.



"I am in a jail cell with more than 20 adults. It is scary to be here with these people and the police," Hassan wrote. "Mr. President, please help me. I want to be with my family and friends. I am proud to be an American. I beg you to defend my right to be free."



A copy of Hassan's letter was provided to ABC News by Pretrial Rights International, a legal advocacy organization that is working on his case.



The families of other U.S. citizens imprisoned in Egypt had also written a letter to President Trump ahead of his April 3 meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. In addition to Hassan, the letter asked Trump to intercede on behalf of Mustafa Kassem, 52, and Ahmed Etwiy, 23, who have both been imprisoned since 2013.



"Mr. President, we believe in your commitment to represent Americans first and the values America holds dear, especially freedom. We urge you to demand that President Sisi release all unjustly detained prisoners in Egypt, including our American family members," the letter stated. It was signed by Mostafa, Eman Kassem and Dr. Nagwa El Kordy.



Hassan was born and raised in the US, where his father has been a resident since 1984. Hassan and other members of the family have been going back and forth between the US and Egypt since the mid-2000s.



Before his arrest, Hassan was living in Atlantic City and studying for his SATs, hoping to return to the US for college, his family said.



Praveen Madhiraju is a lawyer with Pretrial Rights International who is working on Hassan's case pro-bono. He said that when Hassan was arrested, the Egyptian authorities wanted to record his nationality as Egyptian, while Hassan insisted that he is American.



They made fun of him and said 'they [the US government] will do nothing for you,'" Madhiraju said.



The DC-based lawyer adds that his organization is currently engaged in talks with both the State Department and Congress to try to pressure Egyptian authorities to release Hassan.



The family has also been in touch with the US embassy in Egypt. But Hassan's father said their response so far has been a "disappointment."



"The person who came from the US embassy didnt even see where Ahmed is jailed. They meet him only at the office and said: 'We don't attend the questioning, we only follow up after,'" Mostafa said. "I am American. I have the right to be defended and protected. Otherwise, whats the reason to be an American citizen?"



The U.S. embassy did not return ABC News' request for comment.



According to Praveen, Hassan is one of approximately 19 American citizens currently jailed in Egypt.



Earlier this week, an Egyptian court acquitted 30-year-old Aya Hijazi, an Egyptian-American aid worker. She had been detained for nearly three years on charges related to child abuse. On Thursday, Hijazi met with Trump at the White House.



"We are very happy to have Aya back home," Trump said.



But Hassan's family are left wondering if and when he will be next. Mostafa said that he was happy to hear that Hijazi had been release because it showed that applying pressure on Egyptian authorities can yield positive results. But he also said it was "hypocritical" that pressure was not being applied by the US to free Hassan.



"Why is there no pressure for Ahmeds case? Is there a difference between people working in human rights and a normal citizen?" Mostafa said.



Meanwhile, the teen's father also worries that they are running out of options to get bring him home.



"I see Ahmed every Sunday," Mostafa said. "He is staying strong but he is starting to break down. He has been in prison for four months and was hoping to leave after his hearing before it got postponed."



Mostafa said Hassan's fate seems to rest in the hands of el-Sissi.



"Our only hope now is for a presidential pardon," he said.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
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Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has been accused of meddling in both the US election to help elect Trump and the Brexit vote to help fracture the EU, has two horses in France's race  the far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, and the center-right Republicans candidate Francois Fillon.

Both candidates have touted policies that are at once Russia-friendly and hostile to two institutions Putin abhors: the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). They also oppose western sanctions on Russia and advocate a closer relationship between France and Moscow.

Le Pen has vowed to pull France out of both the EU and NATO, comparing Europe to a prison and calling NATO "obsolete." Fillon's view of the institutions is more nuanced, but he has indicated that he would like to see the EU's power diminished and has characterized NATO as an arm of "American imperalism."

Le Pen  who has said she admires Putin and thinks sanctions on Russia are "completely stupid"  traveled to Moscow in late March to meet with the Russian president. Fillon, who is a tireless defender of Kremlin policies: He has sought to justify Russia's invasion of eastern Ukraine, demanded that the US lift its Crimea-related sanctions, and has advocated for France to realign with Russia, Iran, and Syrian president Bashar Assad to fight terrorism.

The stakes are high for Russia. Depending on who wins, the French election could set the tone for a broader European shift toward Moscow and away from Washington. It is no surprise, then, that both the French and English-language versions of Russia's state-sponsored news agencies, including Sputnik and Russia Today (RT), have been conspicuously bolstering the Kremlin's preferred candidates.

RT featured Le Pen's statement about Thursday's terror attack in Paris at the top of its site on Friday: "Restore Frances borders, expel foreign nations on watchlist  Le Pen to French govt," the headline read. The article made no mention of the statement released by her centrist opponent, Emmanuel Macron, in the wake of Thursday's attack: "

"It's enough to see which candidates, Marine Le Pen or Francois Fillon, Russia expresses preference for in the French electoral campaign," Ayrault told the French Journal du Dimanche. "Whereas Emmanuel Macron, who is pro-Europe, is being targeted by cyberattacks."

"This form of interference in French democratic life is unacceptable and I denounce it," he added.

Another study published by the Hungary-based private research group Bakamo concluded that several "alternative" news sources widely shared on Facebook and Twitter  whose stated aim is to "counter the narrative of the traditional media"  cite Russian sources to justify their narratives.

French newspaper Le Monde recently compiled a list of the most egregious examples of fake news, including one site, "Wikistrike," which deemed Marine Le Pen the winner before any voting had actually taken place. (These results, it said, were based on electronic ballots that had been "scanned in the USA, opposite the CIA headquarters.")

The impact of this "junk news" pushed by the far-right  much of it inspired or created by Russian disinformation  on the outcome of the French elections will be difficult to measure. In an encouraging sign, experts say that French citizens, on average, have shared far fewer fake stories in the run-up to their election than Americans did in the runup to theirs.
Of the 554 positions requiring confirmation, as of Saturday, 473 have no nominee, 35 have been announced but not formally nominated, 24 have been nominated, and just 22 have been confirmed thus far, according to a database put together by the Washington Post and the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service.

By this point in his first term, former president Barack Obama had 120 people nominated and just 54 confirmed, according to data provided to Business Insider by the Partnership for Public Service.

Having a high number of unfilled positions across federal agencies is not a catastrophic risk in the short term, experts say, because while political appointees await Senate confirmation, the administration has the power to appoint acting individuals to executive agency roles.

In other words, while the positions are unfilled, they are not vacant and are almost always occupied by career people who are chosen by the president from a narrowly-defined pool of individuals, while the president's nominee is vetted by the Senate.

But experts warn the greatest risk in unfilled roles lies in handling crisis situations or enacting long-term policies.

And the delay could be creating the No. 1 thing Trump hates about government  inefficiency.

What are the risks?

Some key departments have almost no Trump-appointed staffers. The Department of State, for example, has 119 positions that require Senate confirmation. So far, three have been confirmed, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.

The Department of Defense, which consists of 53 key positions, has had just one nominee  the Secretary of Defense, James Mattis  confirmed, while two others have been nominated but not confirmed, and one has failed. No one has yet been nominated for the other 49 positions in the agency.

"In virtually all unfilled positions, there will be an acting individual who is performing the functions of the job, but it's like having a substitute teacher," Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service and the Center for Presidential Transition, told Business Insider. "They're not perceived as having long-term authority and they don't view their jobs as lasting, so they're not going to be making judgments based on a long term vision, or making hard choices."

It's like having a substitute teacher.

The importance of having political appointees across executive agencies applies not just to the top-most cabinet positions, but also to these sub-cabinet positions, especially when it comes to enacting new policy changes  like those outlined in Trump's 24 executive orders.

"In order for anybody to represent the administration before Congress or to make any policy decisions, the administration needs to have appointees at sub-cabinet levels," Dr. James Pfiffner, an expert on White House organization and a professor at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government, told Business Insider.

"And if Trump wants to make policy changes, which he clearly seems to want to do, he can't really do that unless he has his people working on programs he wants to change," Pfiffner said.

Less effective government, not smaller government

A person's status as an acting individual also hinders critical networking with other political appointees in executive agencies, Stier said, because permanent employees are not as likely to invest time in building relationships with those they view as being temporary.

These loose relationships between political appointees and acting appointees could pose significant risks in potential crisis situations.

"With crisis management, in almost all instances, crises that occur in the federal government involve multiple agencies, often times multiple secretaries at multiple levels of the government," Stier said. And in a situation where a significant number of positions are unfilled by the president's appointees, "you just don't have a team operating as well as a team should."

If crucial Cabinet-level positions are unfilled and a crisis erupts in which an acting individual has to make tough decisions, they also may not feel as though they are fully authorized to make those decisions.

"The choices they make may be circumscribed by the fact that they are acting, and they might not feel like they have the full blessing of the president," Stier said. The situation is also further complicated by the fact that acting individuals may not have robust relationships with critical peers across government that would be needed to make tough calls.

Trump and many of his Cabinet members have expressed their desire to downsize the government, which could be a potential reason why the president hasn't appointed more people.

But by leaving these jobs unfilled, Stier said, the result is actually "less effective government, not smaller government."

A unique challenge

But he said Trump's contentious relationship with the Republican establishment has significantly narrowed the pool of potential candidates who may have otherwise been more willing to serve in government.

In August 2016, 50 of the nation's top Republican national security officials signed a letter denouncing Trump's candidacy, warning that he would put national security at risk and "be the most reckless president in American history."

"None of us will vote for Donald Trump," the letter said.

Trump has also disparaged the US intelligence community on a number of occasions, further straining relations between himself and the national security apparatus. After it emerged that the CIA had found Russia had interfered in the 2016 election and played a role in handing Trump the presidency, his transition team released a statement questioning the agency's motives and expertise.

Trump also notably attacked congressional establishment Republicans a number of times during his presidential campaign, and vice versa. As Election Day approached, for example, and Trump's campaign was crippled by the emergence of a tape in which he referred to women in crude terms, House Speaker Paul Ryan said he would "no longer defend Donald Trump," joining a long list of Republicans who denounced their nominee for the tape.

As a result of what Trump saw as Ryan's betrayal, Trump tweeted in October, "It is so nice that the shackles have been taken off me and I can now fight for America the way I want to." The two have since tried to come together to pass legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but have yet to successfully do so.

Later, he tweeted, "Disloyal R[epublican]'s are far more difficult than Crooked Hillary. They come at you from all sides. They dont know how to win  I will teach them!"

Now that he's in office, Trump has been on the receiving end of scorn from establishment Republicans in Congress, most notably South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and Arizona Senator John McCain, whose prisoner-of-war status Trump once mocked.

The ups and downs of Trump's relationship with establishment conservatives in government and the national security field contribute to potential governmental dysfunction, Pfiffner said, because he may not have access to field experts that previous administrations did.

Trump's internal conflicts with Cabinet secretaries in key government agencies could also be playing a role. Though conflicts between the president and his cabinet have been present in every administration, they "seem to be worse in the Trump administration," Pfiffner added. There have reportedly been instances in which cabinet secretaries have put forward candidates for sub-cabinet level positions that the White House has rejected, and vice versa.

The results  a nearly-empty State Department, for example  can be risky in a crisis situation or if there's a major change in policy.
He told Accra-based Starr FM: My caution is that once a nation decides to play from the international capital market, we have to be sure that the participants and the people we are going to tap for resources on those international capital market are very monstrous company.

They are huge companies with wide international reputations and therefore we have to be extremely careful if we are making any comment thats going to impugn wrongdoing to especially the people we will go to, to raise capital at any point in time.

And in truth it is a party-insensitive. It is about country reputation so those of us who report on these transactions lets make sure that we are well informed. Otherwise if we just touch these people they will give anything up for their reputation and therefore we should be very careful the kind of commentary we are running around, he added.

For him, this will not be the first time or the last time we will go into the international debt capital market [and] if we say something we are not just hurting Templetonwe are probably passing a message on to other serious players which I dont want to say but suffice to say lets be very careful.

The Minority had alleged at a press conference last week that the $2.2 billion was shrouded in secrecy, calling for a parliamentary probe.
Uber has been operating in Ghana for a year and unlike other ride-hailing apps, it appears to be gaining ground in Ghana.

The Uber service is killing the work of taxi drivers in Ghana. Because they know as foreigners they would not be able to engage in this kind of work in Ghana, some Ghanaians fronted for them to enable them gain access to the local market, says Francis Appiah in an interview with Accra-based Class FM.

READ ALSO: Invincible Forces go on rampage, lock Zabzugu NHIS officeThey dont pay income tax, they dont pay for embossments, but we the taxi drivers do pay. Taxi drivers also possess AMA embossment licences and stickers, but they [Uber taxis] dont have them. Again, because they mostly use private cars to do their business, the insurance they pay is much lower than what the commercial drivers pay.

Even the use of private cars is against the road traffic regulations, but everybody is watching as they violate the law. Today as we speak, when you go to Tanzania, Uber has killed taxi drivers businesses and even in the United States where they come from, they are gradually killing the taxi business, he adds.
Selassie made this known in response to a question about the status of the IMF deal with Ghana at a World Bank/IMF spring summit in Washington, USA.

We are in discussions and we will let you know as soon as a decision has been taken by the government of Ghana, he said. We are happy for the government to finish its deliberations and we are also initiating back and forth discussions.
Henry Tyroon likes what wealth can bring, but that isnt why he spends so much time pursuing it. You do it for fun, he explains. Moneys just the way you keep score. James Garner scores big as Henry, a flimflammer who lands in New York City after his Texas oil well comes up a duster. He needs a million or so in pocket money to pay his debts. Soon, he also hopes to land a blue-eyed blue chip: a stock analyst (Lee Remick) pressured by her firm to unload a worthless stock. Can Henry come up with a plan to turn whats worthless into the hottest thing on Wall Street? The market for wit and charm is a sure thing in this mix of romantic comedy and business-world satire. Thirty years later, Garner would play a wheeler-dealer of another era to award-winning effect as the CEO in Barbarians at the Gate.
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ALSO READ: Movie stars celebrate 2nd wedding anniversary

The Nollywood actor said he cannot be disturbed by the rumours because he is focused on better things.

In a recent interview with Hitz FM, Attoh said that his wife is wonderful, and she is currently in London. She just launched her Alpha Woman project, which helps to empower women.

When asked about the separation rumours, he said, I dont hear them, I dont read them. Im too focused, I cant be too bothered with all these what is important is in front of me.
We are still in talks with some and we are hopeful that in the next few days, we will be able to communicate the final list, an Empire official says.

Sticking to the events theme and longstanding tradition of pairing artistes from Nigeria and Ghana to a nights celebration of music, this years would also feature the best of the two countries.

Empire adds that the talks have advanced to a point where they feel confident they are getting almost all the acts they want for the show.

We have had extensive negotiations and cannot wait to let people in on our final list. It is the best you can have currently from the two countries.

In its 7th year, the Ghana Meets Naija concert is the biggest concert in the region that brings artistes from the two countries together.

Usually oversubscribed, it has over the years hosted the likes of Wizkid, The Mavins headed by Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Sarkodie, and Shatta Wale among a tall list of A-List acts.

This years event has uniBank as headline sponsor.
James Klutse Avedzi, who disclosed this at a three-day capacity-building workshop for members of the parliamentary press corps in Koforidua, said four reports of the Auditor General will be considered.

These are the Bank of Ghanas forex exchange transaction and receipt and payment for the first half year and second half year of 2015, performance reports on disposal of government vehicles by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Health and performance report on drug use in Ghana by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).

He said: I believe strongly that when the committee starts sitting on Tuesday 25th of this month to Friday 28th of this month, that sitting we will be looking at four reports.

"Bank of Ghanas forex exchange transaction and receipt and payment for the first half year and second half year of 2015. These two reports will be [discussed] during this public hearing starting from Tuesday.
When alarm, was raised, everyone ran to safety and an urgent call was made to the Ghana Fire Service to come and help put out the fire, the statement said.

Two fire tenders came soon followed by three more. It has become apparent after about an hour and a half, that the Fire Service personnel have not been able to contain the fire at the studio. Now the fire has spread to other offices on the same block as the ATV studio. The ATV studio and four commercial offices of Groupe Nduom are on the same block, according to the statement.

The statement further stressed that It is important to note that the Regency Hotel and its restaurant, guest rooms and conference facilities are intact and were not touched by the fire.

The Coconut Groove Regency Hotel is owned by the Flag bearer of the Progressive Peoples Party and Businessman Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom and family. The 3-star hotel was established 23 years ago and has several branches in Elmina and Obuasi.
READ MORE: Minister backs suspension of Nkonya and Alavanyo chiefs from House of Chiefs

He assured residents that the government is doing all it can to make sure they feel safe to carry out their normal day to day business.

He told Accra-based Joy FM: I want to assure them, the people of the area that government is going to do all in its power to make sure that they feel safe. And therefore they should make sure that they do not panic.

We sent security team by the southern command of the military there. So we are going to do everything to make sure that there is peace and safety for all of them.

The interior minister urged the residents to volunteer information about the perpetrators of last weeks killings.

He also urged them not to panic because the government is committed to ensuring that they feel safe in the area.

So please they shouldnt panic, they should go about their duties but they should help us by giving us information to let us know the perpetrators of these offences and I assure them that once we get that report and information we are going to investigate and bring all those who are involved in wrongdoing to book, he said.
Speaking on TV3s Hot Issues Saturday, the renowned environmentalists said: We [Ghana] set off with just about 4.5 million people and Nkrumah came along and said Chiefs were not fit enough to run the nation Nkrumah wanted centrality of government and at the time, that was right.

The 4.5 million people and the system we had cannot hold 27 million people so leaders who came after Nkrumah should have had the audacity of change to change the system.

We are still centralised and that is why we are where we are because we cannot manage our economy effectively. You cannot stay in Accra and manage schools in Tamale. Thats what we do and its just not feasible.

He said the government can start be decentralising sanitation, education and healthcare.

If we do that and have people control their own sanitation, well not have the sanitation problem we have in Ghana now
An Eyewitness told Radio Ghana: I am very disappointed in the fire service. They were here when the TV studio was burning. They asked us to go out as the flames were coming. We were asked to go out because we cant be inside when it is burning. So they have the water and everything that they can quench the fire but they didnt do it.

Another also said: They saw the fire. It started small inside the room. But when the fire service people came, they came and poured the water on the roof. So we asked them why they pouring the water on the roof and they are said the water they brought wasnt enough.

In a statement Sunday, the Corporate Affairs Director of Groupe Ndoum, Richmond Keelson, clarified that Saturdays fire outbreak did not affect the hotel, its restaurant, guest rooms and conference facilities.

Keelson explained that between 5.00 and 5.30pm Saturday evening, staff of Amansan Television (ATV) noticed fire burning apparently from the direction of an air conditioning unit in their studio.

When alarm, was raised, everyone ran to safety and an urgent call was made to the Ghana Fire Service to come and help put out the fire, the statement said.

Two fire tenders came soon followed by three more. It has become apparent after about an hour and a half, that the Fire Service personnel have not been able to contain the fire at the studio. Now the fire has spread to other offices on the same block as the ATV studio. The ATV studio and four commercial offices of Groupe Nduom are on the same block, according to the statement.

The statement further stressed that It is important to note that the Regency Hotel and its restaurant, guest rooms and conference facilities are intact and were not touched by the fire.

The Coconut Groove Regency Hotel is owned by the Flag bearer of the Progressive Peoples Party and Businessman Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom and family. The 3-star hotel was established 23 years ago and has several branches in Elmina and Obuasi.
The stool name Nii Kwaku Ablade Okogyeaman 1, which translates to mean Royal Warrior; one who fights to redeem his people was given to President as part of the enstoolment on Sunday.

Speaking at the event, paramount chief of the area, Oblempong Nii Kojo Ababio, said the reason for honouring Nana Akufo-Addo with the stool was because of his sterling career as a human rights lawyer who stood for the rule of law and advocated for the rights of the ordinary Ghanaian.

The paramount chief advised the president to be impartial in the implementation of policies and programmes that will benefit every citizen of Ghana. Oblempong Nii Kojo Ababio also appealed to the President to expedite actions to turn Jamestown into a modern city in order to bring economic activity to the area.

In his response, President Akufo-Addo thanked the chiefs and people for the honourable gesture and reiterated his campaign promise of making Accra the cleanest city on the continent under his leadership.

The commitment I want to make, and for all of us to make, is that by the end of my term in office, Accra will be the cleanest city on the entire African continent. That is the commitment I am making. He said
The Saturday evening fire is said to have been sparked by faulty air-conditioning and started at the television studio of Amansan Television in Accra.

A statement from Groupe Nduom, the parent company, said the fire started at Amansan Television and engulfed other offices but did not get to the hotel itself, which are all in the same premises.
Genres : Documentary

Director : Gianfranco Rosi

Plot Synopsis

Gianfranco Rosi has emerged as one of the most awarded and provocative documentarians working today. His observational films artfully and sympathetically depict the lives of subcultures and displaced peoples the world over. The Gianfranco Rosi Collection includes four of his greatest films. Fire at Sea (2016), an Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary Feature and winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, is a heartwrenching portrait of African refugees pouring into the Italian island of Lampedusa. Sacro GRA (2013), winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, is an engaging tour of Rome s ring road, populated by a fascinating group of eccentrics. Rosi spent five years shooting Below Sea Level (2008), which documents the hand-to-mouth existence of California flatland squatters. And his first feature, Boatman (1993), captures life and death on the Ganges River in India.
Prof. Adei made the comments in an interview with Accra-based Joy FM on sidelines of Youth Mentorship and Empowerment programme held by the Pentecost Church of Ghana Friday.

I think [President] Nana Akufo-Addos approach to dealing with this menace of vigilante groups is the best, which of course, some of his party members are very angry about, he said.
However Hon. Cecilia Dapaah stopped short of giving further details of the 10 proposals and said her outfit will consider the proposals and a decision would be reached soon.

In March, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta announced the scraping of a 17.5 percent tax imposed on domestic airline tickets during the 2017 budget reading in Parliament.

The abolishment of the tax was seen as an incentive to increase passenger numbers with the local aviation industry.
The 58-year-old Nigerian miracle worker is reportedly the senior pastor of the Jesus Dominion International and was arrested in South Africa.

He was later arraigned in court on Friday, April 21, 2017, and was subsequently denied bail.

South African police have alleged that Mr. Omotosho has trafficked about 30 young girls over the years from various branches of his church to a house in Umulanga, KwaZulu-Natal where he allegedly exploited them sexually.

Punch reports that Omotosho allegedly handpicked the girls, instructing them to live in his house where he forced them to have unprotected sex with him.

Omotosho reportedly appeared before the Port Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Friday, where his case was postponed to May 3.
According to Punch, the Governor said Nigerians need to be told the real state of health of the President.

Fayose said The President would do well to go and take proper care of his health and allow the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, to constitutionally act as the President.

But it is doubtful if those cabals that are obviously running their own Presidency within President Buharis Presidency will allow him to take a long vacation, probably outside Nigeria to take care of himself.

Thats why Nigerians are told every day that the President said this and that with the President neither speaking directly nor attending any official function. This is not good for the image of a country like Nigeria that is struggling to get out of economic recession.

"It is only when the President is seen and heard physically that Nigerians will believe that they are not being ruled by a part-time and ceremonial President, whose powers are being exercised on his behalf by some cabal, he added.
According to Daily Post, the EFCC boss also said that the agency has convicted 62 individuals in the first quarter of 2017.

Magu said Apart from several other recoveries running into several billions of naira, the recent whistleblower policy has led to the recovery by EFCC of N521,815,000.00, $53,272 747.00, 122,890.00, and 547,730.00.

He made the revelation while speaking at the 2017 Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) Week/Award Day on Saturday, April 22, 2017, in Abuja.

ALSO READ:Why Senate rejected Magu as EFCC chairman
The Army recently launched Operation HARBIN KUNAMA Scorpion Sting in Kaduna to restore peace in the troubled area.

According to Daily Post, the arms were discovered when troops were on a cordon and search routine around Gwaska, Dangoma, Angwan Far and Bakin Kogi general area.

Speaking to newsmen on the development, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, Director Army Public Relations said During the operation, the troops recovered 73 Dane Guns, 4 Locally Made Rifles, 1 Locally Made Machine Gun and 1 Locally Made Pistol. Others include 260 Cartridges, 14 rounds of 7.62mm Ammunition, 63 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 1 Locally made Small Machine Gun Magazine, a pair of worn out military boot and some quantities of assorted Improvised Ammunition and Pyrotechnics hidden in dug out pits.

While efforts are on going to track down the owners of the arms and ammunition, it is imperative to state the good people of the area have been very supportive and cooperate fully with the military which led to this unprecedented findings.

Similarly, in Sector 1 of the Operation which covers Kano State, troops in conjunction with other security agencies are carrying out operations in suspected armed bandits camps in Falgore forest. The operation is ongoing.
He passed on in the early hours of Sunday, April 23, 2017.

Pulse has just been told that the Senator attended an event in Iwo, Osun State, on the eve of his death and showed little or no signs of a failing health.

He came back from a function on Saturday, had slight stomach ache. Was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead this morning, a source in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, told

ALSO READ: Former Osun Governor dies at 62

Adeleke suffered a heart attack at the Bikets hospital in Osogbo where he was on bed rest, according to latest information at our disposal.

62-year-old Adeleke has been in the corridors of power in Nigeria for as long as anyone can remember.

He was the first executive Governor of Osun State in the early 90s.

Adeleke was elected into the Nigerian senate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.

He was a PDP Senator between 2007 and 2011.

He defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the 2015 general election.

He was re-elected into the senate in 2015.
Eyewitnesses have told Pulse that angry young men are beating up people and pulling commuters off vehicles at the moment.

"They are shattering windscreens and bursting tyres; pulling people out of cars and beating them to a pulp", one eyewitness told Pulse.

ALSO READ:

This Twitter user also reports that his village in Ede, Osun State, is currently on fire.

It was not immediately clear why the youths had resorted to violence in the wake of the Senator's death.
No fewer than 56 troupes from 18 states of the federation, eight African countries as well as Haiti and Cuba participated at the festival which commenced on Thursday.

The festival was also attended by eminent personalities at the opening ceremony including the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Sole Soyinka, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

The minister said that the festival was important because of its focus on a key aspect of Nigerias cultural heritage which had been taken for granted and gradually fading away.

Drumming is an aspect of our culture that we must not allow to die or allow to be overshadowed by the contemporary strain, he said.

Mohammed, who commended the Ogun government  for blazing the trail by hosting the drums festival,  urged it to ensure the sustenance of the programme, adding that the Federal Government would accord it all necessary support.

He urged other states to ensure that they continued to promote the rich cultural heritage of the nation.
According to Daily Post, IPOBs Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful said the new strategy will be adopted in other South-Eastern states.

Powerful also called on all women in the region to gear up for the next level of protests.

He said We commend the organisers and the children who came out for the childrens rally and peaceful protest against the secret trial pronounced by President Muhammadu Buhari against our leader.

Children in Aba protested against the secret trial and illegal detention of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and others who had been illegally detained since 14th October 2015 in kuje prison Abuja.

The childrens peaceful rally in Aba today is a lesson to the Nigeria Government and those who are sabotaging the struggle for the liberation of Gods people on earth which is Biafra.

When our supreme leader and prophet of our time Mazi Nnamdi Kanu said it on radio Biafra, those who does not understand the language of heaven tagged it hate speech.

The spirit of Biafra is now hovering everywhere around the world, arresting the good people for Biafra restoration and no man born of a woman can stop the liberation of good people of Biafra.

The childrens peaceful rally today in Aba will soon go round the Biafraland in solidarity to our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and for the restoration of ancient nation of Biafra.

Also women in Biafraland should prepare for the womens rally and peaceful protest against the sharia law and secret trial pronounced by Binta Nyako and for the restoration of Biafra.
A statement by the Vice Presidents Spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, on Saturday in Abuja said that the camera sitting of the committee would enable all parties in the matter to make full disclosures.

President Muhammadu Buhari had named Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to head the panel to investigate the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke.

Lawal was accused of legal and due process violations in the award of contracts to companies handling the resettlement programmes in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the North-East.

Oke was also accused of transgressions in the discovery of large amounts in foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.

In the discharge of its work, the panel is expected to invite all relevant officials and private individuals who may be connected to both cases.

It will also obtain and scrutinize documents that may throw some light on the issues raised in both cases.

All its proceedings will, however, be in closed sessions to avoid speculations, allow for full disclosure and enhance the pace of proceedings, the statement said.

It said that the committee had begun its work in earnest to be able to meet the two weeks deadline given to it by Buhari.

According to the statement, the panel will conduct its work with utmost diligence and without fear or favour.
In a condolence message in Lagos, Tinubu, a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that Famakinwas death was a blow to the regional integration efforts.

Famakinwa died on Friday morning at the age of 51.

The death of Dipo Famakinwa left me distraught. Leaving us at such a young age of 51 is unpleasant, but his was an eventful life. He lived a life of mission.

He pursued that mission with vigour.

 Dipo was a partner, soul mate, fellow advocate and foot-soldier for economic integration of the states in the South-West Geopolitical Zone for the development of the region.

He breathed life into that economic integration initiative. He was busy arranging the building blocks for the realisation of that ideal.

 He set a huge task for himself at DAWN and was working on this with all his energy. I learnt that he had to be forced recently to take a short leave after working ceaselessly over the years at DAWN, he said.

According to Tinubu, the Yoruba race has lost a strategist and an organiser.

He said, His death is a loss not only to his family, the DAWN Commission and Yoruba race, but also to Nigeria.

The academic world also lost because Dipo was very cerebral and serious-minded.

What we must all do across the South-West is to ensure that the idea of regional economic integration he worked and died for does not die with him.

It should be pursued with more drive and force. That is what we must do for him.

He commiserated with the deceaseds family members, and prayed that God would give them the strength to bear his death,
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the party also won all the councillorship seats in the 171 wards of the state.

Mr Jossy Eze, Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) announced this on Sunday at the commissions headquarters in Abakaliki while declaring result of the polls.

According to him, seven political parties participated in the elections out of the 40 registered parties in the state including the PDP and the All Progressive Congress (APC)

The other parties that contested in the elections include: African Democratic Party (ADC), African Peoples Party (APA) Merger Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP) Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP).

The PDPs candidate in Abakaliki LGA, Emmanuel Nwangele won with 65, 036 votes, Ogbonnaya Oko-Enyim won in Afikpo LGA with 55, 808, Eni Uduma-Chima-Afikpo South 50, 894, Juliet NwaogbagaEbonyi, 54, 527 and Nora AlohEzza North, 58, 423 votes.

The PDP candidate in Ezza South LGA, Sunday Ogodo won with 50, 576 votes, John NnaboIkwo, 77, 132, Henry EzeIshiellu, 68, 263, Ude OgbonnayaIvo, 28, 787 Paul NwoghaIzzi, 84, 088, Clement OdaaOhaukwu,84, 088, Nkechi IyiokuOhaozara, 55, 698 and Felix IgbokeOnicha,59, 698 votes, he said.

Eze declared that the APC trailed in a distant second position with an accumulated 5, 900 votes while most of the other parties did not record a single vote in most LGAs.

He commended the electorate, party agents, security officials, observers, among other stakeholders, for ensuring a smooth and credible electoral process, noting that cases of electoral disturbances were very minimal.

We have been able to deliver a credible election to Ebonyi people despite inherent challenges as the state has the enviable record of conducting LGA elections in the country, every three years, he said.

Mr Onyekachi Nwebonyi, state PDP Chairman, congratulated the party faithful for the victory and noted that it was an indication of what to expect in the state, in the 2019 genera elections.

This resounding success has proved that PDP is the only party which viably exists in Ebonyi and we are not going to rest on our oars until such feat is repeated in 2019, he said.

Mr Splendour Eze, state Chairman of the Advanced Congress for Democrats (ACD) hailed the smooth conduct of the election but regretted that his party did not participate in it.

ALSO READ: Gov

Eze, who is the state Secretary of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), lamented that the current economic hardship in the country made most parties not to participate in the election.

The state governor was magnanimous to offset 50 per cent of the nomination fees of N500, 000 for chairmanship candidates and N100, 000 for councillorship positions, for registered parties in the state.

The balance despite the subsidy was still high as it was still not within the reach of most parties, he said.
The party's telegenic co-leader Frauke Petry had already announced last week she would not join the campaign squad, following weeks of bitter infighting between populists and more radical, hard-right forces.

Weidel told cheering delegates that the AfD was the only party that could protect Germany's borders and ensure public security.

Referring to an attack on a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives committed by a failed asylum seeker, she called it a "scandal" that "in our country, Christian holidays have to be protected by police with machine guns and barriers for trucks".

"As a woman I should be able to take the last train home in safety," she added.

Earlier the party, now represented in 11 of Germany's 16 states, signed off on a programme that it hopes will pave the way for it to enter the national parliament for the first time in its four-year history.

It included calls to stop family unification of refugees already in Germany, strip immigrants convicted of "significant crimes" of their German passports, and declare Islam incompatible with German culture.

The AfD has seen its support plummet as the refugee influx to Germany has slowed in recent months, after Merkel let in more than one million asylum seekers since 2015.

'Difficult day'

Petry, a 41-year-old former chemist pregnant with her fifth child, was handed a stinging setback Saturday at the gathering in the western city of Cologne, which drew several thousand protesters and required a security detail of 4,000 police officers.

The around 600 delegates rejected Petry's call to adopt a more moderate-sounding "Realpolitik" programme intended to shut down the party's more extremist voices, including those who have attacked Germany's Holocaust remembrance culture.

The International Auschwitz Committee representing survivors of the Nazi death camp condemned the incendiary speeches in Cologne, which it said were aimed at "inciting panic, denouncing all other political forces and rejecting the cultural values that hold the culture of the republic together."

Top-selling daily Bild called delegates' decision to not even debate her motion a "crushing blow" for Petry, who expressed bitterness on the sidelines of the meeting.

"I will step aside during the campaign, as that's what the party congress apparently wants," Petry said, while pledging to remain party co-chairwoman "for now".

"As long as the party is not willing to say in what direction it wants to go, a team will have to lead the campaign that can deal with this indecision better than I can."

Acknowledging the damaging inner turmoil, Gauland expressed regret that Petry, who is very popular with the party's base, will not be front-and-centre on the campaign trail.

"It was a difficult party congress. Frauke Petry, I know it was a difficult day for you but we need you in the party," he said to loud applause and chants of "Merkel must go".

"From now on we are going to focus our attention on our political opponents."

'Heading for a showdown'

Commentators said the party's unresolved power struggle further undermined its bid to surf the momentum of France's far-right presidential frontrunner Marine Le Pen, Donald Trump in the United States and the Brexit movement in Britain to electoral success in the September 24 vote.

Spiegel Online journalist Severin Weiland said it was now even "doubtful" whether the AfD would clear the five-percent hurdle to representation in the national parliament.

The daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung said that the rifts were less about the political goals of the party -- the most successful right-wing populist outfit in Germany's post-war history -- than personal ambition.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The Oxfarm an organisation dealing with humanitarian issues in Zimbabwe has alleged that tension seems to be escalating in the country as the political parties gear themselves for the 2018 elections.In its website the organisation said due to 2015 to 2016 Drought and recent floods, access to food continues to be a challenge for most vulnerable households."The lean season has been extended by WFP and stakeholders until end of April 2017 based on the recent Zimbabwe Vulnerability Rapid Assessment, which indicated the need to extend as harvest are only expected in May in most areas," reads the communique."As the country draw towards the 2018 Presidential Elections, tension has begun to rise in most areas including in areas where Oxfam is implementing programs and responding tohumanitarian disasters. The situation remains stable however high levels of monitoring is required as political parties begin to mobilise their supporters in different districts across the country."The orghanisation said due to the ongoing liquidity crisis in Zimbabwe, cash shortages continue to cripple the rural market making it difficult for vulnerable communities to access basic goods, foodstuff and services."Typhoid outbreak declared in October 2016 with a spike observed in December continues to be monitored across 13 Districts in 6 Provinces across Zimbabwe. Partners responding to the outbreak are intensifying hygiene promotion to raise awareness on safe water, hygiene and sanitation practices given the incessant rains which continue to be experienced across the country posing a risk of diarrheal diseases countrywide," said the organisation."Zimbabwe has appealed for assistance after declaring floods a national disaster. Almost 250 people have been killed and about 2,000 people have been left homeless, with around 900 people displaced to a camp in Tsholostho in Matabeleland North. Much of the heavy rains received over the past month can be attributed to Tropical Cyclone DINEO, which crossed southern and western Zimbabwe as a powerful storm system in mid-February."
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active in the rescue effort include long-established groups such as Doctors without Borders and Save the Children, and smaller, newer operations such as the Malta-based MOAS.

They have all dismissed suggestions of de facto collusion with smugglers as a baseless slur on volunteer crews whose only mission is to save lives in the absence of EU governments acting effectively to do so.

Over 1,000 migrants are feared to have died in waters between Libya and Italy so far this year, according to the UN refugee agency. Nearly 37,000 have been rescued and brought to Italy.

"We have evidence that there are direct contacts between certain NGOs and people traffickers in Libya," Zuccaro was quoted as saying by La Stampa.

"We do not yet know if and how we could use this evidence in court, but we are quite certain about what we say; telephone calls from Libya to certain NGOs, lamps that illuminate the route to these organisations' boats, boats that suddenly turn off their (locating) transponders, are ascertained facts."

Libya deal in doubt

Zuccaro is the head of a five-strong pool of prosecutors investigating criminal aspects of the migrant crisis, from trafficking to illegal exploitation of migrants on Italian farms and via prostitution to rackets in the provision of reception facilities.

La Stampa reported that prosecutors were looking into whether some of the newly-established NGOs may be financed by the traffickers as a way of making it easier to guarantee their human cargoes get to Italy.

The organisations involved have all dismissed the charges against them. They fear they are being targeted by a smear campaign designed to get them out of the way.

One group, SOS Mediterranee, told AFP last week it had "never, not once" been put in touch with a migrant boat via smugglers.

Under an EU-backed strategy, Italy is currently trying to beef up Libya's coastguard in the hope more boats can be prevented from getting out of Libyan territorial waters and the migrants returned to holding camps in the troubled country.

The strategy has been described by rights groups as a breach of Europe's obligations under international refugee conventions.

And it has so far made little headway towards closing down the Libya-Italy migrant route.

Rome said Friday it would be providing Libya with ten new coastguard boats but a cooperation deal covering holding camps and repatriations is in limbo after it was suspended by Libya's Court of Appeal.

Food ban lifted

The number of people leaving Libya in the hope of starting a new life in Europe is up nearly 50 percent this year compared with the opening months of 2016.

With most departures coming in the warm summer months, the trend points to around 250,000 people arriving over the course of 2017 - a forecast Zuccaro described as "an under-estimate".

Some 500,000 migrants were registered in Italy in the three years spanning 2014-16.

And pressure on the country's reception facilities has increased in the last year as a result of neighbouring countries tightening border controls, making it harder for migrants to move further north.

Tensions at bottleneck border points were underlined when Ventimiglia, a town on the Riviera border with France, issued an order banning locals from distributing food to migrants.

The order, similar to one issued in Calais in northern France, was withdrawn on Sunday in a move welcomed by aid groups who hope it will have a bearing on a court case against French activist Felix Croft.

Prosecutors have asked for a prison term and 50,000 euros fine for Croft, 28, for trying to help a Sudanese family from Darfur to cross the border into France in July 2016.
But while Le Pen senior never seemed to truly covet the top job, his charismatic daughter is convinced that, come May 7, France will have its first woman president.

Over the past six years, her rebranded "party of patriots" has gone from strength to strength, propelled by the kind of anti-globalisation, anti-establishment fury that drove Britain's vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump's election in the United States.

But she never strayed far from her National Front's (FN) stock themes of immigration and Islamic fundamentalism -- hot-button issues after a string of jihadist attacks that have killed 239 people since 2015, including a policeman shot dead on Paris's Champs Elysees avenue three days before the election.

"With me there would never have been the migrant terrorists of the Bataclan," Le Pen told supporters in the final days of the campaign, referring to the Paris concert hall where dozens were killed in the November 2015 attacks.

As president, she says she would bring in an immediate moratorium on long-term migration until a quota system could be introduced.

Her hardline remarks marked a shift in her long-running campaign to purge the FN of the anti-Semitism and overt racism that were the party's hallmarks under her father.

Le Pen launched a drive to detoxify the party's image on taking over the party leadership in 2011 -- a canny move that swept the party to victory in European elections in 2014.

But on the campaign trail, she returned to the party's fundamentals, saying France bore no responsibility for an infamous round-up of 13,000 Jews in Paris during World War II by police acting on orders from the collaborationist Vichy regime.

Her remarks inevitably drew comparisons with the revisionism of her father, whom she kicked out of the party in 2015 for describing the Holocaust as "a detail of history".

A wounded Jean-Marie refused to go quietly, dragging the FN before the courts.

Family drama

The split marked a turning point in the career of Marine Le Pen, who developed a tough shell after a tumultuous childhood.

When she was eight, a bomb ripped through the Paris apartment building where the family lived, slightly injuring six people but sparing the Le Pens.

Eight years later, her mother Pierrette walked out on her husband and three daughters, sensationally resurfacing shortly afterwards posing nude in Playboy magazine.

"It was a huge shock," Le Pen, who did not see her mother for 15 years, told an M6 television interviewer last year.

Now herself a twice-divorced mother-of-three, she keeps her private life out of the spotlight, appearing rarely as a couple with her partner, FN vice-president Louis Aliot.

The politician with the gravelly voice and flair for sharp putdowns started out as a lawyer defending illegal immigrants facing deportation as a state-appointed attorney.

Despite that experience she blames migration -- and the European Union -- for France's economic woes.

Le Pen has predicted the EU "will die" and has vowed to take France out of the euro and hold a referendum on membership of the union.

The proposal has caused alarm, with most polls showing the French against a "Frexit" or a return of the franc, fearing economic chaos.

Le Pen has downplayed the risks, accusing sceptical rivals and economists of scare-mongering.

French first

The FN has come a long way since it was launched in 1972 as a refuge for paramilitaries who opposed France granting independence to Algeria.

It also drew apologists for the wartime Vichy regime's collaboration with Nazi Germany and ultra-conservative Catholics.

Under Marine Le Pen, the party has shown a more progressive face, promoting openly gay politicians and showing unmasked racists the door.

Critics, however, point to the role of several Le Pen aides who were once part of violent nationalist student groups -- and the recurring chant of "This is our land" at FN rallies -- as evidence that it still attracts hardliners.

Like Trump, Le Pen is proposing to pull up the drawbridge and restore French glory with a policy of "economic patriotism".

Besides leaving the euro she wants to pull out of Europe's Schengen border-free area, adopt a French-first policy on jobs and public housing and tax products from French companies that offshore factory jobs by 35 percent.
A few minor scuffles briefly broke out in the east of the capital when police forced back the crowd with tear gas. A female journalist said she was assaulted by pro-government heavies downtown and a male journalist was detained for hours by intelligence officers, their union said.

For the first time since the turmoil in the streets started at the beginning of April, the demonstrators were able to cross Caracas, including several districts loyal to Maduro and his late predecessor Hugo Chavez.

Tense negotiations saw security forces who had been blocking their way step aside to allow them to march to their destination, the headquarters of the Catholic bishops' conference.

Protesters also marched to the Catholic Church's episcopal seats in several other cities across the country, tightly guarded by the police and national guard.

The opposition is seen as close to the Church, which the government accuses of playing politics against it.

The "silent protest" was a test of the authorities' tolerance for peaceful demonstrations.

The center-right opposition has accused the leftist government of repressing past protests and sending armed thugs to attack them.

Many wore white T-shirts emblazoned with the word "peace." Others carried white flowers or Venezuelan flags, while one protester wielded a giant wooden cross.

'Nothing left to lose'

In Caracas, a priest and an evangelical pastor led a mass for the demonstrators from the back of a truck.

Some of the protesters said they were not afraid of the government.

"We've got nothing left to lose. The government's already taken everything, all possibility of living our lives with dignity," said protester Jessica Muchacho, 33.

"The government has to back down, it has to listen to the people," said a protesting lawyer, Rosibel Torres.

One of the opposition leaders, Henrique Capriles, urged the crowd "to keep coming out into the streets -- this isn't the time to give up, it's a time to resist."

The opposition plans to return to a more confrontational strategy on Monday, when it is calling for Venezuelans to block roads in a bid to grind the country to a halt.

Its leaders blame Maduro for the unraveling of oil giant Venezuela's once-booming economy, which has left the country with shortages of food, medicine and basic goods.

The spark that set off the near-daily protests was an attempt by the Supreme Court to take over the powers of the opposition-dominated Congress.

Although it partly reversed course after an international outcry, the move fueled widespread indignation in Venezuela that was heightened when an order came down barring Capriles from political office.

'Like a war'

A sociologist, Francisco Coello, predicted that "the people will continue to protest," demanding early elections.

On Thursday, protests descended into a night of clashes, riots and looting that left 12 people dead in Caracas. More pockets of violence erupted Friday night.

Residents described terrifying scenes Thursday night and early Friday.

"It was like a war," said Carlos Yanez, a resident of the El Valle neighborhood in southwestern Caracas, where 11 people were killed.

The two sides blame each other for the unrest.

Maduro, the heir of the leftist "Bolivarian revolution" launched by the late Hugo Chavez in 1999, says the protests are part of a US-backed coup plot.

jpegMpeg4-1280x720Pressure on the socialist president has been mounting since 2014, when prices for Venezuela's crucial oil exports started to plunge.

According to pollster Venebarometro, seven in 10 Venezuelans disapprove of Maduro, whose term does not end until 2019.

The secretary general of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro -- one of Maduro's harshest critics -- accused the government of cowardice.
Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg
4/23 NJPW ROAD TO WRESTLING DONTAKU NIGHT TWO IN TOKYO, JAPAN REPORT

By Matthew Macklin on 2017-04-23 16:29:00

Road to Wrestling Dontaku, Korakuen Hall, April 23:



Tomoyuki Oka & Hirai Kawato defeated Shota Umino & Katsuya Kitamura. The depth in the NJPW young lion division is really starting to get strong. Here we had four guys that are all very different and have a whole lot of potential. Kitamura destroyed Kawato with some chops and continued to look like a beats. Umino got lots of time in the ring and showed some fire against Oka. The finish saw Oka with a powerslam and Boston Crab on Umino.



Will Ospreay & Jado defeated TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado. This was a pretty straight forward match designed to give Ospreay another win to build him leading into the Best of the Super Juniors. Nothing much of note happened when Jado was in the ring. Ospreay upped the pace in the final minutes before pinning TAKA after an OsCutter.



Yujiro Takahashi, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated David Finlay, Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan. This as fine for what it was, it was a bit messy in places. There was some good stuff between GOD & TenKoji. Finlay showed lots of fire in the ring and is really starting to carry himself like a star. Finlay kicked out of Miami Shine before he was pinned by Yujiro after Pimp Juice. Yujiro was the one guy in the match that did not need the win.



Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto, Beretta & Rocky Romero defeated Takashi Iizuka, Minoru Suzuki, Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Taichi & Kanemaru will soon defend the IWGP Jr Tag titles against RPG Vice. We saw them again steal Taichi's hammer and cut off his shenanigans. Suzuki & Goto again tore each other. Suzuki slithered across the ring to catch Goto in a leg bar at one point. Iizuka & Yano brought the craziness. The finish saw Yano pin Iizuka with a cradle. Goto & Suzuki continued to brawl after the match and Suzuki attacked any young lions in his path.



SANADA, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Yoshitatsu, Ricochet & Ryusuke Taguchi. There was a lot of comedy at the beginning of this from Taguchi, and for some reason Tatsu had face paint on that made him look like a clown. Even with a neck injury, Ricochet was outstanding and if this is anything to go by, his title match with Takahashi in a couple of weeks could be something special. Tatsu's pedigree does not look good at all. He hit SANADA with it before SANADA got the submission via Skull End.



Chase Owens, Bad Luck Fale & Kenny Omega defeated YOSHI-HASHI, Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii. This was great. This has a ton of energy. Ishii & Omega went at it again at blistering pace. Ishii ended up with a bloody nose, but he got his own back with a stiff lariat. Fale looked like a beast again and ran through everyone. Owens stepped up and did not look out of place in the ring with so many top names. This had more action than anyone could keep up with. YOSHI got one final flurry before he was dropped with a Tombstone by Fale. Fale then put Owens on top of him to make the cover. This was another strong performance from Fale.



Hiroshi Tanahashi & Juice Robinson defeated EVIL & Tetsuya Naito. This was an awesome main event and one of the best "Road To" matches in a very long time. Juice had his knee attacked by EVIL and a chair early on, so that was exploited by he and Naito for quite a while. Juice was the ultimate babyface as he sold the knee and desperately tried to tag Tanahashi. He did, and Tanahashi took it to EVIL. EVIL turned the favour back to LIJ, which led to a tag to Juice, who made a great hot tag while still selling his knee expertly. It was impossible not to root for him here. We saw some excellent back and forth, double Team from both teams and submission attempts on the injured knee of Juice. LIJ cut off Tanahashi as he went for the High Fly Flow. We had a flurry of strikes which left all four men down. In the end Juice hit Pulp Friction and Tanahashi landed the High Fly Flow on EVIL to score the pin.



This was a really good show with a main event that is well worth checking out. Both this and yesterday's show are available now at njpwworld.com.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
As she looked at the sold-out banquet hall Saturday at the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf, and as she spoke with the men and women of the Quad-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, award-winning news anchor and reporter Maria Hinojosa saw the powerful impact the Hispanic community is having on the Quad-Cities.

Most of my colleagues dont see this, Hinojosa, 55, told members of the Empowering Latina Leadership Alliance, or ELLA, a new initiative of the chamber, during a meet and greet before she served as the keynote speaker at the 8th annual Quad-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Gala.

Hinojosa, who grew up in Chicago, told about 40 ELLA members that being in this part of the Midwest, the Quad-Cities has given her a chance to see something that most of her colleagues as journalists do not see, and that is Latinas being a powerful force and a powerful voice in their community.

Because when they come to this part of the country, she said of her colleagues, they are not here with you, and if they dont see you, they cant understand the impact youre having on this region.

While some may perceive the Midwest, particularly Iowa, as all white, thats not the way it is at all, she added.

But it has been tough for Latinas and Latinos to have a voice in America.

In general, Latinos and Latinas feel invisible, Hinojosa said during an interview before the nights event. And they in fact, they are invisible from the mainstream media. We are perceived as one narrative. We are takers, were new to this country, we are immigrants, we are not contributing.

But thats not the true narrative, she said, adding that the true narrative is far different, that the Hispanic community is having a positive impact on America, and it is having a huge impact, economic and otherwise, on the Quad-Cities.

Hinojosa said her message is Own your power; own your power in this region and own your power as this region includes the national narrative.

Hinojosa said that the Hispanic community of the Quad-Cities is taking responsibility to have their voices heard.

They are creating their own events, she said. All of their neighbors are gaining an understanding of who they are. The Latino population is mixed. There are new people coming in with that passion for the American Dream. There are older people here whove been here for generations. Both are such an integral part of the community.

While talking to the women of ELLA, Hinojosa said that when she started her career, she had that inner doubt that as a Latina she could make it as a major news personality. There were no Latinas doing news. We didnt exist in the national media or on public radio or public television. Somehow people forced me to believe I could do this.

She worked for CNN and PBS and in 1992 helped to launch the public radio program Latino USA which is devoted to the Latin community. In 2010 she founded the Futuro Media Group whose mission is to produce multi-platform community-based news that celebrates the cultural richness of America.

We need to eat our fear, Hinojosa said, and have the courage to move forward.

America has changed, she said. In terms of the consumer world, Latinas are the most sought after population, Hinojosa said. We over-index in deciding what products we buy for our homes.

But Latinas have a strong economic impact, the rest of America needs to be taught the realty of the narrative, despite the current administration in Washington, D.C.

And that was the message of the night. We need to own our own voices here, Hinojosa said told the women of ELLA in a message that was meant for the nights crowd, as well.

This is what democracy looks like and it looks pretty fabulous, she said.
An Albany, Illinois, man was killed shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday in a single pickup-truck rollover crash on Meredosia Road near Bunker Hill Road in Whiteside County.

According to Whiteside County Sheriffs Department, the pickup truck failed to negotiate a curve and traveled through a ditch, causing the vehicle to roll over multiple times and land on its tires.

The driver, Kit RB Wilson, 41, was thrown from the truck and taken to Mercy Medical Center, Clinton, where he was pronounced dead. The passenger, Jordan A. Tornow, 21, of Tampico, Illinois, was treated and released at the scene for minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by Whiteside County and Illinois State Police Accident Reconstruction.

--Linda Cook
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe's opposition political parties announced an alliance last week to fight next year's presidential and parliamentary elections against President Robert Mugabe and his long-ruling Zanu-PF, in a move hailed by analysts as a "very promising development".Mugabe, 93, is seeking an eighth and final term after controversially winning the 2013 race against veteran politician Morgan Tsvangirai, 64, whose Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is one of the four main opposition parties uniting.The teetotaller has been in power since the country gained independemce in 1980 and in December his party confirmed him as its candidate for the next presidential election expected in mid-2018, when he will be 94.On Wednesday, Tsvangirai and former Vice President Joice Mujuru, who heads up the National People's Party (NPP), signed an agreement to work together, followed by Welshman Ncube of the smaller MDC.PDP leader Tendai Biti was also said to be inking a deal with Tsvangirai this week after upon return from London.The test will be whether the new coalition can agree on a single candidate before the vote without splintering.Critics accuse Mugabe of wrecking one of Africa's most promising economies through policies such as violent seizures of white-owned commercial farms and money printing.He and his party say the economy has been undermined by western powers. He has also faced criticism for not doing more to tackle corruption.Tsvangirai, who has controversially lost three elections to Mugabe amid accusations of ballot fraud, wants to run again, with most leaders openly endorsing the former trade union leader as the torch bearer.The MDC leader disputed the results of the last vote in 2013 and the election in 2008, which was followed by weeks of deadly political violence in which about 200 people died and over 200 000 were internally displaced, according to rights groups.The build-up to next year's vote has already been marred by clashes between protesters and police, sparked by a row over opposition demands that presidential elections next year be conducted by a committee set up by the United Nations, African Union and Sadc because they had lost confidence in the neutrality of the local election agency, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec).Mugabe has defended Zec saying it was doing its work properly and that the opposition "are fighting a commission that has no fault."He told his Zanu-PF's central committee meeting last month: "(Zec) itself a constitutional body mandated to run elections in our country, (the opposition) afflicted by madness as it were, which knows no bounds, they even seek to interfere with the mandate of government tendering process, hoping for some optimistic fissures and little chances that might give them a little respectability."At Thursday's launch for the new alliance, Ncube said the splitting of the MDC "divided our people and the vibrancy of the party, which we should not have done.""I do take responsibility for those mistakes, but what is more important, as it stands, is for us to not just accept those mistakes, but begin to take steps that are necessary for us to be accountable to the people of Zimbabwe."Earlier on Wednesday, Mujuru said it had taken more than six months to come up with the agreement."We are looking forward to seeing Zimbabwe being that great Zimbabwe that we fought for," she stated.Tsvangirai said that it was "just the beginning of the building blocks towards establishing a broad alliance to confront Zanu-PF between now and the next election in 2018."Cape Town-based NKC African Economics said: "There are strong personalities at play here:.. Mujuru's struggle credentials must play off against the experience of Tsvangirai, who has fought a long, bitter and often dangerous campaign against the tyranny of Zanu-PF and its aging leader."NKC analyst Gary van Staden described it as "a very promising development", but politics in Zimbabwe has proved to be anything but predictable."While this movement could mature into a viable challenge to Zanu-PF and Mugabe, it could just as easily disintegrate as the parties and their leaders are drawn into issues around who the presidential candidate should be," Van Staden said."Both leaders have strong claims and while other smaller parties could be encouraged to join, it would be as minor partners and that, too, could prove to be a stumbling block. Mujuru sat at Mugabe's side as he cheated, intimidated and brutalised the MDC - an issue many in that party will not easily forgive - while Tsvangirai's leadership skills have been found wanting on several occasions and in several respects. So resolving the issue is crucial to the success of this opposition mission."Phillan Zamchiya, an Oxford scholar, said drawing from the utility value of elections, Tsvangirai needs to maximise the electoral economies of scale to grow his vote far beyond the million mark. Tsvangirai's vote has been constant in the past three presidential elections, garnering around a million votes in all the three elections.In 2002, 2008 and 2013, Tsvangirai had 1 258 401, 1 195 562 and 1 172 349 votes respectively."This signifies the need to think outside the box in order to grow the vote," Zamchiya said.Zimbabwe has a high electoral threshold, for one to be national president the law is clear that one needs to get 50 percent plus one vote."A coalition would have a mechanical and modifying effect on electoral laws by making votes count," he said."The MDC-T has not been impressive in Mashonaland provinces. For example, Mugabe in 2013 had 925 486 votes in these three provinces whereas Tsvangirai had 1 172 349 in all the 10 provinces. An evidently unhealthy distribution whether rigged or not."It is therefore important to seek partnership with formidable and reliable forces in these spaces. On the other hand, the vote in Matabeleland provinces has not been consistent. In 2008, it was MDC that performed well and in 2013 it was the ruling Zanu-PF," Zamchiya said.He said the coalition will contain the consequences of an "extreme Zanu-PF government" that might gain exclusive power and implement policies that seek to annihilate the opposition in the post-election period.He hailed the pre-election alliance for its potential ability to reduce uncertainty among critical voters on the government coalition that will form after the next election and on which policies would be implemented; adding Tsvangirai's MDC had "some political deficiencies which require other actors to augment.""For example, it lacks liberation war credentials and is viewed as a party without a history by its opponents and is easily battered on that," Zamchiya said.This comes after Zimbabwe's defence forces commander, Constantino Chiwenga, pledged the army's' undying loyalty to Mugabe even if he loses the forthcoming presidential elections, dismissing other presidential aspirants as ''sell-outs'' out to reverse the gains of independence.Chiwenga, in chilling comments ahead of next year's harmonised elections, said the army would not recognise a government led by Mugabe's challengers - pointedly Tsvangirai should they win the presidential elections because he will not salute a "president with no liberation war credentials."Zamchiya said other notable Tsvangirai MDC deficiencies were technocratic prowess, limited financial resources and inexperience in negotiating with State security apparatus for easy of transfer of power in the event of winning the 2018 general election.Analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya said the alliance suits well on the role of a democratic opposition in competitive authoritarian regimes. "For instance Stepan (1990) argued that the dynamics of authoritarian regimes and the prospects for regime change also depend on the relationship between the regime and democratic opposition. He outlined five critical tasks for the opposition in roughly ascending order of complexity: resisting integration into the regime; guarding zones of autonomy against it; disputing its legitimacy; raising the costs of authoritarian rule; and creating a credible democratic alternative," the director of the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) think-tank said.Van Staden said if the agreement does in fact hold, it would signal a major shift in the country's politics and would suggest that Zanu-PF and Mugabe will once again face electoral defeat as they did in 2008.The stunning reversal of the 2008 result was due to a combination of the gerrymandering skills of the ruling party, the inexperience and naivety of the MDC and Tsvangirai, and the shameful endorsement of the fraud by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc)."A united opposition would change all that, but there will be problems. Mujuru and Tsvangirai have their own strong claims to be the presidential candidate against a weakened, often dysfunctional Zanu-PF and a president whose faculties have of late appeared seriously impaired, but they cannot both be number one. The potential for that argument to end this promising, united effort cannot be ignored," he said.
The return of cameras on Washington Street brings back fond memories for Kent Dopler.

The co-owner of Johnnie's Meat Market could barely contain his laughter, raising his forearm to wipe his eyes, as he recalled how uneasy and self-conscious people in Japan became when they thought they were being watched.

"I always remember coming down this hill when driving a jeep in Okinawa and there was a policeman all the time," Dopler said. "It was a wooden cutout on the side of the street because they knew people were going to come down that mountain hill pretty fast. It's the same thing: are you being watched?"

The city of Davenport installed camera hardware throughout the intersections of Washington Street between Clay Street and Locust Street almost two weeks ago, and it's T minus one week until the Washington Street traffic and public safety program goes live.

Capital budget analyst Clay Merritt said the only remaining phase is for the city to test its IT infrastructure.

"We just need to do some internal testing on our server, firewall and our wireless connectivity," Merritt said.

As part of the pilot program, the city purchased the camera hardware for $53,633 in November from Chicago-based CDW-G.

The cameras are intended to be a deterrent for criminal behavior on Washington Street, which successfully implemented a similar program in the past.

The mere talk of cameras on the street has even had an impact.

"The fact is that even with the talk of cameras going up, we saw problems disappear," Dopler said. "It's just not a place to be if you're going to do something bad."

While the police department will not have a dedicated staff person, the cameras will record 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so that the department can review live or past footage in the event of an incident.

"Someone is not going to be actively watching this live," Merritt said. "But if someone were to see an incident and call it in and they knew say it was a male wearing a red shirt with blue jeans in white Ranger, our police department could use that information as a tool to help identify that vehicle or person."

One added benefit of the cameras is that the city's traffic engineers will also have access to the footage so they can do traffic counts.

For Davenport residents and businesses, they have been clamoring for a four-way stop sign at the intersection of 13th Street and Washington Street for years.

Dopler recalled an incident years ago where a deaf child ran out into the street and was hit by a vehicle.

"If anything, that might also help with city engineers and those that do studies to notice the traffic patterns," Dopler said. "You've got potential problems and when there are problems, you'll have record of it."

As part of the administrative policies established for the cameras, Merritt said that footage will be kept for 21 days with exceptions made if the footage might help with an active case.

Merritt said the city looked at different municipalities and universities for help developing its own policies.

"The one used the most is the city of Dubuque as they have over 800 or 900 cameras they use in the city," Merritt said. "They've been doing it for 10 years so me and the chief (Paul Sikorski) went up there several times and looked at them as a model to base ours off of."

With all eyes and cameras focused on Washington Street, the pilot program will help city staff determine how it can effectively implement similar programs around the city in the years to come.

"The technology has changed a lot since we started this conversation and, today, our camera options have increased tremendously and the cost has decreased," City Administrator Corri Spiegel said. "Once we get the pilot program deployed and start the infrastructure phase, we'll look at the next phase and work with (Finance Director) Brandon (Wright) on funding strategies."
A Michigan man was killed early Saturday in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 74 in Rock Island County.

Heres what happened, according to Illinois State Police District 7:

Benjamin Manoa, 26, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was driving a black 2008 Ford Fusion westbound on Interstate 74 near milepost 5 shortly before 8 a.m. when the vehicle left the roadway and entered the center median.

Manoa over-corrected, crossed both westbound lanes of traffic and entered the north-side ditch, where the car came to rest after it hit a tree.

Manoa was pronounced dead at the scene.

His passengers Emanuel Kitulo, 22 and David Kitulo, 18, both of Grand Rapids, were transported to Trinity Rock Island for life-threatening injuries, then were airlifted to OSF St. Francis Hospital, Peoria, for treatment.

Another passenger, Safi Kitulo, was taken to Genesis Hospital  Illini Campus, Silvis with non-life-threatening injuries.

The roadway remained open throughout the on-scene investigation of the crash, which remains under investigation.
The American Red Cross assisted residents at a Bettendorf home after a fire early Sunday.

Crews were dispatched about 8:40 a.m. to a structure fire in the 1100 block of Meadow Lane Drive, according to a news release from the City of Bettendorf.

When firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed and all occupants were safely out of the building. The fire was out at 9:22 a.m. Damage was confined to the split-level house.

There were no injuries.

No damage estimate is available. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

--Linda Cook
Within a matter of seconds in the summer of 2015, Trevor Andersons life took a drastic turn.

Fresh out of United Township High School, the then-18-year-old landed a gig with Moline-based mobile food vendor, United States Food King.

Anderson quickly "climbed the ladder" and earned the opportunity to work over Fourth of July weekend in Bettendorf, where an accident occurred the afternoon of July 3.

While Anderson was attaching a flagpole to a marquee atop his employer's trailer at Cumberland Square, 2300 Spruce Hills Drive, the pole buckled. He managed to catch it with his right hand, but momentum sent the aluminum object into a nearby power line.

The force of the massive electric shock jolted Anderson almost 20 feet to the ground and knocked out power to parts of the shopping center, Bettendorf police confirmed.

"I saw everything flash blue in front of me," the 20-year-old recalled last week. "I hit the awning of the trailer with my face, then fell onto the ground."

Bettendorf Police Sgt. Rich Streepy resuscitated Anderson, who drifted in and out of consciousness on site. Streepy, who declined an interview for this story, later received a life saving award from the city of Bettendorf for his actions.

Emergency responders originally transported Anderson to Genesis Medical Center-East Rusholme Street in Davenport before airlifting him to University Hospitals in Iowa City.

He said he spent about a month recovering there, plus an additional two weeks at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

"It still feels like it happened yesterday," said Anderson, who lives with his father in a mobile home in East Moline. "Part of me is still trying to move on and realize its over."

Stuck in a 'fog'

Scar tissue, the remnants of the severe burns Anderson suffered, cover most of his right arm, which he routinely coats with a moisturizing lotion.

Extreme fatigue and soreness keep him inside most days, away from the outdoor activities he used to enjoy, including parkour and hiking.

"I cant ever wake up feeling fresh," Anderson said.

Prior to the accident, he planned to enter the U.S. Air Force.

Instead, he spends most days inside watching TV and playing video games.

Although his affected skin remains hypersensitive, Anderson said he struggles more mentally.

He finds it tough to focus, solve problems, retrieve memories and stay on task, which has barred him from returning to work.

Theres a fog that makes me feel slower, he said. Thats something thats been very frustrating to deal with in my life.

Meanwhile, certain things, such as bright blue lights, trigger nightmarish flashbacks, Anderson said.

Every week, he travels to Iowa City, where he undergoes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, therapy to treat his trauma.

Scott Anderson said his son, who "had a bright future ahead of him," now is almost disabled.

He would work if he could, said Scott, who has a full-time job as a truck driver. Hed love to have his own place. I guarantee that.

U.S. Food King's workers' compensation insurance has covered all of Anderson's medical expenses up to this point, John Enright, who owns the mobile food business, said.

OSHA investigation

Just before 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 3, 2015, the lights in Enright's trailer suddenly shut off.

Then I heard a big thump," said the longtime food vendor, who was catching up on paperwork in the trailer when it happened. "I went outside and he (Anderson) was on the ground in a fetal position."

Enright called his previous employee a "good kid," who "showed up and worked hard." Last week, however, he said he suspects the accident could have been avoided.

I think it was his (Anderson's) fault, but he paid his own price for it, Enright continued. "Everybody makes mistakes."

On July 10, 2015, Iowas Occupational Safety & Health Administration, or OSHA, investigated the incident.

The following October, the agency cited Enright for three serious violations, each carrying a $750 fine.

OSHA determined Enright failed to conduct any formal hazard assessment of the job site, leaving personnel exposed to dangers, including power lines, atop the trailer, according to documents provided by Anderson. An OSHA inspector also cited the employer for exposing his workers to possible electric shock without providing any form of safety training.

Additionally, the agency charged Enright for allowing untrained employees with conductive material to work on top of the trailer within 10 feet of an active power line, which resulted in the accident, the report states.

Enright, who dismissed OSHA's claims and its entire investigation in an interview with the Times, paid $2,250 in fines, closing the case last May, Jens Nissen, Iowa OSHA administrator, said.

This summer, Enright said he plans to bring his food trailer back to Bettendorf for the city's Fourth of July activities.

In the coming years, Anderson hopes to continue improving his physical and mental health so he eventually can go back to school or work. For now, he is taking one day at a time.

"You can't really control what happens in life sometimes," Anderson said. "Sometimes, life just happens, and if you're forced to wear the shoes, you might as well walk a couple miles."
Beijing is looking worse by the day, Gov. Branstad.

Terry Branstad's appointment to ambassador to China isn't some cushy hand-out, diplomats told us. President Donald Trump isn't sending him to some off-the-radar beach paradise to swill exotic cocktails at black-tie parties.

No, Iowa's venerable Republican governor is getting shipped to one of the world's most important and challenging assignments. And he'll be working for an administration that, almost 100 days in, has done nothing but flip its positions in real-time and escalate international tensions.

Much has been made about Branstad's friendly relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

But longtime ambassadors and State Department officials said that Branstad's friendship with Xi either won't count for much or could even work against him as Chinese officials look to back-door regular diplomatic protocols. Especially so when the president gets annoyed and fires off a reckless tweet or two.

"... The central point of this ambassadorial assignment, like any other one, is not really about ensuring smooth relations with another country or further strengthening a prior friendship," said Jonathan Addleton, a former U.S. ambassador to Mongolia and visiting professor at Mercer University in Georgia. "Rather, it is about engaging with another country in ways that advance the long-term interests of one's own country."

The U.S. ambassador to China will be tasked day-to-day with messaging the Trump Administration's policy toward in an increasingly tense geopolitical atmosphere. Only China holds real sway over North Korea, diplomats said. The U.S. and China seem destined to clash on trade during Trump's administration. Washington and Beijing are at odds over Taiwan and land rights in South China Sea.

Enter Terry Branstad, a long-time politician, but a man without international or even federal experience.

"Being an ambassador to London is one thing," said Dennis Jett, who served as U.S. ambassador to Mozambique and Peru and now teaches at Penn State University. "We don't disagree on very much."

Trump's incessant saber rattling is bound to raise Chinese hackles, Jett said. The country's analysts have noted Trump's "hard power" budget, which would slash State Department funding by 30 percent and boost military spending 10 percent. Such a drastic shift in funding priorities sends a message.

Add to that the Trump administration's unprecedented lack of clarity on much of anything and its many freelancers claiming to speak for the White House at any moment. Shortly before November's election, scores of former diplomats and security officials -- Republican and Democrat -- signed letters castigating Trump's inability to lead on the world stage.

"How it works in reality will to a significant extent depend on how our foreign policy formulation and implementations works with respect to this particular White House," Addleton said.

One day, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad is that country's rightful ruler. The next, he's a despot and U.S. missiles are raining down. In one breath, NATO is obsolete. In the next, it's relevant.

And, in one moment, China is a currency manipulator gaming international markets. In the next, it's a fair trading partner, at least until the situation in North Korea doesn't improve.

Such amateurish erraticism is untenable and dangerous. And it dooms Branstad, a man with no official diplomatic experience, to years of rhetorical gymnastics in the hopes of explaining away Washington's constant inconsistency.

"He's going to try to represent the policy the best he can and hope it doesn't change the next day," Jett said.

His family's unshakable support for Trump has landed Branstad one of the toughest assignments in the world. He'll be a slave to Trump's unpredictable Twitter rants. He'll be trapped by opaque, listless foreign policy. He'll be the face left trying to make sense of Trump's impulsiveness in one of the most complicated diplomatic environments on the planet. He'll serve an administration that's struggling to fill key posts because so many expect it to end badly.

"My question is, 'why would he want the job?'" Jett said. "Iowa's going to look pretty good when he's getting whipped by Washington every day."

Indeed.
SAN DIEGO | There was a time when nuclear power was considered to be the bulwark of America's energy future.

Now the titan appears to be teetering.

Westinghouse Electric Co.  long considered the leader in nuclear power development  filed for bankruptcy protection in late March. The move puts in jeopardy the completion of two nuclear plants in the Southeast that had been heralded as proof the industry's future was still vibrant.

The news added to a long list of nuclear's woes:

California is on the verge of eliminating its last remaining nuclear power plant.

Nuclear waste, stranded in places such as the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station outside San Diego, isn't going away any time soon.

The industry is still reeling from the 2011 tsunami that hit the Fukushima plant in Japan, which prompted some countries such as Germany to turn away from nuclear power.

Within hours of the Westinghouse announcement, some industry opponents pounced.

The group Beyond Nuclear sent out a tweet concluding: "Time to recognize the nuclear show's over." Damon Moglen, senior strategic adviser for Friends of the Earth, said: "It's really the death rattle of the nuclear industry."

Even the industry's biggest supporters acknowledged the Westinghouse news was bad.

"I'm freaked out, honestly," said Michael Shellenberger, president of Berkeley, Calif.-based Environmental Progress, a group that considers nuclear power an essential element to battle climate change.

Westinghouse, a Toshiba subsidiary, was supposed to help build the first fleet of new-generation nuclear plants in the U.S. since the Three Mile Island incident in 1979.

Two reactors in Georgia and two others in South Carolina promised to employ the latest technology  called AP1000  to usher in a new century of nuclear development, delivering robust electricity production while ensuring structures were simpler, safer and less expensive.

But construction at each site has been dogged by delays and cost overruns.

The two utilities lined up to operate the plants say they plan to forge ahead, but the bankruptcy filing is sure to further delay the projects and increase costs. The current surcharge at the Georgia site  called Plant Vogtle  adds about $100 a year to the bills of most residential customers in the area.

Defenders say the problems in the Southeast have less to do with the technology, which they insist is solid, and more to do with hiring contractors who weren't up to the task of building something as sophisticated as a nuclear power plant.

John Kotek, who served as assistant secretary for the office of nuclear energy at the U.S. Department of Energy during the Obama administration, said reactors with the AP1000 design are being built in China and the first of those is scheduled to go online this year.

"We've seen these facilities can be built," said Kotek, who now works for the Nuclear Energy Institute, an industry trade group.

But even before the Westinghouse announcement, nuclear energy faced growing competition from natural gas and renewable sources.

Utilities have increasingly turned to natural gas, which emits half the amount of greenhouse gases as coal. And thanks to the booming shale market, natural gas can be extracted in burgeoning supplies at a price that has remained consistently low for years.

Renewable sources such as wind and solar also have grown while their costs have dropped.

That's left nuclear struggling to just hold onto its 20 percent share of the nation's energy mix.

"The bottom line is that nuclear was already having problems and in decline," said Andy Smith, senior analyst covering utility stocks for the investment firm Edward Jones.

The Diablo Canyon facility near San Luis Obispo is the last nuclear power plant operating in California but maybe not for long.

The plant's operator, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., announced plans last summer to shut down the site for good by 2025, blaming greater renewable sources in the state's power mix, developments in energy efficiency and battery storage as well as lower demand.

In the meantime, the list of nuclear closures keeps growing.

A plant in Nebraska shut down at the end of last year, and as many as 10 other reactors are proposed to go offline in the coming years, including the two at Diablo. Ohio's two nuclear plants are in danger of going down.

The country's nuclear fleet is also getting older, with 99 reactors having an average age of 35 years old.

"If we were building nuclear plants, I wouldn't be so worried," Shellenberger said. "I don't think there's any way to solve climate change without building more nuclear plants."

Shellenberger has argued the industry in the U.S. should move away from demonstration plants such as the AP1000 and concentrate on a single, consistent design that can be built over and over again, resulting in lower costs and fewer mistakes.

Environment California was one of four environmental groups that worked with PG&E to issue a joint proposal to shut down Diablo Canyon.

"I just think the two burdens with nuclear power have always been, one, it's a really expensive way to boil water," said Dan Jacobson, the group's state director, "and two, it creates a waste that we can't figure out where to put."

Perhaps no plant in the country spotlights the waste issue more than the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

Even though the San Onofre plant has not produced any electricity since January 2012 and is in the process of getting decommissioned some 3.6 million pounds of spent nuclear fuel sit on the beach, within 50 miles of 8.4 million people.

But the federal government has not established a permanent site to send the waste  not just from San Onofre but from any other nuclear plant in the country.

The repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada was withdrawn during the Obama administration. Although officials in the Trump administration are considering taking another look at Yucca, even if the site is resurrected it would take years to complete the bureaucratic process, much less the legal challenges that will surely ensue.

One facility in West Texas and another in eastern New Mexico are being considered as potential sites for what is called "consolidated interim storage" to send at least some of the nation's stockpile of waste.

Nuclear's advocates point to a new generation of technologies, including molten salt reactors that offer potential to address the problems related to the intermittent nature of wind and solar production that arise when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing.

Others pin their hopes on a smaller but more dispersed future.

Small modular reactors are in development that, in contrast to sprawling sites, offer a more compact footprint that can be used in a multitude of locations, including remote sites.

NuScale, an Oregon company, appears to be the furthest along. The company has approached the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to certify designs for small, 50-megawatt reactors that could go online in about eight years.

If successful, the design promises to produce electricity at a life-cycle cost cheaper than any other energy source except hydroelectric.

General Atomics, a San Diego company that has been working on nuclear technology for more than 60 years, has its own plans.

Among the company's projects is the Energy Multiplier Module, or EM2, that aims to produce electricity more cheaply, safely and efficiently than the current fleet and is compact enough so that it can be transported by tractor-trailer. Instead of a light-water reactor, EM2 uses helium to cool its core.

"We think there's an important efficiency to be gained by having a smaller reactor," said Christina Back, vice president of nuclear technologies and materials at General Atomics. "Frankly, it takes a lot of dollars to just dig a big hole in the ground."

General Atomics hopes to make the design a reality around 2030.

Just days before the Westinghouse filing, the nuclear industry received some good news on Capitol Hill. A bill that would require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to develop a framework to license advanced nuclear reactors easily passed on a bipartisan vote in a U.S. Senate committee.

Another bill that supports building a test reactor, likely to be located at a national laboratory, also advanced.

"I think there is an importance to the nation to invest in nuclear technologies and really go forward as opposed to just throwing in the towel," said Back, who testified before the Senate committee.

Kotek said nuclear has faced perilous predictions before.

"I've been hearing forecasts of the industry's demise for 30-plus years," Kotek said. "Certainly, we're dealing with some challenges in the near-term but over the longer term, I think the industry's prospects are quite good."
Its a lunchtime loss for central business district workers and shoppers east of Fifth Street in downtown Rapid City.

Travis and Kristyn LaBine are in the process of buying The Sandwich Shop - Nummies on 2nd located at the Creamery Mall and plan to move the eatery to the Rushmore Mall.

Travis has been managing Nummies for more than a year. The current owner, Travis LaBine, decided to either sell or close the shop because of a busy personal schedule, four children, another business, a teaching job and being a church pastor.

He doesnt have the time to keep up with it, LaBine said. He offered it to us. Otherwise, he was going to shut the doors.

The LaBines decided that moving the shop is vital to its growth. Their last day at the Creamery Mall is Thursday.

They hope to reopen in the first part of May in a space formerly occupied by a pretzel shop that was near the new At Home store at the Rushmore Mall.

Were hoping for that first of May, but theres a lot of things that have to happen for that, LaBine said.

The Sandwich Shop is currently limited in the hours it can operate because it shares the lower level space at the Creamery Mall with a nut butter business called Shes Nuts, the Fork Real Community Restaurant and Common Ground Church.

Everyone we share with are awesome people, but we need to be open more, LaBine said.

I cant keep employees because I cant offer them more hours, he added.

The current menu of soups and sandwiches, including gluten-free items, will remain intact after the move. Only part of the name, Nummies, and the reference to Second Street, will go away.

LaBine hopes to eventually add free delivery for a minimum number of orders to cater to some his more loyal downtown clientele, especially employees of the nearby county courthouse complex.

I have a lot of customers sad that were leaving, but I've also had people say they understand why we have to move, he said.

Cellphone shop moves

Cell Phone Repair Pro fixes more than just iPhone and Android cell phones. Rapid City store manager Doug Gaston and his one-person staff also repair tablets, computers and many other small electronic devices.

They completed a move from 1315 Haines Ave. to 325 Omaha St. Suite 1 in Tuscany Square to gain better exposure and parking, opening at the new location on April 1.

Weve had people tell us they didnt know we existed, Gaston said. This is a much better location for us.

They continue their hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Gaston said most cellphone repairs can be accomplished within 60 to 90 minutes, with tablets often repaired the same day. Their parts inventory also allows timely repairs of laptop screens, he said.

Call 605-646-2553 for more information.

Black Hills Meditation

Billie Harris opened a meditation and mindfulness studio, Black Hills Meditation, in January at 607-1/2 Mount Rushmore Road, above Black Hills Staple & Spice.

Harris, a 2000 graduate of Sturgis Brown High School, is a former special education teacher.

She decided to pursue an interest in meditation and received her certification as a meditation and mindfulness instructor from the McLean Meditation Institute of Sedona, Ariz.

Harris offers private and community meditation sessions, 4- and 8-week meditation courses and workplace wellness classes.

She said her husband thought himself to be the last person to try meditation, but he has found relief from chronic pain symptoms after other treatment methods failed.

Harris said she not affiliated with Rapid City Regional Hospital but has been invited to make a presentation in meditations value in pain management there in the near future.

Im excited to bring awareness of pain management to this area, she said.

Call her at 605-484-4154, or check out blackhillsmeditation.com for more information.
Belle Fourche was once the worlds largest livestock-shipping point, thanks to a booming railroad industry. Surprising facts about the history of the town and the railroad industry in South Dakota will be the focus of the upcoming First Saturday Brunch at the Tri-State Museum in Belle Fourche.

Rick Mills, curator of the South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City, will give a presentation about Belle Fourche railroad history during the brunch. Mills, who has had a lifelong passion for trains, has written and spoken statewide on South Dakota railroad history. Mills has written or co-written eight books about railroads, and he has helped create many railroad-themed exhibits in the Black Hills.

South Dakotas first railroad tracks were built in 1872, and railroads have wielded influence in the state ever since, Mills said.

In Belle Fourche, the early history and growth of the town is intertwined with the booming railroad industry in the late 19th century. Belle Fourche became a hub for shipping cattle to eastern locations. By 1895, Belle Fourche was shipping 2,500 carloads of cattle per month in the peak season, making it the world's largest livestock-shipping point.

Mills presentation will include photos and history about the railroads that have served Belle Fourche over the years.

In 1890 and 1891, Seth Bullock offered land on his ranch for a new railroad depot and station where (cattle could be loaded), Mills said. Thats how Belle Fourche was created.

Within a decade, Belle Fourche grew into the largest cattle-loading point anywhere in the United States, a distinction it retained for four or five years, Mills said. Until the early 1900s, railroads from Belle Fourche continued to serve a large area of the Northern Plains.

The railroad hauled tens of thousands of cattle out every year, and also horses (for the U.S. Cavalry), and hundreds of thousands of head of sheep, Mills said.

Beyond the livestock industry, railroads influenced the bentonite boom in Belle Fourche, Mills said. Hell provide insights about that, and share stories about notable historic figures who contributed to Belle Fourche.

Ill talk about some of the people who made Belle Fourche what it is today and some stories about different folks who worked for the railroad, and Ill talk about items on display at the museum that tell the railroad story, Mills said.

Mills, a Rapid City native and fifth-generation South Dakotan, believes many people in South Dakota would be surprised to know the extent to which railroads contributed to the states history.

The thing thats remarkable to me is South Dakota is a relatively young state, and everything has been influenced by the railroads  politics, economics, the culture of the people. The theme of railroading ties almost everything together in one way or another, Mills said. Even some of our own state residents dont realize how important railroading has been to our development. Railroads are still in service today and are still influencing our politics and economics today.

The First Saturday Brunch featuring Mills presentation will be May 6. Brunch begins at 10 a.m. and is $5 per person or free with museum membership. Mills presentation at 10:30 a.m. is free to all. The Tri-State Museum is at 415 Fifth Ave., in Belle Fourche. For more information, call 605-723-1200 or visit thetristatemuseum.com.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zanu-PF Harare and Matabeleland provinces have become the latest provinces to endorse the ouster of the ruling party's National Political Commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere following today's meetings, one in Harare and another in Lupane.The no confidence vote on Kasukuwere follow several ouster bids by other provinces, among them, with Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo and Midlands.Announcing Harare province's resolution at the Zanu-PF headquarters today, Zanu-PF Politburo member, Cleveria Chizema, alleged that Kasukuwere has caused divisions in the party and the dismissal of some provincial chairpersons in the country.Chizema described Kasukuwere as a power hungry and too ambitious man who had no respect for his elders including war veterans and President Robert Mugabe.She emphasised the need to respect the party structures and reprimanded Harare Political Commissar, Shadreck Mashayamombe for failing to follow protocol, something she said is the root cause for indiscipline in the party.In Lupane, the Zanu-PF Matabeleland North Province was in solidarity with other provinces, when it held its Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) today.Announcing the resolution, Zanu-PF Provincial Secretary for Administration in Matabeleland North, Douglas Khoza, accused Kasukuwere of planning to topple President Mugabe through setting up parallel structures and imposing candidates."We as Matabeleland North are in solidarity with other provinces with regards to our National Political Commissar, Kasukuwere for the following reasons: planning and preparing to topple the President, creating parallel structures, imposition of candidates , fanning factionalism, protecting Sandi Moyo and Sarah Mahoka and undermining the authority of the First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe," he said.Zanu-PF Secretary for Finance, Dr Obert Mpofu said the province will stand by President Mugabe who is the only centre of power but warned that the province will soon meet and discuss the fate of individuals who are working against the provincial party structures and criticising government programmes on social media."Some are not taking directives from the President. When H.E says sit down, they stand up, when the president says go and do farming, they say why and some of these things come from Matabeleland North. We have a farming programme but some are opposed to that and then we had demonstrations recently, youths were paid by one of the senior party members and when it was reported in the Politburo, they accused me but that was false," he said.Zanu-PF Secretary for Gender and Culture, Thokozile Mathuthu commended the province for passing the resolution in a disciplined manner, saying it will be submitted in the next Politburo meeting in Harare."We thank you for the message you have given us. Our task now is to take the message up, we will do it. We will be there as witnesses when the document is handed over to the responsible authorities in the Politburo," said Mathuthu.During the meeting, it was agreed that party members who have been working with Kasukuwere also have to be dealt with as it is clear that he was not alone in planning to topple the President and undermine the authority of the First Lady.
PIERRE | U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem came out strongly again Friday against Planned Parenthood and called for government-wide application of the Hyde Amendment banning Medicaid coverage for abortions.

I believe every life, including an unborn babys life, has dignity and value, she wrote in her weekly column.

Noem is running for the Republican nomination for governor in 2018, as is state Attorney General Marty Jackley.

She said President Donald Trump signed into federal law an act of Congress that allows states to stop funding Planned Parenthood or other organizations that use the money to provide abortions.

To say that we must fund Planned Parenthood or deny thousands of women care is a false choice. We can support womens health  and specifically, health care for low-income women  without supporting abortion providers, Noem wrote.

The Hyde Amendment has been in place since 1977. Noem said it is unacceptable the Affordable Care Act that won approval during President Barack Obamas first term and continues today has allowed federal tax dollars to reach more than 1,000 abortion-covering health plans.

She called for making the Hyde Amendment permanent and government-wide. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which I cosponsored and the House passed, would accomplish that, she said.

South Dakota doesn't give state funds to Planned Parenthood, the only acknowledged provider of abortions, except to protect the mother's life.

Most states don't fund abortions other than for the Hyde Amendment's exceptions of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.

A minority of states use their funds to cover medically necessary abortions, usually defined to protect the physical or mental health of the mother

States that fund medically necessary abortions are California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia, according to Planned Parenthood.

The Medicaid programs in Arizona and Illinois don't pay for medically necessary abortions despite court orders that they do so. In Alaska a state law defining medically necessary is blocked in court.
PIERRE | Leaders at the nonpartisan agency that is the hub of operations for the Legislature want to improve communications with lawmakers, especially during the nine months of the year outside the regular legislative session.

Legislative Research Council officials outlined their plans to the Executive Board on Tuesday. They intend to better spread the word about what various legislative panels are doing, using techniques such as email blasts.

Legislators are asking for more information, according to Sue Cichos, who is the LRC deputy director.

She said their interests range from legislative appointments to reports from interim committees.

This is fantastic, Rep. Mark Mickelson, R-Sioux Falls, said, during an executive committee meeting prior to the Executive Boards main meeting. As speaker he is presiding officer for the House of Representatives.

The effort by LRC also could produce more accountability from lawmakers, such as when they return from trips paid for by the Legislature.

When we send them a check for reimbursement, I want a report on what they learned, Mickelson told Cichos. Its not mandatory, but its a request we make.
Foreclosure has been added to a long list of legal and regulatory troubles afflicting the owner of a shuttered Black Hills hotel.

Last week, a judge signed a foreclosure order in favor of Oregon-based Umpqua Bank against Winona Inn Limited Partnership, Winona Hospitality Corp. and Mark Arend, of St. Paul, Minn.

Arends companies own and operate The Lodge at Mount Rushmore, a 50-room hotel just outside the Keystone city limits and five miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The hotel is closed because of problems with its septic system, including instances of raw sewage surfacing from an underground drain field. Arend also faces a criminal charge after authorities say he illegally allowed an underage hotel employee to sell alcohol.

The foreclosure order, from Seventh Circuit Judge Robert Mandel, authorizes the bank to recover $2.6 million plus interest accruing at the rate of $302.68 daily. The order further directs the Pennington County Sheriffs Office to schedule a public auction of the hotel.

Mandel set the minimum bank bid at $1.72 million, which is the amount left after subtracting the property taxes owed  $401,421, including delinquencies since 2010  from the $2.12 million that was established as a fair and reasonable value for the hotel and its contents.

If nobody bids above $1.72 million, and if Arend does not pay off the bank within six months, the bank will take ownership of the hotel and could then offer it for private sale. Whichever way the foreclosure is resolved, it must include the payment of the property taxes owed to Pennington County.

It has been nine years since Arends partnership obtained a $3.03 million bank loan to acquire the hotel in 2008. After the partnership fell behind on payments, the bank began foreclosure proceedings in 2012. But Arends partnership filed for bankruptcy a day before a scheduled foreclosure hearing before a judge in December of that year.

The foreclosure was automatically frozen by the bankruptcy, from which Arends partnership emerged in 2014 with a plan to pay numerous creditors. But the partnership again fell behind on its loan payments.

Umpqua Bank began the necessary legal steps to revive the foreclosure case in January of this year. A hearing was held Monday at the Pennington County Courthouse in Rapid City, and the judges order was filed Wednesday.

The hotel is currently closed by agreement with the Pennington County States Attorneys Office, which has pending complaints in civil and magistrate court that arose from problems with the hotels septic system. Arend has agreed not to open the hotel until he obtains an underground injection control permit for the septic system from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, plus a lodging license from the South Dakota Department of Health and a conditional operating permit from Pennington County.

Earlier this year, the EPA announced its intent to deny a permit for the hotel, pending a public comment period. That period ended in March, and an EPA spokeswoman told the Journal on Friday that the agency is reviewing comments and plans to announce a decision in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, Arend's misdemeanor criminal charge in permitting the sale of alcohol by an underage employee is scheduled for a status hearing in June.

After the Journal reported on the problems at the motel, including the sewage issues, businesses in Keystone sent out a news release assuring the thousands of tourists who visit the town that is a gateway to Mount Rushmore National Memorial each year that the water in the community is safe.

Editor's Note: This story has been changed to reflect a correction. The original story misstated the amount of the minimum bank bid.
PIERRE | South Dakotas auditor general, Marty Guindon, has been on the Gear Up trail now for four years.

He met Tuesday with state lawmakers who form the executive committee of the Legislatures Executive Board.

We have one interview left, he told them.

For the benefit of new members, Guindon presented the timeline Tuesday to the Legislatures Government Operations and Audit Committee. I will not be discussing the reports or the findings contained in those reports at Tuesdays meeting as they are not yet ready for release, he said Friday.

He recently met with Mid Central Educational Cooperative officials in Platte to review findings by the state Department of Legislative Audit. That was March 20.

Marty Guindon is a steady, methodical man. During the meeting Tuesday, each of the legislators  House Speaker Mark Mickelson, R-Sioux Falls; Senate president pro tem Brock Greenfield, R-Clark; and House Democratic leader Spencer Hawley of Brookings  jumped him with questions.

He kept cool and answered them.

A Legislative Audit decided in summer 2014 that Gear Up was high risk, Guindon said. A person came forward alleging abuses.

The program was meant to help low-income students and families understand what was needed to continue education after high school. The federal government reimbursed the state Department of Education for money it spent.

On Aug 25, 2015, officials reviewed audit findings from 2014 with GOAC.

We audited the grant at the state level, Guindon said. We had not done any work at Mid Central.

Then came the shootings that killed Mid Central business manager Scott Westerhuis; his wife, Nicole Westerhuis, who was assistant business manager; and their four children on Sept. 15, 2015.

Attorney General Marty Jackley determined the incident was five murders followed by the suicide of Scott Westerhuis. They died as fire swept through their house south of Platte.

At the GOAC meeting on Oct. 30, 2015, Guindon and Tim Flannery, a DLA auditor, further reviewed findings.

Next, under authority of South Dakota laws dealing with audits of public bodies, Legislative Audit staff went to Platte in February 2016 to look at Mid Centrals books.

We were just following it down the chain, Guindon said.

Mid Central hadnt conducted its single audit yet. In the past the cooperative used a private firm as allowed in South Dakota. Legislative Audit instead stepped forward.

We began work in the summer of 16, Guindon said.

The state Department of Education had contracted with Mid Central to run Gear Up. When everything began to blow up, Gov. Dennis Daugaard turned the program over to the Board of Regents to run from Black Hills State University.

At the end of June here (in 2017), they are essentially ceasing operations, Guindon said.

Three people face state criminal charges: Dan Guericke, who ran Mid Central; Stephanie Hubers, who was an assistant business manager for Mid Central; and Stacy Phelps, who ran Gear Up at the same time he was on the state Board of Education.

The discussion Tuesday closed with this exchange between the speaker and the auditor general.

An audit is only as good as the veracity of the management, Mickelson said.

You need to know if transactions were conducted at arms length or not, Guindon said.

This is a $2 million a year grant out of a $4.5 billion a year budget, Mickelson said. Then he added: We get it.
News / National

by Ndou Paul

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) today Sunday (tomorrow) launched the national languages bulletins to meet government's requirements that seeks to promote all the 16 national languages in the country.ZBC TV will now have news in 13 languages, which are: English, Sign Language, Shona, Ndebele, Kalanga, Chewa, Nambya, Tonga, Venda, Xhosa, Shangani, Ndau and Sotho.Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Dr Chris Mushohwe said ENGLISH is a colonial language that was used to undermine the country's native languages and destroy the culture of Zimbabweans.Dr Mushohwe, who officially launching the 16 constitutionally recognised languages bulletins at ZBC in Bulawayo today was in Binga, Matabeleland North yesterday to meet content producers who will participate in the digitalisation programme. He was accompanied by his Deputy Thokozile Mathuthu, Permanent Secretary George Charamba and officials from the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Transmedia Corporation and Zimbabwe Film and Television School of South Africa.
Only a few people know what a "GBU-43/B" is. A bunch more will figure it out if we use the official designation: "Massive Ordnance Air Blast," or "MOAB." Now you get it: It's informally referred to as the "Mother of All Bombs," and that designation is nothing but great PR for the military.

It's called that because it's the biggest conventional weapon in the U.S. armed forces arsenal. News anchors couldn't say "Mother of All Bombs" often enough as they breathlessly described how, for the first time ever in combat, a lumbering American plane dropped one onto an ISIS network of caves in Afghanistan. KABLOOEY!

More breathlessness: The blast was a mile wide. According to DOD spokespeople, it killed nearly a hundred ISIS fighters and no civilians. More importantly, it obliterated an entire network of caves they were using as an intricate staging area.

President Donald Trump wouldn't say if he had personally authorized the use of the behemoth, but he has certainly discovered that being president means you can mess around with a lot of toys. Just a few days ago, he lobbed cruise missiles at Syria. The strategic effect of that attack is debatable, but there is no debating that the Syrian bombardment slowed down his precipitous slide into the solid waste of ridicule. Now he looked more like a commander in chief, so he followed up by dropping that huge Mother.

He also dispatched a naval battle armada, the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group, to the waters off Korea. That's a show of force intended to intimidate North Korea into standing down from any planned nuclear testing.

Pyongyang's defiant response was predictable, but there was no nuclear test. There was a parade that displayed some ominous ICBM hardware, but then there was a missile test that failed miserably. Still, with such volatile leaders on both sides, there's a worldwide fear that the situation could spin catastrophically out of control.

What if Kim Jong Un, the vicious North Korean twerp dictator decides to call unstable Donald Trump's bluff? What if China, Trump's new BFF country, won't or can't intercede? Then what?

There is only one possibility short of nuclear war. Instead of dropping another Mom bomb, certain people in the administration strongly feel that the president could drop Steve Bannon on North Korea. Right now, Mr. Ultranationalist is in a White House blood feud with Jared "Nepot" Kushner and other forces of comparative moderation who would like to jettison Bannon.

Much is being made about how Trump is changing his act, how he's acting like stability is not an alien impulse. There is all kinds of pundit pontification about how POTUS has seen the light and that he is growing into the job. Perhaps. Another way of looking at it is that this is a man who has so little comprehension of the issues or historical context that he's simply following the advice of the last person who whispered in his ear.

At the moment, that would be the relatively sane ones: Jared and Ivanka, the kids leading the so-called adults, those who have some experience in this geopolitical arena. Allied with them is Rex Tillerson, who is getting on-the-job training, attempting to figure out how his secretary of state job is different from his life as an oil-company executive. It's a tough learning curve.

Most critically, Donald Trump must comprehend that he's playing a high-stakes game. If he loses, it could be the mother of all catastrophes.
U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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.
The handwriting was on the wall when the latest U.S. biodiesel imports figures came out on March 21.Biodiesel imports increased by 65 percent in 2016, setting a new record. Almost two-thirds of those imports (64 percent) came from Argentina with Indonesia (15 percent) and Canada (14 percent) making up the remainder of our biodiesel imports.A couple days later the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) asked the U.S. government to start antidumping duties on imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia that would curb the runaway imports experienced in recent months. This request for action was filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission and was in response to two years of tension between American and foreign producers over the level of biodiesel imports.Two groups immediately responded, saying that the charges of illegal dumping were false. One was CARBIO, which makes biodiesel in Argentina and the other protesting group was Wilmar International Ltd, an Indonesian biofuels company.The expanded import of biodiesel has been a bur underneath the saddle of biodiesel producers since action by the Environmental Protection Agency back in 2015 decided to allow Argentine imports to be eligible for U.S. tax credits as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard.Or, more simply put, U.S. tax payers, many of whom are farmers, were seeing their tax dollars used to prop up foreign biodiesel producers who were competing with our growers.Total U.S. demand for biodiesel is pegged at around 2 billion gallons a year and our imports in 2016 totaled a record 916 million gallons, according to U.S. government figures. What is even more shocking is a claim by the NBB that imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia saw a bloated increase of 464 percent from 2014 to 2016, under illegal trade activities.And these imports are coming in at what could be termed fire-sale prices, according to evidence submitted by the NBB in support of their call for action. Argentina is allegedly dumping biodiesel into the U.S. market at 23 percent below market value while the Indonesian figure is approximately 34 percent under market value.It isnt as if we are draining the last few drops of biodiesel out of the domestic barrel and need these foreign imports to sustain our use of biodiesel in this country. In fact, we have a great potential to produce all the biodiesel we need domestically. The latest crop acreage report indicates record high acres of both soybeans and canola being planted this year, with a substantial increase for both.In addition, biodiesel will be one of the products that will be coming out of a new soybean crushing plant scheduled to be built at Spiritwood, ND, in the next several months. The new plant will join several U.S. biodiesel-production facilities that are funded by farmers and improve local crop prices.At a time when more oilseed crops are being planted and facilities for making biodiesel are being planned to come online, action is called for that will commit our tax dollars to spending to benefit our citizens and not undercut our farmers and companies making fuel to meet the Renewable Fuel Standards. Antidumping measurers must be implemented as soon as possible.
MISSOULA - Andrew Anglin celebrated Adolf Hitler's birthday last week on his neo-Nazi blog, The Daily Stormer, the same website he used to call for a "troll storm" against a Jewish woman in Whitefish and her family.

In the post last week, the publisher of the site with a tab called "The Jewish Problem" presented himself as a torch bearer for free speech. Anglin is based in Ohio but law enforcement officers have said he is out of the country.

"I love free speech," said Anglin in the post. "I love the internet. I love these things not only because they are good but because they are the creation of white men ... "

Whether the speech on Anglin's site is protected under the First Amendment is one question raised in a lawsuit filed last week in the U.S. District Court of Montana in Missoula.

The Southern Poverty Law Center and Montana co-counsel John Morrison filed suit against Anglin on behalf of Tanya Gersh, the Whitefish woman who was target of the "troll storm," alleging invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violations of the Montana Anti-Intimidation Act.

"Conceptually, the First Amendment protects the expression of opinions and does not protect terroristic personal threats and attacks on private citizens," Morrison said.

"This is not a public debate about an issue. This is people threatening and attacking individuals and putting them in fear of their lives."

The moral issue seems straightforward: The "tsunami" of messages that resulted from Anglin's campaign are vile and offensive, and the verbal and online assaults drove Gersh to seek trauma therapy, the complaint said. It said the attacks made her hair fall out and caused her weight gain.

The legal issues, though, present some sticky wickets, according to a couple of faculty members and legal scholars from the University of Montana.

"I certainly couldn't say going in that the First Amendment questions are cut and dried one way or the other," said Anthony Johnstone, an expert in constitutional law and a faculty member of the Alexander Blewett III School of Law. "But the First Amendment protects hate speech."

One question, he said, is whether this case provides the elements that place it within the established exceptions to protected speech. True threats of harming an individual are not protected, and the direct incitement to violence is unprotected, too, along with other exclusions, he said.

"But all of these exceptions to the freedom of the press are narrow."

***

The current case could clarify a First Amendment question left unanswered in a 2015 opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court, Johnstone said.

That case involved a man named Anthony Douglas Elonis who posted threats online against his wife after she left him, arguing the communications were "therapeutic," Johnstone said.

In one post, Elonis says this, in part:

"Did you know that it's illegal for me to say I want to kill my wife? ... It's very illegal to say I really, really think someone out there should kill my wife ... " Elonis went on to describe the best place from which to launch a mortar at his wife's home and provided a diagram.

The court took an unusually long time to consider the case, but the justices only answered the question of what the federal criminal statute meant, Johnstone said. The statute required Elonis to intend to make a threat, not just communicate in a way a reasonable person would consider threatening.

But the justices left open the freedom of speech question, he said.

"Justices (Samuel) Alito and (Clarence) Thomas expressed frustration with the Court's failure to reach the freedom of speech issue, and would have held that the freedom of speech does not protect threats made either recklessly, or threats that a reasonable person would take the communication in context as a threat," Johnstone said in an email.

"That question, left unanswered by the court in Elonis, may shape the scope of free speech protections in the Whitefish case."

***

Lee Banville, a faculty member in the School of Journalism and expert in media law, also pointed to Elonis as one that could influence the outcome in the Gersh case.

The Supreme Court reversed the conviction of Elonis because of the concept called "true threats," Banville said. Only if a person intends to threaten, and not if the alleged victim feels threatened, can the person be convicted, he said.

In that case, the threat is "a true threat" and not protected speech, he said.

Gersh and the Southern Poverty Law Center can argue that Anglin intended to threaten and intimidate since he posted her contact information and encouraged his followers to "troll" her.

"But they have to show that the intent there was to carry out those threats," Banville said.

Anglin himself appears to be one step removed from the barrage of hateful and threatening messages left for Gersh and her family, seeing as he encouraged and appeared to instigate voicemails and social media comments left by others.

And many foul messages wished her dead and were riddled with epithets and expletives, but they weren't necessarily direct threats.

"You should have died in the Holocaust with the rest of your people," said one caller, according to the complaint.

"You are surprisingly easy to find on the internet. And in real life," said another message.

"Hickory dickory dock, the kike ran up the clock. The clock struck three and internet Nazis trolls gassed the rest of them," said yet another.

Anglin accused Gersh of trying to force the mother of Richard Spencer  a leader of a movement mixing racism, populism, and white nationalism  to sell her building in Whitefish. According to the complaint, Gersh offered to help sell the building if Sherry Spencer wanted, and then passed on names of other real estate agents when Spencer changed her mind.

***

The biggest problem for the Southern Poverty Law Center is that the worst comments are not made by Anglin himself, the defendant, but by third parties, Banville said. Legally, under the Common Decency Act of 1996, anyone who publishes online isn't responsible for comments generated by others.

"It's the Troll Creation Act of 1996," Banville said. " ... At least up until this moment, the courts have said that act is a get-out-of-trouble-free card."

In many free speech cases, the offensive party loses at the district court level because the actions seem clearly wrong to the typical person, Banville said. But on appeals, the cases move away from a jury's considerations to the bigger legal questions about free speech.

"That's when the courts start to get much more esoteric and not specific, and that's when you start to see these things overturned," he said.

***

The case of the Westboro Baptist Church picketers also may relate, Johnstone said. The church is known for conducting anti-gay demonstrations at military funerals. Protesters picketed the funeral of the son of a man who then claimed the intentional infliction of emotional distress, as Gersh does, he said.

But the Supreme Court justices found the picketers were within their rights. They stood in a public space, far enough away from the funeral, and they were speaking on a matter of public concern.

"As offensive as their message was, it was still newsworthy," Johnstone said.

The picketers were removed from the person who claimed emotional distress, he said. They were speaking out in public, he said, not targeting a campaign of harassment day after day.

"I think the allegations (in Gersh's complaint) tell a story of extreme and outrageous conduct," Johnstone said. "That alone does not answer the question of whether that publication is protected under freedom of the press."

The constitutional principles are the same whether a publication is digital or broadsheet, he said. But the digital format affects the facts and circumstances of the case, he said; it's easier to "drum up a troll storm" online, and the severity might place the speech outside the protections of the First Amendment.

***

Morrison, a partner with Morrison, Sherwood, Wilson & Deola, said the lawyers representing Gersh are handling the case on a pro bono basis unless the court awards attorney fees. Montana has a strong commitment to respecting all people regardless of their race, religion, gender, and other classes, he said.

"Our objective is to stop this behavior and make sure it doesn't happen anymore," Morrison said. "And we want to impose sufficient damages to make that happen.

"We also want to compensate the Gershes for what they have been through."
Guwahati : Three persons including a junior engineer were arrested by police in connection with multi-crore rupees Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act (MGNREGA) scam in the Assam's hills district Karbi Anglong.

According to the reports a case (34/2011) was registered under section of 409 IPC at Baithalangso police station for alleged siphoning of MGNREGA fund of Rs 59 crore in Ronkhang development block in the hills district.

The Hamren police on Friday night had arrested a junior engineer Latika Saikia Chetia from her house at Beltola Survey area in Guwahati.

Police also arrested a Village Development Council (VDC) member Rika Timungpi and Gram Sewak Mizi Engleng in connection with the multi-crore rupees scam.

The sleuths of Hamren police said that, several government officials under state rural development department had siphoned crores of rupees under the employment scheme in the development block by fake job cards, fake muster rolls, fake development schemes.

The case was registered after complaint submitted by a person name Ramsing Ronghang.

Local media reports that, the arrested junior engineer had purchased huge quantity of lands, buildings like assets in Guwahati.

'We have taken the matter very seriously and will probe about the assets purchased by the junior engineer,aA a top police official said.

Meanwhile, several organizations of Karbi Anglong demanded to initiate a high level probe into the MGNREGA scam in other development blocks in the hills district.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Chitwan, Nepal: At least a person killed and six other injured in a collision between two trucks on Sunday morning at Fishling area of Chitwan district along the Prithvi highway.

Though the details about the decease us yet to be identified, Area Police Office, Muglin has confirmed that a person had died on the spot and six others were injured in the fatal accident.

The accident had occurred when a truck with registration number Ba 2 Kha 1952 en route to Muglin collided with another truck with registration number Na 5 Kha 9190 coming from the opposite direction.

The seriously injured persons have been rushed to Kathmandu for treatment.
Opinion / Columnist

The recently released Research report by Hazel Cameron a renowned academic, titled The Matabeleland Massacres: Britain's Wilful blindness, has settled one question which has been doing rounds since 1983. That Britain and the West planned and sponsored the Matabeleland genocide and that Mugabe and his acolytes were just tools in a game of chess. The VP Phelekezela Mphoko came out forcefully with his conspiracy theory which sought to absolve Mugabe and his comrades from the genocide crimes.Obviously Hazel did not set out to answer this question and I am sure that she may not be aware that her report has nailed Mugabe and his friends beyond rescuing.As for Britain, it has become clear that they aided and abetted the genocide, but it is not clear from the report whether they turned the blind eye because they had initiated the pogrom or it was just merely for their economic interests and the mere racist fact that the White Rhodesians were not touched. What has come out strong in this report is that Mugabe and his comrades planned the genocide. Now one waits to hear what Mphoko would say, how would he defend the genocide. May be those who have been accusing him of having had a hand in the genocide as a CIO may be telling the truth.Britain is guilty, but guilty of a different offense, that is of aiding and abetting the genocide, that is now very clear. Now there is no hiding place for Mugabe and his friends, they planned and committed the atrocities.The people of Matebeleland would never be safe and secure in Zimbabwe, the best thing is for them to restore their own state of Mthwakazi, self-determination is a legal right. Britain and the Western world, have a moral duty to support the cause of a sovereign and independent state of Mthwakazi.
Kathmandu, Nepal: The agreement reached between the government allies and the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) has been endorsed by the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahals party- CPN Maoist Centre.

A meeting of the office bearers of party headquarters held at his official residence in Baluwatar on Sunday endorsed the agreement unanimously.

The government and the agitating UDMF had on Sunday agreed on the three point agreement paving the way to hold the local level elections.

It is said that a cabinet meeting to be held today will endorse the agreement today.
Botswana to host KP permanent secretariat The Kimberley Process (KP), a multilateral tool for the prevention of conflict diamonds, unanimously elected Botswana to host its permanent secretariat. The secretariat is scheduled to become operational by 2024, according to Reuters.

Zimbabwes artisanal miners depend on forests to survive Hordes of artisanal gold miners throng parts of Mazowe village in Zimbabwes Mashonaland Central Province, where they have cut down thousands of trees to process gold ore. They are some of the miners who mine without a permit, says a report in IPS.

Shanta Gold posts high-grade results at Kenyan gold project East Africa-focused gold producer, developer and explorer Shanta Gold has reported high-grade results at its West Kenya project. Company chief executive Eric Zurrin said visible gold was identified across several of the intersections.

Petra suspends operations at Williamson after wall breach at tailings storage facility Petra Diamonds says the eastern wall of the tailings storage facility at its 75%-owned Williamson mine in Tanzania was breached, resulting in flooding away from the pit into certain areas outside of the mine lease area. Petra said mine production...
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 Heading out to speak at 2017 World Medical Cannabis Conference & Expo | Main | Notable recent work from the Prison Policy Initiative on prison wages and medical co-pays in prisons 

The title of this post is the headline of this lengthy Vox commentary authored by German Lopez. I recommend the piece in full even though I take issue with some of its particulars. Here are some extended excerpts:

In terms of overdoses, the opioid epidemic is deadlier than any other drug crisis in US history  more than crack, meth, and any other heroin epidemic. In total, more than 560,000 people in the US died to drug overdoses between 1999 and 2015 (the latest year of data available)  a death toll larger than the entire population of Atlanta. And while many of these deaths are now linked to illicit drugs like heroin and fentanyl, the source of the epidemic  what got people started on a chain to harder drugs  was opioid painkillers, and legal painkillers are still linked to most opioid overdose deaths.

This was exactly what anti-legalization activists have warned about: Companies got a hold of a dangerous, addictive product, marketed it irresponsibly, and lobbied for lax rules. The governments regulatory response floundered. The government even worked with the drug companies in some cases  under the influence of lobbying, campaign donations, and drugmaker-funded advocacy groups. And people got addicted and died.

Looking at this crisis, it slowly but surely dawned on me: Maybe full legalization isnt the right answer to the war on drugs. Maybe the US just cant handle regulating these potentially deadly substances in a legal environment. Maybe some form of prohibition  albeit a less stringent kind than what we have today  is the way to go.

I should be clear: I am talking about the legalization of harder drugs, so none of this applies to marijuana legalization. While there are real concerns with pot dependence and people doing stupid things on weed, my perspective is that its such a relatively harmless drug, according to the best scientific evidence, that the government can afford to screw it up. Especially since the alternative is a prohibition regime that leads to hundreds of thousands of needless arrests in the US each year and fosters violence as traffickers fight over turf or settle other beefs related to the drug trade.

But with the harder drugs, theres a lot of room to mess up  as the opioid epidemic demonstrates....

Consider the US statistics: In 2015, drug overdoses killed more than 52,000 people, and more than 33,000 of those deaths were linked to opioids. Thats much more than the number of people who died to homicides: nearly 18,000 in 2015, only some of which were linked to violence in the war on drugs. Based on these figures, the legal drug led to a crisis that is killing way more people than black marketrelated violence possibly could.

while it is true that there are other metrics for suffering under prohibition (such as arrests), the same also applies for the opioid epidemic: There are a lot of people suffering from addiction, along with their friends, family, and broader community, yet havent overdosed and may never die of an overdose.

So while its hard to draw a perfect comparison in terms of overall suffering, the opioid epidemic, at the very least, seems to be much deadlier than violence related to drug prohibition is in the US.

Still, its hard to deny that the current model of prohibition has serious costs. Just like lenient regulation through legalization is dangerous, so too is excessive regulation  via punishment  through prohibition. Theres really little argument that America has been excessive in its punishment: the harsh mandatory minimum sentences, the three-strikes laws that can get someone life for drugs, and the ridiculous probation and parole rules that can get someone thrown back into prison for little more than possession. Not only can these measures cause a lot of human misery, but they also seem to be totally ineffective for actually deterring drug use.

The research is clear on this point: Severity of punishment does little to nothing to deter crime. In particular, a 2014 study from Peter Reuter at the University of Maryland and Harold Pollack at the University of Chicago found theres no good evidence that tougher punishments or harsher supply-elimination efforts do a better job of driving down access to drugs and substance abuse than lighter penalties. So increasing the severity of the punishment doesnt do much, if anything, to slow the flow of drugs.

As drug policy experts emphasized in a piece I reported out in 2016, theres a lot of room for the US to relax its severity of punishment before legalization. One possibility is essentially the Portuguese model: Drugs are decriminalized for personal use, so you cant be punished with prison time merely for possessing or using illegal substances like cocaine and heroin. But the drugs remain illegal for big companies to produce and sell for profit  effectively stopping the kind of commercialization thats spurred the tobacco, alcohol, and opioid epidemics....

This milder form of prohibition isnt a perfect solution. I dont think there is a perfect solution. As with many policy debates, this is really about picking between a bunch of unsatisfactory options. Faced with an excessively harsh criminal justice system and a legal industry that carelessly causes drug epidemics, I have come down somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.

As Keith Humphreys, a drug policy expert at Stanford University, once told me, There's always choices. There is no framework available in which there's not harm somehow. Weve got freedom, pleasure, health, crime, and public safety. You can push on one and two of those  maybe even three with different drugs  but you cant get rid of all of them. You have to pay the piper somewhere. After witnessing the opioid epidemic firsthand, I have learned this lesson all too well  and I am genuinely scared of how America would pay for full legalization.;
A planned appearance at UC Berkeley by far-right pundit and self-described "polemicist" Ann Coulter has been cancelled. Last month, Coulter was invited to speak at the university by campus Republican, with the vast majority of her $20,000 speaking fees to be paid by the national Young Americans Foundation. But rather than wait until the planned evening of April 27 to cancel the speech after an inevitable protest and counter-protest ad infinitum, such as the scene that awaited Milo Yiannopoulos' planned, then canceled February appearance on campus, representatives of the university told the student groups the event was off for safety reasons  clearly in light of the battle royale that took place in the city over an alt-right rally on Saturday. Berkeley could not find a safe and suitable venue for the appearance, the Chronicle reports.

"We have been unable to find a safe and suitable venue for your planned April 27 event featuring Ann Coulter," Berkeley vice chancellors told would-be event co-hosts the Berkeley College Republicans and BridgeUSA. The cancelled engagement follows scenes of violence and 20 arrests in the liberal city this past weekend at a pro-Trump march, which was met with a counter-rally.

Berkeley spokesperson Dan Moguluf tells the Washington Post that the speech has been cancelled purely for the purposes of safety and without regard for ideology. "Everything were doing is so the speaker and students can actually exercise their rights without disruption," Mogulof reportedly said. "Its unfortunate that there are people who think the universitys efforts to keep students and the speaker herself safe are silly.

After the now-disgraced Yiannopoulos's Berkeley speech was cancelled, conservatives cried foul, accusing the liberal-leaning, Free Speech Movement nexus of silencing free speech. President Trump Tweeted vaguely, as his wont, that he could pull school's funding  "NO FEDERAL FUNDS?" he wrote.

Now Coulter is picking up that rhetoric: The conservative commentator is engaging in a minor melting down on Twitter, initially insisting that the cancellation was "FAKE NEWS."

If I were going to Berkeley to get an abortion, this would be a national scandal - https://t.co/EQsiAEWPpW  Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 19, 2017 I acceded to Berkeley's every silly demand (never made of lib speakers). Called their bluff & they canceled anyway. https://t.co/EQsiAEWPpW  Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 19, 2017 FAKE NEWS! @sfchronicle also claims Berkeley working assiduously working to set up an alternate date!!! https://t.co/0xbftl8WO0  Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 19, 2017

"Yes, it was officially banned," Coulter confirmed to the apparently real news to The Hollywood Reporter. "But they can't stop me. I'm an American. I have constitutional rights."

These are rights that Coulter apparently understands to include speaking at Berkeley for $20,000.

Previously: Far-Right Commentator Ann Coulter To Appear At UC Berkeley Next Month
125 Years Ago

Saloon men: The saloon men say that if the work of the police does not prove more effective than at present, they have not much fear of going to jail. They are confident that in demanding a jury trial they would be acquitted. As fast as theyre arrested, they can give their bonds and resume their trade.

New boat landing: Workmen have just completed a new floating boat landing at Riverside. It is made from the old dancing pavilion and is covered. Work also is under way on a new band stand and other improvements.

Horses saved: Humane Officer Patten found 10 horses in a barn back of the Chicago house that had been without food for several days. The owner apparently left the city and did not provide for them. Officer Patten turned the stock over to a liveryman to care for.

100 Years Ago

War weddings: Seventy-five bridegrooms between 18 and 35 years old have taken out marriage licenses since war was declared on Germany during the early part of April, according to the Clerk of District Court.

Big fight: Councilman Ward has accepted the resignation of Capt. Frank Kellogg, of No. 2 fire station, as a result of a physical encounter he had with his brother, Fire Chief George Kellogg in his office. The altercation came after the chief attempted to upbraid his brother for the lax system he tolerated by permitting firemen to exchange days off. Firemen at No. 1 station had to separate the pair.

Booze stolen: Twenty cases of whiskey, valued at $300, were stolen from the saloon of George Rasmussen at Hubbard, Neb. The theft was committed after the saloon had closed for the night. A storage house in back was broken into and the whiskey taken.

50 Years Ago

Square dancing: Siouxlands colorful ninth annual Square and Round Dance Festival will be held Sunday at the Municipal Auditorium. The event includes a workshop on new rounds and maneuvers, a dinner hour at the Biltmore followed by dancing. More than 500 dancers are expected to attend.

Making news: Doug Strohbeen, a senior at Central High School, was conferred the Degree of Chevalier by the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay in Dallas, Texas. Mrs. Margaret Krause has been selected as the 1967 Secretary of the Year by the Siouxland Chapter, National Secretaries Association. Recording stars Kitty Wells and Hank Thompson will appear Wednesday evening at the auditorium.

Ship launched: Christening and launching of the USS Roark, Navy destroyer escort named in honor of native Sioux Cityan William M. Roark, will be Monday in Seattle. Roark, a Navy lieutenant, was killed in action in North Vietnam when his plane was downed April 7, 1965. This is the first war ship named for an American military man killed in Vietnam.

25 Years Ago

Winning bid: Holtze Construction Company is the winning contractor for the new corporate office building for Beef Products Inc., being erected in Dakota Dunes.

New stores: Expressions has opened on the second floor of Mayfair Mall by Gundersons Jewelers. The manager is Kimberly Edwards. Beverlys is a new gift shop boutique located in the Indian Hills Shopping Center by owner Bev Boehner.

Lots of computers: Personal computer 500,000 rolled across the assembly line early Tuesday at Gateway 2000 in North Sioux City. Company officials celebrated the milestone production number of the direct market PC manufacturing companys plant. Officials predict it will hit the 1 million mark next year.

These items were published in The Journal April 23-29, 1892, 1917, 1967 and 1992.
SIOUX CITY -- The Rotary Club of Sioux City is currently accepting local grant applications for its 2017-18 Youth Work Fund Grant, which will donate up the $7,500 to a youth service organization.

The grant is open to nonprofit organizations serving youth in Siouxland, and the deadline for the 2017-18 application is May 1. Following the club's yearlong efforts to generate member donations, the recipient will be awarded grant funds in June 2018.

Past grant-funded projects include the Sioux City Miracle Field, The Food Bank backpack program, a concession stand and restroom facility at Riversides LaPlante Field, new outdoor playground for Boys Club of Sioux City, a training center at the Thomas Ashford Scout Reservation, a playground for Woodbury County Community Action Agency and shelters for the Goodwill Camp, Crittenton Center and Olsen Stadium.

Grant applications are available at www.rotaryclubofsiouxcity.org or by written request to A.J. Delfs, Rotary Club of Sioux City, P.O. Box 5464, Sioux City, Iowa 51102. For more information, contact Delfs at 712-898-9128.
As farmland prices in the Midwest have fluctuated over time, one thing that hasnt been a major issue is who is allowed to buy that farmland.

A prime example of that is foreign ownership.

In Iowa, non-resident alien individuals are not allowed to buy or own farmland over the long-term.

Approved in the 1970s at a time when farmland prices were soaring and there were concerns investors from overseas were going to swoop in and buy up land, the law puts specific limits on foreign and corporate ownership of farmland in the state.

There is little evidence it has had any impact on farmland values. It also hasnt been especially controversial.

I dont know of any enforcement violations that have happened, says Neil Hamilton, head of the Drake University Agricultural Law Center.

Hamilton says the law states that non-resident aliens cannot buy farmland in Iowa for the purpose of farming. They could buy less than 320 acres of land to build something or for a purpose other than farming, but they face a timeline that would preclude farming the land for an extended period before building something.

The limit applies to foreign businesses as well as foreign individuals, Hamilton says.

If a non-resident alien inherited farmland in Iowa, the person would be required to sell it within two years.

When the limit was passed, lawmakers also passed legislation that required registration of farmland sales with the Secretary of State.

Neighboring Missouri recently shifted its stance on foreign ownership of farmland. A 2013 law passed by the Missouri General Assembly, over a veto by then-Gov. Jay Nixon, set a new limit on foreign ownership of 1 percent. For the decades leading up to that, state law prohibited all foreign ownership of farmland.

The state law prohibiting foreign ownership of farmland was passed in 1978, at a time when many other states were passing similar bans amid reports of foreign entities seeking to acquire productive American farmland.

Leslie Holloway, director of regulatory affairs for Missouri Farm Bureau, says her organization opposes foreign ownership of farmland.

Because when you think about it as a limited resource, we hate to think about it as a foreign entity, she says.

Preventing foreign entities from owning U.S. farmland helps protect the national food supply and preserves opportunities for Missouri farmers, Holloway says. She says other countries are looking to purchase productive farmland, including Saudi Arabia buying farmland in the southwestern U.S.

We know there are countries out there that need production capacity, and they dont have it, and their populations are growing, she says. Theyre looking to acquire land around the world.

Brian Smith, with the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, says as of 2015, 0.336 percent of Missouri farmland is foreign owned.

Theyre about a third of the way there, he says.

Smith says his organization also opposes foreign ownership of Missouri farmland.

This legislative session, Rep. Tom Hurst (R-Meta) offered a bill, House Bill 149, that would prohibit any more foreign acquisitions of Missouri farmland.

Any bill to fix it, youre going to have to grandfather in existing (foreign-owned farmland), Smith says. This bill would say no more.

Even with the 1 percent limit, Smith has concerns whether the law can be enforced. He says foreign buyers could set up a U.S. LLC, and it can be difficult to track or verify these purchases.

I think the biggest concern is, can it be tracked? he says. If these purchases are being made and arent reported to the Department of Agriculture, can it be tracked?

Smith says there are multiple reasons this issue matters for farmers.

Theres only so much farmland in the U.S., he says. Its a food security issue.  Its not anything against foreign countries. Its foreign corporations. Our goal is to protect small, independent family farmers.

Iowa also has a law limiting corporate ownership of farmland, Hamilton says. Other states have passed similar corporate farming or corporate land ownership legislation over the years, though some of those statutes have been struck down in court. That has not happened with the Iowa corporate farming law.

Hamilton says that law has been revised to allow family farm corporations and other types of ownership structures to own farmland in the state, but the ban on ownership of land by large-scale corporations has remained on the books.

Additional reporting by Benjamin Herrold.
SIOUX CITY -- UnityPoint Health  St. Lukes in Sioux City recently announced that it had promoted Wendy Lindley to chief nursing executive.

In her new role, Lindley will provide leadership to all nursing areas at St. Lukes.

Lindley joined the staff of St. Lukes in 2012 as the director of the emergency department. She has added many duties to her role, including leading care coordination, the hospitalist program and most recently the hospitals post-acute strategy.

Prior to her time at St. Lukes, Lindley held several positions at Salem Hospital in Oregon, including leadership of care management and a surgical telemetry unit. She also served as a member of the U.S. Navy.

Lindley holds a bachelor of science degree in nursing, a master of science degree in nursing and a certification as a board certified nurse executive.